I'm Coming Home

My miracle - la familia Vasquez

Friends

worn out and used up

SO tired


Querida familia.

Wow... it doesn`t even feel real. Time passes so quickly and so perfectly, just as the Lord would have it. Right now it is as if half of my heart is so happy and grateful and excited- and the other half is breaking and can´t even breath or stand the thought of leaving. But I have peace. And that is what matters.

This week was incredible. I feel like my eyes were opened a little bit more to be able to see how the Lord really is in each and every single detail of our lives. Saturday was so great. We were running around all morning visiting different people and then I got a phone call from some missionaries in Huehue. They just asked if I remember someone that I had taught there named Jason... I said yes and then they said ¨listen!¨ and help the phone up to the faucet in the baptismal font. I heard the water filling the font and almost shouted for joy in the road! He was baptized this weekend. La familia Vasquez was also baptized on Saturday night and it was so so special. They are precious and exactly where they need to be. The Lord will help them stay faithful and active. On Sunday, I could not help but be overwhelmed with joy as each of them was confirmed and than as I sat in the meeting, surrounded by la familia Polio, David, Esmeralda, la familia Vasquez, and so many other people that I have known and loved here. The bishopric asked me to share my testimony and then Hermana Cordova and I sang ¨We´ll Bring the World His Truth¨ with the missionaries from the other ward. Everyone was bawling and the Spirit was so strong. 

During the Sacrament I just said a prayer and tried to really focus on the Savior and hear his voice. Towards the end I asked ¨Father, did I do all that Thou didst send me to do?¨ I heard a voice so clear and perfect in my head say ¨Yes, be at peace.¨ From that moment on I have no been able to keep the smile off my face. I love my Father in Heaven.

   

1 Nephi 9:6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen. 

I am a living witness of that. He prepared a way each and every day of my life so that I could come here and fulfill His righteous purposes and plan for me. And He will keep doing that for all of us.

I am honored to say that I was a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It really is just a thrilling experience. Talking to everyone in the street, planning how to help people grow and progress, going on divisions, zone meetings, p-days, lessons with members, teaching about the Book of Mormon, answering people questions, teaching people how to bring about a family night, kneeling together and praying, receiving revelation, following the Spirit, finding new people... it is so fun! I love missionary work. And I cannot wait to see what new opportunities the Lord has prepared for me at home. I want to share the gospel with everyone for the rest of my life. The process of conversion truly is precious and incredible to watch. For those who really are seeking the truth, it is as Lehi saw in his vision of the Tree of Life-

 1 Nephi 8:30 ...he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.

They just kind of catch hold of it all. The doctrine makes sense and they want to keep commitments and it just all falls into place. And at the end, we are all there together, falling down at the feet of the Savior- because of spiritual exhaustion, hard work, trials and sicknesses, temptations... whatever it may be- just to be able to partake of that precious fruit of the tree. Oh how I love that fruit. And I want to share that fruit with all those around me. Missions help us to keep the 2 greatest commandments of loving God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength- and loving our neighbor as ourselves. My companions are precious to me. I adore each and everyone of them and I am so so so grateful for all that they have taught me. I am eternally indebted to each of those angels.

As Nephi said, I don´t know all things and I still have a lot to do and become, but I know that the Lord loveth His children and He that takes care of us. I still haven`t changed and become all that I want to, but I have learned what I want to change and how I can do it. And more than learning Spanish, I have learned the precious language of the Spirit. More than living in another country, I have tried to live in obedience. More than spending time with people, I have tried to spend time with the Savior. I am still trying to talk to everyone that I see and follow the little impressions of the Spirit. Just this morning I talked to a lady on the bus that is so awesome and dating an inactive but returned missionary. She has never talked to missionaries but knows just where the chapel is and gave me all of her information to be able to give to the missionaries. And she even mentioned how she would like to go in the temple someday with her husband. So that is awesome. And then the zone leaders called me and said that a man I contacted in the bus forever ago and passed the reference to them is now there most positive investigator and went to church on Sunday. Miracles are all around us. They are so fun to watch come to pass. I love that about being a missionary. 

