May 26th

This past week was a great one! Like every week. We had ANOTHER baptism this saturday. It was lovely. His name is Nestor and he is such a sweet soul. He is married and has a family and unfortunately his family did not attend the baptism and are not supportive of his decision. I could really relate to him, because I was in the same situation when I was baptized almost 3 years ago. (yay). I was able to share my experiences with him and let him know that Heavenly Father does not forget about us. EVER. A song that I love is called A Chils's Prayer... it has helped me a lot this week because I know that HF listens to us and when we're in times of trials. He's there with us. 

We have cambios in 2 weeks! Cambios here come soo fast. I have enjoyed being in a trio and I'm excited for the new missionaries to come! We were able to hear our president speak this Sunday and he spoke with much power about serving a mission. That he comes from a family of missionaries and that "there is no wordly excuse to not serve a mission." I love him. I hope everyone has a super duper week! =)

Here are the lyrics to the song A child's prayer... 

  1. Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer? 
Some say that heaven is far away,
But I feel it close around me as I pray. Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
"Suffer the children to come to me."
 Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.



   2. Pray, he is there;
Speak, he is list'ning.
 You are his child;
His love now surrounds you. 
He hears your prayer; 
He loves the children.
 Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav'n.

Love

Hermana Cardona

May 19

Friends and Familia,

Dolores and her son Alain were baptized this past Saturday! It was truly something special to see two of God's children make covenants with Him. They were both very happy and I know that they're going to progress so much with the gospel in their lives. 

This week we had a seventy come speak to us. It was a very spiritual experience and he was very bold and powerful when he spoke. Elder Alan R. Walker and his wife were awesome. They are a very special couple and helped us realize what we can do to become better missionaries. Okay, something that the seventy told us that I really really liked was this... because an elder asked... ¿como podemos entender la expiacion de jesucristo y ponerla en practica todos los dias? because he also mentioned that we are going to leave this meeting all enlightened and full of faith but that faith probably wont be as strong in a week. How can we be this strong every day? And not just when we hear an apostle speak?

"entender el actitud de jesucristo y el amor que el tenia de estar en la cruz y pedirle a Dios que los perdonen porque no saben lo que hacen.cuando entendemos la actitud de jesucristo vamos a tener el deseo de cambiar"

and he also said.. "la accion atraves de la fe nos salva"

"levantarnos rapido y seguir adelante"

he said a lot of good stuff. but really the one thing he wrote on the board was this...

El Arrepentimiento = El Proceso de Cambiar

I loved that! becase, well, there are so many good sister missoinaries here that are just such sweet spirits and amazing girls. They are naturally kind and very loving. I feel like im not like that. I don't know why. But I admire them and I know I can change and become better so that being nice and loving, and more like Christ will become MY nature. Even though I know they still have to try and work at it. I just feel like they're so good and I want to be like that... theres a quote from Gordon B Hinckley that I saw and I loved it. It says... somethin along the lines of this..

"envision the kind of woman you want to be and base your actions off of that woman you want to be." I'm paraphrasin of course. but i just got the really strong feeling this week that I need to be a better woman. A better daughter of God and that I want him to know that I am trying. I feel like being on the mission isn't enough. Like I'm here. Great. Now what? I gotta do something while I'm here and help someone. I just feel like I can do more. He also shared this:

Testimonio = Creer

Convertido = Practicar/Accion

I like how he said practicar. not do it perfectly. But to practice. Cuz practice here on earth won't make perfect but it will sure bring blessings and comfort.

I love being on a mission. It's tough, but very rewarding. This scripture has really helped me this week. We know that we have weaknesses, and that we're not perfect. But, Heavenly Father loves us the same.

27- And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto en weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. 

Con amor,

Hermana Cardona

May 12th

Friends and Family!

Happy Mother's Day!=)

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.

I got to talk to my family and it was amazing! I loved that I was able to see them. I know that God has blessed us all with a family. 

Today was a rough, but good week. With Mother's Day and all. People were not home or did not want to talk to us. We visited 22 people in 2 days and had ONE lesson. BUT, Sunday we had five investigators go to church! Heavenly Father saw how hard we were working even though we weren't getting the results right away. In our zone meetings we have been focusing on being more diligent and always being obedient. It has helped me a lot, because Heavenly Father wants us to keep progressing every day. Not just every once in a while. I hope everyone has a super good week! 

Hermana Cardona

CINCO DE MAYO!

Friends and Family,

I'm in a TRIO!!! Hermana Parker is from Pocatello, Idaho and she is a sweetheart. I love her already! She is learning spanish and is doing well. It's so amazing when she bears her testimony with the little Spanish she knows and we feel the spirit SO strongly. It's true that the spirit speaks every language. 

This week has been a learning experience because being in a trio has it's pros and cons. We have new blessings and new things to improve. We can double our work with members that are willing to do divisions with us! Serving the Lord has helped me have kinder eyes and see people as children of God. We are teaching a family right now that just lost their baby of months and the plan of salvation has truly touched them. to have the knowledge that they can be with their son again has changed their perspective on thier situation. One recent convert bore her testimony yesterday and said that the gospel makes her happy and she truly knows that Heavenly Father wants her to be happy. Her testominy helped me reflect on how blessed I am and how happy I am. I hope everyone has had a great Cinco de Mayo! Thank you for your replies. They help me!


Love 

Hermana Cardona

 April 28th

Buenos dias todos y todas,

This week has flown by and has been a good one. my companion has helped me see the things I can do to become a better disciple of Christ.

Our mission president sent us a new card explaining how to leave a blessing in an investigators home. We have truly felt the spirit during these blessings. People are in tears because they say that they have never felt that way and want to feel it again. It's really neat. Mothers day is coming soon!! Yay! 

