Milagros

Hey y'all!!!

I LOVE MISSION TEXAS!!

The people here are so amazing and loving. They literally will be living in some horrible conditions but are willing to give us the shirt off their back. They support us missionaries so much it's ridiculous how much love they have for us and for our families who they don't even know.

We have had so many miracles happen to us since this transfer has started.
1. The De Hoyo family accepted baptismal dates for the 10th of November!! This family is super cute and wants to get closer to God and each other.
The Mom and one of the daughters have BD's. The youngest daughter is 7 but can't wait for her baptism when she's 8. The oldest daughter doesn't really come out during lessons but she has before. The husband works on an oil rig so he's gone for two weeks then home for one. So it's a little hard to teach the whole family at the same time.
2. Our trio is literally a party. We all get along super well and bounce off each other in lessons a ton. We're all pretty balanced in how long we talk for and our transitions flow pretty well.
3. Sister Durrans got her visa and is leaving on the 21st of October for Perú. When Sister Bainbridge told her she recorded it... Her reaction was priceless. Hahaha
She is super awesome. She's from Heber, Utah. She's also hilarious and is full of funny sounds and jokes. Haha
We're going to miss her SOOO much!!!
4. The member missionary work her is insane. The ward members are super supportive and are willing to go out with us on any lesson at anytime.
5. Our stake president has made so many changes to the wards. He also called every single member of the McAllen West Stake to be a ward missionary. He gave everybody their neighborhood to literally have them knock their neighborhood for us and find the people who are wanting the gospel at this moment in their life.
6. We have an apostle coming to talk to us on the 19th and 20th. So we're having a mission wide conference on the 19th. It's going to be so much fun to see every single missionary again. Then on the 20th he's speaking in a special stake conference.
7. Sister Bainbridge is super sick. She has Crones disease (how ever you spell that) and she finally was approved to have a procedure to diagnose her so she can get the medicine she needs. She has an appointment on the 23rd. Yeah!!! There was a big possibility of her having to go home to get it done but it was approved by Missionary Medical so now she can do it in Texas.
8. We had a cold front come in for like 2 days. We were all studying out in our main room area and we just look out side and it's super hazy looking and really windy. We step out side and it's not 90 degrees anymore. It's like maybe 70ish. We were so confused haha. And we had decided that morning that we were going to take a bike day. Yeah!!!
So we rode down to our dinner appointment and it was too bad the wind was behind us luckily. We made it there in like 15ish minutes. After we worked in that area some we decided to head towards our apartment so we aren't eaten alive by dogs when it's later. The wind was ridiculous. We were all going so stinking slow a 4 year old could have easily run faster then us. And we were all laughing...so that didn't help. And a dog started chasing us and we tried so hard to pedal away from it... Thank goodness it's owner called it back before it bit us haha because we would have been destroyed because we could pedal.
We got back in 45 minutes. The wind was soooo strong. My legs felt super good after though.
9. We have a huge zone group chat and our Zone leaders called us and told us to hype it up...weird but okay. So we decided to make a dance video and put it in the group chat. All 5 of us had blankets and danced to this rap that some sister missionaries made like 3 years ago in this mission. It was super funny and everybody loved it.
Success!!!
10. The ward here is amazing!!! One of the best things that all the Hermanas do at church is hug you and you kiss each other on the cheek. No matter if you just met them. It's one of my favorite culture things that everybody does here. All the women in the church do it. Literally by the end of Sunday it feels like I could have more make-up on my cheeks then I started with haha.
They are so loving and kind to all of us.
11. I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Baptism with the priesthood authority of God is a gateway on the path that brings us back to him. I know receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most amazing gifts I have been given. It's a constant companion that helps me know what to do in certain situations. Through Jesus Christ we can be saved. He loves us so much. Same with our Father in Heaven. We were put here on this earth for the ability to gain experiences and trials. I know that because of the atonement we can be forgiven of our sins. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know I'm sent here to help share the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of South Texas. I love all the people here. My eyes have been opened in so many different ways it's unreal. Everybody has the light of Christ in them.
Every member a missionary.
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit

I love you all!!!

Con amor, Hermana Darling

McAllen is getting a Temple!!!!

Holy frijoles this week was flipping awesome!!!
Transfers was a lil hectic. So when we were loading my bags into the car it was dumping rain and the roads were a little flooded. So we were soaked but I was soooo excited!!