My interview this morning with President was so wonderful. We talked about all that I have learned and become, what my goals are for the future and how I can live all that I have taught as a member for the rest of forever. At the end he said a prayer and then looked at me, with tears in his eyes, and said ¨Heavenly Father is SO pleased with your work. In fact, He is thrilled. And so grateful for all you have done.¨

People ask me what I am most excited to do when I get home. After taking a 2 hour shower, rolling around on the carpet, and eating mom´s food... I truly think that I am most excited to just live the gospel with my family for the rest of my life. That is joy. That is peace. I just want to share a quote and a scripture that I love...

"The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.... Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come” (Hebrews 9:11)....Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever.¨ - Elder Holland (The Best Is Yet To Be)

26 And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.

 27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

I know that I am not dying, but those 2 references describe how marvelous the past is. but help me keep me faith in the future and remember that there are such wonderful experiences ahead. I love this gospel. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints truly is the kingdom of God here on the earth. I love the temple and want to honor the covenants that I have made within those sacred walls. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and that through the Restoration we have all the truths and ordinances necessary for our salvation. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is the iron rod that will lead us to that tree of everlasting and eternal life. Families really can be together forever. Jesus Christ lives. His Atonement is real. He can heal us and help us. Always.

I love you guys with all of my heart. Thank you for everything. We did it all together. I have done all that I can, and I am coming home to you.

Hermana Jane

I Never Want to Leave

Family Home Evening with the Vasquez family

My girl Cordovita

Best friends

Volleyball with the Zone

Mi hermosa, querida familia!

It has been a wonderful week. We have been sprinting around trying to help all the hermanas... there was a bunch of riots and protests and people going on strike here because the government is trying to change the corn crop... so the people got mad. But in the end, all the missionaries were safe. The scariest that happened is that some hermanas were chased by crazy people while the police threw bombs at the other people. haha wow. Welcome to my country. I love it here. I never want to leave. Remember that grateful poster that I put up freshman year in my apartment? (I think Amy was the one that gave my the idea. Thanks tia Amy...) Well I have started putting grateful posters in the houses of all the hermanas that I visit in divisions. It has really helped them look for the good and remember how much our Father in Heaven blesses us. Sometimes they complain a lot about not having water or good beds or stuff like that, but we can be happy no matter what we have. And it´s just better to laugh and make the best of your situation anyway, like Dad and Sister Hinckley always say. I want to be better at always having a positive attitude and for expressing gratitude for frequently.
 

A hard thing happened this week. My friend, Linda, passed away. She was a 19 year old member from the other ward, but a good friend of ours. She converted to the church about 3 years ago and has been nothing but a faithful, wonderful, powerful influence for good since she was baptized. Many people have found the truth of the gospel because of her righteous influence, example, and testimony. She had cancer and it just got to an unbearable point. We were teaching her grandma and her aunt that live in our area and aren´t members. Her aunt is called Esperanza and we went to visit Linda with her a few weeks ago to sing some hymns and lift her spirits. We sang ¨Nearer My God to Thee¨ and it was so beautiful. The spirit was so strong and Linda shared a great testimony, the best she could. After that, her family members weren´t progressing so we had to turn them back over to the Lord for a time and we hadn´t seen them in a while. We went back this last Wednesday just to check up on them and 5 minutes after we left the cita, they called us crying to say that Linda had passed away. It was so random and so sad. Obviously there was a reason that the Lord had sent us back there. The funeral was on Thursday and it was one of the most beautiful services that I have ever been to. I gained a real and powerful testimony in that meeting of the power of the Resurrection and the reality of the Spirit World. I teach those things almost daily but it was just different this time. I felt her so close to us. And then we sang ¨Nearer My God to Thee¨ to close the meeting and Esperanza just hugged me so so tight and long and cried as we remembered singing that with Linda.

We got home and I said a prayer kneeling by the metal front door and in it I said ¨Heavenly Father, take care of Linda and send her spirit here with us help us teach and bless her family members so that they will feel the truth of this message.¨ Right then the metal door blew open a little bit and chills filled my whole body. I know that angels are real. We went and taught Esperanza and she shared with us of a time that she was in the hospital with Linda in Guate and the temple president visited in the hospital and gave Linda a blessing. He asked Esperanza if she was a member of the church. She said no and he said ¨It will be an honor to have you as a member someday.¨ Linda then shared her whole conversion story and testimony with Esperanza and made her promise that she would be baptized once Linda passed away. Esperanza shared that story with us on Saturday and then asked what time church was on Sunday so that she could figure out what she was supposed to do. She is amazing. She came to all 3 hours and everyone loved her and she wants to keep coming and prepare to be baptized in the future. I love her so much. I love angels. I love our Father´s plan.
 

