7-30-12

Dearest Family,

WOW! What a week we had... I have about 2 seconds to write because of the crazy day we had, but know that i love you all. There was no time to read, so if you had something important, I am sorry. I will print all and respond next week. 

Couple of quick points of the week:

Brenda was BAPTIZED on Sunday! It was really great and we are so happy for this miracle. Her sister, Estefanía will be baptized the coming week. 

Cristina was called to be the YW Secretary. So proud of her!

I was in my own area all week and it was nice to have that time!

Today, the reason that I don´t have any time is that we were in the TEMPLE!!!!! Yep! We had the amazing call last night to get to the Temple in the morning for a training about the open house! We were in the training with other missionaries from the Buenos Aires south and west missions with the area presidency. Wow! Was it ever amazing! I am really excited for the chance that we will have to participate in the open house. At the end, they took us through a tour of the temple and it was absolutely amazing. The open house starts this Saturday and goes through the 25th. I don´t have time for details, but it will be amazing! It was 3 hours there, 3 hours in the training, and 3 hours back, so we are out of time and off to work. 

Know that I love you all! I pray for you all. I hope that all is well. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the gospel. I love the Temple. I know that we can be an eternal family. I know that the Savior lives. I love this work! I love being a missionary. 

Love you all!
Hermana Shelley

7-23-12

Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER thought that I would be able to write those two words together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it is true! I went to CONGRESO this week and we had a BAPTISM!!!!!! My three favorite things, Baptism, Congreso, and Hermana Malhue were all in the same place this week and man, was it ever a ball!!! This traveling thing is definitely a challenge and I don´t feel adequate much of the time, but it is SO FUN!!! On Tuesday, we went to our District meeting here in San Ignacio and at the end, the assistants called me and asked how much time I needed to be in the mission home... I told him about 3 hours since we were out of our area and I would need to get home, pack a bag, and then travel the 2 hours there. He told me to get there. haha. So we raced home on the bike, I threw a bag together ( I was only going to be there 2 days), and we raced off. haha. Good times. I made it to the mission home where Congreso was having interviews and got to have an awesome interview with President and then head out with Hermana Malhue and Hermana Hermosa. Oh man, we had a BALL! We went to visit an investigator, Diego right away who had the attendance to be baptized on Sunday. Well, he wanted a nothing! We started to teach him and he started coming around and we realized that his only doubt was that he didn´t want to be baptized and then make a mistake and have it be for nothing... so we committed him to read and pray. The next few days, we did divisions and I went with Hermana Malhue and Hermana Hermosa headed off with a member. Hermana Malhue and I were in charge of Diego for the week and we had some really fantastic lessons with him. Slowly, he began to come around and we really saw his faith building. We had a lot of faith and we just knew that he would be baptized. He already had all the lessons, so we just focused on reading the Book of Mormon and building his faith. It was fantastic. He went to his interview on Saturday and had a really great experience. He came out and said that he knew he had to be baptized but wanted to wait to be able to invite everyone. We asked who he wanted to invite and he said the members of the church (the other YSA) and so we told him that it would be great that we could see them at church and that they would stay, but then he just didn´t seem to want to. It came to my mind to ask him if he would feel better if we did it in the evening and he perked right up and said "that would be great!" and from there, everything was fine. Oh what a miracle! When he entered the water, I was just filled with joy! The Lord truly fulfills his promises. I thought of a hard night in Congreso a year ago when I was on my knees, trying to figure out how to baptize and felt so peaceful that I would baptize with Hermana Gonzalez and Hermana Dunn in COngreso... well, two days later, I was shipped south. But then, Hermana Gonzalez came to me in Ushuaia and we baptized, I´m with Hermana Dunn and we baptize, and I had the huge blessing of being in Congreso and baptize. The Lord is truly merciful! 

It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO great to be with Hermana Malhue. I just love her so much and needed to be with her. There was something different in our companionship and I will always be grateful for that. She is amazing and I know that we are going to be the best of friends, even though we live so far apart! We just had an absolute ball and I remembered so many things that she had taught me. It was a true blessing. 

