The Rains came down and the people went ......................to Sleep!!!

Hello family, sorry for last weeks letter. It was so frustrating not having a computer that functioned well but its kind of funny that you guys had the same problem. I have a total of three months in my mission. I cant believe it!!!! I'm losing track of time and I'm losing my English. I actually have to think to talk to someone in English. My companion laughs when we run into hermanas from America because we talk in Spanish for one minute and English the next. She says my voice sounds different in the different languages. So dad you had questions about what our mission baptizes in a month. For July this mission had 185 baptisms. This month we had 111. Our goal was 135. When my companion told me that we had 185 for the month of July I seriously was shocked! I couldn't believe it! The work is seriously hastening on. 

Monday I bought thee coolest scripture cases ever. This guy came to my church building and he let us browse through pictures and we chose the ones we wanted and he will custom draw these pictures into cases for our scriptures! How cool is that! Tuesday was a lot of walking and a not a lot of talking. But we had a family night with Silvio and his friend. Now his friend is one of our new investigators. He assisted the baptism of Silvio and has came to church the past two Sundays He has a baptismal date for the 14th of September. WHOA! Its amazing that a little boy of ten years old can bring someone to the gospel like that!

Wednesday we taught a mother and her son . She had a lot of questions about the plan of salvation.  After, later that night we taught a new couple. These two are CATHOLICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! But they have become our friends. He refuses that we read with him from the Book of Mormon but we read the bible with him. HAHAHAHA little does he know that the things that we are reading with him are prophesying about the Book of Mormon. So funny story. When we ended the lesson. Hermana Cortez wanted to practice on their piano. They are pretty rich and have a large home but their three kids have moved out and are married. Well as she was practicing the piano, this couple asked me to sing one of the songs from our church in English for them. WHAT!?! You guys know that I cant sing. At this moment Hermana Cortez walked over and I started to sing. I sang," I am a child of God" in English for them. When I sang they bowed their heads and closed their eyes. Hermana Cortez asked them how they felt when I sang this song. They said peace and joy. Next week we are going to sing the same song but in Spanish. And we are going to remind them how they felt when they heard it in English. I don't know why but all the people in our ward think that I can sing. They ask me to lead the music in sacrament meeting and give them the beginning notes. You guys know that I can't sing. My companion says that its difficult for people who speak Spanish to sing because they are only used to using the front parts of their mouths. Well to say the least I sing a lot and am trying to learn music because I don't know how to explain to them that just because I'm from the United states, doesn't mean I know how to sing. 

 

Thursday was a lot more walking.

Friday I had my first interview with president. In the interview he said that I will be receiving a new companion this next cambio and that I need to know my area. And that I need to ask people to be baptized. How did he know that I struggle with this? He said that if we ask 5 people to be baptized about three will actually be baptized. Well he didn't tell me if I will have to train this transfer (cambio) but that I will have a new companion. He thanked me for my help and then told me that they have opened 5 new areas that will have sister missionaries. They are looking for new apartments. Crazy! 

Saturday! The rains came down and down and down and it was cold and cold and cold. Ha and the day when it rains we went into yukuty. The land of the mud. I didn't have my boots and Hermana Cortez didn't have her umbrella. It was quite interesting. I was hoping from one foot to the other singing "Bendiciones, bendiciones un dia esta va estar bien porque yo voy a tener un lindo familia en la futuro!¨" My companion had to stop to laugh. And then we started talking about blessings. Mom and dad I really am so so so blessed. Every time that I walk by those homes in Yukuty I am reminded how blessed I am. And how easy my mission here is compared to others. My companion for example has had some hard things happen in the mission for her. Well this day my companion stopped me and said you know your blessed because your ancestors suffered many trials for the church and they were promised that you wouldn't have to endure those same things. I love this gospel!

Sunday we had more rain. And not very many people were out and about. The people here don't like the rain. We passed by for all of our investigators and Silvio and only Silvio and his friend came to church. Silvio received the gift of the holy ghost. And all is well with him. Elder Castro gave me a white shirt and tie after the reunions and his face just lit up! It really was so cute! He is a little missionary. All the time he talks about how he wants to serve a mission. After we passed by for all of our investigators my companion and I sat in the sacrament room and drained the water from our skirts. and when we stood up to leave the room there were wet spots on the seats. Only about 30 people came to church this day. That night we had one of those moments too where the car drives by we get splashed by water! YEAH ONE OF THOSE DAYS!!!! Its cold to say the least. 

