October 19 Boxing

when Hermana Vite can't take me anymore

OH! in honor of my 9 month mark, (aka my first baby) I found a super cool new shirt that I wanted to buy. The tradition is to burn something when you're halfway done, but I don't have enough clothes to waste something by burning it.

here it is

About dreaming in Spanish, I'm pretty sure it's a nightly thing now. My companion tells me that I sleep talk and I teach complete lessons in my dream. haha This week was weird, for some reason I couldn't fall asleep and just kept thinking until like 2 every night. frustrating because you want to shut your brain off. but just kept thinking about the investigators that we have and what we are going to do with them.

I was thinking about what you said last week about your goal to go to the temple more often.. and I read this awesome talk about the temple in the Liahona of October.  it's called " The temple and the natural order of marriage" by Bruce C Hafen Super awesome talk, (of course I'm not trying to think too much about marriage right now hahaha but its exciting to think about) one quote i liked...

"Real, personal sacrifice was never placing an animal on the altar.  Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal IN US upon the altar and letting it be consumed." - Neal A Maxwell.   

I love that, how really all God asks is that we sacrifice our own personal desires and put His will first. You trying to go to the temple more often is a great example of putting the more important things, the eternal things, first :)

Also thinking about what you said about how the boys have to be more prepared for their missions, its SO true. I thought I was semi ready to go on the mission, and now 

I really wish that I had more knowledge of the scriptures. and of the gospel doctrine. but 

I'm finally getting the hang of things , but it would have helped having more to start with.

There's an awesome talk I read by M Russel Ballard from the conference of April, and he talks about how missionaries need to be more prepared in this generation. "the greatest generation of Young adults" and I think he refers to another talk he gave earlier, "raise the bar" I'm assuming its also really good. 

but he talks about the NEED  we have in this world for good missionaries, that don't only pay attention to the distractions of society (social media, internet, etc)  I love the 9 questions he asks. For all of us, we should continue asking ourselves these questions and really ponder in what ways we can improve :)

Anyways, this week was good.  Well sometimes, we have been a little frustrated because we've been working hard and not seeing the success we expect. On the other hand, tons of problems with our investigators. Like everyone we are teaching have tons of problems, tons of temptations, or just difficult situations, and need more time before a baptism. I feel like I'm just starting to understand the sadness that our Father feels when we don't obey his commandments. he knows it will go better for us if we just do, but with our agency well we get to choose.  It's so frustrating.

But I feel very very blessed too. SO blessed for the life we have in the United States <3 

Betty is having a difficult time because her boss is going to let her go in December and look for another person (she is a full time nanny) and she is going to have to find a different job and place to live. She doesn't want to go back to her rancho, because honestly it's a really bad way of life, not bad, just poor. but shes trying to finish high school and then get into university, trying to get out of that lifestyle. 

Anyways, shes super stressed, and this weekend decided to work, to start saving money. we were sad because she worked all day sunday, didn't go to church so still can't get baptized. but the worst part is that she worked 13 hrs sat and sun, and only to make 100 pesos per DAY. 7.50$. a day. what?! You could work in McDonalds and make that per HOUR where we live. ah its just sad, and I wish  I could help her out a little. It's her bday this Friday though and we are going to celebrate :)

so that's my little update. not too much new is happening. 

love you all the much!

October 12

My meditizar scripture of the week;

Mosiah 4:9 "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

 

It's pretty hot here still. not bad but just in the sun all day makes you sweat haha. but yeah Ixtapan is hotter than the DF. and Toluca is super chilly

I thought we got rid of all the spiders, but found another bite from last night. nothing too bad.  We saw a lacran the other day, like a scorpion but giant. it was just in the street, but creepy haha.

I'm doing good, were working hard and just hoping to see the fruits in this cambio! It was frustrating that Betty left and her Baptism date fell through but it happens.

But we will work with her lots this week and with lots of faith to make this happen .  It was also a good week for finding.. found two new families that we started teaching. Just have to get them to church but it should be good!

October 5 Conference

Okay. so this week was actually a little difficult. 

Started out with a heartbreak, We talked to Alexis´s family again, and his dad told us that they decided that Alexis would no longer be allowed to go to church, or talk with us about the church, nada. They won't let us teach their family anymore.  Probably the most frustrating thing, to see someone take away the agency of someone else. That was tough. 

We spent all week getting our investigators super pumped for conference, to see and listen to the prophets and apostles!  We were looking all over to find a projector or a TV or something so we could watch the conference, and not just through the laptop. But Friday  when we went to set everything up, we found out that the internet doesn't work. 

Spent all day Friday, and then Saturday trying to find out what was wrong. Ran around Ixtapan, looking for other modems and computers and everything, but didn't find a solution.

My companion and I had to let our investigators know, and then we went to watch parts of conference in a internet cafe. So it was really frustrating and disappointing.  But I learned a lot about how to be patient with other people, and with the impossible situations that you can't control.

So that was the bad news. 

But the GOOD NEWS! We got to listen a least a little bit to the living Prophets. There is NOTHING better, especially in the mission.

I LOVED Saturday morning, the quote from Elder Uchtdorf "Exhaltation is our Goal, Discipleship is our Journey"  We are all here on the journey of discipleship, and we aren´t perfect. None of us are, but we are all trying in our own way.

Love love loved the talk by Neil F. Marriot 

"have thy own way Lord, have thy own way,

thou art the potter and I am the clay

Mold me and make me after thy will

while I am waiting, yielded and still"

"things positive and negative work together for our own good" It is the hardest thing to do, but when we give our will to the Lord, he will make us into something SO MUCH greater than we could ever on our own. 

 I LOVED Jeffery R Hollands talk on mothers, and then Bradley D Fosters about fathers. 

I can not thank you enough, Mom, Dad. Mom thanks for carrying me, for loving me with your Christlike love. ". thank you for your crucial role in fulfilling the purposes of eternity"

And of course, I loved Elder Russell M Nelson's talk about women. 

I have so much to improve! but I really loved how all throughout the conference, we can find ways to progress. Like Larry R. Laurence said, we should ask the Lord "What lack I yet?" and we will feel the spirit prompt us to change, and each day come closer to Christ.

I can´t write everything that I loved, or that I learned, but most of all, I am so thankful for the Church. For the organization, for our inspired leaders, and their dedication to the work.  I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, and that knowledge brings me so much complete joy. I love you!

OH! and I forgot to write about how much I loved the idea of "meditizar" or como se dice...

my scripture this week I found in Jacob while reading yesterday..

Jacob 4:7 "Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that
 it is by His grace and His great condescension (o sea, atonement) unto the children of men,
 that we have power to do these things" 

we aren't perfect. but we can do all things that he calls us to do. he calls us in our
weakness, so that we can build our faith,  and get stronger. it goes along with
 Ether 12:27, and was exactly what I needed :)

Hermana Schneider