December 2, 2013

 This is Sister Stradling! She was the new sister missionary that we welcomed in at the beginning of the transfer. =D -Its crazy- because her mom found my blog i guess- so she had been reading parts of it.  SMALL WORLD. oh- and she is from snowflake. =D

 This is Eric blacks baptism! yay!

 This is an odd picture of me making the bows,. haha nerd central. =D love ya mommy!

 

So- See the bows?  This is your christmas present.. So sorry that it wont be a surprise.  but they are for your christmas tree.  Pati- She insisted on helping us- so that you can have a beautiful tree and that in some way i could help you with the decorating.  She loves you.  =D i told her about you.  So- when you get a random box of ribbon- fix it to look like the bow on the top. and then all the little bows are to go around. I wasn't sure if you were going to do a red tree or a blue one! so i chose this one.  I hope you like it! merry Christmas!

 I LOVED THE CHRISTMAS TREE MOMMY!! tell all the couzins thanks for the ornaments. =D that it is so cute!! we loved it. =D

HELLO FAMILIA!!

It is offically December 2. I can hardly believe it! November just started. time goes so fast.  This past week was really great.  We had a wonderful thanksgiving.  I was so stuffed they literally had to roll me home. haha.  We had 4-yes FOUR- dinner appointments on thursday- right in a row.  I prayed all week that my stomach would stretch. haha i will send pictures of all the families that we had dinner with.  It was a really great thanksgiving. One of the ladies was GF too! So i even got Gluten Free pie. Yay thanksgiving miracle. =D haha.

The first appointment was with the Andraskos at 1:30. It was really great.

This is the first family we ate dinner with- The Andrasko family! super fun!

 This is Kelsea Andrasko- we all matched! so we took a picture. =D yay!

at 3:00 Then with the Newey's- and some recent converts- Lupe, Hilda(member) and her daughter Kassie.  Then the Harding family was there as well.  It was really fun. =D They made everything Gluten free too.  It was SOO nice of them.  After the Newey's i was pretty dang full but we had another one.

This is our 2nd thanksgiving. with the Neweys, Hardings, Hilda, Lupe, and Kassie(the one with the curly hair and glasses) i love them!!

So we went to the familia Jiminez at 4:00- it was good they had tamales too. IT was so funny.  Their 4 year old son Brandon is SO cute.  He speaks puro Tex-Mex.  As his dad was leaving for work he said "Bye Papi, Cuida you en the trabajo" -Which is basically 'be safe at work'.  But it was literally half and half english and spanish. Both of their boys love me because i always give them stickers. haha It is crazy.

This is the Jiminez family! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.  Elder Garcia and Elder Knighton were invited as well. =D i was sooo full. =D

This is the Jiminez Christmas tree! i made the bow on top. =D it was fun to decorate it.

Then at 6:00 ALL the missionaries in the Mcallen 1st ward got together at the Hernandez home. There were 12 of us there. it was great! and I ate a TON. literally. but i put it all down.  I even out ate Hermana Ninataype- and most of the Elders. haha when there is a will there is a way i guess.  After we all ate- everyone gathered around the piano.  I played and we sang Christmas hymns!  It was great! and the spirit was there super strong. I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC.  It was a really great day.   And that was our thanksgiving.  =D

this is our last thanksgiving! ALL the missionaries

This is Hermano y Hermana Hernandez. =D

 everyone again! haha =D

haha this is me...at the piano. i don't know why my eyes are closed. haha. asian painist? yup. =D

SO WE HAD A HUGE MIRACLE AS A MISSION!!! So- a month ago in MLC (mission leadership council) We literally took an hour and a half to set a mission baptism goal.  With the help of President and a lot of faith we set the goal for 110 children of God to be baptized in the month of November. We had a mission fast that first sunday of the month (imagine 200 missionaries fasting for the same purpose! powerful!)- Then prayed every single day that we could reach our goal of 110. and we did! We found 113 of God's Children that were ready to be baptized in the month of november.  It was a great miracle. We haven't baptized such a huge amount in a really long time.  It just tells me that God is mindful of me, and of the missionaries in the TMM.  That he cares and wants each of us to suceed.  When we have the Faith- we love the people- and we work hard- we can CALL down the miracles from heaven.  God is a God of miracles! YAY!

Sister Ninataype and I taught young womens yesterday in Mac 1. It was really great.  I loved quoting the theme. it takes my old soul back. =D haha. The lesson was on 'Building the Kingdom'.  I found a great mormon message- its called 'Stand'. Shelbs look it up. it has a video of a young girl and a young boy- and it shows them preparing for their lives- then how the scriptures helped them.  there isn't words in the actual video- but the song is great. =D look it up.

