Un Otro Semana en Cielo :)

Hola Familia!!!

I am in St. Peter for another transfer with Hermana Jones! That means we are celestial companeras and you will be able to meet her! This week was amazing as each week is here in the Minnesota, I literally am in paradise! I heard Utah is getting lots of rain, so are we...I pretty much smell like wet dog every where I go because of the goose feathers in my coat hahah but other than that its great and a lot better than snow!!

This week something weird happened... we were knocking on doors and found a man named Guy Gustaven and he apparently got baptized back in '65. He said he keeps moving to hide form us but we somehow always find him. We found a random less active that no one knows about but I don't think he's going anywhere. At least we got to share our testimonies and remind him of what once touched his heart!!

This past week I had been specifically praying to find a family to teach as well and me and Hermana Jones doing the same thing together. I had prayed to find a family by 6 pm on Wednesday night and by Wednesday we still hadn't found one. Right before dinner (which is at 5) we found them! The mother's name is Isabell. She is super nice and welcoming to all people who predicar. So we were able to teach her and learn that she had been looking for a church for her and her family to attend and for her kids to be baptized into! She also said before we knocked she was praying and then there we were standing at her door. The Lord is so cool and its amazing to see how he uses his servants! I am super excited to teach them and hope everything goes well. This week we did a lot of finding and we were blessed from it. Hopefully I will have some more updates on the people we found next week! One person we found his name is Mario. We were in a gas station parking lot looking at a map in Le Sueur and some Hispanics pull up next to us... because we are always doing weird uncomfortable things we rolled down our window and started a conversation. They were really shocked we spoke Spanish hahaha. We got Mario's friends number and said we would stop by there apartment later on. So we did this week and Mario was so interested. His family is back in Mexico but he says he wants to share his knew knowledge with them too! It made me so incredibly happy. Every time I teach its just the best thing ever. If there is ever anything that's hard in the day after I get to teach again everything better. Its like a cure, service, work and love! It is amazing to see how safe-guarded I have been my whole life. This week we taught Kristy again. She has had some serious challenges throughout her life. Listening to her talk and watching her cry and the pain she had really made me just want to cry for her. It was super sad to see how torn down her soul is. All I can think everyday is how blessed I am. We truly are so blessed to know what we know and for the families we have. In that lesson I really was praying the whole time for the spirit and to know what to say. As I opened my mouth I knew what I was saying was not coming from me. I felt empowered and the spirit so strong. It was truly amazing to be placed in her life in her time of need. The message we share can heal EVERY soul. The gospel of Jesus Christ his atoning sacrifice can heal everything in life that we cannot. I am so grateful for this matchless gift of love.

Some funnies from the week, a Hispanic man we teach named Cipriano he told us he has two questions for us. The first was do you smoke marijuana? and the second was Are you aloud to marry someone like me? hahahah you can imagine me and Hermana jones thought process we assured him we don't smoke and the other question we tried to mull over. Another thing that I have learned on my mission is how much love I have for the missionaries from our church but not for the missionaries of others churches...you can imagine who I am talking about. Haha so we teach a lot in trailer parks because of the Hispanic population there. This week as we were driving through it we see a good 6 Jehovah witnesses getting out of a van. They were all Hispanic. Ugh! It was so frusterating because Hispanics love Hispanics and even more so they love them if they compartir la palabra de dios (share the word of god). We got out of there so we didn't have a run in with them haha and just said a prayer that our investigators will not be confused hahah.

I love you all so much and most importantly I am growing a stronger love for my savior. I know he lives and loves us and will guide us by the hand if we allow him to.

Keep up your reading in the book of Mormon and always pray. We really can't afford not to everyday! Have a great week and thank you for your support!

XOXOXO
Hermana Pentelute

Pictures:

1. Lesson action shot from Elvias daughter Josie

2. Gaspar

3. Kristene she is the coolest.

   

An Unexpected text!!!

I got this adorable picture during Carter's baseball game on Saturday and then again during Church on Sunday. It is so fun to have my day brightened by a smile from my missionary!!!

This is what the text said: 

Hol@! I m eduardo  im amigo to pentelupe y jones sisters. Amen.

Next day text:  

Hola! Happy Easter im eduardo amigo de pentelute & jones

LOVIN' IT!!!!!

Not My Way, But the Lord's.

Hola Familia!!

What a beautiful Easter we had yesterday! I truly felt the spirit so strong as we sang songs and talked about what our savior sacrificed for all of us. The video "Because of him" if you have not seen it yet I suggest you watch it. I watched many many times as we shared it with our investigators and each time we did I felt the spirit so strong. What I love about it is that it is souly about our savior and other people from different faiths can relate to it and see what we really do believe. Oh and p.s. it was like 70 degrees here yestserday!!!

