Week 10 in Irapuato

2nd christmas in the mission has come and gone, and can i just say that it was awesome!!  It was to be honest a very simple christmas, but, I think thats what made it so great.  So, We ate tamales, and sang christmas songs to everybody we saw in the street, and to the members and investigators.  But something really special for me was that after church on sunday we went and visited Gaby an investigator, and her little kids. the day before we had bought some lights and christmas stuff, to dcorate her tree, because someone had given a tree to her, but she didnt have anything to decorate it with. so we went over and decorated the tree, and then shared the birth of jesus christ that is found in the bible.  as my companion testified of Christ, we gave her  a book of mormon as a small gift, i dont know how many book of mormons I have given away, hundreds and hundreds...who knows...but as i gave her this book, and testified of its importance i was overwhelmed with the pure simplicty of this message, and more than that was, this is the best gift I could have ever given anyone, worth so much more than anything I could have ever bought or done. Because of the teachings with in this book, will change not only her life but her eternity.  Maybe we didnt receive much this christmas, nobody even invited us over to eat! jaja but, we spent it with our investigators, and spent it remembering the great birth and sacrifice of our savior Jesus Christ, and the wonferful opportunity we have to have the book of mormon, and the truth it contains within.

it was awesome talking to everyone this week, I hope that everyone had a very very merry christmas!!! love you all! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

con mucho amor

hermana sever

Week 9 in Irapuato

Hola familia!!!

this week was really really interesting!!! so, i am in a trio with hermana shumway, and our hija! hermana Henriquez, she is from Panama.  its been areally funa nd stressfull week.  WE have literally the biggest area in the mission now that we are working Reynas y Espanita.  its more than Half of Irapuato.  its crazy.  so we take alot of taxis to get places.  also we have had some awesome spiritual experiences this week, and we all gave talks on sunday, and just a whole bunch of stuff, and tomorrow is interviews and we have a christmas dinner with president, and just alot is going on.  but its fun!!  something sad also happened but two good things happened to replace it. So nicole who was going to be baptized on the 13th of Janurary.  moved to the city of mexico on saturday...so she wont be baptized here, but there, it was a shocker...super sad...but!!!! as we got on the bus to go to another appointment, I was thinking about it, and like moaping...because i was really excited for her baptism, and i sat next to  a lady on the bus..her name is Karina Atlantida, and I wasnt even going to tlak to her, but i just did, and we started talking i mentioned how i was a missionary, and her eyes just lit up!! she asked me what from what church, and it turns out she had a friend just leave for brazil, and she literally said that she really wants to go to our church and learn more and how she has always wanted to learn more, but never had the opportunity, and so she gave me her number and direccion made an appointment, and shes going to church on sunday and accpeted a baptismal date, shell be baptised when im at home, but thats not super important, it was just an awesome experience, but we have a nother baptism scheduled from the 13th and 21 year old named santos!  we also just had a whole bunch of experiences but ill tell them all to you guys later, because its alot to write. jaja.  anyway,  I know that our heavenly father is always watching out for us, and that he loves us sooo much.  and that he has so many blessings just waiting for, all we have to do is ask. 

con mucho amor

hermana Sever

Week 8 in Irapuato

Hello Family!!! and Friends!!!

So this week was interesting, To be honest it was soooo difficult.  But, I got alot out of it.  So we just found out, that one of the girls that we were going to train, went home! so we might be in a trio and training together hna shumway and I!!! and working in 2 areas, and going to 2 wards...its going to be so hard!! because both of our areas are huge!! lets see what happens we dont know yet until tonight, freaking out! its gunna be really hard if that happens, but, i definitley wont slack off, I wont have time too!! JAJA i think its a great blessing.  We are traveling so much this transfer, we are going to Queretaro again this week, for the leadership meeting, and we went last thursday for the training meeting and then we go back 3 more times this transfer!! its crazy....crazy fun!!! Jajaja! SO I just have one thing to say, satisfaction isnt worth it, never has been, and never will be.  Even if its great for that one moment, it just leaves you looking for me.  TRuw joy comes from our own hard work, dedication, and obedience to the lord and his commandments.  

I love you all!!

HErmana Sever

Here is some of the food I've been experiencing lately

Week 7 in Irapuato

SO THIS WEEK IN IRAPUATO!!

so Daniela got confirmed!!! and got sick...we didnt know she didnt tell us that she has like problems and cant get baptized in cold water....the water was freezing..and she got sick and sent to the hospital....it scared us half to death literally...but!! she got up the strength and came to church on sunday to receive the holy ghost! I was awed by her strength and testimony...she came sick, and only and only 16 years old, but knew it was what she needed.  

also we found some new people to teach, RAFA!!!! he is like a dad here to all the missionaries....but we finally were like you need to listen to the message we have, and he was like, good, ive been waiting to listen...it was awesome.  also we found some little girls to teach nicole is 12 and ana she is 8, there family is less active, and they arnt baptized, but we are starting to teach there entire family.  also another girl, we havnt met her yet, shes a reference, but she sounds awesome! we have an appointment with her on wednesday. what else, I got offered a pig as a pet the other day...it was different, and we are about to end this transfer, so its time to get down, and get this area LISTO! to be honest, in my entire mission these past couple months I have enjoyed just so  so much!  So much depends on our personal dedication to the lord.  To understand that there is only one approval that really matters and its his.  This gospel is essencial in the lives of everyone.  What a blessing to be able to share it, to these wonderful people here.

Ok, sorry that im the worst at sending pics, i will try to sensd pics next week!

thanks for everything!

Hermana Sever

Week 6 in Irapuato

HOLA FAMILIA!!

This week we had a baptism! young Daniela got baptized!!! to be honest, the baptismal service was a wreck, but the good part is she got baptized and enjoyed it! and she is going to get confirmed this sunday!  Also we had our stake conference this sunday...it was interesting as well, they talked about the pathway program, it was funny, and multpying and replenish the earth, and also about women and our appearance...to be honest the most interesting stake conference I have ever heard, but it was good the last couple talks were awesome!  Today we went to a volcanic crater!! and this week, I dont like to admit it...but I ate 10 tacos just like...in one sitting and I could totally have eaten more...yupp, I was in shock too.  but they were delicious.  

