4/7/2014 - San Cabos Letters & Pics

La Paz Again and Hospital?!?!‏

Hola!

   Before anyone freaks out, i'm fine, i'll explain later in the email the details of what happened. So this week has been wonderful! First off my companion and i worked really hard to get 25 lessons this week, we had five lessons on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday, then we went to La Paz on Thursday, and then 5 more lessons on Friday, overall i think we got around 20, so close but not quite. Its amazing when we have the opportunity to share the gospel here doors just open wide and say come in! we taught so many usually we only teach about 8-10 lessons a week so we doubled our numbers and that's pretty amazing!  We both prayed for lessons this week for many if not more, and we were blessed. The Lord really does answer our prayers, I am finding out all we have to do is ask, simple ask, but then in turn we have to work hard and trust the Lord will help us in our efforts.

   We went to La Paz again, let me just say BEAUTIFUL!!!! but yeah, i love it here, every time i see the desert or a cactus or a dead bug, or a homeless man sleeping in the garbage filled streets, or the cardboard box homes, with dirty smiling children in front, kicking a can around playing Soccer. I stop and I think of how much i am blessed, how much I have, how much I can share, and the wonderful experiences that I have here, and to be able to share the love and joy of this Gospel.  Oh what blessings await for those who are obedient to all of Gods Commandments, I have seen many things and felt more through the Holy Ghost as he testifies of the truth of gospel principles, Love, Charity, Obedience, Faith, Work, Trust, Repentance, etc. I could go on.  

   In La Paz we had another meeting with President Velez, and his assistants had a power point for us and taught us about using our materials that we use for finding and recording people that we teach. It was awesome, but what was difficult was the three hour bus ride there and back..... in one day.... ouch. What was worst was my stomach was hurting something awful, but that's for later. We had brought sandwiches with us and juice and cake (because we had extra to spare from my companion's birthday) it was great we were sitting in a gazebo and the wind was blowing in from the sea and the water was there and life seemed perfect in that moment. 

    Sooooo about five days ago, i had drunken something from our investigators home it was Juice of Jamaica, soooo good by the way, and afterwards i didn't feel that great, anyway we continued working and doing all that we could in finding and teaching investigators. Well the pain increased, and it felt like someone decided to use my stomach as a punching bag, and Saturday was conference so we were walking and now it felt like i had run a triathlon, with the sharp pain in the side and the difficulty breathing, and i looked fat, like really fat, well bloated to me more exact, and now i was walking like a duck holding my stomach and wincing every time i was going up or down stairs, and then the diarrhea started, that's when it wasn't fun. Saturday we called the mission doctor and she said that i needed to visit the hospital because of my bloating, so away we went with me waddling and wincing with each step. 

Stomach Medicine

  Once we got to the Hospital, it wasn't much more of a doctors office, but we checked in and the doctor examined me and listened to my stomach and she said that i had Gastritis, yup folks, i had the bad case of Gas, and a lot of it, but because of the diarrhea i couldn't release it so i looked like a hippo. Yeah, the joys of eating in another country and your body going like "WOAH, What did you just give me?!?!?! I can't handle this right now, what are you trying to do kill your-self" yeah it was a party in my stomach all week long, and i couldn't join.  Anyway, needless to say, i was given some drugs and now i feel fabulous, well the apartment doesn't smell too good now,......oops. 

  General Conference!!!! Loved it!! Especially after the first session when we saw the world report and i got to see the Gilbert Temple Celebration, i keep thinking Elizabeth is in there somewhere!!  So beautiful, please go to the Temple for me I love it so much, one place where we literally are close to Heavenly Father.

  So that's about all for this week, we have transfers this Sunday, i'm most likely staying in this area, i heard from my district leader, that the missionaries stay in their area for at least 6 months and then change. I love it here, the people are amazing. The language is coming, but really slowly, i can understand a way lot more than before my mission, that's a blessing. I know that this gospel is true, every moment i am here learning and teaching, my faith grows stronger and stronger, and i am understanding my Savior more and more. He lives and loves each one of us. We just simple need to ask and believe. Oh what joy fills my heart, i want to just do the best that i can. This is it!! 

  Firmes en la Fe = True to the Faith (rough translation) 

Always Happy,

Hermana Newmeyer

Pinata with the District

Happy Birthday to my Companion

The Ants come marching in by 100, harrah.....

