Week 24

January 12, 2015

Hi Family :)

Sending you a great big hug!

This week was incredible!  Like always :)

Hermana Shepherd's birthday is at the end of this month and we have been celebrating the whole month!  This week we went with a less active member and their family to eat Pupusas!  She mom taught us how to make them!  It was super fun and delicious!

This week we had a lot of discussions with our investigator Beto.  We taught him the Plan of Salvation, Jesus Christ's Gospel, the law of Chasity, and the ten commandments.  He is progressing a lot and we are interested in helping him the most we can.

This week went again to Shandon!  We found a lady that at the beginning didn't want to listen to us, but after we talked to her a little bit and after we asked her about her family, she started crying and she told us she had a son in jail and she was really worried about him.  We told her that we could come back and teach her more and we offered to leave her with a prayer.  She asked me to offer the prayer and it was so incredible because every word that came out of my mouth wasn't mine.  I totally felt the Spirit's guidance.  And I know that everything I said came from our Heavenly Father.  And it was what she needed to hear.  The Spirit felt so strong and it was so special to be able to be part of it.

Also Hermana Shepherd and I gave talks at church.  I talked about the Book of Mormon and the importance of reading it everyday to strengthen our testimonies.  And Hermana Shepherd talked about missionary work and that now is the time when missionaries and member have to work together (President Monson).  Our mission president wants us to focus on working with members.  Only with their help will we be able to succeed in this work.

Yesterday a lot of people came to church.  The Relief Society was full, every chair.  We were so happy especially because a lot of brother and sister came that haven't come for a while.

I know that this is the true church.  I know the Book of Mormon really is another testament I Jesus Christ and the love that our Heavenly Father has for us.

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Hermana Cuevas DaSilva

 The beautiful ocean

 We made alphabet soup

Pupusas!

Week 23

January 5, 2015

Happy New Year Family!

Well, there is a lot of excitement here in Paso Robles!  This week we went to a small town called Shandon.  It is super small.  There are like 8 streets.  And the missionaries have never been there.  We went trying to find a less active family, but we decided to knock on doors.  And EVERY house we knocked on and EVERY person we talked to were super willing to listen to everything we had to say.  Almost everyone invited us to come back this week.

We had a discussions with Beto this week and he is so close to get baptized.  He is super ready and he loves everything that we teach him.  But he is still afraid to be baptized.  So this week we are going to keep working with him to see what he is really afraid of and we will see if we can help him.

New Year's Eve was great!  We ate dinner three time with three different families.  With carnitas, tamales, y carne asada :)

We have another investigator and her name is Xiomara and he also has accepted the Gospel.  She had a hard time reading so we got her a Book of Mormon on CD and she loved it!  She has been listening to it every single day. :)

Even though the branch is really small, everybody shares a lot of love and they help us a lot.  This week we received a lot of member referrals, their friends or people they know who want to know more about this Gospel.  And I know that this work can't keep moving forward if member and missionaries don't work together.  So help them!

Well, I love you all so much, I hope you guys can keep sharing our Heavenly Father's love with everybody.  Love you lots!

Hermana Cuevas DaSilva

Week 22

12/29/14

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas with your family and friends!  Spending Christmas in the mission is so incredible!  There is a love and a spirit so special that is not felt during other times of the year.

Tuesday we had a devotional about Christmas with the northern half of the mission.  It was so cool to be able to see missionaries from other areas and talk about how their investigators are doing.  Some Elders told me that Brannica is going to be baptized!  And we talked with Presidente Felix and he gave me permission to go to her baptism and give a talk!!  I am so happy for her and so happy that I am able to be there with her on this special day!!  When we were going back to Paso, we passed through Santa Maria and we saw here!  I was able to tell her the good new and she was really excited!

Then on the 24th and 25th we were visiting member and eating almost the whole day.  We ate so much....but we had such as great time with many different families.  I am so thankful for the families here that always let us enter their homes and spend time with their families.

