30 November 2015

HELLO!!!!!!!! COMO ESTAN???? we are only speaking spanish and I looooooove it. It's like my favorite thing on the planet. It's helping me a lot. Sorry this email will be kind of crazy because I'm a little scatterbrained today. Don't know why. Maybe I'm really tired and hungry. Also P-day is way more stressful than any other day. No se porque. 

We had a super good week!!!!! It was lovely. 

Thanksgiving was awesome. We went to the Well's house to eat and it was delicious. I ate SO much. one tradition that they have is they go around and say one thing they are thankful for and then light a candle. Hearing everything that people were grateful for was pretty incredible. Antonio went with us and he said he was grateful for having the church :) AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! He's so converted and he's going on a mission!!! He already loves coming out with us and he loves sharing his testimony. He's my favorite :):):) 

What are you grateful for??? There are so many things in this world for which we can be grateful. I can't even count how many blessings I have in this world!!! But I'll name just a few for you all :) I've got my amazing family that I love to death, the gospel, the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, the church, happiness, ability to work, my friends, my future. Wow, I could just keep going on and on. I've always in my prayers started out with things that I was grateful for, but now every morning I only say prayers of gratitude. It's changed my day. I'm happier and I know it's because I'm trying to be grateful for everything I've received :)

Also another cool thing!!!!! Prayers are totally answered!!!! I had been asking Heavenly Father for help with something and all of a sudden, it just happened. I know it's because He wants me to work harder and He knows I truly needed His help. and I got it!!!!! How amazing is that? And it can happen for every single one of us :)

I gave a talk yesterday on the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) You should read it. But I've always loved that story. Especially since during one Girls' camp we had the walk on that. I felt the Spirit really strong then, and well it's impacted me ever since. As I was studying this talk, something hit me super hard. In verse 12 it talks about the Bridegroom saying I don't know you...... how would you feel if he said that to you? If Jesus Christ had to say, I'm sorry, but I don't know you. You didn't do what I asked you to do. I had the way for you to be happy, and you didn't want to do it. You chose not to follow me......... I can't even imagine that. I would be devastated, and I would be just as devastated or even more if I had to see that happen with a member of my family or my friends. We need to remember that we don't know when He will come, but we need to start now!!!!!! If you don't have a testimony of His church, find it! If you're not keeping the commandments, do it!! 

This mission is changing my life and I LOVE IT!!!! I'm so blessed to be able to be here and take part in this work. :)

Iris accepted another date, and this time, she feels super good about it. After seeing Antonio take this act of faith, she's been reading and really growing her testimony. and do you want to know the coolest thing?!?!?!? Antonio will be able to baptize her!!!!!!!! yes!!!!!!!

Oh also should mention that I will be staying here in this area again with Hna Ihrke and Hna Rivas. I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!!!! :) I'm super sad that Hna Ihrke will be leaving this transfer. She's incredible. I've learned so much from her, and I've loved being her companion. We still have 4 weeks, but she really was a companion that I had been praying for!!!!!

Sorry my computer is going to shut down, but if I can get another one, I'll write more!!! I have so much to say!!! LOVE YOU :):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

23 November 2015

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll stuff happened this week. it was a normal week, I really just can't think of it. I'm really bad sorry. Antonio and Manuel got confirmed!!!! It was pretty awesome because it really hit me when Antonio was receiving the Holy Ghost that he truly was a member of God's church and that God was so happy with what he was doing. He is so strong and he comes out with us all the time!!!!! He looks like a missionary in the pictures, doesn't he????:):):):):):):) a ver lo que pasa pero el seria lo mejor misionero!!!

 One super fun thing that happened, so we biked to the meeting and we were all set, but then all of a sudden like 30 minutes before we were going to leave, it started pooooooouring. Oh my goodness. and we didn't have anything. It was suuuuuper cold actually. But I loved it!!! I was laughing the whole way home:) life's so much better when you enjoy crazy moments like that!!! 

Weeeelp. I think that's kind of it. Love you all!!! 

BAUTISMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 16 November 2015

First picture, Hna Ihrke wanted a photo of where we were all Friday. hahahahahah :)

Second: BAUTISMO!!!!!!! :) and the rest following are of the baptism

Hello!!!!!!! Some craaaaaazy things happened this week. First of all, President called us Wednesday morning to let us know that we were getting a new companion! She's a temple square sister and she's from Panama! It's awesome because we basically speak Spanish alllllllllll day long. I really love that. If I could never speak English, I would totally do it that way :) sweet huh?? My Spanish will definitely improve which is what I want. Her name is Hermana Rivas Brackman. She's super cute and super hyper. I really like her. It's going to be a party being her companion:)

Second, we all got food poisoning!!! YAY!!!!!! hahaha, we could not leave our apartment for a straight day and the next day Hermana Rivas still was sick. It was crazy. We don't know what we ate, but apparently, it didn't like us very much; however, after having that, now I feel absolutely AMAZING. Sometimes you go through times that you don't feel so good, so then when you do, it's the best thing on the planet. I had to keep telling myself that while I was sick :) hahaha, Do you remember how I was that night when I got my wisdom teeth out?? Yeah, I was like that during the night too. Kind of almost passed out in the bathroom, just like I did then. HAHAHAHAHA :) it wasn't that bad though. I thought it was pretty funny. 

but then we had the best thing on the planet!!! a BAUTISMO!!!!! Antonio y Manuel se bautizaron. No puedo creerlo!!!! Era tan especial y el espiritu era tan fuerte. Me encanto mucho mucho :) It was really amazing. They're such wonderful people and Antonio's sister and aunt were there that weekend from Mexico and they got ot see it!!!! and they're going to go to listen to missionaries there and they want to go to church there!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :) do you know how cool that is!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I think it's pretty amazing, if you can't tell ;) there's not much else to say about the baptism. It was just awesome. Hna Ihrke is suuuuuuuuper happy. and that makes me happy :)

So I've heard a lot about the new policy change that everyone is freaking out about. Well, just like I sent in my email just a little bit ago. We need to focus on the 4 primary questions. Does God exist? Is Jesus Christ my Savior? Is Jose Smith a prophet? and is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the restored church? If so, then we can't let little things like that pull us away from the church. (and and we can know all of those things if we know the Book of Mormon is true, so READ IT :) haha) God will not change. His commandments will not change. and we know that homosexuality is against his commandments. The Law of Chasity--which is one of the most serious commandments you can break. So first of all that is for the marriages. and second, for the new policy change that they had, if you watch the interview, they did it because they don't want to cause conflict within the families because families are so essencial and important in God's plan. People will get offended over things like that, but as long as we are loving them and not the sin, we are doing what God wants. We have to keep going strong with the prophets words because he truly is a prophet of God. 

Those are just some of my thoughts on that. Just for fun :) 

9 November 2015--Pretty Awesome Week

bonjour ma famille! Comment ca va?? Yeah, French...I remember those days, but I've been practicing a little bit when I have free time, so hopefully when I get back, I'll still be able to speak in French. A ver lo que pasa :)

This week was awesooooooome! We have so many awesome investigators!!!!!! We found this one family (well sort of family) Daisy, Henry, Oscar, Jonathan, Isabela, y Luis and they are so cute!!! They love it when we come over! It's fun because they're all basically our age. Isabela even told us that we should come over every day. Super cute :)

Then we have Jaquelin y Gustavo, who are getting married this week!!! We may have to wait a little bit for the baptism just because this weekend is crazy and their daughter may be having surgery. If so, we'll just reextend, but they are so excited. Gustavo came to church and he LOVED it. They talk a lot about how it's reverent and quiet and we aren't yelling. There really is a peace that you can find in the chapel especially in el cuarto sacramental. I love it there. I have come to find it as a place of refuge for myself. I really rely on that peaceful time just for me to think about my relationship with God and how I can really be clean again. I need it every week. I haven't missed a week of the sacrament for a while, but I feel the difference as I partake of the sacrament. What a special gift that we have!! Don't ever take it for granted :)