La famila Vasquez is so great. They are amazing. We tried to make handmade tortillas with them this week and it was so hard. But we were pretty good by the end. hahaha not. My hands are not like the chapinas and they just can´t quite stand the heat and the speed. But they are progressing so quickly and each time we teach a commandment they ask ¨So how I can fill out my own tithing slip and pay it?¨ ¨What can I drink instead of coffee so that I can let it go?¨ Just a lot of things like that. They love all the members and everyone is so excited about them and so nice. We are going to see if we can finish and prepare everything for this Saturday for their baptism. It is just really hard with their work schedule and other factors like transportation. But none of that matters. God has all power and can do all things according to His will. We are running and working and doing all we can to strengthen their faith and prepare them for this sacred step. We have faith in the Lord´s plan and in His timing.
 

Esmeralda (baptized a few months ago) is so great and filling out her family history chart to go to the temple and do all the baptisms. She is wonderful. La familia Polio are in El Salvador right now picking up their aunt that just flew in from the states to be with them for the holidays but they are so great, too. Hermana Xiomara says that best prayers in the whole world and always prayers that her family will continue faithful and be able to go to church together and partake of the sacrament. They are reading the Book of Mormon as a family and are working through 1 Nephi. It is really hard for them to read because nobody really went to school but you don´t need to graduate or know everything to be able to feel the Spirit.
 

Eric sent a talk to me awhile ago by Elder Maxwell and I reread a part a few times this week as I sought revelation concerning different investigators and hermanas in the zone.
 

¨While most of our suffering is self-inflicted, some is caused by or permitted by God. This sobering reality calls for deep submissiveness, especially when God does not remove the cup from us. In such circumstances, when reminded about the premortal shouting for joy as this life’s plan was unfolded (see Job 38:7), we can perhaps be pardoned if, in some moments, we wonder what all the shouting was about.

For the faithful, what finally emerges is an understanding of “things as they really are” (Jacob 4:13), such as the reassuring realization that we are in the Lord’s hands! But, brothers and sisters, we were never really anywhere else!¨

 

I know that that is true. We are never really anywhere else. We are in the Lord´s hands. His precious, wounded, careful hands. And I love being there. We have a great responsibilty as members of the church to be His hands and take this gospel to all the ends of the earth. We need to be missionaries always. I always think about how once we come to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ everything changes. We are able to love. We can forgive. We will change and become and progress. Joy will be found. And we can live with Him again. Devoted disciples, Fixed faithfulness. and Unselfish love. That is what this gospel is all about.
 

I am so not ready to give this all up, but I feel at peace. I still one whole week to give it all that I have and keep working hand in hand with the Lord. And then I have the rest of my life to live all that I have learned and keep sharing it with others. I am so happy. So truly happy.

You are in my prayers. I love you so much.
 

Hermana McGill

Faith

Hna C. - we laugh so hard

On splits - tiny bathroom

Don't fit

Familia.

Another precious week of the mission has come and gone. It is amazing how fast the time goes on the mission. Every day this week we have gathered in a different area of the zone to be able to contact everyone in the street, knock doors, and find new people in each of the areas. Our zone leaders are really focusing on unity in the zone and working together so it´s been fun to do that. We are going strong and trying to serve everyone. You just have to keep your spiritual eyes open and the Lord really does just put people in out path.
 

Jenifer has vanished a little bit because she has been sick and because her mom had a surgery. So that´s been hard.  She has been at the hospital a lot. But keep praying for her. Someday. La familia Fuentes is totally active now, reading the Book of Mormon all the time, and they have come 4 Sundays in a row! We are still teaching la familia Vasquez and they are progressing so well. We taught them all about the Plan of Salvation this week and it was such a special lesson. We started out by singing ¨Families Can Be Together Forever¨ and the Spirit was SO strong.
 

I have a fam'ly here on earth.

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.
 

While I am in my early years,

I'll prepare most carefully,

So I can marry in God's temple for eternity.
 

Fam'lies can be together forever

Through Heav'nly Father's plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.
 

