Buenas Tardes familia. Tengo noticias...Im off to El Paso tomorrow...Horizon/Socorro, Texas I think it's called. It is about 10 minutes from the border of Juarez Mexico. But Hna Batchkoff says (Cuz she was there before she came here) mom don't worry its like the 2nd safest city in the united states even though a river separates it from Juarez! Loco. My new companion grew up speaking Spanish aparently and is from San Diego, so she should help me out with Spanish :)
Today we went to the park with a family in the branch for a bbq and ultimate frisbee...so I don't have much time. Took in as much green as I could...It is like against the law to have a lawn in El Paso because of the water shortage. But..HAPPY 4th of JULY! I hope you are all enjoying your day. This week has flown by. I can't quite believe it. And I can't quite believe I am leaving Hna Batchkoff :( We've been together a total of 7 MONTHS on our mission wohoo! I sure will miss her.
This week we found LOTS of new investigators and made progress little by little with the Ramirez Family. Oh and Salvador our awesome investigator came to church...stopped drinking with his friends...drinking Coffee in the mornings. We had taught him a few lessons weren't sure if he was totally interested, then we went back one day to see how he was and he came out with his Book of Mormon, sat down and asked if we were going to have a prayer. Wow. How cool. So hopefully I will hear news that he is baptized here soon.
We found a black family who speaks spanish! Rare...the wife is from Columbia and the husband from Cuba. Janette has talked to missionaries before. She was so excited the first time we say her. Oh I love that story about whats his name with La luz....hahaha. We brought Hna Mendoza with her and taught the Restoration again. Hna Mendoza is SO COOL. Seriously love her. Yesterday was testimony meeting and Hna Mendoza got up and shared her testimony about how that lesson helped her KNOW the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. It is something you have to feel...not just believe with your mind. The Restoration has so much power. It is so cool to see how people can change. Yesterday we were sitting in church next to the Ramirez family...the whole family that never happened before. The Jurado's sitting in front and Salvador our new investigator sitting with his new buddy Hno Perez...Missionary work is so cool. The more time that passes the more I realize, it truly is in the Lord's hands. Not mine. I am simply a willing instrument to make it happen if it is His will.
I've thought a lot this week about the importance of sharing your testimony. And not just saying something but really meaning it. Yesterday we taught a woman from Cuba we found when Hna Batchkoff was backing up, I just gave her a pass-along card and told her we would come by the next day. When we returned she had looked at the website and was ready to listen. Wow. I remember really trying to bear testimony. And I could tell, with sincerity, it meant a lot more to her because the Spirit touched her. She started to open up about her son who is suffering from a heart disease. She was so excited when we gave her the Book of Mormon. All of these incredible opportunities we are finding and I am out of here. But there are more people to find and to touch wherever I am off to in El Paso.
I LOVE the scripture 1 Ne 4:6~ At times we feel like we are going blindly but listening to your heart, to your thoughts, to the Spirit. It always leads you where you need to be even when you don't realize it.
Okay one last thing...we had the coolest experience with the Ramirez Family this week. Man I love them. So Jorge is the 13 year old who doesn't want to really be a part of this but his Dad is making him because the parents want to go to the temple. We took a new approach this time...we went in and just talked to the kids. Laughed with them. Then tied in the scriptures and prayer. I always ask Jorge to pray but he never will. This time he did. the whole family came in and kneeled down. Jorge said the most beautiful sincere prayer asking Heavenly Father to watch over his family and take care of Abraham. After the prayer his Dad who he doesn't get along with to well came over and gave him the biggest hug! Oh my gosh...so cool. After sacrament meeting on Sunday I shook Hno Ramirez' hand and with so much sincerity and tears filling his eyes he just said...thank you. Hna Batchkoff has a mission to continue with this family. I know that is one of the reasons she is staying here. They need her. and I can't wait for the day when I hear that they are going through the temple. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is that simple. Find out for yourself. I promise it can help you.
Se que Dios esta con nosotros. Cualquier cosa...hable con el. El quiere ayudarle. La oracion es la manera a conocerle. Se que el evangelio fue restaurado y milagros pasan cada dia si dejamos todo en las manos de Dios y seguirle.
Happy 4th of July. I love you all so much....I don't have any more time. Until next time....from El Paso.
Con todo mi amor,
Hermana Holland
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