the sun is shining, the tank is clean....

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

haha, just kidding, i'm not in a fish tank, but I am in Maryland and the sun is shinging and it's super Fresh outside...which means - FALLS COMING!!! The humidity is basically gone and it's 60's when I get up and go running in the morning and no more than 85 during the day! It's awesome! Just in case anyone wanted to know about the weather :D

 

This week was pretty good! We had an investigator who we were meeting with to teacht the Restoration and we were going to have lunch with him and a member..While we were waiting for the member, we got to know him a little bit better and explain a little bit more about what we are about. Well, He had a HUGE/AWESOME question for us that has to do with Meso-American History...He said that the legends say that a White man appeared to the inhabitants of Meso-American back in like 34 AD and that they worship him and he was there god and that he said he would return  again but that there is no record of that in any book - that it is just legend. WELL - IT IS IN A BOOK, IT IS NOT JUST LEGEND, AND WE'D LOVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT!!!! OH man it was so cool! then our member showed up and we had lunch..then taught him the Restoration and about the Book of Mormon. It was super awesome...on the way to lunch I learned a little more Meso-American history from my companion and so some of the gaps were filled in. YEP! Check it out sometime...then go read 3 Nephi 11...it will fill in the gaps (ps - 3 Nephi is a book in the Book of Mormon, named after the prophets in the Book of Mormon just like the books in the Bible).

 

That was our super exciting thing this week. Other - oh we are teaching this couple, Noemi and Julio, and Julio is super knowledgable about the Bible...he says that he doesn't usually have time to go to church but he always studies the Bible and he's all for reading the Book of Mormon and learning if it is the Word of God, as is the Bible. YAY!! Super huge miracles - Heavenly Father is so good to us!

 

Things are going well...I can't believe we are almost to the middle of September. This Saturday, we get to do a walk with our ward with the Youth because it is service Saturday. So we are leading them from the chapel to a nature walk on temple grounds (btw- temple grounds is 57 Acres with a LOT of trees! Gorgeous!)...it is a walk for the homeless and anyone can come so we are helping out one of the Young Women's leaders and being leaders for the walk. [ps - i get to wear jeans and vans - YES! don't get me wrong I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! but i miss my jeans sometimes :P]

 

OH - and we have a new exhibit at the VC that is overwhelmingly powerful! Paintings "Yesterday, Today, and Forever" of how Christ's church is the same today as it was when he lived and will be the same forever. Check out the artist - Julie Rogers! She gave an amazing Devotional about how the spirit guided the paintings...I will let you know some when I take some pictures in the exhibit :D

 

 

Notes of LOVE :P (sounds kind of cheesy, haha)

-MOMMY/SMash! : thanks for my Package! You're the best! Just going to see what works! also...when ever the other clothes can come that would be awesome...should be needing probably october I think :P not really sure

-Kaity - where did you go my dear sister? I havn't heard from you in a bit...hope all is well!

-B-man! - how's school? mom told me the wardrobe has changed up a bit? I'm diggin it! Send me some pictures kid! you rock!

-Popsicle - heard you are all in your preparedness ness...Super cool! I wish I could see your presentations - I know they have to rock the socks off of all the people you teach! you're just that blessed!

-Grandma and Grandpa Word - thank you for the little note! You are both the best! Love you and miss you so much!

 

Well.. that's what I got. I will have you know though that I went shopping today and resisted buying anything! haha...yep! oh wait - okay, I bought 2 shirts but they were on sale. I'm trying, I'm trying :P

 

Well that's all I really have this week. Oh and I love you all! Keep up the family nights! and get to the temple! Both are super important and things the Lord has asked us to do. And the Lord promises blessings with everything! Blessings = money from the Lord.... and that is the only money that really matters :D

Stay safe!

 

Con Amor,

-Hermana Word

 

3079 - haha..we matched on Sunday and my camera has a color selection feature! so cool!

3048 - Temple Sunsets are the BEST!!!

3081 - our El Salvedoranian meal! Fried bananas, eggs, beans, salsa, and Alvacado! MMHMM!

3040 - aren't they adorable? little bananas! (Sorry - i just love pictures of Food :P

3086 - we had a girls day today - this is sister wong  in my glasses !  

Fw: yes...its thursday :D

  Thursday, September 6, 2012

haha, sorry I didnt write yesterday because I had to serve at the VC. We had a super fun fall sports day with the whole mission and three lucky companionships got to give up pday to be able to serve at the VC at 3.30...haha, seriously it was super fun and the VC was great so no worries at all!   Okay so this week was pretty weird...we had appts and more full days than we usually do (which is weird cause we usually have VC shift or have a bunch of study hours cause I'm new ish still...) anywho - many of our appts fell through and we ended up driving places, getting out and walking and no one was around. so it was a tad slow.   I do have a little sad news, Francisco isn't getting baptized :/ He was going to be baptized this Sunday be just wasn't ready to pay tithing and it was really sad because he knows it's important....It is all okay though because everything is in the Lord's timing and I have seen him come so far and learn so much that he just has to have a few more good touches that will help his faith grow and he'll be able to be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood authority of God.   Other news in the mission - KLISMA! have i told you about him? I think so. Well he is doing really well! He is keeping commitments and is an all around great person.  Right now, he is strugling a little with feeling the Spirit...more recognizing that it is the Spirit. We had a tour at the VC with him the other day (that is where we take him in and another sister at the VC gives him a lesson by the Spirit and with the resources at the VC). He was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and even said he felt peace as he was listening the the scriptures where Jesus Christ's speaks that goes along with the Christus. Peace is one of the fruits or manifestations of the Spirit. He just doesn't recognize it as that because he doesn't think he has ever felt it before because his friends before have told him that it's some big grand experience...which it can be but depends on the person, but overall it is a softness not super overwhelming until you start to understand it more, sometimes isn't. So we are trying to help him feel the Spirit and recognize that he is feeling it. All in all he is doing well, and I'm excited for him to learn what the Spirit feels like to him.   SPORTS DAY!! Well, we had this game where we were on a soccer field, with a soccer game going the length of the field with 2 soccer balls...the other way of the field was quiddich YES _ QUIDDICH...and the diaginal was capture the flag...oh and people threw dodgeballs to get people out. Well, gues what I played? haha, yep SOCCER!!! YEAH! we actually had 3 goalies, i was one but ended up playing defense. Thanks mom and dad for letting me play soccer as a kid! I was allowed to slide and stuff and it was awesome...I may have stolen one or two balls from some elders and everyone screamed HAHA it was super fun! So it was all and all a fun day!    Messages of love! -EVERYONE WHO HAS WRITTEN ME IN THE PAST MONTH 1/2 - I'm sorry...I'm so busy! Yes the work is wonderful and I want to tell you all about it I just don't have a lot of time...I'm sorry. and No time this week. Hopefully next week I can get some letters out...I know I said that last week, yes I'm a slacker (okay not - things just take time ya know :P) I'm trying and I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Oh and people I would write much more in the MTC - sorry...same excuse :P   WELL - enjoy the pictures! I love you all! This work is of the Lord. Take any chance you have to share the gospel! Share it with others, the Church of Jesus Christ is restored to the Earth today!   Con Amor! -Hermana Word     3002- Lomo soltera (i think that's what its called - my first peruvian dish)! 3004- ERIKA!!! You're the best! my bestie rocks! thank you darling...pretty sure the starburts were gone in line an hour :P 3020 - can you see that i got a little dirty on the field yesterday! LOVED IT!! 3034 - Hermana Avelar and I after the game...tried to do a cool color filter :P it worked alright id say 2987 - My 1st district leader went home last week :/ sadness but the new one is super legit!

