Trials and Blessings

Riding our bikes!

This week has been difficult. Almost all of our appointments cancelled on us. We tried to get members to come out with us, but they also would call us and cancel. Plus, no one was at their homes when we would go contacting, and there were hardly any people on the streets. The Lord was definitely testing us this week. I could feel the refiner's fire a bit.

I love to see the temple!

The lessons that we did have went pretty well. One of our investigators was supposed to get baptized on Saturday. He missed church the week before, and missed an appt of ours last week, so it wasn't possible. He also let us know that he has been having problems with the Word of Wisdom. But, we were able to set up a priesthood blessing for him, and since then he has been able to stay away from beer and coffee. During one of his lessons this week, I felt really prompted to say certain things. That is always a really neat experience because in those moments, my Spanish flows perfectly, and the words always come to me of what I need to say. One of the many reasons why I love being on a mission!

Another one of our investigators  has gone to church the required amount of times to get baptized so we just need to teach her the last two lessons. On Sunday, she was really sick and called to let us know that she wouldn't be coming. After she hung up the phone, she felt that she really needed to go. So she ended up coming to church. It was amazing! She has so much faith and I cannot wait for her to have the opportunity to be baptized!

Seeing an old friend at the temple

We had a small miracle on Saturday. After our awful week of no one being home, we knocked on the home of a man who usually doesn't have time to meet with the missionaries, but he had ten spare minutes to meet with us. We were able to teach a short lesson and set up a return appointment for Wednesday. He received our message really well, and I am so excited to teach him in a few days!

I was able to talk to my family this Sunday. It was so awesome to be able to see their faces and to hear their voices again! I am so happy for the knowledge that families can be together forever! My family has brought me so much happiness and is so supportive. Why would I not want to be with them forever?

Although this week has been difficult, it will all be worth it in the end. The Lord did bless us with small miracles here and there, and I know he will continue to bless our area if we keep working hard. Missionary work is amazing!

Second month, sick, and chivas

At the Temple

This week has been definitely interesting. My companion and I got sick last Saturday, and I felt better around Tuesday evening. But my compa did not feel well until the next Saturday. So we have been home bound for a whole week. I am definitely a little stir crazy at the moment. Yesterday we were finally able to do a full proselyting day, and it about killed us. We were exhausted!

President and Sister Snow

Today is my second month mark. It does not feel like it has been that long! Time is already flying by and I am just starting! It literally feels like I landed at the CCM a week ago. That is the sad things about the amazing parts of our lives--they always go fast!

Our investigators are progressing great! I love each of them so much, and it is amazing how the Lord has prepared them for this moment in their lives. Each of them is amazing, and I love that I get to know so many people so personally. I love being able to help them. The amazing thing about the gospel is that it has a solution for every problem in our lives. Every problem I have, I am able to turn to the Lord and ask for help. He always gives me the exact answer that I need. I love seeing that same principle in the lives of our investigators.

We got a new investigator yesterday. He is married and has two young sons. He wants to know as much as he can, and he wants his wife to be taught too! He is very receptive to the things we teach him, and I feel the Spirit so strong when I am around him. I believe that he and his family have been prepared by the Lord for us! It is such a crazy experience meeting someone who doesn't realize that what they have been looking for is the gospel!

Our less-active sister has been progressing super well. We give her a pamphlet, she reads it, and then tells us that she knows everything in it is true. We honestly do not have to teach her that much because she already has a super strong testimony of the church. Yes, she has questions, but she has no problem accepting the answers we give her. She is absolutely incredible!

Traveling with my compa

Crazy story of the week: We had dinner with a member on Wednesday. After dinner and our message, we got up to leave, but then she goes over to a pot on the stove and asks us a question. We didn't understand what she said, so she simply says "Corn?" and opens the pot to corn on the cob. We said of course, and then she proceeds to tell us that we need to put lime and chile on it. At first we both said no, but she kept pushing for the lime and chile. We gave in, and it was so delicious. As we are walking out with our corn, we pass by her gate and we hear some sort of animal. We both jump, and the Hermana says "Esta bien hermanas! Es solamente mi chiva! (It's ok Sisters, its only my goat!) We both felt like we had just stepped into Mexico!

Corn with chile & lime.... Yum!

I love this work, and I am so happy we are able to work again this week. I didn't realize how much I love missionary work until I wasn't able to do it. I love you all!

Abrir Ya Bocas

My Superhero Meal from Subway

This week has definitely been harder than the last, but so rewarding also! I think the hardest thing for me is people not wanting to listen. If  they only knew what happiness the gospel has brought me! They would come running towards us if they could see the amount of blessings I have received. But, the Lord has a plan for me, my companionship, and this area. We just need to find out what it is, and trust in it!

I was able to meet President Snow and his wife this week. They are both so nice and so supportive; I feel that I have a new set of grandparents! President Snow already trusts in me and knows that I can have an amazing mission if I continue to work hard. We also had a zone conference, and I learned so much! Especially about the importance of obedience. If we as missionaries are not obedient, the Spirit cannot work with us, and we cannot teach. Obedience is essential for success in the mission and after the mission! But, my favorite thing from zone conf was when our housing leader spoke. He said "If ya know the church is true, Y'ULL CLEAN YA HOUSE!" ha ha!

Las Vegas after the rain

Red Nose Day for Children

We had some amazing lessons this week!  Our new investigator from last week is amazing! He is so prepared, and I cannot wait to teach him more! He committed to be baptized, and next lesson we will be committing him to a date.  Our other  investigator is closest to baptism. He is struggling with wanting to know everything before he gets baptized. He has so much faith, but he doesn't think that it is enough. During our lesson with him, the Spirit prompted me to say different things. I was afraid that it would not make any sense in Spanish, but all the words I needed came into my mind, and I knew exactly what to say. It was such an amazing and humbling experience to have the Spirit speak through me! I truly felt that the Savior was right there with us.

Hometown Juice Here in Nevada

Our huge miracle for the week: We had a hard day. No one was answering doors and we had had no street contacts at all. Members and investigators had cancelled.....it was hard! For the last hour of our day we decided to contact potentials around our apartment complex. We came around the corner to the next house we were going to, and a lady was coming down to walk her dog. We started talking to her, and she wasn't the person we were looking for, but lived with that person. She invited us into her house to teach her the first lesson. The Spirit was so strong, and both me and my companion were able to speak really good Spanish. It was amazing! I was also able to do the First Vision from memory, which was crazy! The Spirit was tangible, I could almost touch it.

CCM Compa in Nevada!

I know that this church is true with all of my heart! I know that my Heavenly Father knows me personally. That has been testified to me so much this week. Whenever we felt like nothing was going right, the Lord would hand us another miracle. I'm not going to lie--at times it is so hard and all I feel like doing is collapsing. But the Lord has a plan for me and for each of us. I am here because the Lord needs me here and knows that I can change lives. This gospel is amazing!