Buscar Los Frutos

I feel like every week on my mission I am just happier and happier. I love doing this work and I love being a missionary. Right now I feel like there is so much work to do and so many people to help. In my area we have a lot of new families that we are teaching this week and they really have a desire to know and follow Jesus Christ. To me that is so amazing and I will do everything I can to help them come unto Him and make covenants. The blessings of the gospel are infinate and eternal. 

 

Last Monday we had a regular p-day. I feel like in my new area there is a lot more time to do different things. We also bought boots which have really helped a ton. Every afternoon it pours and the streets turn into muddy rivers. I kind of love it now though and with boots there isn't any river we can´t cross.

 

In the evening though we had a lesson with the family Aparicio. There are three children in this family and two parents. The day I met them the youngest turned eight. They have such a strong desire to learn and know what they can do to be better. After the lesson we asked if they would be baptized. The question they asked was how. "What things do we have to do to change and prepare to be baptized?" That was so cool to see that they want to change and be better. Later in the week we taught them about the restoration and afterwards the dad said,"I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but how can we learn more about him?" The next lesson we watched the prophet of the retoration and when it was over they wanted to watch it again. They all have a Book of Mormon and wrote there names in it. They also read differnt parts, mark the scriptures and have questions. It is amazing. This is the same family that when I came into the area I saw there name and I knew we needed to focus on them. 

 

Tuesday we had zone meeting and recieved a whole new list for the Standards of Excellence. It seems like it will be a little hard but I know that I can do it. We have already started seeing some of the fruits of our efforts as we have set out to meet these standards this week.  

 

Being with my new companion is good. Like all companionships at first we need to adjust but I feel like we can do a lot together.  It was a little hard a first because she felt bad about how much I knew about the gospel and she felt she needed to know more. She thought that I was perfect but I am helping her see that I am not. That we are both here to help each other. Also, I think she just needed a little help to realize how amazing she is.  Being from the same culture really does help a lot of things though.  

 

On Thursday we had a sister Conference. It was nice to see all of the sisters. There are 32 of us and the chruch will only allow up to 40 in this misison because it is dangerous. We had an activity where we were were blind folded and didn´t get any directions. I didn´t really understand it but it was fun and the rest of the conference we learned a lot and ate good food. 

 

Friday we found a new family. The Ortega family. In this family there are the parents and then there 1.5 year old daughter. They want to learn so much and were given a Book of Mormon four years ago but never had the lessons. They have a lot of questions and we have spent up to 2 hours There several times. When we try to make it shorter the time just passes by. I am not sure how to change that. In the first lesson they told us they felt something different than with any other preacher or religion. They like how we teach from the scriptures and that they need to know for themselves directly from God. They told me, you are so sincere. It was really good that people in our first contact can recognize a difference and know we are representatives of Jesus Christ.

 

Saturday was the day before Independence Day but they celebrate everything the day before. The run in the streets with torches and blew whistles. They also would go throwing water on people. My companion was soaked but I saw what was going on and stepped out of the way.  haha. 

 

We also went to practice the piano because there is no one that can play in this ward. I have never learned how to play but I could play the songs. It is so cool. It is only one note at a time and the melody but I will now be playing in church. Wish me luck.  

 

Sunday was also a little busy day becasue there were a lot of parades and things going on. My favorite part of the day though was my personal study on faith. It was different than the others and the spirit was really strong. When it was over I almost wanted to cry. It is amazing- I just love studying the scriptures and learning so much.  

 

Well that was basically my week. Thank you for everything. Oh and my district has 5 Nortes and one Latino it is funny. Have a great week

Ciudad Quetzal

Hello again!  I am so excited to be here and write to you all. I would just like to let you know that my new area is Ciudad Quetzal which is a municpal of San Juan Sac my other area. So technically I am still in San Juan because the people that are born here say that they are from San Juan. Crazy, right? Really it is about an hour or less away. San Raymundo where most of my recent converts live is actually closer here than San Juan. Maybe one day I will get permission to visit them. ;)

 

A lot of things that I never thought would happen on my mission happened this week. To start off, my companion is from Arizona.  Her name is Hna. Tieman and she has been out for 13 months. I am excited to work with her but a little sad becasue I do not want to loose my Spanish. I feel like I have truly been so blessed to learn the language here and I realize how much I now know. There is still a lot to learn but during the recent changes we heard the testimonies of those going home and it seemed to me that my Spanish was more fluent than the Nortes leaving. My new companion had a really hard time with the language so I hope that I can help her to become more fluent. It is hard on her not to be able to communicate with people. 

