Ma Chere Famille,
To all, family and friends, thank you so much for all the letters and packages and stuff. I'm pretty sure I can still count on one hand the number of days I haven't gotten mail. You're all amazing. I'm done with my 40 stamps that I brought to the MTC!
Last week, Elder David A. Bednar spoke at devotional, and it was soooo good! All my frenchies are leaving in a week (48 of them) and they were waiting for an apostle, so I'm glad that they got to see one before they took off. But yah. It was an excellent talk. One thing that he said, he was laughing at us, and all members of the church for speculating on why the missionary age was dropped. Ha. It was actually pretty funny. But he just said of the change, "The Lord can do His work, and He will hasten it in His time." So true! And it's amazing! That's what's happening right now. The work is hastening! And it's incredible! I'm honored to be here in the field (almost) while this explosion is taking place. The man that spoke in the Sunday night fireside said that the MTC is being remodeled and things are being rearranged to fit more missionaries. And one of the things they're changing is that they're cutting time here in the MTC by about a third. So, if you're speaking your native tongue, whether it be English, Spanish, or Portuguese, you'll be in the MTC for 2 weeks instead of 3, and if you're learning a language, you'll be here for 6 weeks instead of 9. KRAY KRAY. But oh so bomb. Heavenly Father trusts his youth. Oh. And by the way, this starts in January, so Pup, you're safe :] hah. But yah. Another thing that Elder Bednar said that I really liked was that faith is a principle of action and power. And it has to happen in that order. We have to ACT and then we will be given power. Example: "Open your mouth and it shall be filled." We have to open our mouths before we will be given utterance. We must have the faith to act! I love that. I'm going to try harder to have that faith to act this week.
Wednesday was my monthaversary! So I've been here for 5 weeks tomorrow. CRAZY. I can't believe it. Time is FLYING. I'll be outta here before I know it. Which I'm actually super stoked about. Went to the hospital on Wednesday again. But that was it for this week. Soeur Cuthbert got a colonoscopy, so I stayed with her in the morning and Soeur Lamb went to class, and then it was just me and the boys at night. That was weird. Also, I feel like a celebrity out of the MTC bubble. Everyone loves you. It's the best.
I was pretty sick at the beginning of this week, but I started feeling a lot better yesterday, and I think it's because Frere Sybrowsky and I had our little mish one on one conference this week, and I was telling him how I was sick. He's in men's chorus. So of course the first thing he thought of as a cure was gargling Listerine every night. Because Sister Hall ABSOLUTELY swears by it. Like she hasn't gotten sick in 16 years, and she credits the Listerine for her health. So I did it this week. And now I'm almost back to normal! Yay! It's the best. Also, the bottle of Dayquil I downed this week mighta helped too...
We were reunited as a complete district on Thursday and our teachers were so happy! Also, we started a competition, called "Qui est le vrai francais" Basically, someone's name gets picked outta a hat, and they have to speak the most french the next day. I was mean and threw the competition the first day, and just didn't speak English all day. hah. Mean. But we're actually trying to PVL everyday now (parlez votre langue.) And it's sooo fun! I LOVE speaking french. Chaque jour Toujours. And it's the best! Some of the others in my district are a little less enthusiastic, but I think it's great!
Friday was a good day for teaching. We taught both Michel and Claude, and we challenged both of them to be baptized! It was the best!! Claude said yes, and we're still working on Michel. hah. We asked him the next day too, but he's still unsure. Hopefully this week though. Our lesson with Claude was incredible! Soeur Cuthbert shared a personal story and bore testimony about the Atonement, and the Spirit was soooo strong. It strengthened my testimony even more that as long as the Spirit is there, miracles can and will happen. So far, the two most spiritual lessons on my mission have been when the french was broken and fragmented, but the Spirit was unrestrained. I want to rely on the Lord like that! I need to be better at that. At letting the Spirit do the talking, and just being the instrument. I love teaching and I love this gospel! I see improvement from where I started, but the end is still nowhere in sight. So please pray for me. I need it!
I played cello twice this week! And I ran twice this week! Two of my fave things! The best! Soeur Cuthbert, Soeur Olson, and I are going to audition with "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul" for a musical number on Thursday. I'm pretty stoked about it. And as always, cello's just the best.
Well, I'm almost outta time family, but I wanted to leave you with an invitation. Something that we talked about this week in class. Prayer. If you're saying your morning and evening prayers, good job! That's awesome. If you're not, start with that, because praying to our Heavenly Father is soooo important. But something that we talked about in class is pondering and meditating before, during, after your prayer. Especially with the evening prayer. This is something that I've been trying to do lately, and WOW. It is incredible. The things I will feel and hear after I pray. Heavenly Father loves us, more than we can even comprehend and He WANTS to bless us and talk to us. So here's my invite. After your evening prayers, stay on your knees for however long you're willing and just LISTEN. With your heart and your mind. It is THE BEST! I promise, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that if you do this, you will be richly blessed. You will be able to feel that love that Heavenly Father has for you. And you will be able to receive answers to those questions that you have! So do it. Please! For me!
I love you SOOOO MUCH my dear, dear family! There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about each and every one of you. You are constantly in my prayers. I trust that Heavenly Father will take care of you while I am here doing his work. I LOVE this work! It's gonna explode and I can't wait to see the result. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the truth! If you don't know that, pray to know it. And then listen. Have a good week family! Pray for the people of New Caledonia! I can't wait to be there.
L'evangile est vrai!
