February 24, 2014 {Kim}

Hola everyone! Well this week has been Good! Ups and Downs.But big up = Martin was baptized yesterday!!! It was awesome! It all went so well and the spirit was so strong! And at the end he ASKED if he could bare his testimony! what. Way cool. We are so excited  for their family. I love them so much. shout out to Hermana Kaitlyn Wright because Martin is from Buenos Aires! whoo whoo. Well nothing else really that exciting this week. We've been trying really hard to find some new investigators & since our members arent the best at giving us referrals that means we have been knocking lots of doors! Well i dont really have much else to say and i have limited time so i'll leave it at that.

 

ps. i love children. Some of the children in our branch take a huge part in keeping me going. I ADORE them. *quote of the week* "Hermana Josse! I like you a lot!!" Sabrina Peralta (Martins Daughter)

 

and while knocking doors. "I am not a sheep...i will not be herded!" haha!

 

and we met the coolest African...too bad he doesnt speak spanish :(

 

well i love you all so much. thanks for everything. keep praying for me por favor. i neeeed yo lovvve. :) haha.

 

peace, love, and blessings

 

Love, Hermana Josse

February 19, 2014 {Sara}

ATTENTION!!!
The last of the Fab Five has left to serve the Lord! Which leaves yours truly the only one at home. My heart is torn between the pain of missing all of them and the happiness I feel for all of them for doing what the Lord wants them to be doing!
Hermana Burns is headed to the Provo MTC and then to Guadalajara, Mexico, where the people there will have the amazing opportunity to have Sara influence and be in their lives!
See you in 18 Hermana Burns!

February 18, 2014 {Kim}

Transfer #3
Hoooola friends and family! I just want to start out  by saying how grateful and how blessed i am to have such AMAZING friends and family. Seriously. Im blessed with the BEST. Thank you so much for all your support, care, and love. I cant even come close to describing my love for you all. I love you - I love you - I LOVE YOU. I appreciate all the emails, packages, and letters i have recieved more than you know. Welll this week has been pretty good. President Jeppson & Sister Jeppson came to our branch this week for sacrament meeting and i got to talk to president Jeppson after for a minute. So that was great. I love the Jeppsons so much. && we got our investigator Martin to have a baptismal interview on Sunday and it went great! Hes the one that was suppose to get baptized last month but didnt feel ready. But The interview went so good and he is going to be baptized next week!!! whoo whoo. We are so excited for him and his family! I love them. annnd today is transfer conference....but guess what!? Im Staying with sister Garn for 1 more transfer! I was going crazy all week because we were 95% sure she would be leaving this transfer since this will be her 5th transfer here. I am beyond grateful though. Holy cow. Everyone is shocked that she is staying. This will be a great transfer. I have high hopes. Oh and last email i forgot to mention  "My favorite brother that still lives at home" "oh yea and umm so in your last email you kind of quoted Matt in your email! And you sorta did not mention me at all! So it would be really nice if you could quote me somehow in your next email! That would be real Nice" Hahaha sorry Tylerrrr forgive me. so i just wanna take time to give a shout out to Tyler Josse Aka the Ladies man "umm I don't think I've got a haircut since you've left. So it's getting pretty long.  But don't worry the girls like it! Ha but mom and dad don't!" hahahahahaha Love youuuuuu. Welllll I gotta go for now. we have to run back to our house so we can let some people in to fix some water damage to our walls. ha. but i will be back on later or tomorrow to finish our email time. Love you allll so much. Seriously thank you so much for your support. keep it coming. :) haha.

February 17, 2014 {Kaitlyn}

Buenas tardes mi familia :) Mom I am thinking about what you said to me in your email this week everytime I write this weird looking symbol.  Hahaha I was laughing so hard at that! That´s the mom I remember!! Thanks for always keeping me updated on the good old family laughs. :) 

Hmm, where to start this week? Not much has happened this week... but really a TON has happened this week. Things were up and down each and every day. We started off the week with a Fecha (baptismal date) for next Sunday (23rd) but turns out that it´s going to need to be postponed. Fede (11 years old) is SOO excited to be baptized and really is a very intelligent boy. He knows all the answers! Well, being 11 years old we have a new policy in this mission that we can´t baptize niños (kids) without their parents agreeing to support them in going to church every sunday, preparing to receive the priesthood, preparing to serve AND serving a mission, and everything that goes along with that. Well, that´s alright because his parents are very supportive BUT we had a meeting with the Bishop and decided that it is best to baptize all 3. Orr at least have the mom commit to coming to church and staying for all 3 hours every week with him. I know that this is what is best for him, but we invited her to be baptized and for now she is not interested. That being said we need to have a serious talk with her and tell her straight up that her son can´t be baptized YET. Ayyy I´m terrible at being up front with things. I know I need to rely on the spirit... but you know me, I FREEZE. Well, we´ll be going back Tuesday to talk with her because I failed to speak much of anything when we went on Saturday. He has so much potential, and I am really praying that all 3 of them will be able to accept and be baptized. They´re all excellent and willing to listen, but the mom doesn´t believe in God. I know that miracles can happen, and that is what we are praying will happen. Something is going to touch her heart and give her the desire to be baptized!  

