Life Up Your Heads !

Okay, so flip, I am loving life!  This email/week will be short despite all that has happened.  First off, I am a Sister Training Leader (Elder Wing who just returned from Paraguay said it's basically the AP for girls).  My job is pretty much to look over all the 42 sisters in the mission.  We go on divisions with each companionship, get to know them, help them, love them, and set goals with them.  I am super stoked because that means I/we get to travel a lot, so I will get to know a ton of areas.  I trained all the trainers last week with Sister Wood and got to see them all get their knew comps.  So exciting and so fun to watch all the newbies come in. It feels like yesterday that I was them, not understanding a lick of Spanish. 

So the knew area is great.  Mom and Dad you should just stop worrying about me, if you ever were or are.(yes)  I´m living in richville, well, compared to Loma actually and even compared to a lot of parts in the U.S.  There are tons of mansions.  I´m pretty sure every house in our area has air conditioning.  It does make it a little tough to find people... they aren´t as willing to listen, but it is a way fun area.  I feel like I am in downtown old Phoenix walking around.  HUGE beautiful houses with giant trees, like sky scrapers.  I wonder how old they are.  The ward is awesome as well.  We only get an assistance of 65-75 every Sunday but good news is we got a ton of stellar members (new and long time) willing to come track with us.  Right now we are mainly getting to know the members.  I believe Kenzie Freeman´s sister is in Hna Wood´s old ward in Mburucuya who meet in our same building.  Our building is so nice it has cushioned benches to sit on.  Primary program was Sunday, so cute.  I am in love with the Bishop´s daughter, Jade (sounds like Hady).  She looks like a little latino Greta (our cousin).  Our bishop is absolutely hilarious.  The ward literally feels like family already.  There are tons of people who remind me of people already, AND tons speak English.  So fun.

There are tons of huge and flying cockroaches where we live but it´s all good, it doesn´t bother me too much. The house is quaint.  I almost feel like I am in Greece because our walls are all white and the neighbors (dueños) play their Italian music.   It´s fun being in this area.  We are in the President´s ward and Hna Fuller´s (mission nurse) ward.  We had lunch at her house yesterday and she is so sweet to always include us, because really this is the office elder´s area but they are sharing it with us, because they don´t have full time missionaries. They work from 4:30 until night time but now we´re here and we´re working 24/7!   

It is hard being pulled away from your first area, I have to admit.  Yesterday Familia Adorno walked into our ward building because they came for the primary program of the other ward (they have family there).  I instantly started to cry!!  OH I will miss Loma so much.  The saddest part is that I 

didn´t get to say goodbye to anyone really but all is well.  I read a stellar scripture yesterday in Alma 8:15.   ¨ Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivest thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that ^delivered it unto you.¨   Lift up your heads and look.  The Lord is always blessing us.  He is so merciful.  He loves us so much. I find his love in one´s smile, the huge trees, fresh cold watermelon, manzanites (like cherries here), and my awesome comp.  I am reading so much of the Book of Mormon everyday!  More than I ever have and learning so much.  Well I´m off.  Wish me luck on this new journey.  ¨Lift up your head(s) and rejoice!"  LOVE you all so so much!! ROHAYHU!!

xoxox

Con Cariño,

Hermana Owen

Oh P.S.  what made me laugh... we were contacting.  Había una gate that was open so Hermana Wood walks up and says, ¨Shut the gate, and ring the bell.¨ in a casual routine manner (if that makes sense) and then flip flip I ´m shoutin ¨Don´t shut the gate Don´t shut the gate!!!¨ As it starts falling over on us! hahaha...  Luckly it didn´t fall all the way over.  We were all good.  There are gonna be lot´s of fun stories from this area i can already tell.  Well that´s all folks.  And we´re out.

My new district

Making yummy dinner and dessert with Hermana Wood

Celia's Baptism - a glorious day !!!!!

My favorite picture even though it's blurry, 
I just love little Emma, we were laughing so hard and she was so squirmy 

Saying goodbye to my Hermanas

Saying Goodbye to Celia and the girls.  I will miss them so much.  Kristchian is in Japan

The big frogs everywhere.   They are as big as my hand 

The morning I said goodbye to Hermana Silva.  Tears !!

I am TRUE RED NECK now !

