Alma 7:10-12

Hola Familia!!! 

A couple more days until I get to talk to ya'll! I am so excited, We had a great activity the other day- We went to give treats and to share a Christmas message with a few of the less active members of our ward. It was really sweet and humbling to hear the testimonies of the ward members. So here is a picture of a few of us after the activity. 

La Navidad es un buen tiempo para recordar nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Él nos ama y su expiación es el centro de este Plan de Facilidad. Él sufrió para que podamos volver a vivir con nuestro Padre Celestial. Jesucristo vive y su nacimiento puede traer paz y gozo a todos que creen en su gloria y misericordia.

Les quierooooo y Feliz Navidad!

 

(Christmas is a good time to remember our Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us and His Atonement is the center of this Plan. He suffered so that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ lives and his birth can bring peace and joy to all who believe in His glory and mercy.

I love you and Merry Christmas!)

Alma 7:10-12

2Nefi 31:20, 21

Hola familia!

We had a pretty full week with Zone Conferences, Cambios (changes), Christmas Devotionals, Re-Elections, etc etc. I will let you know that we did not have cambios. I am still serving in El Parque and I am with Hermana Salazar. 

The best news I have for this week is that we have a new investigator named R___. We met her taking a picture of her Christmas decorations outside her house. She put up a life-size Santa climbing to the rooftop. Pretty cool, we contacted her and taught her then and there. She is so sweet and full of energy

We were also able to attend the Christmas Devotional at the Temple, and yes, Elder Archuletta was there. It was really cool and we were able to go with our other R____, our investigator. She loved it! They had a few singers perform and Elder Zeballos (who came in Sept) was able to give a short talk. You can watch the devotional from last year on Youtube (k and dad) they had a few of the same singers and songs. 

(Editor's note - I posted this as a separate post in her blog)

I was really grateful to get both of your emails this week. Congratulations to Shelby! She is glowing in the pictures you took. Congratulations to Devin as well! Very exciting. And I am sorry to hear about Gordon Meier. I know he was a good family friend. Keep up the missionary work, .....! I'm glad you are helping him out a bit and will get to take him to the temple! and dad, put up the Christmas lights, por favor. 

 

I am hoping that Hermana Salazar gets to email you this week, I asked her to email something for you guys! We also are continuing the tradition of making cookies for others. Members and investigators. It was Hermana Salazar´s first time making cookies! I told her that we hardly ever go without cookies or treats at our house. We are planning to make small plates for our members and investigators because right now they need a lot of love. 

I have not received anything yet. The last thing i received were the conference quotes and the letter from sister Moser. I love her so much! Please tell her thank you and that I love her. It was perfect and was just what i needed that day. Tell Reta Rae thank you for the scarf as well, it is so pretty! I cant remember if I told you I received it but I received that and the photos a few weeks ago.

 

I love these scriptures. 

2 Nephi 31:20, 21 

I have been studying a lot about being steadfast in moving forward. And moving forward in hope and love. I believe this was a mutual theme about ten years ago. More than anything, the word steadfast. How important it is to keep our mind steadfast and to not falter. If we do what this scripture says, we will in fact have Eternal life. 

I love you and hope that you are all doing well these weeks leading up to Christmas. I am so grateful for you guys, your service and your Christ-like examples. 

The photos are of me, Hermana Salazar and R____ waiting for the Christmas devotional, David Archuleta, the 4 of us with a tree in our apartment building, and Eduardo, my 12 year old friend in the neighborhood. (I think of Nacho Libre every time i see him)

 

Turtle de E___ and E____.. in other pic. E___, E____, and her mom M____ on couch. M next to Hermana Salazar, cookies and the devotional

 

 

Elder Archuleta - Los pastores a Belén (+playlist)

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865592503/Mormon-missionary-David-Archuleta-performs-at-Christmas-celebration.html?&clear_cache=1

December 9th

Hola Familia

There really wasn´t much going on this week. That´s a horrible way to start an email, I know. It has been a little difficult this week on account of lessons, our ward, ect. But dong the work of the Lord Right? We had a few pretty good contacts! Our investigator, R____ is progressing. We are still hoping for a date that we can put for her baptism. She still feels like she is not ready which is difficult. We are really doing all that we can with her. She works too, and it is hard to get a hold of her.

......

I am glad that you were able to attend the temple so much this year, K! That and all of the missionaries and I hope I will get to go at the end of this month, a few days after Christmas. I am also glad to hear that Elder B is not hurt, maybe his bike, but not the Elder haha. I got to scan over your email, Al. I apologize for not writing very much this week. I do want you to know that I love you and this is a wonderful time of the year. It is a special time to remember our Savior and everything that he means to us. He loves us so much and knows us inside and out. 

Being on a mission helps me better understand who the Savior is every day and how the Atonement works. I am truely, truely grateful for the Atonement, and that our Heavenly Father loved us so much to send His only Begotten Son to pay a price that He knew we couldn´t pay ourselves. I don´t think we will ever truely understand His love for us while we are here on this Earth, but I pray I can take every challenge as an opportunity to understand the Atonement and my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I have been blessed to have been here in Chile sharing this message of love with my brothers and sisters here. Hope all is well this week! I love you so much. 

