Translados

  Well, the time has come. The Time is far spent, there is little remaining....Be fixed in your purpose for Satan will try you, the weight of your calling he perfectly knows, Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh, His arm is sufficient, though demons oppose. (Hymn 226)

Hermana Huefner is being translated, from Hel(Centro) to who knows where. Probably Heaven. The girl's an angel. But I'll be getting another companion tomorrow. It will be weird, but change is a good thing. 

I'm getting more in the hang of this missionary thing. At least I'm learning to love the people, but when have I had a problem with that? ;) We had an awesome lesson with C and B Wednesday on the Word of Wisdom. Obviously I can't go into too much detail, but when C read the pamphlet and saw that living this law was a qualification for baptism, he thought all hope was lost for him. That all of his past and current mistakes had made him the vilest of sinners. It was a beautiful moment to testify to him that no, all hope was not lost, and that Baptism is where those sins and mistakes are washed away, and we are given a clean slate, a chance to start over with God on the path that he wants us to go down. C listened and his overall countenance just relaxed, and he told me that I'd made him feel better. And then he said, "Yes. Yes, I think I will. I will do it." We've been so blessed to know C, and he has so much faith despite his fears. Sadly, he didn't join us for our last lesson, and guilt and Satan and whatever it may be are getting to him, but He knows that this is what He wants, and Heavenly Father loves him so much. I have to say, I feel like I'm Cs's missionary. You know how I told you I feel like I know these people. There were only a few people who I've felt a stronger impression with, and C is one of them. And so I know that C is on the right path, and I may be just a drop into the bucket, but there is a purpose behind everything, and I'm supposed to be here right now, teaching C and his family. 

We had another heartbreaking but good lesson with N and D. We were blessed to find them both at home together. It was a few days after the Supreme Court decision, and so the topic came up, more naturally than it should of. I testified of the importance to families, and the sacred relationship between a man and a woman to create life together and be a part of the furthering of the Human family. I shared my family's connection with Same Gender Attraction and testified of a higher form of love available for those who chose to love someone despite the lack of physical attraction. It broke my heart as tears started to roll down D's face, and honestly I began to feel like the worst person on earth for in a sense hurting her. She got up and left before the end of the lesson, and that ate at me most of the night, and into the next day. But despite that, as I said my prayers that night, I poured out my heart to my Heavenly Father for her, and asked for that peace. I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and peace as the Spirit testified to me that I had said what needed to be said, and that Heavenly Father would protect her and keep her safe. So despite how much Satan tried to get me to feel so bad inside, I knew that Heavenly Father was satisfied with the testimony I bore. 

Another cool miracle we had was on the 4th of July. We were supposed to be in our Casita by 6. It got to be 5:00 and we were finishing up a few things. The last few things on our list to do were Pizza and water for the casita. (We have to fill up with clean drinking water, like we did in Ecuador) So we headed over to find the pizza place. We get there are like 5:35, and wait in line for a few minutes and then order. After they take our order and give us the change, it's like 5:40. As we are walking to go sit down, they say, "Oh it will be about 15 minutes..." DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS, we're not going to make it home in time!!! But we waited awkwardly, and tried to fill up the time. I looked at the clock all ticking, and in my head I was like, "Okay Heavenly Father, here's the thing. First off, we are supposed to be home at 6. But we also need food, and we also need water. If there's away we can get all those things done, please oh please oh please let us!" 

 A few minutes later, they call out our name, we book it to the counter, book it to the car, book it too the water place, while obeying the speed limit, and also heaven-sently hitting every green light, and then made it inside our Casita as our clock turned 5:59. Yep, that was a missionary miracle ;) 

Well, this Time tomorrow, I'll have a new companion! Hope all is going well for you! I love you all and hope you are enjoying your 90 degree weather ;) wussies ;) Just kidding, I love you! 

Con Amor,

Hna Howell 
​PS Happy Fourth of July!! 

Where to begin?

Okay, on with my week. Where to begin?? (Is it just me, or do I say that every week?)

