Monday, February 23, 2015

Cinnamon Rolls! :)

Hola everyone,
 Super short email this week. So we had an area 70 come and talk to us. It was amazing he really said some great things that we will be trying to apply as missionaries in the Panama Mission. While there I met this girl from Utah thats new to the mission. She said she read my blog before she came out and that she loved it! :) Im famous here in Panama. Not to metion they have this new famous shoe that just came out and wanna know what they are called?? Patrick´s!! Haha. Awesome stuff.
Also while at the store today I saw cinnamon rolls (which I havent had in 7 months) at the store. They never have cinnamon rolls!! They were $4. Lets just say that was the best $4 ever spent. haha.
Well guys, sorry to bore you today. Nothing much to talk about. We had a very slow week because of the lock in and everything. But we will be going to the temple March 7th so thats fun!!
Love you all and miss you tons!
-Love Always Hermana Patrick
                         Bus picture on the way back from hearing the 70 speak. This is my Zone!!

                               My comp did my hair haha... Another bus picture
                               We got lost yesterday and found this... super pretty




Wednesday, February 18, 2015

LOCKDOWN and the New Testaments!! :)

Well guys, not to much this week considering the fact that we were inside for 5 days haha. BUT!!! During 4 of those days I read the WHOLE New Testament!!!!! I cant believe it either. And I really enjoyed reading it as well. Now I am starting the Old Testament so we will see how that goes. During this time I hae really come to know my savior Jesus Christ. He is super awesome! He did something for us that no one else could, and Im not perfect so I really need it. I would invite you guys to really read and ponder what the New Testaments messages have to offer for each and everyone of us.
Well early in the week, before the lockdown we met an American! His name is John. He was on vacation for 4 or 5 months (I know I wish my vacation was that long too) and my companion and I were sitting at the bus stop waiting for a bus that never came. He was walking by and stopped to talk to us because he saw that my companion is white. He doesnt have much faith in anything and didnt really know about the church so for an hour plus we spentat the bus stop talking with him. He is a super funny guy and turns out the he is biking Costa Rica and panama. How crazy!!! He biked all the way to Panama from Costa Rica. Anyways, so we found out the he was going to be staying one more day in Santiago so we set up an appointment to meet with him the next day. We came back with the Elders and taught him about an 2 hour lesson and gave him my only Englsih Book of Mormon. He said that he would read it, I hope he does. Then we went off on our way. I have his cell number and first name and thats about it. If anyone wants to do missionary work back in the states let me know :) He lives in Alaska. (Butts family) haha.
Well I read the New Testaments... sorry I keep bringing that up. Just so pround of myself haha. Well guys I love you all and miss you tons. I will be sending off letters to some of you today so you should get them in a month haha. If you would like letters please send my your address. I only have a few. Okay love you all.
KEEP THE FAITH AND STAY STRONG!!
Love always, Hermana Patrick


