APRIL FOOLS .....

Love my Mission..........and everyone in it....

K let me lead into this prank....so all of Justinas bro's wrote her and told her all about Alecc getting engaged and even her MOM said a few things too..... we thought we were so clever...and this was her response. ahhahahahahaah (no Alecc is not engaged)

Nice try. I don't believe any of you for one second. I probably would have believed it if Alecc led up to it a bit. But I know that he has no girl in his life so HA! Good one though. That's mean you guys. I almost cried and then laughed because it's not true. Rude. I'm mad at you all. I'm thinking about not writing a letter. But I'm trying to be like Christ and forgive and move on and teach more and love more. So you are lucky this time.

So about my little week it's gone good. Maggie will either be baptized this week or the next. She came to church yesterday. And her sister(potential investigator) is going to give us manicures and pedicures. Be jealous. Ha she is asking us to do it for a service to her. Okay guess we can't say no to that one. Shucks. 

And we taught the youth yesterday the new curriculum is awesome wish I had that, but it just shows how much more prepared they are then I was. We talked about comparisons they can make with normal life and the atonement. They are brilliant! And Marco is getting baptized in a few weeks (natys husband) I'm so greatful for the elders and their hard work. They will be sealed forever as a family in a year. And you better believe it that I'm Cummings back! Why are you going to Disneyland without me? 

A funny story was when Hna crow snuck up behind a guy on the sidewalk and said "hi!" And I wish you could have seen him jump. He got into the fetal position five feet in the air. Pretty impressive. I bit my tongue while she tried to contact him I thought it was hilarious. Ooooooooo the scary Mormons on bikes. Love it

We also had a really powerful lesson with our new investigators this week. Her son passed away and she just wants to know if he is happy. We taught a little and she asked what we would be learning the next time. And we said. "Where your son is" she got really happy and set a solid return apt. I was studying for her today and once again I was impacted by alma 40:11-14 in 11 we are told that everyone goes and lives with god before the resurrection and then in 12 it says they are happy! That's all she wants to know if he is happy. How sad is it that so many people don't have the knowledge that we do. That when someone passes away they are with god and they are Ina state of rest. And they get the chance to progress still. Love that we have the Book of Mormon so we can have the everlasting and foulness of the gospel leading and guiding us today.

Also today I was reading a talk and something really hit me. "It's not what we have DONE in this life it is what we have BECOME". people can do many good things in there lives but if we aren't changing ourselves them there is no purpose. It's the difference between a testimony and being converted. Well to truly have a testimony we must be convinced and act. Live what we believe share what we believe and with that we will become. We should not just do things because they are right, we should do them for the right reason. So I will become what he wants me to. The mission will be over soon but it's just the beginning. It's like baptism. It is the gateway to eternal life. I have been learning the skills and becoming what I need to in these months so that I can continue to walk the pathway to stand in front of my Heavenly Father and savior and give them big hugs and them smile because of what I have become. I'm not there yet. Not even close. But I know as I know and declare I will become what he wants me to be.
Love you so much, your constantly in my prayers. Xoxox

Les quiero, Hna Quezada 

Iiiiiiiiiii LLoooooooovvvveeeeeeeeee THE TEMPLE!!!!!!

Ya sorry about not emailing untill now. But you were right we had the opportunity to go to the temple. Do you know how much I love the temple? 

Iiiiiii lllllooooooovvvvvveeeeee the temple. The new new movie is truly incredible I hope you have seen it. If not go to the temple. And if yes. GO ANYWAYS!! Take advantage of how close you are. Yes I understand it takes some time but make it a priority. Think about all the people waiting for you to go. And if that doesn't motivate you enough. We all need to endure to the end. And going to the temple is part of it. It's just awesome.

