Christmas In Paraguay 2013

Week 35                            Christmas in Paraguay                           Dec 29, 2013

I can´t believe how time flies!!! It is unreal!  But first off I must say it was so refreshing and exciting to see you all and hear every ones voices!!! Oh, I miss you all tons but seriously hearing you all just got me pumped to go work even more.  I can´t believe I am almost halfway done with my mission!! unreal.

We had Christmas Eve at Presidente´s house and his family.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and dessert by Hna Mcmullin.  It was so fun to spend it with them.  We went caroling at this hospital in our area and the bishop’s house.  It was definitely a different Christmas, but there was no denying the incredible love and spirit of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We played white elephant at pte´s house.  All the office elders were there and hermana Fuller (the nurse) and hermana Siddoway (who is here on a mission with the church perpetual fund i believe?).  And we got to ride around in the Presidents car and hang out with cute Erin (daughter) the whole time. That girl knows how to quote Brian Regan. Man, it was a stellar Christmas.  Plus a member gave my comp and I a plate full of Chipa Guasu which is this cornbread type stuff but made with fresh corn off the cobb instead of corn flour.  We were sick full.  

Half-way through the week we headed back to Yby Yaù. We put on a big fin de año cena with there tiny Rama (branch).  It was an absolute blast. So many came.  Non members and less actives!   We hung up the fabric tree mom, that you sent, all the decorations and we blew up balloons, and made silver stars to hang from string, cardboard, and tinfoil.  It was such a perfect little night. We helped the primary perform a Christmas song and some young woman performed a dance to ¨Feliz Navidad¨.

So, I did yep, I did... get to hold a monkey.  We named him Clever. I think I mentioned last week. He is so cute.  He´s not feisty if you just love him and don´t try to pull him away from anyone.  Hahaha

So mom you wanted to know how often I travel and do divisions with the sisters.  It depends, usually 2-3 times a week depending how far we are traveling.   Some places are up too 8 hours away so we travel all night on a big bus and then work all day and then jump on the bus the following night to come home and work the next day.  It can be tiring but it is just an absolute blast.  Especially when we get to buy hot chipa on the bus in the morning and you have crazy fun adventures like last night on the bus.  I had this crazy old lady behind me like freaking out yelling and nonstop talking for what seemed like 2 hours.  I was actually just laughing.  I was half asleep and did not understand a word she was saying I think she was just freaking out about when she had to get off.  I love Guarani and Spanish it is so cool understanding other languages. Well can´t really understand guarani quite yet but a few words.  

Changes tomorrow.  Got to give a devotional tonight and teach the trainers in the morning with my new comp, Hna TOMCO!!! We were in the ccm juntos!! so fun!!

xoxoxo Love HNA OWEN

Other replies to our emails:

I loved hearing your voice mom. I say we go (travel to Paraguay and Argentina) during the summer cuz it´s so hot here in Dec. but we´ll chat :)

Nick, so fun!!!! Oh it was so good to see you on skype!!  didin´t seem like it was really happening.  it felt like no time had past.  Sounds like Chirstmas was eventful and fun! miss you xoxo love hna owen  

(response to an email I sent to Hna McMullin thanking her for taking care of Hillary and watching out for her and allowing us the best Christmas ever…)

She is doing a fantastic job.  We are so looking forward to the time we will have together watching her serve as one of our sister training leaders.  She is very loved and respected by all the sisters here.  Has she always been such a happy person?  I have never seen anyone adjust so well to the stresses of missionary life.  She truly seems to focus on the Gospel and on the people around her and loses herself in the work.  She is a great example to us all.  Thank you for sharing her with us!

Hna. McMullin

When the call came in.  Pic on right was her first reaction (laughing and crying at the same time)
It actually froze right there on the big screen.
Then fixing computer so it works with the help of Elder Bayless (friend from home)

                       

Singing Silent Night in Guarani

Most of her facial expressions through out our Skype time.  Gosh we miss her.
What a blessing to see her live and hear her voice

I Held a Monkey

Week 34½                                                                              Dec 23-29, 2013

   So yes it´s true.  I held a monkey. He was absolutely darling.  I was feeding him Mburucuya juice in a bottle and he kept shoving the bottle out and spitting it out on me.  Then he decided he didn´t want anymore and curled up in my arms to sleep.  Oh and the family let me name him.  I sugessted Billy at first but they weren´t too big of fans so I named him ¨Clever.¨  Then my comp Hna Buss was holding him and he got mad when Yesica (12 yr old member in Yby Yaú)  tried to take him away so he furiously crawls up to Hna Buss´ear and bites it!! AHHH hahaha serious and then starts pulling furiously at her hair and biting it.  We were laughing so hard tears were running down my cheeks. 

