I'm not here to find a husband.

May 4, 2015

HOLA!!!

It was funny reading your emails last week because everyone said they same things... Jaxon can say what dad says in three paragraphs in two sentences. haha:) Hermana Molina thought it was pretty funny. She has me read my letters to her because she says she needs to live through me because her family hasnt written to her in a few weeks. She was so excited to tell everyone that her companions dad is now a stake president haha shes so cute:)

Well, this week has been a long one! I have been so tired! One elder was so kind to tell me that I now have large bags under my eyes. Hah and many people have asked us why we dont wear make up and actually get ready like the other sister missionaries... Opps! On Sunday one hermana told us that we looked so nice and that it was a grand transformation that took place. Hah maybe we should care a little more, but theres no time and Im not here to find a husband hah. 

The best part of the week was Sunday. Our ward now starts at ten and so the chapel was packed! I have never seen so many people assist the ward before. Sacrament meeting was such a spiritual experience and people actually bore real testimonies. One of our investigators got up and bore his testimony as well. He paid attention to what other people said so he knew how to start and end his testimony. It was so great. He is such a great man! I love his whole family. 

We also had another family attend church. They have been having problems with their marriage and they separated for a few weeks, but now they want to make things work. The husband usually leaves his family to go and drink on the weekend, but this week was different. He wants to change. His wife said that he can do what he wants, but she and her daughters were going to attend church. So he went as well. He wanted to leave after sacrament meeting, but once again his wife said, "you can do what you want, but if we only attend church for one hour its better to not even go. I am going to stay for all three hours." She is the greatest! I love seeing the little miracles we get to see as missionaries everyday. This family was going to be separated and now they have great desires to save their family and have the gospel as a part of their lives. 

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it is true. It is our only way to true happiness!

I love you all so much! Have a great week! Thanks for everything!

Love,

Hermana Monson

I Told You So!

April 27, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!

Well, sounds like your week has been a little more eventful than mine! All I can think of to say is I TOLD YOU SO!!!:) Dad is going to be the best stake president ever!!! Im glad you were able to have a great spiritual experience with stake conference and meeting with a few general authorities. 

This week was a little hard. We couldnt find many people to teach... but on the bright side of things we were able to find many service opportunities. Once again we are on the look out for new investigators. No one wants to come to church and actually progress. There is always an excuse. Yesterday everyone we went to pick up to go to church or called didnt answer or had something better to do. Really? Theres nothing better to do that go to church! Many of the members dont even attend church.... especially the men. We are lucky to have two priesthood holders attend and arive on time to bless the sacrament. Its so sad. On Sundays the women have to wash all of the laundry for the week and the men have to play soccer and eat cerviche or drink all day. Quite the Sabbath day. Its so sad that they dont realize the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. Do we?

This week we have started teaching music classes to help the Relief Society learn how to sing. Its pretty funny because I dont even know  how to sing, but here they think Im amazing! I dont know how I have changed because I would never sing a solo at home, but here it doesnt bother me. 

This week I have been reading a lot in 1 Nephi. I have found it interesting how much these first chapters of the Book of Mormon talk about listening and following the prophet. As Lehi and his family obeyed the prophets and counsels of God they were blessed, and when they didnt they faced storms of darkness and were lost.... they didnt have Gods help or direction, they couldnt find food, they were almost killed in their ship traveling to the Americas.... But these events brought them to the depths of humility before they were destroyed. If you read in these chapters in 1 Nephi you can see that many times Nephi says that his family murmured. Even his father Lehi murmured at one point, but Nephi, he never murmured. His brothers called him crazy, the smote him with a rod, they tied him up with cords, but he never murmured against God or the words of the prophets, because he was going to obey no matter what. We live in a day as Nephi described when he said that men trample God and His counsels under their feet (1Nephi 19:7). What are we like? Do we murmur against God and the counsels He gives us through His servants the prophets? Or do we, like Nephi, continually strive to be obedient and follow the prophets of God? We must "hear ye the words of the prophet(s)... and liken them unto (ourselves)" (1 Nephi 19:23-24). I am so grateful to have a living prophet to guide us in these latter days. I know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God and gives us the counsels that we need from God at this time. The church is so true because only we have prophets to receive the revelation we need for these days!

I love you all so much! Thanks for you love and support! I hope you have a great week!:)

Love,

Hermana Monson

Hot and Cold Water!

