8.19.13

Hola!

So how do I explain this week? It was actually pretty rough. I got sick on Thursday (I jinxed myself when I said I had a strong stomach). I threw up, had diarrhea and a fever. I felt like crap. So we were in the clinic all day and I slept most of the day, so we didn´t get anything done. But I am better now, I just needed to sleep it all out I received my first blessing in Spanish so that was pretty cool!  They gave me some probiotics so I´m good on that. And then Friday was the wedding of one of out investigators, Luis. He married a member. They are both pretty young. She is 18 and Luis just turned 23. It was nice and we spend all day at the clinic and then decorating for the wedding. I felt like the members should have been helping rather than the missionaries cause we have people and stuff to teach and we didn´t do anything else that day. But the wedding was nice and then the next day Luis was baptized. Me and hna Quise both shared a little thought, I spoke on the Holy Ghost. I was really nervous because of my Spanish but it went pretty good. The baptism was nice, It was really small. It was different from the baptisms at home. I have been pondering a lot on the holy Ghost and I am really grateful for the role it has played in my life.

I really don´t have too much to talk about this week. I had another breakdown yesterday. I am really struggling with my companion. I love her but I feel like we look at things differently when it comes to missionary work and what not and it is hard because I don´t really have much say because I am the new missionary being trained and I don´t know Spanish super well. I am trying really hard to have patience. This week I have felt a little hopeless and I feel like I am being held back from receiving extra blessings. which  I need especially now because I am learning and need the help of the Lord (I always need the help of the Lord, but you know what I mean), but when I can´t be as obedient as I want to be because of my companion it is hard. But I am hoping this week will be better. I am praying constantly for the help of the Lord. I now know what people mean when having a companion prepares you for marriage. Because I am not only living with this person but I am working with them constantly. ExceptI imagine marriage will be better because I can choose the person I marry and I will love them a whole ton.

None of our investigtors came to church this week. Familia Idalgo couldn´t becauase they had a lot of work to do. But next week I really hope they come. They have so much potential. 

I ate cow intestines the other day! It actually wasn´t that bad. The only thing that threw me off was the texture and it was super fatty. But I ate it all and I didn´t get sick. We taught a lady yesterday the restauracion and it was sad because she can´t read, so we are going to help her read the book of Mormon.

I hope Grandpa is feeling better. I have been praying for him and Grandma a lot. I´m excited for J Sprat! I had a dream last night he got baptized and Richard G Scott was there. It was an interesting dream. haha My camera fell and broke so that sucks. I am going to try and find somewhere where I can get it fixed today. What is it about foreign countries and my camera??

Anyways I am doing fine, just trying to stay strong and have a positive attitude! I feel like my Spanish is gradually getting better and I am gaining more confidence daily. I participated in church yesterday which was one of my goals for this week. I love you all and things sound like they are going great at home! Give all the grandkids a kiss from me! Love you!

Hermana Wursten

8.12.13

My weekly email to my Mission President

"This week was a lot better. I will admit being a missionary is

sometimes an emotional roller coaster. At some times I will feel

really great about my spanish and just feel really happy and then the

next moment I feel dumb with my spanish and really down. But it´s

amazing how whenever I am down Heavenly Father blesses me with

something that helps me feel better. I really am learning a ton

everyday. I thought before I came on a mission that I knew a lot but I

have realized that there is something to learn everyday, especially in

the Gospel. I am so incredibly grateful. Our zone meeting this past

week was so great. I felt the spirit strongly and I love the motto of

our mission "De los milagros." I have been trying to find milagros in

my life everyday and especially in this work. I have realized that me

being here on a mission is a milagro. The fact that I am in a whole

different country and culture, not knowing anyone beforehand, not

knowing the language, and somehow being able to teach these people the

Gospel in their language. And I am surviving. What a miracle!

I am trying to be more bold and open my mouth and just talk, even if I

don´t know how to say what i want to say. I realize that Heavenly

Father isn´t going to help me until I do my part and actually make an

effort.

La familia Idalgo came to church again and they have a baptism date at

the end of the month! I am so happy and excited. It´s cool too because

they are excited and have the desire to learn more. It´s awesome

helping people learn the Gospel and to know that it is going to bless

them so much.

It is hard not to get discouraged at times because a lot of times the

people don´t have time to talk or are not interested and then we can´t

teach much. And it´s hard when people don´t follow through with

commitments. I am going to start praying to know how I can help

investigators follow through with commitments."

