Sano, fuerte, feliz (healthy, strong & happy)

So Monday night I was served 6 COW BRAIN tacos ... yum  :)  It actually wasn't that bad.  Sister Toledo had prepared it with cilantro, tomato, and onion and once it was fried and smothered with salsa, it tasted just like other meat.

This is Sister Toledo in the process of making the cow brain tacos

This is me with two of her kids

Also on Monday, we also taught an investigator who was about to drop us, but after a super spiritual lesson, she said we could come back on Thursday  :)  It is so great when the Spirit opens up the hearts of those we teach.

On Tuesday morning we met the new members of our district.  Hermana Nakken's companion is Hermana Cuque (who is super cute & from Guatemala); Elder Summers is now our district leader and training Elder Rojas; and we have Elder Burns (from my generation in the CCM) training Elder Tlaxcalteca.  So, there were a lot of changes, but I'm excited for our new district  :) 

Oh, it rained non-stop and was super cold!  My companion and I didn't bring our cameras with us, but the streets became rivers and it was flooded more than I've ever seen before!  The rain is always fun, but I was layered like an eskimo - tights, socks, boots, sweater, coat, gloves, scarf, and a fuzzy headband to cover my ears!  Ridiculous.  When we visited a sick member and her brother, the power went out.  So we used the cell phone light to encounter some candles and drank a cup of hot chocolate until it turned back on again.  :)

This is by the freeway that they refer to as "the River", because it used to be a river before,
and even now when it rains it gets super flooded

Wednesday it also rained, but on and off throughout the day.  We encountered a new investigator named Olga today, who is super kind and receptive.  And after some other visits and a yummy lunch, we visited Teodulo & Maria.  It was perfect, because Hermano and Hermana de la Rosa (recent converts) accompanied us and have been known Teodulo & his wife for years because of their bread.  In fact, on the Sunday that Teodulo & Maria visited church, they knew about 6 members!  Everything is going so smoothly with them  :) 

This is when we had the family home evening
with a member and her friend from zumba

Then we had a Family Home Evening with a member named Maria & her friend from Zumba, named Isabel.  We watched the movie about eternal families, and then Marta shared her conversion story.  We all had a fun and spiritual time together.

Thursday we had an excellent afternoon.  All of our lessons were with a member and an investigator!  One lesson we had was with Monica, but before we started, her son & his girlfriend arrived.  We found out that his girlfriend had heard a little from some other missionaries that were visiting her brother about a year ago.  And, turns out that one of these past missionaries was Hermana Mora's trainer!  Such a small world!! Anywho, they accepted a Book of Mormon and said they'd read the introduction before our next visit  :) 

Then we had our visit with an investigator named Maria Zamarron (the one who was about to drop us).  A member her age who used to be Catholic - and actually almost became a nun - accompanied us and shared her conversion story.  The investigator and this member clicked so well, and I could feel the Spirit so strongly during the lesson.  The investigators progress so much with the members present in the lessons.

Friday I spent the day with Hermana Cuque in exchanges in my area.  Hermana Cuque is just so sweet!  She is the youngest of 3 and is from the capital of Guatemala  :)  We had an excellent day together and taught a lot of investigators.  She and I were previously in the same zone and it'll be fun to have her in our district now.  In the evening before she returned to her area, we taught an investigator whose sister was visiting from Laguna Hills, California!  We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said she'd like to hear from the missionaries when she returns home next week.  There are definitely no coincidences!  I love encountering more and more people who are ready to receive the message of the restored gospel.

Saturday actually wasn't that cold and I tried to soak up every ray of sunshine, because everyone here keeps saying that i's going to get really cold.  When we visited Teodulo & Maria, we were talking about the Plan of Salvation.  As we explained some of their questions, I showed them a list of definitions at the end of the pamphlet they have and Teodulo got all excited and said, "Look!  Here are all the answers!"  hahah  It was as if he found the answer key to a bunch of hard math problems.  :)  I love it when the people we teach get what I like to call the "light-bulb face"  (like something finally clicked for them and things became clearer.)

This is us with Jose Guadalupe

On Sunday we had Stake Conference!  Maria & Teodulo showed up 20 minutes early to get a good seat and Jose Guadalupe came with Hermana Mora and I.  We heard from the Stake Presidency and Brother Piper.  Their messages were uplifting and motivating, and the Spirit could easily be felt.  Teodulo & Maria told us how much they enjoyed it before they headed back home.  I felt so happy the rest of the day.

Here I am with Beautiful Hermana Mora  ;) 

I am doing great here in Aviacion with Hermana Mora.  We make each other laugh daily and have become close friends.





















One thing that I love about the mission is that I've learned to see the good in others.  It's easy to be happy when one can realize all the good there is and all the blessings we've been given.  I hope you all have a fantastic and happy week!

Sending all my love and hugs,

Hermana Eliason

Here are some super fun YSAs that we totally click with, Fernanda, Anais, and Gabby

Hermana Mora in Costco for the first time!!

This is Brother Bernal who leaves this week to live in his
 house in Arizona for the next 6 months