Transferred to Cobija

November 24, 2014

Hola!

Ok so you will never guess where I am.  I got transferred to Cobija! For those of you who don’t know, Cobija is the area farthest away from Santa Cruz in the mission.  I had to take a plane to get here, first to La Paz, and then to Cobija.  I could only bring one suitcase of 20 kilos; I think that’s like 50 pounds. This area is basically the jungle.  If there weren’t houses and roads, it would literally be jungle.  It’s super green and gorgeous and I love it! 

The last few days I was still in my other area in Belen, I felt like I was going to be transferred so I wrote notes to all the families we were visiting.  I realized that I really love that ward so much and all of the people we were visiting.  I loved my companion, and I’m really going to miss them so much.  But I am also so excited to be here.  Everyone wants to come to this area, but also everyone is a little afraid of coming out here. It is so far away, it’s the jungle, it’s really hot and there are a lot of bugs.  Which is true.  It is really hot and humid and I’m almost always sweating.  And yeah there are a lot of bugs, but it’s not really a big deal. You just have to always put insect repellent on. It’s really different because it’s una rama; a branch instead of a ward, so it’s way small, and church is at 3 in the afternoon, but just until the end of the year.  But honestly I just love it here.  The coolest part is that our area touches the border of Brazil.  The limits of part of our area is the rio; the river, and on the other side is Brazil.  We can literally see Brazil! There is a bridge where you can literally just walk across and be in Brazil.  We’re obviously not allowed to cross the bridge, but how cool is that! So anyway there are a lot of people that speak Portuguese, and we’re going to have to learn a little, because we have a recent convert and an investigador I think that only speaks Portuguese.  The other day there was a cute little Brazilian boy that was following us and I started to talk to him and he talked back in Portuguese. It was really funny because an Hermana taught us to say como esta in Portuguese and I tried to say it but he didn’t understand.  So anyway I’m going to start studying Portuguese. 

My new companion se llama Hermana B.  She’s from Peru and she’s pretty cool.  She’s really tough, kind of a tom boy, and really different from me, but I think we’ll get along well.  She’s nice and funny and a hard worker. 

I feel a lot more confident because I have over a year on the mission, and half of the elders in the zone are new.  I really like all the missionaries in our zone though, because we have service like every day, so we’re together almost every day. 

There aren’t a lot of investigadores, but we’re going to find new people.  The people that we’ve taught so far are all really great.   The people here are really nice and friendly, and very humble.  There are a lot of things that are different about the life style here than in Santa Cruz.  For example, the transportation.  Everyone here rides motos, like motorcycles, but the small kinds.  And there are small buses, but really like just vans converted into buses.  And then the water.  They have huge buckets of water that they put on the roofs to get water, because here there isn’t a lot of water, and they say sometimes the water goes out for a day.  Or also the electricity goes out for a little, but then it comes back.  Also the rainy season is starting, and when it rains it POURS! So that will be fun…!

Also another thing that’s really cool is since it’s like a jungle there are a lot of fruit trees and right now is the season of mangos, so we’re always eating mango, and it’s super good.  There’s a lot of tropical fruit I have yet to try.  Also, our pensionista is 19 years old and recently married and we eat rice and chicken literally every day…  But it’s all good.

Anyway so that’s just a little bit about my area.  My camera broke so I can’t take pictures, but we’ve been taking pictures with my companion’s camera, so I’ll try to send pictures from there.  But the Internet is really slow, so I hope it will work!

I just realized that this week is Thanksgiving.  I wish you all a very Feliz Thanksgiving! You’ll have to eat turkey and mashed potatoes and rolls and pumpkin pie for me in my honor. 

Thanks for everything! Your thoughts and prayers and friendship and love.  Love you all!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Change is in the air

November 17, 2014.

