From Monday, April 14, 2014
Hola Family and Friends!
Happy Easter!! I think! :) The 18th is my four month mission mark. Can you believe that? The time is going by so fast! :)
I am so sorry to hear that Daddy, Emma and Amy are sick, and I'm glad that mom is feeling better too. :( We will definitely pray harder this week. I hope you all feel better!! My companion was actually really really sick on Friday. She got up every hour all night because she was so sick. We stayed home Friday. Later that night the 1st counselor of the bishopric came by with his daughter and the Secretary of the ward to give her a Priesthood blessing. The next day she woke up so much better. PRIESTHOOD POWER! But I hope that you all can be better asap.
I love you all. I am grateful for each of you. The sacrifices that you all make for me and Tiffy to be serving means everything. Like Matthew said this week, even the really difficult days of the mission have miracles in them too. They help us grow.
In the weekly letter from President Kusch he said this: "Debemos esforzarnos cada día, aun cada momento de la misión y de nuestras vidas de vivir sin remordimiento. Claro, haremos errores, pero tan agradecidos estamos por el don del arrepentimiento. Al arrodillarnos cada noche nuestra meta debe ser rendir cuentas a nuestro Padre Celestial y poder decirle, “Padre, hoy hice todo lo que pude por dejar mi área más fuerte y los miembros, la misión, mi compañero y mis investigadores.”
At the end of the day if we can pray to Heavenly Father and say, I did the best I could, that is sufficient for Him. What a miracle that is for us. That our best is never a failure to Him. This week was a little difficult but we witnessed so many miracles from it!! Below I just wrote a little bit from the week and one experience we had this week.
I love you all. I am grateful for each of you. The sacrifices that you all make for me and Tiffy to be serving means everything. Like Matthew said this week, even the really difficult days of the mission have miracles in them too. They help us grow.
In the weekly letter from President Kusch he said this: "Debemos esforzarnos cada día, aun cada momento de la misión y de nuestras vidas de vivir sin remordimiento. Claro, haremos errores, pero tan agradecidos estamos por el don del arrepentimiento. Al arrodillarnos cada noche nuestra meta debe ser rendir cuentas a nuestro Padre Celestial y poder decirle, “Padre, hoy hice todo lo que pude por dejar mi área más fuerte y los miembros, la misión, mi compañero y mis investigadores.”
At the end of the day if we can pray to Heavenly Father and say, I did the best I could, that is sufficient for Him. What a miracle that is for us. That our best is never a failure to Him. This week was a little difficult but we witnessed so many miracles from it!! Below I just wrote a little bit from the week and one experience we had this week.
Hermana C was very sick all day and night Friday. A few members of the ward came by to give her a Priesthood blessing and the next morning she was back to her happy, cheerful self. :)
I am learning from her example how great an impact our attitudes have on having success in missionary work. As we walk in the street, sometimes I say 'It's so hot' or 'I'm tired' and her reply is 'No it's not it feels great outside!' or 'What do you mean? You're not tired, you have lots of energy'. I love that and it always helps me be a little more selfless. She's awesome!
[Our ward] is becoming stronger and stronger with each passing week. The members are excited about doing missionary work and assisting us with teaching appointments. The ward leaders are much more organized too. They are making the effort to help investigators and less actives feel welcome at church & activities. We do not have a ward mission leader as of right now nor do we have ward missionaries, but the Bishop will extend callings in the upcoming weeks.
Yesterday, we had wonderful experiences with our investigators, 'A' and two of her children 'Aa' (15 years old) and 'P' (12 years old). Sunday was the first time A and her girls have come to our ward. As soon as we came in, many members welcomed them and helped them feel comfortable. They even knew some of the members of the ward from work and school. The Bishop's wife and daughter knew 'A' from many years ago. The girls went with the bishop's daughter to their classes while we stayed with 'A'.
For the third hour, we were invited to come to the Young Women's class and participate in the lesson. The class was on the Book of Mormon. At the end of the lesson, the YW teacher passed around a copy of the Book of Mormon and asked each girl to bear her testimony of it and how it's helped them in their life.
