Dear Springville High School, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!

My dearest friends at my beloved Springville High School,

HOLA MIS AMIGOS!

This week I am doing my letter a little different.  I have really wanted to talk to all of my friends back at Springville High School, two of whom are my own brother and sister.  I have been thinking how my whole high school experience was about trying to figure out about how to FIT IN- how to be the best sports player, get the best grades, and get the solo.  Whos with me here?  Who understands what Im saying?  Without realizing it, our whole experience becomes about fitting in.  We feed ourselves with these accomplishments, or we berate ourselves with the lack of.  I am the MASTER of trying to fit in, not stick out, and live my life based on the amount of accomplishments.  But something is happening to me on my mission that I feel like I wanted to tell my friends.  I think it might help relieve some of the  heavy, crushing pressure of how we judge ourselves.

I have a NEW testimony.  It feels groundbreaking to me, although I know for most people its not.  Ok you might want to sit down for this.  ITS NOT ABOUT FITTING IN!  Its not about having that boyfriend or girlfriend, its not about always making the team, and its not about being the super star.  ITS ALL ABOUT YOU AND GOD!  I promise.  Thats all that matters, in high school and after high school.  I know for a fact God LOVES ALL OF HIS PRECIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS!  ALL!   He has equal love adoration and mercy for the kid at Springville High who appears to have the perfect life (which nobody does) as he does for the kid who appears to be in constant turmoil and trouble.  He has a plan for every single life.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  The kid you ignore every day, is most likely preparing to do great things on the planet that would shock you to pieces.  I have one year and one mission experience on you guys and this is what I have learned in that very short time......ALL PEOPLE DEEP DOWN ARE EXACTLY THE SAME in Gods eyes.  A mission is like a huge highschool.  You get ALL kinds of people.  You have the rich kids, the quiet kids, the rude kids, the models, the nerds, the jocks, the popular and well loved, and the poor and lonely.  Mean kids, sad kids, funny kids, and crazy nice kids.  There is one thing that brings us together if we are humble and will just remember.  We all have pain.  We all hurt sometimes.  We all feel broken in different ways.

I have met so many poverty stricken poor people.  They barely eat and have one pair of clothes.  Can you imagine walking into high school every day with the same outfit????????? Recently I have met some of the richest people I have ever known.  They are very successful in the business world and yet, they also have a tremendous sadness in their eyes.  They are lonely.  It is because they are missing the one thing that will ever fill up the lonliness.  Its not popularity.  Its not an award telling you that you are the BEST ONE.  Its God.  Pure and Simple.  Its a relationship with God.

And this is where a piece of my heart still seems to be back in the high school in Springville.  We think if we look a certain way, or DO certain things, we will be enough.  We will finally be ok.  Maybe, just maybe, we will be sufficient.  HIS LOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE US WHOLE.  He loves you.  He does not love you on a love meter that changes day to day.  Can you imagine never being able to rely on a God to love you?  Or how much or if he will at all?  No, you have one stable thing in your life that never changes, no matter how much you are hurting or struggling.  HIS LOVE FOR YOU.  HE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE.  I feel impressed to make a plea with my friends back home.  PLEASE LOVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL THE SAME!  Those halls are full of hurting and broken hearts.  I know this.  And its time for the heroes of SPRINGVILLE HIGH SCHOOL to come together and forget popular.  I promise you there are people at school who are really suffering.  You may be to.  If you are, then you are the perfect person to reach out to someone else.  Because you know what it feels like, you will know how  to help.  You just need to be brave.  Outer appearances mean nothing.  Popular kids need love and healing.  Kids who sit alone at every single class and event need love and healing.  Look at people with more love and practice feeling hopeful- happy feelings for yourself.  I know from personal experience on my mission that as you do this, YOU WILL SERVE LIKE THE SAVIOR DID EVERY SINGLE DAY!

I know what you are thinking.  I thought it to.  How can I talk to that kid who barely talks back?  How do I talk to someone who wont make eye contact or makes me feel dumb?  How can I forgive the teacher who gave me an F?  How do I get through constant rejection, or never dating, or someone who broke up with me?  How do I tell my parents I have failed ONE MORE TIME......at a test, at a tryout, at drivers ed;)  How do I maintain my social life and grades and extra activities and not crack?  How do I handle the constant anxiety that I am never good enough?  How on earth do I reach out to make someone elses experience more comfortable when I am struggling so badly myself?  Why do I have to go to seminary, no one ever talks to me?  Why do I have to plaster a fake smile on my face in the hall and act nice?  HOW DO I SHOW UP AT SCHOOL WITH A GIGANTIC ZIT ON MY FACE?  How do I face my coach I just let down in the last game?  How do I tell my coach give me another chance?  How do I graduate with all of these freaking tardies?  How do I show up at school when I just lost one more stupid election?  How can I show up looking so fat?  How can I show up looking so skinny and weak?  How do I go anywhere when I have no friends?  Shes so much prettier than me.  Hes so much smarter than me.  How do I ever find the words to tell anyone high school is really kinda scary and lonely and sometimes sad?  How can I go to school, much less, do my life, when someone in my family just died?  Who could ever understand that pain in a high school?  How do I do homework when there is a divorce going on at home and no one at school knows or cares.  Who could possibly understand that kind of pain?  How do I deal with this sickness or injury that no one pays any attention to but causes me so much heartache?  HOW CAN ONE SINGLE TEENAGER LIKE ME, WITH SO MANY ISSUES, MAKE ONE BIT OF DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.  HOW CAN A LONELY SOUL HEAL THE LONELY?  It really seems like there is no way.  The fear of it all could literally overtake you.

