It`s Been A Good One

By that I mean a year and a half. 

It`s been a really really great year and a half.

What do you write in the last email? I`m not really sure.

Hna David and I are SUPER enjoying this change. I`m so grateful for every one of my companions. I`ve learned so much from them. (It`s also been a ton of fun!! Hna David and I went to Lago Titicaca today! Loved it!)

I don`t know what more to share with you other than the fact that I LOVE my mission. It`s changed me forever, and I`m so grateful. I`ve learned more about my Savior than I learned in 20 years at home. I`ve met so many wonderful people, seen so many miracles, and truthfully, there`s nothing better than serving the Lord. I don`t think I`ve ever made such a good choice in my life. 

I`m happier than I`ve ever been, and that has everything to do with my Savior Jesus Christ. And the gran oportunidad I have to serve him. I know He lives! I know that this is His church and His work, and that He guides it. I love him with my whole heart.

And while I do miss all of you, and love you a lot...

I still have a little over a week to give it everything I have. So if you don`t mind, Hna David and I are going to go get back to work.

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Hill

(Kelly here) This wraps up my involvement with this blog. My girl will come home in just nine days and I'm sure we'll have loads of welcome-home photos for her to add to this blog herself. I will miss the Sunday night email to my girl that tells her of all the happenings all week. I will miss the jump start my heart gets every single Monday morning or afternoon when those email notifications come in. I will miss the beautiful photos of Peru and especially the people she taught and loved. I will miss knowing how happy and protected Keni is every single day, simply because she's in the service of the Lord. Yes, she'll continue to serve the Lord, but we all know that real life has a way of thwarting those attempts and soon enough she'll have heartaches and disappointments, and won't be able to sustain a 24 hour service in the name of Christ. What I do know is that Keni has done this mission thing exactly the way it was meant to be done and she'll strive each day to keep her Savior at the center of her every decision. This little girl went to Peru as a spiritual giant and is coming home even greater! She's been through a whole lot in her young life but has taken her experiences, trials, and examples of those around her - both good and bad - and has used all of it to step into an amazing young woman who has undoubtedly changed many lives in Peru. I'm grateful for the lessons she has learned and the example that she continues to be for her siblings and for each of us. I'm grateful for the blessings that have come to our family because of her service. More than anything I'm grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who has watched over my sweet daughter and who will bring her home safely to us. In just nine days we will run to her as she steps off the escalator at the airport - we will embrace her with tears, with joy, with pride, with relief, and with a sense of sadness for her that this part of her life has come to a close. I have faith that Keni will continue to learn and grow, and even teach the others around her the valuable lessons that she has learned. She will continue to exude happiness and love and a testimony of our Savior. This is because she was raised on a foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, because of her personal dedication to the truths, and because of her willingness to work hard every day for what matters. I am grateful to the many companions that loved her and served with her daily; to the mission president and his wife who tended to her; to the multiple pensionistas who cooked and cleaned for her and loved her like a daughter; the Elders who gave priesthood blessings and helped to watch over her; to the members and non-members who were willing to listen to Keni and who accepted her spirit into their lives; to the doctors who had to care for her several times over the past 18 months; and finally to each of you who supported her with your letters, thoughts, prayers, finances, etc. We made it! We individually and collectively made it through a year and a half alongside Keni Girl as she made us all proud, first and foremost our Heavenly Father. I love you all.

... just another 12,000 or so minutes. We're almost there. <3 <3 <3

It´s a beautiful day.

It´s actually raining here right now, and we forgot jackets.

But that´s not important because I was quoting that U2 song. It´s been a really happy, long, super weird week.

First we worked. Then I went to Cusco - had to sign some papers that say I´m going home. Fun stuff. But I did see a bunch of hermanas from my group! I love them! Then I came home to Juliaca and got a nice little 24 hour stomach bug. Which kind of helped with that "I didn´t even really try to do 6 months to sexy" thing, because i lost some more weight throwing up all night. Hna David is a sweetheart and was awake the whole time and somewhat panicking. Then I got better and she got a sore throat. I´ve decided that it has to be one or the other so that we can take care of each other when we´re sick :) haha. Then we went to the general conference and it was one of the best ones I think I´ve ever watched. Or. I guess that I just payed more attention, because the last two in my mission were the same. I received an answer in every. single. conference. talk.