It was so much fun to see everyone from Congreso! I was able to see Monica, an investigator who got baptized after I left, and she is doing great! The best was to see Saríah Valle, the Bishop´s daughter! She is so special to me and has written me consistently during my mission. It was really perfect because we ate lunch with them the day before they left for winter vacation. When she saw me, she let out a little scream and started crying. It was really a special moment for us. She is doing great and getting so big! She had just turned 11 the week before. 

Like I said, I had a great interview with President and it was just what I needed. We talked about my personal preparation to take the Sacrament and how I can make it a really special experience. He invited me to form a plan to make taking the sacrament a very spiritual and cleansing experience. I began to use 5 min of my personal study every day to study the Atonement and then to really make sure that I am repenting daily, and man! Did it ever change my Sacrament experience. It was really special. So I want to ask you all... how do you prepare to take the sacrament? What helps? What are some things that you have done to be able to really feel the power of the Atonement?

I love you all so much! I love the work! Being a missionary is just the best! I love seeing the hand of the Lord in the lives of all these dear people and seeing the change that comes upon them as they come unto Christ. I know that the Temple is the house of the Lord and that we are going to be an eternal family. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that we are led and guided by a living prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that the Church is true. I know that the Atonement is real and that we can repent every single day and be cleansed and then when we go to take the Sacrament, we can complete that repentance process for the week. I LOVE being a missionary at this time, in this place, with these people. Thank you so much for all of your prayers! This week, I have been able to see this traveling thing as a blessing and a huge adventure. It´s going to be fun! 

Love you all!

Hermana Shelley

pictures: 1. Sariah in Congreso

                 2. & 3. Diego's baptism in Congreso

                 4. Monica in Congreso

                 5. Hermanas Hermosa, Shelley, and Mulhue (Her companion from Ushuaia)

7-16-12

Dearest Family,

This is going to be a short one! We are in CONGRESO today to renew my
visa and we have to head out soon to make it back to our area on time,
so I don´t have a lot of time. Know that I love you!

Well... this has been quite the week! Three weeks ago, when we went to
pick up Hermana Montecinos, President Gulbrandsen pulled me aside and
told me that I should make sure that Hermana Dunn was really taking
charge of the area because he was going to use me as the traveling
Sister. Oh man, was I ever nervous in that moment! The last time we
had a traveling Sister, she didn´t have a specific area and spent
about 2 weeks in each area. It´s basically to go and share what we
have been learning and set goals, etc. Well, the assistants called me
this week and told me that we would be going to leadership training on
Tuesday and from there I would be going home with the Sisters in El
Talar for 2 days! So what it looks like is going to happen is that
each week, I will be in my area for half the time and another area for
the other half of the week! Crazy! It is a lot of traveling and I am
really tired, but really happy. I am so humbled by the assignment and
have really had some hard moments feeling so unqualified, feeling that
I will be in the way, etc. I could definitely use your prayers. I know
that I will learn way more from the Hermanas than I will ever teach
them, and I am so excited for the opportunity! It will be fun to
travel through the mission and see how great the work is all over! My
experience in El Talar was really great. I was praying like crazy that
I would know how to help and the only thing that came to me very
strongly was that I should talk to Hermana Smith in English. So, while
her Latin comp was in the bathroom getting around, I just asked "how
are you?" Well, that´s all she needed! She had been having some hard
times and I was able to listen and hopefully help. It was a really
great moment and a true answer to prayers. I know that the Lord will
answer these prayers as I work to help and as I am learning. I have
had about 12 or 13 hours in travel this week between leadership
trainings, traveling to El Talar, a special meeting/training for the
upcoming rededication, and now with doing this paper work to renew my
visa. It´s kinda tiring, but it´s a great experience at the same time.
I love the mission and there is always something new!

Our investigators are doing great! PLEASE pray for Enrique and Marina!
They are having some huge trials right now and don´t want to get
married this weekend... we have been working with them for such a long
time and they are so close. Satan is working really hard on them and
it is just really difficult to see them this way. We are fasting,
praying, and pulling out all the stops to help them, but in the end it
will be their agency... please pray! I know that they can do it... It
has been a huge emotional roller coaster for me this week to see what
is happening. Please pray. I was really struggling yesterday when I
finally just felt a great peace knowing that we have done our part and
the Lord has for sure done His... now they have to use their agency.
Our responsibility is to teach in a way that they can make the right
decision. It is really painful when we see people choose to not follow
Christ...

