Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Letter 19 - Week 21


Thanks mamma:) 

I don't have time to write all I want to, but this week our investigator that knows more english than spanish went to church with us :) I prayed the whole time that she would feel the spirit. In the middle of the meeting she started crying because of a talk that was given by a boy getting ready to leave on his mission. She put her hand on my knee and than said thank you to me. I almost cried, it was really sweet :) After the meeting she said thank you and gave me hug before I could stop her haha. She didn't know haha, it was funny:) 

It’s really a weird experience every time I teach her because she talks to me in english. I don't know why, but it is so hard for me to teach or express my thoughts to her in english.  I always start rambling off in spanish hahaha... but yeah.. oh yeah by the way you know that feeling you get when you give a talk... yeah well it’s twice as strong when you give one in spanish! A la gran...... love you guys!

I really miss you mama! Thanks for your letters every week :)) I like reading all the stories. They’re so funny lol :).

Hey Papa,

 I can not believe kk crashed the car hahaha .... Thats super funny that she hit a tree!! I’m glad you have found an appreciation for zip-ties ;)) Thanks for all the prayers. Oh, and I’m sorry you couldn't go to the falls. Don't worry, I feel your pain, but not in the same way:) I’m really starting to love it down here. I’m not sure I’m going to want to go home haha.. 

I have the feeling that I’m going to have changes this next change meeting because I really don't want to leave my area. I have made some really good friends that I love like crazy. I’m enjoying the work that I’m doing and the life of a missionary. It is truly a different world that we live in as missionaries; Imagine a world without electronics, without cars, without movies, without cellphones, without regular music. It’s spiritually intense and sooooo much different... but it’s so enjoyable. I don't miss what I don't have until I hear the music in the street or see our investigators watching something. Other than that, I don't miss it at all. Estoy super tranquilo con paz. (I feel very peaceful.) 


The days are just floating by because I am constantly busy thinking about lessons and where we need to go or what to do. This last week was so awesome :) 34 lessons, which is very high for this area, this zone. We had 9 investigators at church, never had that happen. If everything goes through we should be having 4 baptisms here in the next few weeks:)))

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Letter 18 - Hand written letter sent the end of May/beginning of June 2015

Hey Momma,

I don’t really know how to express through words how much I miss you guys.  I’ve realized how much I truly love each one of you and how important every single member of our family is to me while I’ve been out here.  

I hate to say it, or even admit it, but you never truly know what you have until you loose it.  I think this concept really goes along with our Heavenly Father’s plan for us.  Even though it’s probably so hard for him to watch.  We have to pass through these trials so that we can find happiness.  Without bad, there can’t be good;  Without darkness we would never find the light. 

I wish I could have shown the gratitude I have now to you guys and my Heavenly Father before I left.  Although I may not have shown it before, I love you so much, you and dad both.  I was always upset with the rules and restrictions you guys gave me, but they have truly SAVED me, and I am so GRATEFUL now that you LOVED me enough to give those rules and guidance when I was younger!

I’m ever so grateful for this opportunity to be out here.  Although it is so amazing to bring others unto the light on a mission, I believe a mission gives more to the missionary.  It is the best environment to build a testimony, or the foundation for which you will build off the rest of your life.  The people here, even non-members, call us angels.  I don’t think it’s because we are angels or even close to them, but they can feel the presence of those angels that walk with us and are helping us in every angle of the work.  

The Lord has so many promised blessings to faithful missionaries in the Doctrine & Covenants it’s ridiculous.  We have the opportunity to put his promises to the test and see  miracles.  I have already seen so much and received so much.  One thing that I have grown in testimony about is the power of prayer.  My whole day, every single day, is run off prayer. Most especially when I am on divisions. I have had to do divisions with the district leader of few times and that means I am by myself in my area with someone that doesn’t know English or my area.  I have to run the day all by myself, which is super intimidating.  But, somehow those days always turn out to be the best days.  

