Week 68: Letter

Hmm... Well with this week, WHERE DO I EVEN START??
So many things happened to us... all good things, ehh.... mas o menos, jaja [more or less, haha]. But we are all safe and sound and we came out alive from the week, haha

So I’ll just start with Wednesday, that’s where the week really starts off. So we were having a great day. We had gone to a whole different part of our area (that’s not even part of our area, but that’s a whole other story, haha) that’s like 15 mins away taking a bus. As we were waiting to come back to our real area it started to rain, but like the normal rain that we randomly get every day at like 4pm. This time, I had forgotten to bring a trash bag to put over my bag to protect my books so when we got off the bus, we quickly ran to the house to grab one and y’all would not believe it. In just half an hour of rain, our street had completely flooded and the water and trash and dirt and other nasty stuff from outside had flooded our house. Ugh, it was horrible. So luckily we had stopped by when we had and gotten to the house before the majority of the water had entered in to the house. So we had to pack up everything and put things on the desks and in our hammocks so that nothing important would get wet. It was soo frustrating, but at the same time, pretty fun bc I’ve never had to deal with a house being flooded before, haha. But I’ll just say one thing, I’m glad that they don’t believe in putting carpet here in the houses ‘cause that would’ve just plain old sucked, haha!

Then on Friday there was a 15 bday party for a part member family. We stopped by before it started at like 7pm bc we can’t stay in the party, even if it was at the church bldg. There is a member that knows how to play the drums and has a set and so we decided to play around on it and try and act like I knew what I was doing. but I thought of dad the whole time with his amazing drum playing skills and I just kept thinking that dad would blow these guys out of the water if he played the drums for them, haha. So don’t worry daddy I was bragging about you ;)

Then Saturday came around... THE BAPTISM OF RUBEN!!!! So we got a call in the morning from our Ward Mission Leader that he had gone to the church bldg early to fill up the font, but that everything was locked and that he called the Bishop for the keys and the Bishop told him that WE had the keys. and I told him, that uhh, no. One, why would we have them? And 2 no one has ever given me keys here. So I was like okay, what are we going to do if we don’t have a font? haha But the morning was filled with appointments in centro (the upper part of our area which is far from the church bldg. and may I remind y’all that we WALK everywhere so it takes us just a little but longer to travel to places) so we were stuck in centro up until about 3pm when we finished everything and we speed walked/jogged (with our bags full of books) to the church bldg to fill up the font. As we were walking there I was just praying that something would happen and that everything would work out for the better and that the Lord would help us out on this one. So we walked into the church bldg and you know what we see???? The baptismal door and the door that has the knob to turn on the water are BOTH OPEN. Completely open. I was like what the heck? He told us that they were locked! But at the time I wasn’t really thinking all that much. All I was thinking was how the heck were we going to fill up the font in an hr and a half when it takes like 3 hrs to fill up?!? So we turned on the water and then I was like, okay we are not just going to stand here and do nothing, so we ran to the janitor’s closet and started to fill up all the buckets and we filled up the 5 gallon water bottles that they use here to have clean water and we started to drag them to the font and pour them in there. So we did that for like 40 mins. It was totally exhausting but we got it filled in time for his baptism.
The sad thing was almost no one showed up to the baptism. We had 7 people there, including us. Even though there wasn’t a lot of people, it was a pretty spiritual experience. We felt the Spirit testify strongly.
Afterwards I was talking to our Ward Mission Leader about how we showed up and the doors were unlocked and he told me that he didn’t do anything, that he checked 100 times and they were both locked. It was then that I realized that I had literally witnessed a real miracle. That the Lord helped us just a little bit in the baptism. Even though unlocking 2 doors isn’t anything big for Him to do, but for us it was a huge deal.

I’m just happy to be a part of this gospel and for the opportunity that I have to view miracles every day in my life and the lives of others. I know that God lives as well as his Son.

I love you all so much and thanks for everything y’all do for me! Just 2 1/2 more months and I’ll be able to give y’all a big hug!

