Week 59: Shawn Mendes' 'Mercy' (2016)

God is good, everybody!

When you get up at 4 a.m. so your comp can do paperwork at immigration, you’d be surprised what looks you can serve

This entire week has been one of the most stressful of my mission. And there was no appendicitis to be seen!

We had to travel to Guatemala City again, and there was a lot of rearranging and scheduling things going on, but surprisingly, my nerves weren’t connected to that. No, dear reader, my worry stemmed from the pending news of …

TRANSFERS.

The view is beautiful from everywhere in Baúl, even the soccer field by Xelapan

Basically, I was pretty sure I was staying, but everyone around me kept saying I was finishing up the nursing thing and that I would be getting transferred. This made me freaked out, not necessarily for the nursing, but because I love Baúl!!! This might be my favorite area of my whole mission, and if I had to leave before Christmas, I would have never recovered. I honestly had to keep on telling myself, “I trust President Roden,” to keep myself sane.

Good views are also featured from our stairwell

Fortunately, as you can tell by the title, the Lord and the Universe are merciful, and Hermana Noyola and I are going to be doing this thing for another six weeks! We’ll see where it leads us.

I

Everyone seems to be acknowledging the little time I have left in the mission, including the public transport.*

’ve definitely mentioned this before in at least one of the dozens of weeklies that I’ve written, but trust is crucial to a mission and to life in general. One of my favorite things I was ever told (during theatre!) was that you will never actually know what another person is thinking. No matter the moment, no matter the intimacy. You just have to believe in their words and their actions and hope for the best. And that is what we do.

A verse in Mosiah 7 reads:

33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

The whole gospel is built on promises, and a promise is the deepest form of trust we experience. I have no physical evidence of any of the promises I have, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t know they’re true. If you just let yourself believe, life is, more often than not, much happier.

—You’re good, too,

Hermana Newton

* “RM” is a widely used abbreviation for “returned missionary.”

Week 58: Put That in Your Weekly

Happy Thanksgiving!

These entire last two weeks, all of the Christmas decorations have been going up, and my American mind is like “uhhhh where’s the festive autumn decor??”

I forgot a salutation last week?

I’m sure no one really cared, but if someone did, I formally apologize to you, specifically. In order to make it count, I also included two salutations instead of the socially acceptable one. I hope that makes up for my sins.

We love a good landscape photo!

As many a week on the mission, this one was good! We got to participate in an activity called Four Week, where all the new missionaries come to the mission offices and get evaluated on what they’ve learned their last four weeks in the field. It is so fun to see the growth of these élderes and hermanas! And it’s also a good excuse to see old friends.

After our service project, we climbed up the mountain to a prayer altar. It was so cool, and I’m glad we had permission to take photos!

I got to go on exchanges with Hermana Westbrook, who was the only other gringa when we came in. Now there are four, but we’ll always be the OGs. We had way too much fun for me to be comfortable saying that we should be companions, because I have a feeling that we would not get anything done. Seriously, we were laughing so much. She also came up with the phrase “Put that in your weekly,” so this entire email is an homage to her.

Obispo Ortiz somehow got his hands on MARTINELLI’S?? I have never been more excited to see a beverage in my entire life!

But after exchanges, you’ll never guess what happened! I lost my voice! So for two days, your girl was on vocal rest, and tbh I should probably not talk too much today if I want to be ready for zone conference tomorrow (definitely more on that next week!). So I just got to mime what I meant all around Baul and feel very silly. It made me realize that I contribute a great deal to the conversations, because there were some awkward pauses and a lot of me typing on my phone furiously to share what I was thinking. Through this experience, I learned how much of your job as a missionary is to talk to people, and how utterly useless I felt without being able to communicate effectively.

Doctrine and Covenants talks an awful lot about using your voice. Preaching and sharing what you know. In Section 71, it says:

1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants... that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will. …

3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.

