I´m slacking on this writing every week thing.

It´s because you all keep writing so much :) haha. And I like responding.

Highlights.

My birthday! Pizza on Monday in district meeting. "snow"  aka spray foam. Cuy [guinea pig] and moraya [freeze-dried potatoes] for lunch (members. Thaaaaaanks guys. It´s cool. Wasn´t too bad, actually.) And more pizza for dinner! I love pizza. These people know me. Danessda surprised me in the morning. I ate a lot of junk food. Hna Páez planned a couple surprises and it was awesome.

 

We did a cleanse thing. Like. Without being TOO gross. There was nothing but water left in my stomach at the end. Water from San Pedro. It works wonders. I may or may not have had parasite eggs in my stomach and needed to flush them out. haha. We named them Carlos. Me, Hna Páez, and our pensionista bought cat keychains while we were there picking up the water. They´re cute :) they have bells and everything.

We had a Noche de Hogar (FHE) with one of my favorite families here. They´re sweethearts and I cried a little in that lesson, because they´re just too sweet for words. And then we took pics because we figured one of us would leave this change. You know, a just in case thing.

Today I have 11 months in the mission. Time is passing WAY too fast.

Today is also cambios. Hna Páez is going back to Cusco to be a Sister Training Leader (she´ll be in a different Stake than she was before) and Hna Azevedo is coming to Sicuani to be my companion. I´m sad and excited at the same time. I´m going to miss Hna Páez a lot. I´ve met Hna Azevedo once or twice before, and she seems cool. Also, another Latina! I´m not going to come home gringa! hahaha.

I swear I´m loving the mission every day more and more. I´m so happy and I´m doing what I can to live every day a little bit more like I should. 

Love you all so much! Have a great week!

Hna Hill

Keni's Birthday Videos - and Her Videos to Us

Keni hasn't updated me for two weeks now, but I have received a couple little messages each week. After seeing a couple of missionary moms posting short videos from their missionaries, I asked her if that would be possible. She said "Yes! I just haven't been able to do it yet." Then I asked if I could send short videos to her and she said, "Yes! As long as their mission-appropriate." What is she saying!? Haha.

We sent her a short "I love you and miss you" video last week - just me and the boys. But this week, since her 21st birthday is on Wednesday, September 16th, we sent her more. And then her Dad and their family did one as well. It's safe to say we bombarded her with birthday wishes, both written and animated.

To my surprise, she sent a couple of videos today as well and I wanted to share them below. Her Spanish sounds awesome and her companion's English does as well! They're freaking adorable and I will probably wear these videos out.

FYI: I found a Wurlitzer organ on a Facebook Utah Garage Sale page for $30! I had to buy it for her because it's in amazing condition and I thought it would be fun. Because $30. So we bought it, hurried home, I taught the boys how to play "Happy Birthday", and we created a few videos. Enjoy!

Happy Jack - after a ten minute piano lesson.

Squatch after watching HJ and then practicing for five minutes.

Mum after several years of piano lessons (and apparently after some heavy drugs).

Hna Paez and Hna Hill - to Mum - in Spanish. Someone? Anyone? Haha

Keni said her English is terrible and then Hna Paez says Keni will be home pronto but Keni disagrees. I think they talked about Hna Hill going home in April and Hna Paez going home in March. (These are all hefty assumptions since I speak zero Spanish).

I get big smooches from Keni and an "I love you" from Hna Paez.

I died it was so adorable!

To Mum - in English. How adorable are they? Hna Paez says, "Hi Hermana Kelly. How are you? I think you're the best mom to Sister Hill." Keni says, "My English sucks" and Hna Paez says, "Yeah, I uhhhh testify. But now her English is terrific."

"I love you Sister Kelly. You're the best."

"I love you, Mom."

What dolls!

To Pops - in Spanish. Again, it's anyone's guess as to what they're saying.

"Pops!"

"Hi Kendall!"

I could pick out that she said she's going to speak in Spanish and then she apologized.

(Lots of unknown beautiful language)

"Thank you for the hymn books in English." (Kendall and Valerie purchased mini hymnbooks in English for Keni's companion and also her last companion, Hna Fernandez)

"Thanks" came out of Keni and then she had to tell herself no and made herself begin again in Spanish. "Ciao."

