tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36302348872820037842024-03-19T01:45:10.700-07:00Hermana ChildsNew Jersey Morristown Mission
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-41488381119241640342015-07-06T13:27:00.000-07:002015-07-06T13:27:19.304-07:00Departing pics of my last week before heading home!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PevSV4IS3drp9J9SLuHsCAYvCfmNUX72QZYVVx7OWtXsDJ22fhvF-vdpXBRgNZtAXG8dg6M7FcP0RfOcMIJ9cKrJioEq2LeROZoTT0MIMQdKSjSDVywnok1Zcky9E4_RRW3YDo54pRbz/s1600/P1030572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PevSV4IS3drp9J9SLuHsCAYvCfmNUX72QZYVVx7OWtXsDJ22fhvF-vdpXBRgNZtAXG8dg6M7FcP0RfOcMIJ9cKrJioEq2LeROZoTT0MIMQdKSjSDVywnok1Zcky9E4_RRW3YDo54pRbz/s320/P1030572.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch in Central Park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess who? American Heritage school choir on tour from my home town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEkzWQH8Ln-wx70OYOYMSmDAfdyWtLXLmPVv_D4ffpbNBPXPOtygt6__urjq4ZYYi_J2zjG54Ji9mfXXFT-G2hxRh8tqHjM5Ga81mr8-nimuuhvjmk6-Mmsf32rxTLIsOPuP1lBojravx/s1600/P1030597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEkzWQH8Ln-wx70OYOYMSmDAfdyWtLXLmPVv_D4ffpbNBPXPOtygt6__urjq4ZYYi_J2zjG54Ji9mfXXFT-G2hxRh8tqHjM5Ga81mr8-nimuuhvjmk6-Mmsf32rxTLIsOPuP1lBojravx/s320/P1030597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tempe Trip with the Castellanos. They received their <br />endownments and will be sealed soon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellis Island. We actually hiked the statue and toured<br />rather than worked there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferry Ride to Liberty Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ladies of Liberty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3ZRUIPl6L6Ih03sy87Qy7XHBCROo-1KH3TXLrp10pWSnXnTYJbip5-UANGMkg5ju1PEPfaVS51xX0bVSz0bUuBuh7IXxGR5xEkumELIxqVvUIwM7jt1lft9SGk38kcqPeJKrahowK8jq/s1600/P1030651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3ZRUIPl6L6Ih03sy87Qy7XHBCROo-1KH3TXLrp10pWSnXnTYJbip5-UANGMkg5ju1PEPfaVS51xX0bVSz0bUuBuh7IXxGR5xEkumELIxqVvUIwM7jt1lft9SGk38kcqPeJKrahowK8jq/s320/P1030651.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Liberty and me! Spreading Spiritual<br />Liberty to all that Come.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliMnQgDFt3ffAmkhy41GVauQeOO1345yU6b0wNQg872wAHuoNmO_L-710AaRDxnGJkjiZEwdCZmJp32yfELCPNANR-lwPntR2IpIVD8x9uMYu1e7XOOPoCK8eVy9k-Ic3iQqgPdxVQMgz/s1600/P1030656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliMnQgDFt3ffAmkhy41GVauQeOO1345yU6b0wNQg872wAHuoNmO_L-710AaRDxnGJkjiZEwdCZmJp32yfELCPNANR-lwPntR2IpIVD8x9uMYu1e7XOOPoCK8eVy9k-Ic3iQqgPdxVQMgz/s320/P1030656.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HaHa. We're twins!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6BfJblUDLqVhA3tvam2vKsGZQToFUWtFfLq9HUVdRlM3NlNMRyZ2u7FTcqmILOWaHK4meemdbbncdoyHJdC9qwUlB0s9tLRyvYW4duAuDlWXe31kTnrkqIcukgyLz8uTzB_ROyZFAlT1/s1600/P1030661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6BfJblUDLqVhA3tvam2vKsGZQToFUWtFfLq9HUVdRlM3NlNMRyZ2u7FTcqmILOWaHK4meemdbbncdoyHJdC9qwUlB0s9tLRyvYW4duAuDlWXe31kTnrkqIcukgyLz8uTzB_ROyZFAlT1/s320/P1030661.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Basilica in Newark. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7L-HYZBk3KQE_AIJjr_7WDw3vPzWKXiQJ9oF2S3fV9kgbooO9XtPjSRFcpl0ZXIpjCcj23ssJrJ5QamvGCgullQ4Oi_M6-pb9MBVrz6ZpYx9jr6m_47vrAwcmIIt-fciewU1OTuEbjRV/s1600/P1030685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7L-HYZBk3KQE_AIJjr_7WDw3vPzWKXiQJ9oF2S3fV9kgbooO9XtPjSRFcpl0ZXIpjCcj23ssJrJ5QamvGCgullQ4Oi_M6-pb9MBVrz6ZpYx9jr6m_47vrAwcmIIt-fciewU1OTuEbjRV/s320/P1030685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eromar from Elizabeth took us to dinner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7r_8OP3YMgHm-48QAA-ao0KPUzwuTnP7FGY6s-1eI7gvGKGf14SD8bT36GAnwiQSdQ2jhA5M8F6fPV2Aq8HwjHtoenxSA_VnjHfnfcK8l160LM-3Ptf6dfhMZ5q1a_A8DUpLfLlrH0m7/s1600/P1030706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7r_8OP3YMgHm-48QAA-ao0KPUzwuTnP7FGY6s-1eI7gvGKGf14SD8bT36GAnwiQSdQ2jhA5M8F6fPV2Aq8HwjHtoenxSA_VnjHfnfcK8l160LM-3Ptf6dfhMZ5q1a_A8DUpLfLlrH0m7/s320/P1030706.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th of July at a Members Beach House.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHZMAdHt_P483R9uFfdMWeq3C7zM1L8mwyhVU1Bgjpqj48_72u6zP0lej_HEqvMcE_Lk2PblkDJsRL7XVhpgBfeRL6OQDtQIc62zay5QyEjTCu9RK8pn1ISnl97GxMxYs_zdnkptUCmXr/s1600/P1030722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHZMAdHt_P483R9uFfdMWeq3C7zM1L8mwyhVU1Bgjpqj48_72u6zP0lej_HEqvMcE_Lk2PblkDJsRL7XVhpgBfeRL6OQDtQIc62zay5QyEjTCu9RK8pn1ISnl97GxMxYs_zdnkptUCmXr/s320/P1030722.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me Despedi. Luz Maria Santamaria her son Adam. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEGCcC70yVSNhNslnxLGnnjv2v6t0vLpAwkw5jAFxr9DhLiwliwslVJou3BSxZ2X0prrym5Q-k50h884WARXAb8TXHf9CUrol2nrXxi-Uxu3uMXTRuIf4lxJayAHB8ztlbLYqSZkAi0Xw/s1600/P1030730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEGCcC70yVSNhNslnxLGnnjv2v6t0vLpAwkw5jAFxr9DhLiwliwslVJou3BSxZ2X0prrym5Q-k50h884WARXAb8TXHf9CUrol2nrXxi-Uxu3uMXTRuIf4lxJayAHB8ztlbLYqSZkAi0Xw/s320/P1030730.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rual's Baptism. He was a miracle for us!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKy9NOnoxT8rFWirx3kfZrCOtSJ4o8qD2hYL2fxi5F5TmdpjZ9ipkJqCxCSQbk18XYZwQSI-kI8pE95sOAsBt_tOc4DmX0MmZuCrUMwsmSfD9ml8hEt99QvC6gOa-i6da588zNMyX4wPU/s1600/P1030734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKy9NOnoxT8rFWirx3kfZrCOtSJ4o8qD2hYL2fxi5F5TmdpjZ9ipkJqCxCSQbk18XYZwQSI-kI8pE95sOAsBt_tOc4DmX0MmZuCrUMwsmSfD9ml8hEt99QvC6gOa-i6da588zNMyX4wPU/s320/P1030734.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this guy. He is so prepared. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK0ELOzNjCWQriwcFdjLy-Sqrz-j1GevfbAjvLGjnC-L5-r6TRtPN2355fk54hqhNI7A3P4a99kuEk9UQhFyEl5eVM4jQ7pnoJVhu155Dm7uRVUlBjKrZdaBeB5KP7BhMUKrDsdgODbcp/s1600/P1030751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK0ELOzNjCWQriwcFdjLy-Sqrz-j1GevfbAjvLGjnC-L5-r6TRtPN2355fk54hqhNI7A3P4a99kuEk9UQhFyEl5eVM4jQ7pnoJVhu155Dm7uRVUlBjKrZdaBeB5KP7BhMUKrDsdgODbcp/s320/P1030751.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely Ladies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAinEoa_FTmhQh7O9fn7IJaiwyzF4Mskje3CakKIZXDsIhCJ_fKIWs6FAHLFBees2LIMkSOn0WRsCCBxvr38ICp0oH8swmVfzGOHf6meZIVKnA-uZrTjQ3iHJDCWk-FUxiv4Hl-DxZsNv/s1600/P1030768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAinEoa_FTmhQh7O9fn7IJaiwyzF4Mskje3CakKIZXDsIhCJ_fKIWs6FAHLFBees2LIMkSOn0WRsCCBxvr38ICp0oH8swmVfzGOHf6meZIVKnA-uZrTjQ3iHJDCWk-FUxiv4Hl-DxZsNv/s320/P1030768.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These men from Elizabeth came <br />to help with our lesson. Most Spiritual lesson <br />ever. Miguel Jose, Loren and Henry.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-68240771180460113522015-07-06T08:44:00.000-07:002015-09-05T20:06:57.825-07:00Transferred from Jersey to Utah<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Thursday July 2, 2015</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">It was weekly planning day and also TAC
(apartment cleaning) day. Part</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">of TAC is packing up a few of your things and
getting ready for</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">transfers. Well, I started packing for the
biggest transfer that I'll</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">have since January of 2014. It was a weird
feeling. I took a few</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">minutes to reflect on everything that I had done
over the past year</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and a half as I found some of my memoirs from
funny contacts or things</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that members had given me. Haha I've had a good
mission.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">We also taught Jose Benitez. A few weeks ago we
taught him a about the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">law of chastity. It has been something he's
really had a hard time</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">with. He wants to get married to his girlfriend,
but she doesn't want</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to have anything to do with the church. We
talked to him about moving</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">out. That idea broke his heart. Instead, a
couple of days later his</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">girlfriend, Marianna, kicked him out of their
house after she found</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that he had done some pretty bad things. Well,
that whole situation</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">tore him apart. You could see that the law of
chastity was something</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">so important to him; he didn't want to break one
of god's</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">commandments, but at the same tinker he was torn
between the two</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">things that he loved the most. We talked to him
about praying and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">seeking an answer. Well, he must have been
praying really hard because</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">on Thursday, for the very first time, Marianna
joined in the lesson.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">We had just shown up with our member who was
going to be accompanying</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">us for the appointment and before knocking on
the door, we bowed our</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">heads to say a prayer. When we finished the
prayer, we looked up and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">saw a small woman get out of a car. From a
distance, it didn't look</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">like Marianna, but Hermana Stone has met her a
lot more times than I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">have and she was convinced that it was her. We
weren't sure what she</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was doing, so we proceeded to knock on the door.
Jose shortly answered</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">it and we went to go sit at our usual spot at a
table in his backyard.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">This time Jose was dressed super nice, in nice
jeans, a button up</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">shirt, and his church shoes. Something was up.
When we asked. Him why</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">he had dressed up he said, "oh, I don't
know. I just got dressed when</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I got back from work and said to myself 'why not
wear this'?" We</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">smiled. :) It was cute. Just before starting he
lesson, Hermana Stone</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">leaned over to ask if we should tell him that
Marianna was out front.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">When we let Jose know, his face lit up and in
English he said, "Oh</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Really?? I'm going to get her." Now, there
are only two times when</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Jose speaks English: when he is under the
influence, or when he's</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">super excited. He was most definitely excited
because right after</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">saying that to us, leapt off the stool he was
sitting on and ran</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">towards the front of his house. When he came
back, his face was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">nothing but teeth. He was smiling so big that
you could barely see his</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">eyes. Haha. He said, once again in English,
"God answer my prayers. I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">have prayed that she will come to the lesson
with me and now she is</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">here!!" We couldn't help but smile with
him. :) Jose is so awesome.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Pretty soon we saw Marianna walk around the
corner and we were sure to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">give her the warmest welcome. I'm sure it must
have been very humbling</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to be in her position to finally accept the idea
of listening to he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">missionaries after resisting for so long. We
didn't want her to feel</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">bad, so we just loved her :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The lesson went GREAT. Jose, thought the whole
thing just kept saying,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">"Thanks, God" in English over and
over. Haha. I love that guy. We</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">taught the restoration and Jose has the BIGGEST
testimony of the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">restoration, so he chimed in whenever he wanted
to and personally</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">testified to Marianna that the things that we
were teaching were true.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">It was so incredible go watch. I am so proud of
him. I know that both</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">of them were edified in the process. The
restoration is real, and look</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">what it does to people! It makes them so happy,
especially when they</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">share it with their families. Ah, I love this
gospel. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Friday July 3, 2015</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">By far, the hardest day of my entire mission,
but also I feel like it</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was one of the most rewarding. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Saturday July 4, 2015</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Saturday felt great. It felt like everything was
how it was supposed</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to be; I was preparing to go home.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;">Later that day we had an
appointment with Raul, our last</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">before he was going to get baptized the
following day. It was a great</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lesson, but had a rocky start. Before we had
even really started the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lesson their dog, Melly, kept sneezing. Once,
earlier in my mission, I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">had learned what the word for sneeze was and to
try to practice my</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">spanish, I attempted to recall the word I had
once known, but had</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">accidentally changed it for a word that meant
something much</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">different. The word for sneeze is
"estornudar" but I said "desnudar"</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">meaning...well.... It doesn't really matter what
it means. After I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">said it our investigator looked at me and said,
"what??". I had no</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">idea what I just did so I just said,
"sneeze? (In English)" and he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">just shook his head laughing. Well, there you go
folks, I've been out</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">for 18 months and I'm still not perfect at
Spanish. Haha. Even the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">best of us still make mistakes. Trust me, the
rest of the lesson went</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a whole lot better. It was actually one of the
most spiritual lessons</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I've had in my whole mission. We all left
splotchy faced and puffy</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">eyed because of the tears of gratitude for the
blessing of the gospel</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">in our lives. It was such a wonderful feeling to
know that Raul was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">well prepared for baptism and that the gospel
meant so much to him. He</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">said he closing prayer and while expressing his
feelings, his tears</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">welled up and choked on his words because hey
we're not enough to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">express how he felt.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Even though we had other plans for the night I
did not want to leave,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">but there was a member that was waiting for us.
So, we left and headed</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">towards Long Branch where one of the members
from the English ward</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lives. This member had called President Taggart
and asked that all of</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the missionaries in his ward and the Spanish
branch could come to his</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">house for the Fourth of July to see the
fireworks from his balcony.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">President Taggart said yes and gave all of the
missionaries permission</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to stay for the whole show, but leave right
after and be back in our</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">apartments at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="aqj">11:00pm</span>. Well, it was one of the coolest firework shows</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that I have been to. The member's house was
right on the shore,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">literally, and the fireworks were being launched
almost directly in</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">front of where we were. It was amazing. Watching
them was really</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">peaceful. I just felt like it was where I was
supposed to be and that</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the conclusion of my mission was supposed to be
happening right now.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">The whole day was incredible. It just felt
right.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">We got home<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and we
were completely exhausted. Delightfully</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">exhausted. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Sunday July 5, 2015</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Well, Sunday was one of the greatest days that I
have had in a while.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">We arrived to church early to prepare the
baptismal program and got to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">sit and talk with Raul for a few minutes before
sacrament started. The</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">pianist was gone, so I was asked to play the
piano. That was a tender</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">mercy for me. I have missed that since I moved
from Elizabeth. The</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Branch president also had me start testimony
meeting by inviting me to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">share my testimony. What a great blessing to be
invited to share my</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">testimony. Haha, I felt like Moroni getting up
there and giving my</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">last testimony to the people. There was a
returned missionary who was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">visiting from Utah who followed me. I met with
him after and asked for</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">advice in the transition back home. All he said
was, "good luck". Haha</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Great.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">During class we snuck out to print off all of
the programs and prepare</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">for the baptismal service and I heard my
favorite sound, the loud thud</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">as gallons of water filled a baptismal font. I
stopped by the font,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">opened the doors, and smiled. What a huge
privilege it has been to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">extend the baptismal invite so many times in my
mission and to also</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">see that font be filled so many times; filled
with water, but then</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">also filled with my brothers and sisters who
then are filled with the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">spirit.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">The baptism was incredible. We started out by me
playing the wrong</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">hymn. Yes, two awkward moments in the same
weekend, but we went with</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">it. Haha. I just smiled, laughed, and said,
"oops".</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">The spirit carried the rest of the service and
brought tears to many</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">people's eyes. It was wonderful. When Raul came
out of the water, he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was so smiley. :) His smile was so big that he
was nothing but teeth</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">as he walked around for the rest of the afternoon.
His happiness was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">contagious. I'm going to miss that little 5 foot
tall Mexican.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">There was a lunch at Raul's family's house after
the baptism. He is</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">related to almost everyone in the branch in one
way or another, so it</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was almost like a family reunion at the baptism.
We know that he'll</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">have plenty of support when we leave.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Our last appointment of he day on Sunday night
was with Jose Benitez.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">When we were weekly planning last week we were
thinking of someone who</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">would really be able to connect with Jose and
give him the support he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">needs and while praying about it an idea popped
into my head. Loren,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">one of the members in Elizabeth, would be
perfect. So, I gave him a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">call and he said that he would be glad to come
down and help with the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lesson.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">We had been in contact with him during the week
to make sure that he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">could still come out with us. Sunday after
church he called and said</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that he had a surprise for me. When he showed up
to the appointment I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">saw him and was super excited, but when I looked
in his back seat I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">saw Miguel Chico and Henry Romero, two of my
recent converts. I don't</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">know if there was more shock or joy written on
my face in that moment. I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">hopped out of the car and ran to greet them.
Man, I love those guys!</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Loren just laughed as he watched my reaction to
seeing Miguel and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Henry. I had gotten transferred just before
Henry got baptized. Seeing him now was like seeing a whole different person. He
had cut his hair, shaved, and was wearing church attire. He just sparkled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I was so happy that they
were all there to help support Jose in this lesson. When we all sat down for
the lesson, the things that we had planned didn’t feel right, so we thought to
have a testimony meeting. We started with Miguel and circled around until we
ended with Henry. Even Jose bore his testimony of the Restoration and the Book
of Mormon! It was so incredible. I loved it. The spirit was so strong and
afterwards, Jose thanked each member from Elizabeth for coming down. He said
that he had felt the spirit so strongly and knew that he could rely on them for
support. It was an INCREDIBLE lesson. We all left with huge smiles on our
faces. I’d say that it was a pretty incredible day! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, that’s all from Red
Bank. I’ll be flying out of New Jersey on Wednesday destined for Utah. I am
heartbroken to leave the mission. Missionary work means everything to me. The
gospel has become who I am. I live it and I love it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though leaving New
Jersey is probably one of the heardest things that I have had to do this far, I
have had a reassuring peace confirm that now is my time to go home (even though
I have fought my hardest to stay). I feel like Heavenly Father has something
else planned for me, and just like I tried to be willing enough to listen to
the spirit and be in the right place at the right time on the mission, I know
that Utah is the right place and now is the right time for me to be there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So, I’d like to bear my
testimony one last time as a missionary:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Yo se que la Iglesia de
Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias es la iglesia de Dios establecida
aqui en la tierra. Es necesario que seamos parte de ella porque no hay otro
modo en como podemos usar la expiacion de Jesucristo. Yo se que necesitamos
vivir con fe, y al hacerlo nuestras vidas se enriqueceran, nuestro testimonio
se convertira en la conversion, actuaremos en acuerdo con los otros principios
del evangelio y convenios que hemos hecho, y que sentiremos de que Jesucristo y
Dios nos conocen a nosotros. Yo se de que el arrepentimiento es como alineamos
nuestras vidas con la de jesucristo. Yo se que el arrepentimiento sea duro,
pero vale la pena. El bautismo no solamente es un ceremonio, es un acto de
nuestra fe y que tambien es cuando hacemos un convenio con nuestro padre
celestial. Yo se que nuestro padre celestial es fiel a su lado del convenio y
que siempre nos bendecira si guardamos los mandamientos. Yo se que es crucial
que nos sentamos el espiritu santo porque al sentirlo somos purificados. Es el
papel del espiritu para guiarnos, consolarnos, y purificarnos, y por eso lo
necesitamos sentir todo los dias. El perserverar hasta el fin podria parecer
como una tarea, pero si seguimos fieles y sentir el espiritu, sera mas facil y
cuando llegamos al fin, nos diremos, “era de valor”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Yo se de que un dia nos
pararemos en frente de Dios para rendir cuentas de lo que hicimos con nuestros
dias en la tierra. Yo quiero que el Senor me diga “Bien hecho, hija mia. Te
amo. Ven y descansa conmigo en mi reino.” Yo hare todo lo necesario para
merecer esas palabras y para estar siempre con mi padre celestial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Yo le amo a mi padre celestial. Yo se que el vive y que con su hijo jesucristo </span><span lang="ES" style="color: #212121; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-ansi-language: ES;">él</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"> reina la tierra y los cielos. Yo le extrano y no puedo esperar a verle. <o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Ha sido una bendicion para servirle en la mission de New Jersey Morristown. Que gozo me dio para representar a su hijo, jesucristo, y caminar en sus zapatos por 18 meces. Ahora que Dios me ha mandado para otro lugar, me quedare fiel y hare lo que el quisiera que haga yo. <o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Les comparto estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. </span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "inherit","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></pre>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>Hermana Childs</o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-14974239572740882352015-06-23T13:00:00.002-07:002015-06-23T13:00:43.078-07:00It's been a crazy week!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">This week we got to go
to the beach!!! :) I was so excited! I had always wanted to serve part of my
mission (preferably only one transfer) near the beach. It was so beautiful. We
had a blast while we were down there. They had a really fun board walk where I
bought a few fun things to remember New Jersey and the hispanics. We played on
the shoreline finding sea shells and letting our feet get wet. It was a
BEAUTIFUL day. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The next few days
followed and were packed. Because we now have the ipads, the headquarters of
the church have asked us to put our whole area book into the ipad so that we
can use the new applications of "Daily Planner" and "Area Book
Planner" on them. They are really effective tools, but if any of you have
ever seen a missionary's area book, you know how much information is in there.
