Love is the Motive

Dear Family,

This week was awesome, and a week of change. I actually don't really want to write because this past week we had mission conference, district meeting, a special president zone meeting, an amazing ward counsel where I stood and was rather bold, the world wide missionary training, and to top it off, finally a new ward missionary leader was called and we were able to exchange visions last night. I just want to start.... NOW!!

Like I said this week was a week of change. Turns out the temple is closed all through July so I ended up going to the temple this Friday. I was able to stay in the temple for four hours and found answers I have been seeking for along with enlightenment I needed. The most important being my necessity to have hope. I have loads of faith. I am obedient, and am doing my best. This week I studied each of the commitments I give to investigators and less actives and found the promised blessings from the Lord within the scriptures. I realized that by doing those things I too can receive those promised blessings if I have hope. Hope is the trust that God will fulfill his promised blessing. We here all the time at the end of priesthood blessings. "Sealed upon your faithfulness" If you are full of faith/ trust that the blessings will follow, they will.

At the end of this week I was amazed by the power that came by having hope. When I give my all in the hours of study in the morning I can leave my house with full confidence/trust that spirit will guide all of the lessons throughout the day. I can call upon the blessings of obedience! So powerful!! Man, I love this work!

I have this problem that I think too much... Suprise! Ha! But I always think back on lessons and see where they could have been stronger and beat myself up. But I decided to give that all up and just trust that I was led by the spirit. This was helped when an older lady got up to speak. The previous week was fathers day and me and my companion tried to stop by the older men in the ward, particularly the ones whose health does not allow them to come to church. We just went around and shared a quick message and wished them a happy fathers day. As we went to this particular house I felt guided to a scripture and shared it with a testimony but the lesson went awful, or so I felt. I left the house feeling like I had ruined this precious old mans fathers day. But as his wife spoke this Sunday, she thanked us openly and described the impact it had on their small family. It was a testimony to me that I cannot allow fear or shame interfere with having a perfect faith.

This week was powerful. I look back on my fist area can see definite improvement. Sadly the effects are not nearly as tangible but again I have full faith that there will be positive consequences to my actions.

Lesson I am learning, and should really learn before my companion kills me. I have this problem where I volunteer to do things. But as a companionship she has to do everything I am doing. All of a sudden I realize why the common response growing up was, "Ummm... Go ask Dad" Not wanting to be at blame for your answer. I have progressed to now I turn to my companion and say sorry before I volunteer us to do stuff.  Poor girl... But on the positive side of things, the ward loves us. 

I don't have much time. But I did want to send pictures!! About time... I know!!

1. My watermelon. It was green so I had to give up on my angel Moroni idea....

2. My past companion at mission conference with her new trainee

3. Me and Sister Seaborn

Faith produces miracles (especially when you get your hands and feet involved)

Dear Family,

My goal is to confine my week within 3 paragraphs. You might think this is impossible due to my previous letters but I am getting better and better at following through with goals. Last week we had an excellent weekly planning but starting from Monday they all went up in flames. We ended being called by several people asking for help and we did just under 30 hours of service this week. About 6 of those hours were very late in to the night as we packed up a family that needed to move the following morning. The following day another crisis came up that took a couple hours and cut heavily into my sleep. Getting up at 6:30 became a fight that I won only by promising myself a long nap on this beautiful P-Day. My family also has a hammock outside that I will most definitely put to use as I catch up about 65 pages in the Book of Mormon today. Doesn't that sound Heavenly?!?! Oh and guess what else I am doing today.... hehehe.... So.... we were given a watermelon this week after service and I already have my design of the Angel Moroni I want to carve into it.... I made room in the fridge last night so it will even be cold.... So I have never actually carved a watermelon so maybe it won't work but in theory it should. And there can't be too bad when there is cold watermelon involved. My companion thinks I am crazy but I think it is a brilliant idea. No worries, pictures will most definitely follow.

