Changes......

These past two changes have flown by incredibly fast. I cannot believe that changes are already today. I have really enjoyed the time that I got to be with Hermana Menlove. I have so many memories that I will never forget! These times were the best. We recieved changes on Saturday night and im training....again. Im going to the mission home tonight and will pick up my companion tomorrow. I have no idea who it is yet! I have to say that when I first found out I was training I freaked out. I have known for awhile and so I talked to president about it and I have just been praying to know that this is really what I need to do right now, and it is, of course my Heavenly Father knows whats best for me and what I need to progress. Its just sometimes hard to accept the will of God. 

Its been hitting me pretty hard that I only have a short time left. It was so goood skyping you guys and seeing you on Christmas. It was a good reminder that you guys really do exist haha, I think I have pushed all of my emotions to the side and just have felt that you guys are part of my imagination but you all look great! Im going to give my all to these last three changes. I want to be a more dedicated, humble missionary. More like my Savior Jesus Christ! 

I also have been thinking a lot about goals this week, as the new year is coming. For me, this year 2016 is a huge year in my life. Full of really important desisions! I want to invite you all to reflect on this past year 2015 and see what you can do better at, spiritually, physically, mentally. How can you be a better daugter and son of God? Better husband, wife, friend...theres just alot to think about! and there is so many things we can do better! I love fresh starts and new beginings! This is going to be such a great year!

Thanks for your love and support

HH 

Ward Christmas party. Camilo was the first one there.

Christmas Eve....watching the fireworks at midnight.

Christmas in the Plaza.

Playing with Andy (our little brother).

Camilo standing on a chair to be taller than us, haha...funniest thing ever!

The family I love the most!

Hermana Menlove's going away party.

Luis...our convert together.

FELIZ NAVIDAD......

I don't have a ton to say this week! We had our mission christmas party this week, it was fun. We did the usual skits and dinner. Me and Menlove dresed up like panachays for our skit. It was pretty funny. 

Camilo, one of our investigators, is improving SO MUCH. i will see this guy enter the waters of baptisms before I leave Peru. It is his time! This week we had our first lesson with him that we could feel the spirit and he let us talk. It was AWESOME. I got the courage to even challange him to baptism which he rejected, but he said eventually he will get there. I have a lot of faith in him. He had promised us that he would go to church on Sunday. So we left church to go get him in a taxi and he wasn't home. His daugter said that he could possibly be in the catholic church down the street so we made the taxi driver go there and we looked for him. No luck. On our way back we saw this old man walking down the street. First you have to understand Camilo. Hes this TINY peruvian man with only half of his hair. He's holding on hard to the hair on the back of his head. Its hilarious. Well it was Camilo and he was totally trying to escape from us. haha. I wish I could say that at the end of this he went to church with us but he is VERY stubborn. Next week:)

Anyways, LIfe is good. I hope you all enjoy this Christmas week! They don't put up christmas lights in the area im in (i live in a red zone haha) because they would just get stolen. BUT im stoked for christmas,its "lo maximo".

love you all so much! FELIZ NAVIDAD!

xoxoxox
HH 

Dogs, dogs, dogs..........

Decembre is flying so fast, I cant even believe it! Yesterday we went to Chivay at 3 in the morning, so I am writing real fast today. This week was super great! last Tuesday we went down to Mollendo for our zone conference, we stayed down there and did trios with our girls. Its like the closest thing to california here....right on the ocean. It was really fun. I was with hermana Escobar and Vasquez. Vasquez is just starting her misison...its always fun to be around new missionaries because they just have a whole different drive for the work. It made me come back and have the desire to work so much harder in my own area. I always learn a lot in divisions.

On Thursday we invited anyone and everyone to the chapel to watch a christmas movie and eat panaton (groooossss but they love it). A lot of people came. Hermana menlove and I were so happy we were running around like crazy and just smily happy haha. I love christmas time! 

I'll tell you guys a funny story because I dont have a lot to say. BUT i am getting sooo sick of the dogs here. They are a constant problem for us here haha. We have this cute investigator who has this GIANT dog that is always right outside of her door and is really mean. Its tried to come after us a number of times. Well, everyitme we go visit her we pray that there will be a way for us to get to her door and knock on it because we usually just end up standing on the other side of the street and yelling her name until she ocmes outside. Well God works in funny ways sometimes. The other day we were sitting outside yelling her name and this tiny Tiko (its the taxis here, they are very small cars) rolls up and the guy asks us if we are trying to get to the door. we said yes, and he literally drove over and up to her door which obvisouly made the dog go running and knocked on her door through his window and smiled and drove off. We were laughing so hard but amazed. I love little miracles like that in life!

