Last Week of September!!

Hola y'all!

    I can't believe it's the last week of September already!  This past
week has been a rough but good week!  It is definitely hard to be a
missionary sometimes but it's all worth it!  We saw many miracles and
had some really good lessons with our investigators and less actives!
    At the beginning of the week Sister McKee came into our area to work
with us!  We had many spiritual experiences and had a really
great lesson with Priscila, and read in the Book of Mormon together. It
truly is amazing to see Priscila light up when things make sense to
her!  We had district meeting the next day and our district leader
gave a training on how important it is to "teach people, not lessons".
Meaning we teach people based on their needs and what the spirit wants
us to teach them, and not just plowing through the lessons to get them
done!  I think that training was so inspired because that's something
as a missionary we need to recognize......what people really need to hear in
order for them to understand and truly become converted.
    We had a great lesson with Gladys and one of the returning less
actives that we have been working with in our ward, Donna Ormond, came
to the lesson with us and it was amazing!  Before Donna joined the
church she was apart of the same church as Gladys is right now, and
Donna shared her conversion story with Gladys to show how she knew this
was the one and only true church. It was great to have her there and
then after the lesson Donna stayed to visit with her and come to find
out they visited for about 3 hours after we left.  When we went back
to have another lesson with her a couple days later Gladys told us she
wants to become part of this church (Miracle)!  We can't wait to
continue meeting with her!
    On Thursday Sister Carter and I had the wonderful opportunity to go
to the San Antonio Temple! It was my first time going since on my mission
and one of our members was so kind to take us!  It was a great
experience!  I just love the temple so much!  One thing that is
unique in this temple that I love is that every window is stain-glass!
It's Beautiful!!
    This weekend we were able to attend the Woman's Broadcast at our
Stake Center!  It was amazing and I loved everything the speakers
spoke about!  I especially loved the talk given by Dieter F.
Uchtdorf!  "NEVER GIVE UP!! FOURTH FLOOR, LAST DOOR!" I've had many
experiences on my mission when having faith to keep going.....not giving
up lead to many miracles!!  The Lord is preparing his people! I can't
wait for General Conference this week!
    Sunday we had an amazing Relief Society lesson.  I would like to
share with y'all a quote that was shared during this lesson.  This is
from Chieko Okazaki, a former General Relief Society President of the
Church.  She said...

"We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in
Gethsemane.  It's our faith that he experienced everything--
absolutely everything.  Sometimes we don't think through the
implications of that belief.  We talk in great generalities about the
sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family.
But we don't experience pain in generalities.  We experience it
individually.  That means he knows what it felt like when your mother
died of cancer--how it felt for your mother, how it still is for you.
He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election.  He
knows that moment when the brakes locked and the car started to skid.
He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia.  He
experienced the gas chambers at Dachau.  He experienced napalm in
Vietnam...He knows about drug addictions and alcoholism.  On a
profound level, he understands about the hunger to hold your baby that
sustains you through pregnancy.  He understands both the physical pain
of giving birth and the immense joy. He understands about rape and
infertility and abortion...He understands your mother-pain when your
five-year-old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your
fifth-grader.  He knows your mother rage...when someone gives your
thirteen year old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen year old.
He knows the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet
apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that
your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last
week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your
husband has been dead for two years.  He knows all that.  He's been
there.  He's been lower than all that.  He's not waiting for us to be
perfect.  Perfect people don't need a Savior.  He came to save his
people in their imperfections. He is the lord of the living, and the
living make mistakes.  He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or
shocked.  He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our
guilt and grief" (Chieko Okazaki 1993)

And I would like to add, he wants us to seek Him.

It is my testimony that the Lord knows that we are not going to be
perfect.  That's why He provided us with a Savior.  So we can overcome
the mistakes we make.  I am so grateful for the trials and experiences
that I've had in my life that taught me to choose Christ. To seek Him
first. I am grateful for his unending love!  I hope y'all have a great
week!

Con Amor,
Hermana Mann

Hola Y'all!

Howdy!

