Feliz Ano Nuevo!

IT SNOWED!!!! (and melted 4 hours later...)

Hola todos!

This week was awesome. My first Christmas away from family, without snow (it was 70ish degrees), and my first Christmas in Spanish! I was worried I would waste my time missing family, and though I did miss them, I found so much joy being out here, doing the work of the Lord during the season when we celebrate Him and His birth. I can testify that there is no happier place to be than in the work of the Lord. I got to spend my Christmas in many different homes, spreading the good news of Christ, and trying (in my broken Spanish) to help people remember the true meaning of Christmas. It was fantastic. 

Also, I got to talk to my family on Google hangout! It was definitely a funny experience as I struggled to speak in English! The first sentence I spoke to them was completely in Spanish, and I didn't realize it until I saw their confused faces. But that means I'm getting better at Spanish! (I hope...)

Oh yeah, and we had a baptism on Christmas Day! Julio (who has been taking the missionary discussions and going to church and institute for over a year) finally made the decision to be baptized, and felt that there was no day better to be born again than on the day that the Savior was born. It was fantastic, and definitely an awesome way to start off my Christmas haha.

Julio's baptism!

I hope you all have a fantastic New Year. I challenge you all to set a goal, and not only a goal to go to the gym more. In this new year I challenge you all to set a goal to become a better person. We all have things about ourselves that we'd like to change, but we often are afraid to do so. We are often too afraid to try because we are afraid to fail. We often think our problems are bigger than us. If we think like this, we will be right. I challenge you all to set your goals, make specific plans to complete them, and pray to the Lord to help you complete them. I have found out here in my mission, that we almost all believe that He has all power and can do anything, except change us and answer our questions. I want to testify that He really does have all power, and because He is your father, He wants to help you, and will, if you are willing to trust in Him!

I love and miss you all like crazy!!

Hermana Naatjes

Feliz Navidad!!!

boots I bought one month ago... had to buy some new ones :(

Hola Todos!

This week has been an amazing one. I was worried that this time of year would be harder than most, being away from family and all, but I have found so much joy. There is too much to do and too many people to help to feel sad!

Miracles of the Week:
 There is a man named Julio who has been going to church, to institute, YSA activities, and taking the missionary discussions for over a year. We haven't been able to find him for a few months, as he works a lot. On Tuesday night we were walking in the area near his house, running around looking for people and teaching lessons (like usual) and suddenly ran into him. While we were talking he told us that he felt like he was finally ready to think about baptism! We set an appointment for the next morning, and in the lesson he accepted a baptismal date for the January 2nd. We were so excited. In our following appointment we were talking about his testimony and all that he had learned and how ready he is (he practically knows more than me!) and my companion asked him if he wanted to move his baptism up to be baptized this week, and he accepted and asked if we could do it on Christmas!!! (We definitely said yes :))

Our Christmas décor

The Lord has definitely helped us in miraculous ways this week, helping us find people who are truly prepared to receive this message. Julio is only one of a few who have accepted baptismal dates and are committed to follow the Lord and change their live for the better. 

During this time of the year the spirit is so strong in the world. I have found that through the years Christmas gets a bit less exciting every year, as we grow up, move away, even lose loved ones. The spirit and joy that once was, seems to dim. If we think of Christmas for the parties and the presents, it will continue seeming less and less important. I encourage you all, however, to remember the real meaning of Christmas. If we remember that this time of year is to remember Christ, to remember His birth, and remember all that He has done for us we will feel this joy every year because no matter how much we change, how much time passes, we will always need Christ. If we remember His sacrifice, we will remember that through it we can find joy again. If we remember that because He conquered death, our loved ones will as well, and we will know that through and because of Him we have the opportunity to see them again, and live with them through all eternity, we can find joy each and every year.

Feliz Navidad! 

Hermana Naatjes

Man my family really knows me :)

Officially a missionary

 Karen (recent convert) who accompanied us for some of our lessons

Hola Todos! 

I officially have run out of excuses for having no idea what I am doing, because I am officially done with my training! I am still with my trainer (luckily, she's the bomb) and still in Frontera. We are looking forward to a transfer of miracles!

