Refiner's Fire

Good moooooooooooooorning!

So. This week flew right by! And I'm still trying to wrap my mind everything that happened. Can it really be that I just Skyped my family for Christmas? And I feel as if only a few minutes after it happened, I couldn't remember anything we talked about. It still all feels like a dream. And I can't even believe that it happened. SO WEIRD. But alas. Here we are, approaching our New Year! :) Let's make the most of it!

So. Just a couple of random tidbits for y'all today.... On Tuesday we got to watch "Christmas Oranges" with the branch. An older couple from Lehi, Utah is living up in Consejo shores for a few months and brought that movie and a couple of chocolate oranges to share with the members. None of these Belizeans have ever seen that before and they LOVED it!--the movie and the chocolate. :) It was a very fun night. Sad movie, yet very wonderful. It reminded me of all of the tiny five-minute stories that our family likes to read every day in December....that we usually read right before we left for school! :) This story has always been one of my favorites.

I also got to go on interchanges with Sistah Hunter on Tuesday because our companions needed to go down to Belize City for some doctor appointments. We taught a couple of really positive people and once again I'm tellin' ya--it's all because of the "He is the Gift" video. But the really cool thing is, is that the very first appointment, we walk into this house and the man answers the door. He looked SO familiar! He's tall and Kriol and very nice, but I couldn't put my finger on where we had seen each other before--maybe just another one of those street contacts, I guess. And he said the same thing. That my companion and I had stopped him on the street. I just couldn't remember where.....

Well. We continue with the lesson and he says that he has read a little of the pamphlet concerning the Restoration because my companion and I had given him a copy. So we started talking about that. And then I remembered where I had seen him! Sister Vasquez and I had talked to him about the middle of last transfer and found out that he actually played for the basketball team here in Corozal. We had set up an appointment for that Sunday and then found out he lived in the elders' area, so we passed him over to them, without any more word about him. Until Tuesday.

So then I told him. He explained that he had moved and then we started talking about basketball. He is planning on coming to sports night this week and wants to bring a bunch of friends, so we are super excited. I felt good about him when we first met him and then the lesson on Tuesday was really good as well. I keep telling the sisters that the only problem they're going to have is figuring out how he's going to fit in our tiny font.... :) Sometimes the other missionaries think I'm crazy for saying such things about people when I barely know them, but this man is different. I can feel it. He is very open to the gospel and he will get baptized! I know it!

Another really cool experience we had this week was concerning a family that Sister Call and I started teaching at the beginning of our first transfer together. We love them immensely, but their progress is slow. Madi is in need of a divorce with her current husband so that she and Eduardo can get married, but we haven't seen any action, because they just don't feel the need to get baptized. They're having some problems with understanding the authority. BUT we're working on that. :) Anyway, her two sons are into drinking and drugs. When Sister Call and I first met the family, Tonito was really, really into that. We actually thought that he was too far gone--he always came home drunk and high, he always yelled and swore and has threatened to beat and chop Madi. It was just.....very....extremely bad. And then he disappeared.

Well. Tonito is the same age as Jorge. They actually were in the same grade in school together until Tonito dropped out. Last night, we got to their house last night (with Jorge) and found Madi very distraught with her neighbors. Tonito was just sitting out back. He had been smoking, but was then just sitting their doing nothing. (It's been a little while since Tonito has come back home. He's not as violent, but just sits out back smoking cigarettes and meth. Madi said something about us....changing her son. Making him better or something. So I left the group and sat over by Toni and just started talking to him. I said something along the lines of, "Hey. Regardless of what your mom says about her wanting us to change you, we just want to be your friends." Sister Vasquez came over and then we started talking to him, laughing, and invited him to sports night. Jorge came over and before we knew it, we were talking about the purpose of life and the Plan of Salvation.

It was amazing. Jorge began to share his testimony--experiences that I didn't even know about. Some old and some that he has recently had while going out with us missionaries. We were all able to testify of God's love for this young man and just.....invite the Spirit. We left him a pamphlet to which he said he'd read, said a prayer, and then went inside to talk to Madi for a moment. And guess who followed us in? Tonito! The Spirit is an incredible thing. It can soften even the most hardest of hearts! :)

One last experience. (Yes, I know. I'm writing a novel.....)

For the past month and a half, I've been struggling. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real. I have a very strong testimony of it. But the waiting is hard. I've been asking myself, "Why now? Why me?" I understand that God knows all things and what is best for all His children. I get that I'm trying trying to exercise my faith in Him. But part of me has been.....not necessarily doubting in His plan, but shouting out in protest to its "unfairness." I think we all go through those times where we ask, "Why now? Why couldn't Heavenly Father wait? Why did this even have to happen?" We all have those moments. And I have definitely been having mine.

On Friday Sister Vasquez and I went to an investigator's house that we haven't been able to see in a while. We didn't know if she'd be there or if she'd be busy or not, but we set out in her direction, hoping we could at least tell her hi and that we love her. Well tender mercy of the Lord, she was there and let us in! She was so happy to see us. We talked for quite a while and then ended up showing her "He is the Gift."

And as usual, once the video got close to the "It was a gift of love, of life, of peace, of hope" part, I started to think of Dad. But this time I started to tear up because suddenly the words, "I love you, Lonnie. Even if it may not feel like it...." came to mind. I know He does. I know Heavenly Father knows us by name. I know He listens to our prayers. I knowHe wants the best for us and I know He is guiding us. He is aware of us in every moment. He does love us.

So that was Friday. Yesterday, however, I was in the chapel with Sister Alico and Jorge watching Mormon Messages as Sister Vasquez Skyped her family. We watched one called The Will of God--based on D. Todd Christofferson's talk about the currant bush. The one where he says, "I am the gardner here. ....I don't want you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush." And then I love when he says, "Thank you for chopping me down. Thank you for loving me enough to hurt me...."

