May 27th, 2014

Howdy folks!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful week!  I had a great week here in the TMM.  This is probably going to be a short email because I only have a few minutes! So- This past week Sister price and I took a little road trip back to McAllen!! Yay!  It was great we had a 3 day leadership training.  It was nuts!  full of wonderful-ness. It takes about 3 hours to get down there.  So we (our zone leaders and 3 district leaders and Sister Price and Me) we crammed into the dad van that the zone leaders drive. It was pretty crazy.  Then during the day we had meetings from 9:00 am to about 6:00 pm.  LONG MEETING.  But oh so great.  They always come right at the best moment in the mission to help me refocus and to make changes. 

I got to work with sister beckstrand in La Vista!!  How I love my old area!!  Sister beckstrand actually went to high school with me.  She graduated with me too!  Small world.  We were on bikes the entire time too- so that was fun! The first night after the training President Maluenda challenged us to have a really good repentance prayer before we left- then go and work hard!  So Sister beckstrand and I went and changed clothes real quick.  During the meeting I actually made a repentance list.  I just took a moment to repent- and after I felt SOOO GOOD. I felt like was all of a sudden sparkly and clean. So we headed out on the bikes (I was wearing sister kreis' helmet...hahaha it was too big so I looked like a doofus).  We were talking to everyone that was outside and there was one little lady that was watering her grass. So we stopped and talked to her.  We started teaching the restoration lesson to her- and the spirit was so strong!!  It was super wonderful. She prayed and after she just waited for a minute- and read the entire prayer page in the pamphlet.  After a few minutes (yes minutes) of silence we asked her how she felt.  And she said, "I feel something here in my heart... I can't describe it... its like....I don't know..."  So we helped her realized that that was the spirit that she was feeling.  And she accepted a baptismal date.  SOO MANY PREPARED PEOPLE.  =D It is great.  It was amazing the difference that little repentance prayer make though-  I felt the spirit there super strong- AND I felt so much love for the lady!  It was like Heavenly Father was shooting me with a laser beam of love- and my heart was pure enough to shoot it at the lady- full force. =D  It was wonderful experience that changed my mission.  I am striving for that every day.  To be pure and full of love.  =D 

My mission is just great!! 

Here is a great quote that I heard this week.  

"if you are anxious- you are living in the future.  

If you are depressed- you are living in the past.  

If you are happy- you are living in the present."  

I really liked that! enjoy every moment!!

Well!! I love you all so much!  have a wonderful week!  you are in my prayers!!

-Hermana Wiser

ps- I will send pictures next week when I have a little more time. 

May 19th, 2014

HELLO People!

This week has been a crazy week- FULL of miracles!!  Where to begin...  SO last week we found a little family-  Rhonda and her daughter Layla.  They are so wonderful!! We were walking outside and saw a group of kids- so we went and gave them all Jesus pass along cards.  There was one little girl that said- "hey!  my momma is inside! wanna come talk with her?"  So of course we did. We had a great restoration lesson and set them on a date to be baptized.  SOOOO many prepared people!!! Then we went back a few days later to give them their copies of the book of Mormon.  And committed them to read. *here is where the miracle gets crazy!* So we go back a few days later to see how they are doing and to set up a church tour- and we followed up on their reading.  And Layla has been taking her Book of Mormon to school to read it DURING recess!  AND-that's not all-  A little girl named Kaitlyn, who is in our ward- Saw Layla reading her book of Mormon and offered to read with her.  So the next day Kaitlyn brought HER Book of Mormon and started reading with her!!  CRAZY GREAT RIGHT!!!  Talk about a brave little missionary.  Both the girls are ten.  So we called her Mom and tonight we have a family home evening planned in the members home.  The Lord works in wonderful ways!! Yay Book of Mormon Recess STUDY!!

