This is at Zone Conference this past week. This is Sister Recinos who received her visa and will be leaving at the end of the transfer! She's awesome!:) (Elder Butterfield with the photobomb. . .)

The Christensens sent me a little mini Easter package in the mail!

These were made by Sister Lambson, the coolest ward missionary ever!! Krey and Coltran, I thought you would appreciate!

 I LOVE Syracuse! This is right next to our apartment last night. We've started going running in the mornings every other day and it is sooo beautiful!

28 April 2014

"I can dig it"

OI! Well this week has already come and gone although it seemed rather long while it was happening:) There were a couple of times and days this week that were extremely hard, harder than they have been thus far. I realized though, that that's because I've gotten into a cycle of being really hard on myself. Basically not forgiving myself or ever realizing the good! This is not a nice place to be or a nice thing to do to oneself and I'm so grateful that I was able to realize what was happening and that I have Sister C and most importantly the Atonement. I can't explain although you may all know, how the Atonement has lifted me again and again and again. I read a great article in the Ensign during lunch about turning our hearts over every week during the Sacrament, every day when we pray and every hour. The Atonement is there for us. It's real. I never knew any of this before and I am so grateful! 

Anyway, long story short, I'm doing good, seeing lots of miracles and the beauty of God's earth, loving lots of people and laughing at all of the weirdo things that happen to me each day! For example, Tayler: The other night we had dinner at a member's home and I wish had time to describe to you every disturbing detail! Needless to say, we ended up eating grease-drenched fried chicken, with a gob of dog hair and possibilities of salmonella poisoning and. . . HOT KOOL AID! Yes, it happened and I was dying, whispering the quotes to Sister C.

This week we had Z.C and were trained in this new way to teach much more simply, quickly and with the Spirit being the teacher, it was awesome! The day after we saw a change in how bold we were and referrals, lessons new investigators everything! The promises were real! Turns out that in the Gospel they ALWAYS are. We just have to put them to the test by doing our part:)

Friday was what is known as May Fest. AKA the stupidest thing ever. It's the weekend before finals week so what do we all? Skip classes and get drunk ALL day. Seriously. Euclid street was a mad house. The ridiculous thing is that the teachers endorse it by cancelling class! My favorite drunk moment this week goes as follows: Everyone was dressed like they were at the beach and were all over since they didn't have classes, sister C and I were wearing. . . tights and boots and dresses (surprise!) This totally high guy on a long board rides right in front of us yelling, "It's casual Friday yo, ok? It's casual Friday!" It rocked.

Another classic moment: We were teaching a new investigator named Dequane (name NOT changed, this is the ‘cuse) and he had just finished the First Vision. We asked him something like, what do you think about that/what are you feeling? etc. He sat there for a minute and then said, "Yeah, I can dig it. It's true. . . yeah!" Best. Response. Ever!

Also, wish I had more time to put this plug in but: Please make a personal goal to start studying from PMG! I promise you that it will help you become the member missionary that you can and need to be! It is a wonderful and inspired book and was written to help hasten this work. Which, mind you, is not the missionaries' work, it's the Lord's work!

I love you all and wish I had more time to tell you about all of the awesome miracles!!

Com muito amor,

Sister Ventura Moroni 7:41-48

Drug Diaries

Grump off. This is Mandie's cat, "Honey Cat."

Thank you so much for the cute box of Sunshine Paulson family! That was so nice!!

We made these for district mtg and put nutella on top, how cute are they??

Egg dying with Kat from the Branch and a ton of her non-member friends! People ask us if we're sisters all the time to which I respond, "Sisters in the Gospel!" Ha. 

We had an oober fun Easter potluck with the Smith and bunch of his non-member class mates from China and a guy from Africa. Gah! I forgot to include his quote! When we were saying goodbye to him he said, "Venturaa! Be ready, when I finish my studies we go together to Africa!" My initial reaction was to be creeped out but then I thought that Africa sounded pretty awesome so I just said, " Yes! Hey Sister C, we're going to Africa!!" 