Me and my companion spoke in church yesterday!  I think this is hilarious! Cause the first week I bore my testimony because it was fast Sunday and so I can still say that I have spoken in church every other week on my mission. I absolutely love my ward. They are so kind to us and everyone in the ward loves Sister Missionaries. Oh and Happy Fathers Day Dad! I got your pictures of hiking in Machu Picchu. Hope Peru is treating you well!

Well I have one paragraph to go and being at the end it is the most important. This week during all of these ward emergencies I was amazed by the caliber of some of the members I was able to work with. One man in particular. Brother Ma'unga called us the first day we came into our area and asked if he could do anything to help us out. We held him to his promise as an investigator asked for a priesthood blessing. When asking him he also found someone else to come and help but when he noticed she needed help moving he volunteered to help and was with us for about 4 of the 6 hours. The next morning he was there helping again sacrificing his only day off. It was not only his sacrifice of time but his demeanor while serving. 

I am so glad to have families like his working in our ward. This was contrasted by returned missionaries who are no longer active in the church. It just brakes my heart how someone could serve the Lord for 18 or 24 months and yet not teach their children the principals that sacrificed to teach to others. Perhaps they did not dedicate their time on their missions. For how could someone fully consecrate their time and fall away. I don't know... I guess this week was reaffirming what kind of member I want to be when return and the responsibility we have to be an example of Christ in at all times and in all places. This week was a week of reflection and ensuring that I am being changed every day as I give my all as a missionary.

Love you all!

Hna. Hill

The Fun Square with Rounded Edges

Dearest Family!!

Last week I felt like I had absolutely nothing to write and now I feel like have at least a trilogies worth of stories. But last Monday I promised that I would spend some of the next Monday repenting and writing hand written letters so I will try to make it shorter.

First off, have fun in Peru Dad, Cam, Seth, and Mads. Happy Birthday Emily!!! I am still upset that you decided to come visit the family when I wasn't home. But I love you lots... Cam I cannot believe you turn 14 today!! You are so old!! And Aaron your birthday is in just 4 days!! Do you have 4 kids yet or still 3 and 8/9ths.

This week was one miracle after another. Our ward has this program called the 5,5,5. And supposedly it will get the point where we are teaching 15 less active families. Oh and I actually I did the math this week. 60.8% of the ward is inactive and 73% of the Hispanic people are inactive. Anywho, we are teaching the A. family. Her husband is a non-member, and she has two children are non-members and the other 3 children are just inactive. The lesson we had on Tuesday was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had on my mission. Toward the end I shared the experience of reading the Book of Mormon in two weeks my freshman year of college and testified of the power of change it had in my life and truthfulness of the Book. Hermana A. took the precious Book of Mormon in her hand and look me in the eye and said. "I want that change." After realizing that the Libro De Mormon was about 100 pages longer than the Book of Mormon we came to the conclusion that she would read 30 pages a day to finish the Book in 3 weeks. This indeed was a miracle but even more my Companion that doesn't really like to speak in lessons spoke up and promised that if she would read 30 pages a day we would too. I then committed both Hermana A. and Sister Seaborn the Libro De Mormon in 3 weeks.

Oh man where do I even begin.... So for my hour of personal study I read the Book of Mormon out loud. The 2nd half of Companionship study I read it out loud and then the hour of language study I read out loud. And though it has only been a couple 5 days it has made the world of difference particularly in my companion. At first she told me that Hna. A wouldn't follow through with her commitment and so she wasn't as dedicated to reading.  We have visited Hna. A. a lot and our first visit back I told her excitedly that I was on page 82 and asked her how it was going. She then smiled at me and said 3 pages. I then tried to follow prez. Hollands Counsel and she cleared up my "devastation" by saying. "No hna. Estoy en pajina 85. 3 mas de tu." It was beautiful! She then started explaining dreams she was having and started shooting off questions.

