Exact Obedience

Hello once again from good ol' Texas! This week has been pretty good. My companion, Hna. Hunstman, and I have literally been doing all we can to have success. We have met so many people lately and are really striving to be EXACTLY obedient to receive blessings.

We went to Hno. Chavez's house this week to tell him that he HAS to come to church to be baptized. He agreed but his brain doesn't connect with the fact that the Sabbath day is not his day, it's God's day! He always tells us that he has a "salida" (outing} with his family and that he can't attend church. It finally got to the point where we told him firmly that he wasn't obeying the commandments. That caught him by surprise and he finally committed. We literally sat on his porch for an hour making sure he didn't leave and when we went back to knock, he was there! He came to church! My first investigator at church and it was awesome! We're planning on having his baptism in two weeks! I'll keep you all updated. He's amazing.

Hector, our other investigator, is a whole different story. He has been taught by the elders for two years now! We are currently teaching him and he knows the Gospel is all true. The problem is that he never commits. We tell him, "Hector, will you be at church on Sunday?" and he says, "Voy a hacer todo posible" (I will do everything possible) COME ON! It's so frustrating! We prayed a lot, and fasted for him to come. His baptism was scheduled for Nov. 2, but we felt like he needed to be baptized on Oct 25, yesterday! We fasted from sleep and woke up at 5:30 a.m. and we even fasted from letters and negative thoughts! It was so hard, but we did it to show Heavenly Father that we're here to do His will. Sunday comes around and Hector's friend calls us telling us they were on their way to the church. Sacrament starts and we are still wondering where he is! He ended up going to a buffet on the way to church and then they didn't come. We were absolutely devastated that they really didn't show up the one time we were positive they would. It was a horrible feeling because we know his potential, but he doesn't see it. Looking back now, I know it was a trial of our faith. We needed to realize that Hector still needs to be taught more. It's not a happy ending story, but we needed this experience to realize that there is more we could be teaching him, and that we need to continue to have faith.

I was reading in Moroni 6 about the requirements we need for baptism. Not just anyone can enter into the waters of baptism. It has to be those people who have sincerely repented, have a broken heart and contrite spirit, are willing to endure to the end and take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ. If not, they will fall away as soon as they leave the baptism. Hector is not ready yet, but he is being prepared and I can feel it.

We had an amazing miracle this week! We met a woman named Hilda Segovia in a neighborhood where we teach a lot of people. She told us to come and teach her so we did one day. We walked in, and sitting right above her television was a picture of Jesus Christ, like the pictures we use as members! I asked her is she was a member and she said, "Yes ... well no, because I wasn't baptized, but I basically am." BLESSING? Yes. She is so ready to be baptized, AND, she has a granddaughter who is turning 8 in a couple days! She invited us to teach her, too, and help with homework! We love it, and I especially love it because it's what I want to do for my future career! It was an amazing miracle that Heavenly Father blessed us with.

Our other investigator, Salvador, is amazing. I cried during out last lesson because I felt the Spirit so strongly! He told us that he is going to take Sundays off to come to church and we have only taught him twice! It was super cool to see the Spirit work in him and see his actions change. I always imagine these investigators in the temple and it makes me that much more pumped to keep on doing this missionary work!

The Lord has blessed us tremendously and this work it continuing to grow. Yesterday we sang in a fireside as a zone and it was beautiful. We sang a medley of "Called to Serve" and "Army of Helaman." We sang with the Primary kids and it was just so cool to know that I am a part of the Lord's Army. That I am dedicating 18 months to Him, to bring His children back! 

Remember, you don't have to be a missionary to do missionary work. 

I love this work and I can't wait to see what more is in store. Being exactly obedient has blessed us so much! I love YA'LL! The Church is true. I know it with everything I have.

Hermana Sanchez 

Hna. Huntsman and Hna. Sanchez

Showing off their 'Choose The Right' rings! 

Helping Ottoniel celebrate his birthday. 

Preparation Days are so much fun! 

Jugando soccer con falda! 

Jugando futbol! 

Manitos alegres con CTR rings! 

If Ye Have Desires to Serve God, Ye Are Called to The Work

Kemah, Texas is cooling off! It has been such a blessing! I'm loving the weather and I am starting to feel at home here. This week was interesting. We have been working so hard lately, but a lot of people have been falling through. It seems like those we're working with don't like to make set appointments! It's so hard because if they fall through, then we have to find back-ups, but if the back-ups aren't home, then we are always wondering what to do! We either go contacting, or find some of our other investigators to go see. It's been really hard at times. 