Recently in the Book of Mormon I have been reading in Mosiah- and I just love it.  And i was thinking about Abinidi. because of Abinidi- Alma was converted. Alma then went and wrote the words of Abinidi- and started teaching.  Because Alma shared his testimony- 204 souls entered into the waters of baptism. then 400-something people left the city.  From Alma- Alma the younger (after his rough patch) and the sons of mosiah helped to build the kingdom- Then the sons of Mosiah went and taught the lamanites. THEN NATIONS were converted to the LORD and BAPTIZED.  Then I got thinking about the power of 1.  Because of one man sharing his beliefs and standing up for what was right- Nations were effected.  It is great.  Each one of us can be that '1' that God needs.  We may not see the fruits of our labors right away- but GOD KNOWS ALL.  And as we trust in him we will be able to see miracles. Our children and childrens children will have the beautiful truths of the gospel.  So lets go out and open our mouths! yay!

That is pretty much what happened this past week. All is well in south texas!  Love you all! have a wonderful week! I LOVE the Lord and i LOVE being a missionary! ( hi from sister vargas feliz navidad!) haha Go do some missionary work! Invite someone to hear from the missionaries!

-LOVE YA!!

-Sister Wiser

This is a funny picture. haha we were at oscar and mina's house. and they walked us out to the car. then all of a sudden we saw this little old lady dumpster diving. and she was pulling out these brand name shoes. it was crazy!! So- sister Huskinson just hopped in. and started helping her. hahaha. oh the adventures of a missionary. they were all mis matched though. -hence the reason why they were in there. funny.  =D don't worry we used hand sanitizer and stuff.

November 25, 2013

Hello everyone!!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

How crazy. November is almost over.  I would like to give a shout out to my cousin Zack Empey! He is heading out on his mission soon! love ya kid! tear it up in Korea.

All is well in texas! It has actually been super cold here this past week.  Like in the 40's. Haha i know that doesn't seem cold compared to the lovely utah weather- but when you are used to upper 90's and it is 40's with 60% humidity- it is cold.  haha and we don't have any warm clothes.  So i look like a dangus. I have been layering everything.  I am grateful for the little cardigans i brought. =D It has been crazy- and no one has really been out on the streets.  My little texas has seemed a little lonely.  But its all good! 

This week ERIC BLACK GOT BAPTIZED!!!!! Wahooooo!!! it has been a month of miracles! The baptism was super great.  A bunch of YSA kids showed up to welcome him into the church.  it was really great.  After the baptism- we asked him how he felt and said "ah, i feel fresh.'' Sister ninatype was like 'Fresh like 'hey! wassup!'- or "Fresh like a vegetable?" He laughed and said "Fresh like HEYA WASSUP."  So that is great.  Feeling fresh after your baptism. That is what we like. 

We had a wonderful little miracle this week!  We have a member- She was baptized like 4 years ago. Her missionaries helped her and her husband Jose get married and baptized.  And for the past month we have been working with her.  She has a fear of praying out loud.  LIke she will start by saying "padre celestial.." then the words wont come out of her lips.  It just terrifies her.  So about a month ago we started giving her little progressive committments to pray out loud. First by herself, then with her babies, then with her husband.  And we kept following up.  The entire time we were sharing stories and personal experiences and just encouraging her.  Then this past week we went and were sharing a little thought with her about faith. we both shared our testimonies and a scripture in ether.  At the end of the lesson we asked if we could leave her with a prayer, and aksed her who she would like to offer it.  And she said 'I will." Sister Ninataype and I were both super surprised! haha. and she started to pray.  And the most beautiful spirit entered the room.  And Sister Jiminez offered the most humble, faith filled prayer i have ever heard.  When she finished we all had little tears running down our cheeks and started hugging and stuff. (like any sister misisonarie would)  It was so great!  And it was a testimony builder for me- because through faith Heavenly father can HELP us overcome our fears.  I wish you could have seen sister Jiminez' face! AH the light in her eyes was so bright and beautiful. It was a wonderful experience.  I live for those little moments as a missionary! 

I love the work! I love the lord!  I KNOW that all things are possible with him.  We can overcome any doubt, trial, fear, or weakness. if we have trust in the our Savior- who has already payed the price.  Have a wonderful week! and an attitude full of gratitude!! I am so grateful for the gospel in my life, for a Savior who would walk the lonley road to pay for our sins.  I am grateful for Family and friends that support me, and for the prayers.  I feel them every day.  Thank you. thank you all! have a wonderful thanksgiving. consider yourselves hugged!

