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)