Week of May 25 2015: Faith

Hey friends and love ones, 

Well, my beautiful trio has come to an end. Hermana Recinos has officially reached 18 months, and is going home on Tuesday. We've been really anxious to know if we have changes, but they called us last night and said that Hermana Kimball and I are staying in Santa Caty!!!! But then I checked my email today and I had a letter from our mission president titled 'A Sacred Calling..' which means I will be TRAINING a new missionary. I'm going to be a mom! Everyone in the room with me when I read my email cheered for me. We'll see how it goes. 

Last week, I wrote about Qaini, and his miraculous baptism we were going to have. He was doing really well until Thursday, when he was supposed to have his baptismal interview, and he didn't come, and he didn't come, and he didn't come. We waited at the church and called him until 9, when we had to go home. We were'nt really sure what happened, but we talked to him later that night and he said he was 'confused.' We were all pretty discouraged, but we were trying to keep the faith. He surprised us by coming to church on Sunday, and when we talked to him after that, he told us he was ready to be baptized this coming Saturday. We'll see what happens, but we have faith in him. 

On Friday, we had the opportunity to take our recent converts to the temple. We've been working with them all month to help them prepare their family history so they could take their own names to the temple, and it was a very, very special experience. Astrid, my favorite convert ever, was feeling the Spirit SO strongly that she was sobbing the entire time. We're very lucky that we have the temple so close to us, and that it's in our mission. There are a lot of statistics that show that converts fall away from the church between baptism and going to the temple, and that if they get to go to the temple soon after being baptized, they are more likely to stay firm in the church. We are lucky to have converts in this area who are truly converted, and I think generally that's why this ward is so great. The members truly are converted and have the desire to help others. 

I was reading Alma 32 this week, and found a scripture I like that describes the conversion process as I've seen it in the mission: 

38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

So if we only begin to build a testimony but stop nourishing it, we won't be able to hold on when the times become difficult. BUT in Alma 33, it says, 

 23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree,springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light,through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.

So keep that in mind this week. Never cease to nourish your faith. 

Love, 

Hermana Campbell

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Week of May 18 2015: Hermanas!

Week of May 11 2015: Guatemalan Rain

As the days and weeks go by, and I realize that my mission is going faster than I thought it would, the things that stick out in my mind vary from events of huge spiritual significance to moments of pure, childish happiness. Such as:

1) We got caught in the Guatemalan rain, which eventually came up to our ankles and left us soaking wet, and completely alone in the street. 

2) We found three investigators who accepted a baptismal date in the same day. 

3) Our comedor gave us burritos for lunch! (well, 'burritos.' they tried.)

4) Carolina got baptized, and after coming out of the water, proceeded to weep, while the bishop held her and told her she was okay. 

5) My companion found 50 quetzales on the ground, and bought us all the Guatemalan snacks we desired (Mamuts, Pinguinos, Tortrix, Taqueritos, etc.).

6) I got to skype with my family (despite the unnecessary amount of background noise). 

7) A family in my first area sent me a jar of peanut butter, because they know how much I love it.

8) In a lesson I was testifying of the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit testified to me very strongly that it's true. 

It's hard not to think about time, especially because one of my companions, Hermana Recinos, finishes her mission in two weeks. She keeps telling us how fast time goes, and that we have to take advantage of every moment. I definitely feel the time moving, and we run out of hours every day and we run out of days every week. I feel as if I just entered the field, and I'm coming up on the 8th month mark of my mission. All I can say is that there's nothing in the world like being a missionary--it's completely insane, and awkward, and weird (street contacting, bugging members to come out with you, calling people on Sunday morning to wake them up to come to church), but at the same time, it's the happiest I've ever been. 

Life isn't easy, and more than any other time in my life, I've been exposed to people's problems and hardships and things I never even imagined anyone would have to deal with. At the same time, I know that if we keep our vision placed singly on the glory of God, all the rest doesn't matter. Nothing can take away from the divine truths taught to us by the Spirit, and I hope every one of you can remember that and act accordingly. 

I read all of King Benjamin's address this week, and I want to leave you with this (kind of overused, but a goody all the same):

Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you maybe brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power,and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen. (Mosiah 5:15)

Love,
Sister Campbell

Week of 3.16.15: Sant Cat Pin

Everybody, everybody!

Remember Homestar Runner? I just remembered him, right now in this moment. But that's irrelevant (irrelephant).

