Dear Family and friends,
Have I ever told you the expression "Si Dios quiere" (translation: If God wants) drives me insane? Especially when we invite people to church and they say "Si Dios quiere" ......uhhh YEAH GOD WANTS YOU TO GO TO CHURCH! Just saying. But you know, I still love all these people with all my heart. Especially when they give me free ice cream randomly when I first meet them. That's what I'm talkin about. So Tuesday, I got a really bad fever and was dizzy/light headed....it got progressively (is that a word? I'm uneducated now...as I've always been) worse and decided to put my pride aside and go to the doctors. Of course the doctor tried to downplay and make me seem like I wasted my time for coming in for a sore throat....then she tested me and I had strep throat! BOO YA DOCTOR. And then I thought...wait...I have strep throat...no bueno. But we worked hard...didn't even stay home! (Why am I so prideful) anyways we had alot of members come to our investigator lessons which is gold! It's something we have a hard time doing because none of the members can drive (illegals) and of course they live on the opposite side of town of the investigator. But luckily God helped us out and we were able to over achieve our goal that we set for that week. I'm so grateful He's aware of our needs...whether spiritually, physically or missionarically...yep just made that up...He always provides. I can testify of that will all my heart. So we had a temporal miracle this week! So me and my companion are broke from laundry (we have to pay 30 bucks a month) and having to wash our car (20 bucks a month) so we have like no food ....but for some reason I never worry about it. Remember how I said God knows our needs? We got invited over for dinner by the Ortiz family (the mom is less active and her kids are investigating the church) when we had no dinner. They feed us some bomb enchiladas, we watch a movie (a church one, calm down) and right before we leave, she gives us a big bag of food...like legit pasta and other stuff like that in a box. We didn't even tell her we're starving lil missionaries at home but God took care of us. He really does look out for his missionaries. I love that hispanics will give you the clothes on their backs right then and there if its needed...I've always admired that. I'm emailing today because yesterday everything was closed because of memorial day. We spent it on the other side of Denver at a church activity where all the Spanish wards get together and play soccer and such....meaning for 4 hours, I just ate. I'm such a fat kid...no wonder I can't fit in my skirts anymore. But it's free food so you gotta take advantage! Well I'm off to go bathe an old lady......yes. You read that right. And it's not my first time on the mission doing this. I like to think my husband just got better looking. I attached some promised pictures of my companion. Please treasure those. I have to send them one at a time so sorry if its a pain...put them on my blog though! Love you guys.
Familia Linda,
As I told you last week, I got the horrid/blessed call of President Maynes telling me that I'm training! Say whaaat? My first week went excellente with her. Let me tell you a little about Hermana Pare...(theres suppose to be a accent mark above the e) She's from Boston Massachusetts. She's 23 years old and graduated in Biology. Let me give you a physical description as well.... She's 5'7ish, and has done gymnastics her whole life. Her bed and basically everything she owns is either pink, hello kitty or princess stuff. she has LONG blonde hair so she looks like Repunzel and talks like Snow White. So basically I'm companions with a disney princess. I tell her that all the time. The elders have asked if she's running for "Miss Universe". So I hope thats enough description for you......and now put her next to me. Hilarious, right? Here's another example:
Me: "So hermana...what goals would you want to accomplish as a companionship to be more united and better missionaries?"
Hna Pare: "Be happy" in her sweet voice while she brushes her hair.
Uhhhh.
