Merry Christmas! - December 23, 2013

Dearest Family and Friends,

 

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! We have had such an amazing week, filled with Christmas miracles! We've been so blessed to have had so much time specifically devoted our specific edification as missionaries, in addition to the amazing daily opportunities that we have in our edification as we go out and teach. We were able to get a little more than half the mission together at our Christmas conference in Lubbock this past week, and it was filled with lots of fun, reuniting and of course a focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and what the Christmas season really is all about. Additionally, we had a mission-wide conference call on Saturday, and President Augustin re-enforced how special an opportunity it is for us to be missionaries during this time, when the rest of the world is more inclined to be thinking about Christ and His meaning in their lives.

 

Throughout the week I've been able to spend bits of time here and there reflecting on the Spirit of the season and the sacrifices that have been made for me being able to be out here as a missionary. Many people- members of the ward here, and our investigators ask us if it's hard to be here and away from our families. I feel that the sacrifice we make as missionaries is almost nothing compared to the sacrifice that is made by our families. Many of the missionaries serving now are much younger than I am, and I know that our absence during the holidays is so difficult for any parent, especially ones who've not had much time without their children at home... but I do know that Heavenly Father blesses His missionaries and their families. I know that as we celebrate the birth of our Savior we can truly find peace on the earth and good will toward our fellow man, just as the angel proclaimed to the shepherds on the evening of Christ's birth. That peace that we are able to feel comes as the Spirit testifies of the true meaning of this holiday season; Heavenly Father's gift to us, of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

 

President Augustin reminded us how special it is to be in the Lord's service as a full-time missionary at this time of the year. We are able to give our gift--our testimonies at a time when others' thoughts are really more focused on the Savior already.

 

I know with all of my heart that this is the most wonderful, glorious time of the year indeed, because we have a great opportunity to remember the Savior, that even the world has kept sacred, and centered on the family. Throwing all of the commercialism of the holidays aside, we truly get to celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know with all of my heart that He is the Savior of the World: The way the truth and the life. He is my personal Savior. In His example I have found the way back to my Heavenly Father. In His teachings I have found truth. And from His great and eternal sacrifice I have discovered what it truly means to live life. In this world where it feels like everything can go wrong, He makes it right. Simply put, his love is why I am here today living on this earth, and more specifically it is why I am here serving a mission.

I've mentioned 2 Tim 1:6-10 many times, and I know that my testimony of the gospel is centered in Jesus Christ. He is my rock, and my redeemer, and I know that without Him I would be nothing. I knew before that I had a testimony of this church- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as His restored church here on the earth again today. But I did not fully understand-nor do I ever think I will fully understand the depth of Jesus Christ in my testimony. I've been able to gain a better understanding of how central He is to everything as I've been able to have opportunities to teach about His gospel, and I know with every ounce of who I am, and I can say with all energy of my heart and soul, that He is my foundation. His love is infinite, and His mercy is free to all that desire to learn of Him, and follow the path that He trod for us.

Just as He freely gave His life for us, to glorify His Father in Heaven, I've learned that we need to give ourselves in our entirety to Him, and allow His grace to not only save us, but change us. I've been changed, I think anyone who has known me for a while can see that. But I know that it is ONLY through Him, that I can have hope to continue to change, and it is only through Him that I can receive the strength I need to truly see myself in my entirety and imperfection and not be overcome with hopelessness. His strength allows me to view others with hope and love, so see and cherish their goodness, and help them to cherish it as well.

His grace is sufficient, His love is without end, and His example is perfect. I feel a great measure of joy and humility at this time thinking about the birth of my Savior, and His love for me. I'm grateful for the infinite blessing He is in my life, and the blessing I have to share my testimony of Him as His servant during this time in my life.

I'm grateful that I have this opportunity to share the good news that just as there were prophets of old to prepare the world for His first coming, that there are prophets again on the earth today to prepare the world for His second coming. That even though the fullness of the truth that He brought to the earth was lost for a time, that it has been restored to the earth again, and Jesus Christ stands at the head of His church once again, and guides us through a living prophet today.

We have so much cause to rejoice, and there truly is so much joy to be found in Him. In His sacred name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

I love you all, and I hope you have an amazing Christmas as you remember the Savior! Don't forget to love one another, and remember His example as you do.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Love Always,

Sister Lagrosa

 

p.s. sorry for the brevity, I lost the e-mail right at the end when I typed it before!

