Refiner's Fire

Good moooooooooooooorning!

So. This week flew right by! And I'm still trying to wrap my mind everything that happened. Can it really be that I just Skyped my family for Christmas? And I feel as if only a few minutes after it happened, I couldn't remember anything we talked about. It still all feels like a dream. And I can't even believe that it happened. SO WEIRD. But alas. Here we are, approaching our New Year! :) Let's make the most of it!

So. Just a couple of random tidbits for y'all today.... On Tuesday we got to watch "Christmas Oranges" with the branch. An older couple from Lehi, Utah is living up in Consejo shores for a few months and brought that movie and a couple of chocolate oranges to share with the members. None of these Belizeans have ever seen that before and they LOVED it!--the movie and the chocolate. :) It was a very fun night. Sad movie, yet very wonderful. It reminded me of all of the tiny five-minute stories that our family likes to read every day in December....that we usually read right before we left for school! :) This story has always been one of my favorites.

I also got to go on interchanges with Sistah Hunter on Tuesday because our companions needed to go down to Belize City for some doctor appointments. We taught a couple of really positive people and once again I'm tellin' ya--it's all because of the "He is the Gift" video. But the really cool thing is, is that the very first appointment, we walk into this house and the man answers the door. He looked SO familiar! He's tall and Kriol and very nice, but I couldn't put my finger on where we had seen each other before--maybe just another one of those street contacts, I guess. And he said the same thing. That my companion and I had stopped him on the street. I just couldn't remember where.....

Well. We continue with the lesson and he says that he has read a little of the pamphlet concerning the Restoration because my companion and I had given him a copy. So we started talking about that. And then I remembered where I had seen him! Sister Vasquez and I had talked to him about the middle of last transfer and found out that he actually played for the basketball team here in Corozal. We had set up an appointment for that Sunday and then found out he lived in the elders' area, so we passed him over to them, without any more word about him. Until Tuesday.

So then I told him. He explained that he had moved and then we started talking about basketball. He is planning on coming to sports night this week and wants to bring a bunch of friends, so we are super excited. I felt good about him when we first met him and then the lesson on Tuesday was really good as well. I keep telling the sisters that the only problem they're going to have is figuring out how he's going to fit in our tiny font.... :) Sometimes the other missionaries think I'm crazy for saying such things about people when I barely know them, but this man is different. I can feel it. He is very open to the gospel and he will get baptized! I know it!

Another really cool experience we had this week was concerning a family that Sister Call and I started teaching at the beginning of our first transfer together. We love them immensely, but their progress is slow. Madi is in need of a divorce with her current husband so that she and Eduardo can get married, but we haven't seen any action, because they just don't feel the need to get baptized. They're having some problems with understanding the authority. BUT we're working on that. :) Anyway, her two sons are into drinking and drugs. When Sister Call and I first met the family, Tonito was really, really into that. We actually thought that he was too far gone--he always came home drunk and high, he always yelled and swore and has threatened to beat and chop Madi. It was just.....very....extremely bad. And then he disappeared.

Well. Tonito is the same age as Jorge. They actually were in the same grade in school together until Tonito dropped out. Last night, we got to their house last night (with Jorge) and found Madi very distraught with her neighbors. Tonito was just sitting out back. He had been smoking, but was then just sitting their doing nothing. (It's been a little while since Tonito has come back home. He's not as violent, but just sits out back smoking cigarettes and meth. Madi said something about us....changing her son. Making him better or something. So I left the group and sat over by Toni and just started talking to him. I said something along the lines of, "Hey. Regardless of what your mom says about her wanting us to change you, we just want to be your friends." Sister Vasquez came over and then we started talking to him, laughing, and invited him to sports night. Jorge came over and before we knew it, we were talking about the purpose of life and the Plan of Salvation.

It was amazing. Jorge began to share his testimony--experiences that I didn't even know about. Some old and some that he has recently had while going out with us missionaries. We were all able to testify of God's love for this young man and just.....invite the Spirit. We left him a pamphlet to which he said he'd read, said a prayer, and then went inside to talk to Madi for a moment. And guess who followed us in? Tonito! The Spirit is an incredible thing. It can soften even the most hardest of hearts! :)

One last experience. (Yes, I know. I'm writing a novel.....)

