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