WHEN?

I am grateful for yet another 7 days in the Holy Land of Belize. 

We are counting down the days to the next change and I am becoming...nervous. 

La cosa es--all I know is this little town.

Everyone I love--apart from my faithful family and friends in the United States of America--is here.

I CANT LEAVE. 

Panic attacks ensue each night when I lay me down to sleep. But, I will go where the Lord wants me to go. He knows better than I. I Have learned enough in my years to at the very least recognize that Heavenly Father always knows best. Woo. Ok. I can do this!

 

Well I had a rather harrowing experience this past week. I am still less than inclined to share it due to the traumatizing effects, but I am still typing so here she goes. 

 

One day after lunch, sister N and I decided to make our way back to the church to use the bathroom. I don’t know how many of you have ever been blessed to use the public or private bathrooms in any Central American location--but if you have you will know that it is not an experience to be sought or desired. 

 

As such, sister N and I went to use the church bathroom. In order to do so, we must unlock the gate from the outside, place the lock on the chain link fence, and enter. This seems to most a very normal sequence of events, and all was well--until sister N and I exited the building and found--to our horror--that during our time inside the church building, someone had relocked the gate from the outside. We were actually locked in the church. 

 

I tried to get my hands through the fence and to slip the key into the lock, but to no avail apart from severe pain. Frustrated and without enough provisions to last us the afternoon, we waited for a passer-by to deliver us from our holy prison. Upon seeing a young woman coming around the corner, I politely solicited her assistance. 

 

"Excuse me! hello! yes hello. We are wondering if you could unlock this gate for us. Currently we are unable to do so."

 

We were shortly freed. 

So actually I made that sound a lot more dramatic than it actually was, and I suffered zero anything. 

 

The rest of the week...hmmm well Wednesday night was our regular family home evening for the branch. It was a hit and we had nearly 60 attendees! We had decided on sports. The thing is--there are ZERO movie theatres in Belize. Belizeans do not like movies. They just love sports. They loooove futbol. This week we missionaries decided on playing volleyball. 

 

For the first hour, I facilitated and organized teams and sent them to the court at their time to play. Then...the missionaries decided to play the reigning team. 

 

I just.....cant.....NOT get a little excited when I play volleyball. Elder C, igual conmigo, likes to play. Within the first 60 seconds he had dove on the cement surface and destroyed his church pants. They ripped.... in...multiple places. Hahaha still laughing.

 

After all was said and done--we had a good time. And I met two brothers who remind me very much of Scott and Steve (Alaina’s dad and his twin brother-very competitive with each other). They got a little out of hand at church volleyball. 

 

Sister N is getting better at riding her bike. She only fell twice this week. I don’t know how, but I see her crash every time, even though I always ride in front of her. She is one tough little cookie. Like probably a molasses cookie. 

 

Ademas, The people we are teaching are moving right along. We have another baptism scheduled for this Saturday. It is has been amazing to see how the Lord has blessed us. Absolutely incredible. 

 

Well everyone. I look good, I feel good, and people like me. (my motto from the 5th grade making an incredible comeback). Haha but for real, I have never been so happy in my entire life. Nothing brings joy like striving to live the commandments. 

 

One of the people we are teaching had a recent experience in this fact. He relied on his friends wisdom and allowed them to dissuade him from standing strong in what he knew to be true and right. As a result he went to a party. As a result he took some drinks. As a result he got into a car with people with whom he should not have been, and ended up in a horrible accident. 

 

 5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.

 

O be wise; what can I say more?

 

Really though. What more can I say? There is no substitute for following the commandments. Our friend is ok, but we spent a considerable amount of time nursing him back to mental and physical health. Gratefully this person has a newfound determination to trust in God and Gods law. 

 

O be wise. Read the scriptures. You'll feel good. You will feel happy. Choose the right! I love the Savior. I love this mission. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself or for others. 

 

I love you all. Hang loose. 

Love, 

Sista Hirschi

 

9 Down, 9 To Go!

Here I am. Right at the half way mark. (She is halfway done with her mission, only 9 months left)

And throwing up everywhere. 

 

What? 

How. 

When. 

Who authorized this? Who sanctioned this?

 

I gotta admit it’s been one buuumpy ride. Who knew at day one, that Belize was going to be holy ground for me? Who knew that I would climb ruins, be chased by drunk men with machetes, fall off my bike numberless times, learn Kriol, drink wood juice, watch great canoe races, and meet my best friends in the world?? Who knew!? Only God. 

