Week 71

12/7/15

Hi everyone!!

I hope you all had a great week full of the Spirit and Love of our Heavenly Father!!  Here we had a week full of blessings :)

To start, we had two exchanges this week.  One was on Wednesday and I got to work in Simi Valley with Hermana Huey (we both got to the mission at the same time so it was cool to be able to finally work together if only for one day).  We saw so many miracles!  Okay so here's one.  We were in the street that supposedly is the most Hispanic street in Simi (Simi is a place with lots of white people).  But we tried a few houses but we couldn't find anyone.  Hermana Huey said "we need to talk to at least one person," so we saw a woman walking really fast and we decided to talk to her.  We crossed the street and said told us that she didn't have must time because she had a Doctor's appointment.  We asked if we could walk with her and talk.  And she said Yes. Oh man!  We walked so much!  We almost walked to the other side of the city.  And she was walking super fast!!  But she listened to us and told us that we could come back to her house some time.  Then we had to walk back to our car and while we were walking a man on a bike stopped us and asked if we were mormon missionaries.  He told us that a few months ago some missionaries visited him but them he had an accident and lost contact with them but he has been looking for them again because he wants to learn more!  It was incredible!

Then, on Saturday we had exchanges and I got to stay in Camarillo with Hermana Ames.  At the beginning of the day not many people wanted to talk to us, but then at night we had a discussion so powerful with a new family (the Barrera family) and then another with one of our investigators Rocio.  The Lord was definitely there with us guiding us.  The spirit was so strong and our investigators also felt it.

Another miracle that happened on Saturday.  We knocked on a door and the woman who opened the door had Masa on her hands.  We asked her if he was cooking and she said yes, and we asked what she was making and she said Sopes!  We asked if we could help her and she accepted!  She let us in and the first thing she asked was, "okay missionaries, who sent you?"  We said that nobody sent us and we asked why she asked that.  Then she told us that she has lots of friends who are members of the church and that they are always send the missionaries to her.  Then we told her that her friends didn't send us but that the Lord sent us.  We helped her and then we were able to have a nice discussion with her.  She has read the Book of Mormon a few times and has prayed but had not received an answer.  We talked about the Plan of God and that everything happens on His time and we invited her to pray again.

This week studying the scriptures I have been studying the missions of the sons of Mosiah and they are some of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon.  Some verses that I like a lot are these, and it's Alma the Younger talking, he says:

 1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

 3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

I love that it says that if we all repeat and come to God, there would be no more sorrow on the earth.  I know that this is true.  I am so happy to be a missionary and help others to do this, repent and come unto Christ and our Father in Heaven.

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

Exchanges with Hermana Huey

Exchanges with Hermana Ames

Isabella's baptism

(she is 8 years old but her parents wanted us to teach her the discussions so that she could make her own decision)

Week 70

11/20/15

Hi Family!

Sending you each a great big hug!  I love you all so much and I am so thankful to have each one of you in my life.  I wouldn't be the person I am without you all.

Well, it was another great week here in Camarillo, full of lots of food, lots of cold, and lots of choir practices!

We had a great Thanksgiving.  We were able to visit lots of families because many were home preparing for dinner.  We visited a few less active families and we shared #GraciasAQueElVive with them and we talked about how thankful we are to have our Savior.  And the best part is that all of the families we visited this week came to church yesterday!  Hermana Brown said that since the time she has been here (8 weeks) that was the first time that many of them came to church.  We were so happy to see the chapel full of so many families :)

This week reading the Book of Mormon and felt the great necessity to repeat daily.  I know that every day we make mistakes and we need to apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ eveyday.  I know that Christ loves us so much and if we aren't using the Atonement, we are not accepting what He did for us.  So, this is my goal this week and I hope that you all can do the same.  Apply the Atonement of Christ :)

This week I also read these scriptures that I loved!

Alma 13:

22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.

 23 And they are made known unto us in plainterms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.

 24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

 25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.

 26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.

I know that Angels really are all around us!  I met two yesterday :)  They can be people that help us out and about, a friend who calls us after a long time to see how we are doing, or a family member.  But I do know that we are surrounded by angles and that those angles in reality are preparing the hearts of others to hear and accept the Gospel.

Ok, one last thing!  Luis got baptized on Saturday!!  President Felix gave Hermana Brown and I permission to drive to Santa Maria to be able to be there.  I didn't tell anyone, except Hermana Jeronimo and Hermana Hurley, that we were coming.  Luis was Super surprised and so excited :)

It was one of the most special baptisms that I have been to.  The Spirit was So strong!  So many members from the branch were there because Luis really has become a part of the family.  It was also incredible to see Luis so prepared and ready to make this covenant.  At the end of the program he got up to share his testimony and it was so short, so simple, but so powerful.

I know that this is the true church, that Christ lives, and loves us, and that He can help us with whatever we ask of Him.

Have a great week!!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Happy Thanksgiving

Luis got Baptized!!

Week 69

11/23/15

Hi Family!

Sending you greetings and a big hug from Camarillo California, where you don't feel any cold at all and it doesn't feel like November.

