Lima, you're gonna hear me ROAR!

MI FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! TANTO TIEMPO NO?!!!!!!  I dont have much time but I gotta tell you about transfersssssss.

¿¿¿QUE PASO??? HOLY SMOKES. GOD IS Really FUNNY. He has a greatttt sense of humor. HE DECIDED TO TAKE ALL OF THE HERMANAS OUT OF LIMA AND LEAVE ME HERE ALONE WITH MY NEW COMPANION. And the other hermanas? NOPE. ELDERS!!!! QUE VA A PASAR??!! CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT THIS MEANS. CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME THAT IM GONNA BE OKAY?!!! Hahahaha! I dont know how I feel about two hermanas and two elders in Lima. But I trust in God. He usually works in mysterious ways!

Speaking of trust, I was really praying this morning to have trust in our Heavenly Father. On the  drive up to San Fernando was heart breaking. I couldnt stop crying. Having Hermana Quintana mi amor leave me was the hardest thing of my life. ITS LIKE A DIVORCE-  IM TELLIN YAAA. She wrote the most heart felt note to you guys in espanol so when I have time I'll translate it and send it to you guys. She is the best gift I couldve ever received in Lima. I will always love her.

Anyways about TRUST. Estaba orando mucho on the way up her and asked Dios POR QUE estoy in Lima with noooo one that knows their way around except for ME. I was soo scared. And then the words from the song Beautiful to Him came into my mind, ¨He´s given me his trust so Ill be strong enough to take take of Lima.¨ Hes given me his trust. In my head I kept hearing, I trust you. I need you. I felt the spirit tan fuerte. Now I dont have fear anymore. God is gonna take care of me. Theres a reason all of this is happening.

MY NEW COMP LADIES AND GENTS!!! HER NAME IS HERMANA VELAZQUEZ!! ELLA ES DE PARAGUAY!!! Hollllla. Dios sabe que yo amooooo mis latinasss. :))) Shes 26 years old! Whats seven years between friends?   SOY UN BEBE EN LA MISION. Pero esta bien. Shes soooo sweet. Not a fireball like my saltania comp.. but a sweeet little snowball of cuddliness. :) HAHA. Shes great. I just know were gonna be good friends. We're the only hermanas in our district so yaa.. were gonna HAVE to rock it.

Driving back to Lima was bittersweet. I couldnt help but feel a little anxiety. Once again I returned back to God and asked him to help me feel at peace. LITERALLY SECONDS LATER... GUESS WHAT SONG COMES ON??? ROARRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Roar is myyyyyyyyyyy mission song!!!!!. Oh my goodness it was amazing. Whats so awesome is that our bus driver was listening to all castellano music.. and then ROAR IN ENGLISH comes on. 

I got the eye of the tiger, I'm a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar

WOW. God really does answer his childrens prayers.  I felt the deepest desires I have ever felt to ROAR the message of hope and happiness to his precious people in Lima.  And I will do it dancing through the fire, louder than a lion, and Lima you are going to hear Hermana Terry ROAR! I dont know how much more time I have in Lima (I WISH I COULD STAY IN LIMA FOR MY WHOLE MISSION. EN SERIO.) But I have the BEST feeling that things are gonna happen here thats gonna blow my mind. God has a plan. We just gottta trust in his timing. And he doesnt want me to be scared. Hes taking care of me. :) Oh ok WHATS UP LIMA?  Hermana TERRYS BACK WITH NEW PEEPS. HERE WE COMEEE.

So this week was kinda hard. We had planned for a baptism for Wanda who is 10 years old and knows MORE than I do about the church.. but her mom wouldnt let her because she was fighting with her sisters earlier that morning. I WANTED TO SCREAM AND FIGHT and say please dont punish her this way-please- just allow her to be baptized.  I couldnt believe what her mom was saying. It felt soooo unfair. Soo unfair. I felt frustrated that God would let this happen. Wanda was TORN. We dont know if this baptism is gonna even happen anymore because her mom is menos activo and doesnt like the church. I prayed like cray and asked Dios... WHYYYYY IS THIS HAPPENING???????? If I could understand why, maybe I could help.