Love, Soeur Santos
Serving with Music
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
October 9, 2012
Ma Chere Famille,
GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS THE BEST!!! I can hardly believe what happened on Saturday morning. When President Monson announced that they were changing the mish age for boys to 18 I started freaking out. And that freaking out turned into hyperventilation when they said that they were changing the girl's age to 19. The MTC EXPLODED!! It was sooooooo cool to be here for that announcement. And then I started crying like a crazy person. I don't even know why... I guess I just thought it was incredible and I'm so thrilled and humbled to be able to Preach His Gospel as a 21 year old crazy. And I can't even imagine all those crazy 18 year old girls that were like me, sitting at home and jumping up and down for joy. I guess it was just mostly that. And I thought of Ganae Osorio! Cause she's the best and she would be THE BEST missionary ever. So yah. A combination of things. But I'm so happy. It's incredible. The Lord trusts His youth sooo much! And I know that this change is inspired. The gospel is rolling forth, to all the earth! How incredible! I LOVE THIS WORK!! And I look forward to seeing several dilligent and excited young 18 and 19 year olds in the field. I'll probs miss them in the MTC, but J-Dawg and Pup will be there with them! Also. This general conference was just great. Overall. Elder Nelson's talk was great, "Ask the missionaries!" And he totally gave a shoutout to Rachel, one of my friends, his grand daughter, who's in Rome serving a mish! And I really liked Elder Holland's talk, about dropping our nets and following, more fully, the Savior. I couldn't help but think about cello that entire talk. I'm doing better, but I can definitely be a more exact and more faithful disciple! So I will do better! The talk about teaching was good too. The one by the 70, who's name started with an O. Anything on the subject of teaching now is so intriguing to me. Cause I'm doing all I can to learn about and become a better teacher! And finally, one quote that really stuck out from R.S. meeting was, "the enemy knows when to attack us, but our Savior is mighty to save!" It's SOOO TRUE. I loved that meeting. We watched it while the elders were at priesthood. I was hoping to have an all girl party, but that was good too :]
A couple cool things have happened this week pertaining to revelation. Last Tuesday, I was taking notes at devotional, and a question popped into my head during it, so I wrote it down not really thinking much of it. But! After the devotional, during our district discussion time, we were talking, and something happened, and I all of the sudden got an answer to my question. It just came to me. It was soooo cool!! And unexpected. But seriously, lightning like struck my brain! It was incredible. So this is my invitation to you, my dear family. If you have a question, gospel related, or life, write it down, and ponder on it, pray about it, search the scriptures, and talk about gospel principles. Heavenly Father will answer us. I promise. He will. Because He loves us, and He wants us to learn and grow! That is one of the major purposes of our mortal life, so do it! And let me know what happens after. I'd love to hear!
Teaching this week. We had a pretty downer lesson with Michel this week. I was probs the most discouraged I've been my whole time here actually. He just wasn't getting it, and he wasn't reading from the Book of Mormon, and he didn't understand, and I don't know if my companions fully understood what question he was asking, so it was just confusing and hard to teach him. I just wanted to tell him to read the book! Cause it'll change your life. But I dunno. it wasn't getting across. Frere Blosil could tell we were a little down after though and talked to us and challenged us to ponder on why the Book of Mormon was so important, so after pondering on that for a couple days, we taught him again, and were able to explain more fully why this book is so important, yesterday! It was good. The Book of Mormon, if read and prayed about, with a sincere heart and real intent, will convert the person because the Holy Ghost will testify of its truthfulness! It is the word of God. and it contains the fullness of the gospel! Oh how I love this book. I thought I loved it before the mission, but I am infatuated! It is incredible, and it testifies of Christ on every page. If you want to strengthen your testimony, read, and truly study the Book of Mormon.
We have new sisters! Their names are Soeur Hills and Soeur Olson. They are great! S. Hills is from Canada and she's crazy and fun! She's going to Lyon. And S. Olson plays piano! So we are def gonna be bffs. She's going to Montreal. But yah. They're super cool.
We went back to the Hospital a couple times this week. Once on Thursday and once on yesterday. Soeur Cuthbert's going in for surgery tomorrow, so please keep her in your prayers! Soeur Lamb and I are fasting for her today! Also. This week, my district was like falling apart. Thursday was the worst of it: Soeur Cuthbert was in pain again and going to the hospital, Elder Bledsoe was out with a migraine, and Elder Fletcher and I were like dying of whooping cough. Oh. And Frere Sybrowsky has laringitis. So Elder Grigsby and Soeur Lamb were the only people that weren't like dying. hah. We've gotten better though. hah. A bit. We're on the upward climb.
We also taught Claude a few times this week, and the last couple lessons have been very good! We finally got him to pray this week, cause I'm annoying. Or bold, hahh. whatever you wanna call it. But yah! It was great! I also invited him to watch general conference this weekend, so hopefully he did that!
Also, this week, Soeur Lamb and I have done quite a bit of studying in the residence hall cause Soeur Cuthbert's been sick, but it's been really good actually. In fact, both of my Soeurs have said they like learning from me, better than in class. hah. But I think they're bluffing. Frere Blosil and Sybrowsky are the best teachers ever. I think they just like learning one on one. or one on two. But I taught Soeur Lamb passe compose this week. And I'm basically a slave driver. hah. Its great though! We get a lot done and we're pretty productive!
Bonded with the frenchies this week too. A ton of them are going to Montreal, and it almost makes me sad I'm not going there, cause these Elders are soooo cool! But yah. We're bffs now, and it's fun!
Ok. Well I'm almost outta time, so really fast. People I met this week that know people from home. or BYU. Or that will know people. Pup! So I met 2 Elders that are going to the West Indies!! Elder Porterfield, that's just down the hall from me, and Elder Kabongo, who is FROM Brussels, Belgium, and he knows the OSORIOS!! Super cool. Also. Maia Cook. I found out one of the frenchies is from Nova Scotia this week, so I asked if they knew her, and they do! Elder Blake Pillings! Soooo cool! We're volleyball buds.
Ok, well I'm outta time and I have 6 more letters to write, so I'm gonna go. But I love you all! I am sooo happy! It's crazy busy here, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. This work is incredible! I'm, so honored and happy to be apart of it! Pray for Soeur Cuthbert and the people of New Caledonia!
L'evangile est vrai!
Je T'aime! Soeur Santos
GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS THE BEST!!! I can hardly believe what happened on Saturday morning. When President Monson announced that they were changing the mish age for boys to 18 I started freaking out. And that freaking out turned into hyperventilation when they said that they were changing the girl's age to 19. The MTC EXPLODED!! It was sooooooo cool to be here for that announcement. And then I started crying like a crazy person. I don't even know why... I guess I just thought it was incredible and I'm so thrilled and humbled to be able to Preach His Gospel as a 21 year old crazy. And I can't even imagine all those crazy 18 year old girls that were like me, sitting at home and jumping up and down for joy. I guess it was just mostly that. And I thought of Ganae Osorio! Cause she's the best and she would be THE BEST missionary ever. So yah. A combination of things. But I'm so happy. It's incredible. The Lord trusts His youth sooo much! And I know that this change is inspired. The gospel is rolling forth, to all the earth! How incredible! I LOVE THIS WORK!! And I look forward to seeing several dilligent and excited young 18 and 19 year olds in the field. I'll probs miss them in the MTC, but J-Dawg and Pup will be there with them! Also. This general conference was just great. Overall. Elder Nelson's talk was great, "Ask the missionaries!" And he totally gave a shoutout to Rachel, one of my friends, his grand daughter, who's in Rome serving a mish! And I really liked Elder Holland's talk, about dropping our nets and following, more fully, the Savior. I couldn't help but think about cello that entire talk. I'm doing better, but I can definitely be a more exact and more faithful disciple! So I will do better! The talk about teaching was good too. The one by the 70, who's name started with an O. Anything on the subject of teaching now is so intriguing to me. Cause I'm doing all I can to learn about and become a better teacher! And finally, one quote that really stuck out from R.S. meeting was, "the enemy knows when to attack us, but our Savior is mighty to save!" It's SOOO TRUE. I loved that meeting. We watched it while the elders were at priesthood. I was hoping to have an all girl party, but that was good too :]
A couple cool things have happened this week pertaining to revelation. Last Tuesday, I was taking notes at devotional, and a question popped into my head during it, so I wrote it down not really thinking much of it. But! After the devotional, during our district discussion time, we were talking, and something happened, and I all of the sudden got an answer to my question. It just came to me. It was soooo cool!! And unexpected. But seriously, lightning like struck my brain! It was incredible. So this is my invitation to you, my dear family. If you have a question, gospel related, or life, write it down, and ponder on it, pray about it, search the scriptures, and talk about gospel principles. Heavenly Father will answer us. I promise. He will. Because He loves us, and He wants us to learn and grow! That is one of the major purposes of our mortal life, so do it! And let me know what happens after. I'd love to hear!
