Mar. 22

tesr

Mar. 16th

Hello All! Sorry, I don't have much time today so please enjoy my companion's blog post for the week :)

 

"He's still perfect! Can't you see him shining in the sun from how golden he is?" is what Hermana Hurley said to the Elders in our District as Joel walked to his car after church. Yup, the man is still getting baptized and he had no problem moving his baptismal date from Saturday to Friday because of work.

On Thursday we went to the temple to do baptisms with la Familia Salazar, Angeles, the Elders, and their recent converts Brian and Stacey. It was magical! Berta was sooo peaceful, my heart was warmed. 

On Friday we had a mission wide conference where the apostle David A. Bednar and Lynn G. Robbins came to speak to us. The Elder Bednar got up and I.... felt such peace. He was so sweet and he said he just wanted us to be comfortable. I learned so much about the way the Holy Ghost works. We had a question and answer session and in the end, although not everyone asked their questions, we realized that everyone got their answer through the Holy Ghost. Elder Bednar promised that if we "feasted" on the Book of Mormon everyday we would not fall, he emphasized this for after our missions. Which brought me a lot of comfort, I want to stay on my A game FOREVER!

 

On Sunday after we watched Joel walk to his car in perfection. They announced his baptism in Sacrament and every other classes. It was wonderful seeing the look of excitement on everyone's faces.we had one member present lesson and that was a our dinner appointment. We asked if Joel could come and they said yes! It was with the Perez family and their son just got home from his mission and got engaged. We taught about the priesthood and temples! SPOT ON! The we had dinner with Joel. Imagine a tall Mexican man from Hidalgo at a table with 4 sister missionaries and mother talking about disney princess's. BTW, there's a hispanic one coming out! WOOHOO! Anyway. I realized, again, that sometimes you gotta take a step into the dark for it to light up. Like Moses and the Israelites, they stepped into the water believing that they would pass through the Red Sea on dry ground. 

 

Hermana Hurley goes home next week and it's starting to hit us, like a 1%. I forgot what missionary life was like without her. I know that the Lord will bless her, we're seeing so much of that already! Many things are falling into place for her. We're working hard! 

Pray for Joel, pray for Hermana Hurley, pray for all da orfans in da wurld (nacho libre), and pray for yours truly,

 

Hermana Cuesta

Mar 9th

Hi everyone! the work was AMAZING this week! we had a million member present lessons and met great people and Joel and Salvador came to Stake Conference yesterday! Joel met a member this week who was like- you should get baptized and Joel said: I am! On the 21st! 

He's perfect.

Love,

Hermana Hurley

 

 

Mar. 2nd

Well, this week was pretty awesome as far as the missionary work is going! Joel came to Church on Sunday!!!!!!!!! He is amazing!!!!! We have had tons of lessons with him. Every single appointment he arrives early, he comes having read and highlighted the sections in the Book of Mormon we assign and comes with questions! Here are a few examples of the amazing things things he says:

When we asked him how he felt about continuing forward preparing for March 21 to be baptized.

He said: "Yes, we should keep going with that goal! It's really important to have a goal, if you don't have a goal, you won't go anywhere in life."

 

Tonight we taught the plan of salvation. We asked him what he thought about it and he said it's true! it all makes sense. We know that if we want to get to the celestial kingdom, we have to get baptized and follow the word of God. It's kind of like if you read a book with a weight loss plan but you never do the things it tells you then it won't work!

 

Then he invited us to dinner with Hermana Angeles for Wednesday! He's the best!

 

We also had another investigator at Church on Sunday! Her name is Elena. She's an older lady who is full of fire and sass! She is not afraid to tell us how she feels! She is awesome haha. When we met her she had been praying to have someone to listen to and we showed up! We love her and she said she felt a really good Spirit in the Church so we are excited about her!

 

I also had an interview with my mission president this week, it's called "Exit Interview" because I will soon be leaving my mission. It was really nice and made me feel really happy and calm and prepared to leave my mission and go home.

 

So it was a great week! Love you all!

Hermana Hurley

Feb. 23rd

Hi everyone! 

