May 4th of 2013

Hey hey! It's already May?! 

Where is the time going?! This is the LAST WEEK of the transfer... it went by SO FAST! We will find out what is happening with transfers this Saturday night. Here is a picture from my district this transfer, we really have no idea who could be leaving or staying. Wish me luck on the news this coming week!

Yesterday we had another Charla Fogonera (event where recent converts share their experiences and testimonies. This involves the whole Spanish program in our mission.) The Spanish zone leaders and the Spanish STLs are in charge of this event so when we were assigned to organized the musical number I realized it was going to fall on the week of my 5 year baptism mark. Suddenly I thought of a recent convert who is 16 years old and the young women in the ward. Much like my young women when I was 15, they are the recent convert's best friends. We got the idea to ask them to sing a song together. We have been practicing every Sunday and yesterday was the big day! The young womem sung "Peace in Christ" (the 2018 youth theme song for the church) in Spanish with the recent convert. The congregation was so emotional and the spirit was so song.  The following lyrics are from the song:

"He gives us hope
When hope is gone
He gives us strength
When we can’t go on
He gives us shelter
In the storms of life
When there’s no peace on earth
There is peace in Christ"

English & Español

  

One by one the speakers shared how the gospel brought stability into their lives and the peace they felt after making that sacred covenant with the Lord by being baptized. Some had gone through divorces, miscarriages, a time of rebellion, guilt, depression, loneliness and all found comfort in the Savior Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. And that is exactly what the song we chose was all about, peace in those times that comes through our loving, patient, meek and perfect brother, Jesus Christ.

May 4th of 2013 was such a great day. The gospel came to me at the perfect time and in the most incredible way. It was amazing how God really prepared me at a young age and how much I have come to learn and change. I can't think of a better way to thank him for the missionaries He put in my life than dedicating these 18 months to find and teach people that were looking for peace just like I was. I am eternally grateful for my missionaries; Elder Hill, Elder Stoneman, Rocio (Hermana Vasquez), the Seaver family and the Lakeridge 1st Ward Young Women. I would NOT be who I am today or where I am without these people and the gospel. This is the purpose of missionary work, not only to bring people peace but to let that peace lead to a desire to be better so we can be confident on that last day when we stand before our Heavenly Father.

Alma 13: 24 "For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory."

We had our last exchange of the transfer this week and I got to be with Sister Inman from California. She's amazing and so hilarious. We saw so many miracles that day! It was also 95 degrees outside for the first time since September... it was AMAZING but also so hotttt. Pray for me to get through the humidity this summer.

Investigators are doing AMAZING!

• Nefi from Little River is coming to the Spanish ward now with his member wife so he's my investigator again! It's so crazy that I got transferred to their new area but I know better than to think this is a coincidence. Here is a picture they sent me from their wedding in March. It's so good to have them back! 

• Flower is doing super great as well and preparing for her baptism coming soon!
• The stubborn dad from the recent convert family joined us for family prayer again. This time their 13 year old son said the prayer and softly ended by saying, "and please help us so that my dad can come to church with us one day." Tears swelled up in the dad's eyes. It was a precious moment.

I'm off to enjoy this suddenly warm weather and continue to work hard and give my mission everything I have. I love you all and I love missionary work so much. I have really found the peace I have been searching for. I know you all can too.

Love,
Hermana Tapia