The Week of Miracles

Mamasita! How are you??????? I hope you are soaking up the sun for me in wherever you are!

Mom. This week was seriously just what I needed. So last Monday, after Pday and our mini mundial, I get a call from my zone leader saying that I had tramites in Cochabamba in 1 hour! Tramites are for your visa. He said that I needed to be packed and ready to board the bus in 1 hour. So we ran home and packed quickly for Cochabamba! Mom, I was seriously excited.... I haven´t been to Cocha in almost 2 months! I was going to someplace warm! I packed really  fast, and we got in a taxi and headed to the bus station. I hadn’t eaten all day, so I bought an orange and a pack of crackers for the ride. I was going with 3 other girls from my zone on a bus. We left around 9 pm, and didn’t get to Cochabamba until 6 am. I tried to sleep on the bus, but it was pretty difficult..... But I didn’t care... I WAS IN COCHABAMBA! We were supposed to do tramites that day, but the office was closed, so we had to wait until the next day. We went to a restaurant and ate salteñas and smoothies. Salteñas are literally my favorite food here. Look them up online. I cannot really describe them. But Hna Webb also came from Sucre, so we were together! It was so fun! That afternoon, we went to a district meeting, where we met up with Hna Crawford! She is like my best friend from the CCM. Hna Webb and I spent the afternoon with her and her companion, teaching in Cochabamba. Mom....oh my lanta.... Cochabamba is SO FREAKING different than Potosi. It is literally crazy. There is so much fruit, it is so warm, I don’t have to wear flipping tights, and there is such good food there. Ahhhhhhhh

Anyway, Hna Webb and I got to say with Hna Crawford at their house. Mom, I was in culture shock once again. I felt like I was in the states again. Their house is so nice..... The best part about it??? I got to take a HOT SHOWER. And I shaved my legs for the first time in forever hahahahahahah Seriously, I was in heaven at their house.

The next day, we had tramites. We had to go to this little office and get all this medical stuff done to us. I got my blood taken, my teeth checked, xrays, my weight taken, and had to pee in a cup.  Mom, Craziest thing ever. One of the many miracles of this week... I have lost about 8 or 9 pounds..... What the what??? I have no idea how it is possible, but it happened. Craziness.

Anyways, after tramites, we got to go to the zone conference there in Cochabamba and I saw all of my friends from the CCM. It was such a good day. I hadn’t seen them in forever! After that, we had lunch with Hna Dyer and then went to her house and helped her pack and get ready to leave. She left this past Friday, and now we have a new president! We are going to Sucre again next week to meet him. I am a little nervous, because I´ve heard he is strict. Vamos a ver.......

We also got to go to the temple! Another miracle, because normally they don’t let missionaries go to the temple during tramites. I was so happy.

The next morning, we left and headed back to Potosi. I wasn’t sad. This was exactly the break I needed. I got to go to the temple, see all my friends, eat good food and FRUIT, and just kind of relax for a couple days. It made me grateful to be in Potosi actually. Everyone in Cochabamba is so spoiled. I have learned so many lessons being in Potosi. And I love the people I have met here. They are so humble. One day I´ll get to be spoiled in Cocha.

But now for the best news yet! Saturday, we had 4 baptisms! Mama, it was truly a miracle. So this family that I have been telling you about was so ready for baptism. The son even attends seminary! But the mom has been waiting for permission for a very long time from her husband. We had been fasting and praying all week for her, and decided to move forward with faith for the baptism. We still didn’t have permission, and it was the morning of the baptism. She had fasted and prayed, and on Saturday morning, called us saying that he finally said yes! We almost died.... So we have 4 new members in our ward...Rosa, Jorge, Sergio, and Noelia. My first baptism! I was so freaking excited. And oh my gosh, this family is so strong. Their testimonies and faith are incredible. They bore their testimonies on Saturday, saying how this was the happiest day of their lives and how they were so excited to learn more and follow the example of Jesus Christ. It was so great. I think I said this before, but I really feel blessed to be a part of this experience. I really didn’t do anything for this family. It was all the Spirit. I can spit out a few words in my broken spanish, but it all comes down to the Spirit. And they have it. They are so happy, and so ready to learn more. It was really a miracle that I got to be a part of their special day.

Yesterday, they were confirmed in church. Yet another miracle, because they live so far away that they are normally so late to church. I teared up when they were confirmed because they are finally able to begin the steps to becoming an eternal family. This is what i have been preparing for. Helping families be together. It is so cool.

OH! And yet another miracle. So one of my favorite people here has been waiting for permission also from her father to be baptized for over a year. She comes to church every single Sunday...by herself. Holy faith. Her name is Vanessa, and she is about 13 years old. She loves the gospel. So yesterday, we decided to take the initiative and talk to her dad ourselves. I was nervous..... But he was so nice, and he readily agreed to sign the paper. My jaw dropped to the floor as he signed that paper. Truly incredible. We are planning her baptism for this next Saturday. I love her so much. I wish I had a photo with her!

Anyways, so yeah. It´s been a great week. I think Heavenly Father gave me a little vacation, because He knew that my family was also on vacation. Hahahaha

Cochabamba was beautiful, my first baptism was amazing and I will never forget it, and I have literally seen miracles here in Potosi.

Anywho... What´s new? How much weight did you gain on the cruise? Did grandma fall off the balcony??? How is Kirk??? Was the cruise director as goofy as the last one? Did you eat lots of icecream? I hope so.

Oh! Can you tell Mernzy and Emily Blackhurst that I finally got their birthday letters, and that I love them???

OH! AND TELL EMILY BLACKHURST HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR ME!

How is the family? Have I missed any birthdays this week?

I haven’t had time to read your letters, because I have been writing like a maniac. I have been so excited to tell you all my stories from this week.

What else is new??? It is supposed to get colder this month, or so I have been told. The wind is picking up. My comp and I are going to look for boots today.

This week is the 4th! Will you guys be on the boat? You´ll have to tell me all about that. Apparently here, we are not allowed to leave our house because it is dangerous. So we are planning a sleepover with the other sisters and having a bbq the next day with the elders. Who knows... I´ll tell you all about it next Monday.

What else do I want to tell you???? Hm........ I cant think of anything else.

But I hope you are all having a great time. I miss you all! Send me pictures!

Love,

Hna Routsong