10 things.

I dont believe this day has come. I think every missionary imagines the day when they will come home. Watching so many of my mission friends go home, I never thought it would be my turn.

But, here I am, my last p-day and my last email. 

I was thinking of what I could share. And I just want to share with you guys real quick, a few of the things I have learned in these 18 months. I am sure I could go on forever (you guys know how much I love to talk) But i will spare the long email, and just share 10 things I have learned. 

1. A good leader goes a long way. 

Throughout my mission I have had the plesure to work with some AMAZING leaders. My mission president, his assistants, my Zone Leaders, my District Leaders, My Sister Training Leaders. Bishops, Ward Mission Leaders, Stake Presidents.. ect. I have seen the difference a good leader makes. A leader who worries about the people they serve, a leader who loves the people they serve, a leader who is humble, a leader who loves the Lord and wants to do his will. A leader who listens and does what he says. I am thankful for my leaders who taught me how to be a better leader, I am thankful for their examples and love they have showed me. I know good leaders in the church is what helps the church grow. We need leaders who people want to follow and who people trust. 

2. Little acts of service go a long way.

My whole life I have heard this. Just a smile can makes someones day. Helping someone carry their bags to their car. Listening when someone needs a friend, or giving a hug. I have seen this in action. I have seen some of the hardest hearts be soften by service. Our Savior Jesus Christ was a perfect example of service. He seriously served EVERYONE. While on my mission I wanted to serve. I LOOKED for chances to serve, whatever I could do. And there are chances everyday we can serve. By serving others I feel closer to my savior, and I know that i am helping other people feel the love he has for them. When we listen to the Holy Ghost he will tell us how we can serve and be the answer to someones prayer. 

3. I can do hard things, and I can do them with joy.

The other day was one of those days where NOTHING was going right, my comp and I were going from house to house and no one was home or letting us in. Then it started to rain. We looked at eachtoher and just started to laugh. I said, of course it would rain right now. And we laughed and laughed and laughed and kept working. I am so thankful that even when a day doesnt go right, we can FIND a reason to be happy. Things arent going to be easy, things that are worth it arent easy, but when we can do hard things with joy, we learn and it makes the hard things easier. 

4. Miracles are real, and we make them happen with our faith. 

I learned that if I want to make a miracle happen I need to do something. Miracles are real and WE make them happy with our faith. When we do everything we can and use our faith, the Lorn will bless us with the miracle we are waiting for. We cant lose faith. 

5. You can relly get to know someone, and love someone in 6 weeks.

I love my companions. Every single one. I was able to learn so much about each one of them, and grow to love them with a real love, in just 6 weeks. We dont need TIME to love someone, we just need the desire and an open heart. 

6. When we study, and are worthy, the Holy Ghost really will help us know what to say. 

There were so many times when I would study something in the morning and then get in the house the of person we were teaching and what I studied was what they needed to hear. There were times when I didnt feel ready to say something in portuguese and then it just came out and the person understood what I said. I learned on the mission, that I am not the teacher, that I am the tool of the teacher. The Holy Ghost is the teacher, and I need to be worthy to be his tool. 

7. We need to study the scriptures EVERYDAY. 

The scriptures are SO cool. I love reading them. I love having the chance to study everyday for 2 hours non stop. I have learned so much and really see how they help us in our day to day life. I love reading and seeing how the stories apply to me. How the lessons apply to me. While reading I recieve answers to my prayers. 

8. We need to follow the counsel of our prophets. 

PEOPLE WE HAVE A PROPHET WHO SPEAKS WITH GOD. We need to listen and study what he teaches us. He is telling us exactly what our father in heaven wants us to know. I have such a strong love for our living prophet Thomas S. Monson. I know he is a real prophet of God. and he helps us. 

9. I am so blessed to have so many temples near me, and I need to go to them often. 

There isnt a temple in my mission. I have seen people travel 5-8 hours just to visit the temple for one day. Before the closest temple was built people traveled 5 days and nights without stoping to get to the nearest temple. I look at these examples and feel horrible that I didnt go to the temple as often as I could when it is 10 min from my house. WE NEED TO VISIT THE TEMPLE. As often as possible. I am so thankful to have so many temples near me, and will make the time to visit.

10. Going on a mission didnt change me, the gospel of Jesus Christ changed me. 

I thought going on a mission would change me. I would be serving people 24/7 and in a bubble of spirit. It is true, serving a mission changes people. I feel that it was the gospel of Jesus Christ that changed me. It was the study and the practice, it was the faith building experiences it was sharing my testimony and helping others understand how this gospel is so amazing. I learned the gospel simple, i studied it deeply. I am thankful I let the gospel change me to be a better person. 

I am sad to leave, but happy to see my family. I am eternaly greatful for the people I have meet and the people who have changed my life. I am thankful for each one of your support. The emails and letters of encouragement. Thank you for your love and prayers.

I am thankful for my amazing family, my parents who have supported me through it all, for their amazing examples and love for me. I am thankful for my brothers and their love and support and example.

I love you all. I know this church is the only true church on the face of the eatch. I know the book of mormon is real and helps us have a better life.

Thank you. 

I will see you on friday.

With all my love,

Sister Hernandez

wedding planner

This week was BUSY.

We started off the week having interviews with President Soares. He is
doing his last round of interviews because he will be leaving next
month. (it is so werid to me that him and sister will be leaving the
Brasil Natal Mission. He was the frist president) I sat down to talk
to him iand he said "Sister Hernandez, I dont have anything more to
say to you, you have been an amazing missionary. Now just keep working
hard for these next short weeks." Then we both started laughing and
talking about how fast the time has gone. My interview was short cause
next week will be my final interview. But i was amazing to talk to him
a little. He has been an amazing President. I am thankful to have
served with him.

