March 27, 2017

We got here at 4 in the morning for our immigrations.  Hermana Pardo and I had to sign some papers and I had to do some finger prints again.  We head home at 11 tonight with our Zone leaders.  Was fun to see some of my friends that had immigrations too.  We sure had a great reunion.  I AM SERIOUSLY SOOOOOO HAPPY FOR THIS CHANGE WITH HERMANA PARDO! She is seriously AMAZING.  We teach super well together and get along so well.  I am her 3rd companion! And yes, I am a Senor companion again. Getting old in the mission haha  The Lord sure has blessed me with such great comps.  She is from Santiago, Chile.   
Finding new people to teach was sure a tender mercy for this new change. We were blessed to set a baptismal date with two sisters, Lettycia and Evalyn.  We actually contacted their Grandma first and she made it known that she wanted us to teach her grand daughters. Lettycia is 16 and Evayln is 15.  We also had a great lesson with Beatriz and Marcelo.  In this lesson, Beatriz expressed that she was angry with God due to her 
miscarriages.  We greatly expressed our love for her and the love that her Heavenly Father has for her.  We expressed how God works in mysterious ways. In the moment, we might not always know why things happen, but in the end they are usually unfolded in His time. I felt very impressed to say that I am here for her and that the Lord gave me one more change to help her with her conversion process.  Really think she will have a change of heart and humility.  Please pray for her and her family. I can't even express how strong the spirit was.  
We get to watch the Women's session this Saturday before General Conference.  Hermana Pardo and I are really looking forward to it.  Overall, this week was full of lessons. Oh and we were able to witness Hector give a blessing of health for the first time.  Was such a great experience.  He is a recent convert.  This gospel seriously changes lives.  He invited this old gentlemen to have lunch with us and we were able to share a message with him.  Hector doesnt know it, but he is sure a missionary himself.  We have been having some rain in PJC.  We got SOAKED! I will watch conference in Spanish.  It is such a great feeling to understand everyone and to be able to communicate.  Was really happy to hear that Hermana Pardo was my comp.  We actually knew each other before from the mission.  We have mutual friends. AND we get to speak Spanish all the time.  She is learning English too and enjoying it. I am also learning Poruguese and am able to speak it too.  So exciting about the bonus room.  Also tell everyone hi during the Upstage proformance.  Sure sounds like everyone is doing SO well.  Also mom, this is me telling you, dont be nervous about singing.  I am actually singing lots! Sure having great experiences singing with everyone.  Send Susan, Noah, Jodee, and Mike my love.  Fun that they are here to visit.  LES QUIERO MUCHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant send pics, but for sure next week when I am at cypher!

Love, 
Hermana Alexander

March 20, 2017

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

This week was quite the week with my birthday, the work, changes, AND we moved! I felt very loved this week and had many days of celebrating with the missionaries, members, oh and cake haha 

Summary of our week

Monday - Spent most of the day with the Hermanas and visited Hermano Ramon

Tuesday - Normal work day, but for Distrcit meeting we celebrated my birthday with cake (thanks to Elder Silva - there was even 20 candles)

Weds - Woke up to a Mexican dance and song from Hermana Gonzalez, got lots of calls, spent time with families who helped make the day extra special :) was a perfect birthday

Thursday - MOVING DAY! Was pouring, but we manged to get everything moved - couldn't have done it without the Hermana Leaders and the Elders in our Distrcit - We even rode in this truck of the mover and we were basically off roading in the rain! Luckily we were able to get some work done.  I had a division with Hermana Rolim and we were able to talk with Zulma..she wants to get baptized, but she does need a bit more time so that she truly has a firm testimony.  We shared Mosiah 18 and that really made her think about baptism.

