31 March 2014

ahhhhhh. Seriously. My mind has been absolutely blown this week. I don't even know where to start, all I know is that this is going  to be a LEGIT email. 

The week started with a really inspiring District Meeting. Our district leader is AMAZING. He's so young but he's such a spiritual giant. He bore his testimony and an experience on the atonement (seeing as Easer is coming up all of our training have been focused on the atonement and resurrection of our Savior) and left us all crying. The spirit was so strong and it truly set the tone for our week. 

Soooooo..... We have THE cutest investigator this world has ever seen. She just turned 84 and she has been seeing missionaries for 20 years. Her name is Rufina, she's from Michoacan, Mexico. Her granddaughter (who she lives with) is a member and is doing all she can so she can get baptized. Rufina can't read.. She didn't have much education so it's been quite the struggle to get her to accept the Book of Mormon. She loves coming to church and absolutely LOVES the hymns so when we go teach we will sometimes sing a hymn. We tried committing her to baptism this week.... she didn't accept but we had THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE. As we talked about the importance of baptism the spirit was so present. We could feel it so strongly. As we testified and tried to set the date she declined... We asked her what she was waiting for and she said for got to tell her when she needed to do it. We talked about how the scriptures are the word of God. I immediately looked to my companion and asked her "Hermana, how's your faith?" She looked at me KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. She answered with "stronger than ever". I handed my BOM to Rufina and testified to her that if she were to open it randomly and pick a verse we would read it--and if she had faith that God could give her an answer, she would have it. The spirit was SO STONG. My companion and I prayed the whole time while she flipped through Alma... She stops in Alma 26 and I could feel myself tearing up. She ended up pointing to verser 15. As we read it the spirit testified to her that this was exactly what God had planned for her. We all cried and my companion bore beautiful testimony of this gospel. So what happened? Well, she still said no. BAAAAHHHH. But then we realized it was because she was afraid of the water because she's so small. She said that she doesn't feel ready, she knows she needs to be baptized but that in some time. Although we didn't walk out of  that lesson with a baptismal date, we walked out of there with faith to move mountains. I KNOW without a doubt that Heavenly Father answers prayers. That if we simply ask, He will answer. The scriptures are HIS words, they are the road map to our lives. All it takes is to open them and read believing that answers will come. If it worked for us and Rufina, if it worked for Joseph Smith, why can't it happen to you? AMAZING. we stopped by later in the week to see how she was doing (she caught a cold this week). She was feeling better and she taught us how to make authentic tortillas! So cool. 

We had our first exchanged planned this week! My poor companion was so nervous but things turned out AMAZING. We had one planned, which went really well, another that wasn't planned...  but it ended up amazing. As we work next to these sisters I have come to realize the importance of being worthy of the spirit. While I was in another area on exchanges, I couldn't get some other sisters out of my mind. As I studied and prayed that I would be able to know that it was not just coming from me--I received confirmation that I needed to contact them. My companion and I exchanged back and headed directly to the area that I had been thinking and praying about. These sisters had been having a hard time. For us to arrive at the time we did was an answer to their prayers. We had yet another exchange. My companion went back to our area and once again, I spent the night in another area. YAY FOR SAME CLOTHES DIFFERENT DAY! haha. I am so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He makes up the difference. When it feels like I can't do any more, when I'm not adequate to comfort and guide these sisters in their areas with their problems.. He qualifies me. He takes my faith and blesses me accordingly. 

Saturday was the AMAZING women's conference. I hope all of you got a chance to see it, it was so good. We had 4 investigators there and they were all amazed at how united the sisters are in our church--they loved it! 

Sunday we had 6 investigators at church! it was so exciting!! 

We attended a baptism of another sister companionship (? that makes no sense... spanish has taken over my mind--THANK YOU MEXICAN COMPANION, haha) and one of the sisters who had previously served in this area but went home early attended. OH THE HEARTBREAK. It's been so interesting to see missionaries who go home early and how they behave compared to missionaries who serve to the end. It's amazing how much of a change this gospel will bring, even if it's for a short time. As we sang "count your many blessings" and this sweet sister was given the chance to bare her testimony I realized that missions change lives. Seriously. 