She got to P and Aa and almost skipped over them because they are so new. The YW President asked them to share their testimony and thoughts anyway. Aa (15) held the Book of Mormon carefully in her hands. She began saying that she has had many problems in her life recently. She said that she couldn't have run into the missionaries at a more perfect time. After we taught the message of the Restoration with her family the night we met them, she turned on the television and started watching a program with her brother. She was distracted the whole time she tried to watch the t.v. Adriana said she had a persistent feeling in her heart that said, 'Read the Book of Mormon, read the Book of Mormon.' She couldn't get the thought out of her mind. So she turned off the television and went to her room. She read the first pages and felt something. She decided to pray and ask God if it was true. Then, as Aa told the YW this experience, she began to cry. She said, I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know the church is true.
For the third hour, we were invited to come to the Young Women's class and participate in the lesson. The class was on the Book of Mormon. At the end of the lesson, the YW teacher passed around a copy of the Book of Mormon and asked each girl to bear her testimony of it and how it's helped them in their life.
She got to P and Aa and almost skipped over them because they are so new. The YW President asked them to share their testimony and thoughts anyway. Aa (15) held the Book of Mormon carefully in her hands. She began saying that she has had many problems in her life recently. She said that she couldn't have run into the missionaries at a more perfect time. After we taught the message of the Restoration with her family the night we met them, she turned on the television and started watching a program with her brother. She was distracted the whole time she tried to watch the t.v. Adriana said she had a persistent feeling in her heart that said, 'Read the Book of Mormon, read the Book of Mormon.' She couldn't get the thought out of her mind. So she turned off the television and went to her room. She read the first pages and felt something. She decided to pray and ask God if it was true. Then, as Aa told the YW this experience, she began to cry. She said, I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know the church is true.
Hermana C and I cried with happiness to hear how the Spirit had testified to her of the truth of the gospel. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father permitted us to be in class yesterday to hear her say she knew the church was true. It was beautiful to witness how the gospel already reached and touched her heart.
Her mom also shared a similar experience in Gospel Principles class, of how all Saturday night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep only because she was thinking about whether or not to come to church. After a sleepless night, she got up out of bed at 5:00 am and made the decision to come to church. She quickly showered and got ready for church. At almost 7 a.m. she called us to tell us she was ready for church. :)
How great is the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father! When we reach up to Him, He reaches down to us. The Spirit is ready to testify and teach of truth to all who are pure in heart, with sincere intent and desire to find the truth. The Spirit can awaken the divine nature of each man and woman on the earth and help them recognize their worth, their purpose, and their divinity.
I was amazed at that experience yesterday. They already seem like members! We are excited to meet with them this week and help them prepare for their baptisms. I am grateful also for the converting power of the Book of Mormon and for the gift of prayer. This week was amazing!!"
Have a wonderful week family! LOVE YOU. :)
Con Amor,
Hermana Fernelius
P.S.
1) WOO! LONG LETTERS!
1) WOO! LONG LETTERS!
2) The piñatas in Mexico are absolutely bomb. You name it, they can make a piñata out of it.
3) We can see the volcano Popocatepetl from our house in the morgan [morning]. I'll see if I can email a photo of it.
4) As we visited an investigator, her daughter was playing with a Barbie doll. Then all of a sudden the girl shoved the Barbie doll in Hermana C's face and said "MIRA! Su gemela!!!!" Look it's your twin!! haha. The best part is that it actually looked just like her. haha
5) It's hot here. They say that May is the worst month of the year for heat and then June/July is rainy season. BOOYAH.
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| VOLCANO!! This is outside of our apartment in the mornings! |
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| See, I told you so! Twins! |
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| This is our church! We took a photo of it this morning from the puente over the freeway. It is hermosa!! :) |
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| This is also outside our apartment :) |
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| Frog Face for daddy: You're welcome :) |
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| I love you family!! Be safe! I hope you all get better soon and have a wonderful week. <3 |
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