Photos

 This is Brenda. She goes out with us all the time and is leaving on her mission to Nicaragua this month.

 18 Weeks for me!

 This is what we call my Yogurt cups! I love them!

 This is Nancy!

 He and his amazing wife made us Creme Brulee!

 Hrn. Hernandez! We LOVE them!

 ALL the toilet paper here smells. I think it is because you put {text missing in email} it and not in the toilet. Merry Christmas scent!

 My 4 braiding skills

 At the temple

Basket Man! He has lots more, but I didn't get a picture before he took them off.

Well not to much happened this last week.  We found out the other day that we would have e-mail today and not tomorrow or later on in the week since we have the mission Christmas get together tomorrow!  We get to go back to the temple!  Since we have to leave our area at 3 tomorrow morning, the rest of the 4 sisters in our zone will be having a sleep over at our house, which means tonight I will be leading one companionship around tonight on splits and my companion will have the other companionship.

We found Churros about a month ago, but they come and go.  They are no longer here, but we had them twice while they were and Holy Smokes!  Churros here are different, and so good!  After you order them they put some sugar on it, and then you choose between carmel, condensed milk, chocolate, or syrup to put on top of it!  Delicious!  It is a good thing they left, but they are SO good.  We have smelled them when we are walking down a certain street, but we haven`t found where they are yet.  Then the beans here are so tasty too.  I don`t know why I haven`t told you about them before.  Our cocinera has made a few little batches for us to take home, this last time I have been sick so I haven`t been up to eating any. 

So Kerri Wadsworth e-mailed me last week and I didn't get to answer her in my e-mail.  Tell her thank you!  And it is the same address.  The buses here are terrifying enough!  I can honestly say I hate their driving here, but from what I understand the driving here is calm compared to other countries in Central America! 

We had a little tremble this week, my companion didn`t even feel it.  Now though everytime we have one we are supposed to call in.  I still have a feeling something big is coming, I just don`t know what or when. 

So I don`t think I told you this already, but we have a family that got re-baptized...long story, but it was in I think May.  Anyway they have since gone inactive again because of some things that have gone down in the ward.  Anyway we found out who the family was that was giving them grief, and we happened to see them on the street the next day.  They had been acting kind of weird around us, and we understood why when we found out.  So we stopped to say hello and see how they were, then asked if they would be willing to have a Noche de Hogar with a menos activo familia in the ward.  They said sure who is it, then we looked at each other and said Familia Huinil.  Their faces were HILARIOUS!  I wish I would have had a way to record it.  Then they said (very frantically) oh we don`t even know who that is,  (Turning to eachother) do you know who that is?!  I don`t know who that is, what is their names again?  Then we repeated, and they said are you even allowed to come to the other side (our ward is divided between the Elders and us, but we have permission to do things like that).  It was pretty funny, and made us chuckle!  We also had a member call this week with a reference.  He is awesome!  His name is Oscar, and he is from a smaller pueblo in our area.  The member has been giving him Liahona`s and such, and he just seems very excited to learn more!  We are going to go teach him and his family this week.  So more to come on him! 

Then last week I had felt kind of sick all week, but it was fine, then Friday we went to the city and back and I had been doing pretty well.  But then it really hit me hard.  I hadn't been able to eat anything all day that day except for sip on a sprite, and soda crackers.  Then my back and my stomach seized up and I was having a really hard time moving.  I got a blessing, and then I was on the toilet for a while. Embarrassing, but hey.  Our Zone Leaders told me that we should probably go on splits, since we couldn't get a hold of Hermana Brough.  So we did and I went with our cocinera and another sister in the ward went with Hermana Treviño.  Anyway, they had all of these remedy things to give me.  One was a children's chocolate medicine, I drank that and two seconds later (literally)  I was on the toilet with what we like to call BOO and green throw up filling a garbage can.  It was bad.  I like to say I have Enemigos in my stomach.  I don`t like them.  But I am getting better! Word spread like wildfire that I was sick, and then someone spread that they had to rush me to the hospital, which was not true, but funny to find out. 

Also 4 weeks ago Hna. Treviño and I found this lady named Nancy, that we knew was going to be baptized in 3 weeks, sure enough she was baptized last Saturday, sadly she was on the Elders side, but she would save lots of questions to ask us on Sunday`s, it was kind of funny. 

Anyway sorry it`s so long again, but here are some pictures!  Love you all, and I am so excited to talk to you in 15 days!!!  Hope the Christmas season is treating you all well!  And I`ll have more information on the calling thing next week!  Also will you keep Hna Treviño's Dad in your prayers for me!  He`s having a really hard time with health problems. Well Love you all!  Have an amazing week!  I pray everything is well with everyone, since I didn't hear from anyone this week.  Stay strong, and keep smiling!
SLY
Hermana Wilcox

Well it turns out I am on a computer again that I don´t know where the question marks are:-). 

Laura (the girl from Utah) and her family had us and an investigator over for dinner on Thursday!  Well it was lunch, and then we had a lesson with our investigator Carlos and Laura´s niece and nephew.  It was so tasty!  I got a hot pumpkin pie, it was so good!

