Even when you are biking in freezing weather...

Wow! I still can not believe that another transfer has flown by...that is crazy!

 Hola amigos y familia,

This week with Hermana Leon has been so great. She is a super on task missionary and we are really getting things done here! We have been able to visit tons of less actives and our investigators as well. Actually we had quite a few miracles with the less actives.

We were out knocking some potentials doors as well as trying to locate our recent convert that has been to church in ages, and we were just not having any success. So she and I decided that we would go back to our car and go to our backups. Funny thing is that she and I kept on getting the feeling that we were missing something. That there was something in this area that we were suppose to do but we couldn't figure it out so we were just going to leave. As we were heading back to our car, we saw two Latino men further down the road walking to an old broken down truck. It was one of those awkward distances were you weren't sure if it would be weird to just start walking towards them or not. (If that makes any sense...it made sense in my head at the time). Yeah....so she and I were just going to hop into the car but the passenger door would not unlock. No matter how many times I pressed the unlock button, nothing would happen. We both just stood there staring at the car not sure what was our next move so I said "Well....it looks like the lord wants us to go talk to those two." And that is exactly what we did...turns out one of them is a really less active member and the other was his friend. We were able to get his phone number and address so that we could send the missionaries over to him since he doesn't live in our area. As soon as we were done talking to him and his friend, I was able to unlock the doors with no problem...interesting right?

Another experience with a less active. Hermana Leon and I, after giving service in IRC, decided to go to Panda Express 🐼 and as we were ordering food...a less active walked in. We hadn't seen her in quite a long time and hadn't been able to contact her. So it was a total miracle that she had a craving for Americanized Chinese food at the same time we did. Haha! We were able to invite her to the ward activity and she said that she would come (she ended up not coming but hopefully she will come to church this next Sunday for our Christmas program). But not even two minutes after we said goodbye to her, this young man came up to us and asked us what our tags said...Let me tell you, missionaries get so excited when people approach us instead of us having to approach them! We quickly answered his question and told him a little bit about what we do as missionaries. He was in a rush so we were only able to give him a #LIGHTtheWORLD card and a commitment to visit the website. He said "I will!...no I really promise I will! Thank you so much!" What a miracle! And during our lunch break as well!

We were also able to contact another less active and he told us that he had been wanting to come back to church but he doesn't drive and is currently having a few surgeries that he needs to recover from. He was going to come to our ward activity but couldn't make it do to being in traffic while trying to drive back from San Jose.

It was really interesting to me how the lord worked this week. We did not get so many new investigators but we were able to get in contact with some of Heavenly Fathers lost sheep.

I love the scripture in Mathew 18 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Heavenly Father doesn't just want us to find new people but he wants us to take care of the old as well. He is mindful of all his children and loves each one equally. He put them in our path this week and I know it was for a certain reason. He will keep trying to bring me back to the fold. He will never give up.

This Christmas season, i would invite you all to reach out to those that have strayed from the fold. Your less actives and those that maybe struggling with their testimony. Bring them back. That is one of the greatest gifts you could give your savior.

I love you all and I will write next week! ❤️ Hermana Paredes

P.s. I am singing in the Christmas program! Ha...hah...ahhhhhh!

Miracles just before the Transfer!

Hi Family and Friends!
 So we had another transfer and I am not a Sister Training Leader anymore.

There were too few sisters in the mission at this point so Hermana Nokes and I got released. I am now with Hermana Leon...and she is from Peru! So we make one Peruano and a half!!! YEAH! No, honestly I already love being her companion. She has got so many bright ideas and is super sweet. Plus she makes me laugh a ton! Seriously could not ask for a better companion.

 There have been so many crazy things happening this week and we had some AMAZING lessons! I am super excited what the results will be from those!

First off we had a lot of lessons with less actives this week and there is one less active who we have been really working on. She really wants to come back to church but there are just some circumstances holding her back but she truly wants to come. We have been praying a lot for her and trying to make some specific plans to try and help her come. Nothing has work these past few weeks but we had a miracle this past Sunday. SHE CAME! When she walked through the door, I about cried! Oh it is the most beautiful thing to see someone come back. She was so happy to be there and she told us at the end of church, that she is going to try to come every week...even if it means that she can only stay one hour. Wow! God is so good!

We also have started teaching a family. The father is a member who was baptized when he was eight down in Mexico but never was active in the church so we are working on helping him understand the blessings of staying with the church. His children and his wife though are not members. When we first met them, we asked them what they thought the purpose of life is. They told us they could not honestly answer so we asked them if we could teach them and they accepted. Along with that first encounter, we were able to defend our belief about eternal families. The father told us that it was not possible to have eternal families because we are all part of the family of god. We then asked him if this was something that he wishes could be true. That we can be eternal families. He told us yes but it was impossible.

There is something so powerful about testimony. Something just amazing and powerful. As Hermana Nokes and I testified about the power inside temples to seal families and how families are part of God's eternal plan, there was a hush that came over the room. Not one of them tried to contradict us as we testified. Probably one of the most powerful moments that I have had on my mission.

I can testify that the only reason they accepted a return appointment is because the spirit witnessed to them that our word were true. I am so grateful to have the Holy Ghost as a companion. It truly is the only thing that can convert us and change us. I love the feels that I get as my companion testify or as I testify or (my personal favorite) our members and recent converts testify. Testimony is a powerful tool to bring others to Christ. People need to hear our testimonies in order to feel that witness from the spirit! But how can they hear it if we do not open our mouths.

Here is the scripture of the week!

"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." - Mosiah 28:3

If we have felt the cleansing power of the atonement, then let us reach out so that others may feel it as well. Let us be desperate enough to not see any of our brothers and sisters perish that love fills our hearts and we open our mouths and testify! Only your testimony can bring them to the knowledge of the gospel...Therefore share it! I love you all! and I will send pictures next week! Hermana Paredes

tidings of great joy

WOW! I can't believe it is Monday already! This week went by crazy fast! I am just so amazing by how fast the time flies by...probably because we are always so busy. :P

 Well hello Family and Friends!

This week is has been pretty great! I am seriously enjoying every moment here in the mission...I still can't believe that it is December already! WHERE DID THE YEAR GO?!?!

 So basically our week consisted of so many meetings and Sister Training leaders things we hardly had no time to work in our own area! But we still had some amazing miracles.. :) Saturday was basically the only day that we had to proselyte in our area and WOWOWOWOWO!!!! WE talked to SOOOOOO many people! We have this thing in our mission called park your car day, were all the missionaries have to park their cars and ride bikes the whole day. The whole idea is to get us talking to more people. The past two Saturdays have been full of rain and cold but this Saturday was gorgeous! Absolutely beautiful! (Blessing number one from our heavenly father) And we everyone we met were super friendly and actually open to hearing our message! (Blessing number two) AND we got two new solid investigators just from Saturday alone!!! YEAHHH! (Blessing number three). They are really really cool. One of them at first wanted nothing to do with us but then she told us that her niece got recently baptized and I just happened to know her niece from my last area! She opened up a lot to us after that. She began to tell us how she had searched into a lot of different churches but was struggling to know how to find the truth....well...we can help with that! :) We ended up setting up a return appointment and left her with a promise that this was an answer to her prayers. Now that I think about it, our appointment is tonight! I'm super excited to teach this sweet spirit.