We have been working hard. We are still working with Joice and her
family. She wants to be baptised, but her mom is having a hard time
because she goes to a different church. We went to their house and
taught an amazing lesson about The Restoration and how we now have the
preisthood authority to seal families for eternity. The spirit was
strong, and testified to their hearts that it is true. I am praying
that Jose (Joices mom) can soften her heart and let Joice be baptised.
And that we can help Jose and her "husband" get married and start
their eternal family.

We are still working with Cledie. She is amazing. She goes to all the
church activities and is super acvite in the church. She acts and
looks like she is already a member. She would have been baptised this
week but her husband (who is a recent convert) was in the hospital
becuase of a heart problem. Cledie wanted to wait to be baptised until
her husband could watch. So we marked the baptism to be this week once
he comes home. She is amazing. I am so excited for her.

On my mission there have been times when I have felt like a wedding
planner, trying to get everyone married. (Because there is a problem
here where no one wants to get married, everyone is just together)
This week, my title as a wedding planner went to another level. The
Elders had a wedding. They helped and amazing couple get married and
baptised. The members of the ward threw an amazing party to celebrate
this special moment. Sister V. Lopes and I were in the middle of
planning this party, and on the night of the wedding we were all over
the place serving dinner and cake and the little treats, we were
passing out soda and water and juice.

It was alot of fun to be a part of such a special day to such a
special family. We were very tired after it was all over.

I am working hard and excited to have another week to give all I have.

I love you all!

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

Feliz dia das mães.

HAPPY LATE MOTHERS DAY!

It was amazing to talk to my family yesterday.  I love you all so
much, even though you are all very trunky. ;) It was crazy to me to
see you all, because I will be coming home so soon. But it made me
excited to work had for these last two weeks of my mission.

This week was full of miracles. I am super excited cause we are
teaching an amazing family.

There is a recent convert names Joicer. He has a house FULL of people
to teach. He has an amazing story. When the sisters first met him he
was a drunk that didnt want anything to do with anything. The sisters
invited him to come to church and be bapised. He never drank again. It
has been about 2 months since he has been baptised and his whole
family is seeing the change in his life and want to know what the
"mormon" church is all about. We started teaching his wife, Cledie,
his daughter Raquely, his Brother Nazaraino, his niece Joice and his
sister in law Jose.

Cledie goes to another church (Deus de amor (Gods Love)) and Jose goes
to the church Universal. They were both very closed minded about the
Church of Jesus Christ, but both warmed up to the idea after seeing
the change in Joicer.
Joice has already been to church a couple times and is preparing to be
bapised this week. She is amazing. She is a young women who has so
much faith and the biggest desire to do what is right. This week we
took her and her dad on a special tour of the chapel. The spirit was
so strong as we showed them the baptismal font and talked about
baptism. They both want to be baptised. Nazaraino needs to get married
first. But it is amazing so see a family come closer together throught
the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We invted Jose to visit church this sunday, and she did NOT want to.
Sunday morning we passed by there house to invite one more time.

So we went to church without them.. I was sitting there. A little sad
that they hadnt come with us. And I heard the door open. I saw EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THEM come in and sit with us. It was a miracle. I
humbley said thank you to my Heavenly Father and almost jumped for joy
in the middle of the meeting.

I love being a missionary. And I love teaching families.

This week was our leadership meeting. It was so fun to see everyone
for my last leadership meeting. At the end of the meeting they opened
the time for the people who will be going home this transfer to bare
their testimonies. It was a powerful moment when we all got up and
were able to share the amazing experiences that we all had. I felt a
feeling of peace when i bore my testimony. I felt happy to know that
my Heavenly father is happy with the work I did.

I love you all so much.
Here are some pics from our leadership meeting.

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

Little Children

This week was amazing, it was busy with alot of work.

I did splits with Sister Morais. She is in the ward Pirangi, an area
where I have already worked. It was AMAZING to go back and see my
recent converts and the people that I love so much who live there.

I was able to see Ramon, who is now preparing to serve a mission here
in a few months. He is super active in seminary, he is amazing.

I was able to see Gilcelia, who is serving in the primary and going to
the temple to do baptisms and planning the mission of her 3 year old
son.

I was able to see other people who I started to teach and werent
baptised but then were baptised after I left.

I love going back to old areas and seeing the fruits of our labor.

This week was Stake Conference. It was amazing to watch and learn from
the local leaders. There was one leader who spoke about when Jesus was
teaching and the little children tried to talk to him. The diciples
pushed the little children away and Jesus invited them to come to him.
She asked the crowd the moments when we feel like little children.
People commented things like "When we are coming back to church" "When
we are a recent convert" "When we dont know what to do with our
children" "When we are scared"

She then related this statement to us, as adults, that we need to
allow the "little children" come unto Christ. We need to help the
people who are struggling to come unto our savior. WE need to help
them realize that they are welcomed in the church, and they are
welcomed in our homes, and that we are here to help them.

It made me take a step back and look at my life, the moments when I
felt like a "little child" and when someone helped me. When they
really were living what they believed and helped me feel the love my
savior has for me.

I am so thankful for this gospel of second chances.

I love you all so much! Thank you for the love and support! :)

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

Here are some pictures of me and my district.
Elder C. Silva, Elder Mehl, Elder Petter, me and Sister Lopes

Alecrim

I WAS TRANSFERED. I had a feeling I would be. I was going into my last
transfer, that would only be 5 weeks. But the Lord needed me in a new
year to finish strong. I am excited. My new comp is Sister V Lopes
(BRASILEIRA WHOO!!!)  After being with Americnas so long I am excited
to be with a brasileira.  She is super sweet and we are opening our
area so we are both here excited and ready to work. We will be taking
care of ALOT of sisters. so we will be working alot and i am excited.

