Knock and It Shall Be Open Unto You

Querida familia y amigos,

First of all, transfers happened last Wednesday and Sister Aguilar went home.  A lot of tears were shed, but I know the Lord will bless her for her amazing service!! I am so grateful I got to serve with her and learn from her. 

I know this transfer I will continue to see many miracles with my new cute companion Hermana Zamora!! I am so humbled to be training her! She is from Madrid, Spain, and she too, just like my previous companions, has a great love for the gospel. She is the definition of "greenie fire". Although we are both fairly new to the mission, we definitely have the Lord on our side. 

Miracle #1: We were heading out the door to go to an appointment on Thursday night. Before we left the house, we prayed that we'd be able to have a special lesson. We also prayed that if the appointment fell through we would be able to find a family to teach. 

We went to the appointment, and it fell through. We had in our backup plans to visit another potential investigator in the area, but we both strongly felt that we should knock the house next door.  

We knocked, the door opened, and before we could even exchange any words the woman at the door said, "Please, come in!" 

The ENTIRE family was home. Her husband had gotten off of work early and their 5 kids were all playing together in the living room. They all sat down to listen to us and I could NOT stop smiling!!!! We taught the entire restoration, gave them a Book of Mormon, and they have committed to reading it! Do you know how rare it is to find a Latino family home all at once? Very very rare. Like...I've seen it TWICE on my mission. But as soon as we decided to open our mouths and pray to find a family, we did. 

Miracle #2: While tracting the next day, 9 out of the 13 people we contacted gave us their information and said they wanted to learn more. Two of those people we contacted gave us their contact information before we even asked for it! THIS NEVER HAPPENS! 

Miracle #3: We had a lesson with one of the contacts we made and when we invited her to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon she said, "Oh no, I'm going to read the whole thing!" HAHA! People are so prepared!!! I have really gained a testimony this week that people are seeking for the truth, but they just "know not where to find it". 

God really does call upon the "weak things of the world" to be His hands in this great work. I am the most imperfect person on this planet, but this week I have seen the promises of D&C section 4 come true. 

"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. ASK, and YE SHALL RECEIVE; KNOCK, and IT SHALL BE OPENED UP TO YOU. Amen."

We can't do it ourselves, but with God, we can. 

Hermana Hayes 

God's Puzzle

Hello everyone!!!

This week was one of the best in the mission. I am a witness of one of God's greatest puzzles. 

After freezing temperatures for almost a week, we had a 60 degree day here in Washington DC. We never study outside, so we thought we might as well take advantage of the beautiful day! We sat on a bench right in front of the temple where two young men walked up to us and asked, "Are you the Spanish-speaking sisters?" We said "Yes!! We are from the DC 1st ward!" And they said, "No way! We are less-actives from that ward!" HAHA they said that they haven't been coming to church for a few years but always liked to visit the temple. They said they knew the church was true, but that they had just slowly drifted away.

We had the BEST conversation ever and invited them into the Visitors' Center with us to watch the new videos we have on the restoration. RIGHT as we started walking toward the Visitors' Center, a young woman started walking straight toward us.

She was the sister missionary that had taught them FIVE YEARS AGO IN THIS SAME MISSION.

WHAT!!!!!!! How does that happen?!?!?!?!!! It was the most amazing reunion and the young men were THRILLED to see her! We had another amazing conversation, and she said she was just back visiting the area and would love to stay and watch the videos with us! 

As we continued our walk to the Visitors' Center, guess who we ran into?? Sister Webster's recent convert and his cousin who is an investigator!!!!!! We all went into the VC together, watched the videos, had a lesson with the return missionary, two less-actives, and one investigator! The spirit in the room was bursting at the seams.

And to think it all started with a little prompting to study outside... 

I love this gospel and I know it's true!!!!! 

Hermana Hayes

Das Buch Mormon

Dear everyone,

First off, it has been FREEZING COLD over here, but thank the heavens that that's the case because literally EVERYONE we go to visit is home!!!  No one wants to leave their house in the cold! Hahahaha it is the best. 

This was one of the major highlights of my week: 

A couple visiting from Germany came into the Visitors Center this week wanting to know about "the big white building" they drove passed on the highway. They spoke very good English, but using the LITTLE German I was taught by a sweet friend of mine who went to Madison High School as a foreign exchange student, I was able to greet them and make them feel welcome. They wanted to know everything that was inside, what it was used for, and how it was built.

