Happy Thanksgiving! [Letter 48]

Well it has been yet another week. HOW THE TIME FLYS!! Life is great. We are working hard and seeing progress in the work of the Lord. I am priviledged to be on the front lines and see the Lord work miracles. But of course life is also full of funnies. Here are a few.

First of all Hermana Brimhall and I are on name baises with a NUN! One night as we were returning home we ran into her. We walked and talked with her for a while. She was very sweet. She asked us how anyone can tell we are missionaries. After pointing to our name tags she said "thats good. but I knew before that you were women of God. I don´t know why but I could feel it." Well last night we ran into her again. She recognized us. We exchanged pleasantries and went our ways but yes I have a nun friend.

Next will have to be something that would only happen to a sister missionary. Okay so as we were waiting for a bus we started talking to this man. Really he asked us a question and we responded. Well he kept looking at us with curiosity. Well as we were getting on the bus he gave me a look that made me feel uncomfortable so I sat at the back of the bus as he was in the front. We ended up moving to the front because of an answered pray (see later paragraph). As we got off the bus my companion handed this man a card. Well not 10 minutes later we got a call. The conversation went something like this.

"Hi I´m hermana Petru."
Man: "um did you give me your number on the bus?"
Me to Hermana Brimhall "Hermana did you give someone our number on the bus? He is on the phone." pass the phone
"Hi I´m Hermana Brimhall."
Man "you gave me your number on the bus Why?"
HB "We are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We share a message about Him and we would like to share it with you. *try to set up a cita without success*
Hang up
Me: "why did he call?"
HB: "I don´t know. not for the church."
Me:"well Hermana you did creepily give him our number on the bus."
HB " ON A JESUS CARD!"

Okay so we laughed really hard. If you didn´t maybe its a Sister missionary thing.

Well on top of the funnies we have miracles. We have had a girl with a baptismal date that has dropped off the face of the planet. Well one day we felt prompted to go our to the town where we usually meet her. As we prayed before we left Hermana Brimhall changed up the pray and asked that if we couldn´t see her at the house that we could at least run into her on the way there. We missed the  bus we had planned but took the next one. As we were waiting for our stop this investigator got on the bus. We were able to talk to her. It was good we had been worried. This is just a small example of the miracles of answered prayers. The Lord has everything under control and we just need to have the faith to follow blindly sometimes.

My dear loved ones, life full of miracles and wonders. Keep your head up and recognize the hand of the Lord in your life. I know that the Lord lives. He loves us. I know that the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His chruch. We are here to progress, learn, and become like Him. We have weaknesses and faults but all can be healed through the Atonement. I know this because I have seen it in the lifes of investigators, Members, my companions, and my own. I love this work. I love my God. and I am grateful for all He has given me. Especially all of you. May the Lord be with you.

Love,
Hermana Petru

p.s.
Photos 1-2: Spanish Thanksgiving.
Roasted chicken
Mashed potatos/gravy
and bread

3-guess what we found in piso? Christmas Tree!!!! YAY!!

Hello, Hello we welcome you today! [Letter 47]

Hi there Family!!

Well this week has been another wet week in Almería. It continues to rain. But like is looking up. And the work is moving forward. I can´t tell you enough how much I love to be here. I love this work. I love meeting new people. I love teaching and sharing my testimony. I love the way people´s eyes shine as they feel the spirit, and the love of God for them. It is such a blessing to be here.


Well as mission presidents do, our mission president is constantly talking about obedience. It´s not that he thinks that we are out right rebellious but there is always room for improvement. Not only that but we count on the Lord´s blessing in this work and "there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:19-20) So obedience is a really big deal. Well this morning I was reading in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 14 going over some notes from Elder Richards (Stake conference this weekend. He spoke. one word. AMAZING!) anyway when you look at verse 14 it says "they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory."Talking about the saints of the church in the latter days. Now in the Spanish it changes a bit but it refers to THEIR righteousness. So it isn´t just a passive with some sort of righteousness from somebody. No it depends on OUR righteousness. OUR obedience. Well being armed with righteousness of course made me think of the Amour of God. I love those scriptures. Every time I read through Ephesians 6:11-19 I learn something new and exciting. Something more to defend against the temptations of the adversary. Well this time what jumped out was verse 18- 19. which says "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (sword), and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," As a missionary I have prayed many a time to be more bold and charitable in my opportunities to share the gospel. I think as a regular member we should as well. This Amour of Righteousness is available to everyone. And everyone needs it. So share it. I could write pages and pages. But I won´t spoil the fun. Instead I´ll just share the scriptures. D&C 27:15-18; 2 Nephi 1:23 and finally Romans 13:12. I know that as we strive to put on the armour of righteousness we will be blessed. When the winds of tribulation or the waves of afflictions try to drown us remember what happened to Peter walking on water. Don´t focus on the winds. Cry unto the Lord. Put on the amour of God. Keep the commandments. In this there is safety. In this there is peace. May the Lord be with you this week. Know that I pray for you and that I LOVE YOU!!