There was one day when we were SUPER discouraged because it felt like nothing was going right. We kept wondering what we could do to make it better. My companion/trainer, Hermana Huntsman and I agreed that we should pray and repent. We have always been striving to be exactly obedient, but we figured there had to be something that we could repent of and show our Heavenly Father that we were willing to dedicate everything to the work. 

We repented and justo despues, (just after) we had the idea to go see our investigator, Hermana Sanchez. When we arrived, she wasn't home, but her neighbor was and it was someone whom we had previously contacted on the street. He was happy to see us! "Hola, hermanas!" We ended up teaching him The Restoration and he LOVED it. I recited The First Vision to him and he replied with, "Wow.. Then we kept talking about God and the Church and I whispered to Hermana Hunstman, "ask him." AND SHE DID. She invited him to be baptized and she was tearing up. It was so sweet. She totally brought The Spirit, or the Holy Ghost, with her love and faith and he ... SAID YES. On the first appointment! It was such a miracle that Heavenly Father blessed us with. I love Him! He has such potential to be an amazing member of the Church! He also said he wouldn't schedule a follow-up appointment because he believes that Heavenly Father will lead us to him at the right time. So much pressure, but we're praying daily to know. We're certain we will find the right day. At this moment, we are planning on heading over there on Wednesday at 7 p.m. I feel so good with that day and time. We'll see how it goes!

We had a branch party on Saturday with the whole rama or branch of the Church. It was super fun. They made carne, arroz, salchichas (beef, rice, sausage), and lots more. My stomach was happy once again. AND Hermana Maritza, a recent convert, made us MORE carne asada yesterday. So we're set for dinner tonight. Such blessings! I met everyone in the branch and they're all so nice! It felt just like the old days in Rama Peralta back home when I was growing up! Everyone was so welcoming. They all ask me where my parents are from and are always happy to hear Peru and Ecuador! One investigator told me this week that I have a Peruvian accent! IT WAS THE BEST COMPLIMENT EVER! 

None of our investigators came to Church, which was so terrible :( We were so sad, but they all should be there next week. We are both praying so hard for exceedingly great faith and we know we will be given it if we work hard and are obedient.

Hermana Huntsman and I literally laugh ALL THE TIME. This week, we were trying to do our best gringa accent in Spanish. She was laughing so hard when I said "Vaaaan a irr, a la igggglisia esti domiiiingo?" (Will you go to Church this Sunday?) It was so funny!! We also laugh really hard when we're tired at night, which is almost always. Ha, ha. I love her! We work so well together when we're teaching lessons. The Spirit is strong in our companionship and we always know and feel that we're together because of inspiration. She helps me and I help her. Together we want to baptize the WORLD. 

I love you all so much! I miss you all, too. The work is wonderful. Being a missionary is awesome. Time is flying by and I know I will see you all so soon. The Church is so true and Heavenly Father is constantly watching over us. May you all strive to understand that He is in our lives. He is there.

D&C Section 6. Please read this chapter! It's amazing.

Until next week.

Lots of love,

Hermana Sanchez

We made cookies for ALL our investigators.

 Us with Ottoneil, a recent convert!

Missionary phone calls with Hermana Christensen!

A letter one of the girls in the branch gave me yesterday!

Kemah, Texas!

Hi everyone! I can't believe this is my first preparation day in the mission field. It's totally unreal that this day is actually here! I remember being at home terrified for what lied ahead, and now I am living in it. I am a missionary and I love it more than anything. The first day we got in Houston, it was SO HUMID. I almost died! Ha, ha. I kept thinking, "I don't know how in the world I will be able to do this for 18 months?" My hands felt so sticky and the breeze ... well, there was no breeze! We got picked up from the airport and headed over to the mission office where we went "running." Basically, we go out with missionaries who have been here longer and we talk to anyone we see! It was so fun! I talked to a Hispanic man and he was interested! Then we headed over to the mission home, where our Mission President Brian Ashton and his family live. We had a testimony meeting and dinner. Everyone kept talking about my Spanish and how I already speak the language. A lot of the girls that got here the same day I did were in the Mexico Missionary Training Center for six weeks and still don't know a lot of Spanish ... I kind of felt bad that I speak as much as I do. Ha, ha. It is such a blessing, though! We spent the night at a member's home and the next day we met our trainers.

My companion/trainer is Hermana Huntsman. She is pretty much my best friend already! She is from Utah and she plays lacrosse for the University of Detroit! Division 1! She is amazing. Her testimony and faith in all the investigators is so strong. She has taught me so much and I have really been learning how to rely on the Spirit. I know how He speaks to me now and I can tell when I am being prompted. We visited a lot of people on our first day and the one man I will never forget is Miguel Chavez. He is somewhere around 80 years old and we taught him about how God loves us. I started crying in the lesson because I could literally FEEL the love Heavenly Father has for him. It was amazing. Hermana Huntsman told me before that they've invited him before but he never really seems ready, but during the lesson, she whispered to me, "Invite him." I was like, "WHAT? No way. This is the real thing!" I was so nervous, but I recited the familiar baptismal invitation we learn from Preach My Gospel and ... HE SAID YES! It was crazy. My first day and I got a baptismal date. Who gets to say that? Ha, ha. I love him so much. His faith is amazing and yesterday he passed his baptismal interview! Oct. 25 is his date! It'll be great. 