This week started out with a miracle!  As we were heading to a less active member's house to see if she was home, we felt impressed to stop by Gladys's house (a non member who we helped do some service for a couple weeks ago).  When we knocked on her door she opened it and came out to give us big hugs and said "Oh it's the cute sister missionaries with the Mormon church. Come on in I have a lot to tell you both!"  We spent a good 45 minutes getting to know her and she told us that her daughter in North Carolina joined the church a couple months ago and has been telling her mom about it, so now she wants to learn more!  We taught her the restoration, and then fast forwarding a couple of days, we taught her again and she has been reading the Book of Mormon!  She is amazing and we love seeing her light up when she understands things!  I'm grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for acting on the prompting that we were given to go by her house Monday night. 

We did some service this week for a new family that just moved in to the Lake Travis Ward!  It was great getting to know them better, and after we shared a message with their family, and they said it was what they needed to hear that day, that we were an answer to their prayers! (That made me feel good)  It's amazing how the Lord works. 

On Wednesday we had Zone Conference from 8AM-3PM.  I learned a lot!  Great trainings were given by our Mission President Polley and his wife.  They talked to us and gave some trainings as well.  They both recently participated in the Mission President Seminar this past week.  The seminar focused on “Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts”.   We have heard many times the true saying, “The gospel is simply beautiful and beautifully simple”.  That thought came to our Mission President time and time again during the seminar. He said for example, "how does one become converted to the Lord – through a beautifully simple process of prayer, reading and pondering the Book of Mormon, and attending church." 

I am so grateful to our loving Heavenly Father and the Savior that way, to gain a testimony is available to all of his children.  No one is excluded, for all can pray, all can read and ponder the Book of Mormon, all can attend church.  For our part as missionaries we must not be distracted from these core principles that will change the lives of those we teach.  We must be effective in our invitations to pray, read and ponder the Book of Mormon, and attend church.  Without these there cannot be true conversion.

We had a fun, spiritual Sunday this week!  Priscila came an loved the talks that were given in Sacrament meeting.  The Spirit was very strong and the things talked about were what she felt like she needed to hear (miracle).  During the week I was asked by our Primary Presidency to come pretend to be Abish and act out her story from the scriptures in front of the kids!  It was a lot of fun, it made me miss my primary kids back home (I sure do love them)!     

This week I came across a talk that was given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf and I thought I would share some of it with y'all!                                                                                                                                                                                                  

You Matter to Him

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

        "My dear brothers and sisters, it may be true that man is nothing in comparison to the greatness of the universe. At times we may even feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember--you matter to Him! If you ever doubt that, consider these four divine principles:

First, God loves the humble and meek, for they are “greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Second, the Lord entrusts “the fulness of [His] gospel [to] be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world.” He has chosen “the weak things of the world [to] come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones” and to put to shame “the things which are mighty.”  Third, no matter where you live, no matter how humble your circumstances, how meager your employment, how limited your abilities, how ordinary your appearance, or how little your calling in the Church may appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart and your acts of love and kindness. Together, they form a lasting testimony of your fidelity and faith.  Fourth and finally, please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him. Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed.  Be assured that if you but hold on, believe in Him, and remain faithful in keeping the commandments, one day you will experience for yourselves the promises revealed to the Apostle Paul: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”  Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love.  God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season--He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.  May we ever believe, trust, and align our lives so that we will understand our true eternal worth and potential. May we be worthy of the precious blessings our Heavenly Father has in store for us is my prayer in the name of His Son, even Jesus Christ, amen."

In closing of this email I would like to share my feeling on this talk that was given.  You matter to him!  Each and every one of you!  I've seen many people on my mission who feel worthless, inadequate, and who feel like there is no one who cares about them!  I KNOW God loves each and every one of them and you!  He cares about you and he is very mindful of you!  He believes in you and trusts you!  I love all of you as well!  I hope y'all have a good week!

