December 30, 2013

It was good to see you all on Christmas!  I just sent your package off today, sorry it took so long.  I get very easily distracted sometimes.  One of the gifts you might not get, so I'll just kinda give you a heads up, I thought you 3 women in the house might be interested in staying organized like me.  As missionaries, our planner is our lifeline!  

This week was a pretty cool one.  Interesting to think that it has been less than a week since I've seen you all!  Feels like longer... 

We had a couple really cool miracles happen just these past few days.  We were on exchanges this past Saturday and Sister Abernathy left the area.  We went to go visit one of our investigators, a couple named Noe and Juliana.  They're pretty hard to get a hold of at times, but we managed to find Juliana in her house and she let us in.  She thanked us for the plate of goodies we had left her previously, and we soon found out that her husband, Noe, left her alone with their 3 sons.  She started sobbing and expressed to us how heart broken she felt.  Just holding on to a smidge of faith she could barely manage to conjure up.  She kept saying things like, 'I don't know why God let this happen, I guess he'll help me through it at some point..'  and 'how do you know he hears our prayers?' Just very heart broken and confused.  Her sons apparently ask her where dad is often and he even came by to open presents with them on Christmas and left again.  Can you imagine how confused the kids must be?  She even feels as if her chance at eternal happiness has passed, she's just living for her kids now.  We testified to her that God was already reaching out to help her, because he sent 2 of His representatives to find her.  We bore testimony of the love that He has for her and how she can truly, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, see that eternal happiness is always a possibility.  She is very open and trusting that we can help her.  We invited her to church and she was very excited to hear that there's primary for her kids!  She lit up when the member that came with us, Gissell, offered her a ride.  So she showed up on Sunday, after working until 1 in the morning the night before.  She was so happy afterwards to see that her kids had fun and enjoyed their classes.  She told us that anything that brings her kids happiness, she's going to do it.  

We also visited Jorge and Isidro the other night and taught the Word of Wisdom.  Jorge was very straight forward about the fact that he's an alcoholic, it being the cause of him ending up in prison.  We testified a lot about the atonement of Jesus Christ and how if we stay anxiously engaged in the things of God (scriptures, prayer, etc.) we can overcome our addictions.  The gospel of Jesus Christ the only way to overcome it.  Jorge is in this mind set where he feels guilty to even pick up the Book of Mormon and read it, because he can't "play in two games at once" as he likes to say.  That's not how we heal, though.  We shared John 16:33.  I love that scripture, it's very personal, I think.  Jorge was even writing down all of the scripture references that we shared.  Isidro was still hesitant about coming to church, but Jorge said he'd be there, even though he's told us that before and didn't show.  It was funny because Jorge even chewed out Isidro because Isidro was making excuses again as to why he can't come.  He's very nervous about his leg.  Jorge was all, "Isidro, coming closer to your heavenly father is more important than anything!  You're making excuses!"  Anyway, to our pleasant surprise, Jorge came to church!  He walked in his little tie and sunday shoes!  I was so happy to see him and very proud, because I know how hard that was for him.  He feels very guilty to the point where sometimes he will hide from us when we come by for lessons because he feels so much shame for his weakness, as if God is angry with him.  We're going to do everything in our power to help him realize that God and Jesus Christ are really always there, reaching their hands out to him with love.  What's that scripture where Christ says he didn't come to hang out with the righteous, but to save the wicked..? something like that?  ayway...

He said he felt very good afterwards and that he's coming next week, too.  Hopefully he tells Isidro how great it is.  

I'm so happy to see so many people, so tied down with sorrow and hardships, showing the Lord their desires to change and lean on Him.  I'm so grateful for the atonement and for the knowledge of this gospel in my life.  I've seen it change me and our family.  What a testimony builder to see it bless so many lives on a daily basis!  There's nothing else like a mission, it's true!  

BTW, tell Renee to check her email, because I gave her email to Sister Abby's cousin and I'm going to give it to Elder White today when we see him.  Even if she doesn't initiate it, I know they will!  They're passionate about incredibly talented people!  Haha.  

Les amo muchisimo!      

