My last post from Bolivia.

                                                                                                April 26, 2015

This week has been a really good week.  My companion and I have been able to take the role of the Savior and be able to be a comforter for a lot of people.  On Monday we visited an Hermana that experienced something really hard with her husband, and we were able to give her some words of comfort.  Then on Tuesday we visited Hermana B, and sadly some things had also happened with her husband, and she doesn’t want to come to church anymore. But we’re going to keep praying for her so that both her and her husband can have a change of heart.  Then we visited a new investigadora, una hermana who’s only 18 and married with a baby. Her husband is far away working and she is far from her family.  We took the opportunity to teach her about the gospel and that she is never alone because God is always with us, and we made her feel a lot better.  Wednesday we did service for a family of investigadores of the elders in our branch, and they are a super great family.  Then we’ve been visiting la Familia M. who I’ve come to love so much.  In the evening we weren’t sure who to visit, but we decided to visit some members and we shared a message with la Hermana and she thanked us so much because it touched her heart and was something that she needed at that moment. 

Thursday was an even more emotional day.  We went to visit la hermana of our pensionista who just had her baby, but of only 7 months. It was funny because first we were walking to her house.  It had rained and where they live is really hard to get to because it’s all dirt roads and it was completely muddy. It was so slippery and we were walking slowly so we wouldn’t fall. It took us so long and there is also a big hill and when we were almost there, we saw her daughter leaving. She told us that no one was home... and her mom was still in the hospital.  That evening we felt prompted to go visit her in the hospital, because the other day I found out that la Hermana D., an hermana from the other rama that I met and who I love, was interned at the hospital, so we went and saw them both.  First we saw Hermana D. who was in a serious condition of anemia I think, and we were able to talk to her for a little bit and comfort her.  Then we went looking for la hermana M. who had just had her baby, who also is an investigator. We found her sitting outside on a bench all alone and when we starting talking to her she started crying. She told us that she almost died giving birth, and that her baby was born prematurely, but that she’s ok. We also comforted her and she said that if God gave her the opportunity, she would get baptized.  We both felt the spirit so strong, and we’re hoping that she will be able to get baptized.  We also had a really powerful lesson with an hermana that we’ve been getting to know and she said she wants to get baptized.   We found out after that she doesn’t live on our area, but we’re still really happy for her.  

Anyway the main highlight of this week was that we as la obra misional put on un noche de talentos in our branch, and it was super fun.  We were busy getting everything ready on Saturday and it turned out really well.  My companion and I sang a song.  We both love to sing and we had practiced all week. It’s a really pretty song, I think it’s from the Young Women’s, but it’s in Spanish.  We sang and it turned out really well, and I’m really surprised with myself that I did something that I would have never done before.  Anyway, that’s a little bit of what has been going on this past week.  This week will be my last week in Cobija and I think next Monday I will be flying to Santa Cruz, because then next Friday I will be coming home.  I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions, mostly sad because I don’t want to leave, but grateful for all the things I’ve been able to experience and also happy for the work I’ve done.  I also am so grateful for my companion because I love her so much as if she were my own sister. I love her and these people so much and I will try to take advantage of every moment I have this week to be with these people I love, until I’ll be able to be home with my family and friends that I love as well.  

Thanks for everything, con amor, Hermana Tijerino

Also I wanted to say that I am so happy for the la familia M. because now they are coming to church every week and yesterday the brother of D. was able to repartir la santa cena for the first time, and it made us so happy.  This family is so special to me and I love them so much.  Also we’ve been working really hard with a less active hermano to get him to come to church and I said to my companion that I didn’t want to leave here until I saw him at church and yesterday he came to church! So that also was a little miracle for me.  Anyway that’s all.  Les quiero mucho! 

Create Eternal Families, that is what we do...