This week was a week of travel and leaving Urick Graff. It was sad to
say goodbye to so many people that I love. I hope to see them all
again soon.

One of the young women we were teaching in Urick Graff was traveling
when I left so we werent able to stop by and say goodbye to Sara. Out
of no where I got a call Satuerday night from Sara. The last time we
taught her she had alot of doubts. I made a deal with her and she
agreed to pray and ask if the church is true. In the phone call she
told me that she prayed, and she KNEW that the church is true. I was
SO EXCITED. I asked her what she was going to do next. she paused a
moment and said "be baptised" I asked her when... she said she didnt
know. So I said "do you want to be baptised tomorrow? and she said
YES!!! SARA WAS BAPTISED. I feel sad I couldnt be there, but so honred
I was able to help her come to know the gospel. (i attached pics of
her baptism.)

Sister V. Lopes and I got here and looked at eacher and said, lets get
to work. We have been working HARD talking to EVERYONE. We both have
the desire to change this area and make it better then it already is.
I feel so excited that I can finish my mission with new excitement
opening an area and with that faith that opening an area requries.

This week was the birthday of Sister Soares (the presidents wife) and
sister v lopes and I had the crazy idea to take a book of Mormon and
get the fav scritpure of EVERYONE o the mission and give it to her as
a present. I wish I could have recored as I called every LZ in our
mission asking them to help us. And I was so touched by the
willingness they all had to help us do this special surprise. We
called satuerday night and needed all the scrpitures sunday afternoon
and we were able to get them. I am in the worlds best mission with the
most amazing leaders.

We then were able to get a few missoinaries and throw her a little
surpise party sunday night. she was so happy to spend her birhtday
with us and i felt so happy to make her so happy. This 1.5 year away
from my mom has been hard, but i have been blessed with Sister Soares
who has been my "mission mom". I am so thankful for the amazing women
in my life, like my mother and my mission mom who who me by example
how to live the gospel and be a powerful women in the church.

I love you all so much. Have an amazing week.

here are some pics from my last area with sister miller and my new area.

some members who I love from Mossoró and an action shot with Elder
Aguiar and Elder Mello.

Pics above^ sister Brown, Trage, Barbosa, Me, V. Lopes.. the surprise
party, Sis. Soares and Presidente
Saras baptism!! With Sis. Thomson (my last comp) Sister Muira, and Claudio.

After your faith..

I cant believe it is ALREADY p-day. Time goes by so fast when you are
working hard. This week is the week of transfers, So tomorrow I will
know if I will stay in Urick Graff or if I will go to antoher area. I
have been here for 5 months and wouldnt complain if I stayed.

This week I took some time and studed faith. I felt like for a couple
weeks my faith weas lacking a little. I had  "faith" the simple easy
faith that we all say we have. But I think I was doubting if the Lord
would REALLY do miracles in our area. (I am embarassed to admit, but
thankful the Lord turns our weaknesses strengths.) So I started to
study faith.

Once I started to study faith I started to get excited again, I
started to see the little miracles that God does in our life EVERYDAY.
Once I started seeing the little things he was doing for me. The big
miracle that we were waiting for came.

Leo. He is 17. He has gone to church MANY times. And is going to
semanairy everyday. He is reading the Book of Mormon everyday. He is
what we call eleito. He loves the gospel. But his mom is from a
differenet church and doesnt like us even a little. She lets him go,
but made it clear from the start that she WOULDNT let him be baptised.
So we just let him keep going to church and waiting. This week his
parents allowed his baptism. It was AMAZING. He was so happy and all
the youth from the ward was there to support him. I am so happy that
Leo could be baptised and that I could be a part of this miracle.

We found a miracle street of tons of people who want to learn about
the gospel. Who have NEVER  seen sisters before. I dont know HOW cause
this area has been an area of sisters for over 3 years. But everyeone
is so excited and ready to hear the truth.

The moral to the story is, I know that when we are lacking faith, or
humility, or charity, or love, or hope, or ANYTHING, if we turn to the
Lord he will make us stronger. If we ask for help, he will help us. He
will never leave us alone. We just need to look for him. I am so
thankful for the chances I have to learn and apply these things in my
life. And the love I know Heavenly Father has for me.

Here is a pic of our district and my trio. Sister Thomson (blonde) and
Sister Miller

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

ps. sorry for the typos.. this keyboard is giving me a hard time.

"Just tesitfy of Joseph Smith"

This week was amazing!

FIRST OFF: CONGRATS TO MY BABY BROTHER KORY!! I am so excited that you
will join the Lords army, and even better that you are coming to the
promised land, BRASIL!!! You are going to be the most amazing elder.
Watch out Brasil, the hernandez family is coming for you.

This week we had our leadership meeting that was AMAZING. I love when
we can all get together and talk about how we can become better
missionaries and a better mission. Presidente Soares was telling us
about some of the goals he has in his life, he said "I am 65 years
old. Everyday for the rest of my life, I will pray for a temple here
in Natal. And once the temple is annouced, I will come here, and we
will all come back, and know we helped these people recieve the
blessings of the temple."

Me being me just started to cry, as I thought about all the people who
I love so much here in Rio Grade do Norte. The biggeset desire of my
heart, is to have a temple here in Natal.

This week was full of teaching and trying to help people understand
the imprtance of the restored gospel.