No answer. I felt soo mad. I felt so broken. But then the next morning I felt like I needed to study la misericordia de Dios(about Gods mercy). I learned a lotttt. I remembered the story of Wandas mom and started to cry. (SHOCKER ) THis woman is divorced and really having a hard time balancing with her job, her new boyfriend and her two little daughters who desperately need love. She told us a while ago that she feels like she cant go to church because shes messed up a lot. My feelings and thoughts about this woman immediately changed. I judged her harshly for being so mean and unfair.. when really I had no idea what was really going on in her life. After reading the wonderful words in the scriptures about the incredible mercy God has for us... I felt so much love and compassion for her. God sees us.. hiding in our skin, broken from within. He knows us inside and out and when we sin and have hard things in our lives.. sometimes we think that God is mad at us and we think he doesnt love us. BUT ITS JUST THE OPPOSITE. He has mercy for us. And if I a 19 year old missionary could feel soooo much love and mercy for this HURTING woman... I CANT EVEN IMAGINE how God feels about her. And its like that for all of his children. Most people would look at her and be like... wow shes a sinner for not going to church. But if we reeeeeaallllyyyyy knew them, if we really knew whats happened in their lives... we would have compassion and mercy for them. GOD KNOWS. Dont worry my friends. Were all sinners, we all mess up. Thats why we have the atonement. 

Mom, I received your dear elder the other day and I cant tell you how much it helped me. :))) IM SOO HAPPY. I really really reaaaallly want you to share your story about red permanant magic markers and air bottles on my blog.  Please please just copy and paste it at the end of my letter EXACTLY DONT CHANGE ANY OF IT from the letter you sent me.  Its something I wanna share with the world because it describes la Expiacion to a t in my mind. Oh mom. I wrote you a letter in my journal. :) Imma try to send the pics of my journal to you through this horrible slow comp. :)  Carry on dear family!  

CHAUUU!!!!

excerpt from letter sent to Marie she wanted on her blog:

So I found the old book I wrote for you kids when you were little.  I wanted to give it to you when you were a mom.  I was thumbing through the pages and found the story called red permanent magic markers and air bottles.  I cried rereading it.  It took me right back to the moment and how very very much I loved you.  I wanted to share the memory with you in the words I wrote at 23 or 24.  I will shorten it......

Last Monday afternoon I had the most profound learning experience.  I was gabbing on the phone eating graham crackers when little fifteen month old Marie walks in looking like shes bleeding to death. Then I have a horrific realization.  RED PERMANENT MAGIC MARKER!  I run into the living room and start to cry.  The major part of my small budget has gone into decorating this little room and it is destroyed.  The worst part is the white couches are now bright red.  I call everyone I ask for advice.  I get bits and pieces I put together.  Hairspray and  mouthwash actually worked.  As I am scrubbing I hear a soft muffled sob. It is Marie who realizes she is the reason for the reaction.  "NONONONONO markers" I say sternly.  I go back to my scrubbing feeling deeply concerned for the welfare of my couch. She throws an empty bottle at me.  She wants me to fill it up so she can comfort herself.  I ignore her.  She picks it up and throws it a me again.  I ignore and go back to scrubbing

 .  I am stubborn in my quest to clean the room.  Finally Marie picks up the empty bottle, lays down, and starts sucking.  I look at her and my heart completely breaks.  I cannot punish this sweet baby for what she couldn't possibly understand.  I leave the flamingo pink couch and scoop up my princess.  I get her a fresh bottle of milk.  I snuggle her tight in the rocking chair.  She didnt really want a bottle come to find out.  She just needed an excuse to wrap her arms around my neck.  Sorrys and I love yous are unspoken but mutually felt.  We both cry a little.  This is an unbreakable love.  By the time Rob came home from work my couch was clean and he gets baby Max and little Marie and holds them on his lap in the rocking chair.  I feel total relief.  I realize I am exactly like my little Marie. I am walking around life with a big red permanent magic marker.  I do alot of dumb stuff without even meaning to, Im just doing my life.  Sometimes I make little mistakes, sometimes I color white couches red.  When I realize Ive made a mess, I crawl into a corner in my mind and try to comfort myself.  Its usually about as good as sucking on a bottle full of air.  Every time, I feel scooped up in Gods arms.  He holds me and tells me its ok he can fix it.  Then I realize I dont need anything else other than an excuse to wrap my arms around his neck and say I love you.  He cleans up messes for me, especially the ones that feel permanent.  He has the most effective tools and knows I am a child.  Today I learned there is nothing that cant be undone, and the messes actually seal our love for each other and God.  I love you forever Marie.

