Week 5 - it only takes 20 seconds of courage!

Well family it's been quite the week. I found out one of our investigators has actually been planning on joining the spanish christen church for 6 months and she's talked with her pastor and everything already. We're holding some hope for her husband and kids but it's been hard to get a hold of them. Our other investigator, Irma is gone for this month to Organ and so we cannot see her and she can't progress for that time. Anna still doesn't have permission from her father to be baptized and they keep going to the English Ward and not ours. 

 But on the plus side...

Manuela and Fabian (family with the 7 kids) have had harmony in their homes. They are getting along better as a family by reading and praying together as a family and as a couple. We went to their home for dinner and the kids were quietly playing and talking with us. We had quiesidilla hamburgers which is basically lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese in a tortilla. They say I've inspired them to drink more water and eat more veggies. Go Public Health! They were laughing and relaxed and we were able to have a spiritual lesson with them. We took manuela and Jasmine with us to Anna's home for her lesson afterwards. Jasmine was actually excited about going to church and going to teach Anna. It was a miracle and answer to her mother's, Manuela, prayers. Anna also agreed to go to our ward this Sunday. 2 prayers answered with one visit. 

Never underestimate the power of hymns. We were at an inactive Ssiter's home. She hasn't gone to church because of headaches and she doesn't like the loud noise from kids. We talked to her about family history and sang Famlies Can be together and right after that, she said what time's church? I hope we can get her going and get her into family history.

Another little miracle of mine, all 6 missionaries learned about family history pedigree charts on familysearch.org and newfamilysearch.org. I looked on Wends and I had a misrable 3 branched tree: me, mom and dad, and their parents. Nothing else. However, when I looked on Saturday, someone updated it and Dad's side goes back 2 more generations after Papito Glicerio and the work has been done for them! It's amazing and I am so blessed to see that! Check it out! It's easy to make an account and it's a great missionary tool.

La sociodad de socoro fue como Cristina or Jerry Springer el otro dia. Fue una clase de orgullo. It was crazy. There were voices raised, hand pointing, passive agression, interrupting. I even got all latina and threw in how refusing to apologize is a form of pride so hold grudges is not in harmony with tthe gospel but man was it intense. Thankfully, the hour finished before it got too wild. We are going to focus on ward unity this week. We don't only encourage people to invite non members to their homes, but inactives and members also. They must feel the spirit in our home and maybe even stay for a missionary lesson when we eat (mom, Miss Lisa maybe?).

So this week, I had a goal of Opening my Mouth. I've been very timid lately and it's time to bring out the Ginger in me. We were driving and I saw this lady raking her leaves. It took 20 seconds of courage to say stop the car! It took 20 seconds to decide to help her out. It took 20 seconds of offer help. It took 20 seconds to mention the Restoration. It took 20 seconds to give her our number. It only takes 20 seconds of courage to introduce someone to the gospel. I don't know if she'll call us, but at least she knows the true church exsits and she has our number. Remember that when you go to Open your mouth. 

Love you all!

The Frustrations of a Bilingual Mission

I have been called as a spanish speaking missionary, but I guess I forgot to consider the language gaps between families. While the majority of our families speaking dominantly spanish, there are some families that have a language gap. We have one family of investigators that has a solely spanish speaking mother, solely english speaking father and bilingual kids. Do they go to the spanish branch or English ward? We have a mother who solely speak spanish and a daughter who solely speaks english. Where do they go? We do not want to split families when they go to church, but whichever ward they go to, it will be challenging but worth it. This also means that we may lose some of these investigators to the English speaking missionaries, but on the plus side, they will learn the doctrine in the language they feel most comfortable in and they will be edified.

