MERCY!

BUEN DIA MIS AMORES!!!! ESPERO QUE TODO ESTE BIEN CON USTEDES!! SON CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPOS!!!

Ahh. What a fresh breath of air. Guess what?!! WE HAD A BAPTISM!! Oh my heavens I feel so bad I havent talked about him.. but I decided to make a big tribute to my good friend EDWIN SALAAZAR. Alright so he is from.... PERU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is a divorced dad who lives alone. Hes done every possible sin in this life and when he found us he wanted to CHANGE. Guys he quit smoking, he quit drinking. He stopped going to parties and the girlfriends. He transformed. Its been an amazing blessing for me to SEE THIS beautiful change. Through out this time weve had with him Ive felt God tell me that HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIS SON, EDWIN. It just goes to show that a dad who lost everything in his life can HAVE HOPE and can change for the better. It goes to show that God is the one who changes us. Like in Alma 5: [Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.[    

keyword: HE. HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE is the one who helps us change. It was a miracle to see the hand of God in the life of Edwin. IN his confirmation it said that HIS FAMILY loves him and hes setting a wonderful example for his kids. He cried. :) 

10000 hugs and blessings for Edwin. Im sooo proud of that man. 

Anyways. We've seen so many incredible miracles. Theres one I wanna share with you. :) So just so yall know.. ITS SO UNBELIEVABLY HOT RIGHT NOW and its only spring!! Im burnt to a crisp cuz we are outside all day!! So Saturday we were walking to go to lunch and I see this woman in the street. The spirit hit me hard to talk to her. So I started talking to her. SHE WAS DRUNK!! What? So something in me told me to ask for referencias. She told me that there is a family that needs a lot of help. OKay drunk lady:) so we go to this house and we ask for Angela. She comes to us and tells us she wants NOTHING. IN my head im like.. WHY DID I FEEL so strong to ask for a referencia from this drunk woman?? Haha so then I asked again for another referencia... and she gives us two names. So we really didnt think anything of it. And then we went to lunch. 

But then the next day were walking  and remembered about these two referencias.. but we got lost. After 10 minutes of looking for the roads.. we finally find the house. SOO we clap at the first door and she wants nothing. So the next door our LAST referencia answers and invites us in. Her name is Mariana. Shes 24 and pregnant. We start talking to her and she told us that she knew a little about the mormons cause she went to the temple with her parent in laws. And then she said her husband was a missionary in Argentina!! WHAT. SHe said he left the church cause he got super offended. We started talking about the temple and how we can live with our family for eternity. And then I dont know why but I told her, Hermana when I walked into your house I felt something different. I felt the spirit and I felt like you guys are good parents to your kids. AND THEN she just starts crying out of no where and she was telling us.. I have this warm feeling in my heart and I dont know what it is. AND WE look at each other and were like.. HOW THE HECK did this happen? It all happened with a crazy drunk lady on the street!! HAHA. My comp made me sing ( she always makes me sing:) haha i love it) families can be together forever. We walked out of that house and we were both like.. shes gonna get baptized, her 12 yr old will get baptized and then they will be sealed in the temple.

We had a family home evening for the recent converts in Rincon (my area) and my comp made me tell the FAMOUS story of Princesa. Haha well its not that famous. Ive only really shared it with my companions. Well I told the princess story to this convert named Ale. He told me he had already heard that story. WHAT?! MOMS PRINCESS story is spreading like wildfire!! HAHA. :) 

Last story, in church yesterday, MI AMOR DE MI VIDA (little nino who is like 4 years old) came running to me crying, TERRY TERRY LAVA MI MANO TERRY!! He had this marker all over his little hand. So I took him to the bathroom to wash it off. 

As IM scrubbing I realize that hes not crying anymore and hes staring and me repeating the words, GRACIAS GRACIS GRACIAS with a HUGE smile on his face. In my head I had this little light bulb moment. THIS IS HOW ITS LIKE WHEN WE REPENT. 

Were like this little nino who is just looking for someone that can erase these horrible pains and sins we have. We are broken and crying cause we realize we're babies and we cant wash it off by ourselves. SO we run to Him who has the power to heal. He picks us up and washes it away. And then we're freeee and were clean again!!

Ive been thinking.. WE ALL NEED MERCY. We are all trying to FIND MERCY. Its how we survive in life. THis week we found a family who has a lot of heartaches. The dad is a BIG strong man who always beats people up on the street. He told us he doesnt wanna fight anymore and wants to change. Weve been visiting him and hes not progressing. :/ So at first we started to just bajar la cana and freak out at him for not quitting smoking. And he just got super down and I saw his face and it broke my heart. So we changed the conversation and started giving him positive comments and being merciful. We told him how awesome it was that he stopped drinking. Little by little hes changing into the man that God always knew he could be. He gave us this smile that made my whole day. I could literally see his confidence build more and more the more merciful and kind we were to him.  Its all about how we talk to people.  When we build them up the flourish.  I think I may have found the magic remedy.  Build people up with the word, never tear down.  WHen we build them up, it gives them the power to change.

