Purple Cows and Piojos

So. I found grape juice. Like REAL grape juice. Alcohol Free. I asked the casheir man like 50 times. Are you POSITIVE that there is NO Alcohol?? Yes. Okay. In Portuguese it says noa Alcohol or something like that. I assume Noa means No. :)

And I made a purple cow.

You will NEVER guess what I found in my hair this morning. :) Oh I have about 20 new little buddies called LICE.. I´m pretty positive that my companion had them and that since she sleeps on the top bunk they have made their way down to my head. I shouldn´t accuse her of that but it´s only logical cause I made her check too... and dun dun dun. She´s infected as well. So you BEST believe I bought some lice killing shampoo and spent an hour in the shower picking those ugly little things out of my hair. I think they´re all gone. Just pray that my companion uses the shampoo too.. She thinks it will be fine just combing them all out. aaaaahhhhhh. No.

My camera is in the shop. Hoping I don´t have to buy a new one. :)

And this week just FLEW by. Just incase you want to know, on Thursday I will be having my mission birthday. That´s not weird or anything. I feel like just yesterday I was blasting Brandi in the car on the way to the MTC. Sobbing. Anxiety attack. Begging you to take me back home. But at the same time I don´t even remember if I ever had a life before my lice. (Oh my hell I actually have bugs in my hair. It´s all I can think about. I almost passed out at the sight of the first one and by the 15th I just wanted to scream.)

Anyway. Happy mission birthday to ME!! :) Mom, this means I´m home in 6 months. :) I promise I´m not even the lease bit excited. Jajajaja.

But really the time is just passing me by and it´s kind of starting to freak me out. But luckily the Lord is giving me little reminders of how much I need to get to work. So I honestly have been working my bum off. I am really trying to not let a moment pass by me unused. So on Saturday when I waited an hour at the Familia Veloso´s house for Sergio I almost had another anxiety attack. We actually left and started contacting the neighbors cause I just couldn´t stay sitting and waiting.

I purchased a game of Jenga. The restoration is just not the same without it. Because our investigators can LITERALLY see that the Church of Christ fell and that through Joseph Smith it was RESTORED to it´s Original establishment. It´s incredible to see the light bulb in their brains turn on. oooooo. I get it. yes yes YES! The church is true.

Doctrine and Covenants is like chicken soup for the missionary soul. (Don´t know if I´ve used that reference with yall before or not. :)) But seriously it keeps me going. I love it!! I loved what I studied this morning in Sections 38 & 39.

D&C 38:39 And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.

Part of the difficulties of missionary life is the battle between the will of the Lord and the natural man. The TV is always on. The neighbor is ALWAYS blasting his music. My clothes are getting holy and I want new ones. My camera broke. We wake people up from their naps almost every day. I want a nap too... Sunday is not "sit around and talk with the fam all day" Not on the mission. And I never understood what a blessing it is to have a car. BUT my friends here might have new clothes but lots of times not enough time to remember to pray. He takes a nap but doesn´t even know his neighbor´s name. They have a car but no way to go to church. Watching the futbol game is number 1 priority and the Book of Mormon is collecting dust on the shelf. And I PROMISE you that the Holy Ghost does not speak to us through rap or dubstep.

The Lord knew what He was doing sending me here. So that I could learn to live without the "necessities materiales of life." So that I will be able to use the luxuries that life has to offer-- more wisely. :) May we all focus a little more on Heavenly things. Look at the eternal perspective. And inherit the riches of eternity. :)

This weekend we had stake conference. And basically it was all about the Obra Misional. Why do you think that the Lord has put so much focus on sharing the gospel? I´ve learned that basically there are 2 purposes to this life.

1. Saving ourselves.

2. Saving everyone else.

What is going to be of the most worth in the life to come? Think aobut it. and call your local missionaries.

We´ve got to share the love. One of the members of the Stake Presidency told a story about his friend from work. This friend always asked him why he didn´t drink or smoke or party. Why he didn´t work on sundays... Everything. Basically he had the perfect missionary opportunity but he didn´t take it. He NEVER told his friend about the church. And then.. years later, newly married, his wife took him to meet one of her friends. And guess who the friend´s husband was?? President Jarra´s friend. And guess what the ONLY thing he said was?

Why did you NEVER tell me?

The Sunday session was broadcasted. Elder Bednar spoke about repentance. If you´re not doing your missionary work. Repent. I loved his example about a surgeon. Would we ever be dumb enough to do a major sugery on ourselves? NO. Repentance is the same. We can´t do it alone.

