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

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the Plain [Letter 61]

HOLA!!

Okay so this one is going to be short. Sorry!!  Everything is going really well here. The work is moving forward even though the rain dampers the skies it does not damper our excitment. Life is going good. Hermana Hodson and I are having a wonderful teaching, learning and growing. This week we have seen some major progress in our friends. They are changing their lives to come closer to our Savior. They are finding happiness in the gospel and it truly is a blessing to see. I love the MISSION!! Tomorrow I get to go on a wonderful exchange with a sister from another area. It is going to be fun.

We did exchanges with the hermanas in the Malaga 1 area this week. President says that the hermanas will have more of an opportunity to do such things now that we are closer together. I love it because we get to learn and teach with other companions. I always learn a new way to explain something or a new technique that I could improve on. It really is a great opportunity. And also when we come back to our companions it is always nice to talk about and such because they learn new things. We get new insights on investigators and it is just and all around awesome thing. This week in the Book of Mormon study I have been reading in Alma and his efforts to rescue his brethen. I love to read his sweet testimony about the Savior and His Atonement. Truly Alma is an example of a great missionary. I have been working on that myself actually and as I read I am learning new things about teaching, repenting and being like my Savior. I love the scriptures. Well I hope everyone has a great week. I´m sorry I told you this one was going to be short. LOVE YOU ALL!!!


Hermana Petru

From the windy shores of the Medditeranean [Letter 60]

Buenas Días Amados Hermanos Mios,

Well it has been another wonderful week working in the vineyard of the Lord. we had a wonderful zone training. we taught investigators, helped less actives and even found some time to laugh along the way. Men are that they might have joy. Find something to laught at this week. It makes the whole day better. Okay well I would like to share another miracle with you this week. Well it all started with a plan. We decided to go and pass by a referral but it is really far and so we needed to catch a bus. Problem one. Problem two was that earlier that day we heard from her aunt that she wasn´t going to be home that night. But we still felt like we should head there. So we prayed and both of us felt strongly that we should head there. So we headed for the bus stop. We saw the bus there so we started running but of course the light to cross the extremely busy street was red and we waved as our bus pulled away without us. 

Well we waited the 15 minutes for the next one. as we headed toward our stop I saw to blury figures in suits and back packs go sprinting down the road. Unusual not a ton of people wear suits in this part of town let alone with packbacks must be the elders. sure enough it was. As they came back to sit with us one of the elders handed my companion some former investigator sheets for our area. How nice of him. Well we dropped by and sure enought our referral... wasn´t home. Well drat home again home again jiggy jig. As we waited for the bus to return to our part of town my dear companion glanced through the formers. "this one." she said "we should pass by this one." No time like the present so we headed to that area. As we knocked and waited for someone to answer the door the was an prayful silence. She opened the door and cryed "Hermanas!!!!" and began to explain that she had been thinking about coming back to church but she didn´t know how because she didn´t have anyones contact information. She had been praying and reading a bit in her Book of Mormon. "I prayed and asked for the missionaries and there you appeared on my door step just like you did 10 months ago." Well as we explained the gospel of Jesus Christ she got very serious. "Me coming back to church is because I want to be baptized. I know that it will help me be  closer to the Savior." Man what a lesson!!!! The second we left the house the turned that cornor and gave a prayer of thanks. This work is the Work of the Lord. I know that he truly works with His servants and that His work is going forward at a speed unimaginable. I know that Christ lives and loves us. He died for our sins and broke the chains of death. Follow Him and you will find happiness. Love you all.

Hermana Petru


P.S. This is so much harder in English. :P 
P.P.S. Have a Fabulous Week!!!!

SPRING! [Letter 59]

ello Family and Friends,

Well I think it is offically spring here in Spain. We jumped from the 40´s to the mid 50´s and some days 60´s. The weather here is awesome. With that means that there are alot more people in the streets and a lot more people to talk to and get to know. We have been working hard and seeing miracles through obedience and faith. That is nothing like a good hard day of work. Also we had the great blessing to have a baptism this week. The church is growing in Spain. It is wonderful to see and participate in. On Sunday also the missionaries were given the chance to talk in Sacrament meeting. Our ward mission leader asked that we share miracles. I of course cried but it was wonderful because I got to spend the whole week thinking about all the wonderful things I have seen in my mission. I would like to share some of them with you again. I know most of you have heard these but its always good to share.

