This week: 5 investigators at church, 6 progressing! It's so nice to see progress with our new investigators and a couple older ones. I just love all of these people so much, and I'm so excited to see them change their lives as they embrace the gospel!
Bella and Marilu - We found them a couple weeks ago. They are sisters - one of them lives upstairs and the other lives downstairs - but we knocked on their doors separately and had our first lessons with them separately. We saw them twice last week - they're Catholic but totally looking for more! Bella's husband is in jail right now for immigration reasons so she wasn't able to come to church, but Marilu came! She brought her husband (new investigator!) and her two little girls and one of her sons, Wilbur. They only made it for sacrament meeting, but it was so great to have a family there! The main speaker was the second counselor in the mission presidency, so he noticed when they walked in and totally pointed the family out in front of everyone. I wanted to die in my seat for them, but they didn't seem too uncomfortable with it. I think that's a culture thing. But their little girl with leukemia, Gisel, was singing along even though she doesn't even know how to read. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.
Juan - Miracle at the VC! He's not our investigator - he's not even in our ward - but he just came to the temple to pray and they sent him to the Visitors' Center. He doesn't agree with anything in the Catholic church so he's been out of church for a long time. But he feels like he needs it again. We talked to him about the Restoration and then he watched the Joseph Smith movie. He already knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet and is so ready! It was amazing! I'm excited to hear more from the missionaries that are going to start teaching him!
Anabela - I love this woman so much. She is just so sweet. We met her through English classes, and she introduced us to all the people she lives with so they could hear the word of God. She still doesn't understand why we're different or why there's so many churches in the world, but she says that any good person that teaches and testifies of God is sent by God and given His power. So....that's been hard to work with. She's going back to Guatemala next month and she has a friend there who is a member, so we'll see if she gets it now or maybe later. Because I work in the VC, I can keep in touch with her after she leaves! She'll get it someday. I know it.
Marilu - We were about to drop Marilu and her 9-year-old daughter Atzidi, but then the elders ran into her as they were tracting in her area and so we went back Wednesday night. She prayed and she was just crying and crying. She still has a lot of doubts about religion, but she's looking. And she came to church! And Atzidi is pretty much ready to accept a baptism date. This week! We'll see what happens!
Luis - Hna Preciado is the best ward missionary ever. We're teaching four of her friends, including Marilu, and her nephew is staying with her until December so we added him as a new investigator after stopping by her house randomly one day. He's young and interested in learning - and he said he'll be baptized when he knows when it's true! He's seen the difference it has made in his aunt's life and he wants that! Members are SO important in this work!
Noemi - We stopped by and after talking to her for awhile, we found out that she was learning from the missionaries for THREE YEARS before without getting baptized! She knows Joseph Smith was a prophet, she knows that the Book of Mormon is true - it's crazy! So we're not sure why she stopped and what held her back. We'll work on that. She wanted to meet with missionaries again so she's definitely looking for something.
VC - We got 7 referrals on Wednesday and another 7 on Thursday. Miracles. Members are SO important! And Visitors' Centers are really inspired. I mean, really. Especially this one - everyone can see it and the Spirit prompts people to come here. They know that there's something here that they need. And even if they're not ready for it right then, it's the best seed planter in the world. Every fourth Sunday, there's a fireside called Porque Yo Creo where Spanish recent converts come and bear their testimonies for people learning about the gospel. A lot of the recent converts from our ward spoke and came over afterwards. I also saw a lot of people I've worked with on exchanges that are still investigating and just so many members that bring their friends to the VC to share the gospel. I am so grateful for their hard work, and I just felt so grateful this past Sunday for the opportunity to work with these wonderful people. They have such huge hearts. So many of them are converts to the church, and they have such strong testimonies. I am so inspired and strengthened by them.
The Lord is hastening His work, and EVERYONE needs to be a part of it. Everyone can share their testimonies. Every single person is a child of God, and every single person has trials. Every single person needs the peace of the gospel. One of the recent converts in our ward, Grisel, said that her husband left her shortly after she met the missionaries. Without the gospel and how everything happened, she wouldn't have the hope and the joy that she has right now. As missionaries, we don't know the needs of these people right off hand, but as their friends, you all do. They NEED you to share this message with them. Just do it - the Spirit will help you and your faith in Christ will grow.
