Transfers are a-comin' up! :)

This week was pretty dang awesome! (Can I still say "dang" on a mission?) 

Hermana Dolores (investigadora) bought a NEW puppy!! and well, I fell love...and after our lesson with her, 

Camila (the puppy) jumped on my lap and fell asleep...I about died it was so cute.

Tuesday I traveled with Hermana Eliason (who has THE EXACT SAME BIRTHDAY AS ME) for 3 hours by bus to Aguascalientes to work on our VISAS for companion exchanges. And man, the buses we took were SOOOOO nice...like AIRPLANE nice. Touch screen TV's with DISNEY MOVIES. (Yah, you read this correctly). Presidente Villarreal said that when we are traveling we can WATCH the movies as long as they are edited/uplifting. We also had sketchy ham sandwiches with a can of Sprite, and chairs that recline. Well, I definitely watched "Rise of the Guardians," and "Wreck It Ralph" en Español on the way back to Fresnillo. The other American elders that were with us to work with their VISAS watched "The Hobbit." One of the elders left for his mission before The Hobbit came out and I told him, "Elder, do you want to have MORE joy in your life?"  "Well, yes" he replied. "Then you must watch The Hobbit." and he did! And he thanked me :) Hahaha!  

While we were traveling back to Fresnillo, and while I was watching “Wreck It Ralph,” or “Ralph el Demoledor," our bus got stopped by soldiers - that was pretty freaky! One soldier walked on the bus "Everyone off the bus with your bags" and one of the elders (who finishes his mission in 1 week) tells me, "Well, they're gonna’ frisk us." "WHAT?!?!" "I'm kidding....they are just going to check our bags." I almost died... but yeah, all they did was check our bags outside while one soldier checked inside the bus and they asked where we came from - they were really nice! And the elder's had a box full of Book of Mormons and they gave out 3 to the soldiers - HOLLAH! It was a really fun day and Aguascalientes is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

When I was in the Mission Office in Aguascalientes, I got dad's letter that he sent 5th of January, I got mom's letter (the copied letter) she sent beginning of February, McKayla Shill's letter, and a letter from the Stake Presidency. REMEMBER: Only send letters, your love, your support - EVERYTHING - to the mission home address:

Mexico Aguascalientes Misión

Hma. AubriAnna Winsor

Prolongación Adolfo Lopez Mateos #98A

Col. Trojes de Alonso

20116 Jesus Maria, AGS

Mexico

The rest of the week, we walked to Zapata (a colonia in Fresnillo, which is about 1.5 miles away from where we live) trying to teach people and visit. But no one is EVER home, or they make an appointment with us and then when we return, they are either not there, or sleeping. And it is getting SUPER humid/hot in the middle of the day here; shade does NOT exist in Zapata.

On Thursday I finished 1er de Nefi - POR FIN!!! It's a lot harder, but a lot awesome-er reading the scriptures in Spanish!

We contacted a menos-activa, Hermana Mari, who hasn't been to church in a LONG time. She is a 4 year convert and hasn't been to church in 3 years. She is VERY loving and friendly and she has 5 dogs ....CINCO PERROS. One is named "Socks" and he is a puppy/Golden Retriever, and he likes to jump on laps and therefore, my dress was covered in paw prints by the end of the visit. But hey, I know how to wash clothes BY HAND (that's right mom, I am turning into a big girl). A member went with us, Hermana Rodriguez, and I am SO thankful for the support of the members. Her testimony of the Book of Mormon helped SO SO SO much as we taught.

After 3 stinkin' weeks, we found Manuel and taught him!!! We talked about why Hma. Moreno and I are here, what is our purpose as missionaries, etc. because when we originally contacted him THAT was his question, "Why are we here? What are we doing?" And we didn't really answer it well in the first visit. So we just bore our testimony on why we are here and how the Gospel has blessed our lives; it would be selfish if we didn't share what we know with others.

