Week 61

9/28/15

Hello my loved ones :)  I hope that this past week you were able to read the Book of Mormon and apply the things that you read in your lives.  I did, and I found that I was able to improve in areas where I am weak.

We saw so many miracles this week.  And more than anything, I could see the Lord's hand in the missionary work and in my life guiding me where He needed me.

Finally we were able to have a discussion with Elena!!  We only read the Book of Mormon because she has not been reading on her own so we are trying to help her see the importance of doing so.  We also went another day to help her and to make tamales.  Two other girls who rent some rooms were also there.  They were asking us what we believe and it is that we do differently, and before we could answer, Elena started explaining and teaching them about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and about our Prophet Thomas S. Monson.  It was so cool to see Elena share her testimony about what she knows how they can know for themselves.  And Elena came to the church to see the General Women's broadcast and she brought one of the girls that rent with her!  They both loved the messages and there are very excited about this coming weekend.

I also really enjoyed the messages on Saturday.  I had written a few questions down that I have and I was able to receive answers this Saturday and I know that this weekend with General Conference I will also more answers and guidance from our Heavenly Father.  I invite you also write your questions down.  I know that when we go to General Conference with questions or doubts, we always leave with answers.

Yesterday we a really great day.  After church we always meet with the leaders from our Spanish branch to talk about the people we are going to visit this coming week, we ask for help for the coming week, and sometimes they ask us to visit someone in particular.   Yesterday we spent most of the time talking about one family in particular that is going through some really hard times because of the decisions that the mother is making.  We don't know how to help them, and sometimes we feel like there is no hope.  But that is a lie!!  There is always hope for our brothers and sisters.  Yesterday a brother said that somtimes we want to give up on a family or a person because we think that they will never change, but then we think of our Heavenly Father.  He never gives up on us.  It doesn't matter what we do, He is always there.  So, we have to have faith that someday they will realize the error of their ways and hopefully they can see that through all this time we have been there supporting them and loving them.

This week, I really felt like an instrument in the Lord's hands.  It is a really special feeling and it makes me feel humble to know that without the Lord, I can't.

I'm sending you a picture of our Halloween costumes....just kidding, I wish.  And another pictures of when we went to eat with the Sisters who we live with.  Hermana Hiapo had her 18 month mark in the mission!

The link below is of Isai's baptism two weeks ago when all the missionaries went and sang :)

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3DJkEWkTPq6zk&d=BQIFaQ&c=z0adcvxXWKG6LAMN6dVEqQ&r=dy4m4VyPED_IQiWzgyHYTuVaIw2kOVnFsKwcq_sxl4w&m=eUMjGmNON7cNB5xMyQIvxQ2FfHFw26takFTA5lkG5uU&s=BQpSQtcUuEXJGc4CJzyVOLjav2bCi-P50ASZwBG-vEA&e=

Week 60

9/21/15

Hi Family!  Sending you greetings and a hug.  This week was incredible...as always :)

On Monday we went on a hike with our District and we almost died....Just kidding, but it was fun :)

This week we went to help the Sagapolutele family who just moved into our neighborhood.  I know the dad (Fili) from Utah!  He danced in Luz de las Naciones and now they are living here.  His wife, Pania, just had a surgery and so we and the other missionaries are taking turns going to help in the house.  This week we went and we cooked for them!  It was so fun!  Their kids helped us and we had a really great time.  Then their daughter Sophia wanted to say thank you and so she gave us feet massages and then she piled all her stuffed animals on us.  Then we sang and danced a Hawaiian dance.  It was so fun to be able to serve and to get to know them better.

This week we also had Exchanges!!  I got to stay in Newbury park with Hermana Newland!  I lived with her in Santa Maria almost a year ago.  It was so cool to be able to be with her again and talk about our missions, the miracles that we've seen, the challenges that we've faced, and the things that we have learned.  It's weird, because now I am one of the "old" missionaries and I don't really know many of the new sisters and all of the sisters that I have served with have either gone home already or will be going home by the end of the year.  The time goes so fast in the mission but I am trying to work hard and enjoy every day :)

We taught Raquel during our Exchange.  She was a member referral from the English ward.  We taught her about the Restoration of the Gospel and it was a really great discussion.  She lives in Thousand Oaks so she is not in our area.  We are going to try and get her address to give to the sisters there  so they can teach her.  Although I won't be able to be part of teaching her, I'm grateful to be able to teach her the first discussion.  She was been prepared by the Lord and has accepted to be baptized.  It was a beautiful experience.