Then on the 25th I called home!! Like you already know....it was so nice to be able to talk with everyone :)  I LOVE YOU ALL!

Then, Saturday my companion Hermana Gilbhrist went home.  She has been having a lot of medical problems that can't be fixed on the mission.  But she is going to get better and hopes to be able to return to the mission :)  Please have her in your prayers.

So since I was left without a companion, I'm with Hermana Justiniano and Hermana Shepherd!  But we have two areas to cover!!  In total we have 5 cities that we have to take care of.    So we have LOTS of work to do!  There are so many people who are ready!  I can really see how the Lord has prepared them over the last few months.

Thank you for all of your love, your support, and the Christmas gifts :)  I hope that you were able to remember why we celebrate Christmas.

This week I have been studying a lot about the Love that our Father in Heaven has for each one of us.  It is so incredible to think of all the people in the world and how He know and loves us so individually.  Pray to Him if you have something that is important for you, it is important for Him too.  He love you and wants to hear you every moments of your days.

I love you all and I hope you have a happy New Year.  May the Lord bless you always :)

Hermana Cuevas :D

The Elders from Santa Maria and me with our baby pictures

Me and Brannica

The Sisters in Apt. 5 on Christmas



Our Christmas Dinner

My new companions

Week 21

12/22/14

Hi Family!

I'm writing you from Paso Robles!  The northern most area of my mission.  Also the most cold area!  But it's ok.  I have to admit I was really sad to leave Sant Maria and all the people I met there, but I am really excited to be able to work here :)

My companion is Hermana Gilchrist and she is from Texas!  She is also 19 years old and is really sweet :)  The branch here in Paso is really small and humble.  I feel so loved and very happy to be able to be here with them.

We are teaching lots of young women around 19 years old but it's ok because that way we really get along with them :)  We have an investigator named Beto that is so ready to be baptized!  But he is scared that he is not ready yet.  So, we are still working with him.

It makes we so sad to see members that have such as great desire to return to the church but they can't because they have to work Sundays in order to provide for their families and give them a house to live.  But I know that if they keep working hard and keep asking the Lord, He will help them return, because that is the desire of their heart.

There is a lot of work to do here in Paso Robles!  We are always busy with appointments with different people.  I am very happy to be able to work here.

Well, sorry that this is a short letter, but I don't have much time.  But I love you all and hope that you have a great Christmas!

With Love,

Hermana Cuevas

Hermana Gilchrist and I

The Elders from Santa Maria and a Member

Our District

Week 20

12/15/14

Well Family, it's that time again.....TRANSFERS!

I will be leaving Santa maria, and I'm going to Paso Robles!  My companion will be Hermana Gilcrest.  She is a "new" missionary.  We arrived six weeks ago and she is still being trained.  I will be her second trainer.  I am nervous, but also excited.  I was also sad to say goodbye to all those in the branch and our investigators.  I don't want to leave them but I know that the Lord needs me in other places.

This week for our District meeting we shared miracles from this transfer, we also told something that we learned from each person in our district, something that we learned in our studies the last six weeks, and then we stood on a box and testified of the Book of Mormon.  It was a very fun meeting and at the same time really spiritual.  I really loved it!

So, I'm leaving, and Hermana Newman is going to her house....she finished her mission!  So, instead of having three sets of missionaries here we will only have two.  So we have to divide our area.  I hope the new missionaries don't forget about our investigators, I'm sure they will do a great job.

This weekend we had a Christmas concert at the stake for the community.  It was so fun!  The Mission President's wife asked all the missionaries to sing, so we were able to help.  I was sitting next to a sister who is not a member and I was able to share a little bit about the Gospel and what we do as missionaries during our choir practices.  It was really fun  Also, I really liked it a lot because I was able to see a lot of people and families from my last area.  It was a great experience.

