Tuesday, December 23, 2014

So Much More Than a Babe Lying in a Manger

¡Hola Familia!

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD! Can you believe its already Christmas time and I hit a week this last week...scary! Well I´m super excited for it to be Christmas and that I have the chance to spend it with the wonderful people of Mexico!! Trust me, they go ALL out with the decorations and they all sing...I´m afraid I´m going to go have seizures walking past the houses, but none the less it is beautiful and everyone puts nativities up, so I love it!!

Its definitely not a white Christmas like it was in Provo, but I´ve been enjoying the warm weather and enjoying flowers that are starting to bloom everywhere! I really am in such a beautiful place!! And I´m loving this Christmas season here, I don´t think I really have felt as GOOD on the mission than I have this month of December, it really is such a special time of the year!

So this month our President asked us to follow the prophets counsel and discover Christ and who he is for us. So to help us discover him, he asked us to read the 4 gospels. I´m just about done with John, and it has been one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. I have come to know my Savior, but I have felt it on a personal level. As I read each story of him healing, forgiving, and sacrificing, I couldn´t help but put myself in each of their spots and there were times where it really seemed to me that Christ was right there sitting next to me. It has strengthened my love for my Savior so much. He has become so much more than a babe lying in a manger to me. 

Everyday I become more and more grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. I get to be a servant of the Lord, and I get to share the happiness and all things beautiful I have had in my life with everyone I come in contact with! I hope you all can experience this love this week, and can come to know your Savior a little bit more. I hope you know he is the light and life of this world. Once we discover him, we receive more light and it keeps growing, its AMAZING. He is Wonderful.

I love you all so much and hope you have Merry Christmas and enjoy the love that is in the air this season. Eat lots of food. Drink lots of hot chocolate. And enjoy each others company.

¡Nos vemos en Jueves por skype!

With all the love I can send,
Hermana Pasley

Monday, December 15, 2014

A Prophecy Fulfilled

Family!!!

Man, I just never seem to have enough time to write...today was crazy. We went to the market down town today and it was a zoo and it took FOREVER to get back...so sorry this is so short!

Here in Mexico we are definately feeling the Christmas spirit, even though it is a balmy 70-75 degrees everyday! And I´ve never seen so many virgens hanging up...yeah we´re just not going to talk about the huge birthday celebrations they´ve been having for her this week. They can´t just steal Christmas...ha but I respect them and love them don´t even worry, I´m a missionary :)

This last Sunday they asked me and my companion to speak about Christmas. As I was thinking about what to say Sunday morning, I thought of the counsel our Prophet has given us this month to Discover Christ, accept Christ, and to share Christ. And the famous scripture in Isaiah 9:6 came to mind:

 For unto us child is bornunto us son is given: and thegovernment shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall becalled Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty GodThe everlastingFather, The Prince of Peace.

As I read this scripture, I picked it apart into each name that is given to him and told examples of how this prophecy had come true, some stories are in the Bible, others in the BOM, and others in my own life. As I studied each name out in my mind, I discovered a little more about Christ, I feel SO much more love for him. I want to invite all of you to do the same. Find examples of why is the son, wonderful, the prince of peace, etc. I promise you will find he has so much more meaning in your life!! I felt like my talk went really well and I got a lot compliments after, so I felt good about it!!

We have a lot of Christmas parties this week, so I´m excited to start this week!! I´m glad everyone had a good week and I hope this letter finds all doing well!! Give my love to the Johnson Family, they are in my prayers!!

Also I can´t believe that Brenton is coming home...What?? Tell him I´m so proud of him and wish him a happy birthday for me!! So CRAZY!!

I´ll let you know the skype schedule next week. I still don´t know when I will skype, but it should be some time in the morning!! I love you all and pray for you each and every night!! stay strong and keep the faith!!

Hermana Pasley

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Christmas Spirit is in the Air

Dearest Family,

Before I say anything... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, YOU LIVE IN A ZOO, YOU LOOK LIKE A MONKEY..AAAAAAAND YOU SMELL LIKE ONE TOO!!!
I love you little Joe...well I don´t know if you are really my little Joey anymore...ojala que sí!!! But know I love you so much and I´ve showed everyone you´re picture and have told them that you are getting baptised soon....aaaaand I may or may not have gotten you a girl friend...her names Paola...she´s a BABE...you´re welcome! Have a good birthday little man!!!

Well this week has been a pretty good week!! Sorry I haven´t written you very well the last few weeks, its been CRAZY!!! Good thing that happened...HERMANA MOSER came to Villa for a day and I got to see my friend and Hermana Aguirre...reunited with my Mom!!! It was the BEST day ever!!! Today a sister invited us to go help her make mole today so we could learn!! It is crazy stuff!!! You pretty much just through whatever you got in the house and throw it in the blender, and then mix some chocolate in it and throw in on some chicken...but its SO good...its so weird, but so good!! I have the recipe so don´t sorry you can all try chocolate chicken sometime!!

So we have one investigator that I LOVE and is progressing so well!! His name is Carlos. He is the atheist that I told you said his first prayer the other night...and now he´s praying ALL the time without being asked to, God is a God of MIRACLES!!!! His member is a life time member and he has been listening to the missionaries for YEARS!! Every couple of missionaries have dropped him because he just fights everything. But God has prepared this man, it has taken years, but he has finally accepted this gospel and is taking it in stride. As we have felt the spirit testify to him of the BOM and the Plan of Salvation, he has become more than willing to repent and change his life. The best part is that his daughter is turning 8 on the 26th of December, so those two will be getting baptised together!! It is definately going to make this holiday season a special one for the family! The Christmas spirit seriously is one of our most powerful tools in this time of year!! Take advantage of it and SHARE it!!! The spirit is SO amazing!!! I love it so much!! And as the christmas spirit is settling in...it just gets stronger!! Keep Carlos in your prayers!! I love you all so much!!