Teaching this week. We had a pretty downer lesson with Michel this week. I was probs the most discouraged I've been my whole time here actually. He just wasn't getting it, and he wasn't reading from the Book of Mormon, and he didn't understand, and I don't know if my companions fully understood what question he was asking, so it was just confusing and hard to teach him. I just wanted to tell him to read the book! Cause it'll change your life. But I dunno. it wasn't getting across. Frere Blosil could tell we were a little down after though and talked to us and challenged us to ponder on why the Book of Mormon was so important, so after pondering on that for a couple days, we taught him again, and were able to explain more fully why this book is so important, yesterday! It was good. The Book of Mormon, if read and prayed about, with a sincere heart and real intent, will convert the person because the Holy Ghost will testify of its truthfulness! It is the word of God. and it contains the fullness of the gospel! Oh how I love this book. I thought I loved it before the mission, but I am infatuated! It is incredible, and it testifies of Christ on every page. If you want to strengthen your testimony, read, and truly study the Book of Mormon.
We have new sisters! Their names are Soeur Hills and Soeur Olson. They are great! S. Hills is from Canada and she's crazy and fun! She's going to Lyon. And S. Olson plays piano! So we are def gonna be bffs. She's going to Montreal. But yah. They're super cool.
We went back to the Hospital a couple times this week. Once on Thursday and once on yesterday. Soeur Cuthbert's going in for surgery tomorrow, so please keep her in your prayers! Soeur Lamb and I are fasting for her today! Also. This week, my district was like falling apart. Thursday was the worst of it: Soeur Cuthbert was in pain again and going to the hospital, Elder Bledsoe was out with a migraine, and Elder Fletcher and I were like dying of whooping cough. Oh. And Frere Sybrowsky has laringitis. So Elder Grigsby and Soeur Lamb were the only people that weren't like dying. hah. We've gotten better though. hah. A bit. We're on the upward climb.
We also taught Claude a few times this week, and the last couple lessons have been very good! We finally got him to pray this week, cause I'm annoying. Or bold, hahh. whatever you wanna call it. But yah! It was great! I also invited him to watch general conference this weekend, so hopefully he did that!
Also, this week, Soeur Lamb and I have done quite a bit of studying in the residence hall cause Soeur Cuthbert's been sick, but it's been really good actually. In fact, both of my Soeurs have said they like learning from me, better than in class. hah. But I think they're bluffing. Frere Blosil and Sybrowsky are the best teachers ever. I think they just like learning one on one. or one on two. But I taught Soeur Lamb passe compose this week. And I'm basically a slave driver. hah. Its great though! We get a lot done and we're pretty productive!
Bonded with the frenchies this week too. A ton of them are going to Montreal, and it almost makes me sad I'm not going there, cause these Elders are soooo cool! But yah. We're bffs now, and it's fun!
Ok. Well I'm almost outta time, so really fast. People I met this week that know people from home. or BYU. Or that will know people. Pup! So I met 2 Elders that are going to the West Indies!! Elder Porterfield, that's just down the hall from me, and Elder Kabongo, who is FROM Brussels, Belgium, and he knows the OSORIOS!! Super cool. Also. Maia Cook. I found out one of the frenchies is from Nova Scotia this week, so I asked if they knew her, and they do! Elder Blake Pillings! Soooo cool! We're volleyball buds.
Ok, well I'm outta time and I have 6 more letters to write, so I'm gonna go. But I love you all! I am sooo happy! It's crazy busy here, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. This work is incredible! I'm, so honored and happy to be apart of it! Pray for Soeur Cuthbert and the people of New Caledonia!
L'evangile est vrai!
Je T'aime! Soeur Santos
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
October 2, 2012
Ma chere famille!
Wow whadda week. So. This week, I've been outside of the MTC bubble (MTC and temple) not one time, but twice. Because one of my comps has been falling apart. It's quite unfortunate, but it was a cool little adventure. Both times! So here's the story on that... On Friday, Soeur Cuthbert, the one from Utah, was feeling sickly, and had been for a week, but she hadn't said anything to me or Soeur Lamb. So, Friday, we went to the Health Center with her. Soeur Lamb and I worked on the puzzle that was out, (side note: puzzles are the best. I'm gonna do them ALL THE TIME when I get home.) And Soeur Cuthbert went back to find out what was wrong. They couldn't figure it out, so they sent her back with some pills and said take these and come back in a week. Well, Saturday rolled around, the morning, and Soeur Cuthbert was still in a lot of pain. More even. So, we were at breakfast, but not for long, cause she started getting these shooting pains in her right lower abdomanin (I can't spell.) So, the three of us leave immediately, and are walking down the main hall of 1M, when outta nowhere, Soeur Cuthbert says, "I think I'm gonna pass out." And, not more than a nanosecond later, she begins to fall towards me. Thanks to her warning, I was able to catch her. So I stay with her, cause she regains conciousness really fast, and Soeur Lamb takes off running towards the front desk. (Cause the Health Clinic is closed on Saturdays.) So, we talked to a doctor on the phone and about 10 mins later we were on our way to the ER. They ran all sorts of tests, blood stuff, an ultrasound, and a catscan, and we were there til late-ish afternoon, but they couldn't find anything. So yah. We went to rite aid on the way home, grabbed her perscription, and then Soeur Lamb and I were in class later that afternoon. (Cause we found another sick sister to do splits with.) And Sunday morning she got anti nausea pills, but those ended up not working, so Sunday night, we ended up going back. Soeur Lamb and I broke our fast with vending machines that night. hah. The doctors seemed a bit more knowledgeable that night, and we found out that she has a stomach ulcer, yesterday. So yah. That was the excitement of the week. It was kray kray. So yah. Soeur Lamb and I missed some class these last couple days, but it was fine. And we studied on our own at home, so it was good. I dunno what's gonna happen with Soeur Cuthbert yet, but I hope she gets better, she's still pretty bed bound though, so yah. Keep her in your prayers please!