 

Pictures:

1- Sister Johnson, Knowling, Me, Hoover, and Vailea! (part of the posterity of Sister Johnson's training :P)

2- Me and my awesome companion Sister Plante!

3- We opened a couple presents early! New scriptures and a picture of Christ to remember what Christmas is all about!

"You Can't Out-give God." - December 16, 2013

Howdy family and friends!

 

I was thinking about the 12 days of Christmas, and I wanted to think about my mission-thus far in numbers, and I only got to 8-- buuuut, it's really fun, so I wanted to share! :D

 

1st- companionship in the field (just me and Sister Plante!)

also, only 1 year left! My time is running short!

2nd- new area opened!

3rd- STL (sister trainer leader) companion

4th- Area!

5th- Transfer

6th- month in the field!

7th- companion in the field

8th- companion since the MTC

 

...maybe one day I'll make a song :P

 

Also, fun fact of the week: Salsa Valentina (Mexican Hot Sauce) is like my new favorite thing to put on everything! And believe it or not, Sister Plante and I both love cottage cheese and salsa (which is even better with Valentina on it :P).

 

And Sister Plante and I spray painted a Christmas tree onto the box our dresser came in! Cute right? :D

 

So this past week was epically awesome! I've kind of felt like I'm in an episode of the district because of just how much we are going ALL the time! While mission life isn't perfect, there's just always so much work to do! Last night I fell asleep around 10 before I could even change as I was trying to read a talk! ...lucky for my skirt, Sister Plante kindly woke me up when she asked if I wanted the light off haha.

 

But we've been seeing miracles every day here! Especially as we have been out riding our bikes! It was way cold and rainy on Thursday, but we went out, and our ward members really do LOVE seeing us riding around and getting to work!

 

Also, we were really blessed to have the opportunity to find a kid, Javier. Who recently came upon some bad luck, but he has SO much hope, and desire to know his Savior better as he's piecing his life back together, it's so inspiring! We talked with him about Job, and how our trials aren't meant to keep us from the Lord but to bring us closer to Him, and how nothing can separate us from His love. We met up with him at the library the next day and talked more about how we can help him spiritually, and he really wants to come closer to Christ. When we were telling him about the Book of Mormon, and talking with him about baptism, he really quickly understood, that the promise we make at baptism goes 2 ways, and that Heavenly Father really does help us more after we have entered into that covenant with Him.

 

Another miracle we saw this week was in the good 'ol town of Lovington! There is a kid there, J, who hasn't yet been baptized, but he is already sharing the gospel with his family and friends! He asked us to bring him copies of the Book of Mormon so he could give them to his teachers for Christmas, since it is another testament of our Savior Jesus Christ! We could just see his hunger to learn more spiritually, and just grow, and help other know their Savior better as well! It was so amazing!

 

I wish I could go on and on, but my time is far spent! I love you all, and I hope you can remember, especially during this time of the year to show love to all those around you. I know traveling from place to place is crazy, but I also know that as we look at our fellow travelers as Heavenly Father would, we can have more peace amongst the stress.

 

1 John 4:7-9

 

I love you all!

Love Sister Lagrosa! :)

 

Pictures:

1- Pumpkin Shakes!

2- District Christmas Card Picture! :P

 

 

1- Salsa Valentina!

2- Mission Gormet! Beans and papas in a green pepper! :)

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! - December 9, 2013

Howdy Howdy Family and Friends!

 

It has been such a crazy week here in the TLM! It was 83 degrees in Monahans on Monday, and by Friday in Hobbs, it was a chill 19 outside!

 

Sister Plante thinks I'm funny, so she writes down things I say sometimes, and my favorite of her favorite quotes of the week was when we were knocking Friday night, trying to find someone's home and I said "I thought I was called to the Texas Lubbock Mission, not the Arctic Tundra Mission!" It was soooo burrrrrrrr outside!

 

But yeah, it was so crazy with my traveling! I went from Monahans to Lubbock on Tuesday, taught with the sisters in the YSA (Young Single Adults) Ward up there, and turned around and went back South to Hobbs on Wednesday with Sister Plante to open up a brand new area!

