SUN! [Letter 68]

Well its that time again and the sun has come out. I don´t know why but I love it! Dos Hermanas is doing great. We are working hard and seeing great things in the ward but also in the work. They finally announced that the new chapel will have its ground breaking this next month. everyone is really excited. I´m sorry that I don´t have a ton of time to write today. But I would love to leave you with my testimony. I know that this is the work of the Lord. That He has a purpose and a time for everything. I know that He loves us and looks after us. He holds us when we cry and laughs with us when we are having good clean fun. I know that this is His chruch. He directs it through a prophet today like He has done since the time of Adam. I am grateful for the opportunity to be called one of His servants and to see His hand in the work everyday. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!!!!!

love,
Hermana Petru

REAL LIFE [Letter 67]

Dear Family,

Well it has been a really good week. Seriously, after about half a transfer of prayers to find a person prepared to act in the gospel we were handed a wonderful young lady. Let me start from the beginning. Wednesday morning we went a knockin. And seriously nothing. So my companion was like well lets head to a less active so the whole morning isn´t a waste. As we started out no joke a member jumped out of his car ran over and declared (translated) "Sisters I have someone that wants to hear the learn about the Book of Mormon. Here is her name, number and address. I told her you would call this afternoon." After he jumped back in his car and left my companion and I looked at each other with gaping mouths. "did that seriously just happen?" I thought. "must be a fluke." Well that afternoon we called and she said that she was expecting our call and that we could come over later that week. No seriously family MIRACLE! We have taught her twice now and she is amazing. Catia is a single mother and has been looking for the true church most of her adult life. She has studied with many churches but hasn´t felt it to be right yet. She loves that we ask her to ask God if we teach the truth. She is use to other churches trying to use reason. She is progressing, loves the Book of Mormon and wants to learn everything. She has amazing questions. I am so excited for her!

Also this week I learned something amazing.I was reading in the Bible in the part where Jesus forgives the sins of the palsy man and then the pharasis ask how he has the power to that. Jesus responds that is it easier to tell a man you sins are forgiven or to arise and take up his bed. Jesus then heals the man.(Matt 9:2¨-8) As I pondered this lesson something amazing happen. I remembered the scripture in 2 Nephi 2:26 "And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given." and 27 "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and ternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

In this act Christ was showing His power to heal. He was explaining that we are freed from the vices of sin not only physically but also spiritually through His Atonement. I testify that Jesus is the Christ. I know that He has risen with healing in His wings. He loves and fights for us daily. He wants us to find freedom and joy. But also as these scriptures explain it is our choice. We can choose to follow His commandments and thereby freedom and eternal life. He exhorts us to follow and obey but it comes down to us to take up our cross and follow. I know that it isn´t easy. I am there with you but I also have felt, seen and know that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Come unto Him I pray and you will experience joy I testify. I love you all and pray that you see miracles this week.

Love,
Hermana Petru

Hello! [Letter 66]

BOO!
 okay couldn´t find a new way to greet so that's what you get.

Life is going really well here in Spain. The sun has finally come out and we are enjoying it until it becomes the bane of our existence. The work is moving forward and miracles abound. Seriously I don´t know if ya´ll get sick of the miracles. I never do. God does not cease to amaze me. This week we were really struggling for new investigators. Like every week. but it was Saturday morning and the rest of the weekend was going to be spent in travel and watching General Conference (we´ll get to that). So we prayed. No joke. Right before Companionship study a member called and gave us the name of a less active that would like to come back to church and was expecting us to drop by with a Book of Mormon. The member said she is a mother of 3. Well all of our plans fell through for Saturday morning and off we went to meet our reference. Yes the mother wants to come back to church. She wants the amazing blessing promised by the Savior for her family. Her oldest is 11, then 8 then 1. The 11 year old is excited for church and is unbaptized. NEW INVESTIGATOR!!! Seriously the Lord has His hand in everything. I truly can´t thank Him enough. Thank you for all your prayers.

