More New Investigators

More New Investigators this week!

Group 1: Estella and her 2 kids Jessica 13 and Axle 11. Estella had received a pass-along card and called the number to order a "Finding Faith in Christ" dvd...when she met us she was hesitant saying that she is christian not mormon when she recognized us...but we clarified and warmed her up and asked if we could watch the video with them and she said yes! When we did, the spirit was very strong and afterwards we asked some questions and each person ended up bearing their testimonies...her kids are very intune!!! Axle's testimony made me tear up when he said, "I think Jesus is the best person that ever lived." Estella says they go to a church already, but says we can come back! It's like she couldn't even believe what she was saying...pretty amusing, but obviously the spirit speaking. :)

Group 2:
Our recent convert Carlos 19 brought his girlfriend, Zayna 17 to
church a week ago and we asked if she'd be interested in lessons and she said ok, so we taught a brief lesson with her and him before church yesterday and she is a sponge! She doesn't really have any religious background, but has faith in prayer and knows that God protects her. Beautiful girl inside and out...we're really excited. Carlos told about his conversion story and how he had no family before he was baptized and that now he does and he could never stop living the gospel because of it. She was very intrigued with this idea even though it sounds like she has a good family, she recognizes that Carlos has something special.

So, I am really studying hard in PMG on "Teaching Skills"...I am not a very good teacher...don't super enjoy "teaching" to be honest, but I do enjoy sharing the gospel...so I try to think of it like that. I have always had teaching callings (no idea why) and especially now, so I really want to improve. I am continually enlightened when I study, so I know the improvement will come line upon line etc. Most of all I love teaching with Hermana Grass...we've worked out a good flow...we keep each other smiling and laughing even when we're exhausted or disappointed. This week we are really trying to put our investigators on date after we've been discussing baptisms and their concerns now for quite some time. We are praying and fasting for the Spirit to guide.

The pictures are of us helping Amelia, the mother of one of our
investigator families make tamales! Estella reminds me a lot of how she was the first time we tracked into her...since then Amelia has told us how grateful she is for us...when we showed up they had just moved here and she was really depressed missing where they had left. She says that it was all worth it now for meeting us...that we make her feel young, and she likes the warmth she feels when we teach...but she still struggles to let go of being Catholic although her kids really love the gospel and being a part of mutual. The dad is reading the BOM and 2 other books...he feels that there are parts of God in everything and that you just have to search on your own and take what you feel good about...so yeah, we kind of agree with him and kind of not...hahaha...but we're getting there. I'm telling you, kids are the back door to the parents. I know a missionary shouldn't be proud, but I have to tell you the YM President, me and Hermana Grass got a van full of investigators and less actives to a branch youth activity Friday night and they loved it and didn't want to leave! It was a lot of work,  but so worth it...they're parents really trust us and when they're kids came home smiling it was so worth it...the parents can't deny that this is something more than good.

Love ya'll...enjoy this week...laugh for me. 

Hi Y'all

So, some updates would be that:

Cristian turned 18 this weekend and is picking his baptismal date this time...he is having a hard time reconciling that he believes in the gospel, but is afraid of letting go of being Catholic with his family...he is not practicing, it is more of a cultural thing...but we are working through it.

Zarah is on date for 3/31 and her mom has really warmed up to us...so much so that she has been talking our ears off and invited us to dinner...the Lord is molding her too...but we'll be patient. :) It is a miracle how her feelings have changed and how far Zarah has come...she now feels guilty if she doesn't remember to pray about one thing during the day! She is so ready...but still nervous....we are helping her to prepare.

Edith is definitely afraid that she is feeling something she's never felt so strong...she's always been drawn to our church and especially the people...unfortunately she is pushing it aside and says she is not going to convert...well, the Lord will see about that...we're being careful, but we'll be bold. :) Sometimes it is just about planting that seed and then backing off so that they can feel the difference.

