June 30, 2014 Win the mastery of your souls
Feliz Cumpleanos: Cortnee, Denny Jr., Jeanne, y Elder Ryan Porter!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!
Hola familia!
So, it was a very normal missionary week, and kinda bleh.... We tried
and we worked and at the end of the week, no mucho exito. In church
last Sunday in todo we had 19 people there, it was really low, and
sad. But right now we are exercising our faith, and we know that
sometimes we just need to show The Lord that we are willing to work
our hardest, if the blessings don't come right away, so be it, but we
show we love Him by working, and we work our hardest! Let me tell you
about my week!
Lunes- We had service in the library, and I just love that. We also
had the Familia Gomez, they have an AMAZING story, I wish you could
all be here to hear it. While we were over there Hno Gomez just bore
us this powerful testimony on tithing. A lot of branch members are
really offended because they didn't pay their tithing and the
president wouldn't give them money for help, and then they leave. We
hear this story SO MUCH (like every other day). Hno Gomez (who is a
recent convert almost two years ago) told us this story, he said,
"Hermanas let me tell you, I pay my tithing every week, we are poor,
we hardly have enough to pay for the house, the water, the insurance,
the food, and the ropa, but I have a testimony of tithing. Ever since
I have been paying it over two years ago, whenever I don't have a
costumer, I pray, I pay, and I receive THE NEXT DAY, a costumer, every
time." Those were his exact words! I wrote them down right after the
cita, he also explained and said that this branch, he knew, had big
problems with this, but that he knew that this came from God. What
faith!! They are poor, yet they KNOW, as do I, that when we pay our
tithing, God gives us blessings. What a powerful testimony! When he
doesn't have a costumer, he prays, and pays his tithing, and receives
costumers, I love it. He is quite amazing, as is his wife. I love
their faith!
Martes- We had exchanges! I stayed here with Hna Russon and Hna Woolf
went to the city. We had a good day and we taught Gabriela, that went
really well. I love teaching. I love teaching people how to be happy,
it's the best thing ever. After that a member asked us to come help
serve her. This never happens, (Hispanic people have a hard time
asking for help, we force them to let is help with the dishes haha) so
we helped cleaned this ladies house. We DEEPED cleaned. Like every
room pulled out drawers, organized kitchen drawers, pulled out
refrigerator, like... Everything, it was crazy. We did some good
talking with this mother however. Her family is very interesting. I
have learned so much what I do not want my family to be like, and what
I do want them to be like from this branch. Well, we cleaned and we
cleaned and then we drove back to exchange back. It was good!
Miercoles- we had the Book of Mormon class, and it went well.the
elders taught this week, two people showed up, so it was kind of sad,
but still it's better than no one! Sorry, I didn't write anything in
my journal about this day. We did however go visit Hna Monge, and
she's so sweet. She needed a visit from us. Usually our citas with her
consists of us doing a mound of dishes and us watching her while she
cooks (it's pretty horrible) and then we eat (and pray really hard for
the food to be okay) and then we share a message. This lesson, it was
simple! We just shared a message! It was awesome. She's had one of the
hardest life's I have ever heard of. On my mission I have heard a lot
of sad life's, but hers tops them all. I want so badly to just give
her all my money and clothes and food. It was so cute, I was wearing
this skirt and she was like, "Hermana I just love your skirt, will you
give it to me when your done with it?" This skirt has a stretchy
elastic band, but it still wouldn't fit her, but No importa, I said,
"Hermana of course you can!" I will most definitely be giving that
skirt to her next week, I wish I could give her all my skirts!
Jueves- We planned, and then we tried to get a hold of Barbara and
Aaron. We tried everything to get a hold of them, Facebook, calls,
texts, until finally we just stopped by. They weren't home, and we
keep trying to get a hold of them. If they drop us, I would literally
cry. I came into the area teaching them, I love them. Right now we are
using our faith to say they aren't dropping us, and we will just keep
trying! I am learning a lot of patience with them right now. I am
just learning a lot of patience in general, but lots of patience with
Barbara and Aaron. They have so much faith, and they don't do ANYTHING
about it. Uhhhhhh... But I have faith! One day they will come to
church, and one day they will be baptized. That was Thursday:) we also
went less- active hunting, and went to four familias but no one
answered us. I love those days!
