Hey everyone!
First of all I hope y'all have a fantastic Christmas this weekend! I was a good week out here in Texas but it was an even better weekend! So Justin and Damian De Hoyos and Hno. Chavez were all baptized on Saturday!! It was so great to see them and to see how happy Hno. and Hna. De Hoyos were and Hna. Chavez. So we had their baptisms and Hna. Moser was able to come back and it was good to see her. So after the baptisms we had the ward party and it was just a really good Saturday and to see Hno. Chavez so happy... I haven't ever seen him like that before. He mentioned how now he feels like he has a whole new family in the branch and he was talking to everyone. It is amazing to see the change that these people go through. The party was good and we had 2 other families that we are teaching come to the party also and they got to know the members, which is always good. Then on Sunday they were all confirmed and after he was confirmed Justin (who is a kind of a wild child) came back to sit down and we asked him how he felt and he couldn't describe it, he just kinda sat there for a bit and was super calm all during sacrament meeting. Hna. Chavez taught the Relief Society lesson on Sunday and at the end bore her testimony about how our God is a god of miracles and how after 9 years her husband was finally baptized and the change that has happened in him... I almost cried... almost :).
We had a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with the Chavezs last night and they are just so happy and so great... I wish I had better words to describe it but I don't... they are just happy and I love visiting them. We talked about dia de reposo (keeping the Sabbath day holy) and they participated and Hno. now understands why he has to go to all 3 hours of church. They are just so willing to learn and see the blessings- it really is great.
OH! Sunday was also fantastic because the De Hoyos are fantastic! Story time! So during sacrament meeting I was sitting with some of the kids and I pulled out my gospel art book to look at with the little girls during the sacrament to help keep them reverent and Gabriel Jr. (15) started looking at it as well and then asked if he could see it. After the sacrament he asked me what some of the pictures were so I started explaining the pictures and went through the story line of the whole Book of Mormon. He remembered some of them and it was great. We also talked about the power that he has as the oldest in his family and that his siblings do everything he does. If he wants to have family prayer and scripture study then the family will follow. I also talked to him about the priesthood and that when his little sister (6) turns 8 he could baptize her if he had the priesthood. He then asked me what he had to do to get the priesthood and I just said the basics like keep the commandments and told him if he really wanted it he should talk to the branch president and set up an interview to get on the path. Right after sacrament meeting ended he jumped up and went to talk to Presidente so he could work on getting the priesthood!!! AND!! They also paid their tithing on Sunday! I just love this family and I love the change that they are going through. They are such a great family and all 5 boys will make awesome missionaries one day. If I don't have any other success in the rest of my mission I will be fine as long as the De Hoyos continue to progress and grow in the gospel.
Oh we also had Sunday School in Portuguese on Sunday. One of our members is from Brazil and she has some friends staying with her but they don't really speak Spanish or English and they were the only people in class, luckily enough our ward mission leader's (teaches the class) wife is from Portugal so he knows Portuguese! So that was the class... I felt like I was a brand new missionary again with understanding a little bit here and there- it was cool though.
Anyway... We have some other great families that we are now teaching and I will tell y'all more about them next week. I hope that y'all have a very Merry Christmas with your family and friends and that you take a minute to remember the real reason for the season and the thing that Christ has done for us. I want to invite y'all to think of what you can give Christ this week, the week leading up to his birth. Who can you help or serve? It's totally a missionary thing to ask, I know, but I am a missionary so I do as a missionary does. My dear family and friends- I love y'all and wish you the greatest joy, peace, and happiness this week and as you celebrate this weekend. Love y'all! Go Cougars! iFeliz Navidad!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Letters from Kelsey - 51
Hey everyone!
