Lately I've been able to see more cultural fun around here and I'm so happy! There were people dancing in the street next to our house. It was so cool there was lots of hip swinging, haha and the guys were dancing so well! They had these cool boots with bells on them. There was a talent show in our ward on Friday. We were going to sing in it but it started late so we couldn't. There were some cool acts. And its crazy the people here just don't get very nervous. They played music so loud, because some young men were in charge of the music, haha. It was really fun though. We have some references because members brought their friends who aren't members. I am so happy. I'm back in Belen! Can you believe it. I love it. Its like coming home. I got so many hugs from the members and I got to see my convert Aide. She has her own chocolate business that is going to get started really soon. Her chocolates are so good! I love seeing her. It almost made me cry to see her doing so well and she has a calling as a young womens counselor. We have three baptisms coming up this month and three more for next month. I can't tell you how blessed I feel to be here. My companion now is hermana Randall. She is from Utah. I've never seen an American hit it off so well with the people here. Everyone automatically loves her. I feel very lucky to be her companion. I just hope I can learn a lot from her and help her out if I can. Guess what, a monkey was climbing around the patio of some investigators we were teaching. It was their pet. I was a little nervous I have to admit because it was a kind of big monkey, haha. And it walked around making a growling sound that I didn't know monkey s made,haha. Me and my comp had our first fight thing the other day. It was because I am not talking as much. It's just hard because I am not used to the way she teaches. And I can never tell when she is going to stop or when I need to come in. So to punish me she made me say the prayer at the end of every lesson. I got ticked because she was treating me like I was under her and I had to explain that I'm just trying to learn how to teach with her. So we figured things out and now we're good. We had a baptism planned this last Saturday but the little girl was terrified of being in so much water even though she goes swimming at water parks with her family. I think she was just nervous and the water was really cold because the water can't get heated up in that chapel. We tried to convince her, along with everyone who was at the baptism haha, but it didn't work. We even put our feet in the faunt to try and calm her down. But nothing worked. That was a first for me. I'm hoping it'll be the last too. I'm having so much fun here. I feel like I can be myself and be a missionary at the same time. It's different because I've been very strict in my conduct and how I talk with people but being with my new companion makes me realize its so much better to be yourself. People really respond to that and open up more and its just natural.

July 11

It sounds wonderful to have so many people there for the fourth. It was really cold here for the fourth. It was too hard to imagine it being summer there. But its hot again now. The weather here so so crazy. You never know what to expect. I had a really great birthday. My companion and the hermanas we live with made me breakfast in bed and then we ordered pizza that night! It was so much fun and a few people called me to tell me happy birthday. It was so nice even though it was kind of against the rules. But its nice to know that the Elders care and want to help me feel better about not being with my family for my birthday. I was so blessed. It was so nice. I still can't bring myself to say I'm 22. Its just too weird. It was a little hard honestly to not be with you all like always for my birthday but I didn't get too sad about it because I got so much help from others and from Heavenly Father. So lately I've been getting a little sad because I feel like I'm halfway through my mission and I'm not sure I've helped a whole lot even though I'm trying so hard. But I know that feelings like that will pass. I just can't think things like that because they don't do anything to help. I realize that the times I feel the saddest are the times I think about myself. So I'm going to try harder to look beyond the things that are hard for me and focus on just helping others in any way I can. We are going to have cambios this week. I don't know what to think. There are pros and cons about staying or leaving But I know whatever happens will be for the best. So I want to tell you about some stuff. There are lots of animal shaped bushes here. They love to do bush art work here. They are pretty creative. My favorite is this big rubber duck shaped bush on one of the corners we always pass. I'll send a picture next time. I was feeling a little unworthy to be here and praying and praying for help to overcome that feeling and I read Mosiah 28:4,7 they helped me so much. I can honestly say I receive answers to my prayers every single day. I got my hair cut here for 15 bolivianos, that's like two bucks. But she did a good job and I don't have lice! haha I bought one of those pan flutes for my birthday. I can make sounds with it! I am so happy. Last Monday, I was kind of having a bad day. My feet hurt so bad I could hardly walk and the buses here are super crazy, so that being said, after we went to the grocery store and got on a bus full of people I was struggling. I couldn't get my hands on any of the bars and I fell into my companion and she fell into a few people because of me. Then this old man reached up and told me to give him my bags. I was reluctant at first then I gave in. He had such a warm smile on his face. Then when he got off he told me to take his seat. I cried after he left because I felt like the Lord really reached out to me and helped me in that moment. I know He lives and works through us. I am so grateful He helps me so much. I can't wait to be with all of you again.

July 4th

This week I got sick and its been cold so its been really fun but I think I am at the end of it. I just got a really bad cold. I've received lots of help and blessings though. I was trying to wash my clothes today and two hermanas we live with came out of the house and basically ordered me to go to bed and they finished washing my clothes outside in the bitter cold. And my companion has been really caring. She has made me soup a couple of times. I am so blessed. I feel so much of my Savior's love and support through times like this. Its been an interesting week. We didn't have a whole lot of success but we had one of our investigators come to church and she watched the restoration video with us. After we invited her to baptism and she just asked where they baptize in the church and accepted . She is seventeen and has so much faith. She loved it when we taught about how the church is built upon the priesthood and prophets. She loved this because she could see how essential it is to have those things. We are so happy to have found her. Its so incredible how we just happen to come across people like her even after four months in the same area. I read a conference talk that was so perfect for me right now. The Savior suffered so much before the miracle of His resurrection. So it gave me a lot of hope to know that maybe the things I am going through are just preceding something really great. I am so thankful we have conference and we get to read the talks after. I hope you are enjoying your summer. It is super super cold here but we should be feeling the heat again in August. I hope you have an awesome week.