New Jersey Times - El Espiritu Santo es real!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Familia MIA!

How great it was to talk with each of you! Papa Roy and Grandma Rosaline, it was great to hear your voices!!! And Jacob and Teen and Riley, I love you all! I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. Honestly. Mommy and Daddy always used to say, "You have good friends."...and I concur. ;-) I hope Christmas was as wonderful for you as it was for me! I wish the world would allow the Spirit of Christmas to be present all year long.

We had an All Mission Conference last Friday. We heard from each of the stake presidents in our mission and some of their wives. They bore testimony of Jesus Christ. Each member of our Mission Presidency also spoke and the Assistants shared messages about the Savior and Joseph Smith. Brother Alex Boye even came and sang to us (he's President and Sister Jeppson's son-in-law). It was 6 hours of Spiritual recharge. I hadn't felt the Spirit so strongly in quite some time. Pure testimony allows the Spirit to testify to our hearts in such a pure way that those eternal truths are undeniable. I love how Father works with His children. There is nothing like the confirmations I have received through the Holy Ghost. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know my brothers and sisters once knew those things and just need to be reminded. That's why I'm here.

Did I tell you I'm companions with Hermana Fenn again?! She is such a remarkable missionary. It has been such a joy serving with her this past week! She is full of so many great ideas. She's dedicated. She loves her Lord. She wants to be that best missionary she can be. One of the things I fasted and prayed for as I went to the temple was an increased ability to focus on the work here, to focus on what I've been called to do at this time in my life. Heavenly Father allowed me to know that He would help me. It wasn't until Wednesday that I realized that Hermana Fenn was an answer to my prayers. She, too, wants to focus on the work, to do her best and forget the rest. It's been great to be able to serve with someone who too desires to focus 100 percent on the work. I love my Heavenly Father.

I testify that Heavenly Father hears our prayers and He always always always answers them when it is best for us. We may not always recognize how He does it, but we can often look back and see that it has been done. I love my dear Savior for all that He has done for me. I testify of His Divinity. I am honored to be His Representative.

I love each of you more than I ever knew was possible. I encourage you to continue to work hard, to be believing, to put your trust in your God for He will always provide. The Church is True.

Love,
Hermana Word

9575 - Christmas Eve Zone Lunch
9591 - Christmas Dinner at Hna Marcela's house. These were her little gifts to us.
9584 - Opening presents Christmas morning...bright and early. Thank you ALL!
9544 - Thank you my dear KD Squire and Olivia Neighbor! GAH! I love you BOTH!

New Jersey Times - Hay un tiempo para todo

Mi Querida Familia!!!

Guess what time it is?! Transfer time. I know, crazy right?! I always love transfers. They used to make me nervous...but not anymore :-). I'm staying in New Brunswick, but my two companions are leaving me...on to bigger and better things ;-). There are only two Spanish Sister Missionaries with whom I've not yet served so we'll see what happens. I might even be serving with one of my old companions...tomorrow will tell. I'm excited for what the future holds (sometimes I just wish it wouldn't come so fast ;-).

Last week was everything but a "normal week" (Haha, but when do we actually ever have one of those on the mission?). I think we actually had 21 hours of proselyting...usually it's like 40. We had to get our car fixed, Hermana Coley was sick, a pipe in our apartment broke so we were home all day with the plumber guys, transfer planning/Transfer Apartment Cleaning, Relief Society activity, Temple, Ward Christmas Party...it was crazy. I feel blessed to have had such wonderful companions who make all the craziness fun. Amongst all of it, Heavenly Father has helped me to see that it is His will. The work of the Lord shall not be frustrated, so why should I? :-) I saw so many miracles, it was incredible. We went to see a less active Hermana, Ofelia Sanchez and ended up also teaching her friend Estela. We have a return appointment with them for today. We had two of our investigators tell us they weren't ready. We got the Area Books all organized! We found some old formers we didn't know were formers until they let us into their home. Our plumber guy who plays in a hard rock and roll band called Trailor Park Mafia expressed his gratitude for us sharing with him the Book of Mormon...and the list goes on. The temple was such a blessing, I couldn't even begin to be able to describe the peace I felt within its walls. I had forgotten how hard the adversary works in order to keep the saints from going to Father's House. I was able to receive much needed revelation and be surrounded by people whom I love.

I'm excited to talk to the family on Christmas. One more phone call home. Weird. I want you all to know that I love you. I hope life is treating each of you well, that you're learning the lessons the Lord would have you learn, that you're taking the time to see His hand in all things. He loves each of you so very much. I know it. Jesus Christ is my Savior, and He's yours, too. This time that we celebrate Him is such a sacred time of year. When our hearts are turned to Him is when we feel in greatest measure His love. I testify of His Divinty. He has made eternity possible for all; He has given us the gift of eternal life in God's presence, however, we must show Him that we want it by following His words, by being baptized in His Church and honoring those covenants for the rest of eternity. I testify of Father in Heaven. His plan is real. His love is tangible. He wants you to return to Him...and you want it, too. Don't waste the time you have to get to know Them. How will you ever want to live with someone you know not?

I love you. I love this Gospel. I love the opportunity I have to share it with the world.
Keep it up, family! Deal? Deal.

See you soon!
- Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - El poder de la musica

Monday, December 12, 2011


Family!



I love you. 2 more weeks and I get to talk to you!!!!! Aren’t you super excited?...because I am. :-) I’d love to know how you all are doing…friend included.



Tyler Payne is getting married on Saturday (I need an invite por favor :-) Kassi Erickson is getting married on Saturday (…tambien, una invitacion seria bien recibida)…I don’t know when Devon Graff is getting married to his forever friend, but I’m assuming pretty soon…and Taft Sandbakken…and Elder Tatro (I don’t think I ever knew his first name). There you all go, getting married and stuff. I just want you all to know that I love you TOO and am excited for what eternity has in store for you. You all deserve the best for being the wonderful people that you are.



This week has been wonderful! Geovanni got baptized yesterday! He’s so great, can I just tell you?! Ever since he has started coming to church he has refused to wear any sort of button up white shirt or slacks. He came to church yesterday in his normal everyday clothes; however, after his baptism he came out in a suit. He has changed. He's excited about life now. We met with him Saturday night and found out he's in 2 Nephi 25! He loves the Book of Mormon; it’s changed his life. He even invited his friend Edgar to his baptism yesterday. We had taught Edgar Saturday night as well, and he told me yesterday that he had already read 3 pages in the Book of Mormon. Heavenly Father is softening the hearts of these people; the Holy Ghost is testifying of their Savior; their lives are being changed.



My companions are doing well. I love them both so much. Last week was probably the best week we’ve had so far. Each one keeps getting better. I have enjoyed my time with them; I have loved learning from them. They are remarkable missionaries. Yesterday we had to opportunity to do a musical number in our stake Christmas Fireside. We sang Angels We Have Heard on High, with Hermana Coley playing the ukele. Elders Steele, Storey, Turnbow, and Smith sang with us. It was incredible! I’ll have to get you a copy of it. Maybe we’ll form a musical group when we get home ;-). The words are beautiful; however, the song used to drive me crazy. All those “Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria” notes never seemed to be sung correctly. Yesterday I decided to take the time and think about what the words mean to me. I wanted the song to have power when I sang it. If you haven’t, I encourage you to read what is written. “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.” The whole earth rejoiced with the Savior of the World was born. I can only imagine the innumerable heavenly hosts singing those praises. It was an honor to sing them once again last night. There is power in music. I love IT!



As for myself, I’m doing well. Better than last week. Sometimes I have little breakdowns (welcome to being me). In the moment I can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong with me, and then I’m reminded that Heavenly Father is allowing me to grow. He is Wonderful. I could not live were it not for the promises of my God, were it not for the ability that I have to communicate directly with Him. I cherish each moment I have to kneel down and speak with my Father. I cannot wait for the day when I will see Him again. I’m grateful for my Savior, for His making that day possible. I hope you, too, are able to feel how much He loves YOU! Don’t get discouraged. Remember that He’s all ears; that He will forever help you with whatsoever thing you stand in need of. Just ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
I love you all. Keep it up. I’ll see you soon!



