Report from la Hermana Williams

GOOD MONDAY!

This week wasn't super crazy but guess what?! We finally get to move out of the gross Élder apartment!! haha I am super stoked about that. Literally when the Elders told us that we could move, my face got all lit up and I said "¿¿Si??" With my face all happy and he totally ended up cracking up at me... what can I say? I'm ready to move into our clean house:)

 

Some things that happened this week are:

 

1. We did service for a less active, kind of elderly woman in our branch. She invited us over for lunch last week so we went over and it was delicious. Then we raked leaves in her huge yard and picked up all the walnuts. I actually enjoyed myself a bunch and it was super interesting wearing pants again...:P We are going to do it again in a couple weeks!

  

2. There was a day that we were super behind after lunch with a member and we had to wait hours in our actual house while they were putting up the gates for us to move back in and we just felt like we had wasted our whole day. It was hard to feel motivated I guess. But we just kept walking and contacting. Then the miracle happened. We, in two separate doors we contacted, found two FAMILIES. That doesnt happen often but we talked so much with both families and they have so much potential. They both said we could stop by again and with one we shared a little of the Plan of Salvation. She believes that they can be an eternal family! OH I just felt the spirit guiding us with what to say and where to go even though we were having a hard time.

  

3. Later that same day we taught the new investigator, Mari, from the Dominican Republic lesson 1. She actually had a bunch of questions for us about life that we have the answers to but we felt prompted to teach lesson 1. It went super well. I was having a hard time at first getting my words out but then I actually felt my mind go blank and I just talked. I just focused on what I knew and let the Spirit guide me. I don't really remember what I said but I do feel like I gave it my best:) And she said she would pray that night to know if the things we taught her were true.

  

4. There was a baptism in a different branch in Tandil that we got to go to, a family of 3. They were super happy and great. I love seeing these people making the change because they have a testimony of the Gospel. I love talking to these amazing members who try so hard to help the missionaries and strenghthen their testimonies. I love how my testimony grows from them and also from the other missionaries here. And I love my Father in Heaven, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

  

Before I leave you today I just want you to know that I love what the gospel gives me. It gives me light, happiness, knowledge, hope and I know that even though I'm not perfect God sees my effort. He accepts and loves my effort to come back to Him someday. And if I do my part and you all do your part He will help us along the way. He already has.

Love you all

Hermana Williams

 

Tandil...el lugar de sueño!

Dear Family,

Well, this was a great week! Just like Pablo, I love you all so very much!! You are all the best and I want you to know that I am praying for you each night! The weather is changing into fall and the leaves are all falling. Its kind of weird that it is almost May and its fall. We are keeping warm and enjoying the wind. Some members gave my companion and I some warm sweaters and scarves so that we don't get sick. They are the nicest members. They are really taking care of us and really want to help us. Each day we have lunch and sometimes dinner. I think I might be gaining a little bit of weight because of the food! Its just so good!

With fall here we were able to do my favorite fall activity... rake leaves!!! And not just that but we also had a leaf fight with some kids as we rake an elderly members yard! It was a lot of fun to serve and play a little. She was very grateful and said that she will call us in a couple of weeks to rake again!

Beautiful Fall colors in May, and lots of leaves.

We are also moving this week to a new apartment. After almost 2 months of staying in the elders home (they are staying with the elders of another ward) we are finally going to be able to move back to our own home. I am so grateful.

Last week we went to see the Mount Calvario here in Tandil. It is one of the biggest crosses in the world, and I think the second biggest in South America. I didn't really like the cross but the hike up the mountain was beautiful. The trees and nature in Tandil are spectacular. Along the walk up the mountain there are 12 stations of statues representing the last moments of the life of Christ. It was nice to walk up the mountain and think about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What an amazing privilege we have to get to share this message with the people in Tandil, a message that doesn't end with the cross but with the Resurrection.

This week we found two great families. We haven't been able to go back and visit them but we are wanting to go on Wednesday. They said we could come back and share our message. I am very excited to get to teach them. Our teaching pool is still very small and so I am excited to add more people to teach! I can't wait for them to have the Gospel to bless their families.