Christmas skype call

It was so awesome to get to speak to Sam yesterday.  She looks beautiful and happy.  We also got to speak to her companion and one of her recent converts, who was letting them use her computer.  They all obviously had love for each other.  It was a great thing to see.  

She told us some crazy stories, made faces and did some of her goofy voices.  She is still our Sammy.  

Oh, she also gave Renee some email info for a couple of missionaries.  One from her mission who Sam claims is the male version of Renee except he is a musical phenom while Renee is an drawing/sculpting phenom.  She told Renee that she found her Christmas present - her future husband.  HAHA  Apparently they are very similar in personality and taste.  She had asked him what his dream Christmas gift would be and laughed when he said, "the complete blu ray set of Indiana Jones movies".  We laughed because Renee already owns it. 

The other is Hermana Abernathy's cousin, who is in SLC Central Mission.  He makes movies(for the church?) and is looking for animators.  

We could tell that Sam is being a good leader.  She was very cautious about the time.  We spoke for an hour.  Before the skype call she kept calling trying to figure out how to get logged in on a second computer while her comp used the home account.  We tried using a bunch of different accounts and didn't have a lot of success.  This went on for the better part of an hour and Sam kept hanging up and calling back because she wasn't supposed to spend too much time on the phone.

They were having ham and mashed potatoes for dinner and Chris warned Hermana Abernathy about letting Sam have chicken wings and the mess that would ensue if she did.

It was an awesome Christmas gift.

December 23, 2013

Feliz Navidad!!!!  By the way, did you send me one more package?  I checked this morning and still no mail, but we're going back later to check again because there are a bunch of trucks coming by today.  The mission office's packed with packages! 

 

Oh, yes, we did have a Christmas party/training for the mission...it was quite a treat, let me tell you.  they had a talent show and there were some interesting acts.  Unfortunately I left my camera in the chapel, so I didn't get it on film... but there were some really crazy things like beat-boxing and  one missionary even dressed up like buddy the elf and sang a song that goes like, "I sure do like them Christmas cookies, sugah!"  He was accompanied by two backflipping santas.  The highlight of the whole thing, though, was when President and Sister Nieder dressed up as mr. and mrs. Claus and Sister Nieder sat on the lap of two elders in the audience...yeah, it was awkward...haha. 

 

I'm sending you a Christmas package today.  Obviously it probably won't get to you by Christmas, but it's the thought that counts, right?  Haha. 

 

 You'll do so great as the Primary President!  I'm so excited for you. 

 

This week was a little difficult at first.  It's really hard to set up lessons and teach with the whole Holiday season.  Most of the people are either in California visiting family or sick.  That's no excuse of course, but as the week went on I had to pray for the strength to keep going without feeling like a terrible missionary... I felt kind of like I was trying to so hard and Heavenly Father wasn't blessing us with success, like He was disappointed in me.  Which was unfair to even let cross my mind.  He puts us through hard times or rough patches so that we can be made strong, grow in faith and patience.  So we kept trekking along and yesterday we had a pretty miraculous night.  We had a lesson with Stefania and it was completely guided by the spirit.  Sister Abernathy and I, without going in with a solid lesson plan, were totally on the same page and we ended up committing her for baptism.  I love when that happens!  I led up to the baptismal commitment and without doubting it or even wondering where I was going with it all, sister Abernathy extended the baptismal invitation.  Moments like that, when we both are on the same page and feel prompted to hit the same points...yeah, that's when you know the spirit is just using us like puppets.  She was hesitant, but we testified from the heart, to the point where I was almost in tears because I felt such an overwhelming love for Stefania and also because I could feel the spirit speaking through me.  She ended the lesson by asking God in prayer if she should be baptized.  We are going to set her with a specific date next time we go over.  She already knows the Book of Mormon is true and everything, she is just worried of what will happen to her family.  We testified a great deal of how we need to put all of our trust in Him, act on the faith and conocimiento that because He loves us, he is not going to do anything to hurt us if we do His will. It was such a cool experience.  I could feel so strongly the love that Heavenly Father has for her and how much He desires her to be baptized and be that example for her family.  I also shared with her the experience my recent converts from Ensign had, (Norma y Michelle Martinez.) 