- Hermana Word



9455 - Hna Adams, Rafael (the member who referred Geovanni to us), Geovanni, Yo!, Hermana Coley

9461 - Our musical group! Elders Smith, Turnbow, Steele, and Storey (no, not related to Chris)...and then us.

9463 - My dear KD Squire, best friend, future missionary

9452 – My Ellis Island friend Amanda…and us!

New Jersey Times - Como fijamos la vista afecta como vivimos

Monday, December 5, 2011

FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everytime I write, I just feel how much I LOVE YOU! I hope you can feel it. If you can't, pray about it. ;-). Um, Ashleigh and Little Brother? HAPPPPPPYYYYYYY BIRRRRTHDAAAYYYYYYYYYYY! Little Brother, I'm going to need a picture of you soon...next to a tape measure. Mom wrote me a letter once about how you grew an inch in a day or something. If you kept that up, you've got to be wicked tall by now. Entonces, pictures...please? Actually, family...could you all just send me pictures...and friends?! I don't want to be in shock when I go home and find everyone looking all different and stuff. Por favor. If you want to save on postage and printing costs...just email them. Haha...then that will save me on baggage costs when I go home. Haha. Deal? Deal.

This past week was full of miracle after miracle after miracle. You want to know something I've learned? The way we view life affects the way we live our lives. It's not just a matter of doing the Lord's will, it's a matter of seeing how He sees, thinking as He thinks. We could keep the commandments and be just fine, but if we choose to see the negative we're not getting out of them what is meant for us. I see so many people each day who choose to be sad, who choose to be frustrated (myself included at times); however, if we would just choose to think positively, to see the MIRACLES that the Lord brings to pass before our faces we would come to find that happiness, that pure JOY, never has to end regardless of our trials.

This last week we were teaching Geovanni, our friend who's going to get baptized this month. (Just a sidenote about Geovanni: A couple months ago, he wanted nothing to do with God; in fact, he didn't believe in God. He'd been told many times to change his life around but he didn't see the point. He got a tatoo and wounded up in the hospital with an infection in his blood??...His body swelled up so much that they had to cut open his left arm and leg to reduce the swelling. He had over 100 staples and a skin graph and was in the hospital for over a month. On of our members, Rafael, has known Geovanni since they lived in Mexico. He was given a blessing, I believe, while in the hospital. The missionaries started teaching him before I got here...all of this started in August, just before Hurricane Irene) He's been progressing in his knowledge and understanding of the Gospel at a rate I've not yet seen. He's had faith sufficient for repentance for quite some time now; however, he was set to be baptized the 18th of December and he had no desire to be baptized sooner. "Um, no...the 18th is still good," he had said a number of times. SO, we decided to continue teaching him and seeing him and just keeping him strong because we knew Satan would be working with him. Last Friday we went over the baptismal interview questions with him. "Being baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon you the name of Christ and keep His commandments the rest of your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and to be faithful to said covenant?" (Sorry, I just translated it from Spanish...I don't know what it is in English).

Geovanni replied, "I'm more than ready."

"Wait, MORE than ready?!"

"Yes."

"Would you like to change your baptismal date then?"

"Yes, I'd change it to 8 days earlier...is that okay?"

"Are you kidding me, of COURSE that's okay! The 11th of December is the Sunday before...will you be baptized on the 11th?"

Yup, Geovanni changed his own date. It was amazing. I love seeing the Spirit work within others. I LOVE watching the Gospel of Jesus Christ change people's lives. "It is a miracle that it ever happens," said Elder Holland--that we as young adults, with little knowledge and next to no experience teaching others, can somehow go into a stranger's home, teach them what we know, and by the power of the Holy Ghost be the means of changing someone's life. There is no way it could ever be done if it was not the truth; because without the truth, the Holy Ghost cannot bear witness...and without the Holy Ghost true conversion cannot ever take place. Conversion "denotes changing one's views, in a conscious acceptance of the will of God. If followed by continued faith in theLord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism in water for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, conversion will become complete, and will change a natural man into a sanctified, born again, purified person--a new creature in Christ Jesus" (Bible Dictionary - Conversion).

Family, I love this Gospel. Because of the faith of a young boy, the heavens were once again opened and the Gospel of Jesus Christ once again restored in its purity. We are here in this life to develop faith in Christ unto Repentance, to make covenants with our God so that we might be able to enter into His Kingdom when all is said and done. We can only come to truly know Christ if we learn of Him through His pure doctrine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Kingdom of God on the earth today, and through such that knowledge is made available to all with a willing heart and a contrite spirit. Jesus is the Christ. I know that with all my heart. I love Him. I love my Father in Heaven. I am grateful that the Holy Ghost has made those things known unto me.

I love you family. I love you A. LOT. Keep it up...always. Endurare Terminalis. ;-)

- Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - La expiacion se quita cualquier miedo

Monday, November 28, 2011

Familia Mia!!!!!

How was your Thanksgiving?! Guess what?! I got to play SOCCER!!!!!!! For the first time in a very very VERY long time, I got to play. It was a beautiful experience. We got together with the Morristown Sisters and played real futbol...while the Elders in my zone and their zone got together and played their own little Turkey Bowl. Also, I hope you had as much food as I did! :-) We had three meal appointments...which may or may not seem like a lot to you...but for me it was MORE than plenty. I love each and every person with which I was able to share it. The people here just make me feel at home. It's going to be weird only eating one meal next year. Haha. I hope you were able to find many many MANY reasons for which to be grateful...and I hope that you continue to do so each day. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. It is an honor to wear my Savior's name each and every day, to physically be able to put it on--an outward expression of my inner commitment to follow my Lord. I struggle sometimes because I know I am not perfect, that I make mistakes, that I don't always represent Him as I know I should; however, I have a testimony of His Infinite Atonement, of repentance, of the peace that comes through Him. I've struggled a little bit lately; however, I'm grateful for the struggles because they open my eyes and help me learn new ways to apply the atonement. I once had a friend ask me what my greatest fear was. He explained his to me, taking the question to a level I'd never before thought of. He said to me, "My greatest fear is selfishness." I thought of what mine could be, what it REALLY could be. As I did so, I found that everything I came up with, everything that seemed to cause a profound sense of fear in the beginning was swallowed up by an appeal to the atonement. Sometimes I start to worry, I allow myself to get frustrated...and then I remember that it matters not what man can do (or what I do to myself), for in Christ all things are possible. I'd forgotten about that experience until just now. I am so grateful for the sacrifice of my Lord. I love that I get to learn something new about it each day.

We had our Primary Program yesterday! I. LOVE. Children! Those little ones are so precious. They can turn any situation into a better one. I loved watching Nia, watching her sing and talk. Nia is Alejandra's daughter. Alejandra started coming back to church three weeks ago...my first Sunday here. Nia had three weeks to learn all the songs that the other kids had been learning all year long. I was so proud of her, of her dedication, of her desire to do her very best. She even offered the closing prayer. She's going to help many people come to know their Savior throughout the course of her life...as is each and every one of those children.

I apologize for yet another short letter. I remember when Todd was on his mission, his letters got shorter and shorter towards the end. Maybe it's a missionary thing? I don't know. Haha. Know that I love each of you. Grandma Word, thank you for your letter. Thank you each for your prayers and your support. When I start to get down on myself, I often remember the people who are cheering me on and that keeps me going. Stay strong. Don't ever quit fighting for what you know is right. Keep it up! I'll see you in a few!

Les amo,
Hermana Word


9318 - Beautiful Thanksgiving Morning
9323 - Meal Numero UNO
9332 - Meal Numero DOS
9334 - Meal Numero TRES!

New Jersey Times - La misericordia del Senor

Monday, November 21, 2011

FAMILY!

I have had a wonderful week. Every one is them is remarkable...and seems to go by way too quickly. I got to go to Leadership Training again! I was super stoked! I truly enjoy learning and teaching and helping others see how remarkable they are. I still feel inadequate at times, and then I remind myself that I am if I try to do it alone; however, with my Savior I can do all things. I was given the opportunity at Leadership Training to help train the new missionaries. Let me just tell you, they are incredible! Honestly, I was blown away by their testimonies, by their faith, by their love for their Lord. I am excited for the future of this mission, for the future of this Church. We have choice missionaries here and I'm certain they will each become great leaders in this marvelous work. I felt that. I feel it. They are going to reach new heights in their service to their Lord (and seester, you will be even more remarkable and reach even greater heights!).