 

This week brought another onslaught of awkward moments, mistakes, and pure ecstasy. 

 

Firstly, K and his daughter R made the decision to be baptized. I love their family with every little tiny proton and neutron and electron of my heart. Every little string. Their baptism was well attended and they were so happy. So was I. R has really begun to read the Book of Mormon and she is falling in love with it. I felt to cry when she told me that, because I too love the Book of Mormon. She said when she started she couldn't stop! Her mom wanted her to help with the cleaning, but she didn’t want to put it down. It is a sacred book. 

 

The baptism was beautiful--except for one sharply painful learning experience for me. Do not ask the elders to sing with you a special musical number 15 minutes prior to the baptism. 

 

Secondly, do not allow peer pressure to persuade you to sing a solo with 0 practice. bad iderrr. 

 

Are you kidding me?!!?!?! I am not a soloist! Who thought this was a good idea? No one. But I did it. Because I  hate it when people are like...'I can’t do it!' Just do it. So I thought, 'alright I’ll just do it.' Phil knight and I are on the exact same wave length. 

 

So I started the song, which was fine. But I was nervous, and the first two notes I sang--well we will just say that I saw two birds drop out of the air dead. But. After that I was fine! Everything on tune. Until the Elders had their part. aaaand they slaughtered it. So I jumped in to sing with them. But I think the spirit had left long before we could salvage a normally beautiful song. What have we done to the reputation of this gorgeous and touching hymn.(Oh My Father). 

 

Evidently my comp and I weren't too abhorrent, because the Branch President asked us to sing the same song the next day in church--without the Elders. 

 

hahahahahahahahaha. 

Sorry boys!

 

Apart from that, I FINALLY learned how to make flour tortillas this week. I am STOKED. I can do it all on my own! Now I have the power to raise my future children on Belizean cuisine! This has been my dream since day 13. Maybe I will open up my own tortillaeria. (shoot spelling on that...wrong). The point is that Ii am very happy about all of this.

 

Additionally, I made a giant twister for our branch family home evening this week. What a hit. What a blockbuster. The people--they loved it. If you've never played giant twister before, its highly advisable. Of course it always draws a laugh. I never knew Belizeans were so incredibly inflexible. 

 

Also Zac Quist

. Yesterday I met a girl here named Sabrina from Payson. She knows you. I think you are the most popular person in the world because every country I go to I find people who know you.

 

So I think beyond doubt the most precious part of my mission thus far has been two-fold. One is seeing the growth and change in others. Two is seeing the growth and change in myself. Hot dog! I have learned a ton! Secular leaning has occurred (considering the fact that I can speak Spanish!) but more valuable to me has been the spiritual growth. I am just so GRATEFUL that we can change. That we can grow. That we can learn. 

 

So I read a talk this week--it was from the Priesthood session of General Conference which is super good without fail every time. I read this story which touched the depths of my soul! 

 

So often it is so easy to get caught up in this world--in the day to day. But we must remember that we are eternal beings! We lived before this world, and we will live again thanks to our Savior. 

 

I have a friend who learned this truth in a very personal way. His son was raised in the gospel, but he seemed to be wandering spiritually. He frequently declined opportunities to exercise the priesthood. His parents were disappointed when he declared that he had decided not to serve a mission. My friend prayed earnestly for his son, hoping that he would have a change of heart. Those hopes were dashed when his son announced that he was engaged to be married. The father pleaded with his son to get his patriarchal blessing. The son finally agreed but insisted on visiting the patriarch alone.

When he returned after the blessing, he was very emotional. He took his girlfriend outside, where he could talk to her privately. The father peeked out the window to see the young couple wiping away each other’s tears.

Later the son shared with his father what had happened. With great emotion he explained that during the blessing, he had a glimpse of who he was in the premortal world. He saw how valiant and influential he was in persuading others to follow Christ. Knowing who he really was, how could he not serve a mission?

"A Choice Generation"--Elder Ridd

I wonder what I was like. But regardless, every single one of us on this earth chose to have faith in and trust the Savior. I hope we will not let ourselves become distracted from our incredible potential and from our true selves. Christ is the redeemer. He is also our brother. We trusted him enough when we lived before this life to follow Him--let us trust Him enough now to continue to follow Him in all things. He always fulfills His promises! 

