Email 2/23/11

Wow mom this has been so extremely awful this week for us.... I thought the weeks before were rough, which trust me they were, but wow this week was awful and good at the same time. So, before I was explaining this new program or thing that they are doing in the mission. All of the zones are doing it, but there are two that all the missionaries within the zone are participating in.  Ponce, which is one of the zones (the one I am in), is a city where many people go and work from other towns. Like, the people that I serve in my area travel there to work, legal things, and etc.... The leaders of the church believe that this is a central place where diligent, responsible people can be found. Center of strength (centro de mas fuerzos)... so we received a call the night we had to leave that we all of a sudden had to drive 45 minutes to Ponce at night and teach the next night in an area called Tuque. I would be changing with another companion for the day and that every missionary in my zone would be doing this every Tuesday. We would be working from 6am-9pm and be with our changed companion in this area. The goal is to help create a branch in our area, Tuque. There is a lot of potential, but the problem was we didn't get to warn our citas, our investigators, because our district leader forgot to tell us until like 1-2 hours before. This was last Monday/Tuesday. Then we had our P-day in which we did not get to get everything done because we were with the other Hermanas which was fun, but a lot of stress because we had chores in Adjuntas. Then they changed last minute our zone conference, so we had to take 2 trips to Ponce. At the conference it was good and spiritual.  We talked about the BOOK OF MORMON which helped my testimony (strengthened it). It was stressful as well, because they just added more rules, assignments, and all that jazz, making our stress level sky rocket. I have to buy a bike and buy all the accessories with my Chase (debit) card. Today I'm going to buy a helmet, lights, and a lock, and possibly a basket.

Anyways so we had that, but as we were going to the zone conference it was awful, so we were stressed about the change, but at 6 in the morning I drove to Ponce cuz we had to pick up the sisters, in which we had to put a bike rack on the car, but they didn't know how to put it on and we were running late. Then we had a high schooler help us, and finally left, as we were driving I had 3 Latina voices telling me different directions (none drive so they don't know how you need to make decisions fast), so we were all over the place, very dangerous, stressful, and super late. It was a nightmare!!! We finally made it and then the elders took the car to the dealership for an inspection.... after the conference I asked President how Hermana Miller was doing and he said she is doing so great. It was funny cuz he explained that in her letter to him she wrote that she was not happy with him because he let me go from her, she wanted more time with me LOL.... and he was like I am so amazed the accomplishments you made in your first area (with Hermana Miller) and he was explaining that I have so many gifts and capabilities that is going to help the mission and people. I was talking to him about how I was still struggling and I feel like every day I'm fighting myself and the adversary. He was like why are you doing that to yourself and my answer is I don't know. I'm trying to get better and recognize the positive things, but honestly it’s hard when I have no time to think, breathe, or stop stressing. There is another assignment of the mission or an INSANE change that is unexpected affecting our area (and) our people that makes it hard to enjoy the mission life. They also gave us a couple of assignments on top of everything else.  We have to read 100 minutes in the Book of Mormon in every minute we have free every day..... I talked to president about these things because he is the only person I can talk to about these things and know that he can help me.

So anyways that was the day of conference.... so we were like okay we will work with our people on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday... leave to Ponce Monday night, work Tuesday, then P-day, planning, and Utuado. We have three days with our people in Adjuntas. We had to explain to them that we were sorry and we didn't know about the changes. Then Saturday night rolls by and we receive a call that the sister who trains us was coming to our area to be with us on Monday. We were like okay cool but last minute and it was a 1 hour drive one way at night. So we were ready to go get her Sunday night and we received a call 20 minutes before saying we were going to Ponce to work Monday and Tuesday. No notice.... we freaked out..... our poor people in Adjuntas. We missed really important citas with families, investigators, members, dinner appointments everything. It also changed all the plans of our trainer (she wasn't too happy).... anyways we didn't know where the town was so we drove and one thing about PR they don't know directions at all..... so we drove, hit a toll booth and we have a prepaid thing, but I didn't know where the lane was so we paid... barely didn't have the change, a lot of pennies, and when I reached to put the money in, it fell on the road, and there were all these people waiting at night and it was just awful. We also got lost and did a lot of turning around. Then we realized where we were and the person that gave us directions gave us harder ones and we could have found an easier, better way. Anyways we picked up the sister who is a total cutie and drove to Ponce. We ended up teaching Monday and Tuesday. Good thing is on Monday we had 10 lessons... which is great!!!! Bad news is it only counts for Ponce and we still need to make our mission goal in Adjuntas with only 2.5 days there. Not sure how that is possible. We also received another 20 minute notice about another change for a meeting, and it goes on and on..... see why I'm overly stressed?  Last minute, huge changes, and it’s not just effecting us, but everyone in Adjuntas.

Nester we found out that he is still fervently trying to quit smoking, but did not reach his goal of his birthday yesterday. We called him and wished him happy birthday.... he received a blessing and is fasting, so he can quit. He is doing so wonderful and sincerely trying to change, despite all his challenges and temptations. We had a baptism on Sunday of an 8 year girl whose mom is a menos activa, and so we taught her the lessons. It was great to see her be baptized and be a huge example for her family. Nester went to the baptism and was asking questions and was interested about the Holy Ghost the most.... unfortunately because of his smoking he will not be baptized this week. Also Juan we think we are going to drop because we can't get a hold of him. Sad stories.

