"Oro"

We have the privilege to be teaching the cutest family on the planet - the Vargas family. The other day, we started the lesson by saying, “We’re gonna play a game. We each list off types of metal and whoever can’t think of one has to pray.” And we go around the circle until someone says “oro” which means “gold” but it also means “I pray.” Hermano Vargas is the one who fell for it. He said “oro” and we said “Oh, you want to pray? Okay!” His wife thought it was hilarious!!

(Did that joke make sense? It’s funnier in Spanish…)

So the next day we get to our lesson and 8 year old Chris says that we’re playing a game and whoever can’t think of a type of flower in 10 seconds says the prayer. His mom, pretended to be thinking and thinking then at the last second said a flower and goes, “Oh Denise has to pray! She didn’t say a flower!” (Denise is two years old). So we all kneel down to pray except Denise. She lies on her stomach with her hands folded underneath her face. Then she prays in two-year old babble for about 3 minutes. The only intelligible words I got out of it were "juguetes "(toys) and "hermanas" (sister missionaries). That family is so stinkin' cute!!!!

Life in El Paso continues to be awesome! I'd give you more details, but we're going to go party for my birthday! Have a wonderful week!!!

Lots of Leather!

Did you know that motorcycle clubs can do a lot of good in the world? Well if you didn't, meet the Centauros! They organized a steak dinner fundraiser to support a local shelter for battered women. We know a couple members of the club so we got to go and set up the tables that morning, before the dinner with this group of motorcyclists. Lots of fun!

And here's us with the Centauros'.... what would you call that.... logo? banner? title of liberty?

This week we had to say goodbye to a friend of ours, Sadie. She's been staying with her grandpa here in El Paso to go to school here, but now she'll be heading back to Mexico for the summer. She's the cutest and she's such an example to me - how she puts her trust in our Heavenly Father, through the good times and the hard times.  She's going to do great things!

I continue to be amazed by the miracles we see and the example of faith that are all around me! I'm loving my time here in the Northeast with Sister Hendricks!

Hope you all have a great week!

Also this video seemed to fit :) Check it out!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=3609934299001&cid=HPMO060914220

Missionary Life is a Party!

The great thing about El Paso (besides weather that melts a frozen water bottle in under an hour) is the huge variety of churches! We love driving around and seeing those creative signs out front. Here are a few that made us smile this week:

Every three months we have a big missionary party known as a Zone Conference. This is the best kind of party there is - we get together and learn to be better missionaries, hear from our Mission President, receive revelation, sing hymns, eat delicious food, and take a Zone picture!

[Zone picture to be posted next week]

One of my favorite quotes from this Conference was from Sister Miller. She spoke about our journey in this life and how we have the opportunity to have a positive impact on those around us. I think that her counsel applies to all of us, whatever our circumstances. She said, "What are you leaving behind? Are you making the path better for those who will follow behind?"

Have a lovely week everyone!!!

Gardening, El Paso Style

This week, we got to go on exchanges (where you swap companions for a day, in order to learn from other missionaries' experience). You will never guess who I got to exchange with this week - Sister Pipkin!!!! She and I served together out on the east side of El Paso, but then she went to Albuquerque and I went to Las Cruces. Well we're both back in El Paso and so we got to have lots of fun this week - just like old times!

So here's a funny quirk about El Paso - very few people have gardens, or even grass. Most yards are pebbles or dirt. Some people take their landscaping to great lengths, despite the lack of greenery around here. This yard was a favorite that we saw this week. Points for creativity!

Well everyone! Hope you have a wonderful week!

107 Miracles

This week we watched a movie, "17 Miracles," that tells the story of some pioneers crossing the plains. They faced lots of hard times, but through their faith, they were able to see lots of miracles! I feel like the movie was poorly named because there were definitely MORE than 17 miracles in it!

Every day, we are surrounded by miracles! We just have to notice them!

This week we met a woman who had attended the Church for a year with her aunt when she was 12. God was preparing her way back then to learn more about the gospel at this stage in her life! That was a miracle!

This week Heavenly Father prompted us to pull over and get out at the same time he prompted a man to step outside and get some fresh air. We had a great conversation about the gospel and we all really felt the Spirit. That was a miracle!

This week, we read the scriptures with a family who's been going through a lot of trials. We simply started reading where they had left off last, and what we read applied so well to them and their situation! That was a miracle!

Here's a picture of another miracle we saw this week!

and another miracle!

Isn't it beautiful! Now this one, I wouldn't call a miracle, but it definitely made us laugh!

And here's your Spanish lesson for the day! This is my new favorite saying in Spanish! Keep in mind that these to phrases are pronounced identically in Spanish.

"Las almas devotas se van a los cielos"

"Las almas de botas se van a los cielos"

The moral of the story is that everyone ought to buy a pair of boots! (If you're confused, try google translate or phone a friend.)

Have a wonderful day!!!

The Family!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mothers' Day! I actually had two wonderful Mothers' Days! That's right! In America, they celebrate it on the second Sunday of the month, and in Mexico they celebrate it on the 10th of May, so in El Paso, they celebrate both!

 

Yesterday I got the chance to call home to my family, 21st century style! We had a four-way Google Hangout with me here in El Paso; Jessica, Joshua, Joseph (baby!!!!) and Michael in Utah; Mom, Dad, and Rochelle in Wisconsin of all places, and Christine in Taiwan! World wide family reunion - Google Hangout ought to make a commercial of us! It was good to see everyone and know that they're just as insane as ever! Oh how I love them!

 

This week we got to attend a baptism with four friends of ours who had never seen a baptism before. There really is an incredible feeling at a baptism, because that person is making a promise with the Lord that their going to follow the Savior. And that is a reason to celebrate! So if you've never seen a baptism, call your local missionaries and ask to be invited! Or check out this video of Christ's baptism! https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-baptism-of-jesus?lang=eng

 

Well everyone, I hope life is treating you well! Have a great week!

Celebrating My Adulthood!

Well, I have exciting news for you all - I'm an aunt! My adorable nephew, Joseph Philippus Pluim, was born Friday morning! Isn't he cute?

 We celebrated my aunthood by going to Carl's Jr (I know, we're real big spenders!) Even though I couldn't be there for to meet him in person, I got to feel like I was there by helping to make two cakes for baby showers this week! :)

We can make one for Joseph in a few months. :)

In the meantime, life here in El Paso is great! This week we had the chance to meet an incredible woman who is so grateful for everything in her life! She's grateful for her humble home, and she keeps it beautiful. She's grateful for her job, even though it is below her abilities and previous experience. She taught me a powerful lesson. Gratitude is a choice. It is not dependent on our situation, but rather on our heart.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!