Also, my companion shared this with me this week. LEGIT.

Cada joven tiene su cargador interno, como un celular, si no lo cargas , no sirve aunque sea muy caro con muchas funciones. Si hay amor, servicio, conocimiento, oración, lectura de las escrituras y la mejor actitud, quedas sin señal, y ese punto se produce cuando no hay oración, no hay señal cuando estas enojada, o molesta, cuando hay lectura de libros impropios, o escuchas chistes mal intencionados, o simplemente tienes desanimo, se pierde la señal! NO PIERDA LA SENAL!!!

This church is true. I have absolutley no doubt about it. and when my faith starts to waver I read 1 Cor 15:58. My new favorite. The Lord qualifies whom He calls. I have no doubt because on my own I could never accomplish all I've been called to do. 

I love you all. Have a wonderful week! 

Hermana Calero 

Pictures:

 my adorable companion and I! 

24 March 2014

NEW AREA, NEW ZONE... Oh heavens.. the changes. This transfer was by far the hardest one for me. But I have a feeling it's going to be one of the best too.

 

The transfer meeting was amazing, we had the last testimonies of 3 misisonaries headed home. The most spiritual meeting of my life. It was really weird to see these missionaries be done--I have served very close to all of them over the past 9 months and it's surreal to see them go. Hermana Rex also got to bare her testimony, she goes home in July so just a few transfers away--that made me cry like a child. Sheesh, the friends you make on the mission. So crazy.

 

This new area is LEGIT. And my companion has 2x the legit factor! Shes 110% Mexican. From Jalisco but raised in Southern Texas. I'm learning such Mexican Spanish from her, haha it's been so fun. She's been learning a lot of Colombian words too but it sounds so funny with a Mexican accent! I just love her. I am so grateful to be a Sister Training Leader with her, we're going to tear it up here in Burley! It was kind of a hard adjustment from farm-lands to the city.. I was a little anxious with all the traffic (how embarrassing!!) but it was good. There are some really amazing people here. So amazing in fact that I stepped right into a Baptism on Saturday! woot woot. haha. Felt so weird cause I didn't meet her until Friday so it was kind of funny but the baptism went really well. She has a son on a mission so the excitement was HUGE. So many people came to support--she's been seeing missionaries for 8 years and finally Hermana Maese and her companion got her to commit!

 

We were incharge of an FHE on Friday... THE MOST LEGIT FHE OF MY LIFE. We decided to do a walk-through Plan of Salvation at the church and it turned out way awesome! we had 4 investigators there and they loved it.

 

I also found out something cool.. chickens don't need a rooster to lay eggs! and they lay eggs EVERY DAY. WHo knew?!?! haha. oh heavens.

 

One of the coolest experiences that we had this week was finding some new investigators. We had heard that there was a family that had lost their mother to a blood disease not too long ago so we decided to contact them. Long story very short.... The mom died and left a 12 year old boy, his 20 year old brother and a 18 year old sister. Because it was blood borne they had to throw everything out. I mean everything. As we talked to them about the plan of salvation and how their family could be reunited the spirit bore witness to them that our message was true. It was such a neat experience. Within a couple days the branch members chipped in and bought beds for them. We had the opportunity to be there when they dropped off the bedding. It was so cool.

 

I wish I had more time to write everything else that happened... This area is amazing and I'm excited to be here. I hope to continue to grow and to learn, especially from my new companion. I love her and look forward to serving this transfer (and hopefully one more) together.

 

I love you all and I encourage you  to focus on the power of prayer this week. I have seen so many miracles this week simply because I have been praying to recognize them. I promise that if you do so you will see miracles in your lives too.

 

Love,

 

Hermana Calero

10 February 2014 (out of order, sorry!)

...and missionary work doesn't get any easier! If anything it gets harder. whyyyyyy???? BUT then come the blessings.

 

As I mentioned in my email last week, it snowed.. A  TON. I'll include some pictures below so look out for those. Not only did it snow, but it RAINED. these past couple days we have been walking through 5 inches of water. When it rains, it pours! The prayers and fasts of the farmers in Idaho have been answered. And to top it all off, today is the most beautiful sunny day I've ever seen! Oh the Idaho weather is almost as crazy as Utah weather, just more windy...

