Love One Another as I Have Loved You

Mi Amada Familia,

 

Wow, Hope and Dad are hiking the Grand Canyon as I type! I have to say I got a twinge of homesickness there, reading about their daddy-daughter campout and then a backpacking trip. But I am mostly so happy you all are doing fun things. You gotta keep Hope busy for the next 17 days. Man, I just love you each so very much. Is everyone going to be in town next week for Hope`s farewell and Sabrina`s wedding? Tom and Neal too? 

 

I heard from a member that President Monson`s wife died this week. How my heart aches for him. 

 

We had a super busy week. This is definitely the busiest time of my mission, and one of the busiest times of my entire life. We did two divisiones. I stayed in our area and worked on Wednesday with Hermana Venegas from Peru who just got here three weeks ago, and on Friday with Hna. Vilcahuaman also brand new from Peru. It was fun to work with brand new missionaries. Wednesday was Mothers day here, and no one has school or work. It was also rainy and cold all day. So everyone was either a) with their family b) drunk, because it was a day off or c) in bed because it was cold. Even though I had a plan B to every visit, we ended up needing plans A-Z and still no one answered their door or let us in. At 8 at night I was just so ready to go home and Hna. Venegas was so cold, but we`re supposed to be out until 9, and I wanted to be a good example of hard work. Standing in the cold thinking of who we could possibly visit, Karen called us and said, "I just got home, are you coming?" Hallelujah! Someone wanted us! She had a bowl of popcorn and a warm house waiting for us. What an angel. God answers prayers. 

 

We had the baptism of Rossana on Saturday! She`s the mom of Ronni, who got baptized when I first got to Isla Bogado in January. We have been teaching her off and on for a while, but I honestly didn`t think it was her time. She isn`t your typical investigator. She`s never really been religious. She was actually a drug addict and living with her boyfriend until about 5 months ago. She had a baptismal date clear back in February but that fell through because they didn`t get married. But she started coming to church on her own every Sunday, without us even inviting her. She kept saying she wanted to get baptized. So we taught her again and emphasized the promise one makes at baptism to keep the commandments, and she understood very well. She and Diego (boyfriend) haven`t been living together for months and she promised to live the law of chastity. She passed her interview and on a very rainy and cold Saturday got baptized! Her non-member friends and mom and sister were there and we taught them all the Restoration at the baptism. It was very spiritual. Rossana got up and said, "I am so happy. I just feel really good. I am just really......happy. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."  Her little nephew (Ronni`s cousin) Gabriel is getting baptized on Saturday, along with the Benitez family and Analia! 

 

 We  had to have the baptism in the chapel of Laurelty because our chapel had water issues again and we couldn`t fill the font. 

This week we are going to the office in Asuncion Tuesday-Friday to present at every Zone Conference. We are speaking about the need to use the Book of Mormon in our teaching more. I have learned to love it even more preparing it. Ezra Taft Benson said, ". Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book." I like that. 

 

Tonight we have a great FHE planned with the Benitez family and the bishop. Please pray that they can progress towards their baptism this Saturday without any problem. Satan works hard the week before baptism (or leaving for a mission, or even just going to church) to distract or impede spiritual progression. 

Best of luck with everything this crazy week. I love you and miss you so much! 

Love,

Your Busy Sister Missionary,

Hermana Goimarac

"Surely our best evidence of our adoration of Jesus is our emulation of Him." Elder Nelson‏ (Photos at end)

Dearest Family,

 

Even though I just talked to you two days ago I still have a normal amount of things to say! Mostly thoughts that are just better put in writing than a skype conversation. I realized shortly after our whole conversation I forgot to say happy Mothers Day, so that night I wrote you a poem, mom. It`s not perfect rhyme-wise but it perfectly describes how I feel. 

 

My Heaven-Sent Friend

 

God uses angels to teach his children,

To teach them to love and obey.

He sends angels in forms of parents and brethren,

Whose examples show others the way.

 

These angels are given to one and to all, 

In forms of leaders, family, or friends.

If perhaps one feels forgotten by God,

He must recognize the angels He sends.

 

In trying to be God`s angel in Paraguay,

In trying to love, teach, and minister,

I realize God prepared me the same way,

By sending me to my angel mother.

 

All that I say and all that I do,

I first saw and did watching her.

I watched my return-missionary mom,

I became who I am next to you. 

As my mom follows Christ, and I follow her,

It works like that law of mathematics.

Through honoring them, my mother and father,

We honor the Savior together.

 

All mothers give birth and buy the basics,

But my mother does so much more.

