God loves me....oh and you too.

November 12, 2012
Hi.

Did you know that we are all so very blessed? Did you know that sometimes God blesses us so much that often we forget and don't take time to say thank you? Honestly, If we spent as much time asking for things as we did thanking Him for things, I think we'd all be even more happier!!! Or happy if you aren't already. Anyway, just a thought. SO guess who's still sick? Guess who just keeps going? Guess who is sleeping in? Guess who's Mission President said to sleep, drink, and get better fast? Guess who is obeying? Guess who loves her mission even though Satan doesn't like me? Guess who had a baptism on sunday?! Guess who is so exhausted and happy? Guess who knows God answers prayers? Guess who is wearing a skirt in cold, 60 degree weather? Guess who almost died (It's okay dad, I'm fine.), Guess who has been in the field 9 months? Guess who? ME! You are all so very smart.

Alright I figured I wouldn't do that for my WHOLE email...cuz I'm make some of you crazy...ier. It's been an eventful week as it is as a representative of the Lord. I was chasing by dogs this week, but does cali drivers count? Phew. We had presidents interviews this week. That was great. Always nice to talk to him for a moment. Hna higley and I did a service for the office missionaries and heart attacked them! Hahah they'll never know who did it! We were soooo sneaky sneaky :-) You know me. Anyway that was fun. 

One thing I just want to talk about is how God has never left us alone. If anything, it is us that furthers ourselves away from Him...and then get mad. Rude right? At the baptism, Alex,15, was super happy. But his aunt was NOT. I felt the spirit just leave as she asked him all these questions. I'd never felt so sad before a baptism. Here I am fulfilling my purpose as a missionary, and I'm sad that Alex can't have his big day "worry free." God helped Alex answer all the questions calmly and correctly. Alex is a strong person and he gets it and will continue to learn and progress. I know that as he goes to church, reads his scriptures, and prays, he will know he made the right decision. He is the person that when we said the first vision, he was amazed that God answers prayers. His faith started growing from that point on in Aug. When the actual baptism took place, I couldn't help but smile and feel that peace within my heart. That really is nothing like a mission. I would have never know if I didn't come.

Well, I wish you all a great week!
Think positive. Service. Love. Think less about yourself and more about others.

with all my love Hna Argüello

Welcome November!

November 5, 2012

Hi.

 

So here...fall looks just like it did 5 months ago lol....I think that's why November took me by surprise!

Um this is going to be a quick email. Sorry. You can write me a letter if you love me.

Okay so Alex (15 yr) we are teaching is great!! Hopefully he get's baptized next week, if his mom lets him. I don't know why parents won't let their kids get baptized when they actually want to. I mean it's not like they are doing something bad. Anyway we are going to have a talk tomorrow with them to see how things work out. He is such a great kid and turned his life around. He even reads the BOM! Some member don't even! Anyway, it's really neat because he was able to go to a baptism last night to see how they do it, and he got all emotional and almost started crying. He he said he almost started crying...well obviously I almost started crying!! haha but it was wonderful to see such a strong desire in this young man and go to church.

 

Mary said something to me in her letter that I love.

 

"Follow what the Spirit directs because the Lord knows your path."

 

Think about that. It's so true. It's such a blessing to have the companionship of a member of the Godhead.

 

Alma 29:6-10

I love that! If you don't look that up, your missing out :-)

 

Okay I have to go! I love you all and know that this work sure is going faster! Christ is well on His way!

 

Love,

Hna Argüello

 

don't judge in those pic I'm sick lol

Did you know I like to be sick?

October 29, 2012

Hello!

 

Okay so I just lied on my mission. No, I don't like being sick. Am I sick again? Yes. How does that happen? I think you should tell the RS president to send a sign up sheet around so I get a package each week from someone...with you know drugs and such things to aid my weak body...but not spirit :-) No, don't you worry there. It seems I get sick every transfer. Uncalled for...huh? hahaha well I think it's just teaching me patience. WOW if I keep getting sick like this, by the time I come home I will be the most patient person you will ever know. :-) Should we try?

