This was one of the most beautiful weeks I've had.
I'll start with the funny parts...
So we found another scorpion but it was dead so we kinda just left it on the floor and as we were doing our studies, our house owners cat came in and totally ate the dead scorpion it was so funny. So my comp loves to do these "Happiness is..." and after that she said, in english, "Happiness is seeing a cat eat a dead scorpion." I died laughing!
Also, so here in this area, there is a garbage truck that drives around, and you know its outside when you can hear a song blasting. You hand the garbage truck workers you garbage bags, and they put them in... So we heard it as we were studying. We had to hurry and put together all the garbage in one big bag and we left and so as we were walking down it totally started to drive away and you bet, I ran after the truck hahha I probably ran a good block with this garbage bag in my hands yelling for the truck to stop. The music is still loudly playing and my comp stayed back laughing her head off, (I was literally sprinting in a dress) I almost got hit by a car.. but they stopped. but at least I got to do my extra exercise for the day!
So now more spiritual stuff... Last monday right after writing, as my comp and I and Hermana Jordan and her comp were all walking, we walked passed a main street where a little boy had been hit by a motorcycle and was lying on the ground and couldn't move his legs, many people were surrounding him. The first thing that came to my mind was, hey the priesthood, this kid needs a blessing. Then our comps kept walking (I was walking with H Jordan) Then we kept talking about how we could help him but we totally kept walking and then it hit me so hard, "You don't know what you could change for this family by just sharing the idea of helping" So we stopped our comps and turned around, it was a big group so the three of them stayed back as I went into the group and knelt down by the little boy and his older brother and in front of everyone introduced myself as a representative of Jesus Christ and how we believe that the Priesthood power of God has been restored and how with this special power men of the church can give blessings of health and asked if he would be okay if we visited them later. He said yes, and gave me his information. We called later and set an appointment but he ended up not being able to. But as far as I know, the little boy is better.
There was such a special confidence in offering this idea and everyone knew that I was a personal representative of Jesus Christ himself. I felt so much happiness. I don't know what will happen, but I'm so happy that I'm not regretting that I didn't offer, at least.
Another day, as we had a day of contacting and knocking in a neighborhood for many hours, we finally left to go to an appointment at 7, as we walked, I said a personal prayer letting God know that I was happy with all of these many contacts but that if we were to stop for anyone special that He knows he could trust in me and that I would. So just about 10 minutes later as we were walking up a hill I noticed a young woman walking down the street holding her baby, I immediately thought, "hey, the Plan of Salvation, and we could ask her where she thinks her baby was just a year ago." So you bet we stopped her, I suddenly felt a need of hers but didn't know exactly how to address her about it so that I could know what it was. But she told us we could visit her and after telling us where she lives, I asked for another street and then looked up at her as a big tear drop fell down her face and I felt the impression that something was going on with the father of her baby and a little more, and so I asked her if she would like to sit down and she said "Yes" and so we sat on the curb and let her cry it all out. She told us why she was upset. The spirit had helped me to know what had happened. She accepted a visit and we said a prayer with her and she left.
The Lord loves His children so much. He is aware of YOUR needs. He knows them. I testify of that.
I have more amazing stories from this week but very little time. I can't wait to share them all with you!
Love you all so much. But after this week I know that God loves you even more and that He is so in tune with every little thing you're passing.
Let Him in.
Come unto Him.
Let His love surround you, cause when it does..
It feels SO GOOD!!!
Monday May 8 2017
We had a baptism for Johnny Condori, he is 17 and we have been teaching him lately. He was really happy to make this decision. The pictures don't really show it but, he was haha!
So one morning, I woke up and just studied a good 4 chapters in Alma which were really beautiful chapters! Then I got a little frustrated about not being able to leave cause I really just want to get out and talk to people!
I decided I would read in Preach my Gospel under the section about Patience and Hope. I studied the scriptures and stuff and I just remember realizing I need to be more patient!
Its hard that I know my purpose as a missionary is to get out and talk to as many people as I can and teach everyone who will listen about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet I have to stay in bed!
But I had a comforting thought come to my mind, "if you get frustrated about little things like being in bed for a month(could be worse) how do you expect to be worthy in the presence of God.
Frustration isn't a peaceful feeling if anything its a form of anger. So the thought made sense.
I learned that Christ-like attributes are for us to become worthy to be in His presence one day. And that a frustrated person wouldn't be worthy of that.
I felt more peace to just think, "well, its my trial, I gotta take it how it comes and learn what God wants me to learn, and this thing might be more patience!
