Week 17 in Azteca Leon

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS WEEK!!!!!  Well first, it was great to actually talk to you guys and look at your faces...oh Jayden! I did notice your hair! I said something because you and Preston have a similar look, but, I don't  think anyone heard me, and I was having trouble with my english with you guys.  sorry!! I can hardly speak spanish or english! its great! I was so nervous..I have no idea why...But I was like how do I speak! why am I nervous!...it was interesting, but afterwards I was even more grateful for the opportunity to talk to you guys, the next time is in 3 cambios..thats less than the amount I have so less time to wait!..everything is literally passing by so fast I can hardly keep track of all that goes on.  I don't know how it's possible but this week, was a more productive week than the last....even with christmas!   we had lessons, and a baptism!! and we had 8 people come to church with us! normally we can hardly get one! it was awesome...our district leaders were impressed...because thats how we work.  So first, they like to celebrate the 24th here more so then the 25th...the 25th is a day of basically sleeping because all the night before you are partying.  We were able to stay out until 10pm, we spent our time on the 24th with the Rosales-Perez family, part member-investigator family.  That I love! we had a lot of fun...and to be honest it was night jam-packed with its ups and downs, but, it was full of love, and we received a warm welcome from the family, who had dedicated a song for us..how sweet!...surprisingly for a christmas without presents, without family, and in a place and in a language that I'm not accustomed to, it was amazing.  I felt the love of those around me and mainly of that of my Heavenyl Father, and how I really want to be here right now-working, serving him.  It was a wonderful 2 days, with lots of singing christmas hymns.  oh tambien!....surprisngly we didn't get any tamales this christmas..its a tradition and everything for most people..but we didn't get any! haha its alright though, because I eat tamales literally every week haha.  

Ok, so the baptism of Luis!...it was awesome, at first it was really nerve wracking because it started at 7 and he didn't  show up until 7;20!...he was inMichoacan with his family...who all showed up..his mom is a member but his sisters are not.  They all came and the whole service was beautiful.  His mom was able to say the pray, and during the prayer she just started crying, and thanking heavenly father for this opportunity, and the example of her son for all of her family, and the opportunity they will have to have the priesthood in their home.  She talked to us later and expressed her gratitude, and how she wants to change, come back to church, and hopefully one day all of her family will be members. It was a wonderful experience, I can't wait until he serves a mission himself.  Also, I was yet again able to help with the music--didn't sing, but played the piano, so it was good!...also!..Ricardo for christmas borrowed a violin and I get to keep it this week and was able to play it!...super exciting moment in my life...just saying.  

So I have a whole bunch of fotos this week

WE were able today to go to the La Expiatorio..the atomente...cathedral..I think its the largest in mexico, but I'm not quite sure.  It was beautiful, and we got to dress in regular clothes ..but, couldn't wear our name tags for respect reasons. We went down to the basement only for us to realize that the entire basement was filled with tombs of a whole bunch of people...it was ligit, and the halls were tiny..the elders couldn't stand up straight..I could but just barely...my head was scraping the top of the ceiling..it was so cool.

Oh also!! we had another service opportunity..with TECHO...we helped to build..or fix up as school, in a really really poor area of the mission close to my area...it was really fun....but super tiring.  but, you know what was super sweet, was all the little kids that were in the town came, and started helping us...it was so sweet, they were all super excited to help us work...It showed to me the pure love and happiness of children, it was wonderful!

Ok, so sorry that this letter is soooo long, I just kept remebering things!Ill send pictures after!

Con AMor,

Hermana Sever

Week 16 in Leon Azteca

Christmas party with Presidente

more pary and divisions, and my new calendar for the following year of my mission!

OK!! so THis week, it was really interesting. we had Divisiones!....I kept thinking that it was going to be horrible to be honest, I had yet to hear good things, but it was so much fun.  I did not want to leave.  I went with Hermana Coello, to her Area in Echeveste.  It was amazing! The love I felt immediatley for her invesitgators and the members...I hope one day maybe in the mission I will get transferred to that area.  I really enojoyed it.  And we had quite a bit of cool experiences.  First, Their area is huge...for every visit we have to take 2 buses-it's about an hour trip both ways, maybe a little more depending on where you are going...so that was not super fun...I'm glad my area is small...It also testified to me that we could be doing more, as our area is small, we can get to a lot  of areas really quickly.  Secondly...we had an experience that started my first or second day, not sure and went on until the next.  So, our mission is requiered to have all lessons taught with a member present, so we were calling members in her ward, and literally  everyone we called said no; they were too busy..  everyone.  We went through the entire list of members...itwas  crazy.  So she was super stressed, I was bummed and stressed because I literally can't help with anything, because I had 30min in the area.  She was feeling horrible, and I was like, well, Heavenly Father knows that we worked our hardest, and went through all possible means to get members, and I'm sure he will provide, and if not, we shouldn't feel too bad, because we tried our hardest, and we will continue trying.  And that's what we did- we went to bed, and the next day, we continued calling members in all the breaks we had and did all we could.  I don't know how, but while we were contacting in the street we came across members, who would accompany us to a lesson, and when we visited members, all of the members had a non member with them..a person who we were able to teach!...At the end of the day we had a total of 6 lessons with a member and 1 lesson without.  All of which were unplanned members we just happened to come across.  At the end of the day we were so happy and our testimonies had been strengthened that God hears and answers everyone of our prayers...there is no way we could have exceeded our goal of 4 lessons that day with 6 and meet everyone one of our other metas, including references and contacting references. It was awesome-I know that at that moment, I really truly felt Gods love for me, and his help and comfort in every situation.A lot of the time, when we feel as though we aren't  receiving an answer its because either we aren't  accepting the answer he has given, and want to live in ignorance of that answer, or we may have not exhausted all we can do first.  For me,my answers have always come when I have nowhere else to turn but to fully rely on him, and an answer, always comes.

In all honesty I miss you guys, and christmas with my family but, I am so  excited to spend it here in the mission,  for the oportunidad I have to be here, to spend christmas with the members and my investigators.  This makes me so happy, and at this moment I would not want to spend it in any other way.  Also, I get to end the week with a baptism so, yeah- super pumped!!!!  Also this week we had a little party with the mission president and the missionaries of LEon,San Pancho, Lagos...and other places that are nowhere near Querétaro.  it was so fun.  Everyone dressed up, we watched Intensamente....or inside out (and that movie has a lot of spiritual application we had a devotional about it haha).  We ate a big meal, had intercambios, the whole gift giving thing...I got a shirt! its super cute!... then we watched some funny videos and pictures of the mission this past year,  we took pictures with Santa...or happens to be wearing Elder Dreesons name tag..odd, and got to dance a little, (in our seats)and listen to normal music!!!!!  It was so fun! and spiritual at the same time!  You know whats weird?  I have seen 3 movies since being on the mission, no 4...that's basically 1 every month! haha....estoy feliz.  Well, just want to end with my testimony, that I'm so grateful for the Saviors birth and his life, his example for each and every one of us.  I know he lives. This time of year is a wonderful time to refocus our lives on him, and how we can better serve others and follow his example.  He loves each and everyone of us and knows us by name, he wants us to return to him, in a state of eternal happiness.  and its through this gospel, we have it, and we need to share it.  

I love you all so much!!!! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!!!

Con Amor,

Hna. Sever

Week 15 in Azteca Leon

So this week was really cool!,
Had the opportunity to attend...virtually...to attend the dedication of the Tijuana Mexcio temple. And it was awesome!  First, when you walk into the church and its been decked out like the temple and you have the little temple workers in white, literally like angels. My companion and I got to watch all 3 sessions!  Each session is different with different speakers.  The two apostoles that attended were Presidente Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Elder Oaks presided and spoke in the last session.  It was so sweet...he spoke a lot of Spanish!  You could tell he was nervous.  He was like, I want to be able to say all of my thoughts in your beautiful language, but, instead I have a translator, so I think I'll use him.  Elder Uchtdorf spoke a little spanish too.  He spoke in every session and gave the first dedicatory prayer.  He spoke the same sentence in spanish every time haha.But overall it was an awesome experience and the spirit was very strong!  ONE of my favorite parts was when we sang the song "The Spirit of God".  Its really cool, because whenever a temple is dedicated in Mexico, all of the stakes centers are broadcasted as  an extension of the dedication.  You have to have  temple recommend and everything to enter the church. So at this time, a whole bunch of members in Mexico were all singing The spirit of God at the same time.  All of Mexico, in all different parts.  It was when we were singing that it came to me that this is the proposito...oh no i don't know the word in English...well...um the reason...we have temples is to bring us, as children of God, together united in one purpose, to return to our Father in heaven and to help others achieve that very same goal.  Anyway, it's an awesome experience and I hope to attend another one day.  

