Another week down. 

This week was more of the usual, we had two splits with the hermanas of Cerro Grande and Girasoles, celebrated some cumplemeses [mission months completed], found TWO families to teach, had three investigators drop us because they aren't interested (It always feels like they are breaking up with us - "It's not you, it's me, and my being comfortable in my religion and believing in what my neighbors tell me")  and taught a lesson outside while a high school band parade passed by, which was more of us yelling our testimonies and a baptismal challenge before we decided it wasn't appropriate and waited 15 minutes awkwardly before they passed by and we could finish with a closing prayer. 

Tuesday we had interviews with President Bowler and we received some great counsel and instruction. Ï am so grateful for President and Hermana Bowler and for all that they do for us as missionaries. I am so grateful for a church of order, where we are led by priesthood leaders called of God to receive revelation for us. 

Thanks for all the love and prayers and well wishes, I am doing great! Hermana Aguilar and I are working hard and laughing a lot along the way. 

Have a great week!

Hermana White

Hermana Aguilar completed 14 months in the mission.

Another great week in Honduras!

This week not much to report, chugging along always in the missionary work. We had splits with the hermanas from La Joya, with another newbie Hermana McKee from Idaho, who is awesome. It was fun to be with her and learn from her, she is very prepared and loves the Lord and the gospel. 

Yesterday Hermana Aguilar had a birthday and we celebrated in style. I made her a paper crown that she refused to wear to ward council. And I tried to sing her Cielito Lindo or Las Mananitas, but I'm not Mexicana and it didn't have the full effect. Later that night we had a Noche de Hogar [FHE] with the Martinez family who are very special people, and Hermana Lorenza made her a cake and Catrachitas - fried tortillas with beans and cheese, which are delicious. 

This week we began teaching the children of a less active sister, Mariann and Magnor, ages 11 and 8, who are preparing to be baptized. Even though their mom hasn't attended church in years, the kids lately have been really excited to attend and go even without her. They are really special, really intelligent, and have the purest desires to be baptized and follow Jesus Christ. 

Yesterday when we gave them a Book of Mormon they got so excited to get started reading it. Even Anniel, their 6-year-old sister, said that even though she doesn't know how to read, she would learn so she could read it. We learn a lot from them, they're really fun. 

Honduras has taught me a lot of life lessons, one of them being humility. All my life I have taken so much for granted, having a washing machine, a car, a house with carpet and air conditioning, a family who loves me and supports me and will be mine for eternity, being raised in the gospel, and having the opportunity for an education. And even with all those blessings wanting more or not being satisfied. 

I have seen the simplest homes made out of cinderblock and cardboard, parents who work sunup to sundown just to feed their children, mothers who spend hours daily washing clothes by hand and walking miles to take their kids to a good school, and they are the happiest people I have ever met. People who have had their families torn apart due to drugs, alcohol, and infidelity, and are strong enough to keep moving forward, putting their trust in God and having the faith that He has a plan for them. 

As I have faced trials and difficulties during my time on the mission, I have had to learn to say "Okay, I can handle that. What does God want me to learn today?" I have come to love and appreciate the example of the Lord Jesus Christ in Gethsemane when he accepted the will of the Father. Even though maybe it wasn't something he wanted to do, he knew it was necessary. If He could do that, I can face the little problems and disappointments, and so can you.

Thanks for the love and support, have a fantastic week!
Hermana White

"Newbie" Hermana Aubrey McKee from Idaho, on the left.

Hermana Aguilar "cumpleanoed".


Noche de Hogar [FHE] with the Martinez family.

                                            Hermana Aguilar got her nose powdered.

Catrachitas - fried tortillas with beans and cheese.

Our zone on the bus.

Hello family and friends and anyone who still reads these,

Last week was good, a little rough in the finding, teaching, and baptizing realm, but it's all in the process here. It's always hard to drop investigators that you have learned to love so much, trusting that God has a plan for them and for us as missionaries to find the chosen people that are prepared to accept the gospel. Dah well. 

Tuesday we had Leadership Council with President and Hermana Bowler, the zone leaders, and the other Hermana Leaders. It was a really great meeting, focusing on teaching more effectively and how we can use the Book of Mormon as a tool of conversion. It is so important that the investigators understand our message before they can put it into practice, and if they can get a testimony and form a habit of reading the Book of Mormon they will truly be converted and will be able to be lifelong members! I have gained such a great testimony of that book, it has changed my life and I learn something new from it every day that I study from it. 

