Week 19

Hi friends!

This week we had transfers and I said bye to my "mama" in the mission (first companion)!

My new companion was my roommate in the MTC Sister Parker! She is so awesome and wow we work so hard!

We have seen a lot of amazing things happen this week! We have 7 new investigators! 4 investigators with a baptismal date and 2 of them have been wanting to be baptized for almost a year. 

Sorry I don't have any time :(

I hope you all have an awesome week!

Hermana Stone

Week 18

Hi Friends!

I'm sorry I don't have much time this week, but I wanted to share a quote with you all. 

"Strength comes not from frantic activity, but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most. Diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world."

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I know it's easy to get caught up in our crazy lives, running around and just being frantic. Also, a lot of times we like to saw "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I know that what makes us stronger is the Atonement of Jesus Christ, His grace. Whether it's relying on Him to get through the hard times or just setting goals to change the little things in our life like getting out the door on time, I know that through the Atonement we can improve and become stronger. The way we build a firm foundation is by feasting on the words of Christ (reading the scriptures) daily, praying with faith, and taking the Sacrament each week!

I love you all and hope you will build your foundation a little more this week!

Hermana Stone

Week 17

Hi friends! This week I should just use a song to describe life. It's called Good To Be Alive. I'll try to attach it but if not it can be found on the youth website https://www.lds.org/youth/theme/2015?cid=YS-M-youththeme&lang=eng 

This week really stretched us in every possible direction, but I'm so grateful for that. No better way to grow! Humility and prayer are essential. Well New Jersey finally lived up to it's reputation for cold! We are consistently under 15 degrees at night and 25 is about the highest it was this week. Without wind it's okay, but with wind and rain too, oh man. Ain't Texas! Or PNW. Another reason Washington is great, it stays about 30 degrees always haha.. 

One of my favorite parts of this week was a tri-zone conference in Morristown. President and Sister Taggart spoke to us and got us all pumped again! Missionary work is the best! Sister Taggart talked a lot about serving with all our Heart, Might, Mind and Strength (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2). Might Mind and Strength take all our physical emotional mental efforts, and because we're human, drain our energy...But, when we serve with all our Heart, that's what fills us up! Love never runs out. It's an energizing source because God is Love (1 John 4 vs7? I know the whole chapter is about it.) It's so true. On the hardest and coldest days when I focus on just loving the people I'm with I don't feel the weight of the work. How did the apostles and Alma and Parley P Pratt do missionary work for 40 or 50 years? They loved the people they served. If they could do it for that long, we can too :)

The greatest miracle of the week was Carlos! Yes again! If you aren't up to date on his story, it began December 2. We talked to him and began teaching him. December 28 he accepted the invitation to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins. January 4 he was confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the holy Ghost. Yesterday 1/11/15 he received the Aaronic priesthood and Baptized his son Sebastian! Wow! Love them so much! I testify that the gospel blesses families! I see it everyday in my own family, in the Martinez family, and everyone else around me!

Sorry I don't have more time. Know that I love you all dearly and pray for you!

Have a great week and look for the miracles!

Con amor

Hermana Stone

Argos Martinez!

Week 16

Hi friends! Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Union City must have evacuated on the 31st because it was super quiet and a little creepy in the streets, but we watched How Rare a Possession with our favorite member Hermanita Lara, then planned for the next day, and hit the sack at 10. We were pretty tired and figured the best way to celebrate was to get enough sleep to start off the new year reenergized. Maybe I'll stay up tilmidnight for 2017 :)

This week was really great! We exceeded all of our goals and met so many awesome people. I love talking to everybody and I'm so grateful that our area gives us the opportunity to walk and meet huundreds of people a day!

Carlos was confirmed yesterday and set up an appointment to be interviewed to receive the priesthood this coming Sunday in Sacrament meeting, then he is going to baptize his 16 year old son Sebastian after church! We are soooooooooooo excited! He's definitely a blessing in our lives and the Union City Ward, but it's even more special to see the blessings his family is receiving for following the example and Gospel of Jesus Christ!

My testimony grows everyday as I'm doing the Lord's work and trying my best to be an instrument in His hands. I see miracles all around everyday and I hope you can too! Love you all so much!

Hermana Stone

Here's the lovely Hermana Lara <3 The only smiling pic she's ever taken in her life!

Best Christmas Ever! Week 15

Hi friends!

I've been saying it all week and I can't say it enough! This was the best Christmas yet! I've heard so many times from so many different people "turn out" "focus outward" etc. but I finally felt the difference. It was awesome to get packages and feel the love from home and friends, but as a missionary, the greatest gift is helping others discover and accept the gift of Jesus Christ. 3 weeks ago we talked to every single person who crossed our path for an entire week. At the end of the week one of those people called our number on the card and invited us back to talk more about the message we share, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We taught Carlos twice a week for 3 weeks and yesterday he was baptized! The program was almost flawless and Heavenly Father's love was tangible in the room. We are so happy that he found the happiness he has been searching for his entire life. He's so cute, as we were about to close the meeting he asked if he could share his testimony! Wow. He stood up and shared one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. It was a simple statement of what he knew to be true: Heavenly Father loves him. Jesus Christ is our Savior. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored on the earth today in the exact same form as when Christ established it. There is no other way to receiving eternal life except through Jesus Christ and following His example. And he did just that! I've only been out for 3 months, but if nothing else happens in the next 15 months it will still be so worth it. Doctrine & Covenants 18: 15-16 the scriptures are more eloquent than I am.

Something that broke my heart in the happiest way this week were 3 of the cutest ninas ever! My family sent a bunch of rings for me to give out to the kids here. They are little green shields with HLJ written on it. In Spanish HLJ stands for Haz lo Justo and in English it's CTR which means Choose the Right.  These 3 little girls were so beyond happy to receive these "presents." They said it was the best present they'd ever had. A lot of little kids say that about any gift, but these girls don't have anything. It was a humbling experience that I'll remember forever. 

Another super awesome thing that happened this week was a surprise visit from the Schroedter Family! Right after I skyped my family they called and said they were in Union City. Most fun 10 minutes ever! Love them so much!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas break and keep the Spirit of Christmas alive until Christmas rolls around again! Por ejemplo, think of a gift you can give to Christ this year por ejemplo do service once a week or go to church every Sunday :) Blessings will come if you do this!

Miracles are all around us!

Con amor,

Hermana Stone 

Week 14 ~ Let's Hear it for New York (otra vez)

Hello friends! Not much time this week but it sure was a good one!

We had Traditions with the Taggarts. The mission President and His wife are a party and a half. We love them so much! Then we had our All Mission Conference. New Jersey is being run by 236 missionaries and when we all get together it is a powerful scene. We visited the TEMPLE in Manhattan and that was the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. We walked through Times square!

Alex got out of jail and came to church

Carlos is getting baptized this sunday!

Christmas pic from NJMM

Love you all so much!

Feliz Navidad!

Hermana Stone