Caminando en Chiapas: Nos vemos en la selva

I've been dreading writing this letter all day because I just have so much I need to say and so little time and IT'S STRESSFUL! OKAY! I'M PANICKING.

Well goodbye to the city... cuz I'm headed to the jungle.

Kidding I have no idea how much of a jungle it is...but it's on the border of Guatemala so you never know. I'm headed to Tapachula, Bonanza...my trainers old area...and with my big sister, Hermana Ortega! We are just following in our mother's footsteps haha. It's pretty cool cuz we get to be capacitadores together!! :) Let's just say..... HACE BASTANTE CALOR (it's very hot) and it's rainy season. I'm praying there's a few more mango piñas up there.

My big sister in the mission.. and my new comp!!! Hermana Ortega

(we didn't even know we were going to be comps when we took the pic!! haha)

So it's kind of weird cuz I wasn't really expecting a change...and I haven't even been saying goodbye to any of our investigators or members. So today should be...interesting.

I will miss this area. The ward is amazing, and I love the people here. I'm also gonna miss my comp a bunch. It's gonna be hard to say goodbye, but I guess we will see what the Lord has in store for me in Tapachula.

This is a weird cambio because my mom (Hermana Martinez) goes home this week! That makes me sad and feel old. Also Hermana Hickman and Hermana Humphrey go home....the celebrity bloggers that I read before I came on the mish! So it's like an end of an epoca...and on with the next. Weird. I will miss them! They are all amazing missionaries.

The best Zone Leaders!

Presidente is also closing a lot of areas because there is only one Elder coming in this transfer. Yep, ONE. And a bunch of Hermanas and Elders leaving. SO HERMANAS GET ON YOUR GAME AND SEND IN YOUR PAPERS SO YOU CAN GET CALLED TO CHIAPAS CUZ WE NEED YOU!!!!! The mission is shrinking pues!!

So this week was USA's Independence Day and literally the best 4th of July I have ever had...weird because I wasn't even in the US. There weren't any fireworks or BBQ's...but we had two miracle baptisms. Really something we have been working for this whole cambio. Hermana J. and Hermanito P were baptized by their son and brother, Hermano S.

Best day of my life!

Hermano S has been a member for about 10 years. He got baptized when he was about 9 and is now preparing for a mission. Countless missionaries have passed through trying to teach his mom, but she never wanted to listen. Actually it seems like all the missionaries were scared of her (we were as well...but we didn't tell her). But poco un poco, she made a HUGE change.

Really it all started when we did service and made mole with her. Remember that story from a few weeks back? Yep, that's Hermana J. Poco un poco she started opening up to us, and we started to see her for who she really is. Instead of the Hermano S's scary mom who didn't want anything to do with the church...we saw her as a brave, strong woman. A single mom who has suffered a lot, but who wants nothing more than a good life for her kids...and to live with them for eternity.

We knew she was really getting converted when she told us, "I don't care what the neighbors think, or who sees me enter that church. If God tells me to get baptized there, you better believe I will do it."

And so she did.

Honestly, I think a huge factor was the scary hospital incident last week with my companion. Hermana J. came running to the hospital in tears when she heard what happened. I think the incident really made her think about what is important in life, and that's what helped her make the decision to be baptized.

I love her and her family so much.

Voy a extrañar mis niños :(

After 10 years of trying, it just took the right amount of love, service, and patience to get to her heart. I know Hermana Guarcax and I were here exactly for her, for this reason, to be used as instruments in God's hands and finally help her to the water's of baptism.

Man, it's gonna be hard to leave them.

More than anything what I have learned from this experience is the gospel changes lives. It doesn't matter who you are or what the situation is, the cure for everything is applying the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to our lives.