June 28, 2010

Family,

Hello everyone I hope you are all doing well and that you know that I think of you all the TIME!!!! Really all the time. Well this week has been a good one we have worked hard and had some great success.

Hermana Bounds and I have been on exchanges for three days so I was with Hna Brodhead (my other daughter) for three days but now we are back together and having fun again. Well this week we had 2 baptisms....

Jesus and Magdalena Galindo were baptized on Saturday at 8:00 at night it was so good and the spirit was so strong. Then on Sunday they were confirmed and are now members of the True church. YEAH!!!! It was so good, Jesus's sister came to the baptism, we have been teaching her a bit and she loves it. She felt the spirit so it is only just a matter of time before she will enter the waters as well. Jesus and Magdalena are so great since we have met them and started teaching them, they have given us the names of their friends to go and teach. They are just so happy. That was the highlight of our week and it was a good one at that.

We did have another cool experience...We tracked into this lady named Elisa and we gave her a Book of Mormon then set up a time to come back well we went back the next day and taught her a first. It was going great and the spirit was strong. She told us that she was catholic (nothing new to that) and that she and her kids had all been baptized. We started to explain about the authority and how we needed to be baptized by the authority and without that authority then it was not correct. After we were done explaining she looked at us and said "So you are telling me that my church does not have the authority and is not authorized by got to baptize." Well... we told her in a nice manner yep that is exactly what we are telling you but you don't have to believe us just ask your Heavenly Father. We the ended the discussion with a prayer, she said it and in her prayer asked her above question, during the prayer she started to cry. It was amazing and so very cool to be there and witness the spirit working and giving her an answer. We set up a time to come back again and have tried but she is not home and won’t answer the phone. So that is a bummer but we are still trying, things will work out. We will find her because she knows that what we know is true. Super cool experience, I love the Spirit and I love experiences like these, they are huge testimony Builders!

As of right now we don't have any baptism dates and we are needing to find new investigators because we don't have very many in our teaching pool so this week is going to be an intense finding and setting dates and watching the miracles unfold right before our eyes. The Lord blesses us so much and we are so very grateful. I really am very blessed and am learning so very very much.

I am so very happy that everyone is doing well and that the camps and reunions are going well. I am sad to miss them all but I know I am where I need to be and doing the things I need to be doing. So I will just have to wait until next summer and have all that fun with you.

I also want to take this time and say I am sorry I have been a horrible missionary at writing snail mail. I am so very sorry but my p-days don’t last very long and it seems like by the time I am done e-mailing and shopping my p-day is over. I am sorry I am repenting and I hope to get one out to you soon. I know you like mail just as much as I do so I am going to work on that and get better at it.

Anyway enjoy the pics love you all

Love



PICTURES:

1. Baptism: Just us and the Galindo family

2. Baptism: Family, us missionaries, and the person who performed the baptism.

3. Us with Yenileth on her birthday she just turned 7. She is Jesus and Magdalena's little girl they also have another one who is 15 but she has not interest and doesn’t really even like to talk to us as of right now but things will soon change we hope.

4. Me being weird

June 21, 2010

Family,

I hope you all had a great week it sounds like you had tons of fun and did a lot. I as well stayed pretty busy and had some pretty good success. Ok not pretty good but GREAT success. This week was a roller coaster. It was up and down and up and down, but it came out on an up so that is good.

Monday night we went and set a baptism date with a Joshua Barba, a 9 year old little boy of a less active family, we set it for Thursday because he was leaving for vacations. So we had a baptism this week on Thursday!!! It was so good and he is now a member of the True Church and he is so happy.

We also had some down moments during the week, Paulina decided that she does not want to get baptized which is ok we can give her some time but then she just informed us that she is going to go to a different church because she does not feel ready. We told her that she didn't have to get baptized but that she should still come to church. She said no I just don't want to anymore. She is just really scared and satan knows she is a good one so he is working extra hard on her. That was really hard for us. We had to let her go but we are still going to work with her and try to get her back on board. Right now I think she might just need a little break to help her realize what it is she is really missing.

