(Kelly Here again) No Email Stories V 2.0

We didn't receive much of an update from Keni this week. She didn't email on Monday, which had me worried because she's been so sick, but she emailed on Tuesday and had some great news:

"I saw the doc yesterday - BACTERIA FREE! Woohooo! I´m good. Strong. Healthy, etc. She told me "hey, be careful for these last 5 months. Don´t want to go home with that bacteria again!" haha."

That makes a mum and dad feel good!

After telling Keni about my girls day with her aunt and grandmas, this is what she had to say:

"Travelling and doctors yesterday. We literally had no time :) Yay for girls day! I want one one of the first days home. My feet and hands are horrible and I need me some manicures and pedicures."

So there you go - I'll be sure to schedule some pampering time with the girl. Can't wait! I'm pretty sure the reason she didn't write an update this week is because I had asked her to send a Christmas list so I could get a package sent out right away. It's pretty extensive and includes things to "make her pretty" in the next several months. Teeth whitening, facial cleansers, a new straightener, etc. Merry Christmas to the girl! :)

We did get a few photos. Enjoy!

The bacteria test - LIBRE SOY! #SpanishFrozen I no longer have the chupaguata (stomach sucker). The only bonus - lost a ton of weight!

Sleeping on the bus returning to Sicuani. It helps me not get bus-sick. A little.

Comp selfies. We have fun.

(Kelly here) I'm not sure what this is but a quick Google search turned up a few headlines such as:

"15 of the Most Dangerous Festivals Around the World"

"How Some Peruvians Celebrate Christmas: Christmas should be a time for peace and joy, but, as we all know, “quality time” with family and friends can drive even the most zen-minded among us a little nuts. Some Peruvians have found the perfect sublimation strategy. It’s called Takanakuy, and it involves knocking out your nearest and dearest on Christmas Day."

Yes, now I understand the look on her face. :)

(Kelly Here) No Email Stories Today

(Kelly here: Keni didn't write an update but did report that she's feeling much better, although not the best. She'll see the doctor again next week to see if she's rid of the bacteria. Please continue to pray for her. She did send pictures, so enjoy!)

President and Hna Harbertson and I. They´re the best :) I love and respect them a lot.

One of the girls we teach, Miriam, has a pet rat. It´s a baby!

That baby bread that they eat on dia de los muertos (which isn´t too much of a thing here. They basically eat bread and drink in cemeteries. And have a couple of little traditions). The bread also gave me and my companion food poisoning. Never buying from THAT bakery again.

Rat.

Comp selfies last pday. 

(I almost never do my hair now... Shhhh...)

Hey! #cha-cha-cha-changes

How´s it going? :)

I´m good. Transfers are today! I don´t have a change! Me and Hna Azevedo are staying in Vilcanota, together, for another change! Which is honestly what we were praying for.

Hmmm... what happened this week? I feel like it´s been a really long week.

We contacted Sicuani until they no longer wanted to give us their information, and then we kept on contacting.

We then had 4 new investigators, thanks to contacting people like crazy.

Halloween! I was clark Kent/Superman and my comp was Catwoman and then Superman´s cat. It was a fun day.

And there was a  baptism in the other ward. We sang come thou fount of every blessing. It was a beautiful day!

I don´t know, I´m just still so happy :) We´re seeing so so so much that the Lord was taking care of the people in our sector when we couldn´t work when I was sick. It´s been such a huge blessing. We´re just loving the work, and loving that we´re still companions, and that we can continue to work here in Vilcanota!

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and I love you all to death! 

(Get it? That´s cause it was Halloween. Puns. Love them.)

Hna Hill

The only Halloween ANYTHING I´ve seen in Sicuani. And it was on Halloween. 

Me - as Clark Kent. #HalloweenintheMish

Me and my comp in Halloween! She didn´t walk around like that all day. She disneybounded (or whatever the equivalent would be) Cat Woman and painted her face when we were in the house for the night. Halloween was super fun :)

Me, as Superman.

Me as superman again!

My comp learned how to do that flower thing with her tongue, but she can only do it if she´s looking in the mirror.

Incredible sunsets in Sicuani featuring: a panai and a mototaxi.

I love Sicuani.

My pensionista carrying her husband - who just got called to be our new bishop!

I bought an army of llamas. One of the best decisions I´VE EVER MADE.

I love llamas :)

Things Happened This Week

I just don´t have time to write about it.

I´ve been here for ONE YEAR now. Which still seems fake.

We contacted people like crazy because almost all of our citas fell through. 

An investigator accepted her baptism date!! 

After talking about thanksgiving and eating turkeys we found a turkey family in our sector. It was weird. And now I want to eat turkey.

We went to Cusco for pday and another doctor visit (making sure that fun bacteria isn´t still bugging me...)

There was a strike for two days. So we couldn´t work for two days.

The Elders came to our apartment building looking for our pensionista´s husband (they live a floor above us) so they could go get some of that flushes-everything-out water from San Pedro. One of the elders decided to sleep on the street while waiting for him. Elders are ridiculous, but funny.

I ate a lot of food.

But then I worked out and sweat so much that I´m pretty sure I burned all that off. 

Then the next couple of days our legs were killing us because we seriously worked out SO HARD. It was a good type of pain. I love working out.

Peru and Bolivia had their own special area conference which was INCREDIBLE.

And we basicallly have just been ridiculously happy this week :) I don´t ever want this to end. I´m glad I still have time left!

Love you all!

Hna Hill

Hola!

Yeah. That´s as creative as it gets this week.

It´s been a good week!

