Miracles

Annual Rice Krispie turkey...

Hola Everyone!

This week was a great one, full of miracles. 

Me and hermana Hernandez were studying and found in Alma 6:6 a bit of inspiration. We had been trying to figure out how to hasten the work more effectively and get the members more involved. In this scripture it teaches that we must gather in fasting and prayer oft for the souls who don't know God (or something like that, we were reading in Spanish so translation is rough). We were talking to our ward mission leader and he had the idea that as a ward we could hold a 40 day fast for that exact purpose. He printed up a calendar and we passed it around the ward and 40 people signed up to take one day to fast. It began last Tuesday and we have already seen miracles from it. On Thursday alone we saw 4, and I don't have time to recount all of the stories, but the Lord led us in every step and every conversation that day. 

One of the most obvious ones was we were in la ruta on our way to our comida (the meal at about 4:00) when due to distraction, a phone call, and the bus being so crowded we could hardly see out the window, we missed our stop. We ended up all the way over at the X (monument in Juarez). We were stressing out because we were already running late and had to cross a highway to catch the bus to get us back, when suddenly the man sweeping the street behind us asked if we were sent by Jesus Christ. We quickly explained that we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and are here in Juarez with the purpose of helping people come unto Christ. As we were talking to him he began to cry as he explained his story. Three days prior his brother had died, and he expressed his great sorrow and worry not knowing where his brother was and if he would ever see him again. We taught him about the plan of salvation, and testified to him that through Christ, and through our obedience to His Commandments, he could and would see him again. He cried and thanked us. We got his address to send to the missionaries in his area (unfortunately he doesn't live in ours). 

There is power in fasting and prayer.

...and many turkey legs, much easier to gift

Cute thing from this week: We were teaching the family of Sofi and Dani again, and again they were adorable. Sofi was asking us questions about being a missionary and after a couple she thought for a second and said something along the lines of, "So when I'm a missionary..." Both me and Hna Hernandez stopped and asked her if she wanted to be a missionary. She said, in a very matter of fact way that yes when she was older she was going to be a missionary, but that she was worried about having to live in a different place. Dani said she wanted to serve as well. We were both close to tears. We also mentioned to their father that it was possible for him and his wife to serve once their kids had grown and he visibly lit up and started to smile. They all want to be baptized, but have not accepted a date.

You could say I was happy to get a package including Peanut butter Captain Crunch (pretty much the best cereal ever, that Mexico does not sell)

Love and miss you all! Hope you have a great week and can find joy in every day! 

Hermana Naatjes

Don't cry over spilled...lime water...? (hna Hernandez thought it was hilarious that I spilled so took a picture)

Help from Julio

A little piece of home (gonna look for the owner later)

Sorry, don't have much time to write, but this week was good! We have investigators who are progressing well--a few families and a few others. Found and saw miracles and heartbreak as always. 

found my name on a trailer

Funny thing:

After a lesson with one of the families, they were talking about how much my Spanish has progressed since the first visit (about 3 weeks in). I was telling them (or trying to tell them) that it was still a bit of a struggle to express myself and say what I want (a huge struggle) but I was working on learning and studying more, when one of the sons (Julio-10) jumped up out of his seat and ran to his room. 

We were all a bit confused as he ran back, carrying a large coloring book. He handed it to me and said it was to help me learn Spanish. I opened it and found on each page there was a short (5 or less words) description of the picture in both Spanish and English. 

I thanked him, and you better believe I'm going to be using it to learn how to say things like jump rope, and bucket (and other basic phrases that I have no idea how to say). 

Love you all!

Hermana Naatjes

                        Me with my special 3 month breakfast from Hna Hernandez (cinnamon French toast)  *notice the coloring book from Julio on her desk

3 months

Blurry, but here's me on the border with a sign. I'm definitely missing soccer!

Hola todos!

In three days I officially complete 3 months in the mission, just gotta do that 6 more times! Spanish is still a struggle (and will be for a while) but I'm less lost! I'm also much less lost in my area (wandering the streets all day every day for 7 weeks teaches you a few things I guess), but I still stick out like a sore thumb to everyone. I'm known down here as "la guerita"(the blondie) which has been strange because I would definitely not consider myself blonde, but it's chill.

Precious things from this week: 

This week we were teaching one of our families (the same family I mentioned last week) and the little girls were excitedly talking and telling us any and every thing that had happened to them in the past two days in which we hadn't seen them, when their mom told us that they had been playing "missionaries". They stopped and blushed but then excitedly told us that Dani played Hermana Hernandez and Sofi played me, but then Sofi looked a bit concerned and told me she wasn't sure how to talk like me.

