Cambios! August 12, 2013

Hola Familia!!! 

Como les fue en sus semanas?? Espero que INcreible :)

My week was great!! And I have a lot of news. First and foremost, we had a baptism this past Saturday!! Her name is Ermalinda!! She is the best (attached are pictures :) It was quite the experience the whole process with her. An experience that I will not forget. About 3 weeks ago, when we first arrived in Mala, her sister Sara told us that she had a sister who was handicapped that really wanted to be baptized but didnt think that it was possible because of her disability. However, we explained that it was possible and we began to teach her. She was able to understand everything that we taught clearly and she really and truly had a desire to follow Christ. We also were working with the missionary couple in our ward to be able to obtain a wheelchair for her so that she didnt have to crawl on the floor to get around. I am 100% sure that the Lord was involved in this process. The day of her baptism, her sister was able to go to Lima and get the wheelchair for her. SHe was speechless and suuuper grateful. SHe was able to be baptized, with the help of 3 Priesthood holders and received the gift of the Holy Ghost the following day in Sacrament Meeting. It was SUCH a special day and the spirit was super strong. I know that when we try to follow the example of Jesus Christ, whatever obstacle that we might be facing can easily be conquered because we are choosing the right path :)

I LOVE the mission. It is the most rewarding experience ever :)

On thursday, we also had the chance to be able to do service in a farm about 20 minutes away. It was fun. We picked beans and then ate soup from the beans that we picked :) IT was a good day and super peaceful to be in the farms of Peru :)

Also! On Saturday, after the baptism, we had cambios (transfers)!!! I really was not expecting any sort of transfer because just recently we were put into a companionship, BUT the Lord has His purposes and my companion Hna Mendoza had a transfer to Ayacucho!! But not only Ayacucho, to the same ward where I served!! I told her that she would have an amaaaazing time and touch a lot of people :) Also, I was informed that I will be training ANOTHER brand new Sister missionary. Haha, so currently, I am in Lima in a hotel, waiting until tomorrow to go and pick her up. It will be good. I was informed that she is from the US too so I get to practice my english! Hahaha I am excited. This will be a good transfer. 

I hope your week is a good one! Dont forget to pray :)

Con mucho amor siempre

Hna Elisheva Ali

I got bit by a dog!! August 5, 2013

Buenos Dias Familia!!

So this week went by suuuuuuper quick, and a lot of things happened, but I dont remember all of them in a whole lot of detail because everything passed by so fast! Haha. But! Two big things, well three. The first, is that we have found a lot of new investigators who are anxious to learn about this incredible Gospel and have desires to be baptized! We currently have 5 investigators with baptismal dates, the majority of which are progressing beautifully with super big desires to follow the example of Jesus Christ. I love it! Their faith helps my faith to grow :)

The second big thing is that we moved! Attached is a picture of our luggage. :) We moved out of the house of the missionary couple in our area, the Price´s into our new apt. It is super small, but cozy. We have a little heater that heats it up quite nicely when we are freezing cold. BUT the funny thing is that we have no sink to wash dishes in, so we bought some buckets and we wash dishes on the floor :) Haha it is a fun, interesting experience.

And thirdly, I got bitten by my first dog this week! But, the good thing is that I was wearing boots, so it was ok :) There are soooooooo may dogs here in Peru, and especially in Mala, they seem to be quite angry. But, it is fun. :) 

Today, I officially have been in the mission for 11 months, starting my twelth. I cannot believe how fast time is passing! I really am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for everything that I have learned up to now and I know that there are so many more things that I will learn and so many more people that I will be able to help in my last 7 months. Something that President Douglas said to us in his weekly letter really stood out to me. He said that we have been called to this work by God, and because of that, He is willing and obligated to help us according to our obedience. 

There is a scripture that says: ¨I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.¨

 I have definitely seen it and I know without a doubt that this really is the work, and the church of Heavenly father, and His Son Jesus Christ.

I love you all and I hope your week is wonderful! 

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali

 

 

Bautismoooooo! July 29, 2013

Buena Semana Familia!!

I hope your week was a wonderful one! Mine was a whole big mix! The first half of the week, I was suuuuuuuuuuper sick! I have no idea why. BUT because of it, we couldnt leave to proselyte :( However, I drank some wierd Gatorade type thing, took some super big pills (Because I can now take pills!! :) and received a Priesthood blessing and I am now super healthy! And we ended the week in a wonderful way!
On Friday night, we had a ward mission night where we were able to talk about Obedience! It was great! Something that I have reallity learned in my mission is that when we are obedient, we are blessed. INCREDIBLY blessed. What I love is that the Lord only asks of us what we are able to do, nothing more, nothing less and He always gives us a way that we can accomplish it. I love the scripture that says:
 "I will go and do the things that the Lord has commanded. For I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which He commandeth them." Obedience is the first law of Heaven and everything that the Lord has prepared for us, eternal life, living in His presence, immortality with our family is possible only by living it. I LOVE how simple and clear it is. :) We make covenants with God, and He blesses us. One of the covenants being baptism!! That we were able to see on Saturday!

Paul was baptized!! He is 12 and just wonderful. :) He knows what is right and he really feels it. We are also teaching his parents who are also planning on being baptized as soon as they get married. It was a happy day, the spirit was strong, he was incredibly joyful and I literally felt the love of God in the room with us. I love this work. I love the Gospel and I know that being exactly obedient is the way that we receive blessings.

I love you all! Have a good week!

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali

PS. Attached are photos of Mala, my area, Paul's baptism and the elderly missionary couple that we are currently living with :)

Las Malas II :) July 22, 2013

Hoooooooooola Familia!!!

I am greeting you from the shores of a SUUUUPER pretty area about an hour away from Canyette, 2 hours from Lima called Mala! (Which funnily means "evil" in spanish).

Its super pretty here! Its a desert, but it's green! Haha its a bit funny. BUT it also reminds me of Ayacucho, which I am a big fan of. :) There is a big difference here too and it is that Mala is part of a District, and not part of a Stake, so I am part of a Branch and it is a lot smaller than normal. I love it! I feel really good about it here and there is a lot of work to be done :) I am excited!

My companions are great too! Hna Chumbes, and Hna Mendoza! We are working hard and we are seeing miracles. I have a cool story to share this week. :)

On Saturday, we were looking for someones house, but it turns out that in that moment, there were a whole lot of dogs in our way, that were rather angry, and barking a whole lot. Soooo, we didnt go there. However, in the same moment, someone called us over in the street. Her name is Carmen. :) She is a single mother who has two kids, 13, and 6 years old. She said that she had called us over because she felt that she should have. She invited us up to her house to meet her kids and we invited them to church yesterday. She came along with her 6 year old daughter, and loved it. We were in the Sunday School class and she even volunteered to teach the class next Sunday! Haha it was great. I know without a doubt that the Lord put her in our path to be able to share the Gospel with her. We will be meeting with her this week, and I will let you all know what happens.

My testimony of miracles and dilligence has grown this week. If we are dilligent, the Lord will bless us with miracles.

I love you all and hope your week is wonderful! :)

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hna Ali

PS, we didnt really take any pictures this week, only one from Mala. :) Oh! Also, right now, we are living with a Senior Couple of missionary's, the Price's. I feel like I am with my grandparents. It is wonderful. I will send a picture next week :)