With Every Pedal A Blessing

June 25, 2012

Buenos Dias!

 

I hope everyone is doing well and is happy! (I just almost wrote happi with an "i". Spanish is killing me in English...I guess that's a good thing? Anyway, I think this is going to be a shorter email, but nonetheless wonderful :-) First things first, Hna Zepeda and I are doing great! Happy and working super hard. So yes, I'm tired.....but there is something else to that. Mom, I do not know how you have slept with dad for so many years with him snoring. Yes, Hna Zepeda snores...and OH does she snore. I got ear plugs and you'll never guess it....yes, I can still hear her! What am I going to do? I keep waking up. If my husband snores I think I would never ever sleep hahahahaha. Anyway, if anyone has suggestions...other than making her sleep outside....okay just kidding, let me know please :-)

 

I love this talk. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/your-personal-influence?lang=eng&query="your+personal+influence"+(name%3a"Thomas+S.+Monson")

 

If you don't have time to read it, make time. I really loved this talk. It's "Your Personal Influence" by Pres Monson.

 

This week I realized that if you focus on the negative, that is ALL you will see. If you focus on the positive, THAT is all you will see. You can choose what you want to see. When you focus on the positive, you will be able to smile more...and who knows, you could even laugh :-) As I have focused on the positive, my attitude is real good and we move along each day, allowing opportunities to grow.

 

We had the opportunity to go to the L.A. Temple last week. Oh it is so gorgeous. I hope one day all can go see it. :-) It was a very spiritual experience, and I learned a lot. I feel so blessed to have the knowledge I do and am able to share it with those who are seeking the truth. Only truth seekers get baptized, and it's beautiful.

 

Tomorrow is my last conference with my mission president, Pres. Maritn. Presiten Hall comes in on friday I think. It's really hard for many missionaries. He is a great man and did this mission well. I'm excited to get to know Pres. Hall and what he can do for us :-)

 

Tangent. When I eat oatmeal in the morning, I always think of grandpa.

 

I was readin Alma 9, and the scriptures that impacted me were verses20-24. Here the people are being told of all the blessings and the miracles they have seen, yet they have fallen and are so ungrateful. It impacted me a lot and I hope I always give enough effort in my prayers when I'm thanking the Lord.

 

I'll tell you next week about a miracle family. :-)

 

I love you all so much. The gospel is true and because we have the Church of Jesus Christ, I can be happy and know where I'm going with my life with the guidance of the Spirit of God.

 

love,

Hna Argüello

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

June 18, 2012

Hiay,

 

I'm welcoming tranfer number 4, with my new/old companion, Hna Zepeda. Alrighty, well first off, I hope Father's Day was just wonderful! Also, I hope the storms decided to stop in CO. This week was superrrrr good. We worked so hard and we saw the fruits of our labor for sure.

 

George got baptized yesterday! It is a miracle really. Another girl, Roxy, was suppossed to get baptized too, but she called at 8 in the morning to tell us that she wasn't going to. She got scared, so on tuesday, we are going to talk to her and help her to feel more prepared. That SATAN! I don't like him. Anyway...We scheduled the baptism at 12:30 right after church, but then the bishop at seriously the last minute said it had to be changed to 1:30. We had it at 12:30 because That was the only time George could do it. He has mornings off so he can come to church, but he has to work at 3pm. So through church, seeing the baptism happen seemed to be further and further away like it wasn't going to happen. I wasn't neccesarily that I was getting discouraged...but it was really hard. Then, Elder flake, who was going  to be the one to baptize him said that during priesthood, his work called and said that he was going to need him to take the night shift that started at 11pm. SOOOOOO Because he got called into work later, he was able to get baptized. That was a miracle and a tender mercy.  Oh it was wonderful. I am sooo grateful and feel so blessed. George has so much faith and is so strong in the church.