Haha
I love you all!
Monday May 1 2017
We had 4 baptisms!
Just kidding, Ive been in bed all day everyday haha I broke my fibula! I'm sure you all already know cause my mom has been so worried! Even I worried more about my mom being worried than I worried about myself!
So what happened?
Last week on Monday in the morning, before I wrote home, we played soccer as a zone.
To be honest I was really enjoying it until I made a weak step and heard a huge snap and tried to get up and realized that I didn't just roll it but something really actually hurt so I was like, "Someone help me" (I was kind of laughing so I don't think that they really took me seriously until I got serious haha) Only one elder knew what to do and so he helped put it back into place and then I walked on it for a bit and probably really shouldn't have done that but later on I went to the clinic and I now have a cast for 4 weeks, now only 3 weeks!
I'm doing great though!
One of the funny things that happened this week was when my comp and I were in our room (I basically didn't ever leave) and because I was hurt, my comp was on the duty of killing all the bugs or moths... So I'm laying on my bed and she's running around the whole room screaming and trying to kill this giant flying bug it came by my head and so I threw my blankets over me (The best I could do in this situation) and she just says, "You really don't wanna know where it is right now" then she said with a big relief, "Okay, you can come out" and she told me that it was on my foot (the one with the cast) I think I almost wet myself laughing so hard, I was so helpless!
Im feeling good and with good spirits. I can't wait to get out and work!
Love you all and hope that you all have a great week!
Monday Apr 17 2017
Do you ever literally "Stand all amazed" at the love that Jesus has for you?
Cause I do!
There are so many times that in our lives we will pass the feeling of being alone, not good enough, frustrated, etc. But I can testify that God, if we allow Him to be, will be in every single moment like this. I know that He loves when we call for Him to join us in our problems. In fact, at times I really feel that He gives us our hard times to really more powerfully call upon Him. I also know that when we do our part to call upon Him, that He will send us our angels to walk with us and to give us that heavenly hug that every human being really is in need of. Whether they admit it or not.
We as humans cannot live without love and thats something that I love about Christ cause someone that can feel no love from anyone can surely feel it from Christ. It's so unconditional.
I hope that "Prayer" is a daily priority for each of you. This week I have been contemplating a lot about Prayer and what it has been for me in my life. I remember that when I was about 8 years old, possibly younger, I prayed every night that I wouldn't forget to say my prayers. I repeated the same prayer every night. However, since then I can promise you that I have been reminded every single night, to the point that I realized I can't end my day without ending it with a short or long conversation with my Heavenly Father.
I have come to learn that He absolutely LOVES it!
I invite all of you to make this a priority and if needed, to pray each night to never forget to remember Him.
He will bless you and you will feel it cause your mind will naturally start to recognize the spiritual kinds of stuff. Its the best!
If you would like to, you can even go listen to, "Did you think to Pray?" the LDS church hymn. I've been singing it lots this week haha.
We also have been teaching a family. La familia Camacho, their son, Enrique has a baptismal date for the 6th of May. He is doing really well and the past two weeks as been coming to church with his little sister who also has the same baptismal date.
Last night we had a family night with their mom and two little 7 year old twin sisters. Their dad lives in the states. The moms name is Karen and after we finished teaching the Plan of Salvation to the family she really liked it and felt that it answered so many questions that she has had. I felt the spirit so strong and my comp and I testified to her of this pure plan that God has for us and we committed her to pray about being baptized and she accepted and told us that she will come to church on Sunday!
Things are going great for me personally and in the area.
My comp, Hermana Campana is from Parris California and she's so fun! We get along so well and I just really know that God knows us all so perfectly!
Love you all! Have a great week! And don't forget to pray ;)
Monday Apr 10 2017
This week was a normal week with some little special blessings (love those)
So I was on an intercambio with a one of the sisters who is in Villa Moscú (where I started my mission) her name is Hermana Howell she is from Las Honduras and sings like an angel!
We contacted so many people this day, its a harder area because the people are usually on vacation but we talked to every person we saw. One of my favorite things that happened that day was when we were walking and out of the blue just stopped to contact a guy sitting in his car outside of his house about to drive away and he told us that his son was studying to be a missionary like us and trying to make sure that it was our church and not of another he ended up calling his son so his son came out and was like, "hey sisters!" and came down to talk and we set an appointment with his dad to visit this coming week (I won't be there) and when his dad left the son had explained to us that he just sent his papers for the mission in, and then he said, "Thank you for being the answer to my prayers to teach my dad".