We left Jose with the invitation to read Alma 32 and pray about whether or not he should be baptized now or wait to have a little bit more confidence in his answer. He came to church Sunday and informed us that he wants to be baptized.  We´re still thinking about what date will be best for him... but we are thinking March 8 because he will be gone this upcoming week. He really is going to progress so much and make a great leader some day! 

Quick story... this week it rained and we had no clue that it was going to rain. Ya we got DRENCHED! We arrived at our appointment and they weren´t there. The dad was there but we can´t be in the house alone with a man so we had to run back into the rain.  It reminded me of Sara... because we LOVE to play in the rain. Haha I get LOTS of it here! 

I was going to share something else but I can´t remember it now... :/ I don´t have much time left and I wanted to send a letter to Sara, so I´ll talk to you all next week. Love you so so much! Have an amazing week!! 

Love, Hermana Wright 

February 10, 2014 {Kaitlyn}

Hello hello family!  Birthday shout out goes to SARA BURNS!  You´re going to have a birthday shout hurray! We want to sing to you today! Ya you know that rest...Enjoy your last days as a teenager. Spend them well! HIP HIP (HOORAY) A little Burnsie addition for your happy happy birthday :) 

Looks like I have another transfer here in Alejandro Korn with Hermana Diaz! Now that things are moving a little bit faster we will hopefully be able to see the fruits of opening this new area. It´s been quiet the process but we are beginning to have progress! We also have learned many things that we do wrong... so we´ll be working on that. It´s so hard to be exactly obedient when the rules aren´t even clear to either one of the companionships! Ha we had exchanges the other day and learned that ya... there are some things that we need to fix. Our sister training leader also left Hna. Diaz with a talk about indescisiveness (indescisitivity?) Uhhh this word... that ate me alive. My biggest weakness and it´s a sin! My goal for my mission is going to have to be to change that one, because I am the worst with that as you all know. Haha

This week went over well, we had an amazing lesson with Jose Garcia. I´ve never seen anybody study so much! Ha pretty sure he´s going to know more than I do by the time we visit him this week. The pamphlets we leave with people have an ¨additional study¨ for them to figure out and he did it all. He had a whole paper full of questions when we arrived. He taught us lesson one rather than us teaching him. When we invited him to be baptized he said I´ll be baptized if you guys want me to, but I think you´d rather have me baptized by conviction. We said EXACTLY... so he´s going to continue with his studies. Crazy golden investigator eh?? Ha on top of that he had 2 plates full of facturas (doughnut things) and was sure to have us eat them. (Ha I can´t think of the word I want to use in this sentence... Ayy ayy ayy) Hence the chubby face, relief society arms, and uhh ya all the rest of mission love. Besides the point, he´s an amazing investigator! 

Shout out to mom for killing it on her talk! I can´t wait to read it :) I sent a letter with ideas because I was thinking that you said stake conference was in March. Ha so sorry about that... but dad said that you did amazing!! I´m so proud of you!  I know that that was NOT an easy thing for you!  

Anyway, this week has been a week full of learning. Most of all I have recognized how much I have to be grateful for. It almost makes me feel guilty how much I have. An amazing family, amazing friends, parents, a beautiful home... ya the list goes on and on. Their are so many people that don´t have any of these things. I´m so grateful for the opportunity to recognize all the many things that I have, and use this gratitude to try and share with others what they lack the most... el evangelio. At times it´s hard as you hear from every missionary, but I would never take it back for anything.

Fun fact about Argentinos. They eat Frogs... all the kids are out catching them after the storms. I am going to DIE if somebody gives me frog to eat. Haha ayy ayy ayy. By the way, the rain has been crazy here. It´s so sad, because when it rains it enters into many of the houses... because they are literally nothing much. We have so so much to be grateful for!

Love you all so much, have a fantastic week!!  

February 10, 2014 {Kim}

Hola!