Teaching this week. hah. It was kinda funny. I taught on Wednesday and Thursday with Soeur Kailiponi. We were supposed to teach together on Saturday too, but then the Hospital incident happened. And she's gone now :( I miss that little crazy. She's THE BEST!! But yah. We taught Michel on Wednesday and prayed with him and got him to pray!! So that was very exciting! And we also taught Katherine for the last time. And then on Thursday, we taught two awesome lessons. hah. Claude. So this was our first time teaching him. The rest of my district had contacted him earlier on in the week, but I was teaching with Soeur K that night. So, Soeur K and I had not talked to him yet. For some reason, I thought he was gonna just pretend that we had, but no such luck. The two of us knocked on the door and said, "Hi Claude, we're Soeur Santos and Soeur Kailiponi" (en francais) and then realizing that he wasn't gonna invite us in, I said, "and we're missionaries from the church of Jesus-Christ of latter-day Saints and we have a message for you!" To which he responded, "Oh, I'm not really that interested in religion." hah. And then I just stood there. Shocked. Luckily, Soeur Kailiponi started talking before he shut the door. But that little crazy made us get through the door! Oh. And I guess I should explain this too. After your first investigator in the MTC, you teach your teachers. So Frere Blosil is playing Michel, and Frere Sybrowsky is being Claude. So yah. It was kinda funny. And then once we got through the door, forgetting that we weren't supposed to know who he was, Soeur K said his name and he was like, "how do you know my name?!" hah. Luckily, she thought fast and was like, "we got your name from a referral!" hahh. That was a crazy lesson. It was good though. Despite the false start. I love teaching with Soeur Kailiponi! I can't wait to get to New Cal, cause I wanna be comps with her again! Thursday afternoon we taught in TRC, and we got this super old cool man Frere Perrez who speaks 5 languages fluently and reads the Book of Mormon in 10 languages everyday!! I wanna be him when I grow up. I love languages!! That's one of the things I like most about the MTC, everyone speaking their languages! We'll have conversations with the Portuguese elders, us speaking french and them speaking portuguese. It's the best! If I'm horrible at cello when I get home, I'm switching majors to linguistics.
A couple other cool things from this week, Frere Blosil challenged us to think about the people of the places we're going when things are hard in the MTC. I love that! Everything is so much easier when we're thinking about others. So I wanna do that more. Also. on Sunday, it was fast Sunday, so I got to bare my testimony in French!! And I was being a little crazy. Jumping up and down in my seat like a 5 year old until I finally got up there. It was great!! I LOVE baring my testimony in French. Also, Yesterday!! I taught Michel with Frere Maigre (A teacher here that served in Montreal) And I challenged my first "ami de l'eglise" to be baptized!! It was soooo exciting!! hah. I was smiling like a fool, and you could like hear my smile as I was speaking. But it was great. I love inviting people I love to come closer to Christ! It's the best!! It makes me soooo happy!
Ok, well I'm gonna cut off here, cause I wanna send some pics, but I love you all!! Thanks! Pray for my companion! And the people of New Caledonia!
L'evangile est vrai!
Love, Soeur Santos
Crap. I don't remember what all these pics are.
One of them is me with Soeur Kailiponi. And then there's one with the 4 of us. Me, Soeur Kailiponi, Soeur Cuthbert and Soeur Lamb, one with me and the map. One with me and the New Caledonians. (5 of us.) And one with me in front of the temple. One with me in front of the puzzle Soeur Lamb and I did. And one with us in the hospital.
Ok bye!
Luh, Soeur Santos
Wow whadda week. So. This week, I've been outside of the MTC bubble (MTC and temple) not one time, but twice. Because one of my comps has been falling apart. It's quite unfortunate, but it was a cool little adventure. Both times! So here's the story on that... On Friday, Soeur Cuthbert, the one from Utah, was feeling sickly, and had been for a week, but she hadn't said anything to me or Soeur Lamb. So, Friday, we went to the Health Center with her. Soeur Lamb and I worked on the puzzle that was out, (side note: puzzles are the best. I'm gonna do them ALL THE TIME when I get home.) And Soeur Cuthbert went back to find out what was wrong. They couldn't figure it out, so they sent her back with some pills and said take these and come back in a week. Well, Saturday rolled around, the morning, and Soeur Cuthbert was still in a lot of pain. More even. So, we were at breakfast, but not for long, cause she started getting these shooting pains in her right lower abdomanin (I can't spell.) So, the three of us leave immediately, and are walking down the main hall of 1M, when outta nowhere, Soeur Cuthbert says, "I think I'm gonna pass out." And, not more than a nanosecond later, she begins to fall towards me. Thanks to her warning, I was able to catch her. So I stay with her, cause she regains conciousness really fast, and Soeur Lamb takes off running towards the front desk. (Cause the Health Clinic is closed on Saturdays.) So, we talked to a doctor on the phone and about 10 mins later we were on our way to the ER. They ran all sorts of tests, blood stuff, an ultrasound, and a catscan, and we were there til late-ish afternoon, but they couldn't find anything. So yah. We went to rite aid on the way home, grabbed her perscription, and then Soeur Lamb and I were in class later that afternoon. (Cause we found another sick sister to do splits with.) And Sunday morning she got anti nausea pills, but those ended up not working, so Sunday night, we ended up going back. Soeur Lamb and I broke our fast with vending machines that night. hah. The doctors seemed a bit more knowledgeable that night, and we found out that she has a stomach ulcer, yesterday. So yah. That was the excitement of the week. It was kray kray. So yah. Soeur Lamb and I missed some class these last couple days, but it was fine. And we studied on our own at home, so it was good. I dunno what's gonna happen with Soeur Cuthbert yet, but I hope she gets better, she's still pretty bed bound though, so yah. Keep her in your prayers please!