                                                                                                April 20, 2015

This week was super good! First of all I am feeling a lot better. I’m not sick anymore and things are going really well.  We went to Santa Cruz this week for a multizone conference and Elder Waddell of the Seventy came and we had a super good conference and a great time in Santa Cruz.  We got there Thursday afternoon and I was able to visit mi pensionista from my area in Belen, which was really nice.  Then on Friday we had the conference from 7 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon.  It was very inspiring and among all of the things I learned, one thing I want to share is that the purpose of the priesthood and the purpose of missionary work and what we do is to CREATE ETERNAL FAMILIES.  Everything leads to going to the temple and creating eternal familias.  I love that. 

Afterward we went to my first area Jardin and I was able to visit all of the conversos! Hermana J., Hermana M. y Hermano K. y toda su familia y la Hermana M. It made me so happy to see everyone and crazy to see how much they changed and to remember the love that I feel for them.  It was so hard to say goodbye but I am glad that I had the opportunity to see them one last time.  Saturday morning we came back and it’s also good to be back in Cobija.  I would love to tell you more but I’m out of time.  But I want to let you all know that I am so happy and grateful for so many things.  I’m grateful for temples and for the priesthood and for missionary work and for eternal families.  I’m so grateful for my mission and for all of the people I’ve met and for the converts I’ve had, and for the conversion I’ve been able to feel in my life.  I’m so grateful for the gospel and I know it’s true.  I’m happy that I’m going to be able to come home soon and see all of you.  I can’t believe that I only have a few weeks left and I know it’s going to be so hard to leave, but again, I am happy and I am grateful.

  

Love, Hermana Tijerino

Rain and Cold, but a great week!

Hola hola!                                                                               April 13, 2015.

Last Monday it rained and for the first time in Cobija it was cold. Like really FRIO. We didn't have any sweaters or coats or anything, and because of that my companion and I both got sick with the flu/cold. I think because it’s my last transfer I’m just getting every sickness possible. This week we've both been sick and it hasn't been fun, but the positive side is that we had the baptism of D. M.  It’s been so special to see how much the family has progressed and now all the family is coming to church. Before just the kids were coming and not the parents, but they are all coming and they were so grateful to have their last son be baptized. D. was so happy, and his dad was able to baptize him so that was so special. My companion and I were both so happy.  Pretty much that’s all I have to say of this week.  

This coming week a seventy will be coming to Santa Cruz for a conference/training, so our whole zone will be flying to Santa Cruz on Thursday and we’ll have the conference on Friday and then we’ll come back on Saturday, so that should be really fun.  Anyway, I’ll let you know how that all goes.  My companion and I both received blessings from the zone leaders, who are so great and helped us get everything ready for the baptism, and we’re both feeling better.  I’m so grateful for the priesthood and for my companion.  The thing I love about my companion is that no matter what, we can always find something to laugh about. I love her so much.  

I love this gospel and I love Cobija and everyone I've met in my mission and I love my Savior with all my heart.

Con amor, 

Hermana Tijerino

General Conference weekend was great!

Hola hola                                                                                             April 6, 2015.

Just to be honest I completely forgot yesterday was Easter, but anyway Happy Easter! This week was a little rough because I've been sick, but it ended up being a good weekend because it was General Conference!

This week we've been visiting with our two investigadores that are progressing the most; D. y B.  D. is 9, and his family is less active, but they are coming to church again. We've been teaching D. and getting him ready for his baptism which will be this Saturday, so we’re excited for him and mas que todo my companion and I just love his family.  D. and his brother and sisters and his parents are all so great. They came to General Conference yesterday so that made us happy. Since he’s a niño, after every time we teach, we play games with them and it’s so fun. We've also been visiting Hermana B, who I love so much. This week she asked me when I was going home and I told her in May and said softly no se vaya, which just broke my heart because I don’t want to leave either, because I want to see her get baptized, but we just have to convince her husband to get married… so we’ll see how that goes.  And we've been visiting other new investigadores we have and conversos y menos activos, but we haven’t been able to teach a lot of people because I've been sick.  

I loved all the messages in Conference.  I love everything they said about Christ and his atonement, and also about the family and having an eternal perspective.  I am so grateful for my Savior and for the sacrifice he made for us so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father, and so we can be eternal families.  I also really liked the talk by David Bednar about how we can overcome fear and trust in the Lord by turning to Christ, establishing our foundation on Him and continuing forward with faith.  Well it was something like that, I was listening to it in Spanish.  Anyway it was all really good and I hope you all were able to listen and learn more about our Savior and also about the plan of salvation and how it is amazing everything God has prepared for us.  

