Wedding & Baptisms!

Hello, this week went by so fast and was such a great week!! Lots of miracles and lots of laughs. 

Well pday last week was so fun. After writing home we went to this fancy resort. It was so pretty.The biggest temptation of the day was the swimming pool. All of us wanted to jump right in. Everyone joked about accidently pushing people in. Presidene and Hermana Spjut came and spent the afternoon with us. We all played capture the flag! I was guarding our flag with another sister missionary, Hna Escobar. All of our team were in jail. We only had 4 sisters left playing on our team and about 8 or 9 elders on the opposite team trying to capture our flag.The game lasted for quite a while. In the end, the elders grabbed the flag and ran away. Good efforts though for us hermanas though. We put up a good fight! Presidente had a fall while we were playing.Ooops, but he did not get hurt. After playing we all had lunch together. It was a lot of fun! Hermana Spjut and I also played in the sprinklers a little bit. We cant swim but we can play in the the sprinklers, right?

As a mission we have a goal that is Family spotted, family contacted. In Spanish, Familia vista, familia contactada. In our zone meeting we put our numbers on the board. My companion and I contacted 55 families during the week. Nobody believed us because all of the other numbers were 8'28 families. Out of all of the 55 families, nobody was very positive but we know that if we talk to every family, we are going to be blessed in a different way. And sure enough, that night we contacted a house that is next to ours. They welcomed us right in and come to find out, they want to join a church and they want to attend ours. An older couple, their daughter who is middle aged, and her two daughters, 6 and 17 years old. I know without a doubt that they are a blessing because of our efforts to talk with families. If we are obedient, the blessings will come.

 We also did baptism interview questions with Carmen and Edwin. One of the questions is if they have committed a serious crime. Carmen responds to us and says in a normal, serious voice, "one day I didnt shower". It caught me off guard but it was so funny. Her timing was perfect. They are such a funny couple!

So on Wednesday, Carmen and Edwin had their real interviews. My companion and I,Carmen and Edwin were all in the church waiting for the elder to get there. This church building is all fenced in and has a gate that needs a control to even get into the parking lot. So as we were waiting, we got a phone call. The elders asked us to find the person with the control to let them in. It was then that we realized everyone who was there when we arrived, had left. Yeah, we got locked inside the church with our investigators. Luckily we have cell phones and we called the bishop. He saved the day and the interviews went great!

Friday was the BEST DAY EVER. We had a wedding and a family baptism. Before the wedding, we helped the Relief Society make sandwiches. You would not believe the amount of mayo they use. Nasty! Then we headed to the church. My companion and I washed and filled the baptism font and set up chairs for the baptism and also for the wedding. The Relief Society decorated for the wedding. Simple and beautiful. Carmen and Edwin showed up late with two pick up trucks full of family riding in the back. We greeted them then went to the bathroom with Carmen to help her get dressed and do her make up. Carmen was finally ready and then we couldnt find Edwin, his truck wasnt in the church. He went to go buy his own ring haha anyway, they played the wedding music as she walked down the isle with her grandpa. The wedding was nice. We took photos and then they changed their clothes for the baptism. The bishop baptized the both of them. Carmen went first, then Edwin. Such a special day for them and for me! They were baptized as a family and now have the gospel as the base in their relationship. The baptism was very special. Then they cut their cake and had their first dance. People were still dancing and having a good time at 9 when we had to leave so we searched for Carmin and Ediwn to say goodbye. They were already in their truck. We ran to say goodbye. We waved them off on their way and a member yelled, "we want you both here Sunday morning, early!" Those crazy lovebirds. I laughed that they left their reception early without saying goodbye to anyone. Family and members from the ward were still inside!It was such a special day. Like I said, BEST DAY EVER. 

I hope all is well back at home. I miss and love you all! Go share the gospel with a friend. :)

Lots of love, 

Hermana Ferre 

3/16/2015

Hello everyone, happy Monday! This week was a good one. The weeks keep going by faster and faster, but I am happy it is Pday. 

So this week on Tuesday we had our District and Zone meeting. It was one of the most spiritual meetings.At the beginning of each meeting, a companionship shares a "milagro" . So Elder Dunshee began to tell us that one day in the week, all of their plans and appointments fell through.They were walking around without knowing really where to go. They ended up in an unplanned street and there was a man. They introduced themselves and the man told them that he needed help. They went inside his house and began talking. The man told the elders that he had been planning to take his life. He decided to wait because he had a thought come to his mind saying that "there is hope". The next day the elders talked to him in the street. Elder Dunshee began to cry and express his feelings about the experience. To that man, those two elders are angels who were placed in his path to change and bless his life. It just strengthens my testimony to know that really we are just instruments in the Lords hands. Our plans may fall through but we are always being guided to who needs us at that moment.

Toward the end of our meeting, we shared pictures of our family. We passed them around for everyone to see. (The Elders were all impressed with my dads mustache). After the pictures, they had a few missionaries share things about their family. One Elder stood up and began to explain that he doesn{t have a family. His photo was a group photo of missionaries and he said that we were his family. His parents both passed away when he was 12 and his siblings aren{t really around. He started to cry. The Spirit was so strong. We talked about how much our families mean to us, the importance of family, our goals and hopes for our future family,and all that jazz. Then they related it to how we are a family here. As a zone, we are a family. We are all in the same situation and have a lot of the same problems and struggles in the mission but just like our families back at home, we are here to support and love each other.I loved it! And I love both of my families! It was a spiritual and emotional meeting.

We had intercambios this week. I went to a different area and worked with Hermana Cole. It was fun. The best part is that we went to the Bishops house that night to celebrate a birthday! The bishop, his wife, his two kids, and 6 missionaries were there and we ate some chocolate cake. I lucked out because it wasnt my bishop or my area!

My Friday the 13th was good. Something unlucky but funny happened. We were walking down the street and a bus passed us. As it passed, it went through a puddle and nasty street water splashed on my companion and I. It was just like in the movies. haha 

So we are planning a wedding. The first wedding I have been able to help plan. It is going to be a simple but beautiful day for them. Carmen and Edwin. They are going to be married Friday night in the church then they are going to be baptized. It is going to be so special. A family who together are making the decision to follow the Savior. I feel so blessed to be a part of their progress and seeing them change and better their lives.They are a young couple always teasing and joking. A few days after teaching the Word of Wisdom, we called them about an activity. Right as we were about to hang up, Edwin yells through the phone that they were about to go make and drink coffee. It was funny, those teasers. 

Life is good and God really is great. I love this gospel and I love being able to teach and share the gospel every single day! 

Here is a scripture for your Monday morning:

And now, my bretheren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance, But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear,and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissiv, patient, full of love, and all long-suffering, Having faith on the Lordñ having a hope that ye shall recieve eternal lifeñ having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest. Alma 13: 27-29

Have a great week! Lots of love from El Salvador! 

Hermana Ferre 

Life is Good! 3/9/2015

Well...life continues to be great! :) It was a good week and it flew by! 

Last week on p-day after writing home we went grocery shopping. Then we took the groceries home and went shopping for clothes. I didnt buy anything but my companion found a skirt. A return missionary works there and he was so helpful and chatting with us the whole time. When we were in the grocery store, a lady asked if I wanted to try Tang Tea. I didnt hear the tea part so she gives it to me and I finally recognize that I didnt want to drink it. It was just in one of those cheap paper cups so as we shopped, it started to leak through. I was holding it with my hand but even that wasnt working. I felt like a 3 year old, making a mess in the store. Ooops, laugh it off! 

On Tuesday we worked with Presidente. The plan  was to meet in the church at 2pm. We called Presidente at 140pm to see if he was on his way and he told us he was there waiting. My companion and I were eating lunch and as soon as he told us that, we threw our food in the fridge and ran out the door. It was the quickest we have ever left the house but still managed to get a prayer in. In the prayer I asked for a way for us to get there quickly because we live far from the church. We left the house, walking quickly and just as we got to the bus stop, there was a bus that was going to pass the church. The guy was very friendly and talking to me in English. Anyway, we made it there in about 10 minutes. Heavenly Father answered my prayer once again. I know He is always there to listen and answer prayers, even when all we need is a ride to the church. We worked with Presidente for about 3 hours. One of our lessons was with an inactive member.She sells these things that are called Palletas.They are popsicles. So we bought and ate a popsicle with Presidente. It was a good afternoon!

Hermana Angelita invited us over for dinner and we ate the usual- pupusas. It is going to be a sad day when I have to come home and there won´t be pupusas available. 

On Thursday we had a multizona with Presidente. I learned a lot in the meeting. My leaders really focused in how to improve our daily and weekly planning to have more success. Also how important it is to work with the members. As missionaries, we wont always be here to support and teach out investigators so the members need to be involved and build relationships with the invstigatorrs as well."We are all in this together" (High school musical)...all of us are working together in the work of the Lord. Members and missionaries. Each of us are a disciple of Christ and have the responsibility to spread His gospel to all of the world. Every time we have a meeting with Presidente and Hermana Spjut it is like Christmas. I left the meeting with letters from home, OFF, a new shirt, my Liahona, food, and a CELL PHONE!! Thats right, life just got a whole lot easier. We finally got cell phones in each companionship.´Best day ever. Oh! As we ended the meeting we sang a hymn but the best part is that we sang it in English. How Firm a Foundation. I love English hymns! 

On Saturday we had an activity as a stake. It was to celebrate the anniversary of the Relief Society. The activity began with a live band then we watched a few clips of pioneers and Emma Smith as well. Each ward presented something spiritual and then a country dance. It was fun helping my ward prepare. They wanted to learn a country dance so I taught them Boot Scootin Boogie. They did great performing the dance. Each dance was to country music and I thought it was funny because each song was in English and most songs were old country. I had an hermana come up to me and say "I love country" just because I am gringa. haha It was a fun activity!

Yesterday as we called people to remind them and passed by their houses, nobody opened the door nor answered their phones. I was a little bit bummed because we were only going to have 2 or 3 investigators in church. As we got there from picking people in the Bishops van, 2 of our investigators were there and they brought 3 new family members. We ended up having 8 investigators in Sacrament meeting. I know that the Lord is blessing us. If I do my part as the missionary, the Lord with bless me and the investigators who are prepared. 

"And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God." D&C 42:6  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 

Things are great! There are blessings all around us. Remember to pray and study the scriptures each day. I love you all! :)

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Ferre 

3/2/2015 Happy Monday!

Hello hello!

Well this week went by pretty fast. I am happy to say that WE HAVE A FECHA!! On Tuesday we contacted a man who was sitting in his house. We got talking and it turns out that he is a member, but that he is inactive. We were about to leave and his granddaughter walked to the door. We visited with her and she was interested.Her name is Carmen and she is 19. We made another appointment her and taught the Restoration. We invited her to be baptized and she told us yes. We invited her to an activity and to church and she attended both. She is living with her boyfriend and told us she is willing to get married so that she can be baptized. So we get to plan a wedding and a baptism! Her baptism date is March 21st. The funny thing is that the Elders had contacted the same guy and gave him a Book of Mormon. Then we passed by 2 days later to the same house and found Hermana Carmen. It just shows that the Lord is constantly preparing people and depending on His timing we will find them. It is the best feeling to watch people change. To see them in their willingness to follow the Savior. To repent and follow Him into the waters of baptism. "Angels are preparing the hearts of the people and God is preparing the way".

Our other investigator, Angelita, is going to be baptized as well. She has a date for March 7th. She practically is a member. Always in church, always in the activities, reading the scriptures and other books by the church. She has problems with her health and lives alone so Saturday night we passed by her house to check in. All she could do was open the door then headed back to the couch. Because of her health problems she had a super bad temp and was shaking. We tried to doctor her up. (it filled the void for my time away from the CNA life). We waited with her while she slept then we called the bishop and our ward mission leader to give her a blessing. I am so thankful for the Priesthood and for the chance my companion and I had to do a little bit of what Christ would be doing if He were on the earth. 

On Saturday we had a ward activity. Un Show de Talentos. It was a mission activity and the purpose was to have each member bring a friend or family member who wasn{t a member so that we as missionaries could meet them. We had pamphlets from all the lessons, Books of Mormons, and Liahonas that the investigators could choose from. Then each organization in our ward had to perform 1 or 2 talents. It was a cool activity. Everyone had a good time, a lot of laughing.As missionaries we sang Soy un Hijo de Dios accompanied by a guitar.

We worked with one of our hermana leaders on Thursday. We had a good day together. The funny part is that we only have two chairs and two beds in our house so for studying, planning, and sleeping she was on the floor. I felt bad but at least she got to enjoy our air conditioning for a night haha.  We contacted 52 people that day. 52! 

Things are good here in El Salvador. I am so thankful for this chance I have to be serving a mission and to be surrounded by the amazing people here. I hope all is well and that you guys aren´t freezing too badly!! Happy March :)

Lots of love! 

Hermana Ferre 

 

Photos:

Our Bishop during the Talent Show

A dog hanging out on the roof

My companion and I eating lunch