2.3.2014

Hello Family!

This week some great miracles occurred. But first things first. Mom I had been praying about my VISA paper work and I just felt like they had forgotten about me because everyone else was getting FBI fingerprinted. Well, one of the Elders in the Mission home called me and we went over to the mission home ( I live 10  mins from it) Well he told me that Los Angeles does not require FBI fingerprints but to be ahead of the game in case they all of a sudden do he told me to go ahead and do it. So I did so in the mail you will get a letter and all you need to do is forward it I will send you the address in a separate e-mail. But anyways the Elder was telling me how hard the people in Salt Lake are working for our visas and everyday they are talking with Brazil to see what they can do to speed up the process. So my prayer was answered in the sense that I knew they hadn't forgotten me and are working very hard and I am grateful for that.

Also, We got interviewed by our mission President this past week as well. I felt great after the interview. We talked briefly about brazil and staying he knows how long I have been out but he told me in the interview that I would get there he said "I don't know how long you will be there, but you will get there. I hope you still come to our mission reunion." I just thought that was so interesting that he would say that. haha and that he invited me to the mission reunion. Of course I am coming to this one! haha. But he has faith that I will go there. I asked my companion who is also a visa waiter, we came out together if President said anything about her visa and she said no. So we will see what happens but anyways....

This week one of our new investigators, Rita from Nigeria is on date for baptism! She is so awesome. The funny thing is we met her at the library and we had a lesson at the church so we don't know where she lives. She lives by us because she told us what street she lives on and we do not live in our area. So if she lives on one side she is in our area but if she lives off of the other side of the street then she is not in our area :( haha so we still don't know if she is in our area or not because she won't tell us where she lives! But nevertheless she came to church yesterday and loved it! So excited for her. We have been seriously finding a lot of African investigators. Another investigator we found this past week is from South Africa. And we had dinner with a member from St. Thomas Islands who is African and we told her about the people we are teaching and she started laughing and said the Africans are getting baptized weather they are in Africa or not. haha

We also went and visited a less-active on Saturday. She is an old sassy lady haha but she is so funny. We brought over little ceasars pizza for dinner and sat on her floor eating while she was going on and on about stories. She is seriously so funny. She is too much sometimes that less active.

So I drove in the snow the other day it was so slick!!! We almost got stuck. We get to drive a mini-van. Weird huh? Well, yea we almost got stuck and I was trying to drive us out of it and then my comps had to push the van out... I'd say I am doing better at driving in the snow... This morning we went to the grocery store and it was 0 degrees and the inside of the car windows were frozen!! So crazy. But now it is sunny :) I am grateful for that.

Hopefully this Saturday I get to go back to Battle Creek for a baptism! I will be going back with my old companion who is in Lansing and we are going to go down. I am so excited for that it will be great to see everyone again. The power of pray is so real in the sense that Heavenly Father knows are needs and is very sensitive to each of them. In the past I would never pray for certain things because I didn't think it was important enough to pray about. But now I realize that everything is important to pray about. If I am feeling a little bit down and I pray for Heavenly Father to uplift me someone or something always happens weather I get complimented or someone smiles or I find opportunities to serve. I know that He is mindful of my heart. There was a crazy Russian sister in Battle Creek. Could barley understand her when she spoke because she had such a thick accent but her husband was going on about how great she is with cement and fixing things. So he asked her how she does it and her response was, Prayer. She said before I even get started on it I pray like Nephi did before he built the boat. I just thought that was so awesome. We should pray for everything. Go through our day spiritual before we go through it physically. I think Elder Bednar said that.

Well anyways I am grateful for all of you and you are all wonderful examples to me.
Te amo,
Sister Gonzales

1.27.2014

Sorry I don't have any pics from my new area but these are some pics from my last day in Battle Creek that I didn't have before.

The little boy is our recent converts son he is so cute!

It has been cold but you know you just layer up and remind yourself that it is only temporary pain for eternal blessings.

This week we have interviews with our mission President. We are a little unsure what to do with some of our investigators because they are not really progressing so we might be dropping a few of them. I am always learning so much. I have really decided to study faith more. Faith Faith Faith! I really need more faith in myself and that we can find new people to teach. For language study we watched finding faith in Christ in Portuguese and then for lunch I watched it in English and then one more time in Chineese haha why Chineese I don't know I just really wanted to watch it again. Then we gave the only copy that we had away to an investigator who had an amazing spiritual moment. She opened up to us and our awesome ward mission leader gave her a blessing after. She wants to come to our church but of course there are always opsticales in the way but she is still reading the book of mormon which is so awesome! She goes to the People's Church which drives my companion nuts because that is what the church is called and we are the church of Jesus Christ! haha

Well anyways, I really prayed that night for more faith and the next day at ward-mission cooralation our ward mission leader who is a very inspired man comes in with a fath paper that he wrote about how faith should be a spiral effect so we are always progressing and going up rather than a cycle. What an answer to prayers seriously! I was so grateful for that. I also decided to start reading what Talmage had to say about faith in Jesus the Christ. Wow! My favorite story that I am slightly obssesed with at the moment is the story of the woman who touched the robe of Christ and was healed. What faith she had that she knew she could be healed just by His touch. I need that much faith! I love what it said in Jesus the Christ that when Christ said Daughter thy faith had made the whole... He was approving her faith and granted her the desire of her heart to be healed. No one is more powerful than the Savior. I am on this journey to find faith, faith that I am hungry for that I need because I lack it I need to be more like this woman. I don't know the future but I can believe in Christ.