Yesterday, our leaders called us at 2:30 to tell us that we had to be
in the stake center at 3:30 to take a bus to another zone for a
special meeting and training on the Temple rededication. Man, did we
ever have to run! haha. we were on the way to our lunch appt and got
there ate a couple bites of raviolis and were out by 2:50 to speed
peddle home and leave the bikes, take a remis, and make it on time!
haha. It was an AMAZING meeting! They talked about how it is our
responsibility that EVERY person in Buenos Aires has the invitation to
the open house and were given the invites... each companionship was
given 4600 invites! OH MAN!!! We have the assignment to put them on
every door in our area and make an additional 10 street contacts each
day. It´s going to be crazy and wonderful! We are to distribute the
invites from noon to 4 (with 45 min of lunch in there) and then do our
regular lessons for the rest of the day. What a great experience this
will be. The area 70 who came, Elder Costa, promised us that just for
receiving the invitation, hundreds of thousands will go to the open
house and receive the missionaries! WOW. We are super excited about
it... we have 20 days to give out 4600 invites. It will be amazing!

Well... I have to run! Know that I love you. Our investigators are
great. We are coming out of our "dry spell" with some baptisms on the
horizon. I know that we have to continue doing all of the small and
simple things, even when it is difficult and they don´t seem to work,
and the Lord will bless our every step. I love the work! I love the
Temple. I know that families can be together forever. I know that WE
WILL be an eternal family! I know that Jesus lives. He is our Savior.
I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love it. I love my Heavenly
Father.

Sorry that I didn´t have time to answer your emails. Next week, promise!
Love,
Hermana Shelley

7-9-12

Dearest Family,

I can´t believe that a year ago, I put on my very first tag and became Hermana Shelley! My how time really does FLY! I have absolutely loved my time in the mission and wouldn´t want to be anywhere else! I am so very blessed. What a neat thing to be able to say that I have been a full time missionary for a full year! So great! Hermana Dunn made me popcorn and peanut butter chocolate rice crispy treats (DEATH, but oh so delicious!) and we had a good time.

What a week! We have been working like crazy trying to get things moving here again! We are in finding mode, and man have we been blessed! We are finding FAMILIES, which is such a huge blessing. I love working with Hermanas Dunn and Montecinos and they are both just absolute rockstars! I am so blessed to be working with them!

Enrique and Marina are all taken care of to be MARRIED!!! They finished all the blood tests and everything, and we have the appointment all set, so now we are just in the waiting game! They will be married on the 20th and baptized on the 21st. SO GREAT!

We found an amazing family through our ward mission leader this week, Familia Zalatino. They are the biggest family of my life! The Grandma has 8 grown kids and each have at least 4 kids. HUGE! They are a really neat, humble family. Daniel, one of the grandsons who is 21, is really progressing well. He went to church yesterday and really loved it! He has a baptismal date for the 28th. 

Cristina is doing so great! This past week, she had a special fast and her daughter came to church! She is growing so much and really showing so much faith! She got a calling this last Sunday and is in charge of the lunch calenders for the missionaries, which in my opinion is the most important calling in the ward! haha. A missionary´s got to eat!

Yeni, Marina, and Milagros are also just amazing! They all came to church in skirts this past week for the first time (that took a LOT of persuasion, but they were great about it in the end!) and today, they took a whole family to the 9 de Julio activity (more on that later). They are reading and praying every day and they even have a special prayer every night that their grandparents will come to church. So cute! 

So today, 9 de julio, is Independence day here in Argentina! We had so much fun in our ward activity! Everyone made empanadas and then we played ping pong, soccer, etc. The big surprise? I was asked to play the national anthem super last minute... let´s just say that it has been a LOOOOONG time... We aren´t talking Hymn style National Anthem... we are talking 7 page, hard core, classical music national anthem... ya... I ran through it once and then had to play it for everyone. They all said that it was great, but it just kinda made me sad about my dwindling piano skills... I think I might start playing a bit on Pdays. haha. It will come back... I hope!

It´s getting COLD! And it feels extra cold because it´s so humid! But we bundle up well and we do okay. Hermana Chen, our BIshop´s wife bought us leg warmers! haha. They are SWEET! So we are nice and taken care of.

