I'm on early today because Hermana Balderrama and I decided to go visit our old areas, and we figured we better write first so we won't be so rushed. 

This week was pretty good. Our investigator is still scheduled to be baptized the 30th.  It wasn't quite so hot, and we found some people that seem to have potential. We usually have a lot of appointments planned, but when we go to visit they aren't there or they bail. So, we've been knocking doors a lot, which is fun. Actually it is pretty funny, because you get to see all kinds of people and get to hear all kinds of excuses haha. And when they actually let you in or tell you can come back, it's the best. 

I also hit the 9 month mark!! Half way. Time goes super fast and it's kind of scary.

At the beginning of my mission, lots of missionaries told me that after some time in the mission, you kinda just run out of things to write home. And it's true haha. Sorry :) It's not that I don't want to write a lot more, it's just that I literally can't think of anyting else...

But next week I should have more news because we get to go to the Temple and have Zone Conference, which I'm super excited for! We were supposed to go last week but they blocked off parts of the city, so they had to postpone it. So you can blame it on that if this email isn't so exciting :)

Hope you have an awesome week! I liked all the pictures. Love you!!

Hermana Rupp

P.S. Our zone is going to visit a jungle next monday and I figure we'll get back in time to write, but if not, don't worry I'm not dead :)

I also got your package! Thank you so much!! My comp and I have already eaten 2 of the bags of candy haha.

On May 8th we can skype!!!! What time works best for you guys?

Hey! How's it going?
Not a whole much to report this week. Nobody in handcuffs, though, so that was good :)
We're still working with the 11 year old who was supposed to be baptized last month, and I have hope that his baptism will go through at the end of this month. We also have one other investigator who accepted a baptismal date, but she's really bad about coming to Church, so we'll have to see...
The weather is super weird here. It will be super hot during the afternoon, and then out of nowhere a huge rainstorm will come and we'll end up soaking wet. And then it'll pass, but it stays cold after. It's just weird haha and my comp and I have no idea what to wear each morning. They say that winter should be starting soon, so I hope it just stays chilly from now on, because it's a lot easier to walk around in.
Other than that, my comp and I are just working hard and I'm doing what I can to be a better missionary. I'm so tired, but also so happy! I'm grateful for the time I have to be a missionary, and I'm trying to work and use every minute to the fullest. Thanks for all the prayers and the support! I love you all!
Love, Hermana Rupp

We call my comp "hna bucket-branch" because that's the translation of her name in english. 2 elders even ordered her a plaque (no idea if that's spelled correctly, cant remember haha) and everything

This was a cool week. Our zone got to do a service project with President Hansen where we unloaded storage containers with stuff for hospitals.
We were teaching one 11 year old kid and when we finished the lesson, he ran to his room and brought out some handcuffs. He was playing with them, and I just figured they were the toy ones. Afterward he wanted us to try, so my comp put them on one wrist and then was like, "Now what. How do I take them off?" Turns our that the boy plays with them all the time because his wrists are small enough to slide in and out, and he wasn't thinking at all when he gave them to my comp. He had no key, and his dad, a police officer, was out of town for the whole week. We searched their house for like half an hour and went to 2 police stations to look for a key, but no luck. In total, my comp had them on for over 2 hours haha. I couldn't stop laughing at first but it got pretty old after an hour so. Finally a guy (who also couldn't stop cracking up) used a nail to somehow open them.
On a completely different note, this weekend was great. A hermana who can barely speak Spanish came to stay in our area so she could watch in English, and my comp went to her area, which was kind of fun.
And Conference was just so powerful. I wrote down three questions I had before, and every single one of them was answered in the first session. And the Spirit is always so strong during Conference. I am so grateful for our living day prophet and that we have such inspired men to lead and guide us, and to help understand our Heavenly Father's will. The Church is so true!!
Have an awesome week. Love and miss you all!!
Hermana Rupp

