On PAUSE

Whelp everyone, if you're not sitting down for this I would recommend that you do so. Keep arms and legs inside at all times and enjoy this crazy roller coaster called my life. So once upon a time I got sent to the wonderful land of California and was received with open arms and I slowly started to love my new California mission more and more. The missionaries were great, I was meeting so many new wonderful people, and I was enjoying the luxuries of a state side mission. But as time kept going on, my sickness was improving but it was not going away. I knew that if I didn't get better soon I would have to be sent home... so me being my stubborn self I LIED. I put on a show pretending that I was completely healthy and that all was well. But as time went on I began to realize how hard this acting stuff is. There were definitely ups and downs. Some days I wouldn't feel as sick and I thought to myself "I can do this!" But then there were down days where I didn't feel as well and I wondered "can I do this?" Time kept going on and I eventually had to send my cute companion hermana vega home and received my oh so incredible companion hermana Lopez. We started our transfer out right with a leaking tire and bonded 3 hours at pep boys. Woot woot! As the week went on I became pretty sick and had to spend a lot of time in doors and I had plenty of time to think about my whole situation and I started to be honest with myself. I couldn't spend nine months like this. I couldn't do that to my companions and the areas definitely deserved more than that. They deserved someone who could give it all their energy and strength. I started to humble myself... Yet again... And I prayed for direction and help. As I talked with my angel of a companion, read my scriptures, and general conference talks, I got the answer that I needed to start being honest with my leaders, starting with my mission president. That night, me and hermana Lopez made a vow to be honest (like we raised our arms and made an oath and everything haha). We saw him at a baptism on Saturday and I confessed everything and got myself out of the big lying hole that I had made. President Henrie has this one face, where he just stares at you, smiles, and just listens, and that's the face that I got, the typical Henrie face. He told me he would pray about my situation and get back to me. IT FELT LIKE A THOUSAND BRICKS WERE LIFTED OFF ME. A little advice for all of you, BE HONEST. Don't dig yourself into a big hole of lies! Haha. Anyways, so time kept going on, me and hna Lopez kept having a HOOT. I was in the best district in the whole world. My zone and district leaders had no idea what was going on in my life yet they were helping us in a million ways. They deserve an award or something because they helped in more ways than they know! I was just enjoying my time with my amazing companion and my incredible zone. Then on Monday morning we received the phone call I knew was coming. I was being sent home and it was my last day. Words cannot describe the heart wrenching pain that those words create in a missionary. Floods or memories and emotions ran through me. Yet through all of it, I felt peace. Heavenly Father played a HUGE part in that. I knew that I had him and my savior by my side and that I was following his plan and not mine. That last days was hard, many tears were shed, but I felt PEACE. Looking back on those 9 months, I could see all the incredible moments that helped me change and grow closer to my savior. And there were times where I looked back and thought, why did I get sent to California if I was just going to get sent home anyways? Then I realized that I NEEDED that Great California San Fernando mission. I NEEDED the missionaries there. The missionaries in that mission are absolutely incredible. They are SO loving and I felt like we were one big family. They gave me, "hermana Bolivia", the love I needed. THEY CHANGED MY LIFE. And I am so grateful for the experiences I had there and in Bolivia. It has sure been hard, but I have grown so close to my savior. HE LIVES. His atonement is so REAL. And although the experiences, both good and bad, have been quite the roller coaster ride, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Through all this crazy I have grown closer to my savior. He is my brother and best friend and I know that I am not alone in all of this. I am home now from my mission, but it's not the end, it's just on PAUSE. Heavenly Father needs me at home, for what reason I don't know, but I know that I am meant to be here. I am on pause and I am doing all that I can to get back out into the mission field. I'm going to doctors and doing many tests to figure this out, but as soon as we do I am jumping back out there with my mission family. My life is completely in His hands, he is the potter and I am the clay. HE LIVES. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us more than we can ever imagine and when we COMPLETELY submit to their will and trust in them, they help us reach our great potential. We sometimes don't know why things happen, but They do. They see the whole picture and all They want for us is to be HAPPY. I invite you all to submit to HIS will and enjoy the great blessings that come from it. Thank you all for your love and support! I have been able to feel your prayers and have been lifted up in my trials. I love you all and would love to see you while I'm on Pause.