Jesus and Magdalena Galindo are doing well, they have their baptism date for the 26th of June so this coming Saturday. We had a wonderful miracle with them yesterday and it was really amazing. Stake Conference yesterday so church started at 10:00, we called the Galindo's and asked them if they were still coming. Magdalena said, "Oh Jesus is really sick and I don't think that we are going to be able to come his back really hurts and I don't want to leave him." Dang it! We testified but then let them and then hung up. We called a member and asked them to call and invite them and see what she could do. We got a call back from the member saying...They are not coming...Ok Hna. Bounds and I were thinking... they have to come to church or they can't get baptized - we can get someone and go give Jesus a blessing. But we thought and we prayed about our options and just did not know what to do so we ended up just going to church. We were there at 9:30 and since it was stake conference our mission Pres was speaking so we went and said hello. He asked "Do you have any investigators coming?" Well pres we said and told him what our investigators said. He then said "How much faith does he have... go get the elders and give him a blessing." I said we thought of that and you just saying it again is our answer. So off we went we grabbed our Spanish Elders who were there because of stake conference and were on our way to give a blessing. We got there explained why we were there and gave Jesus a blessing. It was a beautiful blessing. After we asked him how he felt, he said I do not have the pain anymore. Sweet we thought then said. "Great go get your shoes you are coming to church with us." So they changed and came to church. The talks in church were just what they needed. It was amazing and they loved it.

Heavenly Father is amazing we showed our faith and so did Jesus and now they can still get baptized on Saturday. I am excited and am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and the things he does for me. He really has his hand in our lives always. We still need to pray for them a lot because Satan is working hard and it is going to be a tuff week but heavenly Father will help us I know.
Well that is about all we are still working with a few other people and trying to get them ready for baptism but it is all in the Lords time and not in ours. So we will have to be patient. I am learning so much and trying to improve every day. This work is amazing and it never gets old. I get tired and hot but that is ok it is worth it.I hope you know that I love you all so much hope you have a great week and remember that someone in Madison Tennessee is thinking of you. Have a great Week!!!

Love



PICTURES:

1) Hna Bounds and I front of a horse that is outside some Chinese restaurant that some members took us too.

2) In front of the temple, this is my district as of right now

3 & 4) Joshua Barba's Baptism

June 14, 2010

Family,

Well as you know we had the chance to hear from an apostle of the Lord this weekend. Elder Ballard came to our mission to do some things with the Stake and some training with the leaders but because President Hutchings (mission Pres) was one of Elder Ballard’s missionaries when he was a mission pres he made a few phone calls and we got a meeting set up to meet with Elder Ballard just as missionaries. Well us and the Knoxville missionaries (Staci Place was there and I got to see her and it was amazing, It was so fun to see a friend and to both be missionaries). It was so amazing and I learned so much. The spirit was so strong and it was amazing to get a one on one training from an apostle of the Lord. He told us to start working more with the members because the members were the key. They would make all the difference in the investigators life. Also he told us to talk to more people every day and to make it a goal to talk to 10 more people then we usually do every day. So I am opening my mouth and talking to all. It is going to be amazing. Also after that conference on Sunday he met with the Madison stake and guess what I just so happen to be in the Madison Stake. So we got to hear from him again on Sunday and all of our investigators did to. We had 6 investigators at church and they loved it. It really was amazing and Elder Ballard pretty much taught a first lesson for us. I LOVED IT!!!!!! It really was a spiritual weekend and I learned a lot from it.

Paulina and her family ended up not getting baptized this weekend she had some doubt and said she was just not ready so we are still working with her. She will get baptized just have to keep going.

Yesterday Hna Bounds and I were challenged by our district leader to set a baptismal date. He said sisters we really need some dates set so pray about who can be baptized and present the plan to Heavenly Father and get to work. So we did. We prayed had two families in mind presented our plan to the Lord. Called some members to come with us to that we could follow the counsel of Elder Ballard and we went to work.

