12 April 2015

FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!! I FLIPPING LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! I hope you know that! You guys are the BEST! por seguro!!!! I hope everything is going super well for you and you just love life! Let me know if there's anything I can do for you here in Texas :)

It has been crazy weather. Some days it's so hot, I could almost die. Other days it's pouring rain. There's not really an in between right now. and the best part is we're BIKING! loooooove it!!! We seriously biked like a 100 miles or more. It's crazy. That may not seem like a lot, but we have to get to our citas super quick, so we are working really hard. I love it! I feel like I'm going to be in super good shape if I keep this up. At least I hope so! 

This week was SO amazing!! Seriously trials may bring you down for a little bit, but God will always help you back up if you're willing to put in the work. I can't even tell you how much I believe in that now! God is so merciful. I know that I mess up; life can be crazy, but God will always be there. I may not seem him, but as Thomas S. Monson said "one day you will look back and you will see he was always there beside you." o algo asi. 

Oh tell the Relief Society thanks for the hearts they sent me! I just barely got it! hahaha that was so sweet of them!!!

Okay so we have done so much service this week!!!!! SERVICE IS MY FAVORITE!!!!!! We taught English class, and they're all so cool! We have actually found tons of investigators a traves de la clase de Ingles. Que chevre! (that's how cool en espanol!) They're doing so well, and you can tell they really want to have better lives! 

Then we worked in the garden! It was amazing!!!  We work with an Episcopal Church, and they are wonderful!! I love them, and Tabitha (one of the ladies there) has family that are members. She's amazing! I am so happy to have met her and Ally (the other lady). I didn't realize how much I love working in a garden (yes, I know, mom. I should've realized that sooner :) hahaha)

Oh quick side note about that church! We went to a service with them. It was super cool. They were really nice. We had like an agape meal and talked about Jesus Christ. They had a feet washing thing, and Tabitha asked to wash my companions and my feet. It was really cool because it shows how amazing they are and how humble and willing to serve she is. I love them all a ton! I love learning about different Churches, and it's cool because it really strengthens my testimony of our Church :) sweeeeeeeet.

Back to service: then we went and worked at the food truck again with the Methodist Church and it was pouring!!! I loved it!!! I was completely drenched, but the people there are always so nice! It's was the best! It's one of my favorite parts of the week!!!

Okay now for teaching miracles!!! So we had two people who sort of dropped us, but then they got in contact with us again and they're going to get baptized!!! How awesome!!!! Yessss!! We have to work with them a little bit, but for sure, they're getting baptized soon. I have faith :)

Another miracle!! We randomly were calling people and we came across Mario. He said we could come by and teach him, so we did yesterday. He said he knows our Church is true and that he needs to be baptized and he has a really good friend that is Mormon. Dang. He's so prepared! He's going to be baptized too!!!!

Then our recent converts are doing good, and I'm starting to become better friends with them :) yes! I may not always understand them, but I am getting there!!

Oh another thing! We found another long lost investigator, and he is going to get baptized as soon as he can start coming to Church! He is so cool, and he has a really strong testimony of Joseph Smith. 

I love the people here so much!!!!!!!!!! They're my favorite!!! (besides my family of course :):):) ) 

What more can I say? The mission is the best. God is always with you even during trials and challenges. I have the best family in the world. I know this church is true. I love seeing all the changes of people who are following Jesus Christ and becoming a part of His church. Because really, this Church wasn't made by man. It was made by Jesus Christ, and we are taking part of saving souls. I love it, and I am so blessed to be here and to learn to become better myself and to help people come to the same salvation and joy that we as members can feel. 

Never give up on the faith! Everything will work out with God. :) LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO MUCH!!!!!!!!! TELL EVERYONE I SAY HI!!!!!! :):):):):):):):):)

Man, sometimes I can't remember English. It's awesome! Like sometimes I'll be speaking in English, but I can only think of the Spanish word. That's what I want! Although now my English sounds a little iffy, and it is hard to spell. I am working on it though! haha. 

