Week 28

2/9/15

Okay family, are you ready to hear about my week?

So, the best thing happened when Wednesday we got a call from our zone leaders telling me that I was invited to Fernando's baptism in Paso Robles!  They already asked Presidente Felix's and he gave permission for me to go.  So on Saturday Hermana Player and I drove an hour and a half to get there.  Fernando was so happy and it made me so happy!  He didn't know that I was going to go so when he saw me he shouted "Hermana Cuevas!!" and he ran to give me a hug.  He was so happy that I was able to be there with him and his family.  His aunts and uncles who are Jehovah's Witnesses were there to support him and they really liked it.  His dad, who is not a member, was also there and Fernando was the most happy boy in the whole.

Then we went to Lompoc to start the Spanish group.  Everyone in Lompoc is so incredible!  Every member is so excited to work with the missionaries.  Everyone gave us there numbers and want us to call them during the week so they can come work with us.  We are so excited to work with this group.  We are also excited because this group is exactly what our investigators and less active members need.

Yesterday we had a really cool discussion with Maricela and Maria.  We read 3 Nephi 11 and they really like it.  But then Maria had a lot of questions about how we are baptized and how we don't baptize babies and stuff like that.  It was so cool because we could use the Book of Mormon to answer her questions.  We read other chapters and verses and almost all her questions were answered.  Then at the end Hermana Player and I testified that we know that this is the truth.  I told them that we are not there to tell them that what they believe it bad.  We are only there to to share with them our beliefs and invite them to study, pray, and ask if it is true.  Then I told them that I know what we teach is true.  I wouldn't have left my family, friends, school, and everything to come here for a year and a half to tell people about something that is nice.  I left everything because I KNOW that it is true and I want others to know it too.  I have seen it change my life and my friends and family's lives and I have seen the joy that comes into our lives and I want the whole world to feel it too!  Then Hermana Player said something similar but about her life.  It was so cool and the spirit was so strong there.

Well, these were my experiences this week :)  I am so happy to work and serve my brothers and sisters.  I love you all so much and I wish you all the best.  Have a great week!

With lots of love,

Hermana Cuevas DaSilva

We went out shopping and I bought a beanie!

Solvang

Fernando's baptism

Week 27

2/215

Hi Family!  Sending you lots of greetings!
I'm writing you from Solvang California!  A small town full of tourists.  Today my companion and I are going to go explore and be tourists ourselves, so next week I'll send you pictures of what we see :)

I am serving with Hermana Player, she is from Alaska and is going to finish her mission.  They just divided our area again so we are working in Solvang, Buelton, Santa Ynez, and now Lompoc.  There are already Elders in Lompoc but we are working together.  This week we met with the Bishop there and he told us that they only have a Spanish group but that they are about to become a Branch!  So we are really excited!  This next weekend we are going to meet with Stake to finalize everything.

The members here in Solvang are so good.  They are very excited to help with missionary work.  And what I love is that they all realize that missionary work is not just for missionaries but that we can only move forward working together.  Everyone is so willing to help in whatever way they can and with anything we need.  We have some English classes and all the members are inviting everyone.

I always joke with Hermana Player that here in Solvang we are international missionaries.  We have an investigator named Bruno and he is Italian.  He also speaks English.  I talked to him this week on the phone and it was so cool!  I am excited to get to know him.

We also teach a lady from Brazil named Nilza.  We have a sister in the the ward who served in Brazil so sometimes she comes with us to teach her the discussions.  This week she couldn't come so we went by ourselves.  No kidding!!  I felt like a new missionary in a new a country.  I had no idea what she was saying.  I understood a little bit, but not much.  Nilza is going back to Brazil in a few weeks and she is excited to look for missionaries there.

Then we have another lady named Amal...she is an Arab!  And she doesn't speak English.  But her son speaks English and he interprets for us.  The members have found materials in Arabic and so she has those.  We went to her house the other day and we helped her make kivi!!  We are going back today eat!

