"You will be responsible for what the Spirit prompts you"

How fun to see the pictures of the family reunion, it's crazy to think that the family has grown so much with everyone's husbands (and new dogs haha) Like grandma says, they're the children!! Also, congrats dad on the new job!! 

This stupid keyboard in the internet cafe is sticky and my patience might run thin trying to type everything out but this week has been good. The highlight was definitely Emilia's baptism!! She is really short and had to use a children's baptismal suit but looked like an angel. After her baptism, she stood in front of everyone and said that she feels so happy, and so clean. Hermana Antunez and I sang "I stand all amazed" as part of the program and it all went really well, even though no one in her family came to support. The bishop talked about how as members, however, we are a big family. I have felt that too- with fatherly council from the bishop, to the little old ladies who sew the holes in our clothes to the sisters in the relief society that always not only feed us, but send us home with bread and avocado and tea to keep warm. I am so grateful for the church. We had a lot of special experiences this week, one of which was contacting and teaching a woman named Jennifer. As we were teaching, she told us that two nights before we showed up, she was up all night crying because she thought that she, her husband and two kids were going to hell. She was a little scared that we showed up and it was a huge testimony that God hears our prayers, and we can help Him answer. In a conference we had with Presidente, he said "You will be responsible for what the Spirit prompts you" I know that if we pay attention and act upon the things that come to mind, we will be blessed, AND SO MANY OTHERS TOO WILL BE BLESSED! I hope you enjoy the cabin and have a good week! 

Stay sweet,

Hermana Stone

Emilia's Baptism

Swallowed Up

Familia! 

You're right, those flowers are beautiful. Grandma also looks happy and that makes me happy. I'm also glad to hear that your talk went well and that you and Sadie were able to go to the show, it looked incredible! This week was really good. We were able to have a lot of success with our investigators coming to church yesterday and I can see their progression every time that we teach them. Don't get me wrong, they still each have their little problems and false traditions of men, but I have a lot of hope for these people! This week for service, a woman that we "rescued" (she was inactive but now she's attending again) asked us to come and help her do some things around the house. We helped clean and went to the mercado with her to buy food for the week to cook. She also happens to be the mom of one of our investigators, Homero. While we were following her around and helping pick out tomatoes and carrying bags, one of the workers asked her if Hermana Antunez and I were her daughters in law! We both blushed, pointed at our badges and explained what we do. It was really funny and embarrassing and the hermana said she would like to have daughters in laws like us. It definately made it worse hahaha!  We are working a lot with a new family who are really great (familia Rodas). We are working also to get them married (we are still working with Maria and Luis as well but Luis is objecting to marriage). 

Hermana Antunez has made a new game out of trying to scare the dogs in the street and catch them off gaurd. But then they always try to attack us and we both end up laughing and she, almost crying. We also went on a field trip to the hospital twice this week but after a lot of tests and waiting rooms, nothing is wrong and my comp is healthy! 

We had a lot of spiritual experiences this week as well. A little message I wanted to share with you guys is about keeping our eyes set on Christ. We were comparing Lehi's vision in first Nephi with the story of Peter in Matthew 14. In Lehi's dream, he saw the tree of life, the great and spacious building, the river etc Nephi asked to know the significance of the dream and he too was able to see it. In 1 Nephi 15:26-27 it says: the And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw? And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water." Lehi was SO concentrated in the tree of life (the love of God), SWALLOWED UP even, that he wasn't able to see the filthiness and temptations of the water. In Matthew 14, Peter had a similar experience:

"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When Peter took his eyes away from the Savior, when his mind ceased to be SWALLOWED UP and his eyes weren't focused on the savior, but in the world around him, he then began to drown. I know that if we too have a "mente firme y un fe fuerte" we will be able to reach our eternal destination hand in hand with the Savior. Don't be distracted by the little things. I hope you have a good week!


Hermana Sav

"no pueden tomar fotos aqui" "do not take pictures here"TOO LATE!

Alcira y Cesar

No Effort is in Vain

No group email today- but here is an excerpt worth sharing :)

Yesterday we had a really cool experience. I was feeling sad because we left early and passed by for 6 different investigators to bring them to sacrament meeting and not one was able to go. There were some that weren't home (where they would be at 8 in the morning I don't know), one was sick, one was leaving to work (and the thing is that the situation here is a little different, there's not always work and people don't know how to save and be self sufficient so when there's work, you work,no other option) and one was leaving for a vacation. I felt bad because it's like the whole weeks efforts were wasted. But while sitting in Sacrament meeting, the man was sharing a message about how God, after commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son and then saving his son, provided the lamb for the sacrifice. But it was after the trial of his faith and after his obedience. We were sitting there when a man came up to us and presented us to a young couple with their two kids who he had invited to the church. We took their direction and visited them in the night time. They shared with us that they have gone to a lot of different churches because lately they feel like something is missing in their life and their house feels empty. They even invited a pastor to come and sprinkle blessed water (or something crazy like that) on the different parts of their house, but nothing has changed. We were only able to teach them a little bit (because I was in divisions with my companion and the lady that she was with had to go home for an emergency) but in the little that we shared, I could feel the Spirit so strongly testifying to them, and to ME. It was a nice reminder that God provides miracles for us. I sure hope that this couple can progress. They too, need to get married.

I have felt the Spirit testify so strongly to me that this is HIS work. He wants ALL of His children to return to Him, and will help us as we help HIm in this great cause to bring to pass the inmortality and eternal life of men, because that's what we're here for. Just as it says in 1 Corint58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. NO EFFORT IS IN VAIN. The results will not always be immediate, but they will come.

Bye Hermana Evans!

Trust them.

Familia!


What do I even say? we talked yesterday. haha But seriously, it was so good to see you all and talk. Since I was able to tell you how I've been and what has happened in the last week, I just wanted to share a little experience with you guys that has shown me once again, that God is aware of us and answers our prayers. I was having a kind of hard time about 2 weeks ago. I have always had faith in Christ and in God, but I have struggled having faith in others and their ability to make changes in their life and leave behind their sins and bad habits. I was sharing this with my companion and praying to let me have more confidence in others when I was reading, once again, a conference talk from 2014. It is called "I have given you an example" by Richard G. Scott that said:
"Remember, loving them is the powerful foundation for influencing those you want to help. The influence of my Grandmother Whittle and my wife, Jeanene, would have been negligible had I not first known that they loved me and wanted me to have the best in life. As a companion to that love, trust them. In some cases it may seem difficult to trust, but find some way to trust them. The children of Father in Heaven can do amazing things when they feel trusted. Every child of God in mortality chose the Savior’splan. Trust that given the opportunity, they will do so again."

I know that God answers our prayers. I know that He wants us to trust in Him, and trust in our brothers and sisters that we so want to help. 

I love you guys and hope you have a good week!

What's for Dinner? Yep, a Guinea Pig!

Family!

The pictures look so great. I am happy that everything went well with the wedding (and the food!) You guys always put on a good show haha This week went by fast and was really good. We are finding new people and helping a lot of the same people increase their testimonies and REPENT! We were able to have a few investigators in the capilla yesterday for fast and testimony meeting that was really special. I think it was good for them to have another witness apart from the two of us testifying of the same things that we have been teaching the whole time; of our Lord and Savior, the need for Him and the importance of our obedience to His principles and ordinances of His gospel. 

It says in Alma 41, " Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness." We know, through experience and revelation that the only way to TRUE happiness is by living according to our potential as children of God, a God who is perfect, loving, full of hope, and obedient. We too must be and do these things. If not, there are consequences so that we can learn and progress. Sometimes we can't see these consequences right away. In 3 Nephi 27:11 it says" But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return." Just because we don't see the affects of our obedience (or disobedience) right away doesn't mean that they won't come. President Eyring taught in General Conference Every person born into the world receives the Light of Christ, which helps us see and feel what is right and what is wrong. God has sent mortal servants who can, by the Holy Ghost, help us recognize what He would have us do and what He forbids. God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness—in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret—in time. Those effects are sure. Yet they are often delayed for a purpose. If the blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith. And since sorrow is also sometimes greatly delayed, it takes faith to feel the need to seek forgiveness for sin early rather than after we feel its sorrowful and painful effects. I know that if we learn correct principles and put them into practice, we will be extremely blessed. Maybe not NOW, but it will come. Just like they taught us in Primary, CHOOSE THE RIGHT! Love you guys,

Hermana Stone

TELL MERRILL THAT I ATE ONE 

(but only a little bit... I almost cried haha)

Coldplay came here last month :,)

I broke the broom I was cleaning so hard

parque de las aguas

Happy wedding Delaney, we ate cake to celebrate :)