 

Now, The picture with the father and the kid. Their names are buddy, and buddy jr. Hna Busch and I were knocking an apt complex and we found them....now this is in the middle of latinoville...so we weren't expecting them. We talked to them for 30 mins and told them that we would send the elders that spoke english to come teach them if they wanted. We were surprised when Buddy first opened the door because he is a big man and has tatoos over both arms. By just talking to him we knew that he was a good father and wanted the best for his son. Well, that was about 2 1/2 months ago, and yesterday, they both got baptized!!!!!!! Happy father's day right? What a blessing it is. After the baptizm I thought, God works in mysterious ways. I mean the English elders have such a large area to cover....and they would probably never go to the appt complex we were at because it's like mexico. That shows to me that God prepared them and we just had to find them. It really strengthened my testimony as to how God work will be done His way and at His timing. So 3 beautiful baptizums. Oh the joy I had yesterday. I couldn't have been happier. Also, we cannot judge our friends or people we see to whether or not they will accept the gospel. Sometimes, the most unlikely people to accept the gospel are the ones that do and change later generations for the better. I feel so blessed to be a part of this sacred and most important work.

 

The gospel changes hearts. The gospel changes lives, but ONLY if you let it. If pride is in the way, a heart will not "hear" what we have to say. This is true for people that have been in the church for years, or just starting to take the missionary lessons.

 

I learned that throughout our lives, we sometimes get hit with huge walls in our way. It looks impossible to get through. When you have the gospel and you apply what you know, you can build a ladder to get over that wall. I've seen it, and we can all get over the walls in our lives if we choose to.

 

I learned that when we are bold as missionaries, it is important to be bold with love. People don't care how much you know unless they know how much you care.

 

I love Alma 5:16 and 19 very good scriptures that touched me.

 

Questions? Comments? Write me a letter :-) haha also, Sara started a blog for me...so you can ask her for the website address.

 

 

Alright I have to go. Good bye to Hna Erickson who has been home for a week, and hello to Hna Zepeda.

 

 

Take care. I love you all!

 

Hna Argüello

Canoga Park, Here I Stay

June 11, 2012

BAM! Hello,

 

Transfers are today! And yes, you guessed it! I'm staying right here, with my black stallion and all that comes with it. Apparently Canoga Park really needs me huh? Guess what?? Nope. You guess wrong, guess again. Okay that was closer. Try one more time. Alright you are never going to get it. Well, Hna Zepeda, my MTC companion is coming to Canoga Park! We are going to ride the streets of Canoga Park, and most likely eat some little appetizers on the way to our appts...aka bugs. Ha :-) Love me? Anyway, enough of that. I'm so excited to have here here with me!! She told me she is going to die on bike because she is not a sporty person...but truely...we may die together, smiling of course. Okay not really, but I talked to her last night and she said that it's been hard for her knowing she is leaving, but God is so great He sent her a tender mercy, Me. She said that God knew who hard it was going to be for her to leave, but her coming here would make her happy again. I love her so much. It'll be a great transfer.

 

Scriptures I like:

Proverbs 29:23, it's on pride.

Proverbs 28:25 is really funny to me...maybe no to you...but it made me laugh. If you don't know why it made me laugh....uhhh. Anyway it's a good scripture though.

 

The topic of pride was spoken on at church. Something one of the speakers said was that there will always be someone that know something more than you, and there will always be someone that can do something better than you. So, we should see what we can learn from other people en vez de being jealous or being angry. We have to have a postive attitude and an open heart to be able to learn. So, if you want to learn more, we have to lose our pride.

 

Whoa new bishop in our home ward!? Who is it?

 

Something I am grateful to have gained a stronger testimony about is how there is so much power in prayer. I really wanted to reach all our gaols on Sat. I prayed really hard that we could reach them. We reached all of them and even more! It was such a great day. I was sooo happy. I Know we couldn't have done that without God's help. His work moves forward as we move our feet. If we want something to happen, we have to move our feet and God, according to his will, will do the rest.

 

Work, work, work is the the answer for happiness in the mission.

 

I hope all is well! I love you!

 

1 Peter 4:8 <3

 

Love, Hna Argüello

Welcome Summer

June 4, 2012

Why hello,

 

It is JUNE! I can't believe it is June. Seems crazy to me. Hope things are going well for all of you! This week was CRAZY busy with things other than missionary work. We had something everyday this week that made teaching hard, but we did see many people.