Like the Savior, Himself, she gives her life to her kids,

For her, loving them is never a chore.

 

Although those she loves are so far from perfect,

And don`t recognize sacrifices made,

Of herself she thinks not, she gives them her all,

Asking only that Him we obey. 

 

Jesus is more than my Savior and King,

On top of that, He`s my loyal friend.

My mom is more than a mother to me,

She`s my dependable friend to the end. 

In short, all that I am and hope to become,

I owe to my heaven-sent mother.

And all that`s because in her I can see,

The traits of my God-sent Brother.

 

I really love you SO much, Mom. :) 

Between it being Mothers Day, and some talks in church yesterday, and some experiences I`ve had, I`ve been thinking a lot about family--the importance of it and how blessed I am to have been born into mine. I truly believe what President David O McKay said that "No accomplishment can compensate for failure in the home." All kinds of memories have been popping into my head of fun things that we have done as a family, or normal things we did during which I felt the spirit. We have been teaching an 18 year old girl named Analia (I have another story about her coming up) who is the friend of a member Pati Perez. She doesn`t live in our area, but Analia`s dad got really violent and left the family, so Analia has been almost living with Pati, (which makes it really easy to teach her with a member present!). Last night we taught her and Analia said how at the Perez`s home she feels a peace and spirit that she has never, ever, even once felt in her own home. She recognizes that the Spirit is in the Perez home because they live the gospel. I just was really struck by that. I think I took growing up in a gospel environment for granted. We had the spirit in our home even when we didn`t recognize it. 

 

In Paraguay I have entered into hundreds of homes, and so few of them have the happy environment every home should have. Families are more than just people living together. Families are what it is all about. I am so thankful for my parents who understand that. Thinking about my parents and my home these past few days have made me realize it is truly my greatest desire in life to be an angel mother, to create a home where my children can grow up feeling loved and spiritually fed. From what I hear about events happening in the U.S., I feel like I will have to battle for such views on the family during my life. I think my beliefs about marriage and family will be very persecuted, but I am so ready to take them on. Without the gospel I think I probably would put my heart and time and efforts on a career or some other pursuit. I am so thankful to know that what God expects first of me is to raise a righteous family. Almost all of the world´s social problems could be solved by strengthening the family. So, that`s one way I plan on strengthening the world.

Karen was going to get baptized on Saturday but neither her mom nor dad would sign her baptismal record to give her permission. I said to Karen, "Just cry and beg your mom and tell her it`s what you really want to do." And Karen was like, "You think I haven`t already cried and cried? I`ve done everything." So, she didn`t get baptized on Saturday but she went to church the next day and has every intention of being true so that her parents can see her determination. However, there was a baptism of a convert from a different ward, which we went to with the Benitez family and Analia. They all were very touched and felt the Spirit. We have been teaching Analia for 2 weeks and tried to commit her to a baptismal date, but she has always been hesistant to set a goal. But after the baptism she came up to us and said, "Sisters, I...I....I just....." and then she started to cry. With tears streaming down her beautiful cheeks she said, "Yo quiero bautizarme. El 25 de Mayo fue la fecha?" (I want to be baptized on May 25.) and we all hugged her so tightly and cried. It was a big step for her. She said, "I just decided right now." Pati is her friend and hugged her and cried and thanked us so much. I couldn`t help but think of that scripture that says, "How great will be your joy if ye shall spend all your days crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul, unto me." 

 

There`s this guy at church who just popped in out of nowhere. I had never seen him until a few weeks ago. His name is Edgar Espinola and he joined the church 11 years ago, and served a mission two years later in Uruguay. He`s still the only member in his family. Anyway, he was inactive for a few months but just came back to church in full swing and was called as our ward mission leader (hoooray! We finally have one!). Last night we had a ward mission meeting and he was strict! He wants to do visits with us every night Tuesday, Thrusday and Saturday, and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the elders. I am so thankful for a ward mission leader! They honestly have the power to change so many lives. 

I have been trying to memorize more of the Bible to use in lessons. In flipping through the Bible so much I have noticed how so many parts say, "By their fruits ye shall know them." I would urge anybody who doubts the church to go to the mormonnewsroom.org and I bet there are probably right now articles about how the church helps people in so many catstrophes. When I see people like Edgar who give so much of their time to spread the gospel, or when I see member families like the Perez family who are happy and at peace because they live the gospel, or when I think about the thousaands of hours of service that members and missionaries do for people not of our faith....I just can`t help but see that the good fruits of the church come from a very good tree. 

