Week 50: Spanish Area

¡Familia y Amigos! 

This is gonna be a long one folks because this has been the craziest miracle filled week of my ENTIRE mission!!

So transfers: Sister Whitehead and I thought we were for sure staying together in Albany! We were so positive, we didn't even tell the members it was transfer week! But we got the transfer roster, and they white-washed (when they send two new missionaries come into an area) with Elders! HUGE shock!! (pictures attached) I shed a few tears, but they were short lived because......

I AM SERVING IN THE ONLY COMPLETELY SPANISH AREAS IN THE MISSION!!!! I have been praying so hard to be sent here since my first transfer!! And my recent convert from my second area when I was serving with Hna. Baggett, moved into this Ward shortly after I left and so I get to work with her again! 

She is part of my crazy miracle filled week! She has been lost since she moved here! Hna. Baggett was a sister training leader over the area and they would always try her on exchanges but her and the sisters who have been here have never been able to find her since November and first day in the area-- we found out she moved and it was the biggest miracle!! We have an appointment with her on Tuesday! She is now married and we might start teaching her husband!!! I know that the Lord is involved in our lives!

I cannot even begin to describe how excited I am to be here!! We are in a Ward, and our area is in Kanas City, Kanas (it borders my other Spanish area that is in Kansas City, Missouri) and we work with mostly Spanish speakers, and i have forgotten A LOT of my Spanish, but I am remembering more everyday! Church yesterday was incredible!! I cannot wait to get to know and love the people here!!

I also got bit by a dog this week, so I guess I am officially a real missionary now, after a year! Haha! It didn't brake the skin but it did leave a nice bruise! Haha we were at a fiesta for our dinner and the dog got out of its cage somehow, and at first I didn't realize what was happening, and then Sis. Rowley screamed and I realized it was biting me, so I knocked it pretty good with a chair. It was really funny and all the people were probably thinking we were just some crazy gringas!! Haha it was really funny! 

My companion's name is Sister Rowley! She's from Herriman, UT and we have served around each other for 7 months at the beginning of our missions, and she also came out with me!! SOO FUN!! We lived together when I was serving in Liberty, and I am super excited to see what miracles are in store for this transfer!!

We have an investigator who is on date to be baptized on June 25th, and several others who are progressing towards making a date! The members are great, and we get fed every night! (Lots of super yummy Latin food!!) I am so beyond grateful to be here!! And I know that the Lord has a plan for this area!! 

2.0

This week I just wanted to share my testimony of prayer. I know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers! He is watching out for every single one of us. No matter or trials, our struggles, even our deep gratitude, He cares and he does listen. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me, and I am so grateful that we have been given prayer to talk with him one on one whenever and wherever. I would invite you all to take time during your prayers this week and really talk to your Heavenly Father. He wants to hear from you and he loves you. 

Love you all and Hope you all have a week full of miracles!

Abrazos y Oraciones 

Hermana/Sister Hunt

Week 49: Touch of the Master's Hand

¡Familia y Amigos!

I can't believe it is already Monday!! It's also that time again...
Transfers are this Thursday! I am not sure what's going to happen because the longest I have ever stayed is just 2 transfers, so we'll see if Albany is the first place I stay longer!

Well this week was crazy! We had some super amazing miracles! We have some investigators who are doing really well and progressing, and one of our Less Active's that has been worked with for a while came to church yesterday!! It was the first time she's been since I have been here, but the spirit was amazing at sacrament! I am grateful to see how this truly is the Lords work, and I am beyond humbled that he lets me help him.


2.0
So another Poem this week. I recently studied a Talk given by Boyd K.
Packer titled 'The Touch of the Masters Hand'. The longer I am on my mission, the more I realize that I am a very imperfect person. I have many flaws and weaknesses, but in turn I have also learned: There is hope! We have hope because we have a Savior, who can 'make weak things become strong'. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile:
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried, “Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice; Going for three—” But no, From the room, far back, a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening the loose strings, He played a melody pure and sweet As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, And going, and gone!” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not quite understand What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of a master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game—and he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought By the touch of the Master’s hand.

I testify that no matter where you are at in your life, with the Touch of the the Masters Hands, you can become who you are to be. I love my Savior Jesus Christ! I know he lives and I am grateful to be in his service.

Hope you all have a week full of miracles!