Have a great week, full of missionary moments! I love you all!!!
Hermana Hunsaker
Monday, August 26, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, and now 12 New Investigators!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes. That's the biggest news of the week. We found 12 new investigators! I'll try to sum up how we found all these people and hopefully they all start progressing this week! We're super excited.
Monday - Miracle VC shift! We found an former investigator! Her name is Leticia - she came to the VC with her daughters. Some other sisters gave her a tour and they didn't fill out a referral card, but then Hermana Pena recognized her. Hermana Pena served her for one transfer back in March, and she found this woman! They taught her a couple times and then lost touch, but we ran into her and asked if we could come back! She cancelled our appointment this week unfortunately, but we'll keep trying!
Tuesday - We found three new investigators! Our appointments in the afternoon cancelled so we were just walking by. And right as we walked by the house of Bella, she opened the door. So we asked if we could teach her right then and there, and she invited us in! We only had a few minutes, but her husband Jose came home during the lesson so we taught both of them! It was awesome. Our third new investigator's name is Raul. We met him street contacting and he invited us back. He doesn't have any religious background and just split from his wife/girlfriend. Like, the first day we met him, she was in the process of moving out. And when we met him, he said he was thinking about doing something out of revenge. But when we started talking to him, he stopped thinking about those things. We literally may have saved a life. But he's so willing to change and be baptized!
Wednesday - Zone Conference. There are no words to describe how great Zone Conference was. We talked a lot about finding new investigators and asking the right questions to help our investigators understand our message so they can choose to act on it. It was just so great. President Meredith also talked about stress management which was much needed. And then right afterwards, Elder Felt, who worked in law enforcement for 32 years, taught us about personal safety. So....that kind of stressed us out again. But it was a great Zone Conference.
Thursday - We found four new investigators on Thursday. Two were referrals that we FINALLY contacted, and then there were two more that we added when we taught the Familia Gomez, Anabela and her brother Antonio. Anabela was actually the person who put us into contact with the Gomez family because she came to the English classes. Mario is going back to the hospital for two weeks so we'll see what happens with this family.
Friday - We saw Guadelupe on Friday and added one of her sons, Ryan, as an investigator! The other son still doesn't want to learn, but we'll see what happens. They were supposed to come to church - and they didn't - but I can't give up on this family yet. A couple more weeks.......We added two more investigators, Noemi and Antonio. Noemi is a referral from one of our less active members. She is Catholic but her husband Antonio was baptized in the Evangelist church. They have a lot of family in the area, and some that are members, so we're really excited for them.
Saturday - Full-pross exchange with Sister Ferguson! Our whole day was planned out, but almost everything fell through. But it helped us find one more family! We knocked on the door of Marilu, the sister of Bella who we found on Tuesday. She invited us in and we found out that her 5-year-old daughter has leukemia. She was crying as she talked to us - her faith has been strengthened through this trial but she doesn't go to church or anything like that. Marilu is Catholic and her husband is Christian. So, another family with different beliefs. The gospel really is to bless families and unite them!!! We're really excited. Oh, also we had lunch AND dinner with members. And for lunch we had these AMAZING sandwiches. I can't remember what they're called, but the bread is grilled in chile. It's the best. I need to find out what they're called again so I can have them again after my mission.........
Sunday - Super busy at the VC after church. No investigators at church. Or at the baptism afterwards. But we still have hope! And faith. And charity. And with charity, we can't fail.
Have a fantastic week! I love you all!
Hermana Hunsaker
Monday - Miracle VC shift! We found an former investigator! Her name is Leticia - she came to the VC with her daughters. Some other sisters gave her a tour and they didn't fill out a referral card, but then Hermana Pena recognized her. Hermana Pena served her for one transfer back in March, and she found this woman! They taught her a couple times and then lost touch, but we ran into her and asked if we could come back! She cancelled our appointment this week unfortunately, but we'll keep trying!