Again, those words came to mind, "I love you, Lonnie. I really do."

And I love Him. Although sometimes I feel as if my trials are unjust, I know that they are necessary and I know that they will help me grow. God is the gardner here and knows what He wants me to be. I know He loves me--enough to hurt me. And I'm grateful He does, so that I may progress as He desires of me.

Just as it says in Isaiah 48--our afflictions are the furnace that refines us. We will come out an even better person than we started. The Master knows what is needed to make us into the best Son or Daughter of God that we can be!

I am so grateful for the mountains in this life that we have to climb. I know that they are necessary for our eternal progression. But I also know that we never have to climb them alone.

Jesus Christ's life was and is a gift of love! Keep finding ways to share it with others!

I love and pray for you all.

Love Always,

Sistah M.

Belize Navidad Y'all

Belize Navidad y'all! (Credit to that clever one goes to the one and only Sistah Patt--"Hermana" now.....)

So.....where to begin is always the question. To explain the photos.....Sister Montes wanted to paint my face last night. So....with all of the photos of face painted children coming from Kels every week, I decided to give in and be the victim. I think it's because I'm missing my besty too much. ;) Well....she made me a "tiger." I thought she did pretty good after admitted that I'm the very first person she has ever face painted before. Unfortunately that confession came after we took the photo. She has room for improvement, but I think I'm done offering my face to anyone here in Corozal.... If I want anything done to my face, I'm headin' up to Colbert! ;) #ShoutoutToBelsieKarnes

The Sweet Corozal branch had a Christmas activity last Friday and let me tell ya (without bragging....), the sistah missionaries stole the show! I wish I could load the video I took, but I'll do my best to explain and include the photos. Us sistahs painted our chins to look like frogs and then laid upside down on a table to sing Christmas carols. It was great! And the members were not expecting such a crazy thing! :) hehehe But we won their hearts and the hearts of our investigators. :) Anyway..... Only in Corozal.....

We've been having a good week. We ended up having A LOT of investigators at church this week. Let me tell ya--it's the Christmas Spirit. I hope you're all showing "He is the Gift" as often as you can. You only have.....three more days to do it. Well....you can continue to do so after, but people probably won't be as willing to see videos about Christmas after the 25th. So.....APROVECHEN EL TIEMPO QUE TENGAN! There's my Spanish for the day. I'm afraid that it has gotten worse during my stay here in Corozal. I hope to get an area with less English and Kriol soon in order to save my Spanish grammar!

Anywho. I have one more little tidbit I'd like to share about this week. Yesterday marked my one year of going to the temple. What an incredible day that was! And as I sat and thought this morning of what I wanted to share and email everyone, I decided it was that.

I remember the day very well. I didn't go to bed until....12:30ish because Grace would not stop talking! And then Dad and I woke up at five to go pick up Katie. It was a blizzard all the way from Fountain Green to Provo and then back again. I almost thought that we'd have to turn around.....without my dear Katie. But we made it. Dad is an AMAZING driver in the snow. And extra kudos to him because it was a stick shift! (We all know how much I am in love with a manual transmission.)

So. We're driving to Provo and back. I hurry and change when we stop at home to pick up Mom and the older siblings and then hit the road for Manti. I am.....completely sick to my stomach. I didn't tell anyone about it, but oh man! I wasvery nervous about having to spend two hours in the temple in my condition. Believe me. Diarrhea and nausea and my upset stomach--not a good combo. But I was too embarrassed to say anything, so we continued on the snow-filled journey, me praying the entire way there.

As soon as I entered the temple doors, my stomach was calm--I was entirely at peace and so....excited and happy. I don't know how to express my feelings of that day. But I had been waiting my whole life for that day--to be surrounded by friends and family in the holy house of the Lord. And it was everything I hoped it would be. Best. Christmas present. Ever.

After the session, we walked back out to the car and the falling snow, only to find that the front axel of our sweet little Ford Focus had gone out. What a miracle! Our beloved Focus was able to last so long! Why did it not die earlier in the day? Especially that morning in the blizzard on the way up to Provo? I needed to go to the temple. The Lord wanted me there as well--as He does with all of His children. That is my testimony that I want to share with all of you this Christmas.

Jesus Christ is the first and best gift of Christmas. And because of His birth, suffering, death, and resurrection, the covenants we make in the temple allow us to have an eternal family. Recently Elder Bednar has asked all of us missionaries to teach with the end in mind--meaning the temple. Baptism is only the start. Our goal as missionaries is to create eternal families and eternal families can only be obtained through faithfulness to covenants made in the temple. I am so grateful for my father and the way he honored his covenants. I know that as we all continue to endure to the end, we will live together again. Forever.

Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy that snow! Remember the true Gift! He is Christ! He is Christmas.

I love you all and I pray for you often.

Love Always,

Sistah M

Use the Spirit of Christmas to share the gospel with EVERYONE!!!!!

So I don't really have time this week to write a good email. So many people emailed with so much good news. It makes me happy. And I think that's just the main message of the week this week.

This past week was just.....well it was just full of difficult moments. My companion has some health problems that require us to stay home sometimes or go on interchanges. Unfortunately that frustrates the work in both areas, and it usually bores Sister Vasquez quite a bit. :) But it was just....a difficult week. However, personal study this week was just completely wonderful! And our lessons that we did have really brought the Spirit. I am just completely happy and satisfied with the sacrifice we gave our Father in Heaven.