Miracle: After a moring of prayer and study my companion and I decided that we try out a new town. So we went. As I get sick on the bus my companion picked a few streets and we were determined to knock on every door. Well As the day was winding down we hadn´t found anything really promising. The last hour of the day we entered into a building with about 9 floors and 7 doors per floor. "Okay well at least work for the next hour and there has to be somebody willing to listen to us here." was my thought. So we started and yep no one was home. Not one door had anyone behind it. We had about 20 minutes until we had to run for the bus we came to the last door. We knocked and the door opened. When the lady behind the door saw us her face lit up like a light bulb. "sister,"she exclaimed, "come in come in." This wonderful sister was a less active of about 8 years. She had been praying for guidance and light to come back into her life. Not 10 minutes after her prayer we knocked on her door. This lovely women is now attending church. Her little girl loves primary and we love to sing I am a child of God with her now. God works miracles.

AAAAHHHH!! I´m running out of time. But my dear family I would like you to know that I know that this church is true. Christ lives and his hand is in this work. Miracles happen daily. Some quickly and others not so much but they do come. Stay faithful and steadfast that eternal life will be yours. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week wherever you are.

love,

Hermana Petru

HELLO! [Letter 58]

Sup family and friends,
Well it has been another great week here in Spain. Miracles follow the Lord´s presence. It is what the Bible dictionary says. And there is truth en every page. Well I am so excited for this week. But i must start with the story before. Well I thinkI told you about the lady that was  trying to stop smoking. Well two days after her unforgettable time at church she told us that she didn´t want to see us anymore. That she would continue to read and pray but church and the commandments were not for her. But her mom wanted us to continue to pass by and teach. After some diffculty with schedules and everything we finaly were able to sit down with the mom. The daughter wasn´t there. But we left her a note. We taught the mom and she just keeps eating the gospel up. Second cita after the daughter wasn´t there either but we kept going and set a bautismal date with the mom. again we left the daughter a note. The third cita the daughter was there. As we talked about the bauptism the mom started to kind of back out. She wasn´t sure. As the daughter listened she sat straight up and was like. "mom let´s both get baptized the 15th. I know it is something we should do." She went on to explain that in this time she had stopped reading and praying and she felt an emptimess come back into her life. She didn´t want that. SHe felt good, happy and hopeful. She isn´t sure if she has the strength to keep all the commandments but she knows that there is happiness in obeying them and she wants to start new and follow Christ´s example. After this the mom said yes and they are now both preparing for baptism. The Lord can work miracles. I know that this church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and just as Ana declared there is peace happiness and hope in obeying the Lord. I wish everyone to find this great source of Living Waters. Keep praying the Lord is on thy side. I love you all and may your week be full of miracles.


Love,
Hermana Petru

P.s. Hermana Nelson went to San Fernando with a greeny. Hermana Nelson and I are holding the fort down here. We moved to a new piso so here is the address.

Pasejo Saturno Nº2 bajo 5
29011 Málaga
Spain

Missionary WORK [Letter 57]

Buenas Tardes Everyone!!!

This week has been a great week. We had the great priviledge to Hear from a General Authority! Elder Teixiera. He spoke about how we can have spiritual power and increase our new investigators. He gave us some great tools and we have already seen great miracles from it. Well on top of that President Deere asked me to do a personal interview with Elder Teixiera. Wow that man is amazing. He gave me some great advice and I am excited to continue to follow and sustain our leaders. They are truly men and women   called of God. It has been my great pleasure to hear from two of our General Authorities here in Spain. Many missionaries are lucky to hear from one. Life here is going good. We continue to work hard. The Lord continues to bless us and I am grateful for His hand in this work.

For the next two months as a mission we will be reading the Book of Mormon. Our goal is to finish by the 31st of march. As we read we are focusing on our purpose as missionaries, the doctrine of Christ or the gospel of Christ which are all the same. It is amazing to read the Book of Mormon from this few. I have started to find patterns in the Book of Mormon that I haven´t found before. I am noticeing more and more how and when and why Nephi teaches his brothers. It is so interesting to watch as they repent little by little but never truly have that big change of heart. It all comes down to choice. Are you going to chose to do it your way of the Lord´s way? It is has been a great lesson that is taught over and over through the example of this family. I know that as we chose the Lord´s way we can come closer to Him and He can lead us through the most furtile parts of the land as we travel through the wilderness.

This week in the work we have seen some great miracles in finding. Hermana Nelson is going crazy with the contacting. I am truly learning so very many things from her. Anyway, We found this family on Thursday. we went by on Sunday and they had two more people at their house. we ate delicious equadorean tamales and share the restored gospel. They are excited to read the Book of Mormon and we are excited to try out our new tamale recipe. Also we had the great priviledge to testify to a budhist woman from Russia about the love of our Heavenly Father. I never knew the spirit could be so strong on a noisey city bus. I love the work here. Yes it is work. We sweat, and run and practice until it is perfect. We do our best to give our all to a Father in Heaven and His children. I love this work and I know I will never be the same. I know that Christ lives. He loves us and He truly is there to wipe away the tears. Have confidence in Him and He will see you through. I love you all!!!!

