Two letters in one!

**Dear Readers. Last week I was gone to scout camp, with no computer access, so I wasn't able to post Christina's letter. I posted it here this week. I have to also note that Christina is starting to spell a lot of words in Spanish. Sometimes I leave the spelling in because it's obvious what it means. But for your ease of reading, I do change some Spanish words. KLD

19 August 2013

Hola!

How are you all doing? I got all of your letters this week! Thank you! It was double so it was awesome! Sounds like you are all having a fun time. Not gonna lie…I was a little jealous of the Scouts' camp menu. What I wouldn’t do for chicken adobo. But this week I made sloppy joes, they were pretty tasty.

This week we did divisions (I don’t know what they are called in English) twice. It was fun but it’s hard to be in and out of your area like that. I went to a town called Salcaja. It’s a pretty cool place. I’m in the city right now so it’s cool to go out into the country.

Can you believe I made 9 months this week? I can’t! My comp and I are from the same group. Time is going by so fast its scary.

I hope you aren’t forced to retire early! Because that would mean you leave Germany early! Noo!

I loved the pics you sent of Brad! I hope he set up another appointment with those goats. They looked pretty positive.

So I don’t know if I told you but my comp Hermana Raya. Her dad, for his job, trains roosters for cock fights. So she is an expert in all things related to roosters. Well we are teaching a family and their son also has his own roosters. And on Saturday when we went we got to watch his roosters spar for a little bit. And I got to hold the rooster. It was all very exciting. I would send you the pics but my card has a virus so I can’t send the pics.

There are changes on Tuesday but we will both be staying here. Which is a good thing because this area is really golden! Also, I enjoy my comp making delicious Mexican food! But mostly because we have a baptism for this Saturday. Her name is Glaydis. We went to the temple with her on Wednesday. And she had a special experience. I love the temple and the sweet peaceful feeling that is felt there.

Well I love you all and miss you all so much!

Hermana Davies

12 August 2013

Buenos Dias!

I hope you are all doing well! I didn’t get your emails this week. I assume you sent them but they didn’t make it. That happens sometimes.

Things here are great! We had a baptism this week. Manolo was baptized on Saturday and can I just say, he was prepared. He had been receiving the lessons on and off for about a year. In his baptismal interview when he was asked about the law of chastity he said 'I love the law of chastity!' Who says that? He then went on to explain that he loves that families can be sealed in the temple and live forever together.

One of the young women in the ward got really sick this week. When they took her to the hospital she weighed about 73 lbs. A family friend organized a group prayer for her they call it Culto, which just sounds like cult to me...But the pastor couldn’t come and this lady had invited a bunch of youth from her church to pray for this girl. Well somehow we and the missionaries got put in charge of running the culto. We weren’t really sure what to do since in the church we don’t really gather together to pray for people in that way. But we planned a little devotional and it was nice. The youth didn’t show up but the lady who planned it did. Maybe it planted a little seed in her heart.

This Sunday we had really good sacrament meeting. The members got a little come to Jesus from the Stake President. He talked about how his mission president would say there are only two reasons you don’t baptize…you are sick or you are sinning. He told the members the same thing but talked about the temple and family history work. Then he said and you don’t look sick to me. Man it was a machete.

Yesterday we had a training meeting for the sisters we are over (5 companionships). It was really nice. We talked about meeting our goals and how to work with members. I hope it inspired these sisters because we really want to help them. The President also came and talked about how the Lord has prepared a treasure for us and this treasure is God's children.

That’s about all, next week we have changes. But I don’t think my comp or I will leave the area. We only have one change together.

I make 9 months this week! So crazy! The time really does fly in the mission. I am so happy to be here and to feel the spirit I feel every day and to see God's children making changes so they can come unto him.

LOVE YOU!

Hermana Davies

1. What are some of the local fiestas like?

I’m not really sure since I have never been to one. But I think they include dancing, piñatas and chuchos, which are like tamales. But they have more maza and they put the bone inside. Except in HueHue they make chuchos, which are delish because they don’t put the bone inside.

2. What do people in Guatemala do for vacations?

They go to the costa! So good luck finding people in their house on the weekends! In San Mateo, everyone goes to the costa. In Jardines not so much. The fair is coming in September and they go to the fair grounds. They sell lots of traditional candy there.

3. Are there any traditional greetings?

Like how they say hi? They kiss on the cheek. One time there were 2 companionships of sisters in my zone and they were having some issues. And everyone knew about it. An Elder said they were like Judas because they kiss each other on the cheek then they betray each other.

4. What can you tell us about Guatemalan wedding traditions?

I have no idea. The only things I know is that in some villages, when the groom goes to ask permission to marry the bride he has to go with his friends. And the family makes a ton of food.

5. Does your mission have any special traditions?

Err no I don’t think so. We have a newsletter every month! lol