Alicia's Homecoming

Friday was Alicia's last day serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We went to celebrate with her when she walked out of the MTC.  The Stake President came to our home to hear about her mission and to release her. 

 Then we went out to dinner to celebrate and there was Jorge, one of the young men she helped teach for baptism. 

She will be speaking this next Sunday, December 30th at 9:00 at the white church on the corner of 700 E. and 300 N. in American Fork.  We would love for any of you who can come to join us that morning for sacrament meeting and then come to our home for something to eat and a chance to visit with her.  

She would LOVE to see you!

P.S.  The closing song will be "Placentero nos es trabajar" sung in Spanish.  Anyone who would like to join in the spontaneous, minute-man choir is invited to go up front to join Alicia and the local Spanish Sister Missionaries in singing.  Thanks!

[[With the Lord, there is no commitment we cannot keep]]

While contacting, I jumped off someone's porch but fell on the way down from tripping over a sign, and then Hna. Johnston surprisingly followed right after me. Luckily, that person didn't answer the door when we choked back laughs to string their sign back up. We visited Yoana, a young single Colombian mom with a 2 year old son. She moved here alone and has been going through things she cannot carry by herself. Yet, there is someone who can carry her burden and will not leave her -- even "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," who bore our sorrows and our grief (Isaiah 53). We were so happy Yoana could come with us to the ward Christmas party where members from each of their countries made traditional food and performed dances or songs. 

I like that in the first week's video of Light the World, there's dirt on Jesus' hands and the hands of the woman he heals in the last scene. Though King of kings, a God in human form, "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matt. 20:28). He labored alongside all people. This season let's put our hands to work in the service of others as our gift to lay before the King.

Well, this makes my last. My mission has been a good one. I am ever grateful to have been called to testify that I know He is the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Messiah of the Book of Mormon, and the Savior of the world. I know that what I've learned and felt I could not have experienced any other way. I have been a witness of miracles, of hard, of mercy, of fulfilled promises, of change, of joy, and of Jesus Christ. That's life after all, and ain't that the beauty of it, the beauty of God's great plan? :)

Love, Hermana Jerman

Para siempre Dios este con vos... See you folks real soon!! 

Come to my homecoming talk on December 30th at 9am {white church on 700 E. 300 N. American Fork} and brunch at my home {42 Jackson Circle}!

  Hermana Arnold (from Washington) y Hermana Johnston (from California)

The Light and Life of the World

Shared the Light the World initiative with members, a Rodrigo from Mexico City, and Juan Carlos' parents, who have started listening when we visit Juan Carlos! They're a lovely pair of people we hope to work more with. The Martinengos also came with us to the Valverde's. Upon meeting a really good guy named Jorge, he expressed that at the death of his son, he knew truth was in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He already wants to get work off on Sundays so he can come to church to be prepared for baptism. Volunteered one evening to be in a live nativity. I know that that night really did occur when mankind was given the gift of a Savior. 

President Nelson mentioned that one of the gifts the Savior gives us is the unlimited capacity to love. Despite our limitations of mortality, we possess limitless love. With Christ's help, we are able to keep on loving, even when knocked down, rejected, or hated again and again. Though not one soul of Helaman's army in Alma 57 perished, all of them received many wounds; we all get scars from the battle of life, but the Lord will deliver us -- and enable us to love still -- if we look to Him for strength. Therein we become a wounded healer, someone who succors another because they themselves have suffered. We begin to love how He loved, finding joy as He did among the trials. 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Erube

Good-Bye Hermana Laurie

Last night with our sweet Sister Hermana Laurie from Concepcion Chile.  We have been privileged to have her here often for more than 6 months. 

We will remember her forever and our hearts will always be full of love for her.  

Living Nativity

We had the opportunity to "Light the World" by helping at the Living Nativity in Alpine.  Cold, long night but fun to be a part of this amazing event!