This week was a little bit faster than last week, which I was very grateful for, and this next week should be just as fast and great because we have a baptism this weekend! Damien, Justin, and Hno. Chavez are all set to be baptized this weekend! It will be great because we have their baptism and then we have the Branch Christmas party right after! We are having a menudo (cow stomach) and pissole (also animal stomach, but cooked different) night. They both are pretty gross, they are like a soup/stew thing, you don't really chew it you just swallow it. There will also be tamales (hopefully) and other food so I won't starve :), but Hispanics sure know how to throw a party and it is a great thing to get our investigators to so they can meet the members and just relax. All you have to do is tell people that there will be food and dancing and Hispanics are there- they love a good party. Special Christmas edition of the INVESTIGATOR WEEKLY!
De Hoyos!: My favorite family ever. So this last week we watched the Restoration DVD and then went over the baptismal questions for Damien and Justin. They did great and they are progressing so much it is just fantastic. On Sunday Hermana slept through her alarm and Hermano was at work but he called her to make sure they were going to church! So they were a little late but they came! The kids are slowly getting quieter and more reverent during Sacrament meeting and this week we are going to teach them about the sacrament and its importance which will only help them more. Hermana told us on Sunday that she has stopped drinking! This is a big thing for her because she told us that it was a weakness for them and all we did on Saturday was review the Word of Wisdom with the kids and that is what made her stop! They even went to a birthday party on Saturday night and she didn't drink- she was so happy to tell us... oh man I just love them!
Hno. Chavez: He is just great and told me that if I don't come back next year to go to the temple with them they won't go! Ha ha, then he said he was kidding and they would still go without me, but I promised them I would be there! He is great and is so ready to be baptized and free of all of his past transgressions its fantastic. I'm excited for him and feel so lucky to have been here at the right time to see him be this type of person and change. OH! AND!!! He went to all 3 hours of church for the first time in a long time! He has a little fear about being asked questions and not knowing the answer, so we just had to promise him that no one would ask him questions and then he would come, and it went well!
Gavino & Ana: They are still in McClellan (spelling) and won't be back until the end of the month but they are still reading, praying and have stopped drinking coffee and smoking! We are just waiting for them to come back so we can help them get married and baptized! We are also teaching their daughter-in-law and granddaughter now and they are awesome also.
Oh man- things are good now and I have never taught so many families at the same time as we are now. We also have about 2/3 families that we are just starting to teach that also have a lot of potential. It will be a great end to 2011 and a great beginning to 2012 as I can see these families entering the waters of baptism at the beginning of the year. OH! Funny story- so all the members think I am just this funny little gringa (white girl) because I can't eat spicy things and I try and translate English sayings into Spanish and they don't really translate. This week though I hopefully changed their minds! So we ate dinner with the Torres family on Thursday and Hna. Torres is probably the one who gives me the hardest time (she yells (not really yells... just tells me very loudly ;) ) at me to eat my vegetables when she sees me picking them out), especially for the fact that I don't like spicy food, but on Thursday she had this chili- it was green and was about an inch long- and she was kinda ragging on me a bit and so I told her I would eat it. Her 3 daughters were there also and none of them thought I would really do it- so I did it! When I put it in my mouth they all kinda started screaming a little bit (which is kinda normal, they all have high pitched laughs, its funny) and they were all looking at me like I was going to die or something. I couldn't really feel my tongue or mouth and it kinda made my teeth hurt but that was really it, so it wasn't that bad. I might still be a crazy gringa but now they can't give me a hard time for not eating chilies right?
Anyway- there is my funny story for the week! I hope y'all have a great week and get all of your preparations done for Christmas! I love and miss y'all tons! Merry Christmas! Remember the reason for the season! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
This week was a little bit faster than last week, which I was very grateful for, and this next week should be just as fast and great because we have a baptism this weekend! Damien, Justin, and Hno. Chavez are all set to be baptized this weekend! It will be great because we have their baptism and then we have the Branch Christmas party right after! We are having a menudo (cow stomach) and pissole (also animal stomach, but cooked different) night. They both are pretty gross, they are like a soup/stew thing, you don't really chew it you just swallow it. There will also be tamales (hopefully) and other food so I won't starve :), but Hispanics sure know how to throw a party and it is a great thing to get our investigators to so they can meet the members and just relax. All you have to do is tell people that there will be food and dancing and Hispanics are there- they love a good party. Special Christmas edition of the INVESTIGATOR WEEKLY!