Good Afternoon Family and Friends...

Wednesday, August29, 2012

Hahah...thats what the Assitant's to the President say when they call but a little different..
Anywho! GUESS WHAT??! I'm not going anywhere :P haha, yep, we had transfers today and I'm still with Hermana Avelar, my amazing mom who teaches me to how to teach lessons with cups and stuff. She's pretty great. Aside from her awesomeness - can you believe I've been on my mission since May?!?! Cause I can't - It's September this week...Weird! But awesome cause I'm loving my mission.

I'm excited were staying because we have two people on date for baptism - probs mentioned them before - and I want to see this through with them. So Francisco and Klisma. Well here is our problem...Both are having problems praying to know if Joseph Smith was a Prophet and If the Book of Mormon is the word of God. With Klisma, he has never had a problem praying before, but yesterday we taught him the plan of Salvation and watched the new Joseph Smith movie and he was so hesitant afterwords...it was really weird. Seemed like he prayed only cause we asked him to not because he wanted to know :/ Francisco is about the same. He knows the Bible really well and even the Book of Mormon, but he doesn't know if JS was a prophet or the Book of Mormon is the word of God as well. He says he doesn't pray for himself, only for others - WHICH IS GOOD! but to find out for himself, he has to ask. How would I find out how to tie my shoes if I had never asked my parents what was the right way to do it?? Any who that's where were at.

As for me - Things are great! I'm working on being more diligent and exercising my faith - meaning that when I get a prompting (or what I think is a prompting from the Spirit cause I'm still figuring that out) I act. It is a way I'm trying to learn how to teach by the Spirit. Yesterday, we had a teaching appointment at 5 but we were a little early to the neighborhood. There is a family there who were taught by the Elders and we are trying to teach again. I kept walking to the appt cause we were cutting it close to 5, but then I just decided we should go back and knock...we've knocked 3 times before, but guess what??? they opened the door!! Okay, the daughter did and her parents weren't home but she had family there. We are going to try back on Friday! So cool! Things are happening out here - I can feel it!

So our district Leader, Elder Rodriguez, headed back to Canada today  :/ well...I guess soon he gets on a plane. Sad and awesome! He was a great missionary and was always willing to help with whatever we needed. He served great and helped others through his service. That's what I'm here for to help others come unto Christ, but they have to want to as well. Anywho - we have a new district leader who we think has been out for just under a year and he's a little intimidated but he's cool. can't spell his name yet, but I'll let you know sometimes.

Just a quick thanks/love
-SMash - thanks for the inventory! you're the best...I have so many clothes, so I just needed to know what was in the box...i'll let you know what I need/don't
-Mommy/Daddy - thanks for my suvouneers (can you tell I don't speak english any more :P)! but I thought my SD was going to be in there...just making sure it's not lost so let me know please! thank you!
-EVERYONE ELSE - HOW IS EVERYONE??? I'm slacking on letters, I know and I'm sorry and probs won't get many out for this week or next cause we have a sport's day next week, but know I love you all thanks for all you love and support.

You're all amazing! Keep it up out there. Share your testimony by living as Christ did, and serve others. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God"  - sorry if that was off, but there is scripture that says that :) and It is true! I love it when we get to serve...and I do every
Con Amor!
-Hermana Word

ps- camera isn't coopertaing...sorry

sometimes Heavenly Father calms the storm...sometimes he humbles the sailor

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

haha, that is a quote from just like Heaven. But that has been my week this week. We have had some awesome investigators but they are dwindling. We made a goal last week as a district to figure out who really wants to change and who is just wanting to listen. We are here to invite others to come unto Christ, but there is no way that can happen if they don't want to change first. We did have a brand new investigator come to church though! That was awesome! We actually teach him in English cause he seems more comfortable that way, but that can be a sad thing..we might have to let him be taught by the English elders :/ But it's okay cause we are all doing the Lord's work! he is awesome - His name is Klisma, family is from Honduras and he had an LDS friend there who had actually taught him a bit about the church - in the first lesson he asked us about the sun, moon, and stars...pretty sweet eh? haha, well we explained the three degrees of glory to him and he was good :) PS - if you don't know what I'm talking about, please ask....my family or even the missionaries that live near to you...I don't have ample amounts of time to explain but the missionaries do and that is what they are there for.

 

We are still working with Francisco. Still has a date for baptism. That means solid - he's getting baptized on the ninth. We had an experience with Francisco about keeping the Sabbath day holy and for him to have the strength to talk to his manager so he can get Sunday's off. he said that his manager wouldn't understand because he isn't Christian. I got to bear testimony of how awesome my boss was when I had to go and do things for church or for my family. Jason was not Christian either but he respected me because I respected my own beliefs. So we are going to fast with Francisco so that he can get Sunday's off. he is dedicated and comes to church but we want him to receive all the blessings he can and not have to work Sundays at all..In the end it is his decision but we're here to help him.

 

What else? Well let's just say the sailor was calmed this week. I have been feeling overwhelmed, inadequete, and like I don't even know how to dress like a missionary. I didn't get it. I tried so hard before my mission/all my life to keep the rules and do what was asked of me and it was never this hard. My companion, the giant that she is (spiritually that is), helped me. There is a recording from Henry B. Eyring she listens to every morning and she was talking to me about that and how we are inadequete. I asked a calling from God to work in the name of Jesus Christ. It's going to be hard, but I'm being molded into a better person, I just need to work with my Savior and find the strength in him so when times get tough, i can keep moving forward. Vale la pena - worth the pain of growing. I.T.

 

So that's what I've learned this week. now little notes of love.

Mom - can you check that winter box I have packed...learning more about dress code here, not sure I can have all that stuff...and just email me a list, that would be awesome! Please and thank you!!

