6/1/15

Well, what can I say. This year and a half FLEW by. I can NOT believe in 1 week I will be flying back home. I feel so thankful for all the time I have had here in Mexico. I can honestly say I have learned a lot. I have been able to meet so many wonderful people. The people here are the best. Especially hermana Anly el. She was baptized this week!!!! Everything went great!! Here's more on that subject.





  So, Saturday in the morning, we went to the church to fill the font. When we got there, it was full, but with water from about a week or more ago. So, we had to drain the whole thing. When all the water was gone, the floor was brown!! EWWWW!  so, then I got to scrub the whole thing. It was quite the adventure. After we cleaned, we tried to use the pump to get rid of the leftover water, but it wouldn't go away. SO, we had to scoop it all out with buckets. And buckets, and buckets! Finally, it was clean!!! So, then we had to fill it back up! So, we were in the church from 12-4:30 cleaning. The baptism was at 5. So, we pretty much didn't get to go work all day, but it was worth it. The baptism was beautiful! And almost all of our zone came to the baptism, so we sang "the armies of Helaman" IN ENGLISH!!! May I mention I was the only American singing. It was a proud moment for my companions. :) Anel shared her testimony and made everyone cry. Sunday, she was confirmed and she said she "feels different." Saturday she is going with out ward to do baptisms for the dead. Her whole story is just a miracle. I cant wait to tell you all more.

Today we are off to Tampico. I'm off to have my last interview and tomorrow we are going to the temple for the last time. Its kinda sad. But all will be well.



I know this is the true church. I know Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God and that he helped to restore the church of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ has payed for each and everyone of us. We need to do our part. If you want to hear a beautiful talk, look up "His grace is sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. It will change your life. I promise. I know that the Atonement of Christ is the biggest gift we have. I know God lives and loves us. His love is bigger than we can imagine. I know the plan of salvation is real and that we CAN live as families for forever! I know that the Lord is preparing his children to receive the gospel, and we all need to do our part to help. I know that prayer is powerful and that God listens. I know we need to study and pray everyday, even if its something so small. We need it. Not because its a commandment, but because our spirits literally need it. I know that we will be blessed when we pay or tithing and offerings. But, sooooo blessed! More blessed that what the money we give can buy. I know that all the principles of the gospel are true and that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is perfect, even if the members aren't. I know we need to build a firm foundation so that when the trials come, ( like a bad look, or gossip or anything) we don't fall away. We go to church for Christ and to remember him, not for the people. So, build your foundation.

I love you all. Remember that Jesus loves you.
Have a wonderful week and enjoy life! Always have a smile. :D
Love,
Hermana Stanger

5/25/15

Lluvia de gatos y perros!!!

In last last few days, we have had some CRAZY storms. but I mean crazy!!! Last night we were teaching our investigators, and BOOM! High winds, lighting EVERYWHERE (and every color), and super hard rain. It was crazy! It was late and we needed to be in our house in a few minutes, so we called taxis and even thought about walking, but nothing worked. Thew people we were with said that in these storms, trees fall like crazy, and take power lines with them, for that reason we didn't walk. So, we were stuck in there house. The mom had her granddaughter of about 3 there, and she was so scared. So we sang I am a child of God, and she calmed down really fast. Then finally, out of nowhere, our recent convert showed up in her car and gave us a ride home! There were trees EVERYWHERE and yes, lots of wires. we almost hit some because they blended right in. We felt so protected. Also, it was special to be able to help calm the little sweetheart down only by singing. (secretly it helped her youngest daughter of 12 years as well).

As for Anel, SHES GOING TO BE BAPTIZED SATURDAY IF ALL GOES WELL!!!!!!!!!!!! She had her interview and she is more than ready. She seriously is so special, there are SO many things against her to get baptized, but to her, nothing is more important. She has such a firm testimony. She says she feels "full" like she had a big empty space and now it is finally full. If she is walking in the street with us, SHE contacts people first and shares her testimony. She loves sharing what she knows and we gave her preach my gospel (in Spanish and English) this week and she loves to study it!!! She helps the ward so much. She helps them to love each other more and she participates a lot in the classes and people always leave thanking he for her comments. I cant even tell you all the wonderful things that happen with her because there are so many small special miracles.

