March
4, 2013
Dear Family
Wow, so lots happened this week. First with the investigators, we are teaching a 17 year old named Gerson and he is the cousin of 2 recent converts in our ward that are well, amazing. One is 17 and the other is 16 and they are both preparing to go on missions. Their cousin moved into their house about 3 weeks ago because he was having some problems with the gangs where he was living before and I think problems with his family. He came here as we were visiting his family and he was there and we were sharing a lesson on the atonement. Oh, it was a good lesson. The next day I saw him at the church ready to play football. I asked if we could visit him this week and his cousin was right there to say yes for him. Ha, it was funny but he agreed. I asked when and his cousin Kevin said tomorrow and I was thinking wow, he is going to think us crazy. But Gerson said, “Yeah sure.” We went and talked to him and had an amazing first lesson. The spirit was so strong and we invited him to say the closing prayer on our second visit. It was the first time he prayed out loud and he began to cry. From the beginning the lord has touched this young man’s heart and has prepared the way, through his cousins, his aunt and his family, for him to know the gospel and expect it. He reads the things we leave him to read and each time we go back he has questions. What are amazing to see are the small changes in his face. He is happier!! Oh, so much happier. Wow, truly there is a light that comes into one’s eyes when they have the knowledge of hope, faith and the love of a Savior. We are so blessed to have this knowledge. I love teaching young people. They can see the difference between the world and the church. They see it and they yearn for the truth and to do what is right. Truly God saved the truly valiant for this time in the world. Gerson is having to make some changes in his life. Before, he was smoking and he is trying to give that up and so far he is doing really well........Hah, I am giving him cookies with scriptures on them for every time he is tempted to smoke he has to read the scripture and then he can have the cookie. Ha, sneaky I know, but he & I think it is working. He has such a good heart and wants to do the right things. I admire people like him that have the courage to change. Yesterday, he came to church for the first time and he came in white shirt and tie and black pants and everything. Wow, it was a glorious sight. We had stake conference and he was able to go with his cousins to the conference and meet my president and everything. I haven’t seen him since but I am dying to know how he liked it. Oh, I love to see the change in people. They are so happy and that makes me more than happy. It’s filling me with joy.
We are also teaching an aunt of a return missionary in the ward and she is prepared to hear the gospel as well. This week we made a goal for her baptism. ....Wow that was an interesting lesson. My companion was not feeling good and she could barely talk because her throat hurt so badly. And every time I looked at her to talk she would just point to her throat and shake her head so I kind of gave the whole lesson. It was insane. The spirit was so strong. We read Mosiah 18 and we asked her what her desires were? And then we asked if her desires were the same as the people in this chapter. She shook her head yes and I felt prompted to invite her to baptism. I don’t know where the words came from for the invitation or for my testimony but I felt that wow it was so cool. One of the presidents of the church once said that when we have pure intelligence flow into our minds we know we have the spirit. In that lesson, I felt the pure intelligence flow into my mind I knew what to saw in the moment to say it and how to say it in Spanish so she understood. Wow it was the coolest thing ever!!!!! and the more I talked and asked questions the more her (Yaniera ) eyes filled with tears and when I finally invited her to baptism she was crying and she herself said I have never felt like this before. I testified then and there that the spirit was there and testifying that what we were saying was true. She shook her head and said yeah I know!!!!! Oh it was so so amazing. We made plans to help her get ready for her baptism the 30 of March. We have lots of things to teach but God will help us and help her change and it helps to know that she knows it’s true and has had the confirmation of the spirit to work from. Oh I love this work!!!!!!
Oh yeah and another miracle happened this week remember Magdalena? She was baptized in October. She has two children Jorge 16 and Naomi 7. Jorge is a little autistic and has a mental capacity of a 10 yr old. We have been trying to help him make the decision and receive his answer to get baptized since March and finally POR FIN hah he accepted a fecha and he will get baptized!!! March 16. I am so happy I was beaming from head to toe the night we asked and he said yes. It was hard to help him make this choice but the spirit was there. He was crying and we found out what was his fear and were able to resolve it and help him accept a date. When he did I could tell he was happier. It was like the time I realized I was suppose to go to USU instead of BYU and oh what joy it was to know I was doing what God wanted me to. I know that he was feeling that amazing feeling and I was so happy for him. The most fun part about this is that he will be baptized the 16th , receive the priesthood the 23rd, and then baptize his sister that will turn 8 this month on the 30!!!!! How flippen cool is that!!! Oh this family. The family Orellana is wow so close to my heart that I think about leaving and I almost tear up. I love them so much. And GUESS WHAT Gregoria she is the only one in the family that is not baptized and doesn’t have a date......we have been working on her for 7 months the whole time that I have been here and I never thought I would see the day that she would come to church but SHE came!!!! And she liked it. She told me herself I will never go to church yours or anywhere ......but she came. God truly can soften hearts and help people change. She came again yesterday to stake conference!!!! I couldn’t believe it!!!! I was so happy I haven’t seen her since but I hope she liked it the talks were so good.
