2/24/14

Well, what a week. 

One day, we had an appointment fall through. We felt like we needed to go visit one of our investigators we hadn´t seen in a while for one reason or another. When we got there, His granddaughter answered the door and said he was "a little sick" but we could go in and visit him. Well, when we walked in, the WHOLE family was there and there was Diego, laying on his pretty much death bed. Talk about being in shock. He was very near death, you could just see it and feel it. He said, "You´´re going to come visit me again right?" and with tears in my eyes I said yes. Heartbreaking. My companion then said a beautiful prayer. All during the prayer, he kept making noises and i was sure he was going to die while she was praying. Luckily, he didnt. After we ended the prayer, we went to shake everyone's hands (men) and hug the women. Well, The Men kinda forced us to hug them. Not like forced forced, but like, pulled us in for a hug... It was a very awkward situation to say the least. Maybe we met Diego to bring his family to the gospel.

We have a Patriarch in our ward and my companion was talking to him, and I was trying to understand like usual. then, I could just feel the spirit super strong and he kept pointing at us. After he left, I asked what just happened. Hermana. H Said he pretty much gave us patriarchal blessings. And then she told me what he said, but its special, so I'm  not going to write it here, sorry. But it was pretty cool! 

We have this investigator. She looks a lot like mom. Like, same body shape, her eyes are similar and she reminds me of mom. (Shes who wanted me to marry her son). When we went to see her this week, her whole countenance had changed. She was so happy and the light had entered her. Se said she read lots of the Book of Mormon and she loved it. She prayed and knew she was supposed to be baptized! She also explained we were the first missionaries she ever let into her house. So much joy!! But, 2 days later, she went to the members house that goes with us, who knows how she found it, and said she didn't want to listen to us anymore. we went to go to her house to see what was wrong and the path had been blocked off. But, Hopefully this week we will be able to find out what happened.

We´re also working with this man who has been inactive for YEARS. Many many years. He wants to come back to church so much. We had 2 lessons with him and he bawled both times and was very open with what he said and felt. He is making so much progress. We have a lot more people, but those are just SOME of the highlights.

What a blessing I have to get to teach these amazing people. I know this is the true church. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. The Bible testifies of it too! Multiple times. Also, 2 Nephi 29 is a fantastic chapter for people who think the Bible is the only word of God. What a blessing! 

Love you all so much!!!! Hope all is well!

2/17/14 Hermana Stanger, Almost Accidentally Engaged

Once upon a time, there was a little Hermana. In the MTC she awkwardly asked her teacher how someone would ask you to marry them because it was a legit fear she had. What she should have asked was, How would a mother tell you she wants you to marry her son. Twice in one day 2 women told me that I should marry their sons. One was an investigator. She said, as translated by my companion, "You are so beautiful. You should marry my son and become a Mexican. you´ll love it!" I sat there slightly nodding because thats usually what I do when I have no idea whats happening. Yup, exciting.
That same night, we were walking to an investigators house and this car intentionally tried to hit me. It came VERY close. I was in so much shock. It was scary. Mexico is out to kill me. I also learned there are crocodiles here!! I want to see one so bad.
One day for lunch we went to a members house like usual. She put this food in between me and my companion. My comapnion misunderstood her and thought it was for me. So, I took a bit. MY MOUTH WAS ON FIRE. Im pretty sure actual flames were coming from my mouth. It made some good entertainment for the family.


On a more spiritual note, we had some AMAZING lessons this week. Theres this less active member who has started going to a catholic church and she doesnt want to come back. At the end of our lesson, we were bearing our testimonies, and suddenly things were flying from my mouth. I proceeded to testify that i knew that this church was true and our message was true or else I would be home by now. Because mexico is so different and so hard for me. When I ended, her who countanance had changed and she agreed to think about coming to church. It was amazing. Another woman, shes active, we were having a lesson and we said maybe 5 words the whole lesson. but it was ok because she was telling her story of how she was converted to the church. We were all crying and the spirit was super strong. We also have this investigator who is pretty much Golden. She has a baptismal date and she is so super receptive. she has been prepared. I love our investigators and mostly their prayers. They are so sincere and bring the spirit.


