Family and Friends!!!

Another GREAT week in the blazing hot and beautiful Azua! Really this week was one for the books!

I´ve learned this week the role I have as a Representative of Jesus Christ. It really hit me this week when I heard it and realized what it entails more profoundly and personally. We, as missionaries all over the world, have been called and set apart to do what Jesus Christ would do if he were in our shoes...I really understood this when we were in the middle of a lesson (k keep in mind that this lesson took place in a colmado, in a mini store nothing like it back home..closest is like a 7 eleven but really not the same) In the middle of the lesson a guy came in and started saying things to us, but instead of turning away and ignoring him, I felt the need to redirect him. I told him that he had more potencial then he realized...that even though people had neglected him that he was still a son of God. He stopped bugging us and actually listened. I know that Jesus Christ came to LIGHT UP the way back to our Heavenly Father and we ALL have that opportunity...no matter where we come from or what we did. He paid the prize for ALL of US and we can be free as we accept Him and His Atonement in our lives!

I LOVE this GOSPEL with all my might, mind and strength and I never get tired of testifying of its truthfulness...I am beyond happy because I couldn't be doing anything better at this time in my life!

"For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" Scripture of the Week

I also learned a lot about GRATITUDE this week! The importance of being grateful for all the Lord has given me this week made this week one of greatest...as we are grateful in every moment, we realize that the Lord loves us IMMENSELY!

That is all for now...

Love,

Hermana Fernandez

New Year...New Place...

I'm in AZUA! (which is south of the country) it's way more campo (country) here...It's definitely a different change/feeling since it's the first time since I started the mission that I change areas..San Cristobal was home and family, but it's time to move along EVON....

I am loving it here though! The people here are just as loving and accepting!

We had two baptisms this week...Pamela, who is a super joven, she was super doubtful when I got here, but she took a huge step this last and read all the scripture chapters we left her and made it to the water! Daniel...who is a well known teacher here in Azua got baptized and the sister missionaries did a great job finding him, because god prepared him precisely for this very moment...his was a GOLDEN investigator! They contacted his son who became very uninterested and they started talking to him and he had never really accepted the missionary before Hermana Sanchez (my new companion) found him! He testimony strengthened my testimony so much this week. He knows exactly why he got baptized and he is so excited to learn more....last Sunday, he told me "Hermana Fernandez, este sabado van a tener un nuevo miembro de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias porque yo me bautizo!"....I LOVED THAT...translation: "Sister Fernandez, this Saturday they're gonna have a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I'm getting baptized!!!"

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be here for that very reason...finding people that are absolutely ready to accept the Lord in their lives!

Til Next Monday!

Love,

Hermana Fernandez

Understanding to LOVE more PERFECTLY

My heart is FULL! I don´t really know where to begin...

What does the pure love of Christ mean to you? (I'd really like responds to this question...)

This week was full of miracles. I'll like to share one...

Iluminada is one of our new investigadores, whom I have grown to love so deeply in two weeks. She is so special. She has longed her entire life to find the Way where she can find hope and be free from her burdens. She opened up to us about her life and afflictions after sharing a powerful lesson on the First Vision, when Joseph Smith say God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. That night was when I realized I had reached a new stage in my life. I hadn't felt what the Lord feels for each and everyone of us so abundantly and powerfully like I did that night with Iluminada.

The Lord knows us so perfectly and personally....He crys with us, I know he does because He did that night with her...I felt Him.

He knows our sorrow and afflictions like He knows our happiness and triumphs. He cried with us that night and He used us as instruments in His Hands, so that she could know that she is a daughter of God, that she has great value in the eyes of God. He loves her so personally. This is true for everyone who is here on earth at this very moment, who has been and who has to come. I KNOW THIS IS TRUE WITH ALL MY HEART and BEING! 

God's love is so immense that there are days that my body can't handle it's grandness and I feel weak, yet strong all at the same time...

I can't feel anything but love for the people here...the Lord loves His children so much and has given me the opportunity to feel, even a small part of that love for the people, whose lives the Lord has had me be a part of. 

I challenge you all to get to comprehend the pure love of Christ and apply it to your neighbor, who is your brother or sister.

I ask for your prayers for our investigadores in San Cristobal, because now more than ever Satan is hastening his work as We hasten the Lord's Work.

Our investigadores...

 - Iluminada, for strength and comfortness

 - Angel, for strength because he has been prepared perfectly to recieve us, missionaries

 - Ray, whose getting baptized this week

 - Marcelino, who has been tried with patience as he anxiously waits for his papers to get married

...and recent converts:

 - Sencio

 - Melissa and Yulissa

BIG NEWS: The call for TRANSFER was last night...I leave!  I leave my first area after almost 7 months, I've shed tears enough...because I grew to be part of a family here, but now I'm off to where the Lord shall send me, which is AZUA, which is in the south and SUPER HOT...good thing I'll be there during the coldest months of the year! I'll go where You want me to go...

I'll send pictures soon...I've been kinda awful at taking pictures, but no worries they are coming real soon!

Thank you so much for you love and support.