Hola! Well I dont know where to start.....In my past emails i have tried to be as positive as i can....but my mission president (One of the most amazing men in the world) and my fantastic trainer have encouraged me to let my family and friends know of my struggles and ask for some specific prayers. So here it goes. In all honesty....This is the hardest thing i have ever done in my life. Im struggling. A LOT. We had interviews with president this last Friday & i ALMOST made the decision to go home that day.....ALMOST. In the words of my amazing brother talking about early on in his mission....lets just sum up a little bit of how i am feeling. "It was terrible. I had the hardest time of my life. I remember walking down the street, looking at the stars, and wondering if I was ever going home. Time seemed to be moving SO slow. I would wake up in the morning and felt such a burden I could barely move to my knees and simply utter "Heavenly Father... Help me". I have never struggled so much in my life." yep....almost exaclty how i feel. I've been dyinng to go home. I have been barely hangin in here...I struggle getting out of bed in the morning & I can't wait to go to bed at night. I constantly have a headache & have frequent stomach aches. I feel so inadequate. I dont know the doctrine/scriptures very well at all and lets add spanish on there to top that off. I am not very good at talking to people (elaborating, explaining, and playing off what others say). Lets just say that everything a missionary needs to be ...i am struggling with.Yipppeee. At this point I feel like I am moving backwards rather than progressing. There is just not enough time to study everything i need to study and i feel like i am not even retaining what i do study. And apparently i lack some serious self confidence. I have to write president Jeppson 3 things i like about myself everyday & cant repeat for a couple weeks. haha. So yep...Im struggling. Haha...wellllll this is awkward..... So ya at the request of president Jeppson & for the welfare of your favorite sister missionary....Prayers are greatly appreciated. I love you all so much. Thanks for everything. Ya'll are gems.

 

Con amor, Hermana Josse

February 6, 2014 {Kim}

HOlA

Sorry i dont have time for an email this week. But i love you all so much!

 

Love, Hermana Josse

February 5, 2014 {Kaitlyn}

FEBRERO!
Wow... I´m getting close to giving birth! 8 month along in the mission?! What is this?! Ayy ayy ayy... I don´t like to think about that... because I still have SOOOO much to learn. So much to do in so little time!  

Just a heads up we got home super late from the temple, so I´m only going to write a little bit and be done with emails for this week.  The temple was absolutely AMAZING! I understood it all in Spanish.  Really whether or not I understood it or not doesn´t matter at all, because the spirit there was AMAZING! Oh how I´ve missed the temple. I also took a second to think about those who we´ve lost this year. It really is amazing how thin the veil is there, because they were surely near. I LOVE THE TEMPLE!  I´m already anxious to return.

As for this week we had an excellent week. We had interviews with President. He´s excellent!!! He is a very wise man; he´d get along well with dad. We were able to set some goals that we will discuss in our next interview, so I´m excited about that. It gave me so much desire to improve on so many things! He knows exactly how to motivate me, and knows exactly what I need to hear. Or rather, he´s inspired and receives revelation.  

We had an excellent surprise at church! After interviews I was carrying home a box of book of Mormon´s (I was Dying....am I weak or what?)) anyway, as we arrive at our house a man approached us and asked what time our church started. We gave him a book of mormon, and he said he was going to come. Sure enough, he showed up on Sunday. That never happens! Even better, he showed up with his Book of Mormon. He is INCREDIBLE. This sunday was the most amazing testimony meeting as well. Everyone was bearing testimony about how this is the one and only true church. I don´t know what changed, but that was just the most amazing Sunday. Moral of the story is that he is excellent and that we have an appointment with him tomorrow. He asked us if he should have facturas (mom you would love these. There like doughnuts... lots of them have custard). Everybody that came up to him he would tell them how grateful he was for ¨Hermana Wright and Diaz¨who invited him to come. Seriously, he is going to be the best sacerdote. I´m already planning his life in the church.

Crazy story... We were visiting this less active family that we always visit, but come to find out a group of people are trying to kill her son. All this mess started with his girlfriend. His brother snuck in from the back because they were waiting on the other side. And that´s when we decided that we should get out of there. Ha crazy eh? Bishop said we can´t go back there for a while because he doesn´t want us anywhere close to that. Sooo don´t worry, we´re kept safe here. Pretty sad though, because there life is hectic ever since they dropped coming to church. It´s an interesting story because I don´t think she realizes the importance of church. Sad sad sad how many stories there are like that. 

Anyway, all is going well for us. We are having more and more success each and every week. Hermana Diaz and I sure are getting along well. I´ve realized what a blessing it is that she doesn´t speak English. There are many so missionaries that want to learn so they only speak in English. We are working on her English, but she helps me BASTANTE con mi español. The most important is that she is willing to work.  Transfers are this coming Monday, but I´m thinking that we´re going to stay another transfer. We´ll see though. 

