SEMANA 64!!!

Hola todos!!

So wow, this last week was crazy! We've been working so hard, and seeing miracles. First of all, remember Cesar? Well, he´s the greatest! He works SO MUCH, it´s kinda been a pain teaching him 'cause he doesn't have hardly any time to share with us! (haha) So, long story short, we didn't get to teach him all week last week 'til Saturday...  WE were pretty nervous 'cause he was supposed to get baptized this Saturday, the 28th, and we didn't really know how he was feeling... We sat down and started talking and we asked him if he remembered the day of his baptism. He did! (haha) He said he´s ready and for sure wants to get baptized this Saturday! He´s a miracle! We passed over the interview questions and he´s so prepared! Saturday, si o si!

We've also been looking for all of the members in our area, like I said last week! Let me tell you, God is helping us SO MUCH! He guides us every day to the people we´re looking for. We've found so many people, but some of the greatest have to be Christina and her mom, Nilda. Christina got baptized about a year ago, and is 11. Her mom isn't a member... yet! She´s basically a member seco! She only has to get married and ya esta! (it is done!) But really, her husband's a little arjel no mas but that's okay, we´re praying for a miracle so that we can start working with the entire family!

So yea, this week was really great...same old same old. We've been eating some pretty crazy crap. (haha) Gives me a nice stomach ache, but that's okay! Thanks  for all of your prayers! Love you guys!

Hermana Austin

PONDERIZE!!!

So i realized I didnt´s tell you my scripture last week, but it was Alma 26:12

This week's is Luke 22:32  ¨But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.¨

SEMANA 63!!!

Hola Todos!!!

Wow this week was CRAZY!!! (haha) It´s so HOT! But luckily today we´re getting a little rain so it´s cooling off! So first of all, last week we had a Zone Conference! And guess who I got to see? Hermana Ball! (haha) She was there with all of the other Hermanas we worked with together! It was so great to see them all! She also got the chance to tell me about San Lorenzo and everything that´s happening there! I don´t know if you all remember the Flia Cáceres? I talked about them a little a few months back. They were a reference from a member. Anyways, their oldest daughter, Ivanna, was the one who was kinda interested so we had been working with her. Problem was, she didn't have hardly any time to share with us, I think we shared with her twice and then gave up 'cause she didn't want to make time to meet with us. ANYWAYS, Hermana Ball was telling me that Ivanna showed up at church ALONE a few weeks ago!!! CRAZY right? She said she had read 2 Nephi 31 and knows she needs to get baptized!! Hermana Ball said Ivanna's progressing and preparing for her baptism! What a MIRACLE!! I was so happy I almost cried. After all that Hermana Ball and I went through looking and looking and looking for the chosen ones, they´re gonna have another baptism there!  

She also updated me on Pablo and Wanilda and said they´re doing alright! They´re fighting every day to be strong... They sent me a letter and I loved it! I miss them so so much! They´re like my parents in Paraguay.

Also, I have a cool little story this week! So, one thing about the Campo is that it´s almost impossible to find people. We have a list of less actives we don´t know, and there are SO MANY! For their address it just says, Mbocayaty...  Which is basically like saying, Springville, or Mapleton! BAH! It´s ridiculous! So we were planning for the next day, Friday, and I was getting so frustrated. I knew we needed to find these people, but we didn't know how! I got so frustrated. I told Hermana Guardado, let´s plan in the morning, I can´t focus... Later that night, I was praying and telling God that I knew he wanted us to find these people, but I just didn't know how to do it. I was asking for help, then all of a sudden, I had the thought, almost a voice say, ¨I know where these people live. I´ll help you find them. Write their names in your planner tomorrow at the hour you´ll be looking, and be praying for my help and I´ll help you. Have faith, put your trust in me, and I´ll guide you to them.¨ Crazy right? The next day we did just that, put their names in our planner and left for the neighborhood where they lived... We had until 6:00 to find them and started knocking doors at 1:00 in the afternoon.  We were asking anyone and everyone if they knew these people. At 5:00, we hadn't found any of the three families we were looking for. It was hot, so we went and asked a less active member for some water. As we were talking to her, she mentioned one of the families we were looking for! Turns out she knew all the people on our list and showed us their houses right then! It was such a miracle! (haha) We worked so hard all day and in the end the Lord pulled through! He always pulls through!  

It was a good week! Cesar keeps on progressing! He´s for sure set to get baptized the 28th of November, if all goes well! He´s such a great guy! Thank you all for your prayers! I love you have a great week!

Hermana Austin

SEMANA 62!!!!!

Hola Todos!!