The days are going by fast and I’m so grateful for all my blessings and for my mission and for everything I've learned and for my testimony.  If you haven’t watched it yet, watch the Mormon message video “Because He Lives”.

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

Staying in Cobija!

Hola!                                                                                                          March 30, 2015.

                      

So this week went by really fast.  I was super nervous the few days before los cambios, because I really didn't want to have to leave this area.  On Wednesday, just in case, I went ahead and took pictures with everyone and I wrote a few notes for the people I love. I also finally achieved my dream of riding on a moto! (Don’t worry it’s allowed and it was with the president of Relief Society and she is the best). Then we got the calls that night for los cambios and.... I’m staying! I’ll be finishing my mission here en el hermoso pueblo de Cobija! I’m so happy. Also it has finally hit me that this is my last transfer, so I’m a little sad because I don’t want to leave here.  I love the people so much and I also love my companion.  She is so great.  We are always talking and laughing and singing and it’s the best.  I’m really happy to stay here my last transfer.  But pretty much all of the elders in our zone got changed, so it’s really different, but hopefully it will still be cool.  Yesterday we didn't have church because it was Election Day here in Bolivia, so we were stuck inside the house and it was so boring.  It made me realize how lucky we are each day to leave the house and preach the gospel of Christ to these amazing people.  And I am so excited for General Conference this coming weekend.  That’s all I have time for. Love you all.

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

Goooool! from Jenny!

March 23, 2015

Hola,

This week was super good.  Starting off with Monday, we played futbol after not having played for a while. It was super fun and I made a goal! Also today we played futbol in the morning and I made two goals, so I am improving.  Man I am going to miss this zone, because all the elders are so great and because we are so far away from everyone else, we are super united and I love it.  During the week we’ve been visiting a lot of people and having lots of lessons.  It was the birthday of Hermana B. on Tuesday. We went with la Presidenta de la Sociedad de Socorro, and another hermana who is friends with hermana B., and we brought a cake and surprised her. She was super happy.  We also had a super good lesson with her yesterday with el Presidente de la rama y su esposa. Her husband was there for the first time! We talked about the family and the importance of marriage. We encouraged them to get married, because that is the only thing that is impeding Hermana B. from getting baptized.  It went really well and they said they are going to talk and pray about it.  Please pray for them so they can make the decision to get married! We’ve also been visiting la familia M., and we have the baptism for el hijo menor D.  We’ve been trying to help the family come back to church, and they all came to church yesterday, so that made us really happy.  We also are visiting a hermana who is less active and recently opened up a salon in our area, so today we are going to go and she’s going to give us facials.  We’ve also been visiting an hermana converso, Hermana D., who is super poderosa, and it’s gracias a ella that we found Hermana B.  The work is going really well and I LOVE these people.

With the cambios coming up, I am scared that I will leave, but I really hope not.  I only have one transfer left and I hope I can finish my mission here in Cobija, but I will go where the Lord wants me to be.  Yesterday we had our Conferencia de Distrito, for all the members in Cobija. It was super good and I learned a lot.  It was all focused on the family and on the husband and wife and how much the husband needs to love and respect his wife and how much he needs to express his love to his wife.  They talked about how we need to establish our homes on the foundation and rock of Christ, (Helaman 5:12), and also how we need to prepare ourselves as families for eternal life.  Finally they talked about how Satan works with us and how sometimes he doesn’t tell us not to do the right thing, but sometimes he says we can do the right thing, tomorrow.  But we know that tomorrow never comes.  We need to decide to be righteous today.  Anyway, it was super powerful.  Also I got to see all the members from the Rama Cobija that I got to know when I was in the Rama, and I love them all so much.  There are so many people here in Cobija that I’ve come to love and I know it’s going to be hard to leave.  But I am so grateful for the time the Lord has given me to serve his children here.  My companion and I are doing really well and I love her so much and I hope I can finish my mission with her.  I only have one more transfer left and the time is going by so fast. It scares me that I don’t have much time left, but I’m going to keep working as hard as I can to help others come unto Christ.  