 We also contacted someone else in the same apartment complex who apparently use to be a former investigator. She too at first was not interested but we saw that she was struggling to carry her groceries in so we offered to help and she opened up to us. Isn't service the best? We ended up getting to know her a lot more and she told us how she was here alone in the united states and how she missed her kids down in Honduras. She also told us about how most of her family members have passed away and how she is not exactly sure if there is an afterlife. Perfect teaching moment! My lovely companion shared with her a few points about the plan of salvation and then I had the opportunity to testify to the truths that she stated. The spirit was so strong in the room and before Lourdes was half listening but now we had her full attention. Could totally tell she was feeling it. We asked her if she would be interested in learning more about this message and she gave us a solid yes. We have an appointment with her on Saturday! Whoop! whoop! :)

 The Lord is truly blessing us here in East Sac, and not just us but the Elders as well. According to Hermana Nokes, the elders haven't had investigators at church for the past three transfers. WELL.....they had one come this week. Actually, they have had three in the past two weeks and one really solid one named Jose! He is super super awesome! Comments in gospel principles, loves what we teach....he even stayed after church to practice the song we are going to be singing as a ward in our Christmas program! He just fits right in! We are super excited for the Elders!

 So for meetings, we had MLC (Mission Leadership Council), Team ups with the other Hermanas, and Zone Training. Zone Training is always super stressful but it always turns out good. Hermana Nokes and I were assigned to train on Joy and Goals and we had planned out about 20 minutes to do....well the Zone leaders went a little bit over with their training and left us about five minutes....GREAT! We ended up trashing our original plan and just depending on the spirit. IT. WAS. CRAZINESS! But we got it done! President was also there for our Zone Training and when he gave his closing remarks, he said that we summed up perfectly what he had taken him a whole hour to train the leaders on at MLC! Talk about compliments from President! :) He even said that we should do the training for next MLC! (ha..haha...noooooooo thank you!)

 He is really great. :)

 But I think the biggest thing I learned from this week was actually from our training (Funny how when you are preparing to teach others, you end up learning something yourself). As I was studying about joy, I realized a few things. First, joy is a choice. Sometimes we mistakenly think that Joy is the consequence of a choice we make but actually it is quite the other way around. Joy is the choice we make. There is something that Elder Russell M. Nelson said in this last general conference that I just love. He said "My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." So very true. I just think about the many times I have had to walk or ride my bike in the rain or deal with difficult members or investigators, or even the time our car tire popped and we were stranded for a good two hours or so and I felt complete joy! I felt so joyful during all of these circumstances. It is so empowering to know that joy is a choice.

 Second, I feel the most joy when I am fulfilling my purpose. Hard work is a really good source for joy! I remember how many times I wasted so much time back home and hours later, I would look back and feel totally unfulfilled. I think the reason I feel so joyful out here is because I am actually fulfilling something. I have a purpose. A goal. It is wonderful.

 Third, the source of all joy is Jesus Christ. It is because of him that I can even feel joy! I am seriously so grateful for this time of year and that we have the opportunity to celebrate his birth. What a wonderful way to worship him... I love you all, Hermana Paredes

Hermanas Paredes and Nokes

Hard times come again no more

Hi Family and Friends,

 Wow....what a week. Seriously, this week has been a roller coaster for me and Hermana Nokes but it is very interesting the peace we feel through it all.

 So lets start with the craziness of Thanksgiving.

 This thanksgiving I didn't have your normal rolls, turkey, ham, and mash potatoes....Latinos do it differently...very differently. This thanksgiving I had (drumroll please!)....Cow head. Literally! No joke! I had meat of a cow head!!! and they wrapped it all up in a sandwich. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a really weak stomach...really really weak so as soon as I found out that it was Cow head, I headed to the bathroom and hit my knees. Basically my pleading went like this...."Lord please let me be able to shove this down my throat without barfing all over their table!!" ...I am a witness to you that the Lord answers prayers... hahah!

 Also, Daniel got baptized! My cute 11 year old investigator from North Sac! I was able to go to the baptism and see him enter into the covenant with his heavenly father. Though I think the best part was his testimony. He was super shy about doing it so I told him I would go up with him and his little hand grabbed mine and we walked to the front. He bore the simplest but purest testimony. One of a child who had complete faith in his Heavenly Father...yep. I totally cried.

 Okay last thing before I run out of time. After our monday dinner...we got a call from one of our less active member, whom we were teaching lessons to her kids because they are recent converts, and she was telling us that she needed to come to the hospital immediately. Turns out that her second oldest daughter was crossing the road when a car came by and hit her She ended up being rushed to the hospital and on the way, she died in the ambulance. So this women called us begging us to come to the hospital to be with her. She really needed support and we were the only ones close enough to the hospital at the time so we went. When we got there we were asked to come and say a prayer over her body. I have never seen a dead person before so quite honestly I was terrified. I wasn't sure if I would be able to hold in all my emotions in front of this family so we quickly said a prayer and then we were led to the room. Interestingly enough it wasn't as scary as what I originally thought it would be...it was actually kind of peaceful. She was just lying there with her eyes closed as if she was sleeping. Honestly if I didn't know better I would of thought she was really just sleeping but then again there was an emptiness about her. It was the strangest experience but at the same time the most beautiful.

 I am seriously so grateful for the knowledge of the plan of salvations and the fact that we can have our families forever. What comfort it is to know that death is not the end but the beginning of exhalation! Just another step to our eternal progression. We went by their house last night and through her tears, this sister asked us "Will I ever have my daughter again?" I felt the power of the spirit as we quietly testified to her that she would indeed have her daughter again.

 I am truly truly grateful for the gospel. It gives me so much hope. I have hope.

 I love you all,

Hermana Paredes

Even in the rain and cold

Dear family and friends,

 Soooo we got hit by a cold front this week...along with tons of rain...and we got to bike in it....oh yeeeahhhh. 😎 haha! It was actually pretty fun even though we were soaked from head to toe. We got to get a few good contacts in and then arrive to our Ward party rocking our soaked dresses...we looked so good! Haha!

 So our ward had a thanksgiving dinner and wow...so much good food! So much! And the members here are so determined that we eat well here so don't worry. I never starve.

 I seriously love the members in this ward! They are all so funny and just very very very involved in our missionary work. This week alone we got three referrals! Three! That is more then I usually get in a transfer! They all seriously rock my socks! 🙃 they also like to come out with us on lessons which is super nice and they always ask how our investigators are doing! Makes me so happy!

 We did tons of service the other day and we have this special opportunity to work with some refugees! Super super cool experience and you can feel the spirit so strong there. I think it is because the sincere desire that everyone one has to help them. The love of God just blooms there.

 Funny thing I found out this week. The more you focus on other people...the more you can feel god's love for yourself. Kind of cool that way right? 😊

 Well I am now out of time but I will send some pictures to make up the lack of my email.

Love you all!

Hermana Paredes

Rely on Grace

Okay this is going to have to be a really fast email but a summery of this week is that I had to rely a lot on the Savior's grace to make up everything I lacked.