This morning in District meeting our district leader shared something that I really loved....he was saying how it was his dads birthday this past week and he was really reflecting on his dad...how is whole life while living at home he never told his dad that he loved him. How the day that he left for the mission he remembers hugging his dad goodbye and it all just hitting him, how much he loved his dad and how much he had sacraficed for his family and how much he regretted never doing it before but it being too late. well it really touched me and I just hope that you guys all know how much I love and care for you even if I havent expressed it enough. But also that I dont want to get to the end of my mission and feel that way. I dont want to look back and think Its too late I should have done more. i just hope I can work my hardest and be the most dedicated while i still have time. 

Im so grateful to be here. I love you guys, Talk to you soon!

xoxox

HH 

Sunset in Mollendo....closest thing to Cali here.

In trios in Mollendo with our girls.

Their Pensanista

Panachay's in Chivay

Old lady that we visit all the time. She is hilarious.

Chivayyyy.......trying on hats.

13 meses.........

This week I dont have a ton to say...It was a good week though! Last pday we ate at chilis...when we have nothing to do we resort to chilis haha. On wednesday and thursday we had leadership council at the mission home. I always love it, I always leave so inspiried wanting to work harder and better my area. Something that I really loved from council is what president shared with us. He said the the world is so rapidly changing...that its so inconsistant..unconsistant..idk...BUT that the church is the only thing that we have in our lives that is stable, that has order. I was really reflecting on that...how grateful I am to be here. To have such a good base to be able to go back into the world stronger and ready to face more challanges that are going to come my way. I feel so much more spiritually prepared. I am so protected of the things of the world right now, its great. 

Thank you all for your love and support. Christmas season is the best time of year. I hope you can all feel Christs love and share it with others during this time:) Can you imagine what the world would be like without a savior? I want to invite you all to watch this video and reflect on that question a little. Love you all so much!!

HH 

https://www.mormon.org/spa/navidad/el-prop%C3%B3sito-de-un-salvador

DICIEMBRE.........

This week was great! (maybe not as good as Mexico, but ya know haha) just kidding, i'm probably just as tan as you guys so its fine :) 

Last pday we had a big Thanksgiving dinner as a zone at pres Rodriguez´s house. It was probably the best food i've had since i've been here. We ate a pollopavo, soo like chicken and turkey mixed together, idk how that works but it was goooood! We finally finished up our dental trip this week, thank heavens. it was actually a lot of fun and I learned a lot of new medical terms in spanish haha. I for sure dont want to be a dentist though....peruvian teeth did it for me. 

On Thursday President invited us and the office elders over to the mission home for Thanksgiving dinner. It was just like home. We got there and Pres was in the kitchen making some stuffing and yummy food so we got to help. Some of his chidlren were visiting from the states so we got to know them and play with his grandkids. The elder and president watched the football game while we played cards. It was weird. i dont even know if thats alowed but that just shows how chill president is haha. It was alot of fun. The best part was the pumpkin pie. yummmmm !!!!

I wanted to share a cool experience that happened this week. We have been teaching an old man named Camilo, I think i told you guys about him, but he is the most hard hearted person i have ever met. SO hard to teach, but we´`are still going strong haha. Well on Saturday we decided to take a member with us, when we walked in Camilo literally slapped the member in the face. Funniest and most horrible thing ever. But we decided to go on with the lesson, which is always a battle, and when we were kneeling down to pray at the end, I was praying really hard that He would give me a sign that we needed to return. I was so sure that I was done but somethign keeps telling us to go back. Well when we walked out of the door the very first thing that I saw was the North star. But it looked different than I have ever seen it. It was huge and really bright and flickering. I couldnt stop staring at it. It was such an immediate and cool answer to my prayers. Keep camilo in your prayers.:)

This week I have been studying a little bit about the Saviors birth, I LOVE the feeling Christmas brings. Idk if you guys have seen the new video that came out but i will put the link in. I encourage you all to watch it. 

Hope you guys have a great week! talk to you soon.

Hermana Holt

Thanksgiving dinner at the mission home.

One of the dentists that came.

Happy Thanksgiving.......

Hellloooo,

This week was crazyyyy. It went by way too fast. Its def getting hotter here. I am getting a little too tan so I've been blocking up because im not about that skin cancer...

