3 August 2015

Helloooooo!!! I hope you all are doing well!!!!!! This week has been awesome!!!!! Well, every week is awesome, but this one was especially good :) well, more interesting. We spent a lot of time in the car! We drove up to Houston 2 times this last week. I mean it's like a trip to Salt Lake, but still. It was nice to see more of Texas!!

So my district is now one missionary companionship smaller. and Elder Spjute came back!!! So Elder Evans,Elder Mota and Hermana Palmer are now in different areas, but Elder Spjute is here again! Super funny because he packed all of his stuff and then he went back to the same apartment and unpacked.... kind of sad but also pretty hilarious.

We went to Nasa for our last P-day as a district ( I went with Hermana Endicott who was with me for a day and the elders) it was really fun! Nasa is really cool. I think Grey would love it a lot!!!! One of the hermanos Favio bought me a nasa T-shirt! The only picture I have with it is with it over my dress because we have to be in proselyting clothes, pero lo que sea. It was really nice of him to get me one :) he got Elder mota one too!!!

This week we have been working a ton to find news!!! I love it because I get to go and talk to EVERYONE!!!!! I'm pretty sure I'm the crazy missionary who runs up and is super excited and talking to them about the gospel or english class. hahahah it's the best :) I get kind of nervous sometimes because, well, you're going up to random people, but it's what you do! sweeeeet! Here in this area though, it's all about when you find a Spanish speaker, you need to talk to them because they're so spread out. There are parts where they are all together, but a lot of it is just talking to everyone when you get a chance. Whooo! I'm getting over my fear of talking to random people that's for sure!!! :)

I also can't believe I'm going to be in this area again. I decided I'm never leaving. I think I will just stay here for the rest of my mission. I would miss it too much to leave :) but whenever and wherever God wants me, I'll go. The people here are really the best. 

We've been doing a lot of service with other churches actually!!! It's really cool to work with them. They are some pretty amazing people. I love them sooooo much :) 

The heat is actually pretty crazy now. We walk outside and then we are drenched. Insane. but thankfully right now we're in a car area, so we don't have to always be biking. It's been averaging about 100 degrees with almost 100% humidity. DAAAAAAAANG! but Heavenly Father has been helping me a lot and it hasn't affected me :) so I can still work like crazy!!!!

Cool thing!!! We have been teaching Jorge and for some reason he didn't want to decide on a date, but Presidente Velasco (one of the counselors of the Mission President) asked to come with us and he was sooooo good!!! He was bold and an amazing teacher and helped him accept a date for 2 weeks away!!!! and Jorge has already started planning who is going to do everything, so it's going to happen this time :) can't wait!!!!!!!! Tengo la fe que todo va a pasar. and Presidente Velasco invited Jorge to eat with him and his family! Wow! Member missionary right there!!! Awesome!!!! 

Another miracle!!! We have a less active here in this area who hasn't gone to church in about a year, but we visited him one time this last week and he was at church yesterday!!!!!! I could not stop smiling!!!!! :) loooooooove it!!!!!! The gospel is real and it's the best when people come back!!!!

One thing I've definitely seen is the people who don't do the basics, are going to lose their testimonies. and it is the saddest thing ever because we can't have all of the blessings of God or an eternal family if we aren't going to church, reading the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) and praying. So if you aren't doing that right now.... DO IT! :) I have definitely been called to repentance here on my mish. I should've done it wayyyyyy better before, but I'm not going to stop after my mish. and God cares more about who you are becoming and where you are going than who you were before :) there is always time to change and if we do, that's what is important to God. 

Love you all tons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have an amazing week!!!! Let me know if I can do anything for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MISS YOU!!!!! :)

27 July 2015

So guess who is staying in her area again...... woooooo! I've been here for 6 months already!!!! Maybe I'll just stay here my whole mish :) I love it soooooo much. I would be okay with that, but a ver lo que pasa!!! Our whole district is getting split apart. Elder Evans, Mota, y Spjute are leaving and Hermana Palmer is too. Our branch and district is going to be completely different. One elder's area is going to be whitewashed. It's super sad. I really love how close our district is. I'm gonna miss all of them a lot :( and now I've been in this area longer than everyone. Odd. and Hermana Hall is staying with me. I honestly thought we would change, but hey! God had a different plan in mind :) haha

This week was super good! Kind of crazy. Jorge did not get baptized again, so what we're going to do is drop him for a week, so he can notice the difference and know that he can only have the Holy Ghost with him always if he is baptized and then receives the gift. Really, all he has to do is decide for himself that he needs to get baptized and he will be. Agency is awesome, but sometimes it makes missionary life difficult hahaha:) 

We had a softball tournament as a stake!!! Super fun!!!!! I was actually surprised that I remembered how to play. I totally got a home run twice! whoooooo!! Hermano Vega said I was the MVP. Yeah, not really, but that was nice of him to say. It was super funny though because all of the guys on the other team thought that I wouldn't be able to hit far, but then bam. home run. They were a little bit more wary of me after that :) hahaha I've missed playing sports. (well we have soccer every friday, but sometimes it's nice to play other sports!!!)