 

I had an emotional rollar coaster this last Saturday. It began at 4:45pm when we ran into this women walking her dogs on our way out of an apartment complex. She and I started a pleasent conversation about dogs and weather and then she inquired about our religion. I told her we were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She began expressing all sorts of misinformation about our beliefs. She is very well versed in the bible. I was able to clear up most of the misinformation like that we believe in the Trinity. We believe in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that we have an opportunity to live with Him again for eternity. It was so wonderful that she was open minded enough to realize that we have aligned beliefs. However, she was very adament about the impossible versimillitude of the Book of Mormon. She believes that Joseph Smith wrote it when that is not so. I tried to explain, but there Spirit was not there to help me so I knew anything I said would not convince her. She says she has been praying to know the whole truth of the gospel. I firmly believe that we can be the answer to her prayer. Even though I did not have historical facts to back up everything I know, I know that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost is real. I know that the Gospel was restored to the earth because Heavenly Father loves us so much. We gave her our emails and maybe one day she will contact us to learn more about the truth we hold. We may not have physical evidences but that's the beauty of a testimony. We don't need those evidences to believe the Gospel. God has confirmed it in our hearts with the Holy Ghost and that is something no one can disprove.

 

We were late to our dinner appointment from that impromtu discussion, but once we got there, we had more teaching to do. I have learned on this mission how much parents do for us. Our happiness pleases them and our ingratitude hurts them. A child rejecting a gift which a mother has worked so hard to give breaks my heart. This is the only family we ever get and if we do not take care of it, we will not be with them forever. During this lesson, we were also trying to coordinate a ride for an investigator. Finally, someone called back and agreed to drive them. Thank goodness! Next hour, we visited one of our investigators. She is such a lovely person and she believes the Book of Mormon and everything we teach her through the Holy Ghost. However, she does not feel ready for baptism yet. I tried asking her again if she would commit to baptism. She said she had great faith in everthing she's learned from us, but she is waiting for an answer and she knows without a doubt that she will get one. How foolish I was to doubt her faith. Over the timespand of 4 hours, I had experience love, excited, anger, frustration, desperation, happiness, motivation, remorse, anxiety, sadness, and hope.

On the plus side, I know that we were were the answer to that lady's prayer. I know that the Gospel is going to help bring that family closer together like I have seen in my own family. I know that our investigator will recieve an answer of confirmation today, tomorrow, or next month. I can't convert people but the Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ and God can. " If any of ye lacks wisdom, let him ask of god"

 

-Hermana Zamora

Week 4

I'm sorry I couldn't do personalized emails this week. The library gave me an hour limit and I am racing against time right now. I wish there was more time to share everthing that's been happening. It's been hot but the biohemisphere has been beautiful once the ash from the sky has lifted up. I met people with the most amazing testimonies. Here's one experience.

 

Let's see. One of my coolest experiences was this older member we visited the other day. She is 85 years old and a widow. She came from Mexico with her husband in 1958 to Palm Desert. She got the missionaries and was converted and so was her daughter but the husband wasn't receptive. She and her daughter kept praying and then their prayer was answered when her husband got a heart attack. He came into the hospital dead but thanks to god, he was saved and got baptized 2 weeks later. She and her husband became temple workers and missionaries. Her husband died 2 years ago and she feels she still needs him. But she knows that god loves her and the gospel has blessed her so much in her life, she has absolutly nothing to complain about. She says her health is failing, but she sees it as god preparing her to come to heaven. What an optimistic lady!

 

I've realized that everyone's been low in numbers this week because of the transfer. We're going to have 8 missionaries in our little branch by the next transfer. We already have 6. It's crazy how much the Lord needs us right now. If everyone was active in out branch, we would have enough people for 2 wards! Mom and dad, thanks for being so hospitable to the missionaries when they have dinner with you. You turn the TV off, have good conversation, give healthy food and desert. I see now why you emphaisized that so much as a missionary. I have now realized what a humble ward I'm in. They have to feed 6 missionaries now but they barely make enough for themselves. They do have faith that they will be blessed if they do what the Lord asks.

Week 3- Valley of Ashes!

