actividad de zona y una semana sin dormir

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

sometimes as a missionary you have weeks were you are completely tired and all you want to do on P-day is sleep...but is never an accomplished task. What usually happens is that day you want to sleep you have super cool activity outside and you get this adrenaline rush until you sit down and email your family and friends back home. Well, that's my pday. We had a Kickball tournament. At one point the ball came flying to me and so I went to catch it and was determined to hold onto it, but the ball wouldn't have that...it tried to fall to through my arms so, somehow, I ended up on the ground. haha. in the end - I caught the ball....and we got the 3rd out that inning...next inning , i got smacked in the face and caught the ball at the same time - putting my years of playing goalie and sacrifice of all body parts to stop the ball to work! haha - it was awesome! We had a great team and for winning - we got Lei's and fake mustaches - we are planning on wearing our sombrero and going to visit the senior missionaries in our building (shh - that's a secret ;D)

Okay - but this week has been so full of miracles that I have been super tired. Last we we only had one member to come to a lesson and it wasn't even planned. One of the Ward Missionaries, Hno. Corado, brought the Father of Hno. Corado's Father-in-Law to the VC while Hna Chappell and I were on Shift. It was so cool! We are now teaching him and taught him that night. He came last night to the VC and just loved what he learned. He is really humble and ready to accept the Gospel.

Other miracle - we met a man on the street about a week ago named Manuel. We tried called him on Monday and set up an appointment at the VC that night at 6pm. He didn't show up. We were bummed but we called him anyways and left a message. Yesterday he called us back!!! WHAT?! That like NEVER happens. It was so cool! He apologized because he had been called into work last minute. He also said that his schedule is crazy because his dad has Alzhimer's and sometimes he has to take him to appointment. He said he wanted to apologize and that he wants to meet with us before the week is over and he knows the message we share is a good message and he wants to hear it! MILAGRO!!

Also - Edgar got a phone and called us. We hadn't seen him in like 2 weeks because he randomly got a job and works all day, every day. But that also helps a person get money to have a phone. Well, he got one. and HE CALLED US!! He apologized! and he said he is reading the Book of Mormon everyday. He also called the member who picks him up for church and said he wanted to go this week! How amazing! The Lord is so good! We are just working really hard and he is blessing us! We have a member schedule to come out with us 5 more times this week! Truly amazing - we haven't had member support like that since I have ever been in this ward. It takes work, but the Lord is blessing us because we are trying so hard and there are people here who are prepared to learn.

So I want to share with you all a goal of mine. When I get home, I want to have FHE every week. Like for me personally no matter where I am. A very smart person told me that it is good to make plans while I'm still on the mission before other things start coming into play. It is great! I'm loving it! But FHE is something I have found that is super important and doesn't take a whole bunch of time. We have it with members all the time now and I love it! It shows God that we are willing to put him first and our families before ourselves. Those are the promises we make in the Temple. I love to show people the sealing room because in every temple, there are mirrors that reflect to simbolize Eternity. You can't have eternity if you are selfish...in other words - you can't see yourself go on for Eternity, but you can see your spouse. Pretty cool, Huh? So FHE is sweet! Give it a shot. I love it! There are so many things the youth have been asked to do...just do that for FHE. FUN! and you learn new stuff! also - Mormon messages or Mormon.org profiles. 

Just enjoy your time together. I personally loved going to get Slurpees with my dad or just heading out and getting ice cream cones or something. Just do it together and bring a spiritual thought into it. Dad's way good at setting up Iron Rod object lessons  :D

Anywho - LES AMO!

-Hermana Word (2)

8288 - BAZINGA!!! haha, laughed my head off when i opened this - thanks smash:D

8293 - i got a new ring a few weeks ago...just thought it was sweet.

8300 - getting ready for kickball...Sis Bullock and Me :D

8311 - We won!! 