 

Ch-Ch-Changes.... We got rid of the van! and no, it didn't get confiscated after our little mud adventure. We realized that it would be a lot smarter if the English sisters had it since they cover all the sisters on bikes, AND WE DON'T! I will admit it was amazing how much stuff we had in the van... going from a Van to a Toyota Corolla with 1/3 the storage space was interesting. Who knew we had so much stuff?!?!

 

So for District Meeting this week I made Arepas! (Mom! I found the Arina PAN in Ridleys! who knew?!). Everyone brought something to make so I made pericos and arepas for District brunch. It was so fun!

 

we have been working really hard to find new investigators... it seems like they are hiding and we can't seem to find them. We have prayed a lot, fasted, and worked our tails off this week... With faith I know we can find more people to teach.

 

one of the results of our prayers was Fabiola and her family. They are a very VERY catholic family but they are surrounded by members who set the best example around. She was a referral and it took us 2 weeks to find her at home, but this week we did! We talked to her and her kids about how the gospel blesses families and she loved it. Her boy is in scouts with the ward so at least we have a connection there. The spirit was so strong during that lesson, it was amazing. At the end we taught her to pray and in her prayer she thanked God for sending us because "it wasn't a coincidence, I need them here to teach me your word". Talk about LEGIT. It was so awesome. My companion bore LEGIT testimony and brought the spirit so strong. Ah, I love missionary work. It's these types of lessons and people that make all the hard days worth it.

 

Speaking of hard days, we had a couple this week. First off, since we share the branch with Spanish Elders the boundary lines are CRAZY. they cover 3 Stakes and we only cover one but in a certain spot in town it skips a street... News to us. As we were looking over our area map we discovered that Manuel is in the Elder's area! We repented and invited them to teach with us so we could hand him off. The lesson was amazing, we discovered that he was on probation (so he can't get baptized unless President authorizes it) but we also found out that he wasn't going to back down. His probation is up in June and considers it a good punishment that he has to wait to be baptized--cause it's something he wants to do! the Elders taught him this week and set a new baptismal date, he is having his interview next week--we are praying for him! He is amazing!

 

I don't remember if I mentioned it but we are going to the retirement center with the Branch this month, we are in charge of the mini sacrament meeting that they have. Yesterday I was asked to speak. what an awesome opportunity it was to share my testimony of our Savior's love. there is one particular sister who always makes sure she sits on the front row (she's got to be at least 90). there are about 7 elderly who attend this sacrament meeting in the foyer of the retirement home, not much room but it fills with the spirit very quick. ANYWAY. she talked to me a little last time and this Sunday I made an effort to talk to her for a little longer. these people are always so lonely, it breaks my heart. Well, this sister sweet grabs my hand and says: "I know you know this, but you are the only one who takes the time to talk to me. I know we were friends before this life, thank you for coming to find me in this world just to say hi". I basically got tackled by the spirit, she was speaking truth. Like a little fortune teller she talked to me about a lot of things that she could see in me. It was amazing how close to the spirit these people are. I cried, she cried, the spirit was there. Tender mercy to be part of something so beautiful. I know my Savior is her Savior, too. I know He knows her PERFECTLY. and for a moment, I was able to say the things she needed to hear. I felt the spirit speak through me. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything.

 

I've been reading Jesus the Christ for half of my personal study these past couple days, I'm happy to say I'm almost done! I hope I can make it through by my half way mark, I'd love to read it again. I was reading about Christ's last few days, the Last Supper, the Betrayal and the Arrest.... you know, all that good stuff. And I cried like a child. I have never appreciated/understood it so well as I have on my mission. In life it is so easy to go day to day without thinking about the atonement. We can go all week until Sunday hits and then it's like "oh yea, Christ died for me...". As I have tried to focus more day by day on the Atonement, I realize that everything we do is because He died for us. Talmage talks about how Christ is the only reason we can communicate to our Heavenly Father. As missionaries we pray probably 100+ times a day.. it can get really easy to be repetitive and forget the meaning of prayers. So I guess that's my inspirational thought for you this week. re-assess your prayers. Take into account what our Savior did and how it affects our every-day life... I promise that as you do so your prayers will become more meaningful and just like Enos' sincere prayer saved him, we can experience miracles through sincere prayer.

