Week 49 - Ceres, Hughson

Hello my loved ones.  I feel like I don't tell any of you how much I really do love you.  But here I am saying, I LOVE YOU.​  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk this past conference reminded me of the importance of telling those you love that you love them because as I read his talk, I felt special.  I am studying the talks given in April General Conference in preparation for the upcoming conference.  I love our living apostles and prophet! Here is the opening of Elder Holland's talk, 'Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You':

​
 Brothers and sisters, do you have any idea—do you have any notion or inkling whatsoever—of how much we love you? For 10 hours you watch,fixed on one face at this pulpit sequentially, but for those same 10 hours, we seated behind this pulpit watch, fixed on you. You thrill us to the center of our soul, whether that be the 21,000 here in the Conference Center, or multitudes in meetinghouses and chapels, or finally millions in homes around the globe, perhaps huddled around a family computer screen. Here you are, there you are, hour after hour, in your Sunday best, being your best. You sing and you pray. You listen and you believe. You are the miracle of this Church. And we love you. 

He talks about how in the gospel, we get credit for trying rather than succeeding. The Lord blesses those who want to improve, if you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone. We are going to be blessed by our desire to do good.

Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You - By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Go read it and check it out! It's a gem,

Miracle: this week as we were biking along I noticed this older man Jesus sitting outside.  We had spoken with him before in the past and it had been 3 weeks since that time.  The thought TALK TO EVERYONE came into my head as I was just going to bike by since he didn't seem to care for us too much in the past.  It had been 3 weeks so the least we could do is go see if he'd picked up that Libro de Mormon that we had given him a while back from his shelf or see if there was anything we could do for him.  After getting off our bikes, as we were walking up to him, I noticed he was reading.  Upon closer inspection, he was sitting there reading that Libro de Mormon that we had left with him and invited him to read 3 weeks ago! He asks us why we hadn't come by to teach him more for a while after showing us that he is in 2 Nephi 27!  WHAT IN THE WORLD?!? it clearly was not of the world his thought to read it.  I was amazed as he recounted to us what he was learning little by little.  My heart was touched and I recalled once again that God's hand is in all of this.  We read 2 Nephi 27 together.  The gospel brings me joy and happiness.  I think if the gospel doesn't bring you happiness, you aren't doing it right. I know as we focus in on the teachings of Jesus Christ and choose to live them, we will find more peace in this life.  The things that worry our mind will become settled.

I have to share with you all a story that my mission president, President Palmer shared with us, 

"Fifteen years ago on September 11, 2001, a close friend of mine had arisen early in the morning as he typically did and was preparing for work at the World Trade Center in New York City where he managed a large office for an international bank. As he finished dressing, he felt a small but distinct impression that he should stay home that day to surprise and spend time with his wife to celebrate her birthday. Contrary to his customary behavior, he followed that feeling and promptly sent a notice to the office indicating he would not be arriving that day. As expected, his wife was rather amazed when she awoke and found him still at home; however, while they were relaxing together later that day, the shocking and horrific news of the terrorist attack that caused the destruction of the office tower where he worked created an immediate, immense, and intense feeling of sorrow for his co-workers and friends who had lost their lives.

Interestingly, it wasn’t until after he had tried to reach each staff member’s family affected by this devastating event that he and his wife took a moment to quietly reflect on what had happened. It was then that they finally realized the miraculous impact of his simple yet obedient response to a gentle impression suggesting that he take an unplanned day off. Literally, his decision to remain at home and spend a few extra hours with his wife saved his life. As he shared the details of his experience with me, it became evident that he had initially dismissed the thought and was about to go to work when the feeling came again. Fortunately for him and for his family, he ultimately followed the prompting and while many of our mutual friends continue to describe this occurrence as coincidence, fate, or luck, you and I and my friend know better."

I know that God loves us, I know he will lead us.

Love you all,

Hermana Waters

Week 48 - Ceres, Hughson

Buenos dias y feliz dia de descanso! Que regresen a casa bien aquellos fiestando!

Just recently since President Dorius-a counselor of President Palmer was called as area seventy, it had been a while without a counselor in the mission presidency.  Well just recently, un hermano from Turlock that I had known from the stake was called as his counselor! Presidente Juan Martinez! We are so excited since he lives in our stake and speaks spanish.  He has great energy for la obra misional. He came to our meetings yesterday, the first time with his new calling. He told us that he was willing to come out with us and we were thrilled! We have had troubles finding ways to have more lessons with members present. After having spiritual dinners with them and they commit, they call that day and say that they can't. It is definitely something that we are working with. Presidente Martinez is going to come out with us Wednesday night to teach with us this family referred to us by a different family member who is a nonmember! In our first visit with her she told us how not to long ago, her friend had told her to find los misioneros mormones.  She always would see them around on bike and finally was in a position able to follow them.  She was in her car and was following them.  She had been spending days hanging outside of the church building, when these elders passed by.  But while following them, she had lost track of them after getting stuck at a red light and them continuing. We are the first missionaries she has met since that day.  She is is introducing her son to us this next lesson who she believes would love to learn about the gospel too!

We have been having better lessons with How to Begin Teaching as well as clearer Restoration lessons I believe due to all the Roleplaying and studying. That has been one of our goals.
I like having a mexican companion because they tend to be more relax and not as high strung as I am about everything. It's helped me a lot in the mission field as well as taught me a lot about how we should be. I have got to stop being a perfectionist.
MIRACLE: so when I first arrived here to Hughson with Hermana Pimentel, that first week we met a lady named Nancy. We were teaching an at the time investigator when she was at his house visiting her family. We had just arrived and were teaching the Restoration. The whole time she was paying close close attention to everything we said. The current investigator not as much. She had great questions and addressed her interest at the end. We had left her with a copy of the Book of Mormon and the promise of Moroni. She told us her address and phone number-though not with a set time. We spent the whole next transfer looking for her and seeking to get in contact with her. She had changed phone numbers, and the address I had written down had a small error. We were really saddened. Well just this week, we were going to visit a potential investigator who rejected a message. I felt we should take this different route on our bikes after leaving the area. As biking this lady was outside. We stopped and started a conversation with her. I asked for her name after presenting myself, when she responded Nancy. Behind her dark tired eyes, I realized this was the same Nancy I had met many weeks ago. She told us how her pareja lost his job and she had started working night shifts for the temporada. She hardly sleeps during the day due to her kids always being up and wanting to play. She had been reading inside the Book of Mormon and told us tomorrow she wanted us to come back-that she would have her whole family gathered. She told us that she believes she is ready to take this step in her life and how badly she desires the blessings of the gospel in her family. I know that God loves each of us. He knows exactly where we are in our life and where we are going. I know that as we grow our confidence in the Lord, we will find that there is more joy to this life than before. I know that God heard my prayers that we would run into Nancy again and here we are 13 weeks later saying we found her. It felt like forever to find her in the small town. 


sorry a bit long but lots of huge blessings

love you all

xoxo

Hermana Waters 

Week 47 - Ceres, Hughson

I am staying here with Hermana Trejo!  We have been having some really amazing companion studies and we have goals to eat healthier and running in the morning, every morning.  Our clothes are a getting a little tight.  ​We are looking forward to finding, teaching and baptizing!

More than anything I just want to bear my testimony.  

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ was lost for a time after the death of Jesus Christ. I know he was rejected as well as his apostles.  I know that Heavenly Father loves us perfectly that he has established a perfect plan.  His will is that we have joy.  That we have the best experiences possible here. No it's not what the world encourages us to be nor how the world teaches us to live.  I have to say that I know my Heavenly Father watches over you.  I know that our experiences here are to help us be perfected.  I know that repentance is necessary.  It is the change that makes us worthy to return to live in his presence and is a blessing. I know that as we focus more on the Savior and less on ourselves we find more joy. We find peace in this life.  The promise that God gives us is that we will find peace in this life and eternal joy in the life to come.  In a world full of sadness and chaos we need a little peace.  I know that we aren't perfect but that that is part of the plan. I know as we come to know the father's will we will grow a love for ourselves and others.  The gospel is the good news.  We aren't hear to force anyone nor tell anyone they are wrong but to seek Heavenly Father for themselves and learn.  I hope we strive to work together as the great big family we are in returning to our loving father's presence.  I know these things to be true.

Les quiero mucho y a mi familia les amo mucchisimo.  

que dios les cuida y les protege

Hermana Waters