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!

April Fools!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Alright who had a good joke this April Fools day? Our was from the Zone leader who told us that the Baseball game was cancelled (which is an annual tradition) because prices went up! Ahh...Hna Shaw was about to be so sad because she loves the team we're playing against (some team from Saint Louis). haha, it was pretty funny. Then I was reminising on past pranks from B-man and talked about the time he rigged his Vulcan blaster to shoot me when I opened my door and now one of the Elders from the ASL program wants him to come pick me up so they can meet :P haha, yep, my brother is the coolest!

 

Well. this week was a little rough. I had a sweet birthday up until 6pm when I had to go out into the area. We almost didn't have a car and so we tried to get Lourdes to come to the Visitor's Center instead of us coming to her house so we could watch Thomas S. Monson's Biography...she said she couldn't cause her family came to town...so then we couldn't see her even if we had a car. Well, we had a car (long story there - no worries) with no real place to go. We started with our backups and no luck. We finally tried one of our last backups but I have heard from past missionaries that the less active family we were going to visit doesn't like the missionaries very much. So we sat outside there house and prayed with 10 minutes left to meet someone. We felt we were supposed to be over by there but not at that house. So we knocked a couple and no one answered. So we tried the house right in front of the less actives and a man from El Salvador answered the door. He was just babysitting there but he accepted missionaries and said we should come back because it was his sisters help and she could would listen. So cool!! The Lord is amazing!

 

Lourdes wasn't baptized this week. After wednesday, she was supposed to have her interview Thursday...and then baptism on Saturday. Well, She couldn't make it to the interview because her daughter was sick and she had to take care of her. I thought it was Satan, but after a lot of prayer and calming down with my companion....we realized there was a reason for it and so we cancelled the baptism. There are still somethings that we are helping her learn. We didn't understand the Spirit as well with her before but we are getting it. The Lord knows where her heart lies and just wants her to be fully prepared before she can be baptized.

 

That's my week. A little crazy but good stuff. I know that Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. He is in the details of our lives. He loves us and doesn't want us to go too far that we won't make it back to Him. He's looking out for us, we just have to come unto Him and ask for the strength and help we need that He has given us through the gift of His Son. I know this to be true. I invite you all to pray and find out. Have conversation with Him. That's all he wants. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Thanks for all the birthday love and cards and emails. I will be sending cards soon! I just have been too poor to get stamps :P

 

Les Quiero!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

1751-Spring is coming to DC! Yay!

7111- mis flores de mi familia :D

7120 - this is what my bday looked like :P

7136 - loved my cupcakes :D

muchsimas gracias!!!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Les Quiero un monton!!! Gracias por dar me un feliz cumpleanos hoy :D ya ha sido bien chevre! Yep, birthday is pretty awesome...the one conflict i had was figuring out my outfit at the end of the week without all my cute clothes :P worked out okay - hehe. I'm just kidding! I woke up to a wall with fun quotes and decorations...and my roommate set up my presents under it so i would have a cute background (that's what she told me :D) . So I opened my presents really early! And then put the cd's right in while i got ready in the Morning - mom..the spanish cd is like the same as one the cd's you have in english but I can't remember what any of the songs are, just that the tunes are the same :P pretty sweet! THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!! and for all the emails sent to me :D those were great! Thanks everyone!

As for missionary work - it's going really well! Lourdes is set to get baptized this Saturday and then confirmed on Sunday. She is awesome! We had a lesson with her last night about prophets again. We really feel like she needs to hear Thomas S. Monson before she is baptized, and so we are going to watch his biography with her tonight, "On the Lord's Errand." It's really powerful! We are praying the Spirit will touch her heart during it. But she is doing awesome! I have seen how a true testimony is that true conversion and why we should really be baptized. She has it! Just needs to feel this part of the gospel.

This week has been pretty great! We been just out and finding new people and also had some crazy things going on...we had some appointments cancel on Saturday but then out of the blue one of our members called us and told us that one of our investigators wanted us to go to the VC and watch a movie. It's was crazy, whirlwind style but that's what works for me :P It was cool - we watched "The Testaments" and it really touched him...he even prayed after the lesson! sweet :D 

It's been pretty awesome around her though - we had some random snow again and technically it's spring...I'm kind of hoping that that means a little bit cooler 2nd summer in humidity ;D maybe! oh - i saw the Skousins this week :D so cool! They came to the VC and everyone said "some one from your ward came in today..he was a firefighter" OH _ haha. but then they were gone before I got there...and they came back :D so nice of  them! It was really nice to visit with them for a bit! I love visitors at the vistors center ;P Also - Skousins! Thanks for the candy and present! Banana Laffy Taffy is my absolute favorite flavor!

little notes of love:

-SISTER OLSEN!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL DAY :D I LOVE YOU !!! also...ELDER ahem BROTHER OLSEN!! HAPPY late BIRTHDAY!!!! I LOVE YOU TOO!!! And hope you enjoyed your special day...share hugs from me :D

-Grandma and Grandpa Lewis - thank you so much for the wonderful email! of course, I forgive you both! I love you too much to be mad :D Thanks for going to Kaity's wedding! I can't wait to hear more about it some day!