We are a funny pair together...but I love it. We've seen many miracles today and I know it was because of our obedience. That's something President Maynes constantly talks about. So I knew I had to be EXACTLY obedient cause I have no idea what to do as a trainer. But nonetheless we were able to have 4 new investigators this week. You know, I wasn't obedient because I wanted blessings (such as new investigators) but I did it out of love I have for the Lord. I knew he gave me this sacred privilege because he trusted me. To have the Lord trust you is something I'm so grateful for! I had to show my love and my gratitude by my actions aka my obedience. You honestly can't do anything without the Lord because this is His work. How do we expect blessings or certain things for the Lord if we aren't willing to do the things he asks of us? He's such a simple man. Just do what he says and then he'll do something in return. But most of the time, he still blesses us even when we don't deserve it. That's how merciful he is. He's always been this way since before this earth was created. So my lesson for the week was the blessing of obedience! Show your love for God through your actions. I promise you that you'll see God's hand in your life more. I've seen it everyday of my mission and it's one of the coolest things. Have a great week and heres an awkward story for the week:
So we went to go contact this lady name Juana that the elders "gave" to us....meaning originally the Elders found her and were teaching her but because she's a single mom, it was hard for the elders to go over (they aren't suppose to be alone with someone of the opposite sex) and they couldn't bring a member with them (because they cant have girls in the car with them either) so they thought it was better if we taught her. So we've been trying to contact her for a month and this past Tuesday, we finally did! So two days later, we had a lesson with her. Remember, we don't really know anything about this lady or what the elders have taught her so we planned to just tell her our purpose as missionaries etc. So we talk to her a bit to get to know her, then we ask if we can say an opening prayer and she says yes. So we ask her who she would like to offer it and she says herself. So we were like sweet! she has no problem praying...that's ALWAYS a good thing when it comes to investigators. So she starts praying.....to Christ though...not God...uhhh...then she says a couple things and then stops talking. For a good MINUTE (which felt like 10) we just sat there with our eyes closed....I would peek to see if she was okay. and she was just staring at the floor.....I didn't hear "in the name of jesus christ, amen." ...ok I didn't even hear "amen" so I had no idea if she was finished or not!! So what do I do?? Do I say "are you done?" or what?? My mind was racing...of course my poor greenie has no idea what to do so she just sat there too. Then finally (by the grace of God) someone knocked on her door and the awkwardness was done. THANK GOODNESS. Longest silence of my life. So we taught her how to pray....you know...to avoid other dreadful silences. It was Hna. Pare's first awkward moment. Que cute. Ok well that's all for today. Les amo!
Hola!
This week was fantastic. Let me just say....my planner for this week is filled with funny quotes...but I'm going to translate them to English since not everyone who reads my blog knows Spanish so here we go:
1) We were talking about how Mexicans are EVERYWHERE. Then a less active (who is reactiving and preparing to go to the temple) says "yeah...there's even Mexican's in Africa....but Africa is poorer than Mexico...I don't know why they would go there."
2) Another less-active Yvette (she is HILARIOUS...she's the one who got beat up in an alley 2 months ago) was telling her story how she was a drug dealer/addict in New Mexico and how God wanted her to move to Colorado to be more active in the church and she had NOTHING...absolutely nothing but she still went. She then said "God wanted me to be close to the church cause He made it happen...God is probably Mormon"
3) We had a lesson with my recent convert Susana whos preparing to do baptisms for the dead. We talked about how you have to be paying tithing and she said "Oh I did last week! It was my first time...I asked the bishop if I could pay by card....but he said no" and then later says "Well...if I behave really well ....they're gonna give me two recommends!" (as in temple recommends) love her.
4) We were with a member taking her to a lesson and the person cancelled last second so we decided to try to find another investigator at home so we were telling her how we found this investigator and it was by knocking and we try to knock in "hispanic" areas...and shes all "yeah mexicans gather like cucarachas"
5) Our investigator is a 13 year old and she was saying the opening prayer...during it, she says "please bless all the deceased people, that they may be healthy" Uhhh...
ok so if they aren't funny, it's probably cause you had to be there but whatever! They were hilarious to me. Transfers are next week...this transfer went dangerously fast...but maybe that happens when you're gonna kill your companion, right? So Yesterday the elders in our ward had a baptism and he is a 10 year old kid. We thought it'd be perfect to invite the Ortiz kids. Theres the twins Andrea and Luis who are 13 and Melissa who is 9. So we called them Saturday night and the mom said yes. Well we texted them the next day and they didn't answer so we decided to stop by and the parents were sleeping cause they worked. But the kids woke them up and invited them again to the baptism. The parents said they'd take them but it ended up Melissa was the only one who got dressed cause the other ones didn't want to go. Poor Melissa. So the dad dropped her off at the stake center to go and she was quiet at first since it was only us. But she warmed up and ended up loving it and wants to get baptized. Melissa is a rockstar...for only being 9 she always keeps our commitments...and she's an example to her older siblings. It's funny because we've read alot of Nephi stories with her and told her she's just like Nephi and she'll be blessed for her obedience. So follow Nephi and Melissa's example. I love you all and have a great week.