 

I love you all, hope you have had a wonderful week.

 

Love,

 

Hermana Calero

17 March 2014 (Happy Birthday Tina)

Good news is: I think I have all of Rupert memorized! 

Bad News is: It does me no good cause I got transfered!!! oh man. the pain! Seriously. This whole transfer we have spent time getting emotionally prepared for hna Rex leaving and me taking over the area... President called on Saturday to let us know he had other plans for us...I'm headed off to Burley with Hna Maese on Wednesday. 

don't get me wrong, I'm super stoked to serve with this sister. She is AMAZING. She came in at that 3 week transfer after I came in, she is an incredible missionary. I'm just super sad to leave Rupert. SO BUMMED! but what do we do? We move on and add Rupert to the "I'm coming back" list.

[As A side note: we are having a WIND STORM today... like all day. We LITERALLY couldn't get out of the car for like 5 minutes because the wind shut us in. scariest thing EVER. We had to wait to come to the library because the power had been our for like 2 hours. So I hope I can get this out before the power goes out again.]

Man, this week has been one to remember. I don't even know where to begin, It has been absolutely amazing! 

Beginning with exchanges in Malta... oh man. what a trip it was to go back. that place hasn't changed!! There was nothing better though than coming home at the end of the day to see Naomi and Kent. I was so nervous!! haha. I didn't know what to do. but it was so good. I definitely needed it. Can't wait to go back. 

So funny story. Last Monday after we were done emailing we wen't to our fancy little Mexican hole-in-the-wall place to eat. This older couple walk in and sit in the booth across the restaurant and to the left. Long story short this lady was SUPER uncomfortable that we were in there. She was super catholic--like one of those really REALLY old-school Catholic. After a few minutes she took the keys to her husband's can and went and got like a veil thing to put over her head. She was so squirmy and uncomfortable. Hna Rex and I just sat there and enjoyed our food. Like 5 minutes later she turns to her husband and says "No quiero estar aqui.. no me siento comoda". so she shifts to a whole different booth so that she can't see us! She crossed herself like 15 times! it's so crazy how a lady--who had to be at least 60--can be so uncomfortable in the presence of 2 20-21 year old girls who happen to be called as representatives of Jesus Christ... SO COOL!!! So out of respect we packed up our food and left. Crazy how the spirit works in some people... 

Jessica was baptized Saturday! so happy we had the chance to meet her and hand her over to the elders, her conversion is truly amazing and wouldn't have happened without the help from the members in the wards.. so cool. We attended her baptism and cried the whole time. We hope her husband follows in her footsteps, they need this gospel so bad! 

This week we had an amazing meeting in Twin. they invited all the Leadership to attend and we had a meeting with some representatives of the church who travel to all missions to help with missionary work. Long story short, we found out we have been doing missionary work all wrong! haha, no not really but they gave us some really good suggestions and ideas as to how to improve. It is basically up to us, the leaders, to take this to our individual areas and teach by example. When we left the meeting hna Rex and I walked out with new determination to be better, as we applied the teachings of planning and how to improve our door-approaches and other little things we saw great success. Its amazing how many tools we are given as missionaries to further the work of the Lord, we just need to apply them and be better. Funny how even in basic missionary work we need the atonement. We need repentance to truly change and become better. 

Also, tender mercy #168456--> we GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE WITH THE SISTERS IN THE BRANCH! it only took some begging to president but he let us go! my first ever spanish session! COOLEST THING EVER. The church is true. In spanish AND english. so cool. 

Since president called on Saturday morning, it kind of threw off the rest of our day. We had a relief society activity at 10 am, a little "spa day". We were hoping Mary-Jo would go but she didn't...