 

Because of a disturbing email I received I have prayed more than usual to ask yet again if Joseph Smith was a prophet and if the church is true. I prayed a lot about it this week, and every time I prayed I felt such a comforting, loving affirmation that can only come from the True Vine Himself. I know with all my heart the church is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet. The fruits of the restoration are too good to be from men. God is behind this church, I feel His help every day. Hanging up from our skype call on Saturday, I was actually so happy to be on my mission and not at home yet. I have so much to do here. Home can wait.

Love,

Your Sister Missionary,

Hermana Faith Goimarac

 

Here`s me with Hna. Nery ( a long time ago), me today on our way to email you in the rain. 

 

And an unseen force will aid you and me

(This is Faith's letter from last week, May 6, 2013)

 

Dearest Family,

 

I`m speechless about this week. I don`t think I`ve ever worked so hard in my life, yet been so happy at the same time. It`s not really work, when you think about it. But on the other hand it is definitely hard work. Anyway, hard work brings lots of blessings and miracles. My testimony has grown each day and I write to you a better woman than I was last week, someone who knows that God is involved in the seemingly-small details of our lives and is always available to help or even work a miracle. 

It was a very busy week and preparation day is no break. We got up today at 5:30 and went to Asuncion for the leadership meeting, where we gave a half hour presentation on contacting. It went really well. I suppose I would have been scared to death a year ago to present something for 30 minutes in Spanish to the zone leaders of an entire mission, but I wasn`t that nervous. We got a lot of participation and it turned out really fun and effective. 

 

I can tell you all prayed for my investigators, Karen, and the Benitez family, because they are progressing so well! Yesterday Miriam and her kids all went to church (their dad had to work, he`s a nurse, but he also wanted to go and likes the whole idea of being baptized and going to church as a family), and Karen, and three other investigators. We had 7 in church yesterday, which is the most I`ve ever had. It was a great testimony meeting, too. 

 

Last Monday we went to Karen`s to talk because she had called and said she was confused about some things that her dad told her about the church. We clapped her house and no one answered. We wanted to talk to her SO badly. We prayed that she would feel the spirit and answer the door, but to no avail. We walked down the street and contacted a young man (who was a golden contact, by the way) and while we talked to him, Karen came out and waved us down, and we had a great lesson. She said she had been sleeping when we knocked, and she felt something she can`t describe tell her to go to the door. She got up and her mom said we had just come by. She explained that the day before she had considered not listening to us anymore, because of what her dad told her. But then she thought about how good we are, and she thought about the Book of Mormon, and how nothing in it contradicts the Bible, and how it testifies that Joseph Smith was a prophet. She is burning with the spirit and is by FAR the most prepared investigator I`ve ever had. She asked for homework! I told her to study the Holy Ghost. So she did, and made a presentation on her computer using scriptures and pictures and music. We were so impressed! She asked for another topic to study. She is getting baptized on Saturday, if only her mom or dad gives her permission. Neither of them are against it, they just don`t want to sign. But we are praying she can, because she is so ready. And she already wants to do visits with us as soon as she`s a member. 

We really wanted to reach our daily goals this week, get 7/7. But we also had so many things to do that took up precious time. We did two divisions which involves a lot of travel time, we had to prepare our presentation and do lots of organizing to get our calendar set up as STLs. But even with all of that, we got 7/7 and witnessed miracles every single day. I wish I had time to give more details. You`ll have to read my journal when I get back. But remember Giselle and Fernando, that couple I wrote about a couple weeks ago that were going to get divorced? We talked to Giselle a little bit ago and she said that Fernando was going to try smoking for the first time, but right then  we contacted him and he decided not to. Then yesterday we talked to Fernando and he said that since that day he has been praying for the first time, and he said the relief he feels is amazing. I`m so excited to work with them. 

 

On Wednesday an Hermana Tabi from Ecuador came and we worked together in our area. She is 29 and has such a sweet personality and is a very good teacher, even though she`s only been out 2 months. I realized what a blessing it is to work with all the sisters of the mission, to learn from all their strengths. I have much more to learn from them than I can ever teach them. What did I do to be so blessed? And then on Friday I went to Loma Pyta and worked with Hna Toctaquiza (also from Ecuador) and we had a great time, working in the pouring rain the whole time, haha. I got home that night from being in Loma all day and was freezing cold because I had worn hot-weather clothes because I didn`t know it would rain. On top of that I was exhausted and fasting. And we had one hour to teach two lessons and find a new investigator to meet our goals. It was definitely a pull-up-your-bootstraps moment, but we met our goals with the help of God and I came home very cold and tired but more grateful than ever before. Perhaps the mission sounds miserable to some from the outside looking in, but there is an energy and fulfillment and joy that cannot be desribed. It is the hardest, busiest days that are truly the best. 