Hermana Perryman

This is my zone from last week when we had a water balloon fight!

Week 67: A dry week in Merida...

Yeah, this week it hardly rained which was the saddest thing ever. I know y’all are thinking “Really Hannah? That’s the best thing to start your letter with is the weather?”... Welp kids, it is. It’s about the most interesting thing that happened to me this week, haha. Sad, I know, but true. We hardly got even a sprinkle all week! Which means we suffered and sweated outside looking for shade all day and having to go to the bathroom like every 40 mins bc we are drinking so much water... Haha we’ve gotten it down pretty well to where we know which members have the better functioning bathrooms hahaha.

Anyways, this week was a pretty normal week, full of lessons and visiting ppl. Just the normal amazing missionary work we complete everyday :) Honestly, maybe it’s for the short amount of time that I have left but it’s just now sinking in for me how amazing it is to be a missionary. Like I knew before but it’s like I’m just now feeling the grand importance of how much power we really do have as missionaries. It’s pretty crazy, just gonna say that one.

Like for example, this week I am soo convinced and know without a doubt that there is no such thing as coincidences in life. This happened about 4 weeks ago when Hna. Argueta and I ended up finding our now progressing investigator Ruben. So this one day we went contacting some references that we had over where he lives. Ruben wasn’t one of him, nor did we even know that he existed. Well we had already contacted the ppl and were deciding on where to go next when out of absolutely nowhere it starts to rain and we are stuck. Outside of Ruben’s house (even though we still don’t know who he is) is just a small over hang on his roof and so when the rain starts, we try to tuck ourselves under it to not get wet, but as the rain starts to fall harder, it’s pointless. As we were laughing and kinda screeching (like Hermanas do at times... haha) he opens his door and tells us to quickly come in (don’t worry, we had a member with us, we don’t randomly walk into a strangers house, haha). So the three of us walk in and tell him thanks and introduce ourselves. As I start to look around (he lives in a very humble "house", it’s just a small room and a bathroom and that’s it) the small room, I see plastered on his wall a tattered pass-along card of the church (the one of Jesus walking out of his tomb) but a little dirty and torn. So being surprised to see it I start asking him about it and he told us that years ago he found it on the ground and said that he thought something was special about the picture so he kept it and put it on his wall. So we explained to him our jobs as missionaries and he accepted a second return date for the next week. Sunday goes by and he doesn’t come to church but we get to the appointment and he’s there waiting for us. From that day, he accepted to be baptized and change his life around. So for 4 weeks he hasn’t smoked, drank alcohol, drugs, coffee, nor caffeine (he even stopped drinking coke which is super surprising bc even the members drink it here). It’s just been such a blessing to see literally a conversion in someone so fast. The scriptures talk about us having a conversion we have no more desire to do evil. That is exactly what happened to Ruben. His desire to do bad things just left him and he’s been a changed person since the first day we met him. The cool thing about it all is he decided he wants to be baptized Saturday. That way on his dad’s bday (his dad died about 3 yrs ago) he’s going to take his name to the temple and do the temple work for him.
So honestly someone could write off that our meeting Ruben was just a chance happening. But to tell the truth it wasn’t. The Lord literally sent us to his house and then sent the rain at the exact moment that we were there and the Lord knew that it was Rubens time to turn his life around and accept the gospel in his life. Hhe used us as his instruments to bless his life and even more, to bless mine.

I love this gospel with all my being. To be able to serve my Lord and Savior for such a short period of time has been more that a blessing to me. It’s changed my life completely. I’m on the path to be the person He needs me to be in order to bless those around me and in turn bless me as well. I’ve come to know the power of the Priesthood is sooo very real. God has in mind EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS CHILDREN ON EARTH. He never abandons them. We just sometimes are too blind busy about looking behind us or too busy about the road in front that we forget to see who is beside us the whole way. I love my Savior and for who He is and what he has done for just me and every single person on this planet. He is so very real. So real, I testify of that bc I’ve felt him so close to me during my time here. I wouldn’t trade my time here suffering, crying, laughing, walking, being sick, and many more things for anything this world could offer me. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. For that very reason, I endure and enjoy life :)

Hermana Perryman

The pic with the bags on my hands is bc we had to pic up trash that was just soo disgusting.... It had maggots growing and nats and bllleeehhh, just gross. and so those are my make shift gloves haha.