The two adorable girls I talked about holding their Plan of Salvation poster we made for them to color

In the same family we had taught the word of wisdom and had invited them to keep it. A few visits passed and the two little girls informed us that they were still drinking a bit of coffee in the morning and we were talking about the importance of keeping the word of wisdom when they informed us they had been keeping it. They then showed us a little doll house in which they were protecting, or rather "keeping" the pamphlet entitled "the word of wisdom". I then realized the importance of word choice as we explained that we had meant to obey it. It was adorable and hilarious.

Went to the X in Juarez--better pics to come later because all were taken on other cameras

Depressing thing of the week:

Going into this second transfer I've been feeling a lot more confident with my Spanish, or rather WAS feeling a lot more confident. We were teaching a lesson on Tuesday (or Wednesday...?) and I was explaining the story of Joseph Smith and the first vision to a family. I felt like I had done well, maybe not my best, but not too bad, until the 13 year old boy in the family informed me after the lesson that he could "understand some of my "English". I was quite confused until his Uncle (who is 18) explained that the boy thought I had been speaking English the whole time. Guess I've got a long way to go.

                         Gringas quite happy to be at Buffalo Wild Wings

Spiritual thought of the week: 

The Gospel is Bold. There are times out here when I am explaining the gospel that I am afraid to teach certain things out of fear of offending people. We want to be respectful always, but that does not mean passive. This gospel is bold and is the only true way to happiness. 

In the scriptures it explains that Those whose hearts are hard will take this gospel and it's teachings to be hard, but to those who are prepared it will be sweet and give hope and joy. Don't be afraid to share, and look always for the sweetness and joy in this gospel. There is more to find here, more real, lasting joy, than from any other source. Live this gospel, Love it, and never take it for granted. 

There are many who don't have the beautiful truths that we do, the knowledge and hope of a complete remission from sin and the power to not just become clean from our sins but to find the power to change who we are to become new creatures in Christ, or of the miracle and blessing of an eternal family. 

Sorry if that was all over the place but I don't have time to fix it!

Love and miss you all! 

Hermana Naatjes

my comp was excited for me so wanted this pic at bdubs as well

first transfer complete

the cute family we've been teaching all dressed up

Hola Todos!

I have officially finished my first transfer! It's amazing how much I have grown and learned in just six weeks. Though I am far from fluent, I can now understand most of what is being said around me, and can get across ideas (however strange and slow the delivery). 

I am still trying to learn the area, and thus am very thankful that my companion and I will be together for another transfer here (and because she's awesome--I don't only like her for her knowledge of the area and ability to speak English...though they definitely help...). But I am looking forward to another 6 weeks on the streets of Frontera Norte (yes, directly on the border. My area goes to the very last road in Mexico and I walk it almost daily).

some awesome burritos

This week we had another baptism! Jorge has been meeting with the missionaries for about 5 months, and had two previous baptismal dates, both of which he called the night before to cancel, but he finally felt sure enough and had strong enough faith to go through with it! 

Jorge

It was scheduled to be before church on Sunday at 8:00 AM, so our ward mission leader agreed to go to the church at 5 AM to start filling the baptismal font. When my companion and I showed up, however, we found the font empty and discovered that the water was out in the church. We were terrified, thinking this would scare Jorge into cancelling again, but instead he agreed to being baptized after church in another chapel in Juarez. 

The service was great, the spirit was strong, and he was happy to finally have made a covenant with his Heavenly Father and be able to have the promise and blessing of the Holy Ghost with him. 

my district

Prayer answered: This week we were knocking on the door of a woman I had contacted the week before. We had an appointment, but people often forget or give us false addresses. We knocked a few times with no response and were ready to give up when Hermana Hernandez decided she was going to go inside the open fence and knock on the door itself (which we rarely do because people's fences are almost always closed and locked). I was hesitant, but she went for it. 

The woman answered and said she didn't have time to listen then because she had a lot to do, but agreed to let us help her. As we cleaned her house and helped her with the laundry, she informed us that she has been desperately looking for someone to help her around the house as she is 87 and taking care of her disabled son. While she was telling us, we thought of a woman who we have been teaching who we had a lesson with that night, though she already had a job. We told that woman about the job and she informed us that she has been praying to find a new job nearer to her home. The woman's home is about a 10 minute walk from hers.

Prayers really can be and are answered each and every day. Turn to Him. Ask Him your questions. He is wanting and waiting to help.

Love you all!

Hermana Naatjes

Thanksgiving meal from some members