 

Then, we had a prompting to drive to the other side of our area to visit a family we had found on Sister Abernathy's first night.  The Ventura-Rodriguez family.  We walked up to their door and they literally just pulled up from their vacation to California.  They let us in and the whole family was there. The parents (Francisco y Alma) and their 3 kids, (Patty, Sara y Heaven.)  We talked to them a little bit about what our message is centered around and did a blessing contact with them. We asked them to imagine if Jesus Christ was sitting in their home, what would they ask of Him?  Then out of the blue, I added, "...que ustedes necesitan en este momento"  With that one added sentence to the question, the mother started crying immediately and told us about her father who is very sick.  Then we went around the room and they all shared what they needed in that moment.  We then said a prayer, including all of those necesidades.  It was such a powerful experience because just that one extra sentence (obviously inspired by the spirit) opened something up in her.  For whatever reason she needed to hear just that.  It's interesting to realize that sometimes we just say things as missionaries, not always noticing that certain things that happen to come out of our mouths, are not our own.  The blessings and guidance we receive are often so simple and so sneaky that if we don't listen to the people and how they react to our questions or testimony or whatever, we might not notice that the Holy Ghost just put into our mouths what to say.  Heavenly Father is so aware of all of His children.  I'm so blessed to have this opportunity to serve Him and see miracles happen each and everyday.  Miracles that are so hidden in the details that they're almost invisible if one isn't paying attention. 

 

I love you all very much!  I wish I could express how much!  Never doubt that Heavenly Father always has His eyes on you.  Those days where you might feel lonely or forgotten, He's just preparing you for something greater...preparing the storm of blessings that we can only receive if we are patient and trust in Him through the hard times.  I've seen that pattern time and time again throughout my mission.  He gives us experiences to grow in character - opportunities to develop Christ like attributes...and if we endure it well, He pours blessings upon us! 

 

Feliz Navidad! :)

December 16, 2013

This week was good, like always.  We've been getting referrals like crazy and even though it's a blessing, it's also really hard to keep track of when we've got 11 at a time. Anyway, one of our referrals became a new investigator family this past week!  Laticia and her daughter alexa (13) and son Brian(7).  We had our first lesson with them on Saturday morning and then they came to the Christmas activity that same night and church the next day.  So we're very excited about them!  That's a lot right after a first lesson.  They studied with Jehovah's witnesses before, actually and got offended by them.  They have lots of questions, but are very sincere and Laticia really needs this.  She's very depressed she says.  She used to study the Bible all the time and she told us that she for years always did what was right, but she never noticed a difference - nothing was any easier...so she kind of drifted away from any kind of religion, but she's awesome and really liked everything so far.  Even told us she's excited!  Alexa should be going to YW this Wednesday, too.  

 

Speaking of Jehovah's witnesses, I've been able to avoid them up to this point in my mission, but lately they've been popping up like daisies, ready to Bible bash.  We had a lesson with Janet and Enrique, and they basically told us a few times that we should take lessons with the testigos de Jehova because we're lost... and what's interesting about them that I never knew before is that that they have a little guide book to help them understand the bible, yet they say the bible is literally the ONLY source of receiving answers from God.  The fact that they take every thing written in the Bible to be exactly literal, however, worked to our advantage when they argued that no man in the bible has actually seen God face to face.  We showed them the part in Acts when Stephen saw God and when they read that they literally went silent and said, "oh..it does say that."  Anyway, we've been dealing with some tough people lately..  tough, tough, tough... At least I'm learning more about these Jehovah's witnesses!  I was always curious as to what they believe.  Did I tell you women aren't allowed to pray or participate in any way in their chapels?

 

We talked to Marcos yesterday.  We knocked on the door and his daughter in law answered and basically told us she doesn't want us knocking on her door.  She was kind of snappy...anyway, we talked to Marcos outside and he told us that once he gets the papers he's waiting for, he's going to go to Mexico and then come back sometime in January.  At that point he'll have his own phone and car.  He'll also feel less weighed down and more focused on learning with us.  Before then, though, he's going to come to church when he doesn't have to be home taking care of his nieto and we can teach him lessons after church in the chapel.  I love Marcos so much, he's awesome!  He kept saying, "I will see you again!  I'm coming back!"  That little talk with him gave us peace, too, because now we know how to deal with the whole Marcos situation.  We just have to trust him to be the one to reach out to us.  I believe he will, though.  He's very sincere and proved to us that he will do all in his own power to be there this last week when he showed up at church unannounced even though everything had ended.  He really just wants to be able to travel back and forth from mexico to Vegas as he pleases, but right now with his paper situation, if he leaves, he can't come back.  That's what he's waiting for - freedom!  He even said that one day he'll show me around Mexico!  That'd be fun.  Did I tell you he is an ex Mafia member, by the way?  It's crazy how people can change.  He's such a good guy.