Remind me to tell you more about the one girl and her family.

Also we had a lunch with a member in Ponce, she's very sweet, recent convert, and she has been having problems. This was the day I had broken down from being really stressed and I was at a huge low. I testified to her of how we are given things that our Heavenly Father knows we can handle, it's why we are here, to prove to Him that we are capable, that we can face whatever we are given. That He has that much confidence in us of overcoming those things. She later thanked me for my testimony and then the sisters thanked me as well saying that the Spirit was strong and powerful for them.

I have to go, sorry if none of this makes sense.....

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND MISS YOU GUYS TERRIBLY!!!!!!

ME

(I’ve been asked to ‘report on my missionary’ in sacrament on Sunday.  I asked Jessie what she’d like me to say and this was her response)  I don't know what you can say... my testimony has grown more about the BOM and I am in my process of true conversion. Also you can explain a little about the project I'm doing and how it’s an inspired thing from President Monson and (President) Alvarado.

Also, I think I had Tricia's new president as an institute teacher.

Email Chat 2/16/11

Jessie with Hermana Angel, Hermana Jimenez (from the Dominican Republic) and Hermana Estrada (from Guatemala).   Hermanas Jimenez and Estrada serve as companions in Ponce, PR.

Jessie with Hermanas Jimenez and Estrada in Ponce.



So how have things been? I received the letters and package and they were all fantastic -gracias!!! I decorated the room for her birthday (Hermana Angel’s) the day before Valentine’s because things have been so crazy, time is becoming more and more limited. It's really frustrating, cuz we are just so, so drained. People and leaders think that missionaries are super humans and the fact is we are not at all. Anyways.... Thank you. I loved the things and so did Hermana Angel. It was a great surprise. She knew I was up to something, but thought it was for Valentine’s. By the way HAPPY VALENTINES DAY MI AMOR ;p

So we had a fiesta and it went well.... so crazy things have happened this week..... on Sunday we had people tell us they were coming to church; one a menos activa, and the others investigators. So we were like okay we are supposed to go the Utuado branch today, but we will go for the sacrament meeting in Adjuntas and then leave to work in Utuado. We found a ride for the menos activo, but we were not able to find a ride for our investigator... so we went to find the menos activa and she didn't want to go and we couldn't get a hold of the person we wanted for our investigators who didn't have phones. So long story short we didn't have them come, but we did have one of our menos activo families come to church which was super cool.... so we ended up driving to Utuado and staying for the services like Sunday school and sacrament. After the services we were planning to work in Utuado until 7ish.... while we were in our services we ran into a missionary who ended his mission this January. I had his mom in my ward in Guaynabo, and he was serving in the same stake as his mom, and they saw each other during stake conference.  Crazy Eh!! (I double checked and Jessie confirmed he’s from Puerto Rico).  Anyways he was there and now he is engaged to Pres. Alvarado's sister.... but he knows our investigator who didn't get baptized that one time and knew where he actually lived. We didn't know where he lived cuz we would meet with him at his gf's (girlfriend’s) mom’s house and every time we called him, he wouldn't pick up, so we were starting to think he was a lost cause. And it was weird cuz not this Sunday, but last Sunday he was at church and acted like nothing happened.... strange, and we still hadn't learned where he lived and every time we wanted to make an appointment he wouldn't answer.... so this ex-missionary helped us out. We all went and found his house and he wasn't there, then we called him and he finally answered and said oh meet me at 3:30.... so we were like okay we will do contacts.....we arrived and he wasn't there, we were like "does he think this is a joke?".... we decided to go find other people, and as Hermana Angel was writing a sticky note, the (former) missionary started talking to the next door neighbor who was cool and knew tons about the history of the church. We started to talk to him too a little, inviting him for us to return and clarify and teach more. As we were talking to the neighbor, guess who shows up.... we chatted and it's interesting we aren't for sure if he really feels the Spirit. By the way this is Juan.... he is great, knows the gospel, but I don't know how much he really feels. He said that he truly has a desire to be baptized and we have him for the same baptismal date as Nester, Feb 26. So we have two baptisms on Feb 26. We also have one this week, with a young girl of a menos activa who is turning eight. We have been teaching and reviewing the lessons with her, just to make sure she realizes the importance of baptism and understands more of the gospel. Nester is doing great.... he has been so dedicated to changing. He wants to be completely ready on his birthday Feb 22 and he is really changing and progressing. He has dropped coffee, slowly dropping smoking, and he had a problem with the law of chastity, not a problem anymore. Mom seriously he is doing great!

……………my area is a small mountain town with nothing like Walmart, or other stores.  Did I tell you we are getting bikes : $90.... but, I don't know when we have to pay and get them.... not happy about that.  LOL.   I have no idea why they want bikes. We live on a giant rollercoaster, seriously really steep hills, we have a car, and our area is huge. All the sister missionaries are getting bikes.