21 April 2014

Drug Diaries

Sorry if this title isn't quite as inspiring as some in the past may have been. . . I have legitimately started a thing in my journal called "drug diaries" however stay tuned to find out why!

Thank you so much for all of the love this week! I am so blessed! Mom, the Easter package was so fun, I loved all of the cards from you hooligans. Paulson family, thank you!! Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Roy, that was soo fun to get! Allie, Tresa and Mom, thank you for the letters!! It made for quite a joyful Easter week! Since just one of the perks of being a missionary means 4x the amount of usual Easter goodness we were able to make some fun little Easter bags for different people with all that great stuff, so thank you so much! Don't worry, I didn't give it all away:)

Tuesday: This was a weird day because we were so happy throughout even though we apparently had a curse for EVERYTHING to go wrong. It started our pretty typically with Sister C and I running down the hill after the bus and yelling at it to wait whilst our umbrellas were going inside out from the crazy wind. I know this might come as a surprise to some of you that I was chasing after something due to miscalculating how much time I actually had. . .  Because the bus lady (Pearler) is our friend and knows us she just waited and laughed. Aannd I couldn't find my bus pass, for real this time. Then I left my umbrella on the bus and later in the day another at a lesson (I had lost our third one the night before. . . ) Because it had been pretty warm in the days previous I decided to wear only a cardigan. . . It ended up snowing the entire day, good choice. After our first lesson, we were walking to the next linked arm in arm because we only had 1 umbrella and I was freezing. After that lesson the older less-active lady that we were visiting asked us to get her mail for her. Sure, no problem! We actually couldn't get her mailbox open. . .we even called her asking for help and she told us just to turn it. We had to return to her apt empty-handed because we could not open it! She told us it was ok, she would just get it later, pathetic! The great thing was that for some reason this was all hilarious to us and while we were freezing, and flailing and failing we were just laughing our heads off! Lessons fell through, the works. But we were able to have the greatest lesson ever that night with Mandie, seriously, it was one of the lessons you dream about as a missionary. The Spirit was there so strongly, we had a wonderful member there whose circumstances were perfect for Mandie, we were able to ask "inspired questions" and Sister C and I were teaching so unified that it was insane! Funnily enough this may have been the happiest day of my mission thus far! Why? Because the light that the Gospel brings cannot be substituted! It answers every question, every doubt and cam make even the silliest, hardest days seem so great! Also, having the Spirit is absolutely KEY to any spiritual learning. It's so crazy how I can feel a difference when I start teaching without the Spirit, saying something without thinking about it first etc. It's so vital!

Thursday: We got a text from Mandie saying that she was "loving 2 Nephi 4." This girl is amazing! We challenged her to read every single day and showed her how it could bless her and she did it and is loving it! It's pretty cool to be able to watch someone's testimony grow right in front of you and to be right there growing with them. I love it:)

Friday: Don' EVER judge a book by it's cover. As a missionary that seems obvious but I still do it all the time. This big black guy covered in tattoos got on the bus and sat down facing us. I pretty consciously decided within about 24.5 seconds that I wasn't going to talk to him because he wouldn't be interested, he looked mean and I didn't know what to say. So there. The worst! Sister C. waited awhile and then asked him about one of his tatoos. .. . The rest is history, we could barely get a word in edge wise! He was one of the friendliest guys ever and had a great taste in music to boot! He liked Fleetwood Mac and all thanks to you dad I was able to use those hours in the car singing to Aaron Neville, Tim Croche, Marvic Gay, and on and on. He loved old music with "soul" none of this new stuff, he's awesome! He said he was and "old soul." I was pretty much jumping out of my seat by then. He's raising a little 5 year old daughter on his own and his whole life is dedicated to it. He started telling us all of his parenting methods, all about religion, and said he would read the BOM and get back to us, who knows but anyway, lesson learned I hope! It's amazing how Heavenly Father works, we were told by three different people (including this guy, Raheem)  that day that we were there right at the time they needed someone to listen, to cheer them up and to really help in Mandie's case. There is no greater feeling. None. 

