Week 42

5/18/15

Hi Family! Sending you lots of hellos from Lompoc California :)

Well, this week went by so fast!  I feel like every week goes by faster and faster and I don't like it!  But it's ok because that means that we are busy and working hard.

This week I learned a lot about how I can listen and follow the whisperings of the Holy Ghost on how to find and teach people.  We had an activity in zones with Presidente and Hermana Felix and it was so cool!  We went on a hike and during part of the hike I had to blindfold Hermana Zarate or she had to blindfold me and we took turns feeling "the spirit."  We had to help our compainion to walk and stay on the path and not fall off the mountain.  I remember when I was blindfolded, I was so scared because I couldn't see anything!  I tried to grab Hermana Zarate, but we couldn't do that.  I could only listen to her voice and have faith and trust in her that she was leading me down the correct path.  Little by little as I walked my faith started growing and also my confidence grew as well.  I knew that she wouldn't lie to me and that she only wanted to help me and so that helped me a lot!  It was a really cool experience to realize that the Holy Ghost is always there guiding my path and helping me find people that are ready to receive the Gospel.

Also this week we had a District meeting focusing on the Restoration of the Gospel. It was so cool to be able to study more about it and be able to see how wonderful it is to have the same church that Jesus Christ established when He was on the earth.

Well family, I don't have much time, but I just want to invite you to take the time to listen to the Holy Ghost this week and I know that He will guide us where we need to go and to what we need to do.

I love you all so much!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

The District Latinos

Me and Hermana Zarate

Following the Spirit

Week 41

5/11/15

Hi Family!  I hope that all you moms enjoyed your mother's day yesterday and I hope that your children or your family brought you breakfast in bed.  If not, it's ok.  They can try again.

Well, this week went by so fast!  We went to visit Hermano Julian this week and we had a super cool discussion and we could feel the spirit SO strong, but Hermano Julian was rejecting the Holy Ghost.  We tried to teach him about the resutration and how there can only be one true church in the world.  And that this church has to be the same church that Jesus Christ established when He was here on the earth, but his heart is so hard and he wasn't listening.  We don't know what to do, but this week we are going to to go again with a Sister from the ward and we are hoping that this will help.  He needs lots of prayers.

We had a zone conference this week and it was really cool.  As a mission we are really trying to focus on being guided by the spirit to find and teach and our meeting was completely guided by the Spirit.  It was really cool to be there and really concentrate and Listen and learn from the Spirit.

Also, this week we went to pick up a sister from the ward from her job in Buelton, so she could go tracking with us.  She's been home from her mission almost a year but she's about 30 years old.  She is so powerful and such a good teacher.  We found a family that the Lord has been preparing and it was so good to have Dulce there with us.

This week went well with the Uribe family.  When we first started to teach them we only talked to the dad.  Then the wife starting listening once in a while, and now we are going to have the whole family there listening! (Well, all those who live there).  It has been cool to see how little by little we have gotten to know them and they have felt more comfortable with us and how now they accept the things we ask them to do like pray and read the Book of Mormon.

Then we had a baptism in the Spanish group on Saturday!  Everything started with the Hermana Hortencia.  She invited her friend Flor to come to church on Sunday.  Then the missionaries went and taught her and now to got baptized with her two daughters who are 8 and 9 years old.  Then after a few months her husband got baptized, and now, months later, her oldest daughter Elsa got baptized!  It was such a cool service!  All of the Elders who have taught this family were able to come and be there with Elsa.  It was also cool because a few weeks ago we met her and became friends.  The day she got baptized she asked Hermana Zarate and if we could stay with her waiting after she got baptized.  It was a really special and spiritual service.  We know that the Lord continues to bless this family and that in one year they will be able to be sealed as a family.