Viernes- We had our usual Hna Alcantar at China buffet, the lady knows
us now, it's awesome, then we had Hna Jimenez. She is a very
interesting lady, but we love her. I definitely ate some bad bad meat
at her home, definitely raw, but that's okay! That's why we bless our
food right?:) but really... Hna Jimenez is struggling right now, and
is very confused. She is separated, but not divorced, from Hno
Jimenez but they hang out all the time... Yeah weird... And starting
to become less-active. A lot of members think they are "active" but
basically they are like investigators because they don't really even
know what the Atonement means, like the word..... It's really sad and
hard, but that's why we are here with them! I love it! I know that as
Hna Woolf and just try our best that God will do the rest!
Sabado-- we had to go all the way to Gurnee (which is waYyyyyyy east
of us) because we had to get a trailer hitch for our car for our
bikes... This area is becoming like, an official biking area! Haha...
We park the car, and ride the bikes. I love it! But it took literally
alllllll day:(.... But when the office missionaries tell us to do
something... We obey:)
Domingo-- Well we had church, and only 19 people came... It was hard
for Hna Woolf and I because we were like, "we have been working sooo
hard and hardly ANYONE showed up to church... Including our active
members!" But, that we where we just had to say, "okay, we are doing
our best, and God will do the rest." and then we saw THE BERTRANDS!
Oh my goodness.. And they actually opened up to us ish! We shared a
video (the only literal thing we can do so they will listen, not talk,
and feel the spirit) and it really touched their hearts. If we try to
share a lesson, they dodge it, and start gossiping, and blah blah
blah, so we resort to videos, and they love us... How do we know
this.... They fed us! All we did was share a video and each of us said
probably one sentence, saying, "We are so grateful to this gospel that
brings us hope so we know we can live with our familia and friends
again." Then they stopped listening... I would call that HUGE
PROGRESS. Also, we watched the World Cup... It's huge here. Every
house we go in the World Cup is on.... Do I know that Mexico lost?..
Yes I do... I hear ALL the time... Do I know about the game of Costa
Rica vs. Greece yesterday... Yes I do. Basically I am turning Mexican,
that's it. And basically everyone we talk to, talks to us about the
World Cup, it's awesome!
We'll my thoughts today are these-- I am learning a lot here. It was
kind of a hard week, but I feel like God just fills me up with joy so
there isn't any sadness. A mission isn't just, "wow let's share the
gospel, and I happy all the time, and my companion and I are best
friends, and wow 17 people are getting baptized.. Haha.." No, it's, "I
am gonna work my tail off to show God I love him, and how I do it, is
by serving His children with all my heart, might, mind, and strength."
And what happens?.... You are filled with joy. I love this work. 4
months ago I decided to read the Book of Mormon backwards, verse by
verse, highlighting everything that has to do with Faith.-- in my next
letter I will describe some of the things I have learned... Stay
tuned... We have Zone activity and so I have to go..
But I know that when we act on our faith... God gives us light and
knowledge, so that our faith gets stronger. I love faith, it is what I
have been working this WHOLE TIME I have been here in Woodstock. I
know that faith is power! I love faith! Sorry I forgot to mention to
you all I have been doing this challenge for 4 months, but it really
is powerful.
I love you all, this week in particular I have had to learn patience,
with members, investigators, and my companion , but I love it! Here is
a quote that has helped me ALL week!
"Patience means active waiting and enduring...Patience is not simply
enduring; it is enduring well!...Patience is a process of perfection.
The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your
souls.Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your
patience you win mastery of your souls. ".. Continue in Patience by
president Uchdorf.