I have to keep reminding myself that the Lord wants me here, and that I need to constantly check and make sure I am doing the things that He wants me to be doing.  Just make sure that you are doing the things that Heavenly Father would want to see you doing, and I know that will make you the person that He wants you to be.  Remember how much you are loved by not only Him, but your family here as well!  I can tell you though it is not going to be easy because Satan is going to work like crazy since you are trying to change for the better and do what is right.  I only know because he is working like crazy on me!  Scary thing is, is I know it is only going to get harder!  Stay strong!  Don´t give up hope, just work as hard as you can, keep smiling, and love.

Sounds like you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  It was SO weird not to be at home!  I had tortilla chips with cream cheese and salsa that day and thought you might be eating the same thing :-) 

This week I did a 4 braid on myself!  I can´t get the computer to load my pictures, so you´ll get lots next week and I will need to remember to take a picture of the braid.  Also I did two french braids in my hair, I´m moving up a bit, haha! 

Also we have been hearing wolves around here, and my companion keeps calling them woofs, it makes me laugh every time.

Cool story of the week, I had a rough day trying to figure out what to do with everything and we went to our cocinera´s house for lunch and she told me that she thought she needed to tell me and Hermana Treviño something.  When she told me my part I cried of course.  She told me she would never forget me because of the example I have been to her daughters.  Her oldest daughter is 15 and I met them both my first day here.  She told me that Maria Fernanda, the 15 year old after meeting me my first day was so shocked that it was my first day, and then told her Mom that because of me she wanted to serve a mission.  I have a hard time thinking that I am doing anything to help anyone since I don´t know the gospel as well as I should or the language to communicate.  That for me was an experience that meant a lot.  It is also amazing that even though sometimes I ramble off words that might not make sense with how I said them the people still let us in.  I know that it is only through the spirit that we get in to houses!  No matter where you are in the world, if you speak the language or not, if the Lord has prepared them for you even prepared them for you to plant the seed, they will let you in.  I can´t believe how important prayer is, and we are so blessed to know about it. 

Who ever reads this, please think of questions you have, or changes you want to make, or just want to feel love, whatever it is, think of that and then read Moroni 10:3-5.  Then sit there quietly thinking and pondering.  I get to go to the temple tomorrow and couldn't be more excited!  I love you all so very much, and I hope that you know that!  I hope you all have a WONDERFUL week!  To everyone that wrote to KC and I, I am working on letters back!  Love you all!
Hermana Wilcox

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

There is a girl that is in our ward that married a guy from here and she is from Ogden I think. Anyway they wanted to have a dinner with us that night with our investigator Carlos, so we are going over there.  Speaking of Carlos, he is the one that I found my first day here,  and guess what...he came to church on Sunday!!!  We haven´t been able to go over and have a lesson with him since then, but we are hoping to today, and we are really hoping that he liked church.  He had a question that he didn't want to tell us yet hoping that it would be answered at church, so I am hoping that it was. 

THANK YOU for all of the letters from the family dinner!  I love them!  I am working on getting everyone in the family written but just haven´t yet.  I have partial letters written.  I did how ever get a letter sent off to Karm this week finally, and one to Michele (who is Trinity´s Mom) she wrote me in the Provo MTC and I finally got one sent off to her.

I do have to say I talked to an Hermano in the ward that is excited to help me find some rocks.  Rock hounding continues in Guatemala!  Solo on p-days when we have time, but still!  You should look up the Jade factory in Antigua, I guess they have a huge one!  I only saw all of the little shops that sold the already done jewelry or figurines and such.

 Happy Birthday to Papa and Avery and Kelly!  I thought about you all on your birthday´s and we sang to you in Spanish and I had a sucker or chewed a piece of gum in the house for celebration:-)  They have fabulous suckers here called yogurt suckers!  They are like blow pops but instead of gum inside it is a starburst type thing!  Also they have all kinds of chips!!!  I love trying them, and have found some that are like willy wonka have a whole meal in a piece of gum, but it´s in a chip.  It is so weird but great. 

I got a letter from Gram and Papa this last week, and also Hna y Hno Harrison and Tamera and Daeneese and a Dear Elder from Brother Schmidt!  It sounds like we are all kind of experiencing the same struggles and such.  I am so amazed still with how hard it can be and how much work it takes to really know the Gospel, and it is still a life long process, but how easy it is to forget.  I just heard that Hostess shut down, that is sad because as gross as this is I´ve been wanting a twinkie! 

Preach My Gospel is such an amazing book and teaches us the basics in a simple way, read it and study it.  But most importantly read the scriptures as a family and pray before and after.  I know only through prayer that I am understanding the Book of Mormon more than I ever have.  I still don´t completely understand it all the time, but I love reading it!  Well here is just a few pictures, I didn´t get many this week.  I hope you know how much I love all of you and I am so grateful to all of you!  Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!!!  Love you all!
SLY,
Hermana Wilcox

Photos

There are views from the roof of my house, the panos!  The volcan de agua from my house, a my favorite flowers and I don`t remember what else.  Oh pictures of a catholic church in Santa Maria which is part of my area.  Love you!

Photos

Earthquake

Well I will start off by saying it was awesome.  Not for a lot of people around here though, it really scared everyone.  For some reason I didn't think it was very strong, and then we heard it was a 7.2 earthquake.  There wasn't any damage in our area that we have seen or heard of, but I guess that a house went down in our zone, but that is all I have heard.  From now on we are supposed to call our zone district leaders anytime we have an earth quake, I have a feeling more are coming.  We had another one on Sunday and it was 6.8, but wasn't as long as the first one was. 