This weather does stink at times because some investigators do not want to travel in it to come to church which was the case for us yesterday.... but brighter days are ahead. I know the Lord is looking out for us just by the small things.... For example yesterday we tried to see a less-active on a street we were door knocking and she was really rude to us and said we were not welcomed... Welp, the next house we door knocked into the lady came to the door with a huge smile on her face..Well she thought we were going to sing for her haha she wasn't really interested but was very kind. Just small things like that remind me that Heavenly Father's hand is in this work.

I hope that everyone had great birthdays and the best thing about the gospel is that it is designed for us to progress... I was reading in my note journal the other day and I found a quote someone said that I may not be able to change what I did today but I can make tomorrow awesome!

Te Amo muito Familia! :) Enjoy the draught because atleast you can get tan and you have sun. The rain will come when it stops snowing here.. Just kidding haha but if that is the case I will fast for that too!
Tchua

1.20.2014

Hola familia,

I should probably clarify last e-mail. So the first presidency said for sisters that if their visa does not come by a certain amount of time they should stay. However, my mission president said it is 100% our choice if we choose to stay or not. I have checked my visa status and there is no progress on it so I really can't estimate a time that it would come. For right now I am just going to keep working and serving and not think about it.

Anyways, in these new area we are using family history more and yesterday after church I started to do a fan chart. Mom have you heard of that? It is a different way to display your geneology. Mom is the pedigree chart you sent me all the family history we have done? If so we have a lot of work to do. Especially on dad's side. There are many ordinances that need to be done.

We hade exchanges this week and I got to work with my trainer again at MSU campus. It was so fun to work again with her and I love when I get to go on campus, it makes finding so much easier because there are people actually walking around on the streets haha I always learn so much from my trainer and from trade-offs they are always so fun. We door knocked this trailor park the other day and met some interesting people. One of our investigators from guatamala fed us and she is so nice but said she doesn't need a church to save her and I bore my testimony in spanish that we believe that this is Christ church and we need church to partake of the sacrament. But she went on about being a mom and then I said we would bring her a spanish proclamation. She is open about reading the Book of Mormon and other things so we can't drop her yet. For some reason I am always more bold in spanish. I am trying to be more bold with people.

We are trying to teach a chineese family and an indian one I pray that we can find a family to teach. Driving in the snow is not my favorite but I am learning.

I have been thinking a lot about what I want to study after my mission. I know that people say you figuire that out when you go on your mission. Part of me feels like I should have never changed my major. I feel like I want to go into human behavior I feel like it is something that I can read and observe but that could just be the spirit haha so I am not sure.

We have a new investigator from nigeria who spoke to missionaries in london. At church they talked about temples and she said that she needs to go to the temple and I told her she needs to get baptized first. And I think I was explaining that to her for like 15 mins haha she didn't understand she just wanted to go to the temple. But she said she would love to talk more later this week. So that is something to look forward to. This week the highs are in the 20's and it is very overcast. But I know that spring is just around the corner and so I am excited for the day I do not have to wear sweat pants under my skirt.

Well I love to hear that everyone is doing well and all the exciting news. I know I have a wonderful family and I have this scripture cases made from cereal boxes now and I have a picture of the boys on it from the photoshoot we did and everyone always says how handsome they are haha...

Well Te amo familia,
Sister Gonzales

1.13.2014

I don't know if I sent any of these so here are just some pics right before I left Battle Creek next week I will try to send pics of my new area.

This week it warmed up a bit so it is not frigid cold outside. Still cold but atleast not in the negatives. I cannot believe how huge carlo is, my goodness! I won't even recognize him when I go home. My mission President goes to church in the same building as me and so I will see him every Sunday. I saw him yesterday and he talked to me and my companion who is also waiting for her visa about making a decision to stay here. Well, he is letting choose for ourself but if we are still here by our 10 month mark we will most likely stay in this mission permanently. I will be hitting 9 months on the 24 of this month. Time sure does fly! I have been thinking about what I would decide to do, obviously it is out of my control if my visa ever comes. But I truly do love being here and it will warm up in March so that will be good! I don't know yet what will happen but until then my mission president said he is going to use us as if we were never leaving.

Well, anyways this week I also saw my old companion because my trainer and old companion and I all meet at the same church building for church. So that is weird haha. Hopefully, Saturday I will be going back to Battle Creek to see one of our investigators get baptized. The next time you go to the grocery store pick up a box of Kellogs cereal and see where it is made. It will say Battle Creek, MI :) Yup that is where I served for 7 in a half months haha

Well the members in this ward are so awesome. Our ward mission leader was bishop twice and is a lawyer but does so much for us. He got us all each our own copy of the d&c dvds. He is always willing to come to lessons he is great! We also have an investigator from guatamala and so I call her and try to set up times with her because she only speaks spanish. This week is trade-offs so I will be serving on the MSU campus for a day. I love when I get to go to campus it is fun.

