Week 77 pics

Week 77

Well I am not going to lie and say that I am not bawling writing my last email on the mission!! I don't really know how to collect my thoughts!! I just can not even begin to describe how my mission has changed my life. My mission has meant everything to me, and I truly can not thank my Heavenly Father enough for this experience! I really have been pondering on what to write about for this last email, and it just seems fitting to talk about what I have learned from the mission and how it has changed me. 

1. I have learned who the Savior is, I have learned his perfect character and his patience and love, I have grown closer to him as I have had the opportunity to work right beside him. I think the main thing that I have learned is that the Savior has done so much for me and the only thing I can do is serve him and show him my love!! 

2. I have learned what my gift to the savior truly is. I will never forget my dads email, telling me to focus on the whole journey and that, that is my gift to the savior. 

3. I have learned what the word Conversion really means, and that conversion can only come as we yield our hearts to God so that he can sanctify and purify them. I have learned that to labor for your own conversion and the conversion of others is a noble task! THE NOBLEST TASK!! And that it truly does bring a fullness of Joy. 

4. I have learned that the Book of Mormon is true!! I can not deny it, I can not deny the spirit that I have felt every time I have read Moroni's promise after finishing the book, and every time I have knelt down to ask God. There is POWER in the Book of Mormon, and the Book is priceless. It testifies on every page of who Jesus Christ is and of his divinity and his mission and ministry and it teaches the Atonement!! I love what the book of Mormon refutes and what it affirms and what it reveals. It is through the Book of Mormon that I have come to know my Savior.

5. I have learned what my purpose is and why I am here, to invite others to come unto Christ, and to make covenants with him. I have learned My missionary Commission...." I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master and He has chosen me to represent him, to stand in His place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts, my doctrine is His doctrine. My Commission is to do what He wants done, To say what He wants said, to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work. How great is my calling." -Bruce R. McConkie

6. I have learned that God has sent me to specific areas and to specific companions for a reason. I will forever be grateful for Hermana Smith, Hermana Cardosa, Hermana Briceno, Hermana Bryson, Hermana Guttierrez, Hermana Garcia, Hermana Haycock, Sister Pelo, Sister McLing, Hermana Farronay, and Hermana Peterson! These amazing Sisters have changed my life I have grown so much just from knowing them!! ANd it would take me way to long to express all of the amazing things that they have taught me!! Let me just say that I am so grateful that God knew exactly who I needed and when i needed them! 

7. I have learned what true Love and Charity means and how to love someone with your whole heart, and desire there Salvation. I will be forever Grateful for the people who have taught me that. For Monica, Lorena, Sergio, Faith Day, Judith Hodge, The Payan Family, Paige Romery, Angelica, Angel, Cesar, and Geraldine, Ryan Blackburn, Eric Nitzle, Izzy Hanks, Lucero Salazar and The Gurrola Family!! 

8. I have learned that the Hope of No Empty Chairs, is really what everyone wants and needs. I have learned on my mission of the reality of the Plan of Salvation, especially serving in Steamboat with the Christensen Family, I have learned the peace and joy and eternal perspective that the Plan gives us. 

9. I have learned that Mission Presidents are called of God, I trust and Love President Gifford and Sister Gifford and I can not thank them enough for being my missionaries and for everything that they have taught me. I will forever be grateful for there Faith and for the way they have invited me to come unto Christ. 

10. I have learned that Faith, Obedience and Diligence brings forth miracles. I can not even tell of all of the tender mercies that I have seen on my mission. And I have also learned that the Gift of Tongues is real and I have gained a real LOVE for the Hispanic culture and for this language. 

There are so many more things that I have learned but I cant even begin to write it all down, we would be here forever if I tried. But I just want you all to know that I am so grateful for every day that I have had to serve on the Front Lines in the Lords battle for Souls in Denver Colorado. I am so grateful for the way that my mission has truly refined me and changed me to start to become who he wants me to be. Every day in the mission hasn't been easy, but it has always been worth it. I know that This experience has changed my life forever, and helped me to understand that Jesus Christ needs disciples... and he needs them FOREVER!! I feel like I truly am leaving the land Bountiful like in 1 Nephi chapter 17, but I do know that the Lord has commanded me to build a ship and to sail to the promised land. It feels like I am saying Goodbye to my family AGAIN!!! And I know that the Lord has a plan for me and that I need to trust in him and have the Faith to build His ship. The only words I can leave you with to describe my thoughts in this moment, would be from my favorite song, The Hardest Thing I ever Loved to do. 

