Pour out Blessings

All is well in Guadalupe. I am doing great and feeling great. I have been waiting to see the fruits of our labors and obedience and yesterday I was so overwhelmed in Church because of the investigators and their families that were in the church. I thought about how the Lord will pour out blessings that there wont be room enough to recieve them. It was true. Our bench looked small. With our investigators and their kids, we had 8 people at church. I could not have been more excited. I know the Lord has a plan for me and sometimes I just have to be patient.

 It was overwhelming. I had 2 kids i was trying to keep quiet. I felt so much love for my parents as I tried to use the lotion dots and lead the music like mom and dad. We ended up drawing and coloring. I think their parents felt the spirit. I didn't.... but if they did thats what counts. I felt so happy and there literally wasn't room ¨...enough on the bench... to receive our blessings. MAYBE I am quoting that scripture wrong. but there was a great blessing there. 

 I´ve liked being companion of a coordinator because I feel like I have both lifted and been lifted by the sisters who have come to my zone. I was very grateful to be with another Hermana Wednesday and learn a little about how much she loves people. I want to be like her and have love for everyone and the gospel radiating from me. 

I think we are about to hit some major breakthroughs in our teachings. We have been patient for so long and I know that these people are prepared. I hope we can inspire them. Both Hermana Sanchez and I can see our investigator as a future church leader.  There is nothing that makes me happier. . I feel we are spending our time wisely and helping share the good news, we´ve gotten into an effective system and our companionship and investigators are all learning and growing together.

I had an awesome week. I am just relieved and happy. I learned that the Lord gives gifts to those who ask. I am grateful to my awesome family whose faith has made me not have scabies nor fleas, but one of those that is healing amazingly. I know they asked in faith.

We had  a neat christmas activity. we got GRINGO FOOD: and I GOT TWO PACKAGES from my family and I GOT TO PLAY DODGEBALL: what more could a girl want? haha

An investigator also gave me a really nice satchel. purse. cartel. bolsa. i dont know. its super though! It costed like 10 mil! (20 bucks...which is probably more like 40 bucks in the schemes of pòbracity) haha.

Thankful for the little things...fleas?

Wow. I got in a lot better mood this week.

I cut my hair Monday. The first time in a year. 

Someone spoke English to us in the streets and his friend said PORQUE hablaste en ingles? Son Chilean’s. Haha Why did you speak Spanish, they are Chilean? Needless to say, I am very tan. 

I have just about the same (or more fleas.) I still have bites on my legs and stomach,but its bearable. haha I use lots of itching cream. 

 But I got word from my friends on missions in the states this week who have/had SHINGLES; LICE...hahaha Oh the things we learn. I decided someday I might be able to humble myself, but for now; the Lord has to do it for me. 

 I like my companion´s calling (Sisters leader) for her, and for me. I went on divisions this week twice, in my sector.

Tuesday Morning I had divisions with my twin. She is named Mandy, after the Barry Manilow song too. Her nickname is Mandocommando. She plays piano a little, but plays really good by ear. WE ARE TWINS. I just about died laughing. This was my first day being alone with someone who speaks English in 6 months so you can say I got some serious advice. She really inspired me. Maybe even saved me from the last week. I know that she was an answer to my prayers. We shared some neat scriptures and both came out on top. I love this sister so much. What’s not to love, right Dad? 

I got to go on other divisions with another Hermana . She’s a cutie. It was so fun. We got to share with a lot of people and it was fun to help her and that people only understand me. I do have to translate for my comp who speaks Spanish  because she talks so so dang fast with a SHA SHA SHA accent.

         I sang a duet in zone conf. with Hermana Archila. We sang Brilla Rayas de Clemencia. It was pretty. It was the first time in a long time I got to sing alto! Yay. It rocked. She sings so pretty and I am good at grounding her. I like singing a lot now. I wrote two songs. ILL BE GONE FOR CHRISTMAS and ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A BAPTISM.

The other things this week were we were contacting and the house yelled SATANAS...so we left quickly. A man hit my butt in the streets. So we left quickly. 

