Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Oh esta, todo bien (Oh, it is all well) (June 29)



This week as a week of alot of endings, but many beginnings. Me and Hma, Tuquerres headed off to Ica Wednesday to have the last multizone and despidir (say goodbye) to the Douglas family. It was something so great to hear Presidents last words as a mission president, and also fro Hma. Douglas and Chris. They really, apart from so many things, have shown me what it is be a family that perseveres until the end. They have experienced so many hardships in their life that wouldn't be that different than other families. But they have used the Book of Mormon and the temple as their strength.

 Hma. Douglas got up to share her last testimony, written all by herself in Spanish, not translated by anyone. It wasn't long, but it was a triumph for her. That is something else I will remember from them, he key to being resilient. Encouraging your efforts even more than your success, and not seeing things as failure, but more as a way to change and improve. 

Then the Fowler's got up and shared their testimonies. We had just sung the hymn "Come Come Ye Saints." In Spanish the title is, "Oh esta todo bien", more or less, "all is well." Elder Fowler told us that his great great grandfather wrote that hymn as a pioneer. After having a nightmare that his wife had a miscarriage, he ran to find her. When he realized that she was fine, and later on delivered a healthy baby, he was so happy ha held a party in his home with all his friends. and wrote the hymn. The part at the end, "all is well", is what Elder Fowler thinks every time he has a trial. 

When Joseph Smith was given instruction about the brass plates, and overcome with tons of responsibility, his mother asked him how he was. His response " All is well, mother. I feel very well.(Mo siento bastante bien.) After the storm, there is always a calm. After a fight, there is always a moment to reflect and repent. After everything has been said and done, if we trust in God and his understanding Love, everything will be handled the way he desires it to be, and all will be well. 

I have felt that type of calm energy come over me this week. In all the work we are doing here, me and Hma., Tuquerres were a little overwhelmed the other day. We  only have one investigator with a baptismal date, Jose Carlos, who still hasn't attended church. Also, our less active didn't attend yesterday. Just one, who we don't eve n know if shes less active or not. But I know that God is just giving us a little trial, to see where our faith and works are. 

Then, after all I can do, he will say,
"All is well." That's my only fear, failing God. But if I and we all do everything in our power to not only keep his commandments, but keep making covenants, and helping others to make and keep them as well. we will never  fail Him. 

Its like it says in the last chapter or Enos. I have no time to look it up, but its amazing to read about his loyalty.
Stay loyal, stay true, and keep it real and blue.
I love EVERYONE! Have a great week!
Hermana Addington


The last multizone that we had, and a service project with Hma. Clinsy and her fidgety but adorable children. 








Monday, June 29, 2015

El Dorado (June 22)








The Harry Potter of Peru (June 22)


This is a painting of this famous Nascan chick named Maris Reich, who supposedly discovered the Nasca lines. The one her going to Cusco is my favorite because if you look closely, its bsically a painting of Harry Potter.
And the rest are the gals from our rama/branch. Me and My comie, Hma. Mendez, and Hma., Gardner from Holiday, Utah. 







Pater, Padre, Father (June 22)

Dear President, 
I didnt mean to send that last email without anything. I just feel so rushed in this email time. Anyway, this week I have learned so much, and my testimony has really been strengthened. This week me and Hma, Tuquerres really put the goal of finding 10 nuevos to the test. We began contacting more, asking for more references and names in every lesson, and chatting with our lider missional and new branch president about plans that we could set and follow to help in finding these 10 nuevos. At the end of planning yesterday, the total was 3. Although I was a little dissappointed that we didnt meet this goal, I really felt more motivated than anything to make myself better. To make this area better, and become better missionaries, it requires alot of faith and diligence. That is shown through doing all these things that I was probably no fully completing, like street contacting, like asking for names,many things. I feel like you set that goal with us to elevate our faith, and help us to really be better missionaries, and realize that God also has everything already included in His plan for us. So thank you, President. Other than that, the temple dedication was amazing, and I feel so priveleged to be in Peru in my mission at this time. God knows exactly where I need to be, and its here. 
I feel motivated to work even harder and apply the atonement in my life! 
Sincerely, 
Hermana Addington
That was the resume of what happened this week mission wise. The last part was my favorite. This Fathers Day,  the Trujillo temple was dedicated. It is a representation of the beauty, faith, and dillegence not just of all the people from Trujilli, but all the Peruvian saints, misisonaries, and helpers that made this amazing temple possible. Although we couldnt be there physically in the city with President Utchdorf, Elders Bednar, Wadell, Uceda, and countless others, we were able to view everything from our small but holy chapel. It was treated like a temple for a day. When we entered, there were hymns playing, videos of amazing temples, and I just felt the spirit hit me like a wall. I literally felt like I was inside a temple.
As we watched President Utchdorf seal in the cornerstone, he talked about the significance of fathers day. I couldnt think of any better way the celebrate what our Heavenly Father would want on His day. I thought about my father Phiklip Addington, and all the sacrifices he made throughout my life so that I can be strong in teh gospel, and the constant guidance of my mother. I thought about my companions parents who had just been baptized , and what they must be feeling for their daughter- pride, love, mostly love.
I am so grateful, Dad for everything you have given me. Never stop listening to the counsel of your Heavenly Father, he will always tell you what to do!
Happy Fathers day to Fathers everywhere and in heaven. May the example Heavenly Father sent us always be out guiding light. Ether 12:33 is amazing, read it because I dont have time to type it.
One of life's great questions is “Who am I?” A beloved Primary song helps even little children answer this question. We sing, “I am a child of God, and he has sent me here.” The knowledge that we are children of God provides strength, comfort, and hope.
Scholars have long acknowledged that the view of God held by the earliest Christians changed dramatically over the course of centuries. Early Christian views of God were more personal, more anthropomorphic, and less abstract than those that emerged later during Christianity’s creedal stage. The key ideological shift that began in the second century, after the loss of apostolic authority, resulted from a conceptual merger of Christian doctrine with Greek philosophy.
Latter-day Saints believe the melding of early Christian theology with Greek philosophy was a grave error. Chief among the doctrines lost in this process was the nature of the Godhead. Latter-day Saints hold that God the Father is an embodied being with the attributes ascribed by the earliest Christians. That belief is consistent with the early Christian views of God, yet it differs from the later creeds.
We are all literally children of God, spiritually begotten in the premortal life. As His children, we can be assured that we have divine, eternal potential and that He will help us in our sincere efforts to reach that potential.
Love,
Hermana Addington