3.5 millas-psh, eso es nada!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Well this morning was awesome! We got up at 3.50am to go and do some more sunrise pictures at the Lincoln...I think next time it would be sweet at the Jefferson! (still haven't made my way over there yet). But yes - it was pretty sweet! A little cloudy but there was a break in the clouds where the sun came through and just shined all bright redish-orange :D yay! Then, we proceeded to walk to the Smithsonian Zoo...which was only 3.5 miles away! That was way fun. We stopped along the way- in some shops, I got a Krispy Kreme :D, and we just took some fun pictures. I love my mission - it is gorgeous! The people are wonderful! And there is always something new and fun to do! Even to get to know people :D

 

This last week was FULL of Miracles. I think I told you about Celia last week...we have our next appointment with her tomorrow. We are finding some less actives who actually want to come back to church! That is the best - when they realize they have made big promises with God and they want to start keeping them again. Like any repentance - it is a process, but they seem very willing to do so. Then we also met this sweet potential on Saturday afternoon - Walter. He is SUPER humble...he basically asked us to come back before we could ask him (he is the neighbor of someone we are trying to meet :D)..He has had some hard trials in his life, even in the past week and Heavenly Father is really humbling him so that he can learn. We went and taught him yesterday and we asked what it would mean to him if the Book of Mormon was true and he said, "That this is the path that God's wants me to follow and I will do it." SO COOL!! He is really nice...talks a lot, but also listens and understands really well! SO GOOD!!!

 

Mother's Day was great! They brought sandwiches and sodas to Relief Society :D they were actually pretty good! We also got to serve in the VC that night and I met a cute little Guatemalan lady and she was so excited because she had just talked to her daughter in California on her mission...She also said to tell mom "Hi." Sorry I forgot mommy...not really sure what her name was at this point but she was really nice and just loving!

 

Well, that's all I've got this week! The Church is the true church. Heavenly Father loves each and every one of His children, no matter how hard life gets...He is there!! And His Son, Jesus Christ! We've have some amazing heritage in our roots, we just need to learn how to be more like our Father and our Brother in Heaven! We can do it!

 

Les Quiero!!

-yo...Hna Word (2)

 

ps = I'm finishing the Book of Mormon in Spanish before I get home...challenge - do it in English/ or read the New Testament if you have read the Book of Mormon before! you can do it!! Will you? Love you!

 

 

7981-I forgot to tell you we had a walk around the Temple last week for training...I got a little distracted :P

7986 - sweet spider in his web :D

8019 - YAY GRASS!

8035 - we also had a crazy Saturday night in POURING rain and ran to our investigator's house hehe.

8042 - sweet - this was at a school we got lost by yesterday :P

 

feliz dia de las madres!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! to the best mother in the world!! and all those mothers who have played a big part in my life. and all those women who were my leaders and loved me for whatever crazy thing i did! Thank you all so much! I love you all!!!  I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!!! and that at church they bring chocolate covered strawberries - fingers crossed ;)

 

so this week has been pretty great...I wasn't in the happiest of moods to start it, which was just stupid. Being sad is a bummer especially when you have no reason to be. So -just don't do it!! Life is way better when we do what the Lord wants instead of staying in the same old pattern we've always been in. It's sounds crazy but I know it is true. He is so awesome! We are reading Preach my Gospel as a mission right now and we just got done reading about the Christ-like attributes. I'm still working A LOT on patience. and the next is charity and love on my list. I do little things here and there for the other attributes but I came to realize that these two are one's i still really lack on and are what I need to become a more effective missionary. So that's where I'm at right now. And still working on being more bold but I'm getting way better at that cause my companion is just straight, to the point and always speaks with the Spirit! It's great!

 

Miracle of the week - We went to an appointment with a potential yesterday. Her name is Celia. Hna Shaw and I met her on the street like over a month ago....but things kept happening...she wasn't home, or  we couldn't get there in time and it just never worked out. Well, we went over yesterday...a few minutes late because of the appointment we had before so I was expecting her to be walking the dog or something. We knocked a couple of time and the no answer - but the dog was in the windowsil looking at us - GOOD SIGN! We checked around the side of the house because we heard some kids playing, but it was just some kids at the park and not Celia's daughter we have met before. So we go back and Hna Chappell was writing a note to leave on the door and Celia OPENED THE DOOR!! and let us in RIGHT AWAY!! It was amazing! We had a great lesson about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration. Hna Chappell pulled out the Introduction page to share with her. The last line in the Intro says, "...In preparation for the Second Coming of the Messiah..." (if not exact it is the translation skills :P) She loved that, She said, "oh - just like the Bible says! This is a good book. I'm going to read it. I promise you!" WHAT?! It was amazing! Celia is so spiritually intune! She also wants to come to church and wants somewhere for her kids to go. Truly, we are seeing miracles from Heavenly Father! yay!