Saturday, we were supposed to have a special ward fast. we planned it all out that everyone was going to meet Saturday to start and then finish after church. Well, Saturday, NO ONE CAME. NO. ONE. We were a little sad, but we had our little devotional and then said our prayer to start. We later learned that some of the members DID start there fast, they just couldn't make it to the church. Some of them came to the small lunch we had after church. Sometimes I just wish we could have like a potluck like in South Dakota... or a fast like in Utah...but one day it will work out!!!  Yay!!!

Well, I was thinking, next week, I probably wont really respond to many emails, so please only write me if you have something really important, (or if you are a missionary). Thank you.

Love you all sooooo very much! This has been the best time ever. Have a wonderful week!!!!! LOVES!!!!!!!!
Hermana Stanger

5/11/15

Well, remember the story from last week? IT GETS BETTER!!!!

 So, we have been visiting Anel. There have been LOTS of spiritual experiences. Like, Thursday, we didn't have planned to go visit, but we felt the need to go see her. When we got there, her Mom was home! (she never is there, she works from like 6 am to 10 pm) So, she sat down and talked with us too. She loves it! She said she is going to work to get Sundays off so she can go to church. We also had given Anel a Book of Mormon this week. She prayed and received her answer in a really special way. Also, in two days she had read until 1 Nephi 17. When she got to work, they did a bag check, and the boss called her into her office. She told her to put the Book of Mormon in a box and to tell her whats in the book, because EVERYONE in her work has seen her change a lot this week, and she wanted to know if she was really reading it or if she just liked what we were teaching. So, she told her she hasn't read a ton, but she has prayed and she KNOWS it is true. She also testified of Joseph smith and she just stood up to her boss for what she believed. When she finished, her boss said, "Welcome, and have a great day." She then explained that her mom is a member, and she (well, technically still is..) was a member, but decided to marry a Christian and so she fell away from the church. She told her to keep learning and studying. On Saturday, we taught the first part of the plan of Salvation, and it brought her to tears, because she has had some really big trials in her life. She said that it gave her so much hope. She also isn't a person that cries much. I just cant even explain how special and so prepared she is. Yesterday she went with us to go get a few other new investigators to come to church! She testifies in the classes. She is ready. Hope fully on June 6th, she will be baptized. OH! She also said yesterday that now her whole family is reading the Book of Mormon with her. and that sometimes they secretly are listening to the lessons. :D

Also, this week we were walking and we saw a mother and daughter. We contacted them and at first they weren't super interested, but the something changed. They got super interested and the Mother said that she had a 17 year old son who wants to go to church, but one where he has classes with people his age, not with old people. YOUNG MENS! Yay! So, on Sunday, they came!! And they loved it!!

We are just seeing so many miracles and there are so many people that are prepared. It is so amazing. Also, I have learned a lot here in Valles, talk to EVERYONE. I mean, before I felt like I was, but, we try to not let a single person pass by with out talking to them. It really helps.

Hope you are all having a wonderful week. This is the Lords work and we all need to work together. And most of all with the Lord. We cant do it alone. We are nothing, but with him, we can do all things. Love you all!!!!

Hermana Stanger   

5/4/15

Liahona Experience

You know those super awesome experiences that happen in the Liahona, and you always think, "HOW COOL!!!!! If only that happened to me....." Well, this week, that one of those moments happened!!!