Well, as you know, I am working with Hermana Brown and we had a great week!  I am so happy and thankful to be able to be her last companion and to have a friend as my companion more than anything. :)

We are teaching a lot of good people.  We have an investigator named Porfirio who was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses his whole life.  Right now he is an inactive member and has lots of questions.  Yesterday we had a really great discussion about Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice for us.  It was cool because during the discussion he asked us questions that I have never had asked and truthfully, I didn't have any idea how to answer.  But taking time to think and pray to our Heavenly Father about what we should say, the Holy Ghost put in our minds what we should say and it was perfect for him!  The Spirit really is the teacher and I know that by following the whisperings of the Spirit, we can teach according to his will.

We also met a family that was a member referral, they are the family Barrajas.  They are a couple with two children.  They are so nice and you can really feel the Spirit so strong in their home.  We taught them how to pray because they only knew the memorized prayers like "Our Father".  So the concept of being able to prayer what they want to say was weird fro them.  But their son Alex, who is 10 years old, said he wanted to say the prayer but he didn't know what to say.  So, I told him in his ear what to say and he said it so good!  At the end he said he loved it and that he wants to always say the prayer!

I know that the Lord is preparing so many people and we don't have time to count all of them.  But I know that He uses us as instruments in His work.  And not just us as missionaries, but all of us as members!  Us missionaries can't do our work without the members.  So, don't be scared to share your testimonies because there are so many people that need the gospel but they don't know where to find it!  And it's with us!  We have to share they light that we have inside of us.

Have a great week :)  Read and study the council and talks by our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson.  I know that he is the Prophet chosen by God to guide us in these latter days.  I know that by following his council, we can be happy :)

I love you all so much!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Hermana Brown!  My new companion

Our District

I saw Omar, Cristina, and their family yesterday at Stake Conference :D

Week 68

11/16/15

Hi my loved ones!  Sending you greetings!

Well, it's that time again for Transfers!!  I know! I can't believe it either!  These last 6 weeks have gone by so fast.  I have bad news.....I am leaving Santa Maria again! :(  I am so sad to leave all the people that I love and my companion, but I know that it is what the Lord needs and I should be obedient.  So, my new area will be Camarillo, and I will be serving the 5th Ward in Oxnard with Hermana Brown!!  I am so excited to finally get to work with her!

This past week was full of SO many miracles and special moments.  I want to share two experiences.  Okay!  So, yesterday we went with some members to see a new investigator that we just barely met last week.  We got there, but no one was home.  But since we had our member with us we wanted to use them so we decided to go visit Jose and Amalia (They have told us that they will come to church, but they haven't yet).  So we wanted to go and see why they haven't come.  We got to their house and we knocked and knocked but they didn't open the door.  After the third knock, we saw a light turn on and Amalia opened the door.  She was talking to us at the door and it was so cold, but she didn't invite us in.  I was praying that she would let us in so we could share a short message with them.  After a little while, Jose came and said, "it's cold out there, come in!"  Si!!  We went in and since there were 6 of us there wasn't enough chairs, so Hermana Jeronimo and I shared one.  Kennya and Brad (the members) were talking and asking Jose about his accident and then Brad said, "Brother, can we give you a blessing?"  and Jose said, "Well some elders gave me a blessing already in the hospital" and Brad said, "it's ok, brother we can give you another one."  Jose accepted.  Brad gave him a blessing so great and special.  I don't know if it is because the house is so small or what, but the Spirit was so strong there in that room.  When he finished the blessing, we were all in tears.  Seeing Jose and Amalia you could see that the Spirit really touched their hearts and I know that Jose felt the great love of our Heavenly Father for him.  Then we had a really great lesson guided by the Holy Ghost.  I am so thankful for the perfect plan of our Heavenly Father.  I know that part of that plan was that our investigator wasn't home because we had to go see Jose and Amalia.

I am so thankful for the Spirit that really is what teaches others.

Ok, one more miracle really fast!!  This week while teaching Luis about the gospel of Jesus Christ, we stopped in the middle of teaching about baptism and he told us that he has been praying and that he wants to be baptized the 28th of November!  It is so incredible to see someone that is so ready and that has been prepared by the Lord to be baptized.

I am so sad to leave but at the same time I am so thankful for the love of our Heavenly Father for the opportunity He has given me to be here these last few weeks and see so many miracles.

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

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Maria and Jose Jesus

Felix (who we are teaching to read) on the left

Brother Jose, Amalia, and Jackie

Week 67

11/9/15

Hi! Wow!  This week went by so fast!  I can't believe it's Monday again.  The time here in Santa Maria goes so fast, and I don't like it!  I feel like I don't have enough time to do everything that I want to do and to enjoy every moment.  But during the day, during lessons or service projects, or even while we are driving in the car with Hermana Jeronimo I stop to think abou how blessed I am to have such precious, and more than anything, sacred moments with the children of our Heavenly Father.

