a mi me encanta a ser una misionera!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

I just love my mission! So everyday we are in the Visitor's Center now ( i think I've said that) and it is really awesome! I feel like i never knew how to prioritize before because i had "soo much time" to get things done. and now - I have such limited time in the area that we are just doing our best to talk to everyone and really find those out there who are ready to hear the gospel! And in the VC I'm more effective with my time as well because I have the time to get everything done instead of stressing out cause I only have like 3 days in the vc instead of 5 or 6. The bonus about our area is we actually have two days free out of the VC. We don't serve in there on Tuesdays because we have a meeting when we would be on Shift at the VC and we also don't have to go on Sunday because we go on wednesday nights after P-Day is over :D It's really great!

So this week. We have an investigator named Lourdes and she is fantastic! We met her on Thursday night last week and I loved it! She is the nicest person ever with PURE intentions. She knows why she needs to be baptized and says she has wanted to be baptized for 3 weeks. She even was said," I noticed you don't drink coffee- i don't either and i'm good with not drinking that. With tea, if it's healthier just to have Herbal, thats good with me." Then she pulled out a pamphlet from one time she was at the doctor's office that talks about how cigarettes and alcohol are bad for you. So she basically taught the whole lesson we had except the blessings that come from leaving all that stuff behind. The GOSPEL IS TRUE!!! There are blessings that come with each commandment and If there are bad things in this world i shouldn't drink so that i can have more strength - I'll do it. Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-21; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng (yep..theres the link :P)

we didn't have investigators at church cause Satan is working really hard but we are going to win, he just hasn't realized it yet! When they want to learn, they will come! It is truly amazing how the Lord prepares everyone for us! okay, maybe not everyone is prepared but those who are ready were prepared for him. 

Well...I'm out of time. But i love you all! Sorry this was soo short but the area is still growing so not many stories yet! But my companion is awesome! I'm grateful for her amazing faith! Miracles will happen this transfer :D Guaranteed! 

(and eventually letters will be written - esp to my fam bam, sorry I'm slacking!)

Con todo mi amor!

-Hermana Word (2)

6629 - Temple sunset

6652-my recent converts that i left in Gaithersburg! Like my 2nd family right there!!

6608 - We got ice cream...mine tasted like confetti cake! BEST!

6650 - i made fried apples for Hna. Tufts Bday last week! They were DELCIOUS!! Thanks Grandma!

6683- This is Hna. Clement! She loves to decorate people's doors for valentines day (so good!)

no puedo dejar mi hogar!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Well - It's transfer day!! And Guess what?! I moved again - but the shocker is that I moved BACK to my first area!!! What?! I'm pretty stinking excited about it because my companion is my "sister," the other sister who was trained by my trainer! It is awesome!! And I'm roommates with some pretty cool sisters as well! Oh - and there are now 5 FULL PROSELYTING areas in the DC North Mission for Sisters! WHAT?! and the only full pros Spanish area is where I just came from. So I have a REALLY REALLY happen old companion now! She absolutely was stoked for FULL Pros! I'm stoked cause I get to be in the VC everyday and I love the VC!! Plus...We're taking on BIKES! We have one car between two companionships,so I'm assuming that we will have bikes more because we live in the area around the VC and our apartment. It's crazy! And amazing! I love it! And now I can run again in the morning! Haha- side bonus! And see my recent convert from my first transfer - remember him...he was baptized on a Wednesday at 4pm :P super random and awesome!

Well moving on :D We had a pretty good last week in GBURG. I had a feeling i was leaving but wasn't sure til monday night. We have some good potentials and some great investigators! My favorite story of the week is Aurelia! She is a newer investigator but she was meeting with the missionaries about 25 years ago in her country...i can never remember what i tell you all so sorry if i right it twice. Well. i had a panic attack this Sunday morning because the member that was going to pick her up was in a meeting until 8.55am and Sacrament Mtg starts at 9am...well, another member saved us and picked her up! And after all of church she said she loved it and felt so at peace! Then we taught her about the beginning of the plan of Salvation and how Adam and Eve made the choice so we could all live...and she said, "that is what really impressed me about church today. the teacher said that Eve was a great women...and I have been to many different churches and they all speak poorly about Eve and that she really sinned first and we should be mad at her, but that never made sense to me." Well that was amazing! And we invited her to be baptized...she said YES!! She has NEVER been baptized but she loves how she feels and knows this is the right way, she just needs a little time to continue to learn with us :D So good! She is just amazing and I'm amazed at what little things spark our testimonies! It is a certain scripture or a certain teaching...many different things. Super crazy!

