Mom and Dad,
I don't really know how to respond. I know that you know how I am feeling. Its been hard. On Friday I took the day to kind of figure out what was happening and tried to nap. Sleeping has been hard for me. But on Saturday I was back to work but we haven't had a ton happen which I am kind of grateful for because any time I talk about doing hard things or the Savior, I tear up then I try to hold it back and then I get a headache haha. I have felt the prayers of everyone though. I feel like I have strength that is not my own right now.
I am excited to be home with you all for the weekend even though it will be hard. We can do hard things. even flying alone haha I am super nervous about that but I should be fine.
My prayers are centered around our family and Christina and Wyatt. I hope they are finding some sort of peace during this time.
I don't have much else to say about this week since I talked to y'all on Tuesday and Friday haha. We had dinner on Christmas with this young couple form the ward that both served Spanish speaking missions. They are so cute and even got us stockings.
We have been studying the Living Christ and I am pretty sure I have shared this part with you before but it brings me a lot of comfort
"We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary" I know that is true for the life of Jesus Christ and I know it is true for Tyler as well. I know his life is not over and that we will see him again. I know it will be a while and that its not going to be easy here without him but I know that just like President Monson says "its as if he went into another room". He is doing other work and i know that we will be together again. It brings me a lot of comfort to know that he is a covenant keeper and has all the essential ordinances. The knowledge we have is incredible and I am so grateful.
I love you.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Monday, December 24, 2018
Feliz Navidad!
Hola amigos!
We had transfers this week! I am in Richmond and we go to the Chesterfield Ward! It is the only Spanish ward in the mission. So That's pretty cool. I am with Hermana Clark again! I was with her in Stafford back in February. So That's pretty cool! We are both new to the area this transfer so we don't really know the people we are teaching so we have been trying to contact them this week.
Saying goodbye to The Manriquez family and to Robinson and Zulma was super sad but it was good. President Manriquez sat us down and talked to us about the progress he has seen in us and it was super cool. He also had us share our testimonies and it made me tear up a little. I love Fredericksburg!
On Tuesday we had transfers and the first place we went to go do some finding we had an interaction with a pitbull. My companion got bit but it wasn't super bad she has been a champ! We definitely stay away from dogs though.
We had our Christmas conference and that was awesome. We focused a lot on preparing for the second coming and it was super powerful. We also got to play some sports and I forgot to eat breakfast so I had some issues there but I drank some Gatorade and Dr. Pepper and had some ribs and was all good. 👍
On our second night we got a call from a member in the English ward that is Hispanic and she asked if we wanted to to caroling with her and her family to some members in our area. So we went and we ended up singing Christmas songs in someones bedroom through the bathroom door so that this person could hear. It was one of the weirdest things ever. On that same night we knocked on the door of one of our investigators and they were having a Christmas party but they let us in and gave us food. It was extremely awkward because the family was just staring at us and we were super out of place haha!
Church here was pretty great. It was just an hour with lots of music and lots of testimonies about the Savior. It was cool to hear a lot of through share their testimonies of Jesus Christ. I also finished the Book of Mormon this week and have done a lot of reflecting on our Savior. I know that He lives and that he is very aware of all things happening in our lives. I am so grateful that we can have a personal relationship with him. I know that He walks with us in this life.
I love you all! I am so excited to talk to you tomorrow! I hope you guys have questions in mind or something because I am so awkward and don t know what to talk about haha!
FELIZ NAVIDAD🎄
We had transfers this week! I am in Richmond and we go to the Chesterfield Ward! It is the only Spanish ward in the mission. So That's pretty cool. I am with Hermana Clark again! I was with her in Stafford back in February. So That's pretty cool! We are both new to the area this transfer so we don't really know the people we are teaching so we have been trying to contact them this week.
Saying goodbye to The Manriquez family and to Robinson and Zulma was super sad but it was good. President Manriquez sat us down and talked to us about the progress he has seen in us and it was super cool. He also had us share our testimonies and it made me tear up a little. I love Fredericksburg!
On Tuesday we had transfers and the first place we went to go do some finding we had an interaction with a pitbull. My companion got bit but it wasn't super bad she has been a champ! We definitely stay away from dogs though.