April 20, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

Well, I dont know what has been the best part of this week, that we have a new shower head that actually has water come out of it... AND we have hot and cold water, or that Hermana Molina and I dont have transfers! I will be serving with her longer than any of my other companions... 2 whole transfers! hah

This week Hermana Molina and I have felt like marriage counselors. We have listened to so many sad stories of husband cheating on wifes, abusive and controling husbands, and families that are literally being destroyed. It makes me so sad to hear. I feel more scared to get married now, but I also have a greater desire to apply three important family activites in my future family... family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. This month marks the 100 year anniversary of the Family Home Evening program! Although it has been many years since the First Presidency announced this counsel, the great blessings we receive when we obey has not changed.... In 1915 the First Presidency said, "If the saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them.".... and today President Boyd K. Packer has said, "With this program comes the promise from the prophets, the living prophets, that if parents will gather their children about them once a week and teach the gospel, those children in such families will not go astray." What great blessings! In these days many families are falling apart, but we have the secret to keeping our families together forever, but why dont we actually do these things? 

Elder Richard G. Scott said, "While you are working to strengthen your family and cultivate peace, remember... weekly family home evening. Be cautious not to make your family home evening just an afterthought of a busy day. Decide that on Monday night your family will be together at home for the evening. Do not let employment demands, sports, extracurricular activities, homework, or anything else become more important than that time you spend together at home with your family. The structure of your evening is not as important as the time invested. The gospel should be taught both formally and informally. Make it a meaning ful experience for each member of the family."

I hope we can all apply these three simply principles in our lives so that we and our families can be securely planted in the storms that are all around us everyday!

I am so grateful for the wonderful family that I have! I have been blessed with great parents who have helped teach me the gospel and the importance of obedience. 

Thanks for everything! I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Love, 

Hermana Monson

Right Place, Right Time

April 13, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

Well, not too much happened this week. Hermana Molina and I were a little bummed that things werent a little better.... because sometimes all our leaders care about are numbers, but I am not here for numbers! 

This week I have learned that our Heavenly Father helps us be in the right place at the right time if we let Him (if we listen to the Spirit or are doing what we should). We were contacting the other day to find to investigators and we knocked on doors along one street and then decided we should go back and and turn down this other street. We found a lady, a mom with two little daughters, who is experiencing many difficult things right now and she was interested in what we had to share.... so interested that she wanted us to return that same day! Turns out that because of all these problems she wanted to commit suicide.... but then we knocked on her door and now she feels peace and hope in her life. We have returned to visit her a few times and she always has many questions. Shes not married, and I dont know how much she will progress, but I am so grateful that we could be in the right place at the right time. I know that the Lord will place us in the path of those who need our help so that we can be instruments in His hands! 

We also ran into a lady who received the missionaries before in a different area but then they left and she moved so she lost contact with the Church. She has such a great desire to learn. She came to church yesterday!!! WAHOO! 

Our investigator that had a baptismal date decided she never wants to be in her house so its hard to teach her and she cant progress very much. Plus, she wants the first missionary to return to baptize her and she wants to then go to Boliva when he finishes his mission and marry him... shes 40! Ya, its a little weird. Haha Hermana Molina and I have decided that the people her are just a little different. The only really normal people are the bishop and his wife. 

This week we had interviews with President and Hermana Williams. They are great! I always feel excited to get back to work when I talk with them. President Williams told us that sometimes the work doesnt move as fast as we would like it, but we are obedient and working, so sometimes we will have times like right now, when there arent many people progressing and when we dont have many investigators. He also asked me if I play the piano in our ward... I said no. He said WHY NOT!? hah ya, I should probably start playing, especially because the hyms here are like apostasy because they change the tone and everything.

Fun fact of Peru, all the little kids use a carry on suitcase as their backpack. Seriously they are huge and all of them use the ones with wheels! 

Sorry I dont have much to share this week! I love you all and am so  glad you could have a fun Spring Break! Love ya!

Hermana Monson

9 months in

April 6, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

This week was a busy one! I was confused as to why you were all telling me that I almost had 9 months in the mission when I still had a few weeks until I hit my 9 month mark... but I was wrong! The time sure flies by! 

