tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22178196308970262532024-02-20T23:41:28.116-08:00hermana rhondeaun.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05847831271962211912noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-59080797674515954402016-02-15T13:51:00.000-08:002016-02-18T13:51:42.336-08:00one eternal round<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think that this has been the happiest and also most content that I have been my entire mission. It is almost too perfect, and at times I think that my whole mission has almost been too good to be true — seventeen months that have felt like years and years of learning, and seconds and seconds of happiness and joy. We had a last minute conference yesterday with an elder from the Seventy where we sang "I Believe in Christ," and right then and there I realized how much I will miss singing in Spanish and being a missionary. It really is the best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The highlights of this week include: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— the bishop asking President Garcia for permission to drive us around, even when an <i>hermana</i> isn't with us. Because he is Bishop Parra, President of course told him yes. Sometimes he reminds me so much of how Papa probably was that I feel at home and among real family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— <i>intercambios</i> with <i>las</i> <i>hermanas</i> <i>de</i> <i>Industrial</i>. We were worried that Hna. Leon would feel like a neglected child with all these other <i>hermanas</i> coming for exchanges, but we have decided that it is good for her so that she is not an only child. She will just have a lot of sisters for the next five weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— ward talent show, which featured a country dance by the Primary and a Japanese pop song. So many talents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite part of this week was Sunday, when we all gathered as missionaries with President to listen to Elder Mendosa. He talked to us about teaching repentance and baptizing converts, and then he asked us if there was a limit to faith. I woke up this morning thinking about this question and realized that to all good things, there is no end. There is no end to faith — perhaps we will one day have a faith that is more perfect and more of a knowledge, but we will still have to have faith in the way that God did when He sent His children to earth. It makes me grateful, knowing that all the Gospel principles and everything that comes about because of them are each eternal — progression, understanding, love, family. And this Valentine's weekend, I am grateful for the knowledge and surety that I have of our eternal family and limitless happiness. So, thank you for being a part of my eternity, dear family, now and forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you so much and can't wait to see you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love always,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-59164265615508423312016-02-01T17:54:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:54:35.374-08:00walking on sunshine<h2 class="hP" id=":23o" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px;" tabindex="-1">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;">(literally: because it is so hot, and figuratively: because I am so happy).</span> </span></h2>
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<br /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">dearest family, </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were basically a wreck on Sunday night waiting for our transfer calls to come for our last transfer together. We might have gotten everyone to pray with the hope that we would be able to stay together for these last few weeks, aaaaaaand WE ARE STAYING TOGETHER. And training a new missionary together. Poor girl, she is going to have two mothers to listen to, but we are so excited and unbelievably happy and basically God is good and listens to prayers and the inner desires of the heart. We just got back from picking her up; her name is Hermana Leon, from Ecuador. She is 19 years old and we already love her — so willing to please and in awe of everything that is Merida. We are excited to figure out how to be parents together. It is kind of hilarious and we will probably mess up a lot of times, but we are willing to learn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't have a lot of time to write today, due to so many things that we have to do within the next few hours to get her home and settled. But I love you and miss you each so much. Maybe I will try to send pictures because I haven't been able to in these last few weeks? Still working on trying to be good with technology...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBkYE_LLWAVBcrKmVYM4abEcwX7vwYn59QOL9ijYR1cbkeC2XaRpdMmUJXDa8lMgVeTXzCbJwOrETcZZUkUJO5IIhy_rhlPWtToMzwKznoSVBaVwJuWRTKYBQxKBTmPUIZW7mh-dWm-LY/s1600/IMG_9380+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBkYE_LLWAVBcrKmVYM4abEcwX7vwYn59QOL9ijYR1cbkeC2XaRpdMmUJXDa8lMgVeTXzCbJwOrETcZZUkUJO5IIhy_rhlPWtToMzwKznoSVBaVwJuWRTKYBQxKBTmPUIZW7mh-dWm-LY/s1600/IMG_9380+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">visiting the sick</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgEU_7oQmOmYxVCoVFF1oAJIAi2mUwRxNUlh6qst8n7Rnlyw5_bi_P9dKqa5XXHVqXKvboDlyD3zHgyhoLmtjpiVArGAi6Mcc850aTDWbBEpp7p_6o6PCl4FYYrXMcevWpU4O6zYmYx83/s1600/IMG_9384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgEU_7oQmOmYxVCoVFF1oAJIAi2mUwRxNUlh6qst8n7Rnlyw5_bi_P9dKqa5XXHVqXKvboDlyD3zHgyhoLmtjpiVArGAi6Mcc850aTDWbBEpp7p_6o6PCl4FYYrXMcevWpU4O6zYmYx83/s1600/IMG_9384.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Rebeca & Jonatan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRe6StNkRPlpU4pOyAq4jMPPEE8XpXxBSzxTlpAy3dVunzxyVvFrtcXlsCfwnEjiPcCvgbMRoUsQwK83Y6XxGcuApRw3PayIfe1Gi78KcdKouqsnF9PEm3LX78DVbxEmIcZfRNGwlGYwmd/s1600/IMG_9395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRe6StNkRPlpU4pOyAq4jMPPEE8XpXxBSzxTlpAy3dVunzxyVvFrtcXlsCfwnEjiPcCvgbMRoUsQwK83Y6XxGcuApRw3PayIfe1Gi78KcdKouqsnF9PEm3LX78DVbxEmIcZfRNGwlGYwmd/s1600/IMG_9395.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">baptism de Hno Gonzalo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXz7ntSjlWW4LxT21ZGQ8x09AtWovRx1D7cUg8IrlyGBcPJWStGBAQwBeCRHD0P5b2SPkzrCaL3m-6cvy9qaNxqSsg10YwUjRD1sAxrLbJmv4ZB_lKDxrynLFQ2BnMSs0zfibKswV3x-n/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXz7ntSjlWW4LxT21ZGQ8x09AtWovRx1D7cUg8IrlyGBcPJWStGBAQwBeCRHD0P5b2SPkzrCaL3m-6cvy9qaNxqSsg10YwUjRD1sAxrLbJmv4ZB_lKDxrynLFQ2BnMSs0zfibKswV3x-n/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">with Elder Nolasco and Elder Saunooke, before eating cake</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GTK3zBVDY1eCDDuPEQqCq6OhlDaAPsu_z8wYsAmomk1PyqwPq6m_YoogXyeyrBrfTckIbR-vG0hyjB3rSQ15wVjIouIdkIgUlctOgp70_4yxA6jTH6DKtAq3Qlfb5K7dJn53lTalACvd/s1600/IMG_9422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GTK3zBVDY1eCDDuPEQqCq6OhlDaAPsu_z8wYsAmomk1PyqwPq6m_YoogXyeyrBrfTckIbR-vG0hyjB3rSQ15wVjIouIdkIgUlctOgp70_4yxA6jTH6DKtAq3Qlfb5K7dJn53lTalACvd/s1600/IMG_9422.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">we always end up twinning with the APs without planning it. and then everyone asks us if we planned it and it gets uncomfortable...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP0O99yFPmV2JdRs9f1bbr8nKwowzdMZj1V18w_Z__6DXyapc0H3-X-0w_eJWIW8t6hD3v3zn7am7iRnorOcwDvEqVvvZsQp9-nNfzs9OWQFn7Ehh7OOCQNkYBUd_Fn44jOownIaEJrMo/s1600/IMG_9331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP0O99yFPmV2JdRs9f1bbr8nKwowzdMZj1V18w_Z__6DXyapc0H3-X-0w_eJWIW8t6hD3v3zn7am7iRnorOcwDvEqVvvZsQp9-nNfzs9OWQFn7Ehh7OOCQNkYBUd_Fn44jOownIaEJrMo/s1600/IMG_9331.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the calle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjS4B_NRQzSO-F3jh57Oeb2iNPqIv6kGycvrNQs1ozp6P0QiffdCeoaXUPejEmI0d2V-owI3Yb0DqzctLvruYB7-IDEyaStkTGd1TaeKsBhr2_ynOO52bbAIDD8SLwEwgFHKmUm3FsR1b/s1600/IMG_9343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjS4B_NRQzSO-F3jh57Oeb2iNPqIv6kGycvrNQs1ozp6P0QiffdCeoaXUPejEmI0d2V-owI3Yb0DqzctLvruYB7-IDEyaStkTGd1TaeKsBhr2_ynOO52bbAIDD8SLwEwgFHKmUm3FsR1b/s1600/IMG_9343.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">hammock shopping with the bishop and his wife</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v3F-1vjqOkKIYsogTGzo-CqgaQb0RtG00Y-hbMQc1qpVcErnrfp9y9uOC9hYoqqoj7FCl9IWa2Qnj5g2z4q9hWtOeZ9TM0tIwm3pfs435WqG93fWAEMIV03oVH7MvSX-FX9KJjV2Knid/s1600/IMG_9370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v3F-1vjqOkKIYsogTGzo-CqgaQb0RtG00Y-hbMQc1qpVcErnrfp9y9uOC9hYoqqoj7FCl9IWa2Qnj5g2z4q9hWtOeZ9TM0tIwm3pfs435WqG93fWAEMIV03oVH7MvSX-FX9KJjV2Knid/s1600/IMG_9370.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">talking with Maria del Socorro </span></td></tr>
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E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-54654574418470494032016-01-25T17:46:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:47:35.785-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dear family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Zone Leaders just called informing us that we have interviews with President today, which means that we are madly running around trying to get everything done before making our way to the offices. So in short, this week was full of all good things and glorious reminders of why I have come to love the mission so much:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— We ate hamburgers with the bishop on Tuesday while sitting and listening to him relate his hopelessly hilarious six month story of how he finally won over his wife. After eating and talking he had us sing "How Great Thou Art" for everyone by the hamburger stand. We are slowly becoming a two man show, my companion and I, because everywhere the bishop takes us, he makes us sing. He has recorded our last two performances with the threat of putting it up on FaceBook (which we would be worried about until we realized that he doesn't know how to put videos on FB). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">--We pretended to want to buy fruit so that we could contact a reference from one of the members that works at the fruit stand by the baseball stadium (did I mention we have a baseball stadium? Makes me miss America every time we walk by). Our super sneaky contact tactics would have worked out if he didn't come right up to us and ask if we were looking for him. Ummm. At least everything turned out well. We are now currently teaching almost the whole group of workers that work by the fruit stand. They all gather around and sit on empty fruit crates as we sing and teach them and read the Book of Mormon. One of them that works at the gym right next store came to church on Sunday. We met him Saturday, invited him to baptism, and then he was there at the church bright and early with his way too nice motorcycle. His name is Luis and he has about a month living in the Yucatan. He has never gone to church because by the time he was six he was taken out of school to go work on a ranch. He never learned how to read and his mother never taught him about God, but He believes in Him and wants to find Him for the first time. He is really great and the ward has been really nice to him. They are going to teach him how to read so that he can read the Book of Mormon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— We watched the Face 2 Face with Elder Rasband because they transmitted it in our ward building. It was strange seeing part of home and all the teenagers that look ten years older. We are now afraid to come home because we do not know how to get ready anymore and are used to people thinking that we are pretty just because we have blue eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— We taught two lessons this week that especially made me realize how much I love the mission and how unique of an experience it is to be able to sit in people's homes and talk to them about things that go far past the material and right to the soul. We had the thought to go with an inactive couple that hasn't gone to church in more than five years. We sat at their big wood table and listened as they told us of how they came to know the Gospel to the time the had everything and then lost more and how they now feel the consequences of not living what they knew all along to be true. We simply listened and then sang a hymn and bore our testimonies and left. The next day as we passed by their house, the dad came out and told us, "I felt great joy and happiness within me when you came to visit. I know that the Lord is with you because I felt His presence." And then they came to church yesterday for the first time in a long time, and we felt great joy and happiness within us, too. The second lesson was with Cesar, a single father of three who wants to stop drinking. He is a very good person, despite his choices. He does everything for his children and listens to us because he used to be religious until he decided to start drinking and left the church he was attending. On Saturday morning we taught him about the Atonement and read 3 Nefi 9, when Christ invites us to come unto Him and be healed. He read the scripture out loud and then with tears in his eyes just looked at us and proclaimed, "Oh, how I wish I could be like you." It made me realize how lucky I have always been to have the Gospel, and how lucky I am now to be able to share it with others that need it so much more. It really is a privilege to be out here serving God and seeing His hands and the grace of His Son manifested daily in the lives of His children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wishing you a happy week! Love you and missing you always. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-54325234362063111092016-01-18T17:33:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:34:05.561-08:00this is what children do for fun in Mexico<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm0QZp9xnYOfSM_mD0ABebMY_1xN94USio6rkSHBZ1bin0GuWujH2P001Hoim78nDl3zVdvaIFleVV9B-3gqLVbxpW0fj0XYULoxlD9Ogzrl4aq9pyrEznODrfxZZyPBc_V8f5SvWZanc/s1600/DSCN1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm0QZp9xnYOfSM_mD0ABebMY_1xN94USio6rkSHBZ1bin0GuWujH2P001Hoim78nDl3zVdvaIFleVV9B-3gqLVbxpW0fj0XYULoxlD9Ogzrl4aq9pyrEznODrfxZZyPBc_V8f5SvWZanc/s640/DSCN1695.JPG" width="640" /></a>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-3837088726931777792016-01-11T17:32:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:32:35.818-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dearest family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We celebrated El Dia de Los Reyes this week, which is definitely not a holiday in the United States. I think that they make up a lot of excuses to celebrate anything and everything here. They commemorate the day that the Wise Men came to find Christ — a sentiment that I have come to love and also look forward to, and not just because there is a giant bread cake with cream cheese involved. We ended up eating about three of those (the cake things: is there really not another word for bread in English that has the same connotation as "pan"?). They have little hidden, plastic baby Jesuses and the person that finds it in their slice of bread has the promise of good luck all year, and then they also have to buy tamales for everyone the 2nd of February. I don't really get it, either. But I love it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We did a lot of visiting and walking this week. We are now master fast walkers and have the shoes to prove it (i.e. we both have perfect holes in our shoes and socks). We visited Maria de Socorro, an eighty-something year old that is the great grandma of two boys that we are teaching. She is hilarious. She makes us spaghetti and sits with us outside on a wooden bench because she likes how we sing. On Friday she found out that we are leaving in March, and she promptly told us that she would not be accepting "ningun mormon" after we left because she liked us too much and didn't want to have to learn to like other ones. She also knows everyone and calls out, "buenas noches, gordito" whenever anyone passes in the calle (which, roughly translated, means "good night, fatty." I thought Daniel would appreciate that one). We love her. We also contacted some really promising investigators, who immediately told us their whole life story. I had forgotten that that is not normal in real life, because everyone seems to tell us everything they have ever felt or thought or gone through within the first few minutes. I think that has been the greatest and most daily miracle — the miracle of knowing people without even asking. It has become one of my most favorite things of the mission, being able to sit in a stranger's home and just listen to them and come to know them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you and miss you and can't wait to see youuuuuuu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-26462565019659389592016-01-04T17:25:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:27:50.955-08:00rejoice, o my heart<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola querida familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the weeks go quickly and my heart and mind try to transition to a new year that will not entirely be lived under the Yucatan sun (setting goals at the end of a mission and at the beginning of a year, turns out, is actually quite hard...), I feel full of gratitude for the small moments of eternal happiness that God has allowed me to glimpse and feel here with His children. They are small, glorious seconds which have made up a complete and whole type of joy that is not just felt, but also lived. We had our baptismal interview with Rebeca this past week (this has officially been the hardest baptism in the history of my mission, AND SHE IS NINE but oh my goodness so stubborn it is ridiculous). We walked to the Stake Center with her and little Jonatan who drinks out of my filter without asking and who always manages to steal the mission cell phone out of our bag. Then we had races up and down the <i>calles</i>. They ended up winning every time. That night we ate hot cakes (or pancakes?) with two hermanas from the ward who eat them with sweetened and condensed milk instead of syrup. The next morning we helped Rebeca's mom plan her talk for her baptism that day. We planned it while sitting outside on broken chairs surrounded by the smoke that was coming from two large pots of baked beans that were cooked with literally ten kilos of salt. I have forgotten that some things like that were not normal before. That night we had the baptism; Jonatan wore a purple tie that was so not tied right and we sang "How Great Thou Art" and everyone thought that we should try out for the MoTab (I will probably have really low self esteem when I come home and no one is amazed at my slight ability to sing). We had a leadership meeting at a fancy hotel and ate papaya and other fruit that was cut fancy. People would call that "fresa" here, which means strawberry but also overly fancy/rich. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We walked in the really hot sun (isn't it supposed to be winter?) for over three hours every day this week, contacting people that were so Yucatecan it was hilarious, running to the last minute baptism of Don Peach that the elders taught, waiting for the bishop that showed up on the back of a bicycle because the bus took too long. Hermana Wilson and I have both realized that there has never been a bad day on the mission — there are days that are longer or harder or more trying than others, but I don't think there has ever been a bad one. Just days full of learning and changing and rejoicing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Rejoice, o my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my Salvation" (2 Nefi 4:30)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wishing you a week of rejoicing -- love you and miss you, always. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love,</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-43246156703483471072015-12-28T17:24:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:24:55.568-08:00¡feliz ano nuevo!<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So happy that I got to see you on Christmas day, even for a short forty-five minutes. I feel especially grateful for each of you during this Christmas season and with the promise of being with you in the New Year (did we ever think 2016 was going to happen?). Since it hasn't been all that long since we last talked, a small run down of this past week that we had in the Yucatan:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— everyone thinks we are twins, and because of our American heritage people have taken to calling us queens and princesses. Someone also asked us if we were really from this earth (aka: <i>¿son terrenales?</i>). We think he was trying to tell us that we were angels?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— we had two, almost 12 hour meetings this week during which I managed to eat an entire chicken for lunch one of those two days. I don't know when the whole meat thing happened, but I don't think it will be going away anytime soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— we got shots for the flu and I still got scared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— we listened to a lot of Christmas music, avoided a lot of drunk people, and listened to a lot of pop music throughout the night (because listening to loud music all through the night is a normal thing here. The neighbors never complain).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— we ate a whole coconut (juice and all) which made me feel very native and also very healthy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— we found a new family to teach and they became our best friends in under two seconds. We have been searching a lot for new people to teach, mostly because we have been having a hard time finding people that are really prepared to recieve the Gospel. Then one night a man on a bicycle stopped to ask us if we were Mormon and we had to hurry and talk to him and write down his address because it was late and we had to be home. We kind of forgot about him until this last Saturday when one of our appointments fell through and we passed by his house and decided to try. He ended up listening along with his son and his daughter-in-law. It was one of those moments and times when you remember why they came on the mission. It made me think that I would serve a three year mission if it meant finding only this family, if it meant finding only one person. I realized that Christ probably felt the same, because He always sought after the one. Elder Bednar had shared a story with us about how he had gone to a restaurant when he was here in May, and at the end of the meal he asked everyone that was there (the waiters and all) if they wanted to ask a question or if they had something to say. He said there was silence for quite some time until one of the waiters started crying and told him about his wife that was dying of cancer. Elder Bednar didn't say anything to him — he just hugged him, and then he told us that it was for that one man in the restaurant that he had come to Merida — he hadn't come for us or for the conferences or because he was on assignment. He came for the one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I know that Christ did the same, that His birth and life and sacrifice was infinite and eternal, but also personal and kind. Wishing you a Christ-filled December and a joyful New year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love,</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-53294077365812966632015-12-14T17:18:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:18:58.501-08:00pics pics & more pics<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Myy4vIWeMk9umCtXK6UhxhG53qi47j7ufgc1HoHoGl-IxfVq7hPxdOvw8af00ecVvwo9uimOzEBv9QtSs_0wXmCMFBLbjEav2s3ICC1tNm-YzpoGjIfbHsxB8WvJQLFn48TR_G06f8j-/s1600/IMG_9169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Myy4vIWeMk9umCtXK6UhxhG53qi47j7ufgc1HoHoGl-IxfVq7hPxdOvw8af00ecVvwo9uimOzEBv9QtSs_0wXmCMFBLbjEav2s3ICC1tNm-YzpoGjIfbHsxB8WvJQLFn48TR_G06f8j-/s1600/IMG_9169.JPG" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrH9Y7uYfSl5_-wlQiSSRm3opByj3agn1KqT3jt0l4YZ3vOGCrHsj007AtRIim0Q9B_dkHBOtk84JxgNoVHm8g8Wh2k72udVkLjE-SSjj6HOXvrl1Klyw_9jbsN4vj5Xq366BOcnTokUN/s1600/IMG_9165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrH9Y7uYfSl5_-wlQiSSRm3opByj3agn1KqT3jt0l4YZ3vOGCrHsj007AtRIim0Q9B_dkHBOtk84JxgNoVHm8g8Wh2k72udVkLjE-SSjj6HOXvrl1Klyw_9jbsN4vj5Xq366BOcnTokUN/s1600/IMG_9165.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">found my favorite graffiti wall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe3_jiH9VwZGva3Iz9zdfrRbgcEI-dl38R4oZ_bFpFRFFY9Ewgr8Zs_-9MJmXDzOuZ0AyJ-yyIUC1aL6n6e_V40TNRrQ6GDGTesd2aP_NBje1qggLTA5qTpgqwd7EgifZv9stotsGEiy2/s1600/IMG_9155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe3_jiH9VwZGva3Iz9zdfrRbgcEI-dl38R4oZ_bFpFRFFY9Ewgr8Zs_-9MJmXDzOuZ0AyJ-yyIUC1aL6n6e_V40TNRrQ6GDGTesd2aP_NBje1qggLTA5qTpgqwd7EgifZv9stotsGEiy2/s1600/IMG_9155.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Zone picture taken with the timer</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6a5GA44pJ2xyNPdqvmuN36mUUeZBtK0zxx-2mUkG-jrGvJ_8EHHtLcLpiLR5BqJDF1RSPWZcfRivOmYPQKcocXTUY7idbeiPv0QMrYhZV0KQCYaArgLiP1Ay0uC6s6pbPCHHACXVTvfz/s1600/IMG_9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6a5GA44pJ2xyNPdqvmuN36mUUeZBtK0zxx-2mUkG-jrGvJ_8EHHtLcLpiLR5BqJDF1RSPWZcfRivOmYPQKcocXTUY7idbeiPv0QMrYhZV0KQCYaArgLiP1Ay0uC6s6pbPCHHACXVTvfz/s1600/IMG_9153.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">