Everyone felt it. The room was filled with peace as we started teaching about where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. The only thing is that in Spanish the second verse talks about doing all we can today to be worthy to stand before God. We talked about how it will be on judgment day and when we stand before Heavenly Father and how we will want to feel in that moment. We talked about the things that we have to do here on earth to be able to enter into Heavenly Father´s kingdom and live with Him forever. The kids were so into it and remembered everything that we taught. Before church on Sunday, we called a few families and asked if they could seek la familia Vasquez out and sit with them and invite them over for family night. They all came to church and all the members loved them. We ate the best lunch with our mission leader and their family yesterday and then we have another family night planned for tonight. In Relief Society the president just straight up asked Didiana (the mom) if they were all invited to her baptism on the 22nd and she got so bright red and said yes. Oh man... just keep praying for them, that they can keep being strong and strengthening their testimonies. They are so great!
 

We had a leaders meeting this week with President and it was so great. I led the hymns for the last time... haha now they will have to find a new designated leader to lead all the hymns from the ¨sealed portion of the hymnal¨ as Jen Bengtzen use to say. haha love that. But it was such an incredible meeting! They talked all about faith and how it is a real power in our lives. The zone leaders then called me late tuesday night to give a talk on wednesday morning in the zone meeting. So I got to study all of those things again and share a message on faith. I used Dad´s classic Indiana Jones example of the stepping stones... it really is cool how that works in our lives. A cita falls and we say ¨Heavenly Father, where should we go?¨ All of the sudden a street and a door comes into your mind and you just start walking and find wonderful people along the way. Or you don´t know exactly what to say to respond to someone´s question, so you say ¨Heavenly Father, what should I say?¨, and you see a scripture in your mind and turn right to it and it is perfect. I love how the Spirit works with us to help people. 
 

I love how Moroni says in chapter 10 ¨there must be faith¨. I testify that that is true. We must have faith. We develop that faith through coming to know Jesus Christ (John 17:3), being obedient (John 14:15,21), and sacrificing all that we have to Him and for His eternal purposes (3 Nephi 9:20-22). I love studying faith. I want to have more faith and live according to my beliefs. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I feel His power and influence with us each day. It truly is a precious and a priceless experience. Not much time to write because some hermanas just called and we got to run down to see them in Xela. Love you guys so much!

Hermana Jane

Ask. Seek. Knock. Invite.

Lunch with the Zone

Cutting in preparation for the festivities (see letter)

Carolina Polio and her sweet baby.

Making fiambre. Not my favorite dish



Eating fiambre.

Our sweet ward member that feeds us every Fast Sunday.

Breaking our fast with the other ward's missionaries

Mis chicas



"My life is like a pair of shoes- to be worn out in the service of God" - Pres. Kimball

Tecun Uman. He is like the Mayan warrior that saved Xela back in the day.
I like to think that he is Teancum.

Family.

Wow. This week was nuts. November 1st here is el dia de los muertos. Everyone makes tons and tons and tons of food and goes and eats it at the cemetary and flies kites and visits their deceased folk. It is great. But so crazy. There were horses and carriages in the streets and everyone is busy all day every day cutting vegetables and preparing food. So we basically just did a lot of service this week and cut so many vegetables. But it was great! The traditional food is called fiambre. Eh. It is horrible. Basically it is a plate of every kind of meat, cheese, and vegetable that you can find in the whole world- drenched in vinegar and served cold. I seriously thought I was going to throw up the whole time because it is SO much food and tastes like you just shoved a bunch of stuff in your mouth that doesn`t have a flavor and just keep chewing and chewing and chewing. But we were so grateful for it because the hermana that gave it to us in an investigator and it is really expensive to make so we just kept eating to make her feel happy. And after they gave us chunks of cooked pumpkin with cinnamon and honey and yams. Mmmm... oh man, I cannot wait for Grandma`s Thanksgiving dinner. They even told me that if I wanted I could take some and freeze it and take it on the flight with me so that you guys could try it... hahahaha they want to share all that they have.