We had our Christmas conference and that was awesome. We focused a lot on preparing for the second coming and it was super powerful. We also got to play some sports and I forgot to eat breakfast so I had some issues there but I drank some Gatorade and Dr. Pepper and had some ribs and was all good. 👍
On our second night we got a call from a member in the English ward that is Hispanic and she asked if we wanted to to caroling with her and her family to some members in our area. So we went and we ended up singing Christmas songs in someones bedroom through the bathroom door so that this person could hear. It was one of the weirdest things ever. On that same night we knocked on the door of one of our investigators and they were having a Christmas party but they let us in and gave us food. It was extremely awkward because the family was just staring at us and we were super out of place haha!
Church here was pretty great. It was just an hour with lots of music and lots of testimonies about the Savior. It was cool to hear a lot of through share their testimonies of Jesus Christ. I also finished the Book of Mormon this week and have done a lot of reflecting on our Savior. I know that He lives and that he is very aware of all things happening in our lives. I am so grateful that we can have a personal relationship with him. I know that He walks with us in this life.
I love you all! I am so excited to talk to you tomorrow! I hope you guys have questions in mind or something because I am so awkward and don t know what to talk about haha!
FELIZ NAVIDAD🎄
Monday, December 17, 2018
BAPTISM THURSDAY
Hola amigos!!
Hermana Coleman is visiting her mission with her mom and they were in Fredericksburg on Sunday. I will actually be playing basketball with her and president Manriquez today haha!
On Thursday we had Robinson's baptisms and it was AWESOME. there were so many people there supporting him and we had an interpreter for sign language there for his daughter. They told us that after the baptism that the daughter said there was a different feeling in their home. Robinson shared his testimony and pretty much explained the story of the whole Book of Mormon this week because He finished it so that was awesome. He seemed so calm and happy. Then on Sunday he received the holy ghost and that was awesome. He also received the Aaronic priesthood and it was so AWESOME. He Is so excited to bless the sacrament next week. Even better, Zulma's mom is in town for so Salvador and she was baptized a while ago but has left the church and is a Jehovah's witness but we invited her to church and she came and said she felt the Spirit and is going to come again.
We had our branch Christmas party and we had so many non members and less active there. It was a miracle!!
A couple of weeks ago we met a woman named Claudia Diaspz and talked with her for a couple of minutes but for some reason we felt SUPER good about her. So We texted her a couple of days ago and asked if we could meet with her and she texted and asked us what time church was. Well, she came and she then proceeded to tell us that she is a member and was baptized in Honduras when she was 8. So that was super sweet! And she is going to start meeting with the hermanas!
Also, last night we were teaching Jaime and Irene about the plan of salvation and they loved it. They had really solid questions and understood what we were saying. We invited them to be baptized on January 12th and they accepted the date! So that's exciting and the have plans to come to church.
As for me, I will be leaving Fredericksburg and continuing ad a sister training leader. Hermana Barton is also leaving Fredericksburg. We are so sad to leave! But excited for what is coming next.
I have been reading a lot about the Brother of Jared and really have received a testimony that Jesus Christ is so aware of our needs as individuals and he knows what we can handle. I am so grateful for all the knowledge the book of Mormon provides and I know that the book of Mormon is a manifestation of Gods love for us.
I love you all!
Hermana Coleman is visiting her mission with her mom and they were in Fredericksburg on Sunday. I will actually be playing basketball with her and president Manriquez today haha!
On Thursday we had Robinson's baptisms and it was AWESOME. there were so many people there supporting him and we had an interpreter for sign language there for his daughter. They told us that after the baptism that the daughter said there was a different feeling in their home. Robinson shared his testimony and pretty much explained the story of the whole Book of Mormon this week because He finished it so that was awesome. He seemed so calm and happy. Then on Sunday he received the holy ghost and that was awesome. He also received the Aaronic priesthood and it was so AWESOME. He Is so excited to bless the sacrament next week. Even better, Zulma's mom is in town for so Salvador and she was baptized a while ago but has left the church and is a Jehovah's witness but we invited her to church and she came and said she felt the Spirit and is going to come again.
We had our branch Christmas party and we had so many non members and less active there. It was a miracle!!
