Happy Thanksgiving

November 26, 2012

Hola mi familia!

How is everyone doing? It sounds like y'all had a fun/quiet Thanksgiving, but it was sure nice of you to invite the Ruiz De Castilla family over. We need more people like you here in Texas to do the same for the less actives in our ward. But we did have a nice couple here that invited Gona and Sirvan over to dinner with a few young couples from the ward so that was really nice of them! Especially since this was their very first Thanksgiving and they didn't even really know what it was. We stopped by to visit them in the afternoon with all of the couples and they seemed to be having a fun time. :) They were also invited to the Thanksgiving Turkey bowl so Sirvan played football with the guys and Gona walked around the park with us and a few ladies from the ward. They really love this ward! When we went over to visit them last night Sirvan said his brother called them yesterday and they told him about church. His brother said he had been going to church in France for 6 months and he said the people in this church are soooo  nice! He was able to tell Gona and Sirvan a lot about the church. (It was probably really good for him to tell them all he knows since they can understand better in Persian.... I just hope it was all correct!) But they came to church again yesterday and LOVED IT! :)

Anyways.... There's my first story of the email. haha

So Grandpa and Grandma aren't doing to well? I hope I can see them when I get home. I pray for them! I'm really glad you made it down and back safely. I bet the roads were awful with the snow. Did anyone else go down for Thanksgiving or was it just you guys?

My Thanksgiving was fun, Iike I said we went to the park in the morning with Gona and Sirvan and then around 10:30 we went to Noo's house to help her start preparing Thanksgiving. When we got there she already had it all done! So Sister Moreno made her spanish dish-- Tortillas de Patatas. I made some salsa... and then we ate! Noo let Daniel join us for dinner since he didn't want to be around his family because they would all be drinking and he knew it'd be too big of a temptation. He really enjoyed being with us I think! I'll have to send pictures next week! Noo asked me to say the prayer on Thanksgiving and I got kind of emotional cause I missed y'all! Thanksgiving will be fun next year with everyone. :)

After Noo's house we went and visited lots of people! And yes.... we got fed pie at every house........ I hate food now.

But it was good because we saw all of our investigators, and most of the less actives we've been working with! :) Everyone seemed to be doing well except the Vermilyeas. They are really struggling. People in their complex have threatened to call CPS on them since they have 4 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 cat in a one bedroom apartment. It's not a good situation and it has not been good on their progress in the gospel. Please pray for them if you will.

Last week our zone went to the Clayton Library here in Houston. It's one of the largest Geneology libraries in the USA. We learned a lot about family history work and it was cool cause the lady that taught us wasn't a member of the church! So she got her feel of missionaries! haha They let us do some research on our families and get our family search website set up so we could check out our family tree. It got me excited to start my family history work when I get home.

I'll try to update y'all on everyone.....

Daniel passed his baptismal interview on Saturday! He is getting baptized this Friday night!!!!! We are so excited for him. I don't think I've taught anyone this prepared for the gospel my whole mission. It's been amazing to see his progress. But funny/awful story that happened on our last lesson we were teaching last week. So usually the last lessons ends up being obey and honor the law cause it's like a "oh and by the way when you become a member we expect you to be a good citizen." Ya know? So it's not supposed to be a long or a hard lesson. But we learned our lesson to NEVER use to 12th article of faith right after elections....

Daniel is a die hard American. He hates Obama and thinks he is not an American. end of the story.

So when we teach about Respecting our presidents, kings, rulers, etc. He starts getting very agitated and defensive and says. I will never Honor Obama, and if that's what y'all are asking me to do to be a member I can't do it.