We, the missionaries here in Belize, have not yet received the "He is the Gift" materials from SLC. So we have just settled to downloading the video in English and Spanish on our USBs to be able to play on our portable DVD players. Sister Vasquez and I are showing it to EVERYONE and we are having the most wonderful experiences! I wish I had all the time in the world to tell you all about them. For now, I will settle with just one.

We walked into a pharmacy on Tuesday for Sister Vasquez' medicine. Before leaving, I asked the two female workers if they would like to watch the short video about Christmas and Jesus Christ we had to share. The first was clearly not interested and left it up to the other woman. She was kind of hesitant, but we were persistent enough that she agreed to watch it, turned off the music, and called her two children to come and see. The Spirit entered that little corner shop across from the busy bus terminal and she....changed. At the end, I could feel something was different. We asked if she would like to know more, and she simply told us we couldn't come to her house because of her husband. So we have an appointment set up this week to visit her again at the pharmacy. Use the Spirit of Christmas to share the gospel with EVERYONE!!!! It was just.....a magical week!

Keep smiling. Keep praying. And keep trusting our Father in Heaven. His Gift, Jesus Christ, can help us overcome any trial we might face in this life. It was a gift of love, life, peace, hope, and HAPPINESS. God wants us to be happy and we can be so if we embrace the gift of His Son.

I love and pray for you all! Until next week.....


Love Always,

Sista M.

Where to start...

So....Where to start.....

I guess today I just want to send a quick email to tell everyone back home how much I love and appreciate them. I know I say it all the time, but I'm not sure that anyone believes me. I really do have the best friends and family. I always have a smile on my face because Heavenly Father blessed me with you. Yes, you referring to all who are reading this email and even those who may just be quietly going on with their lives, whether it be in Mexico, El Salvador, Provo, Logan, Lindon, St. George, Vegas, Texas, Illinois, Washington, New York, Canada, Australia, Russia, Germany, or just good ol' Fountain Green--wherever you are! Just know that I love you all and feel very thankful this Thanksgiving for the blessing God has given me to let our paths cross at one point in my life or another.

Like any other missionary during this week, I would just like to express my gratitude for the fullness of the gospel that we have on the earth today, for the blessing of living prophets and apostles, for the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, for temples and family history work, for the Priesthood, and for the promise of eternal families. I am so grateful that every day I get to wake up and share such a wonderful message of peace and joy to all of the people here in Corozal. I love being a missionary. And I get to continue to be one even past the end of this life--throughout the eternities! And I can think of no greater calling than that. :)

On Monday, we had a multi-zone/Thanksgiving activity in Belize City. I was able to talk to one of the assistants who came up from El Salvador. When I served in Miramonte, he had accompanied us on one of our lessons with Diana, who was later baptized. She.....well....she is very special. One of my dearest friends, even to this day. After I was transferred to the other area in the ward, I wasn't able to visit her as often and she began to not attend church. She finally came on the last Sunday before I came here to Belize. I have been so worried that she wasn't going to continue going after I left, but Elder Garcia informed me that as of two weeks ago, she was still active and happy. Such blessings and happiness to my soul! :D I testify that this gospel is true. And there is no greater happiness that we can feel on this earth than the happiness that comes from being a missionary. I LOVE seeing the lives of other people change for the better as they come unto Christ and experience the love He has for them.

I know that you all are children of God. He loves you and is aware of you. He is with us in every moment and is guiding us to His home. Keep doing all of the little things--studying your scriptures daily, praying, going to church, etc. For I know that it is by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass. Each of those will strengthen your testimony and help you to recognize God's hand in your lives. I love you all and hope you have a great Thanksgiving. Count your blessings (name them chree by chree! *shoutout to Florita* Everyong loves songs in Kriol.... ;) haha) and remember that you're in my prayers.

Love Always,

Sista M.

P.S. Does anyone have any suggestions/remedies to stop itching mosquito bites? The sisters here in the house have forbidden hugs from me until I stop scratching. I am one deprived missionary down here! ;) Any suggestions would be much appreciated.... :D Have a great week!

Thanks to the best support group in the entire world!

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to first start off by thanking you all. I honestly have the best support group in the entire world. My family, my friends, my neighbors.... Y'all are seriously the greatest. Thanks for all of the emails and shoutouts--I'm sorry if I haven't been able to respond, but just know that I am very grateful. Heavenly Father manifests His love through the blessings of the people I know in this life--of that I'm sure! :)

So this week has actually been an incredible week. But for lack of time, I'm just going to share an experience I had at the multi-zone the week before and say that Sister Vasquez and I have seen many tender mercies and miracles in the last couple of days. I know that Daddy is already helping me on his side of the veil. How glorious is this work--that all may take part in serving the Lord!

So. Sister Hintze is an incredible person--I hope all y'all know that! She shared an amazing experience at the multi-zone about faith. I have already shared it with Mom, but I'll share it with the rest of you because it is......I just loved it!

When she and President Hintze and the fam were living down in Argentina, she was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss in one ear. And to reluctantly make a long story short (wish I had more time..... Sorry! :/), she was having a very hard time with it. There was a possibility that with the steroid she was taking, she could regain all, some, or NONE of her hearing back in her ear. President Hintze was in Colombia at the time and so she couldn't immediately communicate with him; she was in a Spanish-speaking country, where she couldn't speak very well; andit was her birthday to top it all off! The taxi driver asked her as she sat, hysterical, in the back of the car, if everything was okay. To which she responded, "No! Everything is not okay!" and then she related the whole story to him.

She then said that he turned around and asked her a question that she will never forget, "Are you a woman of faith? I am a man of faith and I will pray for you...." She said inside she was thinking, "YES! I am a woman of faith. But why is it that my faith just disappeared in a moment like that? Where did it go???"

