Una pluma de pluma

It was transfer day for Hermana Keeler and she is being sent to Vergel, an area of Merida.  So she’s a city girl now!  But she described it as the nice part of the crappy part of Merida.  I’m thinking her letters may not feature animals quite as prominently which actually makes me sad!  She is with a companion that speaks only Spanish, so it will be all Spanish all the time.  We are thinking the language will definitely improve for her.  I guess we will have to wait for more details next week.  She will definitely be missed in Oxkutzcab though she made so many great friends there!  Enjoy this last letter from Ox complete with animal shenanigans

So a few funny things happened this week.  Saturday we found a puppy outside our house.  We were about to go eat lunch with the Branch President’s family and so I flagged down a moto taxi (because they live really far away) and I got in and then Hermana Romero gets in with the puppy!  I was like, “what the heck are we going to do with the puppy?”  And she said, “I don’t know, give it to Familia Villareal?”  And so we went and brought them a puppy and they were like “yeah, we want it!” haha!  I was so certain they were going to say “why did you bring us a puppy?”  But no!  So now they have a new pet!  She really is cute though, she would be pretty hard to turn down.  We named her Boo.

We found an incredible thrift store with clothes from JCrew, Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters!  I got a dress and a shirt for 160 pesos (like 10 bucks).  So that was really cool.  I actually saw a shirt from Urban that I used to have, I felt like I was in a different world, haha, it didn’t feel like Oxkutzcab!

Also we found a stuffed animal tigre and we bought it for Tigre.  He was so happy!  He loved it.  He cried a little bit....

So Hermana Romero found a turkey feather and made a pen out of it and it’s way awesome.  So, naturally, I wanted one too.  We visited a sister named Elena who has a turkey (almost everyone has one - they’re actually the worst though because they attack people) so we looked for feathers outside her house.  We couldn’t find any so Elena’s little sister just ran over to the turkey and picked it up and said “here, take one...” and so I started to pull on the feather and it wouldn’t come out, so I pulled harder with both hands haha and it still wouldn’t come out.  Eventually I just had to stop because I was probably hurting the turkey.  It was quite disappointing.  But l ended up finding a feather on the side of the road.  So now I have una pluma de pluma.  Pluma in Spanish is pen and feather.  Haha! 

We went to a funeral for the grandma of a few branch members on Saturday morning.  Funerals here are so awful because they are so sad.  There is absolutely no hope.  It’s so tragic.  Many people think that this life is it.  And once you die, you’re done.  But that’s not how it works!  There is life after death.  Jesus Christ was resurrected 3 days after He died.  He walked the streets of Jerusalem and ministered to the apostles again.  And I know that He lives today!  Because Christ lives we can live again too. In Him we can find hope, peace and tranquility.  We can find comfort in the knowledge that our Spirits are eternal.  And that this life is only a tiny grain of sand on the beach of eternity! :)  Death is never the end.  Never has been, never will be.

I love you all!

Love, Hermana Keeler

 A tiger for Tigre!

And a new puppy for Familia Villarreal

I'm calling this viejita in hammock (she didn't say who she is)

Soy Feliz!

Buenas! 

So this week was really good!  We went to Merida Monday night for a conference.  It’s this thing called 8 principes.  Pretty much it is 2 days of learning how to apply different principles (there are 8 if you didn’t know :)  to our teaching skills.  We learn for like an hour and then do practices for an hour.  I was really nervous because I HATE PRACTICES!  They’re really awkward and I get super nervous and self conscious.  But actually it turned out really well.  I felt relatively comfortable, even though I had never talked to most of these missionaries, I understood a lot!  Not all of it obviously but enough to feel like I was actually practicing and learning, not just watching haha.

So in Merida we stayed with some hermanas.   They’re in an area called Brisas.  We don’t know Merida..so we got lost trying to find their house haha.  We took a bus and thought we would be able to recognize the area (we took a taxi to their house the night before) but turns out we were on the bus for like 15 minutes past where we were supposed to get off.  We had to ask people and figure out where we were because we had no idea!  Eventually we made it back to their house!