I love this gospel. I know its true. I love my Savior with everything that I am and am so happy I have another two weeks to be here working with Hna David. So even when it´s raining and muddy, yes. It´s a beautiful day :)

Hna Hill

Oh. And just because I didn´t know where else to put it in the letter. Happy birthday to the best Daddy a girl could have. Love you old man!

Internet cafe`s are not my favorite

Because I can`t send pictures today and we also have no time. también, the exclamation mark doesn`t work. That bugs me.

And to think that this week we actually took a ton of pictures.

Including: tri-cycles are a normal thing here. Hna David and I also love them.

New and old women conference traditions. Yogurt and icecream.

Hot sauce. We love it.

Huge eyes. and funny faces. My eyeballs are like four times bigger than hers and it reminded me of Bedtime Stories - "Those eyes would be big on a cow..."

And someone burning things in the street en la oscuridad.

But. You`ll just have to be patient and wait until next week for those beautiful gems.

I`m gonna be completely honest and say that I`m becoming super bored of emailing.

It`s just that I`m so ridiculously happy, and I don`t have much more to say than that every week.

Well, Juliaca and Hna David are new things. So.

Hna David and I CAN NOT stop talking. It`s somewhat problem, but a cool one. We both would love to have more than one change together. Super sad that we know for sure that it would only be one change. We both are obsessed with cheese but bought a not so good one last week that gave us both some ugly zits. We don`t trust that cheese at all now. We both love the mission more than anything. She may be one of the only other people who has a family as crazy as mine. 100% different than mine, but super interesting as well. I`m also picking up her Colombian accent. Which is basically the coolest thing.

Juliaca is amazing. Not very pretty... But I love the people so much. And I love the ward. And I love the work.

These are moments that I`m never going to forget, serving a mission and being a representative of Jesus Christ. This Easter was completely uneventful in many ways, but I learned so much about my Savior and was rejoicing inside all day long.

Hallelujah.

Have a wonderful week.

Love you all so very much.

Hna Hill

And another one bites the dust...

That would be me. I think I´ve tripped like 5 billion times this week. Hna David looks at me like I´m super clumsy and loca every time. And there´s a lot of dirt. Sooo.... Do you get the title? I hope so, because I have a really simple (but maybe somewhat confusing) talent in english.

Wait a sec... that doesn´t even make sense, does it? Olvídalo. [Never mind]

We´ve had a great week. 

So much has happened. So many wonderful investigators. So many wonderful less actives. 

My favorite was  new less active that we found who cried in the lesson, told us she wanted to make her parents proud (they passed away and they raised her in the gospel), and hugged us really tight and thanked us as we left. 

I honestly don´t feel like I, HNA HILL, had anything to do with it. She just listened to the Spirit, and I was lucky enough to be an instrument in God´s hands. 

I´m so filled with gozo.

Joy. 

This is a joyful work.

Oh. Hna David and I still can´t stop talking.That´s been a really great thing, actually. We´ve both said a couple of times that it would be awesome to have more than one change juntas [together], and I´m still totally up for that, but I also realize that that´s not the Lord´s will for me. Hna David is super awesome, super funny, and an incredible missionary. I´ve had such great luck with my companions. Every one of them has been incredible.

I hope you all have a great week.

Love you mucho.

Hna Hill

Hna David and I in the internet cafe.

Hna David, Hna Wight, and I. Hna Wight finished her mission last change and was here with her parents. So great to see that girl before she took off!

Juliaca - dogs, mud, and a lot of beautiful moments.

There are a ton of dogs here. And a ton of mud. But I`m loving all of the beautiful moments I`ve had this week. 

One of my favorites (that includes a lot of dogs and mud as well.)

