A regresar a Chimbote!

Recycling plastic water bottles from our apartment

HOLA todos! 

WOW!! This week has been QUITE the rollercoaster! Its always an adventure to change areas! My comapnion is Hermana Landazuri from Ecuador and she is so funny! But I'm excited to be back here in good ole' Chimbote, LAND OF THE FISH (mom you would love it 😜)! My area is called El Carmen and it is SOOOOO TINY! But there are so many wonderful people that are ready and prepared to hear the gospel!

First off is the Vulnes Family! Jonny and Maribel are the parents with a few older kids (that live far away) and a 9 year old that lives with them. They aren't married but have such a desire to GET married! What a blessing! They are so cute and invited us to lunch (see picture below)! It was super sketchy, but I haven't died yet, so I think I'm good :) 

Also, we are teaching a family of less actives, Jesus and Maria. Jesus is a returned missionary and wants to come back to church so bad. But Maria has got a bit of a hard heart. But I know that the Lord will be able to help her out. 

OH!!! Cool thing! The other night, we were planing when the window starts vibrating and this deep rumble fills the air. Now little earthquakes here in Chimbote are super normal. So we just sat there listening when all the sudden there was a super big quake and all the stuff on my desk goes tumbling off! We pretty much both just bolted for the door!! But luckily there wasn't anything else! It was AWESOME. 

But ANYWAY :) I found a super cool scripture. Its in Alma 37:6-7. Super well known but I love it.

6. Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

 7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls

And I just love how its through SMALL things that the hand of the Lord is shown in our lives. Its true--miracles do happen. I have noticed  lately in my life, when I think that nothing is going my way, that the Lord is trying to TEACH me through small things and that He knows my struggles and has a plan for me. A plan that will bless my life AND the lives of those I teach! And that the only way I can see those 'small and simple things' in my life is through the spirit! As I listen to the SPIRIT and not the voices of the world or temptations of Satan, I can really see the blessings the Lord gives me every day!

Love you all and have a great week!!

Hermana Stephenson

Hermano Lucho and his family in Salaverry

LUUUNCH!!!

A family the elders baptized in our ward

Cambios!

Hey Everyone!

Hope all is well and that everyone had a GREAT Mother's day!! It was so awesome to see my family and hear their voices again! 

This week was a bit slow, but we still saw a few miracles! Mainly we were able to find a few recent converts that have gone inactive and we haven't been able to find for MONTHS. One is a teenage girl named Olenka. She was baptized but then her mom refused to let her go to church or any activity. But we felt like passing by her home one day this week with a lady in our ward and they let us IN! We were able to teach Olenka about the plan of salvation (her mom escaped into the back room and wouldn't come out) and there was a wonderful spirit in the lesson. We were so happy!! 

Also Alejandro and Lucho, the two pescadores that were recently reactivated, were here ALL WEEK. The motor on their boat broke so the were stuck here while they fixed it. Bwahahaa!!! I mean..... YES! So we were able to get in and read the Book of Mormon and make sure they are on their way to the temple to be sealed with their families here soon! Had a fun family home evening too.

Also, remember those two kids who showed up to church last week? Well, they BOTH came again this week! Luis and Jorge. They are so cute and love going to Primary. We stopped by their houses and their parents work pretty much ALL DAY LONG and their grandma takes care of them. But we keep praying for them that perhaps somehow they will all be able to hear our message!

Thats pretty much it! The aunt of Hermana Cynthia was diagnosed with cancer and she has been SUPER taking care of her. We keep stopping in to see her and  read the Book of Mormon with her family and little by little they are building their testimonies too!

Also, I've got transfers!!! I'm headed back to Chimbote! Land of fish!! I'm super excited, but at the same time kind of sad. I absolutely LOVE my area here in Salaverry and my amazing companion Hermana Caldas. I have learned so much and will always treasure this place! 

Just a quick scripture to end. I've been reading in Alma and found a wonderful scripture in Alma 34:38-41. It speaks about how we should always give thanks for all that comes our way, be full of prayer and endure with patience. It's a great pattern to follow when passing through trials and difficulties. Look for the small miracles that happen EVERY DAY, be grateful, pray always, then develop patience to recieve all the blessings the Lord wishes to give us!  I know that it works because it has heplped me through many hard times! 

Love you all and have a wonderful day!!

Hermana Stephenson

Me and Hermana Pali with PEANUT BUTTER from home. It's like gold here...Thanks mom!