Sunday: Speaking of those great feelings. . . Saturday night Belinda called and texted us saying that she and her kids wanted to walk to church with us. Yes! The thing is, it actually happened! That absolutely perfect Easter morning we walked with that perfect little family to church, pretty great right? It gets better. Her boys are 6 and 4 and cheerfully walked the mile+ there and then back afterwards. When we were climbing up the last hill, the little 4  year old Isaac smiled up at me and then grabbed my hand to cross the street. He then held it the whole way plodding up the hill, one little step at a time smiling the whole way. I cannot describe how I felt at the moment. Every single struggle was all of a sudden worth it. Sometimes we can taste little pieces of Eternal joy, teensy slivers. But there it is, and those feelings cannot be forgotten or denied! It was the best Easter present I could've asked for!!

Mandie news: She broke up with her boyfriend and the first thing she tells us afterwards is,"Well, hey. . . now i"m living the word of wisdom!" Gah! The sacrifices she has made even in the time I've known here are insane!! She is so excited to get baptized! She teaches me soo much!

Randomness: Tayler S.U university has a Quidditch league. . .real life. We saw them out practicing the other day, isn't that beautiful?! And now, back to the really important stuff. . . (gosh sorry my letter placement is the worst!) I'll just pick my favorite drug/drunk episode of the week, wish I had more time! We were standing on the corner (tons of students were out and about enjoying the day) waiting to cross the road, I was texting someone back and heard a nice looking student walk across the street and say,"here's 5 20's, the other half will be here next week," he then took a little brown back and smiling went back to his friends. After we crossed there were some students observing  from their porch," nah you do that with Cocaine, you usually sell, blah blah blah." Sister C, " we were just 20 feet away from a drug deal!! I didn't know what to do!" Aaaah, it all came into focus. So surreal, there were so many people out, it was sunny, the people involved looked so clean cut and nice and normal, I mean they probably were. . . So dumb! Students basically out on the corner selling their brains away! Another fun time was when we were walking home at about 8:45. It was us and the drunk guy in front us. Whooo just happened to be one of our investigators. We had a nice but repetitious conversation and made sure he wasn't run over about 3x seeing as he was in the middle of  the road. We'll see later this week if he remembers any of that. . . The absolute weirdest things happen on a mission!

I love you guys so much! Thanks for looking so good in your Easter pictures, I have the cutest family on the planet!

Love,

Sister Ventura~Hebrews 4:14-16

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! Apparently Saturday wasn't actually earth day but. .. . regardless, I got to wear a helping hands vest for the first time in my life and pick up trash in the sunshine for 2 hours! It was actually the most lovely thing

Because of Him.

April 14, 2014

Because of Him.

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694

Go watch this amazing video that the church put out to spread the good news about Easter! Share this on your social media! This is a fantastic little video that is a great missionary tool and something that everyone will love:) The church is awesome:)

Wow. Let me say, thank goodness for music and sunshine. And: The Dawn will always come! I know that. The dawn of understanding, the dawn of hope, the dawn of happiness, the dawn of love, the dawn of testimony. It will always come. I've experienced this time and time again and so it amazes me that I forget and begin to doubt every time. But even then, the light starts to peek through, and sometimes bursts out brilliantly.

Why does the dawn come? Because of the grace of Jesus Christ. The Atonement is so much more than I ever knew. It really is all encompassing. I was reading a talk this morning Entitled, "Missionary Work and the Atonement" by Elder Holland, killer talk! He talks about that, how the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ, our whole salvation and happiness, every bit of it, is made possible through Jesus Christ's Atonement. Now just because I said that doesn't mean that I understand it (which isn't generally a practice I recommend:) but I'm coming to understand just a little bit more every day of how true that Statement is.

