1st STAKE CONFERENCE IN SAN BENITO

Im doing great mom! I love it here, makes me sad to think time is coming to an end, but still got a good chunk left, so gotta keep working hard! 

Lets see what happened this week. Dolores is a good area really good potential, its progressing little by little. Working hard to always be finding new people to teach and give seguimiento with those we have found.

 So we went back to Santa Elena for the results of my companion and she had dengue, But she is a lot better now we were able to work this whole week. ON friday morning we had a meeting with Elder Alonso a 70, its always cool to hear him speak, he has such a spirit and learned some good things to put into practice to be a better missionary. 

A little bit of everything happened this week. Found out the nephew of our recent convert passed away he was only 2 years old. Its sad how it happened, the baby had a super high fever, someone advised to give him shots (but it wasn't a doctor) so the parents injected the child, but it wasn't the correct dosage it was for a bigger kid, and the baby went purple brought him to the hospital to help him, got better for a bit but then passed away, couldn't handle it. It was really sad to hear, and our convert is taking it really hard! Its kind of worrying me, so we are trying to help her all that we can. 

On saturday we got invited to a party for a baby's birthday, had tamales, a big slice of cake and manjar (like gelatin) it was really good, and i was sooo full! On Sunday we had our big first stake conference in san benito! organizing and sustaining all the presidencies, it was super cool, now san benito is a stake!! woohoooo!!!! So exciting, and that day the church was packed! up until the point that people had to hear outside, it was awesome! as a branch of Dolores we brought 45 people, which is pretty good! 

So it has been a good week! Oh yeah! so last night we had to travel to San Benito again to stay with the sisters because today we traveled to coban. We got to the bus stop at 6:45, no bus was coming by to flores, and we were there for an hour waiting, we started panicking, because we needed to travel that night because we would be leaving to coban at 3 the following morning. We were praying our hearts out, asking advice from our branch president, he came out to help us. We moved from the stop to go to the main road, just in case to see if they were just passing straight through and not going into the pueblo. We waited a little bit more, and a bus passed by! and we got on! Heavenly father answered our prayers and our panic went away. I was worried i was going to have to call the zls and actually tell them we didn't get on the bus, but thankfully we didn't have to! 

So very grateful for prayer, and Heavenly Father listening to them. Such a blessing!

Had interviews with president and hermana curtiss, things are going great and love talking with them!

hna curtiss says we have a beautful family. I gave her one of the postcards from mn saying thanks and gave her one of the mocassin keychains she loved it, and i gave president a bag of mn bear poop and the card that says minneskeeta we bit ya you betch ya, he got a good laugh out of it and loved it as well. They say thanks for sending me the package :)

Yes I am making good friends here. Love the mission, and as far as my birthday and christmas, well I dont really want a whole lot because I will be going home soon and dont want to have to bring more things home, I was thinking of something small, and that maybe you could send money so that i can buy recuerdos :)

I will keep you posted on what I want

LOVE YOU TONS MOMMA!!! 

Hey Mom!!!

Wow! Alex going on a mission! I cant believe it!! How long is he going to be in the MTC?

it just amazes me all that has happened I cant believe it! Im going to miss him a lot! Hey guess what? you will actually be able to skype him! lucky duck Im jealous, but hey its okay, i will be home before I know it! (because the time goes faster for me than it does for you haha)

Okay So i am going to share what happened this week because it was crazy!

We have an investigator named Sandra she is a really good investigator. She had a baptismal date for Saturday we have prayed and fasted for her and this past week we visited her every single day to teach her the lessons she needs to know. When the baptismal date came closer she had to go away with her husband to visit her Father in Law who was sick and because of that she wasn't able to be baptized. We were saddened because we had been helping her get ready to come to Christ. That afternoon I talked with president and told him and hermana curtiss and they said not to worry about it, we did EVERYTHING and all that we could. Later that afternoon i was pondering on all that had happened and was trying to understand and this is what came to my mind. That all of this was a test of faith, to show if we really had faith. I know that she will get baptized when the time is right.

On wednesday we did divisions in San Luis, it was a rainy day, got soaked hard core, we visited a lady and we made chepes de Chipilin an herb they are like tamales but smaller. 

On Thursday we got to go to district meeting and I find my companion super sick, with a fever and pain in all her body (she had this before and now it was repeating) so we missed district meeting and i took her home. We didnt go out that day to work, today we traveled to San Benito because my companion had to go to the clinic to get tests, turns out she has dengue. And now we get to enjoy our pday here! Man quite the week, divisions, then playing nurse then going through a whirlwind with our investigator. Love the mission life! haha

Well I hope things are going wlel for you and your work! I LOVE YOU SO MUCHH MOMMY!!!!!!