There is an answer.  I think I had to come all the way to Argentina to find it.  And I cant keep it to myself.  YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.  SOMEONE ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS.  JESUS CHRIST LIVED AND DIED SO YOU WOULD NEVER EVER BE ALONE OR NOT HAVE COMFORT.  HE IS MAKING A WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE AN AMAZING LIFE ON YOUR DARKEST DAYS.

HE WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!

PROVERBS 17:17 A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN FOR ADVERSITY.

Someday every one of you will graduate and leave that high school.  We all go our separate ways.  We leave our families, we go away for missions or school or jobs.  We get married and we begin our own families.  Guess what I just realized?  It actually gets HARDER!  I KNOW!  I THOUGHT HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE TOP OF THE HARDNESS LEVEL!  I thought it would get easier---darn!

ALL YOU NEED IS GOD.  HOLD ON TIGHT TO HIM.

As a missionary Ive learned doing it afraid is the most brilliant thing we can do. If you feel afraid, its ok, just go ahead and do it afraid.   In retrospect, I have been in Gods hands my whole life.  I wish I had a better understanding on this, I would have done high school less afraid.  I promise you if you do things afraid, and just trust in him, he will lead you to miracles.  You will do things you never dreamed someone like you could do. Don't waste your high school opportunity worrying about your own popularity.  Use it to help and lift others.  BE BRAVE.  You always have God on your side.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL.  JUST TRY.  JUST GIVE A LITTLE MORE.  KEEP GOING.  FAILING LEADS TO SUCCEEDING.  LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WONDERFUL.

I have failed at many things.  I have spent to much time being a benchwarmer.  And I make lots of mistakes, especially on my mission.  But these things only make you stronger.  I didnt used to think I could speak to strangers in a crazy new language and teach them a lesson in less than five minutes.  But WE CAN DO HARD THINGS SPRINGVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.  YOU, ME, AND EVERY AWESOME KID COMING BEHIND US.  Lets pave the way of people who do hard things to make the world a better place.  ALWAYS LEAVE PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM.  If your hurting over anything, endure it with a good attitude, and joy will come eventually.

Hard things can be beautiful.  Be grateful for your personal struggles.  In fact pray to be able to overcome everything sent your way.  Every hard thing brings you close to God.  If you can do hard things yourself, he will put you in the way of others trying to do hard things because you will know what to say and to do to lift them up.

Heavenly Father brushes my hair with the wind in Argentina and kisses my face with the Argentine sun and tells me "Oh Marie you are doing better than you think you are.  Miracles are on the horizon."

High School friends, we were made to do hard things.  Our small community can change the world with what is happening within those walls of seminary and high school.  Your potential is great.  Don't let temporary setbacks erase your ability to see twenty or thirty years into your future of amazing life.  He hears every word you pray.  You are so much stronger and more powerful than you think.  Use your talents and be kind to yourself with weakness.  Serve your peers, ESPECIALLY THE ONES YOU SEE SUFFERING.  But never assume that someone has no struggles.  Just assume they do.  He gives us pain and hard experiences so that we have the lesson made solid to us that we cant do it alone.  We need him.  And he needs us to do his work.

YOU MATTER.  YOU ALWAYS HAVE.  YOU ALWAYS WILL.

If you are ever walking down the halls and feel alone, remember Hermana Terry loves you and is there with you in spirit.  Keep your hope on a brighter and more loving world.  And never stop planning how you will be part of that plan.  I LOVE YOU FRIENDS!

Hermana Marie Terry
representing the Terry family and Jesus Christ (thats what my nametag says ;)


p.s.  If anyone is wondering  if you should serve a mission, you will never ever regret the decision to go.  Carry on!

Happy is an understatement

I love this little boy so much I cant even express it! I will miss my little friend!

My precious Damian

My new beautiful companion

HOLY FLIP FLIPPITY FLIPPIN FLOPS. HERMANA TERRY IS IN THE CAPITAL. BELGRANO Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RICHEST PART IN ALL OF THE MISSION. WOWWWWW. Holy smokes. What a change my friends!!! My district leader told me that Lima to Belgrano is probably the most dramatic change in all of the mission. Haha. Wow. And I hear theres a ton of norte americanos aca. Que bueno. :) 

AND MY COMP?!!!!!! HERMANA TORRES FROM MEXICO!!!!!!!!!!!! SHES ALREADY MY FAVORITE COMPANION!! SHE came from La Boca! WE'RE OPENING A NEW AREA! WE BOTH KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BELGRANO !! VAMOS A VER! ELLA ES UNA CAPA. Shes a super awesome missionary. EVERY HERMANA in our mission adores her!! Im beyond happy, happy is an understatement!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhh.

