ONE YEAR!

BUENOS TARDES!

So much to tell you, so little time!!!! It has been a YEAR?! WHAT!?

First things first, Sister Bendorf and I had some unique experiences this week.  We had a young woman tell us all about how her best friend was going to get into a fist fight and she was getting roped into it.... we had a "parenting" experience as we talked to her for an hour and convinced her to stand up, call her friend, and tell her not to do something so silly and dangerous.  At church, she came up to us, hugged us, and told her that she convinced her friend not to do it!  haha so if we are not doing anything else, at least we are preventing planned teen fights... phew... 

We also had an intense lesson with a family who is very Christian, but their 12 year-old son is an atheist.  He was very tough and bold as he interrupted us about a sentence into our lesson saying "I have a confession".  He then continued to tell us that God did not exist and that everything about religion was just a made up story.  His mom was appalled and started to argue with him, but we just listened.  We shared personal experiences, and testified of the reality of our Heavenly Father.  We told him of God's love for him, and allowed him to get a bunch of questions off his chest.  We uncovered a lot of deeper, hidden doubts that he had.  Instead of arguing, we just encouraged him to pray.  At the end of the lesson, he got on his knees with us to pray.  He thanked us for listening to him and answering all his questions.  We are going back this week.  

A miracle we saw this week was with praying for a family. We have specifically been praying to find a family of 4 and we found them!!! It started with our volunteering at the homework club at Stein Elementary. Because of that, we were recognized by a ton of elementary school students in an apartment parking lot (they continue to flock and swarm whenever we pull up) haha.  Through one of the little girls that always talks to us (Brianna), we found her family.  The dad, Lolo, is an alcoholic but after being in jail, has such a desire to turn his life around. He has started to read in the Book of Mormon, and at our lesson yesterday, he wanted to say the prayer! His wife Leticia, has a heart of gold.  We are also teaching Lolo's cousin, Everardo, who asked if he could say the closing prayer in the lesson.    

This area is just exploding.  I cannot express my gratitude.  We are so tired every day, but I am eternally indebted to my Savior.

Yesterday I was truly moved at our fast and testimony meeting. In my home ward there is ALWAYS that awkward 5 min silence where no one goes up to give their testimony. And then, some poor soul usually an auxiliary leader or presidency member, decides, "Welp, no one else gonna crack the ice so i might as well." And they go up and sacrifice themselves as the first ones so that everyone else has the guts to go up. That is hardly the case in the ward I am in right now. There are people walking up as soon as the one presiding says "the time is now yours". It's like a mad (reverent) dash to the podium. These people are just so excited to share what they know to be true and it is so amazing. Sometimes they share about how their dog came with them from Mexico, but the joy in their testimonies is contagious! I encourage each and every one of you to do just that. Don't be afraid to say what you know to be true. Because good news, 98% of the people in the room believe the same thing but are still edified. And those who don't know WILL come to know it through the Holy Ghost! Think about it next fast and testimony Sunday!

I love you all and hope all is well. Thank you all for your undying love and support this last year. I can't believe I only have 6 months left. I am so sad but I am also so grateful for the miracles I have been able to see and the small impact I have made through the guidance of Heavenly Father. I love being an instrument in his hands.

I love every single one of you dearly!

Love,

Hermana Voss

PS- On a side note. My dear friends and family. I ask that you please pray for those who were injured and killed in the massacre in Orlando of the those of the LGTBQ orientation this last week. Even if you do not agree with their way of life, they are human, and more importantly CHILDREN of our Heavenly Father. My companion and I were appalled to hear about this awful hate crime. We are all different but we are all children of God and all deserve to be treated as such, no matter what gender, creed, sexual orientation etc.

1) first run in MONTHS! It was sooooooo good!

2) I got my year mark papers! wooohooo! Talk about inspiring and rallying!

3) We are storm chasers! Just kidding, :)

4) Selfie in the thunder storm!

Short note

This is gonna be short because we have some projects to do today!

This week has been so great. We are working so hard and seeing miracles because of it. Our people are progressing.

As I approach my one year mark in the field I have found myself asking Heavenly Father, "What lack I yet?"  I want to be the best missionary I can possibly be and I'm willing to do anything to get there. I realize that these last couple months I have been with Hna. Bendorf I have been able to change so much and get accustomed to those changes. And now I know its time for more change and Heavenly Father is ready to do more with me and it makes me really excited! Let me tell you, be careful what you ask for because the Lord WILL tell you if you are persistent enough. I have never felt so inadequate but so valued at the same time. I love the concept of change and bettering ones self to be like Christ!

I hope you all have the time to ask yourselves, "What lack I yet?" And be ready with some paper and pencil!

I love you all! Keep strong in the faith!

Love,

Hermana Voss

MIRACLES

What an amazing week we have had! Sister Bendorf and I have been working our tails off and we are starting to see the fruits of our labors. This week in District Meeting we were talking about faith and there was a great quote by Ezra Taft Benson that said, "faith is the foundation upon which a godlike character is built." Without faith, we wouldn't be able to change because we wouldn't be willing to make the change! Also, another thought from reading preach my gospel on page 116 it says, "Your faith will increase through diligent study, prayer, dedicated service, and obedience....." WIthout knowledge, we can't have faith. Faith comes from knowing the will of God. There is my spiritual thought for the day!

This week we had to let go of some people we were teaching but that was to make time for the people that we are teaching who are progresssing. This is a REALLY good problem to have as a missionary. It is so exciting to watch people make changes in their life because of their love for God and the Savior. This week, we really felt like we fulfilled our purpose as missionaries in bringing the children of God unto Christ. We focused on obedience and diligence all week and it paid off IMMENSELY! I can't think of a better week I have ever had in the mission. Every night we flopped into bed feeling utterly exhausted but in the best way I have ever felt on the mission!