Know that I love you all so much! I pray for you all daily! I am so glad that you had so much fun on vacation and that you got to see everyone. Grandma and Grandpa, I hope your computer gets going soon... two weeks ago I wrote you a nice long email just for you! Maybe you can get into Grandpa´s email at our house. 

Thank you for all your love and support!

I love the gospel so much. I love being a missionary. I love putting my badge on every day and heading out to testify of Jesus Christ. I love working with Hermana Dunn and Hermana Montecinos. They are amazing! Hermana Montecinos is a fireball and just a joy. Hermana Dunn is so sweet and in tune with the Spirit. They make a good team. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. May we follow Him in all that we do is my great desire. I love the scriptures and love studying them daily. I have come to know my Savior more fully through studying them. Prayer is real. I know that Heavenly Father hears us. That is one of the biggest things that has changed about me... my prayers. I really talk with the Lord now rather than just talking TO Him. I listen more. I have become more patient (though I am still pretty far from that one), and I have learned how to hear His voice. I love the changes that have taken place in my life. I like who I am becoming and I have finally been able to leave the old me behind. I have so many weaknesses, but Heavenly Father sees me for who I can be tomorrow. What a great truth that is. I am so grateful for this last year, and I look forward to these next 6 months. With the Temple (which we found out that we WILL have a part in the open house as Sisters!!!! WOOT!) and all the changes coming, I know that the time is going to really fly by even faster than I think, but I know that for that I am just going to take 1 day at a time and love every moment!

I love you all! Continue in your prayers and scripture study daily. That is truly the key!

I love you so much!!!

Love,

Hermana Shelley

pictures: 1 & 2-Sister Montecinos

                 3, 4 & 5-One year!!!!!!!

7-2-12

Dearest Family,

WOW! What a week! We went to pick up our new companion on Tuesday and she is AMAZING!!! She is Hermana Montecinos, from CHILE!!! Oh man, does she remind me of Hermana Malhue! It makes me miss her... oh how i love her! Anyways, Hermana Montecinos is fantastic! She is 23, a convert of a year and a half, and just a ball of fire! I wish I had a picture to send, but I accidentally left my camera at home! Oops! She is really cute though! We have quite the set up in our tiny house... I am on a mattress on the floor to sleep AND study... with our two small desks, there is just not room for three... we tried! haha. But it´s no biggie. I am great with it! It is interesting having 9 pieces of luggage and stuff for 3 in a space for one or two, but we make do. We are VERY close! haha. 

So like I said, we had an AMAZING week! We had 5 progressing investigators in church who will all be baptized the 21st or 28th. Two, Enrique and Marina, have everything all set to get married on the 20th and then baptized on the 21st! What a change we have seen in them! When we first started, Enrique wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. But, he started reading the Book of Mormon. He told us that he felt that God was talking to him through the pages and that he needed to listen! So powerful. They have a really cute family and they will be awesome in the church. Another, Lucía, is a 13 year old who moved in to live with Yeni and Milagros and Marina. She didn´t want anything to do with us either, but then she too read the Book of Mormon and felt the need to talk to us. After the first REAL lesson, she accepted a baptismal date! So great!

Javier´s ENTIRE family went to church on Sunday!!!!! It is the first time in 25 years that his dad has been back to church! And his Mom, Soledad, is finally progressing. She is reading and praying. She still has some doubts, mainly about being married, but she will come around. It was so amazing to see the entire family in Church yesterday. 

Milagros and Marina both shared their testimonies in Church yesterday and it was really special! They are such cute girls who have really caught hold of the gospel. And, their less active families are now strong in the church because of the examples of these dear girls! 