 Knowing who was going and who was staying made Sunday a little awkward. We had a 6 am meeting where the stake president was sad to hear of all the changes going on in our area. We are losing a couple really good elders too so this area is going to see a really big change! After the meeting we had mission prep at 7:30 and then our Junta with the branch at 10 and church at 11:15. It was Branch conference so we were super excited to have President Eams with us. He's so great! He taught the COOLEST lesson in Sunday School about Genesis 39 when Joseph runs from Potifar's wife. Super cool--our branch needed it! Hna Rex and I were in charge of giving the Relief society lesson, it was on the Sacrament. Holy cow. The best lesson ever. We walked out of that lesson having learned and understood our Savior more than anyone else--i'm sure of it. Funny how it works that way. 

Funny moment of the week #165498132: a DOG GOT INTO OUR CAR! Wait. I need to back up... so the office took our fancy corolla to give us a Jeep because they forgot we drove on dirt roads a lot... haven't decided how I feel about that yet but HEY, I won't be here! So we got out to go talk to the Stake secretary (about a crazy lady that called the church building wanting to get her records taken off because her dad was crazy and she didn't want to be sealed to him anymore... yeah...) but ANYWAY. He wasn't home. So we walk back and there was a dog that followed us all the way to the jeep. The moment I open the door this GIANT BLACK LAB hops in our car!! we were DYING. We were laughing so hard. Oh man. I'll have to send the video home sometime. I DIED. So funny. took us like 15 minutes to get him out and get going. It was hilarious. 

Anywho. I'm looking forward to this week, kinda :) I'm really excited to start a new chapter with a new sister in a new area. I'm going to miss my goober of a companion so much! Can't wait to write next week and tell yo uall about it! 

As for the doctor... still no results but no news is better than bad news! I'll take it. Thanks for all the prayers, I have felt a lot better lately. The power of prayer is incredible. 

I love you all. talk to you next week from Burley!! 

xoxox

Hermana Calero

10 March 2014

Seriously, I don't know what it is about this "mission thing" but I've seen nothing but MIRACLES the whole time I've been here.

 

I don't even know where to begin... I guess first things first.

 

WE GOT KICKED OUT OF THE COAT'S HOUSE!! jk. but really. We don't live there anymore... So basically that means we HAVE NOTHING AT HOME. We moved into our own little cozy apartment, i'll include pictures because it is the CUTEST apartment ever. We moved out of the Coat's and into our place in less than 4 hours.. it was the most ridiculous day we have ever had. Good time, I'll have to tell more about that some other time.

 

Got another haircut today from Dianne... SHE LIKES US!!!! seriously. We went to go see her this week to see if she could schedule a haircut and guess what?! SHE INVITED US IN. usually she barely even opens the door. So today while I was getting a trim we invited her to a baptism (Jessica the girl we were teaching and then handed off to the English elders so that she could go to  the English ward) and she accepted! Oh man, the things that happen when you show sincere interest in people. It'll be good, we are so excited.

 

FAST AND FURIOUS 18... aka: MY COMPANION. Seriously. So she had been teaching an investigator (before my time) who ended up moving out of our area and she was never able to get an address. So here we are driving down the street trying to go contact some people where out of nowhere she pulls the craziest U-turn and starts following a car! "there she is!!!!" hahahahaha. Long story short we followed this poor investigator all the way to Subway where we cornered her for her address so that we could give it to the elders. FUNNIEST TING EVER! Oh man. the lengths that missionaries go..

 

CHANGE..... changes everywhere!! We also got a new car! I swear, I have been through so many cars... but it has a backup screen! it's SUPER NICE.

 

*ANYWHO. enough of the fluff.*

 

This week we had such a LEGIT lesson with Mary Jo. I don't know if I've talked to you guys about her but she's on date to be baptized on the 22! we are so excited! She has such a strong testimony and is so prepared. She's the one that's dating Bro. Facundo (the blind guy in our branch).

 

So this week was definitely a week of miracles. I had the privilege of going on exchanges this week with one of our sisters. Long story short, the atonement is real. It's amazing how Mercy works. I have really taken some time to read about it this week and I found out why during that exchange. Sometimes (okay, basically almost always) we make decisions in life that affect our spiritual natures. It is so crazy that when we decide to take the proper steps of repentance everything else falls into place. Yes, we do have to suffer the consequences but ultimately the healing that comes from it is absolutely worth it. In Psalms 147:3 it teaches us a little bit about that--he heals our hearts, the consequences remain but eventually they can be healed.