    Goodness, the weeks really do just get better and better here!! The only sad part to this week was saying goodbye to my wonderful Hermana Wood.  She is now home and spending Christmas with her family.  Love you Hermana Wood.  Miss you dearly and thanks for the note.  I will miss you this Christmas.  Hermana Buss and I have had a great week in Yby Yaú.  I LOVE IT THERE!!!  It is so sad I only get 3 more days there.  Hopefully I will go there again some day.  It is amazing with the rich smell of mangos as they begin to fall, Chickens are outside (we throw them our left overs), electric buzz of giant locust, plains of trees that run out to the horizon and you can see in every direction, a chapel the size of a small american house, 20 members in church (it was a good day), monkeys to hold, small town,  Guarani (I ka tu Pura´hé... I am learning to speak one of the coolest languages),  kids everywhere...that follow you everywhere, and hilarious old people that laugh and speak guarani to you... in a nutshell heaven!  

    We found a golden investigator THROUGH A MEMBER!!!  yippee!!! 

I have been reading ¨How to be a Consecrated Missionary¨ by D. Tadd Callister.  All of you need to read it. Off the charts.  Anyway I have been focusing on really learning to give my all to my Heavenly FAther. I have been trying to just focus on the investigator and what my comp says and just loving them with all my heart and learning to see them through the eyes of my Savior. Oh you should have been in that lesson.  So her name is Teresita.  She is 16 and just darling.  As we taught her about the restoration or the Gospel, a light seemed to turn on in her eyes.  The spirit was so thick.  She explained she had never heard of this and how she would be sure to pray and ask if it were true. We are so excited to work with her.  

xoxo con cariño, Hna Owen

P.s. i forgot to bring my camera hook up so no pictures.  You´ll just have to trust me on the monkey story.

TWO DAYS

WEEK  34                             It’s Christmas Time                          Dec 23, 2013

This was last night in Pedro Juan, which is literally on the border with brazil (lots of portuguese) and we did a christmas concert with the ramas in this fun park!  SO fun!! It´s CHRISTMAS TIME!!!! the girl in the red is named Camila and is 16 and is traveling to the US. (san Fransisco) Jan 17th with a group of 13 smart kids from paraguay to do service and other sorts of stuff and return and apply what they learned in paraguay.  you guys should be friends with her on facebook.  love you all tons! xoox love hill

 

"We'll be talking to you soon.."

AHHH IN LIKE TWO DAYS!!! And do you guys mind doing it at 7:30 in the morning?? or 8 ??? we are gonna go to the office and skype so it would work best schedule wise if we could do it at 11:30 or noon my time ?  :)

love hilly hna owen

I Saw A Monkey

                                                     Week 33

Well what a week.   First a little miracle in Campo Grande.  Hna Wood and I had plans for a certain part of our area one day but after being harshly rejected and no one being home we decided maybe we would head out to Neverland, one part of our area that we were kinda putting off because it is a good 30-40 walk away from everything.   We decided to go.  After walking two hours straight in the blistering sun, drenched in sweat, and descansada muchisimo, we decided to clap at this random house.  I remember there was no specific prompting but I had kept in mind something I heard the other day, that as long as we are giving our best and preparing all we can the Lord will provide.  I kept looking forward and as we clapped at this particular house, out walked a HUGE 15 year old kid.   Come to find out he has been assisting the church in a different area with some friends, glady accepted the baptismal question, and is already talking about serving a mission!  PURETTE!  (awesome in Guarani)

Speaking of Guarani- the native  language here in Paraguay.-  I will probably learning a lot this next week.  I am out in Yby Yaú with cute Hna Buss from Whyoming.  I think I failed to mention the tiny fact that Hermana Wood goes home this week and so does Hna Buss´s comp.  Changes aren´t until Jan 2 so I will finish Hna Buss´s training out here in Yby Yaú.  We will be working here for a week, then Campo Grande for Christmas and a week, and then return here for a bit before changes.  Yby Yaú is VERY different from Campo Grande.  The people are very poor here.  Not much civilization, lots of bugs, crazy crazy trees, chickens live with us, and their church building is smaller than our house it is adorable!  I am so excited to be here but definitely started crying this morning during comp study with Hna Wood.  I am gonna miss that girl so much.  We have grown so close especially in Christ.  Everyday we tell each other a ¨Que me hizo reír...¨  Something that made us laugh.  It has helped us keep a positive energy all the time in the work.  She amazes me.   

