Skype!!

Skype

12/19/13

 

Sent:	Thu 12/19/13 11:50 AM

Hello family I will be calling Tuesday at or around 5 my time in Paraguay. So keep an eye out for my call. I'm opening area and training. My companion is from El Salvador hermana Hidalgo. Cant wait to talk to you guys Tuesday. I will not be writing Monday because I will be calling Tuesday. My area is called Ettiene 1.3

Hello from the heat of Paraguay!!!!! I love frozen water bottles... It's good thing it's not grape juice...

Hello family. So much to write.  So this week was super super super hot. I have lost a lot of weight. I'm at the same weight that I was before I came to the mission. And I know that I will be losing more. Its like my stomach shrunk. I don't have the desire to eat a whole lot. I only want water. This week Our 11 year old convert's mom was baptized. We set the time for her baptism at 5 30 and she wanted to wait for the my old companion to come to see her. Well we thought that she was coming to the baptism and we waited for her for two hours when we found out that she was stuck in traffic and wouldn't be able to come.  Well to say the least we had the baptism and Sunday it was so super amazing to see all of the members support her and sustain her as a member of the church. I was so happy Sunday. I was sitting next to 3 of my converts. They all were in their Sunday best and to see them there brought me to tears. It hurts too because right now 3 other converts are not very active. Silvio is trying to help the two young ones and he is going to be such a great missionary one day. Which reminds me, it sounds like I have to little brothers that are seriously going to be some awesome missionaries. Keep up the good work you two! So some cool things about Paraguay. It is so so so hot. Today is supposed to be 46 grados celcious. This is about 108 in F. Thank heavens its p-day. Sorry my thoughts are super scattered. I have so much that i need to do today to be ready for Wednesday. But some ideas for food. Yeah empenadas are here but the empenada in Clearfield are nothing like those from Paraguay. Some different things that you could experiment with on google. So pa de Paraguay, Or a fruit salad with Mango in it. I know that might be hard for you guys to find right now. Chipa, but this is super hard to make. Some of the people from here cant even make it but this is only from Paraguay. Or empanadas. Ha ha you guys can have fun with that. I want to buy a nativity set from here. They are so cool. The stables are hand made by the Indians here. They are so legit. And all of the characters are made of clay and by hand. This is definitely something that I want to bring home. It may look a little catholic but I want it. ha ha. So I will probably be taking out some money. Oh other thing we went to clean the baptismal font and guess what was waiting for us..... Frogs.... Three of them. They were just little but we see them all over the place here. Tons of them and they are huge and disgusting. Well I killed the frogs with a broom. I think that if our dear sister that was getting baptized knew that there were frogs in the baptismal font before we put the water in she wouldn't be very willing to get in the water. Because when the frogs pee its like poison. Interesting. They are more like toads. oh so something else. If you guys could go into my facebook settings and change it so that anyone can see it that would be great. I have a couple of people who want to talk with you guys and practice their  English. A couple members that i have would also like to be my friend on facebook and you could talk to them too. Just need to use google translate. Another cool experience. Our newest convert prayed in gospel principles yesterday. SHE NEVER PRAYED WITH US!!! NEVER! So the only thing that she said in this prayer was things that she was grateful for. And she said ¨thank you for putting the missionaries in the street to find me¨ I love them, and I am so grateful for them. HA HA I wanted to cry! I'm super happy but I don't know if I'm excited or scared to leave this area. We´ll have to see what happens.

Love you all,

 

Hermana Ross

Me killing the frogs.

Cleaning the font again.



This is why I am cleaning the font.

 

It's weird to think it's December.......IT is so HOT!!!

Sent:	Mon 12/09/13 7:57 AM

Hello family,

I love you all so so so much. I cant believe that is December and that I'm in a place where we are at about 42 degrees Celsius which is about 105 degrees F. I want to die. The air in our apartment stopped working. In Utah When its hot in the night it cools down really fast. Well here its hot  allllllllllllllll night longgggggggggggg. And our window doesn't open to let in some air. So its hot and humid and all we have is a little fan that doesn't help at all. We are going to call the office to have someone come and fix it. I put like 10 different water bottles in the freezer so that I can sleep with them in the night to help with the heat. Yesterday I used 3. I am drinking so so so much water. Its crazy. Someone told me before we came to Paraguay that its so hot that you won't ever have the desire to eat anything. I know what they mean now. All I want is cold water. Trying to eat something that is hot in this weather is like trying to burn your body from the inside and out. I have lost weight. 

 

 I love you all so so so much. I can't believe that its December. So I need you guys to create a skype account for me. I can't find out where I will be skyping but I know that I will and that it will be in my new area. How am I supposed to find out where I'm going to skype if I don't know where I'm going yet? ha ha I am super excited to talk to you all. 

I don't feel like its Christmas here. It really has been a great blessing. Our young mother that was supposed to get baptized will be baptized this Friday because she had the opportunity to have a job interview the past Saturday. So after her interview our district leader told us, she wont be baptized this week. We were like freaking out and then after she told us that if I am going to pay my tithing I need a job..... hahahahahaa We had the chance to do divisions with the sister leaders this week also. I know that they came to see us because our numbers are TERRIBLE!!! Well I had the privilege to leave my area and work in their area. I am so ready to see new people and work in a new area. I'M SUPER EXCITED!!! It was so awesome. The spirit was so strong this day.  I was with Hermana Whitmer from Tooele, Utah. She is so amazing. So absolutely spiritual. Well sorry that this is going to be short letter. I haven't received your package yet. But I'm sure it will be here soon. Thanks for everything. I love you all. I am going to try to send you all a package, but I know that you guys won't get it for Christmas. It really is not that easy to send things to you guys from here. I love you all. 

Hermana Ross

I totally didn't know it was Thanksgiving this week!! Iam totally lost in the Mission...

 

 

 

Sent:	Mon 12/02/13 8:05 AM

Hello family! I'm so very grateful for the many blessings that I have and hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I cant believe that I didn't remember when it was. And its even crazier to think that I will be home for the next thanksgiving. I have less than one year left. I don't like it! No I have absolutely no idea how to use skype and I don't have an account. I don't know how this is going to work but we´ll find out. And yes I'm like 99 percent sure that this cambio I will be going to a new area. I will have more than 6 months in the mission in this area and I haven't heard of anyone having more than this amount of time in one area. I'm excited to go and meet new people but I will miss my converts here. My heart is breaking to think that I will be leaving them here and I probably will never see them again in this life.

