8-18-14

Hola Familia!!

Life has been great. We had some crazy weather this week, but by the time the storms were over, we FINALLY have clear skies. Like no smoke or anything. the weather got really nice with super blue skies. It has been quite delightful. But the storms this last week brought like 14 inches of rain in a few hours which has been pretty crazy, they aren't used to that much rain here. Because of that we had a slight flood in our basement, but nothing a mop and a bucket couldn't fix.

This week has been really cool. I have been focusing on writing down spiritual impressions that i have and reflecting on them. It has been really cool to see just how much the spirit influences me all the time. As harvest approaches we are focusing on trying to build up our teaching pool in hopes of being able to retain them during "la pisca".

Honestly the week started out in kind of a whirlwind. I have really been trying to understnad my investigators and know how to help them without going to far out of the lessons. Knowing when to go off and answer and when to try and pull them back into the main message. And as i have been more aware of searching for spiritual promptings, i have found them.

-My week took a hit when one of my favorite investigators told us that she was confused and wanted to learn, but made a promise to her sister that she wouldn't talk to anyone until she got home from Africa. I honestly still don't know if i have digested it all the way. She was one of those people that i had to pray and ask heavenly Father for help to love her despite her circumstances. And that is what i learned to do. And i to this day will never forget her and continue to love her with hopes that another set of missionaries will find her. Yet at the same time Heavenly Father comforted me to know that he would be taking care of her. I wasn't angry, a little sad, but i felt like everything would work out how it was supposed to be. To me THIS is the hardest part of missionary work, letting go of those oyu have come to love.

-Later that night, we were going to teach a lady who stopped meeting wtih missionaries because of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She had agreed to let us come back after we had answered some of her questions at the door. As we got ready to go in, I didn't want her to just hear about the Book of Mormon. I wanted her to experience it! The only problem in my plan is that she doesn't know how to read. I got the impression to read 3 Nephi 11 to her. I was thinking, ok, that works. I was worried that she would get distracted (like i do lots of times when listening to someone else reading) But she sat there totally soaking it in. The Spirit was so strong!! By the end we asked her if she thought the Book of Mormon was truly a book from God and she said yes! It was amazing. That is why we follow impressions. Because he knows better than us!!

-We took a few members out with us this week, where it looked as if all the lessons weren't going to work out, but we kept working and kept praying... And they all worked out in the way God intended them. It didn't matter what the situation was, we were working hard, and we were finding people to teach. Yet it is rarely through tracting. We tract, but it is a hard area to tract. it is either spaced out houses or town with is about half vacation homes. As we do all in our power, God helps everything else work out.

We had a Spanish church activity on Friday night. We only had 1 investigator there (we were hoping for like 10-15) But almost all of the members of our Spanish group were there or a member of their family. It was awesome! we had carne asada and an open gym. It was funny to watch all the little kids playing 3 or 4 different games. I think i at one time was playing volleyball and kickball at the same time. Since I have been here, the community and attitude of the members has been changing for the better. They talk and interact, it has been really cool to see the difference.

Overall, the mission experience is still AWESOME! I love it. Although some days you can't believe how tired you are. You blink and realize, Oh my gosh! i only have one transfer left! It seems so unreal. We had Zone conference last week, and it flew by! It was my last one so they have all the departing missionaries share their testimonies. It felt so unreal. As i sat and watched all the missionaries i am close to bear their testimony, and finding myself up there, i thought back on all the experiences i have had, and it has been amazing to see what i have grown to become. As i got up to bear my testimony and shook President Ware's hand he just looked at me and said, "No Hermana Ray, You can't stay forever." I had to laugh. I think I have asked him that every time i have seen him my entire mission. Later after the closing hymn, he says, "Hermana Ray, as we sang the closing hymn it thought of you." he then pulls out the hymn book and opens up to The Spirit of God, then points to the line, "The Lord is Extending, the saints understanding" then turns to me and says, "see Hermana Ray, the Lord is the one extending and that is why i can't" He thought he was Sooo funny. But we got a good laugh and i can only imagine what he will say when that time actually gets close! Zone conference other than that was super good. Sister Ware taught about Happy and Hard go together, we can do hard things and choose to be happy while doing them. I absolutely love the Spirit of learning from President and Sister Ware.

The Church is True, Jospeh Smith was a Prophet and through him Christ brought back His church. Christ still leads the church today through Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon changed my life, and I love you all!! Have a great week, and stay tuned for transfer update next week.

Hermana Ray

What happens when you get 14 inches of rain in a few hours and you don't have sidewalks.

8-11-14

Hola Familia!