-Sister WIser

ps- funny/stupid spanish moment for the week.  Sister Jiminez invited us over for thanksgiving(yay!) and she was asking us what we like to eat with our families.  So i was like "pos, usualmente comemos polvo." - I was trying to say turkey- which is 'PAVO' - but instead i mixed the word "pollo"- which is chicked- and something else.  "Polvo= dust.  So i guess we eat dust for thanksgiving. haha embarrassing.  We had a pretty good laugh out of that one.  Yay. =D

 

Have a great one!! 

November 18, 2013

hahaha funny picture.  Oh ps- sister garry and I want to be roommates at BYU. And if we dont get into byu we want to go to Uvu but live in byu housing. so yea. we decided that.  =D lov eyou!!

Yay louis got baptized!!! yay!!!

HELLO!!!!

 Another week down.  SO crazy. =D So- we got transfer news.  And sister Ninataype and I are staying together for another 6 weeks. We are super pumped! We already have our christmas cards planned out!  I love my companion. So fun. 

So this week has been literally the craziest/weirdest/most draining week of my entire mission so far.  Remeber Louis? Yeah.  We have just had a crazy week with everything. So last monday- during his interview the doctors called his wife into go.  We found out that she was being tested for cancer.  So after the interview, the elders gave Hermana Patricia a blessing. All was well.  Louis super passed his interview and was ready to get baptized. Our district leader also talked to the ward mission leader and the bishop- and all was well.   So we came and emailed and did the rest of the random things that we needed to do.  Then we were going to go bowling for a zone activity.  So we get to the alley at 3:15.  we walk through the door and say hello and whateves.  Then we get a call from hermana Patricia.  And we both just got this sinking feeling.  I just kept thinking 'oh no!!'. Sister Ninataype answered the phone and I instantly knew that something was wrong.  She was speaking rapid fire spanish, and was totally freaking out. She kept saying that Louis wasn't going to get baptized.  So Sister Ninataype finally got a word in and said "where are you? we are coming right now." So we left the activity and went to their house.  We got there at 3:30 and didn't leave until 7:30.  It was probably the longest day of my entire life. We found out that Patricia has STAGE 4 breast cancer. And that she had a appointment the next morning to figure out what she needs to do about the treatments.  It is her second bout with it. (the first time was stage 3.  She had a Mastectomy and 3 hefty stages of chemo.)  And because of the tension they were both freaking out.  Both just scared out of their minds.   With the tension came fighting, and he ended up leaving, slamming the door behind him.  We stayed another hour, just praying and talking with sister patricia.  It was crazy.  I just felt so helpless, and I don't have very many life experiences.  But we were able to testify of Christ and his healing power and his miracles.  And actually we had a crazy thing happen.  We went to walmart before this entire thing- to print off some pictures, and so Oscar and Mina could get their pictures from their wedding.  And when I was paying for the pictures I had this feeling to get 20 dollars in cash, I knew there was some in their from my birthday.  I usually don't do that, but I did and put it in my wallet.  And while I was sitting there talking with her, I remembered the 20 dollars in my wallet. and had this strong impression to give it to her.  At first I was really worried about it, because people get offended and stuff, and I didn't want to seem weird.  So I dismissed it.  But like five minutes later the same impression came back- but even stronger. So I gave it to her, and at first she wouldn't take it.  But then I shared our story.  When Mom had cancer.  And just asked her to take it.  Then I was able to share my testimony again.  So we left her that night, and she was feeling somewhat better (i hope anyways).  and on the way out we saw Louis.  So we talked to him as well. Left him with a prayer.  And even though it was crazy- i just knew it would work out.  So the next day we go over again. at 8:30.  and we sit down.  And both of them are super chill, holding hands. So everything was good.  Then Patricia looked me straight in the eyes and said "Sister Wiser, thank you for the 20 dollars you gave me yesterday" Then she went on to explain that the appointment was going to cost 75 dollars.  So her son pulled 80 dollars out of her account.  But when they got there they found out the appointment was 100 dollars.  If  I wouldn't have followed that prompting, and given her the 20 dollars, she wouldn't have been able to have her appointment.  And the most they could pull out of her son's account was 80, because of rent and stuff.  It was crazy.  She just kept saying thank you. That was a wonderful birthday miracle. I feel so blessed to be able to take part in little miracles.  And Heavenly father always provides for his children when they have faith.  That experience was a little tender mercy for me. I wouldn't have wanted to use the birthday money in any other way.  Heavenly father is SOOOO great!! He just gets everything right- even to the tiny dollar amounts.  We didn't bring up the baptism that night- because it was 9:00 and we had to get back home.  But on exchanges on wednesday (with sister Garry and Sanchez) Sister Ninataype when over and re-set the Baptismal Date for Saturday!  So all is well. and we had the program, once again and the ward all on board, we had plans to combine it with another baptism that our district leader was having.  So all is well, then Firday night rolls around. and we were sleeping. and all of a sudden the phone went off.  At 11:45.  Patricia said that Louis got called into work tomorrow. and that he couldn't change it or get it off.  We were like NOOOOOO!!!  Satan did not want this man to get baptized! so we got out of bed and had a prayer that everything would work out.  We went back to sleep and woke up saturday morning.  We literally tried everthing in our power to have the baptism, but every single thing we tried fell through.  We literally did ALL that we could do.  So sunday rolls around and we call patricia and find out that Louis got out of work at 3:00.  So we set up the baptism for Sunday night at 5:30.  AND we were determined to make it happen.  So was Louis and Pati. So sunday rolls around. and I was literally praying ALL DAY LONG. 4:15 rolls around and we still hadn't heard anything from them.  So we called Pati. and she was like "hermanas!! he just got home from work!! we are coming!!".  I was so happy.  We said a thank you prayer.  Then prayed that their car wouldn't break down, or that a T-rex wouldn't fall out of the sky and eat him. literally- with all the craziness, anything could have happened.  So he Got there and was baptized at 5:30 on sunday.  It was beautiful.  Sister ninataype and I gave the talks, then we sang.  Then he was baptized by a brother in the ward. The spirit was beautiful. And he looked SO happy and at peace after his baptism.  We talked to him after and he said that he felt 20 pounds lighter.  That the burden he had carried for so long was completely lifted.  That is the miracle of the atonement.  That is why I am a missionary.  I love this work! I know that God works miracles.  We see them every single day.  It is such a blessing.  Love you all sooooooo much! have a wonderful week.  There was so much other stuff that happened this week to. but i just don't have time to tell it! dang.  O well. Erick is getting baptized this following sunday- and he is already doing missionary work.  He is our neighbor, and he knocked on our door at like 10:15 at night.  and we answered it (after we looked through the peep hole, don't worry daddy) and he was like "hey sisters! my friend here wants to know about Joseph smith. Can you talk to him?' haha so we set up a return appointment with him. It was great! miracles miracles!!

