February 21, 2012

Hello my dear family!

I cannot believe it! Another week has come and gone and a new one lies ahead. I love new weeks! And the reason why is because we can start over the week with a fresh new start. Last week was a really good week, we had a lot of very good service opportunities. Did I tell you all about the Hermana in our branch that is taking an English class?! Well, we go over to eat with them every week and she has me help her with her homework. It is so interesting to be teaching english to someone who only speaks spanish and trying to explain it in spanish so she can get it in english... does that even make sense?! haha! Well, anyways, I will try to explain things to her as best as i can, but then when I dont know how to explain someone I ask Hermana Rials which definitely makes a difference. I love to serve others and help them out. 

 

This morning was a really interesting day for me. I woke up kind of in a odd mood. Now, what I am about to tell you I do not want you to worry about me cause I learned a valuable lesson and I feel so happy. Ok, so Hermana Rials can always tell when I am having a hard day... and really she can tell if I am going to have a bad day or not from right after I get up. I think it is kind of weird because I dont think I know that I am going to have a bad day when I wake up... but either way, she can tell. So, we had personal study and then right afterwards we have companionship study and we talk about how our study went and what we learned. Hermana Rials shared with me what she learned out of the Book of Mormon and then I shared what I learned from the Book of Mormon and also what I learned about Humility (I really like to study the Christlike attributes out of Preach My Gospel, you should do it sometime, it is great!). After we were done she asked me how I was doing today and I told her that I was feeling a little off. We started talking about it and I have been trying really hard not to focus so much on dad's death, but really focusing on the good things that Dad had done for me and things that I really like about him. Well, today was a really hard day for me to do that so I asked Hermana Rials to ask me questions about Dad that she would want to learn.  And she asked a couple, like what his favorite color was or what was his favorite food. And it helped for a little, but it didnt pull me out of my 'mood'. Then, she began to teach me something very valuable. First, I want you to know, whenever Hermana Rials talks to be about tender things, like with dad, she always waits for the Spirit to direct her. I am not going to go into all the details of what she said to me or really what i felt, but she did teach me a lesson.  This life is so very short! Remember how in Seminary when our teachers were talking about the Plan of Salvation- they would get a long piece of yarn or string and pin it up from one end of the room to the next and then usually they would have a little tiny spot in the middle and say "this is our life here on earth". This life on earth is just a little blip in time. Everything that we go through is so very, very small in comparison to Eternities! I hope we all look at our trials that way. Whenever we are having a hard time, we should look ahead to the future with hope and faith that it will get better. And it is true! It will all work out! It will all get better.

 

I am so very thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that things will get better! I am going to see my dad again! There is life after this and oh, it is going to be so very, very good! I know that the Book of Mormon is true! It adds such a strength to my days. I am so very thankful for a living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who leads and guides the Lord's work here on the earth.   Thank you all for your letters and love that you have sent my way! I will do my best to get back to you all as soon as I can! (I promise!!)

 

I hope you have a great week! May the Lord bless you! Dont forget to seek Him out this week! 

 