After a really sweet and adorable noche de hogar in a somewhat sketchy part of town, we had to leave by ourselves and find our way to the chapel for another cita. As we were leaving, a drunk man told us not to go down one street because there were a lot of dogs. We chose not to listen to him, because we never like to listen to drunk men, and after a little bit, we were surrounded by several giant, angry dogs. (Drunk Man wasn`t kidding.) Blocking every way that we could leave, and coming closer. I hate dogs who live in the street. So, after realizing we had no other option, we stopped, crossed our arms, closed our eyes, and prayed. I asked that the dogs could calm down and leave so that we could make it to our next appointment safely. The whole prayer we could hear the dogs barking and coming closer, and when we finished the prayer and opened our eyes and all of the dogs stopped barking at the same time and walked away. And as we were leaving, one of the dogs who had followed us was sleeping. Then, we ran (through a lot of mud and more angry dogs who didn`t do anything to us) to our next cita. 

I`ve had SO many prayers answered and so many beautiful moments not only in my mission, but in my whole life.. I just loved how quickly this answer came. He responded so literally and so quickly. I also loved the sleeping dog bit. Hna David and I were giggling and ridiculously happy all night. The Lord answers prayers!!

I also haven`t been bitten by a dog yet (not sure how. They`re EVERYWHERE) and I`m hoping that I`ll be able to finish the mission without that experience. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Oh! My new companion! Her name is Hna David. She`s from Colombia (another latina! woohoo!) and she`s a crack up. We`re realizing that our only "problem" in our companionship is that we talk a LOT. We decided that we first have to plan, study, etc. before we`re allowed to start talking to each other. She`s also helping me make sure that no one here knows when I`m finishing. Kind of love that part of Juliaca. No one knows when I`m coming home. 

I`m so happy. So ridiculously happy. This work is beautiful and life changing. I love my Savior and the opportunity I have to serve him!

Love you all.

Keep on keeping on.

Hermana Hill

p.s. No time to upload pics this week. Next week.

(Kelly here. Since Keni was a young girl, she didn't care where/when and if she felt it necessary she would stop and pray. Many times we would follow her lead even though she was 8-9 years old, because she's always had a special gift of the Spirit. She often felt promptings even when her Dad and I hadn't yet. We never knew if the worst case would have come to fruition if we hadn't followed her promptings, but it was never worth it to find out. Sometimes it wasn't ideal to have to turn around and drive an hour in the opposite direction just because of a feeling she had, but we always knew it was worth it to teach her that she and her brothers are just as capable as her parents of receiving revelation for themselves and our family. I am not surprised in the least that Heavenly Father calmed those dogs for the simple fact that two sister missionaries had the faith to ask. I'm continually grateful for the gifts He gives my girl and I'm so proud of her for knowing that He will if she just ask. What a beautiful moment of faith).

#Cha-cha-cha-changes

Well folks. 

I´M GOING TO JULIACA!

Who would´ve thunk. But for my last change (sob.) I´m going to a new sector with a new companion! And Hna Corsetti is going to Puno! We´re closing the sector and two new hermanas are coming to Quillabamba. I´m sad and happy. As always. The mission is a rollercoaster of emotions. 

This week was good! And. Um. 

Yeah. I´m kind of, well, a little bit emotionally overwhelmed. Hna Corsetti and I have a lot to do today.

But know that I´m ridiculously happy. I´m seeing the changes I need to make in myself, and I´m loving that I can change them. I love this gospel. I love all of my sectors (I´m now heading to my SIXTH sector. Can you believe that??) and I love the people. I´m going to miss Quillabamba, but I´m going to give everything I have to Juliaca. And more than anyone or anything else, I love my Savior. He truly is everything to me.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Con amor,

Hna Hill

Pizza and Cake for Hna Corsetti´s birthday :) Let´s just say I´m broke now. But, it was fun celebrating her birthday! We´re gonna do that a little more today, too. 

(Kelly here. She's travelling from Quillabamba to Juliaca - some 338 miles south. Her companion will be close in Puno, but I'm sure they won't see each other in the next six weeks. She also served in Cusco and Sicuani, which are highlighted above.)

