10-6-14 Where will you be ...?

Dear family!

What an edifying week. We had the chance to attend General Conference and listen to the prophets and apostles of God. Every conference, there are themes that stand out to me. Something I heard testified over and over was that there IS an absolute truth in the world, and that the best way to discover this truth is asking it of God.

I also loved a talk, given in portuguese, about how essential it is that we have a vision of the future consequences of our actions. I have been carefully pondering future decisions I will have to make (regarding career, family, etc.), and it is of great comfort to me that these questions I have are important to God and that He is willing to guide me. What a great blessing, having the most powerful and wise being in the universe willing to listen to our trials, pleas, and requests! He answers us and He will do it in his own time.

The work continues along. We're always working to change small things in the way we teach, in the way we find (especially that we're focusing on and praying to find the prepared people), and the way we work with the members. At some points in my mission, I've become complacent with what I'm doing, or started to think "This is too hard" or "I don't know what more I can do."

But as I have changed this attitude to one of faith, that I can do things differently and better, I've felt specific guidance (through the words of church talks, conference talks, impressions, and scripture study) about what I can change. And with these changes and new ideas have started to come so many miracles. People that come to church or commit to baptism in the first lesson. People that want to find the truth. Members giving us references of their friends and family. It's always work, but it's filled with faith and hope now.

In the end of this letter, I'd like to share a question of introspection that was posed in Conference, that has been really making me think. Where will you be in 20 years if you continue in the course you are currently on? In 50 years? In the eternities? What small changes do you need to make? We aren't here to stay the same. We're here to change and to grow, and if we don't do it ourselves, God will help us (usually by putting trials in our lives).

Have a great week! I love you tons. Your daughter/sister/friend,
Hermana Romero

9-29-14 Jefferson's Baptism

Dearest family and friends!

It's been another excellent week. We have a couple themes of the mission: looking for people that are prepared and willing to make changes in their lives, and testifying of the temple and how families can be together forever. We've recently started sharing Matthew 16:19 with people in the first lesson (where we teach about the church of Christ in the time of Christ and how it's been restored), and testifying that this is the power to seal families together that has been restored.

We had a super awesome experience with a new investigator just yesterday, where he said that he really wanted to be with his family forever, and we told him he could, through the priesthood power. One of the greatest promises we can make to people. That, and the forgiveness of their sins and mistakes. The Gospel doesn't take away our problems, but it gives us strength during them.

I feel a great happiness in the service of the Lord. We were blessed to see the baptism of Jefferson this week (son of a less active sister that, at the request of the bishop, we've been teaching)

and to visit the temple.

I have had so many experiences with personal revelation this week, looking for answers to personal questions and challenges of my area. I wish I could share all of them with you - How I got my answer, how I felt that God was conscious of every single one of my concerns and challenges! But suffice it to say that I know that God has been listening and answering my prayers. I know that he has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us in the right path.

Have an awesome week! muchismo love,
Hermana Romero

So this little 9 year old just got baptized in our ward, and he and his little cousin and little sister want to be missionaries. Awww. Just wanted to send y'all the cutest photo ever to brighten up your week. :)

9-22-14 Still in Roosevelt! ...with my new companion!

Dear Famsauce!

What a wonderful week as always. I feel like the Lord is helping me change in so many ways that I need to change. I feel happier and more satisfied with my work...and I had a great birthday, thanks to you guys (LOVED the birthday package! I've been repassing the notes from everyone and the photos this whole week), my wonderful new companion Hermana Fuentes, and the wonderful members.

Rundown of the birthday day: we had a missionary meeting, and everyone sang to me afterward. The zone leaders gave me Books of Mormon

and the other elders in my district gave me a machete...

haha just kidding, they only pretended to.





Then we taught a 9 year old boy who is getting baptized next week (his family is less active, and have started coming to church again, and their son is Soo excited to get baptized. He wants to be a missionary and bless the people. Awww so cute!), and his family gave me a cake.

Awww. Hermana Fuentes gave me earrings. Awww. And in the evening, we ordered pizza delivery, my treat. Such a great day!

Pizza and new earrings  - how much better can a birthday get!

Other great news of the week...I got sick and my feet started swelling up. No wait, that's not the good news. The good news is I got a priesthood blessing. I started to feel frustrated because it wasn't working right away, but I realized I needed to have faith in order to be healed. So I said a silent prayer that if it was the Lord's will that I keep walking, that I would accept his will and keep walking, but that if he wanted me to rest, I would go home and rest. Since my companion is new and doesn't know the area, I decided to try to do what I can...and after about an hour of my feet hurting real bad, suddenly the pain went away!

In spite of the pain in my feet, I was grateful to know that Heavenly Father had listened to my prayers and to KNOW for the first time in my life that the Lord really has restored his priesthood power...the same power Jesus had to work miracles. I love to testify of the Restored Gospel and to help people make changes in their lives that allow them to feel the love of God in their lives. There is nothing else I'd rather be doing right now. I hope you all have the chance to feel that your Heavenly Father is pleased with what you're doing.