What an honor it was to have General Conference on Easter Sunday this year. I have always enjoyed General Conference and looked forward to listening the the living prophets, but I think my love and excitement only grows each year! How blessed we are to have living prophets! I know I say that a lot, but it truly is such a grand blessing in our lives! I was so grateful that I was able to watch all of the sessions in English. We had a little room in the stake center for all the gringos to watch it. It is so much better when you can listen to the actual voices of the prophets and apostles and hear their exact words. I thought it was interesting the many talks on staying true to your beliefs and doubting your doubts before you doubt your faith and enduring to the end! We really need to remain strong and true! 

I was reading Lehi's Dream this morning and I loved each phrase used to describe the "fruit", or Christ and His Atonement.... desirable to make one happy, most sweet, fills our soul with exceeding great joy. My thoughts went back to conference when Elder Jorge F. Zebllos said, "If we know salvation is possible through the Atonement why would we expect anything less?" We know of the great blessings we can receive when we come unto Christ, so why dont we do it? Are we like the people in Lehi's dream who became distracted by the worldly things and let go of the iron rod? As Elder Gerald Causse said, "Is the gospel still wonderful to us?" I hope we can all come unto Christ and partake of His great love and Atonement. Don't get distracted. We need to always have an eternal view and endure to the end!... and if we do we will receive eternal life! Sometimes it seems so hard, but the more I think about it I think we just make it hard. I am so grateful for my Savior. He lives and loves each one of us. His hand of mercy is ALWAYS stretched out towards us. Take His hand. Just accept that we need His help in every aspect of our lives. 

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the wonderful examples you have set for me... examples of Christ like lives. Keep working hard and remember the things that are essential!

Les Amo Mucho!

Hermana Monson

Our Greatest Joy and Protection will be found in the Family

March 30, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!

Well, this week can be summed up by saying NO ONE WAS HOME!!! I dont know why but this whole week it was so hard to find people to teach and many of our lessons feel through. But I guess thats just how life is sometimes!

Luckily after a whole day of walking around and finding no one we were blessed with the opportunity to attend the General Womens Conference. Wow. It was great. I loved the song that they shared that says, "God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be". How blessed we truly are to have a family. I am so grateful for the family I have and the many things that I have been able to learn from each one of you  so that I could progress and become a little more like the person God wants me to be. I know I have a long way to go before I become like Him, but through you I have been able to change little by little. I loved how Sister Esplin said that we need to be spiritually strengthened as a family. Only through the spiritual things can we be protected from the worldly things. It takes time and effort from EVERY family member. I hope that we all can focus a little more on the things that really matter, the things that will help us become eternal families. To do so we need to do as Sister Oscarson said, and be defenders of the family!

This week I have also had the opportunity to study a lot about Joseph Smith and the priesthood. While reading Joseph Smith History it caught my attention how many times he used the word persecution. He was persecuted beyond belief, and yet he continued doing the work of the Lord until the last day of his life so that we could have the priesthood and truth upon the earth today. Thanks to Joseph Smith we have the power to be sealed as families forever. What a grand blessing we have! 

Always remember to put the family first. Our greatest joy and protection will be found in the family. Remember to have FHE, family prayer and scripture study, and do your family history! These things will help us to become who God wants us to be!

I love you all so much! Have a great week!:)

Hermana Monson

Baptism Planner

March 23, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

WOW. What a great week! We spent a lot of time helping Hermana Rebeca feel prepared for her baptism. We have been so blessed to have the opportunity to visit with and teach her. She really is such a wonderful woman. Our district leader said he has never had a baptismal interview like the one he had with her. He said she was so sincere. She was so prepared and ready to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Like every baptism it was a stressful day. It was supposed to start at 10 and at 9:50 there werent any leaders there.... only Rebeca, her family, and of course our zone leaders! But it all turned out so beautiful. You could feel the Spirit so thats all that really matters. Hermana Carol helped us make cupcakes for afterwards. And best of all Rebeca was so happy!!! She is a real convert. 

We were also blessed with lots of investigators and menos activos that came to church (nine and nine)! We have two families of new investigators. One family we have been teaching for a while. With Hermana Aranguren we visited the mom, Roxanna, but her husband was never there  (this is the family that we had to do some counseling with). I always thought that we shouldnt visit her any more because no pasa nada con ella! But I sure have learned my lesson to not give up on anyone! Now her husband is always there and they came to church and stayed for all three hours! They have changed so much as a family and individually!

Lately we have visited a lot single ladies (in their 40-50s). They are a little different. One asks me for help to respond in English to guys she talks to from the U.S. on facebook. Another has friends that told her she needs a companion and she said, "WHAT!? Are you crazy!?!" (Hah I thought of Aub). Hermana Molina and I have decided we want to get married quickly once we get home haha. Aub this is why you need to go on dates!!!

