Week 56: we went to QUETZALTEANGO

Hola from Malacatan, Guatemala!!

 

Last pday we went to a super cool water fall with our whole zone! Then later in the day while we were writing PRESIDENT called and said he was gonna come visit us in 2 hours!! We knew the house was SUPER messy so during our last minutes of pday we RAN home and cleaned the house in about 20 minutes. I have no clue how me mopped, swept, washed dished, made beds, cleaned closets that fast haha At one point I was frantically wiping the bathroom floor on my hands and knees sweating so bad thinking about president seeing our house SO messy hahaha In the end president didnt even come into our house!!! But president and his wife came to visit us to give some really bad news to my comp. She had a tragic accident in her family and President came here to break the news and help her through it. 

That night some hermanas in our zone called us SOBBING at 12 am and I was super nervous cause I thought someone broke into their house or something but when I asked them why they were sobbing she told be there were 50 COCKROACHES ON THEIR WALL hahahahh I was dying laughing!!! I know the hermana was so mad at me for laughing but literally she called her hermana leaders asking what she should do to kill 50 cockroaches hahaha I had no advice. Im pretty sure they didnt sleep that night lol.

 

SO the very next day we had to be in retalhuleu for mission leader council.

I got to see my old comp from mazate and she told me that my recent convert ALEJANDRA went to the temple this Saturday!!!!!! YAYAYYAY and that one of my investigators SOBBED when he found out I left ahahah he LITERALLY is a grown man hes like 50!!! so funny.   

On the way back the transportation was BRUTAL. We got dropped off in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE waiting for a van to take us to malacatan. We waited in complete darkness for about 15 minutes and so many sketch guys past by asking where we were going. But we got in the van and we LEGIT were sitting on the bar of metal that you use to step into a van cause there was NO ROOM and it was the LAST BUS!!!! At one point we were on this metal bar and my comp had to sit on my lap to make room for MORE PEOPLE on the metal bar hahahah SOO sketchy. 

Then president gave us special permission to go to the temple!!! The last time I had gone o the temple I was finishing my training (november 2018)!! It seriously was sooo beautiful. I got so many answers to my prayers being there and I know it helped my comp feel so much better. So long story short you have to pass through my 1st area (san marcos) to get back to malacatan from the temple and on our way back we got to the terminal in san marcos and there werent anymore buses until the next day to get to malacatan!!! SO with permission from president we stayed IN MY 1ST AREA FOR A NIGHT!!! It was soooo cool to see the streets I walked for 6 months! We didnt get to go visit cause it was super late but it was sooo nostalgic to see. When we were there with the hermanas I called my convert  AND SHE DIDNT REMEMBER ME HAHAHAHHAHAHAH Such an EPIC fail!!!  Shes pretty old so I dont feel to bad but its sad hahah

This week I was in a lesson and I asked a mom of 3 kids what her purpose in life is. She told me her purpose is to immigrate to the united states. She thinks she can find more happiness leaving her own country and her 3 kids. I stopped her right there and told her that she has everything being right where shes at. We cannot think nor expect to be more happy, or more successful by changing our situation. We need to find happiness and success right where we stand. God puts us in situations for a reason. I am the type of person that always thinks about the next thing in life: school, marriage, family. But when I think too much about that I am literally missing my mission right in front of my eyes. May we all learn to live in the moment, and find fulfillment where god has put us. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Salisbury  

Week 55: VISITS WITH THE GUATDOC

First week in my new area went really well!!! Im already getting the mental gps in my head haha Thats the hard part about being in a mission without smart phones, we have to memorize the area just by sight hahaah  

SO I got to take care of my comp for a  couple days!! She had a really bad infection that gave her a fever and she legit got up at 3 am one night to go to the bathroom and she passed out while walking there and HIT HER HEAD!!! Of course I was OUT so i didn't wake up until I heard her crying for help and oh my heck it was so scary but she only ended up with a headache the next day!! We got her all checked up with a GUATDOC and shes doing SO much better! 

When we went to the GUATDOC I was scared hahaha We were in the PUBLIC waiting room and the GUATDOC came out to give a shot to a patient. SHE GAVE HIM A SHOT IN THE BUTT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. Then she dramatically threw the needle on the ground and it slid all the way to the other side of the room hahaha omg I was so shocked and I was reminded AGAIN that im in Guatemala hahaha I sat there with my jaw dropped. #guatlife

So this week I had my first experience with black magic. I am surprised it took so long to happen because there is a tonnn of witches here. We were in a lesson and long story short this old man started acting super weird and my comp and I started feeling weird and all of a sudden the trash can moved from one side of the room to the other just BY IT SELF AND THE OLD MAN JUST LAUGHED!!! We left so quick and we are NEVER going back!!!! 