Week of Work!

HOLA TODOS!!!!

Hope everything is going good all over the world! We had a bit of a slower week this week, but had a few funny experiences :) But first a quick update!

Cynthia and her family are coming along bit by bit. Her daughters go to school in the afternoon and get home at about 8 pm, so its been a bit hard to get in to teach them. We've started slipping little notes under their door with a scripture and a question so that they keep remembering to pray and study the scriptures! Hermano Luis should be getting back in about a week or so, so we're super excited.

Johan couldn't make it to church this week because he needed to work. His family is passing through some hard times and he needs to work. But we keep praying for him and I know that the Spirit will touch his heart and tell him that the real blessings in his life will come through the gospel. But Mercedes and Michell got up (by themselves) and were at church early! 

But funny (and cool) experience this week! We were out walking down the street when we saw some boys out playing with their 'trompos' (they are like big tops that you spin with string). We stopped and talked to them and I got to show my sweet trompo skills (they were quite impressed). We asked them if they lived close and one of the boys, Luis, showed us his house. We asked to meet his parents so he ran in and got them! We ended up teaching the family and the boys! It was so cute. THEN here comes Sunday and we are sitting in the chapel singing the opening hymn and Luis and his friend Jorge walk in by themselves! They are like 10 and 6 years old. We were so astonished! But they wanted so much to be there! Then they went to primary, and after church their grandpa was waiting outside to pick them up. It was a cool experience to see how these boys want to know so much about the Lord and how kids really can teach us so much :)

Well don't have anymore time and gotta go, but love you all soooo much! Real fast, a cool scripture I found is in Alma 32:40-43. I love how it speaks about the patience and faith and dilligence needed to grow our 'tree of faith' as Alma explains it in chapter 32. And the amazing blessings that await us when we persist in keeping ALL the commandments of God!

Finally a shout out to my BROTHER who is heading out to serve in SPAIN!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO DUDE!

Buckets of love,

Hermana Stephenson

Funny story about the pictures. We were all up on these rocks taking pictures when suddenly A HUGE WAVE came and soaked us ALL!!!! It was quite funny!

Volleyball and Futbol!

Buenas Dias todos!

Wow!!! What a wonderful week we were able to have here in Salaverry! We were so blessed this week with finding a few new families to teach and other little steps that everyone is making in the gospel!

First up is the Asavache Family! Hermano Luis had to leave and is working in Chile, but will be back in about 20 days. Hermana Cynthia, says that he is praying and reading his scriptures! Hopefully this Wednesday we can have a skype family home evening with them all! AND Hermana Cynthia came to church for the first time!! She loved it and it was so awesome because in Relief Society we talked all about marriage and the family. It was PERFECT as she is praying and working towards marriage with Luis!

Also Mercedes came to church for all three hours with Michell, her 6 year old daughter! Johan couldn't make it because he had to work, but next week he promised he would come! It was awesome because we had a big ward ''sport night'' activity to help involve the members a bit more and so that they can get to know our investigators and less-actives. Good news is that Mercedes and Johan and a bunch of investigators came! Bad news is that only our ward mission leader and the bishop came! BUT we are spreading the word even more to all the members so that this week we can have a better turnout!!! 

As for a quick spiritual experience, during our gospel principles class yesterday, the bishop asked everyone to share a bit about how the gospel has changed their lives. It was so amazing to hear the testimony of Mercedes, Ivet (a lady who was reactivaed not to long ago who we do a lot with), and Cynthia. Perhaps their testimonies are small, but they are powerful and growing little by little. The spririt really testified to me that what I am doing is what the Lord wants me to do! If I hadn't opened my mouth, none of these daughters of God and their families would be receiving these blessings of the gospel. 

As I was studying, I came across Alma 31:5 that says:

 5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

I know that the thing that is MOST POWERFUL in changing a life, is the Gospel of Christ-- His life and death for all of us-- and the gift of the Holy Ghost to always guide us. And for all those missionaries and prospective missionaries out there, remember this:

 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach thegospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15)

LOOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH and keep spreading the word of God WHERE EVER you may be!! 

Hermana Stephenson

We went to the beach last P-Day

All the missionaries serving in my area!

Winter is coming!

Hey everyone!!

Well, it looks like the weather is FINALLY taking a turn for the better! There is a nice cold breeze that blows pretty much all day!! And the nights are nice and cool! LOVING IT! 