This week was really good, but I don’t have much time and I just want to tell you about my weekend.  We had the baptism of B., who is 18 and he has been like a perfect investgador.  From the first time we taught him we knew he was prepared.  He has really been converted and he has such a strong testimony, and really is such an example.  The only thing is that he doesn’t live in this area, but he always comes to church here and comes to all of the activities of the young single adults and he has a lot of friends here in this ward and he loves it.  So a while ago we asked the president if we could teach him here and he said yes but he would have to be baptized there in is his ward. The thing is there aren’t missionaries where he lives, so that’s why we got to teach him here, but then we had the baptism there. 

Saturday was such a crazy day because first we had a service project in the morning.  We went with the entire zone to paint and clean a house, and it was really fun.  Then we went home and quickly changed, got ready and then went to lunch with Hermana E.  Then we went to capilla to meet up with the JAS to then make the about hour trip on bus to Satelite.  Then the craziest thing happened, the bus went off a little detour and we got stuck in mud! So then we had to take another bus and we got there a little late, but we got there! The baptism went really well and I was just so happy for B.  He had such a big smile on his face, and my companion and I also couldn’t stop smiling. Afterward we came back to our area and went to another baptism that we got invited to of the other Hermanas in our zone.  So it was a crazy day! Then yesterday for church we had to go there for his confirmacion.  Also it’s really cool because the church is just a casa capilla, so it’s just like a big house with the chapel built in it. We stayed there for all of church.  All the members were so excited to see sister missionaries, and were asking if we would be in their ward and we said no but presidente did tell us that if there were people to teach there and if we coordinated with them, then we could come maybe once a week there.  After church the president of Relief Society had us for lunch, and then in the tarde we went out with a Hermana to visit an investigadora.  We got to know a little of the area.  It’s really big and it’s all sand roads and little brick houses, really green and pretty, but also very poor.  After we visited a very poor hermana with two little girls, we went back to the capilla to meet up with dos jovenes and we went to visit a recent convert family that is struggling a little.  It was such a cool experience to get to know these people and this area and I loved it, but it also made me realize how important we as missionaries are and how lucky I am to be here.  I also miss my ward in Belen because they are like family to me.  

This is probably the last week I have in this area, because I have been here almost 6 months.  So we´ll see what happens and where I end up going.  I´ve learned so much in this area and I´ve grown to love the people so much, and I love my companion and I am so grateful for the time I´ve spent with her and all the experiences I´ve had.  I couldn’t even begin to describe everything. But I love the lord and I love the gospel and I love the mission.

Thanks for your support and your prayers.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

November 10, 2014 update

November 10, 2014

Hola todos!

I don’t have much time because I want to send pictures but basically this is the week here in the crazy calor of Santa Cruz Bolivia.

On Monday we miraculously got the permission of presidente to go with our ward to their paseo, to an activity in a place where there’s a pool and a field to play soccer and a basketball court and volleyball court and place to hang around and a barbeque and everything and it was so much fun! We obviously just couldn’t go in the pool, but we were with the members who I love like family and we also have an investigator family that came and it all went super well.  

On Tuesday we had a leadership training meeting and we learned a lot about how to be leaders with love and how to have a positive attitude when being obedient and in doing all the things we do. Wednesday we had intercambios, and my companion went to the area of Montero, and Hermana N. came here to be my companion for the day and it was really fun.  She’s from Utah and she’s really sweet. On Thursday I completed one year on the mission! I actually forgot about it so we didn’t do anything to celebrate, but that’s ok, it was a good day.   Then on Friday we went to a baptism of a boy that just turned 8 in our ward and it went really well.  I think it was the first time I’ve been at a baptism stress-free about making sure everything goes well, because although usually baptisms are really special and everything, it’s stressful for the missionaries.  We have a baptism this Saturday for a joven of 18, who is so amazing.  God literally just placed him into our hands, already prepared to hear and accept the gospel.  His name is B. V., and we are so happy for him because he also wants to serve a mission.  Pray for him please! Yesterday was the primary program in our ward and it was so cute! Oh man I just love the niños!  Ok that’s all I have time to write! Other than that it has just been so humid because it’s been raining, so we’re just trying to survive! But I’m doing really well!

