We're Not Monsters Here

What an awesome week I have had. We have got to talk to so many people it's ridiculous.

Samir and Julieta are getting baptized on Wednesday. Woo-hoo!!! They are both so prepared for this.
Last Monday Hermana Bennett and I were talking to Juan Pablo the son of Lupita, a super sweet lady that loves the Book of Mormon and he's also the dad of JP who is interested in the church but doesn't want to get involved. Anyway we met him for like 2 minutes before we taught him that night. We had a great lesson about the Gospel of Christ. And as we were walking back to our bikes I felt like we should've asked him to be baptized. H'Bennett felt the same way. So we walked back to the house knocked on the door. Explained how we felt. We asked. He accepted. Juan Pablo is on date for the 17th of August!!!! The spirit was smacking us in the face that night. It was so cool.

We also met another dude...he spilled his whole life story to us about drugs, alcohol, women a bunch of crazy horrible things. People are out to kill him he's almost died like 3 times. But God obviously wants him to be alive. We asked him about baptism. He said if he's ready he will. TWAS CRAZY!!!!
There is this boy Angel. He's 16. He has so many questions and is such a sweet boy. He truly wants to know if God is there. He loves when we come by. He always asks us when we're coming by. We are just praying his mom will let him come to church with us. He told us he loves when we come by because he said he feels so calm.

Our district leader who is also from Washington State says "We're not monsters here" all the time. It's pretty funny.

I love Brownsville!!!! It's super awesome the people are pretty nice our ward loves us now...before they didn't like that they were getting sisters but now they love us. 

I know this is the true church. I know Jesus suffered for every single one of us. God has a plan for everyone, no matter what. He loves every single person on this earth. I love all of you.
Hope your having a great day, week, year. Everything!!
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit. 👌🏿

Hermana Darling

Click here to watch a Video of Hermana Darling and companion lip syncing. Dorks

My first AA meeting...

What an amazing week we have had down by the border. This place is so great.

We have met so many different people that are wanting to draw closer to our Savior and to God. Some people we have met and are teaching.
*Samir- He actually has a baptismal date set for the 31st of July. Woo-hoo!! He's so excited for his baptism. He's also really busy so we like never get to see him because of his work. His soon to be wife is a member (they're getting married on the 26th of July) and he came to church with her and his Mom.

*Samir's Mom-This lady literally talked to us for a straight hour and we didn't get the chance to talk. She's amazing and she's getting baptized the same day as Samir. But she wants it in a river. Haha
We told her we'd check on that. 👍 But she came to church and also went and watched a baptism right after.

*Beto-We saw this guy standing outside some buildings close to the church. He was talking to another guy. So Hermana Bennett did her usual and drove up right by them and rolled the window down and starts talking. I can't stand when she does this because it makes me feel like we too good enough to get out of our car for some reason. Haha
But he was all for it. He runs AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings. So we parked, went in and talked to him for like an hour. A big part of that conversation was quoting step-brothers. We literally became best friends with this dude.😂😂 It was amazing. And he showed up to church this Sunday. He also texts us like every hour and jokes A Ton with us. He's pretty cool. He invited us to one of his meetings. Heck yeah! So we showed up the last 30 minutes. They finished up their introductions and then Beto pointed us out and told us that we're his friends.

So we introduced ourselves as missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ and we are willing to talk and help with anyone. I also said I have an uncle who went through this and he's been sober for I don't know like 12 years? So I appreciate what everybody is doing. It was pretty cool. We talked with a guy Joe after and invited him to church. It was really fun a lot of people thanked us for our work and stuff. I loved it!

Diego- Literally one of the cutest kids ever. He is 8 and he loves when we challenge him to read the Book of Mormon and he reads all the pamphlets of the gospel topics. He also really wants to get baptized. But his mom just had surgery, we met her once and she really liked our message. She's unable to bring him to church because she's in so much pain. His grandma is so sweet and loves that we come over but she's Catholic and doesn't feel like changing. She also can't drive a car. He has a sister who we met but she doesn't want to take him. It's so sad. He is so sweet and he asked his mom to be baptized with him. She told him that she'd read the Gospel of Christ pamphlet and let him know. Oh my goodness. We are kind of bugged because he's progressing but can't go to church.

