Forget Yourself and GO TO WORK!

 Hello fam and friends! :) 

First off I just have to say time is a weird thing on the mission. Some days feel like years and then the weeks feel like days! I cant believe Ive been a missionary for 3 MONTHS NOW?? This has been the hardest/longest/fastest/best? time Ive ever had! 

   Anyways about this week...

Soooo last pday my companion was a little sick and I didnt think much of it because it was pday and I was playing soccer all day and talking to my fam (I know selfish hahah) but turns out my comp was more sick than I thought, so next thing I know Im in quarantine for 5 days... yayyy... dont worry it wasnt covid just a little bug or something, but to be safe we couldn't leave our house. The great thing about being w someone 24/7 (having a comp) is that you get close and share a lot with each other, including sicknesses haha so yes, the next day I felt greeaaattt *I dont know how well sarcasm travels from a different country and a phone lol* but anyways I was very sick as well. Being sick, far from home, not being able to do super solid missionary work made me feel pretty sad, especially because basically everyone we tried to talk to and teach this week ghosted us (or stopped answering us for all the older folks;). Rough time to say the least. Luckily the bug only lasted a day or two (thanks to worthy priesthood holders and blessings) and after a bit we felt much better but still couldnt leave. 

   Well, towards the end of the week was my moms birthday so I got to talk to her on the phone! (It was the best and the worst:') I love my mom a lot (shes the coolest) and after a hard week I just really wanted my mom. After some tears and letting myself have a breakdown my mom gave me an awesome pep talk. After this pep talk I realized I just need to "forget myself and go to work." 

   Yes some days are hard here but I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and realize how cool this opportunity is to come to a different country and preach the gospel- in spanish- so that all of Gods children can have the opportunity to hear the gospel and Gods plan for them! This has also been the most humbling experience of my life for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons its humbling is that every day I rely on God to even be able to speak to my companion and others. Im so grateful for this opportunity and that God trusts me to do this work! Im seriously so blessed to be a missionary and I love getting to share the gospel!! 

   This week I invite you all to do something for someone else and to forget yourself a little more and "go to work." I know you are all very busy and have a lot going on, but imagine how much better the world and your life would be if you took an extra 5 minutes a day to spend your time for someone else. This doesnt have to be anything big- maybe its spending 5 minutes off social media so you can send a nice text to someone or read your scriptures, or spending an extra 5 minutes driving to let someone into your lane and stopping for someone crossing the road, or an extra 5 minutes to help clean your house so your mom doesnt have to. whatever it is, I PROMISE that if you spend a little more time every day trying to help someone else your own problems will seem smaller and you will be happier. 

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are in the service of your god"

God does so much for us, maybe we can serve him a little more too:) 

Love you all so much and I hope you are doing well! 

-hermana Stone 

BAPTISMS, Birthdays, Bad Spanish, and Blessings

 WHAT A WEEK WOW

   first off I have to say this week was the best week Ive had in the mission! GOD IS SO GOOD! This week i just feel extremely blessed to be a missionary and have the opportunity to bring others to Christ and I also feel so grateful for my family! 4/6 people in my family have birthdays this month and Ive been thinking a lot about my family! They are honestly my best friends and I find so much comfort knowing that with Gods plan I can live with them forever! Bday shoutout to AJ and Maddie this week and mom and Sav the next week and a half Anyways my family is the best ever! 

   What really made this week was CARLOS AND JAVIER GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!! I dont think I've ever smiled so much in a day! Carlos stressed us out because he was over 30 minutes late to his own baptism lol BUT everything went so good when he got there! Seeing Carlos and Javier sitting there dressed in white made me feel pure JOY! Seeing them feeling so much joy I can only imagine how happy Heavenly Father was looking down on them when they got baptized, and how happy he is when we choose to follow Christ! When Carlos and Javier both came out of the water they just glowed, I really dont know how else to explain it! It was also super cool because the whole baptism room was packed full of people from supportive members (they both didnt have family to come), and it was awesome to feel everyones love for them. My heart felt so full I thought it would burst! 

   Because there must be opposition in all things (or weeks), Ill be real with you guys and say this week wasnt perfect. I had someone in our lesson say "you might as well just speak english, i might understand better..." and in the same day 2 people on the phone said they couldnt understand me...yeah that kinda crushed my soul like a grape jaja.I had a breakdown to my parents and missed them like crazy BUT Im doing much better now! I think my siblings roasting me all these years helped me learn how to bounce back quick ;) Its so crazy though, I am understanding so much more spanish and sometimes i find myself being so comfortable talking to people which is rad! I had 3 different people in church yesterday tell me they were impressed with my spanish for only being here a short time and I think that was God smiling down on me telling me hes recognizing my efforts and aware of me! Its cool how God works through other people to tell us things! God has definitely been helping me through every day, and so far my mission has really humbled me and made me recognize that we really need God every day! He'll always help us if we ask, and is just waiting to pour blessings on us! 

   Also, Carlos and Javier both got confirmed yesterday and told my comp and I that we forever changed their lives and theyre so grateful. I think in that moment it really clicked for me why I'm here on a mission and just how important every person is to our Heavenly Father! It boosted me because I want to help others find the light of Christ that I saw shining in Carlos and Javier!! 