I'm doing alright.... not amazing but alright..... thanks for the scripture (I sent  her Helaman 10:4-5), I'll definitely look it up!!! WE don't get to do anything on P-days but clean and email and shop for food. We are lucky if we have 20 minutes to write or sleep or eat.... seriously it is ridiculous. We have 6 in my district and none in my area but us. We all live about 30-40 minutes away from one another.  (She’s talking about the missionaries in her district.)

So every Tuesday Hermana Angel and I will be going to Ponce (35 minutes away) and serve in that area with the sisters (pictures) for only that day. It's a new program/revelation thing and my whole zone is doing it....  I don't have much time to explain right now, but remind me next time and I can explain the details with you....

I have had 5 comps (companions) and 3 areas in 4 months dang.....

I still can't understand them (the Puerto Ricans), my Spanish is awful.  LOL…...

(I commented that I thought Jessie would have a darker tan by now.   This is what she said:)  No, I'm still super white.  I don't really tan here.

Email chat 2/9/11

Warning!   Before you begin………Jessie and I didn’t have a lot of time to email chat and then she hadn’t written a letter, so it’s a short entry this week.   She is having some troubles and could really use some extra prayers.   Also, if you happen to go to the temple, please put her on the prayer roll.   She is still dealing with the transition of being a full-time missionary and is facing all the challenges common to young people doing the Lord’s work.   Thank you!!!!!!!

ummmmm........ okay can I just say this is not an ordinary place, so many crazy things happen and it wears me out... want to hear good companionship story? LOL.  So Hermana Angel and I are very much alike and we think similar too.... so I have been seriously craving Disneyland so badly. I'm so worn out, stressed, and emotionally torn, I need fun!!!! So for some reason I'm like I need a good fun filled day of Disneyland (in my mind). So funny, the other day we were in the car stressed out and Hermana Angel says "I want Mickey".  I was like what? Mickey???  Is it a food or some Spanish word, had no idea.... she wants Disneyland too. Heheheh.  We both this week have been craving a trip to Disneyland.

(So then I asked if Hermana Angel had been to Disneyland before and this is what Jessie said….)   no she has not been in the U.S. before but she randomly said it and I was like What?? cuz it was too funny!

Oy so bad. I think of all these things that have happened then I forget them.  (She was talking about things she wants to tell me, but then forgets when it’s time to sit down and write a letter.   I responded that she should keep sticky notes like I do.   I have sticky notes everywhere and when I want to remember to tell Jessie things I keep a list on a sticky note and use it to write her a letter.)   That’s funny about the sticky notes, I'm starting to do it a little bit more than before....

Hermana Angel is sick right now, so I have been trying to help her get better by forcing her to rest and eat soup and take medicine.  LOL.... I think she's somewhat recovering, I just hope I don't catch anything. So I finally got my mail from the office, it had been 5 weeks. Wow! Long time.... anyways I was absolutely thrilled and had a pile that I couldn't help but read all in one sitting.

Do you remember the investigator Nester? The one that we contacted for a long time and finally went to church, well wonderful news he is getting baptized.... he goes to church and Mutual and is getting to know the ward very well. He is a very energetic, kind, and enthusiastic man. He has a goal that by Feb 22 he will be completely ready for his baptism, which is on Feb 26. We were like that's great, but that will be a challenge for him because he smokes, drinks coffee, and has a problem with his marriage. So we are praying hard that he can really push himself to his goal which he fully is trying to be committed to. The chastity part is the biggest problem because apparently he is married, but has been separated from his wife for a long time. We don't know where she is or who she is? We have no idea what the situation is like, but apparently he is legally married, which most PR's are not. He has a lady friend, who we think is a girlfriend, so that is the problem. We don’t know what he is going to do, either find his wife, or divorce and not date the other woman. Very complicated process that we are very concerned about, but he is definitely willing to follow the things we have asked him. He is reliable in a sense, he keeps his commitments, and is always there for our citas.  It’s kind of a challenge to teach him cuz we always have to have a member present because he is a single male. Pray for him please!!!!

(I asked why Nester went to Mutual since it’s for the teenagers.)   .... and he goes because it’s a good branch members friend builder activity. Gets him involved with the people. Most of the members go, cuz our rama (branch) is super small. In Adjuntas (40) and in Utuado (30) members regularly. So it’s a good activity for him.... also when we taught about the law of chastity we had no idea it would be a problem and then all of a sudden he threw the hard ball at us... we don't know much regarding his status with her. Also I have the hardest time understanding PRicans.... mom people are not joking. Their Spanish is so so so hard to understand. I can for the most part understand Hermana Angel and the other Central Americans, but PRicans – nope.

(Here I was wondering if the Puerto Rican Spanish was at all influenced by American English because overall Americans have very poor enunciation and diction and we speak very fast.) Yep that must be it because that sounds exactly like them.  LOL.  They have very sloppy, fast Spanish and slang, I can understand Hermana Angel cuz she is slow, and pronounces her words completely.  LOL and oh PR's, I kind of have a problem with them. LOL.