Abrazos y Oraciones

Hermana/Sister Hunt

Week 48: His Perfect Atonement

¡Familia y Amigos! 

This week was another really good one! Here's A couple of our super amazing miracles!

#1, remember our investigator who came to church last week? Well we stopped in and saw her this week, and she went on to tell us that she basically received permission from her uncle if she ever wanted to join the church which was a HUGE deal to her, as many of her family members haven't talked with her since she married her husband, because he is a member of the church. Huge miracles in the little things 

And #2 we were able to go to Independence (basically the holy land of the mission, and forever the place that has my heart) with one of our less actives and we had an INCREDIBLE lesson with her! I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary and watch the gospel change the lives of others. I know the Lord has perfect timing. Sometimes we want to rush his plans and the progress of the work, but as we truly follow his lead in the work, miracles will always happen.

2.0

Something a little different this week, but I wanted to share this poem I read a while back. It has helped remind me that as we live a world that will try to single us out to be a no one, we can remember our loving Savior who sacrificed his life because we are someone. I testify of his reality. He loves us. He has made it possible for us to repent and to change, so that we can find true happiness in our lives.

His Perfect Atonement 

By Kasey Hammer 

I used to believe 

That there was a hole

In Christ’s Atonement--

That He could save everyone--

Except me.

But I was wrong.

There is not one hole, 

But seven.

Two holes in His Hands 

Where they nailed Him 

To a cross

At the behest of those 

He would die To save,

Two holes in His wrists 

Where they ensured 

The weight of His body 

Would not cause His hands

To rip through 

Before His penance 

Was complete,

Two holes in His feet

Where He stood 

As a witness to all

Of God’s unyielding love 

For each Of His children, 

And one hole in His side

Where they pierced Him 

To prove His work

Was done. 

Seven. 

Perfection.

Seven perfect holes 

In earth’s only Perfect Man.

The perfect Atonement 

To patch the holes in our lives. 

His holes make us Whole.

I was wrong. 

There is a Whole In Christ’s Atonement

For me 

After all.

Christ's atonement is perfect, and it is just for you.

Love you all and Hope you have a week full of miracles!

Abrazos y Oraciones 

Hermana/Sister Hunt ️

Week 47: We Can Change!

Week 46: We Can Change!

¡Familia y Amigos!

This week was pretty exciting!! We were able to start teaching a
couple that was a referral from one of our members and we are really
excited about teaching them!

But the Highlight of the whole week was yesterday. First off it was
Sunday so of course it was amazing, and second, our investigator came
to church (and even stayed for Sunday School!)!! but even better is
what happened in Sacrament meeting!

So we work with a handful of less active people in this area and I am
so grateful to get to know them all!! There is one family in
particular that I have been able to work with since I got here to
Albany, and Yesterday, the mom of the family received a calling to be
in the primary presidency. I about cried I was so happy! It was such
an incredible feeling, similar only to that of a recent convert
receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost the Sunday after their baptism!
And her husband came to church for the first time in several months.
They are working toward a date to get sealed in the temple to their
two kids. The gospel is truly incredible and the Lord is working
miracles all around us!

2.0
This week I am grateful for the Power and reality of the atonement of
Jesus Christ. This week I was reading in Mosiah where Kind Benjamin is
teaching the people about Christ. In Mosiah 4: 7-9 he tells them:

"And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger,
thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto
death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his
anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of
heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and
his mother shall be called Mary.

And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the
children of men even through faith on his name..."

Our Savior came to this Earth to suffer for our sins, our weaknesses,
and our pains. Because of him we can change. How incredible is that
truth?

WE. CAN. CHANGE. I testify that that is true. Through the Love and
sacrifice of the only perfect man that lived, we can become clean. We
can become better, and one day we can live with our Heavenly Father
again.

It is all made possible through the Savior Jesus Christ. Trust in him.
If you are burdened by guilt, turn to the Savior. Do whatever it takes
to return to him. We are promised in the Scriptures "they shall not be
ashamed that wait for me."

So come unto the Savior. He can and will heal you and offers the
ultimate peace. All you have to do is let him in and begin to heal
what has been broken.

Love you all and Hope you have a week full of miracles!

Abrazos y Oraciones

Hermana/Sister Hunt ️

Week 46: The Most Incredible Book

¡Familia y Amigos!
 
