February 2, 2015- A Few Odds and Ends

We have been praying for Randy and hope that he is doing better.  He was included in our fast this week! I know the Lord will take care of him and the fam!!! tell him to hang in there and that I sure love him!!  Our family is one of a kind and each of us are very different, but its a good thing of we were the same you would get bored! 

Contacting people with service is my favorite tactic!!!! sweeping, dishes, taking a garbage out sometimes painting! hahah who knows there is a bit of everything here! our relief socity is NUTS!!!! the sisters fight and think that all the single adults have the responsibility (feeding and helping the missionaries) and need to make the sacrifice of time because there is no time as a mom and yeah it is nuts they fight about giving us food because not many want to!  We have some strong sisters that are always there for us like the Hermana Sisi! she always saves us when we got nowhere to go haha!  We are finally going to the temple next week, so  ready for that! I sure love you mom and hope all is going well I am gong to write a big letter about he crazy stuff that happened this week. Give everyone loves and thank you for all you do for us! you are the greatest mom in the world and I want you to know your testimony and strength has held our familia together! 

Oh and my 3rd cousin Elder Day is in my zone! his mom is Collette Kimball or something like that I think she is your 2nd cousin from what we figured out! haha 

 well we have cleaned the whole house from top to bottom because it is infested with mold!!! we cannot kill it so all we can do is clean it! When i have a house of my own it will be clean and we will not have these problems.... YUCK!!!

 We went to Sirlon for an activity today I think I gained a lot of weight in about an hour or two! We ate sooooo much but it was sooo good sushi, wings, desert... you have to take advantage of it when you have the chance things like this don't happen much in the mish!

 I cannot believe how fast the mission flying  by.. makes me sick sometimes don't like to think about it, I am getting to the point of being an oldie I don't know the new missionaries and all my buds are going home.. Hermana Sumsion mi mama only has one more change left! AAAAAAAAH! Cannot believe it I am taking advantage of every second I have! 

The Fonseca Family

Well this is the miracle of the week! ... hope you enjoy it! 

the one on the left is. Hermano Pablo, he was baptized in May last year. He was a bit of a trouble maker but now has become an amazing father of three.  Four months after his baptism he helped to convert is oldest brother and about a week ago the wife of his brother was baptized ( Miguel his brother is the last one on the right)

Hermano Pablo has been a strong convert living the gospel and sharing with everyone how it has changed his life... and this is where the story begins! 

One night his parents were in town they live in Mexico Mexico but came and stay with him for months at a time (his mom is in the pink in the pic)  Hermana Lorena has always listened to us. but did not want to take the examples of her kids as an answer she wanted and has been looking for her OWN answer, something special.  She always reads her Book of Mormon and even when she was tired from work listened to at 8:30 pm when she got off. All because she wanted to know more and was waiting for her amazing experience her answer. When I got to this area she had gone off to Mexico to feed all the people who go and worship  the giant Virgin Mary she has outside of her house. When she finally got home she wanted to listen again and I had the chance to meet her. She wanted an answer but really was not putting her heart into it because she didn't want to change the things she knew she had to. When she came back we had the chance to meet her hubby who she Hermana Genaro he told us the missionaries had been visiting him in mexico!!! (the man in the middle of the first pic :D ) We saw why the missionaries stopped teaching him he showed no interest, but we felt something special about him and he listened to us and was happy with his wife by his side!.  They had a lot of problems but, two weeks ago Thursday we challenged them to be baptized the first of February!  They responded with if they receive answers they will be baptized. We showed up for the lesson Saturday and we had a FULL HOUSE!!! 15 people!  We had a family night did some games and got to know everyone we focused on the faith.. but were left hanging not knowing how they were feeling with the whole date of baptism.

