Bautismo ... Por Fin!!!

This week we finally had the baptism for Betzaida and it was great!!! She loves the church and she loves the gospel so it was great to finally see her in the font! We had a member in the ward who is leaving for his mission in a couple weeks, do the actually ordinance to help give in practice and he did awesome!! 

The weather here has been super hot and I'm not excited for June and July here but oh well! Transfers are next week and I'll probably get moved out of this area. Yeah I've only been here for 6 months (sarcasm)! Haha I honestly love the members here and I'll be sad to leave them and my companion if I do get transferred but we'll see what happens on Sunday when we get transfer calls!!

Here's the pics from Betzaida's baptism.

 and here's one with my Puerto Rican mom, Carmen 

Lesson Learned, Price Paid

This week I learned a really difficult lesson about acting upon the promptings of the spirit. Last Sunday I was feeling uneasy about the baptism that we had scheduled for the 14th. My companion and I decided to fast and pray about what we should do and we both felt really strongly like we should postpone the baptism date a week or two until we felt like our investigator recognized that she had a testimony. We felt peace and reassurance but we were eventually talked into keeping the baptismal date for the 14th. While planning the baptism we felt very nervous and unsure and it seemed like we encountered problem after problem. We had to change the service to the 15th (yesterday) because of a funeral that was taking place. My companion and I couldn't sleep Saturday because we just really felt like our investigator wasn't ready. 

Yesterday, one hour before her baptism, our investigator told us that she doesn't know how to recognize that she has a testimony and she doesn't quite understand what faith really is. This reaffirmed the answer that my companion and I had received that she wasn't ready for her baptism. We had to cancel everything and it was really embarrassing. I learned that I need to support the promptings that I receive and I hope that I never have to learn this lesson again.

We will hopefully have her baptism next week, depending on if she is ready :)

6 Months Down!

This week was really good! I hit my 6 month mark and I can't believe how fast my time here is going. My cute companion made me pancakes in the shape of a 6 and we tried to find a 6KM sign but a 0.6KM was the best we could do!

We had zone conference on Thursday and I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Elder Martinez for the quorum of the 70. It was an amazing experience and I'm grateful for his support and advice. At zone conference I learned the importance of teaching according to the needs of each of my investigators. I can't wait to be able to apply what I learned!

This Saturday I should be having another baptism! We're really hoping that everything goes as planned so please pray for the success of my investigator, Betzaida!

As you all know, Sunday was Mother's Day and I got to see my cute family! I love them so much and I can't wait to see them again for my Christmas Skype!

Here's the pictures of my week!

April 25 2016 Starting my transfer with Sister Vega

This week we had transfers and I love my new companion!! She's such a sweetheart and I'm excited to see what we can do with our time together!

This week was really hard and my challenge for this week has been trying to work with my new companion, who doesn't speak English, and also to find new investigators. I think the Lord is trying to help me learn Spanish at an accelerated pace haha. 

I've been trying look for the positive and to keep working. I know that my hardships are only for a moment and that I will be stronger and wiser from them!

Even though there were a lot of hard things about this week there were also a lot of good things. I got fed 2-3x a day, sometimes just by random old ladies that we contacted and sometimes by members that saw us out contacting. It's also been really cloudy so I haven't had to worry about getting super sunburned. Also, thank your for sending me food that I can actually eat while I'm out contacting, candy gets really sticky and gross.

I'm praying that this week will better and I know that the Lord is trying to accelerate my language study. I'm hoping to have another baptism sometime before I leave Toa Baja!

Love you!

April 18 2016 Desde PR

Hola!

This week has been really hot but really rewarding! We've been contacting a lot and we've found some new families to teach.

Yesterday was transfer calls and my companion is going to be  a sister trainer leader in San Juan!!! I'm staying in Toa Baja and my next companion (Hna Vega) is from Guatemala and I'm 90% positive that she doesn't know any English so my Spanish is going to get really good! Today is my last day with my cute companion which is sad but I'm so excited to she what she can do in San Juan!

 

April 11 2016 Conference Caves and Celebrations

Last week was so much fun and I was able to listen to conference in English so I could actually understand everything that was being said! I felt like every speaker talked about how much our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. I loved the quote from President Uchtdorf that said "You can have what you want, or you can have something better". I have the hardest time being patient during times of difficulty but I know that every experience that we have will eventually make us stronger.

Last Monday we had a zone activity at the Indian Caves in Arecibo and here are some of the pictures! It was on my 5 month mark which was a fun way to celebrate!

My spanish is getting better and I know it's 200% the Lord. Oh funny story with the picture that I'm sending you of me holding the 5, I had the 5 above my head but then the wind picked up and my shirt flew up... yeah I flashed the Elders my Garms and my companion captured my reaction. I ate at Olive Garden while we were waiting for the Elders to meet up with us for the Zone activity.

 

Flasher!!

  

LA PASCUA

This Easter was very different for me. I was able to focus on the true meaning of the atonement and resurrection of Christ. Usually on Easter I'm just focused on eating pie, or candy, or food in general, but this year I felt just how important this holiday really is. I'm so grateful for my Savior and the knowledge that I have that this life is not the end. That I have a brother who loves enough to lay down his life for me. He knows my trials, heartaches, and weaknesses. "Because of Christ I will have new life".

On another less serious note, here's some pictures from my activity with the sisters and my cute Easter package!

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