For the past month and a half, I've been struggling. I know that the Plan of Salvation is real. I have a very strong testimony of it. But the waiting is hard. I've been asking myself, "Why now? Why me?" I understand that God knows all things and what is best for all His children. I get that I'm trying trying to exercise my faith in Him. But part of me has been.....not necessarily doubting in His plan, but shouting out in protest to its "unfairness." I think we all go through those times where we ask, "Why now? Why couldn't Heavenly Father wait? Why did this even have to happen?" We all have those moments. And I have definitely been having mine.

On Friday Sister Vasquez and I went to an investigator's house that we haven't been able to see in a while. We didn't know if she'd be there or if she'd be busy or not, but we set out in her direction, hoping we could at least tell her hi and that we love her. Well tender mercy of the Lord, she was there and let us in! She was so happy to see us. We talked for quite a while and then ended up showing her "He is the Gift."

And as usual, once the video got close to the "It was a gift of love, of life, of peace, of hope" part, I started to think of Dad. But this time I started to tear up because suddenly the words, "I love you, Lonnie. Even if it may not feel like it...." came to mind. I know He does. I know Heavenly Father knows us by name. I know He listens to our prayers. I knowHe wants the best for us and I know He is guiding us. He is aware of us in every moment. He does love us.

So that was Friday. Yesterday, however, I was in the chapel with Sister Alico and Jorge watching Mormon Messages as Sister Vasquez Skyped her family. We watched one called The Will of God--based on D. Todd Christofferson's talk about the currant bush. The one where he says, "I am the gardner here. ....I don't want you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush." And then I love when he says, "Thank you for chopping me down. Thank you for loving me enough to hurt me...."

Again, those words came to mind, "I love you, Lonnie. I really do."

And I love Him. Although sometimes I feel as if my trials are unjust, I know that they are necessary and I know that they will help me grow. God is the gardner here and knows what He wants me to be. I know He loves me--enough to hurt me. And I'm grateful He does, so that I may progress as He desires of me.

Just as it says in Isaiah 48--our afflictions are the furnace that refines us. We will come out an even better person than we started. The Master knows what is needed to make us into the best Son or Daughter of God that we can be!

I am so grateful for the mountains in this life that we have to climb. I know that they are necessary for our eternal progression. But I also know that we never have to climb them alone.

Jesus Christ's life was and is a gift of love! Keep finding ways to share it with others!

I love and pray for you all.

Love Always,

Sistah M.

Belize Navidad Y'all

Belize Navidad y'all! (Credit to that clever one goes to the one and only Sistah Patt--"Hermana" now.....)

So.....where to begin is always the question. To explain the photos.....Sister Montes wanted to paint my face last night. So....with all of the photos of face painted children coming from Kels every week, I decided to give in and be the victim. I think it's because I'm missing my besty too much. ;) Well....she made me a "tiger." I thought she did pretty good after admitted that I'm the very first person she has ever face painted before. Unfortunately that confession came after we took the photo. She has room for improvement, but I think I'm done offering my face to anyone here in Corozal.... If I want anything done to my face, I'm headin' up to Colbert! ;) #ShoutoutToBelsieKarnes

The Sweet Corozal branch had a Christmas activity last Friday and let me tell ya (without bragging....), the sistah missionaries stole the show! I wish I could load the video I took, but I'll do my best to explain and include the photos. Us sistahs painted our chins to look like frogs and then laid upside down on a table to sing Christmas carols. It was great! And the members were not expecting such a crazy thing! :) hehehe But we won their hearts and the hearts of our investigators. :) Anyway..... Only in Corozal.....

We've been having a good week. We ended up having A LOT of investigators at church this week. Let me tell ya--it's the Christmas Spirit. I hope you're all showing "He is the Gift" as often as you can. You only have.....three more days to do it. Well....you can continue to do so after, but people probably won't be as willing to see videos about Christmas after the 25th. So.....APROVECHEN EL TIEMPO QUE TENGAN! There's my Spanish for the day. I'm afraid that it has gotten worse during my stay here in Corozal. I hope to get an area with less English and Kriol soon in order to save my Spanish grammar!

Anywho. I have one more little tidbit I'd like to share about this week. Yesterday marked my one year of going to the temple. What an incredible day that was! And as I sat and thought this morning of what I wanted to share and email everyone, I decided it was that.