 

First of all,

Happy 27th Birthday Matthew!!!!!!!!!! It's tomorrow, but still =)

 

Okay so I read a talk called "Beware of Pride" by President Benson 1989. It is superrrrrrrrr good. You should read it. I didn't know there were so many faces of Pride. It really changed my perspective on things.

 

On Wed. we had exchanges. I went with Hermana Hansen to Reseda. I got to ride in a car :-) I realized it is a WHOLE different life in car than on bike when you are on a mission. Seriously the whole dynamic of the day is different. Plus, there was so much less stress. Anyway, it was a really good exchange. Hna Hansen taught me alot. This is her 5th transfer. (This is my 3rd if you forgot hhahaha) We worked really well together. She said she wants me to go to reseda next transfer to be with her....but we all know I'm staying in Canoga Park...so that won't happen. My testimony was strangthed when it came to the fact that God knows us. The night before (Tues.) we were going over plan for the next day. She was telling me about the people we were going to visit. For 2 of the people she didn't know what to teach them. While she was telling me about the people though, I had something that came to mind for each of them. I told her and she said we should do it. Then On Wed during morning persinal study, she told me that the spirit confirmed to her that the things I said the night before was what we should teach. That neat for me to hear. The biggest impact of the day happened during our dinner appointment. We were teaching the Proclamation for the Family, and while we were teaching, the spirit was so strong. The family wants to work on having family prayer. So at the end, we all knelt down and the Father said a prayer. The spirit at that moment testified to me that God knows each person. I didn't have to know them to know what we should teach them because God knew/knows them. As we listen to the spirit, we will always know what to do. I feel grateful that I have the companionship of the spirit. I hope we never take for granted this sacred gift that was given to us. It was a powerful experience for me. Becasue of that experience, I know that Heavenly Father truly is my Father in Heaven. He loves me as does he love all of you. I had a great exchange and I feel blessed to have so many people teach me.

 

I learned I love the game, "Would You Rather?" I think it's sooooooooooo fun. I think you can tell a lot about someone too. anyway tangent.

 

Now I'm going to tell you about Jeffery. He got baptized on Sat. He is 8 years old. He is fantastic and one of the kids I love! His sisters are my little best friends. soooo cute. Hna Busch and I were knocking doors and we were going to not finish the last apt door, but decided to. A woman opened the door and let us in. She said "who sent you?" I said well we are missionaries and this was the last door of the complex...so here we are. She said she knew that it was by God that we were there. That we had come at the exact moment she needed it. She had been inactive from the church for 10 years. She has 3 children and is pregnant with her 4th. We brought her back to church and he children started coming too. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I've had on my mission so far to see a family come back into the church. We have a noche de hogar, family home everning, on friday and we would teach them. So Jeffrey really wanted to get baptized. It is a miracle that this happened. Hna Busch and I were not having that successful of a day and were going to turn around and leave that apt complex, but the spirit said, "no finish knocking that last door." I am so happy, and so happy for them! I love seeing families in the church.

 

On thrusday, my comp had trunk training...since she is going home so I went with Hna Vila to her area. It was SO different...in the enviornment sense, big houses too.

 

Okay well I wish I had more time to write. I love you all and I hope things are going well. Remember that all answers are in the scriptures.

 

With all my love,

Hna Argüello

 

On Firday we did a service at a middle school. There were hundreds of kids!!! Hna and I were in chanrge of the giant twister. It was fun...supper HOT but fun.

 

 

(The picture of the pink flower I love because those come from off a tree!)

Wow, 4 Months Already!?

May 21, 2012

Hello!!!!

 

"Vision without  work is but a dream, work without vision is drudgery. When vision and work are connected, it is a joy fulfilled" (President Monson).

 

I love that quote. I love a lot of quotes obviously...and you all probably know that :-) well this week was full of fun and work. We had a good week. My black stallion (aka my bike) has been treating me well...but 3 times in the same day the chain came off. It's kinda embarrassing because there are always these little latino men around when it happens...it's it's not like I can keep going...so I have to stop. Anyway...then they all watch the "gueras" put the chian back on and ran away as fast as we can hahaha. Okay, that's that.