hammocks (feat. Hermana Corporan, who was with us for a week).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdQStMe1D6dBuF-JzCEJjKDWtU15QTmM84cH0ieXYJ3oEbpLquYLGGWzQ59qDm-ACRrAQ7jcpxL_NpR1x1pEn23mLXRgvFNLAoxKpJ82vuPHsmAg9KYTBGnR32I2yI9hnWrufQKYRuE1Q/s1600/IMG_9126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdQStMe1D6dBuF-JzCEJjKDWtU15QTmM84cH0ieXYJ3oEbpLquYLGGWzQ59qDm-ACRrAQ7jcpxL_NpR1x1pEn23mLXRgvFNLAoxKpJ82vuPHsmAg9KYTBGnR32I2yI9hnWrufQKYRuE1Q/s1600/IMG_9126.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">cooking with the Relief Society. (that's tofu)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3_PHvYdFEGDra8AGL14l8TdfWjNTsEFsjp9H1IqJ_ninqJxv_jDCQyHoKhdZ4uP62AuQ7k7xyMip3S0-I33efzKE6tZ9YkozFdZeMTLoXR9Mxgo2dOTfS5M49xT-VqtKsQQFfzqOG2Ci/s1600/IMG_9236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3_PHvYdFEGDra8AGL14l8TdfWjNTsEFsjp9H1IqJ_ninqJxv_jDCQyHoKhdZ4uP62AuQ7k7xyMip3S0-I33efzKE6tZ9YkozFdZeMTLoXR9Mxgo2dOTfS5M49xT-VqtKsQQFfzqOG2Ci/s1600/IMG_9236.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">singing Christmas carols as a zone</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIZprIrFmSLudbQYJr7qenUTh7n96UB7jAa1fmcvxp1uxW5qWsZ_YtoRKf-mBEWaBTkl-V-BepT5DDSlpoJxbZYUkx_WVEyUf7zMnuX9hf3VNee9xOB1k4bErBu5AZWIMg0FKkiezUb-B/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIZprIrFmSLudbQYJr7qenUTh7n96UB7jAa1fmcvxp1uxW5qWsZ_YtoRKf-mBEWaBTkl-V-BepT5DDSlpoJxbZYUkx_WVEyUf7zMnuX9hf3VNee9xOB1k4bErBu5AZWIMg0FKkiezUb-B/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">last meal with Hna Canseco </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidV6KYHWEcgKYNi4X0uzF5cqiW0G_IlUUD5kPmbWxU2qdDaO79Bx5-B4BJCOLN-wFN45JAfamI7p8znVRLWkOLeMU15BdDymcrQLcJnrMQZ6itBXVO-tH3cuH-K6lp2RolD5-N8Id8x7a/s1600/IMG_9195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidV6KYHWEcgKYNi4X0uzF5cqiW0G_IlUUD5kPmbWxU2qdDaO79Bx5-B4BJCOLN-wFN45JAfamI7p8znVRLWkOLeMU15BdDymcrQLcJnrMQZ6itBXVO-tH3cuH-K6lp2RolD5-N8Id8x7a/s1600/IMG_9195.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">beach themed ward party</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB0pg_j66stZ1fZmCiu84_WcJvTMV2uJ8bXBUogq0IyimtslKffUXPxbIatxHM-lUzQUe5b7GzZi7fR51s0Q_THTvEUPnon49JfWU5NK3WHRKvvdHieNskqqOWuWrTNqteDu-k82rWgpx/s1600/IMG_9172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB0pg_j66stZ1fZmCiu84_WcJvTMV2uJ8bXBUogq0IyimtslKffUXPxbIatxHM-lUzQUe5b7GzZi7fR51s0Q_THTvEUPnon49JfWU5NK3WHRKvvdHieNskqqOWuWrTNqteDu-k82rWgpx/s1600/IMG_9172.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we found a fair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7u9j25o_QlcigNZh1ShDPmKlnGC6xPEnmEs7NqR2kI6MPqB7cOWzo98YQUAM8SU5d58lZ_5cVcPuvdjvFvacf7V_kvDS7Il03KeEdcdeHVYMAGGQg3eEDr5rRtyUBxEmgigYqG2O6OIr/s1600/IMG_9183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7u9j25o_QlcigNZh1ShDPmKlnGC6xPEnmEs7NqR2kI6MPqB7cOWzo98YQUAM8SU5d58lZ_5cVcPuvdjvFvacf7V_kvDS7Il03KeEdcdeHVYMAGGQg3eEDr5rRtyUBxEmgigYqG2O6OIr/s1600/IMG_9183.JPG" /></a>E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-50373305932334320172015-12-14T17:14:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:14:32.294-08:00Christmas<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5edldn1vOPKnDB5sPBBLd0hN4sWF7jpoqvUr7e15HZNxQdD5IEhbchMd0l-vG7B0jM_GLga1-Hg5Oc9xgZFh1FeiQ4fw-4XhAvESZjg-FrKxyKb_QXn3b7pd30V10Ak0eOHUyAVT3saH/s1600/IMG_9094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5edldn1vOPKnDB5sPBBLd0hN4sWF7jpoqvUr7e15HZNxQdD5IEhbchMd0l-vG7B0jM_GLga1-Hg5Oc9xgZFh1FeiQ4fw-4XhAvESZjg-FrKxyKb_QXn3b7pd30V10Ak0eOHUyAVT3saH/s1600/IMG_9094.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pictures from the Christmas dinner with all the missionaries, which include: Hna Gonzalez with the tacos that were really good (I think I will be eating meat upon my return), generation pic with the elders from the MTC and the Latino elders that also came with us, and other pictures with all of our BFFs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislZu-BL7CUhToFYJPGXI6vZHyuPh89BLKbmEA1hH0lkecjyhwwF_dnBL7ylLcuYbAIrdsQkjAtkv5QKym7uUh3A84_OU-bIhJYt07bfILqgpFXRIV24dyKvvsbcANsiZcbRmthsT6KkPQ/s1600/IMG_9082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislZu-BL7CUhToFYJPGXI6vZHyuPh89BLKbmEA1hH0lkecjyhwwF_dnBL7ylLcuYbAIrdsQkjAtkv5QKym7uUh3A84_OU-bIhJYt07bfILqgpFXRIV24dyKvvsbcANsiZcbRmthsT6KkPQ/s1600/IMG_9082.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVyLcsXBxvnqQ1RLtmYN_vDmJb6DNKSBz9npOh4Ek_Lwn4ATZGM9w750lgsX4RfVZ24EAIt5DuSyuCc8-V3zWP93MB65Aszy66xwbc97rgLu-LNYBB25XQ6w_w4ocizG5FmBS6PjKXBQn/s1600/IMG_9079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVyLcsXBxvnqQ1RLtmYN_vDmJb6DNKSBz9npOh4Ek_Lwn4ATZGM9w750lgsX4RfVZ24EAIt5DuSyuCc8-V3zWP93MB65Aszy66xwbc97rgLu-LNYBB25XQ6w_w4ocizG5FmBS6PjKXBQn/s1600/IMG_9079.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hAGxV_VyuDcyoRBDKqCylaOzdRWpAjcX35RwPubSRxQMxt3imldzqu_vzuwBRNSCeBBF0j669u8ioREMMZxn1Q9wKsg98BVDiiNhClC33pz7ah1rzgilKB9jZlM2TjLZJPLwDYQ7ZTQK/s1600/IMG_9046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hAGxV_VyuDcyoRBDKqCylaOzdRWpAjcX35RwPubSRxQMxt3imldzqu_vzuwBRNSCeBBF0j669u8ioREMMZxn1Q9wKsg98BVDiiNhClC33pz7ah1rzgilKB9jZlM2TjLZJPLwDYQ7ZTQK/s1600/IMG_9046.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ_yXOZBaQBTxq7fwCzD8hOZk3mdYOkEEN9qRrDDHgQAXGcODZc2EzMMxDn5T6FryWUREBpJZJcyt8NLzc_lYCgU9p05Rq24-VG0DhztVGc-Cm5cZDt0vutz9z5zF82jbPrJD5kIGXaz1/s1600/IMG_9044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ_yXOZBaQBTxq7fwCzD8hOZk3mdYOkEEN9qRrDDHgQAXGcODZc2EzMMxDn5T6FryWUREBpJZJcyt8NLzc_lYCgU9p05Rq24-VG0DhztVGc-Cm5cZDt0vutz9z5zF82jbPrJD5kIGXaz1/s1600/IMG_9044.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-46208506356042679832015-12-14T17:07:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:11:39.226-08:00I do believe in miracles, I do, I do<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3KWZ0Eayam3ZOoniX5f6l8HxMI1QT_svfTiWJ6D8yHsbhT_XgUYDQy8u4zUdFRQkPt82oGSpriddUqKIJTXqVtKqkNkykL0dJa-CKhu03_QaeM-t9nObnKADz20Jzr83Za-XbB07tKzi/s1600/IMG_8989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3KWZ0Eayam3ZOoniX5f6l8HxMI1QT_svfTiWJ6D8yHsbhT_XgUYDQy8u4zUdFRQkPt82oGSpriddUqKIJTXqVtKqkNkykL0dJa-CKhu03_QaeM-t9nObnKADz20Jzr83Za-XbB07tKzi/s1600/IMG_8989.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">update: HERMANA WILSON AND I ARE COMPANIONS. Best Christmas miracle/any miracle of all time. Maybe I had prayed that God would send me her in this transfer? Maybe we asked president? <i>De todos modos,</i> WE ARE SO HAPPY. Because of my joy that is almost too much, I am going to send you many emails with many pictures that will probably explain these last two weeks better than my words can. Love you all oh so much and am missing you even more during this Christmas season. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>n</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL3Dq4tpdtQvlxj5AHquuT0cSvEKIXetSPNEqNxbXTeikzeq-Tbbp50-uWdmkEPZtdcPdQHzIAIBV-I9Y3tHqfOaC7H8AAYqVFohWaW4pfsnUo03zA9hixYBVoh_OyMZue3f5j8d1yMdE/s1600/IMG_8984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL3Dq4tpdtQvlxj5AHquuT0cSvEKIXetSPNEqNxbXTeikzeq-Tbbp50-uWdmkEPZtdcPdQHzIAIBV-I9Y3tHqfOaC7H8AAYqVFohWaW4pfsnUo03zA9hixYBVoh_OyMZue3f5j8d1yMdE/s1600/IMG_8984.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">exchanges with Hermana Ellgen (just minutes before this picture was taken, we encountered a glowing Santa Claus on a stick and a mob of horses went running through the street. I love Christmas in Mexico). </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx6bDJIYV82EIqRoqvGQO753XUS6PcCKivMF232RrzkLMSf-d3VykksZe3nJdyhDos_tb2tm7IUaaePuyjWOug79a7foSa5I9T_YoR1G0iola3aHW4T8EtifywWNccJwt7TBp8dk6Au5y/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx6bDJIYV82EIqRoqvGQO753XUS6PcCKivMF232RrzkLMSf-d3VykksZe3nJdyhDos_tb2tm7IUaaePuyjWOug79a7foSa5I9T_YoR1G0iola3aHW4T8EtifywWNccJwt7TBp8dk6Au5y/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Rebeca and Jonathan with a clay heart that we made after a lesson. I might be bringing them home with me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrnrk6Ut_mvGP2KVlgINNTINQGuKaEUrth5NB3z1x8wmwID5B5apZPKjgxTRY7Utezqv_MacNgqFT2Nc8JOo1X5e-QcCk825QzDl8Fo6xvlCsCSoHqHL5flnXOyHI6YLaVXJAZk9OaoUw/s1600/IMG_9026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrnrk6Ut_mvGP2KVlgINNTINQGuKaEUrth5NB3z1x8wmwID5B5apZPKjgxTRY7Utezqv_MacNgqFT2Nc8JOo1X5e-QcCk825QzDl8Fo6xvlCsCSoHqHL5flnXOyHI6YLaVXJAZk9OaoUw/s1600/IMG_9026.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with the bishop and his wife</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBgWbJhomztMRItZAwThxW4GjqOIGFvSE9V-ay8qia6q2mh93DZqsa0F8Y8FHNHwyASWA1MroKaFZb0mQ-mMXKTbuBQ9fRUiA85rOJK_TtACZ45w7Z_4dBHZ2G_Q-O31rOWJa6ubbBOx6/s1600/IMG_9028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBgWbJhomztMRItZAwThxW4GjqOIGFvSE9V-ay8qia6q2mh93DZqsa0F8Y8FHNHwyASWA1MroKaFZb0mQ-mMXKTbuBQ9fRUiA85rOJK_TtACZ45w7Z_4dBHZ2G_Q-O31rOWJa6ubbBOx6/s1600/IMG_9028.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Familia Brito</td></tr>
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E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-80820384670736735322015-12-08T17:05:00.000-08:002016-02-07T17:06:19.078-08:00on being still<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dearest and most beloved family </i>(can you tell that I am feeling super sentimental this Christmas?),</span></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It does not feel like Christmas. How sad is that? It is still really hot. I haven't heard Christmas music in a good two days. No one says "Merry Christmas." There are maybe three houses with Christmas lights (and a bonus house that had a glowing Santa Claus on a stick). Despite the sad state of the Yucatan this season, I hold a lot of gratitude in my heart for many things: We are now in a trio with Hermana Corporan — she got here from Campeche last Monday and has ever since been gracing us with her bright, Dominican Republic disposition. She is tiny — literally <i>tiny</i> — with crazy hair and a voice that should be in one of those really good, dramatic movies. We love her a lot and have been grateful to have her with us, even if it is only for the last two weeks of exchanges. We feel the Spirit more in our lessons, and have decided that it is because there are now three witnesses of Christ in one room. I am grateful for her. I also had exchanges for TWO DAYS with Hermana Ellgen #Christmascameearlythisyear. I went to Vicente Solis to work in her area. We bought way too much Mexican bread that I love with Philadelphia cheese, but I justified it with the fact that I will not have this same luxury in three months (WHAT). We sat outside of their apartment building every night because their cell phone doesn't get service in their house and because we had to practice singing over the phone with an elder that was going to play the ukulele with us for the Christmas talent show (more on that later). I am grateful for her friendship that has become a great and eternal one. Other things that made me happy this week:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— seeing a less active from the ward praying along in a Catholic church. We really thought that she was going to come back to church with us. (note: this didn't make me happy, but it was really funny). </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">— running after a moving bus for literally one <i>calle</i> because I was so determined to have it stop for us. It never did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">— lesson with a recent convert from Vicente Solis that said he didn't believe in life after death because no one had ever come back to life, but then we were like, "um, Christ?" And then we all just started laughing. </span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">— Hermanita Rebeca now wants to be baptized. THIS IS A MIRACLE. She wanted to get baptized in the Catholic church the whollllllllle time we had been teaching her. Then she received a priesthood blessing and everything changed. I am grateful for the power of the priesthood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— celebrating Christmas with the mission yesterday. It was lovely, seeing all of the people that are now some of my dearest friends, listening to President Garcia and his wife bear their testimonies for the last time with all the missionaries gathered, watching all of the talents (and yes, Hermana Ellgen convinced me to sing with her. We sang "be Still My Soul" with the help of Elder Wasden on the ukulele. Wish I could send the vid, but nothing goes through here). I loved it, celebrating the Christmas season and feeling so whole and well-loved. It was so nice just being there. It reminded me of a quote from an archbishop (don't remember who...) that talked about prayer, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"I think I am trying to grow in just being there. Like when you sit in front of a fire in winter, you are just there in front of the fire, and you don't have to be smart or anything. The fire just warms you."