12/24/12

Feliz Navidad!

Merry Christmas everybody!

I never thought Christmas would come, but it sure did come quick! That was very unexpected, yet here we are. Tomorrow we celebrate Christ's birth. We all know it didn't actually happen in the month, but this is how we'll celebrate it. Thinking about it, we all say "Well during this time, it's a time to focus on Jesus Christ and what he did for us." Really though, if you think about it...it shouldn't be like that. We should be focused on Him everyday. It shouldn't be at just a specific time. BUT since it is....right now, I just want to share that I know Jesus is the Christ and he was born with a purpose. He was obedient to His Father's commandments, and because of that we are Saved and Redeemed. Without Christ's birth, there would really be no point to this life. I mean He is the one that pays for our sins if we repent so we can be clean. If he were never born, there would be no "Plan of Happiness."

I am so grateful to be a representative of the Lord right now in California. I wouldn't want it any other way. It sure is different being away from home, but this is what life's all about: Giving. There is a christmas tree in the BOM it's in 1Ne 8. IN lehi's dream he sees a tree. That is my christmas tree, and because I have partaken of the fruit, I'm here to share with everyone else.

Jesus is wonderful isn't He? God the Father is so merciful. The Spirit will testify that They live.

I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

MAS Christ!!!!! Get it?

Thank you for all your supports....letters, packages, love, prayers, and kindness.

With all my love,
Hna. Argüello

12/17/12

You Have to Pray to Receive an Answer

Buenas tardes!!

 

I had ganas to write this all in spanish and them remember that some people don't speak spanish...so yes, I'll refrain from doing that. First, those plaques of Mary and mi look so good huh? That's right. Thank you! Let's see I have such a wonderful story to tell everyone! It is something that really showed me how much God truly loves us. I hope you read the whole story! So don't get bored and not read all of it, got it? Good :-)

 

So we went by to see a new person we were going to teach, but he wasn't there. There were two men sitting on a couch with the door open though where the man lived. They said he went down to LA.  Shucks right? Well I started talking to one of the men. One was about  21, the other about 30. Then I asked if they had every seen missionaries like us, that we were from the Church of Jesus Christ of....and one of the guys finishes my sentence..."of Latter-day Saints?!" I looked at him like...uhhh yeah do you know anything about the church? And this is what he said...

 

"Yes, I was baptized in Mexico when I was 16, with my mom and sister. I would go out with the missionaries all the time because they wanted to help prepare me for my mission. I loved it. Then I came here about 4 years ago with almost nothing. But I went to a temple up north to do...what's it called....oh baptisms. But when I got down here, I couldn't find a church." We found out he is 22

 

We just looked at eachother and he said, "Wow I never thought I'd find the church again." His eyes were a little teary. I asked him if he had a BOM, he said no...so we gave him one. As he looked at it, he looked at it as if he were holding a gem. For my to see someone  look at the BOM with such love, it was a tender experience. I realized there at his doorstep that so many of us take the BOM for granted..the church for granted.

 

He told us that he had to go to therapy for his back since he hurt himself. We talked about blessings. He said he'd go all the way over to the church to get one last thursday. (It was Sunday) We said a prayer and left. To see someone that thought he had lost the church, and see it come back into their life, was something I'll never forget. We told him if he wanted too, he could still prepare to go on a mission. He smiled and said "Yeah?"

 

On Thursday he showed up! He told the elders that if they needed him to go out with them to call. My mouth was just dropped open.

It was wonderful. It's very hard to explain. Hopefully he can go on a mission soon. He just need to prepare and take the steps back into the church.

 

 

On another note. On Sunday, we were in the chapel and no investigators showed up. I was so sad because after how hard you work and they don't come...it's heart breaking. During the passing of the Sacrament I told God that I did my best and I needed Him to pick up my slack. When it was over and they opened the door, the Galvez family walked in! God had answered my prayers! Usually it's just the parents, but this time it was all 5 othem! I smiled and knew God heard my prayers.

 

I pray that you all are safe and well. Take time to smell the roses and realize the beauty God has blessed us with.

Give. Love. Serve.