The pics with the 4 of us girls is Hna Siufanua, her comp, and my comp. They came to stay with us this week one night and we totally had a pajama party with some good ole Mexican pizza :) It was soo much fun.

The pics with the 4 of us girls is Hna Siufanua, her comp, and my comp. They came to stay with us this week one night and we totally had a pajama party with some good ole Mexican pizza :) It was soo much fun.

The pics with the 4 of us girls is Hna Siufanua, her comp, and my comp. They came to stay with us this week one night and we totally had a pajama party with some good ole Mexican pizza :) It was soo much fun.

The pics of my comp and I are from yesterday. We totally matched with our colors and we thought we were pretty cool cats, haha.

The pics of my comp and I are from yesterday. We totally matched with our colors and we thought we were pretty cool cats, haha.

The pics of my comp and I are from yesterday. We totally matched with our colors and we thought we were pretty cool cats, haha.

The pics of my comp and I are from yesterday. We totally matched with our colors and we thought we were pretty cool cats, haha.

The pics of my comp and I are from yesterday. We totally matched with our colors and we thought we were pretty cool cats, haha.

Today we had a Zone fun day and played at the church blg in Arboleda, my old area. We played ultimate frisbee and we had a water balloon fight. It was such a blast and a fun way to de-stress ourselves haha. The cool thing was I got to see Emilio again!! He's my first convert with Hna. Frost when we were in Arboleda so we had a fun time catching up and playing together.

Today we had a Zone fun day and played at the church blg in Arboleda, my old area. We played ultimate frisbee and we had a water balloon fight. It was such a blast and a fun way to de-stress ourselves haha. The cool thing was I got to see Emilio again!! He's my first convert with Hna. Frost when we were in Arboleda so we had a fun time catching up and playing together.

Today we had a Zone fun day and played at the church blg in Arboleda, my old area. We played ultimate frisbee and we had a water balloon fight. It was such a blast and a fun way to de-stress ourselves haha. The cool thing was I got to see Emilio again!! He's my first convert with Hna. Frost when we were in Arboleda so we had a fun time catching up and playing together.

Today we had a Zone fun day and played at the church blg in Arboleda, my old area. We played ultimate frisbee and we had a water balloon fight. It was such a blast and a fun way to de-stress ourselves haha. The cool thing was I got to see Emilio again!! He's my first convert with Hna. Frost when we were in Arboleda so we had a fun time catching up and playing together.

Week 66: Letter

Well guys. It’s official. I hit 15 months in the mission this past week.... ehhh... I feel like such an old lady!!!

Really, it doesn’t feel like time has passed that fast. So this means that I only have 3 months left here... what a sad thought... man am I going to miss this place and the pple and the food... hmmm... the food hahaha

But today was transfers which means I only officially have 2 full transfers left. It’s a weird thought I know. But to tell you the news of transfers: Hermana Spencer and I stayed the same and we are still in Itzaes. Which most likely means that I’m going to die here, or that means that I’m going to end my mission here. Which is cool with me bc I have my coolest convert here and there are some really good members who are willing to throw me a going away party, haha but yeah. If I end up dying here that means that I will have been in this area for 4 transfers, or 6 months which is a pretty good amount of time, which means that in all my mission, I will only have 3 areas. Crazy right??

Well, this morning we came to the offices to check for mail (bc the Zone Leaders never do, haha) and I got 2 letters! Still no package, but I’m sure it’s on its way. The letters were from Sam and from mom! Thanks guys, it means the world to me to get something from you guys!!! I still haven’t read them but I will later tonight. :) So yeah, we spent the morning in the offices with Hermana Argueta and other Sister Missionaries and I got to talk and spend some more time with Argueta b4 she went to the mission house where all the dead mishies go b4 they leave for their homes. So that was definitely a good time I had with her. She’s definitely nervous to go home... haha as I can imagine.

Then today we got together with Hna Frost and Hna Siufanua and their companions and we met up to spend some time together again and eat ice cream. It was just like old times and it made me miss being with Hermana Frost again in Arboleda. The thing that Hna Frost and I are going to do is every week this transfer we are asking President to put us together for our last transfer to die happily. We are dying to bc back together again. So for those prayers back home...there’s something special that y’all can ask for me to be with Frosty one more time haha!

This week with the numbers went really well. Our convert Raul is literally coming out with us EVERY SINGLE DAY. It’s the coolest thing ever bc we have some really good numbers with the member present lessons that we have to have. And Sunday we only had one investigator in the church and that was Ruben for the second time!! He’s loving it soo much. And he’s learning things suuppppeeerrr fast and is just progressing wonderfully. We took pics with him this week so I’ll send them to you.

So we have been getting a bunch of rain this whole week and supposedly we are to be getting more. I love it!! bc every afternoon like clockwork, at 4 pm it just starts to pour…. and pour…. and even though it gets kinda cold, it feels amazing to me to walk and work in the rain. But at the same time it sometimes makes me want to crawl into my hammack with some hot chocolate and some pan dulce [sweet bread] and just read the scriptures haha.

So yeah, that was pretty much my week. Nothing super-duper exciting, haha. But I’ll send y’all the pics in a sec. Thanks for everything y’all do for me and for the prayers I feel every day.

Hermana Perryman

Week 65: Letter

So this week was... definitely stressful, different, and exhausting haha. It was definitely different getting used to being with an American [companion] again and teaching with a new companion, but just to bring peace to your minds, I love Hna Spencer so much. She’s like the cutest, sweetest thing ever, haha. We have a lot of fun and she understands a lot of the same things like American jokes and references haha but we are doing just perfectly great!!! I’ll send pics of us afterwards.

So this week we had a huge increase in lesson numbers. We usually have like 40ish lessons every week but this week we got 51 lessons!!!!! I’ve never gotten that many lessons in in a week before. It was pretty legit. Plus at the beginning of the week my District Leader Elder Lopez told me that he would buy us ice cream from Dairy Queen (that’s like the nice expensive ice cream here haha) if we reached 50 lessons. So yeah, haha it’s amazing what we can do when we have motivation, hahahaha

We had an investigator come to church this week!!! He has is baptism date as the 26th of Sept. It’s his dad’s bday (and his dad passed away like 2 years ago) his name is Ruben and is pretty amazing. Next week I’ll tell you the story how we ended up meeting him. It’s pretty legit, haha. So things are going great with him and I’ll send pics of him next week

So as you guys know I went to the temple this morning. It was amazing :) Just the peace I was looking for. We did initiatories for like 2 hrs (from 5am-7) and then we entered into a session. Let me tell you it was definitely interesting and kinda funny bc the video that they showed us was DEFINITLY super old haha. I had never seen one of the older ones but I’m happy they have new ones hahahaha, but it was all still really good. I still have a hard times with saying some of the words in Spanish but I still love it bc it’s such a cool experience.

So yeah, things are going great. Just so you know I’m happy and healthy and doing just great :) and in one week, I will officially have just 3 mo. left!!!! Crazy right???!!! I’m pretty excited and sad that the same time haha. But I love you all soo much and thanks for everything you guys do and are for me!

Hermana Perryman

So the hammocks is bc we washed them today and we had to hang them in our room all funky and strung everywhere bc its going to rain and we couldn't leave them outside. it was pretty legit.

So the hammocks is bc we washed them today and we had to hang them in our room all funky and strung everywhere bc its going to rain and we couldn't leave them outside. it was pretty legit.

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So the hammocks is bc we washed them today and we had to hang them in our room all funky and strung everywhere bc its going to rain and we couldn't leave them outside. it was pretty legit.