Wow, what a crazy week! This week was definitely a good one!!! (haha) We walked and worked SO MUCH! Funny thing about the country is for one, our areas HUGE! Another fun fact, is that Juan Manuel lives about an hour and a half walking/hiking from the central of ¨Ypacarai. We walked a LOT last week! (haha) We were preparing him for his baptism, so we had to visit him a lot! It was pretty exhausting walking in the Paraguayan heat! (haha) When the Elders came to do his interview, they were shocked at how far away it was! The pain was all worth it though, because he got baptized on Saturday, and it was so CUTE! He's the best little kid!  

Also, remember how I talked about Cesar last week? Well, he's GOLDEN!! (haha) He is like the best investigator ever! His biggest problem has been his work... He works so much, he hardly ever has time to do anything else! But last week, we passed by to teach him about the Día de Reposo (Sabbath Day). To make a long story short, he taught US the Día de Reposo! (haha) It was so great, and at the end he said, ¨Hermanas, I'm not gonna work Sunday morning! I'm going to church!¨ It was so great! He made the sacrifice and came! He's such a great guy, and is super excited for his baptism the 28th of November! He's such a miracle! (haha) He told us that when his girlfriend gets home from her mission, he wants to get married in the temple!  

So yeah! (haha) That´s about it this last week! We are working so hard and seeing miracles! I love missionary work! It's definitely the hardest work, but also the most rewarding! Hope you all have a great week!  Love you all, thanks for all your prayers!

Hermana Austin

PONDERIZE!!!!

¨I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.¨ -Philippians 4:13

SEMANA 61!!!

Hola Todos!

Wow this week was GREAT!!! (haha) We are working our tails off and seeing SO many MIRACLES!! Wow, I don´t even know where to begin... Bueno (okay), remember that Mitai Juan Manuel that I told you all about last week!  Well He´s a miracle! We went to teach him on Saturday and the goal was to get permission from his parents to Baptize him. Earlier in the week, we had left his mom with the form she needs to sign so he can get baptized! She said she was going to talk to his dad and then sign it. She´s all for him getting baptized! (haha) So, when we showed up Saturday we asked his mom what his dad had said and she was like ¨He doesn't want Juan to get baptized.¨ Hermana Guardado and I just sat there in silence, super sad 'cause Juan´s like the best kid ever... After a few seconds his mom goes ¨Igual no mas voy a firmar solo necesita la firma de uno de los padres, ¿verdad?¨ ("Maybe not, but I'm going to sign. It only needs one signature, right?") She hopped up went and got the form and signed it! (haha) It was such a miracle, and Hermana Guardado and I were just dumbstruck! The best part, is that afterwards we went to leave and Juan Manuel started following us to our next cita (appointment)! (haha) He visited our next few appointments with us! By the end of the day, he had Hna Guardado´s name tag and everything! He even taught someone how to pray! He´s the greatest!  

Also, remember Milagros! So, she wants to get baptized really bad but we´re having trouble getting permission from her mom... Igual no mas...  con tiempo. The real miracle, is that she has an aunt named Nilsa that shared with us for the first time last week and told us she wants to get baptized and come to church! She´s AMAZING!! Came to church on Sunday and everything! Best part, is we´re gonna complete the family cause her husband's a member. They have two little kids that are the cutest! It was such a miracle, 'cause we went for Milagros but really God had another plan... (haha) Funny how that works! Only thing, is she needs to get married still... (haha) and we're not sure if her and her husband are gonna want to... (haha) So be praying for that!

Also, remember Pedro? Well he has a Sister in-law that´s also not a member! (haha) Her name´s Luz and she shared with us for the first time last week too! Without thinking, I gave her a Book of Mormon and marked 2 Nephi 31. Next time we passed by, I asked her if she had read and she said, "Yes!"  She didn't really share with us that time, but we invited her to church Sunday. And guess what? As we were sitting in church, she showed up with Pedro and his sister Elva!! (haha) I couldn't believe it! It was a pure miracle! We didn't really think she was all that interested, but I guess she is! Super crazy! We have plans to pass by and invite her to be baptized, so we´ll see how that goes! She´s also not married... (haha) So pray that she wants to be too!

So yeah, one more miracle for you guys! (haha) So on Friday, it rained, and rained, and rained! (haha) If rain's bad in the city, it's even worse out here in the campo. Everything's mud, and wet, and there're nasty frogs everywhere! (haha) But we were walking along and all of a sudden Hermana Guardado had the thought to pass by for an old investigator. I was up for the idea, since our plans were falling through left and right! (haha) So, we passed by for this guy named Cesar, who´s hardly ever home, but thanks to the rain he was! Little back story about him, about two weeks ago his Mormon girlfriend left on a mission. The Hermanas shared with him before she left and he hadn't really had very much interest! We get there and sit down and he´s like, ¨Hermanas, I've been thinking, I´m gonna get baptized and become a member.¨ (haha) We were SHOCKED!!! He´s the greatest! He's been investigating the church for forever but just recently made up his mind! He couldn't come to church on Sunday because of work but told us this Sunday he´s for sure coming even if he loses his job! (haha) Crazy stuff, he´s such a miracle!