I remember the day very well. I didn't go to bed until....12:30ish because Grace would not stop talking! And then Dad and I woke up at five to go pick up Katie. It was a blizzard all the way from Fountain Green to Provo and then back again. I almost thought that we'd have to turn around.....without my dear Katie. But we made it. Dad is an AMAZING driver in the snow. And extra kudos to him because it was a stick shift! (We all know how much I am in love with a manual transmission.)

So. We're driving to Provo and back. I hurry and change when we stop at home to pick up Mom and the older siblings and then hit the road for Manti. I am.....completely sick to my stomach. I didn't tell anyone about it, but oh man! I wasvery nervous about having to spend two hours in the temple in my condition. Believe me. Diarrhea and nausea and my upset stomach--not a good combo. But I was too embarrassed to say anything, so we continued on the snow-filled journey, me praying the entire way there.

As soon as I entered the temple doors, my stomach was calm--I was entirely at peace and so....excited and happy. I don't know how to express my feelings of that day. But I had been waiting my whole life for that day--to be surrounded by friends and family in the holy house of the Lord. And it was everything I hoped it would be. Best. Christmas present. Ever.

After the session, we walked back out to the car and the falling snow, only to find that the front axel of our sweet little Ford Focus had gone out. What a miracle! Our beloved Focus was able to last so long! Why did it not die earlier in the day? Especially that morning in the blizzard on the way up to Provo? I needed to go to the temple. The Lord wanted me there as well--as He does with all of His children. That is my testimony that I want to share with all of you this Christmas.

Jesus Christ is the first and best gift of Christmas. And because of His birth, suffering, death, and resurrection, the covenants we make in the temple allow us to have an eternal family. Recently Elder Bednar has asked all of us missionaries to teach with the end in mind--meaning the temple. Baptism is only the start. Our goal as missionaries is to create eternal families and eternal families can only be obtained through faithfulness to covenants made in the temple. I am so grateful for my father and the way he honored his covenants. I know that as we all continue to endure to the end, we will live together again. Forever.

Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy that snow! Remember the true Gift! He is Christ! He is Christmas.

I love you all and I pray for you often.

Love Always,

Sistah M

Use the Spirit of Christmas to share the gospel with EVERYONE!!!!!

So I don't really have time this week to write a good email. So many people emailed with so much good news. It makes me happy. And I think that's just the main message of the week this week.

This past week was just.....well it was just full of difficult moments. My companion has some health problems that require us to stay home sometimes or go on interchanges. Unfortunately that frustrates the work in both areas, and it usually bores Sister Vasquez quite a bit. :) But it was just....a difficult week. However, personal study this week was just completely wonderful! And our lessons that we did have really brought the Spirit. I am just completely happy and satisfied with the sacrifice we gave our Father in Heaven.

We, the missionaries here in Belize, have not yet received the "He is the Gift" materials from SLC. So we have just settled to downloading the video in English and Spanish on our USBs to be able to play on our portable DVD players. Sister Vasquez and I are showing it to EVERYONE and we are having the most wonderful experiences! I wish I had all the time in the world to tell you all about them. For now, I will settle with just one.

We walked into a pharmacy on Tuesday for Sister Vasquez' medicine. Before leaving, I asked the two female workers if they would like to watch the short video about Christmas and Jesus Christ we had to share. The first was clearly not interested and left it up to the other woman. She was kind of hesitant, but we were persistent enough that she agreed to watch it, turned off the music, and called her two children to come and see. The Spirit entered that little corner shop across from the busy bus terminal and she....changed. At the end, I could feel something was different. We asked if she would like to know more, and she simply told us we couldn't come to her house because of her husband. So we have an appointment set up this week to visit her again at the pharmacy. Use the Spirit of Christmas to share the gospel with EVERYONE!!!! It was just.....a magical week!

Keep smiling. Keep praying. And keep trusting our Father in Heaven. His Gift, Jesus Christ, can help us overcome any trial we might face in this life. It was a gift of love, life, peace, hope, and HAPPINESS. God wants us to be happy and we can be so if we embrace the gift of His Son.

I love and pray for you all! Until next week.....


Love Always,

Sista M.