Its good to hear how you guys are doing. I have yet to receive packages but i would love to receive hand written letters. Good luck with school everyone. I cant believe that you guys are starting school. Crazy to hear that i have 100 days in my mission. Love you all so much!

Love Hermana Ross,

PS for Christmas I would love music, It needs to be music that I would be able to listen to in the chapel. I wont need a lot of packages in my mission.

I made up my own rendition of the wise man and the foolish man, that's the name of the title of this email. Enjoy the warm, just remember that I'm freezing! hahaha not really mom don't worry! All is well. 

This week will be 3 months!!!

My week was great!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha I had diarrhea the entire week. It finally came to Hermana Cortez calling Hermana Agazzani and asking what we could do. But every day I did my proselyting and we have some top notch new investigators this week.

I am still in my same area with the same companion. I this next cambio (transfer) I will be staying here and Hermana Cortez will be heading off. So this week Silvio was baptized. His mom came and not his dad. It was a little sad but  Silvio invited a friend. And Sunday Silvio and his friend and his friend's  family came to church., It was a miracle. We also had ward correlation. Things didn't quite run like they were supposed to.  I didn't even know what to think. Friday we had a large family home evening. Well it was my idea. and it was a disaster! It was the day of the child. A holiday here in Paraguay. Well a group kids came and ate all of the food and ran through the halls with the fire hydrant. For the baptism of Silvio Saturday we spent a good hour cleaning up the mess. It was a disaster. But the ward mission leader wants to do it again. This is what the ward council talked about the whole time! But on the bright side we have some way awesome new investigators. Silvio was late coming to church so he didn't receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but he will next Sunday. And we have some new awesome investigators.

Story of the week.We got some referencias from different sister missionaries and we called them and they said that they wanted to meet us at the church  building. In all honesty Hermana Cortez and I were a little sketched (stressed) out. What investigators want to meet the missionaries at the church and were willing to wait thirty minutes to do so? Well this happened yesterday. So we were walking to the church thinking that they aren't going to be there and we arrive at the church and see the most beautiful family waiting just outside the gate for us. IT WAS A MIRACLE!!! We have new investigators. They are a family of 5. Three young boys. The oldest is 8 years old. They are so prepared for the gospel its insane! They speak like they knew the gospel and they are amazing. We had a lesson in the church with them about the plan of salvation and we showed them the building. It was an amazing miracle. We have this family and the family of the friend of Silvio. They assisted (attended) the church and our miracle family of 5 are going to attend this other Sunday. Sorry family this is really hard to write because the backspace is not working and my letter is being deleted as I write it. But we have two families and one of them was because of the example of a 10 year old boy. 

This week we are going to do divisions. The leader sister missionaries are coming to stay at our house this Wednesday and we are going to do splits in our area. Hermana Cortez is a little nervous about it. But I'm excited. I like to get different views of how do things. It is really, really hard to write you guys today because of this stupid keyboard. But Total is bien (good)! I am not sick anymore and Today I bought the coolest scripture cases and that are only from Paraguay! I love them and when I  receive them in 2 weeks I will  take pictures and send them. Tuesday I received the letters from you mom and from Grandma and Grandpa Ross for my birthday! I receive mail Tuesdays during reunion de distrito. 

So I have noticed that when something good happens something bad has to happen before or after. After the baptism of Silvio we went to teach  our little young couple. Well we came to find out that they don't live in their house anymore. And they now live in the area de the  leaders of the zone. INSERIO!?????? Those leaders have all the baptisms!  Dang it!!!! We were so super sad  about this but we are going to have the family of five!

Not much is new. I love you guys so much! And I know that when times are difficult that We have someone else there to help us. Sorry this letter isn't as long because the keyboard  is driving me nuts! 

Love, Hermana Ross,

 

Other idea s for Christmas. lemonade mixes for bottles. macaroni mixes. I liked your ideas in the letters. But I would love, love, love pictures that I could give my investigators for their baptisms. And things that will help me study. I need to work on remembering scriptures. 

Oh and funny story. WE taught this guy this week and during the lesson when there was a really spiritual moment a bird pooped on my head! hahahahahahahahaha 

So much can happen in a week!!!

