I pray everyone can experience the joy of the mission and the Spirit.

Here is the email from Morgan for this week. I have included more photos here.

" Weekly Pizza Hut run."

"Sis. Graham and I." 

(This is Danni Christensen's cousin if I got that right!)

 "A cute member gave us all a pair of shoes for free....so sweet of her. They are super comfortable!"

"The Zone."

"Zone service project with the old folks."

Hello!!

What is your transfer news for today, well for tomorrow?? Do you know if you are going to take Amy's place? It seems weird that she leaves next week if transfers are this week. Anyway, I'm curious.

I wont know anything about transfers until next monday!! So we will see. Transfers arent until next week. 

We had a strange thing happen this last week. On Wednesday, but I heard on Thursday or Friday, the Salt Lake mission presidents wife, whose hair I used to do by referral from the Evans, she just collapsed at the mission office and she passed on. It was crazy. They said, in the paper, it was just that...she collapsed. They haven't said why. But, I thought a lot about it because she would ask about you and how you were doing. As I would tell her things, she would give great advise about what to say to you, or things to tell you, or what I should be doing for you in certain situations. She would tell me suggestions of things you might need, etc. a lot of things. Anyway, it was sad for me. She loved being on a mission, so I know she died happy. It was stressful for her. She was in charge of a lot of sisters. She said she never reaqlized how many problems there could be --- and she raised 8 kids. More stomach aches, cramps, headaches, broken arms, just so many things. She worked hard just to keep up. I'm sure those girls-all this missionaries will miss her terribly...it will be similar to loosing a mom. She was their mission mom.

Oh my goodness that breaks my heart. I cant even imagine. That would be HORRIBLE. So sad. What a strange situation. Her poor husband. What do they do, call a new president? 

Anyway, I should have gone to the viewing or funeral, but I only knew her. Not one other person in her family or anything. With as many missionaries as they had, I decided not to go. I cut our stake missionaries hair at work instead. Tristan said Sis Hansen would have approved of me doing that instead. That was a nice thought actually.

Man, so sad.

Lindsey ( your cousin) and her hubby Mike are moving this weekend to Iowa, or Ohio. He is starting chiropractic school and she is going to do massage school. They are excited I think, Gma and Gpa are driving out with them and they will take the trailer for them. Steve and Kelly will go too. Say a prayer they will be safe with me. That's a lot of driving. Gpa and Gma want to somehow go to AOA for a visit. But, they don't know ANYONE, missionaries, there anymore. So it would be town folks they would visit.

That would be so fun though!!

Well, you're on. Tell us about your week. I'm so sorry about Laura having to be dropped. But you're right, you planted the seed. She will come back sometime soon. I love the story about Rene, and you teaching in English. Funny!!!

How was your Elder Anderson meeting. I bet it was awesome.

IT GOT CANCELLED! I was so sad. We dont know if it will be rescheduled, or what, but it got cancelled.

Tell me about why your whole body hurts. I'm assuming it's all the hard work and hours, but is there something more that you aren't taking care of. Still drinking tons of water? I'm so glad you got to nap last week. You should make time for that more. It would do you good. It already has you said.

No, it just has to do with the fact that i have been walking for the past 15 months...thats all. I just feel old. It is totally normal, all the missionaries pass for it. There is nothing i could do. haha

Are your shoes holding up? I can't find any more!!! I have looked!!

I am fine on shoes. I am still wearing the grey ones and ive got the black ones for when these ones are done.

Take care of Morgan. We all love you so much. Have a super great week. Look for a package from us, delivered by Michael and Jessi North when you go to the mission office. Hope they got it there. Other wise it will be when they leave next week, Monday I believe is when they leave to come back. It will be fun ... They are doing a great project.

I am sure i will get it next wednesday in transfers.

Love you!!

Mom

So Sunday was stake conference. IT WAS AWESOME.l I got to see all my converts and members and everyone from my very fist area in El Lago, and from Alemedas. IT WAS SO AWESOME! I am so blessed to have been in this stake so many times. What a blessing. I loved catching up. Im sure you dont remember but Kevin, was a guy we were teaching in El Lago and he got baptized the week after i left, well they invited me to thier sealing the 21 of march. The sad part is i dont think i will get to go because he really isnt my convert...cause he got baptized when i left, and so i dont think i will be allowed to go, but it would be cool. Also, Enrique from el lago is just waiting on his doctor appointments to send in his mission papers. Byron and his wife are also getting sealed in march but i only saw them from far away and didnt get to talk to them. JUST SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE. I LOVE MY GUATEMALA!!

So we have this area called plan grande, and that is where Heyson lives. Remember Heyson from Alamedas, well he lives there but he got baptized when i was in alamedas cause he goes to church with his cousin. Long story short we were in Plan Grande walking around when i found Heyson and his whole family...WHAT A HAPPY REUNION. I had seen him in churchj before but it was just different. I Love that kid. 