-Mommy - yes. harddrive. but no worries. Just before I come home so i can get pictures from sisters :D AND THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME SUCH WONDERFUL GIFTS!! and beautiful flowers :D (from all) I got those! and my card and my letter! I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH!!! Oh - and my scripture case is perfect! Thank you!

-Popsicle- a card and a letter? I'm impressed! Plus you made me cry a bit but it's cool :D tears of joy! Thanks for taking the time to do that...meant a lot to me! I don't know if there are Rosie posters...but there are pens, postcards, books, magnets, waterbottles, and of course tshirts.

-Harper family - thanks so much for the birthday card! You are just super nice to think of me :D

-B-man -haha, guess I'm waiting on your card still :P still love you bud! You can do it! keep up the good soccer skills! Practice hard, play hard. No regrets!

-Smash! - you make me smile :D I can't wait to see what birthday present you send because Christmas was just so fun :D

-Kaity - i'm excited for the finishing touch...not sure what that means but i know it will be great! Thanks for think of me and your sweet email :D

well....that's all for now. Sorry this was a little more birthday like then missionary like but i love you all. The fulness of the Gospel is here! Just reach up and grab it, God will give it to you if it is what you desire. I know that it is the only way to have true, lasting happiness!

-Hermana Word (2)

7050 - birthday flowers from my fam bam :D

7054 - i can't just look at the flowers - i have to make some pictures too!

7069 - they look like little cacti  :P

7076 - haha, so last night i went and took these because we were done a little early

7102 - look...i just woke up, opened my presents then took this picture :P

time flies when you're having fun...

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Just realized I need to learn the word "to fly" in Spanish. But seriously this transfer has been amazing! I felt right at home when we switched rooms and desks the 2nd half of the transfer and I got a bunkbed and my "sister" was on the top bunk! She is awesome, that Hna. Clement! She defintely will be missed in our apartment! I'm so grateful for her example to me of just taking the time and talking to everyone...even if you are late because otherwise all the children on the "sides of the river are dwindling in unbelief" :/ so we are going to keep moving forward and really do our best to take the time and remember that it is the Lord's as well.

 

So this week. Well, we had a great Relief Society activity where they re-innacted the forming of the RS in Joseph Smith's day! It was so cool! I never even new half of those things! And as all awesome ward activities- we had food!! We had some delicious food and I loved that part too :D I also got to know some of the Ward members so that was pretty sweet :DI'm getting there! I made a promise to one of the sisters that left the ward that I would just love them! And the Lord is helping me do that!

 

As for the area - Lourdes is doing really well! She came to that RS activity...but then she missed church :/ Satan works in really mysterious ways and for her, he just gets people to ask her for help, and being the kindest person I've ever met - she just can't say no. and so then church was missed...but she hated that feeling and she still wants to be baptized. Yesterday we taught her about the importance of church and all 3 of us just testified with the words the Holy Ghost put into our mouths! Oh, the Spirit was so strong! Even Lourdes bore her testimony to us of all the changes she is making! She really understands the commandments and is ready to apply them throughout all of her life!

 

Well - little notes of Love

-Aunt Joy and Uncle Phil - you too are amazing! Thank you so much for all the birthday love!

-Sis. Marrott - You make me smile :D I love getting cards from you!

-Brother and Sister Simper! - That was the coolest card and sweetest note! Thanks for thinking about me! Also - loved the new painting "I Am"...really speaks!

-B-man = way to be a stud out there! And I can't wait to hear about that talk you gave!

-SMash - i got your letter! Thanks for all the updates! I will getting back to you soon!

-Mommy and Daddy - I LOVE YOU BOTH!

-Kaity and Andrew - Love you both too!

-Hailee Richards!!!  - You start your mission next week!!! WOOHOO! you are so set to go and I can't wait to see you and speak Spanish and Portugese together!

vi una columna de luz

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

...and it was called the SUN!!! I have gone to take sunrise pictures 4 times and this was the first time I have actually seen the SUN!! like full on sunrise with no clouds in the sky :D it was amazing!!!