Surfer Dude Crossing

Cute and Cuddly Tiger

Cute and Cuddly Tiger Again

Cute and Well, you get the idea

Just Me

Hey Mom,

i was able to see all of the Conference it was amazing, I love you so much, this week has been crazy and wonderful at the same time. I had to visit the Hospital this week, but all is well and i am thriving living person. really, i'm okay. but i had gastritis, which means a lot, a lot a lot of gas and diarrhea, and maybe some vomiting, but it never got that worst with me, so i didn't vomit. :) I looked really fat too, :) Hehe anyway i'm not allowed to eat anything greasy, bread/flour, salsa, soda, meat, and some cheeses, so all i have been eating is jello and eggs for the past two days, yippee, not really, but i don't want to get sick again i have to wait till the end of the week to make sure i don't need to do anything else. More details in my letter to dad. I'm glad that dad got to go to his mission reunion, did he talk about me on my mission? ooh i can't wait for my mission reunion ;)  a sister here bought me a dress today, which was really nice, um.... nothing else we have transfers this week and so i don't know if i am staying or leaving, theirs a rumor usually the people on the peninsula stay for 6 months so that's about 3-4 transfers this is my 2 so probably will be staying on this side of the water! I love you mom, thank you so much for your support, i'm glad that everyone is reading my letters i don't really get any email, so i don't know who reads my emails, is there anything that they want me to post a foto of or something special, let me know :) thanks. Le amo mucho mama, gracias por todo su amor y también por su testimonio en este iglesia y en Jesucristo. Es muy especial cuando los padres tienen testimonios y tienen llamamientos in la iglesia. Recuerdo la expiación y el amor El Señor tiene por todo en este mundo. Gracias otra vez por ayudarme en preparo por mi misión, este experiencia es muy hermosa! Le quiero mucho. Gracias!!

Siempre con Amor,

Hermana Newmeyer

3/31/2014 - San Cabos Letters

Hey Everybody,

  This week has been amazing! and lets just say i can see now why missionaries want to stay on their missions, its energizing, exciting, spiritual, uplifting, and fresh breath of air, with maybe some chips on the side,oh and some frijoles with queso,... yum. Anyway, we have had many lessons this week and some all the way in La Playita, another suburban type area. But all the streets are dirt and the houses tiny, and no trees it was a city in the desert, oh and the day we went decided to be extra hot, and so we sweated a lot, i turned about the color of a tomato in about 20 minutes. haha it was great, i was excited that we were in another area looking for new investigators!! the bus ride itself was about 20 minutes. ;) 

   oh so my companion made a Mexican pastry....well.....lets just say that I found Heaven here on earth through this little pastry, cake, thingy, oh my it was so delicious, the right consistency and not too sweet and not to bland. Hehe i had a dream about it two nights ago, if you will recall the movie of 'cloudy with a chance of meatballs' and the part where the food is floating around like a dream, that was my dream and i was eating the pastry and i was so happy. I explained my dream to my companion and she about died laughing, and we laughed so much this week! It was great, i want to make this desert when I come home, so easy and yet so delicious!!

  Okay, im not clumsy, the sidewalks here are just crooked! i have fallen numerous times or stubbed my toe or foot on the cracks of the sidewalks and every time we laugh, because its funny, i need my eyes on my feet to see where the sidewalk is.  The buses are another story, its great when we have a man come on the bus and sing for everyone while playing the guitar and its great! i want to do the same thing when Christmas comes and sing on the buses Christmas hymns and share the gospel. ;) my soul is filled with excitement when i think of this.  

  The importance of staying positive....... always always think positive, how can the spirit dwell in us when we are constantly thinking of negative thoughts, either about someone else or even ourselves it doesn't have to be a grand thought to be negative just something simple.  Its very important that we constantly think of how the savior would think, he loved everyone, even when they spit  upon him and crucified him.  We are not perfect, it will not happen over night, we will make mistakes, but that is the beauty of repentance, to be able to confess our sins to God and then start anew.   

   I love it here and the people, they are so beautiful. Mexicans are amazing, they are genuine, they mean what they say and when they offer anything they really mean to offer. They are hard workers and they know the importance of familias, there parties are the best, they invite everyone, their relatives, friends, other friends, and its just one big party of food, laughter, games and socializing with everyone. I love it!!