Miguel, whose baptism was supposed to be Saturday and everything was all ready decided to disappear from the earth. We found him after a week. He wants nothing to do with us. I was really sad. I guess the Lord will teach us somehow. I know He knows what he is doing with us.

This week was better than the last and I got a lot of little advice from the scriptures, the words of the prophets, some mission friends and now I am feeling happy. . We also found a lot of great contactos, who should be nuevos soon.

We have a tree.- Thanksgiving was normal. Not too much there. We ate rice and chicken like every other day! haha. But I did think of my blessings a lot more. We are so blessed. I am so happy to be living here at this time. I know the Lord loves us.

The street next to ours is called MARKMANN B. and every time I see it I think Brenda and Mark Newman. SO I think of Brenda about once a day. The floors in our house are all white tile so I think of Valerie once a day. There’s a woman in the ward like Marylou so I think of her once a week. I miss my mature friends. I think of the grandmas so much. =) 

By small and simple things

This week as we sat waiting for our investigator in his pre interview for his baptism , my companion was trying to play what I taught her of Come thou fount of every blessing on the piano. We were there for 3 hours waiting for him because we told him we would be there when he finished and didn't realize it would take so long. She was pounding out and I was getting annoyed. It reminded me of home. Then She asked for me to help her with some of the chords I did and she played it wonderfully. I have been listening to it for weeks in the awful first pounding skills and now its getting more melodic. While sitting listening to her and thinking about Artu in his interview. I thought that its great I have a testimony and its great I can play (a bit) of the piano, but HOW much greater is it that I can teach others to play and others to have a testimony. I have been extremely blessed to see how the Lord has been here for me to see a big miracle happening this week with my first baptism. I know that success is not measured in baptism but it is in progression, and that's a big step. I am happy. I started crying during these silent moments of reflection. My companion yelled (in english) Are You crying? Maybe I took a part in the things she is learning.

Maybe not. We got to speak english in a lesson this week and I bombed it. I couldn't talk at all. I forgot how many sayings we have. I like typing a lot. I type in english but now am beginning to think in spanish. Instead of saying We are playing sports at the church today... i said... We have sports this day at the church. wow. Sign me up for preschool when I return, Mom. Which by the way is in one year. Friday is my 6 month mark, How fast does time pass?

In sacrament meeting a song was sung I stand all amazed and i know that my redeemer lives. My two favorites right now. I haven't cried for a long time besides thursday night but that made me cry. I am so happy I can share the good news of Jesus Christ.

I never thought I would be learning so much as I am here. Really by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I am learning self control, patience, diligence, and faith. Maybe a bit of longsuffering with the largeness of this sector and the amount of walking we have. I am still learning the quirks of my companion. ) And I am happy.

SFG

SFG, the acronym of the week from my sector,  San Fernando Guadalupe. ...Sweating Fifty Gallons, Skin Fresh and Golden, Super Feliz Gringa... Still Feeling LOST =) 

There’s the words of the week. Today we went to a museum. which was a really old house and some cool artifacts inside. They don’t have glass around anything so I touched the jaw of a blue whale. Last week we went to the beach ocean pichilemu. to the punto de los lobos. Wolf point (although I didn’t see any wolves) but I did see a dog. We saw men carrying out hug bags on their backs of collalulo. (seaweed). to sell in the streets. Yeah I like p`day here. haha 

It’s so hot. Haha but the good news is, it’s not cold. At least I’ll have a white Christmas here because the trees are snowing flowers and pollen balls. =) hehe 

Here in san fern we eat pretty normal. We always have coke, rice, chicken, cabbage or lettuce with lemon and oil and ice cream after

 We are having a lot of progression in our investigators. One investigator was in church on Sunday. It was fast and testimony meeting. He said he wanted to have a testimony. He keeps saying more and more ¨so for my baptism...¨and made me promise I would sing at his baptism. (apparently no one can sing here if they want me. but ire and hare,) haha  I played piano a little the other day so soon I will probably have to play. They caught me. Everyone wants me to teach them... my comp learned a little =) 

 Our other baptism date went on vacation. We met 4 new people and put baptism dates this week. One reminded me of my grandma seal who died in April. I love her so much. I may have cried a little in finding her.