And my VC miracle. I was sitting on the phones the other night and a man called in and asked if we prayed for people? I said that of course we do and started to talk to him a bit to see what he wanted prayers for. He said help figuring out why he keeps coming back to the gospel? He knows he needs to be baptized but he is not sure why....So amazing! Of course. and then I started to talk to him a little more to see if there was anything else I could do and he said, "yes, could you tell me about Joseph Smith again." I told him the first vision but told him to close his eyes and picture that he could receive an answer...."I saw a pillar of light exactly over my heard, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy ALL description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" Super powerful! He said he was going to pray right then. I know he will receive his answer because he wants to. He will know that this church is true!!

I love you all! I know that this church is true. And my time is really up! But I will talk to you next week! And please forgive me for lack of letters...I've been crazy busy and I will get better - I promise!!

Con mucho amor!

-Hermana Word

Holy wow! i love emails, but dear elder is better...

Thursday, February 7, 2013

I love you all but sometimes really long emails I dont have time to read....so sorry for the lack of response. I will try to write handwritten letters..but probably not today.

SOO - It has been one amazing week! We have amped up our game and started running to appointments when we may be late..but not realizing to stop along the way to the people around. I actually tripped on the way to the car the other day and I took that as Heavenly Father telling me to talk to the guy walking by on the cell phone-so i did :D pretty sweet stuff!

Well - Eduardo is pulling strong. Well, He is actually stressing a little bit because he has many other things he wants to learn right now and asked if he could get baptized in March instead of February. I said that he had to ask the Lord and that was the right answer for him. So tonight we will know what Heavenly Father says. It is amazing HOW HARD SATAN WORKS! All the things Eduardo is doing are all great -AMAZING things even, but he is taking all the stress and worrying about the one thing that will actually make it all easier. That is one thing that I have seen so much on my mission. Satan works hard to bring us down. He KNOWS us. He is our brother. He was with us in the beginning. He knows who we are and knows what will bring us down. We just have to first recognize that and NOT LET HIM. It is hard. but it is always worth it. He cant any power if we don't give it to him. TRUTH.

The VC schedule is still in the works, but I'm excited for when it starts. We have a super awesome investigator named Aurelia whom we have met with twice and didn't know till the second time that she met with the missionaries 25 years ago in her country! When we told her about Joseph Smith, she didn't question that he was a prophet but said, " you know why they appeared to them...because they knew his heart and he was a pure, good person." WHAT? yeah! That's right!  SO cool

sorry for the lack of time but a i want to get pictures in! We went to the city today and I ate my first street vender hotdog and a screwball ice  cream (that wasn't a first)..oh and DADDY - Molly the rivitor stuff is in the National Archives Building! SWEET! They have the tshirts! 

I LOVE YOU ALL!! happy early birthday's to Ky and Stella!! 
Stay amazing! 2 Nephi 31:20 vale la pena!
-Hermana Word(2)

ps - so MANY PICTURES TO SHOW WHEN I GET HOME. be ready. like 1000s. I have a problem.

6576 - my hotdog was delicious!
6390 - sweet sunrise despite the clouds!
6372 - stinkin sweet!!
6441 - my and my comp :D Hermana TUFT - it's her birthday on monday :D
6509 - D - day...WWII memorial :D

La Vida Loca...ahem-La Vida de una misionera! :D

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Buenos Dias familia mia y amigos!  Pues - mi hermanita se caso este sabado pasado! Digale "felicitaciones" se va a verle pronto y dale un abrazo muy fuerte para mi! Oh - y yo quiero ver fotos pronto! Si puedan enviarlos a mi seria genial :D

So yep - my sister is married! WOOHOO! And my family is awesome!! and I just love having new family members...and one day I might meet them :D Sweet!

As for missionary life - Well, I love it! I'm going a little crazy but asi es la vida. It's just new whirlwinds we've got going on.
In the VC - our new director is here. He is Elder Eyring - little brother of President Henry B. Eyring. Yep - that's pretty sweet! He's actually really normal, really smart and has a super strong testimony. His wife is a concert violinist who doesn't know much about computers but is willing to let us help her with scheduling events and things :D Pretty sweet - I'm a secretary :D Definitely think I was prepared for my mission :) haha. And We have new VC schedule...right now we work like a part time job to be on shift - changes every week what days we will be there and it's for afternoon to evening OR Morning to afternoon, like 4 times a week. Now we are going to be in the VC EVERYDAY changing from morning one day to night the next. Sweet! I love the VC! But our area has been struggling...I know the Lord will help us build it up!

