APOLOGY FROM THE EDITORS OFFICE

Ok so I got this message today from Hermana Loli

(Excerpt from my email)...

First off, SNOB!

Secondly, HOW IS MY BLOG?

One of my members told me that the last post you put up was the 10th... umm you suck!!!

But I love you and I miss you. What's new? Sorry, mission life is busy. No time for anything but saving lives. Lol! 

Sooo yes ... I must admit my other job has taken up alot of my time. But I have made a resolution to make sure this doesn't happen again.... so keep your hats on folks cause to KICK START .... I will be updating you with a new message everyday from Herman Loli EVERYDAY for the next 4 days!!! (Cause that's what I need to do to catch up) hehe.... 

Keep your eyes peeled!!!! 

I love this country xx

Hey Everyone,

Yeah I miss you guys A LOT! But I love it here so much!!! I think... no, I know that I made the right decision to serve. Do you remember how long it took for me to get out here? How much work we put in for this? Lol! I almost gave up there and I am so glad that I didn't. Thank you for supporting me throughout it all. I pray for you guys all the time. Like every second. How are the kids? I miss my kids :( That is one rule that I hate out here, is not being able to hold kids. If I could change one rule then that would be it. 

Hows Hyrum? Mosiah? Juanita? Soloai? Hans? Aurora? Evotia? Do you guys ever see Aurora's brother? How are the Seupules? I think about them ALL the time as well. Sometimes when I pray I ask Heavenly Father if he'll let me see Eddie or speak to him or something. Maybe before I end my mission. I'll keep the faith that he will let me before I've done my time.

So this past week has been bad. I have been like legit dying in my bed. I felt so bad for my *soa cos I was just dead. So I had to take tests and I got my results. I have H.Pylori or something like that. It's bacteria and parasites in my stomach. Or something like that. So the area doctor has prescribed me with meds that I will go and buy today. The night it hit me was bad, but I am fine now. I came down with a fever of 104 Fahrenheit... I don't know what that is in Celsius... I think 40 or something. But I am okay now. I get like really bad sharp pains sometimes but its fine. 

I can’t believe how fast time goes. Its crazy. I hit 5 months this week... and I wish time would just go slower. This mission thing is what I was made for. The language is a trial but it is coming. Everyday I can see improvements. And I love it. The members are THE BEST! And I think it makes it all better. There is this one family, La familia Molina, that remind me so much of our family.

How is Luaina and her babies? Omg** Evotia, I just want to steal her!!! If only this wasn't such a dangerous country, I would tell you guys to bring her to me hahaha.

Tell my brothers I miss them. And I don’t mind if they don’t write, they wrote me letters for days lol. I love those two. Tell them the "streets" there are nothing compared to here. This is real, the struggle is real here 110%... the army are everywhere, the other day we were proselyting and they were patting down some MS18 members... it was crazy!! But tell them they aint got nothing to worry about... Cos I’m straight G hahahaha lucky they sent me here huh? Cos I was made for the streetz BWAHAHAHAHA... anyways, I have legit lost my Samoan so can you write to me in Samoan and then English as well so I can remember what it’s like hahhaha freak'n Spanish...

I love this country and I would come back to visit, but probably with my husband and not for long.

The work is progressing! My companions and I have been visiting alot of less actives which is good because there are A LOT! And I feel like we are going to see alot of changes, alot of miracles. My family, they are progressing. Ahh I just love them so much. Well Sonia had dengue and then had an operation so they couldn't come to church on Sunday but they will this Sunday. And they have a baptismal date for the 22 de Agosto! And so fingers crossed!!

Anyway Mumma, I miss you so much! I love you A LOT.... Tell my Daddy I love him. Kiss my babies! My 7! I love you all. Send everyone my love. 

I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!

Hermana Loli

SHOUTOUTS:

Happy birthday to my Juanis... (Ill write their own emails)

 Χρόνια Πολλά Άλεξ (Happy birthday to Alex (Platirahos))... Hope that's right! Might be a little mixed cause you know - English, Samoan, Spanish and now Greek! Lol! 

Happy birthday to Aunty Peti, I miss you always shouting at me when I come to Doony hahahaha!

Don't miss me too much, I've got work to do xx 

Abi, she reminds me of Uai, they're the same age and she loves minions!!!

Santiago, he's such a cutie

One of our recent converts

*soa - Samoan for companion

** Omg - Oh my goodness J

My new Companion!! Comp #2

Hey party people!

So I know you are all excited to know who my new comp is... Hermana Wagner and she is from Texas. She was born in Mexico because her dad is from there (a part of the Mormon colonies) so that’s pretty cool. Her Spanish is AWESOME and it’s great because I need that help. BIGTIME!!! So this week was super cool, got to meet alot of inactives who just need Jesus. And work has just been WORK. I love it!