And something fun that we did this week was we got to go to "Pork Place" a farm with Jose (our less active member) to help him with some work so that he can go to church on Sunday.  There were so many piggies!!! We cleaned up their poop and then we corralled them and then played with them.  It was fun and......Jose came to church!!!  He really liked it and we were so happy because he hasn't come in so long!  Next week I will send you pictures of the piggies :)

Well family, I love you all so much and I hope that you never forget how much our Father in Heaven
loves you.  He will always be there and everything He gives us is because He loves us.  I know that this is the only true church on the Earth at this time and I know that God helps us with His work.  I love you all!!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Elsa's Baptism

Week 40

5/4/15

Hello family!  Sending you lots of hellos from Lompoc and happy May!  I can't believe that we are already in May.  I feel like just last week was Christmas.  But oh well.  I hope that you are all enjoying all of the blessings that our Heavenly Father has for you.

This week was so good, like always :)

We had exchanges and I got to work with Hermana Costilla this time!  And we stayed in Lompoc.  Well, we went to Solvang for the day and it was so cool to be there again.  Since we live in Lompoc now, we don't get to go there very often.  But we found a family from Honduras that are so cool!  The mother, Berta, was already being taught by some missionaries a year ago, but when they moved, she lost contact with the missionaries.  Her and her children have a great desire to follow Christ and do what He want for them.

We have a less active member, Tomas, that we went to visit and told us that he wants to go back to the Catholic church because he's not sure if he still has a testimony.  We had a really spiritual and good discussion with him about prayer and how our Heavenly Father answers prayers.  We are planning on teaching the discussions again.  We hope that this will help him a lot.

On Sunday, some 8 year old twins got baptized and that was their birthday.  The missionary who baptized their mom 2 years ago, came to baptize the girls.  It was so cool to be there and see how much the members love the missionaries who serve there.  Even 2 years ago.  And also to see the love this brother has for each one of the members.

Okay, to finish, yesterday we went to the Uribe's house and they had their family there.  Hermano Uribe was with the family outside and we were inside with Hermana Uribe, her daughter Lili, and some of the daughter's friends.  We had a really cool discussion about the weaknesses that our Father in Heaven gives us, and about the trials that we face and how we can face them with the help of our Father in Heaven.  It was super cool!

I want to finish with a scripture that our District leader Elder Lee sent us after a really hard day, it is D&C 112:10-11

10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

 11 I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name.

He didn't know that it had been a hard day or anything, but I am greatful to have leaders so inspired like him, Presidente Felix, and our Hermanas Trainers.

Thank you for everything thing, and don't forget to call your mothers to tell them thank you for giving you life and for all that they do for you :)  I love you all!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Me and Hermana Costilla

Our bunk beds and some lips Hermana Zarate made me buy

The District! from left to right, Elder Moreno, Elder Herrera, Elder Lee, Elder Bautista, me and Hermana Zarate

Week 39

4/27/15

Okay family.  I don't have much time, but we'll see how it goes.

We are living in Lompoc and I love it!!  The Spanish group here is so excited to have us and we also have 4 elders as well.  So 6 missionaries for the Spanish group and it's almost a branch now :D  There are so many good things happening here.  The Lord really has been preparing His children and we are so blessed to be able to help them return to Him!

I love my district.  There are only us 6 missionaries for the Group but they are all so good.  I don't have a picture with them, but next week I will send one.  Since we are all missionaries that speak Spanish we have our meetings in Spanish.  This has never happened to me so far, so it felt a little weird, but I love it :)  I just remember that the Gospel is universal and it doesn't matter what language we are speaking, but we can always feel the Spirit.

This week we went with the Uribe family.  There are a couple that we have been teaching for a while but they have not been progressing.  In this last discussion Hermana Uribe said his first prayer!  It was so special and it was a really cool moment for them as well.