Maries favorite scripture this week-

John 3:30

King James Version (KJV)

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

"We decrease by giving him our weakness, pain, and hard circumstances.  We make ourselves less, so he can come in and increase his loves and hugs and kisses to us.  We decrease our ability to do it on our own, and then we increase his ability to work through us and be a bigger force in us." 
Hermana Terry

Exodus 23- I will take sickness away from the midst of thee

MI FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holaaaaa como estan?!!! Hows the cold? :) Not gonna lie.. I miss the freezing cold mornings! Hahaa.

So I wanna start out by telling you guys about my dearly beloved investigador.. Silvia. Silvia is about 50 years old and lives alone. When we first taught her about el libro de mormon.. she was fascinated by it! She told us she spent all that night reading it!! Isnt that amazing?? Anyways.. this woman is someone who has been prepared by the Lord to hear this message. As a missionary there are some lessons where Im just like... well that didn't go anywhere! But every lesson with her.. I just feel fire in my soul that she is READY. :) 

Anyways on Monday we planned to teach her the Word of Wisdom. I WAS TERRIFIED because this woman has smoked pretty much her whole life. Ive never taught this lesson and I was so scared for how she was gonna react. As we were walking, ( like 5 miles.) I said a prayer in my heart and asked Padre Celestial that I could share this lesson with the spirit and that she could accept it and have a desire to stop smoking. And then right after my prayer I suddenly remembered the story my amazing Dad told us in FHE one night. Dad, I dont remember exactly but what I do remember it was the spirit I felt what you told this story. How this old man in Korea had been smoking or drinking (cant remember:)) his whole life and when he was taught this lesson he was DETERMINED to stop. Tears filled your eyes when you were telling this story and I felt through the spirit that you truly loved this man and to see the change in him filled your heart with joy. :) 

I was so grateful for that memory the spirit gave to me. BECAUSE OF THAT.. I STOPPED worrying about ME and started to focus on my love for her, and Heavenly Fathers love for her. That lesson was our best lesson yet. The spirit was sooooo strong and when she agreed to live la palabra de sabiduria.. I wanted to jump out of my seat, stand on the table and scream hallelujah because I WAS SO EXCITED FOR HER. I never really payed to much attention to the word of wisdom.. but WOW. Its one of the kindest commandments our God has given us. He loves us soooo much. He cares about every little thing. He wants to make sure that pobre lil Silvia is free from smoking. And her body to be healthy. And Padre Celestial told me to promise her that she WILL overcome this and that Heavenly Father is gonna make it easy for her. HOW INCREDIBLE IS THAT. Those aren't just random promises. Those are specific promise from Padre Celestial to his beloved daughter Siliva. And it gets better.- One of her goals to stop smoking-- IShes gonna keep the bom with her at all times and if she feels the urge to smoke.. she will read a verse out of the bom. SHES SO FREAKING CUTE. SHE SAYS SHE KEEPS THAT BOOK WITH HER AT ALL TIMES!! EVEN WHEN SHES SLEEPING!!! Man. God is SO good to Me and Hermana Quintana. :)

The rest of this week.. Im gonna be honest. HQ had major problems with her foot and I got sick (severe pain under my ribs---severe!). :/ So we went to the doctor in Zarate.

HOLY SMOKES. Let me just tell ya... if inferno was on the earth... it would  be the hospital in Zarate, Argentina. We waited all day from 11-6 because there were so many people with sooo many problems.  I know what your thinking and I thought it too, but I was desperate!

I was in pain, not gonna lie. I just wanted  to find a doctor.. Someone who could heal me. And heres where my AHA MOMENT came to my mind.  I looked around and saw everyone else with their own kinds of pain. I dont have enough fingers on my hands to tell you how many pregnant teens I saw. I saw a man who was blind that had been injured in his leg. I saw a verrrry old woman who had the biggest hunchback Ive ever seen. I saw my comp in so much frustration because she couldnt walk on her foot. I saw a lady who was having a hard time breathing. I saw a baby who stopped breathing and a mother who was screaming(but luckily they got this baby to breathe.. so esta bien ya'lll) 

I was wondering.. WHY. Why are there so many scary and hard things in this world that happen to all of us? And then in my head I saw Jesus. And the words came to my mind, ¨¨There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sinsick soul¨This was very symbolic.  That day I Iearned something that hasnt occured to me before. We ALL need a doctor. We all have problems. We all have times in our lives where we feel scared and we dont know if we're gonna make it. But thats where our Savior comes in. Hes the doctor. Hes the smartest doctor out there. He has bandaid for ever pain. He has the medicine to calm us down from our fears. 