To top things off, just thought I´d let you all know I used the NASTIEST bathroom I've ever used in my life this last week! (haha) It was a tiny little room without a roof, and I kid you not, a HOLE to use the bathroom... 5 thousand times worse than a port-a-potty... You just squat and go! (haha) It was hilarious, there wasn't even a door, and when I stood up to pull up my skirt I could see everything around me!! The members were laughing at me 'cause I´m so tall, I cleared the walls of the bathroom! (haha) It was an adventure!

ANYWAYS... that about sums up the week! It was a GREAT one! I love this place! (haha) Sorry for the extremely long email! Thanks for all your prayers! Love you guys!

Hermana Austin

PONDERIZE!!!

¨For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday today, and forever, and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.¨ -2 Nephi 27:23

SEMANA 60!!!

Hola todos!!

Wow this last week was definitely super crazy! We had changes, and I left San Lorenzo and Hermana Ball! Can´t tell you how sad it was to leave her! We´d been together since June! I miss her so much! One of my very best friends! It was also way hard saying goodbye to Pablo and Wanilda and all the rest of the people there that I love but hey! That´s the mission!  

So crazy, Cambios! I´m no longer an Hermana Lider which is cool, lots more tranquilo! (haha) I´m gonna finish super tranquilo out here in the campo... Stress free! I do kinda miss it though... (haha) I loved working so close with the Hermanas. So, my new and probably last Area is Ypacarai! COUNTRY!!!! (haha) It´s the BEST!!! Complete opposite of San Lorenzo! I feel like I´m going on a hike every single day! One part of our area is so far away we have to take a bus for like 20 minutes and then we walk in the middle of no where for like 45 minutes and then finally we get there! It´s crazy the people drink their water out of a spring and are SUPER poor! And, the best part is they love missionaries! (haha) When we knock on a house they just let us in invite us to sit down and give us some water it´s the best! I love it here!! (haha) My companion´s name is Hna Guardado and she´s from Honduras! She´s great! Ha LATINA otra vez! We speak straight Spanish, which is good for me! (haha) It´s been too long since I've had to do that! And I like it, Spanish is great! She has been a little sick though... A few weeks ago, she was in the hospital for like a week straight, so that´s not fun. She still has to be careful. Don´t worry though, I´m taking care of her. Also, we had a baptism this last week!!! (haha) It was the greatest! I showed up and they already had everything ready to go. He was all prepared! His name´s Pedro, and he´s 15! He´s the greatest! It was such a great baptism!  

Also, we have two Mitai´s (little kids) that are gonna get baptized in the next few weeks!!! Milagros is probs gonna get baptized this Saturday and Juan Manuel next Saturday! They´re both the cutest! (haha) It´s the best, I love the CAMPO!!  

So yeah, life´s good! I´m excited to start this new and last chapter of my mission! I can feel that it´s gonna be great! I just want to go work my guts off these last few changes cause it´s the only smart thing to do, right?   Thank you all for all of your support and prayers! Love you all!

Hermana Austin

PONDERIZE!!!

¨Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven¨ (Matt 5:16)

SEMANA 59!!!

Hola Todos!!

Wow, what a crazy, tiring, fun week! (haha) We spent the week running around like crazies! A whole lot happened this week! To start things off, we had District Meeting on Tuesday. Little thing about district meeting is that each companionship takes a turn talking about their investigators, then as a district we talk about how to solve their doubts and help them progress towards baptism. It's really great. Last week though, we stood up in front of our district and didn't put a single name up on the board. We humbled ourselves and said, ¨We don´t have anyone. If you have ideas on how to find the chosen people in our area we´re all ears.¨ They started sharing things when the Zone Leaders raised there hands and handed us a piece of paper. It was a mission call for the members. They told us they had this idea and thought it was a good thing we could apply, giving the members this call. We were super excited to have something new and got motivated to work better with the members!  

Later on in the week, on Thursday, we did our Weekly Planning Session and were thinking once again on how we could get more references... We sat for probably 5 minutes talking about how we could get better, then I went to Preach My Gospel. There was an activity listed to go back and ask the members about every reference we've received in the last few months again. We started going crazy, looking up all our references and ended up with a list of like 20 names, or better said, 20 potential investigators. That same day, Wanilda had the opportunity to go to the temple, which was such a blessing, she did a session while Pablo sat out in the waiting room. She got back and told us she had put our names on the prayer roll. After that day the miracles really started pouring in. With that list we made, and the Mission Call from the Elders, we truly have been receiving references ALL WEEK LONG!! It´s been such a blessing.