Speaking of - Remember the Cuban I met and am now teaching?! He wants to be baptized. He told us that he wants to be baptized on the 24th of February! We didn't even bring up baptism - he did :D oh blessings! He is so good! We are just having trouble with time schedules  - but that will all work out! Eduardo is really strong - he told us that is all these people were happy in the world that there is no way the church could be wrong! He wants to be really happy :D And he will be! Esta iglesia hace posible que cada persona pueda SER FELIZ!!

We are also trying really hard to find and work with the people who have been baptized in the last few years. Many of them don't come to church and Hna Tuft and I have never met them. That makes me SUPER Sad! So we are trying really hard to help them come back and partake of the blessings the Lord has in store for them :D

random  notes of love that I forgot to give last week!
-POPSICLE - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!! I hope it was better than your awesome surprise party last year...with the following week when your daughter received her mission call ;) pretty sweet presents...oh and then we had carne asada fries :D YUM!!
-MOMMY - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to  you too!!! I LOVE SOO MUCH!!! and I just hope you got to have a party too! Next year (and those that follow) we will have a big bash and just have some of the best food ever (aka - Casa Don Juan :D) because I don't cook well :P
-UNCLE DEAN - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Wow - i just love family birthdays :D I LOVE YOU!!! I hope you enjoy the time with the family this week! BIG HUG!! wish i could be there :D Next year - you're coming for the party - joint brother sister party :D haha
-Popsicle and Mommy - can you two write me your individual conversion stories? How you felt when you know the Book of Mormon was true? What did it for you? I just don't think I've ever heard that and that makes me sad cause I really want to know :D And send it via mail please...mail is always better :D

I LOVE YOU ALL!! The church is true and brings that lasting happiness we all need! check it out sometime :D
-Hermana Word (2)

"Hey sister word... just walking up the stairs and there's an Apostle of the Lord on the floor...

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

haha - yep. My companion is the best! We had a really awesome Sunday experience after church. There are 4 sisters at the VC every Sunday and usually three eat while one of us stays upstairs just in case someone comes in...and then we  switch. Well it was my turn to be up top this week and I was talking to one of the senior elders, Elder Cardall, about a really bright spotlight on the floor. He headed to the back to pick up a less bright one and I looked to the front door and saw Elder L.Tom Perry walking in the front door. First - did you know he's 90 years old and like 6'5" or something?! Crazy. Well he was in town this weekend for the inauguration of President Obama as a representative of the church, along with Elder Cook. Elder Perry came in with his cute little wife and an area 70 from Utah. As they walked in I told Sister Cardall across the floor that he was walking in and she bolted over, then I told Elder Cardall and he ran across the floor in the back! I said, "Elder Cardall, I don't know what to do.." (there would be protocols right?? they always say don't run up to the Apostles) "COME GREET HIM." okay :D so I got to meet Elder Perry! It was really cool! Elder Cardall actually used to work for KSL tv in Utah doing news stories and such and he knows Elder Perry already so he showed them around. Then when they made it to our faux house in the back where we show a movie called "God's Plan for Families" Sister Cardall came and got Hna Tuft and I to preset them and start the movie! It was so cool! We invited them all to think of someone who does not yet know that families can be together forever :D basically the coolest experience ever!

Then later that night we had a new investigator come to the VC - Eduardo. Our first lesson we had with him last Friday went really well and so he came to the VC and we talked about the Plan of Salvation and invited him to baptized and he said yes! We asked if he would prepared to be baptized at the end of February and he said he would tell us on the 1st of February! So good! also - they are planning on getting married :D :D :D gah - so amazing! I love it! Heavenly Father is so good!

And my companion is awesome! She's just really doing all she can to help out and always has the spirit! She's a great example to me and I love learning with her.

Today we had a marshmellow war for our Zone Activity and it was fantastic! I'm not really sure how we come up with these ideas but it just happens and its always awesome!

As for life - our area is a little slow but the Lord is really blessing us as we are putting our all in! We could probably knock a few more doors and we're working up with that - always improvement and change. That is what is constant in the mission...well life really!