Jessie and Hermana Angel with some investigators.  

 Look!   Jessie and Hermana Angel are almost the same size!

Jessie with Hermana Curl and her companion in Puerto Rico.

Email 2/2/11 - Happy Groundhog Day!

I saw Tricia's newsletter about her stake conference we had one too,  like a broadcasting one and this was a few weeks ago, and in this broadcast it was for all of the Caribbean. The speakers were Oaks, Uchtdorf, and the relief society counselor. It was in Spanish so there  was a lot i didn't understand, but I did get some of it. It was intense, we'll just say a serious smack down from the church to the people in the Caribbean of all the things they need to stop doing.  Every single thing they mentioned I am so glad they mentioned them cuz I don't want to be the one to say some of those things. Those leaders are more powerful sometimes than us and are better to communicate to the people about some things, than we are as missionaries.

Okay so we didn't have miles this week cuz we have a limited amount (car mileage allowance) and the same about as everyone in the mission. Problem is our area covers a lot of land, a lot of driving, extremely hard to not use miles. We tried to be obedient, so mostly all last week we walked and taught. It was a rough week for us, much stress,  tiredness, dehydration, happiness, unexpected.... interesting. I will just say that this place

has a lot of strange things. We have 4 new investigators which is fantastic. One is a man and his mother (who is old and is constantly falling asleep during our lessons) and the man is cool. He definitely understands the concept of gran apostasia, but I don't know if he retains information as well, or knows exactly how he feels. He is very cool though and we really hope he progresses. It was interesting how we ran into him, we were returning from a cita in the same barrio (neighborhood) and he was cleaning. We offered to serve and he said no, and then he made like a smart aleck remark about us painting and we were like yeah of course when. He laughed and continued on what he was doing. We were like we are serious we have clothes we can paint. When? So he gave us a time. We returned and ready to paint and he was like I'm not going to paint, but thank you. So he really appreciated that we took our time to come paint for him, so he invited us in. He allowed us to teach him and he had been given a Book of Mormon from other sisters earlier so he was familiar with the BOM and the story of Joseph Smith. So it was nice to have a base to teach upon.

The other story we have is a good one. So as we were returning home from a very long day walking around in the sun, all over town, there was a man who Hermana Angel always contacts and invites to church.   So every time she invites him he always says "mi casa es su casa" which is so funny cuz he says it like in every other sentence. He has a lot of energy and he is much older. So we invited him and he was like yeah I really coming, I'm going.... but Hermana Angel didn't believe it because he had been saying that since September. So we said bye and went off. This last Sunday we drove to one of our other areas that is far for the whole day. We arrived at the chapel and we received a phone call, who happened to be a member of the church here in Utuado. They mentioned that an investigator was at the church looking for us...

we were like WHAT!!!! WHO??? and we thought it was this family that we had been teaching, and in our last lesson taught about church. Nope it was our mi casa es su casa friend, Nester Rodriquez. He actually came to church and we weren't there LOL.... Hermana Angel talked to him and he wasn't sure if he was going to stay for all the meetings. We later found out that he absolutely loved church and the people. Later we went over and thanked him and talked to him about it. We later taught him the next day with our landlords who are members and gave him the first lesson. We invited him for baptism on Feb 28 and he said YES....

My first baptismal date YAH!!!! But there is more to work on, we'll have to see, pray for us that he will continue to want to learn. That night we also invited him to Mutual to check it out, and he CAME and checked it out. We wouldn't have known, but we drove by and saw him walking back to his place from the chapel area. SO I pray he will be serious and be baptized.

Next I talked to Hermana Miller and she is doing really well....Pedro finally got baptized yeah.... and the other two investigators don't want them to visit anymore (Wanda and Saima really sad).... it was so so so so so good to talk to her. ……………..

We have a menos activa who is a tough cookie. She is really hard hearted and against the church and every time we try to teach something she throws some theory or belief that she has. She was baptized and it’s sad seeing how she feels. She is rejecting the things she once knew.... so sad and we tried and tried and she would always find a negative remark. She claims she has never felt the Spirit and we tried to help her and explain to her, but nada. After, Hermana Angel was so distraught she explained that as she was talking to her, she pictured the king from Lord of the Rings who was old and evil looking kept popping in her mind. It is very sad because we know that Satan is working really hard on her. After we chatted we both cried and were distraught cuz ……….

We shared scriptures together, stories, and made one another feel better and to feel the Spirit again. She explained that she felt that within three week our hearts were interconnected and I have helped her to mature and understand her feelings more. She is so amazing Hermana Angel!!!!

I got my license today, they stole my USA one.... I'm officially a Puerto Rican.... I was so nervous because they require so much, it was in the really far town and I was stressed about miles, I didn't read the rule book until really, really late last night and this morning.... but with prayers and Hermana Angel quizzing me while I was driving I got my license. I barely passed my test, I got a 75 and 70 is the lowest passing grade. LOL such a blessing!

Email Chat on 1/26/11

HOLA MI MAMA!!!!