White Christmas

A mother and daughter from Colombia got baptized the first day of December! Had a Noche de Hogar with Branden and his family, visited the Cazares with Jorge and Williams, taught Erube a couple times, and Juan Carlos came with us to visit the Sandovals. Hermana Laurie and I have a good time teaching each other grammar and expressions between Spanish and English. I love her with all my heart! She's quick to laugh and love and has a gift with words. With transfer calls last night, Hna. Laurie will be leaving Wednesday. I have been so blessed to serve with her and Hna. Jonston for six months together. 

Once we see the problems others have, our own problems we thought huge and pressing may become comparably insignificant. Time and time again, I am humbled at how much God trusts us by putting His children in our care, even those going through heavy things we've never experienced before. "How encouraging it is to know, though we are imperfect, if our hearts are turned to God, He will be generous and kind and use us for His purposes" (Elder Uchtdorf). We covenant at baptism to bear one another's burdens, mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. That's a big role of missionary work/ministering. We do that as we come to know and love the people – our hearts share part of their hurting, and that is precisely what Jesus does for us with absolute empathy. "The thing is, loving people kind of hurts... John 11:35 says, 'Jesus wept.' The perfect mortal, the perfect example of manhood, wept." 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Rocio and Sara's baptism day

Las Hermanas Vaca (the ward members who gave us her referral)

"Where Love Is, There God Is Also"

Met a lady whose brother in Mexico got kidnapped and the family had to give up their car and savings in order to pay the ransom. We're teaching a young guy named Erube who doesn't have a strong connection with his brothers or son. Family is the Plan of Salvation all scrunched up into one. It would be harder to understand much of the gospel, including that we came from a heavenly family and need an eternal family, if we do not love or feel love from our earthly family. 

Delivered a ginormous basket of Thanksgiving food donated from members to an investigator family in need. On Thanksgiving Day, Elder Uchtdorf and his wife spoke and we found people to teach (since Hispanics don't traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving). A member shared with us one of her most favorite dishes: pig feet. It's slimy-skin, crunchy-cartilage good. Nah, but new is good :) 

The picture below is at a different home.

Love, Hermana Jerman

Asado Chileno con sopaipillas

Feliz Dia de Accion de Gracias!

Elder Gary E. Stevenson and his wife talked to us Tuesday. Did splits with Hna. Johnston. Williams passed the sacrament for the first time and gave his first talk in church! Juan Carlos came with us to teach Mario. Reviewed the sacrament with Orbil. 

We've met people who dismiss the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as foolishness, falsehood, or deceit and I remember 2 Nephi 15:20 that warns those who call good evil and evil good. There are Christians who believe they don't need to change and that changing others is wrong. Were not Christ's teachings centered on how to change? Without the Atonement, the Plan of Happiness and progression would have been void. "'Come as you are,' a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, 'Don’t plan to stay as you are'" (Elder Holland). If you're happy now, expect to be happier; if you're close to God, expect to be closer; if you have peace and love, expect more :) 

I'm learning lots from the missions of Alma, Amulek, and the sons of Mosiah. They've taught me to work at being a missionary who serves and befriends 1st and teaches 2nd, knows the importance of ministering to members in addition to non-members, applies Preach My Gospel guidelines, seeks the Spirit to work within an unconvinced heart, does not search for gratification, understands the power in companionship, relates personal experiences to those taught, sacrifices personal comforts, leaves worldly cares behind, and takes the optimistic approach. 

The scriptures are living words that offer specific, current, and customized advice for where you are and what you need right now. I know that as we study them and fill our lives with the goodness that comes from purposefully living the gospel, "the force that is pushing us heavenward [will be] greater than the temptations and distress that drag us downward" (Elder Uchtdorf).

Love, Hermana Jerman

                                             Una nena Chilena

¿Que te tinca de tinga?

During dinner with Yamila's family, her mum shared some bizarre stories about being in nun school as a girl. President Treadway, the mission president, came with us to a couple houses. I helped translate for him since he doesn't speak Spanish but it was so cool to work with him. 

