Week 54: It's Your Funeral

Good morning, everyone!

And happy birthday to my best friend, Laurel, who turns 21 today. Super old, right?

I literally donned funeral black for transfers, it was pretty hilarious.

So transfers happened on Tuesday. It was very sad, as I’m sure you were able to guess from the lamentations of my last email. I was doing pretty OK, but then I was just looking at Hermana González, and then I started crying, and then she started crying, and it was an overall mess. Shoutout to the elders who tried to comfort me later but do not know what to do about crying hermanas. Your words weren’t what I would describe as, well, helpful, but it’s the thought that counts!

Earliest photographic evidence of my new companion.

Anyroad, missionary work moves forward, and I have a new companion! Her name is Hermana Noyola, and she’s from El Salvador. She is very kind, and very enthusiastic, and absolutely exuberant about everything! Sometimes our energy together just … explodes. Or maybe short-circuits is the better term? She also knows practically no English (but more than she gives herself credit for!), which isn't what I’d describe as a challenge at this point, but I realize how accustomed I am to just making jokes in the two languages. Both are definitely interesting changes after being with someone as laid-back as Hermana González for four months.

One of the last photos of me and Hermana González (included are not pictures of me crying at having to leave a loved companion jajaja). Side note: Now it’s super awkward because I can’t randomly add photos from other weeks without it being obvious.

In short, this week has been busy. Hermana Noyola is getting the opportunity to learn about a new area and all things medical on the mission end! I love how willing she is to sit next to me when I’m at the computer filling out a form and let me talk everything through. She’s interested in forensic science, which is yet again another career that has much more to do with common medicine than theater does. Although she hasn’t gone to college yet, so the playing field is more even this time.

And of course, we’ve had our spiritually edifying moments. I’ve needed a lot of them. The other day, I was studying 2 Nephi 4:16-35, which some people refer to as Nephi’s Psalm. It’s a really beautiful passage of scripture, and there’s one section I especially love:

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

There is so much to rejoice over. Even in the sad moments. I get to have another, amazing companion! I get to serve in this fantastic area with spectacular members! I get to see the temple every day from the hills of Baul, and I get so much to be grateful for, every single day. And I am really grateful for my mission, and for the time I still have left. Let’s hope that it doesn’t run out from under me.

It’s what the city is famous for.

—Still kicking,

Hermana Newton

Week 53: My Sister's Keeper

Happy birthday, Jonah!!!

We love running into other companionships at the mall on P-day

My dear audience, can you believe that my little brother’s about to become an adult? Wednesday will mark the end of an era. Two eras, actually, because that’s when Hermana González will be driving back home, and I will never see her again, unless she sends me off at the airport when I go home in six months. Also, I’ll definitely be visiting Guatemala after my mission, and I’m sure she’ll visit the U.S. But after spending four months with a person, parting ways is a really weird thing.

Not me being taller than my entire district (a Guatemala standard)

Also very eventful! We had zone conference, Hermana González had to go to the hospital and get an IV (she’s totally fine, please do not worry), we got a super rare commodity (Dr Pepper) the very day I thought about not having it in a while, I went on the shortest exchange ever with Hermana Dunford and Hermana Hernandez while Hermana González and the other missionaries on their last legs did baptisms in the temple, we ate so much food, and there was no electricity in Xela for half of Sunday! And, like I’ve already mentioned, I have to say goodbye to one of my best friends.

The first members who fed us, and now the second-to-last.

Hermana González has been such a blessing to me, and she’s also defined my entire experience in Guatemala so far. I have absolutely loved the time I have spent with her and all that she has taught me about how to be a missionary. I seriously cannot describe my gratitude for having her in my life. No person or companionship is perfect, but I just find my love transcending anything that could even begin to be a problem.

We also love walking down the street and running into one of Hermana González’s converts (not literally of course *canned laughter*)

At zone conference, the story of Cain and Abel was mentioned. You know, where the brother murders his brother, and then he lies to God about it?

9  And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

I think that the character of Ruth (I love Ruth) is a wonderful contrast to this attitude.

16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.

Naomi, the person Ruth is talking to, isn’t even her relation by blood. She’s her mother-in-law. Both of their husbands have died, and Naomi is planning on going back to Bethlehem, which is her homeland. Ruth’s sister-in-law in a similar position to her simply goes back home. But Ruth decides to care for this woman, not because it offers her anything, but because of the love in her heart.

I don’t really find the love I’ve given has in turn given me anything. At least, in terms of some material reward. But my love has always made me happier, more positive, more willing to reach out. Love is what identifies the purpose of God and of our Savior. It is the framework of the entire gospel. Love has made my mission.

One of my favorite hymns is “Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” and I don’t necessarily have any commentary, because I feel the lyrics speak for themselves. I’ll just attach the last two verses and this video of the Tabernacle Choir singing it:

I would be my brother’s keeper;

I would learn the healer’s art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother’s keeper—

Lord, I would follow thee.

Savior, may I love my brother

As I know thou lovest me,

Find in thee my strength, my beacon,

For thy servant I would be.

Savior, may I love my brother—

Lord, I would follow thee.

