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

"Did you turn the font off?"

This was a marvelous week! Firstly I have to send out a shout out to my sister Taylor and her hubby Travis. They were married last weekend and I'm really excited for them. The wedding was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

I am going to skip right to the best part of the week, Jesus and Ciriana were baptized. <3 It was one of the most beautiful, spiritual baptisms that I have ever attended. But to start off we had quite the adventure. Our ward mission leader, the Elders in our ward (the zone leaders), and us were waiting in the foyer for the Neri family to get there when the ward mission leader, Brother Fraser, says, "Did you turn the font off?" The Elders locked eyes with looks of terror and bolted toward the font room. We all ran after to see that the font had overflowed. We spent the next half hour taking water out by the buckets and trying to dry the carpet. I think it's safe to say we'll be the ones filling the font next time. The service was great though and so many people came to support them. We had the program in the chapel and it was so full it seemed like a sacrament meeting. After the baptism we did church tours and each auxiliary was there explaining what they do. 

Sunday we had a New member or Member and missionary fireside and it was so great. Jessica, a recent convert in the ward bore her testimony and I got to translate it for her. It's amazing to get so many recent converts with such powerful testimonies together and to feel the amazing spirit that they bring. It makes me remember my own testimony and how much this gospel means to me. 

With transfers Hermana Wrubell and I are staying here in May Valley together. We are excited for another transfer full of miracles. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Pier

                                the neris

                                                         our district

                                 Naomi neri, the cutest most sweet girl in the world.

El Libro de Mormon!

Hola!!! This was a good week. The entire mission is really motivated and working really hard to make September the best month ever. We have some really great things happening in our area right now that we're really excited about. 

We'll start off with the Neri Family. I just love them. Jesus and Ciriana are going to be getting baptized this Saturday and we're really excited for them. We've been helping them go over their baptismal program, interviews and all else that a baptism entails. Both them and the ward are SUPER excited! Please keep them in your prayers this week as they make this step to their Heavenly Father and to becoming an eternal family <3

Ronaldo is doing really well and is going to be baptized soon. We finished teaching him some of the commandments this week and went over the baptismal interview questions with him and he is definitely ready. He does feel that he still has some doubts so we are going to help him recognize the answers that he has already received and help him feel really for baptism.

This week I found out that Bere, a convert in my last area, had her baby very very early. She was 22 weeks along and the baby was born weight 1 pound. As far as I've heard she and the baby are doing as well as can be expected at this point. Please please put her and the Graham family in your prayers. 

One last great thing this week was church yesterday. The ward has been doing a challenge together to read the book of mormon over the last 9 months and this Sunday was the special Sacrament Meeting to share testimonies of the Book of Mormon. I loved hearing how the Book of Mormon has changed peoples lives. I know that it definitely has done the same for me. I LOVE reading the Book of Mormon and the happiness it brings me. President Marion G. Romney said a quote that I really love, 

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives,bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness." 

What a promise from a servant of the Lord!!! The Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Jesus Christ and shows us how to become more like him <3  

Con mucho cariño,

Hermana Pier

Pics-

       The Marrs!!! I lived with them in my first area and we got to see them this week <3

Sean una luz

Not too much to report on this week so I will try to keep this one short.

We'll start out with Carlos though! He's the son of some formers in Mt Si that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. He's so great. He's been coming to church and LOVES it. We went down this week and taught him and his mom about the restoration. Carlos was just amazed. He said, "Some people don't really believe things like that. Like my parents, it's hard for them to believe. But me, I believe. I know that that happened. I know that this is the church I want to be a part of!" We invited him to be baptized and to ask God if these things are true and if The Book of Mormon is his word.... and he is preparing for the 20th of September! He really is just an amazing. He hungers and thirsts after the truth and know how knows how to find it. Please keep him and the entire Larrios Family is your prayers.

Other than that I just wanted to invite you all to join in in something that we do in our mission. Everyday at 5 o'clock pm every missionary in the mission and members as well kneel down and each say a prayer for the missionary work in our mission but also throughout the entire world. So, I wanted to invite you all to set an alarm on your phone that will go off at 5 everyday and to pray for the missionaries and missions throughout the mission. I know that we definitely feel and are helped through your prayers.

One cool thought from church. One of the members of the stake presidency talked in sacrament meeting on Sunday and he gave a analogy I really liked. He said that sometimes children have this "I can do it alone" mentality and refuse their parents help. This often ends in things such as mismatched and inside out clothing, messes, shoes on the wrong feet, etc. He said how here in the world we have that same way of thinking with our Heavenly Father. He wants to help us out but we are so stubborn and set in our ways that don't let him in. He challenged us to not do it alone, to let the Lord pull us through those trials, to not do it alone. It will make us happier and result in less mishaps along the way. The Lord truly loves us so much and will bless us as we rely on him and learn to trust in his timing and ways.

Les quiero mucho!

Con Amor,

La Hermana Pier

pics

everyone here is pet opsessive. They barely open the door and peep one eye out because they're afraid their animals will bolt out. So funny!

May Valley Miracles!

