Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Missionary life and its ups and downs


March 31, 2014
Hola,

This week was a little hard, and I was struggling a bit with the language and with other things. On Wednesday night I knelt and prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help me.  The very next day on Thursday we had a multi-zone conference.   The Mission President came and spoke and said everything I needed to hear at that time.  Time and time again I am reminded that Heavenly Father is looking out for me and hears and answers my prayers. 

Yesterday was another amazing Sunday.  The Familia S. (investigadores) came to church.  The Familia C. came to church again.  Hermana M came to church.  And Hermana J who hasn’t been coming to church the past couple of Sundays, also came yesterday.  To see all of these people made me so happy!  It was fast and testimony meeting and I love hearing all the testimonies of the people here.  They are so amazing. 

Also, the weather is absolutely LOCO. Within five minutes it could be raining, and then sunny, and then super windy and cold, and then back to sunny and hot.  It is so unpredictable I don’t even know what it is going to be next.  Gotta love Bolivia!
I am so grateful to be here serving these people and learning so much.  Thanks for all your support.  

Love,
Hermana Tijerino

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March 24, 2014
Everyone,
I feel so much happiness.  The start of the week was a little rough, but I just decided to keep pressing forward and I can say that our hard work has paid off.  Recently we´ve been teaching this family; Familia C., the parents are inactive and the kids aren’t members and we´ve committed their 2 kids to be baptized We have a date for them the 12th of April.  Yesterday the whole family came to church and I was so happy I thought I was going to burst.  Also Hermana M came back.  She´s this little angel that is a golden investigador, but she was moving and now we found out that she´s actually staying. I’m so excited that we can teach her and get her ready for her baptism next month as well.  

ALSO we had this other investigador at Church yesterday named M. A., and he is so interested in the church. He is so awesome because he came to church all on his own.  And let me tell you, it is so hard to get investigadores to come to church.  Anyway, yesterday I was really happy.  Also we taught the Familia S., which is a family I just love so much and we´ve been teaching them for a really long, and they finally decided to get married (because here almost no one gets married) and now we´re working toward their wedding and baptism at the end of April.  April is going to be our month!  Time and time again Heavenly Father has answered my prayers.  At the beginning of the week I was praying to be able to be happy because I was a little down, and I realize that these people are what bring me joy and I am just so happy to know these people.  And there are some members that we´ve been spending a lot of time with too, and I just love them so much.  My companion and I have been getting along well and I’m starting to be more myself.  Despite all the challenges, which are many, focusing on these people and realizing that they are all Heavenly Father´s children and being able to serve them, is the greatest joy.

Love, 

Hermana Tijerino

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March 17, 2014
Hola,

This past week was cambios, but I wasn’t transferred, which makes me so happy.  I was not ready to leave this area yet.  I love the people here so much.  Even though I didn’t get transfered, I got a calling to be a Hermana Capacitadora, which is kind of like a leader over the girls, and I think it means that I have to train a newbie in the future.  But anyway, my companion stayed too, and the other hermanas as well, which makes me really happy because we´ve all had been getting along great and I just love them.  

As my Spanish is getting better I’m able to be sassier and joke with them a bit more, and with some of the members too, so I’ve been laughing a lot this week with them.  Also I´ve been able to use my English skills to help two different families’ kids with their English homework.  I feel very special because I’m the only one in our area that speaks English.  Also this Sunday we were able to have two different inactive families come to church, so that made me really happy.  My companion and I had to give talks, and like what happened the last time I had to give a talk, when I looked into the congregation and saw these people in the sacrament meeting, all my nervousness went away. 

Anyway, things have been going well, and I’ve been able to feel the spirit a lot this week, especially in church yesterday.  I know this church is true with all my heart, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity to share the joy of the Gospel with others

Love, 

Hermana Tijerino


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NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.

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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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