Un Capitulo Nuevo

Feb 25 2013

Buenos Dias! 

Today I start a new chapter in the mission, not only am I starting my last change but I will be training!!! And I was called to be the Hermana Asignada (Sisters Coordinator)  --AH! (Insert Butterflies in my stomach here)

This last week has been a great last week with Hermana Cevallos. We laughed lots and made some great memories! 

1. We had a great Family Home Evening with the Bishops Family and a young couple who just got married, and Hna .... It was great. Hna A.. is starting to come back to church. Her husband is a returned missionary, but is taking his time. She is so excited to start coming back to church and has so many questions. I love her so much. She is such an example of doing what is right and applying the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

2. I got to go back to Jardines. It is part of our zone and I went on a work visit with Hna Mori. It was great fun to see some of my old investigators and to see the members. Hna Mori has helped me out a lot. How I can be happy and always think of Jesus. WHAT WOULD JESUS DO IN MY PLACE? This question has been on my mind a lot, and will definitely help me out these next couple of weeks.

3. And Best of all CESAR GOT BAPTIZED!!!! It was incredible. When I was in Jardines for the day he had his interview. But we still weren´t sure what day he was going to get baptized. Because his family couldn´t come Saturday or Sunday, he told us well how about Friday. We were all in!!! My companion wanted to be there, but we wanted his family there too. But it worked out wonderful!! There were so many people there too. The j.a.s. (young single adults) helped out a lot too. Funny thing though: during the baptism he said that maybe his family would come. Well lots of people walked in the church in formal clothes and I asked them if they were here for Cesar´s baptism. They said yes, so we motioned them into the already crowded room. Well as the last of them were entering they asked where is Katherine..... ummmm who? Long story short they were looking for the Catholic church next door, where there was also a baptism going on there. Haha.

But Sunday Cesar I think was the first one at church. He said that after his confirmation he felt different. He has already felt the difference in his life. I know that it will only get better from here. 

This past week has been good but bitter sweet saying good bye to so many of my great friends as they go home today. But I´m so so glad that I have one more change! It’s going to be the best one ever!!! 

Les Amo con todo mi corazon Peruana!! 

Hna Sandstrom

feliz dia de amor y amistad

Feb 18 2013

Hola Familia!

Como estan?

Les Amo un monton, y estoy feliz a ver les pronto!

So welcome to semana 7.... yea its weird. With the whole changes in the mtc this change (transfer) is 7 weeks not 6. So that means I have even one more week as a missionary!

This past week has been great! We had a great family home evening with the family Mendoza. They are awesome and their daughters have been helping us out a lot. Right now it’s summer vacation, so the youth have a lot more time free, and there are a lot more activities that are happening in the ward.

Our main man right now is Cesar. This kid is stellar! He has a little bit of a learning disability, and he had a cleft pallet when he was younger and recently he had surgery. He loves coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon. He’s in Mosiah right now!! I love it.

The YSA group has done a great job welcoming him in. He has come to all of their activities these past two weeks, and all of the ward activities too.  When we started visiting Cesar and invited him to be baptized, he said no, and continued to say no because he was baptized in the Catholic church just a couple of years ago.  But last week when we were waiting for an activity to start we gave him a tour of the church. We showed him the font and he was still confused and said ‘no I was baptized in another way’. Well we explained how we like to follow Jesus Christ in every way, and said ‘me too’. And when we invited him again to be baptized he said yes!!!!

I’m so excited. We are still trying to nail down the date because his family wants to participate, and be there-- yes he is stellar!!

So this Saturday we decided to fast for Cesar, that he would accept the baptism date that we had thought about. All during the day we had been proselyting like normal and we couldn’t get in a single house, investigators or members either. It has been so SO hot and we were tired and worn out. (Our area is gigantic) But towards the end of the day, we decided to wait for Cesar and to try and teach him before the activity. Our prayers were answered and he came and accepted to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!! Also after the lesson, we went to go visit a member. Turns out he was still working; but his family let us in and we started teach a family and well at least 6 of them. But there are even more that live there!!

Love you all!!!!

Con mucho amore, Hna Sandstrom

I'll be training next week :) - last transfer too - wow

Feliz Dia de Amor

11 Feb 2013

Hola Familia! 

Time is flying!! I can’t believe it! I can’t believe Hna Bosco finishes this week!

This past week has been pretty good. 