A couple of weeks ago we met a woman named Claudia Diaspz and talked with her for a couple of minutes but for some reason we felt SUPER good about her. So We texted her a couple of days ago and asked if we could meet with her and she texted and asked us what time church was. Well, she came and she then proceeded to tell us that she is a member and was baptized in Honduras when she was 8. So that was super sweet! And she is going to start meeting with the hermanas!
Also, last night we were teaching Jaime and Irene about the plan of salvation and they loved it. They had really solid questions and understood what we were saying. We invited them to be baptized on January 12th and they accepted the date! So that's exciting and the have plans to come to church.
As for me, I will be leaving Fredericksburg and continuing ad a sister training leader. Hermana Barton is also leaving Fredericksburg. We are so sad to leave! But excited for what is coming next.
I have been reading a lot about the Brother of Jared and really have received a testimony that Jesus Christ is so aware of our needs as individuals and he knows what we can handle. I am so grateful for all the knowledge the book of Mormon provides and I know that the book of Mormon is a manifestation of Gods love for us.
I love you all!
Monday, December 10, 2018
I'm Ready
Hola amigos!
I am doing great! We had sacrament meeting but the rest of church was cancelled.
This week on exchanges we went to a English member's house and they gave us a cinnamon roll and it almost made me cry haha because it was homemade and Christmas and I was just so happy haha.
This week has been awesome. On Tuesday we went on exchanges and I was able to teach a guy from Africa and it was really cool. Then we went and taught this part member family about the love of God because the 15 year old daughter doesn't really have a belief in God and it was super powerful and really cool. then we went and shared Light the World with some a member family and this 11 year old girl told us about how she tried to give a girl at school a Book of Mormon. It was awesome. She was sad because the person didn't accept but she is determined to try again.
On Wednesday, we went back and taught Jaime and Rene (a cute couple we found last week). They had been reading the Book of Mormon and had prayed to know if it is true. They said they hadn't gotten an answer yet. We read 1 Nefi 1 and it was really awesome and they wanted to come to church but they had a funeral in North Carolina and couldn't come but we will be meeting with them again tonight!
Thursday was awesome. WE had a lesson with Robinson and Zulma and we had planned this super intense lesson about "leaving your nets" and we were going to be super bold and tell him he needs to stop drinking and take the step of faith and be baptized. We sing and pray and we were about to start and he said before you start I want to say something and then looks at us and in English says "I'm ready quiero bautizarme (I want to be baptized)". He told us that he had been reading in the Book of Mormon at work and just started crying and he couldn't stop and he went home and told Zulma. He also said that when President Nelson extended the challenge to give something to the Lord, he knew he could do that. So after a ton of scheduling conflicts, he will be getting baptized on Thursday at 6. We will even have a sign language interpreter for his daughter. (the only person in the area that speaks both Spanish and sign language happens to be a member in Stafford!)
Also on Saturday we went to the baptism of Gisella in Henrico!! Hermana Barton and I both taught her and it was so fun to be apart of. The Spirit was so so strong. Her husband is also not a member and I taught him as well. So when we got there I told Angel I wanted to talk with him and figure out why he won't take this step to an eternal family. So we sat down and he said that there were some things he didn't understand and didn't agree with and that he didn't have faith. Which he always claims. But I explained that faith is a principle of action and he is doing all the actions and if he is doing all the actions, then he is showing that he has faith. A light when on in his head when we were talking about that. We also talked about the kingdoms of glory and he said we should all be working towards the celestial kingdom. So we talked about the requirements to get there and we talked about the temple and he said Gisella wants to be sealed but he knows they can't unless he is baptized. So he said he would pray about what we talked about and make a decision on baptism. It was a super spiritual experience!
Then on Sunday the snow came. We came to church and they cancelled the last two hours and it was super snowy and we couldn't drive. So we got a snow shovel form our closet and started walking to a neighborhood. We got a second shovel from a member and got to work. We went to Roxany's house (our recent convert whose dad won't let us come over anymore) and shoveled her driveway. Her mom was so grateful and invited us in for hot chocolate. That was a huge step because we haven't had contact for a really long time with them. WE had hot chocolate and had weird conversation with her dad but it was a miracle. WE also had a video lesson with Robinson and he was super concerned on what the brother of Jared's name is hahahah. he eventually googled it to figure out how we know his name haha!
mom I sent your email to our secretary so you will probably be getting emails about travel stuff because that is coming soonish. Transfers are not this week but next Tuesday so if you were going to send anything.. either do it this week or wait until Tuesday and you can get my address from the mission office after the transfer meeting.
