Last Week! Here We Go!!!!

Well first of New York is special because it Snowed once again!!!!!!! HAHA goodness I love the snow!!!! 

So this week has been basically the usually nothing freaking amazing happened other then we were blessed in being able to attend the Hartford, Connecticut temple dedication!!!! Oh what a blessing that was to be there. The spirit was so strong, I know that the Lord did indeed expect that wonderful temple as his house! During the dedication Elder Holland spoke he said, " Make yourself Holy for He is Holy and if we desire to be with Him we must be like Him."  I love that because it made me really think why we are asked to be worthy of attending the Temple, its not because we need to prove it to anyone but we need to be worthy because it is through our worthiness that we show our Father in Heaven that we are worthy of Him and His Son. For as we are in the temple we stand in their presents.

Also this week we had a wonderful ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) It really was awesome minus the fact I had my Farewell testimony. I really didn't want to bare my testimony but I am grateful I did. Sister Gneiting and I also did a training on teaching Repentance and helping those we teach understand what sinning is. It was great, it really as a learning experience. I learned that sinning is over all willingly going against Gods Commandments. And that it includes the Little and the Big things. So if we dont read our scriptures we need to repent because it is a commandment to read. I think I learned more then the missionaries we were training. Also during the meeting, I received the sweetest impression that the Lord is really please with me and the work I have done. It really brought a lot of peace to my mind.

After ZTM we had exchanges with the sisters from Glens Falls, we did a lot of finding and that is basically everything we did. I felt bad because all of our appointments fell through. So that was sad but it was still lots of fun. 

Then Lastly we went to a cute little bakery called Leah's Cakery! It was so cute!!! On of our Investigators took us and goodness I loved it!!! I got a cute little cupcake and man oh man it was so good!!!!! They had the cutest little phrase " Sugar, Flour, and Love its what makes magic happen"

This week I know I have talked about it before but I want to mention it one more time. So as I have been preparing myself to attend the temple on the 28th. I have decided to read Joseph Smith History once again. Oh how the church began really is the sweetest thing ever. As I was reading the spirit was so strong. I got to a part where the Prophet Joseph was telling of how much persecution he had to deal with right after her had this wonderful experience. Then Joseph said this, " However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages,and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." I love how he explains he could not deny it. I know that after serving the Lords mission I can not deny the miracles that I have seen and I can not deny the power of the Atonement and I can not deny that I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been fully restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know the Priesthood is the power and authority to act in Gods name and I am so grateful for it and it being here on the earth today. I know the Plan of Salvation is in fact Gods plan of all of his children so then we can be with him again and be with our families forever and all eternity. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to serve the Lords mission. I really could not change it for the world.

Thank you all for your love and support. This is my last email, after that I will be home with in 8 days. So if you would like to email me, my home email is maraihaloveland@gmail.com. You can also message me of Facebook as of the 27th. Have a wonderful week and my the Lord bless!

Peace after the Journey

 This week has been pretty busy, we had exchanges with the sisters from Manchester, VT and that was fun! At the start of this week, we did alot of cleaning up the Area Book and updating... ( it hadnt been updated in a while) After that we had some awesome lessons with some of our Investigators. Then later this week during the evening we were walking around the town and for some reason that day I was just so lucky at Talking to Homeless people. They were all sweet people, we gave them all a Book of Mormon, because it just so happened in every conversation they mentioned how they loved reading. One of them, his name is Uncle Kevin was so happy he got up and gave us a group hug and kiss both of us on the cheek.  HAHA!!! It was pretty much a adventure, after word we were both slightly freaking out because we are missionaries and now one is suppose to kiss us!!!!! So that was that :) 

While we were on exchange we were blessed and picked up 3 new Investigators and set 1 on date!!! All of them are really sold and they all have such a strong desire to come closer to Christ. It really is great to see the Lords tender mercies!!!!!

Also this week we got to make pizzas with our new converts and there family!!!! It was so much fun and then we had a awesome lesson on Enduring to the End!!! Goodness I just love doing Missionary work!!!!!

We had a wonderful Misison Conference as well! Elder Snow was the General Authority. He gave a wonderful training on acting on our Faith and working with members. He drew out a trangle and divided it into for groups and explained that in order to feel you have had a successful mission you need to do 4 things, 1: be Obedient 2: to put in all your Effort 3: to reach mission standard of Excellence and 4: to Act on our Faith every day. That really stood out to me because I am reaching the end of the Lords mission and as I see that I am able to have peace of knowing I have done all that the Lord has asked of me. 