After being somewhat sick for about a month, we spent most of the week in Cusco with the doctors. You know, looking for why I´ve been sick. After several tests, including blood - blech - the doctors found out that I have a bacteria that doesn´t exist in the States. So it hit me harder. Haha. The joys of being a foreigner! But it´s alright, because they gave me a buttload of antibiotics to get rid of it. I´m already feeling better! Thank you, doctors and antibiotics! And prayers and priesthood blessings and the Atonement of Jesus Christ that helped more than anything else.

After we got back to Sicuani we had SEVERAL beautiful, heart wrenching, inspiring moments that just make us NEVER want to leave the mission field. Here´s a few of them.

- When we gave an investigator her own copy of a Book of Mormon, she held it to her heart and thanked us and promised to read as much as she could before our next appointment with her. 

- The same investigator thanked our Heavenly Father for us and for the Book of Mormon in the closing prayer.

- Another investigator who couldn´t go to church this week, told our Heavenly Father in the closing prayer that she was truly sorry for not going to church and she promised Him she´d go next week. She also thanked Him for us, and for the chance she has to learn abou the gospel.

- Hna Azevedo and I have been meditizando (ponderizing #ldsconf) a scripture. Jacob 5:72

- The elders have been unusually kind and worried about us. Guess that´s what happens when you spend a couple days doing tests in the hospital.

- In a lesson with a recent convert who´s struggling a little bit, me and my companion felt the Spirit so strongly and we taught SO well together. Especially when the Spirit told us to be quiet and not talk. For about 15 minutes. While the convert was searching in her heart for the answer to the question we asked.

And so many other things. I loved this week. I LOVE the gospel, and my Savior Jesus Christ. And I LOVE being a missionary. It´s weeks like these that make you never ever want to leave.

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Hna Hill

First time I´ve had ice in a year. Gotta say, I LOVED it. And man do I miss ice.

The cutest frozen yogurt shop I´ve ever seen. Cusco.

Seriously I´m in love with this frozen yogurt shop. My comp with a cute little light tree.

Me and Hna Azevedo. She bought me this scarf this week in Cusco. I love scarves!

(Kelly here: I had no idea until today that Keni has been sick for six weeks. I have such mixed feelings about this. For Keni's sake, I didn't "freak out" like she worried that I would. I told her I trusted that she was feeling better and that blessings work. A part of me is saddened that she didn't tell me a while ago so I could be more specific in my prayers, but I also know that it doesn't work that way. Another part of me wonders why I couldn't have been notified by the mission president that she's been this sick - almost ready to be sent home. I know they don't want crazy parents just heading to Peru, but I wouldn't do that unless it was a life/death situation. As a mom, I feel I should know that my child is suffering, especially to the point of almost being sent back to the States. I'm guessing she had the opportunity each week to tell me herself, which she made the adult decision not to do. I have to respect that, because I'm sure she wanted her mum. I've not missed her like I do in this very moment, feeling helpless and inadequate. But no matter what I wish would have happened in the past 1 1/2 months, I have a strong belief in our Heavenly Father and that he has her in His arms. He will help her. He will heal her. He will hold her until I can have her back in my arms, and on my lap. This girl has a legion of angels surrounding her and I can't deny the very real blessings of prayer. I have all the faith in the world that she's being taken care of and I'll be eternally grateful to her companions and mission president and wife. For now I'll just keep praying that she continues to heal and that she can get back to the work that is so important to her. She has six months left and I want more than anything to hug that little girl. As much as I want her home right now ... I'm so, so happy that she wasn't sent back. She would have hated that. She's not even going to want to come home on time, but especially not early. Please everyone, keep her in your prayers)

I love Peru.

And I love you all! 

But (for once) a million of you decided to write me! 

So I ran out of time.... 

But it´s been a great week!

Love you!

Hna Hill

Chili´s in Cusco!

Hnas Hill and Azevedo

Half of my district from the CCM.

And last pday in the plaza de armas de Sicuani!

Kelly here: I sent Keni some pictures of her brothers and once again one of her companions wants to marry him. Here are the pics I sent of Jacob "Squatch":

"Wow. Your brother is really good looking. PRINT THAT PICTURE OUT I´M PUTTING IT ON MY AGENDA." -- Hna Azevedo

Keni: Heehee. She´s completely willing to marry Jake. YES!

Another comp!

This week while waiting for our companions to travel to Sicuani, Hna Vitola and I were comps for two days! I love her, she´s the best :) 

Hna Hill and Hna Vitola (companion for two days)

This is my comp, Hna Azevedo, being the "Latino Hulk". We found some green statues and basically had a blast. She´s hilarious, I enjoy working with her a lot! We basically laugh all the time. Also, we´ve been singing the princess and the frog a lot, and today we discovered we have a mutual and slightly obsessive love for the muppets. This is going to be a good companionship. I can tell :)  (Lilo and Stitch quote. "He´s good. I can tell.")

Hna Azevedo as The Hulk

Hna Azevedo and Minnie Mouse

We both generally end up taking selfies while we´re waiting for the other. It´s been a fun week!

I´m going blonde!! The sun, and the chlorine filled water in our shower is bleaching my hair! These selfies I took while waiting for my comp to finish getting ready really show it well. I don´t like it.

In other news. One of my name tags (what are those called in english?) kinda broke and I have to use a magnet one while I´m waiting for a new one to arrive. I don´t like the magnet one. But I´m gonna have three tags! Kinda cool. 

I don´t have a lot to say right now :) haha. But I´m loving this work just as much as ever. I´m just thrilled to be here. Today our pensionista told me "Hey, we love seeing you so happy. I mean, you seem to be happier than ever." And it´s true! I think every day I´m happier and more in love with this work. There aren´t many things that are better than this :)

Love you all! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Hna Hill