A few more adventures

waaazzzz up Americanos!

 

Soooooo HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. From El Salvador, to America. 

 

Today is Independence Day, so luckily there was a parade-or 4-that passed in front of our house today. I was in the shower when all the going-ons began, so I missed a bit. 

 

 

I would like to start off with some great times we had this week, beginning with a hair-raising experience. Last week, my companion and I decided to do some shopping in order to buy some food. Here, everyone uses public transportation, or, buses. Mmhmm. They are a lot of fun. And as to rules of the road here...there is only one. Don’t get hit. Or in the positive form, survive.

 

So, my compa and I unassumingly jumped on a bus making our way for the store. The driver was possibly inebriated. I can’t say. But, I can say he that he was driving like a MANIAC. A certified PSYCHOPATH. And, when it came our time to disembark, we had to jump out of a moving bus. My first time ever. The driver slowed down a little for the stop, but I knew he wouldn’t stop completely. So I kinda shoved my compa out and jumped after her. Oops! We both stuck the landing. My ankle hurt a little, but apart from that, we’re alive and well. 8/10 danger factor.

 

Additionally, Everyone in Belize had taken a rapt interest in the state of my skin. Everyday people commented on it. But for 9 months I labored, each and every day, to achieve a golden glow. I was bent on returning from my mission with glowing, beautiful, sun-kissed skin. And, when I left Belize, I had a nice tan going for me. But I regret to inform the world that, in a mere month, MY TAN IS TOTALLY GONE. All of it. I am whiter than new fallen snow. What kind of injustice is this?? I cannot say. All I know is that I will suffer skin cancer in my old age due to my time in Belize and I don’t even have a tan to show for it. That’s what you call a rip off. Thanks a ton El Salvador. But at least it isn’t burning hot here. 

 

Soooo Sister W and I are working really hard on our Spanish. We placed a few goals this week and one of them was to speak only Spanish outside of our humble abode. And man. We are killing it! I am proud to report that our Spanish is improving at lightning speed. I almost feel like a native...just give me ten more years. Haha no I still have a lot to learn but I don’t sound as horrific as I did last week. 

 

The best part about El Sal?? You can buy any American film for a dollar here. 

 

So what did me and my compa purchase?

Insanity, and every other workout video we can get our grimy missionary hands on. We are starting a collection. But hey--if anyone needs any movie...in Spanish granted...let me know and I’ll pick it up for you. 

 

We started English classes again! There is a huge interest in learning English here so were hoping for a good turn out! I love teaching a lot. I love their accents. 

 

Believe it or not folks....I am hitting ONE YEAR in the mission this week. I can barely believe it. I can barely believe the time is gone, and all the crazy experiences I have had. And all that I have learned! I am sure I learned more in this past year than i learned in ten years before the mission. Including...a new language! Here is a compiled list of a few things I learned a little bit about

 

1. People are the same all over the world. They are different, but really, they are the same. We’re all children of God. 

2. Not everyone lives like we do in America. MOST people just worry about living day to day. Where their next meal will come from...etc

3. In some countries, it’s acceptable to eat with your hands. You won’t get threats from the head of the household about being kicked out into the barn you don’t have. 

4. God is with His servants. 

5. Missionaries work hard. Elders may drive you up a wall, but they are tender.

6. Some of my very best friends live in San Ignacio, Belize

7. Kriol, while not a written language, is an official language, and is hard to speak. 

8. My blood is actually Latina. 

9. I have a third set of grandparents named the Rinderknechts. 

10. You can fix a lot of things around the house with creativity. 

11. Cockroaches really aren’t that bad. 

12. How to be humble

13. How to not be proud

14. How to work. 

15. How to love other people. 

16. How to pray and really talk to my heavenly father. 

17. This is Christ’s church. He lived here on the earth. He walked among the Jews and performed numerous miracles. Then He gave His life in a manner more excruciatingly painful than we can understand or begin to fathom because He loves us. The Father has a perfect plan for us. Christ’s church is on the Earth. The scriptures are the word of God and have the power to change us if we permit. They are a treasure. 