LES QUIERO! EL EVANGELIO ES VERDADERO!! the church is true!
-Hermana Word (2)

6165 - the sisters in my district
6127 - gotta love zone activity days :D
6119 - Sunrise on monday
6121 - my bishop has this cool bird  who just crawled up my arm :Ps 

No me diga-usted es de cuba?! que chevre!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

yep, I met a man from Cuba this Sunday at the VC and I left to my area while he was in watching the Joseph Smith movie. He was really cool! Just moved here to be closer to his girlfriend(who is a member of the church). He is the first Cuban i think I have met on my mission and he was really nice! Well...yesterday we got a referral of someone who lives in our area and it said "Eduardo. just  moved here from Cuba. really nice. wants book of mormon in Spanish." WHAT?! NO WAY!! He actually lives in my area and we are going to take him a Book of Mormon tonight :D I'm stoked! Definitely a blessing that we needed right now. 

As for the area...well we're making it. Until last Friday, we didn't even know the members that lived in our area...now we have them figured out on a ward list so that we can go see them and get to know them.Things are a little disorganized from the sisters before but we are really trying our best to get the area alive again and find those people really searching for the Gospel! We did have two really awesome ladies that we met this past week. The first, Patricia, is a mom of 4 kids and just has a lot of love of the Bible and really wanted to read the Book of Mormon because we shared a scripture of how it testifies of Christ, Alma 7:11-13. She folded the page right then and there so that she could go back and read it again! 
The other lady is Vonny (Bonnie). She is really nice. Young mom (she just had her first, ADORABLE son 8 months ago), and her husband is stationed in Georgia right now in the Army. She had actually come to the Festival of Lights and wanted to learn more about the Gospel and how it blesses families. All the questions she had asked us were about how the gospel will bless her family and when we gave her the Book of Mormon, we asked if we could read a bit with her and she said," Oh yess, I'm going to read it." what?! two people in one week? that's amazing! and now we are going to be teaching Eduardo too! So cool :D

what else?? Oh - so I'm reading the New Testament right now and I love it! Today I read a really cool scripture about our words in Matt 12:36-37>>just check it out. definitely something I've seen better in my mission but still working on every day.

SOO...My sister is getting married in a week but I'm not really sure that is happening because I didn't even get an announcement or anything and It kinds of makes me a little sad. Pero, asi es la vida. Si pueda mandar me uno serian genial hermanita mia! Y tambien - como esta mi 'CUTOUT'? Yo quiero estar ahi pero estoy donde yo necesito estar ahora :D

The VC director and his wife are going home this week and so we had a big lunch together last week and just got to reminice in how awesome they are! And then in the next few months, we loose our senior couples that serve with us at the VC..and in July - my mission president. Definitely not something I'm ready for - a whole BUNCH of CHANGE! But that is the one thing that is constantly happening. I always find that with the hard things that happen, the things I don't want at first, turn out to be some of the biggest blessings and growing experiences and testimony builders for me! I love my Heavenly Father for letting me grow, cause I'm not one to do it on my own...He knows that and pushes me through. The refiners fire is not an easier thing but it is always worth I.T. ! Les Quiero con todo mi corazon!

-Hermana Word (2)

5982 - haha, does this look familiar? 
6021 - it's been a tad wet around here for the last little while; snow is coming soon!
6090 - i forgot to tell you i had an exchange this week..from Sis.Beechaver in the English program...i taught all night :D
6072 - Momma bear and Papa bear - well Sister and Elder Olsen (VC Director)

the time has come the Walrus said...

Thursday, January 10, 2013

have i already had that as an email title? haha, oh well!

Well - I had a pretty rocking week this week. But church has once again started at 9am which is really hard because our missionary meeting with the ward mission leader and the ward missionaries is now at 6am on Sunday morning. As a missionary, I don't usually get up til 6.30....so in the middle of the meeting our phone wake up alarm went off...followed by the Elders wake up alarms :P it was so funny!

With Jose and Sonia - all is so awesome! We showed up at their house Sunday to teach the Restoration again, and they gave us the absolute best chicken ever from my favorite chicken place - Sardi's! And they said they bought it Saturday because he is doing his best to keep the Sabbath day Holy! As we were talking about the Restoration, he brought up the subject of the Priesthood (the authority given by God to his children to do and act in his name). The bishop told him he would be receiving it soon and that he would be able to soon after pass the sacrament :) well, we thought that was cool, but it scares him. He realizes that it is a serious thing and isn't sure how to handle it. Well...we talked a little more about it that night but we did a lesson just on the Priesthood on Tuesday. We covered where it is from, why we have it, and how we can receive it. He asked us what "the Atonement" was...great question! well we explained that it was Christ's suffering in the garden, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. And it is through the Atonement that the plan of our Heavenly Father is brought to pass and that the Priesthood is able to be on the Earth again today.  The light just went on in his face! I know that he understands the responsibility now of holding the Priesthood and that he is worthy to have it, and can stay worthy of it by keeping the commandments and using the Atonement everyday in his life :D HOW AMAZING!!