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Higham

Hey Ya'll <-- My Tennessee Companion

Hoooooollllaaaaaaaaaa. Soooooooooooooo life is getting pretty fun! So once upon a time my companion is leaving me on TUESDAY and I will be getting another companion! And also, fun news, you would think I would just stay in the area right? NOPE. I'm getting transferred AGAIN. Which is like fine and I'll go where He wants me to go, but this whole packing and unpacking thing is getting old because I just have so much STUFF. I swear I'm like Grandma Downs who just can't get rid of anything... And I just keep getting more and more stuff. So I'm just going to send some stuff home so I don't have to deal with it till I get home but YOU CAN'T OPEN IT. It may have presents inside that you all can't have till I give them to you all and see your faces when you get the wicked awesome Bolivian things. Heh heh heh. So they do transfers a little differently here in California and they give you a heads up a few days earlier but they dont tell you where you're going or who you're going to be with. So right now I just know that i'm transferring. It's awesome that I get to meet more people and have more areas and such but the longest I've ever been in an area is 4ish months so this transfer I'm hoping to stay for a loooooong time. But I'm excited. I've gotten used to change and switching around places so it's not really phasing me at all haha. The only bad part is I'm scared to get close to people and just get switched really fast again so I'm trying to just love people and open up even if it will just make the goodbye harder. 

This week was a good week! Just lots of knocking doors, lots of service for our cute little old folks friends, and lots of trying to keep Hermana sane hahahaha. Sending home companions is fun. They pretty much just go insane and you just sit back and watch the madness. With our old people friends this past week we helped them make bracelets and it was super fun. They would try to do it themselves because they're so independent but then all the beads would fall and they would accept our help. So cute. Haha. 

While we were knocking on doors this past week we were able to find some realy cool people. They were really super interested in having us come back but it was cool hearing what they believe in. There was this one guy who was buddhist/native american tribe beliefs and we were like WHOA what is that? "It's a pulse. It's a heartbeat. It's LIFE. It's the flowers the sky..." and he just went off on this poetic rant and it was brilliant. I was like GIVE THIS GUY AN AWARD. There's lots of buddhists here and they always get scared when we come to their door because they don't speak very good English so they just slowly close the door as they speak Korean or something haha. What a life.

Welp, that's pretty much it for the week! We weren't able to have any lessons this last week but we have had a good week. It's just been fun being with Hermana Vega. We've been having a hoot and have met some pretty fun people. It's going to be weird being surrounded by complete strangers again this week in a new area and zone but it will be fun. People just can't keep track of me and I can barely keep track of myself. One second I'm over there, the other second over here. KEEP UP. hahaha. 

I definitely know that I'm not alone in the work. There's no way I would be able to get switched this many times and do all of the things I am doing without His divine help. I know that I have Him and angels surrounding me and that's how I have the strength to keep going. I love it out here in the mission and I wouldn't trade any of the experiences I've had for anything. Heavenly Father is teaching me so many things and is molding me into the person I have the potential to become. Although I may not like it at times, I know that if I submit to him, I will continue progressing. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!! Let me know if there's anything I can do for you all! 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Higham

Do you see that big black thing? It's a DOG. The biggest dog bear I have ever seen!

We went to a place called Humble Bee and it was delicious. It was Hermana Vega's favorite place so we had to go before she left!

