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.

Hump Day!

As my family is SO aware, I hit my half way mark! 9 months. That´s insane.

9 months!!

At first I decided that I was going to completely ignore it. Because I never want this to end. I love the mission SO MUCH. It´s the best decision I´ve made in my life, and why would I ever want to pay attention to the fact that I now have less time left to serve? But then I decided to pay attention to the fact that I´ve served the Lord in this beautiful country, I´ve met countless people who have changed my life forever, I´ve never felt this kind of joy, I´ve seen too many amazing things to count, I´ve felt the influence of the Spirit stronger than ever before, I´ve learned and learned, and learned some more, the scriptures have become even more important to me, I´ve made so many friends that will be a part of my life forever, the Atonement has never been more beautiful or sacred to me, Ive had so many opportunities to grow, serve, and love, etc. for NINE MONTHS of my life. And I still have another beautiful nine months ahead of me. It´s a wonderful thing, this halfway mark. I still never want to finish, but I know that eventually, it´s something I need to do. But that´s okay, because I´m living every single moment to its fullest, in the way the Lord wants me to. I´m so incredibley grateful for these 18 months that I have to serve Him. 

This week was awesome.

More than half of the mission went to Cusco, and we got to hear Elder Juan A. Uceda (a member of the Seventy and the Area President) talk to us for about 5 or 6 hours. It was... Incredible, to say the least. I´ve never taken so many notes in my life, and I´m definitely a note taker. I honestly don´t know what I could even say about this conference. It changed my life. And WOW am I grateful for the opportunity us missionaries had to listen to him for 5 or 6 hours. He taught us so much, and he was so guided by the spirit. It was an amazing day.

We also got to eat in the mall in Cusco. That was great. I love Papa John´s. And Burger King. Yes, we ate in the mall twice (we were there for 2 days, so why not?). American food is fatty and nice. I like it.

I get a little crazy when I get to eat American food and we´re going to hear one of the Seventy speak. Also, how in the world is my body so awkward? It´s cool. At least I´m aware of it.

The Hna Capacitadoras like to steal my Minnie when we´re traveling to Cusco.

Me and Hna Fernández in Cusco (it´s cool to have your old comp in the same zone.)

Hna Vitola, another one of my favorite Colombianas, and Hna Hill crazy hair. It happens when I don´t shower cause we´re going to be in a bus for 3 hours on the way to Sicuani. Yeah, there´s no way I´m showering for that.

Also, in our reunion de distrito our district leader asked us to write a list about why our companions are awesome. So we can be more grateful for them, and more united or something. I thought it was fun, because I´m happy with Hna Páez. She´s like my favorite Columniana ever. Here´s a couple reasons why Hna Páez is awesome:

- She loves Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, the same actors I love, Captain America, etc. Way to have a good taste, compi!

- She´s probably the most patient person I´ve met in my life, although she thinks she needs to work on it more.

- She´s always willing to help me, and anyone else, with anything they need.

- She tells me (during our email hour when I ´m asking her... hey what´s your favorite bands again? Aren´t they groups I love too?) "Seriously, right now? We´re emailing our families, I can´t remember bands right now..."

- She LOVES her mission, and the Lord, and hopes to never end her mission. She´s an incredible teacher, missionary, etc.

Basically, I´m lucky. She´s the best. And we FINALLY took a picture together! After ALL of my time in Cusco in the same district, we came to Sicuani together, but had different comps, and now that we´re comps, you´d think we´d have at least one, but we don´t. We´re not entirely sure how that happened.

I love you all and I miss you all SO MUCH. 

I´m not sure I´ve ever been this happy. How is there room for all of this joy and love in my body? I´m not really sure, but I´m loving it. There´s really nothing better than this.

Have a wonderful week!

Hna Hill

Hump Day Love

(Kelly here)

Of course I'm celebrating like crazy right now since Keni is half way done with her mission today. I rounded up people to take pictures of themselves so I could surprise her through email.

One of the things Keni is known for is making faces for pictures. You'll see that many people played along, knowing it would speak to her.

Mum Kelly

 Dad Kendall

 StepMom Valerie

 Brothers (Squatch and HJ)

 Gma Lo-Lo and Gpa Dale

 Gma Myrn

BFF Callie 

 StepBro Justin

 StepBro Ryan

 Cousins Anton and Britney and Baby J

 Uncle Mike

 Another bestie Kayla

 Kendra - a YW's leader - and her cute kids.