You'd think that almost being out a year I would have gotten the hang of this whole missionary thing about 6 months ago but I think It's really true when they say that about around the half way mark things start to click. It's about time! But, that is something I love about the mission. Just like this life, it is constantly about progression, progression, progression to become as Christlike as possible.

I only have one picture to send, but it is ADORABLE. You're welcome in advance :P

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Voss

Shout out to my grandparents for using my 4-H rabbit raising skills! They are not in vain!

These cute little guys are a members. There is Princessa the white one and Media Noche the black one. We go over, teach a lesson, snuggle with rabbits and eat ice cream. It's a match made in Heaven!

Who's up for round 5?

That's right! I am staying in the area for another transfer AND Sis. Bendorf and I are staying together. Both situations are VERY rare. But I guess the Lord needs me here still and that Sis. Bendorf and I need to be together for another transfer! Woohooo! We are SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!

This week was kinda a "blah" week. We get those every now and then. It just goes to show that its not all sunshine and rainbows on the mission. But we have high hopes for this next week! We have some great people we are still teaching and have some great plans for their progression! Silver linings, right?

The aquarium was LEGENDARY! One of the best P-day's I've had in a while. It made the bad week not seem so bad looking back on the fun we had. There will be LOTS of pics. My favorite part was petting the sting-rays. PICS ON THE WAY!

I love you all!

Love,

   Hermana Voss

1) THE MOST ghetto car I have ever seen. This is a gem

2 and 3) Our District

Also! Sister Bendorf and I are sacrificing music this transfer so if any of you have favorite EFY talks or Conference talks or BYU talks, something of the like, we would love to have you send us a copy or let us know if we can find it online. We are really trying to focus on the guidance of our brethren this transfer :)

Love you all!

Love,

Hermana Voss

A short note

Hello Everyone!

   This is going to be a very short email because Hermana Bendorf and I are going to the AQUARIUM! We are super excited to be seeing the fishes! And I'm going to pet a Sting-Ray. I'll get pictures!

    So. I'm alive, I love you, and keep seeing miracles!

Love,

Hermana Voss

Busy Busy Busy

This week was super great! Come to find out, I am still here with Sister Bendorf for the rest of the transfer. After that, who knows!

This week was full of new experiences. We drove up to Golden for the first time ever. It's primarily worked by English missionaries, but from what it looks like, it was never worked by Spanish Missionaries, so we are heading up the search for those who speak Spanish out there who are ready to hear the gospel!! We are really excited to pioneer that area.

On Saturday our ward had an AMAZING Mother's Day activity. It was so great to see the ward really bond with each other and with our investigators. It was a huge success. One of our investigators, Miguel, was our guest MC and it was HYSTERICAL! The ward absolutely loved him! There was ward karaoke and some men in the ward and bishopric all got together to sing for the Mom's with their guitars. It was so adorable! And then our Bishop sang a song to his wife. I have video evidence! He's a pretty good singer too.

We continue to see miracles. Investigators whose hearts are softened, people who are searching for answers! It is incredible. Our ward is booming and so on fire for missionary work.

I love you all, hope you all had a fabulous Mother's Day for all you Mom's out there!

Love,

Hermana Voss

 1) Sister Cardosa has left the trio and it is Hna. Bendorf and I. We got cradle robbed! but I know Hna Salazar is training her super well :) We had to have one last comp date at Cold Stone!

2) The trio life!

3)Our investigator Miguel. He MADE that suit coat!

Here is a pic from Elder and Sister Gunther as we were Skyping home yesterday!!! :)

Baptism, Burial, Boda

Well this week has been CRAZY! I practically have a calling in the ward here. I am the ward organist and the primary music director/ pianist. It's pretty great and I love it.

This week I played hymns and prelude music at a baptism, a burial (funeral), and a boda (Spanish for wedding) It was been a week of ups and downs. Shout out to my family. My 10yrs of piano lessons are not being wasted!

As a side note, I might be getting Emergency Transferred to a new area. We have a dear sister who is really sick and has to go home. But I will still be on this side of the mountains and serving in the same ward, just in the southern part of the ward boundaries (yes, they are that big). We don't know for sure who is going where but from what it sounds like, it will be me. So if you all are going to send letters, you can still send it to my Cedar Ave address because the Sister Missionaries in this ward eat dinner together every day so we see each other frequently. And then next Monday I will let you all know what's going on. Either way, the trio is getting split up and we are all so sad! I love Hna. Bendorf and Cardosa so dearly. But I know that I am getting comfortable in my area which means its time for change, some humble pie, and some spiritual growth. I'm excited to see what the Lord has to reveal.

We have had a lot of heart break this week. A lot of investigators deciding to no longer want draw closer to the Saviour. It breaks my heart because I know without a shadow of a doubt that this gospel is true and that we have the fullness of the gospel restored on the earth and that Christ is the head of our Church, as it should be. It just makes me so sad to know that people don't care anymore. We ran into a young man this week who literally has no idea what he believe or if he even has a purpose in life. Even after testifying and promising him that there is a purpose for all of us here on this earth, he still just felt so hopeless that God really wasn't there. I am so grateful for the hope that I have of an eternal family, and eternity with them and my Heavenly Father, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I wouldn't trade that hope and knowledge for the world.

But we have faith, hope, and charity! This week is going to be amazing!

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Voss