President Taggart wanted all of that in before Saturday night. It was crunch
time. To update them, we needed internet and we don't have access to that in
very many places, so the majority of the time, you could have found us at the
church. After studies, the beginning few hours of the day were spent in the
chapel updating. When we could, we would leave for an appointment, and be back
at it later that day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We worked super hard and
actually finished!!! It was a miracle!! :) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We have seen a lot of
progress with one of our investigators, Raul. We found him not too long ago. He
was a referral from our Branch Mission Leader. We meet with him almost every
day in the Branch Mission Leader's house. The spirit is always there and often
times we leave with tear filled eyes. He is so special. He is running towards
baptism. He is on date for the 11th of July, but we are trying to move it up to
the 5th because he leaves to Mexico shortly after. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jose, well.....he broke
my heart this last week. We stopped by on my birthday to see him and we could
tell that something was up. He had left the appointment because of a phone call
but after 20 minutes of leaving us to talk with his neighbors we started to
wonder what was really going on. We decided to check and see if everything was
alright. We found him arguing with his girlfriend. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt;">The night before he had
messed up pretty bad. He went to a club, got drunk, started to use drugs again,
and sold everything he had to buy more drugs. He even sold his phone. When he
told us I was crushed. He had been doing SO good. Just 2 days before we took
him out to get ice cream and were talking about the priesthood and how he wants
to serve a mission. Words can't describe how I felt that night. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The next day he called
us and asked us for help. He got kicked out of his house and was now homeless
because of the decisions that he had made. There was nothing that we could do,
so we called the Branch Mission Leader. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Things are slowly being
patched up with him. He lost his baptismal date, but we are working on getting
him another one. He came to church for the second time yesterday and said that
he has "really repented". My heart still hurts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a really crazy
week. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My departing temple trip
is tomorrow and I will be staying the night, with another sister, at the
mission home. I'm really excited to spend time with the Taggart family. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This week, I have also
been invited to go to the temple with a family that I served in Jersey City.
They will be getting their endowments this weekend and will be sealed shortly
after :) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so happy for them.
:) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I love you all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hermana Childs</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g8Ws4D0Rf6fL9j0x-UVmhiyebeQsIVcR-O6HETnBixF2wTE0hz1jxGcX8Ah5sxkl1GyFkbMZii2ZwnHBEHE68Zt4sgmJYXdR-L61dRvOMYOlP6MC5pEVzxSxkUyWsCPVP-qn3mocM7g3/s1600/P1030504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g8Ws4D0Rf6fL9j0x-UVmhiyebeQsIVcR-O6HETnBixF2wTE0hz1jxGcX8Ah5sxkl1GyFkbMZii2ZwnHBEHE68Zt4sgmJYXdR-L61dRvOMYOlP6MC5pEVzxSxkUyWsCPVP-qn3mocM7g3/s320/P1030504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BEACH! Part of our mission here in Redbank.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay5EOsHnqPtaxCiUwQYFsSXimruSPErh1re2_NVH-bZHX67ks4GlJswi9_vLm8K6vLnmYci4y5Mmri7t244r8dhmhzJXWCIGk09_KNXPQs-cCKqhN_aKLbspdgyHTftrNoXU6i1Ree8ho/s1600/P1030513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay5EOsHnqPtaxCiUwQYFsSXimruSPErh1re2_NVH-bZHX67ks4GlJswi9_vLm8K6vLnmYci4y5Mmri7t244r8dhmhzJXWCIGk09_KNXPQs-cCKqhN_aKLbspdgyHTftrNoXU6i1Ree8ho/s320/P1030513.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free Breakfast at Mumford's Restaraunt.<br />One of the best restaraunts in the state. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92LbS44u5cg_1luFaAvlcPCK8LBdJHWFlXX51HTy8R1jH_Llje09Ys8nlHok0n7oqPS0J6VTRz5koVkruZFIUykMxa9zYT7v8VFast5VLbsmIvfuGKUIAluH_YY1zVC47JoEzcdW20yOp/s1600/P1030552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92LbS44u5cg_1luFaAvlcPCK8LBdJHWFlXX51HTy8R1jH_Llje09Ys8nlHok0n7oqPS0J6VTRz5koVkruZFIUykMxa9zYT7v8VFast5VLbsmIvfuGKUIAluH_YY1zVC47JoEzcdW20yOp/s320/P1030552.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My birthday cake. Ice cream cake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6HjLhSwPuPljUQDbleX91Px8RsMkGtKc5lcwU_j0y1SBFCXiDAYOlP4-YWYK6vI5V_nbc7nFR6sqU3V4PDHwUzjHLmZIzIwJwd3ZP1vnv-M1BrzeVPF7H8Dm_6aYSoxyStM2dTjC69m-/s1600/P1030529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6HjLhSwPuPljUQDbleX91Px8RsMkGtKc5lcwU_j0y1SBFCXiDAYOlP4-YWYK6vI5V_nbc7nFR6sqU3V4PDHwUzjHLmZIzIwJwd3ZP1vnv-M1BrzeVPF7H8Dm_6aYSoxyStM2dTjC69m-/s320/P1030529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Updating our area into the ipads at the church.<br />Took all day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-84007723303265326942015-06-15T14:57:00.002-07:002015-06-15T14:59:04.104-07:00Memories Might Fade, But The Friendships Are For Eternity<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6/15/15</span><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This week was super great and super
difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last Monday we didn't
have a PDay because we found out that the date that Sister Palmer and I would
be going to the temple with our recent convert had to be changed because of the
member who was going to take us all. Sister Palmer called Sister Stone and I on
Monday morning telling us that we were going to the temple the upcoming
Saturday, which meant that we would have to have our PDay when we went to the
temple (temple trips take place of PDay), so after we finished emailing, we
went back home, had lunch, and finished studies. We made a plan for the day and
were about to execute it, but I had noticed that Sister Stone wasn't doing so
well. She seemed sad and frustrated. I thought it better to take a few minutes
and talk about it. Well, we did so, accompanied by peanut butter frozen yogurt.
It was nice :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tuesday, we were on an
exchange with the Sister Training Leaders. It was interesting to be on the
other side of the exchange. We had an AWESOME day. I stayed in the area with
Sister Quinlan, an English speaking missionary, and we saw so many miracles. It
was so incredible. We contacted people on the street who had met with the
missionaries before in Mexico and they were interested in listening to the
missionaries again. We had great lessons with all of our investigators, we
worked in perfect harmony with the members, we gained everyone's trust, and we
felt so happy doing it. It was the perfect day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wednesday, we once again
saw the fruits of our labors. I know that planning is inspired, and I'm
grateful for the decision we made to follow our plans from the night before. A
few days before, we had set an appointment with one of the members here in Red
Bank, but because of the exchange, the driving time and other circumstances, it
seemed like we were going to have to cancel the appointment with this member.
Sister Stone thought that it would be alright to cancel and move to another
day, but I'm glad that we didn't. We showed up right on time for our
appointment with her and as soon as we entered, we knew that the lesson that we
had planned wasn't the right the right lesson to teach, but we still didn't
know which one was the right one. We began to ask inspired questions until she
finally opened up. She told us that she had been having some marital problems
with her husband and that they hadn't spoken in almost 3 weeks. She said that
her son no longer wanted to be a part of the church and that she was thinking
that it would just be easier to stop trying and not go to church anymore
either. Well, when we showed up, we talked to her about what helps us get
through hard times, (it was interesting because the last conversation we had
was about getting along with your companion), talking it out, counseling with
the Lord, and the scriptures. We shared a Mormon Message with her and left the
spirit and some hope in her home. I know that is exactly where we needed to be
and at the right time. What a blessing it was to be an instrument in the Lord's
hands right when it was needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thursday, was a long
awaited day for us. We were going to teach our investigator, Jose, about the
Law of Chastity. Jose has been living with his girlfriend who is 12 years older
than him for almost 2 years. He has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, so we
used the Book of Mormon to teach him the 10 Commandments. When we got to adultery,
he asked what that was exactly. We didn't have to explain it twice. He
understood perfectly and it sunk deep into his heart. He was heart broken that
he had been breaking God's commandments without really knowing. We talked to
him about making plans to begin living this commandment. We asked him to talk
to his girlfriend about it and said that we'd follow up the next day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Friday night came and we
went to visit Jose. He said that he was distraught all of Thursday night, but
he talked to Marianna, his girlfriend, about it and said that he had decided
that they were going to get married. We felt really uncomfortable about that
because she doesn't treat him well. We then retaught personal revelation and
asked him to pray about it. We told him that whatever he decided, he had our
support. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Right after his lesson,
we drove up to Elizabeth to stay over at the Sisters' house because we had to
leave at 5:45 in the morning to get to the temple on time. Right as soon as we
drove into Elizabeth, even though we were 25 minutes away from our house, I
knew exactly where we were. My heart sank. I was home sick for Elizabeth again.
I remembered how much I loved Elizabeth. I wanted to visit everyone again: the
Sosas, Loren, the Castillos, our new investigators, the Hererras, and everyone
else, but I knew that I couldn't. "My area" was now Red Bank, and we
needed to get back to our area as soon as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We got to the sisters'
house and slept wonderfully. We woke up super early the next morning to be at
the church by 5:45 to meet up with the Corzos, the members who were driving us,
and the Castillos. When I saw the Castillos, I dropped everything I had and ran
to give them a hug. Wow, how I love them! The ride to the temple was awesome.
Sister Palmer and I caught up and we all shared past jokes that we had laughed
about when I was back in Elizabeth. It was glorious. There couldn't have been a
happier missionary in all of New Jersey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The temple was just as
magnificent. It was incredible to see Juan getting baptized for others even
though his knee was hurting him. He is such a trooper. :) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Afterwards, they wanted
to spend a couple more minutes with us before we all went our ways, so they
asked us to come to lunch with them. We too were hungry, so we agreed. It was
fabulous. Good food and good friends makes a good time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is what the mission
is about; bringing souls to our father in heaven and bringing them to the
temple. Even when you've left an area and people you love it seems like your experience there was just a
puff in time and the new missionaries come and take your place, it doesn't even
matter because they are where they need to be, planted firmly in the gospel.
The times that you share with them will always exist. The memories might fade,
but the friendships are for eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love these people. I
love being a missionary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2z2-KkPIYie-YUhuKitie05T-zNNPwWZAiAuH78g4aec8DsAgJW_gsueVild9tZ8etf2n4WGLMWiHF7D3j_hmJ0UpbF3vLelbK6jxbjl4efyvlIPtu2opeVOUXFmITnyjAcRjae5J58Uc/s1600/P1030406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2z2-KkPIYie-YUhuKitie05T-zNNPwWZAiAuH78g4aec8DsAgJW_gsueVild9tZ8etf2n4WGLMWiHF7D3j_hmJ0UpbF3vLelbK6jxbjl4efyvlIPtu2opeVOUXFmITnyjAcRjae5J58Uc/s320/P1030406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange with Sister Quinlan my STL. She's awesome!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPYVdIT5xgJRjhsc2ZdWahaHuQpcF-UdDpHi9jGMHGs_dsuO_A8Gmr4dkRZqFjz3WKvy3kczqNlbcustkYlqRSVELjz_WbZ4uiCTG9C9EJUHE-5bXjNx0kRHC1VkVGSbU4wiaHnAgljG8/s1600/P1030413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPYVdIT5xgJRjhsc2ZdWahaHuQpcF-UdDpHi9jGMHGs_dsuO_A8Gmr4dkRZqFjz3WKvy3kczqNlbcustkYlqRSVELjz_WbZ4uiCTG9C9EJUHE-5bXjNx0kRHC1VkVGSbU4wiaHnAgljG8/s320/P1030413.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple trip with Castillos Family. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-cDYUObB9ivsJm3DSVgOKumcDrXTWDPbYIdKyrR4DJm8kt3HUpJ7xZig2f7ZydaIMIWH3wKod-O824T1DTtR7Abfc_QKhH9xs7py4yAyC3aWUrk1jOxBGAZmdLEyphTv4rTbNVmbx92J/s1600/P1030438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-cDYUObB9ivsJm3DSVgOKumcDrXTWDPbYIdKyrR4DJm8kt3HUpJ7xZig2f7ZydaIMIWH3wKod-O824T1DTtR7Abfc_QKhH9xs7py4yAyC3aWUrk1jOxBGAZmdLEyphTv4rTbNVmbx92J/s320/P1030438.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this sign funny.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-48144083549164554152015-06-08T15:21:00.001-07:002015-06-08T15:21:35.858-07:00How Soft is Your Soil?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">6/8/15</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">In the Parable of the
Sower there are three different places where the seed of testimony is cast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">1. Stony Ground<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">2. Thorny Ground<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">3. Good Ground<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As we know, those who
were cast among the stony ground took up no root. It was cast among the stones
" where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it
had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it
had no root, it withered away." Then there were "some [that]
fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no
fruit".But lastly, those that "fell into good ground ... brought
forth fruit" in various measures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Many of the people we
have met may seem like they have been cast upon stony or thorny ground, but
little did I know when I first got my mission call, that I was also getting
called to be a professional gardener and sheepherder. We are here to transplant
the seeds currently in the "stony" and "thorny" ground into
good soil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The soil here in the
gospel is the softest. The soil in New Jersey is fertilized. The soil of the
hearts of our investigators is well prepared and being watered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">We have an investigator
named Jose who has the softest soil that I have ever seen. Jose is 21 years
old, he is addicted to marijuana and drinking, he is currently living with his
30 year old girlfriend, and he is self employed. The sisters found him a week
before I got transferred here and he has such desires to feel the spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Once at a family home
evening with our branch mission leader, the spirit was so strong, he stopped
and said, "do you feel that?" When we explained that he was feeling
the spirit he said, "I want to feel that forever." It's been amazing
to see how susceptible to the spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">We have a deal with him
to meet with him every day at 7 o'clock pm. It was his idea. We have faithfully
kept this compromise and after meeting with him for 3 weeks, he is a completely
different person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">One of the first lessons
that the sisters taught him was the word of wisdom. Ever since then he has been
trying to stop his addictions. He loves the Book of Mormon and knows of the
power that it contains, so to help him stop smoking and drinking, he reads the
Book of Mormon while doing it. He said once that after he had lit his cigarette
he pulled out the Book of Mormon, and before he could even bring the cigarette
to his lips, he felt the power of the Book of Mormon and put it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Now, if that isn't
awesome enough, this week he had a really hard experience....and we weren't
able to see him for 5 days in a row. He got super drunk and made a lot of
mistakes. He was kicked out of his house by his girlfriend, and had many other
horrible things happen to him, but all of which softened his heart. We came
back to meet with him 2 days after the experience and he said that he had been
clean from drugs and alcohol for 3 days. He said that was the cleanest that he
had felt in a long time. During that lesson I received the strongest spiritual
impression that I think I've received my whole mission. I was instructed to
teach him about fasting. We started to describe what a fast was, and before we
could even really get into it, he said "I want to do that. I'm going to
start right after the lesson." Woah. And he did. We supported him all
the way through it. During the lesson we watched "The Hope of God's
Love", a Mormon Message by Todd Sylvester and it brought tears to his
eyes. We felt the spirit so strongly that even tears were brought to my eyes. I
felt such pure love for him. We started our fast together that night. We told
him that we would drive home, have our dinner (because we hadn't eaten all
day), and we would call him at 9:00pm and we would start our fast
together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">We went home, we ate,
and at 9:01pm he called us and said, "I'm ready, hermanas." We knew
it was going to be hard for him to fast, so we called him the next morning at 7
(another one of our deals to help him with his addiction) and asked him how he
was doing. The first thing that came out of his mouth was, "I'M SO HUNGRY!!"
Haha We all got a good laugh out of that. It had only been a few hours and he
was already starving :) We too were hungry, but we were doing this together.
During the rest of the day we sent him scriptures to keep him going. We even
called him at noon to see how he was doing. Once again, he told us how hungry
he was, but because of his faith, he was determined to finish the fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Later that evening when
we saw him for our usual appointment, he had his scriptures in one hand and a
sandwich wrapped up in the other hand for after the lesson ;) We smiled. We
knew how hard this was for him, but we knew that God had helped him with his
fast, and would later bless him because of his faith. The lesson was, once
again, incredible. The power of God is a real thing. By the end of the lesson,
it was time for us to end our fast, but when we told him that he could, he
said, "I no longer have desires to eat. Feeling the power of God has taken
away my hunger." Then he joked about how he could keep fasting until the
following day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">He is awesome. :) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">We found out that during
the hardest parts of his fast, when he was working in the hot sun, he found out
that you could put the Book of Mormon on audio and listen to it, so he plugged
it in and listened to it all day long. He testified that it helped him get
through his fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Isn't that incredible?