DONT CRY FOR ME MY POOR LIMA!! THE TRUTH IS COMIN FOR YA MY LAST TRANSFER!!! NO SE PREOCUPE!!! ;)

- guys I gotta good feeling about this transfer. :)

Anyways.. about my week. Very bittersweet. God was preparing me.. thats for sure. When our zone leader called us last night and told me I was leaving to Belgrano... I wanted to CRY! Hahaha I did not want to leave my lovely Lima. Provencia alll the way man. But now that Im here.. I feel like Im at home. We have 170 miembros! Do you people really know how much that is?  When you come from chasing dogs and kids around church, and your tempted to count the dogs as attendees for the Sunday, because your pushing fourteen people, I feel like I died and went straight to the Celestial Kingdom!  How great! And members of the 70. :) 

DAMIAN SE BAUTIZO!!! Oh my heavens. Can I just say I love baptisms?!! He was so cute. He came an hour early cause he didnt wanna miss his baptism. :) He was smiling from ear to ear when he came out of the water. AFter the baptism I asked him how he felt. He told me that when he was in the water he could see Dios hugging su hijo Jesucristo. I bawled. His spirit is soooo strong. And THEN IT GETS BETTER.HIS CONFRIRMACION BENDICION was the best thing ever. That is my favorite part. :) It said that hes going to serve a full time mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY HEART LITERALLY EXPLODED!!!!!!!! Ahh I love love love that cause Damian would always question us.. when can i be a missionary? He is definitely a nino that God has prepared to join the gospel at a young age so that he can prepare now!! Im gonna miss Damian like crazy. :(

I wanna say that I love LIMA. Analia, Wanda, Lumi, Facu, Damian, Carla, Trini, Regina, Jorge, Nicol, Kevin, Alan, Gonzalo, LOS ELDERES, HERMANA VELAZQUEZ.... TODO!!!! You have blessed me and changed my heart that I am lifetime in debt to you.  Forever my love Lima!

Well.. ya. I LOVE YOU ALL! SORRY ITS SHORT- not much time this week, gotta go enjoy all the  flushing toilets! UNTIL NEXT WEEK!!

Dogs and kids and missionaries running in church!

 Watch out Lima- I'm here to LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 These two precious people got baptized last Saturday

 The two elders and sisters on Pday.  I so love Lima!

 This right here is why you should be jealous of me.  I get to see this kind of precious every single day!

 So after my feet fiasco we got some bikes.  Yes bikes are the answer from heaven!

 Dont look at the selfie, look at the beautiful green gorgeousness that is Argentina

 People my feet are so much better!  Still a little war torn but honestly so much better than two weeks ago

 Our darling friend

Hermana Terry loves loves loves loves loves loves loves her bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOWOWOWOWOWWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAX IS GOIN TO SANTIAGO NORTE CHILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH I FOUND OUT ON FRIDAY AT APRROXIMATELY 1:30 PM THROUGH HERMANO SANCHEZ!!!!!!!!!! WOW! I WAS BAWLING I WAS SO HAPPY!!!!! MAX YOURE COMIN TO SOUTH AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I had A DREAM OF MAX SPEAKING IN PERFECT SPANISH ON WEDNESDAY. Ive been praying allllll week asking the big man upstairs if he could just gimme a little hint where my bros goin;) He totally did!! I woke up Thursday morning and I though to myself Max is going to South America. 

:):):) YAY!!!!!!!!!! Max!! Weve never been separated!! Even on our missions.. were right next to each other. :D KINDA ADORBS. :D

 ARGENTINES HATE HATE  HAAAAAAATE CHILEANS! HAHAHAHA. When HQ was my comp we would always make fun of the chilean missionaries. HAHAHAHA.  WE CAN NEVER BE FRIENDS. ;)

Oh man. Oh man. Seriously ALL OF LIMA AND THEIR DOGS know about Max going to Chile. :) Heh I was pretttttyyy excited. 

 Ive fasted and prayed for the familia Ramirez. When Thursday came around I felt like I was on top of the world. We were gonna invite them to baptized for the billioneth time and they were gonna say yes. :) I just knew it!

But thats not how it went down.. sadly. :( We went to their house and Cinita and the two kids were home. We shared some awesome verses in 3 Nefi capitulo 9. IT WAS SO AWESOME AND SO SPIRITUAL. Yesss.

And then we started talking about baptism and Cintia was suuuper close minded about it. But that didnt stop us. We testified with all of the energy in our souls that we knew the church of jesus christ could benefit them and HELP their family come closer together through the ordinances and covenants they make with padre celestial. She didnt wanna hear it. :(

I walked away feeling soooooo sad and so frustrated with myself. WHY WHY WHY was I feeling sooooo strong that we needed to visit them one last time?!! So ya. I was feelin a little frustrated. 

And then I prayed. Cried and prayed and asked Him why was I feeling this way. And without fail every time God came to me in my head and told me that I dont need to worry. That I needed to trust him and that THERE WAS A REASON WHY we went to visit with Cinita. And once again God told me to TRUST HIM.