The other day i contacted this man in the street. Andres. He had a little girl in his hands and a cigarette in the other. So i contacted him and invited him to church and he told me he couldnt cause Sunday was his day to play soccer. So i started talking with him about how much i loved soccer...and i told him i had 2 tricks to help him play soccer better. 1....go to church. 2....quite smoking. In that moment he threw away his cigarette and he went with us in the park and sat down and we shared the message of the restauration with him. It was so cool. What a poweful lesson we had. 

So remember Jason...our cool investigator who is getting baptized this week...well he doesnt like his name jason so we use his other name Estuardo now...just FYI. Well anyways this past friday he was super sick...like way bad...we went to visit him with the counseler to our mission president who lives in our area, and he was going to give him a blessing. Well he didnt even want to recieve us cause he was so sick...well by miracle saturday he was better and president gonzales..the counselor had brought him to the adult session of stake conference. HE LOVED IT! THen sunday morning at 7 am he was in the priesthood session all alone, and was there for the general session as well. Then he stayed after for the young single adult session. HE WAS AT EVERY SINGLE SESSION. what a miracle. He loved it. He is so excited for his baptism this coming sunday. I am so exctied i will still be here for it. He is really great. The spirit has changed him, from the kid with his earring and iced tea, to a white shirt and tie and ready for his own baptism.

So i dont know if i have todl you about David and Wendy...i found them with Herman Yepez back in June when i came to this area on divisions...well i came back to the area and we found them again. They always have so many questions..mostly david, and wendy is ususally very quiet and i always felt like maybe she wasnt super interested...well the other day we went to visit them and only Wendy was home and she opened up to us. She told us she knew it was all true. She is sharing what she learns with everyone. She said what we have taught her is answering questions she didnt know she had and loved reading and learing from all the pamphlets we leave...she said she was waiting for us to come back to give her the next one...which was the book of mormon. THEY LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON. They just need to go to church now and i know they will as they keep reading the book of mormon. 

The Book of Mormon is MY FAVORITE BOOK!! It has changed my whole life. I have a new out look on the book. Just has i was in the wilderness with Enos as i read that book each day, that is how it should be with the whole book. I should be in the stories with the people...it has to go form our head to our heart...and that is how i read the Book of Mormon now. I am reading and re reading the stores until i feel i am really in the stories with them. I want to know the book. Know the characters. 

This week as we saw some disobedient missionaries face the consequences of their actions, i feel like i grew closer to my Savior and came to understand him just a little more. My heart HURTS for them. Even though i wasnt even part of what went on, just the love i have for them makes it hurt. And I cant even imagine how it must be for our Savior. Our Redeemer. He is my best friend. He is my everything. I can say that i am coming to know him. I wont say i KNOW HIM PERFECTLY, but i know him better. I am coming to know him each and every day and being more and more converted each and every day as well. I LOVE HIM.

I am so grateful. I cant explain the mission. I pray everyone can experience the joy of the mission and the Spirit. I can say i have never felt so full of the spirit. My heart is literally full. I feel like it is going to burst sometimes...i am grateful. As imperfect as i am, what a privelege it is to have the spirit as my constant companion. My goodness, what a blessing i have. I LOVE MY MISSION. Thanks for allowing me to experience this. I will forever be gratefulñ to my parents and my family and my father in heaven and savior jesus christ.

LOVE

Hermana Oliphant

"If you haven't been converted to the Book of Mormon, read it until you are!!"

Hello,
So we have sent you some contact solution. It will probably not get there for this coming transfer, MAYBE sooner than the next one after that though.. But, hopefully you will get it!! Michael and Jessi North are going to bring it to your mission office. They are flying into Guatemala City airport, so they said, if nothing else, they will drop it off there. I am so grateful to them. It is so exciting to me that they are coming there. They are going to build a technical school in Senahu. They are so excited. I have to say, I wish I was coming with them. Then for the last about 4-5 days of the trip, they are going to the "Waters of Mormon", Lake Atitlan. They are very excited to come. They have quite a rigorous schedule, but they are excited. They will be sleeping on a cement floor of the school that they are building. They will leave Senahu and go through Chimaltenengo (YOU) to Lake Atitlan. Listen to me - I talk like I know what I am saying--where things are. We looked on "maps" on the iPad and tried to figure out their route. We don't know--they have an itinerary, but they didn't bring it with them. 

Thats sooooo cool!! I am so excited for them. They are absolutely going to love it. I just know it. THE KIDS HERE ARE HEAVING!!! (Huh???)

Anyway, two big bottles of contact solution are on their way to you and there just might be some candy in there with it. =) It is more fun to do this than the mail. I am just so excited that they will deliver it for us. The mail just isn't personal. This is so much more personal! Okay, I'm done! I won't talk about them coming here, unless you ask about it --- if you need other stuff, please let me know before the 23rd. I think they leave the 25th or 26th. So you will have to tell me by your next email day after this one! Like the 20th I think it is.

I think that is all...maybe throw in some fun things i could give away to people if you want. but if not, its all good!!!