This week the work is amazing- in our area and also in my old area! We also had a golden investigator at church yesterday and another one is coming to church this week! yay for miracles!!

The one that came yesterday is Salvador. He is super nice and really respectful and loves to learn and actually remembered and showed up for our appointments and actually came to church yesterday and then called us today to confirm our appointment for this week! what? that never happens!

The guy that is coming next week is name Joel. We found him by complete accident. We got a referral that didn't exist but we found Joel's roommate who isn't interested but Joel is! He has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying and we had 3 lessons with him this week and he had to work yesterday but is really excited for church on Sunday. He said that he feels much more peace from reading the Scriptures and praying. He doesn't feel so alone. I LOVE THE GOSPEL!

I think three transfers of prayers and hard work in good old rt north/east (my last area)  did it some real good and now the new hermanas get to reap the harvest and that is awesome. 

love you all!

Hermana Hurley

 

i'll send you my companion's weekly email too so you can hear more about our week!

 

 

Dear Everyone,

 

I am calm now. My zen is through the roof, that is how calm I am. This week was full of so many miracles. Hermana Hurley and I had it a little rough individually and as a companionship, but then we realized it was el Chamoco (Satan)! On Monday after emailing everyone I went a little cray cray and started pacing around the FHC, I didn't even use all my emailing time! Emily came home this week, Broday and Jon as well, and with this being Hermana Hurley's last transfer it finally sunk into me that one day soon I won't be a full-time missionary. I started worrying about BYU, how to keep being a missionary after the mission, Abuelita, Mami & Papi, how life with my married brother and new sister would be, Snowy, my future husband, my future self, Aurelio, Elias, Galt it just all came rushing into my little head. I mean I think about those things sometimes, but not all at the same flipping tiempo! Then I said a little prayer, just like Madonna said to, and it worked! 

 

During the week Hermana Hurley and I seemed to be on different waves of worry. She'd be fine, then I wasn't, vice versa, and so many miracles were happening in the middle of it! Through it all though, I was never angry. Que milagro! I've been an angry little tea pot too many times, it was not okay. Now I feel back to normal! Happy camper I am! 

 

So this Joel character, he is GOLDEN! De puro oro! we started teaching him at the church and he is just so sweet and such a kindred soul. He brought up how he had been baptized before and never went back to that church. This time around he's ready, he said it was no joke, he's tired of just floating around in the world. The next lesson we had with him was also at the church and he asked us what the word "apostacy"meant. We read it in the back of the pamphlet and afterward he said, "so I have been apostate by not following God" with a huge smile on his face! Not because he was apostate, but because the light bulb in his head clicked and the Spirit touched him. In just one week he has progressed so much. He reads faster, he's not so bashful to answer questions, he loves praying and singing! He's excited about the gospel! After that lesson we played soccer with Joel, the other hermanas, our ward mission leader, and other hermanos from church. It was like the perfect lesson! (We have to play soccer in our proselyting clothes, so picture me in a skirt charging at a tall Mexican man for the ball. F.U.N.). Joel has a baptismal date for March 21st. 

 

Salvador, another investigator came to church yesterday. I thought he hated it, but afterward he said he loved it and wanted to know the soonest day we could come back.

 

Hermana Hurley and I are seeing a pattern. Most of my time on the mission I have spent teaching older, single men- Sargent Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band. Every single one of our investigators is in it right now. I need to find me a family to teach! Speaking of which, the Salazar's got their Patriarchal blessing yesterday! During which the Hermanas and I snuck into their apartment (Berta left the key under the mat) and decorated for Janet's Sweet Sixteen. they hadn't planned anything for her and we noticed she seemed really sad about it so we whipped something up last minute. Obispo GAVE us a quad with her name embossed on it to give to her for her birthday. Blessings!

 

Our ward mission leader! We got one! we haven't had one the whole time I've been here and it's been rough. He's Colombian! I'm very proud of that ;) The work is progressing so much. There's nothing like hard work and lots of love!

 

Please pray for Jose, Berta, Jose Luis, Janet, Junior, Anthony, Joel, Martin, Salvador, Juan, Eduardo, missionary opportunities, and all the missionaries in the world.