— Love all of you,

Hermana Newton

Week 52: 369 Days Later …

I’ve been a missionary for a year.

What?

Hermana González and I are known to take pictures of each other from a distance

My absolute shock at this news out of the way, it’s been a fun week! A very busy one, full of office exertions, nurse duties, service, and a severe lack of contact time. Hopefully we’ll be able to get some of that done in the week Hermana González has left. Oh yeah.

Hermana González finishes her mission next week.

What?

Hermana González made fun of my pinkie 😤 No companionship can be perfect ig

But back to the exciting exertions of the past seven days! A bird somehow flew into our apartment (even though all of the windows were closed?), and I was worried about reliving the pooped-on treatment (true fans of the weekly already know), but that was miraculously avoided. Hopefully that means God has decided I only need to be pooped on once in my mission? Perhaps for my entire life? Fingers crossed.

To paraphrase the song, “painting down the house”

We did service for a member with the district, and we got to paint and sweep! I got myself covered in paint, to no one’s surprise, but I honestly find a lot of joy in getting covered with art supplies, so I didn’t mind at all. Then we had to rush home to take a shower so that we could have a spiffy night at the restaurant that’s the talk of the town: POLLO CAMPERO.

Me taking pictures with the Pollo Campero himself!

Real talk, Pollo Campero is this wings place that has the décor sensibilities of Village Inn. It was a really fun night, though! And I got to pose for a photo op with the gaudy golden statue of a chicken in the front while we were waiting for the family we were eating with to show up, so it’s all good.

The improvised party to celebrate my one-year mark!

For my year mark, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of announcing it or anything, but when we went to our member lunch, Hermana González clued in Hermana Vilma, the Relief Society president, and she set off straight-away. She made me a balloon animal bunny rabbit and gave me pancakes with sprinkles and a candle! Then she and Hermana González sang me “Cumpliste años” (“You’ve Had a Birthday”) and it was honestly super sweet. Basically, everything the members did this week was sweet.

In John 15, Christ says:

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

I am so grateful for all of the expressions of love I’ve been able to give and receive on my mission. This country, this city, and these people are so beyond wonderful. I think back to when I was on that crazy bus from the hotel back in June, and when I stepped off the plane in Nashville last November, and when I opened my call on August 11, 2020. There is no way to explain the changes in the world that we’ve experienced. But what’s even more miraculous has been the change in me. I hope I’m kinder, more patient, and more like Christ.

— 369 days wiser,

Hermana Newton

Week 51: In General

Happy Birthday, Dad (and Summer)!

It takes forever for mail from the U.S. to get to Guatemala, but I finally got another letter from Mom!

And happy late birthday to Mom. I happen to know a lot of people with October birthdays, so I might be mentioning them a lot this month. Get ready to celebrate, is all I’m saying.

Also a mysterious package. With letters! Thanks to the Jordan North 6th Ward Young Women and their leaders.

This has been a fun week, as my weeks usually are here in Xela. We’ve had some really awesome lessons, eaten some really good pupusas, and baked! Sadly, no photographic evidence of the cookies. Yet again, we just keep on eating them before I think to take a picture for all the world to see. But they tasted really good!

Here’s all of Bosque after a combined district council.

On Saturday night, I was having serious cravings for a Frosty. I decided to order one, but here’s the thing: Takeout Wendy’s in Xela only offers a one-liter bucket of Frosty. The size of a liter did not really register to me until I had the Frosty on my desk in the apartment, but it was incredibly satisfying, in the typical Frosty way. I love comically large portions of food.

Our district!

Speaking of Saturday … General Conference was this weekend? And it was such an absolute blast! I’m also a wee bit nervous, because that means that the next conference will be going on in the week I’m getting ready to … um … go home from my mission. But we don’t have to think about that hahahaha. Especially since a whole lifetime of stuff happened between the April conference and this one (although time did actually pass fairly quickly too and I’m a little psyched out). All of that aside, it was a really rewarding and refreshing experience. I got 18 pages of notes, and I’m sure that in the coming months, I'll find even more gold nuggets as I study. Which talk will be the one I constantly quote and reference within these next six months during lessons? Vote on your phones now!

It was such a blast spending the day in Panorama with Hermana Ney!

I always love Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s messages, and his most recent one is no exception. One of my favorite quotes was when he said, “Trust becomes real when a person does hard things with faith.” I think I’ve mentioned it before in my weekly emails, and I’ve definitely talked about it with a lot of people in person throughout my mission, but when you have faith, you do something about it. Especially if it’s hard. Because you trust God and what He has promised you. I think that the story from Matthew 14 that Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr. mentioned illustrates that really well:

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

…

28 And Peter … said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

The Lord trusts us, but that relationship is still a two-way street. Sitting in the boat — or on the sidelines — might make the things we have to do seem easier, but the actual action can be overwhelming. And the falling we can experience is scary and hard. But the good news is that he will always be there to catch us when we fall. His arm is outstretched. We just have to make sure that we’re willing to take it.

Catch me exactly matching the exterior walls of buildings.

— Same as always,

Hermana Newton