I also got to do an exchange on the Island this past week!!  IT was so fun!  I was with sister Vargas on the island.  It was so fun to see the members and the people again.  IT is crazy to go back- all these wacko memories kept flooding into my mind.  I learned a LOT on that little island. =D

Another great miracle from this past week- Rhonda gave us a referral for the Neighbor.  And her hame is Deborah.  We went and started talking with here and she told us that she wants her 8 year old son to be baptized somewhere!  Talk about great!!  So we started teaching them both- and it has just been wonderful. Deborah had a great spiritual conformation that the message is true.  The Lord prepares so many people!!! =D

Another little gem that we are working with is a lady names Sandie. She is such an angel!  Sister Sanders and Sister Ninataype actually found her and started teaching her and her Less active husband.  Her husband has now been reactivated and Sandie is preparing to be baptized.  She would be baptized already- but she has had a lot of crazy health problems these past few months.  The first time  I met her was at the hospital.  5 days earlier she had a triple bypass open heart surgery.  CRAZY.  So we went and sang to her.  She is currently in a little rehab facility so she can fully get back on her feet.  She is such a christlike and positive woman!!  We went with a boss member that lives in our area- Sister Rich(yes, I skyped at her house. =D)  Sister Rich and I gave her a hand massage with oils=D  yay oils!!!  Her goal is to be baptized on june 15  She is recovering very fast.  Keep her in your prayers!

On Saturday the stake has a super awesome relief society activity- with classes and all sorts of stuff.  We got to go because we translated it into Spanish!  For some sisters.  Haha there are some words in English that I just don't know the translation for!  like 'smoothie'.  We went to a class about making healthy smoothies.  so I just said 'esmooti" hahahaha.  Yay TEX MEX.  Super funny.  it was fun!  I love speaking Spanish!! Sister Rich gave a wonderful class on compassionate service- And she is the right one for the job.  She is so crazy amazing!  She just serves EVERYONE.  Yesterday she spoke in church, made lunch for us and a recent convert, drove the recent convert home, drove us to the rehab facility to help Sandie, went to and spoke at a baptism for the other sisters, helped clean up after- THEN this morning we got a call about a sister that passed away in the ward and needed help cleaning up.  So we ran by- and sister rich was already there- with a trailer attached to her car to help the people move all the stuff out of the apartment. Talk about service oriented!  AND she is just so positive ALL the time.  I want to serve like she does- she literally lifts people everywhere she goes. I am grateful for the example that she has given me.  You learn so many wonderful things as a missionary! Sister Rich shared a quote with us.  It says, "By DOING, we get to practice until we BECOME."   SO true!! In order to become we have to DO that thing.  I really have been thinking about that this week.  What do I want to become?  and what does the Lord want me to become?  Yay progression! Heavenly Father has such a wonderful plan.  I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ- so that we CAN change.  As we become more like the Lord- he will trust us with people that need our help.  That has been the main lesson that I have learned this week.  As we seek to do the Lords will- he will place people in our paths that need our help and service. I have just grown to love the people here so much.  It has been such a blessing to be here in Texas serving.  The Lord is doing more for me than I could ever do for him.  I am so grateful that he is patient and trusting enough to let a crazy 21 year old spread his gospel. This experience has really helped me to gain a eternal perspective, to think outside the box, and to be more like the savior.  ITs a work in progress!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!!! Find a soul that needs uplifting and bring the sunshine to their souls!!

LOVE YA!!!! SOOOOOOO MUCH!

-Hermana Wiser

May 12, 2014

Hello!!

Howdy!! From "Corpus Chrispy!!" -hahaha mom

I hope all had a wonderful Mothers day yesterday!  It was so great to see you family!  Man.  I can't believe that happened. =D  haha my time measurement is completely missionary focused- it feels surreal.  It was so wonderful to catch up for a few moments.  I just love you all so much!! I am convinced that I have the best family in the entire world.  I do! =D

SOOOOO- We had a crazy week! -as usual.  I am now in Corpus!! AGAIN!!  We got the transfer calls on Monday night-  I am in the area of Weber (not pronounced like our high school- but like 'web'- like a spiders web- 'er'.  It is on the mainland of corpus, and so far it has been great.  My new companion is Sister Price- she is wonderful!  We are already having loads of fun- and working hard.  We both came in new to the area- She is a new STL.  So we are Pink washing!  - which means that we are basically starting from scratch in the area.  It is fun to have a new clean slate.  Sister Price is from Gilbert Arizona, is the youngest of 4 girls.  And has about 3 months left on her mission.  She is a hoot!