 

Love,

Hermana Cuesta

 

One day I got stressed because I was getting text messages literally every five minutes, so Hermana Hurley and I switched and I drove for a day. It was a win/win situation because she needed to relax for a minute as well.

 

Feb 16th

Hi everyone!

We had a great week! We had a huge meeting with all the leaders in the mission in order to plan another meeting we have called Zone Training. Our zone training went well, we worked in unity to plan a powerful zone training where the Spirit could teach. It went very well!

I've personally been working this week to recognize miracles. I know that as we are more grateful for the blessings in our lives we are happier and we receive more blessings! 

One lesson I learned this week was to always talk to everyone! We saw someone and I felt we should talk to him but I ignored it. Finally I voiced my feelings to Hermana Cuesta and she said öh, we've talked to him several times already." I felt relieved because I frankly was just not in the mood to contact! 

Minutes later we got a text from our district leader challenging us to a contacting competition. So we went and talked to him anyways and he was great and we added him as an investigator! How many miracles do I have to see from contacting to learn my lesson? haha but I'm grateful that the Lord keeps sending me reminders.

Another miracle we saw this week started when we received a referral through text from another missionary and wrote it down in our planners. Soon after we had to delete the messages in our phone and we completely forgot who sent us the referral. When we went to contact it there was no one in the house by that name but there were 3 spanish speaking men who live there so we made a return appointment but when we went they were not home. The next day was the last day of the week. We had no appointments set up but we really wanted to get a member present. I got the idea, which I now know was a prompting, to call them! They answered and said we could come over at 5:00. We took a member and it was a very powerful lesson. We realized later how unique the experience was and that it truly was a miracle.

One kinda funny thing that happened, I tripped over the curb and fell down in front of a bunch of elders this week, including the assistants to the President! #embarrassingmoments #whatismylife

Love you all!

Hermana Hurley

Feb 10th

We had a great week!!!! Transfers were this week and:

I stayed with Hermana Cuesta!!! I'm soooo happy! We can't wait to finish out my last transfer strong!

Love you all! Sorry! No time today!

Love,

Hermana Hurley

Feb 2nd

Hey everybody! 

We had an interesting week! I was on exchanges with Hermana Porter, my companion from last transfer! so we had fun being back together again! However we were completely out of the allotted miles we are given to drive each month so we spent most of the day on bike and then had a chain of people picking us up and dropping us off at the next appointment! It was so fun and crazy!

We have had incredibly warm weather this week, so biking was great! it's been in the 70's!

Thursday we had my last zone conference. I got kinda depressed about that! I had to give my departing testimony in front of everyone which was stressful and sad but in the end I felt good about the testimony I gave and the fact that I am coming pretty close to the end of my mission. One transfer left! 

On saturday we had another crazy day because we spent the whole day doing service! I felt so weird that I wore jeans the whole day, but it was really fun to get to help people in a different way than we usually do!

Well that is everything for now! 

Love,

Hermana Hurley

Jan 26th

This has been a great week! I had more exchanges and we have been crazy busy and that feels so good to just focus on the Lord's work and not worry about anything else. Next time you are down or worried or stress, just serve someone!! It helps so much!

Here are more pictures from the beautiful wedding and baptism last weekend! 

The one where Hermana Cuesta and I are holding hands is when we were acting out how to walk down the aisle and get married for Bertha and Jose Luis. It was pretty hilarious.

One interesting thing that happened this week was that my previous companion who I still live with, Hermana Porter has been really depressed lately. So I had the idea to have a district intervention. It was pretty funny. We were like chanting and singing nonsense and we had a knife and the Elders had made a video pretending to be me and her and one of them may or may not have been wearing a dress and we ate milk and cookies and talked about how to help her feel better and it worked great. She is doing much better! haha a little untraditional but it worked!

 

Love you all! Sorry to cut it short but I'm gonna go eat some Nachos!

Hermana Hurley

Jan 19th

Hey everybody!!!!!!!