Happy Birthday Joe!!! Love you so much!!! 

Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley

p.s. pokemon joke in honor of joe´s birthday. WHy don´t you shower with a pokemon in your house? They might peek-at-you...I hope thats appropriate for a missionary to say!! Happy birthday Joe!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

He is the Gift

Hi Family!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week and ate lots of Turkey!! On Thursday I think I ate Mole, so know I was having my own little Mexican Thanksgiving! Well last Monday we got a huge announcement from the Church Headquarters. They have this HUGE project for Christmas. It is called He is the Gift. It is a video to help people understand Christmas´true meaning. It is so awesome!! We watched it all together after district class one day and the spirit was so strong, stronger than I have ever felt and I KNOW that this is going to be such an awesome Christmas!!! We as members are encouraged to share this video with EVERYONE you know. Whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, Insta (?), whatever it is you kids are doing these days. The Prophet has asked us to be missionaries this month of December and help ALL know of the true meaning of Christmas. I´m sorry I have no time to write...the mission is crazy!!! But you all need to watch the video and share it PRONTO!!!! I love you all and hope you have a great week. Stay strong and keep the faith!

christmas.mormon.org

Hermana Pasley

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

¡Soy Muy Bendecida!

Hola Familia!!

Hi how are you?? I miss you all like crazy and hope you are all getting settled for the holiday season. It sure doesn´t feel like the holiday season here!! I´ve been sweating like crazy!! So I don´t know if you´ve seen on the news but Villahermosa had really bad flooding this last week. It rained really hard for a straight 24 hours. A lot of houses were full of water up to the second floor, it was INSANE!!! Luckily we are in one of the highest areas of Villahermosa and our area didn´t flood at all. But some other areas were really bad. Some people are still homeless and have lost the little amount of things they had. Its so sad to see these people suffer. Keep Villahermosa in your prayers. On a crazy note. We live by the laguna in Villa and it rose huge!!! It was overflowing everywhere. And the CROCODILES left the laguna and were just chilling out in the streets and in the park!!! It scared me SO bad. I was just walking down the street looking at the water up to my mid calfes and my companion yells at me and there was a huge crocodile just hanging out on this bridge by the laguna...I almost died! These reptiles just never leave me alone!! So scary!!

So as Thanksgiving is this week I thought I would share a few things I have become very grateful for while being here in Mexico.

Temporal things:
1. Air Conditioning...no one has it.
2. Hot Water...again, no one has it.
3. Road Laws...no one has it...it is a death trap in the streets!
4. Garbage Men...thank you to all men who have that job, it is a stinky world without you!

Spiritual Things(the things that matter)
1. The Atonement of my Savior. I have never known my Savior more than I do now. I have never known of the one who is mighty to save. Both physically and spiritually. I have never felt so much strength nor so much love. I still don´t understand it perfectly, but I know understand of its importance in my life!
2.Having the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I have never felt the influence of the spirit as I have in my mission. It guides and directs me each and everyday and it is the one who brings success on the mission. This last week I saw the power that the Holy Ghost can have on the hearts of men. This last week, I saw a once Atheist say his first prayer. The spirit has never been stronger and I have never felt my soul so full of its happiness. It brought a tears to my eyes as I heard him plead that he may receive an answer so that he may have his family for eternity and as he put his trust in the Lord and asked for the strength to accept our message. It was a day I will never forget. The spirit is real and it softens hearts and people.
3.My family. I have seen the best and worst in the mission. I know they say that love grows fonder with distance, but I have never felt such a connection with my family. I love each and everyone of you and am so happy for all that you do for me. For your support and words of encouragement that come at the exact time that I need it. I love you all so much!
4.The knowledge I have. I have never known with more surety that this gospel is true. That we have the only truth upon the earth. That Joseph Smith is and was a Prophet called of God and that he has restored the truth in its fullness. I know that we have the evidence of the Restoration through the BOM and we can come to know our Savior in greater depth through the words which it contains. I have never been so at peace. I love this gospel.

The list could go on and on, I can´t believe I was so ungrateful before. Don´t take for granted all that you are blessed with both temporally and spiritually. I invite you this week to say a prayer, but in this prayer don´t ask for anything. Just thank the Lord for all that he has given you and I promise you, your eyes will be opened to a new kind of love. One that it is desirable above all things!

I love you all and hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Eat lots and enjoy the company! Stay strong and keep the faith! I´m so thankful for each and everyone of you.

with all my love,
Hermana Pasley

Monday, November 17, 2014

Hi!

Hi Everyone,

I´m so sorry but I don´t have any time to write! We went to La Venta (the museum with the Olmec heads) today and it took a lot of time out of the day! It was so awesome! One of the members took us there today and they were telling us that they believe that the Olmecs are possibly the Jaredites!!! How cool is that??? I literally live in BOM land! The BOM just becomes more and more true with every minute I´m on my mission. I have so many cool experiences to tell you, but they´re just going to have to wait until next week! Know that I love you all and pray for you each and every day. I hope you had a good birthday mom! Know I love you so much :) Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley

P.S. I did hold a snake and it almost killed me. That is a smile of pure fear. I didn´t know if I should laugh or cry, by the end it turned into hysterical laughter...never again!! I HATE SNAKES!!! But its cool to say I´ve held a snake!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Lights, Camera...Action!