*JP y Lupita- We did a blitz in our area and some sisters found this awesome lady named Lupita. She loves the Book of Mormon and already loves Joseph Smith. JP is her grandson and not super "tight" with Jesus Christ. He really nice and loves when we talk to him. He was willing to read and pray if it's true. He was shocked when we told him the restoration started in New York. Haha
They both said they would come to church but didn't make it. Lupita was working so she said she would try.

Elder Norman and Elder Allred invited us to come play basketball with them and some kids in a sketchy neighborhood. We were sooo down! The kids that play are like 18, 19 and like there was a 30 year old. So we started playing. It was us, the Elders, and this kid named Daniel against 5 others. We freaking won!!!! We were so happy it was a great basketball day for me I made so many points for my team. Oooh I can't wait to play again.

This week has been full of miracles. The people here might look like they aren't interested and might look like they want to kill you but they all have a desire to draw closer to God. And they are changing their lives because they truly want to. I love the church of Jesus Christ. It's true. The restoration happened. So many people suffered in order for it to truly take place. God has a plan for each and everyone of us.

I love you all. Share your testimony with everyone you can.
Keep your hearts open for the spirit to touch it and keep your mouth open to tell people about Jesus Christ.
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit!😗
Love,
Hermana Darling

We Named our Car Barnard!!

What a crazy week. Last week I made it to McAllen safely. The day after we got here we met our trainers. Mine is Hermana Bennett she's from California. And she's on her last transfer. People tell me I'm killing her. Which sounds horrible haha. She super funny and we both laugh at everything so it's perfect. We are white washing Brownsville. This is literally the first time this ward has had Hermanas. So some are happy others are not. But it's all good.

Okay, we were trying to figure out a good name for our car. So we're sitting there thinking and we both said Barnard right at the same time...twas perfect. There is a road Barnard but our car Wi-Fi needed one more letter so then we got Barnard.
Oh when we got to our apartment...it was trashed. The Elders didn't clean anything for us. They even told us that when we were with everybody. But it was worse then I expected. Nasty. But it definitely looks way better.

The humidity is great here. Warm towel... My favorite. I haven't burned yet so that's a phat blessing. 😊
Holy cow! There are so many things the missionaries do here that make me cringe. Oh I love them to death... But dabbing is dead. It died... 2 years ago. Haha also the word lit isn't used like at all. It hilarious. I turned to Hermana Sill when we first got here and told her I hope we don't act like this when we get farther in the mission. 😂

I love the people of Brownsville already! We already have to baptism dates set. Our mission is the most baptizing mission in the United States. It's crazy. The people are super nice and patient with my Spanish. Thank goodness. It's pretty sketchy in some parts as well. We literally pass the bridge that crosses people from USA to México. We also saw the backyard of a house and the fence to the border is her backyard fence. It was crazy.

The heat is getting bearable and we haven't taken a bike day yet. But every Wednesday we're taking our bikes. Wish me luck.

I love being a missionary. Yeah I've been in the field for a week, but that doesn't matter. We keep trying to find all these people that we feel we need to talk to but they aren't home. But you can tell when people are truly interested and they really do want to draw closer to their Savior and Father in Heaven. I know he's there and I know he loves all of us. We just need to take the first few steps and he'll help us.

If there is any questions you have or anything you need. I'm an email away. 😊
I love y'all!!
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit, be an example of Jesus Christ in everything you do.

~Hermana Darling ~

"You just made my whole six weeks." -Elder Kemker

I literally lived in the enfermeria for like the last fews days until I came to Texas. I had to check in almost everyday, I had to stay home all day Thursday and Friday and the morning of Saturday. I got to go to class for the last like 10 minutes of Saturday. We said good-bye to Hermana Olivares. Took a few pictures. It was sad. I really liked her, she taught us really well and she was pretty funny. She served her mission in Argentina. She had an amazing testimony of the gospel.

We also took pictures with Hermano Enriquez. That was really sad. He is an awesome teacher. I learned so much through his example. He said he wasn't a very good missionary, but I think he was. Just the way he talked about the gospel, baptism, everything. You could feel the spirit.

