Cell phone reception in our mission is a struggle.... you have better luck if you either use a banana or go out on the street to give report to your zone leaders!
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Holy cow this is the start of my 12th week in training.
Can you believe that 12 weeks in the field has already come and gone? I can't.
And Hermana O has hit her 18 month mark. WOOO!!! This week was great like the
rest of my weeks haha. We have a new ward mission leader and he is the best. He
has a ton of energy and is ready to work. He has a lot planned to work with the
members. I actually gave a small talk on that in church on sunday. It was fun!
I don't feel uncomfortable talking in front of everyone or making mistakes
because well I'm learning and the only thing I can do is rely on the Lord.
Church was super great other wise. Our investigator came to church again which
means he is good to go to be baptized on SATURDAY!!! WOOO! He is just super
great and the sacrifices he has made to follow Christ is just wow. This week we
completed our standard of excellence of 40 lessons is the week. YAY! We had a
ton of members join us. I just love memebers coming with us. They always just
have a spirit that's so strong. We also went on splits with memebers on
saturday because we had a ton of lessons. I actually wasnt scared. The first
time yes because going alone with a member and barely knowing hte language was
a struggle, but this time no! I feel ready for my transfers now. I just learned
that relying on the Lord is the most imporant part of everything. In one lesson
in specific, I taught with a member. This family doesn't have a ton of money.
In this lesson, I kneeled down to be on there eye level (there wasnt room on
the couches). And when I was saying the first vision, the member kneeled down
besided me, and in this moment I knew for a fact that Joseph saw God the Father
and His son Jesus Christ. I can't express to you how much I bore my testimony that
day. I know this church is true, without a shadow of a doubt. On saturday to
sunday, I started my 40 purification with my fast. I am ready for all the Lord
has in store for this area and for me and for His children that I have the
privelage of teaching. Thanks for everything! Have a wonderful week!!
Con amor,
Hermana C
Seriously we have the BEST missionaries in the WORLD!
______________________
- Interviews wrapped up last week
- Monday 18th 23 new missionaries arrive
- No longer will we have transfer meetings
- Everyone got their new assignments/area/companion tonight (Sunday night) and will be in route to their new areas tomorrow morning bright and early
- Elder Harold's returned Saturday after a 5 month recovery from surgery
- 11 missionaries return home Wednesday morning. After this cycle all returning missionaries will depart on Tuesday mornings instead of Wednesdays.
- Flu vaccinations complete through out the mission- Thank goodness as we have had quite a few struggling with cold/flu symptoms.
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_____________________
......Ya ibamos a dejar a hna.Piedad, ya que el 25 de dic
se iba a bautizar pero ya no pudo porque no haia pasado la entrevista.
Luego de mucho platicar con ella y ayudarle a sentir el
efecto de la expiación de Jesucristo en su vida, ella se sentía profundamente
desanimada porque su familia no le apoyaba y la criticaban mucho. Con poder,
autoridad y audazmente le invitamos a que orara con toda la fuerza de su corazon
acerca de este cambio de vida que ya habia comenzado y si era correcto a
continuar a pesar de TODO. LE invitamos a que fuera valiente y especialmente..
le testifiqué con todo mi corazon que el evangelio es lo mejor que ella podia
aceptar en su vida, que he visto con mis ojos cómo ha bendecido a muchas
familias y cómo especialmente a mí me ha podido bendecir y cambiar mediante la
expiación. Pero con todos nuestros esfuerzos y aunque continuaba leyendo y
orando, finalmente ella dejó de progresar al no querer ninguna fecha bautismal
nuevamente. Entonces con todo el dolor de nuestro corazon decidimos a tener una
charla franca con ella.
Antes de comenzar con la charla franca, verificamos cómo
seguia con sus oraciones, su lectura y especialmente si ella habia podido orar
respecto a su bautismo. Y con lágrimas en sus ojos ella nos contó que había
orado tal como le invitamos y que ella habia sentido tanto el espíritu, que tal
cómo Joseph Smith, el corazón bien grande y queriendo salir de su pecho!
Fué muy muy bonito. Ella se bautizó ayer por la tarde, y
será confirmada el próximos domingo.
He podido vivir está escritura:
"Por tanto, debe haber fe; y si debe haber fe,
también debe haber esperanza; y si debe haber esperanza, debe haber caridad
también. Y a menos que tengáis caridad, de ningún modo seréis salvos en el
reino de Dios; ni seréis salvos en el reino de Dios si no tenéis fe; ni
tampoco, si no tenéis esperanza”.....Herman G
__________________
So basically Elder Barrios and Elder Child are celebrities.
They were invited to participate in a Mexico Area training that was broadcast. They attended with members of their Stake in Tezontepec. President Lozano took such good care of them and assured their safe arrival and return back to their area.
They did a super job!
Elder De Hoyas and Elder Valenzuela are pictured in the background.