Like I said to my mission president. There are definitely tons of ups

and downs of emotions in the mission. I had another breakdown this

week (It seems to be a weekly thing, but its not going to happen

anymore!). Not totally because of the language, but because I felt

alone. It´s hard sometimes cause I miss being able to actually have a

real conversation with someone and things like that. Everytime I get

down I pray because that is really one of the only things that helps

in those moments. Because I know Heavenly Father is listening. and

then he always blesses me.

On Tuesday was a festival for Dia de Bolivia at the Stake Center! It

was so fun and there were a ton of fun traditional Bolivian dances

that every ward did. It was really cool and I actually got emotional

at one point (I am turning into a woman, always crying) because It was

just so cool to me how there are so many different cultures and

traditions and even people of different cultures are a part of the

Gospel. Isn´t that cool? The Gospel is true. El Evangelio es

verdadero. The only thing that I didn´t like about the festival was

that I couldn´t dance. Seriously though, that is the only hard part

about being a missionary. Oh, and learning a new language.

Like I said to my Mission President I have been trying to find

milagros (miracles) in my life everyday because we can always find

miracles in our lives. It´s pretty cool cause it helps you see the

Lord´s hand in your life everyday.

So it is true, the people are always late here. Mom, you would die.

Time is just not really an issue to people. And I will admit, it is

pretty frustrating to me sometimes. I am learning patience.

So during one of our lessons with familia Idalgo this week we talked a

lot about El Sacerdocio (the priesthood) and I felt the spirit so

strongly. I realize I have taken the priesthood for granted. But the

priesthood is seriously amazing. It´s the POWER OF GOD on the earth

TODAY! The same power that Christ had during his time on earth. How

cool is that? I am so grateful that my Dad holds the priesthood and I

was blessed with that my whole life. I bore testimony of that in our

lesson.

I am gaining weight. Seriously the people feed us so much and

sometimes I feel like I am going to die. Because we can´t deny the

food or that would be rude. We have a half hour to exercise in the

morning but I am using that to study the language. So I have the

choice to either be fat or not know the language. I am choosing to be

fat. Hna Quispe is impressed with me cause I eat everything and I

haven´t gotten sick yet. I just have a really strong stomach. Another

miracle and blessing. haha

Mom, I thought you would like to know that at one point in our

bathroom we even had pink toilet paper. haha and the other day during

one of our lessons I thought of the Richard G Squat thing and I had to

try really hard not to laugh.

Ayer con la familia Idalgo (yesterday with the Family Idalgo) we

watched the Jose Smith movie. Seriously it is so powerful! I suggest

everyone to watch it.

Anyways I am going to try and send some pictures. I love you!!! Thanks

for always thinking of me and for your support. I love my family and I

am so grateful. I love you!

Hermana Wursten

Me and Hna Quispe when I first got to Tarija. I am taller than her. I am taller than a lot of people here. I am actually normal height. it is weird. I miss being short. No my companion doesn´t speak english. haha But she knows a lot of random words from me and other norte americano companions she has had.

 

8.5.13

Hola!!!! Sounds like the trek was a fun and cool experience. I have been reading Our Heritage and I have so much more appreciation for the pioneers and the sacrifices that they made for us. Because of them we have the Gospel and our lives are forever blessed. That is awesome J Sprat is going to talk to the missionaries!!!!!!! Tell him I am super excited and to write me. Woot woot! The Gospel is so true! It is more real to me everyday I am here. 

Everyday here is getting better and better and I am adjusting more and more. the language is still difficult but I am getting more and more confident in speaking and approaching people. It´s prety cool. this week we were able to teach the Familia Idalgo the Plan of Salvation and they came to church yesterday!!! And stayed for all 3 hours. I was so happy and I think they liked it. We are going to teach them tonight. they have 2 little kids who are really cute. We also found a family proselyting who are awesome. The lady, Indira, is a nonmember but her boyfriend (they live together) is inactive and so are her parents. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and then last night we taught them the Restoration. We had a member with us and it was awesome. Seriously, I felt so proud to be a missionary. We all testified of the Book of Mormon and it was very powerful. Everyone was very attentive. We asked them to read the BOM and pray about it and I really hope that they receive their answer cause I know this is what Heavenly Father wants for them. This is what Heavenly Father wants for everyone! All the inactive members of the family were super nice and I think they really enjoyed our message and having us in their homes. A lot of inactive people are scared to go back to church, so its important that we love them all and welcome them with open arms.