 

When we got here, we didn't know anything from where we were going to be living, to our phone number- really nothing. But we got a car (which we later found out used to belong to the Elders we share the ward with! ...poor Elders, have to walk/bike ALL the time now!) and a phone and keys and followed the zone leaders to our new home! Really, it's brand new- we were soooo surprised, we have tile on our kitchen floor, and a GARAGE! --garages are almost non-existent around these parts, namely because since everything is growing so fast with the oil business, most people are living in trailers. But, our phone didn't work, and we had to set up all our furniture (which wasn't much but it had to be put together). So by 5 o'clock, we had it all barely set up, and our front room was a mess of boxes, and suitcases.

 

We finally got a working phone, ran to Wal-Mart to grab some food and toilet paper for a couple days, and by 6 we were able to meet with our Elders (Johnson and Hogan), and were given some direction where to get started! We met the Bishop, and were introduced to 2 part-member families whose children we will be teaching, and we got to work trying to meet up with a few of the investigators who had been taught the past few weeks.

 

We met this amazing family- the Seamen's on Wednesday, and they invited us to dinner on Thursday night! It was so crazy, how warm the welcome has been from the ward, and how excited about missionary work they are! :D

 

We really hit the ground running-- or biking I guess, because Friday was bike day (because of some freezing rain on Thursday), and we went between 15-20 miles in the freezing cold! It was worth it though! A lot of members who saw us pointed out that we were "tough" on Sunday when they talked to us, so they know we're here to work hard!

 

It is weird to be in a big ward again, because Bishop asked us to introduce ourselves and bear our testimony on Sunday in front of everyone, and it felt as big as the ward in Virginia! It definitely feels like home here--the Christmas season is probably helping with that! :)

 

We've been working so hard the past few days, I've actually been able to sleep almost all the way through the night! haha, you know it's a good day when you're out by the time your head hits the pillow. We still aren't completely unpacked, but it will come. :) I'm excited to be here in Hobbs with Sister Plante and we are both looking forward to the amazing Christmas season that's coming up!

 

I'm just feeling very blessed to be a missionary here, and I'm so excited for how much there really is to do to serve the Lord, especially at this time of the year when we are able to set aside even more time to remember the gift He has given us of His son! I felt this incredible peace last night as we watched the Christmas devotional, and the Spirit really testified to me again, just how impoartant it is to remember the Spirit of Christ during Christmas, and remember this is a time to truly serve our brothers and sisters no matter where we are.

 

I love the Lord, and I love His gospel! I'm so glad to be here and have the opportunity to be set apart so I can testify with boldness to everyone I meet that Jesus is my Savior, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church once again on the earth. :) Like it was said last night  during the devotional, His life-His gift to us-neither  began in Bethlehem, nor ended on Calvary, but His gift to us is eternal, and His hand is always stretched forth!

 

All my love,

Sister Heather Ann Lagrosa

 

Pictures:

1- bundling up for bike day!

2- winter wonderland!

3- Sunday mornings = the BEST!

 

 

1- Me and Sister Johnson (my mom!) Reunited!

2- Me and Sister Martinez (Abuelita!)

3- Me and Sister Smith = LOVE THIS GIRL!

4- BEST SIGN EVEERRR!!!

5- Pump jack!

6- crazy fog here in Hobbs!

 

 

Ch. 5: Back to the Land of Enchantmen​t! - December 2, 2013

Howdy Howdy family and friends!

 

So, transfer calls came in Saturday night, and it looks like I'm headed back to the Land of Enchantment! :D

 

I'm going to the big city of Hobbes, New Mexico! I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father knows I need to change time zones at least once every 3 months, because I think a pattern is forming! :P

 

I'm excited to be serving with Sister Plante! We were together in the MTC, and Sister Augustin said "You two are going to tear it up down there!" Also, she's a new Sister Training Leader (STL), so we'll be traveling to do exchanges!