So guess what my day started out with? Home made rolls. I made a small batch for Len and Lesa. But the weirdest thing happened. While the first batch was in the oven, Hna. Alcocer and I went to vaccum out the car and when we walked back inside the house it smelt like home... It freaked me out a little bit but it was kind of nice. WEIRD!

But the week has been really good. Sorry this will be pretty short. It is still rather smokey outside. today you can't really see the mountains very good in any direction. the fire isn't super close, but it is smokey.

Our investigators are all doing good. We have a few more weeks before picking starts for apples and everyone gets busy again. But As we taught this week we really wanted people to understand how important the Book of Mormon was. It seemed like every lesson we taught was some how brought back to the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. For many people we had knocked on their door for the first time ever and they told us that they had talked with the missionaries before and that they didn't get the Book of Mormon. They felt as if it was the only thing we ever talked about. As we talked and listened with love to help them understand rather than going on the defense about the Book of Mormon these peoples questions were answered that helped them and they set up other appointments with us. President Ware is big on that. We always need to be praying with faith and listening with love. Then we need to be open honest and direct in the spirit of helping. That is what this work is about. Helping others come unto Christ..

Mom i finished that "Come unto Christ" Challenge and it really helped me. As i studied the verses and tried to apply the teachings, i have realized just how awesome this opportunity that i have is. It has taught me that God is close to us and ever watching out for us. Making things happen for a reason.

Yesterday we were reading Alma 32 with Alondra, a 13 year old investigator, and after as we were talking she just talked about how Mormon people are just so nice. They start talking to you and treat you as if you have been one of their friends forever. The impressions these people get at the beginning make all the difference!!

This week i got a good lesson in obedience. Talking to different people, we hear stories about missionaries in different parts of the world (probably here too) being disobedient. It is so important for me to know that i am doing the right things because it is what i want to do not trying to bend the rules just to make sure i don't get in trouble. The commandments/mission rules are given to us to bless us. And as we live them it is so true that we are free. I have no doubt in that! And i am grateful that President Ware stressed the importance of obedience. He says this a lot and i love it:

Jesus Christ is the Reason, Obedience is the Price, Acting in Faith is the Power, Love is the Motive, and The Spirit is the Key.

I absolutely love everything about being a missionary, from studies in the morning, to knocking doors all night until the 1 person lets you in at 8:55 to racing to get home on time. Jesus Christ is my Savior as well as all of yours! The Book of Mormon helps us to learn of him and changes lives. I know this Gospel is true and i love helping other people come unto Christ. Have a great week!

Hermana Ray

Hna. Alcocer's first Ray roll

Letter to Jannae titled Fuzzy Navel. It was an inside joke about Bahamas Bucks

I saw this sign when we were driving and decided that i needed to turn the car around and take a picture. so we parked and after going through all this work just get a picture with this sign. i was like this is rediculous, maybe we should just go. but it was funny. on the way to the sign to take the picture we ran into an investigator who we haven't talked to in weeks because she moved and is only 16 and doesn't have a phone, plus she just moved into the methodist ministers house. and she was so happy to see us and set up an appontment.

crazy how even in the mission field you got my back!

8-4-14

Hola Familia

Wow another whirl wind of a week. not quite like last week, but hey everyday is different. I honestly don't know why we ever plan anything anymore because nothing seems to go as planned!

To start off, before coming to email, we got to go shoot baskets at the high school on the gun and i was in Heaven! It felt so good to be on the court and getting a real bball workout. I might have to talk them into letting me go do it again! Also.. I am out of shape and my shot could use some work, but you win some and you lose some. I am one happy missionary. plus now i have been thinking about it and can relate part of my week to a cheesy sport analogy. enjoy!

Really i have no reason not to be. We went to Brewster and Pateros a couple days this week to help out. a couple days we were sorting donations and one day we went out and cleaned a house. Hard work no matter what we were doing. But it makes you very grateful for what you do have and makes you think about what is important. If you had less than 20 mins to evacuate, what would you take? Do we understand what is really important? Do we understand how blessed we are? I have come to realize how blessed i am the longer i think about it.