Which is why it's really frustrating when others don't or won't see it too! Aaand, here we are at the source of my frustration for this week. When we meet, good, solid, "golden" people and give them the truth and invite them to find our for themselves, why won't they take it?? Why won't they recognize it?? I already know the answers: it's not on my timing, it's good that they already accept so much truth, and like Elder Holland said in that same talk, "because salvation is not a cheap experience!" But it still doesn't take away the frustration factor. It's hard. We had a lesson at an awesome members's home scheduled with Prakash for this past Saturday. He just didn't show up! NOT cool dude! Sis. Larsen (the member) came with us after we had been waiting at their home for like and hour and 15 minutes to just stop by his house and introduce her (he wasn't home:() We were talking about this whole concept and she said how we just have to remember that after this life we'll meet so many people that will say, "Hey! Thanks for trying! Sorry I didn't listen at first, why didn't you take me by the shoulders and shake me?!" and then we'll say, " I wanted to!" Hahah, I loved that. I really need to keep that in mind because right now our teaching pool is getting smaller, we didn't find anyone new and no one seems to want to be taught. We did teach a really good first lesson to one of the awesomest (not a word but should be) ladie I've ever met named Nancy. She already knows so much truth but doesn't want to add more right now. Gah! She has a book of Mormon though and she's had the restoration recounted to her and I know that she felt at least an inkling of the truth even if she doesn't recognize it as such right now because she's a really intelligent, open-minded person. It's just the timing I suppose:) We very well might go back soon and help her in her yard so that will be cool! If ya'll could pray for us to find prepared people to teach (based on our efforts and faith of course) that would be awesome, I know they're out there, I really want to find them. I'm going to work even harder to do so this week. I'm so grateful for p-days and how much they do rejuvenate me and help me realize how lucky I am to be a missionary!

Mom, you were right, the weather was so kind to us this week and it was muito marvelhso! People are coming alive! All of a sudden it's like the population of Syracuse has doubled! Everyone is out cleaning up their yards and planting, I loove it! I really do love Syracuse, it's pretty cool. When you have a sec google pics of downtown Syracuse, there are some preeeety cool things, reminds me of all of the European cities in lots of ways!

Oh yeah: at the Larsens on Saturday when we got there Bro. Larsen (served in Brazil and helps me out with my prayers and such when I go there!) had left some music from itunes on.  Sister C asked them if we could turn it off because well, that's what we're supposed to do.  Later at dinner he said that was a test. " Oh yeah, I'm not going to give my friends to missionaries that don't follow the rules!" Yikes. Good lesson, good example. No pressure!

Mom, thanks so much for the pictures! I was going to ask about your race, you guys are the coolest parents ever! Umm yeah I would go on a blosson walk with you and delight in every single one. I geek out about the buds that are starting to emerge to anyone who will listen, they all think I'm crazy I think;)  Krey man, that catapult is awesome! I hope you guys got my letters (mom, kali Coltran) krey, tayler and dad, yours are coming! Coltran bud, I got that awesome painting from you last Tuesday, that was like the best surprise ever! Sister C thought it was so cool too so we hung it up and decided it means, "drink da' milk" of the Gospel. So, love it.

I love you guys so much and miss you! I also love it here and am glad I have another week to work harder and do better:)

Com muito amor,

Sister Ventura (link above! Do it!)

This was another little surprise we did for Sis C's birthday, aaaand obviously this is our new band cover. We went with our 2 investigators Ryan and Eva. Krey you would've loved this wall, it was the coolest picture taking spot, so naturally I took a bunch! I'll send a few more, cool idea eh?

Isn't she the cutest? :)

Cusein' it.

Mom thank you SO MUCH for the package! We loved it and it was so fun to get!! We didn't get it until Friday but it's been great:) We had a potluck in between conference sessions with investigators used the oober cute plate etc. and made the cake! We also had a blast decorating our apartment:) Thank you so much!

"Endings are not our destiny."

April 7, 2014

"Endings are not our destiny."