We're teaching so many people, it's hard to list them all, but I am feeling way more confident in my Spanish and in the lessons. Hermana Hunstman speaks it really well for only being here four months, so together, we're a great team. She is really good at talking to people and asking them questions. I am learning a lot from her.

Kemah is awesome. It's a small town, but our area is pretty big. We have a Ford Fusion 2013! (Threw that in there because dad and I always love the feeling of a nice new rental car!) I feel like a queen when I drive. Ha, ha. It's such a blessing to have a car! Our phone even hooks up to the Bluetooth which is so nice! Lately, it's been pretty cold here, which is a blessing because the first couple of days were brutal. I love Texas. There are days when I wake up and think, "Am I really in Texas right now?" It's fun. The members here don't feed us ... they get offended when we pass around the sign-up sheet ... ha, ha. So yesterday, one of the less active members FED US! It was an incredible miracle. And it was carne asada, tortillas, frejoles (beans), guacamole and pollo (chicken). ALL OF MY FAVORITE THINGS. I was so happy. It's funny because I know I am serving state side, but I really feel like I am in a foreign country. You'll see in the pictures. Everyone speaks Spanish and hardly any English. The houses just remind me of Peru and Ecuador. It's crazy how foreign I feel here, but I really do love it.

Mom and Dad, I always use your conversion stories to testify to our investigators. I always cry, too, thinking about how strong you two are and how far you have come in this life. I feel everyday the love Heavenly Father has for both of you and it brings me to tears in humility to have you both as my parents and that I get the privilege of being sealed to you both for eternity. I wouldn't have it any other way. That is the biggest blessing I have and will ever receive. I love you both so much. The other day, an investigator told us, "You both are rich, that's why you're on a mission and that's why you're always happy." I felt prompted to share your stories and I did. He was immediately quiet and I felt the Spirit so strong. Your life stories are and will always be an example to me and I hope you know that they are an example to other people, also. 

Zone conference was amazing. I felt so close to my Heavenly Father and Hermana Huntsman and I received a lot of revelation about our investigators and their needs. Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer of the second Quorum of the Seventy came and spoke to us. We did a lot of role play scenarios and baptismal inviation scenarios. It helped a lot. He told us how our message needs to always be centered on the Savior. Mission President told us that the way we can come to love the Gospel is by understanding the Atonement. If it wasn't for the Savior, we would not have been born. He lends us breath from day to day.

DAD, we play soccer every Friday! When Hermana Huntsman told me that I was like NO WAY. Blessings! We bring all our investigators and we play at a park. I played on Friday and everyone was telling me that I could totally play at BYU. I am starting to have more confidence in myself! It's so fun to play here. I wish more than anything that you could come play with us, too! I always tell them that you're super good. And I also let everyone know that it's all about REAL MADRID! Ha, ha. I love TEXAS!

The Church is true! I love being a missionary and sharing the Gospel! I miss you all! 

My apartment address is:

2525 St. Christopher Ave. Apt #927 

League City, TX 77573

Please send me letters and packages to that address!

Les amo mucho! 

All the little kids we teach! Who love soccer, might I add.

Hermana Huntsman y yo tomando un refresco. Hace mucho calor en Texas! 

We put a Book of Mormon in EVERY hotel room!

5. Britley! Hna. Martiza's daughter.

Making tortillas! 

Recent convert, Ottoniel!

OUR CAR!

Hermana Sanchez

Houston, Texas ... here I come!

Hello everyone! It's been another wonderful week here at the Missionary Training Center. I feel right at home now. The new missionaries now refer to us as "the veterans." Ha, ha. I will be in Houston, Texas tomorrow! Isn't that crazy? I can't believe the day is already here, the day I get to be a missionary in public! The other two sisters in our apartment, Hna. Pinargote and Hna. McKnight, left this morning to Lima, Peru. It was so bittersweet saying goodbye. Elder Cruz left to Bolivia also and we all tried really hard to hold back the tears. It's like saying goodbye to your family, the one's you got comfortable with. It was really hard, BUT we took a lot of pictures which was amazing. I hope we can all keep in touch because the bond we shared while adjusting to mission life is a special one. 