 

Okay so I know I write these emails or letter out...but I hope you apply this to your everyday life. If you don't apply it to yourself, I'll never be able to say you actually learned something from me ;-) Deal everyone?!? Deal.

 

Okay enough about that.

 

We had our first ESL class and it was AWESOME. We had 17 ppl there. All nonmembers...except 1! Technically 2. It was sweet. Let's just hope they come back for seconds tomorrow!! :-) Now I can write on my applications I taught english class. Let me tell you...I don't think I know english OR spanish now lol

 

We found a girl we had been teaching again! Finally. We haven't been able to find her for a month! It was really good and she said that she wanted to start seeing us again. Woot! Our 15 yr investigator came to church! ALL 3 hours of it! It was awesome! I hope he thinks so too haha We got a whole new bishopric so things are really going to start changing. Our bishop left to go to BYU-I to finish up school. Neat huh! I'll see him up there haha

 

Hno Paez told us that he is having a change of heart. Though it is a gradual process, it is happening. He used to hate God and blame him for EVERYTHING, and now he actually prays sincerly and is becoming a little more humble. Let me tell you, pride can eat you alive, whether it be because you think you are better than everyone else, or the complete opposite and you are the worst. Either way we will only see the pride in ourselves and change if we want to be better.

 

Well yes, I went through an earthquake, but everything is super fine.

 

I feel like I could say a lot more...but I can't think...did you know it's hard to speak and think in spanish when your sick?

 

OH AND PS my roommate Jenn got her mission call to France Lyons Mission!!! Got sister missionaries!!!

 

Okay I love you all and I wish you the best of luck this week. Look at the positive! Seriously.

 

With all my love, Hna Argüello

Love: The motive

October 22, 2012

Buenas tardes!

 

Well hello, hello. Another week full of....well everything really. Seriosuly I was thinking about what DIDN'T happen this week...and I came up with nothing. It  was a good week. I really wish we had the conference ensigns and liahonas already. Honestly that is like food for me. I can never get enough of conference.  So I don't know how correct this is...but it seems right. This is what Hna Busch said,

 

"SO because of the new age change so many girls are turning in there papers, it is the coolest thing. I have heard that Salt Lake usually gets around 600 a week and last week they got 3800 applications for girls!!! Now this could be a rumor, but how crazy!! Maybe San Fernando will get more sister missionaries."

 

I feel so grateful to be a missionary right now. Yesterday was stake conference and they talked a lot about missionaries and temples. Hna Higley and I were the only sister missionaries in the stake! :-) It felt sooo good hahah but at the same time I was thinking we need more sisters! I'm sure they are well on their way :-) As they talked about how special sister missionaries are, I could feel God's love for me and what I am doing here. What a rewarding experience. We were waiting for many investigators to show up but they didn't. So during the intermidiate hynm we got up to go look through all the rroms and see if anyone came. 1 Did and we were super happy. (You have to understand that the stake is so massive that the whole church was full...even all the rooms...and they were broadcasting it in 2 other chapels.) Then after it, We had a couple we are teaching come up to us! THEY CAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I saw them, my heart filled with so much joy. It's hard to explain really. I never would have thought that seeing investigators at church would have such a happy effect on me. I couldn't stop smiling. All the rest of the day I was in smiles. What a wonderful way to end the sabbath day.

 

I love reading Helaman in the Book of Mormon. Don't you? I decided that people really ought to read the BOM it is great because it can help ANYONE. Anyway Hel. 12 really hit me because it is so true.

When we are being blessed with such greatness, we become prideful in one way or another and don't put God first, then we wonder "why are all these things happening to me?" or " I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing when do I have to suffer?" Hey, we picked this plan. We didn't have to choose this, but anyone who is on earth picked it..so they can only blame themselves :-) ha but no really, We are supposed to "always remember Him..." Why? Because we love him. He is our Father. I'd never forget my papi (ramiro) so why would I "forget" God. Make sense right? anyway here it is ( it's really not that long okay.),

 

"1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and ^aprosper those who put their ^btrust in him.