I saw many miracles this week. We had a lot of rain which didn't help us in our numbers. Its all good. We´re going to have a new week.   I want you guys to know that I'm not perfect. Well you guys know that already. This night we were to have a lesson with an atheist that I think I told you guys about. (yeah we found her and taught her this week) MIRACLE!!!  We went to her house to teach her. She told us I'm atheist and I don't want to waste your time. Well we couldn't find her for like a month. Her cell phone was turned off and one day when I was stuck in the house I felt the impression to call her cell phone again. So I called her and she answered and we taught her Monday. So when we were half way through teaching her the restoration she started to cry and said that she knew that god existed and that she wanted to know why she was here where she was going and that she wanted to be next to god when she died. I couldn't believe it. After this my companion broke into tears and bore her testimony that we knew the answers and that she knew that the church was true. It was super spiritual. We went for a walk to the church after this and sat down in front of the church and said a prayer.She thanked us for calling her and is super excited to have the lessons from us. MIRACLE:

I don't have a whole lot of time left to write you guys but you will never believe the other miracle I saw this week. Thursday we visited the boy we baptized last month and his mother. And his mother told us that she wants to be baptized NOW!!! She will be baptized this Saturday the 7th!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? My joy is like the Alma and his brothers. 

I love you all so so so much and I am always thinking of you. Well, not always because I'm kinda busy but its all good. Keep strong and I will talking to you in a little less than one month!!!

Love you all, 

Hermana Ross

A new week!

 

Thanks family for all of your love and support. I'm OK! I love the work! We are trying our best to help those people in this area. Oh yeah I forgot to tell you guys that I met Elder Walsch the day that Elder Christofferson came! He seemed to be doing good! Family I didn't know that my area is "hard" until people in the mission started telling me that. I wish they wouldn't have told me that! I have 6 people that I love so much that have been baptized in this area. I didn't know that that was a lot. I thought that was little. But I'm only here to try and do my best. I didn't know that it was thanksgiving this week! REALLY? Mom are you preparing to do  some black Friday shopping. 

So Silvio is as good as ever. Remember our dear sister that we baptized? She is struggling with her husband and isn't able to come to the church. It breaks my heart. I didn't have the opportunity to visit our latest baptism this week because he and his mom were sick with the flu. This week!!! Ismael came to church yesterday in a white shirt and blue pants all by himself. Lucia isn't in her house very much right now. She is living with her grandmother that lives in a different area. I am so grateful for this gospel! I cant believe that I'm here and that I only have a year left. This time next year I will be with you guys. I don't know how I feel about that. 

My companion seems to be doing a lot better this week. I long to do the work like normal. I feel a little spiritually drained. It was a hard week. I feel like president is going to be super sad with the work that I did. Or in other words the work that I didn't get to do. I feel so lost. I read Jesus the Christ this week. I know that He is my Savior and redeemer. I am so so so so grateful for his opportunity I have to serve the people in Paraguay! I cant even believe that I'm here. 

Sorry family I don't have a whole lot to write this week. But know that I love you tons and am so very grateful for everything that you all do for me. I'm ready for a new week to do the will of the lord.  I love you all tons and tons and tons.

 

Love Hermana Ross.

 

The Words of an Apostle are so Powerful!

 

Hello family,

So I'm perfectly fine! Our 11 year friend was baptized Saturday. His mom doesn't want to be baptized yet but today we found out why. She has a lot of hurtful feelings for her ex husband that left her. She doesn't want to be baptized when she is feeling like this. So we are working with her. But she told me that she is going to be baptized before I leave the area. And at his baptism she told me that she doesn't want many people to be at  her baptism. ha ha. 

So when we are able to hear the words from the prophet it was so powerful! He promised us that our families are going to be blessed and reading your email today was like a confirmation of that. It truly is a great blessing. I love you all so so so much.

 

Other than that I'm good. We´re good.  I also know that I will be leaving this area the next cambio. So 18th of December I will have a new area. I love you all so much!! 

 

Love always,

 Hermana Ross

Our newest member!!:)

 

QUE CALOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hola familia, ?como estan?

Everything here is super good. Were working like nothing else! Today we are going to the offices to practice singing! Tomorrow Elder Christopherson is coming to speak to us. Its practically going to be a whole day of craziness! And this past week were Cambios! My new companion is from Bolivia. She is from Chucabumba. Its where the temple is in Bolivia. She has been in the mission for three months. So I'm the senior companion. She just ended her training.   She is 19 years old, super sweet! She can speak English! She comes from a pretty well off family in Bolivia! Her father is the stake president there. She only has one sister that is four years old.

Our 11 year old friend is going to be baptized this week. YAY!!! Everything is planned and ready to go. All he needs in the interview! His mom told us that she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet of god!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first time that we taught her she didn't even want to see the Book of Mormon or "The book that Joseph smith wrote" and want to know how she said that she knows he is a prophet of God? She said that she came to realize this when she read DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS!!!! Normally we don't give investigators this book! She told me that she will be baptized before I leave the area! AHHH!!! WHY NOT NOW? I really have to work on my patience. She is super difficult but super amazing also. She came to church the past Sunday with Joshua! They are super amazing! 

Here they don't celebrate thanksgiving. It doesn't exist here. I cant believe its November. It feels like July with the way the weather is here. I left our apartment with a water bottle that was pure ice. In 5 minutes outside it was water and it was luke warm. Its insane!!!! We are trying so hard to find people!!!! Its difficult! Its definitely out of my comfort zone! But its a lot of paying real close attention to the spirit! I'm learning things that I know I couldn't learn with my previous companions. I love you all so much! I hope you guys will get my letter soon. I can hardly believe that in one week I have six months in the mission and in one year I will be home! But I know that this is where I need to be! Everything here is super amazing in the mission. I feel super close to my heavenly father! I look forward to hearing how things are from all of you.... hint hint!!! I love you all tons!