That was a HUGE faith building experience. I learned so much. WHAT I WAS FEELING was right. Im not gonna doubt that. We needed to talk to them and share with them. Even though Cinita didnt want baptism... I have faith that someday her heart will be open to the church. ITS ALL ABOUT THE TIMING OF GOD. WE JUST GOTTA TRUST. 

Soo yaaa. Anyways.. this week was fun! Me and my comp have had sooo mnay fun times together. :) We started out a little rough but now were seriously like best friends! WE LAUGH A LOT!!! :D 

I feel like my time is running out in Lima. :/ Ive been so stressed because in my blessing from Presidente Gonzalez he said that there were specific people that needed me in Lima. And all I could think about was... WHO ARE THESE SPECIFIC PEOPLE IN LIMA?!! Ive only baptized kids!! And then I had to stop myself. Whoaahh Marie. How selfish am I. Kids are just as important as the adults. GOD LOVES ALL OF HIS CHILDREN. Sure, there are a lot of doubts with kids.. like if theyre gonna keep goin to church their whole life.. if theyre gonna get married in the temple. And so once again I specifically asked Padre Celestial for his protection over Analia, Wanda, Ludmila, Facundo and Damian(His baptism is this saturday:)) 

Man. This overwhelming spirit of love came over me. I closed me eyes and in my head I saw Jesus hugging each and every one of his precious children starting with Analia, then Wanda then Lumi then Facu and then Damian. I couldnt help but think that these kids are gonna turn out okay. And I have all the faith in the world for them. Each of their confirmation blessings Mama Marie was bawling. Because they all talked about the future and how they will all be examples in their families. Im honored that I got to work with these sweet spirits. Tambien with their parents.. who I know someday will join/come back to church. 

Anyways as I was saying my time is running out. :( I feel soooooo much pressure. LIKE, WHAT DO I NEED TO BE DOING my last week here?! But who knows if Im leaving or not?!! And the answer came to me as I was talking with my companion. ¨¨Just love my daughter Patricia YOUR COMP.¨¨ Holy smokes!! It was so clear and simple. And heres my answer to Dios. YOU BET YER BOTTOM DOLLAR  I WILL!! Im GOING TO love and serve and build up my companion the best I possibly can. Whats soo beautiful about serving your comp, is that NO ONE can see your service. Its a silent service that only God can see.  Its hard cause as missionaries we want the praise for baptisms and high callings.. but I want what God wants. And if God asks me to do one more little service in Lima.. I'LL do it. The words will forever be engraven in my heart: I WANT WHAT YOU WANT.

Oh my WORD. Primary was horrible yesterday. Really words dont do justice here.  It was a scene out of a horror/comedy movie.  Just try to imagine the scene  The elders brought their investigadores to church and theyre all a bunch of the naughtiest kids you could ever imagine!! 

THEY ARE ALL LOCOS!!! Three of the kids were running around in the church screaming the worst swear words imaginable¨ flipping everyone INCLUDING the stake president off.  Me my comp and the elders are chasing them through the church.YOU SHOULDVE SEEN US.. THE FOUR MISSIONARIES RUNNING AFTER THESE LITTLE PUNKS. I didnt know if I wanted to laugh or cry. Oh and to make it all better... a herd of dogs came running into the chapel. Oh boy. What a day yesterday.  So by the end it was swearing argentine children, four mortified missionaries, and a pack of dogs who kept circling the stake president.  I didnt know if I was chasing the kids, or running away from the dogs.  At one point I saw a kid flipping the stake president off, I froze.  I couldnt move.  And I looked at the elders who were laughing so hard they had tears running down their faces.  I was unable to laugh until later, but when I replay the nightmare in my mind, it chokes me up with giggles.  It will go down in the history books of disasters and for the record, I blame the elders.  Who I have really grown to like.  They have a humbleness and humor that has blessed Lima.  

I love you all! TWO MISSIONARIES IN THE FAM!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!! LOVE YOU ALL!! GOD BLESS!  CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!  TWO TERRY MISSIONARIES!!!!  WATCH OUT WORLD!!!!!!!!!!

Miracles and Laughter

TERRY FAM. WADDDUUPPP.:)
WOW WOW WOW WOW WHAT A  TRANSFORMATION!!!! This week was a week full of MIRACLES AND LAUGHING. :)

I wanna start off by saying that our Pday last week was one for the books. :) We decided to ride our bikes to the big sign LIMA thats about two miles away from our pension. The elders had one bike and we had one bike.  HV drove and I sat in the back like a crazy woman and screamed the whole time. BUT IT WAS SO FUN. MINUS THE FACT THAT A SWARM OF MOSQUITOS ATTACKED US. BUT HEY WE GOT A PIC WITH THE LIMA SIGN SO ITS ALL GOOD IN THE HOOD  :)

This week Ive had a HUGE change grow within me. Ive started doubling with my studying and Im talking with my comp in espanol as much as I can. I WANT TO HAVE THIS LANGUAGE PERFECT!! The other day Elder Quiroz told me, ¨¨Hermana Terry, I dont know if its a gift but you PRONOUNCE the words perfectly when you SING.¨¨ HAHAHA How awesome is that. When Im talking my accent is horrrrible, but when Im singing its the bestt. Holaa. Imma be singing for the rest of the mish.