By the way, this is a photo from a few weeks ago. M____, G_____, and their family with a member, D____. (far left)

2 Nefi 31:3, December 2nd

Hola familia- Seems like you all had a great week! Love all of the pics of you guys! Especially getting to visit with everyone in Chicago for Thanksgiving. Like I said in my previous letter, my comp asks where my padres are this week? 

 

 

We had a lot going on this week. But Some of the coolest moments. We have been pushing (with love) E____ and E_____ who have fasted and prayed with us yesterday for an answer about baptism. They came to church yesterday, but we are still not sure how they are feeling about it, how they are doing, etc. We have also had a member who has been coming to church with us two Sundays in a row now. Like M_____, we tried contacting her and had had bad luck. Within our first few weeks in El Parque, we tried contacting her with little success. She sits in the park within our sector and always tries to avoid us coming by. About two months ago, we found her in front of her house, started up a conversation, and asked if we could come and help her with her house. We promptly had a date to go and help her paint the inside of her house. We also started teaching her.

 

 

Yesterday we passed by to get R___ and M_____ to walk with them to the church building.  When we got to the house of M____, there was no answer. We thought that she had been sleeping or went to the faria (our large flea markets in Chile) so we went to the church. And when we got there, the members told us that there was a surprise for us in the chapel. M____ had gotten there an hour early and was waiting for us and had gotten to know a few of the members! It was so special to see her very much done up and ready for church. Later on yesterday, we invited R___ to come to M____'s apartment. M____ doesn´t get many visitors in her home. But we were able to teach a lesson to the both of them and both R_____ and Marlene have become good friends. It was so hard not to cry yesterday with them both sitting there saying that they could feel the joy of what we were teaching them. an awesome experience. 

 

 

I know that the Gospel is very simple. It should be explained simply and clearly. It is a message of love and joy that gives hope to those of whom we share it with. I have been reflecting on this scripture this week a lot.  2 Nephi 31:3 The Gospel is a simple message of Jesus Christ who prepared a way for us to live with our Heavenly Father again. I love you guys and hope all is well this week

1 Nephi 13:37, November 25th

Hola Familia!!

Everyone thinks that all my parents do is vacation.... Haha! My companion asks every week where you guys are now. It is awesome to hear that everyone is doing well!! How cool that you were able to visit the Woodridge ward and see everyone again. And well done with the Sacrament snacks. The Primary children in our ward had their primary program this past Sunday! It was so cute! All of the children in our ward participated. We had a few investigators and some Less-actives attend. It was a reallly cool experience for everyone!! Of course I thought of Karen who loves the Primary Program. 

This week has been a little slow... Some of the most progress with some of our Investigators though! In specific, our two investigators, E___ and E_____ are progressing, and although it has been hard to put a baptisimal date with them, we are really growing to love their family. We had a "Bop-It" competition with them this past week. I hadn´t seen Bop-it in years. And I am a little out of practice- and it was in Spanish. But fun none-the-less. I will try and attatch a photo this next week of them. They are so sweet. Another one of our investigators, M_____, is in the pic that I attatched. The first week in the sector, we contacted her. She is always sitting outside on the benches, So we went over to try and talk to her. She turned to us and started yelling at us and yelling "SOY CATOLICA SOY CATOLICA". I had no clue what she was saying, but Hermana Salazar told me that she was cursing us out. And since then, she would always turn away when we walked by. We learned that she did that to a lot of people. But then one day, she totally turned around and invited us in. For about a month now, we have been teaching her. She has a hard time learning and understanding, but she loves us now. She is the sweetest lady to us and to everyone else. It just took time and we keep her company because she lives alone. She is so sweet, and was one of the investigators that we brought to church- Everyone said that it was a miricle that we got her to come to our ward, she is that well known. But she was greeting everyone on Sunday and it was a really cool experience. 

The Familia T_____ moved this past week. This was the Menos Activa familia that didn´t want us to come at first, but that we were having lessons with. We had our last FHE this past Monday, but they are transferring records and we hope that the Missionaries and ward members will visit them in their new home. 

I dont know if I have ever shared this with my family, but my favorite scripture is in 1 Nephi 13:37. Until we participate with the Obra Missional, we will never comprehend the joy we will receive. By the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, we will make our message of gran gozo (great joy) known. Its not easy, nor will it ever be easy. pero vale la pena (but worth it)

We won't understand the difference we have made in the lives of others until this life is over. 

Les amo y quiero que Uds estén bien esta semana. No tenemos un "Thanksgiving" pero estoy agradecida por una familia que es fuerte en el Evangelio y quiere hacer todo lo posible para compartir este gozo con los demás. (Not have a "Thanksgiving" but I am thankful for a family that is strong in the gospel and wants to do everything possible to share this joy with others)

.Make sure you tell everyone I love them this Thanksgiving. Such a blessing you get to reunite with everyone once again. 

Chao po,