We had a lesson with Gabriella (one of our investigadores) about the palabra de sabiduria. When we arrived there were some other people there from another church and one of the guys was from Alabama. Anyways they left and we taught and during our lesson they came back and wanted to join in so I explained to the US guy in english a little bit. It was a distraction because we were teaching Gabriella. After they asked to talk to us about what they believed. We said yeah, but didn't have much time. Anyways they went to explain that they believed all you needed to do what accept Christ to have Eternal Life and then of the ladies was saying how we are only children of god if we accept him, if we dont then we are only creations of God. The spirit was just gone after that. We are ALL CHILDREN OF GOD NO MATTER WHAT WE BELIEVE. Anyways we were respectful and said a prayer and then left. Me and Hna Quispe felt really shaken up and that the spirit was just gone so we went to a park and prayed and sang some hymns. haha It was an interesting experience and I felt uncomfortable because it seemed like they were just trying to argue and prove right.

Oh Mom, I know what quote I want. The one by Jeffrey R. Holland saying how not all blessings come right away but for those who live the Gospel those blessings will come. Can you send that to me in english and spanish please?

So I experienced my first cockroach the other day. It was in our bathroom and I felt so creeped out. I killed it with the trash can and now everytime I go to the bathroom I am scared I am going to find a cockroach. thats funny to me mom that you think maestro is funny. It means teacher. haha

Also, do you think you can send me an easy USA recipe to make? A lot of people ask me if I can make something american for them but I can never think of anything and I don't have any recipes memorized.

Anyways things are a lot better here. Spanish is still hard and every once and a while I will get discouraged but it only lasts for like an hour or so and then its better. I am just trying really hard to study a lot and and rely on the Lord or his help. I have grown to love the scriptures so much! Seriously, they are my favorite. I wish I could read them forever, which is something I thought I would never say. I just learn something new every time. Read the book of mormon everyone! I am going to try to send pictures like always but who knows cause the computers here are stupid.

I am so happy to be on a mission. It is hard with the language and all but being a missionary is so powerful and we can all be missionaries! Thanks so much for all your letters and love and support. I love hearing about everything going on in your lives. I love you! Until next week!

Hermana Wursten

Familia Idalgo on the left and Familia Villagomez (miembros) on the right. 

Me with a cute little baby goat. 

My bruise. Nast. (from a dog bite)

A lot of stray dogs here wear sweaters and it is really funny to me.

Some fun traditional dress.

My District

Washing my clothes.

One of the members and her daughters. This is where we eat lunch everyday.

7.29.13

HOla! Ok so this week was a lot better. I am adjusting more and more. The language is still hard but I am learning the importance of patience and that I have only been here for a little more than a week. The beginning of this last week kinda sucked bcause we werent able to do much because of my stupid dog bite. I ended up having to go to the clinic and having them check it out. the gave me a shot in my butt and some pills to take (I had no idea what was going on, I just did what I was told). then the next day I got a shot for rabies. So i am now receiving the rabies vaccinations. But don´t worry, I don´t have rabies. It is getting a lot better. It is still bruised pretty bad though. In one week I had 3 needles in different parts of my body (butt shot, rabies, and they had to take my blood for my visa). Welcome to Bolivia.

I have a letter for Chrissy but I dont know when I will be able to send it! But I dont want Chrissy to think I am ignoring her letters. thanks so much Sista! The beginning of this week I had a little breakdown because of the language. We were walking in the street to a cita (appointment) and I turned to hermana Quispe and said "necesito llorar" (i need to cry). haha I had to get it out then or else it would have happened during the lesson and that would have been bad. Anyways Quispe was super nice about it and was just comforting me. I felt better after. I still suck at spanish but I have noticed that I am learning more and more each day. It is crazy how much Heavenly FAther is blessing me. I feel unworthy a lot of the time for all the blessings because I am not perfect and in my prayers I am constantly complaining. haha God is so merciful. I am extremely grateful. It´s true though, being a missionary gives you so much more confidence to just go up and talk to people and knock on their doors. I love it. Normally I would be nervous or intimidated but I don´t even care now. I truly want to share the message of the Gospel to these people and see their lives change through it. I never realized how much I wanted to be a missionary until I came here. I want to teach lessons, I want to talk to people about the Gospel. I get bummed when our investigators aren´t home or too busy to be taught (it happens a lot). I just look at these people and think ¨"this message can change your life." I have been trying this week to look at people through the SAviors eyes, and its a really cool thing. I feel emotional when I do it. HEavenly FAther loves us all so much and he wants us all so badly to come to him. I just wish I could speak spanish better so I could actually say those things. I get really frustrated in lessons sometimes cause I know what I want to say but I just can´t. It´s really hard. I hate sounding like a 5 year old when I talk. haha Its probably so amusing for everyone. I have been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and that is helping me a lot. I get stressed here because a lot of our appointments fall through and then I dont feel like we are getting as much done. I  dont want to feel like I am wasting time or wasting my mission time. You know?