I still miss Kava HEAPS! And when I opened my emails just before I had received 15 emails from her so obviously she missed me too lol! But we'll be comps again in Belize. President told us jajaja, vamos a ver... But yes, this week has been good.

We started teaching this 15 year old boy named Christopher (in English because that’s what he asked), long story short his parents were members and something happened where they were offended by the church and didn't want anything to do with it anymore. So yesterday when we passed by, the Dad comes out and yells at us to never come back and to be honest I couldn't understand it, all I could see was that he was mad. Lol! But we were with a member and so he kinda broke it down to us. So it’s sad because I'm sure Christopher would've been baptised... maybe in a few years... Just planting seeds ya know? 

We also met a gang member lol spoke fluent English, reminded me of vato locos lol for real, the way he dressed and his tatts. He was saying how he wants to follow Jesus and how he needed to be in jail to teach his brothers there and to push them up. Hahaha! It was super crazy, but heaps funny. Every day is different and just as interesting as the next. 

I love it here, and sorry I am writing so late. The buses won’t be going for 3 days because the gangs blew up 6 buses and people died and so they've

 stopped buses for 3 days so we needed to find a member to bring us here to write. This country is crazy but I love it. My new companion is heaps focused. Which is good for me, we only talk about mission things. You know, this is work... you only talk about work. So it’s awesome. 

Well I love you all, sorry it’s short. But always remember that if we are doing what we need to be doing and making all the right decisions, that our Heavenly Father will provide us with whatever we NEED. He is bound if we do what He says but if we don't, our promise is broken. He loves us SOOOO MUUUUCHHHH! We owe it to Him to be obedient. We owe it to ourselves. One more thing, tell my brothers I miss them. I really do. I love them so much. Send them my love, and my Daddy too. I miss you guys. I love you all so muchhh!!! SEND ME PHOTOS DANGIT... for the last time lol!

Stay safe, stay healthy... I love you all!!!

Hermana Loli

DON’T MISS ME TOO MUCH, I’VE GOT WORK TO DO ♥

Training Over!!!!

I'm a bit of an emotional wreck right now because Kava's gone. I said goodbye to Kava today and it was the WORST!  Okay, so been crying all week my eyes are fula. Hahahaha so embarrassing and I don’t know why because I’ll see her again. 

So all the assumptions were true, she flies out to Belize tomorrow morning and I have been crying all week. I'm a mess! I have no idea why and I'm still kinda crying lol... So ma-ness. I think it’s because I felt like I was saying goodbye to my sisters all over again. So it was really hard. Hated it and I miss her so much!

So at the moment I will be with the other sisters (Mejicano sisters) until Wednesday when I get my new companion. Super  nervous! But just pray for me.  Everyone thinks I will get a Latina and I think I will too. Nervous but I know that I need one because my Spanish needs to improve. Solo Dios sabe ¿verdad? 

I love the mission though con todo mi corazon, con todo mi alma. 

I love you guys so much. Sorry it’s not a great email, it’s a bit of a Debbie Downer today cos my mission mama is gone. But next week for real.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. 

I’ll send some photos. 

TE QUIERO MUCHO

La Hermana Loli

SHOUTOUTS!!!!

 CHRIS PIGOTT – Hope you have a fun Birthday with Nikki and Samson!!!

 and SISTER SOPO – I miss you so much and hope you are enjoying your post mission life!!!!  Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!! Can’t wait to see you straight after my mission!!! *wink wink*Hehehehe!

Don’t miss me too much, I’ve got work to do xxx

I met Dora here in El Salvador!!!

Boy do I miss yall alot!!!

So... since Wednesday I have been so ma'i...

I may have parasites... not sure but I was like DEAD yesterday. I was puai-ing everywhere. SO bad! But it’s normal here, if you don’t get sick then you didn’t serve a mission. Hahahaha that’s what they say.

Especially here in this country… You just gotta suck it up and go at it. Go hard or go home! lol but home is NOT an option. Lol! So hard it is... I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow so thank goodness for that. Let’s hope I get skinny! HAHAHAHA! #WishfulThinking

But anyways, enough about my sickness. 

This week has been awesome, as every day/week as a missionary is.

Actually, first off I want to apologise for my photos. I've realised that por la mas they've all been photos with missionaries. The thing is, we aren't allowed to take our cameras anywhere really. It’s a safety thing cos people get robbed here like almost always. So the only places I feel safe taking it is like mission meetings and what not. But yeah, hopefully soon when I'm in a safer area I will take photos of the landscape and what not. Ahhh!

But I love it here. Everyday is different, some days are hard and some not AS hard. But at the end of everyday comes the feeling of accomplishment.

I love it here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. This is real life!

Serving the Lord is such a blessing. I love it!