 

Well...that's what I have to share this week! We are working hard. Even went out in a rainstorm yesterday. The sun is bright today!

Les quiero un monton! Yo se que el Evangelio es verdadero. Esta es la unica y verdadera iglesia de Jesucristo. Y como dijo Jose Smith - "No hay un otro libro en la tierra que pueda acercar un persona mas a Dios que el Libro de Mormon." Es cierto. Testifico de estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo. Amen.

 

Adios mi familia y mis amigos! Les Quiero!

-yo :D

El primer dia de Mayo!

Wednesday May 1, 2013

WOW! Ya esta aqui - no puedo creerlo! We had some awesome missionaries go home today! OH, and Hna Shaw got transfered to be with Hna Clement! I'm now serving with my roommate from the last 2 transfers Hna Chappell! Stinkin sweet!

 

Well..I have 5 minutes.

This week has been crazy. We have been trying to see what investigators want. The craziest is Lourdes. She is confused about things and feels like it is different..We had a lesson with her last night and read Moroni 7.16 and asked her is she felt like any of the things we were teaching her were bad even if she didn't understand them and she said no. That's good! We are going to work with her and help her find answers to her questions and help her really prepare to be baptized. I'm not giving up on her yet and neither is Heavenly Father!

 

I just want you all to know that the mission is a roller coaster - and I love roller coasters. We get thrown around all the time. We just got all our full pros sisters back because they want us to be able to stay in contact with our phone and chat investigators and we can't do that if we are never here! I'm excited to have all my sisters back! So amazing! Things are changing. The only constant in life, besides the plan and the gospel, is change. I'm working on being bold. Wish me luck...that's my big change. It's working when the Spirit is with me!

 

have a great night and week! I love you all!

-Yo!

(sorry so short...limited time this week!)

ps - POPSICLE!!! I'm so excited for you to be in Elder's Quorum!

pps- SMASH - i need disney music...like Hercules!! Help me!! PLEASE :D originals, no disneymania. more chill that way

7612 - we fight down by the water sometimes

7535 - Hna Tuft! She's awesome!

7796- these two came out with me...almost to our year mark! some of my favorite people right there!

7791-HERITAGE SHIRT...i was trying to be cool :P

7693- DC in the spring...at night

GO NATS!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

haha, well today we are headed to a Nationals Baseball game. Apparently it is a mission tradition! Pretty sweet! So we are emailing first hand (sorry for the fact that I have no pictures  yet...that is why)

This week was pretty much a roller coaster of investigator's emotions. Luis and Yeti are fantastic! They actually had questions more than anything about who created the Earth. Christ created the Earth under the direction of Heavenly Father. We taught them that but they thought Heavenly Father created it so we invited them to pray and ask Heavenly Father and they accepted...they said, "we will definitely ask Him." They are so good!

Then we have this new guy we found named Edgar. We found him while we were looking for his mom who was not home. He is the one we were meant to meet though. His mom doesn't really want to learn but Edgar does! We taught briefly about the Book of Mormon and he was like, "I have one of those..." then walked over by the TV and pulled it out (but it was in English). He doesn't ever speak English to us but he says he does speak and read in English and so some missionaries had given him the Book of Mormon a couple years ago. He is reading the one we gave him in Spanish. The 2nd time we saw him, Hna Shaw had just gotten the first vision down in Spanish that day and she recited it to him...It was SO COOL!! She paused often and that brought the Spirit so strong...plus - we were sitting outside and the sun came out behind the clouds in the middle of reciting it! OH MAN - SO COOL!!!

Lourdes- not really sure what is going on. She seems like now she doesn't want to learn. I know that Satan is working really hard on her through her family members - Trust me, it happens! And they are teaching her things that aren't really true but are just rumors about the church. Kind of sad. We will see what happens.