We are teaching a young women named Sara. She is really smart. She
loves to read the bible. We started to teach the first lesson and I
was a little nervous. Cause she kept trying to throw scritpures to us
and I felt like it was going to turn into a bible bash. So i said a
prayer, I asked to help to touch her heart and help her understand WHY
we have a prophet today and WHY the book of mormon was important. I
felt the spirit tell me "just testify of Joseph Smtih"

When I started to explain the story of Joseph, I felt the spirit enter
the room. I felt the spirit guiding my words, as I explained that he
had a question and just wanted to know WHAT church was the church of
Jesus Christ. I could feel that Sara also had wonders what of all the
churchs was true. I resited the first vision, and then bore my
testimony, saying that I know Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet,
I know he saw God, the father, and Jesus Christ. I know.

The spirit was so strong as I promised her that she could also know,
if she prayed and asked.

I know this is the church of Jesus Christ.  I feel honored to serve
and testify of what I know. I am so excited for my brother Kory, and
the honor he will have doing this same service.

I love you all!

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

Conference Weekend

This week was great. It was REALLY BUSY. We had so much to do and had
to get everything done before Saturday because of conference. But it
was an amazing week of many miracles.

We got a referral! His name is Francisco. He is 29. He is an awesome
guy. He has already gone to church a few times but it was at a
different ward. Last sunday someone saw him and relaized he isnt a
member and told him there is a church that is closer to him. (our
ward) So they called us and gave us his info and we called him. We met
up with him at a park that is close to his house, on Tuesday. We
taught him the resturation and about The Book of Mormon. We had an
amazing lesson with him. At the end of the lesson we invited him to
say the closing prayer, and ask if the things we taught are true, and
if Josph Smith really was called to be a prophet. He said an amazing,
sincere prayer where he really talked with Heavenly Father and poured
his heart out to him. He said he has the desire to know and wanted to
know if the church was true though The Book of Mormon. A few days
later we were able to meet with him again, and we had one of the most
powerful lessons I have had on my mission until now. It was amazing,
the spirit was so strong. We had a member with us who bore a powerful
testiomny about how the gospel of Jesus Christ chagned his life. At
the end of the lesson Francisco prayed, and he got his answer about
the church. He knows. I know that he knows cause I am a witness that
the spirit testified to him, he knows it is true. We marked his
baptsim for this last sunday. But sadly, a few people in his life that
go to other churches talked him out of it and told him he wasnt ready
and wasnt good enough to be baptised.

We had a long serious talk with him, telling him that those things
arent true. But he got nervous and wants to wait a little longer. We
are working with him so he can be baptised this upcoming week.

We are still working with Andreza. The same thing happened with her,
that she didnt feel ready and was nervous about baptism. She started
to avoid us this week cause she got nervous, and we had NO WAY to get
in contact with her. We prayed and prayed to find a way to contact her
so we could serve her and help her feel more ready for her baptism.
Then on Thursday we go to her house and she was sick, there was no way
to run from us cause she couldnt get out of bed. We were able to talk
about her and acutally show the love we have for her. We called some
preisthood leaders who gave her a blessing, we went to the store and
bought some crackers and juice and gave her some medicne. We got to
serve her. She felt important and spcial, and I know she could feel
the love our Heavenly Father has for her.

Douglas is another man we are working with. He is 21. He has already
been taught by the sisters before when he was younger but didnt want
anything to do with the chuch cause he was just a teenageer who liked
to do teenage stuff. But we found him though another member. He was
super open with us and went to watch the conference. It was amazing.
He really liked it and we will go to his place this week so we can
teach him and his family a little more.

General Conference was AMAZING. I had alot of questions going into the
conference, of things I should do once I get home. How I can finish my
mission stronger then ever before, how I can help certin people we are
teaching, and many other things. I feel so greatful for personal
revolation, that the Lord could touch my heart through the words of
his servents. I felt so much love this weekend, I felt the love my
Savior and my Father in Heaven has for me, and how they want me to be
the best Sister Hernandez I can be. The best Arrie I can be. I am so
thankful for my chance to learn and be better.

As I say every week, being a missionary is the BEST thing. I love my
calling so much.

xoxo,
Sis. Hernandez

Easter!

Happy late Easter to everyone. I hope you all had an amazing day with
friends and family.

This week was amazing! My health came back so I went back to work!
This week we had our Zone Conference in caicó. So my zone and I had to
leave Mossoró 4 O´CLOCK IN THE MORNING!! it was so early. But we got
to the Zone Conference and it was amazing. They spoke alot about our
light. How we need to shine the light of Christ wherever we go and in
whatever we do. Sister Miller and I sang "lead kindly light" The
spirit was so strong and it made me so happy. It was also nice to see
all my friends that I havent seen for a while and catch up and get
news about recent converts and the other wards that I have passed in.

I got to see tons of people from the frist ward I was in a year ago
and hug and catch up with them. It filled my heart with so much joy. .

This week we had planned to baptise Andreza She is amazing. I have
talked about her in the past. We worked with her all week but at the
end of the week she started to doubt and get nervous. Saten got to her
and she started to doubt the answers the Lord gave her, with the
things other people were saying. She wasnt baptised. It broke my
heart. We are still working with her, she still wants to learn. But
the people who are near her arent letting her repent.

I learned something while I have been on the mission, while helping
people repent. Sometimes you find someone who has the desire to
change, who really wants to be better. Maybe they did alot of bad
things, maybe the repentance process will be hard. But it is possible.
It breaks my heart when I watch someone who wants to change, but
instead of supporting, the people close to them just tear them down
and tell them they will never be better then they are. The atonement
isnt about perfect people becoming more perfect. It is about imperfect
people becoming better. No matter what the sin is, no matter how long
they sined. We can always change and become better.