2Nephi 31:13

Mosiah 4:10

Moroni 6:8

Our intentions must be real. We must always repent by having  true, real, lasting change of heart. Or else it doesn´t count.

I love the Atonement. I love the gift of Repentance. I love seeing the way it changes lives. Like with Diego.

I got hit by a ton of bricks this week. Diego is our new friend. He came to church on his own last week and at first I thought he was just some crazy kid from the street that I would never end up teaching. He asked a lot of weird contradicting questions and confused me a lot. But come to find out. He´s golden. He´s 14 and a recovering drug addict. Poor thing. But he has chosen to turn his life around and acercarse mas a Dios. He is repenting. He is using the Atonement. We have been so excited with Diego. He loves visiting with us. The youth in the world LOVE visiting him and everyone has just been babying him really. We all are so invested in helping Diego because we just love him so much really. He is so special and I only want the best for him and his family. Well his mom goes to another church. And of course, she takes her kids with her. This week the pastor confused Diego. Told him that the Mormons talk about God but that their teachings are the teachings of men. He told us that he was confused and pulled out a bunch of bible scriptures to try and throw us off. And honestly, my heart broke. It´s been a while since I have really so completely had a witness from the spirit that the church is true. As I testified to Diego of the truth of the gospel. The truth of the restoration. Of the Book of Mormon. and of all that I believe. I know that the church is true.

Jesus Christ is REAL. Our Heavenly Father is REAL. The Holy Ghost is REAL. Christ lives. and He loves us each and every one.

Hermana Rupe

Jenga

I´m all better now.

I know what made me sick too. So last Sunday we ate asado.. Barbeque. And we all dipped our meat in this yummy salty lemon sauce. Then I asked Hermano Almada how he marinates his meant. In lemon with lots of salt. ALLLLLLLLL night long. I probably got ECOLI or something. 

Then we went over last night and they gave us some fish soup and told me that if I ate an orange afterward I would get sick. No.... It doesn´t work that way. I´m basically never going to have a problem with fast food again. :) 

This week FLEW by. Probably because we had so much fun. Missionary work is supposed to be fun. Because when I have fun, I want to keep going. I want to talk to more people. I want to work work work. And it doesn´t even kill me.

 I love these scriptures in Helaman 10:

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

 5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

 6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

I thought a lot about these scriptures this week and about what it means to work with unwearyingness. 

Because it doesn´t mean NOT thinking about home. Or NEVER being tired. It doesn´t mean literally running to every lesson or ending a lesson on the dot at the 30 minute mark. 

I figured out that for me to work Unwearingly, I have had to give up a lot of things that I want for the things that the Lord wants. BUT not EVERYTHING. Because the Lord is totally fine with the way I do a lot of things. We get along pretty well He and I. And He has given me the gift of knowing how to have fun. And I found it hidden away this week.

"What you do speaks so loud that I can not hear what you say." -- Ralph Keyes

We got super creative and ended up teaching a lesson to an entire cuadra of people. We wanted to teach some girls a lesson with the cup game. (3 cups and 3 knives?) It teaches unity. Hope you´ve seen it!! If not, look it up. And their parents wouldn´t let us in their houses, so we thought fine, let´s do it in the street... and basically the whole block ended up coming to see what craziness we were working up. We ended up leaving with 2 or 3 people to go back and visit. And we handed out a million pass along cards. These people love anything free. :)

I also spent some time in Rama 3 with Hermana Percival and Hermana Houtz. We are now teaching the Restoration with Jenga.

We had an up in assistencia yesterday. 85 people came and we were even missing a bunch!! We had 5 investigators come as well yesterday. It was incredible. And the majority came with members!!

Andrea is getting baptized next week. She got a blessing this week and her mom is finally giving her permission to be baptized. She is so cute and so prepared!!

We also had a very powerful lesson with Juan Almada yesterday. His mom is basically crazy. and doesn´t leave him alone about how he is friends with the devil. But we taught him about prayer. How we are going to stop bugging him about going to church and reading the scriptures. He knows better. But we are going to ask him if he´s praying. Because by prayer, the other things will come. We talked about how he can pray in any moment and that when he feels sad or mad or upset, Prayer is the answer. The spirit was so strong. And he offered the most beautiful prayer to end the lesson.