Love yall!

-Sister wiser

Hello family and Friends!!!

Thank you ALL so much for the birthday cards, letters, and packages!! I am such a spoiled missionary!! Thank you all!  You will all receive a letter- haha it might take me a few weeks- But you will.  Thanks for making my birthday special!

ALSO!!- I would like to give a shout out to my new cousin ADAM!!! He was born on my birthday!! YAY!! Congrats Deana and Michael!! He is beautiful!!

SOOOO this week was literally INSANE. and GREAT. and really insane. =D So we had the 3 day leadership training.  And we always see crazy miracles during the trainings. So all the Zone leaders, district leaders, and STL's come from all over the mission- and it is like 3 days of intense spiritual learning (like the MTC) compacted into 3 days.  Then during the evenings- they put us with a different companion- to go out and work and see miracles.  and MY oh MY!! we saw miracles!! last week we found 8 new investigators.  it was literally crazy.  And I got to work with my mission mom! Sister Sanders!! It was so fun to get to work with her again. She is such a wonderful BOLD missionary.  Man- President has really focused a lot on opening your mouth and talking to everyone- so we have been.  and it has been really cool.  There was one guy though- that had got a hold of anti-mormon- material- and he was... difficult.  But Sister sanders just testified boldly I loved one thing that she said "Brother, we are called as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, by a living prophet.  We are here to call people to repentance." then we both shared strong testimonies with him..and basically called him to repentance (with love. bold love) . and left. but it was crazy! But it is true!! WE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SAVIOR!! Our calling is real- and the time is now!!  I have really tried to start teaching and inviting with more urgency.  Because- really the salvation of human souls is at stake.  I feel so blessed to have this calling! yay!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!  So my birthday was tuesday! and our zone leaders and district leader and his companion (E. barrionuevo, barth, garcia, and knighton) came and knocked on our door at 7:00.  We were kinda of exercising so we had to run and put decent clothing on. haha.- but we answered. and they made a Gluten Free bithday cake for me! it was so nice!! and sang.  Hahah it was the first cake any of them had ever made- and I knew it was GF because one of them muttered (yeah.. it was kinda expensive) haha. YUP. I thought it was great.  Then they sang to me in english and spanish.  Then- at the training ALL the missionaries sang to me at lunch time.  Ha I actually turned red in my face. it was fun though.  Sister Ninataype worked with sister myers- and they set a baptismal date with our next door neighbor and his brother! Erick is SOOOO prepared it is nuts.  We have had a lesson every day with him since- and he came to church.  It is so cool- because he has really truly been searching for this.  and he loves the book of mormon.  You will hear more details in the future.  But he is super cool! and he is going to get baptized this month!!