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I have tried to apply that more in my prayers. Instead of talking and talking and saying the same things, I have tried being still, focusing on just being there with God. It has changed my relationship with Him. I feel His presence, His warmth, His love, His very Being. I think that is what He wants that for us — that we can feel of His reality and His desire to be with His children, to really be with Him as if we were there in His heavenly home, if only for a minute. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, maybe that is my Christmas message to each of you: to focus on just being there, on being still. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you mucho mucho mucho and can't wait to talk to you kind of soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">xoxo</span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">p.s. I was going to send a lot of photos, but something is happening to the computer and I am too technologically challenged to try to figure it out. Next week!</span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-68174491892999760362015-11-30T16:58:00.000-08:002016-02-07T16:59:21.864-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">general announcement: </span></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to Costco with Hna Garica and now have no time to write — however, definitely worth the thirty minute trip in search of peanut butter and trail mix, which is practically non-existent here. Just so you know that all is well in the Yucatan. The bishop contunes to treat us like his daughters, we taught three conferences in two days and realized that traveling is tiring, ate a cheesecake and cinnamon rolls, celebrated Thanksgiving with macaroni and cheese, and found a lot of people that are prepared to receive the gospel. Love you and miss you!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>n</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">p.s. I won't be writing until Tuesday of next week, because we are celebrating Christmas next monday so our p day will be tuesday. kluvubi</span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-7854075688952444152015-11-23T16:54:00.000-08:002016-02-07T16:58:13.015-08:00after the trial of your faith<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hello dearest family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">These days have been full of rain and more rain, a time of season that reminds me of home and mountains and real comforters. I found that I can almost make my hammock feel like a bed during the fall if I pull the end half up to my head so that it covers my whole body (like a </span><span style="color: #222222;">cocoon</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">?) (is that weird?). It rained so much this week that our bedroom filled with water. We wondered why and then we discovered a crack in the ceiling. Nonetheless, we are happy and well and still the best of friends. I think these last eight weeks with Hermana Canseco have been the most fun and different weeks of the entire mission. I am already missing her, as she leaves for home in only THREE WEEKS. I am dying. Sometimes it is hard changing companions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We walked a lot this week (again) and contacted many of our references. Turns out no one wanted to listen to us for a good four days. It's funny, because I use to be okay with people not wanting to listen so that I didn't have to speak Spanish. Now it makes me sad (and also frustrated). For example, we contacted a man that had just lost his dad and he had a lot of questions about life after death that his pastors in the Catholic church weren't able to answer. We answered all of his questions and talked about the Plan of Salvation, and then all he asked us was how we knew what we know and how he was always going to be Catholic. At times I find myself getting frustrated with other's ignorance, but most of the time it makes me sad when people reject doctrine that just simply makes sense. We had a good, long trial of faith, which was only made better with hermanita Rebeca telling us that she wants to get baptized with her grandma in the Catholic church . . . we are going to have to work on that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We talked about why we weren't having success because we felt that we were doing everything that we could. We decided that we needed to be more grateful for the small miracles and hands of God that we are privileged to see and feel out here in the mission field. So we started to be more grateful. I was grateful for the way Rebeca and Jonathan yelled "good night" in English out of their large front window; for the act of sitting outside with our neighbors under a starry sky to sing hymns; for the small boy at church who wore all blue with water-slicked back hair and socks that obviously did not match. Gratitude does good to one's soul. It lightens your heart and opens your eyes to the small moments of glory that remind us that God created everything and saw that it was good so that we could experience joy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel especially grateful for you, dear family, during this Thanksgiving season (which I am definitely still going to celebrate, even if it be with pizza and spaghetti). I love you and am grateful for the eternal glory and happiness that will continue to be ours to share. Happy Thanksgiving!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-46410549256681710292015-11-16T16:50:00.000-08:002016-02-07T16:54:13.282-08:00increase of joy<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dear family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The bishop in our ward continues to remind me of how Papa probably was (i.e. doing things in his own way because it is most always better, without really bending the rules, but kind of sort of). We went to visit a less-active member with him on Saturday to share a short message. In the car ride over he informed us that we would be watching a twelve minute film entitled, "Man's Search for Happiness," a short video that he had used on his mission (how he found it and translated it into Spanish, we do not know). We were thinking we would show the movie on the portable DVD player that we have, but as we were pilling out of the car, he was searching for his bright pink laptop and large, white projector. It turned out being like a drive-in movie and it was hilarious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was full of fun and new adventures: we did a conference with the new missionaries and their trainers, went to the airport to pick up a new missionary that came in late (that awkward moment when you are waiting for an Hermana Oaxoca to arrive, but an Hermana Salazar comes instead — "Um, are you sure you are in the right mission?" Turns out her last name is Oaxoca Salazar...), celebrating Hermana Canseco's seventeen months on the mission with pizza and spaghetti (the pizza here always comes with spaghetti?), giving the spaghetti to our neighbor's dog, Sasha, who slips between our fence and barks at us because she doesn't like us. We think we won her confidence with the food. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We contacted a lot of references this week, which meant a lot of walking. Despite the extra exercise, we were guided by the Spirit without even knowing it. While looking for a reference, we ended up finding two less active families that had just moved to the area — a 21 year old student from Campeche and a family of four from Kanasin. We found them without searching for them, and I knew in that moment that God knows each of His children and what they need in order to be happy. We visited hermanita Rebeca a lot this week and she accepted a baptismal date (yay) despite her fears in the beginning. We think that it was love that changed her — we told her that we loved her one day and everything changed. She gives us wild flowers and fake jewels and sits by us at church every week. When you give love, they love back. There was one night when she and her mom and her brother took the bus to the church with us. She and Jonathan sat in between me by the window and I taught them <i>buenas noches</i> in English and before I knew it they were opening the bus window and were waving and saying "good night" to everyone that we passed. It was one of those eternally happy moments when one feels an increase of joy — not a greater or fuller kind, just an increase within one's soul. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thou hast multiplied the nation and increased the joy -- they joy before thee according to the joy in the harvest..." (2 Nefi 19:2-3)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wishing you a week with an increase of joy. Love you and can't wait to see you for Christmas (yes, we are already listening to Christmas music).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love always,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-59569138296090017042015-11-09T16:46:00.000-08:002016-02-07T16:49:47.588-08:00finding home while away from home<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola familia mia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quintero is another heaven. God has given us the ability to love without really knowing another nor really knowing why. I have realized that that is the most important thing on a mission, learning how to truly love someone that one did not know before. We have been teaching <i>hermanita</i> Rebeca, a nine year old that lives with her mom (an incredibly beautiful and kind single mom that should be the main character of a Sundance film) and her little brother, Jonathan (an incredibly energetic seven year old who tries to kiss my cheek every time he sees us). They live in a blue house with a wood door engraved in circles. Rebeca doesn't want to get baptized now because the elders that were here before told her that she would only be under the water for the amount of time it took her to say a prayer. I think they were trying to help her, but she got scared ... whoops. Her mom works every Sunday, and so she and Jonathan wake up on their own every single Sunday and get ready by theirselves in order to go to church. This Sunday she wore a blue dress and had jewels in her hair. They sat next to us and were absolutely slightly terrible. I felt like a mother, giving them paper and pencils and hymn books and being slightly stressed until they went to sing a primary song and I felt like crying just seeing them singing. They are so good and I felt so grateful for being a part of their lives, for however small of a moment it may be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other good things about Quintero: 1) the bishop is absolutely HILARIOUS. Like, one of those old Italian grandfathers that is a little over-protective of his daughters. He treats us like his daughters, driving us to our appointments, yelling at us outside of our house to see how we are doing. He is an English teacher in elementary school and always sends us texts in English. His daughter married an American that she served with on her mission (it just about killed him), and she lives in Utah! So he already has plans to visit our family this April. Get excited. 