This week Irasema was confirmed in church and it was awesome! They showed up to church a little earlier than usual and we had a good turn out. that is 2 weeks in a row that we have had really good attendance. As she was confirmed by Bro. Hinkley, the Spirit filled the room and set the tone for the rest of the meeting. It was amazing. During testimony meeting Abigail got up and bore her testimony and it was really powerful. Just through out the meeting there was a peaceful feeling there. There is just this feeling that Manson/Chelan is on the edge. On the edge of breaking that thresh hold and bringing miracles. I can sense it. Quick flash back to help this make more sense. I was in Royal for 6 months. Shortly after i left, the area exploded. It was starting to just before i left. We had more people than room in the Spanish Sacrament. A short time after i left they had to change the chairs so they could fit more people. It was amazing. And it is easy to think, ugh of course right after i left. But i haven't really. I got to see some of the members from Royal last week and it was so good to see them. The relief Society president was excited to tell me how good the work was going there and that lots of the families are active. What better thing can you ask for? The members building up, strengthening each other, and just getting it. I feel that we have that potential here. I love the Members here they are all absolutely wonderful and support each other. the last 2 weeks were really important because in the past it was hard because they would all come on different weeks and feel as if they were alone, so they slowly stopped coming. But when they all come they feel supported and comfortable. It is amazing what can happen if we know we are loved.

Other missionary work was good this week to. Busy teaching, loving, supporting, and helping. I have felt that i am part of the community here. Our families that we are teaching are doing really well, this week many of them have made different leaps or strides and they truely are in the process of conversion. Over and over people have been telling us as we invite them to be baptized that they don't want to commit to something that they are just going to give up on with time. And we say PERFECT! because that isn't what we want either! But they truly want to be changed by Jesus Christ.

I have read a lot about that lately, because i finally finished reading Believing Christ. (not long, but always something else to study) It relates back to that topic. If we understand Christ and his mission than we won't want to make the commitment short term, but we will want to be in it for the long haul. We understand that we do our part to show our love and gratitude for Christ giving us Mercy. It is amazing what we can learn when we are constantly reminded of what is important. Mom, I also started doing those "Come unto Christ" Challenges. We appreciate them :) They are helping me realize how my mission has changed my outlook on so many things. I love getting to learn about Jesus Christ, because it gives me a desire to follow him. I actually went through the bible the other day and read every story i could find when Jesus Christ says some form of "Come Follow Me" And i know that as we do so, we build our ability to be like Christ, we practice our attributes. Like both mom and Dad mentioned in emails this week. Whatever we are doing, we have to be practiced. If we are a missionary it takes time, If we are David fighting Goliath it took practice, and if we are followers of Christ, it is going to take a lot of practice. How many times are we told that we will miss 100% of the shots we don't take. Likewise we will miss 100% of the opportunities to be Christ-like if we aren't looking. Today i had a good chat with someone who isn't a member of the church about being good people and that no matter who we are, whether rich, poor, popular, shy,etc. we control if we are going to do the right thing. So i want to invite all of you to take that shot, look for that opportunity. As we find those opportunities we are allowing God to mold us into who he wants us to be.

Hermana Ray

Don't we look fabulous? This is after being outside about 5ish hours. consider me humbled.

7-28-14

Hola Familia! 

This week was a whirlwind and so fast. i can't believe it. Lots of growth took place this week as I have learned to put things in the Lord's hands.

The week started off with me in Wenatchee for a day on exchanges. It was kinda weird... There was so many people and buildings. Anyway you will never believe who we ate with.... Bro. Michuads uncle that lives in East Wenatchee. I walked in the asked me where i was from, followed by "Do you know any Michauds?" (first indicator that they knew you all really well was because they pronounced your name right) SO i said that i did and that i knew Trevor and Kenley was my brother-in-law. Not to mention i had know them for quite a while. It was fun to sit and chat and weird when you can connect things to home. Other than that being in Wenatchee was fun, talked to a lot of new people.

Meanwhile being in Wenatchee, my companion and Hna. Rockhill extended a baptism date to one of our other investigators, and he accepted. So we will be preparing for another baptism in the near future :) 

Life is going so good here. We are really being blessed with people to teach and work to do.

This week we really focused on getting Irasema ready for her baptism and we had some cool experiences. Her grandparents from Mexico are here and so that is why the baptism was planned for this weekend. we were cruising this week and all was smooth sailing.