 

THIS WORK IS TRUE! I love this gospel. I love the people of Mejicanos. Although this mission experience has been a challenge, it has been the greatest blessing of my life. Every day is hard, and every day I am more and more grateful for it. I love you all, and I love Jesus Christ. He is our Savior! He lives! I KNOW IT. Let us do all we can to love Him. 

 

Guys, be good. Next week, to whet some appetites, you’ll be getting the top ten of Mejicanos! Get pumped!! Until then, love life. 

 

Hermana Hirschi

Pupusas are not healthy

aaaand we are movin. 

 

Another week...gone. I am happy to report that I was not ill this week, which made the world of difference. But I do think I will single handedly keep ´´OFF´´ in business. I am kind of a freak for Off these days. I really don’t want to get sick again. If I get like...one bug bite...I have a nervous breakdown. I am happy to report that the smell has even become pleasant for me. I actually enjoy it. I no longer associate off with camping. I associate it with health, fortune, and happiness. 

 

I had a lot of meetings this week. One time I heard something funny...there are actually 14 Articles of Faith. The 14th being- We believe in meetings, all that have been scheduled, all that are now scheduled, and we believe that there will yet be many great and important meetings scheduled. We have endured many meetings and hope to be able to endure all meetings. Indeed, we may say that if there is a meeting or anything that resembles a meeting or anything that we may possibly turn into a meeting, we seek after these things.

 

So I can testify of this now. Meetings aren’t always bad though. I learned some good stuff. 

For example, in one meeting, President showed us a three minute clip of Rocky 3. As missionaries, we haven’t seen or heard any movies...in a long time. We got pretty pumped up. And who doesn’t love a good montage with Sylvester sprinting on the beach, swimming laps, and boxing his little heart out. It was a lot of fun and I was newly inspired to double my exercise efforts.

 

So the people in El Salvador. While they are so different from my lovely Belizeans, they are SO KIND. So so so kind. Everyone is so happy to see me and it’s really nice. 

 

One challenge that I am facing here in El Sal is the currency. I think everything is dirt cheap, and then I realize that it is in US dollars, and not in Belizeans. It’s tough, but I am retraining my brain. 

 

Once again, I am out of time. Shoot. Just...be good. Think of others before you think of yourself. That is the key to happiness. I heard this week that humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking less in yourself. 

 

Be kind. Be patient. Be loving. 

 

I love you all. Jesus Christ lives. Next week will be the best letter in the world I promise. 

 

Love always, 

 

Hermana Hirschi

Chikungunya survivor

So, let’s give a nice warm welcome to September!!

 

I can hardly believe that the fall is upon us yet again. Except that...there is no fall in Central America! So for me, the perpetual summer continues! 

 

It was a whirlwind week my friends. In other words, I can recall two times in my life that I have desired death. The first was when I was in 7th grade. I had the first and last migraine of my life, and I remember consciously thinking that if I had died in that moment, I would be peachy with it. 

 

The second time in my life that I wanted to die was....this week. I have always held a healthy dislike for mosquitos, but this dislike has bloomed and flourished into a thriving, living hatred. But to tell this story adequately, I’ll have to begin in Belize. 

 

So about three weeks ago, I found out I was coming back to the ES. Perfect. I had to get a few things together, I had to make a few purchases, and I found myself running a little low on money when I arrived to this country. Shouldn’t be a problem. I bought pastas and beans and other inexpensive and filling foods to tide me over. 

 

But, I had to leave my sheets and my mosquito net in Belize to get the weight down for flying. Alright. Not the end of the world. Sister W had an extra mosquito net that I could use, but it was a little small so it didn’t cover my feet. With the application of OFF, I thought little of the situation. 

 

Until Tuesday of this last week. I noticed a strange...rash you might say....on my arms. Red spots everywhere. I ignored it though, thinking I was seeing things. Within a few hours I felt pretty light headed and a little extra toasty. 