Last Thursday we were in the middle of a lesson and one of their daughters called (the two daughters live in mexico) they were informed that their youngest daughter had a party alcohol smoking the whole nine yards IN THEIR HOUSE!  The older sister was upset and could not control the situation! they both began to teach that they had never done these things and never taught them to do them either, it is not what they wanted for their daughters and they let them know it. We had planned to teach the word of wisdom but we listened to them teach it over the phone to their two daughters! It was absolutely perfect!! hehe we taught castidad and diezmo!  We asked about 1 de February they still were not so sure looking for that answer..,.this last Friday we had an activity misional in the ward, the goal was for them to get excited and feel the spirit, but they had tons of OPOSICIÓN, they said they didn't know if they would be going home to mexico for their daughters or getting baptized! They were given a blessing by their sons and received peace and comfort from the faith and desire they truly had inside to receive their answers! They did not go to mexico and we had an amazing lesson with them in the temple! There was a ward trip and we had permission to go with the new converts! They met us there and we had a lesson inside in the waiting room!. The president came and talked to them and others who could not enter, we all felt this peace and spirit that you can only have in the temple even of we were not inside! It was an amazing experience and they accepted baptism for the next day with a firm stand on their decision.  :D 

We left the temple and off to their interviews! :D 

The next day (Sunday) we ran to the chapel at FIVE IN THE MORNING to begin filling the font. The baptism was at eight before the services at nine.  We were up at four and preparing for it all within this time! :D hehe They got there at eight and we began! the whole family came with members and non members  Hermano Pablo baptized his mom Hermana Lorena and Miguel Genaro! 

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 Through all of the opposition and difficulties the time and efforts of everyone they were baptized! They bought their own white clothes.  I played my violin with my comp singing!! It was a very special service! Off we went to sacrament barley making it before the prayer! they were confirmed as members of the church and recieve the Holy Ghost that day!  Hermana Lorena went up front to bare her testimony all on her own we didn't even say anything and shared her story!  She explained she has the change she had been waiting for. They were very happy and grateful for all they had gone through, all they want is to get to the temple and have their family forever and that their last couple kids can become members as well and feel what they are feeling!

As you can all see it has been a very special week for the family Fonseca and for us as well.  The Lord can touch hearts in many ways and touched theirs  We all can help others have experiences as this one if we share what we know is true and help those around us.  We are very happy and would not trade this experience for anything, this is what makes me happy, this is what keeps us going, this is why we live the way we do.  Each one of us can change the lives of others but only if we trust in our Heavenly Father and give him a reason to trust in us! what more could I ask for than to be here giving my time to my Father and my Savior.  I wouldn't trade the ups and downs we have for anything it is how we learn and grow.  The real question we should ask is what more can we do! We are always growing and learning and more so when we are doing what is right and working to reach the potential that our Father in Heaven knows we each have! I hope you could enjoy this story and realize this is the work of the Lord. He gives us the ways to complete the things we need to we just have to stay strong and choose what we know is right! 

I love you all very much and hope you have another amazing week!!!! thanks for all your support and what you do for me! 

Hermana Bauer
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Still Here in Las Puentes!!

NO more worms.... I got them from menudo! cow intestines and inner stomach... it was terrible!!!!!!!!!!! it still had hair on it!!!!

Well I am still here in Las Puentes with Hermana Carrillo!!! happy as ever. They white washed the elders... yes white wash of zone leaders! i couldn't believe it, but things are good, and we are ready to turn this ward upside down! 

The sisters are great and we are working hard with them! We had lots of changes but the sisters with the biggest probs stayed put! I really love this whole sister training leader thing but man its lots of extra work! haha Were you a zone leader in your mission, how did you have time to take care of so many troubled missionaries! 

Randy is in my prayers.. what have they found out! will you tell him that I love him tons granny and grandpa too!  That is good you all fasted, miracles come with fasting and prayer, but we always have to follow the will of our Savior! Hope you have a great week! GO HARD IN THE PAINT! as said by our new assistant to the pres! hahah love you dadio! 