The whole talk is so very good, I love it! Okay tengo que ir.
I love you all!
All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond
So, it was a very normal missionary week, and kinda bleh.... We tried
and we worked and at the end of the week, no mucho exito. In church
last Sunday in todo we had 19 people there, it was really low, and
sad. But right now we are exercising our faith, and we know that
sometimes we just need to show The Lord that we are willing to work
our hardest, if the blessings don't come right away, so be it, but we
show we love Him by working, and we work our hardest! Let me tell you
about my week!
Lunes- We had service in the library, and I just love that. We also
had the Familia Gomez, they have an AMAZING story, I wish you could
all be here to hear it. While we were over there Hno Gomez just bore
us this powerful testimony on tithing. A lot of branch members are
really offended because they didn't pay their tithing and the
president wouldn't give them money for help, and then they leave. We
hear this story SO MUCH (like every other day). Hno Gomez (who is a
recent convert almost two years ago) told us this story, he said,
"Hermanas let me tell you, I pay my tithing every week, we are poor,
we hardly have enough to pay for the house, the water, the insurance,
the food, and the ropa, but I have a testimony of tithing. Ever since
I have been paying it over two years ago, whenever I don't have a
costumer, I pray, I pay, and I receive THE NEXT DAY, a costumer, every
time." Those were his exact words! I wrote them down right after the
cita, he also explained and said that this branch, he knew, had big
problems with this, but that he knew that this came from God. What
faith!! They are poor, yet they KNOW, as do I, that when we pay our
tithing, God gives us blessings. What a powerful testimony! When he
doesn't have a costumer, he prays, and pays his tithing, and receives
costumers, I love it. He is quite amazing, as is his wife. I love
their faith!
Martes- We had exchanges! I stayed here with Hna Russon and Hna Woolf
went to the city. We had a good day and we taught Gabriela, that went
really well. I love teaching. I love teaching people how to be happy,
it's the best thing ever. After that a member asked us to come help
serve her. This never happens, (Hispanic people have a hard time
asking for help, we force them to let is help with the dishes haha) so
we helped cleaned this ladies house. We DEEPED cleaned. Like every
room pulled out drawers, organized kitchen drawers, pulled out
refrigerator, like... Everything, it was crazy. We did some good
talking with this mother however. Her family is very interesting. I
have learned so much what I do not want my family to be like, and what
I do want them to be like from this branch. Well, we cleaned and we
cleaned and then we drove back to exchange back. It was good!
Miercoles- we had the Book of Mormon class, and it went well.the
elders taught this week, two people showed up, so it was kind of sad,
but still it's better than no one! Sorry, I didn't write anything in
my journal about this day. We did however go visit Hna Monge, and
she's so sweet. She needed a visit from us. Usually our citas with her
consists of us doing a mound of dishes and us watching her while she
cooks (it's pretty horrible) and then we eat (and pray really hard for
the food to be okay) and then we share a message. This lesson, it was
simple! We just shared a message! It was awesome. She's had one of the
hardest life's I have ever heard of. On my mission I have heard a lot
of sad life's, but hers tops them all. I want so badly to just give
her all my money and clothes and food. It was so cute, I was wearing
this skirt and she was like, "Hermana I just love your skirt, will you
give it to me when your done with it?" This skirt has a stretchy
elastic band, but it still wouldn't fit her, but No importa, I said,
"Hermana of course you can!" I will most definitely be giving that
skirt to her next week, I wish I could give her all my skirts!
Jueves- We planned, and then we tried to get a hold of Barbara and
Aaron. We tried everything to get a hold of them, Facebook, calls,
texts, until finally we just stopped by. They weren't home, and we
keep trying to get a hold of them. If they drop us, I would literally
cry. I came into the area teaching them, I love them. Right now we are
using our faith to say they aren't dropping us, and we will just keep
trying! I am learning a lot of patience with them right now. I am
just learning a lot of patience in general, but lots of patience with
Barbara and Aaron. They have so much faith, and they don't do ANYTHING
about it. Uhhhhhh... But I have faith! One day they will come to
church, and one day they will be baptized. That was Thursday:) we also
went less- active hunting, and went to four familias but no one
answered us. I love those days!
