Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Baptism

Happy!

Antigua

Changgessss

Small Email

Corte Canchita

happy october

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Happy Week!

This week has been the best! We had divisions with the Sister Training Leaders! Basically that means we just switched companions for one day and night. They are the best missionaries and I look up to them so much. I learned so much,too. We set some goals and this week Hermana Weatherford and I have been seeing so many miracles. I know I always say that, but it is true. There are things that happen and we just know that the Lord helped us.

This weekend is General Conference! I HIGHLY reccommend you and mom watch it! I know you will love it. I promise you will be so blessed. I cannot wait for it!!! 

Some fun things from this week...

We have a little guest mouse in our house. We have only seen him a couple of times but we are hoping he has another place to stay soon.... hahaa Our house truly is a wildlife exhibit.

Changes are tomorrow and we will have a new district leader! We are excited to start a new change. I will still be with Hermana Weatherford! Yay!

When it rains everyone hides, so we have gotten really creative and sing songs and tell jokes to people in spanish. Sometimes we even race things down the streams on either side of the street to see who will win! 

That is about it for this week. I just want you to know that I love this gospel and I love you! Always. Trust in the Lord, pray, read the scriptures and just have fun with life. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and He provides us with so many ways for us to be! I love you siempre! 
LE AMO!!!!

Hermana Cornelison
Picture: SUPER nice ice cream place we found! Happy campers.





¡Seguir Adelante!

HOLA! ¿Como esta? 

   I hope you are having a good day! Life is still great here. It has been a fun week and we see SO many miracles. So, this week we had a baptismal interview for our cute investigador Jocelyn. She passed with flying colors and we are SO HAPPY, but...we still need permission from her parents. So we are praying for miracles and we know they will come! Here in the mountains, the people reject us A LOT! But, we are seeing the Lords hand everyday and we are so happy. We read in 2 Nephi 1[1 ...how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem... and I thought a lot about all the things the Lord has done to bring me through things. Life is not perfect, but it can be enjoyed when we totally rely on the Lord to carry us. A couple small examples from this week.... we were at a funeral and I was just talking to some people and all of a sudden I felt my backpack shift and I turned around to see a man who had stolen my new water bottle, and he was literally chugging down every last bit. Everyone started laughing at the silly gringa (ME) who got her water stolen and I was in shock!!! But, then all of a sudden a sweet lady came up to me and gave me a brand new water bottle! Tender mercy. This week it also RAINED cats and dogs... RIVERS flowing down the street. And I slipped in a big pile of mud. But, we got the chance to talk to new people and share the happiest message ever. Tender mercy once again! I guess the moral of the stories here are that the Lord knows what we can do, and He knows us so personally. He can help us through ANYTHING. Whether it is wet feet, spiders on our heads, achey muscles...ext. He can help us. 
 
I love you all, and I love this gospel. I know it is true. 

   My computer had some problems so forgive me if this is short! I love you all so much though! 
Yo espero que tenga un buen semana!!!!!! 
 Hermana Cornelison 




Grindstone

HOLA!
Great week! I love this country and these people! Here are some fun things going on...

      This week a 70 came to talk to us! Elder Ochoa. He is so wise! We learned so much about how to be the best and most obedient missionaries we can be while we are here. We have been struggling to find people to teach! The rain makes all the Guatemalans hide in their little houses and so we have been just trying to talk to anyone we can! While we were studying we read in 1st Nephi 20... and in verse 10 it talks about how we are being refined in the furnace (more like freezer) of affliction. Our mission president told us that life (or the mission) is a grindstone. And it is up to us if we are ground down or polished. I loved that so much because as we rely on the Lord and do all we can to serve Him and His children, we can be refined and polished! 

     Monday was Independence Day and we saw some sweet fireworks! Oh and 100s of these things called tuk tuks... they are like mini car things.... all dolled up in Guatemalan colors. Hermana Weatherford and I celebrated with good ole American pizza. 
       
    Rooster update..... The thing is hilarious. It knows exactly when I am going to pray or sleep or have one minute of silence... and it knows how to make sure that silence does not happen. Hahaa. I love it! 


We are praying for miracles and we know that they come! Please pray for the people we teach and know that I am praying for you,too. I know that this gospel is true and that when we sincerely search for the truth, we can find it. I love the Lord and I love you all so much. Thank you for all you are. 

Hermana Cornelison
   



Cold Weather, Warm Heart

Hola mi familia!
This week has been a really good one. The area here is way different than my last. People stay in a lot, so we have to get creative with contacting. The members of the church here are so sweet and I love our little ward! 
  Hermana Weatherford and I are teaching this sweet girl named Jocelyn. She is 12 and wants to get baptized but cant yet because of some permission issues. She is so sweet and we are really praying to soften the hearts of her family. We brought them Tamales and so we hope that is helping the softening proccess. I ...once again.. am reminded how blessed I am to have parents that allowed me to get baptized in this church. I cannot imagine life without it and I know without a doubt it is true and that God loves us.  
   This week we faced some trials and we turned to the Book of Mormon and read in Alma 17. If you are struggling, go read that chapter! I promise you will love it. When we read it, we realized that when we are faced with trials, it is just a chance for us to prove how strong we are. So we are ready for whatever comes this week! 

 Here are some fun things going on...
-We wake up to a literal rooster everyday! It is in our neighbors backyard and it is just like from the movies....
-It is COLD! SO cold. Freeeeezingg.... mmm... We wear 7 layers of shirts and leggings with our skirts! Never thought Guatemala would be cold!!!
-We helped some people out of a car that flipped right behind us! Then got to share the gospel which was great! 
-We saw a huge trianchula¿ (BIG spider) in our house when we woke up the other day and it is safe to say we were not tired anymore....

I love you all and I love this gospel. I know that the Savior can help us through all of our trials and I hope you know that when you need Him, He is always there. Pray and you can know that you are not alone. 
Thank you for everything.
Hermana Cornelison 
Picture... My new area on a warmish day!


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Milagros

Hola! 
This week has been great! But.... so many changes!
First off Hermana Marroquin and I see so many miracles everyday. We are teaching this man named Mario and he is so great! The other night we had a lesson on how to recognize the truth in our lives and the Spirit was so strong. Mario agreed to be baptized this next week and we are thrilled! 
Sadly, I will not be able to go to the baptism because we had emergency transferrs! So, Hermana Marroquin stayed in Itzapa and I am in a new area, Patzicia! It is only like 30 minutes away and I just got here today. It was way sad saying goodbye to Hermana Marroquin because she is such a wonderful missionary and trainer, but we are needed in other places to help some missionaries out! So, we are happy. 

All I have more to say is that I am SO grateful for all I have been given. We are so lucky to live where we live and to have all the blessings that we do. Some people here have it so hard and it breaks my heart. But I know that God is aware of each of His children. Everyday I am reminded that I have been so blessed and I just hope you know how very grateful I am. 

Remember that the Lord has a plan for all of us! He is never going to leave our side,especially when we trust in Him. I have truly felt His help and guidance in these last few weeks and I know that He lives. 

Love you so much. 
Hermana Cornelison 




¡Que Bendicion!

HOLA!
AHH. How are you all... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! I thought about you all day! And also, Happy Anniversary to you two! I am eternally grateful for your examples in my life!
So, I am servining in an area called San Andres Itzapa, in Chimeltanango! It is amazing! It is in the mountains so at night it actually gets cold, haha. Who knew.
It is very different than I expected! There are many women walking around in traditional clothes called, Corte. It is amazing! They also carry a bunch of stuff on their heads. I love it. I am determined to learn. We take buses and walk everywhere we go. The busses are hilarious because they STUFF everyone on, like a 100 people, and people are not afraid to just sit in your lap or get up close and personal. I laugh so hard everytime we take the bus.
My companion is Hermana Marroquin and she is from El Salvador! She has only one month left on the mission and she is training me! She talks way fast and always in spanish and we have a lot of fun. She is a super hard worker so I am learning from the best.
 
So much has happened that I don´t even know where to start! One of my favorite moments this week was with this new convert, Candelaria. She is 87 and is THE CUTEST person I have ever met. She is about a head or so shorter than me and has a couple teeth. She cannot see or hear very well, but she is the BEST. She wears corte and I barely ever understand a word she says, but she is so HAPPY! One of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Anyways, so she needed our help making her tortillas and so I learned how to make real corn tortillas! So fun. I will make some for you some time! You would love it. Anywho, Something funny that happened this week was someone offered us some little food thing ....of some sort... and we couldn´t eat it because it was against some mission rule we have, but the person insisted... so....Hermana Marroquin and I had to get really creative and it´s safe to say we were crying because of how hard we were laughing. Hermana Marroquin tried to throw it out of the window but it hit the wall and I had a ¨cough attack¨ and chucked it outside. It sounds rude, but it wasnt...just believe me ))!
 
I never have enough time to say all I want but I just love you! Thank you for all you do for me. Thank you for being who you are.
Love you SO MUCH!!!! Forever and for always!
Hermana Cornelison

Last week in the CCM

Hola!!!
How are you all? I love you!!! 
Okay, so this week was sooo cool. We went to the market last tuesday and it was one of the coolest things I have ever gone to. There are so many beautiful things at the market! It is all so traditional. I wanted to buy everything I saw!!! (But don't worry, I didn't buy everything!) There are TONS of things. Handmade clothing and paintings and little things that I just adored. I cannot even explain how cool it was. I took a ton of pictures. I know you and mom would LOVE so many things there. If you guys keep writing me I will be sure to get you gifts (:!  

We got three new american girls and a bunch of cute latina girls this week too! We just are all best friends!!! Our new roommates don't speak ANY english. It is the best. I love trying to talk to them. They are from Peru and Honduras. There are so many people from Peru, and I always ask if they live in Cusco, because that is where McKenzie is! 

This week, teaching was way better! Hermana Naeata and I have really grown close to Ana and she is progressing so quickly! We love teaching her and we could not be happier for her in her progress. I am mostly just so excited to get to teach more people and love them the way I already love Ana! The people here are so beautiful. 

Last week there was an area 70 that came to speak to us, and that was so neat. He had a bunch of missionaries who were almost done with their missions come and give us tips. Some were from my mission and they said I will love it!!! WOO. I cannot wait!  

So, this is my last PDay here in the CCM, which means that next week I will be leaving to go to the field! That means that this time next week, I will be somewhere in Guatemala. I don't know if I will get to email next week, so please know that I love you and that I am SO happy. I will be safe! 


So sorry my emails are so similar every time, but please know that I love it here and that I love you all.  I pray for you everyday! I am the luckiest person in the world to have you all. 
Thank you for the emails and know that I will respond to them all when I get the chance. I LOVE YOU FOREVER! I know that God loves you, too and that if you rely on the Savior, He will help you get through ANYTHING. 

Love you so much.
Hermana Cornelison 

Monday!!!!

Hola! 
SUPRISE! I get to email today because tomorrow we get to go on a field trip! We are going to a Guatemalan Market and we get to see some of the city. I think it is in my mission, so I will let you know how it goes. We are all really excited we get to go see a real market! 

Okay, so this week was good! The President of the CCM left sometime last week because he had a medical problem and him and his wife will be gone till sometime next week. We miss them a lot and things just aren't the same without them! We are praying for them! Since they have been gone, everyone has gone loco and they made all these new rules. We just love it all. 

This week Hermana N and I had really great time teaching this week. The Spanish get's harder but we just push through it and do our best to form any sort of sentence we can. It is amazing how you can still communicate with people by just loving them! This week our hearts were just so full and we just cannot wait to teach again and get better. Hermana N and I are really improving and learning how to teach in unity. It is the best. 

This week after all of the people in our district have taught, our teacher came into the class and talked to us about teaching and how each of us as companionships have different gifts that we bring while we teach. It was really a nice reminder that no matter what we do, as long as we work hard and love the people we teach, our investigators will learn through the Spirit and through our personal talents. 

Some other little things: 
So the first day we got here, there was this lady named Norma (I don't remember if I told you about her) and she is my BEST friend. She speaks no English but from day one we were instantly friends. I can finally communicate with her and she makes my day! Today, she gave me and Hermana N little Guatemalan pens and bookmarks that were hand woven and they were so beautiful. I almost cried because she is so kind. It will be really hard to say goodbye to her. She is the best. 

We teach our teachers American sayings and then have them practice them. It is soo funny to hear them say American things in an accent. 

We got to watch a new Mormon Message and the movie the Testaments. It was so nice. I suggest watching the new Mormon Message "The hope of God's Light." 

Anyways, I love you and I am praying for you daily. I hope you know that! You are wonderful people!!!! Thank you for everything. 

Love,
Hermana Cornelison 

Guatebuena

Hola again!!!
How are you all? Oh I just love you so much. Thank you for all your sweet emails. I promise I will respond to each of them! Just have faith! 

This week has been really good. We got two new roommates and they are from Nicaragua and from Ecuador. They are THE BEST. Only one of them speaks some English. We laugh SO hard because they try to teach us Spanish every night and we always make funny mistakes. They are really sweet girls. 

So this week me and Hermana N taught someone new! His name is Juanito! He is super nice and he loves learning about the differences between the LDS church and the Catholic Church. Our first lesson with him was a little rocky and so we really did our best to go with the Spirit the next time. We sang him the song, I am a Child of God, and then we just talked to him about what his problems were and what he needed. It was so sweet because we actually were able to learn a lot about him and then testify to him that he could pray to Heavenly Father and recieve help. He then said he believed it was true!! You could say we were more than happy after. We may or may not have sang and danced. 

Other fun things: 

This week we got these super beautiful scripture and hymn book cases with our names and missions on them. A member who lives out here makes them! We are in love with the cases!!!

I sent some letters. Let us pray that they actually get to you all. If you want to be pen pals/I have not emailed you back, please please please send me your home address!!! 

Today I got to go out of the CCM with Hermana N for some Visa stuff. We got to see real life Guatemala City! We bought a lollipop off the street and we were not even that scared!!! It was so fun. 

I don't have much more time, but I love you all and hope that all is well with you. 
Thank you for everything you do. I am grateful for you everyday. 

Love,
Hermana Cornelison

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Little Popcorn

Hola!!!
I loved all your emails!!! 
Everything is still great here. I just love it here! I cant even tell you how much I love it.

Today we got to go to the temple again, and that was great! 

Spanish is really fun but it definitely gets harder everyday. Lots to learn. I love it! 

My district is SO awesome. They are the 8 people that I study with/spend basically every minute with. Me and Hermana N have so much fun with them. We just said goodbye to all the older kids who have been here at the CCM for 6 weeks! It was sad saying goodbye to all of our friends but also exciting because now they get to leave the CCM and be real life missionaries!! I am so happy for them. 

Me and Hermana N are slowly getting better at teaching. This week we taught a woman named Ana. She is SO sweet and we adore her. It is fun getting to teach people about something you love so much, and we definitely have had some tender moments teaching these people. We also sometimes get discouraged cause we cannot say all that we want, but then we remember that we just need to try our best and do all that we can to invite the Spirit into the lesson. We just have to have faith and work super hard! Good thing that is what we do all day.

Some funny things that happened this week: 

-The Latina Hermana's who are our BEST friends call me Hermanita Palomita... cause my last name starts with Corn and they think its funny to call me Little Sister Popcorn. I think it is the best.

-We live next to a club/bar thing...and they had a fiesta the other night and it was CRAZY! In the middle of the night we all woke up to fireworks. We felt like we were at Disneyland.

So much to write and so little time. 
I just hope you know that I love you and I pray for you everyday! I know I have been called here for a reason and I am so glad to have this gospel in my life. I know that Heavenly Father knows each of us and that he sends angels to our lives to bless us and help us in hard times. I know He loves you!!! 

Being a missionary is the best. I have so much to learn and so much room for improvement and I am excited to work hard.

Love you forever and for always!!
Hermana Cornelison 

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Safe and Sound

Hola!!!!
Where do I even start? Well, I am SOOO happy here in the CCM. Flying here was so surreal, and it all went really well. The CCM ...MTC... is really small and also really nice. I LOVE IT!
When I got here I was greeted by Hermana Jesse Thompson! She lived in Stover at BYU! It was soooo comforting to see someone I knew. Honestly though, everyone is SO nice here. At least we think that they are since we don't speak the same language.
My companion is Hermana Naeata. She is half tongan and half samoan. She is from Dallas Texas and is HILARIOUS. She plays the Uke and she is teaching me tongan. She sings pretty songs to me!! I laugh SO hard everyday with her. We are the only two girls who are from America in our CCM group. All the other girls speak spanish. So you could say that we have a lot of fun trying to figure what people are saying every day. Mostly people just laugh at us. We love it.
So me and Hermana M. are teaching a man named Pedro Morales. He is a super nice guy and we have had the opportunity of teaching him 4 times, in spanish!!! The first lesson was okay but we left our second lesson feeling a little discouraged. We wanted to say so many things but we have such limited spanish. So we decided we had to work harder and we prayed and prayed it would go better the next time. The next day we had a lesson with him and we went in with faith that it would be better. IT DID! We really felt the Spirit guiding the lesson and he even teared up a little. We were so happy that he could feel the Spirit and he agreed to come to church!!!! It was so awesome. We knew that God had answered our prayers and we are so excited to teach him again.
Some other fun things that happened this week:
The Latina Hermanas taught us how to sing I see the Light from Tangled...in spanish!!!
I was giddy.
I spoke in church!!! EN ESPANOL the WHOLE time. WOOO!
Today we got to go to the Guatemala City Temple. It is such a wonderful place to be.
We also got to go outside and walk to a store. It was the first time I actually felt like I was in another country. It is really gorgeous here. Nice people!!!!
I love Spanish! It is challenging at times, but it is SO worth it when you get to testify of this gospel. I know I will learn it. I really love this gospel and I know that God hears and answers our prayers. You matter to Him.
Well, I do not have much time...But I hope you know I love you and I am praying for you daily.
Thank you for being in my life.
Love you!!!
Hermana Cornelison




   If you want to reach her, her email is: rachel.cornelison@myldsmail.net.
    Her address at the mtc is:
                    Sister Rachel Jean Cornelison
                    Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission
                    Guatemala Missionary Training Center
                    Bulevar Vista Hermosa 23-71
                    Vista Hermosa I, Zona 15
                    Guatemala City 01015
                    GUATEMALA
I know that she would love to hear from you all !