translados otra vez!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Well...We got a phone call from our Zone Leaders Monday night that said I was going to be leaving Glenmont right before Thanksgiving. I was bummed, I'm not going to lie, and not to amped to head to a new area. Today we found out where I was going. I'm headed to Gaithersburg! And I'm in a trio with a newbie, Hna Tuft, and one of our oldest sisters, Hna Finlay. I'm looking forward to meet the ward and the people here and I know this is where the Lord needs me so I'm headed forward with his help.

 

For the last week, I had this super nice cold and now it is a cough that I'm not too fond of but it is truly amazing how much the Lord blesses missionaries. I've had colds before where all I want to do is go home and sleep but I havn't felt that way! I've just wanted to push through and help the people that we needed to help! There were a couple nights where I was exhausted but other than that it was some strength I've never seen before. Truly a blessing!

 

And with that - the Lord is still blessing us! Well In Glenmont in the last two weeks we got 3 baptismal dates, and started teaching 2 families! It is amazing! I love that ward and I know the sisters who are there now will really keep it going! In DC 1st ward, there was a baptism this week for Bibiana - 14 yr old girl who her family was baptized about a year ago, but she lives with her mom who is not a member. Well she just got baptized and it was amazing! I taught her my last transfer so I was able to go and see it! I'm so excited for her - she has such a wonderful sweet spirit and will bring many people unto Christ just because of her example.

 

Random Messages of Love!

-Hailee - again - CONGRATULATIONS!!! You're going to see so many miracles out there in Brazil! I'm excited for you to learn a new language and meet a whole different culture of people. Truly a blessing!

-Sis. Marrott! Thank you again for your sweet card! I love hearing from you! and Bro. Marrott! I hope  you are doing well!

-Tim Hodges! What?! you wrote me a letter! I just got it today, so I'm reading it...but thank you! I'm excited to read it! You're awesome!

-Erika Dobler...so, im sorry I still havnt written  you back and probably wont have much time to do so this week either. I LOVE YOU! i will write you soon!

 

Well, everyone..once again - You're awesome! Something I've realized a lot this week is the Lord's timing. I think I said this last week too. Maybe I'm getting it but it's not fully going through. But I want you to all know he's got a plan for each and every one of us. We may be able to see where we are, but he is the only one that knows where we can go and who we can be, and we have to ask him to help us get there. I know i need more patience and to be more humble and I know i can't to either without his help. I hope you can all find that help that you need and remember to ask for help.

 

Con Amor,

-Hermana Word

 

el amenecer!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Woohoo! Yep, we went and took sunrise pictures this morning! it was awesome. But let me just tell you that you best not freak out when you get of on the wrong Metro stop because of the Lord's timing and your companion needed to talk to someone who had missionaries before and not now only because she MOVED states. I felt schmuky all day (if that's even a word). But its all good! It was a fun day and we did many things. Dad - you and mom need to come and pick me up and see all the sights :D it would be awesome! Just think on that a bit...next October :) 
We tried to see the National Archives but it was closed up top with these HUGE black doors so we just took some pictures and left it like that :) Another day.

Well - I met a man named Aloysius (al-O-wish-US) this week!!! HAHAHAH!! SOO COOL! he was really nice and said he'd like to meet with missionaries(super plus). We also got a ....B-DATE!!! YAY! Heavenly Father is so GOOD! We went to stop by a less active family who lives in the far reaches of our area and they were home. The mom and 17 yr old daughter are members but the 13 yr old son was never baptized. We talked about it and he was like "yeah. it feels like the right thing to do" and he recognizes that there is a different feeling at church/when the Spirit is there :D so cool! so yes, he'll be baptized December 1st!
And another less active couple we visited...who i havn't seen at church since ive been in the area...were at church on Sunday! HOW COOL IS THAT?! and our B-date (Ariel) was there too :D 

What else happened this week? Oh - CAR Fast! Okay, yes that sounds a little weird but it was awesome! We talked to so many people and got some referrals for the English sisters. Oh and the cool part is we did have some lessons and we walked to them (I was on exchange in my area with a sister from China -English Speaking missionary) the poor sister...but she did so awesome! She just chimed in not even knowing what was going on, but didn't miss a beat :D Super legit!