OKay. I had the sweetest spiritual experience on tuesday. Marie Florres, la abuela who is 78 YEARS OLD.. was super sick. She was dying. I was sooo scared. She told us that they had NO MONEY and that she doesnt wanna eat because they don't have enough FOOD. Oh my heavens. My heart broke for this woman. I KNEW WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING  We bought tons of food that she could eat and gave the rest of the 600 pesos in an envelope for her. I cant describe HOW GOOD I FELT when I saw her face look at the food and money. She just started crying and thanked us. She kept saying Dios les bendiga... Dios bendiga su familia. :)We walked away and my heart was full of gratitude. I was sooo thankful that we could do that for her. :) AND THEN.... WE WALKED BY THIS HOUSE AND GUESS WHAT SONG IS BLASTING?!!! U2.. ONE LOVE!!!! THAT WAS GOD TALKING TO ME THROUGH DADS FAVORITE BAND. ¨¨ONE LOVE BUT WERE NOT THE SAME WE GOT TO CARRY EACH OTHER.. CARRY EACH OTHER.¨ We sat on the side walk and listened till the song was over. It was the same feeling I felt when we gave money to the people in Walmart on Christmas Eve.  That was the most inspired idea ever Dad- thank you for teaching us to do things like that for others quick and on the down low.  It has really touched my mission and how I do things.Woo. An experience I will never forget. :)

Woooo. GUYS WE MET A GYPSIE THIS WEEK. HOLY CRAP THE MOST ADVENTUROUS DAY OF MY LIFE. 

So in Lima theres a new neighborhood but nobody knows about it. Its hidden in the countryside! But we went there to go find a little old man who wanted to hear more from us! So it took us like 40 minutes to get there.. but whatever.  WE COULD NOT FIND this house. SO as we were walking away we hear this woman screaming.. HERMANAS!! And shes running for us.. she has a long purple skirt.. and her head is wrapped in this golden scarf and has tons of jewelry. You guys remember the gypsie in Hunchback of Notre Dame, so yeah, that was her here in Lima. So then she brings us to where she lives... but she lives in this HUGE truck with like 50 other people! GUYS REMEMBER WHEN WE  WATCHED ON TLC THE TRAVELING GYPSIES?!! YA ITS THOSE PEOPLE. But they were so cool. This woman has a tons of faith. She loved to listen to us.. but didnt want to commit to anything yet. :) Anyways.. I was glad that I had that experience. There are sooo many good and incredible people out in the world. It  amazes me. :) EVen if youre a gypsie that lives in a truck in Lima you still want to know and love God.  Its just who we are people, we love him. :)

QUE MAS?!!! OH YES! WE HAD THE BAPTISMS OF LUDMILA Y FACUNDO!!!!  Theyre super hyper and crazy but I was amazed to see them so calm and happy during the baptism. I felt so proud of them. NONE of their families came except for Maria and Graciela. IT WAS SO PERFECT. YOU KNOW WHY?!!  Because after the baptism we went outside and theres the BIGGEST RAINBOW Ive ever seen and the sunset is like surrounding it.. I cant explain it.. it was soo beautiful. Argentina has some of the most beautiful skies I have ever laid my eyes on.  The words kept running through my head, I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain. :)  Because even though they can be hard and crazy... we had the special opportunity to teach them and bring them to baptism. :) The ending song was just the cherry on top. Venid a Mi. The last lyrics made me bawl:

Let the children come to me.
With great love he commanded
and in his arms took them
and blessings he gave them.

Its just soooo amazing. It all started from my dream.. seeing Jesus point to these children and now theyre baptized. Im so lucky I get to see the hand of God in these peoples lives. I love my little Ludmila and Facundo. :)

Sooooo. We went over to H Sanchez who is now the presidente de la rama. We were talking about anitguos investigadores. Hermano Sanchez looked at me and asked me whatever happened to the familia ramirez?! (Juan y Cinita y Kimberly) And I thought about it... Wow.. I dont know?! We gave up on them a while ago but Ive always felt like we needed to return and help them. But Ive been waiting for the RIGHT time.  I remember my first week here in Lima I KNEW that I was going to do something with the familia Ramirez.  I felt like we needed to pray right then and there. So I prayed and asked God to guide us and help us know what to do with the familia Ramirez. Right after the prayer... I KNEW that its TIME to find them and bring them to baptism. They have alll the discussions. All they need is someone to invite them to be baptized in the RIGHT WAY. WITH LOVE. :) 

So anyways.. the next day I called them at 7 in the morning.  I felt sooo strong that I needed to call them NOW. They didnt answer. UGGHH. So I decided to wait until I felt like I needed to do something.

AND YESTERDAY I prayed during church that we could find them and that I could just TRUST God that he will put them in our path and everything will work according to his will. 