Well, That's the stories I have for the week. Oh - we got a new Senior couple at the Visitor's Center - The Petromalos :D they are great! Sister Petromalo went to Costco yesterday and bought us a bunch of yogurt and Tilex Shower Cleaner. She says the shower cleaner is the best way to get out tough stains...huh, who would have thought? So she brought us both! She is so nice :D

Yes, now this is all. But I want you all to know I love you! Erika - I want pictures :D sorry, I'm a little selfish, I just love you lots :D 

Everyone - Have a beautiful Wednesday! Seriously - I'm so grateful for all the prayers and love!

Les Quiero un monton!

-Hermana Word!

porque estamos aqui?

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Well this week has been pretty crazy. We had zone training this week that was amazing! I loved learning from everyone. President Matsumori did this cool analogy about how it doesn't matter what language we speak as long as we speak and teach with the Spirit. So then he has about 8 people who all speak different languages get up and do a piece of the first vision and they all did it in there different languages. English, French, Hungarian, Sign Language, Estonian, Russian, Spanish...okay maybe just 7 but it was AMAZING! i've only ever heard it in 2 languages and it was so great to see the the Spirit can speak to all of us. He testifys, we just need to make sure he is in charge of the lessons and we follow what he would have us do.

 

Our lessons this week were a little crazy. I would say the coolest experience we had was with Luis and Yeti. Yeti is a super inactive member who was baptized over 20 years ago in Peru...she ended up leaving the church due to rude church members...she then met her husband who is not a member, and they got married in the Catholic church. After that they came her to the US and had 2 kids. They are awesome! She said the opening prayer in the lesson and prayed to ask Heavenly Father to tell them if this is where He wants them to go. Then we taught about the Restoration...Hna Shaw told them the 1st vision and it was awesome! first time she's done that in the mission. Then Luis remember a lot of what he had read in the Book of Mormon (because we had left it with them to read) and he wants to learn! So they are great! And at the end of the lesson, we invited Kevin (7 yr old son) to come and pray with us...Yeti called him downstairs and he said, "what? are we praying?:D" and we said yes, would you like to pray with us...YEAH! And he said he was going to try and keep his family praying every night! So good! He's a stud!

 

This week we also had Night of Music and Inspiration in Spanish! It was sweet! I sang with Hna Clement and Hna Shaw. It was way cool! Hna Schoemaker put the whole night together and it was great to be apart of it. The Spirit was so strong...and there were so many people there. The Spanish members here are awesome! And there were some investigators there too! It was sweet :D

 

Well, that's about it except for randome notes of love...

-Kaity and Andrew - Thanks for my dress, mint cardigan, and headband. Haha, i love the headband :D and the other clothes too. They got here saturday and I wore them Sunday for Night of Music and Inspiration. :D You're the best!

-B-man! -I heard some sweet news from mom about how you got some rockets and set them off last week...SO COOL! Hey, just make sure you always listen to mom and dad when they tell you what to do, okay? They actually know a lot , I promise! And good luck with getting into clark. Either school will be awesome for you! But I want to see you play some good sports so you best keep up with your games and grades! Trust the Lord. Ask Him specific questions. Wait for an answer. He will tell you what to do! Love you b-man!

-Everyone else...still working on letters. Don't hate me. I'm sorry. I'm trying.

-ps...Dad - I'm going to the shop where I got the Rosie shirt next wednesday...let me know if you want anything and help me pay for it please :D LOVE YOU! I search for posters but I haven't seen any yet.

 

 

Well fam bam and friends...Les Quiero un monton! Espero que esten bien. Yo se que mi Salvador vive! Me ayuda cada dia. Es tan dificil de ser una misionera pero es vale la pena cada dia! I.T.

