The POWER of GOD'S POWER

I know that Heavenly Father is ALL POWERFUL and that He LOVES us. I know that as we exercise faith, we NEVER forsakes us.

This week, I experienced what will change the rest of my life and strengthen my testimony forever.

We had an amazing day on Tuesday. We pushed ourselves to limits we hadn't before...and because of that, we found 4, yes 4, NEW FAMILIES! It was answers to prayers. Then, we hit our last hour and we decided to hit the park to contact. This decision marked the rest of this week.

There's a lovely virus around town that we like to call CHINKUNGKUYA. Yea just like that. Well this is transmitted through a mosquito bite. We've had a couple missionaries suffer from this. It causes fever, bone and joint aches and a lovely itchy rash that covers your entire body. It's not so fun but from a third party observer, it seemed bareable.

Before, you continue to read. PLEASE know that I am 90% fine!! I really am a good as NEW!

Well these mosquitos decided to have a party at the park on Tuesday around seven o'clock and we hungry and found me very appetizing. Well at the time I didn't think much. Eight o'clock hit and we were heading home when my feet and back starting hurting and I simply said because we had a great, active day.

Two o'clock the next morning, I couldn't sleep from the body ache. Ten o'clock Wednesday morning, the fever started. Ok I admitted it. I had been hit with the Chinkungkuya. Took Ibuprofen and lots of liquids...LOTS! I got worse and worse and worse. So I asked for a blessing and then I took a nap. I got up from a nap around six o'clock to go to the bathroom and I called Hermana Saenz for help.

That's the last thing I remember...until I remember her calling me, asking if I was there and I barely being able to pick up sound and vision.

I had left her. She later tells that I fainted in the bathroom and started to seize and didn't respond.

When I came back, I came back to Hermana Saenz and our neighbor pouring water all over me. They rushed me over to the Emergency Room and I was back home, after they managed to control my fever, which hit 104. Although when I returned, I didn't feel any better.

Thursday. I continued with the constant fever. I showered about 5 times that morning and afternoon. Then napped at six o'clock. The phone was ringing all day, people trying to figure out how I was doing and why it had affected me so terribly. Hermana Saenz woke me to ask how I was doing. I had been praying and left the need of a blessing from Elder Gallo (our zone leader).

That's all I wanted, but out of bad timing and circumstances, I had to head back to the hospital because my fever was reaching 106. The doctors controlled it and gave me more pills. Came back home and this fever was being impossible. I couldn't sweat. I couldn't walk by myself. I couldn't see. Everything hurt. I couldn't move my eyes much. I started to lose lots of energy real fast. It seemed like a one sided battle.

I kept praying. Praying because I knew that although no one nor any medicine could make this go away. I knew Heavenly Father could. I felt the need of a blessing again from Elder Gallo, even if I had already received 2 others.

I testify the power of the priesthood. When the Elders came back at 11:30pm to give me that blessing and I heard Elder Gallo say my name, I knew that it was my Heavenly Father speaking. I felt His love and power immediately and knew that we would calm the fever and make the pain go away. I testify that He did just that. I felt Heavenly Father present that very moment.

Faith is a power. As we exercise it, Heavenly Father works. I couldn't walk on my own or get to the chair for the blessing on my own. After that blessing, I cryed because Heavenly Father had lifted all that pain and fever. I stood up and walked on my own.

I know that this is Jesus Christ's Church. I know that God's POWER and AUTHORITY is on earth today. I know that this is TRUE because I have lived it and witnessed it. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you all!

Hermana Fernandez

The Start of Something New

Alright. Ok. Here We GO. Not much but it's my HIGHLIGHT.

Faith. ¡de eso se trata!

I felt like I was constantly on the verge this week with the Spirit. It was all or nothing.