Thursday, we were walking along the dirt road. My companion uses a umbrella to block the sun,and all of the sudden, there was a gust of wind! Well, her umbrella went flying in the air. We started laughing, and a young woman saw, and was laughing too. She then was walking towards us like she knew us. My companion too, so I just kinda followed thinking it was someone she knew. Well, she didn't. We started talking to her, and we just felt something different. Like we had known her for forever. Well, we set up an appointment and returned 2 days later. When we got there, she was so excited. She explained her dad had seen the pamphlet we gave her and it reminded him of when the elders visited their family years and years ago. She also said that when she had meet the Elders, they played the hymns on guitar, and she loved that. So, we sang a hymn and started in on the first lesson. When we were talking about prayer, she said she had to tell us something. 2 days before we met her, she had been praying. But she says harder than she ever has in her life. She asked for someone to help her know what God wants for her. She said when she saw us, she felt the need to talk to us. She also said, that the night before our appointment, she had been reading the Bible, and she read a scripture that told her messengers were coming to teach her the truth. She also said she was in the process of getting engaged, but she prayed, and didn't feel like it was right. So, after the amazing lesson, she was telling us how her friend is a member, and he has a girlfriend that's like her sister. Turs out, the girlfriend is one of our other golden investigators! Anyways, so we told her we would pass by for her Sunday at 11. Unfortunately, ward counsel went SUPER late, and it was almost time to start. So, we panicky found someone with a car and she took us to her house. When we got there, her mom said she got desperate and went by herself. So, back to the church we went, and when we got there, SHE WAS THERE! After the sacrament meeting, ALL the members were greeting her (They thought she was a missionary :D )and she saw her friend there, and they were so happy to be there together. In relief society, she shared her experience, and all the sisters cried and told her she is where she belongs. They also planned to go to a YSA fireside later that night! I just cant even tell you all how amazing its been. The Lord really is preparing people. If you doubt it, think again.

We also got to listen to Elder Johnson, a 70. He talked about keeping the sabbath day holy. Well, I always thought I was keeping it holy, but I learned I'm not. He read a scripture in Isaiah 58:13-14 and it talks about how we need to do the will of the LORD not ours. So, I'm going to be a lot better in that. It was also cool because we got to go to a city where there have not been sister missionaries, so we felt kinda special.

Well, that's my spiritual experience of this week. Hope it helped you all like it has me. We will see what happens next. :D

Loves to everyone!!!

Hermana Stanger

4/27/15

Well, today is cambios! (changes/transfers) I am now in Valles. Its a land different than Tampico. There is NO humidity, BUT! It gets pretty hot here. supposedly its supposed to get to about 65 this week.... That's in Celsius. In Fahrenheit that's about 149 degrees. WHOOO!!!! Im pretty excited, and hoping to not get dehydrated. Lots of water!

Also, I am now with Hermana Calvo! She is from Monterrey. She loves to sing and she totally called that we were going to be companions. She is really great and I'm so excited to work with her.

This week was a little frustrating in the work of salvation because the shootings began again. So, we were in the house a lot. But what we could do was good. We had a FHE on Tuesday, like a "pj party" so we could include the son of our investigators a little bit better. We invited lots of members and it went really well. OH! Cool story. On Friday we went to stay the night with some other sisters because they were fixing our house. So, we got there early and supposedly we were going to be in the house early for the security problems. But, then they changed it and we could keep working. So we went on mini divisions. The sister I went with went home today (she finished), but we were contacting referrals. We contacted one and then asked if any of her neighbors would be interested. She named a few of her neighbors, and so we went to visit one. When we got there, there were a TON of statues of the Virgin Mary, so we thought, this isn't going to go well. So we rang her intercom, and she said, "what do you offer?" So we said, "a message about Jesus Christ!" Then things went silent..................and we waited..............and waited............... And THEN! She turned the light on and opened the door! She was so super nice and willing to listen to us. She then told us she was in the middle of cooking, but would like for us to return. We walked away and my companion said, "Did that just happen?" It was cool. 

Saturday we had a talent show! My companion and I did the sketch of where she is my arms and she id my make-up. It was really funny. Sadly time is up, but have a wonderful week!!! I love you all and read your scriptures!!! :D




Hermana Stanger

4/20/15

This week was quite enjoyable. On Tuesday, we had super divisions! so, everyone in our zone was put with a different companion. Our sister training leaders joined in, so, I got to go back to Cuauhtemoc!! Oh how I missed those wonderful people. It was so great to see them. Every single appointment we had feel through. We literally walked the entire day long!! But it was great because we got to talk with EVERYONE in the street. We met lots of wonderful people who need the gospel. It was so great we didn't even feel how bad our feet hurt... until we got home. Haha

Friday, 2 of my ex companions had to come to Tampico to see the doctor. So, they got to stay with us! We had "divisions" in our area, so, we got lots more work done! Also, I got to be with one of my ex comps and enjoy working together again. At night time we enjoyed tacos and lots of memories and laughs. It was wonderful! But now I understand why they don't put 4 missionaries in one house... haha But it was enjoyable while it lasted.