De Hoyos!: My favorite family ever. So this last week we watched the Restoration DVD and then went over the baptismal questions for Damien and Justin. They did great and they are progressing so much it is just fantastic. On Sunday Hermana slept through her alarm and Hermano was at work but he called her to make sure they were going to church! So they were a little late but they came! The kids are slowly getting quieter and more reverent during Sacrament meeting and this week we are going to teach them about the sacrament and its importance which will only help them more. Hermana told us on Sunday that she has stopped drinking! This is a big thing for her because she told us that it was a weakness for them and all we did on Saturday was review the Word of Wisdom with the kids and that is what made her stop! They even went to a birthday party on Saturday night and she didn't drink- she was so happy to tell us... oh man I just love them!
Hno. Chavez: He is just great and told me that if I don't come back next year to go to the temple with them they won't go! Ha ha, then he said he was kidding and they would still go without me, but I promised them I would be there! He is great and is so ready to be baptized and free of all of his past transgressions its fantastic. I'm excited for him and feel so lucky to have been here at the right time to see him be this type of person and change. OH! AND!!! He went to all 3 hours of church for the first time in a long time! He has a little fear about being asked questions and not knowing the answer, so we just had to promise him that no one would ask him questions and then he would come, and it went well!
Gavino & Ana: They are still in McClellan (spelling) and won't be back until the end of the month but they are still reading, praying and have stopped drinking coffee and smoking! We are just waiting for them to come back so we can help them get married and baptized! We are also teaching their daughter-in-law and granddaughter now and they are awesome also.
Oh man- things are good now and I have never taught so many families at the same time as we are now. We also have about 2/3 families that we are just starting to teach that also have a lot of potential. It will be a great end to 2011 and a great beginning to 2012 as I can see these families entering the waters of baptism at the beginning of the year. OH! Funny story- so all the members think I am just this funny little gringa (white girl) because I can't eat spicy things and I try and translate English sayings into Spanish and they don't really translate. This week though I hopefully changed their minds! So we ate dinner with the Torres family on Thursday and Hna. Torres is probably the one who gives me the hardest time (she yells (not really yells... just tells me very loudly ;) ) at me to eat my vegetables when she sees me picking them out), especially for the fact that I don't like spicy food, but on Thursday she had this chili- it was green and was about an inch long- and she was kinda ragging on me a bit and so I told her I would eat it. Her 3 daughters were there also and none of them thought I would really do it- so I did it! When I put it in my mouth they all kinda started screaming a little bit (which is kinda normal, they all have high pitched laughs, its funny) and they were all looking at me like I was going to die or something. I couldn't really feel my tongue or mouth and it kinda made my teeth hurt but that was really it, so it wasn't that bad. I might still be a crazy gringa but now they can't give me a hard time for not eating chilies right?
Anyway- there is my funny story for the week! I hope y'all have a great week and get all of your preparations done for Christmas! I love and miss y'all tons! Merry Christmas! Remember the reason for the season! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Letters from Kelsey - 50
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the longest...week...EVER!! I don't even know why... but I feel like it has been months since last week. My new companion's name is Hna. Mathews and she is from Brigham City, and she is about to hit her half way mark. She is a really good missionary and will make me stretch and grow... which y'all know I love... (sarcasm intended)... but it will all be fine and we are looking to a lot of success this transfer. Its a balmy 41 degrees in Pearland, TX today but the one thing that isn't cold is our Investigator Weekly! Its on FIRE! :)
De Hoyos: I love them so much. We taught them the Plan of Salvation this week and they did great. They were so excited to show us that they all knew the steps of the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end) and Gabriel Jr. (15) even told us the 5 steps of repentance! AND he asked a little about the priesthood and then put back up his 'too cool' act to say that he didn't want it- but we all saw through that. He also filled out a form to go on the Youth Conference Trek next summer with the stake! He made his mom sign it before they left. They came to church and they were so quiet during the Sacrament, the quietest they have been. I love to see their progress and I just can't wait for Damien and Justin to be baptized so we can work with them to achieve their goal of going to the temple.