 Basically I got called to be a new leader like a week ago, then I went to a training with the other leaders and the mission president, and then I was expected to turn around and train the other missionaries. I already get stage fright so I was terrified out of my mind!! I seriously in the planning session for the zone training and I realized I had no idea what I was doing! And then the time came around to fast and I just about froze up and died when it was my turn to speak. I kept giving my companion silent SOS signs with my eyes and she got the hint and jumped in and helped. I kept feeling so inadequate and so helpless because I seriously had no idea how to train a bunch of missionaries let alone be a leader. My heart and mind were just being overwhelmed by this feeling of desperation and sinking when all of the sudden a peace fell over me and a thought came to my head, "You may not have this but I do, trust me." And all the fear left. It came around again for my turn to speak and I found that my mouth was filled. My heart was so full it felt like it was going to burst. I love the power of the atonement and how it makes up for everything that I lacked. It was kind of amazing that the spirit wasn't pulling random words and putting it in my mouth to say but rather he was pulling from different experiences I had had and ideas. He was basically enhancing me. I found that to be such a tender mercy. The lord is really aware of us and our needs and in his infinite mercy, he reaches out his hand and guides us along.

 Everything that has happened this week has really taught me a lesson is one way or another. For example, we were knocking doors and we accidentally knocked the door of another religions missionaries...or maybe it wasn't an accident. For missionaries, these type of missionaries can be really tough because they know their bible inside and out (something I really admire about them) but they also like to use it a lot to bible bash. Most missionaries usually walk away discouraged but I am grateful for every encounter we have with these missionaries because every time they strengthen my testimony. This particular encounter, she was trying to argue with us about the perfect government and she pulled out Daniel 2:44 which talks about god will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. I nearly laughed out loud because we know through modern day revelation that that scripture is about the true church of Christ! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I just love that the scripture that she was trying to use to prove us wrong, was actually proving us right. It prophesied of a church that would be built up and that would never be destroyed and that it would go out to all the world...well it was kind of standing in front of her. Living proof of that prophesy! We are missionaries for that church that is God's Kingdom on earth that will never be destroyed, and we are spreading it to all of the world. So she was basically trying to destroy the church that God himself had said that would never be destroyed. Kind of ironic right? Man I love modern day revelation and even though we did not even get a word in, I am so grateful for that experience. I had been looking for an experience that would help me build my faith and that did just the trick.

 We also had many lessons this week were the spirit was really working with us. There was was one lesson in particular that really built my faith. It was with this lady named Juana and she is someone who had not been keeping her appointments or her commitments. We were kind of at this point that we felt like it would be better to just release her so we went into this lesson with that mentality. Kind of funny how this lesson went from being a release lesson to a spirit filled lesson about the Holy Ghost. Somehow we got talking about the spiritual experiences that she and her husband had had in their lives. For example, her first communion...she had felt something warm fill her, and for him, every time he prays he says that he feels an overwhelming peace. We were able to witness to them that this was the Holy Spirit that witness of truth and that if they truly searched out this message, they would feel his influence again in their lives. So we recommited them to read the Book of Mormon and then to ask Heavenly Father if this message was true. They said they would so I really hope that they do.

 I am so grateful for this church and for living day prophets. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the convincing power it contains! There is seriously nothing more beautiful then this gospel! This is truly the true church of god and it is our right and our privilege to make it know to the world.

 I love you all,

Hermana Paredes

 P.S. We biked 18 miles this past Saturday...I am so saddle sore!!

First sister AP?! (clickbait)

Hola amigos y familia,

 So.....I received a call this this past Tuesday....and I have been called to be the first sister Assistant to the President...JK! I've been called to be a Sister training leader.... Still in shock and it is a week later. I still have no idea what I am doing but I am sure that I will get the hang of it soon! Haha!

 On top of that I have also been transferred. This week was kind of on the sad end. I had to say a lot of goodbyes to people I had grown to love so much, especially my recent converts. The both of them are amazing. Juan is just plowing through the Book of Mormon and is growing in his faith in Jesus Christ. Lorenzo is blooming under the influence of the gospel and he is one of our most active members. Also this past Sunday he got up and bore his testimony during sacrament meeting....I totally bawled like a baby. I was crying so much that the little girl sitting in front of me turned around, took one look at my face, and said very loudly, "Mom, she is crying!" Haha! She is so cute! She got me a tissue and all. Sweet girl.

 I'm going to miss North Sac so much. This was probably one of the hardest areas to leave because it was the one that I've stayed the longest in and it has all of my recent converts but I have perfect confidence that Hermana Zaugg and Hermana Scott will take good care of them and the area. Plus I will be back for Daniel's baptism! Whoop! Whoop! They stayed together and now I am in East Sac with Hermana Nokes. She is a doll! I love her! She just makes everyone laugh when she is laughing...and trust me she laughs a lot.

 I'm definitely going to miss my sweet companions. We all got along so well and I grew so much with them. Probably the most of laughed ever! But it will be alright. I'm excited to start this new adventure. Hopefully I will have more to tell you all next week!

 Love you all!

❤️ Hermana Paredes

Happy Halloween!

Hey family and friends,

 This week has been pretty great! I had to give a talked in sacrament meeting this past Sunday and I didn't throw up on the podium...I count that as a success. It actually turned out to be a really good talk considering it was thrown all together the night before because I didn't have time during the week...okay I did have time but I did not feel I was getting any spiritual revelation until the night before. Funny how being under pressure brings a lot of spiritual revelation.

 It was also a very successful Sunday because a lot of our less actives came to church and one of them brought a friend who is not a member. She ended up liking church a lot and now we are teaching her kids. Yeah for awesome members! 😆

 Daniel, the eleven old boy we are teaching, is doing amazing! He is just progressing and learning so much! Yesterday we went over to his house to teach him and guess who was there...the none member friend with her children! We ended up teaching all of them the ten commandments and the hand signs that go with them. Though they may or may not think that the second commandment is that we don't worship cows...oops. Haha! They are great kids! Daniel is especially amazing! When we went over the sixth commandment, Daniel bore a little testimony about how we are all god's children and that is why we should not kill. He then turn to his friends and said "you are my brother and you are my sister." He then turns to us, "they are my sisters too!" Oh I just wanted to grab him and hug him! Though I think my favorite quote of his is "the three most important people are God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They are not the same people but they are all on the same team!" Man I have really underestimated this kid! He just understands everything and he just sees the big picture. And now he is super excited to share it with his friends! I love him!

 Lorenzo, my recent convert is also doing really well. We had a lesson about the word of wisdom with him and he basically taught us...yeah we are just waiting for him to get translated....He is amazing! He is starting his second time reading the Book of Mormon and he is already on chapter eight of first Nephi. Also last week, he blessed the sacrament! For the first time!! Sure he had to repeat the prayer like four times but he did so good and he said that he really liked doing it. He is just growing so much in the gospel but he is not prideful at all. I could probably say that he is the most humble person I've ever met in my life. Just so gentle, takes correction, looks for the good in people, always is ready to serve, just an example of what a disciple of Christ should be. Every time I go teach him, I learn something new. He thinks he is learning from us but I think it is actually flipped. We are learning from him. I so can not wait till he can enter into the temple.

 We also got a new ward mission leader. What a blessing! He is so great! First day as ward mission leader, he pulled us aside into a room and sat us down and then discussed our needs and how he could help us. I about wept! Haha! But seriously it was so nice that he wants to be directly involved in our work. He also makes sure that we have dinners for the week and he is helping us plan Daniel's baptism for November. We are extremely grateful to have him!