Oh boy there is so much to tell you and thank you for the letter on email because I won't receive my mail for a very long time. My address is P.O Box 33, Adjuntas PR 00601 PR.... it might be better for some time to write emails instead. I love your letters, but we we'll have to see how this email thing goes. But I'm so glad you wrote ………….And tell him to write me (talking about her brother) he told me he would. It is so so so so hard to write letters, I don't know how people do it because I honestly think P-days (preparation days) are more busy. They have a huge list of rules and things that need to be done first, so after you’re all done it’s time to go teach and no writing time. So tell everyone sorry, there just seriously is no time. Oh and I'm so glad that Hermana Miller enjoyed herself... she's an amazing person!!

OKay where do I begin I have no idea.... this has been an intense transfer so far, in good and crazy ways. First off, I am actually in an area called Adjuntas (total country) no ocean once again. We cover three cities Adjuntas, Jayuya, and Utuado... funny thing is it’s one of the areas that Hermana Miller served in. If I hit her third area then I've served in the same areas as her. It takes us like 30-1 hour to travel to these places... and its awful cuz we don't have very many miles to work within a month (car mileage), a heachache. My Companion is Hermana Angel.... oh my cuteness. She is adorable and an amazing teacher. We get along so well and we have a lot in common. She's tiny like me and everyone mentions that because her last companion was huge too.  LOL.. She knows a tad bit of English and wants to learn more, so for our language studies we have this routine. We each pick 6 words and so 12 total. She learns them in English and me in Spanish. Then once we are somewhat familiar with the word we use them in the language in explaining or a story or whatever, making us both use them with grammar. Then we correct each other. It’s good cuz they are words that are everyday things. It’s a good exercise and yes we speak Spanish all the time. Apparently I make some sense because she knows what I'm talking about most of the time. It’s nice cuz we somewhat have similar teaching techniques a lot different than Hermana Miller and I.  It's good. I have to drive because she can't and the roads here are a million times worse than driving in the canyons (Utah canyons – winding, curving mountain roads).... I am always worried about the car and have had some ayyyyy moments. Oh yeah and everyone here thinks I'm PRicuena (Puerto Rican) until I open my mouth.

DAY #1: My first day really serving in the area was insane. Oh my madre... so when I arrived there were 3 baptisms scheduled and so I was going to be a part of that, which was great. We met up with our district leader and his companion (Elder Crawley- Orem and Elder Perca-Peru no se) because the district leader needed to interview the investigators for baptism. We drove to a couple who just got married so they could be baptized, very humble setting and a cool couple. One thing I have noticed about here is age does not matter when you are dating someone (that's all I'm going to say, you can picture what I'm getting at). Their names are Natalie and Miguel. Anyways they are cool, but I feel awful cuz I never know what they are saying. (funny thing.... so this is proof that I'm not terrible awful at Spanish, cuz I will be so lost when people start talking to me and then I later find out that Hermana Angel doesn't really know either. LOL So that shows that the accents here are very hard to understand.... because I can understand Hermana Angel most of the time, but I have the hardest time understanding everyone here. And if she has a hard time and she's from El Salvador... I'm safe)... anyways... so we met with them, the road was extremely small, like really, really narrow. Then we had to travel to another investigator who is a warden at a prison. He's cool, but he talks tons. Hermana Angel was told that there was a shorter way which would take less miles and time to get to Juan's house.  So we were like okay.... big mistake..... so we drove with the directions they gave us, which here people don't know what directions are (no one knows the address).  I'm in serious trouble when Hermana Angel leaves and I need to find houses on my own. LOL.  Way confusing. (This is especially funny because Jessie is TERRIBLE at finding places on her own.   Even with Utah’s block system of north/south/east/west she couldn’t find her way.   There’s no easier way either.   She would call me at home to help her find her way to the simplest of addresses.   When she inherits the car I have plans to buy her a GPS to go with it, even though no one really needs a GPS in Utah…..except the Jessie’s of the world.  J)   So we were driving and we hit two roads and didn't know where to go. The Elders are following us at this point. So we called the people and they didn't really know where we were, so we were like oh great what now. On the road there was a man walking so we asked him and he was kind of confusing.... so the elders were talking and trying to get info from him, Hermana Angel was on the phone, and I just watched everyone and ate my granola bar LOL..... Then the old man told us the best road to take so we turned there. We went down and picture this.... INDIANA JONES DISNEY RIDE yep I had to drive that..... room enough for one car and on a mountain. Of course I was careful, but I was just hoping there was no one coming from the other side. We finally made it through and then we hit a spot with three roads. At this point no one knew where we were, we were popping maps, calling people, we walked to the house screaming "por favor, necesitamos ayuda".... so no one answered and we were like well what now, and it was hot. We parked the cars in the small, narrow road, then Hermana Angel was like let's pray.... and this was good..... so we all went between our cars and we said a prayer, all of a sudden in the middle of the prayer we hear a car, she hurried and finished and we all went for it.(It reminded us of the movie the Best Two Years with the phone and investigator.) We asked for the directions and thank goodness the mom and her daughter knew and Hermana Angel knew what areas they were talking about. So the district leader was good and contacted the people and said this liner " like you have given us directions, here is something to spiritually direct you" We all were trying to hold our laughs. So we continued on our journey and lo and behold we run into a monton (ton) of turkeys in the middle of the road. We were like are you serious.... so I was honking and thank goodness the neighbor was helping us get the turkeys off the road. We finally found the house after a lot of craziness. We arrive and find out it was only guys so we had to walk around and try to contact people. The house that Juan was at was his GF's (girlfriend’s) mom's house. We ended up walking and went to the house of the mom's mom who is a Catholic. She was nice, but then explained how the missionaries in the past had done something that she did not like, so we tried explaining and helping to understand that past situation.

