HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR...... Wow will we really be in 2011?! When I first came to El Salvador it was 2009 and I thought the time would never come when it was 2011. And here it is, just around the river bend.
OK so did I get some SWEET letters? Si (that means yes). Megan in Italy (how in the world do I write you there, haven't the slightest) and JESSICAAAA WOOD ( fastest letter writer EVA) please I will write when I get to a post office, but in the rain forest it's kinda hard to find those......
Just to clear up some questions. Here in the mission, in my mission specifically the rules are really strict. I get on the computer once a week. mondays. 1 hour. I can only write family, but my mom (so faithful) posts my letters so the whole WORLD can read them (which I found out they do.....this week the new missionaries came and one of them told me he had been reading my letters since he found out he was coming here.....should that weird me out??)) so no I do NOT facebook. Google.Chat. I hardly email. I do not listen to any music or watch movies or anything that is not related to the church. But really it is great. YOu would think that living under strict rules like that would make someone feel held back or constrained. But I feel the opposite. It's like the string on a kite. It seems to be holding the kite down, but actually if we cut the string on a kite, the kite will fall. These rules, commandments are what allow us to become closer to God and the more we live the higher we can become.
So this week was a little rough tracking. Or finding people to teach. Everyone seemed to be Catholic this week (they are only Catholic during Christmas and Easter). I had a funny experience. Christmas Day we were knocking doors. It was my turn. I knocked. Waited. Finally this chubby girl came to the door. She was like 12. OK by this time my Spanish has gotten a lot better, not perfect at all but I feel I have at least mastered introductions, seeing we do it like 30 times every day. So chubby girl comes to door right. She sees me and her eyes get big. (This isn't too uncommon, to have a white giant knock on your door would cause your eyes to grown too) I just smiled and asked her what her name was. She shook her head and said I don't understand English. I looked at my comp from Peru, I was sure I had asked her in Spanish. Hna. Flores then asked her the exact same question- same words and the girl said her name, all relived that she could talk to a Latina. Hna Ramirez just started laughing and sat on the ground attempting to control herself.
Christmas was great. We tried to sleep through the crazy fireworks that went off all night. I read the account in Luke 2 and had a special little moment Christmas Eve to remember the real meaning of this special day. This year I have grown to know the Savior better than ever before. As we try to walk in his shoes. As we try to be his hands for others we truly come to know him.
LOVE the work of God. Love family. Love friends. LOVE the GOSPEL. HOORAW 4 ISRAEL>>>>>
Hna TAvenner
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
HEY. Everybody everywhere in the whole wide world, how are ya'll?? I am missing all your cute faces. I hope some of you will send me a family Christmas greeting card.
This week I got a letter from SuzPants (you so need to come to El Sal) Thanks!
So how to even describe my week. I don't know how. The journey started like 5 or 6 weeks ago when we knocked on this sweet little family's door. This last Saturday they were baptized. How can I describe this to you? I cannot. My mom always says I really lack details, but I feel that to attempt to describe it is impossible, so I choose instead to tell you I ate lizard legs for Thanksgiving.
We got to the church building Saturday. It was a huge baptismal service, it was titled "white Christmas" and it was a baptismal service for the whole stake. Our mission president came to see. Hna Ramirez and I were there early to start filling the font and clean up the place. After we finished setting up chairs, we sat down and just watched the crystal clear water as it quickly filled the font (I've learned it's better to wait there while it's filling up....) Wow. There is NO sweeter sound than that of rushing water of a baptism font. Knowing that these people would finally partake of the water of eternal life. They had taken a step of faith, decided to change their life so that they finally could fulfill what the Lord wanted of them, finally know what the living water tastes like. I am reminded of the woman at the well, and the Savior's teaching on what truly was the source of living water. (John 4)
Then on Sunday we went by the family's apt after church . They had dinner prepared for us and we all started to eat with exception of the father. We asked him why he was not eating and he quietly almost ashamed told us he was fasting. JOY. When did my convert become stronger than I? BEST
I LOVE this work. "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Remember what is the water of life. The water that if we drink we shall not thirst again.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL
Hna TAVENNER
This week I got a letter from SuzPants (you so need to come to El Sal) Thanks!
So how to even describe my week. I don't know how. The journey started like 5 or 6 weeks ago when we knocked on this sweet little family's door. This last Saturday they were baptized. How can I describe this to you? I cannot. My mom always says I really lack details, but I feel that to attempt to describe it is impossible, so I choose instead to tell you I ate lizard legs for Thanksgiving.
We got to the church building Saturday. It was a huge baptismal service, it was titled "white Christmas" and it was a baptismal service for the whole stake. Our mission president came to see. Hna Ramirez and I were there early to start filling the font and clean up the place. After we finished setting up chairs, we sat down and just watched the crystal clear water as it quickly filled the font (I've learned it's better to wait there while it's filling up....) Wow. There is NO sweeter sound than that of rushing water of a baptism font. Knowing that these people would finally partake of the water of eternal life. They had taken a step of faith, decided to change their life so that they finally could fulfill what the Lord wanted of them, finally know what the living water tastes like. I am reminded of the woman at the well, and the Savior's teaching on what truly was the source of living water. (John 4)
Then on Sunday we went by the family's apt after church . They had dinner prepared for us and we all started to eat with exception of the father. We asked him why he was not eating and he quietly almost ashamed told us he was fasting. JOY. When did my convert become stronger than I? BEST
I LOVE this work. "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." Remember what is the water of life. The water that if we drink we shall not thirst again.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL
Hna TAVENNER
Monday, December 6, 2010
HELLO
How's it going the best looking family/ friends EVER.
Thanks for the letters...... JESSICA WOOD (wow i about passed out with JOY.really jess...too long) . Heidi (Ok did I see you yesterday?! at the Christmas Devo Broadcast and I'm like almost positive I saw you in the congregation...and with a guy? Did your hair get long? I'm 96.3% positive that was YOU.))) And Grandpa and ma Skittles!! BEST>>>
So this week was amazing. We went and sang at a children's hospital. I don't know what it is about kids but there is something so pure about them. We went with the stake choir and we sang our little hearts out to those sweet children. My heart broke looking around at the poor conditions that they are treated in. My comp and I are both nurses from the states and looking at the charting system and the sanitary conditions there put us both sick to the stomach. But their cute little smiling faces as we sang and passed out presents was something that cannot be forgotten and it makes me realize the purpose of life. They find joy so easily despite their circumstances.
The Lord's protection has been over us. This country is not the safest, I will have to share some stories when I get back, but I have been so grateful that we truly are protected here and I know through the prayers of you all we are never left alone here. We really have help from above.
I too am praying that this season finds you all very well. That you all will take time to remember the birth of the Savior and what significance his birth can have in your life. He was born and died for us. May we give him the gift of living for him.
LOVE YOU MORE THAN SUGAR PLUMS AND HOT CHOCOLATE.
HOORAH 4 Jesus.
& Israel.
xoxoxox
HNA TAVENNER
How's it going the best looking family/ friends EVER.
Thanks for the letters...... JESSICA WOOD (wow i about passed out with JOY.really jess...too long) . Heidi (Ok did I see you yesterday?! at the Christmas Devo Broadcast and I'm like almost positive I saw you in the congregation...and with a guy? Did your hair get long? I'm 96.3% positive that was YOU.))) And Grandpa and ma Skittles!! BEST>>>
So this week was amazing. We went and sang at a children's hospital. I don't know what it is about kids but there is something so pure about them. We went with the stake choir and we sang our little hearts out to those sweet children. My heart broke looking around at the poor conditions that they are treated in. My comp and I are both nurses from the states and looking at the charting system and the sanitary conditions there put us both sick to the stomach. But their cute little smiling faces as we sang and passed out presents was something that cannot be forgotten and it makes me realize the purpose of life. They find joy so easily despite their circumstances.
The Lord's protection has been over us. This country is not the safest, I will have to share some stories when I get back, but I have been so grateful that we truly are protected here and I know through the prayers of you all we are never left alone here. We really have help from above.
I too am praying that this season finds you all very well. That you all will take time to remember the birth of the Savior and what significance his birth can have in your life. He was born and died for us. May we give him the gift of living for him.
LOVE YOU MORE THAN SUGAR PLUMS AND HOT CHOCOLATE.
HOORAH 4 Jesus.
& Israel.
xoxoxox
HNA TAVENNER
Monday, November 29, 2010
Hey
Thanksgiving. Feast of the Indians. I think I ate more than any of you did! Ha
But thanks SO much for the letters this week. Guess who wrote...drum roll yes Ashley Keller. joy. Anna Whitlock. Nicki Tyler (such the faithful).. BEST.
So this week......
My new comp and I are loving this mission stuff a tad too much. She maybe jumped on my bed screaming at 3 am this morning. She said she felt something moving in her bed. After looking she did have a rat in there just chilling out. The poor guy was probably cold and just wanted to share her covers. Also we again have gone to preaching on the bus. This is something I love but my comps almost always think I'm crazy and don't want to do it. But this Ramirez....yes.
We decided to have an awesome Thanksgiving, too, so we went over to this sweet place and got an iguana to go. We took it to the house and opened it up and almost lost our lunch (even though we hadn't even eaten our lunch yet). They basically cut off the head and the front two legs, and stuck the little guy in the frying pan. Then they topped him with veggies and a tortilla and threw the lizard on our plate. Talk about an elegant FEAST. But YES we ate him. and I may be paid for it the rest of the day, turns out the stomach isn't use to lizard meat....