Okay, to finish....our district leader asked us to pick a scripture for us to focus on during this transfer.  I picked D&C 68:6 that says:

6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and that He is always with us.  I am so thankful to be able to have this time that I can tesitify of Him and of His love everyday.  I love you all so much and I hope that you have a great week!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Look what we found on the streets of Lompoc

Week 38

4/20/15

Good morning family!  Sending you a great big hug!  I hope that our Father in Heaven is taking care of you and blessing you everyday.

Well, to start, TRANSFERS:  I am going to stay in my same areas of Solvang and Lompoc and I am going to stay with Hermana Zarate.  But we are going to change apartments!  My new address is:

401 W. Vine #130

Lompoc, CA 93436

And also, now we're not going to be the the ward in Solvang :( Just with the Spanish group in Lompoc.  I am super excited to be working only in Spanish, but I am also sad to leave the members here in Solvang.  These last 3 months here with them have been so good and I am excited to serve another 6 weeks here.

Well, Blake left for BYU-I!  We are excited for her and we are hoping that everything will turn out and that she can meet lots of people and feel at home.

Ok, so last week we received a message from Presidente Felix letting us know that on April 19th everyone had to go to Ventura for a special mission meeting.  But his didn't tell us why.  We yesterday we drove to Ventura and everyone was there.  It was so cool to see Hermana Shepherd, Hermana Clark, and all of my friends :)  So we were there sitting, just waiting when Presidnete Felix came in with David Archuleta.  It was so weird and so cool!  Turns out that David had to do something in Los Angeles today and he wanted to visit the missionaries first.  So we talked with Presidente Felix and he said it was ok.  We had a devotional and it was such a cool experience.  He sang a few songs and shared some of his experiences from his mission and from his life.  My favorite part of the program was when he shared Alma 37:6-7

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

 7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very smallmeans the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

It's the little things that we do that make such a big difference.  Sometimes we don't realize but after a while we can look back and see the difference then and now.  After that he sang "Come, Come, Ye Saints" and he was singing in English and then on the third verse he sang it in Spanish and then spirit was so strong there.  I have heard and sung that song many times but when he sang the words, "All is well" I felt in my heart that these words came from our Heavenly Father.  And that He was telling me that everything was going to be alright.  Even when we feel that everything is hard and we feel alone and frustrated, everything is going to be alright.

Here is a video of Daivd singing a song that he sang to us yesterday.

http://www.mormon.org/blog/david-archuleta-glorious-music-video

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

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Blake on her last day

Our ward mission leader Hermano Mathews and his family

Hermana Mathews mother.....Hermana Mathews

Week 37

4/13/15

Hi!!!

Okay, this week was soooo good.  To start, we went on a hike with our zone and it was so fun and it was so good to just go and walk with great people for a while.

Then, on Tuesday we had exchanges.  I got to go to Santa Maria!! And I worked with Hermana Killpack (for the third time)  Oh how I enjoyed to return to my area and see how things have changed!  I also really enjoyed working the Hermana Killpack again.  Since it was our third time working together we say we are companions now.  It was so nice to talk to her about less active members that I remember working with, who are now active and have callings and are working hard to help with the work.  It was a day full of miracles and lots of hugs seeing my friends there.

Then on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we were in Lompoc.  We saw so many miracles there as well.  Hermana Zarate and I have been working on being completely obedient to all of the mission rules and we have seen the blessings.  We have been able to find many people in Lompoc and all of the people that we have talked to have been so ready to hear the gospel.

Jose came to the sports night and it was so cool to see the members show him how much they love him and have missed him at church.  I feel like little by little he will return and realize how much we need him at church.  Oh, we were also playing futbol and Hermana Zarate and I were the goalies.  We got hit so many times with the ball!  But it was ok because they didn't make any goals!