This week I had the grand honor to watch one of my recent conerts
baptise a young man in our ward. He was so nevous but SO excited to
enter the waters of baptism again. But this time he was the one
baptising. It was amazing and made me so happy. I love being a part of
this amazing work.

funny story:
This week we were at a store buying water. sister thomson bought the
water and the boy gave her change wrong.So after we left sister
thomson got a little confused cause he didnt give her the right amount
of money. When we went back the store felt bad that happened and asked
us if we like chocolate cake.we all said yes. And we got FREE
CHOCOLATE CAKE. it was so amazing.

Have and amazing week. And remember to watch conferance this weekend!!

xoxo
Sis. Hernandez

my mtc group!

Hallelujah

 



Can you guys believe it is almost Easter?! I cant. Feels like just yesterday it was Christmas. The times goes by so fast. I love the easter seaon cause it is a time when we can think a little more in our savior Jesus Christ. Just like how we remember him during Christmas and why he was born. We can remember him during Easter, why he died, and how he lives.

This week I was able to think a lot about the atonement, and the suffering that Jesus Christ suffered for me. I got sick and when I was sitting in bed really sad that I couldnt be out on the street working, and how I felt really icky and sorry for myself. I took a moment back and thought about my savior. How he paid for this, how he went through those same feelings that I was feeling in that moment. How he knew how I was feeling. I remembered how he, in that moment, was the only person who new how to comfort me. I took a moment, and said a little prayer of gratitude. I thanked my Heavenly Father for providing a Savior to help me in WHATEVER trial I have gone through and will go through.

I feel so thankful, that he lives. To help me everyday. I am so thankful to be a part of his work here on the earth. The most important work ever.

I invite everyone to take a moment this week and remember him. And what he has done for you.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/collection/easter-videos/hallelujahan-easter-message-about-jesus-christ

Happy Easter!!

xoxo

Sis Hernandez

My district!!

Elder Dure, Elder Webb, Sis Rodrigus, Sis Nunes, Sis Miller, Sis Thomson, Me

trio

I am now in a trio!! WHOOO! I am with Sister Thompson, from
washington, and Sister Miller from Sandy, Utah. Sister Miller is our
daughter. We are training her together.

I remember when I got on the mission, everyone told me I would never
have american companions. But until now, I have had 5. What everyone
told me was wrong! Haha. But I like the american companions because it
will be easy to get together after the mission.

This week started of sad cause Sister. J Baker went home. It was sad
leaving her at the bus station. I love that girl. She was an amazing
companion and an amazing friend. I love that girl so much. I will miss
her until May when we are reunited.

I stayed in Mossoró during transfers. I am super hapy to be here. I
have been working hard and love this ward. I wouldnt mind staying here
until the end of my mission. This place is really special.

This week after the transfers we had a zone meeting, so we could get
to know all the new missioanries. Sister Thomson and I had to give a
training about unity. She had the amazing idea to do a three legged
race. So we got a few of the companionships and made them race aginst
eachother. then we made them all race together. When they raced alone,
there was alot of problems, but when they ran together they had to
talk it out one with enother and they were able to all get back to the
finish line without any probloems. it was amazing. i hope this made
sense. butit was really cool. then we made goals as a zone on how we
can be more united.

We are teaching a women named Andreza. she is 21 with two kids. Her
husband died about 6 weeks ago. and we stared to stop by and talk with
her. She is the neighbor of a member in our ward. So this week he
invited her over so we could share a gospel message with her. It was
amazing and the spirit was strong. We went back to her house the next
day and taught her the 1st lesson. And the spirit was so strong. we
invted her to be baptised and she said he would. She is marked to be
baptised this sunday!! She is amazing. and a women who is looking for
alot of answers in her life. it is so cool cause i can see how the
lord was preparing her to hear the gospel. I am so thankful to be a
part of this work.

On saturday we were walking and there was a young man on the street. I
stoped and said "wanna go to church with us tomorrow?" he said "sure"
so sunday we were watching to get people to go to church, and there
was Leo, sitting on the street waiting for us. I thought to myself. I
dont believe he is acutally going to come with us. and he came. he
loved church and got along so well with all the young men and wants to
come back. so i hope this works out.

Carlos. This is a good story. He was walking in front of the church
sunday morning and felt the desire to enter. So he walked in and
sacrament meeting was starteing.he sat down and watched the meeting.
then we went and talked to him. he had to go cause he had a thing to
do. but we went by his house after church and he said that he never
felt so much peace in his life then when he was at church.we invtied
him to be baptised and he accepted. WHOO!!!

i think this week there will be alot of good things happing here in
the ward Urick Graff. I am so happy!!

I love you all!!

here is a picture of our zone.

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

Good news: I can stay in Brasil

So this week, like I said last week. I had to renew my visa. So last
monday Sis. J Baker and I traveled to Natal to renew it. It was great,
I got to see the Elders from my CTM district there. It was fun to
catch up because it has been a while since I have seen a few of them.
I love those kids.

Sister J Baker and I had to stay in Natal because we had our monthly
leadership meeting. So we spent the day in Natal visiting her old
areas (because she goes home this week to Salem Utah.) It was fun to
go back to Natal. I love that place. It is so beautiful.

The leadership meeting was great! We talked about the example we have
on the people we are teaching. and how we need to live the gospel in
order to teach it. That we need our own testimonies in order to
testify of it. How we need to be converted in order to convert
someone. I am so thankful for this, during my mission I have tried to
convert myself. To really gain an unshakable testimony of this gospel.
And I am so happy to say that I have that. I know this is the true
church of Jesus Christ because I prayed and got my answer. I know that
the scritpures are important because I read and study them and pray to
know they are true. I am so thankful for being a missionary of this
church.

This week we needed to find new people to teach. So we went on the
street and started to talk to EVERYONE. More then normal. Trying to
find some one the people god was preparing for us. We talked, walked,
talked, invited. And we found some amazing people.