 I haven't done this in a long time but I am going to share with you some spiritual insight that I got this week. I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma 60 and I came to verse seven and something there just really struck me. It says "Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren." It was very very interesting because in the very second that I felt the spirit touch my heart. It was very different for me because usually the spirit touches my heart with scriptures that are praising me or are a little bit gentler but this one really hit me and I couldn't help but think why? This chapter is about war and what this chapter is referring to is a war that is going on in the Book of Mormon, so why was this hitting me so hard. I did a little more research and then I found my answer. Just like those people in the Book of Mormon, we are in a war. Maybe not a physical war but definitely in a spiritual one. Everywhere Satan is trying to murder thousands of my brothers and sisters. Our brothers and sisters. I don't think we realize it. I think we sometimes think "well I'll take a break of doing home teaching or visiting teaching or sharing my belief with those I know because I have been doing a lot lately." Well you know what, Satan has also been doing a lot lately as well but the difference between him and us is that he is diligent in his purpose. He is one hundred percent focused. So every moment we stop or we don't do our visits or we don't share what we know with someone who is searching, we are basically sitting in our "thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor" while Satan and his forces are murdering thousands of our brothers and sisters.

 I don't want to be accountable for that. I have began to ask myself "am I as diligent about my purpose as Satan is about his?" If i can't answer yes then I am not doing enough.

 Let us not stand by and wait for miracles to happen or angels to come and rescue our brothers and sisters! Because it won't come! You know why? Because we are the angels, we are the miracle waiting to happen! Why would god send others when he has already sent us. Let us be proactive instead of reactive!

 A good talk to read that get my point across is Elder Hollands talk from General Conference October 2012.

 I love you all! Have a good week!

Hermana Paredes

 P.s. I also included a video for your amusement....you're welcome! 😉

October Adventures!

Hey friends and family!

 I'm sorry that this email is coming in a little late. Our zone went to a corn maze today! Probably one of the funniest activities I've done in a while (more fun?)! Though it wasn't the whole zone, it was still super fun. I'll send some pictures along and maybe a video.

 This week was actually "quite great" in the words of Elder Stewart (He is from England). We got five new investigators and one person on date! We are so excited! November looks like it is going to be a great month.

 Our first new investigator is Andres. Funny story about finding him. We had him in our area book and so we stuck him in the plans...I'm so glad we did. When he opened the door, I had a little freak out session because there was a Peruvian flag right behind his head. It literally went like this, "Hi we are miss..ARE YOU FROM PERU?!" It was really cool because we got into a really good conversation about Peru and the Andes and the culture and how much we missed it. He was super cool and he agreed to have us back over this coming Saturday. I am super stoked to teach him.

 Our second new investigator is Jessie. She recently just had a new baby and is just the sweetest thing ever. Apparently she has had missionaries over before and she liked what they were teaching her but one day they just stopped coming. She told us she never understood why but she is happy that we are coming back again. We have an appointment with her this night and we are going to be teaching her the Plan of Salvation. Very very excited.

 Okay last thing! We went over last night to go teach Daniel "the gospel of Jesus Christ". At first the lesson just seamed to be dragging and I was beginning to worry that Daniel wasn't getting anything out of this lesson. We came to the point of baptism and we showed him the video about Jesus Christ's baptism...still nothing. Now I was pretty desperate for him to feel something! I was about to explain to him again why it was so important to be baptized when the spirit quietly whispered "just ask him if he really wants this." So I took a deep breath and very gently asked him if this is what he really wanted, to be baptized. Daniel is a thinker and he says exactly how he feels so he just sat there and thought and thought. I could see the gears turning in his brain and then something just clicked. He looked me straight in the eyes and said "yes". I then asked him why and he gave such a sweet sincere answer "I want to live with God and Jesus my big brother in the celestial kingdom. I want to be in the celestial kingdom." He brought the spirit in with that answer and then we were able to invite him to baptism on November 19th. I also asked him how he felt when he said yes. I loved loved LOVED his answer. He said he got a tingly feeling..."right here" as he pointed to his chest. He gets it! He really gets it! I had been feeling like we were just pushing him to baptism but this lesson revealed that he himself really wanted this. It is beautiful! This is just an eleven year old boy but he just has such a deep understanding of the gospel. I think I sometimes forget that when I was his age, I began to experience the gospel and feel it in my life too. Sometime I underestimate this kids but I am always astounded when I hear their testimonies.

 It is just a reminder to me that the gospel is for everyone. Young or old. The gospel is simply beautiful. So simple yet so complex. Simple enough for children to understand but complex enough to that we will never stop learning about it. Look at the wisdom of our God.

I will always always be grateful for is gospel.

 Hermana Paredes

We work. Always...even in the pouring rain

In and Out

Dear family and friends,

 It has rained cats and dogs these past few days! So most of my time consisted of running from the rain! It was ridiculous! I loved it!

 So this week was also the week of eating out and sugar....bad combination! Literally every member wanted to take us out to eat and I got my first try of "In and out"! Not to bad California...😏 haha! The reason we ate out so much because this was the week of my nine month mark...yep I am officially nine months! Aggggghhhhhh! It is going to fast! Someone slow it down!

 Let see...what happened this week. So one of my favorite people ever got baptized! Her name is Dianne Warren and I met her at a members house. She was so so sweet and I had the amazing opportunity to befriend her. We talked about everything from "Little house on the prairie" to religion. During the course of that night, I was able to ask her if she would like missionaries like us to come over to her house and teach her. She said sure....that was about 4 months ago and just this past Saturday I had the opportunity to congratulate her as he newest member of the church. Even though I never taught her, I felt the joys of seeing her make that covenant. She is amazing! That made me want to be the best member missionary ever when I get home! I felt a rush! Gosh I love being a missionary!

 Another amazing thing! We found my former investigator! Jose! A while back we had to drop him because we couldn't find him. That was the hardest thing I had ever done. I literally cried as I did it. It just hurt my soul to know that I possibly wouldn't find him again but I had faith that some missionary somewhere would. You have just got to trust Heavenly Father. He totally knows better then me and you never know...tender mercies might be coming your way! Though he is not in our area anymore and he is now in the elders, I am just over joyed that he is found! I hope that I will be seeing him baptized soon! He was such a wonderful investigator. So full of faith and thirst for the truth.

 Hope your week was great!

Hermana Paredes

Laura's baptism

A girl has got to do what a girl has got to do

Hi family and friends,

 So things have calmed down in our area. It isn't as crazy anymore...thank goodness! We still have a lot of work though but we are enjoying it. And especially enjoying being in a trio! There is just so many things you can do in a trio! There is always someone to talk to, someone to be with you when the other goes to the bathroom (unless both of them have to go.... 😑), someone to lift you when you are feeling down, you can divide and conquer as long as one of them can see and hear you still....I submit trios are the best. Especially with Hermana Zaugg and Hermana Scott. It is funny how different they are but it just makes our companionship so much better!

 This week we had another baptism. Her name is Laura Guzman and she was the other sisters investigator but when the areas were combined she became ours but man, her baptism was one of the most interesting ones I have ever done. All the planning went fine and she did great, it was just getting the baptismal room ready. So our ward mission leader forgot to call someone to fill the fount (and who can blame him, the guy has like three different callings in the ward...stressful!) and we thankfully showed up a half an hour before the baptism was suppose to start. We realized that the fount was not filled and we did not have a key to get into the back rooms to turn on the pump. Thank goodness someone had left the curtain to the fount unlocked, do Hermana Zaugg wasted no time. She hiked up her skirt, climbed over the glass railing to the fount and jumped down into the fount. She then ran around the back way and got to the doors to unlock it so that we could get in. I then had to pick the lock to the plumbing...not an easy fleet and we finally were able to get the water going but man for a moment there, we were scared that we weren't going to be able to have a baptism!

The baptism turned out great even though Laura had to do it four different times because we accidentally stopped the water before it was all the ways filled... Oops! 😅Thank goodness she has such a good humor. She told us "well I better be clean now if I got dunked four times!" She is so funny! 😂 We really love her! Also Hermana Scott and I sang for her baptism...that was terrifying because President was there! And Hermana Scott wants to so badly be in the Psalms of Sac and I sure did not want to mess that up for her. (Psalms of sac is a music cd that the mission makes every year featuring the missionaries musical talents) It turned out pretty good and the whole ward says that now they know that we can sing, they are going to be using us more....well.. Great. Haha!

 We added a few more new investigators this week! One who is really cool! His name is Jesus! Apparently he was Hermana Vergaray's old investigator and when I was on a exchange with her we tried to go find him but couldn't....but his week we found him! And he is awesome! He told us how sometimes when he talks about a god or Jesus he gets a warm feeling in his chest and that he wants to build his faith! We got the opportunity to teach him how he can directly communicate with Heavenly Father through prayer! And he said one! A real one! Apparently the only prayers he has ever done are his recitations so that was his first true prayer! We are super excited for him!

 One last miracle! I got a call Saturday night from President telling me that Pedro had been baptized! A little bit of background, Pedro was an investigator that Hermana Justiniano and I put on date back in Elk Grove. When Hermana Justiniano and I got shotgunned out, somehow his information was not transferred over to the elders so they couldn't find him. Hermana Justiniano and I were devastated. I remember praying that somehow he would be found and he was! Three transfers later, they find him! And he was baptized! Hermana Justiniano was able to meet him at a multicultural event and he told her that he still remembered us! And that we were the Angels that changed his life around! Wow! That is such a tender blessing! In my time in Elk Grove, I thought we hadn't done anything for that area and then after we lost Pedro, I really felt horrible but it is all worth it now that he is baptized!

 It has been a great week! I hope your alls week is great too!

Hermana Paredes

Weddings, awkward contacts, and trios...yeah it is a good life 😂

Hello family and friends,

 Honestly, I love the trio life....I LOVE IT!! We are having so much fun working together and it is so nice that we are all on the same page when it comes to missionary work! I love Hermana Scott and Hermana Zaugg...though we look like the mafia just came to town every time we knock on a door....haha!

 So we had a wedding this week for our investigator, Laura. Originally she was he other sister's investigator but when we combined our areas she became ours. Let me tell you...there is nothing like a Latino wedding...it is seriously the best. 😉The ward really pulled together to make her wedding perfect and worry free for her. Our relief society is amazing! They seriously have the best presidency. And Laura...oh! She is such a sweetheart and she looked gorgeous! I think she will be just fine in this branch. She also got her baptismal interview this last week so she is all set for her baptism on the 8th! We are all really excited for her because this has been something she has been looking forward to for a long time and it is finally going to happen. We are all really proud of this step that she is taking.

 We had so many awkward contacts this week...so many! Not really sure why but they sure do make some great memories. For example, we were going to knock on this one guys apartment and when we turned the corner we saw this guy waiting right outside the door we were going to knock...so of course we started talking to him, asking him if he lived there, if he had talked to missionaries before, all of that good jazz. He was pretty tight lipped and didn't give us many answers. I also noticed that he was dressed pretty nice and I kept wondering why...well I got my answer soon enough. The door opens to reveal a girl who is also dressed really nice and I could catch a whiff of perfume...that's when I put two and two together...they were about to head out on a date and he was on her doorstep to pick her up....and we were third wheeling! (Do you see what I did there, third wheel? Trio? 😉) oh so awkward! She was all like "alright I'm ready to go." And then she saw us. The guy quickly ushered her back into her house and then scurried in after her and shut the door. We just stood there. Not knowing what to do..... So we walked away. Haha!

 I love that on the mission you never know what is going to happen when you contact someone. Every time it is something new...and interesting. 😂

 Some thoughts from General Conference...so I don't have many because my companions and I had to keep running in and out of general conference to fix the tv that was broadcasting conference in Spanish but this is what I do have. I loved what Russell M. Nelson shared about joy and how having Christ as our focus is the only way we will truly have joy.

Also Robert D. Hales when he talked about if we love the savior more, we will suffer less. That is so true! I'm have come to know that if we always have our focus on the Savior our lives are just...better. It is like the formula for everything. Are you sad? Rely on the savior. Are passing for trials? Rely on the savior. Are you feeling lonely? Rely on the savior. Anything you need, want, hope for? Just rely on the savior. How often do we forget this. He is literally the solution to everything! I loved what Elder Quentin L. Cook said, "Jesus Christ is the Mark." I absolutely love that! He is the mark. The perfect example. He is everything. And finally one last thing...he knows us and he knows where we are and he does not want to lose us. I love how so much of this conference focused on coming back to the fold and talked about his invitation to repent and come and know him. What a beautiful thing repentance is and how merciful is Heavenly Father to give us something such as repentance. I couldn't imagine my life without this great gift and experiencing it. I know that my life wouldn't be filled with so much joy if I hadn't experienced the healing power of the atonement. It is truly amazing to me.

 What was everyone's insight on general conference? I'd like to hear it.

 Hermana Paredes

It was the week before transfers...

Hola amigos y familia!

 Okay so this email is going to be short but contain a lot of pictures....lots!

 So first off, Juan. Man this week was crazy with our investigator Juan! So Monday night we tried to call Juan. No answer. Tuesday morning we tried to get ahold of him. No answer. Tuesday night, called him again. No answer. This continued to Thursday night when we finally got a hold of him. I about cried with relief. Apparently he has just had a very busy week and was going through a lot and wasn't able to get back to us but he told he had listened to our voicemail, read our texts, and Facebook messages, and the note that we left on his door filled with scriptures....yeah we are a bit persistent. Haha! But everything is good. Juan was baptized this past Saturday and confirmed Sunday morning and his daughter was able to come and witness that. It was amazing! He just was beaming from ear to ear! And he even gave his testimony at the end of the baptism. I love listening to converts testimonies!

 Basically my whole week was chasing down Juan and taking care of Hermana Niemann. She got really sick....the poor thing! She came down with a fever and chills and aches and had to stay in bed for 3 days so we didn't get much work done. About the only interest thing that happened was the baptism and transfer calls.

 For those of you who haven't had the joys of experiencing transfer calls...it is the same kind of feeling as when you were a little kid waiting for Santa. Usually they call us about nine to nine thirty ish but our zone leaders didn't call us till ten! We were dying!! I sort of knew that I was going to stay in North Sac, but I was not prepared for the call. They combined the other sisters area with ours so Hermana Leon and Hermana Stout were transferred out and Hermana Niemann (this one came as a shocker to me) was transferred out to Rancho Cordova. And I stayed here...and I got two new companions!! I'm in a trio again! What?! And my area is huge! Double what?! I seriously cover the whole stake except for Del Paso Heights which is the elders!! And this is my first time leading out an area too!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! (I know I seam like I am freaking out but actually I am pretty calm....Sort of....haha!)

 So yeah....that has been my crazy week. Oh and I also went to the temple today! It was beautiful! 😊 

Love you all,

Hermana Paredes

Bringing in the Seven!

Hola familia y amigos!