Hermana Wood and I out tracting in our new area

Celia's baptism day again - All Clean

Dessert at our Thanksgiving feast and birthday party for me.  They made me key lime pie (cake) Yum

Hermana Wood and I tracting again.  Hermana Fuller (nurse) lives near and came out to say hi.
We clap instead of knock. 

ME VOY !!!

13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.

Found this scripture this week when I was a little down about my numbers and what not. Sometimes we just find ourselves in a gutter and don´t know how to get out. Everyone should read ¨After All We Can Do¨ by Robbie Pierce.  The Lord always has his arms out stretched to us even when we are blind to the fact.  I was reminded of a simple truth this past week when I received a letter from a friend.  In it he stated that ¨my walk with God...is...¨  I was touched.  What an outlook, for all of us to adapt to our lives, right.  Our Savior is always with us, we have to look to him and remember him.   

This week a crazy storm hit and we had to run and take cover for 20 minutes or so until the crazy part past. You literally couldn´t hear anything and the rain was just pounding.  Hna Silva and I were only out in it for a few minutes running from a house of an investigator and taking cover in a near by dispensia.  Anyway later that evening I was freezing.   We were contacting and I was thinking ¨why, why ,why??..¨ No one would let us in, it was freezing, there was wind, and we were soaking.  uh.  But then I remembered... to look up.  I forgot to ask ¨what?¨ :)  What can I learn from this... what a fun story to tell my kids when I am older.   Then to top things off with a cherry… Celia and Kristhian got their car back so they can drive us around and are always more than willing to and practically jumped for joy when we asked them to accompany us to visit with some investigators.  We visited familia Reyes.  Ramona, the mother, almost has an answer.  She is praying so hard and came to church yesterday.  I love them so much.  With the knowledge of the plan of salvation it has helped and comforted them so much.  Testimonies of Celia and Kristhian were just off the charts. Oh, absolutely PERFECT!!!  We passed by Kristhian and Celia in a momento dificil just like familia Reyes and they bore testimony to what a blessing we and this message has been to them.  This was Friday and Celia was blowing me away.  Her testimony is rock solid... should have heard her at her baptism.  Oh amazing.  She said I have never been more sure that this IS the camino Dios preparo por todos. It is so true.  This is the path our Lord prepared for EVERYONE of us since the beginning.

Speaking of the baptism, oh it was incredible. Kristhian received the priesthood yesterday morning and had the opportunity to baptize Celia.  Today early in the morning he left on a 3 week vacation to Japan.  Incredible how the Lord works.  His time table is perfect.  Celia couldn´t have been happier.  Her girls were so cute as well.  Jazmin was the happiest I have seen.  Precious little moment:  As Kristhian and Celia were waiting Jazmin and I walked over to look at the font.  She took my hand and I looked down at her... she wore the biggest smile and gave me a big hug telling me how excited she is for the day her dad will baptized her.  :)  I will never forget the day my dad baptized me.  A moment unforgetable and I will always remember the peaceful feeling that just flooded over me.  Jazmin turns 8 the 21 de Febrero.

OH SUPER EXCITING NEWS... TWO THINGS...

#1:  Asistencia en la Iglesia ayer: 170 personas!!!

#2:  ME VOY!!!!  Serious. I will be all tears the next few days leaving my dearest Loma Pyta and my dearest hija Hermana Silva. Oh I want to cry… I won´t be spending my birthday or Christmas in Loma!!!  I am going to miss everyone so flippin much.  And just when I felt like I knew everyone so well. Loma is my home!  I will have spent almost 6 meses aquí.   Soooo... want to hear where I am going ??  :)

Campo Grande!! It is behind the Caballería in Loma, so practically neighbors. Happy I am not headed too far.   PLUS, para que sepan.... I will be companions with Hermana WOOD!!! She is currently a Sister Training Leader and her comp leaves Thursday, which means... Hermana Owen (me :) will be... the new Sister Training Leader!!!  Ya I am kinda freakin out as well but super stoked. Super sad to leave Celia. Haven´t told anyone yet and I don´t know what to do cuz I have one day to say goodbye to everyone!! Oh I want to cry!!!   All is well, all is well.