We found a man named Luis who is desabled in his legs and cant walk.
when we started to talk to him he said he wanted to go to church. But
it is hard because he wouldnt be able to get himself there. So we
talked with some of the men in the ward and got a car for him, so that
he could have a ride to church. It was amazing. All the ward was able
to come together to help him feel welcomed and loved. I sat with him
on the floor cause he cant sit on the car and it was so humbling to
me. I love that being a missionry I can have these experiences to see
the life of others from their point of view. That I can feel the love
our savior has for each one of us.

I am so excited cause my brother Kory is preparing for his mission. I
cant wait for him to be where I am right now and understand the love I
feel for these people.

Have an amazing week everyone.

xoxo
Sis. Hernandez

Photos from our leadership meeting, zone meeting, and me killing a rooster.

hot.hot.HOT

this week was crazy hot. I seriously dont remember the last time it
was so hot. Sister J. Baker and I walked in the street melting and
asking EVERYONE for a glass of water. (mom be happy cause i drink alot
of water now)

Here is a quick update.

So I am emailing super late this week cause I had to go to Natal to
renew my visa. So today we just stayed on the bus all day.We will
spend a few days here in Natal cause we have our monthly leadership
meeting. It will be great!

This morning we went to the courthouse because...MARIA AND GREGORIO
WILL GET MARRIED. My whole mission I have wanted to help a couple get
married, and now my dream has come true. We found them doing contacts
on the street. Maria is 70 years old and her and Gregorio have been
together 32 years. Once they came to know the gospel they now want to
get married and be baptised. I am so excited. They are so amazing.

We are teaching Jessica. Who is amazing. She knows the gospel is
true.She wants to be baptised. But her husband is the worst and wont
let her.He said "you can be baptised in ANY church, but not the
mormons." we are trying to help him understand, but he has a closed
heart.

here are pics of Nadson baptism. he is so cute. the ward loves him and
he goes to church by himself and reads the book of mormon and loves
the gospel. i cant wait to hear when he is an elder.

that is a quick update on me.
I am doing good. I am really tan and just trying not to die in the
sun. I am learning to play the guitar! and loving being a missonary.
I never want this to end.

I love you all!

xoxo
Sis. Hernandez

we are laughing in this pic cause he grabbed us both and pulled us in
close for a picture haha.

I AM SORRY.

I am getting kicked off of the internet shop! I didnt know it closed
right now. ANd the women is turning off my compter!!! :(:(:(

I love you all.
The church is true.

xoxo
sister hernandez

this week we baptised Nadson. it was amazing. i will tell you more next week!

carnaval

This week was the beloved carnaval.
(ps. happy valintines day to all, and 22 years of marriage to my dear parents)

So we had to stay inside for a few days. I went a little crazy being
inside our house for so long. I think Sis. J Baker and I watched all
the church flims inside our house.

But thankfully, carnaval finished and we were able to work again. I
think because we stayed inside for so long Sis. J Baker and I had so
much fire to work. We walked so much this week. and I think the sun
was extra hot. But this week was amazing.

We are teaching a brother and a sister. David and Ester. They are
great. They are really open with us and have alot of questions. We
took them to a familly night at the house of a member and they loved
it, they came to church with us and loved it. They are so great. I am
excited about teaching them and helping them understand the gospel a
little better. Their mom was active in the church when they were
younger, but after their parents got devorced they stopped going to
church.

We are still teaching Luis Neto and Gabriel. The two young men who are
amazing. Gabriel went to the beach to work carnaval, so we were only
able to meet with Luis Neto. We asked him how he was feeling about
baptism. He said he was a little nervous, (but then he said the cutest
thing) he said "I am excited and nervous about my baptism.. but really
nervous about my mission." it was so sweet, we told him he still has a
few years to worry about his mission. He is such an amazing kid.

There is a little boy named Nadson who lives behind the church. he
ALWAYS goes to chuch. he loves the church. he goes to all the meetings
and activitys, so we started to teach him. He is the sweetest boy who
just wants to be good. You guys know that kid, who has the desire to
be good and do the right thing, but it is so hard for him. so we
played a "game" with him during sacrament metting, we wrote "Jesus
Christ, God, Sunday, Service, Holy Ghost" on a paper. And every time
he heard one of these words he had to make a tally. Do you believe
this kid sad still the WHOLE meeting with that paper paying attenion.
it was the sweetest thing.

This week I am thankful for the miracles that we have in our lives
everyday. I would write every miracle that happens but there wouldnt
be enough time nor enough space. I litteraly see the hand of God in
our work as missionaries. I see how he helps and guides us to the
people who are waiting for the message that we have. I know the
blessings of the gopsel is what makes me so happy. I just wanna share
this with EVERYONE.

I love you all, have an amazing week.
até mais

xoxo
sister hernandez

splits.

 

THIS WEEK WAS SO BUSY. I feel like I always say how busy the week is.
Because it is always busy when you are a missionary. But I love it so
much.

So this week we started with our leadership meeting. Last p-day we had
to catch a bus at 4 o´clock to get to Natal before 9.  BUT the bus we
needed to catch wasnt going on Mondays. (just our luck) So we had to
wait at the bus station, until we could catch a later bus and then
ended up getting to Natal supe late.

We had our leadership meeting. it was amazing. They talked about why
we are missionaries and our purpose and what we need to do to be
better missionaries. I loved it. It really touched me and gave me fire
to take into my area.

This week Sister J Baker and I did splits with some sisters in our
Zone. I got to work with Sister Barbosa. She is from São Paulo, she
has 2 months on the missoin. She is so cute. Think about the smallest,
sweetest, cutest, sister and it is her. it was so fun to work with
her. She has a bunch of excitment and fire and is ready to work. So we
got to work.

