Penonome Branch #14 “I’m just a lil Cherry Tomato”

Hola!!

Right now I am sitting staring out the window and right below me is the beach. It's pretty awesome. We came out to Rio Hato to visit President's second counselor and he lives out here on playa blanca! He took us to the beach and stuff and it was soo fun! We're actually still here in their house, so yup. I am super sunburned. Like suuuuper sunburned haha.

Thiiiis week, we worked hard. I am soooooo tired! We placed 14 fechas this week, and guess who came to church? Nobody! again. Sometimes it gets hard, especially after putting so much effort into a week, but I know we'll soon get blessings!

Serafina always seems to be progressing, but because she still isn't coming to church, we are not sure what to do with her.

We found those genius little girls who live with their Grandma, so we are going to meet with their parents tis week and ask permission to baptize them!! Im pretty nervous so pray for us and for them please!!

We also found an Hermana Freddi, who is suuuper buena! She has a new born baby girl, and after we taught her the Plan of Salvation, she just accepted us immediately! We are so excited for her!

Mooore news, I found out Renyk (converso de arraijan) went back to Venezuela. Mom, if you could find them that would be awesome!

Andddd that's about all!

Love you all!

Hna hallsted

Penonome Branch #13 “We’ve Got Rain”

22MAY2017

Saying Goodbye to E Amador! Last Sunday with our District

My favorite district ever!! Also notice how I’m the only white person. I learned a loooot of Spanish this change haha!

My super protection: Hat and umbrella

Got to see Hna Vanini before she left! Also this is a three Generation Picture

Hello Family!

This week was great! We also had changes today, but I'm still with Hna V. BUT my other hija in the mission is going to San Blas Islands!! I am still in shock about and, a lil jealous haha. But suuuuper excited! She already speaks cuna and is going to be amazing out there!

Alllso Hna Jessop leaves this change, and Ill be honest, a few tears fell from my eyes. She's basically the coolest missionary out here in Panama.

Sooo this week, we found a family of a grandma and her two grand daughters, Stifani and Brittany. They are 8 and 11. Emphasis on the age cuz they are legit smarter than I am. We started talking about prophets with them and they started talking about the weird prophets whose names you don't really remember. Then they started talking about the tabernacle and Aaron and the significance of his outfit and all the other ordinances and talked about things I didn't even understand until I went through the temple! Then they go in depth about the life of Jesus Christ, and it was just crazy. We invited them to be baptized and they were so excited! I have never met anyone so ready to be baptized and they are so young! So that was pretty exciting.

Theeen, Hna Serafina didn't come to church, but it was weird because she was making all these weird excuses.. So we went to her house right after church, and she was acting all strange and nervous, so I started talking about how we should fear God. It was super funny cuz I could tell everyone was a little surprised at my machete, but I could feel the Spirit really strong telling us to talk about that. We shared a scripture story about Nefi and how we need to fear God, not man. Serafina then started telling us all this pressure from her family and neighbors she has been recieving for listening to us. It turned out to be one of the most spiritual moments in my entire mission. I think the Lord has prepared her just in time for her baptism coming up!

Also on Friday we went to super far away Anton. Anton is this place that's like an hour away that we go to on Friday's and try to find people. There is only one church in Anton and its- you guessed it, it's a Catholic church. There are exactly 4 members out there, they are 17 and under, and are innactive. It's tough, but I love this family. So Saturday we had a Family home Evening in their house and it was super fun! Us and the Elders invited people and we had a couple of members. The best was at the end I taught everyone the animal sounds game and it was so funny cuz they would pick me and then say animals that I have no idea what they are in English so I would just make a random noise and they got me every time. It was also hilarious because Latinos are legit awful at that game haha!

We also found some really cool investigors, Ashley and her friend Orlando. We taught the Restoration and Orlando was really excited about baptism! They both want to come to church and learn all they can, so we are really excited for them!

That's about all that happened this week! Love you all!

Love,

Hna Hallsted

Penonome Branch #12 “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!”

15MAY2017

Hullo

Feliz dia de las Madres!

Over here it’s December 8, and I kept wishing all the moms and happy mother’s day anyways, everyone was so confused it was hilarious.

It was soooo great to see you guys! Family, you guys are way good looking, Herm is wayyyy too tall I think, he just looked super long. And Breton, my comp thinks you are super good looking HAHA! Also Hannah, you have to wait for me to memorize all the songs from Hamilton okay??! And of course, Quinn! I almost died! I can't even believe how old she is!! Amanda and Derek, you guys are the cutest, and Brynn and Hannah!! I cannot believe how gorgeous your hair is! Seriously, why wasn’t I born with hair like that??

This week was a bit rough, we have a lot of people we are working with right now, but no one came to church... again. But we'll see how it goes! Our most positive is Hna Serafina. She came to an activity this week and loooooved the church! I really do think she will be baptized soon!

Welp, that's about all I can think of, but I love you all soooo much!

Love,

Hna Hallsted

Penonome Branch #10 #11 2020202020202020

08MAY2017

Lil selfie on the blessed day of May 2

Hna Thompson and I hiking the mountain

Hna Serefina and I

My surprise birthday party! The familia Velasquez

Hno Constantino gave me bread for my birthday super cute, huh?

Me and Jessop. I love her so much!!!

Me and the ole comp from the MTC!!

Me and Angel!! the one who's dad wouldn't let him get baptized

Hey fam!

It was ma birthday this week. Oh and sorry I didn't write last week, I got back too late from an activity with the sisters.

SOOO Monday we went to the India Dormida! It was soooo legit! It's a mountain that looks like a woman lying down and it was a rain forest and I was sooo in love! Family, we are all going there when I get back cuz it was freaking amazing.

then... I TURNED 20!

For my birthday we did some cool stuff. We had a dia de todo esfuerzo were we put in 110% of all our efforts. We did freaking amazing! I was fine not doing birthday stuff anyways haha, and it was way worth it!

The next day the Velazquez fam gave a surprise party, which means they bought me cake! It was awesome! haha

Then! On Saturday we went to a funeral. I still have no idea who died. It was super funny cuz the Elders called us and told us we had to go and we were like "okay, but who died?" and they had no idea either! But he was all dressed up Panamanian which was a pretty good way to go if you ask me. I played the piano for it and me and Elder Amador played a duet of the flute and piano of Oh Mi Padre which was sooo pretty! That was a pretty exciting. Then that night we went to the mountain and it was so funny cuz while we were waiting 3 hours for a bus, we were waiting across from this nun school thing and this nun was locked out! Haha it was soooo hilarious watching this nun throw rocks and the windows and yelling to wake up the other nuns. She even started trying to jump over the wall haha. I don't know nun rules, but I'm pretty sure she was breaking a few!

Okay I love you all sooooo much!!!

Love,

Hna Hallsted

PS being 20 is kinda like being 19, just a lil bit bigger

PSS Happy Birthday to my beloved Herm!!!!!! Love you Hyrum!!!

PSSS I'm still just as good looking as I was when I was 19, just so you know. (everyone keeps asking me that here haha, no clue why!)