He depended on the Lord so heavily. I know that the Lord, in return, will bless
him richly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The soil is soft
here. His soil, Jose's, is some of the softest I have found. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">He will be baptized on
the 5th of July. I know it. Pray for him. Not because he needs it, he's got the
faith of Moses, but because we love him and we know that things will be hard
for him in the next couple of weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Now, if we can find
people like that, with soil so soft, what have we "my brethren"
against softening our hearts and making our soil as soft as Jose's?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">How soft is the soil of
your heart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dWnM90YTYEsW7hsLzDlP9VaBW55fbQ_dmEpdb0MLGS2kW7nJ1lFzKtc1JL1HEHnlhMZlbPYOptFB-fU1PUAGpAW9i7hv3p0eSkTQ4D_A5b9fe0iRXoy4ar7GUVGE6l6XArC2UN8zgRd3/s1600/P1030352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dWnM90YTYEsW7hsLzDlP9VaBW55fbQ_dmEpdb0MLGS2kW7nJ1lFzKtc1JL1HEHnlhMZlbPYOptFB-fU1PUAGpAW9i7hv3p0eSkTQ4D_A5b9fe0iRXoy4ar7GUVGE6l6XArC2UN8zgRd3/s320/P1030352.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my new companion Hermana Stone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVrUDkQDD84P_XdjFocwoRg-onQi37tRAn1pgYXzAvP4sERKNiOtvlbiptuwTxB4pTC6E6GAa4v34AAEyYVnN5bgibg8WTyANIXKdPqudqYIPZbu3LAcZdMMNiUxJwNs9zh_U-ThDM7g0/s1600/P1030392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVrUDkQDD84P_XdjFocwoRg-onQi37tRAn1pgYXzAvP4sERKNiOtvlbiptuwTxB4pTC6E6GAa4v34AAEyYVnN5bgibg8WTyANIXKdPqudqYIPZbu3LAcZdMMNiUxJwNs9zh_U-ThDM7g0/s320/P1030392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FHE at the Luna's home. (Branch Mission Leader)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-23897506026351467992015-06-04T15:26:00.001-07:002015-06-04T16:00:38.640-07:00M.I.A. Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahuG3PZncjHLQ1BuT3nSugiysYKcQ7afVoYy6Z4WPMsLhZhGBf4LAojB4qKG9NbzEeF4_HnvadOSt7dcE-3XMP5DaDKh6bhWtIALVwGI5RizQZ1qATx7WIcwBxL5GaWrEnvo5EN_ilZ1z/s1600/P1030206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahuG3PZncjHLQ1BuT3nSugiysYKcQ7afVoYy6Z4WPMsLhZhGBf4LAojB4qKG9NbzEeF4_HnvadOSt7dcE-3XMP5DaDKh6bhWtIALVwGI5RizQZ1qATx7WIcwBxL5GaWrEnvo5EN_ilZ1z/s320/P1030206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Palmer and I. Last time volunteering at Ellis Island.<br />So Windy. We had so much fun. It was a good time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5_Am4HHyS9ZWeyBZhsThBhcwtw5Meu_yJyqZY4mKyiwyUpSONs2CcAwSboEq3RJyRNask7WiUnM-47O6tAle2AsPHuCxzzVETiLDM_vVvWBNN58JULD-uR5r9uLvXfACHp1BPmcbiXuu/s1600/P1030213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5_Am4HHyS9ZWeyBZhsThBhcwtw5Meu_yJyqZY4mKyiwyUpSONs2CcAwSboEq3RJyRNask7WiUnM-47O6tAle2AsPHuCxzzVETiLDM_vVvWBNN58JULD-uR5r9uLvXfACHp1BPmcbiXuu/s320/P1030213.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benita! She's the one that I make Sweat. haha. I love her.<br />She came to church!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXXsjfdIKj1Z1LlpiGKYX4WiyCWDL9-OdiviuXYOMSanRP3xlNN5bjyrXQmgi0FosAjXi-21H080Y4KM8YHXYvixTW1vaJvfUrpozf-YbtcX_uKdjMWwo2ewzwnNrNvDQXFVp7ENxl1UE/s320/P1030218.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Familia Sosa. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXXsjfdIKj1Z1LlpiGKYX4WiyCWDL9-OdiviuXYOMSanRP3xlNN5bjyrXQmgi0FosAjXi-21H080Y4KM8YHXYvixTW1vaJvfUrpozf-YbtcX_uKdjMWwo2ewzwnNrNvDQXFVp7ENxl1UE/s1600/P1030218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXXsjfdIKj1Z1LlpiGKYX4WiyCWDL9-OdiviuXYOMSanRP3xlNN5bjyrXQmgi0FosAjXi-21H080Y4KM8YHXYvixTW1vaJvfUrpozf-YbtcX_uKdjMWwo2ewzwnNrNvDQXFVp7ENxl1UE/s1600/P1030218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tB_6cVCZIAYJ5WHcpwtQDEICGdI7c9bWY-Kiz6JJ51xkO2gU_PRpiKguGTisiJ10qinGw6s6Z6OWtpjejor0Dmva4rc__ITDYN2sUzdDPj5WCMsUCxvA0_wDxg4EIN3rxaaaGHV6A1Ae/s1600/P1030226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tB_6cVCZIAYJ5WHcpwtQDEICGdI7c9bWY-Kiz6JJ51xkO2gU_PRpiKguGTisiJ10qinGw6s6Z6OWtpjejor0Dmva4rc__ITDYN2sUzdDPj5WCMsUCxvA0_wDxg4EIN3rxaaaGHV6A1Ae/s320/P1030226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Familia Chicos. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2Z77XFhMIT1JPsRROgGzNrkgBU7Jv3aiNtvAOiV-gwWh4_Nu4p5HKixNlOlgpOXzZugz73ZfxoBf3B20PlitoRePMh62XJxPaxzc_agOnDeMgUM1pFShRVPwkNMPb49Ye0Fu7nNBDssc/s1600/P1030247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2Z77XFhMIT1JPsRROgGzNrkgBU7Jv3aiNtvAOiV-gwWh4_Nu4p5HKixNlOlgpOXzZugz73ZfxoBf3B20PlitoRePMh62XJxPaxzc_agOnDeMgUM1pFShRVPwkNMPb49Ye0Fu7nNBDssc/s320/P1030247.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Familia Castillo. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkTaBkiKLJGqhTQfYXM_QbC6xN0haonBaQNCofis9noVX_5qxPT-rOd_mgHfIopf3grYy2I9IZO8aaNpDGe2V_cT9CNHEC7FflYUkipsf3kHooWv8j67Jq_HAnKBc8tXSCA98p2fbN6H9/s1600/P1030263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkTaBkiKLJGqhTQfYXM_QbC6xN0haonBaQNCofis9noVX_5qxPT-rOd_mgHfIopf3grYy2I9IZO8aaNpDGe2V_cT9CNHEC7FflYUkipsf3kHooWv8j67Jq_HAnKBc8tXSCA98p2fbN6H9/s320/P1030263.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eromar and Catalina. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSe239gxt1SkW4KBd48JNiPMXFwGRMkn4LrCCBlHklcHUsQd2AGRqx-hsGA_JK2NH116zqeijnMNCxpbjVVAICQmEWsvccvzL75PWNhzB4R6k-zN3mT1zOfKvJZDKoipsocQLxZ4w2gWFH/s1600/P1030276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSe239gxt1SkW4KBd48JNiPMXFwGRMkn4LrCCBlHklcHUsQd2AGRqx-hsGA_JK2NH116zqeijnMNCxpbjVVAICQmEWsvccvzL75PWNhzB4R6k-zN3mT1zOfKvJZDKoipsocQLxZ4w2gWFH/s320/P1030276.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last day at Juan's restaraunt. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr-vx9zpkN2C64HUGON7vHdQRhuh5suyK5xpoHRKSRvN3B1Zm8Uguo5xr8L6enNRdm1_ZA1wJCCUWtNaJlstsCiWmIxKAY9UUXECRdz1MreUNKk1e7MmIN-jfsUg8Vx3bQN9JoQTQVY23/s1600/P1030277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr-vx9zpkN2C64HUGON7vHdQRhuh5suyK5xpoHRKSRvN3B1Zm8Uguo5xr8L6enNRdm1_ZA1wJCCUWtNaJlstsCiWmIxKAY9UUXECRdz1MreUNKk1e7MmIN-jfsUg8Vx3bQN9JoQTQVY23/s320/P1030277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial Day Zone Picnic with my Zone Leader, Elder McFarland.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUgSC0XPrWUxgAQbU5pA70FHUQEDtPXl706MrcACuhzK9fBlcEdD6TFFj82l5wPUccai_qFzlMi_KPamwToavxfZwA4mUb74-vy3J8v1LTXnY7W8sc5G2iva1FFpP8DYyvCvSFV-oNAWl/s1600/P1030282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUgSC0XPrWUxgAQbU5pA70FHUQEDtPXl706MrcACuhzK9fBlcEdD6TFFj82l5wPUccai_qFzlMi_KPamwToavxfZwA4mUb74-vy3J8v1LTXnY7W8sc5G2iva1FFpP8DYyvCvSFV-oNAWl/s320/P1030282.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Sally. We're best friends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRukTNzpUCz6qRriturbFcPwKxPI0qf9AGJHfJ7QIB6Wr9AcreuWlJsA4iiLwbW4b2FL4ekQG40OucHKrWEZsJo31kRaO_78UhKlZgdMrGd3S5qHM3SVzYUT16Bxx4qVHVwnueJtBu245/s1600/P1030300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRukTNzpUCz6qRriturbFcPwKxPI0qf9AGJHfJ7QIB6Wr9AcreuWlJsA4iiLwbW4b2FL4ekQG40OucHKrWEZsJo31kRaO_78UhKlZgdMrGd3S5qHM3SVzYUT16Bxx4qVHVwnueJtBu245/s320/P1030300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miguel's restaurant. Best restaurant ever. Se llama "los primos"<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IGQZVFZkjZvnHM_zbRfJLeykFAuVHoXGCDxEc3NV9iEr6LGsSwwcnJ9H70GJGbTev5l_uQ1zsP7uIC_Z8hclz89cGmld58fhxL8AyoPjbP8tM-q5f1M6wGIj1eOnIE580mBa-nVKF1bJ/s1600/P1030327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IGQZVFZkjZvnHM_zbRfJLeykFAuVHoXGCDxEc3NV9iEr6LGsSwwcnJ9H70GJGbTev5l_uQ1zsP7uIC_Z8hclz89cGmld58fhxL8AyoPjbP8tM-q5f1M6wGIj1eOnIE580mBa-nVKF1bJ/s320/P1030327.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my best friends in the mission, STL's!!!<br />Hermana Mortensen, me, Hermana Dubon,<br />Hemana Monson<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgctA45uR6My7XJP32ICQyLZHHrFeC1rNNr3w4p9tmNvzs0jsxKAc5JuLynR1nTI-sRFxOMel97h72d2ABGqLYgr0PuAvfYQWPSjmq0QG5q1mVeqDfK1dykV86L740kgkEGDWoWLuvNyUP/s1600/P1030326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgctA45uR6My7XJP32ICQyLZHHrFeC1rNNr3w4p9tmNvzs0jsxKAc5JuLynR1nTI-sRFxOMel97h72d2ABGqLYgr0PuAvfYQWPSjmq0QG5q1mVeqDfK1dykV86L740kgkEGDWoWLuvNyUP/s320/P1030326.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After transfer conference with Hermana Stevens.<br />She's going home.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9TlECKp-e8dVv2LAMbWsvjf09IJG_c-NUS8iomhBoVxVQL8BtsgLuh_2ai6vSJXyO273W7yBvtmNN3JDUFEfH03EKo1jXyuvoYIDZI8U00czC85Vpy6yNvKComULa8gQZo6M6MkVzMlz/s1600/P1030335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9TlECKp-e8dVv2LAMbWsvjf09IJG_c-NUS8iomhBoVxVQL8BtsgLuh_2ai6vSJXyO273W7yBvtmNN3JDUFEfH03EKo1jXyuvoYIDZI8U00czC85Vpy6yNvKComULa8gQZo6M6MkVzMlz/s320/P1030335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp Evans where me and my new companion,<br /> Hermana Stone do service in Red Bank every Saturday.<br />We are cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy still.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-23937079931667391062015-06-04T15:25:00.000-07:002015-06-04T15:25:52.053-07:00M.I.A. continued<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Monday 18 May 2015</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: Even though it was a Pday we had a lesson in
the</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">morning with our progressing investigator,
Marisel. She loves the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">gospel. She is golden. After the lesson with
Marisel, we went to Hermana Realpe's house where</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">we were going to get our nails done. We had
originally planned on</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">being there for 1-2 hours because we were both
going to get our nails</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">done, but when we arrived, Hermana Realpe said
that she likes to take</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">her time. She also said that because she wasn't
a professional it</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">would take a little longer. So planning on 1-2
hours turned into</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">planning on 3-4. Well, long story short, it our
whole Pday, 7 hours to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">finish our nails. Haha on the plus side, our
nails look very pretty,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">but I don't know if I'll ever get my nails done
again. ;) For that</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">reason I didn't get to email that week.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Tuesday
19 May 2015</span></b><span style="background: white;">: All Mission Conference
where we got iPads!!!!! It</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was an all day training that was more focused on
the spiritual side of</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">using the iPads than on how to actually use the
iPads. We were so</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">excited to use them. Later that day after
traveling back from the All Mission Conference we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">stopped by to visit Juan Castillo who was at the
ward family night at</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the church. After talking to him and on our way
out we ran into the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Elders Quorum President, Hermano Corzo. When I
told him that I might</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">be leaving the area, his usually smiley face
straightened out a bit.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">He said, "I hope the President doesn't take
you away. You are a really</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">excellent missionary. You love the area of
Elizabeth more than any</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">missionary that I have seen. The president's
will might not be the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">same as mine, but I know that wherever you go,
you will be blessing</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the lives of all that you encounter." I
smiled. I am so grateful for</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">these people. They have changed me. He was
right. I love these people,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">probably more than I should. The people of
Elizabeth might be the most</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">loved in all of the New Jersey Morristown
Mission.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">When Hermana Grande, the wife of Juan Castillo
overheard that, she</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">came and hugged me and said that she hoped it
was not so. She said she</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">would cry if I had to leave. I knew I would too.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Wednesday
the 20<sup>th</sup>:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> was my last day
serving at Ellis Island with</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Hermana Palmer. It was so fun. The wind was
crazy that day. While</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">driving back from Ellis Island, I also got to
call some of the less</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">actives that I reactivated in Jersey City:
Enrique Chavez, Hermano</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Maquilon, Fernando Mendoza, and la Familia
Carrera. Oh how wonderful</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">it was to talk to them! Our relationship is as
though I had never</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">left.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Friday 22
May 2015:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> I had my last lesson with
the Sosa family. I had</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">just been feeling that is was going to be my
last with them. We had</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">one of the most powerful lessons ever with them,
which is saying a lot</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">because I have always felt the spirit so
strongly in the lessons with</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">them. We had felt impressed to teach them about
the Sabbath Day. After</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">they had fed us, the kids started squealing and
contention started up</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">in the room that we were in - even Satan knew of
the power of the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lesson that was coming. We sang a song, prayed, and
started the lesson</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">even though the contention was still present. As
we continued through</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the lesson, the spirit took over and the kids
settled down. Their</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">family isn't keeping the Sabbath day holy.
Soccer and rugby games have</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">become priority on Sunday mornings. They know
better, so we taught</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">them with love...and boldness. As we spoke to
them I literally felt</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">like we were speaking with the tongue of angels.
The words flowed off</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">my tongue while the tears rolled down my checks.
I love this family. I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">feel like I had a connection with them before in
the premortal world</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and that's why I'm here. And in the lesson I
could feel how torn they</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">were between their natural man and the things of
God. I could tell it</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was a huge sacrifice for them to say "we'll
make church a priority".</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">They were in tears as was I. The spirit was so
strong. I know that we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">were in the presence of angels.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In the morning of <b>Saturday the 23rd</b> I received the greatest text</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">message from one of the families I used to teach
in Jersey City, la</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Familia Castellanos. They wanted to notify me
that they had finally</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">made it to the temple. They had just finished
doing baptisms for the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">dead in the Manhattan temple. While I was there
in Jersey City, we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">worked hard with them to be able to go to the
temple. We are now</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">seeing the fruits of all of our labors. They
have plans to be sealed</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">before I leave the mission and have told me
firmly that I have to be</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">present in their sealing. I love them :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Also, another miracle that happened on Saturday
was that the bishop</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">had asked all of the missionaries in the ward to
go through the ward</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">list and divide it into our own areas, then to
go through the list and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">visit all of the members and less actives and
find out who still lived</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">there and who had moved. Well, at the beginning
of our day, we had a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">full day with set appointments in every hour
except maybe one or two.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">We had to have the list finished before the
following morning to turn</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">into the bishop and we weren't sure exactly how
we were going to be</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">able to teach all our lessons, leave on time,
and contact all of the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">less actives. So, before leaving our house we
prayed for a miracle,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that somehow we would be able to contact every
single less active on</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">our list (our area was the biggest so we had the
most members). During</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the course of the day, either our appointments
cancelled on us, or</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">they weren't home...all of them. So, we finished
just in time at 9</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">o'clock contacting all of the members except for
3. We were amazed.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">It's kind of a funny miracle because we didn't
get to teach any of the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lessons that we had planned, but we know that we
did what He Wanted us</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to do.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Sunday 24
May 2015:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> This was the anticipated
day of the week. It was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the last day of the transfer and we were all
anxious to get the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">transfer text. I couldn't wait though, so I went
and talked to the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">assistants. Haha (they go to the same building,
but are in the English</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">branch). Usually they don't tell you if you are
leaving or staying,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">but surprisingly they said something this time.
I talked to Elder</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Maddox, he knows how much I love Elizabeth, and
in response to my</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">question of if I was leaving or not he said,
"All you have to know is</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that your next companion needs you a lot. She
needs your example of</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">hard dedicated missionary service. We know that
you are the one that can</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">help her." I felt punched in the
chest...for two reasons. One, because</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I now knew the answer that I had been assuming
since my interview with</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the president, but this time it was for sure and
my heart had broken.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">And the second reason was that I felt a new
responsibility, to help my</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">next companion...but I only had 6 weeks.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">My feelings were mixed. I was grateful to know a
little in advance so</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that I could take pictures with the ones I
loved, but on the other</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">hand I was sad knowing that it'd be a little
while before I'd see them</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">again. (I say that because eventually one day
I'll have to come to New</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Jersey)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">The next two days were spent reminding everyone
how much I love them,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">even though they didn't need a reminder. I went
to see Juan Castillo</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and his family. That was a hard lesson for me. I
told them at I was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">going to be leaving for a little bit, and at
first they thought</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that I was going to be on an exchange, but when
they told them that</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I'd be getting transferred we all started to
cry. I love this family.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">They asked me to return on Monday because they
had something that they</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">wanted to get for me.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Monday the
25<sup>th</sup></span></b><span style="background: white;"> was Memorial Day, so
again the libraries were closed and I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">couldn't email, but it gave me more time to
visit. We passed by the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Castillo's as promised and they had bought me
some gifts. They were so</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">cute :) Hermano Castillo wasn't there because he
had to work, so we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">passed by his work and he fed us even though we
were headed off to our</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Zone Memorial Day picnic. Even though I will be
getting transferred,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I'm not worried about seeing their family again.
We'll be taking him</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to the temple soon enough.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Monday night we were called to go to the Fear
Buster, an activity</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">where the new missionaries come fresh off the
plane and we take them</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">out to go contact people in Newark, New Jersey.
Well, all of Monday I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was feeling pretty ill. I claim it was my body
rejecting the fact that</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I was leaving Elizabeth, but we weren't able to
go to the fear</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">buster because of that. By the end of the night,
I was super ill. I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">didn't think I was going to make it to transfer
conference the next</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">day (which was kind of ok with me. I didn't want
to go anyways). So, I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">went to bed early, woke up the next morning, was
still super ill and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">slept for a little longer. Then around 8:30 some of the sisters we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">cover called us and needed our help getting
ready for transfer</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">conference. So, I pulled on a skirt, and hopped
in the car, still</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">super sick with a fever. We helped them out,
came home, and I still</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">had to finish packing. I was praying that I'd be
able to make it to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">transfer conference in one piece. We pretty much
threw everything in</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">my suitcases and then got in the car and took
off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">All of transfer conference I was so sick, but
forgot it all when I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">found out who my new companion was..... Hermana
Stone!!! I love her</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">already.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I am now in my new area of Red Bank. The people
here are incredible.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I'm back where the grass and trees are. It's
different after serving</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">in the city for a year. EVERYTHING is green. It
reminds me of when I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was back in Princeton, but now I'm farther
south. Red Bank is very</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">different though. Red Bank has a lot of money,
the people here are</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">very wealthy...even the Hispanics are pretty
well off. They don't have</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a ton of money, but they are much better off
than anyone in Elizabeth,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Jersey City, or Princeton.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I know the reason that I got sent here is
inspired, that the people</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">need me here, but I know that my companion does
too. She has many many</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">strengths that the Lord can use. I'm just here
to help her realize</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">them and become a dedicated servant of the lord.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Six weeks is short. Really short. The way I feel
as I come to the end</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">of my mission is as though I am running out of
air. I keep breathing</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and my body gets more tense as I try to breathe
more, but the air gets</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">thinner and thinner. I am trying to be prepared
for what comes</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">next...Utah, but I can’t even force myself to
think about it. My body</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and mind are so in sync with missionary work
that I can't take them</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">out. I've prayed for help to be able to prepare
myself, but to be</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">honest, my prayers have lacked "real
intent" and a "sincere heart", as</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Moroni instructs, and it's probably because it's
not a real desire of</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">my heart.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I'm down to 6 weeks. I'm just going to say it
straight: I don't like that fact.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The mission is the greatest thing that has ever
happened to me.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I LOVE being a missionary.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Hermana Childs</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Enviado desde mi iPad</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-73175070989989431782015-06-04T15:23:00.002-07:002015-06-04T15:23:51.382-07:00M.I.A.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6/2/15 <b>“<i>Missing In Action”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I am so sorry for not
being able to update you on how I have been</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">doing. You probably think that I am missing in
action. ;) Quite the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">contrary. I couldn't have been more active....in
the work of the Lord</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that is ;) I'll give you a brief summary of what
has been going on the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">past couple of weeks.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Monday 11
May 2015:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> It was probably one of the
funnest PDays that I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">have had in my whole mission. We ran to finish
all of our errands</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">super fast and then emailed just so that we
could finish everything to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">go play sports with the Zone. In our zone there
is a HUGE park. It's a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">couple of miles long and wide and we got
together to play soccer. In</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the middle of the soccer game, it started to
rain. It wasn't just any</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">rain storm either. It was a huge New Jersey
rainstorm. The rain was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">coming down so hard that we could hardly see. We
played in it for a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">couple of minutes and decided that we should
leave. The storm cleared</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">up as soon as we got to our car and so we went
back out to play. The</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">rest of the game was super fun. It was really
slippery, but we had a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">blast. We left early to go home and shower
before we needed to be at</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">our appointments.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Our first appointment was Juan. It was the day
after he got baptized.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Wow. If you ever want to see a completely
changed person, just go look</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">at my friend Juan. He so white and sparkly...he
was pretty much a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">walking temple. :) He was so happy to see us as
well. He couldn't stop</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">thanking us. Wow. Words just can't express those
types of feelings.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">They are heavenly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">After leaving the appointment with Juan and
feeling the spirit burning</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">inside of us we then went and taught Carlos.
Carlos is another really</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">special investigator to me. He is Dominican and
a part member family.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Teaching him has changed us and changed him as
well. As I have told</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">you before, he didn't used to want to listen to
the missionaries.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Then, after the elders got transferred the
bishop wanted the sisters</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to visit him. And my oh my have we seen miracles
with him. He is so</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">close to being baptized we can feel it. He's
just sticking his toes in</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the water. Now we just need to get him into
those white clothes and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">get him an interview. He is progressing so much!
He reads, he prays,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">he does family prayer, he just needs to come to
church! He'll be</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">baptized very soon.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Tuesday
12 May 2015:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> We have the most amazing
prepared investigator</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">named Marisel, from Uruaguay. She keeps asking
us questions on what we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">are about to teach her. She wants her kids to be
involved in the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">church programs, she committed to come to church
on the 17th (the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">upcoming Sunday) but wasn't able to. She loves
what we teach her and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">will be the greatest convert.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Wednesday
13 May 2015:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> Wednesday was actually a
pretty hard day for</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">me. As I'm sure you well know by now, I LOVE
Elizabeth. This has been</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">my dream area since the MTC and I have soaked up
every single minute</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">here. I LOVE the people. I would do anything for
them, but sometimes</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the agency of others hurts you...especially when
you love them.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Wednesday afternoon we went to see a less active
named Benita. Now, we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">have worked super closely with Benita. We've
prayed super hard for her</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and done everything possible to help remove the
obstacles that might</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">be keeping her from coming to church. Well, as
we were sitting in her</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">house, teaching her the plan of salvation, we
taught with such</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">sincerity and power of the spirit that it was
impossible to deny that</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the power of God was present. When we invited
her to come to church to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">partake of the Atonement of Jesus Christ by
taking the sacrament she</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">said no. My heart shattered in that moment. It
hurt. Not because she</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was rejecting me, or the invitation that we had
extended, but because</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I know exactly what she is rejecting. It hurt
because I also love her</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and want the best for her. We walked out of the
appointment pretty</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">sad. Then, later in the day, we went to the
Sosa's house. Now, this family</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">is super special to me. They are a less active
family, but it has</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">always been my luck to teach them, because my
companions were on</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">exchanges the days that we went to see them. I
feel like they are one</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">of the reasons that I was sent here. The lessons
are always filled</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">with the spirit. This time, we taught them about
tithing. Tithing</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">didn't seem to be a problem for them, but we
tried to focus on the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">principle behind tithing: faith. Well, when the
lesson came to an end</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and we invited them to come to church they said
that they wouldn't be</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">coming. They said that they had a soccer game
that they wanted to go</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to. That too also hurt. It was just a tough day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Thursday was great and Friday I was on an
exchange with Sister Irvine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Now, Sister Irvine has been thinking about going
home since she got</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">here to the mission. She is an incredible
missionary who knows how to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">touch people's hearts. She has a gift to help
others feel special. She</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">makes me feel good when I am around her, but she
has been struggling a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">lot with her health since day one. She averages
2-4 hours of sleep</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">every night. She usually doesn't even get 4. And
as you can imagine,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">missionary work is pretty rigorous. You have a
pretty tight schedule</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and the physical demands are pressing. She is a
fighter though. I love</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">her a lot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Just after getting off exchanges on Saturday
morning we went to our</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">interviews with President Taggart. Words simply
cannot express how</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">much love I have for President Taggart. I know
he loves me too. In</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">interviews, we only have 15 minutes with
him and after we had started</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">with a prayer and talked together for a few
minutes he said, "I wish I</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">had an hour to talk to you." I did too. We
talked about how I was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">doing as a Sister Training Leader. I told him
that I loved it. I was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">so happy where I was and that my area was
rocking and rolling. Before</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">we finished he asked me if I had any questions.