Thursday, Friday, and today we took groups of hermanas to a sister in our ward to take their measurements for their pants! So that's almost a reality. It's always fun to be with our hermanas, they are a great group and we always have a great time. 

Friday we had splits with the hermanas of Santa Lucia, one of which is on her second week here in the mission field. It was a strange moment for her to be asking me - who supposedly knows what I'm doing - for advice. She is a great missionary and is way more prepared than I ever was!

Yesterday your favorite viejita and mine, Hermana Edelina, completed 102 years! We got to visit with her a bit and bring her some of her favorite candy, which she loved. 

That pretty much sums up the highlights. Have a great week! Love yah lots! 

Go USA!!

Hermana White

Measuring for rainy season pants.

 Splits with the hermanas from Santa Lucia.

Hermana Edelina turned 102 on Aug. 14th.

Lunch somewhere, including Amy's only non-Latina comp from Roy, Utah (2nd from right).

Well, we had a busy, good week!

Last Sunday through Wednesday we had Hermana Pineda staying with us until she received her companion. It was fun to be in trio for a few days. She's a really fun, good missionary.

In ward council last week our ward missionary signed us up to do a service project for the bishop, and at the last minute couldn't make it, so we three and another hermano helped paint the bishop's daughter's room pink. It ended up taking a lot longer than we thought, and with zero experience a Honduran, a Mexican, an El Salvadorean, and an American got the job done. It was lots of fun and we ended up covered in paint.

Wednesday we got to go to the changes meeting, even though we didn't have changes, and see lots of hermanas who I love a lot. We even got three newbies under our charge here in the city, two from the states. I gave them a big hug and told them they were going to be okay and that they were starting the best adventure of their lives. It reminded me a lot of my first day and made me all nostalgic.

Thursday after district meeting we went over to the area of a companionship we have who are opening an area, which means they both arrived new in an area where elders had been before Wednesday, and they didn't know anything about the area. They were feeling a little overwhelmed, but we went and helped them get to know the area, talk to everyone, and find investigators. It was fun. 

Yesterday the Wilson family invited us over for dinner. They are from Nevada, and the father has a house here in our area because he spends the majority of his time working in Tegucigalpa. His daughter and granddaughters have been visiting for the past month, and visiting our ward. I've been translating Sunday School for them and helping them get situated in the ward. 

They are a really neat family and were so kind to have us for dinner. The little girls are super cute and were real troopers in Primary even though they didn't understand anything. It was really fun to go over and talk about American things and eat American food. We took pictures with Clyde, his pet lizard, which was real cool. We are sad that his daughter and the girls are going home this week. 

This week was a little hard in that very few investigators are progressing and we feel like we have to start over from the ground up, finding new people to teach and helping them progress, but it's all in the game. I am constantly learning lots of patience and diligence and faith, relying on the fact that God has a plan for us and this area and is preparing his children to receive the gospel.

I am doing great, I'm happy and healthy and enjoying it.

Have a great week!
Hermana White

Painting everything pink.

The Wilsons from Nevada.

Clyde the pet lizard.

This week was real good!

We finished with splits, had a baptism, watched Meet the Mormons for a missionary activity, and things are great. 

The baptism for Hermano Humberto was a great experience. The water was green, we started an hour late, and almost forgot the baptismal record, but what can you do? He had a smile on his face the entire time, so that's the most we could ask for. We had lots of members there supporting him, including two investigators who felt the spirit and loved it, so we count it as a success!

Hermano Humberto is the first one that I have been able to see from start to finish in his progress, from finding him street contacting, to teaching him everything, seeing him make changes, watching his eyes light up when he reads the Book of Mormon, helping him quit coffee, and seeing him be baptized! He is a special guy, and has true desires to follow Jesus Christ. He is a great example for me and for the ward. He will do great things!

Also, my zone leader just called and I don't have changes! So I will have another six weeks here in La Esperanza with Hermana Aguilar, which will be too good.

In my personal study this morning I especially enjoyed Alma 37:33-37, which I think is the perfect advice for a missionary. Teaching repentance, praying for direction, and putting all my trust in God is what I am here to do, and I couldn't be happier. 

Have a great week! 

Hermana White