DAY #2:  This was the day for Juan to be baptized.... the night before we felt good and ready. We wake up and hear the phone, we received a text from his gf that says Juan no va a ser bautizado.... which you can probably guess what that says. He wasn't going to be baptized we were like what... are you kidding me. So after prayer we called and no answer. Then we called the gf and she was a wreck saying that they had a bad argument the night before and he left the house saying he wasn't going to be baptized.  After talking a little bit with her.... (the gf and her mom are huge supporters of him) we tried calling Juan again. This time he picked up and said he wasn't going to be baptized. We talked and talked with him. We shared scriptures, prayed, testified and asked him to pray and ask Heavenly Father if he was ready. Hermana Angel said this was the one time she really felt like he was ready. We called the gf and explained our situation. Then Juan called us back like 5 minutes later (fast answer) and said he had the desire to be baptized for himself and he knows it’s the right thing. We were rejoicing and so happy. The day went by and we were getting somewhat ready for the baptism then we received another text from his gf again saying they were not going to attend the baptism, we were like seriously, you’re his support. They also were supposed to talk, so we had to find someone else. Then later we received another text from someone else saying there will be no baptism. This was like 2 hours beforish. We could not believe it... at this point the Rama (branch) presidente knew about some of the information. We prayed and prayed then Hermana Angel felt that we should go to the house where the mom and gf lived and where Juan usually was.

So we called the president and told him about our situation and how we were going to drive 35 minutes up to try to find Juan. This was 1 hour before the service. So we drove up not knowing if anyone would be there... and we found the mom and daughter at the house bawling.... we talked to them, the situation or fight was bad and they all were very hurt. The fight was a three party thing too....we taught them a lesson and the president had cancelled the service. Also we found out from them that we had 2 earthquakes that day and we didn't even feel them. They were 5.5 and 6. I have had 4 earthquakes on my mission and they are rare for these places. Anyways Juan called and we told him that we will help him so he can still be baptized and feel prepared. SO we are still working with him. I was like no one wants to get baptized when I am around how sad, cuz our other baptism dropped too.

DAY # 3: This day was the baptism for the married couple, Miguel and Natalie.... all was well and normal and their marriage had finally been legalized. We called to verify the baptisms and they had explained that their car broke down and someone else’s car too making it very challenging for them to come. We were like seriously ahhhhhhh...... to make the story short, they found a ride, and we met them at the chapel. The chapel is one of the first buildings in PR. Cool eh..... they ended up having a nice baptism and I will try to load the pictures for you... but it was cool my first 2 baptisms, even though I did nothing, and hopefully we will have another one soon for Juan. We ate interesting food and funny thing, I've been the least picky eater out of my companions LOL (for those who really know Jessie, you know she’s been a lifelong picky eater…..one of the worst…..until she graduated from high school and began living in other places.   Hawaii and Key West REALLY helped her eat a wider variety of foods.   Hallelujah!  says the mother who had to make her spaghetti on Thanksgiving!!!).... They got confirmed and are now members of the church.

The rest of the week went well and very, very tiring. Yesterday was stressful though cuz we are over miles (mileage on the car per mission rules) and they make a huge deal about it and of course I have to worry when I really don't have much to do with it. Oy and I have to get my license (driver’s), but in order to do that we need to travel a long distance to get it. I had serious headaches yesterday. We also moved furniture for someone who was moving to a different house. LOL. So I'm sore and today is Hermana Angel's birthday..... and I've learned all this through Spanish. LOL.

(I asked if she’d taken pictures of the turkeys in the road)  No turkey pictures sorry.... i was driving... that’s the problem. This stuff is hard to take pictures cuz its fast and I'm driving all the time.....

Intense week eh..... today makes it one week.... (since the transfer)

They made us make preparation kits because it’s not common. We put food in 2 liter bottles.

(I asked how it was going with the new district leaders)  I don't have connections yet with the district leader, but the Polynesian Hawaii missionary said that he had something for me, but that was when i was leaving so i don't know if he still has it and if so what it is.... maybe a picture of someone LOL....

(I asked about Hermana Angel)  She has 2 sisters and so 5 in the family....she's the oldest and she has been on her mission for 6 months. President told her she has a big project coming up, I hope he didn't mean me. LOL.... this is her first area. She does love chocolate and I have a photo but the camera isn't working right now with the computer, so next week. She has always wanted to serve a mission maybe before I knew… LOL…(Jessie has planned on serving a mission her whole life)… and her family has always been members. She is studying accounting.