Then I had the biggest cultural shock when we had lunch with the richest family ever hahaha We walked in and it was literally a mansion like legit I walked in with my jaw dropped and I wouldn't even speak hahaha I felt so weird to be in a house like that. My comp leaned over and told me, "you act like you've lived in a cardboard house your whole life" hahaha literally best lunch appointment of my life.  

To end the week we were doing service with a little old lady haha We were peeling beans with her for a little but then we had to go, then she invited us to an atol (Usually a little cup of hot oatmeal) so we sat down and she comps out with a HUGE plate full of this atol de elote with a huge scoop of black beans in the middle. It didn't have ANY flavor hahaha it was the hardest thing I have ever force fed myself ahah And the lady was making perfect eye contact with me the whole time haha I know there was a point when I started tearing up!! I was praying the whole time that padre celestial would somehow make the plate disappear!! But I finished and threw up a couple of blocks up the street.

 

This week I have been thinking a lot about the importance of our bodys. It literally is the house of our spirit (a gift from god) We show our love for God as we take care of our bodys and we should NEVER let anything or anyone get in the way of the love and care of our bodys. As we understand the importance of the plan of God we will understand the importance of our mortal body. 

Con amor,

Hermana Salisbury 

Week 54: I'M ON THE BORDER OF MEXICO

Hey guys! We had transfers this week and Im in a place called Malacatan! Its right on the border of Mexico!! My new comp is Hermana Ruiz from Oaxaca Mexico!! We are the hermanas leaders here in the zone malacatan! Should be a super fun transfer! 

So this week before transfers I was in divisions with another missionary Hermana Watson from Camus Utah! We went down a street to contact a reference, and as we got down to the house A TURKEY came out of no where and started running at us!!!!! hahaha Then I got super annoyed that this dang turkey was preventing us from saving souls so I kicked it and that was A BAD IDEA cause he started jumping on me and my comp and throwing his wings in every direction in FULL defence mode hahaha I let the turkey win, and we didn't end up contacting the reference. 

So with my uti (which is finally going away yay) I have been using the bathroom every 5 seconds haha BUT its kinda the worst because I have to use bathrooms of strangers all day long cause we are always working in the street. I asked an old lady if I could use her bathroom and she said yes, when I walked in first of all the door was a curtain that only reached to my KNEE CAP but thats pretty normal so I didn't think much of it until ALL OF HER CHICKENS RAN UNDER THE CURTAIN hhahaha I was so bugged so I pulled out my pen and started pushing them out one by one. #gautlife

This week I started English classes with a really pilas investigator (he lived in Chicago for 37 years then he got deported rip) but I imagined that I would be teaching most of the class because English is my first language and what not butttt hahaha HE literally took over the whole class!! He didn't let the NATIVE SPEAKER get a word in!!! And sometimes he wouldn't teach something correctly so I went to let him know and he completely ignored it ahhaha Then the end the class he said that hermana Salisbury has about 60% Spanish, she can always improve!!!! I WAS SHOCKED hhahaha almost nobody insults my Spanish and it was so awkward that he did it in front of an English class ahahaha 

SO the day I had to pack all my stuff for transfers THE HOUSE FLOODED. Literally I could not believe my life. ALL OF MY CLOTHES were soakedddd and They all had to be in my suitcase!! So I put all my clothes on the roof to dry in the sun!! They all ended up drying so that was a huge blessing!

Then transfers were crazy cause you literally travel through Guatemala without a phone and you just hope you get to your destination without losing you luggage haha we had to wait for a long time for out comps, we basically waited in the desert. Super sketch but we ended up getting there! 

This week I was touched by something an investigator said in a prayer, he thanked heavenly father for sending 2 angels to change his life. Honestly the calling of a missionary is a divine calling. We literally are messengers of God. I know that everyone can be instruments in the hands of the lord as we follow His divine guidance. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Salisbury  

Week 53: UTI AND RAT IN THE HOUSE

Oh my goodness this week was so RANDOM ahaha 

SO a man SOMEHOW found where we live and was standing outside at 11 pm whispering "hermanas, im here..." HAHHAHA I WAS SO DONE! So we called a member super pilas that looks like maui from moana and he scared him away haha Literally its so sketch here cause the police dont answer and if they do answer they never show up!!! We were honestly pretty freaked out after that so we put ALL of the "furniture" that we have (plastic tables and chairs) in front of the doors and windows with knifes and MIRROR SHARDS hahhaa as protection haha #guatsecurity

THEN some guy knocked on our door one morning and asked if he could bathe in OUR SINK hahaha We were so confused hahahh we OBVIOUSLY told him no. Poor guy.  

I got to be in division with a girl from SAO PAULO BRAZIL (where my dad served his mission) it  was SOOO much fun for me! I forced her to speak in Portuguese to me all day long and I ended up understanding a bunch!