This week had its highs and lows as most weeks do. On Wednesday, we got to welcome the new missionaries into the MTC as Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders. It was really fun to teach them things we didn't know a week ago. I felt super official. I loved it and we made sure that they knew that we are always there for them. A lot of the new missionaries are going to Mexico, and some to California. They are all going to be great missionaries. One of the elders got put into the advanced district and he knew NO Spanish. He was so lost! Everyone was speaking in Spanish and he had no idea what was going on. Luckily, we got him out of the advanced class and put him in the beginning class. Phew!

On Thursday, we taught our TRC investigator, Maribel, her last lesson. It was also so sad because I really felt like we connected with her. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she understood. She then started talking to us about problems she has had in her life and how it's been hard to deal with them. The Spirit told me to turn to D&C 121: 7-8 and we did. It was the PERFECT scripture for her. She loved it. Then we invited her to be baptized and she accepted! It was such a good feeling! We actually felt like real missionaries! 

We have been enjoying ourselves a lot lately. All the missionaries refer to me as "bubbly." I don't feel like I have ever been SUPER outgoing. I have always thought my sister Mackenzie is the super bubbly and crazy one in our family, but I guess the mission has taken away my serious side. Everyone always says, "You're never mad, Hermana Sanchez." I AM A KITTY! (my mom will understand) I am never mad or annoyed. I am always happy. I feel like I even do things Mackenzie would do to make people laugh. 

This week, we went to the Main Campus to get some things done at the travel office and I convinced about 20 people that I was from Chihuahua, Mexico because I spoke in broken English with a thick Spanish accent. One cashier from the bookstore even started teaching me English words. He told me that a "corbata" was pronounced "tie" in English, so I proceeded to say tiiiiiiieeee. He totally bought it! Of course later I told him I was kidding. He had actually believed I was from there! Elder Cruz has also been making up random Japanese or Korean words to trick people who are learning the language. He even has elders recite the First Vision to him so he can "correct" them, even though he has no idea what they're saying. It's so funny when they find out he's kidding, but hey, at least they're practicing. And what's a mission without some fun? I probably have a six-pack now from all the laughing we've been doing. At dinner I told everyone to sing "Happy Birthday" to Elder Lopez, even though his birthday isn't for a while. He was so embarrassed! Then other sisters joined in singing "estas son las mañanitas ... ." Good times here at the Centro de Capacitación Misional, or CCM. 

On Friday I got sick, probably from shaking so many hands and being around so many people! I started coughing really badly in the morning and then my throat was killing me. I was crying in class because I felt so bad. Saturday we watched General Conference and I was feeling a little better, but Sunday is when it hit me. I was having the WORST sick day ever. A couple of elders came up to me after conference to tell me to feel better because they all knew I was sick! Ha, ha. It was crazy. Today I am feeling better. I have been taking some NyQuil and it's helped. I sure hope I feel better by tomorrow before I get to Houston! I used A WHOLE box of tissues ... oops. Ha, ha, ha. I saw Ashley Poelman, Matt Row and Andrea here at the MTC. I will attach the photos. It was so fun running into people I know.  Ashley and Matt are from my Foothill Ward, or congregation back home in San Jose.

My favorite conference talk was given by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As missionaries, I felt that we all related really well to what he shared for church non-members. We are NOT attempting to shove the Gospel down their throats, we are merely inviting them to come unto Christ and to learn and know more about Him. They focus a lot on that here at the MTC. If people reject our message, that's okay, we have done our job, and we have opened our mouths.

I know that the Savior lives and that He is grateful for His missionaries. I know God has prepared those for us to teach and it is our responsibility to be worthy to receive the Spirit to find them. I will talk to EVERYONE in Houston. I am so determined. I feel so dedicated to my Savior and I honestly never want to take off this name tag. I felt complete when I put it on, and I really feel that it allows me to see my full potential. I know who I am and I know my purpose: Invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo para ayudarlas a que reciban el Evangelio Restaurado mediante la fe en Jesucristo y su expiacion, el arrepentimiento, el bautizmo, la recepcion del Espiritu Santo y perseverar hasta el fin. The Church is true. There is no other way I can phrase it. I know it with all my heart and I feel the love the Savior has for all of you everyday. I hope that I can bring others unto Christ to allow them to feel the joy I feel from this Gospel.

Hope you are all doing well. Life is great as a missionary. You are all in my prayers.

Love,

Hermana Sanchez

Our instructor flanked by Hermana Sanchez and Hermana Cain.

Zone map picture

Magnet missionary name tags! 

With Andrea.

Our district.

My latina hermanas! The one on the left is from Puerto Rico!

My matching whiteboard drawing!

We dance while we wait to learn more!

I killed the fly!