Monday August 12, 2013

OK first off I think you all think that I live in the boondocks. HAHAHA your other emails are all questions about if I have a microwave and a fridge and stuff like that! The answer is YES!!! And most of the people in my area have this too. The pictures I sent you guys are the poorest parts of my area! Most people have homes and TVs and its pretty normal!

OK Monday was crazy! We went to the temple to clean and it was just my district and our zone leaders. Well we walk into the temple, which is absolutely beautiful by the way! And they give us these clothes to change into. Well lets just say that I'm a little tall..... hahahahahahahahaha I had to try on three different outfits because the pants were not long enough!!!! And then the lady gave me a pair of shoes size 11 thinking that I had big feet. The clothes that finally did fit were still short. It made me feel better though when we walked out and saw the other American boys with floods also. After the temple we ate at this little restaurant and had these burritos with beef and chicken and they were so good. And then after we hurried to buy our food and then we went out proselyting!!!

 

Wednesday I woke up and had some serious motivation to go and do!!!! Because our messages from zone conference and I don't know, I wanted to find the people that were prepared to be taught. Its been hard because we have a lot of investigators but not very many are progressing!!! For example only Silvio assisted  (attended) Domingo. And mom I feel a little bit of those feelings of my heavenly father. Because we have to make decisions when our investigators aren't progressing we move them to old investigator. Its super hard! I feel like a mother that is about to put their child in the forget them for now box! ha ha I don't know but its really, really hard. Well this week my companion and I had to goal to find new investigators. So we went searching! While we were walking I felt a very spiritual impression that we needed to visit one contact that we had made the very first week I was here in the mission. We had never talked to him again but we walked to his house and clapped at his door. And he answered and without saying a word ushered us in! I was in absolute shock! He has a 2 year old son and  wife.  We taught him a little bit about the Book of Mormon and I wish you could have seen his face when we gave him that book! Well one new investigator! And after we left his house this lady in the street stopped us. She started talking to us in Spanish and then to me in English!!!  She wanted to practice her English and she said, "I know all about your church, and I don't care!" hahaha And then she said "I want to practice my English and receive an American boyfriend!" hahahaha well we passed by her house Thursday!!! And she is an old investigator! She received the lessons when she was 15 in this area with her friend and assisted attended) the church one whole year and wasn't baptized. WHAT LUCK!!! She is separated from her husband and she has a son who is 11.  They are so special! She likes the activities of the church and Saturday assisted (attended) the Relief Society activity and her son played with the boys from the ward out in the field football (soccer). They loved it! And They would have assisted Sunday but her son was sick. She has a hard time with the concept of Joseph Smith but we taught her again and she wants to know how she can know if  the church is true. She was taught when there were elders in this are many many years ago. She is very special! This week we recieved 8 new investigators!

 

Saturday.... Silvio... Silvio wasn't baptized Saturday. It was so so, so sad! He wants his mom to come so bad to his baptism and she wasn't going to be able to make it. So we moved it to this Saturday. His mom is an atheist! PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM!!!!!! But he said that this weekend he is going to be baptized even if she isn't coming! But is still sad! He goes to church all by himself and he's 10 years old!

Sunday!!! We taught 3 leccions (Lessons) in 4 hours. We passed by for a ( new investigator), and  the sister with the 11 year old son, and a member called us. She is from Paraguay and is going to serve a mission in Argentina in 1 week. She invited us to the house of her aunt who lives in our area. And she asked us if we would, in front of her family, who are all catholic, bear our testimony of the gospel and how the mission blesses our lives and the lives of our family. All the people at this house were her aunts and grandmothers. This hermana and her mother and family are active members but the rest aren't. So we sat in a room at a big party. There had to be about 20 women in this room, all but 5 were catholic, and we bore our testimonies! They were crying! After our testimonies the hermana bore her testimony and it was so super spiritual. Tomorrow she is going to come proselyting with us! And I spoke in church. I used the talk from President Uchtdorf that you gave me mom! Its in the Ensign and I translated it into Spanish. 

I don't have time to tell you all about every single one of my investigators but they are great! And the Spanish is coming slowly but surely! I love you all so so so much and you are all in my prayers.  And I will let you know what I want for Christmas. Some ideas are some really nice photos that I could give investigators when they are baptized as a gift! And headbands! Things I could use to help me study!  BUT I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Until next week,

Hermana Ross

 

P.S. 