 

I've come to realize this week that one of the biggest reasons I was supposed to come on my mission was because of some of the missionaries. One, my comp, hna Erickson. Love does conquer all in the end, in all relationships. We have better and really good companionship. She compliments me all the time, but these compliments are things that she says that are from deep within. Only people that have known me a long time, usually notices certain things about me. We talked about it, and it's because God helps us notice things to help us succeed. One of the things she told me was that I have helped her so much and that she was rescued by me. Never would I have thought that. But she expressed how grateful she is to have a comp like me. I didn't know how much I would affect her. The trials and experiences I share with her has helped her, and our companionship so much. It's true, every trial and hardship I have gone through, has turned out for me good, just like God said it would. At times I find myself thinking about my college life and how even though hearts were broken because I never knew if I should come on my mission, I MADE it. I am supposed to be here, and I have to have the faith that this was what He wanted. I'm grateful for all the support that I have. It helps me help others. I never realized how much I would help the other missionaries here. There is a sister missionary here that I talked to yesterday and expressed to me that she feels like I am here only friend on the mission. When she said that, it really hit my heart. I feel grateful that I can be a listening ear and help her feel God's love. We are all children of God. That means we all have that right to feel of God's love. It is simply unconditional. With our investigators, the love we have for them is great because it comes from God.

 

We were supposed to have a baptism yesterday, but she didn't come to church...so we have to change her fetcha bautismal. It hard becasue she is 10 and really wants to get baptized....but if her parents don't go...she can't go. There is a couple that has to get married to be able for him to get baptized...but if forgiveness does not happen in that relationship...there will be no baptism. I never realized how many people have a problem with forgivness. When we don't forgive, the person that get's hurt most is ourselves. God is the judge and he chooses who he forgives, be we are COMMANDED to forgive. Yes forget, but we are human and we don't forget. The thing is...those are 2 different things. If we don't understand the power of forgiveness, we will never understand the power of the Atonement. Not forgiving someone is saying that that person does not deserve to feel the power of the atonement. Denying them that is wrong. Christ died on the cross, for ALL of us. It's not like he said okay I'm only going to die for Matt and dad, and maybe mom. He suffered so much that it caused him to tremble. The weight of everyone's sin was upon him. The most beautiful part is that he overcame it. He rose after 3 days, and because of Him, we all can too. The power of the Atonement is real. Forgive because it is expected of us.

 

I love my life. I love my mission. This week I realized that more than any other week. My comp and I have been talking in british accents and I LOVE IT. It makes a stressful situation calm. TRY IT hahaha

 

 I love you allll soooo much!!

be good.

take care.

all my love,

Hna Argüello

Oh Mother's Day Happiness

May 14, 2012

BAM. Hello.

 

 

YAY!!!!!!!!!! It was mother's day and I got to call home! That was such a blessing from the Lord. I am happy. I am loved. I am truly blessed. Anyway, I knew the mission was going to have it's ups and downs, and that is how it's been. At least I know that I am learning something seriously everyday. Thinking about it....I feel like in this life I will have never learned ENOUGH. Good thing after this life we get to keep everything we learned and still get to learn more. Oh happy day. I know that trials are in our lives to polish us, and let's just say, I'm BEING POLISHED. :-) It's good for me. It's true that there will be no other experience like this.

 

So yesterday there was a baptism and I jsut want to share a tender experience which I had. It was an older couple the elders had been teaching. AS I held the towel for the sister getting abptized, I could not stop smiling. When I gave her the towel she said she felt so good. After they got baptized, there was a "missionary moment." Elderes Goodell and flake did it. I was listening to them talk and all the sudden my heart started pounding. The spirit was really strong and intense. Then I realized why. Rudy (the wife that got bapitzed) walked into the room after changing, and elder goodell started testifying and that percise moment. She was so happy. The spirit was so strong because a daughter of God had made the decision to get baptized and there is always power in testimony. So it was really nice for me to experience something like that.