ALSO!! we found 2 new amazing people to teach this week, Ana, and Fani(they have no kind of relation)  So excited to learn more, and have the gospel in their lives...the funny crazy part, was first ANA, was a reference, but Fani, we found knocking on doors, and we were actually going to skip her house, but I wa slike no lets knock on this door, she accepted us, we got an appointment and went this week.  She immediatley opened up to us, and turns out her boyfriend is MORMON! who knew right! he is inactive hasnt been to church in years, we actually dont know him personally yet, but we are hoping to end up teaching them both, AND!! get his!! she lived in FRESNO FOR LIKE 4 years!!! and has family living there, so we totally had a moment.  So this week was awesome, to say the least, WE also had our Consejo de LIderes, and it was also awesome, it reminded me of a lot of things I need to do differently, and how to help the ward Im serving in.  Anyway, love you all, thanks for all of the love!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Sever

Week 5 in Irapuato

HOLA FAMILIA!!

This week we had a baptism! young Daniela got baptized!!! to be honest, the baptismal service was a wreck, but the good part is she got baptized and enjoyed it! and she is going to get confirmed this sunday!  Also we had our stake conference this sunday...it was interesting as well, they talked about the pathway program, it was funny, and multpying and replenish the earth, and also about women and our appearance...to be honest the most interesting stake conference I have ever heard, but it was good the last couple talks were awesome!  Today we went to a volcanic crater!! and this week, I dont like to admit it...but I ate 10 tacos just like...in one sitting and I could totally have eaten more...yupp, I was in shock too.  but they were delicious.  

ALSO!! we found 2 new amazing people to teach this week, Ana, and Fani(they have no kind of relation)  So excited to learn more, and have the gospel in their lives...the funny crazy part, was first ANA, was a reference, but Fani, we found knocking on doors, and we were actually going to skip her house, but I wa slike no lets knock on this door, she accepted us, we got an appointment and went this week.  She immediatley opened up to us, and turns out her boyfriend is MORMON! who knew right! he is inactive hasnt been to church in years, we actually dont know him personally yet, but we are hoping to end up teaching them both, AND!! get his!! she lived in FRESNO FOR LIKE 4 years!!! and has family living there, so we totally had a moment.  So this week was awesome, to say the least, WE also had our Consejo de LIderes, and it was also awesome, it reminded me of a lot of things I need to do differently, and how to help the ward Im serving in.  Anyway, love you all, thanks for all of the love!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Sever

Week 4 in Irapuato

Querida Familia,

So this week, was fun.  For I think one of the first times in my mission, we followed our planes everyday! our appointments didnt fall through, we had a whole bunch of work todo, and when we didnt have appointments we contacted in the street and now have appointments for the next week!! We also had some awesome lessons!  we now have two of our investigators preparing  to get married! we also have a baptism this saturday! DANIELA!  yay!!  Also we have found some new people to teach.  ALSO! THE WEATHER!!!! has been lovely...if I must say so myself! its been raining everyday!!! and cloudy and cold!!! I love it!  its because in Irapuato...its hot...super hot...reminds me of Fresno. and so with the change its been super nice!! even if my shoes are covered in mud, it dosent even matter!   Another awesome thing!! we had a multi stake conference were Elder Russell M. Nelson Spoke, Robert D. Hales, and Carol F. McKonkie. AND!!Russell M. Nelson spoke his talk in Spanish and Carol F. Mckonkie! super cool!! I didnt even know they spoke spanish!!!  It was also awesome because they talked about, Taking upon ourselves the name of Christ and the importance of the Sacrament, and keeping the sabbath day holy.  It made me reflect on, on the way I keep the sabbath day holy, and the way I take the sacrament, Do I really offer up my sacraments?? and remember him, everyday. because taking upon ourselves hi s name is an eternal commitment, and requires our dedication in every aspect of our lives.   To honestly remember his sacrifice daily and try to live as he lived.  I realized some things that I need to change, and am putting into practice these improvements.  BUt, especially to really remember him everyday but on the glorious sabbath day, to honestly offer up what I have, and dedicate every moment to him.  Love this commandment!

anyway love you all!!! thanks for you prayers and support,  

Con mucho Amor,

Hermana Sever

Week 3 in Irapuato

SO!!FIRST FUNNY STORY!!!  we were on the bus and we heard up ahead a whole bunch of music! loud and we were like oh there is a big party up ahead out side...and when the bus reached that point there was like a  DJ And Food stands but nobody was there...just 2 old ladies like 80 years old..dancing in the middle of the street...JAJA It was just funny. jaja

So this week was fun! I think...WE having been working so much, its because its so hard to work with the time change.  I think we are going to have to change houses.  because where we live is like in the middle of no where, and its peligroso....especially at night so...it makes things difficult. I am the first american hermana to come to the area, in literally more than a year...jaja.  everybody freaked out in the ward, they were like its an American! jaja it was sweet.  So we having been talking alot this week about the restoration and we had a super sweet lesson with one of our investigators RAfa.  his wife just got baptized acouple months ago....I was reminded once again in this lesson that alot of time no perdon...all of the time we are the ones content with what we have and are not willing to change something inorder to receive something better.  There are so many blessings that come from living the gospel the way the savior lived it.  ITs hard.  It means there are changes that are necessay but is it worth it...aLways.  

on another note! I got the pic of Josh and kelly super cute! tell them congrats!