Dearest Family,

How are ya all?? I sure do miss you guys so much!! But first and foremost I have to say...ESTOS SON LAS MAÑANITAS QUE CANTABA EL REY DAVID, HOY POR SER SU CUMPLIAÑOS DE LAS CANTAMOS A TI. ¡DESPIERTA MAMÁ DESPIERTA MAMÁ! FELICIDADES MOM, TE AMO MUCHO!! I hope you have a great birthday and you get a day to actually rest from everything you do! Thank you so much for being the best Mom in the whole wide world and the best example I have in my life of what a woman in the gospel should be like! You´re perfect and I can´t even begin to tell you how much I love you :) ¡Disfruta su dia!

Well there's not a lot going on in the front lines of Villahermosa. Its finally started to cool down at night and at about 3 I wake up and have to actually pull the sheet over me...geez lets hope I don´t freeze down here! The work is moving along slowly but surely. It´s kind of frustrating at times and easy to get down on yourself when you don´t see results. I have felt the power of self doubt play its role on me this week. Making me question my abilities as a missionary and teacher. Wondering why can´t I just be good enough to make these people feel. But this week I have also felt the power of the Atonement play a role in the last week. There were times where it would have been easier to just stop and give up on these people, but then I felt almost as if my head was being lifted for me. Making me see the difference we were having on these people.

As I was thinking about the Atonement, I realized at this moment in the mission I´m the "shining star" that everyone can see. I seem to be in the spot light at all times. But what people don´t see is that I´m comletely reliant on my co-stars, the light crew and techies, the makeup and hair crew, and all of my sponsors. Christ seems to really be the one that is singing behind the curtain, the director who maps out my every move. He´s the one I rely upon and he puts all of my crew members around me to lift me up, to make me a better missionary, make me shine. I have scenes that are better than others, but by the end of the play, I seem to finally hear the applause. I finally hear the shouts of praise. He makes me the star. I owe him everything, everything. My heart, my might, my mind and strength. I know if I do that, I can become a star, not for the glory of men, but for my Heavenly Father who got me this job. I am coming to rely upon my Savior more than I ever have before and he is lifting me higher than ever as well. I know that if we give our life to our savior we will get it back, but in tenfold! I know my Savior lives!

I love you all so much! Mom, seriously on Saturday, please sit down and let them take care of you for once! I love you more than I can write! Stay strong and keep the faith!


Hermana Pasley

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Jesus Christ Lives!!

Hi Family!!

Happy Late Halloween!! I hope it was great and you all had a great week and ate lots of candy!! We couldn´t find a pumpkin so we carved a papaya...Happy Halloween!! Halloween is definately different here, but it was still a pretty cool experience!

So to give you some background. They don´t really celebrate Halloween here in Mexico. They celebrate...well I should say the Catholics celebrate Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead) On Nov 1 is when they commemorate the kids and on Nov 2 is when they commemorate (spelling?) all of the adults who have passed away. To be honest it is kind of a weird tradition. They believe that their spirits come back for just that night. So they set up their alters and put out their favorite foods, which is normally beer and tamales...classic, believing that their spirits will come and enjoy the smell of the food. They say all their prayers and what not to help them find peace and that they can be forgiven. Its kind of weird, but we its a great day to go to the huge cemeteries and contact people. We are so blessed to have the knowledge we have.

I came into contact with so many people who had no idea where their loved ones are. They believed they are lost spirits wandering. But how glad I was to be able to tell them exactly where their family members are and that they are far from lost. How glad I am to have had this knowledge my whole life. It hit me hardest when Grandad died. I remember the first time I saw him in the ICU I couldn´t stop crying. But with time, my soul was filled with peace and when he passed away I knew that he was in a special place surrounded by dear family and friends who love him. I don´t know how people live without this gospel. I really don´t. It was such a blessing to be able to bear my testimony to the heart broken, that their Father in Heaven loves them so much, that he has a perfect plan for us. They need not mourn the loss of their loved ones, for they will live. We all will live. Because Jesus Christ lives. I don´t think my testimony has ever been stronger about the Plan of Salvation. How grateful I am for this perfect plan.

I encourage all of you to study out this plan in minds and then ask God if it really is his plan for you. This knowledge can help you through many trials in this life. Today as we went to lunch, they told us a lady in our ward died suddenly this morning. She fell in the bathroom and when her mom went to check on her, she found her daughter had died. The part that broke my heart the most is that she is a single mom and her only son just left on his mission a month ago. My heart broke when she told me that sister had died. Her poor son. But her family has hardly shed a tear. When we asked them how they could be so strong, she just looked at us with a smile and said because the knows that Jesus Christ lives. That hit me hard. How glad I am to know that my Redeemer lives. He has broken the bands of death and through him we will live again. I know that Jesus Christ lives. How thankful I am for that.

I love you all so much and hope you all have a great week!! I pray for you all each and everyday. Stay strong and keep the faith.

Hermana Pasley

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Endless Light

Hi Everyone!!

SO.....Kate,you are so beautiful!!!!!! I hope you are enjoying being home and I am so glad that you had such a successful mission! Ah I love you so much! And what?? McCall is SO big!!! HA the Clove Family is beautiful as always!! WELCOME HOME SISTER CLOVE!!!

So this week,was a little rough, not filled with a lot of success, which of course is when Satan gets inside of your head and makes you doubt yourself. But do you know what we did?? We kicked Satan in the face and had a baptism this week!!! Yep, you can´t slow the work in Villahermosa!! The baptism made all of the bad fade away and we were able to see SUCH an amazing boy part the mist that had settled around me and my companion and had clouded our vision. Fernando is 16 and a powerhouse. The only member in his immediate family and he´s already talked his whole family into taking the lessons and coming to church. Yeah,he´s pretty awesome!! His baptism had a special spirit. Us missionaries sang Called to Serve with all of the youth at his baptism and it was so powerful. All of the members couldn´t even control themselves and all joined in the verse. IT WAS SO AMAZING!!!