Hno. Chavez: So last week at transfers we were talking to Sister Saylin and telling her about his baptism scheduled for Christmas Eve and she told us that we were going to have a mission conference then so we should work on changing it. It so happens that when we stopped by on Sunday they told us they were thinking of going to Mexico to see his kids for Christmas and we said perfect! We changed his date to the 17th with the De Hoyos! He is so solid and this week he told us about some of the things he has done in the past and he can't wait to feel free from all of that, and that is why he wants to be baptized. Oh man... I am just so excited for him!!
Gavino and Ana: We talked to him today and he said he has quit smoking and last we talked to her she wasn't drinking coffee! They have been out of town but he said they have been reading and praying and I have faith they will also reach their date of the 17th! We just need to get them married... pronto ojala (soon hopefully)
Things are going really good here. I hope the next week goes faster but things are good and progressing. Its kinda weird being in an area this long... its the longest I have ever stayed in the same place for the last year of my life and its an odd feeling, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else for the Christmas season. I hope that everything is going well with y'all and your families. In every lesson we have with members we are giving them the challenge and homework of writing their testimony in a Book of Mormon and praying for someone to give it to before December 31. I would like to extend the same commitment to y'all also. This time of year we celebrate the beginning of the greatest gift ever given. By the birth of Christ it set in motion the greatest events and greatest gifts ever. He paid for our sins so that we can receive repentance and receive the gift of eternal life. I hope that y'all will pray and ponder about someone to whom you can give the gift of the restored gospel. All of the blessings that I have are because of my membership in the church and I want everyone else to enjoy the same blessings. I hope y'all have a good week! Merry Christmas! GO COUGARS!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Welcome to the longest...week...EVER!! I don't even know why... but I feel like it has been months since last week. My new companion's name is Hna. Mathews and she is from Brigham City, and she is about to hit her half way mark. She is a really good missionary and will make me stretch and grow... which y'all know I love... (sarcasm intended)... but it will all be fine and we are looking to a lot of success this transfer. Its a balmy 41 degrees in Pearland, TX today but the one thing that isn't cold is our Investigator Weekly! Its on FIRE! :)
De Hoyos: I love them so much. We taught them the Plan of Salvation this week and they did great. They were so excited to show us that they all knew the steps of the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end) and Gabriel Jr. (15) even told us the 5 steps of repentance! AND he asked a little about the priesthood and then put back up his 'too cool' act to say that he didn't want it- but we all saw through that. He also filled out a form to go on the Youth Conference Trek next summer with the stake! He made his mom sign it before they left. They came to church and they were so quiet during the Sacrament, the quietest they have been. I love to see their progress and I just can't wait for Damien and Justin to be baptized so we can work with them to achieve their goal of going to the temple.
Hno. Chavez: So last week at transfers we were talking to Sister Saylin and telling her about his baptism scheduled for Christmas Eve and she told us that we were going to have a mission conference then so we should work on changing it. It so happens that when we stopped by on Sunday they told us they were thinking of going to Mexico to see his kids for Christmas and we said perfect! We changed his date to the 17th with the De Hoyos! He is so solid and this week he told us about some of the things he has done in the past and he can't wait to feel free from all of that, and that is why he wants to be baptized. Oh man... I am just so excited for him!!
Gavino and Ana: We talked to him today and he said he has quit smoking and last we talked to her she wasn't drinking coffee! They have been out of town but he said they have been reading and praying and I have faith they will also reach their date of the 17th! We just need to get them married... pronto ojala (soon hopefully)
Things are going really good here. I hope the next week goes faster but things are good and progressing. Its kinda weird being in an area this long... its the longest I have ever stayed in the same place for the last year of my life and its an odd feeling, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else for the Christmas season. I hope that everything is going well with y'all and your families. In every lesson we have with members we are giving them the challenge and homework of writing their testimony in a Book of Mormon and praying for someone to give it to before December 31. I would like to extend the same commitment to y'all also. This time of year we celebrate the beginning of the greatest gift ever given. By the birth of Christ it set in motion the greatest events and greatest gifts ever. He paid for our sins so that we can receive repentance and receive the gift of eternal life. I hope that y'all will pray and ponder about someone to whom you can give the gift of the restored gospel. All of the blessings that I have are because of my membership in the church and I want everyone else to enjoy the same blessings. I hope y'all have a good week! Merry Christmas! GO COUGARS!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Letters from Kelsey - 49
Hey y'all!