Oh the point of the subject! Okay so by the CCM there are super tall Lego looking arms and hands. We have asked everybody what they are because they are cool. No one knew! On our drive back from the hospital I asked our driver and he said that when the oil factory was in service those had fire coming out of the tips of them. Yes we had finally found out what they were. The day after I told Elder Kemker at breakfast he was so happy! He then said..."You just made my whole six weeks." And fist bumped me.

I will miss my district and my companion so much. We were literally a family. We did everything with each other. Most of us are going to McAllen, but still I won't be with them all day everyday like we have been...struggling with Spanish, laughing our heads off, eating cookies and watching the safety-zone surrounding one little phone. Oh man! I'm going to miss them, but they're all such great missionaries and the Lord needs them in different places for a reason.

We got up super early...2am and left for the airport at 3:30am. Had a flight to Dallas and then another flight to McAllen!!!

We got to talk to a ton of people in the airport and explain how we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ. It was an awesome experience. One member bought us some popcorn and thanked us for choosing to be missionaries. We're boarding the flight from Dallas to McAllen now, gotta go! 

Be an example of Christ in everything you do. Please look for the lonely (like my Mom taught me) and talk to them. Love everybody as Christ did/does.
Love y'all!😉

Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit
~Hermana Darling ~

I got Bronchitis...Ain't nobody got time for that!

P-day was great...as always. I talked to my parents. We played tennis with two Hermanas and two Elders. It was super fun and the wind was crazy so the ball was flying all different directions.
So I've had a bad cough for like the whole time I've been here basically. And the day after p-day I finally decided to go visit the doctor, a prompting I got from my Mom. We were there for 2 hours. We waited for the doctor forever. Then he checked my chest and lungs. Then left again to talk to the nurse. Then we had to go into a different room and the nurse was there waiting for us. He turned to me and said, "Alright I'm going to have to give you a shot...in your b*tt." I could tell in his eyes he didn't feel super comfortable about saying that to me haha I was like oh...okay, no problem. haha
After he left so I could get ready hahaha My companion and I both started busting out laughing. I honestly didn't know what to think, I just thought it was SOO funny.

After the shot I had to put on a breathing mask and just sit there for like 25 minutes. It looked like I was smoking because the mask was too big for my face, it was pretty weird. Then they came in and checked my breathing again. I could hear my lungs sounding like a balloon almost, it's hard to explain. He gave me an inhaler, which I've never used in my life and some disgusting cough medicine. He gave me a doctor's note and told me to go back to my apartment for 4 hours to rest. We asked if he wanted us to take the note to our teacher and he was like..."where is your classroom?" We said the GAS building which is like a 5 minute walk. He immediately said, "No, got to your house you need to rest." I was not happy about that. I didn't want to be in our apartment all day. The note was obvious doctor handwriting and it seemed like it said Bronchitis Asthmatic something in Spanish.

So...I got Bronchitis.

Just like the lady said it in that video a few years.
"I got Bronchitis...Ain't nobody got time for that." Hahaha first thing I thought of when I read the doctors note.
Mom, you were right. 👍😂

The rest of the day went better after that. I fell asleep for 2 and a half hours. My companion was studying and making flashcards and she took a nap too.
When I woke up we made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And I couldn't wait to tell the other Hermana' s I got a B*tt shot 😂. It was a pretty fun day. But we got to return to our afternoon class. So that was a plus.

The next day I had to go back in, he made me smoke some air...again.
Before that happened Hermana Larsen asked if we'd be able to go to class, he said yeah we would. But after I was done he said we need to go back to our room. I was mad. I felt fine. 

My lungs are just apparently really inflamed and my right side of my ribs hurt when I cough...big deal. 😂😂

But I got a ton of studying done and marking in my Spanish scriptures. I also took another nap and that helped my body sooo much. And had more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I slept through the service activity. My comp said she didn't want to wake me....Que en el Mundo? Hahaha
The nurse also said I need to wear a sweater in the morning and at night. Because I'm not use to this cold wet weather apparently. I told him I grew up in this weather, don't think he heard me though. 😂😂 I also told him I'm pretty sure I got this from my family...don't think he heard me, again.
Thanks for coughing on me Kollin!! Really appreciate it. Haha kidding I doubt you were the only thing that caused this.😉😂