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! Love you

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Tijerino

November 3, 2014 update

November 3, 2014

Hola hola,

This week has been really good because it’s been raining a little bit and hasn’t been as hot as normal.  It makes it more humid though, but at least the sun isn’t as strong.

This week we’ve been having a lot of good lessons. We also had intercambios with the other Hermanas in our zone on Wednesday, and that was really fun.  On Thursday we had a super good day because one of our investigadoras came to the Relief Society activity and primary activity with her son, and she really liked it. I don’t know how to describe it but my companion and I just love her so much. We hope that she´ll keep coming and keep progressing.  Her name is Nancy M. and we met her because a friend of hers invited her to come to General Conference, so she came.  We invited her to the activities, and she came.  Sometimes, all we have to do is to invite!  

We’ve also been visiting 3 families; 2 of them are conversos recientes and 1 is less active. They all have a lot of kids, and they are la Familia C., la Familia A., y la Familia E.  I have an amor tan grande por ellos, de verdad.  I love them muchísimo!

For Halloween we didn’t really do anything. We just bought candy and gave it out to the families we visited.  Here it’s not really a big thing.  They do celebrate the dia de los muertos el 1 de Noviembre, which is really interesting. 

Yesterday was a really good fast and testimony meeting, and we also had a really good noche de hogar with Hermana E, an Hermana investigadora whom I also love, and for the first time her husband was present, which is a huge deal! Anyway, they need to get married, so we’re working towards that with them.  We had two couples there that shared their testimony of the family that was so inspiring and so perfect.

Anyway, the other big thing that’s going on is that there is a ward activity today at a park/pool place and we got permission to go and we´re really excited because a lot of our investigadores are going, and of course all of the members that I love and are like family to me.  I’ll tell you how it goes.

Please pray for B., he has a baptism date for the 15th.  He is like a perfect investigador.

Thanks and love you all,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

October 27, 2014 - Update

October 27, 2014

Hola! 

I don’t have much time to write, but here was this week.

SUPER HOT. Haha

But this week was really good, it’s just been so hot we have all been having headaches and stuff, but other than that it’s all good.  Monday night we had two really good noches de hogar. Tuesday we had intercambios, and I went with Hermana B. in the other area to show her around and everything since I was in that area a while. It went really well and it was nice to see the people I had visited before again. Wednesday we were able to go to a missionary setting apart and farewell of a joven that is leaving to serve his mission. It was so interesting to remember what it felt like to be set apart as a missionary, and have that missionary spirit that we get to feel everyday and I love it.   The rest of the week we have been teaching a lot and having a lot of fun.

Saturday we went to the baptism of a girl that turned 8 and her older brother baptized her, and it was so sweet.  We have also been teaching a lot of families that have a lot of kids, so we have been remembering songs from primary and singing primary songs with them, haha.  Man I just love kids.  Also yesterday it rained out of nowhere and we got completely drenched!

Haha, that’s all I have time for, love you all!

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

October 20, 2014 - Update

October 20, 2014

Hola mis queridos amigos y familia,

Este semana fue muy bien y pasó super rápido! Whoops, I just realized I started to write in Spanish without even realizing it.  This week was really good and went by so fast! I’m doing really well and I’m really happy, especially because I love my companion and I love this area and I love all the people.  We are just suffering a little bit because it so freaking hot! But other than that everything is good.  We weren’t able to visit a lot of our investigators this week, so we’ve been visiting a lot of the converts and the less actives, and we’ve had some really good lessons. 

Also this week we went to concilio de lideres, which is like a leadership training meeting, because my companion and I are hermanas capacitadoras for our zone.  It was really good.  We learned a lot about how we can better serve and about the doctrine of Christ and how that relates to our purpose as missionaries. 

Also it was so good to be able to go to church yesterday, after two weeks of not going because last Sunday there were elections here in Bolivia and we couldn’t leave the house, and the week before was General Conference.  So I felt like it had been such a long time seeing everyone and it really was such a full joy being there with all these people that I really have grown to love so much and that have become like family to me. 