 

I love the Savior. I love this work. I KNOW He accomplished what He said he would. He overcame death and sin for us. This is Christ's church.

 

I love you all. Please remember who you are. SImba style. 

 

Love faheva, 

Sista Hirschi

 

PS--the World Cup is the coolest. go Portugal! and Espana!

 

 

 

Mango Mania

Alaina with her new companion Sis N

Hello world!

It's raining mangos here in Belize. 

So mango season is upon us and seriously it’s a mango flood. Everyone sees the missionaries and thinks,

“Ah. Poor missionaries! They probably need some food! I will give them these 4,000 mangos that fell from my neighbor’s tree". 

 

Thus it is. As such thinks every person in Belize. We graciously accept every mango donation, but I literally do not know what to do with all of them. At first, I did not even like them. But due to necessity I ate them, trying to put a dent in the mass of mangos we had accumulated.

 

Then, I started to like them. 

Now. 

I can’t stop. 

3....4....5 a day. I’m on a mango craze. I’ve lost taste for all other foods. I just want MANGOS. 

Still, I couldn’t manage to keep up with the incoming flow of mangos. So I have started re-gifting them. At first I tried making them into other things--like juice, face masks, lotions. Then I began burying them and after that burning them. But, al final, I decided to just give them away. (Any true SpongeBob fan will appreciate that quip. best ep evaaa)

 

Additionally, R GOT BAPTIZED. R is a super cool kid actually. But I will admit that with this weekend I experienced the highest levels of cortisol I have ever known in my whole life. I was trying everything to get my heart rate down to a normal pace the day of his baptism.

 

If only you knew him. 

 

R was engaged in some not-so-constructive-activities before we met him. But this is a gospel of change. The night before his baptism, we asked him if he reallllllly believed what we had taught. 

 

"Of course it’s true. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t true. I know I’m ready"

Which leads me to this:

 

During the 1940s and 1950s, an American prison warden, Clinton Duffy,was well known for his efforts to rehabilitate the men in his prison. Said one critic, “You should know that leopards don’t change their spots!”

Replied Warden Duffy, “You should know I don’t work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day.”¹

 

Also I like this quote a lot--courtesy of President Thomas S Monson. So the point is, we need to try and see others as they may become--not as their currently are. Another one of my favorite quotes is this, from the one and only C.S. Lewis. The thing is I know you will see this quote and tremble at its exceeding length--but--just read it. You will thank yourself afterwards.

 

 

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no 'ordinary' people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit -- immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously -- no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner -- no mere tolerance or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment."

 

Whaaaat. Yes! We all have the potential of becoming like our Father in Heaven. People do change. Through our Lord and Savior. So I am trying to work on patience. With everyone. Because patience means that we trust in the Lord, that we don't get angry in traffic or in the line at the grocery store when things don't go exactly according to our plan. And that we trust that if we are doing the right thing, nothing can go permanently wrong. Christ is, as in all God-like attributes, the perfect example of patience. Love people. Believe in them. Help them change. Be kind. Please be kind.

 

 

Guys. Not a lot of crazy things happened this week. I just grew a lot. In faith mostly. Also in patience. I love the gospel. I love learning! I love learning so much and it’s amazing how clear your mind is when you pray. Prayer is something really neat. It will be the iPhone 4000 I think. #Godstechnology>mans.

 

I love you all. More on the mangos next week.

Love faheva,

 

SISTA HIRSCHI

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among other meanderings...

J's baptism

I don't really know what to say. I mean life in Belize is life in the fast track.

For example. This week I got locked out of my house. Not because I left the keys inside, because I would never make such an amateur mistake, but rather because a giant bolt in the top of the door was stuck. And the owner of the house never gave me keys to ANY of the four other doors that go into the house and did not have them in her possession.

So what did I do. I called Elder R, the senior missionary who used to be a cowboy. I did not know how, but I knew he would get me in. Elder R came to the rescue. We walked the perimeter of the house a few times. I outlined the situation on each of the locked doors. One in the back had the dead bolt unlocked, but had another lock on top. We made our way for that door. Elder R pushed on it a little bit. He rammed into it a little bit. We examined it a little bit. I said, "I’ve seen this in the movies.' And then he said, "I’ve seen this in the movies". He backed up for a running start and smashed that door right open with one solid kick. The plate was stripped right out of the wood and went flying!! Characteristic of myself, I screamed and laughed. And then Elder R and I high fived. It was a moment to be remembered. And he crossed something off of his bucket list!