Love,
Hermana Romero

PS If you can please include Brenda's (investigator) daughter Ashley in your prayers. She's been in the hospital for about five days and we haven't heard what's wrong with her and she's only two years old. Thank you for all your love and support. I can feel it from here.

9-16-14 Deported! [this came a day late - on Tuesday]

If you're all wondering why I didn't write this week, and why my letter is so short, it's because...I got deported to Panama! I just wanted to wish everyone a happy week. Life is good, and transfers are this week, so we'll see where I am next week.

Love,
Hermana Romero

                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[then about fifteen minutes later:]

Oh and don't worry, it's completely normal. If you don't get your residency visa, you have to leave the country... Since my temporary visa expired about 6 months ago, I had been expecting that something like this might happen. I flew to Panama yesterday, had a two hour tour of the country and then flew back. Today was a normal day of missionary work.

9-8-14 One year of being a missionary!

Dear Family,

A bit crazy and a lot of fun as always in the mission! This week has been soo rainy! But it always rains right before the end of the day, so we can just go home and change instead of having to keep visiting and while being soaked (we have umbrellas...but not that they do much good). The other great news of the week is that we have a cook! She is an investigator and the sister of a member (suggestion of the member because she thinks it will help us gain more confidence with her).

This week, I celebrated one year of being a missionary! Crazy how time flies, right? I wish I could say I have some cool insight or cool experience, but more than anything I've just been working hard to dedicate this time to finding and teaching and helping people change their lives and come unto Christ. This is my purpose as a missionary, and it hasn't changed in my time here...just my understanding and dedication to completing this purpose have increased.

I love you all and wish you a great week!
Hermana Romero

9-1-14 A woman came to the door ... and screamed!

Dear Family,

Life is really good in Roosevelt. I looove being with Hermana Herrera because she is so obedient and focused, and she is helping me be a better person and missionary. (And we have fun together but maintain the balance of working hard, which I love). With the two of us giving all we've got, I feel like we're seeing a ton of miracles.

For instance, remember how I told you last week about a woman who, in spite of that her sister had been a faithful member for 10 years, had never attended church? Well this week she came! and, even better, she liked it! When I see things like this in the mission, it reminds me that it's not my work, but the Lord's. He prepares people, and we just have to be in the right place in the right time. (See attached...Me, my comanion, two members, and a nonmember).

 

Funny story: Saturday, we went to contact a reference, and we knocked on the door and shouted a greeting. We were waiting and waiting for someone to answer because they were obviously home, and a woman came to the door...she hadn't heard us knock, so she screamed! After we explained who we are, we all had a good laugh, and they told us they're Evangelicals so...we ended up not teaching them. But it was a great moment hahaha.

I love you so much! I love being a missionary, and I love that the Lord is helping me be a more selfless and humble person. Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Romero

8-25-14 A child's prayer

Dear family,

From what I hear from Mom, Dad, and Pete, you are all pretty busy enjoying the last little bit of summer. Winter in El Salvador is basically like summer over there...It's still been raining a lot (and the rain shoes I bought in the market for $3 have been really useful!) and it's hot like always. But I really love the ward (even though the work is always full of so many challenges) and it's such a blessing to help other people change their lives and come closer to God.

Cute story of the week: We went to visit a member family, and asked their teenage daughter to pray. Well their 5 year old nephew was visiting, and he's used to giving the prayer in the sense that he repeats after someone else. So while she was praying, he started repeating everything she was saying!! He was getting about 2 out of every 10 words ("....Jesucristo....familia...la salud") so she slowed down and made her prayer simpler so he could follow along. It ended up being really cute, but I was laughing silently during the prayer.

Cool moment of the week: we stopped by to visit a member Lea, who always attends church and leaves to visit with us but this week didn't show up. Turns out she was sick (and since her calling is in the Primary, didn't want to infect the kiddos). The cool thing is we just started talking to her sister (who isn't a member, and herself admitted that she never felt a desire to learn about the church) and during the conversation, she explained a few of her doubts and then volunteered herself to go to church. We just sat there and listened. I guess that's one of the keys to missionary work, is that people will tell you what they need if you listen. I really hope she keeps this promise...I know that Lea wants so badly to see her whole family together in the Gospel, and it's one of my greatest desires as well. I love this family a ton.

I love having Hermana Herrera as my companion. She is pretty hilarious and a great missionary. I feel like, together, we are being guided by the spirit to the people that are prepared, and to the people that NEED our message. There are so many less active members in this ward that need to feel the Savior's love and the peace of his forgiveness. There are nonmembers who don't know what they don't have. The Gospel is the cure to so many of life's problems (and when it doesn't solve our problems, it gives a peace of mind, an eternal perspective, and the strength to confront them), and we're just helping people to recognize that.

I love you all!
Hermana Romero

PS. Photos from last week's baptism. Jason is a miracle. One day I have to tell you a story about how we found and taught him...and hopefully by then, his sister and mother will have gotten baptized as well. :)