So about my week. Went really well. We have lots of new investigators and lots of them are progressing. We do have a phone and the area is getting a lot easier. We don't get tamales much unless it's the holidays and the food I miss the most is prolly mashed potatoes and warm rolls. Anytime I get an Americanized home cooked meal is a tender mercy. Training is hard and good. It is very draining but so worth it. These young missionaries really are way more prepared then us. But Hna crow is so sweet. Her kindness helps me be better. But this week we had a few miracles and funny moments. Okay funny first

So I scratched my neck and we were talking to someone on the street and all of a sudden he says "is that a hicky?" I was so appalled. OF COURSE NOT. EWWW "no I'm a missionary" "I know I thought you didn't do that." Tried to explain awkwardly and then just laughed it off and walked away. EWWW anywho. 

We are teaching a family of 8 and 5 of them are on date. It is a true miracle. We were so excited when we left. The Lord is truly helping us with the work. We also picked up a few more families that have lots of potential.

Also had the most awkward chastity lesson ever. Talk about uncomfortable. usually chastity is so easy and fine but when the person is being a wee bit immature it makes things real interesting. But she is fine and is still preparing for baptisms. 

So something really spiritual that happened was that we sang in church. Nearer my god to thee. Spanish claro but what made it really nice was when I stood up to sing I look out I saw multiple less actives and investigators of ours and of the other missionaries. That's why I am here. We have been working so hard in the ward but we of course could be doing more but I love seeing people enjoy and live the gospel. And today if I could ask my sweet savior something it would be how I could teach these people like he would. And if he could teach me how to teach.

I'm excited to hearing about all the missionaries congrats jenn. And this work is amazing and it. Blesses everyone me. My family. My friends. My ward. The people here. And the future generations to come. I love the gospel and it is sooooo true. Xoxox 

Have a great week. Love you so much!

Love, Hna Quezada 

Saw my dad/ Got a new Companion/ Turned 20 best 2 weeks ever........

Look who I saw.......

ummmmmm im 20???? 

New Companion

This week... Oh what a week it has been.. Probably worst week numbers wise but the numbers don't matter. Anywho the first two days I was in English work waiting for my trainy (Hna crow from Orem) taught sweet sister Allan how to contact someone in Spanish. And guess what. She came home last night and SHE DID IT and got an address. I was so happy for her. Every English missionary needs to learn a Spanish contact. So Tuesday night got Hna crow she was so excited about the work and just loves complimenting me. I don't necessarily like tons of compliments but she does look up to me a lot and she thinks I'm pretty perfect. I think I'm fooling her pretty well. But the bad part is she is comparing herself like I did. BUT. I don't know what for because she is way more prepared then I was and her Spanish is sooooo much better then mine was. She is a good missionary and really loves The Lord WHICH is the best tool you can have because at motivation overcomes many others. So wed had a long meeting for leaders that was all day but I learned a lot and then Thursday we had to turn around and teach it to our zone so we didn't really get to work in our new area until Thursday night. And let me tell you that was an adventure. We are meeting tons of people that want us to come over and teach them... Small problem... We can't find like any of their addresses. At times it frustrates me and then I just laugh it off. We missed so many appointments because we couldn't find house. ( oh forgot to mention they forgot to order us a phone so we are also phone less! Which is super hard being a missionary without a phone and even harder opening an area not knowing where anything is.) 

We got some cow tongue tacos at a taqueria that reminded me of Quezada market. But this time I could speak to all of the employees and people there in Spanish instead of just not knowing. It was awesome!

Picked avocados fresh from a tree and lemons too. You know just living the Cali life. The heat is back I enjoy it too a point then I'm just sweating all over the place. Loving the bike. I'm scared to use my basket because I know it will get stolen in Baldwin park. Because the elders bikes get stolen there. Like 5 or so but it's all good the more danger the better right? 

We are teaching a 23 yr old who is on dialysis. Pobresita but we have this wonderful gospel and she wants to be baptized. And she will. I love my job. It's da best. And don't worry about my bday got me some rocky road and Oreos. But thanks for the thought. I love you and hope you have good week. And stop calling me perfect. 

Love Hna Quezada 

We wake up at 6:30 and go to bed at 10:30 on the dot. Never late!

my birthday was really good. Got to teach rina and Andrea our new amazing investigators. And they have a date for the 20th of April. That made my day. But as well. We had dinner with the rs pres. And #1 it was a very Americanized meal(which was much needed,, and she's not Americanized at all) and she is awesome and then she goes to the fridge and pulls out.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES!!!! 