We had an almost baptism. Our dear grandmother here, Gloria had her interview and passed! We organized everything; but then we passed by her house Saturday morning, and she said she had changed her mind. She said she needed some more time. But we had some awesome lessons with a family I found about 4 weeks ago knocking doors. They went to church and are the sweetest most wonderful family. They are young, the husband is like 28 and the wife the same. We are doing everything possible to help them to get in the water. Enter the fold. Our goal is DEC 11.
I am so blessed. To see people change their perspective. To see things that are beyond our mortal vision. To remember their purpose in life and to prepare to have eternal families is the greatest joy, one cannot describe.
happy happy. joy JOY.
HOORAW for Israel.
SISTER TAVENNER
Thanksgiving. Feast of the Indians. I think I ate more than any of you did! Ha
But thanks SO much for the letters this week. Guess who wrote...drum roll yes Ashley Keller. joy. Anna Whitlock. Nicki Tyler (such the faithful).. BEST.
So this week......
My new comp and I are loving this mission stuff a tad too much. She maybe jumped on my bed screaming at 3 am this morning. She said she felt something moving in her bed. After looking she did have a rat in there just chilling out. The poor guy was probably cold and just wanted to share her covers. Also we again have gone to preaching on the bus. This is something I love but my comps almost always think I'm crazy and don't want to do it. But this Ramirez....yes.
We decided to have an awesome Thanksgiving, too, so we went over to this sweet place and got an iguana to go. We took it to the house and opened it up and almost lost our lunch (even though we hadn't even eaten our lunch yet). They basically cut off the head and the front two legs, and stuck the little guy in the frying pan. Then they topped him with veggies and a tortilla and threw the lizard on our plate. Talk about an elegant FEAST. But YES we ate him. and I may be paid for it the rest of the day, turns out the stomach isn't use to lizard meat....
We had an almost baptism. Our dear grandmother here, Gloria had her interview and passed! We organized everything; but then we passed by her house Saturday morning, and she said she had changed her mind. She said she needed some more time. But we had some awesome lessons with a family I found about 4 weeks ago knocking doors. They went to church and are the sweetest most wonderful family. They are young, the husband is like 28 and the wife the same. We are doing everything possible to help them to get in the water. Enter the fold. Our goal is DEC 11.
I am so blessed. To see people change their perspective. To see things that are beyond our mortal vision. To remember their purpose in life and to prepare to have eternal families is the greatest joy, one cannot describe.
happy happy. joy JOY.
HOORAW for Israel.
SISTER TAVENNER
Friday, November 19, 2010
Hey FaMMMMM
Hows it going???? Everyone here tells me I am the old one in the mission, and it's really weird for me to think about. I still feel like I have a long of time. Actually I've heard word that they will dedicate the temple here in El Salvador in March or April and I already asked permission to extend my mission to help with the temple open house. Pray for me that I can do that! It would be such an awesome experience!!
This week was transfers. My daughter had transfers. Where we live is closest to the mission office and mission house, so the new girl from Utah stayed with us for two nights. It was fun to see how scared and bamboozled the poor dear was. EL Salvador is like a different world and I think I forget until I see the new ones get here completely unable to speak to anyone and so confused how to wash their clothes in a cement slab outside. Also hermana Farnsworth, my old comp got to sleep with us her last night here. So we had a ton of mattresses pulled out all over the floor, SLUMBER PARTY. We even had pupusas. Yes. life here is the best......
So my new comp is Hna. Ramirez, but she is from the states!! Only the second gringa companion I've had, and I think it will be my last American comp. I'm training her to be the new nurse! Things this week were a little crazy. Had a few calls in the middle of the night and sent an elder to have an emergency operation of his appendix.
The temple is the greatest place of earth. a piece of heaven in the world. Do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to go there. Our eyes are opened a little more and then we can see a part of the plan of the Lord for us. I love this work. Love the temple. Love you ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
HOORaw for isrAEL....
HnaTAVENNER
Hows it going???? Everyone here tells me I am the old one in the mission, and it's really weird for me to think about. I still feel like I have a long of time. Actually I've heard word that they will dedicate the temple here in El Salvador in March or April and I already asked permission to extend my mission to help with the temple open house. Pray for me that I can do that! It would be such an awesome experience!!
This week was transfers. My daughter had transfers. Where we live is closest to the mission office and mission house, so the new girl from Utah stayed with us for two nights. It was fun to see how scared and bamboozled the poor dear was. EL Salvador is like a different world and I think I forget until I see the new ones get here completely unable to speak to anyone and so confused how to wash their clothes in a cement slab outside. Also hermana Farnsworth, my old comp got to sleep with us her last night here. So we had a ton of mattresses pulled out all over the floor, SLUMBER PARTY. We even had pupusas. Yes. life here is the best......
So my new comp is Hna. Ramirez, but she is from the states!! Only the second gringa companion I've had, and I think it will be my last American comp. I'm training her to be the new nurse! Things this week were a little crazy. Had a few calls in the middle of the night and sent an elder to have an emergency operation of his appendix.
The temple is the greatest place of earth. a piece of heaven in the world. Do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to go there. Our eyes are opened a little more and then we can see a part of the plan of the Lord for us. I love this work. Love the temple. Love you ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
HOORaw for isrAEL....
HnaTAVENNER
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Hey FAMMMMMM
What is happening? How's the candy? How was the tricking and the treating and the pumpkin pie eating....or is that only for Thanksgiving???....I have been away from the states TOO long.
This week thanks for the letters!! I received, oh wait I don't think I got any.When they are handing out all the packages and cards everyone just sits their all tense, hoping, praying that one beautiful card will have their name on it. When they get to the last one and say the name of the missionary next to you and you sit there staring at your sweaty empty hands it's the kind of feeling you get after buying an ice cream cone and then after the first lick watching the creamy vanilla fall to the floor. Haha just kidding. I exaggerate maybe just a tab sometimes. The elders make fun of me because I get more mail than everyone in my zone. And this week I did get a dearelder from mom with updates from the cousins. Booyah.
So about the mission work, that is why I"m writing. Can I just say.....I love this country. In this area we don't have a cook, so we make all our our food. You'd think, ok they will be eating better because they can choose what they cook right? Wrong. You don't know me. I"m lazy. I made beans for lunch four times this week and we ate pupusas for dinner three times.
We went to visit David and Silvia this week, like every other day. Oh we were so close to planning a wedding and an awesome baptismal service! We felt the spirit. We planned the wedding. We sang the hymns. We brought the members. We brought the zone leaders. We read the scriptures.We ate the chocolate. We did EVERYTHING. joy... wedding.... baptisms.... love.... But as my 7th grade history teacher use to always say.. all good things must come to an end. The husband, David, finally devastatingly told us Friday night that he could not accept to be married right now. The commitment was too big and was not ready. We were crushed. We attempted to help him change his mind and see the big picture, but he is a stubborn man. Why do I always get the investigators that are so stubborn? So my comp and I went home. sad. Went to church and brought no investigators. more sad. And we ate some more chocolate.
I know that God has a plan for these dear people. I don't always understand it. Ok I never understand it. And never can see things the way he sees them, but I"m trusting in him and trying to follow. I'm going forth. Book of Mormon in hand, chocolate bar in the other. bringing salvation to the souls of man!!!
LOVE you all SOOOO much I wish I could just give you all a big hug and juicy kiss!!! ((WOW I've changed here huh???????))
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL
Hna Tav
What is happening? How's the candy? How was the tricking and the treating and the pumpkin pie eating....or is that only for Thanksgiving???....I have been away from the states TOO long.
This week thanks for the letters!! I received, oh wait I don't think I got any.When they are handing out all the packages and cards everyone just sits their all tense, hoping, praying that one beautiful card will have their name on it. When they get to the last one and say the name of the missionary next to you and you sit there staring at your sweaty empty hands it's the kind of feeling you get after buying an ice cream cone and then after the first lick watching the creamy vanilla fall to the floor. Haha just kidding. I exaggerate maybe just a tab sometimes. The elders make fun of me because I get more mail than everyone in my zone. And this week I did get a dearelder from mom with updates from the cousins. Booyah.
So about the mission work, that is why I"m writing. Can I just say.....I love this country. In this area we don't have a cook, so we make all our our food. You'd think, ok they will be eating better because they can choose what they cook right? Wrong. You don't know me. I"m lazy. I made beans for lunch four times this week and we ate pupusas for dinner three times.
We went to visit David and Silvia this week, like every other day. Oh we were so close to planning a wedding and an awesome baptismal service! We felt the spirit. We planned the wedding. We sang the hymns. We brought the members. We brought the zone leaders. We read the scriptures.We ate the chocolate. We did EVERYTHING. joy... wedding.... baptisms.... love.... But as my 7th grade history teacher use to always say.. all good things must come to an end. The husband, David, finally devastatingly told us Friday night that he could not accept to be married right now. The commitment was too big and was not ready. We were crushed. We attempted to help him change his mind and see the big picture, but he is a stubborn man. Why do I always get the investigators that are so stubborn? So my comp and I went home. sad. Went to church and brought no investigators. more sad. And we ate some more chocolate.
I know that God has a plan for these dear people. I don't always understand it. Ok I never understand it. And never can see things the way he sees them, but I"m trusting in him and trying to follow. I'm going forth. Book of Mormon in hand, chocolate bar in the other. bringing salvation to the souls of man!!!
LOVE you all SOOOO much I wish I could just give you all a big hug and juicy kiss!!! ((WOW I've changed here huh???????))
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL
Hna Tav
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Hello Dear friends and FAMILY.
Thanks for mail. Megan (in ITALY! how to write you, I don't even know?!) and mom ( always such the valiant with writing) I would like to hear from Lara Bishop (how to write her, do not know).
Ok so I am sorry I've been bad with details lately huh?
Monday....pday we played soccer (well the elders) bought our food for the week, cleaned the house, and had an awesome apt that fell through....