Teaching this week. hah. It was kinda funny. I taught on Wednesday and Thursday with Soeur Kailiponi. We were supposed to teach together on Saturday too, but then the Hospital incident happened. And she's gone now :( I miss that little crazy. She's THE BEST!! But yah. We taught Michel on Wednesday and prayed with him and got him to pray!! So that was very exciting! And we also taught Katherine for the last time. And then on Thursday, we taught two awesome lessons. hah. Claude. So this was our first time teaching him. The rest of my district had contacted him earlier on in the week, but I was teaching with Soeur K that night. So, Soeur K and I had not talked to him yet. For some reason, I thought he was gonna just pretend that we had, but no such luck. The two of us knocked on the door and said, "Hi Claude, we're Soeur Santos and Soeur Kailiponi" (en francais) and then realizing that he wasn't gonna invite us in, I said, "and we're missionaries from the church of Jesus-Christ of latter-day Saints and we have a message for you!" To which he responded, "Oh, I'm not really that interested in religion." hah. And then I just stood there. Shocked. Luckily, Soeur Kailiponi started talking before he shut the door. But that little crazy made us get through the door! Oh. And I guess I should explain this too. After your first investigator in the MTC, you teach your teachers. So Frere Blosil is playing Michel, and Frere Sybrowsky is being Claude. So yah. It was kinda funny. And then once we got through the door, forgetting that we weren't supposed to know who he was, Soeur K said his name and he was like, "how do you know my name?!" hah. Luckily, she thought fast and was like, "we got your name from a referral!" hahh. That was a crazy lesson. It was good though. Despite the false start. I love teaching with Soeur Kailiponi! I can't wait to get to New Cal, cause I wanna be comps with her again! Thursday afternoon we taught in TRC, and we got this super old cool man Frere Perrez who speaks 5 languages fluently and reads the Book of Mormon in 10 languages everyday!! I wanna be him when I grow up. I love languages!! That's one of the things I like most about the MTC, everyone speaking their languages! We'll have conversations with the Portuguese elders, us speaking french and them speaking portuguese. It's the best! If I'm horrible at cello when I get home, I'm switching majors to linguistics.
A couple other cool things from this week, Frere Blosil challenged us to think about the people of the places we're going when things are hard in the MTC. I love that! Everything is so much easier when we're thinking about others. So I wanna do that more. Also. on Sunday, it was fast Sunday, so I got to bare my testimony in French!! And I was being a little crazy. Jumping up and down in my seat like a 5 year old until I finally got up there. It was great!! I LOVE baring my testimony in French. Also, Yesterday!! I taught Michel with Frere Maigre (A teacher here that served in Montreal) And I challenged my first "ami de l'eglise" to be baptized!! It was soooo exciting!! hah. I was smiling like a fool, and you could like hear my smile as I was speaking. But it was great. I love inviting people I love to come closer to Christ! It's the best!! It makes me soooo happy!
Ok, well I'm gonna cut off here, cause I wanna send some pics, but I love you all!! Thanks! Pray for my companion! And the people of New Caledonia!
L'evangile est vrai!
Love, Soeur Santos
Crap. I don't remember what all these pics are.
One of them is me with Soeur Kailiponi. And then there's one with the 4 of us. Me, Soeur Kailiponi, Soeur Cuthbert and Soeur Lamb, one with me and the map. One with me and the New Caledonians. (5 of us.) And one with me in front of the temple. One with me in front of the puzzle Soeur Lamb and I did. And one with us in the hospital.
Ok bye!
Luh, Soeur Santos
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
September 25, 2012
Bonjour Ma Famille!
Week 2 at the MTC izzle. I'm working on pics, but this computer's not working, so maybs I'll hop on another one, or one more week. Sorry!
So first of all, the subject line. One of my comps writes facts in her journal, like list style instead of writing in paragraphs. So, this week, one of her facts was something to the effect of, "Soeur Santos gets so excited about the gospel that it sends her into fits of nasal hysteria." Or something like that... Now, for those of you that know me well, which is all of the fam, you know what she's talking about. My little scrunchy voice that occurs every time I get overly excited, ok fine, even mildly excited about something. And now my whole district knows about it. hah. And the Elders think it's hilarious so they make fun of me like no other. But it's fine. I live to bring joy to people's lives... hah.
This week has included, workout classes in the morning at 6am with Soeur Lamb, my first day of no letters in the MTC (last Thursday), teaching at least twice a day, my first TRC (teaching with a member), seeing Sister Wilson and Hermana Duchene ALL THE TIME, (Both of them are leaving. I know Hermana Duchene from Women's Chorus, and Sophie's off to Missouri TOMORROW!), playing sand volleyball with the Portuguese Elders (and getting my comps into it,) and a couple tragedies... Like my camera is currently on the blink, and I spilled bleach on two of my skirts. (You'd think after being at college for 3 years I'd be able to do laundry, but apparently not.) Sorry mom. Like I said in the letter I sent though, the nude one's fine, there's just a lighter spot on front, the brown one's pretty bad though.
Other highlights from the week. Elder Grigsby and I (who were having a bit of a rough patch last week) are now bffs! So I'm now best friends with everyone in my district. And the Portuguese Elders, and the french building. Which is super fun! I got a new teacher for French this week too! He's teaching with Frere Blosil. His name is Frere Sybrowsky, and HE'S IN MEN'S CHORUS! He told us the first day he taught that he had a concert at BYU that night, so I inquired as to which one and he said Choral Showcase. Weirdddd not being there for that, but it's fine. There's nowhere else I'd rather be! Also, I got to go to the Brigham City Temple Dedication on Sunday! That was cool with a large room full of mishs! And, on Sunday, I got a hug from Sister Wilson and she said it was from Sister OSORIO cause she got to see her on Saturday for the visiting center training field trip to Temple Square. I am sooooo jel.
Teaching moments of the week. I taught my first TRC with Soeur Kailiponi on Thursday, which was great! TRC's are where you talk to members. So we talked to a rm that went to Tahiti. His name was Brandon, and we talked to him slash discussed prayer with him for 40 mins! It was great! I was in heaven! A room with two basically fluent french speakers, and I was just trying to keep up, but it was great! I also continued teaching Katherine with Soeur K and we also taught Manuel. I was feeling a little frustrated while teaching with Soeur K this week, cause I wanted to talk more during lessons, but I could never think of what to say, so she ended up talking for most of it. But, we had a pretty cool conversation after one of the lessons we taught, I was expressing my frustration with my teaching and french, and she gave me this advice, which really hit home. She challenged me to open my mouth or "ouvre la bouche" during the lesson, and she said that as long as I plan and study faithfully before, I will be given utterance. And as she was saying that to me, I just knew that that was true! The Lord will help us, and will even give us utterance if we are prepared and if we have faith in Him. So that is what I've been working on for the latter half of this week. And since then, we've had the most balanced and great lesson together! Monday morning, teaching my district's new "ami de l'eglise" or investigator. Also, Friday night, the best lesson to date in the MTC occured. And this one was actually with Soeur Lamb and Soeur Cuthbert. We were teaching Sister Scott, a MTC teacher, and we were trying to practice committing her to baptism in the first lesson, cause that's been a goal of this week. But as we were teaching her and testifying to her that this was the only true church on the earth, that other churches and organizations had truth, but that the fullness of the truth was found in this gospel and the Book of Mormon, we bore testimony in our broken french, me first, and then Soeur Lamb, and the Spirit just TIDAL WAVED over the room. It was incredible. It strengthened my testimony that this work is not about perfect language skills, or perfect lesson plans. This work is the Lord's. And that fact greatly comforts me, because I am not perfect. Not even close. But I KNOW that if I am obedient and if I plan and prepare and do all I can, the Spirit can and will testify of the truthfulness of the words I say.