The church is true. Christ leads it. I love being a missionary because I love feeling the spirit every day. And I love helping other people to feel it too. I love how my Heavenly Father´s hand is so visible in every day. And that He is guiding me and leading me to the people that need Him and His Son. And that by following his guidance, He helps me to be closer to Christ as well.

xoxo

Hermana Rupe

no pictures again. camera broke. ;(

“We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us. …

“‘… Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … , ye have done it unto me’ [Matthew 25:40].”2 -- President Monson

Stayin' Alive

That´s playing on the radio right now. And it´s totally appropriate.. These people really love America. 

Ready for some laughs?? So I´m sick right? Like I´ve been throwing up all day. It has been pretty horrible. Sadie, I feel your pain just a little bit. Hang in there babe. Go to the farmacy. Like I did. I asked for some drops that are supposed to calm your stomach. And I took them right there in the Pharmacy. And holy NASTY. They made me throw up. So the pharmacy lady tells me to run to the bathroom. So I´m running to the bathroom trying not to throw up all over all of the medicine and I made it. With ZERO time to spare. But I made it. And I guess... As I was Throwing up all of the contents of my stomach, The ladies in the front of the pharmacy start talking.. And guess what they were talking about??

THAT I HAVE GOT TO BE PREGNANT??

Did you not see my name tag? We have got to get preaching the gospel to these people. First, our old dueño thought we were living with the Elders that were here before us and NOW the cute little grandmas think I have morning sickness.

I think NOT.

Am I really that fat??

Ha anyway. That gave us a few laughs for the whole day.

This week has been great.

I love my companion a ton. Hermana Juarez. 21 years old. From Peru (I just like the Peruanas) But she lives in Santiago CHILE!! So that´s been fun. :) I don´t think she lives in Corb´s mission but still... She is such a sweet heart-- on the days that Hermana Cuevas doesn´t call me. Ha She hates that... but I just miss my ALEX so darn much. We are getting along really well though and working really hard. It´s been really good for me to have someone to keep me going!! She helps me be better and I think that I help her too. We´re just working on having more inicitave to do things without me asking her. Ha...

WE MOVED!! Apartments. We used to live right next to the freeway on the 5th floor and it KILLED us. And the birds pooped all over our clothes when we hung them out to dry. Well on my companion´s clothes. Poor thing.

You should have seen the help that we received. It was like Noche de Barrio. I swear just about the whole ward came!! It was incredible.

We are seeing lots of fun miracles everyday.

Like this week we made a contract with Richard and Yiseli to read AT LEAST 2 pages of the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY and I promised to do the same in Spanish and Hermana Juarez is reading in English. Well.... The scriptures are TRUE because Richard came to church this week. BY HIMSELF. Miracles.

So I have now restarted the Book of Mormon in Spanish for the 5th time. Ha I love Nephi!! He is such an example of obedience and diligence. And I love how the Book of Mormon teaches us that if we obey, the Lord WILL bless us.

Lourdes and her brother Juan came too for the first time in FOREVER. And they were so happy and grateful that we have been helping them.

Yesterday was my companion´s birthday and we ate with the Familia Almada. At least 5 families wanted to give us lunch yesterday. And we got 2 cakes!!

I love having members that are so excited to help with missionary work!

This week we met Nicole. I think it was this week. She is the friend of Vanessa Veloso. And I love them both so much. We had such a powerful lesson with them about our Individual Worth. 

Remember the Worth of Souls is great in the sight of God.

And we talked about The Atonement. And how Christ loves her so much. He sacrificed His life for HER. It was incredible to see how the spirit spoke through us and that we were able to help her to understand her worth. She came to church too.

We met Carolina who we taught about Baptism. She asked US if she could be baptized.

It´s incredible the work of Salvation. 

I love being a missionary so much. It is so incredible to be able to see the way the gospel changes people´s lives. It´s been a long week but one of the best of my mission.

The cherry on top came in the form of a telephone call on FRIDAY.

The asistents went to Marcos´ baptism in CB and they called me. But it wasn´t them talking. It was HIM!! Oh goodness you have no idea how happy that made me. I asked him if he was wet.. and he said, nope not anymore. Ha but he was so happy and so PERFECT!! I could hear the light of Christ in his voice. And he told me that the church is true in English!!

Even though I couldn´t be there, I am so happy for the part that I have had the opportunity to play in Marcos´ life and in the lives of these people. I know that it´s not me doing the work. But by me being willing to succumb to the will of our Heavenly Father. He has been able to use me as a tool in His hands.

And we can all be tools in His hands.

I have really learned this week that I am NOT strong enough to be doing this. I have had to really rely on my Savior and His spirit to guide me and to keep me going. And the thing that has helped me the most is the way I have been able to feel His love for me this week.