Also I think that Hermana M. and I are going to be having lots of adventures soon… there’s a ward in the stake where there aren’t missionaries and long story short is that we have an investigator that’s super awesome who should be going to that ward but he always comes to our ward. Yesterday we happened to meet the bishop of that ward and he told us that there are about 5 people there that want to get baptized but can’t yet because they need missionaries to teach them the lessons. We talked to the mission president this morning and he gave us permission  to go to this area to go teach these people and then come back to our area, just for now until they can send missionaries there.  So… that might be happening next week.  We just can’t go at night because this area is really dangerous.  But yeah.

Anyway, I am really so happy and having fun and working hard and just trying not to melt! The sun is really sooo fuerte, and I’ve never sweat so much in my life. Also my companion and I are sleeping on mattresses on the floor in our study room because it’s a lot cooler than our bedroom. 

But yeah.  Hope all is well where you are!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

October 13, 2014 - Update

October 13, 2014

Hola hola!

QUE CALOR! It has been so hot this week, and it’s just going to continue to be hot and it’s ridiculous, haha.  But anyway, this week was a little crazy but super good.  Monday was a pretty good p-day, nothing too eventful.  On Tuesday we did servicio with an investigadora that sells homemade bread so she taught us how she makes it and we helped her and it was really fun.  Then on Wednesday we did a servicio with our district for a family in the area of the elders and we cleaned their house and cooked for them and that was also super fun.  We also made poleras for our district that are way sweet.  Then Wednesday we received the news of the cambios and Hermana C. left to another area on Thursday. Hermana M. and I stayed in Belen. There are also two other hermanas in Belen. Llegaron Hermana B., who I love, and she is training a newbie from Peru.  And ok I seriously love being with Hermana M.  Even though she´s from Bolivia I feel like she´s like a hipster from the United States.  She is so awesome and we work really hard together and have a lot of fun.  And I also love it because she´s really trying to learn English and we talk a lot in English. She is so hilarious. This week was elections for the president in Bolivia, so from Saturday night to this morning she was in another area to vote where she registered. I was with another Hermana from Potosi who is super sweet.  All day Sunday we couldn´t leave the house, only to go vote and come back, so we just watched church movies all day, haha.  We were sad that there wasn’t church, but it was only for this one day.    

This week was good and we´re excited to work this week because we have two new investigators that we know are going to progress.  One is looking to strengthen her marriage and her family. The other is a single mother that has a little boy and is looking for the truth. We know that we have what they both need and are looking for.    I love this gospel and I know it strengthens and blesses families and is what will give us everlasting happiness.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

October 6, 2014 - Update

October 6, 2014

This week was really good, especially because of Conference.  On Tuesday we learned to make mazaco de platano with one of our conversos recientes, and it was so fun and so delicious.  On Wednesday we went to the doctor to have my eyes checked out and for my companion to have her back checked out.  We both got the medication we need, and everything’s fine.  On Thursday we had a really good district meeting and we all shared different teaching tools and ideas we had and visual aids and examples and things that were really good.  Then that evening we went to the Relief Society activity where an hermana taught how to cut hair and she used my companion and me as examples and cut both our hair. On Friday we had an activity with all the hermanas in our mission in Santa Cruz. There have been a lot that finished their missions and also 6 that are outside of Santa Cruz, so there were just 13 of us! In total there used to be about 30.  Anyway, it was really good, and we watched the General Women’s conference which I loved.  Then of course Saturday and Sunday was General Conference and it was so good! I learned a lot and I received direct answers to my prayers.  It’s so amazing. I went in with about 4 questions in mind and they were all directly answered on the first day.  I know without a doubt that God hears and answers our prayers.  

My companions and I were talking about the themes, and we agreed that they were about agency, testimony, and the prophet.  (I was really happy I got to watch conference in English, so I think I was able to learn even more.)