 

Well, I don`t have to write about all I wanted to, but here is a little list of other exciting things that happened this week:

-I was on a bus with Hna. Toctaquiza on our way to Loma and we were the only ones on the bus, when it turned going the opposite direction on a one-way street and a semi-truck was heading right at us, but the skilled bus driver swerved right in time. Whew. Add that to the list of near-death experiences and list of miracles. 

-I got my hair cut last Monday and told the lady just a couple inches, but she got excited with my long blonde hair and went at it. I was a little ticked about how short it is, but I`m over it. 

-I sat next to an older man in a sharp business suit on a collectivo today and started talking to him about his job. He`s a congressman who had been to our church a couple times before. He already knew a lot about the restoration and said he`s going to go to church next Sunday in my ward (not the one closest to him...haha). He also runs marathons and is going to New York  next year to run one. Everyone has a cool story, and you never know what it is until you open your mouth and ask. 

-I talked to an atheist for like 20 minutes on a different collectivo. Always interesting and testimony-building for me. 

-Ester told us how she got in a fight with her sister and was so mad, and decided to kneel down and pray, in tears, and thank God for her trials. Oh my heart. She`s applying the gospel!

-Today in the council with the zone leaders everyone kept saying, "elders,.....er....y hermanas." It was a historic meeting they say because it was the first time sisters participated in a leadership council of a mission. Being the only sisters, we felt very loved, I must say. Everyone invited us to present at their zone meetings. 

-Remember Marian and Jorge, who we worked with a TON in Piribebuy and only their son was baptized because they had to get married first? Today the elders who are the zone leaders over there told us they found them again (they have moved quite a bit) and they have a date set for the wedding and baptism! They said Marian knows so much already they have to get really creative just to teach her something new. :) So happy. Prayers are answered.

 

Carrie, feliz anniversario on May 2! I was thinking of you. I hope you and Jared are doing great. I love you and your beautiful family. 

I am SOOO excited to skype with you for Mothers day! My last phone call! Hermana Greer and I are practicing a hymn in guarani to sing to you. :) We only get to talk for 40 minutes, so hopefully you can all be there and ready at 3 or shortly after. I am really happy I can talk with Hope and see her right before she takes off. Sorry I haven`t been commenting much on what you write me, I have been reading your emails after I get home. But we shall talk on Saturday. 

 

Today in our meeting we watched some awesome videos called Patterns of Light featuring David A. Bednar. They really touched me about how we receive revelation from God. You should look for them on lds.org or something. In ward council this week, we also watched some videos that the church made about ministering, which show apostles themselves doing visits just like we do, and it also shows Christ teaching and ministering just like we do. I really felt the spirit as I watched and thought about the privilege it is to have the time and means to go about doing good, and literally be the hands of Christ upon the earth. I love my mission with all my heart. I love it more and more every day. I love Him whom I represent and I owe my life to Him. 

 

Love,

Your Sister Missionary,

Sister Goimarac

"God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Cor 1:27‏ (Photos at end)

Dear Family,

 

Before I forget to tell you, just let me tell you what I had for lunch today, A falafel! Yeah! I was taken right back to Jerusalem. :) 

 

Well, it was a great, great week. We had stake conference yesterday. We had some great lessons with members. We found a great family that is progressing, named the Benitez family, and we had an awesome lesson with members last night. Nothing like a good with-member lesson to make a missionary on cloud 9. That`s all I want in life right now--good lessons with prepared people, which is just what we had. Miriam Benitez, the mom, has never been baptized in any church, and as we were teaching about the apostasy, she was like, "So how did we get the authority again??" She UNDERSTOOD. So many people just don`t understand the importance of authority, or the Restoration in general. But she does and her two kids, Paula and Elias, also love church. We found them because our little 12-year-old convert, Ronni, is Elias`s friend and invited him to church. Now Elias has been going to church every week for about a month and told his mom he likes it better than his grandma`s church (Pentecostal) and his dad`s church (Catholic), that he feels better there. The dad is not quite as on-board as the rest but he`s not against anything, which is a blessing. Pray for the Benitez family!