 

Sis W and I made our way for the apartment. I noticed that I was rapidly developing arthritis in my knees which seemed unusual given my age. Every stair was climbed in agony. Then...the cramping spread to my neck. Tuesday afternoon and night I was down for the count

 

Wednesday I hit the height of fun with a fever of 103°!!! What in the world? Sis W and I live alone and I don’t have any money! hahaha. Good thing there was acetaminophen in the house. All day I wallowed. I lay in bed because I could literally not move my body. Going to the bathroom was akin to running a marathon in energy exerted. Every muscle in my body screamed when I tried to sit up. And, I was freezing cold. So what does one do in this situation?

 

Deal with it. 

 

haha I tried to sleep most of the day. But I did nothing. I just...laid there.  Thursday was similar except some darling elders brought me Gatorade and more meds. Bless their souls. 

 

Friday I was feeling better, but it wasn’t until Saturday that I felt on top of things again. But Chikungunya is like a hurricane. Saturday was merely the eye of the storm. I noticed that evening those strange red dots returning. I was MORTIFIED. But as they developed, I realized they were actually hives. Not hives you get when you brush up against a mysterious bush, but hives that cover every square inch of your body. AND THEY ITCH. booooooooooo. I went off the chain at this point. I thought I was allergic to something I ate and I kept racking my brain. Nothing came. Then I was informed that I was actually in the final stages of Chikungunya. PHEW. ish. 

 

So basically, this is what I learned from Chikungunya. 

 

1. There was actually a mistake in the bible. In the book of genesis. God did not curse Satan to crawl on his belly. He cursed him to take the form of the most hated creature in my world. The mosquito. 

 

2. It is possible to be both burning hot and freezing cold. If I had not experienced it myself I would not have believed it. But as such it is. 

 

3. You need money in life. Even to buy things like medicine.

 

4. When you overdose on Benadryl because you realize you’re having an allergic reaction, don’t do it before church. I...passed out. I could NOT stay conscious. Great example for the investigators ooookkkk.

 

5. I was a braggart before this week, saying, 'I’ve never had to take a day off of my mission because I have superior health'. I ate those words this week. Be humble. 

 

So apart from the atrocity which was Chikungunya, I have little to report on. My Spanish is picking up even though I still often feel frustrated. It’s a slow yet sure process.

 

Good thing I had sweet Sister W to take care of me this week. Speaking of which, she is pretty young in the mission, and I guess I didn’t realize how much the mission has affected me until this morning. She was freaking out about this little baby larvae all over the floor in our kitchen, and I was kinda like...oh what? there’s larvae? And then I kept eating my cereal. She spent a good 15 minutes debugging the house. I’m just used to living among the creepy crawlies these days. 

 

 

Well everyone. There wasn’t much time for proselyting this week. And I couldn’t concentrate long enough to study, but I did watch 800 Mormon messages. All I have to say is that the church is with it! 

 

Man. Heavenly Father loves us. He is mindful of us. I may have felt absolutely terrible all week, but I also felt very comforted. I knew Heavenly Father was there. I could feel His love for me, helping me out when I otherwise felt pretty much all alone! Sorry for a lame spiritual boost guys, to make up for it, I’ll include this quote. 

 

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.

Elder Uchtdorf

 

Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness. Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction, we should be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that truly matter most.

Elder Bednar

 

So I guess I should be happy for chikungunya. 

 

Love you all. Have a super duper week. Stay healthy ok??

 

Love, 

Sista Hirschi

 

Let the good times roll!

Hello everyone!

 

First and foremost, I’m sorry if I did not respond to your email this week! I will get to you. I promise. I just need time...just give me more time!

 

So El Sal is movin and groovin. I am in a city that is a city in every sense of the word. There are buses. There are chain restaurants. There are many people. There are venders. There are stop lights. Everything that there wasn’t in Belize, there is here. 

 

So it’s fun to have a totally new experience, but I’m not quite sure how to be a missionary in a city! I feel like a cockroach on its back. It’s a bad place to be.