 

As I studied in my scriptures about affliction, adversity, and "enfermedad" or "sicknesses" I came to an interesting conclusion. in the Guia de las escrituras (or the guide to the scriptures--a mix of True to the faith, BD, and topical guide in Spanish) I read that in the scriptures illness often is a representation of "spiritual discomfort"... As I counseled this young sister to talk to our mission president, I felt the council applied to me too. It definitely didn't help that this past week I turned 9 months, I have hit half way and want to make the best out of the time I have left. As I talked to President about life, goals, and things I want to accomplish, he helped me understand what is expected of me. As I lightened the burdens that were on my shoulders I found mercy, hope, and healing--both physically and spiritually. I have an MRI coming up this week... I have had a lot of physical struggles. After meeting with president I can honestly say that I am slowly but surely healing. My testimony exploded. I found that I am not just here to learn about the atonement, I'm here to apply it so that I can help others understand the healing that comes from it. Do I still feel discomfort? yes. Am I worried? NO. My testimony of the Love our Heavenly Father has for us is enough to get me through. He loved us so much He sent His son to feel everything we have felt, so we can just LET IT GO. As we use the atonement and use our priesthood leaders to help us heal our wounds, THAT is when we can see a change. Not just a change in behavior, but a change in our nature.

 

Speaking of change. there is a sister in our branch who I love SO much. Well, something that seems to be a common trend here (Well, with the Hispanic/Mexican culture) is a lot of abuse in the homes. This particular sister went through many years of being abused by her husband, she has a son who is like 23 and a daughter that's 8 or 9. She is currently working on divorce but the emotional scars are definitely still there. It has been really hard to know about this 

and see this man in Sacrament meeting almost every Sunday. He attends church so he can have an excuse to see his daughter. I had the WORST feeling ever, I mean, I HATED THE GUY. During all of last week's sacrament meeting  I kept praying for a change of heart. For me to love him regardless of what he had done. As I studied about forgiveness during the sacrament I had the BIGGEST warm feeling come over me. For a split moment I felt the love that heaven has for him and I was chastised to no end! The gospel is for everyone, everyone has potential to change, we just have to see those individuals through heaven's eyes.

 

AHHH I'm out of time. so much more that I wish I could share with you guys. we will have to review my journal when I get home.

 

I love you all. Have a wonderful week!

 

xoxoxoxox

Hermana Calero

3 March 2014

.....that means the 9 month mark! whooohooo. Doesn't feel like it's already been that long--sheesh.

 

This week absolutely flew by. Mostly because I spent a lot of time at the doctor to try and figure out what's going on. I had appointments Monday, Tuesday, and my Endoscopy was on Wednesday and things went well. Had to take it easy for a few days which made it hard for our #s in lessons. HOWEVER, it turned out to be a really good week.

 

Despite not knowing exactly what is going on with me I have truly found a lot of comfort in the scriptures and through prayer. Family, you can testify of this, but my prayers haven't always been my forte... I am so blessed to have such an amazing companion who gives me the perfect example of the power of prayer. I truly have been blessed to have her through this whole experience--she's been an absolute blessing. It makes things a lot harder to know that transfers are coming up and she will be leaving so that's another emotional trial I have to deal with! We have gotten really close in the past 4 months--lots of trials will do that with you (proverbs 17:17).

 

This week we had an activity with the branch that we decided to go support. Apparently each ward in the stake gets time in the bowling alley for free every few months. So it was our branch's turn! We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get some investigators there to meet the branch members. Well it turned out to be a success!..... except for the fact that IT WAS THE WORST POSSIBLE PLACE FOR MISSIONARIES. haha. We were DYING. We thought the place was going to be rented out or something but NO. so on a FRIDAY night we went to the bowling alley. there were like 21502961210769614964.3 people  there. it was a nightmare. We are most definitely not doing that every again.

