19 years in the making: 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 ♥