Tuesday - We found three new investigators! Our appointments in the afternoon cancelled so we were just walking by. And right as we walked by the house of Bella, she opened the door. So we asked if we could teach her right then and there, and she invited us in! We only had a few minutes, but her husband Jose came home during the lesson so we taught both of them! It was awesome. Our third new investigator's name is Raul. We met him street contacting and he invited us back. He doesn't have any religious background and just split from his wife/girlfriend. Like, the first day we met him, she was in the process of moving out. And when we met him, he said he was thinking about doing something out of revenge. But when we started talking to him, he stopped thinking about those things. We literally may have saved a life. But he's so willing to change and be baptized!
Wednesday - Zone Conference. There are no words to describe how great Zone Conference was. We talked a lot about finding new investigators and asking the right questions to help our investigators understand our message so they can choose to act on it. It was just so great. President Meredith also talked about stress management which was much needed. And then right afterwards, Elder Felt, who worked in law enforcement for 32 years, taught us about personal safety. So....that kind of stressed us out again. But it was a great Zone Conference.
Thursday - We found four new investigators on Thursday. Two were referrals that we FINALLY contacted, and then there were two more that we added when we taught the Familia Gomez, Anabela and her brother Antonio. Anabela was actually the person who put us into contact with the Gomez family because she came to the English classes. Mario is going back to the hospital for two weeks so we'll see what happens with this family.
Friday - We saw Guadelupe on Friday and added one of her sons, Ryan, as an investigator! The other son still doesn't want to learn, but we'll see what happens. They were supposed to come to church - and they didn't - but I can't give up on this family yet. A couple more weeks.......We added two more investigators, Noemi and Antonio. Noemi is a referral from one of our less active members. She is Catholic but her husband Antonio was baptized in the Evangelist church. They have a lot of family in the area, and some that are members, so we're really excited for them.
Saturday - Full-pross exchange with Sister Ferguson! Our whole day was planned out, but almost everything fell through. But it helped us find one more family! We knocked on the door of Marilu, the sister of Bella who we found on Tuesday. She invited us in and we found out that her 5-year-old daughter has leukemia. She was crying as she talked to us - her faith has been strengthened through this trial but she doesn't go to church or anything like that. Marilu is Catholic and her husband is Christian. So, another family with different beliefs. The gospel really is to bless families and unite them!!! We're really excited. Oh, also we had lunch AND dinner with members. And for lunch we had these AMAZING sandwiches. I can't remember what they're called, but the bread is grilled in chile. It's the best. I need to find out what they're called again so I can have them again after my mission.........
Sunday - Super busy at the VC after church. No investigators at church. Or at the baptism afterwards. But we still have hope! And faith. And charity. And with charity, we can't fail.
Have a fantastic week! I love you all!
Hermana Hunsaker
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Estoy de vuelta
I took a week off from emailing - kinda - because there was a lot going on last week. So I have double the things to talk about but once again - no time. We're already two weeks into the transfer - it's flying by so fast and there's so much to do! I'm already hoping to have another transfer here but I feel like my mission clock is ticking a little faster and I still have to get out of the VC and go full-pross for a little while. We'll see what happens - I feel like there will be a lot of changes this next transfer. But no need to worry about that right now!
We had a few investigators drop us these past two weeks which was a little heartbreaking. But the investigators we have right now are AWESOME. And though it's taken some time for them to really understand the importance of our message, they're all right on the brink of developing their own testimonies of the gospel.
Martin and Guadelupe: We found out this past week that Guadelupe is a member!!! We've been teaching this family for two months and we had no idea that she was a member! We knew she had taken the missionary lessons in the past but she didn't say anything else about it and we never asked her if she got baptized so she never told us! So......that was kind of crazy. Also by a miracle, their whole family came to the Visitors' Center! We didn't have many nights available to have lessons so we invited them to the VC to have a tour given by Hermana Ivey and her new companion. A member family met us there and it was simply magical. The whole family came and their sons, who have literally ran from us when we get to the house to teach, loved it! They actually wanted to come to church! There were a few things that got in the way so they didn't make it, but we have high hopes for next week! After watching God's Plan for the family, Guadelupe even expressed the desire to return to church and teach these things to her son! She's been hot and cold for the last two months but she's so ready! I just remember the day we knocked on that door - it was pure guidance from the Spirit and every little thing that happens confirms that we were led to this family. I'm just praying that I'm here to see the day when Martin and the boys get baptized.