So this is our last week of the change and everyone keeps telling me and Hermana Kava that we'll get split. I'm super nervous, I'll miss this crazy Tongan girl but we are all almost positive that she's going to Belize. Lucky thing! 

Elders Jolon and Maldonados!!! 

Every missionary wants to go there, it’s the goal. But you need to get your Spanish down before you can go, so people work hard. For me, I'm content with staying in good old El Salv. I love it here. But vamos a ver... The Spanish is coming; every day is a challenge with it. But I learn something new every day and surprise myself with the things I can say. Especially in lessons, the spirit really helps you. It is true, all you need to do is open your mouth and the Lord will fill it. 

So on Wednesday, Elder Ochoa (of the Seventy, in the Area Presidency) came to speak to our mission and it was pretty powerful. Such a long tiring day but really worth it. I got to see all my CCM familia and so I was excited about that as well.

I’ve learnt alot and it’s something that our mission really needed to hear. He was teaching us about EXACT OBEDIENCE and how it isn't hard at all. That we need to always remember our purpose. And I really appreciated everything that was said that day.

So last Sunday, super sad. Three of the Young Men in our ward were catching a bus back from Mission Prep and were beat up and robbed, then shoved off the bus. Super sad. But they were fine, we went to see them after that and they were fine but we were super worried cos they're such a good boys and work with us alot. I'm just glad that nothing too serious happened. 

So much happens and not enough time to write everything. Oh I wish I could, sometimes I wish I could just call y’all. But you know. Well they have Digicel here and so I miss Samoa every day LOL! 

Well I love you all, Tee I have been getting your emails. Thank you! I love you and stay safe in Samoa. Send me photos of my home hahaha. And my "friends" winkwink JOKES JOKES.... Soy misionera ahora! Entonces, mantenga su corazon a bajo un llave....

I love you guys more than life. God lives and loves us MUCHO!!!! Christ lives, I know this with my whole heart and more. I love you guys more than you could ever know.... 

Be obedient, be a good example, do good things... live your life so that others will want to know Christ through you. I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!! I LOVE YOUUUUU!!!! Don't miss me too much I've got work to do xx 

Hermana Loli

We met DORA in El Salvador!!! hehehe! Dora's a guy!

SHOUTOUTS: 

Happy Birthday Jaaaaasoooon Attard! So young still... so many years to go!! *wink wink*

4th of July!!!!

Time is short and so this week I’ll let you in on my email to my Momma!!!

Hi Momma!

I miss you so much! I miss Dad SO MUUCHHHH!!! Please stay healthyyyy...

Yeah I can't choose a puletasi cos I don’t know what they look like... But send me anything I don’t mind. Yes, mi goreng please LOL. I MISS IT!!!! Nah I don’t want Tim tams... Umm... ie-lavalavas, yes please... I don’t know… anything I guess... Ahhh! I miss you guys … I MISS YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!!!

BUT, yes the mission is the best. Your email made me cry. Can you not like send me things like that? Lol! I see your guys faces ALL THE TIME and then I remember the struggle of trying to get here in the first place and all the work that it took us to get me here. And how much I have already grown in this short time since being here. But as much as I miss you all, I have no regrets.

This is where I am meant to be, this is where God wants me. I love you guys so much and am so thankful for my family. I am so so so very blessed to have a family as supportive and loving as you all. Thank you mum and dad for all your love. I miss you guys so much!!!

Omg! So, I hand wash ALL my clothes, shower with a bucket hahahaha. No hot water... I guess God's trying to help me not be such a princess anymore huh? All this hard labour that I am NOT used to hahahaha! I love it though, my hair is growing already. I think? But my hair sucks too. It’s so hot over here sometimes I wanna shave it all off. Lol! Seriously though...

Okay, so Saturday was 4th of July and me and Kava made shirts for it... Like, I don't want to celebrate America day but I wanted to support my comp hahaha. And the whole zone met up at the stake centre and had a bbq... Okay but it was the WORST bbq ever. But, made the BEST memories. My ZL's are CRAZY!!!!! They "cooked" the meat patties... But they were PINK. It was a miracle that no one got sick hahahaha! But it was a super fun day with the zone.