So to explain the title to my email, " Peace after the Journey" in church this Sunday, we had a wonderful lesson in Relief Society. We talked a lot about " Ask and it shall be Given, Seek and ye shall Find, Knock and it shall be open." But one thing was mentioned that stood out to me it was that we need the faith to submit to Gods will. In order to receive answers to questions we need to trust God and his will for us."

Its almost done.......

Hello Everyone!!!!

So this week have been pretty fun! On Halloween we carved pumpkins so that was a blast!!!! After about 4 days they started to stink so we had to sadly through our pumpkin friends out. 

After all our fun on Halloween, the week was pretty chill, then we had a big meeting for all the missionary leadership. It was quite fun, we had a awesome trying on Repentance from President Rogers. I think it is so need how he explained that Repentance is not a bad thing, in fact it is a joyous thing because as one truly repents they draw closer to the Savior. Also President Rogers asked a wonderful question that got me really thinking about my purpose as a missionary for your Heavenly Father. " What does it mean to you to Find Constantly, Teach Repentance, and Baptize Converts while you are on the Lords mission?" After President said this question, I made it a goal to ponder about it this Sunday. As I pondered about it, one i realized that it helped make my Sabbath day special and two I now know that Find Constantly, Teach Repentance, and Baptized Converts while on the Lords mission means to me, pure Joy. I have come to realize that I have found true happiness as I have been in the serves of our Lord and Savior.

Also this week we had our first exchange, It gladly didn't end in disaster. I was so scared everything was going to fall through. It was fun! We met this sweet guy named Zack, we talked with him a while and gave him a book of Mormon. 

So we also taught Awesome Karen!!!! Goodness I love that Lady!!! So after 4 lessons she loves and understands the Plan of Salvation. So we are started teaching the Restoration, Karen has so many questions it is wonderful because she really wants to know the answers! Also this week we helped Karen rack her leafs and cook dinner. It really is so much fun seeing her.

The High light with week is we were bless to see 2 of Gods children enter the waters of baptism. On the 5th Gavin and Tristan were baptized and  it was great!!!! The spirit was so strong and there grandparents were able to be there and her Grandpa came up to Sister Gneiting and told us that he never thought this day would come but he is so grateful that is has happened. It is such a blessing to be able to serve the Lord!!!!

On Sunday, we had a lesson with a sweet little old less active, Sister Ritz. So we watched this awesome talk on the BYU channel. In that talk there was something I want to share with you all today. " Are you a Believer?" " If you aren't fully committed, you will become weak, and suffer from " stage fright"." I know that as we are true believer of Christ we will be able to see the Lords out poring blessings upon us!

Random Snow Fall in the State of New York

Hello my fellow Humans!!!!

Well this week has been a blast!!!!! Lots of Laughter! Getting lost! And preparing for another baptism!!!!

So as you all know last week we had a baptism and I am so excited to say that on the 5th we will have another 2 baptisms!!!! 

So we have some pretty awesome investigators right now and they are all doing wonderfully!!! We have one particularity that is coming to mind right now. Her name is Karen, she is a sweet older lady who taking care of a daughter with severe brain trauma from a few years ago, and is also taking care of 2 of her grandchildren because both there parents had passed away. So a few days ago we met with her and went over the Plan of Salvation. WOW that was a powerful lesson!!! Karen had lot of deep questions such as, " I know how I felt when I lost my daughter, do you think God felt the same way when his Son died?" It was amazing being at that moment, the spirit really took over. Sister Gneiting and I really have no idea what we said after that for we both know that the Spirit really was working through us. At the end of the lesson everyone was crying and Karen said "you answered my question, I feel a warm hug all around me right now. And I now know for my self that God felt as I did when His Only Begotten Son died." It was so amazing to see the spirit really work with so many people!!!!

Haha she also made us some "Mormon Muffins" they are oddly enough really good!!! Here is the recipe:

Mormon Muffins!

-2 cups of boiling water

-5 teaspoons baking soda

-1 cup shortening

-2 cups granulated sugar

-4 eggs

-5 cups all-purpose flour

-1 teaspoon salt

-1 quart buttermilk

-4 cups all-bran cereal

-2 cups bran flakes

-1 cup chopped walnuts

Combines water and backing soda. Stir until dissolved. Cool.