Week 2 in Irapuato

SO!!!!! This week!!! I got lost!!! alot!!!  but i am slowly but surley finding my way around.  So we live in the middle of no where...um and we have to stop working when the sun goes down because our entire area is alittle...well...not the best at night time...so its been interesting.  because with the time change...it gets dark at like 6:30-7 so we cant do much but!! We have a plan to work as hard as we can with the time we have.  So to be honest when I got here, The area was a bit of a wreck...everything out of order basically no investigators...house a wreck...so e got to work organaized the area binder, got list of the members, and past investigators, sorted them out, cleaned the house fixed the boiler so we can shower in hot water, and just a whole bunch of stuff, and I think the Lord as been blessing us BASTANTE!!! because if all goes well, we found a new girl to teach her name is Daniela and is so excited to be baptized so i really hope all goes well, also we are teaching an older man Juan, who would also love to be baptized but has some issue s so we are working with him along with our mission president, and then two other ladies and their families, they just gotta get married! so Lots of work todo, and Its been really fun! I think more than ever in my mission I have felt the guidance of the spirit, new ideas, new energy that are coming, and a new enthusiasm tan grande!! to just work hard and be honestly worhty of the blessing that the Lord has in Store.  The gospen is honestly a pearl of GReat price!!!  Love you all so much sorry for the short letter, its because we couldnt find a cyber with working internet jaja so we started late!!!

Con mucho AMor

HErmana Sever

oh and thanks for the pics of Landon!

OH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PRESTON AND SIDNEYY!!!! I had a video made for them but my camera died so you will have to watch it next week!!!!  I cant believe it you guys are so old!! jajaja

Week 1 in Irapuato

HOLA!

 

TRANSFERS!!!! So Today I got transferred.....:( only had 3 months in ARcos...but...its all good jajaja.  I was just super sad to leave me companion and our investigators the few we had! jaja it was like no I DONT WANT TO!! but then I got over it and Im now starting another adventure.  

my new compaion is HErmana Arellano!! shes is from el estado de MEXICO.  shes soo sweet, I lived with her when I was in Villas, and was her lider in Arcos, so I know her super well!! So im super stoked!  

I got transferred to Reynas, Irapuato!! So I left Queretaro!!! ADIOS!! well, it was abit of a relief after like 10 and a half months straight in Queretaro it was a nice breather.  The work here is a little slower, but from what I have seen in my area, there is a whole bunch of potencial!!  love it already!!!  Lets see what happens oh! and another thing! Hermana Arellano goes home in Enero when I do so its so weird...what iwill probably happen is sthat we can be companions the next transfer because we both go home and so they would be forced to close the area, so we will end up getting transfers but its so weird!!!  

another things...it was a bit of a shock...but Im in my second to last transfer in the mission the last 12 weeks....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Im not ready thank goodness I still have alot of time left todavia in the mission, gives me alot of assurance jaja,  its just hard when you talk to members and all they want to do is talk to about how basically your at home....so just a word of advice...dont do it...jajajaja

jaja so basically thats it...my life is just full of changes!!!! love it!!! love you all!!!!!! Im like alittle bit brain dead today so I dont remember much from the past week, but Ill give an update the next letter!!

also..still would like fotos of landons baptism pleas!!!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Sever

Week 12 in Arcos

So this week we had alot going on!! Divisiones all week, Leadership Training,  birthday parties for our mission president, Service! and we only worked in our own area....1 day. SOO! we may not have had alot of time to work with our investigators this week...which is harde...but we got to help out alot of other hermans in there areas, we prested service, held a birthday get together for our mission presidente, and we had a traing meeting thing!! it was awesome! So I have pictures thats for sure!!! and I know my mom saw the one from the leader ship meeting...and I would like to ask her, if she could pass it to me please! jaja thanks!

So we went to a Panaderia...its a bakery basically, and it has alot of PAN! DELICOUS PAN!  I love pan...and you will too when you come to Mexico...they know how to make bread taste delicious.  so we helped a less active member clean her panaderia...i know it dosent sound like much....but it was alot of work! we cleaned the outside and the inside....and byut eh end of it we were soaked and covered in dirt...IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! 

but the bad part..is that I have been sick all week with a fever 4 days!! it kept coming back...it was weird...but im good now it hasnt come back in 2 days so thats a blessing!

Also,WE had divisiones in TEquisquiapan, i love it there, its super colonial and super pretty and alot cheaper than Queretaro.  It was alot of fun to be in that area, and to see that the hermanas there and honestly doiong there part very well, trying to raise the area up..because the past transfer the area..was a bit of mess.  BUT!, its so much better now and they have some amazing investigators!

We also went to Quintas, this is the second time I have been to this area, its in Queretaro, and its super nice area, reminds me alot of my past area, VIllas.  We went to got teach VIctor and ALma, I think I am remember there names correctly we taught them the 10 commandments.  It was really cool to teach them because they were just understanding everything not only the 10 commandments but all other things they have learned.  They would be like Oh I understand that sso true thats why we go to church every Sunday we have seen these blessings its true! or Your right we are so close to living all of them and we need to start today to honestly live them all, They are a couple there kids and the grandma, such a wonderful family, they are just waiting for the parents to get married and then they can get baptiozed so it was anawesome experience.  Also we met an american in the street...he wouldnt stop talking to us, because we are both americans I was with Hermana Baker for Divisiones she is from Utah and has 3 months in the mission

Anyway thats what happend ill send some videos and pics!!!

con Mucho AMor

HErmanaSever

Week 11 in Arcos

Tell Landon that I love him so much and am so proud of him!! him and Gannon!! what and amazing opportunity I was in a baptism on saturday and all I thought about was how Landon is also making that same choice!! THe wonderful blessing that will come in to his life are uncountable!!!  

So this week, was good we had interview with President, and it was awesome.  because we havnt been having alot of success in our area...but have been working so so hard, and I went in to the interview a little frustrated..or more like discouraged. and President said exactly what I needed.  I know that the key to mission work..is work! and diligent work at that by the spirit!!! but, even though it seems to be difficult right now, I know the Lord is preparing people for us to teach.  I just gotta find them.  And sometimes its the last door, on the 4th floor.  JAJA I love Elder Uchtdorf!!   

Today Im in TEquisquiapan  its outside of Queretaro and its awesome and so much cheaper than Queretaro.  Everything is expensive where live so I hate to buy anything!!! We take alot of taxis and our area is the richest in the mission...so everythin gis expensive...ugh jaja but in TEQUIS NO!! so Im blessed to be here on splits..