    Haha so don't say yes to seconds when you are full, yeah that was a fun night for me. So Sunday was my Companions Birthday, and we now have two cakes, a chicken and more food than two skinny people can eat in our house, but Sunday we ate at a members home and we had tin foil dinner, soooo good, potato with mushrooms, some kind of meat, and cheese. Once that was cooked you could add poco de gallo (tomato, onion, etc) and crema (sour cream) guacamole, oh it was so good, so i had about a normal looking potato and i added a lot of toppings and ate with tortillas, when the Sister asked if i wanted more, i said yes (because its rude when you say no, its like saying i don't like your food) anyway, so i had more sopa with it as well, just regular pasta and the next potato that she brought out was twice the size of my first potato, and i had to eat all of it.  Needless to say, i felt like a 4 month pregnant woman i was so full, i couldn't take another bite. Well it was my companions birthday, so there was cake too,........:p so i had some cake as well, it was delicious but my stomach was screaming, too much, too much, she's going to blow!!! i can't eat anymore. i was very sleepy afterwards and we had to walk back to our apartment which was about a mile, so i was extremely tired and full. 

  It was great though, i was happy.  Today we celebrated again my companions birthday and there was another cake, so we took that home as well, :) Cake for all!!! it was great and the left over food as well. We had a pinata and water balloons but didn't throw them we didn't have time. It was a great week, full of spiritual learning and the light of Christ in our lives. We learn to communicate every day with the people around us and with Heavenly Father every time our knees hit the ground and our hearts open up to him as we tell of our problems and hearts desires. I know he hears us and answers our prayers, he is always there for us. John 14:18.

Always Happy,

Hermana Newmeyer

p.s. sorry no photos, the computer didn't work, next week!!! Love you all!!

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Letter #2

Hey Mom, 

 This week has been great! my companion and i have really clicked and we are working together to help each other and stay positive and do all that we can to keep the spirit in our lives and in our lessons! we have had some pretty powerful lessons this week and you could definitely feel the spirit guiding our hearts, thoughts and words during the lesson. :) wow such an amazing experience i am having, The language is starting to come and i can feel the lord helping everyday.

  This week was my companions birthday (27) and i thought i was old. ;) anyway, most of the elders and sisters here are converts to the church and only members for 3 -8 years, i am shocked and amazed that they are doing this, they have such great faith. I am so grateful to be working with them, and just gratitude in everything! i love it here mom and the people, when i look for the good in them and not think of how dirty they are or if the food isn't cooked all the way (because its happened, didn't feel good later) anyway, i can see them for who they are and how Heavenly Father see's them its amazing how much love you can have for a person you don't know. 

Love always,


Hermana Newmeyer

3/24/2014 - San Cabos Letter & Pics

Hey Everybody, 

  Time is sweet and short, so is this letter. Love you all. One quick story, about Pedro....:) 

  Sometimes the people we meet are not ready to get baptized and others are ready to jump in the water and accept Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Well, Pedro is one of them, Pedro is a 62 year old man, who loves to run races and has a desire to do the will of God and help others. We first met Pedro when we changed houses and we stopped to buy water and he was the helper to carry the 40 lbs of water to the cars. Well we started talking and said he would like to come to church the next day, as that day was Saturday, we thought that's great, but we didn't expect to see him the next morning. Well to our amazement, he showed up and we gladly welcomed him in and he stayed for a class it was great, he had many many many questions, but they were good Questions, like... ¿Does God have a father? ¿Why is Jesus' skin fair and not another color? etc. Sometimes i think there is no answer but then my companion says something in Spanish and he says okay. It's amazing every time we are with him we learn something from him. This week we helped cheer him on in a race and it was a 5k and he was the first person to cross the line! Wow 62 years old!!!! and he won first place. Everyone is important, we just have to talk to them.

Pedro with the Hermana's

Pedro with the Missionaries in the District

  I remember a song from Wicked, where it says that People are placed in our lives for a reason and we can learn from them and we are who we are because of them.  This week has been amazing, and rough and an opportunity to grow. I am so grateful for the people in my Life, they have given me so much.  

