27 April 2015

okay funniest thing ever! we have this recent convert, his name is Hermano Chavez and he's 87 years old. and he loves it when we sing to him. So we tried, but we just started laughing, so he stopped us and said, no. I will sing for you. He just starts singing like opera style. SUPER funny and it was like the cutest thing ever!! hahaha 

Although we didn't get the baptism we were thinking we could have, we did have Jaime's baptism!! He is sooooooo cool! He's the one I told you about in the other email. He's such a good guy and he really wants to do what's right. He biked like 20 miles just to get to his baptism and church because he doesn't have a car. Wow. He is super committed! 

We have been having super good lessons lately. and in some we've been super fuerte. Sometimes you have to be really tough and let them know hey you have to follow this commandment, but we try to do it with love too. because that's how it works best. 

One really amazing thing that happened is that we were role playing for one of our investigators who we were going to invite to be baptized and as we were doing it the Spirit was so strong. I seriously felt this joy in my heart that I can't explain. We just knew that he was going to accept. So that night we invited him and he said he felt really good about it and he was willing to do what it took to change. How amazing is that! He should get baptized super soon :) we're hoping this week if that's what the Lord wants! 

Ooooo Grandma will love this!!! I found 15 names that I am taking to the temple with our recent converts!!!!! How amazing!!!!! I can do the women and then all of our recent converts are going to do the men. In that case it's nice that our recent converts are all men hahaha :)

The mission brings such a joy and love of people and the gospel. I can't even explain it to you. I love it so much. I know I'm changing as a person and I get to see others completely change their lives and do what God wants. This really is the work of salvation and I am willing to do whatever God needs me to do to help people come unto Christ and have the misma felicidad que tenemos. We are truly so blessed to have the gospel in our lives. Everyone needs it. They might think they don't, but they do. Every person you pass on the street, in your work, everywhere they need the peace and truth that comes with the Gospel. Never forget that :) 

I love you all with all of my heart!!! Never give up on your faith! Remember that God loves you no matter what. But it's up to us to work to feel that love. because only the Spirit can bring the love of God. entonces to feel that, we have to be worthy and be keeping the commandments. It can be hard, but as we do it, our lives will be so much better because God knows best and He can help us so much more than anyone or anything else.

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!! I can't believe we'll be talking next month!!! craaaaaazy :)

20 April 2015

Guess who it is again! ME :) how are you all? How's the weather? Michelle sent me a picture of it snowing, so I'm guessing it's a little cold. Here it has been beautiful! I have the worst tan lines ever... it's super funny. Lauren, I know you'll make fun of me when I get back. pero esta bien :) hahah we did have a GIANT storm here. We were told to go back to our apartments early because it was so bad. I loved it. The lightning was insane! We weren't even aloud to leave the church until there was a little break (because we were having a lesson with our recent converts) it was awesoooooome!

So this week I went on exchanges in Galveston. It is so pretty there! It's crazy though because the Hurricane that went through there a little bit ago really affected the area, so it can be kind of sketchy, but the people are super nice. I went with Hermana Christensen who actually was in the MTC with me. She's super cool and such a good missionary! I love her!!

English class is SO good!!! We keep having more and more people come, and we are having a baptism next week for Jaime, who we gave an English tarjeta to!! It's so cool! He's the best! So what happened with him is we were driving to a cita when I saw Jaime and I jumped out of the car and ran over and started talking to him about English class. He was so excited! and we told him we taught about Jesus Christ too, and he said he wanted to listen as well! After that we gave him the information and he started calling us all the time. We went over and taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon and he got so into it. Sadly, we found out he was part of the other Hermanas area, so we couldn't teach him anymore, but they did such a good job and now he's getting baptized!!! What!? It's been four weeks since we first gave him the first lesson! Amazing!!! And he talks all about how when we first found him he was drunk, but he completely has changed his life around. He talks about how grateful he is that we found him. Even his friends have noticed a difference! He's the best!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!! I have such a testimony of English Class and OYMing :) 

Hmmmm que mas..... we helped with a 5k that was pretty fun! We found four new investigators. Sweet!!! 

OH GUESS WHAT!!!!!! WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK in our area. We don't know who, but it's going to happen :) we know it. whooooooo!!! There will be pictures after the baptism, don't worry :)

Okay now for one of our miracles!!!!! Coolest thing happened. So we promised that we wouldn't go to church unless we had one of our investigators there. (because we've been having some problems getting investigators to Church) so we made that promise and Sunday came. We had like 7 people who said they would be there, but they hadn't shown up.It hit 12:28 two minutes before Church started when Johny a recent convert called us. He said Ruben was dropping him off, but Ruben didn't want to come in. We were not going to have that of course! So we waited outside until his car pulled up. We convinced Ruben to come in to Sacrament and surprise! There was another guy with him and he just decided to come to Church too! We had 2 investigators at church that we hadn't planned one. God is the best! He basically did everything for us! And they're going to get baptized soon!!! They're super cool :) Maybe one of them will be baptized this weekend! hahah isn't that amazing!? God truly is a God of miracles. 

I love being a missionary! Times are hard and crazy, but you feel more joy bringing people into the gospel than anywhere else. I just wish everyone could have the same joy that we have, but sometimes they don't want to listen. I have learned 'rejection doesn't mean no, just not yet.' I know whatever is God's will is going to happen. We just are blessed to see what happens :) hahaha

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!!