Family, I love New Brunswick. I love the people here. The members are so willing to help the missionaries, it's mind-blowing. They don't just talk about great ideas, they commit themselves and they go and DO. I've seen some great miracles since I've been here. I wish I had the time to write about them all. Know that the work is going forth. The field here is white and we are harvesting.

It has been a joy serving with Hermanas Adams and Coley. There is never a dull moment, let me tell you ;-). They are such awesomely fun missionaries. It's been a blast. They've helped me remember that we can laugh and joke and do it all with dignity. One of my dearest friends once told me, "You get closest to your real self on your mission." He encouraged me to write down goals, to take note of it all before the world takes over again. I'd venture to say, I'm closest to my real self than ever before. I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for sending me such wonderful companions and leaders and Mission Presidents who have helped me to recognize who I am. I love this work.

I am super duper 100% short on time right now. BUT, I wanted to tell you in like 3 seconds an awesome experience. While we were in Morristown for Leadership Training, we got to stay at the Mission Home Wednesday night (totally unplanned, spur-of-the-moment...but it was awesome!)...which meant I got to work in MORRISTOWN for a couple hours. We did exchanges with the Morristown Sisters. When we left the church, we went to KFC so that my companion could eat some dinner. As we walked in I looked for Laura (she works at KFC) and I didn't see her. THEN! I her someone say something and I turned around...and there she was! My dear friend Laura. We were able to catch up for a little bit as we sat and ate some super awesome free KFC. She is more solid in the Gospel than ever before. She is such a wonderful little missionary! GAH! I want to tell you all about it!

No time. Anyway. I love you. Keep it up. Don't you ever quit. In the words of President, "God don't make no junk." Remember that.

LOVE YOU!
- Hermana Word

9269 - Leadership Training! Hermana Coley is the one in the brown jacket and Hermana Adams is the one on my left. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!
9258 - LAURA!!!!!

New Jersey Times - El poder de la Expiacion

Monday, November 14, 2011

Familia MIA!

I. Love. YOU! GAH, I love you. This past week was amazing. I had to say goodbye to some of my dearest friends as they finished their missions last Wednesday. THAT was difficult. Somehow I am now the oldest Spanish Sister Missionary. I don't feel like it. I'm almost not okay with it. Haha. I know not where the time goes. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! (Sister Scoville, don't forget to send me that song :-). SO, update? I'm now serving in New Brunswick (The chain has been broken Hermana Jackson...North Branch was quadrupled out...and now Elders are there...so I couldn't follow in your footsteps the whole time. BUT, my area DOES have the same initials. Haha.) Hermana Samantha Adams is my companion. She is AWESOME! She, just like Hermana Lowry, was called English Speaking and then got switched to Spanish after her first 6 weeks. She's a powerhouse and I LOVE it! There's a lot of work to be done here in New Brunswick and I'm excited to be able to do it with her (Lauren seester, she reminds me of you). ALSO, we are getting a NEW companion tomorrow. Her name is Hermana Coley. She served 6 months of her mission in Chile and now is coming to OUR mission! So, for the first time, I will be in a trio...and I'm super excited. Missionary life is the greatest, let me just tell you.

I am so full of joy, I cannot even begin to be able to express it to you. I love Hermana Adams. I love New Brunswick. I love the people here. I am so full of gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for knowing exactly what I need exactly when I need it. I trust Him. I feel so inadequate, so weak; yet, I know that with the help of my Lord I can do all things. I know it. I've felt that alot lately...and I'm grateful for it. I've felt the need to share with my dear brothers and sisters the truthfulness of the Messiah, the reality of His Atoning Sacrifice, to help them understand what the atonement means to them. President said something in his letter today, he said that our work is "to carry Salvation and the Atonement of Christ to all that will listen here in New Jersey." I have felt that so powerfully lately. I feel an overwhelming need to work with the less actives here in New Brunswick...that we must help them so that through them we might be able to strengthen the church as well as work on enlarging it. Throughout the week, I have felt the need to share with others the Atonement of their Lord. We live in a world so blinded from the ways of God, the people try to cover their deep spiritual wounds by submitting themselves to false ideas and superficial means of "healing". They need the Atonement. I need the Atonement. These members--whether they be active, recent converts, or less actives--need the Atonement. My duty is to invite others to COME. UNTO. CHRIST. To partake of His Holy Sacrifice. To let it heal those wounds so that they might find true peace, so that they might find a fulness of joy. That's why I'm here in New Brunswick. That's why I am here on this earth. All of my past experiences have lead me to where I am today so that I can more fully be an instrument in Father's hands in this great work of Salvation. Tuesday night just 10 minutes after taking all of my stuff up to my new apartment, we got a phone call from a less active. Her name is Yazmin. Hermana Adams didn't know her. She hasn't been active in the Church for some 6 years or so. She called us because her boyfriend wants to hear about the Gospel. We met with them Wednesday night. Her testimony of the Gospel is incredible. She is SOLID. She just needs the atonement (don't we all?!) She came out with us to teach others for 3 hours on Friday. We're going over to her house to eat tomorrow. I love how Father works. I love seeing His hand as He brings to pass His eternal purposes. Yazmin is going to come back to church. I KNOW that I'm here to help her. I love her already.

As I've sat and talked with my companion, with investigators, with the members, as I've gotten to know them a little better, to feel of the wonderful, faithful, beautiful children of God that they are, I've been able to see the importance of those lessons I learned in Paterson. We all need to see Whose we really are. The Atonement helps us to do so. I want to be the means of helping others to see it in themselves, to see the image of Christ that so brightly radiates from their very beings. We fail to see it, and it breaks my heart. Family, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I wish I could put into words how powerfully I feel that in my heart. I never knew what my mission had in store, I never knew I'd come to know Him on such a level. I recognize my knowledge, my understanding is not yet perfect...but I'm on my way and I will never turn back. "And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen" (Ether 4:19). I will be faithful. And I will help others to do the same. We're all in this together. The Atonement is the key.

I love you all very much. I pray for you. I know Father is watching out for you. I hope you take the time to recognize His very hand in your lives each and every day. His Gospel and the ordinances therein are the means by which we can and will obtain eternal life. Remember it. Follow Him. Be faithful until the end. Keep it up! ;-)

Los AMO!
- Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - Acabo el tiempo

Monday, November 7, 2011

Familia MIA!

Guess what today is?! The 7th of NOVEMBER! Hooray! haha. Nope (I mean, yes it is...but that's not the point ;-), we got transfer news last night...and the Lord has called me to work in a different part of His vineyard. I realized this morning that I've only ever been transferred twice...this will bring my grand total to a whooping THREE times. 7 months in Paterson, 6 months in Morristown...and we'll soon see what at least the next 6 weeks holds in store for me. I'm excited. I've come to really love change on my mission. It's what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about--change. Changing the natural man within us and becoming more and more like our Savior and our Father in Heaven. Repentance is what they call it. Any change brought about by the hand of God is always good.
As I'm certain all of you were planning on sending me a letter this week, such as is common among my faithful followers, I would advise you to send it to the Mission Office. Checks and money orders can be given to my mother, she will deposit them for me. For all who may have misplaced the address, it reads as follows:
1719 Route 10 Suite 309
Parsippany, NJ 07054
You are welcome to address any and all letters "My Favorite Missionary: Hermana Word". Whatever you feel best suits you. Deal? Deal.