We went to Emmeline Zengers homecoming.She did a great job. She told a story of a gal they were working with and had to drop after 6 1/2 months. Now she can text her and they are still friends and keeping in touch. 

SO WEIRD EVERYONE IS HOME!

I guess there were a couple of other homecomings, but I bet Becca will give you the details. 

Oh, Morgan, I cannot think of anything to tell you. I'm so sorry. There isn't much going on here. Oh -- your dad spoke in the 6th ward today. It was his first speaking assignment with his high council assignment. He spoke with Anne Harden. He did a good job. However, he started by saying I'm glad to be here with you. But I cannot say I am happy to be with you. I told him that came across -- not like he meant it to. i said, you need to explain yourself and say you just aren't excited to be speaking. 

HAHAHA, OH DAD!

**So, I FORGOT! I got an email from your mission office. They want to know if we are coming to pick you up at the end of your mission. I said, first of all, I don't know when she is finished, and second, I haven't talked to her about it at all. I said we weren't planning on it, but that I would ask you. SO -- YOUR CALL. You decide if you want us to come or not. We are okay either way. We are okay with whatever YOU DECIDE!!!**

I dont think so. I would love you to come and see, but i really want to come back in about a year to see Laura and Antoni sealed. I also, dont know how comfortable i feel with you here...as a missionary its safe, but otherwise...i dont know.

I will email them back after we talk and let then know what you think. I have to say, I have always only imagined you coming home on your own, i have thought it would be fun to come get you and meet people and see places you work, but I don't feel like it is my choice. IT'S YOURS. (PS - They did tell us "her last day in this mission is April 29.)

Okay - tell us all about you. I cannot believe you are transferring again. I know you are needed and I know you are a special missionary, but it seems like more consistency with the people would help things out. No?? Like getting to know them and becoming their friend. I know you are friendly with everyone, but I think you know what I mean.

I think the same sometimes, but i grow to love the people so much the first time i meet them, time isnt needed, i would love to get to spend more time, but i dont think that will. I think i will go to Chimal and maybe end there...but we will see.

Speaking of friendly, is Chimaltenengo the place where that "35-year old, old guy" is from and trying to give you his phone number? Be careful of that if so - okay?!?!

No, that was Proyectos...which is where i am emailing from every week. It is the area of my district leader now.

I talked to Amy's mom, they are not going to pick her up. She told us when she is scheduled to speak...we are GOING FOR SURE! I will record it for you. Promise.

SO WEIRD!

Okay, love you! Can't wait to hear how things are going.
Love you so much!

So to start out, funny story, yesterday i found christian in the street..the cool kid who cant talk...so i talk to him and he talks back...then he realized who i was and he tried to like act like he couldnt talk again, and realized that wouldnt work so then he just tells me the truth...his name is Leonel, he doesnt work where he told me he worked, or live where he told me he lived...hahahah i was laughing so hard. What alittle liar. I just dont know how he stayed so serious the whole time he was taking to me with his made up sign language!!

Shout out to JENNY KLEKAS. Today we watched Meet the Mormons as a zone and all the sudden Jenny was on the screen. it was a surprise. so cool!! What a cool movie!!

Also, just to answer your questions, tomorrow we are going to Antigua, thats why we are writing today.

This was an incredible week. We were struggling hard core, but we knew all week that because of the trials we were going to see miracles this week. Well they came on sunday at church. Well to start off we had an incredible lesson with Laura and Antoni. I was on divisions so i had cute Hermana Kap with me. So we were visiting Laura and Antoni and finally i got bold and i just asked her when she was going to be baptized. She said, honestly i havent prayed yet. She was afraid to pray...because i think she knew the answer...So i said, we are going to kneel down right now and pray...so we did. the baby was crying and i didnt even care. I just knew that she was going to receive her answer in that moment. So she prayed. SUCH A SINCERE PRAYER. As we finished, with the room fullll of the spirit i looked up and Antoni was crying like a little baby. Laura had tears running down her face...Hermana Kap was crying, and i couldnt get the smile off my face. I asked her what she felt and she said she felt happy and peaceful. Then I asked Antoni. He said, Everytime you come here, the spirit touches my heart. Everytime you asked her if shew ill be baptized i feel like you are asking me and my heart feels different. He said, I know i have been inactive for a long time but that is changing. All i want is to go to the temple with my wife and with my sophie. OH WHAT A SPECIAL MOMENT. It was incredible. Well there they were sunday. Laura in her skirt with her beautiful 4 month old baby and Antoni in his suit ready to say the closing prayer. We had talked with the bishop to get that assigned...he was so so excited. What a great experience. My face still hurts from smiling.

Cute Karen S., our 9 year old investigator who is the daughter of inactive parents showed up to church with her dad and her little brother. Her dad hasnt been to church in like 6 years, but he really wants to get back and Karen is working towards getting baptized the 25th. They couldnt stop smiling the whole time. Then they tell us that their mom that day had gone into the hospital. Karens mom...she was having a lot of problems and went to the hospiutal alone. The Dad Julio said he didnt go withher cause he knew he needed to be in church with his kids. SO COOL. We know the mom will be blessed for their obedience.