 

This area and ward are really amazing. Since our first day here we have had members go out with us and teach us where the members, less actives and investigators are. Oh so I guess I should also explain that I am re-opening an area here so both my companion and I are new here. The ward is so amazing and the members are a great help to us. The youth even sign up several days a week to go out and teach with us. They introduce us to familes and friends they have and we start teaching them. It is such a difference from my other area. I love being here and I love working with these Saints. 

 

One thing is that it is a little hottter here but only for a few hours and then the rain starts and pours. Unlike San Jaun where there were paved streets these are all dirt so it is muddy and there are rivers everywhere. I have a plan today to buy boots. The members say though that in one month the rain with stop and then it will get really cold. How exciting that I have been in cool areas so far in my mission. Another different thing is that I do not have to go to the stake center because there is a family history center in my ward building. 

 

On Friday there was a big earthquake here but I am the only person who didn´t feel it. I kind of wish I did though because everyone doesn´t understand how I didn´t. I was walking though so that might have had something to do with it. 

 

There are a ton of families and progressing investigators here and everyday we seem to find more and more poeple that are prepared. Sunday mornings are really crazy but I like it that way. Church was also great and it felt nice to be in a ward again. I am so excited to serve here here. I feel so blessed to be in this area. Well, let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week. Oh, also for some reason the people and members here think I am from Guatemala or Central America. I guess I have an accent like some one from here. That makes me happy. 

 

My addresss is still the same so just continue sending letters and packages there.  

 

Hma. Cailey Gurule

Goodbye San Juan

The time has finally come in my mission for changes. As of right now, I do not know where I will be headed but I will find out at about noon tomorrow. I am a little excited, nervous, and sad. I have really grown to love my area, the members, and all of the people here. It will be hard to leave them but the good thing is that I can always come back in the future to visit them. 

This week was pretty good and I had the opportunity to work a little bit out of my area. We had divisions and it was my turn to finally leave my area. I didn't really want to but I think it helped me a lot to prepare to change areas. When I first got there I was really shy and I didn't really know what to do. But then later in the day I really opened up and worked like usual. Being in a different house was weird but I slept well. At least know I know that I will be okay in another area. 

When I came back to San Juan, it felt like returning home. It really is like my home to me and I love being here and everything about it. Our newest convert had her interview that day and we also helped another member who was suffering with depression. I love being able to help people in whatever situation they are in. Our Heavenly Father has so much love for His children.  

Thursday was a day of new investigators. I am really happy that there continue to be a lot of poeple ready for the gospel in San Juan. I may not be there anymore after today but the Lord's work will continue and I will just be working in another area. To end our day, we taught a member's son. He is eight but his mom wants him to have the misisonary lessons before he is baptized. I really love teaching kids the gospel. They are so innocent and have so much faith. 

Friday, we taught a part-member family. They are the first family I visited here on my misison and in San Juan. They will also be my last as we have plans to teach them tonight. 

Saturday, we had to go to the dentist because my companion lost a filling. I love the dentist so I was excited to go and I even got my teeth cleaned. It was fun as well to know more of the city as we had to figure out how to get there. There is so much to see. After that early morning we went again to San Raymundo and visited some members and recent converts. I love being with everyone here. 

Yesterday, we had another baptism. It was with Fernanda, and her mom even came which is great. She really liked church and so I am sure we will see her back there again many times. The baptism was after the reunions so my companion and I got there an hour early to fill the font. President wasn't there though so we didn't have the keys to the font. I solved that problem though and climbed over the glass and into the font to open the door and fill the font. There were men there but they were afraid so it is good I was able to do it. 