One experience I had my last division showed me again the power of prayer.  I had every single appointment fall through and only had two more hours left to get two lessons in.  My companion and I had managed to find a new investigator and teach them earlier.  We had made a covenant of three lessons for that day and I knew we were going to get them, I just didn't know how! (Oh, and yes, 3 or 4 lessons in one day is a lot here in this area.)  I said a quick prayer in my head reminding my Father in Heaven that we had made a covenant to work as hard as we could if he would give us three lessons.  

I prayed for guidance and felt prompted to visit and old contact from like a month before, but it was super far away, 2 sectors away.  We went anyways.  When we got there I knocked on the door and waited... and waited... and waited.  After like 6 or 7 minutes I was like, what the heck, and was about to leave.  Then I felt prompted to knock again even harder.  I did and an old man poked his head out the door and asked what we wanted.  We were able to get a solid, super spiritual lesson in with this guy.  In fact, one of the best we have ever had!  He was super interested and full of great questions.  Our next visit we are going to bring him a Book of Mormon.  

After that lesson, it wasn’t over.  I didn’t know where to go again, but felt like we should go up the hill and visit a 19 ear old that we had been visiting.  We got into his house easily and got our 3rd lesson.  In the middle of the lesson it started pouring rain like crazy.  By the time we were going to leave the streets were filled with a few inches of water and the water was coming down so hard we were going to be soaked head to toe. Luckily, the Lord was watching after us and sent us to the home of a taxi driver who offered us a ride home.  He drove us to the entrance of our sector, but when he tried to drive up our hill the water was coming down so fast and deep that it was pushing the car backwards and it couldn’t make it up the hill.  

We got out and ran to our apartment with our bags in our hands, trying to protect our books.  We made it to our apartment soaked. At the apartment I found I had left my window open so my bed was soaked.  That sucked!  Also, the water was pouring down our stairs hat lead to our roof like a little waterfall.  It wasn’t so bad because not long after we got home, the rain settled down and the little waterfall went away, hehehe.  I’ve been having experiences like this every week.  They make the time fly by.  The Lord is shoving so much at us in just two years.  

Anyways, I love you Momma! I’m sorry this won’t get to you by Mothers Day, but I hope you had a great one!

XOXOXO



Letter 17 - Week 18

June 1, 2015 (sorry, I’m posting it late)

Thanks Momma! 

I have really been learning the importance of faith and obedience these last few months. Also, humility I have learned is a really important. I feel like I have to stay super humble to receive the Lords help. Anytime I receive his help I can’t think highly of what I was able to accomplish, because it wasn't me, it was just the Lord working through me. 

There has been a few times were everything is going awesome, were getting things done and seeing great results, and then I start to forget the lord in small places of the work. I start to get a little proud and stop asking for the help and giving the praise back. Every time I have to re-humiliate myself haha. 

I love the scripture either 12:27 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

SO, This week has been fun. I received my new comp, Elder Magdelano from Mexico. He is an awesome comp and likes to work hard and have fun! Sometimes he doesn't always think things all the way through which is a little frustrating ha, but I love his enthusiasm. I don't know how many lessons he has stacked on top of each other this week, but it’s a handful. 

I have asked him a few times how he thought we were going to be in two places at one time, or in one end of our area at 4:30, have a lesson, and then be at the other end at 5:00; a 30 minute walk LOL
 -___-. haha, He's a goober haha. But, the best thing about him is his ability to connect with everyone. We have been able to make all of our goals and exceed them by a few this first week together which has been exciting. 

Don’t worry there are plenty of things that bug me about my comp, but there are way more things that I love! and don't worry to much about the girls they are smart and spiritual! but they are still young woman ;) what a cuwinkydink that those boys move in right after i leave. hmmm.. you can tell them i’ll be back in a year and a half and a few ;)

Thanks dad! 

And happy birthday! I hope it’s a good one:) I wish I could be at the property with you guys, but I have plenty more opportunities in the future:) I talked a little about changes and my new comp in my letter to mom. In all honesty it was really hard to leave my dad here in the mission. I never really realized how much I depended on him, and now it’s all up to me to get things done while my comp is getting to know everyone and the area. He only has 4 months like me, so it has put a little bit of stress on us, but were still getting tons done :)