It was a bittersweet good-bye with Hermana Kelly. I had such an amazing time biking with her this last transfer. We had so many milagros from our bike area. I'm going to miss the ward and the people sooo much.

When we got to Transfers I saw Elder Allred! He was from my first district. We did our dope handshake and we talked for a bit. That was so nice. I got to see so many different missionaries and talk to a bunch from the CCM as well.

Eventually we got all loaded up and drove to my new area.

MISSION, TEXAS!!

Mission 3rd ward. I have heard so many amazing things about this area and the members. Also I'm in a trio!!!!! With Hermana Bainbridge and Hermana Durrans.

Hermana Durrans is a visa waiter who is going to Perú. So President Ocampo decided to make trios for all visa waiters in hopes for them to leave this transfer. They all came in with us. Except they went to the Prove MTC.

It's been such a blast. I have been getting to know the members, area, and lots of dogs. They are worse then Brownsville. Especially the pregnant ones. We've been chased so many dogs while on our bikes. You just got to pedal fast enough to when they eventually stop chasing you haha.


General Conference was amazing!

The spirit was so strong on every single talk.

MCALLEN TEXAS IS GETTING A TEMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

When they announced that we were all flipping out. Oh my gosh. I was just thinking of all the families that have wanted to go to the temple but can't. Now they will have one so much closer.

Ah!!! GOD IS BLESSING SO MANY PEOPLE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

The church is true. The book is blue.

Jesus Christ suffered for all of us. He gave that to all of God's children. We are so blessed to be living on this earth at this moment. Yes Satan is everywhere and trying even harder then before to knock us down. But I know we can get over it. Yeah life can suck a lot of the time. But even if you find something positive out of everyday, you'll be blessed for it. I've seen it here on my mission. There are so many people here just waiting for the light of Christ to shine right in their homes. We can help bring that to people. I love being a missionary in Texas. I was called here for a reason, for the people, for the companion, and to follow the prompting of the spirit


I love all of y'all!!!


Stay 2 legit 2 quit

Love, Hermana Darling

Darn Near Transferred!

Woo-hoo another week full of some amazing experiences. 

Monday-We had a super spiritual FHE with Blanca, Angel, their 3 kids and then a family that also is investigating the church. We watched a short restoration video and ate some snacks that Angel and Blanca bought for us.They loved the video then after we played a little pictionary and all the kids loved it.

Tuesday - We visited some neighborhoods and went around with the ukulele and sang some songs and tried to talk to a bunch of people. Had some delicious food from the Pugas. Then went out trying to find the Lord's people. We went by this referral from our bishop but he wasn't there. His neighbors were outside. Manuel y Maria. Anyway he found so copper in the trash can. So he snatched and hauled it back to his house so he could strip it and sell it. We asked him if he needed help. He told us we were to pretty to be helping him. He doesn't want us to mess up our hands. I was like -Bro feel my hands. He touched them and was like going over the calloused parts on my palms. He was freaking out that my hands were a little tough. Haha

I explained how I helped build our house and I love helping people by using my hands. He was super funny and definitely drunk. But I got to help and I used my knife which he loved because it was way better then what he was using. Thanks Dad. Haha

Wednesday-tried finding more people and found some pretty awesome potentials. We had a dope lesson with Blanca y Angel to prepare them for their baptism.

Thursday-We started working earlier in the morning and met a really cool guy that has been playing the bass guitar in rock bands for like 35 years. He's super awesome. We met so many sweet old Mexican women that want wanted us to come back because they loved when we played a song for them on the ukulele. The rest of the day was pretty nice.

Friday-tried to go by a bunch of appointments a ton fell through so we knocked and sang a ton.

Saturday--We had an awesome lesson with Jessica about the Plan of Salvation. She loved it. She accepted an invitation to get baptized on the 26th of October and she wants her husband to get baptized too. Ah I love their family so much!!!

Sunday-Church was crazy.

I'm being transferred to a new area!!!!!!

I'm going to Mission 3rd ward. Spanish speaking thank goodness and I'm in a trio with Sister Bainbridge and Sister Durrans. One of them is really sick and might have the possibility of going home which sucks.

I know the church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know we ha e a living prophet on this earth today.

Love you all.

Stay 2 legit 2 quit

Love, Hermana Darling

Two weeks worth of email and picts...

[Week one]

Wow... Back at it again.