I bet you are dying to know about Gaspar...So this Tuesday was his scheduled baptism and Tuesday afternoon we get a call from him around 3 and immediately knew it couldn't be good. So he told us that he has a problem and that problem is that his parents don't think he is ready to be baptized and they are mad at him for his choice. His parents live in Guatemala but they are still very close. So this scared him and he doesn't want to be baptized and put a wedge between him and his family. The hardest part is, is that he says he knows he is ready for himself and he still wants to be baptized he just cant do it right now. I have never prayed harder in my life than on that phone call to know the right things to say and to be able to understand him even though it was over the phone. We prayed with him on the phone and had him pray as well. We did everything we could think of to help him and for him to be excited and know he is ready. He is ready and he is prepared Satan just works sooooo hard. I really never would have thought this would happen but its not my way but the Lords! I have peace knowing that Heavenly Father knows better than me and he has a perfect plan for Gaspar. I will keep you updated but as for now just pray for him! With one of the hardest days on my mission (maybe the hardest) came SO many miracles. First of all we got dinner from an investigator we weren't even planning on so we didn't have to cook for ourselves. Also we felt so much love from our ward and support even though we had to cancel last minute. It was amazing to see how much people really care. And then we get a call from a recent convert saying he has a friend and he told him we would be over that night at 6 to teach him! And so even though we had no plans for the night the Lord gave us a referral and we were able to teach the man with the convert! It was amazing and I also found a quarter (laundry money!!) And then our mission leader called us up and offered to go teaching with us to Talitha and her fam and it was just an all and all amazing night but definitely a roller coaster!!

Marvel...he is the other atheist we found and this is an awesome story. So we were driving by this man and I saw that he was Hispanic so I immediately waved and smiled! He looked really happy and waved thinking he maybe knew me haha. So we were driving with the Calytons and Elder Clayton said should I pull over and I was like yes! So we pulled over and just started talking we got his address and phone number! We went back to teach him and it was a great lesson. The next time we went back he had read almost all of 1st nephi, no one ever does that! And he said he believes its true. He has never prayed before in his life because he doesn't believe in that but said he would! Also he walked into church this sunday with his translation on and a big smile on his face and I have never had so much happiness. It was amazing! And a miracle!

Funny story...so we go to this apartment and it is a lock out and so we cant always get in and have to knock and ring and things like that. Well this Samalin came up to us because we were waiting at the door and he said ahh you guys really need to figure out how to get in here. So he taught us how to get in the building with a car key even if its locked hahahahah we felt like criminals but we are Hermanas...also a little scary to know people just know how to get into locked doors but I do too now! We have been teaching this lady named Sheila birdbear and she recently got surgery on her foot. During our lessons she will just get up and start doing these exercises and stretches and the first time I almost burst out in laughter because I didn't know what was going on! She has been doing better at sitting still :) Last thing! I taught a women pastor for the first time this week! It was very interesting but cool. She had two cats that were attacking me for some reason and so by the time we got out of her house I was a walking fur ball which attracts other animals to come and smell you so you can just imagine how loved I was that day hahah

Well I love you all so much and hope you guys continue to share the gospel! I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and because he lives so will we :)

Have a Fabulous week!!!!!

LOVE XOXOXO
Hermana Pentelute

 Gustavus Campus it looks like Old Main up at Utah State & next to it a building we call Provo temple, looks just like it! 

Also me and my comp on Easter Sunday.

At the Couples house we are teaching Cecilia and Zenitha!

Miracle Lane

Hola bonita Familia!

GASPAR IS GETTING BAPTIZED TOMORROW!!!!! We are so excited for gaspar, the lord always provides away for his children to return to him. I can't believe its actually happening after all the fasting and prayers he's here and he is going to make the greatest little missionary sometime soon! :)

So this week there were many miracles like always... first of all I have always been a little scared to teach atheists because it is just plain awkward talking about God when they don't even believe he exists! So I prayed to have help in overcoming this fear as you could call it so I could be better and Heavenly Father answered my prayer! This week we were able to teach 3 Atheists the restoration and I invited them all to baptism! They all three are our investigators now. Amazing huh? So Chase is the first one, he is a student here at Gustavus (a Lutheran college we go contacting at) and he was such a nice person! So we taught him and I was a little nervous but I just let the Lord guide me through and I knew I needed to be bold even though we have different beliefs (well not for long;)) haha and so the lesson went great and by the end we always invite them to pray and so of course we invited him to do the same. Strangely enough he accepted! I was SO happy!!! Here is someone we just met who doesn't believe in God and there he is praying to God. I know it was a miracle and we were meant to find him that day. I will just tell you about one more, his name is Regis. He is a funny guy with a HUGE dog I mean he is my size. He said that he would listen to our message because it is something "we have to share" haha so of course we shared the restoration and he said that if it was true he would be baptized. He also said that any thing is possible and we were like yes it is all you need to do is experiment!!! We are so excited to go back and teach him more, at the end he said "you know the dog is never this good maybe its a sign from god" haha yup Regis that is exactly what it is! So exciting.

So another exciting thing that happened was Travis received an answer that the book of Mormon is true and I finished the book of Mormon this week!!! I know it is true with my whole heart and it is essential to our wellbeing! It really is the word of God. Anyways so Travis, he said he's been praying to know if its true and one day he was just walking and he thought to himself I need to read the book of Mormon! So then he was watching tv and he said he had this feeling where he just wanted to read the book more than watch tv! He said how could it not be true if I wanted to read it more than watch tv! And so he's been reading and is doing great! Also, he loves the book of Mormon so much that he has been reading it on break at work with his co-workers what a good little missionary already huh?!