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.  Also I received a Valentine’s Day card from the Young Women I think. 

Thank you so much! Love you all,

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

This crazy tropical weather

March 16, 2015.

Hola,

This week was a pretty good normal week.  But I felt like it went by super fast!  And I’ve come to the conclusion that the weather here in Cobija is LOCO, or maybe just bipolar.  It goes from being super super hot to pouring rain in a matter of seconds.  It will be super hot all morning and then it will rain in the afternoon and then it will go back to super hot, and it’s just crazy!  But other than that, things are good here in Cobija.  I love it and I hope I can finish my mission here.  I only have about less than two months left!  It’s so hard to believe that the time has gone by so rapido.

On Monday we had a noche de hogar with Hermana S. and her family, who are recent converts, and they are really great.  We drank jugo de coco, the juice that comes straight from the coconut, and it was really gross.  But then she made a drink from the fruit of the coco and it was really good.  On Tuesday we visited Hermana B., and she is doing really well and progressing a lot. We’re just praying that her esposo can listen to us too.  Then we had a noche de hogar with la familia V., and it was super good.  On Wednesday we visited a converso named Deydi, and she is the best.  That night we went to visit la familia M. We have a baptism planned for their son who is about to turn 9 and hasn’t been baptized yet, because his parents are less active.  We had a really good lesson with them, but then it started to rain really hard.  Where they live it’s all dirt roads and hills so they gave us their ponchos and their flashlight because it’s also really dark in this area.  We walked home sliding all over the place in the mud and trying to light our dim pathway with this flashlight, and it was really funny.  On Thursday we had a really good district meeting, and we visited the family that had to evacuate their home and that we helped move into the church building. They are still there because their house isn’t safe to live in.  They have 3 kids, and I love them so much.  That afternoon we visited an Hermana from la rama Cobija who just had a baby. She has such a powerful testimony and is such an amazing example to me of someone who is truly converted to the gospel.  The weekend was pretty good as well.  

On Saturday we had our English class that we taught in la capilla, and noche de hermanamiento which was pretty fun.  Yesterday we went to go pick up Hermana B. to go to church and as we were walking it starting pouring rain out of nowhere. We had to wait a little until it calmed down, and then we kept walking until we made it to church.  Not a lot of people came because of the rain.  It really just goes to show that the people who have a testimony and who are faithful and strong will come to church no matter the circumstances.  I love this gospel so much and I love these people de Cobija.  And I also love my companion so much. We talk so much and have so much fun and we are learning a lot from one another and I honestly love being with her.  Anyway, that’s all I have for now. 

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 - 2015. 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.

Leave me alone mosquitoes.

March 09, 2015

Hola!

Today there’s finally Internet access! This week was really good and has returned to normal pretty much.  My companion and I have been doing well, just being eaten alive by mosquitoes! But other than that it’s been good and we’ve been having a lot of lessons and have a lot of people we’re teaching.  We’re still teaching our investigadora Hermana B. who is amazing and has now come to church 5 or 6 times. Her testimony is growing and she is really great, but.... she needs to get married and we still haven’t been able to teach her esposo. So that’s the challenge right now, to be able to convince and help them get married. She has 3 little girls who are THE CUTEST.  I love her and her family so much.  We also have a less active family, la familia M.  La hija Paola is active, and her little brother who is 8 about to turn 9 is starting to come to church with her, also her other brother who is less active. We had a really good lesson with their family last night and we have planned the baptism for the little boy for the 11th of April.  