Con Amor,

Hermana Mann

7 Months!

Hola y'all

        I hit my 7 month mark this week and I can't believe it! It just
doesn't seem real! This week has been good and we've seen many
miracles (like always).  Sister Carter has been sick all week and we
have been in and out of the doctors, but the good news is that things are well
and she is recovering from her sickness. When we went to the doctors
on Tuesday a funny experience happened.  The front desk lady (Pam)
said "hey it's the missionaries!"  We thought maybe she is was a
member.  Well come to find out she is not a member but thought as
missionaries we are here for 18 months to train to become nuns.  I guess
she thought that because we call each other Sister.  It was really
funny trying to explain to her that's not what we are doing.  But then
after we had a little discussion on what we believe in.  It was quite
an experience.
        We biked a lot this week and one day while biking up a steep hill
Sister Carter's bike like fell apart (chain came off, back brakes
broke). I spent the next 45 minutes sitting on the pavement using my
"amazing" skills to try to fix this bike.  Well to the best of my
ability I fixed what I could.  Feeling proud we continued on with
our journey to go visit with a recent convert in the ward (Venita
Smith).  When we got there she opened the door and whispered to us that
her husband's boss was there and wanted to sit in on the lesson!  His name is
Con and as soon as we shook his hand he said "I want to hear more
about this church that Venita talks about all the time!"  We had a
great lesson with them, and at the end Venita hit home with her
testimony about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and about Joseph
Smith.  It was amazing and Con was almost in tears.  He asked for a Book
of Mormon and Sister Carter hurried to get one out of her bag to give
to him.  He asked if we could read the introduction together, so
that's what we did and then we invited him to continue to read, and
then when we come back next week we will talk about it.  He was so
excited! (Miracle)
        We had some great lessons this week including one with Pricila, her
daughter!  Pricila wants to be baptized, but she is still praying
about it and wants to learn more before she makes this big step in her
life!  We are so excited for her and love seeing the necessary changes
in her life that she is making to become closer to her Heavenly
Father.  Both of them came to church on Sunday and in sacrament the
topic was on the Book of Momon (which Pricila has been reading and
wanting to know if it is true).  How amazing it was to feel that
wonderful spirit as people gave talks on what the Book of Mormon was
and what it meant to them!
        I had the wonderful opportunity to give a training this week in
District Meeting and it was on the importance of members in missionary
work!  To all of you members reading this.....I can't express
enough how great of missionaries you are and how important you are in
this great work! We can all be missionaries whether we have the black
name tag or not!  Don't be afraid to share your testimony and beliefs
with others!  Invite your friends to church, give service, share a
Book of Mormon, and your testimony!  Miracles will happen I promise!

       And one last quick thing....I have been studying a little bit about courage
for all who are experiencing troubles and trials. We can all use a
little bit of encouragement!  In Joshua chapter 1:9, it says:
"Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not
afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest."

      A Mormon Message I love to share is called "Courage." I want you all
to look it up!  No matter what trial we are experiencing today, we can
be courageous like Esther in the Bible, and like the 3 other woman in
the video. I love what one of the woman said, "We don't know what the
Lord is trying to teach us, but if we really trust Heavenly Father, it
really doesn't matter what we don't understand."

      I know Heavenly Father loves us and that with the Savior's grace--the
help or strength given through Christ’s Atonement--we can courageously
face any trial that is placed before us. Have a great week! I love
y'all!


Con Amor,
Hermana Mann

Transfer week, beginning of September!!

Hola y'all!

What a crazy week it's been!  Transfers are today and good news....

both me and Sister Carter are staying here in Lake Travis!! I can't believe
it's September already!  My 7 month mark will be this Saturday! (I
can't believe it)

On Monday last week we had a Zone p-day and then that night we had
family night with the Burris', and some other families in the ward, and
we went bowling!  It was a lot of fun!  We even had an investigator
there!  We saw many miracles this week and continued to do lots of
service (which I love doing)!!  We had a lesson with Pricila this week
and we really hope to set her baptismal date soon!
   

We went on exchanges with Sister Judd and Sister Hicken in
Fredricksburg on Wednesday and it was great!  We double covered their
area and we met with lots of less actives and had some really good
lessons with them!  One of the sisters we visited has a daughter that
wanted to talk with the sisters about going on a mission and so we
told her how great it was and what we do as missionaries!  She got a
lot more excited to go, and so that was great to hear!
   

