Oct. 27, 2014

Life's good here the Washington Seattle Mission. We are working hard and striving to continue improving and improve our high expectations. 

Cecilia and her family are doing well. They're my favorite. The girls came to young womens this week and also to a giant latino conference and fireside we had. Cecilia has been reading and praying and seems to be progressing. We watched "Find Faith in Christ" and it really helped Cecilia see the need to act on her faith. Only problem, they didn't come to church again. We were super disappointed but we're going to get them there this week. We have a lesson set up with them for tonight and the husband, Carlos, is going to be there for the first time ever. So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put him in your prayers that he'll have desires to learn with his family.

Work wise, other than that we're just doing a whole lot of tracting and not finding hispanics. We're trying to think of new things to do and new ways to do the work to find more investigators. We KNOW that the prepared people are here and we're going to do everything that we can to find them. 

The most exciting part of the week was definitely the 3 mission Latino Conference. It was the best. They all went to the temple and had an EFY session and then later when the missionaries got to go there was a fireside, a dinner (they served fried chicken and potato salad... say what?!) and a cultural dance presentation. It was great and I got to see all the Seahurst Branch that I served in for forever. I LOVE THEM!!!!! Man I just love everyone from my mission so much. They were all giving my advice and updating me on the branch. Cecilia's family really liked it and were able to meet a lot of good fellowship. 

OHHH one last exciting this is that the power went out Saturday night because of a wind storm. That night we used a mini flashlight to do our planning and it was so exciting. It was almost like I was in some exotic mission for a minute. 

I'm looking forward to this upcoming week because Marco goes to the temple this Saturday <3. The church is so true!!!! I love you all!

Con Amor,

Hermana Pier

Pics- 

                            The seahurst branch after their performance

                             Us and Stephanie and Manuel at the conference

A Great Week!

This was a really good week here. I realized even more how much I LOVE my mission. It's the best!!!!! So to start off I'll talk about Cecilia and the family that we found. We had 3 lessons with them this week and they're so great. Cecilia is still a little doubtful because she's had a lot of experiences in a lot of different churches. BUT we got Ciriana Neri, our recent convert, to a lesson with us and they really got along well. The three kids were even able to come to the ward Halloween party on Friday. Unfortunately having Stake Conference on Sunday and having everything be strange made them unable to come to church on Sunday. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY that they can make it to church this Sunday and feel the love of the ward there.

As of yesterday Marco has been a member for a year!!!! Yay!!!!! And he set a date to go to the temple on November 1st. I get to go and am so excited to be there with him. Also, Hermana Enos and Hermana Phillips, My first companions in the field are going to be coming out and going with us. To say I'm ECSTATIC would be an understatement. Marco has more spiritual power and light than just about anyone I know and I'm so grateful for everything he has taught me. 

The last miracle is that last night we had a Member and Missionary fireside up in Shoreline and I go to see a bunch of people from my last area, including Berenice. <3 It was the greatest thing of my life. The miracle is that a month ago Bere's friend from Mexico moved to Seattle and was baptized a week ago and is a member for the branch now. It made me so happy! Jessica is the greatest and was so prepared for the gospel. Also, Bere's parents are here because of the baby and have been meeting with missionaries, going to church every week, and reading the Book of Mormon, etc. She's so happy for them. Speaking of her baby, baby Michael is doing well. He almost weighs 3 pounds now and is expected to be at the hosital until January of February. Bere has a lot of faith and is staying so strong through it all. Some day I want to be as strong as here. 

It's really amazing that the people I'm teaching here have become my examples. They all radiate light. I know that's because they truly are allowing the Savior into their lives. I want to invite you all to do the same this week. Find ways to let the Savior become more a part of who you are. In the choices you make and in all you do. I love this gospel!!!!! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Pier

                                             Us, Bere, Yesenia and Jessica!

                                    Hermana Norton and I with Bere <3

        Hermana Wrubell and I after the halloween party. Note the switch in name tags.

Light!