Forgot to mention a stellar part of the baptism ayer... Hermana Pelicó, Hermana Vasquez, Hermana Silva, y yo cantamos, ¨I am a Child of God,¨ First verse in Spanish, second in English, and third is GUARANI!  I am in love with guarani!! I am learning a ton but don´t worry focusing on the Spanish.  The book of mormon goal is coming mas o menos.  I am striving.  I wish you all a fabulous week.  

XOXO

Con mucho Cariño y un beso (like Celia always says over the phone), 

Hermana Owen 

P.S.  Pday was super fun... fuimos para montar bicicletas en el Botanico (it´s like a forest/garden/zoo)  and oh my life it was absolutely amazing!! Giant trees, covered in vines, and bright orange flowers blossoming, as clouds passed over and the breeze just ran against my face.  Oh I really needed that.  This work is exhausting sometimes. But  I love it.  RO HAY HU! (I love you in guarani)

this wasw our fun pday,  it was a BLAST!! biked through THE most beautiful place!!! oh HUGE great Botanica se llama with GIGANTIC trees covered in moss
and blooming flowers, tons of clouds and breeze so fun!!

haha puede ver how bad i was sweating my arms were dripping and my face yuck

Listen With Love

Today is beautiful.  We had a chill p-day; i wrote two letters! haha two.  ya.  Anyway this week was great.   My numbers aren´t as great as they use to be but I am striving.  Hna Silva and I enjoy every second together and set awesome goals every week to help.  Exciting news I ran every day this passed week and I have never felt better!  

Tomorrow we get to see Elder D. Todd Christofferson!!  Super super excited.  I did a special fast and have been preparing some questions.  It will be awesome.  

I am listening to Music with a Message as I type this and I think I have a new favorite church song. Holy amazing!!! It is ¨He Hears Me¨?? By somebody Osborn.  So So so amazing!!! 

This week we had a neat experience... We were out walking in the streets late one night and all we needed was one more lesson with an investigator with a member present, yet this particular member family kept popping into my head. I was torn.  But we seriously weren't around any of our investigators... well those who we were close to couldn´t meet with us, so we went to the Culman Family´s house (a member family).  They are a darling little family and absolutely awsome but lately have been skipping out on the first two meetings... coming only for sacrament.  So we showed up and had an awesome lesson.  We started with doctrine and they literally just started opening up to us.  The reason they haven´t been as strong lately is because they can´t feel the spirit when a certain member in the bishopric is conducting, because his spanish isn´t too good and he´s not formal?  (I guess you could say)   I just wanted him to see past that.   So I shared my experience of arriving in the mission and seriously not being able to understand but two words in a lesson.  I felt disqualified and there was no spirit to be felt because I had no clue what we were talking about.  Then I related that I had been reading a talk where we must learn to ¨listen with love¨!  Hno Culman had been talking like the whole time just complaining slash telling us why it bugs them and that they have done ¨everything¨ possible to help him but nothing is changing.  Often times it is ¨us¨ who need to change.  Sometimes - all the time, right?  we should be looking inwardly not outwardly.    He looked up at me in silence after i said that and he said, you know i need to try that.  "listen with love".  He looked down at the ground a little humbled by the thought.  Quiero testificar cuando escuchamos con amor (I want to testify that when we listen with love) we really understand a lot more and it´s because of the spirit, we are happier about our work, and find joy in what the Lord has called us to do and doing his will.  I love you all dearly. Sorry this week was a lil rushed. xoxo

Con Cariño,

Hill Hna Owen

p.s. still small voice by mindy gledhill - it is so fun!!!  

--

"We become what we want to be, by consistently being what we want to become."                 -Richard G. Scott

Hermana Owen y Hermana Silva

                   

Hermana Owen y Hermana Silva

El Libre de Mormon in the morning

Service Project with our Zone

Pizza and cookies con Ruiz Dias Familia

Hair Cuts :) 

ZAPOS

WEEK 28

        What a week.   First off, Hna Silva and I were blown away with how many menos activos we found.  Seriously, we contacted like 6 or more in one single day!  It´s crazy to think that there are in reality a little over 600 member here in this ward but only 200 mas o menos that are active.  One group will be in church one week and another the other.  We usually get an average of 100 members that come every week.  BUT... this week... guess what?  our asistencia was…!?  140!!!  No lie.  My heart was so full.  Plus it was fast and testimony meeting.  We had tons of less actives come!!   18 to be exact.   Pelusa Vasquez, this cute 21 year old who we have recently been visiting and she was like pumped to come back.  Then we had Flia Pavón come again.  Bishop announced, I believe, 5 or 6 of the young men in our ward who are preparing for missions.  Made me cry because three in particular I have been praying for and we have been visiting/talking to them about the mission.  One of them, Miguel Britos, got baptized within the last year.  He bore his testimony, along with Alejandro Rivarola, and Luis Zabala.  The entire familia Almirón got up and bore their testimonies. They are such a solid family and it was so awesome.