I don't think she even realized how happy I was to see those. And yes I got your package the night before. Thanks the clothes and shoes are super cute! I've almost worn all of them already. My old comps at district meeting were all like new outfit? Cute! It was a really good day.

For this week we had a way better week we found a lot of people and were able to have many lessons. So Maggie who was going to be baptized in March but she is sick. Like dialysis sick and she had a fever yesterday so didn't make it to church. She is so strong. And will be baptized soon. But man poor thing, but even though she didn't have the chance to come to church I was pleasantly surprised but someone else naty and Jocelyn walked and followed was Marco and josue. (Husband and son of naty) 

I WAS SSOOOOOO HAPPY. 

This family is so special to me and seeing Marco in church, it just made sense. He was suppose to be there. Naty was just glowing. She looked the same way when she was baptized. Excited nervous but knew it was what was suppose to happen. I'm so excited for them. Hna ward and I are going to come back a year from his baptism to go to their sealing. Being a missionary is just the greatest! They also stayed for the baptism(that the elders had) and I sang again. I feel like they would get tired of me singing but nope. But the spirit was strong and the baptism was a true miracle. We are being blessed here in Covina and I know it's because The Lord is hastening his work, daily. 

We also got to take two 16yr olds to a lesson with a less active Carolina, for their mini mission. They testified powerfully and there were tears on both ends. It was really fun to let them teach and watch what power these young people have. Cesar is going to be amazing. I just see the difference in them. They were born later which means they were ment to be in this hastening time. It's a gift to be able to serve. Oh and Carolina came to church yesterday as well.

Me and Hna crow were talking yesterday after someone told us how nothing else should be written besides the bible. And it just makes sense. There was scripture from the beginning of time and then up until the apostles died. Why wouldn't there be scripture for our day? Well there is. The amazing thing is we have the knowledge of the restoration, the truth, the Book of Mormon, modern day prophets. So since it makes perfect sense why are we scared to share it? We have the knowledge so let's come together and open our mouths.

I love this time I have to serve as a representative of our savior 24/7.

Because it has shows me things that I need to change, and how I will forever be a missionary with or without a place but I'll keep my place for as long as I possibly can! Thanks for the birthday wishes. I do feel very loved by all of my friends and family. Your the best. And I am so lucky to have you in my life. Xoxoxo xoxox 

Your favorite missionary,

Hna Quezada 

Well i studied big time in revelation today. It was cool and I got a bigger testimony on the Book of Mormon and bible. And I love that I can say I read the bible and the Book of Mormon equally. I wish I new them better. I have a hard time with memorizing references so sorry. My experience spiritual was with that family coming to church. I had a really spiritual Sunday yesterday.

Im opening a new area with a new trainy.......crazy right

Happy day!!!!!!!!

And I really love your reflection on the angels landing. I haven't ever hiked that actually. But sounds super cool. Love that everything can relate to the gospel.

zone conference

This week was totally crazy. On Tuesday I get a call from president that papa is in town and we are going to have a meeting together at his house the next day. Which went really well. I have permission to teach him via skype as long as he intends to try to do things god wants for him. So papa if you are reading this. Just let me know when you can... So Tuesday night I got another call from the APs telling me that I would be training this next transfer. So SURPRISE I'm training again (Hna Johnson is going to finish Hna Covingtons training) in this same phone call I was told I would be opening an area. I will be roaming the ward of covina. So that means I will work in Covina West Covina and Baldwin park. There is lots of work to be done but I'm kinda nervous because as of right now I have no investigators. And I'm getting a new Hermana in two days. So the last shock came Saturday night when the APs called again and told me that I would be a new sister training leader. (Which is like a zone leader but for girls and a little less responsibility because we are in charge of the Hnas and there are less of them). So if you didn't catch all that. I saw papa this week. I'm training. I'm opening a new area for missionaries. And I'm a sister trainer. Lots of things all at once, I have prayed really hard this week. And I had a thought the other day from a missionary that sent me a letter a llllooooonnnnngggggg time ago. So my thought was "I don't know how to do this. Open an area with a trainy... You are right you don't know how do it.. But The Lord does." He knows how to do everything. And this isn't my new area this is his new area I am simply just the tool he is using to touch these people. I have been humbled over and over this week. 