Living circumstances are funny. The past couple of mornings we have had no water, which is an adventure. And then we dont have a washing machine or dryer so we have to hand wash our clothes. Its a lot of work! seriously though, my arms are sore after. But it is kinda fun cause i feel all old fashioned. We might move in with a member who has an extra room and lives alone with her 2 daughters. She is lonely, she is separated from her husband and he lives with another woman. I feel sad for her. She is so nice and I think she wants us to have more company. her house is super nice too, so thats cool.

We got a baptism date set for one of our investigators this week! Her name is Teresa and she is only 15 years old and lives alone and is independent. She came to church with us yesterday and i think she liked it so I am excited about that!

You guys sound busy! Did you get a bike cruiser for me too, after my mission???? haha Have fun on the trek! I´m sure it will be great. I´m glad you like having the sisters living with you guys, and they better appreciate my room. I am trying to send pictures but they are all failing. I will continue to try! Thanks so much for all your love and support. I love you!!!

Hermana Wursten

7.22.13

Hola!! Can you believe that I am actually in Bolivia being a REAL missionary?! I definitely can´t, also its hard to feel like a real missionary when I can barely communicate with the people. Anyways I am in Tarija!!! I had to fly here from Santa Cruz and I met my trainer here, Hermana Quispe. She is from Lima, Peru. She rocks. She has an awesome testimony, is the only member in her family, 23 years old, and is super nice! I feel bad for her cause she has to deal with me. haha It is really hard for me because I want so badly to be able to participate more in lessons and talk to the people more but I just can´t. Like I don´t know how. But I am praying that it will get better and I know Heavenly Father is blessing me. The members and people here are very nice. There are a lot of members here but many are inactive. Like we will talk to someone on the street and they will be like ¨"oh yeah I am a member, but I dont go anymore" in spanish obviously. So we visit with a lot of menos activos (inactives). People try and talk English to me a lot, but they only know like a couple of words and its hard to understand through their accents. Probably how it is with me too. haha

Although right now its a lot of adjusting and learning the language is hard I am still grateful to be here. I have noticed how much Heavenly Father is helping me throughout the days. I just pray constantly for comfort. I am definitely a bit more emotional here than I have been in a while, I don´t think it is just because I am struggling with the changes but also because I feel the spirit so much. Like the other morning I was just praying before personal study and I just started crying and I had no idea why. haha During personal study that day I read Alma 34:41 and it was perfect for me, like seriously. I want that to be my missionary plaque scripture. As I was sharing with Hna Quispe what I had studied I was explaining how that scripture touched me and I was jsut crying. haha What an emotional wreck I am. I was like "no se porque estoy emocional" I dont know why I am emotional, and she was like its the spirit.She is so nice. I prayed that Heavenly Father would bless me with a trainer with patience and God answered my prayers-. In church yesterday the Bishop called me up to bear my testimony and teach a little of the first lesson. OH GOSH. can you imagine how dumb I looked up there trying to speak spanish. haha but it actually wasnt that bad. I just bore my testimony and talked about the Restoration. I only had to talk for 5 minutes so that was good. I just assume all the members understand I don´t know spanish and admire me for trying. Hna Quispe said I did a good job though.

The cool thing about being a missionary is that I feel more comfortable just approaching someone and talking about the Gopsel. I feel like normally in real life I would be nervous and intimidated but I dont feel that. I love talking about the Gospel. We have just been visiting less actives, and knocking doors and teaching investigators. I am horrible at remembering everyones names. They are all like different names and harder for me to pronounce. It is cold here right now! We are in winter and the winds are crazy. Yesterday it was seriously SO windy. mucho viento. no me gusta (gusta means "to like", well direct translation is it is pleasing to me. I think). The food is ok. Most of the time I like it but sometimes its not that great. Its just a lot of CARBS. rice, potatoes, pasta, chicken, beets. They have a lot of soups which I like. And they just LOAD up your plates with food. and then I feel like I have to eat it all even if I am not hungry. So if I come home looking like extremely round, don´t judge. But I´ll probably end up getting a parasite. They gave us a filter water bottle at the CCM but I left mine at the airport so I can´t really drink much water here. They have a lot of rules when it comes to what we can eat and drink. They drink either juice or soda with every meal. never water. I miss water.