So I arrived in Redlands A-ok on Tuesday, Aug 6. I almost slept in. Thankfully, my neighbor came and woke me up. Within 10 minutes, I was heading towards the bus stop at 4:30am. For the first time during this whole mission experience, I was actually getting a little nervous. It was similar to that feeling one gets when they are about to ride a huge roller coaster. There was a lot of chaos at the airport because there were hundreds of missionaries heading out that day. It was so lovely to talk to you all on the phone, except Manuel. Way to answer your phone.

 

My branch president always taught us that we, as missionaries are constantly being watched and heard by everyone. On the plane, there were missionaries who sounds like as my banch president would say "A teenager with a tag on". But on the plus side, I heard an Elder behind be talking about the gospel with this non member during the whole plane ride. I was so happy to hear someone in missionary mood already.

 

So the plane landed and I got to meet my mission president, President Vancott and his wife. They are so lovely. I am so excited to work with them. They are only in their 40's and they are already mission presidents. The airport had lost half of the missionaries luggage including my own so I was a little bitter pants but at least I had my carry on with clothes! I also made friends with others that lost their luggage so that was a plus. We had a super long orientation and then we had a lovely dinner at the President's home. For a while, I forgot that I was on a mission because I was just having so much fun socializing with other missionaries in church clothes. So I concluded the day thinking that even though it's deathly hot (108 degrees), my luggage got lost, my carry on got lost for a while, I was super tired, and hungry BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, I made new friends, I recovered my luggage with extra service, I got delicious food in my belly, and I got to take an amazing 15 minute power nap on a comfy bed.

 

The next day is when we were finally going to begin the work. We awoke, ate breakfast, and did some scripture study, then headed to the mission office. There, I met my new companion for the next 3 months, Sister Fogg from Indiana. During the meeting, it was amazing to hear how fast missionary work is growing in this area. This mission opened in July and they have been drafting missionaries from surrounding areas like San Bernadino, Riverside, and Archadia. Most of the trainers have only been out for 6 weeks. Most of us new missionaries will become trainers in about 6 weeks which is crazy. I better get to know the area well right away.

 

To my unpleasant surprise, we got the desert area of the mission centering on Cathedral City and Palm Desert. The reason I have called this section 'Valley of Ashes' is because there has been a huge wild fire in the mountains right next to us. The sky is covered with a grey-brownish darkness causing aberration to the sunlight. The sun was an ignited circle of fire in the sky shining like an orange stage light. Stepping out and inhaling the air was like being near a campfire including the heat, color, and smell. I went to my first dinner appointment with the Sanchez family. They were a lovely family like I've never met before. I am going to meet a lot of families like the Sanchez on my mission for sure. We got to our apartment so I could unpack and get to bed. My apartment is older. It doesn't have too much furniture and it smells a bit funny. I unpacked my things and I found Netty's note and my 'On the plus side' embroidered pillow case. For the first time, I felt home sick and uncomfortable, but the moment I saw that pillow case, I remembered what I'm doing. I'm here to teach the beautiful gospel to the people in Cathedral city. I am going to love these people and serve them in anyway possible. So even though I am in an older apartment, experiencing different types of people, and dealing with a difficult weather situation, ON THE PLUS SIDE, I have air conditioning and running water and I can speak and understand Spanish.

Week 2 going on 3

Training to be a missionary is similar to training to be a secret agent.

 

All the missionaries have been studying hard this week on contacting people, teaching the gospel, and inviting them to baptism. Now it's time to put it to the test. The teacher walks into the classroom with a room full of missionaries. Ok he says. "An investigator will arrive in 15 minutes. This investigator is an inactive member and it is your mission to reactivate her in the church. They will be arrive in room 227F at exactly 8:30pm. You have 10 minutes to prepare a lesson to give her a reason to return. Once inside, you will have exactly 40 minutes to use your acquired special set of skills, knowledge, and power of the Spirit to commit to coming back to church. Do not be late in your return. Now go."