We found an amazing new family, Fernanda, Jair, and their daughter
Luana. We were walking on the street talking to everyone and found
them. We invited them to chuch and they said they would go. So we kept
passing there thoughout the week to comfirm that they would go. (it is
normal that people say they will go and then end up not going) So
sunday morning we got up and when to their house. And they they were.
Sitting on the curb, ready and excited for church. when we got there,
Fernanda said she invited a few of her friends and so we had to get
them too. We ended up taking Fernanda and her famliy and her friends
and THEIR families to church. it was a miracle.

We also got to teach Gabriel and Luiz Neto again. They are the most
amazing teenage boys. They are so ready to get baptised this weekend.

This week will be an amazing week. I know it.

I love being a missionary.

funny story:
This week we were deep frying coxhinas with our recent converts. As we
deep frying they started to explode and fly ALL OVER THE KITCHEN. So
we were running for our lives from these flying deep fryed snacks and
were all hiding as we watched them fly. after it was safe we went and
looked at the damage. It was funny casue all the cheese and chicken
that was inside the coxhinas was on the ceiling and walls and floor
and eveywhere. It was so funny. I wish I could have a picture of our
faces as we watched these food items fly all over the room.

have an amazing week.
the church is true

xoxo
sis. hernandez

pray for all the missionaries in brasil this week. because carnival has started.

making 15 year old boys cry..

This week was so busy. I told Sister J Baker yesterday. I feel like SO
MUCH has happened in so little time.

I got sick this week. So I had to spend one day just sick.. it was a bummer.

It was also transfers, I will stay with sister J baker until the end
of her mission! whooo!!

This week we had so many miracles. But I wanted to share a lesson that
we had with Gabriel and Luis Neto. Fernanda, a women in our ward
brought her two nephews to church with her this week. So we went over
and were talking to them, and marked to stop by their house after
church and teach them. They are two young men, Gabriel has 15 years
and Luis Neto has 12.

We went to Fernandas house and were getting to know them, and then we
started to teach about the restoration. The moment we said the opening
prayer the spirit was THERE. Gabriel and Luis were focues on every
word we were saying, it was like there was nothing else more important
in the world then the words that were coming out of our mouth. We
explained everything, how Jesus organized his church and how in the
apostasy the church was lost and they understood everything. We taught
about Jospeh Smith and the fist vision and how he was called as a
prophet. We taught about the Book of Mormon. How is the fruit that
everything we were saying is true.

In the closing testimonies, I started. I shared how I knew this is the
church of Jesus Christ. I shared how I know the Book of Mormon is
true. I shared how the gospel has changed my life. Then Fernanda
shared her testimony. Then Sister J. Baker. The spirit was so strong,
EVERYONE has tears in their eyes. We invted them to be baptised. They
both said yes, and Gabriel started to cry. He said he doesnt doubt
anything that we said and that he knows it is true and that he would
pray to know more.

I have taught about the resteration 100 times. Every time the spirit
is strong. But this time was different. As I looked into the eyes of
these two young men, I could see them one day on a mission. I could
see them recive the answers they have been looking for. It is amazing
the Lord prepares some people so young. But I am so greatful to be a
part of this amazing work.

Teaching them reminded me of my two younger brothers. I couldnt help
but feel greatful for them. The choices they are making, Kory
preparing for a mission and Aaron being the amazing boy he is. How
thankful I am for my family.

This week was full of tender mercies. I am so thankful to see the hand
of the lord in my life.

xoxo.
Sis. Hernandez

so. much. rain.

I am in Mossoró. It has been 3 years without rain in this city. And I
think this week made up for it. SO MUCH RAIN. Sis. J Baker and I would
leave the house and within 30 seconds we were soaked. It looked like
we jumped into a pool or took a shower. This is great cause the city
needs water. But hard cause no one wants to leave their house. But we
still have the honor to have 5 people at church, even with all the
rain.

it was funny as we walked in the street and were trying to take people
to church they said "no i wont go to church, it is cold in the rain"
and me and my companion just looked at them shivering, soaking wet and
said "really, we didnt notice." i have no doubt pepole think we are
crazy for walking in the rain and trying to get people to church. But
we do what we gotta do.

We are teaching an AMAZING family. Paulo, Kezia (his wife) and Carol
(his sister) Paulo and Kezia have two kids. and they are the cutest
family ever. You know that feeling when you enter someones house and
just KNOW that they will be members of the church. This is how I feel
about this family. We taught them alot this week and Paulo is looking
for a way to repent of the things from his past and be a better person
(BATISMO) They came to church this week IN THE RAIN. and loved it.
Keep them in your prayers and thoughts this week.

This week we also had the chance to watch a conferance for all the
missionaries in the world. It talked about being converted and helping
others be converted. That we teach repentance and baptise converts. It
made me think alot about he work we are all doing. Our work is to
change the lifes of the people we meet. It is funny cause everyday me
and my companion talk to people who are suffering and want to leave
their sins and be new. but they dont know how. i am so thankful for
this knowlegde that we have, that through the atonement we can be new.
We can be better. We can help others know this too.

I love being a missionary. I love this work. If I could rent a plane a
put a banner in the sign telling everyone what i know i would. I want
his happiness for everyone. I want this hope for everyone.

Elder Neil A. Anderson said something that touched me. He said "It
doesnt matter how much we talk about Christ. It isnt enough." We need
to share what we know at all times. Live what we believe always.

This week my scripture is 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from
all sin.


have an amazing week!!! :):):)

bejio!
xoxo
Sister Hernandez

obrigada

 

THIS WEEK WAS AMAZINGGGGG!!!

It started off so busy. We had so much to do. But I want to talk about
one couple Francelly and Elvis.