Last week I didn't have time to write my weekly email, but for those of you who I didn't write, I got transferred from my first area, San Cristobal, to an area called Kaminal Juyu in a part of the capital called Utatlan. I was in a TRIO, with Hermana Pantoja, who's from Bolivia and will be going home in this next transfer, and Hermana Mansell, who is in her second transfer of training. They're both amazing, and I really admire them a lot--Hna Mansell got baptized only about a year and a half ago, and even though she's still learning about everything in the church, she teaches with a lot of love and power. Hna Pantoja just knows everything and is an incredible teacher. I learned a lot from both of them, but sadly, I am no longer with them! Because I got transferred to ANOTHER area! What!

On Thursday morning, the assistants called while I was getting out of the shower and said 'Hermana Campbell, you need to pack your stuff because you're leaving your area!' Apparently, two companionships that were in training had to get split up, because both of the trainees wanted to go home. So they sent the other trainer to my area, Kaminal Juyu, and sent me to my new area, Santa Catarina Pinula (on the sidewalks in front of the municiple building, it says 'Sant Cat Pin,' hence the title of the email). It's still inside the capital, but it's at the bottom of a huge, windy hill called El Barranco and it's basically like a little pueblo, but it's really close to the temple and the heart of Guatemala City. At first I was really grumpy, and confused about why they wanted to change me, but the last few days have been incredible. This area is really blessed--the ward is so loving, like SO LOVING (I've never felt so much love), and the people are bizarrely open and receptive. There are a lot of drunk guys who like to yell 'I go to the Mormon church!!! Canchita!!!' but I even love them too. 

My companion has also been another blessing--her name is Hermana Recinos, and she was one of the sister training leaders at the very beginning of my mission. She's incredible, and I've already learned a lot from her. Right now we're working with a family, Alejandra and Duglas, and their three kids. They were taught by the missionaries about two years ago, but they closed the area, and they never got baptized. So we're working with her to get her ready for baptism, and she already passed her interview, but she didn't come to church yesterday and we aren't sure what happened, because she's not in her house and she won't answer her phone. We're pretty worried, so if you would maybe keep them in your prayers, that would be great. We also had an insane lesson with Melissa, who's new, and she was so receptive and open, it was incredible. She's coming to church next week, and we feel that she's ready to be baptized. 

One of the converts here, Astrid, is my new best friend. She got baptized in October or something and now she brings breakfast to the missionaries every morning, and she LOVES going to teach with us. She came over this morning and helped us clean our house, and she's just the best. Something I've learned is that a BIG part of missionary work is taking care of converts. It's good to have baptisms and stuff, but it's also important to make sure that the people who have already made those covenants can continue being faithful to them. SO! If there are converts in your wards, be their friends. I'm sure they're great people! You'll love it!

My motivation this week is in 2 Nephi 2:6-8. I've been thinking and studying a lot about the Atonement, which is really the center of everything we do and believe and teach, and I like the way Lehi explains its importance here. 

I'm sorry this email was a million years long, and I hope you didn't get bored of reading it. Until next week, keep on keepin' on, and always ANIMO! (There's not really a word for that in English, sorry.)

Love, 

Hermana C

Week of February 16 2015: Five Months!

Hey everyone, 

It's Wednesday! And P-Day! Whaaaat! 

First of all, as the subject line states, yesterday I completed FIVE months of being on my mission! I'll probably say this every months, but it's weird how fast and also slow time has gone. But such is the nature of a mission, I'm told.

This week, we worked like normal on Monday, and today is our P-day, because we got to go to the TEMPLE! In our mission, we can only go once every six months, so it's a very big deal. We got up this morning at 4:30 so we could get here on time, because even though we aren't technically that far away, the traffic in Guatemala City is HORRIBLE. But luckily we arrived with enough time to go to the distribution center and eat some breakfast, and then we went to do the session in SPANISH, which was bizarre but cool. After we write (we're in the family history center of the temple right now), we're going to go eat lunch, and then we're going to the zoo. Such fun! Many missionary! Wow. 

One of the best things that happened in the past week is that 8 of our 11 converts came to church! Our retention is usually something like 3/11, but this week, almost EVERYONE came. We were so happy and it was so great to see them taking the sacrament and interacting with the other members of the ward. Converts really need a lot of love and support, which seems obvious, but if there are recent converts in your ward, BE THEIR FRIEND! (That's my first petition for this week.)