Learning experience

Hola everyone
       Well guys..... Ive been thinking alot about what to say this week... Then it hit me. Something that I really had a hard time with before the mission was judging people and also being prideful. It was my way or the highway. Then Elder Nysetvold (my ex district leader) came into the district. He was very upfront when he said things and I hated him for the longest time. Then my mission president told me I needed to fix the problem. Me being me, I didnt want to fix the problem. I thought that he was the problem and he needed to change. Then I realized that it was me, not him but me. I tried my best for 2 weeks to change and become a better person and noe Elders Nysetvold is a really great friend of mine. I was reading this talk while I was studying today in my personal study. Its titled "Lord, is it I?" by President Uchtdorf. I this talk he tells a story about a young man that believed that if he put lemon juice on his face then he could be invisible to cameras. So he went out and robbed two banks. Later he was arrested and while talking to the cops, the cops showed him the video of him robbing the two banks. He couldnt believe his eyes. He really thought the lemon juice was going to work. Someone scientist couldnt believe this man. So he went and did various life skill test and asked people to rate themselves on how they think they did. The student that performed poorly were the least accurate at evaluating their performance- some of them estimating their scores to be five times higher then they actually were.
We all know the story of Jesus Christ and the dinner that he had with his disciples right before he was about to do the unforgetable thing for each and every one of us. As he broke the bread he sad "One of you shall betray me". The disciples didnt question the truth of what he said. Nor did they look around and point to someone else, and ask "is it him". Instead they all were sad and said "Lord is it I?" We all need to remember this. This line is something that has really helped me alot on my mission and I would like to share it with you guys today because we could all do a little better. In fact thats why we are here. To imporove to become like Christ. We need to look at ourselves and said "lord is it I?" Not "Lord is it Bob or Billy," but I!! "I wonder what each of us would do if we were asked that question by the Savior. Would we look at those around us and say in our hearts, "He´s probably talking about Brother Johnson. I´ve always wondered about him." or "Im glad Brother Brown is here. He really needs to hear this message." I hope we all look inside and say "Lord is it I?" This talk has been one to help me alot and something that I want to apply after my mission as well. I invite each of you to read this talk and put all these things into practice. Dont be like the guy with the lemon juice and think that you are greater then you actually are. The glory is Gods and forever will be. Find someone this week and let them know how much you love them, that they are awesome and then if you see faults in this person, dont look at them and judge. Look and see how you can change for the better.
So now about my week... So this week has been great. I am now a 20 year old adult haha. Happy Birthday to me. Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. Well the branch sung Happy Birthday to me in English and it was pretty bad and funny haha. We had a talent show on my birthday with the branch and afterward Elder Maravilla got up and said, "Well guys, today is the birthday of someone very special to me and you, Hermana Patrick come up here." After that everyone clapped and sang happy birthday in English. Then after the activity the Elders, my companion and I went to this Mexican resturant to eat. The food was pretty good. Also when I woke up my comp. made me pancakes with chocolate chips, super good. It was a great birthday. Well guys I love you all and hope that you all have a great and wonderful week. This week on Friday night we will be locked in the house for 4 days because it will be a bit crazy. Partys and drinking so looks like Ill be reading the BOM for the next 4 days. Ill try and finish it along with the New Testament. Love you guys. Have a great week!!
-Hermana Patrick (the 20 year old) :)


Monday, February 2, 2015

MONKEY!!!

Hola everyone,
      So this week was great, a little sad as well. To start off I got attack by a monkey haha. So there was a monkey tied to a tree and my companion and I stoped to take pictures of it and why we were at it contact the guy that lived there. So here we are taking pictures of the monkey and I tell my companion I want to pet it. It was cute and was just sitting there. My companion said that she thinks it bites but I was like no it doesnt, look at it its soooo cute. As Im telling her this she looks down at her camera and is looking all her pictures. Next thing you know the money screams and is on top of me trying to bit me. I just start screaming and kicking but the monkey wont get off. What was my companion doing you ask?????......... Laughing the whole time!!! She thought it was soooo funny. Finally the monkey got off and started throwing things at me! Then the owner came out with a smile on his face and picked up the monkey trying to make me pet it.... After it just attacked me. Lets just say I hate monkeys now haha.
Well also this week we had an investigator that had a baptism date set but not anymore. We went to his house to teach him and he was drinking. He came to the porch drunk with his friend and were trying to get me and my companion to go somewhere with them on friday. My companion being nice told them no thanks and then he just kept asking and asking so I finally told them.... Look buddy! We are missionaries and we are here to preach the gospel, not play! We will see you at church on Sunday. Kinda rude but they were being a bit creepy. He didnt come to church yesterday. We will send the Elders to him and if not just let him come to church on his own.
Well this week I have been studying the scriptures alot. I found out alot of things that I didnt know... Like why we have a rainbow. Super cool stuff you find when you study the scriptures!! Well next week we have to stay in the house for 3 or 4 days because of some events that they are having and its a little scary so we have to stay inside. During this time I will try and read all of the new testament and the BOM again. m super excited. Ill let you guys know how it works.
Also guys, guess what?? This week is my birthday!!! WOOHOO!! 20 years old haha... We are going to like the only mexican resturant here in Panama for dinner. Im so excited.
Well guys thats all this week. I love you all and miss you tons. Hope everyone has a great week!!
Love
Hermana Patrick
My tan line haha, my companion and I at church yesterday




                                               FIRE

                                                      TAN LINE
                                                              MY COMP