To finish everything, we had a Zone Conference this week!  We focused a lot on the Book of Mormon.  It was great!! Hermana Felix was teaching us, and at the end of her talk she asked us if we would promise to read the Book of Mormon every day for the rest of our missions.  After everyone said, Yes......then she asked us if we would promise to read the Book of Mormon everyday for the rest of our lives, and we all said, "YES" and when we said that I felt the spirit so strong and it was so special.  It was so nice to be there and see all these missionaries make this promise to Hermana Felix and the Lord as well.

I know that when we read the Book of Mormon everyday we can see many blessings and we can feel the Lord's hand guiding us in our steps.

I love you all, I love serving the Lord and others.
Hope you all have a nice weekend :)

Our hike

Lunch with the Sisters

The Salgapolutele family

Week 59

9/14/15

Hi!  Sending you greetings and a big hug!  Can you believe that we are already in the middle of September?!  I can't.  The time is passing by so fast!

This week was full of miracles!  And it's been SOOO hot!!!  And it is a humid hot, so you can imagine.  I sweat so much this week.  So Gross, but it's ok! :)

Lots of families from the unidad that were less active are now returning to church and I love to be able to see how they are progressing in the gospel.  The De La Cruz family is one of these families.  They came back by themselves.  The dad got a calling this week, he is going to be a ward missionary.  The good thing is that he speaks English and Spanish so he will be able to help us and the other missionaries also.  It was funny because he just cut his hair so now you can see a tattoo that he has on his head from when he was a cholo and I loved seeing him stand up yesterday when they announced his calling, tattoos and all.  But it was really great to think about how much he has changed these past few months and in a few years he will be a part of the church.

The Jimenez family is also progressing a lot.  This week we had a Family Home Evening with all of them.  It was great to have a lesson with Susan and to be able to have her whole family there.  Her Aunt Flory was also there so that was awesome.  We talked about the Restoration of the Gospel and at the end of the lesson Flory was telling that she wants to

share this with her best friend.  We talked with her and we made an appointment for us to go with her to visit her friend and teach her.   Also, yesterday in the sacrament meeting, Tyler (Susan's brother) passed the sacrament for the first time.  It was so cool and special to see the Ispana ward now has a Deacon.  And speaking of the sacrament meeting yesterday.....45 people were there!!  And from those about 20 were less active members who have not come in 6 months or more.  It was a really special miracle.  We were all so happy!  We almost cried because we have seen these brothers and sisters grow and struggle and finally come to church and renew their covenants.  It was so cool.

Elena is also doing well.  She has not been to church yet, but we are trying to support her in everything that she's going through.  She knows that she needs to come, and she can see the difference it makes.

Well, I love you all so much, I hope you have a good week.  Don't let one day pass by without reading the Book of Mormon.  I know that it will help you, comfort you, and it will bless you :)

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

It was so HOT this week!

Our district

Week 58

9/7/15

Hi my loved ones!  Sending you a great big hug and I hope that this Labor Day you are able to spend time with your family and loved ones.

So much has happened this week.....where to begin!?

Tuesday we were all day with Zeya.  She was recently baptized about a month ago.  She is so excited to share the gospel.  To start the day we asked her if she wanted to serve a mission.  She told us that she didn't know yet.  At the end of the day she told us, "man, after spending the day with you sisters and see what you do as missionaries, now I'm convinced to serve a mission."  The best part was that it was not a day full of miracles or lots of discussions.  It was a normal day.  We knocked on doors a little while, we went to visit Elena and we helped he cook, we went to the church so I could get a blessing (I've been a little  bit sick), and then we went to visit some less active members.  When we took Zeya back home she told us, "Sisters, I am going to think and pray and I am going to find somone so that we can tech them and baptize them!"  She is so sweet and nice.  A few days ago she texted us to see if she could go out with us again this week :)  We are really excited to work more with her because in doing so it helps her, it helps us, and it helps the people that we talk to.  It is a great blessing to have members like her that are so willing to share the Gospel.

Also, Saturday we saw lots of miracles and we had Luis with us again.  We went to eat lunch with a sister who's son is 24 years old and is less active.  The last four months that I have been there he has hardly ever talked.  He always just ignores us or is on the computer without paying any attention.  But Saturday, Luis went in and started talking with him and they just "clicked"!  It was so incredible!  He even came over and ate with us and was talking and even participated in the discussion we had at the end.

So many others things have happened but I don't have time.  But I love being a missionary, I love sharing the Gospel, and I get so much joy in doing so.  I hope that this week you can have the opportunity to share your testimony with someone.

I love you all so much!!