Sometimes in life, we have those moments. We get thrown a curveball and it's as if our faith faith has taken a vacation. Which causes us even more distress. If our faith is supposed to sustain us through the hard times, how is it that when those moments do come, we break down?

Sister Hintze's hearing did come back, but she says that when everything's quiet and there is nothing to hear, she hears a quiet ringing in her ear: a reminder that she is a woman of faith. And she invited all of us missionaries to think about something we can have or do in our moments of distress that remind us that we are men and women of faith. My invitation for you is to do the same.

I know that Heavenly Father's hand is in all things. I know that He loves us. He knows what challenges we can handle and will never give us more than we can take. And throughout it all, He will be right there with us, lifting us up and providing us with strength when we feel as if we can do no more. There is something in the Emma Smith movie that I love that Emma says--"Sometimes God brings us low, before He can lift us higher...." I know that we have trials to make us stronger. I know that our adversity is but a small moment. I know that Heavenly Father does love us. My prayer is that we all can continue to be men and women of faith. I know you all are and I am very grateful for the examples and support you all are for me.

I'm praying for you! Keep moving forward! :)

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Because there is no time to write a mass email this week, I decided to send some fun pictures to go on the blog. I LOVE these girls. And Sister Call has been such a blessing! She is literally my other half right now and I think she always will be. :) Heavenly Father loves me an incredible amount because He has blessed me with her. :D I can't wait for y'all to meet her!

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Thoughts on Conference

Conference was FABULOUS! I especially loved Elder Bednar's talk. Sister Call and I had had a rough lesson the night before. And everything Elder Bednar mentioned, went on in the disheartening lesson we had. (Seriously. It was PERFECT! If only our investigator had come....) The man told us a lot of........not really nice things. He told us we weren't being sincere, that we really had to know the product before we tried to promote it and sell it, and a bunch of other non-important thing. We shared scriptures, testified and used our own experiences all to teach him about how God loves him. And it wasn't enough! He doesn't feel God's love. And says that he never has. I couldn't help but cry. Sister Call did, too, and the thing is, is that he thought we were crying because we felt beat. He told us a number of times that "he was sorry if we were disappointed, he was just being sincere..." We just told him we weren't disappointed, we were just saying what we knew was to be true. We were crying because we could feel God’s love for him, even if he couldn’t.

I feel so much overwhelming love for the people here. Even those who I meet the very first time. And it literally breaks my heart when they do not recognize that they are a child of God--a special one at that--and claim they cannot and have never felt the love of Him. Each and every day my love for Him grows as I continue to recognize His hand in my life. Yes, life is hard. Yes, sometimes I feel alone, but I am not. Just as it says in John 14, Christ "will not leave [us] comfortless." He has already walked alone, so that we, would never have to do as He did. He is always there. Doctrine & Covenants 24:8 says that God is with us to the end. I know this to be true. Even if it's harder to feel at some times more than others. God DOES love us. And wants us to be happy. That kind of happiness can come from fully living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My invitation this week for you all, is that if you ever feel alone or unloved, study the scriptures. My minds reflects back to last General Conference when Henry B Eyring mentioned that as a young man, he drowned his troubles as he poured over the Book of Mormon. For me, when I seek comfort, I turn to the Doctrine & Covenants. That is something that my wonderful professor at BYU, Karen Hepworth, taught me. There are themes in that sacred book of scripture. Two of my favorite being, “Be of good cheer” and “Thine adversity will be but a small moment.”

I know that this Gospel is true. I know that only by keeping God’s commandments will we be able to feel that everlasting (not just temporary) happiness and joy that God desires each one of us to have in our lives. I know that Thomas S. Monson is His living prophet in these last days. Iknow that Jesus is the Christ and that with His help, we can overcome any earthly sorrow. And Iknow that God is our Heavenly Father. And that He loves us—more than we can imagine. If you cannot or think you have never felt His love, I invite you all to pray for that specific knowledge tonight. If there is any prayer that God wants to answer, it is that one. I know it’s true, because He has answered mine.

I love and pray for you all. Susume! ;) (Has anyone read the September Liahona?)

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Pictures

 My favorite Guatemalan is headed home this week! I can't believe she's already finished her mission! I'm going to miss her like crazy. Love you, Sister Gramajo! See you in Decemba! :D

 Eating crab for dinner at our investigators' house. We had to break the shells with our teeth and suck the meat out and everything. Sister Call and I are on our way to becoming full-blooded Belizeans! We already know how to make flour tortillas. We just need to get the Kriol down!

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We were stuck in the POURING rain. For forty minutes. On bikes. ANNND my chain kept breaking! I. Love. Belize. 

The latest post...

Note from Mom: With our move to Nebraska, several of Lonnie's posts have not been posted.  I will work on that once we are settled into our new house.

Hey everyone!

Sorry I didn't send an email last week! It was......a bit crazy trying to write everyone back. I hope you all know that I love and appreciate y'all very much!

This week....where to begin??? Hmm....well first off--I DON'T HAVE CHANGES!!!! :D This has been something that Sister Call and I have been praying and praying and praying for. We have too many investigators that are progressing and that we love. I just get worried every time I leave an area because I don't know if the next sisters are going to take care of them like we do. I'm sure they'll be great--because all sister missionaries are great--but I still worry, ya know? But alas, Sister Call and I will be together for another month at least. (Yes, this next transfer will just be a month because President and Sister Hintze have a mission presidents meeting in Guatemala right when changes would happen.) So we're VERY excited! Sister Patt and Sister Hunter will be staying as well! :D

So. E____ and I_____ (the other sisters' investigators) were baptized yesterday. Yes, I know that they aren't my investigators, but we're neighbors and the sisters have been telling me everything. I just feel so....connected with them somehow. It was a night full of joyous tears. :) What a happy moment! I wish I had more time to share their story with you all, but maybe I'll just have to write a letter home to Momma and she can type it up and put it on the blog. Or maybe y'all will just have to wait until my homecoming talk or when I finally return from my mission (which will be a LOOOONG time from now)! :) I just want to testify that miracles happen. Every day. Here on the mission we meet people that we need to meet. We have such a blessing to be called to serve here on our missions and nudge people to make changes in their lives that bring an even greater supply of happiness in their lives. It truly is remarkable and it's families like these that make the mission worthwhile.