I am so grateful for this calling and mantle. I am so happy and joyful to be here! I played cello this morning and it was wonderful, but there is NOTHING better in this world than sharing the good news of the gospel with others! Than inviting and helping those around us come unto Christ. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to share the gospel with everyone around me. Pray for the people of New Caledonia pleaseee! I love them so much and I can't wait to get there. But until then, I will do everything in my power to prepare and to try and prepare and be obedient, so that the people can hear and recognize how familiar the gospel is.
I love you so much! Thanks for all your love and prayers! Family, I want to hear from you! (Dad, Mele, Kalei!) And Travis and Ben and Laura. I want to hear about your lives!
Love you all!
L'evangile est vrai!
Love, Soeur Santos
Week 2 at the MTC izzle. I'm working on pics, but this computer's not working, so maybs I'll hop on another one, or one more week. Sorry!
So first of all, the subject line. One of my comps writes facts in her journal, like list style instead of writing in paragraphs. So, this week, one of her facts was something to the effect of, "Soeur Santos gets so excited about the gospel that it sends her into fits of nasal hysteria." Or something like that... Now, for those of you that know me well, which is all of the fam, you know what she's talking about. My little scrunchy voice that occurs every time I get overly excited, ok fine, even mildly excited about something. And now my whole district knows about it. hah. And the Elders think it's hilarious so they make fun of me like no other. But it's fine. I live to bring joy to people's lives... hah.
This week has included, workout classes in the morning at 6am with Soeur Lamb, my first day of no letters in the MTC (last Thursday), teaching at least twice a day, my first TRC (teaching with a member), seeing Sister Wilson and Hermana Duchene ALL THE TIME, (Both of them are leaving. I know Hermana Duchene from Women's Chorus, and Sophie's off to Missouri TOMORROW!), playing sand volleyball with the Portuguese Elders (and getting my comps into it,) and a couple tragedies... Like my camera is currently on the blink, and I spilled bleach on two of my skirts. (You'd think after being at college for 3 years I'd be able to do laundry, but apparently not.) Sorry mom. Like I said in the letter I sent though, the nude one's fine, there's just a lighter spot on front, the brown one's pretty bad though.
Other highlights from the week. Elder Grigsby and I (who were having a bit of a rough patch last week) are now bffs! So I'm now best friends with everyone in my district. And the Portuguese Elders, and the french building. Which is super fun! I got a new teacher for French this week too! He's teaching with Frere Blosil. His name is Frere Sybrowsky, and HE'S IN MEN'S CHORUS! He told us the first day he taught that he had a concert at BYU that night, so I inquired as to which one and he said Choral Showcase. Weirdddd not being there for that, but it's fine. There's nowhere else I'd rather be! Also, I got to go to the Brigham City Temple Dedication on Sunday! That was cool with a large room full of mishs! And, on Sunday, I got a hug from Sister Wilson and she said it was from Sister OSORIO cause she got to see her on Saturday for the visiting center training field trip to Temple Square. I am sooooo jel.
Teaching moments of the week. I taught my first TRC with Soeur Kailiponi on Thursday, which was great! TRC's are where you talk to members. So we talked to a rm that went to Tahiti. His name was Brandon, and we talked to him slash discussed prayer with him for 40 mins! It was great! I was in heaven! A room with two basically fluent french speakers, and I was just trying to keep up, but it was great! I also continued teaching Katherine with Soeur K and we also taught Manuel. I was feeling a little frustrated while teaching with Soeur K this week, cause I wanted to talk more during lessons, but I could never think of what to say, so she ended up talking for most of it. But, we had a pretty cool conversation after one of the lessons we taught, I was expressing my frustration with my teaching and french, and she gave me this advice, which really hit home. She challenged me to open my mouth or "ouvre la bouche" during the lesson, and she said that as long as I plan and study faithfully before, I will be given utterance. And as she was saying that to me, I just knew that that was true! The Lord will help us, and will even give us utterance if we are prepared and if we have faith in Him. So that is what I've been working on for the latter half of this week. And since then, we've had the most balanced and great lesson together! Monday morning, teaching my district's new "ami de l'eglise" or investigator. Also, Friday night, the best lesson to date in the MTC occured. And this one was actually with Soeur Lamb and Soeur Cuthbert. We were teaching Sister Scott, a MTC teacher, and we were trying to practice committing her to baptism in the first lesson, cause that's been a goal of this week. But as we were teaching her and testifying to her that this was the only true church on the earth, that other churches and organizations had truth, but that the fullness of the truth was found in this gospel and the Book of Mormon, we bore testimony in our broken french, me first, and then Soeur Lamb, and the Spirit just TIDAL WAVED over the room. It was incredible. It strengthened my testimony that this work is not about perfect language skills, or perfect lesson plans. This work is the Lord's. And that fact greatly comforts me, because I am not perfect. Not even close. But I KNOW that if I am obedient and if I plan and prepare and do all I can, the Spirit can and will testify of the truthfulness of the words I say.
I am so grateful for this calling and mantle. I am so happy and joyful to be here! I played cello this morning and it was wonderful, but there is NOTHING better in this world than sharing the good news of the gospel with others! Than inviting and helping those around us come unto Christ. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to share the gospel with everyone around me. Pray for the people of New Caledonia pleaseee! I love them so much and I can't wait to get there. But until then, I will do everything in my power to prepare and to try and prepare and be obedient, so that the people can hear and recognize how familiar the gospel is.
I love you so much! Thanks for all your love and prayers! Family, I want to hear from you! (Dad, Mele, Kalei!) And Travis and Ben and Laura. I want to hear about your lives!
Love you all!
L'evangile est vrai!
Love, Soeur Santos
Friday, September 21, 2012
September 18, 2012
Ma chere famille!!
