4/14/14

What a week is right!! That's awesome!!! I'm so proud of Cass!!! That's so great and then everyone managed to pull off State! That's impressive as well. Ya this whole time thing is freaking me out. I can't believe cassie is gonna be a junior either....weird. And I've been out for 4 months this coming Friday!!!! We have transfer calls already this Saturday and by the end of this next transfer I'll have been out for 6 months...I just don't even know what to think hahah because the days pass by slowly sometimes but the weeks fly by! This week however was completely unique. WHAT A WEEK! Guess how many lessons SIster Ratto and I got this past week!...............................................................75..............SEVENTY -FIVE!!!!!! We made our goal of getting 75 lessons this week and it was AMAZING!!! Holy Hannah we saw the Lord's hand in our days as we worked as hard as we could and talked to as many people as we could. We saw miracles with every member that came out with us and made sure we pointed those out so that they could see that they were apart of something great and that each one of them individually are needed in the great hastening. We only had two lessons last Monday but Tuesday, TUESDAY was amazing! We got 25 lessons on Tuesday alone! Now to put that in perspective our mission has a weekly standard goal of 20 lessons....for the whole WEEK we beat that by 5 in ONE DAY!!!!! It was AMAZING!! We had 6 different people come out with us so that sister ratto and I could split up and do double time and let me tell you it made ALL the difference in having a member with us ALL the difference. We have had this goal to make this branch a ward but we noticed a lack of unity and boy oh boy this whole week and our branch fast seriously just exploded everyone's desires to go out and teach their friends and neighbors the gospel. IT WAS AMAZING. We met friends, coworkers, teachers, and neighbors. We worked from sun up to sun down and then some. But it wasn't sister Ratto and I that made this possible. No way jose! It was because of the faith of our branch members and the faith that we tried so hard to have. I've realized that there's SOOOOOO much I need to work on and Faith has been one of them but after this week I no longer have to question whether fasting is important or not. I KNOW that Heavenly Father pays special attention to the things we fast for because we're giving up something for something greater and we're practicing self control over the natural man. I didn't realize I didn't have a testimony of fasting until last week but I really fasted that we'd be able to get 75 lessons even though the most I'd ever had before in one week was like 25...ya haha with the Lord ANYTHING is possible and we have so much more potential than we realize. One of our recent converts is a boy named Ermel. He's 12 years old and Marshallese and boy is he wise! We were over at his house last Monday "Playing basketball" ...he thought it was funny to challenge me to try his super cool basketball tricks and then watch me fail miserably haha :) But when we were playing his little sister would always walk right up to the basket to make her shot. It was the same place every time cause she knew she could make the basket from right there and finally after quite a few times of her going to the exact same spot and shooting the exact same way, Ermel told her: "Why don't you try shooting somewhere else, like back there. Challenge yourself. You'll never get better if you don't." Wise wise kid. Sister Ratto and I just turned to each other with a look that's like " wow, who is this kid? the next prophet?" Hahaha it was a real eye opener to me and I can see now the potential I have as a missionary because I took a leap of faith and worked my butt off and because I did, the Lord was able to step in and help me along the way. That's the way I want to live the rest of my LIFE. not just the rest of my mission, but I want to be able to set goals for myself, and work my butt off and then have the faith in Christ to allow him to help me reach beyond my grasp. With our will aligned with the Lord's ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is possible. We saw so many miracles and we got a call from our mission president today to personally tell us that we led the mission this week in member present lessons and that we were the hardest working missionaries and that he's so proud of us!! That was AMAZING!!! Sister Ratto are getting closer and closer everyday and I'm learning to not be so prideful and this whole week has really helped me align my path with God's. That doesn't mean it's easy to be out here or that I don't have to struggle through some days, but I know that what I'm doing is making a difference and it's making my Heavenly Father proud. That's all I want, to make God proud and to show him just a little of my gratitude through serving his children. Plus! Koshama the lady with the 8 yr old daughter came to church for the first time yesterday and seemed to like it!!! Miracles! We had more people at church this week then any other week since we've been here. THis work is real. THe gospel is true and everything we do and say matters. Open your mouths and share the gospel with those you love because if you love them you'll want them to be safe and happy with their families for eternity. I'm so grateful for you mom and for my whle family. You make me stronger and you set the best examples for me. :)