  The weather is hot hot hot, need i say hot one more time i think i will, its hot! and i'm pretty sure i have sweated a gallon of liquid :p They had a huge truck watering the plants when we were walking back from looking at the dolphins. The people are amazing, and you know what,  its the same everywhere, they have skinny people, short people, really short people and some hefty people too, it's interesting to think that there is no difference only the way we communicate and the color of our skin, but that's not important, our spirits are the same, we all are Children of Heavenly Father and that is all that is important. 

   My companion is amazing, i love her so much, we are so much alike and I can't believe how lucky i was to have her as a Companion. Its so important to do all you can for the persons you love. She makes me frijoles, queso and totopos for lunch and sometimes breakfast, its so good. For translation, beans, cheese, and chips. :) i love it here. 

Always Happy 

Hermana Newmeyer

Noodle Sandwich

Be like and Egyptian in Mexico

Hermana's Walking the Road

Watering the Tree's and Bushes

Los Cabos Port

2/24/2014 - San Cabos Letter

Hey,

  This week has been great. We had one of the girls in our ward accept baptism and that was wonderful. We cleaned the font and filled it with water, which was cold by the way. Afterwards, the ward played volleyball and made chimichangas! which is not actually what you think it is, it’s a desert really and its really good. Also me and my companion are moving apartments because the one we are living in now is not safe. Also the rent is really expensive, but we are moving farther away from our investigators and members so when we walk it will be quite a trek every day to walk to them, but it will be worth it! Anyway, our new apartment is tinier and is covered floor to ceiling with spiders and dirt, and I’m pretty sure some of the walls have mold on them. So today and last Saturday me and my companion went and cleaned it, scrubbing down the walls and the floors with cleaner to make sure that there is no spiders and other creepy things living with us when we move in. 

   One quick story, not much time the computers here are really slow and so no pictures this week sorry :(  but we have been visiting with one menos active member for the past three weeks and her husband is not a member, but we were able to invite the husband to join this time and of course i could kind of understand what was being said and not really, just sit and wait to bear my testimony. We had invited another member of the ward to come with us and share her testimony as well, so there were about 4 women trying to tell this man about Jesus and that there is a living prophet today and receives revelation. I was quiet the whole lesson so there really was about 3 women but the feeling of us all sitting and explaining his questions was a little overwhelming. Anyway, he made one comment about why did Joseph Smith had to be called a prophet in the United States of America and why not in Brazil, or Australia, or Mexico or Canada or anywhere else. I couldn't help but think Why was Jesus just in Jerusalem and Israel and not in Mexico, Brazil, Australia, or other countries, why is he the savior of the world when he was only in one part of the world.  And then I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of the Holy Ghost and how it testifies of the truth of the Word of God, of how when we feel down, when we beaten, when we feel that there is no hope for us, there is always the scriptures and they contain the world of God, and the spirit abides where ever there is good. I said that when we pray and ask to know the truth in things that seem impossible like believing that Jesus is the Savior of the World even though he lived in Jerusalem and believing that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came to a 14 year old boy in the United States of America and no one else, only then can we know for ourselves what is true.  This is why we believe that Jesus is the savior of the world because we pray about it and receive the testimony of the Holy Ghost that it is true.  The room was quiet where a few minutes ago i sat silently listening to the chatter of Spanish and the excited voices of 3 women, it was quiet but the Holy Ghost was there, everyone felt it, and I knew that he felt it as well, after a few seconds it went back to the chatter and the spirit was still there filling us with comfort and knowing that what we were talking about was true. 

  I am happy to be here, i am happy to know that there is a Savior who loves me, I am Happy to have a family that love me, I am happy because I know this is where I am supposed to be. We have transfers next week, I’m pretty sure me and my companion are going to stay the same, we have so much to work for and the members are great here, I only hope that I can have the opportunity to do what the Lord wants me to do for the people here. I love everyone. 