After we got the transfer calls I packed up- relatively quickly- then went around and said goodbye to people. It is so weird not being there anymore!! I literally became part of the furniture I was there for so long.  It is crazy being in a new place.  It is hard to say good bye!! I got so attached to the wards, members, and people there. AND its weird not to me with Hermana Kreis!  WE had so much fun together as well.  Tuesday morning we met at the church for transfers-  We had a little pow wow with President Maluenda- he assigned the new greenies to their trainers- then we loaded up the stuff!  Sister Price and I drove the car all the ways up to corpus.  It was a bout a 3 hour drive.  The moment we 'landed'- we started running around like crazy people- and have been running ever since.  So that has been super fun! We are basically trying to get to know the area, meet all the members, and find people. 

We have seen some huge miracles already!  We have found 7 new investigators this week.  That has been a huge blessing.  The area is prepared!! =D  I am really excited for the new transfer- everything is new!  Just when you get comfortable- that's when you get moved!  And EVERYTHING is new.  So I am grateful for the learning expierence.  AND- I get to go work on the island this week!! With sister Vargas!!  I am so excited.  I was able to see the Island folk at church on sunday.  It was so good to see old friends. =D So that will be fun.  We are just working hard. I will give more deets on the area when I know more!!  =D

My studies have been really great lately.  I have been reading the scriptures all in Spanish (of course).  And I just finished the book of Alma and started up with Helaman today!!  I love the Book of Mormon so much!!  It is literally written for out day. One of the stories that I love from the book of Mormon is the strippling warriors.  In alma 58 there are some really great versus that we can relate to our lives. In this part of the story Helaman is writing to Moroni- and catching him up on what had been happening.  His little army didn't have much provisions and they were going through a rough time.  So they prayed! in v 10: they prayed with all the energy of their souls for strength.  Then after their prayer of faith- they trusted that the lord would help them.  I love this next verse- V12:  "And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty." They prayed with faith- then took courage-with a FIXED DETERMINATION to conquer.  They had a purpose behind what they were doing.  I related it to myself with missionary work (haha because I am a missionary of course)  but I think it relates in any situation we are confronted with.  Things get crazy at time-  but if we pray with faith- then do ALL we can- with a fixed determination- everything will be okay.  And we will have  the strength of the lord with us.  Helaman's little army was able to conquer the cities by strategy- and because of their faith in the Lord.  We too can conquer the little 'battles' that we have daily.  IT is all according to the plan.  I love the gospel!

Sorry this email is so scattered!  My brain is in 73 different places =D.  But I love you all!  Hope you have a wonderful week!  Remember the little things- prayer, reading, church!!  That is how we can make it through.  I love the gospel and I love being a missionary!! 

Con Amor,

-Hermana WIser

This is our study area- so you can see!  =D

Fabulous!! our desks are super sturdy!

Me and my lovely new companion Sister Price!!  This is right before the mothers day calls! 

These are the sisters that I live with!  Sister Welch (who played the piano with me in the MTC- she came out with me) And sister Nail!  we have fun!!

May 5th, 2014

Hello humans of Utah!!

WE HAD A CRAZY WONDERFUL WEEK.  It was wonderful for my last week here in Mcallen.  I AM GETTING TRANSFERED!! I just found out yesterday.  The catch is that I don't know where I am going.  So I am just in limbo land.  So I will let you all know next week where I ended up. =D  I will probably either go to Corpus again- or to Harlingen.  But we will see later on! 

It has been really hard to say good bye to everyone!  MAN.   After 6 transfers (9 months) in an area you get pretty attached.  But I am excited for this next part in my missionary adventure.

This week was literally insane! I always think that I have experienced all that could possibly happen- but I always get surprised with the week that comes. haha. it is crazy.  SO we had a wonderful crazy miracle this week!  (like 25 actually.. but I will start with this one)  So last p-day during emails- Elder Neil (one of the office senior missionaries) called to give us a referral. her name is Maribel.  She had been calling all the different LDS chapels around -trying to get sister missionaries to come and teach her.  She finally got a hold of another senior sister that works in the employment office- and told her "Hello!  I am looking for sister missionaries to come teach me.  I think I am ready do get baptized."  So sister Clemets called Elder Neil- who called us and told us the news.  So we called her right away.  Sister Kreis talked to her on the phone- and tried to set up an appointment with her on tuesday- and she asked us if we could come sooner.  So we rescheduled our evening plans and whent to meet her at 7:30.  We also took Juanita (Rebeca's tia) to the lesson to fellowship her.  We went and had a beautiful lesson about the restoration. She also told us her story-  She had been taught 20 years ago by elders. She had a doubt about baptism- and the elders stopped going by.  She then searched through ALL the churches (jehova witness, 7th day adventist, catholic, protestant..you name it!) And recently she has felt in her heart that she needs to join "the church that those boys went to".  She told us about all these crazy blessings that she has recieved- and she knows that she needs to give back to God.  And she wants to be baptized! She is set for the 18th of May.  It has been a wonderful miracle. 