Love you forever,

Sister Moreno

 

4/7/14

Ok mom I see that you have forgotten to write me....you're one and only child half way across the country. But hey! No biggy! There's always next Monday!....that is if said daughter doesn't die unexpectedly from a tornado! Hahaha alright I'm kidding, but really come on man! Just kidding! I just saw your email hahah sorry!! :) Oh my goodness!! Amy and jake and everybody got in an accident???? Are they ok???? That sounds awful!! I'll keep them all in my prayers. Good thing Heavenly Father was watching out for them. THere's angels all around us. Send my love.

So this past week has been INSANE. I thought it would never end haha! Sister Ratto and I had a deep conversation about how we've been feeling after I had a little emotional break down cause I have been super stressed and emotional due to learning two languages and feeling inadequate and what not. We had gotten into a little tussle wedensday right before we were about to go on an exchange with our sister training leader (Sister Newman...who's companion is .....SISTER LAVEA!!! AHHHHH!!! I was sooooo excited to spend all day with her!!! I love her so much! SHe's literally become one of my eternal best friends. SHe just makes me so happy. WE're hoping we'll end up serving with each other in our last transfer. Ya know start together end together? :) ) about humor. Ya. Of all the stupid things to get angry about we kinda argued about humor and how she thinks my sarcasm isn't funny and how I think her weird feddish with animals is strange but I still deal with it so she can deal with my sarcasm....ya it was not good. That is not what Jesus would've done, but we'd built up so much frustration that we just kinda exploded and so Thursday when we got back I had that break down and we talked everything through. She wants to be a marriage and family counselor and so she's been analyzing me and trying to correct my behavior patterns or something and it was driving me slightly insane and it made me feel bad so I told her that and then I have been taking over in our lessons and not letting her talk or feel like an equal so! We resolved issues and we're doing really well now! We've decided to just say things like they are and to be loving and respectful of each others opinions. SIster Ratto is really great. We're just really different in a lot of ways and we both see that haha but! WE have things in common as well so we're working through our differences and learning a lot about how to get along with and love those who are totally different from you. :) It's been a good lesson and now we're working really well together and I really do love to be around her. We are already doing better with Spanish and Marshallese! .....ok I totally just had a lesson with a lady sitting next to me HEHE which leads me into my next topic . DAH!! Too much to say and not enough time! We're doing DEEP week this week and we're trying to get 75 lessons!!!!! we had a big branch fast and all the members are getting involved so we can go on splits. we prayed for miracles and bam! Here they are left and right! We just have to open our mouths and talk to people! Plus! Sister ratto and I just had our first lesson in Spanish with a cute little Hispanic lady we tracted into yesterday! It's only been one week and we're already improving!!! I was SOOOOO excited. I'm kinda self conscious about speaking in Spanish but I was able to it well enough with sister ratto to help out a LOT and we gave her a book of Mormon and got a return appointment....somehow hahah! We've been praying for the gift of tongues and for a quickened understanding of the language and so far so great! We're starting Marshallese lessons with a recent convert of ours TODAY and we're making it a big deal. WE're trying to get as many people to come as possible. The Marshallese people are sooooo nice. THey really appreciate the fact that wer're even attempting to speak their language. They've given us some notes and phrases to practice but we'll be starting with the alphabet tonight with Joan haha! However, I am giving myself a speech impediment and I no longer no how to spell in English hahahah! Marshallese requires you to tak without using your lips and making your tongue kinda swollen and then Spanish makes you move your mouth a lot hahah so now I just blabber all over the place when I get excited haha. Just kidding it's not that bad but the speech impediment is real. Nuh uh! I refuse to get caught in that habit. I'm gonna be a speech therapist for heaven's sake! OH! And I did get your package mom! Thank you soooooo much for sending those outfits and book!!! I really REALLY appreciate it! SIster Ratto said I looked like a pioneer when wearing the green dress...but! Hahaha I think I'll pair it with my tan blazer and it'll be good! THe blue shirt is SO cute and it was on sale! Bam! You really read my mind mom. I wanted to buy a shirt just like that but haven't been able to find one ...at wal mart hahah that's the only store we have around us. But! At least we have a walmart. Oh! AND we've started serving at the Food pantry this past week! Which made me so happy! I felt like I was back home or my old me for a minute haha I love LOVE serving at food pantries and it really makes me happy. WE're also going to be starting at a doggie thrift shop...where they sell used dogs ...haha jk it's for the humane society and it's awesome! Seriving really heals the soul. ALso!!! CONFERENCE WAS AWESOME!!! Elder ballard's talks always catch my interest and it's so weird cause he's not someone I usually am just dying to hear from but it was really good. Did you notice that Oklahoma and tornados were both mentioned in three different talks Saturday? Scratch that, I forgot about districts. You'll have to watch Saturday's talks. Elder Anderson's was really good. It talks about how god has made us strong for these harder days. We are literally built to withstand more evil than other generations...cool! It was amazing to be reminded of how simple the gospel is and to hear just how important our families are and sharing the gospel is. Get a preach my gospel mom so you can really help teach with the sisters!! You are all amazing and I love you

