Getting stuck in the snow! Rey is progressing and preparing for baptism ~ Mission week 33 ~ Lexington week 8

Hello, hello!

Sorry for not emailing last week... it was like the end of the world around here! We were trapped in our apartment for the entire day because of the snow. It was one of the most boring days of my life. However, I did take quite the long siesta :) So that made up for it. In addition, EVERYTHING was closed the next day, and most things were closed for about a week. People don't know how to cope with the snow around here! No one knows what a plow is. The roads are scary and terrible! Because of this, Hermana Arnoldsen and I have gotten stuck about 20 times in the snow. We gotten really good at getting ourselves out of it though :) I have also learned that my Spanish is really lacking in the "car directions/instructions for how to get out of the snow" department. We had a really interesting week to say the least.

All that being said, Rey is still doing amazing! He came to church again this week! He is rapidly progressing and is preparing for his baptism. He is doing so amazingly well. We taught him about the word of wisdom, and he has been living it and has given up coffee. Most of his co-workers drink coffee, and he was able to stand up to them and tell them that he doesn't drink it anymore. He has a lot of guts. Rey is lo mejor, or the best! Go Rey!

It has been amazing to see his progression. When I first met him, he didn't know his Savior, or even what a commandment was... and he has just been so incredible. His desire to learn has been unlike anything I have ever seen. He has been through so much in life. When we first started meeting with him, I asked him if he had had a time in his life when he had felt joy. Sadly, he told us that never in his life has he felt joy. However, during these last couple weeks, he told us that he has started to truly feel joy for the first time in his life. This gospel has helped him so much. He is truly starting to find his purpose in life and true happiness. I know I was meant to teach him for a reason. This message is truly a message of joy!

Anyway, this week was great. This gospel is great. What more can I say?

Hermana Failner

Snowed In!!! Mission week 32, Lexington week 7

From the Mission Blog - Elder and Sister Rob Hymas (Area Seventy) Elder and Sister Ullisses Soares, Elder and Sister D. Todd Christofferson and The Broughs.  We feel so blessed,  We were taught by an Apostle.  Best Valentines ever!

Sorry, we didn't have a lot of time this week. We were snowed out and the whole town shut down. I will send a long email about it next week. I love you all!

Yesterday 3 of our most progressing investigators came to church!! It was seriously like Christmas! ~ Lexington Week 6 ~ Mission Week 31

February Zone Conference

Wow. I'm not even sure where to begin this week. It has definitely been successful. Yesterday 3 of our most progressing investigators came to church!! It was seriously like Christmas! Cesar, Felipe, and Rey all came! It was a dream.  In addition, one of our less actives also came to church and even gave Felipe a ride. Everything just came together this week.

One of the highlights of my week would definitely be the lessons we had with Rey. He is seriously such an amazing person and has overcome a lot in his life. I really feel like I was definitely supposed to come in contact with him for a reason. The lessons we have with him are so spiritual. We also had a member in the branch presidency, Hermano Valerio, come with us to appointment. It was absolutely amazing! Hmno. Valerio helped Rey to really feel more confident in himself to hold onto the faith and knowledge the he does have. It was incredible. Rey is super, super solid. He never misses appointments, is super humble, and always is willing to learn. Although his knowledge about God and gospel topics are limited, he has the purest desires I have ever seen. That's what counts.

We also met with Felipe this week. He seems to still be doing well. He has had a lot of questions and doubts, but with the help of the spirit, we have been able to alleviate them. And he came to church!

We also finally got into contact with Renee this week! She is still amazing and has been reading SO MUCH in the Book of Mormon. I always love teaching her and learning from her.

We also met with Cesar this week. Cesar really keeps me on my toes. He is very logical and always needs tangible evidence before he will believe something. We had a very interesting lesson about faith with him, and he admitted that he doesn't think that he has any faith at all. We were able to help him and he showed up to church!

Hermana Failner

We had a very touching lesson this week with Rey ~ Lexington Week 5 ~ Mission Week 30

Hello everyone!

It has been a great week this week!

We are still teaching Felipe, and he seems to be doing well. He is still very set on making changes in his life. He just doesn't like compromisos, or commitments. We are now calling them "buenas decisiones", or good decisions, so he doesn't get freaked out by them. A single 23 year old man living in a bachelor pad with commitment issues... shocker. But, all in all he is doing great. He loved the plan of salvation and is continuing to progress. I really enjoy teaching him. He is a really good sport. So many funny things happen to us during our lessons with him and he just laughs with us. It's a miracle he still talks to us and understands our Spanish haha.

Next, Renee is okay, but we weren't able to see her this week. There were some complications with papers with one of her daughters who is here on a work visa. So she has been in panic mode. We are praying that things will be better for her.

Rey is doing awesome!!! He reads all of the pamphlets we give him in addition to his book of mormon reading! Rey is just the best. We had a very touching lesson with him this week. I learned that he really is not confident in himself because his native language is another dialect from Mexico, and so he struggles with his Spanish. He also feels that he is unable to comprehend a lot of what he reads. It honestly broke my heart. I told him that he was a son of God and how valued he was to the Lord. The spirit was really strong, and I knew that was what the Lord wanted me to tell him. I have always been astounded by my ability to feel the love of God for others on my mission. The Lord has really blessed me with that capacity... without him I could do nothing.

Hermana Failner