Sunday, May 3, 2015

My last post from Bolivia.

                                                                                                April 26, 2015

This week has been a really good week.  My companion and I have been able to take the role of the Savior and be able to be a comforter for a lot of people.  On Monday we visited an Hermana that experienced something really hard with her husband, and we were able to give her some words of comfort.  Then on Tuesday we visited Hermana B, and sadly some things had also happened with her husband, and she doesn’t want to come to church anymore. But we’re going to keep praying for her so that both her and her husband can have a change of heart.  Then we visited a new investigadora, una hermana who’s only 18 and married with a baby. Her husband is far away working and she is far from her family.  We took the opportunity to teach her about the gospel and that she is never alone because God is always with us, and we made her feel a lot better.  Wednesday we did service for a family of investigadores of the elders in our branch, and they are a super great family.  Then we’ve been visiting la Familia M. who I’ve come to love so much.  In the evening we weren’t sure who to visit, but we decided to visit some members and we shared a message with la Hermana and she thanked us so much because it touched her heart and was something that she needed at that moment. 

Thursday was an even more emotional day.  We went to visit la hermana of our pensionista who just had her baby, but of only 7 months. It was funny because first we were walking to her house.  It had rained and where they live is really hard to get to because it’s all dirt roads and it was completely muddy. It was so slippery and we were walking slowly so we wouldn’t fall. It took us so long and there is also a big hill and when we were almost there, we saw her daughter leaving. She told us that no one was home... and her mom was still in the hospital.  That evening we felt prompted to go visit her in the hospital, because the other day I found out that la Hermana D., an hermana from the other rama that I met and who I love, was interned at the hospital, so we went and saw them both.  First we saw Hermana D. who was in a serious condition of anemia I think, and we were able to talk to her for a little bit and comfort her.  Then we went looking for la hermana M. who had just had her baby, who also is an investigator. We found her sitting outside on a bench all alone and when we starting talking to her she started crying. She told us that she almost died giving birth, and that her baby was born prematurely, but that she’s ok. We also comforted her and she said that if God gave her the opportunity, she would get baptized.  We both felt the spirit so strong, and we’re hoping that she will be able to get baptized.  We also had a really powerful lesson with an hermana that we’ve been getting to know and she said she wants to get baptized.   We found out after that she doesn’t live on our area, but we’re still really happy for her.  
Anyway the main highlight of this week was that we as la obra misional put on un noche de talentos in our branch, and it was super fun.  We were busy getting everything ready on Saturday and it turned out really well.  My companion and I sang a song.  We both love to sing and we had practiced all week. It’s a really pretty song, I think it’s from the Young Women’s, but it’s in Spanish.  We sang and it turned out really well, and I’m really surprised with myself that I did something that I would have never done before.  Anyway, that’s a little bit of what has been going on this past week.  This week will be my last week in Cobija and I think next Monday I will be flying to Santa Cruz, because then next Friday I will be coming home.  I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions, mostly sad because I don’t want to leave, but grateful for all the things I’ve been able to experience and also happy for the work I’ve done.  I also am so grateful for my companion because I love her so much as if she were my own sister. I love her and these people so much and I will try to take advantage of every moment I have this week to be with these people I love, until I’ll be able to be home with my family and friends that I love as well.  
Thanks for everything, con amor, Hermana Tijerino

Also I wanted to say that I am so happy for the la familia M. because now they are coming to church every week and yesterday the brother of D. was able to repartir la santa cena for the first time, and it made us so happy.  This family is so special to me and I love them so much.  Also we’ve been working really hard with a less active hermano to get him to come to church and I said to my companion that I didn’t want to leave here until I saw him at church and yesterday he came to church! So that also was a little miracle for me.  Anyway that’s all.  Les quiero mucho! 





Create Eternal Families, that is what we do...

                                                                                                April 20, 2015



This week was super good! First of all I am feeling a lot better. I’m not sick anymore and things are going really well.  We went to Santa Cruz this week for a multizone conference and Elder Waddell of the Seventy came and we had a super good conference and a great time in Santa Cruz.  We got there Thursday afternoon and I was able to visit mi pensionista from my area in Belen, which was really nice.  Then on Friday we had the conference from 7 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon.  It was very inspiring and among all of the things I learned, one thing I want to share is that the purpose of the priesthood and the purpose of missionary work and what we do is to CREATE ETERNAL FAMILIES.  Everything leads to going to the temple and creating eternal familias.  I love that. 

Afterward we went to my first area Jardin and I was able to visit all of the conversos! Hermana J., Hermana M. y Hermano K. y toda su familia y la Hermana M. It made me so happy to see everyone and crazy to see how much they changed and to remember the love that I feel for them.  It was so hard to say goodbye but I am glad that I had the opportunity to see them one last time.  Saturday morning we came back and it’s also good to be back in Cobija.  I would love to tell you more but I’m out of time.  But I want to let you all know that I am so happy and grateful for so many things.  I’m grateful for temples and for the priesthood and for missionary work and for eternal families.  I’m so grateful for my mission and for all of the people I’ve met and for the converts I’ve had, and for the conversion I’ve been able to feel in my life.  I’m so grateful for the gospel and I know it’s true.  I’m happy that I’m going to be able to come home soon and see all of you.  I can’t believe that I only have a few weeks left and I know it’s going to be so hard to leave, but again, I am happy and I am grateful.
  