It's so crazy to me that this transfer is almost over. We literally just had one haha.
But I'm told that's how you feel your whole mission.
Lemme think about all the things we've done this past week.
Everyday we add a miracle we see on a sticky note and put it on our wall. Our wall is getting pretty filled and I love re-reading all of them.
Sister Kelly was still not all the way 100% this week so after P-day ended we had to stay inside so she could rest. But she had just gotten her ukulele so she laid down and played that for like three hours. Que bendición.
We've been trying to find a lot more people to teach but this week has showed that a ton of people don't want the gospel right now. But we're still having a positive attitude about our area.
On Thursday we helped Brother McCarthy with some family history in the library. He's so funny. He's an 80 year old and doesn't speak any Spanish but refuses to go to any other ward because he say's, "Barrio tres is my barrio." His conversion story is super amazing. In 1968 he was working in a hospital at the a time when two missionaries got in a super bad accident. He helped both of them for two weeks. They taught him about the Book of Mormon but at that moment he wasn't interested. And eventually they got better and left. But in 2008, literally 40 years later. Two elders knocked on his door with a Book of Mormon in their hands. And he said right as he saw that book he knew that it was true. Then he got baptized and he's been to church every Sunday since. He super funny and he's one of my best friends in the ward.

We made flyers for the ward party we had on Friday. We went to one neighborhood. Stood on the corner and sang while Sister Kelly played her ukulele. We waved at every single person and got like 6 or 7 cars to stop so we could give them an invitation. We talked to a ton of people that night and invited soooo many to the party. We have this family of 5 and two other people come with us. They loved it.
The ward party was soooooo amazing. They had tradition Mexican dancing and food, games, piñatas, candy...ah we loved it soo much. I got some awesome pictures and videos. We even tried to dress up a little bit for it. 😂

But that morning we had a women's retreat. We got to hangout literally all day with all the sister missionaries from the mission. I got to see Hermana Larsen again!!! Ah she's doing so well. We got all the Hermanas from our old district in the CCM and got a nice lil photo.
That was pretty fun. I hope on my mission I'll be able to be companions with any of the Hermanas from that district.

The next day our bishop invited us to a baby shower. It was super fun. There were like 60 or 70 people. It was ridiculous. But we played games and had some amazing Mexican food, juice, candy, ice cream...everything twas delicious.

All the missionaries in our zone got the opportunity to watch the face 2 face on Sunday. It was pretty good. We tried to invite a buttloads of people, but no one came haha.
After that we went ukulele proselyting and found some awesome guys that are gonna play basketball with us Monday. Where we play pros ball. I'm so excited.

Oh and Shout out to my Bro!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! HE'S 20 HOW CRAZY!

Love ya Dalton!! Keep Killin it in Brazil. 

[Week 2]Heyo!!

Hope your week has been pretty awesome.
We had a lot happen this week.
We had Larry S. Karcher come and speak with all the missionaries in the whole zone. So at the zone conference we listened to some amazing counsel and ways to increase our efforts. The spirit was there for sure. He also was pretty funny and called some elders to repent for not skiing haha.
Anytime people come and basically give us constructive criticism about being better missionaries it just give me an adrenaline burst like let's go out and do all these things they talked to us about. But this week has been a little difficult. We have been having very much luck finding people to teach. But we're trying to come up with different ways to find people. The ukulele has been a pretty awesome conversational started haha.
Samir Jr. was BAPTIZED. He was so happy the whole entire time. He had the biggest smile on his face and you could tell he was waiting for this for a long time. He's 11 and he's been taught on and off for like years. He finally was able to have his Dad baptize him. It was at 9am Sunday morning because his dad literally had no other time on any other day.
We were worried that people wouldn't show up because that's too early for everyone here. But every showed up before 9. Except for Samir haha. They showed up at 9:30 hahaha
That was a lil stressful. But it always works out in the eyes of God.
We've been figuring out wedding stuff for our investigators that are wanting to get married and baptized by the 28th. Transfers is on October 1st. So there's a possibility that I could leave Brownsville and go to a different area. We talked about it before. But I told them they don't have to get baptized on the 28th because they didn't know if it was possible to get married before that. He has to fix some stuff with Mexico before he can get married. So there was a ton of things and little time. Anyway I told them that they don't have to get baptized on the 28th we can change it if they need more time. He told me no. He said they are getting baptized before I could leave.
OH MY GOODNESS!!! They are soooooo amazing. They literally are already talking to us about fasting and tithing and all these amazing things. The spirit guided them to us because it was all part of God's plan. I LOVE BROWNSVILLE!!!