AND THATS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. WOW. Last night as we were walking home.. I saw them in their car and they stopped!! Kimberly yelled TERRY!!! Ahh I wanted to just hug that whole family. Its time. Its time. ITS TIME!!! We talked for a little bit and scheduled a visit with them this Thursday!! I REALLY think its time to just lay it on the table and invite them to be baptized... otra vez. :) Pray. pray. pray friends and family. That we´ll know what to say and their hearts will be opened. 

This family is soo special to me. I see them in the temple. I see Juan as a priesthood holder. I see Cinita loving and teaching her kids about Jesus. I see Kimberly and Isandro as future missionaries. I know its gonna happen. Tengo fe. I BELIEVE I BELIEVE I BELIEVE!

Ive been praying every day this week that I could stay one more transfer in LIMA! Hermana Velasquez is a good person. Shes fragile. And what she mostly needs is LOVE (who doesnt?). Ive learned to love her. And now shes my best friend. We have wayyyy too much fun together. We've been laughing alot, and I think its the spirit helping us to balance laughter with all of the hard  work :) This week.. I dont think Ive ever worked so hard in my life!! LIMA IS ON FIRE!! We have a baptism next week for a  boy named Damian. :) Hes  is soooo prepared. He reads the book of mormon every day and his prayers are the cutest. :) GAHHH.

I really think God needs me in Lima onneee more transfer. Thats the truth. :)

Anyways long letter. But MARIE is all good people. :) Last thing.. Everyone go read the whole book of 1 John. Me encanta. :) CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON..... KBYE. 

ps  I know youre all dying to hear about my ingrown toenails.  Since the doctor pulled them out and I almost died of pain, THEY HAVE BEEN PERFECT!  NO MORE PAIN AND MY FEET DONT HURT!  MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Ingrown toenails and love for Lima

WoW. This week was interesting!!!!!!!!

 Funny story. So Ive been ignoring my ingrown toenails forever. I thought that it would just go away.. but  thats not how it rolls. Unreal pain all day Monday and Tuesday.. so HV dragged me to the doctor in... SANTA FE. HAHA thank heavens not the hospital in Zarate. The doctor is the doctor for our mission.. plus like 5 other missions. Hes from Estados Unidos and hes pretty much adorable. Anyways.. when I took off my shoes his face was disgusted. ¨¨Hermana Terry, what happened to your feet?¨ Hahaha he was like, YOUVE WALKED A LOT!!! Haha its TRUE! I have so many ugly calluses and blisters and two ingrown toenails. PLUS MY LEGS ARE INFESTED WITH MOSQUITO BITES. INFESTED. WAR WOUNDS. 

So yaaa.. I didnt think my ingrown toenails were that bad.. but the doc said we needed to  pull the nails out.. asap. So he did a freaking mini surgery on me. WOW. THE MOST PAIN IVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!! OWW OWW OWWW!!!!! I was literally screaming the whole time. Ouch. I need to do a ton of things to help my toenails grow back NORMAL. And he said if in 6 weeks they dont grow back normal... hes taking both of the toenails off. AHHH. NOO! PRAY FOR HERMANA TERRYS TOENAILS TO GROW BACK NORMAL. So ya that was one of the trials we had this week.

Lumila AND Facundo (HOPEFULLY) are getting baptized this week!!!!!!!!!!! They have an attention span of a rat.. but I really hope they can feel ready and feel the confirmation of the wonderful spirit. I also hope Facundos Mom.. whos a menos activo comes to the baptism and remembers  that sweet spirit she felt for her baptism. Less active families are so special to me. Because I just know that one little kid like Facundo can change his whole family for the better. :)  One person can change everything!

Lumila is the girl that I ALWAYS KNEW from the first time I laid eyes on her that she was gonna get baptized. Shes goin places. I love that little girl with all my heart. PLease pray for these ninos this week!!! :)

Yesterday I was called to be the teacher for YW!!! HV helps with Primary.  Im so sad. I feel like Julie Terry all over again.  But MAN the yw in Lima are incredibile. They remind me soooo much of the amazing yw in the hobble creek 12 th ward. Shout out to maaa sistaass. :) Mommy Marie loves all of you. besos. :)

Its been a little bit of a rough week, with the extreme mind numbing pain of my feet so I wish I sounded a little more upbeat but I want you to know the work is rolling forward in Lima.  Ingrown toenails is not enough to slow down or stop the most important work of loving and finding Dios' children to bring to him.  I hear the call every day we set out walking, find my children, find my children.  I only have three weeks left here, and I want to make sure it is the best three weeks ever.  Facundo is a crazy kid with undiagnosed add and adhd and any and every other behavior disorder a kid could struggle with, BUT when we teach him he holds a Libro de Mormon on his lap and stares at it very still and calm.  It makes me think there is greatness in this young boy that no one knows about yet.  I feel such love for him and have powerful feelings that he is going to bring his whole family into the church.