So last pday we went exploring and found these cool bracletes and a whole bunch of other stuff that I want to buy. Peru has such cool things. On tuesday we went and picked up the new missionaries. They came in late so we sat at the airport and ate some cookies with pres and his wife. Fun day. Wednesday we did the usual office thing and went out to lunch with president and hermana zobrist. They're like our parents, I love them to death. On Thursday we went to the family history center with Juana, who is one of our rescues. We are REALLY pushing family history in the mission and we had a really cool experience with her. She was able to find 7 of her ansestors and send their names to the temple. you should have seen how excited she was. I cannot even begin to explain the change we have seen in her since ive been here. When we got here she was having a ton of problems in her marriage, she was always yelling at her kids and you just didn't feel the spirit in her home. Now when we go over there she just lights up and you can just feel the difference in her home. She is AMAZING. I love it!! 

Yesterday all of the dentist from the states got here, so we've been running around like crazy trying to please and help them. Its been fun but a crazy week. haha. 

Nicole and Karoline both recieved their answers this week and want to get baptized. They are going to take a lot of work though. You learn A LOT of patience in the mission haha. We also had thee most craziest lesson this week with one investigator named CAmilo. We felt like we were fighting with the devil for two hours. When we finally got out of the lesson we were exhausted haha. He's probably the most stubborn investigator we have ever had. We both walked out of the lesson soo confused. We are deciding whether or not to leave him. 

Well, the mission is great! I'm just super happy to be here! talk to you next week.

xooxoxo

HH 

Temple site

Diggin up family names...

New Family History Center

I don't know.....

painting a house...we did such a bad job he told us to never come back....hahaha oops. 

Changes......

Can you believe its already changes...we didn't have them obviously but i can't believe how fast this change flew by. I only have 4 left....lame.

This week was great, like always! We did an activity of Karaoke this week with our ward. It turned out really bad, but it was worth the effort haha. We got the opportunity to talk in church yesterday. I talked about the temple that is going to be built here in Arequipa. They haven't even started yet and arent planning to anytime soon. They told us missionaries that it is going to take a miracle to build the temple here. It sort of broke my heart. The members just aren't showing that they want it. I really talked about the importance of paying tithing and being a dedicated member. Almost no one pays tithing here. Its such a blessing to have the opportunity to pay tithing and recieve such big blessings. They are missing out. We have big plans to help our ward. 

On Friday we had a cool experience contacting. We almost NEVER door knock because it just doesn't work and is usually a waste of time. But on Friday we had an hour of NOTHIng. We couldn't think of anything to do. So we said a prayer and started knocking. I felt impressed to knock on one house we saw so, the first door we knocked on a young lady answered. She looked really stressed and was a mess. We started talking to her, telling her who we were and she started to really open up to us telling us that her daughter has cancer and has been in the hospital for 6 months. She said she is just ready to give up and wishes He would just take her daughter. We started to teach about the plan of salvation. How families can be together Forever. The spirit was really strong and we were able to get another appointment. It was a really neat experiene for us both. Its amazing the people God puts in your path. The people he leads you to if you listen to the spirit!

Another cool thing that happened this week...remember Julio in Moquegua. Who I worked SO hard for and we all prayed for him...well he got baptized last week. My old comp called and told me! i was so happy for him. She said he all of a sudden just had a big change of heart. It just goes to show you that sometimes you don't see the results of your hard work until later. But that He always answers our prayers. just sometimes a little later in His time.

cooooool stuff. 

anyways, dont have too much to say! LOVE you all!!! 

talk to you next week.

HH

The view from the mission office.

The house where we go to wash clothes. This little boy was trying to hide from us.

Why I came on a Mission.....

Well this week was great and super fast! 

Last pday we didnt do anything too exciting. we ate at chilis. so thats kind of exciting i guess haha. This week was leadership council in the mission home. A lot of listening and talking and french toast. Its the best haha...every conference I just realize that president is getting crazier and crazier but i love him!