The BUSES... The buses are literally crazy.  The bus drivers just yell at everybody and the people just yell when they want to get off and boom he pulls over to the curb so fast.  The buses only stop at the stops for enough time for the people to step in the doorway.  Usually they start going again and take the money and print the receipts while driving.  Each stop is probably an average of 12 seconds.  I’m not kidding AND THEY DRIVE SO FAST!  And they’re so crowded.  I think I was most reminded that I’m not in America anymore during that bus ride.

The hermanas that we stayed with have a BED in their house and I got to sleep in it!   I was soooo excited!  But honestly, I couldn’t sleep!  I was so uncomfortable.  I missed my hammock a lot  I was super happy to come back to Ox and sleep in my hammock on Wednesday night!

We have cambios next week.  Honestly I do not want to leave Ox!  It’s so great!  But I feel like I’m going to be changed!  So this week I’m just going to take it all in.  I’m going to learn as much Maya as possible, I’m going to make the most of every opportunity I have to teach!  I’m going to kiss every old lady I see.  And I’m going to eat frijol con puerco for every meal!

Okay, well maybe not the last two.  But really I love Ox!  The people here are so great and I’ve made so many great memories.  All the old people talk to you like you’ve been best friends forever.  The lady who works in the panadeleria (bakery) by our house expects us around at least 3 times a week.  The way to start any conversation: “Hay muchisimo calor hoy, verdad?” (It’s super hot today, right?)  The drunks that try to speak English with me and call me guerra (white girl).  The people that give us 20 mangos when we already have 50 in our fridge.  

But in all seriousness, Ox is not a nice city by any means, but I love it!  Like, I would never live here, but I’m happy living here in my little two room house that never has running water.  It’s because I’m a missionary!  I really am happy as a missionary!  I’m legit so tired all the time, always covered in sweat, and constantly fighting off mosquitos, but in spite of everything, Soy Feliz!!!

It’s because I know that the message we share is true.  I know that it can change lives.  And most importantly I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior!

I love you all!

Hermana Keeler

These cute boys attend church every week by themselves!  

She says they are stronger than most of the adults in the branch!

Visiting the tomb of their investigator that died the day after Lindsay got to the mission. 

Saving Souls with Bill Nye

Buenas!  I finished my first cambio yesterday!  Thankfully Hermana Romero and I are staying in Ox!   A lot of our friends in the zone get changed though :(  I’m glad we’re here for another 6 weeks!

This week was relatively normal.  Things are good down here in Ox, rainy, but good!  May is the hot month and June is the rainy and hot month.  It’s rained almost every day for the past 2 weeks.  Honestly, I’m not a fan of the rain, but I’ve made a list of its perks too.

1.  My hair has so much volume.  It looks more like Shelby’s hair than mine.
2.  Sometimes I can use a blanket.  It cools down a ton at night when it rains.  Hammock+Blanket=Heaven! 
3.  I’m wet from water and not sweat!My feet get a break from the sun (the tan lines are so real) because we walk in 6 inches of water in the street.
4.  If our clothes are drying on the line outside, they get another rinse.
5.  People give us free things because they feel bad for us.   Metrotaxis sometimes take us places for free!  And this week we contacted a guy selling pan dulce in the rain and we were going to buy some but he just gave it to us :)

So I saved Hermana Romero’s life this week.  We were walking and we saw a dead snake.  We like to look at dead animals and sometimes pick them up haha and so we went to see.  Upon further examination of the serpent, I recalled a rhyme that I learned either at the zoo or in a Bill Nye video - I’m not sure. But it goes “If red touches black, you’re okay Jack.  If red touches yellow you’re not okay fellow.”  This rhyme is used to help you differentiate between two different snakes both with yellow, black and red stripes.  One is poisonous and one is not.  And guess what?  RED TOUCHED YELLOW!  And I told Hermana Romero not to touch it because she would die.  I actually used my knowledge of the animal kingdom to save a soul!  I knew that would come in handy one day.  And now all of you know as well and you too have the ability to save a soul.