Okay, here goes the miracle of the week.  In our area we have some investigators that neither I nor Hermana Jermonimo know, but file says that they are a referral from the church office.  Their daughter in Alabama asked that the missionaries go and visit her parents.  So, one day we decided to give them a call.  The wife answers and our conversation goes something like this, "Hi Sister, we are the new missionaries, Hermana Cuevas and Hermana Jeronimo. How are you?"  "Oh, sorry sisters, but I can't talk, I am mourning my husband."  "Okay!"  We didn't know what to say!  So we just told her that we were praying for her and for her family and if they needed anything they could call us.  And that was it.  Then, then next day we had two missed calls from that number and a voice message.  The message said, "Hi missionaries, this is Maria, you don't know me.  I am the daughter of Irma.  You talked to her yesterday.  I just want to know if you can call me when you get a chance."  Okay, so we called her and she said that she was the daughter from Alabama!  The file said that she was a member, but she later told us that she has not yet been baptized.  But she told us that she came to visit because her father has passed away.  She said that the first thing she saw when she got to the house was a Book of Mormon on the dinner table with our phone number.  She called to thank the missionaries that had come to visit her family.  Then she asked if we could meet the next day.  So we met at In-and-Out with her and her two younger sisters.  She said, "missionaries, I want to ask you to teach my sisters the message of the restoration."  Then we taught them.  Then she told us, "okay, now sisters, can you teach us what we need to do to live with our Heavenly Father again and to have eternal life?"  So then we taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ.  All through all of this we also taught them the Plan of Salvation.

Wow.  It was such a cool experience!  Maria told us that she is going back to Alabama in two week but that we wants us to continue to teach her family.  We will let her know how it goes :)  I know that our Father has a perfect plan and that we can all be instruments in His hands.

I leave you with a scripture and with an invitation from a prophet from the Book of Mormon and with in invitation that I give to you and everyone that I love.

25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these platesunto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.

 26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye shouldcome unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as anoffering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."  Omni 1:25-26

Hope you have a great week and can see the hand of God in your lives :)

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Week 66

11/2/15

Hi Family!!  Wow! What a great week!

This week we had exchanges with the Sisters in Santa Barbara.  I stayed in Santa Maria and worked with Hermana Eames!  She is such a great missionary and has such a great desire to share the gospel with others!  I learned so much from her and really enjoyed the time we had together.  But it doesn't matter how much I enjoy serving with other sisters, I always miss Hermana Jeronimo and I was so happy at the end of the day when we changed again :)

Wednesday we had so many discussions but we felt that something was missing.  We were teaching what we planned and they were there listening, but them we realized that we were not being guided by the Spirit during the lessons.  It felt so bad to feel alone and not know what to say.  So we decided to study in Preach My Gospel (such an inspired book) and in the scriptures to see what we can do or what we can change in order to have the Spirit there with us teaching and testifying with us.  Now we are doing everything possible to prepare ourselves spiritually in order to invite the Spirit for every lesson we give.

We have an investigator named Jose Jesus.  He is half blind but he can read the big Book of Mormon that we gave him with a magnifying glass.  Wow, I love to see the desire that Jose Jesus has to know if these thing are true.  He reads the Book of Mormon everyday and he wants to get baptized.  The other day we were teaching him and we were asking him the baptism questions and he started testifying about the prophet Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson and how he knows that this is the church that Jesus Christ restored on the earth.  It was so cool.  He had not been to church yet (and it is important that he goes before he is baptized).  But yesterday he came with his wife!!  It was so nice and super cool!!  They were participating in the classes and the members of the branch were there helping them.  It was so nice to see the members helping so much :)

We saw some many mircales this week but I don't have time to tell them all.  But I know that our Heavenly Father has His hand in every aspect of this work and that without His help, we couldn't do anything.

"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."  Mosiah 28:3

Hope you have a great week!! :)

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Week 65

10/26/15

Hello my loved ones!  Sending you a big hug from Santa Maria!

We have a new family that we are teaching, Jose, Amalia, and their daughter Jackie.  Ah!  They are so prepared!  Every time that we teach them something, the Spirit is there and testifies of the truth.  We met them last week, they were a member referral and the member came with us to teach them.  Then yesterday, the whole family came to church and they really liked it!  They want to get baptized and feel that it is truth and are praying to receive confirmation.  It is so cool to teach them!  We have another investigator named Felix.  He doesn't know how to write or read in Spanish so we are teaching him :)  It is a really cool and speical experience.  He wants to read the Book of Mormon and ask if it is truth, but he can't read.  He doesn't have internet either so he can't listen to it either, but he told us the other day that he is going to do everything possible to try and listen to it and soon try to read it because he knows that if he prays and asks, he will be able to know if it is true.

This week we also found Chris.  He is a guy that Hermana Newman and I found a year ago, but then we left the area and no one went to teach him!  So we went and he told us that we were the last people that we though he would find at his door.  He was so happy to see us because this last year he has been though a lot of problems and he knew he needed to look for God.  He knows that God is helping him and he is ready and willing to accept this help.

We are teaching so many people who have been prepared by the Spirit and it is a privilege to be able to serve as an instrument in the Lord's hands.

I know that this is the true church.  The Spirit has testified to me everyday by studying and sharing my testimony with others and as Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

I love you all so much, look for an opportunity to share your testimony this week, and I know that the Lord has a son or daughter that needs to hear your testimony and it will strengthen them.

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Pictures from our activity last week :)