7/21/14

Through Jesus Christ we are made clean from our sins. As we exercise faith in Him, we truly can feel His guiding hand helping us. Of course, we are not quite yet perfect like He is, so we often times need to repent of our habits and sins to put our life in harmony with His gospel. As we follow His example, we can make covenants with Him, such as baptism, that allow us to enter the path which leads to eternal life. We strive to listen and fully act upon the prompting of the Holy Ghost, which gift is conferred upon all those who enter the waters of baptism. We press forward, and cling tight to the teachings of the Savior as we endure and walk back to His presence.

God loves us, and His Son is evidence of that.

We had 7 less-active families in church yesterday. And one of our dear investigators, Patricia, finally came to church with her family. We found 2 new families this week as well, who now have the goal to be baptized in the month of August. The work moves along!

I love you all!

7/14/14 - Pigs, Temple Square, and simplicity

I am staying in Nueva Esperanza with Hermana Garcia to finish up my mission! President Carmack also closed the area next to ours to the Elders, and now we are opening the area. We are happy, we are working HARD!

We've started a running club in the morning with a few women in the neighborhoods near us. We meet up at 6:30 and do some exercises in a soccer field. It's fun, and we're slowly building confidence to be able to teach these families!

I just have to share some of the miracles of my last change, and what we're already experiencing in this new change.

Last change we found 70 less active families, and out of those, we currently have 3 preparing to be sealed in the temple next month. One of the families will actually be sealed in 2 weeks! A few single members are also preparing to enter the temple in the next few weeks. I feel so grateful!

I ran into one of my Young Women that I worked with in Arraijan, Fanny, who just received her mission call to the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission! She is so excited, but I think I was more excited! I was there on Saturday when her and her mother went through the temple for the first time together. Such a tender mercy!

I FINALLY pet two pigs. It was just such a happy day. Their names were ChiChi and TinTin. 

There are a million more things I would love to tell, but I don't have time to write a million more things.

I wish to bear bold testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I believe that God has created a Plan in which we can better understand who we are, what our purpose is, and where we can one day live if we so choose to live and accept said Plan. I know we came from a heavenly family, and that God has sent us here and now in order to reach our fullest potential. I understand that Christ is central to this Plan, making possible our glorious return to our Maker. I have come to realize that this life will not always be easy, but as a beautiful woman once told me, "God always does good." He loves us, and He wants us to return to Him. And we can! All we must do is hearken unto His Spirit, live His gospel, make covenants, and endure well. 

His gospel is simple. May we all live as to enjoy the simplicity of His Plan! 

I love you all.

And Germany!

7/7/14

Yesterday was HAPPY in the branch of Nueva Esperanza.

We had 3 complete families there who have been inactive for a while. The Jaime Family even bore their testimonies. People are paying tithing! Things are looking up!

We won't know about changes until 2pm today. We'll see what the Lord has in store for my last 6 weeks here in Panama.

I love you all!

6/30/14

Hermana Cabral sent me an email last week telling me how to have JOY in the work. That's what I focused on this week-- finding joy in every phase of the Lord's work.

I was able to go to the temple this week. I love the temple. It is always so special seeing the people I love, and the members I have served. I was able to sit in the Celestial room for a nice long while. I read the words in Doctrine and Covenants 35:21 

"For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified,even as I am pure."

It just gave me that extra push I need in my efforts of being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

May you all find JOY in the small, hidden details. I promise you can. I love you all.