Oh my gosh I was freaking out in my head like, you've got to be kidding! He accepted the word of wisdom, tithing, prophets, everything! And then this came up. haha I explained that all this meant is that we need to be good citizens and obey the law. After trying to patch up everything he calmed down. The member with us, Sister Byrne, tried her best to explain things too but man. It was scary for a second! We had a good laugh in the car afterward because seriously... that is supposed to be the easiest and quickest lesson! Luckily he said he would obey and honor the law. :)

Paula is also doing great! She came to church on Sunday too. We have had the most investigators at church this transfer than I ever have had on my mission. It's so great. :) Paula came with us to a baptism on Saturday and she loved it. She was so excited for him, and we did a short lesson afterward and in her prayer at the end she said that she couldn't wait to become a member of this great family! Her baptism is the week after Daniels. Pray for her if you will too! She is so prepared for the gospel in her life, and it's going to help her life and the situation she is in so much right now. :)

Funny story! Haha so we met a lady this week named Patricia. She was very nice and she let us in right away. During our first lesson she was saying a few things that were crazy and I didn't know if she was serious or not, but we were kinda in a hurry so we told her we'd come back the next day to bring her a Book of Mormon. When we came back the next day she told Sister Moreno that she couldn't understand her, so I ended up teaching the whole lesson by myself.... which is never good! But as we were talking about the Spirit she turns to me and said, "ya know? When I feel the spirit I usually have bad gas. I think That's Gods way of telling me something." I couldn't believe it! I started laughing cause I thought she was kidding.... nope! She was dead serious! We left soon after cause we think she may be a little on the crazy side. But it really made me laugh. Now we have a joke whenever we smell something bad... someone must be feeling the spirit! ;) There are people I've met on my mission that I'll never forget.... She's one of them I think!

It was weird though cause as she was talking I knew she wasn't completely with it. I know that she is still a daughter of God and I didn't want to take away her chance to learn about the gospel. I kept feeling to extend a baptismal date (we are supposed to in every first sit down lesson... to check for their intent) but I kept saying to myself why would we do that? She can't really understand. But I did it anyways, and she told us she'd never be baptized. It made me feel better about not coming back cause she wasn't in it for the right reasons. The Spirit guides!

Yesterday I was thinking a lot about the word Choice and Choose. We all have our agency to choose. We know good from bad, and we have the spirit of discernment. I think one of the hardest things about being a missionary is seeing the people you've come to love and serve choose ways other than they should. I know that it's Gods plan to give us agency but it's so hard to watch people choose wrong. I told Sister Moreno that and I said, " I wish we could make people choose the right!" and she told me That is Satans plan to force. It made me realize how much more it must hurt our Heavenly Father to watch us when we do wrong. He knows that when we obey we will be happy, when we don't obey we put ourselves in more misery. I just hope these people here will figure out where and when true happiness comes. 

I love you guys so much and I hope y'alls week goes great! Let me know if I can do anything for you!

Sister Avery

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This Thanksgiving will be very different since I'm away from my family, which is one of the things I'm MOST grateful for. But It'll be great to be here serving too. We have plans to spend Thanksgiving with Noo and her son. It'll be a small Thanksgiving, but we'll probably get fed at every other house we visit that day too.... :) haha

 

James is SOOO cute! I was so excited to get the news on Thursday! I can't wait to hold him in person. :) And oh man I can't believe how grown up Dylan and Savannah are. Everyone is changing so much. It'll be fun to talk with everyone in just a few more weeks! When we get info on Christmas calls I'll let you know.

 

How is everyone doing? I hope that everyone is healthy and happy!

 

I'm doing great. This area we're serving in is seeing so many miracles it is incredible! I wish I had all day to write about them, but I'll try to squeeze all I can in.

 

First with Daniel! He is progressing so well. He came with us to a dinner appointment with a member on Friday night and in the lesson he asked us what day it was. We told him and he said, "14 more days!" We asked him till what and he said, "Till my baptism!" haha He is counting down the days till his baptism!!! AND last night we brought him to an investigator fireside with us where 2-3 people speak who just were baptized into the church. Well the first guy that spoke was pretty much telling Daniels life story to a T. I knew that man was asked to speak to help Daniel know this is the right thing to do. After the meeting everyone kept coming up and talking to Daniel and they'd say, "So are you investigating the church right now?" and he said to one man, No I'm pretting much done invesitgating, I'm just counting down the days to be a member!