It´s been amazing to see that as I have prayed to have the ability to love these people even though I´ve left parts of my heart in so many places, The Lord just keeps giving me more love to share. It is incredible the Love that He has for us.

I know that the church is true!! That it is lead by Jesus Christ Himself and that He lives to help us here as we bring more souls unto Him. 

xoxo

Hermana Rupe

No pictures this week cause my camera died and I had to buy a new charger. But next week I promise!!

Incredible is my favorite word. Can you tell that my English vocabulary is GONE??

Santa Ana: I got Robbed!

I´m in a ward.

And they are stealing my heart... ha.

A HUGE ward. Well I think it´s huge. They all say it´s tiny but we had fetching 70+ people come to church yesterday. That´s more than I´ve seen since I left Utah.

Basically this ward has been in existence for about 30 years. And wanna know a secret?

They have NEVER ever ever NEVER had sister missionaries.

We´re making history here in Santa Ana.

And I am SO overwhelmed. Like way too overwhelmed. The members are WAY too excited to have sisters. Everyone wants to have Family Night with us. Like EVERYONE We have at least 6 families fighting over us. Everyone has at least 4 references for us of family members who aren´t members or their children who are living with someone and just need to get married and baptize their spouse. That was a long sentence.. Everyone wants us to visit their sister.. or their mom. or their brother or their kids or their neighbor... or this person that works with them. It´s like HEY LET´S SHARE THE GOSPEL. That´s what I´m here for. Ha.

And I am used to having to BEG for references. And just roaming the streets looking for people to talk to. And now I don´t even know how to manage my time. Too many people. The streets don´t have names. And not enough time.

BUT. Dun dun dun.

All of the people who want to help us have cars. So that´s super nice. And they feed us EVERYDAY. That has never happened before...

We have to be home by 7:00 because the members are super extra protective of us and they don´t want us to get robbed... and there has only been 1 night so far that we had to walk home. All of the other nights we´ve had a ride. Pretty sweet right??

I really miss my ramita with 10 people though. My Lidia. Hna Cuevas. I was so used to it there and so in love with my people. So you get to look at all of my pictures of saying good bye and there are a few at the bottom from my new area.

We went to play volleyball as a zone today and Hermana Primo was there. I love her so much. She told me I´m her favorite companion. And she is still mine.

I´ve learned a lot though this week. About Heavenly Father. And His plan. I know He loves us. He´s like a protective father.

And I kind of feel like I´m 13 again. 7:00 Curfew. (and they took away my leadership status.. no longer an HLC) No more phone priviledges. You can´t go to el centro de Ciudad Del Este this week cause you´re grounded...

I´m funny. But I have been studying in Nephi again. Like really studying about him. And I love him. Remember when God commands him to build a ship. But God, I´m not a ship builder. Do it. Okay.

But God, I´m not good at working like this. Do it.

Okay.

Remember when Laman and Lemuel tie him up?. Nephi doesn´t complain. He just says, "The Lord did suffer it that He might show forth His power unto the fulfilling of His word which He had spoken concerning the wicked."

I would be crying. But Nephi knew that the Lord had a purpose.

There is purpose in everything that He does.

Like sending me here to meet cute little 12 year old Yiseli. Who is so happy to help us whenever we want. And her brother Richard who came to church for the first time in MONTHS. Because the sisters woke him up. And we made his mom cry.

I love my new friend Lourdes who hasn´t been to church in a LONG time either. But she is so excited to help us as well and to come back this week.

We met Sergio. Our fun investigator who has a metallica belt buckle. He loves the teachings of the church and we are helping him to be able to strengthen his testimony until he can be baptized. 

A crazy inactive member came to church yesterday because we actually took the time to listen to her crazy parabolas and show her that we love her. 

A cute girl named Marisel gladly gave us directions the other day and happily accepted our invitation to come to church. She didn´t come... but we´ll go back. :)

These people really are incredible and I just pray everyday that the Lord can give me part of my heart back so that I can keep giving it to these people. I´m tired. My feet hurt. I´m lost and my brain hurts. 

But I love serving my Heavenly Father. Because by serving Him, I have been able to better come to know the Love that He has for me and for ALL of His children. And I love helping so that more of His children can feel of that love too. I love helping them to be able to see the purpose of change and the purpose of this life.

 D&C 29:4 Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing, as with the voice of a trump.

 5 Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.

This is the work of the Lord. It´s a glad cause.

And someday, He will give us part of His kingdom. I know it. :)

Hermana Rupe