"God has designed this mortal experience to require nearly constant exertion... By work we sustain and enrich life... Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, lifts, and aspires." D. Todd Christofferson

When the blessings for righteousness aren't immediate or apparent, the persecution or troubles that persist seem to be the only result. It's in God's wisdom that these are instead eternal blessings laid up to await you in heaven.

Love, Hermana Jerman

Crunchy Leaves & Spooky Things

Passed out candy to missionaries at the MTC on Halloween. Hna. Johnston and I went to stake correlation. We also had some interesting people and opinions in our doorstep approaches but it was good to focus them on the Savior. They reminded me that life needs to be centered on Christ, otherwise we are in danger of complicating the simplicity of the gospel or church and allowing the details of this earthly experience distract or distance us from Him. 

In a mission conference, we watched a clip from the story of Jesus sleeping during a storm at sea and being awoken to calm it. How could he sleep? He knew who He was. He tells His apostles they fear because they do not have faith. The first thing spoken by an angel of the Lord to a mortal is often "Fear not." The Lord doesn't want us to spend our lives worrying. Faith is the first principle because without it we have nothing else. As I continue to have my own questions, day by day I receive just enough light to take another step, to keep believing and trying. I'm ever grateful because "I'd much prefer to follow His light" than choose darkness (Elder Bednar). 

Finished a challenge Pres. Nelson made to read every verse cited about Jesus Christ in the standard works as listed under the main heading and subtitles in the Topical Guide. It took me a year to do what he did in 6 weeks, but I have surely seen the promised blessings. He's a fast one to keep up with and I love that :) In an interview after the Chile Concepcion temple dedication, the prophet said, "If you think the church has been fully restored, you've just seen the beginning. There's much more to come. Wait 'til next year and then the next year! Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It's going to be exciting." 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Don't let your praying knees get lazy

Hna. Laurie, Hna. Johnston, and I passed the week's work dancing, singing, running, and laughing. I was grateful that with just a prayer or two and a conscious effort, our Father in Heaven can change our feelings or attitude so that we can be better in the circumstances that aren't meant to change. 

Had FHE with a new family in our Spanish ward and the last couple of lessons with Cristian before his baptism. After explaining the Plan of Salvation to Yamila, we asked her to give the closing prayer to ask if the Book of Mormon and this plan were true. Her prayer, worded simple and pure, brought the Spirit's instantaneous response with happy tears, and she accepted a baptismal date. Went finding and taught English to una hermana from Chile!! We had "once" with her, too, and a chilean dinner at another member's - it felt like home! Another good food day was posole (a mexican soup made of hominy) we had with the ward missionary leader's family. 

Every ability, worry, written word, belief, feeling, discovery, success, complication, obstacle, invention, or attitude began with a thought. Every thought is that which makes up a singular definition of life, or what it is to live, for that person only and is known by no other man. Why is it, then, that some pass through life unscathed by the anxieties and perils of existence, happy for the gift it is to learn, experience, and just be? To create or change reality, change your mind. 

 Love, Hermana Jerman

Pan asado y mate

Cristian's baptism

A Belief in God Cures All

Juan Carlos, our recent convert, got the Aaronic Priesthood, did baptisms at the temple and even came with us for a couple lessons! We set a goal to prepare himself for a Patriarchal Blessing. We're teaching Sylvia again. She disclosed that the main reason her husband left her and their three children was because of her desire to be baptized and their now differing beliefs. She is eager to come to church but works on Sunday between one of her three jobs. We talked about bringing her righteous desire before her Father in prayer; He clears the way for the good when His children ask. Like the scripture in the Book of Mormon, if you don't have raiment to give but merely your desire, that is enough because you are giving your heart. 

We've been working with a less active Chilean family and the wife came to sacrament! Taught Spanish primary class for the 5 year olds, gave a church tour for Rocio and Sarah, knocked doors, and ate dinner with a member family. As an apostle has done with many copies of the Book of Mormon, we invited Brandon to label one with a specific question and highlight the responses throughout. I like the idea of having a chronological library of person revelation and progression. 