It was sad saying bye to all of my District and I miss them beause we were all good friends. I pray for them every night. Epecially Hermana Faulk. She is awesome. So I will be here in Tarija for at least 3 months because that is how long i am training for. Please pray for me and my Spanish. There are so many dogs here. I got bit by one my 2nd day here. It was the dog of Laura, one of the ladies we are teaching. It bit me as we were walking in and it bit me hard. The back of my upper thigh is super bruised. We asked her if the dog has its rabies shot and she said yes. so hopefully thats true. But I´m not worried about it cause the Dog bit me where my garments are and those are a protection. and I am a missionary so God is watching over me. I will try and send pictures of it if I can figure out how to send pictures. I am trying to think of what else to tell you all. The houses here just dont feel like homes to me. the people are pretty poor. But the people are so humble and I love that. My apartment isnt the nicest placeI´ve ever seen but its fine. the bathroom is separate. They dont use shower curtains here. and I have taken a cold shower the past 3 days. haha I didnt know how to work the hot water but Hna Quispe just showed me how to today. We get fed lunch and dinner everyday by a member, I think the church pays them or something. So the only meal we have to worry about it breakfst. So that is nice.

Dad, that is awesome that you go out with the missionaries alot! They always encourage us to teach lessons with members, its super important. It gives the investigator an instant friend in the church and Its great for the people to see how members are and how they live their lives and to hear their testimonies too. We had FHE last night with a member family and they invited some of their friends and it was fun. We did a lesson on the Plan of Salvation and one of the members was able to bear his testimony. We played some games after too so that was fun. I liked that cause I felt like I was able to show my personality more to the people because it is hard right now when I cant communicate much.

Jealous you all got to go to the State Fair! I love the state fair, especially the livestock. haha and the cinnamon rolls! Maybe I will find some cinnamon rolls here! The backyard furniture looks super good! Anyways I have nothing else to say. Although it sounds like I am having a hard time adjusting, its really not that bad. I am so glad I am here on a mission. Sometimes I wake up and I cant believe it. But it is such an amazing experience and I am grateful for how much I have grown and the things that I have learned and the people I have met. This is seriously an amazing opportunity and I would recommend it to anyone! I pray for you all daily and I am so grateful for the wonderful family that I have. The church is true! I know it more now than I ever had and I am closer with my Heavenly FAther than I have ever been. Please continue to pray for me, especially with the language.

Have a great week!! I love you.

Hermana Wursten

7.18.13

I am here!!! As you probably already figured since it has been two days. ha So I don't know why they are having us email 2 days later but better later than never. I love Bolivia. It is a lot more green than Peru and not as busy either so I like that. I haven't met my trainer yet or actually even done much stuff since we got here. I will meet my trainer today and then find out which area I am going. The past 2 nights we have stayed at a hotel and just hanging out at the mission office and running around doing different errands. My mission pres is in the states right now cause his wife needed surgery so I will meet them probably the next transfer. Anyways the mission address is the same and send things only to that address, including packages. It was great talking to you the other day! I love you all and I will email you on pday which is Monday. Love you! 

Hna Wursten

Letty Called!

On July 16, 2013 Letty called my parents house on her way from the MTC in Peru, to Bolivia.  This is the email my mom sent out about their phone call:

We got to talk to Letty this morning.  She called from the airport using coins so we talked to her for 7 min.  I was really bummed that it wasn't longer.  About 20 minutes later she called again and we talked for 21 min and then got cut off.  About 10 min later she called again and we talked for 13 min so all in all it was a 41 min conversation.  She sounded really good.  And even a little more mature and grown up.......but still Letty.......one of the Hermanas went to sit on her suitcase and fell off and Letty thought that was hilarious.  (Actually, I would have too!)  She's excited and yet a little nervous.  She wishes her Spanish was better so she could communicate better.  I'm sure she'll progress quickly once she has no one to speak English too......     Next time we talk to her will be Christmas.   She probably won't be emailing this week.

Stacy