 

Also, Karen was doing great and agrees with everything. We`ve really seen how God has been preparing her. However, yesterday she talked to her dad who goes to an evangelical church, and called us and said she is confused. We are going to see her tonight. It just hurts to see people trust more in the opinions and false ideas about "the mormons" than the answers to prayer they have received from God. Karen has felt the spirit and has recognized it, but now she seems to be confused from (probably false) things her dad says. Pray for her, too. 

 

Speaking of rejection, this week we just got some nasty reactions. On the bus to church yesterday I said to a man how the Church of Jesus Christ is the same church that Christ himself established during his life and he said, "Mentiras! (Lies!) Joseph Smith was a liar and a murderer." It just breaks my heart, not that I`m offended that they don`t see the world as I do, just that they are losing so many blessings, and salvation as well. But, according to Luke 6:22-23, I should be leaping for joy when people reject us like that, haha. 

 

So you all want to know about my new position as Sister Training Leader. On Thursday we went to the office and had a historic meeting with Pres and Hermana Madariaga about what exactly our role is. They don`t really know much either, but we established what we`re going to do. We`re mostly zone leaders but for the sisters of the whole mission, going on divisions twice a week in order to do a division with each sister every 6-week change. Pres says he expects us to be exemplary missionaries---i.e. as perfect as can be. Keep a clean house, have a map of the area on the wall labeled with our investigators and menos activos (less actives), etc., be perfectly obedient to mission rules, keep an immaculate area book, contact everyone, etc. I am so excited. Ever since, I`ve been analyzing everything I do, thinking, "Would a perfect sister missionary say that? Do that? Eat that? Wear that?" It`s truly more of a privilege than a sacrifice or burden. We`re supposed to keep our area very active, a model area that other sisters can learn from. It`s a lot of pressure but God is with us, so I`m very excited. We`re starting this week, doing divisions on Wednesday and Saturday. One of us will have to travel to each area and a sister from that area will come to our area to work with one of us for the day. I even get to go way up to Concepcion and Pedro Juan eventually! (What I would give to see the dear Meza family again! Nila Meza wrote me recently and told me her family is very active and she is a counselor in YW, that she wants to serve a mission and marry an RM. :)) As STLs we are also going to speak in every zone conference for 30 minutes, and in mission leadership council on the first Monday of every month to the zone leaders for 30 minutes on the topic of our choosing. Pres said I very well might have this position for the rest of my mission, whew! Although he`s out of here in July, so who knows. 

 

By the way, I love Hermana Greer. I feel like I am the best missionary when I am her companion. We wake up early and go for a full 30-minute run, we don`t eat sugar, we talk to everyone, we kneel to pray at the end of every visit, we just both try really hard. We have great conversations. We wake up so happy every day. We practically pop out of bed and are like, "Yes! Let`s go preach the gospel! The field is white all ready to harvest!" Mutual desires to be obedient is the trick for a good relationship, no matter what it be. I  feel like I could  get along with anyone as long as she tried to be obedient.

A year ago on April 24th I got on a bus and rode for 7 hours from Asuncion to Concepcion, my first area, with my first companion, Hermana Springer. Elder Tenney bought us and his new comp chipa, a very common Paraguayan cheesy bread made from flour of mandioca. I had never heard of it before. I thought it was weird. I was so inexperienced in every aspect of being a missionary and had no idea what to expect. I admired my companion for everything she did. "She talks on the phone in Spanish!" "She just walks up to people and talks to them!" "She reports numbers to the zone leaders!"  And this year on April 24th, Hermana Greer and I recognized our 1-year mark (we landed here together, we were on the same plane) by buying the best chipa in Isla Bogado, called Chipa Tati. It`s crunchy on the outside, hot and cheesy on the inside. Soooo good. And I thought back to that day one year before when I curiously took a bite of my first chipa ever. It was the first of many, just like Hermana Springer said. And I thought of how the past 365 days have been SO happy and so hard. Truly, as clichè as it is,  truly the best year of my life. I am forever grateful I took that leap of faith into the MTC and never looked back. My mission is holy ground for me and I love it more and more every day. 

 

Really, the truth is, God loves us so much and wants us to succeed. Yes, life is a test, but God wants us to get an A+. He does everything to help us not fail. He sent his own Son and He established a church so we would always have guidance in life. And so that we know which church is from Him, He gave that Church His permission, or authority. And He gave us the Book of Mormon so we have proof that this is indeed the same church Jesus Christ established. And then he sends missionaries all over the world so that everyone knows of the great news. He does everything possible to help us succeed. It is just amazing. 