   Guys God is SO GOOD, and he is aware of YOU. Individually and perfectly. If youre struggling know youre not alone, and God will help you through it. When you think no one can relate or understand what youre going through, rememberJesus Christ knows exactly how you feel bc he felt YOUR pain and afflictions! And remeber we are supposed to struggle and go through hard times! How else would we expect to become more like Christ without going through hard things?? Anyways, If youre struggling, know you arent alone! "You will be found" from Dear Evan Hansen has been stuck in my head this week and I love the message of that song. Give it a listen to if you havent heard it before :) Enjoy music for me, I miss it!! 

Anyways much love from Mexico and I hope to hear from you guys! Love ya

sstone@missionary.org

-hna stone 

Pictures this week- A letter from our fav kid jacob We made cookies for the baptism and for our fav members anniversary The baptism Ponce y yo Pretty sunset at Tianguis

1 AM Baptism?

 Hola family and friends! This week was a good one! 

   We had 5 people come to church with us yesterday and we have some awesome people we're teaching so I feel very blessed! Carlos and Javier are getting baptized this Saturday if all goes to plan and Diego will be baptized the following week! I'm SO excited for them! I got a good laugh this week when talking to Javier because we told him he could choose what time he wants to be baptized Saturday and he said hed think about it. Well the next time we saw him he told us he wanted to get baptized at 1... we didnt think much about it until he said that this day was special and he wants to be baptized in the FIRST hour of the day... as in 1 in the MORNING... Jaja, yeah we thought it was a joke but he was dead serious. After about a day of convincing we got him to change his mind, but that would have been pretty sick to have a baptism at 1 am lol. 

   This week I have really appreciated the help of members in the ward with our friends/investigators! They have really stepped up to make them feel included and a brother in the ward even had Carlos over for dinner and they're like besties now. Member missionary work is sooo important and I hope you know it really does make a difference! 

   This week I also got to help be in charge of a young men/young woman activity and share a spiritual message and I got to teach everyone how to play spike ball! Wow spikeball is a blessing and it was so fun to play with everyone (and watch everyone try to play;) The net is our District leaders and we got to play last pday too and I've missed it! 

   This week I have seen the hand of god in my life so much. I've been using a gratitude journal and it helps me see the good even when days are hard. The more I look for the good, the less I can remember the bad as I look back on the days so it's been a blessing! Living here in Mexico is honestly so great and the people, food, dogs, and places are all super awesome! I'm also  understanding a little more spanish every week and I'm grateful to be here. I miss a couple things from the states this week

like washing machines (washing ALL your clothes by hand, ringing them out, and hanging them is a workout haha), my family and dog of course (the dogs here are cute and everywhere, but just not as cute as mine ya know?), and FALL (fall this year looks sooo pretty), but I'm SO happy to be here! I finally am feeling like I'm getting into this great work and I love it- I'm even learning to appreciate the hard or bad days! 

   Thanks for the love and support and know I'm here for all of you! I love hearing about your lives and seeing pictures so keep me updated!! sstone@missionary.org:)

Anyways life is good here, and I hope you all have the best week! Enjoy the cool weather and mountains for me if you get the chance :D

-hermana Stone

Pictures

-hermanas in my zone

-sunset from our bathroom window 

-my comp and I's new fancy room. Tbh our house is like a mansion compared to the houses here so I'm so grateful! 

-running in the church parking lot :) my comp agreed to go with me in the mornings and it's become a fun part of my day!

Poco a Poco- 1%

  Hello my rad friends and family!

  

   We moved into our house this week which is such a blessing! Its It's nice to live in our area now and finally unpack my stuff for the first time since being here! We had a lot of help moving and it's great to have a bed and space for my own for a bit! 

  This week we had zone conference which was great- my president and zone are awesome- and my president told us that in November we get to have a zoom call with our mission and ELDER HOLLAND and ask him questions! I'm super stoked! A little sad it cant be in person bc of covid- apparently that's still a thing Haha- but I'm glad I get that opportunity to ask an apostle of the lord questions! Also this wee we did a mission wide fast for our investigators. It was really cool and brought the spirit in and it made me feel so much love for the people were teaching! I just want to learn spanish and share the gospel with everyone! 

   Highlight of this week was conference BY FAR! During this conference I felt the spirit stronger than I've ever felt in my life. Right when president Nelson started talking I was overcome with love and emotion because I know that he is a true prophet of God and God has not and will not ever forget or forsake us. He will not stop guiding us, especially in these last days. If you didnt get the chance to listen to conference (or even if you did) I invite you to all go back and read, listen, and ponder the words FROM GOD spoken through his apostles and prophets. If you have a question or need to feel Gods love for you, listen to conference and if you pray and seek for guidance and love, God will help you receive it! 

   This week I felt a little stressed because I feel like I have SO many different things I want to change and learn to be a good missionary and better person, and as I was feeling overwhelmed going into conference not knowing what to do. BUT I had faith that God would answer my questions and give me peace and many talks jumped out at me talking about changing little by little, increasing by 1%, adjusting our course daily, trying a little harder to be a little better, and I thought wow- that's not so hard! I can learn and grow poco a poco! If you like me feel like there are so many things you want to improve you don't even know where to start, START LITTLE BY LITTLE! Choose one thing you want to better in your life by 1%, and talk to God and ask for his help. I know that if you do this, you might not see the big effects right away, but God will bless you for your efforts and help you grow until you can improve your next thing by 1%. 

   I hope you know that I love you all and am always here for you, but more importantly I hope you know God loves you all and is always there for you! God is so good! Love you guys! :) 

- hermana stone