We had zone meeting a couple of weeks ago and President and Hermana Brough gave us all a emergency plan and told us what we need to have and do and such, and we will all have 72 hour kits and such.  After that I knew something is going to happen that is big.  My companion and I actually don`t have our emergency booklets yet so hopefully we`ll get them tomorrow.  We get to go to change meeting tomorrow even though we aren't being changed since my companion is the retention leader for the mission. I am very excited to see all of the new missionaries come in!  It is VERY weird to think that I have been in the field for 6 weeks already, in 6 more I get to call home for Christmas!!!

We are teaching our neighbors, I think I mentioned that last week, but they came to church again.  I really hope they will progress!  Jorge and Carmen are their names.  Jorge doesn't have much of a back ground with church and Christ and our Heavenly Father, so he has a lot of questions, but I know we can help him!  I am excited for them!  We had an amazing experience the other day!  My companion and I had both planned on Studying the Book of Mormon for personal study and I could not concentrate on what I was reading and felt I needed to study Eternal Marriage for a less active family that is working hard on coming to church.  Familia Marenco.  They are amazing!  So I studied, and for some reason I felt like we needed to tell her that she will have children if they do all that they can to live the Gospel and go to the temple together.  Hermana Treviño shared first of what she had studied and to my surprise she had the EXACT experience I did!  We studied all the same scriptures, and she also felt like we needed to tell them they will have children.  Side note, they haven`t been able to, which made it even cooler.  The lesson with them that night was amazing, and I think really helped.  I hope they keep working forward to the temple. 

Which brings me to another point.  I have realized more and more the importance of the temple and attending it!  Those of you that are close to a temple, please go this week!  People are waiting for you to do their work, and they can`t do it with out us.  Even though it is a lot for others, and you might not realize it, but we need to go to the temple for ourselves too.  We might not realize we are learning something, I don`t realize it, but we do each time, even if it is just to feel of the love and spirit there.  Annie and Ron that is so exciting, it`ll be different to come home and have you all there all the time!  How fun!  Well here is to posting some pictures!  Love you all, thank you for your prayers and all of your support, I definitely need it!
SLY!
Hermana Wilcox

Let Gram and Papa, and Grandma and Grandpa know that they can e-mail me and I can e-mail them back, everyone else can e-mail me, I just print them off and write them back.  Anyway as for this week the Hermano that got baptized got confirmed, and we had our neighbors come with us to church, it was really great.  They are really funny, but sadly are moving.  We still haven´t found a new house yet, and the owner of the house that we are in now is funny...member how I said our shower head caught on fire when I was in there, well we told her and she told us to get a new shower head then her husband would install it.  So that is what we did, but out of no where we had a different shower head...that doesn't work.  We found out they had taken the shower head from their house and installed it in our house, then they said well what are you going to do with the new one you got (thinking we didn't already know the one they put in was broken).  Interesting, interesting!  Anyway we just continue to take bucket baths, when we have water.  There has been no running water for a few days, it will come on for a bit every once in a while, so we fill buckets up at those times, it is pretty great! 

Mom thanks for the recipes!  You are the greatest!  Would you be willing to send me Grams bread recipe too:-) oh and a zuchinni bread recipe. Creepiest thing ever that honestly scared me, I contacted a bus last week and was giving this man a pamphlet and looked up and he took a picture, I think I even smiled in it...I called president that night because I didn't want some random picture to be out with a lone sister and this man.  Yep I have been made fun of for doing it, but I know something would have happened if I didn't do that, and President was great and kind about it.  So some man in the city has my picture. 

Jasmine flowers are in bloom and everywhere, they smell fabulous!  and orchids COVER the trees here, I can´t wait until they are in bloom to take pictures and send them to you!  For Halloween the area seventy asked that all missionaries go in at 6 pm.  I think it freaked my companion out a bit, she kept wondering what was going to happen.  It was really comforting to know that as long as we followed what we were asked to do we would be safe.  I have heard different stories as to why, but I will have to share that with you all later.  Nothing happened to anyone, so that is the great news.  I am thankful for the wards at home.  Here is different, their version of huge is tiny...and it is a bit stressful because they use that as an excuse for not knowing people.  It is so important to know our Brothers and Sisters in the Gospel, we are here to help each other learn and grow.  Like your poem you always say Dad.  You have no idea how much I think about that poem constantly!  We have decided as a companionship we want to find all the less actives that we can and activate them. 

Over all this is an amazing experience!  This week was really hard for me, like really hard.  Sadly I know it isn't the last of the hard times, but I pray that I will become the best person I can absolutely become!  Hey can I get Devon´s address to write him?  Well we don´t have an adapter for pictures this week, I will buy my own in the next week hopefully to send the amazing pictures I have. Oh what is going on with storms or something in the states?  And let me know about the elections!  It is so weird to be in the world but not of it, I never understood that before. 

