Week 33

Hi everyone,

This week was good.  It has been absolutely wild but we have been able to see lots of miracles.  Seriously, this sector is golden.  We have a golden investigator but it’s going to be hard to meet with her because we were in her house the other day and her son entered drugged, so we had to leave.  I think with a lot of fasting and prayer we will see miracles with her.  We have found lots of kids that want to be baptized but their parents are menos activos (less active) and don't want to come to church right now.  Again, there is a lot of work to do here and I'm loving it!  Also, one of our investigators came to us and said she wants to be baptized, but she doesn't want to put a date because she wants her family to be baptized with her and they haven't had hardly any of the lessons yet.  Once again, super happy and excited for that!

Basically, this sector is superrrrr prepared.  These people are incredible and so many people want to listen.  It’s amazing to see!

This week was a little bit harder for a few reasons but in those moments, I have learned to try to do all I can to center myself on Jesus Christ.  When I can do that, I always receive the help I need and I know its the same for you!!!

I keep thinking of these lines from President Nelson when he said, 

"We are to learn our duty from the Lord, and then we are to act in all diligence, never being lazy or slothful. The pattern is simple but not easy to follow. We are so easily distracted. Studying the daily news can appear more interesting than the priesthood lesson manual.  Sitting down to rest can be more attractive than making appointments to visit those who need our priesthood service.

When I find myself drawn away from my priesthood duties by other interests and when my body begs for rest, I give to myself this rallying cry: “Remember Him.” The Lord is our perfect example of diligence in priesthood service. He is our captain. He called us. He goes before us. He chose us to follow Him and to bring others with us".

I've applied it to myself and my missionary service and I invite you all to apply it to your life in whatever role you might be playing!

I love you all!!  Have a great week!!

--Hermana West

Week 32

Hi everyone!

I love you all so much.  This week was good but we weren't able to work a ton because Hermana Canales got sick.  But apart from that, we have had a lot of really good experiences.

1-I almost got attacked by a huge dog that looks like a bear but in the end someone saved me hahah

2-we went on a little trip today to a really beautiful lookout of the ocean

3-we found some pretty humble and kind people who would like to listen to the message of the restored gospel

4-I have been able to grow in patience and charity.  Heavenly Father is helping me become a better version of myself

5-We found someone from the Dominican Republic (where mom served) and they want to take the discussions so that was a special connection to mom!

6-The muscles on my legs are getting so solid because it’s pure hills here hahahahah

7-  We were able to act on the spirit and see lots of miracles!

Sorry I don't have much more time to write this week, but I love you all!  I want to testify of the Savior.  He lives.  He came to earth for YOU personally.  He knows you perfectly.  He and our Heavenly Father want you to be happy.  They are aware of you and they love you.  They want you to return to them and they are there to help you with everything.  Through Jesus Christ you can be happy again, and, you can change and repent everyday.  It is such a happy thing!!!  I love my brother and Savior Jesus Christ and that's why I'm on a mission.  I know that if you let him, Christ will take your grief and pain away and you can have peace and joy.  I love you!  I want you to be happy too, so come unto Christ!  Have an amazing week!

--Hermana West

Week 31

Hola Family!!!!

After saying goodbye to my favorite sector, and after a long plane, bus, and boat ride....I made it safely to Chiloé!!!  (P.S I saw Torres de Paine..idk how to spell it...from the plane!  So beautiful!)

I LOVE it here!!!  All the plants are so beautiful and it really does feel like an island.  It's hot, we can see the ocean from our house and everywhere we are because our sector is pure hills, and there is so much fruit because its summer!!  The people here are also incredible and kind.  It hasn't even been a week and we have seen lots of miracles here!

My companion is Hermana Canales from Ecuador.  She’s great.  She has 11 months in the mission and has been in the sector for about 2 months.

An experience from this week...

We were in the house of the branch President eating with his family and at the end we shared a message.  I opened up the scriptures and it fell open to 3rd nefi 18 when Christ is talking to the Nephites.  I saw one of the scriptures where Christ is talking and it basically says pray as a family that your wives and your children may be blessed.  We talked about the importance of that.  Christ was with them for only a few short chapters and He talked about baptism, the Sacrament, and among other super important things, family prayer.  (That shows how important family prayer is.  I know that as families kneel in prayer together they will feel a greater peace in their home and more united as a family over time).  Anyway, as we shared the scripture President was really moved.  He expressed that he felt like Christ was speaking directly through us to him and that he was really thankful for our visit.  Then we knelt with them as a family and prayed and it was a really sweet experience.  But the point of the story is that I learned once again that the spirit works by small and simple means.  I didn't feel a huge overwhelming prompting to share this scripture.  I just saw it, and thought "that would be a good thing to share".  Most of the time that's how the spirit works with us---through good, kind thoughts.  If you have a thought that invites you to do something good, follow it!  Almost 100% of the time it’s the Spirit(:  I promise that as you do that you will be able to recognize the voice of the Holy Ghost even more and work miracles in your life and in the lives of others!!