AMAZING experience: We contacted a FAMILY! La familia Rodrigues Ramos, with 5 kids! We talked about how God is our Loving Heavenly Father. When we asked the mom who she would like to say the opening prayer, the 8-year old, Yamixa, wanted to say the prayer! We taught her how and when she closed she said this, "When I was praying, I felt something very happy in my heart. I want to feel that again." WOW. Oh just wait, there is MORE!!! When we talked more about how we can live with our families forever, we asked Yamixa what does she love about her family. Her face got real serious, her lip started to tremble, she looked at her mom, "Mi mama....mis padres...." and she burst into tears and ran towards her mom, giving her a big hug as she cried. I cannot describe how powerful the Spirit was in that moment, and SHE'S 8 YEARS OLD!!! The impact a family can have is HUGE. I know the family is central in the Gospel and I know families are FOREVER! I testified to Yamixa, "Yamixa, estos sentimientos pueden durar para siempre .... siempre! Sólo se puede sentir este tipo de alegría, paz y felicidad a través de su hermano mayor, Jesucristo. Se puede vivir con su familia con estos sentimientos para siempre. "

I am SO grateful for my family, I am grateful for my parents and their love and guidance and discipline, I am grateful for each and every one of my siblings....Caleb, Kim, Sean, Kenlynn, Danny, Mel and Britt....I love you so much, you have no idea.

ANOTHER AMAZING EXPERIENCE! The elders in our zone had a baptism Saturday and Martin said he would go with us! So we walked to his house before and his sister, Miriam, answered the door,"He is sleeping." My thoughts exactly: "You have got to be kidding me." Then she said, "Can I got with you?" Uh...DUH! She went, got ready really fast as we waited outside, then the door opens, it's Martin!!! He and his sister accompanied us to the baptism in the chapel!!! And every baptism, President Villarreal has asked us to ask the people at the baptism, "After witnessing this amazing experience and change in this person's life, who would like to be baptized?" Well, Martin (18 years old) and Miriam (17 years old) were in the very front to see the baptism, and Martin has a date to be baptized. The elders ask the question - we wait....and wait - and then Miriam AND Martin say, "We do!!!!" I literally could hardly believe it. I shook my head a couple times.....what did I just hear? And they told us that they were serious!! So we are going to start teaching Miriam also!!! AHHH!! AND AND AND AND, Miriam and Martin went to church with us THE NEXT DAY! Oh my gosh, I am so happy I got to experience that!!!!

A "not-so-amazing" experience: Well, the same day we went to church with Miriam and Martin, I had woken up that morning at 1am vomiting violently. I slept for about 3 hours before that and then woke up with "ganas a vomitar." When the alarm went off Hma. Moreno me dijo, "Esta enferma?" "Si, pero necesito ir a la capilla con Martin y Miriam," and I did! I took it easy, I remembered what Mom would do for me (ONLY water and other clear liquids for 6 hours)... and we walked to the investigators house while I concentrated on not vomiting! We walked with Miriam and Martin to the chapel and AS SOON as we set foot in the chapel, I booked it to the bathroom and vomited again. It was pretty embarrassing to be in front of investigators, incredibly sick. But they understood and they went to class with us and everything!

After the last class, I literally couldn't move. I was either gonna’ faint or barf. So other members took Miriam and Martin home, and we walked to our house. Well, I have a stomach/kidney infection AGAIN. Gosh dangit!!!!! I tried SOOOO hard to keep healthy, to drink A LOT of water and eat A LOT of fruit!!!! GAH! Oh well, if I could ask for anything, pray that this infection will go away!!! I am not in a lot of pain, I just can't eat much...only liquids. When we went to the hospital to pick up medicine, the medic said, "You again?" bahaha. Yes, me again - the Americana.

Giselle and Miguel didn't go to church on Sunday, so we have to push back their baptismal date.  Giselle...gah, she likes to hide! We'll meet with her once and for 3 weeks we have NO idea where she is, she doesn't answer her phone...NOTHING. And then all of a sudden, she'll answer her phone all excited and we meet with her. And then NOTHING FOR 5 WEEKS. She likes to hide!!! Please pray for Giselle, Martin and Miguel.

Sorry there isn't a lot of pictures, but know that I love you ALL! 

No tengo ninguna duda en mi corazón, sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador sufrió dolores, tentaciones, sufrió todas las cosas - lo sabe todo. Nunca estamos solos, nunca. Estoy agradecido por las palabras de los profetas en el Libro de Mormón y la Biblia, sé que ambos son las palabras de Dios. El evangelio es que Jesucristo es verdadero! Te quiero mucho y recuerdo, pase lo que pase y disfrute!