2) the second counselor is an intelligent, artsy man. At lunch we talked about the anthropology of the Book of Mormon and then we ate pumpkin (it's the one dessert I don't really like here — pumpkin steamed with some kind of juice and sugar. Yucatecans are so funny sometimes). 3) Our neighbors are all families and are always super interested in all of the missionaries that have lived next to them. The only down-side: one of our neighbors likes to sit on the top of his roof with his friend and blast Mexican love songs, starting at one in the morning until 6. No es bueno. We are excited to be here for another change (there were changes last night, but we are staying together — yay!). We have to create a perfect area, because all of the sister missionaries will be coming to our area to work with us every week. We still don't really know how this is going to work, but we are just going to do what they tell us. Trying to get over the fear of having to have a perfect area and trying to trust that God will make it happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We talked a lot about home this week. The second counselor taught us about how the majority of the people that convert to the Church are those that find it while they are away from home, and that those that have always been a part of the Church usually find their true conversion while away the place where they started. It made me think about home — I thought about my conversion as I have been away from you these past (almost) fourteen months. I wonder if we find our real eternal home while we are away from our earthly one because we have to find out where we really came from and who we really are without the four walls that we grew up in —we discover God and our origin, we discover our heavenly home and the person we have to become in order to get there. Finding home while being aways from home. I am grateful that my earthly home and eternal one will be the same, filled with the same people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope that all is lovely and bright on Yale, thinking of you always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-84942240242872119332015-11-02T16:42:00.000-08:002016-02-07T16:45:28.308-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola hermosa familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone used to make fun of me for having nine months in one area — to the point that they put the name Merida, Mulsay Mission next to my name at every opportunity. This week I got them all back by living in four different areas in six days. To say the least, it has been a crazy seven days. They took us out of our dear Zazil-ha one week before transfers which meant that we were nomads for a short little while. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Highs of not having a home:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— living in the nicest house in the mission in Centro for one and a half days. We were with two American sisters and they gave us peanut butter and nutella. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— hanging out in the offices for a full day and driving around with Hermana Garcia to visit sick missionaries and buying Dairy Queen and Krispy Kreme donuts. I have never eaten so much sugar in one day than we did with her. She is absolutely hilarious and told us all about her and president and their fam and we got to listen to pretty instrumental music in her car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— sleeping in the mission home = beds and hot showers </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— last minute dinner changes = making a real, American-type dinner at the mission home. Costco salad with nuts and cheese, just like mom makes it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lows of not having a home: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— not being able to sleep in the beds in the mission home and not having hot water by the time I showered</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— living out of a suitcase is not as adventurous as it sounds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— not having an area or people to love and visit. we felt without purpose this week and it makes me scared for being home and not having a designated area and people to visit (i.e. I might be a little weird when I get back). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are now serving in Quintero, an area that is not too big nor too small. The people have a little more money than those in my other two areas, which has been a slight adjustment. The people were very poor and humble in Mulsay and Zazil-ha, so I am back to getting used to bigger meals and more people with cars. Our house is the prettiest house I have ever lived in: white walls, two palm trees out front, two bathrooms, and a real kitchen. We took the whole morning cleaning it and it is almost perfect now. We love it (Hermana Canseco and I, because we are still companions!). We went to the ward yesterday, and it is literally perfect. I had the first really effective ward council meeting for the first time ever here and the bishop took us to visit people yesterday without us even asking. We love it already and feel that we are really here for a reason — it feels right and we are excited to work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not much to report this week, and so hopefully next week I will have more things to tell with this new area and new people and new experiences. Love you and miss you oh so much !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-73822751732583481992015-10-26T16:32:00.000-07:002016-02-07T16:41:54.463-08:00this is what dreams are made of*<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3dYr3B8b9GKFpHK3vzFJR1aY5iaHmx5CXsRjf9A-971j40eRKOsBBMrvV87_1QcA-LRW9SnGaA1HLpX32d4XWAJ1APQUd8UaVc3oMmcqWkFqa4WSmHZ2_MON1DGgKxH50Ap0gaMnkYfW/s1600/IMG_8856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3dYr3B8b9GKFpHK3vzFJR1aY5iaHmx5CXsRjf9A-971j40eRKOsBBMrvV87_1QcA-LRW9SnGaA1HLpX32d4XWAJ1APQUd8UaVc3oMmcqWkFqa4WSmHZ2_MON1DGgKxH50Ap0gaMnkYfW/s1600/IMG_8856.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dearest family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was filled with the best and perhaps most happiest seven days of my entire mission (or entire life), because I went to Campeche. And I SAW THE OCEAN. We are still talking about it. Like, we can't get over it. It was a dream, the very best kind of dream. The assistants called us Monday to ask us to teach our Zone about purity the following morning in our mini Zone Conference (they called us at 8 pm, which meant we were up for half the night preparing for it. i.e. our goal of being exactly obedient this week totally did not happen). They talked about faith in the Conference, and we followed up with repentance — it went really well and we felt really grateful that the Spirit was there. They called us that same night asking if we could do it again with all the missionaries in Merida. We said yes, despite my fear of speaking in front of large crowds of people in a foreign language (just picture Shelby-me trying to do this, and you will understand). We fasted and prayed and went on Thursday to teach what we taught with our Zone, and it went really, really well. We did an activity with our missionary badges and by the end, everyone was sharing what they had learned and felt — it is definitely much better to teach and listen with the Spirit. If I have learned anything within this past transfer, it is that we cannot do anything without the Spirit. He teaches and lifts and enters the hearts that we cannot reach. We got a call that same night asking if we could cancel our appointments for Friday, because we were going to Campeche to do the same thing. I felt like we were on tour it was so hilarious: Zona Merida, Merida, Campeche. I secretly loved it. We woke up at three in the morning the next day to catch our bus to the promised land (it is true, everyone wants to go to Campeche, even the natvies have license plates with, <i>"Campeche, quiero estar alli!"</i>). The four of us took a two hour bus ride through a jungle of trees. I tried reading and sleeping but to no avail, I was so excited. It was like Christmas. We arrived at eight in the morning and I fell in love at first sight — hills and houses on hills, cathedrals, buses with black tickets instead of orange, ocean air. It is perfect (note: google it) We had the conference for three hours and then got to go on splits with the sisters there for two hours before eating lunch at a restaurant right on the ocean. Seeing the ocean felt like home; the blue and half-day light reminded me of what my parents had given me since childhood with T streets and tamales and coconut ice cream. I think I was always made for Mexico. I ordered pasta (I know, mistake) and my comp ordered breaded shrimp with coconut, which I ended up eating because it was SO GOOD. We are all going there because dad would love it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we had to take the bus back to Merida and I was sad. It was literally the best day of my life. It made me realize so many of the things that have changed within me -- not just the fact that I now like ham sandwiches and <i>papaya liquados</i> — but the things that God has allowed me to become through doing hard things and foreign things. I remembered what Elder Bednar told us when he was here: we cannot remain the same and please God. While sitting on the bus back home, I read in 2 Nefi 9, and learned how it talks about how we will be the same people in heaven that we became here on earth — that our happiness will become an eternal one, or that our sadness will become an infinite one. I am grateful for this principle of the Gospel, that God allows us to become what we want to be with Him. I hope that I am changing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are so many more things that I could write, like the time we filled up a baptismal font with buckets for two hours because there was no water in the ward, or how we carried two dressers through a crowded city and empty bus. These experiences are changing me and giving me a greater happiness that I did not know before. So, thank you for letting me serve a mission, even though it has perhaps been long and distant. I miss you and love you always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*only HIllary Duff can full express how I feel</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Naa1jMy62i8_7QDbSjMgM0iVVzGaHFfI-3CNWI6NMU1Sh-U9C3m3zJT5H6XhFI-fC3CQJJ64e-gjcAToISjrARPLxtSGuwHSBGKwBqwZRa4Zcv8PRjXSfB5Ib15m6HvXCFaLGeWmgk_Z/s1600/IMG_8844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Naa1jMy62i8_7QDbSjMgM0iVVzGaHFfI-3CNWI6NMU1Sh-U9C3m3zJT5H6XhFI-fC3CQJJ64e-gjcAToISjrARPLxtSGuwHSBGKwBqwZRa4Zcv8PRjXSfB5Ib15m6HvXCFaLGeWmgk_Z/s1600/IMG_8844.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">fiesta in celebration of hermana cockerham's birthday</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29hvkBmu2amCvu0npscW6kXWu71Mt_X5PamznUlXrfYJBy9FpxwDhsBKOArAalHSMLHbfLx70r9KGnYLNUzbS47atOynbXdpc_3xboUlr4hD2QhnfjNo5kSyaoRv0fTSmfvRQCdV85n7P/s1600/IMG_8830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29hvkBmu2amCvu0npscW6kXWu71Mt_X5PamznUlXrfYJBy9FpxwDhsBKOArAalHSMLHbfLx70r9KGnYLNUzbS47atOynbXdpc_3xboUlr4hD2QhnfjNo5kSyaoRv0fTSmfvRQCdV85n7P/s1600/IMG_8830.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2o1vJ6RRcEcFNJj3Da4Ezmia5R_nApdRCbmGSd7MhIw7EF9lbg8vAa49bNvBehKtfc1hhd4FxP6I7cCKjRmbkVWDUYNnKAzpMTXb8o3U9wgjIvxy4xui5D3SLqCBDvZy-_SaLzmSlJEQ/s1600/IMG_8814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2o1vJ6RRcEcFNJj3Da4Ezmia5R_nApdRCbmGSd7MhIw7EF9lbg8vAa49bNvBehKtfc1hhd4FxP6I7cCKjRmbkVWDUYNnKAzpMTXb8o3U9wgjIvxy4xui5D3SLqCBDvZy-_SaLzmSlJEQ/s1600/IMG_8814.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">hermana spencer modeling our rain coats</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAz9DIYzQoc_RfKzw8su8ydZYSr2m_9yx-HoNIk1Zx8pD10tYoz-1qf7KvURuJbeT2Cxu66Ptiq55ROaNxR-X0ahfRk1m4NEPgUBaTvlGR_trOqSmY6HUKrTMxUcjexjhJKqaZkhyoKlU/s1600/IMG_8777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAz9DIYzQoc_RfKzw8su8ydZYSr2m_9yx-HoNIk1Zx8pD10tYoz-1qf7KvURuJbeT2Cxu66Ptiq55ROaNxR-X0ahfRk1m4NEPgUBaTvlGR_trOqSmY6HUKrTMxUcjexjhJKqaZkhyoKlU/s1600/IMG_8777.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">our church building — we have sacrament on the second floor</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqgRZptHsU0v3SL-EbHdyNRhP98LRH1jm6Qu3dTBXipw9mhl9yF9tFeu6WWojbRjhxe-wtm0Y4Aa6fhMXWUj5NV8-xb36Lr_fTtQyDhqsShXZcPO-ZIi8tVQ-qMgoPG22FLZ3rHbq3DOO/s1600/IMG_8853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqgRZptHsU0v3SL-EbHdyNRhP98LRH1jm6Qu3dTBXipw9mhl9yF9tFeu6WWojbRjhxe-wtm0Y4Aa6fhMXWUj5NV8-xb36Lr_fTtQyDhqsShXZcPO-ZIi8tVQ-qMgoPG22FLZ3rHbq3DOO/s1600/IMG_8853.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">splits with sisters in Campeche</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-xMB4gHRKP6FuJ6v3ov117I7askqGI0pbA_4M2RI2lI9HaG5JqVKE8yO4q5aCFpQ4h0TPszVIW8hie1bLVDXUQ4yb-pF8vfgwmu2ouxjFxiHKaLgwie6XElAQ3mw8mB0CtFkRxmH_T3u/s1600/IMG_8857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-xMB4gHRKP6FuJ6v3ov117I7askqGI0pbA_4M2RI2lI9HaG5JqVKE8yO4q5aCFpQ4h0TPszVIW8hie1bLVDXUQ4yb-pF8vfgwmu2ouxjFxiHKaLgwie6XElAQ3mw8mB0CtFkRxmH_T3u/s1600/IMG_8857.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">ocean for the first time in one year and one month = happiness </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmFND2WeBEuQLiuvcL3Ar8AkLdK4NsQMlOpkzKUpgKEjrfDQ0v5RI3rnji_q-I2i9KwwoV7vvOibj8Ilqi20W9vslH38tiQzolaAuhWLq0C884BxreC3_Xszb0i-cmxjCaBtYfLwnQzTa/s1600/IMG_8864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmFND2WeBEuQLiuvcL3Ar8AkLdK4NsQMlOpkzKUpgKEjrfDQ0v5RI3rnji_q-I2i9KwwoV7vvOibj8Ilqi20W9vslH38tiQzolaAuhWLq0C884BxreC3_Xszb0i-cmxjCaBtYfLwnQzTa/s1600/IMG_8864.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">they made us take this picture after lunch (feat. Elder Calmes y Elder Ferriera)</span></td></tr>
