….And a Happy New Year

Well, this week was great! I was blessed with the chance to see the greatest people ever! I loved Skyping for Christmas! I  hope you all had a great Christmas!

Wanna hear a funny story....?

Once upon a time yesterday, It started POURING OUT OF NO WHERE. So me and my comp start booking it home to get some umbrellas and baggies for our scriptures!!!!!

We finally get there.... and our house is flooded.

So we hurry and sweep all the water out! (SAFE!)

Then we get up to leave, and find that a group of young men decided to get wasted right in front of our door. So we cant leave. No way! Two white girls, in skirts, trying to leave through a group of 6 drunk guys. NO THANK YOU. So, we had to stay inside and wait for the to leave... We spent this two hours listening to a conference session on CD that I got for Christmas (THANK YOU FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). It was super great:) ha ha eventually, they walked away from our door, so we left!

Also, this week, we had the wonderful opportunity to see 6 people be baptized into the ward!  We showed up, and there wasn't a single dry baptism dress! and they needed three! Luckily, our house is only a few short blocks from the chapel, so we RUN HOME, and grab my blow dryer, and blow dried the dresses!:) It was such a fun day! Blow drying the dresses... I knew my blow dryer would come in handy!:)

Welp, I hope you all are safe this week! Put some great new years resolutions!:) Love you all!

Hna Arave

OOPS

SO last week I ran out of time before the picture finished loading, so the email never sent! so here is the part from last week!

Welp! This week was interesting! Last night we were in the middle of our planning, and our zone leaders call. We aren't allowed to answer or call anyone in our planning...  We decide to wait.. they call again... three times, and we figure it is something important! So we answer, and they tell me that I have an emergency transfer. I´m leaving Santa Cruz (in the city) and I am going to Tarija! which is about an hour´s plane ride away from the city. it is another part of Bolivia. There was an hermana there who got sick, so they swapped us places so she could be next to the doctor. WAH. It was so sad. So, after packing up, at 5 this morning I left for the airport... and now I am writing from TARIJA!" It is so beautiful! it reminds me of a Utah summer! hot, but not very humid! AND THERE ARE MOUNTAINS. So I am in HEAVEN. haha I love mountains...

There was more... but I dont know where it was lost at... So! ha this week was good! I love my companion! We have had so many opportunities to serve! We also had a baptism of an adorable lady, Elva. Her son baptized her! he has been a member for a little less than a year, and now his mom is a member! THEY WERE SO HAPPY! I have never seen so much joy! I cant wait till they can go to the temple together!

I am so grateful as well that I worked in physical therapy before my mission! My comp, Hna Davenport, has trouble with her knees.. and So we started having a bit of physical therapy time each day, and she says the improvement is incredible! I learned so handy dandy exercises for knees (Thank You Nate Goff!) and it has been so cool! Her knees still bug her a bit, but not to the point we need to stop and rest! So i am happy!:) She only has a small bit of time in the mission left.... she goes home at the beginning of march. She is from Idaho!

This week we also got to help an investigator prepare for her wedding... woo! it was so great! haha :) I love when i see people here changing like that. It is pretty common to be talking to an old couple and ask "how long have you guys been married?"

"oh, we aren't married. we have just been living together for 52 years."
".............."

I am so happy when I hear of a wedding of someone outside of the gospel. YAY

 I LOVE YOU ALL. I hope you all have a great Christmas! Please, remember the reason for the season and serve others!:)

Love, Hna Arave













Note from mom... sorry this should have been posted last Monday I found out our internet was too slow to skype her and spent several day getting  our internet upgraded (harder than you think when you only have a couple days) I forgot to post this.