Kaity - CD's!!! and Ipod please?!! I can only have hymns in the car but all of my stuff would be awesome if you could get it to me, maybe with that letter? should all fit in a little flat rate box :)

Erika - can you send a lil note to Carree Britt and tell her she's awesome and I wrote her a letter but it came back :/ I re-send it!  THANK YOU!! oh ps - HAVE FUN AT MY CASA!

 

All in all - i love you all ! thank you for everything that you do. My spiritual thought this week is the temple. I have a problem when I go to the temple with falling asleep. I feel inadequete at times, but I know that no matter what - i did something good that day, and my days are always better when I take the time to go to the temple. If you're an RM, go with your friends if you can't go with family. If you're married, go with your spouse. The temple strengths us as individuals but also the relationships that we have with other people. Enjoy it. Go as often as you can. The Lord did not ask us to take on everything, but he asked us to follow him and how can we do that if we don't come unto him in his house.

 

That's all. I know that the temple is a great blessing, and where in families can be sealed together for time and all eternity. And I know this work is true, it is the Lord's. And I am here to help people make the steps that they may one day enter the temple for themselves and be sealed together.

Love you all!!!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

 

one is my comp, sismoore, and I when it was pouring - we took pieces of the old mural from behind the Christus :D

this is a cool tree...all the branches were just cut off and sitting on the ground - okay, they were logs

remember last week and my nasty legs...this is the one...sorry i'm so white, I took it when it was darker.

who recognizes this girl?? haha - yep, it's steph FRYE! okay, only BYUI people would get that :P she's sweet! I hosted her at the MTC.

translating is fun.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

haha, so this week has been pretty great. I got to teach a few temple tours at he Visitor's Center about why we have temples and who in temples we can make promises with Heavenly Father that can bind our family together for time and ALL eternity, not just until death do you part. I love these tours...actually, they are the only tours I have really given but that's what people want to know. They drive past this huge white building for YEARS - i mean YEARS and one day the just "decide" to come in. I know they come in for a reason and they were led there by the hand of the Lord. They may not want to learn more than that that specific day but at least they had a good experience and they can learn more later.

 

Weather's about the same. Little less humid but rains randomly. LOVE IT! oh and yep, did I tell you my leg looks like it has a desease? Well it does, and not both, just my left leg because i have this problem with scratching my bug bites and then they get a little beat up looking...not sure why i don't get any on my right leg or when I do they don't really itch. Just kind of weird.

 

COOL NEWS - okay much cool news!

-1st - FRANCISCO IS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED!!! We talked to him about the importance of baptism more and that the Lord is preparing him, and has been for a long time, even shared D&C 39:7-10 with him, and told him that we know he can be ready for baptism on the 9th of September. and he was a little hesitant at first but we addressed the concerns he had, and then he said in Spanish "We're going to do this!" and shook Hermana Avelar's and my hands. That was a tad weird with the hands, but super cool! So that was our miracle of the week.

-2nd- Reina is doing well. She still has to work on Sundays, which is good because she needs money for her kids, but hard cause she can't go to church :/ we are praying for her and helping in the ways that we can. She's awesome though!

-3rd - the VISITOR's Center is getting REMODELED! Okay, not sure of any of the details but we're getting new exhibits AND a new mural behind Christ. I will send home pictures once it is all done...but they are supposed to start soon and be done in 3 weeks, because the festival of lights will start (well they will start putting the lights up after that). I wish all of you could come see it. I'm told some of you have! So cool - but it's changing some come and see it again!

-4th - I translated Sacrament meeting for President Matsumori and Sister Matsumori this Sunday. He literally grabbed me while the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric was standing at the pulpit about to start Sacrament meeting and took me over to sit with them to translate. I found out a- i understand more than I think. and b-translating is really hard :P haha, I give props to the people who do it live for General Conference and other things.. we have to do that at the VC for concerts and things when we speak the language better cause that is translated into Spanish! SO COOL!!!

 

Notes of love -

CHRISTY  - I'm sooo sorry...BUT HAPPY [belated] BIRTHDAY!!! you're all 21 and stuff! How does that feel? Did you do anything fun for your birthday?? BJ's?? love me some BJ's and pizzokies! hope it was wonderful and i love you!!

ERIKA - HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow!!! Can't believe my little girl is all grown up ;) haha, seems like just yesterday we were writing on cars and getting snowcones really late at night, and escapading through fields in really bad shoes. :D well love you and i hope it is wonderful! can't wait to hear and see some pictures!

-Sister Simper! Thank you for  your wonderful Email!! You are so great and I will be writing you soon!

 

That's all i have this week so I can get some pictures in. But I love you all. I want to leave a little testimony this week about talking it out. A lot of times we let little things frustrate us about another person but go along and just think it's all good and try to work together...I work with all the sister's in the mission and if we're off the VC is off. We all have to tell each other what is up with anything so that we can talk it out and the Spirit can work with us. It is the same in our homes. We need to talk it out. I encourage you all to talk with your family once a week about what's up...maybe something they did to annoy you but also something they did that you were grateful for. I PROMISE the spirit with be stronger in  your homes and you will be able to work more efficiently.

 

CON AMOR!!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

2881 - this is the "K" house...were i live :D

2884 - this is it at night with the fountain (love my camera - thanks SMash!)

..computer is too slow for more :/ sorry

 

well it's a little wet over here...

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

haha and not because it rained but because I'm sitting in wet clothes after zone activity : D SOO FUN!!! We had a mario party remake/live action game...not really sure how a slip n slide ties in but it did. and now i'm soaked to the core but it is great. I also am wearing a super bright yellow shirt that I bought this morning for team wario :) it's great.

 

first few items people have been asking about/i want to tell you in general.

1. my address - I have no idea what my building address is. President Matsumori asks us to have all letters sent to the mission home. Yes, I get my mail...comes to the Visitor's Center about 3 times a week and I'm there that much so it's not biggie :) please just send it there. Sorry. Don't even have a mail key.

2. pictures of my apartment - I will try next week...I was going to take some before email but we came right here after zone activity

3. The weather's great! haha, but truly, just thought I'd through that in there...getting eaten by some bugs but that's alright.

4. I'm going to buy a backpack and send mine home soon. the zipper is broken and I don't want it to get more ruined because it is a nice backpack.

...okay that's all

 

 

SO THIS WEEK...