 We had one of the coolest week! Oh it has been so great!

 First off, our investigator, Juan, got his baptismal interview this week and of course he passed with flying colors! Oh we are so excited for him. Though we were a little bit worried this past Sunday because he didn't show up to church and he wasn't answering his phone....scary. Turns out he went out to his car Sunday morning to drive to church to find that his battery of his car was dead. Nothing he did could get it jumpstarted....arggggghhhhh! Satan is definitely at work but Hermana Niemann and I are working harder. He is totally not going to win.

 Also another story with Juan! Hermana Niemann and I were trying to get out of our dinner appointment so that we could get to our investigator's appointment. We even had a member, Lorenzo, meeting us at Juan's house but the member kept talking and talking. Strangely enough Hermana Niemann and I were pretty peaceful about out it. By the time we were actually able to leave the appointment, we were 15 minutes late. We quickly sped over to our appointment and then looked around the apartment complex to find Lorenzo. We couldn't find him anywhere! So we finally gave up and decided that we would just have to go to Juan's. We knocked the door and to our great surprise, Lorenzo opened it! They had been sitting at the table just talking and getting to know one another! That was an answer to a prayer! Juan had been telling us that the number one thing he was finding difficultly with was finding friends at church but know he has one really good friend. And you can tell that they are really good friends because during the lesson they kept on cracking inside jokes!!! Oh my gosh! It was amazing! The spirit was so strong with those two! I swear, Lorenzo is the best member missionary ever! For example at the end of the lesson, Juan was telling us of some of the struggles he faces and before Hermana Niemann or I could open our mouths, Lorenzo began to bear a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon! He told Juan that if he ever feels sad all he has to do is read the Book of Mormon! "It just makes me feel better anytime I read this book. It brings me peace!" I love my recent convert.

 So this week we got seven new investigators! And I'm going to share with you a miracle...

 Hermana Niemann and I had had a very long day without much success so we were about to just head to our last back up and it wasn't even eight yet... Plus the backup was a member. We were pretty bummed especially since that morning we has been praying really hard to find the lord's elect and we felt like we had seen much success. We were driving to our members house and out of the corner of my eye, I see this guy fixing his truck on the side of the road. I didn't think much of it and kept driving, but then I got the feeling that we should turn back and talk to him. My thoughts were, " well...we got nothing to lose!" So I flipped a U turn. Hermana Niemann was so confused and she was said "Wait! What are we doing?" "We are going to go get us a new investigator" and that is exactly what we did. Turns out this guy had visited to missionaries before...when they were Elders. That was a long time ago! He said he had always wondered why they had stopped visiting him. When I asked him if he would be interested in having missionaries con over again, he got really excited and said yes! He even said "I still have that book that they gave me! The Book of Mormon!" Oh we are really excited about him. Best part...he has a family! Three cheers for family! Whoop! Whoop!

 Okay one more miracle lesson. So we went back to one of our new investigators house because we had missed our appointment with her due to Hermana Niemann's throat swelling up. (Not really sure if I told you all that story or not.... 🤔) When we knocked on her door, she was like "come in! Come in!" She told us that she has been reading the book we left her, the Book of Mormon! She had so many questions and we were able to teach her the restoration but what really caught her was the bible and the fact hat so many plain and precious things had been taken away. She to,d us that she had always wondered that. She especially got excited about the restoration of the priesthood! She said that she had been studying in the bible about the priesthood and the power of God but had always wondered what happened to it! She is just so prepared but the most interesting thing was when we were trying to show her a scripture in Moroni, she freaked out! She said that in her grandpas bible, there was the book of Moroni, 3 Nephi, and Ether. Weird right. So we are going to have to do a bit of re-explaining to her because now she thinks the Book of Mormon is the missing book from the bible...oops! Well she is still a really cool investigator. 😅

 Funny story: as missionaries, we need a backer anytime we back out of a parking spot. Hermana Niemann was backing me out of my spot and this guy was just staring at us. Hermana Niemann turned to him and said "we have to do it." He just looked at her and replied "It is okay, everyone has got to learn at some point" and then he gave me a thumbs up and shouted "Good job!" Bahahahahaha! He thinks I'm learning how to back up! Hahahaha! It was so funny! We had a good belly laugh! Sweet guy! 😂

 Well, I think that is all! Next week is transfer week so I will be emailing Tuesday.

 Love you all!

Hermana Paredes

God is not a hater

Hi family and friends

 The quote above is just another great thing our friend on the corner always yells out...he has got some pretty good points. 😉 Anyways! This week! It has really just been a great week. Sorry I didn't write last week...it was to darn stressful. I spent half of my last p-day trying to organize a musical number and honestly writing a whole weekly email would have stressed me out more....hope that didn't ruin anyone's week! Haha!

 So yeah, I organized a whole musical number for zone conference. That was super stressful trying to coordinate with everyone's busy schedules but it ended up turning out really good. I recorded it so I will send it along. Zone conference in general was amazing! I love listening to President and getting trained on how to be a better missionary but the biggest thing I got out of the training is that the lord is hastening his work and he needs more then ever missionaries who understand his purpose which is to "bring to pass the immorality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) It really reconfirmed to me how 100% focused I need to be on this work! Heavenly Father so deeply loved us that he wants each one of us to have the opportunity to hear this incredible message about the atonement and the gospel. And he so deeply loved us he desperately wants every single one of us to return to him but he has to rely on a bunch of 18-26 year old adults to do that work for him....scary but then kind of not. I'm amazing that he would put that much trust in our hands and I am more determined then ever to not let him down or my brothers and sisters down. Someone I loved that President said this that no one of us has ever walked pass just a mere mortal....so so true! We all are children of God with the capacity to become like God...none of us are mere mortals.

 So something really cool this week is that our investigator, Juan, gave up coffee. Stopped cold turkey. We literally had a lesson with him about the Word of Wisdom and he was like okay, and handed over his coffee! He is the coolest and one of the most converted people I have ever met. He has such a great faith in the lord and his plan for him that he is totally willing to align his will with the lords. I am honestly amazed by him. We are going to go and buy him some Pero so that he has something to help him ease off the coffee.

 Isn't it amazing how much the gospel changes people?! I find it amazing! Just by hearing it, it just makes you want to be a better person! Wow....I can't imagine a better gift from our Heavenly Father. Giving us something that just increases our ability to become like him. He just thought of everything for us.

 Something that I'd like to share with you all is a scripture found in the Book of Mormon. I was reading this morning and this verse really hit me.

It is found in Mosiah 5:13.

 "13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

 My first thoughts where how can we know he savior without serving him...we can't. We can know of him but not actually know him. I've seen that difference in so many people I met here. You can tell when they know the savior and when they simply know of him. This is something I love about the gospel, it teach is us to know him! To actually know him! To have a relationship with him! That is incredible to me. This is why I love being a missionary! This is the reason why I am doing this! I'm so grateful that this gospel teaches me to have a personal relationship with my savior. I couldn't imagine my life without actually knowing him. What a blessing it is! And I want the whole world to know it...and someday they will.

 I love you all and I hope you have a great week! If you all have spiritual insights or tips on teaching or anything else that would help me be a better missionary, please send it my way!

 Hermana Paredes! ❤️

Facebook and all sorts of other craziness!

Dear family and friends..

 Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! This week was insane! My brain is fried! We had so many crazy changes and met so many crazy people this week....I love the mission!

