This week was so amazing! It's been so great being companions with Hermana Jensen because we both finally have the opportunity to just teach and follow the spirit in the lessons. It's sometimes hard to get a word in when your companion doesn't completely trust your Spanish but now it's a necessity to just talk and answer every question that comes your way.
This week we met and taught amazing people with sincere desires to search and find the answers to their questions and we just so happened to have all the answers they were looking for! We met Jonathon this week who lived for 14 years in the United States so he wanted to talk to us only in English. It was such a weird lesson because Hna Jensen and I are so used to talking in Spanish and especially teaching in Spanish that it was actually really, really hard for us to do so. Jonathon had a near death experience a few years ago and now he is on a search for the truth. He changed his life and starting looking for the true church. He went to EVERY church you could imagine...except the true one. Haha He was really excited to see us because he said that he was thinking about how he had never investigated the Mormon church when two Mormon Missionaries walked by. Jonathon has SO many questions but it was amazing for me to see and feel that to every question he had, we had an answer! He was so curious that at the end of the lesson I ended up just giving him the folletos for Restoration, Plan of Salvation and Gospel of Jesus Christ because he needed all three! And he is really excited to read the Book of Mormon. Thursday this week we went to Veracruz again! I can't go a week without going back there haha But this week it was to say goodbye to Presidente Treviño. We had a conference with him and his family and it was so sad! He has been such a great Mission President and it's honestly a little scary to think about getting a new one but I know it's definitely time for change here in this mission and I'm excited to see what kind of changes Presidente Cordova brings. The conference was amazing and I've learned so much from President and Hermana Treviño in the last 5 months. They have honestly been like parents to us in the mission and everyone is going to miss them so much! After we got back from Veracruz on Thursday Hermana Tonita from the ward called me and asked if we could come to a FHE with her and her husband and her husbands cousin and his wife. We headed right over and had a great lession with Jose and Isabel about the Book of Mormon! Jose told us that a month ago he started listening to the Elders and they only came over about twice because he just didn't have much interest. But he told us he's changed his mind and invited us over to meet his son and his daughter and teach his whole family! (The power of Sister Missionaries! haha) So Saturday night we went over and met his son and daughter who are 15 and 21. They both know really good English so their parents wanted us to all talk in English which lasted for about 5 minutes haha It's so funny how much everyone LOVES to practice their English with us. The lesson was amazing! We taught them about the Restoration and Jose has a lot of questions but they all felt the spirit so strongly when we talked about Joseph Smith and their family is really excited for us to come over again! The power of Member referrals too! This week we receieved so many referrals and it's so amazing to have the support of the members in this way! Saturday we also had the by far best lession I've ever had on the mission too. On wednesday we were walking to an investigatores house on a street we always walk on. He wasn't home so we felt impressed to keep walking down the street and contact further. We always turn around at a certain point but this day we just felt the spirit pulling us down the street. And we found absolutely no on! We aren't allowed to knock on doors so we were seriously wondering why we were so lead by the spirit to this area when a girl named Mayra and her friend left their house and started talking outside. We both immediately went over and started talking to them and they invited us back on Saturday but they hardly had any interest. Saturday we were walking to go visit them when I thought "They aren't even interested! We should just go try and find this other investigator that lives near by" When suddenly that same spirit came over me and so we pressed on to visit Mayra. We walked past their house and there was what looked like to be a party going on. So many people talking and doing things in their little patio area. We walked up and asked if Mayra was home and they all told us no and asked why we were there. We told them that we were missionaries and that we had talked to Mayra and she had invited us back to share a message about Jesus Christ with her. The Sanchez family immediately pulled us up chairs and the Mom called all her grandchildren over to listen to us. It was about 15 people in total (counting the 9 little kids) And we started talking about Eternal Families and about the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. They all were crying and it was so emotional! The mom, Antonia told us that she NEVER listens to missionaries or people when they come by but she just felt such a necessity to listen to us. It was such an amazing lesson and at the end we invited them all to baptism and Antonia told us YES! But that she needs to invite the rest of her family to come and listen to us. It was such a wonderful lession and the spirit was so strong. At the end Jaqueline one of the daughters of Antonia prayed and it was the most heartfelt prayer I think I've ever heard. At the end of it everyone was crying. I love moments like this that make you just realize how blessed you are to be a missionary and bring and invite this peace, joy and Spirit of the gospel into people's lives! It's a feeling unlike any other! Sunday Misael was confirmed and he later asked us what he needs to do to be a missionary in 2 years! It was such an amazing week with so many rewarding moments! I wouldn't change my time here as a missionary for anything! My testimony of the gospel grows so much each and every day. This week was definitaly a rollercoaster! Monday we were in Veracruz and went to the doctor after our internet time and then headed back to Costa Verde to spend the night. We got word from the Asistents that I would be heading back to the area but with Hna Jensen. Yeah, Hna Jensen! We were in the MTC