Week 28

Reading my Bible

I don't know why it never occurred to me to read my Bible more. Specially because I am currently trying to share the gospel to people who live in the "Bible belt". I feel like ever week has its theme and this week was people who really knew their Bible. All I heard this week was "show me where it says that in the Bible". Halfway though the week Hna Capener and I caught on and we studied the Bible more that I have ever done in my life. We saw some really cool miracles but most importantly I understood the fact that all we teach is backed up in scripture, but is not any more important that testifying by the spirit. It doesn't matter how much I tell you and show you that the Bible says that we need prophets and apostles because the only way that you will get it is if the spirit tells you that what I say is true.

This last Saturday was the Relief Society broadcast and wow was it amazing! I absolutely loved it. Hna Capener and I were actually able to get a ride to the stake center from an amazing member who is currently less active. It was amazing how the talked were able to work in her and by the time we got home she had convinced herself that she needed to go back. If your are going to put your money on anyone one but it on the prophet!;)

Its been a fantastic week. We got a lot of new investigators that we have to follow up with this week. Jovita, an investigator who we have been working with has accepted to be baptized. We haven't set a date which her because she is also having her second baby on Sunday and is not sure when she will be able to make it to church but we have high hopes for her.

Yesterday we taught Erick's brother (Erick is 21 year old guy who was baptized a month ago). Erick shared a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the organization and unity of the church. It was a proud moment for both Hna Capener and I; we shed a tear or two:)

This week I have also been working on patience. Something cool that Hna Capener shared with me this morning is that patience is something that naturally comes when we exercise hope and faith. My companion is awesome!

Enjoy conference week! I know I sure will:)

Love always,

    Hermana Orellana

 From my compas ipad!

- random stuff we find on people's porches.

- The scenery in Tennesse:)

 I pad pictures!

-Showing off my hair

-The kind of food Erick gives us... he loves us

-I did my companions hair to calm my nerves;)

Week 27

Biking Week!

Biking weeks are always the longest! This week was tough full of ups and downs... haha the hills as I rode my bike across city.

On Wednesday Erick, a recent convert, took us out to a Chinese buffet. It was delicious but the next day I woke up with a stomach ache and threw up all morning. We spent most of the afternoon trying to recover and finally had to call the Elders that live closest to us to give me a blessing. We decided to take it easy that day since we were ridding bikes so we took it hour by hour working mostly on Facebook and staying close to home in case I had an emergency. It was painful and one of the most tiring days of my life but we saw so many miracles! We were able to help an investigator who's name is Jovita. She had been trying to get a hold of us because she is pregnant and needed a ride to the hospital on Monday and her husband couldn't get it off at work. We showed up even though we hadn't planned to that day but had to because we had to stay close to home and she lives relatively close. If I hadn't of gotten sick or hadn't of chosen to go out and do work even though I was sick we would have never known.

That night after our dinner break we decided to knock some apartments near by. We didn't find many Hispanics but we found a community of people from India who came to work at the giant Nissan factory in town. They say they have a mile long assembly line! And it makes since they probably need a bunch of workers to run it. Someone told me yesterday that they have three shifts and run all through the night; poor people! Anyways it was fun getting to know their story. Hermana Capener and I came out with a new found love for that culture. We also met Key and Ruby a "black American" (as they call themselves) couple who were supper friendly and supper prepared for the gospel! They are the funniest pair I have ever met. They sit there and argue about everything and anything. I thought I was in a comedy show and I just kept laughing and laughing! It made me feel a whole lot better!:) We were able to share with them a copy of the Book of Mormon and they said they would read it. We then ran back home with I don't know what kind of energy, since I hadn't eaten anything that day, and were able to make it home safely. What a day!

This week I will be finishing the Book of Mormon for the first time on my mission and WOW has it been amazing! It really is book of God. I decided this time to really ponder its message. I studied and compared it to the Bible and studied the words of the prophets as they spoke about the individual doctrines and I know without a doubt in my mind that it is true. Every single word in that book is true! I would give my life for it! What a blessing it is to have it.

Love,

    Hermana Orellana

PS these are some old photos my compa had on her camera

Week 26

A la mitad del translado!