I looked at him and</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">laughed a little. I said, "well, yes. Am I
getting transferred?" Haha</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">he laughed too and said "now, why would I
tell you that? :)" I told</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">him that my heart was fully invested and that I
just needed to know if</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">I needed to start saying goodbye. He looked at
me and lovingly said,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">"I want you to always be in a position
where you will never say</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">goodbye to these people. Keep in touch with
them. Always be their best</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">friend. There shouldn't be any goodbyes in the
gospel." He's right,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">but I knew what that meant for me. Before
concluding though, he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">expressed that he knew I could continue in the
calling for 5 transfers</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">even though it hadn't been done before. When the
closing prayer was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">said, I looked him in the eyes and told him how
much I loved him. He</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">pulled me in for a hug. I can feel how much he
loves me. It gives me a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">glimpse of how purely and perfectly my Heavenly
Father</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">loves me. I really can feel it...and it's a lot.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Sunday 17
May 2015:</span></b><span style="background: white;"> We had the most incredible
lesson. So, Saturday</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">afternoon we received a referral from mormon.org
for a man named</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Charlie. We passed by his house later that night
to contact him, but</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">when he opened his door he told us that he was
on his way out, but</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that we could come back tomorrow. Well, Sunday
after church we walked</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">right over to his house pretty excited for what
we thought was going</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">to be a new investigator family. When we entered
the house and started</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the lesson it was much different than we had
expected. We asked what</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">got him interested in the church. His response
was given at first with</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a sneaky smile. He said that he already knew
everything about our</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">church (this can either be a good thing or a bad
thing so we were a</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">little bit on edge). He continued to tell us
that he is an elder, he</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">has the Melchezidek priesthood, and he served in
several stake</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">positions in El Salvador. Years ago he came to
the United States</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">looking for a job. When he arrived, he began to
look for the same</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">church that he attended in El Salvador, the
Church of Jesus Christ of</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Latter Day Saints. Upon finding one, he entered,
and was unwelcomed by</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the greeting saying that he wasn't welcome there
because there wasn't</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">a congregation for Hispanics. When he arrived, Elizabeth's
population</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">was mostly white and only a few Hispanics.
Now it is quite the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">opposite, you can hardly find a white person.
Well, his experience</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">hurt him so deeply that one of his brothers of
the church didn't want</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">him there that he felt that he had no choice,
but to attend another</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">church. For the past 8 years he has been
attending the Evangelical</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">church where he met and married his wife. Up
until the last 8 months</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">or so he has been going there, but beginning 8
months ago, he and his</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">family started passing through some really hard
times and stopped</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">going to church. Because of his good friendships
with the members of</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the Evangelical church he expected them to
"mourn with them that mourn</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and comfort those that stand in need of
comfort", but it was quite the</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">contrary. It seems that no one from his church
has reached their hand</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">out to help them, the result of which has hurt
him again. But the good</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">news is that due to this incident he has been
compelled to return to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">look for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints again. For</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">this reason he had been calling and calling the
church trying to</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">contact someone with no luck. Until finally he
looked on Mormon.org</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and requested a visit from the missionaries.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, imagine being the two missionaries who walked in thinking that we</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">were going to be teaching a new investigator. To
say the least, we</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">were shocked. But more than anything we were
thrilled that one of our</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">brothers had taken the first step to coming
back. We taught him about</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ
and the walls of his</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">home shook with the spirit. It was a beautiful
moment.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Because it had been a while since he has gone to
church, he has asked</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">that we treat him like an investigator, but his
family is officially</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">investigating in the church.</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">It is wonderful how even though he felt alone,
God was just preparing</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">the way for him to come back. Even though it
seemed that no hand was</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">being stretched out towards him, God's hands
were always open, warm,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and welcoming. It is an honor to teach him and
help him in his</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">conversion.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The day continued to be wonderful because for
the rest of the day</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Loren, the young man that we are trying to get
on a mission,</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">accompanied us for our appointments. It was so
awesome to see his face</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">and eyes light up as he taught with confidence
the restored gospel. He</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">has what it takes to change someone's life. I
have seen it.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-17345924221542039522015-05-11T15:55:00.001-07:002015-05-11T15:55:37.248-07:00The Unstoppable Train<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After a week of starting
over, the blessings have accelerated and the work of the lord is unstoppable.
In fact, we are like a train. An unstoppable train. We are a full steamed
locomotive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ALL ABOARD! We are
headed to the Celestial Kingdom and all are invited! Get your tickets stamped
at the baptismal gate and then it's a direct route to the temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Juan Castillo has his
ticket stamped and is waiting to confirm his seat during his confirmation next
Sunday. Wow. What a day. There couldn't have been a better Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW7c7gs2UfeZkLGWgt4uEsoEcaQMiqmpKpXMKrGWvp2gCixAyj0Mo8aU9Ck9mC095aia1ErnmZBD2356je6iAQk9Ty5GIQQERJRmQJ3L4DEUPFUDEF-Ov0cog66rSE6igIIKfxS0djMOe/s1600/P1030060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW7c7gs2UfeZkLGWgt4uEsoEcaQMiqmpKpXMKrGWvp2gCixAyj0Mo8aU9Ck9mC095aia1ErnmZBD2356je6iAQk9Ty5GIQQERJRmQJ3L4DEUPFUDEF-Ov0cog66rSE6igIIKfxS0djMOe/s320/P1030060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juan and his wife, Adela</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadUxJRDnvalbsul_E54Xqg9Q6dJ_VYR1-Ikw_0JjqojXpvzb_klmwHGOqgjhQPV04tOwmToQ-BTmI0FEVYw8GHsIJ9f_FcyQhk6GBHAOIX1wNJ38OAPeBIQTFHJpRIkb6ZHyavHhA6jiQ/s1600/P1030064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadUxJRDnvalbsul_E54Xqg9Q6dJ_VYR1-Ikw_0JjqojXpvzb_klmwHGOqgjhQPV04tOwmToQ-BTmI0FEVYw8GHsIJ9f_FcyQhk6GBHAOIX1wNJ38OAPeBIQTFHJpRIkb6ZHyavHhA6jiQ/s320/P1030064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juan's party after baptism. He made Mole for everyone!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwl6khJb-hQo670XxI5vsEz0LBeNCPLkl1a7ufs6ZDqetLODMY5b-FCsn18Cl074OmcDwqb0M19r4YpcWtEReeYs91bnsxatRz8vfJ9lYxsiItFFW0QqnBOH8RMWcoRTzTKyOgUDs2gh2/s1600/P1030040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwl6khJb-hQo670XxI5vsEz0LBeNCPLkl1a7ufs6ZDqetLODMY5b-FCsn18Cl074OmcDwqb0M19r4YpcWtEReeYs91bnsxatRz8vfJ9lYxsiItFFW0QqnBOH8RMWcoRTzTKyOgUDs2gh2/s320/P1030040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Familia Grande. Juan and his family before baptism.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We stopped by Juan's job
on Saturday night because we only had half of the baptism planned. There was
supposed to be someone else getting baptized on the same day, so we let them
plan the other half of the baptism, but it ended up not working out. Juan
doesn't usually answer his phone while he's working, and after calling him 3
times, we decided it was best if we just dropped by to talk to him so that we
could finish making the baptismal program. We stopped by, asked the person
working at the desk to get Juan, and when he turned the corner out of the back
room of the restaurant where he works he was all smiles. He saw us and invited
us to sit down and talk with him. We figured out the remainder of his baptism
and he invited us to eat there. We were already fasting for fast Sunday and so
we decided to postpone the dinner until today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The actual baptism was
incredible! Sunday morning we woke up so excited for what lay ahead: a baptism
and a chat with our mothers. We got ready, arrived a the church a little bit
early to make the baptismal program, and enjoyed a wonderful sacrament meeting
where JUAN BORE HIS TESTIMONY! He wasn't even a member yet! Now, you have to
understand who Juan is. He is not a man of many words, nor is he a man who
likes to have all of the attention, but the fact that he walked up to the
pulpit without any encouragement (I know because I was sitting with his family)
and bore his testimony was proof of how ready he really was. His testimony was
simple and not very long, but the sincerity behind all of his words were so
real. You could feel the spirit fill the room almost like even the spirit
wanted to be there to listen to what Juan was saying. It was incredible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After the classes were
all over and we were preparing for the actual baptism, things were a little bit
crazy. Juan's wife wanted the program changed. She had decided last minute that
she wanted someone else to baptize Juan instead of Loren, who was already
chosen. We were heartbroken and so was he when we told him that the plans were
no longer the same. We tried to focus on the positive though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Miraculously enough,
after Juan had changed and the bienvenidas were being given, Juan was presented
with two home teachers; Loren Romero and Miguel Chico. We were thrilled. We
know that Loren will still have a very powerful effect on the Castillo Family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Like all special
occasions in the Hispanic culture, the baptism was followed by some WONDERFUL
food. I love Hispanics ;) haha We all went to Juan's house for lunch. They had
made Mole Poblano...and enough for the whole ward. It was awesome seeing all of
the ward gather into this small apartment sitting or standing on whatever just
to make more room for more people. It was a hot, humid, jersey summer day, and
the apartment didn't have any air conditioning, but sweaty as we were, it was
glorious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Juan is incredible. I
wish you could all meet him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stamp that ticket and
send him to the temple! Arrival date, June 9, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Skype was the other best
part of the day. It was awesome so see my family so happy. What accomplished
little siblings I have! You all just seemed to glow! Courtney, confident as
ever, radiated who she was and what she is about to accomplish. Derek, glows.
Dillon is a little ball of sunshine, and Nathan is our little sunbeam. Mom was
especially sparkly with the tears in her eyes, and Dad, being the spiritual
giant that he is, filled the room. I love you all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdF9H-lRlsgfxGCHldwJ2sYUuDGOCgJtIaOTzBTefhp0Ki8kkXsSCO010oHIBontjD5l9Z9_h-PvpzS5mIA7qtrsjow11HJMOuyvBkX46OvKuMSe9-FObrmgsSPq9nXksk0k8SYd3liYB/s1600/P1030077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdF9H-lRlsgfxGCHldwJ2sYUuDGOCgJtIaOTzBTefhp0Ki8kkXsSCO010oHIBontjD5l9Z9_h-PvpzS5mIA7qtrsjow11HJMOuyvBkX46OvKuMSe9-FObrmgsSPq9nXksk0k8SYd3liYB/s320/P1030077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cute family on Mother's Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVJ-v-6a8UiCywTBa1s9FHRFG0ipYVPJOsFI_7oM_d1B8Y5HaJ3cDSmu_44MCnlH9RPkueOso2tixUyY0gtluw9QOB8SCLAz9LzwmsWqfvyNhqcy4Ef46bNrMSLAW_416pnKUtbI6yEt5/s1600/P1030074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVJ-v-6a8UiCywTBa1s9FHRFG0ipYVPJOsFI_7oM_d1B8Y5HaJ3cDSmu_44MCnlH9RPkueOso2tixUyY0gtluw9QOB8SCLAz9LzwmsWqfvyNhqcy4Ef46bNrMSLAW_416pnKUtbI6yEt5/s320/P1030074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Family Foto! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I had a blast talking to
each one of you. I wish the time was longer, but even though time is short, as
it is here on earth, it can be deep. I'm looking forward to spending much more
time with each of you when I get home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But the time here on the
mission is especially short. We don't have time to waste, and I can promise
you, no time is wasted here in Elizabeth. Like I said earlier, we are no longer
a huffing and puffing coal engine, but rather a steam engine running on
the spirit of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let me tell you of some
other miracles that we have seen this week:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Monday night, we saw
Carlos Pena. He's a Dominican part member family. He is much like Juan
Castillo, not as outgoing as most Dominicans, tries to keep to himself, but we
wont' let him ;) and he secretly likes what we teach him even though he doesn't
want to admit it. Well, he just started to pray for us in the lessons. That was
huge! He accepted the invitation to come to church this last Sunday. He didn't
come, but he is doing all of his reading assignments and actually comes on time
to all of the lessons. He's going to be baptized super soon! I can see
it...just like with Juan!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tuesday, we taught
Marisol, Emilia, and Jerry. They are all from Puerto Rico. Great family. They
are all a little bit older....50's or 60s'. Marisol and Jerry are cousins and
Emilia is Marisol's mom. They all live together in the projects taking care of
one another because they are either "too old to marry again" or
widowed. Well, Marisol has told us from the beginning that she would NEVER pray
for us. She said that it is something between her and God and that it doesn't
need to be said in front of other people. Well, this Tuesday she prayed out
loud. And she liked it! I was on an exchange with Hermana Bascom when this
happened, but when we walked out of the appointment I just hugged her and told
her why I was so happy. They don't have a baptismal date yet, but very soon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wednesday, we finally
saw Danny in a formal appointment. Probably one of the first that we have done
that since he got baptized in February. He's having a really rough time with
his marriage. Please pray for him. He, as a recent convert, is being the
example for his wife- a convert of many years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Benita, well....she
still tells me that she gets sweaty when I come over. haha I love her! :) She
knows I do. She loves me too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carlos Castillo we
visited on Thursday and had a GREAT lesson. We, by some small miracle, found
him while walking on the street. He stopped answering our phone calls again, so
we were about to drop him, but Heavenly Father doesn't want us to give up on
him yet. We found him at 4 in the afternoon walking home from doing his
shopping. We were on our way to an appointment, but he told us to come back
later to have dinner with him. At 6 we arrived. He had made us
papalajuancajina, a Peruvian dish. We dined fabulously. It was awesome. I still
have hopes for his baptism!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everything is wonderful.
I love the mission. There is no place better, nor time better, nor work better,
than to be serving the Lord right here in Elizabeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I love being a missionary.
I love it, I love it, I love it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sending all my love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hermana childs<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSJV3GigtbrZQsyx8J5JJZ_oMzO2cHV8hRKv7gByKp2Wu23ZcwD13Rm8j4YVVBvgTSJ2SGx3VPnGkKQqaOgCNVXkz0FHPL3pOk1H3pcHpY8Per4qjn56xhJ5OBmSvXTiLKFNO074ab6Ic/s1600/P1030055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSJV3GigtbrZQsyx8J5JJZ_oMzO2cHV8hRKv7gByKp2Wu23ZcwD13Rm8j4YVVBvgTSJ2SGx3VPnGkKQqaOgCNVXkz0FHPL3pOk1H3pcHpY8Per4qjn56xhJ5OBmSvXTiLKFNO074ab6Ic/s320/P1030055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange: A trio. Me, Sister Bingham, Sister Roundy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZie133fJ8ZrpUqT4LjIbpCr7G0ZA8n7wbOzZhevyyTw_OlbV5I74nb8EhrN9YJqvnUElaQH8PLrtH0LR79EqelkDXrWuvcnZodKHknSPu7tB3f_kqiBTBZZzlAFqi0B9ehkVV2cjJtqL/s1600/P1030043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZie133fJ8ZrpUqT4LjIbpCr7G0ZA8n7wbOzZhevyyTw_OlbV5I74nb8EhrN9YJqvnUElaQH8PLrtH0LR79EqelkDXrWuvcnZodKHknSPu7tB3f_kqiBTBZZzlAFqi0B9ehkVV2cjJtqL/s320/P1030043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange: Hermana Bascom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSHCjZp8H5uNAcBZAipIQOaYrCtoJ_lpQFCULlPAUsgHJFZl0lye8WmuAjovtde3sEM9Ntd6lzwVdl9itLMs_0fFnEKCrxqDetc2RiFozU_xWZ4pmkuUHx3DcDrYXwAWTAPgl1DuPC1aO/s1600/DSC00294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSHCjZp8H5uNAcBZAipIQOaYrCtoJ_lpQFCULlPAUsgHJFZl0lye8WmuAjovtde3sEM9Ntd6lzwVdl9itLMs_0fFnEKCrxqDetc2RiFozU_xWZ4pmkuUHx3DcDrYXwAWTAPgl1DuPC1aO/s320/DSC00294.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multizone Conference. Some elders I came to NJ with.<br />Elder Burkhiemer, Elder Muro, me, Elder Welch, Elder Hammer<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-10814126907995854442015-05-05T09:19:00.001-07:002015-05-05T09:26:04.204-07:00The Train<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are a train. With a new start last week we started off
chugging, but we are rolling at full speed now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Tuesday, I was asked to give a training in district meeting on
'revelation'. Before the training I wasn't feeling too inspired. I studied my
best, prayed hard, and came as prepared as I could to the training to teach
with the spirit. It wasn't until the training actually started when I finally
started to receive a lot of revelation. It was astounding. And revelation has
been coming since then. Those flood gates mentioned last week sure have been
opened to the revelation channel ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don't have much time this week, but I just want to give a brief
over view.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Juan Castillo is set for baptism this Sunday; Carlos Pena, a new
investigator of ours, is taking things more seriously and really respects us;
Carlos Castillo, accepted a baptismal date; Henry's faith is increasing more
and more every day; we taught double the lessons we did last week; we
have had members at every single lesson we've taught; we are working in
perfect harmony as a companionship, and it goes on. Wow. Can you
see the work of the Lord moving forth? Look at that train!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">On Tuesday we taught Juan Castillo about the Plan of Salvation and
included temple work in the lesson. The spirit was so strong. While talking
about temples, we put him on a temple date for June 12th. This family alone is
its own train moving forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Henry, the young man who called us a few weeks ago saying that he
wanted to change his life, is really struggling with his addiction to drink
alcohol. He has so much desire and faith to change, but he often surrounds
himself with the wrong influences that lead him back to his addiction. We are
fighting like lions to keep him away from that type of environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Marisol, Jerry, and Emilia, an older family that we found, are
progressing much quicker than we expected. For the first time ever, Marisol
almost prayed. hahah almost. Next time we'll get her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'll send pictures of all of them soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love being a missionary!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ-Gpkyjtp2-4ACdsU8hCBHoaDb-bSIAWYUD3wrVPjn_3CzCTYshS5QCK65ror0Xm99sCXIvqtQZaVuqMBcMHdVweyAKfOZcQBYxNykmZCzVXwMMohps6GkYgMpiFzHhmGZoE_q4d-7if/s1600/P1030038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ-Gpkyjtp2-4ACdsU8hCBHoaDb-bSIAWYUD3wrVPjn_3CzCTYshS5QCK65ror0Xm99sCXIvqtQZaVuqMBcMHdVweyAKfOZcQBYxNykmZCzVXwMMohps6GkYgMpiFzHhmGZoE_q4d-7if/s1600/P1030038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Get that corn out of my face!" I'm with Loren. This is called Elote. <br />
So Good. It is Corn on a stick with mayo and mexican queso and usually spices.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindmcnCNATRGCGtNzVCRaol8c_Ui6q8PLq3wMxMfv_IfhWq074mXe0k946h5Y15zIzl6vl1JzqqCjc8E2AaGRpOyFivjed5ZCr8WO4425UWO8yzZ4_y59frB-fDPgQ2_LqVZgOhBciTaUb/s1600/P1030018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindmcnCNATRGCGtNzVCRaol8c_Ui6q8PLq3wMxMfv_IfhWq074mXe0k946h5Y15zIzl6vl1JzqqCjc8E2AaGRpOyFivjed5ZCr8WO4425UWO8yzZ4_y59frB-fDPgQ2_LqVZgOhBciTaUb/s1600/P1030018.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helado con Los Carillos. Hermana Carillos has been teaming <br />
up with us and working super hard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqgqKgFS-AYzLMYXYawAS887HTuGpcmIw0YQgevEMatCA9QNuqYSlcLA7itlESGGSHF4ZZRfMuGYiV8oDMFYF0jZbv0Rq_-IHP2CsXYK0kHnc3MxuXmGcwuih-0P-9uJfBUaJS5lFHkHH/s1600/P1020973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqgqKgFS-AYzLMYXYawAS887HTuGpcmIw0YQgevEMatCA9QNuqYSlcLA7itlESGGSHF4ZZRfMuGYiV8oDMFYF0jZbv0Rq_-IHP2CsXYK0kHnc3MxuXmGcwuih-0P-9uJfBUaJS5lFHkHH/s1600/P1020973.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Familia Castillo. Baptism set for Mother's Day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-11979122684781182162015-04-29T12:26:00.000-07:002015-05-05T09:24:42.795-07:00Open the Flood Gates<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Sometimes you have to marvel at how much Heavenly Father loves you
because He gives you exactly what you need. For the past month
or two, I had been really struggling. I wasn't necessarily having a
hard time in missionary work, but I felt like many trials were being given
to me. I was grateful for them because I knew that they would benefit me
later, but I couldn't say that I loved having them ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My experience is much like a reservoir of water. First, a dam is
created, maybe not blocking the flow of all the water, but retaining the
majority of it. Second, the water begins to accumulate behind it. I felt like I
was on the other side of the dam, the dry side. I was expecting a steady
trickle of water, when in reality Heavenly Father had something much greater in
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But this whole week, everything changed; I have felt Heavenly
Father's grace touch my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Flood
Gates have been opened</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> and I feel like I have received
nothing but blessings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Monday, I made it a new day. I decided to start over. So I
did. It was PDay, so I took some time to be by myself, knelt
down at my bedside and prayed for help. I love the way that He listens.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Well, PDay ended, but the work didn't. With renewed faith in the
future, my mentality was changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The next day we had an exchange. I was nervous to leave on the
exchange, which was weird because I'm never nervous for an exchange, but I
should have known better. Exchanges are always inspired. I went on an exchange
with Sister Cadizal, a cute Philippian missionary a few transfers younger than
I am. The whole exchange I felt like I was learning from her. She has such a
talent to show others her love. She loves to love people. I told her that it
was something I was working on, and for the next little while, just like a
sponge, soaked all of the knowledge on how to love others, right out of her. At
the end of the exchange, I was PUMPED to love my companion and to love my
area. We got back in the car, and the first thing I told my companion was
that I missed having her to teach with me. Whoa, the spirit just flooded the
car. I'm sure you can feel that at home too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now, don't think that from then on it was a walk in the park. I
had to keep reminding myself that I had started over and that there was NO
looking back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wednesday started off difficult, but once again, I reminded
myself, "It's all in the past". Thursday, we had zone conference with
President Taggart. I asked him if I could meet with him after the meeting. He
agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">After zone conference was over, we went into another room to talk.