Sorry sorry sorry I haven't written in forever, life has been getting crazy. Missions consist of so much to do and sometimes there doesn't seem to be enough time to do it all. But this week was a really good week. We had Zone Conference and received really great revelation and guidance on ways to continue improving our areas. 

One great miracle was a family that we met! They're so great. We were leaving from knocking a complex when we saw them getting into their cars. We pulled to car over and started to talk to them and were able to set up a lesson. When we taught them about the restoration they LOVED it! Cecilia, the mother, thought it was beautiful and said she wanted to know if it was true and to prepare to be baptized! They weren't able to make it to church on Sunday but we are going over with a member tomorrow and hope to get them to the ward Halloween Party this week. 

One really amazing tender mercy happened on exchanges this week. A member called us up and invited us to the Relief Society craft night, "Fabulous Friday". She said that she had an investigator of the Elders coming and that if it were possible she's like us to go and meet them. So of course we went and met her and talked for a minute. Another member came up to us and said that they were doing a project of sewing stockings for little kids who weren't going to get a Christmas and that a non member from Peru had shown up to help out. We then got to go talk to her and get to know her and found out about some hard times she's passing through. We were able to teach her a bit about our beliefs and give her a Book of Mormon and share our testimonies of the peace and happiness it brings us. She was so sweet but not interested in us sending the missionaries in her area to visit her. The next day in Sacrament Meeting the member who had introduced us to her bore her testimony and shared the story she also said that after we left she got the chance to talk to Gabriela more and Gabriela kept saying, "Those Sisters were just wonderful. It was so strange, the whole time I talked to them, I felt peace. All the things that have been stressing me out seemed to just leave my mind for the first time." It was a really great experience to one again see the Lord use us to bless the life of one of his children that needed Him. He truly does love us so much. 

This week was a somewhat difficult one in the ward because a missionary that was preparing to leave in a few weeks has decided not to serve a mission. Not only that he has decided that the church is not true and that he doesn't have any desires to be a part of it. This has been hard for his family, the youth, the leadership, and just the ward as a whole. The young man searched out ways that other use to say the church is not true and let Satan step into his life. Instead of going to the Lord he decided to rely on the wisdom of men and it's led him to a dark place. The reason I am sharing this though is because of the way that the amazing members each used it as a time to strengthen their personal testimonies of the Savior and of his church. This Sunday we had the most beautiful testimony meeting as members bore sincere testimonies that there is a God. He loves us and he's there. The younger sister of this young man bore her testimony. She said that she went to her knees CONSTANTLY this week and asked God if it was true. She received answers and helped each of us see the pattern to knowing truth. 

I just wanted to put a little excerpt from President Uchtdorf's conference talked that really shows us how we can receive light. 

Is it possible to find truth?
The purpose of my remarks is to proclaim the joyful message that God Himself—the Lord of Hosts who knows all truth—has given His children the promise that they can know truth for themselves.Please consider the magnitude of this promise:
The Everlasting and Almighty God, the Creator of this vast universe, will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent...
 I suggest that this personal testimony of the gospel and the Church is the most important thing you can earn in this life. It will not only bless and guide you during this life, but it will also have a direct bearing on your life throughout eternity.I testify that this is true. If you seek God’s truth, that which now may appear dim, out of focus, and distant will gradually be revealed and clarified and become close to your heart by the light of God’s grace. Glorious spiritual vistas, unimaginable to the human eye, will be revealed to you.
It is my testimony that this spiritual light is within the reach of every child of God. It will enlighten your mind and bring healing to your heart and joy to your days. My dear friends, please do not delay the moment to seek and strengthen your own personal testimony of God’s divine work, even the work of light and truth.

I want to add my testimony to that of President Uchtsdorf. I KNOW that this church is true. I know that God lives. I know that we have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ today on the earth. I know this because I have put it to the test. I have asked my Heavenly Father and He has answered me. I know because of the true happiness is brings me. When I follow the example of my Savior, I can't help but smile all the time. I invite each of you (no matter how many times you've done it) So go to your Heavenly Father and ask him if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints truly is THE church of Jesus Christ. I promise that as you do it with a sincere heart you will receive answers. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Pier