There are so many chineese people here I love it! We door knocked into this chineese family and they let us in and asked if they could come to church. We will probably visit them later this week...hopefully we can start teaching them haha. The mom spoke pretty good english but the dad not so much so he would just smile, nod and laugh. They are so great. I am learning so much and I have been layering up and wear five pairs of socks. and 3 pairs of gloves. A hand warmer exploded on me the other day and I had black all over my jacket haha.

Well Mom I hope you had a great Birthday!!! I know that Dad and Cody's birthday are this month too, I just don't remember what specific day but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love you,
Sister Gonzales

1.10.2014

Just a quick e-mail...p.day was cancelled because of the weather and so we got a little time today to e-mail so just quick letter...

I love my new area. The town Williamston is small but we cover multiple towns we are right next to the Michigan University and Lansing so really I am in a big town. I love it and hopefully I can go on trade-offs to MSU... but being close to a campus makes me think about school which I don't like so much. I love my companions, training is fun... I live really close to the mission home. The members are great!! People have money here so that is culture shock from my last area. I still miss the people in my last area but change is good! I am having fun. We werent allowed to door knock for two days because the wind chill was -30.... but now the weather is in the 30's so it is warm haha. I am layering up so much but feel blessed because it is only temporary the cold. But the members really caution us the danger of the weather so we are being careful. My new comp trust me to drive in the snow so I have been doing that I don't like it so much though haha.

Not much more to say other than I love Michigan and we door knoced during the rose bowl and everyone told us to get lost haha MSU won the rose bowl so that was cool! I really do love this mission and I don't know if I will go to Brazil I will have an interview with my mission president and talk to him about it. My comp who is a VISA waiter has been waiting just as long as me so it will be interesting to see what happens. Mom, I am thinking of going to the ciaro here to take advantage of being in the states. My hip is really hurting and I just need it popped so I might do that just so you know.

There is so much more to say but I will keep it brief for this week so my other comp can use the computer but I am so happy to hear about all the miracles that are going on back home. Thank you for your love and support!

Sister Gonzales

12.30.2013

Oi! Familia. It was nice talking to all of you on Christmas. I had a nice Christmas we went to a families house in the morning and then met with our recent convert and we did companion gifts as well so it was nice. Believe it or not I made a goal this past transfer to become a morning person. I know mom is probably in shock right now. But I did. We do companion prayers in the morning and for like a week straight it was always my turn to pray in the morning. And so I really thought about it and I said that I shouldn't be so grumpy in the morning especially if the first thing I get to do is talk to Heavenly Father so ever since then I have been much more feliz. So christmas day I was the first one up and woke my companions up with a Merry Christmas and Bom Dia! haha it is true Mom I am happier in the morning.

Well anyways, it was a good day. So transfer calls were Friday I was a nervous wreck! I am getting transferred to a small town called Williamston, it is near Lansing, I will be training with another Visa waiter that I came out with and she is really awesome so I am excited to work with her. I don't know why my mission President put two visa waiters together to train but it will be fun. I think this new area is nicer and rich so I will be in culture shock haha. We leave later today so yea I will still be in a trio but that is okay.

Yesterday, at church we did perform that song and it went pretty well. We of course said bye to the members and a bunch of people they are all so awesome. I will miss this area it will be weird to go somewhere else but it will be fun! I am excited for the new adventure. I have some pics I will send

Thank you again familia for everything! And congrats again Miguel e Vane! :)
TE AMO

12.23.2013

Hey Familia! Two more days until I call... I will call around 1:30 your time. I am glad you got the box I sent. Thank you mom for the winter clothes and abuela for the sweater. It has been cold! Church was cancelled yesterday because it rained all last night and the rain froze over on the roads and so it was too dangerous to drive in the morning. So we had to stay in our apt until noon or so. Then we went out door knocking and we kept seeing icicles falling from trees and telephone lines.

We had a baptism on Friday, Brother Scott Burden. Unfortunately he has to wait another week to be confirmed because church was cancelled. Mom we were suppose to do a musical number during sacrament. I was playing the piano, while another girl played the flute and my comp and a member sang. It sounded really pretty maybe we will get to do it next week. But I have improved tremendously on the piano. I can sight read much better and when I mess up I can quickly find my spot. It's a miracle I don't get as nervous either.

I have been getting some Christmas cards from people in the ward. Tell them thank you! I appreciate it. Transfer calls are this week and so we will see what happens.

The other day before we got our car back we were waiting for the bus and a member picked us up and so it kind of through our plans off and so we ended up shoveling her driveway and I couldn't find another shovel and so I went in the garage and grabbed a dust pan and I started shoveling with that I was doing a work out squatting and picking up snowing and throwing it haha and then the Sister comes out and says what are you doing?! haha I just laughed and said I was being resourceful but then realized how ridiculous I looked and we finished up and my companion comes up to her and says that I am from California. haha Yup I am and I do not like snow but I didn't want to just stand there doing nothing.

