Thank you Josefina!

Not too much this week! It was a normal missionary week, well except for the New Year… but as a missionary it is like a normal day… but I loved it! This week we were able to do divisions with 2 sets of Hermana’s and it was great. I learn so much from each one that I serve with. They all have so much to bring from their past experiences and they are all so amazing… I will be honest. The sisters DO NOT need to serve missions, but when they do I know that Heavenly Father is so happy. I am not saying that all girls need to serve, but I can testify that God loves his missionaries, the elders and the sisters. The lord loves his missionaries. I have felt that so much here in the mission.

I want to share a story about this New Year’s Eve… it was such a touching story. It is about a mother named Josefina. She lives right across the street from us and on New Year’s Eve we bought a rotisserie chicken and needed to warm it up and we know that she had a microwave so we ran across the street in our slippers and without nylons on. We were so cold! But she invited us in and as it was warming up we were able to get to know her more. She has 8 kids that we all born here in Puno, and right after she had her last baby she decided to leave her husband that was an alcoholic. She literally had 5 soles, almost 2 dollars. She lived very poor for a while but started a small restaurant, a pension as it’s called in Peru, and began to provide for her kids. There was a frequent visitor that would come after he would get back from studying that would just want cold water to drink. She would always try to give him coffee or tea but he always refused. One day she asked why and he told her that it is because he was a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and began to explain a little bit more. She accepted to meet with missionaries, and was baptized within two weeks. Now, she has had 4 or 5 of her children serve missions, and all of them are leaders in the ward I am in right now, or close in other wards in the stake. What a testimony to me. She is incredible. She was a pensionista for almost 20 years and has always served as a faithful member, and mother. She explained that it was because of one member that was an example, that LIVED his religion. She was at a point in her life that let her receive the missionaries and she thanks him to this day.

 It made me really think about the examples that we are to others. We do not know who is watching. We don’t know what impact we can make. I know that we are meant to be “examples of the believers”, and “a light” for those that are in need.

Read the scriptures in Matthew 5:16 and 1 Timothy 4:12. They are very well known but read them, study them and improve something today that will help you shine brighter, and help others come unto Christ. President Monson said in his last talk in conference… As we follow the example of the savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others. I love being a missionary. I know that being an example of the believers brings me happiness, as well as others.

Well, have a great week! I love you all! Happy 2016!

Hermana Frame

Pics

Our New Year’s eve dinner! It was super good! And we chatted about our last year here in the mission. 2015 I was able to be a missionary every day. 365 days 24/7. It has been the best year of my life.

Visiting brought pretty views of Puno! And we found an arch that I loved! It was built in the 1800´s.

Teaching two cute abuelitos. They literally have so much faith and read their scriptures every day. AND…. They collect bottles to sell, which brings in probably 20 soles, 8 dollars a week and he still pays his tithing. INCREDIBLE.

Our pensions husband paints masks. They are getting ready for all the festivities that will happen in the next two months.

My companion received a gift from an elder for Christmas. SHE FREAKED! Just so everyone knows THIS IS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE RULES. I died laughing. She was not happy… and she definitely made it known to the zone leaders. It says on the front… be careful… fragil… like my heart. Oh wow I was fuming when they told me to give it to her, but laughing my head off when she was mad… we will be giving it to president this week.. .Haha!

Still loving the glow and the darks mom!