Love Hermana Tiffany Ross

This is a photo of my new companion. She is the one in the middle. The other is from Chile. She was the second trainer . 

All good things come to an end........But the work still goes on!

Wow my last p day with Hermana Rojas. It's sad really. But she is amazing and the best part about it is that her house is only two hours away from this area. She has it in her plans to come to the baptism on the 16th. So many things are happening in the mission. Its so crazy! Thank you for buying the bug spray. It really will help me! Have you guys received the letter I sent you guys with my pictures of my first day here? And Jared did you receive your letter yet? Let me know.

Well where to start....Last Monday we went to the offices to practice in a choir. Hermana Rojas has a beautiful voice! GORGEOUS!!! So those assistants called us to be in this choir... Well this performance is going to be the 13th of November. She wont be here. So I'm going to be in the choir and my new companion, whoever she is. But the part that is super cool is the part of why we have this choir. Elder D. Todd Christopherson is coming to speak to us. We are going to sing Santos avanzad. Super super cool! I'm super excited. And just so you guys know it is super hard for me to speak in English. I never thought that this day would come! HALLELUJAH!!!! 

So we are seeing miracles in this area. Really life is just crazy right now because Hermana Rojas is going to be ending her mission. The ward threw a farewell party for her. I had no idea that this was going to happen. Those elders in our area are the ones that planned it. It was Friday in the night. Those elders told us that they had a reference for us that was going to meet us in the church Friday at 8. She wanted a tour of the chapel. Well I believed them because I had actually found some one like this before. Well we showed up about 30 minutes early because we didn't want to miss this girl that was supposed to come. Well we showed up 30 minutes early for this surprise party!!! HAHAHA Elder Castro was super mad! But oh well it's that thought that counts and we were super surprised! 

Another miracle of the week. We were doing contacts in the street and this girl started to walk by us. She looked to be Gothic. Well we started talking to her. We told her that we were missionaries and the first thing she told us is that she doesn't believe in God. Well this girl is not Gothic. And she is drop dead gorgeous. She is practically Mormon in her living standards and she doesn't believe in God because of the way that her family, who are catholic, live their lives. She is 20 years old and after we talked a little bit standing there. She asked if she could walk with us and talk. Well we walked and talked for a good 2 hours. It takes someone special to walk with two missionaries for two hours. She is so super special. And she lives like right next to the chapel. She is super amazing. Even if she is atheist. We are definitely going to try to work with her. 

Today is not a p day. We are going to be going to the mission home of the North Paraguay mission. Because where Hermana Rojas lives it is a district. So the mission president is the one that does her interviews. So today that's where we are going. Tomorrow we will know what is going to happen to me.
I only have to pay for the package if it is super big. For example I only had to pay for the package with the quotes the package with my birthday cake I didn't have to pay for. 

Sorry guys my mind is in a whole lot of different places. Today is a little crazy! I love you all tons! I will let you know the next week what's new in my life as a missionary. In one month i only have one year left int eh mission. Crazy! 

 OH I LOVE YOU GUYS SO SO SO MUCH!!! 

Love Hermana Ross.

My zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This is my zone, and the missionaries in our ward.

You know it's hot when the cockroaches come out!

Sent:	Mon 10/28/13 8:20 AM

I think we´ve killed a good five cockroaches in our apartment. But they aren't that big! Hermana Rojas is the one that is willing to kill the suckers. I don't want to even be near the things. I thought I hated spiders..............NO I HATE COCKROACHES!!!!!  The mosquitos here are terrible!!!!!! And the spray that i use doesn't work. And here they don't have anything other than spray. I need to find some type of lotion or liquid that is for mosquitoes. My legs have a reaction to the mosquito spray. Luckily a missionary here that left this area left her bug spray so I've been using that but the bug spray that I bought is not exactly working really well. So if you could find something that would be great. The shirts are only if you could find them. Its super hot here and iI didn't come prepared with just cotton T-shirts that I can wear without anything else here. Its crazy! But don't worry too much about the package! And just so you all know I really am super happy in the mission! For diarrhea I took the medicine that I brought and Gatorade, sprite, and I stayed away from the fruit.

OK so I think that I'm ready for a new area! Where are my investigators? Super super frustrating! And its a little difficult that Hermana Rojas only has one week left. This last week with her we are going to be working our tales off! And we will be in the offices a lot. Today we are going to the offices to be a part of a choir for some devotional in the future that is supposed to happen. Well we don't know anything more than that! President Agazzani is super good at keeping secrets. Nobody knows what is going to happen until we find out. Its crazy. She is super amazing. Some difficult things have happened to her in the mission and she is crazy strong! 

I'm super blessed that nothing has happened to me in the mission. So miracles of the week. Our dear sweet sister and her son!!!!!! We may not have other investigators but we have her and son. Want to know how you can tell if the person is going to be super strong in the gospel? When Satan is working with them harder than any other investigator in the world. She had a job interview this week where the boss is a pastor of a church. A church that absolutely hates our church. Well she got into some serious discussion with him. He literally tried to convince her that she would go to Hell if she listened to our message. That the Book of Mormon is just a bible that was rewritten. There are many different things that he told her. Well when we taught her the next day she told us these things. And that now when she reads the Book of Mormon these comments come into her mind. She seemed to be a little surprised to see that we weren't worried that this man was telling her these things. And that all we wanted her to do was pray and ask god. That's the only thing she hasn't done yet. JUST PRAY ALREADY!!! HAHAHA She is so prepared! But we were working throughout the week and we got a text message from her. In this text message she told us that her son wants to be baptized and she wanted to know what she needed to do to help us with the baptism!!!! WHAT?!? We went to her house and taught her son and he really wants to be baptized! But She doesn't want to accept a baptismal date yet. He will be baptized the 15th of November. We are hoping and praying that she too will have the desire to be baptized with her son. They are so prepared! Sunday the two of them came to church with us! We walked up to their house and her son was waiting outside for us. He reminds me a lot of Jared. a tough exterior but a soft heart. When he saw us he was smiling so big! We found out after the sacrament meeting that he knows Silvio. And Silvio being the little missionary he is helped him to his classes. EVERY SINGLE TALK IN THE REUNION WAS ON BAPTISM!!!!! HELLO!! I can hardly believe that Silvio has only been coming to church for 3 months. Later on this Sunday we passed by her house to because we needed a bathroom and water. We were so exhausted! So she let us in and she was a little surprised to see that we were so tired. She gave us water and we went on our way but as we were leaving her house she told us. You know I have been thinking a lot and I think that I need to do more thinking with prayers and my Heavenly Father!! MIRACLES!!!! 