Well we survived Thanksgiving... barely, thats what happens when you have 2 Thanksgiving dinners. We had a really good Thanksgiving and it was nice to have it on a P-day so we could relax a little bit. I have never eaten so much in my life though... so we got up and did our little shopping (neither of us needed a lot last week) and then we headed to the Ortizs at 11 and helped them cook until the Lunas came over and we ate at 1 and hung out there until P-day ended at 4:30. Then we went and ate with the Leijas at 5 and after I just hurt because of all the food. It was super good and both families are very English so it was normal turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all that jazz. After the Leijas we went to the Lunas because they invited us over (we weren't allowed to just stop by at people's houses so we were glad they invited us or else we would've just rode our bikes around in the cold and the dark talking to people walking their dog) we didn't eat anything at the Lunas though- we apologized but told them we didn't have anymore room. It was fun to hang out with a family and have it actually feel like a holiday- we just lacked the football... ha ha. I was so full that I didn't even eat breakfast the next morning because I was still full- but it was great and I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
I hope y'all had a good holiday also now to the Investigator Weekly!
De Hoyos: They are so great and Justin(8) and Damien(10) have baptismal dates for the 17th and their dad already announced it in Priesthood on Sunday so they are super excited for that and we had a fantastic lesson with them on Saturday. So their oldest is Gabriel Jr (15) and he acts like a normal 15 year old (too cool for anything) but he is a great kid. He said the opening prayer for the lesson and on Sunday he came to church with a white shirt and tie! On Saturday we taught them about the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) and they all had their Book of Mormons and they took turns reading and are just such a cute family. They still have a long way to go but this Saturday we are going to help them sent a date to go to the temple so they can all work together as a family. They are my favorite family ever.
Hno. Chavez: He is still great and on track to be baptized on the 24th. We taught them the Plan of Salvation on Sunday and next Sunday they are going to teach us how to make this really good drink- its milk, sugar, cinnamon, and they put in either oats or rice, its hot and super good. They are going to teach us how to make it and you know Hispanics like you when they want to either: 1) feed you or 2) teach you how to cook something, so we are in good with them ha ha. He told us last week that we better come back when they go through the temple in a year or else they won't go through... ha ha I'm totally coming back.
Gavino and Ana: We taught them the Law of Chastity and they working out how they are going to follow that because they aren't married, but they will make the right choice and will be baptized soon. They are great.
Anyway- time is short. Hna. Moser got the transfer call this morning so our hope of staying together is dead. I'm super bummed because we were hoping for another and I don't like change and I don't want to have to get used to another companion and all that but its whatever the Lord wants and we just accept it with faith. I hope everything is still going well with y'all! I hope y'all have a great week! Love y'all! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Well we survived Thanksgiving... barely, thats what happens when you have 2 Thanksgiving dinners. We had a really good Thanksgiving and it was nice to have it on a P-day so we could relax a little bit. I have never eaten so much in my life though... so we got up and did our little shopping (neither of us needed a lot last week) and then we headed to the Ortizs at 11 and helped them cook until the Lunas came over and we ate at 1 and hung out there until P-day ended at 4:30. Then we went and ate with the Leijas at 5 and after I just hurt because of all the food. It was super good and both families are very English so it was normal turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all that jazz. After the Leijas we went to the Lunas because they invited us over (we weren't allowed to just stop by at people's houses so we were glad they invited us or else we would've just rode our bikes around in the cold and the dark talking to people walking their dog) we didn't eat anything at the Lunas though- we apologized but told them we didn't have anymore room. It was fun to hang out with a family and have it actually feel like a holiday- we just lacked the football... ha ha. I was so full that I didn't even eat breakfast the next morning because I was still full- but it was great and I wouldn't have traded it for anything.