ALSO!!! Im like 90% sure That Im staying in ARcos with my copmanion hermana Cortes, Ill probablly end up dieing here...Or thats what president told me but lets see!!!   I wish everyone the best of luck, love you all!!! and can you please send pics of Landons baptism??

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Sever

Week 10 in Arcos

Hello Family!!!

Im speaking in English...because I just got done helping some people with english Homework...it was hard.  And I think I need to practice my english.. So this week was fun! we worked, and worked and worked, but the best part was we werent alone.  We had so much help from the Ward.  WE have been needing to find people to teach, so we called up some families in the ward, and they went about, knocking on doors, setting up appointments for us and everything...WE ended up knocking on who knows how many doors, but we got a whole bunch of future people to teach.  Along that note, didnt you just love the second half of General Conference!!! It was lal about missionary work!! especially members and missionaries...I can testify that Missionary work is of the members....the missionaries...should be helpers or assistantes but many times..that isnt the case..It was awesome to see the members leave there safety boxes and even conquer fears and go out there to find Gods children that are are in a search to find the truth....they just dont know where to find it.  It was amazing to see, and a testimony builder that this is the work of salvation and there is no greater joy that comes to one, than when he sees a once lost son or daughter of God, come back and acept the blessings God has prepared, and the pure truth of the Doctrine.  This gospel is a Pearl of GReat Price.  

So General Conference was awesome wasnt it!!!  I loved the focus on the basic gospel truths especially the Plan of Salvation and the REstoration.  Because if we dont have our testimonies strong in these basic teachings and expereinces...it is so hard to gain a testimony of anything else.  

I love you guys so much sorry for the quick and kind of sporatic letter, I just have alot to do today, So cant talk much!!

Con Mucho AMor

Hermana Sever

Week 9 in Arcos

¡Hola Familia!

So this week was interesting...lots of desafios.  But its alright My companion and I have goals and plans and with hard work and the lords help and guidance...We will see alot of Miracles so be prepared.  So this week was the General Conference for women! I think thats what its called...Who knows. And it was awesome!!! They just pounded us with things no!!! I especiall loved the two main focuses on Understanding the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and Faith.  Alot of time even with our entire lives in the church...There are alot of things we tend to interrpret wrongly.  I learned the importance of that in the mission,  And the importance of a good solid scripture study.  Always.  Because if we dont know the doctrine we wont live it in the way he wants us to, and this is the only way we can return to him. I was also Like when I heard of the 2 things that faith cant do..I was no shocked but  a little surprised because all thinhgs are possible with faith, but!!! if its taking away the free ageny of someone well..yea no...and we cant force our will over the wil of God.  Yea...It was an awesome conference...I cant wait for Saturday and SUNDAY!  

SoWe got alot of rain this week, and so all of my shoes are just soaked through!! hello rainy seans in the mish once again. jaja But its actually super fun somethimes.  So this week one of our investigators Luis went to church for the first time!!! his name is Lui! I think I ahve talked about him before his progression has been slow, but He is really learning and becoming converted to the gospel and it was amazing for us to see him to take that leap of faith and go to church!! 

Also this week, I ate a wonderful meal with the Family Perez, Pozole, Menudo, Chiles REllenos(Dulce y Salados) it was delcious, Ill send of video of me trying Menudo for the first time!!! it was delicious! I loved it!! most poeple dont like it...dont know why...but it does have a horrible smell..but who cares tastes delicious! I think thats it for know, love you all!!

Oh and Happy Birthday Landon!!! love you so much!!!! and congrats on you baptism and also congrats to Gannon as well, thats so cool that they are going to be baptized together!!! send pics if you can!

Hermana Sever

Week 8 in Arcos

Hola Familia y amigos!

this week was awesome and filled with things...I dont even know where to start.  FIRST 15 de Septiembre!! This is my second 15 de Septiembre in the mission and it was awesome, we dressed in mexican clothes and  yelled and sang mexican songs. BUt, most important...ATE MEXICAN FOOD! Pozole...I love Pozole...I sent a picture....

SECOND, PAMELA WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!!(not my mom) but my investigator Pamela was baptized!AT first like minutes before the baptism she started getting super sad, because her parents werent there to support her decision but we talked to her, and she entered into the waters of baptism and is super prepared! It was awesome to see the smile and relief on her face when she stepped out, and realized the blessings of the decision she made, not only for her, but her family as well.

THIRD, Elder Valenzuela of the Mexican area presidency came to visit the mission, we talked alot about how members and missionaries can be united, and also the keys that the mission president holds, and the keys that the stake president holds, and how they are related and I was actually blown away. So Mission President, has keys to baptized, and to confirm, and the keys of the gather of Israel....BUT! the Keys to Mission Work, are held by the Presidente De ESTACA!...Thats what makes it the work of the members, and the full time missionaries assistants to that work....WE have the authority to teach and to baptized but the work itself is with the members. it was awesome we also had a special extra meeting in Irapuato! with just the lideres of the mission and it was awesome! Also got put in charge of make a mission song out of hymns....we}ll see how it goes! jaja  

FOURTH! we found a new family to TEach the family Rocio Leyba!! they are super sweet, it is a mom, and her 3 kids, 2 girls 15 and 14 and her son 10.  They all accpeted there baptism date...now they just need to come to church jaja, but honestly it was a super big blessing to get to know them a bit more, and here that they are interested in there spritiual progression..

Thanks for all of your love and support! I love you all so much!!

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Sever

Week 7 in Arcos

Hola Familia!!