Then on Saturday after seeing lots of people, we went to eat with Arturo.  He is doing so much better, and he even came to church yesterday with Jackson and Isabel (his children).  But on Saturday after eating (some delicious enchiladas) we were heading to the other room to teach a discussion with Arturo when some of his mom's friends who were also visiting asked us if we were going to share the Word of God (its somthing everyone says here) and Arturo said yes and they asked if they could stay a listen to the discussion as well.  We told them obviously yes that they could!  And we had a really nice discussion!  We shared about the Book of Mormon and about Temples and we showed the video about He Lives.  They loved the video and everything we shared.  They are from Los Angeles so we gave them a copy of the Book of Mormon and then we invited them to go the Temple and to go to the visitors center.

Also yesterday after trying to find somebody at home, we thought about Juana, a less active member.  When we got to her house, come to find out that she was not feeling very good and wanted to give up.  She sang a hymn to her and after talking a little while, she told us how grateful she was and told us that we were the answer to her prayers in that moment.

I love this work and love being an instrument in the Lord's hands.  I know that we didn't do anything except be obedient and be prepared.  The Lord is the one who does the rest.

I love being a missionary and I so thankful for the opportunity that I have to work everyday in the Lord's work and to be part of so many miracles and blessings.  I invite to you to read the Book of Mormon everyday.  This is the other thing that really helped us this week.  I promise you that you will see a change in your lives.

With lots of love!  Have a great week :)

Our P-Day

Exchanges with Hermana Killpack and Hermana Costilla

When we went to the park

Us with Jackson

Week 36

4/6/15

Hi Family!!

I hope that you all enjoyed your weekend full of inspired talks by inspired men and women.  I also hope you all enjoyed Easter with your friends and families.

I really enjoyed every session of conference.  It is so interesting to hear and see what we need at this time.  My favorite talks were from Elder Gerald Causee who spoke about how sometimes we don't appreciate the things closest around us.  It really made me think how much we really should love the gospel.  If our car broke down, would we walk 15 minutes to get to church?  When we really love this gospel and are faithful we would.  We would do everything possible to have the gospel as a part of our lives.

I also really liked the talk by Elder Brent H. Nielson.  It made me think of so many different people who have decided to leave the church and we don't know how to help them.  But I know that sometimes the best thing we can do is let them leave.  And just as Elder Nielson said, we have to observe, wait, and the most important thing...let them know how much we love them.

And Elder Holland.  This man speaks with such power and authority.  I love it.  His story about the boy who was about to fall made me cry.  I know that our Father in Heaven ALWAYS is there waiting for the moment when we are about to fall and rescue us.  He will never let us fail.

Arturo is doing much better, he looks more happy and at peace.  Even though he has so many problems, he knows that he needs to take time for the Lord and He will help him with his problems.

This week we had a discussion with Jose (a less active member) and Hermano Mathews (our missionary leader for the ward) and it was so cool!!  Hermano Mathews is such a good teacher and it was so cool to be able to be there and see him teach Jose with such love and patience.  We are so happy because now we are friends.  Jose also came to church for one session of conference!! It was so cool.  Jose has not come to church in so long and he told us how good it felt to be there again.

Well family, I love you all so much, I pray for you all and I know that when we align our will with the Lord's will He will bless us and we will have so much joy in our lives.

-Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Week 35

3/30/15

Hi Family! Sending you lots of hugs and greetings again.

I hope that you all have been having a good week :)  And that you have been preparing for General Conference and Easter!!  If you have not watch the videos that the Church has made for Easter you have to watch them right now!

Ingles: http://www.mormon.org/easter

Español:  http://www.mormon.org/spa/pascua

Well, this week was so good for us!

On Tuesdays we have English classes and this week Eric and Jose came.  Eric got baptized one year ago but has not yet receive the Priesthood.  But he comes to church every Sunday and is really good. Jose was baptized 5 years ago and is less active.  He doesn't come to church because he works on a ranch and he has to take care of the animals.  But he has been coming to the English classes and the sports nights....now he just needs to come to church on Sunday.  But since they already know a lot of English we have been reading from the Book of Mormon in English.  We asked them where they wanted to start reading the Eric said he wanted to practice the sacrament prayers since he needs to learn them.  It was really cool because we were able to read and talk about the importance of the Sacrament and of the church.