Marilu and Atzidi: They're back from their trip to Los Angeles!!! Marilu is still very skeptical about religion, but having her member friend Hna. Preciado living right across the street will help her get there. They came to the ward picnic this past Saturday and then they came to the VC while we were working! We were the only Spanish sisters available so we gave them a quick tour. Atzidi is still doing awesome. She's reading the Book of Mormon picture book and sharing it with her Christian friends! I love this family so much and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to teach them the gospel.
Veronica and Jenny: Veronica was better last week, but got sick again this past week so we haven't seen her much. She was so sick that an ambulance came over to bring her to the hospital. She almost accepted a baptism date, but she wants to give it more time and she wants to do it with her whole family. We have a lesson set up to see all of them on Friday - each one of her kids needs the gospel so bad. She's kind of given up on her two oldest sons even though they live with her but that's why we have repentance through the Atonement of Christ! She's most thinking about her two girls. Jenny is 15 and she opened up to us last night a bit. She's going to start praying and change her life to express her gratitude for keeping her mom alive. It's so great having them living in the home of the Preciado's. We literally couldn't do missionary work without the members in this ward.
Familia Gomez: We added three new investigators this week! I met this family through a lady that lives with them, Anabela, who started attending our free English classes. We tried teaching Anabela and she was interested in our church but wasn't interested to learn more. She is going back to Guatemala at the end of the month - she just came to the States for a few months for the experience but she has a friend who is a member back in Guatemala. She introduced us to the family because one of the sons has leukemia so she asked that we come visit him in the hospital. We did and we gave him a Book of Mormon but it's been hard to get in touch since. Sunday morning was a little crazy and we got out of the house earlier than planned before our Sunday meetings, so we stopped by the Gomez family. We taught three of the five members of the family and met another woman that lives with them, Monica. We talked about the Restoration and though they initially didn't want to change, they invited us back to teach the whole family this Thursday night and anyone else who is home! It's going to be great!
Our whole mission is really focusing on finding families to teach because families really are so important to the plan of God. The gospel helps everyone, but as it is specifically applied by every single member of the family, that is how we find happiness and joy. I've heard it said before that when we make Christ and His gospel the center of our families, we can experience a little bit of heaven on earth. Those perfect happy moments with our families....that is what heaven will be like. If we can't learn to have moments of that joy here, how do we expect to have it for eternity?
Anyways, just some thoughts. We have Zone Conference this week so I'm super excited for that. We have a lot of appointments set up with potential investigators and tons of time - two whole full pross days - to teach them, to teach our other investigators, and to find more! I feel like I'm waking up out of a coma every morning, but it's all so so worth it. I'm also eating GREAT/healthy despite the fact that I'm in a Spanish ward and the grocery store of choice is usually Grocery Outlet where the fruit doesn't even last a week. Sister Pena and I are staying fit and active running and playing sports every morning - even though she leaves me in the dust. And I'm truly learning to love Spanish even though my perfectionist self has a hard time dealing with making mistakes. But I try to hold that part of me back unless I'm cleaning the apartment or the car. There are miracles everywhere and I'm learning from the Lord every single day. Being a missionary is the best calling ever and sometimes I just never want to leave.
Good luck with everything this week! I love you all!
Hermana Hunsaker
We had a few investigators drop us these past two weeks which was a little heartbreaking. But the investigators we have right now are AWESOME. And though it's taken some time for them to really understand the importance of our message, they're all right on the brink of developing their own testimonies of the gospel.