We had some really cool experiences - first was with Reina. She is a single mom who can't go to church because she  works on Sunday. But what was cool is that she wants to! She knows the Book of Mormon is the word of God, as well as the Bible, and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet :D... So she is working on finding another job to be able to go to Church on Sunday and be baptized soon :)

next was with Francisco....I did my first exchange this week and we did a comp study where we studied for Francisco and see why he might not want to set a date for baptism even though he has a desire to be baptized. We ended up studying about the difference between the Holy Ghost and the GIFT of the Holy Ghost which can only be given by the laying on a of hands, after being baptized by someone holding the proper authority of God. Well Francisco is a scripture buff and loves the Bible, even loves to read the Book of Mormon...and had a scripture open in the Bible (can't remember where :/) about the Holy Ghost = Coincidence?? NO!! That was inspired. Heavenly Father wanted him to realize this for himself. We just helped him understand it better with what we were teaching him that day. He told us that he thinks the Book of Mormon is a good book but doesn't know if it is the word of God so we asked him to pray about it and he did at the end of the lesson! SO GREAT! His prayers are always so sincere - this is a man who knows what faith is...it is an action and if he excercises his faith in prayer and receives and answer - he will act! I find that even hard to do sometimes, we all have trials but as we get pass the natural man, get past who we are and want to follow him, Heavenly Father will hear our prayers and send his Son to help us grow stronger!

 

What else....Messages of LOVE -

-Travis Davis= thank you for the letter! I will be getting back to you asap!

-Mom - thanks for keeping my acct secure you're the best!

-Kaity - love your emails but never get to read them while I'm here...sorry for that :/ but One day we will talk...or I'll eventually have time to write you back.

-HERMANA WATKINS!!! - i need your address again please :)

-...that's all i can think of this week :) but you are all wonderful!!

 

Okay some fun stories -

One - the other day i was eating dinner and couldn't open a can of salsa so Hermana Avelar came over, pointed the jar away from her/towards the table and the salsa proceeded to cover everything on the table which was all mine :P I had a letter, mini PMG, and my white handbook in Spanish! Haha, lets just say it looks like a salsa salad in my books...

one other - Hermana Avelar thought she threw the keys in the dumpster yesterday and proceeded to try and move things around in the dumpster(which is probably 30  years old) and couldn't find them...we found them up stairs on her bed :P long story short - she has a bad memory and I hear it "runs in the family" haha, hope not.

 

Just want to let you all know that FHE is important...I've been thinking about this a bit cause it keeps coming up in my life - at church , with investigators, other things...but it is set apart to be on monday for a reason. So when every mom out there wants to do FHE...support her. Take just a bit and spend time with  your family...i know it is hard and things happen, but try your hardest. It has be set apart by the general authorities for a reason, all church stores close early just to get home for it. Blessings come after obedience. I know that to be true.

 

Love you all!!

Chao!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

Can I just tell you that the Lord is wonderful!!

 

Wednesday, 8/1/12  So this week has been pretty slow - we had many appointments fall through and only taught maybe one person a day...we usually have 3 scheduled appointments with backups. Even our backups fell through. But that is okay because Heavenly Father blessed us with new people to teach in the crunch time of finding people. Usually out here we study and do things to prepare until 6 (including meal times) and then we start teaching after that. We cannot start teaching after 8.30 but if we are teaching then we have to be in our apartment by 9.30pm. bed by 10.30pm up by 6.30am to workout and get ready...just a cycle that is full of spiritual knowledge and learning for others - NOT YOURSELF...because I'm out here to serve but be served and kick back and study for me.   We also had our first Zone Meeting last week - things are switching up out here...no more transfer goals, only monthly goals...and less meeting with a zone or district a transfer. Sorry, don't have much time to explain that but maybe Kaity can help  you with it, I'm actually still figuring out Zone's and Districts. But our "white washing" is doing well - that area has a good amount of people interested to learn more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! OH _ speaking of...we have an investigator named Francisco who is so great! He loves that Bible and even reads the Book of Mormon. He knows that they compliment each other and loves that they are from God. He is so great!! Well the other night we taught him about Joseph Smith and that the Church is the same as Christ's Church when he lived...and then we invited him to be baptized. The Spirit was there, but I wasn't sure what he was going to say....He said yes, but was hesitant on setting a baptism date because he wants to be ready. We promised him that if he continued to read the scriptures, pray to know for himself if the message we shared with him is true, and goes to church that he will be prepared for his baptism. He is wonderful and even prayed with us that night! You know, I can't understand everything hispanic people say , but I can feel when they really say yes - that they really desire it and they are not just seeking knowledge but want to follow Jesus Christ's example and be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood Authority of God. So truly amazing!   On a less concentrated note - I WENT TO WASHINGTON DC today!!! We live about 35 mins on the Metro (subway) from DC and we got up at 4, left at 5, and ran to the Lincoln Memorial to be there by 6.15...tad far from the Metro. To be able to see the sunrise behind the WA monument....except it was a tad cloudy but that's totally okay - just plugged along in nice weather.   Little notes of LOVE - -Danielle - you are wonderful!! thank you for your wonderful little letter! You are the best pen pal! -Timmy Hodges - I'm waiting for this "timmy hodges" knowledge that you are going to bestow upon me...letters please! **all who want to write letters, it goes to the DC mission home - my mom has the address** :) -SMash - didn't get a dear elder from you but mom says i should have - send it again please :) -Popsicle and B-man - I got both of yours and have letters to come back to you but working on one for mom as well :) -Richard's Family - How are you all?? Brielle you're married now right!? Congrats!! and Hailee how is school! I'd love to hear from you all!   tried to attach pictures but I'm way out of time and it's too slow - next week.. maybe I can send my card home and someone can put some on facebook :). I LOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH!!! This work is amazing!! Keep up your missionary work! -Hermana Word (2)

Llorando es me mejor amigo!

haha - jkjk! I did have a few breakdowns this week because of all the wonderously hard things that come with being a missionary but that's okay cause it is supposed to be hard and I'm working on being humbled! My companion is awesome and tries to tell me in whatever way she can. I get nervous saying things but she forces me through them because she knows I can do this...it's just taking me a little more time to realize I can. I know I can do it with my big brother at my side, and Heavenly Father too, just need stronger faith to do it all.

 

So this week started with Visitor's Center training - that includes learning all the kiosks in Spanish and English, Teaching a sister who has been there longer and being taught by them too - all the lessons in Spanish and English. I also have to outline lessons that I can do and questions I can ask - english and spanish. I'm also having trouble with the Spanish! I LOVE SPANISH - I just can't speak it very well yet... and not really sure how to do my language study, so if anyone has ideas for that it would be wonderful!! I'm trying to figure it out through prayer and study, but getting chastened so that I can become stronger. In the eye of the storm everything looks soo overwhelming, but it is only after that storm that we learn we were being lead the whole time by our Father in Heaven...just working on that.