Tuesday.....I went to the mission office, filled the report, first in Spanish for our president and then did the report in English for the area doctor. Worked a little on insurances, starting to get medicine ready for the new missionaries coming in next transfer
Wednesday.....We knocked the doors. Visited our most positive people. Gloria (this dear lady we call our grandmother. We have been teaching her for awhile, she's already been to church 3 times but only for 1 hour because after that her legs hurt her really bad. She doesn't have any grandchildren and I really think she has adopted us. She ALWAYS has food ready for us and lotions and soap. For example we ate soup with her this past week. Only it was different than mom's soup. It was cow intestines, and nerves, I really prayed for help to eat it but I didn't make it through much. My little grandma just stood their watching me eat it, so proud of me with every sip. I just smiled as real as I could muster and sipped and sipped. I will be blessed for that I hope. But she is the SWEETEST and one day I think we're see her in WHITE.
Thursday....Mutilzone we got a tad lost trying to find the city Apopya to the mutlizone, but it was really great. Our president and his wife are amazing.
Friday.....Visited David and Silvia. This is a sweet family who we are also working with. The husband, David had a motorcycle accident and fractures his upper vertebrae, so he has a neck brace and a walked, but it is a miracle that he is alive. His wife (well they are not married) Silvia has been to church like 5 times. she loves it and wants to be baptized, but they are not married. So we are planning a wedding, only he has to agree. But people here do not like to get married, so we'll see how everything goes.
Saturday....Knocked doors
Sunday...Church at 2:00 in the afternoon! and Dinner with David and Silvia, beans and eggs...BEST.
I"M SOOOOO GREAT. YOU are all the best. THanks for your support and prayers and LETTERS. LOVE YOU ALL> HOORAWWWW FOR ISRAELLLLL...
Hna TAvenner
Thanks for mail. Megan (in ITALY! how to write you, I don't even know?!) and mom ( always such the valiant with writing) I would like to hear from Lara Bishop (how to write her, do not know).
Ok so I am sorry I've been bad with details lately huh?
Monday....pday we played soccer (well the elders) bought our food for the week, cleaned the house, and had an awesome apt that fell through....
Tuesday.....I went to the mission office, filled the report, first in Spanish for our president and then did the report in English for the area doctor. Worked a little on insurances, starting to get medicine ready for the new missionaries coming in next transfer
Wednesday.....We knocked the doors. Visited our most positive people. Gloria (this dear lady we call our grandmother. We have been teaching her for awhile, she's already been to church 3 times but only for 1 hour because after that her legs hurt her really bad. She doesn't have any grandchildren and I really think she has adopted us. She ALWAYS has food ready for us and lotions and soap. For example we ate soup with her this past week. Only it was different than mom's soup. It was cow intestines, and nerves, I really prayed for help to eat it but I didn't make it through much. My little grandma just stood their watching me eat it, so proud of me with every sip. I just smiled as real as I could muster and sipped and sipped. I will be blessed for that I hope. But she is the SWEETEST and one day I think we're see her in WHITE.
Thursday....Mutilzone we got a tad lost trying to find the city Apopya to the mutlizone, but it was really great. Our president and his wife are amazing.
Friday.....Visited David and Silvia. This is a sweet family who we are also working with. The husband, David had a motorcycle accident and fractures his upper vertebrae, so he has a neck brace and a walked, but it is a miracle that he is alive. His wife (well they are not married) Silvia has been to church like 5 times. she loves it and wants to be baptized, but they are not married. So we are planning a wedding, only he has to agree. But people here do not like to get married, so we'll see how everything goes.
Saturday....Knocked doors
Sunday...Church at 2:00 in the afternoon! and Dinner with David and Silvia, beans and eggs...BEST.
I"M SOOOOO GREAT. YOU are all the best. THanks for your support and prayers and LETTERS. LOVE YOU ALL> HOORAWWWW FOR ISRAELLLLL...
Hna TAvenner
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Hey Everyone. Ok so I'm sorry my letters have been bad lately, but next week I´ll send a good one! We had a feast of pupusas last night. One member brought them to us to break our fast, it´s like the steak and potatoes here, but I have really been craving some Barbara surprise, mom could you send me some????
My comp was sick this week so she stayed with a member and I did the mission stuff. We have two possibilities for baptisms; they are youth living with others who are members, but they are really great! Carlos and Rafael. Pray that all goes well and two more can join the fold!!!
There is a new greeny in our zone, and I just feel for him. He doesn´t understand ANYTHING. He sleeps with his shoes on, (I think he saw Other side of Heaven) and he doesn´t shower because he doesn´t understand how to shower using nothing but a bucket, poor guy.
THIS WORK=BESTEST. Hooraw for mom´s casserole and ISRAEL.
XOXOXOXO
Hna TAV
meet ya at the tree
My comp was sick this week so she stayed with a member and I did the mission stuff. We have two possibilities for baptisms; they are youth living with others who are members, but they are really great! Carlos and Rafael. Pray that all goes well and two more can join the fold!!!
There is a new greeny in our zone, and I just feel for him. He doesn´t understand ANYTHING. He sleeps with his shoes on, (I think he saw Other side of Heaven) and he doesn´t shower because he doesn´t understand how to shower using nothing but a bucket, poor guy.
THIS WORK=BESTEST. Hooraw for mom´s casserole and ISRAEL.
XOXOXOXO
Hna TAV
meet ya at the tree
Monday, October 4, 2010
HELLO everyone. How's it going??? Ok I don't have much time to write, and I'm not in a writer mood, so I"ll make this short. You all will be happier with a shorter letter anyway right?
Thanks for the letters this week, I got one from Jen (anne of green gables, wow you are the best and I am jealous) hope all is well and you are changing apts soon, and from Megan (faster mail responding ever are you in Italy yet?).
This week we had transfers. I didn't get transferred, my companion either. We went to the conference and LOVED them, a little too much. We had an investigator there who we had taught the first discussion, he is a kid 12 years, but he lives with his grandpa who is a member. It was cool because in the conference one of the talks related the first vision and this kid gave the whole first vision account in Joseph Smiths words my companion and I were a little stunned to hear him whispering the words to himself, but also overjoyed.
I also got good news this week. About 4 months ago I spoke to a man in the bus. Invited him to church. Well we always do that, but they never come. Well I saw him the next Sunday at church and was so stoked. But after asking information about his house we found he was in another area so we passed on the reference. Well this week I found out he was baptized!! JOY.
Ok love you all. Love the prophet. Love the special dinner we had after the conference of meat, and beans. LIFE =GOOD.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL!!!
and happy birthday to my cutest little sister :)
Hna TAVENNER
Thanks for the letters this week, I got one from Jen (anne of green gables, wow you are the best and I am jealous) hope all is well and you are changing apts soon, and from Megan (faster mail responding ever are you in Italy yet?).
This week we had transfers. I didn't get transferred, my companion either. We went to the conference and LOVED them, a little too much. We had an investigator there who we had taught the first discussion, he is a kid 12 years, but he lives with his grandpa who is a member. It was cool because in the conference one of the talks related the first vision and this kid gave the whole first vision account in Joseph Smiths words my companion and I were a little stunned to hear him whispering the words to himself, but also overjoyed.
I also got good news this week. About 4 months ago I spoke to a man in the bus. Invited him to church. Well we always do that, but they never come. Well I saw him the next Sunday at church and was so stoked. But after asking information about his house we found he was in another area so we passed on the reference. Well this week I found out he was baptized!! JOY.
Ok love you all. Love the prophet. Love the special dinner we had after the conference of meat, and beans. LIFE =GOOD.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL!!!
and happy birthday to my cutest little sister :)
Hna TAVENNER
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hey! How in the world is everyone doing? Has it maybe been the longest? But the time has gone by too fast.
So my week. Can I just draw you a picture to help you all get a feel for my week?? Do you remember being a kid ready for a day at the beach. Pail and shovel in hand. Working effortlessly on the world's greatest sandcastle. The kind that has a little river circling it. Seashells bordering it. Laboring the whole day. Then standing back feeling the tightness of your sunburnt skin and with dirty sand covered hands attempt to fish out the crawly critters that somehow found place in your swim trunks. Yes. Then looking for your mother to show her your master piece, out of the corner of your eye see it. The wave comes slowly rolling in. And as if in slow motion gently surfs across your masterpiece, then retreats leaving you stunned, staring at the what once was a piece a art, but now nothing more than a piece of mush and seashells.
I don´t know if you´ve had that experience. I have. And this week somehow felt a lot like that. Long story short we prepared a man named Oscar for his baptism. He had his interview. He had all the lessons. He loves the church. He´s way excited for this covenant. Then BAM the wave hit. We went to his house Saturday to confirm everything for his baptism when he confessed to us that he had not really stopped smoking. It was really hard. My comp and I had worked endlessly with him. Prayed, fasted, and delighted to see changes and get everything prepared for his special day. We just sat there feeling like our sandcastle got crashed by a wave. Then on top of that our other investigator told us she decided she did not like the church and did not want us to visit her any more. That was kind of our week.
But I am all hopes that Oscar can change and we set a new date for him to be baptized. But the Lord is good and this week we also were able to see miracles. Maybe some day I´ll have the chance to tell you all about them.
I LOVE the work. Even when it´s hard. When it´s hard is when I have the chance to grow closer to the Lord. Hoorah for Israel. LOVE YOU ALL more than crawly things in the swimsuit....