What a privilege to be in their presence.
______________________
Dear President Egbert,
First off I want to thank you for the advice you gave me
in the interviews because it helped Elder M and I a ton this week to find
new families and people to teach and also to be directed by the Spirit in doing
so. Everything you told us worked, we just had to do it to receive the
blessings of your counsel so thank you so much for giving us the advice and
desire to work a little harder because it payed off pretty good!.....
This week like, I was telling you, we put in practice
your counsel to us about feeling the Spirit stronger and the 1 hour of
contacting everyday. At night a lesson fell through so we continued with our 1
hour of contacting for the day and I had a prompting to turn down a certain
street to go knock on some doors. After we were in the street we knocked on
this one house that didn't accept so we started walking again and Elder M and I
were talking about stuff and then all of the sudden Elder M was prompted to
knock on another house. So we did. They answered and actually had just moved
from Aragon and were taking the missionary lessons before but stopped because
they moved and they want to start talking to us again! It was awesome! The
Spirit literally led us to that house to talk to them. The cool thing that
Elder M and I were talking about is that the Spirit worked with us as a
companionship. First it told me to turn down the street and then it told
Elder to knock a truly inspired door. I
love listening to the Spirit! Miracles really do happen every day in the
mission and I am so happy to be a part of that EVERYDAY! Thank you so much for
the advice President! As you can see it really does work!
Also I am learning a lot from the Book of Mormon with the
new 8 pages a day thing. In spanish as well! I can understand a lot more than I
thought in spanish so that is good! I can really feel the Spirit everytime I
read and I am understanding the doctrine a lot better now too. Thank you so
much for all of your wise invitations and counsel to us. It is helping me grow
so much as a missionary and as a person!
I love you guys so much and I hope all is well this week!
Thanks again for everything President!
-Elder H
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Interviews and House Checks
Pachuca Centro January 2016
Apan Casa
I arrived to their house early... and when I knocked on their door I heard "Oh NO!"
They were studying and it took us two seconds to whip their little house into shape.
Thank you Elders....
______________________
Sahagun
Perfectly perfect!
______________________
Providencia Casa
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Pachuca Pachuca Hermanas Casa
This is a unique little apartment...
These two are going to miss each other. Both amazing young woman.
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Real De Minus
This area is not without it's struggles... but they keep moving forward and take the challenges in stride.
Such stinkin' cute smiles!
______________________
Revolucion II
This house is so well kept by these Elders.
So grateful for their efforts.
This is one of the nicest houses in the mission- no doubt!
______________________
Bosques del Penar.
Yep, if you get to serve in this area- you consider yourself blessed!
______________________
Pachuca Centro
Can I just say "miracles do happen"!
So proud of these two....
These two have really enjoyed serving together.. so proud of them both!
____________________________
Presidents last interview for the day and it looks like it was a great one!
_____________________________
Revolucion I
ZoneLeaders Casa
Mothers can be proud of these two's service!
________________________
.....también tuve una muy bonita experiencia esta semana
con una mujer que nosotras siempre vemos y cuando nosotras entramos a su casa
por primera vez, ella dijo que quiere saber porque nosotras siempre somos
felices y boy oh boy Hermana G y yo llegamos a ser MAS felices con esta
pregunta. Estoy MUY MUY agradecida por el evangelio!! Yo se que es la razón por
la que yo tengo felicidad. Estoy feliz en esta obra y por experiencias comos
esos que fortalecerme y confirmar en mi corazón que esta es la unica verdadera
iglesia en la tierra!
Gracias por todo, y mucho amor,
Hermana T
______________________
Interviews and House Checks
Valle del Mezquital
St . Agustin Branch
Love these two and so sorry we didn't get a picture taken at the house.
I had to steal this picture from changes meeting.
____________________
Actopan 1
These two are so grateful for bikes in this area.
This house has improved so much over the two years.
The Elders take great pride in where they live.
____________________
Actopan II
These sisters are fantastic and we have seen huge improvement this last week with white board usage.
Nice job everyone!
____________________
Tepatepec Casa
Oh how this house has changed since Elder Clark was transferred here. And ever since for the most part- the Elders have kept it spic and span. Thank you...
____________________
Tepa Casa
Zone Leaders lead by example.
This house is a fifty yard dash to the church-
you can leave one minute before the required time and still not be late!
____________________
San Juan
If you like little and blue this house is the perfect one!
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Guerrero II Elders Casa
This house is one of the least desirable as it is drafty and cold... usually wet from leaks in the ceiling. The Elders do a great job keeping it tidy and the owners have been kind. There are not a lot of options to choose from in this area. However this weekend they got a new option and so Wednesday are moving ...
The quality is a huge improvement.
____________________
Guerreo I Hermanas Casa
This house sits very rural in the area... and is a long bike ride or walk on dirt roads to get anywhere. However, the members are kind- and this house doesn't leak.
