Week 75

Hey this week flew by!  I honestly don't remember too much of what happened...

but some random things...

1--For Thanksgiving we had our district meeting and it was the kickoff for the Church's Christmas initiative.  So we basically kicked off the Christmas season instead hahah.  But I made a lemon pie and root beer floats for our district!

2--We took down and built a fence in the campo all day Saturday.  It was sooo nice doing good hard physical work.  It was a super pretty view too.  We were right on the lake and you could see the volcano in the background.  I got sooo frieeeddddd haha.

3--We welcomed the hermana from the Dominican Republic and had interviews with President Isom so we basically spent all day Wednesday in the mission home haha.

4--It's starting to heat up so that's super nice!! But I'm wayyy not used to the heat so its been killer.

But it's been a really good week!! One of the Elders challenged me to give out over 200 proselyting cards about eternal families before I go home. They don't make these cards anymore.  They are from like the 90's and pretty old and cheesy hahah.  Nobody wants to use them but we had a ton in the office just sitting there that they need to get rid of.  I have to give out more than ten a day. At first I really didn't want to because they are super outdated, but it was a funny challenge and it would help me focus until the end of my mission so I accepted. But it has been superrrr good!!  We have seen more miracles contacting using the old family cards in contacts than I have in almost my whole mission contacting.  That was super inspired!  I know that families can be happy now and for the rest of eternity if we base them on Christ and His teachings!!

This week Elder De Hoyos is coming to speak to our mission!  I'm pretty excited!  We are going to learn a lot(:

Anywayyyyy that's pretty much been my week!!

Oh one of the miracles I saw using the family cards was yesterday!!  I saw a mom and daughter walking and decided to give them the cards.  Turns out the mom is a member and the daughter (15) hasn't been baptized but had received the missionary lessons like 3 years ago.  She looks pretty rebellious but told us she would really like to be baptized!!  We are going to visit her this week!! I'm so excited about that!  God is in charge of His work and knows His children!!  I love you all!! Have a great week!

--Hermana West

Week 74

Hello!!

This week was a good one! Some random things first, then the experiences.

1-In intercambios I went running with Hermana Galeano and she passed out haha, but didn't die haha she's ok.

2-I didn't even know it was Thanksgiving until people told me today.

3- We visited a hidden waterfall and cave today.

4-We get to receive yet another sister from the Dominican Republic who is coming late because her visa didn't come in time.

But like I said, it was a good week!! The highlight was the boy we taught getting baptized!!!!  Oh man I love him!! Everything that day just worked out.  So many small miracles that lead to a very spiritual baptism.  Almost the whole primary showed up and so many people from the ward! I've never seen that many people in a baptism it was incredible!  But the primary basically did the whole thing!  The kids said the prayers, gave the talks, sang "A Child's Prayer" for the special musical number, and afterward they shared their testimonies.  It was super sweet.  I'm 100% sure that everyone felt the spirit there.  Kids are so pure and bring such a powerful spirit!  His mom came too which was awesome!  She’s not a member, but she’s super supportive. She was super sweet at his baptism and even got emotional.  It's amazing how one person can change lots of people.  We all need each other.

I've also really been seeing how Heavenly Father personally loves me this week. It was kinda hard in some aspects, but Heavenly Father constantly sends me reminders that He is aware of me and loves me and each one of His children whether we see it or not. Everyday He gives us hundreds of gifts, but we need to choose to "open" them.  I challenge you guys to try to "open" as many gits from him as you can each day this week!!

I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  And more often than not, he sends people to be His instruments in blessing us...but it’s always Him.  A really quick example.  This week I was thinking about an experience in Coyhaique.  I had had the most stressful week of my mission and we had a baptism early the next morning.  We were in super intercambios and I was so stressed.  I went to "shower" but just cried.  The hermana I was with at the time, Hermana Galeano was super sweet and could tell I was stressed.  We also had zero money or food in the house because it was the end of the 5th week of the month.  She knew I loved no-bake cookies.  So while I was in the shower she called the other hermanas in our ward and asked them to make me no-bake cookies and bring them to the baptism early the next morning.  I was so surprised and so happy hahah.  It was something small but really helped me feel that Hermana Galeano loved me and wanted to help me.  It's the same with Heavenly Father and us.  Heavenly Father sees a need we have or just wants to bless us, and "calls" someone to do something for us to bless us.  It looks like that person (in this case the hermanas from our ward) is the one who is blessing you, and its true they did act and we should thank them, but at the root of it all is God.  He is the one who organizes everything and blesses us.  He loves us and wants us to be happy!!  I don't know if that made sense to you guys, but what I'm trying to say is whenever anybody says or does something nice, in reality its Heavenly Father blessing us and we should be grateful for His love!!  Love you all!! Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving together!!