I testify that we are like Miguel and we are all looking for mercy. In the scriptures it tells us if we judge our fellowmen harshly.. we will be judged harshly. BUT if we have mercy on them.. GOD WILL HAVE MERCY ON US. man what a good life lesson. :)

LOVE YOU ALL!! Carry on Carry on Carry on!

love, marieeee

Short and sweet

I am sorry family.  I literally have no time this week.  Im in and out in ten minutes but I want you to know I am doing well.  My comp and I are working as hard as we possibly can. We are growing in Gods love. Seeing so many beautiful miracles. Having the time of my life. Feeling so grateful for this chance. Hes given me the best mission.  Today we watched the womans conference and at the end Uchtdorf talked about how much God loves us. Brought me to so many tears.  He is sooo good to me. 
 My comp might be the hardest comp yet but we're seeing miracles and we truly love each other. She is burned out big time ( leaving in a little over a month) I honestly have reacted like I thought Jesus would react and I feel peaceful when I let things go and dont overreact. Right now were super good. And even if its hard.. it doesnt mattter. God has taught me to love everyone and if I dont love my comps MY MISSION WILL BE A FAILURE. She has a lot of pain. Yesterday she blew up at me and then cried. She told me she loved me and she was sorrry. The transfer before she was having a suuuuper hard time and prayed to God to give her a comp who would help her be herself. SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD A DREAM that she was with a girl who was blonde and someone who talked to everyone in Tigre. She told me that I was the answer to her prayers. When she told me that.. I just felt like we are meant to be together and I know what hard times feel like, and I know how to love someone having a hard time. This is what I will do.  God really is looking out for me and has planned out this mission for me.  Love your companion ya'll.  Whoever your companion is in the moment love them right.  Especially if they are grumpy or sad or mean, God is asking you to show a little more compassion, and little more understanding and a little more kindness than you normally would.  I know as we do this, it opens us up to better feel his overwhelming and unconditional love.  

I hope pres gives me the hardest comps. I think I can do all things ;) It has blessed me so much.

Carry on Family!  Love each other right!  Thats why we are here.  Period!

Found faith when I lost it

Dear Family,

WOW what a change. Transfers always always always suprise me. HAHA! IM IN TIGRE YALL! Its so cute! And my comp is so great! ANOTHER LATINA FOR HERMANA TERRY!! WOOHOO! Hermana Traverso.:) Shes from PERU! I have such a good feeling about this place. IM SO READY TO FIND GODS CHILDREN AND BRING THEM TO THE WATERS OF BAPTISM!!

SO yesterday was my last day with BABY V. WE CRIED OUR EYES OUT. I MISS HER SOOOO MUCH. She taught me so many wonderful things. Shes staying in Juncal and I know shes gonna rock it! AHH MI HIJA!!

So Erica accompanied us for the last time to go teach people and her testimony is so beyond powerful. We started talking to this woman on the street and talked about how much she loves her family and that her husband is an alcoholic but loves him so much! She said she could never be a part from him because she trusts Gods plan for her and her family.Peeps I felt the Holy Ghost when she was talking saying to my heart, I am so with this woman and her family, always trust my plan!  It was kinda amazing. AND THEN OUT OF THE BLUE.. Erica starts talking about the trials we have in our life and its like rain. We get wet.. were cold and we feel like we can never get out of this trap and then when we dont realize it.. the sun comes out and it creates a rainbow. She testified that God will give us light and help us feel at peace during these trials. ME AND BABY V stood with our mouths hung open. WHHHAAAAT? WHO IS THIS GIRL?! Is this the same Erica that we met 2 months ago that had so many family problems and so little faith? UHH YEP. SAME GIRL. Gahh. She told me shes moving to tigre now so that she can accompany us on citas. What a gem. Love that little conversa of mine. :) Erica is the reason I showed up in this city, and maybe my mission. 

OKay so I feel so thankful to God right now. We went to the temple friday and I realllly felt the spirit hit me. The song kept playing in my head, Come thou fount of every blessing. My heart was filled with so much gratitude for the mission God has blessed me with. To be in Juncal.. even though it was so hard.. I was so thankful that God helped me through it all. I felt in the temple that God had another plan for me.. and what do ya know.. IM IN TIGRE!! :) Haha. Hermana Vargas has changed my life. I grew to love that girl. We were soooo close. Everyone called us the dynamic duo! :) I felt thankful for having times when I lost the faith. Its weird when I felt like I had no faith left.. THATS WHERE I GAINED MORE FAITH. MORE STRENGTH. MORE PPOWER. I feel like I can do anything now. When Holland talked about where much is given much is required.. the spirit told me.. YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE! I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO GIVE and im ready to give it all in Tigre. God has blessed me so much.  Im excited to be a training leader.  It will give me more fun interaction with these precious Hermanas.

Conference was so great. Henry B´s talk on moms bday filled me with tears as he talked about how his mom waited for him every night he stayed out late and would talk to him about his life. He said he was so grateful for those moments and it made an impacting change on him. MOM I just want to thank you for all those nights you stayed up for me. I know without a doubt that you and dad receive revelation from God on how to help your children. Thank you mom and dad for everything. I love you guys so much!! 

well wish me luck peeps. hope i find mi plataaa. :)

chau!! CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!

hermana terrrrrrry