What a special little miracle!
Also, with hermana Jordan, we did a talent show and sang, "Love is an Open Door" from Frozen, I basically wet myself laughing and it was so funny, I'm going to try to send a video!
Were meeting a lot of new people and families to teach, so that makes me super pumped!
We had cambios this week, so Hermana Chambi will be going to a different area and Hermana Campana from California will come here to Cala Cala with me!
Love you all so much, have a great week!
Monday Apr 3 2017
This week has been another week filled with small and big miracles. I love it so much!
More than anything, I love that our Heavenly Father knows our hearts and wants to bless us, obviously depending on the state of where our heart is at.
President and Hermana Hansen invited us and two other companionships in our Zone to have a family home evening with investigators and so we invited a new family that we just started to teach. I met Rosario (mom) while I was with a different sister, here in my area. We contacted her and invited them to go to church the following week, (last week) and she ended up bringing her daughter and granddaughter, Andrea and Samantha. So we invited them for the FHE but they told us that they couldn't cause they had something for Samantha(8 years old) at her school. So we visited them the day of the FHE and Andrea ended up asking more about the FHE and what it is and told us to convince Rosario to come so that they could all go. So haha we did ;)
So we were going to pick them up at 6:40 to be on time for the FHE at 7 and when we got there in a taxi the husband of Rosario, Edwin, pulled out their garage in his car ready to "drop us off".
We pull up to Presidents house and he is just waiting for us to all get out, I said to him, "hey you're not going to come?" and he told me, "no, I have things to do." So I told him, "but you're the father of the family you should just come to spend a little time with them." He insisted that he had other things to do. Then here comes the voice of the marvelous spirit, "Just 15 minutes and then you can leave with no problem." He parked the car and we walked in the house with the whole family.
Guess who stayed the whole time, and made a special comment about what he loved about how he felt, EDWIN!
I love the spirit so much. Its so bold, yet so subtle. He laughed as I told him at the end of the hour and a half, "how did you like the 15 minutes?"
He asked us to never stop visiting them until we leave from this area.
This was probably one of my favorite things that happened this week. I'm feeling so thankful and more than anything, I love to follow the spirit even if it's just a small comment, it can really create a big outcome.
Something I absolutely loved from conference was from Elder Rasband he said that the spirit often comes in a feeling from familiar words.
If it feels good and even familiar, just do it!
Love you all, have a great week!
Monday Mar 27 2017
I'll start with the funny parts...
So we found another scorpion but it was dead so we kinda just left it on the floor and as we were doing our studies, our house owners cat came in and totally ate the dead scorpion it was so funny. So my comp loves to do these "Happiness is..." and after that she said, in english, "Happiness is seeing a cat eat a dead scorpion." I died laughing!
Also, so here in this area, there is a garbage truck that drives around, and you know its outside when you can hear a song blasting. You hand the garbage truck workers you garbage bags, and they put them in... So we heard it as we were studying. We had to hurry and put together all the garbage in one big bag and we left and so as we were walking down it totally started to drive away and you bet, I ran after the truck hahha I probably ran a good block with this garbage bag in my hands yelling for the truck to stop. The music is still loudly playing and my comp stayed back laughing her head off, (I was literally sprinting in a dress) I almost got hit by a car.. but they stopped. but at least I got to do my extra exercise for the day!
So now more spiritual stuff... Last monday right after writing, as my comp and I and Hermana Jordan and her comp were all walking, we walked passed a main street where a little boy had been hit by a motorcycle and was lying on the ground and couldn't move his legs, many people were surrounding him. The first thing that came to my mind was, hey the priesthood, this kid needs a blessing. Then our comps kept walking (I was walking with H Jordan) Then we kept talking about how we could help him but we totally kept walking and then it hit me so hard, "You don't know what you could change for this family by just sharing the idea of helping" So we stopped our comps and turned around, it was a big group so the three of them stayed back as I went into the group and knelt down by the little boy and his older brother and in front of everyone introduced myself as a representative of Jesus Christ and how we believe that the Priesthood power of God has been restored and how with this special power men of the church can give blessings of health and asked if he would be okay if we visited them later. He said yes, and gave me his information. We called later and set an appointment but he ended up not being able to. But as far as I know, the little boy is better.
There was such a special confidence in offering this idea and everyone knew that I was a personal representative of Jesus Christ himself. I felt so much happiness. I don't know what will happen, but I'm so happy that I'm not regretting that I didn't offer, at least.