This week it has rained almost every night. It rains in the night and then during the day it is so hot! It has also been sooooo humid. I didnt really notice it until we were in the air conditioned mission office and walked outside. Its the worst. You can feel a hot vapor all the time. We want to be transfered to Cajamarca (the only cold part of our mission) haha. 

This week Hermana Molina and I have been studying a lot about the conference talk "What Way do You Face?" by Elder Lynn G. Robbins. This talk is so good! I was reading today in Mark 14 and this chapter is about when Judas Iscariot betrays Christ. He forgot which way he faces. But how? He was a disciple of Christ. He spent much time with Him. He saw the many miracles He performed. Why then did he forget which way he faced? How many times do we forget which way we face? In a world full of temptation and all sorts of evil we need to be truly converted to the gospel so that we never forget which way we face! The gospel of Jesus Christ is so true! 

I hope you all have a great week! Love you! 

Love,

hermana Monson

Preparing

March 16, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!

Wow. This week has been great!! Really things have turned around for me. Monday we had a slumber party with some hermanas that had to stay with us before cambios...then Tuesday we had cambios!!!!!! I have the best companion ever! Hermana Molina. She is from Santa Cruz, Boliva (I think Im supposed to learn Spanish or something because the other hermanas from my group have had practically all north american companions). She was campanions with Hermana Rasmussen the four months anterior. We have a lot of fun together. Really its totally different working with her. She is such a great missionary. I wish I could teach and explain things like she does. 

This week we have been preparing Rebeca for her baptism (which is this Saturday!). She is so prepared. I love visiting her. Our visits are more of a review than teaching her new things, somehow she knows everything! She really is the greatest!

I have also taken the role of family counselor, so if anyone needs one let me know! We visited this family (the husband never received us before) and the wife just went off on how her husband doesnt care about the family and how he just leaves them to drink and this and that and how he is never going to change because he has said he would change for 8 years. By the end of the lesson the husband was crying and things were a little tense still. We have visited them a few times this week and it is so great seeing and feeling a difference in their family. We think they can really progress. 

This week has been hotter than any other week here in Remigio. I thought by now they weather would start to change and cool down, but no! It has rained a few times, making it humid and even more hot. It rained yesterday making the streets such a muddy mess. We went to pick up some investigators in the part of our area that is a little more humble and ended up with high heels by the time we got to church because of all the mud. Also because of the rain we have had many worms crawling into our room for shelter. It is so gross. I was laying on the floor doing core and turned over to find a little worm an inch away from my face haha. 

Yesterday I finally had to give a talk in this ward. We found out Saturday afternoon so we didnt have any time to study and prepare. The 2 missionaries that spoke before me didnt take up much time and so I was left with a lot of time and I didnt even know what I was going to say before I got up to speak. I had the ensign and my scriptures. Dad you would be impressed because I dont think my legs were even shaking. I have improved a lot:)

This week we have eaten so much food! I always feel so sick. People here get offended if you dont eat their food. I cant wait until I can eat what I want and how much I want haha. 

Sorry this week my letter isnt very spiritual. This week I have been reading the conference talks to help prepare me for this upcoming General Conference (I CANT WAIT!) I am so grateful to have a prophet who leads and guides us in these latter days. I love the words of the prophets. I know they are the words of God. We truly are so blessed to have the help and guidance of men who talk with God. I hope we all can take a little bit of time to help us prepare for General Conference and learn and love the words of the prophets! I know Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Les amo!

Hermana Monson

Baptisms

March 9, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!

Wow. This week has been so good but again hard at the same time. It started out amazing... but by the end of the week I just couldnt handle it.... but then it ended on a good note. We have cambios tomorrow. My companion will be leaving the area. Although I think I have experienced the hardest time in my whole life I have learned so much. I have learned that I have so many weaknesses and need the Atonement 24/7. I am sooooooooooo grateful that we have a loving Savior who was willing to suffer for all of us. Never take that for granted. 

I read a quote this week that really helped me change my perspective and my attitude and continue on.... President Monson said, "So much in life depends on our attitude. They way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment." I love this! Its so true. We cant change our circumstances, but we can change how we react to our circumstances!