Keni nicknamed her oldest brother "Squatch" because he's always been such a giant. He has always called her a midget, for obvious reasons.

Keni told Squatch that he and Hna Paez need to get married when all is said and done. I'd go for that! However, Hna Paez said no and I'm not sure the reason since it's SPANISH!!

Keni tried to send HJ's video but it wouldn't send. She said she'll try again next week. These videos made my day and I love technology!

But not as much as you, you see.

Hahaha.

I Love the Priesthood

This week was... good? Good is a word that works for this week, I guess. It wasn´t bad, by any means :)

We went to those ruins! They´re not from the Incas, they´re from impostors apparently? And I´m still not sure what Lord of the Rings Elves and Mummies have to do with it. At all. Someone go google "Machu Pitumarca" and let me know what the story is.

Not entirely sure why (maybe my chubby chub face would be the reason) but most of my favorite pictures this week are the back of my head. Enjoy :)

I was sick... Basically all week. And then we worked yesterday, and the day before and it was just bliss to be outside preaching the gospel. Even when I was only half recovered.

And then yesterday I literally passed out in a lesson we were having with a member. #vergüenza (Thank goodness it wasn´t an investigator or a less active) We´re pretty sure it was because I was working while I was still sick. 

As embarrassing, and totally not fun, as it was, I learned a lot yesterday.

1: I´m kind of prideful and super super stubborn. I still need to drop that. It´s a thing I´m working on. If I had asked for a priesthood blessing sooner, I´m sure this week would have been easier.

2: My comp is awesome. I mean, I knew that already. She made my bed for me like 3 times this week while I was in the shower. (I super hate making my bed.) But she was such a great help and comfort when I was stressed because I just wanted to work, and embarrassed, because a ton of people know I passed out, etc. 

3: Well, this is another thing I already knew... But I love the priesthood. 4 of the Elders in our zone, our pensionista Ana Cecilia, and her husband Rony showed up so they could give me a blessing. (That sure helped with the embarrassment thing. I don´t know why so many people had to come.) And the blessing the Elders gave me was just perfect. Obviously, they knew the whole "Hna Hill is sick" thing, but Elder Steele said everything I needed to hear. Our Heavenly Father gave him the words, and the words gave me the comfort and promises that I needed. The priesthood is REAL and it´s POWERFUL, people. Don´t ever ever take it for granted. And don´t be stubborn like Hna Hill, and ask for a blessing when you need it.

4: Patience is not a thing I´m good at. I swear that every lesson I have to learn has something to do with patience. But I´m learning the importance and the value it has in our lives. Slowly, but surely. 

Not sure why I shared the passing out story. I so wasn´t planning on it, but maybe one of you out there needs to hear about it? I don´t know, but I hope it helps :) haha.

Mom and Dad: DON´T WORRY. I´m okay, I swear. The member (her name is Miriam) and my comp were a big help and as soon as we took a mototaxi back to the house we called the Elders and our pension.

Anyway, I love you all A LOT. I hope your week is beautiful!

And a very big and late (for some) HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kyle Whitney, my brother Ryan, my cousin Katie, and to Kieyera Brunger! I love you guys and hope your birhtdays are everything you wished for!

Hna Hill

Why do subject lines have to exist?

I don´t ever know what to write in them. Sometimes I´m creative and sometimes I´m like "mmmm... mejor no voy a escribir."

I think in Spanish 90% of the time, if not more. English is HARD.

I don´t really kow what to say this week. We worked. It was actually a really really good week! But really, we just worked. These people are changing my life. I love them so much. The mission is changing my life. I don´t think I ever could have progressed without it. And I´m beyond thrilled to be here. I LOVE THIS WORK!

Hermana Paez

Hermana Hill

On another note, we went to Las Aguas Termales last week on pday with Hna Hunter and Hna Vitola (I love those two) and this week we´re going to go see some more ruins! Peru is the best.

Hermanas Hill, Paez, Vitola, and Hunter

Hermanas Hill and Vitola

Also, someone told me that these ruins have something to do with mummies and elves.... WHAT? That sounds awesome and also... elves? Are you kidding me? It´s not even about Incas this time? I´m confused, but I´m pretty sure we´re headed to middle earth. (Yay!)

I love you all :) Like, a lot. Have a great week!

Hna Hill

It`s a Beautiful Day! (You might not be able to tell, but I`m quoting that U2 song)

And a BEAUTIFUL week!