Well just a few Items of random notes of love:
-Kaity WORD- CONGRATULATIONS!!! Still can't believe it! Wish I could be there but it is all good - I trust this Andrew kid...my seester deserves the best!
-TRENT - Happy BIRTHDAY!!! How did you celebrate?! Something super awesome, I'm sure! but seriously - you're awesome and I hope you had a rad birthday!
-Random mission excitement for all to hear - soo...there is a Sister Fehlman in my mission who one of her good friends just got her mission call to Taiwan and in the call letter it says she will finish her mission in China when it opens!! WHAT?! How cool is that!? I'll tell you our Chinese sisters are a little giddy about it, that's for sure :D

well...that's about all I've got. I'll do my best to get letters out next week and email (but we might have P-day on Thanksgiving and the Libraries would be closed) I love you all! I want you to know that it is always going to be okay. Stop complaining. Start Praying. The Lord will help you even overcome yourself if you really want to change. Alma 7:11-12 :)

Con Amor!
-Hermana Word (2)

"The vail over the Earth is beginning to Burst"

October 24, 2012

:D yep, true statement. and we have a "vail" in the Vistor's Center that is obstructing our view of the Temple right now :/ The construction workers are chiseling away that the flow and cutting new holes for new electric wires and stuff that I really know nothing about but I'm greatful for it...just praying it's done before December or our festival will be even more chaotic than I've heard of.

 

This week i have yet again learned that the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us and even if all our appointments fall through, he will help us find what we really need if we just keep the faith in him. so we've had some full pros days this week...actually all this week and it has been great! On monday...appt after appt fell through but we kept treking alone. We even got to wear PANTS and do some service in a garden - another thing I know nothing about but should. But amidst all the failed appts we were able to meet some new people and set up appts to come back. We started singing a hymn to an elderly lady yesterday who was so touched she wanted literature to read...we didn't have any Book of Mormons in hand but we gave her a pamphlet and said we'd come back again :) So if you ever don't know what to do on a doorstep - SING! one of the Quickest ways to invite the Spirit and it helps others soften their hearts to what your saying.. And to everyone reading this who is not a missionary -Sing when you need the Spirit! I do that all the time in my head...outloud, whenever I'm needing and don't have it for some reason or another.

 

Oh and I was having a little bit of a rough time this week..just thinking too much and there was a Brother Barrera who came to the VC, I've met him once before and he loves missionaries (apprently he just gives referals of everyone he knows...he's  a member missionary). Well, I was talking to him and he just really helped me pass over what I was frustrating myself with and just let me know to keep going...Satan Gets to us! He tries so hard cause he knows how good it is and wants for no one to be happy because he can't be. Well. He chose to not be happy. And we can choose to be happy or not. Just don't let him get YOU down. YOU can do it. Read the scriptures, pray for help...one of Heavenly Father's angels will come and help you.. I promise you that!

 

As for our area - well it has been a little slow. We had to drop our investigator because she's not ready to forgive some people in her life :/ BUT we just got so many more miles so now we can go to an area that has so many hispanic people that we never see because of the limit of miles we have!! The Lord has a plan and we're finding it! Oh - and super cool experience we had with a member who is having a hard time right now...Basically we went to the VC and she told us all that has been going on and how her husband is growing stronger in his faith but how every hard thing keeps coming at her. The Spirit was so strong! I was so impressed to promise her that her and her husband would be together again one day and that they would both be prepared and enter the temple together. And in the mean time, they are going to be instruments in the Lord's hands to help build others up...! WOW! It was amazing. And I testify that that is true. I know it.

 

Quick notes of Random-ness -

Kaity - letter. Asap! :D

SMash -  you too!

Popsicle - I LOVE YOU!! How's life?

B-man - what's the happs? How's school?

Mom - I LOVE YOU!! How's life? Also...If you could send my perscription like tomorrow that would be great..sorry I forgot to tell you again :P Oh and thank you for my clothes!!

 

Basically I love you all! You are so wonderful! This work is hard but it is SO WORTH I.T.!!! ETTE :)

-Hermana Word (2)

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.