M___, E______, and S____ were able to come to the baptism, too! They wanted to see what it was like "in case E______ wanted to get baptized, too." I hope they know that that is our plan for the WHOLE family. :) The gospel is already bringing so much happiness to their lives. M___ told us that since she has started praying (and let me tell ya, her very first prayer? So sweet, so humble, so....perfect. :) I love it when people make that step for the first time! Best. Feeling. Ever.), she sleeps better. She actually sleeps because she didn't before. She was worried that she was dying when we first came over because her body hurt--especially in her stomach. She said she also swelled all over, but especially in her hands. Not anymore! :D She feels more love for her children and for E______. We are working with them on the goal of getting married (and baptized). They are so prepared and Sister Call and I love them with all of our hearts! My mission would not and could not be the same with out them.

As we were singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" last night (at the baptism), I had the privilege of leading the music. Therefore I could watch these darling three people whom I love so much. THIS is a family that I want to see forever. THIS is a family that I will come back and visit in the temple in a year. THIS is a family that my future will forever be intertwined with. THIS is one of the reasons why I am here on a mission. I needed to find THEM.

I love my mission. I have never been happier. I love my companion. She.....is always there to lift me up when I'm down. I'm always improving when I'm with her and I can truly feel God's love through her actions. I know she has my back and I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father for putting us together. I love this work. It is the greatest thing that someone can take part in during this life. I wish everyone had that desire to "catch the wave!" :) You can (and should) wherever you may be. There are "missionary opportunities" everywhere. Just with a simple smile and saying "I love you!" can dramatically change the life of someone you know. Invite Christ's love intoyour life and into the lives of those you know. It will make a difference.

I love you all. Thanks for the letters, emails, prayers, and support. I hope y'all are looking forward to General Conference this week! It's an amazing opportunity that we have to listen to God's chosen servants on the earth today. If you weren't planning for it, pencil it in! I encourage you all not to miss it because it can (and will) change your life for the better, if you let it. I know that this is God's only church on the earth today and that if we follow His prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and the things he teaches, wecan return to our Father's presence and be an eternal family. Go to General Conference! See for yourself. :)

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Happy P-day to all Y'all

What a great, humid (and still sticky) week it's been!

Seriously though. We woke up with all of our clothes, our bed sheets and all of our books damp. I'm pretty sure there is nothing left in the house that's dry. Gotta love humidity! But it's worth it because I'm here in Belize. On my mission. Serving the Lord. :D

So....I left my planner at home, so unfortunately I don't remember everything that happened this last week. I do want to share one little story though. Last week Sister Call and I were at the chino's buying bags of water and bananas. Before we went in, however, this drunk man stopped to talk with us. It was SO awkward. He kept asking the same questions over and over and could not stop smiling creepily! Sister Call and I shared a look and it was so hard to refrain from laughing. He introduced us to his "children" who ended up being his niece and nephew and ended by asking us what the hand on the heart meant. Yeah.....so weird. Sister Call and I were both thinking about the Pledge of Allegiance.... So we said, "Love and respect?" haha It was quite the experience!

Anyway, we found out where his niece and nephew lived and then didn't think anything of it. It was just one of those all-the-drunk-men-are-attracted-to-you-because-your-sister-missionaries experiences (and the fact that Sister Call has really long, really beautiful, blonde hair..... ;) haha). But yesterday we went to go contact the niece in hope of finding a new investigator. And guess what? She is totally interested! And NONE of her family goes to church, but her grandma keeps telling her she needs to go to learn more about God. She also has three other siblings (her brother and her two younger sisters). We have an appointment set up for Tuesday and she told us she was excited to have made two new friends. She is so sweet! Love her already!

Isn't it funny how that all works out? If we had just kept going and not paid attention to that silly drunk man, we never would have found this family. The Lord truly works in mysterious ways.... I encourage you all to look around you and pay attention to the Spirit. Slow down and appreciate things. If not, you just might miss an opportunity to share the gospel or to lighten another's burdens!

I truly love this gospel and the Lord. I am so blessed to be able to serve Him here in this beautiful country among this wonderful people. I wish you could all share these experiences with me. I know that as you all take part in hastening the Lord's work, you truly will feel more happiness than you have ever felt! This church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior and died so we can be happy in this life and in the eternities. He wants to forgive us and wants to carry our burdens. If we have felt His love in our lives (which we all have, I know.), why not share it with others????

I love you all and pray for you often. Remember to put the Lord first in your lives and everything else will fall into place.

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

So I was going to send pictures today, but the computer won't let me.... :/

I had some good ones, too! Yesterday, it rained UN MONTON! It was so muddy and on the way home from church, a car hit a pot hole and just drenched me in mud! Yeah....that just might be the new missionary fashion here in Corozal... ;)

Also, Sister Call, Sister Patterson, Sister Hunter, and I celebrated September 1st last night by celebrating Christmas. We made mashed potatoes and stuffing and lit some candles, played Silent Night and turned the Christmas lights on. We just want to skip Fall and move on to the best part of the year! :D

But I love it here in Corozal. My house mates (and my companion) are the best and I wish y'all could meet them. I never have been happier. :D

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Timing

Man!