 

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Hna Argüello

 

P.s. I went to a christmas cantata. Richard Rich, the producer of the Animated Stories...and more was the conductor. There are a ton of famous people in my stake. Kirby Heyborne was the narrorator. ha!

 

foto: 3 girls we are teaching!!

12/10/12

Knoweldge doesn't always mean understanding.

Hello!

 

Okay so this week was so busy because we basically had 3 days of meetings/trainings...but it was SO enlightening. Seriously, I didn't want the trainings to end. I truly love my mission. I know that I have so much more understanding about so much doctirne now, yet I still get to learn so much more the rest of my life. Wonderful. So to start out, there were many miracles this week, but I can't write about all of them...becauase...well...I just can't type that fast. I never took a computer class you know...all this skill I got from writing essays...I must have written a lot. haha. okay moviing on. What I'm going to talk about are thoughts I had about my trainings and how they have given me insight in how I can live a happier, fuller (more full? who knows hahah) life.

 

Sister Hall told us, "Do we UNDERSTAND Christmas, or do we just ENJOY it???" That hit me. Let's make a goal to actually understand christmas.

 

First, Repentance. What is that? What does that even mean? Repentace doesn't mean that we are doing it wrong, it means that we are doing it RIGHT. Sister Hall (President's wife) trained on this. Wow to look at it from the perspective changes a lot of things. I mean, we should be changing every day for the better, trying to become more like Christ. As we repent everyday, we are showing God that we need Him. Okay so...We are team Jesus okay? We were his name on our jersey. We are agents...which means we have a contract with him (baptism) we said that we would do such and such (sacrament prayer) and he would bless us with his spirit (our "pay"). Now, If we play on his team, we receive "our pay," if we don't, we get nothing. So (Hope no one's lost yet) if we repent, Christ says, "Okay I will pay the price for those sins, " but if we CHOOSE not to repent, we have to pay the price for our own sins, and we don't get paid. Make sense? It's honestly very simple, we jsut make it hard. We need to have a connection with the Atonement, or we are not built about a strong foundation. When those winds (trials) and storms (afflictions) come, we will either fall hard, or stay firm on the foundation we have built upon.

 

During personal study I realized, we are the only ones that deny ourselves blessings. We choose, "Go and Do," or not to. There is NO ONE to blame but ourselves if we aren't happy.

 

Next, Elder Clarke (a General Authority) came to train us for a Zone Conference. He is AMAZING. Wow I never wanted that to end. Anywa, he has all the sister missionaries stand and repeat after him, "I will only marry a return missionary." He he "commanded" us that when we find the man we want to marry, we must call his mission president and ask him what type of missionary he was. If he says, "good," drop him. That mission president needs to say that missionary was exceptional. You sisters deserve the best. Don't marry someone you know you shouldn't.  Then he let us sit down again. (There were only 6 sisters..me included.)

 

I had an interview after the conference with Elder Clarke, a MOM AND DAD, He told me to tell you, "You have an exceptional daughter as a missionary, you did a good job." I told him I would tell you. :-) Neat huh? I thought so. Totally unexpected. One of the best compliments I've ever received...we I guess it's your compliment...anyway... =D

 

Ready?!?! When you pray and you get an answer, it's not counsel from God, it is now a COMMANDMENT. I think of it that way and it completly changes things right? So promptings....commandments...answers to prayers...commandments...whatever God says...is a must do...not a maybe. Duh.

 

So this is what I'm trying to tell you...we can have a bunch of knowledge, but unless it is understood...it doesn't really help.

 

I wish you all a wonderful week. I hope you take time to not think about yourself and think of others :-) Why? I'm not going to tell you. ;-)

 

All my love,

Hna Argüello

Oh! How I Love December!

December 3, 2012

Buenas!

 

My goodness! It's already December?! When did that happen. This year went by sooo fast...and I can even tell you all that happened. Weird right? Usually I forget the year...but everything is so clear here. So a lot has happened this week...but if I wrote everything...well it'd be a novel and you'd all fall asleep. Anyway, I'll try to keep it a little short before all my thoughts take over.

 

You know what I love? I love The General Conference Ensign! Oh it is so good. I'm an addict. Is that okay? I don't know. Anyway, I love reading it. I finished reading the priesthood session...wow! The men get some really good teachings! I love it. I learned so much from it. I recommend you all read that session. You will love it.