        They (flia almirón) gave us sombreros cuz, HOLY cow, the sun is coming out.  I have never sweated like this in my life.  You seriously are wet 24/7 - bleh.  And it´s not just sticky wet it´s like dripping!  haha - but hey it rained twice this week so it cooled down.  Wednesday it poured like no other and we were walking home from a service project that we were doing with our zone near our area.  Everything was dripping.  We came home quickly changed and left the house again with rain jackets, boots, and umbrellas to find the sun had come out.  I wanted to get a picture of the streets but didn´t get a chance to cuz it was pouring too hard.  They were literally like rivers and running super fast. 

         Oh exciting news... saw my first ZAPO!!! Frog -  I haven´t looked it up in the dictionary yet, but there are Zapos and Ranas.  The big ones are called Zapos. It was in the street when we were contacting one night.  Bigger than my hand with cool spots all over.  They make the weirdest sounds here. It´s hilarious, a lot more than just ¨ribbut¨.   They cry and chirp like crickets.  Super rraro.  

         Okay so we taught lesson 2 (Plan of Salvation) a lot this week.  Two lessons in particular I wanted to tell you guys about.  First, we had a lesson with familia Almirón and Flia Duarte (Kristhian, our new member :), and Celia).  Man, I am telling you guys the spirit just took it away.  Celia was so attentive and willing to listen.  When Hno and Hna Almirón started talking about the temple, Celia had THE biggest smile on her face.  They told her about baptisms, which was PERFECT because they just happened to have gone to the temple the other day and do family names so hno Almirón was crying and bearing his testimony. So powerful.  Then they mentioned being sealed for time and all eternity.  Celia and Kristhian both wore the biggest smiles like ¨please let´s go right now¨ and this energy of joy just filled the room.  We sang ¨Soy un Hijo de Dios¨ (I am a Child of God) to finish.  It was so powerful. 

        Second, remember familia Reyes ?  well, we went back, and every time sweet Ramona  (the mom) was happier and happier.  We taught her about the plan of salvation and she said a peace and joy just filled her heart as we asked her what this new conocimiento meant to her.  It was so sweet!  An answer de Dios, hello!  Plus she said she has been praying and one neat part is that she has been thinking about our message lately and she says when she prays for help or thinks of us we happen to pass by.  Seriously, the Lords hand is in this work; it is his work, right? :)  I love being a part of it, every minute of every day.  Worrying about the salvation of others (what really matters in life) instead of having to worry about school, friends, the mundane things. 

         I am reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish all the way through (finishing it). The goal was before my birthday but now I am changing it to Christmas :) It was little too daunting (20 pages a day or 10 hojas)  loco... so I am shooting for Christmas but seriously I have already noticed an increase in my understanding of Spanish and speaking.  Oh and wanted to say how much I love this ward.   They really have become like my family and I wish I could serve my whole mission here in Loma.  It has been an absolute blast.  We have lots of goals, activities, and altas expectativas for the ward especially to increase our asistencía.  

I love you all so much.   xoxo

Con Cariño,

Hermana Owen

"We become what we want to be, by consistently being what we want to become."

                   -Richard G. Scott

"Lift Up Your Head and Rejoice"

So I know 27 is my lucky number... but I don´t know if any week could surpass this last.  It was OFF. THE. CHARTS. I have this huge list of incredible things that took place and I could seriously write 10 pages or more so mom when I get home (in a year) we need to go back and reminisce over this week.  Don´t let me forget to tell you.  

The list:   ...I will highlight a few...

