I Know It, and I Know That God Knows It, and I Cannot Deny It

Dearest Family,

How are we all?? I hope you´re not as wet as we are here. It hasn't stopped raining in a week and even when its not raining, the sky starts misting and I feel like I´m constantly in a mist machine...its so weird! But I´m not complaining because its not hot! So I know you´re all dying to hear whose my new companion. Her name is Sister Zuñiga, and she´s from Obregón, Sonora. She barely turned 19 and I really feel like I´m caring for a baby. Shes not big into the getting down and dirty stuff, so shes having to do a little adjusting, but shes great and has a lot of energy for the work, so I´m excited to see what will happen this transfer.

So this week has been filled with ups and downs. Being a trainer is kind of hard at times, but so rewarding. I have been filled with the spirit this week that has led and guided me all week to have a pretty good week and to see a few investigators progress. But one experience has strengthened my testimony in the most unexpected way. On Saturday we went to go teach an investigator whose wife is a member. I LOVE his wife and I have come to love her husband as well...it was a long road coming to love him (I´ll explain later) but I had to humble myself to start loving him...it was rough. Anyways, he speaks really good English and loves to read in English, so I told him one day that I was going to get him a BOM in English and he said he would actually read it if I found him one...so of course I found him one and hes actually reading it!! Woo whoo!! So I was super excited to go and see how he was doing. So we get there and we start talking and bleh bleh bleh. His biggest doubt is the apostasy. He doesn´t believe that that could have happened along with many other doubts. Hes a really hard investigator with ridiculous doubts, but we´re working on it! So we´re there talking and I decided to show him the video The Great Apostasy. The story of how Wilford Woodruff found the church. It is such a powerful video, it makes me tear up every time I watch it! So I was stoked thinking that this was going to help him out a lot. We watch it and a spirit comes in so strong. And I know he felt something, I know he did. So the movie ends and I look at him and asked him how he felt during the movie. He looks at me and starts going off about how fabricated everything in the church is and goes completely crazy. He wouldn´t let me get a word in. I was so shocked, he was denying every single thing that I know he felt. So I kept trying to help answer his doubts but he just kept shooting me down. It made me so sad! I was starting to get so frustrated. I didn´t get mad, I didn´t yell. I got really sad, this man that I truly have come to love won´t except the one thing that can help him in this life. The only thing that can bring him happiness. So I sat and listened, and became more and more sad as time went on. He bashed and bashed and bashed on our doctrine and eventually I started to cry and couldn´t stop. I just started crying out of frustration. But as I started crying a scripture came to my mind JSH 1:25. And I remembered and the spirit testified to me that what I was teaching was true...so true, I cannot deny it. So I told him those words. I know it and I know that God knows it and I cannot deny it. I invited him to read the BOM and told him I loved him and that I hope he would soften his heart to accept the truth and we left. But the rest of the day and the next, the scripture lingered in my mind. I read it as this:

So it was with me. I had actually received an answer... and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had received my answer, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me,reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually felt? For I had received an answer; I know it, and I know that God knows it, and I cannot deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.

I know that we are in the truth. That this is the ONLY true church upon the face of the earth. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God and the he did indeed restore the church of Jesus Christ. I know it and I know that God knows it and I cannot deny it.

I love you all and pray for you every day. Stay strong and keep the faith.

With so much love,

Hermana Pasley

P.S. you should watch this video. The actings not the best, but the spirit is :) It would make a goo d FHE video :) https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-003-the-great-apostasy?lang=eng

Faith over Fear

Hi!!

Well first of all...congrats Joe and Ben!! You two are the biggest studs I know! Well its raining gatos and perros outside, and I got soaked walking here and I´m sitting right next to the air conditioning unit and I can barely type right now I´m so cold(a weird feeling here in Villa), so sorry but its gonna be short!