(Stolen from the interwebs by Kelly)

It´s Been Interesting

Because my companion was sick ALL WEEK. So. It´s actually been pretty uneventful. The only lesson we did get out to teach was to Maria, Jessica, and Andrea.

(side note. Last week in the pictures I said it was Maria´s and Jessica´s baptism day. Jessica got baptized in December. That was Maria and ANDREA. Oops.)

And it was beautiful! They´re making an effort to pray together as a family MULTIPLE times a day, and that´s just beautiful. They´re working hard to prepare for the temple, and their faith and testimonies are visibly growing. We love visiting with them, because they´re helping US grow as well. They´re sweethearts. 

Hna Corsetti is slowly, but surely getting better. She´s a sweetheart, too. She has only been frustrated that she can´t work, not that she´s sick or anything. She should actually learn to complain a little bit more. I have to bug her for like 10 minutes before she tells me how she´s feeling. She´s a good little companion. 

Maybe I´ll have more to say next week. Seriously, nothing happened. 

But I´m still happy :) It´s funny how that works, but I´m happier than I´ve ever been before. I love this gospel, so much. And I love my Savior. He´s the reason we have joy.

Hope you have a good one!

Hna Hill

Jessica´s baptism in December. Never sent the pictures.

Our ENTIRE mission for that conference last week. I´m on the far right, in the front. Second Hna back. By Hna Corsetti and Hna Páez, if that helps anything. Have fun playing "Where´s Waldo?"

A Week To Remember

So many things to write. So little time.

Let´s play  the game how many cliche quotes can Hna Hill fit into one email?

Scratch that. English hurts my cerebro. 

Bullet  points.

- Maria and Andrea got baptized! When we were thinking maybe they wouldn´t be able to get baptized this month they surprised us with "Hnas.  We´re getting baptized this Saturday."Saturday turned into  Tuesday, because we had a couple of things to finish teaching, but they are absolutely incredible. I love them to death.  They´re kind of miracles. Their testimonies are  growing every day and I´m so happy to be here and see that.

-Also on Tuesday we had a zone conference with Presidente y Hna Harbertson. I love them. I felt the Spirit so so strongly. I also had to give a talk. I´m still not so good at that speaking in public thing. But I didn´t pull a Princess Diaries throwing up move.

- My comp got sick. I´ve studied the Ensign and the scriptures  a lot this week. Also took a nap or two ( shhhh...)

- At 3 in the morning on Saturday we travelled to  Cusco for my first ever Mission Conference. And it was with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

Saw a bunch of mission friends and comps ( a couple of them for the last time before they finish their missions.) 

Saw Hna Vicky, Hno Betho, and Danessda.

And then I entered that reunión and left it a different person. I couldn´t even begin to describe how strong the Spirit was. How much I felt the Savior´s love, How I could truly see that  Elder Holland loves and represents Christ. How happy I am . How my mission is changing my life. How much President Harbertson truly loves his  missionaries. How we´re progressing as a mission. How much I truly want to stay here forever.

But maybe to give you an idea  - we sang Called to Serve as the closing hymn. Now picture little ol Hna Hill sitting in the front row, about  15 feet from where Presidente and Hna Harbertson, and Elder Holland were sitting on the stand in the chapel. Crying, but smiling through the tears. I could barely even sing because I was crying (hard) and smiling more than I think I´ve ever smiled before in my whole life. Which only grew bigger when I saw President Harbertson watching us, singing, and crying. And then when Elder Holland caught my eye and smiled when he saw me smiling/crying/singing. (Kelly here ... and then picture Mum sitting in her car, reading this part of Keni's account, and crying right along with her).

I´m kind of a cry-baby. But they were happy tears.

The gospel truly is the "good news" or "glad tidings". It´s a joyful, joyful thing.  My mission is changing my life.    And I wouldn´t trade that for anything. I love my Savior, and that I´m coming to know Him better than ever before. I love this gospel. I love that we had the gran oportunidad to have such a beautiful week. 

Hope you have a good one.

Con amor,

Hna Hill

Maria and Andrea´s baptism day!

