7-14-14

Hola Familia!

It has been a fun filled adventurous week. I don't even know where to begin. Well lets start with the heading of the email. The member we live with is out of town, so we had to find some living arrangements for while she was gone. So they put us in a lovely little camping trailer for a week. It has been good fun and no complaints. it was one of those times where life is more fun with a little adventure. From the pictures i took this week it looks like i did nothing but eat... I did do missionary work, but you wouldn't think it looking at the pictures. But i did learn how to make spanish rice this week as well as try tamarindo for the first time. (don't ask me what it is... I have ask like 5 or 6 different people and no one could explain it, so a group member just went and bought it for me so i could understand.) Lots of missionary work as well is taking place.

We had a baptism yesterday in the ward for one of the 8 year olds in the ward. And we had Irasema come so that she could see a baptism. She really liked it and is getting more excited about her own baptism that will be coming up shortly :) We sat while they were playing music after the baptism and talked about what we were going to do for hers. Then she asked me if one day she could come with us to teach some one and bring her Book of Mormon and her notebook in a backpack. Basically she is my favorite and I love her and her family and can't wait til they can make promises with our Heavenly Father.

The rest of the week we talked to a lot of new people. it was fun. We had some lessons with people of many different beliefs, but had good discussions with them and helped them understand what we believe. Yesterday we had a really good discussion with a lady name Kristen. she was probably a little older than I am and she is a Jehovah's Witness missionary. we sat and answered some questions and shared some beliefs and by the end they wanted us to stay and eat pizza with them, but we had already eaten some big meals pretty close together (i told you i felt like all i did this week was eat.). All in all, it was a cool experience of seeing how religion can get along as long as they are asking questions with a sincere desire to know.

But as we talked to people, it was interesting how many of them were excited to see sister missionaries, they say, "that is so cool usually we only see the boys, it is fun to see you girls." It makes me laugh every time. 

As i have been studying this week i have been reading in Acts. In the past when i read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John i had stopped after John because that is all my institute class had required of me. But as i have started reading I love how much i have learned from just the first few couple chapters. They truly went around teaching by example and doing all that Christ would have done. They were dedicated servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even to the end of their lives at times. 

I also finished reading the conference Ensign. It was really good. if i were to sit and write out all the things that i liked, i would run out of time and just have a lot of Random thoughts. One of my personal favorite talks was on the Savior. (because i have studied so much on the Atonement lately) Elder Christofferson sure has a way with wrods, i wish i could understand him better sometimes, but i loved this quote, "Having satisfied the demands of justice, Christ now steps into the place of justice; or we might say He is justice, just as He is love.²² Likewise, besides being a “perfect, just God,” He is a perfect, merciful God.²³ Thus, the Savior makes all things right. No injustice in mortality is permanent, even death, for He restores life again. No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate justice and mercy."

Also i liked this statement that he made. the If-Then of the reality of Christ,

IF...

"Consider for a moment the significance of the Resurrection in resolving once and for all the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth and the great philosophical contests and questions of life. If Jesus was in fact literally resurrected, it necessarily follows that He is a divine being. No mere mortal has the power in himself to come to life again after dying. Because He was resurrected, Jesus cannot have been only a carpenter, a teacher, a rabbi, or a prophet. Because He was resurrected, Jesus had to have been a God, even the Only Begotten Son of the Father."

THEN...

"Therefore, what He taught is true; God cannot lie.²⁵ Therefore, He was the Creator of the earth, as He said.²⁶ Therefore, heaven and hell are real, as He taught.²⁷ Therefore, there is a world of spirits, which He visited after His death.²⁸ Therefore, He will come again, as the angels said,²⁹ and “reign personally upon the earth.”³⁰ Therefore, there is a resurrection and a final judgment for all."

"Given the reality of the Resurrection of Christ, doubts about the omnipotence, omniscience, and benevolence of God the Father—who gave His Only Begotten Son for the redemption of the world—are groundless. Doubts about the meaning and purpose of life are unfounded. Jesus Christ is in fact the only name or way by which salvation can come to mankind. The grace of Christ is real, affording both forgiveness and cleansing to the repentant sinner. Faith truly is more than imagination or psychological invention. There is ultimate and universal truth, and there are objective and unchanging moral standards, as taught by Him."

I know Christ lives and loves us, I have felt his hand in my life. Love you all and have a great week!

Hermana Ray

"May we realize how close to us He [God] is willing to come, how far He is willing to go to help us, and how much He loves us.  -Thomas S. Monson

Elva teaching us how to make food.. i am behind my companion, you just can't see me :)

Me eating said food

 Oh also we have transfers this week, but I am not going anywhere, neither is my companion. one of the Elders in our area is leaving which is sad, but other than that we don't see anyone.. So we have transfers, but life won't really change