HAVE A FANTABULOUS WEEK!

LOVE 

hermana riley

ps did i tell you i love you

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU! 😘

TIRED OF PACKING

We are kicking it here in Dolores! I love it here and i really hope i finish my mission here! I dont want to go anywhere else, tired of packing my stuff haha. 

This past week, we found some more good people! But the best part of the week was the weekend! On saturday night we visited our fecha hna sandra. we have been visiting her everyday now, really trying to prepare her for baptism for this saturdya but struggling a bit. But that night her husband was there and stayed for our lesson (he is usually never around) we shared a video about the apostasy afterwards he shared with us that he felt something in his chest. And we could feel the spirit strongly, we invited him to close with a prayer and he did it! I couldnt hear what he said because his voice was quiet but i just heard his wife sobbing and crying, i want to know what he said! oh well. It was a great night! (oh yeah he invited us to his humble dinner as well) a plate with a serving of eggs and fresh cheese that they had just received and tortilla it was good! We invited him to church as well and said he would go, and he went!! :) There was a primary presentation and his daughter participated as well. It turned out super cute, and the assistance of the branch was 63!! My goal was to get it up to 50! woohoo! (the presentation helped) But now to have that number consistently for 3 months so that we can have a real capilla built! 

It was a great week and weekend. Today for pday we went to a place called ixcun, which was a center of the mayas where they did sacrifices it was a 2 hour walk! im so tired now! but it was cool!

I love you so much mommy!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a great wekk! Take care!!!!!

LOVE 

Hermana riley

GOOD WEEK

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS MOMMY!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! Glad you had a great sunday and I hope you have a great Tuesday!!!many birthday wishes for you! hope my card comes soon!

Okay so about my week!
As you know, had Council mtg in Coban, that was really uplifting and inspiring!
I will share the few special things that happened this week. So i feel like as of lately I have been tortillando a lot (making tortillas) i am now a pro and ready to make a tortilleria in the states and make bank! haha jk

On Friday we had a special zone meeting, the spirit was super strong. Me and my companion gave a lesson on repentance and it turned out well.

That evening we found a girl named adela. She is so special. She loved our visit and accepted the Book of Mormon and accepted the invitation to baptism, she said that she wants to do it. That she wants to serve the lord. she doesnt go to any church. She has a family, and we met her husband at the end he seems nice too. That was another special experience of the week. On saturday morning we helped an investigator make tortillas and she had us for lunch as well, the food was tastey, it was chicken and papas in a style of caldo, but super good!

But this has been a really good week! Had changes, and i am staying in dolores with my companion, this change will be 7 weeks instead of 6. Got a lot of work to do. But i am super pumped!

I love you guys so much!
I hope you have agreat birthday mom and a great week!

love
hermana riley

DOLORES

Okay so about my week! It was a good week:

we are really working hard here in Dolores, we are finding lots of REALLY GOOD people! We have a fecha with an investigator named Sandra,

We also have been finding good families, and we hope they can progress. For conference on Sunday we had 3 investigators come which was a plus! Conference was really good, got some spiritual insights, and it was cool to hear the new apostles! This past week we also did divisions with the libertad and that was a lot of traveling, from Dolores we had to take a bus to santa elena which is an hour and forty minute ride, then in santa elena we had to get off and hop on another bus to the Libertad which is like 45 minutes away and all of that on the way back, so it was tiring. But im like a travel expert now haha I think I can give you a tour of your own Country Mom hahaha

Also last night we left dolores to go to santa elena and we stayed the night because this morning we went to Coban! left at 3:30 in morning, hurray for more traveling!!!
We made it to coban safe and sound! Didn't get car sick this time And got to do lots of stuff today for pday, now later going to see some people that i know smile emoticon And going to open my package tonight! THANKS AGAIN! when i got it i started singing navidad navidad hoy es navidad es un dia de alegria y felicidad hahah Cant wait!

Really trying to finish hard! And the Lord is helping me a lot. Feeling more diligent and trying to better myself everyday! Super greatful for the atonement and to be able to apply it in my life, thats really how im ever going to be able to progress.

Well I love you family!!!!!
TAKE CARE!
HNA RILEY

ps. Made some birthday cards so I will be sending those to you guys while i am here! love ya!