It is so important that we use our agency to make right choices and to obey the commandments and to follow Jesus Christ.  And like one of the apostles said, the most important thing we can gain in this life is a testimony.  I am so grateful for my testimony and I am striving to strengthen it every day.  And I love what they said about the prophet.  I know he is a man called of God and I will try to do everything I can do to follow him and to help the people here to gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and of a living prophet.   Please send me your comments from conference!

Love you all,

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino 

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

September 29, 2014 - Update

September 29, 2014

Hola,

Well this week went pretty well.  The highlight was the baptism of Hermano Abdon V.  We were all really happy that he got baptized and everything went well.  One of his daughters is on a mission, and we can imagine that she is really happy.  We  have also been visiting a lot of other people, but I always feel like the days go by so fast and we don’t have time to visit everyone.  But we´re working hard and there´s always something to do and we always come home exhausted, haha.  I also love my companions because we´re always having fun and laughing.  

We´re super excited for General Conference this weekend.  Whoo hoo!.  Yesterday in Relief Society they talked about testimonies and also how much Satan wants to tear us down and make us think we don’t have a testimony or that we´re not good enough or those kinds of things, but really we are so powerful and special because we are children of God and he knows us and He loves us and I hope that you all know how important you are and how powerful your testimonies are.  Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Con amor, 

Hermana Tijerino

P.S: I can’t believe that tomorrow is the last day of Septiembre.  What?! Time is going by so fast! Love you all

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

September 29, 2014 - Update

September 22, 2014

Hola hola,

This week was super fun.  Last Monday there wasn’t a zone activity so we decided to go to the zoo, because it’s in our area.  There´s not a whole lot there, but it was super fun because the whole time we were joking about how we´re going to baptize all the animals and how we have a message to share with them and their family and everything, and it was hilarious.  We also re-created the first vision.  Haha, this is what happens when you´ve been a missionary for a long time… haha.  Anyway, then Tuesday night until Wednesday night we did intercambios with the hermanas in Montero, which is a small pueblo about an hour away from Santa Cruz.  So Hermana M. and I went there with a new missionary and then the other Hermana came here to our area with Hermana C.   It was really cool to go to this area, because it’s just a little small vintage town.  We had some good times and taught really good lessons.  Then the rest of the week we´ve been focusing on two investigadores that we have con una fecha baustimal.  

And good news we have a baptism this Saturday!!! He´s a man named Adbon V..  He has 5 daughters, and one of the daughters lives here in our ward. They´re from a small village in Sucre, but they´re here living with their daughter for a while.  They have another daughter that’s on a mission in Brazil.  His wife was baptized about 2 years ago, but he wasn’t ready yet, but his time has come and he has a sincere desire to repent and to be baptized.  He speaks español and another idoma called quetchwa, or something like that.   He´s really great and I’m so happy that he´s going to get baptized. 

Next week we´re going to have the baptism of Hermana M., who I was writing about last week who lives with members.  Anyway, I’ve been doing really well. We´re still in trio, and there´s never a dull moment, haha.  Hermana M. is becoming one of my best friends.  I love her.  Anyway I don’t have too much time to write, just please pray for Hermano adbon y para su bautismo este sabado and also para Hermana M.  

Thanks love you all,

Con mucho amor

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

September 15, 2014 - Update

September 15, 2014

Hola,

So one thing I´ve learned on the misión is that there is nothing ever sure, and you should always expect the unexpected, haha.  So this week Hermana S., one of the other hermanas in our area went home due to problems with her knees.  So that left her companion Hermana M. to join with Hermana C. and me, so now we´re in trio.  I LOVE Hermana M.  She´s from La Paz, Bolivia, and she is so great.  She´s small but so crazy and fun and has so much energy, and she is seriously the best.   So we´re now working in all of our area Belen, like what happened before. It is a little hard because it is a really big area, but it’s been really good so far.  I’ve been so happy to be able to go back and visit some of the converts and the less actives and investigadores that I got to meet in the time that I was in that area.  This week we had a noche de hogar con la familia A. that lives in the other area, and I love their family so much.  They are a family of 7 that live in a very small humble home, but they are so happy.  I could just feel so strongly the spirit and gozo when we were there gathered around with their whole family sharing the plan of salvation and how they are a familia eterna because they went to the temple and are sealed together for time and all eternity.  