The icicles here are huge! I remember the picture of Mike from his mission where he is holding an icicle and so I wanted to do the same thing and I win Mike. The icicle I held was huge and I held it with my bare hands and it hurt after haha I will send the picture of that. Make sure to show Marcel that picture. If I can't be in Brazil I will still find cool things in Michigan.

Well, I guess I will talk to you all soon! Hope all is well! Have a Merry Christmas!

12.16.2013

Hola Familia! SO I sent a package out last week with my shoes and some other stuff for Christmas. Mom, I did get the box of winter clothes. Thank you! And thank you Tia for the skirt. I am feeling maybe one more month for my VISA but I really don't know. This past week so many miracles occurred.

Well, we had our half mission p.day which was our Christmas party. It was fun we had inspirational talks and then we played games and what not. Then we sang songs. It is snowing so much!! It is kind of dangerous of how slippery it is. It snowed a lot yesterday!

Well we have been taking the bus this week and sometimes you meet some nice people and sometimes you meet some people that are nice just have a different view of life. So Sunday we had a ward musical fireside for Christmas and we were inviting people all week on the bus to that event. Well when we get on the bus my comps and I split up so we can each talk to different people. Well people started getting off the bus and then there was just left a family sitting in the back of the bus. Well I felt a prompting to talk to them and I knew that if I didn't I would be mad at myself for not inviting a family! So I finally just turned around and started talking to them and the mom softened up and I was able to invite her and her family to the fireside and I gave her our number. Nothing yet has come of that but I just think back to how I could never talk to anyone but by the power of the holy spirit which prompted me I was able to just turn around and talk to this family. Something I could have never done just a few months ago. Heavenly Father is strengthening my weaknesses and I am very blessed because of it.

Well the musical fireside was suppose to be put on by the missionaries but really the Elders didn't do anything and we had to organize it and put it together haha. But it turned out really neat! we had some investigators perform. I played the piano for a duet :) And for some reason they had asked me to chorister the closing hymn. which I don't know how to do that I have never done that in my life but because my name was already in the program I had to haha I had a general idea of what I was suppose to do. So I get up there and I mess up a few times but I just had a smile on my face and was kind of being silly about it but I picked it up towards the end and a lot of people came up to me after kind of laughing but they loved it. It really was a nice fireside though. A lot of the youth participated one girl played the flute, another guy played the violin a family sang Christmas carols in french. So it was nice.

We have two investigators on date for baptism this month. I am excited for them and I know one of them has come a long way. It is that first step of coming to church that makes all the difference.
Miracles really do happen by the grace of God. I can't say I am a fan of snow. It is too white and I think I would prefer to go to the beach on Christmas but hey can't complain.

Mom what time should I call? When will everyone be over. They are really strict on how long we can call so only 45 mins. I will call someones cell phone because the house phone is not good and I can't hear very well on that. Transfer calls are right after Christmas!

I will send some pics of our pesquisadores(investigators) from the ugly christmas sweater party we had this past week. The guy that is getting baptized his name is Brother Scott Burden. He is the one we met on the bus. He is a sweet gentle guy and is very smart. He is awesome, he loves church and wants to come to the activities and feels happy and a sense of belonging. That is what I love about this church is that we don't have to be amazing at something we just have to be willing and the Lord will put our talents to use and strengthen our weaknesses. We all have a purpose and place in building the kingdom of God and nobody is denied of that work. If we never would have talked to this guy on the bus he wouldn't have heard the gospel and tasted of the joy. I love this work! I can't wait to hear from you all soon!

Te amo!
Sister Gonzales

12.9.2013

So last P. Day my companions and I took Christmas pictures and I think I am going to send a package home with some clothes I will not be wearing and some cards and other stuff. Anyways, it started snowing yesterday and I think it is going to stay like that :( But on black Friday one of the members went and got me some snow boots so that was nice of her.

It has been such a crazy week with investigators wanting to get baptized and then being dropped to getting new solid investigators. Yep, that is the mission. So probably the downest part of the week was when our investigator that was suppose to get baptized this Saturday  said she smoked and we said and have said before you have to be clean for two weeks. She yelled and screamed and was really upset that we had to push her date back. Her sister was in the room pretty much having our back on the whole thing and then before we left her sister said that her health is getting better and that she would be coming to church soon. So that was a tender mercy. But besides that we have had some real miracles happen this week!

So first off I guess this ward in the past never did anything for Christmas and it made a lot of members upset and so now we are going to put on a musical Christmas fireside and so they are all really excited about that. We found one of our new investigators while riding the bus. He is a middle aged man and go figure he lives right next to the girl that just got baptized haha I guess the elect are all on that street.

So anyways we got him a ride to church and sacrament meeting had to be one of the most spiritual and reverent sacrament meetings yet. It was awesome! And he even participated in Sunday school has already read past 2 nephi. He is just a sweet guy haha.