Boom. Conference as a missionary was FANTASTIC! I can't even tell you how excited I was and I was just so alert and listening to every single word! Good gracious. Mom, will you send me a copy of the Ensign when it comes out??:) There was so much goodness that I felt and learned that there's no stinkin way to tell it all but I thought that quote did a pretty good job. Overall Conference strengthened my eternal perspective that I've begun to have glimpses of and that I hope I can strengthen and keep after my mission! It makes every single thing in life that much easier. When it ended yesterday I had this burst of happiness and though, "I know this stuff is true, theses men women just spoke truths!" Sometime I doubt, and sadly I know I will again and again, sometimes it's frustrating, annoying, the answers don't come, certain aspects seem cumbersome but deep down I'll always know that this is true. It makes too much sense, it answers every question. This gospel is beautiful, hopeful and true!

Some points that really stuck out to me:

-Family history work! Man oh man, I think that this will only continue to become a bigger thing! I loved the quote that someone said about Christ performing a vicarious Atonement for us because we cannot do it ourselves, similarly we need to do the vicarious ordinances for our dead. Wow. chew on that! It made think of wherever it is in D&C where it says that we cannot be saved without our dead, neither can they without us be saved. . . exciting stuff.

-The Work of Salvation! Elder's Ballard's talk?? This is something we should all be involved in! Cool beans

-Elder Bednar's talk about the Atonement was beautiful and an answer to my prayers and I cannot wait to read it again:)

Sorry I forgot to mention this last week. . . Yes, we are now in a brand new transfer and. . .surprise! Sister C and I are together for one more transfer, huzzah! At the end of this one I'll either leave with my Visa or she'll leave because she's been here for 5 transfers, yikes, change!

Tayler: TOMORROW is my 1/6 way mark! What the what? Just fyi;)

minha familia querida, I get to talk you in just about a month! How is that for happy?:)

Thank you so much for the mail people! It was all perfect and I was SO happy! Like I told you mom, they held it forever so I got it all at once. I'm going to write back to some of you today but I obviously won't be able to write all of the today:( I PROMISE that I'm picking randomly oook?;)  Dad, btw I got that postcard (solid work haha) right on April Fool's day, how about that?

(Maddie and Mom you'll especially understand this) So Ratesha. . I think I've mentioned her before. She's a less-active and we're trying to work with her and help her get back to the Temple, she wants to go so badly and I want her to get there so badly! She lives in a horrible environment with horrible things around her and has had a pretty horrible life. She's about 24. This past week when we went to go see her she was in a bad way. She was telling us everything that's going on and just broke down, she just kept saying," I'm so tired, I'm so tired. I just want to be the Ratesha that I know I can be, I want to go to college and get a good job, I want to have a man that takes care of me and doesn't take advantage of me. I am so tired." I awkwardly scooted across the car so I could just hold her for a second.  Sometimes we can be the arms if Christ for someone else because He can't hold us all when we cry like we wish he could. I had a thought and a prayer right then that she could feel Christ's love for her and know that He wanted to hold her so badly and fix her. I'm so grateful to her and her example for me. She always holds on to her testimony. In between every other sentence she was expressing her gratitude for her knowledge of her Savior. Miracles.

Like I mentioned last week, I continue to learn so much about the Atonement each day. This past week I had a rough day (surprise!) I was feeling pretty discouraged and actually just fed up with myself and my shortcomings, I just didn't do so hot! Well that night I really, just gave everything to my Heavenly Father in my prayers and told Him that I couldn't change myself by myself. I needed His help and asked for it, really plead for it. The next day I actually felt myself being lifted, and given strength and courage beyond my own. Goodness, these kinds of experiences are hard to relate to others especially via e-mail! Anyway, because of the Atonement Jesus Christ both gave me strength and took some things away that I couldn't get rid of. I'm so grateful for His Atonement for me!

Line of the week: So Mandie came to all of Conference yesterday! It was perfect for her! She told us that already, so many of her questions had been answered! After the last session yesterday right after Pres. Monson's closing remarks she leaned over to me and said," I love that man!" Smiling my face of I just said, "me too." Well there ya go folks, that's a rap!

I love you so much family! Tayler I want to her about tour! Dad, thanks for the pictures! Krey, lookin' good. . . Coltran buddy I love you so much. Kali bear I can't wait to see your new glasses!! Mom, thanks for everything:)

Vamos para frente com fe,

Sister Ventura Mosiah 2:21