MANUEL SAID HE IS READY TO GET BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is a monumental thing!!!! Y'all don't even understand!! He has been listening to the missionaries for like 6 months and he finally said he is ready and he doesn't need more time and he wants to be baptized this weekend on his date :):) Hermana Ihrke and I could not stop smiling. How amazing is that. I am soooooooo happy. And Antonio passed his interview!!! They're getting baptized together!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  I'm not sure you even understand how happy I am!!!! We see them everyday and now (because they're never going to fall away) we can see them in the Celestial Kingdom :) and they'll get sealed to people in the temple and everything :) awwwwwwwwwwww :) I mean Antonio is only 16, but eventually he will!! hahaha and I just want to be able to see pictures or if I can, go!!!!! :)

We had an awesome lesson with them and the spirit was really strong. Our member really testified as well as nosotras that he needs to be baptized now and not wait if he's ready! and then after he said he was! whoooooooooo!! and then last night we had a carne asada (those are delicious by the way, I'll have to make it sometime for you :)) and we talked a lot about baptism. They already have it all set up!!! and the cutest thing ever. We had to go, so they were like wait, quick think of questions, so they can't leave! and Antonio started 'coming up with questions' but really just talking slow so that we couldn't leave. :) LOOOOVE them!!! haha, but we really did have to go, so we asked we will see you Tuesday and he was soooooo upset that we aren't coming by today. They're seriously family. I want you all to meet them right now!!!! :) Looooooove them!!!!

They want to take to Mexico with Alexis, and Antonio's mom, would that be okay?? It'd be in July. It's really not a joke. They have it planned and everything :):):):) we'd drive there and then stay in their houses!!

I LOVE PEOPLE!!!

Okay, anyways, we had an amazing couple lessons with a 14 year old. She's had a really hard life. But she's amazing. It's so sad because she never got to grow up with the knowledge that we have, and so her situation in life is really really sad, but she wants to change and she's working to change!!! I really felt God's love for her as she was talking! :) she's so cute!!!!!! We are going to re-extend a baptismal date because we haven't finished teaching her everything, but she's going to get baptized cien por ciento!!!! That makes me so happy :):) and she loves it when we come over too!!!

Also Manuel and Alexis bought us food. Not just made dinner for us, but bought us groceries!!!!!!!!!! They are so cute!!! They bought us so much. We don't need to go shopping this week. I love them wayyyyyy too much. They're my favorite :) well they're all my favorite, but their family is super special!!!!

Then we had an amazing regional conference. I want to ask y'all two questions that Elder Corbridge asked. First read the story in John 6:65-69 and then think of these two questions "Will ye also go away? If ye shall, where shall ye go??" Where can we go? There is only one way to eternal life and that is through the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has 'the words of eternal life' We will never be able to truly be happy if we don't have Him and His gospel engrained in our lives. We must understand this. If we don't understand, we have to put in the effort and then we will. If we truly understood the importance of this message the importance of this gospel, we could not fall away!!! 

That was my favorite part, but I also loved how much they talked about simplifying our lives and focusing on the most important : God and our families. We have to do the things for our daily bread, but we have to make sure that we aren't too busy to do things with our family and that we really are working to have a happy loving family. I can't remember exactly what this quote said, but it said around the lines of eternal life is an extension of the ideal home. Wow, pretty profound huh? :):) they encouraged us to delete some things that we don't need in our lives. Declutter the closet of endless tasks and distractions and focus on the most important.

I hope you all know how much I love you and I pray for you a lot!!!! Let's make every week a week where we come closer to Jesus Christ and find more happiness :):) Let me know if I can every do anything for you!!!! :):):):):)

 

2 November 2015

Hello, hello!!!!!!!! We had a suuuuuper good week this week. We should be having lots of baptisms coming up. We will probably have one this week and then 4 or 6 the week the week after. SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!! 

Halloween was really weird because nothing happened! (You'll be happy to hear that mom :) but I really thought there would be at least people outside trick or treating, but we saw like 2 kids,. That was it. Very different than Utah. 