Je suis un missionaire pour l'Eglise de Jesus-Christ des saints des derniers jours!!
And I have never been happier.
Ok. So this week. I wrote a list down in my planner so that I could remember the highlights, but I didn't do it til this morning, so hopefully some of this will make sense. I'll try and take more consistent notes throughout the week for next week.
It's been a whirlwind of a week, and I have felt almost every level of every emotion, but I am so happy to be here. It honestly does feel like a dream some days, cause I just can't believe that I'm here! But I am! And I am very content. So lets see. To start off, day one. You get into the MTC, get your tag, do all that jazz, (I SAW SISTER WILSON FIRST THING CAUSE WEDNESDAY'S HER P-DAY AND SHE INTERCEPTED ME, THE BEST!), and then they throw you into language class. All french. No English whatsoever. Lucky for me, I understood it all, thanks to my previous, and very recent french classes. However, everyone else seemed pretty overwhelmed. Then. That evening, you get your first teaching opportunity. And that's the part that freaked me out. I don't know how to teach. (I also don't know french church vocab very well, but reading the Livre did help...) Anyways, that night, I get down on my knees, and ask Heavenly Father to, yes, help me with the language, but mostly, to help me learn how to teach with the Spirit as my constant companion so that I can teach with power and authority! (Like Alma and the S.o.M.) So here's what happens.
The next day, Thursday, we meet our real french teacher, qui s'appelle Frere Blosil, and he testifies, along with Soeur Cutler (our first day teacher,) that we have been called of God to teach and preach the gospel to the people in the places we are going. That really hit home. I have been called and set apart as a missionary for the Savior's true church on earth!! How incredible is that?! I am a representative of the Savior! And mon objectif, en francais, is to "inviter les gens a aller au Christ en les aidant a recevoir l'Evangile retabli par la foi en Jesus-Christ et en son expiation, par le repentir, par le bapteme, par le reception du don du Saint-Esprit, et par la perserverance, jusqu'a la fin!" (memorized that on Thursday!!) There is power in this mantle and calling. So even though, I am just me, Pono Santos, an imperfect being, I KNOW that I have been called of God and that as long as I always have the spirit with me and am obedient, I can do whatever the Lord wants me to do. I can invite people to come unto Christ, and the Spirit can testify, through my imperfect french, that what I am saying is true. Also, quote. "Obedience brings blessings, perfect obedience brings miracles." They reeeeeeaaally stress the white Bible at the start of the MTC (the handbook.) It's important to be obedience. And I want miracles! So I am trying my best to be perfectly obedient.
Friday, the jokes about me being district leader started. hah. It's just cause I know french. Everyone thinks I'm so smart. And it's annoying at times, cause I'm really not... But I am doing my best to try and help my companions and district learn with what I do know. I've gained a lot of Gospel vocabulary in this last week though! Which I am VERY grateful for. Cause I LOVE praying in french. AND testifying in French. It's just so exciting!! There is nothing better. It may be my new fave activity... (More than donating blood even!) My district! Soeur Cuthbert, Soeur Lamb, (my kind of comps... more on that later,) and Elder Grigsby (D.L.), Elder Bledsoe, and Elder Fletcher. So it's small. Which I love. 2 trios. We are already bffs. The girls are all going to new cal, and the boys, Elder Bledsoe and Fletcher are going to D.C. South French speaking, and Elder Grigsby's going to Halifax, CANADA (Where Maia's from!! and Paul, another cello studio friend is serving! We also taught our first lesson on Friday! en francais! to Chris! It actually went pretty well! And the spirit was there! I LOVE teaching in french! now I just needa learn how to!
Saturday the fun started. Careful what you pray for, cause Heavenly Father answers... So remember how I was praying to learn how to teach?! Well, my teacher pulled me outta class on Sat and Soeur Kailiponi was there with him (my other roomate who's also going to New Cal, but who leaves in 2 weeks. And Frere Blosil was like, "Soeur Kailiponi's leaving in 2 weeks and she's a solo sister, so she needs to practice teaching with a girl! Wanna teach with her?!" So, we taught a lesson later that day, after My trio taught Chris. We taught Katherine. But here's the thing. Soeur K can actually SPEAK french. So that was quite the experience! Our first lesson teaching Katherine actually went pertty well though. I spoke for some of it even!! The Spirit was there. It was incredible. Words were coming outta my mouth that I didn't even know I knew. The gift of tounges is real!!
And Sunday, we found out that we were comps. So now I kinda hang out with all three of them. Cause me and Soeur K are in different districts. But we teach together still. So I'm getting in twice as much teaching! Which is actually great. Though humbling. I am grateful though. Someone also played cello on Sunday. hah. I cried. But then I got a wake up call and watched the character of Christ by Elder Bednar. Great talk. Watch it if you get the chance. It talks about turning out. towards others, instead of turning inward. Especially when things are tough. So that is my new goal! Turning out. Cause, quite frankly, this mish isn't about me. It's about the people. And I needa get that into my head.
I got letters everyday this week! Merci a tous! (Mom, Amber, Becs, J-Dawg, Case, et Elder Woodward.) Dad! Pup! errbod else!
Everyone, use dear elder or handwrite please! I only have 30 mins on the comp.
I taught twice again yesterday! And I love it.
And Tuesdays are p-days. Gotta go to the temple, and I'm doing laundry and writing letters.
I'm outta time, so I gotta bounce, but I love you all!
This church is TRUE!! Oh man, I love it so much. Read the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11. It's incredible. And the intro. If you read and pray about the book with a sincere heart and real intent, you WILL know of it's truthfulness. I know this to be true. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Thanks for your love and prayers. Know that I am praying for you!
Love, Soeur Santos
Je suis un missionaire pour l'Eglise de Jesus-Christ des saints des derniers jours!!
And I have never been happier.
Ok. So this week. I wrote a list down in my planner so that I could remember the highlights, but I didn't do it til this morning, so hopefully some of this will make sense. I'll try and take more consistent notes throughout the week for next week.
It's been a whirlwind of a week, and I have felt almost every level of every emotion, but I am so happy to be here. It honestly does feel like a dream some days, cause I just can't believe that I'm here! But I am! And I am very content. So lets see. To start off, day one. You get into the MTC, get your tag, do all that jazz, (I SAW SISTER WILSON FIRST THING CAUSE WEDNESDAY'S HER P-DAY AND SHE INTERCEPTED ME, THE BEST!), and then they throw you into language class. All french. No English whatsoever. Lucky for me, I understood it all, thanks to my previous, and very recent french classes. However, everyone else seemed pretty overwhelmed. Then. That evening, you get your first teaching opportunity. And that's the part that freaked me out. I don't know how to teach. (I also don't know french church vocab very well, but reading the Livre did help...) Anyways, that night, I get down on my knees, and ask Heavenly Father to, yes, help me with the language, but mostly, to help me learn how to teach with the Spirit as my constant companion so that I can teach with power and authority! (Like Alma and the S.o.M.) So here's what happens.