As my companion and I were walking this week we were talking about the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Sometimes we don't listen to the spirit because we are so preoccupied with he little things that clog up our life. Its like listening to music. If we are listening to music all the time we won't be able to listen to the Spirit. I loved this analogy. It is true. The spirit "shows unto you all things what ye should do. (2 nephi 32:5)" If we take the time to listen to the Spirit we will know what we need to do, where we need to go, and what we need to say. It is my goal this week to pay more attention to the whisperings of the Spirit and follow the promptings I recieve.

I love you all so very much. I hope you have a fantastic week! Be safe in Mexico Papi and Sarah!!! Happy Birthday Carlos and Daniel!!!

Te quiero!

Hermana Susana Zubeldia

Posting from Hermana Williams

Happy Easter yesterday!

I'll try to sum up this week as well as I can. So one thing that was really fun was that the sister training leaders came to go on splits with me and my companion so we had one day with a new companion. One of the sister training leaders is my old companion Hermana Harrison:P but because of that I was with the other sister haha. But I learned so much! I learned to trust in myself more and how I can strengthen my confidence because I have a lot of reasons to be confident in my work. Also she taught me how to be more real with people. It might seem like its not that hard but when you are in the moment about to talk to someone you don't know, a lot of times you freeze, and don't know what to say. But the thing is that God is always helping us and if we do our part and trust in Him, we will be given what to say.

This is also something I have studied a lot and wanted to stress in this email. That even if we are not called as missionaries in this moment in time we must always strive to share the gospel. It is a mission we all have as members of the Church. So please always share your testimonies with others and realize that every person whether you know them or not is a child of God who deserves to hear and know this Gospel.

We have found a new investigator. We only have seen her one time as of right now, but she is really kind and sweet. She is from the Dominican Republic and has a good background of faith, prayer, and church attendance. So we are really wanting to help her have a testimony of Joseph Smith and the power of his work as our prophet before and the power of the Book of Mormon... and I'm just going to add that I love the Book of Mormon and the scriptures!

Also we had the prompting to visit an excommunicated woman the other day and literally we felt the spirit with her. She just didn't seem herself and so we shared scriptures of the atonement and just testified of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that she can find true happiness and many many blessings if she trusts in Him. She knew what she had to do without us inviting her and said she will try to start reading and praying again because really she knows the blessings. She knows the Church is true but just lost sight of her path and we are here to help her get back.

I love this gospel and this chance to teach it to all types of people... and in Argentina!

Remember the sacrifice that was made for us and try to apply it in each and every one of your lives. By keeping the commandments and striving to learn more and become more like Christ everyday!!

Love to all,

Hermana Williams

Easter in Tandil; He has Risen

Dear Family!!!!

Just like Pablo said, the Windows of Heaven are open and miracles truly happen. I am so happy for Pablo and his companions!  They are truly seeing miracles happen and are working very hard! This truly is the Lords work.  

Well, this week was fantastic.  Honestly, I haven't had a great week like this in a long time here in Tandil. We didn't find many people to teach but our attitudes were so much better and we enjoyed every moment of everyday.  One of the things that changed was our way of contacting people.  Tandil was so busy this Easter week!!!  Because Tandil has one of the biggest Crucifixes in the world there was a ton of people here!!  We weren't able to see any of the Easter processions or the Easter play but we are going to go see the Crucifix today. Its called, "El Calvario."  I have heard so much about it this week that now I want to go.  It won't be anything compared to the one in Jerusalem.  This whole week I was thinking abut my experience while in Jerusalem for Easter.  I will always remember the time I spent there. 

Being able to share the message of the atonement and of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is an amazing opportunity. I love the scriptures: (3 Nephi 27:13-22) (Alma 7:11-16)

In Preach My Gospel it says, 

God’s whole purpose — His work and His glory — is to enable each of us to enjoy all His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth. In the scriptures God’s plan is called a merciful plan, the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation.

Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father’s purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life. Satan, or the devil, is an enemy to God’s plan.

God sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to overcome the obstacle of sin in addition to the obstacle of physical death. We are not responsible for the Fall of Adam and Eve, but we are responsible for our own sins. God cannot look on sin with any degree of allowance, and sin prevents us from living in His presence. Only through the Savior’s grace and mercy can we become clean from sin so that we can live with God again. This is possible through exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

To fulfill the plan of salvation, Christ paid the penalty for our sins. He alone was able to do that. He was called and prepared in pre-Earth life. He was the literal Son of God in the flesh. He was sinless and completely obedient to His Father. Though tempted, He never gave in to temptation. When the Father asked His Beloved Son to pay the price of the world’s sins, Jesus was prepared and willing. The Atonement included His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and His suffering and death on the cross, and it ended with His Resurrection. Though He suffered beyond comprehension — so much so that He bled from every pore and asked whether it were possible that this burden be lifted from Him — He submitted to the Father’s will in a supreme expression of love for His Father and for us. This triumph of Jesus Christ over spiritual death by His suffering and over physical death by His Resurrection is called the Atonement.

Christ promises to forgive our sins on the condition that we accept Him by exercising faith in Him, repenting, receiving baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and striving faithfully to keep His commandments to the end of our lives. Through continuing repentance, we may obtain forgiveness and be cleansed of our sins by the power of the Holy Ghost. We are relieved of the burden of guilt and shame, and through Jesus Christ we become worthy to return to the presence of God.

As we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

In paying the penalty for our sins, Jesus did not, however, eliminate our personal responsibility. We must show that we accept Him and that we will follow His commandments. Only through the gift of the Atonement can we return to live with God.

I know that this gospel is true. I know that Jesus Lives. Just like the Angel said, "He is not here, for he has Risen. (Luke 24:6)" I know this is true. I know that Jesus is the Savior, our Redeemer and our older Brother. Through him we may change and start over. As we accept his atonement and endure to the end we may rely on the promise that we may have eternal life (see 2 nephi 31:20). What a marvelous opportunity I have to help bring others to this knowledge. The gospel can help us really endure our trials, and can fill our souls with joy, peace and hope that if we endure we may be blessed eternally.

Hermana Zubeldia

The cake the Hermanas made for 9 months on the mission!

Me and Hermana Williams

Me and Hermana Williams waiting for the bus (today).

Tandil week 8 (from Lauren Brooke Williams )

Buenas tardes todos!

Sorry that it is so late but we had interviews this morning with our Mission President for 3 hours! It kind of took up a lot of time but Hermana Parreño, his wife, really helped us out a lot as she spoke to us during all the interviews. We have been focusing a lot this past week on finding people and visiting lots of members. Because this week we just realized that we have been looking and looking for people to teach but really SO much of the success we have is when we can receive references from members. There have been so many people to tell us that too, so our focus this week is to work really hard with the members and to be like Christ. To really be His representatives so the members want to give us their friends and family to teach. It is so important for us to always be examples to others! 

One day we were walking really far in our area (it's huge) and threre was a woman and two kids walking. We were on our way to an investigator's house (Melisa) but I had a feeling to talk to these people. And guess what... her brother used to be a member of our church and she said we could pass by another day! So we passed by and she ended up not paying attention to anything we said but we were talking for a long time with her mom Luján (Luhan). Luján started crying and said we arrived just at the moment when she was having a really hard time that day. Her son has had lots of problems since he left the church... LOTS, and she lost communication with him. We just simply listened to her and tried to give her love. She told us she wants nothing with religion that we can come back. Honestly it was a miracle that we found her. We are going to try to teach her that peace, happiness, and joy can come from the church and faith in Jesus Christ.

This investigator Melisa is "together" with a man. She has two kids, one that is his, and he is a character, a little disrespectful but we still wanted to teach them. Well he told us he wasn't interested straight up but she told us that we could still come by for her so we will see what happens! She has so much potential to really feel of the love of Christ for her and find true happiness and safety for her two little kids.

As for Analia, we are going to leave her for sure... Her husband said he doesn't want to hear from us anymore but she loves us. I just think we need to give her space and see if she realizes how special it is when we go to her house and tesfify of the truthfulness of this gospel. 

