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Hermana Wise, Hermana Chavez, and Hermana Lawrence  What a team :)

Hola de su Misionera aqui en Napa!

 

This week was just so wonderful! Jesus Medina is progressing more than ever (even though he didn't come to church). We taught him 5 days this week in preparing him for baptism. One of those lessons a less active member around the same age as Jesus came with us who shared powerful testimony of the direction that the Book of Mormon can give in the lives of those who not only read it, but study and apply the principles taught within. It was an amazing experience for us all. We went to the Baptism of an investigator the Elders had,9 year old child from a less active family. It was powerful, the spirit was so strong. Truly witnessing such an ordinance, godliness is manifest. We went to Calistoga for the first time in a couple weeks, its hard to go sometimes because its far and we have few miles, and that amazing family Sister Buckner and I found while on exchanges, the husband is a new investigator and wants to know more. He committed to read the Book of Mormon and seems really excited to learn more about his relationship with his Heavenly Father. So excited to go back and teach him. We also went service tracting this week and found a FAMILY! We are also stoked to go back and teach them next week!

 

Yesterday was Father's Day! Happy late Fathers Day Dad and Brett and Stephen and Nando! I love each of you. Dad & Brett! I am so lucky to have such amazing examples to me in my life. Your cards are coming late, Sorry! I promise I didn't forget just being a missionary is busy work and well yeah I guess I have never been a very timely person.

 

It being Father's Day, I had the opportunity to give a talk in our Branch about Heavenly Father. I shared a story about Dad and related it to how our heavenly Father works. It was humbling speaking in Spanish in front of those I respect and love, but the Lord helped me say what I wanted. I love speaking Spanish. Finally I have made a breakthrough and the fear of speaking to people, Spanish or English is dissolving almost gone, some days are better than others still though. This is the Last week before transfers and I am afraid that Hermana Chavez is leaving Napa. We will find out Friday what's up, but I have a feeling I will stay in Napa another transfer. I hope so, I love it here so so so much.

 

I want to end my email this week with a scripture from the Book of Mormon that explains how I feel better than I can:

 

"...Perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me." (Alma 29:9-10)

Truly I have seen the Lord's merciful hand directing my life. His extended arm never fails to lift me up and take me where I need to go. I have seen similar workings of the Lord in the lives of others. I see as the lives are changes and challenges are overcome. I have the opportunity to see hearts softened and help given to those who ask the Lord in faith. To watch as others receive light into their lives and slowly it replaces confusion and doubt. I see that change happening to me as well, and I am learning each day, more of who I am meant to be, of who I really am.

Thank you all for your support and love, you are in my prayers,

 

Hermana Christina Wise

Family & Friends!

This week has been beautiful here in Napa, so hot and so beautiful,
definitely summer! I am so happy to hear that Joseph graduated and his
open house went well. I am so proud of who he is and how earnest he is
to continue that course in every new day.

To start off this week was a bit slow, memorial day everyone was gone
and it was rainy. Our main investegator Jesus Medina started acting
like he was avoiding us and we honestly lost our faith a little, but
we tried our hardest walking in the drizzle to smile along the way and
regain ourselves. The next day we got pumped up and as STL's we helped
teach District Meeting! We practiced using the pamplets to help other
people discover the Gospel rather than us just blabbering it to them.
I have seen as we apply these new skills we have been directed, so
many MIRACLES. People basically teach themselves the Gospel and I'm
there just to bear testimony. Truly our leaders are called of God.
Then we did exchanges, this time I am the one leading (haha scary) and
I went to St. Helena and spent a day with Sister Buckner, a english
speaking missionary who came out with me. I love exchanges and we
ended up leaving two blessing on the homes of hispanic families and my
confidence in my spanish was boosted as they invited us back and
promised to read the Book of Mormon. I learned a lot of great things
from Sister Buckner, shes amazing and the people there are too, a lot
of funny old people at the veterans home haha love it.

We started teaching some more Less Actives or really the children of
Less Actives we had before, so thats been exciting! We are teaching a
guy about my age names Jonathan and he is amazing, he just has some
doubts but his testimony is growing and prayers would help because we
are trying to teach his whole family but they are never all home
together. Also, we had another amazing lesson with Betty! She is
portugese and we teach her in english but she knows spanish too and
her husband is mexican. She has a big desire to be baptized and go to
church, but she is trying to get work off, prayers would be amazing
for that! Also, Antonia Flores is an older woman we teach, she had a
stroke and she is sick and disabled (wheelchair). It has been so hard
trying to get her to church. She has a desire to be baptized but she
has been getting sicker and sicker, we don't know how well her family
takes care of her, and she doesn't want people to pity her when she
comes to church. We have tried for weeks to support her and help her
feel comfortable, but there's something still stopping her. Please
pray for her sweet spirit and for me to understand her more! (I don't
think I could really understand her in english, much less spanish).

We went to the first Missionary Leader Council (MLC) on friday! So
inspiring, we have 13 Investegators, and I just am more pumped than
every to do everything I can to help them meet the Goal of Baptism so
they can access the Atonement and recieve the happiness that I am so
thankful to have in my life through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It
pumped us up and we are excited to help teach Zone Meeting tommorow!
EVERYONE should watch the announcment/broadcast on June 23rd because
they say it will be the Meeting of the Century and a historical day in
the church for missionary work. Keep a look out for that! I am so
stoked.

Many other things have happened but this is a good update. Thank you
for your prayers! Today is Sister Chavez's Birthday and Sister
Lawrence and I made brownies for her for breakfast and decorated her
desk :) I am so thankful for her example to me everyday, I am so
lucky.


Hermana Wise