So as I was thinking of this last week, we were walking in a mist covered path. Both literally and spiritually. It was a rainy gloomy week and we seemed to be down on ourselves. But a scripture came to my mind that I love so much! Mosiah16:9:

He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

Once I read this I knew there was no reason to walk in the darkness anymore. I carry the light which is endless. We have the message that all can be clean in order to obtain eternal life. Have we not great reason to rejoice?? With that I have gone out sharing the light which is endless. Eternal peace. Eternal life. The Atonement of Christ is so amazing, and I seem to learn something new each and every time I study it. There is a video we use a lot to contact that I LOVE!! It explains the Atonement in a nutshell. Get ready to feel the power of Christ!!

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

I hope you all carry this light and shine it bright. It is endless and only shines brighter in darkness. Trust in your Savior. He is there for you. He knows you. He loves you. He lives.

Have a great week. Stay strong and keep the faith! Oh and Happy Halloween!! Hope its spooktacular!!! :) haha I´m so original!

Hermana Pasley


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The Real Teacher

Hi Family!!!

How are you all doing?? I hope you are all doing so well and know how much I absolutely love you all! This week, I have felt so much love and gratitude for my family...I don´t know why...but I love all you so much and I don´t think I could have been blessed with a greater family. Thank you so much for your love and support you have shown me throughout this whole mission. The love helps :)

So I LOVE my new area. The members here are seriously the strongest members ever and so willing to drop everything and help the missionaries. And its not too bad being in the ward with the assistants. They´re awesome!! We have only one progressing investigator who will be baptized this week on Friday, so we have been searching like crazy for new people this week. And we had a pretty cool experience this week. We have received a model way to teach the members in our ward to ask for references. It starts with teaching them the story of Joseph Smith and we end with praying together for references. One of the members we did this model with put her nonmember husband down as a reference and prayed for him...as he was sitting right in front of her. This had never happened before...I was kind of scared, but I knew it was an inspired reference because the spirit was so strong in that room! As we kneeled down together and prayed to know if her references were ready to accept the missionaries, she couldn´t even get her husbands name out. The spirit confirmed to each and every one of us that he is prepared to listen. So after the prayer, I invited her husband to be baptized and HE ACCEPTED!!! Her atheist husband has FINALLY accepted to listen and is progressing SO well!! This is how powerful the spirit is. It is such a blessing in this work I know that it is the real teacher! He is going to baptized with his daughter on her 8th birthday! I am so excited!!! Even though I´ve been a little discouraged with this area because there aren´t many people to teach, that made up for it all!!

I know that we are in the only true church upon the earth. I know it because the spirit had testified to me that it is true and I cannot deny it. I love this gospel with all of my heart and know that I would be nothing without it!

I love you all and give Kate a HUGE hug for me!! How could she already be home! Help her not get married either until I get home :) AH tell Kate I love her so much!!! ahhhhhhh!!!! Okay, have a good week! Stay strong and keep the faith!

With so much love,
Hermana Pasley

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Changes

Dear Family,

My time has ended in Zapata. Last night was a hard night to say goodbye to all of my converts, the members, and my companion. I had come to love those people of Emiliano Zapata more than I had ever thought possible. I didn´t think it was going to be so hard. I held myself together pretty good, until I had to say goodbye to Gloria and the triplets. That was rough, but I know I´ll see them again!! Of course me and Hermana Moser couldn´t stop crying saying goodbye to each other, but we were so grateful for the time we had together, even though it was for a short time, we enjoyed every minute and shared lots of laughs.

So now....I´m in the great Villahermosa. The worst part...I´m in the ward with the assistants...yeah no pressure!! I´ll be companions with Hermana Gietzen from my generation. She´s from North Dakota and full of spunk! I´m excited to work with her and excited to see what coming our way in good old Villa. I´m sorry I don´t have a lot of time to write today, but I love you all and I hope you have a good week!! Know I´m thinking and praying about you always. Stay strong and keep the faith :)

Hermana Pasley


My favorite family in the branch: Familia Escobedo

Triple Vision!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Follow the Prophet

Helloo Fam!!!

Well, first off I have to say to my dearest Hannah...YOU`RE SO CUTE!!!!!! Ha I`m just kidding :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETS!!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day and don`t go to crazy with the whole being legal thing. But I sure do love ya!!!

Anyways...I`m sitting here in the computer lab and I literally don`t know what to tell you all. Ha not a lot has happened that is too exciting or too interesting. The fair came into town, so it was literally another pioneer week as we walked and walked and walked and walked only to find everyone gone and at the fair. What? Who wants to go to the fair when you can listen to me and hermana moser?? We`re the best! (and really humble) So we got really good at inviting everyone on the streets to come and here a living prophet speak!

And was conference not he BEST thing EVER???!!!!! I haven`t felt a spirit like the one that was in the conference in a while. It was full of moments of...man, I`ve got a long way to go, yet so full of hope!!! Ah I love our leaders and how completely and totally inspired their words are! They are literally the words of the Lord! And didn`t that seem to be brought up in EVERY SINGLE talk?? Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, listen to EVERY counsel of the prophet. So I`m thinking we should probably follow the prophet if we want to make it to the end. As my mission goes on, I realize more and more the importance of a prophet. There are so many things I wish I could tell you, but I have so little time. But a prophet is essential, without a prophet we are completely and utterly lost in this world. How lucky are we to have Thomas S. Monson in our lives and his 15 apostles. If we do not give head to their words...we literally will not make it. So that oldie but goodie we always sang in primary was SO true and has never rung truer. FOLLOW THE PROPHET!!! WE ARE SO BLESSED to be a part of the truthfulness and to have a prophet on the earth once again!