(about the Polynesian missionary from Hawaii)   We don't know each other he just recognizes me from the PCC.  (Polynesian Cultural Center…….Jessie danced there for a semester and then worked as a photographer there for several months.   She has the most remarkable connections of anyone I’ve ever met.   No matter where she goes people she meets are connected to other people she knows in the most remote places of the world.   Apparently this missionary from Hawaii is one of them!)

Jacob 6:5.... I love reading the BOM (Book of Mormon) now, just to let you know. LOL

I LOVE YOU SO MUCHO AND TALK TO YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!! XOXOXOXOOOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOX......

EMAIL CHAT on January 19, 2011 - Jessie's First Transfer in PR

Jessie and Hermana Miller just before transfers



I don't know if I have much time to write a letter to you.... so I will have to do this today (email chat). But I got transferred and I'm with my new companion now.

It was insane... so we heard I might be leaving, might not because Hermana Miller heard that another sister was coming for her... so we didn't know what would happen to me. Well we waited and waited and waited to hear, but no answer. It was already past 3 pm the day of hearing about transfers and our poor active district leader (not actual) still hadn't hear anything and we kept asking because I didn't know if I would have to pack. So we still waited... we ended up getting Panda (Express – food) just in case if I was going to leave. 10pm came we got a phone call that i was being transferred and had to be at the office (15 mins away) at 8am. YEAH!!!! CRAZYYYYY stayed up all night packing and then got up at 4:45 in the morning.  So tired.  Then they told me I was going to Ponce (SOUTH) and they didn't know who my companion was. So I packed and we were late at the office and we thought I was going to switch with another sister in the car, nope full van and everyone was like hurry. So we packed the van and I was with 3 elders, a senior couple and me driving to Caguas. Then we met more missionaries in Caguas (Hermana Curl there) and we traveled another 1hr to Ponce. It looked like Utah driving by - crazy..... So many of us new missionaries were being switched, really weird because President told us that we would all be in our areas for a while.

Then we ended up driving and met a group at Ponce where some were going to drive back North. I met my Companion her name is Hermana Angel and she is from El Salvador (no English).  I am so stressed and nervous and not just that, but I am the only one who can drive and I am terrified of PR drivers. Our area is Adjuntas, Otealo, Ponce, a very large area to cover. It's funny cuz Hermana Miller served in Otealo. So yeah that is the scoop with me and I'm pretty tired and stressed and want to only speak English. LOL.

None of the South Americans have licenses, and no I don't have my PR one yet... but I will have to soon. She's only been out for 6 months so she's pretty new too. I know the Spanish thing will be good, but man do I hate the language. LOL. It's just so draining, stressful, and hard and for someone who doesn't speak any English….ayyyy. I hope I am patient enough...

 The departure was hard, we grew leaps and bounds.... she even said this transfer she (Hermana Miller) learned so much and was one of the most growing experience transfers for her. Our testimonies strengthened, our understanding and love for the gospel, and our love for one another. It was cool cuz  apparently when president met me before my very first interview he said that I was going to help her with her testimony in a way that she would grow leaps and bounds, and she didn't believe it because she only had like 2 transfers and she was like how much more can I grow, but she agrees that we have learned so much and have grown a ton. She has such a glow about her and she is just so great. Our relationship as a companions grew tons as well, we became more patient and comfortable with one another. The last 2 weeks have been fun and a learning process. We had so many similarities in weaknesses, strengths, and other things. We even had the same shoes... It was very sad to find out we were being switched, but if anything this was a powerful, intense, and spiritually growing transfer for the both of us and we were meant to be with one another.

So we (Jessie and H. Miller) were supposed to have a baptism this last Saturday with someone who has had missionaries for 30 years, but unfortunately he has things he has to change and work on, but we are scared cuz now he wants to pick his own date. He wanted to pick his own date when I got there and the missionaries were working with him and they could not get him to set a date, then I suggested that we pray and fast for a date for him. He picked one we all felt good with and sadly it didn't happen cuz of the word of wisdom and something else. So he is very depressed right now and I pray that he will continue to improve and soon become baptized.

 Hermana Miller and I have grown so much in the last 2 weeks ever since my breakdown....

Did I tell you that we have Disney quotes every night hehehe. We had like a Disney quote battle last night and they promised they (the elders and H. Miller) would keep going even when I left. Fun Eh!..

 So apparently we have 3 baptisms coming in the area that I am going to, so that will be good - my first ones.

(Speaking about the brother who is struggling to prepare for baptism) Yeah he already stopped drinking, but there was another thing that he had an issue with that we don't know.... but I know he will be baptized... I have faith that he will. I just hope it will be soon and he will still want to have that same desire as he does now.

 And yeah I'm so glad we got to both recognize our growth and relationship before we left (Jessie and H. Miller).... definitely a blessing for the both of us. It’s so hard to explain things writing than just telling you.

 She (H. Miller) is companions with one of her friends in the mission.... she has worked with her before in Guaynabo for 3 weeks, so good thing is the people already know her, cuz to be honest the people here hate changes. They do not like how we change so often, so it is better they are somewhat familiar with her.