 I wanna end with my favorite parable of all time thanks to Bro Lindow in Luke 15. I was reading this yesterday during sacrament and it IS like the number one thing that Lima needs to hear. Lima needs to REMEMBER that were not all perfect. I have noticed Limans carry around some kind of weird badge of honor that they are somehow inferior or not as good as other people. Its their excuse for everything.  You see it more in some families than others, but I have been thinking about it alot.  I think its an attitude we have to fight.  Especially one that says, my family or city is more troubled, sad, difficult etc, than other people.  It carries a hopeless depressed spirit about it, that makes Gods hope and light more difficult to pierce through.  Its easy to sink into a poor picked on depressed less fortunate me attitude, but Im seeing those that have a positive aggressive spirit that we are a good family, a good city, good people, do so much better and their overall aura is brighter.   And God has more mercy and love than we can possibly comprehend. The prodigal son ladies and gents:
0 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had ^acompassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more ^aworthy to be called thy ^bson.

 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. 

I TESTIFY THAT THIS IS OUR PURPOSE AS MISSIONARIES. TO FIND THE LOST SHEEP AND LOVE THEM AND KISS THEM AND TELL THEM THAT WE HAVE A SAVIOR. WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS US INSIDE AND OUT. AND HE PERFORMED THE ATONEMENT FOR ALL OF US. IF WE JUST ACCEPT HIS GRACE OUR LIVES WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER. I LOVE MY SAVIOR. HES THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. HES THE BEST VALENTINE I COULD EVER HAVE. ;) 

Peace be with you all. I love you. God loves you. CARRY ON!

Hermana Terry

The errand of angels

 Hermanas at the beautiful Argentina Temple

The Lima crew right here in one picture

SUPPFELLAS. Its yer main mish marie speakin. I gotta say... MAXS MISSIONARY PICS MADE MY HEART MELT. WOW. Im dying inside!! I cant believe its all happening soooo fast. I really feel like Max... is comin to the gran buenos aires norte mision. VA A PASAR. :):):)

segundo... my heart wants to cry cause i cant open the video of my baby luke shooting hoops.:( Bless that little boy. MARIE IS SOO PROUD OF YOU!! I know youre just dominating everyone. :) 

TEMPLE DAY SHOULD BE EVERY DAY!!!! WOOOOOWWW. I dont know if Ive told you guys this... but every time I go to the temple.. I feel like passing out afterwords cause the spirit is SOOOOOO STRONG. And today was verryyy verrry special. Probably one of the most special days of my life.

This morning we had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning to go to the best place into the whole entire world.. so yaa. I wasnt complaning. :) 

Anyways.. the temple. BUENOS AIRES TEMPLE IS THE BOMB. I was amazed that even though everything was in Spanish I still felt the same spirit that I felt in the Provo temple. 

Before I came to the temple I asked God, to just guide me in this work.I told him Ill do WHATEVER he asks me to do. And man... in the entrance of the temple there was my answer. It was a picture of Jesus with his arm wrapped around a little poor boy. I was instantly reminded through the spirit that God is with the missionaries. God is overjoyed that his two little sweet children Ludmila and Facundo are getting baptized. (Marias little grandchildren!!!) I felt so much relief to know that yes.. Im doing what he wants me to do and he loves allll of his children.. especially his ninos in Lima. :) 

Guys the veil is thin in the temple. Angels. Angels. Angels are watching over us. Tambien, it was the most incredible feeling to see alll the missionaries in the temple. We're one heck of an army. No way Satan is gonna get a hold of us. We got our angels backin us up along the way. 

This week was so great. Miracles happen WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT- Never give up people. Theres always a rainbow after the thunderstorm.

OKay last thing. Im learning a lot on the mish. Theres one lesson that Ive learned that is sooooo beautiful. I learned the more I love people.. the more I love myself. Its the best thing ever to know that when I feel sooo much love for these people.. Im also feeling for myself as well. ITS SOO IMPORTANT to love yourself as a missionary and not get down on yourself. I just KNOW our God is a God of love. Hes never mad at his missionaries because he knows of the sacrifices we make to serve and love him and our best is good enough for him. Si. It is well with my soul. :) 

LASTTT THING. We had a meeting for all the hermanas in the mish! WHATS UP BEST PARTY EVER!! We watched a clip from the Errand of angels. I suggest everyone to watch it. :) LOVE YOUR COMPANION YA'LL. :)  No matter who your companion is in the moment, just love them.

CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!

KBYE!!!!!!!!!! 

A child of light

HOLA   YA'LL  . :)))) WANDA WAS BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!!! WAHOO!!!!

WOw. Wow. Wow. Wow. WOW!!! MAN WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK. First and foremost. I gotta talk about my comp. Hermana Velazquez. Our first day together was a little shaky. It was like she was taking over everything... and I felt like... UHH NO. THESE ARE MY PEOPLE. Haha. Plus I know where everyone lives (Lima has weirdest road system. The roads are all numeros! Horizantal roads are odd numbers and vertical roads are even numbers. Pretty cool huh?:)) ANYWAYS... That night I was just like..  What am I gonna do with this chick?  She might be as boring as a rock.  Hahaha. So I asked God. And my answer was simple, [Just trust me on this one.}

So the next day....... AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME. I can honestly say I love this girl. WE ARE EXACT OPPOSITES. BUT WE ARE THE BEST TEAM! Guys.. I do all the lessons! I never talked soo much in Spanish in my life!! Shes super shy so she relies on me to talk and I LOVE IT!!!!! I feel like a caterpillar coming out of its cocoon right now!! 