 

Also, we went to the temple to do a session on Friday!  New missionary temple trip, whoo!  Beautiful as always!  Someone gave us one of their family names to do. 

 

Yes, I got two packages from you today!  And I sent you a letter last week.  Did you get it? 

So yes, I got two packages from you today!    

**********************************

The photo that was texted to us this week was from a random woman who saw them in a restaurant, bought them dinner and said that she has a son serving in Texas and she knew we, the parents, would love getting a picture of our babies.

Sam met a woman from NY and got a kick out of it because she sounded like our neighbor, Theresa.

She is freezing out there and wants warm clothes.    I guess the ones we bought here in Florida aren't cutting it.

December 9, 2013

Howdy, howdy.  Yes, I apologize for the letter situation...I have one ready to send you, I just am lazy...I'm sorry. :(  I didn't get any packages today, though.  Just letters.  By the way, I''m FREEZING out here!  Warmer, thicker clothes...I need them.  haha

 

Training is going fine.  Sister Abernathy's a sweetheart.  It's so weird to think I've been out OVER 10 months now.  Sister Abernathy's like, "wow, I'm so happy I have a trainer who's experienced!" :(  Where did the time go?  I'm so old now.  When I was preparing to go on my mission I remember thinking how long a 1 year and 1/2 seemed.  Like this looooong adventure!  Now I see how short it really is. 

 

It's been fun so far, this transfer.  Rosie dropped off the face of the earth, though.  We've done everything to try and contact her.  We even showed up for a SET appointment with her and she wasn't there.  That never happens.  She always remembers when we come by.  I know her family was visiting her, but I don't know.  It's sad.  We've been struggling a little bit with getting set appointments.  I think a lot of it is due to the time of year.  We're working very hard, though and I've seen throughout my mission that often times things change with a new transfer and new companion... new people to find that have been prepared to meet sister Abernathy perhaps. :)  

 

Marcos is doing good, though.  Struggling with reading and it's really hard to have set appointments with him, but yesterday something cool happened.  He told us on Saturday that he would be at church, but then he didn't show up.  However, after the 3rd hour we were about to leave when we realized we lost the keys.  So we went back inside and finally found them in the library, but just as we walked out to get to our car and drive home, Hno Lopez pops out and tells us that someone was looking for us and had walked 22 minutes to get here.  It was Marcos!  He apologized and was hoping he wasn't too, too late, but walked all that way just to come to church because he told us he'd be there.  We snuck into the English sacrament meeting and were able to hear a gorgeous musical number before he left, so at least he got spiritually fed.  Haha.  Most of our solid people right now are older people, and there are certain difficult situations that are keeping them from going all the way.  We have a really awesome one named Isidro and he's doing really good with everything but coming to church.  He had a really bad accident with his leg and no matter how many times we invite him, he will not come to church until his leg feels better.  Also Stefania.  She's been to church once and attended a baptism, but right now we're working with her and encouraging her to share the gospel with her family because she feels very lonely without them.  She also can't read very well, so her BOM reading is struggling.  We helping her, though.  She feels the love.  Lourdes and Mike...well, we set them for Jan 4th, but they're not showing effort to jump back into it again after a month of not seeing them.  Mike promised us for like the 10th time he'd be at church and he wasn't there.  We're going to have to lay the law down and be bold with them. 