Um, what else happened this week, oh we had a service project at an asilo..its an old folks home.  At first it was like, I can't understand a word of what they are saying.. then I smartened up a bit and realized I could understand, at least a little, and it was super fun.  They actually had an elderly man there who didn't speak Spanish, just English, and the workers needed help translating for him. So at first they asked Elder Polluck, he has 20 months in the mission, and he came out and they were like -do you want to try?  Elder Polluck was like, I have no idea what that man is saying. ja.  So I went in, and I figure it out just barely, they wanted him to sit down in his wheel chair and he was refusing.  The assistants don't know English, they were like, SIT DOWN POR FAVOR!..haha it was a little funny, any way i figured it out, he was saying that his wife called him.  haha!  So we got him to sit down once I mentioned breakfast, and that afterwards we could talk about his wife. We talked to a whole bunch of people, and a lot of them were from different parts of Mexico, One lady sang the entire time we were there, well yelled ...but it was really entertaing and sweet, she kept singing about Guadalajara and Jalisco,[GUADALAJARA GUADALAJARA GUADALAJARA!] haha  She talked a lot too.  They had some great personalities, for reals it was really fun!  Afterwards, towards the end, we sang christmas songs to them.  It was at my command too haha because I really wanted to Carol, and we didn't have any plans and have the elderes were just standing around.  

     So we have a christmas party to look forward to this week, with Presidente Mejorada, y tambien Tenemos DIVISIONES! I get to experience a different area starting today and ending on Thursday! So Yea hope everything is going well! love and miss you bunches!..also as far as christmas goes, no tengo idea.  It could be anywhere from 30 min to an hour we will probably find that out at the party on Friday, and I'm skyping at a members house, who has sufficient technology , so I think I'll be calling you guys. sorry for all the limited information. 

Con AMor

Hna. Sever

Week 14 in Azteca Leon

     The baptism dates...it's a rule in the mission here, that before baptism they need to attend church 5 times. That's why the dates are so far away, and also why they get pushed back so often because if they miss a Sunday, then the date changes.  Of course there are exceptions, but for the most part, yup, that's how it goes.   I was able to watch the Christmas Devotional in Spansih and I was able to understand most of it.  I have not been told anything about Christmas day schedules, but I'm pretty sure I'm skyping you Christmas day, not eve, and it's at a members house.  It could be anywhere from 30 min to an hour.  Our president isn't too keen on long phone calls with the family, for mothers day it was 30 min. so I have no idea.  But when I figure it out I'll let you guys know!

     So, this semana we have a new investigator --actually 2,  Enrique, and Isamar.  Enrique, I met for the second time in the street and my companion for the first time.  He is an antiguo investigator, who said he wanted  a break from lessons, and he told us that we was going to come to church , so we of course were like great! So after talking with us and the bishop, he wants to start up again, we are hoping he accepts a baptismal date for this month.  Isamar was a reference from a recently returned missionary name Wil.  She's super sweet and our first lesson was unplanned and awesome.  She confided in us some things, and she seems really keen on learning more, and she accepted baptism, not a date, but says that she likes what she hears, we are visiting her again tonight.  

     So this week in QNews, that is the weekly mission news, Presidente Mejorada mentioned the parable of the Good Samaritan.  He has asked us to share it with our family and friends so, thats exactly what I will do! So recap on the parable, we have a man, who gets attacked and is basically left to die on the road, 2 men walk by him, thinking "oh, i hope someone helps him, but not me"...so they both pass him by because they didn't want to help him.  Then comes a Samaritan.  Now, they weren't the most liked at this point, but this kind man decides to help the man who was attacked.  He does all he can; cleanse his wounds and pays for him to rest at an inn.  And all this done by a Samaritan.  Now, I think it's important to question something-why do we leave others on the road, why are we not willing to give service that might make things difficult for us?, or that is not interesting.  Or, maybe, somebody else will help them.  I know everyone has thought that, the thought of helping, but afterwards thinking, well, I have some other things to do, I'm busy, I have work to do, I'm sure someone else will help.  Or maybe you don't want to help because, this person is different-different race, country, or the way they act, maybe they were your enemy,-whatever it may be.  Is that important?..all these....excuses, as to why we shouldn't, when in reality we should be thinking about why we should.  If we really want to follow the example of Christ, like him, we need to be willing to help everyone, no importa where, when or who they are, if they wronged you in the past, who cares, if they look different, not important, if your too busy...there is nothing in this life that can bring you more happiness than when in the service of others, ultimateley in the service of your Lord.  every  single person in this world is a son or daughter of god, we have that knowledge...use it.  follow the example of the good samaritan and the ultimate example Christ and serve everyone, no matter the circumstance.  

Love and miss you so much!!!