 

That TRC experience went very well but my companion, Hermana Gonzales and I learned the most after the discussion was over. Turns out that that investigator volunteer was a real convert and she shared with us her story. She said she was most impressed with our charity and kindness towards her and how our lesson tailored exactly to her needs. It was so wonderful hearning this because it was this  exactly trait that my companion and I were struggling with and now improving. Sometimes, letting people know that you sincerely care about them comes before teaching them the Gospel.

 

Before the mission, I thought being a missionary was about going door to door talking about the gospel, but I have learned that there is some much more than that.

1. Believe you can baptize. Your effectiveness as a missionary decreases as your belief decrease. So don't stop believing!

2. Find interested people

 

There will be more next week! BYE

Hermana Zamora

The 1st email!!! : Greetings Mortals!

Hola Familia!

 I'm so glad I finally get to write to you guys. We're only allowed to write on P-days so it's been hard to wait. I'm alive, happy, and well just so none of you worry. I hope no one shed too many tears when I left!

I'm having so much fun here. Seriously, "it's not missionary work, it's missionary fun!". Everyone here has so much energy to work and learn and all the sisters look super cute in their missionary outfits. I have 3 roommates who are also in my district and we have so much fun together. Two of them are also from California who got called to Bakersfield. Nearly my whole district got called to Bakersfield so I am grateful that I am at least going to Redlands. They asked what Bakersfield was like and the only thing I could think of was "it's very agricultural". Everyone in my district seems so young (18-19) but that's because none of they have been to college yet or left home. Since I'm in the advanced group, I am among a bunch of Mexican people with only 2 white people who have lived in Puerto Rico for 3 years in our zone. I admit right now that my spanish is awful, Papi, see here that I'm putting down my pride. It's really hard to read out loud and I don't have a lot of confidence speaking with the investigators. The other day I heard someone say "mujer (women)" instead of "mejor (better). So they were saying my life is women with the gospel. I offended one of the investigators the other day because I kept using "Tu" instead of "usted"

Everything was fun and games until the work came. I really enjoy studying and I'm trying really hard to be in tune with the spirit, but my companion is a bit osiosa and she doesn't like to study and she's always late. I'm trying to be patient but man is it hard. I've learned that it's going to take more than charm and a smile to get people to listen. The only way to succeed is trusting in the Spirit entirely. The first lessons we taught we excellent, but then my companion stopped studying and the 3 lessons we did yesterday were awful. I told one of them that he would never be with his father again on accident. I'm still trying my best and I'm going to try to have a better relationship with my companion. On the plus side, I am getting so much better at memorizing scriptures in spanish. I've memorized 2 and the First vision. The food here is so fattening and we spend so much time studying so we wake up at 6am every morning for the optional work out and that keeps me feeling great. I can't believe that I leave for Redlands next Tuesday! I look forward to putting 100% into the next few days. This is my mailing address for the MTC:
Sister Diana Ginger Zamora
AUG06  CA-RED
2011 N 900 E Unit 227
Provo UT 84602

Some business items, I forgot my SD camera cards in my black satchel and my laptop. I bought another one for only 4 dollars so I am taking pictures but I can't send any right now because I didn't get the cord. Once I'm in Redlands, I'm going to buy a camera and continue my On the Plus sides. I've been seeing Heather Van Waganen a lot here and it is so wonderful to see a familiar face. Bev sent me brownies for my district and a letter. It's so wonderful to hear from her! There are some negative people around and being positive is hard, but don't worry family, a crack of light can light the whole room. Someone said "talking of the devil...", "Elder, it's speaking of the devil" haha.

Quotes from Elder Bednar from Characteristics of Christ

"Who we are and what we do is more important than what we say"

"Christ turned out when the natural man would turn in."

Be selfless and faithful in all things you do. The natural man would tempt you to put yourself above all, but remember how Jesus took the time to heal the solider's ear after taking upon all the sins of the world.

Always find the plus side,

Hermana Zamora