The Spanish is definitely getting better, so that's really helpful. We are getting down to crunch time.
I was told I had to return to on Monday to get the first of 3 or 5 more shots. It sucks but I have no idea if it's working or not. I can just hear weird noises when I breathe. And I sound like I have a cold but I feel fine.👍😁

Okay, so Sunday night after the devotional Hermana Larsen and her companion were needed in the front to talk to Hermana Olsen (the mission president's wife). We were like ...did we do something wrong? We didn't know what that would've been though. Haha

She told us that Hermana Larsen needed to call her Dad. About her Mom. She started crying. It was a little scary. We had to walk a few minutes to get to reception. Hermana Olsen didn't know why she had to call either. So she calls her Dad and he told her that her step-mom, who is one of her best friends, has cancer. She was out of breath on Thursday night and not feeling right. She's a very healthy person so they knew something was off. She has a golfball size tumor around her aorta. But they said it reacts really well with chemo. There is an 85-95% survival rate. My poor companion lost it. She always tells me she doesn't cry. But she cries at every special musical number. So she was struggling. I felt so bad, but her Dad (James) and her step-mom (Amy) were both very optimistic about the chemo. They said they caught it very early and it would be treated very soon and recovery would be 4-5 months. After she got off she talked to her mom, over google hangouts. So she's talking to her mom and then she wanted to talk to me. She thanked me for my support and she was having a hard time with it as well. After she was done talking we were walking and I felt we needed to pray. So we just stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and said a prayer. I was holding strong the whole time then I was balling in the prayer. 

We got to our room and all the Hermanas were comforting her. We decided to fast. So we prayed all together and started our fast because she started Chemo on Monday and we decided to fast that day.
I would just like to ask all of you to put my Companion (Hermana Larsen) and her family (Amy and James) in your prayers. She's getting better, but it still really sucks for her to not be there.
So Monday I got another shot and went back to class. Tuesday I returned. Talked to the doctor again. He asked how I was doing. I told him that I have no clue if the medicine he gave me is working. Then he listened to my back and chest again. Then paused and told me you have to go to the hospital. What? I was super confused. He said he wants a second opinion about my Bronchitis. Uh...alright haha.

So we were told by the nurse go pack an overnight bag you'll be staying in the hospital.
We went to out dorm and back in like less then 10 minutes. We left in a van with one of the instructors here. The was like a 45 minute drive...and the guy told me he loves going fast. He also likes to slam on his breaks after speeding up 10 feet just to slam on his breaks. We got to the hospital, got checked into the ER. The doctor spoke English...luckily. I explained everything that's been going on. He then was like oh it might be just your sinuses and you ribs might be strained from a chronic cough. But we'll need a blood draw, an X-ray and a CT scan. I was like yeah totally fine with that haha. That was super fun. We were at the hospital for like 7 hours. A lot of hang-man, tic-tac-toe, and studying went on during those hours of waiting time.

--> We also got to see blood all over the floor and a little table from the guy next to use getting stitches. That was awesome.

Eventually we were told I have Bronchitis and will be needing to breathe more air. So I had to put another mask on...this one actually fits haha. I did that three times. Then we were able to leave. We got home at 11 and had pizza waiting for us. Oh yeah we missed lunch and I got some strange chicken thing in the hospital and my companion ate food our driver had in the car. So we were a little hungry.

When we got to our dorm it was probably 11:30pm. Most of the Hermanas were up because they didn't fall asleep yet. We explained everything, but apparently they were told I had Pneumonia and would be at the hospital for 3 days. Weird.

I got to keep my x-rays and CT scans which is awesome! [Editor's note: We apologize for the inappropriate pictures of Hermana Darling's chest area. Not cool!]

I got a blessing from two Elders in my district. It was pretty powerful. I'm doing pretty well. Don't worry I'll be fine.👍😂 I have a ton of medicine to take every 6, 8, and 12 hours. Just got to get over it so I'll be fine in Texas!

I know Heavenly Father will help me through this and I know that this will be a small trial in the grand scheme of things. I know that this church is true and that I am an instrument in the Lord's hands. 

I love you all. Please keep Amy, James and Hermana Larsen in your prayers.
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit.
~Hermana Darling ~