I'm Cold

Wowzers what a week!! Hahaha just kidding it was pretty normal. But still good! Me and Hermana Vega just have a hoot all of the time which is good because we have like nothing to do all of the time. Just knocking doors and such. BUT we have found more service opportunities so that has been fun! We went to the thrift store again, we went to some other place... that's actually a different church... and we handed out food so that was fun! They even pushed me through the line and forced me to get food... which I ended up giving away because as much as I loved expired food items my stomach would probably die haha. We also went to this old folks home and it is probably my favorite place on the planet. We get to walk peoples dogs, we call out BINGO, we help with other activities, and we just talk to the hilarious old people. A lot of them are jews so they are pretty funny. They always say "Are you going to try to convert me? Because it's probably not going to work because I'm Jewish!" And then they just laugh for a good 5 minutes hahaha. They are also pretty innapropriate too haha silly old people. It's been a hoot.

We were actually able to have lessons this past week!! We were able to meet with this one family and I see lots of potential in them! We were only able to meet with the mom and her 10 year old son but they are just the cutest things! The 10 year old loves learning about Jesus and even prayed for us, we can't even get grown adults to pray so it was awesome! They are just a nice cute family so we're excited to be seeing them more! 

So something fun happened yesterday. So we went to go visit this less active because her husband has just recently died so we got there and she let us in and everything was great.. but then someone came to the door and she let them in and in our minds we were like "yeah, cool, more people to teach!" but then more kept coming.. and more.. and more... then all of a sudden we were surrounded my catholics.. about to do a prayer. So the less actives husband was creemated... or however you spell it... and so they bring out his box, light some candles, and before we know it we're sitting through 20 minutes of Catholic prayers. Hahahahaha it was super awkward but also kinda fun. Then they asked us to offer a prayer... so I volunteered Hermana Vega and so we said a prayer... and then we left. Fun times! haha

Another fun story, so once upon a time we were knocking doors and we found an old man who was an  English member and we chatted with him for a while and he told us his wife was sick so being super kind sister missionaries we made them cookies and delivered them yesterday and they let us in and they were the cutest old couple I have ever met in my entire life! They're super old but just still so in love hahaha. They would always just made jokes or remarks to each other and then she would just wink at him hahaha it was super cute! Their names are Jackie and Bob Sharp. And Jackie went on dates with President Monson when they were younger. And Pres Monson wrote her a note and may have called her an "attractive girl" in that note. Oooolala! haha. But also, So they had a picture on their wall and all of a sudden Hermana Vega goes 'THAT PICTURE WAS IN AN ENSIGN' so Bob Sharp was in an Ensign before. The story was written about his friend but he was in there too so that was pretty fun. It's almost like I met a celebrity but cooler. Hahaha. But for reals they were super cute and we're so going back just to talk with them more because they're just so silly and cute. 

Well, that's pretty much it for the week! Hermana Vega goes home next Wednesday so that's crazy! We've got a week left so we're gunna work SO HARD. I'm pumped! Haha. I'm doing well out here in California. This past week it really hit me that I'm not going back to Bolivia so that was hard... but it's great here and I love it. I have already met so many people that have changed my life and I know that I'm here for a reason. Bolvia is definitely not California, but California is also not Bolivia. Some day I'll go back to Bolivia and just party with all my Bolivians. But my cute area in Bolivia is still in good hands so I'm super happy about that. And Paola got baptized last week so yayyyyyyy! So things are rough and my life is weird but I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm happy, I'm healthy, and I'm PROUD TO BE A MISSIONARY! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Hasta luego! 

Con mucho amor

Hermana Higham

We got frozen yogurt and my selfie game is so strong!

Also, in attempt to hold my dress down to not show my sacred underwear, I look like a demon, enjoy. Hahahahaha

Talk To The Hand

Hello everyone! 