This week we also helped the Young Women with their activity. We made cake, and it was really fun because I felt like I was back in Young Women again. These girls are so great.  That’s pretty much all that’s been going on this week.  But there was a sad occurrence. Because of the floods and everything, it affected pretty much all of the area of the other sisters, Hermana B. and Hermana C. They talked to President, and he decided that it would be best if they left and were put in another area because they really can’t work in their area.  The water has gone down and everything but a lot of the people still haven’t returned to their homes, because there is supposedly another flood that will come again this month.  So on Wednesday they packed their stuff and on Thursday they left for Santa Cruz, and I don’t think they’ll be coming back.  So that was really sad to say goodbye to them because they’re so great and I know they both love Cobija, just as much as I do.  Cobija is such a special place and the people are amazing and I love them.  

Also, yesterday we had a really good class en la capilla about our Savior Jesus Christ and it made me think a lot about how He really is our savior and he paid for our debt and he made such a big sacrifice for us because he loves us. I’m so grateful for Him and for everything he did for us and for the privilege I have to be His servant and help people come unto Him.  

I love my Savior and I love this gospel and I love Cobija.

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

Floods in Cobija

                                                                                                                        March 2, 2015

Hola hola!

Ok I have to make this email quick.

The week before from Sunday until Wednesday we were home because it was Carnaval and it was pretty chill. We just studied and talked and got to know each other, my companion and I, because I’m training and my companion is super great.  The rest of the week was a little hard but it was good.  On Saturday the floods came.  Cobija is on the border of Brazil and it’s divided by a river. It’s been raining a lot here and in Brazil and so it flooded. There are a lot of parts of Cobija that are flooded.  It’s mostly the area of the elders and of the other hermanas, and we spent all that weekend helping people evacuate their homes.  I’ve never seen anything like this.  The water is literally up to the roofs of some houses.  There are a lot of families affected and they’re all staying in the school buildings here or also in a big park that is in front of where we live.  A lot of members were affected and it’s amazing to see the church come together to help those in need. There wasn’t internet in all of Cobija last Monday so that’s why we weren’t able to write. 

This week has been really good though.  My companion and I are working really hard and finding a lot of people to teach and we have a few investigadores progressing and I have really been able to feel the joy of working hard and being obedient and sharing the gospel and testifying to people of the truth.  My companion is a sweetheart and we talk a lot and have a lot of fun and we both love these people.  Please pray for Hermana Beatriz who is mas progresando. Also please pray for Cobija and for all the affected families.  I’m doing really well, I love this work so much, and I love Cobija.  It breaks my heart to see the flooding here that’s the worst it’s ever been before, but I know that in a way it’s helping the people come together and help one another, and it’s helping us to be able to be more Christ like and serve those around us.  That’s all I have time to write. Now I’m going to try to send pictures also because I finally have my camera fixed!

Love you all!

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

Viva El Carnaval de Bolivia!

                                                                                                February 14, 2015

Hola! So surprise, I’m on the Internet!

                                   

They told us at first that we wouldn’t be able to write until next Monday, but I think President decided to be nice and let us all write, today Saturday, so here I am!

Well I will take this opportunity to write and tell you how this week has gone by so far.  Monday we took Hermana N. to the airport, and from then on I was with Hermana C. and Hermana B.  We went to Internet Café and then we had to make the arrangements for the two of them to come and stay in our house because it’s bigger. Then we also got together with the elders to play soccer at the chapel for a little bit.  That night we had a noche de hogar with a family in the other area that I had visited before. We made tacos with them, and it was super good.  Then on Tuesday we were mostly in the area of Cobija visiting people. It was super good for me to be able to see these people again that I love.  Especially because we were able to visit Hermana E., and I love her so much!

On Wednesday we cooked lunch with la Familia P. and that was really fun.  It was raining all day, but we put on our boots and our ponchos, and we went out. We visited people from both areas, and it was fun although we weren’t able to have many lessons.  We also got the call of the cambios, and it turns out that we’re all staying.   Everyone in our zone is staying the same, just that 3 new ones would come to replace the 3 that finished their missions.  And.... I’m a mama! In other words, I’m training a new hermana.  So on Thursday morning she arrived, and we had a big welcome sign for her.  My companion is Hermana V., and she’s from Ecuador, and she is such a sweetheart.  I love her.  This is my first time training, so it’s a little different, but I love it. It’s a great experience for me to have to go back to the basics and to be able to be an example for someone, and to be able to get to know my companion and to love and serve her.  She really is so sweet and has such a sweet testimony.  Her mom has passed away, and Hermana Zambrano had called me just before she came to tell me that and that I just have to love and take care of her, and that’s what I’m planning on doing.  I wish I could send a picture of us, but I still don’t have my camera, but I hope it will arrive safe and fixed from Santa Cruz, and then I will finally be able to take pictures.