together and then we both served in Costa Verde with different companions. We headed to Nogales in the morning at 530 and then started working! It's a little different having a companion from the United States on the same Spanish level as you haha It's definately an adventure with a lot of really, really weird looks. I was so excited to be able to work in my area again! I missed working in Nogales and I worry so much about our investigators! Wednesday morning we had divisions! It was really weird having divisions in Divisions but was also a great day and I had a lot of fun with Hermana De Orbe. She is so great with a lot of passion for the work and such a genuine desire to serve. She asked me "What do you want my help with?!" and I told her we need new investigators! And we then met and taught 3 new people in the day. It was great! This week we had a baptism! Misael is a youth that we have been teaching that is just a golden investigator. He comes to church every week and never has any problems with any of the commandments or anything. Hna Cruz talked to President and got permission for him to be baptized with 4 asistencias in la iglesia instead of the rule of 5. He was so excited when we talked to him about the possibility of him pushing his baptism up a week and when we visited him the next day he was in Alma 61! He read from 1 Nephi to the end of Alma in two days! He is seriously such an example of someone who is waiting and wanting the truth. Saturday Misael had his baptismal interview in the church at 330. We had our lunch appointment with a ward family at 230 so after we were running to get to the church at 330 but we ran into a train and had to wait 20 minutes for it to pass. After we ran to our apartment for his cedulla and than basically ran to the church to meet the District Leader and Misael. Misael invited his sister, brother and his cousin to the baptism and it was so great to have some of his non member family there. They went to church with us and all the classes and then went to his baptism which was after church. Samuel, the bishops son was the one who baptized him. On thursday we had a lesson with Misael in the church and Samuel was able to come with us and after we talked about how Samuel had the priesthood and could baptize him. It was so good to get some of the Young Men involved! Another youth who received his mission call yesterday was able to give a talk and it was just a great to have some of the YM involved in his baptism. Friday in the afternoon Hna Cruz came back to Nogales. She was with us for three days for the baptism and then today in the morning she went home 2 weeks early because she just wasn't getting any better with her health. It was really sad for her to have to go home but was such a great way to end her mission! With a baptism! Misael was excited that she could be there too. I know that it was the right choice for her to go home so that she can get the rest and care that she really needs but I am also sad we wont get more time together. She was a great companion and I learned so much from her! I love being companions with Hna Jensen! It's so fun and together we are so obediente and diligent in our work. It's definately a blessing with it's challenges. It's so crazy being with someone who knows the same amount of spanish as me but It's pushing us to learn more and also pushing us to talk in Spanish ALL the time (So hard haha) But I feel so blessed and so happy and I'm excited that we are oging to have two more weeks together! Hermana Terry :) Hna De Orbe, Hna Zarate, Hna Jensen and me Misael's family, Samuel, Misael, Me, Hna Cruz and Hna Jensen
in to by cigarettes and Hna Cruz started talking to him about the WoW and Martin started talking about how he had asked Misael about us because he's really curious about what we believe. We than started teaching about the Gospel and Misael was testifying and supporting us - it was almost a lesson with a member only Misael's not a member yet! And then Martin started asking us if he could be a missionary - It was such a great moment! Another bright spot this week was when I was able to go on Divisions with one of the youth in the ward named Claudia. She was so excited to be a missionary and visit investigators with me. And then we went to the Mutual after where they were making some sort of treat. It was a lot of fun! Saturday night Hna Cruz called Hna Trevino to tell her that she's still got this pain in her stomache and the Doctor here in Veracruz is super worried about it so once again we're back in the Port! I don't know if we'll be here for one day or a week or if I'm going to head back today with a new companion but whatever happens I'm here for the ride! haha I'm learning sometimes you just have to come what may and love it. The bright side of not being able to work that much this week was that I finally got my conference issue of the Liahona and I've been reading and studying all the talks! I especially love the Following Up talk by Elder Ballard. I loved it when I heard it but I love it even more reading it. I especially liked when he talked about how all members should be reading and studying Preach My Gospel and how great it would be if they were sharing with their missionaries what they learned from their study of PMG. So I challenge all of you to do that this week. Read this talk by Elder Ballard, study PMG and then share what you learn with me ;) Sorry this week is short and without pictures! We're writting in a little internet cafe before going to the Doctor later...Next week I hope to have more to write about with tons of fun pictures! Hermana Terry Well I just survived a really crazy, crazy week! Sunday we couldn't work at all because my companion is really sick, and Monday it got worse. It's a problem that she's had for about 3 months and when we called President's wife Monday in the late afternoon she told us to pack and head to Veracruz. So we packed and headed to first have her get a blessing from a member in the ward and then he drove us to Orizaba to get tickets and head out on the bus. We got to the bus station ADO but the next bus for Veracruz wasn't until 10:30 at night so we ended up sleeping with the Sister Training Leaders in their house to head to Veracruz early in the morning. They only had two beds so Hna Cruz slept on the floor with a bunch of blankets for padding and the three of us slept with the two beds pushed together. It was honestly one of the worst nights of sleep in my