"The Lord had called me to this work, and I feel as though I did it." - Brigham Young

welcome home, Michaela! :D

Wickedness Never Was Happiness - 10 DAYS

Wickedness never was happiness.

I understand that each and every one of us MUST pass through difficulties and hardships. BUT TAKE HEART. I pray that all of us may endure these brief moments of our lives so that we can more fully enjoy the blessings that follow-- If we but endure WELL. Here in the closing moments of my mission I have seen and heard many other missionaries turn off and shut down and the spark of a trial. "I can't" and "It's too hard" are the lousiest excuses I have EVER heard. We are ALL capable and able to endure the tests the Lord gives us; of that I'm certain.

Obedience brings such peace to our lives. We never need worry if we are walking hand-in-hand with the Lord. 

"Many people feel that the commandments are burdensome and that they limit freedom and personal growth. But the Savior taught that true freedom comes only from following Him: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31–32). God gives commandments for our benefit. They are loving instructions for our happiness and for our spiritual well-being."

I invite you all to read these inspired words:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/07/be-strong-in-the-lord?lang=eng

I love you all.

Aug 4

We have become very involved with Family History work with our inactives. It has been a very tender experience working with these members and inviting the Spirit of Elijah into their homes. I love the temple.

Jesus is the Christ. There is no room for doubt or questions. He truly did live and die the way the scriptures indicate. I love Him, and I am grateful that my Father offered His Son that I might have JOY.

I feel joy as I obey the commandments. They are not rules or suggestions written by a light-minded religious man. They are commandments. And each one comes with a specific blessing. As I live the Word of Wisdom, I feel healthy and happy. I run and grow not weak. I walk and grow not weary. I breathe and laugh and enjoy pure entertainment. As I live the Law of Chastity I grow closer to my Heavenly Father and learn more about these sacred powers He has intrusted us with in order to have families. As I read the scriptures, pray, and go to church I strengthen my testimony and feel the guidance of the Spirit more evident in my life.

I love this gospel. What a joy it is to preach it!

I love you all!

July 28

Well, be still my soul!

A wise friend once told me to expect miracles. But I wasn't expecting them like THIS! Life is great as a missionary!

We went to the temple on Saturday to see one of the families we've been working with get sealed. It was so incredible. BUT even better-- Chitre AND Santiago branches were at the temple, and I was able to see 2 more sealings, one of them being a less-active family Hermana Cabral and I had started working with there in Santiago. AND I SAW CABRAL! That was a tender mercy.

I just feel so grateful.

I love that after Christ's resurrection His disciples realized the weight of their calling. They taught boldly the gospel they once heard from the lips of their Savior. I love a certain account when Peter in teaching in the temple and the people feel the need to change their hearts. They cry out, "What should we do?" With love and authority, he admonished them, "Repent, and be converted."

I know that true conversion comes when we make and understand covenants with God. Our first covenant is baptism. I love thinking of the day of my baptism. I love thinking of those glorious promises made to me. The Holy Ghost helps and guides me along the way, and I know He will faithfully lead me as I strive to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love you all!

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.

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!

April 14

"O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God." - Mormon 9:27-28

After many, MANY prayers offered, Hermana Cabral and I are staying together another change, but we BOTH are leaving the area!!! We are really excited to see what the Lord has in store for us!

Our less-active, Jose, came to church all by himself yesterday. He stayed for ALL 3 hours, and supported the other missionaries in their baptism after church let out. He was so happy. I was so happy to see him happy! We had 8 of our less-active in church this week, out of the 11 we went to visit, and one of our investigators who is getting baptized next Saturday. Unfortunately we won't be here to see Norma be baptized. But she is our little "escogida", and she is going to be a great addition to the ward here in Chorrera.

I testify that God loves us and hears our prayers. I love you all. Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday, Cody Hoffmann!

April 7

Conference was flawless! The Spirit was so evident in every discourse! My testimony was strengthened. I love the Lord!

The Lord gave me a very special opportunity to follow counsel given Sunday morning in conference by "taking someone by the right hand" and lifting them up.
It was an inactive member that I am DETERMINED to help. Jose is only 34 years old but has thrown his life away to alcohol. In between sessions yesterday we went to Jose´s house, picked his hung-over body off the ground (taking him by the right hand and helping him stand), made him shower, and dressed him in a new church outfit we had picked out. I even tied the tie! He came to the LAST session. But he came. I will NOT give up hope on him.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church. I have no doubt of that. His tender mercies are over all of us who choose to repent on His name, and press forward with hope, faith, and charity.

I love you all.

March 31

BIRTHDAY PDAY HAPPINESS!

This week absolutely whipped me into shape-- spiritually and physically speaking. We taught an outstanding number of lessons, we dedicated our time, hearts, and efforts to meeting everyone's needs, and we ENJOYED the fruits of our labors. The Lord has blessed us tenfold for our efforts. Dilligence, obedience, and faith is all it takes.

The Women's Conference was incredible! Mostly because they showed a video with the Kunas from the San Blas islands here in my mission. So cool. I loved the frase "nos necesitamos". We really do need each other, sisters! My companion, Hermana Cabral, is just such a prime example of that to me. I love her and her awesome attitude. This week the best advice she gave me was: "This mission is supposed to be hard. Accept things and move on!" She keeps me moving forward!

I finished reading the Book of Mormon for my 5th time on Wednesday. I testify with all I have that it still stands true. It was, is, and will always be another testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most true of any book on earth. I wish all of you could read it, and open your eyes to the fullness of the Gospel of Christ.

On Saturday I went to the sealing of Pachi and Itzel Ramos (a family I worked with in Chitre), and it was so incredible! They got baptized a year ago, and have been faithful ever since. They have worked hard to reach their goal of the temple, and it was an honor to see them kneeling across the alter!

Today we're going to eat lunch with a recent convert, then we're hopping over to Arraijan to visit TIO LAM!! I'm so excited to see him! My companion got me breakfast this morning, paid for my bus, and made me a sweet card!

I love you all. Isn't it weird that none of you knew 21 year old Bond?