6 April 2015

Okay so guess what. I went five days without speaking English...it was crazy, but it totally helped a ton! The more I speak and listen, the better my Spanish will be. and the better i will teach. 

We have found some super amazing investigators. They are so cool!!! One is Pedro, and he totally understands the gospel. He told us the Apostasy completely explains why there are so many churches. and he's praying about his baptismal date. Then there's Judith, and she is the nicest lady ever! She gave us food a little bit ago just because we said we have never tried them (that never happens!) she is also praying about her baptismal date :) I love them all a lot!! and we keep finding and teaching more and more. It's awesoooome. 

Hmmmm, I really can't think of much that happened. sooooooo unless I think of something else soon, that is all for this week!

LOVE YOU!

31 March 2015

Okay, so this week has been awesooooooooooooooome.

Tuesday....We had English class!! Did I tell you that we teach English class? It's super fun, but we are trying to make it super serious, so we are making worksheets and taking time to plan for it. It's so fun. They all really want to learn English, and I am trying to learn Spanish, so the basics are always good for me to see :) hahah, (speaking of which, mom, do you have any suggestions for teaching English?) We have seriously handed out like 65 fliers already to people who said they really wanted to learn Espanol. We have seen so many miracles because of it and found lots of investigators! Yes!

Okay, so time for miracles of course!!!!

First of all, we have this amazing investigator, Luz. She super wants to get baptized, but there are some family things that need to be figured out before she can get baptized. We are fasting this week from English, so she can have the miracle that she needs. She has a date for the 26th, and I have faith that she will be baptized then :) She is amazing, and she has had a crazy life, but she really wants to change and become better, and she knows that she can only do that through baptism. (I don't know how much of a miracle that is, but she is amazing, and we will be seeing a miracle soon!!! hahahaa)

Then we have Hermano Chavez Jr. He has been taught for FOREVER. like 8 years. But he understands everything, and he knows all about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, but every time baptism is brought up, he gets grumpy and stops talking. This time though, he kept asking questions, and we just kept trying to explain all of them, and explain baptism is through someone who holds priesthood authority--which only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has. We just didn't give up, and finally he seemed to get it. and he told us that he was actually going to pray with all of his heart, and if God told him to get baptized again, he would. WHOOOOO!! Can you believe it? We are going to talk to him, and I know that if he prayed with real intent, God told him that baptism is necessary por algiuen que posee el sacerdocio. QUE CHEVRE! I am so happy!!! I'll keep you updated on that!!

Then we found lots of new investigators--which is super good because we've been struggling a little with that. but I knew it would work out if we did our part. You struggle so when the good times come, you appreciate them so much more. Sometimes you fall, but then when you get up, everything is better!! I have definitely seen that a lot on my mission. Some days are super rough, but then I'll see a miracle the next second, or I will just all of a sudden know everything will be okay. Or it tests me and then I get the opportunity to grow stronger and overcome. It sounds weird, but I can see how much of a blessing that is. 

I have already changed bastante. Being on this mission is going to shape who I am forever. One thing I have promised to myself is that I will never forget this. Never forget the miracles and blessings God has given me. I see so many people who had such strong testimonies, but they fell away because they refused to look for God and do the simple things. It's so sad, but it makes me realize, we can never stop. We are either progressing or regressing. There is no other way. I will always keep working to improve my testimony and I hope that you all will do that too :)

OOOOOOOO guess what!!!!! I LOVE SERVICE!!! We went and served in a garden with a different Church--Episcopal--and the the Food truck--with the Methodist Church. They are sooooooooo awesome!! I love them, and they totally accept us even though they know we're Mormons and missionaries. Super awesome! and one guy even said to us, that we are the only people who live what we teach! People really do see what we, as Mormons, and representatives of Jesus Christ do. Never forget that we are examples, and we always need to act in a way that can bring people unto Christ. 