Another day, as we had a day of contacting and knocking in a neighborhood for many hours, we finally left to go to an appointment at 7, as we walked, I said a personal prayer letting God know that I was happy with all of these many contacts but that if we were to stop for anyone special that He knows he could trust in me and that I would. So just about 10 minutes later as we were walking up a hill I noticed a young woman walking down the street holding her baby, I immediately thought, "hey, the Plan of Salvation, and we could ask her where she thinks her baby was just a year ago." So you bet we stopped her, I suddenly felt a need of hers but didn't know exactly how to address her about it so that I could know what it was. But she told us we could visit her and after telling us where she lives, I asked for another street and then looked up at her as a big tear drop fell down her face and I felt the impression that something was going on with the father of her baby and a little more, and so I asked her if she would like to sit down and she said "Yes" and so we sat on the curb and let her cry it all out. She told us why she was upset. The spirit had helped me to know what had happened. She accepted a visit and we said a prayer with her and she left.
The Lord loves His children so much. He is aware of YOUR needs. He knows them. I testify of that.
I have more amazing stories from this week but very little time. I can't wait to share them all with you!
Love you all so much. But after this week I know that God loves you even more and that He is so in tune with every little thing you're passing.
Let Him in.
Come unto Him.
Let His love surround you, cause when it does..
It feels SO GOOD!!!
Monday Mar 20 2017
So this week I got to go to a different area in a place called Villa Moderna with a sister named hermana Camacho, she's from Ecuador and so sweet, we ate chuño and I actually really liked it hahah and then I got to dress like a cholita (I love them) and I held a chicken. WOO
We have met some really great people this week. We also found that family that Hermana Jordan and I ran after. They were so excited that we came and let us in right then. We didn't have too much time but my comp and I got to know them a bit more and got to share with them about the love that God has for each of them. They all have been reading the pamphlet that we gave them and they really are a cute family so lets see what happens this week! We plan on meeting with them again.
We also got to meet a father that lives in the same house lot thing and we gave him our card. His name is Mario, and just yesterday he called us to see if we could come visit him and his daughter and we taught them the beginning of the Restoration but turns out that he is actually really broken inside because of his divorce and how it all happened. I immediately felt so much love for him and for his sweet daughter. We shared our testimonies about the Book of Mormon and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
I'm really so thankful for my understanding of the Atonement. Though it may not be a perfect understanding, I have a lot of faith in it. I know that through it and only through it I can actually feel the change that God has waiting for me.
A scripture that I have been really loving this week is in Mosiah 3 verses 7-9 and 19.
The suffering of Christ is literally for each and every single one of us even us who are completely subject to following the natural man, who is an enemy to God.
Everything about the Gospel of Jesus Christ really makes me so happy. I'm so thankful and I invite all of you to study His Gospel and His Atonement. After all, it applies to each of us!
There is not one heart in the world that doesn't have the ability to be healed by the Atonement of Christ.
I love you all!
Monday Mar 13 2017
So Jorge couldn't be baptized this week because he had way to many things going on but we talked to him and we changed the date to the 25th of March.
A couple of my favorite contacts this week were:
So I was with a different sister for one day, her name is Hermana Jordan from Orem, Utah! She is so awesome. So were just contacting a bunch and all the contacts were great, but then we saw a family and we were like, "RUN" and so we ran and it was the cutest family. and they were so happy to receive us. We're gunna try to visit them this week!
Another, my comp and I were walking in the street to go find a house and we walked past this young girl and really fast we just ran over to her and she openly talked to us and we asked if we could pick her up to go to church the next day (Sunday) and she was like yeah! and so we tried to call her before we went and text but she didn't respond but we still went and we easily found her apartment in the complex and she walked out all ready to go! Her name is Elian Espinoza and turns out that her cousin lives in Utah going to BYU. We're also going to visit her this week and she is excited to come again to church on Sunday!
Another... So about 3 weeks ago with another sister name Hermana Maclachlan, we were contacting and we found a woman named Esther Flores and we have tried to find her many times but she hasn't been there but finally we went this week but this time before knocking, we both said a silent prayer and I just felt like my faith personally was so strong that she really would be there. and GUESS WHAT! She was, and she remembered us and let us in and we ended up teaching her and her husband all of the Restoration discussion and they loved it, were going to come back this week to meet with them. Im so happy! Where she lives, they also do corn tortillas (they're hard to find here) and I was so happy cause she gave me a bag filled when I told her I love them. THEYRE DELICIOUS!!!
God loves you all, I do too. Prayer does lots of beautiful things and I'm feeling really thankful for this Gospel!