Also, the family that we've been teaching, who are also our neighbours (the ones that came to our Poly night) Guillermo (who is the husband) it was his birthday on the 4th and so we decided to heart attack their door. But when we finished doing the hearts and the sign, we walked out our front door to go and heart attack their house but the husband and wife were outside with their son and daughter. And we're like "oh crap" so we wait a while and just watch like creeps lol but when they finally went inside they left their door open and so we couldn’t stick anything on. So we wait... for like another 25 minutes. And finally they close the door, but the window was open and so Kava says she'll stick them up and I hide behind the wall. It was the funniest thing... trying to be sneaky. Then we finally finish and we start walking back to our house then I say "wait we need them to see it now so they can come to church tomorrow, Kava we need to do a knock and run" hahaha so we start getting ready, we take our shoes off and I knock and then we go for gold HAHAHAHAHA. Omg I was so *sela! Obviously we are not two girls that run... OBVIOUSLY hahaha. But it was super funny. I saw Sonia (the wife) look out the window as I ran passed it so they knew who it was hahahahaha. But it was super fun! #SisterMissionaryLife

Also scary story, me and Kava were having dinner with La familia Molina. And after we eat, we all sit in the living room about to share a message. Nekk minnit we hear 3 gun shots... The thing is, here in El Salvador, you are forever hearing them... but it sounded super close. Usually we wouldn’t think anything of it, but then the way the family reacted I was like "Omg I am in El Salvador" like a kinda "I'm not in Kansas anymore" moment….hahahaha. Hermano Molina rushes up and turns off all the lights, Melissa brings her dog inside and Sister Molina closes the windows and curtains all in the space of half a second. BIENVENIDOS A EL SALVADOR hahahahaha! But it’s cool. I shouldn’t share those kinda stories with y’all. But I don’t want to have to share these with you when I’m done LOL! But I’m fine, NO WORRIES... Tek et ise (take it easy) all the Latinos say it like that... so funny...

Anyways... I love you all more than life. But you already know. Sorry I haven’t sent ANY letters. #ThatBrokeLifeThough Missionary life = broke... so next time I will send some letters. Send everyone my love, especially my babies. How’s Sina? I had a dream of her last night... And Eddie and I woke up bawling. Send her my love please. I miss you guys so much! But I love the work so much! I am so grateful to be here and yeah not every day is sunshine and rainbows but its all worth it in the end. GOD IS GOOD. THE WORK IS GREAT! Our Heavenly Father loves us. MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS. Always act as though our Saviour is right beside you. I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

So, don’t miss me too much – I’ve got work to do J

Con mucho amor;

Hermana Loli

SHOUTOUTS:

Happy birthday Pele you beautiful girllll!! Don’t grow up too fast!

Happy birthday Gaaaazzzzzzzz, miss your banter...!

Hope you had a wonderful birthday party Soloai (my daugher)! 

 Mi Zona...

 Elder Maldonado (Guatemala), Hermana Kava (Hawaii), me and Elder Garcia (Guatemala)

 Kava, Ojeda - Hermana Lider (California), Me and Jepson (Las Vegas)

Hermana Kava and Elder Osiek (Mission Mama and Brother)

THE DISTRICT

Osiek, Kava, me and Monsen

My Testimony

Hola mi familia y amigos,

Como estan? Time is going by so fast! I almost can't believe it sometimes. But this mission is honestly THE BEST!

I know that I was called here for a reason. I also know that the people here, the people I meet everyday, the missionaries as well, I meet for a reason. I am supposed to learn something from each and everyone of them and vice versa. Our Heavenly Father puts people in our paths for a reason and I know that every little thing also happens for a reason. There is no such thing as a coincidence.

In these 3 short months that I have been away from home and set apart as a full-time missionary, I have learned so much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My relationship with my Saviour and my Heavenly Father has grown so much more than I could have ever imagined. And the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is the most comforting feeling I have ever felt. The love I have for the people here in Ayutuxtepeque grows more and more everyday.  "The work of the Lord will go forth boldly, nobly and independant..." and I am so blessed, blessed far beyond measure to be a part of this sacred work. The work of the most high.

Now I know that everyday is different and not everyday is full of sunshine and rainbows but our Father in Heaven always, ALWAYS provides a way for His children …. For you, for me, for everyone! All we need to do is ask like it says in Matthew 7:7-8. ASK and ye shall receive, KNOCK and it shall be opened unto you.

The Restored Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ is the truthfulness on this earth. I am so grateful that I can say PROUDLY that I know with ALL of my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is TRUE!!

I know that The Book of Mormon is the WORD of God! I know that The Bible is also the word of God as far as it is translated correctly and that The Bible and The Book of Mormon complement, support and enrich each other.

You cannot know this to be true, any of it, UNLESS you read for yourself. Search, ponder and pray. That is the key. We ask and we receive. He ALWAYS gives us an answer. ALWAYS. I received my answer and that’s why I am here. I would not be on the other side of the world, a million miles away from MY FAMILY if I did not KNOW this to be true. 

I am so HAPPY to have these truths in my life and that is why I chose to serve a mission and spread the good word to my brothers and sisters here in El Salvador. 

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. I feel your love and am ever so grateful for it.

PS. My Spanish is coming along okay... almost, almost!

Have a beautiful week! Until next time....

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Loli

PS. Don’t miss me too much; I’ve got work to do!!!