Sooooo my life. I still don't think it has hit me yet that I'm just not going back to Bolivia. I feel like this whole California thing is just a dream haha but it's been great! Me and hermana Vega are having a great time and we're working hard! I don't know if I mentioned this, but we've opened an area and so we literally have NOTHING which is sooo weird because I've always just had so much to work with. So pretty much this whole week all we've done is knock doors trying to find people to teach and that's been pretty different. And it's like one of the only ways we can find people here because no one really walks because everyone has cars so we've just been on the hunt for people to teach! Which is hard but hey, we're getting pretty creative with our door approaches. We've thought about making up a dance and song. I'll let you know if that works out. Hahaha just kidding. It's been very interesting to see how different people react to random people knocking on their door. This old 80 year old man told us to "talk to the hand". I'm pretty sure we've found 2 drug dealers. Lots of Philipinos and lots of Asians that don't speak English or Spanish. Lots of really nice people giving us random oranges off their orange trees, and just lots of people. But it's been good! We have a handful of people that have said we can come back! So I'll let you know how that all goes!

So some fun things that happened this week. We went bowling last Monday and I totally just beat everyone, even the elders. I got 144. Thanks grandpa for your awesome bowling skill genes. We went to a thrift store and did service this past week which was pretty fun. I love thrift stores and we had a good time. We got lost for like an hour this last week trying to find the bishops house.... our map ends at certain roads and we somehow ended up off the map so we had no idea where to go... it was awesome hahaha I hate driving I just want to take micros again. They called us like 30 minutes before church to ask if we could speak in church. I've got really good at winging talks so it wasn't too bad. I also got to go to a baptism yesterday of a small girl who happens to be related to the family that my mission president baptized years ago. That was an awesome experience and it helped me think of the bigger picture of spreading the gospel and how it effects people from generation to generation. So cool! 

There was a missionary broadcast this past week so that was pretty cool. We watched it as a whole mission and holy cow there are so many missionaries I just don't know here. And it's just so different than my Bolivian missionaries thats for sure! But they're all pretty cool so I guess I'll survive here. Hahaha. 

As for my health, I am getting better. I still have pains, but they aren't nearly as bad as what they were in Bolivia because I can control my diet more here than I could there. They're pretty sure I have hyper acidity so I just have to avoid acidy, greasy foods... and chocolate... it's a rough life. All of the tests came back normal so we're still not sure what's going on. But it's okay! I'm tough! Yes I still have pains and yes it does make the work harder, BUT I've just come to accept that theres nothing that I can do about it and that I can just work through the pain. And you know, I know that I'm not alone. I know that I have angels and my Heavenly Father and Jesus christ lifting me up during all of this. I am so grateful to be a missionary still and I know that there is a great reason why I am here in California. I know everything happens for a reason. I may not know the reason for why I randomly got switched here yet, and I may never know, but I have just learned to put my life in his hands. His plan allows us to have the most happiness and I feel so blessed to be here in California. I mean how cool is this? I have two missions! I got to see the struggle of a foreign mission and now I get to see the weird struggles and blessings of a stateside mission. I'm so blessed!! I want you to know that I am so happy here and that I am doing well, so DONT WORRY ABOUT ME! I do miss Bolivia a lot, but I am falling in love with the people here in California as well. My life is crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you all for your love and support! I greatly appreciate it and love you all! I hope you all have a wonderful week and always remember that YOU ARE LOVED. Talk to ya'll later (my Tenessee companion is rubbing off on me... so many ya'lls... hahaha )

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Higham

Also, yes, we have a car. And yes, they did call us 40 minutes before church to ask us if we would give a talk. Yes hermana Vega did just go through the whole tithing pamphlet for her talk. Hahahaha

I found these two people at a baptism! My mission president in Bolivia baptized them when he was a missionary! So that was a neat experience!

We went bowling for an activity and I totes got a 144 and killed everyone so wut up. Hahaha. And this is Sister Anderson, our mission nurse who has been taking great care of me!

California has beautiful sunsets like Bolivia.

This sweet little woman is from Bolivia! She's from La Paz and is just the cutest thing ever! We got to talk about Bolivian things which was wonderful. 

I miss Bolivia with all of my heart so I'm grateful that we have a member to keep me connected to my beloved Bolivia.

Missing this cute family like crazy!

Miss you guys!

Cali Babe

Well hello everyone! I would like you all to know that I safely made it to California and that I am doing well! Let me just catch you all up on this crazy past week that I have had! 