Roxana got baptized on Saturday! And it was awesome to see Hno Ruben baptize her. AMAZING! I even got a little teary eyed as Hno Ruben and Roxana stood in the font, just a couple of years ago I was doing the same thing with my dad. :)

Last Sunday a member of our ward brought a friend to church, and he even lives in our area (this almost never happens!). His name is Cesar, and he is great.  He is 19 years old and has a little bit of a learning disability so we have to go slow but its been great, and come to find out his mom was baptized years ago.  This last week he was able to come to our ward activity. Please pray for him that he can understand what we are teaching him. I know that he is going to be baptized. 

So we haven’t really been able to teach _________. They are always busy when we go, and aren’t really putting forth the effort. Although one of them was able to come to the baptism and stay for the ward primary activity. We don’t know how to help them. This family struggles and I know the gospel can really help them. 

Also our ward is getting so much better! Always room for improvement, but its great! I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have had to be her for 6 months! …and that I will finish here. I can’t believe that I’m going to be complete 17 months this week. I’m so grateful that I am a missionary right now. I know that this is where I’m suppose to be. God knows me and what he wants me to be!! Although at times its tough, there is nothing better that I would rather be doing. 

I love you all! Have a great week! Tell everyone that you love them. Happy Valentines – It’s a time to express it. If you don’t show it you don’t love them. 

 

Be good! Be Safe! 

love you!

Hna Sandstrom

A week of sayings :)

Feb 4 2013

This week again has had its ups and downs. But there have been some moments that have made me laugh out loud.  It was much better this week except yesterday when until we saw the horrible way someone was treated by a family member.  No details to share with everyone --but thank you mom and dad for always treating me right.  I am so grateful and love you more than words can describe.

Great news! Roxanne is getting baptized this week.

Most of you know that I love quotes and sayings.  And almost everyday this week I have found a new saying.  (amazing how the Lord knows each of us and how to brighten our day)

Okay so lets start with Monday

Monday: We had family home evening with family in our ward. Hno Alva has cancer in his brain, but he is almost to the 5 year mark, which his doctor said is great. It means his body is accepting it and still being able to function. Their son left just over two months ago for the mission, but this family is as strong as a rock. During our lesson he said "Jesus es lo Maximo" (Jesus is the best!) It was great. Jesus Christ really is the best. He has done so much for me and every single one of us. He is always there for us. He is ALWAYS listening. 

Tuesday: So Tuesday was rough and I was kind of discouraged.  But as we were coming home from our district meeting I saw a sticker in the bus that said. "Hoy es un nuevo dia con Dios" (Today is a new day with God) Which is so true. Everyday is new. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, everything can change and be better the next day. ANd it was. We did have a better day and that day we found 3 new investigators!! 

Wednesday: Things were still looking up. Wednesday night we went to visit a couple that is less active. They are fabulous and we have become great friends with them. He served a mission in Conception, Chile (I'm getting to hear from him what Cy is experiencing right now :) ) But this night we went with the Bishop to visit them, so they can set up interviews to move forward with their goal to be sealed in the temple. She is so excited to more forward with her family history work. The bishop said "Necesitamos buscar unidad no igualdad"(We need to look for unitynot equality)  (I’m having a hard time even speak english any more) But its true, in companionships, or in marriage what ever it may be. 

Thursday: I don't have a quote for this day, but we did hear from Roxana that she wants to get baptized this next weekend, and her dad will be baptizing her!!!  So happy dunking this weekend!

Friday: We have been teaching two sisters, and they have lots of problems in their family. Thursday one of them told us "Desde que ustedes vinieron, hay mas amor en nuestro casa.   (Since you guys have been coming, there is more love in our house) Things like this make me smile. The gospel of Jesus Christ is love! We can be happy when we apply the principles of the gospel. (Please pray for this family this week, they are going through lots of trails!)

Saturday, not much.... but we did have an ‘alza la voz’ (mom note – no idea what that is or how to translate it- a speak out?) and we got to go by the temple. They are moving forward. :)  Although we could only see a bit it’s exciting to see.

Sunday:  Angel told us "La vida es llena de detalles" (Life is made up of the details) Which is true. The small moments make up everything. We need to try everyday to make sure our details are happy ones. Because those are the marks that will be there for forever. 

Another quote from testimony meeting. A sister was going through the temple to be sealed to her husband (he had passed away two years before). She didn't have anybody who was going to represent him, so she said "Hna Irma, prestame su esposo". It was so funny. 

Oh I love people. I love the gospel, I love how it is the only way we can really be truly happy!!! 

Its not always easy and we all have our struggles. But be grateful! Love your family. Express your love to your parents. 

Love you!!

Hna Sandstrom