As for this work I have been called to do...I would like to inform you that this last week was a great one...ahem, these past three transfers have been great, simply unforgettable. I have loved every minute I've had in Paterson, New Jersey. The members here are my family. I walk into their homes and I feel at home. We pick them up to come out with us and I feel like we're picking up my dearest friends. I listen to their testimonies and feel of their spirits and I cannot help but think I'm in Heaven. I love these people--members and investigators alike. I've never felt closer to my God in my whole life. I've come to know myself here in Paterson, better than I ever have before. As I lead the music in Church last week, I looked over at my little Rodriguez Family and thought to myself, "My work here is done. I have done what I was called here to do." We went over to Melissa's house last Friday, she said she had had some questions about some verses she had read. When we showed up and asked about her questions she said, "I don't have anymore. I just talked to my husband and he helped me understand." Her husband Jorge came out and talked with us about the Gospel for the very first time since I've ever been to their house. He brought out his scriptures and showed them to us; he had us sign our names in the back of his Spanish Book of Mormon along with all the names of missionaries long since gone (it's been at least 10 years); he showed us that he had his patriarchal blessing; he told us all about how he and his wife would rent a bus and drive members 4 hours away to the Washington D.C. Temple in the middle of the night so that they could go perform ordinances there; he told us how one time he baptized around 600 people...he said, "I just kept going and going. No one could stop me. I was there to baptize and I was going to baptize." He was SO excited. Jorge even stayed and said the prayer with us. Heavenly Father has blessed that family so much; as He blesses all His children when they turn their hearts over to Him. I feel so at peace. I am and will forever be grateful for the opportunity He has given me to see this family progress. Each of them came to church again yesterday. Melissa bore her testimony. It was powerful. I am grateful my Father has helped me to find my dear friends once again. That family will be apart of my life for the rest of eternity. (I'm telling you family, we're getting bigger and bigger every day!) That family has such a love for their God. I feel it when I talk with them, I feel it when I enter their home...their lives have been changed because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because of His atoning sacrifice. Melissa said yesterday, "I will not ever leave my Savior again." I felt it. She is going to be faithful until the end...and she is going to help her family to do so. The salvation of souls is the greatest work one could ever be apart of. (Also, Daddy...I have a new friend for you: Jorge Rodriguez. I told him he's allowed to look you up on facebook...to call you and talk with you about all the awesome things you LOVE! He brought out this World War II helmet to show to us while we were there on Friday. I told him he has to talk to you. He said, "I'd show you some guns, but I bet you're not allowed to on your missions, huh?" LOVE it!).

Also, Hermana Lowry is AWESOME! I love her like I love my own sisters. She is already doing (and I am convinced will continue to do) great things! I'm excited for her to be able to stretch a little more, to develop even greater those gifts and talents and abilities her Father in Heaven has given her. I have full confidence that she will be the means of working many miracles here in New Jersey. I'm happy the people still have her for another year. She is going to rock it!...and when all is said and done, we're going to take a trip to the Canadian Rocky Mountains and do some good ole exploring. Anyone is welcome to come along as well. Put it in the books - Spring 2013.

Anyway, time is short. I've got to PACK! I love you family. I hope you know it! I want you to know that I know that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father. I know that He loves ME. I am striving to get to know Him better. I love my God. This is His church, we are His people. I testify of it.
Keep on keeping on...deal? DEAL!

Los Amo!
- Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - El que cambia los corazones

Monday, October 31, 2011

FAMILIA!

Okay, so super limited on time...even more so than last week. Haha. I don't know where it goes. Happy Halloween! We pretty much get to stay inside all day. We've got a zone activity though, so I'm pretty stoked. Also, snow storm in OCTOBER?! NOT normal! Haha. President Jeppson in his letter today said, "Another freak of nature, so what’s new? Some of our missionaries apartments are still without power tonight following a very unusual early snow storm. Newscasters said this is a 50-year event. Trees and tree limbs are down everywhere in the northern part of the state, along with power lines. Four of the trees in the front yard of the mission home have been badly damaged by the heavy wet snow. Let’s see, in the last four months we’ve had (1) a heat wave with the highest recorded temperature in Newark ever recorded (107 degrees), (2) an earthquake, (3) a hurricane, (4) record rainfall causing the worst flooding on record, and now (5) a 50-year event snowstorm. You gotta love it!" Yup, it's weird. They've only been here for 4 months. Welcome to: The Savior is coming soon and we need to be prepared. I love when Heavenly Father makes bare His holy arm. Jersey was beautiful--fall colors in the trees covered with a blanket of white snow. It's incredible.


This past week was probably one of the most enjoyable weeks of my mission. (Wait, can I say that? They're all super great in their own way...next week I'll probably say the same thing ;-). This week was FUN. Doing the Lord's work is not a boring thing...this is the Plan of Happiness. Hermana Lowry and I have just. Had. Fun! There comes a point in every companionship when walls of insecurity have been broken, fears of judgment have been overcome, and doors of complete trust have been opened. It's wonderful. It's what the Savior wants. To know for ourselves that with our Lord we can together overcome whatever obstacle comes our way gives us the drive to keep going, gives us the confidence that we can do it again. When we are able to put aside our worries, we're able to more fully experience that pure joy the Gospel brings. This past week was full to the brim with joyful experiences. Those walls have been broken, fears overcome, and doors opened. We were ourselves...our real selves...and I LOVED it!

Do you remember Melissa Rodriguez? I know I've written to you about her before. She was a less active who has now come back to church. She is one of my dearest friends. From the moment I found out I was going to be serving in Paterson once again, she has been at the forefront of my mind. That sister and I have been friends since before this life, I know it. She has been working hard at coming back. She was inactive for 10 years, and now she's back. She reads her scriptures everyday. She has a little journal in the which she writes her impressions about the scriptures she reads or questions she has. She said to us the other day, "I write it down because I want my Heavenly Father to know that I'm serious about coming back." I love that woman! She's brought her two kids to church for the past week. Her husband, however, has always been a little bit more difficult. I've never really been able to talk with him about the Gospel, but he is GREAT! (Daddy, you and him would be great friends, I just know it :-). Last Thursday as we were riding with Melissa to the Relief Society activity, she told us that her husband had spoken to her about wanting to go to church with her some week. We were as excited as she was when she told us the news. When the activity was over, when we walked out of the room, I saw her husband in the hallway. He was talking with the first counselor in our Branch Presidency. I saw her HUSBAND in the HALLWAY. And he was happy. He had come to the church, I'm assuming after school, just to see his wife. He didn't have to pick her up, she had her car; but, he came anyway. As we were standing outside of the chapel yesterday waiting for church to start, I looked up and saw Melissa, her mom, Marsha, George...and her HUSBAND walking up the hallway. Jorge was dressed in a suit. He appeared to be the happiest man in the world. My heart was touched. It's been a year since I first met Melissa, and now her whole family is back at church. I've reflected again and again on the Majesty of my Lord, on the Mercy and the Patience and the Wisdom of my Father in Heaven. I feel such a sense of joy, it's difficult to put into words. His plan is perfect. He softens even the hardest hearts. He works miracles within us without us even recognizing it. Melissa sent us a message last night expressing her gratitude to her Father in Heaven for the miracles He has brought to pass in her life. She spoke of how she felt she did not deserve all the Lord has given her, but she's ever so grateful for it. She told us that her husband said he wants to baptize his son. He said it will take some time, just baby steps for now, but he wants to do it. I love this Gospel. I love my LORD. This is His work, I'm simply an instrument in His hands. There is no greater calling than that.

I love you family. I hope you know that. Keep it up on your end...all of you. Stay warm. Wear a beanie (heat escapes from your head ;-). I'll see you in a few!
Los amo a todos!
- Hermana Word

Also, thank you SHELBY DELONG for your letter! Goodness, I love you. You are an awesome, faithful disciple of Christ. Thank you for your example. You are going to be the means of bringing many of our brothers and sisters unto Christ. I know it.

8927 - our awesome DISTRICT!
8962 - Hermana Lowry and I being the rad people that we are. The End. (Also, it was the Statue of Liberty's 125 Birthday...and my one year, welcome-to-Ellis Island birthday)
8971 - Yup, we know it. Haha.
9000 - Fallen trees. Welcome to Paterson. :-)
9009 - The tracks.

New Jersey Times - Nuestras debilidades y la fuerza del Senor

Monday, October 24, 2011

Familia MIA!!!!
Sorry, total lack of time today. Hope all is well. Know that I'm alive. Keep on keeping on.
Los amo!
- Hermana Word.

