I Know that the Gospel is the Plan of Happiness

This week was cambios and I stayed in Senac with Hermana Rivera! I’m so happy. I love her and this ward so much! 

We are seeing so many miracles with the menos activos thanks to the ward.  They are going out and visiting them and it’s been incredible to watch. I feel like we are seeing so much progress en cuanto de la retencion  (sorry I don’t remember how to phrase that in English).

Yesterday in church we had a really big miracle.  About half way through the sacrament in walked a menos activo, Carlos, and his pregnant wife Madi, who isn’t a member.  With Hermana Duckardt we had found them once and tried to visit them but we could never find them since.  But they just came to church and stayed for the three hours and we are going to visit them this week.  It was such a tender mercy.  Hermano Carlos told us that Madi had been the one who wanted to go to church and that she is really interested in the gospel.  They're really great!

We haven’t been able to meet with the Fila Mendieta this week, but on Tuesday we have a cita and I’m just praying it all works out! I just love them so much!

Fernando is doing soooo well.  He’s going to institute and working with the bishop and is so active that he almost doesn’t have time for us! He’s always doing stuff with the ward and it always seems he has been a member for longer than a month! We are working with him on sharing the gospel with his family as well.

I’m so grateful to be a missionary here in Bolivia and to represent my Savior.  I know my Savior lives and I know that this is His work.  I know the church is true and that the gospel is the plan of happiness, because it has brought me so much happiness! I love you all!  Congrats to my cousin Sammi on getting married! 

Have the best week!

Hermana Willes

I Know My Savior Lives and Loves Me

Well, the sad news first.  Andrea didn't get baptized.  She told ust that she feels like she needs to be confirmed first in the Catholic church and then see how she feels.  It was really sad, but I know that we taught her everything and that we did our part.  I know that someday she will get baptized, because she is just so great.  And she told us she wants to keep going to church and everything, so it's only a matter of time!

We are also working with a menos activo, Emilce, who is doing really well. For the past two weeks she has gone to church for the three hours and yesterday she even brought all three of her kids--two of who are menos activo and another one who isn't a member! It was incredible! She's really great and is determined to return to the gospel!

The Familia Mendieta is doing well.  Hermano Patricio, the husband, gets back this week so we will be able to teach them together.  Hermana Macarena couldn't go to church yesterday beause she traveled, but when we taught her the restoration she just loved it.  She was so attentive the whole time.  I just feel the spirit so strongly when I enter their home.  I can feel how prepared they are to receive the gospel! 

We are also working with another menus activo, Hermano Luis.  It has been amazing to see the change in him.   He goes to church in his suit and stays for the three hours and reads the Book of Mormon and just looks different in his face.  I have come to love him and his family so much.  It has taught me so much about the atonement and the power it has to truly change us.

I know my Savior lives and loves me.  I love Him so much and am so grateful to be his missionary, teaching His gospel.  The power of the atonment is real and if we just come unto Him we can be free of all our burdens. 

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

Hermana Willes

I Know That Christ Lives

Mother's Day Skype

Hermana Willes Sharing her testimony in Spanish

This week was kind of tough, but I know that this next week is going to be awesome!

Andrea postponed her baptism to this week.  Her family is really catholic and they have been putting some pressure on her.  But yesterday at church she told us that she is going to decide for herself.  The ward has been soooo helpful! Some of her friends gave her a priesthood blessing and they have all made sure to share their testimonies with her.  Tonight we are going to have a noche de hogar with her and the bishop’s family.  I know it will really help! She is just so wonderful, we have been praying so hard for her and I know that it will all work out this week!

We also started teaching a family that is so wonderful! They are a young married couple, with one son and anther one on the way.  We felt the spirit so strongly, they are such a special family.  The brother of the Dad, Patricio, is a member of the church and lives here in Tarija.  Patricio works in a small town outside of tarija for two weeks and then comes home for two weeks, so we are going to send the missionaries there to teach him so that they can progress at the same time!

I love my ward so much, the members are all so great!  I’m so grateful to be here in Senac as a missionary! I know the church is true and I know that Christ lives! 

I hope you all have the best week!

Hermana Willes

Hermana Willes and Andrea

 Hermana Willes, Hermana Rivera and 

members of the Senac Ward

 Hermanas serving in Tarija

I Love Bolivia!

This week was super crazy, but that’s ok! Andrea is so ready to be baptized this week! I’m so excited! Her birthday was on Friday and the ward was really good about wishing her a happy birthday! I’m just so excited for her to get baptized!

We also found a really great new family! We haven’t actually taught them yet, we are going tonight, but I’m so excited to teach them! We found them looking for a reference and we knocked on the wrong door.  It turns out the brother of the Dad is a member of the church and the Dad was so receptive!

Fernando is doing really well, this week he will be getting the priesthood and is just super happy to be a member of the church! 

This week I was able to go to Santa Cruz for a day (I flew there in the morning and flew home that night) for a leadership conference and it was so great to be back there! I just love Santa Cruz! and Bolivia! I’m so grateful to be a missionary and to continually draw closer to my Savior! He has been so kind to me.  I can’t even put into words my gratitude for Him and all the very many blessings I have! 

I love you all so much, have the best week!

Hermana Willes

Fernando's Baptism

Fernando, Hermana Willes and Hermana Rivera