This week i had a really cool experience. On thursday night we did an activity for all of the future missionaries in our ward, just to get them exctied and thinking. Well i was praying and trying to figure out what I could share with them. And when I got there i still didnt know. But when I got up to talk I thought to share my reason for coming on the mission. Honestly, I didnt know why i exactly came on the mission. i just knew i wanted to..I remember having my first interview with president and him asking me the same question. And i remember saying...well i never wanted to come on a mission...well on Thursday I realized why i came. I remember my senior year of high school, I was going through a lot of changes. I needed a change of heart. And I remember the first time that I felt the atonement in my life. The first time I felt the love of Christ and my Heavenly Father and just remember how good i felt. That is exactly why I came on the mission. To help people feel exactly the way that i felt. To feel that love. To me, the change I had my senior year of high school was the biggest change in my life. It changed the course of my life, and my decisions and its something we can all feel. We can all apply the atonement in our lives every single day. That love he has for us is free. 

It was really such a cool experience for me that night, to realize what sparked in me to come on a mission.

Anyways, I dont have much to share with you guys this week. Im happy, the mission is great and I love you all. Talk to you guys sooN! 

HH

"we do not suddenly become what we do not participate in becoming."

One year.....what i've learned.

Can you believe i've been in crazy Peru for a whole year now? Me either...haha so fast the time! This week was really great! We are working hard and getting better every week. I love this work! This week was busy like always so I have lots of good stuff to tell you guys. 

Last p-day we carved pumpkins, the elders searched for hours to find pumpkins, haha it was a lot of fun! On Wednesday we went to the office to work and the elders all left us and went to lunch, so we thought it would be a good idea to pull a prank on them...so we took all of their chairs and saran wrapped them together and left for lunch. Well, when we got back they had locked us out of all of the rooms and locked all of our stuff in the display cases with price tags on them and we had to pay to get them out...it was pretty funny. I'll send pictures haha. You have to keep the mission fun or you go crazy. 

On thursday I went to Mollendo for divisions. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! It looks a little like Hawaii. All green and right on the ocean. I was with hermana Moon, she has 4 weeks in the mission, so it was so much fun to be with her and talk and help her out. Shes adorable. I love helping the girls out in their areas! 

Halloween was nothing special, no one wanted to talk to us that day so we walked around for hours. We made some funny videos scaring people though. But the elders did get us wayyyy to good. There is a pair of elders that live on the same street as us and some how they got into our room (we still dont know how) and hung this giant mannequin from our ceiling. So when we got back to our room at 9:30 we walked in and just started sreaming. Menlove was behind me swearing and I was legit peeing my pants. We didn't want to go back into our room for the rest of the night haha. Sneakkkyyy elders. We´ve also started a series of the walking dead here in Peru. It's hilarious. On Sundays there is an incredible amount of drunk people in the streets and they all look like straight zombies. So we decided to start our own walking dead series haha. I'll send pics some time. 

Anyways, I was reflecting alot on the past year here in Perú. What an INCREDIBLE year. The best year of my life! I just wanted to share somethings that Ive learned in my year here in Perú:

•  Always leave a little Chicha in your cup so they think youre sitll working on it and dont refill it. 
• Just clapping at the dogs in the street doesn't scare them away, you better keep some rocks in your pocket.
• If you think you are safe from the dogs on the roof, your wrong! They have no fear of heights.
• When you get sent to a new area, you know you're getting the top bunk and the broken drawers.
• If you have an appointment at 2 you should probably leave at 2:30 to get there on time. 
• Try to keep it down to two breads a day, the carbs add up real fast.
• If you get in a taxi and are scared for your life, its probably because he's been drinking or he doesnt even have a license. 
• Always keep emergency toilet paper in your backpack and a good supply in your bathroom. You never know when the chicken and rice is going to hit you wrong. 
• Be nice to people, but not too nice. They open up real fast and youll hear things only the bishop should...

Me and menlove were laughing pretty hard when we thought about these haha. If you guys only knew...but ive also learned alot of spiritual things too...

• I've learned to spend time on my knees. To really put my trust in my Heavenly father and have learned to feel of his love and his strength.
• I've learned that the book of Mormon has answers to ALL of your questions. 
• I've learned that my Savior not only suffered for my sins, but for my sadnesses too. 
• I've learned that I'm very weak, but with the power of the atonement everything is possible. 
• I've learned to forget myself and to love other people no matter the big differences we might have. Whether it be culture, language, beliefs....
• I've learned to be fearless. Never doubting the power of my own testimony.
• Most of all i've learned of the undenying love my Heavenly father has for me.

I love the mission. I can't believe how much I have learned in one year. I can't wait to see what more is to come!

I love you all. Talk to you sooN!

HH 

Halloween with the Elders.

Pranks at the mission office, HAHA

The Elders got us back!!

Work at the mission office.

Happy Missionaries

Mollendo

Hermana Moon