 

but onto the work! This week was pretty crazy! Lourdes was going to get baptized on Sunday but she told us that morning that she wasn't ready which was sad, but it is okay. She is REALLY SEARCHING for her answers. She wants to really know that there is a living prophet today and that the Book of Mormon is true...and if she wants to feel like she knows that, it is okay. She still wants to get baptized, and knows the blessings it will bring but also knows that it is a real promise with God and she is taking one step at  a time to get there. That is what the Lord ask, "Come unto me." But he didn't say  do it full forced, like running into a train! no, just do it. He has a time frame, he will help you and you will be prepared when you are supposed to be.

 

Other than that - our investigators Carmen and Salomon...who have been meeting with us for a while now, are finally getting their answers and want to be baptized. They are really trying to make changes! And want to get married so that is wonderful! We are trying to keep them on the right track, it is just sometimes hard to get ahold of them.

 

What more?! OH YEAH - Hna Shaw is AWESOME! She is the cutest girly girl tomboy I've ever met and she is willing to do anything! She is kicking out her training in the Visitor's Center like now other and just have a great time. Last night we went on splits because they needed a little extra help at the VC so I stayed here and her and Hna Clement went to the area and when they got back Hna Shaw was so happy! She said she used an analogy about how the Book of Mormon and the Bible work together, they cannot replace one another but they can strengthen one another and do...just like her and Hna Clement teach together but can't replace one another :D I'm so proud! She's awesome! And Hna Clement is a great missionary too! We just all have a lot of fun together! ANd we have a bunkbed! good night sleep right there :D

 

 

Well - thank yous...

Sis.Marrott - you are always so sweet! I'm sorry I don't write you as much as I should

Auntie Joy and Uncle Phil! - thank you for the box of snacks! I love snacks..and I'm sorry i opened it before my birthday (I'm bad...if it's not wrapped, I can't wait or it gets too distracting :P)

Mommy- thanks for all your awesome letters!

 

 

I love you all!! This gospel is the best, and it will help you all BE happy, not just fleeting but really happy!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

9260- mi hija, yo, y mi hermana!

9194 - the falling effect...

9233 - i took this with my friends cannon...BIRDS :D

9307 - sweet...i love plaques!

la vida loca....

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

jaja, pues la vida de una misionera como yo! well, for starters. Let's just say that I have kid!! What?!!! This past Saturday the Asistentes to the President wanted to meet with Hna. Clement and I to talk about something "highly confidencial". well, we went with that and met them at the VC. They walk in with the Training book we have as missionaries and said I would be training, in a trio, and that she would be here on Tuesday  "so we need to put a bunkbed in your apartment today." After they did that we had an intense moving day because we had to get the bigger bedroom and room for more desks. It was good! And my "daughter" is now here. I'm raising her for at least the next two weeks with my "sister" until transfer is over...then we shall see! Her name is Hermana Shaw. from Kaysville, Utah. really tall. Super FUN. Always smiling. And is not 19,  but just turned 21. and she says that life was never said to be easy but that it would always be worth it! She's awesome! Oh and she sings, so we're doing a trio this Friday in Training :D that's the craziness of my mission. I can never do anything normal.

 

 

So - 4 mins on missionary work. Well, Lourdes is doing awesome. Her niece keeps bringing her false doctrine she hears on the internet and it is not cool. but it's okay because we gave her Mormon. org and she knows she can ask us anything. She trusts us and that is a blessing. As we act as representatives of the Lord, as we are, he blesses us to know what to say to help his Children. It is truly amazing! SO she is going to let us know Thursday if she wants to still be baptized this Sunday or next, but she assured us that she wants to be baptized. And we had a really powerful lesson on ASKING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. Often times, we don't want to pray cause we think, "God knows what is going on and he will help me." OR  when we do pray we just say what we need but not ask what we want to know or how we came to the conclusion that we want to know. WHY? we can JUST ASK! Our all-knowing, Heavenly Father, who will stay up all night or talk with us at anytime of the day just holds answers in his hands ready to shower them upon each and everyone of us and if we don't ask he  wont give it. Yes, he knows. Just like we can tell when one of our loved ones needs something...but you don't want to give them something they can't admit to themselves that they don't want. Well - it was a powerful lesson! The Spirit testified of truth as always. And I challenge you all to do the same. If you invite the missionaries over that is all they will ask you to do - Ask God if what they teach is true. That is how the Church was Restored, because Joseph Smith listened to what it said in James 1:5 and asked God.

 

Well...my time is up. sorry. I read really good letters instead of writing this week :D BUT I love you! I know you can each receive and answer to anything. Ask. Wait. Receive. Your Heavenly Father LOVES YOU!

 

Cuidense!

LES Amo!

-Hermana Word (2)

 

ps ( i like laser tag...we did that today for a zone activity) :D

 

6793-this is us waiting for Hna Shaw to come :D

6794 - she came in the back door and we almost missed her :/

6795 - sisters before laser tag :D

6806 - we went to lunch after -pollo a la brasa (charbroiled chicken) the best!