Semana 8 en Kerman

On May 5, 2014, Hermana VanWie shared this letter: 

Querida Familia y amigos --

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!! And Happy Mother's Day this coming Sunday!!  This week has been wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister M and I are still working hard and we are trying to be smarter about our missionary work. Because of our efforts this week and because of the Tender Mercies of the Lord, we were able to find two solid part member families and one of them came to church on Sunday! 

One of the amazing experiences we had this week was finding M. M is 11 and is a part member family. Last Sunday, we received a list from the clerk of members in the ward and we began to work through it--looking for families that we did not know or never had heard of. His family was one of the ones on this list. We went to their home and as we drove up, I remembered that I had been there once before with Hermana Z but we didn't get in. This time, we were welcomed with a wide open door and an invitation to please come in. We had a wonderful lesson with his mother and got to know her and to understand how we can help her. She explained to us, that she was kind of surprised that she could talk with us because a lot of other times she didn't feel comfortable talking with missionaries. I know that this is part of the reason that Sister M and I are here together--to find those who have been prepared for us and who are wanting and waiting to come back to the church. 

The next time we went over, she asked her two youngest sons to come in and be taught by us! What a miracle! We didn't even ask! M is a very smart boy and had a lot of questions before we came and has always liked church--he said it made him feel happy and good. I love it when children can recognize the Spirit! We taught them about the Restoration and taught them how to pray.

The next time we taught them was Saturday morning. He had prayed everyday! and said that he felt good when he prayed. We watched the Restoration with them and there was a special Spirit there. While the Spirit was there, we invited them to come to church and the mother said that they would come! It was such a wonderful feeling to see them at church on Sunday! The mother progressed, because she was coming back to church and being able to renew her covenants again and the children progressed because now they are learning more about Jesus Christ. I love helping people progress! It is such a special feeling.

We also found another part member family this week. His name is G and he is 10 years old. He too, wants to be baptized. We at first started teaching the mother, but then she called in her sons as well. Sister M was teaching the older brother to help him with some testimony doubts. So, I got to talk with G. At one point in our conversation I asked him how he felt and he said he felt proud. When I asked why, he said it was because he was learning. I explained to him that that happy confident feeling was from Heavenly Father because He is proud of him and He wanted him to know that he is making good choices. It was a very spiritual experience. He wants the Holy Ghost in His life and wants to do what is right. I know he will get baptized soon.

As I was studying Conference talks this past week, I found a quote I absolutely love, "Remember, you've prepared for this for millennia. This is your moment to perform. This is your four minutes. The time is now." I know that we can touch people's lives every day. We have been prepared and now as we follow our Heavenly Father's plan with the help of our Savior we can all help others return back home through word and deed.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to help others come closer to Christ. What an honor it is to be serving Him!

I love Him! I know that He lives!

 

Muchas gracias por todo su apoyo y su amor!  Los quiero mucho!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana VanWie

Semana 7 en Kerman

On April 28, 2014 Hermana VanWie shared this letter:

Querida Familia y amigos --

This week has been a great week!  I am loving working with Sister Miller! She is great! She has a lot of wonderful ideas and insights in making missionary work more effective and really working through the members--active and less active. This is going to be a great transfer! 

On Tuesday, after we received our new companions, we had Spanish class again. This time we taught about how to read with correct pronunciation. I can't wait to take these members out on team-ups and to have them be able to better participate in lessons!

Wednesday we received a referral from a member. We immediately contacted the referral and it turned out to be a less active, part member family. We had a good lesson (despite a quail like chicken bird running around and a one and half year old screaming). 

On Friday we had the opportunity to do a lot of service with a member that is moving. In the process, we got to know some of the other members that were there. There was soooo many things to pack. She had collections of everything. Somehow, we got the most important things packed.

Saturday we had the opportunity to do more service with Mormon Helping Hands as a stake. We also were able to finally find A! YAY!! Hna Z and I could never find her. We had a great lesson with her. She knows what the missionaries have been teaching is true and she wants to come to church and be baptized. Unfortunately, her husband will not let her. We are praying that his heart will soften and that he will allow her to come to church this Sunday.