Hna TAv
So my week. Can I just draw you a picture to help you all get a feel for my week?? Do you remember being a kid ready for a day at the beach. Pail and shovel in hand. Working effortlessly on the world's greatest sandcastle. The kind that has a little river circling it. Seashells bordering it. Laboring the whole day. Then standing back feeling the tightness of your sunburnt skin and with dirty sand covered hands attempt to fish out the crawly critters that somehow found place in your swim trunks. Yes. Then looking for your mother to show her your master piece, out of the corner of your eye see it. The wave comes slowly rolling in. And as if in slow motion gently surfs across your masterpiece, then retreats leaving you stunned, staring at the what once was a piece a art, but now nothing more than a piece of mush and seashells.
I don´t know if you´ve had that experience. I have. And this week somehow felt a lot like that. Long story short we prepared a man named Oscar for his baptism. He had his interview. He had all the lessons. He loves the church. He´s way excited for this covenant. Then BAM the wave hit. We went to his house Saturday to confirm everything for his baptism when he confessed to us that he had not really stopped smoking. It was really hard. My comp and I had worked endlessly with him. Prayed, fasted, and delighted to see changes and get everything prepared for his special day. We just sat there feeling like our sandcastle got crashed by a wave. Then on top of that our other investigator told us she decided she did not like the church and did not want us to visit her any more. That was kind of our week.
But I am all hopes that Oscar can change and we set a new date for him to be baptized. But the Lord is good and this week we also were able to see miracles. Maybe some day I´ll have the chance to tell you all about them.
I LOVE the work. Even when it´s hard. When it´s hard is when I have the chance to grow closer to the Lord. Hoorah for Israel. LOVE YOU ALL more than crawly things in the swimsuit....
Hna TAv
Monday, September 13, 2010
HELLO....
What's up everyone? I hope everyone is doing well. I am . Here in Spanish whenever we ask people how they are, they say, aqui mira, or here I am look. Yeah a little weird. But here I am look.
So let me just start out by quoting my zone leader, he said "Wow Hermana Tavenner, with you things are never boring are they". I don't even know how to tell my story.....
This week we had interviews with Pres. and during the interviews people were at the church cleaning and getting everything prepared for stake conference that weekend. We also had two baptisms of kids from a family we reactivated. So Saturday we passed by the church at 10 to start filling the font. Our mission leader said it takes about 2 hours or 2 1/2 hours to fill, which is normal, in my other area it was like 3 hours. So we started to fill ita nd then left to two appointments that we had planned. I kept having the thought to go back to the church. But these were really important appointments, and my companion said I was just worrying. So we went to the appointments. We had planned to grab lunch and then go to the church to stop the water, but again I had the thought to go back to the church. So we decided to order pizza at the church and eat that for lunch. When we arrived at the church building, OH MY LANTA. We maybe flooded the church.....
I think my mission leader was confused; maybe he thought I was asking how long it took to fill the church building. And with the stake conference priesthood session an hour and a half away, (not to mention my mission president would be speaking at it) we looked around at the flooded building feeling every joy in our heart drop to the floor.
We waded through the water until we got to the font and turned off the water. Luckily in El Salvador they only use tile and not carpet. I don't know how, but with help from members and prayers and us mopping like crazy somehow we had the baptisms and the stake priesthood session one hour later.
I have decided to listen from now on to the prompting I receive. I learned the lesson the hard way. But how grateful I am for this great power we have, the ability to receive inspiration from the Lord at whatever moment. If we keep our lines clean and clear from the clutter of the world, we can receive spiritual promptings. But we must do our part too, and ACT after we receive them......
Burnt hands, giving birth to jelly fish, preaching in buses, salvation of souls, flooding of church buildings right before stake conference, it's all part of the wonderful and glorious work of the Lord.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL!!!
Hna Tav
What's up everyone? I hope everyone is doing well. I am . Here in Spanish whenever we ask people how they are, they say, aqui mira, or here I am look. Yeah a little weird. But here I am look.
So let me just start out by quoting my zone leader, he said "Wow Hermana Tavenner, with you things are never boring are they". I don't even know how to tell my story.....
This week we had interviews with Pres. and during the interviews people were at the church cleaning and getting everything prepared for stake conference that weekend. We also had two baptisms of kids from a family we reactivated. So Saturday we passed by the church at 10 to start filling the font. Our mission leader said it takes about 2 hours or 2 1/2 hours to fill, which is normal, in my other area it was like 3 hours. So we started to fill ita nd then left to two appointments that we had planned. I kept having the thought to go back to the church. But these were really important appointments, and my companion said I was just worrying. So we went to the appointments. We had planned to grab lunch and then go to the church to stop the water, but again I had the thought to go back to the church. So we decided to order pizza at the church and eat that for lunch. When we arrived at the church building, OH MY LANTA. We maybe flooded the church.....
I think my mission leader was confused; maybe he thought I was asking how long it took to fill the church building. And with the stake conference priesthood session an hour and a half away, (not to mention my mission president would be speaking at it) we looked around at the flooded building feeling every joy in our heart drop to the floor.
We waded through the water until we got to the font and turned off the water. Luckily in El Salvador they only use tile and not carpet. I don't know how, but with help from members and prayers and us mopping like crazy somehow we had the baptisms and the stake priesthood session one hour later.
I have decided to listen from now on to the prompting I receive. I learned the lesson the hard way. But how grateful I am for this great power we have, the ability to receive inspiration from the Lord at whatever moment. If we keep our lines clean and clear from the clutter of the world, we can receive spiritual promptings. But we must do our part too, and ACT after we receive them......
Burnt hands, giving birth to jelly fish, preaching in buses, salvation of souls, flooding of church buildings right before stake conference, it's all part of the wonderful and glorious work of the Lord.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL!!!
Hna Tav
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Como están mis queridos hermanos y amigos? Santa vaca ya es bastante tiempo que no hablamos y no he visto sus carras tan bonitas (algunos de Ustedes..) pero de verdad un ano ya ha pasado. Espero que ya saben estoy pensando y orando por Ustedes casi siempre....
What’s up cutest family and dearest friends in the WORLD? Hows life in the states?? Thanks for the updates::::Soooo this week got a setter from Heidi (wow are you really home?), suz pants (you NEED to come to El Salvador!!), and invitation for Nicki’s wedding NDB ( cutest couple EVER).
So yeah you can tell it was a good week for me. I am doing really great. This week we had a baptism.. her name is Tatiana she is a young girl, 20 years old, her sister is already a member and so she was a reference. It was a hard process for her. She had to change a lot of things in her life. I"m sorry I'm not really into describing things. For me it is hard to write a lot about the people we are working with and the changes we are seeing because how does someone attempt to describe it? How do you write to other people that you found someone who wants to change their life. Who finally embraced the truth, who prayed and received an answer and that has entered into the gate that will one day lead them to eternal life, to the greatest joy they could ever hope for, to live with God in his mansions and inherit all that he has? How can I even describe that? I can't. So usually I just hope you know when I say someone was baptized you know that it was a hard painful process arriving at that point. But soooooooo worth it.
Next week we have another baptism, of two children. It was quite awesome really. Like our second day here we were wondering around, a tad lost, when some man who I didn't even know told us that members of our church lived in an apt near where we were. So we knocked on the door and found this huge family that was way inactive for many years. It was really neat though because the mother the night before decided she wanted to change her life and get back on the path, and the next day there we were. So their children will be baptized this Saturday and we are full of JOY.
You have a great heritage. You are sons and daughters of the prophets. Royal blood literally runs through your veins and the right to inherit all of the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. But what will you choose? Only YOU can reach out and take hold of those blessings. YOU were given your agency and the ability to choose eternal life to choose to be who you were created to be, but will you? Or will you be satisfied with what the world has to offer? Will you make this your home? Will you try to fit in here. To become apart of the world, the American dream, to be someone big someone important in this world, but someone who will never have your throne in the kingdom of our Father? It is up to US to choose. But we were made for something so much greater.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL. Love you all more than pumpkin pie, and believe me I'm suffering haven't had it for like a year.....
Hermana Tavenner
What’s up cutest family and dearest friends in the WORLD? Hows life in the states?? Thanks for the updates::::Soooo this week got a setter from Heidi (wow are you really home?), suz pants (you NEED to come to El Salvador!!), and invitation for Nicki’s wedding NDB ( cutest couple EVER).
So yeah you can tell it was a good week for me. I am doing really great. This week we had a baptism.. her name is Tatiana she is a young girl, 20 years old, her sister is already a member and so she was a reference. It was a hard process for her. She had to change a lot of things in her life. I"m sorry I'm not really into describing things. For me it is hard to write a lot about the people we are working with and the changes we are seeing because how does someone attempt to describe it? How do you write to other people that you found someone who wants to change their life. Who finally embraced the truth, who prayed and received an answer and that has entered into the gate that will one day lead them to eternal life, to the greatest joy they could ever hope for, to live with God in his mansions and inherit all that he has? How can I even describe that? I can't. So usually I just hope you know when I say someone was baptized you know that it was a hard painful process arriving at that point. But soooooooo worth it.
Next week we have another baptism, of two children. It was quite awesome really. Like our second day here we were wondering around, a tad lost, when some man who I didn't even know told us that members of our church lived in an apt near where we were. So we knocked on the door and found this huge family that was way inactive for many years. It was really neat though because the mother the night before decided she wanted to change her life and get back on the path, and the next day there we were. So their children will be baptized this Saturday and we are full of JOY.
You have a great heritage. You are sons and daughters of the prophets. Royal blood literally runs through your veins and the right to inherit all of the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. But what will you choose? Only YOU can reach out and take hold of those blessings. YOU were given your agency and the ability to choose eternal life to choose to be who you were created to be, but will you? Or will you be satisfied with what the world has to offer? Will you make this your home? Will you try to fit in here. To become apart of the world, the American dream, to be someone big someone important in this world, but someone who will never have your throne in the kingdom of our Father? It is up to US to choose. But we were made for something so much greater.