With lots of love and a hug for the road,

Hermana Petru

p.s. There weren´t really any changes in the mission this transfer. But transfers are again the 6th of december. 4 hermanas (a fifth) with be leaving and about 20 elders. That will leave just over 70 missionaries in the field here. I have heard about 60% of the mission will be effected this next transfer. Also that we may be receiving new missionaries the 20th of december if Visas come in.

When it rains, it pours [Letter 47]

LOVED ONES!!!!

It has been a wonderful week. And I have come to realize that the adage "when it rains it pours" is oh so true whether it is the weather or missionary work. It has been raining off and on here in Almería. It is very strange. It never rains here. Almería is suppose to be the best place to winter in all of Europe because of the weather. But it just continues to rain. On Sunday records were broken as the rain fell in buckets. The streets were rivers literally. if you are wondering what effect that has on missionary work my answer is nothing. We are still in the streets, talking, teaching, testifying. We are just a bit wetter when we get home. It has been fun.

This past week we have been working as hard as ever. and we have seen some great miracles. My companion and I have had the opportunity to set 5 different baptismal dates. These people are amazing and their faith is astounding as they take difficult steps to follow our Savior. we are working hard with them as they work for these goals. I love this work and the Lord that directs it.

Okay now for some mission news. A third of our mission will be leaving in December. BUT my district leader told us that before the announcement of the age change in the average week the Church received about 500 applications for missions. But after the Announcement it has spiked to almost 7000. The work of the Lord is going forward!!! Also I had the great opportunity to talk with my mission president. He said that there has been movement with visas here in Spain and that we will be seeing new missionaries soon and a lot of them. He said that we need to be ready because we will be training soon and with the amount of Hermanas we will be receiving we could be training more then one at a time in a joking yet kind of serious manner. STRESS!!! But nothing official has happened.

What a time to be in the field. I love this place. I just look around and stand in awe as miracles happen every day. May the Lord be with you for where He is miracles really do happen.

I love you all!!!!

Love,
Hermana Petru

MIRACLE OF MIRACLES! [Letter 45]

Hey family!

So it has been another wonderful week in the Lord´s work. My companion and I have been working hard, sharing the gospel. As you all can imagine one of the most stressful parts of the job are actually finding people to teach. So we have been working hard with this. I will not lie street contacting is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. But I am working on it. Anyway we have been praying and praying and looking and looking for new investigators. We worked hard and by the end of the week only have 5 futures. The old saying "pray like it is all up to the Lord and then work like it is all up to you." really was put to the test.  But something miraculous happened. Like it always does in this great work of the Lord. Yesterday night we finally nailed down a cita we have been trying to have for about 3 weeks now with a girlfriend of a member who wanted to receive the lessons. The lesson went really well. The spirit was strong and we built a good relationship. I´m excited to keep teaching her. Anyway they live out in a pueblo so we had to catch a bus back. Like always the bus was late. But we were called by our next appointment while waiting. It was going to be a family home evening with some less active members and some investigators. The investigators called to tell us that they wouldn´t be able to make it. We decided to go to the less active´s anyway. When we arrived there were two strangers there with the family. We sat and taught the restoration like planned and in the end of the lesson we had picked up return citas with the both meaning two MORE new investigators. The Lord truly listens and answers prayers. After all we can do He will make up the difference. I truly love this work.

And now for a little scripture thought. Turn with me to Ether 2:24-25
  24 For behold, ye shall be as a awhale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth cout of my mouth, and also the drains and the floods have I sent forth.

 25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?

in spanish when it talks about being brought up again out of the depths of the sea it uses the verb "sacar" which has a meaning of being pulled out. I love these verses. Truly we learn that the Lord is with us. He prepares us for the great winds and waves of life IF we are obdienent to his commandments. And He then has the power to pull us from the waves as He did with Peter. Also this great lessons is ended with a questions. Not us the verse but the entire chapter is left with this question. The Lord at times asks us this question as well. And how would you respond? What would you have the Lord do so that you can have light in you life when you are swallowed up? Have the faith to get into the boat. Listen to the Lord, and His servants and follow their direction. And I can promise you that He will bring you out of the depths of the sea. I love you all! I hope that your week is full of miracles. Smile big.



Love,

Hermana Petru

11-4-12 [Letter 46]

District leader in a coat we found at a second hand store. Stylish no?

Halloween glasses. With flash

Without flash

third times  the charm?