Hola, Holaaaaa!!!
Como estan todos!? So, this week I got to see the water again! It was absolutely beautiful :) I had what's called an exchange. It's when you spend some time with another missionary (other than your assigned companion) for 24 hours so you can learn from them. I was with Hermana Dawid in Arecibo which is a pueblo basically on the beach. LOVE IT! We even took a morning run along the beach! I love being on an island :)
Anyway, we received transfer calls and I am staying here in Toa Baja for at least another 6 weeks! YAY! We also got our address working (finally) So, y'all can send me letters at my home address:
Urb. Las Colinas
L22 Calle Colinas Tres Pistachios
Toa Baja, P.R. 00949
Packages should still be sent to the mission office :)
The blessing about being here on the mission is seeing change. I have the opportunity everyday to see lives blessed because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Everyday my companion and I meet people who have been through challenges, who have broken hearts, who just need love in their lives. I can testify of the love our Savior has for each and every one of his children. This week, my companion and I were looking through our area book (a record book that tells us who the missionaries teach) and we found a guy who had been baptized around 5 years ago, but hadn't been to church in 3 years. He was a super strong member who helped the missionaries out a lot, but we had no clue what happened to him. So, we found his number, called him up, ended up setting an appointment with him that night and visited him. We had an awesome lesson with him, and we helped him recognize the spirit again, We shared Alma 5:14, 26 in the book of Mormon (to all the missionary's out there, this is a perfect scripture for less actives). It says:
14: And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
We invited him to come and feel the spirit again at church and he said he would come. That it was time to come back. That was Saturday night. Sunday morning came and he arrived at church with the biggest smile on his face. Our ward welcomed him with open arms. I don't believe that it was a coincidence that we found his name. I know our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of his children, and that we were lead as instruments in the Lord's hands to bring back one of his children. The best part of the mission is the change I get to see in people. I get to see the light of Christ shine in people's eyes as they try to align themselves with the will of the Lord.
I love you all! Let your light SHINE this week!
Con Amor,
Hermana VanKammen
Just a few photos:
The ocean :)
Bananas! People just grow things in their backyard, and we get food :) Right now its banana and avacato season!
Missionary work is a little exhausting sometimes......and couches are just really comfortable.....
The this is a picture with some of the members in our ward :)
Como estan todos!? So, this week I got to see the water again! It was absolutely beautiful :) I had what's called an exchange. It's when you spend some time with another missionary (other than your assigned companion) for 24 hours so you can learn from them. I was with Hermana Dawid in Arecibo which is a pueblo basically on the beach. LOVE IT! We even took a morning run along the beach! I love being on an island :)
Anyway, we received transfer calls and I am staying here in Toa Baja for at least another 6 weeks! YAY! We also got our address working (finally) So, y'all can send me letters at my home address:
Urb. Las Colinas
L22 Calle Colinas Tres Pistachios
Toa Baja, P.R. 00949
Packages should still be sent to the mission office :)
The blessing about being here on the mission is seeing change. I have the opportunity everyday to see lives blessed because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Everyday my companion and I meet people who have been through challenges, who have broken hearts, who just need love in their lives. I can testify of the love our Savior has for each and every one of his children. This week, my companion and I were looking through our area book (a record book that tells us who the missionaries teach) and we found a guy who had been baptized around 5 years ago, but hadn't been to church in 3 years. He was a super strong member who helped the missionaries out a lot, but we had no clue what happened to him. So, we found his number, called him up, ended up setting an appointment with him that night and visited him. We had an awesome lesson with him, and we helped him recognize the spirit again, We shared Alma 5:14, 26 in the book of Mormon (to all the missionary's out there, this is a perfect scripture for less actives). It says:
14: And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
We invited him to come and feel the spirit again at church and he said he would come. That it was time to come back. That was Saturday night. Sunday morning came and he arrived at church with the biggest smile on his face. Our ward welcomed him with open arms. I don't believe that it was a coincidence that we found his name. I know our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of his children, and that we were lead as instruments in the Lord's hands to bring back one of his children. The best part of the mission is the change I get to see in people. I get to see the light of Christ shine in people's eyes as they try to align themselves with the will of the Lord.
I love you all! Let your light SHINE this week!
Con Amor,
Hermana VanKammen
Just a few photos:
The ocean :)
Bananas! People just grow things in their backyard, and we get food :) Right now its banana and avacato season!
Missionary work is a little exhausting sometimes......and couches are just really comfortable.....
The this is a picture with some of the members in our ward :)