Viernes- We had our usual Hna Alcantar at China buffet, the lady knows
us now, it's awesome, then we had Hna Jimenez. She is a very
interesting lady, but we love her. I definitely ate some bad bad meat
at her home, definitely raw, but that's okay! That's why we bless our
food right?:) but really... Hna Jimenez is struggling right now, and
is very confused. She is separated, but not divorced, from Hno
Jimenez but they hang out all the time... Yeah weird... And starting
to become less-active. A lot of members think they are "active" but
basically they are like investigators because they don't really even
know what the Atonement means, like the word..... It's really sad and
hard, but that's why we are here with them! I love it! I know that as
Hna Woolf and just try our best that God will do the rest!
Sabado-- we had to go all the way to Gurnee (which is waYyyyyyy east
of us) because we had to get a trailer hitch for our car for our
bikes... This area is becoming like, an official biking area! Haha...
We park the car, and ride the bikes. I love it! But it took literally
alllllll day:(.... But when the office missionaries tell us to do
something... We obey:)
Domingo-- Well we had church, and only 19 people came... It was hard
for Hna Woolf and I because we were like, "we have been working sooo
hard and hardly ANYONE showed up to church... Including our active
members!" But, that we where we just had to say, "okay, we are doing
our best, and God will do the rest." and then we saw THE BERTRANDS!
Oh my goodness.. And they actually opened up to us ish! We shared a
video (the only literal thing we can do so they will listen, not talk,
and feel the spirit) and it really touched their hearts. If we try to
share a lesson, they dodge it, and start gossiping, and blah blah
blah, so we resort to videos, and they love us... How do we know
this.... They fed us! All we did was share a video and each of us said
probably one sentence, saying, "We are so grateful to this gospel that
brings us hope so we know we can live with our familia and friends
again." Then they stopped listening... I would call that HUGE
PROGRESS. Also, we watched the World Cup... It's huge here. Every
house we go in the World Cup is on.... Do I know that Mexico lost?..
Yes I do... I hear ALL the time... Do I know about the game of Costa
Rica vs. Greece yesterday... Yes I do. Basically I am turning Mexican,
that's it. And basically everyone we talk to, talks to us about the
World Cup, it's awesome!
We'll my thoughts today are these-- I am learning a lot here. It was
kind of a hard week, but I feel like God just fills me up with joy so
there isn't any sadness. A mission isn't just, "wow let's share the
gospel, and I happy all the time, and my companion and I are best
friends, and wow 17 people are getting baptized.. Haha.." No, it's, "I
am gonna work my tail off to show God I love him, and how I do it, is
by serving His children with all my heart, might, mind, and strength."
And what happens?.... You are filled with joy. I love this work. 4
months ago I decided to read the Book of Mormon backwards, verse by
verse, highlighting everything that has to do with Faith.-- in my next
letter I will describe some of the things I have learned... Stay
tuned... We have Zone activity and so I have to go..
But I know that when we act on our faith... God gives us light and
knowledge, so that our faith gets stronger. I love faith, it is what I
have been working this WHOLE TIME I have been here in Woodstock. I
know that faith is power! I love faith! Sorry I forgot to mention to
you all I have been doing this challenge for 4 months, but it really
is powerful.
I love you all, this week in particular I have had to learn patience,
with members, investigators, and my companion , but I love it! Here is
a quote that has helped me ALL week!
"Patience means active waiting and enduring...Patience is not simply
enduring; it is enduring well!...Patience is a process of perfection.
The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your
souls.Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your
patience you win mastery of your souls. ".. Continue in Patience by
president Uchdorf.
The whole talk is so very good, I love it! Okay tengo que ir.
I love you all!
All of me loves all of you all!
Hermana Hammond
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