Then one day, K was giving us a ride to our house from a family home evening. The car was having a bit of a hard time getting started, and then as we started moving I thought I saw a piece of the car ripping off of the vehicle. Mine eyes did not deceive me. Back on the road was a huge piece of the vehicle lying on the road. I would love to specifically name the part, but I have next to no  knowledge of cars. K just kept driving. His daughter and I...man did we laugh.

Sister N is great. I have never seen a tougher soldier, but she is still getting a handle on the whole bike thing. We went to visit someone on Saturday who happened to live on a huuuuuuuuuuuge hill. The person only lived about one-third down the hill. In other words, you must demonstrate great skill and mastery of your bicycle in order to ride and stop at the intended destination. I cautioned my compa, telling her to stand up in order to have greater control over the brakes. (We have the old-school back breaks that you had when you were 8). So I am nicely riding down at a slow pace--fish-tailing on occasion but in general exhibiting great expertise. Suddenly, Sister N shoots past me at somewhere around 75 mph. "SLOW DOWN N****!!!" I cry. To which she responds, "I CANT". In the next few moments I was left to watch  what I was sure would end in certain death for my poor little companion. She swerved a few times, but in the end, stayed atop her bicycle and rode all the way down the hill, nearly breaking the speed of sound. I am just glad she is alive. President would have been a little annoyed with me I imagine.

 

The work is going on. I looove teaching our English classes.  I think I have more friends in this little town than in any other town in the world. K and R continue to astound me with their desires to learn. They just want to know all there is to know about the gospel. J is basically MVP of our little branch.  I love that our little branch is growing!

.

And for my insights. Hmm. I guess this week I have been pondering about the reality of all these things that we teach....all these things that I believe and live. And I thought about pride for a sec. Pride is defined as pitting our will against God's. It makes itself manifest in envy, competitiveness, disobedience, it’s enmity, rebellion, and easily offended.

Basically it’s no good.


Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. Most of us consider pride to be a sin of those on the top, such as the rich and the learned, looking down at the rest of us. (See 2 Ne. 9:42.) There is, however, a far more common ailment among us—and that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.

 

Thx President Spencer W Kimball. Allowing any of these feelings or behaviors will make us unhappy. Of that I testify.

 

Christ lives. I know He does. He is our ultimate example of humility. He was completely obedient to the Father, but in nowise cowardly or passive. He boldly asserted the truth at all time. How I desire to be more like Him.

 

Guys. Have a stellar week. Stay strong. Stand up for what is right, even if it means you are labeled as odd, outdated, bigoted, hateful, dumb, or strange or mad, flechone, or whatever else.

 

All my love.

Love Sista Hirschi

 

 

 

 

Good thing I LOVE this little town!

The Zone on a p-day.  A zone is a group of missionaries that work in the area.  P-day is the day the missionaries prepare for the week by doing laundry, grocery shopping etc.  It is also the day they can sight-see, souvenir shop, write letters etc

YES!!!!

 

Another guaranteed 6 weeks in my lovely little town. Changes came and went. They took my companion, Sister H, back to the United States and left me with..........SISTER N! Making a smash hit return from the CCM. We were together in Mexico for 6 weeks and now we are reunited, and it feels so good. 

 

So here is this week’s rundown. For a photo finish. 

 

1. I had no medicine and my gums were receding to my jaw and I remembered my mom telling me to gargle saltwater. I did. By a miracle the next day everything was fine…Because I know you are all deeply invested in my dental care. Gingivitis is serious everyone.

 

2. I touched a lion. because a circus came to town, and the animal cages were just hanging out in a field. Of course no one was monitoring them. So I petted him. #goodideaalways. Mom I am missing a finger btw. WOW JUST KIDDING. But what a rush! The lion was exceedingly friendly. And huge! So were the tigers. They don’t call them big cats for nuthin!!

 

3. A giant moth attacked Sister H in a lesson. Let’s just say I laughed and cried and screamed excessively. 

 

4. J GOT BAPTIZED!! It was a beautiful service. He had a ton of support!

 

5. My new companion came in fresh from San Salvador. I guess I rode my bike too fast for her on Sunday. I guess. Because when she came around one corner she rode off the cement, into the grass and hit a water pipe which started spouting water and she flipped up over her handle bars and the bike fell on top of her. 