 

It has seriously been a miracle watching his progress over the last 2 months of knowing him. From the first time we taught him when he was wasted, to now where he has the strongest desire to change his life and start new again. He said something last night that really helped Sister Moreno and I. He told us as he was talking to people in sunday school he was very impressed with how many people we had been visiting. He told us we'd never know the impact we're making on peoples lives here. I really appreciated that!

 

Next is Paula! She is doing so well too! She is the lady from Camaroon Africa that we met while we were going to visit another investigator. She told us that the Holy Ghost knew that we needed to meet her so she was outside at the exact moment we were walking by. From the first day we met her she has been very open, and she has been coming to church for about a month now. She loves all of the people in the ward here! Yesterday as we were sitting in Sacrament meeting we didn't see her and we got really worried cause we had seen her the night before and she said she would be there. As we were sitting in Sunday school she walked in about 30 minutes late and she leaned over to me and said, "I need to talk to you after church." I got really worried, but after church while she explained what happened I could hardly believe this was coming from an investigators mouth.  She explained to me that her car had broken down, she called a cab to pick her up but it never came and she waited for over an hour, so she decided to get on the bus. She told me that she knew that Satan was trying to get her to not go to church so she said I had to prove him wrong, and I am not going to let him get in the way of me getting baptized! Can you believe it?! She is such a strong willed woman! I am so grateful we have the opportunity to share the gospel with someone that has been completely prepared by the Lord.

She also came with us to the investigator fireside last night and she loved it. :) We are just trying to get her 2 young sons (12 and 17) to sit in the lessons with us so they can be baptized as a family. Pray for them if you will!

Oh! One more cool thing with Paula. As she was introducing herself in Relief society again yesterday she said, "I'm Paula and I'll be a member on December 8th!" :) We can't wait for her.

 

The Muslim couple we taught last week with a member of the mission presidency came to church as well! Their names are Gona and Sirvan. They are from Iran and we met them in our apartment complex. They are so nice!!! They loved church and they want to keep coming. After church we went to their apartment to teach them again. We taught the Restoration, but it is VERY VERY different teaching people who don't have a background of Jesus Christ. Can you believe not ever knowing your Savior? As we were teaching them yesterday I just felt so sad for all the people around the world who don't have a knowledge of Christ. But Gona and Sirvan accpeted our lesson and they want us to keep coming back. We got them a Book of Mormon in Persian so they can read it in their language. They don't know English very well yet since they have only been here for 1 month, but we're starting an english class for our investigators this week. :) I hope we can help them understand more.... especially at church.

 

Yesterday at church was sooo crazy busy. Sister Moreno and I had to split up and I sat by Gona and Sirvan in sacrament meeting and she sat back by some of the less actives we've been working with and also Daniel. haha It's fun trying to rest on the Sabbath when you're mind is going 1,000 miles an hour trying to think of everyone you need to talk to and things to do. But the busy sundays are the best sundays.... that's when you know it's good!

 

We also had Zone conference last week! It was good! We didn't end up having a general authority come, but it was still good! President Ashton had all of us missionaries prepare talks on, "Lock your Heart" by President Kimball. I guess there have been some missionaries having problems with that.... But Luckily Sister Moreno or I didn't have to speak. :) Sister Moreno told President that I wanted to go Spanish speaking, and he told her that he is going to talk with me about it.... I'm sooo nervous. It would be good to learn, but I really don't know much spanish. We'll see what happens.

 

The thing that stuck out to me the most at Zone conference was to not be stressed. I stress so much. Just about the small things like being exactly on time, doing things the way we are supposed to exactly, and so much more. So Sister Moreno has taught me a lot about relaxing and enjoying life. haha President said something I really liked, "Can you feel the Spirit when you're stressed?" And no, I can't... so I'm going to work on that!

 

Things are going well!! Please let me know if I can do anything for y'all!

 

I love you!

 

Sister Avery

Texas Weather is Crazy!

