Family and Friends,

Well another week has flown by in the mission and as always its had it's spiritual moments and it's crazy moments. Last week on Friday I had the opportunity to do interchanges with Sister Reyes (the sister leader) and we actually had some great moments. We were teaching a family about the restoration and I asked the mom how she knows that God loves her and she began to cry and told us about how she strayed from the path, but her family has helped her to remember God and that she is important. We could really fell the spirit during this lesson, and I know that her and her family will be blessed by this gospel. 

Every Thursday night we do a family night in the chapel and it was Sister Rodriguez's and I's turn to teach the family home evening. It took us a while to figure out what we wanted to do, but finally we decided to talk about talents and how they're a gift from the Lord. So we decorated a box and we had everyone write on a piece of paper one of thier talents and then put it in the box. Then they had to draw out of the talents and go and find the person to whom that talent belonged. It was pretty fun and we learned about all different types of talents that people had. 

On Saturday and Sunday we had our district conference which went really well. There were some members that were asked to share thier testimonies and they were very powerful conversion stories. On Sunday President Hintze talked about how to strengthen your family and then we watched Elder Oaks, and Elder Scott, talk from SLC in a Central America broadcast. They talked about the importance of the Atonement, tithing, obeying the commandments, and how in our families we need to have daily scripture study and prayer, and that we need to have family home evening. I never really understood the importance of FHE until I came on my mission and I've seen what a difference it makes when families do FHE. So for those of you who aren't doing FHE, now is the time to start. It really is a great way to learn about the gospel as a family and to just enjoy being together. 

On Monday, as a zone, we went to see the Mayan Ruins in Cahal Pech. It was really cool to be able to see that, and we had fun taking pictures and learning more about the history here in Belize. 

San Ignacio Sillyness:

Well every area I go to there's always some kind of crazyness that happens so here's some funny stories from San Ignacio. On Friday when I did interchanges with Sister Reyes we went to find a reference from one of the neighbors and it took us a little time to find her, but we finally found her. We began talking to her about her family and she told us that her grandkids are members and so we told here that's great and we asked her if she'd ever visited the church before. She then said " Yes I've visited the church a few times, but you know what I don't like about your church? I don't like that you dance, and party, and that the women wear pants!"  I was like, what the who is this lady and what church is she talking about? haha 

Yesterday Sister Rodriguez and I were having a laughing fit all day long for who knows what reason. We went to go and visit one of our investigators and the investigator gave us soda to drink. So we finish our soda and then we begin to sing, and Sister Rodriguez just starts choking. So then she drinks water to clear her throat and we start to sing again and then she just starts choking again. And shes coughing and coughing for five minutes straight and when she finally get back to normal, we both look at each other and just start laughing again. Yup...too much sun! haha 

Well I read a talk this week in the Februrary Ensign and something that really stuck out to me was a quote that said "Service is the gospel of Jesus Christ in action." It's so true, we have to give service, be an example, and find others to help them come unto Christ so that the church my grow and the work of the Lord continues to move forward. So I encourage you all to serve someone today and help them come to find the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well have a wonderful week and thank you for all of your prayers. I really do feel the love you have for me.

Love,

Sister Ontiveros