They gave me some medicine to calm my intestines because I got some kind of intestinal bug from the water or food.  If you look closely at the pictures of the food I send you, this may not be all that shocking.

But after four days on the medicine I am completely pain free, I can eat again, and I feel brand new.

Yo testifico con todo de mi corazon que EL VIVE. He lives. He´s there to comfort us when faint. He lives to hear our souls complaint. He lives to smile with us when something  AWESOME happens to me (Like Silvia) and he lives to calm a little norte americana down in a foreign hospital and whispers, Im the doctor. Im gonna take care of you. Be still my soul. 

And he did ladies and gents. My soul is with you.  And I feel my family walking the streets with me.  I love you all so much, it almost makes my ribs hurt....just kidding.  Carry on Family!

Anyways

THANKS FOR TUNING IN.

CHAU.

OUR FIRST BAPTISM

OUR FIRST BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY COW! NO ONE EVER PREPARED ME HOW FREAKING AWESOME A MISSIONARYS FIRST BAPTISM IS!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY HOLY HOLY DULCE DE LECHE!!! IT WAS THE BEST THING OF MY LIFE. 

First of all I just wanna say... IM ACTUALLY GRATEFUL FOR NOT HAVING BAPTISMS MY FIRST TWO MONTHS. Because it made this baptism sooo worth it. It was soooo sweet. All the hard things I go through on this mission IS SO WORTH IT. BECAUSE SEEING MY BABY ANALIA GET BAPTIZED BROUGHT SO MANY TEARS TO MAMA HERMANA TERRYS EYES.

AHhhh. OKay. Imma try to explain how amazing it was. Sooooo... yesterday at approximately 2:00.. Analia comes to la capilla(chapel) to get ready for her baptism. :) When she came out in her white vestido(dress)... my heart exploded with the spirit. She was radiant, GLOWING! I couldnt believe the change I saw in her. She was smiling from ear to ear!! And when she first stepped into the font.. the spirit hit me like crazy!! I kept hearing in my heart and in my mind, ¨Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!¨¨ OH YOU´RE WELCOME JESUCRISTO!!! A billion times youre welcome!! And when she came out of the water... I lost it. She was so happy. And of course knowing Analia, she was laughing.  IM SO JEALOUS. I WANNA GO BACK AND RELIVE MY BAPTISM DAY!! I never really thought about how special baptism is. I believe its one of the best things we can do on this earth. To promise Jesus that we´re gonna live our lives for him. And in return he gives us those sweet, beautiful feelings of the Espiritu Santo(Holy Spirit). SO MUCH LOVE. AND THEN.. while Analia was changing, we had a meeting of just singing and rejoicing. The only people in Analias family that came to support was her uncle CARLOS the dude with two fingers. I felt soo bad.. but its all good because the members (actually all of them were less actives) that came.. really brought the spirit. And me and Hermana Zendejas sang Oh mi Padre. I looooved that soo much. I sang with alll my heart. Allllll for Analia. :) And then when she came down the stairs.. everyone just stared at her in awwww. Guys.. this little thirteen year old WAS GLOWING. :)

The end of the meeting we sang Soy un Hijo de Dios. I was the music leader and as I was looking out in the crowd.. I looked to the front row.. and saw my little sweet precious little perfect Analia crying. :) She never cries!! And to see her feel this spirit and to see her understand how important she is to Heavenly Father... made me the happiest missionary in the world. And during the WHOLE DAY I prayed so hard for Analia to feel the spirit and to know that she made the right decision.. and my prayer was definitely answered ten fold!!! And then we were about to end with a prayer.. And Analia stands up and bears her testimony. She first thanks her BEST FRIEND (Rocio) for being an example and sharing the gospel with her (ISNT THAT THE CUTEST THING??) And then she thanked Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for giving her this opportunity to be baptized. And ended by thanking us, her missionaries for teaching her the gospel. :) I couldnt stop the tears. Nothing brought me more happiness to see  how mature and how much spirit this tiny little rugrat had. :) Im sooooo sooo thankful. I thank my lucky stars for the opportunity God gave me to share the gospel with her. And ya know how it all started? I forgot to tell ya this!! It was my first month here.. and I stunk at Spanish. But there was one time where we were visting with her friend, Rocio. And Analia walks in the room and right off the bat I invited her to church. AND SHE CAME TO CHURCH THAT SUNDAY! So yaaa.. Im kinda happy that even though my castellano was terrible, I invited her to church and eventually invited her to be baptzied. :)  The process really works!