 Hermana Hernandez made some crepes, I was proud

This week was a tough one. We had many people who we were teaching who were progressing well, to the point where they even had baptismal dates, but decided this week they wanted to be done. Many tears were shed.

Gilberto (who I am pretty sure I've talked about) was doing sooo well. He was down to one cigarette a day, and committed to stop completely (he started bout 3 weeks ago with 20 a day) and had his baptism scheduled for Sunday. He was so excited, looking happier and healthier than we had seen him before, excitedly telling us about how he was shopping for the sandals he was going to need for his baptism and everything (Friday). We went on Saturday with the Elders for his Baptismal interview and when he opened the door the first thing he said was that he wasn't going to baptized on Sunday. He told us that he talked with his Claudia (who is taking care of him) and that he is Catholic (which he had never said anything about before) and wasn't going to change that and didn't want to be baptized anymore. We were heartbroken, but as we talked, he committed that he would keep reading the Book of Mormon and praying, but that he didn't want to go to church anymore and that we should stop coming.  But he did say we could check up on him again in about a week to see if he still feels the same. 

We are hopeful that his heart will change. 

Me and Hermana Figueroa

With this experience and other heartbreaking experiences throughout the week, we were feeling pretty down Sunday morning (when we had planned to be at the church preparing for his baptism). We knew we had to keep going but it was hard. 

We got to the church at about 8:30 to save seats for the people we were hoping would come when we were welcomed by a family who we had been teaching. Two of the kids are baptized but the rest of the family is not (6 kids, and their dad) The dad didn't come, but 3 of the kids who had never come before were there. 

A few minutes later we received a call from another family who said they wanted to come as well (they had said no earlier so we hadn't found them a ride, but we were quickly able to get a hold of a member who was kind and willing enough to pick them up). 

As the meeting began we got another call, from another family we had been teaching who were lost on their way to the church, and with our directions were able to find it and come. 

Part way through the meeting as well, another couple who we had been teaching walked into the chapel. We had 9 investigators there (which to those who don't know, is nothing short of a miracle).

The Lord remembers us always. He is not only there to help us up when we fall, but to help us grow, to stand taller, and achieve more. Trust in Him always, and He will provide.

Love you all!

Hermana Naatjes

Familia Alanis (parte)

Us and Jorge (other recent convert)

This picture and caption were posted on Facebook a couple of days ago...                            

Un día más con las misioneras 💗 es un gusto poder ayudar en esta bonita obra, Alguien quiere conocer el bonito mensaje que traen?? 😊

One more day with the missionaries 💗 it's a pleasure to help in this beautiful work, someone wants to know the nice message they bring?? 😊

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Rate this translation

— in Ciudad Juárez.

One more week!

Hermana Limachi (another missionary here) very happy to have a hat made by my mom. Said to tell her that her hat will eventually go with her to Bolivia.

Hola todos!!

I only have one more week of training! In a week I'll officially be a real missionary, and will have to learn to trust myself (as it's very likely that my companion is going to leave the area and I'll be put in charge of teaching the area to another missionary). 

I'm definitely scared, but learning how to trust that the Lord will help me be enough, even if I'm not. 

The Garcia family, an awesome and helpful family in our ward

Miracle of the week: Since my first week on the mission we have been teaching a family. The daughter was baptized (Karen) but the mom, who we were also teaching, has not been and had not progressed much. This week we finally had the opportunity to teach her alone (and she actually opened the door, which has also been a problem). 

We finally got to talk with her and teach her and figure out what she is really worried about and what has been holding her back. At the end of the lesson she (for the first time) agreed to offer the prayer. In the prayer she began to cry, and at the end of the lesson agreed to begin reading and praying on her own. She has committed before, but this time felt different. 

Two days later we had a lesson with her daughter, and for the first time in a few weeks she was happy. I wasn't sure what had changed until after the lesson she told us that her mom had asked her to help her find a chapter (which we had left for her) in the Book of Mormon and that she was praying every night. Karen was glowing with joy.