Love, Hermana Tijerino




Sunday, April 19, 2015

Rain and Cold, but a great week!

Hola hola!                                                                               April 13, 2015.

Last Monday it rained and for the first time in Cobija it was cold. Like really FRIO. We didn't have any sweaters or coats or anything, and because of that my companion and I both got sick with the flu/cold. I think because it’s my last transfer I’m just getting every sickness possible. This week we've both been sick and it hasn't been fun, but the positive side is that we had the baptism of D. M.  It’s been so special to see how much the family has progressed and now all the family is coming to church. Before just the kids were coming and not the parents, but they are all coming and they were so grateful to have their last son be baptized. D. was so happy, and his dad was able to baptize him so that was so special. My companion and I were both so happy.  Pretty much that’s all I have to say of this week.  
This coming week a seventy will be coming to Santa Cruz for a conference/training, so our whole zone will be flying to Santa Cruz on Thursday and we’ll have the conference on Friday and then we’ll come back on Saturday, so that should be really fun.  Anyway, I’ll let you know how that all goes.  My companion and I both received blessings from the zone leaders, who are so great and helped us get everything ready for the baptism, and we’re both feeling better.  I’m so grateful for the priesthood and for my companion.  The thing I love about my companion is that no matter what, we can always find something to laugh about. I love her so much.  
I love this gospel and I love Cobija and everyone I've met in my mission and I love my Savior with all my heart.


Con amor, 

Hermana Tijerino



General Conference weekend was great!

Hola hola                                                                                             April 6, 2015.

Just to be honest I completely forgot yesterday was Easter, but anyway Happy Easter! This week was a little rough because I've been sick, but it ended up being a good weekend because it was General Conference!
This week we've been visiting with our two investigadores that are progressing the most; D. y B.  D. is 9, and his family is less active, but they are coming to church again. We've been teaching D. and getting him ready for his baptism which will be this Saturday, so we’re excited for him and mas que todo my companion and I just love his family.  D. and his brother and sisters and his parents are all so great. They came to General Conference yesterday so that made us happy. Since he’s a niƱo, after every time we teach, we play games with them and it’s so fun. We've also been visiting Hermana B, who I love so much. This week she asked me when I was going home and I told her in May and said softly no se vaya, which just broke my heart because I don’t want to leave either, because I want to see her get baptized, but we just have to convince her husband to get married… so we’ll see how that goes.  And we've been visiting other new investigadores we have and conversos y menos activos, but we haven’t been able to teach a lot of people because I've been sick.  
I loved all the messages in Conference.  I love everything they said about Christ and his atonement, and also about the family and having an eternal perspective.  I am so grateful for my Savior and for the sacrifice he made for us so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father, and so we can be eternal families.  I also really liked the talk by David Bednar about how we can overcome fear and trust in the Lord by turning to Christ, establishing our foundation on Him and continuing forward with faith.  Well it was something like that, I was listening to it in Spanish.  Anyway it was all really good and I hope you all were able to listen and learn more about our Savior and also about the plan of salvation and how it is amazing everything God has prepared for us.  
The days are going by fast and I’m so grateful for all my blessings and for my mission and for everything I've learned and for my testimony.  If you haven’t watched it yet, watch the Mormon message video “Because He Lives”.

Con amor, 

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 - 2015. 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.


Staying in Cobija!

Hola!                                                                                                          March 30, 2015.
                      
So this week went by really fast.  I was super nervous the few days before los cambios, because I really didn't want to have to leave this area.  On Wednesday, just in case, I went ahead and took pictures with everyone and I wrote a few notes for the people I love. I also finally achieved my dream of riding on a moto! (Don’t worry it’s allowed and it was with the president of Relief Society and she is the best). Then we got the calls that night for los cambios and.... I’m staying! I’ll be finishing my mission here en el hermoso pueblo de Cobija! I’m so happy. Also it has finally hit me that this is my last transfer, so I’m a little sad because I don’t want to leave here.  I love the people so much and I also love my companion.  She is so great.  We are always talking and laughing and singing and it’s the best.  I’m really happy to stay here my last transfer.  But pretty much all of the elders in our zone got changed, so it’s really different, but hopefully it will still be cool.  Yesterday we didn't have church because it was Election Day here in Bolivia, so we were stuck inside the house and it was so boring.  It made me realize how lucky we are each day to leave the house and preach the gospel of Christ to these amazing people.  And I am so excited for General Conference this coming weekend.  That’s all I have time for. Love you all.

Con amor, 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 - 2015. 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.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Goooool! from Jenny!