life... I was so cold because one of the Hermanas stole all the blankets and squished with hardly any space. It was definitely a night to remember...But in the morning we headed to Veracruz at 6.00 and then went straight to the Hospital. We were in Veracruz for all of Tuesday and Wednesday with different doctor appointments. It was so weird too because we stayed in Costa Verde! With Hermana Jensen and her two companions. We couldn't work or do anything which was really frustrating but Wednesday night one of the Hermanas in the trio wasn't feeling well so she stayed with Hna Cruz and I got to go work with the Hnas of Costa Verde! It was so fun to work with Hermana Jensen and Hna Guani! They are such fun girls and I actually loved being in a trio for a few hours. Near the end of the night Hermana Guani saw someone working outside his house and she went to contact them. They just so happen to live right next door to a recent Convert named Jenny that I had visited a few times with Hna Acevedo. When we headed to contact this guy Jenny saw us walking up and thought we were coming to talk to her. Hna Jensen and Hna Guani had no idea so they started contacting this guy and I ended up talking to Jenny for awhile. It was a funny moment haha Then Wednesday night we got the word that Hna Cruz had another appointment for Monday (today) in the morning so Hna Guani and I headed to Nogales Thursday in the morning to work with our investigators. Nogales is the area that Hna Guani was in right before transfers so it only made sense for her to come with me to work in the area! And thus began maybe the best days of my mission so far! It was so amazing working with Hermana Guani! She has 3 months in the mission so she's super excited and animated in the lessons and is just a really great missionary. And she has perfect english which helped so much to ask her any word in english and have her give me the word in spanish. I progressed so much in the past few days working with her and I really hope that we can work together in the future!! But tomorrow we are going to swap companions and Hermana Cruz is going to come back to Nogales! It's definitely been a crazy week but a great one as well. The absolute BEST moment this week was in a lesson with Misael. Misael is an investigator that we contacted last week and invited to the Conference and he came! Then this week we could only meet with him once with all the crazy things going on and we taught him the Restoration. When I started teaching about Joseph Smith I asked Misael, "Misael, have you ever wondered what church is the true church like Joseph Smith?" and he answered "Yes." And I asked if he had ever received and answer and he answered yes again. And then he changed the subject a little which worried me and Hna Guani a lot. We were thinking...Oh no, he probably thinks the Jehova Witnesses is the true church or something. So I asked him. "What church was your answer?" and then started ....Santos...Ultimos.... And Hna Guani and I freaked out hahaha "La Iglesia de Jesu Cristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias??!!" And he replied that yes! It was such a crazy moment and so amazing that just by going to the Stake Conference and the two times that we've visited him he could recieve an answer that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church. And he came to church yesterday all on his own too. It's so amazing being a missionary and preaching the gospel and sharing the truth. And those moments of success are moments I will cherish for eternity. And today we went hiking! In the beautiful mountains of Nogales. I love being here in this amazing part of Mexico, This beautiful world that God has created! We went with Hermano Charlie and his wife Gladys and the Hermanas in our district that serve in the next town. It was so amazing! I feel so blessed to be here in Nogales with amazing ward members in hermoso Mexico. Hermana Terry Hermana Guani and me! Hermana Jimenez, Hermana Guani, Me and Hermana Call With Hermana Cruz at the Hospital. Well I've survived my first transfer in the mission! It honestly was so hard saying goodbye to Hermana Acevedo and saying goodbye to Costa Verde but I'm so excited to be in a different area and have the opportunity to meet new people! Monday night before transfers we had a FHE with basically the whole ward with a huge cake. I don't know if I've ever felt so loved to have all these people who I just met three months ago so emotional about me leaving the area. Tuesday morning we got up and went to the bus station where I headed off to Nogales Orizaba which is about 2 hours from Veracruz, Veracruz and is the coldest area in the mission. We visited a family in the ward my first night and the first thing they said was "President Trevino must love you to send you here!" And I really think it's true haha It's such a blessing to be away from the hot humid Port and here in Orizaba. It's hotter in Kanab right now than it is here! Although the sun is still strong, I somehow have worse sunburns here then in Veracruz! And every night it rains which might take some time to get used to haha. I've only been here less than a week but I'm already in love with the ward. The ward is a lot bigger than Costa Verde and all the members we've visited are amazing. Especially the Charlie Family! haha They are the craziest family I've ever met with three boys 10, 13, and 15 and they are all so funny and crazy! This week was stake conference. Yesterday was so great, we had 7 investigators there which is amazing, haha People never want to go to church on sundays but this week we were able to get a lot there! I'm so excited about the work here! There are so many amazing people waiting and ready for the gospel here in Nogales. The conference was so great! Especially the musical number by the choir - My Shepherd Will Supply My Need only in spanish haha It was such a great day! Hermana Terry The view from my apartment which is on the 5th floor! (not fun) And Hermana Call, Hna Cruz (My companion!) Hna Jimenez and Me after stake conference!
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My name is McKenna Terry and I have been called to the Mexico Veracruz Mission. These are my stories. Hermana McKenna Terry
[email protected] Hermana McKenna Terry
Mexico Veracruz Mission Calle Altamirano #27 Entre 1 de Mayo y Carranza Col. Flores Magon Veracruz, Ver 91700 Mexico Archives
July 2015
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