  

For example, we were sharing with a menos activo Friday, who has told us before she doesn't trust the missionaries teaching her daughter-in-law who's not a member. We kept passing by and have been focusing on establishing a good relationship with her. All of the sudden she jumps up in the middle of a lesson Friday and is like, ¨¡Vamos a ver mi nuera!¨ (Let's go see my daughter!" (haha) It was crazy! We went and shared with her daughter-in-law, and she´s GREAT!! She´s looking for the truth and WANTS to share with us! Best thing is, she´s not working. It was such a miracle. Her biggest thing is her husband. He´s VERY much against the church, but poco a poco va a pasar (gradually it will happen).

We also started teaching the Otter Pop people, Lara and her friend Veto. We don´t really know their situation all that well. They were living together but now they´re separated... It´s really weird, BUT God sent us at an opportune time. We saw Veto walking in the street crying and he told us they were splitting up. We passed by the next day and had a great lesson with both of them about the Atonement and the importance of baptism. Lara committed to a date right then! It was such a miracle!

Anyways, we also did a ton of intercambios/studies with the hermanas! It was great because they really needed us this last week! That´s one thing I love about being a Hermana Lider, because it doesn't matter what´s going on with us and our area, I get the opportunity every week to forget about myself and focus completely on what they need, and what their problems are. More often than not, I´m just a listening ear and a good friend, but I know that's what they need. Every time I finish helping one of them it´s almost like I can feel God´s approval. I feel that I´m really doing what he needs! I love it!  

Also, kind of sad thing, we have changes again this week! Crazy how fast time passes! We´re pretty sure one of us is going to change cause we've been together for so long... I´ll keep you all updated for next week! Thanks for all of your prayers! I love you all tons! Have a great week!

Hermana Austin

PONDERIZE!!!!  ¨Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you that by small and simple things are GREAT things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.  And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means doth the Lord counfound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of MANY SOULS.¨ Alma 37:6-7 

SEMANA 58!!!

Hola!

Wow, this last week was a crazy week filled with Divisions, lots of missionary work, and LOTS and LOTS of rain! (haha) It´s been raining so much, it´s crazy! But, it´s probably a good thing...better than the heat! Also, I've picked up a habit of jumping in all the rain puddles with my nice rubber boots! I´m a child...but it´s pretty fun. 

Funny story, like I said it´s been raining a TON! When it rains like that all the giant toad frogs start coming out! That happens a lot more if you´re out of the city, but on Tuesday night we were walking along and along comes a FROG! (haha) We were pretty stoked, and started chasing it around like a couple of children... While we were running around, we had a thought... "Wanilda´s scared of frogs, and this is a frog, we should take it home and scare her with it!" (hahaha) Luckily, Hermana Ball is fearless. She picked it up, and we hauled it home. We got home and Wanilda wasn't home, but we showed Pablo and he started laughing and was like ¨She´s gonna kill you guys!¨ We put it in a bucket outside, and headed off to Ward Night in the church. When we got back we were talking with Pablo and Wanilda 'cause they were both home and showed Wanilda the frog... (hahaha) She screamed! It was pretty funny. Best part is it´s a story she´ll talk about for forever...I love frogs and Paraguay and Pablo and Wanilda.

(haha) Other than that, this week was full of rain and more rain. The great part is even though the weather was horrible we still saw tender mercies from the Lord. I saw my first MONKEY here! (haha) It was just tied up like a pet! I have pictures but I left my camera...Next week! On an especially hard day, we were out working in the rain when we stopped at a less-actives house to use the bathroom. When we finished we started getting up to leave and the Hermana goes ¨Are you guys hungry?¨ (haha) and without skipping a beat turned and ran into her kitchen and started making a snack! We looked at each other flabbergasted and sat down on her couch and started playing with the kids! She gave us some Cocido and tortillas, which is like hot chocolate here... (haha) It was such a blessing. We thanked her and she was like, ¨Yeah you both just looked really tired...I thought it was the least I could do to give you something to eat.¨ I am so thankful for the people here and all over the world that take care of the missionaries. Sometimes all you need as a missionary is a little reminder like that God´s mindful of us and knows what we need...Even when it´s something so little as a member making you a snack on a rainy day!

I love the mission! Can´t believe how fast it goes by! Thank you all for your support and your prayers! Love you all, and have a great week!

Hermana Austin

PS  Also we've started PONDERIZING our weekly scripture and I thought I´d add it into my emails!  Mine this week is Proverbs 3:5-6 ¨Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.¨