It has been kinda sketch here cause 12 young  immigrants from el Salvador came to Guat and they HAPPENED to get off the bus right here in san fran. (my area) Apparently they are armed and whatever but I heard they respect missionary's so we are all good. The gang members are homies with the missionary's here. All the missionary have made DEALS with the guat gangsters to protect the missionary's.

 

So this week we noticed that it smelt like STRAIGHT PEE in the house and we were pretty confused but we didn't think too much about it UNTIL we got home one night and looked at our food shelf AND A RAT MADE PERFECT EYE CONTACT WITH US AND THEN JUMPED DOWN SUPER FAST AND RAN UNDER THE FRIDGE ahahah WE WERE SHOCKED ahahahahh I was so untrained on how to kill a rat and my comp wouldn't even look at it soooo WE WERE HELPLESS ahahah I looked under the fridge with a flash light and I found HIS STASH of ALLLLL of our random little things. We called SOOO many members asking them to bring their cats over to spend the night to kill the rat but they all said no haha so basically we just lived with it for 2 days until a member got ahold of some poison to kill it and after he ate the poison we found him by the front door dead :( we honestly miss the rat now. #guatlife 

SO the good news is I got rid of my parasites!!! BAD NEWS is NOW I HAVE A URINARY TRACK INFECTION hahaha LITERALLY if its not one thing is the other. I went to get a test and they said its pretty minor but I need to fix it. yay!! So if anyone has tips on uti let me know! 

This week I have learned to trust in the Lord more than I ever have before. I have gone through, and am still going through, things that require me to trust in the plan god has. In life we have the option to try and fix problems all by ourselves, or let go and let God take care of them. Option 2 is not easy to pick, but the results are always better. I know God lives,  I know that every bad thing and good thing that we pass through is part of the plan. May we have the necessary faith to trust without doubting in Him.

Con amor, 

Hermana Salisbury 

Celebrating beingout for 1 YEAR!  Tradition is to burn a skirt!

Week 52: ONE YEAR IN GUATEMALA!!!

HEY! So I still have parasites hahaha Im actually SUCH mess right now cause I have such bad diarrhea and a HORRIBLE cough and if you put two and two together you'll understand why its A MESS!! hahaha SOOO messed up!!!!! Honestly it was just a week of trying not to poop my pants. #GUATLIFE

All the members have been trying to diagnosis me with all their weird remedies hahah One member told me that my right eye is bigger than the left and that means I have an intestinal infection hahahaha! I'M SO DONE!!!

SO basically a member that is STILL SINGLE thats like 28 is TRYING TO DROP HINTS that he wants to date me hhahah Someone asked him when hes gonna start dating around and he said at the end of this year or the beginning of 2020 AND THEN HE LOOKED AT ME AHHHHHHHHH Cause he knows thats when I get home from my mission EWWWW it grosses me out so bad hahaha I seriously don't even talk to the guy INFACT i avoid him at ALL costs hahaha #TRASFERME #GUATLIFE

but anyways on the 16th of July I hit one year being set apart!! On the 17th of July (today) I hit ONE YEAR of being away from my family!! And the 18th of July I will hit ONE YEAR IN GUAT!!! Honestly its unbelievable that I have already been here a year. I have been reflecting a lot on my time here and it genuinely brings me to tears to think how much I have grown in just one year. A year ago I left SO nervous to live in guat, learn Spanish, and be a full time missionary. I left with only a willing heart and a dream and now a year later I have completely changed my life. By helping others come unto Christ, I myself have come unto him. It has been a conversion so deep that it cant be undone. I come home SO soon. I am going to give it MY ALL these last couple of months. I am gonna give my all to the Lord. Love you guys so much!! 

Con amor y GOZO, 

Hermana Salisbury 

Week 51: MY BDAY, MORE PARASITES, & BAPTISM!!

Honestly SOO much happened this week hahaha!

We had a big zone conference and I was chosen (with my comp) to give a training on faith in front of all the missionarys! AH it was kinda a lot of pressure with the AP's and president there but it turned out good! 

Then I turned 2O IN GUAT!!! They take birthdays sooo serious here haha I got yelled at by some people cause I didn't tell them a ahead of time!! So cute! But I had such a fun day! I WORE MY TRAJE TIPICA IN THE STREET!! (the traje tipica is their traditional clothing) And everyone was shocked haha I had AT LEAST 3 grown men stop and take a picture of me in the street hahaha Then we had 3 birthday parties haha!

 In one of the 3 party's my comp decided to spray silly string ALL over me. AND IT GAVE ME SUCH A BAD ALLERGIC REACTION hahaha My skin just inflamed so quick and my comp was so worried haha She felt so bad! So I read the can to see what the heck was in it and it said in big letter DO NOT SPRAY ON SKIN hahaha But it was written in English SO ONLY I COULD UNDERSTAND IT hahah #GUATLIFE

It was interesting to have a birthday on the mission cause I found my self forget it about my birthday as I taught lessons and focus on the people! It was fun to serve the Lord on my bday! 