XOXOXOXO

Love always, forever,

Hermana Wadsworth

January 31, 2012

Hola Familia!
> > So, it is a beautiful spring day in Iowa today! It is in the 60s. LOVE
> > IT! Hermana Rials and I have been hard at work and trying our best to
> > help bring others closer to Christ.
> >
> > This past week, and really, maybe I have included this in my last
> > email, I cannot remember. Elder Jackson and Elder Purcell, who are in
> > our district, were invited to go to a bible study and they asked
> > Hermana Rials and I to "back them up". Basically Elder J & P were
> > invited to come and share our beliefs of Jesus Christ and talk about
> > our Church. It was really nice cause they were very respectful to us
> > and what we had to say and then they asked us questions about our
> > church and different things.
> >
> > Hermana Rials and I this week are going to be focusing on finding. We
> > are so very excited for this new week! I feel like new weeks bring a
> > fresh new start and you can set new goals and accomplish new things or
> > even work harder on accomplishing or finishing the things you wanted
> > to last week. haha!
> >
> > Well, this past p-day we have such a fun p-day activity! We barrowed
> > some Nerf guns from a couple kids from our Branch and we had a Nerf
> > gun war with the Elders in our district! It was SO MUCH FUN! I forgot
> > my camera, but next week, I will try to remember to send you pictures
> > of the chapel... it was set up really cool! I have such an
> > appreciation for Elders, they really help us Sister missionaries to be
> > a less up-tight. If you arent having fun, you are doing it wrong! It
> > is so very true!
> >
> > I am so very thankful for my companion! She is such a great example to
> > me about patience and really applying the scriptures to yourself.
> > Friends have such a strong influence on us! I am so very thankful for
> > my dear friends. I am so very thankful for my friends (family- you are
> > also friends too) that were there for me when i needed love and
> > support most. From taking me out to eat or just kid-napping me to go
> > play with your puppy... or giving me a hug RIGHT at the second I
> > needed one the most and also texting me just letting me know that you
> > are thinking about me... also serving me by helping me clean my room
> > or even cleaning my car.... or even maybe there were some that pray
> > for me because they didnt know what to say, i have felt those prayers!
> > I love each and every single one of you and you have changed my life
> > for good! "People come into our lives for a reason bringing something
> > we must learn and we are blessed by those who help us most to grow, if
> > we let them" I am so very thankful for those who have changed my life
> > for good! :)
> >
> > I am so very thankful for this Gospel! I dont know where I would be
> > without it in my life. I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I love
> > reading all the stories in the Book of Mormon. I love to 'Liken' the
> > stories to myself in my own life! I love you all and thank you for
> > all your love and support that you have given me!

Love you always, forever,
Hermana Wadsworth

January 25, 2012

HOLA FAMILIA!
> How are you all doing?! I am doing great! This last week I have
> learned so much. By the way, Hermana Rials and I will be staying
> together! Can you believe that I have already been out for a whole
> Transfer! It blows my mind. Today all the new missionaries are coming
> in. I remember the day I flew in like it was yesterday.
> This past week since I more then likely will only have 6 more weeks
> with Herman Rials I am stepping it up a lot with spanish study! Every
> other day we will practice telling stories and just talking in spanish
> for the whole hour. And really, I do try to speak as much spanish as I
> can, but i do still kind of go back to using english even when I know
> the correct word in spanish. it is mal (bad)... but I will continue to
> try to be better at that.
> I am sorry, I dont have a lot of time to write today... I dont know
> where the time has gone. But I do want to share with you all something
> that I have been doing to have a better relationship with Heavenly
> Father.
> This past week I was re-evaluating myself and my relationship with
> Heavenly Father. I decided that I do have a pretty good relationship
> with Him, but I didnt rely on Him. So, what I have been doing is
> keeping a prayer in my heart. I will tell you that I have felt His
> presence ever so near to me and felt His peace! He really is our best
> friend, if we let Him in! I am so very thankful for my Savior Jesus
> Christ and for the Atonement! I love Him! He is my best friend! I know
> that this is His church Restored in this day and that The Church of
> Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church. I also know that the
> Book of Mormon is true! I know that we can come closer to Christ by
> applying the teachings it contains then by any other book!
> I hope you all have a great week! Thank you for all the letters and postcards! I love them all! XOXOXOXOXO
 Love you always, forever,
Hermana Wadsworth
>  PICS: Hermana Rials and I are still crazy!.... :)
 My district from left to right...Nay, me, Snyder, Kimber, Jackson, Rials, Excell and Purcell!
 LOVES!