Also super cute thing!!!!! One of our investigators signed up to feed us. Now she and her family have literally nothing. It's so sad. But we went to go to her house to eat. She and her husband set up a little side table for us and put a cute little table liner as a table cloth, so we could have someone nice to eat. She then made us the food and gave us the plates and gave us so much food while she and her family ate off of little baby plates. I immediately felt a rush of love for all of them and not gonna lie, I teared up a little bit. She doesn't have much, but what she did have she wanted to give to us. There are amazing people in this world and I'm so blessed to get to know them. 

This week we didn't teach as much as we normally do because we basically had three days that we didn't have time to teach. First day we did service!!!! I LOVED IT!!!! we got to help underprivileged kids get their eyes checked. They were adorable :) I loved them a lot!!!! I got to talk to them and get to know them. They are so cute and innocent. It's amazing how you can feel so much love for people you don't even know. They all need to find the gospel ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone needs it. 

Then we got to listen to Elder Corbridge from the seventy....... THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG!!!! It was a 7 hour reunion and I loved it!!! I learned so much. First of all I loved how President Hall explained that a better question to what is your spiritual language is how can the spirit speak to me? because really the Spirit won't talk to you in only one way. I'm now going through PMG looking at all the ways the Spirit can talk to you and marking down the scriptures and times when I have felt that way. It's pretty incredible. I haven't noticed the Spirit as much as I should've because I've felt it a lot!!!!

Then Elder Corbridge talked. His question really was what is the most important thing? Y'all should think about that. Truly what is the most important thing?? I'll tell you because we all need to know!!! I'm sure a lot of you know already :) the most important thing is the Atonement. We truly can't have any good thing without the Atonement. Jesus Christ already paid the price for us, but it's up to us to accept that. What do YOU need to do to accept it? It's nothing huge really. In Alma 7:7-17 it talks about the doctrine of Christ (also found in 2 Nephi 31 and 3 Nephi 27, which you all should read!!!) faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We are all right now on enduring to the end, and we have to do it!!! We can't live with our families forever or have joy in the eternities if we don't!! and truly we find more joy in this life when we follow what God wants :)

Another amazing thing that he explained was that people fall away or don't get baptized because they don't understand. I know that's true. I didn't understand any of this before my mission. I didn't realize how important everything was until I got here and I studied and learned about it. When you understand the doctrine, you know of the necessity of this gospel and you would be willing to do whatever it takes to receive eternal life (our goal) and you can do that through the Spirit. We have been given such a huge gift that changes our life for the better. We have the Spirit which can lead and guide us and it can bring us what we need. We feel love, joy, peace.... (Galations 5:22-23) all those buenos sentimientos podemos sentir. All good things come from Christ and come from this Gospel. This is the true Church on the earth and this it the way to eternal happiness and joy. and it's the way to have joy here as well. 

Many people think it's hard to be a disciple of Christ, but in reality, it's easier to be a disciple of Christ than not. We receive so many blessings. So many!!! I can't even tell you how blessed I feel that I grew up in the gospel. I got to avoid so many different struggles. I hear about some people's life and I think to myself, there's a commandment about that. There's a commandment about that too, and I truly realize that commandments are here to bless our lives. They are gifts from God. Protection is keeping us from straying into tinieblas and sadness and trials. Sure, we will still have trials and challenges, but we will be able to overcome them through Christ and we will avoid a lot of self-inflicted pain as well! I don't know about y'all, but I definitely want that!! I don't need more pain in my life. Another thing Elder Corbridge said is that we don't need to suffer more. Jesus Christ already suffered, he has the way out to suffer less, so why don't we take it??? 

There was so much more, but I'm running out of time!!!!

Last thing, we went to the temple with two members here for their first time. It was really special and I got to listen to the session in Spanish again. LOVED IT! :) It's really special listening to it in a different language other than English. I really like it! One day I'll listen to it in French, Chinese, Japanese, and I dunno, whatever other languages I want to learn!!!!

Love you all so much!!!!!!!! :):):) Keep reading and praying every day!!! Dios los ama!!! Y los amo tambien :) Hasta luego mi familia!!! 

ALSO I ATE INTESTINES AND COW BRAINS!!!! not my favorite thing on the planet, but I found out I've been eating cow tongue a lot and it's actually really good! Quien sabia??? Just thought y'all should know :) LOVE YOU!!!!