CAMBIOS!!! so we had to witness another 6 weeks gone by and transfers....BUT!!!SURPRISE!! I am staying in ARcos with my same companion hermana Cortes!!! and we have a baptism to start of the transfer this friday with our investigator Pamela!! So the fun part about today and the sad part was that I got to see hermana Cruz again, and a whole bunch of elders and hermanas that are super good friends of mine! but...they are all going home...and I just about died....because everybody that I know super well and came in to the mission with are now..all at home...and im all alone..jaja no im not alone but thats the hard part about the mission seeing people leave...its just like why cant you stay in the mission forever! jaja.  WE started off this transfer today with a great trial...inbetween our hermanas in our zone.... and we had to do a huge intervention...but What I realized was something super important...The power of the spirit..and how can I have this guidance with me...is through obedience...One thing I have definitley learned and continue learning is about obedience...and then again obedience...and in life maybe there arnt the rules like here in the mission, buts, its still of utmost importance to follow the will of the lord, keep his commandments, and stay worthy at all times to receive his help.. And how esay is it so easy let me tell you to offend the spirit...it happens like that a snap sometimes.  But I know that its possible to follow his will, and to be worthy to have that guidance in our lives...not easy...but salvation isnt easy... if the atonement wasnt esay for our savior and redeemer Jesuschrist what makes us sometimes think that salvation or day to day living is.  We have to learn and grow and use our expereinces to fulfill our potential as sons and daughters of God. I have learned alot this past 6 weeks, and I know I will learn even more in the next coming weeks.  and its going to be awesome. jaja love you all bunches!! keep in touch, thanks for everything! oh and also this week we get a visit from ELder valenzuela!

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Sever

Week 6 in Arcos

Hola!!

So this week was fun!!! lots happened we found 2 people to teach that are literally golden!!! there names are Brenda and Victor. and Pamela accepted a date to be baptized the 17th of this month!! yay!!! also Im going to try and send some letters to your guys...through the mail..I hope they get to you!  Lets see. dont even know where to begin well first, we had a bit of a trial the other day with one of our investigators...but what we could see during the day is that was the lord literally guiding us to where we needed to be.  We didnt plan on visiting her, but ened up showing up in literally the knick of time. ALSO, one of our investigators luis.he is an older man of about 75 years, and is super...Duro. and honestly dosent want to change....but everytime we visit him its just been a little bit better and alittle bit better, and after literally weeks he gave the first prayer! and when we first arrived when we showed up he would have like a frown on his face and be like oh misioneras...why are you here.but now he is like when do you come back and is always alot happier when we get there and in his prayer he said that he was grateful to god for what he is learning, and that he recognizes us as servants of the lord.  It was so beautiful to hear! I dont know when he will get baptized, or really when he will make the great change i his life to honestly let the savior in, but, I know it will happen sooner or later...it was just a super happy moment for my companion and I.

Well, I think thats what I have to share with you guys this week, love and miss you all!

con Amor

Hermana Sever

Week 5 in Arcos

Hola Famila!!!

So this week, Maria Luis got baptized!!! she was just beaming the entire time, I will send pics but next week, because the computer im using dosent have an adaptor for cameras.  But, the service was beautiful!!! and was filled with people, she was so happy!!!!

Also, Pamela a new investigator that we have came to church for the first time and absolutley just loved it!!!! shes super excited for everything, and we are meeting with her ever other day because she wants to honestly follow the will of God.  its been awesome to see her progression! 

One of the things I learned this week, when I was studying to teach Pamela, at first she wasnt keeping any of her commitments, and it came to my mind, what is it that is keep you from keeping your commitments..I kept thinking about this question  and when it came to the lesson, she started saying a bunch of things little things to be honest, and are impiding this progression spiritually.  I got to thinking about myself my companion my area, why certain things I have learned in the mission are better then others and what is keeping me from obtaining and following the will of God. I think its really important. To sometimes question ourselves, and ask what is keeping us from learning more...being more grateful...being a better disciple of Christ, what ever it is?..What little things, habits..or attitudes are keeping us from obtaing our potencial as sons and daughters of God.  There is always room to improve and room to learn, because our progression is what will get us from one point o the next, will get us from here we are now to our heavenly father. and honestly,  to be comfortable is dangerous...because there is no progression. I learned that here, because that is almost always the reason why the people reject us, its because they are comfortable and they dont want a change in there life, but changes are necessary if we ever want to full follow the example of Jesus Christ. 

Con Mucho Amor!!! thanks for everything!!!

Hermana Sever

Week 4 in Arcos

SO!! this week, was very interesting, we had just a lot a bit of challenges with the sisters in our zone and our area.  BUT! we are overcoming them and that is the most important.  We having been working so hard my companion and I to help the sisters, because the sister with the most time in the mission only has 7 months,  and its been a challenge to meet the needs of each one, and there are 10 of them, but! its been a great pblessing because the lord has but Ideas into our minds and we have been able to get to know each of them and gain their confidence.  And as far as our investigators are going, they are good, found out that a couple of our investigators that are progressing...dont avtually live in my area...so it was hard to have togive them to others.  but, its more important that they are in the right place, with the right people learning the gospel and progressing in the lords way and not ours.  also we had some dealing this week with..MAGIC!!!! ....but...not the good kind, it was an interesting situation...and thank goodness we had the councilor and his wife at the lesson with us..it was very interesting....i wont give details...but, it was a fun week!!! and we had one of our ivnestigators come to church for the first time with her mom who has been inactive for 9 years! it was awesome they both loved it! also we found 4 new people to teach and we mad a contact in the street, that was purely by the spirit, we saw her and my companion was like I feel like we need to talk to her, so we went up to her, and I asked her a question not sure what it was but, about Crhsit, and she burst into tears, and starting telling us a whole bunch of things, how she felt so alone, and had just finished argueing with her husband, and dosent know what to do, and just felt so alone, with nobody not even family to help, and that we were an answer to her prayers. her name is Lorena, and we started talking to her, and it was a super spiritual expereience we learned, alot, and it was another testimony, that the Lord wiull always guide us to the poeple who are most prepared and who need our help, if we are willing to listen.  I love you all so much! i hope everything is going well, thanks for the love, prayers and letters. and all of your support.

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Sever

Week 3 in Arcos

So ANYWAY! this week in Arcos.

