Vista Alegre #2: “Alma 22:32”

This cool wall we found that says Vista Alegre

Got ourselves some new shoes!

Vista Alegre- my new area

We also got ourselves some ice cream :)

Hna Vanini told me to title this one "We love Selfies!" haha

Our roommates Hna Langi and Hna Adamson- I love them both!

We got to go to McDonald's because we went to the city. It was sooo yummy! And also it wasn't rice with chicken!

Hola!

This week had a lot of different emotions!

I was pretty homesick (but hey, yesterday was only 15 more months exactly till I am home!) and I think it is because of the change to a new area and we are starting from nowhere because we opened this area. But what is awesome is that the Lord knows what we need. Our first day we decided to go contacting and try to find some people to teach. Well this area is not like Dos Mil. In Dos Mil, everyone is poor and really humble and really nice. It is a lot easier to find investigators there. In Vista Allegere, it is rich and prideful. So we actually had rejections (what?!). The first hour, every single house rejected us. First time ever for either of us. And I was feeling all sorry and stuff, and so was my comp. So we decided to pray right there in the street and follow the Spirit. The next couple of hours were amazing! We found a ton of new people to teach and a lady who sells really yummy duros haha.

I know that the Lord gives us those miracles after the trial of our faith. I have been feeling a lot better since then. We go where the Lord wants us to go and He will send us to those He has prepared. I love the Gospel! I love that I know my Saviour is always there for me! And He is there for you too!

One investigator is Hermana Reyna. She is an abuela who is really positive! We ran out of pass along cards one night and were heading back home, when my comp felt we needed to go to this house. I was like, "but we don't have any cards" and then immediately felt stupid. The Lord loves us so much, He blessed us with mouths. It was a good thing we found her. We taught her the Plan of Salvacion and she told us how important her family is to her. Can't wait to see what happens!

With the change we also moved into a teeny tiny house with two other hermanas. It is really cramped. We get to sleep in bunk beds and live out of our suitcases. I learned the hard way (took me like 5 times to finally learn the lesson) to close my suitcase after every time I open it. This new house has got way more ginormous freaking spiders and they really like garments I guess. They are always mixed in between them and I do not appreciate that haha!

Good news with the change is that the chicken and rice is WAYYY better than in Dos Mil. I have only felt the need to spit it out a few times! I also ate some really really nasty Cuna food in Dos Mil, so thank the heavens for that.

Oh and just in case you were interested, Panama is actually the best mission in the world. I mean it is in the Book of Mormon... Go read Alma 22:32 and then come tell me which mission is the coolest in the world (you would have to say Panama)

Love you all with all my heart!!

Hermana Hallsted

Map of the Vista Alegre Ward in Panama

Vista Alegre #1 “Standing outside with my mouth open wide”

Machetteing coconuts as a service project (also pants haha)

Saying goodbye to my Abuellos

Angelito, my fav niño (he is actually in love with me)

Hey Fam!

It´s kinda cool I guess you are all going to Aruba or some cool island without me. Just don´t have too much fun!!

Today is my first cambio!! Woohoo! I´m still chichi, but am growing up so fast! Sad part is that we left Dos Mil and are in Vista Alegra (same zone!). The Elders are taking over and getting all our lovley investigators. Me and my comp pulled out the highest numbers of the whole mission: the most lessons, baptisms, and investigators. So I am a little sad to leave it. But the happy news is that I get to finish training with Vanini!! I love her so much!! And we also get to make Vista the most succesful area in the mission. Excited for the challenge!

We also had a very successful week of three baptisms of Jose, Joel, and Henry! All three jovens who are really working hard to overcome addictions and change their lives. It is so cool to work with these people and to see their different struggles and to watch them change in order to follow Jesus Christ. What an example they are to me!

We have been doing a really cool experiment, only in the Arraijan zone, called Cosechas. It is where we go out and instead of contacting like normal, we offer blessings in people´s homes. And then cuz we snuck our way into their house, we teach them a lesson. And then we baptize them. That´s essentially how it works haha. It really has been awesome though, because it is a really great way to find really positive investigators. I love how we can bring in the Spirit by offering these blessings in these homes.

I will tell you some crazy stories next week! Love you all sooooooo mcuh!!

Hermana Hallsted

Dos Mil #5 “I’m So Blessed to Have this Body!”

Rat Trap!

pics of me and my super beautiful comp

Us dyeing Abuella's hair

Ward Volleyball... but no members showed up, just a ton of investigators!! 

That never ever happens so we were so excited and took a picture with them haha!

I love the rain!

Beautiful Panama

(Haley had a nasty bout of impetigo all over her face this last week. We will spare you the photos! It comes from heat and humidity and she's had it in the past so it wasn't a surprise. Hoping she can keep it under control in Panama!)

Dear Family!!!!

This week was a little on the slow side, with lots of meetings and reunions. But this next week we have set our goals high and are ready to work work work!

A HUGE thank you to everybody who fasted for me. I love you all sooooo much! I love the support I got from everybody and the love I have felt this week. Turns out my Zone fasted for me and so did you!!! They thought I was for sure going home haha. But turns out the Lord did indeed hear the prayers and is letting me stay for good! I know from this experience that the sacrafice of fasting really brings miracles. I know because starting last Sunday, I couldn't talk or see out of one eye. The infection also spread to my ears and I couldn't hear very well. President himself gave me a blessing on the Friday before (which is super cool!), but it still grew worse. On Monday most of the Zone saw me (as hard as I tried not to be seen, only becuase it kinda scared people) and they all fasted for me on Tuesday. The next morning (Wed), I woke up and my face was almost completely healed! Only a little red, but I could hear, I could see, I could talk too! It was also the day I got my Green card and I realllly was scared to have a deformed picture for 18 months haha! And today, I am 100% perfect!

But the things I learned from this experience were well worth the trial. (isn't always? haha!) I learned patience in all things. I learned a whole lot about accepting God's will too. I was really struggling the night before my miracle because laying down was really painful, so I couldn't sleep. I got up and just prayed really hard to be able to sleep. During that prayer I felt the Spirit in my heart confirm the Faith I have and begin to help it grow. Because I know that after our trials we can see the blessings. And I started to see the blessings. I read Ether 27:12 and realized that my trial of Faith was the patience to endure! And that right there just proves how much God loves us. He loves us enough to give us trials to endure!

Mom, I am so glad to hear your testimony about the sacrament. I'll tell you, I never really thought too hard about repenting, because I have always been 'just fine' and looked at it as a weakness. But I have learned from teaching repentance almost everyday that it isn't about being weak at all. When you repent, you show courage and humility. Courage to beg for forgiveness and humility to admit your wrong doings. It is also a way for us to be clean always! And to me, that is what makes the sacrament so important. Our loving Heavenly Father gave us an opportunity to renew that covenant and be made clean, every week! And it is all made possible through Jesus Christ, and His courage and His humililty. I love to take the sacrament and I love the opportunity I have to repent to grow, and to grow closer to Him.

I am so blessed to have so many friends and family who care for me and are willing to sacrafice for me. I am even more blessed to be here in Panama to serve my mission! I love the work so much! I wrote a letter to Hannah today about my love for missionary work. Thank you for your prayers and I will be praying for you as well!!

Love,

Hermana Hallsted