October 31, 2016

HELLO FAMMMMMILLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aw seriously SO happy that it is Monday! This week was way better and Hermana Maldonado and I are doing really well!  Getting along great!....you could say we are best friends!  Communcation is getting better each day.  We had a good heart to heart discussion about how we were feeling and it has been better ever since! We also had some bonding experiences this week.  It was a busy but good week!  So we actually hear from Elder Rasband in Nov. This Wednesday we had Zone Conference and we got to hear from Elder Bragg who is a member of the seventy.  He talked a lot about how this is the work of the Lord.  He shared the scripture in Lucas 6 verses 12-13.  He talked about how we need to be prepared to meet an apostle of the Lord.  He explained that we can do this through prayer, etc.  He also discussed D&C 18:44 and how when we invite others to repent and help people, it leads them to get baptized.  President and Hermana Evans discussed how The Book of Mormon is a book of power.  This book is what opens the hearts of those we teach and contact.  We also practiced contacting with Elder Bragg.  

Pablo and Claudio are getting married and baptized THIS Saturday!  Hermana Maldonado and I are beyond excited! They went to church by themselves this week! I also had divisions with Hermana Santos in Luque! She is from Texas and we have SO much in common. I got to work with her for a day and spent the night with her.  We had some amazing lessons together.  We taught her rencent convert Angela.  She is 9 and is the cutest.  We went over lesson 3 and she pretty much did the teaching haha We also taught their investigator who has a drinking problem.  He showed up to the lesson in the chapel drunk....Hermana Santos didn't know what to do.  I asked if I could share the scripture about how the Lord always has his arms open to all and how he wants all to follow him.  We had him read it and he felt the spirit. We also taught another investigator who looks like Robin Williams haha We discussed the Restoration and the Book Of Mormon.  I invited him to read the chapter that talks about how the Bible isn't the only word of God.  We also taught a young mother and disccussed a bit of the Plan of Slavation and read the Proclamation to the Family.  Hermana Maldonado and I need to find new investigators...which calls for contacting more!  We actually contacted a mother Juanna who has cancer.  We are going back to see her this week for sure.  

Hermana Maldonado sayyyyssss thank you for the package and the sweets!  She loves the food and the fuzzy socks!  I have some pictures of her eating a rice krispie treat haha She is from Otavalo-Imbabura.  You will have to tell Brian! We sure enjoy everyday together..lots of laughs! Our lessons are united and she is kind with helping me! She does my hair sometimes too! I straightened her hair the other day! Oh yesterday was really neat...I got a blessing.  I have been feeling stressed and have been having stomach issues.  Elder Stark and Elder Smith gave me the blessing.  In the blessing it talked about how I just need to put one foot in front of the other when there are times that I feel like I can no longer do what I need to do..  Have complete faith that the Lord will provide the rest if I put forth my best effort and work hard!  My family is greatly blessed because I am here.  Read my Patriarchal Blessing and look for the promises that are occuring. I have family and friends here.  It was a good experience.  Also we got our phone stollen on the bus so we went to Asunción twice. I saw Hermana Scott..it was a fun moment!  I am sad to hear that Grandmas sister passed away, but it is such a great blessing to know that our family is eternal and we will see her again.   Love the Halloween costumes and haunted houses! I cannot believe Maryn will be home in Decemeber.  The mission is sure flying by! LOVEEEEE YOUUU ALLLL hope you all have a good week. 

Love, 

Hermana Alexander

Luke 12-13
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, he called unto Him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.

D&C 18:44
And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father.

Matching fuzzy Halloween socks!

Making tortillas! Yummy!

Please pray for Estanisia and Naida..Naida is our recent convert and her grandma is having health problems!

She saves the wrappers..don't you think she looks like Mulan?

We love our package!

Cute kiddos!

They love the lollipops!

H

Hermana Agosta did a visit with us!

Hermana Santos!