 This week, we had such an amazing experience! We were supposed to go with a sister in the ward to visit a man investigator, and LAST MINUTE  she backed out. We tried calling other members to see if they could come, and no one could! finally, we call hna Miriam. She said she couldn't, she had a ton of stuff to do and her mom was sick.... which has been normal since i got here. her  mom is super sick. ha I had the strongest impression that she needed help, so we went to go help her instead... Luckily, all of our appointments fell through for the rest of the night. As we showed up to her house, it was a wreck. three week old dishes, laundry up to the ceiling, dirt caked on the floor... and Miriam was in the  middle of a breakdown. AS we sat down to talk to her, she said she feels so horrid, because she feels like God is begging for her time, and she has no way to give it. Her mom had fallen down the day before and started throwing up blood. she cant leave her mom! As she tried telling us how sorry she was, how badly she needed to help the Lord bring souls unto him, we told her that that was not the case!!! Sometimes, the Lord needs to correct US. He needs to show us that we need to be somewhere else, doing something else, so bless the lives of his children. This was his way of telling us what was really important...We spent the rest of the day helping her clean, wash, fold, scrub, throw stuff away, while she sat with her mom and talked to her. It was such an amazing experience to be able to be the Lords hand in the life of someone else. as we left, we could tell that Miriam was feeling so much more peaceful. She told us that missionaries really are the angels send among the children of men. I love being on the mission! 

We are in the process of decorating our house for the wonderful season of Christmas!!! We have snowflakes... that is it! haha but they are looking good!!! :) i hope you all have a wonderful week! serve others, it is wonderful!!:) haha Love you all! 

Hermana arave

He is the gift!

Please, if you haven't heard of He is the Gift (I dont know how it is in English...) PLEASE SEARCH FOR IT! Please share it with everyone!!

This week was good! I am excited for the transfers this week! We shall see what they bring! 

I hope your thanksgiving was good, and that you all had great luck on Black Friday! I hope you all are preparing greatly for Christmas. 

I am so grateful for the Gift of Jesus Christ in my life. This week that has been the greatest impact. Being able to share the message of his birth in a new light, because it is Christmas! I want you all to know that I have a testimony of the infinite power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. May we all remember the reason we celebrate Christmas as the day draws closer. Please, share this message with everyone. Let everyone know of the greatest gift they can ever receive!

It has been super hot here, and super rainy! I hope you all are enjoying your snow! ha ha I love being here. The mission is the best! 

Please, share the message of Christ's birth with everyone!!! 

I love the church! I love the gospel! I love being a missionary!!!!!!!:)

Love, Hna Arave

Nexalia is going on a mission!

Woo hoo! Another chance to share some great things that happened this week!! :) First, I want to start out with the importance of following promptings... A wonderful sister in our ward called us out of the blue to offer her help with visiting people every day we needed. So we took advantage of that!!! Haha as our day came to an end, the prompting I had felt all day long became stronger. I knew I needed to ask her if she wanted to serve a mission. So I did! And she said the coolest thing!! "I think God has answered my prayer before I even prayed it. I want to so bad. But I am scared! I love sharing the gospel! it is so great! Today was the best day ever! I want to serve, but I dont want to pray for an answer, because I know what the answer will be. I have been talking to Andrea (RM)  about it.... And I knew that if you said something about it too, I needed to go."

AND SHE IS GOING ON A MISSION!!!! :) woo hoo! 

this week, I got to help the Lord answer someone else's prayers as well. We were able to go again to do family history! and at the end, I asked the hermana with me, do you want to find someone??? and she replied.... "maybe you could help me find my great grandpa? I have been trying each day and I can't find him...." so, using what she had just taught me to do, we hit the search button...... and the first name that popped up was his!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with a photo and everything! Her tree is now complete! :) I love the gospel!!!!! This week we got to sing for the 50 year celebration of the church in Bolivia!!!!!! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL!! ha ha all the missionaries in our part of our mission in  Santa Cruz!!! :) 

SO, i have a challenge for you all. Elder Bednar asked some missionaries to do something,... Buy a little new Blue book of Mormon. At the front, write a question you want an answer to. AS you go through reading, highlight each thing that pertains  to your question. at the end, write what you have learned in a short paragraph. How wonderful will it be to have a book with one specific answer to one specific question!!!!He said to do it many times, for many questions....  I just finished this in my Spanish book of Mormon, and I have learned so much!!! So, starting in January, I want you all to do that. One chapter each day, and you will finish about the month I come home. I saw miracles in my testimony through this, and I know you all will as well. I am going to be doing it again! Please, who will do this with me?? 