Haha. What if that was all I sent you? It would be okay, right? Things are going well in Paterson. I LOVE PATERSON! I love it here. The leaves are changing. Tomorrow marks one year in the field...AND Justine Trotter Banks' 23rd BIRTHDAY! (Happy Birthday TEEN!) Life is great.

Hermana Lowry and I had 12 different members come out with us this week. We were able to teach 15 lessons with a member present. FIFTEEN! That's more than I've seen my whole mission. Last week I wrote about how much time it takes to pick them up and drop them off; this week I learned even more how the Lord helps it all to still work out. It was the first week my companion and I have met mission standards since I've been in Paterson. Three and a half months...this time haha. We have had the help of the members, and the work has been able to move forth with greater velocity than ever before. Yesterday Hermana Margarita turned to me and said, "Hermanas, whenever you want, I'd love to go out with you." I've seen her face for the past 3 and half months...plus the 3 I was here before, but I'd never really talked to her. She came out with us last night. That's how the members are here...and I LOVE them for it! Four of those "other lessons" were taught with a member to a member. We had members with us for 19 of our 22 lessons. It's remarkable to me. We must not limit the Lord by our own understanding. His is greater; it's perfect. Time is not an issue when it comes to the Lord. I know it will not always be as it was this last week; however, I am determined to do my very best so that that "not always" is not brought about because of my own lack of diligence.



As for my companion and I, we're doing well. I love her. I'm learning. It's not easy. However, Father will always listen and with His help I can do all things. Even when I make a mistake, He helps make things right...and I love Him for it. I'm learning more and more how very inadequate I am. I cannot, nor do even I want to, do this on my own. And not just "being a missionary"; rather, life. The atonement is empowering. I recognize more and more my own nothingness and am ever so grateful for the greatness of God, for His goodness and long-suffering towards me. I cannot do anything without calling upon the name of my Lord daily (Mosiah 4:11). The depths of humility are great; and it is there that I see so clearly the arms of my Lord stretched out, beckoning that I come to Him. I feel it. As to my own strength I am weak; however, in His strength I can do all things (Alma 26:12). I know it.



I love you all so very much. Thanks to all for your prayers, for your letters, for your love! You have no idea the impact they have on me. You give me strength, and I bet you didn't even know it. :-) Keep it up out there. This world is crazy; but the Gospel is true. Jesus Christ is my Savior and He's yours. This is His church, the one and only with His authority. I testify of it. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know it.



Don't you ever forget who you are and the things you KNOW to be true. The alternative is never better.



Los amo y quiero y extrano TANTO!

- Hermana Kaity Word



Also, thank you Sampson family for your little email! You all are AWESOME! I didn't know you'd had another little one?! Congratulations! I'm going to have some super catching up to do when I get home. ;-)



Also also, Bradford family? I love you.


8866 - My super awesome ZONE!...sort of. Minus a District. We just like to gather in the kitchen. It's what missionaries do, okay?
8887 - Welcome to Paterson...where people paint murals on the sides of buildings.
8885 - Martin and Matilde and the little chillins. AND!!! KIA and Rosa...two of my very favorite people in the whole WORLD! (Kia's going on a mission. This winter she's going up to BYU-Idaho for a semester...also, family, she might be in Vegas for the holidays and I told her she needs to go meet you)

New Jersey Times - Jesus es El Cristo

October 17, 2011, 8:58 AM


Familia Mia Querida y Bonita,

Monday, October 17, 2011

I love you! Wait, did you not hear me? I. LOVE. YOU! What a remarkable week here in Paterson! I know not where to begin. Day after day we witnessed miracle after miracle. Remember Melissa Rodriguez? We had a Family Home Evening with her and her children and her parents and her sister last night...and it was llena del espiritu. We spoke of Christ. We each went around and shared our testimonies of Him, of Who He is for each of us. Each of the testimonies were powerful, Melissa's touched me deeply. Almost a year ago I sat for the first time in her living room talking with her about how much God loves her, yesterday she shared with us what she has come to know about that very love. She is an amazing example to me. We were the best of friends before this life, I just know it.

Yesterday morning we had District Conference. Hermana Lowry and I showed up 15 minutes early. While we were talking with the members, President Allongo of the Mission Presidency came up to me and said, "President Molina has told me you're fluent in Spanish and has asked me to invite you to translate for us during the meeting." I said, "Um, as on of those back-up translators, right? The ones that only talk if the real translator is worn out? He wants me to do that one, right?" Haha. Nope. I knew that wasn't what he meant. I thought to myself, "GAH! Okay, I'll do it. I will. I can do it. Nope, I can't do it. There are so many other sisters here that can do it. Look, there's Hermana Soto or Hermana Leyva or Hermana Mendoza or...they're all native speakers. They can do it...can't they? No, I can do it. Heavenly Father asked me to. Sure, they can do it, but I need to be stretched, I need to develop the gifts He's given me. I can do it. I know He'll help me." A year ago, I probably would've cried. Haha. Yup, I probably would've. I am nowhere near fluent in Spanish, I recognize that I am weak; however, yesterday the Lord made me strong. There were words used that I wouldn't have known had I not memorized that one verse of scripture a couple months ago or read that paragraph in Predicad Mi Evangelio a couple days ago or sung it in a hymn a couple weeks ago. The Holy Ghost can only work with what we've got inside...and if we've given an honest effort, He gives us the rest. I felt that yesterday. Every sentence was a battle inside me, "Can I do it? Gah, I don't know that word! Wait, stop doubting. I have faith. Okay, see...it all came out." I was reminded by one of the members of our Branch Presidency yesterday the need to continue to develop the gifts of the Spirit after my mission and for the rest of forever. Heavenly Father has blessed each and every one of us with certain talents and abilites. He wants us to develop those talents, to increase those abilites so that we can bless the lives of His children. I felt that yesterday.

Hermana Lowry is doing well. She's doing really well. We had a "theme" this week, as often seems to happen with us: The work of the Lord shall not be frustrated, so why should we? It's helped us to step back and see things as they really are. We're both trying our best, we both love our Lord, we both make mistakes, we both recognize them, and we both are striving to be better. Together, we trust that the Lord will continue to do His work and bring to pass His eternal purposes. I'm just grateful I get to be a part of it.

Last Friday, I hit my 5 months left mark...and it caused me to reflect a bit. I haven't any idea how the time passes so quickly. I'm learning more about my Savior and His love than I ever have before. My daddy used to say, "You really get to know someone when you go backpacking with them." I've thought about that lately. You really get to know your Savior when you go walking with Him. District Conference yesterday re-emphasized for me the importance of getting to know Him. All of conference was centered on Him, on Christ as our Lord and Savior. I've been reading Jesus the Christ. I've not gotten too far into it, just enough to put a dent in its pages...but it's helped me to come to know, to truly know my Lord. It's not enough to just know Who He was and what He did, but I have to come to know Him; on a very personal level I have to know Him. I must live as He lives, do as He does, develop the divine qualities within me, the ones He personifies...so that "when He shall appear [I] shall be like Him...for [I] shall see him as He is...that [I] may be purified even as He is pure" (Moroni 7:48). I want to be able to one day look in that mirror and see His image in my very countenance. I'm starting to see Him in others; in my companion, in the members, in those I teach...and I'm starting to see Him in me. This last week I wrote: I think the best of others, I follow the Spirit, I am a leader, I lift others, I am valiant, I am courageous, I serve because I love, I am a hardworker, I understand my purpose, I am of infinite worth, I know my Savior. It's a process, and I'm moving forward. I love this work. I love my Lord. I'm honored to wear His name. I will go until I drop, I will work until He stops me. I covenanted I would, and I will honor that covenant with all the I am. "I believe in christ; He ransoms me. From Satan's grasp He sets me free...with Him I'll stand in that great day When on this earth He comes again To rule among the sons of men" (hymn 134). I not only believe IN Him, I believe Him. This is His restored Gospel. And it is through such that we can know Him in a very real sense. That knowledge has been restored in its perfection and glory. We as Father's children can make covenants with Him that bring us closer to each member of the Godhead and open up new doors to greater knowledge and understanding.

Family, I love you. Keep on keeping on. Deal? Deal. Come to know your Savior better than you ever have...for it is in knowing Him and recognizing Him for Who He is that we will be able to enter into the Celestial Kingdom and live forever in the presence of He and Father and the Holy Ghost...and our FAMILIES.