I did something really dumb this week, I accidentally locked the keys inside our house.  So we had to go to our landlord’s house and get the keys.  Then I had to jump our fence (in a dress of course) because there’s only one key to our gate.  Our fence has like daggers on top so it was quite difficult but I did it.

One of the first things that we teach people is how to pray.  Lots of people pray, but we teach them how to pray the way that Jesus taught.  “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name.”  3 Nephi 18:21.  We explain that prayer is like a conversation with Heavenly Father.  That is a foreign concept to some people!  But it is so important to understand that Heavenly Father wants to listen to your problems, thoughts, doubts, pleadings, desires - anything!  You can talk openly to Him!  It’s really cool to see investigators pray for the first time.  They are opening up this new window to heaven!  And strengthening their relationship with God SO MUCH!

So, when life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray! 

Love you all!

Have a great week.

Hermana Keeler

These boys are the cutest! Their parents don't go to church but they go every single week and are more involved than most of the adults!!!! We are teaching their cousins that are in the picture outside. 

Umbrellas and Armadillos

Well I had been wondering when this letter was going to come.  It seems to be inevitable for missionaries in certain areas.  And now she has the mark of a true missionary!  No pictures this week either.  So this week is definitely not my favorite!   

Hi! I had a crazy week!  We got attacked by some dogs haha but luckily a recent convert gave us an umbrella bc it was starting to rain and we could kind of fight them off with that. We didn't get bitten but they bit the umbrella so if we hadn't of had that we would've been dead. And the crazy thing is it only rained for like 5 minutes really hard right before we left! So if it hadn't rained we would have died lol. Miracles!!! Also yesterday and Saturday were the worst days of my life... 

I ate an ARMADILLO THIS WEEK!!!! We went to visit this less active family in a small pueblo outside of Ox. We were in their yard/kitchen and there was an armadillo shell and a bloody tail on a tree stump haha and we were like I guess they ate it. And then we had our lesson and we were about to leave and they offered us food! SO we ate armadillo tacos. And it was actually really good haha. We ate with toritllas and our hands no plates or utensils haha. Tortillas serve all purposes: plate, napkin, utensils. 

 I got super sick from the food. Not the armadillo surpringly. Its all so greasy and literally made with straight lard and my body cant handle it. So on Friday we ate at this members house and ate it all to be polite.  So after I felt really bad and I had to sit down in front of this investigator's house. They invited me in and I sat on their bed in the kitchen hahah in front of a fan for a few minutes and then I just straight ran outside and puked 3 times. It was all in my hair so I had to go home and change and shower. I got ready and then we had to leave for district conference in a larger pueblo 30 minutes away and I still felt bad. We had to take a van sin clíma (without A/C) that was packed and also manual transmission on bad roads so it was really awful. About 20 minutes in I knew I was going to throw up, so Hna Romero had them stop and I jumped out and puked my guts out 4 times on the side of the road. We had to figure out where we were because the van left us haha and take a taxi to Ticul. Once we got there, our zone leaders made us go to the doctor and I got some medicine. After the conference we had to go to the bus station and we had just missed the bus and the next one wasnt coming until 10:30 which actually means 11. So we waited and I felt a little better. The bus came and we got on and it was so crowded and we had to stand and it was so hot and I was like I cant do this. Three minutes in to the bus ride I had Hna Romero tell them to stop and I tried to get off... but didn't make it in time. I threw up all over dos hermanas that were with us, a mom and her kid, and an old man. It was awful.  All of us had my throw up all over us hahah. We went back to the church and some elders gave me a blessing. Then we had some members drive us home. I didn't end up going to bed until 1:30! And then we had to get up at 6:30 and go back to the conference. After we had lunch with some people and I ate a tiny bit of potatoes but then we just went back home and didnt work for the rest of the day. I slept for 16 hours. Literally more than I have ever slept in my entire life. I feel a lot better today but that was legit the worst day ever hahaha. Gotta love Mexican food. 

