El ultimo: SWEET HOME ALABAMA

Hola a todos!

I never though this day would come so fast!

This is the last email I will send as a full-time representative of Jesus Christ and His true Church. What an incredible journey it’s been! The most fun and happiest time of my life.  I really can’t believe it has been a year and a half of service to my Savior. I love this work. I LOVE being a missionary, and I’m really sad to say goodbye.  I feel that I have imparted some of my heart and soul to the people of Alabama and the Heart of Dixie will always have a piece of my own heart. Literal blood, sweat, and tears have been shed and I know God sent me here for a reason.  It truly has been the hardest things I have ever loved to do.

This week was wonderful!!!!  It was full of running around, we were BUSY every second it seemed like. Running from appointment to appointment, to meal appointments, to everything.  This last Sunday, my last Sunday in the mission, we had Stake Conference, which was WONDERFUL.  The spirit was so strong, however we, the missionaries in the Altadena branch, were a bit preoccupied because we were in charge of translating.  It was probably the most stressful day of MY WHOLE LIFE.  It is one thing to speak spanish and a whole other ball game to translate from English to Spanish, especially when you have a group of hispanics correcting your grammar and pronounciation hahaha. In fact, most fluent spanish and english speakers cannot translate, so you can imagine my anxiety.  I was stressed about translating the entire week, more than going home!  I prayed with all my soul that the spirit would be with us, and that we would be blessed with the gift of tongues as we translated so that the members could feel the spirit.  And once again the Lord pulled through, I was surprised at how easy it was for all of us to translate but was reminded of the great mantle of authority that we have as missionaries.  We are instruments in the Lord's hands and through Him we can do many mighty miracles.  This was just one more emmaus experience that I was able to witness as one of the Lords missionaries. 

I came on a mission hoping to give something back to my Savior because I know what He gave/gives to me.  But instead I have found that I am more indebted to Him than ever before.  

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to serve a mission.  To lose myself in the service of others and come to know my Savior while doing it.  It has been SO MUCH FUN.  I love love love Alabama.  I love serving, I love the Gospel and am CONSTANTLY amazed at how happy it makes me and those around me feel.  We truly are blessed! 

 I have come to love Him and rely on Him in times of difficulty and inadequacy.  Which has been ALOT.  I know who I am.  I know what I want for my future because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, and my testimony of these things.  I love what President Hanks always quotes, “To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair and that there will be wonderful surprises.” I truly believe that.  

As I close my final email to all you beautiful folks I want to thank you for the many letters, emails, prayers, support, and love you have shown me over the past months.  Here are a few spiritual truths that I have come to know on my mission.  

 The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. I LOVE that book and have read it many times and can testify of the truthfulness of it. The name of the Savior Himself is on every page.  Within its pages I have felt Gods arms encircle me.  I have found answers to my prayers and above allI have found happiness.

 The Atonement of Jesus Christ literally transforms peoples lives. The gospel softens hearts and brings peace and hope in a hopeless world. The Atonement is sufficient to save us FROM our sins and enables us to BECOME like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  

 Contrary to popular belief (especially here in Alabama) there is real and absolute truth. It's not just what "best suits our lives" or "whatever we believe". There is absolute truth and everyone should and NEEDS to find that for themselves. Other churches have truth, but, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have the MOST truth available on the earth. 

We have a LOVING Father in Heaven who is caring, with His arms outstretched. He is not waiting to catch us in our sins and punish us for what we have done, but is lovingly encouraging us to do our very best. 

 The most loving and merciful God was humble enough to send His only begotten Son, to come to the earth as a fragile baby, the only perfect person to walk the earth, to suffer and die for us as a fallen people. What grace. What compassion. What bravery. A debt that can never be paid back. A sacrifice I will unfortunately never be able to fully comprehend nor appreciate. 

I know this church is true. It's changed my life. It's changed the life of my investigators, my friends, and my family. This is not just a good church that I attend on Sunday.  It influences everything I do.  How I treat people, how I speak, the way I act, the things I cherish, and it will influence my future.  This gospel means everything to me, and I will continue to build my testimony of the Savior's gospel until the day I die. 

Because of Alabama I am a more detailed follow of Christ.  I will never, no never, no never, forsake. 

I wont say any more because I WILL SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES SOON!!!!!! I am so excited.  In saying that, please enjoy this bible verse 2 John 1:12.

