Transfers are ..... Tomorrow!

Hey guys,

 So I'm good here in Piribebuy. Tomorrow I will find out if i will be leaving or not. I had interviews with President on Tuesday. He told me that I should not  put my mind at home before I get there, ha ha but I think as missionaries we have a tendency to do that.  

This week we had a conference with Elder Bednar that covered all of Paraguay and Uruguay. He was straight to the point. There are many things that I have faced in the mission that are not easy. I never thought that sometimes I would have to teach the MEMBERS how to repent. But Elder Bednar "bajo la caña" as we say here in Paraguay. He told every single member that they need to learn the importance of repentance. That they can't choose or elect their bishops, that they need to get married, and that they need to pay their tithing. He said that we are not of the world so the members need to stop thinking like the world. WOW! It was interesting. We rented a bus to take all of us to the church house in Caacupe. And we stopped by the area of the other elders in our district to pick up their new converts to come to church. It was pretty cool to see all of those people who were baptized in the baptism Guazu get on the bus with smiles and to see that they are all staying strong. The gospel is true! In our mission we are baptizing more than 100 people a month. The work is being pushed on. It needs to be done and it needs to be done now. 

So to answer some of the questions that dad had for me,

I have bought a nativity scene, and a flag of Paraguay. Today I'm going to buy the typical dancing clothes for the girls and for the boys. They are on sale because Independence day just passed. I also bought the typical cup for drinking the yerbs here in Paraguay. Today I'm going to be heading to the Basilica. The biggest catholic church in Paraguay where the virgin of Caacupe supposedly comes to give blessings the first week of December. I want to buy one of the  virgins.... they are dressed as queens and they have blond hair and blue eyes. Its crazy. There are a lot of things that I will be bringing home. But none of it is going to be what I brought with me, just so you all know. The weather is getting HOT. The cold didn't hit to hard this year so everyone is saying that this summer it is going to be HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha at least I won't be here when it is the hottest, in December, January, and February. Well I  don't know what else to tell you guys. Good luck with school.

Love you all,

Hermana Ross

These are the Cheerleaders of the High schools .
Can you believe that they do cheers in black high heels?

This was a parade that we saw here in Piribebuy.
 All the schools go and  they are in uniforms.

Happy Child's Day!

These little girls are in the typical dancing clothes of the people of Paraguay.

I feel like I've been blessed and bapitzed in the catholic church this week.....read the letter to see what happens.....‏

So I dont know if I have ever had the privilege of telling you guys why this area is so dang difficult. hahaha I'm in CATHOLIC HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every where you go there are signs thanking the saints that the catholics worship for their blessings. Its crazy. For example signs that say GRACIAS SAN EXPEDITO por los favores recibidos. and after the name of the family. Its crazy. So this week we were knocking on doors and we found this woman who looks just like Eddie Murphy when he is dressed up as a  woman. She has glasses and is a little bit on the bigger side of things. She received us without one single problem. Telling us.....¨Oh mi daughters, come in, come in¨So we went in. She started talking to us about how she always received everyone that came to her home because we were messengers of God. We didn't even get in three words with this woman. She would talk and talk and talk and then say oh, I'm talking so much....your turn....hahaha we tried to get the message of the restoration across in the middle of all her ranting about the catholic church but it didn't work. She didn't want to listen she just wanted to talk.When we were about to finish the lesson her tiny husband entered the room. He walked in drinking his herbs that are typical here in Paraguay. and sat down in front of us and in front of the television turning it on to watch a gambling show. He didn't say anything to us. But he just looked so small and shy. Hhahaha then the woman turned to us and told us in a high pitched voice that this was the love of her life and that she wanted to introduce us. She then turned to him and talking in a voice that only someone would use to talk to a baby or a dog said ¨Mi amor, porque no dijo hola a las chicas¨ he turned around slowly to tell us hello and then went back to watching the TV. I felt like all this time I was in a comedy movie and that there were cameras filming the whole thing. We decided that we were just going to go after. They weren't listening and the spirit couldn't be there. So when we stood up to leave the woman stood up so fast to give us hugs..... and then she went to my companion and said that she wanted to bless us in the name of the virgin to bless us throughout the day.........What. I'm pretty sure we looked at her in shock at this moment. but then she grabbed my companion and put her hand to her forehead and blessed her telling her that the mother virgin Mary would bless and guide her to choose the right. I couldn't help it. I was giggling so when she grabbed me next I think she wanted to make sure I understood what it was she was going to do because she put her nose maybe three inches from mine and told me she was doing this for my good because Mary was my mother and I should have respect for my ¨mother¨

We ran after that. We were out of there so dang fast. My companion and I walked in silence for a few short minutes and then we started to laugh. I asked my companion what just happened back there.........hahahahaha my companion told me..................I'm pretty sure that Eddie Murphy just taught and baptized and confirmed us in the catholic church without our approval. It was crazy!  But this next week I will be having transfers. But the good part of the week is that young couple that we had been teaching came to church yesterday. And it looks like the wife will be getting baptized on the 6th of September.I won't be here but she will be a member of the church. I know it. 

I love you guys,

Sounds like your all having fun. 

Hermana Ross

Satan is terrible! Don't listen to Satan!!