 

We had a lesson with a Cuban couple yesterday.  Jehova's witnesses.  It basically was him trying to tell us what's what, nut we were very respectful and bore testimony.  apparently women can't pray in their chapels.  Also, he went on for about 30 minutes on how Jesus wasn't crucified on a cross.  It was just a poll... does that tema have relevance?  No.  He expected us to tell him we have crosses all over our church buildings, but we don't so he didn't really know where to go with it.  At one point he even asked us if our parents taught us what we know.  I proudly said yes.  Of course I had to find out for myself, but I was raised right and I am blessed with strong parents in the faith.  He told us his parents led him astray and he had to cut off from their beliefs.  I'm so grateful for the truth in my life and for the blessing to have been "born of goodly parents" as my patriarchal blessing says.  Muchisimas gracias!  I'm also grateful for experiences like that with the Cuban guy (who by the way lived in tampa florida for a time. Watch out!  He might come back.) because we are standing up for Christ's name.  I gave talk the other day at a zone training and I talked a lot about that and how often the new testament speaks of the blessings of suffering for Christ's sake.  He went through so much even though he did nothing wrong.  As His disciples, we should expect the same.  It's part of wearing His name across our hearts.  We just find reason to rejoice for that fact!  He's cheering us on the whole way. 

 

I love you all very much!  Keep on that straight and narrow path!  You inspire me!            

November 2, 2013

My companion is from Nashville Tennesee and her name is Hermana Abernathy.  Her Spanish is pretty good, better than mine was when I came out, even if she doesn't have confidence in it yet.  Everything's doing good, though.  She thinks I'm fluent in Spanish even though I'm obviously not and am much too aware of what I lack.  It is sufficient to do the Lord's work, though, so I'm happy.  I'll hit 10 months in a few days...and I will get to see your beautiful faces a few days after that!  :)

 

We ate thanksgiving with the Taylor family.  Hno. Taylor (Yes, he's white) had his parents and brothers there, so we had a good American dinner.  Elder Dahneke's sister (her district leader)lives in our area... I actually sent a picture of her to you.  The white woman holding the baby.  Anyway, the elders ate lunch with her.  We were invited but didn't go because I decided we could spend the Lord's time in a more productive way.  Anyway, she put a whole bunch of food in containers and gave it to us, so we had two thanksgiving dinners basically.  Oh!  I got a package from Peggy!  It's not the birthday package she tried to send before, but she sent me a thanksgiving dinner in a box!  Little pies, a microwavable turkey bowl and mashed potatoes...it was a super cute idea.  Never got the one with chocolate, though. 

 

A couple funny things happened this week.  We were trying to contact a referral and across from the house we were at, there was this big wooden box and painted on the side it said, "LIVE SNAKES!  CAUTION!  DO NOT OPEN!"  I'll send you a picture.  It was funny, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was legit.  Also, the other night we stopped by the gas station and there was this little old man from the Philippines working.  He was very funny and energetic.  He started asking us to guess his age, so I guessed 25, just to be funny, and he says in broken english, "I love you 3 times today for saying that, honey!"  Then he showed us his ID and he was in his 70's.  We went back in later to give him a pass along card and when we left he shook sister Abernathy's hand, but then when I went to shake his hand he pulls me in for a tight hug and goes, "I like your eyes, very beautiful!"  Yeah, his name was Joey.  My companion also whacked me in the head with her dinner plate at one point this week.  jolly good times.  Its the little things that amuse me as a missionary.  

 

We found 5 new investigators this week!  Two families!  One of them we found right on the spot while street contacting.  They let us in right there, we sat down, and they told us they are studying with Jehovah's witnessed and really looking for the truth because they've yet to find it in other churches.  So we're about to duke it out with the testigos de jehova!  They're meeting with them on tuesday and us on wednesday.  I'l keep you updated on that one.  Well, unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time this week to email...right now the mission office isn't letting us use their computers temporarily and we've had to fend for ourselves.  We have to email at the apartment complex of the elders and its hard to get in early. 

 

Our one person with a baptism date in December (Rosie) has been hard to get a hold of.  Her family came down for the holidays, and we set up a lesson with her in person, but when we showed up, she didn't answer. Which isn't normal for her.  We'll see.  All we can do is work hard and do our part!  People have their agency...which is unfortunate at times.  Ha.

 

I love you all very much!  you know it!  Am I still getting Christmas presents?  Tell Renee and Hope they can make me another comic for Christmas. :)  LOVE YOU!!!