 

A quote from one of the talks,

"Remember what you do, where you go, and what you see will shape who you become. Who do you want to become?"

 

Oh. That is so good. Right? It's so true. I think what I love about conference talks is that they are not just words...but love messages from God to us through His instruments. It's our choice whether we accept and apply, or reject Him.

 

Hna Redondo is AMAZING! Oh I love her! Seriously, we work so well together. Two transfers together (3 months) will be a very short time. She is so sweet and cute. She has a solid testimony and the best part...SHE EVEN LOVES ME! ha

 

She ran up to me and hugged me before I was even supposed to meet her. We were in the kitchen and someone told her I was her "mami" or trainer and she ran over. It was the cutest thing even but I didn't even know who she was jajaja. So great. I'll have to tell you more about that later. We are doing so well. Oh God loves me. He knows who we need in our paths, and when we need them. He knows us perfectly, better than we know ourselves.

 

Selina, a 13 yr old that doesn't believe in God prayed for the first time since we met her 3 months ago!! Wow the gospel sure does soften peoples hearts.

 

Alex, our recent convert, wrote a rap about his conversion to the church it is so good. I'm going to record it and hopefully send it.

 

We went hiking this morning with 2 of our investigators (Galvez) and it was ALLLLLLLLLLL MUDDDD!!!! It was so much fun. I laughed seriously for like 2 hours straight..so my  abs hurt. I'm pretty sure my whole body is going to hurt lol

 

K I have to go. I love you all!!!  What do you want for Christmas? My love? Okay, got it.

 

Love, Hna Arguello

 

Remember who you are: God and Do

November 26, 2012

Hello!!

 

So "Remember who you are: Go and Do" is our district motto :-) So good huh? Anyway, BIG NEWS! Ready? No really, are you ready? If your not sitting down, you want to be. Okay ready? Okay make sure there are no distractions. So here's the news, wait I don't know if you are ready for this. Fine I'll tell you. I'm training!! I've been in the field for 9 months and God is trusting me enough to train an Hermana here in Canyon Country. Can you believe it?!?!?!  Her name is Hermana Redondo. She is from Colombia. President doesn't know if she knows english or not. She's take english for 3 years...but I don't know if that like high school or college or what. So we'll see what happens tomorrow! So leadership and training calls are Friday night...and I didn't get a call, so I thought I wasn't training. Surprise I am! President Hall called me on Sat afternoon. Crazy huh. So I don't know if she went to the MTC for 9 weeks to learn englsih, or just 3....but at this very moment all the new missionaries are at a stake center in North Hollywood. They are taking them out to go street contacting! I have a meeting in the morning tomorrow and then all the people that are getting transfered will meet in the chapel. Then I think what happens after we are all seated is they bring in the new missionaries as we sing "called to serve." I think that's what happens. I haven't been to a transfer meeting since they changed the way they do it...since I've been with hna higley for 3 transfers. So that's the news.

 

I still remember meeting Hna Busch as my trainer when I got to the field like it was yesterday. It's crazy to think about that now I get to train just like she did me. So....maybe you should pray for me that I don't screw things up :-) Here's the thing....I'm not one bit of nervous right now. WEIRD. Usually I'm like freaking out, but I'm not. There was a sense of peace and tranquildad when he called and told me. Ever since then, I have felt so peaceful. I thank God for that. I thought was would be all scared. I realized that I trust God so much right now, that I know things will be okay, and just how He wants it. I don't have to have as much confidence in me as I do Him. Plus, this is His work, and it will be done His way. I'll tell you more next monday after I've met her. My goodness...I'm going to have to speak spanish 24/7 now! uh oh jajajaja

 

Want to read a GREAT TALK? You won't regret it.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/love-her-mother?lang=eng&query="love+her+mother"

 

 

Real quick some things. Joesfina we are starting to teach her. Nice woman. As we read 3Ne11 after we asked her how she felt and she said she didn't have the words to explain it. It was really neat. Her eyes give it all all way that the Spirit was touching her heart. We explained to her and she loves the feeling. The things is that she has little kids and says she doesn't have time at all to read...but she believes it's true. As her faith grows, she'll learn that she'll do what she can to read. It's beautiful.