--Hermana West

Week 73

Ok, Hi! how are you all??

I've seen countless blessings this week, and id just like to share a few...

1-The hermanas that came from Mexico had zero clothes for this mission.  I gave one of the hermanas my rain boots and other clothes even though it still rains a ton here.  But the miracle isn't that, I kid you not, since I've given away my rain boots, Heavenly Father has caused that every time I need to go outside it stops raining until we are back inside.  It rains all the time I'm not out. But I haven't gotten soaked at all and I recognize that its God.  I keep looking for it every day to see if it will keep going and it does!!

2-J’s mom’s heart was softened extremely, and she told him that he can get baptized in whatever religion he wants, and she will support him! That was a MIRACLE!!!!  He chose to be baptized at the end of December.  I won’t be there but I'm JUST AS HAPPY!!

3-Exequiel is going to be baptized this week and we were able to get everything figured out and finalized.  It all just worked out!

4-We were led and guided to sooo many people that needed us in that exact moment.  It was incredible to see!! And even more special was that those people also had answers to our questions and we were able to receive lots of revelation! 

It’s been such a good week.  I keep learning so much.  If you just follow the spirit, everything works out.  I love being a missionary!! I'm so blessed to be here!!  I complete 17 months tomorrow...still not sure what just happened hahahahah time flies...but I'm soo excited for this month that I still have to work!!  There is lots to do!!(: Please keep reading your scriptures and praying every day!! Love you!

--Hermana West

Week 72

Hello, so sorry I have zero time to write.  It’s been a crazy week full of miracles.  Tomorrow we pick up missionaries from Mexico who have changed their missions and they will be staying with us.  I promise I’ll write you all more next week.  Sorry I don’t have time to respond to your emails either.  I love you all so much.  Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of you!!  I feel your prayers!! Love you!

--Hermana West

Ok actually I found like 10 minutes extra to write real fast(:

This week was good!!  I said bye to Hermana Farias and then the next day Hermana Huerta came!  She’s from Santiago and we work hard(:  I’m loving this last cambio though.  Hmmmm the highlight of my week was probably just seeing all of the miracles.  Even though time has been short and crazy, we were able to meet with some people we haven’t been able to see for a looong time.  And we were able to set up a family home evening with them!!  By receiving revelation, we have been able to help him solve a lot of his problems/questions.  Please pray that his mom will soften her heart and tell him he can be baptized(:  He respects his mom a lot and doesn’t want to make a decision without her.  One of the people we are teaching is doing well too!!  If all goes well, he will be baptized next Saturday.  If you could also include him in your prayers so that he can complete with his goal that would be very appreciated!

I’ve been learning a lot lately by reading the Book of Mormon and following up with the invitation given by the prophet to study the relief society motto and stuff and the temple.  I know that the Prophet speaks for the Savior and as we do what he asks, we are blessed!!!  I’m seeing lots of miracles and I have been feeling your prayers.  I need them, so thank you so much!!!!  I love you my familyyyy!!!!!!!!

--Hermana West

sorry the computer has a problem and it won’t let me send pics so you will have to see those next week!! 

Week 71

Hello!!!  How are you guys?? I’m super good but this week has been wild!! We have cambios, Hermana Huerta de Chile is coming!  She’s 30 and from my group too ha-ha.  So, my last three companions have been from my group.  Right now, I’m with 2 new missionaries from Brazil.  They have been with us since yesterday cause the had to come a few days early. It’s been fun!!  The temple dedication was SO GOOD!!!! I felt the spirit so strong. I know that this is Christ´s work!  There is nothing that compares to the temple.  All of the sacrifices we might have to make are more than worth it!! We have been finding lots of new people recently--mostly Haitians.  One of our eternal investigators accepted a baptismal date!! That’s a huge miracle!!!! Honestly, we need personal revelation in everything...especially with those who the Lord puts in our care!!!  Man, my life has been crazy this week!!  I’ll write more next week and share better experiences but right now my mind is exploding hahahah love you all!!!  Keep trying to be like Jesus!

--Hermana West