Staying in Bella Vista

We should be getting colder weather here actually ... within this next month. So that's gonna be awesome :) The only down side is that not as many people just chill outside their house drinking mate. When its hot, everyone's outside and its so easy to find people to talk to. 

This week was a little rough. Well first off I was sick with a cold, and it was just hard to find people. I just felt like we had walked every street and talked to every person. which was probably not true, but I was a little ready to change areas just to feel more effective working wise.

I'M STAYING IN BELLA VISTA! 

I was not expecting that at all, but I have a new companion...Hna Todd from Lehi.  She's super awesome, and I had done divisions with her before and I'm stoked. So all day yesterday we traveled to Resistencia to pick her up and then waited in the terminal a bunch. But I got to see a few hermanas that I knew in my training in Formosa.

 It was hard leaving Hna Balderee, but I'm sure she will do well with the change.  She is with Hna Howe my old comp.  We cried saying goodbye. it broke my heart, but I'll get to see her at multizona. 

So the news this week is that now I have 2 areas! They took the elders out of Bella Vista. So we have their area as well. That is crazy because it's a huge area to cover, but at least now we have some new places to discover and I'm glad for that.  Our investigator Julio came to church this Sunday! And he told us he's actually read half the BOM! 

ALFREDO :(

So on Sunday night I actually sent a text to Alfredo, telling him that Hna Balderree was leaving Bella Vista, and that we hope he´ll tell us when he's back in Bella Vista. Then on Monday morning there was a huge storm, and our power was out while we were packing up and leaving.. it was crazy. Then we got out of the taxi at the bus station with all the suitcases in the pouring rain.. and someone says "let me help you".. and I look over and its ALFREDO!!! I was so shocked. We chatted for a minute.  He said he will be done in July and can talk with us more then.  I know it was definitely not a coincidence we happened to be at the terminal at the same time.  I pray he will have the courage and confidence to make the change he knows is right sooner than later.  

Anyway, I'm excited for the new transfer! LOVE YOU so much I'm excited to hear your voice on mothers day! 

One Year Down

Hello Everyone...

On April 12th I hit my ONE YEAR mark!! The night before that, we were walking home, and Hermana B  made me stand in the store and stare at the door while she bought me something. Then when I woke up the next morning she had put a Coke, an alfajor (candy), and a note on my desk - so cute. It was a super stormy day, so we ended up having to return home by 7pm.  Can't believe ill only have 4 transfers left. It seems so short, but I know I can still accomplish a ton in 6 months. 

So we´ve been preparing Maíra for her baptism this week. She's progressing a lot, and was excited for next Saturday, but didn't make it to church this week. Please pray all goes well.  

We are also teaching Jose - he owns a mattress store.  We gave him a Book of Mormon, and then we decided to bring him some banana bread one day, and he actually invited us to eat lunch at his house on Saturday. and said we´d talk about his questions about the pamphlet of the restoration. So I prepared a ton, getting all my scriptures ready.. and the lunch went well.. just small talk. Then he and his wife started asking us questions about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and testified that he would have to inquire and receive an answer for himself that these things are true, but he said he really wasn't interested in knowing anything more than the Bible.  I left him to read 2 Nephi 28:29-30, and his wife said she would like to read it and see what it has to say.  We are not here to convince people, only to find those who WANT to know and understand gods truth.  They are the only ones who can truly HEAR his voice anyway.  

We are teaching Blas...

So next week ill be writing on Tuesday instead of Monday because of transfers!! I may be staying in Bella Vista or going...not sure. 

Thanks for all you do :) and for always updating me on the family. You´re such a great example to me of love, service, discipline, and faith! 

LOVE YOU

Hermana Hall 

Maira is getting baptized!

Transfers are the 23rd or 24th in 2 weeks. I have no idea if I´ll stay in BV. Really I'd like to stay to baptize Maira.  I've realized lately though that I"m ready for a change. I've been here for 3 transfers...so 3+ months.  

We had an awesome experience with her this week. She really likes our visits, and believes that what we taught was true.. but also believed that all churches were good and true. Then she was reading while her kids were sleeping.. in the BOM in Alma chapter 34, that I marked for her. She came to verses 17-21 and then right after, she paused and said a prayer.

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
She got an overwhelming feeling that God loved her and was listening. She has been determined to be baptized
ever since.  

This week I read the talk by Thomas S Monson called Charity Never Faileth. I love that story he tells about the lady always thinking her neighbor had dirty laundry, until her husband cleans their window.. and she finds out it was her dirty window the whole time. I was thinking about how much I try to get the mote out of other peoples eyes, and don't pay attention to the beam I have in mine. Especially with other missionaries.. because there are a few really disobedient elders in our zone..and it bothers me so much to see that they aren't working. I know I need to develop charity and not judge them. and focus more on my faults, and let them work out their own salvation. 

We´ve been in touch with Alfredo! He´s starting to doubt if he should leave his seminary now. And that's what he gets for delaying acting on his answer.. he cant spend time with the Priests all day and then expect to maintain his testimony and promised blessings. Please pray for him.  

Let it Go....

Sounds like fun at the cabin! Nothing more relaxing than chilling and playing banana grams :) haha I wish I would have brought that to play on p-day. We play a lot of Uno! 

We  had a good week. We had our multizona meeting, which is always awesome. In my interview with presidente, he asked if I wanted to stay or leave Bella Vista for next transfer. And I have loved Bella Vista, and I love my zone. so part of me wanted to request to stay. But I told him that I want God's will to be done and to do whatever he felt was right. I don't want to ask to stay if really Heavenly Father wants me in a different area. 

We have an investigator named Nancy.. and shes super nice, and loves the Book of Mormon. But being Catholic she has told us she has no intention of changing. We felt inspired to bring our little DVD player and the Restauration video to watch with her.  After the movie she was like "aw que lindo!" and then we recognized the Spirit that was there testifying of truth, and she got emotional and cried a ton. She couldn't even describe how she felt. It's so amazing to see the spirit testify to people, and then help them recognize what it is. She´s praying about baptism now.  

We also talked to Maíra, who came to church last week with all her niños, and was running around the entire time because of them. And so we thought she would say it's to difficult to come again.. but we talked to her and she said that her experience at the church was better than she had anticipated. That at her church she always gets bored.. but in ours, no! 

We all cooked something to share for conference. me and my comp made homemade scones and honey butter.. it was delicious. 

In General Conference I loved how president Nelson helped us to know how to receive personal revelation and the importance of that gift.  My comp and I get along really well, but when we have disagreements I am reminded that it's an opportunity to be humble and meek, and to just let it go.  I"m learning a lot about myself and how to resolve conflicts, how to be patient and how to forgive and just love people.  

Hope you have a great week :) ps, that Alfredo sauce packet you sent me was super delicious! I made it for me and my comp, and it reminded us of America!