Ok Family, I love you all, and I hope that you all are taking care of youselves.  Read the Book of Mormon everyday, don't stop.  I am in Alma 30 and I love to read about Alma, Amulek and Aaron, and all those great missionaries.  They are all great examples of how I want to be someday!

Hope you have a great week.  Sending you all lots of Hugs!!

Sister Cuevas

 I was preaching and sharing my testimony of the Book of Mormon

Our last District meeting together :(

Jose!

All the Missionaries sang in the choir

Our last Sunday together

The Perez family

The Bishop and his wife from my last area!

I saw Hermana Ahmu!

A good friend, Brannica :)

Week 19

12/8/14

Hi Family!!

I hope that everyone is good, enjoying the snow and the spirit of Christmas.  I hope that you all have been able to watch the video "He is the Gift"....if not, go watch it!  We have shared it with our investigators and with other people we know and it has helped us be able to talk to them because all (or almost all of them) celebrate Jesus Christ during this time of Christmas.

Saturday, was the Christmas party for the Branch and one of our investigators came!  We were so excited because she was able to talk to other sisters in the branch and her daughter knows some of the other kids in the branch.  The only thing I didn't like was that after the party they had a dance....and I wanted to dance!  That is something that I miss a lot :(

Last week we had our Christmas dinner with the Sisters and we were cooking the entire afternoon!  But everything turns out really good and we had a lot of fun :)

This week we also had a lot of opportunities to service.  We helped the brother of one of our investigators paint, and then after helping for two days, he let us come back to teach him somthing :)  We gave him a Book of Mormon and he is studying it.

Well, sorry this is so short.  I don't have anymore time.  Hope you all have a great week!

I love you all! <3

Our ugly sweater party

We were helping getting ready for the branch Christmas party and I got to iron

One of the Elder's investigators became our friend

Now we are ready for the party!

Week 18

12/1/14

Hi Family!  Happy first day of December.

Before anything, this week the internet was not working at the Stake Center where we normally send mail, so I am at the library and I can't send pictures.  And it's too bad because I have some really good pictures that we took this week.....but it's ok!

Last Monday we went to see Rosario, an investigator, and the Zone Leaders and another brother from the church went to give her a blessing.  She is going through a really hard time and doesn't know what to do.  I really enjoyed the blessing and she said that she felt as though Heavenly Father was right there talking to her.  It made us so happy to see that she could feel the Spirit and we're hoping that it will help her.

Also, I gave a talk this week at our District meeting about the Holy Ghost.  I really enjoyed being able to study all week long about this topic.  I spoke a little bit about how the Holy Ghost is always there to guide, comfort, help, and support us in our lives.  Then I shared a quote from the prophet Joseph Smith.  I don't have it here with me, but it said something about how we should always the Spirit with us to have the power to do everything.  He will help us know where to go, who we should talk to, and what we should say to them.  And not just as missionaries, but anyone.

For service, we have been helping at a "Thrift Store" to hang clothes, organize, and clean up.  The ladies that work there are so thankful for our time and help.  And we really like it because we can set aside some clothes that we like and we go buy them on Monday.  And yes, it is super cheap!  The shirt and skirts are about $1.50!!  We love it!

For Thanksgiving we went to Lozenzo, one of our investigator's home.  We have only had two discussions with him but he has a great desire to follow Jesus Christ and change his life.  His family is not interested in learning more but they are a really loving family.  We ate turkey, ham, potatoes, posole, and many many desserts!!  We had a lot of fun with them :)

Also, this week while we were visiting an investigator, they gave us "chapulines" to eat.....they are like crickets!  I loved them!! I couldn't stop eating them....I will send pictures later :)

I hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving and that you could think of all the things and blessings that we have in our lives :)  like the Gospel.

I am so thankful to be a missionary and be able to serve my brothers and sister here :)  I love you all and I hope you have a good day and an excellent week!!

The crickets that I ate at Thanksgiving....

The Sisters that we live with :)

We went to a small town called Guadalupe....this is the Jail

Our District activity from last week :)