The Power of Maria!

So we have to receive names of people everyday. One day we got 22 names, and no joke close to half of them were named Maria.

Hna Castillo and I have come up with a list of ways to ask for names. The one we use most often is something along the lines of this: ¨Su vecino a lado de usted se llama Maria?¨

If we simply ask people if they know anyone who would benefit from hearing from us, or asking if they know anyone who would be interested in hearing us, usually people either don´t want to give us names and say no, or can´t think of someone right off the bat. If we ask more specifically, we recieve a names, and an address, and then we have a reference as well.

We have a joke now when asking people about there family how many are named ¨Maria¨and how many are ¨Jose¨. When we recieved the 22 names, it was because this one lady had 12 kids, and all the girls were named Maria.. but Maria de Jesus, and Maria de Josefina, because since when do people have just one name right? Honestly the names here go for days. They would never fit on a license or passport!!

Joaquin, I was asked about him. He knows about my desire not to have sugar, and I told him 10 months before my mission I didn't have any refined sugars. He made us this cake bread thing that was made of little to no oats, and a but load of seeds. He calls is a pastel ¨Cake¨ but honestly it was super crumbly due to all the seeds, and SO YUMMY and not sweet at all! Gosh that thing was gone by morning. And made is a 9x9 pan.

Also we aren't sure where he is at the moment. We went to search for him Saturday to teach him and his mom (mother of 12 and less active) said he never arrived home the night before. So we shared something with his mom, Juanita. (also another common name)

We shared a scripture about Humility in Mosiah 21:12-15. Juanita hasn´t come to church in ages because someone told her that in a meeting she was discussed and that she needed to be ¨Rescued¨ She is always happy to see us missionaries, hopefully she still is after our lesson with her.

My companion had said that she wasn´t fulfilling her covenants with God if she isn´t coming to church to renew them. (My comp is never bold, I thought that was bold.) She has a hard head, and usually sweeps what we say off the table like it isn´t a big deal, like not coming to church. Then it was my turn to share... I pretty much I told her that we don´t know everything in the world, and that God is all knowing, and we should do all that we can to follow His commandments, like going to church each week. Also that we are living in the Lord´s time that He has given us, and what are we doing with that time? And that He has asked us to keep these commandments.

We were with the married missionary couple during this time.. She didn´t come to church. The Elder, laughing, told me that she got slapped in the face. I told her I loved her, and only wanted what was best for her. I asked my comp if what I said was bad, and she said she could never be as bold as I was, but that was the reason we were put together, it was what she needed.

Anyway, I can´t seem to remember anything right now. My mind is steaming trying to remember. But love you all lots! Con mucho amor, Hna Tagg xoxoxoxo

Ride to Guzman with Palmoitas :) NOM NOM

Nikki's Zone

Pictures!

Tortillas with Pb and banana

Not sure what this is, but I liked it.. right off some random tree

oaquin.. less active member, and my day with Hna Naqera (comp
exchanges happen each month, I think) or something like that. He
bought us coconuts! 10 pesos each.

Girls that gave me a bracelet last week

My comp had this idea, and does this with all her companions

The line of notes I woke up to on my birthday from Hna Castillo

20 yrs.. do I look any older? 

Our pet is in the blue box..

Remi the bird

Pday today, played futbol today with some of the youth in the ward

Un Mes Terminado

HOLA!!!

This week went really well! I had so much I wanted to share, so I wrote it down in my mini notebook, but left it in my other bolsa, so I don´t have it. But I'll try to remember..

So Tuesday was fantastic!! We´ve had a who knows what... smaller than an iguana, but bigger than a lizard hanging around out place since I moved in, possibly longer. But Tuesday was the day we caught it. Good thing I´m not the mama of my companionship with Hna Castillo, because I didn´t want anything to do with it. At first it was just in our back living quarters by our washing station, but then it got inside our house... Gross. It found its way under the fridge, so I stood on top of our counter and moved the fridge. Anyways, long story short, Hna Castillo saved the day and caught it in an old box. Then we put our water jug on top of it. We couldn´t do anything with it at the time since we had to leave for an appt and such. We had a sleepover with it that night and discarded it the next morning into our garbage. (Still in the box of course) I just wonder if the garbage guys realized there was an animal in there... hmm... Don´t you worry though, when I get back I have videos of Hna Castillo trying to catching it :) And a picture with us around the box as if I had something to do with the capture of our pet/friend/ #notevenclosetobeingmyfriend

In the past 4 weeks that I have been here, I have been given 2 bracelets, a set of earrings, a ring, and a flower from one of our investigators.

Our investigators struggle really hard making it to church. It doesn't help that it takes about 15-20 min to walk there. So yesterday we picked up (walked) to one of our investigators, 15 mins to his house.. speed walking to the max, and fasting lol, then to the church. We had a great time walking.

I was able to bare my testimony in church yesterday; that was a good time. Es verdad! I felt good about it. By the time church was over though, I wanted to cry. People talk to me and I have no clue what is being said! Because of this I tell my comp that she needs to talk to me all the time... I'm not sure what it is though, I can always understand her, and other people it goes right over my head (most times). Still learning patience.

Vero Flores (mother of the kids that gave me a bracelet last week) is great. She hasn't accepted a baptismal date, but she is ready for the gospel. I asked her if she felt the Spirit during the lesson, and she did, I was able to bare testimony, and she was almost in tears... that felt good... in a good way I promise!! She still wants to think about it, so we invited her to pray about it like Joseph Smith, to know the truth, and explained that she would feel similar feelings from the Spirit that our message was true, and that the gospel has been restored again.

She also has a few birds… one is named Remi. He is awesome. I got a picture with him :) lol

We went to an area this week that took 45 mins to get to. And we were walking pretty fast. Gosh was I tired. It was in the heat of the day too!! We only were able to have one lesson too that day. And set another appt for an investigator. I had never been there before. I think it would be good if we went at least once a week. People need the gospel there too! We're working on it!

We gave a picture of the Guadalajara temple to a less active family yesterday, with our testimonies on the back. They talk to me, and really want me to understand, so they explain things to me! That helps me love them :) The parents struggle with tobacco, but have a desire to enter into the temple. So we are working with them. Cristi.. mama is doing well, and has attended the temple 3 weeks in a row! She is the one that gave us a pair of earrings, and as well the other bracelet.  Her husband David gave us 2 avocados last Sunday since he working in an avocado vineyard and I have expressed my love for avocado. Anyways, we received 3 more this week :) YUM! I hope they can overcome their struggles and make it to the temple together. David is really nice, but works on Sundays, so he doesn't get the extra boost on Sundays :(  He made the joke about me marrying his son yesterday... in front of him.. awksss!! ha

My comp tried pb with banana on a tortilla.. and liked it :) She says she has never tried such weird things with food before haaha. I attempted black bean brownies..without baking them last night.. Fail! I hated it, but she liked it with milk, so all to her :)

Think that is good for now! Now let’s hope that this computer will let me send some pictures today!

Con mucho amor, siempre! Su misionera favorita! <3<3<3<3 xoxoxoxo

Birthday Gift Mom Sent