Firday, Saturday, and Sunday -

 We had a great lesson with Beatriz and Marcelo - we shared Heleman 5 :12 - it is the scripture where it talks about how Jesus Christ is our rock and foundation.  He is our strength to overcome all things.  I truly feel like we can have a baptism with them.  Just need a bit more time like Zulma - just need to fully act on thier faith

We had the big Relif Soceity celebration with our stake - was fun to be with all the Hermanas from all the wards

On Sunday we taught the primary - sure was so fun! We sang songs and taught about prophets, general conference, and the Book of Mormon.  The cutest part was that they asked if we were going to teach again this upcoming Sunday

BIG NEWSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I am staying in PJC for this upcoming change! We found out yesterday who is staying and who is leaving.  Tomorrow we will find out who our comps will be - was crazy to hear that I was staying - I even started writing my goodbye cards and they were planning to have a farwell for me too haha (have been here for a long time - with this next change It will have been 6 months here, BUT I am so happy here) The members were sure happy to hear that I was staying - Hermano Ramon Ortega said that I should just get a PJC citizenship card.  What is sad is that Hermana Gonzalez is leaving.  We will find out where she will be heading to tomorrow.  I will be with Hermana Perez for one night and then I will have my new comp. 

Hope you guys have such a great week! Sure sounds like you are all doing so well.  SO happy to hear from the boys - they are sure busy! Send them my love! Thanks for your love and support! Sure love hearing about everything.  Also congrats to Em and Kevin! So exciting! Thought that was cute that she was wearing the watch in that one picture! Tell her I am happy for her.  ALSO I LOVE THE STORY ABOUT THE MISSIONARIES AND THE PICTURES ARE AWESOME- Send them my thanks! Those elders seem fun! AW miss the McCollam family.  Missionaries sure love FHE with members - we have a combined one with the elderly Hermano Ramon tonight and we are going to make Mexican Tacos again, but with the hermanas and elders!

Love,

Hermana Alexander

March 13, 2017

THANKS FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES xoxoxo

SERIOUSLY LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH

I cannot believe that I will be 20 in two days! Looks like Dad and Michael celebrated well.  Sure lovin´ Mikeys long hair - suiting him well. (is long hair the thing back in the states?)  That will be so nice to have Sister Missionaries in our ward - you will have to let me know where they are from. We have daylight savings too, but next week.  We are heading towards fall - WOOOO and we get one more hour! 

This week was sure a week of blessings - seriously cannot thank my Father in Heaven for difficult times, but then when the trial of faith is accomplished, blessings pour! (read Heleman 10: 4-6 - sure comforted Hermana G and I this week) The family DeLeon wants us to come back and teach them - the hermano had a dream about us helping them continue to prepare for their baptisms (God is so good) We have plans to visit them this week.  Also we had conference with the District -all 5 Ramas attended! Our chapel was filled with members - seriously the work in Paraguay is growing! ALSO we had 3 investigators attend - Beatriz and Marcelo (their first time) and Zulma (her second time) In the conference they talked a lot about temples, family history, and the sabbath day.  President Evans and Hermana Evans were there too.  President Evans talk was sure great!  Also funny story - we had a frog in our house and lets just say it was really interesting getting it out haha  We are still making plans to move - the office is helping us out with that.  We also taught a hobo- he asked for money, but we thought a scripture and a prayer was better :) - it actually was really sad, but we greatly expressed the love that his Savior has for him and we offered a prayer.   Also that picture on FB - two of the boys have a baptismal date for the 1st of April.  Leo (cousins with Diego) is for sure ready and is friends with one of the young women in Rama 3 - we want her to come with us when we have a time set with him.  Another great thing is that we contacted Mabel, she was an old investigator with the other missionaries awhile back - we found her (thanks to the carpeta and the spirit) and she is so ready! We just have to help her husband have a change of heart so they can get married and that she can get baptized - Hermana Antonia is going to help us with this situation.
We have some plans with the members for my birthday and the missionaries in my District and Zone have some fun stuff planed too! Oh we also had Taco night with the Gonzalez family - sure was yummy! They are such a fun family! I will send some pictures! Oh news - hermana G had her first paracite, but is doing well and it passed! (everyone has the welcome to Paraguay at some time)  Changes are on tues, but we find out the changes on Sunday.  Anyways send everyone back home my love and I hope everyone has such a great week! Thanks for your prayers! LOVE YOU ALLL

Love,
Hermana Alexander

Helaman 10:4-6
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thous hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people.  And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but has sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God.  Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

Getting a Liz squeezeeeeeee

These little girls are the so cute! They were making food for us 

Hermana G trying to feed me haha (was dirt - but arroz con leche according to our cooks)

We love going to the Laguna

The family of Ramon have so many pugs - was sure happy to hug this pup

Hermana Gonzalez flippin the tortillas

Pros at cooking! 