THIS WAS A CRAZY HARD BUT AMAZING MOSTLY SUPER BUSY BUT SO FUN WEEKEND!  This week almost killed me but we survived it and it was great.

Back to back exchanges plus seeing a family of four get baptized! I love them so much!

The misioneras that taught the family!

And Hermana Cuesta and I were the witnesses for the wedding!!!! Signed the certificate!

IT WAS THE BEST!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Hermana Hurley

Jan 12th

Hi everyone!!

Things have been CRAZY amazing lately!!!!

This has been a truly amazing week full of miracles!! We have a beautiful family that will be baptized this weekend. We went on a Temple Tour and there the father of the family, Jose Luis proposed to the mother, Berta, (with a little bit of help from us haha) and they will be getting married the day of their baptism. They have quit smoking and drinking for almost 2 weeks now and the teenage girl has been attending seminary. They are the perfect example of truly converted people. 

Another miracle occurred last night as we were teaching them a lesson, their oldest daughter (an investigator of the Elders) who is the classic "prodigal son" returned home crying last night and wants to move in with them again. We testified of the blessing of a family who lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they decided that the Holy Ghost was telling them to give her another chance. 

The most beautiful part of being a missionary is being an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring families together. They are so excited to be sealed as a family in a year.

Also, because we attended seminary a couple times with Janet, the younger daughter of this family, and encouraged a couple of other youth to attend with us- it has started an explosion of seminary enrollment! Several other youth from our ward are now enrolling as well and looking to be more involved in Personal Progress. Success!!

 Meanwhile, because I'm the Sister Training Leader, I do exchanges with the other sisters I'm assigned to. Basically I trade places with their companions for a day and just uplift them, strengthen them and help them to reach their goals. It's fun and really exhausting! I have back to back exchanges this week plus a wedding and baptism to plan and we still haven't weekly planned for the week. #heckastressed! But I LOVE it! Plus my companion, Hna Cuesta and I are the happiest couple in the world, tied with Jose Luis and Berta haha.

I'm also SUPER grateful for the other missionaries in our ward. We have the best Elders on the planet and they have helped all of us so much and we are all a team bringing to pass the Lord's work. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY SO MUCH! When am I ever going to be able to be so thoroughly involved in blessing others people's lives again? I'm sooo grateful to be here!

I love you all!

Hermana Hurley

 

Elder WARD

Jan 5th 2015

Hello all!

We have had an amazing week since I checked in last. Hermana Cuesta and I are the dream team and we are putting all of North Sacramento on tilt! 

Our area is blossoming right now, we have several investigators that are preparing to be baptized, They all have plenty of obstacles to overcome before they are ready but we love working with them to help them come closer to Christ. 

There is an amazing family that are preparing to be baptized this month. We had a lesson with them this week and as Hermana Cuesta and I prepared to teach them we were considering some of their needs. We were trying to make the mom of the family a plan to stop smoking over time but we realized that if she is going to be able to get baptized on the date they have set, she would need to stop smoking immediately. I was really nervous about this plan because I wasn't sure how she would react or if she would be able to do it. When we arrive to their house that night the dad, Jose Luis opened the door and told us that Berta (the mom) was in bed cuz she was super sick. We went in to talk to her and she said she was sick because she had quit smoking and drinking two days before and was going through withdrawals!!!! I've never been so excited to see someone sick haha. We called in the whole family and sat on the beds and taught them about the Word of Wisdom and told them we had come today with the plan to challenge them to quit smoking and drinking. They laughed and told us we came too late :D haha it was such a miracle. Please pray for them!

We had another great miracle this week.

We went to visit a less active family and as we were about to pray, her nonmember brother who is living with them right now came into the room. We invited him to listen too. We taught about prayer and the Book of Mormon and he said he wants to change his life for the New Year and wants to follow Christ. He agreed to be baptized!!!! 

I have a testimony that this missionary work we do is guided by the Lord, I know that greater peace and joy will be found in this gospel than by any other means on earth. I love being missionary more than words can describe. 

On a less serious note, the Elders in our District have gotten me addicted to Munchkin. For those that don't know what that is- ask your local nerd. 