S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy spoke Tuesday to the MTC after having a meeting with President Nelson that day. The Prophet said that Monday night he awoke and obeyed as the Spirit instructed him to study the temple ordinances until allowing him to go back to bed at 3:30 am. Then, as usual, he got up at 5:20 am. He laughed saying he used to get night calls to perform heart procedures but now he gets called at night without the phone ringing. I know our Prophet is a man of God and that at 94 he really will stay up into the wee hours to receive guidance for us. Temple ordinances and covenants are what all of the people on the earth, or in it, need :) Let's not wait to go to the temple or "sleep in" when we're called to work with the Spirit.

"Where there is faith there is love. Where there is love there is God. Where there is God there is everything."

Love, Hermana Jerman

Elder and Sister Purvis from my childhood ward.

My class drew the Plan of Salvation on the chalkboard

Unity <---> Joy

That's what Bonnie Cordon, President of the General Relief Society, spoke about at this past MTC devotional. As I've restarted the Book of Mormon, I love how often Nephi recognizes the Lord in his writings. Do we talk of Christ and rejoice of Christ as the prophets of old did and as a living prophet reminded us to last week? Is the Lord at the center of our thoughts, interactions, and schedules? This week I also learned that when the people of Israel carried the Ark of the Covenant across the River Jordan with the promise of walking on dry land, the water did not part until they got their feet wet. The miracle comes as we hold on to the promises the Lord has made and then act with the faith that they will be fulfilled, even if those promises are not realized when you think you need them nor once you step into unknown, rushing waters. 

 Love, Hermana Jerman

I love Jesus and I love conference

Shared a message with the Murillo girls. Since they're 9 and 11 years old and their mom hasn't been meeting with us, we cannot enter so we teach them at the doorstep. I love them, and I know that they are precious to Heavenly Father. 

President Nelson embodies excitement for spreading and living the gospel when he speaks. With the changes he has given, the old fulfilled and the new revealed, it is not an invitation to do less, but rather a higher and holier responsibility entrusted to us by the Lord. Some specifics from the Prophet were 1) that our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been more imperative and 2) to pray to feel deeply the Savior's love for you when you go there. It was fun to hear different groups of missionaries cheer as the temples were announced, too.  

Love, Hermana Jerman

Full Circle

Hna. Johnston and I met a new investigator + Rocio, a single mom who just moved from Colombia to study english. She accepted to tour the church and come on Sunday. We also met with 3 of our recent converts all together and a couple from my old ward. Had a lesson with Marco Antonio's family in preparation for his interview to be ordained in the Aaronic priesthood. Taught Jonathan from Chile. He lived in Villa Alemana, one of my areas while I was there! 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Holy Guacamole

Did proselyting in the motor home with Hermana Laurie. We shared a scripture with some abuelitas chilenas we found and started teaching English to Rubi. Elder Nelson spoke at the Tuesday night devotional. He promised us as the Lord's witness that "there is life beyond the veil with certainty" and hopes that our souls may be engraved like the temples with "Holiness to the Lord" when we pass through it. As temples are places set apart for sacred purposes and we ourselves are temples for the Holy Ghost and our own spirit, he invited us to be holy, a person set apart for sacred purposes.

"The more we serve the more substance there is to our soul... Indeed, it's much easier to find ourselves because there's so much more to find." D. Todd Christofferson

Love, Hermana Jerman

                         Cat that lives on the MTC grounds

"Smile! Jesus is coming" {Sis. Prolo}

I think the MTC branch I go to feels so much like what heaven could be because there are lots of good people from different countries in one place and purpose. Met missionaries coming from Samoa, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei +. Did TRC to help missionaries learning Spanish teach an investigator. Sang "Nearer My God to Thee" with the MTC choir and our director told us the context of the lyrics (Genesis 28:11-19). 