I know I'm here in Brownsville for a reason. The spirit is amazing. It has lead us to so many people that are waiting for the gospel to be in their lives. I know my Savior lives and that he suffered for all of us. It's crazy that I'm in Texas. It doesn't even feel like it. We are literally in Mexico with the amenities of the of the US.
I love you all.
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit. Pray and read everyday. I know you'll receive the support and blessings that you need from doing it everyday.

Love, Hermana Darling

Blessins on blessins on blessins

This transfer is flying by so fast. We have been trying to find so many people like crazy. Hermana Kelly has been sick these past few days so I've been on splits with different Hermanas so we can still continue to work hard.

A little bit about the people of Brownsville. Hmmm    My Mom wants me to explain the culture and stuff. Haha

The people here are super giving and always tell us they appreciate spreading the word. They literally live in shacks but are so loving and supporting of us that they are always willing to feed us anything they have. There are some neighborhoods that have super nice houses hidden around Brownsville. But then you see that neighborhood and then the next left is a street full little tiny houses with boatloads of mangy cats and dogs roaming the streets. There are a lot of people that love us but then there are people who literally shut the door before we can say what we are doing.

We literally see México when we are riding our bikes. There is a bridge that cars and people cross everyday just to get some groceries here then they go back haha.

We had a baptism for this girl Yossellin. She was going to get baptized in Matamoros but she always is in our ward. She's been coming to church for 4 years. So we met with her and then a week later she was baptized. She was super nervous about it too.

The spirit has been directing us to where we need to go.

We are teaching some awesome people right now.

Angel y Blanca- They have 3 kids and they love when we come over. They went to church with us last week and they loved every minute of it. They have a baptismal date for the 21st but they need to get married before. And he has to deal with some stuff in Mexico. So hopefully that can happen before the 21st. But other then that they are so golden. They have been having some trials and they said that things have been falling into place and they know that it's because they pray as a family and they went to church.


Selene-She's so awesome! We found her knocking an apartment complex. And we gave her a Book of Mormon and marked 3 Nephi 11. We were knocking around her apartment one night and we decided to go try by her. She was there. We explained the Book of Mormon and gave a restoration lesson. She was crying and she told us that she was looking for a sign and we are her sign. We asked her if she wants to get baptized and she said yes. She has a baptismal date for the 28th.

Adrinda-We met her one night when we were knocking randomly. She's super cool. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she started crying. She told us she never knew that she would be able to see her family again because her grandma died a little bit ago. We asked her if she wanted to get baptized. She said yes but she has to ask her mom. She's like 24. But we were like yeah ask your mom haha.

Ramon- This dude is soooo awesome. He definitely has the spirit with him. He loved our lesson on the restoration. Right after that he was like now I'm going to go and read that book (Book of Mormon) and the pamphlet. Ahh I love it!

Johnny-He works at a restaurant and is always offering us food from his work. We invited him to read the book of mormon. He's so sweet to us. His wife lives in Matamoros for school. So he's always alone. But he said he'll read and let us know if he has any questions.

Samir Jr- He's getting baptized this Sunday at like 9am because his Dad works every day and only has Sunday morning until 3 that he is free. So he wanted to do the baptism in the morning. Haha we'll try to have it happen.

The people we are teaching are so amazing and the spirit is always with us when we are teaching them. It's crazy how God has put us in the right place at the right time. He has brought us to people for a reason. He answers our prayers.

A few days ago we had a warning for a hurricane...that never came...dang it! It dumped for 2 days and we biked in it. 

I don't remember if I mentioned this before or not but we don't have a car anymore. We're on our bikes all day every day. Anyway we biked through the rain and it was so fun. But then a few days after Hermana Kelly got sick. Haha 

We were soaking all day long. It was so fun though. We were just watching the lightening while biking haha.

I love it here in Brownsville. The people are growing on us and they love us so much. The spirit is with us constantly. I love being able to follow it and receive the blessings that come from God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The more I teach it and read more about it the more my testimony is strengthened. I love being able to help people recognize the blessings they are receiving when they do the things that God wants them to do.

 

I love you all and I love being a missionary

Hope your enjoying your families, work, school, going to church, reading your scriptures, praying, and being yourself. Let me know if ya need anything. 

Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit😉
~Hermana Darling~

A New Transfer Begins

What a flipin awesome/hardcore/sweaty/smelly/happy/crazy week we've had.
We had transfers on Tuesday.
It was a hard good-bye to Bennett. But it was a super amazing experience being with her. Oh man we got along soooooo well. I felt like if I had a sister it would be her. She has an amazing testimony and love for every single person in the entire world. But God has a plan for all of us even though it might be tough in this moment it will all work out in the future.