This week in District meeting we learned more on how to be better
listeners!  It was very inspiring because a lot of times as
missionaries we have a hard time truly listening to those we talk to
because we just want to jump in and solve their problems. Sometimes we
don't realize that all we have to do is listen.
     

We had a good visit with Venida Smith (recent convert) this week
and she is doing so well!  A miracle happened during our visit!  She
said her husband Dennis wanted to start meeting with the missionaries
too!  We were so excited to hear that!  After our visit we went and
asked Dennis if he wanted to join us for a closing prayer and he said
yes (miracle)!  We set up an appointment with him this week and can't
wait!
 

Another miracle happened this week!  After we had dinner with a
family in our ward on Friday night we went by some potentials, and when
we knocked on this families door they opened up and let us right in.
We shared a message with them and they invited us to come back again
this week!  
  

On Saturday we had the wonderful opportunity to go see Abby Ryan's
baptism!  Her birthday was also on the same day she got baptized! It
was such a wonderful spiritual experience!

Sunday we had church and one of the less active families we've been
working with came!!  And bore there testimonies!  The spirit was so
strong!  We also had the opportunity to teach the Sunday school
lesson on the importance of following the commandments!  We taught
them hand signs to help them remember.
   

This week I've been studying a lot about hope and faith.  I would
like to share with y'all what I've learned or that stuck out to me in
talks that I've read.

We all experience difficult times in our lives. Elder Quentin L.
Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: “Life is not
easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial.” In
the midst of these trials we can choose how to respond. There is one
choice that will always bring peace and hope--that choice is faith.
The Savior said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Faith in Jesus
Christ will help us endure the tribulations we encounter in this life.
Faith is a “hope for things which are not seen, which are true”
(Alma 32:21; see also Hebrews 11:1). Faith is a principle of action
and power that motivates our day-to-day activities.
Would we study and learn if we did not believe we could obtain wisdom
and knowledge? Would we work each day if we did not hope that by doing
so we could accomplish something? Would a farmer plant if he did not
expect to harvest? Each day we act upon things we hope for when we
cannot see the end result. This is faith. (See Hebrews 11:3.)
Many scriptural stories tell how great things were accomplished
through faith.  By faith Noah built an ark and saved his family from
the flood (see Hebrews 11:7). Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea
(see Hebrews 11:29). Elijah called down fire from heaven (see 1 Kings
18:17–40). Nephi called for a famine (see Helaman 11:3–5). He also
asked the Lord to end the famine (see Helaman 11:9–17). Seas have been
calmed, visions opened, and prayers answered, all through the power of
faith.
As we carefully study the scriptures, we learn that faith is a strong
belief of truth within our souls that motivates us to do good. This
causes us to ask: In whom should we have faith?
Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon
each day that you cannot see the end results of? How does faith move
you to action?
Why Should We Have Faith in Jesus Christ?
We must center our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  To have faith in
Jesus Christ means to have such trust in Him that we obey whatever He
commands. As we place our faith in Jesus Christ, becoming His obedient
disciples, Heavenly Father will forgive our sins and prepare us to
return to Him.
The Apostle Peter preached that “there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12; see also
Mosiah 3:17). Jacob taught that men must have “perfect faith in the
Holy One of Israel [Jesus Christ], or they cannot be saved in the
kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 9:23). Through faith in the Savior and
through repentance, we make His Atonement fully effective in our
lives. Through faith we can also receive strength to overcome
temptations (see Alma 37:33).
We cannot have faith in Jesus Christ without also having faith in
our Heavenly Father. If we have faith in Them, we will also have faith
that the Holy Ghost, whom They send, will teach us all truth and will
comfort us.

Now I have some questions for y'all to think about.
How can faith in Jesus Christ influence us in our family
relationships?  In our jobs?  How does faith in Jesus Christ influence
our hope for eternal life?

I have a strong testimony on faith!  I know it's important for us to
keep moving forward with faith even though sometimes it's hard because
we can't see the result!  I know this church is true!  Jesus Christ is
our Savior and Redeemer!  I love y'all and hope this week will be a
wonderful week full of many adventures!

Con Amor,
Hermana Mann