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL. Love you all more than pumpkin pie, and believe me I'm suffering haven't had it for like a year.....
Hermana Tavenner
Monday, August 30, 2010
Hola! What's happening in the home of the brave and the land of the free?? Or should I say land of the freezing?? Can I just say you all are the best! I think last week I was feeling a little down, please forgive me. This week I received three packages!! FIRST off Megan, PB and Pictures. She is so great and going to ITALY? that's no big deal. Second the WEIGHTS, wow it was really like everything I was thinking I needed there in this package. I was a little in awe thank you!! And Third my MOM she knows that white chocolate is the fastest way to my heart. Really thanks everyone, you all lifted my spirits!!!!
OK so this week was nothing short of eventful. First off I hit my year mark! So I burned a pair of pantyhose. I lite them on fire and then started waving them around, so joyful of course, this is a moment one can only dream of right. Well it was until those stupid pantyhose started my hand on fire. I got away with just a few blisters, but I guess I should have seen that one coming after I always get mad at the elders for getting hurt doing stupid things. I've been humbled- ok.
Que mas?? Umm wow we had a spiritual lesson with an investigator and a member. THis lmember wanted to teach a lesson with us this week, he does not seem like much right? But when he opens his mouth and talks about the gospel the spirit fills every corner of the room. After the lesson he drove us home in his little piece on trash on wheels (truck) with his daughters in the back as the rain poured down on them (ps I've been through.. count them.. 6 umbrellas). We sat there me on top of my companion bouncing along clinging to the door and praying it wouldn't fall off while this little man preached. He started talking about his mission to us, how it changed his life. He pounded his chubby little fist against the steering wheel and said "you let this change you, you give it your all, you go home with one convert, with yourself converted". I sat there a little bamboozled. I had completely misjudged him. In this moment I didn't see his patched up clothes or anything else that would distract one from what he truly was, a powerful man who had sacrificed so much of his life in service of the Lord, who will one day take his throne. THere's a scripture in 2 Corth 4:18. It invites all to look at the things that are not seen with physical eyes. The things of God must been seen with spiritual eyes. Take off the blinders and see what God sees.
LOVE YOU ALL MORE THAN little beans. Hooraw for ISRAEL!
Hna Tavenner
OK so this week was nothing short of eventful. First off I hit my year mark! So I burned a pair of pantyhose. I lite them on fire and then started waving them around, so joyful of course, this is a moment one can only dream of right. Well it was until those stupid pantyhose started my hand on fire. I got away with just a few blisters, but I guess I should have seen that one coming after I always get mad at the elders for getting hurt doing stupid things. I've been humbled- ok.
Que mas?? Umm wow we had a spiritual lesson with an investigator and a member. THis lmember wanted to teach a lesson with us this week, he does not seem like much right? But when he opens his mouth and talks about the gospel the spirit fills every corner of the room. After the lesson he drove us home in his little piece on trash on wheels (truck) with his daughters in the back as the rain poured down on them (ps I've been through.. count them.. 6 umbrellas). We sat there me on top of my companion bouncing along clinging to the door and praying it wouldn't fall off while this little man preached. He started talking about his mission to us, how it changed his life. He pounded his chubby little fist against the steering wheel and said "you let this change you, you give it your all, you go home with one convert, with yourself converted". I sat there a little bamboozled. I had completely misjudged him. In this moment I didn't see his patched up clothes or anything else that would distract one from what he truly was, a powerful man who had sacrificed so much of his life in service of the Lord, who will one day take his throne. THere's a scripture in 2 Corth 4:18. It invites all to look at the things that are not seen with physical eyes. The things of God must been seen with spiritual eyes. Take off the blinders and see what God sees.
LOVE YOU ALL MORE THAN little beans. Hooraw for ISRAEL!
Hna Tavenner
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
HEY. What´s up Fam??? I don´t know if anyone is still reading this, I kind of doubt it haha. I¨ve noticed once the year mark comes everyone kinda forgets that you exist. ´Just kidding. But seriously....
So I've had a ton of changes. Last week President called me at like 11pm and told me he would be moving me to a different area. I would be opening a new area and training a new missionary from Guatemala. So I started to pack like crazy and try not to feel crushed about not saying goodbye to any of the members or the converts I had. I was in that area so long it started to feel like a second home to me, 6 months in the same zone!
So I am in a place called Meijanos; it´s still in the capital and I´m close to the mission office.
This is the house I stayed in my first night in EL Salvador waiting to be sent to my area the next day. It is so funny to read my journal entry that night something like ¨what the heck am I doing in this place? There are bugs crawling all over me, and I get scared just thinking of using the bathroom, I think I´d rather just have a catheter put in, and there is no way I´m eating anything out of that fridge.¨ Little did I know what I was in for, this apt is the nicest I¨ve had so far.
As for the nursing part of my calling I have a cell phone and the elders can call whenever they are sick or need anything. Then I go to the office on Tuesdays and send a medical report to the area Doctor and fill out insurance forms and stuff like that, loads of fun right?
My new comp is Hermana Estrada. I¨m a little nervous for this change. She is way home sick. I´ve been looking in my drug book for something for that but can´t seem to find anything. Maybe I need the more up-to-date version.
Hey thanks for the letters. I will do everything to try and find a post office in this area, but please have patience with me. I love you all and am always praying for you!!!!
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL::::
Hna Tavenner
So I've had a ton of changes. Last week President called me at like 11pm and told me he would be moving me to a different area. I would be opening a new area and training a new missionary from Guatemala. So I started to pack like crazy and try not to feel crushed about not saying goodbye to any of the members or the converts I had. I was in that area so long it started to feel like a second home to me, 6 months in the same zone!
So I am in a place called Meijanos; it´s still in the capital and I´m close to the mission office.
This is the house I stayed in my first night in EL Salvador waiting to be sent to my area the next day. It is so funny to read my journal entry that night something like ¨what the heck am I doing in this place? There are bugs crawling all over me, and I get scared just thinking of using the bathroom, I think I´d rather just have a catheter put in, and there is no way I´m eating anything out of that fridge.¨ Little did I know what I was in for, this apt is the nicest I¨ve had so far.
As for the nursing part of my calling I have a cell phone and the elders can call whenever they are sick or need anything. Then I go to the office on Tuesdays and send a medical report to the area Doctor and fill out insurance forms and stuff like that, loads of fun right?
My new comp is Hermana Estrada. I¨m a little nervous for this change. She is way home sick. I´ve been looking in my drug book for something for that but can´t seem to find anything. Maybe I need the more up-to-date version.
Hey thanks for the letters. I will do everything to try and find a post office in this area, but please have patience with me. I love you all and am always praying for you!!!!
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL::::
Hna Tavenner
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Hola ¿qué tal mis queridos hermanos y amigos? Ojala que la vida para Ustedes es muy buena, que la mano del Señor esta en sus vidas y nuca faltan su comida, ¡su comida rica de papas!
I am SOOOO good here. OK so Monday night we had FHE with familia Garcia, hermano Jose. We talked about covenants. It was a good lesson, I asked Jose in what way he could show his heavenly father he was willing to keep the commandments. IN a very sarcastic tone he said, by being baptized. I looked at him and said ¨hermano Jose I hope you don´t think we are here just to get numbers. Just to say we had another baptism. We are here because after this life when we are all eating pupuas at that big family table, we want you there, after this life when we are playing soccer as a family, we want you to play too.¨ He didn´t say anything. Then Tuesday night I my comp got a call. I was out washing my clothes in our little cement thingy when I hear her start to yell. I came running in asking what was up. She said it was Sofia on the phone and her husband wanted to be baptized. This Saturday.
So we threw everything together. Saturday morning Sofia came to our house and said that morning Jose woke up and said look at what these missionaries are doing to me, first I cut off my hair and today I'm getting baptized, what has happened to me??
It was the most beautiful and spiritual service I have been to and hermano Jose was beaming the whole time.
There is nothing greater than bring people to a knowledge of the gospel. inviting them to partake of the fruit of eternal life. Never forget your purpose here. Never settle. Love you all. Thanks for your prayers, you´re always in mine.
THIS WORK IS SO GREAT!!!! HOORAY FOR ISRAEL!!
Hermana Tavenner
meet you at the tree
I am SOOOO good here. OK so Monday night we had FHE with familia Garcia, hermano Jose. We talked about covenants. It was a good lesson, I asked Jose in what way he could show his heavenly father he was willing to keep the commandments. IN a very sarcastic tone he said, by being baptized. I looked at him and said ¨hermano Jose I hope you don´t think we are here just to get numbers. Just to say we had another baptism. We are here because after this life when we are all eating pupuas at that big family table, we want you there, after this life when we are playing soccer as a family, we want you to play too.¨ He didn´t say anything. Then Tuesday night I my comp got a call. I was out washing my clothes in our little cement thingy when I hear her start to yell. I came running in asking what was up. She said it was Sofia on the phone and her husband wanted to be baptized. This Saturday.
So we threw everything together. Saturday morning Sofia came to our house and said that morning Jose woke up and said look at what these missionaries are doing to me, first I cut off my hair and today I'm getting baptized, what has happened to me??
It was the most beautiful and spiritual service I have been to and hermano Jose was beaming the whole time.
There is nothing greater than bring people to a knowledge of the gospel. inviting them to partake of the fruit of eternal life. Never forget your purpose here. Never settle. Love you all. Thanks for your prayers, you´re always in mine.
THIS WORK IS SO GREAT!!!! HOORAY FOR ISRAEL!!