We came walking out of conference doing a fist pump. Ah its so TRUE!!! How in the world is it not true?? I literally can`t get over how TRUE it is. I love this church. Us Latter-day Saints rock! So we must share this light with all those inside our reach. We must let others feel this same way of how true it is. So I invite you all to find someone this week who you could share one of the conference talks with. Whether it be a less active, family, or a non-member. Help someone come to know the truth for the first time or for the millionth. Every single one of God`s children deserve the chance to except the truth!

I also invite you to go back and watch the talks you missed. EVERY single one is AMAZING!!!

I know that this church is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true and living prophet and in fact the Lord`s mouthpiece. I know that we are the ONLY church who has the power and authority to let us return and live with our heavenly father. I know that Christ lives and is indeed the head of this church. I know it is true with all of my heart and I cannot deny it. Stay strong and hold true to the faith!

I love you all so much and Hanners...eat an extra piece of cake for me. The cake here is not so delicious! So don`t take it for granted, we are blessed in more ways than one, especially in cake :) I love you all!!

Hermana Pasley

P.S. For all your questions, yes it is a rule. We aren`t allowed to hold babies on the mission...lame!!! So it literally made my whole mission to hold those little ones :) they`re so sweet!!!

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

A God of Miracles!


Dearest Family,

IT HAPPENED!!!! IT REALLY REALLY HAPPENED!!!! WE HAD TWO BAPTISMS ON SATURDAY!!!!! Oh my word, I`ve never been so tired and completely exhausted in my life, but I`ve never loved this work more. I have never known so surely that God listens to our prayers and if we have faith, we will see miracles. We literally saw miracles in front of our eyes this week. Thank you so much for every one of your faithful prayers in our behalf. I know that those thoughtful prayers made the difference in this week.

By Wednesday, it seemed just about impossible that we were going to have either of the baptisms. Gloria still didn't have her papers and we still didn`t know how we were going to baptize Jorge. But Wednesday our STL called us and told us they don`t ask for all of those papers in Palenque and that she had scheduled an appointment for us to be in Palenque the next morning. It was such a miracle and we some how found a way to pay for them to get married. Gloria literally doesn`t have a penny to her name, a jobless husband and triplets. So it got a little more than tricky, but we saw miracles and found the funds necessary to pay for it all. And I got permission to hold their babies--best day ever!!! So by Thursday we were all ready to go with Gloria. By Friday we were still scrambling to find a way to baptize Jorge. But when we had prayed for the date for Jorge to be baptized, we felt so strongly for the 27th of September. So we were determined to make it happen. Luckily the people at Red Cross are the nicest people on this planet!!!!! They went with their ambulance to pick up Jorge, let us use their gurney to baptize him and took him home for us. We had finally found a safe way to baptize him!!! Oh it was such a special day! It was so beautiful to see him in the font with the 6 priesthood holders it took to baptize him! Ha and it only took 4 tries to get him under the water (no one told us that their mattresses float!). But after, Jorge was so happy and he went home and for one of the first nights in his life, he slept with little pain. Was that not a MIRACLE??? Did I not just see how powerful God is and that nothing stands in the way of this work. I have felt so much love and gratitude to my Heavenly Father this week. So much love for my Savior, who made all of this possible and kept us going without breaking down (although there were a few times we just wanted to sit down and give up). I can`t express the gratitude that I have in my heart. It is literally overflowing this week and I want to share it with everyone!!!

With the baptism of Jorge, the branch has been inspired and have actually started to pull together again to move the work forward. God works in such mysterious ways, but why do we ever doubt?? HE IS A GOD OF MIRACLES!! We sometimes just have to pass through our trials of faith before we see the miracles. I am so grateful to be here and I am so grateful for the experiences that my Heavenly Father has given me to help my testimony grow. I love this work and I love my Savior with all of my heart. I know he lives!

I hope you all have a good week and take the time to see all the little miracles that happen in our lives each and every day. I love you all!!!

With so much love,

Hermana Pasley


A Happy Marriage!
Gloria's Baptism
A Future Forever Family!
Jorge's Sweet Ride!
Jorge's Baptism!

Monday, September 22, 2014

The Truth Sets You Free

Hi Family!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE QUEEN!!!! Bekah...I miss you like crazy :) I miss you bossing everyone around and always making me laugh! I hope you get to rule your throne just a little bit more today!! Have a good one beks!!

Well this week has had its ups and down, and had thrown us every which way, but me and Hermana Moser have grown a lot from this week. This week, we went with a young m om who we have been teaching for a little while and we went to do the same exact thing with her as we did with Jorge. We went to ask with her if the BOM is true. But as the lesson went on, we finally asked her if she had the chance to pray and know if the BOM is true. She then got a huge smile on her face and got really happy and told us she couldn´t explain what she felt, but she KNOWS its true. We have a baptism date with her the 11th of October!! We are so excited for her and the change it will have on the life of her little baby :) We are still hoping to have 2 baptisms this Saturday. Of Jorge (the paralyzed investigator) and Gloria (the young mom with triplets). They both have big hurdles to jump this week to make it happen, but we just know that its going to happen :)

This week we have encountered many people also questioning and doubting the truth, which was pretty rough. We went into a lesson with a couple that were very...I don´t remember the name of their church, but all I know is that they pray by pretty much yelling and chanting...yeah it was kind of creepy! But we taught a lesson with a spirit that was really strong and there was a moment where the spirit was in there testifying the TRUTH. After we paused and then asked them what they felt, and they denied it, they denied it all, and we know that they felt it! Hermana Moser is fiery and she was getting pretty upset, luckily I stayed pretty calm and asked to end with a prayer because it was time for us to leave. The woman offered the last prayer and during the prayer, Hermana Moser began to cry. As we left, she was so upset and said she was embarrassed for crying. But I was thinking the exact opposite. I sat in awe of the emotion she has for this work and the firmness she has in the truth. Our faith was tested that day, but we now know with more firmness that it´s true, that we so much success because we are the only ones with the truth. It sets us free. I know that this is the only true church upon the face of the earth. None other has the authority to be the true church. No body has the truthfulness in whole, for this very reason alone, we are set free and we know because the Holy Ghost has witnessed of its truth! How blessed we are to be apart of this church!