March 23, 2015

Hola,

This week was super good.  Starting off with Monday, we played futbol after not having played for a while. It was super fun and I made a goal! Also today we played futbol in the morning and I made two goals, so I am improving.  Man I am going to miss this zone, because all the elders are so great and because we are so far away from everyone else, we are super united and I love it.  During the week we’ve been visiting a lot of people and having lots of lessons.  It was the birthday of Hermana B. on Tuesday. We went with la Presidenta de la Sociedad de Socorro, and another hermana who is friends with hermana B., and we brought a cake and surprised her. She was super happy.  We also had a super good lesson with her yesterday with el Presidente de la rama y su esposa. Her husband was there for the first time! We talked about the family and the importance of marriage. We encouraged them to get married, because that is the only thing that is impeding Hermana B. from getting baptized.  It went really well and they said they are going to talk and pray about it.  Please pray for them so they can make the decision to get married! We’ve also been visiting la familia M., and we have the baptism for el hijo menor D.  We’ve been trying to help the family come back to church, and they all came to church yesterday, so that made us really happy.  We also are visiting a hermana who is less active and recently opened up a salon in our area, so today we are going to go and she’s going to give us facials.  We’ve also been visiting an hermana converso, Hermana D., who is super poderosa, and it’s gracias a ella that we found Hermana B.  The work is going really well and I LOVE these people.
With the cambios coming up, I am scared that I will leave, but I really hope not.  I only have one transfer left and I hope I can finish my mission here in Cobija, but I will go where the Lord wants me to be.  Yesterday we had our Conferencia de Distrito, for all the members in Cobija. It was super good and I learned a lot.  It was all focused on the family and on the husband and wife and how much the husband needs to love and respect his wife and how much he needs to express his love to his wife.  They talked about how we need to establish our homes on the foundation and rock of Christ, (Helaman 5:12), and also how we need to prepare ourselves as families for eternal life.  Finally they talked about how Satan works with us and how sometimes he doesn’t tell us not to do the right thing, but sometimes he says we can do the right thing, tomorrow.  But we know that tomorrow never comes.  We need to decide to be righteous today.  Anyway, it was super powerful.  Also I got to see all the members from the Rama Cobija that I got to know when I was in the Rama, and I love them all so much.  There are so many people here in Cobija that I’ve come to love and I know it’s going to be hard to leave.  But I am so grateful for the time the Lord has given me to serve his children here.  My companion and I are doing really well and I love her so much and I hope I can finish my mission with her.  I only have one more transfer left and the time is going by so fast. It scares me that I don’t have much time left, but I’m going to keep working as hard as I can to help others come unto Christ.  
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.  Also I received a Valentine’s Day card from the Young Women I think. 
Thank you so much! Love you all,

Con amor, 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 - 2015. 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.

This crazy tropical weather

March 16, 2015.

Hola,

This week was a pretty good normal week.  But I felt like it went by super fast!  And I’ve come to the conclusion that the weather here in Cobija is LOCO, or maybe just bipolar.  It goes from being super super hot to pouring rain in a matter of seconds.  It will be super hot all morning and then it will rain in the afternoon and then it will go back to super hot, and it’s just crazy!  But other than that, things are good here in Cobija.  I love it and I hope I can finish my mission here.  I only have about less than two months left!  It’s so hard to believe that the time has gone by so rapido.
On Monday we had a noche de hogar with Hermana S. and her family, who are recent converts, and they are really great.  We drank jugo de coco, the juice that comes straight from the coconut, and it was really gross.  But then she made a drink from the fruit of the coco and it was really good.  On Tuesday we visited Hermana B., and she is doing really well and progressing a lot. We’re just praying that her esposo can listen to us too.  Then we had a noche de hogar with la familia V., and it was super good.  On Wednesday we visited a converso named Deydi, and she is the best.  That night we went to visit la familia M. We have a baptism planned for their son who is about to turn 9 and hasn’t been baptized yet, because his parents are less active.  We had a really good lesson with them, but then it started to rain really hard.  Where they live it’s all dirt roads and hills so they gave us their ponchos and their flashlight because it’s also really dark in this area.  We walked home sliding all over the place in the mud and trying to light our dim pathway with this flashlight, and it was really funny.  On Thursday we had a really good district meeting, and we visited the family that had to evacuate their home and that we helped move into the church building. They are still there because their house isn’t safe to live in.  They have 3 kids, and I love them so much.  That afternoon we visited an Hermana from la rama Cobija who just had a baby. She has such a powerful testimony and is such an amazing example to me of someone who is truly converted to the gospel.  The weekend was pretty good as well.  
On Saturday we had our English class that we taught in la capilla, and noche de hermanamiento which was pretty fun.  Yesterday we went to go pick up Hermana B. to go to church and as we were walking it starting pouring rain out of nowhere. We had to wait a little until it calmed down, and then we kept walking until we made it to church.  Not a lot of people came because of the rain.  It really just goes to show that the people who have a testimony and who are faithful and strong will come to church no matter the circumstances.  I love this gospel so much and I love these people de Cobija.  And I also love my companion so much. We talk so much and have so much fun and we are learning a lot from one another and I honestly love being with her.  Anyway, that’s all I have for now. 

Con mucho amor, 
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 - 2015. 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.