There was one brother that said there are 6 things we can do that will help us become more converted to the gospel and united as a family
1. Pray together
2. Read the scriptures together
3. Have family home evening
4. Prepare on Saturday so you can get to church early and prepare to take the sacrament
5. Pay a full tithing
6. Have the spirit with you through our personally righteousness (osea ...sorry in other words .....steps 1-5)
I was thinking about it and I remember that these are the principles that I grew up on and that I am so grateful for in my life. I don’t think I turned out to bad. Ha and I am happy!!! This gospel brings happiness safety and a peace that can’t be found anywhere else and it is through the small things that these great blessing come from....brothers if you are not reading your scriptures on your own....START to if you are not saying your prayers MORNING and night START to ....if you are fighting mom and dad about FHE ....DON’T Ha the principles they teach are the principles of the kingdom of God. They are eternal principles and the most important to learn in this life. I am seeing so many people that are coming up short in doing these things and I see the difference in their lives.....it is so much easier to be 100 % obedient than it is to be 80% or 95% obedient....don’t fight against yourself make the decision know to do these things and it will never be a problem or a struggle to continue doing them. IT IS WHAT BRINGS HAPPINESS. IT’S WHAT BRINGS BLESSINGS. IT’S WHAT BRINGS JOY ......I was thinking about some questions to ask a family the other day and wow I was surprised at how profound they were.....
These are questions to see if you have faith in the Lord
Do you believe that God can help you be happier than you are right now?
What brings true happiness?
Are you willing? Do you have enough faith to let go of the things that are keeping you from the Lord so he can enter and help you change to bring this great happiness?
Nothing changes until we do.
Then more on the mission, I am learning that I have so much to repent of and each day we should be repenting. It is want brings us closer to the Lord. It’s what brings the blessing of the atonement into our lives ...and in essence the love of our God for each of us. Are we willing to repent and receive the love of our eternal father?
Profound, I know hah. I hope you all will think about that though. Truly our happiness depends on us and the choices we make each and evey day. I know this gospel is true. Family the Savior lives and he loves us so much so that we can’t imagine. He wants us to be happy!!!! He has prepared the way through his atonement. Sin brings guilt and unhappiness and the forgiveness of our sins and personal righteousness brings the love of God which is the most joyous to the soul (2 Nephi 11:22-23). I invite you all to enjoy and feel this love of the Lord through repenting and using the atonement of the lord Jesus Christ. It is the reason he suffered for us and died so we can have happiness here and a complete and fullness of joy in the world to come. It is possible and it is real this power. I testify in his name the name of my lord and Savior my redeemer Jesus Christ amen. (Mosiah 3 :17)
Now about you guys. Wow things are really changing there. Maren is gone. Jake is close to leaving and grandma is next door. Wow it’s going to be weird coming home to that. Hah. I still think of home the way I left it and it will be weird to come back to all these changes. I am so excited that grandma is next door what a truly incredible blessing. I thank God for caring for my family while I am gone. Caleb don’t grow up to fast. Hah everyone says that you’ve grown so much. Ah I hope I recognize you when I get back. I can’t believe you are all going to Disneyland!!!!! That sounds like fun ...but I hate to brake it to you all. It’s not the happiest place on earth. Hah Cuidad Delgado EL Salvador is. So I don’t know why your all wanting to go to Disneyland hah..... I hope you have so much fun especially because it will be the last time with Jake for awhile. Man T give him a huge hug for me. I love you Jake so much and so proud of you and the choices you are making in your life. They will shape your life forever.
Tania thanks for writing I am going to read your letter later today I can’t wait to hear about Hawaii. Simeon and Isaac know that I love and miss you so!!! and don’t grow up to fast. Nate have you had fun in high school and basketball? Always remember though what truly brings happiness. Mom & dad thank you so much for teaching us good work ethics. Like what T’s boss said, I can teach them what to do but I can’t teach them how to do it fast and efficient (work ethic). The same applies in the mission .....I am afraid I am know somewhat as a flechon or a umm how to put it.....super super hard worker.... and I love it. Maren and Jake just remember that obedience brings miracles. Be obedient especially in the small things. This is what brings everything else miracles and an increase in faith and a love of God.
I have to go love you all. Until next week.
Hermana Stephanie Hale
te amo mucho todos!!!!