Have a great week!
Monday Feb 13 2017
This week as I was pondering a lot about the Lords will and how its so hard for us as humans to do it, I started thinking of why it's so hard. The best analogy I thought of was that we are literally addicts to our own ways.
Were addicted to what we like, we get too comfortable, and we just don't wanna step out of our Zone.
And like any addict that is trying to make a change, its not easy.
It takes strength, a plan, and desire.
But when we cross that bridge from our own road to the road that our Heavenly Father wants us to be on, it takes a little getting used to, but we learn that its the best fitted road for us. And that is literally FILLED with blessings.
Heavenly Father knows each of us so perfectly that His will, will never be something we wont benefit from.
The only way that we can start to want to do His will is through obedience. Obedience to His word to His commandments. To only do the things that wont offend the spirit, and to try and endure.
This week as we visited with Vivian, we talked to her about the Book of Mormon and she was so happy to read it and she immediately said, "I know its true". Man, I love talking about this book! Seriously, it makes me so happy! She then had told us that she had talked to her dad about everything that we had been teaching her and he told her that he wants to be baptized as well, we were so happy and told her that he will be able to but that we will need to visit with him so that he can receive a testimony of the teachings. We will visit him this coming Tuesday! Im so excited to meet with him!
We visited her again on Sunday cause she didn't go to church (our fault... She thought we were gunna pick her up #woops next sunday though) and she had told us that she told her dad that he could be baptized as well and he was really happy, like SO HAPPY! Because he had been to almost every church in the city and even had gone to different towns, but that no one would baptize him because he was too old and for whatever other reason and he was so sad cause he wanted to be baptized cause he never had been before.
We felt so much peace telling her that the Church of God will never reject, not one of His children that want to come unto Him. She was so happy to hear that.
Vivian had a lot of questions of just a lot of little random things but I just felt so much happiness and excitement about being a part of the true church of Jesus Christ.
She is progressing really great and Im so excited to continue to see more!
I know that I am teaching truth and that God loves us all. And that we are put in every specific road that we need to be in to meet who knows who and to really help this world make a little more sense and get together.
I love you all and I hope you all have a great week!
Monday Jan 30 2017
So last week as we were contacting in the street we walked passed a young mom pushing her stroller walking along side her dad and as we passed my comp and I both turned around and we were like, "should we go?" and debating and then ended up running after her hahah (why do I even debate these things still? haven't I learned? lol) and as we talked to them and explained who we are and what our purpose is, the mom, Vivian, accepted a visit in her home for this week.
So we visited her and we taught her all about the Restoration and about Joseph Smith and this woman has a lot of faith! She believed in everything we taught her and the spirit was really sweet and present.
Later this week we visited her again and taught her about the Plan of Salvation and she accepted a baptismal date for the 25 of February. She was really eager to move forward and follow Christ.
I love how the spirit can push us as much as we need to, to find and rescue our brothers and sisters.
We could have totally just passed her and kept moving forward but we both new that we needed to talk to her, thanks to the spirit. She is more than anything ready to take these steps more fully in her life!
Im really excited to see what happens for her and to keep working with her.
Right now were in a moment of finding more people to teach but this area is great and has lots of potential I think!
I love you all have a great week!
Monday Jan 23 2017
So this week has really been so beautiful! I have felt the spirit so strong. The people are so fantastic and ready to hear the gospel and make changes. Our ward is really solid and Im just feeling really pumped to keep doing the will of the Lord. Its the most rewarding thing ever!
We have some great improving investigators that have baptismal dates for the 4th of February. One is a 13 year old girl named Nikole Rocha and she is so sweet, we gave her a chapter in the Book of Mormon to read and when we went back she had read like 3 chapters but was scared that she hasn't received a powerful answer that she should be baptized and we talked about all the feelings that she has been feeling while we teach her and while she reads and it was like THE SPIRIT haha and she then realized that she had felt her answer and she's really preparing for her baptism!
We also have another investigator that is in a part member family, her name is Pamela Villarroel and she is great! She has a little girl and she has fantastic questions, the tricky ones that I love hehe, but we really helped her with her doubts and questions and she is preparing also for the 4th of February. I love seeing what the Lord does for the people with these beautiful teachings.
Im so thankful for the spirit that we can feel if we strive for it. Its the best guide we could ever have.
My companion is way cool, she's from La Paz, Bolivia and we have learned so fast how to work together.
This is a great life, even with all the messy and crazy stuff, theres always something that we can be thankful for!
Have a great week!