We found out that I was being transferred last night, and we switched today.  (Wednesday, January 19, 2011)

….and the address is the same, unfortunately I will not receive mail as frequently.

..... . okay i just found out that she said you can send it to another place she's looking now for me (Hermana Angel was looking for the mailing address, but I never got it – phooey!   Maybe next week).

That was it.   Jessie had to sign off and I had a meeting to go to.   I apologize for the jumping around in conversation, but we WERE emailing back and forth.  J

Email chat on January 12, 2011

This is Jessie and Hermana Miller with the Kay Family.

Jessie is with Sweetie, her landlady's dog.

So, this week’s entry will be a bit strange and disjointed because Jes and I got to ‘email chat’ (on 1/12/11).   She had time and I was online, so we sent emails back and forth.   She’d started to write a letter, which is the first portion of this entry.   After that the segments are related to things we were talking about.   Of course, there was a lot of personal stuff which I haven’t included, but there’s plenty here to share.  

The past couple of weeks have been very rough for Jessie, but she’s doing much better and on the uphill climb.   She loves her mission president and his family and has already developed a bond with them.   From what I can tell he seems to really understand her and who she is.   This is truly a blessing for Jessie and (I feel) will ultimately help her in her success as a missionary in Puerto Rico.   Thank you President Alvarado!

Como le va mama?....

    Hola mama how’s it going? So let’s see what has been going on.... so I've have come to learn that the people of PR are bi-polar.. no jk, but they are so hard to understand and are hard and soft hearted. We try teaching people showing them that we care and trying to help them understand and love the gospel and they just shrug their shoulders at us. So heartbreaking.... but then there are times when we are visiting and they love us and show us hospitality. I don't understand and it is so, so hard seriously getting shut down all the time and no success stories happening. I keep having to remind Hermana Miller and myself that we are planting seeds and we probably won't see the fruits of our labor, a sacrifice we have to take. It's not easy though keeping up that perspective. We have a bunch of people who invite us over and really seem like kind sincere people and then they all give us a wrong address, wrong number, hang up, or we get there and they won't be there ever, or they say they are not interested once we get there. I don't know if we stink or something who knows. Maybe we need to improve our teaching I just don't understand how people could be so cold that way. No one wants to hear about the gospel here it seems like and it hurts to see that people would treat us this way.  Even our menos activos are always giving us excuses and brushing us off. No one likes us sisters, but they like the elders. Oy.... and then some days they are confessing and we have them offer us stuff, and enjoying our presence... they are hard people to read. We'll see... Last night was a super rough night for Hermana Miller and I so we decided to get pizza and ice cream and we talked and just had plain good old time girls chat. Doing that helped us forget our unsuccessful, hard, painful day. It was wild like yesterday not sure, but we think someone told us to get out after we taught them a nice lesson and showed love to their family. It was heart dropping and so scary... but then after an awkward 15 min pause we asked if we could return and they said yes. Also 2 people had lights and we could hear them in their houses and the moment we made noise or called for them... lights shut off and the houses became quiet... we were like "really we know they are in there.... we were so saddened that people would treat us this way instead of just saying they don't want us." We're fine if they just say no... It’s bizarre and very sad. So please pray that the people hear will have soft hearts and change their ways.

So more to share.... our awesome district leader left and went home and his companion is awesome... we basically have a Disney quote from him every night. He likes quoting Robin Hood...LOL and so now he's all over the place being the acting district leader and he has only been here for 12 weeks. Yikes... but he is seriously one of the most humbling people I've met... and then he received a new companion (covering two areas) and he's from England, also 12 weeks out. The poor elders since they have been here it’s been hectic for them, but they are great. Also they were companions in Provo and were like we thought it would be longer if we would become comps.

I asked if he was fluent in Spanish before he got to PR….

Yeah they are still learning Spanish, but he's pretty fast learner. He's not the district leader yet, he's just acting until transfers, but knowing president he should expect to be one.... yeah I feel bad, but he's great he can do it, everyone can picture him becoming an apostle some day. LOL. His name is Elder Hunt and the other is Elder Sinclair (only black guy and from England.) they like each other, but they are still fresh.

 I asked how Hermana Kamisese was doing.   She was Jessie’s companion through both MTC’s and is now serving in the Dominican Republic………

Hermana Kamisese is doing great and just loving it. Her trainer is DR and she speaks only Spanish... so guessing she's already fluent by now. And she is only 5 mins from the ccm and is successful... (CCM- is the abbreviation for the DR MTC)

I was asking her about the dog in the photo.   We have a dachshund (wiener dog) named Cody and he’s a cuddle bug.   Jessie used to love to cuddle with him on the couch and would always hog his attention when she came home from her adventures…….

ahhh i miss my doggy.... yeah she's the landlords and she'll probably die soon so i wanted a pic. She's a sweety... literally that’s her name LOL.... there are dogs everywhere but none are weenie dogs...

I was telling her about the bitter cold we’ve been experiencing and about how the whole country has been getting snow……

Definitely don’t miss the cold and i hate the rain LOL....

Adios mi amor!!!!!!