November 14, 2016

HEYYYYYYYY FAMMMMM

This week was sure a good week.  We have two new investigators! WOOHOO! Pricilio is Alicia's husband (she is a member of our church) he accepted our baptismal invitation....so we are planning on teaching him!  Alicia hasn't gone through the Temple yet and expressed that she wants to go through together with her husband.  Our other new investigator is Carolina.  She was a reference from an Hermana in our ward.  She has a family and is catholic.  We are going to work with her.  Hopefully she will sincerly pray about our message.  Last night we recieved another reference.  He is 18 and lives close to our house!  We are going to try and find him this week. Trying to find people is so fun!  Tomorrow is changes!  I may leave Ysapy or stay, can even maybe have a new comp! Hermana Maldonado is getting a bit emotional with this change being that it's her last.  I am good at distracting her haha We visited Olga! Please pray for her son! He is in the hospital.  We made tortillas with her and her family.  I have lots of pictures from this week.  Yesterday we celebrated Estanilas Birthday!  We made a cake with Deysi.  Also, I was a makeup artist again this week.  I did Hermana Soledads makeup (we have lunch with her every week - she has 3 boys) Things are going really well in YSAPY!  Seriously love this area.  We get to hear from Elder Rasband on Saturday!!!! For p day we are going to visit some different cities for fun!  I have heard a lot about TRUMP here! I cannot believe the votes! Mom the book of Moroni is such a good section of the Book of Mormon!  Sums up a lot of the gospel.  Tell Stacie hello and happy birthday!  She looks so good.  The boys are such good boys! So lucky to have them as brothers! Sure am getting excited for Navidad!  The people here are already decorating! LOVE YOU LOTS and hope you have a great week! 

Love,

Hermana Alexander

Pizza!

Selfie with the Pizza Man!

Olga & Patricia!

This photo haha

Seriously the cutest!

Dinner with flia Rodas..sure love them!

Look what Pablo caught!

She loves her mangos with salt!

Love this little girl!

Before......

After.....

Made with Love!

Feliz Cumple Estanisia!

Yummy!

Celebrating!

HALLO ABBY

this week is flying by fast we get out at 12:20  sweet. soccer was so close should of won we lost 2-0 lame i wasn't felling good last week but i didn't 

barf thats good there was  and still is a lot of  sneezing. mom and dad went to Las' vegas this weekend stayed with grandma and Alison. It was a slow weekend but fun moms back. 

LOVEEEEE JOSHHHHH

  

JOSHY JOSH

Minimum days are sure the best huh?! Do you get out everyday this week at 12:20 or is it just because it is Monday?  I am sure you are quite the baller at soccer.  I am sorry that you weren't feeling well....but it is such a good thing that you didn't barf.  Sounds like you had a good weekend.  Sleepovers at Grandmas and Alisons.  LOVE YOU BUD!  Oh are there any new cool songs on the radio? 

hi abbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy this weekend on my soccer game i scored 3 goals we won by 2 the score was 5-3.this week is flying by  fast we get out at 12:20 sweet.basketball is coming soon can't wait.bye abby love adam 

CHUBS

WOAH! You scored 3 goals??????????? WHAT A BOSS! Basketball is one of my favsssss.  A great sport!  How are the Sacramento Kings doing?????? So awesome that you get out at 12:20.  Getting excited for Christmas Break????? LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU ADAM

Hey Abby, it was a normal week of school, but we had Friday off for Veteran's Day.  I stayed at Nate Killian's house with Mike VanWagenen since Mike and our parents were gone in Vegas.  We made lots of bike trips to gas stations and ate a lot of junk food.  Also, a lot of fast food.  Hope your doing well in Paraguay.

Love, Michael

MIKEY MIKE

Hey I have seen photos of you and you are getting so tall! WOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That must have been nice to have school off on Friday!  Oh thanks for setting up skype for me!  Apreciate it!  Thats fun that you hung out with Mike and Nate!  I am sure it is always a party together.  

Hey Abby

 This week was actually very exciting for myself.  I got A's on all my tests and now have A's in all my classes! I got my ACT score back as well... I got a 30 on my first try! Dad was bragging that he got a 31 though, so I couldn't really brag to him.  Upstage and everyone went to Tahoe which turned out to be very fun!  We all bonded as a group and had a spiritual time.  As you probably know Trump won the election so that's a good thing, Joey and Dad were very excited.  Water Polo is also over now, and I get to go back to baseball, but water polo was actually very fun. (It helped I have gained 15 lbs, and my whole body is tan). Tomorrow I also get to go teach a family with the missionaries so wish me luck.  Anyways I hope everything is going alright in Paraguay, and I hope the language is continuously getting easier.  Know that we are praying for that as well as your safety.  Have fun and endure till the end! Bueno Suerte!