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥     

Us with Zeya

Hermana Hiapo cutting Hermana Garza's hair

Week 57

8/31/15

Hi Family!  This week was full of miracles and lots of blessings :)

Tuesday I said good-bye to Hermana Pirir and I got to meet my new companion, Hermana Garza!  She is from Texas and is super cool.  We get along really well and we work well together.  She is full of energy and she has a laugh that you can hear from here all the way to Utah.  I love it :)

Well, so many things have happened that I don't know where to start.  Yesterday we had a Family Home Evening with Omar, Cristina, and their children.  It is something that we have wanted to do for so time but for one reason or another were never able to do.  But yesterday we were finally able to get together and it was so awesome!  We were able to feel the Spirit so strong in their home, and I know that they were able to feel the difference.  At the end, Melanie gave the closing prayer and she gave thanks for having this time as a family and asked that it would be something they continue to have on a regular basis.  I know that having these Family Home Evenings will really help them progress together in the Gospel.

Also, we are going to start having FHE with Mayra, Ernesto, and their children.  I am also really excited to do this.  I know that FHE is a great blessing and helps so much to have the Spirit in your home.

Saturday, Luis was working all day with us.  Luis is a member of the Single Adults and he was baptized 3 week ago.  Although he is a new member, he has such a strong testimony and has a great desire to share the gospel with others.  We found many great people and we were also able to serve lots of people.

Well, I don't have any more time, but I love you all.  I love serving the Lord and my brothers and sisters :)  Read your scriptures everyday and also say your prayers.  These are the little things that will make all the difference.

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

Week 56

8/24/15

Susan got baptized!!! And her father Ernesto baptized her!!!

Aye, Ernesto had his interview with the bishop Tuesday night and I was so nervous because he didn't tell us if was going to be able to baptize Susan or not.  It was 10:30 and we still hadn't heard, so I went to bed.  Then around 11:00 pm we got a text letting us know he was going to be able to baptize her! AH!  I was so excited that I couldn't sleep.  But I was also so tired so I fell asleep....don't' worry.

The baptismal service was so nice and beautiful (not just because Hermana Piri and I were speaking) but it was so wonderful to be able to see Susan's family all there supporting her.  Also ward members were there and members from the Spanish group.  There were also a lot of children from Susan's class and it was so great to see them supporting their friend.  Yesterday she was confirmed and it was also so wonderful.  She looked so happy to get to have the Holy Ghost with her.

Well, transfer time has come again!!  I am going to stay and my new companion will be Hermana Garza.  I don't know her but I am excited to be able to serve with her and learn from her.  Hermana Pirir is going to LOMPOC!!  I am so excited that she can serve in one of my last areas :)  I already told her about all the members there and of all the people that she is going to meet.  She is nervous but also really excited.  I have really enjoyed the time that we have had serving together, to teach her what I know, and also learn a lot from her.

Yesterday I finished reading the Book of Mormon again and I loved it.  I know that it is true.  I know that we have it in our days to teach us what we should do to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father again.  I also know that anyone can read, pray, and know by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is true.

Well, I don't have anymore time but I love you all!  Have a great week :)

- Hermana Cuevas Da Silva ♥

The other sister and us

Pictures from Susan's Baptism :D

Week 55

8/17/15

Hi Family :)

Well, this week was so great and full of many blessings :)

I don't have much time but we are preparing for Susan's baptism this week end.  Today she has baptismal interview and tomorrow her father has an interview with the bishop to make sure everything is ok.  Because a few months ago he was inactive but he has now reactivated.  So, we are praying lots so that both pass their interviews so that we can have the baptism this Friday :)

Susan is so nice and very special.  I have really enjoyed teaching her, I love teaching children because they are so simple and understand things without any problems.  And they are honest.  I love it.  Susan has learned so much and is inviting all her friends to come to her baptism.  Her friends asked her, "what is a baptism? what does that mean?"  And she so nicely explained everything and told them that the Holy Ghost, who will be a like a friend, will always take care of her and protect her.

Elena, well, little by little.

Yesterday for sacrament meeting Ivonne gave a talk.  She was baptized a year ago but this was her first talk.  She did so great!  She talked about families and the importance of raised children in the gospel.  That they know that we have a Father in Heaven and that He loves us and that He helps us in every part of life.  It was so great to see her up there testifying of the divinity of this gospel, and to be able to see how much she has grown since her baptism.

We have some other members who were new members and who are now returning to activity when Hermana Pirir and I arrived and it has been so nice to see how they have grown these past 3 months.  It makes me so happy to see them come to church together as a family every Sunday and be able to go back home and help them better understand the plan that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has for them.

We have transfers next week.  So next Monday I'll let you know what happens.

I love you all!

Read the Book of Mormon this week :)

The pictures are from a hike we went on.  We went to a place where they filmed the show M.A.S.H.