Today was Pday and we went and hiked up to this small mountian.  It is out here in the middle of nowhere land of Yby Yaú (pronounced like EE-vee-jaw-oo)  SAW three monkeys!  They were adorable but to far away.  I thought i could coax them over with cookies but no luck. Some day I will hold one.    Anyway,  I am so excited to spend Christmas here in Paraguay.  It´s so hot.  Mangos are falling.  And there are Christmas lights... but no Christmas music... still Guarani music (which sounds like polynesian music) and musica paraguayo.   I love this work so so much.  I have so many pics to send i think i will just wait till after the mish. But here is a couple from the hike today.   

Con Cariño,

Hna Owen

My Birthday celebration - a key lime pie cake - Yum
At our Thanksgiving Feast

Hermana Wood and I - On our way to the Mt. in the back ground

The beautiful view way out in Neverland

Hermana Wood and I made it to the mountain

Mangos are falling everywhere - It's getting hot and they are getting ripe

Merry Christmas from our Mission - Can you find me :)

Key Lime Pie and Rivers

What a week...  Soaked twice literally just soaked and hiked myself through a few rivers (streets).  This week was SO fun!!!!  We celebrated my birthday and Thanksgiving in the office with the office elders and president and his family.   Erin (16 yr. old daughter of president who is Ellie´s (cousin) blonde twin- I love her!) went on a long run with us that morning so we could eat a lot for thanksgiving.  Had chicken instead of turkey, but the stuffing was there and sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmellows!! YUM!  It was a blast and to top things off there was a choc. oreo pie and a key lime pie!! We walked home in a monsoon!! Soaked and walked through rivers to get to our house but it was so flipping fun.  We were practically singing and laughing the whole way home.  Hna Wood is seriously THE best!!  We have so much fun together and she is so chill.  Definitely an inspired change.  I LOVE the ward here.  They are so excited to have sisters. I got birthday wishes and calls etc. from people in Loma which was so sweet!

 Thank you all for you love, gifts, and cards!!! Familia Tajada, Sis. and Liv Huish, Sis. Riggs, Elder Groberg, Cami Brimhall, Sis. Knight, Sis. Laurent, Familia Owen (Dan and Heidi), The Burbidges, and the Browns, Grandma and Grandpa.  

I love you all so so much!!! I couldn´t be more grateful to all of you.  xoxo

I remember praying to leave on my birthday and just feeling this energy inside to go.  I am here for only a little less than a year more. WHAT! (Hillary will be home from the mission before she's 21, the age when she would have originally left prior to the age change - what a blessing - what a change in her path)  Merry Chirstmas as well everyone? wow time flies.  There was this sense of gratitude and joy that just lifted me off my feet and it hasn´t left since.  Seriously this gospel and spirit of the Lord keeps me going.  I love it.  It really is the greatest of the gifts I have ever received.  The Lord is just waiting to bless us.  Go and work. 

Divisions are SO fun and these girls seriously take my advice and look up to us. I really love this calling.  We cover all the hermanas in the mission.  There are 42 in total.  I love it so much!  I have traveled to Isla Bodgado so far and we have plans to travel to Itawa this week and some other fun places but it really is a joy to be serving and praying for the people of paraguay but with the sisters I am serving with here as well.  Éxitos para todos y mucho amor!!!

con cariño,

Hermana Owen

Quote:  ¨Live in such a way that those who don´t know Christ will want to know Christ, because they know you.¨

P.S. There is SOOO much more I could have told ya´ll but those were some sweet parts of my weeks!

Other Hermana's in my new zone getting dinner ready

Our Thanksgiving Feast, and they sang Happy Birthday to me

My old Zone

Me with Hermana Wood

Life Up Your Heads !

Okay, so flip, I am loving life!  This email/week will be short despite all that has happened.  First off, I am a Sister Training Leader (Elder Wing who just returned from Paraguay said it's basically the AP for girls).  My job is pretty much to look over all the 42 sisters in the mission.  We go on divisions with each companionship, get to know them, help them, love them, and set goals with them.  I am super stoked because that means I/we get to travel a lot, so I will get to know a ton of areas.  I trained all the trainers last week with Sister Wood and got to see them all get their knew comps.  So exciting and so fun to watch all the newbies come in. It feels like yesterday that I was them, not understanding a lick of Spanish. 

