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.