ANOTHER THING!!!!! We had our recent converts blessing and passing the sacrament yesterday, some of them for the first time!!!!!!!!!!! I could not stop smiling. They all have improved so much even from the time I have been here, and they are working so hard to become even better. They are such great examples to me!

Oh another thing again!!! We took out two recent converts a little bit ago, and they did amazing!! They basically were missionaries. My companion and I promised we wouldn't say a word because they were there to teach. and they did. SO WELL! their testimonies were bien fuerte, and you could tell they truly believed what they were saying. 

I LOVE THE MISSION AND I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! I hope everything is going amazingly well, and you are working to keep up your testimonies. If there is anything I can ever do for you all, just let me know. I might be kind of limited, but whatever I can do, estoy aqui! :) but LES AMO MUCHISIMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss you all!!!!!!!!! 

OH WAIT!!!!! DON'T FORGET TO WATCH CONFERENCE WITH A QUESTION!!!!! AND JUST LOVE CONFERENCE!!!!!!!  IT's where we go to hear God's words for us. We hear general revelation and receive specific revelation for ourselves! Super good!! 

OKAY LOVE YOU AGAIN!!!!! BYEEEEE!!!!

23 March 2015

Hey!!!!! So this week has been super crazy. In both good and bad ways, but of course it was an amazing week like always. The mission is the best! 

Do you want to know the craziest, funniest story? So you know Texas has super crazy rainstorms right? Well, we biked to a lesson. It was raining just a little bit, but then after our lesson, it started pouring. Like there was a serious flood warning and everything. We got completely soaked in 2 seconds. No joke. I loooooooved it! But since we were on bikes, we weren't allowed to leave because it's super slippery and dangerous. We had to sit and wait for about an hour, and it still didn't let up, so we had to call the Elders and they had to come and get us out. They were super nice. 

You want to know something really nice that the Elders did? Yep, you do. I know. and even if you didn't, I would tell you anyways :) okay, but we had a pretty rough day because one of our amazing investigators dropped us. (it was the worst thing because it was all because well......a lesson went horribly wrong. We had this member, who is an amazing person, just be a little too strong and throw in a lot of stuff that just did not help, and yeah....so our investigator dropped us. but don't worry! He's going to figure out he truly needs us! No se preocupe :) ) okay, but the Elders called us and they just cracked jokes, and they did all they could to help us feel better and give us advice. I really appreciated it. They are the best!!

Okay, cool thing. The temple trip was AMAZING!!! We had 6 recent converts there: Favio, Luis, Josue, Ottoniel, Ramiro, and Ivette, and they all had their family names!!! The Spirit was really strong, and I was so happy to go to the temple. It's beautiful! The temple is truly the House of the Lord and we are doing the work of saving souls there. I know when I get back I need to go all the time! It's wonderful. I do miss having a temple super close because it was so nice over the summer going all the time. 

Hmmmmm, I'll tell you some spiritual things because well, I'm on a mission :) hahahah. anyways, sometimes everything doesn't work out how you wished it would. Sometimes things don't go right, but that happens because then when the good times come, you can truly see the difference. You can see the difference between the good and the bad times. I know I am seeing that a ton on my mission, and it's such a blessing. Bad times are hard, but they make the good times so much better. So I just have to enjoy every second :) which is totally what I am trying to do!!

We also had an amazing relief society activity for the anniversary of it. It was so fun, and I really just loooooove all the women there. They are truly trying to follow Jesus Christ, and I am so blessed to help them out. 

I love you all sooooooooooooooo much!!! and I miss you a ton!!!! :):):) I hope everything is going well, and if there is anything I can do, just let me know!!!! You guys are awesome!!

Awwwww!!! send me pictures of cole's baptism okay??? :) tell everyone I love and miss them!!!