I got some really cool things in Antigua yesterday too, can´t wait to show you all!  Know that I love you all, and you are constantly in my prayers!  I thought I knew what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, but it turns out I feel like I know nothing.  I think before I was a Sunday Mormon, and I hope right now I can change that.  Study Preach My Gospel as a family and work together!  I want to be the best member and missionary that I can be.  It is amazing how hard Satan fights when you try to do what´s right, and he´ll put you down like no one has ever before, but you gotta keep going!  Prayer is the only way I feel like I am getting through it right now, and going out and getting lost in the work by trying to just testify. I love you all, have a great week!  Keep me posted on everything!  I want to know how you all are doing! 
SLY,
Hermana Wilcox

Photos

October 30th

Well Happy Halloween tomorrow!  We don´t do anything here, and actually all week we have had numerous people ask us how the church views Halloween.  Many people here feel like it is a day of worshiping evil.  But they do celebrate November 1st which is Day of the Dead.  It will be neat to see what they do.  I don´t remember if I told you last week, but for district pday we carved pumpkins and my companion and I carved a pumpkin into a watermelon:-)

Well we had a baptism this week!  His name is Hermano Borrayo (he is the one that got married last week)  His wife is was a less active and they have a 4 year old little boy.  It was really weird because you don´t really feel like you had a baptism, but then last night we had a lesson with them and you can see and feel the world of difference in their home.  It is a really neat thing to see and I can´t wait to keep bringing that same change to others!  Especially families! There is another family that I love!  Familia Ajvix.  She had had lessons with the Elders that were in our area before, and they talked about the restoration with her and didn´t talk to her after that and she was very confused because she had so many questions and had prayed about Joseph Smith.  Now we are back and she is wonderful.  She is so amazingly strong and faithful, she said she would get baptized if she got the answer it is true and knows that Joseph Smith is a very special person, and is praying about him again.  The Hermano is great too, he is much quieter in the lessons so I am not sure what he is thinking right now.  We have met with a couple of less active members and recent converts lately and even people that we are teaching that I can tell really needed our message right then.  There are so many problems with Law of Chastity here, it is heart breaking!  Oh we also are teaching a Priest of a different church here that is a common one, I hope the lessons keep going well.

So there is this guy that every morning walks down our street saying very loudly Queso Fresco, because that is what he is selling.  But every time he comes I just laugh because it sounds like Bring out your dead, from Monty Python (I think that is what it is from).  Then there are cars here that have announcer things on them and there are a couple of cars in-particular that when the guys talk it is JUST like the guys on Better Off Dead when they are getting ready to race, it cracks me up!

Next funny note...our shower head started smoking hard core the other day when I was in the shower, then the next day we just wanted to see if it would do it again and yep but a lot more.  We are pretty sure there was a fire inside, so we´ve been taking bucket baths.  It´s super exciting really!  Then I told my companion the other day that we needed tp and after about 5 minutes she started laughing really hard and said I JUST got that, I asked what she was talking about and she said tp stands for toilet paper!  I was always confused when people would say tp a house I thought they were talking about teepees you know like the Native American teepees.  That gave me a good laugh!  We also have dogs on roofs here and there is a white one that I swear can smell us from miles and doesn't like us when we come around.  He hides in a corner and watches us around the corner then goes ballistic when we walk down the alley.  He is terrifying!

Well I have a couple of requests if anyone feels up to sending me a package at Christmas:-)  I need more little socks and thick tights.  And I would love to have some recipes sent to me if possible...ranch dressing, crepes, and cinnamon rolls.  Those are of utmost importance, but more would be fabulous!  Guess what I got this week too!  Peanut Butter!!! YUM.

Well that is about all, I love you all and hope you are doing well.  Thanks for the e-mails from Annie and Sus Quartey!  Annie it is so weird that Rex is home, how is he doing!?  I think about him often.  How is Dev!?  I think about him as well.  How is everyone doing with their new houses on the Carter side, and how is all the family Carter and Wilcox sides doing.  I think about you all often!  Also thank you to the Harrisons for always writing, I love the letters always!  How are the Wadsworths and Adaiza Rae, and Desi and Schmidts and really everyone? Oh turns out we didn't get to go hiking on Monday, but I did meet a couple of members here that are going to give me some rocks!  Antigua next week, and I hear there is a Jade factory there that we´ll see if I can get some neat pieces:-) Love you all.  Keep working hard and remember that if it is for the Lord vale la pena!  Have a Wonderful week!
SLY,
Hermana Wilcox

Photos

We are going to Antigua in a few weeks so I want to try and find some fun things, also we get to go hiking next week! We are going on a hike next week and then to Antigua the next week for pday, so I will be looking for some great rocks!  That guy sounds really great though that you all met.  Kaela the weather is very much rainy!  I even got rain boots this last week, and when it rains it RAINS!  It is SO cool though!  I will have to attach more pictures from my camera next week since the internet was not downloading them but here are a few.  So this week we found a girl that is 14 and has a two month old baby boy, we are teaching her and her Mom and I hope we can help them.  They are so sweet, but it is such a sad situation.  They hadn't eaten in 3 days and literally have no money.  Everyone acts like they have never seen someone from North America, but it is really funny.  The kids get really excited and say greenga!  Then go tell their friends or family all about it.  It is hilarious!  The older people it is just weird.  It is amazing how many people are members all over the world, but really don´t live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yes it is hard because that is when the trials come, but that is also when the blessings come!  Study preach my gospel, it helps so much.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I know it is so worth it!   Tell The Giles hello from me, I got their email and loved it.  Also Desi and her Mom, and everyone else while your at it!    Well I will write more next week, I love you all!  Oh we had a wedding last week and will have his baptism this weekend.  More next week! SLY!
Love
Hermana Wilcox!