Here are a few funny stories from this week.

We added this sweet old lady as a new investigator but she is so confused. Hahah! We went back for our return appointment with her and tried to follow up with her about her reading in the Book of Mormon and came to realize she couldn't read the paper copy because the letters were too small. So we tried to help her download the gospel library app onto her smartphone but for some reason or another it wouldn't download, so she told us to wait a minute and then she wandered into another room and grabbed an iPad. The iPad was dead so she went to the other room again and grabbed a charger. Her eyesight must be really bad because the charger was totally wrong. It was so funny because she was standing there trying to plug the charger in but of course it wasn't working so she was getting a little frustrated...poor women. Haha! Of course I tried to inform her that it was the wrong plug but she kept on insisting that it had worked before. She is just so cute! After five minutes of trying her hardest, she finally gave up and we told her that we would get her a Book of Mormon in bigger print but it was so funny because Hermana Niemann was trying so hard not to laugh that her face was getting red. Oh I love my companion!

Next funny story takes place while we were tracting in this neighborhood. So there are several clues to finding a Spanish home, number one being "do they have Christmas lights strung up?". There was this house that had Christmas lights strung up so we knocked. To our surprise, a short Russian women answers the door. That kind of caught us off guard! But Hermana Niemann is an excellent missionary and immediately asks if we could show her a video about Jesus Christ in Russian. As soon as the words "Jesus Christ" come off her lips, the lady goes loco crazy! She is all like "JESUS IS FRIEND! Love Jesus! Amen! Amen!" And wringing her hands everywhere.

We were afraid she was going to give herself a heart attack by how excited she got! Finally we got her to calm down by saying "yes, Jesus is our friend too! We love him too!" and we tried again to show her the video but she played gestures with us till we figured that she was trying to tell us she was busy cooking so not right now. We respected that and said our goodbyes and then walked away. We are like a block down the road when we hear a voice behind us yelling "Girls! Girls!" and we turn around to see her running towards us waving a book in the air above her head. She gave both of us a book named the Life book and then pointed at it and said "Jesus! Friend! Your friend!" and then gave both of us a hug and then ran back to her house....well that was a first! Haha! Hermana Niemann and I skimmed through it and honestly it solidified my testimony more of the Book of Mormon and the church and how everything just is true. In this book, there was just so many confusing interpretations of Jesus Christ and God. I'm so grateful we have the Book of Mormon that solidly tells us truths.

Super spiritual moment: We had a lesson this past Sunday with Juan and his daughter, Fatima. They are amazing! Just super humble and super prepared! I don't think I ever told you all this but Juan is on date! For September 24th! And now we are working with Fatima to get her on date but this last lesson we had with her proved that she wants this. Even though she is an eleven year old girl....she wants this.

We were teaching about the gospel of Jesus Christ which consists of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. We focused a lot on baptism and ended up showing Fatima and her dad the baptism of Jesus Christ. (The bible video form). As soon as the video was done, I asked her what she had felt while watching that. She was quiet for a long time just really thinking about it, and then finally she said "I felt loved".....wow....I have never heard that response before. So many times I have heard peace or calm...but not love.

I then asked her why she thinks she felt love. Again she was quiet for a while (she really is a deep thinker) and then she said "because of everything he did for me and now he is showing me the way". Wow, I could of hugged her in that moment. She totally understands! She understands who the savior is for her! That is incredible! We had the opportunity to extend the baptismal invitation and she said yes immediately. And I know it is because in that moment she felt the savior's love for her.

So some of you may have noticed that I'm back on Facebook again! Our mission officially has permission to do online proselytizing. It is super weird! We got on them this week to clean them out and it brought back so many old memories and some of the things that I miss about home. To be completely honest.... It was rough and it was so easy to become distracted while cleaning it out but as soon as I remembered my purpose, the spirit came back and then I could see how marvelous this tool is! I think it is amazing that the lord is using something such as face book to hasten his work and I am super grateful for this opportunity to use it! What an incredible blessing!

So as you can see there are so many miracles and so many adventures happening here. It I such a blessing to serve the lord in such this short time. It really is just a short time. What a blessing.

I love you all,
Hermana Paredes
Over and out.

The reason I wanted to serve a mission

Dear family and friends.

Lorenzo's baptism
Hermana Niemann, Hermana Sofia, Hermana Woodbury,  Hermano Lorenzo

I have so much to tell you all but I probably won't have enough to time to say it all so I am typing as fast as my little fingers will allow me. (Curse my little hands and slow typing skills!)

First of all, Lorenzo got baptized this week....MY FIRST INVESTIGATOR GOT BAPTIZED THIS WEEK!! I am beyond over joyed to be able to make that announcement. Though still the begin of this week was super stressful because we had to basically set up everything. Talks, piano player, who would baptize him....the whole shabang! (And probably spelled that wrong...oops) but it turned out amazing. I have been to many baptismal services before but I Have never felt the spirit so intense as this one. Not even in my own baptism! Literally as soon as he came out of that water, time seemed to stand still. He just stood there in the water with his chin trembling and there was just a different glow about him. He has always had a glow about him but this one was brighter...more brilliant. When I looked into his face, I just knew that he knew it. That he could feel it so deep in his heart. I about leaped out of my chair and to the baptismal fount to hug him. I wanted to tell him I felt it too! I haven't had that much joy in my heart before.

I have had many joyful experiences in my life but nothing like this....I'm probably going to start crying writing this but it is so hard to explain what I felt. My heart was pounding so hard, and I felt like I could run miles, shout for joy, I don't know! Something! I had to do something! I imagine my joy will even be greater when I get to sit with him in the celestial kingdom some day.

I think also it is more special to me because I was with him from beginning to end of this process...all the way until he stepped into those waters. I seriously cannot even began to explain what it felt like. I wish I had the words....but I seriously don't. But I think the sweetest moment was when he bore his testimony. That just really reaffirmed to me that all the sacrifices I have made to come out and serve were all work it. My joy was filled.

Can I just brag about Lorenzo for a second? Lorenzo is the best! He is the absolute best! This past Sunday, the Sunday he got confirmed, we asked him if he would come to visit a potential with us. Just because he is super cool, he said yes. This potential's name is Juan and he has a daughter. Apparently they have been to church before but in a different ward in Rancho Cordova. He was going with a friend for a while and from what he told us is that he saw something different about his friend and now he wants the same happiness for himself. So he agreed to have missionaries come and teach him.

We got his contact information and ended up calling. We set up a time to meet him Sunday and now that is were we are at in this story. So Lorenzo came with us....and he was AMAZING! We were just talking to Juan, trying to get to know him and he was telling us somethings that had happened to him in his past. Lorenzo just starts talking out of nowhere and starts bearing his testimony about how he knows that our message could help him with whatever he was dealing with....Our recent convert was doing missionary work! How cool is that?! Wow but anyways we ended up adding him as a new investigator and Lorenzo even invited him to church next Sunday...without us even asking him to do it! As we were walking away from that appointment, Lorenzo kept on telling us how great that felt and if we were going to visit him again to call him because he wants to help Juan accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Can you really ask for a better recent convert?

This past Saturday, we had a multicultural event at the church. There were all types of food and dances from everywhere. Everything from the islands to Asia to Mexico! Super cool! What was even cooler is that one of the recent converts in our ward, Henyuri, did a Venezuelan dance! I will send the video along! But it was so awesome to be part of that.