A few cycles back the sisters painted inside and it helped a lot. This is the area every parent prays that their child will experience in the mission.
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.....Esta semana pasó algo maravilloso al trabajar con
los 5 nombres del consejo de barrio. Cuando llegué aquí, no tenían esos nombres
ni mucho menos estaban trabajando con ellos. Estamos animando y capacitando al
consejo para que escojan y empecemos a trabajar con ellos. Esta semana fuimos
con la presidenta de SocSoc a visitar a una de sus hermanas y su familia. Le
hermana tiene una hija en la misión pero cuando ella se fue, su familia se
inactivó. Fuimos y los conocimos y ellos se pusieron a llorar. Dijeron que
varios hermanos los habían visitado en ese tiempo pero una visita de las
misioneras (para recordarles de su querida hija misionera) es lo que
necesitaban. El día después, ella nos dio de comer, y ayer fueron a la capilla.
Además, empezamos a enseñar a la novia del hijo que no es miembro. De verdad
tengo un testimonio de este programa de los 5 nombres. Al capacitar a varios
consejos y ayudarles a entenderlo, con frecuencia les he dicho que obediencia
trae bendiciones pero obediencia con exactitud trae milagros. Sé que debemos
obedecer exactamente con todo lo que se nos ha pedido y seremos grandemente
bendecidos al poder traer a los hijos de nuestro Padre Celestial a Su
reino....Hermana S
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Photo Gallery
Ward activities are so much fun...
and it's always a plus when the missionaries are involved.
Entendieron que somos la luz, que reflejamos nuestros actos
a las demás personas y que nos tenemos que esforzar por tener nuestra luz
siempre encendida para que las demás personas se acerquen a Cristo.
Ya tenemos planeada otra actividad para Febrero!
There are some future missionaries right there in 8-10 years!
The Sister Leaders taking some pizza into the office crew. Doesn't look like the assistants, President, or the office secretaries will be leaving anytime soon.
This next week of changing how we do transfers is being a fun challenge!
The
Lord said : " Find my lost sheep in the world". "I promised that
I would do it"
________________________________
DEAR PRESIDENT EGBERT
THIS WEEK I AND ME COMPANIONS WE ARE READING THE BOOK OF
MORMEN TOGHETER THE IMPORTANCE OF TOUNDERSTAND THA DOCTRINE MORE THAT HISTORY
WHILE READ THE THE BOOK OF MORMEN NEDITATE IN THE NEXT VERSE:
siendo, no obstante, altamente favorecido del Señor todos
mis días; sí, habiendo logrado un conocimiento grande de la bondad y los
misterios de Dios, escribo, por tanto, la historia de los hechos de mi vida.
Bendito eres tú, Lehi, por lo que has hecho; y porque has
sido fiel, y has declarado a este pueblo las cosas que yo te mandé,
Bendito eres tú, Nefi, a causa de tu fe, porque me has
buscado diligentemente con humildad de corazón.
Pero he aquí, yo les dije: Así como el Señor vive, y como
nosotros vivimos, no descenderemos hasta nuestro padre en el desierto hasta que
hayamos cumplido lo que el Señor nos ha mandado.
THIS VERSE, LLEGARON A MI CORAZÓN , ANTERIOR MENTE LOS
HABÍA LEÍDO , PERO NO LAS HABÍA MEDITADO COMO ESTA SEMANA, ME PREGUNTABA , QUE
TANTO SE RELACIONAN ESTOS VERSÍCULOS CONMIGO , COMO REPRESENTANTE DE
JESUCRISTO, CUANTAS VECES HE ACUDIDO HA BUSCAR A DIOS DILIGENTEMENTE Y CON
HUMILDAD DE CORAZÓN, NO TENGO DUDA QUE THE BOOK OF MORMEN , EN ELLA ENCONTRAMOS
LAS RESPUESTAS A TODAS LAS PREGUNTAS , QUE NOS HACEMOS EN EL TRANSCURSO DE
NUESTRA MISIÓN Y TAMBIÉN EN LA VIDA, AYUDA A CAMBIAR LA CALIDAD DE VIDA DE LAS
PERSONAS , CUANDO ESTAMOS DISPUESTOS ACUDIR A EL CON INTEGRO PROPÓSITO DE
CORAZÓN, NOS ENSEÑA EL EVANGELIO DE JESUCRSITO CON TANTA CLARIDAD, ME ACUERDO
QUE LA ULTIMA ENTREVISTA QUE TUVE CON USTED , LE DIJE QUE AL LER LAS ESCRITURAS
, YA NO ENCONTRABA ESA CHISPA PARA SENTIR , AHORA LO HE RECUPERADO , CUANDO LO
APLICO ESTO A MI PERSONA , LAS ESCRITURAS HACE MAS EFECTO EN MI COMO ESTA
ESCRITURA: Bendito eres tú, Lehi, por lo que has hecho; y porque has sido fiel,
y has declarado a este pueblo las cosas que yo te mandé, CUANDO ESTOY DISPÚESTA
POR SEGUIR DECLARANDO EL EVANGELIO CON REGOCIJO A MIS HERMANOS.