I love my book of Mormon! I love it with all of my heart! I know this gospel is true! 

Have a  wonderful week!!!
 Hna Arave

hermanaa Choque, hermanaa Ruis, me, and hermana Nahuel.

Hermana Nahuel and Hermana Arave

The ward mission leader hosted a BBQ for all the missionaries. He bought Burger king for everyone. Not as good as in the states but it's a good try

The group that got to sing for the 50 year celebration of the church in Bolivia.

Dogs... and Miracles!

SO, we went to go teach a cute little grandma, named Nancy, and as we arrived, she sent her son to go get the other children from school.... half an hour later and no return, she gets worried... AND GETS UP AND LEAVES US ALONE IN HER HOUSE. We, a tad confused... look at each other... not knowing what we should do... just then, we hear a deep growl... and her very large dog is staring at us, growling, and foaming at the mouth. first time I have seen this dog. so, what is the first thing we do? ask each other "what do we do?" the dog then growls louder. No matter how quiet we talk, the dog can still hear us!!! So we just bow our heads, and pray. In the prayer, the dog starts circling us. As we finish the prayer, we start singing hymns quietly. The dog, still circling us, stops growling.... and then starts again. but, no matter how many times he circled us, or how long he growled at us, or how many times he looks at us... nothing happens. We were kept safe.

sorry this is short, I love you all! have a good week!!! 

Hermana Arave

Family History!!

WOW. Guys, I had the chance to go do Family history this week.... and I gotta say... WONDERFUL!!! First, I found some of the people who had all their information ready, AND WERE JUST WAITING TO HAVE THE WORK DONE!!!! When we hear that the people up there are waiting... that should be taken literally! I was so happy, so I saved them to my temple tab so I can do their work when I get home... Until I realized they will yet be waiting another year, and that isn't okay with me.. So I send them to the temple! haha Ah. I love family history. Our mission president is super cool in letting us learn how to do it so that we can better teach about it! Second, I found one of my ancestors that served a mission in 1880 in Holland. and, SHE was a girl!!! YEAH!!!!!! My ancestors rock!!!!! Sisters serving missions all over the place! It was so cool!! I love family history!! Also, I decided I will be using my family tree to name my future children. There are some super cool names on there... hahahaha For all you people preparing for the mission, or on the mission, I encourage you to read Elder Bednars talk from the October Liahona this year. It talks about missionaries and family history and the blessings!!

We had an intercambio this week, and we found two miracles....

One. She was living her life just fine, until she got the news she had cancer. This was about five years ago. Two and a half years ago, she got news that it was gone. Ever since then, she has lived every day dedicated on serving the Lord. She has changed her life, and now is trying her best to help others. But she is stuck in a rut... She feels like there is something more to help her, and she cant find it... HERE WE ARE!!!! She is super golden!!! I am so glad our sister training leaders are in our same ward, then I can see the progress of sister Nona!!! :)

Second, someone asked us how we can still have a light of hope and faith when the world is so bad... "Well, let us share with you the thing that is most precious to us...." That was such a cool experience. we were able to help her understand how the gospel has blessed our lives, and how we have a hope and faith now. How we can trust more in God, and His plan for each of us. It was so cool to be sharing and guiding people back to the path, helping them find their way again, and leading them to others who will help them as well. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The mango's are in season here, and we are eating so many! The fruit here is incredible!! I wish I could share some with all of you!! I love Bolivia!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and that you all remember that you are in my prayers. Moroni 8:3... I always have you in my prayers!
Have a great week!