We just got an apartment of new investigators...a referral from the same member who referred us to Mary! It is 2 sisters, Karina and Norma and Karina's novio Carlos and Aldo, Norma's 7 year old son and maybe their 2 guy friends Pablo (thinks he's Catholic) and Antonio (we think he might be Gay)...anyway...they're awesome!!! They ask amazing questions...they want it so bad and yeah...I don't want to get to excited, because there are definitely going to be some obstacles, but we feel really good about them...they are prepared....now we just gotta be. It was like teaching a sunday school class last night with all of them in the room asking perfect, but deep life questions...so yeah, we taught the Plan of Salvation and I felt like we needed a
whiteboard! :)

Ok, gotta go...gotta write President...love you all, have a great
week...read your scriptures...read ENOS! ;)

We're American...

So yeah, we're American...President's Day and such has brought me to email you today. Well, I guess I now know who really loves me because the woman who birthed me beat you all to sending me 2 new cd's and a really cute Valentine's day card! Then my grandma sent me a package of all the bits and pieces of my grandpa's mission farewell (I haven't been able to listen to it yet because I want to have a calm, uninterrupted amount of time to do it all at once and when I don't have to rush somewhere and have my makeup look good. ;) and yet again another heartfelt letter...Like mother like daughter I guess...you two are so caring and loving and I try to be like you. :) Alrighty, so this week is transfers and Hermana Grass and I are staying together in the Couv for another transfer!!!!!!!! It is crazy, but President told us that no spanish sisters are coming in this transfer and he is really happy with us....and there is nowhere to move us, hahaha! This is because there are 7 of us right now: a companionship is opening a new area with training Hermana Alberts who I was with in the MTC, then a companionship with a Hermana Foreman who just came back from Medical leave and I've never met, then the last Hermana has been temporarily made English speaking....so yeah, we're here to stay for 6 more weeks! :) 2 of my favorite Elders are getting transferred though....Elder Winters (my District Leader) and Elder Metz (my buddy)..I'll miss them, but we'll BFF'S. :)

Me with Christian.

Cristian is struggling and he doesn't even know it....he's a teenager who has never been expected to be super accountable or responsible and so as much as he wants salvation and really cares about being baptized, he hasn't been following through...a lot of that comes from family plans that make it so he forgets about rides that come for him for church and although he can repeat everything we've taught him, he still needs a testimony. He turns 18 on Saturday 2/25 and his baptism is scheduled 2/26, but it will again be pushed back because he's got to show more dedication and come to church at least 2 more times. The fact is that we are trying to build the branch and if he is needing more time to understand and   prove that God can trust him to make these coventants, that is better than to baptize him and have him not live up to it...it's like that scripture that says that once you have known the Lord and don't follow through, it would be better that you did not know him....ouchy, but the truth. We still have a lot of faith in him though...he missed the baptism part of a another baptism we invited him to, but he heard the talks about the Holy Ghost and the YM president came and took him out to lunch. We try not to get frustrated with him because we know that this is all very new and he wants it, he's just never had to really feel any urgency like this before. Also, he confided in us that he is stressed...that his mom in on his back and his aunt and all her family just moved in their house and his life is crazy and difficult to focus right now...but that's when we need the gospel the most. So yeah, cross your arms and bow your head and we'll see what happens. :)

Mary is spunky. She is building her faith, but is really like a child who is learning this stuff for the first time..lately she's been kinda sassy about some things... but we're working through them. However, get a load of this email she sent her friends (who are astonished that she has dropped smoking and drinking all together) and told us about and then I had her print it off for me so I could have it and share it...

"Gee Suzy, I am no special quit smoking, quit drinking Goddess! Please tell Jack that if he had two 22 year old virgins checking up on him in person three times a week, he wouldn't think it was such an accomplishment. I also didn't realize I am a prideful person, but I told so many non-smokers that I quit that I don't want to get busted! I don't DARE smoke again! It also was a birthday present for my son, and when he goes outside to smoke, I tell him I want to smoke, too, and he says "I don't think so!" Yes, I seem to be doing a lot of changing, and it would seem like a lot to me, but I don't think about it that way. I think about the good stuff: more spendable income, no more phlegm and coughing, no more puking and all day runs, more energy! Oh sure, I feel the body aches and pains more, but that is a small price to pay!"