Josue is in Guatemala with his family. We are trying to get in contact with him and send missionaries over there. 

Gave a talk Sunday without anything written down basically because one of the people didn't show up. That was interesting. 

We've eaten some REALLY good food lately. YUM:) loooooove it!!!!! Columbian food is delicious. 

Hmmmm que mas.... learning a lot. Personal Study is like my favorite hour ever. I've learned so much. 

Life is good. Working hard. The mission is so much better if you work like crazy. Something I've definitely learned and still working on. Love you all more than I can even express :):):) hasta luego!!!!!!

20 July 2015

So guess what. I don't have too much to say today. 

This is what happened though. So we have been trying SO flipping hard to help Hermano Jorge get baptized and for some reason, he just does NOT want to take that step. I think it's because of his girlfriend. but anyways, I felt prompted during Sacrament Meeting that Hermana Wood and I needed to teach him with Hermano Favio. So after that, we went and taught her and had a super powerful lesson. The Spirit was super strong, but he still didn't want to be baptized. So the Spirit prompted me again to go to the font and have Hermano Jorge pray there. We did that and the Spirit was even stronger. The Spirit  testified to me and Hermano Favio that Sunday was the day that God wanted him to be baptized, and Hermano Jorge even said he felt the Spirit super strong, but he still didn't want to get baptized. ahhhhhhhhhhhh. We are still working with him, but I'm pretty sure his girlfriend is hindering him. She's from a different church and even though they are both super good and keeping all the commandments, I don't think she's super supportive of him getting baptized. But the good thing is Hermano Jorge knows that I am willing to do whatever because he told me. 'Hermana, I can't believe how hard you are trying to help me. I know you're willing to do anything to help me, and I don't understand why." Honestly, I just know how much God loves him and the only way to true eternal happiness is through the gospel. He will get baptized though :) 

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm que mas.I find out who's getting transferred next monday. I think I may be staying one more time. A ver. I know for sure Hermana Hall or I am getting transferred. I hope I get to stay, but whatever God wants will be good. 

This week my goal is to see Every single member in our area and teach them a lesson. It's going to be crazy, but I know God will bless us if we're working insanely hard, so it will be good! I wish we could go faster and work harder, but I know that we have to be careful. Dang it!!!! I would skip sleeping if that would help these people :) 

Good! Leslie is super good at thinking of others :) I miss her parties!!!! I can't wait to go to them when I get back!!! 

Love you all!!!! Sorry, I don't have much to say!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!

13 July 2015

Hello! Hello!!! I hope y'all are doing well!!!!!!!!! (see my y'all coming in? Total Texan, huh? hahahahaha jk because I only speak Spanish, so I doubt I'll get the accent) this week has been the craziest week of my life. Oh my goodness gracious.... let me tell you about it.

But first I'll tell you the boring stuff hahahahah :) I'm funny. I'm gonna make you wait. Jorge passed the interview and he is so ready to be baptized, he just needs to get over his fear! Pray for that por favor!!!! 

I've been studying Christlike attributes a lot and man, I have SO much to work on hahaha, but I love it because I know I am developing (or at least improving) those attributes. Every day is an opportunity to improve! because we are always either progressing or regressing. We never stay constant. Food for thought :) also studying a lot on how to be a full purpose missionary. I've really been trying to focus on purely thinking about the work because once you get that, you will be able to forget about yourself and get to work!! Since we stay home a lot, I think that's part of what Heavenly Father wants me to learn. He wants me to be able to control my mind even when I'm kind of bored and just reading the scriptures all day. (granted, I have grown to love the scriptures, but sometimes.... you just want to go out and teach, ya know?) 

Okay, I can't wait to tell you about how crazy this week was!!!! Okay, so normally I wouldn't actually go on an exchange with Hermana Huntsman because she's over the other half of the mission (because now she's the Senior Sister Training Leader. I knew it would happen. She's way too amazing not to be it!!!!) but my two Sister Training Leaders said they felt really prompted that she needed to be on an exchange with me. So eso paso. It was really the best!!! I didn't realize how much I missed her!!! She's always happy and we were able to talk about everything. Missed that too :) So she and I were talking about her purpose on this exchange. as we were talking we started talking about Josue Ixcoy.