We went to the first investigator Enrique. We extended a date and he said no I need more time so after a little more time we had to go but told him to pray about it. We went to our next apt with another family and we started talking about the conference with Elder Ballard and they said they loved it we talked about baptism and we extended a date for the 26th of June. The husband was like YES and wife oh I DONT KNOW. Then here comes the member crushing all doubts that she was having letting her know that she could do it and that she needed to do it. So what did we do we set 2 dates for the 26th of this month. We were so very grateful for the help of the Lord and for the help of the wonderful member who came with us. The members really do make the difference they can relate better to the investigators and it is true Every Member A Missionary.

We as a zone are still struggling a lot and we have a lot of work to do in these next 16 days. I am not sure what is going to happen but keep us in your prayers. I know that the lord is helping us and that he has a plan for us. I just don't know what that is yet.

Know that I love you tons and tons and that I am so very happy to be a missionary. I will not be able to write a letter today because we don't have p-day today because on Wednesday we get to go to the TEMPLE so that will be our p-day we just have time to write e-mail and shop for food then it is a working day in the hot weather. This morning at like 9 it was 97 that’s what I call hot and humid. Not a big fan of it. Ok well I don't have a tone more to tell you just that I love you a lot and I am very happy to have you all as my family. Have a great week and work hard. I will do the same and be thinking of you. Love you!

Love

PICTURES:
1) Me and my comp Hna Bounds (love her)

2) Me on a dino (after doing service)

3) Juan, Esmeralda, Vanessa & Angel, Baptism. They are doing so well and are so cute! LOVE THEM!!!

4) Madison sign and my bike

5) Staci Place (sister Place and I)

6) My ZONE!!!!!

June 7, 2010

Hey family,

Well I hope everyone is doing well and that you all have a smile on your face. This week was great we had a little bit of a rough start but it turned out good.

We have our baptism dates for the 12th of June with a single mother and her two daughters. But the mom is starting to have doubts and she is struggling with the Law of Chastity because she has a boyfriend. So we are praying really hard for her and that she will make the right decision. We know she is ready and she wants to get baptized she just has to except the commandments from our Heavenly Father and obey them. I will let you know how it goes next week.

Yesterday we had church and boy did we have a miracle. We as a companionship had four of our investigators at church and then a member (who is a wonderful missionary) brought her friend and her kids so we had an additional 5 people so in all we had 9 investigators at church. It was AMAZING!!!!! Yeah for members who help missionaries.

Well the exciting news is that this Saturday the 12th we get to have Elder Ballard here to talk to us. We as the missionaries have a special conference with him at 2:00 but it is us and also the missionaries in Knoxville. So it will be a lot of missionaries in one area. I also have a friend in the Knoxville mission so I hope I get to see her, Staci Place. We wrote each other, and will be looking for each other there. But better yet all of this is happening right in my area. So that is cool. We are all so excited and hope to get lots of investigators there on Sunday because he is speaking on Sunday to the whole Madison stake. Super cool! We are excited.

I got sick with a cold this week. (I hate summer colds- it is so hot outside and here I am with a cough and a runny nose) but I am starting to get a little better. Little by little and I will be good. I am sorry that I don’t have a ton to write but know that I am doing well. This week has been fine and all is going good. I love you all so very much. Oh I just remembered.....Funny story time:

This week- we have a HUGE area so we don't have enough miles so Hna Bounds and I have been riding our bikes ALOT!!!! Well the streets are not made for biking- we had an appointment so we called and confirmed it. We rode the 3.5 miles to the apt but then he said I am so sorry but I can't meet with you I have to teach a class right now. Ok, we started to ride back so that we could get to our next apt… well we were on the side of the road but the cars kept honking at us to get out of the way so we decided we would be nice and move well I was moving over and I had to go over a little patch of grass but hidden in that grass was a pipe that my wheel slipped on and down I went to the other side where there was cement! Oh it was great fun I was laughing and Hna Bounds was laughing but wanting to know if I was ok and I was. I just scraped up my arm, hand and knee, all on my right side. It was so fun! Hna Bounds said it was really funny to watch so I hope the passing cars got a good laugh out of it. Oh the mission life on bikes.

My companion and I are happy for the success that we have been having but know that it is only because of the lord that we are able to do it. He helps us so very much. This is all his work and I am so grateful to be a part of it. Thanks for all your love and support- Please keep me in your prayers because I still need them every day.