It has been a great week! I love you all and Merry Christmas!!
I am doing great! We had sacrament meeting but the rest of church was cancelled.
This week on exchanges we went to a English member's house and they gave us a cinnamon roll and it almost made me cry haha because it was homemade and Christmas and I was just so happy haha.
This week has been awesome. On Tuesday we went on exchanges and I was able to teach a guy from Africa and it was really cool. Then we went and taught this part member family about the love of God because the 15 year old daughter doesn't really have a belief in God and it was super powerful and really cool. then we went and shared Light the World with some a member family and this 11 year old girl told us about how she tried to give a girl at school a Book of Mormon. It was awesome. She was sad because the person didn't accept but she is determined to try again.
On Wednesday, we went back and taught Jaime and Rene (a cute couple we found last week). They had been reading the Book of Mormon and had prayed to know if it is true. They said they hadn't gotten an answer yet. We read 1 Nefi 1 and it was really awesome and they wanted to come to church but they had a funeral in North Carolina and couldn't come but we will be meeting with them again tonight!
Thursday was awesome. WE had a lesson with Robinson and Zulma and we had planned this super intense lesson about "leaving your nets" and we were going to be super bold and tell him he needs to stop drinking and take the step of faith and be baptized. We sing and pray and we were about to start and he said before you start I want to say something and then looks at us and in English says "I'm ready quiero bautizarme (I want to be baptized)". He told us that he had been reading in the Book of Mormon at work and just started crying and he couldn't stop and he went home and told Zulma. He also said that when President Nelson extended the challenge to give something to the Lord, he knew he could do that. So after a ton of scheduling conflicts, he will be getting baptized on Thursday at 6. We will even have a sign language interpreter for his daughter. (the only person in the area that speaks both Spanish and sign language happens to be a member in Stafford!)
Also on Saturday we went to the baptism of Gisella in Henrico!! Hermana Barton and I both taught her and it was so fun to be apart of. The Spirit was so so strong. Her husband is also not a member and I taught him as well. So when we got there I told Angel I wanted to talk with him and figure out why he won't take this step to an eternal family. So we sat down and he said that there were some things he didn't understand and didn't agree with and that he didn't have faith. Which he always claims. But I explained that faith is a principle of action and he is doing all the actions and if he is doing all the actions, then he is showing that he has faith. A light when on in his head when we were talking about that. We also talked about the kingdoms of glory and he said we should all be working towards the celestial kingdom. So we talked about the requirements to get there and we talked about the temple and he said Gisella wants to be sealed but he knows they can't unless he is baptized. So he said he would pray about what we talked about and make a decision on baptism. It was a super spiritual experience!
Then on Sunday the snow came. We came to church and they cancelled the last two hours and it was super snowy and we couldn't drive. So we got a snow shovel form our closet and started walking to a neighborhood. We got a second shovel from a member and got to work. We went to Roxany's house (our recent convert whose dad won't let us come over anymore) and shoveled her driveway. Her mom was so grateful and invited us in for hot chocolate. That was a huge step because we haven't had contact for a really long time with them. WE had hot chocolate and had weird conversation with her dad but it was a miracle. WE also had a video lesson with Robinson and he was super concerned on what the brother of Jared's name is hahahah. he eventually googled it to figure out how we know his name haha!
mom I sent your email to our secretary so you will probably be getting emails about travel stuff because that is coming soonish. Transfers are not this week but next Tuesday so if you were going to send anything.. either do it this week or wait until Tuesday and you can get my address from the mission office after the transfer meeting.
It has been a great week! I love you all and Merry Christmas!!
Monday, December 3, 2018
Family History and New People to Teach
Hola amigos!
I can't believe its December. You guys have snow while its like 60 degrees here haha!
My companion and the branch president and i just played basketball for like 3 hours... he is from mexico but his like 6 foot 2 or something and his mom is a professional basketball player in mexico.. he plays a lot like Brandt. haha it was a lot of fun.