 

I have so many stories I could tell this week: a great experience of praying to feel the spirit and it was noticebly felt by us and this young mom Irene we were teaching, finding a less active who had been praying the missionaries would find her, fasting for a couple in our ward who is having marriage troubles, and going out with Ester to visit a less active neighbor or hers and hearing her bear her simple testimony. So much to say, and even with 2 hours there`s not enough time....nor do any of you probably have enough attention span, haha. Sorry I`m kind of long-winded. 

 

Love,

Your Sister Missionary,

Sister Faith Goimarac

 

                                                                   Ino's family in Piribebuy!  Yea!

                         Our district right before changes. Elder Caceres (de Paraguay) and Elder Garcia (de Peru).

                                        Look what I found in the bathroom!  Thought you'd like to see.

                                                            365 crazy  blessed days in Paraguay.

"It is not enough to avoid evil, we must be anxiously engaged helping others to conversion." Robert C. Gay‏

Hola Familia,

I have so much to say, and I actually have time to write it! We are now given 2 hours to email! YYYYEEEEE HAWW! And we can email all our friends, not just our families! But actually, we are in Piribebuy, my last area, right now.  We came to visit, and so I really only have about 30 minutes to type everything because we have to travel back to our area to get to work by 6. 

 

Today has been so fun. Since Hna. Greer and I served in Piribebuy together and we`re companions again, and we are only about 2 hours away from Piribebuy, we got permission to visit. We said hi to our "gente" here, like Ino`s family, the Velazquez family (who graciously gave us lunch, even though it was a surprise visit) and Hna Meza (who gave us MORE lunch, :) and Sonia who was baptized after I left. It felt so good to see her as a member of the church. She told me how much she knows the church is true even though she has 0 family support, and how thankful she was for me that she loves me. What a fulfilling, fun day it has been. So sentimental. I love my mission more than I can say. 

 

We`ve been anxious to get a call about changes today, because it could be that I get changed since I`ve been in Isla Bogado for 3 changes now. Presidente Madariaga called a couple hours ago, which made me realize it was going to be something special because usually just the zone leaders make calls. He said, "Hermana, have you heard of the new leadership council?". Um.....claro que no. (Of course not.) He said, "There is a new mission leadership council that sisters will be a part of, and you and Hermana Greer will be the first Sister Training leaders for the mission. I have every confidence in you two, and we`ll talk on Thursday in the office." That`s about all I know. But I`m excited. I`m glad I get to be with Hna. Greer one more change (her last change), we get lots done together. I feel very blessed for the chance to serve in this way, even though I`m not sure yet what it will entail. And I`m pretty sure we`re all going to train next change since the number of sister missionaries in our mission will more than double on June 5th (you`re not the only one counting down to the 5th, Hope.)

 

There is a sister in our ward, Nery Giggleberger, who is a Paraguayan pioneer. Her aunt was the first member of the church baptized in Paraguay. Hna. Nery washes our clothes and gives us lunch every Sunday and works in the temple twice a week, and prepares great RS lessons. Truly an angel. She lives with her son and daughter in law and their one year old baby (he turned one year old on my birthday) who are all inactive. On Tuesday morning Hna. Nery called me about our laundry and I asked how she was doing and she said, "mal." Her little one year old grandson died in the night. His heart just stopped without explanation. It crushed me. I hardly know him, but he was a sweet little baby that I had seen happy and healthy just a few days before. We went by her house later to see how we could help, and her daughter in law was just sobbing over the casket still. I can`t imagine something so unexpected. It made me think a lot. Every heart beat is truly a gift from God. Every day. We truly have to be ready to go any second, don`t we? It also made me realize that I have absolutely no idea what lies ahead of me in life, if I will lose children or a husband...or a million other possibilities. But thankfully, because of the gospel, I truly don`t live in constant nervousness or anxiety as perhaps some do. And yesterday, talking to Hermana Nery a few days after the death, we talked about how the gospel has truly helped her son and daughter in law overcome this. They went to church for the first time in a while yesterday. I can`t express my gratitude for my knowledge of the great plan. 