I am HORRIBLE at this time thing. SIX months on the mission and I still quite haven't figured it out. And it's a shame because this week I have LOTS to talk about, yet so little time. :/ Humph! Oh well. Just know that everything is going well! I have NEVER been happier.

So. WE HAD TRANSFERS!!!! Sister Perez and Sister Jensen left. I was "stuck" with Sista Patterson for a day, but it was great. We keep joking around about that--how we weren't going to survive, but she is the coolest Vegas gyal I have eva met. I am so glad we are going to be living in the same house together for another change!

My new companion is Sista Call. She's from Bountiful, Utah and has been out for a year. She is tall, blonde (with REALLLY long hair so everyone calls her Rapunzel), and is 21 (almost 22) years old. And I LOVE her. We just have a really good vibe with each other. I am really excited to work with her and I know we are going to see miracles this transfer because we already have.

But one quick funny story before I sign off. Wednesday (the day we got our new companions), our power went off. It wasn't a big deal, because it has happened before, but it was still off when we got to the apartment. Long story short, the bill never made it to our house because the wind took it away and we never received it. So therefore, they cut the power. Yeah. The new sisters were miserable because it was SO hot. We had a "romantic" ;) hahaha, candlelight dinner and it was DEFINITELY a riot to shower with the candlestick on the toilet. In a coke bottle. (We didn't have any candlestick holders......So we made our own! :D)

But everything's great. The other new girl is Sister Hunter from Dallas, TX and we all just get along really well! I'm super happy and can't wait for this next transfer! I hope y'all are counting your blessings and thanking our Heavenly Father for having the restored gospel in these last days!

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Week full of craziness

So. This week was incredible and full of craziness. (Sounds like every missionary’s week, right?)

On Monday, we were biking by a less-active member’s house and we got there right on time. It was seriously a miracle. She started having chest pains and couldn’t breathe. She had no idea what to do and we were able to call the elders and get her a blessing. The next day she was perfectly fine. But it was kind of late at night and we had to give her a blessing in her neighbor’s house. Our zone leader, Elder Moore, has been serving here in Belize longer than all of us. He asked us if we had been inside Z__’s house before (the less-active), and we said once, but in the daytime. And then he told usnot to come back at night. Ever. 

Apparently it’s a very active gang site. One of the larger ones here in Belize. And he also said they practice withcraft inside. Some of you may be giggling at that—witchcraft. But I promise you, we’re being serious. The world is a wicked, wicked place. Belize is……sinning like crazy. A few weeks ago, one of the senior missionaries told us about the Lamanites. They went without the gospel for so long, that they became “a ferocious people.” He told us that Belize wasn’t quite there yet, but that they were headed there if we didn’t do our part.

This is so true. I have seen so many things here that I never even imagined would happen in our days. I’m just so grateful that the Lord is protecting us. No matter how many crazy, wicked, or downright insane things that us missionaries have seen, we are always safe. Heavenly Father needs us to work miracles in the lives of His children here. And at the same time, He is working miracles in the lives of all of His servants.

(But in case you’re all wondering, we have not gone back to Z__’s house at night. But we’re keeping her in our prayers because that’s her family. And she still is trying to do what is right. She needs her holy place.)

One last thing I wanted to mention before I sign off. We had District Conference yesterday. We got a new District presidency which is exciting and we’re all super motivated to make Belize a stake! We just need to echar fuego con TODO. :)

And Sister Hintze gave me A PACKET OF LETTERS FROM THE MORONI, UTAH STAKE YOUTH!!! I guess it would have been here earlier, but it got missent to a different country. (To Belize, but it needed to go to El Salvador. I guess the postal service knew where I actually was a month ago… hehe) Anyway, I LOVED it. Thank you SOOOO much. I seriously live in the greatest place in the whole world and I have the best support system!!! I just want to say one thing about what everyone wrote about. They all mentioned Youth Conference and John Bytheway. (Here’s Sista McCulloch being jealous off all the FG youth all the way down here in Belize…..) :)

Someone told me that he mentioned that we don’t need to be perfect to come unto Christ. This is so true. He said it’d be like fixing our teeth before going to the orthodontist. Completely defeats the purpose, right? Something that I have come to realize on the mission is that I am far from being perfect and I never will be in this life. I’m not the perfect missionary and never will be. I’m not the perfect friend. And never will be. I’m not the perfect sister. And never will be. I’m not the perfect daughter. And never will be. BUT. Jesus Christ can take my efforts and add His own. As long as I do my best, and humbly supplicate His help, I can reach my potential. We all can. So my challenge to you this week is to recognize your imperfections and come unto Christ. Seek His help and do your best. You can watch the blessings and the miracles that occur as you try your best together to reach your potential.

I know Christ lives. I know He loves us. I know He sees the best in us and wants to help us in every aspect of our lives. We just need to reach out for Him and He’ll be there to pick us up when we fall. I can’t do everything by myself, but with Christ, all things are possible.

I’m praying for you all and I am so grateful for your support! I hope you all have a great week!

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Photos

                                                               Lonnie says to check out the milk model...I think she's cuter!!!!

Like sardines

The sisters are in charge of the ward's nursery (even though it is against mission rules): they LOVE these little Belizean pikni!

Everything is just flourishing here in Belize...

Well everyone, everything is just flourishing here in Belize. This week we had an AMAZING Multi-zone and it was more than wonderful to be able to see President and Sister Hintze. They are absolutely marvelous! Sometimes I think that’s a weird word, but I’m definitely not using it like that in this context…. :) hehe

So….because of some unfortunate circumstances, us Corozal sisters were stuck in Orange Walk for a few days. But don’t worry. All is well. And let me tell ya—it is GREAT to be back! I sure do love it here! :D And I love the people. I think they all missed me, too. I sure hope so anyway….