 

I'm sure I've mentioned this before... Sundays we have a mission prep class at 7:30 am (which sometimes makes our days ridiculously long when we have a meeting at 6 am too...). I don't think these kids realize how awesome their teacher is! Kids will be kids but I hope something is sticking. One of the young men got his mission call to Russia--super excited for him! He's such a good kid, he will be a wonderful missionary. Anywho. sister Tonks (the teacher) was talking about how it doesn't matter what scriptures you use, how well you know the bible--there is no possible way to make someone believe that we have the true church. Instead, she focused on the power of testimonies and how the spirit leaves the moment we begin to be contentious... it was SO GOOD. If anything we are learning how to be better missionaries! What a blessing she is. Sister Tonks served in Italy and it has been so inspiring to see how her mission has affected her life as wife and mother. Blessings of missionary work last a life-time.

 

Sunday, whether it was because we started our day at 5 am and I was sleep deprived or because of everything that has been going this week on means I had kind of an emotional day. My poor companion was so sad cause she didn't know what to do with me, haha. Bless her heart. it was so interesting to me how the only thing I wanted ALL DAY was to take the sacrament. I couldn't focus really in any of the classes because all I kept thinking was being able to take the sacrament. last week I was working on the Christ-like attributes in PMG and I was going through and reading the scriptures that accompanied the quiz. I found that one of the scriptures related to faith (I think) was the Sacrament prayer. It hit me SO HARD. The Savior is ultimately the only one who can help carry our burdens, our worries, our insecurities. In order for us to let Him take them we need to use the Atonement. This means we have faith in Christ, faith that if we leave things in His hands things will work out. Maybe not when we want them to but they will. As I got up to bare my testimony in our little branch I had the strongest feeling that everything would be okay. I didn't know when, or how, but that things would work out.

 

I must not have been the only one that felt that way... After the meeting President Molina (our branch president) invited us into his office. first thing he says "Hermana Calero, what can I do for you?"... uhhhhh what? haha. That man is SO INCREDIBLY INSPIRED. So he gave me the most beautiful blessing I have ever heard. Will I be healed? who knows! but who cares! These trials are for me to strengthen my relationship with my Savior. It's for me to understand myself and others better. it's for my patience to grow. So "come what may, and love it".

 

What an absolute blessing it is to serve a mission. As we consecrate ourselves to God we don't just change what we do. We aren't just going through the motions and being good by action. Consecration means A PERMANENT CHANGE. It means becoming a new creature. it means depending on our Heavenly Father, His timing, and His will.

 

I love this gospel. I love my trials. I love my Savior.

 

I hope you have a wonderful week!

 

Hermana Calero

24 February 2014

Sorry, I have no time to email at all. I have a doctor's appointment at 1:30 today in Twin so we have  to leave soon and the library didn't open until 11. I had to email president too so that took some time.

 

This week went really well, I have learned so much. I will try to get a letter out to you guys soon because I really learned a lot.

 

We had to teach relief society yesterday and it went really well, I'm sending a copy of the talk home it was an amazing lesson!

 

We've had a TON of fun this week trying to find new investigators, trying new things and just having a positive outlook on things. It's amazing how much things change when our attitudes change. We haven't been able to keep our goals for new investigators BUT we have met a lot of good people along the way.

 

One thing that I did learn this week.... There are two forces--good and evil. but there is one force that assists us in finding excuses not to attend the temple, and one that encourages us to do so. What force have we been listening to lately? I thought that was super interesting. Satan is always finding ways to "help us out" when it comes to doing wrong, however, making CORRECT choices is something we have to choose for ourselves. super cool! So I encourage you to find ways to attend the temple, the blessings that will come from it are INNUMERABLE.

 

I wish I had more time to talk and tell you all the cool things that I have learned this week. Just know I love you and I will keep you updated about the doctor!

 

Also... we are going to TARGET today after the appointment. the excitement level is THROUGH THE ROOF. I haven't been to Target in 8 months... I have been SO DEPRIVED. #in-the-states-missionaryprobs

 

nice.

 

Love,

 

Hermana Calero

 

p.s. thanks mom for the pictures of the Placa. LOOKS GOOD! and kiddo.. you HAVE TO STOP GROWING. Seriously. You look great! Love you!