HAHAHAHA! Oh, Mary...she's a sweet sass. :)

 Alrighty, gotta go write President...but I'm looking forward to a fresh start with this transfer...always trying to better myself without getting overwhelmed. ;) Love ya, BYE! :)

LOVE

Alrighty well, here's the news:

Cr's baptism got moved to 2/26 because he turns 18 on 2/25 and
the consensus is that would be better than pushing for parental
permission now. His parents like us and are fine, but yeah...He also needs a deeper root/understanding...basically a testimony. He believes and agrees with 90% of everything and really wants to baptized...we have faith that it will still happen! The Lord knows what He is doing.

Mary is plugging along nicely...she's a hoot...she and Dad would get along well. :)

The G family is learning slowly but surely. We love them and
they want to meet my family. :)

The Sori family is rockin...reading in the BOM and we've had some
strong lessons with them. They always tell us how different they feel when we're around and we have good discussions.

E. is stressed, but Hermana Campos in the branch has been a
phenomenal fellowshipper...E. struggles to believe in the
restoration, particularly Joseph Smith.

Any of you who have given talks this last month, please email them to me, so I can print and read them. I know that A&D gave Moroni 10:3-5 talks in church and then many of you at grandpa's mission farewell....so yeah, get me in the loop people! :)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CELLO! :)

Random Things:

Whoever: I am desperate for new music! So, if any of you would be kind enough to send some along, I'd be oh so happy. Yes, it must be tunes that invite the spirit...but PLEASE keep in mind that is not just MOTAB or EFY...hahaha! So yeah, could ya help an Hermana out porfa? :)

Those who write to me through dearelder.com:
I don't know why, but dearelder.com does not put the date on the
letters you send like an email would...so it would be so helpful if you would when you write so I can keep track...I know I'm extremely behind and I'm so so sorry...but dates will help me a lot.

Out of time, random email ...sorry, had to write president some stuff. love you guys and thank you for your love and prayers! BYE!

Had an interview with president this week and am probably staying here with grass this transfer, let you know next week, bye!

The Lord Loves Me

Wow...last week was a doosey huh? I want you all to not fret over me; I have been blessed with A TON of strength and comfort. No excessive crying or my mind running away from the work. The Lord has been good to me and I've been fasting and praying for all of you to feel the way that I do. :) Here's a couple of things the Lord has blessed me with:

1. SUN - So out of the ordinary for the Couv (Vancouver slang...good times.) ...the sun has been shining and I feel like it has been just for me. I feel warm and happy....like the Lord's just giving me a big hug all day long.

2. FENN - Elder Fenn (Carmen's cousin) just became our new Zone Leader and just having a Fenn here has given me a lot of comfort...the Lord knows what he's doin. ;) We barely know each other and he was one of the few that saw me right after I had heard the news and was very concerned. I felt impressed to ask him for a blessing a few days later and he did last Tuesday...it was very sweet and I have been going strong ever since.

3. KNOWLEDGE - Also last Tuesday at our District Meeting the Zone Leaders talked about President Greer's training with them which was all about Personality Ethic vs. Character Ethic...are we just waltzing into homes with a missionary persona and simply teaching truths vs. are these truths we teach a part of us...is the gospel our character...is it who we are...do we know it for a fact. This really hit me hard...because just like Dad told me in his email last week, I have taken these current events and used them to preach. I know that the Plan of Salvation is not just nice thoughts put together to make sense of life...it is absolutely real and true, it is all about progression and God taking care of His children no matter what, or else how would you explain how calm I have felt about my Grandpa passing and where my abuelo has been this whole time? I am excited for my grandpa to whip some of those stubborn spirits into shape! I've been walking into every home completely assured that what we have to teach is literal and spiritual...it is not just something I merely believe and would like to share, it is something I know and have to share because I am living proof! I have had a couple of neat experiences with teaching the Plan of Salvation to Ma and sharing a thought with a recent convert's non-member husband who had just lost a cousin last week.

