Bad chocolate and stray dogs

¡Hola!

¿Que tal? Things here are fantastic, because guess what? S and M are getting baptized on Saturday. I’m pretty sure it will be one of the happiest days of my life!

In other news, I received a phone call last night and I will be receiving another daughter (junior companion) tomorrow! She is only temporary because she is serving here while she waits for her visa. I’ll be honest, trios don’t really seem too appealing to me. I’ve seen a lot of hermanas with problems in trios. But maybe that’s good because I have an example of what not to do. But I think it will be fun! And I’m sure we will all learn a lot!

Last week we had a water balloon fight for p-day. I was really surprised they approved that because they don’t really let the Hermanas do stuff with the Elders. But it was super fun. I will send pics.

We have been teaching a mom of a member. Most of the time we end up going to her house and washing. But we went yesterday after church and she asked us to start teaching her mom crazy! I’m pretty excited because I think she is more accepting of the church then I thought. So, I will keep you updated on that. Also we went to this lady’s house the other day and we were helping make chucos. Which translates to dogs. But they are like tamales. She was just sitting there and she said “want to dress up in corte?” We gladly accepted the invitation. I will send pics. Those clothes are so heavy! Guatemaltecos think it is hilarious to see gringos in their clothes. We all had a good time. 

Last night we had a really great experience with our branch. We hardly have branch council and when we do it’s not very productive. Anyway, they decided to have a meeting, but in a member’s home, and it was going to be really special to help motivate the leaders. Anyway the branch is preparing for their conference and they are trying to focus on bringing back a lot of the less actives. But it was amazing to see our branch working together last night and see their desires to serve.

We watched this video about Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young when they left for a mission in England and they were on their deathbeds. They were going to serve a mission again for at least 2 years and leave their families sick and poor.  But we owe so much to these early pioneers who sacrificed everything for the gospel.  And we have issues doing our visiting teaching. Our excuses are really pathetic when we look at their lives. I know that this is the true church and that this is God’s Kingdom on earth and we need to do our part to help build it.  

Hurrah, hurrah for Israel!  

Love you and miss you!

Hermana Davies

5 Questions:

What kinds of jobs do people have?

Making tortillas or bread, selling fruit, selling things on the bus. Lots of electricians and lawyers or working in the place where they cut wood. I can’t think of the word in English its cerdadero in Spanish. Or they own little stores in front of their houses. 

- How does it seem like the economy in going in your area?

My philosophy is if you have bad chocolate and lots of stray dogs, your country has a bad economy. Guatemala has both. There are lots of people who if they don’t work today they don’t eat tomorrow. But then there are a lot of people in between. 

- What are the hours of the workday?

 It’s different for everyone but most people are home by 6 or 7.

- Do most women work? At home, or in business?

If they are single they work but there are a lot who work at home. There are also a lot of women who have husbands in the states who send money so they are at home with the kids and don’t work. Or they make tortillas! 

- What do teenagers do to earn money?

Good question. I have seen a lot working in bakeries or they sell things on the bus. But most either study or help with the family business.