So Pdays always go by super fast, and that's tough, but we get back out there and start working again, and we roll with the punches. We actually went out and started stalking, literally, some people that we knew that were out for a walk. While we were doing this, there was a mom pulling her kids in a wagon. she went passed us and we waved at her little kids. I saw the little boy and he just looked grumpy so I smiled, and put my hands up to play Peekaboo with him. As soon as my hand hit my face, I hear Sister Huefner's hands hit her face. We both start busting up laughing, because we realized that we had just done the exact same thing!! "Somos el mismo persona!!" So funny! We still crack up when we think about it.

So remember the man that cried after the lesson? Well we went weeks without seeing him. We'd stop by the house and he wouldn't be home and the lady didn't want anything to do with us and it was just awkward. Well one day we made a split decision to go visit one of our investigators and we pull up and are getting out of the car, and we see him walking down the street. We jump out of the car and go talk to him. We ended up sharing a video with him, and then getting his contact info, inviting him to church, and setting up a return appointment. He didn't go to church, but when we had the appointment with him, he let us come. Turns out he actually didn't live at the house, and was just a neighbor, maybe with some family ties. We brought a member with us, and then we retaught him the restoration. When we invited him to be baptized, he's like, 'Okay, here's the thing.. I actually went to this church when I was 18 for almost a year, and on the day I was supposed to get baptized, I moved here to El Centro..." WOW!! Talk about a tender mercy! How did we find this guy anyways? Truth is, WE didn't. God did. And we just happened to be in the right spot. He's one of those guys that you're like, Why aren't you baptized already? A dehydrated Mormon. The lesson went great and we got a return appointment and are making sure he comes to church. The member bore her testimony and it was great! Love our members here!

We also had a lesson with D. We had her for a date, but she can't make it now cause she's never been to church. When we had that lesson, she actually brought up her doubts and how she knows that she is not good at keeping or making commitments. She has the desire, just can't ever fulfill it. It was really sad, but we shared a video with her, "Hope in God's light", and everything thing that she had addressed was answered in that video! That's the great thing about the Ipads. I had the thought, and was scrolling through the videos during the beginning of the lesson, and had passed over that one, and thought, hmm, maybe. Then she said something, and the Spirit was like, "Okay, now's the time. Show her." It was crazy how the guy in the video said almost word for word what D had said.

The same thing happened in a lesson with C and B. (Also our date people. We couldn't have theirs because we haven't taught them all the lessons yet, but they are sooo great and ready for this gospel!) We taught Chris the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When it got to the repenting part, he brought up a great point on hypocrites, or people that say that they are going to repent, but then still go back out and do bad things. And then he talked about how he prays for his Family, but never for himself, because he doesn't feel worthy of praying for himself to God. Again, just from what he was saying, made me think of the Mormon Message, "Earthy Father, Heavenly Father." It was a powerful finish to the lesson. He prayed sincerely in the end just to have God let him know he was on the right path. C is amazing, and his desire is so strong! He's been sick, and I asked him if he wanted a priesthood blessing. He wasn't sure, but he trusted me and got one, and it is so beautiful to hear his testimony of the blessings he has felt. The blessing was general for overall health, because the giver didn't know the specifics, but then C told us, "I haven't told anyone this yet, but the nightmares have gotten less sense the blessing." God Loves C, and you can feel it. They are going to be so blessed by this Gospel! We had a sister training leader stay with us, and she was there for that lesson, and she was like, "I just love him! Is this a dream? is this real?!" ya, he's pretty golden. And B is so sweet and special.

We also had an awesome lesson with C. We went to her store and it was slow and here whole family was there, and we just started talking about gospel subjects. We showed them the "Other Prodigal Son" and then talked about family unity, the sacrament, baptism. We also introduced the Book of Mormon through Lehi's story, while she braided my hair. They just love us. We had actually given her husband,  a pamphlet, and he flipped out because someone had almost thrown it away! "The Seesters gave it to me!!" We tried to get him to pray with us, but C ended up doing it this time. Still was super awesome.

 I don't know what will happen with this next transfer, but I feel like I am staying in the Valley. Sister Huefner feels like she is leaving. But who knows. We shall see.

I love you all! Thanks for the love and the Support!

Con Amor,

Hna Howell