Exciting News -4 investigators!

This week we´ve been really blessed. I´ve had more energy and been able to work better and Hna Ancalle and I are getting along great. We have 4 new investigators and that is AWESOME, not something that happens every week. One of which I am completely convinced is going to get baptized. I felt the same way with Karina in the first visit as I do with this woman, named Santi. So I´m very excited for our cita with her tonight. The intial contact was to teach her kids english and thats what we´re doing tonight. But when we passed by the other day she asked us about what we do as missionaries and we talked lots about families and religion. I¨m excited. :)

This week in my studies I´ve been reading where Alma and Amulek are teaching to the wicked city and they had to watch all those women and children be burned. I was thinking about Amulek, and he either watched his wife and children be burned or was completely rejected by them. Both are terrible options.  And I had the question-How could he possibly do that? Family is so important to me, especially now that I´m so far from home and understand the gospel better. How did he have the strength to do it? 

The answer is clear to me. He KNEW this gospel is true. He had prayed and studied and pondered. He had listened to Alma the prophet and had worked to grow his faith until it was unshakable. And he knew that this gospel is the only path to happiness, and that no matter what happens in this life, if we are faithful until the end, we will be happier than we can imagine. 

I think all those pioneers who lost family, and all those martyrs knew this too. And I´m working hard so that my testimony and conversion is at the same level. That no matter what happens, no matter how many times I´m rejected or how many days I have to walk around searching for people, I will KNOW this gospel is true. 

So, the question is, where is your level of conversion? Could you do what Amulek did? It gives us lots to ponder, doesn´t it? 

Love you all lots!!! Its a more profound email than normally, but its where my thoughts have been the last few days. 

Email hugs and loves, 

Hna Woolley

p.s.

part of Kelsey's letter to family about her birthday:
i´ve alreayd worn the skirt like 3 times, just cause its new. and super fresquita. ask dad what that means, i can´t remember the word in english. fresh? good for summer. we ate a peru oatmeal thing for breakfast. i was going to to french toast (no milk for pancakes) but she´d made that while i was in the shower and couldnt´say no.we were going to eat with members but they canceled on us so we ate cupcakes, i had a red velvet and hna Ancalle dark chocolate and we each ate a half. lunch was normal food. went to a baby shower that night and got to know an investigator better. nothing much. loved the gifts :) 

Last week's blog post that I forgot to post.

I have a surprise. Transfers! Hna Rocha is leaving after only 1 transfer together. We both had the feeling she might leave and we were both jumpy Friday night with the phone. But the Elders in our district called in the night saying that President had called everyone and where Elder Hampel is going. So we went to bed with peaceful minds.

The next morning we were the first people President called. She´s going to Elche with all the palm trees in a trio to end the mission of someone, and my new companion is Hna Ancalle. My third native companion from Peru. I have no idea what is up with Peru, but there´s something going on there. And three native comps!! Thats a lot in our mission. I honestly struggle to speak straight english now (we have a friend who only speaks english, not spanish) I can only speak spanglish or spanish. Such a great thing!! At least i can still write in english, somehow its different. Also.... my new comp is 35 years old. So that will be a very different experience. I met her once back in Sevilla.

This week I learned something really cool in my personal study. I was reading in Mosiah sobre Alma and King Noah and the kingdom. When Alma and those of the church left, both groups were enslaved by the Laminates.

Basically the same thing happened to them both, terrible burdens and trials. BUT, because Alma and his people were trying to be righteous and obey the Lord, he lifted their burdens quicker. It says in the scriptures that the Lord was slow to hear the prayers of the people of Noah because of their iniquity. And the ppl of Noah tried to fight and many people died and they suffered more. When you really pay attention, theres a huge difference in how the situation was for the two groups.

Lesson learned? Obedience to the Lord really does change our lives. We will still have big problems, but the Lord can bless us and help us more. And we have that foundation of faith that He will come and help us, and I think that makes all the difference.

Ok, I´ve been waiting to share that all week. Was an eye opener for me. Love you all lots!!!! Wish me luck with this week, hopefully I know the area well enough. We´re going to see miracles, I know it.
Loves,

Hermana Woolley

Bus rides

This week I have gone to Ciudad Real ( the centeral city, about 1 hr bus ride away) 4 times in less than 7 days. Talk about losing work time! But it was all for a good cause.

1. A doctor apointment where they told me to come back another day for a different apointment

2. Zone conference with lots of misionaries. The missionary couple made us tacos and I got to blow candles out on a yummy brownie cake with the others with August birthdays.

3. Specialized training and interviews with the mision President. He is an amazing man who really has the light of Christ in him. He sacrificed a lot to come see us, and I think every single one of us really needed him and his wife that day. I really gained a testimony of how much the Lord watches out for us this day.

4. Having my blood taken out so the doctors can see whats going on with my crazy body. I´ll find out hte results next week.

It´s been a crazy week. And now I am very poor. And very grateful for my Savior and all that He has done for me. I´ve grown so much closer to Him through this trial and learned how to really trust Him and turn over my burdens. I know its only through His power that I´ve been able to keep going these last few weeks and do what He needs me to do. This gospel really is life-changing, when we let it. I´ve never been so grateful for the knowledge and faith I have.

Thanks for all your prayers and love and support. And no need to freak out! Everything is getting worked out, I have lots of people helping me. My battery is low but I'm staying very close to the Lord and its helping a lot. We´re going to see miracles and already have. Love you lots!!!
Got the pkg, thanks a bunch!!Email hugs and lots of love,

Hermana Woolley