''We just have to remind them to choose him again''

Good week not much to report. We have had a little rain but most days we are still working through the heat.

We are still on the hunt for more souls to save but we have been teaching a man named Hector and he is golden. He was raised Catholic but believes more in 'energy' right now. The funny thing was that when we first contacted him we thought he was a 'snake' (or someone that is really more interested in flirting than hearing about the gospel) but I forgot to write that when I took down his number so I called him and we set up an appointment. To our surprise he is really prepared. He recognized the spirit from the beginning and he said hearing everything is like remembering something he had forgotten- or putting words to a belief he already had. We are excited for him.

The other week he did ask our opinion about extra terrestrials... that was an interesting conversation.

My companion loves to say: The people out there already choose to follow Christ once before this life, we just have to remind them to choose him again.''  It has been so much fun helping Hector remember. Pray that he can come to church this week please.

We FINALLY got the conference addition of the Liahonna so I have been on cloud nine enjoying that this week. I want to share something from Elder Utchdorf's talk he said: ''If we look at ourselves only through our mortal eyes, we may not see ourselves as good enough. but our Heavenly Father sees us as who we truly are and who we can become.He sees us as His sons and daughters, as beings of eternal light with everlasting potential and with a divine destiny.''

I want to challenge you to look through your Father's eyes and give yourself to him. Recognize that your value is not in who you are now or who you were but in what you can become.

Elder Uchdorf continues:

''God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, adesire to believe, and trust in the Lord.''

Give yourself to him. Let him take you. He knows you better than you. I promise.

I love you guys so much!

Besos

Hermana Saunders

Just another week en la obra del Señor‏

This cambio both of the Elders in our sector got taken out so this week we have been getting lots of calls from the elders white washing. it has been a good laugh. We are happy to have Elder Évelo and Holt here. We are now a branch full of greengos. 

Natalia (the convert) has been telling her sister about the gospel for some time now but this week we finally got to teach her for real. She is so special. We taught her the plan of salvation because recently she lost her baby daughter (she only lived for 5 minutes) We normally break this lesson up into 2 parts because it can be really complicated for people to hear it for the first time. She was so hungry to know everything that we taught her the whole thing and she still wanted to know more. It was a miracle lesson. The spirit was incredible. She is golden. Her only impediment is her boyfriend. She is going to vacation for a few weeks but today we are going to give her a book of Mormon to take with her and read.

Diego the recent convert is going to EFY this week. We are excited for that.

Friday mooring a women we met on the street (an old investigator from Concepcion) invited us to her house for lunch. We made Humitas (like the Chilean version of tamales) out of corn and onions in her small kitchen with baby kittens at our feet and her 3 children running around the house. It was a blast. She sadly wasn't interested in coming to church but her 8 year old daughter begged us to take her. The Elders at our branch got a good laugh when we walked up to church hand in hand with her (vamos a bautizar puros niños jeje) but maybe she will drag her mom with her this week because she love it.

We have been finding a little more but we are still on the hunt. 

I love you guys! Keep reading your scriptures and saying your prayers!

Besos

Hermana Saunders

Disfruta

Cambios! Don't worry I am staying in the dream sector LINARES ;) but Hermana Ovando is leaving our trio. I'll be staying with Hermana Black. I am glad to have another cambio with her.

This week went so fast. We have been finding a little bit, but we will see if any of our hopefuls will progress this week. 

We had a water fight this week with all the youth and young adults as a going away party for one of the Elders in our ward, Elder Bianco. It was sososo fun. It reminded me that we need to take brakes sometime. That we need to ENJOY life not just endure it. 

 Hermana Black told my something her stake president told her and it kind of stuck with me: if you aren't enjoying the mission you aren't doing it right. I look at all the sweet amazing companions I have had an realized that all of them have tried to teach me this same thing: This mission is a once and a life time thing so you gotta love every minute!

I was pretty inspired by a letter from the famous Hermana Prettyman this is what she said:

 ''Its like a hike, we cant just focus on the pretty view at the end but we have to stop and BE STILL and enjoy all the beauty that is along the trail.  We have to become like children again and ENJOY EVERYTHING, and discover new things about the world or ourselves as we walk this path of life that we are on.''

Post mission she is  still inspired to help me be happy!

So a focus for this cambio: look at the beauty of the life around me. Not just the numbers.

I would invite you all to do the same. Reaching our goals are important but we have to remember that God's ultimate goal for us is our happiness. 

Love you!

Besos

Hermana Saunders

New Year's wishes new, a new member and New Roomates

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is funny how just when you get in these slumps God sends you people that help you see things better.

We had a mini cambio Wednesday with Hermana Shepard and it was exactly what I needed. I went to Calquenes with her we left with the most awesome member, Nicole. I won't bore you with details but I left feeling really blessed, and reminded that missions are about people and needs and not numbers.

New years eve was quiet, spent with an old couple that fed us a cows worth of meet. I felt so loved. They are awesome. 

Saturday Diego's Baptism was a success. The spirit was so strong and he was so excited. His brother, Felipe, who has been a member for a year now, baptized him.

Diego asked his father, Andres who is not a member, to give his testimony. WOW it was powerful! He talked a lot about how he knew the church is true and that God has put them on this path so they can be an eternal family. We are REALLY praying he will be the next baptism here in Linares.

Well after a great Sunday where Diego got the priesthood. We got home feeling content and happy to plan... when we realized we were not alone. The Bathroom was completely destroyed and disorganized. A RAT got into our house! The whole room was scattered with it's poop! yikes!We searched the house to find it but were unsuccessful until I went into the kitchen a half hour later and it was chilling in our dishes!!! It ran out when I screamed and after that we couldn't find it again. oops

We put some traps down that we got from the neighbors.

When we got home the other Hermanas found more droppings in there room but no other signs of the beast. so we just cleaned everything down and went to bed. 

At 2 in the morning, we all woke to the scream of Hermana Orozco who had found the rat scratching on her leg!

They managed to lock it into the closet and came and slept in our room. The wicked thing kept us up all night scratching the walls. When we looked this morning we couldn't find it. How it got our and where it is I can't tell you but we are going to be buying plenty of rat poison today.

Oh the adventures on the mission.

I am really great loving life. Keep working on your goals! 

Love you!

Besos

Hermana Saunders

Diego's baptism

Christmas pics 2015

What a good week. Christmas in the mission is the best. It really doesn't feel like winter with all the heat, but it was great to be able to focus on Christ 100% this year. Thank you for all of the Love you sent my way. You were all in my heart.

We had a Christmas program in Concepción and it was so great to see all of my old comps and great friends.  I got to stay at Hermana Graham's house and talk with Hermana Ormeño on the bus rides home. They literally amaze me. I am so bless to be in the mission with such wonderful people and to have had such awesome companions.

We spent Christmas eve with the family Sefente Muñoz and got permission to stay out an hour later. It was such a blast. They are some of my favorite people here in Linares. 

We got together with another zone and played games for a few hours in Parral. Talking to the fam was the best Christmas day.

I am excited to have more days to work this week (never though I would say that) we are having a baptism this Saturday for Diego and have just about everything ready. He is so excited. His family is getting really excited about it too. I am really hoping that they will want to follow his example after Saturday ;)

My brother gave me some really good advice and I want to share it with you. He told me that we can't separate our spiritual life and our day to day life. I know that God is here to help us in every aspect of our lives. So as you plan your goals for the year, I would invite you to consult the Lord on how you are going to improve and seek for his help. He loves you. He knows your needs. I love you too. You are very important.

Besos

Hermana Saunders