February 29, 2016

Buenos Dias!

How are you all??  Things are still pretty good here in Peru :)  Its REALLY hot, like always haha but i love it :)

It was another good week!  There are sooo many goood things happening here! :)

We have been really focusing on working with the members this week and it has turned our really well!  The stake we are in has the goal of 50 lessons with member every week for every missionary.... so sometimes it gets pretty crazy trying to find members everyday!  But its been working out okay so far :)

This week we found such a golden investigator!  His name is Gean Karlo.  He is only 14 years old but honestly acts like he is 20.  About 2 years ago he was taught by the missionaries and still remembers a lot.  He actually lives right in front of our room haha.  So the first time we talked with him he was sooo excited.  He is such a spiritual young kid.  He accepted a baptismal date the first lesson! :)  His mom is also super supportive.  She actually went with us to a baptism of our district and loved it!  She also would like to be baptized but shes not married...... But we are going to try and help her out with that :)  The second time we had gone to visit Gean, he had read the book of mormon and understood all that he had read!  We also found out that one of his best friends is a member and so we had him go with us to the lesson too and it helped us out a lot!  We have really high hopes for him :)

This week we also did intercambios!  I was with Hermana Spainhower!  She went to college at dixie so it was so fun to talk about St. George and the people we knew haha!  It was a really fun day.  A thing i love about the mission is that i really feel like i am making life long friends.  There are soooo many great sisters here and it will be soo fun to get together with them someday!

I found out some bad news as well this week.  My favorite convert from my second area, Hermano Victor, passed away.  It was such a surprise too.  I talked to my old bishop from that ward and thats how i found out.  I was pretty shocked.  But it was interesting because just a few days before i was talking to someone about the Plan of Salvation and death actually.  But we were talking about how really its not a sad thing, it feels like it, but really it is just the end of this earth  life.  We will all have to experience it at somepoint. And we talked about lots of other things too but i think that conversation really helped me prepare for that.  Hes great and i know hes in a better place now.

I forgot to write notes down for what i was going to write about so thats why i am all scattered today haha.  Sorry!  

We also had an awesome activity to help us get references this week!  So what we did, is we had a bunch of oreos and we invited all of the members that came to take a pack and go hide it somewhere around the church.  After, we told them that we were going to find them.  So we went around and looked and found only 2.  Then we asked them to come with us and kind of guide us to where they hid their oreos.  Then, with their help, we were able to find all of them!  We then explained to them that that is how it is with their friends!  They know their friends but we dont.  Us looking alone, maybe we will be able to find 1 or 2 of them, but with their help we will be able to find lots!  As a result, we got lots of references and lots of them offered to acompany us!  So i think it was a success :) 

Transfers are this week also and i am SUPER nervous!  I am pretty sure Hermana Sandison will be leaving me.....  And i am super nervous for who my last companion will be!  I have been praying super hard this week.  I just want someone who will work hard and motivate me and just be my friend...  But we will see what the Lord has planned!

I was also able to finish the Book of Mormon again this week.  IT IS SOOO TRUE!  I have a goal to finish it one more time before i get home :)  We will see what happenes! :)

Well, that is it for my week...  Sorry i was super boring this week, i will do better next week!

Love you all tons! 

Love,

Hermana Lauren Jane Mitchell :)

February 22, 2016

Feliz Lunes!

It finally sounds like you had a normal week haha.  I feel like you guys are always doing something crazy without me haha! :)  

Okay well my week was another CRAZY week!  I am kinda glad its over!  But it went by super fast.  Time goes by faster and faster!  Only 2 more fast sundays left mom haha :)

Okay well the craziest thing we had this week was a surprise baptism!  So you all remember Alex right?  Well for some reason a few weeks ago he literally fell off the face of the earth.  He entered the military so we hadnt met with him in forever.  But this week we finally got back in touch with him and he was soooo ready to be baptized!  He had given up everything he has had  a problem with and has been clean for pretty much a month straight.  He just told us that he wanted to do it and that he was ready!  So we set up an interview and he passed and he was baptized on saturday!  It was so amazing to see his face when he came up out of the water.  He just had the biggest smile on his face and we could see how much he changed and how happy he was.  He says he has goals to go on a mission so we are going to be helping him with that!  But the only bad part of this is he didnt go to church on sunday to get confirmed haha!  I guess he had another committment that he forgot about.  But we went and talked with him and he will for sure come next week haha :)  So that was a fun part of our week :)

We also had our multizone conference this week!  It was my last one... so i had to give my last testimony.  That was pretty hard for me.  But it went really well!  As sister leaders we had to do a training example in front of everyone!  I was super scared haha but it also went really well :)  Me and Hermana Sandison work really well together :)  

Then on Thursday we had our sister training!  It was sooo fun but soooo crazy haha!  All the sisters in the mission together in the mission house....  yeah it was interesting :)  But we learned soo much!  Hna. Rasmussens friend from california was here visiting and gave the greatest talk about being BOLD!  It was something i definitly needed to hear.  She told us that sometimes sister missionaries often get in the habit of being visiting teachers and we are there and we talk and we are good friends but then we get too afraid to ask them to repent and be baptized because who wants to go up to their friends and tell them to repent haha!  She told us that we get out of our comfort zones and tell them the things they need to hear.  I think that helped us out a lot.  We definitly saw a difference this week from putting it in action.  