Another funny story. We went to teach a guy from the same church that prays really loud...yeah that church :) Well we were kind of nervous going in thinking it might turn to a bible bash again...but our nerves were put at ease. He taught us about the Holy Ghost, how ironic!!! Ha he asked if he could sing a song about the holy ghost to start the lesson...it was very interesting!!! He sang like it was his American Idol tryout and we´re pretty sure he made up the song as he went. Ha but don´t worry we didn´t laugh until we were a street over, but oh my word he was crazy!!! After everything he´d say he´d look at us and say, "Amen?" and we would just look at him, because it was not an "amen" statement. And he would go right back into his weird sermon. So long story short, we aren´t going to go back to teach Mr. American Idol, but maybe someday he will. Ha we have a really good time in Zapata!!

Well family, I hope you have a really good week and that you realize how lucky you are to have the truth in your life. If you give into the truth, I promise you it will only make you free from whatever you may be feeling! I love you all so much and pray for you each and everyday!! And Bekah...try not to go too crazy with the dating, okay?? We all know you´re kind of really pretty and kind of a hit with the boys, but take it easy!! If you listen really close, me and Hermana Moser will be singing at 10:15 tonight, really loud!! I love you so much beks!! Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley

Monday, September 15, 2014

I am Here to Baptize

¡Hola Familia!

¡¡Feliz 15 de Septiembre!! Today is the independence day of Mexico, so to make a long story short, we´ve seen lots of drunks, ha but none the less its fun to see everyone walking around in red and green. Today me and Hermana Moser were walking down the street, and it struck us how weird it is how much we have adapted to this culture and how we can understand now what these people are saying...soy mexicana!! Everyone eat a taco or something today for me :)

Well yesterday we had...THE BAPTISM OF CHIQUIS!!! He is the youngest son of Marino and Olga. He is such a sweet little boy. Normally we have our baptisms on Saturday, but Chiquis turned 8 on Sunday and he has been planning his baptism ever since he first met the missionaries in February. So his baptism was really special for him, because he got baptized on his birthday. As we pulled up in the Taxi to pick him up yesterday, he was waiting on the bottom of his mountain that he lives on in a suit...it was the cutest thing I´ve ever seen!!! And then seeing him in the water, with a huge smile on his face...I thought my heart was going to explode it was so happy!! So this last Sunday was such a great day, even though his baptism was at 7:30 in the morning, it was so worth it to see his excitement to finally become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He´s been waiting forever to take this step in his life. It was such a good day! Ah I wish you all could have seen him in the font...I will never forget that day!

I remember the first day in the mission, President Morales asked me what my purpose was here and I stated the usual..."invite others to come unto Christ...", but he looked at me really scarily like and said, "No, you´re here to baptize. Now go baptize!" Next a member of the Seventy came and promised us if we were exactly obedient we could have a baptism every week in this mission. We´re not quite up to one every week, but we have 2 or 3 others planned for this transfer. I am here to invite others to come unto Christ, which they cannot do without baptism. For this very reason we invite all to be baptized in the first lesson, and put a date no later than the second. At first, I was scared. What?? The first lesson. But I now know how important baptism is and after this baptism, I cannot deny the power of baptism.

In a Special Conference, President Morales shared a scripture to help us have faith to baptize every week. D&C 58:31:

Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?

With this in mind me and Hna Moser have gone out with the goal to BAPTIZE. Look out Emiliano Zapata!!! Remember this scripture in whatever you may be facing right now. We have the promise of eternal life, if we follow through with our promise. Keep going, even in the face of adversity.

I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week. Remember that I love you all so much and your Savior loves you even more. Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley


Monday, September 8, 2014

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Hi Family!!!!

How are we all doing?? I hope you are all doing well and this letter finds you all happy and well. Things in Zapata are looking up, I tell you what!! Hermana Moser is so so so great!! We get along so well and are very similar. Which helps a lot in our lessons. We always are thinking about the same things and the lessons right now just flow...ah its amazing!! We had such a cool experience that I want to share with you all. But first I´m going to share with you the crazy one first!

So on Saturday we had our zone conference in Palanque. To get to Palenque we have to pass by immigration. We my companion only had a copy of her visa. So of course out of all the cars passing through our car got asked to be checked. And they were more than a Little skeptical when they saw 4 White girls sitting in the van. So they asked for all of our papers and what not. They weren´t too pleased to see my companion only had her copy. But the man was nice enough and told her that the next time she passes through she has to have her original...woo no worries. NOPE! The main lady boss comes stomping over tells all of us missionaries to get out of the van and we all had to show our papers. Where are we?? World war 2?? So they haul my companion into this van with caged Windows...yeah scary! And I´m yelling at these people that my companion can´t be alone and I have to go with her,but they didn´t understand. So we call our president, he tries to talk them out of it, but they won´t listen and were more than a Little grosero with him. So us 8 missionaries are lost...what are we going to do?? But lo and behold the newby is the bravest girl I know. Hermana Cabrera had been in the mission for 5 days, but had the courage to tell them she had no papers either. She is from Peru and her visa is still processing. So she showed them her copies and proved them that not everyone looks as they seem.(because they didn´t ask her for her papers because she looks like shes Latina) So luckily my companion had a companion, but they ended up getting hauled to immigration in Tenosique (a town about an hour outside of Zapata). Long story short, the president had to go and save them, but by 7 that night they returned back to Zapata. Saturday was a really stressful day...ha but we´re together again and we get a good laugh out of it now :)