Anyways fam.. yesterday was a good day. :) I wanna end by giving thanks to the Hobble Creek 12th ward. En serio. I WAS SOOO BLESSED TO GROW UP IN THE GREAT WARD THAT WE HAVE. Lima is now..just barely.. beginning to grow.. but theres so much that we can work on. Im grateful for the unity that hb12ward has and all the fun mutuals, activities, trek, girls camp.. ALL OF IT! Theres something beautiful that happens when people in the ward come together, enjoy one another and learn about Jesus Christ and his evangelio. :) THANK YOU 12TH WARD!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! The youth especially are sooo blessed! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!!

I love you so much. Thanks for being the incredible family that you are. :) I feel you with me in Lima all the time. :) My time with HQ is ending sooooon. Two weeks. :/ I feel Heavenly Father preparing me now cause Im pretty positive IM staying in Lima! So ya.. pray for me. Specifically for me to be at peace.

 Sometimes my love for the people can be frustrating cause my problem is that I WANNA HELP EVERYONE.. I WANNA HAVE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE AWESOME.. I WANNA TALK TO EVERYONE ON THE STREET.. I WANNA LEARN THE LANGUAGE PERFECTLY ASAP. Things that just stress me out!! How do I handle that? I need someone to tell me that I cant do everything and what Im doing right now is the thing that God wants me to do. Ya know? Ya get me? :) Other than that... IM SO HAPPY!! But theres just these times where im like.. burdened with worry and anxiety.. I JUST WANNA HELP BUT I DONT KNOW HOW.  So just pray for me family that I can feel peace and trust Dios to lead us.

WANDA AND LUANNA!!! Jorges sobrinas!! Were baptizing Wanda on the 25!! Shes soooo smart! Luanna is 7 and Wanda is 11. :) THEY ARE TOTALLY LIKE LUKE AND PAUL!! I love teaching them. ;) Wanda is soo ready for baptism. :):) 

Tambien.. we're baptizing their babysitter Silivia.. HOPEFULLY on the 2 of February, (she smokes) tambien the friend of Analia.. Milagros!! ITS LIKE A CHAIN REACTION!!!!! MILAGROS LIVES IN THE SAME HOUSE THAT I DROPPED OFF MY MONEY IN FOR CHRISTMAS.

I love you guys. :) I love our mission. I want to tell you that Gladis moved away with her little boys like 1 month and a half ago. We were informed on friday that Gladis died.. and theyre not sure what to do with her boys. Its off our hands now.. but please pray for the family and the little boys, Franco y Emanuel. I cant say anymore.. cause Im gonna start crying. :) Kthanks. :)

 I dont feel so homesick anymore because I know this mission is gonna flash right before my eyes!! WE GOT THIS!! We got this people, lets rock and roll!!!!  Carry on!

CHAU!!!!!!!!!

Two Whitney Houstons in a tranquil little town....

WHATS UP FELLAS!!!

 This is the greenest most beautiful lush open spaces you will ever see!

 This is our precious Analia.  How I love her!

 Ok see this baby?  See how she is looking at me?  All crazy and cross eyed?  This is how most people look at me when I try speaking long fluent Castellano.  Its ok everyone, Im about used to it.  When all is said and done, Im obsessed with her and this baby is completely obsessed with me, mostly pulling my hair!

 And yes....I did.....I ate the goat.  I looked it eyeball to eyeball (oh thank you for making this possible Limans) and I said, Im sorry, but Im starving, and Im going to have to eat you.  The End.

 So much mission is consumed with loving all the little ninos.  Perfect work.

Hermana Quintana celebrated the new year by covering my face with this.  You can see my excitement about the whole celebration as Im falling asleep.

I HAD SUUUUCHHH AN AMAZING WEEK. IM SO THANKFUL. 

Bueno. Analia is gettin baptizedl!!!!!!!!! OUR FIRST BAPTISM--We were soooo scared if her parents were gonna allow it.. so we prayed like crazy. When we asked her dad... SOMEHOW HE WAS SUPER NICE AND laid back about it. He signed the papers!! YAY!!!! Analia was soooo happy! I cant even tell you the joy that I felt. I felt Dios thanking me and HQ over and over again. The more I learn about baptism... the more I realize how special it is. This sweet little girl is about to make a covenant with Jesus. Shes going to live her life for him. Shes gonna have the most wonderful gift in the world and thats the gift of the Holy Ghost. Family, I can honestly say with my whole heart that I love Analia so much. I want this for her more than anything. Heavenly Father loves her so much. We cry with her, We laugh with her, We help her.