13 MONTHS

My lovely Mother!!! Oh how I Love you so!

Okay so first of all SHOUT OUT TO CADEN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELIZ CUMPLEANOS BUBBAH! I LOVE YOU!!! 😘 AAAAHHHHHH another teenager in the house, no more little kids! (how does that make you feel mom?) 13!!!! woohooo (hey guess what!? i completed 13 months yesterday we are pretty much the same!!!! hahaha so i celebrated for you caden haha)

okay now for the bad news, my memory card got a virus so i lost my fotos from these 2 months frown emoticon so ive been praying that they can be recovered so I brought them to a place, so pray for that please! I want my fotos back!

Wow I'm so proud of my bro! THAT'S MY QUINNIE I knew he would love it there! What a true gentleman (all the girls are going to go for him hahaha) watch out!

Okay so last week was a whirwind of a week and let me explain.

Last monday my companion and I traveled to a place called santa ana (like an hour and 15 minutes away) We had to help an investigator get all his legal documentation so that he could get married and subsequently get baptized, the process became complicated because the person had a previous record and because of that they were not releasing the documents needed for his marriage license, we then decided to consult a lawyer that I know in the city of san benito (imagine me and my companion 19 yr olds helping someone who is twice our age get his ducks in row so that he can live the gospel) Anyhow the lawyer ended up helping us and in addition to that he told us that he would do the ceremony for free and all we would have to pay was the trip (which is cheaper than paying a lawyer in Dolores) So we made the agreement. We had to do several trips back and forth to coordinate everything and finally on Saturday morning we traveled with the family to san benito (almost a 2 hour drive) AND saw this couple get married! hurrah! We went to the lake to take some fotos, and then we traveled back to dolores, we ate lunch and then we gathered some of the members up because we were going to poptun for the baptism! And it was a success! the wife got baptized and it was a sweet feeling that I can't describe.

It was a crazy

week! And there was sooooooo much traveling. On Thursday night we traveled to san benito because on Friday we had the sisters conference, which was a hit!!!! super awesome) And now im feeling the effects in my rear end and tail bone. I feel like an old lady now. The more time one has on the mission the more tired and worn out one is haha. So that was my whirlwind of a week.

Now get this mom: you'll be so proud of me....this morning I spent 3 hours washing my clothes (we always hire somebody to do our laundry but right now we don't have any one who washes for us) and I still have some clothes left to do. But Holy Cow! I washed a towel, that is a WORK OUT! It weighs a ton when is wet! But I love pilas (big sinks) I enjoy washing my clothes like that, even though it takes a milenia to get the job done but it builds good muscles.

I Hope things are going well for you guys! Im always praying for my fam!

Exitos en su trabajo mama!

ps can you send me the recipe for potato salad, an hermana wants it.

anyways loveyou all!!!!!!!!!
take care!

RIOTS AFTER THE ELECTIONS

HERMANA RILEY WROTE:
My Brother is going on a Mission!!! THAT IS SOOOOOOO EXCITING!!! I CANT BELIEVE IT!!! STATE SIDE! WAAAHHHHH!!!! Im in shock, i think everyone in this internet cafe thinks I'm crazy because I keep yelling haha! And my other brother Quinny in college, that's my boy!!! *sniffle, sniffle* wow my fam is growing up! I can't believe Alex is leaving in October, noooooooooooooooooooo! I wanted to see him before he lefT (but I knew that was going to happen so I was preparing myself) The Lord helps me a lot! wow one month! That's crazy, I got a lot of tips for that boy, I wish so badly to be there to help him, but I guess I will have to do it from here.
Do I have a story to tell you mom!!! Dont freak out!! I AM all safe and sound....Here it goes>>
As you know last weekend were the elections here in Guatemala, WELL...the day after the elections EVERYTHING went down hill from there....... (here in Peten) it all started on Monday when we had our p-day in Poptun, at the end of the day we had finished our shopping and boarded a bus to take us home, as we were heading home we came to a stop because there was a blockage on the road and there was something burning up ahead, it turns out it was a protest!!! but not a simple protest it actually was a RIOT, the people from the nearby villages were not happy on who won for the local election for Mayor so they all heade out to the streets to protest, they were burning tires on the middle of the roas and they were not letting ANYONE through, the passengers left the buses and started walking but to no avail they were not able to get around the riot, even people with children tried but nope they were not allowed to go through. IT WAS CRAZY! So it started getting darker and I stuck out my head from the bus, and me being daring (got it from you mom) I took a video and picture (the video didn't last long) but I was sneaky without flash. Like five minutes later I see a truck ramming through the mob, pushing its way through and that only got the mob more riled up so they started to hit the truck with anything they could find, sticks, rocks etc and were yelling, when I see the truck pass through.. revving it's engine and speeding away! It was like someone irritating a beehive and they all got crazy, running after it, I got scared because they came towards us, and I thought they were going to beat us and smash the windows, so I got into the bus, the driver closed the windows and the doors and turned off the lights and I started praying FRANTICALLY!! so that we would be protected. Meanwhile I was talking to my District Leader (over cell phone) and he was going to come get us with the Branch President because the bus couldn't move forward or backwards. After a while the bus was able to move slowly and I told the Elders to not come because it was too dangerous. Finally the bus made it out and we had to return to Poptun (where we had been) The Elders decided to come looking for us and found the bus and were behind us and we got saved, we switched over to the car. and we ended up staying over night with the other Sisters. It was a crazy experience! But I'm alright and now back in Dolores, it was just for that night. This weekend we had a multi zone conference and I learned a lot, it was really spiritual. Burning fire here in Dolores with my companion.
I'm so excited for all the good things that are happening!
I pray for you guys all the time and know that the lord is blessing you guy greatly
LOVE YOU!!!
HERMANA RILEYRI