So Monday was my last day in my beloved Bolivia and it was spent with my beloved Bolivian friends. First, confession, I may or may not have emailed Elder Sperry and told him to meet me at hiper maxi so I could see him before leaving, so that was a mission no no haha BUT I was finally able to see him and boy was he an AWKWARD missionary! It was really hilarious and made me sad that I'm going to miss all of my friends awkward missionary stages this summer when they all start coming home haha. After that I had my final lunch with my cute Hermana Derly and it was delicious as usual. We went shopping with cute Hermana Derly and her family to get some souvenirs after and WOW I'm surprised all of my stuff fit into my luggage! They were pretty over weight... but I'm just surprised they fit! I wasn't able to buy a hammock though so I guess I'll just have to go back to Bolivia someday to get one haha. After that I had a lot of time to say goodbye to some of my best friends. That was the hardest part about all of this, leaving my cute friends. But I'm not worried about it because I know without a doubt that I will see them again someday, whether it be in this life or in the life to come. I left my cute companion and my apartment (with a cockroach in it) at 11:30 at night and went to the airport with some elders... which was weird... and then I was literally alone for like 24 hours which was weird... hahaha. But can I just say that flying from Bolivia to Panama to Houston to Denver to California was EXHAUSTING. I got no sleep so when I got to California I looked like I had gone through war! I reached California late Tuesday night and SURPRISE I didn't have my luggage. It got stuck in Denver. Hahahaha so that was fun BUT it was fine and they were there the next day so that was nice! And no worries, I have been received here in California with loving arms! They are really nice here and I haven't felt like an awkward outcast missionary from Bolivia yet so thats nice! But can I just say WOW I've gone through some great culture shock! The missionaries are SO SPOILED HERE! Let me just make a list of things that will BLOW the minds of all of my missionary friends in Bolivia:

-WE HAVE CARPET

-WE HAVE AN OVEN

-WE HAVE A CAR

-WE HAVE HOT WATER

-WE HAVE A MICROWAVE

-WE HAVE WALMART

-WE HAVE ANY FOOD PLACE YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE

And much much more! It has been really here and I'm starting to wonder what the challenges are for these missionaries here. Hahaha just kidding. But not really. Haha. It has been a weird adjustment and I feel like a new missionary all over again. Which is kind of fun when people think I'm new then I start speaking Spanish to them and they think I've just learned way fast in the MTC. What they don't know won't hurt them. Haha. And the missionaries are so different here. THINGS ARE JUST DIFFERENT. But I'm trying not to compare the two because Bolivia and California are polar opposites haha.  So I have a companion! She's a latina from Tennessee and she is adorable! She goes home in about 3 weeks so I'll have another companion coming up, but I'm grateful for the time that I have with her! She is adorable! We are pretty much starting fresh opening up an area. We are both new into this area, and we're starting out not knowing any members, we have no investigators, and we were given a new area book which I'm super excited about!! I'm excited to get back to my good health so we can just get out and start working and see how far we can get in 3 weeks! I'm pumped!! BUT fun news. So I haven't driven a car in like 8 months and Hermana Vega, my companion, her drivers license expired so I am the designated driver and so I get to jump into CALIFORNIA DRIVING. So that has been fun and stressful, but they give missionaries really nice cars so thats fun. 

I feel like this email is jumping everywhere. So sorry about that, a lot has just happened and my life is crazy so. Currently I am staying with the mission health nurse. She has been keeping track of what goes in and out of my body (fun stuff) and has been getting me back to health. She is an amazing woman and I have learned a lot from her! And it's kinda fun having an older companion (she's like 70) hahaha. Also, as we speak she just handed me a ball of oatmeal cookie dough so yes I am in GREAT hands haha. I went to the doctors this past week and had some more tests done so we will be getting those results either today or tomorrow. Hopefully all is well and we can figure out what is wrong! 