We did our first divisions with the Hermanas in San Juan this week, It was super interesting everything fell throught, and I ended up staying in ARcos and only have a week there so it was super interesting! but we made it and found a whole bunch of new people to teach in the process! I was with Hermana Gonzalez she is from Oaxaca(like the cheese!) I  want to go there one day. jaja

2) ALSO!!! DULCE GOT BAPTIZED!!! she was my investigator from Villas, the one that has the twins and needed to get married. So my last week in Villas she finally got the date to get married and was baptized this saturday! after 6 months of teaching her I had to leave a week before her baptism, but! presidente gave me special permission to go to her baptism!! it was so sweet, and honestly one of the best baptismal services I have been to everyone was so happy, and I got to sing and see her and the rest of the Amador family and it was just a great blessing! and president was there, gave a couple words, and Dulce looked so happy bore her testimony, and honestly I have just felt so blessed to take part in the live of these wonderful people to teach them, and help them return to their heavenly father. 

3) MY companion and I are so similar!! we spend all day talking up a storm! shes super crazy and we just spend the entire day laughing.  but, the best part about it is, we get things done, she is super dedicated and we balance eachother out in the companionship so its been a great blessing, learning alot!!

Ummm...what else happened this week, Idk.  A whole bunch of stuff, but, I just feel so grateful to be here in the mission.  I know that our heavenl father lives, that he loves us. That coming unto Christ, is the only way we can honestly be trully filled with joy.  because lots of things can make us happy, for a moment. And some moments last a bit of time, but eternal joy, peace, and happiness, is found in the example, teachings, and sacrifice of our savior, and redeemer Jesus Christ. I love him, I know this is his church.  

I love all of you so much! thanks for your prayers and support!

CON AMOR

Hermana Sever

Week 2 in Arcos

THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! first off we started visiting the investigators the assistants left us -there were only like 5. jaja but are super prepared.  We but dates so that they could get baptized and everyone of them accepted and went to church this sunday!! and we were in the street trying to figure out where we were and how to get to an appointment we had, and knocked on the door of an apartment complex thing, and a lady stepped out and was like misioneras!! I want to be baptized!! I was like...whats going on, is this some kind of trick! but no! she started talking to us and she accepted to be baptized the 27th of this month! and it was super awesome she was investigating before, and couldn get baptized but she fixed the situation and we are going to keep working with her but it as awesome. her name is Margarit.   WE are also teaching a family of 4  and a young girl of 14 years and her mom is a less active member, who wants her daughte rto get baptized but dosent want to go to church because shes owns a tienda and dosent want to take the time of work. WE ended up talking to her about the blessing that she is keep from her life, from making that decision and the importance of her being a daugher of God, how he wants her to be happy and will always make up for the things we sacrifice in order to be closer to him, and she totally was like..your right, Ill go to church this SUnday! it was awesome! and then the members of the ward brang a whole bunch of nonmembers to church! and all of them want to be baptized, and we had to teach the lesson about repentence  in gospel principles and it was awesome we all had a very spiritual experience and everyone left crying, but tears of joy..dont worry. anyway this week was just full of miracles! and it has been awesome to be in a ward where, the members are so involved in mission work, and excited that all we have to do is what we are set apart to do, and that is to teach the gospel and testify of Christ because the members are finding eveyrone we need to teach! its been awesome! also..no big deal..but..presidente invited my companion and I to eat ice cream at his house yesterday..no big deal dont know why but it was awesome.  Also there is an area called El camapnario in my area, and its probably the richest place in Queretaro mexico...a family of members lives there, and we arrived at their to say the least...mansion. for reals they had a picture of christ bigger then my bedroom at home in Ca hanging on their wall...it was huge like you probably need at least 10 people to carry that thing, and anyway we got their and the family wasnt even home! their workers attended to us! jaja but we met them on sunday super nice people! anyway we have met so many new people but its awesome!  Hope everything is going super well!

Con Amor

Hermana Sever

Week 1 in Arcos

WOW!!! LOTS TO TELL THIS WEEK!!!

1)We had a baptism!!! Esme got baptized!! its was such a wonderful service,  we sang  as a zone  La oracion del profeta, but with the tune of come thou fount, I sang first and then the others joined in...it was interested because I got sick the night before like with a cold, so I was  all stuffed up and my throat hurt, but, it was alright jaja.  it happens.  but other than that our investigator was so happy she started crying with tears of joy for the covenant she was making wiht her father in heaven, and how much she knows it to be true.  It was an awesome awesome experience and I hope to have many more of them.

2)TRANSFERS!!!! yupp, after...6 months in Villas...I had to leave.*tear*I was sad, but, at the same time excited for my new area!ARCOS! its still in Queretaro...jaja 

3) ARCOS- I am opening this area again like I did with Villas, So we are starting from scratch! it was the area of the assistants to the president but now it is ours! and its huge!! and super rich...and there is a whle bunch of architecture ill send pics! the only thing is..dont have a camara....we got there today! so now we just have to get started thats the hardest part...especially without a map...lol but, im super pumped because we will be in the same ward as our mission president! and we were made sister traing leaders, should be interesting lots of responsibility! lots of opportunites to trust in the lord is what it is.

4) Hermana Cortes is my companion she is from a state in Mexico, close to Texas, that I cant spell.  starts with a T, if someone could look it up, that would be great! shes super fun, shes crazy! and talks alot, but works super hard, and we are having alot of fun together we knew eachother before and always got along super well, so should be super fun!

5)OUR HOUSE!! so since we are know living in the assistants to the presidents old house we have all the stuff that was taken away...lol.   and we dont know what to do with it...we have like 10 guitars...and now i want to learn if sidney could send me some stuff, dont worry in the house i can play the guitar I just cant in public its why the guitars were taken away...and there is a piano! like a little one but its something! and there are like movies and badmitten stuff and other sports realated things...its super weird! also we have a washing machine! and its ancient! we didnt know how to work it and it started spitting out the water all of the place and our floors got covered with like an inch of water!...this happened today! anyway...um what else....