Also, Brandi, the girl who just got baptized and who where are new investigator lives by finally got her friend to come to church who we have been teaching. And she too participated in church and so we are definitely seeing some amazing progress with our investigators. Another huge miracle is that one of the less actives we have been visiting for months told us this past week that she is going to come back to church! Yay!! And I really think she will because her friend moved in with her a few months ago when we started visiting and her friend goes to church.

Also we had trade-offs this week and so we were going to go door knock a street where one of the Elders investigators live and sometimes we go visit him because he invited us over and said when we are cold to come by. He is awesome. He makes computers and yes, he is in a wheelchair but he made us all cds of the conference talks and just a few months ago he didn't believe in Christ but now is planning to get baptized. Well after a few minutes of persuasion we finally got him to pray before we left! And then he gave us all pumpkin bread and said he had missed us last week because we didn't stop by. Yea, he totally loves the sisters more. haha.

So yesterday I drove in snow for the first time! And probably my last haha. I have driven this whole transfer and so now my comp from Utah is gonna drive in the snow. But I was able to do it yesterday and I think I did pretty well for it being my first time.

We got to watch the Christmas Devotional last night and it was good! I still remember last years when Uchtdorf spoke. I think this will actually be my first white Christmas.

Yesterday during relief society I made some announcements about Christmas and visiting teaching and then our ward mission leaders wife, also the one who got me boots. Says and what about meals. Because last week we only got fed once. And so I just let her talk it is always awkward for missionaries to ask for meals. haha So she went off and said how we just want to come and share a message that we are probably home sick during the holidays and how we go out and get rejected and we just want to spend time with happy family in the ward for meals and so after that our meal calendar is booked! haha We also got to go spend time with the young women who want to go on missions and help get them excited about missionary work.

We have had a ton of meetings about hastening the work and how the ward mission leader is the second man to the Bishop. I am so excited about missionary work. I read in a talk somewhere that we are commanded to preach the gospel and if others reject, they have agency but we are commanded to share it with others. I will hopefully send you all pictures soon!

TE AMO FAMILIA!
SISTER GONZALES

12.2.2013

In front of POST Cereal factory where one of the members works

This week we rode the bus for part of the week and met some interesting people, it was fun! Then we finally got our car back Wednesday. We had zone training and it was good. Apparently starting next year we will be getting Ipads and stuff to work with so that will be interesting.

For Thanksgiving one of my companions was very sick so we went to a members house. Our ward mission leader and their family. They were all very nice and their sister just got home from her mission Spanish speaking in Florida but I asked how she handled learning the language because she spoke very well Spanish. And she said she did everything that was uncomfortable and learned how to do it. She made all the phone calls and what not and now for her job she talks to people in Spanish over the phone. I liked that because I feel like that can apply to anything. If we want to get better at approaching people, we have to approach as many people as we can.

Well anyways, so it was me and the new companion we got went out and I have been here so long I didn't need a gps or anything to find the less-actives homes we were visiting haha. We almost got to share a message with the women's shelter home but the lady said we have to show her an outline before we can share a message and so we will have to go back but they were all really nice. It isn't too bad yet here it has been in the 40's this week.

One of our investigators bore her testimony in church yesterday and we are teaching her and her family and she will be getting baptized soon if she can withstand smoking for 2 weeks. They are awesome she is crazy but I love it haha. The kids draw pictures and then hand it to us and ask if we can give it to God. They are so cute. This transfer will go by fast!

Yesterday we went over to a members house to help them decorate their tree and their little boy who is 8 is wild and crazy like Marcel haha but he kept trying to hit me so I said if he did it again I would hold his hand and you know how Marcel is that would never go and so it happened with him too haha so he stopped. But this family I guess usually has missionaries come over the morning of Christmas and have something for us and let us be apart of their family gift opening and what not. So that will be fun. I am not sure what time I will be calling but not in the morning for sure since we will be there. Probably later in the afternoon most likely evening. I will let you know for sure when I figure it out.

That is awesome that Sister Wilkinson came back and visited. We have been taking some of the young women out with us and it has been fun! The other day we did splits and I went with a young women door knocking haha she is awesome and finally the last door we knocked she spoke and she was quiet but it was awesome that she did it! She would kind of stand behind me when we knocked on the door but I would pull her next to me haha they are funny. It is scary at first to door knock but they do an awesome job. I know going out with the sisters before my mission has definitely helped me a ton! One of the members got me boots on black friday so I think I will be okay for now with that stuff. The members are awesome and I am excited for what this transfer has to bring. I have been feeling much better since taking tylenol and airborne. It's been good!

Te amo e Feliz Dia de Acoa de Gracas! (yea probably spelled wrong but....Happy Thanksgiving!)