ILOVEYOUALL sureloveyoumolinesROCKandmissionariesRUUUUUULE

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Moline

STEADFAST IN CHRIST and of course ROLL TIDE

 All the missionaries in the Altadena Spanish branch

 pday sports with Hermano David y los misioneros

  candid picture of us singing to Nashville Tribute haha

  Hermano D*****, in the middle, D******, is next to me.  With all the missionaries on

 Sunday

  Los R******, member Family.  LOVE THEM

 tracting because WE LOVE IT

Bitter Sweet

February 13, 2017

HEY FAMILY

Remember that amazing referral/Emmaus/ miracle family from the Elders in that sketchy place last week? Well we had another solid lesson with them this week, We had an appointment planned, we asked some members in the branch to come out with us and meet them, they both have 2 year old sons and would get along great! BUT...they ignored us    Anyway, long story short...we are still working with them..but giving them a break. But, at least they KNOW what they felt and when they are ready, they will be baptized. one day. :)

On a happy note, D*****, our 16 year old Honduran investigator, came to church again this week! We haven't been able to meet with her at all because she wasn't answering our phone calls or texts! But then she just shows up to church and told us she was wondering why she hadn't heard from us and realized that she changed her cell phone number and forgot to tell us!! D**** is amazing.  She is already apart of the branch family and loves the gospel. That chick just needs to put her faith first and get baptized.

Not much happened this week except that it POURED down on Sister Magness and me while we were tracting.  And we had a blast.  Who knew misisonary work could be so much fuun?????

Onto a spiritual note, My whole life I could tell you all the primary answers and how they were what made you happy and good and all that. It is on my mission that I actually have learned that was true. One other thing I've realized though is that sometimes the primary answers just don't seem like enough. But they are.

It's not just that we read the scriptures, pray, go to church, serve others, etc. but it's that we do those things with the intent to come closer to our Father in Heaven.  It is not enough to go through the motions.

One of the most important truths I realized on my mission was that, because we are created in God's image, the more we learn about him, the more we really learn about ourselves.

Also, I seriously wish you could see how much fun we have here in Alabama. We meet SO MANY wonderful and funny people here, I love them with all my heart. There have been so many spiritual and uplifting experiences here, but there have also been SO MANY FUNNY TIMES. I wish I could just record it all! I love this place! The church is true. Peace and blessings. God bless.

con amor,
HERMANA MOLINE

 All the latino elders haha Theyr'e the best.

 Elder Colton! my long lost cousin through Jason haha

 Last Zone Conference this week!

  Sister Beni my fav

 Sister Magness and I! Love this little munchkin.

 After soccer a member made us all cake and roz con leche. for Presidente Fabion's birthday!

 with Diego (Damaris' cousin) and friend Yair, who is taking the discussions from the elders!

 Elder Colton! Jason's cousin!

 The District!

 pig feet at la Mexican tienda Mi Pueblo..ew

 pure Alabama

A cat we found!

 Sister Magness and our investigator, Damaris from Honduras!

Missionary work is thebomb.com.org.net.ed

January 30, 2017

HELLO!!!  

I have zero time! But I will give you a quick update on my week! It was a fantastic week.  Just like all of them haha I would be lying if I told ya’ll it wasn’t a good week.

We had a worldwide Missionary broadcast on Wednesday.  All missionaries everywhere were tuned in.  It was with Elder Oakes and some of the chair people on the missionary council.  They made some changes to the missionary schedule!  Just slight changes to our morning schedule and evening schedule. Specifically, we now daily plan in the mornings and each mission has more flexibility depending on the culture and region to change the morning schedule.  Other changes are that companionship study, language study, and new missionary training can be done any time throughout the day and outside of living quarters if needed.  I like the changes alot!!

Our investigator D***** came to church again this week!! SHE IS SO SOLID.  She has such a desire to follow Christ and become better.  She loves the Book of Mormon but feels strongly that she needs to read the entire book of Mormon before she gets baptized.  We have been working with her but she comes weekly to the Family Home Evening at one of our member Family's home each Monday.  Her cousin Di***** who is 13 is a member and is a good influence on her.  So please be praying this week for ****** as she prays about baptism!!!

On Sunday all the new missionaries in the Spanish branch gave talks.  I spoke about the difference functions of the Holy Ghost.  I thought I did pretty well! I pulled the o'l Everyone calls me Hermana Molé   (Mole is a popular dish from Mexico, it is so good!)  Everyone laughs at that one hahahaha  I love the members of this branch! They are incredible.  

This week we got a call from the Talledega Sisters (40 minutes away) that they have been attempting to teach a Hispanic woman from Mexico. (they are English sisters) They told us she is really interested and really needs Spanish missionaries!  So Sister Magness and I made the treck out there and taught Erica and her cute family.  She has been reading the Book of Mormon and had alot of questions.  She was so interested.  As I was bearing her my testimony of the truthfulness of the Restoration, tears began to fill my eyes.  The spirit was so thick in that room.  Although the other sisters didn’t understand what was going on.  They could feel the spirit.  