Soooooo probably should explain some photos. One is with the family malacara (well at least the kids) and then us at Nasa (with Elder McDonald randomly with his head in the picture. Then all the girls, and our district. They're super cool :)

And this next one is us soaking wet after the rain. SUPER CRAZY!

16 March 2015

This week has been the best week ever!! Okay, every week is the best, but this week was super good!! Yesterday at Church our investigator Bato came!! He is the coolest and he seriously wants to be baptized!!!! Oh, miracle super quick about Bato. He was pretty quiet and timid. We could never get him to open up, but we went back late one night, and honestly, we thought he would say he couldn't again, but this time he said he could! So he came out and we started teaching something else, but then I felt prompted to ask a random question about baptism. We did that and then he opened up to us. and he is amazing!! He really wants to do what God wants and he told us, after his baptism, he doesn't want to fall away. He wants to keep going and be obedient to everything. GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!! AND HE'S ALSO JUST THE SWEETEST PERSON ON THIS PLANET!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR HIM TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!!!! :):):):)  I seriously love him so much!!! 

and he is hilarious. 

OOOOOOO two of our recent converts got the aaronic priesthood!! and more are going to soon! yessssssss!!! 

and we have a TEMPLE trip!!!! I can't wait!!!!!! We have almost 20 names of people to bring (and I am bringing 5 :) girls and guys) it is going to be so good! We have been working super hard with our family history and our converts to get them here and it's all working out. God is super merciful when you are doing what you are supposed to. We have been blessed sooooooo much!!! I want to go to the temple right now for my ancestors!!! It will be super powerful because I know they are waiting for their work to be done. They need us to do it, and we are going to! whooo!!! Super awesome. 

We taught 37 lessons this week as well!!! People are seriously prepared to hear and they are doing so good! They are such good examples to me!

Oh another thing!!!!! So we played futbol (soccer for all you Americans :) hahahaha) and after we had a lesson. A super powerful one about the Atonement. Some of our recent converts bore their testimony of it and it was amazing. You can tell how much they have changed and everything that they're doing to be better. I am so amazed and admire them so much!! They are going to do such great things in their lives!!!!

Oh cool thing again!! (hahaha, lots of cool things happened this week!!) so I was called to bear my testimony yesterday. I was super nervous because they all are fluent Spanish speakers, but I went up and bore my testimony and it was super good!! My Spanish actually worked, and I didn't feel nervous at all. Heavenly Father totally helped me, and all I hope is that my testimony could help someone who needed it. 

Guys, the gospel is SO true!! I have grown to love everything about it. Of course I don't understand everything, but that's okay because I can promise you that I have faith and I know that it's true. Never give up on your testimony. Never give up on learning the Gospel. Times may come where you aren't sure, but make sure to "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith!"--Uchtdorf.  God knows you personally, and he "commandeth none to not partake of his salvation" (I believe that's 2 Nephi 2(something) :26 anyways. 

I love you all soooooooooooooooooooo much!!! I will send pictures in another email!!!! :):):):) LOVE YOU!!!!!!! BE HAPPY!!!!! let me know if there is anything I can do for you!!!! BYEEEEEEE!!

9 March 2015

Hey everyone! so I don't know what I am going to say this week...hopefully as I talk, it will come! 

We have had a ton of meetings this week! Looooooooots. I learned a lot, but sometimes it is hard to focus if you're sitting around for twenty hours. Okay, it wasn't twenty, but it was a long time. It was super good. We learned loads about the Atonement. 

K, I seriously don't understand. I have lots to say during the week, but once I get to P-day, I can't think of anything! Lo siento!! 

Oh, one thing is we have this investigator, who is the coolest person ever! He is such a good example. He quit his job because his boss wanted him to work on Sundays. So with his new job, he works from Saturday toSunday morning till 3. and he said he was thinking about it, and he said that's not keeping el Dia de Reposo. So he is going to find a way to end at 12 at night because he wants to be exactly EXACTLY obedient. Wow. Super impressive!! He is the coolest!!

