Temple with Paulina

June 24, 2013

So this week was a great week! I am loving Chile and loving the El Golf Ward they are the best and they are like my family now! I love how no matter where you go in the world you can find family through the church!

Story Time

1. Tour of the Temple with Paulina

Today was so amazing!   Today we went on the tour of the temple that the Hermanas give who live close to the temple. It was such an amazing experience for me because the spirit was so strong!  It almost brought me to tears as the spirit testified to me that the things the Hermanas were saying were true.  After a long hard week this is exactly what I needed and it was exactly what Paulina needed.  She is so sweet, she is recently baptized and doesn’t know if the church is true, but she says she will follow the commandments of this church until she gets her answer.  Even if she is super old! haha I really believe she had more faith than she gives herself credit for. I think sometimes we do this – we don’t believe in the faith we have, so every once and a while stop and ponder; what is your testimony?  I promise you if you do this you will strengthen what you have, your testimony will grow. Studying the basics is essential;  like today when I got to listen to the first lesson, the restoration, it was such a faith builder to me. That is a testimony in itself because I know lesson 1 backwards and forwards in 2 languages yet I still learn something new every time I teach it and every time I hear it. The part of the tour that was incredible was when we got to go inside of the temple (we only when in the tiny room that is before the real doors of the temple  - it was so small and had 2 chairs in it, but the spirit in this room was amazing! Before we entered in Paulina almost didn’t enter because she kept saying,  “I am not worthy,  I am not ready.” She is so cute.  She really understands the importance of entering the temple and she wants to prepare herself. Something that I learned today was the importance of preparing ourselves to enter the temple.  I have never felt the spirit so strong just entering the temple before and that helped me learn that we need to really take time to prepare ourselves to enter the temple.  It is crucial and we also need to prepare ourselves spiritually for anything that is holy, like praying reading the scriptures and taking the sacrament.

Lauren's Study Table

2. Just the Small Things Warm my Heart

This week we had our mission correlation meeting with our ward mission leader and he has a 2 and a half year old daughter named Flor. She is so cute and she has learned my name and my name only.  Tonight she said the closing prayer and she blessed me twice. It was the sweetest thing ever and I just love her so much.  I guess you could call it a tender mercy from the Lord cause it really made my day.

2 1/2 year old Flor - She is so cute!  She prays for me every night and is always saying Ghermana Jennings -  its so cute!

3. The Change in Jorge’s life

I would like to record the change I have seen in the life of Jorge and what he has told us. When we first met Jorge he had been through some turbulent times in his life due to bad choices he had made.  He had been in some rough stuff and had long hair and piercings  His life was all out of order, but he started to clean up his act and felt a longing to understand things spiritually. We got to him at a time in his life when he was ready to change. When we first taught him we taught him the Word of Wisdom http://www.lds.org/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng and he wasn't so sure about it.  Then we lost contact with him for over 2 months.  We would visit him again and then one day he let us in.  He always likes to joke on how persistent we were. ha ha We started to teach him and it was amazing to see the transformation in him. The second lesson he had stopped smoking and drinking tea and coffee. As we taught him more about the gospel he literally looked cleaner and his life is slowly starting to find order. He always tells us how his life was so disorganized before and how he wishes that we had been Mormon his whole life. Teaching Jorge has been a joy and he is such a fun, lively guy.  I know he will bless many people’s lives.

I love the Chilean Children!!

3. Things I Learned from Zone Conference

We had the best zone conference ever. I want to share with you some things I learned. One of the things I learned today that I have never thought of before is that a way we can learn more about who God is and what his character is like is by learning more about his law.  If we learn about the 10 commandments we learn that God does not lie, He does not commit adultery etc. I also learned that when we keep the covenants we make in the temple and then respect those covenants we show God how much we love Him.

This is part of my District.

4. If you have ever seen the Movie “She’s the Man” you will appreciate this

The other day I was at Ruben’s house. After a lesson we always have a snack like its where you eat bread and cheese and jam and herbal tea and yes I had a conversation solely about cheese and the conversation started with gouda cheese. I was dying!  It took all I had not to burst out laughing hahah bahahahha I love that movie! hehe

Well there it is - Chile is so great and I love being a missionary. Go out there and make a difference in the lives of others. It doesn’t have to be a huge act just smile, send a text or go visit someone who needs ya. We are the Saviors hands on the earth.  Represent him well.

 Love ya’ll so much

Hermana Jennings

Check out the guy waving in the background!