Hermana Tavenner
meet you at the tree
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Dearest Family,
How are you???? I was quite overjoyed this week to receive a letter from Anna W., Kelsey, and my grandparents, and my little sister. I think they were for my birthday! Thank you all; you are the BEST EVER: I have to say it´s really hard to find a post office here, so please forgive me! I have letters here i´m waiting to send, just give me time I have not forgotten you all. And just so you all know I do get dearelder letters, it´s free and i get them like 2 or 3 weeks after you send them, which is the same and normal mail, it´s just free.
OK so Jose. I doubt I will ever see this man baptized! OK no I just don´t know what else to do with him. He´s been to church for two months and has a testimony but he always just says he´s not ready to take the step. But everytime I pray for guidance for him I open a scripture about patience, haha so I am trying to learn patience.
This week in church we learn about the law of the fast. Rosemarie, the lady who was baptized last week, explained how she had been in the hospital with her youngest son who is really sick. They don´t have any money at all to pay for his medicine and she did not know what to do. She fasted for a solution and two days later someone had donated all the medicine her son would need for a year. Then Hermano Martinez, our convert who smoked, gave the closing prayer and broke down in tears thanking the Lord for providing her son with medicine. Awesome to see people change!!!!
Did I ever tell you my story of hiking the mountain with the bucket on my head? If I did forgive me, the days blur together for me here. But we are always looking for opportunities to serve right? Well we had just hiked up this crazy steep mountain to visit some people and were almost at the base when we saw this cute little lady with a huge heavy bucket on her head really struggling to climb. I ran over to her and asked if we could help. She quickly pulled the bucket off her head and onto the ground. She pulled the sweaty towel they use to balance the bucket off her head and put it onto mine. I started thinking oh no, what did I get myself into. I attempted to hoist the bucket up and put it on my head but it was so heavy, I could not lift it up. Then the little lady helped me lift it up onto my head. My companion looked at my like I was crazy. Looking ahead at the mountain we would be climbing, I thought to myself I am crazy. We started to climb. I started to pray.
How in the world I climbed up that steep mountain balancing a huge bucket so heavy I could not lift it with my arms, I don´t know! But I know if I wasn´t a missionary I couldn´t do it again!
The Lord is in the work!!! I LOVE THE WORK. KEEP THE FIRE OF MISSIONARY WORK GOING. It´s the blood of the church! HOORAW FOR ISRAEL::::
Hna Tavenner
How are you???? I was quite overjoyed this week to receive a letter from Anna W., Kelsey, and my grandparents, and my little sister. I think they were for my birthday! Thank you all; you are the BEST EVER: I have to say it´s really hard to find a post office here, so please forgive me! I have letters here i´m waiting to send, just give me time I have not forgotten you all. And just so you all know I do get dearelder letters, it´s free and i get them like 2 or 3 weeks after you send them, which is the same and normal mail, it´s just free.
OK so Jose. I doubt I will ever see this man baptized! OK no I just don´t know what else to do with him. He´s been to church for two months and has a testimony but he always just says he´s not ready to take the step. But everytime I pray for guidance for him I open a scripture about patience, haha so I am trying to learn patience.
This week in church we learn about the law of the fast. Rosemarie, the lady who was baptized last week, explained how she had been in the hospital with her youngest son who is really sick. They don´t have any money at all to pay for his medicine and she did not know what to do. She fasted for a solution and two days later someone had donated all the medicine her son would need for a year. Then Hermano Martinez, our convert who smoked, gave the closing prayer and broke down in tears thanking the Lord for providing her son with medicine. Awesome to see people change!!!!
Did I ever tell you my story of hiking the mountain with the bucket on my head? If I did forgive me, the days blur together for me here. But we are always looking for opportunities to serve right? Well we had just hiked up this crazy steep mountain to visit some people and were almost at the base when we saw this cute little lady with a huge heavy bucket on her head really struggling to climb. I ran over to her and asked if we could help. She quickly pulled the bucket off her head and onto the ground. She pulled the sweaty towel they use to balance the bucket off her head and put it onto mine. I started thinking oh no, what did I get myself into. I attempted to hoist the bucket up and put it on my head but it was so heavy, I could not lift it up. Then the little lady helped me lift it up onto my head. My companion looked at my like I was crazy. Looking ahead at the mountain we would be climbing, I thought to myself I am crazy. We started to climb. I started to pray.
How in the world I climbed up that steep mountain balancing a huge bucket so heavy I could not lift it with my arms, I don´t know! But I know if I wasn´t a missionary I couldn´t do it again!
The Lord is in the work!!! I LOVE THE WORK. KEEP THE FIRE OF MISSIONARY WORK GOING. It´s the blood of the church! HOORAW FOR ISRAEL::::
Hna Tavenner
Monday, August 2, 2010
What´s up everyone??? Wow what a week.
First NICKI is engaged!!! WOWZA. Congrats. I¨m still waiting for the pic of this fiance of yours, and thanks for the letters grandparents skids.
This week we planned a marriage and after had two baptisms. It was really great. This Rosemeris is a funny lady and it has been fun to teach her. After we taught her the first vision, we asked to pray about it. The next day she told us that she had received an answer. That night she had had a dream that she too saw a pillar of light and heard the words that Joseph Smith heard. It was a neat experience. Her husband was not baptized. He has work every day and every Sunday and the first time I met him was at the wedding.
Jose went to church again this Sunday. That makes like two months going to church, but he still does not want to be baptized. He is stubborn. Also our convert, Carmen bore her testimony at church this Sunday and it was so cute! She was so nervous and said if I bear my testimony will you too? We walked up together and she was first. She just starting crying. She said she knew the church was true and was so grateful that we had found her and brought her the gospel. Afterwards she just sat down and held my hand. I told her she´d have to let go just a minute so I could share my testimony too.
THE CHURCH IS TRUE:
HOORAY FOR ISRAEL::::
XOoXOXOOXOXOOXOXOOOXOXOX
HNa TAV
First NICKI is engaged!!! WOWZA. Congrats. I¨m still waiting for the pic of this fiance of yours, and thanks for the letters grandparents skids.
This week we planned a marriage and after had two baptisms. It was really great. This Rosemeris is a funny lady and it has been fun to teach her. After we taught her the first vision, we asked to pray about it. The next day she told us that she had received an answer. That night she had had a dream that she too saw a pillar of light and heard the words that Joseph Smith heard. It was a neat experience. Her husband was not baptized. He has work every day and every Sunday and the first time I met him was at the wedding.
Jose went to church again this Sunday. That makes like two months going to church, but he still does not want to be baptized. He is stubborn. Also our convert, Carmen bore her testimony at church this Sunday and it was so cute! She was so nervous and said if I bear my testimony will you too? We walked up together and she was first. She just starting crying. She said she knew the church was true and was so grateful that we had found her and brought her the gospel. Afterwards she just sat down and held my hand. I told her she´d have to let go just a minute so I could share my testimony too.
THE CHURCH IS TRUE:
HOORAY FOR ISRAEL::::
XOoXOXOOXOXOOXOXOOOXOXOX
HNa TAV
Monday, July 26, 2010
HOLA.
Has it maybe been the longest? Yes it has. I'm sorry I haven´t written for awhile. Can I just say El Salvador computers aren´t really quite top notch. But I´ve got letters from Jen, Nicki (yes that is the best address to use), Heidi (are you really home from your mish and Lara too!! wow that was fast! write me!!!l love u), and my grandparents. THANKS!!! you´re the best
So I don´t even know how to catch you all up. I´m still in this area, I´m going on 6 months here! But I love it; it´s the area I opened up. We´re still in a trio with the missionary we´re training. All is going well. I´m learning a lot, especially patience........
BIRTHDAY
I had a great birthday.....I woke up, my comps sang the worst version of happy birthday I'd ever heard. Bless their little hearts, they let me sponge shower on our patio first. Sofia (the wife of our investigator Jose) made me bean soup for lunch, we knocked the doors and went out for pupusas for dinner, BEST BIRTHDAY EVER.
NURSING
The nursing thing is insane. I´m going a little crazy trying to balance all these balls thrown at me, but the Lord is helping me. Wow these elders are stupid . Ok sorry but they are- sticking their fingers in fans, taking Pepto Bismo for a chest infection, trying to burn off warts by themselves with a kit they bought in the street. Not to mention I had one sent to the ER and had to call president to stay the night in the hospital with him, but they are keeping me on my toes.
INVESTIGATORS
Ok do you all remember Jose? The long hair rebellious man? He invited us over Saturday night for pupusas for my birthday (yes we eat pupusas like every night and they are sooo fatting- let´s not talk about it). He is so different, and I would give anything to see him baptized. Please pray for him for me. His heart still is a little hard.
Ok we have another lady Rosmari. She and her son are friends of Sofia and Jose. We have been teaching them for three weeks and they want to be baptized!! Joy. But we have to have a wedding first. So this week we´re planning a wedding and after we will have their baptism. I don´t know if they will be baptized this week or the next. Only her and her son will be baptized the father has a problem with the word of wisdom. They are a cute family, but so poor. They live on nothing but are already sacrificing for the church everything they can. I love these people.
I´m so good. I have struggled seeing my converts go inactive. It´s been the hardest part of my mission and the greatest pain I can remember. I remember a talk by Elder Holland at the MTC. He said to be a representative of the Savior we must walk his path. The road to salvation always passes through Gethsemane. A token must be paid. Pain must be felt. I pray that all may recognize this and continue to give it every thing to have what is only given after the sacrifice. I know this church is true. The Savior lives and is always next to us. Take up your cross, follow him. Walk in his steps. Look to God and Live,
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL,
Hna Tav
Has it maybe been the longest? Yes it has. I'm sorry I haven´t written for awhile. Can I just say El Salvador computers aren´t really quite top notch. But I´ve got letters from Jen, Nicki (yes that is the best address to use), Heidi (are you really home from your mish and Lara too!! wow that was fast! write me!!!l love u), and my grandparents. THANKS!!! you´re the best
So I don´t even know how to catch you all up. I´m still in this area, I´m going on 6 months here! But I love it; it´s the area I opened up. We´re still in a trio with the missionary we´re training. All is going well. I´m learning a lot, especially patience........