Now for the spiritual part! Yesterday we went to teach Jorge (the paralyzed boy). We had left the Book of Enos for him to read. Hoping he could relate to his story. As we got there he told us he hadn´t had the time to read. So we decided to read it with him. As we read, he became more and more excited as he realized how much he could relate to Enos. So as we finished the chapter we asked him if he thought he could receive an answer just like Enos. He said he thought so, which was perfect because we both kneeled down by his bed and told him we were going to ask God in this very moment. Hermana Moser prayed as an example so that he could see how to pray for an answer, then we invited him to follow her example and pray to know its true. As his simple prayer began, the spirit settled in and I knew he would receive his answer. After he asked if the Book of Mormon was true, he paused to listen for an answer and the Holy Ghost touched all of our hearts and we all knew that it was true. As he finished his prayer, we looked up and he had the biggest smile on his face. We asked him what he felt. He said he has never felt such a warm feeling in his chest, and he couldn´t stop smiling he was so happy. That moment will forever be engraved in my mind. It was such a special night to know that Jorge knows that the Book of Mormon is true. And it only re-testified to me of the truthfulness of its pages. The promise in

I love missionary work and I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love the promise given in Enos 1:15:

´Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.´

I know that through your faith in Christ you can and will receive answers to your prayers. Just as our prayers have been answered this week.

I love you all and pray for you everyday!! Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The Power of Love

Hi family,

Holy Cow! Another transfer come and gone. It was strange to say goodbye to my companion as she headed to go see her family...that seems like only a dream right now. We ended off the last week together on a good note, we didn´t have the baptism which we were hoping for, but we felt good about the transfer and I´m excited to see what comes of this transfer.

So...I´m staying in Zapata!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!! I was not ready to leave this place yet...I know I have so much work to do :) And my new companion is Hermana Moser. She´s been out about 10 months and she´s from Blackfoot Idaho. We get along really well...like scary well...from the first second we started talking. I knew we would be really good friends because the first thing she said to me was, "I hope you know today is the day that the Hogwarts Express leaves." When she said that I didn´t know if I should laugh or cry I was so darn happy to hear those words. I´m pretty sure we are going to be best friends. And I couldn´t stop laughing when she told me how on her third week in the mission she tried to tell her companion in broken spanish why Voldemort can´t love...oh she is the BEST!!! I´m stoked to see what this transfer brings, we´re both ready to work :)

This week I have felt a lot of love from so many people. I received very kind and encouraging words from the President one night, who called to tell me how much him and his family loved me and only said words of encouragement. I heard many kind and loving words from many members as we were unsure if I would have transfers. These people here give their love so freely, and it only makes you cry a little bit :) I received many loving letters from family and friends and my love has only grown for you all. And most importantly I have felt the love of my Savior and my Heavenly Father as I have struggled here and there. I feel a loving peace come over my heart each and every time I pray and only feel happiness when at times I know I would normally be stressed. This week has lifted my spirits in more way than one and I am so excited to be able to work one day more in the work of our Savior.

I want you all to know that I know that Jesus Christ lives. It is him, and only him that we can become pure and possessors of light. It is through his Atonement that we can have pure joy and a fullness of blessings in this life and our life to come. I love Him with all of my heart, and pray everyday to be the very best servant I can be in His hands. I know this work is true and an inspired work and I am so grateful that I chose to come on a mission. It has blessed my life in more ways than one. I love my life!!!

I love you all a lot and I pray for you each and everyday. Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley


Photo: Our last week we got caught in a wicked rainstorm! My companion got a little embarrassed when I started singing singing in the rain and dancing in the street, but I had a good time :)

Monday, August 25, 2014

Eternal Decisions

Monday, August 25 2014

Hellooooo Family!!

First and foremost I want to wish the best man in the whole wide world HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I LOVE YOU DADDY!!! I´ll have my own little party for you this week :) I hope you have a happy happy birthday and if you listen really close, I´ll be singing Happy Birthday as loud as I can tomorrow morning at 7 after my exercises :) Be listening buddy old pal!! I love you!!!

Well the work in Zapata is finally moving a long...por fin!!! We have found quite a few promising investigators who have said yes to the baptism invitation...so we have high hopes for this area!! Everyday we seem to see a tender mercy of the Lord.

A while ago we met a man named Luis who told us he was baptized about 20 years ago, but has been inactive for about 20 years. He was 8 years old and doesn´t remember much of anything about the church. Luis is now 30 years old and 6 months ago, his 22 year old wife had triplets...yes triplets! And they are the cutest little things ever, but the poor mom is so tired! Luis is currently unemployed and has little money to pay for all the formula for his babies. The little money he has, he uses to drink, to drink away his stress, and his wife is just about ready to leave him. They are really struggling right now, but the best is that they have turned to Jesus Christ for help. We passed their house one day, not planning on visiting them, but his wife came running up to us and asked us what time church started on Sunday and practically shook the answer right out of me. They are both desperate for change, they love each other and want to strengthen their family for their three daughters. He is making the best decision of his life right now. He is making an eternal decision, although he doesn´t quite understand that yet. I don´t think he realizes how big of an impact the Atonement of Christ can have on his life. The changes it will bring to his family. It can only bring happiness. They may have to struggle, but once the storm has passed, they will only know happiness. I was struck by the love of this father for his baby girls and wife. For the faith this couple has to turn to Christ to be healed. We are coming to love this family, and I love their babies...I can´t hold them, but ah they are the sweetest things ever! And it was such a beautiful sight to see them in the chapel this last Sunday. Can I just say again, that Christ lives!!!!! His atonement is real and his love can heal all. I love him with all of my heart and am coming to know him better than I have ever known him. I know that if we put him first in all of our decisions and more importantly in our eternal decisions, we will receive eternal life.

I love each and every one of you and hope you all know how much your Savior loves you. I hope you can use the Atonement in your lives just a little bit more this week. I love you all more than I can write and I love you more this week Dad :) Stay strong and keep the faith!

with so much love,
Hermana Pasley

Why Do We Fall?

Monday August 18

¡Hola Familia!

I hope you are all doing well and that you´re all enjoying school!! Woohoo :) Thank you so much for your letters each and every week. They seem to be exactly what I need to hear, and always lift my spirits in the work! Thank you all so much for your love and support.

Well, remember how I said that last week Christ will give us success if we fully rely on him. I know have no doubt that its true!! We have found a lot of success in this last week- in more ways than one. First, me and my companion are finally starting to get along. After a long 2 months, we´ve both humbled ourselves enough to listen to one another and start working more united. With this unity, we are seeing more progress in our investigators, because the spirit is ten times stronger in the lessons right now. We can see the spirit working with them as we teach and testifying of the truthfulness of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its a beautiful sight!! So we are excited to see that our investigators are starting to progress again!! This whole month we´ve been praying to meet someone that can be baptized this month, and our prayer was answered yesterday!! We were walking down the street that we have never taken before and a lady calls, "Hermanas Hermanas!!" we turned to see a woman waving us over to her truck. We looked at each other and thought we were mistaken for TJs (Jehovah's Witness) again, but NO! She said she´s been waiting for missionaries to pass by her house. Her daughter is 9 and still hasn´t been baptised and wants her daughter to be baptized in 2 weeks...WHAAAAT?? God listens to prayers!!

But I have the most amazing story that I want to share with you all. In this last week we received a referral by a recent convert. His name is Jorge and is 23 years old. He is currently paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident he suffered about 3 months ago. Jorge before was a very social popular boy, but he had a drinking problem and like to party hard. One night he was drunk and high to top it off, and fell from a 3 story balcony. Fractured his back and punctured his spinal chord. So now he is stuck in his bed, and unable to move. He is hurting, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. In our first lesson, he told us that before his accident, he didn´t believe in God, well more that he didn´t need God in his life. But now, he has realized how week he is and how strong God is and is looking for the truth. He has listened to the Catholics, the Jehovah's Witnesses and the 100 other churches they have in Mexico, but nothing seems to help him. But as he has listened to the story of Joseph Smith and felt the power of the priesthood as he received a blessing, he is hoping. He is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and says how grateful he is for his fall. Had it not been for his fall, he would never have met us, and never would have received his faith. Thats how amazing he is!! He is grateful for his fall! This got me thinking how grateful we should be for our trials we have. We have them because God knows we´re strong enough to stand right back up, brush the dirt off and come back even stronger. If we rely upon him, we can only become stronger. Falling is a good thing.


So as you all can see, Christ will give us success. We just have to rely on his timing, and wait with patience, hope and faith. I know that this is the Lord´s work and that he always has people prepared for us. We just have to rely on him to lead us to these hurting hearts. Sometimes we just have to fall down a few times to see how much God really does love us and how powerful the Atonement of Christ is. I love this work and feel the Lord´s hand in my life each and every day.

I love you all and hope that you all have a great week! I pray for you all each and everyday. Stay strong and keep the faith!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Pasley


Me in front of a Mayan elf. He´s just the cutest!!

Monday, August 11, 2014

He Carries Me

Hello Hello Family!!

How are we all?? I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your summer! Do me a favor and spend a few extra minutes in the air conditioning...i miss that stuff like crazy!! I would kill to live one day in a house with air conditioning right now! Its been a scorcher this week! They keep saying it is going to rain, and the clouds come along with the humidity, but the rain never comes. So its been really humid and hot week. I´ve sweat A LOT...I am a Pasley after all :)

This week hasn´t been filled with anything earth shattering, but we´ve always been filled with little miracles each and everyday that help us keep going, even when we feel completely drained, physically or spiritually. It seems in the days when we are wanting to give up, we find a promising new contact or someone offers us water...ha that always lifts my spirits! But as we´ve walked the fiery roads of Zapata, we´ve come to know our Savior in greater depth and we are learning how very important it is to rely fully on him in this work. He is the one who carries my heavy back pack filled with unplaced Books of Mormon, he´s the one who helps me ignore the sweat dripping down my face, and he seems to place one foot in front of the other as we climb the many hills of Zapata. And as we reach the summit of the final hill, we are tired, but we find success. Not always the success we had hoped for, but we find success in something small, but beautiful. As I was studying the Book of Mormon I came across this scripture in Alma 26:

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

This has been my scripture for the week. We have a hope for the work here in Zapata and we know that Christ will give us success. He won´t let his work fail. If we do all we can, he will lead us to the prepared souls of Zapata. This gospel isn´t always easy, but its worth it and I am finding more joy in this work as I am coming to know my Savior in greater depth. I know I am nothing as a missionary without the strength of Christ. I know my Savior lives and I know he will lift whatever load you are carrying if you let him. I am truly starting to understand the purpose of the Atonement and how essential it is in this life. Nothing is impossible with Christ! I hope each and everyone one of you this week can rely on Christ just a little bit more, and can see how much better you feel. Christ lives!!

I hope you all have an amazing week and hope you stay cool!! Give everyone a big hug. I hope you all know how much I love you and how much I appreciate your prayers and support. Stay strong and keep the faith!! xoxo

cuídense mucho,
Hermana Pasley


Photo: One of our investigators that is 9 has ADHD I´m pretty sure and its hard to keep her interested. So one day I asked her to draw how she thinks God looks. Another little miracle. Kids are the sweetest!!