So on Saturday we had a mission community outreach service project at our church building. All the missionaries went through their apartments and they gave away stuff they didn't need and then we invited less actives, non members, and members who are less fortunate and ALL of the stuff was free. We were outside for about 4 hours and I got soooo sun burnt! haha I couldn't believe how hot it was on November 10th..... But today we are all freezing to death cause it's 60 degrees. Yes, I know that is probably hot for y'all but I am sooo cold! haha It's funny to see how whimpy the people are here with the cold. People are walking around in HUGE down coats and boots.

 

It was cool though because at the service project there was a man named Magic that came. He came and was trying to speak to me.... he is from Iraq and has a hard time speaking english.... but he said he was so impressed with this Christian church that would just give this stuff out for free to those who need it. He told us he wanted to come visit church, and sure enough he came to church on sunday! We are meeting with him tonight to start lessons. :) If we as members of the church just live and act the way our Savior does people notice the difference. I know this service project was inspired by our president for a reason.

 

Anyways, things are going well! We are here at the library and one of our investigators, Daniel-- who is getting baptized in a few weeks, just came up and scared us! haha He is so cool. We are so excited for his progress and the changes he is making in his life right now. He reads the Book of Mormon for 2-3 hours a day and does all of the studies we give him in the backs of the pamplets. I love being able to do missionary work the way it should be done, through the members of the church! The Mennears (the couple that gave us Daniel as a referral) have made all the difference in his progress. On Saturday he came to a baptism with us and the Mennears and he told the bishop there that he is looking forward to his baptism! :)

At church on sunday he participated just like he were already a member of the church, and seriously every time we see him you can literally see a change in his countenace. On Saturday at the baptism he came in with a white shirt and tie, and then on sunday he had a suit on. We could hardly recognize him! Please keep him in y'alls prayers. :)

 

Another investigator who is doing great is named Paula! She is from Camaroon Africa and she has been to church 2 times now, and on Sunday night she came with us to a Relief Society meeting where the stake presidency spoke about covenants. When we got in the car to go home the first thing she asked us is how often we hold baptismal services! :) She loves the people at church, and she knows we as missionaries were sent to her for a purpose. Paula is very prepared!

 

On sunday we saw miracle after miracle happen as we were sitting in sacrament meeting! Sister Moreno and I had 15 less active, non members, and recent converts at church that we've been working with! Our district leader has felt very strong lately that 100 less actives in our ward are ready to come back to church, so we've been on the rescue. By the end of next transfer our goal is to split the ward! We have over 700 on our rolls at church, and only about 250 active, so we'll be busy bringing those lost souls back! I can't wait. I just hope I can stay here to see it happen. I had an interview with President yesterday for my school application and he said I may stay, but he may need me somewhere else.... :( But I'll go where I'm needed.

 

We are teaching some amazing people right now, and it's been so cool to watch their progess. Sister Moreno and I have been talking a lot about how these are the last days. There are signs EVERYWHERE.... but one in particular is that last night we went with President Centeno (a member of the mission presidency) to 2 lessons with muslim investigators! The muslim investigators have to be interviewed by a member of the presidency becuase of the danger they can face from family or people in their home country for changing their beliefs, and so we were able to have him come with us last night. Gona and Sirvan from Iran are both new investigators, and they really want to come to church on sunday and do service with us. We are so excited, and it is so cool to be here in Houston and see the gospel literally being preached to people from every corner of the earth.

 

Tomorrow is zone conference and Sister Moreno and I have been recruited for the mission choir, so we'll be singing at it! We know someone is coming, but they won't tell us who.... Last night when we were at the lessons with President Centeno he just smiled and said, "President showed me the text with the name on it and said for your eyes only!" haha And one of the senior sister missionaries that works in the office told us to look our best. So I'll have to tell y'all next week who it is that is coming. :)

 

Thank you for all that you do for me. I can feel your prayers! I pray for y'all daily and I know the Lord is watching out for you. :)

 

Love you!!!!!

 

Erianne

 

D&C 136:27-33

Happy November!!