BIRTHDAY
I had a great birthday.....I woke up, my comps sang the worst version of happy birthday I'd ever heard. Bless their little hearts, they let me sponge shower on our patio first. Sofia (the wife of our investigator Jose) made me bean soup for lunch, we knocked the doors and went out for pupusas for dinner, BEST BIRTHDAY EVER.
NURSING
The nursing thing is insane. I´m going a little crazy trying to balance all these balls thrown at me, but the Lord is helping me. Wow these elders are stupid . Ok sorry but they are- sticking their fingers in fans, taking Pepto Bismo for a chest infection, trying to burn off warts by themselves with a kit they bought in the street. Not to mention I had one sent to the ER and had to call president to stay the night in the hospital with him, but they are keeping me on my toes.
INVESTIGATORS
Ok do you all remember Jose? The long hair rebellious man? He invited us over Saturday night for pupusas for my birthday (yes we eat pupusas like every night and they are sooo fatting- let´s not talk about it). He is so different, and I would give anything to see him baptized. Please pray for him for me. His heart still is a little hard.
Ok we have another lady Rosmari. She and her son are friends of Sofia and Jose. We have been teaching them for three weeks and they want to be baptized!! Joy. But we have to have a wedding first. So this week we´re planning a wedding and after we will have their baptism. I don´t know if they will be baptized this week or the next. Only her and her son will be baptized the father has a problem with the word of wisdom. They are a cute family, but so poor. They live on nothing but are already sacrificing for the church everything they can. I love these people.
I´m so good. I have struggled seeing my converts go inactive. It´s been the hardest part of my mission and the greatest pain I can remember. I remember a talk by Elder Holland at the MTC. He said to be a representative of the Savior we must walk his path. The road to salvation always passes through Gethsemane. A token must be paid. Pain must be felt. I pray that all may recognize this and continue to give it every thing to have what is only given after the sacrifice. I know this church is true. The Savior lives and is always next to us. Take up your cross, follow him. Walk in his steps. Look to God and Live,
HOORAW FOR ISRAEL,
Hna Tav
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
HOla!!!! Que tal? I hope you all are living up that summer! It´s crazy to think it´s summer because here it´s colder than I´ve ever been because of all the rain we´ve been getting, maybe I¨ll buy myself a blanket today for Pday!! We don´t use blankets on our beds at all, just one flat sheet to protect us from bug bites.
Wow this week was a little crazy....again. always. So I´m getting calls off the roof from these poor elders, always sick. I¨m trying to find time to do some missionary work between telling the elders to just take their Peptobismo. But this week we got such the suprise when I talked to the assistents Tueday night and the said they wanted us to train one of the new missionaries. I was a little blown away because training is a lot of work and I was sure with the nursing stuff I wouldn´t ever be training a little greenie. But yes my first daughter was born into the mission July 6, 2010. 5 ft7 ins tall. 148lds, and she has brown eyes! Haha she is from here in El Salvador but the other mission. And so we are in a trio right now. It´s been even crazier because the shower doesn´t work anymore so we put up our shower curtain outside, we have like a little patio thing, and like a big cement sink outside and so we do the bucket shower thing. It´s been quite the adventure! I think it´s the cleanest shower I¨ve had here.
OK updates.....
my converts
Jose from my last area the boy we found in the street....he´s good it´s in a different ward and so i never seen him but he´s in the same stake and he´s preparing for his mission in a 10 months.
Carlos (alma the younger)...sadly I have not heard from him. he moved to a different area and i´m scared that he is not going to church there. But I pray for him and will let you know what i hear.
Martinez family!!!!!!!! Wow they are powerful!!! I love this family. The stake primary pres came to our ward yesterday and was way impressed with their son. Sister Carmen did divisions with us yesterday. Really they´re so great.
Alejandra... she´s really active and has lots of friends in the church. It´s great to see the growth in her, she still has a bit to learn but Im excited to see the changes that are happening.
Investigatores....
Jose... He was not a church this week because he was sick, but we had a good lesson with him this week and we even brought his crazy catholic parents some cookies, I think they like us!
Thats all for this week. thanks for your prayers and support!!! LOVE YOU. HOORAW FOR ISRAEL:...
HNA TAV
Wow this week was a little crazy....again. always. So I´m getting calls off the roof from these poor elders, always sick. I¨m trying to find time to do some missionary work between telling the elders to just take their Peptobismo. But this week we got such the suprise when I talked to the assistents Tueday night and the said they wanted us to train one of the new missionaries. I was a little blown away because training is a lot of work and I was sure with the nursing stuff I wouldn´t ever be training a little greenie. But yes my first daughter was born into the mission July 6, 2010. 5 ft7 ins tall. 148lds, and she has brown eyes! Haha she is from here in El Salvador but the other mission. And so we are in a trio right now. It´s been even crazier because the shower doesn´t work anymore so we put up our shower curtain outside, we have like a little patio thing, and like a big cement sink outside and so we do the bucket shower thing. It´s been quite the adventure! I think it´s the cleanest shower I¨ve had here.
OK updates.....
my converts
Jose from my last area the boy we found in the street....he´s good it´s in a different ward and so i never seen him but he´s in the same stake and he´s preparing for his mission in a 10 months.
Carlos (alma the younger)...sadly I have not heard from him. he moved to a different area and i´m scared that he is not going to church there. But I pray for him and will let you know what i hear.
Martinez family!!!!!!!! Wow they are powerful!!! I love this family. The stake primary pres came to our ward yesterday and was way impressed with their son. Sister Carmen did divisions with us yesterday. Really they´re so great.
Alejandra... she´s really active and has lots of friends in the church. It´s great to see the growth in her, she still has a bit to learn but Im excited to see the changes that are happening.
Investigatores....
Jose... He was not a church this week because he was sick, but we had a good lesson with him this week and we even brought his crazy catholic parents some cookies, I think they like us!
Thats all for this week. thanks for your prayers and support!!! LOVE YOU. HOORAW FOR ISRAEL:...
HNA TAV
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Hola!!!! que tal Ustedes? Me extraña todos bastante, casi tengo un ano acá! Santa vaca que loca.
Sorry I didn´t write last week I ran out of time. I hope you all are living up the
4th. I forgot it was a holiday until last night at dinner (Sunday nights we always eat dinner with a family in the Ward, familia Pena) we walked into their house and all the family members stood up and put their hands over their hearts and played the national anthem. I was confused until I remember it was the 4th of July then to top it off they made me sing it to them while they recorded me. That is a video clip I really hope gets ruined. haha. Then we ate beans and tortillas with a dessert of platinos. Booyah best 4th EVER.
So I have to catch you up on a lot. First off one investigator named Jose... We have been working with him since my first week here. He is married to a member but he is really Catholic. But this dear sister came to me pleading to help with her husband. Can I just tell you about Jose for a minute? They live in the funniest house that we have to cross a creek-river on a narrow passageway, hold on to a little string to brace us while crossing. Then entering the house (not really a house more like scraps of tin glued together) we pass through their raccoons, jump over the squirrels and count them- 5 dogs, chickens, ducks, and try to make it through without stepping on one of the million cats, not to mention passing through the crazy Catholic parents then another narrow passageway to the room- house of Jose. Their house is only one room. Then we find Jose; this short man with really long hair, who sits on the ground not looking at us without his shirt on. (Ok here the men don´t wear shirts. I don´t know why. It is kind of strange I guess, but usually to show respect whenever we enter they put on a shirt) but Jose...no. But his wife has plead with us. And I guess I am stubborn too, and it bothers me he´s listened to the discussions for a year but still won´t change. So I have put all my energy into converting this wild man and without results we´ve labored for 3 months. I told my dad to put his name in the temple at least two times. Ok so this last Sunday in walks a short man holding a baby. I was thinking who is this?? I didn´t recognize him until I saw his cute little wife next to him; it was Jose! And he cut his hair. I can´t remember ever being happier to see someone at church. I was in bliss the whole day! He still is very stubborn. I asked him when he would be baptized and he just smiled at me and shook his head. So I´m guessing two weeks. haha.
Ok so also this week, Friday, I got a call from Hna Farnsworth, my old comp (she is also the mission nurse. She said President and his wife wanted to talk to us. So she and I waited at the church completely confused at what was going on. Then President and his wife pulled up in their car and told us to get in. We were both really confused but just went along with it. They then drove us to the nicest restaurant I have seen in El Salvador, like $15 a plate. They thanked us for all we were doing as the nurses. They also informed us they want to change things. Hna. Farnsworth has been the mission nurse a long time and they decided to send her oriental (far away from the capital and mission office). They said I would get the cell phone and would work alone in the mission office handling all the nursing duties. I think the lunch was their way of softening the new calling for me. So I just pray somehow I will find time to teach the gospel.
The work is so good. The field is whiter than it´s ever been. Hoorah for Israel and short hair and raccoons and injecting the elders (we have done some injections!). All my corazone,
Hna Tav
Sorry I didn´t write last week I ran out of time. I hope you all are living up the
4th. I forgot it was a holiday until last night at dinner (Sunday nights we always eat dinner with a family in the Ward, familia Pena) we walked into their house and all the family members stood up and put their hands over their hearts and played the national anthem. I was confused until I remember it was the 4th of July then to top it off they made me sing it to them while they recorded me. That is a video clip I really hope gets ruined. haha. Then we ate beans and tortillas with a dessert of platinos. Booyah best 4th EVER.