I'll talk to you so soon!
Love,
Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - la grandeza del arrepentimiento

Familia Mia!!!

I just can't express how much I love you! You are wonderful. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with such a remarkable family (and friends!) You lift me up when I feel so inadequate, when I start to think I just might not be able to do it. You give me hope. That's what families are for, right? The family is ordained of God, and I'd venture to say it is for that very reason that it is. We are here to help one another return to live with Him. That's the goal...and we're going to reach it together. Deal? Deal.

Um, Todd Corbett? Happy birthday last week! Don't worry, you've got a card on its merry little way. Brother Done, thank you for your sweet words. You and your wife have always been a great example to our family. (One day I'm going to do that 4th level hike! Let's all just do it together...Summer 2012? What say ye? ;-). Brother and Sister Hallowell, thank you for your support! You are angels! Grandma Lewis, I was grateful for the quick little note. I love and miss you all. And to everyone else...I love YOU! Really, I do. I feel it inside of me. Keep doing what you're doing and Father in Heaven will bless you greater than you could ever imagine.

This past week was remarkable. I learned many many many priceless lessons. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the opportunity I have through Him to become better, to recognize my weaknesses and my faults, to repent, to work towards perfection. It's a process. This whole life is a process of progression. That's why we came to earth. I recognize that more now than ever before. I know God is my Heavenly Father. I know that Christ is my Savior. I know that the Holy Ghost plays a vital role in my salvation. I've felt it. Time and time again, I've felt that.

Paterson is doing well. Sister Lowry and I are trying to focus more on teaching effectively. This past week was a week of re-vamping, remodeling our teaching, or rather re-aligning it with what we've been taught since the very beginning. Our zone leaders invited us to do 20 minutes of role plays in our companion studies. Last Tuesday we did just that...and we did it with the Spirit. When we went to visit our friend Juan Carlos, it was amazing to see the lesson unfold almost entirely as we had practiced it, to witness the Spirit working within him just as He had worked within us hours earlier. When the timing was right, when the Spirit was undoubtedly evident, we invited him to be baptized on November 13. He replied, "If you will help me be prepared, I will." We reassured him that that was our purpose, to help him be prepared to make covenants with his Father in Heaven. It was amazing. It was powerful. It was undeniably remarkable. I want every lesson to be like that, every lesson guided by the Spirit as that lesson so very much was. These are my brothers and sisters. I have been called to help them remember what they once knew to be true. I have been called to live as my Savior lived so that the Holy Ghost can be the true teacher. I love this work. I love this Gospel. I know that it's true. I felt it as President Jeppson testified at Zone Conference, I felt it as Elder Maughan and Elder Larsen (the Assistants to the President) testified. I feel it as I testify to others. There is no greater witness than that received from above.

It is my hope that we learn better how the Spirit works, that we recognize that our testimonies are all we need. They're the most important. As a genius at making things a thousand times more complicated than they need to be, I plead with you that we do not fall into that rut. We must remember that the things we do each day are preparing us for the rest of forever. We much treasure up in our hearts the words of Christ and the promise is that it will be given to us in the very moment that which we need to say. Twice in my Patriarchal Blessing Father tells me that I must strengthen my testimony. We all must strengthen our testimonies. It is important that we study and prepare throughout our lives so that we are qualified, so that the calls from Father can come, so that it WILL be given to us in the very moment what we should say. Remember to keep it simple, for that is how Father works with us. I know I need to be better at this, and I promise I will do all that I can. The Gospel is simple...and the testimonies we each have of it are powerful.

I love you. I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU! I hope you know it. The Church is true. Jesus is the Christ. Keep it up...for forever!

Los amo!
- Hermana Word

Helaman 13:1-5.

Date: Monday, October 3, 2011, 8:59 AM


Familia Mia!

GAH! I love you! Lauren, thank you for your little package! You've always been super great at letting me know what's going on. Mommy, too...and Grandma Rosaline. When I feel like all hope has been lost, I get something from at least one of you...and then hope is restored. :-) I want you to know I cherish everything I receive. There is nothing like being on a mission. Being able to read your letters and listen to your little recordings has strengthened that already great love I have towards each of you. Our family is becoming stronger, I feel it. Friends too...I love you all so very much. I kind of wish we all went back to writing letters...like in the old days :-) I'm certain the world and the families within it would be more unified. BUT, we've got technology now...and as Elder Bednar said, we have been given gifts and talents in regards to our using of technology...and we are to consecrate those gifts and talents to the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth. We must not bury them, but consecrate them...all of our talents. I don't know...just a thought. :-)

This week was an amazing one. Every week of my mission has been chalk full of wonderful experiences. Our Branch Mission Leader moved houses on Saturday. We went over early in the morning to help him with it all. We felt honored that he would trust us to help him. We drove away that morning with gratitude in our hearts for that trust, for that beautiful family who inspires us to do and be better, to live as the Savior would have us live. Yesterday in between sessions of conference, our Branch Mission Leader called us. He said, "We're going to bless our home tonight at 8:00 and would like to invite you and Hermana Lowry to join us. Will you be able to?" I told him we would love to, that we would be there at 8:00. It was the best way to end a weekend full of spiritual enlightenment. As we knelt down with their family last night, gratitude filled my heart. The Spirit of the Lord entered that home in great abundance as the presiding Priesthood holder blessed it. The patriarch of their home used the power of the priesthood to bless the lives of his family...and of us. Hermano Isaac Calderon is such a remarkable example to me of a man of faith, a man whose greatest desire is to follow his Lord and to help his family do so as well. He blessed his home that it might be a place where the Gospel will be preached, that all who enter can feel of the Spirit. He has great plans for the work and we get to help him bring them to pass. It was the first time I've ever been a part of the blessing of a home. I love that family. It's amazing to me the changes that have taken place since I was here a year ago. People change. As children of God, we have that right. Through the power of the atonement, through the workings of the manifestations of the Spirit, we can be changed. Purification is a process and it is brought about by submitting our will to that of Our Father's. It's what we've come to this earth to do.

I am ever so grateful for our dear Prophet, for his Counselors, for the Twelve Apostles...for all the Leaders of this great church. I have pages and pages of notes written about the things I felt as those men and women spoke the past couple days--revelation for me! Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can know the truth of all things...and we can know how to apply them in our lives. SO much of General Conference was focused on the Book of Mormon, on the truthfulness of it. We as a people are filling our lives with seemingly important, eternally insignificant things. We must stick with the basics. We must keep it simple. As a missionary, I have to remind myself of that day in and day out. It's easy to get caught up in all the other things to do...but as one of my BYU professors once taught me, works without faith is just as dead as faith without works. We can be doing a bazillion different good things and forgetting about the very basic best things. Read your scriptures. Say your prayers. Go to church. We must feast upon the words of Christ because they will tell us ALL THINGS that we should do (2 Nephi 32:3). We must communicate with our Father in Heaven because through the prayer of faith, having a sincere heart and real intent, we can know the truth of ALL THINGS (Moroni 10:3-5). We must go to Church often (every Sunday) that we might speak with one another concerning the welfare of our souls and above all things, to partake of the sacrament, in remembrance of our Lord Jesus (Moroni 6:4-6). Times are getting harder. The world is becoming more and more wicked. Remember President Monson's talk? The basics are what will get us through. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father is crucial...and that relationship is strengthened as we read His words, as we communicate with Him, and as we help others to do the same. GAH! I feel like I learned so much from conference and I haven't the time to share it all. BUT, I trust that you learned your own things, that you received personal revelation to know where to start and what to do in order to continue on the path towards eternal life. Just promise me you won't forget how wonderful you are? Promise me you won't get discouraged? Just keep moving forward and know that we're all in this together. Don't focus on how much you have left to go; rather, turn around and see how far you've come. Recognize WHO you are as a child of Diety. He loves you. He listens to you. The things that are important to you are equally important to Him. Trust Him. Give your heart to Him...and I promise you will find a fulness of Joy.

