Este Tiempo de Navidad

La semana pasada con la Navidad que viene He estado pensando mucho acerca de su significado verdadero. Como ya he pensado en ello llegué a una conclusión muy interesante. Tengan paciencia conmigo mientras les explico.
La razón por la que celebrar la Navidad y por qué es tan especial para nosotros, es porque es realmente acerca de las familias. No resta en absoluto desde el nacimiento milagroso y la vida de Cristo, pero esta temporada es de las familias. Permítanme explicar. Es sólo en, a través y por Cristo que tenemos la oportunidad de vivir para siempre y vivir con nuestras familias eternamente. Para mí la razón por la que amo tanto la Navidad se debe a que a través del nacimiento de Jesucristo, yo puedo vivir con mi familia por toda la eternidad. Él vino a la tierra para que todos puedan tener la oportunidad de vivir para siempre con Dios y con sus familias. Su misión era la de hacer posible que lleguemos a ser limpios y vivir con Dios y nuestra familia de nuevo. Amo a mi Salvador y me encanta mi familia. Y estoy agradecida por este tiempo que tenemos que celebrar las familias. Familias eternas.
¡Feliz Navidad!

This Christmas Season

This past week with Christmas coming I have been thinking a lot about it's true meaning. As I've thought about it I came to a pretty interesting conclusion. Bear with me as I explain.
The reason we celebrate Christmas and why it's so special to us is because it's really about families. Not to detract at all from the miraculous birth and life of Christ, but this season is about families. Let me explain. It's only in, through, and by Christ that we have the chance to live forever and live with our families eternally. For me the reason I love Christmas so much is because through the birth of Jesus Christ I can live with my family for all eternity. He came down to earth so that all may have the opportunity to live forever with God and with their families. His mission was to make it possible for us to become clean and live with God and our families again. I love my Savior and I love my family. And I'm grateful for this time that we have to celebrate families. Eternal families.
Merry Christmas!

Every Little Thing

About two months ago we talked with a man, whom I'll call Jose, about the Plan of Salvation, the plan God has for us. As we finished up we asked if we could pray with him. He said no, so we explained to him why we pray and the importance of prayer. I asked him if he believed God answered his prayers or even heard him. He shook his head with sadness. We testified and read scripture that He does hear and answer our prayers. By the end he was okay with us praying and was grateful for the simple but fervent prayer we offered. We were pleased with how well it went and were excited to help him continue to grow in his faith in Christ. We tried many times but he was never at home.

Last Saturday we were walking down the street to visit a recent convert and Jose called out to us. I didn't recognize him, but I quickly remembered him. I was excited to meet him again. What a miracle! The Lord placed us in his path at the exact time so we could reconnect and invite him again to learn more. We invited him to church and he was excited to come. But Sunday came and went and he didn't come to church. We called him but there was no answer. It was slightly discouraging after finding him so miraculously and then him disappearing just as quickly.

But it doesn't end there. We went again to the same recent convert's house on Monday. Which seemed kind of silly at the time visiting someone we'd just seen two days in a row, but we felt we needed to visit. So we went. We knocked and to our great surprise Jose opened the door! One more miracle! He was very apologetic about not going to church. Something came up and he couldn't get away. But he invited us back for the next day. So with great anticipation we went back the following day.

Our plan was to teach one thing but as we talked with him we followed the spirit and ended up teaching him something else. As we concluded talking with him and answering his questions we invited him to be baptized. He bowed his head, looked up at us, and said, "Yes. I want to be baptized." His heartfelt and true desire was evident on his face. He agreed to be baptized at the end of the month.

I don't know if I can explain the joy that filled our souls as we walked away. We were filled with joy. We had witnessed many little miracles. Especially the one of seeing someone have a true desire to follow Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God. There is much more we have to go through to help him make that step but I have no fear or worries. The Lord is in control and knows our desires and the desires of Jose.

I am just a worker in the Lord's vineyard but oh what a glorious work it is! I'm so grateful I am a missionary and can see those little miracles. That I have the privilege of helping someone come unto Christ through baptism. To see someone gain a better and more firm faith in Christ and His atonement is the best thing ever. The church is true and we are guided by the Holy Ghost. Trust in him and you will never be lead astray. I love my Savior!