Last night we also saw a miracle.  We have really been looking for new investigators with REAL potential to progress.  We recieved a reference from the Elders a few weeks ago but every time we passed by he wasnt there.  But saturday we were finally able to contact him and yesterday we had our first lesson with him.  His name is Gerardo.  He is GOLDEN!  He has had contact with the missionaries before.  He told us that a while ago he was in a really hard situation.  His mom had been diagnosed with cancer and he was just so worried about everything.  In that time is when he met the elders and they gave him a blessing.  He said that within that month, his mom called him and told him that the cancer had somehow disappeared.  He said that he was shocked and then remembered the blessing that he recieved and he is convinced that thanks to that blessing, he mom was saved.  He is so willing to learn and wants to really know if the church is true.  We were able to put a baptismal date with him and he is super excited to learn more :)

Well, that is the craziness of my week.  Gosh i love it here!  I cant believe that i have been here for 16 months now....  Its gone by too fast!  

Momma,  i will send you the other things you need in a different email :)  

I love you all soooo much!  Remember to be BOLD and share the gospel with someone this week.  You will CHANGE THEIR LIVES! :)

Love,

Hermana Lauren Jane Mitchell :)

February 15, 2016

Momma!

Happy valentines day to you too!  We kind of celebrate it here.  Its not as big as in the US though.  People just drink here like always :)  But it was fun! :)  

This week was amazing!  I had one of the most spiritual experiences ever this week!  So we have 2 converts, Carlos and Brenda.  This week they both went and got their Patriarchal  blessings and wanted us to come!  So we went and talked to the Patriarch to see if it was okay and at first he said no, so it was like whatever we will wait outside, but after a minute he came out and said ´´Sister, i dont know why but I have the strongest feeling that you do need to be in here,´´  and let us in!  So during the blessings the spirit was soooo stong!  Brenda's was exactly what she needed and had some amazing blessings.  But, during Carlos´ blessing it was just... crazy.  So a few weeks ago Carlos was having a lot of problems.  On that Friday night at the church we just sat down and talked with him for like, i dunno... 2 hours maybe.  And he just talked and really explained everything that was going on and everything that he was thinking .  He cried and really just expressed how frustruated and alone he felt.  We gave him some scriptures to read and he felt a little better.  I was a little worried about him after that.  So during his blessing, oh my gosh, i dont even know how to explain it haha.  But every blessing and counsel that was in his blessing was about everything we had talked about that night.  It answered every question he had, gave him every promise he needed, and was honestly just for him.  Half way through I started to cry, which surprised me because I am not a crier!  But honestly in that moment I knew that God knew him and loved him.  I knew that He knew what hes going through and that he is not alone.  I felt how much God loved him and wanted  his success.  It was really such an amazing experience, to be able to get a glimpse through God's eyes how he sees and  feels not just about Carlos, but for all of us.  After that Carlos changed.  He now is more confident and his doubts are not a problem anymore.  One of his doubts was about the mission, but just last night he sent us a text and expressed how sure he was now about going on a mission.  God loves us!  Sometimes we might not feel like it, but he does.  He knows each and everyone of us and what we are going through and what we need.  He wants to help us and his arms are extended towards us, we just need to come to him. :)

This week we also found a new investigator that is soooo great.  His name is Esteuart.  He is 19 years old.  So we were getting to know him and we asked what he would like to do in the future.  His answer was ´´I would like to serve a misison for your church and preach the gospel´´.  That is something we LOVE to hear haha!  I guess he has a friend that is going to Argentina and he looks up to him a lot.  He does have a few doubts about the doctrine but we have a lot of hope for him.  He already has friends in our ward too so as far as fellowshiping goes, we got that down :)

The week we have 2 trainings with President!  The first one is tomorrow.  It is a mulitzone meeting, and since we are sister leaders we have to do practices in front of everyone...... not too excited about that haha but i am sure it will all work out okay :)  We also have a sister training for all the sisters in the mission in the mission home!  I am sure it will be a blast haha!  So this will definilty be a spiritually uplifting week :)

Today for pday we went to the BEACH!  I got sooooo sunburnt.  i am almost positive I am going to have skin cancer after this.  I always put on sun screen but with how it is here, it does not help much because after 5 minutes outside it comes off!  But we had fun playing soccer, and football :)

I am now realizing how little time I have left here.  It is super stressing me out..... But I am also excited for life i too haha. 

I love you all soooo much!  I hope that everyone is good and healthy :)  Remember to ALWAYS read your scriptures and pray!  Also, look for missionary oppertunities!  AND SHARE THEM WITH ME.  As of now you are all being heald accountable.  :)  Every member a missionary.  Dont forget it. :)

Have such an amazing week!  

Love,

Hermana Lauren Jane Mitchell :)

February 8, 2016

Happy Tuesday!

Sorry I wasn't able to write yesterday haha.  It was a crazy day! And it was superbowl sunday??? WHO WON?  Gosh no one gives me any information anymore haha.  Also yes I did finally get my package!  Thank you tons!  And  I got TONS of christmas cards haha and they still keep coming :)

Well it was another good week!  This week we were in a trio because another sister's compaion went home.  Her name is Hermana Ingram and it was super fun to be in a trio haha.  We probably speant way too much time talking but it was still super fun :)

So this week something awesome happened!  A couple weeks ago we talked to this guy on the street and went back to teach him a few times.  We even invited him to be baptized but the problem is, is that he doesn't live in our zone, he just works there!  So we passed his reference and he happened to live in the zone of the assistants!  So i guess they started teaching him and he is going to be baptized!  We were super excited about that!  We just wish he lived in our area haha.  His name is Juan.  He is super cool :)  We are for sure going to attend his baptism!  We go by every so often to check up on him as well at work :)

We found a few new investigators this week.  Not as many as usual in this area but they are all pretty solid :)  This week we are going to try to be creative a find even more :)  I am not sure exactly what we will do but we are thinking :) Also we found out that our convert Carlos has a whole flippin stampede of guinea pigs in the back of his house haha!  It is hilarous!  There are over 100 i think.  We got to hold them this week.  The sad thing is, is that they are used for food..... but they are super funny.  Hermana Ingram has the picture so when she sends it to me ill send it :)

So yesterday we went to canchaque!  It was sooo fun!  I will send pictures!  It was soooooo pretty!  Yes, there are parts of the Piura district that are pretty!  And cold!  We went with the other sisters and a couple members!  The elders were there but they were lame and left us haha but it was soooo fun! :)

This week i read a really good talk that i would like you to read if you get the time!  I think its called Follow-Up.  It is the the May 2014 ensign and it was given by M. Russell Ballard in the sunday morning session :)

And no mother i have not heard about this virus.....  i dont want to get sick!!!

And the most significant lession i have learned on my mission.... thats a hard one.  I have honestly learned so much.  I remember saying before i left that i wasn't going to change...  but honestly I have changed so much that sometimes I dont even know myself.  But it is the best thing for me.  I guess the greatest lesson i have learned is really just trusting in God!  Just understanding that he has a time, place, and plan for everything that happens.  That use to be really hard for me to understand and it was hard for me to have that kind of trust.  I guess it also just leads back to faith...  All my life I have struggled with faith.  In the mission as well.  It was just something I didn't understand.  But slowly but surely I have seen my faith grow and I think I finally learned and understood what faith really is.  It was super interesting actually, a week ago I was reading in my Patriarchal blessing and just noticed how much it mentions faith.  It was another testimony that God knows me and knows what I have trouble with and knows what i need help with.  Wow, the church is so true.  That is something I can say now without a doubt. :)

Well, that is it for my week.  I am going to send picutres!  Have such an amazing week in the USA!  I love you all sooo much! 

Love, 

Hermana Lauren Jane Mitchell :)

February 1, 2016

FELIZ FEBRERO!

You are right mother, january went by sooo fast!!!  It was one to remember though :)  I hope february is as good as january was!

It sounds like a crazy week you guys had as well!  Im glad that everything turned out alright though :)

My week was a lot calmer than the last week thankfully.  Tuesday Hna Sandison was sick so we were not able to get out... which was actually kinda nice but i also realized that i do not know how to do nothing anymore.  I just felt super anxious all day.  But it was good.  I slept a lot :)  I was happy the next day when we got to leave the room though :)

The rest of the week was super good though.  Thurday we got to go to our first leadership meeting in the mission home!  All the Zone Leaders and Sister Leaders from the whole mission were there.  We were able to talk about problems in the mission and numbers and it was all super interesting.  And we got to eat TACOS!  I didnt realize how much i missed normal food haha!  Also, Cole is a zone leader so i was able to see him!  It was suuuuuper weird hahaha!  But it was good to get to talk to him :)

Also we had to teach part of zone conference.  It went really well though :)  

We have been working super hard to find new investigators this week because we baptized all of our other haha!  So that was the main focus of our week.  And we were able to do it!  We found so many great people that are sooo prepared for  the gospel.  We were also able to put 6 baptismal dates so we are hoping that they all work out :)

Our convert Carlos has been having some problems.  He is finding out how hard it is to be a recent convert.  We had a long talk with him this week about going on a mission and his goals.  He says that he just feels so alone..  We have been trying to help him out the best we can.  He is great though.   I am positive he will do great things in his life :)

So there is a youth in our ward that is pretty much our best friend named Wilder.  And his got his mission call this week!  He is going to the Argentina Rosario mission!  He is leaving the 31st of March!  We were super excited for him!  He is super ready to leave haha.  

Well, that is it for my week.  I am happy and healthy and i am loving every minute of my time here in Piura.  I cant believe that i will be home in a little less than 3 months!  CRAZY!

Thanks for everything!  I love you all sooo much!  Have a great week! :)

Love,

Hermana Lauren Jane Mitchell :)