  

These past two days we’ve been working hard and visiting people and have had many good lessons.  Starting today at 4:00 we have to be en casa until Wednesday, because ya empieza las fiestas de Carnaval.  So we’re going to go shopping and get the things we need because we won’t be able to leave for 3 days.  We will pretty much be continuing our studies and be able to work on my companion’s training and watch movies and stuff, and also presidente has asked us to read the Book of Mormon, so that’s what we’ll be doing.  Hope everyone has a good week and a Happy Valentine’s Day! In regards to love, I want you all to know that I love this gospel with all my corazon, and I love missionary work, and I love Bolivia and the people of Cobija, and I love the time I’ve been able to be here and how much I’ve been able to strengthen my testimony. 

And I love you all! Until next Monday...

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

Saying goodbye is not fun.

                                                                                                

February 9, 2015

Hola!

 Ok so I have a ton to write and not much time, so please excuse my spelling, ha-ha.

This week was crazy, although I feel like I always say that, but it really was and this next week will be too. 

From Monday to Wednesday we were in Santa Cruz.  Monday we didn’t have much time to do anything, but as we were heading to the house where we were going to stay in the area of Paraiso, we ran into Hermana B. and Hermana B. who are companions and who flew in from Trinidad. We all went to a little bakery to eat, and we were telling stories of crazy experiences that have happened to us. We were laughing a ton.  Then we were all going to stay in the same house, so we got back and kept talking and sharing stories, and it was super fun. The next day was super busy.  We had the meeting with the president all morning, where we learned a lot about charity, and it was super good. We also listened to the testimonios of the missionaries that are leaving. There were some tears shed, and we could all feel the spirit so strong.  We all ate lunch together there in the chapel, and then we went to go visit a family that my companion had taught in this area. We went to las oficinas to talk to the president, and then we went with Hermana B. and Hermana B. to El Centro y La Plaza and pretty much spent the rest of the day there buying recuerdos and eating ice cream and having fun.  That night was the last night we would all be together because the next day we left really early to go to the airport to head back to Cobija.  We got back Wednesday afternoon, and we helped the young women with their activity that evening. We taught them to make cinnamon rolls, and they turned out super yummy.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday we worked super hard and visited lots of people.  Saturday we had the baptism of Hermana R., and it went really well.  She is the cutest and I love her so much.  I’m really glad that Hermana N. was able to end her mission with a baptism.  

It’s been really fun this past week to be with Hermana N. because she is a great missionary and a great friend to me. It was sad because we took her to the airport this morning. She left for Santa Cruz and will be going home on Thursday.  She’s from Utah, so I know I’ll see her after I get back, but still it’s a little sad.  I don’t like saying goodbye.  I know it’s going to be super hard to say goodbye to Cobija, and also to Santa Cruz, because I love it sooo much.  I’m so grateful for my mission and everything I’ve learned and it’s so crazy that I only have 2 transfers left (3 months).  But I will try to make the best of it and enjoy every moment.  Until Thursday I will be in a trio with Hermana C. and Hermana B., who were my previous companions, and I love them. Then on Thursday my new companion should arrive. When I talked to the presidente, he told me that I’ll probably train, because there are 6 new hermanas that will be coming.  I’ll let you know how that goes.

Next week is Carnaval here in Bolivia, from Sunday to Tuesday. We won’t be allowed to leave the house for these three days, so I WILL NOT BE WRITING NEXT WEEK. Just so you know, but please still write me, and I’ll write back in two weeks! Thanks! Love you all!

Con 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 - 2015. 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.

Back to Santa Cruz for a couple days.