The Happiest of Times

In the last chapters of Alma there are many wars and much destruction. One would think the people would be sad and discouraged. But they weren't. In fact it says, "there never was a happier time among the people." Why? I'm led to believe it is because they knew and lived the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It says they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God.
It is the same with our day. We have much that could drag us down. There are wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters, etc. But we have every reason to rejoice. We have the fullness of the gospel on the earth. We have a prophet of the Lord guiding us today. We have the scriptures in our homes. We know Heavenly Father loves us and is aware of our every need. We know through temple ordinances we can be sealed as families for all eternity. And much more.
So my question to you is what reason have you to rejoice? What for you, personally, brings you happiness? And when was the last time you gave thanks for that? Just look around and see all the blessings the Lord has given you. We have been given so much.
It amazes me every time I stop to think about it. What great blessings Heavenly Father has given us. And all because he loves us. My goal now is to do as President Monson directs and develop an attitude of gratitude. So that I can say that there never was a happier time.

An Answered Prayer

A couple months ago I lost my great-grandmother's bracelet. It's not much. Just a simple silver chain with a heart pendant. But it meant a lot to me. As I searched the apartment, car, and all my belongings I prayed for help. My conversation with Heavenly Father was as follows, "Father I know it's not important in the grand scheme of things. I know it's not even something I need to be worrying about as a missionary. I should probably be worrying about those we're teaching and how I can help them come unto Thee. Please help me to find this bracelet. It means a lot to me. I know it's just a thing that I can't even take with me to the next life. Please help me to remember where I had it last. But if it's not Thy will that I find it please help me to let it go and be okay. Thy will be done." That's basically what was going through my mind.

Well, I didn't find it. I kept a look out for a number of days, but finally came to the realization that it was probably lost forever. Life went on but Heavenly Father didn't forget about my little prayer. One day I put a sweater on (because it finally got cold enough that I needed to wear a sweater) and found my bracelet in the pocket! You can't imagine my joy! I was so excited to find it. But it wasn't so much the fact of finding the bracelet again so that I could wear it, but more the fact that Heavenly Father answers all our prayers. He answered an insignificant prayer from a few months ago. And all because it was important to me and He loves me. It's as Elder J. Devn Cornish says, "Heavenly Father loves us so much that the things that are important to us become important to Him, just because He loves us."

I know Heavenly Father loves me and he loves you. He knows our names; he knows our needs and our wants. We are his children and as such we can become like him. May we trust in His love and in His plan. I am grateful to be a daughter of God.


See the following link to read Elder J. Devn Cornish's talk entitled, "The Privilege of Prayer."
http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-privilege-of-prayer?lang=eng

By Small and Simple Things

We are teaching an amazing family. They enjoy gathering around the kitchen table and reading from the Book of Mormon with us. They have a great desire to learn and know more about Jesus Christ. I love teaching them. I can see how the gospel is blessing them in small ways. Unfortunately, the father doesn't always join us for our lessons. But the mother and children are diligent in inviting him every time.

Yesterday was the birthday of one of their daughters. To let her know we love her and were thinking of her we wrote out "Happy Birthday" on sticky notes. We drew hearts and put some little quotes and scriptures on other notes. Along with our fun notes we gave her a bookmark for her scriptures, a picture of Christ with a young girl, and a picture of us at the Oakland Temple. We went to their house last night with the intention of sticking our notes all over their front door, but they were home. We were in a bit of a quandary, so instead we quickly stuck them to the back of their car. We hoped they would see them before they got in the car to drive away. We were so excited and had a hard time not giggling and making too much noise! Once all was done we hurried back to our car and drove away. We were giddy like little girls thinking about how they would discover it and what their reaction would be. We found out soon enough for they called us not too long after we drove away. The birthday girl was very excited and grateful. The mother explained to us that she had gone out to the car to retrieve something and found our surprise. She ran back into the house and called her daughter's name and said, "Come outside there's something you have to see! Quick!" Needless to say the young girl was a little frightened. After much coaxing she finally went outside to see and was relieved to find it wasn't something scary!

Now I tell you all this not to boast but to show you a miracle. After seeing the picture of us at the temple the father questioned what it was. The mother, who's father is an active member of the church, knew enough to explain a little about it. She explained that the church isn't just a place to go and read the scriptures and pray. Although it is in part. She explained that the church is one big family. We help one another and lift up each other. We express our love by serving each other. She told us all this over the phone and explained that she could see him warm a little to us and in turn the church. Perhaps next time we are over to their house he will be more willing to listen and join us.

Who knew that sticky notes would soften a man's heart!

The Beginning - El Principio

Well, here's the beginning of many joyful experiences and witnessing miracles. Thus is the life of a missionary!

Pues, esta es el principio de muchas experiencias de gozo y milagros. ¡Es la vida de una misionera!