I'm going to go cream those noobs now.

Love you all!

Hermana Hurley

Open the blinds and let God's light in!

 

Hello everyone! 

Merry almost Christmas!!

I am sorry I have been neglecting this blog a little bit. I want you all to know that we have been working hard and been busy trying to find people who are prepared to receive the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We tried putting a twist on our finding methods this week, we knocked doors with the Elders and we Christmas Caroled! People loved it, and although we may not have started teaching anyone from it, it was very fun and we loved being able to spread the Christmas spirit, which is really Christ's Spirit.

 

This week we had a great experience to be able to have a Temple conference. We met with several other zones and went to the temple with our Mission President. Afterwards we had lunch and we had a meeting. We performed the musical number that I'd been organizing and it went pretty well! It was so fun to see other missionaries and it was really special to be able to go to the temple.

I have had some hard times the last few weeks, and when we went to the Temple it helped so much. I felt very peaceful and that I was finally overcoming some of those negative feelings that have been bringing me down. But then yesterday I felt very unwell physically. I felt that Satan is doing everything possible to keep me from going forth and doing the Lord's work. I was able to receive a Priesthood blessing from one of the Elders. After my blessing, I knew I could overcome anything in my path. I remembered that as I teach others to rely on and exercise their faith, that I must also. I commit to doing so. I know that I'm where I need to be and that as I strive to do the Lord's will, I will be blessed and protected. I'm grateful for the Priesthood and support from our leaders. This was a very special experience for me and confirmed my testimony that the Lord knows us personally and loves us very much.

We ate dinner with a sister this week who told us a story where she went over to help a neighbor who was depressed. The weather was beautiful outside that day, but as she entered her neighbor's home, it was dark and stale and the blinds were all closed. She felt the impression from the Holy Ghost to tell her neighbor: "Open the blinds and let God's Light in!"

I thought that was so powerful. That is what I have been taught this week. To put away negativity, to never allow discouragment to enter your heart and to open the blinds and let God's light in!

I encourage everyone of you to look for ways you can open your blinds, recognize God's love and let His light more fully into your life.

I love you all!

Hermana Hurley

 

Dec 8th

Hi everyone! No time today because I had so many emails! Thanks sooo much for that I lovvve it!!

 

 

Today I wanna say that I'm so grateful for music and new clothes (we went shopping last week!). I have put myself in charge of doing a musical number with our whole zone so today and get to direct 20 elders in practicing the first noel. I find much joy in this. Plus I have my co captain Elder Ward who is a musical genius I was in the mtc with so it's gonna be so fun

In regards to many requests for my address it should be on my fb but it is:

8267 Deseret Ave

Fair Oaks CA 95628

But send it soon because they are holding our packages and bringing them to us on the 20th so it needs to arrive earlier than that date :)

I think I already mentioned this but I do not want much for Christmas this year (we have to take packing into consideration) and I'm not planning to send anyone presents. What I do want is a really long, hand written letter from every member of the family and any friends who'd like to participate and it absolutely must include (although should not be limited to) that person's testimony. Please send the word out and feel free to start writing them now.

Love you all!

Hermana Hurley

 

Nov 24th

No Blog post this week. Got some pics from Ericka Gutierrez

Dec 1st

Hi everyone! My thanksgiving was so fun! We emailed and then we played soccer with the elders for almost 3 hours and the next couple of days I was pretty sore. So it was really fun! I always end up with bruises but what kind of athlete would I be without some battle wounds right? 

Then we ate dinner at a member's house and it was a huge party because they have a huge family and Hermana Skidmore who just finished her mission two weeks ago is here with her family visiting and they were there so that was fun. Then we went back to meet up with the other missionaries to play more sports but we were too worn out so we played a crazy game that Hermana Porter's family plays for FHE which we all mocked so much and thought it was ridiculous it's called "a thimble full of water" and we all just guess things and throw water in each other's face and it's hilarious.

It was a grand old time. 