Preach the Gospel! It rocks! :)

Love, Hermana Arave

Priesthood blessings

May I first start out with a miracle.

This week, we went to go visit a Less active who had a baby just five days earlier. 

When we arrived, all was in chaos. We learned that their three year old daughter had pulled the baby who was resting on the bed... off the bed and across the room. The baby screamed once, and didn't wake up after that. Frantic, Hermana Paula (the mom) was trying to wake up her 5 day old son. With tears streaming down her face, she pleaded her son to wake up... to look at her.. to do something. He wasn't moving at all. Only breathing lightly. Helpless, me and my companion looked at each other. At the same time, an idea came to us both. A BLESSING. Her husband doesn't have the right priesthood, So, we ask Paula if she would be willing to call someone to give a blessing. She said yes. 

We call the closest priesthood holder. I am praying in my heart, begging my Father in Heaven to save this child. 

He comes, Gives the blessing. In the middle of the blessing, the baby takes a deeeeeep breath. he breathes out again... and wakes up.
I know that the priesthood is the power of God here on the earth today. I know it, I cannot ever deny it. Baby Benjamin is now fine. They took him to the clinic to check for damage, and nothing. There was nothing wrong, no signs of anything bad. God Works Miracles!! 

Secondly, this week I had an experience that changed my life. We were teaching another less active about the sacrament on Saturday. As the member with us testified, she said that she is marveled by each whip.. each drop of blood that Christ suffered for her. My mind was caught up in a blur as she continued speaking. I was suddenly placed in the day when I will see the face of my Savior. What will I do? what will I say? Without hesitation, I know I will fall at his feet and worship him. I will thank him in inadequate words for the sacrifice he made for me. But that day is so far away it seems. I can live in thanks NOW. I can show how grateful I am for his sacrifice by worthily participating in the sacrament weekly. I can show him, day by day, that his sacrifice was not in vain. And I can do that by making sure I am worthily participating in the sacrament each week. I know that my Redeemer lives. I KNOW IT. I know it with all my heart, and I am so grateful for his sacrifice for me. I know He lives. 

This week was wonderful. Words cant describe the changes that have happened deep inside my heart.My mission has changed who I am. it has changed my life. I know God is there, he answers prayers, he knows us individually. 

I Love this gospel.

May you all have a wonderful week, and feel the hand of God in your life daily. 

Love, Hermana Arave

Adios La Villa... HOLA TROMPILLO!!

Well, I was right! It was my time to go! But, my first twenty minutes into my new area, and I just knew... it was my time to go. I am needed elsewhere! I had been praying to love my new area as much as La Villa, and my prayers were answered! I absolutely love Trompillo!!! But, someone asked me how I survived La Villa... I guess it is dangerous there? haha

So do you remember Helen? Well, as I said goodbye to her, she asked my name. It being my last day, I was able to tell her. As I said goodbye the last time, she ran up and gave me something... She is naming her daughter Alexia. I bawled like a baby. For sure, a really hard goodbye. But, it was a good time I had there. I will always remember it, but I am supposed to be somewhere else now!!
This week, me and my new companion, Hna Nahuel, were walking down a street. All of our appointments for the next two hours fell through. We walked past a field of guys playing.. Shirtless (ew) and decided to avoid it, so we took the long way around . Just as we turned the corner, IT STARTED POURING HARDER THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN!! So beautiful!!! haha We were soaked in a matter of seconds... I loved it, and so I just let it come down on me! haha my companion doesn't like the rain, and so she hid under the patio of someone, laughing at me. haha :) Then, a man came out of the house she was at... "Hey, you girls are going to get sick!!" and invited us in. We asked if there was a woman home, he shook his head. He was with his children, and his mom, but his mom was sleeping. and she cant hear or see. So we just are hiding under his patio... waiting for the rain to stop... and he brings out  two chairs for us, and a glass of somo for us! Then went back inside. As we finished the somo, the rain let up. We thanked him for his kindness, and then felt the need to introduce ourselves. Turns out, he has been feeling the need to go to church and had been praying for an answer. God works in mysterious ways. We have an appointment with his wife and his family and him this next week.

Yesterday, we were invited to lunch with a member family.. so we go! To start, she gave us a huge bowl of soup... "yay" I thought.. "This is all lunch is!!"

why did I think that?? I'm in Bolivia. It is never just one helping of food.

They then gave us a plate WITH A MOUNTAIN OF FOOD.

We were in a lot of pain after that.... but it was good!! Just a lot! hahaha I love it here! The people are wonderful, the roads are beautiful, and the rain is super hot. hahaha:)
I love you all! Have a good week!!!

Hermana Arave

I saw a monkey!!!!!!!!!!

Well folks! This will be short, I´m almost out of time! As you can read, I SAW A MONKEY!! PEOPLE HERE HAVE THEM AS PETS. They started popping out all over the place this week! I took lots of photos!! ha ha

Transfers are this week, tomorrow actually. Super nervous! I have almost six months here, so it isn't looking good that I´ll be staying. but, I'll go where the Lord needs me!

We found a few wonderful new families this week! And ALL OF THEM have a baptismal date!!! They have seriously been so prepared!! I know the Lord has great plans for them!
well, I´m really sorry for how short this is.... ha ha wow. this is horrible. but, it has been a good week, and I haven't died yet!!! the humidity just about gets me... but I'm now drinking... three liters... of water each day. and I still run out. it is so hot here!!!! ha ha I love you all! have a wonderful week!!! remember who you are!!!

Love, Hermana Arave

 Bless someone's heart for posting not one but two pictures of our dear Alex on her Facebook wall. I was so excited to see a picture I couldn't resist putting them on the blog for her. Her post is short anyway so it's fine right? These have nothing to do with her post and I don't know the story behind them but here they are anyway.

I am a daughter of God

Lately, I have come to the startling realization that before my mission, I didn't have a FIRM testimony that I was a daughter of a king. A literal daughter of God. This week has been so wonderful. Through a series of events and tender mercies, my testimony of this truth is growing! It is growing and it is the most beautiful knowledge I have! Because with this knowledge, comes the confirming witness that the Gospel is true! Joseph Smith restored the true church, and Christ is at the head. We do have a prophet, and he does receive revelation! The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ, and It brings miracles into the lives of those who read it's pages! I hope you all understand your worth as a CHILD of God. Someone who has more power and love than can ever be imagined.

I am sad to say that I really.. cant remember much of what happened this week. but one thing is above all... God gave us miracles!! Our investigators started reading, our  less actives started progressing and relighting that flame of a testimony, and we found so many golden new investigators!!! People that we can feel are ready to hear the gospel.

And my companion lost her name tag... hahahaha so that is super funny!:) also, the wind robbed a few of my clothes I had just washed last Monday. I have no idea where they went. We have asked neighbors... and the landlord... and nothing. haha! I am just praying that if someone needs clothes, they find them in the wind! haha :)

Yesterday was election day here in Bolivia, so we couldn't leave the house! but! I had some really good experiences!! for all of you who are preparing to serve, who have your call, who are waiting for your call, or waiting to turn in your papers. PLEASE READ "THE FOURTH MISSIONARY". I promise you will learn something! It was such a huge blessing when I read that talk yesterday!!

I love you all, and hope your week is filled with laughter ad fun! Enjoy!
Love, Hermana Arave

Palo Santo...

Once upon a time we went to go visit our dear investigator Cecilia... She has been working like crazy trying to buy a diaper for her newborn child. This night, she happened to be working on chopping wood.. from a tree that is named the Palo Santo.. I dont know what it is in English. Imagine it, three girls, in the light of two cell phones, chopping wood, talking about the miracles she has seen in her life since the missionaries came. It was honestly, one of the best experiences of my Life!

Remember the family from last week? well, Monday we had a lesson with them planned, and they weren't home... we stopped by Tuesday... nothing... Wednesday.... Thursday... FRIDAY WE FINALLY FOUND THEM. And, as it turns out, they are moving. they were leaving Friday at 10 at night... we caught them just in time to say goodbye, and gather their information to send to the elders in the new area where they are moving to. It was such a sad night... but they will continue to receive the lessons!!! :) they are so excited to continue learning!! 

I love that the authorities are able to speak in their own language now! When they spoke in Spanish, us gringos (who got to watch in English) RAN AS FAST AS WE COULD to the other rooms so we could watch in Spanish!! :) ha ha it was super fun! :) 

WE taught a girl this week, who told us she wants to be baptized!! When we told here there really was the eternities, they really did exist, she was so happy!! She told us she wants to do everything possible to be able to get to the eternities with her husband and new daughter!! Ah! :):) 

I learned a lot about the enabling power of the atonement this week. One scripture I found that sums it up very very well, is Isaiah 40:29-31. HE really does give us the strength to go that extra step when we think we are going to fall! 

I love you all, have a wonderful week!!! 

Hermana Arave

My first baptism!

So, I  saw my very first baptism this past week! Helen Lazarte Balderrama was baptized and confirmed a member    exactly  6 months from the day I was set  apart to be a missionary!  And,   She couldnt be happier! and because she is so happy, I am happy! It was such an amazing experience, to see someone I loved with all my heart making covenants with her Father in Heaven...  Opening the door to many many many more   blessings and  covenants in the future!  It was honsetly, the  best day of my life. The wait is worth it!  I wish I could send pictures!  I just hope you all can imagine it!:) haha  

  This week, we went to  contact a reference that we had received, and we knocked on the wrong door. We began talking, and it turns out, that this young mom, her sister and  FOUR OF HER NEIGHBORS  have all been  trying to find a church to go to. They  searched in the bible for instructions on how to pray, and have been praying to know which church to go to for about  two months. We showed up, and they told us  that they KNOW that   this is different from all the other churches. We taught them how to pray, and it was the SWEETEST thing of my life!!!! Only three of them know how to read, and they don't understand a lot. WE have to use  really simple language with them, and  it takes a while to explain one principle, but they soak up every word we say! They came to Helen´s baptism, and  they  said "that was different than other churches.  But it feels more right than other churches too." As we were teaching them, the thought kept coming to my mind, a phrase of a blessing I had  received a while  before I came on my mission. that the people i would be teaching were being prepared in that moment (the moment of the blessing). How can I describe the peace I felt in realizing that  these people are a fulfilment of that blessing? 

It is getting hot here, and I have to carry my  2L  water bottle with me every day... or I die. hahaha I drink all of it, so I gues it is a good thing!!! But man, it is so stinkin hot here!:)  

Also, one of our investigators told us taht Christ CAN'T come again... cause aliens took him away after his death and ressurrection. Wow... that was a first! it was almost all I  could do to not  laugh..!! but, I held myself together! :)    

I had a relly cool study this week. eeach day seemed to tie into the  day before, and guide me into the next day.  But I found one verse that I loved!!!    It is Alma 49:14. read it,    ponder it, and then read it again  taking away the specific names.  The weaknesses we have can be made strong through constand effort and through the help of the Lord.  This is soooo     true! and every day I  am reminded of this!  We can become better, stronger, and more able, if we have the Lord on our side!!
I hope you all remember it! I  hope you all have a wonderful week and feel the love of your Father in Heaven!!! :)

 Stay safe! 

Love, Hna Arave

Miracle!!!

OKAY GUYS, THIS WEEK ROCKED!!

