Everyone, meet One of th newest member of our ward in Bolivia!

Everyone, meet One of th newest member of our ward in Bolivia!

Alex Brian Espinoza Velasquez!

This week was amazing, it was filled with spiritual preparations, amazing spirit-filled interviews, and incredible testimonies. As we did some last preparations for Alex´s baptism, we were able to feel the spirit so strong, testifying that he really is a Converted Disciple!

On pioneer day, Alex particiipated in a youth activity the stake had. Each ward prepared a pioneer dance, and they all presented their dances Friday night! IT was awesome! we were able to see our ward, because we live right behind the chapel! They did such a good job! Alex has a growing love for the pioneers, and each time we talk to him, he has a new story to share wiht us that he found. it is incredible!

Then,saturday came! we went in the morning to fill the font with the elders (they had a baptism as well) and guess what? the water doesnt work. at all..... AAAAHHH!!! we decided to call a few members to get buckets to fill up across the street... and just as we pulled out the  phone.. THE WATER VALVE OPENED!!!:) Woo! It wasnt warm water (those water heater s as well were broken...) but Alex came out happy and smiling!!! :) As he shared his testimony, I was amazed. IT wasnt a thank-you-mony. It wasnt a "I´m gratful for the missionaries" talk... Instead, he bore his testimony about how he knows that he is a son of God, how it was that he gained that knowledge, and his sure testimony about how this IS the only true path leading to eternal life.

What do you do in gospel principles when it is cold??

This week was probably one of the coldest i have ever experienced in Bolivia.

and there is no heat in the church building here. So, when no one participates in the church classes because of the cold, our gospel principles teacher makes us run in place and do jumping jacks in class... But, I helped a bit yesterday, cause then people started participating!!!

This week, Alex Espinoza will be getting baptized! He will get baptized on my 16 month mark! Crazy, right? He is so prepared. This week, we were able to have some amazing lessons with him... and one of them stuck out above the rest. He began tearing up and telling us how badly he wants to go to the temple and be sealed with his family. He said they have a date set already, and how badly he wishes it would come faster. Then, he looked up suddenly, and said with a grin "Hey, Can we sing "Families Can Be Together Forever??" haha this kid is so funny!!! He is so prepared to be baptized! When we trust in the lord, He gives us miracles! Alex is one of these! this has all happened so fast, but he is so excited!

This week, many of my mission friends gave their last testimony in a Multi Zone Conference. it was hard to see them say goodbye, and even harder to realize that I´ll be the next one up there. THis time has gone by so fast, but I´m so grateful to be here. I´m so happy as a missionary.

This week, I hope you all have chances to share the gospel!!!

Love, Hna Arave

Finding Disciples.

This week was one of the most stressful, but most rewarding weeks ever! We found a new investigator! Well, what actually happened, was a few months ago, when i was in the other area of this same ward, the hnas there received a referral for a young man named Alex (haha:)). They could never contact him... Last transfer, Me and Hna Verde received the SAME referral. We contacted him, but then I got sick with swine flu so we couldn't go... and we couldn't contact him after.... Then, HE SHOWED UP AT CHURCH. And last Sunday we found him for the first time, face to face! We set up an appointment... and now, Alex is praying to be baptized on the 25! Last Sunday, we held a fast as a mission, to find two Disciples for each companionship, people we can teach, baptize, and send off to the temple! God´s timing is perfect. Alex has two sisters who got baptized the week Hna Verde and I received his name. This past Saturday, his parents, who live pretty far away (Alex is studying here in the University) got married, and got baptized on the same day. Alex went to their baptism and wedding. We visited with him the day he left, and he asked us a very interesting question "Hermanas, is it possible that someone wont be with their family forever in the Celestial kingdom if they dont accept God´s plan? meaning, their family wont be complete...?" The spirit confirmed to my companion and i that he was thinking of his family.. he is now the only non member in his family. We have faith that God will confirm his answer, that he will be able to go with his family to be sealed forever!!!

Yesterday, my companion and i came early to church to greet the people as they came in... A young man, about ten minutes early burst through the door and said "hermanas!!! where are they preparing the sacrament??! this is my first time passing it and I need to find them so they can help me!!!!!!" IT was the cutest thing!! haha Then, This same young man was the one who passed it to us.. and he had the biggest grin on his face. It brought so much joy to my heart to see a young man so eager to fulfill his priesthood responsibilities. I am so grateful that he understands the importance of what he is doing. He will grow to be a fine young man. 

I hope all of you have a wonderful week, and that you see the hand of God! 

Love,Hna Arave

We didn´t do anything!!

So to explain the title…. This past month we have been working with a less active member named Rossy, WHO IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. We found her just as she had her hand grasping for the Iron Rod… (1 Nephi 8). We did absolutely nothing, the spirit had worked in her before we showed up. It had led her to repentance, led her to going back to church, led her to read her scriptures, led her to change her life. I am completely convinced that the only reason we found her, is ´cause she just needed a little cheering on to take the next steps forward! We did nothing, God only worked his miracles in his own way! HE prepares the people! Alma 16:16 says that he gives his spirit to prepare the people to receive… I know this is true! I saw it this week! She had an interview with the bishop to say she was officially rescued, and then had another one a day later to get her temple recommend so she can go to the temple whenever the opportunity comes! WOW. She is such a good example. This week, as we visited with her, we asked her what was her “Iron Rod”. She responded “My Iron Rod is my Book of Mormon. And getting on my knees at night to talk with my Father. That is my Iron Rod.”  It was amazing. She has completely taken these steps because she wants to! I´m so proud of her!

SO my mission mom is training again! (her last transfer!) and my sister is Hna Dolbin, from Sandy, Utah! J Yay for white girls! Haha She is so great!

Today, I was studying in Mosiah 10 and 11… and in the last three verses of chapter 10, it says that the people who were fighting, under the direction of Zeniff,and they trusted in the Lord to help them. But in the first two verses of chapter 11, it says that King Noah, who didn’t walk in the ways of his father, Zeniff; led them to commit all sorts of sins and to be really bad people…. What changed in these few verses? Why did they go from one extreme to the other? It got me thinking… If they would have had their roots planted, REALLY PLANTED, in the Gospel of Jesus Christ… they wouldn’t have accepted King Noah´s wicked ways. Maybe a lot of time has passed, and that is why they fell.. But that shouldn’t matter! Time should not matter when it comes to the conversion. Being really converted to the gospel has no time bomb! It has no limit! It is not good only for 10 years, or even 1 or 100. Being converted is a lifetime process, a lifetime commitment, and a walk with the Lord. I don’t think these people had their roots firmly planted where they should have been… Cause Zeniff blew one way, and they followed. King Noah blew another way, and they followed as well. We can’t let ourselves give into the whirlwinds of the World. I invite you all to make sure your roots are firmly planted where they should be! So that when the world says one thing, we aren’t blown about, without purpose, and without a destination.

I hope you all have a great week, and I hope you all feel the Love of your Savior!

Love, Hna Arave