 

I love having time to visit those who are afflicted spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We are teaching a young man who lost his left leg and use of his left arm in a moto accident three years ago. He loved learning about the resurrection. No had ever told him he would have a perfect body again, I guess. And then later we saw a man in bed by his window, and we went up and taught him through the window. He also lost his ability to walk from a moto accident. He was very receptive. And then another day this week we miraculously found a man recovering from a prescription drug addiction and he repeatedly mentioned how thankful he was that God sent him two angels to help him find his way and the strength to overcome. And then yesterday we were passing a young couple, Fernando and Giselle, and their son, and I decided to contact them at the last minute. The man said he doesn`t believe in God (I think the 6th person on my mission I`ve met who claims to be atheist), but, really, it`s clear he does believe in God deep down. We asked them how long they have been together as a couple, and they said 6 years or something, but that this was their last day together. The girl started to cry. We testified they can be a happy, united family with the gospel. For about 15 minutes in the street we talked to them, and we made an appointment to visit them on Wednesday. We left them each reading the Proclamation on the Family. :) And then we visited Ester who is crushed because Arnaldo openly admitted he has a girlfriend, and he isn`t giving Ester the time of day even though she`s been nothing but gold to him. And we pulled out all kinds of scriptures that helped her a lot, and she went all by herself to church the next day, at great lengths on her part. SO happy and proud of her. And so thankful I didn`t get transferred so I can continue to help her.

It`s amazing to me that I can be as sure as sure can be that the gospel is true one day, and yet even MORE sure the next. Even when I feel like my testimony is at 100% maximum capacity, it still grows. My testimony truly grows every single day. This week we watched the Restoration DVD a few times with several different investigators. After watching it one time, my testimony of the Book of Mormon just deepened. As I thought about Joseph Smith and how normal and uneducated he was, and how he translated the Book of Mormon---a beautiful book that clearly testifies of Christ long before He came to earth, the spirit just touched me very profoundly and I knew with even  more determination that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the church of Jesus Christ. I`ve felt the Spirit too many times to deny it. 

I also have a stronger testimony that God is preparing people to receive us. In general conference they said that with the increase in missionaries, God is preparing MORE people, which makes perfect sense according to 1 Nephi 3:7. And it`s true. Take Karen, for example. She said that several months ago the elders clapped her house and she gave them some excuse. But then after going to her dad`s evangelical church for a while she learned things she didn`t agree with and began searching. She said she saw us visit her neighbor and just wished we would stop by her house. And because her neighbor, Dora, gave us Karen`s name as a reference, we did clap there. And after simply praying and reading the Book of Mormon for a week, she received an answer this is the true church and is already spreading the gospel with her friends and wants to go on a mission. We`re like, well, let`s focus on baptism first, haha. Fecha bautismal para el 4 de Mayo. :)  (Baptismal date for May 4.)  She went with us on Saturday to the baptism of a convert in a different ward and we all felt the spirit (the lady who got baptized is super converted, even though none of her family was there and are all unsupportive of her decision), and she liked church yesterday as well. 

I wish I could send pics because I have some great ones, but the good old charming Piribebuy internet cafe is also a little retro. 

Estoy muy, muy contenta y feliz. No hay obra mas maravilloso. Estoy muy agradecida que mi hermana va a servir en Brazil pronto, y que mi hermana Carrie esta criando a  una familia lindisima entre los lazos del convenios en el templo. Estoy agradecida por mis padres por mostrarme como es vivir los mandamientos. Pero en ellos no confio, sino en mi propio testimonio.  Les testifico que estamos en la iglesia verdadera, que el evangelio cambia vidas. Sè porque ha cambiado la mía, y estarè siempre agradecida. Dios contesta oraciones. El futuro es muy brillante para todos, no importa las situaciones en que estemos ahora. Dios vive y El nos guia por medio de su Iglesia. Eso yo sè. A Dios le quiero, le amo, con todo mi alma.  (I am very, very content and happy.  There is no work more wonderful. I am very grateful that my sister is going to serve in Brazil soon, and that my sister Carrie is raising a beautiful family within the bonds of temple covenants.  I am grateful for my parents for showing me how to live the commandments.  But it's not in them I trust, bur rather I trust in my own testimony.  I testify to you that we have the true church, that the gospel changes lives.  I know it has changed mine and I will be forever grateful.  God answers prayers.  The future is brilliant for all of us, no matter what situations we are in now.  God lives and He guides us through the Church.  This I know.  I love God with all my soul.)

I love each and every one of YOU, as well. Always remember that the gospel WORKS, as dad says. Have a wonderful week, and keep writing those missionaries out there. :)

 

Love,

Your Sister Missionary,

Sister Faith Goimarac 

We are not spiritual orphans

Dearest Family,

 

Oh, boy, oh, boy, I love my mission. If there is any future missionary out there reading this who has the fear of just surviving 18 or 24  months and wondering if they will make it....NEVER FEAR! The mission is great and you will love it. Have hope. 