On Sunday, yesterday, :) we had Branch Council for the first time. Umm….let’s just say that I am so grateful for my home ward in Fountain Green. We are so blessed to live in an area where the Church has been around for a long time. The leadership there is FANTASTIC (I don’t want to hear anyone ever complaining about that….) and I’m sure in the rest of the States it’s just as great, as well. I came to realize that the Church really is just beginning here in Belize. This branch has a lot of potential, but we also have a lot of learning to do. 

The last thing I wanted to tell all y’all is that we were tiling floors this week! One of the investigators that we found last week needed some help, so I was able to offer our service. I am SO very grateful for the experience that Bonnie Bailey and my Daddy have offered me, because that came in handy! :) haha The guy thought I was practically a natural. But let me tell ya…..tiling here in Belize? Those were the sweatiest four hours of my life! Seriously. The sweat was literally dripping off me. Like rain. So NAAAAAASTY. So I really hope A______ realizes how much Sister Perez and I love her! I’ll have to post pictures next week. Sister P has them all…. :)

Anyway, I just want to encourage all of you to serve others. Find those opportunities throughout this week (and I promise you that they will come) and take advantage of them. I know that service truly helps us to develop our love for others and also for Christ. He performed the greatest service for us all and I am eternally grateful for that. I know He lives and that He loves us. We can feel a fraction of that love as we extend our assistance to those in need. I love you all and am so very grateful for all that you do for me. You all have been such wonderful examples of how to love one another. I feel so blessed to know each one of you.

Hope y’all have a wonderful week and that you’re continuing studying your scriptures and saying your prayers! Heavenly Father really does hear them!

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Miracles

So this one is going to be a quickey!

This week was insanely fast and slow all at the same time. On Monday I.....had a really bad pain in my right shoulder that started spreading to my neck (due to a bike crash I had earlier last week) and ended up going to the doctor on Tuesday. He told me that I just had a interscapular muscle strain (or something like that) and prescribed a muscle relaxant pill, some type of antibiotic, and told me to rest for 2 weeks. Which means NO BIKE. At first, I was not too happy about that because we live half an hour from our area (sounds just like El Salvador, right?) and our area is ginormongous! But....God is blessing us with miracles.

I had two really powerful lessons this week. (Hence why I said we're being blessed with miracles.) One of our investigators, N_____, is starting to progress. She opened up and told us many things about her past and she shared her fears and she started crying and it was just....wonderful. She has so much trust in us and told us that she had never told anyone that stuff before. She also prayed at the end! We've been working three weeks on that! (Sister Perez and I. Her previous companion and her had also tried that before I came....) And she finally did it!!!! Talk about complete happiness. :)

The other lesson was actually with a less-active sister. Oh my stars--is she having trials or what?! But I told her that it's all in the Lord's plan and that He is giving her ample opportunity to turn to Him and receive more of His love and strength. We sang "Be Still My Soul" (which by the way is quickly becoming my new favorite hymn) and I about died from being overwhelmed with the Spirit. I sure hope and pray that she could feel it, too! There's a reason why we sing hymns in the Church. They invite the Spirit and the Lord can speak to us through the words....

The last miracle of the week. Because I went to the doctor, and my companion had some health problems, our area has been a little neglected this week. AND we're on foot, so we're not doing as much as we normally do. Anyway after lunch, we were going around, trying to contact people and we had a bunch of downers. We also tried talking to a couple of our investigators, but they weren't home. I was feeling so....pesada. There was one man in the park that just really got me. I testified with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, but he still went away thinking that he didn't need a Savior to save him. I (we) owe EVERYTHING to Jesus Christ. How can people not see that? It doesn't matter how good I am or how close-to-perfect I might be, I can never take myself to God's presence. I will never taste of exaltation if it weren't for my Redeemer and His selfless sacrifice.

Anyway, we were going to go and try to visit one of our more positive investigators and I was praying with all my heart that Heavenly Father could help us find a new investigator. Sister Perez has been sick and we hadn't been able to go out to work for two days. Our contacting numbers were horribly low and we had ZERO news. I was pretty down on myself. Well, just as I was praying in my heart specifically for that, I saw two women and a boy shoveling, what looked like dirt, off the sidewalk, closer to their house. I stopped and offered our service and at first it looked like they weren't going to accept. Then Sister Perez jumped in, grabbed a shovel and told the boy that he needed a break. I stopped and started talking with the mom.

Well. This lady.....I was meant to meet her. I've already set up an appointment to help her tile her floor and paint the office. She's......got this amazing story and she has four children--all over the age of 8. I was able to talk a little bit about our service as missionaries and a little about the Church. It was....amazing! And after we left (The lady, A______, was SUPER happy by the way....), I was in the best mood ever. I started talking fearlessly with everyone. The next few lessons we had were fantastic and I couldn't believe the difference in me.

Heavenly Father answers prayers! Especially when we ask for SPECIFIC things (like President Hintze has been telling us....). And He wants us to find His children. We had walked by that place several times before, but never had we talked to her or seen her before. What a miracle.

God will continue to use each of use as His miracle workers. I pray that this week all of you will pray for a specific "missionary experience" and have the courage to do what the Spirit whispers to you. I promise that as you do so, your faith will be strengthened and you will continue to increase in joy and love for others.

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. The mission is the best thing that a person can do in life and I hope you all remember that you don't need an actual name tag to serve a mission. We should all have them painted on our hearts like Neil L. Andersen said! I love you all! Have a fabulous week full of miracles!