I got a new companion. Her name is Hermana Kelly she's from Las Vegas and she's only on her 3rd transfer. She was also in an English area before coming to Brownsville. But she's slowly remembering Spanish. So I literally know more Spanish then my trainer. 😂😂
It's hilarious. But through this week the spirit has been with us as we've been trying to speak Spanish and teach people. Haha they want us to come back so I guess they are understanding what we're saying. Blessings!! She also always is like "I don't feel like a trainer because you came pre-trained" haha not even.

Anyway the zone changed a ton. There are like 3 companionship that are white washing areas. We also have only 8 sisters and 16 elders in our zone. Basketball and soccer are going to be soooo fun!!!!
Oh we also don't have a car anymore so our area is a bike area now!!! I honestly love it. But I never new I could sweat this much until we started biking all day. I feel bad for the people we have to teach because I know I smell bad and they have to put up with it. Haha😂😂
But it's okay. It makes me feel super successful when I come home completely exhausted and completely drenched in my own sweat. I take more good pictures for sure.

We have been knocking doors constantly and trying to find some new people. We've found some pretty great people and we invited literally everybody to come with us.
But one important thing I've learned this week is change is necessary. When we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Mayra, who is getting baptized on the 7th or 14th, one thing that Kelly said that I really loved was how we need to go through repentance. Mayra wants to get baptized again, her first baptism was when she was a baby in the catholic church. We explained how they didn't have the proper authority of God. She kind of understood it. But then Kelly was asking her questions about if she repented as a baby. She said no. Kelly told her that she couldn't have because when you are born you are innocent and don't know anything so how can you change. You need to have the ability to make decisions for your own so then you can decide that you want to change and repent for your sins.
The lesson went really well. She's getting so prepared for her baptism. It's crazy.

Samir Jr. Is getting baptized next Sunday. Woo-hoo!!! This boy is so awesome he really loved when we talked about getting the Holy Ghost to be with us at all times and he is so ready.

We have just been working non-stop for so long and are loving it. Brownsville is going places.
I know that my Savior lives and loves me. I feel his live for every single person as well. It's crazy how much we love random strangers here. The atonement is such an amazing gift that we get to use whenever we possibly can. He gave it to us for a reason. Why do we need to suffer when he has already suffered for us?

I've already learned a lot more since I've been out here on the mission. And I'm so grateful that I am an instrument in the hands of our God. This is not my mission this mission started back when Jesus was on the earth, I'm just somewhat helping this work press forward.

I love you all. I hope you've had an amazing week and have felt the spirit as well.
Let me know if you need help with anything. I'm not that far away.😉
Be yourselves.
Love, Hermana Darling

There is a God. And he loves all of his children.

Busy... Busy... Busy
Everyday is super busy and it honestly makes the day go by sooo fast.
We have so many new people we're teaching and they are all filled with the light of Christ...it's crazy!!

We met Mayra who is amazing. She was a referral from a member and she wants to get baptized so bad but she's a little scared of her parents. She lives with them and she is like 25 years old. She really wants to grow closer to Jesus Christ so much.

We went to this apartment complex and we were talking to some referrals by the other sisters. We met Samantha and her mom Maria. They are so awesome. She wants her kids to grow up in Christ's church and for them to stay on the straight and narrow path, especially through school.
We also met her brother-in-law, Angel and his wife Sandra. We called them last minute to come to a baptism with us. And they came!! He was telling us that he would love to be baptized.

There is also Lily who lives right by Angel and Samantha. She is super sweet and she has a 5 year old that she gained custody of from one of her daughters. Her name is Melody and she loves to dance. She's soooo cute. We had Lily pray for us on one of our last visits and when she was done she just started crying. The spirit was so strong in the room. She even told us she doesn't know why she's crying. Ah I love these people.

I also am getting a new Companion. Bennett is going home on Wednesday. Also the whole zone is basically leaving. I am the only one left from my district. Both elders are going to different areas and so are the other sisters from my district. I'm a little bummed. But it's what God wants done and I'm alright with that.

Also our apartment will go from just us 2 to 4 so I'm getting to live with 3 new sisters. What fun that'll be... 😞 Haha it'll be fine

The church is true. God lives. He answers prayers for everyone.
Love you all
Open your mouth!
~Hermana Darling ~