"Spiders!? Why couldn't it have been 'follow the butterflies!'" (February 1, 2016)

what a week! im so thankful for the members here in ramallo. at the beginning is was a little iffy but we now have a great relationship with the members here. and let me tell you why!

sickday funday

the week started out fine. i was still getting over a sickness but on tuesday i got super strong pains where my appendix is. we ran to the hospital. we have a member named monica tevez (recently reactivated) to come with us. and she helped us. turns out it wasnt appendicitis so we slept well. i woke up with the same pains and well long story short and after 3 ultra sounds, two blood samples a trip to rosario to be with hna zanni etc, i still didnt have appendicitis but my intestines are so swollen they cant see anything else besides random fluids hanging out in my tummy. on wednesday im going to see a gastrointerologist. so i was sick again this week in bed until yesturday.  naturally all of the members found out what had happened and on sunday everyone was asking me if i was okay. they prayed for me especifically to be able to finish my mission. an investigador of the elders whos getting baptized this month made me cupcakes!! and another family gave me cookies for celiacs and other chocolates! so that was really nice! soon we will know whats really wrong with me but until then i have to watch my diet super carefully. im pretty sure i lost like 5 pounds this week just becuase i wasnt able to eat hahaha

goodies from the good
members in ramallo

my companion during this whole time has been wonderful and patient and understanding. weve become pretty close in these last weeks and im super grateful for her!! 

well needless to say we didnt have much time to work but we found a new family!! theyre evangelist. a father (walter) and his daughter (valentina). we had an hour long conversation on the restoration. they had tons of questions and we were able to have a wonderful talk with them. they promised to read the book of mormon and seemed pretty excited to do it! other than that, when we could work we mainly tried to find new people to teach and visited less actives.

so that was my week! the second week sick was pretty rough in terms of trying to stay focused and all and i got pretty frustrated. its just times like these you have to change your perspective and come to terms with the facts. accept what is happening and be patient and have faith.

relaxing with face masks

i strengthened my love for the book of mormon this week. honestly each time i was getting too frustrated i opened up the book and started to read and it made me feel so much better. the power of the word of god really can help you feel better. people here say all the time they only read the book of mormon and bible when they feel peace. i say no! you have to read the book of mormon and bible in all the times of our lives especially when we feel awful and angry. why? because it has the power to plant a change in our hearts to help us come closer to christ!! so read the scriptures in every moment. los buenos y malos! the good and the bad!! 

okay so the title is that because we were studying one day and i looked up and saw a HUGE spider on the wall right next to hna lopzs head! i gasped and stood up and just pointed saying "puh puh...ar ar araña!!!" and she flipped out! then we both remembered harry potter #2 when ron says "why couldnt it have been follow the butterflies" hahahaha

well my spiitual thought this week is helaman 5:9-11
9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea,remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.
10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah;for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.
11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.
i just love these so much and it made me feel loved to know god provided a way for me to return to him and be saved which is repentance. i hope you like these too. 

well thats it for the week. hopefully ill more to write about the work and not just my own problems haha. well i love you so much!! 

xoxoxo
hna sanders

all the mosquitos in the night