11.25.2013

This week we got a new companion and last minute the zone leaders call us right before we pick up our new companion saying that we have to give up the car to new sisters that will be in our district. So we had to completely change our plans and take the bus. Which wasn't too bad but it goes every hour and it stops running at six. So one day we were riding to the main bus station and we hear that the bus we are suppose to get on next to take us home is delayed because a man came at the bus driver with a box cutter. So we had to start walking haha. We were down town which is not the safest part of town really and we were walking and it was dark and the closest person to us was a member who worked at post. So we walked over there and called her and it was scary haha and she came out of her work and chewed us out because we are not suppose to be there at night. But the Lord did protect us. So we get our car back this week.

However, we had a cool experience with one of our investigators. We watched the long version of the Restoration and she started crying because she felt a very strong connection to Joseph Smith and didn't know that there was such a kind loving man in the world. Then we walk outside and she is holding a cup of cold coffee in her hand and is saying how much she loves cold coffee but then she dumps it out on the lawn. So that was awesome!

There was also a funeral this week but it was one of the most up beat positive funerals I have ever been to. The brother whose mom died served his mission in mexico and sang in the mormon tabernacle choir. but he always speaks to me in spanish haha and he wanted me to meet his sons where one served in Brazil and the other in Argentina. His mom who passed away served 5 missions!! Wow!

Anyways, it really has been getting cold but my comp is letting me wear her coat and boots for now.
We also had stake conference this week and we were allowed to go to the Saturday session for adults and our mission President was there and spoke. The whole thing was about missionary work and at the end they made all the full time missionaries stand up. It really was an awesome stake conference all about missionary work.

What was funny was the other day we were at a members house and the wife came out and she is from russia and said her husband needs to go across the street and make the neighbors talk to us. and so he was all nervous and we followed them and we are all thinking this will be a disaster haha but weird enough the mom comes out of the house with all her daughters and was really nice and the daughters wanted to come to church. So you just never know sometimes you just have to do it and if they are prepared it doesn't matter how you invite them to learn they will accept.

This week I have not been feeling too well and making excuses and what not and then I came across this scripture which humbled me and got me re-motivated to give all I have because it is scary to talk to people but it is like the talent analogy if we bury our talents the Lord will take them away but if we continue to open our mouths and invite and not be ashamed of our faith the Lord promises to increase our talent to make us better.

The scripture was D&C 60:1-5

 1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto the elders of his church, who are to return speedily to the land from whence they came: Behold, it pleaseth me, that you have come up hither;

 2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is kindled against them.

 3 And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have.

 4 For I, the Lord, rule in the heavens above, and among the armies of the earth; and in the day when I shall make up my jewels, all men shall know what it is that bespeaketh the power of God.

 5 But, verily, I will speak unto you concerning your journey unto the land from whence you came. Let there be a craft made, or bought, as aseemeth you good, it mattereth not unto me, and take your journey speedily for the place which is called St. Louis.

It is not about getting your friends baptized after one discussion it is about inviting them to church activities, and living your faith with confidence they will see a difference and will gradually start feeling more comfortable. It is about bringing them closer to Christ and the closer they become then they will have that desire to truly follow our Savior.

We had dinner with this family and the sister had just gotten baptized a year ago and I guess her daughter is anti the church and said to her mom that she will never go to the mormon church that if she goes to a church it won't be that one. And the mom said, fine you can go to another church but you won't find the truth there. haha that sister is so bold I was amazed.

I have noticed more that when plans fall through and things are going wrong it does no good to panic but instead inquire the Lord. Every time I have taken a moment to pause and ask Heavenly Father and let the Spirit work our plans end up working and the Lord will take care of us.

What was awesome that I heard at Stake Conference is that this is His work we all know that, but really He does all the work. He softens the heart of others, He prepares others, and all He really ask of us is to live like we are suppose to and help His children find the truth. Do all we can and He will do the rest.

Pray and He will give you answers you just have to have an open mind. Which is hard sometimes. For Thanksgiving we are going to our ward mission leaders house which will be awesome they are originally from Idaho but moved here for work and what not so they don't have any pride in this town haha. But they are awesome!

I hope everyone is doing well and I just feel prompted to share my testimony and I will to abuela in spanish/portuguese but I know the book of mormon is the word of God it is plain and pure and our families can be together forever because of the Savior restoring His authority again to the prophet Joseph Smith. Why would anyone deny more of God's word. For He does give us faith as much as we are willing to work for it.

We had a drunk guy come up to us and we started talking about the book of mormon and he said there is no book of mormon and was angry and mad. Well, I know for a fact we have the book of Mormon and it is true. I felt sorry for him. You can tell who the elect are by the way they respond to the book of mormon.

There was an awesome talk at Stake Conference about if the Lord really cares about those who are truly suffering in other countries.  He does care, but He does not control the agency of others and therefore His children have to suffer. He does care. And that is why the gospel has been restored.

Te amo Familia
Sister Gonzales

11.18.2013

This week we got to hear from a Seventy Elder Golden. He was great! And talked a lot and taught us a bunch of stuff. He was very bold and straight forward. He talked about how faith is personal righteousness and how the Holy Ghost is what cleanses us from sin. It was neat and an awesome experience! 

