Monday, May 30, 2016

So I'm gonna give this my email my best effort, but I'm not sure I have a lot to report this week... Have patience with me :)
However, I did get to do intercambios with my trainer, Hermana Cabarcas! She's my current STL, and it was super fun to get to work with her again. It felt like we just picked up where we left off when we had transfers.
This week we also had a lot of super powerful lessons, and a lot of people who haven't been progressing much started to do really well. You can really see the Lord's hand at work. But, when Sunday came around we had a solid turnout of one investigator. So... it's a process haha. We're getting there.
I'm doing good! My comp is nice and I really love the people we're currently teaching.
Love,
Hermana Rupp

I have some more time, so here are some additional, very exciting, details. It's starting to get cold here. I sleep with 2 pairs of socks, a sweater, and 2 blankets every day and I'm always super cold during personal study. However, that doesn't necessarily mean much, because I'm kind of a wimp... But, when we go to work it's warm and doesn't get cold again until about 5 or 6. 

Funny things that happened this week:
The little boy (who's picture I sent below- i may have sent it before...) asked me to baptize him. He told me, "I just turned 7, and I'm ready to get baptized." It was so cute and at the same time sad to tell him I couldn't and that he has to wait one more year. Made me laugh.

My shoe also fell off when crossing a super busy street in our area. Almost had to ditch it, but -nobody panic, now- miraculously both my shoe and I survived. Which is a good thing because these shoes have lasted 10 months, and I have a goal that they will hit the one year mark with me haha. 

Anyway, that's about as exciting as it gets here in good ole' Villa Graciela.
have a good week! love you!! 

Monday, May 23, 2016

Heyoo family.
This was a great week. Both investigators accepted baptismal dates!!
We still have to ask one's parents, but if all goes well she'll be baptized June 18th. Her friend is the one that always helps us out and gives references. I truly have a testimony that when missionaries and members work together the Lord does the rest.
The man who we found when passing by in the street, also accepted a date, but for the 25th. He's gonna have to make some more changes to get there, but I have faith that he can do it!
Other than that, not a whole lot to report. We're singing a ton because we have a fireside for missionary work coming up, and they asked as to help out with the ward choir. The member directing has us ending the song on a ridiculously high note, which may or may not invite the Spirit into the meeting... haha. We'll see.
Hermana Baltazar is pretty cool. She's willing to work hard in our area, so we're doing well!
Glad to hear you all are doing well, and I hope you have another, less hectic, week! I love you!!
Hermana Rupp
P.S. Mom, you'll be excited to know that I ate some vitamins this week :)

Monday, May 16, 2016

Hey!! How's it going?!
Things are going well! I'm now with Hermana Baltazar who is from Peru and is finishing her mission in August. She's cool and I think we'll have a good transfer together. The other night she told me, "I'm so tired. I don't think I've ever walked so much in my life." Haha welcome to Villa Graciela :)
I think there's a good chance that I will be leaving after this transfer, which makes me a little sad because we have some people that are progressing really well. We have one girl who has a lot of interest and is coming to church. I'm really excited for her! It may not be during my time here, but I think she will get baptized.
We also have a couple other investigators who are progressing well. However, we ran into one of them the other night, and he was definitely drunk. But, although he probably had no idea where he was, he remembered about our appointment the next day haha. I still have a lot of hope for him. We're just going to focus a lot on the Word of Wisdom :)
Overall, it was a good week, and I'm excited for 8 months more in the mission!!
I hope you all had a great week! Love you all!!
Hermana Rupp


Monday, May 9, 2016

It was great to talk to you guys yesterday!! I loved being able to see you and hear your voices!
I have transfers! Or rather, Hermana Balderrama does. I will be staying in Villa Graciela with Hermana Baltazar from Peru. I've only met her once, but I've heard good things. I think we'll have a  good transfer!
Other than that I don't have a lot new to say because we just spoke, but I can share some events from this past week:
Lately, my comp and I haven't had very many people progressing, but this past week it really picked up. I've been praying a ton that the Lord would help us find someone really prepared, and he definitely has done that and then some. For example, almost everyday this week we passed a guy on our way to lunch. He's got long hair and honestly kinda looks like he slept in the street haha. I felt the impression to talk to him, but I suppose I got nervous and ignored it at first. However, the Lord is very patient and gave me the same opportunity the next day, and I made sure I didn't make the same mistake this time. W introduced ourselves and he invited us right away to teach him. Turns out he's a super cool, and he's reading and praying. I'm not saying that he'll automatically get baptized with time, but I knew the Lord really puts people in our path, especially when we do what we can to find them.
Have an awesome week! I love you all and am glad that you are doing well!
Love Hermana Rupp

my comps downloading photos with my camera so i dont have a ton, but here are a couple:
incachaca with our bishop



Monday, May 2, 2016

Familia!!
First off, WE GET TO SKYPE THIS WEEK!
Also, sorry I barely wrote anything the last Monday. We were short on time, and I didn't even get to send photos. So, I'll try to say more this week.
A lot of the people we are teaching have stopped progressing, but this week Hermana Balderrama and I have found some great new investigators. One woman we were teaching told us that she had been praying to know which church is true, and she had a dream that said the Mormons. I don't think she took it very seriously, but it helps us to know that she could be someone who really is prepared for the gospel.
This week I also was extremely impressed with a 15 year old girl in our ward. She said she could visit with us, and that she had a few references as well. When we met up with her, she literally just went through her contacts and started calling her friends saying, "Hey! Are you home? I have something I want to share with you." Absolutely no shame and no fear.
Only one friend was home, but we went, taught all of lesson 1, and we now have a new investigator with great potential. I also know that almost all of the investigators of the Elders in our ward (she lives in their area) are references from her. She literally shares the gospel with everyone, whether she knows them or not.
Overall, it was a good week and I have hope that we have lots of people who will progress.
This week we have transfers and I'm also positive that Hermana Balderrama is leaving, so I'll let you know!
Have a great week! I love you all!!
Hermana Rupp

Other highlights from this week inculde...
-an elder was looking in my camera at photos from the CCM, and told me: "Hna, don't get offended when I say this, but you look way more tired now than you did in your photos of the CCM." sweet, thanks... but he's not wrong haha
-our ward had field trip today and we got to go to Pairumani, which is basically a camping spot with a hike up to a waterfall. You have to go through this tiny, but cool, tunnel with running water to get there.