Hermana Bauer su hija mayor

 We had an activity and sent balloons with notes to our loved ones who have passed away telling them thanks for what they have done for us and what we are going to do for them TEMPLE WORK!!!!!! It was awesome! Mini hot air balloons thought a lot about my grandma Annie! 

                                                             Elder Clayton and Elder Mora

Life is Good Here

 I got the package thanks so much!!! I loved it, it was great! The parasites are gone and the old man is not writing anymore notes no stress but it was creepy! hahahah  My scripture about the obra misional is Alma 5:49 and can you put it in Spanish please! Sounds like everything is going well at home, we have changes today and to be honest everything is going really well here I have learned a ton this change!  I am coming down with a cold but I would take that any day over parasites! Don't worry about the lover he is gross and old and creeps me out! The sisters visit him when we are on divisions!!! This week we had CRAZY!!!!!!! divisions both of the sisters I was with had break downs! seriously one admitted to me she is in love with a missionay and just wants to get home to marry him and the other started balling and we didn't sleep till 1 in the morning because she had so many probs! but we got it all worked out and I am just thankful that my mind is in the game here, that my heart is in the work and I am here 100 percent! I am so thankful for everything I am doing here and every opportunity my Father In Heaven is giving me! This week we finally had someone in church she is going to get baptized, she is opening up and loved being with the youth! Really this week was a lot better my comp is super sick but I took care of her she called me mom all week it was super funny waking her up at night to give her meds the whole nine yards! but yeah life is good here! We find out about cambios tonight who knows what will happen but its the Lords will and I will follow! I hope that Randy starts doing better tell them that I love them and that they are in my prayers! My face well I have a face wash... its not changing much! I need to find that cream you told me a while back a go! I love you keep working hard and keep the fam in line. I loved the pics and the cards you guys are the greatest and the clothes are super cute love you! MMUAH! 

Opposition In All Things

Well we are going to start with a scripture! 2 Nephi 2:11 look it up.... I am sure you all have your cell phones close if you are not reading from them at this moment! hahah OPPOSITION is needed in all things and I know this is true! These past two weeks have been full of obstacles, ups and downs! Well this past week we hit rock bottom. We started our week off in the office my comp had an interview with president, that actually went very well, this was an UP!!! haha We than had our first set of divisions with some sisters who have been really struggling! Hermana Carrillo and I became very ill over the weekend and we didn't know why.... well we ended up at the doctor the day before divisions! not the mission doctor that's way too far! We just went to an old bishop who is a doctor he took care of us! It turns out we had parasites, the stomach pains and vomiting... except for me! because I wouldn't let myself throw up! (didn't want to pass out haha) was normal for this! no worries! medicine for three days it goes away like that! When we were in division man the poor sisters thought we were dying! but we held strong and divisions actually went very well! The sisters are progressing tons and we even ran into a family that drove us back to the area of the sisters to change companions again!  Then we had our day of man we just can't do it! We were sick and tired of NO! and of feeling so sick! but we knew we had to work through it! Like I said opposition is needed in all things! so off we went! worked hard!  We did are best to enjoy one of our only days together of the week and found TWO new people! One of them being an answer to my prayer! we stopped on a corner and I said sister we NEED new people to teach! She said well then where are we going to go! in that moment a woman walked around the corner I said buenas tardes! stuck my hand out and she passed me... but then came back, we talked to her she really opened up, said she wanted to change her life and then said I turned back because I felt something! IT WAS THE FIRST MIRACLE!!! the night continued and we planned divisions. The next day I went to another area and everything went very well... when we changed back, I found out they had a very WEIRD day here in Las Puentes.. all the way to one of our investigators who was on drugs and our recent convert... well he gave the sisters something for me. A LOVE LETTER! yupp... So now I had to call pres talk to him about a 67 yr old man who wrote me a love letter... and WE ARE TEACHING HIS DAUGHTER!!!! president said we can't let men control the work of the Lord, but changes are in a week! I have no idea what is going to happen but it has just been the craziest week of my life!  After all of this I had HAD IT!  The next day we said a prayer to have a day of miracles literally miracles and I was praying so hard to feel better and get the problems out of my head! Well we know WHY we had the opposition! We found 6 new people to teach in ONE DAY! Two members accompanied us to teach and we really felt the spirit and why we are here! I love my mission being here working day in and out and following the spirit being a tool in the hands of the Lord! This last week of this change we are going to show them what we can do and these new people are going to realize why they need the gospel in their lives! Thanks for your prayers, love and  all you do for me! You are the greatest!!!! Keep up the good work at home! and stay warm! LOVE YOU ALL! 