I think...thats it...but Im not super positive.  Ill let you guys know if I forgot something.  and Ill let your know what its like in ARcos..thanks for the love, letters, and prayers!!!  Remember how much the lord loves every one of you. WE are all children of God, if we can comprehend this small statement that we hear so often, we can understand trully our potential, and i believe acomplish so much more.  He loves us, and wants us to be like he is.

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Sever

Villas 5/2

MOM!!!! I LOVE YOU!! HAppy birthdyy!!!!!!! I hope you are having ia great day...full of ove and presents and smileing faces!. hahaha...I cant wait to skype you on tuesday!....and sorry...First dont have time to write today! perdon!!!!  Also I can skype you guys May 10th, for 30 minutes.  at 6 pm my time.  and my package has not arrived! and im super worried of all packages not to get to me!...ugh...well I will have lots to tell you on tuesday because im not able to write this week.  BUt, love you all, and thanks for everything.!!

also....how old are you??...lol

Con AMor

Hermana Sever

Villas 5/16

hey mom, im pretty sure you should have receive some pictures from some Hermana Marisol, tell me if you got them. I recieved the package. and again, I cant write this week, I got a little sick and didnt leave the house and we were waiting for an hermana to arrive at our house who will be living for us because she had to get operated on...3 times!...so yea...our house is like the hospital of the mission.  but, yea Cant write really anything, but thanks for the love and support, I WILL WRITE NEXT WEEK! because fo the past 3 weeks I think I have barely written, eveything has just been popping up! jaja

Love you bunches it was great skyping you guys!!!

Con AMor

Hermana Sever

Villas 5/23

totally havnt heard about the slacks thing! but Im looking at the article righ now!! slacks!!! thats so weird!!! I dont know what ill do...lol there arnt alot of mosquito in Queretaro but If there are any I get bitten I have like 7 bits on my legs right now. lol but hey anyway Im finally writing again, I know its been forever!!! thanks for the patience.  We have had alot happen and not much time to do the things we would like to. but!, all is well! So we have been teaching a new family latley, the Familiy Gomez, its a fmail of 4 and 3 are of the age of baptism.  And the are super great! they have been coming to church with us and honestly we have been so desperate latley because we hardly had anybody to teach latley...low on numbers and it was disheartening.  But, then we found this wonderful family!...and are investigator is getting married tomorrow so she can finally get baptized andalot of things turning around!But, I learned alot these past few weeks about the importance of diligence. First off its an attribute of Christ that we need to develope.  we had our days when we came home just exhausted because we didnt enter into a single house sometimes only one lesson...and it was really disheartening but, we changed our attitude...more than one time, made plans to improve, and tried to keep upbeat about it all, but, more than anything we just focues on the work that the lord has for us, and that we cannot slack off, every moment in the mission is precious, because it goes by fast everyday we are a little bit closer to the day when we might not be able to focuse 100% on the lords work, but, here and now. we have that time and the means to do it.  So, yea lots has happened and I have written most everything down in my journal. but, what else, oh! Im right now in my 3rd change with hermana Cruz in Villas! its crazy because that never happens 3 changes with the same companion!! I have never heard of it! but its super cool!  and how is everyone doing back at homes?? 

How is the ward??

Con Amor

Hermana Sever

Villas 5/30

Hello family!! its been awhile hasnt it? jaja.  any this week was pretty good, we found a new person to teach his name is Juan, we contacted him in the street.  turns out he already had a book of mormon, and taken lessons, but had to move to Queretaro so he lost contact with the missionaries.  But we found him! and he came to church with us and participated and was just super into it.  It was awesome, we have a lesson planned with him this following week.  We have had alot of things going on, and ive had to notice the blessings that the lord has given me.  He really does provide for us in every moment.  We got to go to the baptism of the companionship of hermana sliving with us.  and it was super interesting because the lady getting baptized her name is Fanny, shes just fasinated with The united States and was like Hermana Sever has to come and take pictures with me! so I got a whole bunche of photos with her as well it was super sweet, I got to know her during divisions.  shes a super sweet lady with alot of energy and happiness radiating from her shes from columbia, so her accent is super thick jaja.  but shes great im super happy because she has made the decision to follow the lord. I love you all, never forget that the decision to follow the lord is a decision we make everyday.  and it determines the outcome of everything.

Love you all!!

Hermana Sever

Villas 6/6

I laughed pretty hard when I saw your message, and how you have been is school for like a week, and you already dont like it hahahaha, youll get used to the work load.  im sure its nothing like kids. jaja

do you have a picture of the truck that preston is buying??

we still have a little bit until transfers, 2 weeks we are starting week 5 of 6. but alot has happened this week... we had to move houses! this is the second time in the mission I have had to do this, and hope I never have to again.  WE ended up literally wasting 3 days of work trying to get everything in order in the house packing moving, cleaning painting an entire house, removing the lawn putting in new lawn, cleaning the house...again..and its not a small house....ugh...we ended up only working in our area for 3 and a half days...it was just a little bit of a wreck, but, I think everything has calmed down and we can work in are area like normal! yea! because we have a lot of investigators to visit! So with some things that have happened this week, Ive started thinking about planning, and how the dailing planning and weekly planning is on of the hardest and most stressful things for me in the mission, ill be real, dont like it.  but, this week, we didnt plan hardly at all with all the changes that were happening...and I realized yesturday when again we didnt have plans for the day the importance to sets goals and to make plans inorder to achieve these goals.  Its like what point is their to anything if we dont know where we are going.  I remember a talk by thomas S. Monson, when he talked about alice and wonderland what the chesire cat said, so alice asks what path to tak, and the cat says, that depends on where you want to go, if you dont know, it dosenet matter what path you choose.  In almost all aspects of life, there are things we want to achieve, but, do we ever make the planes to actually acheive them, or do we just hope that with our raw talents we will achieve it, or that maybe god will do everything for us,or quien sabe que mas.  I dont know what your goals are, but I know that setting plans, to acheive is key. wether it be for oyur familiy, personal, school or work.  We can achieve our goals if we plan for means to achieve them, where do we really want to end up when we end this life??

love you all, thanks for all your support!!