Happy Easter!
Although our investigator didn't get baptized, and we're leaning towards reteaching the lessons before we put another baptismal date, this was a solid week.
Last Sunday we decided to look for an old investigator, so we went to her house before Church started. She and her son ended up coming, and it turns out that our pensionista (who got baptized in August) is her cousin. We had a lesson with all of their family together, and it was super powerful. I think that it may take a while, but she and her son will get baptized.
We also found another family while knocking doors, and they also came to Church yesterday.
Overall, we're finding a lot of new people who have a lot of potencial. Hermana Balderrama and I are super excited.
We got to go the mission home to watch the Women's General Conference which was great. I'm also super, super excited for Conference this weekend. We'll watch it in our Church building with our ward.
Have an awesome week and thanks for all the emails and prayers!
Love Hermana Rupp

Our investigator got baptized! She has been such a blessing for us. Her rapid progression and decision to get baptized really has been a miracle.
We have a boy who also may be baptized this Saturday, but we might wait for him to come to Church and progress a little more. He's technically ready and has the desire, but we're thinking about postponing. We'll have to see.
Other than that, we're walking a lot and trying to find new investigators. And the Lord is definitely helping us. This week we found 4 or 5 people who have a lot of potential. We knocked on one door, and found an entire family who were listening to the missionaries about 10 years ago, but moved and lost contact, or something like that. it was the first time in my mission that I have taught a lesson with an entire family of investigators. Even their grandparents came to listen. I'm really excited for them and hope they progress.
A little more about my area, because I don't think I've given too many details. It's mainly neighborhoods and shops, and very nice.The people in my area are generally richer and have prettier houses, a lot of them are decorated on the inside like they're from the 70's. We have one part of our area that is up the mountain and not quite as affluent, but not poor either. The people are more or less receptive, but the main problem we have is that the majority work and don't return to their house until later in the night.
Anway, I hope you all have an awesome week and a great Easter! I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that it is only through Him that we can obtain true joy and eternal life. I have felt His love and have seen it manifested in so many ways here in Bolivia.
I love you all!
Love Hermana Rupp

So, it's been brought to my attention that maybe my weekly letters could improve haha. Especially, the one from last week. VAN A DISCULPAR. I'll be working on it :)
This week was a roller coaster of emotions. A lot of our appointments bailed, and Hermana Balderrama and I walked and walked a ton, and the Sun was super strong. I'm exhausted right now. But, on the bright side, we sleep really well at night haha. The baptism of a woman we're teaching got postponed to next Saturday which was disappointing.
However, we also saw an incredible miracle. A man who has been investigating the Church for at least 5 years, finally got baptized. His wife was a member and I think his children are less actives, but he never could bring himself to get baptized although he goes every week. However, this week we planned to put a baptismal date and when we went to visit him, the first thing he asked was if he could be baptized this Saturday. We were so excited haha.
His baptism was really special. All of his family came, and his children were crying because they were so touched. He also spoke at the end and said how grateful he is that he can go to the temple in a year to be sealed to his wife.
I love Villa Graciela. I thought I never would want to leave Tiquipaya, but I know that the Lord sends us where we need to be. And I'm so grateful he felt that I should be here in Sacaba!
Thanks for all the love, support, and photos :) Hope you have a great week!
Love you all!!
Hermana Rupp

Family!

How's it going!
I don't have much to report this week. I don't know, my mind has kind of just gone blank haha. .
We have a baptism this Saturday! There's a chance we may have to postpone it, but I think she's ready. Unfortunately, our other investigator who has a baptismal date hasn't been coming to church, so we'll have to postpone his.
I really do love Villa Graciela. It's cool to see the progress that people are making, and I feel excited every day when we go to work. Hermana Balderrama and I get along well, and overall life is really good :)
Sorry I don't have much more to say, but I really can't think of anything else right now. If I think of something else in the next 20 minutes I'll let you know haha.
I hope you are all doing great and that you have an awesome week! Love you!!
Hermana Rupp

p.s. Not sure if I clarifed this well in the last letter, but Elder Bednar's son served in Cochabamba, not him. Don't think I made that very clear haha.