Another really special experience we had was on Thursday. I woke up with a Sister on my mind, Hermana Ojeda. I couldn´t get her off my mind all morning. I finally said something to my companions and we figured it out so that we could fit her in and still get to our appointments. We weren´t sure why, since she is a firm member and doesn´t really fall under any of the categories that the missionaries usually take care of, but it just felt right to all of us to go. Well, we got there around 5. When she looked out the window, she literally squealed for joy when she saw who was knocking. She quickly let us in and we began talking. She told us that she has been widowed for 8 years and that she really relied on the visits of her kids and visiting teachers. Well, her visiting teacher moved to another ward 2 months ago and her son who always visits stopped coming about 9 months ago, though she doesn´t know why. She was feeling really lonely. She decided to fast that day that the missionaries would visit her, but was nervous because the missionaries hadn´t been in her home for over 15 years. Tears came to my eyes as she told us that she had finished her fast recently and then we showed up! Wow. I was so grateful that we had listened to that prompting. It was tempting to shrug it off because it wouldn´t add to our numbers for "key indicators," but I have learned that it´s not about numbers. It is about being the hands of the Lord. It is about listening to the small promptings that come. It is about following. It is about lifting and blessing. It is about losing yourself. I felt so grateful knowing that we really can be the answers to the prayers of our Heavenly Father´s children. We just have to listen and do what He wants us to do! 

Hermana Dunn´s birthday was on Wednesday and we had a good time! I used almost the last of the cocoa (thanks, Grandpa!!!) to make the recipe on the back for "Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake" and it was super delish! Loved it! She got a really fun package from her Grandma right in time and enjoyed opening it. I think she had a good birthday. 

This one is for Kadon... 

Yesterday, we ate COW TONGUE!!!!!! It wasn´t too bad, but I just couldn´t get it out of my head what we were eating! So gross! haha. But I got it down okay... I wish I had a picture! None of us had our cameras. Bummer! It was interesting... 

Well, the work is really progressing! We are loving it and doing great things. Training is a responsibility but also a lot of fun and we are really enjoying it! I have seen a lot of growth in myself and in Hermana Dunn this week. 

I love you all! Have great birthdays! Have a great vacation, and enjoy the reunion! Send everyone my love!

Love,

Hermana Shelley

PS Thank you all for reading the Book of Mormon with me! I had an amazing experience finishing it this Saturday! As I knelt in prayer after finishing, I felt so strongly the love of our Heavenly Father. I felt an impression to just open the book. I opened to Alma 37 and my eye caught on to verses 6, 14, and 20:

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass... and now remember, my (daughter), that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred... Therefore, I command you, my (daughter, Hermana Shelley), that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words..."

It was seriously exactly what I needed! Tears came to my eyes as I felt Heavenly Father telling me that even though I am small and simple, I will be able to do great things in His strength as I am worthy of the sacred things that He has given me, keep the commandments, and DO all of the small and simple things that He asks of me. I know that I am nothing... but in the strength of the Lord, I can do hard things! I know that this will be a whirlwind last 6 months (yikes! Can´t believe how fast time is flying...) but I also know that no matter where the Lord calls me, or what He asks me to do, I will be able to respond to the call, "Here I am, send me!"

I love the Book of Mormon. I testify that it is true! If you don´t know that, read it and pray! The Lord will answer your prayers and tell you in your mind and in your heart that these things are true. I want to share this amazing book with the world! I am dedicating my life to the Lord. I know that I have been called of Him and that this mission is not the end, but only the beginning. I have changed so much in the mission and I see things so much more clearly now. I think that I really understand what I want for the first time in my life. I see myself how the Lord sees me. I am far from perfect, but I will put myself in His hands. I know that we can find all the answers that we need in the pages of the Book of Mormon. I love it and it has truly changed my life. Let it change yours!!!!

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful day!!!!!

Love,

Hermana Shelley

Pictures:  1. Zarachos family

                  2 & 3.  Chens family (he is the Bishop)

                  4. Ojeda family (they eat with them every other month)

6-26-12

Dearest Family,

Well....... Transfers came.... 