This week on an exchange I went with a sister to visit a lady named Judy. The sisters were teaching her but then she told them she didn't want to continue and they showed her family history and she had a lot of interest in that. So we go over to help her set up an account and get started. I mostly just sat there because I don't know much about family search but once were we done helping her she asked "Why does your church think it is so important to do this?" I explained baptisms for the dead and how we need to do family history to be able to give the people that have passed away the opportunity to accept the gospel. I shared some experiences I have had while doing baptisms for the dead and it was awesome. Then she figured out that I was almost done with my mission in Virginia and she asked what has been the most important thing to me here and I shared with her that it has a been helping people coming closer to Jesus Christ, including myself. The spirit was so strong and we were all trembling because of it.
We also had some great lessons with Robinson and Zulma. On Wednesday we went and we talked about what impedes him from being baptized and how he just needs to make the choice. I don't remember much of what was said during that lesson, just that the spirit was incredibly strong. Then on Sunday, our branch president was talking about some things that I said and I don't even remember saying them which I always feel like is a cool thing because I don't really think it was me talking. Robinson is progressing and wants to be baptized but he is still super worried about tithing.
On Sunday we fasted as a mission to help us reach our goal of 280 convert baptisms by the end of the year. (we currently have 230). Hermana Barton and I saw some miracles from this fast. WE were able to teach the restoration twice on Sunday night to people that really have interest. We asked a man, Rene and his wife Jaime, what they would do to live with God again and they said they would listen to everything we have to say and read and pray. Which was awesome so we are going back on Wednesday!
We did get to watch the devotional and it was incredible. I loved the talks and the Hallelujah Chorus at the end was epic! Robinson and Zulma watched it as well! I loved that the prophet talked about desires and what our true desires are. I also loved Elder Stevenson's talk about our spiritual heart health. I know that as we focus on Jesus Christ, our spiritual heart health will get better and better!
I love you all! Have a great week!
I can't believe its December. You guys have snow while its like 60 degrees here haha!
My companion and the branch president and i just played basketball for like 3 hours... he is from mexico but his like 6 foot 2 or something and his mom is a professional basketball player in mexico.. he plays a lot like Brandt. haha it was a lot of fun.
This week on an exchange I went with a sister to visit a lady named Judy. The sisters were teaching her but then she told them she didn't want to continue and they showed her family history and she had a lot of interest in that. So we go over to help her set up an account and get started. I mostly just sat there because I don't know much about family search but once were we done helping her she asked "Why does your church think it is so important to do this?" I explained baptisms for the dead and how we need to do family history to be able to give the people that have passed away the opportunity to accept the gospel. I shared some experiences I have had while doing baptisms for the dead and it was awesome. Then she figured out that I was almost done with my mission in Virginia and she asked what has been the most important thing to me here and I shared with her that it has a been helping people coming closer to Jesus Christ, including myself. The spirit was so strong and we were all trembling because of it.
We also had some great lessons with Robinson and Zulma. On Wednesday we went and we talked about what impedes him from being baptized and how he just needs to make the choice. I don't remember much of what was said during that lesson, just that the spirit was incredibly strong. Then on Sunday, our branch president was talking about some things that I said and I don't even remember saying them which I always feel like is a cool thing because I don't really think it was me talking. Robinson is progressing and wants to be baptized but he is still super worried about tithing.
On Sunday we fasted as a mission to help us reach our goal of 280 convert baptisms by the end of the year. (we currently have 230). Hermana Barton and I saw some miracles from this fast. WE were able to teach the restoration twice on Sunday night to people that really have interest. We asked a man, Rene and his wife Jaime, what they would do to live with God again and they said they would listen to everything we have to say and read and pray. Which was awesome so we are going back on Wednesday!
We did get to watch the devotional and it was incredible. I loved the talks and the Hallelujah Chorus at the end was epic! Robinson and Zulma watched it as well! I loved that the prophet talked about desires and what our true desires are. I also loved Elder Stevenson's talk about our spiritual heart health. I know that as we focus on Jesus Christ, our spiritual heart health will get better and better!
I love you all! Have a great week!
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