Speaking of sharing all that we have... don`t laugh at me for having all the same clothes in every single picture. It just breaks my heart to see people without clothes and things so I just give them things when I can because I won`t be taking it home anyway... this week while I was in divisions we carried firewood from the yard into a house for about 1 hour and now I have giant scratches on my arms. I love them. They remind me of these precious people. Also while in divisions, the hermana took me to meet some inactive people to try to commit them to coming to church this week. We went and read where they were reading in the Book of Mormon and it just so happened to be one of those not so plain and precious Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi. I love Isaiah, but sometimes it is hard to explain. My comp started reading and the members just looked at us puzzled and I didn`t understand a lot of the super big words in spanish either... then she looked at me and said ¨Hermana McGill is going to explain this part.¨ ha! I have never prayed so earnestly in my life for the gift of interpretation of tongues. But it was amazing. All the sudden the spirit filled the room and I had so many ideas come to my mind and explained it so simply. They loved it and got so into the Book of Mormon and we kept reading for an hour. They all committed to going to church at the end. It was so great. I love that God answers prayers, and that even when I don`t understand, the Spirit can open up my mind and mouth to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to help his children understand.

La familia Cayax was sealed on Friday and it was so amazing. We didn`t get to go to the temple but they told us all about it and it was such a special experience. It was especially cool for them to feel that connection with their son that died years ago. They said they felt the influence of the sealing power and that it changed their entire mindset and perspective on life. The dad even started saying ¨te amo¨ to his wife after years of not saying it. She cried telling us about how her marriage has changed. I love converts. They are on fire with missionary work now and motivating everyone else to go to the temple. They are really into helping Jenifer as well. She is awesome and still progressing and really praying to know. But once again, her family is so so so hard. They all smoke and drink and do crazy things and she is the only one that wants to listen. But she listens and the spirit will therefore speak to her. She is doing so well.

I love a part in Preach My Gospel, chapter 4, that I found this week:

God loves you and all His children. He is anxious to support you in your practical and specific challenges. You have been promised inspiration to know what to do and have been given the power to do it (see D&C 43:15–16). He will help you as you try to recognize and understand the Spirit through diligent scripture study. He will guide you to people who will receive the message of the Restoration. He will give you power to deliver the message and to testify of Christ and His gospel. He will shower His blessings upon you through the gift of the Holy Ghost. He asks that you remain worthy of this gift and that you ask, seek, and knock (see D&C 4:7; Matthew 7:7–8).

 

That is so true. This week I was looking for the phone number of someone named ¨Dinora¨ in my past agendas from this area. I kept looking and looking and could not find it. But I kept seeing the name and phone number of someone named ¨Didiana¨. I could not remember who she was but I felt impressed to just call the phone number. So I did. A girl answered and I just said that we were the missionaries and before I finished she was all happy and talking to me. She passed me to her mom who then asked when we were going to visit them... I was still so confused and had no idea who I was talking to. She said ¨I am going to pass you to my husband and he can explain where we live.¨ Okay... I was praying so hard to remember. He answered and said ¨Hermana McGill! So good to hear from you again...¨ and just from his voice I realized who it was! 

They are a family that came to church months ago because they had remembered the invitation of a friend and wanted to get closer to God again. They came that sunday and after Relief Society, the spirit was so strong and I invited the mom to be baptized right there in the hall. She started crying and said yes, that that was why they had returned to church. Then we found out that they didn`t live in our area and so we passed the reference to the elders. I hadn`t heard anything since then... but we talked to the elders of the other area, and then put a cita with la familia Vasquez and it was amazing. Last night we went there with our ward mission leader, taught the Restoration with that same incredible spirit and power, and challenged them to be baptized. They all said yes. They didn`t really want to accept a specific day, so we are still working on that, but they were so happy. They said that it would be hard to go to church for the full 3 hours because of work. We promised them that if they would put their trust in God, instead of in their work,and come to church for the 3 hours that God would bless them according to their needs and that they would have enough. They looked at each other, and said yes. They would do it. And then our ward mission leader invited them over for a lunch after church. Oh man. It was so great. The spirit was so strong and I know that he led us to them for a reason. Just pray pray pray that they can keep going strong and accept a fecha fija (specific date?) for their baptism.

Alma 13:24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

 

We are working hard to lift the faith of the zone that people are prepared in their areas to receive the gospel and to be baptized. We are working hard. I love this gospel. It is happiness. I love searching for the souls that long to feel peace and joy and unity in their families. What a wonderful time it is on earth. We are so blessed, and so ready to work this week. I love my family and I love my Savior.

All my love, Hermana Jane