Baptisms Planned

June 17, 2013

So exciting news Ruben and Jorge are getting baptized the 7th of July and I am so excited for them! This week has been good. We had some really neat lessons with our investigators and I got to extend the baptismal invitation for Ruben and it went so well he said, “I would love to”,  how neat is that! This week we went on splits with one of the leaders of the sister missionaries’ and she was sick so now I have a nice cold but hopefully I can recover soon because there is no time to rest.  There is lots to be done and people to help.

Last Monday we visited Santa Lucia. Enjoy the  pictures of my adventures.

So challenge to everyone this week read the General Conference talks. They are so amazing. I love reading them and I learn something new every time.

So here is a shout out to my Dad.

I'm a little more grown-up now, but I'll always be Daddy's little Girl!

So my dad is probably the best dad out there (sorry to all the other dads) but he really has been a role model to me and an example to me my whole life. I am so thankful he has been a righteous example to me and has protected and taken care of our family. Love you so much dad!

So yesterday was my companion Hermana Rivera´s birthday we had a fun day and celebrated her birthday at the house of our mission leader. He is great and helps us do our job more efficiently. She turned 23 and she really is a great comp. I really enjoy learning from her and we really teach well together. WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR RUBEN AND JORGE they are progressing so much and are excited about their baptisms.

Well I hope ya’ll have such a great week. Know that I love you so much!

Hermana Jennings

Nighttime in Santiago

Plan of Salvation

May 10, 2013

SO this week was so amazing! I have learned a lot about life about the gospel and about people on my mission and I would like to share what I have learned. 

1. It is all about how you view things and looking for the diamond in the rough

If you would have asked me about my sector El Golf like 2 months ago I would have said it was great halfheartedly, but in reality I didn’t have much hope for this area.  There had not been any progress for years.   There was one baptism, but she basically got baptized into inactivity.  We have worked and walked and worked and walked some more and nothing. Well this week can I say that we have 2 solid investigators and one of them has a date for baptism. I don’t know if I would have believed this a couple months ago. So anyone out there who is in a time in their life that is hard or that looks like there is no silver lining just hold on there, because there is always a diamond in the rough. Things will get better or you will become better and stronger. Look past your circumstances and focus on the one, focus on what you are doing every moment of everyday and look for opportunities to help others feel important and to love everyone you meet. Live the gospel in the hard times and the good times and remember the Lord in all your blessings. I have a testimony that the Lord places us in certain places for a reason -  there is a person we need to help or something we  need to learn. Sometimes I wonder why bad things happen in this life and then later that day I get to teach someone about the Plan of Salvation http://www.lds.org/topics/plan-of-salvation and I am reminded of the great mercy of our Lord and his perfect plan for his children that he loves dearly. If anyone out there is having a hard time or a big change has come into your life -  one that is a hard change then study the Plan of Salvation this week and I promise that you will feel Gods love for you and you will feel that where ever  you are whatever you are going through has a purpose to help shape you into the person God wants you to be. 

2. The impossible is not impossible with the Lord on your side

So this week I got a phone call from Elder Fisher, the mission Elder who is over all the finances, and he told me that we were paying too much for our apartment and asked if we could find a new one,  in one month that was around $600 a month and had 3 or 2 bedrooms in the nicest part of Chile. I am thinking shoot all the ones we have been looking at are around $1200 a month and everyone laughs or gives us looks of unbelief when we say we are looking for an apartment for around $600 a month in this area. Then I remembered whose name is on my name tag and thought you know what if you pray and I pray then I know the Lord will provide.  So we have started the housing hunt so if ya’ll would pray that we can find a house that would be great cause if we don’t I get to experience what it is like to be homeless ( ok I doubt they would actually kick us out on the street, but it would be an experience to say the least).  I know that if it is the Lords will then we will find a place to live. I think that is some of the most important things to consider and remember when we pray is to ask for the Lords will. sometimes we want something so bad that we ignore or don’t even considered the Lords will and when this happens we miss out on blessings and sometimes great sorrow follows, but always remember that the Lords hand is stretched out still.  He is always waiting for you and for me to turn to him grab his hand and accept his will and then we will live the life that God wants us to live. 

3. I love the people here so much

I really have come to love my ward here and my investigators and it makes me so sad that I will have to leave them someday and I will probably never see them again, but as my parents always say somethings have to end.  I think friendships never have to end because one day we will all meet again in heaven but all in all goodbyes are always hard.  Remember that meeting a new friend and touching their life is amazing and that the Lord sends us where he needs us in the moment he needs us. 