Then, yesterday at church they announced that Eric is going to receive the Priesthood!!  So after the meeting we will meet with the Bishop and some other members and Eric will get the Priesthood.  You could really see how happy he was and that he knows it is a great responsibility, and that he will be able to bless his family and all those around him.  We are so excited to see his progress.

Okay, Arturo came back home!  We have been able to go see him at home every day with week.  He came back on Tuesday and he was the first person we went to see.  He came back different.  While he was in Colorado, he went through a lot of things and difficulties, and when we saw him, he wasn't the same person as before.  It seems as though he lost the beautiful spirit that he had before.  He is going through a lot and we are trying to help him feel Jesus Christ's and our Heavenly Father's love for him.  We are also trying to help him see how he can be happy again thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  He already changed once, and we know that he can do it again.

And to finish, we saw the Women's Conference this weekend and during President Eyring I could feel the spirit so strong.  I know that our Heavenly Father never leaves alone.  I could remember difficult times that I have had on my mission and how I have felt totally alone.  But as I remembered those times I could see and remember that I was never really alone.  Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost have been with me every moment along the way.  I know that the Holy Ghost  is always there.  I know that He takes care of us and that He takes care of me every step of our lives.

Always look for Jesus Christ and His love.  He is always waiting with open arms.

I love you all and hope that this weekend you enjoy General Conference.  Go with questions and I promise you will get answers.

With lots of love,

Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

The sisters from Lompoc came last Monday to see Solvang.

The Elder's investigator (Anthony) drew my name!

Week 34

3/23/15

H family and friends!  Sending you a great big hug from Solvang California :)

Well, this week was a great week!  Ok so, Blake is going to Idaho in two weeks to study at BYU.  And since conference is coming up there isn't a day that she can be baptized.  So we don't think that she will get baptized before she goes to school.  But we know that she is ready to be baptized and that she will be baptized when the Lord wants.

This week they operated on Concha's knee so we wen to visit her.  We asked her if she was reading the Book of Mormon and has been praying to know if it is true.  She stood there looking at us and said, "yes hermanas, I have read it everyday and I know that it comes from God.  I know that it is true" ah, it was super cool!!  She wants to keep learning more and she is SO ready!  The Lord really has been preparing her all this time.  We also went to see Hermana Ballentine (she is the one who told us to visit Concha) and she told us that Concha went to visit her and she couldn't stop saying thank you for sending the Gospel to her life.

We had a discussion with Eric this week.  He was baptized a year ago but never got the Priesthood.  So we are working with him and with the Bishop so that he can get it :)  We are also going to start working on his family history so he can go to the Temple :D

Okay!!  So last Sunday Hermana Speceiro told us that she wanted us to meet one of her friends.  Saturday we went to eat lunch with him and his friend and the friend had SO many questions!!  We were able to teach about how the Gospel blesses our families, we talked about family history, and also about the Book of Mormon.  We gave him a copy and also a DVD that talks about Jesus Christ.  He was so happy and excited to learn more.

And yesterday 4 less active members came to church!! It was so cool to see them enter and talk with the other brothers and sisters and see them feel the love that you can feel being at the church :)

I love you all and I hope that this week is full of opportunities to serve others :)
Always follow Jesus Christ's example ♥

Never forget that our Heavenly Father loves you and listens to you at all times :)

Kisses!! ♥

Hermana Cuevas Da Silva

Enjoying Spring

Week 33

3/16/15

Well Family.

Another week here in California and everyday it is getting hotter and hotter!  Over the weekend we were 95 degrees!  I always forget that we are in March because it is as hot as in summer.  But I can't complain.  I love it :)

This week was transfers so Hermana Player is now at home with her family in Alaska :)  I really miss her but it is ok!  My new companion is Hermana Zarate and she is from Soda Springs Idaho.  She has been on her mission 5 months and is a really hard worker.  We get along really well :)  I always love going to the transfer meetings because I can see all my friends in other areas and I love to see how they have grown and how much they have learned.