Next GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!  one word  AWESOME!!! truly awe inspiring. It was wonderful. Everyone got something out of it. I don´t know how the Lord does it truly. Everyone around the world gets personal revelation, missionaries get revelation for thier area, investigators. Seriously it is never ending. Also I loved Sister Dalton´s Talk. and President Monson´s. and Elder Bednar´s. Okay I loved it all! I still haven´t heard Sunday night because of the time difference but I have it downloaded and already on a pin drive. I want to hear from everyone their favorite part so let me know! I love you all!!! May the Spirit be with you.

love,
Hermana Petru

BOO YYYAAAAAA!! [Letter 65]

HOLA MIS QUERIDOS!!

Well it has been another great wet week here in Spain. Yes it rained EVERY DAY here this passed week but it was wonderful. We had a great specialized training in Sevilla. Which means that we had 8 HERMANAS in our flat overnight. We have 2 beds and one couch and of course only ONE BATHROOM! now that was fun. It really was because Hermana Roderick and Hermana Nelson were both able to come. I love talking to those girls. We learned a lot from president about how we can more effectively use the Book of Mormon in our teaching and how it is the tool the Lord has prepared to gather Israel. I loved it.

Also this week I finished the Book of Mormon with the mission. It was Amazing to read it so quickly. I found new patterns and gained a greater understanding of basic gospel principles. It was Awesome truly. This week also we had the wonderful experience to see SEMANA SANTA. yep its crazy. I have attached some fotos. Also one of my companion. It was so funny this week. She pushed the door bell and the plate came off. She then yelp and said "I broke it." It was really funny.

All in all a really good week. We are teaching some amazing people. A young couple who is waiting to be married so the guy and be baptized. They have such a strong testimony. Also a single mother who is truly finding peace in obeying the commandments and guidance in prayer and scripture study. Truly everyday there is a witness that this gospel is true. The counsel that we receive is from God and truly for out benefit. It is wonderful. Sadly though we get to see the other side as well. We passed by this wonderful old man. He was kind of investigating but was really sure what to believe. Well we went over and read a bit of the Book of Mormon with him but as we testified of its divinity he just said no. He doesn´t believe in God. As we invited him to pray and ask he said no there was no point. It is sad to see. I know that what Alma says is true that even if we have a desire to believe and act on that desire and do not thrust out the seed by our unbelief the seed will grow until it is a beautiful tree that gives forth fruit meet for repentance. And it is in that moment that we have the strength to change and become more like God. Then God gives us the opportunity to be baptized or partake of the sacrament. To rid our self of our former life and promise to continue in His path. And to help us continue to feel His presence He gives us the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The plan is PERFECT. I know that it is true. I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week full of miracles!

love,
Hermana Petru

DOS HERMANAS!! [Letter 64]

FAMILY!!!
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Seriously it is awesome. It has a small town feel but is about as big as my area in Almería. So its fabulous. The ward here is awesome. And i´m not joking when I say that we fill up every seat in the sacrament room. I have heard that they are going to build a new chapel but it won´t be done for about a year. Then it really will be over flowing. The people here are really really nice. It is so much fun talking with them. My new companion Hermana Ramsay is AWESOME!! She has a very bubbly personality and people can´t help but love her. It is a lot of fun to work with her. I am laughing all the time and we get a lot of work done. She walks really fast. She is a great teacher and she relates to people like I´ve seen nobody else do. I am learning so much from her.

This next week we have some great plans to teach and find people. I´m excited. Also guess what time of year it is? EASTER! and that means Semana Santa here in Spain. No joke yesterday when we were RUNNING home to be in on time every street we turned down was blocked off by tons of people and the giant parade of KKK dressed people with giant candle sticks and a gigantic trono with a lady on it carried by about 20 men. The band followed behind with drums and trumpets. It is very unusual but also very Spanish  It is fun to be here for the cultural things. Experiences never to be forgotten for sure.

Well my lovely family I love you. I know that Christ lives and I am excited for this next week to really focus on Him and His resurrection. Many ask if Mormons are Christians why don´t we display the cross like so many others. I am happy to respond that as a disciples of Christ we worship the resurrected Christ. We focus on His great victory over death. I am eternally grateful for His sacrifice on my behave and I am grateful for this opportunity to serve Him and His children here in Spain. I hope everyone has a great week and I invite you to ponder on what this Man means to you and how He can/has changed your life. I love you all so much and hope for you the best ever!

