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What we learned last night, the PONZ of Time! Fun!

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Siostra Gustafson with her pretend baby, Lil' Bo

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Week 6

Dzień dobry, Rodzina!!

This week, we gained 10 new missionaries: 

5 Slovenes- 2 Elders, 3 Sisters

2 Croatian Sisters

3 Bulgarian Sisters

We share our room with the Bulgarians, and they are so sweet! I look forward to getting to know them better! For our Sunday night devotional, we had Brother Allen talk to us about protecting ourselves against the ways that the Adversary tries to bring us down. 

1. You can't learn this language

- The Lord assigns your call

- Pray for strength and courage to learn

-You will look back and love your mission

2. You can't do this/too hard

- Don't be your own judge and jury

3. Unwilling to forgive ourselves for past transgressions

- Let them go

- Ammon suffered every privation 

- G-d is grateful for what we've given up to serve Him

I know that the Lord answers our prayers with tender mercies and that He will take our faith and increase it. Even though we are all on the same path to return to Heavenly Father, we are carrying different loads, but G-d Himself has prepared this pathway, all we need to do is trust Him. 

I will confess and say that I have not been the missionary that G-d would have me be these last few weeks. I have followed the counsel of trying to be exactly obedient and diligent, but with that comes being a kind, loving and patient companion. On Tuesday night, I made the decision to strive to love my companions no matter what, and there has been much less contention in our companionship. We have a choice on our attitudes against negativity, and I choose not to just be a missionary, but the Lord's missionary. I know that we just don't have that one or few people who have chosen to come to Christ through our influence, but that we need to talk to everyone, because all of G-d's children need to return to Him, and He is still speaking. I have chosen to be not just a good missionary, but an instrument in G-d's hands. We all have a choice, but in order to ask Heavenly Father what the correct one would be, do you turn inward, or do you turn outward and upward? Do you wallow, or do you pray and search for guidance? Do you see the Lord's hand in your life?

I know that there is something we can do each day to become more like the Savior, Jesus Christ. All we need to do is pay attention to our relationships with others and seek to improve.

I love you all so much and hope that you can see the light of Christ within yourselves! Thank-you for your support!

Kocham was!!

Siostra Herrera

P.S.- Also, I saw Rex Alo's cousin, Elder Ah-Fua! It turns out that he had been trying to find me! What a blessing to see friends! Rex, if you're reading this, it has been so awesome to meet members of your family and see the blessings of their service! 

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Week 5

Dzień dobry, Rodzina!! 

My bad, I miscounted the weeks, the fill-in calendar taped to my desk is throwing me off! We had Elder M. Russell Ballard come speak to us at the Sunday night devotional, it was so awesome!! Here are some tips he gave us:

1. Teach principles of the Gospel

2. Speak in the name of G-d

3. Every member and missionary to know the Apostasy

4. Keep your eyes riveted on those you're teaching- especially when teaching the First Vision

5. Show loyalty to Heavenly Father - PROTECT YOUR COMPANION 

- Speak with love, not contention

6. Be postitive - I like to sing hymns 227 and 293 every day

7. Follow the Spirit

I really loved when Elder Ballard brought up that whenever we're feeling homesick, to write a letter to Joseph Smith. Our prophet spent 4 1/2 months in Liberty Jail, enduring so much, and making the ultimate sacrifice to stand for what he believed in. It is such a blessing to have an eternal perspective, regardless the negative things that will happen to you in life! Here is an awesome video that I hope you will all take the time to see: 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-07-006-the-hope-of-gods-light?lang=eng

It is so unreal how spoiled we are to have apostles come speak to us often! My heart is so full! 

Our district got the chance to host again! This time I hosted Sister Naganuma from Japan, going to the Japan Nagoya Mission, Sister Morgan from Oregon going to the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission, and Sister Jenkins from South Jordan going to the Tampa Florida Mission. These Siostry are some of the sweetest! Helaman's army is growing so much! 

 

Today we went to the temple and did sealings and visited the Celestial room afterwards. Sealings have seriously strengthened my testimony of eternal families and how important it is for all of G-d's children to strive to make it to His house. I really love the church and how much missionary work makes a difference in peoples' lives everyday! 

It is my wish for all of you to have a prayer in your heart that Heavenly Father will help you understand what you need to do to to return to His presence. I know that He wants that for all of you and loves you. I love you. The Missionary Training Center is an inspired place, and I look forward to the rest of my time here and being aware of those around me and what they need. 

Siostra Herrera

"No matter what happens, you can always choose to be kind."

Also, we got locked out of our residence because we all forgot our keys and the doors lock from the inside. That was great! NIE!!