August 11, 2014

This week I saw a lot of what Satan is trying to do to the people. So if there is one thing that I have learned here in the mission is that Satan is REAL!!!!!!!! And he works! He works hard! I can see the hurt that he does to the hearts of the children of God. Any missionary can see it.

For example. We went to teach a young woman this last week and as we were teaching her, her mother in law came out and told us that we shouldn't teach from the Book of Mormon because it was a book inspired by SATAN! ha ha I don't know how many times I've heard that. She told us that we don't even believe in the Bible. I hoped to open her eyes a little bit when I took out the bible and put it in my lap right next to the Book of Mormon and told her that I knew without a doubt in my mind that the two were truly the word of God. My companion confirming what she knew. She couldn't say anything about our beliefs. But to throw a last jab she said that some people are hypocrites to leave and "try" to teach the word of god without even reading it. HAHAHA I took out the Book of Mormon and said to her, sister that's why we are here to invite you to read and know for yourself. She looked at us and then pointed her finger to the bible and said, if you want to teach the truth, teach from the "real" word of god. She didn't accept the Book of Mormon.....her daughter in law stayed watching us. She was a special woman. I had to laugh because her 5yr old daughter came up behind her and told her mom. Why were you baptized? By who were you baptized? Why don't you want to accept the book of Mormon? hahaha the words that come out of the mouth of babes. 

I've seen a lot of sad and hard things here in the mission. Especially here in this area, but every single thing that happens is just a strengthen to my testimony of what work Satan is trying to do on the hearts of the children. And just how important it is to take the gospel to all the world, and to teach repentance. And also just how important it is to live repentance in my life. I was reading in the Bible the other day in Romans 5:1 believe that it says that one person wicked will bring many to be wicked, but one person that is obedient can bring many to be obedient. Its so very true. The obedience tries so many blessings. 

This week also came medics from the states looking for young children with parasites, hoping to help them. The man that was in charge told us that he served here in Paraguay in 2003. He told us that he was called to be branch president and was seeing so many things, for example worms being thrown up, and naked children running in the streets that it inspired him to come back. They had their doctors equipment come to the church and were helping all of the malnutrition that were found in children from birth to 6 years of age. ITS NEEDED HERE IN PARAGUAY! 

God is real, and he has his hands in the lives of his children. I'm excited to be here in Paraguay, and that's a rap. 

I love you guys,

oh and mom......so one of these last days I was eating a sucker and I broke one of my teeth. It didn't hurt so I haven't done anything about it. The doctors here in Paraguay scare me. But I am brushing teeth and flossing. Its part of my routine. 

The family was baptized in the area of the elders last Saturday.  We helped them.  Ha Ha the funny part is the two, before knowing how the Priesthood works asked if I could baptize them.  Ha Ha they are awesome.

And English class.  Playing bingo with numbers in English ha ha.

 

Crazy!!

Monday August 4th, 2014
(sorry it was posted late!)
Where to start..... so my death letter is in Spanish. I don't know why you would want to read it dad. It just asks for the information that is needed to buy my ticket home. ha ha and second off....I didn't have a baptism this week. Last week we found a HUGE MIRACLE. We found a young lady who is all ready to be baptized, her and her boyfriend. We were planning their wedding and everything but there was a downfall. She is nine months pregnant, and the Saturday of the baptism and wedding.....she exploded! ha ha she will be baptized when she is healed from having her baby. But it will be awesome. So I don't have much to say to you guys. It was a good week.

I'm going to send pictures and hope that you guys can see just a little of what has been happening to me these last couple of months. 

 Thanks Trent for telling me just how many days I have left.....it doesn't help me at all!!!!!!!!!! and did you guys ever get my letters i have sent home? Just a crazy question....

Well time for some photos!

The Monkeys that live 3 houses from the church.

One started to follow us. They scared me!  The brother that was there telling us that
he bit off a finger of an elder that got too close.  I don't know if he was kidding or for real.

My companion and I with my birthday cake.

Without a doubt this area is the most beautiful area that someone could be in! 

About three weeks ago we went to visit a famous place in our area that is call Chololo. It was beautiful!
Waterfalls and places to swim. I didn't swim but it was cool to see and this was our taxi.

Taxi!!!

We did divisions with the sister Leaders.  The red head is Hermana Tanner from Ogden, Utah.
I was with her all day. Her grandma owns the Timbermine in Ogden.This was an activity for Friendship Day,
 the 31st of July. Weird that this day really exists.

Hermana Keller is hilarious.  We worked with her and her husband all that day
lookingfor less actives.  They are from South Carolina.

I'm in this picture with the young women of the branch.

Ha ha ha ha ha so we live in the area of the Elders, because its a little safer for us to live there. And last night the  elders stopped by our house to give me a birthday cake. Ha ha it was really sweet!  Can you see the match.  They made it themselves.  ( Thank you Elders for watching out for the Hermanas or other missionaries!)

My birthday lunch, Tacos!!!!!! Just so you all know I'm going to be coming
home eating like a freaking Central American. Ha Ha I love the food that is spicy.
Maybe it is because my last three companions have been from El Salvador and Guatemala.

Blowing out 22 candles! Ha Ha I feel so dang old!

22 years old. We cut down the flower from a tree near our house.

Well time for some photos