January 17, 2012

HOLA!
 So, as i am sure you can tell by the subject line, I spoke too soon last week. In fact, it snowed 2 days later. Haha! and last night it snowed a TON! and our car is grounded so we actually walked the 2 miles, in the snow to the library. It is really interesting cause i was thinking about the pioneers while we were walking. They walked through blizzards and everything! They never felt the comfort of a home or anything... they also didn't have little hand warmers to keep their hands warm and I am sure they all didn't have a very heavy jacket either. They sacrificed so much for what they knew to be true. I sometimes wonder to myself what kind of pioneer would i be like?! Would I be one that says "this is too hard" and turns back around. Or would I walk all the way! I think that I would have kept walking and enduring the hardship. God will not forsake us! He loves us so much! Missionary work is definitely work! But I LOVE IT! I love helping people out so much. There is such power in just being nice to people and saying "hello". Lately I have been trying something different. I have been smiling all the time! Some days my cheeks hurt a little after smiling all day, but it really does make a difference. The other day  we were at QT (Yes, there are QTs here! It makes me SO HAPPY!) and I was outside the car backing it out and this car drove by me and this lady was sitting in the passenger seat and she really did not look too happy. So, I looked at her and smiled at her. And do you know what happened?! She smiled back! It was such a cool thing! You really are not fully dressed without a smile! :) Anyways, family and friends! I love you all so much! I love all the postcards I am getting and letters! I love you all so much!
Thank you for your support for me and my family. The Gospel is true! It makes me so happy! :) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Love you always, forever, Hermana Wadsworth.
ok... i cannot remember all the pics i sent, but one is from the 1st snow of H, Rials and I... and the other two... cannot remember.... :)

January 9, 2012

Hello family!

So, how was everyone's week?! this week was great for H. Rials and I and we definately had lots of adventures. First, before i forget to write this, again, it has not snowed in Iowa since i have been here. I did not have a white Christmas, it was brown- like AZ.... unless you all got the snow! haha! It has been so nice! Last week the weather was in the mid- 60s. Today is a BEAUTIFUL day! It is only 52* outside... all i need is a light jacket... haha!

Ok, now on to the really fun stuff. First I think i will tell you about our random awkward moment we had... Hermana Rials and I were going to an appartment complex where a less-active lives and also a referral that the Elders gave us. So, we went and meet with the family, super cute family might I add. They have an autistic boy that is about 7 and a little girl that is 2! SO CUTE! I am sure that all of you can image how hard it is for me to see a cute kid and not pick them up and hold them, but I do get hugs which i also enjoy a LOT! Anyways, back to the story. We went and contacted them and set up an appointment with them and we were talking to check up on one of our other investigators and while we are walking there we met a man, and we talked to him about the church and about El Libro de Mormon and if he had heard of it before. He said yes and that he has some friends that are members and they have talked to him about it. So, we then we gave him a pass along card and asked him if we could come to his home to teach him more. He said that he lived in the same appartment building we just got out of in #11... he also said that Alberto is his name and that we could come by tomorrow(yesterday). We were so excited to go to his home and teach him more. So, we went by last night to the same building, went upstairs to #11 and we knocked on the door and this guy answered and we asked him if Alberto was home... then he said that he WAS Alberto... and that there was no other Alberto that lived there... yearh, he was NOT the same guy we met the night before. haha! it was so random! So, we talked to him about El Libro de Mormon and gave one to him! It was crazy awesome! Hermana Rials was blown away! haha!

Ok, next story... Hermana Rials and I on the 31st went and taught this lady named Debovah. She was also a referral from the Elders. She has 2 daughters Lunny and Debovah(#2). On the 31st we really only taught Debovah and #2 and Lunny was playing games on the computer the whole time. Well, after the lesson was done and we were about to leave I invited Lunny to join with us next time and she agreed. So, on Saturday we went back to their house to teach them more about the Restoration of the Gospel. So, we get in there and Lunny had so many questions and so did Debovah. Hermana Rials was teaching Debovah and I taugh Lunny. The spirit was so strong there! Lunny said that she was so excited to read about all the stories in the Book of Mormon. We then watched the Restoration video and Debovah said that she knew that it was true! It was AMAZING! Then we invited them all to be baptized and they all said YES! AH! We are praying for a date this week and on Saturday when we meet with them again we will commit them to a date! We are so excited!