Love sister moreno

 

 

3/31/14

3/31/14

Today at 12:15 PM

Mom!! Oh my goodness!! I have had the most incredibly insane week of my entire life. Guess what! Sister Ratto and I had a one on one meeting with Pres. Shumway because we missed a trainer meeting due to our dumb flip phone which will soon be replaced and GUESS WHAT HE TOLD US TO DO....................................................He told us we NEED to learn...........wait for it..............................SPANISH AND MARSHALLESE!!!! Let me repeat that. He told us to teach ourselves SPANISH and MARSHALLESE................MARSHALLESE AND SPANISH. Holy cow!! Who the heck does he think I am haha?? We found out on Thursday and have had at least 3 mental break downs. Do you know what Marshallese sounds like? NO! Actually you do it sounds exactly like "jndflkjaheiughja;auh;j;jg;oaigkla" . Sound familiar? AHHHHH!! THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING SIMILAR BETWEEN MARSHALLESE AND ENGLISH!!! At least Spanish is somewhat doable! We have Book of Mormons and pamphlets in Marshallese but literally it's insane. Wahhh I just wanna freak out all over the place even telling you about this but I'm in the library so I'll hold it together. Gahhhh it's CRAZY. In case training a newbee, opening an area for sisters, preparing 5 people for baptism, teaching gospel principles, finding new investigators everyday, teaching each individual by the spirit for their specific needs, and learning a bit of Spanish wasn't enough...how bout we learn Spanish and Marshallese fluently!! That should be enough right?! No, we also have to get at least 75 lessons this coming week for our zone expectations!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH.......hehuhehu breathe haha. Ok I'm done whining now. I'm actually really ecstatic to be given this opportunity because Heavenly Father has asked me to do it and so OF COURSE it's gonna work out. We've found a lot of comfort in that as we've stepped blindly into these languages. Plus! This just goes to show that the Lord really does know me and he hears and answers my prayers. I PRAYED that he'd call me to be a Spanish speaking missionary and now look!.....I just thought it would have come when I would have 6 weeks to be taught the language in the MTC like everyone else and that it wouldn't be followed with a request to learn Marshallese as well.....BUT! He does answer our prayers haha just not in the way we usually expect them. :) So, along those lines, will you please send me the picture book scripture reader things that I've had since I was like 5? I want to learn the scriptures by story so I can better relate them to people. THey should be downstairs on the book shelf next to that blue box of church pictures. If you have an extra candle that would be nice too. Haha I forgot to buy one when I was at walmart today and the current candle I have doesn't smell like anything and it comforts me to have warm scents during my freaking out/ language study hour. :) THANK YOU!! And hey! Did you try that healthy chocolate yet?? We gave the recipe to this gal that was checking us out at walmart today and she said she'd like to meet with us so yay! Girls connecting through chocolate to get closer to Christ, there's nothing more beautiful haha. :) Oh my goodness!! Another CRAZY experience from this week! So, Sis Ratto and I took one of the YW out with us the other day and we went tracting for a bit. Well, we come to this house that we had knocked on before and we knew they spoke Spanish so we're like "well no time like the present" so we knock on it and there's two girls in skirts already sitting in at her table. We're like " Hey! You guys look like missionaries haha!" And they tell us they were just about to sit down and have a bible study so I'm like :" Oh cool! Can we join you guys?" So we go in and our name tags were covered by our hair but I introduce us as Missionaries for the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they just freeze. They're like " Oh. Well, we're Jehovah's witnesses" and I'm like "Oh hey! It's nice to meet you guys" Hahaha then we proceeded to watc one of their videos on sharing and after it's done they're like "Well, lthis is a private lesson so if you would leave that would be great." Hahaha can you believe that? It was so rude but I was just like "Oh! Ya sure! We just have a quick message to share" So I proceed to struggle through the beginning of lesson one in Spanish: "Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial. Nosotros somos Sus hijos" ...and I get to the end of my knowledge haha and go into sharing a scripture in Spanish and the jw stops me and is like ould you use a scripture from the bible so I do and then she goes off on this tangent that god doesn't have a body and so I bring it back to the book of Mormon and at this point they start talking to the lady in Spanish and I don't know what the heck they're saying but I got the word "swimming" hahah I think they were telling her we were going to baptize her and she starts freaking out and the jw says "She says she'd like you to leave and not come back" We're just like" Ok! Well it was nice to meet you!" And we shake their hands and leave. AHHHHHH!!! That was SO terrifying! She was such a mean lady and she was staring me down but I was praying soo SOOO hard and it all worked out hahah I then proceeded to run down the block! AHHH COMPUTER SHUTTING DOWN love you forever!!