So we are sitting there and happy with our two miracles...a little sad that Jason hadnt showed up because he had promised he would be ther. jason is the 19 year old friend of some members....well all the sudden when i see out the window Jason walking in with the friends. I had to hold in my scream. I was so excited. It was soo awesome. He LOVED IT! He has told the whole ward he is getting baptized on the 25th, which is stake confernce, but he will be there ready to be baptized. He is great!

So there i was sitting in church happier than i could hold in when in walks Daniel L. A totally inactive kid. Ricardos brother...remember ricardo that i told you about, well in walks his brother who has been inactive for a long time,...he had bbeen preparing to go on a mission when he started to smoke and drink, and was reallllly falling...he walked in and the whole wards jaw droppped...but mine i couldnt lift up. It was incrdible. He was a pure miracle. He didnt want anything to do with us...he always had excuses...i had visited him a couple times, but i kind of felt hopeless with him...well he came. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!

Ademas, I was able to see my cute convert Heyson, and ANGEL! Do you remember MARISOL AND ANGEL. WELL I SAW ANGEL. Marisol is really sick in bed about to have a baby, so i ahvent seen her yet, but it was incredible. I love being here close to my old ward.

The mission is the best. There arent words to explain it. You just have to experience it. I promsie you it is the best thing anyone can ever do. I hope everyone can have the experience. I have learned more in these months than i could have ever hoped for. Things that i dont think i would have learned otherwise. I cant imagine my life without the mission. What a privelege it is to be here. The Lord is allowing me to work in his vineyard and i need to give it my all. I know that he is preparing the people to receive me but i know that he is also preparing me to find the people. So that when they are put in my path i can be an instrument in his hands. That is all i want. I just want to do his will and nothing more.

I love you all so much. I just started the Book of Mormon again and i cant wait to learn. I am marking all the things that help me to really KNOW my Savior. It is incredible. There are little things that help me know him and recognize his love he has for us. It is the best. I love the Book of Mormon. I can say it is my favorite book in the whole world. If you havent been converted tot he Book of Mormon, read it until you are!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!
Hermana Oliphant

"I am being converted each day and i pray that my offering will be accepted."

The Christmas [tree] (That is the tree we sent to her.)

The Christmas [reminder]. (We sent this to her also.)

Divisions with Hermana Newman (her MTC companion)

New years eve lunch we made. the other sisters were on divisions.

Egg in a hole...aka [Dad's] cowboy eggs without beans. happy new years.

Hello,

You never answered me and told me if you eye is better?!?!? I thought your picture looked like it was still red, but with contacts in. I hope it is better!! Do you still have contact solution left?

My eye is better. I just wore glasses for like a week. I took my glasses off in the pictures...but i had glasses for a while. I think i need you to send me more solution. I have 1 bottle left but just to be safe i think i need more. 1 or 2.

Thanks for the newsletter update. Next one YOU have to do is your last one. They are the best. I love it when the missionary writes the update, but the last one is the best one.

STOP. Too weird.

We took our tree down. I would love to see a picture of your "tree". If you got to use it, it would be fun to see. If not, or if it is already gone, that is okay too. And your wall hangings..

I did take pictures. I will send!!

So, do you think you will transfer again? I think you're half way through this transfer already. I feel like you have been transferring every time lately.

I am being transferred. President already told. I am going back to chimaltenango. Because right now Hermana Funk and Hermana Arguelles are there and they both leave this change, so i am going back because i know the area. SURPRISE. But i am excited. I love my chimal!!

I was thinking about the lady that cooks for you. I can't think of anything to say to her. Only tears might help now. If you shed a little tear and tell her you don't want her to feel bad, but that you are not feeling "healthy" with all the food you are eating. I don't know. Or ask the bishop of ward mission leader to talk to her??? Sorry. Not a lot of help!

We arent eating there as much. Maybe a couple times a week. And i feel better. WE even told her we didnt want to get fat so we could get married and she said we would just need to marry someone from the DR because they like fat women...hahahah 

Speaking of the DR...spencer tell Aubrie Colton that i know her companion Sister Navas....She is here in my stake and i met her the other day. She said to tell Aubrie hi and that she loves her!! kind of cool!

What did you do for New Year's Eve? Anything. We flopped. Ash went to Brinley's overnight, Spencer went to John's and they spent the night making a video tape dominoes course. It was funny. They were proud. They made a video and put it on facebook. It has 1,608 "views" on it right now. That's how many people have watched it.

New Years was normal. We didnt do anything special. hahaha Thats pretty funnny. Sounds like a great year...hahaha

Dad, Jer and I went to Gmas and Jer was so tired he left with Julie and Blake about 1120. Julie had to work at 5 and Jer was tired. He goes to bed at 830 usually. He was tired. So we came home after we cleaned up around 1140. It was sooooo sad. Shelley, Cary and Taryn, Julie, Blake and Seth (who left after about 15 mins) is all that even came. Oh well. Times change I guess.

Sad.