I have had lots of meetings and we went to the baptism of jayda yesterday. Which was really special. Now Brianna and jayda have the Holy Ghost. A lady said to me yesterday."good job. You are seeing your fruits." My immediate reaction was "my fruits? I did nothing! these little angels were prepared from The Lord." Once again I was humbled. 

And another special moment I had this week was during sacrament meeting I was sitting with naty and Jocelyn. I gave naty a few encouraging looks for her to go and bare her testimony. She is so little cute and shy. But I knew she was going to do it. She popped up and walked to the pulpit. She has truly changed. She introduced herself to the ward and bore powerful testimony. I felt like a proud mommy. I was so happy for her and I truly am blessed to be here with these amazing people. 

Oh we had another miracle happen this week. So Fidel needs some more time before his baptism but we were in a lesson with him his daughter Martha and our recent convert his wife matilde. Annnyyywwwhhhooo Fidel had all these questions. And we sat back and let matilde and Martha teach. Martha was the one doing most of the talking. She was testifying and explaining.,.... And SHE NOT EVEN A MEMBER YET! She even said she knew it was true! And she came to church yesterday as well. The sad thing about all the changes is that I won't be able to teach them anymore but they will be baptized very soon. 

To answer your question. This last transfer we struggled with finding. I didn't feel like we were slacking off. Just that all the people we talked to didn't live in our area. But we still had many miracles and will have more baptisms soon. Aleccs letter remotivated me and we will have many more this transfer

Welp like always gotta go slack line with the elders and still completely love my life as a missionary. I will forever be changed and I love that. Xoxox go serve someone this week and I hope you love doing it.

Les quiero, Hna Quezada 

Im a Marshmellow!!!!!

Brianna got baptized

This week was good. Brianna was baptized! It was fun. We brought a loaf of bread and pb&j for the kids so they wouldn't be so out of hand. It helped a tad. But they were still a little loco. 

I sang the baptism song in Spanish and English with the added verse. It was cute. Always brings back memories. When she walked into the font she was like "I'm a marshmallow" really hilarious and she was just so excited and happy. And after the baptism Esther her grandma just kept saying "I'm so happy" being a missionary is so rewarding. We are the ones that are blessed. People always say the people are blessed because of the missionaries and that the families are blessed. Which are both true but I am the blessed one. I have learned so much here and I will continue to do so. And I was thinking about what you said about do I ever have bad days. And the answer is no. I can't remember the last time I had a bad day. Because there is no time to think about myself so if I have bad days I am being selfish. There are obviously bad moments (like investigators denying blessings and the truth. Which also happened a lot this week) but the gospel is the same and it blesses the people and it is the only way. So we have to keep going and finding the people who re ready for true happiness. 

Fidel... Matildes husband. Won't be baptized this coming up week. He needs a few weeks. We found out he hasn't been praying. So that means he hasn't received an answer. And he feels that. We are going to work with him more. It was so funny because as we were leaving he said "patience Hermana's" and I replayed back "prayer Fidel". He will be baptized soon. I'm excited for them still. We are prolly going to drop the rest of our investigators they just aren't doing anything. Even though they have so much potential.  We need to move on. There are souls just waiting for this gospel.

I'm excited that you had that fireside. I hope you are using fbook for the reason it should be used. I still have a hard time using it. It's weird as a missionary. But we are teaching people through Facebook and finding people as well. It's exciting to be part of the hastening. 

I hope you know that I love you so much. And that we are so blessed to have each other and as well to have the understanding of the gospel. Hope your loving life like I am. It's such an exciting time. 