It was also testimony meeting and I was able to bear my testimony. Thinkng I was going to leave, I thanked the ward for everything and they all started to cry. It is hard to leave people you have grown so close to. Then for the rest of the day we did service. How I love service! Well, that was basically it. I hope you all have a great week and know that you are loved. Thank you for the love and support you give me.

Count Your Blessings

I feel like all week I have been counting my blessings here, so I thought I would share with you some of the many blessings I have seen in my life this week. I am super happy to be serving the Lord and doing this work. That is a blessing to begin with but there are just so many more.  

It all started on Monday when we didn't have P-Day but we had internet in the Stake Center. On the way back home, I was looking out of the bus window and I started thinking. I looked at the poeple, nature, and everything. It felt so good to know that I was there to help them and I could by giving them the knowledge of the gospel. Guatemala really is a beautiful country and I am so glad to be serving here. Then I also thought about the culture and language that I have come to know and love. It was a rough start being here but I am accustomed to how things are now.

Later in the day, we went and visited with a member in the ward who in the last year has lost two sons and a nephew--two of them passed away just in the last month. It was so amazing though, to see the comfort she has through living the gospel and the knowledge she has that she will see them again. What a blessing.

On Tuesday, we had interviews with President and Sister Stay. Those interviews really help and bring to light what things we can do better. I am blessed to have my Mission President and his wife here. Something that President Stay mentioned is how Latinos hold their heart out in their hands and we guard ours becasue we don't want it to get hurt. Part of the reason I am here is to open mine more. What a blessing to be able to love the people here even more as well as all those I come in contact with. 

That same day as we went out I asked my companion if I could borrow some money and pay it back at the house because I forgot to grab some. She said it was fine. Then we got on the bus and when she went to find her money it wasn't there. We tried to figure out what to do. I had 7 quetzs and the bus was 5. Then a man gave us 10. We were worried how to get back though when the bus attendent told us not to worry about paying.  Now we had money to go home. What a blessing. Even more, the money of my companion was in our house.

Wednesday was the three year mark of my baptism into the Church. I am so blessed to have the knowledge that I do and to share it with others. Really out of all the decisions I have made in my life, this is the best one. I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to make covenants with God and for the continual opportunity to progress and learn more in this life.

Thursday was an early morning but we got to go to the Temple. I was so happy to be there and I love the temple so much. While inside I had so much gratitude for all we have in this life and for the opportunity we have to live on the earth. 

Friday, we went with the elders to bless a house and then had a lesson with our investigator. She told us that she wants to move her baptism up to the next week. So many of the people I have taught are truly prepared or golden, especially Carlos. Our investigator who will be baptized this Sunday, mentioned to us that before she met with us she had a problem smoking. However, the very first day she met us she stopped. She didn't even realize it at first but now realizes that it isn't a problem anymore.  If she is tempted, she thinks about Jesus Christ and the temptation goes away. This is not something we taught her.  The Lord truly knows our faults and works personally with each of us to change them into strengths. 

Saturday, I went and visited the investigator I have worked with the longest in this area. He told me that he liked the Church and he thinks it is true. That made me so happy and I had a huge smile on my face for the rest of the day.

Sunday in church, all of my converts and investigators with a baptismal date were there. That doesn't always happen. It made me so happy to see them all there! Also the speaker that day was Hna. Mary. She is a great person and speaker, but when I came to the area, she was very inactive in the church. I realize that I am making a difference here in San Juan in the lives of poeple I visit and teach. It is such an amazing feeling.

The other thing that I am really thankful for is my family and friends. They are all so amazing and have given me so much love, support, and guidance. I am so glad I have the opportunity to know everyone who I do. Heavenly Father truly blesses us so much everyday. All we need to do is look around and see the blessings. In other words, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!

Siempre Corriendo

Laura our Investigator was Baptized this Week.  Here we are with my companion and President Stay's wife

President and Sister Stay with Laura

Sister Stay with Laura - Our investigator who was Baptized

Family Home Evening with President and Sister Stay and Laura

Well, hello! Yes it is Monday and I am writing even though I said I wouldn't be able to until Thursday. Plans changed, but I still am going to the Temple this week. How exciting right? Last p-day, we met with Carlos and another member. It is good to always have members be part of the lessons because they really help a lot. Carlos was planning his baptism and didn't want to be a burden to others. The member was there to explain how having a new member become baptized isn't a burden but a blessing. Later, Carlos asked him if he would be the one to perform the baptism.