 

But being back in El Sal, I’ve been forced to speak Spanish again. And my worst fears have been confirmed. My new companion, the darling Sister W, coming at you from Wyoming, USA, has noted that I do indeed change my voice when I speak Spanish. I like...cannot control it.  I lower my voice a few registers when I’m speaking Spanish. hahahaha. According to her, it’s really soothing and trance inducing. Alright alright. So I’m looking forward to converting people by mesmerizing them with my voice intonations. Mom I don’t know if that is the right word. 

 

But yeah. Actually Spanish is hard. It’s hard to form relationships with people. It’s hard to understand people. And it’s hard to say what I want to say. It’s coming. I’m probably a little awkward, but that is half the joy of the mission. 

 

In addition, I went to Walmart. 

 

WHAT. 

 

Yes, the one and only. And maybe you all think that Walmart is kinda low class in the United States, but guess what. Here, it doesn’t get even ounce more elegant. Walmart is where it is at. Its super fancy pants and more expensive, but is has been such a joy to shop there. They have everything there!! It’s just so....AMERICA.

 

So I guess they decided that I am no longer at the bottom of the barrel, and now I’m  a sister training leader!! Wooooow. Ok ok. So I’m here to corrupt the minds of the younger sister missionaries. In reality, I’m excited to try and help them out and to learn from them. Basically I just tell them that they’re beautiful and perfect and smart and then I buy them some chocolate or ice cream and write them a nice note. Just kidding. Partly. But really, I’m a little nervous about messing them up. I’m praying a lot. For a lot of help. That I really need a lot. 

 

So the area is pretty barren right now. I arrived and we had like...one half of an investigator (an investigator is someone they are teaching) . Nice! So we are doing some pumping up! Sister W just finished her training too so she is young in the mission. People say I’m old now. Which is just plain creepy. Tooooo creepy.

 

Guys. In the words of a one Gertrude Stein, America is my country, and San Ignacio my hometown. I hope there isn’t a copyright on that. Honestly the transition at times has been trying, but it’s all about the F word. Faith.

 

Faith is doing what’s right even when we don’t see the results. Its persevering in being obedient and diligent even when what you expected doesn’t come through. Its keeping the commandments when you don’t realllly understand them...consistently when you may not see the blessings immediately. 

 

So for reals, that is what I am trying to do. I’m trying to be faithful. I’m trying to put everything I have learned in the past 11 months together and blow up the mission. But I know the results might take time. Sometimes Heavenly Father needs to test our faith and our patience. That’s fine by me. If I’ve learned anything, it’s to trust in Him. He has got it all figured out. 

 

As per usual, I’m short on time. Just know that there are many more adventures that maybe one day I’ll put in a book. But. I love you all, I miss you all. I pray for you. This is Christ’s church. Jesus Christ is our Savior. With Him, we can do anything He asks! 

 

At you from San Salvador, 

 

Hermana Hirschi

 

A Tale of Two Missions

Do you know what I love about this mission? At any point in time, my parents don´t actually know what country I am in. 

 

So. I have news. Big news. Big big big news. 

 

I have left the land of milk and honey, the land of Rasta’s and rice and beans and ruins and white roads and HEAT and Marie Sharps and steel drums and Kriol and my dearly, dearly beloved....San Ignacio. 

 

I’m in El Salvador. 

 

I know, I know. I never saw it coming. Truly never. But I got a call last week and was told to take out my criminal record...which was pretty fishy. I don´t have much to show on that thing.  Then Thursday night I got a call and I was officially informed of my departure. 

 

This is how I felt: firstly, surprised. I expected to stay in Belmopan. Secondly, ok with it. I cried all tears I had in my body for my entire life time when I had to leave San Ignacio. So it’s unlikely I’ll ever cry again.

But I’m one of THOSE people. Things aren’t real for me until they happen. On the plane it began to settle in. I LOVE Belize. I love it down in my bones!! But overall, I just feel this overwhelming sense of gratitude. I’m so happy for the time that I had in Belize. It was the best time of my life! And while I’m a tad apprehensive about turning this fresh page in El Salvador, I’m excited. 

 

Well. 

 

I was excited. 