The perks of ridiculous heat

This week was good!  We had 35 lessons.  None of our investigators are progressing because no one goes to church or reads.  Lots of people don’t know how to read, so its hard to teach that reading the scriptures is a commandment.  And I just want them to realize that the effort is WORTH IT!  Give a little and you’ll get A LOT back!

I’ve discovered some perks about the ridiculous heat.  So I’ve made a list:

1.  Nutella spreads much easier when it’s hot - allowing for a thin and even coat - nearly impossible in regular temperatures.

2.  It’s so humid here I don’t have to use lotion or chapstick ( I still use chapstick once or twice a day out of habit)

3.  Mascara doesn’t clump as easily - so my eyelashes are always on point.

4.  Even though there’s only one knob on our faucet that works (COLD) - it’s never cold.  At night water is hot and during the day it’s the same       temperature as outside.

5.  I have only been cold one time since I’ve been here - on the bus to Merida at 5:30AM.  There was air conditioning and it wasn’t packed like usual.

The bugs here Looooove the blood of guerritas (white girls).  I’m glad that polka dot is my favorite pattern (and also that I like the Japanese flag) because my legs have so many red spots.  I got at least 15 in one day last week.  The one day I forgot to put on bug spray.

Speaking of bugs, did you know that COCKROACHES FLY????  They are literally the worst thing ever! There’s a joke that no one here sings “All Creatures of our God and King”….and for good reason!

Food…. We had no soup this week.  That was sad because soup is better than everything else here.  I ate 4 slices of tomato plain the other day.  It was really, really hard.  Never have I ever eaten tomato plain or in slice form!  We get beans quite often but they are like blended so it’s just like bean soup.  Not my favorite.  So everyone here eats everything with either a spoon or their hands and tortillas.  Meat on a bone in soup?  Cut it with a spoon.  It’s very difficult haha!  There are these homemade otter pop things called saborines.  They’re like real fruit and stuff and they are DELICIOUS!  I have to get coconut every time because I always spill on myself and coconut is white so it doesn’t stain, lol! 

Spanish is getting better.  I understand waaay more than I can say.  I usually know what’s going on.  A lot of people can’t understand me because their Spanish isn’t very good and neither is mine!  They speak Maya better- mostly old people.  Sometimes when I share something in a lesson los viejitos (old people) will say to my comp “Su Ingles es my bonito” (Her English is very pretty) when I’m trying to speak Spanish!!  Haha I sound straight gringa - it’s whatevs! 

It rained so much Wednesday!  So much that the road on a hill corroded and now there’s ravines and crevaces (read that cre-vah-sez).  It’s crazy!

Yesterday was Hermana Romero’s birthday!  Some ward members brought her a cake and some members from her first area drove 2 1/2 hours from Campeche!  They gave us lots of food including DONUTS - Krispy Kremes!  It was glorious.  So that was fun, she’s 21!

One of the first things we share with contacts (people that we just start talking to in the streets) is the message of eternal families.  We always ask if the person wants to be with their family forever and they always say yes!  And then we tell them about temples and covenants and promises with God!  This is the end goal that everyone wants!  Who doesn’t want to live with their Heavenly Father as a family in His kingdom forever?  And the only way we can do that is through covenants in the Lord’s holy temple.  I’m so grateful that I have an eternal family!  I hope to be able to brings some families to this knowledge and help them be sealed for eternity!

Right now the work is slow.  We find people who have potential but work on Sunday, or won’t stop drinking.  Lots of people just like listen to the Palabra de Dios and go on with the rest of their lives doing the same things as usual.  The gospel will change your life if YOU change your life.  And that is something that is hard for many to understand!

If you’re not happy with your life GO AND CHANGE IT!

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Keeler

Tigre and his triciclo.  This is how we get around Ox (Oxkutzcab)

This little neighborhood is called la hermita... its this row of houses with stone stairs.  The houses are very primitive, many are made of sticks and leaves.  It's crazy.