 

I got to talk to all of you yesterday...so you're pretty updated :-) Um I don't really have that much to say. I went to bed at like 9 because I had a headache. It is Hna Erickson's bday today the big 24. So I jumped on her this morning and sang happy birthday. Wrote all over the bathroom mirror, made chocolatechipd pancakes, and then we came here. I asked the elders to decorate the family history center with hello kitty stuff and baloons. So when we got there she was so surpised. We got hello kitty cupcakes. and she was super happy. She loves puffy cheetos, so I got that for her birthday and it was on her computer haha

 

Anyway, I love you all! Thanks for all the support and letters. It's a blessing.

 

Love, Hna Argüello

 

 

Foto: we were playing the knot game.

The World Keeps Spinning

May 7, 2012

Hello!

 

Well a lot has happened this week. A lot of success, a lot of work, and a lot of emotions. I am pleased to say we had a baptism yesterday. It was a beautiful and sweet experience. Kevin is 10 and Hna Busch and I taught him. Everytime we went over there, he was just so excited to get baptized! He was so happy. At the baptism what I found touching was what he said as he walked out of the water after getting baptized. He said, "Ohhh, I have never felt like this." It touched me heart so much because it shows us that it doesn't matter how little we are, the spirit can always speak to us. His mom and dad aren't members, but his grandma is. She is the one in the green. Elder Goodell performed the baptism. I'll send some pictures.

 

I was reading in the Jan Ensign a talked called, "Look Up," by Elder Carl Cook. I was just flipping through. But the thing that impacted me the most was this. He is talking about making decisions. He says that as we make choices and take accion we are blessed. This is the quote that impacted me. "Don't be afraid of making choices because you are afriad of making mistakes." As I look back to ALLLLLLL my college experiences, whether it be with school, callings, boys, sports, or making the choice to come on a mission, I knew I had to make choices, but I never wanted to make a mistake. The fear of making a mistake dragged me down at times. But I read a scripture that I love which is in 2 Tim 1:7. It talks about how God doens't give us the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. You should look it up. As I pondered it not only did it give me more confidence, but simply more trust in the Lord, which is that which matters most. Who doesn't want a sound mind these days? Most of us are lacking it. I see that as we study the scriptures, we can gain that. It's the basics that will helps us with all that life throws at us. I can see it with our investigators too. The ones that are doing the readings we give them, or reading a chapter of the BOM, have more faith and courage to press on. The investigators we teach...actually teach me a lot. I'm so grateful that I am willing to learn from them. When we aren't willing to learn from those around us, we could miss out on a lot.

 

Funny. Hna Erickson already fell off her bike. I haven't done that yet...which I am soooo grateful. I lead on bike and she follows. Here in Canoga park, there are shopping carts on the sidewalks...everywhere. Well, that has a big deal to do with this situation. I went first inbetween the cart that was taking up most the sidewalk, and the grass. as I went through that tight place I thought, "I hope she doesn't hit the cart, I probably should have..." Then I look back because I was too late, I heard and BOOM crash type thing. She had jumped off her bike and the bike was on the floor. She was laughing..I was laughing..I think it was all out of nerves you know. I hope this is all making sense. Her tire got stuck in between the endge of the grass and the sidewalk. Okay that's the funny story of the day.

 

I lied. So we were about 10 mins early to an apt so we just needed to sit. Then this man (30) comes bolting with no shoes, cigarrett (no I can't spell) in mouth, and in swimming shorts. The fance to the pool was locked, so he jumped the fences, emptied his pockets...which was just his lighter, through his cigarett on the floor, jumped in the water, got out, got his stuff, and then jumped the fence and left. NOw that I write it, I think you had to be there to think it was funny. This all happened in like 30 secs. BAHAHAHHA it was jsut really funny okay.

 

Something I challenge all to do is "Bury you weapons of rebellion." Which you read in Alma. What are the things you can do better at? As we bury our weapons of rebellion, whether it be not going to church, not having patience, not praying, not giving service, whatever it maybe, try to change. I have been working on this so that my weaknesses don't keep me from doing the best job I can.