The light of Christ is in everyone, but if we exercise our faith, we can have the priviledge to see this light. I had a sweet intercambio with the hermanas in Nizao, and it was the coolest experience. I learned, more profoundly, how the spirit works. We were walking by when a woman started hissing at us, well we didn't notice until the member that was with us stopped us and directed us to the woman. The woman asked us to pray for her sickness. Inside of me, I wondered how she knew to stop us to help her. As we came into her home, I quickly felt impressed to share Alma 7:11-12. The Lord suffered all afflictions and sickness to know how to succor us. She invited herself to church before we got to invite her. Nizao is a hard area were they work more with less actives then new investigators. BUT we saw MIRACLES through the Spirit of God that was with us.

This is the Lord's Work and Glory. 

I'm still trying to get used to my new schedule. I travel a lot because our zone is pretty big and I also got to go to the capital and San Cristobal this week. It's the start of something new and fun. Con Dios pa' lante, like a good Dominican says, with God before us...EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Also we have transfers again next week...say what! a month long? yeah I know. Crazy. But it's because of the new President.

Well that's for my week!

Con Amor,

Hermana Fernandez

Scripture of the Week:

"yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."

Alma 17:2-3 (It inspired my WEEK)

Quote of the Week:

"No God. No Love. Know God. Know Love."

(Hermana Buhrley just shared it with me. Thought. Priceless.)

LOVE this WORK and His GLORY

Such an eventful week really! Sorry in advance...might be a long one this week!

Monday. We had a Noche de Hogar with an investigator family. I shared the message on how The Family Proclamation is so necessary in these latter days. I could feel the spirit so abundantly, then I realized that what I was saying really wasn't coming from me but Heavenly Father was using me as His portavoz. I was so grateful at that moment because I really didn't know this family, it was my first time meeting them and I knew that Heavenly Father knew them better than anyone there did, so He let his message known.

Tuesday. I learned more personally how the adversary works to keep the Lord's children from following Him. Last week we met a married-by-law couple, which is super rare here. They are the sweetest people. Well we came back on Tuesday to share the Restoration with them because all of their concerns and questions were perfectly aligned with what the Lord's gospel teaches us. Well everything was going great and then the unexpected happened...

A man from their church came and sat down and suddenly I felt overwhelmed and a heavy burden type feeling came. Hermana Saenz and I quickly recognized it. As we continued, the man began to contend. Our investigators were silent and we felt the Lord's Spirit so abundantly. As we testified and defend what we knew was true, the Spirit continued coming over us. Until we were impressed to leave, Hermana Saenz testified and the man was silenced. Our investigators decided that they didn't want to mix "doctrine". We respected and left. As I walked away from that cita, I didn't feel disappointment, I was filled with peace. I knew that we had done all we come.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is restored and we have the blessing to have it in these lattter days. I don't only believe. I KNOW. 

Alma 26:16

Wednesday. We got to meet our new Mission President. His name is President Nuckols from San Diego, CA. He is an amazing person. He truly was chosen to guide us from our Heavenly Father. He inspired us to take our work here to the NEXT LEVEL. I am so excited for the continuing progress that I will be able to witness in the coming 7 months of my mission!

Thursday. We have an investigator who is really wonderful and has made me understand what it truly means to put God first. That is truly the most intelligent thing we could do. It means to truly put Him before ANYTHING and ANYONE.

Friday. I GOT TO GO BACK TO LAVAPIES! My first area! I got to see just about everyone again. I went to do an intercambio with the sisters there. It was a bittersweet experience and made me realize how time is flying right past me!

Saturday. Great time finding new people! and preparing a family to get SEALED in the TEMPLE!! SO EXCITING, we are planning a Temple Trip soon here in Bani!

Sunday. President Nuckols came to our branch! Then, I was the first missionary he has ever interviewed! That was cool. He shared with me Alma 17:2-3. It was truly what I needed. We must STUDY the scriptures, pray often and fast! And I testify that this is how we continually see the miracles of God before our very eyes!

The DR sends lots of love! It's starting to get hot over here! Heellooo SUMMER! I hope it's treating you well over there.