4. PRAYER & FASTING - My first prayer after hearing that Grandpa had passed was kinda startling...I knelt and said, "So grandpa's with you now huh...I'd tell anyone else to take care of him, but I know I don't have to tell you. I felt a wave of assurance wash over me...and I chatted more about how cool it was that he's had us both serve missions and how pumped I am to share this experience together.

I'm not going to lie...I did pretty much lose my appetite, so fasting wasn't too excruciating... ;) but really though, I could feel how powerful it is to hunger for the Lord's blessings, to forget about human need and just offer my fast to him to watch over all of you at home and especially grandma.

So yeah...I think those are the blessings I have time to highlight...yup, the Lord loves us...just FYI. :)

We ended up moving Cr's baptism to this Sunday 2/12/12 for after church. We both felt that it needed to be to prepare him just a bit more and it has been going really well. He's such a weird/punk teenager and I just love him. :) This is going to be cool ladies and gentlemen, just you wait! Mary. is rockin keeping the Word of Wisdom and is 5 seconds away from the goal line...we had one hilarious lesson on Chastity with her....I'll save those stories for when I can tell you face to face. ;) (Thank you Alard family for being masters of poker faces.) Mary's prayers are also the cutest, most sweet I've ever heard...she's like a little girl whose just learning and understanding things for the first time...truly amazing to watch her spiritual eyes be opened.

Well, I love you guys...you know that, so let's all do what grandpa told me, "You know what I expect of you." Simply, I think it means to be happy. We've got this ya'll. :)

So Yeah...

So, things have gotten a bit better...we finally got to go to the
temple today...a much needed trip (I will attach pics next week.). The
Portland temple is really beautiful and reminds me of San Diego's...so
good memories. ;) I am still not sure why I, Hermana Alard am on a
mission. Although I have felt pretty weird lately, not really getting
how I fit in the "mission", rolling a lot of thoughts and feelings
around in my mind and heart, I do feel more peaceful and happened upon
Words of Mormon 1:7 in the Celestial room which is good for me to
hear. I don't know why, but I've been worried about all ya'll at home
too, so bless you for your updates. I've printed them and will read
them later. That includes you Carmen...write me asap please; I don't
like being in the dark. Don't freak out, I'm not crazy distracted,
it's just better not to wonder is all. :)

As far as the Gonzalez family saga:
We saw them and the Lord knew what He was doing having us respond the
way we did, following our impressions even though we wanted to run
over there instantly, the wait was best. Earlier that day we had a
lesson with Z (who by the way has been blessed with a love for the
gospel beyond measure and baptism should be just around the corner!)
and she was wearing and adorable penguin beanie and it reminded me of
how we had told the little Gonzalez girls that we'd bring Hermana
Grass's sock monkey beanie she got for Christmas because they have
similar ones. When we got in our car after Z's, I just felt like
we should go get the beanie even though it sounded silly, I saw a scene
play in my head of Hermana Gress and I at their door and her wearing
it and when they opened, the girls being thrilled and giggling and the
rest of the family crowding to see and smiling...instantly breaking
the ice. I kept feeling impressed about doing this, but not sure if it
was revelation...but it ended up that we had time to grab it on our
way to dinner.

After dinner we went, Hermana Grass wore it and it was
like DEJAVU! The scene played out exactly as I had seen it and
everybody was loose and ready to be real. I love the Lord and I love
that he is funny. :) That is why he put me in the Alard family. ;) Our
revelation may seem out of the ordinary, but it was perfect.