March 6, 2017

HELLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOO FAM BAM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND MIKEYYYYYYYYY - celebrate lots for me! I love you guys so much! 

This week we had a great get away and went to Concepción! We heard from Elder Batalla.  He talked a lot about working with the members in our wards and branches and gaining their trust.  We also heard from President Evans and Hermana Evans, they talked about chapter 10 in Preach my Gospel.  It talks about how we need to meet the needs of our investigators and not just teach the lessons.  (Always a good reminder to teach them on thier spiritual level) We stayed with Hermana Thomas and Hermana Fisher - LOVE THEM! Hermana Fisher was in the same group as Hermana Gonzalez in the CCM and Hermana Thomas was in my group. We took lots of pictures.  The bus drive was sure an experience - It was 4 hours..there was no air, but all of the hermanas and elders made the best of it and played games.  It sure is humid - wayyyyyy hotter in Concepción - I'm grateful pjc has nicer weather!

This week was bascially us contacting - we had some great lessons, but are struggling to get baptism dates. We found lots of people this week so we will for sure try talking to them again.  We also are going to try and look for past investigators from other missionaries that were here (thanks to the carpet)  M and B said that they need more time and just want to for sure know (in reality they know - but it is in their timing and the Lords) We actually were blessed this Sunday and recieved a reference from a member! We have an appointment to meet with his friend who attended church for the first time.  We even gave him a Book of Mormon.  He seemed very interested and his girlfriend (she lives in Brasil is a member) We also met a Brasilan frat and there is one boy victor, who is very interested in the church.  Was pretty neat though - we all read 3 Nefi 11 in portuguesse. The spirit was So strong along with the gift of tongues! I truly felt like we all knew each other before and we promised to visit them in this life - are really are good boys!  I'm learning to speak portuguesse now - lots of the people we have contacted are from Brasil, but live here. 

The mission is seriously going by soooooooo fast! Kinda freaking out haha working hard sure makes it go faster! I make the most out of everyday - my motto! It will be fun to celebrate in PJC with Hna G.  We are getting along SOOOOO well! Never a dull moment together.  The members are pumped for my birthday too! I have been here for awhile - Have connected the most with the people here!  Changes are in two weeks..I will probably leave or stay one more change...only the Lord knows.  I really DON'T want to leave.  It will be so hard to say goodbye.  It's been a good Pday. We actually have done a lot today - exploring PJC, shopping, ate, and visited with the members ahhhhh  As for Mosquitos..I have been careful and have been wearing leggings and socks when I sleep - havent gotten bitten in a long time. I have gotten spider bites - that was interesting haha but I am all good! Oh we are actually moving houses this Saturday!   We are moving closer to our church building.  The location is actually really pratical for us! It's in the middle of all of the areas we cover. 

Oh I forgot to mention that while we were contacting we ran into a catholic apostle! He was super nice and actually told us that we could stop by again....butttttttt probably not haha Sounds like you guys are doing really well.The boys are busy with school and sports! Our backyard looks sooooooo pretty! AWW exciting things are happening.  I hope yall celebrate those march birthdays and enjoy being together as a family.  I appreciate your love and support! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Have a good week.  Also read Doctrina y Convenios 9 verse 8.  Really appreciating the importance of prayer and how we can pray at anytime! The Lord sure knows what's best for us.

Love,

Hermana Alexander

Conference in Concepción!

Have our bus tickets!

So beautiful and green!

She's the best!