One Birthday Down and 9 Fingers to Go

Lucky, I miss going on train rides. Sometimes they are the best way to travel. I also miss Cali a lot too.  I ate a lot of cake. The one from you, celebrate one with people i teach, and a member got a lucky guess. We are getting along great. Nope. Meeting new people, it is great to learn their life story. No, just went to go watch a temple musical the church producted for people.

 

 

Elder Hernandez broke his finger in late February/early March. His letters and messages have been short because of this. 

We can be forgiven

Rueben J Clark JR "I feel the Savior will give that punishment which is the very least that our transgression will justify. I believe that He will bring into His justice, all of the infinite love & blessings & mercy & kindness & understanding which he has.....

         on the other hand he will give the maximum it is possible to give for rewarding our good conduct~ keeping in mind the offense we have committed."

 

I love this statement to me it is saying that our Savior will give us the most he can possible give us in wiggle room, he will make up as much as He possibly can. We just have to do our part and He really will do the rest. He will also recognize all the good we do and give us all the extra credit He can for that.

I also believe because of His example we need to do what we can in giving others credit, for noticing their efforts, for forgiving them when they ask for forgiveness, trust them like he trust us to truly be giving all they can. We need to follow our Saviors example in treating others the way  he would, but we also need to remember to treat yourself the way He would. We need to speak to yourself the ways he would, love

yourself the way He does.

 

This  week I hope we can give other the benefit of doubt and esp ourselves

thank you for the reminder of our Savior love, there is none better except his. One day we will meet with him and his mercy will help save us.

Conference Saturday~ Words from Mom

In  Elder Donald L Hallstorm talk "I am a child of God" he shares 

that most everyone participating in the meeting could probably sing the song "I Am a Child of God." He then declared, "But, the critical question is, 'Do we really know it?' Do we know it in our mind and in our heart and in our soul? Is our heavenly parentage our first and most profound identity?" he asked. This identity should supersede other worldly identities, including those given by nationality, occupation or language.

In life, everyone faces hardships, pain, injustice and disappointment, Elder Hallstrom said. "When difficult things occur in our lives, what is our immediate response? Is it confusion or doubt or spiritual withdrawal?" he asked. "Or is our first response to remember who we are — that we are children of a loving God?"

Elder Hernandez's Church Talk

We got asked to speak in sacrament. The topic was have courage to go out & share the gospel. Which was easy since that's what I'm focused on in my life right now. It's the first time they have asked me to speak in sacrament since I came out on my mission,  I was a little nervous but  It was good. I know you wanted me to send you a copy of my talk but I because most of it came to me when I was up there.  I was able to speak from the heart, it came easily, and went smoothly. I liked it better because I had things to talk about & I don't feel like I was just reading off a piece of paper. I know I must have prepared well, and that allowed the Holy Ghost to help me clearly say what I was thinking.

The Last Few Weeks

Mission President's Email

Dear Missionary Families,

                Our hearts are filled with gratitude and love for Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, and for the exceptional missionaries in the Idaho Boise Mission who bring His light and truth to so many who are in darkness.  We love your sons and daughters!  They are unique in personality and style, yet so united in their love of the Lord and devotion to his work.  They are so wonderful and we are truly blessed to daily witness their sacrifice, obedience, and diligence.  Thank you so much for sharing your sons and daughters and for your continued support and love. 

                We are attaching our Christmas Greeting to you with this e-mail.  Please click on  Attachment  to see a very special Christmas Carol.   Feel free to forward this to other family members.

Merry Christmas and our Best Wishes to you!

President and Sister Winder and the Idaho Boise Mission Office Staff

Mini Update

For pday this week we are going to do pedicures today, I know you love getting yours.

Q) why does a missionary need to have faith?

A)Without faith why are we out here. We need faith to be able to teach. I know that I'm not a very good public speaker so be able to have someone there is help is great. If I open my mouth the Holy Ghost will guide my words.

 my favorite scriptures to share right now

Alma 32 and Moroni 12. They both talk about faith. Or the steps to recovery.

The Parable of the Pebbles

The Parable of the Pebbles

One night in ancient times, three horsemen were riding across a desert. As they crossed the dry bed of a river, out of the darkness a voice called, “Halt!” They obeyed. The voice then told them to dismount, to pick up handfuls of pebbles, put the pebbles in their pockets, and remount. The horsemen followed the instruction.

The voice then said, “If you have done as I commanded, tomorrow at sunup you will be both glad and sorry.” The horsemen rode on. When the sun rose, they reached into their pockets and found that a miracle had happened. The pebbles had been transformed into diamonds and other precious stones.

The horsemen remembered the warning that they would be both glad and sorry. They were glad they had taken some pebbles, sorry they had not taken more.