After teaching them a little about the history and the sacred purposes of the temple, they asked, "So why are you called 'Mormons'?" This is literally my FAVORITE question of all time because it leads perfectly into the restoration of the church and how we have another volume of scripture called the Book of Mormon. We showed them a closet we have here at the Visitors Center that contains copies of the Book of Mormon in over 80 languages. When we offered them a free copy of the Book of Mormon in German, she said, "Well, I feel bad. If I don't read it, It'd be a waste!" But he asked her, "Well, when's the next time we're going to be here to get it?" She said, "Well... That's true. Okay yes, we want it."

It was incredible for me to see that they didn't even want to take their chances on finding a Book of Mormon in Germany. I could feel so strongly that they KNEW it was a sacred book!! Having grown up with the Book of Mormon and the stories of the ancient times prophets in my home, I know that I have not appreciated it as much as I should.

I LOVE being a missionary and I love seeing the Book of Mormon change peoples' lives!!! My hope and prayer is that we may NOT TAKE THE BOOK OF MORMON FOR GRANTED! Read from it every day. Study the words and pray to know if the message it contains is true.

"SEARCH DILIGENTLY, pray always, and be believing and all things shall work together for your good." D&C 90:24

I love you all! ♥️

Hermana Hayes 

Buy the Tortillas

Dear brothers and sisters,

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve with friends and family and those you love! ♥️

Here's a little story to start off your 2018...:

Last Tuesday, the day after Christmas, I told Hermana Aguilar I wanted to learn how to make tortillas. The skillet we have in our kitchen is not the best, so the moment we rolled out the tortillas and put them on the skillet they would stick to the pan. After a few attempts, Hermana Aguilar accepted the fact our tortillas weren't going to work out, but I wanted to try just one more time...

When we placed our final tortilla on the skillet, the accumulation of burned tortilla with fresh dough on top let off a MASSIVE amount of smoke. Logically, Hermana Aguilar thought it would be a good idea to air out the apartment by opening the door. Well, it just so happens that the smoke detector was RIGHT on the other side if the door and immediately the fire alarm went off throughout the entire 16th and 17th floor of our apartment building. 

Lights were flashing and the alarm just kept repeating, "THERE HAS BEEN AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING."

EVERYONE had to evacuate! Hahahahahaha Hermana Aguilar and I could NOT stop laughing. Then a couple evacuating the building walked by and asked, "Are you going down too?" In her little Spanish accent and with her Mexican flag proudly pinned to her shirt, Hermana Aguilar responded, "No... I think it was my fault... I burned a tortilla!" HAHAHAHAHA

Long story short, the alarm could only be turned off by the firemen and so they showed up at the scene also. Lesson learned? Just buy the tortillas 

As far as missionary work is concerned, this week was also on fire.  We found two new families to teach and have already had two amazing lessons with both of them! Please keep them in your prayers. 

I'm so grateful for everything that has happened in 2017 and I am excited to see what God has in store for 2018! I hope we all can take the time this week to make New Year's Resolutions. Set goals; make plans! And when we mess up, and we will, let us remember we don't have to wait until 2019 or 2020 to fix it. Christ has made it possible for us to start over EACH day--not just once a year. 

The cute primary kids at our ward Christmas party! 

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).

Because of Him, every day can be the start of a new year. 

Love, 

Hermana Hayes 

Last day Festival of Lights

 CUTEST little girl from our ward and her many ponies 

The Greatest Gift

Merry Christmas brothers and sisters!! ♥️

Never have I ever felt the love of my Savior more than this Christmas. Being away from my family is sad, yes, but I have an ETERNITY of Christmas's with them to go.  I can give up a couple to spread the greatest gift anyone could ever receive, and that is the knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement.

I don't just say it because I'm a missionary; I don't just say it because everyone else does; I don't just say it because I wish it were true. I say it because IT'S THE TRUTH!!!! Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. He restored this church and translated the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ REALLY DID die for our sins! But He LIVES and because of that, we can be with those we love forever and ever and ever. I'm so grateful for my family!!!! They are the best supporters, comedians, and counselors ♥️

Merry Christmas!!! 

Love,

Hermana Hayes