Wow. Really this week I have seen so many little miracles. First, we were teaching one of our investigators, Rebeca, and she was telling us about how she is different, she now lives a different life. She said, "We (her and her daughter) have changed. They way I think, act, ponder...I pray for you everyday that the people wont shut the door on you like I did, because my heart was so hard." We asked her if she prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true and she said, "I learn more and more everyday. I think pretty soon I will be baptized." She had a huge smile on her face. I was SO happy. I think I even cried a little bit. I was on cloud nine! Then her daughter came into the room and asked us if her outfit was modest enough to wear to a youth activity. We helped her put some things together so it would be more modest. Now she dresses more modestly... and she is attending seminary!!! But it gets even better! Hermana Aranguren were teaching the gospel principles class and at the end Rebeca said, "Hermanas, I want to be baptized." I was like WHAT!!?!!!!! Seriously it was the greatest happiness ever! She now has a baptismal date for March 21st! She is the greatest!!!! I love them. They are so prepared. 

Yesterday our pensionists husband was also baptized. He is about 65 years old. After 22 years of his wife being a member he was baptized! He was the only non member in his family. He was so happy and so was I. He has faced so many challenges these past couple months, the greatest was having his leg amputated, but he was a completely different person after he was baptized. The gospel truly changes people. It is so true!

I love you all so much! thanks for your love and support!

Love, 

Hermana Monson

Blessings

March 2, 2015

FAMILIA!!!!

Wow. The time just flies by! This week has had its ups and downs, and I have felt so tired and like an old granny because my whole body hurts, but I love being a missionary!!!:)

Because February is the month of love I tried to study a lot about acts of love in the scriptures. I enjoyed learning more about the greatest act of love- the Atonement. I was reading in Matthew 26-28 about the crucificion of our Savior Jesus Christ. He has such a grand love for every single one of us that He was willing to give His life for us. I love this quote from Elder Andersen, "We sacrifice for the things we love and we love the things we sacrifice for." The love the Savior had/has for us only increased when he preformed this marvelous act. I am so grateful for my Savior. I know He lives. He is the only one that is always there for us when we need a little extra boost in our lives. I love Him. 

This week I have been able to feel the Spirit stronger in my life and in the lessons. It is the greatest thing ever because really I cannot teach without it! We have one investigator named Flor and with her it was like love at first sight. I felt so much love for her. She is so confused and just wants to know the truth but it is so hard to help her notice her answers or the Spirit. 

We also had a great FHE with Rebeca and Katy. Mom I tried to do your salt and pepper thing as an object lesson for repentance (I tried it all out in our room before) but as I was explaining repentance and started rubbing the spoon over the plate nothing happened. Hah I rubbed the spoon really hard on my shirt and then my hair and said sometimes it takes LOTS of time and effort.... hah but it still didnt work. It still was such a beautiful night. We had to leave but the members that came with us ended staying for about 2 more hours to talk with their family! But the best part is both Rebeca and Katy fasted on Sunday azing and pretty much members already.... now they just need to feel and know that the church is true. Really being a missionary is great because you get to see so many people change.nd paid their fast offerings! We havent even taught them about the law of the fast yet!!! They are amazing! I love being a missionary and seeing people change!

Whenever we dont have many lessons and the week isnt good numbers wise, my companions solution is always SPLITS!!! But she always choses to tell me the moment of, i dont know she calls the members while Im in the bathroom or something. Then I she always assigns me to visit people I have never met so I dont know where they live. Ya whatever.... haha but nothing ever happens when we go on splits. Hermana Lourdes (a member who is great and has a daughter serving in California) and I visited at least 15 people and no one was home! Pretty much I have felt like these last couple of days were a waste of time when we could have been doing something better, but thats okay. Theres always room for improvement!:)

I love you all so much and love hearing from you. Im glad Goldies blessing went well. We had three baby blessings on Sunday and it made me think of you all. I wish I could have been there. I have never felt too home sick or been too bumbed that I wasnt home to see my first niece, but yesterday I did. Im glad you all could be together though. I love all the pictures! You all are so cute!:) (also the decorations are darling!)

Love you lots!!! Have a great week!

Hermana Monson

Lord, Is It I?

February 16, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!