This week was a week full of MIRACLES! It really was a good week of lots of great things. Hard, trying, but definitely very rewarding. Let's start off with the NERI FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They're the family that I wrote about last week. They're basically members and have been coming to church for a year solid. Guess what?! They're on date to be baptized on the 27th of September. Their little daughters birthday <3 They announced it in church and are really excited to make this life changing step. They realized that they didn't have to know everything and that as they exercised their faith, God would bless them and help them to be even more sure of the decision. So yay!!! They came to the New Member Fireside and really enjoyed it. It was fun to have all the Hermanas together with them since basically every Hermana in the mission has taught them. I'll attach a picture.

Next up is Ronaldo. He's doing good. We had a lesson with him and he put himself on date for September 6th. He could definitely be ready for that day but it may end up being pushed back a few weeks because it's really hard to meet with him very often. He has sincere desires to be baptized and to be a member of the church but is worried with all his work and everything that he couldn't be as dedicated to the gospel as he needs to be. We're going to work with him to help those righteous desires that he has to work to form a testimony. 

Lastly is Luis. To say that we've done a lot of finding this week would be a complete understatement. It's more along the lines of that's all we do. I have probably knocked more doors this last week than my whole mission combined. But we found Luis which made is all worth is. Luis is from Mexico and is super great. He is very open to meeting with us, learning more, and would like to be baptized! The only problem is that he works on Sundays which means he an't make it to church. He's trying to figure out ways to work around it and get the day of. Please keep him in your prayers so that he can find a way to come to church this Sunday. 

That's about all for this week. Miracles are happening here in May Valley and we're ready to work hard and give our all to the work <3 Me encanta ser misionera <3

Con Amor,

Hermana Pier

The Harris' left there mission this week. We miss having such great next door neighbors. :(

The Seahurst gang at the fireside. I LOVE THEM!!!! Yared got her mission call to Honduras!!!!!

                                                       Us and the Neri family <3

Home sweet home <3

MThis week was definitely interesting. I think we have this super power to repress any of the hard times on our missions and only the really good ones really stick out to us. So even though I know that I've obviously had some difficult times, the good times seem to far outweigh those times. I think that happened a little bit with this area, haha I remembered all the miracles and good times we had here but blocked from my memory how difficult of an area it is. Nevertheless, I love it so much and am so excited to be here. It's completely different from the other areas I've been serving in for  the past 11 months so it's quite the change; namely because there's no Hispanics here hah.

But we do have a lot of good things happening right now! Not sure where to start so we'll start with down in North Bend. Firstly, Ronaldo. Still haven't met him, well I guess I have once. So my first day in the field at the beginning of my mission we went to visit him. He was leaving right when we got there and we talked to him for a second before he left. We tried to talk meet with him while we were down there but never saw him again the whole time I served here. But the Hermanas started teaching him again and he's great. Super busy but has desires to come to church and to prepared to be baptized. He came to church this week and we have a lesson set up for tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers so that we can meet with him more often and help him prepare for baptism. 

The other investigator that came to church down in the Mt Si ward was Carlos! He's so cool! Carlos is 15 and is the son of some former investigators. We went to visit the family and Carlos was the only one home so we started talking to him a bit. He has a friend from band who is a member of the ward and we asked him if he's like to go to church with his friend Conner that Sunday. He said yes and so we said that he'd let Conner know and that they'd come and get him on Sunday. After coordinating with the members, Carlos came to church, loved it, is coming back next week, AND is going to high adventure with the scouts this week! SAY WHAT?! We're super excited because he's an amazing kid with tons of potential. He's going to be an amazing example to his family and eventually they're all going to want to come to church.

And then here in the May Valley ward we don't have too much going on. We have the Neri Family who could definitely use prayers. they've been coming to church for over a year now and know it's true. Since meeting the Hermanas they've been married, their son has been baptized, and they even have callings with the cub scouts; only problem, they haven't been baptized themselves. We're not exactly sure what the real reason is that's stopping them but we know that they're SUPER ready for that step. Pray for them <3 Our bishop and Ward Mission Leader are going to meet with them so we are praying that they can help resolve any concerns. Vamos a ver. 

Other than that, things are going great!!!! Marco came out and went tracting with us for a while and it was the best! Haha I can actually really communicate and talk with him unlike a year ago so that's a blessing. His temple prep is coming along and he has such an amazing testimony.

One cool thing I liked about church yesterday was a story we talked about in Relief Society. The lesson was on Eternal Marriage but I think it can be applied to lots of situations. She told the story of a women who took care of a nice set of silverware that she had. She made sure that they were safe and so on and so forth. And something the story said really hit me. "If you want something to last forever, you treat it so." I thought of it in the example of a testimony. If you want to always have a testimony forever, you have to take care of it. You don't just polish the silver once and it's good forever, you don't just go to church on Sunday and you're good for the week. We need so be read, praying, being grateful to God ALWAYS and we can become stronger. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Pier

Pics- 

Hermana Wrubell and me in the basement of a member here. They have a GIANT train thing. It's so cool!!!