February 13, 2014 - The last email from the MTC!!!

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I am so ready to go to Mexico this week. I was able to really be myself in my lessons, I feel like I have a lot of the time been a "robot" like just done exactly what my teacher taught and left my personality behind. THIS IS A PROBLEM>>> I needed me! As I taught with my smile and with my heart my weird laugh and my broken spanish I was so much more confident and not only did I feel the spirit stronger I was able to simply be Hermana bauer not HERMANA.... I had truly lost myself in my stress but IMMM BACK!!!!!!!!!! :) and I am happier than ever! The blank stares and awkward pauses are gone and have been replaced with laughs and smiles and my own mistakes once again! My teacher Hermano Lund asked me as I walked into class Hermana Bauer why are you happy today? I replied, why not? He said that's what I like about you... I do not know if anyone else realizes it... but I am glad that I can bring joy and love to the table each and every day! This week we had our last lesson with Cecilia an investigator that is Hermana Tew she actually evaluated each of our lesson. This does not happen very often and was a very special experience. I had the opportunity to look back and realize how much our teaching has changed and grown. I feel like even though I may be  the bum wheel for a bit and just be riding it out for a little while in Mexico, I CAN AND WILL BE AN ASSET TO OUR LESSONS and  I will listen participate and ACT on my promptings! I am so excited to get out there... to be thrown back into the water and swim! This is going to be an experience of a life time and never will I be perfect, but forever will I strive for it!  This week there was a talk on patience... This is something I need for myself... She said... Patience is the road to perfection. that's right if I want to be perfect I have got to give myself the time to be it! I have learned that here in the MTC and I'm going to apply that in the field! I am overwhelmed with excitement to get on my way! My bags are already packed and I have clothes out for the next three days!  Anything is possible with the Lord on your side! In my time of weakness He picked me up, in my happiest times he gave me a pat on the back, when I was content He pushed me to work harder. He will not let us fail NEVER, but we must invite Him in... Life is not easy and it never will be after each hill another one is near by.... but if life was easy it would be no fun. and I am here to tell you that the thing I am most grateful for that I thought I already had prior to the MTC, is a testimony of my Savior. I challenge each and every one of you to truly turn to Him, understand what he has done for you, and strive to lean on Him in your times of need. DO NOT BE THAT INDEPENDENT SOUL, His love will truly change your life, it has mine. Te Amo Beccitos!

February 6, 2014

Well time is flying by, but all I can say is the days are long and hard, but fulfilling! My most spiritual days are the days that I am most wiped out! This week I have to say that I am so thankful for Janette. She was my tender mercy for the week! If it was not for her letter and her listening to the spirit I don't know how I would have received the answer to some serious questions in my prayers! I have struggled a lot with confidence in myself this week but as it was said to me by a wonderful woman I respect so much "fear and faith cannot be in you at the same time!" along with many more encouraging words, I realized the important parts of my personality I was allowing to be sucked up in a black hole because I was so consumed in being a ROBOT of a missionary. I am so thankful that I am learning to be me and build on myself instead of tearing myself apart as I was earlier this week! It was amazing to me that someone could be so in tune with the spirit that they could write my answer down three days before I pleaded to my Father in Heaven for it. This miracle was finished off with the song that we sang in the choir for our Tuesday devotional, Be Still My Soul. I realized I am the one chasing the spirit away, I am the one not letting Him abide in me, all I have to do is speak peace unto my soul as this song because He is with me I know it, I feel him here every step of the way and I am now learning how to keep Him close and stay positive even if I begin to become discouraged in myself. I am so thankful for the miracles the Lord works in my life daily and that we are all capable to be a tool in the Lords hands!

This week Hermana Abbott and I received the calling to be sister training leaders for our zone! I am so excited! we get to go visit sisters each night, help new sisters as they come in, and call and report to ALL branch meetings! It actually is quite a bit and cuts into my writing time.... but hey! I am loving it because I know that I am getting the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the other Hermanas here!

Here are a few funny stories... my competitive attitude is getting the best of me here at the MTC... we cannot under any circumstances make contact with an Elder if we are playing volleyball with them, got it. Okay here is the story. I was at the net ready for the ball coming my way! Yes it was coming fast ( most Hermanas would move) not I!!! Held my ground, as Elder Dotter ran full speed ahead right smack into me.... we collided spun in a circle... ( Casual "Shae spin") and fell to the ground. I killed my ankle and some tendons... and he hit his face on the ground trying to avoid landing on top of me... making the scene look worse that it was! well not to mention that was my second collision with the same elder... he just doesn't get it. I will and can do my job and be a part of the team! hahaha the Brother that watches us came over and says... what was that?? You are okay this time but if it happens again you cannot ever play again.... UH OH... yeah I have got to work on that one... ahhah :) 

This week we also got to skype someone in Mexico and talk to them, a member. we taught a short lesson and had a great conversations. It is like visiting teaching! Oh I loved it and she was the sweetest lady ever!!!! Coolest experience for sure! 