 

And now Merry Christmas! christmas.mormon.org

it's two minutes and it's so beautiful! I know that our Father in Heaven wants us to have joy, and He knew the only possible way for us to have joy and receive all the blessing available to us was to provide a Savior. I'm so grateful for the power the Atonement has to help us change. My zone leader said once: Is there anything about yourself that you think you can never change? If so, you do not have faith in the Power of the Atonement. I know that's true. The Atonement is not just for repenting of sins and becoming clean again through the grace of our Redeemer, although that part is so essential and precious. It is also to help us change, little by little, and even to help carry us through our trials. The power of the Atonement is also an enabling power, that enables us to move forward, to bear our burdens when we feel like we are going to break under the weight of them. To experience relief from relentless negative thoughts and self-demeaning feelings. Use the power of the Atonement. Rely on Jesus Christ. He suffered for you.

 

On my mission, the Lord helped me to exercise my patience in a little way that was becoming a big deal for me. I know that He cares about every part of your life too. The times you struggle with patience, with other's and yourself. He will help you to overcome that. He wants you to feel strong. Ask Him.

Love you all,

Hermana Hurley

Nov 17th

Thanksgiving Week

Sorry I'm out of time again this week! We had a really great week! I'm working hard and we are seeing blessings. I looove being able to help others all day every day! I am so grateful for the knowledge of that I have a Savior, who died for us and lives for us. Through Him, any mistake can be forgiven, any regret can be forgotten and heartbreak can be moved past and learned from. I'm grateful for my blessings, and possibly more grateful for trials. My trials have helped me to be humble, to rely on the Spirit and to learn the plan that my Father in Heaven has for me. And most of all given me patience, which we all know I needed. I'm grateful to be from the United States of America. I've learned to appreciate so much the opportunities and justice and privileges we enjoy in this country. We can work and trust that we will be paid fairly, we can call the police and trust that they will respond, we are protected in our physical rights as will as our religious ones. I can talk to anyone on the street about the ways that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will change them forever.

I am thankful for all of your prayers and your support. I can feel your love even when I'm not with you. I am thankful that you all have given me pep talks and testimonies in times that I needed it. I'm thankful that I was raised in the Church so that I can share this joy with other families and show them how to feel God's love and be together forever.

Love 

Hermana Hurley

Nov 10th

Hello everyone!

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT WEEK!

We are feeling unstuck and the work is picking up! We have met so many amazing people and are finally seeing some of the fruits of our efforts! We are gonna keep working hard to bring others closer to Christ. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to be able to focus all of my actions on helping others and serving the Lord. I enjoy so much the Spirit I feel through being able to serve Him. I want everyone to know that, even when things are really, really hard- I still love being a missionary and consider it the most wonderful blessing and privilege to be able to serve my Heavenly Father.

Fun stuff:

I went vegan this week because one of the hermanas I live with is vegan and I did it to try it.

me)

The hermanas and us had a dinner at a member's house and the Elders were to come over as we were leaving It was pretty good. At member dinners I didn't refuse their food so it wasn't that drastic. It was a nice cleanse for a week but definitely not a lifestyle change I'm gonna stick to. But I did like how I felt when I was eating more fruits and veggies and i definitely want to keep that up!

So as you might know, the theme of this transfer has felt like a Series of Unfortunate Events. A kind of ridiculous one that topped it all off occurred one night around 9:00 as we were walking into our apartments. I somehow dropped the car and house keys down a grate in the parking lot. We definitely had a moment of murmuring when a tender mercy in a white pick up truck pulled up. A little guy named Jacob helped us lift the grate and he jumped down inside and got us the keys. We thanked him profusely and all we got in return was a brusque 'Don't do it again' that he called over his shoulder as he walked away. What a miracle :)

Ok funny thing that happened on Halloween (I have no time to explain all the details of this story so bear with. I had the genius idea for us to hide with masks on and scare them. Do you know they didn't react at all??? Not even when Hermana Skidmore grabbed their leg from under the table??? We were so disappointed, we'd even been recording it. But, because they are good sports, they suggested we reenact it and they reacted better the second time. So at least we have a funny video out of it :)

Ok that's all the time I have for today! Love you all!

Hermana Hurley