We have been teaching them for a while now, and have been preparing
them for baptism. This week was the goal we were working for. But we
had a few problems. They needed to be OUT of their house ASAP, so they
were stressed and didnt want to think about baptsim of anything until
after they were out and more relaxed. So we got to work, Sister J
Baker, Elder Ledesma, Andrade, Azevedo and I became a moving company.
We had everything out and ready in one day.

We kept working with them, there were a few other bumps in the road,
and Friday when we talked to them they decided they needed more time.
We asked them to pray about it. And if they recieved their answer if
they would be baptised still. Firday night after we got home they
called us and said they prayed and they wanted the to be baptised. So
Sauterday we worked and got the most beauitful baptism prepared. The
spirit was so strong.

After the baptism we went to help Francelly change out of the
jumpstuit. She took out hands and said "thank you for everything." i
couldnt help it but my eyes filled up with tears. My heart was
smiling.

Being a part of helping famlies come to the gospel is the most
rewarding thing. I feel honored to be a servent of the Lord. I feel
honored to help people come to know the truth and change their lifes.
I love this word so much.

I am so happy. I just want to do this forever.

I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that he loves us. I know
that with all my heart. I know the Lord loves us and listens to our
prayers and will never leave us comfortless.

My scripture this week
Mosiah 2:41
 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the
blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.
For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and
spiritual; and if they hold outfaithful to the end they are received
into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of
never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are
true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

com amor,
Sister Hernandez

ps. i cant send pics from my camera BUT here is a pic from lunch
yesterday with some members from our ward.

batismo!!

This week was so SO busy. I acually dont believe that so much could
happen in one week. But it is possible.

This week Sister J. Baker and I went to Natal for a leadership
conference. It was great! We were able to learn about how to become a
real missionary. How we need to give all our heart, mind, and strengh
into this work because we only have a short time to do it. I am so
thankful for this time I have right now to be a missionary. And I am
so thankful for the time I have left and want to give it my all until
the last day. This time is so special. We need to use it wisely.

This week we had a baptsim!! Yasmin was baptised this Wendsday. It was
so beatiful. She is such an amazing girl. The spirit was so strong and
there was beautiful messages given by the bisop and other leaders. It
was truely a day to remember. After she left the baptsim font I went
there to greet her, I asked her, "how  do you feel?" and she said "so
much better, and so much peace" it was amazing. I couldnt help it, but
my eyes teared up, the spirit was so strong. I love being a part of
this amazing work. I wouldnt trade these moments for anything.

This week we were able to find alot of people and bring alot of people
to church. We have a baptism this week for a newly wed couple. They
are so cute and have  7 months married. I love them so much, It is so
fun to teach them and watch the gospel change their lives. Francelly
already has gone to church a couple times but her husband Elvis always
had to work, but he went to church on Sunday and he felt the spirit so
much and knows it is true. We are hoping and praying that everything
will work out for their baptism this week. :):):):):):)


I love being a missionary so much. I never want this to end.

my scripture this week is
Moroni 8:25-26
25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh
by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the
commandments bringeth remission of sins;
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of
heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the
visitation of the Holy Ghost, whichComforter filleth with hope and
perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the
end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

só batiza.

Sorry i dont have pics again.. this computer shop is skechy..

xoxo
Sister Hernandez

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Can you believe that it is already 2016? 2015 went by so fast! This
new year was great! Sister J. Baker spend the day working and then
went home and made pastels and lemon pie.

This week of work was a little rough cause EVERYONE went to the beach
to spend New Years. That was great for them but a bummer for us becaue
everyone we are teaching was at the beach. BUT thankfully we were
still able to find lots of new people to teach cause a few people
stayed in the city.

We are teaching a man names Wildo, he is great! He went to church last
week just because we invited him to go. we walked into the sacrament
meeting and there was Wildo. So this week we went back to teach him.
We taught him about Jospeh Smith and how he didnt know what church was
true because there was so many. It was cool cause Wildo said that he
also always wondered what church was the true church. It was a
powerful lesson and we are preparing him to be baptised!

We are teaching a young women named Yasmin who is amazing. She takes
care of her 3 younger siblings alone and is the most mature girl. She
loves the church. Loves the gospel.

We are teaching a family of four. They actually have family who are
members of the church but live in a different state. They also have a
nephew who is on a mission. So they are a little more familier with
what we are teaching and are really open about learning more. Bruna
(daughter, 17) has already come to church with us 2 time. She loves
it. She is reading the Book of Mormon and says she knows it is true.
She wents to get bapised. I love her so much.

ALSO OUR RECENT CONVERTS ARE NOT SMOKING AND MORE SO THAT I A MIRICLE
AND I AM SO HAPPY!!

Sister J. Baker and I are working hard hard hard! Shes a great
companion and we have so much fun together while we are working. She
is also teaching me how to play guitar.

This new year I was happy to take a step back and think about the
goals that I want to make to help me become the person I want to
become in 2016. I have learned on the mision that when we work without
goals it is alot harder to track our progress and improve. i hope that
each one of us can take a moment and make new goals. So we can all
become better people and closer to our savior.

I know Jesus Christ is our savior. I love him so much.

Funny story:
The other day Sister J. Baker and I were in our room talking and
planning our next day. As we were planning we both thought we heard
someone outside of our window. So we both started freaking out. We
decided that if we wanted to live we needed to know if someone was
outside or not. So we looked out the window and no one was there (we
live in a gated apt so we would see them and it is super hard to get
in) So we grabbed brooms and walked outside... to kill whoever was
there (not seriously kill but just hit them) when we went outside no
one was there. and it was just was the wind.. haha

I love you all!!

xoxo
Sister Hernandez