I love my Lord. I know this is His church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the Kingdom of God on the earth. It is run by revelation--revelation that all within can receive for their very own selves. Without revelation, I could not do this great work...nor could anyone else. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration. Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. Jesus is the Christ and He is the Head of it all. Father's plan is real and it is perfect. I know it.

I love you family! Keep it up! Stay strong.

Love,
Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - empezando de amarme a mi misma

Monday, September 26, 2011

---Familia Mia Amada y Amable,

I haven't a clue where last week went. Honestly, not any idea. Nor do I understand where the last transfer has gone. Today we will welcome 7 new missionaries. Tomorrow is transfer conference. Wednesday, 5 missionaries will go home. I've only got for more of these left. It's weird. I don't like it. Anyway, moving on...Heavenly Father is allowing me to stay in Paterson...with Hermana LOWRY! This will be the third transfer conference I haven't gone to...and the third time I've stayed with a companion for more than one transfer. In 8 transfers, I've had 6 companions. I don't know, normally you stay with them longer. But who decided what normal is on a mission? Haha. I love Hermana Lowry! We are SOOOO excited to have another transfer together! She said to me this morning, "Sister, there are some great miracles going to happen in Paterson this next transfer!" We can't wait. We're not going to wait. We're going to get out there. We're going to get dirty and covered and worn out in the work of our Lord...because that's what we do. We're not perfect, we've certainly got a long way to go, but we have great desires to be instruments in Father's hands...and to do it together. Who wouldn't be excited?

As for Paterson...we had some powerful lessons with a couple of our less active families. Lidia Delgado and her daughter Lorena Silva have rock solid testimonies of the Restored Gospel. They love it so much. They love their Lord. They know it's true. Sometimes we just let life get in the way and we forget to remember those things that matter most. They haven't lost their testimonies (I'd venture to say we never truly do), they've just chosen not to remember them for awhile. However, the process of remembrance has begun. The Monesterio Family was sealed in the temple of the Lord a little less than 10 years ago. Hermana Monesterio joined the church many many years ago, her husband joined much later. They have two children, also less active. We went over just to meet them and ended up talking about the blessings of the temple. We shared Elder Richard G. Scott's talk from last conference. We talked about the literal binding of a family that takes place within the walls of the temple. We testified of the reality of it. Hermano Monesterio (who doesn't talk much) commented, "But if we don't keep the covenants, we cannot receive the blessings." "We're not perfect," we replied, "Repentance is real, and it is joyous. Heavenly Father knows we make mistakes, and He loves us still the same." We saw a change in them as we continued to talk. The Spirit is real. He works within us, even when we think we're not worthy of His workings. The Gospel is true. The blessings are real, and even though we make mistakes, they will always be there awaiting our change of heart and return to our Lord.

Also, I have something I feel like I need to share with you. I wouldn't normally, but someone needs to hear it. For half my life I've struggled with loving myself, with seeing me for who I am. It's not hard for me to love others. I just kind of happens. But to love myself, in my very own skin has been a challenge. For those who have served a mission, or are serving missions, or who will serve missions, I'm sure you would agree with me that our weaknesses are amplified on our missions. It's like their taken from their dark little corners where we try to hide them from ourselves and put on a stage with bright flashing lights of a million different colors. I find comfort in the scripture, "And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men who humble themselves before me; for it they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27). I know the atonement applies to all of our weaknesses. I know the Savior can help us. My struggle for the past little while has been the application of that truth. I tried. I prayed, I fasted, I pleaded with my Father...but I couldn't seem to find a way out. Last week I had the opportunity to meet with my dear mission president. He invited me to stand in the mirror each day and write 5 good things about myself, 5 good things that I see...and 3 of them had to be different from the day before. (Gah! That's HARD! :-). He then gave me a priesthood blessing. Yesterday he came up to me after church and asked how I was doing. I could look him in the eyes and tell him from my heart that I was doing well. I've got a long way to go, but I'm on my way. As I've looked at myself in the mirror each day, I've offered up a prayer to my Father in Heaven asking that He help me see who I really am. I vowed to myself that I would not write down anything that I didn't feel was true. It's made for a bit of time in front of the mirror, but the things I've written have come from my heart. I had an experience the other night. I sat in front of the mirror for quite some time. I wanted to see ME, I wanted to see the Divine qualities that I have, the things that President Jeppson told me he saw in me, the things that Father sees in me. As I sat there, thoughts just came to my mind, "I am a woman of faith...I am noble...I am virtuous..." I felt within in me the desire to see the divine qualities in all those with whom I associate, in all of Father's children. First, I have to learn how to see them in me, I have to learn what they look like...and then I'll be able to see them more clearly in others. In the blessing President gave me last week, Father promised me that as I come to love myself, I will be able to love and help others in a way I've never before been able to do. I felt that. It's certainly a process, but I felt that. The atonement is real. It holds within itself the power to change hearts, to help us reach our potential, and to help us see our potential in ourselves. I love my Savior. I want the world to know it. I. Love. My. Savior. I feel it. And I'll love Him for forever. It is through Him that we can change. It is through Him that I am changing. I know that as you turn to Him, as you apply His atonement, your weaknesses will become your strengths. Heavenly Father's promises are real.

This next weekend is General Conference. Use those precious hours to receive personal revelation from your Heavenly Father as to how you can overcome your weaknesses, as to how you can help your brothers and sisters. This church is based on the spirit of revelation. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ revealed Themselves to the Prophet Joseph Smith in a grove of trees in order to restore Their Gospel. It's how They have worked since the beginning of time...through revelation. President Thomas S. Monson holds all the Priesthood keys and has the divine right to exercise them in order to bless the lives of others, in order to let us know what Father would have us do in these last days. If you don't know he's a prophet, pray about it. Use General Conference as a means to receive that revelation. The Spirit will testify the truth of all things...and He will do it through your heart. You will not be able to deny it.

This is His church and it is true. I know it. I love you family. I'm so out of time. :-) Keep it up...for forever!

See you SOON!
Los amo,
Hermana Word

New Jersey Times - una semana de lecciones aprendidas

Monday, September 19, 2011

Familia!

I. Love. YOU! I love you so much. I learn more about that love each day. Thank you for your prayers, for your letters, for the faith that you have. You give me strength, whether you recognize it or not. I pray that all is well with you. I'd love to hear how the temple was. Please, will you tell me how it was? Typing doesn't take too long. I promise Heavenly Father will bless you for doing so, that you'll have an even greater desire to go to the temple and do it again.

This past week has been a great one. I've learned an awful lot. I pray that all these life lessons stay with me on into forever :-). I learned the value of charity, what it empowers one to do. I learned the need to be as little children: submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love. I learned that exercising patience allows us to see the divine nature within others...as well as within ourselves. I learned a little more about the power of the Priesthood, that men who use it worthily become pure vessels of the Spirit, able to bless the lives of others according to Father's will and the prayer of faith. I learned that I will one day marry a worthy priesthood holder, and that he will exercise that power in order to bless the lives of those in our family. I learned that the power of the atonement can heal all things...all of them. I learned that Father trusts me--He trusts ME--to do His work here in New Jersey. I learned that as we write down our goals, and as we then put those goals into practice, they begin to become a reality. It's what Heavenly Father does. Just think of the temple. I learned that I love to sing. I learned that service given with a broken heart is richly rewarded. I learned so many things. I'm learning SO. Many. Things. Principles of the Gospel. Who I am. How to mix it all together, apply the atonement, and put it into practice. It's great. It's remarkable. I pray I don't forget. I invite you to be able to recognize the things you learn each day. Make note of them...somewhere where you can review it, remember it. The scriptures are chalk full of lessons the prophets of old learned. Our journals should be chalk full of lessons we learn as we apply what the prophets had learned. I love it!

Paterson is doing well. Delia got baptized! Hermana Lowry is incredible. Sometimes she gets a little frustrated with herself because she thinks she doesn't know Spanish, but I promise she's doing exceptionally well (Welcome to ME...when I started my mission, in the middle of my mission...STILL in my mission ;-). People can feel of her spirit, the language doesn't change that. She's learning more and more each day about how to apply the atonement to her learning Spanish. She's soaring to new heights. She's bringing to pass miracles, and I know she'll continue to do so as she goes throughout her mission. I love her very much. I love this work. I love my Savior. Life is the opportunity we have to let go of that natural man and become who we're destined to become. The mission is the opportunity we have to help others to do so as well (...and I'd venture to say life after the mission and on into forever is as well, if we do it right). There is no greater work.