 

Pablo got baptized! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I love that man! He is the most humble man I know. He quit drinking, smoking, and drinking coffee, all because he prayed to know if what we teach is true and got his answer. He had been smoking since he was 14 years old. now that is great faith. I can't wait to get home and tell you all about him!!!!!!!!!!

 

We went knocking and founf a young woman and her daughter. They let us in and it was awesome! That's really all for now, but it's rare that they let you in right there. It was such a good feeling! I love God!

 

I was thinking about BYU...and teaching at the MTC. Thoughts? That's all.

 

I can't wait to meet my "hija," the hermana I get to train. I'll be praying my little heart out.

 

I wish you a happy week full or smiles, service, and saftey!

 

All my love,

Hna Argüello

 

 

Fotos: Group pic of the zone at park. Took 3 shots...this was the last one..and it was funny.  We taught a family we are teaching how to make banana bread ;-) Good thing I can cook ha. Me at a veterans park at night...cuz it was pretty...but dark ha.MY FAVORITE PICTURE....it's a leaf in water at the park. neat huh? There are others...but I'll just send one :-) Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

Training

November 26, 2012

I couldn't saying anything before, but pres in my interview told me that he has wanted me to train since my 5th transfer..it's going to be my 8th now. When I got up here with higley is when he said he got that impression. Hna higely told me that I basically trained her..long story. Anyway I love you bye.

Buenas!

November 19, 2012

So guess what?? It is the last week of this transerfer, and I have soooo many wonderful weeks to be grateful for during the last 3 transfers with Hna Higley.  I doubt we'll be together for another one, but we'll see this friday night.

Ah Thanksgiving is almost here! It's crazy to think about not really having one. Many latinos....don't celebrate it. You know even though we probably we eat, it's okay :-) BECAUSE we'll make the most of it. I was thinking about how when praying and giving thanks....how long my prayers actually are. Seriously, think about it. You start giving thanks...and then you just always find more things to be thankful for. I mean the things we usually don't thank Him for like thumbs! LETTERS! Elbows! Shampoo! Pillows! The Sun! Email! Laughter! Anyway, I'm thankful for so many things. I realize that God has given us everything, from our trails, to something that makes us smile. I know that the more thankful we are for things the more he gives us...whether is be temperal or spiritual. Right now, there are MANY things I am grateful for, but being on my mission and having my testimony develop so much is what I am most thankful for.

I am SO grateful for my family, friends, and the support I have be giving. For all the prayers on my behalf. The experiences I am allowed to go through have changed my life forever and I pray to never forget what I've learned here.

So Alex got confirmed on Sunday and he even wore a tie! We took a picture! It was a neat experience because I don't think I've ever felt the Spirit so strong during a confirmation in the church. We asked him to write down his feelings about his baptism, and he did...but then he wrote it into a rap, and it's actually really good! I'mma ask him for the lyrics. We were so impressed with him. Now we just need help from the ward to take him under their wing.

These scriptures impacted me this week for many reasons.

3Ne 6

14 And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and ^athey would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all ^bdiligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.

So we will get hit by trials and depending on how strong our testimonies are, we turn away from God, or we are firm and KNOW that there is no way we could turn away from God. I thought about this verse for many mintues as I read it because I've been it all around me. I want to be steadfast and immovable, that way, I can help others along the way.

3Ne 9

14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will ^acome unto me ye shall have ^beternal life. Behold, mine ^carm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.

Come to Christ = Have eternal life. Wow, it's that simple? Well YES. The gospel is not complicated, it's not complex. It is simple and plain so even a child can understand. We make things difficult. Life can be hard, but we can still find some happiness if we know to where that sounrce of tru happiness come from.  He receives EVERYONE. That's merciful in itself. My point is, as we follow Christ, Life seems much easier.

I love being here in CA and experiencing so many things I would not get anywhere else! I can't believe I'm on my mission!! I'm only 10 months in and I still can't believe it!

I love you all and I wish you a happy thanksgiving! Eat some pie for me!

With all my love and appreciation,

Hna Argüello......your favorite sister missionary.