I told him that I was feeling down, that I just needed to reaffirm that I was
doing a good job. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Sister
Childs, you are one of the best missionaries that New Jersey has." Those
words sunk straight into my heart. I knew he meant it. His eyes filled with
tears as he went on. I felt so much love from him, and the spirit
confirmed to me that what he was saying was true. I don't say that to puff
myself up, but because I can see myself how my Heavenly Father sees me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now, I won't go into details on what exactly has been happening to
this point because it doesn't matter. It's different now. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love my companion. I love the people I work with. I
love my mission President. And I love being a missionary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">After that meeting with President Taggart, we went off to an
exchange. I was feeling so much love for myself from my Heavenly Father and I'm
so grateful I was, because I was going to visit a sister who couldn't see or
feel the love from her Father in Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">First of all, Sister Jensen is awesome. I LOVE her. She is from
Provo, Utah. She has been a member all of her life, but hasn't always been
active, until she felt like she needed to go on a mission. Then everything
changed. As I got to know her, I saw a brave, humble, valiant daughter of God
who knew how to follow revelation, but the image that she saw of herself was
much different. She saw someone who lacked faith, who "couldn't possibly be
a tool in the hands of the Lord because she didn't have faith that He could
work through her". I couldn't help but look at her and just love her. On
this exchange, Heavenly Father wanted her to see how much He loved her .....and
because I had just been going through a similar experience and the
representative of my Heavenly Father, my mission President, had just
displayed to me how much potential and love were felt for me, I could then
easily transfer that to her. He wanted me to learn from her and see that
sometimes we can be pretty down on ourselves and look at only the worst things,
but that's not always how they are. We are sons and daughters of a heavenly
king. We have the right to shine and be glorious, we just have to give
ourselves the permission to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Well, because she didn't feel like faith worked, or that she could
be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, I prayed throughout the whole
exchange that we would see miracles and that she would be able to recognize
that she can be and is used by the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The end result is astounding. We saw MANY miracles on the
exchange. Many that are too big to be ignored. We were contacting on the
street, knocking doors, and she wasn't sure what to do. I said, "let's
walk up to this house." We practiced the NJ approach, but it didn't work
out. Next door, she chose. I let her lead the contact and before you know
it we basically just walked into her house. The front door was open and little
kids were playing inside. We knew that someone was home. We knocked, the lady
came to the door, she spoke Spanish. We asked if we could come in and share a
message about Jesus Christ. She said yes. We were in for 15 minutes and shared
a scripture with her. She said that she was very religious and wanted to
"join us in what we do". We invited her to a members house and then
to team up with us one day. She used to meet with the missionaries before in
her country. It was incredible. She said that she missed going to our church.
She said that the church that she started going to when she first came to the
USA was conveniently close, but she didn't like the way it felt. We offered her
our help with the ward to get her to the church. She is coming!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">She also mentioned that she wanted to start coming out with the
missionaries to help spread the message that we had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What a miracle!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I know that miracles are real. Especially when we believe in the
power of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am so grateful for all of the experiences that I had this
week. God lined them all up perfectly; the exchange with Sister Cadizal where I
learned to love others and love myself again, the interview with President that
reaffirmed how much Heavenly Father loves me and helped me realize who I really
am, and then the exchange with Hermana Jensen where I could look back and thank
Heavenly Father for ALL of the trials that I have gone through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So grateful for the flood gates that opened! :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WKMVHanWA0ztlMIfxR_5PWcu2h9G_NBqvmRb8b3iyChY-mUbEwRIn5Cxygl3CgzoZY-_7Z_JcDDXXOqyp6WA5upCCW5S8_hmxhsiFE1Lw8nMW7I4K_48QhM_tp2tqYZpSAUbZMN3ibCk/s1600/P1020923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WKMVHanWA0ztlMIfxR_5PWcu2h9G_NBqvmRb8b3iyChY-mUbEwRIn5Cxygl3CgzoZY-_7Z_JcDDXXOqyp6WA5upCCW5S8_hmxhsiFE1Lw8nMW7I4K_48QhM_tp2tqYZpSAUbZMN3ibCk/s1600/P1020923.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sister Cadizal. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">She's from the Philipines. I know that Heavenly Father <br />inspired this exchange....not for her, but for me. :)</span></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1430334911781_2611" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2JOigOZYcRGU9kIQNnaQVz0MKH-yp0r8T5qS4Q6vSzQ27mp7cgfFMKFKbZQkwrtTpFIIB_R-dDGP2gsBU_PQy3PKeLjHLRlK81TrIZ1yMnB0GoLKWOhoqWpoY6J8Hf44aK8I-JlgTBBX/s1600/P1020935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2JOigOZYcRGU9kIQNnaQVz0MKH-yp0r8T5qS4Q6vSzQ27mp7cgfFMKFKbZQkwrtTpFIIB_R-dDGP2gsBU_PQy3PKeLjHLRlK81TrIZ1yMnB0GoLKWOhoqWpoY6J8Hf44aK8I-JlgTBBX/s1600/P1020935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">I learned so much from Hermana Jensen. What an incredible missionary!<br /> I love her so much!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpk68-XYLoeZOG5Qy6c7njxSVa9v45yd5ZW-hH6keYdwu3br2U3sBVtn27wE83V9EmKmelmi7h_liGwIVMYJ6vs-YJ6arEqO0kAY7qh1fAwInyWDBqOW49k1-3B-xO1cQk0Cav2-V21CmQ/s1600/P1020937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpk68-XYLoeZOG5Qy6c7njxSVa9v45yd5ZW-hH6keYdwu3br2U3sBVtn27wE83V9EmKmelmi7h_liGwIVMYJ6vs-YJ6arEqO0kAY7qh1fAwInyWDBqOW49k1-3B-xO1cQk0Cav2-V21CmQ/s1600/P1020937.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Hermana Jensen, Hermana Danes, Hermana Palmer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-16824128036243212432015-04-21T07:47:00.000-07:002015-04-21T07:47:25.539-07:00Rumor Has It<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_11979" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12053">
Round 4 in Elizabeth and off to a spectacular start!</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12052">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12051">
We had a baptism last Sunday! Jorge Sermeno.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12050">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6En9dxj39EHo1m-A5pGBYuAshZ7KZMBMEcPFh59zY-DicrWjY3PG_PLkK9gaQX6WUIP4ZKCxLsVtw1bfe-X2zWWzXTomPbu_veWRwCMZ7fzMcR-yHvrQLASgoIRpfDv2ttSe3vI3x-OD/s1600/P1020907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6En9dxj39EHo1m-A5pGBYuAshZ7KZMBMEcPFh59zY-DicrWjY3PG_PLkK9gaQX6WUIP4ZKCxLsVtw1bfe-X2zWWzXTomPbu_veWRwCMZ7fzMcR-yHvrQLASgoIRpfDv2ttSe3vI3x-OD/s1600/P1020907.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jorge Sermeno Baptism</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is awesome. He's from El Salvador, he's about 50 years old, has 2 kids, and loves to exercise and take care of his body.<br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12048">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_11978">
We started to teach him when I first got to Elizabeth in December of 2015 and the process of teaching him was a little bit difficult. He was pretty stubborn and whenever we asked him to be baptized he would say, "We'll see, Sisters". He was actively involved in all of the ward activities and would come to church on his own every week. Finally we brought the ward mission leader with us to his lessons and he told Jorge about his conversion story. Jose, our ward mission leader, was also very hard headed when it came to meeting with the missionaries. He said that he always knew it was true, every time that the missionaries would invite him to be baptized he almost said yes, but he kept putting it off. Finally, when the two elders who taught him were transferred, he decided to be baptized. He called the mission president and told him that he wanted the two elders who had first started teaching him to be there at his baptism. He told the president that those missionaries had "fought" for his baptism. They had studied and worked hard to be able to help convert him. It touched Jorge to hear that, but had the opposite effect of what we were hoping. We were hoping that he would see that it wasn't worth all of that time to wait and be baptized, but instead, when inviting him to baptism again, he said that when he was ready, he would call our mission president and make sure that we were there at his baptism. He looked, both me and Hermana Stevens, in the eyes and promised us that we would be the ones to baptize him. We laughed and re-explained that we wouldn't be able to do it, but we would be pleased to be there. Keeping the mood light, but still reminding Jorge that we were serious about him being baptized, we told him that it would probably be easiest to do that before we left the area/the mission.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12061">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12062">
Well, not too long ago, we found out that Jorge lived one street out of our area. We didn't know because we would always teach him in the church. Well, we knew we had to respect the boundaries of our areas, so we handed him over to the elders to finish teaching the lessons. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12063">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12064">
The elders had finished teaching the lessons, and Jorge still was postponing his baptism. He knew it was true. You could see it. He would even bear his testimony on fast Sunday about the truths of the restored gospel, but he was waiting for something.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12064">
<br /></div>
<div>
One Monday night, a member family in our area was having a family home evening and asked us to attend. They told us that Jorge would be there as well. Well, after a great lesson, dinner, and a short chat afterwards, it was about time for us to get going. I felt prompted to ask Jorge why he hadn't accepted baptism yet (this was one of the first times that Sister Palmer had met Jorge). He simply said that he wanted to finish reading The Book of Mormon first. We asked him about how far he was in The Book of Mormon and how much he was reading every day. He had just finished Alma and was reading quite quickly. We told him that at that rate, he would be able to finish The Book of Mormon by April. He continued to elude the question. We stayed on him and were pretty persistent. We finally just testified of what we knew to be true and what we needed to do when we knew that these things were true. I recounted what had happened in our first lessons, all of the spiritual experiences that we had and then invited him to be baptized for the last time on April 12th.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He accepted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Technically the Elders baptized him, but I consider him my friend. I sure love him a lot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Love you all!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep praying for the Elizabeth Spanish Sisters!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12082">
Hermana Childs</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12081">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12087">
PS.</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12080">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12079">
You'll never guess who my new zone leader is! :)</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12079">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2tC9iH67UE-4Efc9yv9yTftokynd8PIDKhBz-wKcOMUlugGrP-I_oLFAcMWvVA49_cY-r3u_42a_DxaKf-I3gBMw7Bqlbbpgxd3Z3LseZoffbF-fHXND-ym_ujoy5Qh6WO14k45DLN-Z/s1600/P1020917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2tC9iH67UE-4Efc9yv9yTftokynd8PIDKhBz-wKcOMUlugGrP-I_oLFAcMWvVA49_cY-r3u_42a_DxaKf-I3gBMw7Bqlbbpgxd3Z3LseZoffbF-fHXND-ym_ujoy5Qh6WO14k45DLN-Z/s1600/P1020917.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder McFarland, my new Zone Leader</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12078">
Elder McFarland!!! Please ignore the crazy hair and tired faces. ;) We've had some brutal weather today.</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12068" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12070"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1429626036547_12069" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-65778853437615940742015-04-13T16:03:00.000-07:002015-04-20T10:38:50.747-07:00God's Power<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to tell you about
a miracle we had this week:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">My message today isn't
long and the miracle might not seem very big to anyone else, but Heavenly
Father knew exactly what I needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hermana Palmer and I
have been striving to become the best examples that we can be. The best
examples of Jesus Christ and the best examples as leaders for the sisters, but
our area began to struggle a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">During weekly planning
the week before we were thinking about how we could expand our area. We felt
impressed to set 2-3 hours of planned time every day, where we would go to a
different part of our area just to contact. We carefully selected certain areas
where it seemed like the previous missionaries hadn't been working before. We
put a lot of faith in the Lord as we set this goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well, from Monday to
Friday we had only taught 6 lessons. It was pretty tough to see that
because as leaders, our area needs to be the 'example area'. Well,
Saturday looked a little more promising, we had 3 appointments set. By the time
we had finished our studies on Saturday Morning all of our appointments for the
day had called or texted to cancel. We still kept our faith though. We had been
praying extremely hard during the week, and had even included fasting in part
of our plea for help, but we needed some miracles that day. It was in that
moment, that we had the idea to enlist the whole ward in helping us. We
texted all of the less active members, active members, and even our
investigators to pray for us as soon as they got the text. We told them our
situation, we told them that we were going to give it our all today, but that
we needed their help. Within minutes our phone was swarmed with texts telling
us that they had "already said their prayer for us" and how they were
sending us "their faith and love". It was great to feel such support
coming from the ward. So, with renewed faith and energy for the day, we went
out. And followed our plans to the tee. We went to every back up plan (and
every box in our planner had a name it it), and we to every single one of them.
We found some incredible people that day, but still no new investigators. We
weren't even able to teach a lesson. BUT we had set some appointments for Sunday.
We used the "NJ Approach", our President nick-named a certain way to
approach people, to help us set appointments. It worked!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunday afternoon, after
our baptism, we ran off to each of these appointments. We executed those
perfectly as well and got 6 new investigators in 1 day. It was a tender mercy
from the Lord. We needed it. That goes to show you what faith, hard work,
and the help of the Lord can do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wow. I love my Heavenly
Father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We have transfers
tomorrow, but it looks like I'm staying in Elizabeth as a Sister Training
Leader for 4 transfers! I'm super excited! :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Keep praying for the
Elizabeth South Spanish Sister Missionaries! We need it. I would love to get
not only our ward praying for us, but all of Utah, Texas, Colorado, and New
Jersey praying for us too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sending my love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-12159787996011573172015-04-06T21:02:00.000-07:002015-04-20T10:38:24.171-07:00Family<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Family: A Group of Best Friends <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Siblings may sometimes feel like assigned roommates; parents like
bosses from work, but when you get down to it, we are all just best friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I have been blessed with
the greatest family on earth. My mom, Sondra, is the biggest go getter I have
ever seen. She always seems to have a "to do" list a mile long, but
much like the Savior, never seems to be in such a hurry that she forgets what
is really important. She's the glue that keeps the rest of us
together. Dad, he's handyman...in more ways than one. Working hard all day
and night, he pays for the expenses, fixes the leaks and repairs the car, does
that 'daddy stuff', but also works as a tool in the hands of our Heavenly
Father to watch over his little 'sheep'. Courtney is the best little sister
you'll find. Though faced with some pretty hard circumstances, she keeps her
faith planted on good ground, her chin up, and her eyes firmly set on the Lord.
Derek, what a champ. The world better watch out for this future missionary!
He's a spiritual giant. Dillon, the perfect combo of playful energy and a
tender heart. When his gentle side is shown, it's hard not to have your heart
melt. Nathan, now there's a handsome young man. Nathan knows what is right and
will always walk in the footsteps of the Savoir. All put together, you might
not recognize it at first glance, but this is what family is. Heaven on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">How lucky are we, as
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to have the
knowledge of how to have a successful family? We have all of the tools to have
harmony in the home and build lasting relationships. It's the gospel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I have had the
opportunity to reflect on the blessing of having an eternal, and eternally
happy, family this week as I have seen many of my other brothers and sisters
struggle with theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eddie, our investigator
from Puerto Rico, has been struggling with his family that is trying to move
over to the United States. Things have been pretty fishy on his girlfriend's
end and things aren't working out between them. Eddie has struggled for the
past 2-3 weeks at the thought of his family leaving him. On Monday, his
girlfriend called him and told him that she was leaving. She no longer wanted
to come to the United States or be with him. He was heartbroken. Because we
love him, we too were heartbroken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We felt impressed to
call him before a dinner appointment last Monday. He answered the phone in
tears. My heart was wrenched for him. We bought him dinner, but couldn't stay
to talk with him because we had other compromisos. When we dropped off the
dinner we looked him straight in the eyes and said, "We love you,
Hermano". He affirmatively said, "I know" with a small smile. We
assured him not to worry, that everything is in God's time and in God's way,
that he'd see the blessings soon enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I couldn't stop thinking
about him all night. We've called him several times just to make sure that he
is doing alright. Not until Saturday, did we see him start to recover. Between
the sessions of General Conference we taught him the lesson of The Restoration.
We put our trust in Heavenly Father that The Restoration was what he needed to
hear. We started the lesson by asking about God's love; when he had felt it the
most, how it felt to him, and how he thinks that he can continue to feel it. In
response to where he had felt it the most, he pointed to church building and
said, "in there". He said that there is a peace there that he's never
felt before. We were comforted to hear that. By the end of the lesson, it
seemed as though his wounds were healed, at least from the outside. It was a
beautiful lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We also met with Juan
Castillo and his family this week. Juan continues to progress. Oh how I
love him! Our lesson this week was on baptism. He's pretty stubborn about
baptism. When we asked him about being baptized he told us, "Yes. I'll be
baptized in 2 years." Pleased to hear a yes, but startled to hear the date
that he had chosen, we asked him why he thought it would be a good idea to be
baptized in 2 years. He said that he wanted to wait for his daughter, Roxy to
be baptized with him. hahaha It was cute. I see a lot of potential in him. He's
awesome. A "yes" is something we can work with. I see so much in
him.......I think he'll be a member of God's kingdom very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We also taught a member
family this week. They are active members, but they have
very serious marital problems. The lesson we had with them was very inspired.
We taught them about covenants. We went through each covenant that we make with
God, until we got to "The NEW AND EVERLASTING Covenant of Marriage".
Wow. What a beautiful phrase. That lesson brought the spirit in it's full
abundance into their home. It was amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I love the people here.
I love being a missionary. My heart has grown and now I have a very much bigger
family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmx1Cuh5Bt41aDx3yGyXO2kkzKD2fNuN-qD4eVtRFeduc94qknvskXrnLq1u9mJsXujDxAr_09_7CHujeujv_OXxLup_TV67CwxLA4sWw9DfDEXONEIOCMFJzVyiCMm4PoTjVMI2caDyb/s1600/P1020867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmx1Cuh5Bt41aDx3yGyXO2kkzKD2fNuN-qD4eVtRFeduc94qknvskXrnLq1u9mJsXujDxAr_09_7CHujeujv_OXxLup_TV67CwxLA4sWw9DfDEXONEIOCMFJzVyiCMm4PoTjVMI2caDyb/s1600/P1020867.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Familia De Aquino. I love them. They are wonderful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-65574564317761020412015-04-06T20:43:00.000-07:002015-04-29T12:37:47.503-07:00Pictures: A Busy Week<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YZPYHLGDcKHOW7Maco0Jai52szFc0-WsZo9_rE-nKISRpUG3b916mUK2HUADm3KH5NPmEQe-gltA2eMTK0dRSknhzkfyap-EI50LGk953w2VVH8gFDqgDU6_CeWsfbrhTZNOUzTgUpcY/s1600/P1020768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YZPYHLGDcKHOW7Maco0Jai52szFc0-WsZo9_rE-nKISRpUG3b916mUK2HUADm3KH5NPmEQe-gltA2eMTK0dRSknhzkfyap-EI50LGk953w2VVH8gFDqgDU6_CeWsfbrhTZNOUzTgUpcY/s1600/P1020768.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo Wild Wings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dwa_L882D9k_YqiQS3OTEIzGien_gmFW6HvpMCpvzll5Y1fCo-cgQzTJGt55zsr7r_j3OROvYcom_qmp-XwDe-DpNXe-TL4u7X2xjoVJ2Tz-1VjJ4-ozEiPMePQ3BfQTRpZa6yyA4iz0/s1600/P1020771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dwa_L882D9k_YqiQS3OTEIzGien_gmFW6HvpMCpvzll5Y1fCo-cgQzTJGt55zsr7r_j3OROvYcom_qmp-XwDe-DpNXe-TL4u7X2xjoVJ2Tz-1VjJ4-ozEiPMePQ3BfQTRpZa6yyA4iz0/s1600/P1020771.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermana Palmer's favorite restaraunt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hd0LW32Ma5oRga2ZTuptjms6UW4rIpvDcdNNdMd7c-gh1qCEJHP-NxPm0lFtHjlJeQGl78bHLoHFxaJoOFac7uaC6-OM3GWP_3xDexXGzRdVbWkfQpn4ArGRURIYmoUfq0fnvccWyuGr/s1600/P1020775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Hd0LW32Ma5oRga2ZTuptjms6UW4rIpvDcdNNdMd7c-gh1qCEJHP-NxPm0lFtHjlJeQGl78bHLoHFxaJoOFac7uaC6-OM3GWP_3xDexXGzRdVbWkfQpn4ArGRURIYmoUfq0fnvccWyuGr/s1600/P1020775.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.....even Dessert!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHDTb7DKubGc8x3gAxHBRXoGzqqC-Y463QZHjwmB2kbbSMfr5V-oV49HUDv48iWY-71TuXmD77IgidAjKnObs8MiYvh-NH0D63z5PvgVDAzJajmUqLELj1cM2tBeH3ILaoErVccCFgbpN/s1600/P1020765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHDTb7DKubGc8x3gAxHBRXoGzqqC-Y463QZHjwmB2kbbSMfr5V-oV49HUDv48iWY-71TuXmD77IgidAjKnObs8MiYvh-NH0D63z5PvgVDAzJajmUqLELj1cM2tBeH3ILaoErVccCFgbpN/s1600/P1020765.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napkin has great motto for mission life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKTyv8BhiicxfLMFc_4BFokYUVkwb6x4uQGWfhFZhOziPQkgxbgzNx4VFYjlAoxCfi6Z1HERD2AhIbN0Dae9nFRCLfi8KDZU7LpuGbSNIeBj7paIxKdvaq0BRIGpzv3MTQiWtL6nRTjs9/s1600/P1020781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKTyv8BhiicxfLMFc_4BFokYUVkwb6x4uQGWfhFZhOziPQkgxbgzNx4VFYjlAoxCfi6Z1HERD2AhIbN0Dae9nFRCLfi8KDZU7LpuGbSNIeBj7paIxKdvaq0BRIGpzv3MTQiWtL6nRTjs9/s1600/P1020781.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange: Sister Rogers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XG3uW-q1kzJdRCPpF1tOvDdtdIzZH0zopwsJNk1pR24ZMHlms-rYpCMiIJcJiN_IqTdkzj4g3c2E4mw1Ik2cQc_b_xqAcvzg4QGaiOXeI4haX9kcno51NNKy4Moty1FHFXoHzZpWDkxa/s1600/P1020783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XG3uW-q1kzJdRCPpF1tOvDdtdIzZH0zopwsJNk1pR24ZMHlms-rYpCMiIJcJiN_IqTdkzj4g3c2E4mw1Ik2cQc_b_xqAcvzg4QGaiOXeI4haX9kcno51NNKy4Moty1FHFXoHzZpWDkxa/s1600/P1020783.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish Dinner. I ate the whole thing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOaDkmuwzaPRENn_kVLHdBQp4KucsPIhmaApa-1J-UCBmdrzcA9Q-agi7ZSphdo8ST5YcVGAd-i6lVym6Ub6T6VHNKhwL7oetUvQNTh-1taD1qcBi31Gz8Fu8uSuTzlT17veGvvGXrsh0/s1600/P1020790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOaDkmuwzaPRENn_kVLHdBQp4KucsPIhmaApa-1J-UCBmdrzcA9Q-agi7ZSphdo8ST5YcVGAd-i6lVym6Ub6T6VHNKhwL7oetUvQNTh-1taD1qcBi31Gz8Fu8uSuTzlT17veGvvGXrsh0/s1600/P1020790.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange with Sister Jenkins. Service at Presbyterian Church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g14dP6jFV67FxqCWB6JZqW61ZecpbD-4nHmEtcbWtf6LFbbkvD9MBzNdSXoEFld4jZJBYORHCoHL708-V5P3ifmjso7WJpCHV4QMgXGaun3BL1WbcTWozt9Jzu2iMpEk6KbtUeFL5ZRs/s1600/P1020803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g14dP6jFV67FxqCWB6JZqW61ZecpbD-4nHmEtcbWtf6LFbbkvD9MBzNdSXoEFld4jZJBYORHCoHL708-V5P3ifmjso7WJpCHV4QMgXGaun3BL1WbcTWozt9Jzu2iMpEk6KbtUeFL5ZRs/s1600/P1020803.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchanges: Sister Jenkins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzNaCZQya-ko3T30NnRkL0mi-ef7H7F4UEQS2vswGJqO63ZbPKFGeib87oJus36et3C6cfvgA9F7wVFjiyQ0aqTV5_LBIjVxGczMIVReT3kiXV03e9Tx8Kilb6QNPF-0kpNiIcYVy_H7X/s1600/P1020785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzNaCZQya-ko3T30NnRkL0mi-ef7H7F4UEQS2vswGJqO63ZbPKFGeib87oJus36et3C6cfvgA9F7wVFjiyQ0aqTV5_LBIjVxGczMIVReT3kiXV03e9Tx8Kilb6QNPF-0kpNiIcYVy_H7X/s1600/P1020785.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange: Sister Jenkins. So Spiritual.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RB3Js3_3Pr0amcaV4ojLDbh85pcy249ts6t7U4ihsLK-xCK5kpgcjm1Pftia0dTU-6MQ8IYjwX4Kk464Pom4zwRV7rO_7zcfHPmsHPBG8YgVDTJjZN3KhvI60rb8MsmXyG5G8pHGK4aq/s1600/P1020885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RB3Js3_3Pr0amcaV4ojLDbh85pcy249ts6t7U4ihsLK-xCK5kpgcjm1Pftia0dTU-6MQ8IYjwX4Kk464Pom4zwRV7rO_7zcfHPmsHPBG8YgVDTJjZN3KhvI60rb8MsmXyG5G8pHGK4aq/s1600/P1020885.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love my Chanclas from Mexico that Juarez family gave me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAA7QN1NMa04_iU8Gf2yiLaYqPT4fEWVdfm9ofi-h06QGHags6kaLVxUp0KJMYWbGBI3QLgNjhRKry0o_6MeR4pQAESNKwxj8EHr9UyGtY1oBxO69YDzjoNrDT6waw7kUMNp1TpRYfs68/s1600/P1020809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAA7QN1NMa04_iU8Gf2yiLaYqPT4fEWVdfm9ofi-h06QGHags6kaLVxUp0KJMYWbGBI3QLgNjhRKry0o_6MeR4pQAESNKwxj8EHr9UyGtY1oBxO69YDzjoNrDT6waw7kUMNp1TpRYfs68/s1600/P1020809.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juarez Family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5DUBwyIootJqb_34rsnsCYhsw7IcQptIJ8zQSMYhM0HEcowU20JHFEo8HaHFO4Aw4W-90TJyKHiK_FLBPnpw1XvkYkX7cfbA-qsYf4b_sYytiVSCH5Yj_BsqeTpPdGjTZMMQKUYlMWWA/s1600/P1020843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5DUBwyIootJqb_34rsnsCYhsw7IcQptIJ8zQSMYhM0HEcowU20JHFEo8HaHFO4Aw4W-90TJyKHiK_FLBPnpw1XvkYkX7cfbA-qsYf4b_sYytiVSCH5Yj_BsqeTpPdGjTZMMQKUYlMWWA/s1600/P1020843.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange: Sister Rigby from Idaho. I love her. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV_tAPAju1nTCkYKGXFC8LkPmYSE6hpHL6uoDDlbvyVVKjImciiPytWmlN17PkqFZ8K1ih7b4PQbm2TtLamqeS6A0YETEzjPfzBuFnGFyIGcuLMkPe9xEI0W-UgnqTKwzMgmW08d7SpK3/s1600/P1020839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV_tAPAju1nTCkYKGXFC8LkPmYSE6hpHL6uoDDlbvyVVKjImciiPytWmlN17PkqFZ8K1ih7b4PQbm2TtLamqeS6A0YETEzjPfzBuFnGFyIGcuLMkPe9xEI0W-UgnqTKwzMgmW08d7SpK3/s1600/P1020839.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cow Tongue Tacos! Quite the Experience.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-55294166851795314362015-04-06T20:15:00.000-07:002015-04-29T12:37:12.823-07:00Planting the Seeds, Reaping the Harvest<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
April 1, 2015</div>
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<br /></div>
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I wish
that I could name all of my blog titles "A Week of Miracles" because
that's exactly what each week feels like.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Three
weeks ago, at the beginning of this transfer, our area seemed to have stalled,
but much like planting a garden, we were patient and planted the seed of
faith in many hearts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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With Heavenly
Father's love we nurtured our garden every day. We would follow up on scripture
reading assignments that we had extended from the previous day, we kept in
contact with all of our less actives and investigators, we
worked really hard to have a member at every lesson we taught (less active
or investigator), and we would teach from our heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And just
as powerfully as God's love changes us, we watched it grow our little part of
His vineyard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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0 investigators
at church, 0 progressing investigators, 5 less active/recent converts at
church, and 3 member present lessons has turned into 2-3 investigators at
church, 4 progressing investigators, 19-20 less actives at church, and 7 member
present lessons. I don't say that to compare numbers like a businessman, but to
demonstrate how quickly God's love grows the seed of faith in your heart into a
tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It comes
from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Them and Me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Malachi 3:10 "[Live]<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>ye
[the gospel of Jesus Christ],<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>there<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>may<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>meat (conversion) in[thyheart],<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>prove<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>me<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>now<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>herewith,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>saith<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>theLord<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>hosts,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>if<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>not<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>open<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>you<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>windows<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>heaven,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>pour<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>you<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>out<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>blessing,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>there<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>shall<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>not<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>room<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>enough<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>receive<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We have
not had room enough to receive it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Walking
around the street, around every stop sign there seems to be someone who has
been waiting for us as if they knew that we were coming. Stealing a few minutes
from the Ecuadorians making brick stairs, there seems to be a golden referral.