HERMANA VELAZ is sooo nice to me. I judged her to harshly the first day before I got to know her.  AND THE BEST THING ABOUT HER... SHES ALWAYS HAPPY AND SMILING AND LAUGHING AT ME!!! WERE SO POSITIVE TOGETHER AND WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN AND ITS JUST A PARTY EVERY DAY. 

HVELZ works her little butt off. Im not used to this kinda work. Its like hardcore finding and teaching people alllll day. We dont waste one minute. And I love it. HV knows what shes doin!! 

OH AND UHH SHES THE BEST COOK EVER. PARAGUAYAN FOOD IS BOMB MAN. BOMB. Plus my stomach has felt better since shes been cooking! 

The familia Florres (Maria and her grandchildren) came to my mind when HV asked me who we should visit this week. I was hesitant to tell her.. because we never got permission from the parents to teach them. BUT THAT DIDNT STOP HER. We IMMEDIATELY marched right up to their little casas and asked the parents for permission right there and then. Shes gotta lot of courage. :) Me encanta. So we have permission! Our first lesson I taught them about how my mom shared this scripture with her whole primary and got them to memorize it. :) D&C 6:36. :) Elevad hacia mi todo pensamiento. NO DUDEIS, NO TEMAIS!! It was seriously the best lesson, I had a lump in my throat the whole time I was teaching them, it was almost a deja vu moment. When we were walking away from their house... all the little ninos screamed NO DUDEIS NO TEMAIS! NO DUDEIS NO TEMAIS(doubt not fear not)!!! I was bawling.  That must be what heaven feels like. 

Sabado fue increible. HV put me down to give a discourso about the espiritu santo (MI FAVORITA) for the baptism de Wanda. So I prayed and asked God a specific question. I really wanted to give a talk that could help Wanda understand how important she was. After my prayer I started listening to my music as I always do. :) And the song Child of Light came on. 

AHA!!!!!! Thats what I needed to share!! So I found a beautfiul scripture in D&C 3, 4, y 7. :) 

 3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another ^aComforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of ^bpromise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.

 4 This Comforter is the ^apromise which I give unto you of ^beternal life, even the ^cglory of the celestial kingdom;

 7 Which truth shineth. This is the ^alight of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was ^bmade.

When I gave this talk I was filled with the spirit. Looking down at this child of light filled me up with so much love. I told her that she is like the sun very bright and full of light and then shared the lyrics from Child of Light. (Nina de Luz:))

You will never ever walk alone.You were never called to bear the burdens on your own. And where there is fear, love will take control and lead you on.

And even in the deepest darkest night.... you were born to keep it burning bright.

YOU WERE MADE TO FLY, YOU WERE MADE TO SHINE! 

CHILD OF LIGHT.

 Guess who was crying to herself in the back of that little chapel? HER MOTHER!!! I felt sooo strong that she needed to hear these words as well. After the baptism I gave her the talk and told her that I truly loved her and her daughters. I know shes gonna come to church someday. I dont know when.. but I know its gonna happen. :) I feel so led to the children of Lima, but as we get the kids coming to church, I realize it is the true path to the parents hearts.  They are watching.  They are listening.  And they come to watch their children be baptized who are the most priceless jewels they own, and they feel somthing beautiful and unique in the process.  They feel Dios, and I have watched the spark of interest light up in them.  Dios is using me as a mother type to love the little ones, as a way of turning the heads of their parents.  A family is the ultimate goal.  Everything is for the purpose of the safety and happiness of the family.  EVERYTHING.  

Anyways... I gotta tell you guys that my spanish is coming. I understand my comp so much more because she talks slower. Haha:) I have my marie spanish and i have the spirit spanish... and Im really trying hard to keep that spirit with me so I can TALK to my peeps in Limmma!! :)

God has really been good to me. I was so scared to have all my hermanas leave me.. but now its my time to get this language down and find and baptize the people that need this gospel. Theyre out there. I know they are. And I also know that they are gonna come from the millions of less active families we have in Lima. My first three months here was to learn and understand the people and to learn how to work as a missionary in Lima. And now I know. Now I know all the ways. :) Like saludos(greetings) are verrrrry important. If I dont salud someone.. its the end of the world. Haha my argentina friends are ssuuuuuper fragile and hard headed at the same time. Ive never met people like these people before. But they have big hearts. And now that Ive been here Ive learned one major important thing: LIMA NEEDS LOVE. Theres no way we can help these people if we dont sincerely love them. And I want to keep loving them and tending them forever. But seriously, talking to HV made me realize that Lima stands out like a sore thumb. Im realizing that alllll the other areas in this mish are super rich and busy. NOOO. I DONT WANT THAT. I WANT POBRE LIMA AND I WANT MY SMALL LITTLE RAMA(branch). I dont care if we had 16 people show up to church yesterday. IM GONNA DO WHATEVER it takes to get these peeps to church and to find people to baptize. EVERYONE pray for HERMANA TERRY that she can stay in Lima for the rest of her mish!!

I seriously love my life. I feel so happy. Life is great in Lima. Loves. :):):) 

CHAU. CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!