Things in the mission are good! I cant believe that I have five months here! I love this gospel with all my heart! I know that this is the true church! Last month in Paraguay 182 people were baptized! The work is hastening on.
Have a happy Halloween everyone and enjoy the snow! haha I don't know how it will be to be dying of heat for Christmas! But i look forward to it! 

Gracias familia por todo!

Hermana Ross.

 

This man is a miracle. His family are members. His wife is the president of the relief society in our ward. He has a son in the mission field. And he never felt the need to be baptized. He was buddist. Well he was super sick. He had three different brain surgeries. After the third surgery he woke up and told his wife that he wanted to be baptized! He was baptized and he bore his testimony it is amazing the difference we see in him. He and his family are so happy. he was baptized by the stake president and his brother in law. He is still super sick but he is so happy! Oh and the two boys that are in front of us are two sons of a member that is inactive. They are not baptized but we are teaching them too. one is deaf and we are learning sign language to teach him and we are using lots of photos. Its super spiritual. They came and watched the baptism of this brother. The one with the jean shorts is deaf.

 

The "Son" is shining bright in Paraguay!

This week is by far the worst week with our numbers. We don't have anyone with baptismal date. Never in my mission have I had this. But...... We did see the miracles. So life in the mission is a little crazy... A LOT CRAZY!!!!!!!!!! I am always tired, I'm sun burnt, I'm walking all day looking for new people to teach, mosquitoes think that my blood is the sweetest thing around, and people are rejecting the gospel left and right so in other words..... I AM SO HAPPY!!! Isn't that really weird. You guys know that I really don't like being rejected. I take it to heart, literally. And I thought being rejected in normal life is hard. Its hard when they are rejecting you in the mission because they are rejecting their savior Jesus Christ. But its not important. We have to see the opposition in all things to see the blessings. And this week we did see blessings.

So the first thing that happened is we found this new family that we thought for sure were golden. We invited them to be baptized and............................... they are members. Inactives that are working to be baptized in another church. Crazy right? We taught them all of lesson 1 and they didn't tell us anything. When we  invited them to be baptized they didn't know what to say. Well after a long silence the sister, told us that the lord doesn't forget his children. It is no coincidence that we found them. The lord works in mysterious ways. We are working a lot with the inactives in the ward right now and the part family members. We have a lot. And our ward is getting smaller and smaller because people aren't assisting. Yesterday we had 39 people in the chapel. Those members aren't helping us a whole lot right now. And we have to ask the members for lunch if we want it. I don't know why... Darn it all. But anyways back to this family. After the awkward silence they showed us the pictures of their baptisms. It really was interesting. And they asked us if we would write the elders that taught them. That they would love to hear from them. So if I have time after I write this I will be writing elders that served here in Paraguay 5 years ago. 

Saturday we had the opportunity to do service. We got to help with the Project Operation Sunrise. The group that work to do surgery for those kids that have cleft pallets.   So we helped them set up and we gave the families water because they were all sitting outside in the heat waiting for the nurses to talk to them. Every single one of the doctors were speaking English. My companion didn't know what to do. And I actually did a lot of translating for different people. We met two ladies that are from Primary Children in Utah. They were talking to us a lot. It was cool. I felt  a little piece of home. And it really is the best feeling to do service. Everyone in this project knew us because in all over the world we are helping with this program. 

My companion only has two weeks left in the mission. Its crazy! She doesn't know if she is sad or happy. Haha. But ready for the miracle of the week....

An old investigator wants to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But she doesn't want to accept a date. She is a very spiritual person. Has had many experiences in her life that are super super spiritual. And she told us of a dream that she had. In this dream she was alone and it was dark. And She was super sad. She didn't know what to do and she asked a question out loud. "Why am I here on the earth?" after this she told us that a soft voice responded.... " To be happy" The next day after she had this dream she said that we taught her the plan of salvation and she asked us the same question that she had asked in her dream. I responded to her question... To be happy. She said that she knew in that moment that it wasn't a coincidence that she came in contact with the church again. But she feels like she wants to keep assisting the church meetings and get a better feel before she accepts a date for baptism. She says she doesn't want to be a hypocrite. And right now her problem is her son. He doesn't want to come to church. Please pray for a miracle! Go to the temple  and put her name and her son's. We are praying for a miracle with her. But it really is a miracle. She is the investigator that told us that she didn't want to be baptized and told us she never wanted to see us again. Crazy!

NEVER IN THE MISSION DO THE MIRACLES  CEASE TO OCCUR!!! It is super hard for me to be here and do a lot of this work. Its out of my comfort zone to talk to people in the street or ask people if I can have lunch with them. But it is the work of the lord. I know that this church is true and the the Son of God never ceases to shine in Paraguay. Thank you for your letters. I love you all so much. I love hearing all of your stories.  Mom I would love some more of the ped socks for my shoes. Walking a lot and they don't last very long. And they don't exist in Paraguay.  I love you all, And yes they do celebrate Halloween here. But it sounds like it is a little different. I don't know I guess we´ll see. I have five months in the mission in two days!! CRAZY!

love you all,

Hermana Ross

P.S. This picture is of me and my companion in the hospital with the fun hats that they had to entertain the kids. 

Don't judge a house by the virgin Maria that is staring at you from the window!

Hola familia, como estas? Todo bien? Estoy muy agradecida por la oportunidad yo tengo a hablar con ustedes esta "p day". Como esta su español?

Hello family how is everyone?

