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 :) 

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