 February 2, 2015

  

 Hola hola, 

                                        

So today I am writing from Santa Cruz.  We spent pretty much all day traveling and now we arrived and have a little time to write.  Tomorrow we have our monthly consejo de lideres.  This past week was a little crazy.  Monday it was pouring rain, but like always we played soccer and we got super soaked.  We had a really nice noche de hogar with la familia de Hermana R.  She´s going to get baptized this Saturday.  She has 9 siblings, she´s 10 years old, the 4th oldest I think, and she´s super cute and excited to be baptized.  Her family are members as well.  On Tuesday we had intercambios, and Hermana N. came with me to my area, and my companion Hermana C. went to the other area en Cobija.  It was a super great day and we worked really hard and had a lot of fun.  Friday morning we changed companions, and now I´m with Hermana N.  She is super awesome and a great missionary and a really good friend. I´ve enjoyed being with her. I’m just sad because she finishes her mission next week. But we´re working hard and teaching a lot of people, and there are a lot of people progressing here.  I love my area and all the people and I love being with Hermana N. and feeling like we´re working super hard but having fun at the same time.  

On Saturday we went to an area that is 45 minutes away to do a servicio with the zone. It was an area that’s even more undeveloped than where I am in Cobija. It’s so humbling to see these people with so little but with so much faith.  It’s like that with la familia de Hermana R.  There are 12 people in her family and they live in very humble circumstances. But they have the Gospel and they have a beautiful family, and they are happy. 

Yesterday in testimony meeting almost everyone talked about their families and how they can have an eternal family. We had 3 investigadores en la capilla, and I think that it touched them hearing those testimonies, because it touched me.  Anyway, I’m still so happy and grateful to be here in Cobija and to be with my companion, even if it’s just for a short time.  We´ll be in Santa Cruz until Wednesday and then go back, and I´ll let you know how it all goes.

 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 - 2015. 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.

Spiders, snakes and roaches!

January 26, 2015

Hola:                                                  

So this week has honestly been a little rough for me, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot from past experiences and I’ve been able to be more patient and stronger when dealing with trials. The week was starting fine on Monday.  The hermanas were in charge of the activity, so we played volleyball (to change it up a little from soccer) and then we made pizza with el Hermano F. who owns a bakery and makes delicious pizza! That evening when we were heading to a noche de hogar with a family, it was a little dark, and we found a snake in the road. I almost stepped on it, but my companion saw it and screamed and went running! Then I saw it and I just walked around it. I was like [hey, tranquila, no pasa nada]. When I caught up to my companion she was in hysterics, because she has never seen a snake before and it really scared her.  She walked the rest of the way clinging on to my arm, and I luckily had a little flashlight to light the way, so it was ok.  But it was so funny though.

Then things started to get worse on Tuesday when we moved.  We live with members. They have the same room where we are now right next door, and it’s just nicer because it has air conditioning and another sink, so we decided to move over to that room.  We pretty much moved everything over on Tuesday, and we finished on Wednesday.  When we got home Tuesday night there were 2 cockroaches! And on Wednesday night we found another cockroach and a huge centipede.  Thursday morning there was a giant GIGANTE spider in the bathroom.

We haven’t been able to have a lot of lessons this week. We have new investigadores that we’re really excited about and we had 4 come to church yesterday. Also we have Hermana R. who is 10 years old and her family are members. She was living with her mom in another area and her dad lives here. She’s now here and her dad wanted to be the one to baptize her, so we’re teaching her the lessons and she will be baptized the 7th of February. She is the sweetest little girl and has such a sincere testimony. Also this week we’ve had 2 noche de hogares with la Familia V. They are a less active family of 7 that are a humble family that live in humble circumstances, but are so great and make me remember that all we need to be happy is our family and the Gospel.  On Saturday we went to a baptism of the elders in our branch and an hermano was able to baptize his wife, and it was so tender. 

I’m going to send this and then finish in another email because it’s raining super hard and I’m afraid the internet will go out.

Anyway, I am so grateful for this gospel and for these mission experiences.

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 - 2015. 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.