Well I am not really sure how to explain this week... I got letters this week from Gram and Papa, Daiza, Grandma and Grandpa, Brother and Sister Harrison, Daeneese, and Schmidts and I think that is it, most of them were sent at the end of August and for some reason I am just now getting them, but they were very much loved, so if you could tell all of them how much I appriciated them!  I pray that Elisa is doing well and will continue to do well!  She is such an amazing strength to me.  Congrats to JoAnne and Juan for their home!  I want pictures!  As well as Linda and Joe, and Kalie and Jason!  Sounds like all is exciting at home! 

Elder Moon from Gram and Papa´s ward is great, and KC he told me to say hello, and asked how you were doing.  Well it looks like my companion and I get to find a new home, the one that we are in we discovered loads of mold last night!  Nasty!  It has come back numerous times, so we might have to move.  I kinda like the house though, it´s pretty fun.  We went to a store called Mega Paca yesterday, I think Mom and Kaela would love it.  I got this really great dress for basically 1.50 US Dollars, and a long sleeve shirt for about 2.  So here they pronounce my name Wilcosh, and I love it!  It is so great, Wilcosh by many people and Willie by many elders.  Oh also Linda Pierce, that lived by us in the town house, her grandson is in my Zone right now.  He is great, we got a picture together and he´s sending a copy to his grandma! 

Also yesterday was cool!  We had an aftershock of an Earth Quake!  It felt so cool!  I am not really sure how to explain it, it is a totally different feeling.  My companion said that is one of the biggest she has ever felt here, but I thought it was small.  We were talking to one of our investigators last night too, and he was telling us that there was one the other morning at about 4:30 and he had been up reading the Book of Mormon.  He said because he was crossing his legs they were so asleep he couldn´t move, but knew that if he held the Book of Mormon he would stay safe.  It was a really neat experience to see that The Book of Mormon can bring someone so much comfort!  Funny thing is, is that we had no idea there had been an earth quake...we were sound asleep.  haha! 

So I have been thinking that I am going to dye my hair darker brown...It is really hard for me to do, but I am tempted hoping that I will look a little more Latina and the men in the streets will stop being such creeps all the time.  What do you all think? 

This week was pretty cool.  We got new goals as a mission, one of which is to baptize 50 families next month,  and  350 baptisms in January. I am so excited for this!  Sadly one of the families we were going to have a wedding and the Dad was going to get baptized this coming week decided to get a bit drunk with his dad, so now they will just be getting married, and he will hopefully be baptized in a few weeks.  It was a cool experience though because I had let the Sister barrow my jacket at church since she was freezing and she went home with it.  We stopped by simply to get my jacket and she had been crying since she couldn´t get a hold of her Mom and didn´t know where to find us. It was so neat thinking that we were going to simply get my jacket, but really we were there because she was praying that we would help. And there we were!  It is very neat to be apart of an experience like that!   We have a lot of work to do, but we will find them.  I can´t even explain how important members are in the work! 

I know that Our Heavenly Father loves me and each one of you!  We have a loving Savior that knows exactly how we feel, at all times.  Yesterday when I was having a really hard time, my companion helped me realize that.  D&C 6:22-23 is a scripture that I keep thinking about, and try to always remember.  I have to have more patience with myself and put all my trust in the Lord and know all will be good, as long as I am doing my part.  I love you all!  Thank you for all of your support! I would really love it if you would keep me in your prayers, especially for safety and patience.  I love you all, and know that our Heavenly Father loves you all, I pray that we will each come closer to knowing Him as we grow closer as a family.  Have a great week!
SLY,
Hermana Wilcox

September 15th

Well this week for two days there were only the 17 of us that came out together, since everyone left for their missions and we were waiting for all the newbies to come in.  Each time that is the case Presidente Nicolaysen and his wife always take all the Nortes out to see the City.  We went to this thing called the Relief Map and is a pretty on scale map of Guatemala, if you can look it up do!  It is in Zona 2, and so cool!  I got to see an arial view of my mission, and boy am I excited!  

Then we went to Zona 1 and went to a market!  It was crazy! It´s basically a three story parking garage converted into an almost mall type thing.  Mom and Dad you would LOVE it!  There was so much bright wonderful fabric, and leather bags, and Faces Vases, yes that is right, and they are hilarious!  There were some paintings I wouldn't have minded buying, but I don´t have room to lug them around my whole mission, but holy cow they were gorgeous!  The food area was gorgeous, and smelled SO good!  Dad I think you would be rather impressed, and would want to start adding some of these foods to your garden:) There was lots of jewlery that was amazing, and yes I wanted it all.  I thought about how much everyone would have loved it the whole time I was in there.  Blake and Jackson you would have been in heaven in a few of the little stores, with all sorts of different knives and leather working, and fun little you guys type trinkets. Mom I am determined to find the right leather purse for you, that will be in fabulous condition for forever!  Dad got some pretty cool ideas for jewlery, still on the hunt for rocks however :)  

Then after the amazing world of the market we went down the street and had Wendy´s for lunch.  Talk about weird.  My stomach has finally adapted somewhat to Guatemalan food, and then the States food killed us all again, but it was so good!  To have fries and a frosty was amazing! 

Then we went to the palace where the king used to live.  It was beautiful!!  Such an old, but marvelous building!  Plus pigeons were EVERYWHERE!  and you could walk right up to them and they wouldn´t move!  I could picture cousins and siblings running right through the middle of them trying to scare them.  The kids that were there were having a blast!  