In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition

Combine flour and salt and add to cream mixture alternately with buttermilk

Fold in both cereals and nuts

Fill greased of paper lined muffin cups 3/4 full

Bake at 350oF for 25-30 minutes until they test done

Muffins batter may be kept for 1 week in refrigerator and baked in smaller batches in desired

Also this week we sadly had to drop a Investigator as well, and that lesson was pretty intense too. It was with a guy names Marc. Marc wasn't taking what we were teaching him seriously, so we had a good talk with him. During that lesson a thought came to my mind of something someone told me during my mission. So I grabbed a pen and asked Marc to try to drop the pen. So Marc continued to drop the pen and I explained to him that he dropped it i said to try to drop it. Then he hand me the pen back and I explained that you cant try to love the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Either you do or you dont. After that we both shared a sold testimony of how we know the Gospel can and will change his life if he would let it.

I know that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ will bless everyone's life as we live it to its fullest. It is amazing to see how the Gospel truly has changed so many peoples lives as I have been on His mission. I know I am just a instrument in the Lords hands and man it is amazing to see how through the spirit peoples lives have been changed. I truly love this Gospel and I am so grateful to be a servant for the Lord.

Saratoga Springs!!!!!!Saratoga Springs!!!!!!

So I love Saratoga!!!! It is great!!!!! My new companion Sister Gneiting, is wonderful its only been 4 days and i have already broke her. Haha! It really has been 4 days filled with lots and lots of laughter! 

On Saturday we had a Baptism for some really sweet people, Marji and Cliff! I was so happy I was able to be there for there baptism! The spirit was so strong! Marji's Sister and her family were even able to come! Goodness I just love seeing people enter the waters of baptism.

Also this week we picked up a new investigator named Amber. The Sister tracted into her not to long ago. We met with her one of my first days and wow it is wonderful to see how the Lord really does prepare his children to enter the waters of baptism! She has many challenges, but she really feels that the message we she will help. I am so excited to meet with her again!

So a little fun info about Sister Gneiting, she is originally from Nevada. But her family about 3 years ago moved to Good old Payson Utah. She has been out on her mission for 15 months. So she goes home 2 transfers after me. She has 2 sister and 1 brother. She likes to sing and dance and just go crazy!!!!! Also she went for 1 year before her mission. She is normally like calm cool and collective. But little old me and my craziness have broken her and now she crazy just like me. :)

It weird being in a ward again, I am so use to being in a Branch that I was a little overwhelmed with all the people in this ward! I have only met about 1/8 of the ward. Its so big we fill a whole chapel plus the over flow! Yeah its really different! But the people i have met are pretty awesome!!!! The members here are great missionaries!

OH!!!! Cool story!!! So on Saturday we volunteer at a soup kitchen, while we were there i was humming church songs because I was passing out dessert and pouring drinks. Then a guy came up to me and Sister Gneiting and told us that we have a glow about us and that he wanted it. So he asked us where are church was and if he could start meeting with us. So we gave him the info and then on Sunday he texted us. He told us that he was sorry that he could make it to church but we would like to meet with us on Tuesday. So we are so excited to help him know why we are so happy and have what he called a glow.

Also this week I have been thinking alot about Charity. Because I really wanted to love the people here in Saratoga and a part in Preach my Gospel really stood out to me. "Charity, like faith, leads to action. You will develop charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of yourself." Its amazing to see how through the little things we are able to develop charity for all of Gods Children.

This sweet has been great!!!

Thank you for all your love and support! I will see you all soon!

Off to Saratoga Springs

Well its sad to say but for my last transfer, I am leaving happy little Hamilton and moving to Saratoga springs to be the new Sister Training Leader. I will be serving with Sister Gneiting. I am so excited because I already know Sister Gneiting so it will be exciting! The Sister that will be taking my place here in Hamilton is Sister Maughan, she is super cool and i am so grateful that she will be Sister Rodriguez's 2nd companion. I was so scared that she was going to get a hard sister, but once again the Lord heard my prayers and once again answered them. 

So tonight I will be crying like a baby because a sweet member Sister Karen Rains is throwing me a goodbye party so then i can see all my favorite members and say one last goodbye to them all. I am so Grateful for that because I know I really am going to miss everyone so much!