THIS IS THE CRAZY PART!!- Remember our investigator louis?  We we lost contact with him since last sunday- he just found a new job and has been working like crazy. (if you dont remember- he is the husband of patricia- that was taught and baptized by Johnny Crimm)  And our commitment for him last time was to pray with his wife- about a date. Because he is literally ready for any day this month.  So- we weren't able to follow up with him until last night.  We didn't have any plans to go over and see their family- but We had a tiny little spiritual prompting to go over.  And he had walked in moments before we went and knocked on the door.  So we started with a prayer and started up with following up- seeing if he prayed.  And he said that he had prayed and that he wanted to as soon as possible- But his new work schedule takes up ALL of his evenings- including sundays.  But then he said "but i have tomorrow off." Then Sister Ninataype and I looked at eachother- then asked "Louis, would you like to be baptized tomorrow?" and he said YES!!! and got the biggest smile on his face! and his wife looked SOOOOO suprised!!  So we called the ward mission leader- and prayed a lot- ALL is well for the baptism tonight!  We set up the program- and he passed his interview. SO he is getting baptized today!!!! It has been such a miracle!!!!! So you will get pictures next week.  It has been a crazy day.  But at 5:30 Louis Saucedo is getting baptized. happy day!!

It was a great great week!  Thanks again for all the birthday wishes!  I know that God is a God of miracles!  He answers prayers. He knows the things that we need- and when we pray- FULL of faith- he will answer.  Love you all!!

Do some missionary work!

-Love

---Sister WIser =D

 Best package ever!! Thanks mommy and grandma!!! i am spoiled for sure

 This is the present lay out. haha- we had so much fun opening all of them!! it was great

 This is a super ugly picture of me.  But it was at 7:00 in the morning... haha and i was happy! because i got cake!! thanks Elders!! They sang to me then we all ate cake and ice cream at 7 in the morning. haha only on the mission. how great. =D

 this is the birthday cake. yummy

  This is me and sister ninataype, and elder barrionuevo after they all sang to me at lunch! thanks for the dress momma!

this is me holding a toad.  it was super freezing this day! and had rained all night long- and there were frongs in the back of the elders truck.  i am not sure why. haha funny.

Culebra-snake/Corbata-tie- What the!! im 21 this week!!

 Oscar and Mina invited us to carve pumpkins for halloween! it was fun! we made up some pretty great analogies of how we are like pumpkins- and applied it to the gospel! super fun!!

 This is a little girl that helped me play the piano at a baptism. hahaha. it was. interesting. So cute though. =D

 Here is a picture of all the STL's. we had a meeting with President and the ap's

 The entire cast. =D haha

This is a picatures of the Mcallen zone!!! As a zone we surpassed our goal for the month of october and helped 26 souls enter the waters of baptism!!

These are all the 'arboles' y 'jose smith' from the play. hahaha =D 

Hello wonderful family and friends!!! 

Thank you all for the birthday messages and cards. =D I feel so loved. This past week was literally crazy! and wonderful. and crazy!! I have some great miracles and a pretty good embarrassing one. so here we go!