A Christmas Wish

As a month of thankfulness is coming to end a lot of people are starting to think what they would want for Christmas. They are willing to go through tons of people to buy the little things they think is so important. As soon as the month is over, it becomes a battle of needs that stories know that they will get money from and make a profit. I challenge that during this month you will learn the most important thing about this season, it is not a season of getting it is a season of giving. Go out and give service to those who need it. Give love to those who need it, make them feel that there is still good in this world. Give with real intent, and made someday this world we live in will wake up and realize what it is missing, but until then we must be there helping. Only then it will happen. For this holiday season we are sharing a message called the gift and if you would like to watch it, go to lds.org and you should be able to watch uit from there.

Do you have any challenges for Elder Hernandez? Questions? Leave them in the comments!

It was Thanksgiving..so my sister was lazy

One week late! But here you are! :)

So I have learned that during my mission one of the best things you can do is write a weekly email to people you love and care about. I have been out about 15 weeks and decide that I have wasted time not doing this and will continue to do this until the end. It will not always be about spiritually things, but things I feel prompted to write about. So since this week will be Thanksgiving, what better why then to talk about being thankful. I would like to say that telling your friends and family the things you have been thankful will help you become cosler. I'm thankful for the people who have encourage me to go on my mission, and has been there for me during hard moments of my life. I know that because of families that it will help you to learn how to treat others. I know I haven't been the best example, but that is what life is for. To go threw challenges and learn how to become better, and once when you do help others. There is no better feeling in life then to help others. I encourage you to tell the people you love that you are grateful for them during this holiday season and to let them know that you love them. Keep that in mind during the rest of your life. From experience, you will never know what you had until it is gone. I should have been a better person, a better friend, and a better owner. Don't make the mistakes I have, be better. I love and miss all of you, and will write to you next week. TTFN, ta ta for now.

-Elder Antonio Luis Hernandez

"Memory is the key"

Extra, Extra! Read all about it!

1) are you showing the love of the Savior to your companions, your investigators, and your ward members? How?

2) how can that love inspire you and others to be like the Savior?

3) what is the most spiritual experience you've had?

4) what is your favorite/best memory so far?

5) how can people at home be like a missionary or serve each other? 

6) how is exercise going? Is it a priority? Can it be done with a hectic schedule?

1) Yes, I made brownies and I shared the food I get from the care packages.

2) To share what I know and what I can give them.

3) I've seen how being more friendly with the people can help them. We become more of a friend and help someone stop drinking coffee.

4) P-days, we can do whatever we want with other missionaries.

5) Be there for a friend and be there for them. Don't stop being there for them. Always care for each other.

6) It is going great. yes, it is a priority. Yes, yes it can.

Updates :)

1) what has been the hardest thing you have done so far

2) what strengthens your faith when you feel down?

3) tell me something funny 

4) what brought a smile to your face this week?

5) tell me about your district? Ever have zone meetings? Meetings with the mission president?

6) current favorite scripture? Why?

1)  Dealing with the fact that bad stuff keeps happening to my family. First my dog dies, now my Uncle has cancer. This will be the hardest part, not being available to support my family when they are having trials.

2)That family can be eternal. I know that my family now is broken and no where close to being perfected, but knowing one day that my family will be together for all of time brings me joy.

3) Been playing Uno often at the house and one of the Elders is color blind. So whenever it is his turn, there is a chance for him to put down the wrong color card. It is just a fun to tease him, and he teases back when we do the same.

4) Our investigator, Dom, has been studying about what we have teach him and  you can tell that he is improving. Hopefully on Nov 7 he gets baptized and he becomes a member to the church. He has improved a lot since the first time I  meet him.

5) It is me and Leuga, he is the district leader. Then there is Stevens and Castillo, there are the two missionaries we hang out with the most on p-days. There is Baby Neff and Smikin, the two who are still together after the transfer. There is also Harrison and Campbell, the two new ones who are in the district. The ZLs, Elder Cain and Elder Anderson. And finally we have two sisters, Sister Rabello and Palmer.

6) Alma 60:6. I am sharing this one today because it is fun to send people who haven't email you in a while

Missionary Q&A

4) tell me about a testimony moment

5) chances for service

6) lesson learned

8) tell me three people who have influenced your life for the better

    

4) We have been taking one of our investigators to church, and he went on fast Sunday. My companion & I both shared our testimonies, and the investigator wanted to go up and share his. As he went up, he was nervous but able to share his sweet testimony.

5) We have been helping  another investigator with yard work, and will be going over this week to help. She usually feeds us Denny's before we go, and this time we are leaving a spiritual moment with her.

6) To simplify the lesson. We need to be teaching as if we are talking to a little child. It is hard, but it is becoming easilier.  Also I have been putting my faith in the Lord, handing over my ever care & trusting he will help me. 