October 24, 2016

Hermana Maldonando and I had another great and successful week!  Lots of great things are happening!  Pablo and Claudia are getting prepared for their baptism and wedding.  The date is set for Nov 5th.  They are so ready for this step in their lives!  They attended church again and even got interviewed by our Stake President.  He said they are ready for Baptism.  They are getting to know everyone in our ward which is so great!  I also gave Claudia my black moo moo dress so that she has something to wear to church on Sundays.  Her expression was unforgettable.  Pure happiness! She kept saying how much she loves the dress! The ward is getting involved and helping them and making sure that they feel like family.  We also have been having lessons with the members in our ward.  It makes such a difference in the lessons.  We had a good lesson with P and Hermana B.  P has been having the discussions for awhile....before I came to Ysapy.  She knows in her heart that this is the gospel that she needs for her family. We discussed the Family Proclamation.  It is hard for her to decide and commit to baptism because her boyfriend isn't interested and has never had a discussion with the missionaries.  To add to that her family is Catholic and want nothing to do with our religion.  We discused how she needs to set the example in her family.  We told her to discuss religion with her boyfriend and to make sure they have the same goals.  We also told her that they should pray and read the Book of Mormon together.  She attended church with her daugther this Sunday! This was such a blessing because many times she says she will come and she doesn't.  I have been learning a lot and pondering about the importance of this life.  The family is so important and a HUGE blessing.  Also we only have success and happiness when we put our whole heart, mind, and strength in Him.  This life is to become like our Savior.  A and C have been having relationship problems because A doesn't want to get married...we are working with them.  On the bright side they attended church this Sunday! 
It makes me so happy to hear that everything is going well for you and the family.  Sure love the pictures!  Guess what!  Elder Rasband is coming this Saturday to our office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be an unforgettable experience!  Also so exciting for Logan and Hunter!  Those are great calls! 

LOVE YOU ALL!  

Hermana Alexander

Ceci & Mati!

Ceci is a recent convert..Love her and her family! Mati calls me amo :)

Pablo, Pedro, Claudia, & Hermana Maldonado!

Love the crazy pics haha

Sure love these people!

Hermana Maldonado talking to Elder Stark haha

Pray for Estanisla and Naida! Nadia is a recent convert and her grandma is having some health problems!

We love the fan! 

October 17, 2016

HELLO from Ysapy!  Boy this week was a busy one!  I took lots of photos as well so get ready for an email overload! hahaha So I will just write some of the highlights from this week.  All of the missionaries in our zone participated in a stake activity with all of the youth. A TON of youth attended which was SO awesome!  We did divisions with the other missionaries and with the youth and taught less active members in the stake.  Our investigators Claudia and Pedro attended Sacrament meeting!  The attendance this Sunday was 130! It was the Primary Program. They sure loved it and there little girl did too! It reminded me of the boys singing! aw sure miss them!  

We had a really great lesson with Andresa and Christan.  They were thinking about splitting....we had them read the Proclamation to the World and discussed with them the great roles that a mother and father play for their children. I expressed with great love that their child is their joy and I know that they want what is best for Angel.  I said the true way to happiness is this gospel and living by it's principles. The spirit was so strong!  We also taught Olga who is a member and is struggling with her health.  We read 
D&C 58 verse 4.   It talks about with great afflictions comes great blessings.  This was such a great reminder for me.  We constantly need to be firm in our faith. Through the Savior and through our faith we can do all things. She is in the hospital but was able to recieve a blessing. MARINA had her baby! It is a boy! I am very close with this family.  We were able to visit her yesterday!  We also visited a member in our ward who is struggling with her faith as well.  I discussed how we constantly need the Savior in our everyday lives.  Afflictions help us cling to our Savior.  What was sweet was that she wanted me to say the closing prayer.  I did! 
I ate bamboo as well as a tart mango with salt.  Hermana Maldonado LOVES tart mangos with salt and bamboo.  She said people from her area eat this all of the time.  I also got to experience and watch chickens getting ready to be cooked.  Their legs were all tied.  One was already dead but luckily we left before anything else happened haha 
It is starting to get SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hot in PARAGUAY! HOLY COW! People say just wait until December!  As Hermana Maldonado would say....Santa Vaca hahaha All the electricity went out in Paraguay yesterday.  We have had lots of storms which make the weather EVEN hotter. THANK GOODNESS FOR ICE CREAM.  Today we had a zone activity! It was fun getting to know our Zone better.  We played Volleyball and shared pictures and had a water balloon fight.  YAY for p day clothes!  Hermana Maldonado loves the Sunscreen that we packed haha of course I let her use it! WOW everyone is getting engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So crazy and so exciting! I am so happy for Hanna and Abbey! Mckay visited Upstage! I am sure that was fun to see and catch up with him.  Hope he is doing well!  My Spanish is IMPROVING! WOOHOO!  Overall it has been a great week! It makes me so happy to hear that all is well for you guys!  LOVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE everyone back home! Sure appreciate your prayers! 

Love,

Hermana Alexander

D&C 58:4 For after much tribulation come the blessings.  Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

Eating ice cream to try and stay cool..but wearing sweaters haha Crazy weather!!