Spencer and company just went to St. George and Vegas for the weekend. He got home late last night. 

Thats good. Sounds fun!!! Who is company these days? It seems to change a lot.

Saturday night Dad and I went to see the production of Savior of the World. It is the play at the conference center little theater. It was awesome. Lisa Ellis and Steve, Matthew, Mark and Grace Schwartz were in it. It was nice to go to it. We sat with Carl Ellis, he got us the tickets. It was so nice.

JEALOUS.

Back to school and work this week. Vacation is over. Back to crazy hours. But we will survive.

Justin Skinner came home. And Ashley told me about another gal, I can't remember who it was. I tried to find it on Facebook---no luck. Sorry. I will ask Ashley again who it was. Ohhhhh! She just text me back. It is Emmeline Zenger. She is home from her mission. Isn't that so weird. I am blown away by all the friends coming home.

Everyone is home. I will be almost last i think!

Okay - you're on. What is up? How was your week? Have you had a good week? Tell us all about you, you're people and everything we need to know. I want to hear!!

Love you so much. TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!

Love, Mom

This was a great week. I love my mission.

This week we moved houses. Just in front...we were renting the apartment of a memeber and she moved so we moved into her house. Its way better. Its bigger and only one story, so we love it. We moved yesterday during p day. LOVIN IT.

So i am sending you a letter soon with something calling Purification. It is incredible. IT will change your lives if you allow it to. I translated it for you guys so i hope it makes sense...sometimes my english is awful...and i cant spell anymore, but i hope you get it soon and can read it and do it. 

This week we saw mriacles after miracle.

First off, Freddy J. Saturday everything fell through. EVERYTHING and we were just searching for people...I had prayed and promised my Heavenly Father i would talk with whoever he put in my path so we could find who he wanted us to...we were in a colony and decided to leave and go to a different one. So we started to leave bvut for some reason started to walk around the soccer field rather than through it like we usually do to leave...as we turned the corner i saw this guys walking with his ipod in his ears so i ran up to talkt o him. We got talking and he told us he has friends in his work who are members and they had given him a Book of Mormon and that he had heard a bit about the church. I told him we were going to share a message with him there on the soccer field. So we did. He is aesome. I have never seen anyone so excited about knowing the truth. he said, I WANT YOU TO CONVINCE ME THAT THIS IS ALL TRUE. So we talked with hijm a lot...he is one fo those logical guys..like everything is logic...so we talked about faith. He is awesome.

The same thing happened yesterday...we arent sure what will happen with Christian P., but we were waiting for a bus and he walked up. So i decided to go talk to him...as i finish contacting him and ask for his direction he just looks at me and throws his hands in the air and starts doing sign language...he cant talk. he understands everything, he can hear, but he cant talk. We were waiting there for teh bus for about 15 minutes talking ot him and laughing and getting to know him. he is very special. We just gotta get him to quite working sundays,.

It incredible. We really dont do anything.l....people are just prepared and placed in our path. All we have to do is open our mouths. I am just impressed.

As we finished reading Enos this month i am a changed person. President Markham asked us during Leardership Counsel how many days we were in te wilderness with Enos. I thought about it a lot...and i can honestly say i was in the wilderness wtih Enos for a good while. I suffered. I repented a lot. I am changed. My whole desires and life is different. I can honestly say that God changes our hearts as we allwo him to. Heleman 3:35 explains it perfectl. I am striving to be sanctified, as we all are, but i can honestly say that it is a process and i am thankful for a Savior who makes it possible. I am starting a purification 40 day fast. I cant wait. I will send it in a letter, and i invite you all to join and do your own. The point is to start with a prayer and a fast....make a list of all the things that take away the spirit and then do a covenant with God and for 40 days do everything to avoid those actions...it is the refiners fire. It is real. I can say that my only desires are to do the will of God. I will do whatever it takes. I feel like the King in Alma 22...what a blessing. I cant wait for each new second that i have to be a different me and to strive to be more christlike. I love my savior with all my heart and i am grateful i am able to reprent him at this point in my life and i want to do it worthily. I know that is is just the little things that we do each day that distract is. and that drive away the spirit. 

I wish i could express to you the love i have for my savior. For the people in guatemala. For you all. I couldnt find the way to explain it, but know that i LOVE you and i LOVE my mission. I LOVE my savior. I am being converted each day and i pray that my offering will be accepted.

Hermana Oliphant

"EVERYTHING had to fall [through] so we could listen to the spirit more..."

Letter from December 30, 2014

Midnight on christmas eve....

 

Flashback to Chimal con mi Bevis

WILSONS BAPTISM!

 

WHITE CHRISTMAS

Wow, our last email for 2014. I cannot believe it. It will be weird to say 2015.

I know, its soo weird to me!!

Becca's homecoming was great. She really did a great job. It was fun to hear her stories. She shared some of her experiences. I like that...I like hearing what happens to missionaries when they are missionaries.

I love becs. she writes me now...and sends fun pics! 

