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