 After a bit we asked what we had planned and learned that they are simply
overwhelmed. A. feels very loyal to the Catholic church and
especially right now to finish J's 1st Communion, so attending
both churches exhausted the family and they could feel the excited
pressure from the branch. A. had also misunderstood the RS lesson
about VT, thinking that everyone visited everyone every month...like a
missionary and stressed of how she could never commit to that much
time and effort. With their family's school and work schedules,
communion commitments and the parents both getting GED's she feels
maxed out. And as far as feeling the spirit like her text talked
about...our sacrament is just new and she is used to feeling the spirit
a certain way in mass. (At least this is my interpretation...) Then
Ju jumped in and let us know how he supports the "patrona"
(A..haha.) but how he doesn't like the Catholic church, how nobody
is unified and there is a lot of hypocrisy. He never was near religion
until he met A, so he is not as attached to the traditions etc. He
also talked about how bored the kids are and doesn't think that they
learn much, so he and the kids prefer our church but are understanding
of A. and he does feel stressed out and acknowledges how tough it is
to change for all of them. So, he clarified that all they need is more
time and she agreed. We of course then asked what that meant...if they
believed what we had taught, if they still wanted to be taught and
explaining that it is no obligation, only their choice and definitely
clarified VT.

They all said how they believe in everything we have
taught and want to keep learning, saying that they will continue to
prary and read and come to church and activities when they can. None
of them liked the idea of slowing down and not being taught. Wasn't
this situation interesting?! Not at all what her text had communicated
and nobody had said a word to them that we know of. We could tell that
probably what happened was that they went to Mass and A. felt
stressed to hurry to our sacrament and then Ju said that they can't
waste our time if she is going to choose to be loyal to the Catholic
church right now and she cracked and texted us something dramatic...so
unlike her and they were very grateful that we understood. (You can't
serve 2 masters...so it is just a matter of time.) It wasn't that she
was dishonest, but that they are overwhelmed. Such a blessing to know
now how they all feel and be clear. We pleaded that they always tell
us how they're feeling and thinking so this confusion does not heppen
again. We are not going to give up on them...the Lord will be the one
to pressure them as long as they keep up the commitments that they
offered and we didn't even ask about praying sincerely and the BOM. I
feel so blessed that the Lord helped us handle this situation His way.
I asked if we could pray before we left and they really liked
that...Ju asked me to offer it; I was very humbled.

Other updates: We put a teenager we are teaching, Cr. on date to
be baptized 02/04/12!!! We drug him out of bed Sunday and got him to
church...mind you, we're talking 2pm church starts! Hahha, but hey! :)

Mary  was fine after reading all of her Mormon internet
research and her biggest question was what was baptism of fire from
the BOM reading assignment we had left her! Thank you Mary for reading
from the BOM on top of all of your crazy out of context research!
hahaha! So, once we answered that baptism by fire means the gift of
the holy ghost/confirmation after baptism, she said...oh, and I prayed
about a date to be baptized and the Lord gave me a dream and told me
I'm not ready...ha! She was so sincere...and we believe her and agree.
She's not quite ready, but wherever there is a will there is a way and
we are going to help her quit smoking...but the Lord is who she knows
can help her, because that's why she felt impressed to quit drinking
and have us start teaching her. :)

Ok, there's all of that...I swear the mission is just like film...I'm
just a part of a bunch of novelas! So, stay tuned for more episodes!
(They love, love, love novelas...gosh, I miss Mexico and hacking off
hair when they're mad Carm. Told Hermana Grass about that one and she
died.)

Love ya'll so much and thanks again for your updates! 

Let the War Wage On

Hey Family & Friends,

So our pday got moved to today because we were supposed to go to the temple this morning in Oregon, but because of weather (slushy snow) they cancelled it. :( I really needed to go to the temple and being from Utah this "snow" is laughable...but I will do as I am told.