A lot has happened this week but right now nothing else is coming to my mind to share so I will just leave it at that hahah.  Have an amazing week I love you all!(:

--Hermana West

Week 30

Hola Familia, 

I have some exciting news....I’M GOING TO CHILOÉ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m sooooooo excited!  The sector is kind of new.  There are only 4 hermanas in Chiloé so I’m so lucky!  I think Jacob served near where I’m going to serve but I’m not sure...the area is Castro I think?  But the ocean is in my sector just like here, and, THERE ARE PENGUINS!  Hahah our sector is the one that people travel to see the penguins, so I’m pumped!  I’ve heard lots of good things.  My companion is Hermana Canales de Ecuador!  I’m so grateful to be able to keep speaking Spanish.  This week I finally dreamed in Spanish hahah!  And last night almost all my dreams were in Spanish.  Heavenly Father has blessed me with the gift of tongues SO much!  Spiritual gifts are a real thing!

This week was absolutely incredible!  We were led by the Spirit so much and we were able to find lots of people that we haven’t been able to contact for a few months!  I’m going to miss these people, but more than anything I’m just grateful to have known them!  I’m so grateful I had the opportunity and chose to serve a mission!

The mission has an inspired goal that each sector can see a baptism in the month of January.  These past few weeks we have been studying baptism, talking about baptism, doing contacts talking about baptism, sharing with the members about baptism, and so much more.  I learned a lot, but something was missing.  I know the goal to see a baptism in January is inspired, but I didn’t feel the same way I felt at the start of my mission.  We invited an investigator to be baptized at the end of the month but when we invited him it didn’t feel right.  He has way more than three times in the chapel and everything, but there was definitely a lack of power in that invitation.  I didn’t feel like he was ready to be baptized.  And I realized I was focused on the goal of a baptism this month instead of his personal conversion.  Afterward, I felt bad and had a good conversation with Heavenly Father and he helped me see that it’s all about conversion.  I want to help these people make covenants with God, but more than that, He helped me see I should be focused on helping them be Converted to Christ.  When that happens, they will want to be baptized and they will follow him the rest of their lives.  I need to teach to their NEEDs and really listen to the Spirit.  I realized the reason I was extra happy at the beginning of my mission was because every time we went into a lesson I listened to the Spirit, the investigator, and taught to their needs.  We saw so many miracles and changes in people that way.  And I lost that focus for a while.  Instead of focusing on the Savior, I focused on baptism.  It was great and I learned, but now I’ve REALLY learned that if we really focus on the Savior, on the individual, the covenants come and I will know in the moment how to help them get there.  They will really be ready for baptism and covenants in the temple if I focus on the Savior and help my investigators focus on the Savior.  I’ve been really seeing how imperfect I am and it’s so incredible that the Lord calls us in our weakness!  He sees a lot more in us than we sometimes see in ourselves!

Anyway, I love you all!!!!  Have a great week!

--Hermana West

Week 29

Hello!! 

 I love you all and hope you had an amazing New Years Eve and day!  Everything here was closed so that's why I'm writing you today.  We spent the evening with members and ate dinner and talked.  Then yesterday for New Years day we went to the Campo and had a fire and walked along the Coast (it was just like walking along the rocks in Oregon.  So perfect.).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TYLER TODAY!!!!  And Happy Birthday to Sarah this week!!  I love you both so much!!

I have learned a lot this week. I've been able to see how incredibly weak I am and how much I need the Savior in every moment. Its really true that the more you come unto Christ the more He shows you your weaknesses.  Its really incredible that he calls 18 and 19 year olds to be his missionaries.  I am baffoled (hahaha idk how to spell that but you get the idea) by the trust that He puts in us.  I've learned a lot about His love.  Really, its the only thing that changes people, situations, and everything.  Everything is based on love.  And to know that He loves me and has put His trust in me is the biggest motivator.  It shows me just how much He values me and each one of His children.  Knowing that, knowing who we are, helps us realize that we can't act like the natural man.  I think that's why it's so important as missionaries to study our purpose.  And as members of the church in general.  If we don't constantly remind ourselves who we are and How Christ and Heavenly Father see us, we are going to act in a different way.  We forget so easily.  That's why we are counselled to go to the temple often and we take the sacrament every week.  Its the same with my missionary purpose and spending time in prayer listening to how God feels about me.  Anyway, I'm becoming more humble and I'm changing.  We really are absolutely nothing without the Savior.  Its also really hit home to me how with my kids in the future, with my family now, my companions, future companions and other missionaries that the only way people are going to change is through love.  Through real charity.