 

Scriptures that impacted me this week was, Mosiah 7:25 (Agency=consequences...whether good or bad) and 33 (things are just easier). Also Mosiah 8:18 Faith = Miracles.  I ABSOLUTLY LOVE Mosiah 2:41. It's one of my favorites!! I hope you have time to read them and ponder them.

 

I hope you all have a great week. I'm glad they call this a "mission" because it truly is. We all have different missions and life, and this is part of mine. What's yours?

 

Love always,

Hna Argüello

 

ps the pics. This is saying goodbye to hna Busch....we found these crazy dresses and put them on. haha. One is with me playing with the kids during FHE, noche de hogar.

You Look Terrible

May 6, 2012

hi.

"You sound terrible," is what Hna busch said to me last night during a cita. Then at our next cita at 8:30 pm, she said, "You look terrible." Sad huh? So I thought I was getting a little better...and then it's like I got sick again. I hope this week I don't lose my voice. That'd be lame. So, I sound and look terrible. Well, press forward Saints right? I'm doing my best, but being sick sure can take a toll on you.

This week we had Mormon Helping Hands. I've never done it in CO...maybe they don't have it who knows. Anyway, we went to clean garbage out of L.A. river. Ummmm yeah, there were grocery carts, dumpsters, mattresses, tooonnnssss of plastic bags, and just so much garbage. We were so tired after the service project...plus I couldn't breath the whole time. ha. Either way, it was really neat to do a service project with SO many people. Spiritually it felt good to help clean this earth that God created for us. It truly is a beautiful place if you stop for a second in our busy lives and look around. :-)

We had President's interviews also. My first and my last with him because we will be getting our new mission president. It prayed that I would have a spiritual experience, and I did. It was simply wonderful to get to talk to someone so humble and full of the spirit. I love how you CAN feel the spirit other people have. The love I felt was what I needed. During our talk one thing he said to me was that I made the right choice in coming on my mission because the seat where I was sitting was filled, and if I hadn't come, it would be empty. I hadn't said anything about my choice on coming on my mission, but he felt the need to tell me that I was needed here. He said I have been doing good work and was happy with me. He helped me a lot by simply reading one scripture to me. I am grateful that President Martin knows his scriptures and was able to comfort me according to my needs. The interview was a spiritual experience and I will forever be grateful and remember it.

Well, today is transfers and guess what?!?! Yep, I was right, I'm staying. My new comp Hna Erikson (she was the girl in the hiking foto with with blonde hair...), will be coming this afternoon. She is going home after this transfer though...which means I will be here another transfer. That will make 4 transfers (1 transfer=6 weeks) on bike. Oh boy. It's going to be...interesting to say the least. I met Hna Erikson the first day and I've gotten to know her a bit. She is very loving, and has a strong personality...so I'm going to learn what I can. Here comes the next 6 weeks.

Guess who had to give a talk yesterday?!?!?!?! You'll never guess...oh wait, I DID! jajaja crazy. ahhhhhh is what went through my mind, but I wrote it out and I gave it, just like that. Bam. Okay well I prayed my heart out and God heard me. When I started speaking, there was this sense of peace that just came over my whole body. I was not shaky or anything. Can you believe that? The spirit helped me so much to get through such a nerve racking thing for me. Also, I'm back to playing piano every sunday...that means 8 times...haha and sometimes I make it up and no one knows...becausae we sing like the same 15 songs. haha

Work. It is going well. One of the hardest things is that people are NOT married. That makes me think about my future children and hope I hope so bad that they marry once, and have children...with their husband. We teach people that have 3 different kids from different fathers.  It's just something I need to teach my children and hopefully it all goes well :-)

Okie Dokie I have to go. I hope everything is going well!!

Mosiah 2:41 love.

I love you all. Be happy. Slow down.

Love Hna Argüello

Soooooo....

April 16, 2012

Photos:

Dinner

April 9, 2012

This is Easter dinner!! So that was yesterday! hahaha so yup, that's what I look like...just in case someone forgot ;-)

 

<3

FOTO

OKay here is a photo of our distict. Transfers are happening today, and elder Ellsworth is leaving, which means the elder next to me, elder Goodell is training. You know what that means?!?! That's I won't be the baby anymore! hahaha He will get the new missionary he will be training on Wed. So we will have a new missionary, Elder Flake...haha yes.