This work is so great! It is such a huge blessing to be a missionary of Jesus Chrirst and to wear His name with mine! He is my Savior! I love Him and I owe so much to Him! A scripture comes to mind: "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God". I would invite all of you to look to the Savior and serve those around you, Heavenly Father will bless you! I love you all and I pray for you! May the Lord bless you and keep you! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Love always, forever,

Hermana Deborah Faye Wadsworth

January 3, 2012

Hola Familia!

WOW! Another week has come and gone so fast. I have a feeling that this mission is going to fly by faster then I know it. Thank you all so much for my birthday presents! And all the Christmas cards! I love them all! It makes me so happy to know that I have so many people back home that are thinking about me and that are supporting me out here. My Spanish is coming along. The more I learn Spanish the less English i remember- which is good, but bad. Today i was talking to Hermana Rials about a folleto and i couldn't think what that word is in English, which is pamphlet. haha! It was really funny! Today we were at a lunch appointment and I was reading a scripture to and Maria told me that she is just so impressed how well i read. Now I just really need to work on speaking. I understand a lot, but when it comes to putting sentences together.... EeK! I am not so good, at least once a day i do say a sentence right, which is pretty good.  Oh, I attached some pictures of me opening my b-day presents (my new boots i bought)  and also New Years Eve! :) We had permission to stay up till midnight, but had to be up still by 6:30.... we only stayed up till 11. It was really fun. I bought a Tangled puzzle ($5) and there were 2 that came in it, one was 300 and the other 500 and we did them both! Oh man, we were so tired staying up till 11 and super hyper- it was great! I love having good clean fun!

I am so very thankful for this Gospel. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be healed of ALL things- heartache, sin, sickness...everything. He loves all of us and He wants us so bad to be happy. I am so very thankful also for a loving Heavenly Father who, from the beginning of time, created that Plan of Salvation or Happiness and that He provided a Savior for us! I know that my Redeemer Lives! And i also know that the power of prayer is very real. I have felt the prayer being sent my way, thank you all so much for all that you have done for me! XOXOXOOXOXOXOXO

Love you always, forever!

Hermana Deborah Faye Wadsworth

Dec 27, 2011

My sweet family!

By the way, I am sorry I didn't write you yesterday- the library was closed (que triste). It was so good to talk to all of you on Sunday. It really did help and reassure me that I am exactly where I should be. I am so glad to hear that everyone had a fun Christmas. So, I am super smart and did not bring my cord to attach pictures with me, but luckily Hermana Rials has one, so i attached some pictures. The first one is a "Generation Picture".... so Hermana Hepworth (she died/went home) and then Hermana Rials and me! Precious, right?! And then the other picture is Hermana Rials and her toe socks that you sent her, she loves them by the way and is so thankful for them! :) Hermana Rials and I have a lot of fun together (as i am sure you can tell- that is pretty much us in a nutshell) and we are working hard as well. My Spanish is coming poco y poco (little by little) but it is still progress which is awesome!

I know that i have said this before, but I just want to say- I love the Book of Mormon! There are so many treasures in there that I just love. I think my favorite thing to do right now while i study it is to imagine myself there and boy is it intense! But today i was studying about Abinadi and how he was brought before king Noah because of the people and their wickedness. And Abinadi stayed strong- he knew what he was called to do and he knew that he was saying was exactly what the people needed to hear, but they did not want to hear it. I hope that we all take heed to the counsel of those over us and listen to our Prophet and his voice of warning.

I love you all like crazy!

Happy New Year!

Love always, forever,

Hermana Wadsworth

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO