Starfish

This week has been SO LONG and not very productive ha. But as I was going through the week I came across a poem that mom sent to me awhile back. The poem is called the starfish. Its a short little poem but basically it explained how an old man is one morning walking along the beach. In the distance he sees a young man picking up starfish from along the shore and throwing them into the sea. The older man catches up the young man and asks what he is doing, the young man responds, "If the starfish stay out here on the shore they will die from the rays of the sun". The older man replied, "Do you think that you can save ALL of the starfish here along the seashore?" The young man bent down, picked up a starfish, tossed it into the sea and replied, "Well, I made a difference for that one."

Being on the mission I can relate SO MUCH more to this story! At times I feel like I cannot do everything for everyone in my mission area and satan is telling me, "do you think your little efforts are really making a difference?" Some weeks, like this past week, I feel as though I made very little difference. But when I look from the individuals perspective I hope and feel I made a difference for that one. This past week a member in my area found out she has cancer. Yesterday we visited her and I couldn't help but cry. She was the lady that a few months ago we spent her birthday together. The member, with tears in her eyes explained, "I know eventually in life, God gives us trials that strengthen our faith. Now this is my time, the trial of my faith". As I sat there looking at the sweet Hermana I couldn't help but think WHY this incredible lady, who did no wrong in her life, has to suffer so much! I'm sure Heavenly Father felt that same when he watched his perfect son suffer on the cross. I know trials are apart of this life, but only last a moment when looking at the situation with eternal eyes. "God puts trials and allows adversity to come into the lives of the great ones". (this comes from my patriarchal blessing, as it talks about how my children will have trials they will face, but then ends with that phrase which gives me hope and comfort that in the end all will be well).

I love you guys so much and am glad you're all doing well :] I'm excited if kels gets to come to kennedys farewell in Texas but PLEASE no surprises okay> I think I will honestly pass out if I see Kelsey before I get home haha. Maybe if you stay long enough though you could fly home with me Kels :] we will see. I've always planned on seeing you all at the airport. Bah I'm feeling sick talking about going home. Ha have  good week :]

Blessing From On High

All the Hermanas in our Mission.  Houston Texas Temple Day 
(Thanks to Hermana W's mom for the pic)

Last year we as a mission worked very hard bringing souls unto Christ. Because of how hard we worked our mission president and wife celebrated our success by taking the whole mission to the temple. Wow it was an incredible experience that I will cherish through out my life. Because our mission is so big they made groups of 4 and had each of us go on different days of the week. All the Hermanas went and did a session at the same time. And the temple president (president Crane) did the session! I was actually the first one to go into the celestial room and there was Sister Ashton the temple presidents wife waiting to great all the missionaries into the room :] after the session they took us to a room where our mission president AND temple president spoke to us and answered questions for us while we were in the temple. I had an amazing experience while there that I want to share with you. Here is one paragraph of what I wrote to my mission president,

" Wow I learned so much but I feel impressed to share one specific experience that I had that opened my eyes. Before the session started I opened up the bible and started reading in Matthew 20:8 and this phrase stuck out to me, "Call the labourers, and give them their hire". For some reason this phrase wouldn't leave my mind so I made a mental note to remember where this scripture was and look it up during a personal study. Then after the session while you were speaking you read the scripture D&C 31:5 which reads, "Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live". When I heard you share this scripture wow I had a reconfirmation that I do have a father in heaven who knows me and leads me through out my life and in what i do. Many times in my life I do not notice his hands guiding me with where to go or what to read but from that experience in the temple I know, without a doubt that there is a God. And he is my father. I went home and for the past few days have been striving to study these scriptures to understand what my father in heaven is trying to tell me."

With one of our investigators she wants to wait another 2-3 months until she is baptized. When I heard this it broke my heart, I know I was sent here to the area to help her and to hear she wants to wait longer after all the studies and prayers and fasts ive done for her it was hard to hear. But I know that as for me as a missionary I have done all I should and could to help her. She is an amazing person and has no doubts.,

And to the men of the world who have the priesthood I repeat the words of our prophet Thomas s monson, "Live worthy of it!" Remember, your actions do not just effect you, they effect SO MANY PEOPLE!!!!! We are blessed and protected when we live gods commantments, when we dont we become miserable, wether today, in a couple years, maybe not until heaven. WE must keep all the commandments of God to be happy and to return to him. I know this is the true gospel of jesus christ. I know he lives. This is his church. 

Thank You

It was so niec to see all your faces and hear your voices Skping :] Its weird to think how long its been since I've hugged you all (not for you Aus, you were sneaky and saw me here before you left on your mission haha). 

This week was awesome! Hna B and I have been helping our recent converts with family history so they can take names to the temple. When we had a zone conference with the mission president he talked about how we need to help people with their family history, which is what my comp and i were already doing! Last week the ward had a temple trip set for the youth and recent converts to go to , we had 2 recent converts and made it our goal to get them to the temple!  With L and his family we went to their home, his mom E said they were trying so hard to get info about SOMEONE but found nothing. I told them, "Well I know there is power in prayer. If we pray with faith that we will find an ancestor of yours to take to the temple the Lord will help us!". After about 2 hours we found the info of a grandfather that the F family was able to take to the temple :D J the other recent convert also went to the temple. We watched them do temple baptisms, it was an incredible expereince. To see them be baptized is one thing, but to see them THEN go to the temple is incredible. I want to help EVERYONE not just be baptized but go to the temple. That is the place were testimonies are strengthened. On Sunday J actually stood infront of the class and bore his testimony about bapstims for the dead and his experience in the temple :] it was so awesome! 

I love you all so much! I know the Lord is watching over you all and protecting you :] let me know if you want me to send you something cool from Texas before I go home!!

P.S. i love that you ate elotes hahaha. for my homecoming maybe we can cook come hispanic food :D

HAAAAAPPPPY BBIIIRTTTHHDDAAAAY mi hermanito (little brother)! I love you so much Garrett you are getting SO OLD! and what the you have facial hair and your voice is deep?! where did my little garr bear go?!! I hope you have a great 17th birthday bud :] eat lots of cake for me and give yourself a BIIIIG hug for me haha. I love you sweet garrett :]

Corny Email (HAHA)

Made by the Houston 1 Kids

This week has been good! We were able to help the spanish stake out with their stake primary program which was on temples. Each ward was asked to make a temple, in one of the pictures you can see our ward's primary kids. during mutual ALL the primary came and painted boxes for the temple!!! It was so cute and the temples were beautiful! They had the Temple President come and speak to the chidlren. Wow the spirit was so strong. He walked around looking at all the temples and was so taken back, it was so sweet. The Houston TX Temple President got emotional while talking to the children and promised them if they would just go to the temple and touch the temple wall they will receive the feeling that it is the house of God. During the activity I got to see all my other member friend from the different wards!!! I have been so blessed to have served in other wards but that they are all apart of the same stake :]

Houston 1 Kids painting Temple

Mi Familia Missouri City ~ Hermana S.

 Also this week as we were trying to find new investigators we saw a man selling "elotes" or corn so my sweet comp bought me some. It was SOOO GOOD they put mayo, parmassan cheese and chili on the corn on the comb. Wow austin if you ever have a chance to try it while you are in Chile, TRY IT its so good! I love it. We also ate a members house (G and N) and they made us fejitas OHHH man it was good I hope I can come home and cook like them haha! (and for grandpa bigler I'm still trying to find out how to make good refried beans).

We did a lot of service this week with our investigators. One person her name is V who is not a member but her sister P is. P's son had a birthday party this week and we got invited. When we went to visit V she asked if we were giong and we said yes, she told us, "Oh my nephew LOVES animals. So we are going to surprise him and bring him a PONY" HAHAHA we asked, "Does P know?" And V said, "No so its going to be a GREAT surprise!" Haha we showed up and yep there was a pony and a BABY pony haha oh it was so fun my comp was so excited cause she loves horses!

My Companion Hermana B. loves ponies :]

I'm so excited to skype with you guys in 6 days :] I am going to cry of happiness haha. I really hope Aus can talk at the same time but if not its okay :] ill skype you on christmas :] i dont want it to be stressful i just want it to be a happy day :]  I love you all so much and hope all is well. Take care!