We also found this less active girl, 20 years old who wants to come back to church. We were able to meet her and her mom who is a member and her siblings who aren't members. They are a fantastic family!! We just felt such a good spirit and know that they are going to return to church and hopefully we can teach the other kids how wonderful all the members are and that they can be truly happy having a testimony of Jesus and his gospel too.

We have not found Guillermo yet so we will be REALLY trying hard this week to find him since its been one week now:(

And there is a tiny more but I have to go! One more thing, we are going to try to do English classes this week so pray that we can have good experiences with these people and teach English well!

Lots of love and thank yous to you all!!

 

Hermana Williams

Tandil week 8

HI family!!

Sorry I am writing so late. We had interviews this morning with President Parreño and had a meeting with Hermana Parreño.  Because of "siesta" we had to wait till later to write to you.  I am really sorry!!!  The meeting was really good though with Hermana Parreño.  She helped me see again how much fun missionary work can be.  I guess I have been contacting just because I need to contact, but she showed us how to make it fun and how to make it effective. I can't wait to get started today and contact better!! 

Well, this week was a good week. Well, my companion is going to email you a better letter because I don't have much time to write to you all.  I really wanted to but I was trying to write some personal letters to the little kids and I was trying to get my Internet to work. I hope next week can be better.

This week was really cold!! I don't know why but I was feeling really cold. Its a different type of cold than in Utah.  Its very humid here and it just gets down to the bone. I am going to buy boots tomorrow and some gloves. I hope it helps. If its already this cold in Fall I don't want to know how cold it gets in the winter!!!! Haha they say that Tandil is the coldest city in Argentina!! What my luck!! I sleep warm though and the members are very nice and let us in during the siesta time.  

We have been getting a lot of references from members. They have been really trying to help. I love the missionary spirit in this Rama! They are amazing and are so willing to help us. Tonight we have a FHE with a family. 

 

Guess what?? I just got news from my companion in Bahia that Orlando, a man we had been teaching with Hermana Pinnock was baptized this weekend!!! I am so happy for him. Even though I wasn't there to be there I am very happy for him and for the opportunity I had to teach him while I was in Bahia Blanca!!  

Happy Easter everyone.  Next week I will send you an Easter message!! What a fantastic time to be able to remember our Savior and all that he has done for us. This week I have been remembering a lot about my time in Jerusalem.  I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that he provided us a way so that we may live again and be clean of our sins. Because of his Sacrifice I know that I can start again each day and try to be better. he truly loves us.  There is a great activity in the Ensign for this month to do as a family for FHE: I hope you can do it and remember this very special week in the life of our Savior. 

Os quiero Everyone!!!  

OS QUIERO!!!!

 

PS: here are the pictures for this week.

 

Hermanas Pizarro, Cruz y Zubeldia.

Hermanas Zubeldia, Cruz, Williams and Pizarro.

Hermanas Zubeldia, Pizarro, Cruz and Williams.

 

General Conference and another transfer in Tandil

Dear Family,

General Conference was fantastic!! I really enjoyed everything I heard. I felt like each talk was directed to me in one way or another. I learned so much and really felt the Spirit.  Not only was it fantastic, but we also saw miracles happen at general conference.

  

We had been waiting for 5 investigators to come see general conference. Analia, one of our investigators, and her two children came! She was only there for an hour but had to leave because her kids were getting impatient.  And then, Guillermo, a contact we had made three days ago showed up! He was the last one we thought would show up.  Three days ago as we were going home we decided to knock on one last door. Guillermo came out and we ended up talking for 30 minutes about prophets and the restoration.  We invited him to see the conference and he said he would see if he could go.  We left the house excited and as we walked to the bus stop we realized that we never wrote down his address to go back.  On Sunday we prayed that we could find him and that he would come to conference.  Well, we didn't find him. Right before the last session started, a miracle happened! Guillermo and two elders walked into the church.  The elders had contacted him walking in the street and invited him to the conference which started in 10 minutes.  He said, okay, I will go , but only for an hour.  He came!! Hermana Williams and I were so shocked. We are both so grateful for the miracle!  I really hoped that he liked General Conference.  We will be passing by tomorrow.