Love

May 31, 2010

Hello everyone,

Can I just tell you that I love you all so very very much. The Lord is so amazing and helps us so much in our lives. Like giving us wonderful friends and families to help us and give us the support that we need to make it through. I just love you e-mails and thank you so much for the supporting words that you give me. Well I have a ton to tell you about the week and not much time to do it so I will fill you in the best I can.

Monday- After I emailed you we had a zone meeting to figure out what we needed to do to get the 10 baptisms that we needed. We made a list of everyone that could be baptized, mainly all those who have been to church enough times and could be baptized. It went well and both Hna Bounds and I left with some ideas of what we could do but we still were a little lost. That night we decided that we needed to go to Lebanon (30 miles from where we live but in our area) we went and met with a less active family whose son was 9 and not baptized. We taught them and set a date for him to be baptized on Sunday. It was a miracle from our Heavenly Father. Really it was. So at the end of Monday we had 4 dates for the weekend (Joshua, Juan, Esmeralda & Vanessa).

Tuesday- We had a wedding. Juan and Esmeralda (the family that we set a date with last week to get baptized on the 29th) got married. It was so wonderful. We went and helped them get their marriage license and then we had a bishop marry them. They were there with their 2 kids Vanessa (age 8) and Angel (age 4) It was such a good experience and they were so happy. You could not wipe the smile from their faces. Miracle once again!

Wednesday- was a day of not feeling good. Hna Bounds and I both were sick to our stomach and just not feeling good at all. So we knew that Satan was working hard on us because we had a lot of work to do and not much time to do it in. We decided to ask the English Elders in our area for a blessing (the blessing was really good with lots of things I needed to here from my Heavenly Father). After that we just kept working and working and we made it through the day. We had a scare with Joshua and his baptism date, his mother thought he should keep waiting but we talked to her and told her that we had had the confirmation from our Heavenly Father that he was ready and we knew he was. So we talked to her about it and she said afterwards ok I feel good now about it. He will get baptized. Miracle once again, I love our Heavenly Father.

Thursday- We went back to Lebanon and we were teaching one of our investigators up there who has a date for the 12th of June and we were teaching her daughter as well. We ended up setting a baptism date with her for the 12th of June with her mother. She has another daughter that can be baptized as well but she was just not there at that time. So we will set one with her this week. Once again another Miracle.

We also however had some scars with Juan and Esmeralda they were not answering there phone and we could not contact them. But we finally got a hold of them and found out that Juan was having a hard time with the Word of Wisdom. We got some help from the Lord and ended the night.

Friday- Interview day for all of our Baptismal dates....Yeah!!!! Well it started off a little scary because we went to Juan and his family but they were starting to change their minds about being baptized. NO WAY Satan... nice try. We had a powerful lesson with them with the help of our district leader and his companion, as well as the HELP of the spirit. We got things smoothed out but we had to change their baptism to Sunday the 30th in the morning. All three passed their interviews, and they were once again excited for their baptism. The Spirit does amazing things. Yet again another miracle.

Then we went up to Joshua and he was interviewed and so excited for his baptism on Sunday the 30th at 6:00 at night. All 4 baptism dates passed their interviews and we were ready to go for Saturday. EXCITING STUFF!!!!!

Saturday- was a normal day with getting things ready for a baptism set for Sunday morning at 9:00 and doing all that great fun stuff. The lord helped us and kept us going. I just love the help of the lord in my life.

Sunday- The big day we woke up at 6:00 got to the church at 7:30 to fill the font. We waited until 8:15 to call Juan and Esmeralda, we wanted to know if they were on their way to the church. Juan answered and said I have a flat tire (nice try satan) but he said I have a spare so I am going to change it really fast then we are on our way. Yeah! They showed up at 8:55am they got changed and then we had a beautiful baptismal service for a FAMILY of 3. It really was amazing one of the best experiences I have had on my mission. The spirit was so strong the family was so happy and they were all doing this step together. They are now a family on their way to becoming ETERNAL. What more could one ask for. We had great support from our Branch and they were welcomed warmly. I have wanted to help a family join the church, while on my mission, and the Lord provided a way for me to help Him by making me an instrument in His hands. It was AMAZING!!!! Afterwards at 1:00 when we had church they were all confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost and it was wonderful. Their blessings were beautiful. This was a highlight of the mission to see them join the church. Afterwards before they left they shook our hands and said "Hermanas Thanks so much for helping us." (Heavenly Father thanks so much for this miracle and for letting me help them- I thought)