Something that we’ve been sharing a lot this week with the people we´ve been visiting is about the plan of salvation and family history work.  I myself have learned so much about it and how important and how beautiful it is. I never really thought much about family history, but this ward has been so faithful and diligent in doing family history, and the people are so excited to be able to bring names to the temple.  Also this week we had a noche de hogar com la familia E..  They are a family of 6 that also live in a really small home, and they´ve been less active for some time but they´re made the goal to come back to church and this Sunday was their second Sunday. It’s amazing to see how much they are working towards achieving this goal and to see how much this gospel really blesses families.  We´re also trying to help them to achieve the bigger goal to get to the temple.   

ALSO we had a super great noche de hogar with Hermana Paola.  We´ve been concerned because she has been progressing really well and going to seminary and the activities and things, but she hasn’t been coming to church.  We feel like she doesn’t know very many of the mujeres jovenes.  So we planned to have a noche de hogar with her and the young women. We thought that just like 10 or 15 people were going to come, but to our surprise, ALL of the young women AND all of the young men came, and the leaders, and we had about 30 people or more there, and we all fit, haha.  The Obispo had some of the jovenes bear their testimonies and it was so perfect for Paola to be able to hear their testimonies, so she could strengthen her testimony.  Then we played mafia, which was so much fun.  I think Paola felt really good that everyone came, and we are going to visit her this week and I’m hoping that she will finally accept a baptism date.  

We also found a lady this week that works in the home of a member that says she wants to get baptized, because she´s listened to the family read the Book of Mormon together and pray together and from the example that they´ve set she feels the desire to get baptized, which just makes me so happy.  We also have a few other people that we have on the horizon that I think will get baptized, so things are going well.  Like my companions and I say ¨Somos peligrosas y ponderosas.¨

Love you all,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

September 8, 2014 Update.

September 8, 2014

Hola hola,
Can you believe this week I completed 10 months?? I feel like it was just yesterday that I completed 9 months.  Everyone says that after you hit half way that time starts to fly, and it is so true! Anyway, this week was really good.  It’s been a little hard to find our investigadores, and we’ve been rejected a lot, and we’ve been walking a lot in the sun tan fuerte, pero todo esta bien. It’s all good.  We always try to keep ourselves animada and we’re always laughing and joking around and we’re always saying things like rechazaron dos siervos del señor tan hermosos y tan bellas? O si jesuscristo estuviera tocando su puerta, que haría? O ok esta bien nos vemos en el juicio final! O todos tienen su albedrio o coasa asi, hahaha.  Anyway, we have an investigadora se llama Paola.  She is so great, I love her so much.  She really is ready to get baptized and she wants to. She just hasn’t wanted to accept a date and we didn’t know why, but she finally came out and told us that she wants her step-dad to baptize her. But the thing is that right now he’s less active and he’s living with her mom. But they’re not married yet, so he’s not able to baptize her until he’s married and active again in the church.  So we’re going to work with the ward and see how we can help them to get married and get him back to church and his wife too and how we can help Paola get baptized.  She’s also attending seminary which I think is helping a lot.  We also went with her to an activity in the church that was a noche de talentos that the jovenes presentaron, and it was really good.  

Anyway nothing else has been too exciting.  One thing I don’t think I've mentioned is that we've started to eat with the members on Saturdays and Sundays, so we can get to know them better. This was the third weekend, and it’s been going really well.  I like eating with the members, except the fact that they always serve us so much food! haha.  It’s turning into summer again, so it’s been really hot.  I think when I get back I will appreciate the cold more... ha-ha, and AC. I love you all and hope all is well back home.