SIster moreno

To Me

Today at 1:27 PM

Hahahhaha I don't know what the deal is with my stinkin computers haha! SIster ratto's stays up for the whole time! SIgh, Anyway, ya they were scary and I was shaking during our whole time with them cause they wanted to bible bash and cause contention and I was like nope! Not gonna happen! So we stayed calm and friendly and kind because that's what Christ would do and I mean if we're trying to bring people closer to Christ, isn't the first commandment God gave us to Love?? Ya I'm learning. :) Haha Last couple of things, I have decided to become a bohemian afro chick. The Humidity is a commin and my hair is a puffin so I'm just gonna go with it! It's literally a curly bush that blocks sister Ratto's view haha but all is well. Also, we saw our first "Big spider" in someones couch yesterday.......yes IN someone's couch. Sister Ratto HATES spiders and I mean I'm not a fan by any means but she was about to pass out and I just held her up a little bit and told her that if she passed out the spider would probably crawl on her so...hahahah she stayed up straight! Man! I am not looking forward to the real big spiders cause that one was only about 2 inches big and they get like 4 inches big out here...bleh. :/ Freaky! Also, we have this goal for the week of the 7-13 of April to get 75 lessons as mentioned earlier and so we talked to our branch about it and the leaders are SO excited! Our branch president is AWESOME. You would never pick him as someone to be a branch president cause he talks like a skater guy and he has holes in his ears from multiple piercings and he's got tattoos hahah but he is AMAZING!! He is literally the perfect man for the job and he's so unbelievably in tune with the spirit it's incredible. :) So, we will see how the week goes. We're having a branch fast for missionary work this week so here's hoping! Also, we invited Koshama, the gal whole lost her husband and has the 8 yr old daughter and she and her mom and boyfriend all accepted!! :D That was awesome, but then we talked to her later and she wants to wait until she's learned more, which is totally fine! So we invited her to church, but she didn't come :( Her daughter did! A sister in our ward picked her up and she came with us to one of her lessons and they instantly became friends! Hallelujiah! The member is an ex smoker and Koshama smokes and when we were teaching her the Word of Wisdom she got all hostil but the sister stepped in and totally comforted her and she's fine now! :) Members are irreplaceable in lessons and in all aspects with investigators. Befriend all the investigators the missionaries have, they need you! :) Ok now it's shutting down for real hahah. Love you Ma! If it's too much to send the books that's ok. I understand :)

love sis moreno

 

 

 

 

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