Con AMor

Hermana Sever

Villas 6/13

We can wear slacks....but its not super pressed...I still need to find  the time to buy some! but ill get around to it.   The weather is off and on...So far I have gotten pretty lucky, havnt been rained on much..only2 times..and the second time was a hard core....i was SOAKED!! but its always a little bit funner todo missionary work when soaking wet and you house is an hour and a half away walking. so you gotta tough it out. jjajajajaj. BUt, it rains just about every single day.  during the day its super hot and sunny...that at about 6. in the afternoon, and keeps raining from there.  I dont wear a hat because we look like jehovahs witnesses. jaja.  awww, sidney got her wisdom teeth out!...how many did she have??? I didnt get the videos or the pictures by the way...not sure if you could send them again. please. Yea I got the pics of Jayden!! hes so cute!!! the ladies will be all over him when he has that perfect smile!!! jaja how tall is he???...is he taller than me yet?? I worry about that...like when I get home..he{ll be huge. jaja  SO!!! I got called in today to renew my VISA!!!...but...it didnt get renewed we have to wait until the 22nd of June...when I officially have 11 months...I am living with my trainer hermana Sanchez, and she was like no...no way..no...you almost have a year in the mission..no...it was sweet, but a bitter reminder that she goes home this next transfer....the mission goes by so fast......but we have been working super hard this week...we have been in divisons because my companion got sick..so I was with another hermana but we made a whole bunch of plans and then I went to our area to complete them..jaja.  bUt we really did work with all we had and we found 5 new people to teach, and one is a family! and they all came to church this sunday!! it was awesome...we also worked more with the members and it was just an awesome week.  I learned again...how important it is to work work,work.  be diligent, and be obedient....those 3 things can get you anyway...and bring the blessings of the lord straight to you...we were talking to a contact in the street named Francisco, and he told us he wasnt interested because he dosent like how people just ask god for things over and over and expect for them to happen..and there isnt any effort on our part...but, that is not the way our heavenly father works...we could as far as we can first...if our best is 50 percent we give that if its 70..we give.that if its 95 we give that we always need to give our best.  then...he will provide the other 20 percent or 10 percent that we cant do ourselves.  mayve francisco didnt accept us...but he did give us a reference of his grand mother in law...jaja i think... and she accepted us and is now listening to the lessons!...maybe the things we ask for dont always turn out the way we think, but if we put in our part...they will turn out to be in the way best for us and for our families.

read this scripture in the book of mormon,

Ether 12:27...I was reading it this week, and I learned something I had never known before....its amazing what the lord does for us to help us become perfect even as he is perfect.

Con Mucho Amor

Hermana Sever

Villas 6/20

SO!!! today is transfers!!! and guess what! Im.....STAYING IN VILLAS QUERETARO...ill have 6 months in this area crazy right!! but my companion for 3 transfers in a row hermana cruz had to leave she is now in salamanca...I was soo sad...i cried! it was weird the first time i cried for transfers...ugh. jaja.  But We got really close shes and amazing sister and will do wonders her last to transfers before she goes home in salamanca.  I received a new companion.  Her name is her Hermana Velasquez she is from COLUMBIA!! has a su per cool spanish accent. also you want to know something we are still living 6 hermanas in one house and everyone is from a different country...we literally have all of north and south america covered. jaja we me-the united states, hna. sanchez-Mexico, hna. velasquez-columbia, hna.perez-Guatemala, hna. Maldonado-Bolivia, Hna. Esquivel-El Salvador. COOL RIGHT!!! its crazy! So we are receiving a new mission president this week, so much will change everybody is flipping out...we dont know what to do...but ill tell you what happens.  I honestly will miss my mission president alot..i learned alot from him.  The entire mejorada Family is great and were wonderful examples to all the mission.  But they served their time...and i learned alot in the 11 months i had with them. but i know that for my last 7 months i will learn alot from our new mission president.  so im excited to meet him.  I dont have much to say this week, only that never stop doing the little things.  i am learning lot from investigators in this aspect.  I have an investigator that will probably be baptized this transfer, who is very very sick...was in the hospital for 2 months and now is super weak..cant walk can hardly do anything has no money...and yet makes his way to church at 8 in the morning...sure we give him a ride but just sitting down straight up for him takes strength or trying to walk outside or get in a car???....or the new convert that just got operated on but showed up to sacrament meeting...this are new converts or people that are learning about the gospel and exercising their faith in an incredible way...maybe alot of you are thinking they are a little crazy...no?..and when I think that I would stay home one sunday and not renew my covenants for a cold...and theseconverts to the gospel...are giving all they can because they comprend the importance of the sacrament and much more.  love you guys lots, we can learn from every experience we have. 

COn AMor

HErmana Sever

Villas 6/27

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!! so I know you are all wondering about what happened this week....new mission presidnet and all well first!! he hasnt gotten here yet he gets her tonight at 7 o clock and starts meeting everyone tomorrow...also dont have anytime to write today because we were with president mejorada and his family all day!! playing futbol...talking having a party...with cake..and everything it was fun..and really sad...and everything...I learned alot from him...and his entire family means so much to me...it is one of the hardest things..saying goodbye. but, its not really goodbye.  its nos vemos! jaja.  well dont have time to write today and not much to tell..we slept in a hospital for 5 days so didnt get to work in  our area much...dont worry it wasnt me.  My companion has reumatoid arthritis...im pretty sure ispelled that wrong and she has been in alot of pain and when we talked to the docotor on the spot told us that she cant go back into the street like this. so we had to stay in the hospital it was hard..but we contacted all the doctors and got to know eachother real well...my companion is literally amazing...shes from columbia was raised in the forest...and just lots!!!  and is one of the hardest workers i have ever met...i hope we can work more in the area this week. anyway..thanks for the love and letters ill have more next weekk!!!

CON AMOR!!

HErmana Sever