6/23/2014

Howdy! On Friday we worked with a returned missionary all day long. After one of the lessons one of the big airplanes flew overhead and he said, "Quick Bond! How much distance is between you and that airplane??" "I dont know, maybe 300 yards?" "NOPE! 2 MONTHS!!!" Ouch. 

We had some of the less-actives we've been working with in church yesterday. One of the men that came hasn't been around in about 7 years. One of the little old women in the branch who adored this man came up and told me, "Congrats, Hermana. You've done a good thing. Thanks for bringing back my boy." It's all worth it. I love thinking of the invitation that President Carmack gave us: "Find the next covenant the people need to make, and help them make it." And that's where we are.

It's been raining a lot lately. I fell in the mud. OOPS!

I went to Arraijan today for Pday, and saw Tio Lam for his birthday. I just love being around him. He makes me want to be better. I also was able to practice some dialect with the Kuna families I love so much.

This Friday marks 170 years since the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed. I would like to take the opportunity to testify of this noble man's life and death. I have come to know that he truly was a prophet of God, used in the Lord's hands to restore the everlasting gospel to the earth. I know that he faced his death with courage in his heart, having read from the Book of Mormon just moments before he was shot. I admire his strength and willingness to always obey the Lord's command. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng

I love you all!

the world cup has begun!

The World Cup has begun, and people's interest in the gospel has dwindled. 

Happy Fathers Day.

I went on divisions with the Sisters from Pedregal and I contacted a man named Eliezer. The sisters called me last night to tell me he went to church and stayed all 3 hours! Pretty cool.

The family we worked really hard with in these weeks and took to the temple, they showed up in PERFECT time to take the sacrament yesterday. I was just so happy to see them. One of our investigators also committed to live the word of wisdom. I am grateful.

I love being protected as a missionary. We really do have angels all around us.

Well, America, represent us well this week down there in Brazil.

I love you all!

6/9/2014

We took a family to the temple last night. They were baptized over a year ago, but haven't been to church in over a year. Very special. The husband walked up to me after the mini tour at the temple and said, "thank you for bringing us here. you will never know what you've done for us." WORTH IT. Out of 23 less-active priesthood holders our branch president asked us to find, we found 16 this week. I am pleased.

We went to the mission home last night so I could register for my classes at BYU. That seems way too real, and it's coming up way too fast. It was SO nice getting a hot shower, though! And of course I love listening to Hermana Carmack and looking at her art!

I loved reviewing the talks from General Conference, especially the Priesthood session. It's all available on LDS.ORG for anyone to read. My prayer is that we all may strive to be true disciples of Christ; come what may, and love it.

I love you all!

4/21

I hope everyone had a great easter!

Hermana Cabral and I stayed together!! She jokes and says that I had to go to Chorrera to pick her up, because they sent me BACK to the Chitrè zone. Haha.. Heavenly Father has a sense of humor sometimes. We're in a tiny branch called Santiago. We're already seeing miracles.

I told Hermana Cabral to thank me, that I took the matress with bed bugs. I am COVERED in these awesome, big red bites from "chinches". Blessings.

There are a lot of tiny miracles happening in my heart. I feel changed, and I feel that another wave of change is coming. The Lord always knows what we need, and the moment we need it. It's a privilege to be here, now, representing Him. I love this gospel!

Yesterday my companion said, "happy 14 months in the mission, Bond!" That hit me. Has it really been THAT long? So, so strange. But oh, how grateful I am for this time that I have had; and the time that remains! There is work to be done! 

I love you all.

4/28

Our most positive investigator gave us back the Book of Mormon yesterday. It hurt. I just hated every moment of standing in front of her gate; Fransisca hanging her chin, and not giving us a reason WHY. I just love these people, and I do my best to help them feel God's love for them. I respect their agency. I know they have a choice whether or not they want to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that Heavenly Father trusts me with such a great errand.

"And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of theirfathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith andrepentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—

Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free."

Heleman 15:7-8

I love you all.

May 5

We went back to Chorrera on Saturday. The Bishop of our ward suddenly passed away last week of a heart attack. I am so grateful we were able to go and support the family. We ended up being the only missionaries that showed up to help set up the chapel for the service. When the Bishop's wife, Vanessa, saw us she said "Oh, my girls! My faithful friends. Thank you for being here with me!" That hug was one I will cherish forever.

I want to say thank you to all of my bishops who have helped me become who I am today. Bishop Stebbing, Bishop Vanderpool, Bishop Harmon, and Bishop Knight.

Wednesday was very rainy. The biggest miracle was that we found a house that we visited our first day here, but hadn't found again. When we showed up, Ana came out and began to cry. "I was praying someone would come." And there we were.

Alma 26:3. Mosiah 23:10, 18.

"Now we have a reason to live extremely well!"- Richard G. Scott

I love you all

5/12 - Mother's Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

And Happy Mothers Day to every great woman I know!

This week was... wet. Lots of rain. Lots of getting lost.

On Friday I just COULDNT eat all the food one of the members gave us, so when she went into the other room, i shoved the plate into my bag-- needless to say that all of my things smell like rice and chicken now.

Lots of miracles, and lots of disappointments. But the work moves forward!

I love you all!

5/19

2.5 years as a member of the church, and 15 months as a missionary! I'm feeling GOOD!

 

I haven't mentioned our biggest miracle in Santiago yet.

Our very first night here, as we were getting off the bus from the city, and hauling our suitcases to our apartment, a man stopped us. That's normal. "Who are you! When will you teach me about God?" We thought he was a normal... strange... Panamanian. But then he began speaking in English.

"Hi. I'm Max. I lived in Wisconsin. I want to hear about God."

Sadly, we blew him off for a few weeks, thinking he was not being serious.

Over the course of our time here, we've kept running into Max around Santiago. Finally one day we asked for his phone number and called him to invite him to a group night. He came. That night we spoke about temples. He was amazed. A few days later we taught him about the Restoration of the gospel, and handed him a Book of Mormon. "I already have one. A stranger gave me one while I lived in Wisconsin. One day I was mowing the lawn and a man walked up, handed me the Book of Mormon, and told me it would change my life. So I took it!" He is such an incredible man. He has accepted a baptismal date, and we are looking forward to teaching him and his wife (who also is reading the Book of Mormon) about the blessings of this gospel. Hard work pays off. Obedience brings blessings.

 

We had surprise interviews with President Carmack this week. They were beautiful. I really enjoy learning from him. He signed off on my Personal Progress, so that means I'm kind of officially a virtuous Young Woman! He said he'll be getting the medallions in soon.

 

Well, the work moves forward. Next week we find out about changes. I'm hoping to stick around with Hermana Cabral. I love that girl too much to let her go now!!

 

I love you all!

5/26

Yesterday was one of those beautiful Sundays. We had investigators, inactives, and some visitors in sacrament meeting, so as missionaries we felt JOY.

I learned the hard way this week that we should never ignore an impression from the Spirit. If He tells us to do something, we do it.

President Carmack should be posting soon about changes. I can't believe 6 weeks have already passed!

"Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer‍ unto Him."

I love you all!