Feliz Navidad! December 23, 2013

Familia!!!

Well, I dont have much to tell because I just wrote last Thursday and the days have flown by suuuuper fast. But!! We did have a baptism yesterday and it was THE best baptism of my mission. Ernesto is the best, most converted person ever. His conversion was so pure, so complete and he is now the happiest person I have seen in a long time. Yesterday was such a special day for him, and for us who have been able to help him in this journey. 

He is an example to me of how converted and how grateful and willing to do the Lord´s will we should be. In this week, of Christmas, remembering Christ´s birth, remembering why he came to the earth and how perfect of an example he was, it was perfect that Ernesto was baptized because it just worked.

I have learned in my mission a lot of things, but the most important is repentance and being receptive to the spirit, following his counsel and doing the will of the Father. We are SO blessed to be in this world, to have the opportunity to repent, to pass through challenges, to learn, and to prepare us for the next life. It is incredible!! The blessings that the Lord has prepared for us are conditional upon the decisions that we make here.

I know that Christ lives. I know that through Him, and His Atonement, we can be eternally happy and eternally pure. Please remember Christ this week, and thank Him by obeying the commandments of our Father in Heaven. 

Happy Christmas!!!!!

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali

Hola! December 19, 2013

December 19, 2013

I just want to say that you guys are the best. I lve you all and I am grateful for your love and support. So, even though a ton of time has passed from last time I wrote, and a lot f stuff has happened, at the same time there is not a lot towrite about. BUT, the biggest news is that we had cambios! (transfers) my companion, hermana Delgado received her Visa and went to her mission in Mexico. I have a new companion that I am training, from Chile who is Hermana Rodriguez! She is great. I am a big fan of chileans :)

We also had the chance this past weekend to sing as a zone for about 400 elderly people. It was awesome! :)

We also had the chance yesterday to have a Christmas multi zone conference with President Douglas and his wife. It was super special. Each one of the zones prepared a little presentation of songs and scripture and message and the spirit was incredibly strong. Each one of the zones mentioned, and President Douglas as well, that the greatest gift that we received from our Heavenly Father is His Son Jesus Christ.

It really made me think about what I can do personally to give back and thank Heavenly Father. It came to my mind that the best way that I, and whatever other person can thank Him for the sacrifice of His Son is through using what he did, putting in practice the Atonement of Jesus Christ by repenting daily. Also, by helping other people come unto Him and learning how to use the Atonement to really make things right with our Father. It is what I am doing, and what I a inviting all those who I teach to do. It is a great feeling. I invite you all to do the same. 

This weekend is Hernesto´s baptism I will send pictures! :))

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali

Almost Christmas! December 9, 2013

Hola familia!!

I cant believe how fast Christmas is coming! We are basically halfway through December and its crazy! I still am not used to the fact that Christmas is super hot and super sunny...but the decorations and the spirit is the same and I love it!

Last night was the Christmas Devotional from Salt Lake City broadcasted to all the world and it was great! As missionaries in San Juan, we have been working for the past 2 weeks to invite everyone to come, especially less active members of the church, and people who are not familiar. It was great! We had a wonderful turnout and before the actual devitional, we were able to have and ¨open doors¨ so that people could get to know a bit more about the church. The spirit was strog, and every person that left at the end of the night had a smile and a special glow about them. It was great :)

In the devotional, what stood out to me was the talk on the Atonement of Jesus Christ by Elder Nelson of the quorum of the 12 apostles. 

In the Bible, in Matthew 11:28-30, it mentions how if we are feeling burdened, if we are worn down or if we are sick, Christ has suffered it all, therefore He can help us. This week, my companion has been a bit sick and we have gone to the doctor two times. It has really helped me to think about the role that Jesus Christ has and a spiritual doctor. That sounds a bit cheesy, but it is true.

We are harmed, we are sick and we are afflicted because we have problems and challenges every day. We need to be healed. We need to feel complete, and the only way we can do so is through the Atonement of Jesus Chist. I know it is true because I have felt it personally and I have seen it in other people. It is incredible. It doesnt matter what we are going through, or how hard the trial is that we are facing. Christ suffered our pains, illnesses, afflictions and our sins. He understands us and wants to help us. It is up to us to decide if we really want to let Him help us or not.

I know that each one of us needs this spiritual healing. It is possible. This Christmas, Elder Nelson invited us to think of Christ in this way, that the best gift that we will ever receive is the Atonement. I love you all and invite you to utilize this incredible gift :)

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali

23 dias hasta la navidad!!--December 2, 2013

I cant believe we have reached December!!! I love this time of year because it is the time to be able to reflect on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Avoid the things of the world and focus on Him. I promise your Christmas will be even better than normal :)

This week was a good one as usual! We are super blessed every day and tiny miracles happen all the time. I love it! We have an investigator whose name is Maria. She is wonderful. She is 21 years old and has had a really rough past. Her dad and her brothers are alcoholics and all her life has been pressured and tempted and really tried. She has made mistakes but is super determined to change her life and follow Christ.

This past Sunday, we fasted with her to be able to resist temptations and that her family would be able to support her more with her decision. She came to church and was able to feel the spirit super strong. We talked in the Gospel Principles class about the power of fasting and how it helps us to be able to excercise self control. At the end of the class, she bore her testiony of fasting that it really helped her to be able to understand the importance of resisting temptations. It was super special. She was able to receive a strengthening, enabling power from the Savior through fasting and now she is stronger than ever. :)

I know that the Lord tests us. However, we should thank him for these trials and ask him for help to get through them. He will help us if we do our part. :)

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali :)