Saturday, March 28, 2015

23March2015 Miracles

Hello all! 

First off, I am getting transferred out of Chaparral. It is a bittersweet moment for me. I have been here 6 months and I honestly feel so at home. I feel like these people have become a very close family for me. I am grateful for all the goodness and love I have been shown by them. I will never forget this time. I think I have learned more about what it really means to be a missionary here then anywhere else I have served. I have learned what it means to sacrifice and what it means to be lead by the spirit. I have learned what it means to believe in and experience miracles. 

The Spanish sisters' car was in the shop so we got to taxi them around for 3 days which was really fun because they cover the whole stake.  Yeah, being an STL is the best.  You get to do all the fun stuff AND all the logistical stuff. It's a riot.

Avianna is a new investigator and she is SO golden! She grew up going to a Christian school and believes in God and Jesus Christ but has some hang-ups about going to church because of some bad experiences.  But we got to talk to her and she's really excited to come to church.  The main issue is that she's super sick and gets dizzy really easily.  She got a shot for something and they hit a nerve or something awful so supposedly she's going to have dizzy spells the rest of her life.  She's only in her late 20's.  It's so sad! But we love her a lot and are so excited to teach her! So keep her and her health in your prayers! How we found her was a miracle. We decided to randomly tract like 5 houses at 10 am. She had been sitting on her couch feeling sick and very lonely. She was praying and we knocked on the door. Because of that she said she wanted to listen and knew that God sent us. I love getting to be an answer to a prayer! 

Mason and his family are awesome, too! They're doing so well! It's been so fun to see them go from not even knowing the difference between Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to being able to tell us why baptism and praying and going to church is important.  At the beginning, little Sumo told us, "I lost my faith!" (because he was confused about what faith actually was) and now he loves going to church and he knows what it really means to have faith. 

Dean's doing really really well! We had an awesome lesson with him on Tuesday.  We couldn't get a member to come with us so we sat on his front porch in lawn chairs and talked about Conference and the Prophet and kind of the basic set-up of the church.  And finally, FINALLY Dean said the closing prayer.  We have been waiting for that moment for 2 months and it happened! :) He hesitated at first, and then he started and tried to think of things to say and he even tried to get me to finish, but we just sat there and waited and he prayed.  It was such a sweet moment.  (We found out from him last night that apparently Jaydean was sitting by the window listening and when Dean walked in after the lesson Jaydean goes, "Wow, dad, that was terrible!" HAHA! Kids are too much.) Then in our goodbye visit last night he prayed again and it was basically so great.  It was sincere, heartfelt, and it just seemed easy for him to do it.  Both were proud "mama" moments. :) We taught Jaydean the Plan of Salvation by drawing it in Chalk. When we got to the perfect body part Jaydean went right to work on his picture. I looked over and asked what he was drawing and he looked up and said, "my 6 pack". Oh my goodness. 

Carmen and Wilson had been struggling, not calling or texting us back, so we decided we'd just stop by.  We called Sis. Esmedina (their fellowshipper) a few hours before to see if she could join us and she could.  And let me tell you, it was exactly what was supposed to happen! We show up and Wilson is hesitant to let us in because he said he was finishing eating.  Sis E said something in Tagalog and he let us in:)  So we go in and he says that after he's done he's going to color his mom's hair.   Hmmmmmm that's convenient.  I didn't even ask permission from sister Price to allow her hair skills to be used before I said, "Sister Price can do it! She does hair! She's a pro!" So she colored Carmen's hair, Sis E and I read from the BoM in Tagalog and talked about tithing and the experience that she had, and we talked about church and all these wonderful things and Wilson just softened.  It was SO wonderful! By the time we left they had committed to read and pray together and come to church! The whole thing was led by the Spirit! So Sunday comes, and Sis P and I had decided that we needed to fast for some miracles so we did.  (We went to 9:00 church with Thu and her family because they couldn't come at 11, so that was great!) And then we're at church, sitting in our pew, per usual, and Alan is with the May's, Ember is with the Francis', and Dean and Jaydean are sitting together. And Sis P and I have our usual bench all to ourselves because noone else came.  So sad.  We're waiting and praying for Carmen and Wilson to show up; Sis E walks in late and asks us where they are. When we told her they weren't there (yet) she looked like she was going to cry.  All of sacrament was wonderful.  Then I'm sitting there during the closing prayer and praying in my heart for a miracle, and I feel someone walk up to our bench and sit down. The prayer ends and I look over and there is Carmen! She was literally an answer to prayer! (As it turns out, Sister Price was praying for the exact same thing and had basically the exact same experience.  Comp unity for the win!) Tons of people walked up to Carmen and Wilson and introduced themselves! They stayed for 2nd hour and we talked about agency and all its components and we were talking to Wilson after and he said that he felt opposition as he was trying to come to church and so he knew it's where he needed to be! :) We're hoping for their baptism this Thursday so keep that in your prayers! 


I went to say goodbye to Sharon and she told me that some of her neighbors were trying to get her to go to their church. She said how she went to a bible study with one during the week. She then said this, " When I go to our church I feel like I am getting into a warm bed" I know I am where I need to be. We talked about how God lead us to her and how she was so prepared to accept the gospel. I thanked her for her faith and we made plans to reunite in the temple one year from now. I have learned so much from Sharon. 


Alan Sanchez. Man this one makes me sad to leave more then almost anything. He is just incredible and teaches us all so much. We had a break through lesson with him this week that was probably the best lesson I have had my entire mission. We have been reading a chapter a day in the Book of Mormon with him and then we discuss them when we meet. It is like a roller coaster with Alan and some weeks he loves what he reads and some weeks he just gets plain upset at Nephi. When we showed up on Wednesday for the lesson we could tell something we different. We were in our members home who have been incredible to him and really taken him in.  We quickly find out that it was the anniversary of his dads passing 16 years ago. We start the lesson and he brings up that he read the ENTIRE book of Genesis that day to prepare for the lesson as well. All 50 chapters mind you because he thought that the Laban from Nephi was the same Laban from the book of Genesis and he wanted to really understand his story. If that doesn't show dedication to learning and understanding I don't know what does. We were all sitting there frantically flipping through Genesis trying to figure out what he was talking about (Turns out they are related but not the same person). I think it was quite insightful of him to make that connection though. That is just one small example of what it is like to teach Alan. We have to be on our toes ALL the time and nothing gets by him. It is one of the most powerful and spirit filled things I have ever done though, God has given us the ability to be enough for Alan. As we were talking Alan through down his Book of Mormon, looked me in the eyes and said: why does it matter? Why do you go to this church? Mormonism is only 200 years old and yet you claim it to be the one and only true church. Why? Each of us in the room then had the opportunity to answer that question for him and to bear our witness of the truth. Our member then was prompted to ask Alan some very specific questions. She later told us that the spirit was literally saying the words into her ear and she was simply repeating them. She asked him what he thought his father was learning, why his father would want him there that night, how could he help his father and so on. Alan was so overcome along with the rest of us that he started crying and said, " my dad wants me here tonight because he doesn't want me to make the same mistakes that he did. He doesn't want to waste my time." That was the moment right there. When he knew for himself that his father was guiding him to this church and that this church would allow him to give his father what he never had. Alan then opened up and told us how he had been depressed and angry all day. He said that when it came time for him to decide if he would come to the lesson he literally felt the holy spirit impelling him to go. He said it took him off the couch and brought him to the members home. As he opened up to the spirit and acknowledged the spirit it became so strong in the room. He talked about how he saw this journey as a long short process. We talked about baptism and then to close all of us, including Alan, knelt on the ground and he offered a beautiful prayer. It was the best way to end my time teaching Alan. The best part too is that the ward just loves him and wants to all help him out. They stop the Elder quorum lesson and just do a Alan Q&A on a regular basis. Everyone talks to us about him and  so many people are supporting him. Alan has taught me more about being a member of the church then any person I have ever met. 

Yesterday we had some minor miscommunications about meals, so Sis P and I ended up eating 3 dinners.  To say that I don't want to eat for a really long time is the understatement of a century. 

Quote: "God uses the unlikely to speak thru so you can KNOW Who it is that's talking to you!" ~Sis Ellen Michiel

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! Onward to my next home. 

Sis Huber 





















Saturday, March 21, 2015

16 March 2015: 3.14.15 PIE DAY FOR REAL



Bullet points this week. Sorry 
1) We performed in church this week, meaning sis Price and I, and it was awesome. One man came up to us after and said he looked  at Sister Price singing and could see three spirits there behind her and with her. He then looked over at me on the piano and could see two more with me. I don't know why he could see them but I could feel them so I believe what he said. I know God sends us help all the time. 
2) We had ZTM's, two of them and then two exchanges.... lots to do around here. I gave a training in one and a training and discussion in the other. 
3) We went to dinner at Souplantation with Thu (inv) and Jesse (LA member) and their beautiful family on Monday which was such a great way to start the week!  We actually ended up having a great conversation with them last night as well, and they both really opened up to us about alot of their concerns about the ward and various things and we're just really hoping we have helped them as best we can.  They are such a wonderful family and I love them so much! We're still tryin to work through a few things, but I very firmly believe that Thu will get baptized shortly.  She knows the church is true.  She just needs to accept it and act on it.  Please keep them both in your prayers!
4) Carmen and Wilson, our Filipino friends, we've met with twice altogether, taught literally ALL the lessons, set a date, committed them to read, the whole shebang.  Please keep them in your prayers, too.  We didn't get to see them much this week so we're just praying a lot and we're looking forward to our next meeting with them.  They are so wonderful. Our second meeting with them Wilson told us that he felt the spirit in our first meeting and he knew that he was going to get baptized.  It was incredible.  But we just found out they are really struggling with the idea of tithing. It's tough, but I just so strongly believe that God will provide when you're willing to sacrifice.  They just need to come to that understanding for themselves now.
5) Ember is still a go for baptism next Sunday! She's so sweet.  She's a completely different little girl at this point.  She's so much happier and more comfortable with herself and she's more willing to stand up to her parents and tell them that she herself wants to be baptized.  Apparently everyone in her family (even the active members) thought she was getting baptized for the wrong reasons so they asked her and after some good conversations with her narrowed it down to the fact that she wants to get baptized for her, and not for anyone else.  Hopefully they all will just continue to love and support her in this and next Sunday will be a wonderful experience for everyone! 
6) Dean is great! They came to church yesterday, even LaShondra, who basically swore she would never step in one of our church buildings!  So that was a HUGE miracle!  She agreed to sit down with us so we could answer some of her questions and so we did that this morning.  Hopefully it was productive.  We helped resolve a LOT of her concerns and help her feel more at peace about the church and the doctrine.  Just keep praying that her heart will soften and she'll see the goodness in the whole thing.  Until she gives the "go-ahead", Jaydean can't get baptized because she won't let him.  But she's more than willing to let Dean get baptized, because he's a grown up, he can make his own decisions, or something.  Frustrating, because Dean can't get baptized yet!!! But I feel like this is by divine design.  There's a reason for everything that happens; the Lord's timing is perfect in every way.  And though I don't understand why, I know that this is all happening for a reason and that one day, LaShondra is going to get baptized.  It's strange, but there's not a doubt in my mind that she will. 
7) Alan is as intense as ever.  After reading 1 Nephi 4, he was really mad at Nephi.  Long story short, he's just gonna keep reading and feel the spirit as he reads and hopefully he'll be able to see the light.
8) Transfers are in one week!!!! Where will I go??? Also, I hit 14 months....Also, super legit pie day was this week. I hope ya'll ate pie. 
9) LOVE YOU! Sis Huber 








Sunday, March 15, 2015

9 March 2015

Hello all,
 
Life is good. Kinda Crazy. I have two weeks left in this ward. Man, time flew by because I have been here almost 6 months. 

I was thinking about our lives and how everything we do that brings us closer to God is a simple act of faith. Prayer is a simple act of faith, pausing to listen and understand something or someone is a simple act of faith, reading the scriptures is a simple act of faith, healing another person is a simple act of faith, saying sorry is a simple act of faith, committing to Christ through baptism is a simple act of faith, coming to church to feel the spirit and support others is a simple act of faith. Really, all God has ever asks us His children to do is preform simple acts of faith. I think that is beautiful and encouraging. What Satan does is take those simple acts and turns them into big scary moments or tiny unimportant details. He is so good at that. I guess we must be willing to push aside those fears or thoughts and do the simple acts in the manner God wanted us too. Appreciate the simplicity and purity that comes from the truth. I love the gospel.

We have a lot on our plate as members of this church and sometimes it might overwhelm us. We forget though that our job in anything, whether it be missionary work or something else, is to humbly show up and allow God to do the rest. We need to not place undue stress or worry on ourselves but we need to be humble and willing to show up and to do His will. 


We had AWESOME lessons with Dean this week!  Long story short, he  AND Jaydean both had their baptismal interviews this week! Jaydean passed and will most likely be getting baptized on Sunday! And Dean has to wait for a few legal things to go through.  Kind of frustrating to us but mostly to him.  So he and Jaydean came to this baptism on Saturday! They looked so good in their white shirts and ties! So we started off by giving Jaydean one of those BoM readers but last week he asked us if he could have the other one now.  He's so cute! He carries his little blue Book of Mormon everywhere! Oh yeah, the race issue came up too. But luckily we also came up with a solution: he'll send us over to every African American person's house that he knows so he and Jaydean won't be the only ones at church! HAHAHA! Did I mention how much I love them??

Carmen and Wilson are our mother-son Filipino investigators! We picked them up on Thursday and committed them to baptism on the 18th.  The work is hastening, people! We don't have time to mess around!

Our little 11 year old, Ember, is still on track to get baptized on the 22nd so keep her in your prayers!  It's so cool, since she stood up to her parents and told them she wanted to get baptized, she's been a lot more open and friendly with us and she's more willing to stick to her guns! She is LOVING coming to church! She's so awesome!  We actually went and pulled weeds for their family on Saturday so that was fun!  

Alan is still softening, little by little.  He relapsed on his drinking, which is disappointing but instead of drinking 20 beers in one day like he used to he only had 6! And the whole time he said he felt really weird and kept thinking, "I shouldn't be doing this. This isn't good for me.  Why am I still doing this?" And then he stopped.  We're pretty confident he won't be drinking again.  :)

We had a [loving] throw-down with Efrain on his doorstep yesterday about how he needs to read the BOM so he can get the testimony that he wants so that he and his soon-to-be wife can be sealed forever! Yep, it was awesome.  He's praying about March 17 as his big day so we're pretty stoked about that. 

So pretty much, we need lots of prayers because I only have two weeks left to get 8 people baptized and to finish some of the things I have started to do here. Please pray for them all. 

Happy March!
Sis Huber 




Thursday, March 5, 2015

2 March 2015

So this morning Sis Price and I joined the Murrieta Zone in their annual 9-mile hike...in the almost-pouring rain.  It was SO fun! I got to run down a mountain with pounds of mud on my shoes. I am so sore and so happy. I just really love being over the sisters in Temecula and Murrieta because not only do we get to do training and exchanges in both zones, but we get to go to activities and meetings and all other good things, too!  We get to know so many more missionaries!   It was so beautiful! I felt like I was flying and I felt so free. 

So we had two Zone Training Meetings to go to this week and we did two exchanges.  We had a fun 55+ luncheon and spent a long time at the church yesterday.  It's amazing how much we have to accomplish and yet our area never seems to suffer.  We always are able to get everything done and still have time to meet with all our investigators and everything else.  

Speaking of investigators, they're all doing really well.

Dean is hopefully going to get his baptismal interview this week so keep that situation in your prayers!  He's doing so awesome with reading, though, and he and Jaydean (his 12 year old son)  were both at church yesterday, and they just loved it! We got Jaydean a BOM reader and he's just eating it up.  He's read several chapters already and understands it super clearly.  We can't wait for their baptism! 

Alan is awesome. He is learning a lot and just has come so far. He has a lot to learn but every time I see him he looks like a new person. He looks different every day. He looks softer. In his prayer this week he said, " Satan's got no hold on me. That ain't gonna happen". He is just so firm in his desire to follow God. He teaches us so much. He reads faithfully even through it is really hard for him to read and understand. He came to church with some nice slacks on and soon we will get him to the white shirt and tie status. He might be rough looking but I know he would do anything to protect his "sisters". Seriously, nobody would dream of messing with us if they knew who was coming for them if they did.....  haha. I just love seeing people change.

This week had some ups and downs. I found out that I really really really really love the scriptures even more then I did. They save us. They lift us and they move us forward. I am so grateful for them. One day I will have them memorized. I have the living Christ memorized and sharing it with people has brought a very strong spirit into homes. I know that Christ lives and is who I want to follow. Lots of things can lead a person to want to learn of Christ but then we all have to decided to become a follower of Christ. There is a big diffidence. May we always follow Him. I know that Heavenly Father is giving me so many tender mercies in life right now and I am so grateful to get a glimpse at some of them. He loves us. 

Love Sis Huber