Well that is about all that is new other than we had an elder moved into our district who wants to "eat" me and Hermana Handy he is a huge help though he is from Tahiti and has been here for 11 weeks he hurt his shoulder. Also, my comp wants me to go to the doc about my ankle.... mmmmm still thinkin.,....  love you guys and miss you all!!!!

January 30, 2014

Well first of all.... HERMANA BAUER HAS HER VISA!!!!! she will be going to Monterrey Mexico on time and not attending another mission as a... visa waiter! YAYAYAYAYA!!!!! had a fun little trip to Vegas, said a prayer I would see someone Dad knew, nope. Oh well I met that sweet lady sister Moody on the plane who text Dad, she was not a member but most of her family is. We discussed religion a bit and she said she is thinking about it just not quite ready for that in her life! Her nephew emails her every week who is on a mission, I am sure he is working on her and I can tell the Lord is working on her heart quite a bit. Anywho it was weird to be in Vegas and not do anything, buy anything or meet some new crazy person from Dad... But it was a good trip and I HAVE MY VISA!!!

Also on the way there our driver talked to me about the importance of having farming in your life and then told me he was a team roper. Thinks he might know of Richie possible and they breed race horses! Oh man I miss the farm! ( I just need to learn how to have that conversation in Spanish.... stresses me out a bit... haha ) Elder Greep was our driver in Vegas... he was an interesting fellow! what a sweet spirit, but man oh man did he tell the most depressing stories I have ever heard! Oh well I am not worried about being a Debbie downer and he told me and the rest of the group not a soul in our room worried him and he would keep us all! best part of the day ASIDE FROM GETTING MY VISA!!!!! I got to eat at... CAFE RIO!!!!! one last time! super stoked about that one!  I cannot believe that I am half way there can you?! 

I am getting nervous to actually be in Monterrey, speaking to people who are actually trying to understand me for the sake of their salvation... but I know that the Lord will continue to bless me and I will continue to give it my all! 

This week Hermana Handy got a charlie horse in her foot and fell over in pain I knew exactly what was happening because I get them all the time specially from gym... the beam was the worst right, so I was rubbing it and comforting her while the other two hermanas were like in total and complete confusion, did I mention this all went down as we were kneeling about to pray! we were all laughing so hard by the end of it we were crying! best thing ever! 

  We had an amazing speaker this Sunday, he told the story of Alma and Almulek and applied it to working in the field with the members and working with the right members. It made me think of  how great members can be in this work and how every member no matter the age truly is a missionary! The story of Amulek was applied because Alma not only took a member but an inactive one and blew the people away with not his testimony but anothers. Alma did his work, but Almulek made the impact on the city and through the hand of the Lord and the faith Alma had in the Lord and in Almulek they were able to make an impact on them all! We need to all remember there is a way to reach out to everyone and teach them about the gospel! Don't simplify the work, find the one that works in the ¨multitude of ways¨ the Lord has provided for us! I loved his outlook on this story!  I am coming to love the book of Mormon stories looking at them from a different light, not just as stories or what they did, but what they teach and what I and the people around me can pull out of them and learn through the example of these amazing prophets!

I love the MTC, My companion and this gospel more and more each and every day! I live it I love it and I represent it! 

Te amo! Beccitos! 

Vegas BABY! Visa

Hola Familia,
I am going to Vegas right now! we have to appear to finalize our visa's.  Yupp looks like things are going good.  I will have my visa and three weeks left in the MTC!  I wanted to tell you so badly, but didn't have any info or time, I assume they do that on purpose!  Super Lame but having my visa es supermega bueno!  I am praying to run into someone dad knows in Vegas..very small possibility, pero its a small world.  When we get to Vegas we will go to the Mexican Consulate, and then an institute class to learn more about our mission.  Oh and I guess we HAVE to eat to Del Taco... thats about all I know.  So there you have it,  I'm off to Vegas!!

I was on Mexican soil today... AMAZING! I have my visa IA HORA (right now) sooo stoked! Also this this lady approached us in the airport and said I have just had my second lesson, I must give up my evil habits, thank you for sharing your message, and I'm excited for my next visit!  I learned a few cool facts about Mexico and got really intimidated being one of 10 white people at the Mexican Consulate today.  Everyone spoke Spanish! Ahhh I felt so belittled but they loved listening to me try to memorize James 1:5 out loud!  It was a crack up! It was crazy to be in public and be addressed as sister.  It seems like a dream, but how I love the sound of it.  I am doing great and staying positive! Come what may, I can take whatever comes my way! Love, Hermana Bauer