Andrea, Jessica, and Maria picking a TON of ciruelas to send home with us. Another reason to love them :)

Hna Russell! First time I´ve seen her since we started the mission!

Hna Wight! Neither of us are normal and I love it.

Hna Azevedo!

Hna Páez!

Hna Salas!

My sweet (and somewhat sick) companion. She´s the best.

The six Hermanas from our group!

The Hermanas from our CCM district! (Also. My entire g roup took a  picture WITHOUT ME. I love them. Kind of.)

Reasons I already love this coming week.

Two of our investigators are getting baptized tomorrow morning. It´s one of those tiny, but huge and life changing, miracles. More explanations next week. But I love them a lot.

Zone conference with President Harbertson and Hna Harbertson tomorrow, almost all day long. Interviews too, I think. (I also have to give a talk. Not like overly thrilled about that part, but it´ll be okay.)

MISSION CONFERENCE WITH ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND. (That means ALL of the missionaries are travelling to Cusco this week.)

I also have plans to drink a lot of cremoladas (like a fruit and icecream type smoothie.) preach the gospel, and avoid getting bit by insects.

It´s going to be a great week.

Reasons I love the week that ya, paso.

We had a double sick day. Usually Hna Corsetti and I take turns.

Our investigators gave us a nice surprise "Hnas. We´re getting baptized this week. We know the church is true." I LOVE THEM. More later, I don´t have time. I just really want to keep writing about how incredible they are. Maria and her daughter Andrea. (In other news them, and our other convert Jessica are planning to go to the temple in March. Seriously. Maria and Andrea haven´t even been baptized yet - tomorrow!- and they´re planning on going to the temple with Jessica and taking their family members´ names.)

It was Jessica´s birthday, and she really wanted us to be there. It was basically a little noche de hogar and everyone is a member, or close to being one. Her, and her dad (the only one who isn´t going to get baptized soon. We´re working on it.) kept thanking us for being important to her.

We went to Echarati again. I love Echarati. 

We´ve had a ton of help from the branch, from the members, and the other missionaries preparing for Maria and Andrea´s baptism.

And I´ve seen the Lord´s hand in every single part of the work here. It´s His work, and He guides it. And He prepares the people to hear the gospel. I love this gospel, I love my Savior, and I love being one of His missionaries.

Basically, this is a really great transfer. Hna Corsetti and I are really happy and enjoying it!

Love you all!

Hna Hill

Hey!

For the first time in just about forever...

I got more than two emails! And that means I took all of my time reading and responding. So enjoy a couple of pictures and know that I am doing great :)

I´m seeing how the Lord is helping me change and become the woman he wants me to be. Wow me falta un monton, pero estoy TAN feliz y TAN  agradecida por cada segundo que tengo para mejorar y sentir gozo :) [Kelly here: translation - "Wow I need a lot, but I'm so happy and so thankful for every second I have to improve and feel joy."] I love the mission, I love this gospel, I love the Lord, and I never never ever want to forget how I feel right now. Me encanta estar aqui! [Kelly here: translation - "I love to be here!"]

Wow. Spanish. That just slipped out. Spanish is so much easier for me now. My comp has told me about a million times these past few days that I talk a little bit like a Colombian. Which is odd because of my 6 latina companions, only one is from Colombia. And it´s even funnier, because Hna Corsetti is losing her  Argentina accent because she´s here with me. A latina is picking up a gringa´s accent.  I love it. I also love that no one ever has any idea if they´re talking with a latina or me on the phone. Cool stuff :) 

Love you all :) Have a great week!

Hna Hill

p.s. Can we all appreciate that I had no idea Valentine´s Day was coming up, and that my PARENTS sent me Doctor Who,  Book of Mormon, and Harry Potter themed   Valentine´s Day Cards? Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and the Book of Mormon. That right there is true love, folks.

my comp always sleeps like a mummy...

dogs here are super weird. This guy just chills out sitting like this.

Moto taxies. This has been my life since I went to Sicuani. For almost a year now, no? Moto taxies. Gotta love them. A member has one and let us take  pictures :) love it!

