Hola Familia y Amigos,
First off, MICHONE AND MATT, CONGATS!! WOOHOO! It will be awesome for the first little grandson to have a boy cousin about the same age!
It sounds like the fam just had a wonderful time this past week with everyone! Mom, thank you so much for always sending me great picks to keep me updated and included. You all look great!
So last Pday we were on our way home and the elders called and said Hna Barzola had to be at the bus terminal at 7:30 to go to Cochabamba for tramites(proceses to be able to be here in Bolivia) So I was with another sister, Hna Morales for a day and then a member from another ward for a day. Sariah, the member I was with was awesome! She was such a great missionary the one day we were together. She even didn't sleep the night before she came with me because of a school project. She was having a pretty hard time staying awake but she was a tough one and was so happy to be able to be a missionary for a day before she goes on her mission soon!
So tomorrow, we are moving houses because the owner is kinda kicking us out.. haha we're not quite sure why. BUT out new house has a GREAT VEW and it's BRAND NEW! (hey that rhymes) ;) Also the owner is actually our investigator :) So we're pretty excited about that although a little sad to leave our house.
Still haven't met Pres. Hansen but he's coming to Sucre soon to meet all of us! All I know is that it seems like they're a little overwhelmed with everything that just all got dumped on them. Their responsablity just got a whole lot bigger. So if everyone could pray for them that would help a lot. :)
Yesterday for church, one of the less actives we visit was able to come to church!! Celestina can't come to church much because she's in a wheelchair and the cold in the morning makes it really hard for her to get up because her body hurts. But we called a couple sisters Saturday night to see if they could go early and change Celestina so the elders could come and help get her out of the house on the street to take a taxi. We then called Hna Celestina and told her that poeple were coming in the morning to help her out and she was saying that she wasn't sure if she could go because it was so cold. My companion just said it's ok Hermana, just trust in the Lord. and Celestina quickly responded, OH ok yeah Hermana. Haha she is awesome and was soo happy to be at church yesterday.
We went early to go get our investigator Geraldyne (well wake her up too) haha but she came! We also called her boyfriend and told him to come and he met us there at church ;)
I was priveleged to be able to speak in church yesterday about Retention. It was only 5 minutes so I kept it short and sweet ;) I read part of Pres. Uchtdorf's talk in the 2013 Spring conference called Your marvelous journey back home I think. I would advise you all to read it. I just really like how he explains our own story of this life, where we came from and our decision to come here to earth. I just emphasized the part about how us as members know why we are here on earth and we know that the only way to get to live with our heavenly father again is through this loving gospel. We need to help and support the new members of the church as well as those who are active. We are all a family and we are all on this journey back home to our heavenly parents. There are also many of God's children who have fallen away from this straight and narrow path. WE are the ones in charge of going and rescueing them. God trusts in his faithful children and wants us to go out and search those who are not quite on the right track. The best way to do that is through the love of Christ. In every moment, we should think of what Christ would do and DO IT. It IS hard sometimes.. but it IS posible. It's always been easier for me to do something hard when I've understood the "WHY". We are here on earth and the Lord has sent us a map to get back home. This map contains: a prophet, the scriptures, prayer, church, family and friends. Sometimes when we are lost ourselves, we forget to take out the map we have and use it.
I love you all and pray that this week treats you all well! Take care everyone!!
Love
Hermana Forsey