We found a family last night. Sunday night at 8:25 pm ...talk about the Lord trying our patience because we had been knocking all week.

I am getting around the sector pretty well. Actually, that’s the biggest lie ever. Its really big and I still don’t know too much.  Our sector is huge. Luckily we will never run out of places to go. We walk probably a few miles everyday. I am skinny butt now. The city center in a 15 min walk east.

For now we will get our baptisms to come to pass. I am ready. My comp is more than ready. Oh this Uraguashan is great. I hope I don’t receive her español accent. =) Or her english =) (when she reads its a little like Arnold Swartenegger, and it makes my day.) I think that’s why we have language study.

I am doing good . I feel happier than ever. I think every time I have a doubt in my mind of my purpose here, the Lord sends 15 reminders of His love for me. I can´t help but feel happy. 

I am a country girl now....transfers

So good things happened this week. It was super crazy. 

The phone rang Monday night and we had special transfers. The assistants said that we weren’t in trouble but he felt revelation that we were the ones to change. I felt the spirit so strong.

 I was thrust out of the sector I was born into, into the wild jungle. Just kidding. It is however the place you picture when you think of Chile. Some houses with cement floors and old wooden walls. This place is amazing. ...: 

Sooo... Monday. Hermana Arias and I cried, and packed. Tuesday we had a long encounter with the Area Book. Note to self, Don’t get behind on that. That was the worst. We went to say bye to people, not too many were home. Which killed me. We had an awesome final FHE with the branch president and Carlos and his family . I hope the branch can take good care of him and baptize him

Wednesday I left, after my final zone conference. They gave me a shout out thanks for all I did. I felt good (because initially I felt super bummed I opened the sector Villa El Sol C and closed it) but I know we affected people and the seeds with grow now. In 20 years, right? haha. Oh well I feel good about it.

 I now live in the country...

So here’s a nice HELLO FROM Guadalupe San Fernando, CHILE =) I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE BEACH: We went to Pichilemu today. It was so beautiful. I now live in the south, like 1.5 hours south of where I was before. and it is more country. I didn’t realize how city I was in. When you think of Chile, you think of Guadalupe. 

 I met my new companion. Hermana Shanchez from Uruguay ... My companion definitely is very motivational and the most obedient person I have ever met and she’s been a great leader. Guess how many baptism dates we put this week? 3. Oh my freaking loving life! =) =) So we will work more with them and their families hopefully soon.

Friday we went to Rancagua so that I could become an official citizen of Chile. But it fell, so I need to go tomorrow. Friday we were trying to take a bus to another city, 20 minutes away, Angostura but ended up in TAMBO. Which is super far away. We were so lost, but had to take another bus to get back to Angostura. haha this sector is huge. And super mountainous. I love it.

The church members here are awesome. The branch has 150. Double my other branch.

I am so happy to be here! 

Car Accident is a Blessing

Everything is going good. I am feeling good although this week was a bit hard for me.This week I got super sick from eating something bad. That was super fun. Worst 3 days of my life. haha. Which made it harder to stay animated about the work going on. I feel better now and know that the Lord is mindful of me and to just keep doing his work. I know that this will bring me the most excitement and happiness. But despite anything I have, I know that I can overcome. I am so excited to be a missionary in this so crucial time. 

As for work in the sector, We proposed a baptism date this week to Carlos again. He has already been at church three times and I feel that he is ready. He was with members 4 days this week and I was thrilled.  ...we were throwing the b word around like there is no tomorrow. BAPTISM: He was a little shocked and feels unprepared  for a date in the next 3 weeks...My mom  put his name on the prayer roll and I know that prayer really does work. I hope we can get him to realize how prepared he is and how worthy of a priesthood holder he will be. I hope they can continue to see the peace and revelation that comes from being at church. We are close to finishing visiting the list of menos acitvos. We will be done before November 1st. The list has been such a blessing and I hope these last few names can also have softened hearts to hear the good word. 

Woah. The weeks are going so fast. Almost 5 months here in Chile.