When Jacob hears Esau wants to kill him, he wanders into the desert and sleeps on a rock.

"Though like the wanderer the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone." 

Hard things, or the crosses in our lives, can become good and bring us closer to God.

 "Nearer, my God, e'en though it be a cross that raiseth me... There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n... Angels to beckon me, nearer, my God to thee... Bethel I'll raise." 

Bethel, meaning House of God, is the name Jacob gave to the location where angels appeared, he received his endowments (steps to higher covenants), and the veil parted to God. 

During the devotional, Elder Richard G. Scott's story was told of 2 sister missionaries who entered a house where men grabbed them and locked them in a room. Kneeling, they prayed for God to save them. When they opened their eyes, they were in a alley on the other side of the wall. We have the power of angels to minister to us. Also got to teach Paola and a Chilean family with the hermanas.

Oh, and when you don't understand an aspect of the gospel or a commandment, just know it's from a Being far greater and superior in wisdom. Don't go complicating it. Live it, love it, try new things, and make every second point to Jesus. 

Keep it simple, mate :)

Love, Hermana Jerman

That'll Do

Our desire to become like the Savior is what matters. 

Months ago, we met Juan Carlos outside his apartment when we were looking for a neighbor and this past week he was able to be baptized :) At the MTC, I interpreted meetings, listened to devotionals, and helped the missionaries learning how to contact. 

Elder Richard Holztafel of the Seventy spoke to us and announced that the Preach My Gospel subtitle will be changed from "A Guide to Missionary Service" to something like "A Life-long Guide to Missionary Work." It's not only to be studied by those set apart. Our purpose as missionaries and members is to invite others to come unto Christ. When we act and think as true disciples of Christ, everyone we meet will come closer to Him even if they don't accept Him just then. 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Juan Carlos' Baptism

Happy Spirit

I got assigned! Because the time until my release date is too short, the missionary department won't allow me to return to the field so I will be set apart to serve full-time as a missionary at the MTC. My biggest wish was to proselyte again, but I'm so grateful for all the people who helped me get this spot. I will be an interpreter for hispanic missionaries and help in the store there. It was fun to pass out language materials to the incoming missionaries and listen to sacrament and mission conference interpreted to Spanish. 

Gave a missionary district a ride to go on a hike for pday. We met 87 year old Norman on the trail with a great shirt and a great testimony. He shares copies of a conference talk with his testimony written on the back with those he meets. He was converted after serving in war and said he wouldn't be alive if he hadn't read the Book of Mormon due to heavy drinking and smoking. The hermanas and I taught a teenager named Maya who is very bright and loves learning about God, and two young girls who told us many excited stories before we could get them to read and pray with us :) Juan Carlos had nothing to change for the Word of Wisdom or Law of Chastity when we taught him Friday and is set for baptism this week.

"Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out." G.B. Hinckley


Love, Hermana Jerman

Norman

Juan Carlos

MTC

Dando la bienvenida a Marco

I liked learning of Sis. Reyna Aburto's conversion story in Nicaragua posted on lds.org. She is the new 2nd Counselor of the Relief Society General Presidency. Check it out >> https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2018-06-0010-reyna-aburtos-story-part-1-heartbreak-and-hope?lang=eng

We taught Marco Antonio the final lesson before his baptism on Saturday. His brother did the baptizing and his sister-in-law did the tamales. Even our investigator Juan Carlos was able to come! We had a lesson with Juan after church and he told us of all the miracles he has seen since listening to the missionaries. Little things like wanting spiritual wealth v.s. materialistic wealth or having a more positive perception in general. Sometimes he rides his bike to the temple grounds to read the Book of Mormon or to the church during the weekdays to feel the inexplicable that can only be from Heavenly Father. He accepted baptism last night for the 8th of Sept!

Love, Hermana Jerman

Nuestro amigo Marco Antonio

Juan Carlos

Tamales Rojos de Puerco y de Pollo