HOLY GUACAMOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO WAY!!!!!!! THATS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!! You were in Guatemala!! like 12 hours away from me!!! (driving wise) I cant believe you went on a day trip to guatemala!! That is sooo exciting! But thats so awesome.

I LOVE my new area!! Yeah it is pretty remote, but the house is sooo pretty! I need to send a picture, but i forgot to take one, its a legit house, has a kitchen, living room, a bedroom and two baths , and a room with a big pila to wash clothes, its really pretty. I will send pics next week to show you smile emoticon I have everything i need, and i got my connections to get the stuff i need if i am desperate. Thats awesome that you got to see the video haha, Ive wanted to send a video but i dont know how because it ends up being to big to send, but i will see. I made one but from mothers day haha.
My companions name is hermana Escobar she is from panama (so dont worry I am speaking spanish) and hey! como sabe si mi gramatica es mala, no creo que es tanto, tongue emoticon creo que se equivoco con mi gramatica de ingles eso si es malo haha
Voy a salir de aqui olvidando ingles y voy a tener accento guatemalteca hahaha nah es broma pero talvez si voy a olvidar ingles....
This week has been great, there is a lot of potential here in dolores, but the branch is small, that will need a lot of work and mostly with the members because they dont practice the charity here, they like to gossip and back talk about others and just say things that arent true, which is hard because thats how so many are less active and its really hard to change a person. So I have been really praying to receive direction in the most effective way to work and gain success in this area to increase the branch and so the thought came to me to read jacob 5 so ive been studying that and have been receiving ideas. The most that this branch has for assistance is 25 that was recent, but this sunday that just happened, there was 12 and thats including us 4 missionaries and the branch president, so if you do your math only 5 members came.... thats really sad. (It was also day of elections Speaking of elections, mom were you watching the news, keeping track? It was actually really calm yesterday in dolores, but we also stayed away from the center, so thats why, otherwise in the center there were crowds and crowds of people voting. But today it was a little bit more noisy with fire crackers and they actaully blocked the main street. That made it harder to get to poptun (thats where we go for pday) but we made it, and today we played soccer

So that was my week, looks like there might be a baptism this week, but we have to get papers fixed because the lady needs to get married first but she is pilas and her husband is less active, so killing two birds with one stone i hope haha. her name is marisol.

I love you guys very much, trying to kick it into high gear and working on being obedient with exactness for these few months that are left :,(
I love you guys sooooo much! I hope you have a wonderful week! And hope everthing goes well in your work mommy, and pops.
LOVE YOU!
Hermana Riley

Im doing good, I am Healthy for the most part hahah and well my hands are just there haha I dont really know if they are getting better or not. About the spanish, no i don't speak it with her (oops)

The political stuff hasn't really affected us here in Peten but we have been given precaution and told us to be on our toes and prepared, the other day there was a parade for a political party but otherwise that is it. We will see what happens this weeked.