It has happened all day every day this entire week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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What a
blessing it has been to be a representative of Jesus Christ at this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This week
on Monday, we taught the Ramirez family. When we arrived to the appointment,
they weren't home. Our appointment after them had cancelled, so we decided to
wait for 10-15 minutes to see if they would be home soon. We didn't have to
wait long. They came up the stairs. We started to teach them about the gospel
of Jesus Christ. The spirit flooded the room. We invited Lucia's boyfriend to
be baptized. He looked at us and said, "I know I have a long way to go. I
have many changes that I need to make in my life, but I will start to prepare
myself." We were so ecstatic!! Working with them is a great pleasure!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tuesday,
on an exchange with my previous companion, Hermana Stevens, we were teaching
the same families that we had taught before. It was just like we were
companions again, like nothing had changed. The spirit was our third companion
all night. We went to teach the Familia Grande. Hermana Grande is a returning
less active and her husband is not a member....yet. He has had a really hard
time leaving his Catholic roots to try to experiment this "see of
faith". In our previous 2 lessons we taught the Restoration. When trying
to review it with him, he said that he didn't understand or remember much. He
admitted that he wasn't really paying attention the other times, so we taught
it for a third time. We taught it so slow and so clearly so that he could
understand. At the end of the lesson, we asked him to pray. Never before has he
wanted to pray in front of us. He hesitated for a moment and then said,
"Si, orare." We knelt down in prayer and after he was finished, we
sat in silence for 10 minutes waiting for him to receive an answer if these
things were true. Finally, he looked up. "I feel different", he said.
"I feel like something changed inside me".<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wednesday,
the spirit was so strong all day. It was like a spiritual work out trying to
keep up with it! We taught Danny, about The Restoration. Something he's already
heard before. We had Hermano Corzo there to testify with us. The lesson was
taught simply and included a lot of participation and testimony from him. We
took a different take on the Restoration since he has already been baptized.
After we had been there for 45 minutes and had finished our lesson, Danny and
Jenny both thanked him for bringing the spirit so strongly into their
house.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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From
Danny's we went to Benita's. Hermana Realpe was able and willing to help us
teach Benita, who is a less active. We started the lesson with a sacrament hymn
which connected to our lesson about the sacrament. We asked her to read a
scripture in the lesson, Matthew 26:37-42, about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
She didn't have her scriptures with her, so I went to sit next to her and shared
mine. After she had read the scripture, I looked her straight in the eyes and
asked her what that meant to her. She didn't know what to say. I could tell
that she was understanding on a deeper level what the sacrament meant. After
pondering for a few moments she looked at me and said, "I'm sweating. You
make me nervous. Everytime you come here and you teach me, your words hit my
heart. I always try to reject them and make a joke out of it or something just
to push it away, but you just don't let go, do you?" I smiled back and
said, "No. No I don't." The spirit was strong and with that we
left her with the commitment to come to church. The lesson was no more than 15
minutes, but there was no more to be said. The spirit said it all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Danny's,
to Benita's, to the Corzo's. Now, the Corzos are a member family. The husband,
Hermano Corzo is the Elders Quorum President, so we wanted to go over and teach
his family and try to see if they had a friend who was ready to be taught. We
decided to teach them about the baptismal ordinance. We had just had a training
on this in our mission and after studying it for a while, we wanted to try
to teach it (because the best way to solidify your learning,
or testimony, is to share it). We had prepared a series of scriptures that
lined up perfectly in the lesson. As we started the lesson, the spirit bore
testimony of the truthfulness of the doctrine we taught. Just as the doctrine
was profound, so was the spirit. The lesson was short, but at the end of the
lesson Hermano Corzo looked at us and said, "Now here are two REALLY good
missionaries. I haven't seen missionaries like you in a while. You carry the
spirit so strongly." I cannot tell you how nice it was to hear those
words. That whole day was filled with the spirit. There was not one moment when
we couldn't feel the spirit burning inside us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On Friday
I was on an exchange with Sister Bingham in Elizabeth (English), pretty much my
same area, but the English Sisters cover it. I loved this exchange. Sister
Bingham is new to the NJMM (New Jersey Morristown Mission), but is burning with
testimony. I learned so much from her example. Incredible how young
missionaries can teach even old geezers like me ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saturday
was probably one of the most amazing faith filled days that I have had on my
mission. At 3:30 we exchanged back with the English Sisters and went
straight to our lesson with Miguel. What a great lesson as we taught our
recent convert about his baptismal ordinance. Actually, it was more like
he was teaching us this time. I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as I
was remembering back on when we were teaching him before his baptism about this
same thing. What a great feeling it is to see him become a worthy
priesthood holder in his home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
His
lesson lead perfectly into one of my favorite experiences.
We didn't have any set appointments for the
following hour, but we had set plans from the night before to go pass
by one of our other part member family's house. While traveling there, Sister
Palmer was driving and I was calling our investigators and less actives seeing
how their reading was going, making appointments, etc.. I was on the phone with
our investigator, Eddie. Eddie is from <st1:place w:st="on">Puerto Rico</st1:place>
and moved here to help his family. He lives with his girlfriend, but came to
find and start a better life for them. The day we met him, he was walking down
the street, and we decided to talk to him. For him, this was a great day. He
felt that everything was going right. Since that day, however, things have turned
around. Everything has fell through. His girlfriend has cheated on him, he's
lost the trust of his family, he lost his job, he's loosing his house, etc.
Well, while on the phone with him, we had this great idea to invite him to our
lesson and dinner later with a member family. We hung up with Eddie and called
the member to make sure that it was ok that we invited an investigator to the
appointment. The members, Eromar and Catalina, were happy to have another
person coming to dinner. So, we called Eddie back to tell him our plan. He
wasn't as excited to hear it as we were to share it with him. He said,
"I'll call you back at 5:00 to tell you if I'm going to come or not."
Our appointment was at 6:30 with the members, and we had already coordinated
with them that they would pick Eddie up at 6:00 so that we could all be there
on time. Up until 5:00 I was super anxious. I wanted him to come so bad. I knew
it would be something that he would enjoy, and really something that he would
need, a friend. Well, we walked out of our next appointment at 5:00. He hadn't
called. We waited for a few minutes. 5:10, no call. 5:15, still nothing. So, we
called him. He didn't answer. I looked at Sister Palmer and asked her if we could
pray. She jokingly rolled her eyes and said, "sure". While we prayed,
I told Heavenly Father how much I wanted Eddie to come to this appointment. I
told him that everything was set up, but Eddie just needed to have his heart
softened to come. After the prayer, we called again. A little persistent? You
better believe it. Still didn't answer. We texted Eromar to pray that he would
come as well. Eromar responded and said, "I just barely did", and
immediately after receiving that text from him, Eddie called. He said that he
didn't feel like going. He said he'd feel uncomfortable going to someone's
house that he didn't know. I can't blame him, but this is the work of the Lord.
He started to tell us more reasons on why he didn't want to go and while doing so,
he began to speak faster and faster. Well, Puerto Ricans already speak fast and
slur their words, but when they get going, there's no hope ;) haha While
he was talking I remembered how I felt when I prayed earlier in the car with
Sister Palmer. I felt like he was going to say yes. I kept that hope
inside me as he kept talking. When he finally finished there was a small
pause on the phone and I just started laughing and I said, "Hermano, I
have no idea what you just said, but I think you should come." Hahah. He
sighed and said, "Ok, ok, come pick me up." I just filled with so
much joy when I heard those words. We called Eromar, told him what happened,
and he got in the car to go pick up Eddie. We met them there. When we pulled up
in front of Eddie's house, he was waiting for us outside. He walked up to our
car and looked right at me and said, "why are you doing this to me?"
I felt bad because he didn't want to go right now, but I knew that it would be
worth it later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eromar
arrived shortly and we all went to Eromar's house. The lesson we had there was
great. The spirit was strong. Eromar and Eddie are now the best of friends. We
had to leave first from the appointment, but after Eddie had been dropped off
by Eromar, Eddie gave us a call. He said, "Thank you, hermanas. Thank you
for always supporting me. I really enjoyed tonight." <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
I knew
it. I just knew it. I was glowing with happiness after that. And thus it has
been since that appointment ended.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Eddie
came to church the next day, our investigators are all progressing, and our
little garden of seeds that we planted is growing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
"For
behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his
sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but
bringeth salvation to his soul." D&C 4:4.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
I love
doing the work of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Hermana Childs</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-27226481259632898292015-03-26T12:04:00.001-07:002015-04-20T10:34:16.775-07:00Loving Missionary Work<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At the beginning of my
mission I created a vision for who I wanted to become by the end of my service
here in New Jersey. I knew it would include a lot of twisting and stretching,
but looking into the future, I said to myself, "It's worth it". I set
goals for how I was going to become that type of person. As I strived for my
goals, I felt the twisting and stretching process begin. At sometimes, I didn't
know if I could be stretched or twisted anymore, but still looking into the
future I said, "It's worth it." This last week's experiences have
caused me to reflect on the past 14 months of my mission. Even though my
experience here isn't over yet, I can say, "It was all worth it."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This week I have
felt the most like the person that I have wanted to become.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I've felt like I've lost
it. haha No, not like you are thinking. I feel like I've lost whatever was
holding me back from becoming who I was supposed to become. I've lost myself,
and in turn, found myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Until this week, I
didn't realize how much I love and would give to do missionary work; how all I
want to do is eat, sleep, and breath the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I like to just think
about that for a second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I wasn't that person
before. But I'm grateful that I can be that person now and forever. I'm
grateful that there is no end to progression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Our area this week was
completely remodeled. It seemed to change so rapidly! How or why, I couldn't
tell you, other than God works miracles through our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We've been working with
the Familia Ramirez. They are a part member family. Lucia Ramirez is a less
active member and is currently dating and living with her boyfriend, Angel.
Lucia's son, Chris (17 years old), also is a less active member. Whenever we
have gone over to visit, Lucia always is so excited about having us over.
I can see her desire to change and she knows that we can help. Because she
cares for her boyfriend, she invites him into our lessons as well. He attends
the lessons, but with a "I've got nothing else to do right
now" attitude. Chris, on the other hand, is always invited, but
rarely leaves his room to listen to us. This week while teaching them, Angel
was really engaged in the lesson. Fireworks seemed to be going off in his brain
as he was making the connections about the restored gospel. He kept saying,
"this makes sense!" Chris was another huge miracle. For the first
time ever he left his room to listen to the message we had to share. We asked
him several questions and as he was answering, he would turn to his mom's
boyfriend and while giving the response to the question, testify of the truth.
It was such a neat experience to see!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Another one of the
biggest successes is with the Familia Sosa. They are a less active family much
like the Ramirez. Nadia, the mother, is a member of 5 years and is living with
her boyfriend Christian, who is also a member. They both have their own kids
and all live together. We have been working really really hard with them.
When I first got to the area, they weren't coming to church at all. Now, they
come almost every week. The next goal for us was to get them to read their
scriptures. It has been quite the struggle to help them see the importance of
scripture reading. Finally, last Tuesday, during our weekly Family Home Evening
with them, we challenged them to read The Book of Mormon every day. I told them
that I would personally read it with them. They thought it was easy for a
missionary to do, so I told them that I would read it in my "free
time" if they could just find time in their day to read. I am proud to say
that they have read every day for a week and are father ahead in the scriptures
than I am in this challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eddie, a new
investigator, is someone who I am so excited to be teaching right now. On an
exchange on Tuesday, we went to go contacting in a neighborhood for an hour. We
had contacted quite a few people and were about to head back towards the car to
go to our next appointment, but I turned around and felt like we needed to
speak with the man who was walking towards us. So, even though the light was
green and would could have clearly walked across the street to our destination,
we awkwardly waited like we weren't planning on crossing. As he approached us
we could see that he was kinda....well...not kinda... rough around the
edges. He's a large in stature and by looking on the outside, you would
definitely say that he looks "tough". As we got to know him, we found
out that he's the gangbuster, running the streets kind of tough guy. Now,
imagine me walking up to him and sticking my hand out and saying, "Hey,
I'm Sister Childs. I'm your missionary." haha Imagine it.
Because it happened. We started to talk to him about the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, how it changes lives and brings peace. He seemed pretty interested. We
got his phone number and he got ours and by the end of the night he had already
texted us first. We had our first lesson with him last night. He has a lot to
work through, but I already love him so much. He has SO much potential. I can
just see it. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All of our hard work is
showing through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We are being so
blessed. We even had 23 less actives/recent converts at church yesterday.
We were so excited that we texted the president!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I love missionary work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hermana Childs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-34611159536958044702015-03-10T11:10:00.001-07:002015-04-20T10:33:19.381-07:00Free To Become Better<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In October of 2014 Elder D. Todd
Christofferson gave a talk entitled "Free Forever, to Act for
themselves" stating that we, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, can
become something, someone better than who we are right now. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In his talk he said, "The
gospel of Jesus Christ opens the path to what we may become. Through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ and His grace, our failures to live the celestial law
perfectly and consistently in mortality can be erased and we are enabled to
develop a Christlike character. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It is God’s will that we be
free men and women enabled to rise to our full potential both temporally and
spiritually, that we be free from the humiliating limitations of poverty and
the bondage of sin, that we enjoy self-respect and independence, that we be
prepared in all things to join Him in His celestial kingdom. I am under no
illusion that this can be achieved by our own efforts alone without His very
substantial and constant help. “We know that it is by grace that we are saved,
after all we can do.” And we do not need to achieve some minimum level of
capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of
every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. But I know that
beyond desiring His help, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for
Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My
plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something
for God to help us with."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I testify to Elder Christofferson's
words. We are free to become better. Let's not let mediocrity and sin bog us
down and keep us from our divine potential. We are children of the most high. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are loved by a most kind Heavenly
Father. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us allow the gospel of Jesus
Christ change us. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That's why missions are powerful.
For 18-24 months you have focused your life on the Gospel and Atonement of the
Savior. We, as missionaries, spend that time learning and perfecting what it
means to have faith, repent, be baptized (ourselves by partaking of the
sacrament and our investigators), have the gift of the holy ghost, and endure
to the end. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is something that you can, and
should, do at home. All those who have not had the privilege to serve a
mission, who have already served a mission, who are preparing to serve, who are
still in the primary, etc. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So if you feel under pressure, weak,
humble, lowly, know this; you are free to become something better. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See what our Heavenly Father sees in
you. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are radiant, lovely, beautiful.