 

I can only offer my gratitude for having made the decision to turn around and check on her to see the previously mentioned event unfold right before my own eyes. I applied myself sooooooooooooooo hard to refrain from laughing. No way. It was too unreal. 

 

Well. R** and K** are my favorite people ever! Almost. They are just so ridiculously prepared for the gospel. Every commandment we teach them they loooove and see the wisdom and merit in it. They want to participate in everything. K** really understands how to put the Lord first. 

 

SO this week. I went crazy for President Monson's talk. "Obedience brings Blessings" and another one "obedience to law is liberty'. This is a principle I failed to understand before the mission. Obedience is the key

 

Surely there could not be any doctrine more strongly expressed in the scriptures than the Lord’s unchanging commandments and their connection to our happiness and well-being as individuals, as families,and as a society. There are moral absolutes. Disobedience to the Lord’scommandments will always deprive us of His blessings. These things donot change.

 

Well put Elder Perry. Obedience brings us peace of mind and a clear conscience. I have never tried so hard to be so obedient my entire life--to totally place my will on the altar. It is not easy. But I have been so much more satisfied with myself and my life! I feel so liberated. So just do it! Just give it up. Just turn it over to the Lord. Just do things His way. He can make so much more of us than we can of ourselves. I know that Jesus Christ has power beyond our understanding to change and mold us. The fruit of the gospel--and the spirit--is the sweetest feeling we can have in this life! 

 

SO. Stay cool. And remember, when you reach a new level--you meet a new devil. So be obedient. Nice. 

 

Love you all. 

 

How to make friends

Another crazy fast week. 

 

I can't say everything that happened. I have to address this issue at the beginning of the email to soothe my OCD tendencies. But I am going to dry to get to the best parts. 

 

Let's launch. 

One day, Sis H and I are tracting(going door to door talking to people), doing our thing talking to every stranger we find. We knock on a great big green house door. 

 

Out top emerges a little grandma, on the porch. She invites us up immediately. She is so nice! 

She sits us down, and graciously offers us something to drink. Sister H obliges the friendly grandma, even though we are in a hurry. 

She brings out two glasses filled to the brim with a brown looking juice. I note that there is foam on the top--and acknowledge the fact that this is unusual for most natural juices. But I’m not acquainted with all  Belizean juices! Maybe this is something new. 

So remembering that missionaries cannot deny food or drink from well-intending folk, I take the cup, and throw back a nice, big gulp. Fearless. 

 

Throat burning. Tongue tingling. Senses blurring..............................

....................................................................................................

Rancid olives are in my mouth. Or so it seems. 

 

I say, "I’m sorry, what kind of juice did you say this was?"

"Coke!"

I am not super smart, sure. But since my time in Belize I can identify a coke with little effort-if any at all on my part. Grandma is called out of the room by her live-in. I turn to Sister H, in a near panic. 

 

'SISTER H, THIS IS BEER I KNOW THIS IS BEER!!!!!' in strained whispers. I am hatching a plan to dispose of the beer. I consider running to the veranda and throwing it on the street below. But I don’t know when grandma will be returning to the room. 

When. 

She came back, apologizing profusely. "I am so sorry! I gave you girls beer!!! For Mother’s Day we had coke and beer and I got them confused!"

 

"Serious? Oh glad we caught that one!"

The live-in caught the mistake. Thank goodness for live-ins. When we left the house, we couldn’t stop laughing. I said, "Sister H. I'm drunk." ok ok JK!! 

 

But that is the first time alcohol passed these lips. Yikes. Mom please explain the Word of Wisdom.

 

 (Hi, this is “Mom”  For those of you not familiar with the Word of Wisdom, it is a law of health revealed by the Lord for the physical and spiritual benefit of His children. On February 27, 1833, as recorded in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed which foods are good for us to eat and which substances are not good for the human body. He also promised health, protection, knowledge, and wisdom to those who obey the Word of Wisdom.  One of the foods that we are warned to avoid is alcohol, so most LDS people do not drink alcoholic beverages.   There is more information on this topic at https://www.lds.org/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng.)

  

IN addition...I had a birthday party! It was a great night. My friends the P's invited me over and made me a big beautiful cake! pictures included. We sang Belizean happy birthday and had a feast and I sat in a hammock for the first time in Belize. What a wild night.

 

I am going to have to finish my stories next week! 