So the knew area is great.  Mom and Dad you should just stop worrying about me, if you ever were or are.(yes)  I´m living in richville, well, compared to Loma actually and even compared to a lot of parts in the U.S.  There are tons of mansions.  I´m pretty sure every house in our area has air conditioning.  It does make it a little tough to find people... they aren´t as willing to listen, but it is a way fun area.  I feel like I am in downtown old Phoenix walking around.  HUGE beautiful houses with giant trees, like sky scrapers.  I wonder how old they are.  The ward is awesome as well.  We only get an assistance of 65-75 every Sunday but good news is we got a ton of stellar members (new and long time) willing to come track with us.  Right now we are mainly getting to know the members.  I believe Kenzie Freeman´s sister is in Hna Wood´s old ward in Mburucuya who meet in our same building.  Our building is so nice it has cushioned benches to sit on.  Primary program was Sunday, so cute.  I am in love with the Bishop´s daughter, Jade (sounds like Hady).  She looks like a little latino Greta (our cousin).  Our bishop is absolutely hilarious.  The ward literally feels like family already.  There are tons of people who remind me of people already, AND tons speak English.  So fun.

There are tons of huge and flying cockroaches where we live but it´s all good, it doesn´t bother me too much. The house is quaint.  I almost feel like I am in Greece because our walls are all white and the neighbors (dueños) play their Italian music.   It´s fun being in this area.  We are in the President´s ward and Hna Fuller´s (mission nurse) ward.  We had lunch at her house yesterday and she is so sweet to always include us, because really this is the office elder´s area but they are sharing it with us, because they don´t have full time missionaries. They work from 4:30 until night time but now we´re here and we´re working 24/7!   

It is hard being pulled away from your first area, I have to admit.  Yesterday Familia Adorno walked into our ward building because they came for the primary program of the other ward (they have family there).  I instantly started to cry!!  OH I will miss Loma so much.  The saddest part is that I 

didn´t get to say goodbye to anyone really but all is well.  I read a stellar scripture yesterday in Alma 8:15.   ¨ Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivest thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that ^delivered it unto you.¨   Lift up your heads and look.  The Lord is always blessing us.  He is so merciful.  He loves us so much. I find his love in one´s smile, the huge trees, fresh cold watermelon, manzanites (like cherries here), and my awesome comp.  I am reading so much of the Book of Mormon everyday!  More than I ever have and learning so much.  Well I´m off.  Wish me luck on this new journey.  ¨Lift up your head(s) and rejoice!"  LOVE you all so so much!! ROHAYHU!!

xoxox

Con Cariño,

Hermana Owen

Oh P.S.  what made me laugh... we were contacting.  Había una gate that was open so Hermana Wood walks up and says, ¨Shut the gate, and ring the bell.¨ in a casual routine manner (if that makes sense) and then flip flip I ´m shoutin ¨Don´t shut the gate Don´t shut the gate!!!¨ As it starts falling over on us! hahaha...  Luckly it didn´t fall all the way over.  We were all good.  There are gonna be lot´s of fun stories from this area i can already tell.  Well that´s all folks.  And we´re out.

My new district

Making yummy dinner and dessert with Hermana Wood

Celia's Baptism - a glorious day !!!!!

My favorite picture even though it's blurry, 
I just love little Emma, we were laughing so hard and she was so squirmy 

Saying goodbye to my Hermanas

Saying Goodbye to Celia and the girls.  I will miss them so much.  Kristchian is in Japan

The big frogs everywhere.   They are as big as my hand 

The morning I said goodbye to Hermana Silva.  Tears !!

I am TRUE RED NECK now !

Hermana Wood and I out tracting in our new area

Celia's baptism day again - All Clean

Dessert at our Thanksgiving feast and birthday party for me.  They made me key lime pie (cake) Yum

Hermana Wood and I tracting again.  Hermana Fuller (nurse) lives near and came out to say hi.
We clap instead of knock. 

ME VOY !!!

13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.

Found this scripture this week when I was a little down about my numbers and what not. Sometimes we just find ourselves in a gutter and don´t know how to get out. Everyone should read ¨After All We Can Do¨ by Robbie Pierce.  The Lord always has his arms out stretched to us even when we are blind to the fact.  I was reminded of a simple truth this past week when I received a letter from a friend.  In it he stated that ¨my walk with God...is...¨  I was touched.  What an outlook, for all of us to adapt to our lives, right.  Our Savior is always with us, we have to look to him and remember him.   