One of the cutest little old ladies I´ve ever met - Luzmila. She reminds me a little of Grandma Myrn :) 

The reason everyone always asks if the pictures of grandpa Norton are more pi ctures of my dad in my family history booklet. They´re the exact same person. We also realized this week that I don´t look almost anything like my mom. Apparently if I had a beard, I´d be the same person as Dad and Grandpa, too.

Well, let´s see here. What happened this week?

Lots.

First, changes! Hna Corsetti and I are still companions (yay! Hey, maybe she´ll kill me.... mission kill me, that is.) and we´re also the ONLY hermanas in Quillabamba. That part is weird. I left Sicuani and a district of all hermanas - and elder steel and elder morales - to a zone of 10 missionaries and now 8 of those ten are elders. It´s fun though. 

On Lunes the elders bought our district a cake to send off the other hermanas.

We found the CUTEST little sandwich shop (sandwich shops just don´t exist here in Peru) and it was delicious and adorable, and we´re planning on going there always and converting the sweet lady who owns it. She´s from Spain and is just a doll. She also cooks really really well.

We went to Echarati again this week, and I´m even more in love with it now than before. We had a lot of help from Hna Flavia (she´s in one of these pics with me.) and it was just a great day. EVERYONE there, except for like 3 members are less actives. It´s 40 minutes away, and either nosotras or los elderes in our branch visit once a week. We visited Rosa, and her mom Victoria. They´re so amazing. Rosa and her... pareja?... Samuel are getting married in two weeks and Hna Corsetti and I just love visiting that family and Echarati. We felt the Spirit so so strongly when we were teaching Rosa and Victoria. Samuel was working, so we have to catch him the next time.

Those, my friends, are chocolate trees. I love Echarati.

CHOCOLATE TREES.

Rosa, and Victoria. They´re just about the cutest people ever.

The oldest, tiniest, slightly crippled, and sweetest dog I´ve ever met. I just want to take her home with me.

I don´t know what else to say. We continue to see tiny miracles, that in reality are huge and life changing. I don´t believe I´ll ever be the same, and I´m actually okay with that. I´m so much happier and content than I´ve ever been before. This is a beautiful and important work that we´re doing. And ´m so grateful for the chance I have to be one of the Lord´s missionaries.  I love the Lord, and I love His work. No hay nada tan hermosa como la obra del Señor. (Translation from Babelfish: There is nothing as beautiful as the work of the Lord).

I love you all :) Keep on keeping on!

Hna Hill

In a wasted effort to take pictures of my swollen ankles (thanks a lot, bug bites and allergies) I realized that I have grown up feet. I´m a grown up now? Wait a sec, when did that happen? Also, you can´t even tell that my feet have bug bites and are swollen. I love my camera only half of the time.

I love Quillabamba :)

My comp - being cousin it or a werewolf. I think werewolf, she thinks cousin it.

Hna Azevedo wanted me to send you these pictures :) haha. She LOVED the Christmas gifts you sent her.

(Kelly here. Hna Azevedo wants to marry Keni's brother Jake. She doesn't even care that he likes a blonde girl. She wants to Skype with him and find him on Facebook as soon as she gets off her mission in five weeks. She's adorable!)

From Hna Azevedo:

FINISH LADY BUG! #LIKEAHOUR BUT HEY FINISH THATS THE POINTI LOVE U!!! AND IMARRIED WITH JAKE !!! I DONT CARE THE GIRL OF WHIT HAIR AND YEAH I HAVE A POOR ENGLISH!! AND U CAN SAY U BRO THAT I LOOK IN FACEBOOK FOR MAKE SKIPE WHEN U COME TO HOME!! PLEASE 

SI NO VA PARECER QUE OSY UNA PSICOPATA QUE QUIERE SEGUIRLE (Kelly here: Translation from Babelfish is "If seems that osy a psycopath is not going to want to follow him") #WHEREVERUGO #IMGONNAFOLLLOWU LIKE THE WEIRD SONG BY EFY! 

LOVE U DONT FORGET IT!!

YOUR CAT!