This last week, there was almost no change in our conditions--we're still looking for new investigators, knocking doors, and doing what we can to find people to teach. Only towards the end of this week did we start to see some of the fruits of our labors--we found a few investigators who (shockingly) don't attend any church, which is INCREDIBLY rare here. Almost everyone is either Evangelical or Catholic (and the Evangelicals are a lot meaner than Catholics). But we contacted one family who we're going to teach later this week, and we had a lesson with a woman named Melissa who told us she's waiting for God to guide her to the church where she feels happy and where her kids will grow up with a knowledge of the gospel. We were kind of like "well....here we are....." and it was just a testimony to me that God really does prepare people. 

Some people are not yet ready to listen to the gospel, but others are. It's hard to find them, but they are there. My invitation to you all (which we've also extended to the members of our ward here many times) is that you can make a list of all your neighbors, friends, and family members who aren't members of the church, and pray to know who among them is ready to listen to the gospel. Then talk to the missionaries in your ward or area and help them talk to the people that God indicates to you are ready! Seriously, the missionaries need your help. It doesn't matter where you are in the world--the support of the members of the ward or branch is invaluable, and the investigators who are the most willing to listen are almost always references from members. So that's my second petition for you all this week. I'm sorry to be such an annoying missionary, but we really all have to work together if we want missionary work to be successful. 

Okay, I'm done being annoying for now. Have a good week!

Love, 

HC

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Week of February 9 2015: Centipede!

Hey guys, 

Not a lot to report on this week. After our baptism-wedding-extravaganza last week, we kind of were left with nothing in terms of investigators, baptismal dates, etc. So this week we've just been contacting a lot, and trying to get into the closed colonies so that we can contact there (which sometimes works, and sometimes we get kicked out by the guards, but it's all in a day's work). One lady we contacted told us that she was busy and when we asked her if she had time later, she told us 'I'm going to busy for the rest of my life BYE,' so that was heartening. 

One kind of cool/weird thing that happened this week is that we found a guy who lives here who's from Florida, and we went and taught him in English, which was super bizarre. I realized that I have NO idea how to teach the gospel in English, and it was also hard because my companion doesn't speak English, so she didn't know what we were talking about and I was just rambling and rambling. But still! English! It was kind of cool. 

I also found a centipede in my house this week, which was terrifying, but I guess finding weird things in one's residence (mushrooms, deadly insects) is all part of the mission experience, and it's beautiful and horrible and BLAH.

So I hope everyone has had a better week than I did, and that this week that's coming will be better for all of us. Read Romans 8, which is my favorite chapter in the NT. Paul is s'great. (That rhymed, and it was unintentional, I'm sorry.)

Love, 

Sister Campbell

Week of January 19 2014: Mushroom

Hi guys!

As of this last Saturday, I officially have four months in the mission. It seems simultaneously like a lot and like very, very little. But I think that's generally the way time is on a mission--it feels like it's going super fast and SO SLOW at the same time. But such is the nature of life, I guess. 

Our main focus of this week was a family that the elders who were in the other part of our area before us found, the Perez-Gomez family. They're super special and we almost had to arrange an emergency wedding for them, because they want to get baptized, but they aren't married, and the dad, Candido, really doesn't want to get married (this is a trend for the men here. I cannot tell you why). BUT he had a kind of amazing change of heart this week and they told us that they wanted to get married this Saturday before their kids go back to school (here they start school in January, have a short vacation in June, and finish in October--it's kind of the opposite of the American school system). So we were calling all the LDS lawyers we know to see if they could help us, and if they could do it for free, and trying to get together clothes and flowers and food for this wedding, but then it turned out that they didn't have the documents they needed to get married, so they aren't going to get married until June when their kids come home. It was kind of a disappointment, but it was amazing just to see the changes that they've made in their lives and attitudes. I think that's one of the biggest privileges of missionary work--getting to see people change. It might not always been that they're going to get baptized, but even small changes mean they're coming closer to Christ.

Remember: Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls. (Alma 37:6-7). 

As for other news this week, we got new beds because apparently ours were super old. As they were taking apart my bed, the guy doing it goes "hay un hongo!!!" which means "there's a mushroom!!!!!" That's right, there was a BIG FAT MUSHROOM growing under my bed. There's always been a weird, mildewy smell in our apartment and I was always searching for the source, and I finally found it. So while you're sleeping in your beds tonight, be grateful that your lives are free of bed mushrooms (if anyone wants to use that as a band name, feel free). 

Tomorrow we have cambios, so my trainer will be leaving and I'll be getting a new compa! I'm a little terrified to be in charge of our area and all of our investigators, and I can't imagine my life without my companion (three months together is a LONG time), but whatever happens, it's revelation, so I can't really complain. 

I hope everyone has a good week, and that your bedrooms are free of fungi. 

Love, 

Hermana Campbell