Con mucho amour, 

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

August update

September 1, 2014

Hola hola,

I have lots to write about but not much time.  Last Monday we had a really fun multi-zone activity.  Tuesday was a good day.  Wednesday was really rough.  We walked and walked and we went to visit a lot of people but no one was there or they were busy and we just had no luck at all. But then we went to the capilla for a stake activity that they had, where the jovenes presentaron bailes tradicionales de Bolivia and it was so cool.  Then that night we anxiously awaited the calls for the cambios, but I and my companion didn’t have cambios, so we are both still here together in this area, and I am really happy.  Hna. C and I are like best friends.  We are always having fun, but also sometimes we get a little fed up with each other, but then we always end up laughing.  I love her so much.  

Thursday was my birthday and it was really, really good.  In the morning I made myself pancakes.  Then we got ready and went to our zone meeting.  Hermana Zambrano came and brought me a cake and everyone sang to me, and then we all ate cake.  Then we went to lunch, and I brought with me the package of the crumb cake I love so much from home that mom sent me, so after lunch we made that, and it turned out exactly how it is at home, so that made me really happy.  Then we had a good day visiting people, and ended up at the end of the day with our converts Alejandra and Jorge, and their mom Lidia who bought me a cake and it was so good, Alejandra brought me a flag from Bolivia (in exchange for the flag I got her from the States) and she also made a card and got me a necklace, so that was so sweet.  I seriously love her.  Then also Hermana Yulissa, my old pensionista called me and wished me a happy birthday, which also made me so happy because I love her so much! Anyway, so it was a good birthday, with lots of cake :) and the rest of the week has gone by pretty good.  Thanks for your birthday wishes.  

Watch out world, I am officially 20!!! Ha-ha,

Love you all,

Hermana Tijerino

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August 25, 2014

Buenos Dias,

This week was really good and I can´t believe that cambios are this week. These past 6 weeks have gone by so fast.  We´ve been teaching a lot of people, but especially the conversos recientes.  We have a lot of investigadores, but they just don’t cumplir con sus compromisos and don´t come to church, so it’s hard for them to be able to progress.  But anyway, we´re going to keep trying.  We have a lot of part member families that we are teaching as well.

This week there was a multi-zone conference that was really good.  They talked about a lot of things, but especially about the Godhead, and the characteristics of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.  I learned a lot, and especially from the testimonies that some of the missionaries shared.  There are a lot of the Latino missionaries that are the only members in their family, and I am so amazed at their valentia to be able to come and serve a mission.  That is something I’ve learned a lot this week, la importancia a tener un testimonio.  It’s so important to have a testimony, because that is your drive to do the right and obey, and it’s your iron rod to hold on when things get rough and trials come your way.  I’m so grateful for my testimony and that I’m here on the mission developing my testimony even more and helping people to gain a testimony of our loving Heavenly Father and our savior Jesus Christ. 

Anyway, I don’t know what’s to come with cambios this week.  I hope that I can stay here one more cambio with Hermana C.  I love her so much.  We´ve really become like best friends.  We have a lot of fun, and also with the other Hermanas that live in our house.  I´ll let you know what happens! Also my birthday just has to be on the same day as cambios, ha-ha.  But we´re going to celebrate with our pensionista the day before, and on the day of the familia Arevalo (Alejandra y Jorge) have already invited us over, ha-ha.

Love you all so much, con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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August 18, 2014

Hola!

I don’t have much time to write, but this week seriously went by sooo fast! My companion and I have been having a lot of fun and working really hard and finding lots of new people to teach.  And we've been really happy, always laughing and joking around.  The only sad thing that we experienced this week is that the Family R. that was our golden family haven’t been home all week and don’t answer their phone and they didn’t come to church and we’re not really sure what happened.  They kind of just disappeared.  It’s always when people are progressing so much and so close, the adversary comes and ruins everything! Ha-ha, but really we have no idea, so for now we are just going to give it time before we back. 