But a quick update for this week: The Aavache Family accepted to be baptized!!! WOOOT! It was such a wonderful lesson. The bishop was able to be there to invite them to pray and ask God if the church was true Luis, Cynthia, Lisani, and Jasari all accepted! Now to tackle the fact that they aren't married. So to be continued! 

Mercedes is coming along too! We've been teaching her and Johan and they are reading and praying together! They didn't come to church because there was a HUGE party outside their house and they couldn't sleep ALL NIGHT! Gotta love Peruvian parties!

And just real fast because I don't have much time! I've been studying about the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. How they really showed their conversion throught their acts! Like burring their weapons of war and refusing to take them up again. I LOVE in Alma 27:27 when it describes how they were perfectly honest and valiant in ALL THINGS! And that those qualities were just passed right on to there sons, The 2,000 strippling warriors. It made me think that I want to be an example like them to my investigators, and everyone around me!

LOVE YOU!! 

I'll send picts next week!

Hermana Stephenson

Temple Trip!!!

HOOOOOLA TODOS! 

I hope that all is well where ever all you may be! This week in Salaverry was a QUICK one and FULL of so many great experiences!

First, we found a new less-active to teach! Her name is Mercedes. She and her little 6 year old girl are living with a non-member . She said that she has always wanted to come back to church but was just a bit shy. We passed her on the street and felt like talking to her and BAM! She's reading the Book of Mormon and is so excited to share the gospel with Jhoan, the guy she's living with. Her little girl Michel is SO FUNNY. When we taught her how to pray, she INSISTED on saying ever single prayer! It was great.

Also when I went to concilio (the big meeting with the zone leaders and president) we got to go to the TEMPLE!! My first time in like 4 or 5 months! It was truly HEAVENLY. It was JUST the pick-me-up that I needed! I absolutely love the temple! I know that ALL the blessings that were spoken of in general conference are TRUE! I was able to feel the Spirit and receive the guidance and strength that I really needed :)

And now for some funny stories. After concilio, I went and picked up my companion. Apparently someone had given her a LIVE CUY (they're Peruvian guinne pigs aaaaaand they eat them here!). So we went back to our area and went to the house of a member where we killed, cleaned, fried and ATE IT!! BWAHAHA!! I just had a bit but Hna. Caldas just LOOOVED it! It was one of those 'Only in Peru' moments!!!!! It was SO FUNNY. 

But to finish, I saw a scripture that I LOVED. It's in Alma 57:21 And it says ''And they did obey and observe to perform every word and command with exactness: yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them''. I love the example of the 2000 stripling warriors. It was a great reminder to me to strive to be exactly obedient to the laws of God, to my leaders and to the Lord. And I know when I do, I can see MIRACLES!!

Love you all and have a GREAT day!

Hermana Stephenson

CONFERENCIA!!!

Hey everyone!!!

Sorry I don't have too much time, but I wanted to share a few quick things with you all! 

First thing, Hermano Alejandro is officialy rescued! We had his last lesson last night with his wife and there was such a sweet spirit there. He has all the desire to go to the temple and be sealed with his family. He left to go fishing early this morning but took his Book of Mormon ready to read and study a bit. He'll be back in about 12 days and we'll be working to strengthen his family too.

ALSO Hermana Cynthina, her husband Luis and all their 4 kids went to CONFERENCE yesterday!!!!! It was the first time the whole family was at church and they had a wornderful experience. SO. AWESOME.

And I just LOVED LOVED LOVED conference! My last conference in the mission! AGH! It was pretty sad actually. I'm going to miss being squished into a tiny room listening to conference in English on a tiny computer screen with all the other Americans in the zone. Weeeeell maybe not :)

But something that I really loved was in Elder Hollands talk. Just the love that he showed for ALL of us. And that same love (just multiplied by like a million) is the love the Savior has for us. A scripture caught my eye this week in D&C 81:5 that says:

 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

And It makes me think of how many people just need to know that they are loved. Completely and fully no matter how many mistakes they make. WE can show that love to them first so that through our actions to love and strengthen them, they can feel the Savior's love for them. It was a huge theme that I felt in this conference. The need for selfless love to others no matter what they've done or who they are!

And just know that I Love allllll of you sooooo much and wish you well in whatever part of the world you are!

Hermana Stephenson

Peru is in their presidential elections this week and campains for the candidates are CRAZY!!! I got a sweet free hat and shirt for this one guy :) 

my BEAUUUUTIFUL compi Hermana Caldas