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E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-40582995419058681572015-10-13T16:27:00.000-07:002016-02-07T16:30:52.933-08:00because I have been given much<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hopefully you got the news that we went to the temple today, which meant that our p-day was changed. If not, I really hope that no one panicked and called the offices — I am alive and well and do not have chinkunguya. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week felt like one year, and this week went by in a second. We are super, super busy. As in one Wednesday I came home and curled up in a ball on the tile floor with the fan on full blast with the intent of never moving my body ever again. I have never been so exhausted, but I have also never been so happy. I don't remember when the whole complete and full happiness on the mission thing started happening, but I am liking it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Run down of the week:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday: leadership meeting en Centro, which involved a kind of cool set-up of really long tables and blue tableclothes that made everything seem really official. Then we all started talking and I realized that we are still nineteen and twenty year olds trying to be missionaries, and it made me feel less scared. We ate Costco muffins and chocolate milk (shout out to Dan) which felt like home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wednesday: house checks with Hermana Garcia and the assistants — we thought she liked our house, but then they called the next day and told us that we have to move. I guess they didn't like the fact that we don't have a shower head and have been showering with one blue bucket. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday: interviews with President, which proved to be the best one yet. I am so grateful for having him as a our president for the whole year and a half; he has taught me so much of things concerning the Spirit and obedience and charity. I maybe might have been frustrated with all the rules in our mission in the beginning, but now I am really grateful for them. Funny how that always happens, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Friday: <i>intercambios</i> with Hermana Ellgen = best day ever. It was literally a dream come true for us ever since she started her mission in my first zone. We spent one whole day together, which consisted of people staring at us in the streets because they had never seen two Americans together ever before. We ran after two buses that saw us but didn't stop for us, and then there was that moment when she got off the bus and I was still on it and so I had to literally jump off a moving vehicle. It was so fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We worked a lot this week. We had a lot of lessons this week. Despite our work and despite the fact that we really are trying to make things better here in Zazil-ha, we didn't see the fruits of our labors from these last seven days. It's made me realize that if I have (hopefully) learned and applied one thing here, it is about how to be happy when things are not so happy. I have reallized that the whole "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy" thing completely depends on us and how we use our agency in order to reach God's hope for us — that we <i>might </i>be happy. It has been a liberating experience, being able to be grateful for hard things and happy for the sad ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Miss you and love you even more, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-87276230478414775112015-10-05T16:20:00.000-07:002016-02-07T16:26:43.684-08:00conference weekend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJCi6LTpj2i01pvxfdCHTWFBAsuRtRgcPm6x0mhL1nCA7K9gzPCvUt-6arITMHNrMdWSAr2CF7LHnuCOPUcsq5P_2v-r8krGOwUZRVm3kTrhHjcp-4EnnBGnaST8LEU05TpHRODOP9Bhp/s1600/IMG_8753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJCi6LTpj2i01pvxfdCHTWFBAsuRtRgcPm6x0mhL1nCA7K9gzPCvUt-6arITMHNrMdWSAr2CF7LHnuCOPUcsq5P_2v-r8krGOwUZRVm3kTrhHjcp-4EnnBGnaST8LEU05TpHRODOP9Bhp/s1600/IMG_8753.JPG" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola querida familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How beautiful was Conference weekend? I loved every minute of it, minus the fact that we missed the first half of the Sunday Morning Session because our disctrict leader told us that it was daylight savings and that we had to set our clocks back one hour. Turns out day light savings isn't until next week (right?), which means that we set our clocks back for no reason. . . slightly hilarious and we have still not fully forgiven our district leader for misinforming us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything is practically perfect here in the Yucatan. Hermana Canseco and I get along really well, despite the always slightly awkward first week of getting to know someone that you have to live with for six weeks — always awkward, but hilarious as well. She is twenty seven years old and is from Sanora, Mexico. She goes home in December and is really trying to learn English in these last two transfers, which means that I get to practice my English whenever we are in the house — she asked me how to say "good night, sister-in-law," which she now says to me every night before we try sleeping in our hammocks which have somehow become more uncomfortable. She has already betrothed me to her younger brother, so I take it as a sign that she likes me. We are both trying to figure out our new responsibilites, and are slightly failing until we have our training this week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We found a lot of new people to teach this week, which was what we needed after the family that was going to get baptized decided that they couldn't give up worshipping the virgin Mary. . . there are some things that I will never understand here. We met a woman that has lived with her two daughters for the past two years after her husband abandoned her, and another that had four children and then abandoned them and her husband. I felt really sad, listening to all their stories and coming to know their souls and the sad things that often happen here. I wondered if God felt sad. too, and wondered if He ever thinks that maye He should have never let us leave His presence. So many of these people and their stories weigh my soul. At times as we are walking under the Merida sky, I wonder why there are so many unfair things and so many of God's children that have fallen short of their inheritance and privileges. The Gospel is such a deep and profound blessing for me that it frustrates me when others do not feel the same. But then we went to Conference, and then I remembered that God is good and that He did not send us here to be sad or to be weighed down. He sent us here so that we could be learned to be lifted and carried by Him and His Son, and so that we could come to our own faith and knowledge of Him by our own agency. I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk about simple discipleship — I think that all our Heavenly Father and Savior ask is that we come and follow them, which is pretty simple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, sorry for the quick and slightly jambled (is that a word?) email — we went shopping, which makes me slightly angry/hungry, and I am still trying to recover from doing something that I do not like doing. Love you so much and missed you even more during this Conference weekend — sending all my love and joy,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbHci9xWgSKQ7EFb0hnMrpq55XEA8jo-FQJ_e7vAgw5NO3hfZQDfxhuG3KreJjbvkwUWsrYEuLC0dEX1WMlZGQN-kKMv7gT_cexo1fAB1IIBNX_l6UcdwWwQZdcH1bw-Zn3-S4PhIticA/s1600/IMG_8770.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">
a picnic with my new companion during conference</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWiRhOnLYlDzI2k7wpMm_O2WKMXhsXL-6go7CXeO8ij2DZsgkTxpVN04pF1h21-TXdRwaoT6oaYHu_jLa4eASGL0pS1P8IIi8KJA5dGeOPLrbb6yTZTwXzxNGA5P2JMUd6RcWyaHsT0PC/s1600/IMG_8774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWiRhOnLYlDzI2k7wpMm_O2WKMXhsXL-6go7CXeO8ij2DZsgkTxpVN04pF1h21-TXdRwaoT6oaYHu_jLa4eASGL0pS1P8IIi8KJA5dGeOPLrbb6yTZTwXzxNGA5P2JMUd6RcWyaHsT0PC/s1600/IMG_8774.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">all the American sisters watching Conference in English in a tiny office in Mexico. Hna Ellgen is my BFF. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mCMnejtROQukNC4i6rbeWmMT10CfeulbEVy1RMWvLP56QM-QyYt-kdsKa5NE2ijkakvm9L15SyxTN1jmFDYp1V0bIfV8jwmKs7o2TL2TDG99jOBbB2N1OEiQbi328YOFxyffs7tPfdz5/s1600/IMG_8639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mCMnejtROQukNC4i6rbeWmMT10CfeulbEVy1RMWvLP56QM-QyYt-kdsKa5NE2ijkakvm9L15SyxTN1jmFDYp1V0bIfV8jwmKs7o2TL2TDG99jOBbB2N1OEiQbi328YOFxyffs7tPfdz5/s1600/IMG_8639.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a family of 20 that we taught one time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl4ELGpQAzlee0s00qA_T7J80mByRPdYlR2yFQFBeVjHPKrlzRhL9SBERQidtJDz1hFHkjCV_r83PDhKZuHgsqAXxxUPtzvhp3e9fV6NEXT6e7fxIiLzkl3iy1XJ2R8JfsnyUxjegsmtw/s1600/IMG_8756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl4ELGpQAzlee0s00qA_T7J80mByRPdYlR2yFQFBeVjHPKrlzRhL9SBERQidtJDz1hFHkjCV_r83PDhKZuHgsqAXxxUPtzvhp3e9fV6NEXT6e7fxIiLzkl3iy1XJ2R8JfsnyUxjegsmtw/s1600/IMG_8756.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">cutest less active family that we love. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbHci9xWgSKQ7EFb0hnMrpq55XEA8jo-FQJ_e7vAgw5NO3hfZQDfxhuG3KreJjbvkwUWsrYEuLC0dEX1WMlZGQN-kKMv7gT_cexo1fAB1IIBNX_l6UcdwWwQZdcH1bw-Zn3-S4PhIticA/s1600/IMG_8770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-60160287665156385762015-09-28T16:16:00.000-07:002016-02-07T16:19:41.158-08:00when you think you know everything<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola querida familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Good news! Hermana Villalobos fully recovered from chinkunguya to the point where she could walk and work just one week after having it, which is pretty much a miracle because usually no one can walk for a month after having the illness. Moral of the story: gracias for your prayers and your fasting. They were felt and received miles away in a little house in Merida, which reminds me how good God is and how nice it is to have people and love people that have faith and prayer for others in order to use it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sad news: we had transfers yesterday and Hermana Villalobos and I are no longer together, which we kind of knew was going to happen at the end of her training, but still doesn't make it hurt less. We are seriously the bestest of friends and I have no doubt that I will miss her bright presence here in Zazil-ha. Because yes, I am staying in Zazil-ha. Which is what we didn't think was going to happen. We were pretty convinced that I would be leaving this part of the mission and that she would be staying, to the point that the elders were singing God Be With You and praying for my departure ( I hope they were joking..). Hermana Villalobos is now in Caucel, while I will be here with Hermana Corneco as Sister Training Leaders. We are excited to be together and already get along quite well. To be honest, I am slightly nervous. I thought that I was tired of training and being with new missionaries, but I already feel a slight sadness and longing to be with another new one. There is something quite gratifying and wonderful with being able to learn from others that supposedly don't know as much as you, and yet I learned everything from them. I am excited for this new opportunity to learn and be humbled (because I know it will happen), plus Hermana Ellgen, my BFF from Zona Centro, is now in our Zone and so I can go on splits with her and we are so excited we might have cried. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not much time and not much to report with only four days of working the last week. We had a glorious last four days of feeling the spirit and seeing the progress of members and less actives. It really is something quite special being able to know people and come to love them and feel the love that God has for them. The love of God is real and undeniable. I think that that is maybe what I have learned — that we are important to our Heavenly Father and that He really does know us and prepare the way for us even when we don't understand His will or His timing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love you oh so much. Thanks for reminding me that I only have six months left...can't believe that I will see you relatively sooooon! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-67071677886565047242015-09-21T16:12:00.000-07:002016-02-07T16:16:33.502-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola dear family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was another one spent in our house due to the dengue and chikungunya epidemic — we are literally going crazy because we have been confined to the house for two weeks now. I don't know how I have managed to evade it. My companion hasn't been so lucky — she has chikungunya, which gives one a rash over your whole body, a really high fever, and so much pain in your body that you cannot walk or do anything other than sleep in your hammock, which means we have been in and out of the hospital almost every day this week. In a weird way, I kind of enjoyed it because I realized that I really like being in hospitals and trying to understand everything in Spanish. Moral of the story: weird types of dengue are not fun, but I learned how to take care of one who has dengue and realized that I liked waking up every two hours to check her temperature and making her banana chocolate shakes. To make this email more interesting thatn five days in the house can make it, I will answer a few questions before having to sign off (because we are writing in the mission office and I feel self-conscious writing with everyone here for some reason...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, hammocks: yes, it's true. Literally everyone sleeps in a hammock here. It's because the weather is always so hot, and the hammock provides some type of ventilation. I actually really like sleeping in one, but sometimes end up sleeping on the floor because I am so hot and the tile is much cooler than the hammock. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mayan: still can't speak in Mayan. Everyone says that if you know English, Maya is more easy to learn. I don't believe it. I did learn the word for horse this week, which is <i>tzimin</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Laundry: we have to walk five <i>calles</i> to get to the <i>lavandaria</i>. This is a small sacrifice because some missionaries have to wash all of their clothes by hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, sorry for the lack of quality of emails from this week — but I am happy to hear that my package arrived (because it cost me 600 pesos — boo) (and because I had to wait two hours). But yay! I love you so much and miss you always. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love, </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-60369898926466187212015-09-07T15:59:00.000-07:002016-02-07T16:12:16.972-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsQ0d736-2EMZm6BSf5lugXz4nuR77v-tS6PxMuxUyXpEvd6EBYrL4HXBOOw3Q-xQ_f9Mase23G2du99JY0Tqxcdf9J0lgZ7bzw0L5DQRM1xmQO9MlBNsRDjG85eSL2GXIbQgl3-v1oGw/s1600/IMG_8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCphDV8yLhg4VU9lC2BsWEwOjty48VGL4vRYz2fyFfUTJIBKUM1ILWmTqIlyylOTQZKvDQZsoV7kPtvdKY13k1oZiCakM94BpKeXe3EMcAa9TLjr06jdMo3BcvNxkzbwUYIGBw3cNkJq2-/s1600/IMG_8526.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc2kl10YfE4yhk_onNiwhfyS0cVDg8PLe8YPCOc5iYy0z9TZZfoImGwikfAhnckTZ1C9prhyR7GPfBwgDKC2-gkXvb8Qq9M-dmTFX2nionRj88K-uHCMVKILeWtkv9UjfT9UDLijYK_uO/s1600/IMG_8566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc2kl10YfE4yhk_onNiwhfyS0cVDg8PLe8YPCOc5iYy0z9TZZfoImGwikfAhnckTZ1C9prhyR7GPfBwgDKC2-gkXvb8Qq9M-dmTFX2nionRj88K-uHCMVKILeWtkv9UjfT9UDLijYK_uO/s1600/IMG_8566.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">the one and only Hermana Dulce. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola familia,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this week we found out that we are in the second most strict mission in the world. In. The. World. To put it into perspective, Germany (shoutout to John) is in first place...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">This week we also found out that my companion has dengue, which entailed three days home-bound with only fruit, jello, and a </span><span style="color: #222222;">vigilant</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> watch for fever every two hours all through the night. We ended up studying and writing and sleeping most of the time and writing lists of impossible questions for our district leader. We think he calls us last every single night because we always have questions for him which usually takes about half an hour to answer, and then Hna Villalobos practices her English for another ten minutes. We have a lot of fun, and he is really patient. He ended up being sick this week, too, so nobody in Zazil-ha was working which equals lots of study time, lots of questions, and lots of time to end up going crazy. However, I learned a lot of new things about my companion, like how she is obssessed with Korea and anime and everything Asian. It was hilarious but also made me love her more. She has become one of my best friends and we are thoroughly convinced that we knew each other before this life because we can start any conversation with any subject and always end up talking about Christ. We had a lot of good converstaions this week, spending most of the time sitting on our tile floor with two fans on full blast just talking and laughing and listening to thunderstorms and traffic outside our front window. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we also found out that my companion doesn't have dengue, just a stomach infection, and that we spent three days in the house for nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We braved leaving the house on Saturday for Mario's baptism. We live about ten minutes aways from our two-story church and take 50 Penal in order to get there. We take the same bus. Every single day. And I ended up getting us lost. I thought I was right and that my companion was wrong, but it ended up being the exact opposite. I learned humility, again, and I also re-learned that I still have the talent of being directionally challenged. But we got to the church and cleaned the baptismal room that was full of ants (I will never understand the amount of ants that reside in Mexico) and then waited for three hours for Mario to arrive with his girlfriend and her family. It was supposed to start at 3. We waited and waited and he never came and we had the fear that he wasn't going to show up (it's happened in the mission before), but then he came and everything was perfect. His girlfriend's dad baptized him and a lot of the ward members came. It was really, really good and all I can remember is feeling 1) so happy, and 2) seeing and feeling so much light. It was as if the room was filled with a white light that illuminated everything and everyone and Mario was so happy. Hna Villalobos and I love him quite a lot — he has become our best friend and we already have plans of what we are going to do together when we return. His girlfriend's family took us out to eat after and we (my companion and I) ended up eating the majority of the giant pizza that they bought us. The mission has taught us how to eat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not much to report this week, but will send an email next week answering all of your questions from this week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love and miss you always,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBtDVrJr8_rvFKM9N4SryZrbhtlVHiLSEZFrOXwdlFjy6hoQqNuK17Un9FTgWOkwiPTtJ6ldqm6IRLz079GTrDiekekEwADQg9zd8cIV4pzur1bl8OutobjvBxGTM4tZccBWR4K_CMBnE/s1600/IMG_8579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBtDVrJr8_rvFKM9N4SryZrbhtlVHiLSEZFrOXwdlFjy6hoQqNuK17Un9FTgWOkwiPTtJ6ldqm6IRLz079GTrDiekekEwADQg9zd8cIV4pzur1bl8OutobjvBxGTM4tZccBWR4K_CMBnE/s1600/IMG_8579.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">this is what it a bus in Mexico looks like (featuring: Mario plus los elderes)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIMLdLc6taPB-YTFsbJvtc9afH71MQBuVdLs6cVhbipqPXnPKpWPNaeRRM7gquZIf3Fs-17djZCnNJFvmYV5zK7FL-XCsDT2nf5n7ErozhefxJ2cPrdqp8MoyBx8bDYKPaekiOnSGlbZO/s1600/IMG_8526.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Jose at church for the first time with his new tie</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwZEzLUqnMGYQBdAJRRdwWH2R4yEL1tFwLTd8k0ZeZJsXNkAmwcSGgA2Tfrqz8BDhuc24mMZTwzDGvms-CRJNXz_C3EYbmB-qQe4pWx0pWj03QxjLQanSgq1yAtjFurpShutZMJIWVvA9/s1600/IMG_8466.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">old photo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0mh5VxPglSuoTkG5sHj4Bsje55nX-CYoQjURr2BMGRJDTnfDai1HKzsnDWWu4BycmTzc1TIMPRwfU6_G3Yiuni51I8UjOzrz56h6X3tODUPTun75skgJ95If-jRu0BhztRoDMcIc2UJZ/s1600/IMG_8601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0mh5VxPglSuoTkG5sHj4Bsje55nX-CYoQjURr2BMGRJDTnfDai1HKzsnDWWu4BycmTzc1TIMPRwfU6_G3Yiuni51I8UjOzrz56h6X3tODUPTun75skgJ95If-jRu0BhztRoDMcIc2UJZ/s1600/IMG_8601.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">selfie with Mario at church. he is literally our best friend.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIMLdLc6taPB-YTFsbJvtc9afH71MQBuVdLs6cVhbipqPXnPKpWPNaeRRM7gquZIf3Fs-17djZCnNJFvmYV5zK7FL-XCsDT2nf5n7ErozhefxJ2cPrdqp8MoyBx8bDYKPaekiOnSGlbZO/s1600/IMG_8526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwZEzLUqnMGYQBdAJRRdwWH2R4yEL1tFwLTd8k0ZeZJsXNkAmwcSGgA2Tfrqz8BDhuc24mMZTwzDGvms-CRJNXz_C3EYbmB-qQe4pWx0pWj03QxjLQanSgq1yAtjFurpShutZMJIWVvA9/s1600/IMG_8466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcbhQzXms1T1fGlBUrjhHHCVh7VYO5a3f8A6pb3Xx_iYVS8So7183n0EkJG7tQf3Wkep-VgK7NUAFoQ4GG26irxDFehy4_NTcBY8xTbomD5L3AMRp7gf0qRc3GfoOL_RGyUuj0ABiJN1N/s1600/IMG_8597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcbhQzXms1T1fGlBUrjhHHCVh7VYO5a3f8A6pb3Xx_iYVS8So7183n0EkJG7tQf3Wkep-VgK7NUAFoQ4GG26irxDFehy4_NTcBY8xTbomD5L3AMRp7gf0qRc3GfoOL_RGyUuj0ABiJN1N/s1600/IMG_8597.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VMFDWRpBDVCG7P1wBSyLGMkTxaAk7csYok7yqrGQKX0BVsfiWuHpdZDM7qRN8EdL3yjIV8k-l64gYILlKzjj-y7R9hZcIumtOsUinnTmwn0QL7FniGxjptVfApy90TZm-1VDxaBjwBr6/s1600/IMG_8594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VMFDWRpBDVCG7P1wBSyLGMkTxaAk7csYok7yqrGQKX0BVsfiWuHpdZDM7qRN8EdL3yjIV8k-l64gYILlKzjj-y7R9hZcIumtOsUinnTmwn0QL7FniGxjptVfApy90TZm-1VDxaBjwBr6/s1600/IMG_8594.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Mario's baptism — his girlfriend and her whole family drove from Cancun to be there</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn4-o2QBLroPofPiM594tcCBqJ5TAJ0x7iD9xs4mIBBEyScYsVt9Y-YkCQUGwDFw4PRy-IXcl5Ix0mwWYBP9orlCveVt4gA1rSc3ykJfCDPRwf993Ok4sFwwdi_h-03HwPXhLWIrRcyd4/s1600/IMG_8582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn4-o2QBLroPofPiM594tcCBqJ5TAJ0x7iD9xs4mIBBEyScYsVt9Y-YkCQUGwDFw4PRy-IXcl5Ix0mwWYBP9orlCveVt4gA1rSc3ykJfCDPRwf993Ok4sFwwdi_h-03HwPXhLWIrRcyd4/s1600/IMG_8582.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Hermana Mercedes, whom we visit at least two to three times a week because she is so funny and sassy.</span></td></tr>