This week I rotted more fruit than I ever have in my life.BTW I am quite skinny because I live off of produce but was disappointed to find a rotten Chirimoya (good chilean fruit) and rotten avocados and rotten cucumber. Dang I need to be better at making sure its fresh. During winter, we can leave fruit wherever but its been freaking hot. On Martes (tues)  it was the hottest day on earth. And i honestly believe that. 

Something very humbling happened this week. Besides getting sick and fasting for our investigators (which were both super humbling)... We went to visit a member who got hit by a car (but was okay). . We were all OH SO SORRY OH I AM SORRY WE HOPE YOU'RE OKAY: and yeah... she very humbly said [I think it was an answer to my prayers because I have been wanting to go to the temple and didn't have money. I got in the accident and they paid me, so now I have money. When I can walk again, I'll go to the temple.] I was dying. Inside myself I was bawling with gratefulness to know this woman. I felt so impressed by her desire and willingness to rely on the Lord. We left and I was whimpering for an hour after OH! OH oh my gosh. Oh shes so great. My companion was rolling her eyes at me, but how do people get so precious? 

A woman told me I didn't look north American  after my comp said I was from Bolivia. Yes. Best day ever. 

And besides that many lessons. I love missionary work =) I am so happy to be here and serve.

-Hermana Loca Nokes.

"You wake up Ugly"

This week was great. We have been having people slowly progressing, which makes me happy, even though I sometimes get disappointed I don’t have recent converts I realize we are preparing our investigators for bigger and better things.   I was feeling a little unmotivated one day this week and it was awesome because I prayed for a answer Then I followed the advice from my president and his wife to read and study conference. The priesthood session , Elder Tad R. Callister said = With Increased vision comes increased motivation. This was my answer. I thought and wrote a journal entry about my vision, the Lords vision for me here and how I can increase this vision. It’s amazing to me how personal our revelation can be when we really search and pray with all our desires.

We had some really spiritual lessons this week with our investigators. We invited one investigator to general conference with us and he wants to go. We had sung La oracion del profeta and he felt the spirit so strong. We talked about prophets and I think he understood how important it is. Our biggest challenge is still getting people to come to church but we have been having different investigators attend. They like it, but are too busy. So we will continue to fortify their reasons for attending church. Along with our Less active, who is really progressing. I was happy because she was at church even though her daughters didn’t go with her. 

This sector is really growing and its been awesome to have the six missionaries here. =it was 80 degrees on Tuesday. I loved it. We had another sister sleep over at our house...with the other hermanas and there was the quote of the day. “Wow Sister Nokes, you wake up ugly in the mornings. Your poor husband. hahah.” Also. Two or three people this week said they loved my green eyes . Hmm. I always thought they were brown. haha.

We taught one investigator the law of chastity. It didn’t go too bad. We had some practice before. That was my first time. We gave him a “for the strength of youth” and he was intrigued. He’s a hoot. I hope he can be converted and serve a mission.

One more funny story. Someone was speaking in church and said MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS HOW MANY BLESSINGS HAVE WE RECEIVED... a little one year old girl, yelled out EIGHT: EIGHT. Count your eight blessings. Name them one by one. She knows how many she has, but I know that my blessings are countless. I’ve received stronger affirmations of my testimony every day this week and know that I have been chosen to come here. Sometimes these people affect my life more than I think I affect theirs.

I love Villa El Sol and am happy for the things I have learned here. I know that people have been taught and hope that their little daily improvement and daily fortifications of their faith will strengthen them for a future conversion. We had some strange conversations this week with 2 investigators, but that strengthens my testimony even more that if we speak our words won’t be confounded before men and they ended up feeling the truth of our testimonies.

This, my friends,  is why I am so grateful for the restoration. I know who God is. And what his purpose is. I know that these silly conversations were turned into testimony meetings because our words will not be confounded before men. I know that the church is true and the more trials I receive the more I pray and the more I know my heavenly father knows me personally, what my needs are and how I can help other people know this.

I am so happy to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know He lives and I know God lives and directs his church. I know that He blesses us in so many ways and trusts us so much. I have seen His arm become barren in my life and know that He answers our prayers.