DECEMEBER 22 2014

Well some pretty crazy things happened this past week. So! I guess I will start of by saying I have a new companion!!!! Her name is Sister Turley and she is from West Valley, Utah! So all of my companions so far are from utah, crazy huh?! Well, small world her family owns the gluten free bakery called "Eleanors Bake shop" Our favorite place right mom?! haha :) So it's super great cause we can eat the same foods and she knows how to make really good things hehe. She is very animated and excited all the time. She just talks to everybody and is a great missionary! It's been quite the experience adjusting to a new companion, ha! She has been on the mission for 8 months so yeah :) We are learning how to work together and use our strengths!

Here is just a few of the weird things that happened to us last week: someone tried to call the police on us because we were contacting in a park, a man by our apartment offered us cigarretes, and I was hit on by an old man who basically told me that he wanted to marry me, ha! So as you can see it was a very exciting week haha.

The best part of last week was miracles!! My last companion and I worked super hard, but it was difficult to do everything since she was still training me. Well, since I am done with training we now have an extra hour to do everything! So! We met about 100 people last week, we taught 26 lessons and have 6 new investigators! I'm not sharing these numbers to brag, but to show that anything is possible!! We are pretty much starting all over in this area and it's been super hard. However, as you can see God is in the work! Every tiny detail he is in it! THere is no way we could've accomplished any of this without him. I'm so excited for these next few transfers because I know that we are going to be so successful!! 

Also, we got to visit the Chavez family!! They are recent converts and are so strong, they are on fire!! Well, a few weeks ago Amada had an accident in the kitchen and had like a 3rd degree burn on her foot. She hasn't been able to walk for 3 weeks. Last week her husband had difficulty breathing he was in the hospital for days. On top of it all her 2 daughters are sick. It's so unfortunate and so hard, but they still remain strong. All of this happened right before they were going to go to the temple for the first time. This is a testimony to me that when you are doing good satan will do everything to attack you. But! YOu can choose to hold on to that faith and keep pushing. THey are such an example to me and I sure love them!! 

I know this is already a super long email..so! I just want to say how thankful I am for you guys!! I'm SOOOOOOOO EXCITED to skype and talk to everyone this Thursday! Merry Christmas!!!! Remember all that CHrist did and continues to do for us. You are all in my prayers and I love you all!!!Have a very merrry. amazing, happy, lovely Christmas!!

LES AMO!!!!!!!

Hermana Hollie Buys

HOLLIES NEW COMPANION - SISTER TURLEY FROM WEST VALLEY CITY UTAH

DECEMBER 15, 2014

I GOT MY CHRISTMAS PACKAGE!!!

 HER COMPANION FITS IN THE BOX BELOW

 We had a huge rain storm!! The next photo is with a recent convert Maria Pimentel, she's super nice!! I also took a photo with Fidel Osorno since my companion is leaving. 

DECEMBER 8 2014

This past week was so much fun!! Here in California they have this huge Crèche exhibit for Christmas! They have over 350 nativity scenes and it's about 15 minutes away from our house. So! We did service for the crèche! We set up decorations for like 4 hours ha!. We still haven't seen it all done but I really hope that we can this week! On our way home from the service we stopped by this place called "CREAM" it is 2 cookies with your choice of ice cream in-between. And was it gluten free?! YES!!!! I had this delicious treat, man I was in heaven! Ha! Ha! We have to go there after my mission, you will all die!

Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to the 49ers Stadium :( But! I hope that they will reschedule it for the next coming weeks. We didn't know about the crèche service and so that's why we haven't been able to go. Another awesome part of my week was exchanges! I went with an English sister and I had to speak Spanish all day by myself. It was definitely intimidating but after a while I really enjoyed it! We had some really good visits and I had a blast with this sister. The best was our meeting with Fidel! I know I always talk about him, but wow! This was amazing! We shared John 3:16 about the reason that Jesus Christ came to this earth. We just had a really good discussion.

While we were talking about this I realized that Jesus Christ has done so much for me. So, in return I want to do everything I can to show him how grateful I am. That's the reason I love being a missionary and a member of the church. That's why I devote my time to him and his children. Because nothing else matters or is going to matter in the future. Wow, if only I could repay my Savior! How easily we take for granted this knowledge that we have. Don't ever forget what he has done for you! When you realize the significance of it, it will change your life!!!

 

We also had a Christmas party this week! It was really good as we talked with at least 15 non-members. Three of the non-members we've been working with but we stopped for a while because they weren't progressing. However! By some miracle they attended the party and came to 2 meetings of church! The Lord is definitely helping us with this work!!

Last but not least :D BAPTISM!! Andres was baptized yesterday and it was the most beautiful baptism I've seen. My companion gave a talk and on short notice I bore testimony! I really enjoyed it. We invited his wife to share her testimony and it was the icing on the cake! Which followed by his testimony :D They both were so sincere and he was just so ready to be baptized. He already has such a strong testimony! We were blessed to have our mission President attend the baptism as well. I'm really lucky because when they are sealed in the temple next year I'll be able to go :D :D

Well, I don't know what's in store for this week yet. But, I know that great things will happen!! So thankful for everyday, even when its hard! It's my last week with my companion so I'm really going to treasure it :D May you all have a great weeks and remember that Jesus Christ is the Gift! He is the reason for all!