Well, this week has been such a roller coaster for me. I have tried so hard to be happy and positive but sometimes it is so hard. I have never felt so much sorrow or loneliness within myself because I just want to be a better person and be happy. But the other day I was reading the talk Lord, Is It I? by President Uchtdorf from last conference and it really helped me out. This week I want to focus more on me... the things that I need to change about myself because I am definitely not perfect. President Uchtdorf said, "Im not sure why we are able to diagnose and recommend remedies for other peoples ills so well, while we often have difficulty seeing our own." I cant change my circumstances, but I can change how I react to my circumstances. I know that its me that needs to change.... but I am so grateful for hymns! Hymns have definitely saved me this week. I havent said much this week because everything has just annoyed me, so I have probably looked like Aub as she walks down the hall in school talking to herself because I just hum or sing hymns as I am walking down the street. 

We also had a ward blitz type thing this week and the hermana I went on splits with really helped me out. She said so many things that I needed to hear about companions. The Lord really places people in our way when we need them!

Chocolate has also saved me! Thanks so much for the package for my birthday!!!! You are the greatest!!! Although I will probably become fat because of it it makes me feel good for the moment. I have also come to love my language study time. I can just relax and have some alone time. 

This week I have learned so many things. I have learned to really talk to my Heavenly Father. He will always be there for us no matter what! I am so grateful for prayer!

Love you all! Sorry my letter this week is short and not the best, but I love you all so much! I hope you had a great Valentines day! I am so grateful to have you all in my life!:)

Hermana Monson

Oh what a view!!

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HOLA FAMILIA!!!

Well, the time continues to fly by! On Sunday I will complete 7 months in the mission! So crazy! I now have 6 months here in Olmos and.... tomorrow I have a transfer. I wanted to stay one more transfer in Olmos with Hermana Hernandez, but I guess thats not what the Lord has in mind. It will be good to have a change, but Im a little nervous. Its such a pain to pack my suitcases.... I feel like I have given a lot of stuff away and still my suitcases weigh a ton! 

This week has been a little hard. We don't have anyone progressing. We visited a lot of new people but no one wants to learn about the gospel, they just want to have us be their friends and visit them. The menos actives don't want to change either. They don't want to have anything to do with the gospel. It's so sad!

We were able to visit some elderly people this week. First we visited some members that are elderly. They haven't been to church for about a month and a half because they have been sick. When we got to their house they said, "Oh, what a surprise! You haven't forgotten about us like everyone else." and then when we left the hermana gave us a big hug and said, "When are you going to come again? You can visit us whenever you like!" We were able to visit some other elderly hermanas that arent members as well. It's so sad how lonely they are. They just want someone to talk to. Often we forget about these people. Please do as President Monson has said and DONT forget to visit the elderly. They need our help and they want our visits. 

Other than that nothing too exciting happened... oh, I did wake up with a high fever and have been sweating ever since. Hah its great in the heat here. I cant stop sweating. I could not sleep. I think I might have slept for a good 30 minutes and that was it for the whole night. I even tried sleeping on the cold tile floor but that didn't help. But Im getting betting so thats good!:)

I love you all and I am so grateful for your love and support!:)

Love, Hermana Monson

P.S. many of the people here eat like Jaxon- like a scoop shovel... hunched over their food and they eat really fast. I even found a kid in the branch that talks like Jax. haha Love ya Jax:)

Remember to practice the piano! It will help you so much! I am leaving the area and now they dont know who will play the piano because I played every week and they need someone to play because they dont know the tunes of the the hymns. Practice practice practice!!!

Funny dad that you said to stay away from the fish because we eat fist everyday day.... if not twice or three times a day!

Gift of Tongues

January 19, 2015

HOLA!!!

Wow. This week was so great! I dont think I have ever felt so tired in my life, but we have been working so hard here in Olmos. We dont know how, but we were able to accomplish almost all of our goals for this week. We had more help from the member and we talked to pretty much EVERYONE in Olmos! The Lord was really helping us out this week. 

We had interviews with President and Sister Williams this week. Like always Sister Williams said I always look so happy. Hah she asked me why the mission is so great. Hah but it really is. I love serving the Lord and I really am so happy all the time... even if I am so tired I can barely move. President Williams told me that many times we measure our success as missionaries by baptisms, but sometimes we just need to measure our success by how hard we are working. I really needed to hear that. I feel like for the longest time we havent had many progressing investigators, but I feel like we have been trying our hardest. All we can do is our part, and then we have to leave the rest to the investigators if they want to accept the gospel or not. 

Yesterday I had to give my first talk in Sacrament Meeting in Olmos. The Branch President asked Hermana Hernandez and me to speak on Saturday. We were both so nervous. I didnt know what I was going to share, but I was so proud of myself that I could prepare a talk without the help of dad hah;) When the sacrament was being passed my heart started racing. This whole week people have told me they cant understand my "English" when I was speaking Spanish and I have just been a little frustrated with the language because I thought I was improving, so I thought no one would be able to understand me and I would struggle through my whole talk. I was the first speaker and when I stood up all those feelings left me. I was able to give my whole talk without looking at my notes besides when I shared a few quotes or scriptures. I was not myself. I dont think I have ever spoken Spanish like that. Hermana Hernandez told me my Spanish was so clear and pretty much perfect. An Hermano that was visiting came up to me and told me I have the Spanish down. He said I will be fluent in a month. Hah I dont know it was not me. I know I couldnt have spoken like that by myself. I am so grateful for the gift of tongues!

Next week are cambios. I was so ready to leave Olmos. At first it was a little hard to work with Hermana Hernandez and now we have so much fun together. I dont want to leave!... We will see what happens next week. :/

The Church is so true! Life is so much easier when we follow the path that our Savior has already prepared for us! Always remember to read the scriptures, pray, and have family home evening! 

I love you all so much!!!!

LES AMO

Hermana Monson

this is what we found in our appartment the other day!!!

I taught Hermana Hernandez and our pensionista how to make chocolate chip cookies... it was a little difficult becuase they dont have all the ingredients here in Olmos and I felt like I was using a little easy bake oven haha

Oh, and theres no such thing as a bosh here hah

Muchos Platinos

January 12, 2015

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

This week was a pretty good one! Hermana Hernandez and I keep improving with our goals. This week has been so much better and it feels more like we are good friends and its not awkward. YAY! Really she is great and it has been fun working with her. 

This week we had a few step backs... we had an investigator that was ready for baptism and she has improved so much spiritually, but there was a big thing that happened here in Olmos with one of the members and she didnt agree with it, so she said, how could she join a church where people are like that when they have more time in the church than she does? She told us she was ready to join the Church of Jesus Christ but that ticked her off and now she doesnt know. She said that we can visit her in a month once she has some time to think. I wanted to cry. I think I did shed a few tears. We have worked with her my whole time here in Olmos and she has started to read the Book of Mormon and understand it. I felt so sad for her. We tried to explain to her that just because we are members doesnt mean we are perfect, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is SO perfect. I realized that I really do love our investigators and I care a lot about them. It is so hard to see people come so close to making a decision that will change their whole life for the better and then they turn away, but we can not force anyone to do anything. I hope that she will find the missionaries again someday. 

We are still trying to have investigators with a baptismal date. Still on the search for people that want to hear the gospel!:)

This week I was reading in Ether and I cant even imagine living in that time, when everyone is horrible and all they do is fight in wars and eat, sleep, and wait for the next morning for their death. They didnt want to change. They continued following Satan. We dont have to eat, sleep, and wait for our death. We have the great hope and knowledge the gospel brings us that there is so much more to this life. We need to learn to change and apply the gospel so we can LIVE (forever and ever:) ) The gospel is so great!:)

This week I think I had platinos everyday for breakfast, dinner, and sometimes lunch.... fried, boiled, mashed..... I think our new pensionista really likes platinos!!! Hah

We have also found a frog, lizards, cocroaches, ants, and grasshoppers in her house. I have improved so much because it doesnt bother me as much anymore:)

Love you all!

Hermana Monson

Feliz Ano Nuevo!

January 1, 2015

FELIZ ANO NUEVO!!!

Hola familia. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I couldnt have asked for a better Christmas present, talking to you was amazing! Sorrry mom that I could only talk for 30-40 minutes- missionary manuel:)

This week not much happened, other than the temperaturas continue to rise. Yesterday was worse than it has ever been, and everyone says this is only half way to the high temperaturas. I have become used to sweating constantly and have learned to love freezing old showers. Everyone is worried about my skin and tells me I am red, but I dont know what else to do, I use sunscreen everyday. But the work keeps moving on:)

Funny story... we were visiting this older lady who only has one arm and we were teaching her how to pray. Hermana Hernández said you can just fold your arms and close your eyes... this Little grandma couldnt hear very well and she said, WHAT? and Hermana Hernández went to repeat herself and then she realized that she couldnt fold her arms. Good thing she couldnt hear. Afterwards we just had to laugh. It was pretty funny. This Little grandma is so cute though. She is the first person to accept a baptismal invitation in a long time. We hope to continue to help her.