 

 2 Yea, and we may see at the very ^atime when he doth ^bprosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of ^cprecious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do ^dharden their hearts, and do ^eforget the Lord their God, and do ^ftrampleunder their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth ^achasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with ^bdeath and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not ^cremember him.
4 O how ^afoolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how ^bquick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their ^chearts upon the vain things of the world!
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in ^apride; yea, how quick to ^bboast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to ^cwalk in wisdom’s paths!"
NOW if we liken this unto ourselves....we could learn a lot :-)
Have a great week! Don't forget me ;-)

With love,
Hna. Argüello

The fotos: I made elder wood a bday card out of cardboard..and water bottle tops for wheels to make a skateboard and had ppl sign it :-) There was a storm coming!!!! but it never rained :-(

 

There is no testimony without the "test"

October 15, 2012

Well, everything seems to be changing around me...except the weather! haha Is there a fall here in Santa Clarita? Either way, at least it's still beautiful. First off, happy birthday mom! You are my favorite :-) I wish you another happy year. I hope you found what I sent you in the mail! Ah I miss being with you guys for birthday's! Oh well, at least the mailman is still in business :-) haha

 

Okay anyway, Guess who is staying in Canyon country for another transfer?!?!?! YEP. That's me! Also, guess who is my comp?!?!?! YEP. Hna higley!!! Hahaha again! After this transfer, I will have spent 4 1/2 months with her 24 hours a day 7 days a week. bahahaha I love it! I love her. This transfer we are going to face our fears and let nothing tear us down. Well that's the plan anyway :-) It's good to have goals. We even wrote it down :-)

 

SO GUESS WHAT?!?!? I am in this historic time where prophecy is being fulfilled. Read it. D&C 88:72-73. My mind is still going everywhere with this. PEOPLE. This is big. Do you get it?!

 

We had zone conference and it was on the "nets"  (From elder hollands talk) that we can have on the mission. So what do we love more that God? Imagine Christ asking you, if you love him. What a moment. Anyway, so we talked about this conference and how in this coming year alone, the number of missionaries could double. It could even triple sister missionaries. I'm so excited! So that means that they need to be more prepared and worthy in high school. Something that Holland said in a clip was "Tell me how your obedience is, and I'll tell you how your mission is." (He was talking to mission presidents during a training.) I was thinking though how it's not just the mission. We need to apply this to our lives after we leave our missions. It can tell us how happy we are depending on our obedience. Think about it. Be more obedient and be more happy.

 

Ask yourselves, "What is the evidence of your faith?" How do you show your faith?

 

We ask ourselves before a cita, "okay what do we want to have happen?" When we leave the cita, we ask, "Okay now what is the evidence that their faith is increasing?"

I realized that as we plan more purposes in our lives, we will have less conflicts. What do you think?

 

This was a super fast 9 months, and I hope that I can keep up with everything going on around me! It's fantastic really.

 

I wish you all a happy week! The church is soooo true.

 

With love, Hna Argüello

 

photos: zone conference (This was the funny picture, I didn't know what to do...so I placed myself infront...of everyone :-) bahaha no one knew what to do but laugh), Elder grose is leaving our district :-(,

we sat on a hippo today :-) haha

Beautiful Baptism in Canoga park

Sept 24

Hello!

 

So this week was eventful. This week, President interviewed Yari (an investigator I taught in my old area) and she asked him if me and Hna Zepeda could come down for her baptism. So I found a ride to go down there. It was sooooo amazing to go back. Obviously there had to be tears too. It was really nice to see that all these people told me they missed me. I think sometimes when you are in the same place for a while it's just normal, but then going back you realize how much they actually did appreciate and love you. I was so happy, and just what I needed this week. It was a beautiful reunion. I was so happy that I could go down there, and that there are people willing to serve. She has gown so much and has a testimony about this church and jesus christ. When she came out of the water, my heart was so happy. I could not stop smiling. It was Yari's birthday too, so Hna zepeda and I after the baptism sang to her and she started crying. I told her how proud and happy I was. she said that she was so grateful that I had brought her the greatest blessing in her life, the Gospel of Jesus christ. It touched my heart so much. She said it was the best present she could have asked for. It's really hard to explain how happy I was to witness her go from "don't talk to me" to "you brought me the best gift."