 Well, I'm going to be completely honest with you...this weekend was brutal. Satan is fighting with all his might on the Gonzalez family and M. Our lessons were strong about the atonement and praying, studying the scriptures and attending church with "real intent" to know. The Gonzalez brought their kids to mutual, they've all been reading in the BOM and have been talking completely normal about church and them bringing up that they'll see us at church and preparing for baptism. We've had members present and families in our branch have set up family nights with them the next two weeks, so their fellowshipping is going well. Then, this Sunday the Gonzalez didn't come to church...it was really weird, but we figured they had something really important come up and they usually text us if they can't come or need to change an appointment, but we heard nothing. So, we called them after church and left a really nice voicemail about how they were missed and we hope they are well etc. They then texted us a couple of hours later and the text was like someone else was talking...didn't sound like them at all. It was extremely formal and came as a huge shock to me and Sister Grass. They asked for our forgiveness for "wasting our time" and that "truthfully they don't feel the presence of God at our church...that we are always welcome in their home, but they are not going to come to our church...that they have felt the presence of God in the Catholic church."

Sister Grass and I were completely confused and broken hearted...we cried in silence, racked our brains with what could've happened between our last powerful lesson Friday and them telling us that they'll see us at church and then to Sunday and this text...totally unlike them to not say something to us in person after we had just discussed with them last week about where they were at and their feelings about the church and how they wanted to keep going and learn more and keep their commitments. So, we know it is God's plan and Satan always wants to disrupt it...he is working hard because this is an incredible family! We fervently prayed to do what the Lord wants in this situation. We feel that someone has told them misconceptions about the church and better yet that they are going to Hell if they keep listening to us or something...we don't know, but the formality of the text sounded more like fear than faith. We texted back later that we would like to see them this week and that it is never a waste of time with them and that we love them with all our hearts. They responded the next day very casual and positive...sounding relieved and inviting us over Thursday night.

Sister Grass and I are not discouraged...just dissapointed and doing our best to take that energy and make it motivation to serve all of our investigators and to do all that we can with the Gonzalez family. We plan to go to them on Thursday and tell them that we are confused, we do not know what changed and do they believe in what we have taught them and do they feel that they have done all they can to know for themselves. It reminds me of the Children of Israel and how many times with the people in the BOM who go back to their old ways no matter how much they've been taught...following fear instead of faith...not exercising their faith. We believe in them and we believe in the power of God to win...if we have but only planted a seed in the parent's and especially their kid's hearts (inparticularly their son J who we have felt very impressed is meant to join the church and build Heavenly Father's kingdom....his spirit and understanding and love for the gospel is more pure than anyone I've met on my mission so far.) that a lasting impression has been made so deep that it is impossible for them to forget this gospel.

We do not know the Lord's timing and we trust Him, although we are so confused. Thank you for your support and we are going to do all that we can do, but we understand that this is a matter of agency and choosing to know for themselves. We have taught them to the best of our abilities...this isn't about one more scripture we could've shared or a more heartfelt testimony...this is what Heavenly Father tells us in James 1:5, in 1 Nephi 10 in Moroni 10...ask Him! Then the pounding has kept coming from Satan as our other investigator, M, who told us that we are heavenly messengers and wants to be baptized...has quit drinking, working on quiting smoking, reading in the BOM, goes to church and has strong fellowshippers, got sick this weekend and when we checked on her, she told us that yes she has been studying and checking out this church on the internet and began rattling off questions from all sorts of anti-mormon literature...we again are not discouraged, but dissapointed and gearing up to say and do what the Lord would have us say and do at our appointment with her this week.

The Lord is blessing us. We have other promising investigators that I don't have time to write about now, but we had a breakthrough lesson with a less-active family last night after receiving some good advice from a member who said that because missionaries planted a seed in her when she was young, that is what stuck with her and why she went looking for the church as a teenager, she also shared an analogy from her friend, "Life has its ups and downs...but when you go to an amusement park, which ride do you want to ride? The ROLLERCOASTER of course! On the ride you experience how the highs are only highs because of how low the lows are. When you drop, the coaster keeps going because it takes that energy to go back up again. It may slow down a bit, but it always goes back up if it has momentum." So, we are taking that energy and building momentum, suiting up the armor of God and fighting the adversary back! This is the Lord's work and I have a strong testimony of that. I love my mission and let the war wage on. :)