So, this transfer we have the goal of looking at the ward list and visit very person and family on the list.  There are so many names that I still don't know and some that I have never even heard of.  So we are visiting everyone with the Elders.  We have been focus on visiting the members during the day to get to know them and to share a message with them.  We can already see the blessings!  This week we visited a family and we talked about how they met each other and how they found the church and it went really well.  Then yesterday at church the Brother was looking for us and told us that on Saturday he talked a little bit with a friend about the gospel and that the friend was really interested.  Then he told us that this Saturday his friend is going to his house to help him with a few things again and he invited us to come eat lunch with them to meet his friend and share the gospel with him.  I know that by working with the members they are going to help us share the gospel with their friends so that we can teach them the gospel.

Yesterday I gave a talk at church and I talked about sharing our testimonies.  I love it when they ask me to talk because it gives me the opportunity to study a specific topic.  I really liked studying about sharing your testimony.  There is a really great chapter in Preach My Gospel that talks about this.  I recommend that you read it and study it.  I know that there are many times in our lives that we go through hard times and that they only thing we may have is our testimony of Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father and that everything will turn out ok.

This weekend was a little crazy.  Arturo left for Colorado to get married and this weekend was really hard for him.  He was calling and calling us crying and saying that he didn't know what to do.  That he felt alone and he felt like he didn't have a purpose in life anymore.  It was so hard to hear him feel like this and we didn't know what to do.  Hermana Zarate and I could only kneel and ask our Heavenly Father to help us and give us the right words in our mouths to say to him.  Arturo called us again and I can't tell you what we said because it wasn't us talking to him but he Holy Ghost was talking for us.  After lots of calls with us and the Bishop and other Brothers from the church, and lots of prayers from everyone, today Arturo called us in the morning to tell us that he is going to return home in three days.  He already has his ticket and everything is ready.  I am so grateful that Heavenly Father never leaves us alone but He is always there in every moment.  Even when Arturo felt alone, I know what our Savior was holding him and helping him.

Bad things happen in life.  It is full of sadness and is also filled with happiness.  I know that when we have faith in Jesus Christ and in God they will help us.  I also know that They love us so much and that they sent us in families to help and support us.  They also sent us friends to help us when we feel alone.  I know that this church is true and that God hears our prayers.  He is always there hugging us.

I love you all so much and send you lots of hugs and kisses!!  

♥ Hermana Cuevas Da Silva 

My last picture with Hermana Player before she left for Alaska!

Me and Hermana Clark

My new companion Hermana Zarate

Week 32

3/9/15

Hi Family,

The time has come again.....Transfers!!  I am going to stay in Solvang/Lompoc and my new companion will be Hermana Zarate.  I have never met  her but I am really excited to work with her :)  She has only been in the mission a few months less than me so we'll see how it goes.

I am really sad because Hermana Player is leaving.  But I am happy that she is going home with her family.  I have learned so much with her.  I know that she was my companion at this specific time because she is what I needed.  I am so grateful to have her in my life.

Well, Arturo left this week for Colorado to get married!  Today he is getting married.  We are sad because we really miss him, but we are happy for him :)  Today we are going to talk to his mother on the phone because she is nervous, so we are going to go visit her tomorrow night and see how she is doing. 

This week I was a little bit sick so we stayed a few days in the house because I was really weak.  But don't worry! I am better now!  Nothing can stop me!

We has a super cool discussion with our investigator Blake this week.  We were going to see her at a bakery and when we went in we saw a sister from the ward.  Turns out that Blake had told her she was going to meet us there and had invited her to come join us.  So we taught Blake and the member.  We taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ but it was so cool because we used lots of examples from the Book of Mormon.  Blakes loves the Book of Mormon and she really liked to hear about all the people so valiant and powerful there.  We are going to see her this week and see if we can set a date for her basptism.