1. Hermano Kristhian Duarte Vazquez was baptised at 6 pm on Saturday, October 26th and I couldn´t have asked for anything better.  The spirit was SO strong, the whole bishopric was present, tons of ward members came and Kristhian´s family, we had members bear testimonies while waiting which had Kristhian´s mom go right down to bawlin, and tons of food afterward.  Success!!  Celcia hugged me afterward and we both started to cry and she whispered in my ear before pulling away, ¨Voy a recordarle siempre en mi corazón.¨ Seriously I love them so much. WE are going to their house tonight for family night.  

They made empanadas after the baptism.  Yum

His sign says "Gracias Hermana Goimarac"
She was Hillary's last companion that helped teach Kristian

2.  Erin, Pte. McMullin´s daughter salio con nosotros ayer.  President and Erin came to church with us. Sacrament was focused on missionary work and my comp bore her testimony. She is so awesome.  President also spoke and gosh the spirit was so strong.  Kristhian got confirmed and I wrote do/tried to write down all of it so we can type it up and give it to him.  Anyway it was so fun to have Erin come with us.  She is a mix of Ellis and Mish.  Hilarious I felt like I was hangin out with my family :) She is doing so well in Spanish and it was neat to watch her figure out how to explain things in the lesson.  It made me realize I actually have progressed a bit in my spanish BUT still have a long way to go.  I am seriously learning SOO much though living with these 3 latinos!! It is so awesome!

3. So yesterday we had a realtively low asistencia for Loma (91 asistencia) which I had no idea until after church cuz I was so pumped with gozo en mi alma we had the WHOLE ENTIRE (you ready for this Faith??) PAVÓN FAMILIA en la Iglesia!!! Serious. Not lying.  They ALL came and their son spoke with the bishop about starting mission papers!!! Ya I was about to cry with joy. Gloria, Milagros, and Faviola (who is so ready to be baptized) came to church.  Long time no see!  Cuz I am working on the other side of the transchaco (giant main road).  and.... CELIA CAME!!! It was so cute, Kristhian was waiting by the door until she came.  They sat on the front row and his blessing/confirmación was beautiful.

4.  Another golden moment was that this young man- Gorge Casco, 25 years old- came to church.  We have never met him. He has never heard of the church, suele passes by no mas and was curious so he came.  WHAT!! yahhaha!! We talk him with cute little miss Erin after church and he´s already a new. Could get baptized this month on the 16th that is when we are gonna put a date for Celia.  We asked him if he had any questions about what he learned or heard, and he said I would like to know more about Joseph Smith and just more about what you teach.  Uhaha lesson one please!  Chaching!  You guys the Lord is preparing people left and right.  As long as we are prepared the Lord will place them in our paths. 

5. Hna Duarte and his experience with prayer that day... the Lord prepared him for the NDH it was so cool!

6. Sunrise, Sunset... incredible!  I got a picture of the sunrise and seriously if I had a latter I probably could ahve touched the clouds that were passing over my head from where I stood on the roof.  The sunset the night before wasw UNREAL. Sometimes I just stand and gape at the beauty of this country. Bright yellows, oranges, and hot pinks lit the horizon with dark thin purple clouds behind this thick green field and tall paraguayan mango trees.  I love it here. 

7.  Some of our investigatores (recent as of last week)  came to the ward activity.  First ones there and we had a BLAST with them! We showed them around the church and they loved it!  They have tons of potential. They are a huge family and want me to organize a class to teach them English how fun huh! I think we are going to cuz Gorge and tons others are asking! :) 

8.  Had probably one of the coolest experiences yet.  I was super discouraged and overwhelmed the other day. I just wasn´t happy for some reason.   I knelt in prayer begging my Heavenly Father to help me find peace and feel happy. I did something I haven´t done in a while. I thumbed the side of my scirptures, knowing that I have recieved answers before by just opening up to a random page, and opened to Alma 8 and read verse 14-16.  The spirit rushed over and I literally fell to my knees in humility and just started praying to my Heavenly Father saying ¨Thank you thank you thankyou¨. I love the scriptures so much.  The Lord knows us so well. I think we often forget that simple truth. We truly can recieve person revelation.  I have no doubt about it.  I´ll let you read those verses, but from em my favorite part says, ¨lift up your head and rejoice¨  So that´s my quote this week.  I love you all so much. xoxo 