Wow, so lots happened this week. First with the investigators, we are teaching a 17 year old named Gerson and he is the cousin of 2 recent converts in our ward that are well, amazing. One is 17 and the other is 16 and they are both preparing to go on missions. Their cousin moved into their house about 3 weeks ago because he was having some problems with the gangs where he was living before and I think problems with his family. He came here as we were visiting his family and he was there and we were sharing a lesson on the atonement. Oh, it was a good lesson. The next day I saw him at the church ready to play football. I asked if we could visit him this week and his cousin was right there to say yes for him. Ha, it was funny but he agreed. I asked when and his cousin Kevin said tomorrow and I was thinking wow, he is going to think us crazy. But Gerson said, “Yeah sure.” We went and talked to him and had an amazing first lesson. The spirit was so strong and we invited him to say the closing prayer on our second visit. It was the first time he prayed out loud and he began to cry. From the beginning the lord has touched this young man’s heart and has prepared the way, through his cousins, his aunt and his family, for him to know the gospel and expect it. He reads the things we leave him to read and each time we go back he has questions. What are amazing to see are the small changes in his face. He is happier!! Oh, so much happier. Wow, truly there is a light that comes into one’s eyes when they have the knowledge of hope, faith and the love of a Savior. We are so blessed to have this knowledge. I love teaching young people. They can see the difference between the world and the church. They see it and they yearn for the truth and to do what is right. Truly God saved the truly valiant for this time in the world. Gerson is having to make some changes in his life. Before, he was smoking and he is trying to give that up and so far he is doing really well........Hah, I am giving him cookies with scriptures on them for every time he is tempted to smoke he has to read the scripture and then he can have the cookie. Ha, sneaky I know, but he & I think it is working. He has such a good heart and wants to do the right things. I admire people like him that have the courage to change. Yesterday, he came to church for the first time and he came in white shirt and tie and black pants and everything. Wow, it was a glorious sight. We had stake conference and he was able to go with his cousins to the conference and meet my president and everything. I haven’t seen him since but I am dying to know how he liked it. Oh, I love to see the change in people. They are so happy and that makes me more than happy. It’s filling me with joy.
We are also teaching an aunt of a return missionary in the ward and she is prepared to hear the gospel as well. This week we made a goal for her baptism. ....Wow that was an interesting lesson. My companion was not feeling good and she could barely talk because her throat hurt so badly. And every time I looked at her to talk she would just point to her throat and shake her head so I kind of gave the whole lesson. It was insane. The spirit was so strong. We read Mosiah 18 and we asked her what her desires were? And then we asked if her desires were the same as the people in this chapter. She shook her head yes and I felt prompted to invite her to baptism. I don’t know where the words came from for the invitation or for my testimony but I felt that wow it was so cool. One of the presidents of the church once said that when we have pure intelligence flow into our minds we know we have the spirit. In that lesson, I felt the pure intelligence flow into my mind I knew what to saw in the moment to say it and how to say it in Spanish so she understood. Wow it was the coolest thing ever!!!!! and the more I talked and asked questions the more her (Yaniera ) eyes filled with tears and when I finally invited her to baptism she was crying and she herself said I have never felt like this before. I testified then and there that the spirit was there and testifying that what we were saying was true. She shook her head and said yeah I know!!!!! Oh it was so so amazing. We made plans to help her get ready for her baptism the 30 of March. We have lots of things to teach but God will help us and help her change and it helps to know that she knows it’s true and has had the confirmation of the spirit to work from. Oh I love this work!!!!!!
Oh yeah and another miracle happened this week remember Magdalena? She was baptized in October. She has two children Jorge 16 and Naomi 7. Jorge is a little autistic and has a mental capacity of a 10 yr old. We have been trying to help him make the decision and receive his answer to get baptized since March and finally POR FIN hah he accepted a fecha and he will get baptized!!! March 16. I am so happy I was beaming from head to toe the night we asked and he said yes. It was hard to help him make this choice but the spirit was there. He was crying and we found out what was his fear and were able to resolve it and help him accept a date. When he did I could tell he was happier. It was like the time I realized I was suppose to go to USU instead of BYU and oh what joy it was to know I was doing what God wanted me to. I know that he was feeling that amazing feeling and I was so happy for him. The most fun part about this is that he will be baptized the 16th , receive the priesthood the 23rd, and then baptize his sister that will turn 8 this month on the 30!!!!! How flippen cool is that!!! Oh this family. The family Orellana is wow so close to my heart that I think about leaving and I almost tear up. I love them so much. And GUESS WHAT Gregoria she is the only one in the family that is not baptized and doesn’t have a date......we have been working on her for 7 months the whole time that I have been here and I never thought I would see the day that she would come to church but SHE came!!!! And she liked it. She told me herself I will never go to church yours or anywhere ......but she came. God truly can soften hearts and help people change. She came again yesterday to stake conference!!!! I couldn’t believe it!!!! I was so happy I haven’t seen her since but I hope she liked it the talks were so good.