So I have to catch you up on a lot. First off one investigator named Jose... We have been working with him since my first week here. He is married to a member but he is really Catholic. But this dear sister came to me pleading to help with her husband. Can I just tell you about Jose for a minute? They live in the funniest house that we have to cross a creek-river on a narrow passageway, hold on to a little string to brace us while crossing. Then entering the house (not really a house more like scraps of tin glued together) we pass through their raccoons, jump over the squirrels and count them- 5 dogs, chickens, ducks, and try to make it through without stepping on one of the million cats, not to mention passing through the crazy Catholic parents then another narrow passageway to the room- house of Jose. Their house is only one room. Then we find Jose; this short man with really long hair, who sits on the ground not looking at us without his shirt on. (Ok here the men don´t wear shirts. I don´t know why. It is kind of strange I guess, but usually to show respect whenever we enter they put on a shirt) but Jose...no. But his wife has plead with us. And I guess I am stubborn too, and it bothers me he´s listened to the discussions for a year but still won´t change. So I have put all my energy into converting this wild man and without results we´ve labored for 3 months. I told my dad to put his name in the temple at least two times. Ok so this last Sunday in walks a short man holding a baby. I was thinking who is this?? I didn´t recognize him until I saw his cute little wife next to him; it was Jose! And he cut his hair. I can´t remember ever being happier to see someone at church. I was in bliss the whole day! He still is very stubborn. I asked him when he would be baptized and he just smiled at me and shook his head. So I´m guessing two weeks. haha.
Ok so also this week, Friday, I got a call from Hna Farnsworth, my old comp (she is also the mission nurse. She said President and his wife wanted to talk to us. So she and I waited at the church completely confused at what was going on. Then President and his wife pulled up in their car and told us to get in. We were both really confused but just went along with it. They then drove us to the nicest restaurant I have seen in El Salvador, like $15 a plate. They thanked us for all we were doing as the nurses. They also informed us they want to change things. Hna. Farnsworth has been the mission nurse a long time and they decided to send her oriental (far away from the capital and mission office). They said I would get the cell phone and would work alone in the mission office handling all the nursing duties. I think the lunch was their way of softening the new calling for me. So I just pray somehow I will find time to teach the gospel.
The work is so good. The field is whiter than it´s ever been. Hoorah for Israel and short hair and raccoons and injecting the elders (we have done some injections!). All my corazone,
Hna Tav
Monday, June 21, 2010
Hello!!!
WOW. This week was crazy. First off last week when we had the baptism of Carmen and her son, one of our investigators came. Her name is Alejandra. We taught her like 5 weeks ago but she just wasn´t progressing so we did not really focus on her. Then at the baptism I asked her partly joking ¨so your baptism is next week right?¨ Then she looked at me completely serious and said ok. So we had to reteach the lessons but she soaked them right up! Our lessons with her about the plan of salvation and temple work were some of the most spiritual lessons I can remember. We had her baptism Friday, and she just glowed afterwards. Really there is great cleansing power in the baptism; a flood washing out the sin dusted inside us.
So then Saturday William, the husband of the sister that was baptized the previous week was baptized!! I really had felt a connection with him. He reminds me of my Grandpa Tavenner a little. He seems really rough but deep down he´s a softy. He had to quit smoking but he finally did it, and on Sunday he so proudly brought his family to church in white shirt and tie ready to ¨get his gift¨ (the Holy Ghost).
This week really was a week of ¨waters¨. Friday night the storms hit and hit hard. Our lights went out, and I ran around the house searching for our candles. I finally found them and then lit one for my companion and I. Just as I lit them I felt something cold and wet on my feet. I moved the candle to see what it was. I then saw water pouring into our house and the whole ground was covered in inches water. I yelled for my comp and threw her the other candle. We were like chicken with our heads cut off throwing suitcases and books and clothes onto our beds and tables as the waters rose higher and higher in our apt. Finally the storm let up and we opened our doors and shoveled out most of the water. I was actually laughing really hard through almost all of the experience, it was quite fun wading through water in our house.
I think God was trying to teach me about the floods this week! Floods of baptism, of stresses of life, of houses.... they are here to cleanse us. If we let them the floods of our lives can actually help us. They leave us tired and drained, but they leave us clean and hopefully better people if we let them. So EMBRACE the water! The floods! The stresses and let God make of you what he will. I LOVE YOU ALL HOORAY FOR ISRAEL.......
Hna Tav
WOW. This week was crazy. First off last week when we had the baptism of Carmen and her son, one of our investigators came. Her name is Alejandra. We taught her like 5 weeks ago but she just wasn´t progressing so we did not really focus on her. Then at the baptism I asked her partly joking ¨so your baptism is next week right?¨ Then she looked at me completely serious and said ok. So we had to reteach the lessons but she soaked them right up! Our lessons with her about the plan of salvation and temple work were some of the most spiritual lessons I can remember. We had her baptism Friday, and she just glowed afterwards. Really there is great cleansing power in the baptism; a flood washing out the sin dusted inside us.
So then Saturday William, the husband of the sister that was baptized the previous week was baptized!! I really had felt a connection with him. He reminds me of my Grandpa Tavenner a little. He seems really rough but deep down he´s a softy. He had to quit smoking but he finally did it, and on Sunday he so proudly brought his family to church in white shirt and tie ready to ¨get his gift¨ (the Holy Ghost).
This week really was a week of ¨waters¨. Friday night the storms hit and hit hard. Our lights went out, and I ran around the house searching for our candles. I finally found them and then lit one for my companion and I. Just as I lit them I felt something cold and wet on my feet. I moved the candle to see what it was. I then saw water pouring into our house and the whole ground was covered in inches water. I yelled for my comp and threw her the other candle. We were like chicken with our heads cut off throwing suitcases and books and clothes onto our beds and tables as the waters rose higher and higher in our apt. Finally the storm let up and we opened our doors and shoveled out most of the water. I was actually laughing really hard through almost all of the experience, it was quite fun wading through water in our house.
I think God was trying to teach me about the floods this week! Floods of baptism, of stresses of life, of houses.... they are here to cleanse us. If we let them the floods of our lives can actually help us. They leave us tired and drained, but they leave us clean and hopefully better people if we let them. So EMBRACE the water! The floods! The stresses and let God make of you what he will. I LOVE YOU ALL HOORAY FOR ISRAEL.......
Hna Tav
Monday, June 14, 2010
Buenas Dias! How is everyone? I hope the heavens are smiling upon you my dear friends and family. I am doing really great here. I received a letter from Nicki and announcements from the Skidmores who are graduating- that was fun to see pictures! Thanks!
This week was a little stressful. I even have signs of my stress all over my blessed face. Oh the joys of the work. This week we had two investigators with a baptismal date. Carmen Martinez and her son William. We had planned to do divisions so I could teach English classes and my companion could go with the district leaders to have the interviews. The next day we went to visit them. Everything was ready for the service the next day, and I was so thrilled that they had passed their interviews.
We walked into their house and knew that something was wrong. This family loves us to death, but Hermana Carmen just glared at me. I asked her what happened and she said that she would not be baptized. My heart maybe dropped completely down to my feet. I asked her why. She started off...¨Well first off you did not tell me that that I would have to answer those kind of questions (the questions in the interview are like ..have you ever been in prison, have you had an abortion, have you killed someone etc.) and second off it was an elder I don´t even know asking me those questions, and to top it off YOU weren´t even here to support me.¨ Wow, I just sunk into their dirty old sofa a little speechless. We, of course, opened up the scriptures. I've found when there are problems if we can open up the Book of Mormon really fast, the problems usually go anyway.
Long story short (well not really I just wrote a novel..sorry) they were baptized!!! And we´re planning a baptismal service for this Saturday for the dad, he hasn´t smoked all week!!!
There is such a power in the Book of Mormon. If you are not in it everyday, get in it! I love you all and want the best for you. Thanks for your prayers and support on my behalf. Hooray for ISRAEL.......
XOOXOXOxooxoOXoxoXOoxooOOOOOXOXOxox
Hermana Tavenner
This week was a little stressful. I even have signs of my stress all over my blessed face. Oh the joys of the work. This week we had two investigators with a baptismal date. Carmen Martinez and her son William. We had planned to do divisions so I could teach English classes and my companion could go with the district leaders to have the interviews. The next day we went to visit them. Everything was ready for the service the next day, and I was so thrilled that they had passed their interviews.
We walked into their house and knew that something was wrong. This family loves us to death, but Hermana Carmen just glared at me. I asked her what happened and she said that she would not be baptized. My heart maybe dropped completely down to my feet. I asked her why. She started off...¨Well first off you did not tell me that that I would have to answer those kind of questions (the questions in the interview are like ..have you ever been in prison, have you had an abortion, have you killed someone etc.) and second off it was an elder I don´t even know asking me those questions, and to top it off YOU weren´t even here to support me.¨ Wow, I just sunk into their dirty old sofa a little speechless. We, of course, opened up the scriptures. I've found when there are problems if we can open up the Book of Mormon really fast, the problems usually go anyway.
Long story short (well not really I just wrote a novel..sorry) they were baptized!!! And we´re planning a baptismal service for this Saturday for the dad, he hasn´t smoked all week!!!
There is such a power in the Book of Mormon. If you are not in it everyday, get in it! I love you all and want the best for you. Thanks for your prayers and support on my behalf. Hooray for ISRAEL.......
XOOXOXOxooxoOXoxoXOoxooOOOOOXOXOxox
Hermana Tavenner
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