Sunday we were able to find S and have a lesson with E and C. S is doing well. She has noticed the difference in her life since we have started teaching her. Hopefully she can come to church next Sunday. We had stopped by E and C Saturday night to invite them to church. C replied in his words, "Tal vez. Maybe. Ojala." We had faith they would come, but they did not. So, at our lesson we discovered what his doubts and worries were. I love inspired questions! By the end of the lesson we had learned what they need to progress and how we can better help them come closer to Christ.

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting. As I studied the Atonement and reflected on this recent general conference I was able to further understand the enabling power of the Atonement. In Elder Bednar's  (One of the church leaders)talk he says, "Not only does the Atonement of Jesus Christ overcome the effects of the Fall of Adam and make possible the remission of our individual sins and transgressions, but His Atonement also enables us to do good and become better in ways that stretch far beyond our mortal capacities. Most of us know that when we do things wrong and need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. But do we also understand that the Atonement is for faithful men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully? I wonder if we fail to fully acknowledge this strengthening aspect of the Atonement in our lives and mistakenly believe we must carry our load all alone—through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline and with our obviously limited capacities. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to the earth to die for us. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to enliven us—not only to guide but also to strengthen and heal us."

The Atonement allows us to do good and become better. This is the glad news of the gospel: Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins and because of Him we need not carry our burdens alone. We can have the strength we need to continue on. To apply the Atonement in our lives we must do something. We must recognize that we need the Atonement and do all that we can do and leave the rest to the Lord. The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us exactly how we can access this enabling power:

1. We must understand who God is and who we are to Him. We are His children. He loves us! and because He loves us, He created a plan for us to live with Him again.

2. We must understand that this life is a time to learn and grow and change. We must understand that because of Jesus Christ we can become more like our Heavenly Father.

3. We must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.

4. We must repent or in other words, Change. The Sacrament allows us to start over and to have the opportunity to continue to change.

5. We must endure to the end by following the example of Jesus Christ.

How grateful I am for the Atonement and for the opportunity that I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting this past week. It allowed me to learn more about the Atonement and to know that when we are "yoked with the Lord" we will have the strength we need to press on. I know that it is through the Atonement that we can be changed. It is only through the Atonement that people can become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen it in myself and in those I have been working with in Ceres and here in Kerman. 

Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor. Estoy muy agradecida por la oportunidad que tengo para compartir este mensaje con los demas. Gracias por todo su amor y apoyo!  Que tengan una semana maravillosa! (I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.  I am very grateful for the opportunity I have to share this message with others.  Thank you for all your love and support.   I hope you have a marvelous week.)

Con amor,

Hermana VanWie

 

Semana 6 en Kerman

On April 21, 2014, Hermana VanWie shared this letter:

Querida Familia y amigos --

This week has kind of been an emotionally heavy week. We said good bye to some recent converts as they emergency moved to Washington, tried to help one of our investigators get through a heart break, and it was transfer calls. 

I am sad that Sister Z and I will no longer have the opportunity to work together, but I am excited I get to stay here in Kerman! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to work with Sister Z. She is going to do great with Sister DLC in Ceres! 

We had a Zone Conference this week! I loved Zone Conference! Here were some of the highlights for me:
--We must get out of the boat like Peter did and do something we haven't done before. Do not be paralyzed by fear of failure. Peter succeeded, failed, and succeeded again. Everyone else just failed because they didn't even try.
--We must focus on ONE voice. It is impossible to focus on more than one voice in a room full of voices. As we focus on one voice we will stop worrying about what we are saying as well. We will truly lose ourselves in the work of the Lord.
--We are here to spread the news that nothing is impossible Because of Him!
--As we follow Jesus Christ, we cannot fail as we testify of Him!
--It doesn't matter how many things you do in day as long as you do the things that are most important to Him.
--Life goes a lot easier when we have a purpose. Knowing that God is our Heavenly Father drives everything.
--We are successful as we know Who We Are, Who Sent Us, and Who Makes it All Possible.