This week, we have been running around like crazy trying to get everything done that we needed to and we still didn't have time to finish everything.  The good thing is that we are working really hard and not just resting in the house as opposed to last week. My companion is still a little sick, but we went out and worked all week. If she couldn't, I called up the members and went out with them. I know that this branch will be a ward by the end of the year. I am so happy to see the progress here. The members are becoming more involved and there are miracles taking place all around us. 

I love meeting with all of our investigators because they always surprise me with all they have done and the desire they have to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. Fernanda is reading anything she can by the Church and has made a lot of great friends in the Young Women's group. She is basically part of the ward. Last week when she came to chruch she worked really hard to get there. In the morning her mom told her she couldn't go to church until she finished a big list of things. She worked hard and got the money for the bus to go. When we work hard for the right things, we will recieve so many blessings. 

On Wednesday I had divisions with a member in the branch. She is new in the branch but amazing. We went and visited some of her friends who are in the circus that is in town right now. It was a great time and one of the people in the circus was even baptized in the branch over 18 years ago. He wants to come back to church while the circus is here.  I can help them do that. What a blessing!

To end the night, we had an FHE (Family Home Evening) in the Branch President's house with Hna. Laura.  It was about prophets and their importance. I am grateful that we have a prophet to lead and guide us in this day. He really does communicate with our Heavenly Father and knows what things we need to be doing here on earth to prepare and be better. 

Thursday, Carlos had his baptismal interview and during the baptismal service, he told us that he wants to serve a mission. That made me so happy. He is truly converted. 

Friday was a day of service meeting with some old investigators cooking, making tortillas and cleaning. Then I taught some English in the church. I love to serve.

Saturday was the craziest day of all. We kept running to and from the church. Our investigator had an interview with President Stay. It was nice to see him. She was able to get baptized and wanted to that day. We made all the plans. The church was super dirty so we cleaned it all on the inside and out in the front. Finally we had our two baptisms, which were amazing. Carlos' parents were able to come which was a great blessing. I hope that soon we will be able to teach them as well.

On Sunday, both Laura and Carlos were confirmed. It was a great day and I hope to have many more like it. Being a missionary, I am always running.  At night, I am so tired it is hard to stay awake until 10:30 or write in my journal, but I would not want to be anywhere else right now. I love serving and I love seeing people enter into covenants with our Heavely Father. Have a great week everyone! Thank you for your love and support. I will write again next week!

Infermidades

Hola!!!! Monday has come around again, so I am here to write about my week. Last Monday, we came to write email like usual and then had a two hour zone meeting. It was long but good to talk with the elders in our area about how we could work better togetther.  There was not much to do afterwards, so Hna. Duarte and I had a competition in a Mega Paca to find something from BYU that was new. The winner woiuld buy the other person ice cream. To our suprise there was nothing there that day.  When we went back to our area, Hna. Duarte started feeling really poorly so we went to the house so she could rest. 

The next day, we met with our investigator in San Raymundo and her mom. We wanted to get her mom's permission to teach her because it is a lot better to have the support of the parents. The family is really important. In the lesson we talked about what we do and about the church. The only question the mom had was if she could go to our church and activities since she was Catholic. Of course!!! When we committed them to church however, the mom said they couldn`t go because there was no time. Fernanda then spoke up and said she had time and would definately be there. ¡Que Pilas! She is so excited and loves learning. This week she even went to a conference where two members of the seventy came and she loved it. Out of all the people I have taught on my mission so far, she is the one most like me. 

That night we went to teach Laura. She had some more concerns about her baptism and so she told us she wasnt sure if she wanted to be baptized in the next week. We just want her to know that no matter what, we are there to help her. 

On Wednesday, we went to meet with Nestor and he needed to clean the store. I guess they hadn't cleaned in about two years so there was a lot of dust. Then, he read the Book of Mormon with us and said that he would be coming ot church this week. More than anything, I want to get the youth involved with knowing him and being his friend. The members are so important. 