I want to share this scripture with everyone because it has really helped me learn how to put my trust in the Lord. Things become easier when I do. 

"But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him." Mosiah 29:20

okay. on page 98 of PME in spanish it says this...

"Debemos orar para saber como podemos ayudar a los demas y QUE ESTEMOS DISPUESTOS A SACRIFICARNOS POR ELLOS. my favorite part was the part i put in caps. duh. anyways. well i love it. we too often pray for things but arent willling to do His will. i love that. praying fr the strength to do His will when we know it.

oh and my new fav scripture is in 2 nefi 32:9. 8 too but mostly 9 haha. i love it!

Peace and blessings! I hope everyone has an awesome week!

Love,

Hermana Cardona

April 21

Hola!

Good afternoon everyone. I hope everyone had a really good Easter weekend!! It was really intersting here this weekend for us because of Semana Santa. The streets were empty. Desolate. Everyone went to el D.F. and nobody wanted to talk to us because of the vacation. It was really hard, but we met some really nice familes and we're going to visit them this week.

A scripture that i read this week. and fell in love with it. proverbs 3:5,6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Clean Apt. Award!

We had interviews with president. omg that man is called by God. seriously. after talkign to him i felt so inspired and just full of the spirit. He always has the right words to say. cambiuos are next tuesday. yikes. i hope i stay here. i have grown so close to the members. oh! and i spoke during sacrmaent this past sunday. i was last and they left me like 20 mins haha it was terrible. but i talked reallllyyyyy slowwwww haha so i took up just enough time. and other converts spoke too. it was so neat seeing them speak. i loved it.

One thing I feel prompted to share with everyone is something that a recent convert told us. That after she was baptized... no one visited her. Ever. Not once. She felt really lonely and that she didn't matter anymore because she was already baptized and on to the next. It made me really sad to hear this, because we talk about it every Sunday. Love, charity, humility, that we are ALL brothers and sisters. She is such a strong convert and has a solid testimony. She's a big example to me because despite of her experience with the church, she knows that the gospel is true. I hope that we can all lend a hand to our neighbor, co.-worker or person that sits alone at church. It shouldn't be like that. Gordon B. Hinckley nailed it when he said "Every convert needs a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the good word of God.” But we all need that. I've noticed here that most people are going through some pretty rough patches and they just need someone to ask them if they're okay or what we can help with. OR like Jeffrey R. Holland says, that listening is more important than what we say. (I'm paraphrasing). We got a lot of work to become more like Christ. I know I sure do!! I hope everyone has a super chido week.


Love,


Hermana Cardona

April 14th

Buenas Tardes!

This week has been so exciting. My companion and I have learned how to listen to the spirit. Things are so much "easier" when we let the spirit be in charge and just follow it. We have met so many wonderful families beause we followed the promptings of the spirit. 


Well this week has been good. there are so many investigators. but i found an investigator from the USA! hes 19 and he speaks english and wants me to teach him english. hes a really good person but says that he hasnt found a purpose in life yet. so we´re (HF) to help. Its really neat beacuse he wants to be a better person and he knows that HF is the only way. how do some people just know? its way tight. and anthoer lady that is a saint! and she is getting baptized next month. and we have a baptism the 26! yeee hoo! It makes me so happy when investigators come tochurch, read or pray. it is so awesome. well the culture here is that the people that have the least money give the most food and gifts. its super neat. i dont get it. and the people that have more dont give us any. its funny how we have to have little to be humble and be willing to give the best to others. anywaz. im good. this lady gave us a bowl of fire. hurt me bad. oh and i loveeeee our zone. we have the funniset elders and hermanas. theyre way tight. and super humble. I never feel alone. I feel HFs love all the time. Even when we have a super chafa day. chafa means sucky. the elders use it haha. the mish is way cool. im glad im here. transfers in one week. nooooo. i dont want to leave this area. i loooove it. i love the people here especialy the sisters. theyre like moms for me. everyone says that we have to invite them to our weddings and come back to mexico. yadee yada haha.

I love this scripture because at the end it says... "well if you know these things. then just do it. duh." easier said than done. i know. but being here and telling people that we´re representatives of Christ.. their eyes light up. so if i know these things... then I better just do it. all the time. 

Mosiah 4:10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.


I really enjoyed conference. Elder Adukaist said that we should be willing to do God's will when we find it. That was really powerful to me because I have thought of how often I want something so bad or dont. And I didnt even stop to think of what HF wants. lame. and when i find God's will, will I be brave and faithful enough to do it? I liked his talk. 


Something else I remembered is what Eder Corbridge said which was.... "We are more than human, we are children of God." wow that was really powerful because not everyone knows that. And everyone should because when we know that. We feel His love. I just see alot of people here that have really bad family situations and lose hope well... in life. Thats super sad. I dont know if HF gets sad, or stressed (if he does i can imgaine He has high blood presssure) but I get sad hearing that from people and I know that with God everything is possible, like it says in Luke. And that Christ received the most opposition. He´s such an example to me because I feel like He´s by my side tellin me, "I kow, it´s hard, but your one of His children and if I can do it. I know you can too." One thing I remember from the MTC is an elder telling us to CHOOSE to be happy. It´s not a state we just fall into. We choose it. I love that. I dont know whats going on with me haha, but i feel that i have the capactiy to love like never before. It´s HF. Strange but very wonderful and the same time. 

During our district meetings we always practice how to share the gospel with someone based on their needs. Im not shy but sharing the gospel all the time can be a little intimidating, but our mission president has made it a goal to talk to everyone because we are all God's children and we all need the gospel. I love our mission president. He is truly a man called by God.I hope everyone has a muy buena semana. Thank you again for your comenatrios. They help me lots.

Love,

Hermana Cardona