Stake Conference

So today we had Stake Conference, it was life changing.  Best Stake Conference I've ever been to.  Crazy how a mission changes a person... Before, I probably would have enjoyed it, but would I have been changed?  I don't know.. probably not.. But today was so great.  So inspiring.

I was listening like a good kid and I found myself actually interested in what the people were saying, I was engaged in the talks.  That feeling can only be described as a gift of the Spirit.  I was listening and I thought, wow, Stake Conference is almost as good as General Conference... and then, it hit me... We go to church every week... why?  If its not all really good stuff, why don't we just have Stake Conference and General Conference every week?  Well, we don't, because, we have Sacrament Meeting every week... and that is the MOST important meeting in the church.

I sometimes try to remember my baptism, how I felt, what I was thinking, etc, but I can't remember.  Everyone told me to write down my feelings but I was a prideful eight year old and chose not to.  Now I regret it. But not too much.. Maybe I don't remember how I felt when I got baptized, but I remember how I felt last week when I participated in the Sacrament.  And that was awesome.  I think we take advantage of Sacrament Meeting sometimes and don't give all of our attention to what is going on.  We don't prepare ourselves well enough and we have just another experience... But each week, each Sunday, we can be completely clean.

That's a promise for everybody if we are doing our part.  We obviously have to repent first, but during the Sacrament Prayer isn't the time to repent.. it's during the week while we are making mistakes.

Church isn't for perfect people.  It's for the people that do need help.

Moroni 8: 8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick

I know that this is the only true church.  I know that because Christ died and suffered for us, we don't have to go through all that if we will just repent and follow Him.  He has set the path, and it isn't a path of laziness.  It requires all of our efforts.  It requires even more commitment.  I love this gospel.  I love consecration.  I know Christ lives.  In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

District Pictures from Guatemala

October 28, 2014 Final Letter From Guatemala…Hermana Evans returns home Thursday!

October 28, 2014

my family!!!!

I love you so much!!  this week... has been so nuts.

Well, we had 2 baptisms,  and, it was glorious.  and tonight we have one, it will be glorious.  

mostly, i want to share a story with you, that sums up my experience in Guatemala.  I wrote a letter and put it in there, but you get the story again then.  

Sunday night we went to Saylin and Nery to visit them after their baptism.. it was like 8:30, we taught them, we were leaving and saying goodbye and all, we decided that today, in the night, well go by again to say goodbye one last time. but Ruth, the 8 year old sister of Nery pulled me aside outside, stood up on the curb of the house to reach my eye level, grabbed my shoulders and said the following.

"Hermana Evans, dont go.  Dont ever forget us!"

"Im not going to forget you, dont worry."

*cue tears in her eyes*

"promise me, promise you wont forget us."

*cue tears in my eyes*

"I promise I will never forget you"

"Im going to miss you so much."

"me too."

Guys, that moment was one of the hardest things i have ever had to do.  I cried so hard.. it didnt really hit me until sunday night what was happening. 

But, just recently, i have decided that it isnt the worst thing in the world to finish a mission.  I have changed, and i honestly dont have plans to go back to anything "normal".  So, I am happy to see you, heck, im excited, but i have LOVED this time so much.  I can NEVER repay Heavenly Father for all that He has given me.

This week, i have ran more than ever. And i now i know that i am so out of shape. So much work to do.  SO MUCH!  This area is loaded with success.  Its nuts.  

Well, ive never ended a mission.. so, i guess ill see you guys on thursday? but be happy and safe and i love you all!!!

Love, Hna Evans

October 21, 2014

October 21, 2014

My family!!

i love you guys!  and holy cow. this week... so, you know how we had 4 baptisms for sunday?  well...... 3 failed and 1 almost did.  im going to tellyou a story.

we got a call from Pres. Markham a couple days before sunday and he said he was coming to our baptism. which was great. and then we got to church on sunday and were calling the kid getting baptized and the family decided it would be better to wait a week.. it was the worst... and the aunt of the boy was here from Utah and it was all so perfect, but they chose not to. and it was heartbreaking.  literally.  president was there, it was horrible.. and then, after having an emotional mornign, they come up to us after the sacrament meeting and say.. well, yeah, lets do it today.  and we had more tears. but of happiness. and then luckily, the district leader is in our ward and he interviewed the kid really fast and he got baptized on sunday.  Crazy.

On pday last week we had it Wednesday  and it was great.  We went to Antigua and it was a blast.  Good news, I found all the sweaters for everyone.  And the man sold them to me for REALLY cheap.  It was great.  And we ate at a place called Mono Loco.  It was really delicious, but so much food.  And.. then we came back. And yesterday we had pday and I was so exhausted.  So get this, I slept.  Because it was pday.  I know that Heavenly Father has been helping me.  Because I have just enough energy to do what we need.  And then in the moment I don’t absolutely need energy, it´s gone.  But there you have it!

This week we will have 3 baptisms and then next Tuesday night we have a wedding and baptism.  Madeline.  She is so pilas.  I cant wait for her wedding and baptism.  

Bueno, be safe and happy and i love you!  

Love, Hna Evans

October 14, 2014

October 14, 2014

My family!!

i love you guys so much! and Holy mackeral. fun fact.  im dripping wet right now.  my human insticts to leave the umbrella were dead wrong.  i thought, were juust going to district meeting, we dont need that.  it wont rain. but, as we said the last prayer, it started to pour... buckets. more than buckets.  we walked through rivers and it was great.  my companion randomly has pictures of allthat.. but i dont think ill have time to send them, because my computer is super slowtoday.  but someday ill show them to you guys.  

wow. but get this, we have 4 baptisms planned for sunday. pray for those `please!  :)  Saylin Hernandez, Nery Figueroa, David Barillas, Alison Pedrosa.

Boom. Ok, so this week we had divisions.. but a little different... one sister came with the both of us to our area.  it was great!  and then we were teachign a woman and her 25ish year old son was there, we had contacted him the day before and knew he was something of a character...  well, we walk in, and there he is, cooking without a shirt on. so they all sat down to listen, he was eating and listening and flexing his muscles, and i just casually asked, because someone had to, "so are you going to put a shirt on? or .. what?" and he just says, "do i make you uncomfortable? mom, tell them what i do every day when i get home." the mom said, "he gets home,takes off his shirt and eats." and thenfinally he went and put one on.  abut it was so awkward.  we laughed so hard when we left.  

Melissa, an investigator really wnats to go ot the temple.  she has 4 kids, no husband because someone killed him and all her kids are 6, 4, 2 and 6 months. its super sad.  and they have nothing.  she has no job, she had to sell her phone to have money to eat... its really sad.  but she has gone to church 2 times and we ahve a goal for this 26 of oct.  

with madeline, they are getting married the 28, and before, i thought changes were randomly going to be on the 28 because thats what they told me, but it isnt anymore.  so she is getting married and baptized on the 28 of oct.  perfect.  

i got my flight plans... so stinky.. the 30 ill be flying home?  i thought i would be flying in the day nate flies out, but it looks like its the next day,, or i dont know actually when he flies out.  

but anywho, tomorrow we have pday and we are going to antigua.  that will be great.  we ahve a great day planned.  

Bueno,i think that is all,i always forget whati want to tell you.  but all is well in zion. and i love it.  even though we are soaked.  btdubs, i am still dripping.

be happy and safe and i love you! 

October 7, 2014

October 7, 2014

My family!

i love you guys!

Wowza. General conference! who knew it came so fast?!! oh wait,,,, I DID!!! heck, we made a paper chain.  for 34 days we counted down every day til conference.  It was so good.  and then conference happened.  

Revelation station.  so i loved the talk from that one guy.. i dont remember his name.. but he had a fun accent and he said, "be really really good at repenting.  be really really good and forgiving" loved that.  guys, lets do it.  and i loved how much they talked about following the prophet.  Guys, the second coming is happening!  The Lord is preparing His people.  We all thought that after all the talk about the prophet that the prophet was going to give us another commandment.  my district leader thought tithing would turn into 20 percent and i thought that my nightmare of plural marriage was about to come true.  but its all good. neither of the two happened.  

I also loved that everyone talked in their native language! except Pres. Uchtdorf. I loved Elder Scotts talk.  I hope we all do the 4 things and use the 4 tools to happiness.  its so true.  

My mission president said that when he was a stake president getting set apart, the general authority told him he couldnt tell the returned missionaries to go to the temple every week, just "frequently"  so he would say to them when he released the missionaries "i go every week.  you have to go "freaquently"" so get this.  i have a crazy goal. im going to the temple every week.

I have learned alot about covenants from Pres. Markham.  We can make personal covenants with God and when we keep them, we are blessed with power.  for example, we made a covenant to read the scriptures everyday twice a day and preach my gospel everyday.  its sweet.  everyone should do it! 

bueno, i love you guys, hope all is well.  We are doing great over here.  My companion is so awesome.  she is going to be such a good missionary.  she already is, but she will get even better. i know it. 

Love errybody.  Love, Hna Evans