 

Then we landed and I was back in Spanishland and I began to feel exceedingly unilingual. (that’s a word in Kriol. or I just invented it. readers: make the call.)

Despite the fact, I am looking forward to re-immersion in Spanish. It will be tough. It is already tough. I say ´´como??´´ every 5 seconds when people are talking to me. 

 

However. 

 

Today you will likely be surprised at my choice of breakfast. 

 A chocolate frosty. 

 

DOES ANYONE. anyone at all. Have any idea how much time has passed since I last indulged? Because there are zero chains in Belize. None at all. The frosty. It tasted alright. Also Wendy’s is super hip?? I didn’t know. But the chairs we sat in were like mini sofas and they played American music instead of reggaeton. Sad day. In fact I’m pretty sure I heard some Luke Bryan in there??

 

I could really expand here on the differences between Belize and El Salvador. If you´ve never trusted me before...trust me now. They are so different! I hadn’t realized how slow and chill Belize is. And now I’m in a very large city. And it’s loud. And there are skyscrapers and paved roads and men in suits and Audis and I am feeling too anxious! It will take some adjusting to get used to a big city again. 

 

 But man! So much good stuff happened this week! For example, I ate armadillo. For another example, we baptized three people the morning of our departure (and I LOVE them)! For another example, we had a fiesta with a piñata. For yet another example, a family I love from San Ignacio drove from San Ignacio to Belmopan too see me Sunday morning before I left. 

 

Do I love these people?

Certainly I do. 

 

Do I love this work?

More certainly I do. 

 

How do I love Belize? I cannot count the ways. But really, I love being a missionary, and I´m excited to get down and dirty. The point it this: time flies. Today I have 11 months being a missionary. It is such a sacred opportunity to represent Jesus Christ. Sadly, I haven’t been perfect. I haven’t been all that I should. But I’m so grateful for the opportunity to repent and to change. I just love progress. What a great word. What a hope-inspiring word! I’m not perfect today or tomorrow, but I’m getting better. I’m progressing. 

 

You know another reason I was ok leaving Belize?

I know the Lord is with me. I know that now. He is with all of us. And as long as I keep doing my best to serve him and the people here in El Sal, things will work out. Things will always work out. But here is a quote I really like from president Dieter f Uchtdorf of the 12:

 

 

Sorry that is so big. But, knowing that we are eternal beings in nature, it makes a whole lot of sense to me. You know. Today I just feel so happy knowing that it’s all real...that Christ really came. That He really lives. That He really overcame everything for us. That He is really helping us to improve. That He is really mindful of me! Of my circumstances. It’s so awe-inspiring. So here is my advice. Don’t worry. Be happy. I find it fitting coming out of my Caribbean experience. The gospel is true. If we are righteous we really have reason to not worry and to be happy. I love you all. I know Jesus Christ is the Messiah. I know God speaks to prophets today and that He loves us.

 

Write me. Next week I will know where my new area and new companion will be. So stay tuned. But until then,

 

Love always, 

For maybe one last time

 

SISTA Hirschi

 

Man I love Kriol.

 

PS Mom and dad. I bought probably a few souvenirs before I left Belize. Hence the dent in the bank account. Ding!

 

psps everyone and their dog please watch the following video if you want to be SO OUT OF YOUR MIND inspired. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w49_1a9X0Q

 

Also watch this one, if you want to shed some tears and love our Heavenly Father a lot more. 

Let’s be honest, the first part is super cheesy. But hang in there and you will receive your reward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjNovbdxZtc

Golfing in Belize is Ridiculously Sophisticated

Hello one and all! Short and tall! Near and wide! 

 

 

SHOUTOUT: family in Moscow. I LOVE YOU. The notes made MY WEEK. You are a wonderful, talented and good looking bunch and I miss you like a fat kid at fat camp misses chocolate cake. 

(copyright Forkey family)

 

 

So I have some good stories for you all today. Real good ones. 

 

First of all, I'd like to address the experience I had today. Because, it was a 'first of the lifetime'. Firsts are generally a treat. And today...I went golfing!!! Contrary to popular belief, golfing is not horribly boring.