Always Happy,

Hermana Newmeyer

1/9/2014 - MTC Letter & Pics

Hey Dad,

   This week has been amazing!!! I have never felt so strongly the power of the Love of God.  It has been wonderful and I can see it in my life and the blessings that I am receiving.  I love being here, I can feel my prayers have more meaning and when I fast I know with out a doubt the purpose of my fast and I know it is for someone.  Just yesterday on Wednesday, it snowed about 6 - 7 inches and let me just say that the scenes and the beauty of the snow is breathtaking.  All the trees have snow on each branch and they are so beautiful. I am so grateful to be here and the wonderful opportunity that I have to witness all of God's splendor. Today we are going to the Temple for the first time since being at the MTC, I am so excited and overjoyed to be going. It has been closed the whole time we have been here and it feels like yesterday that I just got here and i already have received my travel information to get my passport and visa in Las Vegas. I am leaving this Monday to go and I'll be gone all day long, from 4:30 in the morning to 8:55 (when my plane lands in SLC) It will be a long day and I am the only one going so far, everyone in my district is leaving on Tuesday and Wednesday for Las Vegas to get their passports.

    I have 10 days left in the MTC, it has gone by so fast and it has been amazing, i have learned so much. Thank you for your email and pictures I love them, I printed them off so I could have them with me and show them to everyone. I can't believe Mom came up to Utah to visit Grandma, that's crazy. I hope everything is alright and that she will have a wonderful time. Its really cold and snowing a lot. The language is coming along I feel like I can flow better than before and I know it's only because Heavenly Father is helping me, there is no way I would learn another language unless the Lord helped me.  This past week we had 8 Hermana's leave for their missions and they are wonderful, i got a picture with each of them on Sunday. They are truly amazing.

1- Hermana Bennally, she had to stay behind because she broke her pinky finger during volleyball, she is sweet and genuine and just fills the room with warmth. Mexico,
2 - Hermana Knight, She is a great example of  reverenced dignity she is always doing what is right, she is going to Mexico
3 - Hermana Devry, She is wonderful, she is an amazing listener and always asks how I am doing, she is going to Mexico
4 -  Hermana Van Valkenburg, she is hilarious, i love her so much, she gives me these wonderful hugs that make you miss your Mom's hugs. She reminds me of Anna around the dinner table making us all laugh. she is going to mexico.
5 - Hermana Carroll, she plays the violin just like you and she is incredible, her spirit is so strong and she is always happy and commenting everyone. She is going to Spain
6 - Hermana Pugh, I love her curly hair and her smile, she is genuinely happy and is amazing, she is going to Mexico
7 - Hermana Masters, she is a fireball of energy and happiness and is incredible, she is a good listener and is willing to do anything, she is going to Spain
8 - this is a picture of everyone plus some extra sister's in our zone and my sister's in our district. They are amazing and it will be hard to follow in their footsteps. they will do amazing in  Mexico and Spain.

    I am so excited and ready to go to Mexico, we have run into a couple of Elder's here who are from Mexico and they say that it is beautiful and we will be baptizing many people. I am so excited. Our lesson's for our investigator are going great we had a really good lesson this past week and we went back and forth and the spirit was so strong and I was so happy. It's amazing how powerful saying the first vision to someone in their own language is. I feel so strongly and I know that this is true, it warms me up and I know that I am here for a reason. Oh so my first week here I rewrote lyrics to Homeward Bound, the one Mom likes and I called Mission Bound here they are:

In the quiet peaceful morning, as i kneel beside my bed
This is where i'm meant to be, mission bound Lord I will go,
When I enter the MTC, I will strive to do my best
Pray and read the scriptures daily, I'll go where'er thou go.

I will preach to the people that thou live and love us too.
I am thy servant forever, i'll do my best for you somehow.
If i find myself in trials and the language hard to learn
I’ll remember you called me here, mission bound Lord I will go.

Then I'll share my testimony to the people where i'm called
And i'll serve them everyday, i will go where thou wilt go
I am here for thee Lord, I will serve to the End.

This is where I'm meant to be, and I'll return with honor,
In the quiet peaceful morning, as i kneel beside my bed,
this is where i'm meant to be, Mission Bound Lord I will go.

I love it here and i know that I am here for a reason, I know that Heavenly Father loves me and will bless my life as long as i am obedient and willing to listen to him and follow in his footsteps and have charity towards all men.  I love you all.

Love always,

Hermana Newmeyer

Hermana Bennally

Hermana Knight

Hermana Devry

Hermana Van Valkenburg

Hermana Carroll

Hermana Pugh

Hermana Masters

Spanish Speaking Sister Missionaries

Provo MTC West in the Snow

Provo MTC West in the Snow at Night