Also Alicia Henry is home and spoke with Abby Tingey? Both in 7th ward. You may not know Abby. I guess she moved in a week or so before she left. Ali Wagner also spoke in St. George. She is home and safe.

I didn't get to chat with your friends. I have to run off to primary so I can't ever stay and talk. I waved and said hello. But that was about it. Becca said its fun to talk to Emily with her just being home recently too. Oh, and i saw Abby VanTiendren there. I was so surprised. I didn't know she was home. She said she didn't tell many people. She looked good. She said she loved her mission.

Abby left the day i was going to leave in may so she got back a while ago...but i cant tell you how unexcited i am to be back....i loveee my family and want to give you all big hugs...but it makes me sick...SICK thinking about being home!!

Anyway, at the church cleaning today I took a picture of the remaining missionary plaques that have

been moved to the new building. I don't even know who is next to you. i didn't look. I think Spencer Ellis is - no, Jarom Chamberlain. Then Spencer, then Alexa, Spencer Evans, Henry Christensen, Tyler Bodily, and Paul Schwartz. That is not in picture order, I can see by looking closer, but that is the order they come home in. Next time I'll try for a picture in focus!!!

So weird...im the old one.... 

Honestly, I can't think of anything else to tell you. We want to hear how you are doing. I feel like I haven't got to really hear what you are doing each day - or like who you are working with. Is that because you have changed how it works...with you going with someone new every day, there probably isn't much continuity. Maybe.

Ya, its kind of weird, but today i will fill ya in. I think i have more time!

Julie got to talk/Skype with Alex with her family for about two hours. I was jealous. Julie loved doing that. He was on much later in the day, we wouldn't have ever got you together even if it was okay. When you said just family, I took it to mean just our little family. Maybe you meant cousins could be here.

Okay, you're on, tell us everything!

Love you!
Mom

If I can in the morning, I will add some photos of christmas. I haven't down loaded them yet, and it is past midnight. I am working in the morning. Dad is taking Spencer to work at 530 because the starter motor is being changed in his car. It is taking long because it is soooo cold and Mike is doing it at his house. I feel bad about the cold. Gpa said Mike is looking for things to do though. It is sooo windy right now, we may end up in Kansas with Dorothy and Toto. I do not enjoy wind like this.

Did you get the rest of your gifts in your package. From Helen, especially, she asks every week. I was supposed to ask you something else, and i cannot remember what it was or who brought it up even. I do that a lot.

YES! THANKS! We ate them all already!!

Richard Parkin told us to tell you hello from their family when we Skyped, but I forgot. Now you know.

Ward updates are due today (Wednesday), want to say anything to the ward??

(For the ward newsletter:) 

Even here in Guatemala, far away from my VAlley View Family, we had a White Christmas. We saw our little friend Wilson baptized on christmas day. It was incredbile. A very special day that we will never forget. What an amazing way to celebrate, right?!

I cannot express my love enough for my Savior. The atonement is real. I have been thinking a lot lately about the enabeling power of the Atonement. I still cant say i understand it completely, but it is all thanks to him, that we can do what we do each day. That we can smile. That we can walk. That we can laugh. That we can cry. I am so in debt.

I am grateful for this time of year to think about the past and look forward to a great future. As we make goals this year...i have been thinking more along the lines of covenants. So as i have made covenants this past year, i will continue them, but i have a testimony of covenants, and i am excited to make my Covenants of 2015. I know that covenants are key in this life.

As we are finishing reading Enos every day for the past month, i am grateful for pray. I am grateful for covenants. I am grateful for forgiveness. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who is full of mercy. I am grateful for the examples of beloved Scripture Heros. I am grateful for the spirit. I love the book of mormon with all of my heart and i can honestly say that i have been converted to the scriptures. They are an anchor for me. They are so necessary in my every day life.

I learned something incredible from the spirit this past week in 3 Nefi 11. As Christ invites the people to touch the marks in his hands and his feet to know with a surety that he is the christ...it is an invitation of invitations for us. As we go through things in life, as we struggle, as we overcome trials, as we repent, we are touching the marks in Christs hands and feet and our testimony of Him grows. We, as the Nephites, must do it ONE BY ONE...we cant experience it for anyone else...but the great thing is that Christ blesses the little chiledren one by one...and that is why we must humble ourselves and be as little children..so Christ can bless us and we can know of a surety.

I love my savior. I love my mission. I love you each. Keep shining, and keep sharing.
HERMANA OLIPHANT

Love you, again!
Mom

I love you and it was sooo fun to get to talk to you. 

I want to share a great experience that happened yesterday. We had this awesome family night planned with Laura and Anthony...she is an investigator and he is an inactive...we were going to the bishops house...welll it all fell through...then we went to visit Ricardo..the miracle we found when the spirit led us to the house of the inactive family...and the family got mad at us Ricards brother came out and told us they didnt have time...we felt awful...i felt like we should go visit Wilson...so we did. We got there and they had a friend there..Jason..he is 19 and had listened to the missionarys before and went tto church 2 weeks ago, but we didnt know it. Anyways...he is super cool and i know he will be baptized. We had to learn a little bit about not being so stuck in the plans we want to follow, and listening more to the spirit...EVERYTHING had to fall so we could listen to the spirit more and go visit him...because it was what HE WANTED. I have learned so much...ALL i want to do is the LORDs will. I dont even want to have my own will...i want to learn to follow the spirit so well, that all i do is the lords will....i hope i can grow to do that in my life.