 

We have had some awesome investigators this week. One is in the area we are whitewashing - her name is Reina. She is a single mom and struggles getting to church because she has to work. It is so great to visit with her because her desire is there! She WANTS to learn and she WANTS to be baptized, she just needs faith to know Heavenly Father with provide for her. My comp was talking to me today about how we only study to help others and in turn we learn for ourselves. I studied patience today for me but after thought of Reina and how great she is but how much she needs patience to help her with her struggles. Maybe I'm going  through this to help her. I will let you know when i figure it out. but I know Heavenly Father is going to help us both if we just stop worrying and continually come to him.

 

I had my first papusa yesterday - kind of like a quesadilla but a lot smaller and just bread closed on all sides...from El Savador! It was delicious! One of the new members took me and my companion for lunch! So nice of him!  Love the people here!

 

 

Messages of love:

-temporarly on hold this week...I'm a tad flustered...but they will be up and running next week. but you are ALL AMAZING AND I LOVE YOU!

 

Keep it up out there - spirits high and always have love in your heart! You can do it, never hurts to try! Be ready to serve others at all times - my companion is great at this and I hope I can improve on this as well! OKAY - love you all again! Hey - if you are a convert to the gospel, can you send me your story? I also invite you to send it to the missionaries who taught you if you can find them! I know they would love it and I really want to get into the spirit of missionary work more!

 

Con Amor!

-Hermana Word (2)

Pictures attached to July 18, 2012 Email

Flower in front of Provo Temple 

Mission District at MTC

Hermana Avelar, first companion in the field

tengo calor and it's great!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Mi Familia! Can you believe I'm here?! Well I am and I know it because it is SOO hot outside :P everyone says that today is hotter than usually but the humidity is about the same! I'm ready for the winter - love me some cold weather! Except not cause there is work to do right now.

 

So - Yesterday we arrived in DC at 9.15am local time! and My Mission President, President Matsumori, Sister Matsumori, and the Assitants to the President (Elders who are serving in DC and assigned to help the president) were there to pick all 9 of us up. It was great! First thing we did was come to the TEMPLE! The temple is under construction because some of the spires tips broke off in an earthquake (i think it was an earth quake some say it was a major storm). But we got to go on the temple grounds and say a prayer of how we were going to work and what we were going to do to stay strong in this work. It was amazing - I love talking to my Heavenly Father and it was the first time in a while I was able to prayer outloud...I love praying outloud because my thoughts are more focused on talking to my Heavenly Father and not on what I'm going to do next. The Spirit is amazing here. It's funny when you don't feel it overpower you all the time, but you know it is there everyday. I LOVE that feeling.

 

After praying - President Matsumori picked up a dead snake, yes it was down by the temple, and let me take a picture of him with it. I love him and Sis. Matsumori already - they are so excited about this work and it shows in everything they do! We got to have IHOP for brunch :) then headed back to the house to sign their guest book of all missionaries that serve in their missions, a poster with the DC temple in the middle, and then marked our favorite scripture....then we napped! YAY! that was great but ended with a charlie horse! Definitely need more water out here - that is the lesson! drink lots of water!!

 

After - training and practiced teaching.DINNER and interview after with President Matsumori :) then we had a wonderful testimony meeting :) it was so cool to hear from all the elders I only met on Monday night. They are all so wonderful and can't wait to hear more about their missions.

 

Today started with early breakfast and then we headed straight to the visitor's center where I met my companion/trainer/ "mom" HERMANA AVELAR!!! Native spanish speaker from SANTA ANA,CA. and she is wonderful! I'm so excited to serve with her for the next 3 months! Oh and we're white washing one area plus covering her old area (to white wash is they take all of the missionaries out that have been serving there and put new one's in - so basically we know nothing of the area but it is all good!) We're already learning from each other and I'm so excited for more!

 

Letters of love-

-CARREE BRITT!!! you are amazing! I have been here since yesterday and already received THREE letters from you! that is insaine!

-Kaity - can you please send me my ipod now and my cds? :) Oh - but first, take off the disney music and I had left some instrumentals on there but it was from "the Notebook" soundtrack if you could take that off too please.

-Mom - got my box of bedding! you're the best! Can you let me know how much money I have on my card for the time being? I will be back on here next wednesday so before then is great (maybe like tuesday :D)

-Grandma Lewis - i got the books and sent you a letter! You are wonderful and thank you soo much - love you and grandpa both!

-OH and to all! - I can't receive or send voice recordings except to my family...and no videos to or from anyone, even families. Just wanted to let  you all know cause that was new to me yesterday.

 

I love you all so much! i know this work is true and there is a reason I am here at the time I am...still working on figuring it out but it is wonderful! ENJOY THE PICTURES!!

 

Te Amo!

-Hermana Word (2)

Personal Note from Lauren's mom

Dearest Family, Friends, and Loved Ones,
I just wanted to share with you that Lauren made it to the DC-North Mission Home this morning. She had the pleasure of flying on the red-eye. She left SLC at 12:45am. We were able to talk to her when she was at the airport and it was wonderful! Each family member was able to speak close to 20 minutes, except maybe poor Kaity who was left for last. Considering that Kaity's mission president only allowed a total of 30 minutes for each phone call home we felt very blessed.

We were also blessed to receive two phone calls from the mission president today! Unfortunately I missed the first one, but he left a beautiful message letting us know that she had arrived safely, been taken for a big breakfast at I-Hop and that they would be allowed to nap for a few hours before starting orientation and training. She is very blessed to have President Matsumori watching over her. I was disappointed that I had missed the call and the opportunity to talk to him.

But my dear Father in Heaven did not leave it at that. As I arrived home from work, I was listening to President Monson tell a story on my conference CD. I sat for a moment to hear the end of the story and then started to go inside the house. I was going to leave my phone to charge for a bit and would have missed his call again had I not been listening to the CD! Just as I opened my car door, my phone rang and it was President Matsumori. He was so kind. He told me that he was not going to call again but had just come from testimony meeting and Lauren's testimony was so strong that he just had to call and thank us once again for sending Lauren to them to serve the Lord. He then asked if he could share a little about their day with me. OF COURSE! I was so excited to hear.

He told me that most missions would take them immediately from the airport to the busiest street corner in the city and make them proselyte for a couple hours upon arrival.(That is exactly what Kaity did on her mission!) He said, "We take a kinder, gentler approach." They took them to the Temple. Though the Temple is currently closed, the visitor's center is open. And the temple sits surrounded by 40 acres of woods. He said that they allow them to go off by themselves (last time they are allowed to be by themselves on their mission)in the woods and to make a committment to their Heavenly Father for the next 16 mos. It is their own little Sacred Grove experience. I am sure Lauren will have much to share about that.

He let us know that she will meet her companion tomorrow and it is a "P" day (personal day) so she will be able to email us tomorrow! President then assured me that he would take care of Lauren while she serves there. I told him that I know that he will and I am so grateful to him for being so kind to call and speak to me. He said that he has had children on missions and knows how much it means to parents to know their child is safe.