Pictures

Week #5

Dzień dobry, rodzina!! Sorry I wasn't able to email last week, I got sick and was put in isolation! This week, our companionship taught Ania about the importance of prayer and how it will help her to have a closer relationship with the Savior. We haven't gotten the chance to teach Łukasz yet, but once we set up an appointment with him tomorrow, we will teach him about the Restoration. Today will be our first night in TRC, we'll see how that goes!

Since I was sick last week, we got to take our first temple trip across the street! It was so beautiful, and I got hit on in the Celestial room! I was sitting in a lone chair between the couches:

Guy leans over: ''I don't know why, but feel impressed to tell you that you are exceptionally beautiful.''

Me: ...O.o... ''Thanks.''  * What I was really thinking was, ''Sorry, I'm spoken for by the Lord!''* Sister Gustafson would have said ''Woah bear! Wooaah bear!'' Should have brought the tag!

As soon as a spot opened up next to Sister Gustafson, I ran over to her.

Ah, the Spirit of the Temple!

 

I love all of the little quirks about our district and the fact we are meshing better. Starszy Cowley, the district leader makes a crazy-creepy face (it really freaks me out) and has told me that he will come over to me when I least expect it with ''the face'' and some Jello (which also freaks me out). One of our zone leaders, Starszy Smith can start rapping and the rest of our zone  can join in! 

Our district had the privilege of hosting new missionaries this week! My first Sister was Sister Peabody who is going to the Idaho Nampa Mission (English), and Sister Rollins is going to the Missouri Independence Mission (Spanish). It hurt a bit to see the tearful goodbyes with their families, but it was so sweet to see the light in these Sisters' faces as they walked out of the Wilford Woodruff building with their new name tags pinned on! These beautiful ladies are going to change lives!       

As a side note, I got to see the missionary who baptized me, Elder Alo! It was so awesome to see him and his teaching companion! I also saw Scott Giron who just got into the MTC! I will post a picture! 

There is so much love here in the MTC, and I've come to realize that it is the foundation of missionary work. It is the foundation of families. It is why we were given this beautiful opportunity to return to Heavenly Father. Because of love, we serve and learn from our mistakes in order to help those who have lost their way. Love is why the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God and then shared it with the world. I have so much love for my district and the people of Poland!

Thank-you all so much for your support and love, it has helped a lot! 

Kocham was!!

Siostra Herrera

                               

Pictures

P-day

Failed to mention that p-day is usually Thursday!

Blog

Hi!! I forgot to send the link to my blog, it is http://siostraherrera.blogspot.com/

Pictures

Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!!

Dzień Dobry, rodzina!! Siostry Gustafason, Larcade and I are now in a tripanionship (trio). We have a new investigator, Ania, who has agreed to come to church with us! We taught her about prayer, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon! I was scared at first to teach lessons entirely in Polish, but our tripanionship always prays that Ania will feel the Spirit in our lessons. 

Polish is such an amazing language! One of our teachers, Bra. Tribe, says that the Ancient Poles used an alphabet similar in apperance to Arabic until the Romans made them switch to the Latin Alphabet. Our teacher says Polish would have been a lot easier had the original script been kept. I feel so honored to have been called to a country with such rich history!

Christmas was certainly a blast at the MTC! We had Elder Nelson come speak to us about the facets of missionary work, a talent show, and Sister Nelson spoke to us about the importance of temple work. I loved what she said about how our relatives on the other side of the veil are angels. She mentioned an Elder whose father had passed. Set apart as a missionary, he could feel his father's presence as his companion. What a priviledge to help those who aren't able to help themselves! I also got to call my mom, dad, and brother! It was awesome to talk to them! 

We also have music in the spoken word and Sister Maria Luisa Torres spoke to the Sisters about her mission in Central America and how she and her husband met at a mission reunion. She didn't think he was her type when she first saw his picture, but when she met him in person, she found him very charming! Sister Torres said that the Lord doesn't look upon our appearance, but upon our hearts (1Sam16:7).  When we have pure hearts and an eye single to the glory of G-d, our purpose becomes clear. As missionaries, we continually strive to have the Spirit with us, and so those who are searching for meaning in their lilves will be open to our message about eternal families and how to reach their full potential.

My time in the MTC has not been without its trials, but I know that as I let them go and lighten my heart, the Lord will give me the strength to endure. It has only been two weeks, but I have felt the Spirit of G-d change my desire to serve with a full purpose of heart and set out to accomplish what the Lord would have me do, to live the doctrine of Christ. We must have faith that everything will be ok, despite what happens. My promise to you all is that Heavenly Father will be with you always as long as you strive to live His commandments. Pray to Him, He is your Father and wants to know how you're doing. 

May the Spirit be with you always!!

Siostra Herrera

Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!!- Happy New Year!!