Saturday we had our ward activity we have been planning for about a month. It was a success!! We went on a "cruse ship" and everyone was given money to spend. They could go to the dance bar, the casino, church, seminary, or the movies. spend their money how they pleased. Each room was worth 1, 2, or 3 and the person in charge of the room marked 1, 2, or 3 depending on which room. 1 meant celestial, 2 terrestrial, 3 telestial. It the end we gave those with more 3s a anchor, and with 1 a lifesaver. They went to paradise or jail depending on which it was. Then the bishop judged them by their ticket and sent them to their glory, where we had some members waiting to explain each glory. It rocked, to say the least. And the next day in church, it was FULL! This ward doesn't have the best assistance, but it was full yesterday! In our principles of the gospel class, we had to kick the youth out of their room so we could open the overflow to fit everyone in! My companion and I got the opportunity to teach our relief society class as well. I think it was the first time that no one said to the teachers, "no, that's wrong," or something along those lines, because they are always so mean to the teachers. It makes me sad.

Lots more happened, but my time is up. Love you all and hope all is more than well. If it isn't, its probably your attitude. If you don't like how something is, change it, if you cant, change you! :D Love you all!!!!

Hermana Stange

4/13/15

Crocodiles!!! They are so cool. This is our convert. Just kidding, but I think he likes the water, so maybe? haha Anyways.....


This week was stressful. Thursday, we were just about to start our weekly planning meeting, when one of our investigators sent us a text that said she had a miscarriage, and was home alone (with her 5 year old son.) Also, no one in her family lives here and everyone else was at work. So, we went running to her aid. Its kinda a special moment when you get to just be there for someone. It made me think a little about when my Mom passed away, and how everyone was there. A lot of times we think, "I don't know what to say! I don't know how I can help!" But truthfully, just be there. TH}hat is more than enough. And, when you share the gospel to help, it makes it a million times better. We gave her a Liahona from February, and she Loved it!


Saturday we had an activity. One of my favorite things to do. We made......... CUPCAKES!!!! :D Sadly, it wasn't super well attended. But, those who came enjoyed it. But the best part? We did like we always did in singles ward. Took the cupcakes to the less active/inactive members and gave them a note and showed our love for them!+ It was really exciting. We got the chance to go visit Consuelo. She is 91 years old and stuck in her bed. She is quite sick, but she was so super happy to know that the ward cared about her and that she isn't alone. This Saturday we have another activity planned, and my companion and I are SUPER excited. Hopefully lots of people come..... Because if they don't.... I will be sad, but keep going, because that's all you can do!


Also, there was a problem with some of our converts, so for now, we cant visit them. :( So sad.


Another cool thing happened. We went with a different sister than normal one day. She asked if we had ever gone to a park that, SURPRISE! is in our area. We honestly had never gone to that part of our area. So, she said we should go. So, we were walking, and we asked if she has ever given a Book of Mormon to a -c}complete stranger. She said no, so, we pulled one out and asked if she wanted to. She said she would try. We were walking in the park, and she said she wanted to give it to a lady sitting on the bench. Well, turns out she is a member! Of our ward! But, goes to a different ward.... But said she was going to go to our ward because now she knows what time. It was really great because we got to see the hand of the Lord. If we hadn't gone, we never would have found her. And we found a bunch of different other members live there as well! How exciting!

Sometimes my mind thinks a lot more in Spanish than English, so sometimes it takes a lot longer to write than it should, and I am sure there are lots of errors. Lo siento.


Espero que todos pueden tener una semana tan maravillosa!!! Les amo con todo mi corazón!!
Hermana Stanger!