So we found out transfers on Saturday and I´ll be staying here in Villahermosa. My companion left to Vera Cruz and I´ll be staying here. I don´t know who my companion is yet, I´ll be meeting her tomorrow to start her training. That took me by surprise. Its a lot of responsability, but I know I can do it! But I´m still pretty nervous! I just keep telling myself faith over fear, faith over fear. I need your prayers for this transfer!!

That has been my focus for this month. I want to have faith like Nephi. I don´t want to question or doubt. I want to have full and complete trust in my Savior. I want faith in Jesus Christ. I know that he has overcome all so that we may become strong. I know that through him, I will be able to magnify this calling I have been given to be a servant in his hands. Just like he gave Nephi the strength to get the plates, to build a ship, and to become a powerful leader and prophet. 

I love the quote by Thomas S. Monson, "Your future is as bright as your faith." I´m taking that and running with it! I hope this year we can all have the faith to become better people and over come our weaknesses. 

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

Hermana Pasley

 

Carlos and Karla´s Baptism

 

Saying goodbye at the ADO(bus station) this morning!

 

 

 

No Time Like the Present

Hi Family!!

It was so good to see all of your smiling faces this last week and Kate´s too!! That made my day...if you couldn´t tell by my tears!! I was so happy to be able to talk to you, it seems sometimes like a dream or that I just watched you guys be my family in a movie, so it was good to be able to actually talk to you guys!! But before I say anything...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BENNY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! I hope you have an awesome birthday, I can´t believe you are going to be turning 12!!! Wow!! You´re going to have the priesthood...you´re gonna be a pretty righteous dude!! You´re a stud!! I was Reading a talk the other day about the sacrament and she said that when a cute Little deacon stretches his hand out to give you the sacrament, they are just like Christ reaching his hands out to us, inviting us to repent and us the atonement in our lives. Pretty cool right? Ben, you´re going to be helping so many people! Think of what a priviledge it is for you to pass the sacrament. I´´m so excited for you!! You´ve always had a special sweet spirit...I just love ya Benny boo boo boo boo boo!! And Joe, Felicidades for your baptism, you are just starting on your journey and opening the doors to a Brand new life. You get to start again squeaky clean...lucky! I´m so proud of you  boys!! Know I´ll be there in spirit!! I love you!!

So this last Friday we had Carlos´baptism!!! It was SO good! His wife gave the coolest talk where she talked about the 5 steps of the góspel and put them out in front like stepping stones and had her husband and daughter take those steps together until they reached the temple and later eternal life. It was a really powerful talk to see them holding hands take the giant steps together. The service went flawless and the family left so happy! It was such a good baptism and I am so grateful that I had the chance to teach Carlos! I LOVE THE MISSION!!

So this next week is New Years!! I have been thinking lots of about this new year. Half of it I´ll be on my mission and the other half will be starting "real" life again...scary, don´treally want to think about that at all for now. But as a missionary I have realized there is a difference between "good" goals and "God´s" goals. I have so many things I would really like to do, so many things I could do better at, but I´ve had to stop myself and think of what it is that God wants from me, what he thinks I need to be better at this year. So I have thought long and hard and have come up with a few, that I hope will lead me to success this year. In Mexico they have a tradition where they set 12 goals, one for each month, then eat 12 grapes atmidnight and it supposedly will make it so you can complete each one of these goals. So I have set monthly goals and I am excited to see what will come out of this year. There is no time like the present!

Its this hope that keeps us looking forward. Sometimes we want to look back and dwell on the past, but if we dwell and wish to go back in time, I don´t think we really understand the atonement. The atonement is what helps us move forward its what changes us and makes us better. Each year can be better...so much better if we will just trust in the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us. That is one of my main goals for this year is to trust, not doubt but trust! And I´m excited to change, I´m coming to find that change is a good thing!

I hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEARS!! Have fun! Send me lots of pictures of the boys, I want to see your perfect Little faces! I´m so proud of you two, I love you so much!! Have a good week and enjoy the holidays and cool weather! Love you lots! Stay strong and keep the faith!

Hermana Pasley

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

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 a child is born, unto us a son is given: and thegovernment shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall becalled Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The 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

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!

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