Full of light, full of potential! A <b>child</b> of God. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am coming to see what heaven sees
in me. I can feel my father's love. I know it's real. It's my favorite part
about missionary work, sharing the love I feel from Heavenly Father. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have seen so much growth in
everyone that I have taught as we have helped them see their potential and feel
God's love:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rosario, finally saw herself as
someone of worth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Familia Canabarro now has a
temple date to be sealed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jorge Sermeno has a baptismal date. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hermana Childs is becoming a more
devoted servant of the Savior, Jesus Christ. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know change is possible. Change is
the purpose of our lives. It is because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that
change can take place and what makes it so powerful. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I testify that light will radiate
from you as you center yourself on the basics of the gospel: faith, repentance,
baptism, having the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. See
yourself at the end and work from there. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are loved. By me and your Father
in Heaven. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Big hugs, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hermana Childs</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jYog07_s-I2g1OLS4b1Sgbka-xgQpmpG9gh4Q8rD5ClBm2VpaJAp67gUKDwL4JLD5B99a3JN9NomyuCjW8BNzVkgMZh_B_XGjLuJ-oLhLiYfTuRHg7hyphenhyphennBRCeMJBYky1Gq6Mnq8PsP1O/s1600/P1020671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jYog07_s-I2g1OLS4b1Sgbka-xgQpmpG9gh4Q8rD5ClBm2VpaJAp67gUKDwL4JLD5B99a3JN9NomyuCjW8BNzVkgMZh_B_XGjLuJ-oLhLiYfTuRHg7hyphenhyphennBRCeMJBYky1Gq6Mnq8PsP1O/s1600/P1020671.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving Apartments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZSrUQjXgJKqSr1bBoEFmg9Oa5ZxmOIDBu0RsWaBG_BvUbi0zRpN7DicTiXnuwkkF-jaXbCe2WpgQ2_7rcNHqNzoNDjebE92sP6INBV4CyssIpD4FGhKz_Te40kR8QdQP1oOX-Qu3wFgh/s1600/P1020699(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZSrUQjXgJKqSr1bBoEFmg9Oa5ZxmOIDBu0RsWaBG_BvUbi0zRpN7DicTiXnuwkkF-jaXbCe2WpgQ2_7rcNHqNzoNDjebE92sP6INBV4CyssIpD4FGhKz_Te40kR8QdQP1oOX-Qu3wFgh/s1600/P1020699(1).JPG" height="105" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our humble abode</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkwVQIcAPGiTMelM4SBlvoqGcZrA3VBpSzzc_ZJqEqhjWGpDvZEryVDLcQud7kmHpC8NzO5oChiMCvzqTvzv5n4nWLfjAGguyWfRA4ZNfyFklxzF6AEm1U541JK9sRSmjI6IEXQIRqDhi/s1600/P1020700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkwVQIcAPGiTMelM4SBlvoqGcZrA3VBpSzzc_ZJqEqhjWGpDvZEryVDLcQud7kmHpC8NzO5oChiMCvzqTvzv5n4nWLfjAGguyWfRA4ZNfyFklxzF6AEm1U541JK9sRSmjI6IEXQIRqDhi/s1600/P1020700.JPG" height="102" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJwzO56ackEanCE4AKkwpXyw5Ig4m7MOyq6ZLr6jfO57bbxnVLVBBnrRySFhN8AkQ0tcCKElCsx9sDioqmL92Fd-OglGbibWtQbLy09U5Bn62XeIhog2x8UXIVOFU2q3GyL_sDWyWzIVt/s1600/P1020696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJwzO56ackEanCE4AKkwpXyw5Ig4m7MOyq6ZLr6jfO57bbxnVLVBBnrRySFhN8AkQ0tcCKElCsx9sDioqmL92Fd-OglGbibWtQbLy09U5Bn62XeIhog2x8UXIVOFU2q3GyL_sDWyWzIVt/s1600/P1020696.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with the Ortiz family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeL4W8TM9hyqXR23bWRgN-HBD_cnOgzjfmHnI9jeE0u-dnJId5F5LIlK_KlC-cQa8ndJMrUke69eKM3ADD6xldM1pYEjNFIoi2RzT6CEfSmddMPgWocl_Uwa1F_CQ9gMM6gAMoiDMCzaV/s1600/P1020653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeL4W8TM9hyqXR23bWRgN-HBD_cnOgzjfmHnI9jeE0u-dnJId5F5LIlK_KlC-cQa8ndJMrUke69eKM3ADD6xldM1pYEjNFIoi2RzT6CEfSmddMPgWocl_Uwa1F_CQ9gMM6gAMoiDMCzaV/s1600/P1020653.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange with Sister Dubon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_DigCzDFVJo5SSRM4MpulrSgWGNoOaKfHS0rdCQYyb_uIkPJZomQM6RXnOtLW0yTkFsRhlvyDfs5KVwre9hQWPYTECPlrZ8skdjExvFlcfGiUgLqEGMC5dA6LS2ngLDgwQ9KSRzN3rdh/s1600/P1020716(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_DigCzDFVJo5SSRM4MpulrSgWGNoOaKfHS0rdCQYyb_uIkPJZomQM6RXnOtLW0yTkFsRhlvyDfs5KVwre9hQWPYTECPlrZ8skdjExvFlcfGiUgLqEGMC5dA6LS2ngLDgwQ9KSRzN3rdh/s1600/P1020716(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully the last now of the year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcTGTKuWc5TFkqs40mTLrEZGqBHOYxLLecphDBrxMmWfvymorboLBZEi2b0pctdLqiBhnox3WCP5Hac1Nt7lo3vpg3-OLbYkfWleMgDfC1Y7FTs2YRrXtH9PEG2PaCHdYchyD_0wEykAd/s1600/P1020723(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcTGTKuWc5TFkqs40mTLrEZGqBHOYxLLecphDBrxMmWfvymorboLBZEi2b0pctdLqiBhnox3WCP5Hac1Nt7lo3vpg3-OLbYkfWleMgDfC1Y7FTs2YRrXtH9PEG2PaCHdYchyD_0wEykAd/s1600/P1020723(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new companion-Hermana Palmer from Arkansas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSon2rlKZwGzveyyfU0hhT2eQA2cG2yNDo9D__xVYsSZU_XxFK4WvJlwI6Tma6EzhZEF7aN1r_M_-l8gujD1203hvkaRtHtiCJKtuqm9gsiNNi_Vu4c3xclbTp_xlStmJZ8VWhvtTWyo7d/s1600/P1020711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSon2rlKZwGzveyyfU0hhT2eQA2cG2yNDo9D__xVYsSZU_XxFK4WvJlwI6Tma6EzhZEF7aN1r_M_-l8gujD1203hvkaRtHtiCJKtuqm9gsiNNi_Vu4c3xclbTp_xlStmJZ8VWhvtTWyo7d/s1600/P1020711.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love the Sanchez family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeKNuPa-_Edw38QP7Ifz0HrXTScmm1SSsnMm_uwjt720F5aq4pIh-Eq_Ng1vUQCjLpcUJ09hkx5b9kebW2f6YkfuR76WVSbvYYSAlXD0zyh-st-WD791z4FyC_szqQ5V8T4-hP1ioOI67/s1600/P1020650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeKNuPa-_Edw38QP7Ifz0HrXTScmm1SSsnMm_uwjt720F5aq4pIh-Eq_Ng1vUQCjLpcUJ09hkx5b9kebW2f6YkfuR76WVSbvYYSAlXD0zyh-st-WD791z4FyC_szqQ5V8T4-hP1ioOI67/s1600/P1020650.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mormon Helping Hands-Service at the food bank</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSRgHczdl_uBaNTPvM_2Ro03IxoWOSsBT8YPPPGDO3WreOwIaYK_GZpBjrGoZgWVkOJAG4j-coQy_FsauK_evl75mlieDZQJpOPqWM_msWMNBQviapzmsFYRE8uZ38LvPWha9MaMZdlMz/s1600/P1020688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSRgHczdl_uBaNTPvM_2Ro03IxoWOSsBT8YPPPGDO3WreOwIaYK_GZpBjrGoZgWVkOJAG4j-coQy_FsauK_evl75mlieDZQJpOPqWM_msWMNBQviapzmsFYRE8uZ38LvPWha9MaMZdlMz/s1600/P1020688.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My trusted boots have finally died!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-9276502101842617852015-03-02T15:31:00.000-08:002015-04-20T10:32:54.000-07:00A Move for the Better<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7497">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7496">
This week was extremely hard. Extremely. In every way possible. Physically, spiritually, and emotionally. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7600">
This
week we had to move our apartment. It was some of the craziest few days
of my mission. We got the call that we needed to move out of our
apartment on Thursday. This was also weekly planning and transfer
planning day for us. We decided to do the packing first because we had
limited time to do it and the other sisters that we lived with were doubling
themselves out. We packed up everything into 2 cars, and after a couple
of trips we had everything moved into our "new" apartment, aka the
elders' old apartment. It's a shack. hahah but I love it. It's really
tiny, probably one of the smallest apartments in the mission, and the
elders got moved to a hotel style apartment. Why? I'm not sure, pero
esta bien. Asi es la vida. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7598">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7596">
I'm
grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with a creative mind,
because over the past couple days during meal times and before bed,
we've had a couple of extra minutes, and I've been using them to
rearrange the furniture and put things up on the walls so that it feels
more like a home. I think we've done a pretty good job! I'll send
pictures next week. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7594">
The
move was exhausting. The elders were busy and weren't able to help us
with the move, so we had to do it all by ourselves. By the end of
Thursday night we were exhausted and pretty much fell asleep on the
boxes that we had pulled in because we were too tired to make our
beds. Friday morning when we woke up with sore throats we found out that
the apartment doesn't have a heating system either. haha </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7592">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7590">
Friday
was another crazy day because Sister Stevens got called to follow up
train, so she had to be at the trainers meeting while I was on an
exchange with a sister in Secaucus (right next to Jersey City). It was
another hard day physically. I was in the car for almost 7 hours
straight, but it was a huge joy to drive through Jersey City and
remember the wonderful memories that I had there. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7588">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7586">
So there's the physically hard part of the week. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7584">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7582">
The
rest was hard emotionally. Tuesday and Wednesday I was really sad. I
had just finished a really trying experience, but the feelings still
lingered. I asked my companion for help. I told her how I was feeling.
Her actions more than her words blessed me. I'm sure the opportunity to
serve blessed her as well. I asked the elders for a blessing and felt my
Heavenly Father's love again. After that, everything seemed to be fine.
It was incredible. What a huge blessing blessings are! ;) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I
think that's why the challenges for the rest of the week seemed to be
more bearable. The move was a move for the better, the blessing moved me
towards something better, these experiences have moved me. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7580">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7578">
Isn't
it awesome how Heavenly Father touches your life with blessings and
trials that are specific to you? What a glorious recognition! :) </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7576">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1425337532852_7570">
Hermana Childs</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-67647651806234968112015-02-23T11:41:00.002-08:002015-04-29T12:35:28.715-07:00God's Hand Is In Everything We Do<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love missionary work. Can I just
say that? I could say that a million times over, mean it every time, and not get tired of saying it. I LOVE missionary work. I love being a missionary. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God's hand is in everything that we
do. <u>He will micromanage the details of our life if we let him. </u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He has surely been in the details of
our missionary work this week. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are working with a family from
Mexico, the DeAquinos, who's dad is a member of the church, but married a lady
who wasn't a member. His dad was a bishop in Mexico, but hasn't been to church
since he got married. It's been about 16 years. We've been working really
closely with them, and for the first time in many years, Hermano DeAquino came
to church yesterday!! I was SO happy. He came with one of his sons who is 6
years old. We then visited them later that night and had a great lesson about
the plan of salvation. His wife doesn't want to listen to us, but we have seen
miracles with the rest of their family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Sanchez family are so
incredible. I just love them to death! Lorena and Denise are seeming more and
more interested to be part of the church, but they can tell it's going to be
difficult to give up a few things (i.e. shopping on Sundays, coffee....). They
seem intrigued about the feeling that they have when we come over. I can see it
on their faces. They love the feeling and they want to have it with them. They
know the only way to have it is by living the gospel, but they can see that
they are going to have to give up a few habits. They know it will be worth it
though. I'm not worried about them. They are incredible. They have kept all of
their commitments thus far, so that's a good sign!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are seeing a ton of progress with
another less active that we are working with. Her name is Mileidy. She's from
Cuba and has 2 sons who aren't baptized. She and her husband were baptized 14
years ago, but have been less active for the majority of that time as well
because of work. We first started to visit her when I came into the area and
have been seeing her about once a week since then. She has expressed that she
wants her kids to be baptized, but they all lack the motivation to wake up for
church on Sundays. We've talked about solutions on getting her there, but she's
pretty stubborn. I'm sure that we'll see them at church shortly. I have a ton
of faith in them. Also, for the first time yesterday, her sons joined us in the
lesson. We taught them The Restoration (kid style) and had a blast. I think
they really enjoyed it and we gained all of their trust. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hermana Grande was another miracle
find this week. She happened to be sitting behind me in Relief Society last
Sunday (her first Sunday back in years). We talked briefly, but I didn't bother
to ask her name or where she lived. Later, I found out that Hermana Stevens had
set an appointment with someone named, Hermana Grande. I was excited, but
wasn't sure who we were going to go visit. Thursday night, we showed up to her
house and as she opened the door, I immediately recognized who it was. Instant
love. I found out she was Mexican. Even better :) We taught there family a
great spiritual lesson. She has great desires to return to church. We are going
to help her and her family get there, and also help her husband get baptized!
She is incredible. We have an appointment with her this Tuesday. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Danny and family are
having a hard time. Jenny, his wife, found out she has cancer and has been
trying to get a surgery, but it's very hard because someone needs to watch
their kids because Danny works all day. For this reason, it has been very
difficult to see them. Danny has canceled <b>every single one </b>of our
appointment for the past 3 weeks (since he got baptized). We had an appointment
with them on Sunday, but when we texted them in the afternoon to confirm he
cancelled. Again. I was heart broken. I love them so very deeply, and it hurt
me that we couldn't see them. We texted them saying pretty much just that. We
told them how much we loved them and that we missed seeing them. We told them that
we desired their progress in the gospel and their success in life, but because
of Danny's recently acquired job it has been a blessing and a hinderment to
their progression. Danny's response then was...."Ok, hermanas, vengan a
las 6. No sabiamos." Meanining, "Ok, sisters, come at 6 tonight. We
didn't know." We went. The lesson was awesome. My, how I have missed them.
We worked something out so that we could see them at a time that won't
interrupt their crazy schedule. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miracles. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have seen so many miracles.
Miracles with the members. Miracles with specific investigators. Miracles on
exchanges. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can you see why I love missionary
work? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know it's not only because I'm on
a mission that there are so many miracles, but rather because my eyes are being
opened to all of the miracles because I am acting in faith and through
obedience. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I LOVE missionary work. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hermana Childs</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Avwq1QCzvtXw95raTwlyN8Ol1MCamC4nJSZCM8PF1XTAwliiVrF5TrvLpfD7ierzApwWGHoI1xX-GwDvvSxOnboudAiGdghUZI3Y-ZQY3y5rUlDbFufCOjQU4244YY8AI8qhsfPf7Up/s1600/P1020633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Avwq1QCzvtXw95raTwlyN8Ol1MCamC4nJSZCM8PF1XTAwliiVrF5TrvLpfD7ierzApwWGHoI1xX-GwDvvSxOnboudAiGdghUZI3Y-ZQY3y5rUlDbFufCOjQU4244YY8AI8qhsfPf7Up/s1600/P1020633.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange w/ Hermana Jenkins. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ukoF8UEf_T84XdEFtElOnybCtlww7mKAqIeR0OQaJJFS-TzEpYwnmRNDZ3oY2CBqdfCopulok-rSSha70lpzOWm-H5azxFXiZ3j5iSuQGI16RfTcxNVRfaMHx8HHC_sHQVuIi-sWfdS/s1600/P1020636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ukoF8UEf_T84XdEFtElOnybCtlww7mKAqIeR0OQaJJFS-TzEpYwnmRNDZ3oY2CBqdfCopulok-rSSha70lpzOWm-H5azxFXiZ3j5iSuQGI16RfTcxNVRfaMHx8HHC_sHQVuIi-sWfdS/s1600/P1020636.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Correlation w/ the Elders. Polka Dots. We didn't even plan this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1_Df-tnLA3kLNPqf2MPobpXSHISR0qN3EQmwq6JjlBt2p1w_BFC8A2hYcwJnxjCIopmSrSwcCcNJJHGvcQBu4Csox0grrx4HPS5iFCyIxtZUt67jJ9MW-KKV7Q6qB3S_gh0zAp2HmHke/s1600/P1020621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1_Df-tnLA3kLNPqf2MPobpXSHISR0qN3EQmwq6JjlBt2p1w_BFC8A2hYcwJnxjCIopmSrSwcCcNJJHGvcQBu4Csox0grrx4HPS5iFCyIxtZUt67jJ9MW-KKV7Q6qB3S_gh0zAp2HmHke/s1600/P1020621.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exchange w/ Hermana Mortensen. Haircut time. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1_Df-tnLA3kLNPqf2MPobpXSHISR0qN3EQmwq6JjlBt2p1w_BFC8A2hYcwJnxjCIopmSrSwcCcNJJHGvcQBu4Csox0grrx4HPS5iFCyIxtZUt67jJ9MW-KKV7Q6qB3S_gh0zAp2HmHke/s1600/P1020621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-17167697863961346982015-02-18T08:08:00.000-08:002015-04-29T12:34:09.878-07:00Glorious Week!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is so much to say. So much
happened this week. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monday, I cut Sister Steven's hair.
It looks great. Sorry, I didn't get a picture, but you'll just have to take my
word for it ;) haha It really does look good though. We tried to do an A-line
hair cut, and I'd say it was pretty successful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tuesday, we had interviews with the
President. I was really excited to have my interview with President Taggart. I
didn't have any particular reason, but all day I was feeling really excited.
When I got into the interview, I felt so much love from him. I'm really
grateful to have President Taggart leading the mission. It took me a little
while to love President Taggart as much as I loved President Jeppson, but I can
clearly see why President Taggart is here. He is a God serving man. It was just
special to talk to him. It was the closest thing I had to talking to an earthly
dad, and it felt great :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wednesday, I was on an exchange for
the majority of the day, but when I returned to my area we went to go teach
Miguel. We taught him about The Plan of Salvation, but this time it had a
different twist on it. Miguel has been preparing to go to the temple since he
got baptized 6 weeks ago. He had prepared his own names to take to the
temple. This time when we taught The Plan of Salvation, it seemed
like all of the pieces started to click-eternal families, baptisms
for the dead, the restored gospel, priesthood authority, temples, and
watching him make that connection was inspiring. By the end of
the lesson, when we reminded him of the temple date on
Saturday, you could tell he could have jumped out of his seat because of
how excited he was. Now, Miguel is a very shy, 32 year old father of 6, and
isn't the type to just jump out of his seat and shout for joy, but I think if
no one was around, that day he just might have. ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After Miguel's lesson we wanted to
do something really special for our other recent converts, Danny and Isaac, and
their mom, Jenny. Valentines day was coming up, and mom had sent me a package
with some paper hearts from Hobby Lobby. Sister Steven's and I had already
prepared the hearts with little messages earlier that day, so that we could
tape them on their door. Well, we had a blast doing it! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFL068OTXXMYaRzumUCfjVOdVK0d4CkRGCXK_yIo2NiQ9xPlkuDvjuLOycr-9WjMcRfmZ1Ds4jfc0cHI_w9A0eQz7BnIU0aCNJJAlHaWyOTFYm1G4yt_ey8Uv2HUDA84HC9qFU0DFqWyh/s1600/P1020535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFL068OTXXMYaRzumUCfjVOdVK0d4CkRGCXK_yIo2NiQ9xPlkuDvjuLOycr-9WjMcRfmZ1Ds4jfc0cHI_w9A0eQz7BnIU0aCNJJAlHaWyOTFYm1G4yt_ey8Uv2HUDA84HC9qFU0DFqWyh/s1600/P1020535.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart Attacking our recent converts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We thought it was something really
simple until we got a text from him later that day when he had gotten home from
work. </span>
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Danny came home exhausted from work,
and to his surprise saw his door decorated in hearts. He walked in and called
his wife to come see. She had been inside all day and the decorations came to a
surprise to her as well. She was so surprised and happy that she cried. Anthony
and Isaac shouted because of how happy they were. Danny's text deeply
thanked us for the act of love, as if it were something extravagant. I sure
love their family. They come from such humble backgrounds and my heart just
leaks with love for them. They are wonderful. It was much more of a treat for us
to show our love for them, than it was for them to receive a few paper hearts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thursday, we had a really special
lesson with a new investigator named Leonardo. He struggles with drug
addictions and seems to be very depressed. When we came over, however, he
seemed to perk up after a while. We told him that the gospel repairs lives. He
looked at me and said, "Is that why you are so happy?" I smiled and
simply said, "yes". We have a lesson with him later today. I'm very
excited to see the Atonement work in his life. I already love him a lot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friday, wow. Friday was something
incredible. Earlier in the week we had set a lesson with one of our members,
Hermana Realpe. The night before, we had planned to teach her about the
Atonement. I testify that nightly planning is inspired when you make it so
because that is exactly what she needed. She doesn't have a very good
relationship with her husband. She doesn't have very many good things to say
about him. It breaks my heart to hear and see something like that, but as we
started to talk about the Atonement the spirit flooded their home. During the
lesson I was reminded of something that Sister Stevens had learned in her
personal study that she shared with me during comp study. I asked her to share
it in the lesson. It was exactly what Hermana Realpe needed to hear. Tears
rolled down Hermana Realpe's cheeks as Sister Stevens told her story about her
less active dad. I testified to Sister Realpe of the truths that my companion
had spoke and then told her that the commitment we were going to leave with
her, was to better her relationship with her husband. I told her that we didn't
know what the best way to do that was, but she did. She turned to me and said,
"you were supposed to tell me that. I know that's what the spirit needed
me to hear". Everything I said in those moments came straight from the
spirit. It was amazing. We all left the lesson feeling much better. And best of
all, as we were leaving her husband walked up to the door with a bouquet of
flowers. Her response was telling him how much she loved him. I know that the
gospel repairs relationships. It's the most powerful antidote there is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saturday, we had the MOST INCREDIBLE
LESSON DAY. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took our recent convert,
Miguel to the Manhattan temple! It was the most incredible day. Miguel came
prepared with his family names, his suit (that he wore to his wedding....SO
CUTE!) and the BIGGEST smile on his face. He was ready. He was ready for this
day, long before I met him. The trip to the temple was great. We had a couple
members drive us, and then once inside, everything was perfect. You can only
imagine how much happiness was in my heart. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-67dchXORKfkDd5ZCZyZ_qpnyNdoaTR7okdXreQfoPJBXoSer0PWRnLW1VERfInRpYgibynyd10CQ0wpQjOkJiAgWgZJ061kqw7IscQ5FtvOFb5pNpTpjgbaXALqpyfG3PKk_9DyYYOGQ/s1600/P1020579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-67dchXORKfkDd5ZCZyZ_qpnyNdoaTR7okdXreQfoPJBXoSer0PWRnLW1VERfInRpYgibynyd10CQ0wpQjOkJiAgWgZJ061kqw7IscQ5FtvOFb5pNpTpjgbaXALqpyfG3PKk_9DyYYOGQ/s1600/P1020579.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manhattan Temple, Beautiful isn't it. A Sanctuary in a world of chaos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLmrNuNrGe-M6IrPMOGxVUjT3b2BJcMEY3568gIGo3Ol8sA_-RothZz6pBs7noV5ptB9jMSAeJgx1Pk7u1a-PF9IX3U278fShLtkg1Xu7g3Jvp8oSR4MMUxnVG4KlklNQSo8r48v98CAi/s1600/P1020565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLmrNuNrGe-M6IrPMOGxVUjT3b2BJcMEY3568gIGo3Ol8sA_-RothZz6pBs7noV5ptB9jMSAeJgx1Pk7u1a-PF9IX3U278fShLtkg1Xu7g3Jvp8oSR4MMUxnVG4KlklNQSo8r48v98CAi/s1600/P1020565.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miguel's Temple Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde5RvkTBU79EUbOc_SjJWm_jY6zCgLA3GffZO79Bt7CLAh_v5h9RK62YziGtd7484C0nFspt3cxpYkeuKjLpLVgBTdYmakceXfdjbDtHOBsZhhgFFuA2q_RWcLzf_ZmRsTx7G0EM3tjud/s1600/P1020574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde5RvkTBU79EUbOc_SjJWm_jY6zCgLA3GffZO79Bt7CLAh_v5h9RK62YziGtd7484C0nFspt3cxpYkeuKjLpLVgBTdYmakceXfdjbDtHOBsZhhgFFuA2q_RWcLzf_ZmRsTx7G0EM3tjud/s1600/P1020574.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then, Heavenly Father blessed me
with another miracle. Members from my Jersey City ward were all visiting the
temple that day! Now take that happiness that you imagined before and times it
by 5. It was glorious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The glorious beginning to a day had
a glorious ending with the Sanchez family. We taught them the Restoration. The
spirit was so strong and our comp unity was impeccable. MY heart was touched
because of how strong the spirit was. We invited them to be baptized. They were
a little hesitant. They wanted to see how it was first. We committed them to
come to the baptism next week to see how it is. They agreed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I already know they are going to say
yes :) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sunday morning, it was crazy. Satan
knew we were up and moving and so he was too. The Sanchez called to tell us
that they weren't' going to come to church. They had to do their shopping and
things that they couldn't get done during the week. We made a few calls, found
them a ride to church, and saw them right on time. :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ah! I love this gospel. I love being
on the Lord's side :) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Being a missionary is the greatest
:) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hermana Childs</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN_4uHotRsHFUUS8Nqyfz0zLkx9rJt0cl_48le_lNQy53tbuWONoKezx5_fFNTf01gtE343dSiK9HyyReq-DrVYH5lD3PgYa09uxq_8bYArOy4VStBswByXCBTo4Ca2rz_nSvYLfkTB_q/s1600/P1020582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN_4uHotRsHFUUS8Nqyfz0zLkx9rJt0cl_48le_lNQy53tbuWONoKezx5_fFNTf01gtE343dSiK9HyyReq-DrVYH5lD3PgYa09uxq_8bYArOy4VStBswByXCBTo4Ca2rz_nSvYLfkTB_q/s1600/P1020582.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cold it hurts to smile. Hungry for gyro food truck. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJarz5zbnpQEJDsoo9a1k3Uzj-siPI3sD_1hmJuAwetFb9tR2-kiMLIPg2JdP3LpwF39p7hDsxBk5nc9bGxfuHRKw345iNJkqU1ukN9eTSWI3bLCuxoRzG3wc3GJ9I_uKpmUgowWdQJoqJ/s1600/P1020562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJarz5zbnpQEJDsoo9a1k3Uzj-siPI3sD_1hmJuAwetFb9tR2-kiMLIPg2JdP3LpwF39p7hDsxBk5nc9bGxfuHRKw345iNJkqU1ukN9eTSWI3bLCuxoRzG3wc3GJ9I_uKpmUgowWdQJoqJ/s1600/P1020562.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanner Snow's Sister serving Ny, Ny South mission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvfKmRcoePW1iLC68wuzRcIkJberaxC0C4rEK7o6drdJunQcdA2yyoW0Eb3ypHQPVnQAt8bI_surDWGI4habnDjaqE_K3BlSWNGqFUlW7baqBEEfqN5LAx1vOohCL81OoaPxGsHpShTHM/s1600/SAM_4140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvfKmRcoePW1iLC68wuzRcIkJberaxC0C4rEK7o6drdJunQcdA2yyoW0Eb3ypHQPVnQAt8bI_surDWGI4habnDjaqE_K3BlSWNGqFUlW7baqBEEfqN5LAx1vOohCL81OoaPxGsHpShTHM/s1600/SAM_4140.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eromar and Catalina treating us to Applebees </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybcEbujrfX4LmnjgtH42Z6UQGgSIan3DKy4ZwFUzMdh7EeWp0rpzd074R5TrSwYG4POtNjxmfEucpNMKDGYs8U6d9myUsqUI-_t7SH5RjXq3-J8pl5jrvk1PZb9O1tzfVy8zg-hlWRLUs/s1600/P1020550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybcEbujrfX4LmnjgtH42Z6UQGgSIan3DKy4ZwFUzMdh7EeWp0rpzd074R5TrSwYG4POtNjxmfEucpNMKDGYs8U6d9myUsqUI-_t7SH5RjXq3-J8pl5jrvk1PZb9O1tzfVy8zg-hlWRLUs/s1600/P1020550.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V-Day package from Annette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-2491784237128831292015-02-09T11:52:00.004-08:002015-04-29T12:32:44.723-07:00A Heart Too Grateful<br />
<div class="thread-info" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68249" role="presentation">
<span class="thread-date" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68248" role="presentation"></span> </div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68264">
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What an amazing week. </div>
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Monday, we went to the mall for a zone activity. This is the country's third largest mall in the USA. It is HUGE!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHANSH2vYl-pBbJtR6coLoeeod6PevJ-OdcGGO04bpFbvaETfSvX7eGfpIYGRtoIImg6TJyIuHmIuKCdMHUJR7f-D6qnlnEX0M3kytqV8-KNgqBn0dt4j-I_BPhghPiOZdTO_Mt7LZuKN/s1600/P1020490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHANSH2vYl-pBbJtR6coLoeeod6PevJ-OdcGGO04bpFbvaETfSvX7eGfpIYGRtoIImg6TJyIuHmIuKCdMHUJR7f-D6qnlnEX0M3kytqV8-KNgqBn0dt4j-I_BPhghPiOZdTO_Mt7LZuKN/s1600/P1020490.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zone Activity at the mall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HOfWTw_0C4u1-_y_uJHxO5H1QLqGo0OYPiTiwF5pqxpckDNzzQ9mfePvqiHTbL79JLkuFUcSEZbHHZU0FD84cPEJy1MyR3kU1wRhEFuH7RsrbRU0p4mvUapt1xnijADtKW737eAD02-p/s1600/P1020493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HOfWTw_0C4u1-_y_uJHxO5H1QLqGo0OYPiTiwF5pqxpckDNzzQ9mfePvqiHTbL79JLkuFUcSEZbHHZU0FD84cPEJy1MyR3kU1wRhEFuH7RsrbRU0p4mvUapt1xnijADtKW737eAD02-p/s1600/P1020493.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of one of the stores at the 3rd largest mall in USA</td></tr>
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My goal was not to spend anything while I was there. Did it! Almost didn't. haha </div>
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It was super fun to spend some time with the zone and have some "girl bonding time" with my companion. She's awesome :) </div>
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<div>
Tuesday,
I had an awesome exchange with Sister Rigby. She's an English
missionary, but knows quite a bit of Spanish, so she was really helpful
in lessons on the exchange. She is darling. I really grew to love her.