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am so pumped about this. I have never been golfing in my whole life. But we did it today. Our zone went out to the boonies which I didn't even know existed in Belmopan, and we ended up in the jungle and somehow in the jungle there is a BEAUTIFUL Belizean golf course. Wow. It was absolutely stunning. I felt like I was in Tarzan or something. Of course some British guy with polo owned the place and he was super genial. It wasn't exactly our most inexpensive p-day activity, but it was wholesome and entertaining. 

 

Turns out I am not such a bad golfer. Admittedly, I have much to learn. But I look forward to taking up this high-class sport after the mission. haha! What is it about golfing that is making me feel SO pretentious right now? Maybe because there were a lot of high-class people there. Who can say? 

 

But I have a suggestion for those of you who have yet to visit Belize. Do it during a time of lightning storms. Have you guys ever heard thunder? Because I had not. Not truly until this past week. The thunder in Belize is...so...loud. It is so loud that I screamed because I was genuinely shocked and afraid. It is so loud that I worried about the conditions of my ear drums. It is so loud that little children cry. It is so loud that I thought a gun was being blown off in OUR STUDY ROOM. False alarm. Point being, the thunder and lightning in Belize is quite the experience. 

 

Another compelling experience: a man sang a song for my compa and I this week. We were visiting some members and, as tradition requires, we began with a hymn. There was a guest there , a 76 year old man, who really enjoyed our musical number. He applauded us with some enthusiasm and spent some time convincing us that we could be a choir. Then, suddenly, "I will sing a song now". 

 

I wish you could have seen my facial expression at this time. Because on the mission you learn to expect the unexpected. Nothing throws you. Not one thing ever. 

 

I don’t think I even blinked at his announcement. 

 

He started, and the song was pretty catchy. It’s still in my head now. And he had a nice voice. It was rich and soothing and sometimes it reminded me of Nat King Cole which is always a pleasant experience. He got really into it. Afterwards we thanked him for his performance. But seriously, I really liked his song a lot. 

 

We are teaching some spectacular folks out here in Belmopan. (Even though I still LOVE San Ignacio forever). 

 

One lady is a force to be reckoned with. A force for good!! We introduced the Book of Mormon to her and she is reading it. She kept saying, "Yeah. All this stuff is new to me, but I’ll read. I’ll pray. I want to know if it’s true. But this is all just very new'. 

 

I can find no fault in that. She has a sincere desire to know what is truth. These are the BEST people to teach. So she is reading and I have no doubts whatsoever that as she continues in her sincere quest, that the Holy Ghost will teach her the truth. In fact, do you KNOW what she said in her prayer at the end of our lesson??

 

I quote, roughly...because this might be apostasy...."please give me the holy ghost to know if this is true."

 

Ah. That is the high of missionary work. 

 

Maybe I have mentioned this before, but I love missionary work. Do you know what else I love?? Charity. Here is what Sister Hirschi has discovered. The ails of the world. ALL OF THEM...can be fixed with charity. The theory is still developing though so don’t get too caught up. 

 

Charity though--being the pure love of Christ--motivates us to do all good. In the words of Preach my Gospel....

 

Charity is a gift from God. The prophet Mormon said that we should “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48). As you follow this counsel and strive to do righteous works, your love for all people will increase, especially those among whom you labor. You will come to feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people. You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father, and you will labor in their behalf. You will avoid negative feelings such as anger, envy, lust, or covetousness. You will avoid judging others, criticizing them, or saying negative things about them. You will try to understand them and their points of view. You will be patient with them and try to help them when they are struggling or discouraged. Charity, like faith, leads to action. You will develop charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of yourself.

 

Man I love this! I am obsessed with this paragraph right up there. It is so powerful. I know it is true. If we love people, if we strive to love them as Christ does, we will have powerful desires to serve others and to labor in behalf of others. 

 

This, like any other Christ like attribute, is a work in progress. But I know the only way to really and truly to be happy is to love people in this way. That's it. 