Sharing the gospel is a beautiful thing that definitely doesn’t need to be constrained to 18 months or two years, but I think that these verses make a very good point, which is that missions are only a season. A lot of the experiences we have are ephemeral. Yo’'re never going back to kindergarten, or high school, or even yesterday. Which is why it’s important to make it count, and why our actions matter, and why your best is needed! Don’t be afraid of putting effort into the things happening in your life. I promise that it’s worth it.

—I’m telling you,

Hermana Newton

Week 57: Mi Casa Es Su Casa

I was very excited about the photo ops in front of the temple, in case you couldn’t tell.

This was such an absolutely phenomenal week! I feel like just about everything happened. My companion got fully vaccinated, I went down to Guatemala City, there was an orientation for a mid-transfer missionary who came from my best friend’s reassignment (Washington DC South), we attended a surprise birthday party, I gave my first talk entirely in Spanish, someone twisted their ankle, and someone called thinking they had appendicitis, but this time, it was a UTI! But there was one especially treasured event that has everything to do with the subject line. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve gotten to do on my mission by far!

Still me being very excited.

That’s right.

Here we are attempting to be presentable.

I got to attend the temple!

El Bosque truly serving looks.

We were literally in the last zone in the mission to get to go, but the 13-month wait was totally worth it. Nothing else compares to the joy and the Spirit that you get to feel in the temple. It almost made me excited for when I go home and (hopefully!) get to attend the temple more regularly. Almost.

The artistry of a pair of birds flying around the temple.

If you’re able to attend the temple on a regular basis, I seriously encourage you to do so. It is the best reminder of how much God loves his children.

To prepare for going through the temple Saturday, President Roden suggested we read Section 109 of Doctrine and Covenants, which contains the dedicatory prayer offered for the Kirtland Temple. President Roden is incredibly spiritually woke, I must say. Everything about this chapter is, in a word, powerful. This part I especially like:

8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.

The house that we are preparing might not be a literal building. Much of the time, the thing we are preparing is ourselves. Could we describe ourselves with the words used to describe the temple? Because that’s what we’re aiming for.

No, we won’t be perfect, and yes, there will be roadblocks along the way. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try. And, no matter what, we’re always welcome. 

—¿Dice quién?,

Hermana Newton

Week 56: 13: The Musical

What is up, party people?!

Me officially entering the teens (at the age of 20)

Yesterday, your favorite sister missionary in the Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission completed a milestone. She crossed the threshold from simply being a run-of-the-mill missionary with 12 months on her plate. She has been elevated and has reached the next chapter in her life. That’s right.

I finally got my bangs trimmed and people can look into my eyes!

I’m a teenager again.

A Guatemalan delicacy for November 1st that I’m still totally obsessed with.

Thirteen months have come and gone, and what a week to have that happen. First of all, I got to try the typical Guatemalan dish, fiambre. Let me just say, what a treat! It is the craziest concoction of all kinds of different vegetables, sausages, and whatever else happens to be hanging out in the garden during this time of year. Fiambre started in Xela, so it’s a pretty significant part of the culture. I ate it for practically three days straight, and let me just say: I was living.

This member hooked us up with the biggest meatballs I’ve ever seen (except for that one time in Vegas)

The members in Baul have been going hard on referrals, which I am super happy about! Every couple of days, someone is just calling us up and letting us know about who needs to get baptized around these parts! Hopefully that will happen soon. Veryyyyy soon.

Duolingo is blessing me for unknown reasons.

There were a ton of birthdays this week! Members, investigators, tons of missionaries. I will just point out that February is nine months before November and leave it at that.

Just taking a screenshot while Elder Gong was speaking so I could remember this moment forever.

But the granddaddy of everything that happened this week had to be getting to be part of a devotional with ELDER GERRIT W. GONG! That's right! The man himself! One of my favorite apostles and one of the quorum advisers for Saints, which automatically gives him a special place in my heart (everyone go read Saints, by the way). Elder Gong and his absolute legend of a wife, Susan, spoke to us about missionary work, and Elder Gong gave us one of the greatest quotes of all time:

"El Señor está diciendo, 'Mi casa es su casa'."