Family, I love you. I pray for you each day. I know Father is watching out for you. Stay strong. Keep it up. Don't stop growing. I know this church is true. Jesus is the Christ. Father's plan is real.

Los amo!
- Hermana Word

Email/news article from Mission President

Also, this is part of our President's email we get every week. An editor out here in New Jersey wrote an article about all that we've been doing:

It was great to see all of you yesterday (Saturday, 9/10/11) at the Paterson Chapel for our disaster recovery effort. Although there were lots of frustrations during the day, many lives were blessed by your efforts. On Labor Day (Monday, 9/5/11) the Newark zone was sent out to obtain “Assessment Forms” from families in need in the township of Little Falls. The editor of a local community on-line newspaper covering Essex County (“Baristanet”) was out covering another story when she saw “…a bunch of people in yellow shirts.” She drove over to them to find out what they were up to. Of course, it was a bunch of Mormons wearing Helping Hands shirts. She stopped and spoke to Elders Munk and Montierth. They explained to her who they were and what they were doing there. (She said they were “outstanding young men, polite, well-mannered, well-spoken, and obviously well- prepared”. Way to go Elder Munk and Elder Montierth!!). They gave her my name and number to call for additional information. She called me Wednesday night (9/7/11). We had a delightful visit for over an hour about the Church, our missionaries, our disaster clean-up efforts, and other topics. She published her article in her online newspaper on Friday (9/9/11). Her article, entitled “The Book of Mormon: Real Life in the Little Falls Flood Zone” (which included a picture of Elder Munk and Elder Montierth) is pasted in below.

“The Book of Mormon: Real Life in the Little Falls Flood Zone.

In the Broadway hit “Book of Mormon,” Elder Price, waiting for his missionary assignment, really, really wants to be sent to Orlando. He gets assigned to AIDS-ravaged Uganda instead.

Maybe in the sequel, he’ll be sent to New Jersey.

Yesterday, a cluster of yellow-shirted Mormon missionaries, including Elder Devan Munk of Idaho and Daren Montierth of Arizona, were walking the streets of Little Falls on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Part of a group of 135 young Mormons stationed in New Jersey for a two-year service stint, Munk, Montierth and their fellow missionaries spent yesterday afternoon going door to door with a form designed to assess the damage of each individual home in the storm-ravaged town. That information was then given to a team of six disaster recovery experts sent from Salt Lake City, who will decide which households need most help. Then, this Saturday and Sunday, more than 2,000 New Jersey-area Mormons will join the young missionaries for a huge cleanup effort, armed with two tractor trailers of supplies and tools — also sent from Utah. They’ll remove fallen trees, rip up carpet and take down walls.
Jon M. Jeppson, president of the NJ/Morristown Mission, oversees the local contingent. While their ultimate goal is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, he says, they are a formidable army of Christian do-gooders when a disaster strikes. “These young people are remarkable,” Jeppson told Baristanet. “They leave their families, friends, colleges, cars, pay their own way for a period of two years, and go wherever in the world they are called. They’re a significant force, who give their energy, effort and backs to provide good Christian service to people who have lost hope of being helped.” Jeppson said that the volunteers are explicitly forbidden to preach in the course of their flood recovery effort work, though they can answer questions if asked.According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus Christ himself decides where missionaries are sent, handing the orders to current church president Thomas S. Monson. Sometimes the assignments are puzzling. Munk was sent to Newark to work with a Spanish-speaking community, even though he had never spoken it before. “I learned,” he said.
Jeppson himself was planning to retire from his law practice in Salt Lake City next year before being unexpectedly assigned to oversee the NJ missionaries. Two months ago, he and his wife left their six children and 13 grandchildren, packed up their lives and moved to Morristown.”

New Jersey Times - la lluvia sigue veniendo. la agua sigue creciendo.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Familia Mia!

I love you. The end. Just kidding, not the end. That love goes on for forever! Ready for a Paterson, New Jersey update? Remember how we had a hurricane and the river flooded and homes flooded and then we went out to help the people with their flooding? It rained again for 3 days last week. The Passaic river flooded...again. Homes were flooded...again. In two weeks, the river has flooded twice. The last time it flooded like this was in 1984 (I think that's what they said)...and it wasn't even as bad. Heavenly Father is humbling His children. Their hearts are being turned to Him. I love it. Hermana Lowry and I are doing really well (don't worry, family). Our home and our things have not been affected; however, the devastion in the lives of these people is real.

This week has been absolutely wonderful. I don't know how to put it all together in a short little letter, but it's been fantastic. Hermana Lowry and I have certainly been dirty and covered and worn out from all of it. And, we LOVE it! I love it. Wednesday night I wrote down in my planner, "My Father takes my abilities and through the atonement of His Son, He accelerates them so that I can do things I just never thought I could." I've felt that a lot lately. I cannot do this work. I am severely inadequate...on my own. However, as I turn to my Savior, my weaknesses are turned into my strengths, my strengths are accelerated, and I'm able to fulfill the call that has been extended to me. It's been it's own level of difficult not being able to see the people we need to see, but the Lord has made up for it. Everything happens for a reason. I know it. We've seen miracles from being the miracles in the lives of others. Helping our brothers and sisters brings great rewards. Last Tuesday we received a phone call from the wife of our first counselor (Hermana Soto). She said, "Freddy Abregu was helped this past weekend with the flooding in the house. He wants to learn more about the Church. Here's his phone number." We're going to see Freddy tomorrow at the Soto family home. The Lord is softening the hearts of His people. Our hearts are going out to them. The first counselor in the English branch said yesterday, "Even though the rest of my body is in pain from the work I've been doing the past couple days, my heart isn't." Sure it's hard. Sure we're exhausted. Welcome to the work of saving souls. Welcome to the work of making gods. If our hearts are in it, they'll keep us going. It keeps me going.


Just to let you know how wonderful my companion is, I'd like to share with you a little story. This morning Hermana Lowry and I sat down for companion study. The first 20 minutes or so was a little rough. Her body is in a lot of pain and she doesn't get the sleep she feels she needs to be able to recuperate. It's hard for her. This morning she didn't want to do it. She didn't want to study, not personal study nor companion study. She wanted to just sleep. I honestly don't blame her. I pray every night that she be able to sleep through the night, and she does too. Heavenly Father knows why she doesn't. His wisdom is so much greater than ours. SO, the first little while was quite difficult. I asked if we could sing a song and she said I could. I asked what she had learned in personal study and she said it hadn't been the most effective. I asked what we should focus when teaching Jhon today and she said, "I don't know." That's not how companionship study is with Hermana Lowry and I. I didn't know what to do. I prayed that I might know how to help her. I decided to just keep going. She stopped and said, "I'm sorry Hermana Word. I'm just being hard hearted and selfish. I'm sore, I'm exhausted, all I want to do is sleep. I need the Lord to soften my heart, because I see that it is hurting you. Can I say a prayer?"..."YES! Are you kidding me! Of course we can pray!" is what I thought. She said a prayer. All was well. I love her. Hermana Lowry is an amazing missionary. She recognizes when things aren't going just as they should and she changes it. We couldn't study without the Spirit. And no matter how hard I was trying, we weren't going to get it by just one of us striving. We had to do it together. We do what we do in our companionship because we recognize the potential the other has. We do it because we love each other. We are sisters. We are the best of friends. It's not always easy, but if we remember that Father will help us, it always works out. It's the truth with all of our relationships, be they friendships or courtships or marriages or whatever. There's no way you can work together if you aren't together striving to work. You have to have the Spirit. It's essential...in everything. Prayer humbles us. And once we've been humbled, we can feel the promptings of the Spirit. Heavenly Father loves us. He loves YOU! He's given us each other so we can work together. His plan is real. The goal is set. The way is perfect.

I love you family...I really really DO! I pray that you continue to recognize your potential, and that you recognize it in the lives of others. Let that motivate you.
Keep it up out there. Deal? Deal.

Los amo!
- Hermana Word