This week a crazy storm hit and we had to run and take cover for 20 minutes or so until the crazy part past. You literally couldn´t hear anything and the rain was just pounding.  Hna Silva and I were only out in it for a few minutes running from a house of an investigator and taking cover in a near by dispensia.  Anyway later that evening I was freezing.   We were contacting and I was thinking ¨why, why ,why??..¨ No one would let us in, it was freezing, there was wind, and we were soaking.  uh.  But then I remembered... to look up.  I forgot to ask ¨what?¨ :)  What can I learn from this... what a fun story to tell my kids when I am older.   Then to top things off with a cherry… Celia and Kristhian got their car back so they can drive us around and are always more than willing to and practically jumped for joy when we asked them to accompany us to visit with some investigators.  We visited familia Reyes.  Ramona, the mother, almost has an answer.  She is praying so hard and came to church yesterday.  I love them so much.  With the knowledge of the plan of salvation it has helped and comforted them so much.  Testimonies of Celia and Kristhian were just off the charts. Oh, absolutely PERFECT!!!  We passed by Kristhian and Celia in a momento dificil just like familia Reyes and they bore testimony to what a blessing we and this message has been to them.  This was Friday and Celia was blowing me away.  Her testimony is rock solid... should have heard her at her baptism.  Oh amazing.  She said I have never been more sure that this IS the camino Dios preparo por todos. It is so true.  This is the path our Lord prepared for EVERYONE of us since the beginning.

Speaking of the baptism, oh it was incredible. Kristhian received the priesthood yesterday morning and had the opportunity to baptize Celia.  Today early in the morning he left on a 3 week vacation to Japan.  Incredible how the Lord works.  His time table is perfect.  Celia couldn´t have been happier.  Her girls were so cute as well.  Jazmin was the happiest I have seen.  Precious little moment:  As Kristhian and Celia were waiting Jazmin and I walked over to look at the font.  She took my hand and I looked down at her... she wore the biggest smile and gave me a big hug telling me how excited she is for the day her dad will baptized her.  :)  I will never forget the day my dad baptized me.  A moment unforgetable and I will always remember the peaceful feeling that just flooded over me.  Jazmin turns 8 the 21 de Febrero.

OH SUPER EXCITING NEWS... TWO THINGS...

#1:  Asistencia en la Iglesia ayer: 170 personas!!!

#2:  ME VOY!!!!  Serious. I will be all tears the next few days leaving my dearest Loma Pyta and my dearest hija Hermana Silva. Oh I want to cry… I won´t be spending my birthday or Christmas in Loma!!!  I am going to miss everyone so flippin much.  And just when I felt like I knew everyone so well. Loma is my home!  I will have spent almost 6 meses aquí.   Soooo... want to hear where I am going ??  :)

Campo Grande!! It is behind the Caballería in Loma, so practically neighbors. Happy I am not headed too far.   PLUS, para que sepan.... I will be companions with Hermana WOOD!!! She is currently a Sister Training Leader and her comp leaves Thursday, which means... Hermana Owen (me :) will be... the new Sister Training Leader!!!  Ya I am kinda freakin out as well but super stoked. Super sad to leave Celia. Haven´t told anyone yet and I don´t know what to do cuz I have one day to say goodbye to everyone!! Oh I want to cry!!!   All is well, all is well.

Forgot to mention a stellar part of the baptism ayer... Hermana Pelicó, Hermana Vasquez, Hermana Silva, y yo cantamos, ¨I am a Child of God,¨ First verse in Spanish, second in English, and third is GUARANI!  I am in love with guarani!! I am learning a ton but don´t worry focusing on the Spanish.  The book of mormon goal is coming mas o menos.  I am striving.  I wish you all a fabulous week.  

XOXO

Con mucho Cariño y un beso (like Celia always says over the phone), 

Hermana Owen 

P.S.  Pday was super fun... fuimos para montar bicicletas en el Botanico (it´s like a forest/garden/zoo)  and oh my life it was absolutely amazing!! Giant trees, covered in vines, and bright orange flowers blossoming, as clouds passed over and the breeze just ran against my face.  Oh I really needed that.  This work is exhausting sometimes. But  I love it.  RO HAY HU! (I love you in guarani)

this wasw our fun pday,  it was a BLAST!! biked through THE most beautiful place!!! oh HUGE great Botanica se llama with GIGANTIC trees covered in moss
and blooming flowers, tons of clouds and breeze so fun!!

haha puede ver how bad i was sweating my arms were dripping and my face yuck