We had a really neat experience with a lady we are teaching. We were teaching her about the atonement and how Christ bled from every pour. Then a few minutes later her 11 year old daughter comes in the room and randomly says, "Hey did you know our faces have 20,000 pours." We asked her if she knew we were just talking about that and she said no. It was crazy! haha and the mom started crying and the Spirit once again testified to her that the things we were teaching her are true! 

Well anyways, after that we went to eat dinner at this families house and then went to watch one of the young women sing at a talent show. We only stayed the first half when she was done and then left because it was very worldly of course. But it was good. 

Also yesterday a lady that had dropped us months ago called! She asked us for forgiveness and said her sister was sick. So we went over there and the elders gave her sister a blessing and left. We are now going to start meeting up with her again and her sister too! It truly was a blessing from the Lord especially since that family had just dropped us. 

I often remember a time in the summer here when I left my water bottle in the car and we had gone walking down this neighborhood to visit a guy and it was really hot that day. On our way back to the car I thought that my only water bottle would have gotten hot from the sun and I was mad I left it in the car. However, when we finally got back to the car I grabbed my water bottle and it was cold! That was a tender mercy from the Lord and I remember that time because I know the Lord is watching out for me even for those little things. 

Well transfer calls came and I am still staying in Battle Creek! haha only me and just very few other missionaries have stayed in an area this long! An Elder that was here stayed this long so I guess I will too. Apparently I need to be here for a reason. I am also getting a cold which is no fun so I will have to get some medicine today as well! This transfer will fly by because we are getting a new companion and we have thanksgiving. Christmas and a whole bunch of other stuff happening! 

It will be good! Te amo! 

Sister Gonzales :) 

11.18.2013

This week we got to hear from a Seventy Elder Golden. He was great! And talked a lot and taught us a bunch of stuff. He was very bold and straight forward. He talked about how faith is personal righteousness and how the Holy Ghost is what cleanses us from sin. It was neat and an awesome experience! 

We had a really neat experience with a lady we are teaching. We were teaching her about the atonement and how Christ bled from every pour. Then a few minutes later her 11 year old daughter comes in the room and randomly says, "Hey did you know our faces have 20,000 pours." We asked her if she knew we were just talking about that and she said no. It was crazy! haha and the mom started crying and the Spirit once again testified to her that the things we were teaching her are true! 

Well anyways, after that we went to eat dinner at this families house and then went to watch one of the young women sing at a talent show. We only stayed the first half when she was done and then left because it was very worldly of course. But it was good. 

Also yesterday a lady that had dropped us months ago called! She asked us for forgiveness and said her sister was sick. So we went over there and the elders gave her sister a blessing and left. We are now going to start meeting up with her again and her sister too! It truly was a blessing from the Lord especially since that family had just dropped us. 

I often remember a time in the summer here when I left my water bottle in the car and we had gone walking down this neighborhood to visit a guy and it was really hot that day. On our way back to the car I thought that my only water bottle would have gotten hot from the sun and I was mad I left it in the car. However, when we finally got back to the car I grabbed my water bottle and it was cold! That was a tender mercy from the Lord and I remember that time because I know the Lord is watching out for me even for those little things. 

Well transfer calls came and I am still staying in Battle Creek! haha only me and just very few other missionaries have stayed in an area this long! An Elder that was here stayed this long so I guess I will too. Apparently I need to be here for a reason. I am also getting a cold which is no fun so I will have to get some medicine today as well! This transfer will fly by because we are getting a new companion and we have thanksgiving. Christmas and a whole bunch of other stuff happening! 

It will be good! Te amo! 

Sister Gonzales :) 

11.11.2013

First off some good news I hope. So this Elder that is in my district is also going to Brazil. He did his papers through Los Angeles just as I have and he has been out for 8 months waiting in Michigan. I have been out 6 months waiting. Well anyways he got his VISA!!! Which means I will too soon I hope!! So there is hope I soon will be going to Brazil.

 Anyways, not too much to say. We didn't have a car for awhile so we road the bus and it was fun personal contacting on the bus this black guy sat next to me and I pretty much taught him the plan of salvation he was a nice guy. When people sit next to you they have to listen until the bus stops haha. But unfortunately one of my companions had to sit by a creepy old guy that was weird and whispered in her ear that he shot a man. Crazy stuff, Well anyways I do have my driving privileges now and so I have been driving it is great! :) Friday is transfer calls and so we will see where I go.

It was a good but rough week with investigators. One investigator really wants to learn more and has felt the spirit but her husband told her that we only see her as a number and she broke down in tears to us and we told her that she wasn't a number and that Satan is trying to pull her away from the truth. Sometimes these men just need to be humbled!

There was a wedding the other day that we were invited to and it was weird being there haha even though it was in the church. The second we walk into the church the lady whose grandson was getting married was panicking that the punch wasn't made and all that stuff so we had to go to the kitchen and make it while the wedding was going on. haha just because we are girls I think people expect us to do other things and it makes me frustrated sometimes because we are missionaries! haha we cannot babysit or make food for the wedding. But whatever, asi e la vida! So yesterday was kind of sad I am not sure if you heard about the philipines but a member told us about it and one of my comps best friend is serving there and she panicked and was crying. But we found out that all the missionaries and doing well. I cannot believe the devastation that occurred there. 