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Hey y'all!

I don't know if I will send any pictures today. I want to, but there's just not enough time. I'll try to respond to as many people as I can this week, but just know that if I don't get to ya, I still love you. And I'm grateful for your emails and your love and support. And prayers. Especially the prayers. They give us missionaries so much strength!

So this week was long and wonderful. With a lot of miracles and.....funny happenings as well. I will try to be brief for lack of time.

Last P-day we went to a super sketch restaurant for lunch that took 2 hours to get our food (snacks) and took us ten minutes to eat. But I realized how awesome our district is and how much I love all of the missionaries here in Corozal. Especially the sisters. :)

I finally biked up this really steep hill by our house this week. It was quite the accomplishment and made me really happy. The bikes are really exciting. They're a little interesting to adjust to with the skirts, but I'm managing. I did crash on one of the first days here though. That sneaky gravel! But don't worry. My elbow is healing and is leaving some very beautiful battle wounds.... :)

I also got corn rows in my hair thanks to a very talented member in our ward. All of us sister missionaries here were finally looking Belizean! Yeah buddy! I'll see if I can send at least ONE of those pictures.... hehehe It's worth it.

I also received my first invitation to join a band this week. From a bunch of old men that I had just met. One of them actually came to church this week as well. And maybe I would stop and consider it, but they usually play their instruments at the Adventist church, soooooo....probably not a good idea. :)

We were able to watch the Other Side of Heaven this week and I have been thinking about it A LOT. I have a completely different view of it now that I'm a missionary. I understand things a lot better now. There are certain things about life and the gospel that you learn as a missionary. Certain experiences and feelings that you have and can't explain. No one can ever understand unless they have served a mission and gone through the same thing. Hence why some missionaries just seem so.....changed when they get back and don't know how to explain why. It's all part of the conversion process.

I just loved how Elder Groberg at the beginning was asking his companion and various other people why they were doing the things they were doing--why they were serving the Lord. It made me think about a question that Elaine Anderson posed in Sunday School a few months ago--Are we just living a lifestyle or do we live this way because we truly believe this? Every missionary at some point stops to reflect on this and every member should do the same.

I know that this Church is true. I know that Jesus Christ restored it again to the earth in these last days by means of Joseph Smith. I know that as we abide by the precepts and teachings of His gospel, we will be happy in this life and have eternal joy in the next. It is the only way we can return to our Father in Heaven as eternal families. I know that God listens and answers our prayers. And He wants us to return to Him.

I'm grateful for the blessing of being a missionary here in Belize. Hastening the work is an incredible opportunity that all of us have no matter where we are in the world! I am so grateful for all of the good influences that y'all have been on me. I could not be here today without all of your guidance and support. Keep pressing forward and strengthening your trust in God. He is there to guide us.

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Lovin it up in Belize

Well everyone!

I'm just sweatin' it out down here in Belize! But I'm lovin' every minute of it! My area is in a "town" called Corozal, really close to the Mexican border. They speak Spanish, English, and Kriol here, so I'm trying to preach the gospel in all three. It's super crazy, because I'll be teaching in English for two or three hours straight and then bam! We find someone who only speaks Spanish. Yeah..... I'm trying my hardest not to forget the things I've learned in El Salvador. And I'm trying my hardest not to forget my English! The grammar here is horrible! Well....there practically is none. But that's part of the Kriol influence, I'm sure.

I'm really lovin' it here. My area is right by the sea side, so I get to see that beautiful temptation every day. Just the other night my companion and I were riding next to the ocean, heading home from an appointment. The moon was out--nice and bright, big and yellow, just beautiful!--and the light was reflecting on the water. It was an awe-inspiring sight. So my companion told me, "This is perfect for a proposal...." Wow. I thought for sure my companion was getting a little trunky.... ;) haha But it really is beautiful! I love running into tourists here as well, because the majority of them are from the South so I get to here that familiar drawl that I love so much! hehe

The people here are wonderful. I am absolutely in love and I have no idea how I will be able to leave this place. I already know that I will not be finishing my mission here--that I will be ending in El Salvador, but I am just....devastated. Now I have just got to spread as much love as possible in these next few months! :D

So I have a few funny stories. This past week was Sister Patterson's birthday. hehehe I....well....haha There are quite a few frogs here! So I caught one (This was all on a whim by the way. I was not evilly planning this all week long--it just....happened.) and wrapped it up in a cute colored paper box I made and then Sister Perez (my companion) and I gave it to her as an early birthday present the night before. And we filmed it. :D hehehe She thought it was candy or something, so her reaction was HILARIOUS. She was screaming and screaming and screaming and Sister Jensen was, too. But the best part was the facial expressions of Sister Patterson. Don't worry. I've got it all on tape, but I don't think I can email it because it's too big. So you'll just have to wait to see it for another year or so. ;) hehehe It's SO good.

I feel like there was something else that I wanted to share with you, but I honestly can't remember. The people here are really prepared to receive the gospel. It is an entirely different world here and I feel like I'm starting my mission all over. I have to preach the gospel in an entirely different way, not just in a different language. It is SO interesting--the difference between cultures.

But I'm here. I'm safe. I'm in love. And I'm happy. There's nowhere else I'd rather be (except maybe at Lamb Days this week....) and nowhere else I should be.

Thanks for all of your letters/emails and prayers. I love you all and am praying for you as well!

Love Always,

Hermana McCulloch

Transfer

Hey Momma!

This is my surprise email, but I'm already out of time. I was going to send a picture, but I can't figure out how to send it. It's not working on this computer. But yeah....I had transfers. 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So yeah.

You betta Belize-it!