Martin and Guadelupe: We found out this past week that Guadelupe is a member!!! We've been teaching this family for two months and we had no idea that she was a member! We knew she had taken the missionary lessons in the past but she didn't say anything else about it and we never asked her if she got baptized so she never told us! So......that was kind of crazy. Also by a miracle, their whole family came to the Visitors' Center! We didn't have many nights available to have lessons so we invited them to the VC to have a tour given by Hermana Ivey and her new companion. A member family met us there and it was simply magical. The whole family came and their sons, who have literally ran from us when we get to the house to teach, loved it! They actually wanted to come to church! There were a few things that got in the way so they didn't make it, but we have high hopes for next week! After watching God's Plan for the family, Guadelupe even expressed the desire to return to church and teach these things to her son! She's been hot and cold for the last two months but she's so ready! I just remember the day we knocked on that door - it was pure guidance from the Spirit and every little thing that happens confirms that we were led to this family. I'm just praying that I'm here to see the day when Martin and the boys get baptized.
Marilu and Atzidi: They're back from their trip to Los Angeles!!! Marilu is still very skeptical about religion, but having her member friend Hna. Preciado living right across the street will help her get there. They came to the ward picnic this past Saturday and then they came to the VC while we were working! We were the only Spanish sisters available so we gave them a quick tour. Atzidi is still doing awesome. She's reading the Book of Mormon picture book and sharing it with her Christian friends! I love this family so much and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to teach them the gospel.
Veronica and Jenny: Veronica was better last week, but got sick again this past week so we haven't seen her much. She was so sick that an ambulance came over to bring her to the hospital. She almost accepted a baptism date, but she wants to give it more time and she wants to do it with her whole family. We have a lesson set up to see all of them on Friday - each one of her kids needs the gospel so bad. She's kind of given up on her two oldest sons even though they live with her but that's why we have repentance through the Atonement of Christ! She's most thinking about her two girls. Jenny is 15 and she opened up to us last night a bit. She's going to start praying and change her life to express her gratitude for keeping her mom alive. It's so great having them living in the home of the Preciado's. We literally couldn't do missionary work without the members in this ward.
Familia Gomez: We added three new investigators this week! I met this family through a lady that lives with them, Anabela, who started attending our free English classes. We tried teaching Anabela and she was interested in our church but wasn't interested to learn more. She is going back to Guatemala at the end of the month - she just came to the States for a few months for the experience but she has a friend who is a member back in Guatemala. She introduced us to the family because one of the sons has leukemia so she asked that we come visit him in the hospital. We did and we gave him a Book of Mormon but it's been hard to get in touch since. Sunday morning was a little crazy and we got out of the house earlier than planned before our Sunday meetings, so we stopped by the Gomez family. We taught three of the five members of the family and met another woman that lives with them, Monica. We talked about the Restoration and though they initially didn't want to change, they invited us back to teach the whole family this Thursday night and anyone else who is home! It's going to be great!
Our whole mission is really focusing on finding families to teach because families really are so important to the plan of God. The gospel helps everyone, but as it is specifically applied by every single member of the family, that is how we find happiness and joy. I've heard it said before that when we make Christ and His gospel the center of our families, we can experience a little bit of heaven on earth. Those perfect happy moments with our families....that is what heaven will be like. If we can't learn to have moments of that joy here, how do we expect to have it for eternity?
Anyways, just some thoughts. We have Zone Conference this week so I'm super excited for that. We have a lot of appointments set up with potential investigators and tons of time - two whole full pross days - to teach them, to teach our other investigators, and to find more! I feel like I'm waking up out of a coma every morning, but it's all so so worth it. I'm also eating GREAT/healthy despite the fact that I'm in a Spanish ward and the grocery store of choice is usually Grocery Outlet where the fruit doesn't even last a week. Sister Pena and I are staying fit and active running and playing sports every morning - even though she leaves me in the dust. And I'm truly learning to love Spanish even though my perfectionist self has a hard time dealing with making mistakes. But I try to hold that part of me back unless I'm cleaning the apartment or the car. There are miracles everywhere and I'm learning from the Lord every single day. Being a missionary is the best calling ever and sometimes I just never want to leave.
Good luck with everything this week! I love you all!
Hermana Hunsaker
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)