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E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-56382363426161635922015-08-31T10:10:00.000-07:002016-01-18T10:10:32.885-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dearest family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorry for the short email last week — I read a chapter in Mosiah this week about how King Benjamin's people were so full of the Spirit and the mercy of God that they couldn't give words to their feelings. I guess that is how I felt last Monday — full of the Spirit and God's mercy and love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week it rained and rained until we forgot what it was like being hot all the time. Lightning, thunder, and wind for a good two days. Then on Saturday it went back to being a hundred degrees plus again ... we are learning to find joy in the heat and in the sun. Because there are so many things in which we can be joyful, such as: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1) Hermana Villalobos is now addicted to peanut butter. We both eat toast with peanut butter and bananas every morning — small victory on my end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2) The elders in our area are our new best friends. Elder Harris is training Elder Linares, who just got here two weeks ago from Mexico (I realize that I am in Mexico, but everyone here believes that the Yucatan and everywhere else in Mexico are two very different countries). Elder Harris is from Idaho and has a little more than a year on the mission. Sometimes we think he is like Mr. Knightley from "Emma," because he demands respect with his goodness and pure kindness. We get to eat lunch with them every so often during the week, which are now some of our favorite days of the week. They are wonderful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3) Recognizing the perfection of God's timing in all things. Mario told us about how he first came to know about the Church this week as we sat outside on his porch on metal rocking chairs that are actually really comfortable. He told us how he had been a drummer in a band with his friends, and that one weekend they traveled to Campeche to play in a concert. He was only there for two days, but on the last day he met a girl who happened to be a member of the Church. She is from Cancun and had gone to Campeche for the concert. They started talking and continued talking long distance for a year. During this year, he went to visit her a few times. He went to church with her and listened to the missionaries and started going to church here in Zazil-ha, but by this time there weren't any missionaries so that he could receive the lessons and be baptized. And then Hermana Villalobos and I showed up. And I started thinking, how did God know that a twenty-two year old needed to go to Campeche in order to meet a girl from Cancun in order to find Him and His truth? God is perfect — in His timing, in His wisdom, and in His love. Mario read Moroni chapter 10 this week, and even though everyone always talks about verses 3-5, he liked verse 32 the best: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Yea, come unto Christ and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then in his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My heart is full of Christ's grace and His love. I will forever be grateful for this (almost) year that I have been given here in God's wilderness — learning to love His children and becoming perfected through His Son. It is hard, a lot of the time. But it is also glorious and joyful being able to know and learn from those that have heard the good word and chosen to be perfected in their Savior. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">sending all my love and joy your way,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-56596291259649649812015-08-24T10:06:00.000-07:002016-01-18T10:06:53.538-08:00loving with the spirit and understanding<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>dearest family,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel grateful today — for the mission, for the people, for the hard moments and the glorious ones. It is a strange feeling when one gets to the point of not wanting to return to the same life as before. I read an article by Parley P. Pratt the other day which spoke to my spirit, giving me the words that I have been trying to speak for so long:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"I had loved before, but I knew not why. But now I loved — with a pureness — an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling, which would lift my soul from the transitory things of this groveling sphere and expand it as the ocean. I felt that God was my Heavenly Father indeed; that Jesus was my brother...In short, I could now love with the Spirit and with understanding also."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel as if my soul has been lifted from the transitory things and into a higher, more holier sphere. I have come to realize that we are spiritual children living in a not-very-spiritual world, but that even in this existence so far from God, we can still find Him. I hope that I have been able to find Him here, with His children, in His wilderness, and that I have been able to learn to love. I am learning that the power and feeling of love is a lot more holy and eternal than I once thought before. There is a difference between loving, and loving like God and Christ. Their love is acted on with the Spirit and with understanding; with depth and mercy; without selfishness and without recompense. I love them — my Father and my Savior — for their love and their understanding. My heart has been more than full with their love lately as I have come to love others in a way that I hope is unselfish and true. We taught Mario on Wednesday again and my companion and I rejoiced in feeling that our spirits, along with his, had known each other and rejoiced over God's plan before Merida and missions and miracles. He knows everything. He acts on his faith always. He is a good person that can only become better with the Gospel and Christ and His Atonement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel grateful today, to the point that I cannot write and cannot express. Hope that all is well and happy at home and that you know how much I love you, always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love love, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2217819630897026253.post-36268555375764053912015-08-17T10:00:00.000-07:002016-01-18T10:04:04.518-08:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLe6obCJxcCKtWLKrZW2MyGUsxue0iOB2n47_WQ_ZOcz5qsebhWFUFLDoJPLpPEy6hGaNFOGqY6MzYhWHdEpNua9ntP7tuLcYN0sahnR5YhY0c0K8rhGeMlAM-OOIqeRCiR4-yA55gM1G/s1600/IMG_8393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLe6obCJxcCKtWLKrZW2MyGUsxue0iOB2n47_WQ_ZOcz5qsebhWFUFLDoJPLpPEy6hGaNFOGqY6MzYhWHdEpNua9ntP7tuLcYN0sahnR5YhY0c0K8rhGeMlAM-OOIqeRCiR4-yA55gM1G/s1600/IMG_8393.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;"> two of the most beautiful children. ever. like, how cute is this little boy? His name is Joshua and he doesn't want to get baptized because he is afraid of the water, but we still love him. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>hola </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My happiness is all but bursting and I don't quite know where to begin. Maybe with Mario? He came to church the last Sunday without us knowing him or teaching him or inviting him. He woke up at seven in the morning on Sunday with a need to go to God's house. He had gone there once before, one year ago when he started listening to the missionaries with his girlfriend in Cancun. He sauntered into the early morning meeting with his dark jeans and black shirt and a tired face from working late into the night just hours before. The speakers talked about eternal gifts from God and spiritual and mental burdens of depression and he stayed for the following two hours with a promised visit with us the following Wednesday. We could hardly wait for Wednesday — God had answered a prayer and fast that we had offered days before, wondering if God could really give us people (literally) for us to teach. And so he answered us with Mario, a twenty-three year old that decided it was about time to act on his faith and go to the house of the Lord. When we searched and found his house three days later, his mom answered the door and we sat down in wired chairs on his front patio. It was the easiest first lesson we have ever had. He already had the <i>Book of Mormon</i> and all the pamphlets and when we asked him to pray to know that all of these things were true he told us that he didn't need to pray because he already knew — had known for a long time — that it was all true. Everything and every word he had ever heard, he believed. These have been my most favorite and sacred moments of the mission, when one feels that the Gospel of Christ is good and true and then decides to act on it. We read in Matthew with him about Peter and how he had the faith to walk on water until he doubted and started to sink. Sometimes Mario doubts his belief because his mom is really, really Catholic. Sometimes his doubt over rules his fear. But we learned that fear cannot exist where there is faith, and that even though Peter doubted for a minute even though he had had faith before, Christ never doubted in him — because Christ was there with him and saved him when he started to sink and gave him the opportunity to have faith and act on his faith and grow in faith. I like knowing that Christ has faith in us even when we dont. I like knowing and seeing that Mario acts on the faith that he feels. We love him maybe a lot a lot and are really hoping that he and his girlfriend can be sealed in the temple after he gets baptized. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bullet points because no time: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— Elders are coming to our area! Today! We are super excited to be sharing a ward with them and working together with them. We had been missing the energy that only elders bring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— lLearned how to make popsicles with a fruit that doesn't exist in the United States. That was fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">— We have decided that our district leader looks like the bad guy from <i>The Incredibles</i>, but in a good way. He is from Oregon but looks like he is from Mexico. We love him and we love our district. We have all the trainers and new missionaries in our group and we all get along just swell. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, sending all my love and happiness to you, dear family of mine --</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hermana Rhondeau</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEf8QUp_KFZwsWIkaoOIVRostSHCv0_Ab-1IiNhF7zt1wVs24MiZhLwl7mJHLnC_zvr7RWlCd5lJeDFPxY1k8nPYtKIYiSFMEkGjN-AK1-I4PQMbMNq4M4nFkqv2amDe-YRZJORBf2Cjv/s1600/IMG_8397.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Familia Caamal — recent converts who were just sealed in the temple (yay). Their little boy of one year sometimes looks like a little man (like little James in New Zealand). They are wonderful. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWhbCZfpUOO_E3EpJ5iw7oYxOwsg60V2uMeUhmAOoRhwuVXvehZV0j2KzYLRtDAwXQ41WCV0kkRL6Y12-uSIR_VAMFGMNJr9gtzhvUq3Rk3LcMTEgaj80m7q0jqN5XazkPZ8-f5TGO3OW/s1600/IMG_8412.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
celebrating mothers day, because Costa Ricans celebrate in August instead of May. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDwEdT_ZprKa2OkaZOQxbr2OcSA41Ta5nQdVW0eUa9nWUICmNKxd4YzuahTBfwvEy5xF3i0BrMSlwFjZKeEoYYkNAMW7XNJ8QkEEEAxApv45Zb00wnXBmTMsDL_-BpLfWPNLo5LaRj0Cl/s1600/IMG_8424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDwEdT_ZprKa2OkaZOQxbr2OcSA41Ta5nQdVW0eUa9nWUICmNKxd4YzuahTBfwvEy5xF3i0BrMSlwFjZKeEoYYkNAMW7XNJ8QkEEEAxApv45Zb00wnXBmTMsDL_-BpLfWPNLo5LaRj0Cl/s1600/IMG_8424.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;">Jose got baptized! And he was so happy! </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEf8QUp_KFZwsWIkaoOIVRostSHCv0_Ab-1IiNhF7zt1wVs24MiZhLwl7mJHLnC_zvr7RWlCd5lJeDFPxY1k8nPYtKIYiSFMEkGjN-AK1-I4PQMbMNq4M4nFkqv2amDe-YRZJORBf2Cjv/s1600/IMG_8397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWhbCZfpUOO_E3EpJ5iw7oYxOwsg60V2uMeUhmAOoRhwuVXvehZV0j2KzYLRtDAwXQ41WCV0kkRL6Y12-uSIR_VAMFGMNJr9gtzhvUq3Rk3LcMTEgaj80m7q0jqN5XazkPZ8-f5TGO3OW/s1600/IMG_8412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10879792423179971635noreply@blogger.com0