This week we had a bunch of great lessons and things set up.  Remember JC? his real name is Jose Carlos- but everyone calls him JC. Anyways he went MIA for about 2 1/2 weeks. And we could not find him anywhere.  But then this week on Sunday we went over to Oscar and Mina's house and he was there! So we sat down and had a lesson with them.  At the first of every lesson we follow up with the commitments/invitaions that we left them with the time before (like baptismal date, reading the scripts, praying, church...ect.) The past visit we had invited mina and Oscar to read the book of mormon together.  And it was the 3rd or 4th time that they hadn't done it.  We were SOOOO sad. Before we started the lesson- we were all laughing and telling stories and stuff- but after we found out that they hadn't been reading their scriptures Sister Ninataype and I got really serious.  Because as missionaries- our role is truly to invite people to come unto Christ by making and keeping commitments.  Commitment helps people to repent and to change. Helps them to apply the basics of the gospel and truly come closer to christ.  When they don't do the little things like come to church- read the scriptures- pray...ect- they are litterally shutting themselves off from the Lords help and blessings. So anyways- we are sitting in Oscar and Mina's little tiny one bedroom apartment, - we had planned to do a recap of the plan of salvation- but sister ninataype and i both knew that if we let it slide they would never see the importance of the scriptures.  So we both bore strong and very bold testimonies on reading the scriptures- and the importance of doing the little things.  - All of this was done with love, don't worry.  Sisters always love. =D-  There was this one point that i looked at oscar.. and i could just tell he wasn't getting it.  So i called him by name and said 'Oscar, the book of mormon is another testatament of jesus christ.  It is holy scripture that can speak directly to you and answer any questions that you have. When you don't take time to read the scriptures, it is like you are looking God in the face and telling him that you don't want or dont have the time for the answers and the revelations that he has put in there directly for you.' bold right? man- I didn't realize what I had siad until after I said it. I then followed that up with a strong testimony how the book of mormon and had answered the questions that I have had in my life. and how God would answer their specific questions if they would take the time to read. After that- we read the chapter that we had invited them to read last time.  it was 3 nefi 11.  Which is when Christ comes to the Americas! what a powerful chapter!!!! We took turns reading it out loud, and the spirit was there super strong.  It was wonderful. We were once again able to testify of the truth of the Book of Mormon. That it truly is another testament of Jesus Christ.  And that he loves us enough to invite us one by one to feel the prints of the nails in his hands and his feet.  he loves us.  I know he does... because he loves me.  I have seen the power of the atonement work in my life and in the lives of my loved ones.  The atonement truly can heal any broken heart or wounded soul. No matter the damage it can be fixed throught the merits and mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing!! It was so powerful! Especially with our Recent Converts.  And JC was in there the entire time as well.  After we had read a little bit it started talking about baptism.  And oscar and Mina both turned and started teaching JC about the imporance of baptism!!!! it was AWESOME!!!!  We then invited him again to be baptized.  he is preparing for November 24. Pray for him!! he needs this and wants it. Wahooo!! miracles!!!

THEN- we were at church last sunday- and there is a lady, names Patricia, that was baptized in April with her daughter by Elder Crimm- who went to high school with me and Sis. Ninataype.  And her husband, Louis, has been coming to church, and wants to change his life. And so we are teaching him!! Tonight we have a lesson planned with him and we are going to set a baptismal date with him sometime in the next 2 weeks.  Pray that he can feel the spirit!  it is amazing the miracles that we witness! God truly does put prepared people in our path.  It is crazy- because we don't even have to worry about getting him come to church- because he has already been coming.  He is an amazing man- and he has had a very very tough life. But God has really led him.  Every time he see's us he tells us thank you for coming.  It has been such a blessing to teach him!  oh!! also- he is a professional chef.  So he cooks really great gluten free things for us. YAY. =D haha blessing all around.

AND- I work in the best ward in the world.  I LOVE MY SPAINISH WARD SOOOO MUCH!! Ah man they are great.  This week they did a ward FHE- for us to invite our investigators to and for members to come.  And they asked us to do a play of the restoration! SO- yup- I directed and wrote a play on my mission. Odd. haha sometimes the mission is odd.  But I made this legit script of the restoration and put music to the entire thing.  We only practiced once but it was great.  We have 6 companionships of missionaries serving in our ward. So it was a blast. The spirit was there super strong as well. I was happy with it- and i got to play the piano the entire time. so that was fun.  haha my favorite part was during the part of the actual first vision.  We didn't have any costumes- so i made signs with everyone's characters on it.  So there was one for 'Jose Smith'(joseph smith) and 'Arbol'(tree) and then we had narrators that did the speaking parts and all the other missionaries would act out what aws happening in the script.  In the part of the fist vision- Joseph smith was holding a picture of the actual 1st vision (we thought that would be more appropriate) with all the other misionaries standing around them in hilarious tree poses.  With their Signs on their necks that sais 'arbol'. it was super funny- but also very spiritual. After elder Montiel had recited the 1st vision- they all sang the last verse of Joseph smith's first prayer.  it was very powerful.  It was a great experience. and fun for everyone. =D

And here is the embarrassing story for the week. it is a spanish mistake. So- we were at the ward activity with Louis and Patricia. and for some reason they were telling us about this odd TV show they were watching about how these crazy animals would bite people. Like lions.. and bears.. and lizard/snake things.. So i Decided it would be fun to share my experience when i was like 9 and got bit by the boa constructor at Grandma's neighbors house.  Do you remember that?  haha i guess i can't really forget it.  So i start to explain it and i say 'Si, y mi mordio una corbata!!!'  everyone pauses for a moment and then just starts laughing their heads off. and i was confused- because that is not the normal reaction i get when i tell that story.  So i think about what i said- and sister ninatayped was laughing so hard that she was doubled over.  And then i realized that i had said  'Yeah! and then a neck tie bit me!' oh m an.. I was so embarrassed! but it was all fun.  So watch out ye humans that wear ties- they might bite you.