Hermana Petru

P.S. Something scary happened this week. I recieved my "trunky papers." AAAAAAAHHHH!!!! 13 months today :D Take luck and may the force be with you!

Málaga [Letter 56]

HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!!

This week has been a wonderful one. As missionaries we are always trying to invite others to come unto Christ through His restored gospel which is faith in the Lord Jesus christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, recieving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end (you have no idea how hard it was to remember that in English). That is our purpose and I know there is joy to be found in this purpose. I see it everyday as we invite people in the streets to come and listen, or when we testify to a recently widowed women that she can live with her husband again, or when we commi someone to be baptized. The joy in this world is found in completing with our true purpose. Now as a missionary that is easy. We memorized our purpose the first week in the MTC and we repeat it at least once and week. But what is our purpose here on earth? And where can we find it? Can you believe it the Lord has given us the answer. It is found in a book that was first published in the 1830´s. The book is called the Book of Mormon: another testament of Jesus Christ. In this book the Lord outlines through His profets the purpose of live, where we come from, and where we are going. A loving Heavenly Father has sent a How to manuel so to speak for this life. I love this book. I testify that it is true. It was translated by a profet of God and we are blessed to have it. I can say that because it blesses my life everyday. If you are looking for the purpose of this life here are a few answers found in the Book of Mormon.

1) 2 Nephi 2:25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
2) Alma 34: 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

But there is so much more. My dear loved ones I invite you to read the Book of Mormon. I am so excited because we as a mission are going to read the entire thing in like two months. I am so excited to read it again and to learn even more.


As for investigators... Life is good! we had the privlidge to go and teach a wonderful lady. she recently had back surgery so she is confined to her bed but she lets us come over and teach. She has a hunger, a thirst to learn and act on the gospel of Christ. She listens and asks amazing questions. I am so excited for her because she also has two kids. she wants so much for them to grow up with love and hope. Her aunt is a member and she loves the way the the church as helped her aunt and their family. She wants that kind of light in her own family. I am so excited to go and see her again. I love Málaga. There are so many great people. Last Sunday one of our recent converts gave her first talk in Sacrament Meeting. She did such a wonderful job. She said that she wishes she had a talk every week because then studying would be more of a priority but she wouldn´t miss the talking in front of everybody. :) Also a couple of the recent converts we work will passed the sacrament this week. I have never felt so proud. I think of how much work they have done, where they started and where they are at now. It truly is the miracle of the gospel and the power of the Atonement. I love this work! I hope and pray that your week is full of miracles! Love you all!

Hermana Petru

 

Baptism of Carlos

 

Wonderful family in Málaga.

Here we are again. Did you catch it? the puppy moved. :P

 

My very special companions. How I love those girls!!!

THE RAIN IN SPAIN FALLS MAINLY IN THE PLAIN [Letter 55]

HOLA Quieridisimos (most beloved ones)!!!

This week has been CRAZY!!! On Tuesday we got THE call from President. This call consisted of telling us that a man that has been waiting for 5 solid months to get baptized, CAN get baptized. YAY!!!!! Also in that call I was told I would be getting a new companion!! Yep Hermana Hodson arrived on Wednesday. She was the first of the visa waiters to come. Her and I will be working in Málaga 3. Hermana Nelson has been with us but we have heard whisperings that she will be leaving in this next week because 15 MORE VISAS have come through. President is working on getting people companions and areas. They will be opening lots of new areas becasue we were down to skeleton crew for the past month. IT IS SO EXCITING!!!!! We should be gettting elders in our ward this week. It will be fun to have elders in the same ward. But it sounds like I will be teaching three people names and faces. What a challenge. I am glad the Lord is here to help. ANYWAY that was the exciting news. Baptisms and visas WHOOT WHOOT!!


I would like to share a little bit about this man that is going to be getting baptized. He is from Cuba and has been waiting to be baptized because of personal stuff. But he comes to chruch every sunday, never misses a cita, and keeps all the commandments. The man has a very hard financial situation because of the economy here in Spain but he always greets us with a smile. I am so excited for him. He is always asking if we have heard from the missionary that found him. he is just such a sweet man. I am really excited to be here to see him finally be able to be baptized after so much prayer and change and his part. He has such a great testimony of the church.

As for the rest of our investigators they are doing well. Sadly we have had one tell us that she is grateful for everything we have taught her but she is not prepared to keep the commandments. So she dropped us. But her mom is a lovely woman and wants us to keep coming by. I am excited because her mom is a great woman. Another investigator had an opening. We finally taught her about the commandments. Going to church is impossible for her because of her work. She works taking care of an older couple. But we have heard that there might be an opening for her to come to chruch. We are really praying she can. I am excited for her. She loves Christ and wants to follow Him. She is still working on a testimony of the Book of Mormon. She loves reading it but she says she hasn´t felt that deep confirmation yet. But little by little we are seeing progress.

