This week was really great, full of lots of counsel and advice!

Wednesday we had the worldwide training from the Apostles, which was really neat, I love the focus they gave on teaching with the Spirit and teaching repentance. I loved that Elder Andersen talked about testifying of Christ in every moment and being an example in word and action.

Friday we had Zone conference! We got together with all the missionaries in the city and received some great counsel. They emphasized being obedient, being worthy for your calling, using time wisely, and always listening to the Spirit. Before my mission I never realized what an influence the Spirit can be in the life of a person, and how necessary it is in mission work. This is His work among His children, and really we have nothing to do with it! We have the opportunity to be instruments in His hands and be witnesses to the miracles.

Also after the conference on Friday, we had divisions [splits] with the hermana leaders. I got to go to Esperanza again with Hermana Cook from California and we had a great time. I learned a lot from her, about talking with everyone we came across. She has a great love for these people and they can feel it in just the few minutes we talked to them in the street, I really liked that. We talked a lot about asking inspired questions to help investigators express their testimonies and helping them remember the knowledge they knew since the preexistence. It was really nice. 

Back in our area things are moving, although ever so slowly. Yesterday morning it was really chilly and I think that scared everyone into sleeping in and not coming to church. That was a bummer, but here we go trying again this week! We are keeping the faith and keeping things positive :) Things are good here and we are loving it! Next week ends the transfer and I am hoping really hard that neither of us have changes. We will see!

Things are good and I am doing great, thanks for the letters and birthday wishes! [Amy turns 20 on Jan. 26th]

Love you!
Hermana White

 Part of our area! 

 I love that someone has ¨Soy Catolico¨ [I am Catholic] on their door. Thanks for the heads up!

Bueno.

This week was really good, actually. We focused more on doing visits with members to get them involved and we are seeing some great results!  We are working very hard with the menos activos [less-actives] in our area, and it's so sweet to see them in sacrament meeting. Hermana Fabiola, who had distanced herself from the Church for fear of the members judging her when she became a single mom, was one of our triumphs this week. 

After church she was talking to the bishop and when he asked what motivated her to come back she said that two angels came and rescued her. 

It's the neatest feeling to be able to be a part of this rescue that is the work of salvation. The biggest thing that keeps the less active members less active is the fear of others. I never realized the importance it is to reach out to them, to let them know they have friends in the ward, and that no matter what happened or happens with them they are always welcome back. That we are all imperfect and have our struggles. 

Also, our investigator Wendy had emergency surgery this week and is on 30 days of rest, so we are hoping that after this she will be able to be baptized. We gave her the challenge to read the book of Mormon in this time and she was pretty excited to start that. 

Well, that's pretty much it for this week. I can't get this computer to send my pictures so I will try again next week! 

Have a lovely week!

Hermana White

Hello Everyone! 

This week was pretty good, and it flew by super fast! 

Thursday morning we went to the temple with our zone. We get to go every 6 months so it's well anticipated. We went to do a session and arrived early so we got to do some initiatories as well. It was so beautiful! The peace there is beautiful, and was so needed. 

They extended this next transfer to 8 weeks instead of 6, so that puts my approximate arrival in the first couple weeks of December. Eee! That feels too soon.

Other than that, we had a great normal week! Right now we are working with 2 part-member less-active families to get them active and to teach and baptize their kids.  It has been really neat to remind them of the basics and the reason for why they got baptized years ago.  The retention of the members is so important - to keep them involved and with a renewed testimony.

This week I loved studying 3 Nephi 5:13 - 

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people that they might have everlasting life."

Remembering that to be called a disciple of Christ means we will remember him always, being a student of His teachings and the words of His prophets.There is no passive way to be a disciple! As it says in the scripture, as his followers we have all been called to declare his word among his people, but not just because - this is salvation we are talking about! 

Everlasting life is what God wants for each one of us, and it is our duty to help our brothers and sisters to reach that point. It has been the neatest experience to be able to do this full-time and to see the hand of God every day. 

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana White

One of my favorite Christmas trees. Their grandma made it from pine cones and chicken wire about 40 years ago and they put it up every year. Also their super cool Nativity Village.

Baleadas hondureñas (Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Happy New Year!

Well, here we are again! Since only a few days have passed since I wrote last, I feel like there's not much to tell! 

It's been fun with the new year to hear about how 2015 went and expectations for 2016. Last night we had a great lesson with a family in our ward about that, and they said that in the face of all the challenges they had (family members passing away, loss of employment, Chikingunya) they could always see the hand of the Lord in their lives. I think that's the most beautiful part of whatever trial or difficulty we have. That even though in the moment we may feel like it's too much for us to handle, He knows that it's not. He knows that it's exactly what we can handle and that we can get through it, we can overcome, and we can be better off for it. And in the end, looking back, we wouldn't change a thing.

 I am so grateful for the year I had, from finishing my first year of college, receiving my mission call, preparing to leave, and starting this crazy adventure. Through it all I have remembered Granddad's counsel the Sunday before I left, which was to take hold of His hand and never let go. That He would lead me through it all. Through the good days and the bad, there is always something to show that this is exactly where I need to be right now. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve my Savior with everything I have for this time, and am thrilled to keep going for 2016. 

I hope you all have a great week and a Prospero Ano Nuevo!

Hermana White

With President & Sister Bowler.

Mission crazies. This is 1/2 of the missionaries.

Hermana Delgado & Hermana White.