Today i get to go on divisions with HERMANA NEWMAN! My MTC companion. I am so excited! love her so much!! 

So, i really am getting fat here....the Lady that gives us food is killing us...so dont judge me when you see me....its annoying.,..but we try to talk to her and she gets mad and gives us more food...so we are trying to see what we do. hahahaha

Well hope you have a great new years and that you make your new years covenants. There is power in the covenants and God will always complete his end. LOVE YOU ALL!!!

HErmana Oliphant
I WILL SEND PICS!

That is my goal....the ultimate goal.

Letter from December 23, 2014

Hello, "Oh what fun it is to..." see Becca come home. It was fun to go take her letter from you to her. Ashley babysat for a Rachel so the whole the family went up to the stake center for her release. So we went a bit early and said hello, hugged her, and gave her your letter. She looked good. She was happy. Today at church, your dumb mom, had to hug her again, and cried again!!! B-A-B-Y! I told her it feels like she was gone forever, and now that she's standing there, it's like she never left. She agreed. She said she is ready to sign up for another 18 months cuz it is so weird to be home. If they would let her, she would do it. She said she tried to write you a short email, but it didn't end up very short.

I cant believe she is home. It is too werid, but I did get the email and a few pictures!! I love her too much! SHE LOOKS GREAT!

Hailey Parkin is home and Ali Wagner will be on Monday or Tuesday. Her parents went to get her. They just had another tsunami in the Philippines. I bet it will be a service week for them. 

So fun!

I forgot to tell you, last week we went to find Jeremy a tie for winter formal and ended up at The Tie Shop and Josh was there working. That was fun. I gave him a hug and said hello. He asked how you are doing. I told him great, and I hope one day you will want to come home, or at least agree to it. I said right now, you really would rather not. That is good...for now.

Josh is awesome. He and Emily Jensen, who I think you don't even know, have been the only people who have written me my whole mission. They are awesome!! I am happy I am still out serving!!

Jeremy went with Sammie for winter formal. They had a good time. I will try to add pics in the a.m. I took a couple when she showed up to get him. While they did flowers. That was fun, too. They did breakfast and then after went to play laser tag. 

SO CUTE!! Such a handsome guy!

Tonight we got together with the family for Christmas dinner. Chris and Merrie and family didn't come, Lily has a fever. Shelley was also sick. It was a pasta bar and dessert. Gifts for the great grand kids, and our gift for Gma and Gpa. Julie had this awesome idea to give them money and a map of Utah. The money is meant for their quest to go to all the Utah temples. They have done lots of them already. Julie found a temple passport. It just gives details and history of each temple. They were excited I think. It was a fun idea. Better than just giving a gift to give something. The great grand kids did a little nativity act-out. It was awesome. Grayden was baby a Jesus and he LOVED laying there (in a storage bin with a blanket in it.). He was so cute. Then they all wanted a turn to lay in the manger. Pretty cute. I have pics of that too. 

Thats the Christmas gift I want!!! I LOVE IT!! 

Speaking of which, did you get your paper gifts/decorations out of your box?? Is the box in tact? I'm hoping it was all there. 

Got it all! THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGES! AND GRANDMA AND GRANDPA! It is all great...I haven't opened all of the things from you mom, but Christmas day I will. LOVE YOU!! 

Primary was crazy. We sent the RS ladies to RS and taught sharing time all combined (we still had the men teachers). It was craziness. Last time for that; we don't have enough class rooms to do that in the new chapel. They can't all go to class at the same time now, well, staring Jan 4 (at 1pm I might add)!! Anyway, it's over and done. Whew!! 

Spencer is still working EVERY DAY. He was disappointed he had to work again today. It is crazy. I wish they would let them choose either a Saturday or Sunday. But nope, always Sunday.

Thats too bad.... 

Greg Watts homecoming was today with lots of great music for Christmas. He did a great job. 

The mission is the bombbbbb....just fyi! 

Okay, I'm done I believe. We Skype at 1040 your time, 940 our time, right?

YES 1040....I will call you up...so just be waiting. I'm not going to write a ton today because I can just tell you on Thursday!! 

Your weather is to die for. Wow, 73 Sunday, according to the weather app. Awesome. I bet your loving that part of this area especially well.

I love this area. We see miracles every day. A quick miracles...I had come to work in this area in divisions a while back and we visited a less active family. As we were walking to find a lesson, we passed the house and the Spirit told me we should go there and reminded me that was where I had been before. Well we knocked and out came Ricardo...he is family of the less active family..he had been living in the states and just came back to Guate...he told us he would listen...well with more time he has told us he came here looking for something to fill the hole he has felt his whole life. He has had everything, money, a job...but feels empty...he is too awesome!! I am grateful for the Spirit and I am learning a little bit more about how to follow it!! 