I'm really not perfect with my Spanish but its coming. I really am so so so grateful that I have my companion Hermana Rojas to help me more and more. I'm so so so grateful I'm not training right now. This week was good. Its hot and humid here. How is the weather at home? We are walking a whole lot! AWHOLE LOT!!!!!!!!!!! We are looking for the people who are prepared to hear the gospel and be baptized. Monday was p day and we had a reunion with our district and played football and basketball and then went to a super mall that was more like a Wal-Mart and had lunch. It was fun but we were so so so tired after. It was hard to leave and preach after doing all of that. Our district is really great. I liked what you said mom about the goal of three thousand baptisms in Utah. President Agazzani has a goal for this year and our mission. 2,000. In 2010 this mission had about 700 baptisms, 2011= 700, 2012= 700, and from the beginning of 2013 to right now, in the mission of Paraguay about 1,200. We are so close. And look at that increase of number for the year 2013! Crazy right. I know that the Lord is really hastening his work. We are looking for new people to teach and knocking on millions of doors, in the heat, and probably 4 out of 5 people have had the lessons from the missionaries before. Its really rare that we ever talk to someone that hasn't ever heard from the missionaries. CRAZY!!! The mission is not easy!!! AT ALL!!! But it is so worth it. Saturdays and Sundays are the days that we can really find those people. Our area is a little rich. Some houses are bigger than the houses in Utah. Like Park City, rich looking. Yeah crazy! I don't know what we did with Hermana Cortez to find those people that were ready to be baptized but we´re trying to do all we can to find more people to teach. Silvio is really good. Yesterday was the primary program and he spoke his part really well. He is so special. And ready for the miracle of the week.......... you guys remember that we were teaching that sister with an 11 year old son? Well, we have been teaching her again. And she told us that she understands how important it is to have a church. She doesn't want to be baptized yet but she came to church yesterday!!!!!! This is really a miracle. She's reading the Book of Mormon, And She's coming to church. Two months ago she didn't even want to talk to us. She was so angry. We found out that her neighbor is anti-Mormon and had been talking to her about the church. About pologamy and how much money we spend on temples and things like this. Well its really a miracle. Satan is working just as hard to bring people down but don't worry he's not working as hard as the Lord is to bring people up.  Did you know that the catholic church is talking about sending out missionaries into the world now. And we are always running into the missionaries from the Jehovah witnesses. And almost all of the other Christian churches have missionaries. Crazy. Well another interesting story of the week. We knocked on this door, and we knew that they were catholic because it had a miniature catholic church outside of the house with Maria inside. Well this older woman came out and was ready to like pound us down. HAHAHA Well we asked her if we could come inside her house and share a small message with her. She said, " You guys want to share a message with me?" haha we said yes and then she let us pass. We entered this house and I have never been in a house so catholic in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crosses all over the wall, pictures of Jesus as a baby. Maria!!! And then we entered the kitchen. There was the table for eating, and then there was the round table in the corner with a 3 ft. Maria in a pink dress and Jesus in her arms standing and staring at us. There were pictures of those people who had died around her feet. Well we began teaching her about the doctrine of Christ. Faith, Repentance and baptism. you guys want to know how fast the work is hastening? The first lesson we teach here is lesson three and we invite them to be baptized the first time we teach. They either accept, or they don't. And we know their problems and they know why we are out and about teaching. We are specific with the authority and why the our church has the power. Its really crazy. We also talk about how it is a commandment to be baptized. Well we did this with this woman. HAHAHA She didn't accept or say anything. She just told us thank you and we left. It was interesting. I will never forget Maria staring at me from across the table. I wonder what Mary thinks of all these Catholics that have statues of her in clothing that didn't exist in her time with crowns on her head? HAHAH one day I hope to find out.

 

 I do talk to one sister who was babtized while ago. She is struggling, only because her husband doesn't like the church at all!!! He told her that if she goes to the church those Sundays that she will need to got to the catholic church with him. She hasn't come to our church for one month. We are working with her. She works a lot so it is a little difficult. Keep praying for her please. I cant believe that I almost have 5 months in the mission. And I have 5 baptisms. The work is so perfect! 

For Christmas......... pictures of you guys, A cotton shirt that is cute to wear in the heat. I don't know. Send what you want really. Have fun! Love you all so so so much. In two months I will be talking to you guys. Do you guys have skype or will we be talking for phone? Love you all tons!

Our district eating lunch at a supermarket on our P Day.

Hermana Rojas and Hermana Ross

 

Hermana Ross

My first Conference in the missionfield!

Well lots to tell you guys this week. Anyways this week I got your letters all at once. I loved them! I will try to write to you guys and it will be personal letters like mom said to do. My companion loved the pictures of Zion. She wants to go there really bad. Maybe one day she will be able to come and visit us in Utah. She says that is one of her dreams. Sounds like you are all doing really good. I love and miss you all. We have a lot of new people in the mission. All of the Hermana's that came this past transfer are from the states. Of the five sisters that I came with three are training. I'm so,0so, so, so grateful that it's not me. All that are training are 19 and are training 19 year olds that are learning the language. Way Difficult. But I'm grateful for the opportunity that I have to learn from Hermana Rojas. We got our refrigerator. We didn't have to pay anything.

So conference, it was good but its not the same listening to them in Spanish. Some cool facts is that Elder Scott actually recorded his voice in Spanish for the sessions. So it was his voice. But its difficult only because I long to hear the actual voice of the prophet. Conference was in our church house which is one block from our house. Saturday we went and didn't have any investigators and at the end of the first session the elders in our ward came and asked us a question. They asked us if we wanted to have a baptism today. We looked at him in shock and said what!? Well they had been teaching this man and they found out that he doesn't live in this area. He lives in ours. So Sunday between the sessions of the conference we had a baptism. His name is Emilio. Bueno! We had a baptism this weekend! hahaha! Silvio came to the conferences Sunday in his shirt and tie with his notebook to take notes. He was so excited to hear the prophet. In Paraguay they have the options to go to the center of Paraguay to listen or one block from our house. Well we didn't have a whole lot of people Saturday in the church but . A lot of people will watch in their homes by Internet but Sunday in the morning it was packed. And it was the best turnout for a baptism that we have yet to have. Right now the area is difficult. We don't have any investigators that came to conference. And we are searching for new people. But the peace of conference was wonderful. I can't believe how many missionaries are in the world right now. We have something like 45 missionaries in our mission and when my companion started there were 16! I just read your little email mom. I loved, loved, loved, the skittles. But in the package the bag exploded and there was confetti with them. Hahaha it was quite funny.  I know that this is the true church and that I am meant to be here. My faith is being strengthened every single day. The mission is not easy, but it is worth it. I can hardly believe that I have 4 months in the mission! And its getting hot in Paraguay. You guys are going to have snow and I am in the blazing heat. Its all good. Sorry my letters are getting shorter and shorter. But its really difficult for me to write in English. How weird is that!?! Yesterday we were doing contacts in the street and we ran into a lady that lived for 2 or three years in Virginia. She started talking to me in English and I wanted to tell her that she was super invited to the church every Sunday at 9. Well the way I said it in English is that she was super invitado to the church all Sundays at 9. Its bad. I couldn't even say invited. Invitado is invited en Spanish. Well love you guys a ton!