Hey family,
So everything has been great. I just want to share one story. So theres this girl named Blanca. She's 14 years old and I love her. Her family is less active therefore she's less active. She's been trying to do her personal progress but it's been hard for her. We've visited her family a ton of times but now we're really focusing on her because she really has a desire to change. I decided to do my own personal progress with her too since I never got it in Young Woman's. So twice or three times a week, we go over and do it together. She had a couple of questions regarding death, and the life after death so we decided that the next time we'd teach her, it would be about the plan of salvation since it answers those questions. We assigned her to read a chapter in the book of mormon about the ressurection (alma 40) and to write anymore question down so we can answer them. So last Saturday, we went over and we taught the plan to her. She loved it. And we told her that Heavenly Father made this Plan for us and it's intended for all of us to succeed. But it's by our choices is what will determine our eternal destiny. We told her that we know it's hard...especially for her since her whole family doesn't want to go to church and she wants to. She's been reading and praying EVERYDAY for a month now and she sees the difference in her life. As a 14 year old, that's powerful. We told her how we know how she feels but we know that God chose her, and trusts her to be the obedient one in her family so that her family can be blessed and she can be an example to them. She had tears in her eyes and as we testified, the spirit was undeniable. She told us that she'd find a way to go to church (which shes told us all the other weeks prior but never went) and she gave us her sheet of paper where she wrote all of her questions on and told us she wrote something for us on it. So as we left her home, I read it outloud and she wrote a letter to us telling us how much she appreciated us coming over and teaching her. How she sees the difference in her life and she's so grateful for it. Its moments like those that make me so grateful that I made the decision to serve a mission. I know Blanca needed me just as much as I needed her. She ended up being at church yesterday with a smile on her face. I love these people. I've never felt this kind of love before in my life. Of course, I miss you guys but I only get these people for a year and a half. I have you guys for eternity and it's most definitely worth being here with them. Keep my health in your prayers. I need it. I love and miss you. Have a great week.
Hey Mom,
My week went great. I kinda don't remember what happened, to be honest. It was raining/snowing this weekend so kinda sucky. We thought it'd be a great time to find people at home but apparently not...noone was home...it was alike ghost town...kinda creepy. Are the 3rd ward missionaries elders or sisters or both?? We seriously have had no time but today we're def. doing the video. I already told Jack and I decided it's either going to be a late bday gift OR a mothers day gift. I know she'd love it either way. I'll make it good, I promise! Meghan is 18?!?! what?!?! Since when?? Way weird. And Katelyn getting married? Yup, got my injection so I'm good and they were the right ones so its perfect. We do all of our mandados...y otras cosas como lavar el carro, hacer compras, necesitamos lavar la ropa sucia pero a la casa de otras misioneras porque en nuestro apartamento hay lavadoras pero son muy caros....y somos pobres entonces toma mucho tiempo para manejar a la casa de las otras misioneras. so usually pday takes a grip load of time. We have from 10 am to 5pm to do everything...not enough time :/ but did you get my pictures? I hope you liked them. I'm trying to be better at taking pictures. Hna Spencer and I are good. I'll write you a letter soon. I want to be better at writing letters to you. To make it more meaningful, you know? Cause I do miss you and I always hope you know that. I'm sad I won't be there for Nana's brithday but hopefully she got my letter and I'm making her video today so it's all good. I'll send a letter to aya to the house so she can get it in time for her bday this weekend. I'll write more next week too ok? Have fun this weekend and tell Nana i love her! amo.