Throughout all of this, I've had a lot of time to just think about my life and Bolivia and I just have to keep telling myself to just keep looking forward and not look back. I'm trying not to compare the two missions and just trying to love this one just as much as I loved Bolivia. I know that I will, it's hard not to when you are serving others and being a representative of Jesus Christ. This past week and past month I have learned A LOT about humility and submitting to His will. My life is completely in His hands and I feel peaceful about all that has been going on this past week. Not once have I felt stressed because He has been there to comfort me and help me feel at peace. I know that I am supposed to be here in California and I am so grateful for this opportunity I have to be here. The people here are amazing and the missionaries are really fun! I can't wait to learn and grow from all of this and most of all, I can't wait to get out doing missionary work once again. WE HAVE A MEMBER FROM BOLIVIA. I haven't met her yet, but I'm so excited to meet her and have her make me Saltanas, Cunape, and yummy Bolivian foods. I am happy, I am feeling better, and most importantly, I'M A MISSIONARY. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! 

Con mucho amor

Cali Babe Hermana Higham

We finally saw Alek!

BOLIVIA TO CALIFORNIA

Wow!! I know I probably say this a lot, but this week was definitely THE CRAZIEST WEEK OF MY LIFE. So a lot of you may not know, but I have been quite ill down here in Bolivia. It has been off and on my whole mission, but this past month has been pretty bad. We have gone to the clinic down here and had some tests done, but all of the tests came back normal. The illness continued on, and my life as a missionary became very complicated. But throughout all of this, there was absolutely NO option of going home. I never even considered it. I was frustrated. I was mad that I couldn't dedicate all of my time and little energy to the work of the Lord. Not going to lie, I was probably no fun to be around and my sweet companion Hermana Newbold had a lot of patience. Finally this past week I decided that I had a choice, I could continue to be frustrated, mad, and say "Why me?" or I could look at the positives, look up, and trust in God. I started to pray more, and I started to humble myself before God and asked what is His will for me. I prayed, I read many general conference talks, I searched the scriptures, and I read my patriarchal blessing at least 5 times a day. I looked high and low for the answer, and slowly it came. At this time I thought that I only had two options, stay here in the mission or go home. When I prayed about staying here, it wasn't a no, but it wasn't a yes. When I prayed about leaving, it felt more right. I began to feel the spirit more in my life and the peace and comfort that I felt was indescribable. I knew I had to leave. I didn't know when, and I didn't know why, but I knew I had to leave. I accepted this answer that I received. And I'm not going to lie, it hurt. Bolivia is my second home and just knowing that I had to leave hurt, but it still felt right. When I thought about when I would leave, I thought about till the end of the transfer in 2 weeks. But that didn't feel right. I felt that it would be sooner than that and I could feel that my hours in Bolivia were ticking away. I felt a sense of urgency. Then yesterday, when I walked into the church and saw my mission president and his wife sitting on the stand, I knew that it was my last Sunday here in Bolivia. This whole last week I had been praying that my mission president would be able to receive revelation for me and help me know what to do. We had not talked about anything that I had felt this last week nor what I had decided. To be honest we hadn't talked since the first week this illness happened. This shows how close he is to the spirit. After sacrament meeting he pulled me aside to talk and I thought I knew what he was going to say. He started to tell me how he thought there was only two choices for me, to stay in Bolivia or to go home. But then he said that Heavenly Father showed him a 3 option that we had not considered. Throughout this last week, he had sent off an application to get my mission reassigned. he then told me that I had received a new mission in SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA. Words cannot describe the spirit, comfort, and peace that I felt in that moment. It all started to make sense. I was so in shock that I didn't know what to say, but all I could feel was a sense of GRATITUDE. I thought I was going to have to go home and end my time as a missionary, and I think that I had to feel that before receiving this answer, but no. I get to continue being a representative for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This whole experience has been a huge testimony builder to me that HE LIVES. That God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He has a loving son who atoned for us. I know without a doubt in my mind that He LOVES us and that He has a special plan for every single one of us. If we humble ourselves and submit to His will, we will be able to achieve the highest level of happiness in this life and in the life to come. He knows our potential, He knows what will help us grow, and He knows what we can become. Other than health reasons, I don't know why I'm being sent to San Fernando, California, but I know that there are more reasons than I know and maybe ever will know. But I KNOW THAT GOD KNOWS. And that's what gives me hope during this crazy rollercoaster I call my life. Words cannot express my gratitude for the time that I have had here in Bolivia. I have met some incredible people, have fallen in love with the weird, but fun culture, and Bolivia now has a special place in my heart. Chances are slim that I will be able to come back and finish my mission here, but all of that is in the hands of the Lord. I love you all and am so grateful for all that you do for me! Have a wonderful week and always remember, YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS. Goodbye Bolivia, hello California! 

con mucho amor from Bolivia,

Hermana Higham

P.S. my cute investigator Paola is getting baptized on Saturday!!! 

This is Alberto (the man who sits in the chair all the time)

2016 Woot Woot!!

Welllllllllll it's 2016 now so that's weird. Feels like it was just 2012 when the world was ending. Hahaha. I hope you all had a wonderful New Years and that you haven't broken your new years goals yet. Haha.

New years was crraaazzzyyyy. There were even more fireworks than on Christmas Eve! And it was cool at first seeing like a million fireworks... until I wanted to sleep... and they just kept going... and going... and going... these Bolivians just don't stop partying! Even the next day when they were all drunk and hungover they just kept going! Music was blasting everywhere, children doing fireworks. They love to party here! Hahaha.

So this week was pretty alright. With New years we weren't able to see as many people as we wanted to because of their parties and vacations BUT it was still great! We have this new investigator that is just great! She lives in the same great and spacious building as we do and is golden! We went and saw her twice this past week and she already loves us, she gave us a bunch of random herbal stuff/ random seeds which was nice... except we don't know what to do with them hahaha. She said that her cute 9 year old daughter just always talks about us and just loves us so YAY! The only problem is that her husband works in the campo and is here for 15 days then leaves for 15 days so it will be harder to teach him but they're receptive and love our message!

ALSO our cute less active family (Torrez family) came to church again yesterday!! They only came for 2 hours, but hey that's progress! They are warming up to us (they actually let us in the door more now) and they have desires to come back to church! They're great! and they always give us a snack and juice so that's always a plus because I LOVE juice. Haha.

Marilyn is still doing great. She's been sick like this whole last week and so her baby got sick too and she's just been having some problems with her health. And she doesn't have a lot of money so she's struggling with stuff for her baby so we got the ward involved yesterday and they have been a huge help with that which was such a blessing! We have a hard time getting the ward involved, they usually don't do much to help us, but yesterday they were making this whole plan on how to help Marilyn and her baby and everything which was such a blessing! Yay!

Well, that's pretty much it for the week! I hope you are all enjoying the cold weather while I'm dying in 100 degree weather! I just sweat all the time. But it's okay because everyone just sweats all the time so we're all just gross together. I'm just glad I'm not in Bermejo like some poor hermanas. It's like 110 there. Hahahaha poor things.

Here's a nice spiritual thought for the week! It's from the talk called "Yielding our hearts to God" by Niel F. Marriot from this last general conference.

"When we offer our broken heart to Jesus Christ, He accepts our offering. He takes us back. No matter what losses, wounds, and rejection we have suffered, His grace and healing are mightier than all. Truly yoked to the Savior, we can say with confidence, "it will all work out."

IT WILL ALL WORK OUT. He knows us perfectly and He has a plan for each and every one of us. When we truly rely on Him and His plan, He will comfort, heal, and help us. Never forget that!

Sorry these emails keep getting lamer and lamer hahaha. I'll try to make it more interesting next week. I love you all and I hope you all have a great week!

With love

Hermana Higham

They really like their animal bushes here!

It was raining on the way to church and we walked in pretty soaked haha oh Bolivia. It only rains on Sundays haha.