After lunch we met with Carlos who has his baptism this week. He really started opening up to us and bore the testimony that he has. I love it when that happens because testimonies are so strong. He said he will invite his family to his baptism and even though they are Catholic they will come.  I really hope they do.  Later we went to meet with Laura again and helped out by doing some things at her house. 

To end the night we went to the old Branch President's house. On the way up the hill, my companion looked a little red. I asked her if she needed to stop for a bit and she said "yes." She sat down and then all of a sudden, couldn't breath. She didn't have her asthma medicine so I gave her mine but she was still having problems. Everyone in the street was gathered around to see what was going on. A car stopped and took us to a health center. I went to call the elders since I couldn't get ahold of anyone else. We were there until 10:00 p.m., but she wasn't any better. 

The next day, we went to the doctor. He said that she had Broncholosis and something with a microplasma.  It is contageous and since I have asthma as well they checked me out and it turns out I had it as well.  That meant that for three days we had to be in the house. I still worked there and wrote a lot. My companion just slept. I am better now I think but she is not so we will have to do a lot of divisions this week so we can teach all of our investigators. The work is really taking off here. 

Well I need to go but I hope you have a great week. My p-day next week will be on Thursday because we are going to the Temple. Finally!!!!! I love you all. 

6 Months!!!!!

Picture from April - Earlier on my mission

Can you believe that I am one third of the way through my mission?  It is crazy to think about. I am doing great and I am seeing a lot of really wonderful things happening in my area right now.  We do not really have a p-day anymore. Last Monday, we went to write emails, had district meeting, and then we went to our area to teach a lesson.  Our lesson was with a 19 year old boy who came to church on Sunday. He contacted us and we invited him. In the first lesson we planned a baptismal date and he is really excited to learn more and prepare. 

After the lesson with him, we went and taught Nestor. He talked a lot about his aunt Laura and how she really wants to be baptized. He says that he is not ready right now, but is always asking us what if he did. He says he doesn't read either but when we come to teach him he is always reading the Book of Mormon.  He is a pretty funny kid. 

Tuesday, we started the morning off by painting some rocks on a wall for service. It was a lot of work!  While painting, it became very clear to me that I like things to look nice which helps me to focus on doing good work. As I was careful to do a good job, I probably painted 1/4 of the wall while my companion painted the rest.  After the wall was complete, we went to San Raymundo to meet with Julio and some other members there. It was great to see him. He told us that he felt super bad to not be in church the week before but explained that from the time he was born the last Sunday in July is always spent with his family. Of course we understood that.

Wednesday, we met with Laura. She wants to be baptized very soon. I am really happy that she has that desire but it is also important that she understands everything and has a testimony. She also talked about Nestor and how she wants to be baptized with him.  We discussed what he shared with us, that if he gets baptized his family will kick him out of the house. The situation is sad, as he is torn and cannot follow his heart at this time.  We also discussed that if he made the decision to be baptized, it would bless his life so much. At that point his family would see how great the choice is for him and want it as well. The gospel, when lived, can be one of the greatest influences for good in the world. I feel that is one of the needs of Nestor though is to have the confidence to follow his heart.

Thursday, we found another investigator who is 15 and lives in San Raymundo. She wants us to meet with her family and has a baptismal date set.  Somehow we went from basically having nothing here to having three progressing investigators with baptism dates. It is very exciting!!  Not only that, each one has an Amulek (fellowshipper) or a member of the church to help them. It is amazing to see how the Lord does His work!

The next two days we spent in the house. My companion was sick again. I am not sure why, but she is having a difficult time adjusting physically.  While we were home, I deep-cleaned our apartment inside and out. At night, I had some time to lay on the balcony and look at the stars and reflect. I love moments like that. It is amazing to just think about all that is important. 

Sunday Hna. Duarte was sick again but we went to church. I was really bold that day. I am not really sure where it came from but I think all that I said especially to our investigators will help them to progress. One of the strangest things as well is that this week we spent three days in the house but we taught 20 lessons. What a miracle!

  Thank you for your love and support.  I will write again next week.