Okay last thing....our mission is getting Facebook. That is the weirdest thing for me to say! It really is but its kind of cool at the same time...it is just proof to me that the lord's work is hastening more then we think. There are only 14 missions that have Facebook now and we are now one of the 14. Man that kind of tells you the level of trust the lord has in his missionaries. I will tell you more about that as I get information.

This week has been amazing...honestly there is no other place I'd rather be then right here in Sacramento California serving the lord.

I love you all and pray for you always!

Love Hermana Paredes
Over and out.

Close of one chapter and opening of another

Dear family and friends!



This week has been crazy!! Absolutely crazy!!

Hermana Woodbury and I ran around this week like chickens with our heads cut off! Mostly because we were trying to set up Lorenzo's baptismal interview! HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAY!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can't believe it! This will be my first investigator ever baptized! It's so amazing! Just seeing him really work for this and now it is actually going to happen...you can bet I'm going to bawl my eyes out during the real deal. So needless to say, he passed with flying colors. President Martinez said that their actual interview was about 5 minutes and then the rest of the half an hour that we were waiting, they were just talking. We were half scared to death waiting out there for them to finish up! Jeez President Martinez! Haha!

We have also been trying to find like crazy! We are running out of investigators pretty fast because they are either not interested in our message or not willing to do the things we are asking them to do. It is so frustrating sometimes to have investigators that are not willing to keep their commitments because you just want to shake them and say "Don't you know how much this can bless your life?!" (I promise I haven't done that to anyone....yet) Anyways...we contacted someone named Mike. I will be sending a video about him.

So this week we had stake conference and there was so many good things that we learned there. Though it was a translators nightmare...everyone was speaking so fast in English! Thank goodness I wasn't translating this time. (Elder Ackley translated and never tell him this but I am super impressed that he was able to keep up with the speakers the entire time). Every speaker put a huge emphasis on member missionary work, repentance, atonement, and faith. Just really proof that this work is truly hastening!

Also before I forget. We had transfers and now I am with Hermana Niemann in North Sac. Lorenzo was heartbroken that Hermana Woodbury was leaving but he still has so much faith and love for the savior that it doesn't affect anything he believes or has come to know about this church. He says that after our missions, he wants to come and visit us in Utah! Maybe who knows.

Sorry that this was a super lame email. There just is to much to say and so much to think about that I can't get it all down in one email.

I will try more next week.

Hermana Paredes
Over and out

Stalkers and all sorts of other fun...

So this week was....interesting.

                             Hermana Woodbury has a stalker.
He is from her last area and he found out where she has been moved to so this past Sunday he decided to show up to our ward....and he would not leave her alone! I seriously had to push myself in-between them because he kept on trying to get into her space!!

Yikes!

It was a struggle all through out church. So we called President that night and he basically told her that as soon as this week is up, she is out. That was heartbreaking because we really wanted to serve another transfer together but the more we thought it out we realized that maybe this was going to happen anyways.

Personally, I think she is going to be called to be a Sister Training Leader. 😉 She would be perfect for that! I really really hope soooo!!

Jose came to church! And so did Lorenzo! My two favorite investigators! (Really my only two investigators as of right now....) They both really liked it and this week we will be scheduling their interviews for their baptisms on the 20th!! Wow! I can't believe that this is actually happening!

I have been so excited this whole week because it is coming up so fast. Only problem is that we just found out that Lorenzo actually lives outside of our mission....so we may not be the missionaries to get him baptized, but honestly it doesn't really matter to me. As long as he is baptized.

President is currently working with the President of the mission where he resides in to see if he can just be our baptism. The only reason we never realized that he lived outside of our mission is because we always teach him at his work. It is kind of a sad, but still joyful because after we told him that we may not be teaching him anymore, he said "oh...does that mean I can't get baptized?" He STILL WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED!!! Wow!

That is just a witness to me that it doesn't matter if I teach him or if some other missionaries teach him, the spirit is still the same and he is still converted to this gospel and not to us. Man...if all my investigators could be like that.

 I'm not really sure what else I should say. It has been a weird but yet peaceful week...that is just something I love. Even though these times are crazy and super difficult, I still feel at complete peace. I guess it because I know what ever happens, it's all in the lord's hands.

 I love it out here and I love you all,

Hermana Paredes

Hermana Paredes, Lorenzo, Hermana Woodbury

Just remember....Jesus is awesome!

Hi family and friends,

 This week has been such a roller coaster....meaning it has had it ups and downs but honestly I am enjoying every single second!

 I have a few amazing experiences to write about and a few hard things. I'll start with the bitter first though that you all can enjoy the sweet.

 Bitter: we have had to drop almost all of our investigators. We went from having about 20 investigators to about five...and we are most likely going to have to drop two more. As a missionary that is really rough. Your whole life revolves around these people and it just pains you when they don't want to hear the wonderful news you bring or just would simply rather talk about other things .....it is really rough but sometimes it just have to be done. Our hearts honestly broke every time we hit the drop button on our area books but we are hopeful. There are so many prepared people in this area and by letting people go for a time just gives us more time to find those people. Honestly, I think it is a opportunity to exercise our faith and show the lord we are not just going to sit down and cry. I seriously can't wait to write next next weeks email because I know it is going to be full of miracles.

Sweet: Jose came to a temple tour and it was AMAZING! We brought this sweet old couple in our ward with us and they talked to him the whole time and answered all his questions. He was seriously really taken back by their kindness towards him and he loved every single moment of touring the temple. He kept saying things like "I feel nearer to god here." And "I just feel so much peace, it makes me not want to leave." There is a saying, you think you touch the temple but really the temple touches you. That is exactly what happened. Especially the fact that he had the opportunity to go inside and sit in the waiting room. I love it that you can just sit in the waiting room and there is a peace and a love that comes over you that you can't deny! Gosh I love temples! He is now working harder then ever to come to the temple someday through the gate way of baptism.

(Also when we invited him to be baptized August the 20th, he was like " I was seriously about to ask if I could get baptized that day because that is two days after my birthday!"........what?!)

Lorenzo

Lorenzo came to church again and this time he actually talked to the members! (Last time we couldn't get him to even say hello to them...he is a bit shy) He just keeps on telling us how much the church has changed his life already and how excited he is to be baptized. You can totally tell he means it because this past Sunday he got lost while driving to church but kept driving around until he found the building (with a little help from us). He was lost for 45 minutes but he still came! That is dedication! I know if that was me, I probably would have turned around and gone home but he stuck with it because he knew this is where he was suppose to be.

Also on the way back from church, there is always this guy on the corner who carries a Jesus sign and yells things into a microphone. So when we came to the stoplight, we rolled down our windows just to hear what he would say. He turns on his microphone and then boldly declares "Just remember...JESUS IS AWESOME!" At the time, it really made us laugh but now that I think about it. It has so much truth! He is so awesome! There is seriously no one who is awesomer! (Probably not a word but whatever) He that taketh up on him the sins of the world definitely deserves to be described as awesome. And I stand in awe of him...everyday I stand a little more in awe of him. I begin to love him even more and more as I preach about him and help other people truly see how amazing he is.

I know he lives. I know he loves us. I know he suffered and died for us. I know he would do it all over again if that meant to secure our eternal salvation. He is just wonderful to me.

I love you all and pray for you.
Hermana Paredes

Jose, Hermana Woodbury, Hermana Paredes

Las Hermosas Hermanas