I love this Gospel.  I love serving my Lord and Savior.  It is such a blessing to live in a day and age where we have the knowledge that we do.  

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE.  This is the best time to be a missionary and the best time to be in Alabama. 

ROLL TIDE and CHOOSE THE RIGHT.

con amor,

Hermana Moline

Sweet home Alabama

January 23, 2017

AHHH this week has been crazy fast!! I feel like I was just here writing yall.  

Today will be a kinda short email but the biggest news this week is that our investigator, Damaris came to church!!! She is 16 years old and is from Honduras.  She speaks zero English because she has only been here for 2 months.  A few members of her family are members, so she knows a bit about the church.  She has been taught by missionaries for a month. And she and her cousin came to church!  It was glorious.  She told us she absolutely loved it and is coming with us to a members home tonight for Noche de hogar!  This week we hope to set a baptismal date with her! WOOHOO 

This week, since we have been finding alot, Sister Magness and I found ALOT of people with random connections with the gospel.  It was such a miracle.  We met a lady named Doris from Mexico who was taught by missionaries forever ago and even had a baptismal date but we couldn’t find her records in the area book because it was literally 6 years ago.  She was so awesome. 

About 4 or 5 times this week we were meeting with some investigators, prepared to teach them a super spiritual lesson but instead they invite us to eat delish Mexican food with them and their ENTIRE extended family.  This happened so many times this week, Sister Magness and I just went with it. hahaha this culture is the best!

Also this week we had Zone training!  We learned about having trust and hope in the Savior. We also listened to Elder Stevenson's talk on the Book of Mormon. One thing he said that I love is "Within the book’s pages, you will discover the infinite love and incomprehensible grace of God. As you strive to follow the teachings you find there, your joy will expand, your understanding will increase, and the answers you seek to the many challenges mortality presents will be opened to you. As you look to the book, you look to the Lord." The scriptures are there to help us learn and grow and come closer to the Savior.

Also At LEAST 5 times a day Sister Magness gets told she looks like she’s 12 years old.  Or that she is my baby sister. HAHA

This week we also had some amazing teaching opportunities. We have met some wonderful people who are willing and ready to change their lives to know the Savior better. I am changing right along side of them. I love the Atonement and our ability to change who we are to become someone Christ wants us to become. It’s all about becoming. 

LOVE ALL OF YOU!

Steadfast in Christ

Hermana Moline

Sweet home Alabama!!

January 23, 2017

AHHH this week has been crazy fast!! I feel like I was just here writing yall.  

Today will be a kinda short email but the biggest news this week is that our investigator, Damaris came to church!!! She is 16 years old and is from Honduras.  She speaks zero english because she has only been here for 2 months.  A few members of her family are members, so she knows a bit about the church.  She has been taught by missionaries for a month. And she and her cousin came to church!  It was glorious.  She told us she absolutely loved it and is coming with us to a members home tonight for Noche de hogar!  This week we hope to set a baptismal date with her! WOOHOO 

This week, since we have been finding alot, Sister Magness and I found ALOT of people with random connections with the gospel.  It was such a miracle.  We met a lady named Doris from Mexico who was taught by missionaries forever ago and even had a baptismal date but we couldnt find her records in the area book because it was literally 6 years ago.  She was so awesome. 

About 4 or 5 times this week we were meeting with some investigators, prepared to teach them a super spiritual lesson but instead they invite us to eat delish mexican food with them and thier ENTIRE extended family.  This happened so many times this week, Sister Magness and I just went with it. hahaha this culture is the best!

Also this week we had Zone training!  We learned about having trust and hope in the Savior. We also listened to Elder Stevenson's talk on the Book of Mormon. One thing he said that I love is "Within the book’s pages, you will discover the infinite love and incomprehensible grace of God. As you strive to follow the teachings you find there, your joy will expand, your understanding will increase, and the answers you seek to the many challenges mortality presents will be opened to you. As you look to the book, you look to the Lord." The scriptures are there to help us learn and grow and come closer to the Savior.

Also At LEAST 5 times a day Sister Magness gets told she looks like shes 12 years old.  Or that she is my baby sister. HAHA

This week we also had some amazing teaching opportunities. We have met some wonderful people who are willing and ready to change their lives to know the Savior better. I am changing right along side of them. I love the Atonement and our ability to change who we are to become someone Christ wants us to become. Its all about becoming. 

LOVE ALL OF YOU!

Steadfast in Christ

Hermana Moline