That's my favorite part about being a Sister Training Leader, being able
to be with so many missionaries, help them, and just love them. She's
having a really hard time right now and at the beginning of the exchange
I wasn't really sure how to help her. I kept a prayer in my heart
though, that through out the exchange I would know what to say to help
her. At the end of the exchange we had our evaluation, where we just sit
down and talk about what we learned so that we can take it back into our
proselyting areas, and it was probably one of the most inspired
evaluations I've ever had. I felt Heavenly Father put the words into my mouth. They felt perfect coming out. In the
middle of the evaluation, she stopped me and said, "that was <em>exactly</em>
what I needed to hear. I know that Heavenly Father needed me to be on
this exchange with you." It was nothing that I did. Through several
missionaries being obedient and following revelation, a miracle
happened. I am just grateful that I got to be a part of it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I probably say that every time, but it's true! </div>
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<div>
Wednesday,
so many miracles happened. We finally got in the door of a less active
who has been avoiding us for a little while. She knows that we have been
trying to see her, but seems to always find something to put in the way
of our appointments. Well, Wednesday she finally let us in. We had a
wonderful lesson with her about the spirit. She mentioned that she
misses feeling the spirit at church. She wants her kids to go and learn
and feel, just like she did, about the restored gospel, but when we
asked her why she is waiting to come back, she didn't give us a very
clear answer. It's ok though. I know by the end of my time here, she'll
be coming back to church with her two sons! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We
also taught Danny, on Wednesday, for the first time after his baptism.
He is amazing. I sure love him and his family. They are inspiring. When
we followed up about his baptism, he just looked at us and said, "I know
this is true." I just about cried. I was so happy. Words just can't
explain. In the time that I have been here, he has changed from a man
who didn't have much interest in being baptized-more in just learning
about the church and what we believe, to a man who will follow the Lord
wherever he may direct him. As Danny was sharing his testimony with us, I
felt the spirit so strongly. He is going to be a great leader in the
church one day.<br />
<br /></div>
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Thursday was probably the
coldest day I have ever experienced on my mission.....and it was walking
day. Humbling. It is truly humbling to be representing the Lord
and walking in the freezing weather. It was a pretty rough day. The
people we had taught weren't very nice that day. We had been yelled at
and rejected in every way and on top of that, it was cold enough to
kill. Our last appointment of the night fell through, and our back up
was about a mile away. The back up we had planned was a former
investigator of ours who had been lost after the holidays. We weren't
able to get a hold of him for weeks, so we dropped him. Well, after
walking a mile in the freezing weather, and praying for a miracle, we
arrived at his house and knocked. And knocked again. Then the doorbell.
Nothing. We waited for a minute or two, and then decided to head off. We
were planning to stop by the grocery store on the same street to buy
some ear muffs so that we could walk home in less pain. After walking a
few steps away from our former investigator, Carlos,'s house, we heard
someone call out to us, "Mis hermanitas!" It was Carlos! He was just
walking home from the grocery store on the other side of the street. We
was carrying his groceries, so we ran over to help him. He let us in and
we were able to talk to him for a bit. It was so good to see him! I'm
pretty sure every cell in my body was smiling to see him, I care about
him a lot. It broke my heart to lose him the first time. After we
chatted with him for a bit, it was time for us to head back. We set
another appointment, and promised to talk soon. It was a huge miracles
for us. We would have totally missed him if he didn't call out to us. We
were too focused on not slipping on the ice. After all of that praying
for a miracle, and walking in the freezing weather, just talking to
Carlos for 5-10 minutes to definitely worth it. I'd do it all over
again. I bet that is what heaven is like....working and working and
working and you might not see the results of your labors in this life,
but they will all be worth it in the next. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzQeHL2cwSkV66R13ZiNNpz7tpwtEFAnvvEzDMYnveKycNh-F2ihMql9IYLzBR-WfUzWnTA61iDKk2VHDoJCfQRdU0gPX9_-JePiqMtRB4EKC7F3bapFUvm6cTYo4GXmfevhfT0AqwYi1/s1600/P1020499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzQeHL2cwSkV66R13ZiNNpz7tpwtEFAnvvEzDMYnveKycNh-F2ihMql9IYLzBR-WfUzWnTA61iDKk2VHDoJCfQRdU0gPX9_-JePiqMtRB4EKC7F3bapFUvm6cTYo4GXmfevhfT0AqwYi1/s1600/P1020499.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So Much Snow...and FREEZING!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Saturday,
we had a quick Sister Training Leader meeting at the Mission home. It
was amazing, but I ate gluten and definitely paid for it later that
night. I love being a Sister Training Leader. Really, I just love being a
missionary. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Miguel is progressing incredibly.
We are taking him to the temple this Saturday. The best Valentines Day
gift that anyone could have ever asked for! He conducted his very own
family home evening last night after we showed him how to do one a week
ago. They <em>love </em>family night. And I love them! </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68275">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68274">
I
only have 1 minute left, but this week has been awesome. Hard, but
awesome. Heavenly Father always seems to make things work out. He's
great :) </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68273">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68272">
I love you all. Have a great valentines day! </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68271">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68270">
Hugs! </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68269">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68263">
Hermana childs</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84e9xJ-vGeq6VP-aIpGdmJr75j_nP1q_HpVrTfmnXT9wbOw6Feqdk0Zx0N-vi6AAbzIDVAA3vAxCUNWB1-3MNO4XUiMNdWVs8Pth9mUmIRxfmcmEHlVNGNWq4iQ7Gqc7KgwC0ENPEi0-J/s1600/P1020529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84e9xJ-vGeq6VP-aIpGdmJr75j_nP1q_HpVrTfmnXT9wbOw6Feqdk0Zx0N-vi6AAbzIDVAA3vAxCUNWB1-3MNO4XUiMNdWVs8Pth9mUmIRxfmcmEHlVNGNWq4iQ7Gqc7KgwC0ENPEi0-J/s1600/P1020529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NJMM for Life!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423503839903_68263">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-81914581032534272662015-02-02T10:29:00.000-08:002015-04-29T12:31:10.340-07:00You Look Best When You're Dressed In White<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It looks like I have a lot of
catching up to do because of illness the last two weeks. I am feeling much
better, almost perfect! Between the stomach bug that has been passed around and
eating something moldy 2-3 times this past week, I feel very blessed to feel
this good right now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New Jersey has been such a fun place
to live in the past little bit. The weather has been like nothing I have ever
seen before. We have had so much snow that the whole state has been in
a "State of Emergency". Everything seems to be shut down. They
will shut down all transportation systems, grocery stores, driving will be
forbidden because our cars are buried in snow, or it is too dangerous to drive
as the rain freezes before it hits the ground. It's really remarkable what
Heavenly Father has created. Personally, I think the earth looks better when
it's <b>dressed in white </b>;) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has been beautiful to see all of
the changes that are happening. There are even many changes that are happening
in the mission. On Thursday I was privileged to go to the Mission Leader
Council where Brother Donaldson (the Mission President when District 2 was
filmed, and also the Church Missionary Chair -or something like that) and Brother
Stevenson (the Provo MTC Missionary Trainer) were present. They both gave
instructions on how we as leaders should be applying the Atonement of Jesus
Christ and how ALL of our work revolves around the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
As Brother Donaldson spoke, his words were riveting. I felt a burning in my
chest that I haven't felt since the MTC. It was amazing. In 9 hours, he walked
me through the first three missionary lessons and applied them personally to
me, simply by<u> rooting </u>them in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If he could
do that with a missionary and teach me how, I am positive that I can do it with
my investigators. I came to realize and love my Savior even more than I did
before. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt lifted. Because that's
what the Atonement does. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I forgot all of my notes at home,
but I'll bring them next week. I want all of you to know exactly what I felt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just a side note. This came to my
mind this week and I just want to share it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Atonement isn't just freedom from sins. The Atonement means
looking up and moving forward. When we have faith in the Atonement of Jesus
Christ, we <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">don't</span> look back. </u></b>That
thought came to me, and it's something I needed. I hope that it can help
you as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't know why, but I just can't
stop testifying of the Atonement. I think it's because I've seen the change in
myself throughout my mission. I have been refined. I'm proud to say that. I
have been purified through the Atonement of MY Savior. I am proud to say that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HE IS</b> my best friend. There is no one
that I would rather converse with, counsel with, or confide in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the things that has brought
me great joy is to know that some of my dearest friends has chosen to
follow the example of the Savior. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Danny <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Isaac, his son, were baptized yesterday
afternoon. It makes me so happy to say that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Danny had been up all night cleaning
his house in preparation for the visit of his mother-in-law. He
texted us at 11:00pm telling us that he didn't think he was going to come to
church, but that he would be at his baptism. In response to his text, we told
him that he knew what he needed to do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sunday morning, we asked a member to
give him a call "just to invite him to church". Well, Heavenly Father
provided a way that the member gave Danny a ride to church, even if they did
show up a little late. It was a beautiful day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They truly look best, when they are <b>dressed
in white</b>, don't they? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sending my love, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hermana Childs </span></div>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-58757320603082114842015-01-30T07:43:00.000-08:002015-04-20T10:24:53.937-07:00"State of Emergency"Sorry I haven't written and this is short. Library was closed due to the storm. I went on exchanges and it has been a crazy week of sorts.I have been ill. I think from some food that was bad. Well, we got so
much snow (lots for these parts) this past week that NJ was in a "state of emergency".
EVERYTHING was closed. Trains, buses, stores, gas stations, you name it.
We got about....2 feet of snow. It's crazy!We were told to stay home and so we had fun with some of the Christmas gifts that
we got sent from our parents and friends. I will write more on Monday! Love you all.<br />
<br />
Hermana Childs<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdj8dt2EiyoG5sRkYr-OKbeWG-ihHU7taHZnz7_dc0r9gUwpviHJOXal8MhusXxbYqbTFH5GoCm3Q8kjaq6xRMzrLGY9dlB6fUCFq9uyf-RQOxAxy5c-smjewPXqRy2YatqFG_uavK_8sc/s1600/P1020473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdj8dt2EiyoG5sRkYr-OKbeWG-ihHU7taHZnz7_dc0r9gUwpviHJOXal8MhusXxbYqbTFH5GoCm3Q8kjaq6xRMzrLGY9dlB6fUCFq9uyf-RQOxAxy5c-smjewPXqRy2YatqFG_uavK_8sc/s1600/P1020473.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Empanadas </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowed In</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8LQ6oVc8qXWlqm8YOoCMaXwIylWvMTau3xSizcK5oX9F63QTD0FBAo0tXgTdcLwdN5VU0hJv3uAETWH_Bi5_ZWWyNPu31LM3zqRrYDRw_N4r1MaPV8LE373oXdY8WZ76RRliVkOe3Tid/s1600/P1020331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8LQ6oVc8qXWlqm8YOoCMaXwIylWvMTau3xSizcK5oX9F63QTD0FBAo0tXgTdcLwdN5VU0hJv3uAETWH_Bi5_ZWWyNPu31LM3zqRrYDRw_N4r1MaPV8LE373oXdY8WZ76RRliVkOe3Tid/s1600/P1020331.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the Storm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422631008152_17330"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422631008152_17329" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630234887282003784.post-38585993425928186482015-01-22T15:47:00.000-08:002015-04-29T12:30:28.150-07:00Completely Synchronized<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well....I can proudly say that
Hermana Stevens and I have perfect comp unity. We are completely synchronized.
In lessons we know exactly when to trade off teaching. In fact, we have gotten
so good at it that it is affecting who gets sick next. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the end of last transfer into
this transfer it has been a volley of sickness. Hermana Stevens will be ill one
day, and then the next it's my turn, the following day it's back to Hermana
Stevens. We are so perfectly synched it's kind of comical :) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm actually not feeling too good
right now, so I'm going to try to keep it brief. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This last week has not only been one
to learn how to be synched with my companion, but also the Savior. I feel, as
a Sister Training Leader, that I need to use the Atonement more and more
in my life. I use it to give me energy to wake up, to help me study, to
recognize the spirit's promptings during lessons, to invest my whole heart into
the work, to love, to forgive, and to keep me going throughout the
day...all the way up the stairs to our apartment until my head hits the pillow.
As I have learned to do so, my desire to repent and "be one" with my
Savior has naturally followed. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The word "Atonement"
defines itself in the spelling. It's a process of "at-one-ment".
At-one-ment with yourself and also an "at-one-ment" with God. As we
repent, we begin the process of "at-one-ment". </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That has been one of my favorite
parts about my mission is learning about repentance. Understanding that it
doesn't just apply to the people that I teach. It applies to me too. I love the
feeling of repenting and feeling clean. I know that a result of doing
so, is becoming completely synchronized with our Savior. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am, and forever will be, grateful
for that. For the understanding of the Atonement, the opportunity to use it,
and pleasure to testify of it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had a bit of a crazy week. The
weather here in New Jersey has been nothing like I have ever seen before. We
have had freezing rain so bad that we couldn't drive and that they cancelled
church. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sunday morning we got a text
from the zone leaders saying that we could only drive to our church services,
but the after that we weren't allowed to drive. Not too long after receiving
that text, another text was sent saying that church was cancelled for all
missionaries. It was just too dangerous to drive. Well, Hermana Stevens and I
were already on our way to the church building, so we kept driving until we got
there. Sacrament was still held for our ward, but just after sacrament meeting
had ended, the rest of our services were cancelled. The missionaries, however,
were still not allowed to use their cars. We were stuck. At least until the
president said otherwise. We waited at the church for 5 hours after sacrament
meeting had ended. The roads were too dangerous that we couldn't even walk
home. I had never experienced weather like that before, but the time after
church was well spent, we got to talk with our investigators a little bit more,
get to know the members, and then talk about spiritual experiences with the
missionaries when all of the members had left. It was great. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZma00zjAv4AMuWBU1boIg0anjNfP6k_pD5Enq5ZrFmr_BXHavHLuw47808OskJ4eYZdbpwbOonixiNoHIdFQIhIvhVgTPNWwetk8cy1qn2CK1h4bCuv8bTbDS1g00oTVMhXITtD3w82fB/s1600/P1020299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZma00zjAv4AMuWBU1boIg0anjNfP6k_pD5Enq5ZrFmr_BXHavHLuw47808OskJ4eYZdbpwbOonixiNoHIdFQIhIvhVgTPNWwetk8cy1qn2CK1h4bCuv8bTbDS1g00oTVMhXITtD3w82fB/s1600/P1020299.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our District</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week we ended a transfer. Many
of the missionaries I look up to were transferred from our zone and many
changes were made in the mission. Due to the decrease in number of missionaries
coming in, we are having to shrink our zone sizes and expand others. It makes
me sad to know that less missionaries are coming out to the mission. I have
seen the change in myself, and I desire it for others. I would encourage any
and all to go on a mission. You won't regret it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We will be having a baptism this
Sunday! Danny and his son, Isaac are getting baptized! I'm so excited! I'll
tell you more about it next week when I feel better ;) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sorry this email has been kind of
all over the place, but I sure love being a missionary. I love being a Sister
Training Leader because it allows me to learn and reminds me to be humble. I
love my companion. She helps me grow every day. I love my Savior. I love that I
can repent. I love that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AND I sure love you all! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love, Hermana Childs</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hldoc2NrmpZAgarzDjOfCxF_kDvDPIGxuxAQTUn812o7mFJnrWSda6snjGUHEDLRsWnJ6iddR3HYCnzOKW1xLuDyIFcLNOGly3vycNgMJlKlBXqSFsZWXC2fIicOejXxUwb4QoE_T0Mz/s1600/P1020317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hldoc2NrmpZAgarzDjOfCxF_kDvDPIGxuxAQTUn812o7mFJnrWSda6snjGUHEDLRsWnJ6iddR3HYCnzOKW1xLuDyIFcLNOGly3vycNgMJlKlBXqSFsZWXC2fIicOejXxUwb4QoE_T0Mz/s1600/P1020317.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1421968624753_15730">
While
serving at Ellis Island this last week, a member walked up to my
companion and I and gave us a 20$ bill and told us to "treat
ourselves". He said that he used to love it when people would give him
money to buy lunch on his mission. He thought he would do the same. We
sure loved it! </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1421968624753_15742">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1421968624753_15744">
Being a missionary is the GREATEST. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348450363130732493noreply@blogger.com0