I LOVE personal study. Seriously being able to study the gospel super well every day for at least an hour is my favorite. I learn so much! Right now, I have to go really slow in the Book of Mormon because I am in the Isaiah scriptures....they are so hard, but I am determined to understand almost everything of it! haha, and then of course I study for my investigators and what we're teaching that day! but I know the way I learn is through reading the Book of Mormon all the way through because I hate skipping around. 

I am starting to understand more and more each day. Whew. Thank goodness. I mean I still don't understand a ton, but I am getting loads better. and I know with patience, it will be good. I love Spanish though! It is super awesome! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I actually do have some pictures I can send you. Surprise! I am sorry I am dreadful with that! I've never been a picture person, you know me :) but I will try to be better.  

Les amo muchisimo!!!!!! enviare un correo el proximo lunes! Adios!! Tengan un buen dia! y una buena semana! :) 

2 March 2015

I AM SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER HAPPY!!!! and I am not even sure why...probably because the MISSION IS THE BEST THING EVER :):):)

I have seen so many miracles and amazing people, and I am just loving the people here!!!! The lame thing is I can't think of them when I am trying to write to you all, so I might remember them halfway through and then throw them in. 

This week has been insane!! I went on two exchanges. The first was with my friend who is new as well and she does speak some Spanish, so together we were able to teach lots of people well, but then the next day I had an exchange with someone who only speaks English. I was freaking out, but I was able to do it! I mean, of course, it wasn't perfect, but I was able to do it! I was so happy. God definitely helped me out because I couldn't do it without Him.

We had one investigator get confirmed yesterday!! IT was super awesome. He is fantastic and knows so much already! I can't wait for him to get even further and further in the Church! (is it further or farther? I don't know, I know one is for distance, and I think that's farther...man, I am just going to move on!) haha, we have had tons of meetings this week. It has been so hard to keep up with our area.  We have so many people to see and no time to do it! We are always on the move!!!

Man, I still can't remember the miracles. Hmmmm, I wish I had my journal with me! 

Oh, one really cool thing is prayers seriously work!! We have had so many prayers answered for our investigators and while we are praying for them, they definitely receive the help that they need. God really does listen to our prayers and cares about us. How amazing is that? 

Well, I do want to bear my testimony a little bit to you guys! Because I have come to grow and love the Book of Mormon so much more. We often have to talk to people who are very against the Book of Mormon or it's hard for them to accept, but I know without a doubt that if someone reads the Book of Mormon with real intent and sincerely prays to know that it's true, will receive an answer of it's truth. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. We can come closer to Jesus Christ, our Savior, than with any other book. and because the Book of Mormon is true, so is Joseph Smith and we are the only true Church on this earth. We have the truth; we have the knowledge; we have the priesthood authority. all we have to do is keeping strengthening our testimony, studying, and praying, and doing all we can to keep coming to know Jesus Christ. 

I love this Church and Gospel, and I love you all SOOOOOO MUCH :):):) Adios!!!!

Okay time for some miracles!! because I think I can remember them now!!

Book of Mormon miracle!!:

So we had this guy come and just start listening to us. He seemed pretty receptive, but when we asked him if we could visit him again, he said no way. but we read a scripture in the Book of Mormon and then he said, you know what? I just feel a voice telling me I need to listen to you guys more--miracle right? and now he calls us like a couple times a day just to learn more and tell us about all his spiritual experiences. It can be a little crazy because the calls are long but he's super cool!!!

Oh guess what else!!! This isn't a miracle, but it's super cool!!! I get to go and visit NASA next Monday for P-day! Yeah, Nasa is in my district's area. AWESOME!!!! We are going to get a tour and everything! I am super super happy!

I can't tell you enough, I absolutely love life and everything! It's the best!! :) Missions are awesooooome!!! I just wish everyone could feel the same joy that I get!!! Whooooo!!