My companion then realized she needed to catch up. And how she has changed.... My first day with her she informed me that we would never go tracting. Guess who went tracting on Saturday!!  Instead of previous questions and comments she started to ask me how and why I was so motivated, and yesterday we had a solid heart to heart and she let it slip that she was starting to love her mission! She is starting to say stuff in lessons and it is beautiful how tangible the change is in our companionship. The Book of Mormon is true and there is a power within the pages of that Book that cannot be found anywhere else! Oh goodness!!

Man... Quickly.... So we have a giant list of less actives. We have been stopping by people on that list all week. On Friday we stopped by the C. and when a woman answered the door we explained we were the new missionaries in the ward and we were just introducing ourselves to members on the ward list. She asked us if we wanted to come in side. We accepted and began to talk to her. We did pleasantries for a while and ever since a couple weeks ago I have tried to set the stage by focusing really hard on different "how to begin teaching" points. I asked a question about Christ and him being the center of our lives and she responded and wide eyed I found out that this was not the less active we had thought but now a new investigator that is ready to listen. When I asked her why she let us in so quickly she responded, "My husband died two years ago and today I was so sad and prayed to God to send me someone to talk to. When you knocked at my door I saw God in your eyes and let you in." After going back to the car I realized that the C. that used to live there were actually active and we should have never really stopped at her house. I love this work. I love the Book of Mormon. And the best part is that it is just going to get better cause we have hundreds of pages to still read!!

Love you lots! Thanks for the prayers they mean the world to me! Thanks for the emails!

The gospel is true.

Life is wonderful!

Hna Hill

The Adventures of Seabiscuit and Small Mountain

Dear Family,

I have already been on the computer for 23 minutes and I still have no idea what to write. This would obviously make y'all assume that nothing exciting happened this week, but you would completely be wrong. 

Sister Seaborn is my companion and is from Canada. Last week she asked what I had written home about her and when I explained that I really hadn't said much she got mad at me. And I have a feeling Canada won't suffice. So.... Sister Seaborn..... (she is laughing pretty hard) She is super independent and played Rugby in high school. The End.  We get along really well except for the fact that I can barely keep my eyes open after planning, when she is SUPER awake, and she wants to punch me when I wake her up to go exercise. The family we are staying with is so AMAZING! I walked in the front door and there sat a Grand Piano, surrounded by every kind of instrument. When the family saw our reaction they told us to take some up to our room. So yes, we have 1 guitar and 2 ukuleles in our room. Maybe I can send some videos home of our awesome missionary songs.  That is if I can stay awake past 10. Satisfied  Sister Seaborn? She said I should also add in that she did kick boxing. But don't fear her kick boxing is no match for my Krav Maga. And don't worry family, she is teaching me how to be cool like a Canadian. I am teaching her how to love her mission. Both are coming along quite swimmingly.

This ward is amazing! First off. They love Sister Missionaries. Everyone wants us over for dinner. When I told you there was a Spanish group, I lied. There is enough Spanish to have one, but that it is a tender subject. There used to be an amazing branch here. But it was discontinued due to harsh feelings between members. The group was also discontinued fairly recently to continual disunity between different Hispanic members. It is really sad. But on the positive side, there will always be loads of work to do. I would say 40% if not more of the ward is inactive. 

The work is slowish but to that is to be expected in the first week of being swept in or so I have been assured by Sister Seaborn. I feel like there is so much to do and change, but apparently we are doing alright based on the reaction of ward leaders during PEC. 

I found the cutest, oldest, little lady from MENDOZA this week. We hit it off, obviously. And she basically has no choice about coming to church each week.  I love her!! 

Pictures-

1. The N. grandkids are staying a couple days and they must have heard us walking around super early this morning. So after we got back from running they came up and we made Micky Mouse Missionary pancakes. Yes, I know I have a talent.

2. I miss the temple so bad. I was spoiled rotten being able to go to the temple once a week while living in Utah. As I was going through pictures I found a picture I took of the Provo temple back when I was at the MTC. I am so excited to go to the temple at the end of this transfer. 

3. I love this sister so much. Her and her husband are incredible. I can't wait until they are able to go to the temple. 

Love you all, so very much!!

-Duh