One of my companions didn't say a word all day, the only time she talked was at Wendy´s while ordering, and she used a lot of English with a Spanish accent, it was great, she works really hard though, and does really well with the language when she isn't frustrated.  My other companion was grumpy all day, and when I asked if everything was okay she told me she didn't care about much of this since she isn't serving in Guatemala and she´s stressed and can´t understand anyone, and is in a new place, and she was lost...I kindly said I know right where we are, and this is all they are saying, and if you still feel lost this is what we ask, and then I said welcome to your mission..it´s going to be full of new places and experiences, take the time and ENJOY it.  Love the people and this wonderful culture no matter if you are serving here or not.  I felt bad that she didn't enjoy it, but I LOVED it and didn't let anyone ruin that!  

I am so grateful for this Gospel!  I am so grateful for the power of prayer!  This week was rough and I realized it was because I hadn't heard anything from home, so thank you for writing this week.  Prayer is one of the only things that helps me through everything!  The temple is so amazing, and peaceful the work that we do there and on the missions are so important.  Don´t forget that each of you are missionaries as well!  We couldn't do it with out members!  I know that and I am not even in the field yet!  Know that I love you all and I'm so grateful we are sealed as a family, I know our Heavenly Father Loves each of us so much, along with our Savior Jesus Christ!  SLY stay strong and keep smiling, until next week!  

Hermana Wilcox!

September 8, 2012

Well the time has come for all of the Latin´s and old Nortes to leave! It´s is sad watching them all go but so exciting at the same time! We are going to be the Old ones, the examples, and help.  I am excited to meet all of the new missionaries this coming week!  I can´t believe that 3 weeks ago at this time I was thinking oh man in just a few days I will be on my way to Guatemala!  The time has flown!  

Well this week was AWESOME!!! We went contacting last Saturday for the first time. It was just around the temple which made it hard because there were so many members!  But that is a good thing too, and we got to talk with a lot of them which was a lot of fun!  We talked with one of the guards, who is actually talking to the sisters in this area and he is getting ready for baptism!  He shared his testimony with us near the end of our conversation, it was really neat!  

Then on Tuesday is when it was awesome!  We went contacting for a few ours in Zone 5, which is about 20ish minutes away from where we are.  I´ll start from the beginning, we got our companions, and I was able to get Hermana Nava!  I love her, she is from Mexico City, and seriously is the Latina version of JoAnne, it´s super weird.  We all crammed onto a bus, and JoAnnie was right, there is ALWAYS room on the bus, it was insane!  Then we got to our area and walked back a ways to get to where we wanted, it was funny to look back and see this sea of missionaries ready to go!  I was one of the only Nortes not freaking out, I was so excited!  We started to see more and more dogs, I´m convinced they can smell missionaries for miles!  They were in the windows sticking their heads out of the bars, and don´t worry on the ROOFS of houses, it was terrifying.  Then they told us what time to be back and we were off. I was the one that stopped them and started talking and asked if we could share a message, after that Hermana Nava would usually take over and if I could say something I would, it was really cool.  There was one man that was waiting for a bus, and we just passed him but for some reason I thought we needed to turn around and go talk to him.  It turns out his bus was coming down the street so we hurried and he gave us his directions for missionaries to come visit and then he was gone. Then about that time a man and women came out of a house and were talking and we both looked at each other and said how about them, even though there were so many other people around.  So I started talking. The women went back in the house and the man stayed out and talked to us, then a little grandma came out and talked with us, she came up to about my chest she was little but so sweet!  We talked with them for about 20 - 25 minutes.  You could just tell they were ready for our message!  They were so amazing, and we haven´t stopped talking about them since.  He was just here visiting his Mom and was hoping we have missionaries in his area, if not he´d keep coming back, but we have missionaries everywhere :-).  She couldn't get over how beautiful I was, and kept calling me a beautiful barbie, haha it was great!  

I LOVE talking to people!  Even though I couldn't understand everything I got most of it, but most importantly the spirit was there!  It was such a wonderful experience.  We got 13 new contacts for the missionaries, with our companionship alone.  OH man I can´t get over how much I love sharing our message, and the people are amazing!  

KC I forgot to ask you before and tell you about the scriptures.  The church is re-doing the scripture bindings so they didn't have anything at the MTC, Shirley said she´d keep looking though.  How did your baptism go last week, and tell me about the upcoming ones!  I am so excited for you, and for them, what a wonderful experience!  Also do you know the Neilsons from the GB first ward?  They have a son that is just about to leave the Provo MTC?  Also the people that you had dinner with a couple weeks ago e-mailed President Nicolaysen to say Hello to me from you, it made my day!  What a small world!  Dad I would love to have you write me your What True Friends Are Quote, I've been saying it all week, but I am not sure I have it down perfectly. I have a new game to teach you all when I get home, it is hilarious! It´s called Pelea de Gallito.  Mom how is work doing?  Blake and Jack how is school going?!  Mom you should be sneaky and have Keala start writing Thor's grandson, he is hilarious!  And reminds me a lot of Dad.  So I have someone that reminds me about KC and one about Dad it´s funny.  Did you all go to Swiss days?!  and have you been getting my letters?  How is everyone doing health wise, nastiness has been going on around my neck of the woods!  Well I hope you have a wonderful week!  Stay strong, and keep smiling!  Thank you for your love and support!  