We are truly, truly blessed to have him as Lauren's mission president. He assured me that if I ever have any concern, I am welcome to call him and discuss it. That is truly amazing. I know that Lauren is in good hands and the Lord is watching over her because she is doing His will and bringing the joy of the gospel plan to His children. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior and I know His plan can bring great joy to all who will but receive it.
With all my heart and unending love,
April 

the time has come the walrus said...to talk of many things!

Sent Tuesday July 10, 2012

FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!!!

Can you believe i've been gone for 2 months! I can't! Most of my district left this morning for el campo misional! and My companion and two more elders head out in the morning and I head off to Salt Lake at 8am...So if anyone wants to hear the Gospel in broken Spanish that's where I'll be! Oh and I'm uber pumped for it - I met on of my teachers yesterday and she said the WORLD is my mission! How cool is that?! I guess it's cause I get to do online contacting as well at the visitor's center...not entirely sure but I'll fillyou in next week (or I will try cause i'll be in the field).

 

OHHH- GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS LAST FRIDAY!!! Soo here's the dealio familio (that's completely wrong but oh well!) - I am in training all this week and have class until Next Monday (the 16th) at 4.30pm. After that i eat dinner, shower and look nice for my mission president, then I go to bus for the airport at 8.30PM (yes, that is monday night - hope you are writing this down) and my flight leaves Salt Lake at 12.45AM (yes, Tuesday morning) and this is all Utah time so subtract an hour and that's when I'm leaving. 

Man am I so pumped for the field! We had infield orientation this last Friday and they basically lay down the law of how awesome and hard and worth it everything is! Vale la pena they say! They stress working with member's and the ward - so we ALL have a responsibility to share this message with our friends and family, but trust the missionaries and have them share it - that is what they are there to do - TO HELP!! They are fully devoted to Heavenly Father and helping bring his children to repentance and the waters of baptism...but then it's not over. The missionaries teach so that after baptism, the new members can know what to do. To go to the Lord with everything - thanks, sorrows, and anything and he will help through the wonderful gift received at baptism of the HOLY GHOST - he can be anyone's constant companion if they first have that change of heart and gain a desire to follow the Christ's example and be baptized into his chuch. It is amazing! That's what I'm dong - SOO COOL!!

 

Notes of randomness and love:

-Kiah - sorry I can't keep your birthday straight...I said it off last week and realized I was super late! SORRY!! Happy birthday anyway (again)

-SAMMIE JAY - Holy wow you are 21 this week - it's official, you're one of the cool kids.. actually you're an adult which is awesome too! You best have one amazing birthday! and I hope you hear from you soon!

-Timmy Hodges - HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY my dear old friend! How are you!?! Still looking forward to awesome mission stories and stories of life :D are you headed up to BYUI soon? Is Kyle engaged yet? How's the fam bam? PS hodges fam bam miss you all and love you soo much!

-Sis. Aldredge - thank you for your sweet card! I'm sorry I havn't written you back yet, but i'm definitely working on it :D You are so sweet and I hope all is well!

-Daddy - at infield orientation we got to have fake fireplaces like you got mommy for Christmas - yep it was pretty sweet and I thought of you :D LOVE you popsicle!

-Smash - moms go the update on that bag...I know i gave it to you just pray and you will find it! I know it!

-Kaity - hope you at least picked up that box and that work went well for your first day! i'm send out another box this friday so put that in your planner to pickup (there may be two...we'll see!) Muchos gracias por su ayuda a mi!

-B-man - hope you are having a blast at scout camp! I want to hear all about it next week so you best be ready to talk to me!

 

Well all - it's about time to start laundry and pack but I love you all and I'm grateful for all of your support and love! thank you for helping me to be who I am and helping me to learn and grow! Just remember we can overcome all of our faults and pains if we are willing to turn to our Savior..Yes, it may take time but he wants to help us learn but I know he will ALWAYS HELP if you just get down on your knees and ask! This Church is true and I know it with all my heart!

 

Les Amo!

-Hermana Word (2)!

Week of awesomeness!!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

 

So last Tuesday - 10 out of 12 Apostles were here for the mission president seminar but specifically they all came together to share with us the new mission program they will be implementing soon called "Mormon's next Door"...Now you know that if 10 of the 12 Apostles are here telling you something, it is definitely important! We were shown information that has been collected in a study of LDS members in the last 25 years by a non-member. This information was about how important it is to do service, and on average an LDS member has a longer life span of 5-10 years over other people...many other things that I can't totally remember without my notes but it was truly amazing. Think about it - put yourself out there and serve for the sake of wanting to serve and the Lord will open doors to share this Gosplel, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, with those who are ready to receive it. SOOO COOL!!!

 

Other cool things that happened last week - we hosted again (so we ripped missionaries away from their parents - well actually the Elders do that and we just take them around campus). Anywho - I hosted a girl named Stephanie Frye who is (ready for this) The cousin of Trent's old roommate, Kyle Frye! Try explaining that to someone in Spanish -haha hard. Anywho - it was super cool! Plus you get to be like unofficial big sister's to the people that you host and see how they are doing from time to time. Pretty sweet, Eh? (sorry by best friend's in Canada and Eh's come out sometimes :P) So if Kyle Frye is home - someone send a shout out to him!

 

 The key to fun is a happy attitude! That's why the gospel is SOO Great because it amps us up and helps us want to be happy to have the Lord's guidance with us. Oh and when it gets dark - ground flowers! Have all the fun you want with those - hope no one gets chased around because that is no fun. Oh and Little Dude - show off come freelining skills - maybe get Kaity or Ash up on those things. Just some thoughts I've had this week.

 

Notes of randomawesomesnees:

-ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE WRITTEN ME IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS - okay, I'm a tad behind cause last tuesday was a little crazy and this tuesday is as well - so hopefully I will catch up, Just be patient with me please! Love you all and am so grateful for your letters!

 

Well that's about all i have! I love you all very much and I know this work that I'm doing is true. I'm sharing what I know with others so they can have the same joy and love that I have in my life!

 

You all best have wonderful weeks! Keep me posted and I'll keep you posted!

Con Todo mi Amor (not sure if that's correct)!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

3 Weeks left in Utah!!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Holy Cow! Can you believe it?! I'm getting super amped about going to DC and still dreading the heat wave! haha, you'd think I'm not from a desert climate but I am.