Te Amo Muchisimo!! Con todo de mi Corazon!

Hermana Buys

DECEMBER 1 2014

This past week was quite busy!! I don't know if you all have heard but they came out with a short church video called "He is the Gift" I encourage you all to go and watch that! It is about Christmas and is just really inspirational!! Last Tuesday I had Advanced Orientation because I'm almost done with my 12 weeks in the field. Wow! It was super helpful because they just teach you what the different learning styles are for people and how to better discern their needs. We also had interviews with the mission President. My mission president is the best!!! We had a great conversation and he is very inspired. Things are going well over here!

Well, Tuesday I had a little scare. I had an allergic reaction ( not to nuts) to something in Indian food(still have no idea what it is) and I ended up in the hospital for a few hours. Everything ended up being okay though and my companion was super helpful. I was just really exhausted for the rest of the week. It was really nice though because we got more members to come to our lessons and drive, so that worked out well!! :) So thankful that I had my companion there to help me! 

For Thanksgiving we went to several homes. it was really fun though!! We had a traditional dish dinner at a member’s home and then we went and visited our recent converts. They fed us tamales!! :) We helped one of them with their talk for Sunday and just talked about faith verses fear. It was really inspiring to me! We also visited a woman who has no family that is willing to visit her and is lonely. We felt really bad for her, so that visit was really good. I really do feel for those who don't have people there to support them. It was really uplifting to just sit and talk with her. 

The best part of the week was Saturday!!! Our soon to be new member got married! It was really great to see because now he is one step closer to getting baptized!! His baptism is this Sunday!!!!! It's also super neat because when they get sealed in the temple I will be able to come back and see it :) It was really neat seeing a wedding and realizing how important marriage really is. It's a huge part of the plan!! It makes me excited for what the far future holds!

This week I'm feeling super grateful for the gift of life and for all of the things that we experience in life. I'm thankful for the opportunity I have to witness these huge changes in people’s lives. When they choose to take away their weapon of rebellion and follow the example of Jesus Christ their life is really changed for the better. There is no greater happiness then living the gospel! I wish everyone a lovely week and a great start to the month of December! God loves you and so do I :) :) :) 

TE AMOOOOOOO

MONDAY NOVEMBER 24 2014

Can't find Hollies e-mail for this week but will revise when I do.  

 got to try pupusa's which is a el salvadorian type of food! I also went and ate korean food this weekend! So much fun :) 

Street with Dad's name 

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17 2014

GOOGLE BIKE

OAKLAND TEMPLE

Wow! What an AMAZING WEEK!!! I don't even know where to start! First off, thank you so much mom and dad for the letters and package!!! That was a great surprise to see and it was exactly what I needed! This last week started out super great! We have 4 new Elders in our area ha so there are 5 elders and us 2 sisters. We have our own apartment now and so that's been taking some getting used to but I also love it!! We visited with a less active member and it just happened to be that her non member friend was over. SO! We taught her about the gospel and we have a return appointment with her. This was such a huge blessing because we really need new investigators!

Also! I love the priesthood can I just say that! I have gained such a deep love for the priesthood as I've been on the mission. I received a blessing this past week and wow it was fantastic. It always makes me feel so much better and helps remind me what my purpose as a missionary is. I also am reminded that Christ fulfilled his purpose on the cross and in the garden of Gethsemane. That he went through all of that just for me! Because he did this, I can conquer all of my trials too because I have his help :)

Our investigator Andres baptism date moved to December 7th and I'm so excited!! The only thing right now is that he doesn't know if he believes that we have a literal prophet today. So! My companion and I have been teaching a lot about prophets and letting him hear the words of Pres. Monson. We committed him to pray and seek to know if President Monson is God's true prophet. And I know that he will receive an answer!!

Sunday was fantastic because our recent convert Amada gave her first talk! She did an outstanding job and she just pours her heart into her words. It's definitely a great experience seeing her keep growing in conversion! And best thing of all we had a special meeting with Elder Bednar!!! There are so many things that I learned and felt there. Above all though, I learned that we are Agents not Objects!!! Which means we are to act and use our agency. When we just ask for things we are not showing God our faith. Don't just pray for people to come to church, go and bring them!! True faith is going out and doing the will of God even when you don't know exactly what to do. Because once you take that leap he will help you. Also! Everything works out if we are just obedient to the commandments and are good people. If you just do your best in everything you are called to do and align your will with God it all works out. This meeting was just life-changing :) I know that Elder Bednar is called of God and he truly speaks Gods words! All we have to do is listen and let the spirit teach us what we need to know!!! I love you all very much!! Have a fantastic week!!!!

Te Amo!!!

Hermana Buys