 

Love. Amor.

Hna Argüello

Let it Rain!

March 19, 2012

Hello!

 

So as you can probably tell...it rained....and when it rains...it pours...and when you're on bike in a skirt...well you can only image. Jaja. Anyway, it was super nice getting to talk to you. It was a great uplifter, though I got to call for sad circumstances. Though the circumstances weren't how I expected, at least we can always have HOPE because of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He broke the bands of death. We will all have perfect bodies when the resurrection happens, and how glorious will be that day! I can't even image not feeling pain, hurt, and all of the above that we go through this life. It is after ALL we can do that we are saved by grace. I have come to realize through everything that without this one important element in our lives, nothing would be the same. What is it? Faith. Everything we do in the church is an expression of faith in Jesus Christ. Think about it. Really though. Without faith why would we do the things we do throughout our day? A scripture that I really like is D7C 59:23. It talks about how the righteous will have their reward, and that they will have peace in this world, AND the next. Isn't that what we all want? I do. I do. I do.

T

his week we were teaching Johnny, a 65 yr. old man from bolivia. Sweetest man ever. He has so much love and he is less active, but has been coming to church. He wants to receive the priesthood so he can help others. You know older people always have all of this wisdom...that is super good for us youngens. We we talking about marriage and he said, when you first get married, the fir 2-3 yrs you are happy and working hard with each other, saying things like, "oh no honey, I'll do that, go rest" or "I'll do the dishes." Things like that. We try to be as selfless as we can. We have such a love for those people. BUT after those few years, it changes and you start picking out the faults in your spouse and their weaknesses. He said that is when you become a true husband (or wife) is when you see all those things and you work through it. You can either become selfish or selfless when you start seeing the faults of them. Have that love and choose to be selfless and you will be happier...just don't let people walk all over you.

 

Mariano is going to get baptized the 8th of abril! YAY! we are super happy! Oh my gooness, it'll be great. We hadn't taught him yet about fasting, but during the last fast sunday, everyone was talking about it and he felt bad. so the next sunday he fasted after asking someone what he had to do. Funny thing is, that day we taught him tithing and fasting. Ha. BUT think of that FAITH!! I was so surprised. He progresses eveyday and it is wonderful to see. Who does that? Well, he did :-)

 

Sunday we had ward conference, and the thing that impacted me was that as women (wives) we are here to help our husbands focus. That is one of our responsiblities. Never saw it that way.

 

The last thing I want to talk about is the love the God has for His children. We went to see a woman that has been coming to church because her husband doesn't like it. Let's just say it's not a good situation. Anyway, during study in the morning...both me and hna didn't quite know what it was that we were supposed to teach. We prayed alot about it. Then when we got there, we talked to her for a little and then hna did the opening prayer. During her prayer, I have never felt so strongly the love the God had for her. I was taking by surprise because it was this overwhelming feeling of love and of how he knows her so well. When the prayer was over hna forgot that we had to cancel something so she had to go make a phone call....and she had to do it then or it'd be too late. so she left. then, it was just me and her. I thought I need to tell her how much God loves her. I procedeed to do so for the next 3 mintues telling her I didn't know her at all, but God does. I don't know her challenges and such, but he does. It's the truth. She started crying and I know she felt His love. It was undeniable. An experience I will never forget. God loves us so much, and it's a beautiful thing. When you really think about how many times God has lifted you up, kept you safe, gave you comfort, and always has an eye on you, it's hard not to bring tears to your eyes. Through these last coupld of weeks, I have really needed comfort and strength. I have felt it, and I realized it when I was studying my scriptures. All the scriptures I starting reading when preparing for investigators I felt such comfort. The scriptures can always bring comfort, and THAT is exactly how God has been keeping me sane and giving me comfort. I am so grateful that I have that understanding. Pray so God hears you. Read the scriptures for Him to help you.

 

I love you all and I hope you are doing well. Grandpa will have no more pain. Though we say "goodbye," one day, we will say "hello."

take care.

With all my love,

Hna Argüello