Saturday we spent almost all day up in Pateros doing fire relief projects. It was a stake activity and it was a good experience. We brought Alondra and Serafin (13 and 15) with us to do it. Their family is investigating the church and their mom really wants them to be good people. So we had them come and it was really cool. they had a great time and overall we went through and cleaned up 2 houses. combing through the ashes for things that might have survived the fires. and taking all the metal out. It was a very humbling experience. Saturaday was great! ... until about 10:20 pm. We got a call from our ward mission leader telling us that we were only going to have sacrament meeting and that after whoever could was going to go to Pateros to volunteer. The problem with this. We had a baptism at 1:30 (after the 3 hour block) and all ward leadership was basically going to be gone. So the ward mission leader asked us to get a hold of Abigail (Irasema's mom) to see if we could change it to 11:30. It was too late to call that night and i didn't know what to do. I felt totally helpless. Everything we had been working for for the past couple weeks was about this baptism. We were working with the family as well as getting a bunch of less active families excited to be there. Fear creeped in. How on earth we were supposed to change this important event in like 24 hour notice (when most of that 24 hours they would be asleep). I was upset and helpless, i seriously couldn't believe that we had worked so hard for things to fall through or be changed and not work out right. I cried. No lies here. I was so tired of every good plan i have had on my misison falling through last second. I prayed and i talked to Heavenly Father and i told him exactly that. I told him that i couldn't do it anymore and that I didn't know what to do. I told him i don't know how we can work so hard and still have these things happening. After that i went in and tried to sleep (good one right?) i turned on our cd and the song came on called Better than I. Talking all about how God knows better than us

 "You know better than I, 

you know the way. 

I've let go the need to know why, 

for you know better than I"

I must have finally fallen asleep. We finally got a hold of Abigail the next morning and she was a little confused but seemed ok with the time change. We then had to send out messages to inform all of the Less actives and investigators of the time change. And off to church it was. Needless to say i was a little bit of a ball of stress yesterday morning. Irasema showed up with her family and one of the less active families a few minutes into the meeting. As soon as i saw them, all the stress left. i finally got some peace that Heavenly Father really did know better than I did. All ended up being absolutely amazing! the talks were short, but so sincere and perfect for the moment. When she went down into that water i realized why it was all worth it. Why we had worked so hard. To help this little girl who just wanted to be baptized and to be a missionary one day. It was such a great feeling. Many people were at the baptism and many people felt the Spirit and it was just AWESOME! Couldn't have gone any better. it was the definition of a miracle. God knew what was happening and He was going to make it work how he needed. Looking back i can see reasons for the change of time besides going to help in Pateros, but it just goes to show that we only see a piece of the puzzle, but God puts those pieces together to make a bigger picture.

I learned that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers. I have always known that but this weekend he was aware of me. I will keep pushing on, even when the craziness comes. There will be much more service to come in the towns that got partially burned, but hey lets say if i have learned anything it is how to roll with the punches. Even if it feels like i am rolling head over heals down a mountain. I am glad to be part of this work. I feel blessed to have this opportunity and have got lots more work to do here. With all the talk of fire, Manson is Spiritually on fire right now, in the best way possible. Thanks for keeping the people in your prayers and keep looking for ways to help others. Have a great week!

Hermana Ray

From left to right: Abigail (JR), yo, Carmen, Irasema, Hna. Alcocer, Abigail (SR)

 

Cleaning up in Pateros. Super humbling experience.

Our car in clean up crew. Left to right: Yo, Serafin, Hna. Alcocer, Alondra, Sis. Aleasha England

7-21-14

Hola Familia!

Life is well, literally crazy here about now. So i don't forget to mention this later, i will do it now. Not sure how many have seen it, all i know is it is the only thing on the news in Washington. Washington is like number one in the nation right now for forest fires. Don't fear, Manson/Chelan are not in danger. It is up the valley quite a ways. But some people in our stake have been affected by it. A couple have lost homes. It was cool to see the whole stake pull together in a special fast for these people. The church is already on board to help provide relief to these people. We have had the opportunity to help out a little bit doing some translating and just visiting and playing with people who have been evacuated from their homes into the highschool in Chelan. But no worries we are safe :) Just keep these people in your prayers :)

Other than that this week has been good. We have found some new people to teach and Heavenly Father blessed us to have a little contact with all of our investigators. Lots of them have been working in the cherries and we don't always see them every week, but this week we saw ALL of them! It was really fun :) They are all doing well and i think being prepared for the gospel. The Lord always has a way of putting into our minds what the people need even if it wasn't something that we were planning. We are focusing on helping out the second generation. Everyone we are teaching is concerned for their kids, and as they see their kids changing their heart is more receptive to the message. It is really cool. Because the kids are also the ones who are being proactive. In one of the famillies, when the kids learn the aren't going to church, mutual, or a ward activity they complain. (And they are 15 & 13) Mom i bet you wished we were like that. And the other family. the 13 year old daughter is the one who always does her reading! it is amazing!

Irasema is still set to be baptized this weekend and we are so excited!! This is the families first step towards being able to be together forever. We are trying to set a time for the baptism that the Dad can come. Abigail told us that he has softened up a little and wants to be there but has to work at the time we had it set for, so we are trying to change that. It has been really cool to see them changing and growing in the gospel. They are currently the most active members of our group and they aren't actually members yet. Irasema just makes my day because she always talks about going out with us and being a missionary someday. What more could you ask for when you are helping someone come to Christ's gospel?