But J is going strong. K and his family are getting baptized and Rsaid a BEAUTIFUL prayer last night that almost made me cry.

 

Personal peace is the reward of righteousness ya'll. I love obeying the commandments. And as so eloquently put by K our investigator, faith does not mean sitting at home and saying you believe. It means you do what God asks--you keep the commandments. Christ promises peace as long as we do as He asks! 

 

The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with the trials of life, becauseof the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewardedwith personal peace. In the intimate setting of the Passover chamber, theSavior promised His Apostles that they would be blessed with the“Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” and then uttered these importantwords: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the worldgiveth, give I unto you.”³⁰ Then just before His Intercessory Prayer: “Thesethings I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In theworld ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome theworld.”³¹

 

I know He overcame the world. 

 

All is well in Belize. . 

 

Love, 

Sista Hirschi

 

 

The birthday wishes have been sublime. I truly appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness. It’s been more a birthday week though....since I’ve been here for so long everyone knows my birthday and the recognition has been unending. No complaints. hahaha. Birthdays are a HUGE deal in Belize. They love them. Additionally...

 

I was BORN to be a missionary. 

Have I mentioned that I love this work, and that I love the people who live in this town, and that I am going to move back to Belize and live here forever. I never knew I could love a town of people so much. 

 

So this week. You can bet your bottom dollar with a 10% risk level that some nutty stuff went down. 

 

For an introduction, my new name is this town is "snake slayer". 

A very fitting tittle given some of my recent antics. 

Last week, I was kneeling beside my bed--praying at exactly 10:30 pm, when I heard our house-mate Sister D open our front door and shout, 'AHH! HAY UN SERPIENTE!!'. She is Guatemalan so it is natural for her to revert to her native language when frightened or upset. 

 

Well I kept praying. right? It’s a baby snake. Or so I thought. Sis D continued to shout. Finally, I finished and made my way to the front door with my companion. There, sitting very complacently on our porch was a snake. I was inclined to leave him be, seeing as he was not entering our house. Sis D  however, told us she would not sleep knowing the creature was by our house. 

 

So I determined to kill it. But how? We have no knives...or shovels....or machetes or blow torches. Nothing. At first I thought to ride over it with my bike, but I was soon discouraged from such a course of action—because I imagined the snake snapping up and biting me as I rode over him on shadowfax. 

 

So then. I remember reading the bible, and decided to go with the classic David/Goliath routine. I sought a rock, and upon finding one, threw it with all my might at the target. I hit the snake in the head and it went CRAAAAzy squirming everywhere. All four of us began screaming and ran into the house and kept screaming. 

 

But another thing that happened....MOTHERS DAY. Do you guys know mother’s day is like the equivalent of Christmas in Central America? Holy hannah what a spectacle. They love it!! 

 

Of course there was a church activity and us six missionaries were required to perform something. I didn’t want to sing. So I thought we could all share 'things my mother taught me'. Here were some of mine:

 

1. Diet caffeine free coke is as vital as water to the human body.

2. Camping is fun for about 12 hours. 

3. Putting a wooden spoon in a full, moving blender is akin to setting off a small bomb in your kitchen. (remember this mom? and how the ceiling is still stained?)

4. Using brothers as punching bags results in serious, negative repercussions. 

5. ALWAYS give people the benefit of the doubt. 

 

We were a hit. 

 

Well. J** is the best. He is really converted to this gospel. He is willing to live the commandments and as doing so, has gained a personal testimony. He is getting baptized on Saturday! 

 

R** FINALLY came to church. I was about to give up on him....but for real. And then....HE STROLLS IN. Ah. So rewarding. And he loved it! Of course he did. 

 

KS** will be baptized on May 24th. Yeah! He loves the plan of salvation. He wants to teach it to his sons. "It just all comes back to the plan of salvation". That's right KS**! His daughter is coming to church with him. 

 

God is good. God is love. Also I am super impressed with the original 12 Apostles of the Lamb. They up and left everything behind...never to return...to follow the Savior. I have had a tiny baby taste of what that feels like by serving a mission. I am so grateful for those who are willing to testify of Christ and to give their lives in order to teach others the good news. 

 

Also. I enjoyed seeing my family! You guys--just hang tight for 10 months ok. cool. Maybe longer because I am probably going to try and extend. I LOVE YOU. 

 

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. 

We are Gods children. 

Choose the right. 

 

Love Sista Hirschi

 

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