Oh! One more thing I forgot to say last week. One of the members in our ward accompanies us a lot. She had such a great experience, she called her husband, who is an area 70, to tell him. He was at a conference and guess who was there?? Elder Oaks! he asked if she would share her experience with them over skype to everyone there. So, that was pretty cool. I never realized how important members are in the work. they are more important than the missionaries. I invite all of you to work with the missionaries (If you´re not a missionary) and you´ll see the blessings that come from it.
Love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!!

2/10/14

Well, I will start out by saying, I am so glad I have Coleen Stanger genes. I will tell why in the form of ¨"If you give a mouse a cookie."

If you want to take a shower, you like the water hot. If the water is not hot, you check the water heater. If the water heater is out of gas, it doesn´t work. If it doesn't work, you boil some water on the stove. If the stove doesn´t work because you´re out of gas, you microwave it. If the microwave is broken, you give up. But, you have an idea. When you have an idea, you follow it, no matter how crazy it is. You boil water with the clothes iron. Then you enjoy hot water.- True story my friends. It was pretty exciting. 

Monday was hard. I'm not going to lie. I missed mom. A. LOT. But the next day, Hermana J. came and talked to me. She said everyone on their third week wants to go home. and she said, " If anyone was setup to fail, it was you" Because not only was it my third week, but moms 1 year, and I'm still sick. So, she was super proud I stuck it out. Obviously, god wont let us fail. 

There's a house near ours that my companion and I have felt impressed to go to, but we cant knock on doors. So, we´ve walked by many times waiting for them to be outside. Finally they were! We got to talk to them. the woman hasn´t really had religion in her life. I don´t know what exactally will become of this, but, hopefully it will be good. We have one investigator who is super prepared. She is pretty much golden.

That's about all this week. Love you all so much! The Lord loves us all and is watching out for each of us.

*She still hasn't got her lab results back from last week and she still isn't feeling well. Poor girl :(

2/3/14

Well, Im going to do this in sections.


Spiritual-
Well, Monday night, I got to ask 2 of our investigators if they would be baptized. IN SPANISH! And I did it! With the Lords help of course. They said yes!!!! SO exciting! They are wonderful. Oh! and I forgot to mention last week, I am a modern day pioneer! I am the first Sister missionary EVER in our area. So thats pretty cool. The other day I needed a priesthood blessing. I got one, but it was in spanish. I have no idea what was said, but I could feel the spirit so thats good. The other night our bishop was walking with us showing us where a bunch of less active members lived. We kinda lost track of time, and when we looked at the time we had 5 minutes to get home. And we were on the other side of town!!! Ah! But, a member showed up and gave us a ride! BLESSINGS! So many blessings all the time. Like that i am not dead yet. Heres why:


Health-

Well, This part is not fun. So, remember the parasite from last week? Well, I haven´t been getting better. And the other night I almost passed out and my head felt like it was about to burst. We went to a members house, her daughter was with us, and she was helping us. I felt like death. The next day we went to the doctor. That was exciting. From my symptoms, she was sure I was pregnant. Yeah. you read that right. I am Mary, and a virgin, but not THEE Virgin Mary...so, not possible. My companion had to explain there was NO way I was. You thought telling a doctor what was wrong in english was hard... Hahaha so, she said ok and that I needed to have some lab work done :/ And that i needed to eat more sugar. The next day a woman in our ward gave me some apples. I didnt know they weren´t washed and I took a bite. She FLIPPED. I was pretty sure I was going to die right then. Snow white and the poison apple. No fun. This morning I went to the lab and had some stuff done. Also, I have lost atleast 5 lbs. pre-mtc weight. So probably more.... (*Added form chat with Stephanie: Yesterday, after relief society, they reminded everyone of what i could eat. They were all talking about me and I couldnt understand and i lost it. The relief society president in her best english said, "Dont cry, you´lll be ugly. do you want to be ugly?" Hahaha :) )


Other- Hambugers here are MASSIVE. Bigger than my head. The lady we live with reminds me of Mrs. Ferrin. She is the mexican version of her. We got to celebrate her birthday with her! That was fun. Last night we found two massive cockroaches in our apartment. EW. Anywho, I think thats about it...


You´re alll wonderful!
Love,
Hermana Stanger

The lady she lives with.

Hamburger