This week was full of miracles!! We had a whole bunch of different members come out with us this week! Although the investigators weren't always home, it was wonderful to see how willing the sisters are to help in this missionary effort. Along with that member involvement we had a wonderful experience with our Spanish class. We are teaching a Spanish class once or twice a week (depending on the week) and are helping the English members become more united with the Spanish members. This week we had a wonderful experience! We reviewed how to bear testimony (a statement of beliefs that you know to be true) and then decided to hold a testimony meeting. Even though their Spanish was not perfect, the Spirit was strong! It completely enveloped us! The gift of tongues really is real--even for those who are not set apart as full time missionaries. When we are trying to learn a language in order to benefit others, the Lord will always give us divine help especially if we are asking for it. I could understand everything that was said! It am so proud of them for putting so much time and effort into this! We are excited to use them as team-ups and help them use this new found skill.

After this fantastic testimony meeting  we had a woman in the ward come out with us. All of our appointments fell through up until our very last back-up plan--2 less actives. They are both teenagers and we have been visiting them from time to time trying to help them get back on track. The lesson we had with them with this sweet sister was one of the most Spirit filled lessons I have ever been in! We read D&C 76:40-42 with them and related it to Easter--"Christ is Risen" is the glad tidings of the gospel! We talked about that because of Him we can be happy, be forgiven, be with our families, and become better! How grateful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ!

On Sunday, they came to church!!!!! It was the first time in over 7 months that they came to church. We also had 4 of our investigators there!! 3 children from a part member family and the husband in a part member family. We were not expecting this husband to come to church-- we thought he was working. What a tender mercy it was to have him be able to come!! 

I love the video that the church has put out "Because of Him." I am so grateful for the opportunity that we had to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know because of Him we can be forgiven. Because of Him we can live again. Because of Him we can live happily and realize that the trials that are given to us are only given to us to give us some traction Because of Him we can change for the better. But most of all, Because of Him we can live with our Heavenly Father and Savior again. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ!!

Los extrano y los quiero mucho! Que tenga una semana maravillosa! Con amor,
Hermana VanWie

We were shown this video at our Zone Conference this week. It is wonderful! It explains the meaning of Easter in no spoken words and is so powerful!

http://easter.mormon.org/

Semana 5 en Kerman

On April 14, 2014 Hermana VanWie shared this letter:

Querida Familia y amigos --

                The work this week has been wonderful! Thank you for all of your prayers and support! I am so grateful for each one of you!

I love working with Sister Z! We both love working hard in the work of Salvation!! I loved General Conference  (a church conference held twice a year that is broadcast throughout the world.) this past weekend!!  Here are some of the talks I enjoyed.I loved President Eyring's talk about eternal happiness coming through family bonds, righteousness being a conscious choice, and letting the Lord direct your life. I know that when the Lord is in charge, everything will always work out. I also loved Sister Reeves talk. Sometimes it can be hard to filter out the world, but she made it very clear how we can. Our personal internal filter is better than an external filter. The internal filter comes from deep personal conversion. To have this, we talk of Christ, teach of Christ, and rejoice in Christ. We have daily scripture study and prayer. We have FHE and do family history work and go to the temple. How grateful I am for this counsel! It truly protects us! I have seen it happen in my own life. I am so grateful to have been taught this growing up. It enabled me to be protected from the world and become converted. I also loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk about being grateful for the rain. "How often do we so anxiously await the rainbow that we do not thank God for the rain?" Gratitude shows humility and fosters empathy. How grateful I am for this General Conference. I know these men and women were inspired of the Lord.

