Transfers!

Us and Pedro Alvarez (member) and Julio Cesar (his friend who we´re currently teaching)

  Hola Todos!

I have officially completed my third transfer in the field! I have a strange mix of emotions, feeling like I just barely got here, but also like I've been here for years. I can definitely say that I have become a new person in the last 5 months, which is cool and really weird, but all for the better!

Our district :)

This was my last week with my trainer! Hermana Hernandez has been with me all 3 transfers that I´ve been in the field, but flies home Wednesday morning! I am incredibly sad to lose her.  Tomorrow I get to meet my new companion, Hermana Sanchez from Honduras. I have never met her and have no idea what she is like, but I´m hoping for the best! 

An awesome family (la familia Vidaña)

Milagros de la semana:  (miracles of the week)

We had two of the people we´ve been teaching come to church for the first time this week! We've been teaching them both for about a month, but for some reason or another they kept not being able to come, but this week they both came!! They´re Hermana Angela and Hermano Jose Alfredo. They are both fantastic. Angela is the sister who I talked about in an earlier email who was super excited to hear we had a prophet today. 

Jose Alfredo is a brother who we teach sporadically, because his work hours are unpredictable and he's almost never there for the appointments when we set them, but is so incredibly in tune with the spirit. One day we found him sitting in his car out in front of his house reading the Book of Mormon, and he started telling us everything he had learned and understood and felt. For a long time he's struggled with an addiction to alcohol, but while he was reading he told us he had this strong impression that we needed to protect and take care of our bodies. He started telling us all about how they are gifts for us from God, perfect and beautiful, but with all that we do to them we are destroying His beautiful creations. He has since stopped drinking completely.

I love and miss you all!

Hermana Naatjes

Crepe Party With Jorge (recent convert) and Grecia (member)

BAPTISM!!!!

The Miede Bueno  family (who are preparing to enter the temple)

Hola Todos!

This week was truly a week of miracles! 

1) This week we were teaching a family who haven't been going to church much, and stopped pretty quickly after they joined the church. They had many questions, as they always do, but were very willing and had a desire to learn and start to do what's right. We had a lesson where we taught about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity, which are two sacred and very important commandments. We were a bit worried about how they would respond, but felt that it was what they needed. 

At the end of the lesson we asked them if they had any other questions. At first they told us no and that they were ready and willing to keep these commandments, but then the husband said he had one that wasn't really related to the lesson. We told him he could ask whatever questions he had, and he asked us what they needed to do to be sealed in the temple. They have progressed so much in the months we've been teaching them (at the beginning they actually hid from us occasionally), and they now have the desire to prepare to enter the temple so they can have the guarantee that the line that is so sadly said in many wedding "til death do us part" (or something like that) no longer applies--that their family will be together in the life after this one.

2) Jorge (one of the people who recently got baptized) went to the temple! He went to help those who didn't have the opportunity to be baptized in this life, and he even baptized for others! 

3) HECTOR WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!! Hector, who I talked about a little bit last week, was baptized and confirmed this weekend! He has changed so much since we started teaching him 2 months ago. He is a completely different person. He has found freedom from his many burdens which he had carried for many years, through the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He now has a confidence, and hope, even a light that he didn't before. He has found new meaning to his life, and we couldn't be happier.

Hector (and his friend Marco) Angel, Hermana Candy, and us 

4) Angel Martinez (who was baptized about 4 months ago) baptized him! Angel has worked hard to always be worthy and do the right, and because of this, and the priesthood authority that he received, he had the opportunity to help Hector make this covenant with God. 

This church, this gospel, is so incredibly true. Through these teachings, which are teachings from Jesus Christ, lives can and do change. Through Him we have the opportunity to change who we are. He gives us this invitation, that we should "come unto [Him], all ye who are heavy laden, and [He] shall give thee rest." (or something like that, my memory of the scriptures in English is definitely weakening). I invite you all to turn to Him, to trust in Him. At times we feel like our lives are too heavy for us to bear, but He has offered and promised to help us, if we are only willing to follow Him. 

I love and miss you all like crazy!

Hermana Naatjes

5 months!!!

awful picture but us with Hermana Grecia (an awesome and very helpful member) on her bday

Hola Todos!