 

So this week was pretty great! My district got to host for the first time and it was awesome! That's when the Elders tear the new missionaries away from their parents (okay nicely escort them to their buildings) and with the sister missionaries we take them to get their name badges, drop of their luggage, get all their learning books, then drop them off to meet their district (oh - a district in the MTC is the class you learn with for how ever many weeks your here - doesn't change because you are all at the same pace and they don't switch that up.) OH - and we get to host again tomorrow!! SO COOL! and next week the Temple is closed for cleaning and we get to help clean it - can I just tell you that things are awesome! I love service! I challenge you to do some service for someone - anyone...Just do a little something to help someone out. Any service done with happiness and love it your heart is a blessing and an act of love.

 

COOLEST THING - Mission Presidents Seminar is this week and General Authorities get to come to campus (we never see them) and talk to the new mission presidents and their wives that go out this year. They are here from last Saturday til tomorrow I think (and mission presidents get switched out every three years if im correct so about a 1/3 of the worlds mission presidents are switched out every year).

 

SO that's whats been happening. I've been work on taking less quotes and writing more notes (haha- im a poet :D) so that i can actually remember what i'm writing down. The Spanish is slow and so is the reading but I'm learing and growing through the help of the Spirit which is SOOO Crucial to have in this work. If I learn by the Spirit, I can teach by the Spirit and really let him guide the lesson not my companion or me. So I'm working on it, and I don't think I will ever be perfect at it but I can still try and do eveything I can to have it with me.

 

NOTES of Awesomeness that I know you all want to hear:

-Daddy: how was California? Have a blast? Mom said that Hazel's son past away - if you are still please give her a big hug for me! I love her! and I know her son will see her again.

-B-man: Hows that hair of yours? mom sent me a picture and you look like a stud - Taylor Lautner status all the way! But I always knew that ;D you still rocking those V-necks?? well you should. Oh and I have a challenge for you to doing over your vacation - get a Preach My Gospel and start reading it - study the words on the page and go study the scriptures it gives you. If there is one this I wish I had done before the mission it's that (because I'm still lacking time to do it here) - it is an amazing resource and I can't wait to use it more. Plus - it will increase your testimony and knowledge of the Savior and the Atonement and help you to have the Spirit with you and that will help you at every point it you life!

-Kylan (erika can you make sure he sees this please): What is the world are you up to my dear friend?? I need a letter from you telling me about all your great adventures? Oh - i have an adventure to tell you about. So this past Saturday we were allowed to watch "The Other Side of Heaven" and I was overwhelmed with awesome missionary thoughts - I think I wrote more thoughts down then I stared at the movie but it was great and I hope you still think it's awesome! Thanks for opening my eyes to the wonderful quotes in that movie :D You're awesome and I miss you friend!

-MY PARENTS = = = = HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! Did you like the Monkeys on that card?! haha - i thought I was pretty clever for only having a few choices. But seriously - i love you both and am so grateful for you in my life! Thank you for always being such wonderful examples to me and letting me make my own decisions and always being there when I needed help! you are both amazing and I'm blessed to have you as my parents :D

 

Well thats about all i have. On Sunday we sang "We'll Bring the World His Truth" and it was so super awesome because the words were changed from "we will be the Lord's missionaries" to "we ARE the Lords missionaries" - pretty cool when something you've sung about your who life was a dream you never knew you had. It's pretty cool to see how you've changed and how far you've come. I know I've gotten to where I am because of a decision my parents my many years ago and am so very very grateful for them and their trust in the Lord. Missionaries brought them the truth and that is what I'm doing. I'm sharing God's love for all of His children - that's you! That is everyone on this Earth! and i'm grateful to have the oppourtunity to share the gift that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This work is true and I may get discouraged at times it is still what I want to do and need to do!

 

Well i Love you all and will talk to you next week!

Te Amo!

-Hermana Word (2)

whirlwinds are fun!

Sent Tuesday, July 19, 2012

so I've just been realizing that i probably should have numbered these emails because I'm not even sure how long I've been gone...half the time I forget what day it is let alone what week :P but I will be in DC in a month (July 17th is my leave date so keep that in mind) :)

 

Anywho - it has been  one amazing week! First we heard from Elder Per G Malm of the 70 (yep he's Swedish!)! On Sunday I got to hear from some of the coolest ladies ever and meet one of them! Sis. Elaine S. Dalton came and spoke in Relief Society and then Sis. Sheri Dew for the Sunday night fireside (I met sis Dalton)! So amazing! They are both such amazing, very different ladies, but that does not mean the Spirit was any less present in the room! It was an honor to hear from them - esp Sis. Dalton cause I grew up with her in Young Women's so I loved it (by the way - if any of these people you're asking yourself "Who??" talk to my parents - they can help you out :D)

 

Wednesday and Friday was english fast day - so ALL SPANISH ALL DAY!! That was crazy challenging - we had to ask for permission to speak in english but if we spoke without permission we got ten seconds of wallsits for each word...lets just say I had 28 words weds and 21 friday - my legs are awesome!!

 

Okay - back to life! Well the work moves on as always! I'm still figuring out how I learn and I think that is why the MTC is so great - we learn what we are doing and how we can do better while working in the Lord's name. We learn so heavily through the Spirit here that it just makes you physically exhausted in a wonderful way! I love it! and my studies are going so much better than I ever imagined - I cannot tell you how many times I have read 1 Nephi, but I can tell you that this is the first time I've studied it! So very amazing! The Spirit helps me learn and in turn helps me teach to help others learn :D

 

Well we have many things going on this next week with new mission presidents training but it will be so very amazing and I am overflowing with joy as to who may come and speak! I love this gospel and I love to learn from the prophet and the apostles who are on the earth today and who have lived! Keep up all the good work - and never fear for the Lord is with you if you keep his commmandments. He know's your pain and will bear you up if you will let him!

 

Te Amo!

-Hermana Word (2)

Well hello there!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Welcome to yet another wonderful day in the world! Guess what - i've been in the MTC for a month now and it is crazy! My biggest problem is balancing - we have set aside times to study during the day but all I want to do to learn Spanish is read my scriptures in Spanish - but that doesn't help with all the rules we have to learn. You remember how they teach you the same thing every year when you learn about nouns and adverbs and adjectives....then in high school it gets more complicated??? lets throw 12 years of school together and teach it to missionaries in 9 weeks! it's insaine. We have to conjugate a verb to the person talked about so me, he/she/it, us, them...then you have to put it in the tense you are talking about so past, present, future...and 11 other tenses in between. Pretty crazy but the Lord is amazing and if we couldn't do it in 9 weeks - then he would give us more time! so yep.

 

My week at the MTC has been pretty great  but let's start off with a few notes of love!

-SHAN CANNON!! Thank you sooooooo much for my package!! First box i got in the MTC so that was uber exciting! and you are super sweet - letter coming to you soon!

-Monteleone family= thanks for taking care of my mom and my siblings this weekend! Wish i could have been there but I know it was amazing! PS - give ryan on BIG huge for me! And Im way excited he was there - love you all!!