Here's the crazy part and the super super super sad part. Josue is one of our recent converts and I love him to death. He really is amazing. A little after Hermana Huntsman left though, he fell pretty hard. He started drinking again. So one night he and his friends were drinking when the police came by and took them. Unfortunately, because Josue doesn't have papers.... immigration took him. So right now he's in immigration waiting to get sent back to Guatemala. :( 

But we were talking about that situation and we both felt really prompted that we were supposed to go see him. So we ran to his family's house to get the address and see what we could do for them and then go and see him. We called President Hall and asked him if he could. We waited for like 5 hours to find out, and finally he responded...because we are sisters, we weren't allowed to go, but some elders are heading out and at least we got to help Josue get in contact with family. 

So really it wasn't the craziest thing, but it was at the time. I still am hoping that for some weird reason, the rules will bend and we can see him before he heads out because he doesn't want to be there at all or go back to Guatemala. So really the crazy thing is that our recent convert is being deported. Super sad :( me hace muy triste. but I know he's in God's hands and He will help him stay strong in the gospel. 

One miracle is that his family here has completely changed!! They are coming to Church and they are trying to follow the commandments and be baptized. Que increible! It goes to show you that you can either let things push you do and you hate it or you can change and become what God wants you to be. I'm glad they picked the second option. It's easier :) 

Have an amazing week full of miracles!!!!! God loves you and He is always there for you!!! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you!!!!!!!!! :):):):) thanks for being the best family i could ever have. Eternal families are for real!!! :)

Hasta luego!!!!!!

6 July 2015

So guess what!!! Hermano Jorge passed his interview!!!!! He can get baptized!!! Yes!!!!! We just have to make sure that he stays strong this week, so he can vencer las tentaciones. Satan works really hard when someone is on the right path. We are going to see him everyday this week and help him in every way possible to get baptized!!! He really is amazing!!!! I can't wait for him to be clean again!!!! Que increible!!!

Man, I'm sorry I've had some super boring letters lately. Something crazy is I'm going on an exchange with my old companion (who is now the Senior Sister Training Leader) that should be super fun!!!

Another crazy thing we had a recent convert who is going to be deported..... how sad.... He's going to try to find a lawyer, but it is hard with immigration. I didn't realize that really does happen. Hopefully everything will turn out all right, but I know God has a plan for him!!!!

Ummmm, learning a lot about being a parent and what I need to look for to have a successful future. That's good. Ummmmm, I'm super sorry. I'm making myself bored by reading this!!! hahahaa,

Below is a picture we took from the temple with an Hermana from our rama and the other hermanas en mi distrito.

Oh!!! We got our new mission president!!!! His name is Presidente Hall and he is super cool!!!! He is full of energy and he's super happy!! I love it!!! His family is adorable tambien  

Wow. Literally don't have anything to say.... Love the mission! Love you all!!!! :):):)

30 June 2015

los amo muchisimo!!!! Solo para que sepan :) So this week has been good. I'm writing today because we switched P-days for a temple trip. YES! LOVE THE TEMPLE! I seriously wish I could go every week. I want to do that every week when I get back (of course I know that's kind of hard to do that, but I will try to go as often as I can)

So this week. I don't have pictures.... although I should I know. I actually took some because fuimos al templo, but I forgot them. Awkward!!! Lo siento!!!!! My brain has been everywhere. I seriously can't basic things like putting on my tag (I eventually remember) , but I know my mind has just had a weird week. It will be better!!! haha. soooooooo que debo decir.

Some miracles totally happened!!! yes!!! La familia Nava went to church!!! Yes!!! They are soooooo cute!!! I love them!!! I will have to take a photo with them, so you can see them!! I love them tons!!! They are really accepting and they are definitely feeling the Spirit during the lessons. We're super lucky to have them in our area and that we get to teach them. Heavenly Father really is blessing us.

Hermano Jorge accepted a date!!!!!!!! He got his answer about Jose Smith and he is having his interview TONIGHT!!!!! whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat. no puedo creerlo!!! He's getting baptized super soon!!!!!! He's such a good person. I can't wait for him to find the joy of the gospel in his life. 

The weather has been pretty crazy here. It's pouring one second then SUPER hot and humid the next. I don't exactly understand, but no me importa! I will just keep doing whatever I need to.

One thing I learned is that I just need to do whatever God wants me to do. He knows best and although I don't understand some things that He tells me, I know if I do them, it will all work out in the end.

I hope everything is amazing there! Welcome back Travis!!!! Tell everyone I said hi and I love them!!!! The mission is the best. I have learned so much. I know my life has already changed because of it and God definitely wanted me here. Keep working hard. Love you muchly!!! :)

22 June 2015

So not much is happening. This week was a little....well.... nothing really happened. We taught, met people, Hermana Hall wasn't feeling too good this week, but we were able to go out and see some people! Very good :)

Hmmmmmmmmm I'm sorry this is going to be the shortest most boring letter ever. No time and not much to say! Just know I love you all :):) and I have pictures because we had an activity. Super fun!!!!!