-Hermana Word (2)

ya empezamos el fin

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

today was so cool...and a tad sad. Hna Blasco(the only sister i came out with) and I went to Arlington National Seminary today. She left from my apartment with my roommate and I and she was like "this is just like the beginning...but it's not." AHH - can you believe it?! I hit 11 months yesterday and Hna. Schoemaker (she started same day as me but came out a transfer early cause she knew spanish) kept telling me happy birthday because it was her's too :/ but this is good. At least I've learned some things...well A LOT of things! And today I got to see some amazing things! Seriously. It was amazing. I also got a great souvenir ..not sure if you've heard of it before but around these parts it's called a sunburn. Haha, yep. I didn't have sunscreen so I just went without. Now I have some aloe vera :D ANYWHO - we got to see the changing of the guard...that was so cool! I have a video but I'm not allowed to send those home so I will show you when I get there :D But yeah.. OH - and CHERRY BLOSSOMS!! There are in bloom and we had the chance to go see them today - so cool! They say there will be a storm Friday and they will all blow away...so we made sure we saw those. The coolest part of the day was when we were at Arlington and there were leaves falling from the trees on by the graves. It was amazing! That was the best! so grateful I got to go at this time of year instead of October...but fall is beautiful too!

Well, my life is great! It's hard. and frustrating. and tiring. and fun. and TOTALLY WORTH IT! I.T. BABY! yep. So this last week we started teaching this guy named Julio who I taught last time I was here. We went in to teach him the Restoration and found out that his older brother who he was wicked close to...the older brother was like the glue of the family, past away about 4 months ago. He didn't go into details but it hit him really hard. We talked about that for a bit and I asked Julio how he made it past such a hard thing and he said he thinks his brother is just resting. Then we asked what he thought happened after death...and he didn't really know. Granted this guy has been taught a few times by the missionaries. He was open to learning! It was great! So we bagged the Restoration lesson and taught him about the Plan of Salvation (mind you Hna Shaw is pretty new and hasn't taught that in the field - she did AMAZING)!  It was so cool! The Spirit was definitely there and I was so grateful for it! Lourdes is doing well, we're still working with her to build her testimony a little bit more. It's amazing what the Lord will tell us when we are ready to listen...and what He will tell us even when we are not. 

Other than that, it's good! Hna Shaw contacted her first person on the street yesterday...so she tried to give them a card, but they were hispanic...so she tried to say it in Spanish and forgot the word for card (which she had learned 5 mins before) and it was so good! haha. 

just a few notes of loves...if they are repeats or if I forget someone, don't hate me.

-Jaime (Muzzio)Hurren - what the sweetest water bottle ever?! I've been using it since it got here! I love it! Thank you so much!! And stoked about the Vegas news...I'll see you there ;D

-B-man! - i got your card! Deal! Warped tour it is little bro...you pick the place, and we'll go! and thanks for the sweet card! now, put that letter in the mail :D

-Timmy hodges - where in the world is timmy hodges? I think he is lost. Write me kid! I like your inspirational stories!

-Hollowell's! Thanks so much for all the love and support! I loved your email!  :D thanks!

-anyone who lives in REXBURG...send me your address'...seriously anyone - i want to send letters, so just hit them to my email and I will write them down...or send a letter with it on it :D even better!

-ERIKA - 10 DAYS!!! right? haha, I could be off by a few! But know that i love you even if i don't have something to you before then! And that there is a cardboard cut out of my in Vegas that you are welcome to take with you ;D hehe. YOU'RE THE BEST!! Drake - you're lucky! be good to my her. Can't wait to meet you soon!

Well, that's all i have for this week. I'm really grateful for all of you and your love...and really love letters, so please send some :D Also - I just want you all to know that the church is true! Did you see General Conference?! I did! And I stayed awake, for ALL OF IT! Can you say miracle?! It was truly amazing! I know that I have some things I need to improve on. Always working on my obedience and loved President Monson's talk about that. Also - the Priesthood. It is a true blessing to have the power of God on the Earth again. Thank you to all you worthy Priesthood holders out there. I couldn't have made it through my mission without people like you and blessings from my Father in Heaven. And everyone that didn't see General Conference or doesn't know what I'm talking about, talk to my fam bam...or lds.org...check it out. There is a living prophet and 12 apostles on the Earth today. I promise. I know it. I testify of it every single day. That is the message. And that all can know for themselves. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

LES QUIERO UN MONTON! Portense bien! jaja.

-Hermana Word (2)

7168 - sweet leaf we found while walking around our area...oh wait the leaf isn't there, just cement

7189 - yes. West Point. represent.

7180 - the tree is exactly in the middle. sweet.

7206 - tomb of the unknown soldiers.

7215 - LOOK! The tulips are out too! Spring is here!