".......The Hardest tears I ever loved to cry, fell as i opened up my mouth and testified. Between the tiny walls of a strangers living room, the spirit told there hearts my words were true. 

And the sweetest sound I ever loved to hear is the sound of the water running in the church, as someone Id come to love got dressed in White, my eyes saw the first glimpse of heavens light.

The hardest thing I've ever loved to see, is a man down on his knees in agony a drop of blood falls down on olive leaves, and for a moment he suffers there... for me.

The Hardest thing I've ever loved to do, is getting on this plane and coming home to you. In a million ways completely torn apart, as a land so far away still owns my heart. ( not that far away hahah) 

And the most sincere prayer I've ever prayed, I thank my God for EACH and EVERY day. For the blessing of the (wo)man I've come to be.... As I walk up and kiss my mommas cheek."

 

I know I will look back every day on this experience with Joy and Love in my heart. This Mission has forever changed me... And I will never be able to repay my Savior for this Gift that HE has given ME.

Les Quiero!! God be with you till we meet again!! 

Hermana Tams💜❤💙

Week 76

Well this week has been amazing!! Last night me and Hermana Peterson both just fell to the floor of exhaustion. You know its been a week full of work when you are exhausted mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually!! I LIVE FOR P DAY NAPS!!! IT is the most satisfying feeling in the world though to just be exhausted!! I love the Lords work!! It is the best work in the whole entire world! This week we have seen so many miracles! We are still passing out 25 Book of Mormons before I go home and we have done 30!!! More than half way there!! We have seen so much success this week as we have followed Preach my Gospel and invited everyone to get baptized! We had a lofty goal this transfer of having 4 people baptized and I think because we had the faith to stretch ourselves and because we have been working hard Heavenly Father is just preparing people! We have 6 people on date for March 3rd. And they are so prepared and have willing hearts and open minds! Ones name is Luis Vazquez and his wife is a member for 4 years and he was almost baptized in the past and just has this renewed desire to be baptized and to come to church! The Jamilet and Samantha and Xitlaly Mares all are on date. They are so awesome they are a family, Samantha and Jamilet are sisters and xitlaly is there cousin, and they just are so quick to recognize the spirit and to act!! Then Erica Crespo and her daughter Destiny are on date! They are a mother and daughter and the first time we taught them they said yes to baptism, Erica has depression and lost a baby who was a still born. And she has great faith that she can see that baby again! And that families can be together forever! These people in Denver are so humble and so prepared! 

     We also saw a miracle with Lucero Salazar! She came to church again this week with her 3 kids! And they loved it! At the end her daughter Lucy was showing us her young women's necklace that she got and the son was teaching his mom about what he learned about the Plan of Salvation in primary! And at church Natalia Munoz and The olivarria family both were there. They are less active families that we have been teaching!! The people here are amazing!! We have had some powerful lessons this week, I think the more I am a missionary the more I realize that the spirit is the true teacher, all we really have to do is be worthy of the spirit and then it takes over. 

    Something that I really have gained a testimony of this week is the importance of the temple and of forever families, and to begin with the end in mind! The crowning ordinance of the gospel is the temple sealing! Everyone needs the peace and joy of a forever family! As we have taught this week that is the overall message that I have seen that everyone needs!! The most powerful thing we can share as missionaries is the reality of a forever family and the importance of no empty chairs. I have realized that no empty chairs means that each one of us has to do their part, each one of us have to get to the temple!! 

       I just really want you all to know that I know that this gospel is true, this mission has changed my entire outlook on life, my whole perspective, it has changed my heart and my life!! I am grateful every day for that moment when i sincerely prayed to see if I should serve. And I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has given me this amazing opportunity!! the PEOPLE HERE HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE! And the Book of Mormon has changed my life!! The most important thing I have come to know on my mission though is the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ, he loves us he lives!! He knows us individually, he suffered for us all. It has been the greatest thing I have ever done to serve him! Everyone always talks about how a mission is a sacrifice, but I don't think I could ever sacrifice enough for this experience. I don't think I could ever give up enough for this amazing opportunity to have seen conversion in others and myself, I know I have come closer to my Savior right beside all of my investigators. We have grown together! i KNOW I will look back on my mission experience for the rest of my life and just have gratitude and joy in my heart!! I have loved every second, and I plan to love these last amazing weeks that I have been given to serve with all my heart! I LOVE THE MISSION!