This week I have been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon and in Preach My Gospel.  I am so greatful to be able to have the Book of Mormon and know that our Heavenly Father loves all His sons and daughters.  I have seen how much love you can feel by reading the Book of Mormon.  I invite you all to read everyday and I promise you that you will feel a difference in your lives. You will be able to feel the spirit and the love of our Father in Heaven all the time.

I want to share a scripture with you that a friend sent me:

Alma 8:10 Nevertheless Zahaia labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.

I invite you all to take out my name and put your name in this scripture.  I know that if you pray to our Father and ask for His help, He will help you to share the Gospel.

I love you all so much, and hope that you have a great week!

With lots of love,

Hermana Cuevas DaSilva

Me and Hermana Faletau

My new companion Hermana Player

Another picture from Paso Robles...teaching about the Book of Mormon

Week 26

1/26/15

Hi Family  :)

Sending you lots of hugs!

So........! Transfers are tomorrow and I'm going to Solvang to work with Hermana Player.  It is her last transfer so I'm going to make sure she works hard!  I am excited for the transfer but also so sad to leave my companions and to leave all of our investigators.

This week we talked to Fernando and his family and he is going to be baptized February 7th!  I am so excited and happy for him :)  I know that he is going to so blessed and most of all his family is going to be blessed also.

Beto is the same.  He was so sad when I told him that I had to leave.

This week end we have interviews with President Felix and I was so happy to see him and get to talk to him :)  We also had Stake conference.  Elder Packer from the 70 came and it was so cool to be there and to be able to feel the spirit so special and so strong.  All the speakers talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how we can use it to better our lives.

He thought about during the Atonement.  Jesus Christ not just suffered for our pains and sicknesses but also for our sad times too.  I know that when we are going through whatever, a problem, a test, a sad time, or lonely time, our Savior Jesus Christ knows how to help us.  He knows how to strengthen us to be able to rise above these moments

I love being a missionary, I love you all, and I love this gospel.

D&C 128:22
22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us toredeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

Have a good week!
With lots of love,
Hermana Cuevas DaSilva

The beautiful ocean

Celebrating Hermana Shepherd's birthday (it's tomorrow but we have been celebrating all month long)

Brother and Sister Gonzalez

The Arellano Family

Beto

The other Gonzalez family

Pictures with Fernando and Tibni!

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Week 25

1/19/2015

Hi Family!  Sending you lots of hugs from California :)

This was incredible....like always :D

Monday we has a Family Home Evening with Yeray and his family.  Yeray is 10 years old and he wants to get baptized but his family don't want him to until the whole family is active in the church.  We know that we need to help each member so they can return.  They need to feel that we really need them (because we really do need them!) and that we love them.  The Branch President has offered his house to have the Family Home Evenings with Yeray and his family.  I know that having this support is really going to help them feel this love and support.

We have exchanges this week and I got to work with Hermana Justiniano and Hermana Faletau!  It was so fun!!  Everyday we focused on service.  When we met someone the first thing we say is that we are here to service them.  There was so many people that were so surprised but they loved that we were young people serving others.  We also went to see a young girl who is less active.  She is 19 years old and she is trying to "find" herself.  We told her that we could help her.  We are going to go back to read the Book of Mormon with her.

Then we have Fernando.  He is 8 years old and he also wants to get baptized!  We are planing on February 6th!  We are hoping all goes well.  His family is also less active but they want to come back.  And yesterday they came to church!

Well, I hope you all have a good week.

Keep working hard to help and serve others come unto Jesus Christ.

Try to serve someone everyday and you will see the Lord put people in your path.

Read your scriptures, pray, and go to church.

Just like we have to recharge our bodies everyday, we also have to recharge our spirits.

I love you all!!

Hermana Cuevas DaSilva

Exchanges with Hermana Justiniano y Hermana Faletau

Fernando

Our dinner the other day

I LOVE fish