 

 I know why I'm here. I know that we have to go through trials too. A mission would not be a mission without trials. though we have to climb the mountain to get to the top, it's always worth it. I realized this week more than ever that I am who I am becuase all the weakeness that I had in the past are now strengths. I know that the weaknesses I have now, will once day turn into strengths as I turn to Him that makes that all possible. It's easy to look around us and start to sink, maybe lack faith, but at the same time, it's JUST as easy to grab on to the Master's hand that is stretched orth for us to walk on water.

 

Reading in Alma 53 about the 2,000 stripling soldiers was very impactful. I don't think I'd ever been impacted this way from the "war" chapters. I really look up to these young men, who where taught by their mothers to have faith. They are great examples of valient young men. I was thinking while I read that, that it could be a comparassion to us missionaries. The 2,000 soldiers are like the missionaries. We are both fighting in our own wars. We are both Armies fighting for a great cause. They want to just bring peace to their lands, and we want people to find the peace the gospel can bring. Moroni has his title of liberty, and we have our missionary purpose. I hope I explained that so you understand. I'm grateful for the spirit that really teach me beyond my own capacity.

 

I wish you all a positive week!

 

With all my love,

Hna Argüello

God loves us.

Sept 17, 2012

Buenas!

 

This week feels like it has gone by so fast. I still don't feel that great, but we move along. We found out we were going to have president's interviews on Tues (11th).When we found out that we were having interviews, I had started to pray that it would not just be an "interview," but a spiritual experience. I can tell you that God heard my prayers, and how blessed am I to be able to know that what is important to me is important to my Father in Heaven. It wasn't just 15 mins of talking, but of enlightenment.

This week during personal study, I read this sentence in PMG "When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself." I thought about that and then I shared my feeling during comp study. That day, interestingly enough, we had 6 set citas, and they ALL fell through, but 1. We continued to work hard and found what seemed, no success. As I was driving, the Spirit brought back to my memory what I had studied in that morning. "When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself." I realized that I wasn't disappointed in myself even though it had felt like all we did was try to find and came up with nothing. I felt so blessed that God had directed my studies that that when the trial came, I could choose to look forward to the future with faith. We have to have "not so good days" so we are more grateful for our "great days!"
I feel blessed to learn so much, and in return I am able to better teach our investigators.

 

President gave me permission to go to Yari's baptism next sunday in my old area. In Her interview she told him that she wanted me to be there. That was really neat to hear. I taught her for about 5 months. I can't wait to go! She has changed so much and I love it!

Alma 48:23 and DyC 42:45-52 is a great example to me of true charity. It's hard not to shed a tear when you read it and understand it. Obviously, I'm not in that situation, but that PURE love that they have is amazing. When I feel the spirit and our investigators feel the spirit, I know that God is pleased and happy.
We need to start finding those people that are ready to progress, ready to change their lives for the best. Ready to receive the blessings that God has waiting at their door through the waters of baptism. Hopefully we can work on that harder on finding them this week.

 

Did I tell you we started doing Jillian Michael's work out...and we are dying? hahaha She the biggest loser trainer. hahaha oh it's just...great. not really. But we are supposed to help our comp achieve their goals...

 

the pic outside the house. We were going to teach a lesson...and we were looked out so we were trying to get into that little bathroom window...and succeeded...after 30 mins haha

 

In an hour, we are having a marshmellow battle...haha so legit huh? I'll send a picture oh the elders trying to help make our "weapons" for this P-day haha

Have a wonderful week! May God bless you!

 

With love,

Hna Argüello