 

Hermana Ross

Hermana Ross and Hermana Rojas to the rescue!!!

So this week we had cambios, or transfers. Well............my new companion is really amazing! Hermana Rojas from Paraguay. Her family lives in the north mission of Paraguay. She won’t be here from Christmas because this is her last area. And I will be her last companion. She is 22 years old and drop dead gorgeous. Really thin with brown eyes and long dark black hair.  In this area we didn’t have anybody that we could teach so we started for the doors. This is the first time in my mission that I really have had to go searching for the people. But in one day we found a new family and a 16 year old girl that is living alone. The family Bordon has a date of baptism for the 26th of December. Janina, the 16 year old girl also. We are working a lot. The great thing about Hermana Rojas is that she can speak Guarani. The bad thing is that I can’t. But the Spanish is coming along. I understand a lot if not total and can speak for the majority of what I want to say. Hermana Rojas is way straight laced. She does what she is supposed to and we don’t break the rules. With Hermana Cortez it wasn’t exactly like this... but Hermana Cortez is an awesome missionary also. She is opening a new area and is training. HAHAHAHA She kept telling me that I was going to train but nope she is and she’s opening a new area. But Hermana Rojas ends her mission 6th of November. I don’t know what’s going to happen with me this next cambia. I feel peace with her. We are near the same age and we do the work with our hearts and the spirit. I’m learning lots from her and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be her companion. When I had my interview with President he asked me how my Spanish is coming and I told him that I needed to practice speaking with the people from Paraguay. Well he gave me a companion from Paraguay. She is super great with the people of Yukuty because she will speak Guarani. It’s really quite ironic because we will be speaking with a family. She’s speaking in Guarani and translating for me to Spanish. It really is super ironic how I am from the US and I’m having my companion transfer Guarani to Spanish so that I can understand. How funny is that? Another example, the elder Castro has a new companion from Utah.  Elder Jardine. I called them to talk about a thing with the ward and he answered and told me he couldn’t understand. I was talking in Spanish. Well when I started to talk in English it was terrible. I am absolutely forgetting my language. It’s crazy!

  I’m a lot more confident in my work. I love this gospel! Not a whole lot new has happened in the mission but my new companion. And that we don’t have a fridge. We will be receiving a new one soon.

Mom, I didn’t have the opportunity to see the relief society broadcast but it looks like you had fun.   I know that hard work pays off. I see it every day. I would like to challenge the family to do something. READ PREACH MY GOSPEL and the scriptures. This is how Trent and  Jared are going to prepare for their missions. Please continue to go to the temple for me. I love you all so much. And by the way the family that we are teaching, the family Bordon, they have a date of baptism.They are a mom and dad and baby. They need to be married but they are so amazing. I miss those investigators that left the area but we are finding others and it is so amazing all of the miracles I see every day. I can’t even express how much I love you all. I am so super tan. The sun is strong. But it’s beautiful. So many different tropical flowers.

 

 My scriptures were drawn by a man. I picked out the pictures and he customized it for me! How cool is that? This p day we are going to be cleaning or Hermana Rojas is going to be unpacking. But we can’t do a whole lot because we can’t leave the area. Today is a little cloudy or we would climb Cerro Lambare again.  I think I’m going to write some letters and sleep. I got a letter from Miranda and Midge and Jiggs. And I need to write Jessica and lots of other people.  It’s crazy! Well if I have other things that I need to tell you, I don’t remember. Oh conference. It will be broadcasted in our church and I will be watching it in Spanish because we have investigators that will be watching it with us. I’m very grateful that I can understand Spanish to listen to these talks.

Love you all,  

Hermana Ross      

My last week as a nuevo........I don't know how I feel about that.

Ok I love you guys and miss you guys so so so much. This week was really quite hard for me. I'm struggling. Saturday was the baptism of Lucia and Ismael. But every single baptism has to have its problems. I swear Satan is real and does everything possible to bring us down. The mom of those two kids couldn't come and they didn't show up in church to receive the Holy Ghost because it was raining.  I thought I knew what rain in Paraguay was like but Saturday night I found out what its really like. Çrazy!

 

This is my first week that I will be a normal missionary. We have cambios tomorrow. I will be receiving a new companion. I am not sure what to expect. Well, it started to rain Saturday night like downpour. I was wet in three minutes. We had on the way to our house bought three eggs at a little store that was around the corner and some milk because I wanted to make the cake that you guys sent me today. Well my companion didn't want to get wet and decided to run in her high heels. High heels and Paraguay really are not a good mix at all. Well she fell. with the eggs. and I have a picture that I need to send you. It really is pretty funny but it was kind of a mess.

 

Well yesterday Silvio came to church in his white shirt and tie. It was so cute. And he is preparing and practicing for the primary program. Yesterday we were talking to a man in the street and he started singing to me. We asked for his address so that we could pass by another day. Well to say the least he said "Si is que la rubia me llame voy a responder" In other words if the Blondie calls me I'm going to respond. I get this a lot! Its really quite sad. We will pass by the men in this area and they will say Adioooooooooooos, HAHAHA. Well sounds like you area all doing good. I yearn to go to the temple but I cant. Please keep going. Sounds like you are all doing good. Keep going!

High heels, broken eggs, and a down poor.

My new scripture case!

Aren't they cool?




Silvio and his1st 2 baptisms.  He was given missionary agenda!

 

Love, HERMANA ROSS

What do you do when all of your investigatos move out of your area?...... Look for new ones!