Love, Hermana Tams💙❤💜

Week 75 pics

Week 75

Well I might as well explain my title of my weekly to start out hahah!! So me and Hermana Peterson get it the car after teaching these amazing people! And I look over at her and i ask "WHy cant missionaries serve longer, why cant we serve forever. ANd she says because then no one would go home and get married and have kids.. And I looked at her and was like "SO missionaries fell that men might be?" HAHAHAH! If you haven't read 2nd Nephi 2 its probably not all that funny, but we thought it was a pretty good quote hahah! 

      Any ways I have just noticed this week even more so than I already did, how amazing missionary work is!!! It is the best thing in the world, I had a surreal moment this week as we were teaching the Restoration to someone, I just became very aware how amazing our message is and how much I love the Restoration!! It is the most amazing message, that brings hope and Joy and Happiness to everyone!!!  As we were sharing the first vision the room was filled with the spirit that is always accompanied with that message and this cute little 11 year old named Samantha said I have Chills!! The Restoration is so powerful!! 

    We also had Stake Conference this week and it was amazing!! Elder Suarez of the 70 came, and President and Sister Gifford gave amazing talks!! Sister Gifford quoted 1 Peter 3:15 that says....15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you......

And then she talked about how our lives are not about us but it is about all of those around us, and how we can impact them and how we can change them, our lives are about what we can do for those around us. And the best thing we can do is share the Gospel!! And then President Gifford Talked about how our lives are by divine design and how as we pray for missionary opportunities Heavenly Father will direct us to those who need us!! I love the Giffords, they are going to be the hardest people to say goodbye too out of everyone!! They have changed my life in every way!! Then Elder Suarez talked about the temple!! He said that we have to begin with the end in mind with everything we do, and that the end is eternal life! So we should always be focused on the temple! His testimony was POWERFUL!! This week has been so great!! I have loved every second of it!! ANd we had a pretty great snow storm!! Which I loved it took me back to Steamboat! 

   Overall I have loved every second of this week! I love you all and I hope and pray that you look around you to see who you need to help!! 

LOVE< Hermana Tams!💜❤💙

FOTOS:

1. Me and Hermana Peterson at Freddys!

2.SNOW STORM!!! Baby one hahah! 

Week 74 pics

Week 74

Hola!!! I wanted to start my email by wishing a Happy Late Birthday to Grandma Conway! I love you so much and I hope you had the best day!! This week was great, we saw so many miracles!! Something that I have really seen this week is the power of the Book of Mormon!! For my 7th time in my mission reading the Book of Mormon I have been reading it doing the challenge that our Mission President and his wife gave us! And it is President Nelsons challenge that he gave everyone at General Conference. TO think of your life and how it would be without the Book of Mormon!! ANd they invited us to read the Book of Mormon and see what it affirms what it refutes and what it reveals!! IT has been amazing to read it this way!! I have noticed that the Book of Mormon affirms that there is a loving and living Heavenly Father, more than I even realized! IN President Nelsons talk he quotes Brigham Young and says "I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people, to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon!!" I would have to agree!! I have just been trying to use the little power that I do have, and testify to every one around me of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon!! I know it is true!! I have a goal to give away 50 Book of Mormons before I go!! 

Also this week we had ZOne Conference which was amazing but so hard!!! It was my last one, and I just cried the whole time hahah! It was also the last time I would see two of my companions Sister Pelo and Sister McLing, it was hard to say goodbye!! I have loved all of the amazing companions that I have had!! It has been one crazy journey!! And at the end Sister Gifford saw me crying and came up and hugged me and said stuff that made me cry even more hahah!! I love President and Sister Gifford, I have grown to love them so much, I trust them!! They are so inspired!! And I am grateful for the way that they have changed my whole life!! I don't have long to email today, so i am  sorry it is so short!! BUt I do want to extend the invitation to each of you to consider what your life would be like without the Book of Mormon, study and see what it refutes, what it affirms and what it reveals!! I promise your whole perspective will change!! 

Love, Hermana Tams!!💙❤💜

FOTOS:

1. Saying bye to 2 of my children hahah.... the tears are real!