First, I went to the doctor. I had something eating at my foot and it was making it so I wouldn't walk very long without my foot bleeding or burning or something else horrible... so I finally went to the doctor... She looked at my foot for about two seconds (I wish I was kidding) and then gave me four different medications... but, it is healing rapidly, so what do I have to complain about?! :) At first I was a tad put off.. she told me how it started wasn't important, looked at me for two seconds, and then thought she knew what it was....? what? but I´m okay now, cause I can walk!!! :) 

Second, HELEN IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a lesson with her, and she began talking about how she isn't ready to be baptized... then, as she was talking, something changed... it was like she could see the change in herself.. and she realized how strong her testimony really was!! Then we felt the need to ask her to be baptized on the 27th... she paused... then said "can it be earlier? the 24th?" oh my word I was so happy!!!!!!! :) I have six months this week... and time has flown! 

I love you all! have a great week! 

Hermana Arave

Our golden Investigator... Isnt so golden

SO we had an interesting experience this week!

A few weeks ago, A lady showed up at church... the bishop told us that she wanted the lessons, and she wanted to be baptized. WHAAAT!!! We finally found her at home this week, after a month of trying, and a month of her going to church!! We go in, And we are super excited... I am playing in my mind the Golden moment when we give the Golden invitation to be baptized... and she says the Golden answer that YES! this is what she has been waiting for her whole life!!! .....................................

And she is already a member. .......................................

I dont know how the Bishop got his information, but it was a tad off... hahahaha 

so sorry it is short! my keyboard is so broken, and it has been a crazy email time! love you all, have a great week!! 

Love, Hermana Arave

Note from Mom...This one is a week late due to our computer being out of commission. It's better now C:

Lots of thinking, lots of people, and lots of opportunity!

Hooray for pictures!!!!!! At least one C:

So, with my companion healing from her tooth extraction, we didn't get the chance to  work all day every day, but she is feeling better! :) I had a lot of time this week to study and think and change things up! Every study I had this week, I learned the same thing... THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS to the people God wants to return to him! Everyone gets the same opportunity to repent, to be baptized, to come back to church, to learn again, to relight that flame of a testimony! Everyone gets the same chance. The same opportunity. There are no exceptions! I think God had something for me to learn! And as I really had this on my mind all week, and put it into practice,  I felt more power in my day, more strength to finish out, more motivation to  be bold, more urgency to proclaim this gospel!!

Also, I learned that we wont see the fruits of out labors right away. I thought I knew that, but this week, no one wanted it. haha NO one wanted to progress, people asked us to stop visiting, People told us they dont want to do the things we are asking them to do. Then yesterday, I was sitting in sacrament meeting, thinking on my week and a wave of sadness hit me. It was a "whyyyy am I here? why was I called here? I feel like what I am doing is NOTHING..." moment. which, those happen a lot! :) But then the lord blesses us with a small tender mercy, and we are reminded that He has a plan, just wait a little longer. Hold on just a tad more. Tighten your grip just a little, and the blessings will come when He sees fit. This time, it was in the form of a testimony. One of the members bore her testimony on how my companion and I had gone to visit her just in her weakest moment, just when she didn't think she could go much longer. That was such a small thing we did, that ended up being the answer to her prayer, just like she was for mine yesterday.

This week we had to take a taxi to get home in time, and when we were sitting in the taxi, I felt the need to ask the taxi man how his day was. Weird, but that is okay! ha So I ask, and we begin talking to him! It turns out that he is a member! He has been inactive for quite some time, but this past few months, he has been feeling like God is calling him back to church. He is scared to go back, but he said " I just feel this urgency... this urgency to return.." PLEASE COME BACK!!! It was such an incredible moment as he shared with us his feelings, fears, and desires to come back. So we got his information, and sent it off so someone could go visit  him. I hope that the missionaries go, and that he follows through with the desires that he has!
I am so happy to be a missionary. The times are changing, and people are being prepared! I am so lucky to have this opportunity!! I love being a missionary! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week!! I love you all, stay safe!

Hermana Arave

PS, CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin Kaisha who will be turning in her mission papers in the next few weeks!!!!!:):) This is the greatest! :)