Love,
Hermana Petru

MILAGROS!! [Letter 63]

Well my dear family I will start off with the okay news. I´m moving to Dos Hermanas. te he. yes there are dos hermanas in Dos Hermanas. My new companion will be Hermana Ramesey. She has been in the feild for 3 or 4 months. So it will be fun to learn from her. She served state side for a time before coming here. I am excited to get to know her and a new area of Spain. I will be changing my stake for the first time so there is a lot of new stuff to learn. Culture wise as well. The people from Málaga have a rivalry with those of Sevilla although they are all Andeluceans. Accent is different too soooo lots of changes this transfer.

and now for the AMAZING NEWS!!

Okay so awhile back I told you about the mother and daughter who were gonna get baptized. The mother yes got baptized but I didn´t have the heart to tell you all that the daughter backed out the day before. Well this last week we were praying because we knew that she was ready to get baptized. She has a testimony but she was building walls of doubts. They were just getting higher and higher. But after much prayer we felt like we needed to invite her to get baptized this Saturday. We had the appointment with her on Thursday. as we planned the lesson we truly felt guided. We decided to talk about the Life of Christ and all the things that He did. We prayed and prayed to have the spirit with us. Well as we began the lesson everything was going well the Spirit was there so strongly. Well after we both testified of Christ and His atonement. I asked, "He did all of that for us. But was do we give to Him?" She responded "well we follow Him." My companion "Christ has invited us to be baptized like we read (alma 7:14-15). If Christ was here and invited you be baptized would you do it?" Her face lit up and she said "yes of course without a doubt." I then testified "We have been called by a profet of God as respresentatives of Christ and we are asking, will you be baptized by someone who has the authority of God?" -silence- "yes i will."

That night we fasted. Giving thanks to God for His spirit and begging that she focused on her testimony and not on her doubts. The elders came and an hour and 15 minute interview later they appeared. "I´m getting baptized tomorrow" she declared. And that she did. We had an amazing miracle baptism. The Lord is in this work. I have no doubt. Mircles happen everyday. Big or small it doesn´t matter they are miracles. I love this work and I am sad to be leaving Málaga. I love the people here. But I know the Lord will take care of them and I will see them again someday. Love you all and I pray that your week is full of blessing.

love,
Hermana Petru

NEWS! [Letter 62]

HELLO PEOPLE that i love!

Well it has been a wet week but awesome. Life is going good. Still learning and growing like crazy. as my year mark came up I kind of freaked out. I calmed down but I have started a new habit that I wanted to share with ya´ll. I heard this from a General Authority I think. But I have started to ask in pray "what more can I give?" Well after this prayer I study. In my studies I always come across a Christ like attribute that stings a little. You know the feeling. That little pika that says "oh man I need to work on that or change that." Well I make a internal goal to work on that attribute that day. As I go throughout that day I find that the Lord gives me little chances to repent. like  when I learn about patience (no laughing). Okay I need to really work on that one. But as I made a goal to be more patient that day.

So when we meet with a less active that tells us that she has started to smoke again instead of responding with chastisement I have the opportunity to testify of the love that the Lord has for her and that she can truly keep the commandments. Or when my companion leaves the phone at home and we find out after we arrive in a pueblo. These little choices that the Lord gives me to make can help me become more like Him. I am not perfect by any means and that is way the Lord keeps giving the chance to choose the right. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that takes the time and has the interest to help me reach my full potential. It is a wonderful time to live.

Also this week we have found a wonderful family. It is a single mom with two kids. She is such a great person. She has a hunger to know about the Gospel and how she can have a happier existence here on the earth. It is such a blessing to be there to testify to here of the power of the Atonement and how Christ truly can help lift and bear burdens. I love this work!!

Next GUESS WHAT!?!?!?! I got word from president today that we are allowed to email family, friends and preisthood leaders. So I would love to here from people. I hope everyone is having a great day and that your week continues with many blessings. I love you all!!!

Hermana Petru