There was one brother that said there are 6 things we can do that will help us become more converted to the gospel and united as a family
1. Pray together
2. Read the scriptures together
3. Have family home evening
4. Prepare on Saturday so you can get to church early and prepare to take the sacrament
5. Pay a full tithing
6. Have the spirit with you through our personally righteousness (osea ...sorry in other words .....steps 1-5)
I was thinking about it and I remember that these are the principles that I grew up on and that I am so grateful for in my life. I don’t think I turned out to bad. Ha and I am happy!!! This gospel brings happiness safety and a peace that can’t be found anywhere else and it is through the small things that these great blessing come from....brothers if you are not reading your scriptures on your own....START to if you are not saying your prayers MORNING and night START to ....if you are fighting mom and dad about FHE ....DON’T Ha the principles they teach are the principles of the kingdom of God. They are eternal principles and the most important to learn in this life. I am seeing so many people that are coming up short in doing these things and I see the difference in their lives.....it is so much easier to be 100 % obedient than it is to be 80% or 95% obedient....don’t fight against yourself make the decision know to do these things and it will never be a problem or a struggle to continue doing them. IT IS WHAT BRINGS HAPPINESS. IT’S WHAT BRINGS BLESSINGS. IT’S WHAT BRINGS JOY ......I was thinking about some questions to ask a family the other day and wow I was surprised at how profound they were.....
These are questions to see if you have faith in the Lord
Do you believe that God can help you be happier than you are right now?
What brings true happiness?
Are you willing? Do you have enough faith to let go of the things that are keeping you from the Lord so he can enter and help you change to bring this great happiness?
Nothing changes until we do.
Then more on the mission, I am learning that I have so much to repent of and each day we should be repenting. It is want brings us closer to the Lord. It’s what brings the blessing of the atonement into our lives ...and in essence the love of our God for each of us. Are we willing to repent and receive the love of our eternal father?
Profound, I know hah. I hope you all will think about that though. Truly our happiness depends on us and the choices we make each and evey day. I know this gospel is true. Family the Savior lives and he loves us so much so that we can’t imagine. He wants us to be happy!!!! He has prepared the way through his atonement. Sin brings guilt and unhappiness and the forgiveness of our sins and personal righteousness brings the love of God which is the most joyous to the soul (2 Nephi 11:22-23). I invite you all to enjoy and feel this love of the Lord through repenting and using the atonement of the lord Jesus Christ. It is the reason he suffered for us and died so we can have happiness here and a complete and fullness of joy in the world to come. It is possible and it is real this power. I testify in his name the name of my lord and Savior my redeemer Jesus Christ amen. (Mosiah 3 :17)
Now about you guys. Wow things are really changing there. Maren is gone. Jake is close to leaving and grandma is next door. Wow it’s going to be weird coming home to that. Hah. I still think of home the way I left it and it will be weird to come back to all these changes. I am so excited that grandma is next door what a truly incredible blessing. I thank God for caring for my family while I am gone. Caleb don’t grow up to fast. Hah everyone says that you’ve grown so much. Ah I hope I recognize you when I get back. I can’t believe you are all going to Disneyland!!!!! That sounds like fun ...but I hate to brake it to you all. It’s not the happiest place on earth. Hah Cuidad Delgado EL Salvador is. So I don’t know why your all wanting to go to Disneyland hah..... I hope you have so much fun especially because it will be the last time with Jake for awhile. Man T give him a huge hug for me. I love you Jake so much and so proud of you and the choices you are making in your life. They will shape your life forever.
Tania thanks for writing I am going to read your letter later today I can’t wait to hear about Hawaii. Simeon and Isaac know that I love and miss you so!!! and don’t grow up to fast. Nate have you had fun in high school and basketball? Always remember though what truly brings happiness. Mom & dad thank you so much for teaching us good work ethics. Like what T’s boss said, I can teach them what to do but I can’t teach them how to do it fast and efficient (work ethic). The same applies in the mission .....I am afraid I am know somewhat as a flechon or a umm how to put it.....super super hard worker.... and I love it. Maren and Jake just remember that obedience brings miracles. Be obedient especially in the small things. This is what brings everything else miracles and an increase in faith and a love of God.
I have to go love you all. Until next week.
Hermana Stephanie Hale
te amo mucho todos!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment