Monday, May 19, 2014

I love Cinnamon Rolls

Wow, this week has been stellar!!
I love my companion so much.  She is hilarious.  And awesome.  And works super hard.  We get along really well, so we enjoy our time together. A lot. :) 
Well this week, (I think in all of Central America)  We had a family week!  Every day there was a different activity, focused in helping the family and strengthening them.  It was so lovely!!  Thursday, our ward had a Mother's Day party, and we enjoyed presentations, videos, and delicious food!  We saw many investigators there, which was SUCH a blessing!
Sunday, there was a fireside broadcasted to all of central america, featuring the area presidency.  It was beautiful.  They talked about the many different ways to strengthen the family, including daily family prayer and scripture study, Family Home Evening every week, family councils, and much more.  It was so lovely, and Tiara and Yolany are progressing so well!  They came to the fireside and loved it.  They have been and are such a tender mercy from the Lord.

So.  In case you did not know, I have rather small ears.  Well, one of the elders in our ward noticed them this week, and the entire time I was talking with him, he could not stop mentioning my ears!  It was hilarious.
This week, my testimony of fasting was strengthened.  We were talking with a return missionary a couple weeks ago, and he mentioned that he had quite a bit of success in his mission because of sacrifice.  He would fast quite often and always gives credit to fasting for his success.  Well, I decided to fast this week for a cause very dear to my heart.  Almost immediately after I finished my fast, the situation improved immensely.  In fact, this entire week, the situation has been better than I could have believed.  I know the Lord hears and answers prayers, especially when we ask with faith.
Today, we made cinnamon rolls.  They were SO delicious!!  I was on cloud nine.
So, sorry I haven't sent pictures recently... next week for sure!!  It has been crazy, and today I forgot my converter... yep.
Well, I love being here in the mission.  I learn so much.  I can feel the Lord molding me into what he wants me to be.  I cannot believe I will reach 9 months this week.  It will all be downhill from here.  I'm gonna make it count.

Love you bunches and bunches!
LOVE,
Hermana Grondel

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Happy Mother's Day!

HEyyyyyy there :)

So, it has been another week here in Puerto Cortés, and time is flying.  

Well, there are fewer things in the mission that are better then seeing the testimony of someone grow.  This week we got to see quite a bit of that.  One of our investigators, Carol, shared her powerful testimony of Christ, one I wasn't sure she had.  We also saw it in the eyes of Margie, another investigator we have.  We asked about her favorite part of what she read in the Book of Mormon, and her eyes lit up.  It was beautiful.

In other news, this week my companion and I went to do service at a member's house, and we ended up playing with their hose.  It felt so good!  We also did service at a menos activo's house, and one of their children put a baseball cap on my head.  Well, I had all my hair up in a bun, so the hat didn't exactly fit, hahaha.  When Hermana Luna saw me, she started laughing and said "I'd like 2 hamburgers, please!!"  We were dying :) 

Saturday night, we found out the son of one of our investigators passed away, by the hands of another.  Sunday, we went to visit her.  We found her with the casket.  Here in Honduras, they have the casket at someone's house for the day so people can go visit.  We sat with her for a bit and reminded her of the Plan of Salvation and tried to bring her a bit of comfort.  It was a drastic difference to the following lesson we had with two new investigators who are expecting a new baby boy.  Though we talked of the Plan of Salvation with them as well, all was different.  I am amazed at how absolutely perfect this plan of God is.  I am so grateful for my family, and that we can be eternal.

Two of our investigators, Yolany and Tiara are progressing so well!!  Yesterday, Yolany said she could only stay for an hour.  Well, when sacrament meeting was over, Tiara started crying because she didn't want to leave!!  So her mom let her stay with us.  The church  is true!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

LOVE,
hermana Grondel :)

Monday, May 5, 2014

Howdy family dear!!

This week was transfers, but I am still in Puerto with Hermana Luna!  We were jumping up and down and screaming when we found out we would still be companions.  Our neighbor thought her dog had gotten loose and that we were screaming out of fear, hahahaha :)

Wednesday, we had the chance to do some service for an investigator.  We were moving dirt to level out a piece of land where they have started building a house.  I was so excited because normally when we offer to do things like that, everyone protests, saying that it is the work of men. Well, Girls can too!

Other funny story: Friday, we were visiting some people with the elders, and we taught in the home of a less-active member.  Well, we prepared to sing a song, and Hermana Luna was trying to lend her hymnbook to one of the elders, but he was distracted.  So, Hermana Luna pretended to throw her hymnbook at him and declared "RECIBELO!!" (Receive it!!) It was hilarious.

One of our investigators is named Javier.  Javier has learned a lot about the church, but he has many doubts.  As we were teaching him this week, he presented us with a series of his doubts.  We began with his first doubt.  As we finished explaining, we testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, that all of his doubts could be answered by reading and praying about this inspired book.  I then began to address his second doubt, but he stopped me, saying he didn't need to have it explained.  He felt that his doubt wasn't important, and wanted to read and pray more.  This book changes lives.  It is my absolute favorite book.  I love many, many books, and I have read more than I can count, but none has changed my life so profoundly as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has done.  I treasure the words and experiences and testimonies that it contains, and I know it is true.  Every time I read its pages, I feel it firmly in my heart, and I cannot deny it. Together, with the Holy Bible, they contain the complete fulness of the Lord's gospel. 

Saturday, we had a powerful lesson with our investigators Yolani, Tiara y Rodolfo.  Tiara told me it was what I had said that made her believe that our message is true.  I know it is true. It is hard when people deny it, or when people who were once members have left this gospel behind for another.  It makes my heart ache to know they are rejecting eternal blessings.  But it cannot tear down my testimony.  Recently, I was listening to the General Conference talk by Elder Andersen, "Spiritual Whirlwinds".  I am so grateful for present-day apostles and prophets who lead and guide us through the whirlwinds of the devil.  I know our Savior lives.  I know His return is soon, and I know we must prepare everyday to meet Him.

Well, I sure do love you all!!!

LOVE,
Hermana Grondel :)