The date for her baptism is this Saturday!! :D Fam... please pray for Analia that she might be able to learn and understand the things we need to teach and make sure she understands before her baptism. And there wont be any complications.  I love my Analia. 

Que mas.. OH!! I went on divisiones on Wednesday and Thursday! SAN PEDRO!! (about 1 hour north from Lima)... right by Rosario) I went with Hermana Rogerson. Shes from UTAH!! Shes 21 and she played soccer at Western Wyoming college. :) Shes one transfer ahead of me.... and folks... SHE IS FLUENT IN CASTELLANO. Like I couldnt believe it. She motivated me to reallllllllllllllly study and learn the language the best I can cada dia. She told me to start thinking in spanish.  EVEN WHEN I SING IN MY MIND I TRANSLATE IT TO CASTELLANO. YOU COULD SAY IM PRETTY MUCH A GENIUS(although I suspect this has always been the case). I was talking to her about how my friend (BROOKE L) got called to this mission. She said that when she first arrived.. there were only 20 hermanas.. and now there 50.. and before we know it were gonna have 100!!! :) I was telling her that for the longest time I felt like the hermanas in this mission were gonna do something amazing. She told me shes felt the same way too. :)  I dont know what God has in store for this mission... but something tells me that its gonna be BIG. And God needs the coolest hermanas in the world to be in this mission. HAHAHAHA. :)

I wanna tell you guys a story. So when we were in San Pedro, we visited with a woman named COCA (uhh dont know how to spell it.. but isnt that legit. Coca.) and shes super catholic. Hermana Rogerson and her comp reeeeaaallly want her her to join the church. Man let me tell ya, Coca is a tough little nugget. But Hermana Rogerson was really good at listening and taking everything slow. There was a point in the lesson when she told us that she cant join our church because she doesnt wanna ruin the relationship she has with God. And then she recited one of her prayers. Im gonna say it now. I felt the spirit in her prayer, because you could feel her honest and beautiful heart. I felt God was so happy with her. I was so impressed with her spirituality. God works in so many ways. Que increible. After her prayer... the words in my mind kept repeating, My gospel is for all, it is a message of perfect hope. And I got thinking... this woman is trying her best. This woman wants God in her life just as much as I do. I wanted to sooo badly shout with all my joy and say, COCA!! YOURE THE PERFECT PERSON TO PARTAKE OF THIS GOSPEL!! This gospel is an opportunity for ALL to learn MORE about our Savior and to make these convenants with God thats going to blow our minds because ONLY the spirit confirms to us that this is true. Coca would love her life even more if she had a taste of whats MORE in La Iglesia de Jesucristo.  I just wanna say... to all those Christians out there... YOU ROCK. KEEP IT UP. We all want Jesus. We all need Jesus. We all love him from deep in our soul.  And the gospel of Jesus Christ is there for you and will give you sooooo much. This is a gospel of receiving and giving. AND A GOSPEL OF LOVE. I cant even explain it. I know its true with all my heart. I know it. I know Joseph Smith saw Padre Celestial and Jesucristo. God gave this revelation to a little boy who was 14. I am working with kids around this age, and can I just say, there is somthing sacred about this age.  Its between childhood and adulthood and these amazing souls are especially open and ready to reach for Dios.  Gods looking out for each and every one of us. The plan of salvation is something that makes peoples eyes pop.. and ponder about it. NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED KNOWING WHO YOU ARE(HIS) WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING.  IT TRULY CHANGES YOUR MOTIVATION AND PEACE LEVEL. Thats whats so beautiful about our church. Theres just so many things I love about this church. I LOVE BEING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS!!

The night I slept in San Pedro.. I had an image in my mind as I fell asleep. It was a clear picture of Jesus pointing us to go to this house. I KNOW THIS HOUSE. Well, its not a house... more like a little hut. :) But anyways.. this house belongs to a little old lady Maria. Shes a less active and feels so bad shes hasnt been to church for 10 years. She has about 10 little grandchildren who are always playing in their pool. Guys, its like a bunch of little dark, big eyed Lukes laughing like crazy alllll the time. And then Jesus points to these kids. And then I WOKE UP COMPLETELY STARTLED.