So this week was pretty amazing! We have another investigator on date!!!! Lacey Wrights brother Justin said he was willing to be baptized at the end of November! It is so exciting to see the Spirit work with Heavenly Fathers children. This really is His work and I am just along for the ride. Also this week we had a wonderful lesson on the Plan of Salvation with Nikki and Keith. Their son Nick who is a member joined us. The spirit was so powerful as their son testified how he knew the the Plan of Salvation was true. There really is so much power from the testimony of members especially from children. Also this week we picked up a sold investigator, her name is Cathrine. She is the daughter of some members and she hasnt been baptized and she wants to learn more. So we are now teaching her. It really is amazing how the Lord really blesses us with so many miracles when doing his work!

I know that we can find joy in the gospel!!!! As President Nelson said, " When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives." Trust the Lord for it will always be through him that you will find happiness!

Thank you for all your loving support! 6 more weeks! I will see you all soon!!!! 

I know the Temple is the House of the Lord

So to start out this week, it has been quite the adventure! First off i want to say It is amazing being able to see the Lord work with his Children. So has we have been working with Nikki and Keith is has been so great being able to see the growth they have made from reading the Book of Mormon with them. Not to long ago they talked to us about going to church and OH!!! how happy I was, I know the Spirit really is working with them! 

So we have this awesome investigator named Janette! She is a wonderful Jesus love'n lady. So I am being able to see her because she has such a wonderful understanding that God is literally our Father in Heaven and that he is literally her father. And to top off how awesome Janette is she is studying out of the Book of Mormon. She doesn't just read it but she is studying it along side with the Bible and really gaining a testimony of its truth and divinity. It really is just wonderful!

Also on another bright note this week, our Investigator Steve is slowly but surely working on a getting a baptismal date. Currently at this time life is really hectic for him, but in our last lesson he shared with us how he knew it was true and that he felt so bad that the last few months he had been neglecting his faith and wants to start back up again. So that is a miracle in my eyes right now because when I first got here in Hamilton, Steve would just say he wasn't ready but now he has explains that it wont be tomorrow but it will be soon.

Also this week was another week with lots of Hay! But on the bright side of it all it is the last time we are doing hay because Hay season is over up here. On Friday we stacked 4 hay wagons that had about 120 hay bells on each wagon so it was lots of fun. Plus in the mist of stacking the hay bells I fell through some and i was rocking the splits as one leg was in between hay stacks and the other was on top. HAHA lots of fun and lots of laughs when that happened. But I got the Boys laughing when we were stacking hay because we started a race of who could hand the bales faster to Sister Loveland and dang those boys were going so fast i couldn't keep up with them. But it was lots of fun and  I sure am going to miss this family!

As well as this week we had to move Lacey's baptismal date to possible November 5th. And i know that Lacey really does know this Gospel is true because Sunday the 9th she got up all by herself and shared her testimony. The spirit was so strong and both Sister Rodriguez and I were crying, because there really is nothing sweeter then hearing the people you love share how they know the Restored Gospel to be true.

Finally this week, we were blessed in being able to go to the temple!!!!!! It really is wonderful being able to enter the House of the Lord!!!! We went with a Returned Less Active, Chris Moglia. She is super sweet. It was such a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to be there with her. While we were at the temple the spirit was so strong and I never thought i was going to miss the temple as much as i did. But i am grateful that i am blessed to live in a area where there is a temple so close by at home.

I love being a missionary and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have everyday to go out and proclaim the Gospel to all of Gods children. D&C 4:2-5, " Therefore,O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mid, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;  For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; And faith, hope, charity and love, with a eye singled to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

I know the Prophet is called of God!

So this week had been pretty fun, to start we stacked some hay for our investigator Keith and that was so much fun! On of the boys that were there helping wanted to have a stacking race with me. Haha! Bad idea for him, because this cute little farm girl missionary can out stack a 18 year old weight lifting kid. 100 bales of hay later and I was throwing and stacking faster then her was :) HAHA!!! I still got it! I am a hay stacking master! LOL

Also this week we went on our exchanges and that was fun! I was with Sister Tesch most the day, and it is always fun being able to work with a old companion. While we were on our Exchange we had to make a stop at the mission office and while we were there Elder Lee ( the guy in charge of all the cars) gave all of us our own New York State license plates to take home! It was awesome and make me so happy!!!!