Love you all and I hope you have a great week! Hold fast and He will not let you swerve!

Love

Hermana Fernandez

New Places, New People, Same Gospel

I´m in Bani, which is between my first and second area, San Cristobal and Azua. I love it here, even though leaving Azua wasn´t very easy. This week has been really great...I learned a lot my first day here how Heavenly Father is in the smallest details of our lives.

As I got to know a lot of the members here this past week and their stories, it inspired me to push myself harder because you really never now who's listening and who is ready to recieve this amazing gospel in their lives. No podemos desmayar, la obra del Señor sigue y ahora mas apresurada!!! As we invited each member this week to follow the guidance of our latter-day Prophet to open our mouths and plead the Lord to guide us to those that need to know what we know to be true, I invite you to do the same. What greater gift could we return to our Heavenly Father than helping Him get His children back to His presence and glory!

Elder Neil L. Andersen said in April 2013 General Conference, ¨Every righteous member of the Church has thought about how to share the gospel. Some share the gospel naturally, and we can learn a lot from them. Some struggle and wonder how to do better, wishing that guilty feeling we sometimes feel would find somewhere else to go.

Our desire to share the gospel takes all of us to our knees, and it should, because we need the Lord’s help...

I promise you, as you pray to know with whom to speak, names and faces will come into your mind. Words to speak will be given in the very moment you need them. Opportunities will open to you. Faith will overcome doubt, and the Lord will bless you with your very own miracles.¨

That´s a promise! I´m so grateful to be part of Christ´s church. The Branch President here shared with us his story on how he was an outsider when he heard the missionaries share with his friend the gospel. He felt it then and became quickly interested, he was baptized a month later and baptized his friend shortly after. We really don´t know who is looking or listening, but the Lord does put us in the right place and the right  time.

I´ve also been called to help the sisters in my zone and in another zone as the hermana leader, and I´ve learned that as we look to the Lord for guidance in the callings He bestows upon us, we understand that this is His work, His words, His glory. He knows each of His children perfectly and we must counsel with Him if we want to be instruments in His hands, answers to prayers, and become more like Him.

Other fun facts:

- Went to Ocoa, which is this city in the middle of the mountains and our branch sang in the choir and apparently I was signed up for it so we headed up there..it´s beautiful. I´ll send pictures soon!

That´s really my week...

I love you all and thank you for all the support and prayers!

Love

Hermana Fernandez

TRANSFER WEEK :S

Hola Mami y Daddy y Amigos!

This week has been absolutely wonderful! We have been working at full speed...this is going to be a short email because we´re in transfers and there´s lot to do today...and lots of changes =(

Hermana Buhrley and I are leaving Azua! NOOOO! Sad day...things always change when we hit our climax!

Hermana Francis is training and Hermana Flores and I get separated...right when she´s done training =(

That´s life in the mission I guess...but we ended this journey with a bang!

Highlights of the this great week:

- Friday. We had an epic missionary work activity with the whole district. I´ll try to send a video...we´ll see if it works.

- Saturday. RAUL got baptized!! WAHHOOOO!! and WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE!!! We went with the whole branch it was a good 35 of us! Such a wonderful experience...some jovenes went for the first time and some got there endowments. Truly special experience. This is what it´s all about.

I love this work. I constantly reflect on the beauty of really understanding what this is all about. The Lord is GREAT and He´s PLAN is PERFECT. At the temple I learned that another fact that TESTIFIES that this is the Lord´s Church is that it is a Church and HOUSE of ORDER. The Lord´s way is the only way. I know this church is the ONLY true church of Christ. He, himself, established it! I am so grateful to know that, not just believe, but KNOW.

I love you all and thank you so much for the prayers and support. I feel your faith in the prayers they do in the temple for us missionaries! Thank you but NEVER forget that you embarked in this wonderful work when you got baptized!

I love you all and I hope you have the best week ever!

Love,

Hermana Fernandez