Tuesday, September 17, 2013

hola mi querida familia! ..y amigas :)

 FEED ME SEYMOUR!
Aloe Vera plant... number one indicator that a Hispanic family lives here!

8/26/13
Pues.. HOLA! como han estado??
Things in Utah are sounding so exciting! I am so happy for SKYE!! Ah man. Best thing ever. Well, this past week has been so great! I don't have my planner with me... but I am hoping I can remember all the awesome things that have happened!
Well last Monday we were able to get one of our investigators to the YSA FHE! And it was so great! He actually speaks really good English and since he is twenty, we have talked to him about going to the YSA ward instead. And it was great. It was super sad at first because him and his brother (who is a member of a year) both came up from Guatemala to work for their families. He told us that he thought America would bring a better life, but all that he does is work, and doesn't even talk to anyone! So when he went to the YSA ward, when he stood up to introduce himself he just said he was so grateful to be surrounded by such happy friends! It really was such a miracle to have even gotten him there, but I am so excited how it will help him progress!
We have also been having a lot of miracles working with some of the less active members of our ward. There were two last week especially. Both of them were baptized about two years ago, but never really got super active. I think about the "work of salvation" where they talk about how we have to take care of the ones we already have, before the Lord will trust us with more! Both of these people we were finally able to get into contact with, and both of them actually took us out to dinner last week! (mission miracles :)) and then guess what… both of them were at Stake Conference yesterday!!! You can imagine how happy Obispo was to see them, and me as well, especially since the meeting was incredible. Some of the youth of the stake spoke, also President Pingree, a member of the Temple Presidency, and then the Stake President. It was awesome. Real fast, a few things that I heard, that I loved. Well President Pingree is just the greatest, and he talked about 'opening your mouth'. Because we are promised that if we open our mouth about the gospel, that it will be filled, but lots of people are hesitant! Well, he gave a really great talk on the three steps to take to have success. Because the success isn't if they accept it, but if it is offered! Orar. Hablar. Invitar. [pray. speak. invite.] That concept is soo applicable to every one, not just missionaries! We have to ask God to give us the opportunities to share the gospel, then when the opportunity comes up, you need to speak! Then, always invite as a commitment. It can be something as simple as coming to a family home evening, or to church! Just something that could help them strengthen their faith. Alright and one thing that I loved in the talk of the member of the Temple Presidency (I wish I could remember his name…) but he talked about the difference in BRILLANTE y BRILLANDO [shiny vs. shining]. It was really great and so true. Most of the time we focus so much on the outside, so that it is 'shiny'... but when something really shines, it is because if comes from the inside! It makes me think of Matthew 5 when it says that ye are the light of the world!! Shiny just glorifies our selves, but shining glorifies our Father which is Heaven. Alright, sorry if none of this letter makes sense, so many ideas I am throwing out... Just trust me that stake conference was really great. :)
Miracles happen every day… every moment. And the Gospel is where to find true happiness. Yesterday we were finally able to meet with one of our investigators who has been really sick. The first time we met her she was soooo... sad. She really has had a hard life, and still is having a lot of trials. It has been such a blessing for me though to see that as she has started saying her prayers every night, and trying to read in the Book of Mormon how her countenance has changed! She is so much happier and optimistic about her situation!
Oh, real fast, one other cool story. So we were out knocking, making friends, when we saw a house with a "beware of dog" sign... Well the gate was open and we didn't see anything so clearly we headed for the door. We were about halfway up the driveway when we noticed the chain with a Pitbull at the end that had just started waking up... we walked a bit brisker to get to the door, when another dog came out of nowhere yapping, waking the pitbull right up! We made it to the door and the girl looked at us in awe and asked us how we made it past their dog (I just thought… angels...) Well, she told us that we could come in and talk to her mom. Right off the bat her mom said.. "creo en la virgen, santos, ..." etc.. Well, we just said that was great! We said it was great to see people who were so firm in their beliefs because it was faith that gets us through this life! She began to soften, because she said before that "missionaries from another church" had told her that her Virgin Mary statue was satanic or something awful like that. So she was not fond of other religions, and invited us to leave. We just asked if we could say a quick prayer with them before we left and she agreed. Right after the prayer it was incredible. Her entire countenance was different. She actually opened up to us about what it was that she really believed and some various feelings. It was amazing to see the spirit work in her, and so quickly!! She said that she really wasn't interested in changing, but as we were leaving she said that she was very grateful that we had stopped by her house that day, and that the angels had helped us get to her door, because her dog doesn't let bad people pass. How awesome is that! So then her daughter came out to hold the dog from us so we could leave, and he was vicious!!! He was all barking and slobbering. Gracias a Dios!
Well, I hope that you can use some discernment and find something that makes sense in this little email. This week really has been so great! Fun fact, this past week all the visa waiters for Argentina that came to Texas with me left today for Argentina! Miracles for them! Looks like they finished what God needed them to do here in our mission!
I can't believe it is already the start of another transfer this week! Time just keeps flying faster and faster.. That's why we have to live in the moment! I love the quote by.. Uchdorft? that says happiness isn't just the destination, but also the path! It is so true. Live it up. :) I love you all so much! Have a great week, a great new school year for those that are starting! Remember who you are and all you stand for. Make good choices. God is good. Reemplace miedo con fe.
les quiero,
Hermana Draper


Making new friends!

 

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