Hope all is going well for you! I had a funny dream with all my friends together returned from their missions. We were telling mission stories. Some day that´ll be a real scene. Somewhere in there mom came in the room, because apparently I yelled LIZ in my sleep. Haha ya... I´m still my rare self with my odd sleeping habits. Poor Hma. Diaz. ANyway, just know that I´m always thinking and praying for you. Even in my sleep! Haha Love you all so much, have a fantastic week! 

February 3, 2014 {Cara}

To the right...... to the right.... 

Ohana whom I LOVE SO MUCH-

 

I would like to tell you of a cool story one of the missionaries shared with us the other morning in our meeting. It was in Mosiah 5. This chapter is one of my favorite chapters. It talks about our covenant that we have all made my our Heavenly Father. When we live our part of the covenant we are blessed through our obedience and our faith in Jesus Christ. The Elder told us about how back in the olden- dino- days, when there was Kings and Queens and such- If the King invited you over to dinner in the castle, the ones who were of higher rank of importance sat on the right side of the King. The closer to the right side of the king you sat, the tastier you food was:) BECAUSE....... Before you start your dinner, the King puts his salt on his food, and when he is finished- he passes the salt to the right. By the time it got to the person sitting on his left, there was none left. He was not able to have his meal as tasty as the others, bland and yucky (especially back then)

In verses 8-9 it talks about being on the right hand of Christ. I never really knew what this meant.... other then most of the world is right handed... so that must mean Jesus is too... so it'd just make sense to be on his "good side" Haha... BUT after the Elder inturpreted what it meant to be on the right hand of Christ, with the King story.... it made a lot more sense then my interpretation... Lol.

 

So how do we live our life to be able to sit on the right hand of Christ "at the dinner table so we can have the most salt" or what this verse is trying to say, partake of all the blessings? Simply through our obedience. We have all entered into a covenant, a covenant to follow our savior Jesus Christ, no matter what circumstances we may be put in. Sometimes it may be hard to always stand as a witness of him, at all times, in all things, and in all places, but I know that it is through our faith in him, and the power the atonement has to change us, we will be able to. I know that prayer will help us to recieve that love that we need for our savior Jesus Christ- to have that change. And then to eventually to be able to have the courage, and desire to always represent him. Moroni 7:47-48 is one of my favorite verses as well.

47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

I hope that y'all can find ways in your lives to become more like the savior himself. I hope you stop yourself and truly ask what the savior would do - next time you decide to raise your voice, or to gossip, or to think negatively about yourself, or someone else.. I hope you always remember the covenant you have entered with your Father in Heaven, to always follow the Savior. Where would he go? What would he read? What would his goal for the day be?

For me- I look up to Dad for his hard work. Mom- her love. Alyssa- her determination Aaron- his postivie attitude Gavin- his radiating happiness Abby- her ability to find humor in almost anything or any situation Jorgen- his compassion Jantz- all of the above:) Jesus Christ- His perfect love towards everyone, always. I've applied everything I've learned from my family, to my own life with how to act toward everyday matters. Like on big shattered painting. You are all the peices of the painting, and Jesus Christ is like the glue. He puts in all together and makes it look smooth perfect again and smooth:)
I'm so grateful for all the Christlike attributes you all have. This email is talking about a lot of different things I'm sorry. But I hope you all get the main point. Jesus Christ is our #1 example to follow and sometimes we need prayer to remember that covenant we have with him:)

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Pretty much I had a big fat list in my head of things I wanted to tell you guys today. And yes.... about more then half of my letter home was probably going to be telling you about my companion and complaining.. haha but I am so glad that I decided to talk about Jesus instead. Look. Everytime. He's always the way to go:)
Have a phenomenal week and I hope you can all go make someone else have a phenomenal week as well:) What would Jesus Do?!
Aloha
Sister Cara Ann Olsen

P.s.-
Reno Villegas is getting baptized Feb. 22. Still hasn't drank and says he can feel a change happening already in his life:)
Christie Villegas and Zack Miyashiro are getting baptized Saturday! Feb. 8. Pray everything goes smoothly
Liki Villegas dropped us. I cried that whole day because I've never seen the Holy Ghost truly testify SO strongly to someone before, and then have someone go compelety against it... I felt so crushed to know of all the blessings and answers to his prayers he could have found. EVERY single question he had and everything he was praying for could have been helped by the gospel. Man- such a bummer... Yeah... It was super duper sad. He still doesn't drink though- so thats good. His girlfriend is just evil. Just kidding. Shes just a not so nice daughter of God.
Melvin and Marybelle... pray for them. Your going to hear a lof about them next week:) Oh boy:)
Alika got the Priesthood and went to the temple:)
Ah. Next week you'll find out which Island I'm off to next:) Or if I get to stay, I'm praying I stay- one more transfer.