We are halfway though the transfer again! Wow this one has to be the fastest going month for sure!

This week we saw the first signs of fall. As I have heard in Tennessee we dong have all the seasons like we have in Utah. I guess Fall is usually about a week and then it is mostly really cold or really hot. So far its true!

We were able to go to the temple this week. I haven't gone for six months. I truly needed it though. I felt like had my batteries charged and ready to go for the next six months. The Nashville temple is small but so beautiful. Living in Smyrna I'm only 25 minutes away:)

It's been a good week:) I cant seam to remember much of what happened but it was a good one. One of the things that stood out to me this week is how amazing the members are. They are so wiling to help us out and to give us rides to where ever we need to go. I love getting to hear their conversion stories and for them to share them with the people we teach is just a spiritual boost.

This last Sunday I gave a talk about the responsibilities a member of this church has. There are five that I mentioned that are also found in the Book of Mormon: Missionary work, keeping recent converts, less active work, temple and family history work, and the teaching and learning of the gospel. I was pretty nervous about it but it all seamed to go alright:)

Another thing I have been working on is getting in shape. As you all know my companion is a maniac when it comes to being healthy and she has motivated me to be in the best shape of my life. I'm not sure how well I am going to do but she is sure going to make me try it:)

Hasta luego,

       Hermana Orellana

PS More Birthdays! This week my older brother Jafet is turning 33 on Thursday:) Te quiero mucho Apet! Felicidades y que te la pases bien:)

Week 25

The best of times, and the worst of times!

This week was so crazy!

Our friend Erick was baptized this Saturday:) It was out of this world! We kind of threw it all together in a day and it was probably one of the most stressful days of my mission life but, oh boy, was it worth it! The spirit was so strong and I think my favorite part was watching our Erick become part of the ward yesterday. We couldn't be with him all of Sunday so we told him "Erick, its your time to fly out of the nest" he went right off into the sunset with all the other members and began his new life. I didn't get to teach Erick very much but from the times I did, and the stories I heard, he was the most prepared person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Erick knows his Bible like no one I have ever met and it was tough trying to make him see that all that we taught went right along with the Bible and that the Book of Mormon complimented it perfectly but in the end he received his answer. He wanted facts and we eventually gave it to him, but he eventually understood that it wasn't so much about the facts but more about receiving a witness though the Holy Ghost.

Last week Hna and I almost got kicked out of a traler park. My life is probably put in danger multiple times a day when I am riding my bike. Oh and the other day we sang church songs outside a park while everyone was walking to their car after soccer practice! It was bunches of fun:) (I really wish I would have gotten a picture of that, UNFORGETTABLE)

So this new area is quite a bit different then Paducah. First of all we have a Spanish branch! Yes! No more translating. There are also many more members, strong members. There are so many Hispanics it's like I could seriously knock on any door and there is a 50/50 chance of it being a Hispanic home. There are miracles every day! I have been working a lot on exercising my faith and having my Heavenly Father direct the work. All I have to do is pray and ask for guidance and somehow everything works out. My prayers are answered every day.

Smyrna is working me to death! So this whole time I have been spoiled with a car every day and here I only get a car every other week. This means we bikes all last week. And Smyrna isn't like flat with lots of sidewalks like Paducah was. No, no, no, NO! There are hills and no sidewalks and everything is spread out! Also my companion is HEALTHY! Like really healthy! Like we run 3 miles twice a week (only because I couldn't physically do it more than that), we work out hard every morning! She has me drinking water all the time and I seriously eat a salad every day for lunch! And I have healthy snacks throughout the day that include bars with protein and almonds.... I might die here... Today she convinced me to stop drinking milk and turn to the dark side with Almond milk!

I absolutely love my companion! She is an angel sent from heaven to me in answer to my prayers. She really makes me want to be a better person and when I don't want to be better she makes me anyways!

I really love this area:) I love the people already and I love this gospel. No matter how many confirmations I ask for, and even when I don't, I know that the Book of Mormon is scripture. All you have to do is read it and pray. I know now and I am so certain that I could never deny it without it affecting my salvation. This is true happiness:)

Con todo mi amor,

       Hermana Orellana