SYL!  Hermana Wilcox

Saturday, August 25th

Well as of the very early hours of Wednesday morning I have been in Guatemala!!!!  Let me tell you about the trip down here.  First of all I got to talk to some of my family!!!!  Best thing ever!  Kaela I hope you had a wonderful birthday playing games and sitting around with those at home, I hear Dad kicked butt with Apples to Apples!  

Then our first flight I was sitting by an Elder and a man named Max that is from LA, he was a really cool guy to talk to.  The Elder and I will be serving in the same mission, and his family happens to have a love for Tahiti as well.  We were talking about Tahiti for a while and he was telling me that his grandpa was asked once to be the king of one the the islands once, and he would have taken it if his wife would have been okay with it:) it was pretty great.  

At the LA airport it was hilarious to see the reactions of people to us.  A set of Elders gave a guy named Stephan a Book of Mormon on the first flight and so he came and found us again and was talking with us, it was pretty neat. Then you could tell who was LDS because they would cheer us on, or come talk to us, it was a lot of fun.  I knew the Spanish was going to start on the plane, but that is right it started in the foyer before we got on the flight, so we couldn't understand what was going on there, haha.  

Then on the second flight I talked to a man...I have no idea how to spell his name...but he grew up in Guatemala and his Dad died 3 years ago, and since then he´s been living in Canada and Nevada going to school and such.  He had a lot of questions, and we talked for a while.  I tried to rest since I was still pretty sick, but just as I started to fall asleep the steward tripped and spilled a drink all over me :( guess I wasn´t supposed to sleep.  Anyway the guy I was talking to poked my shoulder and said look, welcome to Guatemala.  It was a gorgeous view!  There were 3 volcano´s that I could see right first thing, the sun was rising, and it looked like it just got done raining.  Beautiful!  We landed and I gave him a Book of Mormon, and he said he would read it, so I hope he does.  He waited at the gate opening and he told me some things about Guatemala and living here, and such and then we parted ways.  It was pretty neat.  

Then we got all through customs and such, and got on the bus for the CCM (MTC) and our first site was a man in the back of a truck pulling on to one of the main road with a shot gun.  HAHA  Oh man here we go!  Also I just have to say both of my bags weighed 49 lbs.  well done me!  Mom don´t be to shocked, here we have to shower in 5 minutes, and who can do it?! That´s right, me!  I have 2 companions now, one is the same as the Provo MTC and the other is new to us, and she is a genius it seems, and is having a hard time seeing how much I am struggling with the language.  I hope it comes!  

KC do you know any of the Nielsens from the Granite Bay 1st ward?  Were you all able to see the Prophets birthday celebration?  I hear it was amazing!  What was it like?  Also I am pretty sure I weigh more than I ever have, it´s disgusting!  The chef here is AMAZING, and you have to eat all of the food, they think I am my brothers and can eat HUGE amounts...let me tell you I am not, but it is so amazing, I can´t even explain.  Sirens here are weird, and you hear then all the time!  Also last night I asked if any of my Elders had a grandpa named Thor?  Member that Elder I sat next to on the plane, and his grandpa was asked to be king of one of the islands in Tahiti, well yep that would be his grandpa Thor!!!  Funny right, it´s pretty great!  

Well I had a bit of a break down yesterday, I really hope the language comes, I can´t remember anything to save my life sadly.  Other than that everything is going well, I still feel like I am in the States since we are just inside the CCM all the time, so I am sure that will change when I get out:) 

I have come to love the Book of Mormon and prayer!  I think I was reading in Enos there is only one chapter, I love it because it shows us that we need to work for our knowledge, it won´t just be given to us, we need to show our effort.  

If anyone wants to write  it is Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71 (new line) Vista Hermosa 1, Zona 15 (new line) 01015 Guatemala City, Guatemala, C.A.  Just put Jasmine Wilcox and not Hermana or Sister.

 Well know that I love you all, I will write more when I have time, Keep smiling and stay strong! Love you all, also if you need look on line for pouch mail info if that´s not the address. 

 Love Hermana Wilcox!

Wednesday, August 15

Hey all!

I don't even know where to begin, and honestly the timer on my upper right hand corner is freaking me out:-).  How was everyones weeks?!  This week was much better with my companion, it is still hard, but I am doing my best to try and be patient in every possible way!  Some times I just need to talk to someone to let out my frustrations then I am fine, so my journal and bathroom time have become very sacred to me!  I know you all wanted to know that!

Kaela you crack me up!  I don't know how I forgot that I am an Olympian, you just don't forget those things, thank you for reminding me!!!  That was a day I needed a lot of laughter, and I got it!

 Last Wednesday we taught our second to last lesson with Carlos, we ended up asking if he'd follow the example of Christ and be baptized.  The spirit was awesome, I wasn't sure what to say many times, and found myself trying to piece together sentences with words that I was suddenly remembering, so lets hope I made sense :-)haha!  We finished with him last Thursday night, and met who he really is on Friday.  He is our second teacher and he's from PG, his name is Hermano David Doxey, and he's fabulous!  I like him a lot better than our other teacher, but he's not bad either.

 I mentioned this to Mom and Dad, but I got my flight plans last Thursday!!!  I will be in Guatemala a week from today!  I fly out of Salt Lake next Tuesday the 21st at 7:57 pm and get to go to LAX then fly out of there at 11:59 pm and get to Guatemala the next morning at 5:54 am!  I can't believe it!  But I get to call home that night from the airport, so stand by the phones!  I bought two calling cards today, so I should have plenty of time once I get all checked in and such!  Plus it's on Kaela's birthday!