 

 

Silvio with his CTR ring!! Thanks uncle Craig!!

 

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Ok first off I received your other package! I loved the package mom. I look at those quotes and receive a lot of motivation. The skirt fits perfect. I loved hearing how the missionaries are doing in the ward. My dear family, do all you can to make those that are taking the discussions feel welcome in the ward. We are starting a new thing that only the members can baptize those that are going to be baptized. We have a lot of people that are becoming inactive because the missionaries leave and they don't feel welcome in the ward. I want to hear how you guys are doing the work.

Mom don't worry I am going to tell you all about Silvio. Hermana Cortez and her companion Hermana Michael are actually the ones that found Silvio. But they never had the opportunity to teach him. They passed by his house a lot of times and he wasn't there. They actually found his brothers first. Hermana Cortez told me that she felt something so so so special from this sweet boy and that they needed to teach him. We actually taught my very first lesson with his dad. Silvio sat right next to me and we began to teach lesson 1. The restoration. His face lit right up when told the experience of Joseph Smith. And after we taught the first vision, we taught him how to pray and that he too could receive an experience and know that this church was true. I remember his first prayer. He said the words and he had so much faith. Well we continued to teach him the lessons and we had taught him all of the lessons in like 3 weeks. We were so excited. The first time we visited  him he wanted to be baptized. The week before his baptism he told us with tears in his eyes that his dad wanted him to wait. He was so sad. We were in the front porch of his house and we asked him what he wanted to do. Well, we said a prayer. We knelt down and he said a prayer. His words were from his heart, the sweet boy. He asked that his dad would let him join the true church on the earth. He wanted to be baptized and he ended with stating that he knew he would receive permission. His dad wasn't against him being baptized but wanted him to wait for a while and get to know the church more. His dad is a member and his mom isn't. He lives with his dad but his dad, because of hard things that have happened in his life, has fallen away from the church. Silvio didn't even know that he was a member. The day after Silvio said that prayer we went with the papers for his father to fill out and sat down with the two and asked if his father would sign the papers. But before Silvio bore his testimony to his father and told him why he wanted to be baptized now. The spirit was so strong. His dad signed the papers and Silvio was baptized the next week. Even though the water was cold, He was happy. You remember the story about his mom. His dad didn't come to the baptism. Well the day that Silvio was baptized he brought a friend. .His friend was at his baptism and the next Sunday when Silvio was confirmed a member of the church I brought his mom and his sister Lucia. This Saturday is the baptism of Silvio's friend and his sister. We taught these two friends of Silvio with him and on many different occasions we would be begin to teach them and they wouldn't´t understand. Silvio turned to his friends, explained the topic, bore his testimony, and then asked if they would live the law. Just so you know the lesson was on the law of chastity. HAHAHA Hermana Cortez and I were struggling because we knew that the mom of these two wasn't living the law of chastity. But Silvio taught the lesson and the two kids understand it better than I or any other missionary could have taught them. Yesterday his friend's sister came to church by herself because the little brother was in trouble with his mom but she has been coming to the young women activities and is growing in the gospel a lot!!! Silvio yesterday in the sacrament meeting helped the piano player by holding the papers. And he has received a talk that he will be giving in the primary program in about three weeks. He has given us 5 different references and right now we are teaching 3 and 2 will be baptized. He always wears the CTR ring that we gave him, and he is always looking for ways that he can bless others with this gospel. He is my little brother. I love this kid so so so so much. Even right now I get teary eyed talking about him. He doesn't have the support of the family. But he gave us the direction for his mom and he wants the elders to visit her. And his dad little by little is responding to us. Silvio is a miracle and a missionary. Those children need to know that they are the ones that can share the gospel better than anyone. They are closer to Christ than anyone here in the earth. Their friends that don't have the gospel can have it through them! There is no greater joy. 

This week was hard. You guys remember that Oscar and Catalina moved out of our area. They were going to get married. Well this week Mariela, Raul and olga and their family, and Diosnel moved out of our area. We cant teach them anymore. Do you know how frustrating it is to know that they live somewhere where I cant go and they are like the golden investigators!!!! 

Oh while I'm thinking about it. I would love if you could send me for Christmas different ideas for family home evenings. This is really the way that so many are enjoying the gospel. Or even in an email would be great. Some different ideas. This is the last week with my companion. Next Tuesday is transfers. And I know that things are going to change for me. Today we are going to have the activity of district and we are going to hike the hill Lambaré again. Its raining. Yesterday and today it rained a ton! Its amazing how much the people don't like the cold or the rain. This Saturday is the baptism of Silvio's friend and his sister. They are so special. The little boy is a little stinker sometimes. He reminds me of Jared in some of the things that he does. But I love him. And  his sweet sister hopes for a better family. She wants the best for her life and her future family. She told us a story this week about how in school they are taught to say prayers a certain way. The catholic way. It was her turn and she stood up in front of all of her class, turned to her teacher, and asked if she could say the prayer a different way. The teacher was surprised but said yes. She started and ended her prayer with Heavenly Father, and "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen". WOW!!! Hermana Cortez and I were so surprised. The first time we taught this girl she didn't want to be baptized because she thought that her baptism in the catholic church was valid. This same girl walked to church yesterday in the rain alone. This same girl assisted all of the mutual activities with the young women in the ward. This same girl is so excited to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this Saturday, and as she says, have a happy family one day. What blessings!

I love you guys so much. i think about you a lot. Write me letters and send them please. It is so lovely to receive letters from you guys. 

Love,

Hermana Ross

Crazy Week!!

(Sorry, I should have posted this yesterday!)