 

Guys, I am sending out the love. You are all wonderful people. I know you are. And you all have SO MUCH POTENTIAL. So much. In the words of Uchtdorf, "compared to God, man is nothing. But man is everything to God." ok that is rough but that is true. And it BLOWS MY MIND. We're so weak, but so important to Him. I don’t know how or why, but it’s true. 

 

Have a great week.

Be safe. Choose the right. Belize is amazing. 

 

Love, Sister Hirschi

 

Im running out of funny subject lines!

Maybe you won’t believe me, maybe you will. This week, we were again invited to an American family's house for dinner. And this time they showered us with more American goods. 

 

Do you guys fully appreciate America? I am unsure. THIS time, we were the recipients--EACH--of an entire bottle of Skippy smooth peanut butter, a 6-pack of applesauce, and a Ghirardelli chocolate bar. Also, I got a tube of crest toothpaste. 

 

BUH-LESSINGS. 

 

The Lord is merciful. You may veritably think I am joking but I am not!! Haha I am so grateful for those luxuries! Largely because my fear of diabetes is worsening. Everyone in Belize seems to have diabetes, and I am questioning whether or not I too will be struck if I don't clean up my diet of tortillas, coke, and cookies. Yikes! At least I do insanity. 

 

Speaking of coke, Belizeans LOVE coke. More than water. They drink so much coke. It is statistically speaking, out of control. Nearing an epidemic I fear. The thing is, when I entered Belize I didn’t' even like coke. But then I got offered so much coke so I started drinking it. And then...I began to like it. And now...I begin to love it. 

 

No worries Dad, I saw where that was going real fast. I have ended the love affair with coke. We broke it off about a week ago. Now I am a once a weeker with coke. Sometimes twice. It’s a self-control thing. I have seen what coke has done to other missionaries...and the effects can be devastating. IN place of water, they drink coke, and in place of health, they have kidney stones. 

 

NOT my cup of cocoa. 

 

But, bringing things back to Belize, it was a long week. But a good week! One filled with the spirit and tender mercies. I learned some valuable lessons. Like this one:

 

a. Don’t let wet laundry sit in the machine for 8 hours. It will smell. BAD. Then you'll have to wash it another three times with some heavy-duty, this-means-business cleaners. Boo. 

 

Also, it is HOT. As in 103 degrees with 100% humidity hot. I think I got a lil dehydrated there one day and I personally was feeling a pinch under-the-weather. I guess 100 ounces a day is not sufficient in these conditions. Who knew? My head and my stomach knew. They both revolted. But I have repented and I drink plenty of water. Mom--it's all good in the hood. 

 

We are teaching a wonderful lady named Sister W right now! She has cancer and her husband is a recent convert to the church. She is just so sweet and kind...aaaaaand she is from San Ignacio! So naturally, I love her. This week we shared this video with her:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdN8rfwW3SI

 

If you feel like crying your eyeballs out right now you should watch it. Anyways, Sister W is getting closer. She wants to be with her husband and she wants to have an eternal family, especially in the face of all this uncertainty. I know that is possible through the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

 

I have been focusing a lot on how the purpose of this life is to become Christ like. How Christ commanded us to be like His father--who is perfect! And I know we are here to change our very nature--to change what we are. I know we need a vision for that. We plan so much in our lives--career, education, exercise routines, everything. We plan everything--even though this is not an exhaustive list. But do we plan for what we want to be? When you strip away all the titles and the awards...what is our nature? When you take away 'accountant' 'doctor' or whatever it is...what are we? 

 

Are we kind, humble, patient, selfless, faithful, courageous. What is in our core? What are our desires? 

 

Do we plan for what we want to be? Well I haven't...until this week. There are qualities that I want incorporated into my character...things I want to be. I know I can change and become something that I'm not...only through the power of Christ's atonement. That's the only way. That's why He came. That's why we're here! Good stuff. 

 

Guys. I love you. Thanks to all those who write. It means the world to me. It really does. 

SO hang loose. Have a great week, and live the gospel. Nothing will bring you greater happiness. 

 

Love

 

Sista Hirschi