Hermana Hernandez, sadly holding her warm cuddly (bag of rice made by my mom) which she burnt. She decided to microwave it for 3 minutes though I had told her it only needed one.

If you don't know yet, the Church has put out the Christmas initiative for the year for Light the World. Please watch the video, and share it. Through small acts of service like sharing this video you can change lives. Last year a man in our area shared the video from the last year on Facebook, and one of his friends (who he didn't know very well) responded and asked where it was from. He invited her to come to church the following week and she agreed, and was baptized 3 weeks later, and is an active member to this day. 

Through our small acts of service the Lord can work miracles. Look outside yourself this Christmas, and help those around you. You never know the difference that a few minutes of service can make.

Love you all!

Hermana Naatjes

Went bowling! (featuring the weight I have sadly but surely gained) (It's not actually as bad as it looks in this pic I promise...hope)

2 weeks left in training

Hna Hernandez told me she had a Mennonite dress, I thought she was exaggerating until she brought me this dress which she had literally bought from Mennonites in Casas Grandes. You better believe I rocked it the whole day.

Hola everybody!

This week was another good one! I have two weeks left in my training period (the first two transfers) so that's pretty crazy! Theoretically, in two weeks I could get a new missionary to train (they definitely shouldn't trust me with that...but it's possible). Things are getting more familiar and the weeks are starting to go faster and faster.

Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting and multiple people in the ward got up and bore their testimonies about how they too were seeing the miracles and blessings of the ward's 40 day fast! Me and hermana Hernandez decided we should too, to thank everyone and bear our testimonies of the power of the fast and the miracles we have seen. I was nervous (as all who know me know, talking, in general, and especially in front of large groups of people is not my strong suit) but made it through! After the meeting, 4 separate people came up to me to tell me how much my Spanish had improved! I guess Julio's Spanish/English coloring book really has helped! Not sure if it says more about how good I've gotten, or how bad I was (most likely the latter...I was (am) struggling). 

 After weeks of begging (literally since my first week in the field) I agreed to spend a pday getting our nails done.I planned to just wait while Hna Hernandez did hers, but while she was getting hers done, the mom of two recent converts (she isn't a member) finished with her previous client. I took one for the team and asked her to do mine. 

We have definitely continued seeing miracles this week! People in the streets accepting our message, families committing to baptismal dates, and lots of powerful lessons. 

We are teaching a man named Gilberto who has a rare disease which is slowly taking away his ability to talk, walk, and slowly think as well. For him, speaking takes much effort and time, and that, mixed with his inability to walk well, often gives the impression that he is drunk, which has led to many difficult and sad situations. Because of this he has been afraid to come to church out of fear of scaring the people there. Last week he finally agreed to go, and though he felt a bit out of place, he left the meetings with a huge smile on his face. Though he has some things he needs to overcome, he is working to prepare to be baptized :)

We've decided to start eating healthier. Breakfast on Tuesday was salad and oatmeal.

This week I also got a couple packages from my mom (thanks mom!)  She sent Christmas music, a little Christmas tree, some lights, and a few gifts for me and to give away. Our little house that we live in is now lit up with the lights from the tree and the few others that we have. It's a bit strange. I'm in a different country, in the middle of the desert, with no snow, speaking a different language, away from everyone and everything that I know, but yet I can still feel that Christmas is near. The spirit of Christmas and the joy it brings is a worldwide thing. It's amazing the peace and love you can feel when everyone remembers the Savior, even just a bit more. As I have thought about this it has made me think of the way the world could be. Imagine if we would remember Him in this way all year long. We could feel this joy, this peace, this "Christ"mas spirit always. For many of us, this is a promise that we have made. That we will ALWAYS remember Him. If we would only keep this promise, we could feel this joy each and every day. 

I would like to invite you all to do this. Remember Him. Bask in the glorious spirit and joy that this Christmas season brings and learn from it. Think about what it is about Christmas that makes the world just a bit brighter. Think about all that He has done for us. Remember not only His birth, but remember the reason He was born. To give us an example. To suffer for our sins. To die for us. To rise again. To conquer death, that we might all live again. To show us the way home.

I love and miss you all!

Hermana Naatjes