We had a great lesson with the B family this week. Last time we invited the father to live the word of wisdom (the Lord’s law of health). He told us that he has cut down from 4 cups of coffee a day to 1!! What a miracle! We also had been a little concerned if he was really willing to change. As we discussed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessing that the Holy Ghost is in our lives, the Spirit enveloped the room. We asked him if he wanted this gift in his life. His reply was yes and that he was willing to do the work that was necessary to have that peace with him all the time. He then explained to us that he notices a difference when we are in his home. He likes the feel that is there and is now ready to do what it takes to feel that way always. What a powerful lesson that was! I love being a missionary!

We also had a miracle lesson with a man named J. We had been working in Fresno for most of the day with a member and on the way back to Kerman we decided to pass by a referral one more time--he hadn't been there the previous two times.  This time he was home!!!! We had a great lesson with him about the Book of Mormon and about the blessing of the Atonement and that we can change. He opened up to us really quickly and explained to us that he had been in the gang life for 30 years and because of that had never learned to read, but as he read the Bible he taught himself how to read. He told us that he thought that God must have a plan for him or something because 7 years ago he was able to start turning his life around. He is now a family man and has a real interest in coming closer to Christ. We were privileged to testify to him that we know that God has a plan for each one of us and that it was no coincidence that we found him. We have a lesson with him tonight. I am so excited to help him progress!

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can truly make us happy! I know that our Heavenly Father truly has a plan for each of us and has provided a way for us to learn more about that plan--the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for being raised in the Gospel. I know it is true! I love living it! I love being a missionary!

                Espero que tengan una semana maravillosa! Los quiero mucho! Con amor,

Hermana VanWie

Semana 4 en Kerman

On April 8, 2014, Hermana VanWie shared this letter:
Querida Familia  y amigos -

This weekend was a great weekend!  We had 4 investigators come to General Conference and two of them watched it in a member's home!  (A conference that the church holds twice a year where our prophet, apostles and other church leaders give guidance on how we can live our lives more like the Savior) R, M, and a part member family (a father and son) came. M came twice and the second day she came she took notes the entire time because she loved what she had heard the day before so much! R also came and then stayed for an hour afterwards talking with a member about some doubts that he has. It was wonderful! I know that these investigators now have a better understanding of what the Church is all about and why having a living prophet is so important. How grateful I am that they came!

We had a great lesson with S this week as well. She was able to get a blessing from the elders and then we were able to teach her with a member there. It was great to allow her and the member to talk and form a friendship. They were able to talk about things like children and mothering in ways that we do not know how. This is why we work with members and why members are so important! We are excited to teach her again this week. 

We are still working with the members on getting them more involved in the missionary effort. We have been doing some member visits and we are teaching a Spanish class for English speakers as well.  At the first class we only had two people there, the next we had five. This week we should have a lot more. I have been so impressed with how fast they have learned and the desire that they have to communicate and help in the work. I know this class will really increase their confidence in speaking another language and they are already more excited to come out and work with us. We are thrilled!

Yesterday we had the opportunity to learn to make tortillas--homemade flour tortillas! We got to spend time with a wonderful member named Sister M and she taught us the art of making delicious flour tortillas.

I also went on an exchange with Sister P this week. On this exchange with her she asked me a question that I have been studying and I love! Her question was this, "If you were to address Jesus Christ personally, what phrase would you use?" I love this question. It really made me think about what my relationship is with Jesus Christ. I came up with two phrases I would use from the scriptures.
1. 1 Nephi 20:10 "My Refiner" / "My Savior"
"For behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." This also goes along with Malachi 3:3. "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord and offering of righteousness."
2. 2 Nephi 33:6 "My Jesus"
"I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell."
I know that Jesus Christ is MY Savior. He loves us and wants us to be happy. He truly is watching over us as a refiner and is only letting us be in the "heat" (trials) long enough so that we can become more like Him and our Heavenly Father.

I know that our Savior is always willing and wanting to help us. We just need to turn to Him.
I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve in the work of the Lord. I know that it is the work of Salvation. I know that our Heavenly Father lives and that our Savior lives! Thank you for all the love and support you give the missionaries. Los quiero mucho!