Late night noodles after a hard days work!

Representing Paraguay!

Happy Halloween from Paraguay!

The toads here haha! They sound like cats!

Don't worry..I was really careful! 

Haha! Life in Paraguay! He kept poking their heads!

Hermana Alexander & Hermana Maldonado :)

Deysi in a tree..being the photographer! 

Cute trio!

Just your normal walk through Paraguay!

Feeding the Chickens!!

Showing us her tomato plants..reminded me of DAD!!

Marina and her new baby!

October 10, 2016

Hello from YSAPY! I got transferred as well as Hermana Scott! So another Pink Wash in San Jorge.  Changes were CRAZY!  We found out on Tuesday who was leaving, but had no idea where we were going.  We said our goodbyes to a couple of families.  Pablo was really sad....I've never seen the expression that he had that day.  People could not believe that we both were leaving.  We did all that we could for San Jorge... our time was up.  On Weds we met at one of the churches with all our stuff at 5:30 in the morning.  The Assistants to the President had lists of missionaries and I went in a specific car.  I am about two hours away from San Jorge.  

My new companion for this change is Hermana Maldonado! She is from Ecuador.  She has had many experiences in the mission and was in this area previously.  She ends her service in December.  She only speaks espanol haha this will sure be a blessing because I will keep learning.  It is difficult sometimes to communicate, but I know it will get better. Everything is temporary hahahaha  I have taught her English as well.  It will be a win win for us.  Our area is HUGE.  We have Elders in our area as well.  Elder Stark and Elder Smith.  They are Americans! Goooooo America! Our ward is seriously SO friendly!  Feel at home!  They haven't had an American Sister for a LONNNNNNGGGGGGG TIMEEEEE. Soooooo I am one of the lucky american sisters who gets to serve here! We were able to have a ward service project where we helped clean up a school.  

The Lord is seriously so great.  We were able to receive 5 new Investigators with a date set for Nov. We were just contacting and happened to contact a lady who is a member and her grandson was also baptized.  What was cool is that Christens girl isn't a member, but is interested in this gospel.  They attended church this Sunday as well.  They have a cute son Angel too!  Andresa has a date set for November 12th.  She is 19!  We also met the friends of Christen, Pablo and Pedro, and Cloudia.  Both are 19 and have a cute baby girl as well.  The other brother is 21.  They also have dates set.  They were very interested in what we were teaching them.  We have had one of our recent converts Daysi help us out with lessons.  She is sweet and helpful.  I was grateful that she told my comp that we should teach together....she hasn't really had me speak much....all a learning process. I don't know hahaha There is a reason we are together.  It can be difficult, but patience and love is a must.  She has had 3 Americans comps.  I don't think she really liked them....I think I am here to help her know American's aren't bad hahaha I try to do nice things like cleaning the dishes and taking out the garbage.  What I love about Hermana Maldonado is that she loves music! We have music playing a lot.  She likes sleeping to music as well. I bore my Testimony too on Sunday!  We have been really discussing repentance in our lessons with our Investigators and members.  We had a really good lesson last night.  We taught Paola the end of lesson 2 which is about the Plan of Salvation.  

Also a funny thing.....it was our second night in Ysapy and there was a rat in our house.  Hermana Maldonado and I got on a chair and she got the broom and killed it.  I will send lots of photos.  We cleaned the house this morning and later today we are going out with Daysi and just doing things around here, BURGER KING MAYBE TOO HAHA playing a lot..We also teach later tonight!  Seriously appreciate your prayers.  SEND PICS OF HOMECOMING!  So glad that you are all doing well.  OH FRANCISCO is getting baptized this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Literally SOOOOOO happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you all and seriously LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MONDAYS.  That is crazy that Joe will be in JR HIGH.  Exciting about Josh getting braces.

Love,

Hermana Alexander

I love this family! So sad that I couldn't say bye to Francisco because he was working! We left him a note :)

Pablo and his sweet Mama!

Abel Family 

Hermano Blanco

Goodbyes to Hermana Granados!

Hermana Martin..Love her!

Goodbyes to all of the Hermanas in our District!

Vialba Family 

Matching Paraguay Jerseys! Love Hermana Scott!

My new companion haha!

So gross!

EWWWWWWW!

Ward Service Project! The shirts were huge!

Que guapa here is a hard worker!

She makes the best tortillas! And this bathroom was super clean haha

We sang Happy Birthday to him in Spanish, English, & Guarani!