Along with that iconic moment, we focused on the invitations we make as missionaries. To pray, to read the scriptures, to attend church. While we talked, I realized that when someone commits to any of these things, they aren’t promising us. We might be the ones voicing that invitation, but it’s not really about the investigator doing something for me, Hermana Mary Newton, at that moment. It’s a commitment to God. 

The invitations we make as missionaries are calls to change, and therefore are calls to repentance. Surprisingly enough, I am not the one pardoning previous errors. I’m in no position to pass judgment. I’m just a conduit so that these people can follow the example of Jesus Christ. As it says in Doctrine and Covenants 1:

38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

Why is my hair turning red?? Is it just the lighting in this apartment? I don’t feel like I’m making this up.*

Thirteen months have come and gone, and there is still so much more to learn. Within and after my mission. But I hope one thing I’ll always be able to do is offer myself as an instrument in Heavenly Father’s hands. Purely helping people is a purpose without price. I hope I’ll value it, and that you’ll make room to do that, too.

—Same as always,

Hermana Newton

* Matthew Phelps Fifield (1830–1920), Hermana Newton’s great-great-great-grandfather, had auburn hair.

Week 55: Pumpkin-Eater

¡Hola! Happy Halloween!

Fit of the Year.

To the few people who understood that reference, welcome! To those who aren’t my direct family members, I hope your November is off to a great start. I know that mine sure is.

An impossible round of Spot the Difference.

We had so much fun this week! We did silly activities with Hermana Pili, had lunch with the best members, and even got to be surprise guests at the Perez Family Halloween Party, aka the event of the season.

Luna la Locura is the Big Cat now.

My Halloween fit this year was Belle. The third time I’ve made an appearance as the Disney princess. Why have I dressed up as her so frequently? Probably because she’s the only one I remotely look like. It was really funny walking into sacrament meeting in costume, let me tell you. But the youth did really like it, so I’m making strides there.

I still have a compañera salvadoreña.

Speaking of the youth, as we were leaving our member meal on All Hallow’s Eve, Hermanita Naomi said, “I have something for you,” and left for her room. When she came back, she had two storybooks for me. I was literally living the opening number in “Beauty and the Beast.”

It being the beginning of November, the ward has been celebrating and discussing genealogy a lot. And since today is All SAINTS Day, I'd like to share a story found in Chapter 31 of Volume 1: The Standard of Truth. (For those somehow unaware, Saints is a historical narrative series about the Church, starting from its founding.)

Lying awake, Parley Pratt felt sick as their guards told obscene stories about raping and killing Saints. He wanted to stand up and rebuke the men—to say something that would make them stop talking—but he kept silent.

Suddenly, he heard chains clank beside him as Joseph rose to his feet. “Silence, ye fiends of the infernal pit!” the prophet thundered. “In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke you and command you to be still! I will not live another minute and hear such language!”

The startled guards gripped their weapons and looked up. Joseph stared back at them, radiating majesty. “Cease such talk,” he commanded, “or you or I die this instant!”

The room went quiet, and the guards lowered their guns. Some of them retreated to the corners. Others crouched in fear at Joseph’s feet. The prophet stood still, looking calm and dignified. The guards begged his pardon and fell silent until their replacements came.

This section of the story is a difficult time for the saints, to put it lightly. In almost every aspect of their lives, their dignity is being taken from them. But what I love about this chapter is exemplified in this moment. Although they have nothing, they have God, and that’s enough.

I definitely have trials far less pressing or difficult. I’m very blessed with the life I have now. But I know that if all that went away, I would have enough. And you would, too. As it says in 1 Samuel 2:

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

—Provecho (since I said we’re eating),

Hermana Newton

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