 

First off I received your package with my skirt and everything. I loved it and I seriously wanted to cry. I am going to send you guys pictures today so my letters going to be a little bit short. This week was a little hard for me. We had a lot of investigators that told us that they don't want to hear any more and we were rejected a lot.  You guys know how I don't like to feel like this! But life goes on and so does the work. When I opened my package mom all the elders from my zone were there and they all think your catholic. HAHAHAHAHA Because of the pictures of Mother Maria that you sent me. Just so you know you don't have to send your things with those pictures any more. They go through the church and rarely are things opened. It was just kind of funny. This week we did teach a lot of lessons. But sometimes things are hard. Mom I am perfectly healthy.  The members feed us a tone of food and I don't have to worry about loosing too much weight.   We have a couple that wants to be  baptized. They aren't married though. So we are planning a wedding. And Silvio's friend and his sister have yet to be baptized. Mom I'm perfectly healthy and happy. This is only hard because those decisions of my investigators affect their life for eternity. I can't even imagine how Christ feels to know that we taught them everything we could and they wouldn't accept him. Right now I feel a little of what Christ feels. But then I remember the joy that I felt with those that did accept. Silvio and Natalia. Oh the joy that I feel is not even possible to describe. In two weeks we have transfers. President told me to be ready. I also received the money and everything from Midge and Jiggs and grandma and grandpa. I can't write a whole lot of letters to send because it costs me 16 mil guaranis. I Love you guys so much and am going to send you pictures this today. Sorry this weeks letter is short. I have the computer that the backspace doesn't work again. Its super way super frustrating. I know I cant spell in English and am having to delete a lot because I find myself writing in Spanish. TERRIBLE!!!!! I don't know how I'm going to remember my language when I come home. I love to hear how you are all doing! Mom and dad have  you guys had the missionaries  over to eat yet? I want to hear everything. But right now I'm going to send you guys pictures with my new handy dandy picture sender thinga majig! Love you all,

 

Hermana Ross   .

  

This picture is the cerro lambare that is in my area from the area Yukuty not all of my area is like Yukuty      

Our bathroom. There is a switch we flip for hot water.




Our garbage truck?!!

Me with an investigator's puppy.
She doesn't want the discussions any more.



Where we study

 

 

MAILl!!!!

Well my family all of the elders in my zone and district hate me about right now because I was the only one who received mail this past Tuesday. I got all of the letters from Grandma and Grandpa Lee and Ross and a letter from Nolan and Dana and Miranda and Jessica and Midge and Jiggs and Ahnica and I also got a paper that I needed to sign to receive a package. So this Tuesday I am going to be getting a package. I don't know what it is but its all good. So don't worry about that. Thanks for all the love from the family! It means a lot! 

So this past week we had so much success its absolutely Insane!!!!! This week we had divisions Thursday, we didn't have them last week because the Hermanas had different plans. The two Hermanas are the district leaders. We split our area in two and went our ways. I went with a Hermana  from California. She is a convert and her parents are both from Mexico. But at the end of the day we had 8 new investigators and 5 with a date for baptism. WOW!!!!!!! Our area is on fire. We have 11 that have dates for baptism. And we are planning a baptismal service this Saturday for the friend of Silvio. And the next Saturday for his sister. WOW SILVIO IS ON A ROLL!!!!! But it was so fun doing divisions. I learned so much from  this Hermana. She is so good at what she does. I seriously received so much more excitement to do the work. Which reminds me............... GUESS WHAT I FOUND IN THE STORE THE OTHER DAY...................PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!!!!!! Oh my dear family I wanted to cry. Hermana Cortez laughed at me. . Its a good thing that yesterday was fast Sunday. But we didn't have any meals with members planned but the elders in our ward did. In fact Sunday they had two meals planned so we received one of their meals. BLESSINGS. Sunday we had 7 people attend sacrament meeting. The new couple AND THEIR FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am teaching a family that have accepted a date for baptism and the whole family went to church!!!! And Silvio's friend and his sister came with us too. We taught 14 lessons this week and another 10 that were with members. Tons of lessons this week. Sorry this letter is a little jumbled in my thoughts. 

We teach all of the friends of Silvio every Tuesday and Thursday in the nights. He has invited about 6 different friends and 4 of them have dates for baptism. We were teaching the plan of salvation to all of them when Silvio raised his hand and asked if he could say something. He has a speech impediment. I don't think I ever told you guys that. But no one says anything to him about it. Anyways he raised his hand and asked if he could say something. He stood up from his chair and looked at all of his friends and said. I know that Jesus answers our prayers and that this is the true church. He answered my prayers and he can answer your prayers too. I looked at Hermana Cortez and we both seriously wanted to cry. It was wonderful! He is so strong!

So Sunday nights our Leader of the district calls and asks us about our numbers for the week. I had the privilege of telling him our wonderful numbers. And when I finished he came back and said... 7?!? you guys had 7 assistencias? JAJAJAJAJAJAJA Well he hung up and about 10 minutes later our leader of the zone called us and asked if we could talk to our zone this Tuesday about what we are doing. WHAT!? The problem is that we aren't doing anything different. Its the investigators and their decisions. We just have faith in them and in our heavenly father that he will help them want to grow. It really is a miracle. 

This week it was hotter than hot! I wanted to die! But the benefit is that when its hot everyone is out and about. This is really great! Its the reason we had so many different lessons. I made omelets for Hermana Cortez. She acted like she had died and gone to heaven. She had never had them before.  Mom have you guys had the missionaries over for dinner recently. You guys should because it really is great when we have lunch with members. I would love for Christmas some sticky notes. The small ones that are plastic. I use them to help me find scriptures. I would particularly love the color purple, blue, green, orange. These colors because they are the colors of the chapters in Preach My Gospel. I'd use them to help me with my studies. Because sometimes its hard to find scriptures in Spanish. I received new scriptures and now I'm just waiting for my scriptures cases. 

Weird experience for the week. We had investigators that are Catholics. The ones I told you that is sang too. Well we taught them and in the middle of the lesson the wife started telling us that she had received a gift from the holy ghost. A gift that the leaders of her church had given her by the laying on of hands. The gift of tongues. Well she then started talking to us in a language that doesn't exist. And then she told us that she has a friend who received a gift that she can interpret this language. Well the spirit wasn't in that lesson anymore! poof! Gone went the real Holy Ghost! And after that she started rocking the rocking chair next to her back and forth and said that she had seen Jesus in her life. When ever she is cold she remembers Jesus Christ. WEIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not much that I can say about that. But we have the good experiences and the weird experiences. But right now I know that this is where I need to be. I love this gospel with all of my heart. And I love you all with all of my heart. Have a fun holiday.  Love you all!,

 

Hermana Tiffany Ross