Con mucho cariño,

Hermana Owen 

Hillary made Crepes for her companion

EMPANADAS

A ward party

Love the purple flowers in front of this humble little house

Me and my companion

I Speak Spanish

              First off, Kristian Durate, I am proud to anounce, is GETTING BAPTIZED this coming Saturday!!  He is so ready it´s unreal.  This past week we taught him with hna Almirón en el barrio.  We taught him Word of Wisdom and he accepted it NBD.  He said, "Öhhh coffee??¨ ¨Bueno if the Lord asked us to I trust he knows what he´s doing,¨and he started to nod as Hno Alimrón explained why.  He asked us, well my baptism is a in a week what do i need to do prepare?  What who does that!?  So awesome. We told him to continue doing what he´s doing and living what we are teaching.  He is really excited to get baptized and then receive the Priesthood to baptize Celia and Jasmine!  Celia still hasn´t come to church but I am sure she will next week with his confirmation.  

   Saturday, I got up early and made crepes and butter milk syrup for everyone to celebrate Hna Silvás birthday. They were IN LOVE with em. hahaha and I must say I made some of the best buttermilk syrup I have EVER tasted!!  (Hna Fuller, the nurse, gave me tip)  Mangos are blooming so we enjoyed mangos on our crepes as well.  I couldn´t find lemons so I´ll have to make the originals another time. We still have a huge jar of syrup in our fridge.

    Times are getting hot, as I said mangos are blooming.  Thank goodness clouds rolled over today and it´s not as scorching as yesterday.  I now understand why they say you are literally only dry for 5 seconds after the shower. Ya it´s a thick heat and I think my EYES got sunburned!!

     Exciting part... so living with 3 latinos is PARADISE!!! Seriously it is one of the biggest blessings yet I have recieved on my mission!  Hna Silva said I was talking in my sleep the other night.  Went to ask her what I had said, but thought, "öh hilly she´s not gonna know cuz you speak English.¨  To my surprise she alughed and said I was testifying to someone/teaching them IN SPANISH!!! como.. ¨Yo Testificó... ¨   WHAT!! Ya not lying I am the happiest camper ever dad!! I speak SPANISH!!! I can think in spanish without thinking about it! I am also noticing I don´t need to think twice about what people say or ask them ¨otra vez¨ as often.  I am not 100% yet but definitely above the 50% maybe even to the 70% mark!!!  Hna Silva told me that she can tell the spirit takes over in the lessons and I speak so fluently.

    Being a trainer has helped me A TON!!!  I have been the one having to direct lessons and speak on the phone and coordinate things. I am learning SO MUCH!! I love training and couldn´t be happier that I am training in my pirmero area!! :)  Hna Silva is so cute and we are having tons of fun getting to know each other.  She is a wonderful teacher and I love teaching her little tips oh see her explain something like I do in a lesson.  Makes me like I´m teaching her something, when I really thought I would hardly teach her anything cuz she is already fluent in Spanish.  We  are learning English as well. It is hilarious and so fun.  Hna Vasquez and Hna Pelicó love and want to learn English as well so we are practicing everyday.  Oh I am seriously so grateful for all the Lord has blessed me with.  

    Count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. He really is the deliverer of all.  I love the faith of the stripling warriors in Alma 57 and how they know that their strength, success, freedom, and joy all comes from the Lord.  Go. Fight. Win!  (when the Lord is on your side!)  Love you all and wish you all a fabulous week!  xoxo

    Con cariña,

Hermana Owen

there are frogs that have been coming out when It rains (haven´t seen em) but they cry and make this sound that sounds like crying babies it is THE most bizarre thing ever!!Mom I will respond to your email next week or maybe write ya a letter.  te quiero i will get back to you about the missionary thing. love you tons AND AND I have this goal to read the book of mormon in a month1!! Starting next monday hasta mi cumpleaño con sophia rivarola and some other sister.  choa choa! love hermana owen

si si!! I will talk with him!! actually he sent everyone an email this week cuz GUESS WHAT!?!?! Elder D. Todd Christofferson is coming to visit us!!!! I am so excited!! 13th of noviembre!!!  can´t wait probably will be one of the best bday presents.  hna silva says thankyou for the birthday gift (dad said you sent one) love you all so very much xoxo

Asuncion, the big city, behind us 

Having fun while doing a Service Project at the park

Serious Joy !