 

We decided to get a jumix at the Mexican store by the neighborhood we were door knocking because we had to leave because we were surrounded by cop cars and couldn't door knock anymore

My comps from the MTC emailed me and said brazil is really hard but they can't wait until I get there! Which will be soon I hope. There is a lot of work to be done all over the world. Even in the US. Especially in Michigan. People need to be humbled and realize that they are nothing without God. We need a desire to change and not complain that we are struggling. Well we get to hear from a 70 I think his name is Elder Golden, tomorrow at half mission training. 

 

It will be weird if I leave this area because I have been here for 6 months! That is a long time! The members really are awesome and I will miss them. But I have realized that the mission is suppose to uncomfortable and awkward or you won't grow.

I think for the first time every we had a breakfast appointment the other day haha.... It is because this lady in the ward called us and said she brought home a girl from the streets and is lost and has done drugs she wanted us to talk to her. Well we leave studies early to go to her house. The girl had left and so the member felt bad and made us breakfast. but then the girl came back and you could tell she was struggling. She was 23 but looked much older. People don't even think we look 20, word of wisdom!! Anyways, we told her that God doesn't make mistakes and she said he does. That is when we knew there was no getting across to her. I feel bad that she is going through this hard time and dealing with it through drugs. There is a lot of that I see here. 

 

Our mission president said that you can tell who the elect are by the way they respond to the book of Mormon. That always helps me stay focused and have the faith that if God called more missionaries then he definitely has prepared more people to receive the gospel. It is a continuous battle with Satan everyday and this people searching for truth. It drains you but that is life. We will always be battling against Satan. 

 

Anyways Obrigada familia! Te amo! 

Sista Gonzales

11.04.2013

Wow the kids are so big! For Halloween me and my companions were all sick, didn't have a car because we are on car rotations. It was raining and it was weekly planning day. So our mission presidents wife said we could stay in. Nothing else to do on Halloween as a missionary, but the Laubengayer family took us out for dinner (I sent pics) and then we went to a members and watched 17 miracles. So that was my Halloween. We had zone conference as well and I got to talk to the other Visa Waiters. It is los angeles fault why the visas are taking forever!!

Anyways, we had our trunk or treat on saturday... one of our investigators came and then the Hernandez family came. Our recent convert Brandi came too.  We were able to talk to this lady who just stopped by because she saw a trunk or treat and I was talking to her and she seemed interested and so hopefully we will meet with her this week. Also, the Hernandez family came to church yesterday! And the members are awesome one of them got up and bore her testimony in Spanish because she saw they were there. She was so nervous but did it! it was way cool! However, their 3 year old son, Marcel, talked a lot and I think the mom got embarrassed and so they left after sacrament meeting. We just need to explain to her that is how little kids are. The older girls were bummed though because they didn't want to leave they wanted to stay.

We have been walking a lot because we don't have a car. We walked to down town where POST is the cereal company and boy it is in the ghetto is was gross! haha there is a dump by it and it smelled so bad I almost threw up.... but anyways... The family I talked about last week lives by there haha...and those are the girls we played ball with. I seriously love that family!  I was super happy that the mom let us take her girls because she is really protective over them but now she really trust us. Basketball was a lot of fun and yea it wasn't a p. day but the young women's were so happy we brought the girls and we got them to church some how. The taller girl in the fotos is 15 and wants to play bball in high school so we were helping her out. And she had to guard me and couldn't at first because she couldn't take me seriously but then I kept pushing her around and then she finally knocked me down haha I was happy about that because she started feeling more comfortable around us. Hopefully we can see them again this week.

It looks like we will have a good week ahead. I am getting much better at personal contacting, so that is good as well. I do think I will probably be transferred too. Transfer calls are in 2 weeks! Time sure does fly. And no body thinks that I am 21 haha. I was practice teaching with an elder from my district and he said we are all the same age 19. I said I am 21 he was super shocked haha my comp said I look 17 so yea... I still don't look old yet. 

 

Our recent convert Brandi, has a friend for us to teach this week! :) yay and our new investigator Stephanie is still reading the Book of Mormon but is getting anti material left and right from her friends but the spirit already testified to her that she needs to read and listen to us. So it is hard for her but she said she loves talking to us and it gives her motivation and confidence. So that is good!

Also, last night at the Quintano's we were eating dinner there and Sanitago was eating chilis like candy and so I tried one and then everyone else did and we were all dying haha and then my comps were sick that night haha. But I ate chilis at the trunk or treat so my stomach was used to it haha but the kids were all crying and the dad is just eating them like candy. It was funny!

 

Well toto and jinny were really nice and got me a nice coat and gloves. I might need my boots but I might just get some here. I am planning on sending a package home with clothes I don't where and a cd for chris and some other stuff. So maybe next week I will send it not sure yet. 

 

Anyways, obrigada familia! TE AMO

Sister Gonzales