well - i got a package yesterday from mom with all my Christmas cards! Thanks mom for sending those :D and...
Jason and Lori - you are both too awesome!! Thank you soo much! I can now get some new boots (trust me, i need them!)
Grandma and Grandpa Word - Thank you soo much! I'm still thinking about my plans with my Christmas present!
Grandma and Grandpa Monteleone - THANK YOU!! so good to see a card from you and that would have been present enough! HOW ARE THINGS??!
Auntie Pam and Uncle Roy - ok...my favorite store right there! You're awesome! thank you!
Sis. Marrott - thank you for your lovly card! I really love getting those :D definitely brighten my day

Well - I want you all to know that I know the Atonement is real.I had a really HARD day yesterday. This work is hard and it's harder when things come that you are not expecting. But the Lord prepares us for anything. And I know that he helped me make it though. I had an experience with a man from Taiwan at the VC yesterday who asked me what the Savior was wearing on the Cross...well, I found out that they took his clothes from him and sold them in front of his face. While I was reading that with this man, I realized that none of the struggles I was having even matter! The Savior knows me and he is there for me! I love him so much and I know that he suffered the things that I did yesterday. And I'm doing much better! The blessings of the Atonement!

I love you all so much! I can't wait to hear from you all again :D
-Hermana Word (2)

ps - ERIKA = New cover picture ;D love you!

Feliz ano nuevo!! Ya estamos en 2013!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Can you believe that the New Year is here?! I can't. but it's awesome! How did everyone roll in the New Year? Mostly I want to know how everything went down with Ashleigh's work - todo paso bien?!But all stories are welcome! We stayed at the VC that night as the whole month and when we got home we talked about our goals and things for the new year and ate popcorn :)

 

WE HAD A WEDDING!!! And a BAPTISM!!! Oh my goodness- i love this family so much :D they are the best and are really learning what it is like to have a family in the gospel, to gain the blessings of a forever family. We went over to their house last night and taught about the Book of Mormon and prayer and why we pray individually and also as families (3 Nephi 18: 21 :D) It is a blessing to pray as a family and that is why we do it. Jose sometimes worries that he will be judged or it will take away from his special relationship that he has with Heavenly Father but as we explained that it is to strengthen others and the family itself, even to strengthen your relationship with other people when we are in a group, it made more sense to him and he offered a sincere prayer after the lesson! It was wonderful!

 

So transfers were this week and my "mom" went home!!! AH - LO PEOR!!! Plus my companions from my last two transfers and 3 other english sisters. The sisters in the mission are so tight knit because we all serve together at the VC that when one goes home its so sad and we all cry a lot! but we make it through and we know the Lord is watching over us and them!

As for my companionship - I stayed in Gaithersburg!!! Yay!! I don't have to pack and I'm still with Hermana Tuft! She is just in her second transfer so she is still technically being trained and I'm doing that! So 5th transfer and I'm trying. I'm grateful the oppourtunity and already seeing that the Lord is qualifing both of us in this work.

 

DAD and PAPA ROY - I met a guy named RAMBO!! haha- so cool! Well his name was Ramberto but his call sign is Rambo. He is in the Navy and i said, "Oh cool, my grandpa was in the Navy on the Bon Hom Richard back in WWII"  and was like - "oh, yeah? I was on that ship when i was stationed in San Diego." COOL! he then proceed to tell me that it has since switched from one type of ship to another and i got lost. Oh well! It was super cool.

 

before i forget - i need addresses! and even if you don't want my letters  you'll get them anyways (when i have time to write them, but i always need to be prepared :P)

--so - Timmy Hodges = are you at school yet? I need that address?

       - Mikelle = whats the mish home address?

       -Trent = where are you living at school? Live it up! I love the burg!

    ---i think thats it!

 

LES QUIERO MUCHISIMOS!!! Este evangelio is verdadero! Yo se que Jesucristo es el Salvador del Mundo y que el Libro de Mormon es un testigo tan especial de El. Si Lea este libro pueda ver por su mismo las bendiciones que el tiene para usted!

Hagalo!

 

-Hermana Word (2)

 

6001 - my mom - la mexicana Hna Avelar! Y la Hermanita Miller!

5931 - our new missionary exhibit! Yes those are name tags back there! try to find mine :)

5842 - White wedding..then baptism :D

5899 - my last district!