PDAY fun we went to ikea. Tehe. So expensive but so cute. Reminded me of home. Xoxox love you

Love, Hna Quezada

I LOVE.......................I love being loved by my Heavely Father!!!!!

Quit sticking your tongue out at ME!!!!!!

Mom,

 Teach. Find. Baptize.

 its so true we eventually need to master all things so we can be perfect in all things! is kinda a scary thought but its true so we better start now!

a few things that I love. I love my Savior. He has truly given me the ability to change and become like Him. 

I love my family and all the craziness of it. I love being a missionary. It is such a sacred privlage to be representing the Lord and finding and helping our brothers and sisters. 

I love the gospel and how perfect it is. I love spanish and the abilit to learn. I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES and the words of he Prophets. I love how we can love and feel it too. I LOVE LIFE!!! i dont know how but I love being loved by my Heavenly Father! and he loves us so much
 I LOVE YOU and Happy birthday too! xoxoxo

Hermana Quezada

WE GOT I PADS!!!!!!

So your week sounds sooooo fun. And the pictures are way cute.Ya we have a baptism next week and then one and maybe two after that. I didn't get your package. You have to send it and plan for it to get here Tuesday because that's when we get our mail. So it's prolly just waiting for me in the office.

So fiRST off.. WE GOT IPADS! Oh and let me tell you it has been quite an adventure. I have been very grateful for Hna Covington because she just came from the world and had a smart phone and all that jazz. President told us that we would want to hold on to our planners but we shouldn't we should just use the iPads with full force. (Which is our planner, area book, maps, Facebook, email, lds.org, Mormon.org, hymn book/ music, preach my gospel, all the books from the church including scriptures Spanish and English, it even has the pamphlets we use during lessons.) anyways when president said this I knew he was talking to me because I love me my paper. I still use my paper at times and I was carrying my paper planner around and IT FELL INTO THE GUTTER INTO THE WATER! And then my pencil ran out of led. If that's not a sign I don't know what is. So still getting use to it but it's fun and exciting. Really convenient.

So we had a cool experience with a less active and her 12 yr old son we decided to stop by to visit her mom( who was in Mexico) so we taught her daughter and grandson the plan of salvation. This poor family is hurting for the gospel and it is truly affecting them. After we explain the three degrees of glory and how we can be with our families forever this 12 yr old had such an energy. He was excited about the gospel. And they both felt the spirit so strong. They committed to church.. Unfortunately they still have their agency and satan is working pretty hard on them and they weren't there... But we were ment to stop by their house and now we know to go back a little more often to help this family return to the happiness they have once felt.

One of their questions was why do we go through hard things. And as I was studying this morning I found something that hit me pretty hard that I want to share with you.

As we put our faith and trust in The Lord we are strengthened and our burdens become light. AND our "faith (will be) immeasurably strengthened by (our experiences) and after (we will enjoy) a special bond with The Lord."

        -elder christofferson 

-this statement is so true. We go through hard things. We are chastened but as we put our faith and trust in him we will be strengthened and learn from our experiences and we will have a stronger and better relationship with The Lord. And as we understand the atonement we become more like him. So we have to go through problems and struggles. Because then we must put our faith and confidence in him we are strengthened, we learn from our experiences and then at the same time this helps us have a stronger relationship and understanding of the savior and his atonement.

I love you guys so much and I'm glad your having so much fun with out me. Ha xoxox have a great week.

Love, Hna Quezada 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE....I LOVE THIS GOSPEL AND I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

service service sevice
WE LOVE SERVICE

Im just going to ignore your title. It really makes me sad to think about the time. hijole.