-Matthew

MATTHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my! 30 on the ACT???????? WOAHHHHHHHHH that is seriously so awesome! BYU bound! Tahoe must have been a party with everyone!  Mom sent me a photo of everyone.  Loved Alyssa's caption with kiss the girl haha Trumpppppppp haha lots of people here have talked about him! I am sure you are very tannnnnn.  Seriously so awesome that you get to spend some time with the missionaries.  You get a piece of my everyday life and for your future.  Enjoy every moment.  Really feel the spirit and teach with your heart. 

love youuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Abby,

TRUMP WON!!! I also got a mug that says Make America Great Again from Las Vegas. I went camping to Dillion's beach with Ryder, Jack, and Eli We got to jump off the sand dunes. We also get out at 12:20 this week and then have thanksgiving break. We stayed at schmeatts house for the weekend because Mom and Dad where in Las Vegas. Anyway, Hope you are doing well and find those who are searching for the Gospel.

Love, Joey

JOEYYYYYYYYY JOE

awwwww I love Dillions beach! I am sure you had a great time! So awesome about your mug! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUU - sorry my time is up

November 7, 2016

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Crazy to think that I only have a year left of my mission! Almost 6 months down haha! WOOOO! Boy the mission is flying by....sure enjoying every second!  I am starting to truly love the mission.  It is hard sometimes but I sure love it! Learning lots! 

This week was the week of Claudia and Pedros wedding and baptism! We took lots of pictures so get ready for a photo overload! Their baptsim and marriage was a really special day for them.  They had lots of support from the ward members which was really nice.  Our ward mission leader baptized them.  On Sunday they were confirmed and are offically members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  Their daughter also had her baby blessing. We had a good time getting the font all ready.
We also had Zone Conference.  I was able to speak with President Evans.  It was so nice to express how I was feeling - He gets it.  We have changes next week!  Who knows what will happen.  Lots of people think that Hermana Maldonado and I will stay together....whatever happens I know is what the Lord wants. Paola attended church by herself this sunday and told us that she wants to get baptized!  She also has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying with her boyfriend.  They are talking about getting married! They are planning on next year, but hopefully we can convince them to get married sooner hahaha It is a step in the right direction! We also talked with Andresa and Christan again....Christan attended church too with his grandma, but not Andresa.  We read over 1 Nefi cap 8.  I know one day she will accept the gospel.  

We did service at our bishops house! It was fun to work with the Elders too!  Elder Starks threw a frog at a palm tree.  It was stuck in a well for who knows how long so he figured he'd help the poor frog in pain out haha  We also ate some coco.  Oh and just so you know - this week I ate a pig head, a pigs tongue, and a cow tail.  We also helped out a family in our ward sell fried chickens.  The Elders and us had a great lunch.  

I love all the photos you sent! Looks like you all had a great Halloween!  So exciting about the CUBS WOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! You will have to tell me who wins the Election.  Yah I will sure pray for our Country.   Thanks for the prayers and for fasting for me!  Please pray that we will find investigators.  We are going to focus on this a lot this week.  The District loved the chocolates!  We made pancakes.  I will bring the popcorn this week.  Hermana Maldonado loves rice krispie treats and captain crunch.  Mac n cheese not so much! More for me hahaha That is seriously so awesome that Joey has a baptism recommend!  Dad tell everyone at the funeral hello!  Sure loved the pictures! Everyone looks SO good! LOVEEEEE YOUUUU ALLLLLL

Love,

Hermana Alexander

Such a special day!

He loves his toy motorcycle!

Our last official lesson before their baptism!

Service at the Bishops..chopping down some branches! 

Selfie with Tobias!

Loves his dog!

They remind me of Joey & Joshua! Oh and I'm wearing pants!

So cute!

They sealed the deal!

Happy Day!

Love this!!

So blessed to be a missionary!

Thought I had small feet haha

Doing Naida's hair and makeup! So fun!

She is all ready and looks beautiful!

Pretty cool little car for Angel!

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!