I hope you all had amazing weeks! It was so good to talk to my family
Yesterday! Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's! You are incredible!!
 
We have been going through the unknowns on our branch roster, and none
of them have been home when we have stopped by, but we have had some
pretty amazing lessons and progress with our less active members we
are working with. They are incredible and I love getting to learn from
them.
 
We had Zone training this week and I feel extremely blessed to be in
the Zone that I am in. We talked a ton about the Book of Mormon and
the role it plays in our lives. And it leads right into my 2.0 this
week!
 
2.0
After Zone training, I read a talk that was given in April 2015
general conference titled "Stay By the Tree" by Kevin W. Pearson.
 
He talks about the life lessons we can draw about enduring to the end
from Lehi, a Book of Mormon prophet' about the tree of life.
 
The analogies were amazing, but the invitation and promise he gave at
the end of his talk touched my heart. He said:
 
"If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to
do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again to
prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and live its teachings every day,
every day, every day! I testify of the profound power in the Book of
Mormon that will change your life and strengthen your resolve to
follow Christ. The Holy Ghost will change your heart and help you see
“things as they really are.” He will show you what you need to do
next."
 
I add my testimony to Elder Pearson's, I know that the Book of Mormon
is true. It has changed my life. In times of trial I have spent days
and nights on my knees, and have in turn found peace and answers in
that sacred Book. I cannot begin to describe the peace and comfort
that has come from 531 pages, but I know you can experience it too.
 
If you have not read the Book of Mormon, I would invite you to read
it. If it has been a while since you have read it, start to read it
again. I know there are answers to questions and comfort and counsel
awaiting you if you act in faith and read the book.
 
The Lord has blessed us with scriptures written for our day, may we
cherish His gift to us in our lives.
 
I Hope you all have a week full of miracles!
 
Abrazos y Oraciones
 
️Hermana/Sister Hunt

Week 45: He Will Carry You Home

¡Familia y Amigos!
 
This week was another crazy one!! We have made so much progress with
our less active members!! They are all doing so well! I love being
able to watch them grow and develop in the gospel! Good things are
coming to the Albany Branch!!
 
I don't have much time today because we are going to Kearny, MO for a
Zone BBQ and it's about 1 & 1/2 hours to get there, but this week was
amazing!!
 
2.0
 
This week I have been studying the talks given in General Conference,
and President Uchtdorf's talk in particular has been on my mind
particularly this section:
 
"Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, knows and loves us. He knows and loves you.
 
He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your
grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears.
 
It matters not how you became lost--whether because of your own poor
choices or because of circumstances beyond your control.
 
What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you. He loves His children.
 
Because He loves you, He will find you. He will place you upon His
shoulders, rejoicing. And when He brings you home, He will say to one
and all, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
'
 
I testify that we do have a living, loving Savior. He knows you. He
wants to help you. All you have to do is turn to Him, and he WILL
carry you home.
 
I love you all and hope you have a week full of miracles!
 
Abrazos y Oraciones
 
Hermana/Sister Hunt

Week 44: He Will Not Fail You

¡Familia y Amigos!
 
So transfers were this week and I stayed here in Albany, and got a new
Companion! Her name is Sister Whitehead from Idaho, and I am pretty
excited because she was serving at the Visitor Center while I was
there. Should be an incredible transfer!
 
This week was CRAZY due to all the transfers and all that good stuff!
We were able to contact a lot of the people we are working with. We do
so much work with less actives here in the branch and we have a couple
part member families that we are hoping to start working with soon!
 
It was pretty fun to take Sister Whitehead around to see all the huge
fields and such out here! The lord obviously has some incredible
things in store for us to accomplish!
 
2.0
This week I wanted to share my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. I
know that he lives. I know that his atonement is for every person. He
loves each of us deeply and personally. He can heal our wounds and
repair our lives. He knows what makes us happy and knows what's hard,
but most importantly He knows how to help us return back to our
Heavenly Father. If we follow him and let him our lives, he can give
us the strength to overcome and return back to our Heavenly Father. I
would invite you all to take some time to think about him. Think about
what He has done for you and begin to recognize his guiding watchful
hand in your life. He will never fail you.
 
 
Love you and hope you have a week full of miracles!
 
Abrazos y Oraciones
 
Hermana/Sister Hunt ️