That one time that Elder Lawrence came to our mission..

Hi family and friends, This week was crazy! Hermana Justiniano and I have been working our behinds off this week to make up for loss time while she was sick. We have been finding and knocking doors like crazy!

Good news is that our hard work has paid off. We have three new investigators. One of which seams really really interested in our message this far. Extremely blessed! It has been pretty amazing because we also now have more potentials and referrals then we have ever had before. Yesterday we actually went to one of our referrals home and she turned out to be a long lost member. Both her sister and her were baptized at the same time their father was baptized but they never really gained a testimony of their own. Coincidence? I think not! Also because of the fact that her sister and their friend also ended up sitting in on the lesson about the restoration. It was so cool! They were just so in tune to what was going on. Especially their friend!

At the end of the lesson we asked if we could return and talk more about our message and all of them said yes! So we now have a awesome referral for the YSA sister!! Whoop whoop!!

Storm Arioso, Surprise!!!!

 Sunday was crazy as well! The moment I stepped out of relief society in my little Spanish branch, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turn around and who do I see?? Brother Arioso!! From the Rogers stake...from home! I let out the loudest squeal ever and I about grabbed him and hugged him. He told me to wait right there because he had to go get someone. And he returns with Storm, one of my sisters really good friends! She runs at me and we just have a tackle hug reunion. It was the best! It was like a part of home had just come to visit. Turns out she and her parents are in the Wilton ward who are in charge of feeding us when the Spanish branch can't! They can feed us!!!! Ahhhhhh! That just seriously made my whole day! I was just over joyed. It was like part of my sister was there with me. I love surprises

 Okay so the reason I didn't write on Monday is because we had some one from the Seventy, Elder Lawrence, come and speak to all of us....and wow...just wow....everything they said was amazing. I wish I could write it all down and send it to you all but I can't sadly so I'll pick out my favorite part. Sacrifice: the principle of giving up something for something even better Steps to true sacrifice and exercising faith
1. Have the courage to establish a righteous goal or desire
2. You have got to believe - always talk, act, and feel like it is going to happen
3. Be willing to plead your case to the lord through prayer - think of your righteous desire often, pray for it to come to pass often
4. Commit yourself - do everything in your power to make this desire come to pass - negotiate with the lord, I will do this if you do...
5. Expect trials and obstacles -if it seems like your whole world is caving in then that means that the advesary knows you are close to accomplishing your righteous goal so he is doing everything in his power to make sure it doesn't happen, keep pushing.
6. Expect the lord to intervene

 I think step four is my favorite because that is where sacrifice is required. Sacrifice is an amazing thing...it is actually a blessing to sacrifice. The heavens abide by the rules of obedience and sacrifice. Jesus Christ needed to be sacrificed so that all righteousness could come to pass. Everything is about sacrifice. If we are not ready for to sacrifice then we are not ready for the kingdom of heaven.

We as a mission were invited to sacrifice something personal so that we could reach our goal of 411 baptisms this year. Everyone accepted that challenge.

I know it is by sacrifice that the powers of heaven can work. I have seen it. My mission was a sacrifice but I have seen it bless my family and the people I teach out there. I am now part of something bigger then myself and it is amazing. I love the mission and I love all of you. I hope all your weeks went well!
Much love,
Hermana Paredes
Over and out