However we had some things happen and Joshua was not able to get baptized because of some problems that he nor us could control. But he will be getting baptized this month and we are excited to help him. It was hard not to see him baptized on Sunday because we both, Hna Bounds and I knew he was ready. He was sad as well but like I said he will get baptized this next month and hopefully his dad will be ready and will be able to baptize him.

We also had 4 investigators at church, making Sunday an all around an amazing day full of the spirit and the love of our Heavenly Father. I really love this work. It is hard and trying but it is all worth it in the end, to see the happiness that this gospel brings to people’s lives and families. What a day full of MIRACLES!

All in all it was a GREAT week 3 new members of the church and more coming for the next month. We as a zone ended up with a total of 6 baptisms. President had a conf call with us that night and he told us. Well you didn't meet your goal but you did work hard and I thank you for that. I think you worked hard enough and you were one of the top baptizing zones that I am keeping you together. YEAH, Another Miracle!!!! We still have to work really hard and keep our baptisms up or he said we might be separated. So we have a lot of work. But we as a zone are so much closer and unified we can do it. My faith has really really grown and I thank you all for your prayers. I love each and every one of you. Thanks so much for your support.

I am out of time. But know that I love you tons.....

Love

May 24, 2010

Family,

I am so happy to hear that you are doing well. That is crazy that you have snow! It is so hot and humid here in Madison and it is only going to get worse but no worries I will buckle down and take it :) Well this week has been amazing. It has been a week of Battle. We as a zone are working for 10 Baptism this week and we have been working really hard and putting our faith in the lord. He has really been blessing us and we have been seeing the miracles take place.

Last Sunday (16 of May) we found out that we were going for this goal of 10 baptism and that we have to reach it... so we started the battle we went through our area book and looked for everyone that had a baptism date before or that has been to church enough times that they could get baptized. We made the list and started visiting and checking people off. On Tuesday we got a call from the English Elders in Galliton (30min from us, but still our area) they said hey we have some referrals for you, great we love referrals! Elder Anderson (the elder giving us the referrals) said ok I didn't want to give you this family because, I love them but I know we are holding them back and you can help them progress. Their names are Juan and Esmerald he speaks perfect English but she does not speak any. However they have been teaching them for about 4 months, they have had someone translating for the wife when they teach. He told us they have been to church 3 times or more to the English ward. They love it... they have been taught pretty much all the lessons but you just have to review things. They have two children Venessa (8 years old) and Angel (5 years old). We said, wow Elder this is an answer to a prayer. He told us again well I didn't want to give them up but I know they need Spanish and you need to help them. This Elder goes home in two weeks so we told him Elder we will get them baptized before you go home so you can be there. He said ok. We hung up the phone and made some plans and prayed and went to bed.

Wednesday we set up an appointment with them and went to visit this miracle family. We talked to them had a beautiful lesson and asked them to be baptized they said they wanted to but were not married. So we said well we can help you with that and get you a discount :) So we SET A DATE for the 29th of this month. Really we set 3 dates one for each of them and their daughter. We also found out that they had some problems with the word of wisdom, so we explained that and took all the coffee from their house and his last cigarette. We told them that they could do it and it was going to be hard but that they would make it through. Sunday they came to church everything was in Spanish for them and they loved it. They got a blessing before they left to help them with this last week before their baptism and to give them extra strength. They are doing great. They are getting baptized and we are excited for them...so excited this is a miracle :) We are getting them married on Tuesday or Wednesday and then they are getting baptized on Saturday. I know satan is going to work on them so hard this week so we are praying extra hard. They are going to make it they already know it is true and their prayers are always so amazing. They feel the joy of the gospel. It is such a joy to know that you are helping someone change for the better.