The next day, Thursday, we meet our real french teacher, qui s'appelle Frere Blosil, and he testifies, along with Soeur Cutler (our first day teacher,) that we have been called of God to teach and preach the gospel to the people in the places we are going. That really hit home. I have been called and set apart as a missionary for the Savior's true church on earth!! How incredible is that?! I am a representative of the Savior! And mon objectif, en francais, is to "inviter les gens a aller au Christ en les aidant a recevoir l'Evangile retabli par la foi en Jesus-Christ et en son expiation, par le repentir, par le bapteme, par le reception du don du Saint-Esprit, et par la perserverance, jusqu'a la fin!" (memorized that on Thursday!!) There is power in this mantle and calling. So even though, I am just me, Pono Santos, an imperfect being, I KNOW that I have been called of God and that as long as I always have the spirit with me and am obedient, I can do whatever the Lord wants me to do. I can invite people to come unto Christ, and the Spirit can testify, through my imperfect french, that what I am saying is true. Also, quote. "Obedience brings blessings, perfect obedience brings miracles." They reeeeeeaaally stress the white Bible at the start of the MTC (the handbook.) It's important to be obedience. And I want miracles! So I am trying my best to be perfectly obedient.
Friday, the jokes about me being district leader started. hah. It's just cause I know french. Everyone thinks I'm so smart. And it's annoying at times, cause I'm really not... But I am doing my best to try and help my companions and district learn with what I do know. I've gained a lot of Gospel vocabulary in this last week though! Which I am VERY grateful for. Cause I LOVE praying in french. AND testifying in French. It's just so exciting!! There is nothing better. It may be my new fave activity... (More than donating blood even!) My district! Soeur Cuthbert, Soeur Lamb, (my kind of comps... more on that later,) and Elder Grigsby (D.L.), Elder Bledsoe, and Elder Fletcher. So it's small. Which I love. 2 trios. We are already bffs. The girls are all going to new cal, and the boys, Elder Bledsoe and Fletcher are going to D.C. South French speaking, and Elder Grigsby's going to Halifax, CANADA (Where Maia's from!! and Paul, another cello studio friend is serving! We also taught our first lesson on Friday! en francais! to Chris! It actually went pretty well! And the spirit was there! I LOVE teaching in french! now I just needa learn how to!
Saturday the fun started. Careful what you pray for, cause Heavenly Father answers... So remember how I was praying to learn how to teach?! Well, my teacher pulled me outta class on Sat and Soeur Kailiponi was there with him (my other roomate who's also going to New Cal, but who leaves in 2 weeks. And Frere Blosil was like, "Soeur Kailiponi's leaving in 2 weeks and she's a solo sister, so she needs to practice teaching with a girl! Wanna teach with her?!" So, we taught a lesson later that day, after My trio taught Chris. We taught Katherine. But here's the thing. Soeur K can actually SPEAK french. So that was quite the experience! Our first lesson teaching Katherine actually went pertty well though. I spoke for some of it even!! The Spirit was there. It was incredible. Words were coming outta my mouth that I didn't even know I knew. The gift of tounges is real!!
And Sunday, we found out that we were comps. So now I kinda hang out with all three of them. Cause me and Soeur K are in different districts. But we teach together still. So I'm getting in twice as much teaching! Which is actually great. Though humbling. I am grateful though. Someone also played cello on Sunday. hah. I cried. But then I got a wake up call and watched the character of Christ by Elder Bednar. Great talk. Watch it if you get the chance. It talks about turning out. towards others, instead of turning inward. Especially when things are tough. So that is my new goal! Turning out. Cause, quite frankly, this mish isn't about me. It's about the people. And I needa get that into my head.
I got letters everyday this week! Merci a tous! (Mom, Amber, Becs, J-Dawg, Case, et Elder Woodward.) Dad! Pup! errbod else!
Everyone, use dear elder or handwrite please! I only have 30 mins on the comp.
I taught twice again yesterday! And I love it.
And Tuesdays are p-days. Gotta go to the temple, and I'm doing laundry and writing letters.
I'm outta time, so I gotta bounce, but I love you all!
This church is TRUE!! Oh man, I love it so much. Read the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11. It's incredible. And the intro. If you read and pray about the book with a sincere heart and real intent, you WILL know of it's truthfulness. I know this to be true. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Thanks for your love and prayers. Know that I am praying for you!
Love, Soeur Santos
Contacting Sister Santos
Visit this link to get Sister Santos' current address.
Sister Pono Santos
Soeur Pono Santos
Bureau de la mission
BP 15 154
98804 Noumea Cedex
Nouvelle Caledonie
Just a heads up. We've heard that some postal office workers are idiots and will send the mail back if you don't write the country in English. All my stuff has been received just fine with the country in French, but just in case, you may want to write New Caledonia in parentheses after Nouvelle Caledonie.
Email: pono.santos@myldsmail.net
Bureau de la mission
BP 15 154
98804 Noumea Cedex
Nouvelle Caledonie
Just a heads up. We've heard that some postal office workers are idiots and will send the mail back if you don't write the country in English. All my stuff has been received just fine with the country in French, but just in case, you may want to write New Caledonia in parentheses after Nouvelle Caledonie.
Email: pono.santos@myldsmail.net
Off She Goes!
Well, Sister Santos officially reported to the MTC on Sept 12. I am Megan, her sister-in-law, and I will be in charge of keeping everyone updated on Pono's mission while she is away. Visit this blog to see her latest emails, pictures, and to find her current address. For those who may not follow her on facebook here was her final message (via her brother):
"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished,
and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."
Sister Pono Santos
MTC Mailbox #219
VAN-PV 1113
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
This is also in my info, and I'll (not me, see above) put my mission field address up later.
Write me (her)!! Thanks for all your love and support.
The Church is True!
Sister Pono Santos
MTC Mailbox #219
VAN-PV 1113
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793
This is also in my info, and I'll (not me, see above) put my mission field address up later.
Write me (her)!! Thanks for all your love and support.
The Church is True!
Pono was beyond excited to leave. She actually squeaked in the car as we got close to the MTC because she couldn't hold it in. I was so amazed at the fact that she honestly wasn't nervous at all. She will be an amazing missionary and we look forward to hearing all of her experiences. I will post an announcement on her facebook page whenever there is something new to read.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)