I hope y'all had a good holiday also now to the Investigator Weekly!
De Hoyos: They are so great and Justin(8) and Damien(10) have baptismal dates for the 17th and their dad already announced it in Priesthood on Sunday so they are super excited for that and we had a fantastic lesson with them on Saturday. So their oldest is Gabriel Jr (15) and he acts like a normal 15 year old (too cool for anything) but he is a great kid. He said the opening prayer for the lesson and on Sunday he came to church with a white shirt and tie! On Saturday we taught them about the Doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) and they all had their Book of Mormons and they took turns reading and are just such a cute family. They still have a long way to go but this Saturday we are going to help them sent a date to go to the temple so they can all work together as a family. They are my favorite family ever.
Hno. Chavez: He is still great and on track to be baptized on the 24th. We taught them the Plan of Salvation on Sunday and next Sunday they are going to teach us how to make this really good drink- its milk, sugar, cinnamon, and they put in either oats or rice, its hot and super good. They are going to teach us how to make it and you know Hispanics like you when they want to either: 1) feed you or 2) teach you how to cook something, so we are in good with them ha ha. He told us last week that we better come back when they go through the temple in a year or else they won't go through... ha ha I'm totally coming back.
Gavino and Ana: We taught them the Law of Chastity and they working out how they are going to follow that because they aren't married, but they will make the right choice and will be baptized soon. They are great.
Anyway- time is short. Hna. Moser got the transfer call this morning so our hope of staying together is dead. I'm super bummed because we were hoping for another and I don't like change and I don't want to have to get used to another companion and all that but its whatever the Lord wants and we just accept it with faith. I hope everything is still going well with y'all! I hope y'all have a great week! Love y'all! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Letters from Kelsey - 48
Hey everyone!
Oh man on man... It was fantastic week. On Sunday Hno. Chavez (husband of a member) accept a baptismal date for December 24th! Missionaries have been working with him forever and I don't know what is different but he feels ready now! We also have this amazing family but I will tell y'all all about it in... the... INVESTIGATOR WEEKLY!!!
The De Hoyos: They are from Las Vegas and have been here for about a year. They have 8 kids with the oldest being 15 and the youngest being 2. They were baptized in Vegas with 3 of their kids but they have 2 that can be baptized and those are the 2 we are working with. They have been inactive for a couple of years so we are working on bringing them back. They live in the middle of no where though so its hard to go and see them more than once a week because it takes like 30 min to get there and we have to have a member take us because we are only allotted so many miles a month with the car and we can't afford to go all the way out there. They are awesome though and came to the Branch party and to church on Sunday! It was the craziest sacrament meeting ever because I had no idea what was going on because I was trying to keep the kids reverent. They just don't know how to be reverent but they want to and they loved church. The subject line comes from Justin- the 8 year old, on Saturday when we went over we were talking about prayer and how prayer can help us with the things we want in life and he said "I want to have 2 jobs when I grow up, I want to work where my Dad works and I want to be a Mormon." They are just awesome and I love them and can't wait to see the change that comes into their family as they keep going to church. I was a miracle we found them, we contacted Hermano's brother about a month ago and he mentioned to us that his brother was married in an LDS building in Vegas and then one day when we went over, the family was over there and they said they want to come back to church and we got their info and here we are!
Gavino & Ana: They are doing great and we are going to keep pressing forward. I don't know if they will hit their date of the 3rd because they still aren't married and we haven't had a chance to teach the law of chastity because when we went and planned on teaching it the grandkids joined in so we changed it to the 10 commandments, but this week we are going to teach it.
Oh man... its pouring outside right now- crazy Texas. I love this area, I love this branch, I love our investigators, and Hna. Moser and I are hoping to stay together next week when transfer calls come. We have been lobbying President Saylin because 3 transfers together is very rare, but it would be fantastic. I hope that y'all have a fantastic Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all of the blessings I receive everyday. I am thankful for the Gospel and the happiness, hope, and clarity it brings to my life and to those I meet everyday. I am thankful for my family and for all they do for me and for their love, support, and encouragement. I am thankful for my parents and for the way they raised me and for all the values they taught me and for raising me in the Gospel. I am thankful for all of you for your love, support, and for always being there. I am so blessed to have so many friends and family that I can lean on when life get difficult. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us and that families can be eternal. I'm thankful for the Atonement, without it I would not be on a mission or have any hope in live because of my weaknesses and imperfections. I am thankful for this time I have to serve the Lord and the people of Houston- I have changed in ways that will bless my future. I am thankful for the lessons I learn everyday and the opportunity to change and because better. I am so thankful for my Savior and for all that he did for me and all that he continues to do for my everyday, being my support, my guide, and my friend. I hope y'all have a great Thanksgiving of family and food- oh and watch some football for me please!! Love y'all!! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
Oh man on man... It was fantastic week. On Sunday Hno. Chavez (husband of a member) accept a baptismal date for December 24th! Missionaries have been working with him forever and I don't know what is different but he feels ready now! We also have this amazing family but I will tell y'all all about it in... the... INVESTIGATOR WEEKLY!!!
The De Hoyos: They are from Las Vegas and have been here for about a year. They have 8 kids with the oldest being 15 and the youngest being 2. They were baptized in Vegas with 3 of their kids but they have 2 that can be baptized and those are the 2 we are working with. They have been inactive for a couple of years so we are working on bringing them back. They live in the middle of no where though so its hard to go and see them more than once a week because it takes like 30 min to get there and we have to have a member take us because we are only allotted so many miles a month with the car and we can't afford to go all the way out there. They are awesome though and came to the Branch party and to church on Sunday! It was the craziest sacrament meeting ever because I had no idea what was going on because I was trying to keep the kids reverent. They just don't know how to be reverent but they want to and they loved church. The subject line comes from Justin- the 8 year old, on Saturday when we went over we were talking about prayer and how prayer can help us with the things we want in life and he said "I want to have 2 jobs when I grow up, I want to work where my Dad works and I want to be a Mormon." They are just awesome and I love them and can't wait to see the change that comes into their family as they keep going to church. I was a miracle we found them, we contacted Hermano's brother about a month ago and he mentioned to us that his brother was married in an LDS building in Vegas and then one day when we went over, the family was over there and they said they want to come back to church and we got their info and here we are!
Gavino & Ana: They are doing great and we are going to keep pressing forward. I don't know if they will hit their date of the 3rd because they still aren't married and we haven't had a chance to teach the law of chastity because when we went and planned on teaching it the grandkids joined in so we changed it to the 10 commandments, but this week we are going to teach it.
Oh man... its pouring outside right now- crazy Texas. I love this area, I love this branch, I love our investigators, and Hna. Moser and I are hoping to stay together next week when transfer calls come. We have been lobbying President Saylin because 3 transfers together is very rare, but it would be fantastic. I hope that y'all have a fantastic Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all of the blessings I receive everyday. I am thankful for the Gospel and the happiness, hope, and clarity it brings to my life and to those I meet everyday. I am thankful for my family and for all they do for me and for their love, support, and encouragement. I am thankful for my parents and for the way they raised me and for all the values they taught me and for raising me in the Gospel. I am thankful for all of you for your love, support, and for always being there. I am so blessed to have so many friends and family that I can lean on when life get difficult. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us and that families can be eternal. I'm thankful for the Atonement, without it I would not be on a mission or have any hope in live because of my weaknesses and imperfections. I am thankful for this time I have to serve the Lord and the people of Houston- I have changed in ways that will bless my future. I am thankful for the lessons I learn everyday and the opportunity to change and because better. I am so thankful for my Savior and for all that he did for me and all that he continues to do for my everyday, being my support, my guide, and my friend. I hope y'all have a great Thanksgiving of family and food- oh and watch some football for me please!! Love y'all!! Go Cougars!!
Love Always,
Sister Kelsey Berg
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