I am glad you had a good time in San Diego. I was thinking of you all week. If I weren`t so happy sharing the best thing on earth I would have been jealous. But who has time to be jealous when you`re milking cows and calming teenage-girl boyfriend drama, and racking your brain about how to get the ward involved in helping your convert participate, and running on beautiful chilly mornings, and the dozens of other little tasks I did this week. But I am indeed glad you all went.  I loved your Mormon Batallion pic! I was also thinking a lot about Elise, and how happy I am for her and the testimony-builder she is to me. I wish I could have been there to support her and feel the spirit.  

Also, happy birthday Kimberly Eggett! I always remember your birthday is tax day. I hope you have a great day today!!!  

 

Also, public congrats to Cameron for finishing the Book of Mormon! Six months is not long at all, I think it took me two years to read it through the first time when I was 8, haha.  I`m so proud of you! I know with all my heart the Book of Mormon is true. I would love to know what you think about it, and I also hope we can talk in person about it in October when I get home.  

 

Can I just start by bearing my testimony? Yesterday in church I really felt the spirit so sweetly. My testimony of the gospel has grown a lot this week. I know that this is Christ`s restored church. I know that God lives today and guides us through His church. I know He hears and answers prayers. I don`t know how I know that so surely, because I often times can`t see the answer to my prayer or see how  God is answering it, but I just KNOW He is answering. I can feel it and have NO doubt He hears and answers us. I know His Holy Ghost really guides. I am so thankful for it. 

 

Yesterday we left the house at 7:30 a.m. to pass by 5 different houses to go with some investigators to church. We arrived at church empty-handed and a little late. So if you ever see missionaries (or anyone for that matter) arriving late, don`t judge. They were probably doing a good deed that made them late. Anyway, our efforts were not in vain because our investigator Christian Morales (a different Christian than the one who came a couple weeks ago) showed up with his little boy (who looooved wreaking havoc in sacrament meeting with the other kids...ha. Seventh heaven for him). Christian really enjoyed church. We are focusing on finding men investigators, because every ward and branch in Paraguay  needs more priesthood. We have learned how to capture their attention in lessons and contacts. It really works. You have to talk to men differently than women because they are not as naturally interested in God and religion, I`ve found. So we`re focusing on finding men to teach, I try to contact every non-drunk man I see. Man-hunting....I`m going to be in good practice for when I`m back at BYU in a few months, haha. 

 

Anyway, the testimonies at church yesterday were so good. I am so glad we had an investigator there.    However, I was also very full of Godly sorrow. I seem to have my deepest thoughts while sitting on the piano bench during the sacrament. I was thinking of all the things I did the past two weeks, what I need to repent of, etc. And on the one hand I was so very joyful and light and thankful...for all the things we did do. But as I thought of all the people I love who we had invited and committed to come to church who were not there, my heart was so heavy.  What more could we have done? How can I help these precious souls understand just how much better their life would be if they would do a few simple things like go to church? 

 

I think some people probably think we do what we do just to fill the chapel, just to find people to go to our church. I love to clarify that that is NOT our motive. This is the only church that has the keys to unlock the gates to the celestial kingdom. No one else has that authority. But also, going to church makes life so much easier! I can`t even say how happy I was yesterday in church. The truths we discuss, the testimonies we heard, the pure doctrine that was spoken. I have no doubt we are in the true church. And I have no greater desire than for the whole world to know of it. 

 

It got kind of cold for the first time. I think I have gotten way too accustomed to being hot because the littlest bit of cold makes me freezing and I pull out my sweaters and scarves. haha. I am so paraguaya. It`s like in Africa we were all hot but it was their winter, and they were wearing their winter clothes. But now I`m pretty much just like that.  

Wow, I really don`t know what  to say. We worked very hard this week and have super high numbers. I love being with Hna Greer. She makes me a better person. For instance, we are doing a sugar fast right now and not eating sugar until the end of her mission (well, she`s a little more diligent in this regard than me. It`s gotten cold and I am a lover of hot chocolate.) We also go running really hard in the mornings. She also has talents that I have always wanted that inspire me, like braiding my own hair, singing perfect harmony, and drawing craazy good. We have the best conversations allll day and I love it. It`s a constant spiritual round-table discussion between the two of us. 

Well, I don`t have much else to say except that I have a whole new vision for my life with new goals and dreams. I must go on a mission to Africa with my husband. I must run a marathon next April. I must convert a family asap. I must be the missionaries' best friend my whole life and do visits with them all the time, because missionary work is the best work there is. 

Well, I love you and have a scripture from me to you: Moroni 8:3. 

Love,

Hermana Goimarac