The gospel changes lives. that's it, it is that simple. For investigators, members, missionaries, anyone. No matter who we are if we begin to LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ rather than just learn it, we change. We apply repentance and the Atonement. We Believe Jesus Christ. Commiting myself to serve a mission has been one of the greatest blessings in my life because i began to learn, aplly, and use the Doctrine of Christ in my everyday life. We got to have a training on the Doctrine of Christ again this week. I have been to this training 3 times now, and everytime i leave thinking, i have read this chapter so many times and still didn't get that out of it. As we learn of Christ, we want to be like him, and because he is merciful, one day we can be. We CAN be perfect, we CAN be happy, we CAN receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has for us. BUT those are all our choice. We have to choose to follow him and we are promised to recieve these blessings. 

I hope you all have a great week! Talk to ya next one! 

Hermana Ray

Smoke coming into town, not the best picture, but the only one i took.

 

 

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

7-7-14

Hola Familia!

Honestly it has been a great week! I have so many reasons to be happy! It has been weird not to be doing 4th of July activities, but that is ok. Town was really busy on the Fourth! All weekend actually. It was kind of nice. our chapel was filled to the brim and they had to open it up more than normal which was fun.

Congrats Jenny on the Call!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the force :)

We had lots of lessons this week and the Lord was definitely watching out for us. The first experience that really helped me grow my faith was on Thursday. Up to this point everything we had been trying to accomplish here had been cancelled hours before it was to happen. Whether it was a member having to tell us they couldn't come or an investigator, we hadn't had a very successful week to this point. But thursday we had good plans. The spiteful side of me was like ya... we will see. Luckily my Faithful side was stronger. We called to confrim our appointments, and one of them wasn't home and we had no way of contacting her... So as a last resort, we dropped a note of at her work and I just thought, "well Lord, i have Literally done everything in my power to let this happen." The outcome wasn't looking great. But we left and went back to work hoping for the best. That night we had dinner with Abigail, one of our investigators. She is the sweetest soul on Earth and will hopefully have the chance to get baptized soon. After dinner, the conversation changed pretty quick when Abigail asked us what Irasema (10) needed to do to get baptized. Well we set a plan with her to be baptized and it was literally God answering so many of my prayers and lifting my spirit all at once. Then was the moment of truth. to see whether or not Jasmin got our note at work. I seriously was on such a high from the lesson before and a whim hoping that she was there that i wasn't even sure what to do. We knocked and she answered the door and was ready to go. it was a miracle!

Then since it was fast and testimony meeting and my companion is newer in the area we were going to bear our testimonies. But we were hoping to see Dioci who is one of the Less active YW we are working with. We started doing personal progress with her once a week to help her build her testimony. (I know those who know me really well are laughing right now. oh personal progress) But i am now starting to appreciate it more than i ever did as a young woman. And her experience this week could be checked off by bearing her testimony about Jesus Christ in Sacrament meeting. we had been studying about the Atonement. Well, sunday came... and so did she! We sat in the more full than usual chapel and she was super nervous. But when she got up she sis awesome. it was very short and started by saying that she was nervous because she had never done it before. She did awesome. And it was a really cool experience. To see someone taking such an action to increase her faith.

This week more often than not has fallen back on the Atonement. It is at the forefront of my mind and everything I have been reading has come back to that. I wish i could understand/comprehend it more fully, but i am also grateful for the knowledge that i do have. I am so glad that Christ chose to be obedient and do the will of his Father. It really hit me this week that everything that we do as missionaries will come back to the fact that Christ is our Savior. It is the center of our teachings and always should be our motivating push to help other people! I love the testimony that i have of him and would love to share it with anyone who would let me.

Oh ya Fourth of July. We had a good fourth of July. We had a BBQ with the Englands including steak and chicken and whatever other things you can imagine! My companion wasn't feeling very good so after dinner she headed off to bed to try and beat whatever it was before it came. So it was a rather lonely one.. Haha the family we live with went to they beach to watch the fireworks. So i went out to watch the fire works at like 10:15 when they finally started and i could only see about half of any given fireworks. Not quite as good as stadium of fire, but i'll take it. I love the fourth. Sarah rockin job on the earings. all the England grandchildren loved them!

Have a great week! Hermana Ray

The second photo is for your birthday Sarah! this was the back view off of our porch at about 9:15 on your birthday :)