I really liked Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk.  I invite you all, to study Preach My Gospel (PMG).  It truly is an inspired book that helps us know how to share the gospel.  I promise you that as you do so, you will feel your testimony strengthened and see the gospel so much simpler and easier to explain.  I liked how he said that the families should at least know what their children are teaching to their investigators.  

  

I also liked Gary E. Stevensen's talk about the "4 minutes of performance" we have here on earth. The actions that we do in our 4 minutes of performance really do determine what happens after this life.  

  

I felt like many of the talks talked about obedience to the commandments and gratitude.  

I also liked Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk on discipleship.  Being a missionary is hard work. But because the cost of salvation is so important, missionary work has to be hard. Jesus also suffered for all of us so that we may have a chance to be clean.  Is it worth it to take a stand and have my beliefs set firmly? Yes, It is worth it!!! The gospel isn't easy and is isn't always comfortable but it is definitely worth it!!!  

General Conference really was the boost I needed.  I feel so much better for this next transfer that is starting.  I am staying here in Tandil with Hermana Williams.  I know that we didn't see much success last transfer but I know that this transfer if we keep working hard we will start finding people who are ready to hear the Gospel!!!  This last week we didn't teach that much.  However, we had an amazing experience with a recent convert.  She has been having a hard time right now because her husband's ex wife has been saying that she is visiting a witch and that the witch said that her husband is going to die.  When she told us this, Hermana Williams and I looked at each other and both of us didn't know what to do or say.  We looked at her and started teaching about the atonement of Jesus Christ and that through his power and priesthood we can be families forever.  We watched the move, "For this end was I born." The Spirit was very strong and she thanked us for helping her feel better in her time of need. I am grateful for this experience to help her.  I don't know if what we taught was the best answer to her question, but I know that the study of the atonement can help us in any situation. 

Also, guess what??? I  found my first ZUBELDIA!!!  Her name is Mariana!  She said she wasn't interested in our message but that we could come back and talk to her. She said this only after she saw my name tag! haha One Zubeldia down, 10 more to find!  

 

Te quiero familia!!!! Nos "vemos" la semana que viene!!!

Hermana Zubeldia

 

The sick hospital of Tandil

Dear Family,

I hope you are all having a great day!! I loved your letters last week! Thanks so much for writing me and reminding me how much I just love you all!

This week I was sick!! Yes, on Thursday we went home because I wasn't feeling well and needed to sleep. I slept until 9 pm and I couldn't take it anymore. My ear was hurting so badly and I couldn't sleep. My head hurt and my throat and ears were really hurting. At around 10 pm my companions decided that I needed to go to the doctors. A wonderful member drove us to the guardia (hospital/doctors). Yep, I had what I thought I had.... I had otitis (an ear infection). Since then I have been taking Amoxicilina (I think this is how you spell it) and am feeling a lot better.  I slept all of Friday because I couldn't get out of bed. I am feeling so much better now! The cold wind isn't helping that much but don't worry, I am taking care of myself. My companions are taking care of me too! 

 

This morning it was super cold outside!!

Besides that, I am doing just fine. I have been having a couple of down weeks but I am feeling a lot better, physically and emotionally and spiritually. I am definitely excited for General conference this coming weekend. It is what I need right now. We are going to learn so much!!!! I hope that you guys have a great time watching it!  

Yesterday I spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  I spoke about Charity, one of the attributes of Christ.  I believe that as we develop this attribute our ability to share the gospel will be easier and more fulfilling.  It is truly as we love our neighbor that they will feel our testimony and know that we really want to help them.  Jesus Christ was the best example of this. He walked around Palestine, Galilee and Jerusalem helping all. He loved everyone and still loves us. 

I hope that as we prepare for General Conference you may listen with a question. I promise you that you will receive an answer as you listen to a prophet called of God!

Os quiero Familia!!!

Hermana Zubeldia

 

The pancakes I made this morning for breakfast!! They turned out really good.Thanks mami and papi for the syrup flavoring!! Its definitely being used!

Me and my companion waiting to write to you.