We also have another investigator named Maria. She has been an investigator for a long time. Her husband and son are members but she says she is still waiting for an answer. I know she knows the church is true. She goes to church every week, she bears her testimony to her neighbors, she gives us references,.... shes practically a member but she still wont be baptized. It makes me so sad that she doesnt realize the happiness she could have by becoming a member of the Church of Jesús Christ. I know one day she will be baptized. I just feel like a parent right now. I know what she needs to do to be happy, but she wont do it. She is so amazing she just needs to recognize her answer.

Like I said nothing really happened this week. Not many people are home, so we spent a lot of time walking around:)

I hope you all are doing well. Thanks for your love and support!

Les Amo Mucho!

Hermana Monson

Progress

January 5, 2015

FAMILIA!!!

Well, I think these past couple of days might have just been the best ever! We are finally starting to see progression in our investigators! It is the best feeling ever. This week we also received a reference from a member, actually this hermana named Maritza went to this member and told her that she wanted to have the missionaries visit her. We went and she said she had been waiting for us. She told us she wanted to be closer to God and she wanted to start putting him first in her life. She told us her life problems and just cried to us (I cant even imagine experiencing what she is experiencing right now). I am just a 19 year old little girl and sometimes I feel like there is no way I can help these people when I hear all of their problems, but then I remember that its not me, but Christ that can help them. I have never felt the Atonement so real before in my life. As I testified of the sufferings of our Savior Jesus Christ I was filled with so much love for this woman that I hardly even know and I felt the grand love that Christ has for each of us to suffer all of our pains and give His life for us. The Atonement is real. It is the only way we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. 

We also had another little miracle the other day. We were looking for the house of a reference and I thought her house was this one where a man was sitting out in front, so I asked him if this hermana lived there. He said no but he said he had seen us all the time walking by the park but we never talked to him (yes, I felt like a failure of a missionary for not ever contacting him). Turns out he was an ex mayor of Olmos. He also wants to be closer to God. He asked us if we had a pamplet for him (he pretty much contacted us). We then invited him to church and he came!!! (we have never had a contact come to church just from a contact!) He was there early and everyone wanted to great him because he is the ex mayor. He had a lot to say in sunday school and understands everything really well. He said that he probably cant be baptized this month because there still is a lot that he doesnt know, but maybe the next month. We were like WOW!!! We hope that we can start to teach him and help him make changes in his life. The Lord really does prepare people and guide them to the light!

Pretty much these last couple days have been full of miracles. After a long drout the rains always come:)

I love you all and am so grateful for your love and support!:)

Les Amo Mucho!

Hermana Monson

Feliz Navidad!

FAMILIA!!!

 

Well, another great week has come and gone! This week was a bitter sweet one... Hermana Hess went home today, so this was our last week together. We were happy we were at least able to spend Christmas together (we had our little multi-zone Christmas part on Wednesday. It was so fun. Every country was represented by the missionaries from those countries to share Christmas traditions and songs. We also had to do skits as a zone... some elders like acting a little too much, but it was hilarious. We watched a video to end the meeting called What can you give? or What will you give? its like a mormon message type video. Its so good. What can/will we each give to Christ this Christmas?)

Like I said Hermana Hess is leaving so I get a new companion tomorrow. I have just been camping out with some hermanas in Chiclayo. They are so cute and nice. I like being in a trio. But I´m a little nervous to get my new companion. Im pretty sure I will be getting a Latina companion, so goodbye English! A lot of new things are coming my way, a new companion, a new pensionista (Hna. Vicki has to have surgery so we have to find a new pensionista), a new language probaby, and a new year! Hah Hermana Hess said Im pretty much getting a slap in the face, everything at once, but thats okay.:) Thats life right?

One thing that I studied this week was in Alma when the Nephites are trying to keep their cities and not let the Lamanites overtake them. I like Alma 59:9. its so much easier to do the right thing and maintain our standards, than to have to try and fix them later. Hermana Hess shared this quote with me that sums it up perfectly.... "its better to prepare and prevent than to repare and repent". Choose the right! It makes life so much easier I promise:) Also read in Alma 53-57 about the Strippling Warriors. They are amazing and such great examples for all of us!

The Church is SO true!

 

Thank you all so much for your love and support! Sorry this letter is kind of lame this week!

LES AMO MUCHO!

Hermana Monson