I have been called to TRAIN! Wow... can hardly believe it! It´s the first time that we have received Hermanas in 4 transfers, so I didn´t even think of it as an option. The even BIGGER surprise??? HERMANA DUNN IS TRAINING WITH ME!!! Yep... we got the call, and we have been called as "co-trainers" of sorts. FUN! We have no idea how we are going to put another Sister in our tiny house, but we are hoping that they will at least bring us a mattress today so that we have places to sleep! haha. We are SO excited that we get to stay together but still get a breath of fresh air (we really did need something new here... we were starting to get into a bit of a slump). We don´t know how long it will last... we heard today that we are waiting for 28 missionaries who are all waiting for visas in the States, so we figure that maybe we will be split up if they ever get here... lots have been waiting for a very long time. Something funny is going on... we haven´t gotten North Americans for a long time, The Argentines here can´t buy dollars and it´s really hard to travel to the states... we aren´t sure, but we hope that they get it all worked out ASAP. For now, we are really happy to be here doing our thing and seeing the miracles of the Lord every day. I am humbled to think of training and honestly a bit nervous, but I know that it will prove to be a great blessing and that she will teach me much more than I can ever teach her. We will go to pick her up in the mission home tomorrow. FUN! Hermana Dunn is so awesome and my weaknesses are truly her strengths, so we will make a good pair, we think. Good times in the mission! Also, we are pretty positive that she is a Latin, so that will help that Spanish won´t be a problem. We are really excited. We spent most of the day preparing for her to come... our house is so small, so we had to figure things out so that she will have some shelf space, a place to put her clothes (we still don´t know how that one is going to work), desk space, etc. We start out the mission being trained together and now we are training together! We figure we have a life work to do together. LOVE!

Now.... first things first... 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jenny and Scott are engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am SO happy for you both! Seriously, we are talking best couple EVER! And Jenny, don´t you even worry! I completely understand! There is no reason to wait til January... I will be honest, I am sad that I won´t be there, but my JOY is way bigger that you are GETTING MARRIED!!!! I have seriously been talking about it all week ( I figured it was okay to tell Hermana Dunn since we are at the other end of the world... haha). I would be doing exercises in the morning and just burst out MY BEST FRIEND IS GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I really do want EVERY detail if you find the time... dress, ring, flowers, food, etc. Pictures are appreciated! haha. But seriously, just enjoy! Don´t worry if you don´t have time to send info or pics. I am sure it will be crazy. Let me know your colors, and I will put a skirt on and act like I am there to be photo shopped it :) Just kidding... kind of! 

Also.... SHAWNA AND LANDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man! I love getting two bits of such happy news! Engagements are so much fun! I really liked this week´s news much better than last week. haha. 


Well... let´s see if I even remember anything that happened this week!

Cristina is doing so great! She is already on page 50 of the Book of Mormon and really loving every bit. Her daughter, Malena is reading as well and liking it. She is a bit of a rebel and doesn´t quite want to commit to more than that, but she will come around. We are praying for her! 

Looks like we are going to have a marriage here in Argentina as well! Enrique and Marina are really progressing and understand the importance of following the Savior and being baptized! They officially accepted being married and we will go tomorrow we hope to sacar turno... it might be tricky with picking up our new sister to make it to sacar the turno, but we will try. 

We are finding more new investigators, which is great! We have been really blessed with that, so things should really start picking up here. We are determined to keep finding new investigators each week so that we don´t have another slump. It is important to always find, even when we have many progressing investigators. If not, we will not continue having success. 

Sorry that my email last week was a bit of a downer. I really don´t know why, but I was just frustrated. I felt like no one wanted what we were offering! That we were working so hard and doing all the small things and seeing minimal results. Needless to say, I was truly humbled! The Lord chastened me, but it was very needed chastening. I am glad that I received it and now I am recognizing more the hand of the Lord and that He is truly giving us miracles every single day. Please pray that we will find men and families who will truly progress in the gospel. We really need progressing investigators ASAP! 

Since we were afraid that Hermana Dunn was going to leave, the Barroso family through her a little birthday party last week! The girls were so cute and planned it all out and got little gifts and even made a cake. They invited their family and friends to come to a lesson as part of it too! So cute! Hermana Dunn will turn 22 this Wednesday, but we already had a little celebration. Looks like we will have to just have another one. Oh darn! haha. 

Well, the work moves on! We are doing great and are really happy. We are excited for this new adventure of training and we know that she will be teaching us far more than we will ever teach her. We know that The Lord expects a lot for this area, and we will work hard to bring to pass His will and His vision. 

I love you all so much! Please know that I pray for you daily. I feel your prayers as well. I know that this is the Lord´s work and that He is at the head of this true church. I know that we are lead by a prophet of God. I know that the Temple is the house of the Lord and that we can be an eternal family. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I LOVE it! I know that it is the word of God. I am so happy to have read it in this quick time and look forward to finishing it again this Saturday. What a beautiful experience to really come to know my Savior better. 

I love you all!
Love,
Hermana Shelley


pictures are of Hermana Dunn's birthday