Con Amor

Hna. Sever

Week 13 in Azteca Leon

1. here we have a picture of me and hna. sanchez just before she heads to Queretaro!..such a bitter sweet moment.

2. so...my taste buds are slowly disappearing with all this spicy food, here is a bowl of Popcorn, covered in Valentino...or hot sauce...I literally cover everything naturally in hot sauce now...be prepared for when i get home...it can only get worse from here.

¡HOLA!

so, this week was pretty good, it was difficult and good all at the same time. So i told you this last week but my new companion is hna. Rivera, she works really hard, and is learning the area really quickly so thats good!  we had some pretty cool experiences this week in our lessons. So first with luis, he has all the lessons, he is just waiting to get baptized, literally.  and we taught him this week about obeying and honoring the law.  like rules of the country and stuff, a really simple lesson.  and im not sure how it turned into this but it did, oh it was when we asked him the baptismal interview questions! we ended up having somewhat of a  mini testimony meeting in which hermana river y yo and the aunt of luis all bore our testimonies and then luis was like I want too as well! so he bore his testimony and told us a very...personal story about his family and why he wants to get baptized and serve a mission in a year.  it was awesome and the spirit was so strong.  he is sooo prepared!!! its awesome.  we also went to visit a less active who normally just talks to us outside but wont let us in, this time, he did, and we ended up talking to a lot of his family, and i helped his daughter with her english, haha, and they want us to keep coming back and teaching them.  they were like normally we wouldn't let you guys teach us because we are catholic, 100%, but, for you guys, yea you  can come back and keep teaching us! it was great and they are a super sweet family so hopefully we have some new investigadores in our future!  so its really interesting being with a new companion you get so used to you first and everyone is so different, its good though, and hard at the same time, but we are slowly getting to know eachother a little bit better.  So there are now only 3 american girls in all of my mission and I have the most experience...weird... I'm also the only american in 2 or 3 areas...its really weird, like i guess presidente was like, yes, lets isolate hermana sever. hahaha but its good, i love all them mexicans! haha seriously!

as far as the weather goes here, its super hot still, during the day, I cant wait for it to get colder but apparently it doesn't get much colder...oh well, at night its pretty cold though.  We also ran out of gas this week...so have to show in freezing water...not fun hahahopefully we will have gas tomorrow. no se.  

anyway lots of love!!!!

Hna. SEVer

Sorry that i dont have fotos this week!..next week!

Week 12 in Azteca Leon

this is ricardo I would like to introduce you to him, he is a recent convert who we hlep out alot! here we are in his home, when he finished reading the book of mormon for the first time! he is literally with us everyday, his entire family, means alot to me and hermana sanchez, they are literally our family away from home, but, ricardo is especially...especial haha to us for the role he plays in helping us and us helping him!..even though one picture is me with a BB gun...haha

First off we had cambios this week, can you believe that im done with training?!! also this cambio I get to skype you guys!! thats in 4 weeks...5..no me acuerdo.  but yea!! So...Drum roll!...The person who got transferred...is....Hna. Sanchez, so Im am still in León! Im really sad to see hna. Sanchez go and so is literally everyone in león, she made a huge impact on a lot of people here, its awesome and she made a big impact on me of how to be a good obedient successful missionary.  So I got my new compañera today, her name is hna. Rivera she is from mexico, in a place I can't pronounce but its north of here.  So Im showing her the area, and Im totally freaked out about it, but We got to the house in one piece so thats good!..I even had to give directions to the taxi driver in spanish and we didnt end up in a totally different location!..oh yea.  So still having problems with nicolas, he has just..stopped progressing, and he is getting very frustrating to deal with. we just have to keep up keep a good attitude and love for him and hopefully things will turn around. we have a for sure baptism for luis on the 26th of Diciembre! and for Victor the 19th, if he keeps coming to church, the issue is his trabajo.   should be interesting without hna. sanchez working with all these peope, but i know my new companion will bring something that they all need.  and hopefully we can starting changing some lives.  that was super cheesy but hey its true!  So Other than changes I dont have much to talk about...or more Iike I do but i cant remember because I forgot my journal....which I have already used up...lol.  Oh something to look forward tot he dedication of the Tijuana Mexico Temple...that I get to attend haha I love how all the temple dedications are broadcasted  throughout Mexico! SO i had a lot more opportunities to lead in teaching this week, because I realized that I needed to start working hard, talking more, if I ever want to get spanish down, so that's what i did.  I still have a lot of work to do, but, I learned that the Lord provides for todo, and I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to share the gospel in the spanish language to all these amazing people.Remember   that true happiness comes when in the service of others.

Con Amor

Hna. Sever