This weekend we has Stake Conference.  Elder Ahuna from the 70 came from Hawaii.  He said he wanted to take us all back to Hawaii with him.  I accept.  But I don't think Presidente Felix will be ok with that.  He talked a lot about Ward Counsel and how we all need to be part of this counsel.  That working together we can help our brothers and sister return.

This week during my study I read a talk "Rescue in Unity" by Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong.  I loved what he said, "The work to assist Jesus Christ in saving souls, at least for them, was never too demanding. They came up with a plan—not an easy one, but they acted on it."

I know that when we work together to bring others to Christ, we can do it.

Mark 2: 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Keep working hard and invite all of your friends and family to listen to the Gospel.  It is the Good News, why wouldn't you want to share good news with your friends and family?

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

♥ Hermana Cuevas Da Silva 

Us with Anthony.  Anthony is an investigator of the Elders, but they also help us.  Anthony is always going around the whole city on his skateboard so we always see him.  We are trying to help him stop smoking so he can get baptized.

The Elders in Solvang

Week 31

3/2/15

Hi Family! Sending you lots of hugs and hellos :)

Well, this week we went to visit Nilza (the Brazilian) and she is going back to Brasil!!  She leaves tomorrow :(  We were so sad but she told us that when she gets to Brasil she is going to look for the missionaries so they can teach her in Portuguese.

This week we also had the opportunity to do exchanges with Hermana Killpack again!  But this time I went to work in her area and her companion came to Solvang to work with Hermana Player.  So this week I worked in Santa Barbara!!  Missionary work in Santa Barbara is on fire!  All of the members are so willing to come with us to teach.  We went to see an investigator to help in her garden but when we got there she had already finished.  But we had opportunity to sit with here and talk a little bit about what we believe and about how the Gospel helps us in our lives.  It was super cool!

Also, this week Hermana Player and I were also gardeners and we have been helping some sisters in our ward.  It was cool because in serving them, they could see our desire to serve.  Now they are more willing to serve and to tell their friends and family that need the Gospel.

There is an investigator named Blake.  Everyone in Solvang know her because her family are owners of almost the whole city.  But they have been working with her for years!!  Last transfer Hermana Player and her companion were teaching her almost everyday and she was almost ready to be baptized.  But this transfer they changed us to only Spanish, and she only speaks English.  So the Elders that been teaching her.  She doesn't feel as comfortable with them so hopefully we will start teaching her again.

Arturo (who was baptized in October) has a strong testimony of the Gospel.  He is a good missionary.  He is always trying to share the Gospel with his friends.  But he is going to Colorado this Friday to get married!  We are going to miss him a lot.

We had a really cool discussion this Saturday with Concha.  She was a member reference from the ward.  But on Saturday we went to teach her about the Restoration and it was so cool!!  She is so ready to accept the Gospel.  It is so incredible to be there teaching her and seeing how our Father in Heaven has been preparing her at this time.  When we teach her somthing, she accepts it so well.  She also knows that she doesn't have to believe what we say but that she can ask Heaven Father and He will answer her.  When we told her about Joseph Smith and the First Vision, I was reciting his own words and I was look into her eyes and she was looking into mine and it was so INTENSE!! You could feel the Spirit so strong.  When we left the discussion Hermana Player and I just sat in the car in awe of how special it was.

I know that this Church is true and that this Gospel is true.  I am so grateful to be able to be a missionary and be able to share this with my brothers and sisters here.

Thank you for everything you all do, keep trusting in our Heavenly Father and He will help you in all things.  I'm sending you this scripture to study this week, I really liked it.

Alma 26:27-31

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have beenstoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

 30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

I love you all, have a great week!!

Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Our zone

Our district

Me and Hermana Player on our hike

Me and Hermana Killpack again

Us with Arturo

Our last visit with Nilza!