Tell us how things are going. I'm going to start including Becca in this forward. She asked me to today. Anytime you want to write to the ward, PLEASE feel free. That would be great. For the April edition, you HAVE to do one..k?? (So end of March!)

I am confused at your companion. You said Hermana Villacis "again", is she your companion or is it just all 4 together? And, I hate to say it, but I don't remember that name. What can you remind me about her? Where is she from? I will read back and see if I can place her. 

She was my companion in San Martin right after my training...and yes we are all 4 together! I work with someone new each day! It is awesome! She is from Ecuador...I love it!! 

Okay. I have to stop -- you won't have time to respond if I keep going. 

We love you. Can't wait to talk on Thursday. We are excited. Spencer gets the day off! Isn't that nice.

That is nice. I am suprised actually! But it will be fun to talk!!

Do you get to play the piano there? Sis. Peterson always asks me that.

Here i dont get to play...they have an automatic piano and a girl with a calling to start the hymns...so i don't butt in...hahaha tell them all thank you and give them hugs!! 

LOVE YOU!!

Love you so much!! 

I was reading a talk from conference by Lynn G Robbins...Which Way Do You Face? I LOVE IT!!! It is incredible - read it again!! I hope that just like when the people saw Christ they saw the father...that when people see me they can see Christ. That is my goal....the ultimate goal.

I absolutely love my area with all my heart and my new companions.

Letter from December 16, 2014

The bishops kids in chimal...so cuteª

My little buddy and my cute abuelita with my Jocelyn in the back..who hates picturesª

Hello,

WHERE ARE YOU AND WHO ARE YOU WITH!?!?!?! First and most importantly. I have to know! I'm nosey that way! =)

I am back in Amatitlan. In La Sonora. I am in a companionship of 4. With Hermana Villacis again, Hermana Angel, and Hermana Weatherford. It would take a lot of time to explain how it all works, but we do divisions with all the girls in the coast, and the capital. We have 32 girls now in total, and we are opening the area. IT IS INCREDIBLE. We see miracles every day. We are so excited. I feel so blessed and so excitedªª I knew the are a bit, cause i came here on divisons a few times when my area was proyectos...speaking of proyectos...i am in proyectos right now writing you...SO AWESOMEª I am so blessed. K the exclamation mark isnt working...that little ª is the exclamation markª

Your dad and I got to go with Gma and Gpa to the conference center for a special Mormon Tab. Choir performance with the muppets. It is pretty cute. My favorite was the Count with the organist doing the 12 days of Christmas. You would have loved it. They recorded it - it will be on PBS some day.

SO JEALOUS.

Yesterday I went to my cousins sons homecoming, then Hannah Romney in our ward, then Emily Nydegger, Then the chapel dedication was last night for the new building. We went to that. 

I am sad we cannot email chat, but I understand. The time change will make that easier to do. Since you are on earlier and I am working it was making me sad. Now I just know it was supposed to be that way.

Ya, sorry, but video chatting soonªª

What about our Christmas call. Do you have a time, and details. Is it Skyping?

I sent you and email about that.Christmas day at 1040...and i just need your skype account to be able to call you.

When is your Christmas party that you get your packages? One from us, two from Gma and Gpa. 

Tomorrow is our christmsa partyªªª

Remember, my box has stuff in it and you need to open it now. The stuff that is for Christmas is all wrapped up. Open the box and use the decorations I made for you. I hope you like them all! It was lots of work, but very worth it if you can use it!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCHªªª SERIOUSLYª SO amazingªª

We love you so much! Take care of you! I want to know everything about where you are and who with and what doing!

YOU'RE UP! WE WANT TO KNOW IT ALL!

WAIT - BECCA is home tomorrow. Tuesday. Ash and I get to go babysit Rachels kids during her release time. I am very excited to see her. I know I will be a wreck, but excited anyway.

TODAYªªª WHATª Give her the biggest hug for meª

Greg W. is home on Wednesday. They are so excited too. Brad is getting married right after Christmas. That is great too.

Cara, I can't send pics, you will be here for that wedding in May. 

I am so happy for herªª

K - I'm done. No more rambling.
LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Mom

I don't have a ton of time and also, the computer takes forever to send pictures....I will do my best, but tis so slowªª But the good thing is we get to talk next week and I can explain it all. 

I love my mission so much. I absolutely love my area with all my heart and my new companions. Each day I get to work with a new one and we just see miracles. Sunday we are having a baptism of a little 9 year old boy. We just feel so blessed. I got to see all my Alemadas ward on Sunday because we meet in the same building...everyone was so surprised to see me....I can't explain how great it is, but I love it all. I just am speechless. But I seriously love you all so much.

BECCAª Thank you for your example and for your offering to our Savior. I love you more than you can know and I pray that you will be able to enjoy your next adventure in lifeªª

Hermana Oliphant