This is not the only miracle this week. We also set 3 other baptism dates this week for a total of 6 for this week:

Paulina- she is a single mother of 3 children ages 10, 9, and 5 and we have taught her a little she lives in Lebanon (40 min from us but still our area) she really likes it we taught her the plan of salvation and she loved it she was asking questions and you could see the joy just coming into her eyes. We extended her a date and she said yes I want to be baptized. She then told us Hermanas "thank you I feel so much better now that I have talked with you. I just feel good." We told her it was the spirit and that this was going to change her life. Her date is for the 12 of June and we are going to get her daughters baptized with her they just don't have a date yet. They also came to church and they loved it. Paulina was just so happy.

Sandra and her daughter Dayana also we given a date this week for the 12 of June they are a great family and we are working hard with them. They want it but are having some strong opposition right now so we are working on that. They didn't make it to church this week so we might have to move their baptism date but they are still preparing.

Jesus and Magdalene- Jesus had a baptism date for the 29th of May but we could never get him to church well he finally came with his wife and little daughter and they loved it. He works with a friend who is a member and his friend told him "Jesus you have to go to church if you want to learn...so go" and He CAME. It was great

A member also was doing missionary work and brought her friend with her to church who is not a member what a miracle. But in all Yesterday at church we had 8 INVESTIGATORS there. It was amazing we were running around trying to get everyone to classes and children to go where they needed to go and the adults to their classes and it was just amazing. The Lord really does love us, and is giving us miracles all the time.

Hermana Bound and I are so very grateful for this wonderful week that we have had with all of the miracles that the lord has given us. We still have a long way to go and so much to do this week. It is going to be another crazy but amazing week and we are excited for what it holds for us. The church is so true put your faith in the Lord and great things will take place, I know they will!

Please keep me in your prayers this week and our area. I will need them more now than ever. I thank you all so much for you support and love. Have a great week. Enjoy the snow and I will talk to you next week. Thanks for your prayers keep them coming.

Love

May 10, 2010

Hello everyone,

Ok so I talked to you last night and it was amazing I am so very very grateful that I was able to hear your voices and hear how everyone was doing. Katie I hope that you start to feel better soon. It is raining again here in Madison, Tennessee I don't think we really need the rain but for some reason it has decided to rain again. I hope that it won’t get to bad. But anyway...

We have had some great service projects this past weekend. We were able to help a family (non members) who lost their whole house to water. The water was all the way up to the top all you could see was the roof. So Saturday we went and took everything out of the house and piled it up on the side of the street. The whole street just had wet things that could not be saved lined up just waiting for a garbage truck to come. The family was taking it well and was in good spirits considering that they had nothing left just the clothes on their backs. It was a great experience for me and to just be thankful for the things that I have. Our little branch was there helping as well and then the next day the husband of the family we helped came to church. He seemed really excited to learn and was just marking everything in the Book of Mormon. He seems really receptive and we have another appointment to teach him more so we will see how things turn out. Service is amazing... if you can find someone to serve. It is also important to let others serve you as well. Don't with-hold the blessings from others.

Jesus (who we have a baptism date with) is doing... well we are not really sure he has not returned our phone calls and we can't find him at his house. He didn’t come to church yesterday so we are going to need to re set his date for another day. I am not really sure what has happened but we will find him and see what happened. I know that the lord will prepare a way Jesus is so ready to be baptized something just came up and he will just wait a little bit more and then he will get baptized.

We have another couple who are so funny they are Jose Luis and Maria (from Mexico) they are both in their 50's or around there and we met them in Wal-Mart our first day here and we have been teaching them ever since. They are a super fun couple. Yesterday they came to CHURCH!!!!! It was there first time but they seemed to really love it. They are so good and we are hoping to set a date with them this week. They just keep saying that they want more time but we are going to teach them a little more about what the work FAITH means and how we need to put our actions with it or it doesn't mean anything.

Well know that I am doing well, I love every day that I have to be a missionary and wish that it didn't go by so fast It is hard to think that today is my 11 month mark. The time really does fly by when you are having fun. I love you all tons and tons. Have a great week and I will talk to you all later. Remember that someone in Madison, Tennessee loves you.

Love