This past week as I have been studying the conference talks from General Conference again I realized something very important. There are two types of investigators. Ones that have their conversion like a little put put plane and others that are like a fight jet. But both like Elder Uchtdorf said "In both the Piper Cub and the F-18, I felt the excitement, beauty, and joy of flight. In both I could feel the call of the poet to “[slip] the surly bonds of Earth and [dance] the skies on laughter-silvered wings." These conversions are different in length but both are beautiful. Both have an assurance of the restored gospel, both have the evidence of the Atonement and both lead to Christ. I am truly grateful to see the changes in the lives of these people. Some make extraordinary differences in their DAILY lifes. This week we also had the great priviledge to stop by a less actives home. She and her husband and been less active for many years. The sisters before me stopped by and started teaching them. The week before I got here two of their four boys were baptized. We have gone over several times to teach the after baptism lessons and every week I am amazed. This family is doing their family home evening, daily family scripture study and prayer. The parents were given callings and are faithfully fulfilling them. They have such a great spirit in their home. I love seeing the Lord work in the lives of those willing to follow Him.  It is a great blessing for me and I know my faith is growing through their examples. This week I hope you all too can see the hand of the Lord in your lives. Take a second and give Him thanks. I love you all and I hope that all goes well. God loves you. I do too. Stay safe and take luck.


Love,

Hermana Dayna Petru

Photo 1- our trio
photo 2- our trio with President and Hermana Deere

I Believe in Christ [Letter 54]

My dear loved ones,

It has been another week in the service of the Lord. And what a marvelous week it has been. Well it started with a really hard Monday. All of our appointments canceled. This is when you learn truly what kind of missionary you are. Well on Tuesday we found out some scary stuff was going on with our recent converts. Trials for recent converts always happen but the are really hard for missionaries as well. As you watch your convert, someone you have prayed for, fasted for, fought for, decided what they really want. Some fly on the wings of the gospel, others fall and have to try and pick themselves back up. We as missionaries watch this dear people we love and pray for them even harder. This week Hermana Nelson and I had the opportunity to fast with some of our recent converts and watch as their faith the Lord increased. I don´t worry to much about them. I know that the Lord will take care of them. It was a great testament to me and I know my faith grew this week.

On the other hand this week we have had a recent convert decided to trust more in the world. we had the privilege to go and offer comfort and teach and testify of the gospel. It was a great lesson and the power of the Savior still astounds me. This week also we have the opportunity to continue to teach a great girl. She is Spanish. And this week she has been fighting to quit smoking. She loves the Book of Mormon. And really has been prepared. This week as she sat in sacrament meeting for the first time she began to weep. She kept saying that she didn´t know why she was crying she has never felt so peaceful. As I sat with her for a few moments after the meeting It was such a wonderful moment to teach of the Holy Ghost and His great role here on earth. She is progressing and her testimony is growing at an incredible rate. I am so lucky to be here to teach her. She is looking for to a baptism and we are excited to welcome another sister into the ward and kingdom of the Lord.The Lord is truly blessing and hastening His work here in Spain. All in all it has been a great week and I am looking forward to what this next week holds in store. I pray this email finds you well, and blissfully content.

Love,
Hermana Petru

This week on Blessings of a Mission...[Letter 53]

Well it has been another wonderful week here on the mission. The sun is always shinning here, Literally. For the past couple of days it has been a balmy 60 degrees with mostly clear skies. Spain is beautiful. I seriously got the luck of the draw. Also there was another baptism this week. The family from Equador, I´m pretty sure I´ve told you about them, had a wonderful event. Their kids were baptized by their dad. YAY!!! and they have plans to be sealed as a family in April. The Spirit was so strong. I love baptisms. They just mean so much. I keep studying the gospel of Christ which encludes baptism and I seriously learn some new or my testimony grows of a certain principle everytime. Life is such a blessing. The progress we make here can last for eternity. Man what a week. Also we had some great moments knocking doors. Knocking doors is kind of like a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes its the old lady that just wants company so she sits and talks and listens to you, or its the young man that is an athiest but thinks your cute so gives you a number, or it could be the middle aged woman that tells you she is an Roman Catholic as she slams the door in your face. That is just a few of the wonderful flavors. There is also the family that lets you in and is ready for the gospel. They listen and pray, read and come to church. They make those changes in their lives and they see the fruits of a Christ centered life. It truly is amazing. Christ really can take anything and turn it into flawless gold. I love this opportuinty to learn and grow. Moments may seem unbearable but at the end of the day I wouldn´t change it for anything. I love you guys. Hope your new year starts out right.

Love,
Hermana Petru