Also this week on Friday we had a lesson with some Less Active members we have been asked to visit. We planned on talking about the Restoration. But as we started we focused alot on the Restored Priesthood. It was really great, because the member we had with us had just read a talked from last conference about the priesthood, It really is such a blessing to have the Power and Authority of God here on the earth again. 

So this General Conference was quite a adventure, Saturday we watched it at some members house, then on Sundaywe watched it at the Gangs (the family i am always talking about). It was so much fun, minus the fact the Pam the member we watched conference at on Saturday caught me falling asleep and stuck a tissue up my noise! Oh i was so mad at her lol but i love her anyways. 

During Conference for some reason this year the only person i wanted to listne to was our beloved prophet. On Sunday morning as I heard his sweet words it brought so much comfort to my soul. For the spirit as so strong and truly testified to me that He is called of God and his words are straight from our Heavenly Father. As President Monson said, "Focus on the Fathers plan and all will work out." 

3 Nephi 14:15-20, " Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."

"Man up and play the Tuba" -Keith Simpson

So this week has been pretty great! We had tracked and tracked and did a little more track-ting. Haha! We probably didn't do that much tracting but it sure felt like it. Our Zone had the goal of passing out 600 Books of Mormon in the Month of September. So each companionship in our zone need to pass out about 40 books. So Sister Rodriguez and I have been doing all we can to Fluid the Hamilton area with the Book of Mormon. So for it has been quite the adventure!

So as I mentioned last week our investigator Lacey is getting baptized on October 15th. I am so excited for her!!!! She is progressing so well and she is now turning to the Lord on her own for help when she needs it. It really is the sweetest thing to see how the Lord really touches the hearts of his children and how the Gospel can change lives forever.

Also pretty soon Sister Rodriguez and I will be getting to go to the temple with one of the recently returned less actives! So on October 8th, I will get to go to the temple a 2nd time before i go home. Oh how blessed i feel to be able to got to the Lords house while i am serving a full time mission.

So i am so excited for General Conference!!! I am so excited Sister Rodriguez and I have a count down. Only 6 more days till we get to hear the sweet words and council from our beloved Prophet. This last few days I have been reflecting on all the fun things my parents did for us kids when i came to General Conference. For one instants i remember my sweet parents sharing the story of King Benjamin addressing his people. I remember my dad explaining that King Benjamin's address was basically the first General Conference and that as the people turned there tents towards him their hearts were touched by the spirit. Then when Conference came my mom made us a tent so we can have our hearts touched by the spirit just like King Benjamin's peoples were. So many fun memories form my childhood. As Conference is approaching please remember the wise word in which King Benjamin spoke, " My Brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but taught you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."

Lacey has a baptismal date for October 15th!

So this week has been pretty great! We have spent almost every-night at my favorite humans house, "the gang". It has been so amazing to see the Gospel catch on fire with in that wonderful families lives! A member of the family Lacey has a baptismal date for October 15th! I am so excited, Lacey is a wonderful sweet girl and I know that the Restored Gospel will bless her life so much and its amazing to know that she knows that as well. I am so excited!!!! I truly love seeing how powerful the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ can bless and change so many peoples lives!!!

 

Also this week we had a wonderful Zone conference on the Doctrine of Christ. President Rogers focused alot on Repentance and forgiveness. President Rogers taught that when you are truly repenting of your sins you are turning to God and turning away from sin. That when you sincerely Repent you know how it feels to go to Gethsemane and you know how the Savior felt for a few minutes as he suffered there for you. It was just so enlightening to here the wonderful words taught my our mission president. 

So I would like to share with you all some of the things that I have been studying this week. I love the Atonement of Jesus Christ and have been studying about it a lot lately. Oh how wonderful the Atonement is. There is a wonderful quote by Elder David A. Bednar, " There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in morality that the Savior did not experience first... He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power." 

I love the Restored Gospel so much and i know that all can and will be forgiven through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. "The Lord is my light; the Lord is my strength. I know in his might I'll conquer at length. My weakness in mercy he covers with pow'r, And, walking by faith, I am blest ev'ry hour.The Lord is my light, my all and in all. There is in his sight no darkness at all. He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King. With Saints and with angels his praises I'll sing." 

Thank you so much for all your loving support!!! I hope and pray that all is well and that as you apply the Atonement into your lives daily you will come closer to your Savior and feel his love encircle about you.