We had another lesson with her on wednesday and went over the Book of Mormon- then we had an awesome church tour on saturday.  AND SHE CAME TO CHURCH!! AND- brought her 2 daughters. It was wonderful.  Sister Kreis and I both shared our testimonies- and Maribel was just crying the entire meeting. The spirit was there. (yay!! I love when an investigators first Sunday is fast and testimony sunday!!  ALL the sweet primary kids got up and shared their testimonies.  They are such little angels!) So that was wonderful.  THEN- remember Elena and Lesly?  They are investigators that I had way back with Sister Ninataype- for the last couple weeks we have been working with them again.  Saturday we went- and invited them to church and made a plan to get them there. AND THEY CAME.  =D  I was up sharing my testimonio and they walked in!  BEST THING EVER. That was a christmas miracle for sister wiser!  I have been working with them for so long.  They are also set for the 18 of May. It was so funny-  Elena is afraid of water!  so we gave her a pep talk.  Then just accepted a date. =D yay.

THEN- We went by last week to talk to a less active/ recent convert that was baptized like a year and a half ago- her name is Sister Davis.  And we ended up teaching her and the guy that she cares for (she is  a provider for him).  His name is Bob.  And after the little message we shared Bob went on to Mormon.org and sent himself in as a referral for us to come teach. So we went back and he is also preparing to be baptized.  And he came to church too! So we had Elena and Lesly, Bob, Maribel and her 2 daughters. It was such a miracle Sunday!  I am so glad that the new sister coming in will have so much to do!  that is the best feeling ever.  It is sad to miss the progression of the poeple I love so much!- but I know there will be more people to love in my next area. =D

So that was a wonderful miracle-  THEN (haha there is more!)- we were given another Referral by the Neils. They live in our area- and have made freinds with all the neighbors. They are so celestial!  So we went to talk to them- and the Dad (Mike) had a stroke not to long ago- so he is confined to a wheel chair and cant move one side of his body.  It is super sad- but he handles it with such grace.  And his daughter Gracie is wonderful too.  We we went in and taught them the restoration.  The spirit was there super strong.  They are so prepared to receive the gospel!!  At the end of every restoration lesson we always invite people to pray- so they can get a spiritual confirmation about joseph smith.  So Gracie said the last prayer- and she started crying.  It was one of the most beautiful heartfelt prayers i have ever heard.  After her prayer we waited for a moment- and then asked her how she felt.  She said "I know that this is true.  And I feel that God loves me."  man, the spirit was thick in there!  It was wonderful.  They both accepted baptismal dates for June 1st. 

I love the work!  I love being a missionary.  There is a great scripture that i read this week.  In D&C 84: 88 "And whoso ^areceivethyou, there I will be also, for I will go ^bbefore your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my ^cSpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine ^dangels round about you, to bear you up." 

I have really felt this this week.  The spirit has been here, and I literally feel the angels! I love being a missionary!  As people accept the gospel- they are literally accepting the savior.  He is present in the lessons. =D I love it!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!  Remember what is most important- the little things in life count. Pray-Read- Church-Service.  =D

LOVE YOU!!!

OH! AND HAPPY MOTHERS DAY ON SUNDAY!!

-Hermana Wiser

La Vista District!!  Elder Merrill, Elder Johnson,  Sister Wonnacott, Sister Sarmiento, Sister Wiser, Sister Kreis!  SO FUN!! oh! and that is the church- right as you walk in the front door. =D

LOOK!! A GF SANDWHICH!! i ate it.  it was really good. =D

Rebeca, osmar and Juanita!  I will miss them tooo!!

The valdez family!! i will miss them!!

Fun with the suarez family!  love them!! haha it was so funny- Brother suarez pulled out the luchador masks- then handed the  cow boy hat to the "juera" or the white girl. hahahah. it was funny

Haha Sister wiser meets Nacho libre!!  hahahaha luchador!!