 

It's definately going to be SO WEIRD 1- being in a companionship with just one other missionary (because I've been in a trio for the last 6 months!) and 2- being back in the city again, but I'm sure I'll be adjusted by Friday, and hopefully, have a less stressful Wal-mart experience next Monday :P

 

So many changes have happened this past week! Today I'm celebrating 6 years of sobriety! And this past Wednesday we celebrated my birthday by having an AWESOME day of missionary work (more on that later), and then we had a day off for Thanksgiving, and we decided to run our own 5K at the track by the high school down the street. :) Also... funny news-- I found my first grey hair! ... no joke, it was the day before I turned 22. Part of me was thinking "OH MY GOSH!! I"M TOO YOUNG!" ... but more of me thought: "Sweeeet, one step closer to my silver dreadlocks I'm going to have one day!" :P (don't worry... it's a ways off ;)

 

This week really was so great- even though it was a little weird because we were inside a lot, but when we were able to get out and work, it was amazing! :D

 

On my birthday we had some GREAT lessons with investigators and members. We sat down with a grandmother- Betsy, and shared the Plan of Salvation with her, and talked to her about the hope that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Her faith is so strong, and I was humbled by some of the experiences she was able to share with us. :) We were also able to share with her more about the hope that comes from the addiction recovery program- after she shared with us some of the trials that a few of her children are facing. As we were leaving she mentioned how she wanted to introduce her to her son, after gently pulling me into an embrace she explained it's because she really wants him to marry a nice Christian girl! But, hopefully Sisters Hymas and Rose will be able to continue teaching their family, even without any promises of marriage. :P

 

We saw miracles this weekend when literally 3 hours of appointments feel through in about 15 minutes, and we didn't know what to do! Thankfully, prayer and promptings of the Spirit are more helpful than pen and paper, and we were led to Yolanda's house. It was really the perfect time to see her, because she was feeling vey depressed- feeling that her trials were a punishment from Heavenly Father. Thankfully we were able to talk with her, even though it didn't seem to make that much of a difference. But we prayed with her, and were able to commit her to pray for herself and ask her Father in Heaven if He loved her. She said she would, and we made an appointment to return on Sunday. When we got back, she was so different! Still, she was feeling a lot of pain, but somehow she found her trust in God again. We read with her "Broken Things to Mend", and talked about how sometimes we are compelled to humility so we can learn how to rely on our Savior more. It was amazing, and the Spirit was so strong-- especially when she gave the closing prayer at the end of the lesson.

 

It really was just such a good week, full of teaching, and miracles. I was able to bear my testimony in church yesterday- because it was fast and testimony Sunday. I really felt so humbled standing up there in front of the wonderful people I've been serving the past 6 weeks, and I was just so grateful for the opportunity I have out here to be a missionary, set apart from the world, and help other build their faith in Jesus Christ. It's amazing to me how Heavenly Father builds those who are in His service, and I loved looking out to the congregation and just seeing their lights shining so bright. I love that we all have the light of Christ inside of us, and as we come to know Him better, and do as He did and glorify our Father in Heaven, that light will continue to shine brighter and brighter.

 

I love this work! I love that Heavenly Father allows His perfect work to go forward through imperfect people like myself, like anyone else here on this earth. I know that He builds us line upon line, and that by small and simple things great things come to pass. I'm humbled to know that everything I am, and everything I have is a blessing from my perfect Father in Heaven. He's given me trials to grow, strengths to be grateful for, and opportunities to learn. I know that this is His true church, and He loves us so much that we are lead by a prophet of God today on the earth. President Thomas S. Monson, who testifies of Jesus Christ, just as the prophets of old did. We are so blessed to be able to know our Savior Jesus Christ, and to be strengthened by Him!

 

I'm most grateful for the ability to love. In the Bible it says that God is love. And I know that it is a blessing to be able to feel the joy and peace that comes from loving the imperfect people around us. I love my family, and I'm so thankful to have them in my life!

I hope you all have a great week, and next week you'll hear from me in Hobbes! :D

 

All my love,

Sister Heather Ann Lagrosa

 

Pictures:

1- BIRTHDAY CAKE! :D (made by sister Rose!)

2- We made a pumpkin pie! --> and re-learned to not put cool whip on a hot pie :P

3- Awkward District Picture :P

 

 

 

 

 

1- Playing Dominos on Transfer Call Night

2- Basically Me and Sister Hymas' relationship in a Picture :P

3- Sister Rose, the missionary, the LEGEND

4- SUNSET!

5- Birthday picture next to the Monhans sign at the tracks! :D