I got THE WORST present ever from a DRUNK GUY in the street!!!! SO I was saying bye to someone and I leaned in to give her a hug goodbye and THIS DRUNK GUY SMACKED MY BUTT AND RAN AWAY!!! I was sooooo confused and my comp was ready to kill this guy but I calmed her down and we moved on ahhah RIP #guatlife

THEN I took a poop test to see if I have parasites AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW!!! I have 2 kinds right now!! hahaha I have GIARDIA LAMBLIA and BLASTOSISTIS HOMINIS!!!!!!! I literally remember learning about these in microbio ahaha When I got my results the nurse just looked at me SOOO concerned and I knew before I even read the results It was BAD hahaah SO I got in contact with the doctor of central America about what meds I need to take and I started my treatment todayyy RIP ME!!! How did I catch MORE PARASITES!!! Literally the members are so crazy they believe that people get parasites from dirty feet??? They also believe that with LEMONS or COKE I can kill the them haha OMG I am so ready to stop being sick!!! So when we realized that my poop was CONTAGIOUS we BURNED the towels in the bathroom and any used toilet paper (they dont put toilet paper in the toilet to flush here they put it in the trash can) then WE BLEACHED THE BATHROOM 2 TIMES hahaha We burned all that stuff in the street which is 100% normal here hahah wow I have turned into a chapina lol #GUATLIFE

Then the CRAZY members told us a hurricane was COMING but it was a dang false alarm hahah 

AND to end the most insane week ever we had a BAPTISM!!! YAY Julito got baptized!!

It was super special for me cause he is the son of someone I reactivated last transfer with hermana calvo! Julito{s mom died about 3 months ago and he was so sad, as we taught him the plan of salvation he understood baptism as an important step to see his mom again. It was a special day and I know that familys are forever. I know that death is NOT the end. Death as no power of the power of Jesus Christ. As we strive to be more like Him we can prepare for our life after death to live heavenly father FOREVER!!! What joy it is to my heart to live the gospel. 

Con amor

Hermana Salisbury

Week 50: Hospital in a 3rd world country

Yep the hospitals here are SOOOO sketch. 

So as part of being sick (before I went to the hospital) I took cold medicine that was drowsy and I woke up Sunday morning SOOOO out of it hahaha I got up at 6:30 am but I seriously thought I was gonna fall over cause I was so tired haha when I walked into the closet (we have a pile of nasty clothes from past hermanas) I literally fell in the pile and could not move hahaha I then decided to take a shower to get the gross mildew smell off my clothes, while I was literally STANDING UP in the COLDEST SHOWER EVER I almost fell asleep!!!! I am not even sure how it was possible haha then we went to church and the members literally thought I was dying and told me to go home but I didn't want to!! So we went out on visits and as I was teaching I got confused about words in Spanish that are so easy ahha At that point my comp took me home and I slept the rest of the afternoon but it was legit so weird that the effects were so strong hahah

We had intercambios this week and I got to go to SAN BERNADINO!!! It was so funny to go there because in my home town in California there is a san bern right next door! Love the people there.

Being sick here is not fun! But basically I have had a horrible cough for almost 3 weeks and yesterday I came to a point where I almost passed out while visiting because I couldn't breath!!!! So we went to the sketchiest hospital ever, there was NO ORDER what so ever hahaha Everyone cutting in line and the doctors wearing jeans with a little white jacket giving checkups (SO many red flags). I was SO skeptical but I cant just fly back to the states and get a check up haha So the guatdoc gave basically told me its all in MY HEAD and when he talked to me he was doing so many hand signs like I didn't understand Spanish or something haha And he was directing all questions to my comp EVEN THO I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING hahaha So he ended up giving me some medicine to help me. I feel a ton better today! YAY Im sure I got sick from walking in rivers of dog poop-human poop everyday. hahahaha

Now the GUATDOC has me resting and taking meds every 8 hours. He also wants me washing my hair in the pila!!! Its basically a bucket shower! He wants me to do that so my body isnt getting fully wet with cold water. #GUATLIFE

So we received TIQUISATE as part of our mission!! YAY! Its super hot and super dangerous but we are super excited to get more areas!

This past week the connection to talk to my family wasn't working at all. I called my dad and the sound didn't work at all, for some reason it was completely muted. It was so frustrating because all I wanted to do was talk to my parents but the technology didn't allow it. To fix my problem we went to a payphone and called them for about 3 minutes and called it good. Even though I didn't get the time I wanted to talk to my earthly father, I know I always have my heavenly father 24-7. We are so so blessed to have prayer. He is always waiting for us to talk to Him. We show humility by praying to our father. I love the work. I love the father. I know I am serving him. 

Con amor, 

Hermana Salisbury