WOW. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Me and HQ NEED to do something with those kids. When me and HQ finally reunited (WE MISSED EACH OTHER LIKE CRAZY. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE APART FOR A DAY. HAHAHA) I told her about my little inspiration. SO HQ came up with the most incredible plan. We bought a tons of candies and little bags and bows and brought it to Marias. Maria LOVES crafts and loves giving. She said that every time she went to church she would give something to all the little ninos. So thats what we did. We helped her make goody bags for all the kids that come to church. :) Maria was sooo happy! And then all of her grandchildren came in. HOLY SMOKES. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I stared at them. I stared in their sweet, innocent eyes.. and I felt the strongest impression to invite all these kids to church the next day. OF COURSE THEY SAID YES!!! :) And then we asked them if they know who Jesus is. NONE of them knew. So we HQ decided that we should sing to them Soy un hijo de Dios (I am a child of God). Guys.. I could not hold back the tears. Their eyes didnt leave our eyes and they  listened and smiled. After we left, I realized that these kids need the gospel just as much as adults and teenagers do. And God wants me and HQ to lead them to the waters of baptism and lead them to a life full of love. :)

So THEY ALL CAME TO CHURCH!! I WOULD TELL YOU ALL OF THEIR NAMES.. BUT I ONLY REMEMBERED THE TWO SIMPLEST NAMES, BIANCA AND MICHELLE.  Somehow the word got around that we had gift bags for after church because WE HAD 44 PEOPLE COME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! ISNT THAT AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And PRIMARY WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! We taught about prayer and we got EACH of the kids to say a prayer!! My favorite was Michelles. She prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for the missionaries and to help us when were teaching them and that they could understand. AHHHHHHHHHH. MY HEART IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. I LOVE THESE LITTLE ANGELS SO MUCH! Fam.. please pray that the parents of these little ninos (who we dont know..but i hear they dont like the church) that theyre hearts will be open to our message... and that all of their families will feel the spirit and truth and peace and connection this gospel brings. :)

SO YA. My life kinda rocks. Another thing learned from San Pedro- Its wayy easy. Its easy to get members to come with us in lessons, they actually have a chapel, they have a lot of members, its a big city and everything is nicer. 

And ya know what.. theres no where else Id rather be than in Lima. Me and HQ were talking about it.. Last night and we both agreed that we like the challenges. It requires us to rise above and overcome them. It requires us to think outside of the box and ask, What can we do to get people to church? Or what can we do to get the less actives to come back to the gospel? These are the questions that only Lima asks. In our zone meeting the other day I came to conclusion that our district (Barredero) is the district that rarely gets baptisms. And its weird because Buenos Aires North is a veeeerrry high rating baptism mission. Which makes me feel honored that God trusts me and HQ to serve in the smallest place, that only has one supermeracado , that doesnt even have a capilla(chapel), that has less than 20 active members, that has more countryside than any other area... and trusts us to work and love and find and bring others unto Christ. I know it can be hard... but I wouldnt change it for anything. I love this little town with all of my heart. Lima has eternally stolen my heart. I reaallly hope I dont get called to the capital anytime soon!  Lima is so humble! AND MIGHT I ADD... SOOOOOO FUNNY. I cant explain it... but I realized when I was in San Pedro.. that the people in Lima re soo much quicker to laugh and be humorous. Every one has more personality and every one is HILARIOUS... except for me, I cant even make hilarious jokes yet, because I cant say all the words that would make it funny, cuz I cant speak the language fluently enough-------YET. My comp is a scream. She has the funniest humor. And shes a fireball just like me. Two Whitney Houstons serving in a tiny little tranquil town.  I love God. I LOVE YOU!Yaaa. Thats about it.


ps  Mom, please put this adorable little exerpt from the one and only Tom Setzers letter he just sent me on my blog.  I want everyone to know what an amazing instrument Tom really is...He said somthing in this letter that has really struck me and may others as well.

[Recently Ive been thinking a lot on how we often say that God has work for us to do no matter where we go. Although I was honorably excused from serving a full time proselyting mission, Ive found many other ways to serve God and my fellow man right where I am, be it in Ephraim, Springville or anywhere else in the world. IN the story of Jesus giving a blind man his sight, He says, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him John 9:3. In much the same way, I feel the reason why I have Asperger syndrome is because I am an instrument in God's hands, and He has a specific work for me to do.

CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!