Our sector is doing well in so many ways, but in other ways it's been heartbreaking.  A few investigators have dropped us this week and that was pretty hard.  Not because I'm beating up on myself thinking "what did I do wrong?", but because I want them to be happy and they just rejected the most beautiful thing that anybody has to offer.  They couldn't see how their life could be 3 million times better.  I was doing a contact this week and in the middle of testifying and inviting them to hear more, the guy took off running.  It would've been funny if we were selling insect repellent or something but this guy just ran away from the only source of peace and joy. Part of me wanted to laugh, but it hurt to stand there and feel even the smallest part of what the Savior must have felt as He suffered for his brothers and sisters, the people He loves with every part of who He is, and they still rejected Him.  They rejected the only person that brings them healing and peace.  It hurt the Savior not because He felt offended, but because He loves them.  He wants them to be happy.  I've been feeling a super small part of that lately.  I've been putting my whole heart into serving these people.  I know I'm completely weak and there are a million ways I can improve, but I have really been trying my best and I will keep trying my best until the very end. But despite the little moments of pain, I'm still soooo completely happy.  There is so much joy in living the Gospel.  There is absolutely nothing better than getting to work with the Savior in helping bring people unto Him--whether they reject it or not.

I love you all so much!!!!  Have an amazing week!!!!

--Hermana West

Week 28

Hahaha hello family!! It was so fun skyping yesterday!  I'm not sure what to say because I just talked with you!...but, this week was super good and really focused on Christ!
Yesterday, like I said, we went with a family to el Campo and had a fire, played soccer, and explored, and ate WAYY TOO MUCH meat.  But it was so much fun!!  It made me feel like I was home!
But everyone has been so nice to us!  We have been able to serve lots of people and they have served us as well!!  Lots of love hahah.
Ya I’m really not sure what to say hahah.  This morning I studied the talk from this last conference by Sister Oscarson and it hit me so hard.  I think it’s my new favorite talk!  You should read it(:
I love you.  I think I'll just make up for the lack of words by sending pics if that’s ok.  Sorry if you can feel the awkwardness of this letter(:
Hahahha I love you!
--Hermana West

Week 27

Hello Family!!
This week was by far the craziest week of my life hahaha.  We have had to do sooo many things and there was hardly any time for proselyting. But it’s been super fun!

So like I said, this week has been wild.  We have had to practice for this concert thing so much.  I got asked to sing a duet with another Elder in my district and we are going to sing "Marys lullaby".  Then we were asked to sing with some other missionaries the song "Hallelujah".  But while we were singing the lyrics we felt a little
weird about what it said.  Not that it’s bad, but as missionaries it’s not really inviting the Spirit a ton.  Anyway, what ended up happening is I was given the opportunity to re-write the song.  Hahaha.  So we had normal choir practice, I had to practice with the other Elder, and then my companion and I had to take time to write a song and then practice it.  And that’s only a small sliver of all that happened this week.  It’s been so wild.  We have had a lot of fun but we are excited to start proselyting again(:

I’m so excited to skype you guys next week!!!  Woohooo!!

Miracle of the week:
A missionary here lost her glasses about 2 weeks ago.  She didn’t have money to buy more and her family didn’t either.  She has an insurance thing here so it would only cost about 12 mil or like 15 dollars to get her eyes checked.  But then, she went to the eye doctor and they told her that she had to go talk to the insurance place because she’s a missionary and they aren’t sure that her insurance will still cover her (it’s not really insurance it’s a little different.  It’s hard to explain.)  Long story short, the people told her that her insurance doesn’t cover her as a missionary because she isn’t working or studying.  She was devastated.  Now it will cost 50 mil, or about 65ish dollars.  And that’s just to get her eyes checked.  So she was pretty discouraged.  One of the members in one of the wards here works with old people a lot and has extra pairs of glasses that she lets people use.  This sister went to her, but none of them worked because they were all reading glasses.  Later on, her and her companion said a prayer.  During the prayer the phone rang but they didn’t answer it.  As they finished, the phone rang again.  On the other line was the Hermana whose house they were just at.
She started to tell them that she got an appointment with a really good eye doctor and that she just needed to bring ID and it would all be taken care of.  They asked how much it would cost and she told us it would only be about 12 mil.  MIRACLE.  Then when they asked her what they needed to tell our president, she said “Just tell him that you have an appointment and it’s going to be taken care of."  She also explained that they were going to pay for everything as well.  Like always, the Lord blesses those who serve Him and put Him first.  Even though it looked impossible, Heavenly Father provided a way.  We have the Lords promise that if we love
Him and serve Him that we don’t need to fear.  That everything will work out. 

We are learning to never doubt.  We are learning to increase our faith and it’s been such a blessing.  I know and promise that when we put the Lord first, he will always make sure we are taken care of even if we
might not be able to see how.  TRUST HIM.  DONT FEAR!
Merry Christmas!  I love you all so much!!!  Have a great week and ILL TALK TO YOU ON MONDAY!!!
--Hermana West