KC, I thought about you all week last week!  I can't believe that you have been out a year already!  Half way there and I know you are doing great!  If you were a girl you'd only have 6 months left so work hard, since you have a year! 

So this week it is my goal to learn how to be funny in Spanish!  Laughter is wonderful medicine!  It'll make me work harder to, that way hopefully I'll figure it out!  On Monday we started teaching two new people (played by our teachers) and the one teacher I don't like so much called me out in front of our whole district and made me feel like poop because of what he thought I said even thought I said the right word.  I was not a fan, I know I am going to make mistakes, especially when I am just learning the language, but I would prefer he didn't make fun of me for it.  He has apologized numerous times since then though.  Then Hermano Doxey came in later that night and had heard about it, and told us about the times he had tried to be funny but it didn't work kind of thing, which made me feel a bit better. 

I actually have slept 3 nights in a row!  This is a proud moment since I had only been getting about 4 hours of sleep every night!  Also I am convinced they put things in the food here that prepares people for stomach problems in other countries!  It has made my stomach not so happy, haha. 

Also I love that Jackson is sleeping in my bed!  We talked about a little boy yesterday who would do sit on his brothers bed and wear his clothes because he missed him,  so it made me think of that a little bit.  That might not be the case, but I love it anyhow.  Also all week long I'll be studying and suddenly Blake's hispanic/scottish accent pops into my head and I can't stop laughing because everything I read is in that accent! How is Kalie and Jason's project coming along?  Also what information do I put on my suitcases for emergency contact stuff? 

KC  keep up the wonderful work!  I understand partially how hard this can be!  You are doing amazing!  I have learned so much how important it is for us to come unto Christ, and we need to put forth the effort, because if we don't it will not just be given to us.  I am trying my hardest to do all that I can to have him with me, because without the Spirit in our lives, it just gets hard.  I am not sure when I'll be writing next, since I don't know what my schedule is once I get to the MTC in Guatemala.  Also please keep Desi Quartey in all of you prayers!  I love the work, it is hard but I will get the hang of it, especially because of the amazing support I have from all of you!  I love you all more than you know, and I hope I can do all I can to help you and others around me know that.  I feel like I am forgetting so much, but I don't have to much time left on that stinkin timer!  Stay strong, and keep up the wonderful work!

Con Amor,

Hermana Wilcox

SLY!

Scant Information about the Guatemala MTC

Also known as the Centro de Capacitacion Misional, here is a very little information about where Jasmine will be spending her next few weeks.

Guatemala MTC

From Week One

Hey all! 

Let me just tell you this week has been one of the hardest of my life!  Looking back at it it went by really fast, but at the same time it was the longest week of my life.  Don't ask me how that makes sense, because I have no idea!  I didn't think I'd miss home as much as I do, and the other day when we were out for gym I looked and saw the light onto Timpview Dr.  I could have just walked home...and got the thought, man I wish they'd let the people that live in the valley choose if they want to stay at home for the training or come to the MTC.

You should be getting the letter today that I wrote the second day I was here.  How is everyone doing?!  I seem to be doing fine, but I could be doing lots better.  On Sunday we had a mission conference, and one of the sisters that spoke was Sister McIff, she said everything I needed to hear, it was amazing.  She talked about an Elder that her husband and her had talked to after a fireside one day that was really having a hard time.  He felt like he could never feel the spirit, and it was hard because his district seemed to be having so many spiritual experiences.  I was pretty much in the same boat, I feel like I just haven't had the faith that I need to keep going.  She continued on to giving her own experience, she said keep praying, and doing the best that you can and the Lord will bless you!  I am still having a hard time with it, but I'm thinking it's more of the language that is stressing me out.  It'll come, I hope.

We had an amazing devotional last night about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, I wish that I had time to tell you all about it!  It was amazing and truly strengthened my testimony about the truthfulness the Book of Mormon contains and that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet!

We have taught 3 lessons in spanish now, I wish I could memorize everything, but I haven't so I end up pretty much reading what I write down.  My companion hasn't talked much in any of the lessons, even though she's had more spanish than I have.  There are so many things that drive me up the wall about her.

Well I only have a couple of minutes left on the e-mail would you be able to get the address for Stephanie Sant (Kenlynn would know, Sydney Flygare (it was on my phone), and Tom asked me to read a scripture in Psalms but I can't remember what it was could you get that for me to?    KC do you know an Elder Rockwood or Rockwell?  I think he is the AP right now, he is from Colorado?  His brother is at the MTC right now and we were talking and found out you're both in the same mission!!!  Super cool.  How did the baptisms go?  How was Bear Lake for everyone?  I want you all to know how much I dearly love each of you, I didn't think I would miss home so much!  Mom and Dad, I think I really just need to know that everything will be okay, I don't know.  Also did you hear about Elisa?  I got a package from Tamera and Elisa today.

Well my time is up, I love  you all so much, and can't wait to talk to you when I fly out!  I might get my flight plans tomorrow! That'd be cool.  I love you all, I know this church is true, and can bring true happiness!  I will write you another letter today if I have more time.

Love your daughter and sister!

Hermana Wilcox

It Begins!

Welcome to the blog of Jasmine Wilcox! Here we hope to be posting letters and pictures so everyone can follow along on Jasmine's excellent adventure. Stay Tuned!