But Hey GUESS WHAT?! So this week we have changes AND I GOT CHANGED!!! I have only been here in Santa Elena for 6 weeks! frown emoticon It makes me sad a little bit frustrated but its okay the Lord has a plan for me and I have been doing my best just to Follow his will and be humble, and so far its been working out for me, when one does that its a lot easier for them to have the peace and strength one needs to move on and get through the change.
Im staying in Peten! Im going to Dolores (president is now putting another pair of sister trainer leaders in peten, i will be training another sister, Hna Andersen is staying in Santa Elena, and my hija hna perez will be her companion, she is moving up! So proud of her, she is pilas! :D) So I will be like 2 hours away from the center. President wants me closer to the other sisters that are down there. we'll see what happens, I might end there in dolores, but one never knows! Im excited smile emoticon I atleast got to finish this change with a BAPTISM! grin emoticon His name is Jose Luis he is 19 and he is so prepared, one day he will serve a mission smile emoticon Such a great kid!
And now i have to share the spiritual message of the week. Okay So on saturday we went to the biggest one year old birthday party i have ever been to, there was a baptism yippee!! but thats not it. So after the baptism my companion was really wanting this type of cookie called champuradas, she has been craving them for a bit she really wanted one that night so we were looking for a panaderia (bakery) but it was already late so they were all closed and there was nothing, so went home a little down but not without finishing the day with a Sarita (the icecream store in guatemala, speaking of, there are new flavors! atol de alote (Corn) its sooo gross tongue emoticonarroz con leche(Rice pudding) and caramelo (caramel with nuts) So we got home finishing our icecream, sat down at our desks and all of a sudden the daughter of our dueño (Landlord) comes (like 30 years old) ansmile emoticon

d guess what she has in her hands?! A BOX OF CHAMPURADAS! We were so surprised, literally Heavenly Father was listening to the desires of my companion and blessed us. And it wasn't the biggest thing in the world we would have been fine until we found them, but the Lord blesses us in mysterious ways and in the right moment, we shared that story with the lady and even she recognized it was Heavenly Father. It was soooo awesome! Thats why i call them our miracle cookies, because that was a miracle. Im really trying to notice the little things that heavenly father does for us. And I am so greatful for Him, I LOVE the mission! It is the best! Its a great learning experience

Well Have a great week! Feliz cumpleaños a mi prima Genesis!!! darla un abrazo de mi parte
LES AMO MUCHO FAMILIA!!!!!!
SE CUIDAN!!!!!
mwah hug hug kiss kiss

HEALTH CONFERENCE

Okay so the highlights of my week!

On Wednesday we had a conference about health and the doctor for all the Central American missions came up to Peten, and he gave us a lecture (our mission is the number one most sick mission, we top everyone with parasite problems.....haha) And after the conference, the missionaries had a chance to have a one on one with him about any problems so I went to him with my hand problems. Then guess what?! On Saturday we had a mission conference with Elder Russell M Nelson and the are 70 Elder Duncan with all the missions in Centro America, it was a broadcast, I went into it fasting, and got a lot of council and answers to my prayers! it was so cool to see an apostle, too bad he didn't come to Guatemala, shucks. But oh well, this is better than anything, because how many times does an Apostle come down here, not too often, so it was awesome! My district had to go down to poptun to the conference, which is like a 2 hour drive from here. Also this past weekend, we put a fecha with our investigator Jose Luis and will be getting baptized this Saturday!!!! Woohoo a baptism, after 5 months! this is super exciting, this area is prepared and there are a lot of good potentials, we found 18 new people to teach, and within that 3 new families. I love Santa Elena, it's the best! So this week i made my one year mark!! wookoo!!! And I celebrated by doing divisions with the Sisters from Flores, and at night with my companion, she made me a card and got me a pinata (which i always wanted) and we got licuados, it was a really good night!! I can't believe how fast the time has gone, SUPER FAST! i don't even feel it, now only 6 months left and got to turn on the turbo boosts to finish strong until the very last nano second.

I can't believe someones robbing our house! NOT COOL! I will for sure pray for you guys, better be more cautious and secure with the stuff family!!
So proud of you mama on your tests, keep it up!!!!
So just found out it is 102 degrees here, wow cant believe it! I guess im just getting used to it, but the sun is blistering. Today for pday, we had a slip n slide (my idea) it was so fun, although it may have been a teensy bit dangerous, hit my head once, but i am all good, we also played with water balloons, and we had a picnic ( we just ordered pizza and had chips and a drink) it was a really fun day, especially in the heat.

Well so far i am survivng the mosquitos, keep praying for me I will make it out here alive from the chikungunya!

I LOVE YOU GUYS SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!
MWAH! HUGS!
Lve
hermana riley