4. Visa run

This week we got to go to Plaza De Armas and do the very long process of getting my Visa it was fun cause this part of Santiago has old buildings and reminds me a little of Italy and I loved every minute of it. One of the problems with my visa run was that there were Elders that spoke English and I talked to them in English all morning and then with a Realtor about an apartment that afternoon and when it was time to speak Spanish again it was rough.  Like it was so sad one of my investigators said I sounded gringo.  That night and I was so sad,  I learned a lesson that I was called to speak Spanish not English and that I need to always speak Spanish  It is important that I speak Spanish because the people I teach speak Spanish and in need to speak well so that they can understand me and feel the spirit and learn about the gospel.  That is my purpose and it feels terrible when you can’t communicate well. So all in all we all make mistakes but let’s learn to learn from them and better ourselves. 

5. Piano

This week my comp and I have been practicing piano before district class and before church and it is so fun I love it so much.  I could kick myself for not taking it more seriously when I was younger, but i don’t think my time for piano is over.  I know that it will be harder to learn now but I have a goal to learn to play the hymns so that I can serve in the church for those who need a piano player.  I still have a long ways to go but I can now play 4 hymns haha oh ya... ok we all have to start somewhere right?  haha  I’m writing this to ya’ll so ya’ll can keep me accountable for this new goal!  it won’t be easy but it will be worth it.

Well I love the mission so much and I love teaching our investigators and we had 2 come to church this week again and it was amazing and they loved it. I know that the Lord has prepared these people and it is just a testimony to me that the Lord loves and watches over all of his children. Love ya’ll and have a great week

Hermana Jennings

Lots of Rain!!!!

1. It rained and rained.....AWESOME

So it really rains here like a lot! haha but I sent a fun picture of the lake I got to stand by, oh wait that was the Street! haaha It was super fun and my boots are legit mom no water and it rains a ton! We work hard whether it is rain or shine.  

2.  Jorge Came to Church

So this week we had 2 investigators come to church.  It was the first time I have had an investigator come to church my whole mission. Shoot I was so nervous like I was running all over the place.  Then he came and I was freaking out inside and praying that everything would go good and it went well.  The Ward was so great and they just took Jorge under their wing and made him feel right at home. He is really progressing.  We went to his house to watch the Joseph Smith movie with him.  We taught him the Word of wisdom like a month and a half ago and just recently this week were able to teach him lesson one and then when we went over for the movie. He told just he had stopped smoking and drinking tea and coffee for 3 days and that he was never going to drink them again or smoke.  We really didn’t do anything, he did it all himself.  It was so amazing. I am so excited for him it is so neat to teach him and he really values what we are teaching him and is excited! This gospel really does change people and I am so excited to be a part of this work I love being a missionary so much!

3. Soladad´s Angel

This week we went and visited a sister in our Ward who is inactive. We had a thought to share all planned but when we finished singing the hymn I just starting talking and it was not what I had planned, it was definitely one of those times when it was the Spirit talking. I really don’t remember what I even said but we really got down to what she needed that night and it helped her so much. She said that I was her Angel and that she knows that God has sent me into her life to help her. It was such a neat experience. She came to church the next day. I have a strong testimony that the spirit is the one that changes lives and tells us what to say and we are only the tools that God uses to bring about his work. So live worthy to feel the spirit and act on the promptings -  just open your mouth and the words will come.

4. Baptism after Church

After church this Sunday one of the little girls in our ward was getting baptized and we went to it and so did Jorge.  He said the experience was beautiful! (he is next!) I had the neatest experience when she got confirmed with the Holy Ghost I could feel the spirit so strongly.  It was like electricity surging through my body and I could literally feel the power of the Spirit. I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that it testifies to us of the things of God.

5. Ruben, the Lord truly does prepare people for the gospel

So the other day we got a reference and we contacted a man named Ruben.  When we started the lesson we were just talking about his general beliefs and what he has heard about the gospel. He told us he has read the whole Book of Mormon and is almost done with Doctrine and Covenants. We were like, that is awesome, he is really prepared and is looking for more in his life. I know that this gospel is the thing for him. It was amazing because I think we have come into his life at just the right moment. The thing I learned from this is: 1. Be patient and the Lord will bless you 2. the Lord has a time and plan for all of his children and that we much trust in God’s timing.

Well I love the mission so much and I pray for ya’ll every day! Smile and go make someone else smile!

Love,

Hermana Jennings