Haha well. I have to run! i hope you all have a wonderful week! love you! and thanks for the all the birthday-ness.

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL!!

-Sister Wiser

October 28th, 2013

Buenas Tardes!!

Hello humans of home! how is it going?? I just realized that halloween is this week.  It is crazy how fast october flew! We had another great week in the texas Mcallen mission. We did 2 exchanges and had interviews with Presidente Maluenda (every transfer we swap between having interviews and zone conferences).  So it was a great week!  This week I got to do an exchange with a sister that was in my MTC district. So it was SUPER fun.  and crazy. but mostly just fun.  

SO- we were out doing missionary work, as usual, and they had got a referral for a preacher in their area.  So naturally we went to go contact it.  And this little, old, white haired man answers the door. And immediately invites us in.  (as I went in I was thinking, 'Oh, cool, he will probably share some stuff with us, then we can share some stuff with him...blah.blah...blah) YEAH... that didn't happen.  he held us captive- trying to bible bash with us for almost 2 hours.  it was ODD. But I did learn alot about the importance of teaching with the spirit, that listening is a huge/majorly important part of teaching, and that bible bashing does no good.  Don't worry- we didn't bible bash.  We just listened- expecting him to give us a turn too... BUT on the bright side his crazy little wife made us lemonade. So that was nice. The crazy thing is how he did have points of truth- BUT it was clouded with thick lies.  That is truly how satan works, he might have a tiny-little-baby part of truth- but the majority of it is a just a big lie.  I will admit- The man had a beautiful testimony of the savior, But it was clouded with other peices of false doctrine. There was one point when he started singing to us- hahah a great little gospel jingle about Jesus.  I enjoyed that part. But then he tried to give us anti-mormon literature.  That was the point that I stood up and thanked him and headed for the door, with Sister Welch following behind me.  As we were leaving he was yelling after us things like "I WILL PRAY FOR YOUR SOULS!!" and 'REPENT AND ACCEPT JESUS OR YOU WILL BE DAMNED TO HELL!!!'.  So we just smiled and waved.  Then after, before we contacted another human, we sang about 5 hymns.  All about the prophets and book of mormon.  We were able to feel the spirit again, and finished out the night strong.  it was a great exchange. Odd.. but great.  The experience really helped me learn the importance of letting the spirit teach.  As missionaries we are simply the mouth peices. The spirit is the real teacher.  And when we get in the way- that is when we don't see the miracles. SO- teach with the spirit and don't bible bash. :) fun times on the mission.

That was probably the craziest thing that happened this past week. But we did encounter another man that wanted do to the same thing (bible bash).  Heavenly Father ovbiously had something he wanted us to learn about this week. =D As I look back at my time as a missionary- I can see little 'themes' that God wants me to learn.  (does that make sense?) How great. Heavenly father truly loves us and continues to teach us, if we let him.  This upcoming week is going to be crazy! We are thinking about dressing up as elders for halloween. with a white shirt and tie... haha. we will see though. maybe just for the sake of a picture. I want to see pictures of all your costumes! People really get into decorating for halloween here.  Some of the houses are really crazy. So I will be glad when halloween is over so that all the creepy houses will turn back to normal. I still don't like scary things! -

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA the man sitting at the computer across from me just looked over my compter and said 'HOLY COW GIRL! ARE YOU REALLY TYPING THAT FAST?' So i said yes... and he said "wow! it is like a movie or something.. that is wrong, man that is wrong.'  So i guess that I am a fast typer... yay. hahahah. Odd humans of texas. i love it.  

We are doing another exchange with Sister Garry this saturday.  So we are excited for that! It is so fun to work with my MTC companion. It is so crazy how we are all in the same mission- but we are all having such different experiences!! The mission is literally like a little personalized school for life.  I love being a missionary!! it is so great!! Well, I have to run! but I love you all! have a wonderful week.  Enjoy halloween.  We will probably give out pass-a-long cards if any little kids come to our house. yay!  

I love the Savior.  

Through him All things are possible.

Onward and upward!!

-Hermana Wiser

October 21, 2013

Hello familia!!! How is it going!! =D it has been another great week in the Texas Mcallen Mission!! yay! Hmmmm what happened this week. This week went super fast.  Mission time is insane.  We saw some crazy miracles this week! Oscar and Mina got confirmed!!! yay!!!! So they are now official members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. YIPEEEE!!  They are now preparing to go to the temple! wonderful right? It was really great. I am playing the piano for the primary in the Spanish ward in Pharr. (i can't remember if i told you this)  But it is so fun! i love the primary program. And every sunday i get a million hugs from the little primary kids. It is so cute. I love the hispanic culture- everyone that leaves says hello and goodbye to EVERYONE. It has been really fun.  And the spirit that little children bring into the room is amazing. I love the primary hymns in spanish too! it has been SO fun. Thanks mom and Dad for the piano lessons.  Stanton and Shelby- practice the piano. you will be grateful someday.

