Hola de Hermana, 5-11-12

Hola mi familia asombrosa!!!

I can hardly believe how fast time is flying.  today I realized I only

have three more transfers left, and that is a fairly GAH!!!  thought.

Today as a zone we went to El Rio Blanco.  40 minutes in bus each way,

and we were so cramped there were (shhh) elders riding on top of the

bus, but the two hours we had to smell the pine trees and hear the

crashing water and smell FRESHNESS was balm for my spirit.  I am so

glad I am not serving in a city city, and so grateful there are small

opportunities to feel like I can enjoy the beauty God creates.

This week we worked so hard and met some high goals.  More important

than the numbers were those moments when we felt the Spirit and knew

we had really been angels for the people, whether they were members or

investigators.  I feel more content with what we are doing and perhaps

more importantly, who I am being.

Can you also contact Sister Whitesides, my institute teacher from

Logan?  She’s in my gmail contact list.  Once during a special IWA

Christmas Fireside she shared a powerful parable of a man who didn’t

understand why God would send His Son to earth to save man.  Later he

wanted to save some crows from a cold winter night, but the crows were

afraid of him and he wished he could be a crow so that they wouldn’t be

afraid and let him help him.  And then he heard Christmas bells

ringing, and he began to weep, understanding why God would send His

Son to save man.  I would love to receive that story so I can

translate it into Spanish.  It was beautiful.

November 1 was Dia de los Santos, or Day of the Dead.  Here in

Guatemala people go to the cemeteries and decorate the graves, and

those who can afford it pay for men to play huge marimbas in front of

the graves.  It the Birthday of all those who have died.  So we took

family history group sheets into the cemetery and tried contacting

with them for the very first time.  It was fun, the marimbas were

AWESOME,  and we have a visit Wednesday to help some young adult women

with their records.  I had fun telling people we have a line that goes

back to the 800s in France to a prince.  Even though I never found

someone to do the work for in my two family history institute classes,

I’m so glad I took them.

Hermana V and I both feel more settled.  This week when I

needed a way to feel love, I reread 1 John chapters 3 and 4 in the

Bible.  They are some of my favorites.  If anyone needs a love boost,

they are a perfect read.

One morning this week I was gratefully surprised to feel the Spirit

when I didn’t feel worthy of it.  As I read ch 4 in Preach My Gospel,

I was touched by remembering that a returned missionary at USU told us

that he had wondered on his mission how he could know if he was

applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in his life.  Elder Henry B

Eyring came to his mission and said, You can know you are applying the

Atonement of Jesus Christ in your life when you feel the Spirit.  We

feel the gifts of the Spirit as we repent. I testify that no matter

how many times we make mistakes or sin, we are never too low to apply

the Atonement in our lives.  We can always repent, and thus feel the

Love of God and the Spirit.  They love us so much, and often, they are

just waiting for us to drop our natural sinful ways and turn to them

so that we may have them in us.

I love you so much Family!  I testify you are all children of a

perfect and perfectly loving Heavenly Father, and He LOVES you!!!

During missions we have the blessed opportunity to really be angels

for other people and help them know and feel God.  Please pray for

Dunia.  Pray that the families we teach this week, especially Carlos

and Leti, will feel the Spirit testify that our message is true.

Please pray that we’ll have the courage to do hard things.

I LOVE YOU TONS!  Seek the inspiration you need to fulfill your

personal missions!  I am so proud of you and so deeply grateful FOR

you!!!

Hermana Ivy [-]

PS Mom, I have been astounded how many people from Honduras are here!

My comp, Dunia, Carlos and Leti, Hna D, and her friend Carmencita

we are trying to teach.  I love knowing you gave a special heritage

from Honduras to me!  I give these people your love!