Love,

Hermana Fernandez

¡TODO TIENE SU PROPOSITO!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This week I was able to reflect upon what I've accomplished in life and on my mission thus far, and now more than ever I strongly believe that GOD has a purpose in ALL things.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS for a REASON!

The Lord works in MARVELOUS WAYS and I am so grateful for the great opportunity I've had this week to receive one of the greatest blessings one can receive in life. As a Representative of our Savior Jesus Christ, I've learned greatly this week, really this whole month, to TRUST IN HIM completely.

Blessing are gained...we gain them by having faith in Him and being faithful to Him. 

I hope that just like I've reflected, you will also so that you can set goals and dreams for the year to come and renew your commitment to follow and live according to the Lord's Will.

The Greater the Blessing or Knowlegde, the Greater the Opposition.

" For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand." - D&C 58:2-4

I HOPE THIS COMING YEAR is FILLED WITH LOTS OF LOVE and BLESSING for you ALL from ABOVE. BE HAPPY and ENDURE because we didn't come to this earth to be miserable nor to fail. A friend once told me..we were made to succeed! You must first believe it then you WILL succeed!

Thank you for your prayers and I ask you to please feel me pray for my investigators and for the members here, so that we can receive REFERENCES!!!! You should also help the missionarys obtain those!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support and prayers!

Love

Hermana Fernandez

The Greatest TIme of the Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

This is a great time of year...I can just feel the Spirit of Christmas so strongly! Although I'm away from you all, I can feel the love you send me! Thank you so much for the great support you give me. 

There's really nothing better I could be doing this time of year than sharing the gospel and representing the Lord. Remembering this Christmas to put Christ in Christmas, brings greater joy and happiness to know that He came to earth, left His throne beside our Father, to redeem us because He loves us so immensely.

I have learned so much about love these last couple of weeks. How that love God has for each and everyone of us is greater that we really can understand. The Lord has allowed me to feel this love deeply this Christmas season I understand now a lot more what the pure love of Christ is, how that's an attribute of Christ and how to apply it more fully in my life!

I am so grateful for the scriptures and their guidance. Here are a couple that stood out to me this week:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:18

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." - Moroni 7:45-48

Be not afraid to open your mouth and invite someone to come unto Christ. What better time of year than this one because we join with the world and remember Christ's birth and love for us.

I know Christ lives. I know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that He loves us immensely. This last Saturday we had a Stake Christmas Musical Conference...haha something like that and they shared this video! I LOVE IT!! WATCH IT, it's amazing!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/christmas-videos?v=2008190983001

Well I truly hope you all have a FANTASTIC CHRISTMAS! I love you all and Remember to put CHRIST in Christmas! and give an extra hug for me to ALL!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love 

Hermana Fernandez

Doing the LORD´s Work

First off, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY WISHES! IT WAS TRULY A GREAT DAY TO TURN 21!

It´s amazing how the promises of the Lord are constant, unchangable and infinite...AS LONG AS WE DO OUR PART...

The other night we were getting home from a place kinda far from home and we got out of an appointment later than we usually do, well naturally I would be terrified to be on this part of town at this hour, but I didn´t feel scared nor my companion and we got home safely...I pondered on this for a moment and I came across this scripture.

"...there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels around about you, to bear you up." D&C 84:88

That is only one of MANY MANY times Heavenly Father has taken care. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to share this marvelous  GOSPEL!

As we trust in our Heavenly Father and make His Will, Our Will, He will lift us to our GREATEST POTENTIAL. He wants the best for us or else He wouldn't have given us the opportunity to come to earth to be tried and go through hardships, so that we may learn and know what HAPPINESS is. I know that as we take on what it thrown at us and we lean on him for strength, we will PROSPER. I have learned much of this, this past week. 

He gives us SOO much and He only asks for "un chin" (a tiny bit) as the dominicans say. Be obedient and He shall unleash MANY blessings unto you. 

I love this. EVERYTHING about the calling the Lord has given me at this point in my life. I'm 21 years old now and I have nothing but to be grateful for the life, family, friends, and ward family I have.

Thank you so much for the love and support you all have expressed to me through emails and letters and packages! I love you all!

LOVE,

Hermana Fernandez

Faith in Him Who Created Us

It´s amazing the way the Lord is ALWAYS at our side, yet we hardly even notice. I love this Gospel with everything I am and have. This week I learned so much and writing this letter I feel and realize the tender love and misery Heavenly Father has for each of us.

Remembering each day what Jesus Christ did for me and for EACH and EVERYONE of us, leads me not only to know, but understand who Jesus Christ is more and more each day. I love Him and I have learned to have complete faith in Him.

I know He lives and that He walks with me. I know that through the Holy Ghost we can feel and know with a surety that He is there and also remember how pure His love is for us. I don´t have much time this week, but I would like you to know that Heavenly Father refined me a lot a bit more this week. I am grateful that He loves me enough to break me down. I am grateful for the His endless LOVE and MERCY.

Be faithful to the Lord because He is the only one that knows us PERFECTLY.

Love,

Hermana Fernandez