Week 25                                    Serious Joy                           October 13, 2013

It´s a rainy day and the weather is perfect.  I love rainy days.  I want to play some oldies music like Frank Sinatra oh por favor and curl up with a good movie... ha who am i kidding.  Life couldn´t get better. I´m todavía en Loma Pyta, Paraguay.  I´m enjoy my usual caramels as I write my weekly email :)  I´m TRAINING!  the cutest Bolivian sister. I am living with 3 latinas... ya I am stoked my spanish is going to sky rocket! (I hope)  I´m preaching the gospel EVERYDAY. I am bringing the world his truth. :)   

This week has been a little crazy but we are getting a handle on things.  Shout out to Faith Goimarac!!! Hope you returned and hope safely as well wonderful Hermana Homer!!  So Monday and Tuesday I was a little uptight/worried just of what was comin (a few tears were shed), so Tuesday I asked my zone leader (Elder Oharra-awesome, just finished his mission with elder bredsguard)  for a blessing (my first one recieved in Spanish!) and seriously I haven´t been stressed or sad or worried since.  I seriously am loving this change so far.

 My comp is awesome.  She is from Cochabamba Bolivia!  Hermana Silva se llama. She is beautiful... looks almost hawaiian or polynesian.  She is wonderful!!!  A little timid, a sweet heart, super chillax, and patient :)  We have had a rough start (as in our part of the area the people never let you in their houses) but we are praying a lot together and we set some awesome goals this week in weekly planning I have no doubt in my mind the work is gonna pick up.  

My favorite part of this week was probably our lesson with Kristian and Celia Duarte.  We taught them about baptism and confirmacion. It was probably one of the neatest lessons.  I was studying a ton for them cuz seriously they are SOOO close to baptism and I didn´t want one lesson to go wrong just cuz I am a weak teacher or can´t speak spanish very well.   All I can say, is that the spirit took over.  Hermana Silva and I were workin like gold.  The spirit was so strong.  We had Celia read Mosiah 18:8-10, and then I asked Kristian to read  verses 12-14 putting his name where Alma´s is and Celia´s or Jasmine´s (his daughter) where Helam´s is. It was so powerful!! I have never seen bigger smiles on their faces, especially Celia´s. They were practically begging us to get baptized at that point.  So Kristian will be getting baptized the 26th of this month (A DAY BEFORE  HOMECOMING TALK, FAITH!!) and wants to then receive the priesthood to baptize Celia and Jasmine!!!!!! Ahhhhh I just wanted to just for joy as they couldn’t back smiling and looked at each other serious joy my friends.  Oh I love this work.  It is truth.  It is freedom.  It is joy.  It is life. Hermana Silva gave each other the biggest hug (where hna Goimarac and i always would) by the big tree down their street.  

It has been a little tough otherwise to be accepted into homes and teach. We split our are down the transchaco and the side we have I hardly ever visited before.  Although, it is a tougher area it´s kinda like startin a new area because I haven´t really work that much over there.  Maybe I´ll send ya a map fam so you can see what a monster of an area I have bee working in. It´s huge, such a blessing we have 4 hermanas now.  It is super exciting!    

Anyway that´s about it.  Oh and this Saturday is my comps birthday!! I am going to attempt to make mountains or pancakes and buttermilk syrup! :)  If you want send some letters for her.  She would love that!! I would love that (family :) love you ALL so so much!!!! Go to work!

Some good words of wisdom from Elder Bednar this week in the Liahona, ¨You can do this! The Lord you represent and serve knows you can do this. I know you can do this.¨ It´s true, if the Lord trusts me, I will put my trust in him.  :)  

xoxo,

con cariño, 

Hermana Owen

P.S. didn´t see kenzie freeman´s sister at stake conference slash didn´t have much time to look but  hopefully i will one day.

P.S.S.  THE MANGOS ARE BLOOMING!!!! AND They are THE best mangos I have every eaten in my life!!!!  creamy and super juicy!

--

yaya"!! can´t wait i love you mom!!!! :)  it´s hna silva´s birthday THIS WEEK!

Me, Hermana Silva con Presidente

                                           

                                             the "moms" (trainers) and all the "decendants"... down the line.... 
                                                                   from trainer to daughter, trainer to daughter etc. :)

Hermana Silva and I in front of house, arrival day

This morning, working out on our roof top

"The morning sky"

"We ate at Pizza Hut-Yah you heard that right and all you can eat."