This week was fantastic. I have officially completed 5 months on my mission, and though it took a bit, I can testify that I have truly grown to love this work and these people. I have almost always liked it (there are always hard days) but this like and appreciation has truly transformed into a love and a gratitude that I have the opportunity to serve the Lord by serving His children. The key to happiness is truly to lose yourself in the service of your God.

On Saturday we were teaching a man named Hector. He is a fantastic person. He is relatively young but has gone through a lot in his life, and in the time that we have been teaching him I have truly seen a change in him. During this lesson we were teaching in a park near his house. We decided to teach him about the power of fasting. We invited him to fast with the purpose of asking for God's help in his journey of overcoming his addictions. He told us that he was willing to fast but that he didn't feel worthy to fast for that. He told us that God had more important things to do than help him stop smoking, something that he should have the power to do himself. That this little thing was too silly for the Lord. 

Hermana Hernandez stopped him and invited him to look around, and then to look at the sky for a moment. He agreed and silently stared up at the sky. She began to describe to him how big the world is and how small we are. That God created all of this. The stars in the sky, the earth on which we stood, each and every plant, insect, animal, everything. "Makes you feel small doesn't it?" she asked, and he silently nodded his head. She told him that it is true. In comparison to all of this creation, to God in all His glory, we are nothing, but that to Him, we are everything. All of this He created for us. She testified to him that he was truly a child of God. She told him, "and if you think for one second that this is too small for Him, you are wrong." 

Hector is a person who is always moving. During our lessons he talks incredibly fast,he paces back and forth, speaks expressively with his hands, acts out his stories...never stops moving and doing, but in this moment, he was still. He agreed to fast, to ask for His help, and to work with all his might to never smoke again. The spirit was incredibly strong.

La familia Lecanda

I want to testify to all of you that God lives. That He loves us. That He has done, is doing, and will continue doing everything to help us. There is no struggle, no worry, no trial too small for Him. We are His children, and His work and glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. Turn to Him, pray to Him, trust in Him, and love Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, and He will work miracles in your life.

I love and miss you all, and hope you have a fantastic week.

Hermana Naatjes

 An awesome meal from an awesome family (la familia Lecanda)

First week of a new year

 I flee the country but still can't escape these summer sales boys

Hola todos!

I don't have a ton to report this week, but it was a good one! We have investigators who are progressing, the members are starting to like us (we were struggling to find help in lessons earlier, but now people pull over in the street to give us rides and such), and me and Hermana Hernandez are having a blast through it all! There are hard days like always, but we're doing our best to find the good and hope in them all! We're doing our best to make the most out of the last three weeks of her mission!

We've starting teaching a woman named Angela in the last few weeks. We contacted her son in front of their house and set an appointment, but when we came he wasn't home. Instead, his mom answered the door, and when we introduced ourselves and said we were there to share a message about Jesus Christ, she invited us in without hesitation (that rarely happens). We started teaching her and throughout the lesson, as we spoke about the Restoration (idk how to spell this in English anymore...oops) of The Church of Jesus Christ she visibly lit up. When we told her that today, like in times of old, we have a living Prophet her jaw dropped. She looked at me wide eyed and asked to confirm, "A living Prophet? A real person? A person like me??" When we confirmed that yes, there is a living prophet today named Russell M Nelson, we could see and feel her joy. We are very excited to continue teaching her. 

What a blessing it is to have a prophet. Someone who can give us direction, warnings, and guidance directly from our Heavenly Father for our day. Like Noah, Abraham, Isaiah, He has not left us. He has continued communicating with us through them. Listen to Him, follow His guidance, and receive the blessing that he has waiting for you.

Exchanges with hermana Trejo

I've been thinking a lot this week about hope. It is truly the key to happiness. No matter what is happening in our lives, if we have hope we will always see the light in every day. I have many hopes for this new year, the only year of my life in which I will have the opportunity to dedicate each and every moment to Him and serving His children here in Ciudad Juarez. I am determined to become the missionary, disciple, and person that He wants me to be. He always sees us with eyes filled with hope. He sees us for the people we can become, not for the the things that we've done or the people we used to be. I invite you all to see yourselves and those around you with His eyes.We are truly children of the King, and He hopes for the best for us. Turn to Him, and let Him transform you into the person who you hope to someday be. 

Love and miss you all!

Hermana Naatjes

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)