THIS WEEK , YO Y MI COMPAÑERA TUVIMOS EXPERIENCIAS
MARAVILLOSAS, DONDE SENTIMOS EL ESPÍRITU,EL CUAN NOS INDICA LAS COSAS QUE
DEBIMOS DECIR, ES TAN MARAVILLOSO, TENEMOS AUN INVESTIGADOR QUE SE LLAMA HECTOR
EL TIENE TANTO DESEO DE SEGUIR A CRISTO,PERO LE EXPLICAMOS QUE SU DESEO
CONSISTE EN ACTUAR , EL NO ESTA CASADO , LE INVITAMOS A ORAR A DIOS PARA QUE EL
TOME LA INICIATIVA DE HABLAR CON LA MAMÁ DE SU HIJO SOBRE EL MATRIMONIO, EL
DIJO QUE LO HARÁ, AL LEER EL LIBRO DE MORMÓN HE COMPRENDIDO CON MAYOR EXACTITUD
CUAN IMPORTANTE ES INVITAR A LAS PERSONAS A ACTUAR, PARA QUE ELLOS VEAN Y
SIENTA QUE EL EVANGELIO DE JESUCRISTO CAMBIA LA CALIDAD DE VIDA DE LAS PERSONAS
Y LAS FAMILIAS SON MAS FORTALECIDAS.
PARTE DE LA VIDA ES SER CAMBIOS, PARA MEJORÍA .
ATEE: SISTER C.....
QUE TENGA UNA EXCELENTE SEMANA
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District Meeting in Providencia
......Esta semana nos fuimos bien. Una experiencia que
pensé que fue especial esta semana fue cuando fuimos a una casa de una nueva
investigadora. No encontramos a ella pero su esposo quien nos dijo
definitivamente que no quería nada. Con palabras mas creativas pero mas o menos
así. Pero su amigo nos reconoció como misioneros y nos dijo a esperar mientras
él fue a su casa para recoger algo. Él regresó con una tarjeta de Jesucristo
que había dado misioneros hace mucho y quería saber mas y estaba muy animado a
tener una cita con nosotros.
Me gusta como podemos encontrar a estas personas. No
fuimos buscando a este hombre pero fuimos por el espíritu para encontrarle. Fue
una tipa de experiencia que encontramos muchas veces en la misión y por esto me
encanta la misión. Cuando tenemos desafíos, sé que nos espera una de estas
experiencias.
Elder H
It's a proven fact.... that a diet coke for Hermana Egbert is a tender mercy!
Friday these two happy helpers assisted me forever to move and set up the #6 house we are opening tomorrow. The interesting thing is the windows, glass on the front door, sinks, boiler, water, are not yet installed. Hoping it will be on Monday morning like they promised... or it's going to be just like "scout camp".
Friday night President Egbert and I had the privilege of speaking in the Institute in Pachuca. And what a treat to get hugs from Hrmn Ramirez a returned missionary from Mision Mexico Pachuca. Oh we LOVE her!
___________________________________
Dear President Egbert,
This starting week is going to be AMAZING!! We (the ward
mission leader, the returned missionaries of the ward, and my companion and I)
are planning a RESCUE PROGRAM!! We are going to teach the ward missionaries,
and for an entire day we are going to visit Less active members, recent
converts, investigators, referrals, contacts, etc., etc., This area is going to
have an ARMY of members to find those who are ready. We have been preparing
everything to be successfuly in this activity and we think is going to work.
The plan is about teaching the members "How to begin to teach", How
to contact, how to have unity in teaching, so they may find and support those
that they find during this year. I can't wait to see the change in the ward
when we put this plan to work.
Nataly is getting baptized this Saturday :D we found her
knocking doors; her mother opened it, and said that she was a mormon many years
ago, but that she got divorced and didn't go to church again. She taught she
couldn't come to church because she didn't have a husband and since the mormons
are base on families, she said no one will let her be in. But we taught them
that they cpould attend and now the family is getting active. Sis. Lupita (the
mom) is even paying her tithings every week. Definetely that was an inspired
door!! I am so blessed by the Lord for having my companion who not never stop
working and will always obey the commandments. Also during this week I was
pondering on who I was before my mission and who I am right now. I don't want
to be the same one that I used to be. I want to improve in everything, and I
know the Lord will help me if I strive on. Love you President. Keep up the good
work!!
Sincerely,
Sis. B
Still reading and loving the blog! And still admiring you and your hard work. Love and prayers sent your way.
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