Week 30

2/23/15

Hi Family!

Well, this week was incredible, as usual.

We had zone conference!  The focus was on "The Living Christ."  Presidente Felix asked us to study it in preparation for the conference.  It was so cool to read, and read, and study the life of our great older brother.  He really lived a perfect life.  He has given us the best example and we should try everyday to be more like Him.  Something that we did was listen to the hymn "I believe in Christ" and Presidente Felix shared a poem that says, "I believe in Christ, and He believes in me."  I realized that just as we can believe and have faith in Jesus Christ, He believes in each one of us and He has faith that we can accomplish and conquer whatever happens in our lives.  It is something that I will never forget.  We also saw videos of almost all 12 apostles giving their testimony of Jesus Christ and of His great life.  It was so cool to hear the living prophets testify how each one of them has a testimony of Christ.  It has strengthened me everyday to know my Savior better and to trust in Him and be His friend.  I invite you all to do the same.  He is there and you only thing you have to do is look for His help and His friendship.

Well, some of the pictures I'm sending are from Ostrich Land last Monday!  It was fun :)

We went to Lompoc this week, again and it was so good.  We went to met a family and when we got there they were having a birthday party for their granddaughter.  They let us in and then they let us stay.  So we stayed awhile to celebrate, eat, and best of all...get to know our members :)  It was cool because almost all of the Spanish group were there.  So it was a great opportunity.

We have been serving the members in our ward in Solvang a lot and it has gone really well.  We are building good relationships with them and they are trust us more and more with as their friends and families.

Well, I love you all so much. Hope you have a great week!!

Hermana Cuevas Da Silva

Week 29

2/16/15

Hello everyone!  I hope that you all enjoyed your Valentine's Day weekend.  Remember that we don't need a specific day to tell the ones we love how much we love them.  Tell them everyday!

Well, it was another great week in Solvang!  Last Monday we were visiting some people who live close to us but no one was really interested.  Then we saw a woman who was going down some stairs.  We started talking with her and she was taking ___ from her car to her house.  We asked if we could help her and she said yes!!  After helping her she let us into her home to talk for a while.  Turns out that the missionaries visited her years ago but one day they stopped going and she never knew why.  She wanted us to come back and teach her more about what we believe.  She loved that we were so eager to help her.  Her name is Tilla and she is so loving.

Also, this week we found an investigator named Concha.  She was a reference by a lady from the ward and we have been trying to go see her but every time we went to her house she wasn't' there.  So last Saturday we finally found her.  Her brother passed away 6 months ago and she is very sad.  We taught her about the Plan of Salvation and she was really happy to hear that she will be able to see her brother again and that he will have a chance to hear about the Gospel in the spirit world.  Her husband came in half way through the discussion and then we started again so that he could listen as well.  Both of them agreed with what we taught they want us to come back and help them get closer to Jesus Christ.  Also, Concha wants the missionaries to visit her sister in Santa Maria!  So we are going to send the missionaries there. 

Maricela and Maria are doing well.  They operated on Maricela's hernia on Friday and she is recovering.  We went to see if we could find her last Thursday in the morning and she was at home.  She was alone and was telling us that the whole morning she worried and anxious and wanted someone to talk to but she didn't have anyone, but them we came and she was able to talk with us.  She said it was like we answered her prayers by coming.  Really we were guided by the Holy Ghost.

Well, we had many more miracles and blessings this week but there is not time for all of them.  

We keep trying to always share the love that our Heavenly Father has for each one of us, with others.

Oh, also on Saturday while we were walking, a bird pooped on my arm.....but its ok.  Not even bird poop can stop me from sharing the Gospel!

I'll leave you with a scripture Deut. 31:6

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Love you all lots!  Hope you have a great week!! 

♥ Hermana Cuevas Da Silva :) 

El dia de Amor y Amistad

Mis calcetines nuevos de Solvang 

 Mi preferido snack :)