Con amor,

Hermana VanWie

 

Semana 3 en Kerman

On March 31, 2014 Hermana VanWie sent this letter:

Querida familia y amigos –

Hola! Como estan? Este semana fue excelente! We were super busy and we had the wonderful opportunity to go to 2 conferences: Sister's Conference and the General Women's Meeting.

I               so loved Sister Conference this week! ( A conference when all the Sister missionaries in the mission meet together) I learned so much about myself and what my Heavenly Father expects from me. I learned how to find more joy in my life:
1. Love who you are around! Don't expect too much from others and then you won't be disappointed.
2. Have good self -esteem. Have confidence in yourself and the Lord because with Him you can do all things.
3. Love God and understand who He is. In order to become more like Him we must understand who He is and the relationship He has with us.

I learned that each of us is on our own path and that to be perfect on your own is not a requirement.  During this conference we got to go out and invite people to be baptized as well. When they told us this, we knew exactly where we wanted to go--a street that we had previously been lost on. We went right to the street without problems and the second house we knocked on we found a woman named M. She had previously talked with missionaries but had since lost their card and never had the chance to talk to them again. She had been praying for a way to get in touch with them again and a few days later we showed up. I love this work!!!

This week Sister Zollinger and I worked really hard! We found 5 new investigators, contacted 6 referrals, and had a member home lesson! Although we did not reach the goals we had planned we still accomplished a lot and saw many miracles. 

This week started with Tuesday. We had just finished being with Sister Crandall and we were ready to go out and work! We were doing our hour of finding time and we decided to just knock one more house on a certain street. We saw a man across the street in front of a house with beautiful roses. Naturally, we went and talked to him at first about the roses but soon realized he had a big faith in the Savior and loved music. As we testified we felt impressed to share a hymn with him--we only had Spanish hymn books. But, we sang him a song, "Soy un hijo de Dios." As we sang I could feel the Spirit envelope us. When we ended the hymn he was crying. He felt so good and we had the opportunity to explain to him what the Spirit is. I love the power that hymns have--even in a foreign language they testify of truth that people of all cultures and ages can understand. The Spirit and music are truly universal languages. We then went back and taught him again later this week about the Spirit World. It was wonderful to see the peace that came from him knowing where his grandmother is right now. The member we had with us also bore powerful testimony and that allowed him to feel even more comforted.

Wednesday we gave a training in district meeting about evaluating lessons right after they happen. We talked about the importance of 25-25-50 and that a lot of the learning about the investigators and their needs happens as you talk about the lesson directly after you teach it.

We also had an amazing lesson with a woman named S. We met her last week, but this time we were actually able to teach her. She lives on the street that our "mystery man" was supposed to live on. As we taught the lesson we found out why we had felt impressed to go to that street. She had prayed us there! As we taught about Joseph Smith, the Spirit testified that what we were teaching is true and she was able to recognize it very quickly. We had the wonderful opportunity to explain to her what it was and to invite her to be baptized. She has a baptismal date for April 20. We are so excited to continue teaching her. As we continued talking she explained how happy she was that she met us. A week before she had been praying to God for more guidance in her life and for Jesus Christ in her life. The next day we knocked on her door and explained that we were representatives of Jesus Christ. She couldn't believe that her prayer had been answered so quickly. We know that that is why we were guided to that street--to find her! She also explained that since we came by she hadn't fought with any of her family. I know that the gospel blesses families and we need to always follow the promptings of the Spirit--we may be answering someone else's prayer. Right after that we saw a beautiful full double rainbow

I loved the General Women's Meeting (a meeting for all the women of the church – young and old) as well! I learned a lot, but more importantly I felt encircled in the arms of love of my Heavenly Father. As I reflected on what I had learned from the Meeting I thought about the song by Sally DeFord "I Glory in My Jesus." How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows us to become more like Him and to be truly happy. I know that He loves us and wants us to follow Him. I know He lives!

Thank you for all the love and support you give me and the other missionaries. I know this is the Lord's work and when we rely on Him we will see miracles.   Que tengan una semana maravillosa!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana VanWie