-Kaity - met Sis. Erickson that you served with the other day (guess she's married now...) any who - she has a hug coming to you soon!

 

 

okay...so not a lot of notes but i love you all! trust me - anyone of you reading this email, any of you that know me - I LOVE YOU!!! that's right, I'm talking to you so you best be  sure of that cause i love you :D

 

oh - and can someone get me Wes Wagner's address or even his mission name and i think i can look it up? Kaity perhaps?? should be on his face book or if you email Jace Ewing he should be able to get it to you or Brandon Lowe. Just feel the need to write that missionary!

 

ok ok ok OKAY! back to mission life. Well this week I became and investigator which is fun cause we get taught by one companionship and teach another. It's fun cause we can see all the teaching styles and help each other learn. We had to come up with our own investigators and are in character roles with our companions (my comp and I are "roommates" that just met cause we live together :P) so that's been fun. Elder Marlin K Jensen of the 70 spoke at devotional last week about how important this work was and gave us advice on how to "trap" people on an airplane and talk about what we "do for a living" - haha, it was pretty amazing! It was extra special because he just turns 70 and gets released later this month (yep - they are released when they turn 70)!

 

Few questions for the family - still not sure what's going on with my room and I'm a tad curious. and Where my stuff went (like my movies that probs shouldn't be in the connext)?? Just thoughts I have randomly. Oh - and I had thoughts of pani popo the other day and was craving some so that would be cool in the mission field! just thoughts on my mind :D and if someone can find my volcom bag that has the shoulder strap and send it to me that would be great (or new large side strap bags are cool) - just found out as a sister missionary I'm not allowed to use a backpack and i left all my good bags at home. Just a little confused because I had no idea where to find these rules before i left. SO any of you sister missionaries out there - CHECK OUT LDS.ORG for missionary clothing guidelines before you get to the store (SERIOUSLY  - it will help so much) and all missionaries - they have things here that you can get at the store for toiletries that are cheaper than you can get at home...keep that in mind.

 

I just have to say that this church is TRUE - restored through Joseph Smith by the power of Heavenly Father. Joseph prayed to know which church was true and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came to him and told him none were true and that the Lord's church was to be restored as was in the time of Christ's life. If you want to know what I am doing and why I am here it challenge you to read the Book of Mormon - ALL OF IT!. Read the introduction and follow what it says to do in the second to last paragraph of the introduction - read, ponder, pray to Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ to know it is true and you will know if you sincerly want to. I would not share this message with others I didn't know i didn't believe in it myself. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and you can see his hand in every page of the book. I testify that this gospel is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

I LOVE YOU ALL!! Stay amazing and safe!

-Hermana Word

GOOD MORNING STARSHINE! THE EARTH SAYS HELLO!!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Hola mi Familia y mis amigos! Guess what - it's not even 9am and I'm writing you already - that's weird but awesome cause when I'm done I get to put on pjs for like 5 more hours! YAY!!!

 

Anywho - this week has been crazy! We had two girl's leave from our district and that is weird because now the Elders outnumber us! It's all good though. We even go some new elders to the Zone last week and they are pretty cool - not going to lie we talked about different superhero movies at dinner last night and i LOVED it! YES - i love this work and my heart is focused, as is my mind, but it is nice to take appropriate breaks and talk about movies or music (even had a talk about the Biebs the other night with my hermanas in my district - called it sista talk :P it was fun - miss me some bieber and my bieber buddies [erika and sammie jay]) any whoo.....

 

So I had my biggest mistake yet in Spanish this week :P First - our investigators are progressing well and the Lord is helping us teach them with the Spirit. So - we have our sister investigator committed to baptism, but we have to teach her all the commandments before then and commit her to them before she can be baptized (as well as take her to church 3 times - impossible so we will move her date). On Saturday, we were teaching her about the law of tithing, which i'd studied vocab for a few days and was ready. Well,  during our lesson,  we have to tell her "to pay" her tithing which is PAGAR in spanish...I told her to PEGAR her tithing which means "to hit"...haha, yep according to my companion I did that multiple times, but no one told me until after :P yep, i'm cool.

 

little notes of love this week - Sis. Marrott! Thank you soo much!! Your letters are great and I really love to hear from you! I will try to keep writing but please forgive me if I get a little off track.

 - Brielle Richards!! I got your announcement this week - soo adorable!! [side note - everyone I love wedding announcements and hearing what is going on so please let me know! Send me letters] k - brielle, thank you for that I loved it! Can't wait to hear of how amazing your wedding is :D

- Richards family - does Elder Richards have a new address?? I've been wondering but not sure and I don't want to send letters to the wrong address and he not get them. If someone could dear elder it to me and his mission address I would grately appreciate it! Thank  you!!

- Alex Monteleone!! You're graduating!! CRAZY COOL!! I hope you have an absolutely amazing graduation and you share a bunch of hugs with my family (you give great hugs) and exchange some from me you to from them and from me to them from you :D hope that made sense! and write me soon you crazy busy woman - also I wore our skirt this week! cool huh?? LOVE YOU!

-Kaity Word!! Congrats on those job offers! i have a request for you - can you please go to like a second hand/LDS book store and see if they have an old copy of 'Jesus the Christ'?? I want to have one from back in the day but can't get anything like that here. please and thank you :D

-Kyle Brunson (yes - a little random note I know [erika can you post this on his FCBK please :D] ) I met an Hermana VanKatwyk last week and we talked freelines - way cool. Says she's from vacaville! any whoo - hope all is well and your loving BYUI!!!

-Erika Marie - I LOVE YOU!!! and i just want you to know that know you need to learn a 4th language (aka - Spanish) so we can communicate when I get home. ps - send my mom your address so she can get a BYUI sweatshirt :D

-B-man - how did football end up for you?! Write me! LOVE YOU!!

 

Okay - five minutes left. Um I love this work! I feel like we are doing a lot every day but it is amazing how much you learn through the spirit. I would be burnt out by now if it wasn't for the Spirit teaching me the things that I need to know to testify of the truthfulness of this Gospel. i wouldn't be out here doing what I'm doing if i didn't believe in it! The Book of Mormon will not shake your testimony and make you question Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but will make them So much more real! You will know of the love Heavenly Father has for us and why Christ was willing to suffer so much so that we could return to Heavenly Father again. I know that when you read the Book of Mormon, you will feel the Spirit and it will testify truth unto you! I know that this gospel is true and I am grateful everyday for the missionaries who carry it to every part of the world. I love you all very much and thank you for all your support! I know that my words are plan, as are all missionaries, but we have the Spirit when we are worthy of it, and that is what testifies of Christ.

I will see you all in 17 months!

Te Amo!!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

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