Monday, October 31, 2016

Hey!
So, here's a little bit more about my new area. Colón is near the very center of the city, and it's a very wealthy. It's a little bit harder to find interested people, but there are also some nice perks. For example, our house is sweet. We live on the third floor of  a member's house, it's big, and- most importantly- it has a large balcony that overlooks all of Cochabamba. Not bad haha.
Hna. Campana is my new companion, and she's realy cool. She's from Paris, California, but her parents are both from Mexico so she's fluent in both Spanish and English. So I'm more or less with my first gringa companion!
We worked extrememly hard this week. There aren't so many investigators, so we've been contacting a lot, and we've seen results very quickly. My first night we found a reference, and she's someone who is very prepared for the Gospel. She's read every thing we've left her, and she's already starting to get answers to her prayers. I think she will be baptized very quickly if she makes it to church these next few weeks. We have also had some very powerful lessons with other investigators and less actives, and overall I've been able to feel the Spirit very closely.
The only downside that I maybe see, is that the ward doesn't trust the missionaries very much. I'm not sure, but my comp and I's goal is to change that. We taught Sunday School yesterday, and we've visited a few members to ask for references, and I think we're making progress.
When I tell people that I now have 15 months in the mission, some of them ask if I'm trunky, which is funny because this was seriously the least trunky week I've ever had haha. It's so much fun to be a missionary, and it's so easy to forget about yourself while you are working.
I'm glad you guys had a fun week, and I hope you know that I love you all!
Hna. Rupp















Monday, October 24, 2016

I got transferred and will be heading to my last area tomorrow! I'll now be in Colon, an area in Cochabamba that is close to the Temple (if I remember correctly haha). I'll be with Hna. Campanas, a sister who I think recently finished her training. Because I've been in Sucre I don't know a lot of the hermanas that have arrived in the last few months, so I'll have to give you guys more info the next Monday. I'm sad to leave Sucre and my current comp- because we get along super well- but at the same time I've learned that transfers are usually only as stressful as you make them. So, that being said, I'm sure my new area will be great!
More importantly, M got baptized! She's only 14, but I think she will stay very firm in the gospel. I think her mother, who only speaks Quechua, is a great potential investigator as well.
We have another investigator, R, who was supposed to be baptized as well, but she didn't get permission from her parents. However, we haven't spoken with her parents personally yet, so I think there's still a good chance that she can be baptized in the coming months.
This week we were able to find some really awesome people. I won't be here to see how they progress, but it's crazy how you can genuinely come to care about someone you just met. I think that it's one of my favorite parts of the mission. It doesn't matter where you are or who you're with, the love for the people is the same. It's my goal to make that continue when I get home. Have an awesome week, and thanks for everything! Love you guys!
Hna. Rupp









Monday, October 17, 2016

Hey guys!
This week we went to Potosi!! Well, I really only got to know the Chapel, but the view driving there was very cool. The majority of the photos didn't turn out great, but there are parts that remind me a lot of California. We left Wednesday morning, and drove back the same day after the Zone Conference.
Yesterday was also great because two hermanas arrived from Tupiza, and they stayed the night with us. We were able to do divisions with them in our area, which helped a lot because we lost a day in going to Potosi.
While with Hermana Jordan, we decided to go visit a less active who is kind of rude to us, and beforehand made it clear that she didn't want visits. We haven't gone for over a month, so I wasn't sure why I wanted to return. I even felt nervous as we walked up to her house haha. But, when we got there she received us very well, and we had a great lesson. At the end, she told us that she had gone to Church that morning! She went to another ward, so we never would have known if we hadn't passed by. She told us that she wanted to return, and that she would start reading her Book of Mormon once again. It was great! And it was also a reminder that the Lord is always guiding us, even if we don't realize it in the moment.
It sounds like you had a good week, and I hope everything is going well! Love you guys!!
Hna. Rupp

Our zone went paintballing today, which was cool. I've never played before, but I think it's something I want to try again when I get home.




Monday, October 10, 2016

Family!
Hna. Rosillo's birthday is the 8th, which was fun because we could basically celebrate together. Hna. Cabarcas brought a cake to our zone meeting Tuesday, and on Sunday a woman in our ward did the same. The only problem was that it was fast Sunday for us, so we just saved a slice for later. Here, they always shove your face when you go to take abite, so maybe it was a tender mercy that we couldn't eat it haha. Overall it was a good birthday, and I hope you guys enjoyed the cake at home as well :)
A lot of our appointments fell through this week, but we still managed to get a lot done, and we found a lot of people with potential. I also could see that the Lord puts us where He needs us. I was on interchanges with another Hermana, Hna. Christensen, and as we waited outside the house for our companions to arrive, a girl passed by sobbing. We ran after her and asked what had happened. I think she had been drinking because she smelled very strongly of alcohol, but she responded very clearly and told us that her mother had taken away her son and kicked her out of the house because she wouldn't stop drinking. She told us she had no idea what to do, and that she wanted to kill herself. We talked with her for a while, calmed her down, and explained that because of the Atonement she could turn her life around. She accepted an appointment, but even if we can't ever find her again, I feel that maybe the talk we had was just what she needed in that moment. She was smiling when she left, so I hope so.
Life is good here in Sucre. It rains all the time now and there is a lot of mud in our area, but I like it. I can honestly say that the best way to find happiness it to do the Lord's work.
Have an awesome week, and thanks for all the birthday wishes!! I really appreciate it. Love you guys!
Hna. Rupp

Sorry I only have one picture, my comp's USB with all the pictures doesn't work on this computer

Monday, October 3, 2016

Hey!
This was kind of a crazy week, but it was good. We had limited time, but we worked hard, and we have some really great people who are progressing. The two girls that are making the most progress were both references from members.
We had Leadership Council Thursday, so we flew out Wednesday in the afternoon and had some free time before we had to go to the mission house. We couldn't go to the Temple, so my companion and I just decided to take a walk in the neighborhoods around the Temple, which was great because the climate was perfect. It's funny to me that when I am in my own area walking, I'm hot, my shoulders hurt, there are rocks in my shoes, etc. However, when I go for walk of my own free will, it's relaxing and very enjoyable haha. Proof that attitude is everything.
General Conference was awesome. I only had one specific question this time, and I was amazed at how clear the answers that I received were. I also loved that every talk addressed plain and basic doctrine, like the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, and the Doctrine of Christ. The gospel really is simple and beautiful, and has all we need to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father once more.
We have one less active who has been very hesitant about having an interview with the Bishop, but after watching conference the first thing she told me is that she was going to do it this week. I'm really excited for her.
I'm doing well! I get along really well with Hna. Rosillo, and we work hard. I'm almost sure I'm leaving my area in the next few weeks, but I'm just trying not to think about it too much haha.
Hope you had a great week, and that you all enjoyed conference! Thanks for all the birthday wishes as well! I had forgotten until I logged on and saw my emails haha. I love you guys!
Love Hna. Rupp

The sidewalk leading to the Temple and pictures from our flight back to Sucre.
My camera also stopped working last week which stinks, but I'll just pass photos from my comps' cameras until I finish.