food, food, food
WE LOVE FOOD

ON top of the world.....ok on top of a water fountain..hahha

3 little worker ants.....love you

The week was good and HORRIBLE okay well let start with the horrible. We find this amazing investigator on monday and she is looking for something else. She has been feeling the need for God and her catholic churchs arent filling her. We come in and she feels it. and LOVES the fact that we can ask Heavenly Father questions. so we come back that next thursday, and she sits us down and tells us that we cant come back because it is ruining her marriage. One day she hopes that she can come t our church. But he wont allow her to go to any other church but the catholics... and he doesnt believe in any religion..... I cried and expressed how crucial this is and how she needs this BUT we cant break up families and he would not listen:( heartbreak. and the first one for my trainy too. that was a really hard thing to do. She has our number and we have hers. walked away from that lesson very discouraged. and then the next day we went to our lesson with MAricela (the one that bawled during the restoration and first visoin saying that this is what she needed) and she said the same thing to us. Two very prepared people ready to hear the gospel and change and then cant because of thier husbands.. It was a little rough. So we lost 3 investigators with that one.

okay now to the good. Fidel. Matildes husband is doing so well. He came to church again and he is reading and undersatanding and feeling more comfortable and excepting. its amazing and also Brianna and Jayda are almost done with the lessons and ready to be baptized. We are excited for them. We have sad things happen on the mission but I know that no matter what we have a just God and that those two faithful women will be in Gods church soon.

So that is so exciting to hear about Megan Heaps. I am so happy for her. Making more covenants with God is the only way we can progress. and we get to go to the temple in april. I wish it came sooner.

So we didnt even find out about the superbowl untill saturday night when I was talking to someone on the bus "where are you going?" "to the store to get things for tomorrow" "oh whats tomorrow?" (me thinking sabbath day. sunday dinner with the family) "the superbowl?" "oh" (DUUHHHH) it was pretty funny.

 

So a little bit about Covina its about half and half americans with half latinos. you will have a few philipinos here and there. But this area is probably one of the nicest(richest) areas in the mission for spanish work. and Pomona ws kinda the trash getto. HA its a lot different. I still miss Pomona Im still getting use to being away from my family. lots of the hermanas email me and it makes me miss them. but i love Covia for different reasons. Yes Naty and jocelyn are here they havent come to church in two weeks which makes me nervous. They arent in my area so I cant visit them and im trying to to over step my bountaries with talking to them. Its hard though because I love them so much. oh we get ipads in two weeks the first batch are here and hna ward was one of the first to get one they are so cool. We are excited about it. its going to make missionary work so much more affective. Are you posting spiritual things on facebook?

Love you tons the mission is awesome flying by. but i am loving every second. I love that I have this opprotunity to be here working and serving the Lord. There is nowhere else I would rather be. Loves

Hermana Quezada

Mom,

Fidel is progressing so well. We are excited for him. 3 of March. It might be sooner but its pretty solid either way. He came to church again. 5th time Ithink. And you can see the love and happiness growing between him and Matilde. I love the gospel it is just incredible! and we are teaching two of their five children that are really receptive! Besides that we kinda had a slow week. Not too much happening and we are struggling on finding people we are praying for a family that is prepared. I am praying super super hard.

But the big news is WE GET IPADS TOMORROW! we are the first zone to recieve them. But the whole mission will be getting them in these next three days. Pretty crazy the Lord is hastening his work and I lovelovelove being apart of it. (I am seriously chanllenged with electrontic. Hna Covington has to deal with all of the iphone things over here because when we are trying to download the BOM for people I cant figure it out... guess i have been out for a while...)

And a typical sunday is like every other day on the mission we just have the ability to take the sacrament. But other then that it is the same. Teach. Find. Baptize.

So the subject thing and how Heavenly Father knows all of them. I remember when I was taking Physics and I hated it and I was so bad at it. And Alecc said I better get use to it because I was learning the basics so that I can create worlds one day.. But its so true we eventually need to master all things so we can be perfect in all things! is kinda a scary thought but its true so we better start now!

a few things that I love. I love my Savior. He has truly given me the ability to change and become like Him. I love my family and all the craziness of it. I love being a missionary. It is such a sacred privlage to be representing the Lord and finding and helping our brothers and sisters. I love the gospel and how perfect it is. I love spanish and the abilit to learn. I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES and the words of he Prophets. I love how we can love and feel it too. I LOVE LIFE!!! i dont know how but I love being loved by my Heavenly Father! and he loves us so much
 I LOVE YOU and Happy birthday too! xoxoxo

Hermana Quezada