Anyway this week we also had intercambios and my comp went to another area and I stayed here with another Hermana from Bolivia, and it was really fun and I learned a lot from her and her testimony.  I know this gospel is true and changes lives and that God loves us and wants us to be happy and we can find true happiness in our families, in the service of others, and in this gospel that allows us to return to our Heavenly Father.  I am also so grateful for all the members here and for their support, and for everyone that we meet and teach every day.  I also love my companion, who has helped me so much to find joy in the work.  

Hope you all are doing well! 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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August 11, 2014

Hola, 

Wow! this week went by super fast.  I guess that means we´ve been busy, ha-ha. This week was pretty good.  Last Monday we played Wally again with our zone (indoor volleyball) and it was super fun.  All the elders are hilarious, and we were just laughing the whole time.  Tuesday was a full day of teaching, and we had a really good lesson with the familia R.  Then on Wednesday was dia de independencia de Bolivia and we had a noche de talentos en el barrio. We went to pick up Hermana T. R. with a hermano that has an auto because she´s in a wheelchair, and it was the first time was she was able to come to the capilla, so that made me really happy.  I love her and her sister M. (there´s a foto of us).  The rest of their family came late, but they were all there, so it was super good.  A lot of the talentos were traditional bailes de Bolivia, and they were all so cool.  Then the rest of the week was pretty good.  The only disappointing thing was that we were supposed to have another lesson with the familia R. but they weren’t there and they didn’t come to church yesterday, so that made us sad.  Keep praying for them!  we´re hoping to have a noche de hogar with them tonight.  Anyway we´ve also found some new investigadores this week.  Also my companion and I have been laughing and joking around a lot, and it’s been really fun.  Anyway, but talking to the other Hermanas, something that the mission does is it makes us realize that there are so many things that we can do that maybe we never thought we could do before.  Like speaking a different language or being able to talk to anyone on the street, and how there are so many things we can learn and talents that we can develop like learning to cook or play an instrument or study something new and other things that like.  I am grateful for all of the things I’ve learned and all the things I will continue to learn.  Love you all, 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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August 4, 2014

Hola hola!

So this week was really good.  But also there´s some crazy news.  So remember how I said that Santa Cruz is semi-peligroso.  Well.... two houses down from where the Hermanas live in Jardin (where I was a few months ago), there was a murder, so the next day the president took the Hermanas out and sent 2 here in Belen, and the other 2 to another area Paraiso.  So since Friday we´ve had another 2 Hermanas living with us.  They´re both from Bolivia, super great.  So now we are back to working in just half the area, which is both good and bad.  Good because now it’s not so huge, but sad because we´ve lost some investigadores and a lot of people that we love, but its ok because they´re in good hands.  Also since these Hermanas just came from Jardin I was able to ask and see how everyone is doing there, and I found out that a family we found and were teaching the parents just got married and baptized! So that made me super happy.  Anyway, my companion and I are doing well.  She is really great. I’m the senior companion so I have more responsibilities and I feel like I have to carry a bit more of the weight, but she is helping me a lot.  She is also so funny and we love to joke around and have fun, and I’ve been super happy being with her. Right now we are focusing on the familia R.  They are an amazing investigator family; the mom is the strong one that always comes to church and wants to get baptized, as well as her family.  The only one of her kids that is attending church is M., who´s 19 and so sweet and has lots of friends in the ward now.  We are thinking that their baptism is either going to be the 16th or the 23rd.  Her oldest hija is in a wheelchair because she has some enfermedad, but she´s always in the lessons, but she just hasn’t been able to attend church.  The boys of the family are really shy so they´re not always in the lesson and don’t always come to church, so that is the challenge right now.  Please just pray for their family so that Hermana L. can get baptized and M., and mas adelante el resto de la familia.  I seriously just love them so much.  Anyway, that pretty much what’s been going on.  Having fun, working hard, new Hermanas, and trying to help people come unto Christ.  

Love you all, con mucho amor,

Hermana Tijerino

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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.