Hermana Bauer!

A New Year

Sounds like you had a good New Years and Brae yeah she is a trouble maker!  She told me so did Brock haha the little turd!  Well we just had a small dinner with a family other than that it was a normal day but a dead one! NO ONE was home hahahaha but its okay! The next day was the same, because everyone was asleep or hung over but it was good. I ate cow intestines this week covered in cow hair still. I got sick and it was terrible, but I did it!!  Tell grandpa for me. Goals I have lots!!!!!!!!  I am going to finish the Book of Mormon!!!! We are actually going to do it as a mission in 45 days 15 pages a day.  I want to invite you guys to do it with me we start Wednesday! I am really ready to work with all I have all the way to the end! I am going to study an attribute of Christ every day! I want to learn to have more caridad or charity the pure love of Christ in my life. Baptize semanas segidas again! I am going to have better prayers every day and do more exercise!  The goals go on and on, but what I have learned about goals, is we have to have little goals between or you'll never make it! So that's what I'm going for, the little weekly goals right now!  Hermana Carrillo and I are great, we haven't gotten lost and this next week we are going to have lots of divisions!  Hope you guys have a great week!  I know this church is true and this new year is going to be amazing.  I am so thankful I could spent this past year here in the mission with my time and mind in the work of the Lord! Not another thing I would trade it for! Now to finish strong! I have really learned what the atonement of Christ is and humility and how we can apply these two things in our lives each and every day, to help one another grow and learn to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ! I love you! hope you have a great week MUAH! hermana bauer!

 

Should I go on a Mission?

Its crazy how the small things matter so much! when it comes to the love or friendship of a cousin, or just realizing what an impact you can make on someones life, for a smile even when you don't want to put it on. Later you find that you cannot live without it! crazy huh! At Kyle's farewell is when the idea came into my mind maybe I should serve then came the prayers the reading and the answer! Crazy how everything comes around, Tyler going on  his mission after living with us... and how one of the biggest examples in Kyle's life is his older brother. The strings are a lot closer than we would ever think! Every step we take we should think twice we are always effecting the lives of others! ALWAYS!!!! no mattter what it is.  I am sure thankful for the strings that I have come from and the ones connected to me! The ones I am throwing out and the smile I have been blessed to share! I was so happy to see you all and talk to you it doesn't even seem like it was real! but it was! What a short time I have left I am going to make the best of it! This week we start divisions!!! I am so excited these sisters are going to teach me a ton! and I am really working to have the trust of each and every one though the pure love of Christ!   

We got super sick this week too even had to take a day in the house the day after Christmas it killed us both like a flu bug ew it was terrible but were cured now! LIFE IS GREAT HERE! nothing much has happened new! don't have much time but I sure love you and miss you! it was so good to see you all! how are things at home! things are getting better here! I ate goat on Christmas! that was cool! and we finally have someone progressing we are staring divisions and I am kinda nervous to get lost in my new area but I am getting it learned so were gonna be fine! Well i hope to hear from ya soon and we are going to the offices this week twice hope your package is there! say a prayer or five thanks for everything! your the greatest! MMUAH! 

hermana bauer! su hija mayor