8) Rocky, he has been a father figure to me and is a great mission leader. Whenever we need help or advice we turn to him and he helps us with whatever is the problem. Strange how I feel like I have family here. He taught us how to take our time to people, and we can't jump the gun on people. It also feels like we are his children.  Ingrid, she feels like my mission mom. She isn't a member yet, but we are working on that. She is always they for us, and if we need something she will help to try to provide it with us. She always tells us to keep on trying, and how to improve my weaknesses.  Bro. Helgensen, he is a ward missionary, and somehow he has been able to get into the doors we can't get open. He is always willing to help, and people just seems to open up to him. I wouldn't mind being like him later on in life. 

This is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween.....

2 Months, 22 to go.

1) We wake up and exercise in the morning. Than we eat breakfast, get ready for the day, and do some studying. We don't get out the door until 1 because of the distance between us and our area, we would be killing miles by doing that. We go around talking to less active families during the day, or our investigators, and then we eat dinner, and depending on the day, we go out on splits with members of the ward from 7-9. Then we go back to the apartments and mess around until we go to bed.

2) Depends on the day, if we need to be leaving earlier, then suit. If not, pjs.

3) Things are going great. So far he is the best companion that I have. We have been able to get along really well with each other, and been learning from each other as well. He is from California, the city where Disney Land is at was where he lived. He is 21 years old, and has been out for almost a month.

4) We helped a lady moved from her apartment. It was us, two ladies from the ward, her and two of her family members. We got way more than half done in two hours and later that night Elders showed up and finished the work, but we had already left. It was difficult cause we always had to walk up three set of stairs before we made it to her apartment.

5) Last night we pranked the sisters that live near our apartment and we thought it would be funny if we put a doll monkey outside the door. So when the sisters saw the monkey, it seems like they were somewhat panicked. A couple minutes later, cops showed up at our apartments, near our door. So we were kind of worried that it was for us, but it was really for someone else.

7) We were talking to one of our investigators, Ingrid, and she was telling us what our ancestors came from. It was pretty cool how she could tell by looking at certain body parts. Eventually, she told us what see could see from our auras, and how we both face certain trails. It was a cool experience. She has became our mission mom, and we love her dearly.

8) So on Sunday, we read a scripture to a less active elderly lady who is on her last days. I shared her a verse from Mosiah about how no matter what burdens may be upon us, if we turn to the Lord, he will deliver us from those burdens. She started crying after that, it was very touching.

Missionary Thoughts

Why is it important you have one heart & mind with your companion?

It is because we need to be able to teach the lesson successfully. Not being as one will cause disruption and not being focus on the person. We will be too busy arguing against one with another that we will forget what we were sent here to do.

I have been thinking about this for a while, and just decide it was a bad idea to say anything, I worry that Celeste will be more home sick than I was, and I want to make sure she is thought of too. I know it's harder to send care packages to her but you need to help them send care packages to  Hermana Escandon. I know that she will be needing it more, and I will be fine with getting letters. 

P-Days, Temples, and Pizzaaaaa

Revelations 3:20

Revelation 3:20King James Version (KJV)

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

I love the photo even more now with the Savior standing with the Elders. Just like the Savior is always there missionary moments are always there. We just have to be ready for them when they come. Every member a missionary, I had a chance to share my testimony at work this week. I know that the Holy Ghost was with me as I shared the things that came from my heart. I had prayed that morning for guidance in helping anyone that shared their trouble heart with me at work that day. I know she opened up to me because I was meant to help her. I told her of general conference & how it strengthened me & asked if I could give her a copy when it came out. We have been blessed with the gospel, now with an Elder in the family I have been blessed with a deeper desire to share my testimony. Are we doing all we can to help the elders? To be an example so that when they knock on the doors of others they will want to hear more. I know this Church is true, that our Savior lives & we have a living prophet in the earth today. I am so thankful for my kids who have allowed me to teach them to walk in his ways. This weeks challenge is to pray for Elder Hernandez to have good missionary opportunities, & to also pray for your own missionary moments. Please share when you do have one 

Conference Weekend

We needed to learn, well at least for me, that when the world bites at you, you need to bite back. I can't live my life the way I want it to be if someone is trying to keep me down. I need to overcome them, mostly through the strength of the Lord,and be able to overcome my fears. One thing that I learn is that I need to put my fears away and turned to the Lord in faith. Faith and fear cannot coexist at the same time, and if you are strong enough the faith will overcome fear. Faith in the Lord is the one thing that I learned about this General Conference, also marriage was another important key. If we put faith into Him, we wouldn't lead us astray. After all He is our loving Heavenly Father. You might be my mother, but I was His child first, (but I love you more.;) )(I don't think that will sound right) You thaught us many things, and I have been able to conquer over my old self, because of your love & support & faith in Heavenly Father.

My only worry for my mission now is, getting one of those phone calls.... I don't know what I'll do if I got one of those calls  with the news you don't want to hear. We talked about it. If it happens while I am on my mission, I would have such a hard time. ( The one where you family has died) but that's my only worry now, not like when I first left & was scared of leaving & not knowing what it would be like. Having faith & being obedient have showed me I can succeed in this mission

MTC