 On thursday we did a really great exchange with some sisters in Edinburg. Their names are Sister Bettinson and Sister Petramalo.  Sister Petramalo(who is a greeny) came down to La vista with me and sister Ninataype went up to edinburg to work for the day.  It was a very ODD day. Because literally ALL of our plans fell through.  Looking back i know why though- Because we needed to go to our back-up plans.  We went to this man who was a referral from some other elders that worked our area (before the missionaries go home they are all chillin in our area, because the church and mission office are in our area. and they were all waiting for their exit interviews- So president sent them out to work.  And the elders found this guy named Ramon.) So Ramon answered the door and at first he didn't really want to talk, and was kind of stand-offish.  But Sister Petramalo was bound and determined to teach this man.  So we invited him to sit out on the front porch and began to teach him.  And little by little his walls came down. and we were able to feel the spirit.  he told us that he was just diagnosed with a tumor/cancer that week.  And it was really sad- because he truly had no hope.  It was heartbreaking. But we were able to testify of the peace that the gospel brings.  He didn't accept the baptismal invitation, but you could see that there was a little more hope in him.  We left him with a prayer and prayed specifically for the things that he needed. As we left he thanked us and told us we were welcome to visit back and that we had made his day.  That is what missionary work is all about. lifting people. helping them to see the hope we can have throught our savior Jesus Christ.  The gospel changes people.  The message of Christ literally changed Ramon from being cranky to listening and thanking us for coming.  it was a great and simple experience.  And greenie fire is amazing! Man- ALL the new missionaries are so much more prepared that I was when i came out.  It is amazing. The lords work is really moving!! don't get left behind.

Friday was CRAZY.  We had some crazy miracles.  Sister Ninataype  and I were working super hard.  We set high goals for the week and we hadn't really found anyone solid with a baptismal date in the month of november yet.  So we decided to go out and contact some referrals that we had received a while back- but never could find home.  So we went to this little apartment complex and talked to this man named Jesus- and he was busy- but he told us to go visit 3 of his neighbors.  So we went. The first door we knocked wasn't ready to listen quite yet.  So we knocked the second door.  And this man named Eleazar Martinez came to the door and we started talking to him about the Gospel(like any missionary would on a door contact..haha) and started talking about baptism. yay! and we invited him to be baptized right there after talking to him for like 10 minutes. and he accepted! and said "i have always wanted to be baptized, i just never knew where to go."  We were so excited. and set up a return appointment with him.  THEN we were walking back to our car that we had parked a little ways a way (we were contatacting formers and stuff in between) we heard someone walking behind us.  So we turned around and started talking to Christopher Pena.  And he also accepted a baptismal date in the first 10 minutes of talking to him. It was amazing. we set up another return appointment with him as well. So in 20 minutes we have 2 new investigators with baptismal dates. and we were like 'AH whats happening!! this is great!!'.  So we kept going. and went to visit a family that we have been trying to teach (another referral. we received 9 referrals this week and 8 last week. we have so many we don't have enough hours in the day) anyways- Crystal comes out. and once again we start talking about baptism. AND SHE accepted a baptismal date as well!! 3 new investigators in a 45 minute period of time.  it was literally insane.  Then we had a great rest of the night as well.  did some good member work and got another new investigator named Roxanne. She is super cool. =D  She is also a member referral.  She is super prepared for the gospel.  She has a lot of questions and stuff.  Pray for these people please? Thanks. =D November 17 is going to be a busy day for us. =D yay bautismo!! God is a God of Miracles!! I see them EVERY day. =D i feel so blessed every day.  Thank you so much for all the prayers and support.  Everytime i hear someone pray for the missionaries it makes me feel so good.  This is God's work! It has sped up! ATON! Nothing is holding it back.  I feel so blessed to be apart of it.  As you all pray to have missionary experiences you will as well.  You will be able to watch as family and friends  be filled with the hope and love of Chirst. They NEED the gospel that we have.  At times it is hard to step out of our comfort zone and invite someone to come unto chirst- but it is worth it. As we follow Christ's example and do hard things we will be blessed with miracles.  At times- the ones we invite don't accept-BUT the the success is not always just in the end result-  The success starts in the invitation.

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

-Hermana Wiser