November 5, 2012

Can you believe it's November already?! Happy Birthday in a few days mom!!!! I'll be thinking of you. :) I bet it's going to be a sweet birthday with the primary program on your big day. :) Let me know how it goes! And I couldn't help but smile hearing about the R........ family coming back. You are an amazing missionary through your actions. That's one thing I always look up to you for is you aren't so concerned about sitting around Planning how to bring people back, you just go out and do it! THANKS for your example! :) You should be getting something in the mail later this week. :) Oh and thank you for your letter you sent me. It really meant a lot! I have the best mom in the world!

As for the questions you asked.... I won't be with my companion for Christmas (at least I don't think.... it's pretty rare that companions stay 3 transfers together and we're in our 3rd now.) Transfers are on December 12th. 

I think that answers all your questions. :)

Question for y'all..... are we drawing names for Christmas? If so let me know who I have! I need to start looking around for ideas.

How is my family doing? I'm worried about Grandma Avery, it sounds like she isn't doing very well.. They are in my prayers. If you guys go visit soon tell them I love them! Is that where y'all think you'll spend Thanksgiving?

Speaking of Thanksgiving... I'll be spending it with Noo! She invited us over to her house, so that'll be fun.

This week was really good. We didn't find as many investigators as last week, but the work is still moving along. :) We have actually started teaching this guy named Daniel. He is a member Referral! About a month ago the M...... (a family in our ward) had us over for dinner and they invited him over while we were there. He was drunk during dinner so we couldn't take him seriously, and he couldn't take us seriously. Well this past week we went to their house again for dinner and in the car before we went in we prayed we could somehow find someone new to teach (which is funny cause we were just going in for a meal appointment and then leaving) Well when we got out of the car Daniel and his mom were outside their house and so we started talking with them.  Daniel told us he was sorry for being drunk last time we met him. He told us he really does need change in his life, and would love it if we could come visit with him. So we've been teaching him in the M....... home, and he is doing so well! He does all of the scripture studies in the pamphlets we give him and he's been to church twice already. We haven't taught him the word of wisdom yet, but Brother M.........told him about it and he's been living it for the past week! Yesterday in church he introduced himself and said, " I'm Daniel, I've left God for too long in my life but I'm ready to come back!"

Cool huh? We are so grateful to be able to teach someone that is so ready for the gospel, and we're so grateful for the M......... to help us to teach one of their close friends. It's amazing to see how much quicker the work goes when members do their part, and are willing to hold lessons in their home. Then it's not the missionaries who are the only support for the investigator. I love it!

So last week in transfers our area got changed in our ward boundaries since we lost a companionship of missionaries in our ward... now we only have 2 sets of missionaries. So we are no longer teaching the V..........family, C.....and J....... R......., or Kristen and Kye! The elders are now taking them over... So Sister Moreno had to break the news to them last week, but each of them asked if they can write a letter to our mission president to ask if we can keep teaching them. haha So we're going to see what we can do, but I think this happened because we need to find someone who is ready that is in this new area that we got. We'll see!

Last week for Halloween we got to go to our wards trunk or treat and give out candy to the primary kids. They had so much fun! I'm glad that our mission president is allowing us to do things with our ward to support them. We also got to go to the Houston Temple on Saturday and do a grounds tour with the primary. The temple President and his wife spoke to us and then they took us around the temple grounds to explain how the Houston temple came about. It was really neat to be there with some families in the ward we've been working with and to see the kids faces when we pulled up to the temple! J..... Reyes told me he liked it, but he was sad cause he couldn't go inside. He is already counting down the time that he can go in. :)

I'm trying to think what else happened last week.... Hmmmm.

Oh! We found a new Investigator named Paula last week and we only taught her once, but she came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it! She is from Camaroon Africa. We are praying that she will continue to be open.

We'll if there is anything I can do for y'all let me know! I pray for you guys daily. :) Keep my in your prayers... tomorrow I have to give a talk in zone meeting. :/

I love you all soo much!!!

Erianne