The work is truly hastening here in st. peter! Another ward has opened up in Lakeville all Spanish speaking!! So awesome. The stake presidency said that everyone deserves to hear the gospel in their native tongue and I was just filled with the spirit when they said that, its amazing this opportunity to speak Spanish and this week I did really well. The Lord is blessing me soo much I felt like I really could understand what the people were saying better and im just being blessed in my efforts. It's so cool. 

Missionary work is so awkward but always ends up good-here's a little glimpse: So we are tracting knocking doors Saturday afternoon and everyone is out because its beautiful! We start talking to everyone and we literally were going from person to person doing the same thing we did with the person right next door teaching the restoration. It was so awkward because they had seen us doing the same thing we were now doing with them to every other person haha but you just have to get over that and share share share! It was an awesome experience though and we got 3 new investigators from it all Spanish speaking! I LOVE the Spanish culture and people they are so accepting to the palabra de dios (word of god)!!! 

I love you all so much and was filled with SO much happiness to hear that cole is a national champion! WOW what an amazing accomplishment. He is such a little star.

I hope you all have an amazing week and take time to reflect this Easter on our savior and his infinite love he has for all of us. He is truly the reason we are here living the reason we are able to have hope and happiness. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the only begotten son and because of him we are forever blessed. He lives!!!!!!

Love, Hermana Pentelute

XOXOX

The pictures:  
1. Jay'cion the cutest little baby ever. (pictures don't do justice)
2. Me and my comp went to Elagave today so this is a picture of our wonderful food made by Gaspar!!
3. Me and Hermana Jones with Marcial a less active, Isidiro and Jacinto both investigators at a cottege meeting! 

             

Hola Familia!

Another week out here in beautiful Minnesota! Didn't you just love conference? We are so lucky to get to hear exactly what God wants us to through his servants!! I loved every aspect of it. I thought a big theme was not being afraid to stand alone! I think this is so applicable with the world we are in today but as we stand up for what we believe and share what we know we can change the world! One of my very favorite things that was said was from Elder Holland "Christ-like love can change the world" I think this is so simple and so beautiful. As we love those around us we will want to serve them and share what makes us happy. Charity is the pure love of Christ and we all should strive to be like our savior! I was able to listen to the Sunday  morning session in Spanish, it was definitely different but amazing that I could still understand what was being said. It was cool to know I could understand what half of the world can! And Gaspar was watching it with us, I was so happy he got to see the prophet speak! Speaking of Gaspar, he is so ready for baptism. We are sooooo excited for him. We taught him this week and we had one last commandment to teach him. Obeying and honoring the law. Something that I have always looked at as maybe not as significant as the others (word of wisdom, chastity). As we taught him about obeying and honoring the law he brought up a concern. Since he is here in the United States without documentation he was a little nervous and expressed concern because he wants to live the laws of God. He is a great person just trying to make a living and he can do that here. It was really crazy to hear his story about trying to get here to the United States. He had tried so many times and had been caught and sent home. This last time he was trying to cross the border he got put into a detention center. He said there he prayed to God and said if it was what he was supposed to do he would be let out and into the states and if he wasn't he would know its Gods will. Well Here he is 8 months later and about to be baptized into the church of Christ. I know that's why he is here to accept the gospel! He may have never had that chance in Guatemala! Anyways back to the story about teaching... Here I stood humbled as always, the Lord knows all things. He makes all commandments for us for a reason. They are inspired and can help us to be the people we want to be. The inspiration of the Lord is outstanding, truly what we are asked to teach comes directly from our father and each has a significant purpose in our lives and the lives of our investigators. I now have a testimony of the importance of obeying all of God's laws to the best of our ability and never taking anything he says for granted!

I want to tell you about one of the coolest people I have ever met. Her name is Talitha! She is from Chicago. She is so awesome. I think awesome is one of her favorite words too. She absolutely loves us. She calls us her girls. She has the cutest son named jay'cion. We just love him and she always talks about how he likes the pretty ladies (us and he is only 1) She is going through a lot in her life right now and we are just trying to help her see that the gospel will bring her the happiness the lasting happiness she is looking for. One quick funny story. We were with her the other day and her sister called, she answered it and put it on speaker phone. Her sister just started rambling and talitha is sitting there saying in a black ladies voice "she just don't know when to stop even if I have company she just keeps going and going" So she is saying all this as shes holding the phone and then all the sudden she just says WOW and the sister is like yeah I know right? And just continues it made me and my comp laugh because she had no idea what she was talking about but the wow seemed to fit what she was saying.

Well the work is great out here I am happier than ever! Sorry I didn't have as much time to write this week but I will write more next week! Keep looking for miracles everyday because the Lord truly blesses us in all things. I know that Christ is our Savior and he is the Redeemer of the world. I know through him we can have eternal life.

I love you all!!!!!

XOXOX

Hermana Pentelute

P.S. Good Luck COLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures:
1. Stacey's Banana Bread recipe -success!!