You don't need temple clothes. I wish I would have bought a nice pair of Spanish scriptures with tabs. And we can go to the temple for activity de districto pero not very often. Its not worth bring the clothes if you're a girl.

 

By the way! Really quickly! Transfers are this week. I don't know what's going to happen. I'm pretty sure I will be here still but my companion has 4 months in this are. It is possible I will receive a new trainer but I don/t know that for sure! Let you know next week!

 

Love Hermana Ross.

 if you are a girl. 

 

GO TO CHURCH!! AND THS MIRACULOUS THING CALLED A BADGE!!!!!!!

Aug. 5, 2013

Well this week was quite interesting! First off I have indoor plumbing! In my bathroom I have a switch that I have to turn on to get hot water and if I want it hot I have to let it only drip  a little! ha ha so I have cold showers a lot! Blessings and sacrifices right? The toilet and sink are normal. I just cant flush toilet paper! My apartment is really quite nice. I have picture I want to send you but I cant! Don't worry much about my packages. I will receive them for Christmas!!! hahahaha The only reason I was able to send pictures last week was because Elder Castro from Mexico let me borrow his usb memory card thing! So much thanks to him! Also you can post my photos on the blog! Thanks for all! Also I wish I would have bought boots in the states. My boots are just clogs and its not really that fun to proselyte with those suckers! This week has been un poco crazy!

Wednesday we went to the mission home to have a trainers and new missionaries examine!!! Dun Dun DUN!!! ha ha it wasn't that bad. But president Agazanni and Hermana Agazanni when they saw me immediately started talking to me about my birthday! That was super sweet. I am really very blessed and watched out for! On the bus ride to the mission home we got stopped by the police! I was on the bus with my whole district. Well I guess this is normal for the police to do this! And when they do this everyone has to give them their identification and they will go and process it! Well guess who didn't have their identification! ME and My companion! My companion knew nothing about this! Well the policeman got to us and looked at us, waiting! I was about to pee my pants! The other policeman came up behind him, shook his head and they left the bus! Both looked at our badges and said nothing! Just walked right past us! One of the elders in my district is from Paraguay and said that this never happens! If a person from Paraguay doesn't have their identification with them on the bus they go to jail! Family! GOD PROTECTS US MISSIONARIES!!!!! Wow it was seriously a blessing. But needless to say I have my identification on me from now on! 

My birthday was good! We had a ward activity where we cleaned the church and had a barbecue! It was delicious! They all sang happy birthday to me! And my companion woke up at six and made me a special breakfast! And gave me little gifts! it was a good day! BUT...... Silvio wasn't baptized. He will be baptized this upcoming Saturday because he wants his mom who lives in a totally different city to come and see. She isn't a member. But all of his brothers are. They all live in Argentina! I don't know much about his mom. But his dad was baptized when he was 15 and after a while got the wrong set of friends and got to drinking and smoking! I think that this is why he hasn't come back to church. But he told us that if this is what Silvio wants he can do this! And he also mentioned that he would also let Silvio serve a mission one day! He knows the church is true but its hard for him! 

I know nothing about the husband of Natalia! I haven't met him, and I don't know that I ever will. But Natalia assists the church every single Sunday. And the first Sunday she asked us if we would help her pay her tithing!!! She is amazing! 

But this Sunday...... No one came to church with us! IT WAS SO SAD!!!!!!! We walked almost all of our area for all of our investigators and none wanted to come. Not even Silvio. Well, Silvio wasn't at his house. But after sacrament meeting Silvio came to church all by himself! It made my day! He is so prepared for the gospel!!! 

Today I'm going to clean the temple with my zone and tomorrow we have zone conference. Intonces I don´t have a whole lot of time to write!

 

Thank everyone for all of the birthday wishes! I got a lot of emails I need to read and I can't print all of them off today!

 

 Love you all and every single one of you are in my prayers! The language is getting a little better. President told me that I sound like I'm from Paraguay when he called for my birthday! HAHAHA he also told me to prepare to train in the next cambio!!! EEKS!!!! Pray for me please!!!

Love Hermana Ross.



My 21st birthday in the mission field!

                                     







                                     

This is Hermana Cortez, Silvio, and Me!