I`m so happy. Just THRILLED to be a missionary.

Here`s why:

My comp and I had so much help from the members. And wow am I growing to love them so much.

We had a lot of really spiritual lessons.

We had a water gun fight in the house. I won. Look at how wet her hair is!

And then a different day she turned my pillow into a bad guy while I was in the shower.

PDay with the zone and I held another frog! 

So the little frogs don`t freak me out, but this guy was huge. So that explains my face in the first picture. 

And then I tried to kiss him. (Not for reals. Look at my face in the first pic again.)

My studies this week were just... wow. So beautiful and helpful that I can`t explain it.

Our pensionista is a sweetheart, and is basically another one of my moms. I`m coming to realize that so so so many people are gaining space in my heart. Not sure how there`s room :) 

For the FIRST time in my entire mission, an investigator that I taught GOT BAPTIZED!! :D

Her name is Ivana, and I love her so much. She`s such a sweetheart. Hna Fernàndez and I started teaching her, and when I left Hna Fernàndez and Hna Arza finished teaching her and she GOT BAPTIZED yesterday!! :D And because we share a capilla, I got to go to her baptism. Of course, I cried like a baby. Because I don`t know that I`ve ever felt such JOY in a baptism. I saw her progress, and it`s just beautiful. And now, her and her little hijita Dana will have such a beautiful future. I just don`t know how to describe the beauty and joy of yesterday. 

Ivanna`s baptism! :D

On a side note, a couple members from Rosaspata asked if I was okay (cause I was crying like a baby) and both Hna Fernàndez and Hna Pàez were like "ah, don`t worry about it. She`s happy. Those tears are joyful tears." My comps know me so well.

I don`t know, so many more things happened this week, but it`s just been a really happy, really spiritual, really beautiful week. I never ever want to stop being a missionary. I mean, how could you when you have such JOY spreading the truth?

I love this gospel, I love this work, and I love all of YOU!

Hna Hill

#Cha-cha-cha-changes

For the FIRST time in my entire mission. Nothing changed. I´m staying here in Vilcanota with Hna Páez, and I´m excited about it :) This seriously, is the first time that I haven´t had a new comp, a new sector, or los dos. Actually, this is kinda weird for me.

Once again, I have no time. Ha. One day I´ll learn, no?

So. Easier. Pictures!

Have a great week all of you, I love you a lot!

Hna Hill

Me and the physics that Elder Steele (our district leader) used to explain a lesson in district meeting. I mean, I know he mixed it with Spanish and Quechua, but I´m in trouble when I go back to school. I don´t remember ANYTHING.

Elder Steele, being super proud of his physics lesson. He likes Science.

Me and my comp saltando in Langui that day we had a conference with President Harbertson.

Comp selfie. We´re super cute.

Comp selfie. Again. Buses are fun.

Me and Hna Harbertson, and the oh so lovely Hna Fernández, photobombing.

Just so you´re aware, I lost weight. I couldn´t use these jeans before #success And me and my comp are cute, no?

Zone Bus Selfie. Kind of. Like all of the missionaries have this exact same picture, because Hna Páez and I were in the front.

And I´m Out of Time.

Like, I have about 4 minutes. I forgot to email the group cause I was responding to people :) 

Sooo....

Know that I´m just ridiculously happy, we´ve had a really great week, and I´m hoping that next week for cambios I´m still in Vilcanota with Hna Páez. And if you haven´t realized, I haven´t had a single transfer in my mission where nothing happened. Every time it was either a change of areas, a change of companions, or sometimes both. It´s been so much fun, actually. I like transfers. Guess we´ll see next Monday!

Have a wonderful week! Love you all!

Hna Hill

oh. By the way. On my half way mark, I ate cow stomach. I ate the WHOLE plate. It was kinda not at all my favorite. And then my stomach was super upset with me all day. Turns out my stomach doesn´t like eating stomach. Who would´ve known? But, the flavor wasn´t actually bad. People said that was the worst part. I disagree. #HappyHumpDayHnaHill

(Kelly here. Keni added this part in my email) Hey, Hna Condie (my other mom. She always says she´s the mom who actually birthed me) is finishing her mission in a week. Craziness! And her family lives in Utah now! And she goes to BYU. Tell her hey for me, maybe.