Adiós y nos vemos en 431 días más! :) haha!!! TE AMO!

Con amor,

Hermana Winsor

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS HERMANA HUFF!!!!!

I Can Do Hard Things

Aquì estoy!! Feliz dia de los presidentes, “Amur-ika!”

Wow, what a WEEK of happiness!!! I am STILL here and, boy, am I sooo happy I am here! We have THREE baptismal dates:

                Giselle - March 1st

                Martin- March 22nd

                Miguel- March 22nd

They are SOOOOOO ready for ALL of the blessings of this gospel. Please pray that they will have a desire to attend church because, really, that's all they need to do to qualify to be baptized. PLEASE pray harder than EVER!!!

Ate the mac and cheese and, WOW, I miss mac and cheese like CRAZY!

A daughter of a member (Araceli) MADE these for our district, cookie nametags!!

Last Monday, I hiked a MINE after having influenza/discouragement for 5 days. And wow, I remember when Dad and I hiked Flat Iron (which is STILL 1,980 times harder than the mine) where the theme of that experience was, "I can do hard things." (See previous post for mine hike photos.)

1.      

   I still can do hard things! This mission IS a "hard thing" and, sure as HECK, I am going to finish this hard thing. haha! (View of Fresnillo after our hike of the mine.)

We had an amazing experience with Martin (before we asked "the question"). We taught the last half of “The Restoration” and about The Book of Mormon. And he basically told us "The Book of Mormon MAKES SENSE." He told us that he believed it and he reads it with The Bible. My jaw DROPPED as he told us EVERYTHING and a voice told me, "What are you doing, Aubri?! THE BAPTISMAL QUESTION, HE IS READY!" Boom.

"Martin, will you read more of The Book of Mormon and personally ask our loving Heavenly Father if it is true?"

"Well of course!"

"Martin, when you have found the answer and you feel The Book of Mormon is the word of God, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the power and authority of God?"

"When I have found an answer, yes."

He will prepare to be baptized March 22nd! We have exchanges soon, and I will either be here to be a TRAINER or I will leave. OHHH I hope I stay!!!!!

I had my interview with Presidente Villarreal and, Mom, I was honest! And I had NO fear because, well, all I could see in my President's eyes was LOVE. He said all he could really see in me was happiness, love for everyone – I was encouraged. And then he said this, "Hermana Winsor, all I can see in you is...LIMPIA (clean)." The Spirit HIT me like a ton of bricks (happy bricks). "Hermana Winsor, you have NEVER failed. There isn't failure in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. You have NO need to worry!" I am so glad I told him everything and I am SO grateful for the love and support of him and his wife. I am SO blessed to be here - I NEED to be here!! And Mom, the President said he will email you but I don't know when... he is a busy man!! But he said he will :)

Oh and MOM AND DAD!!! Listen UP! I asked my President if you two can come see my mission before I finish, AND HE SAID YES!!!!!!! Start planning for Abril de 2015...vamos a ver mi mision!!! :) :) I am starting a list of places and people to see! :) 

Oh also, TODAY I sent letters to Mom, Dad, Brittany, Danny and Melanie AND Sister Lunt!

We also had a Zone Conference this week. It was Elder Cuayahuitl's 20th birthday, so Hma. Moreno and I bought decorations and a cake for him. We decorated a class room in the Stake Center and told everyone (including the wife of the president; the president was in interviews with other missionaries) to go in the classroom after the conference, and the companion of Elder Cuayahuitl would go to the bathroom and boom, SURPRISE!!!! We sang songs, and as Elder Cuayahuitl leaned forward to take a bite of the cake, Elder Rios smashed his face INTO the cake. It was great! I love my zone, and I especially LOVE my district! When I told the elders, "No voy a regresar," they all cheered and smiled and shook my hand REALLY hard, hahaha! I love the elders. They are truly like my brothers.

La fiesta! (Hma. Villarreal, la esposa de mi presidente de mision, esta en la media.)

We had Stake Conference this week with my President and his wife AND Elder Villalobos from the Seventy!!!! Wow, how I LOVE to hear the words of a servant of God. The experiences with the Apostoles en la CCM and then here with a member of the Seventy, it was powerful!!!! He talked about the call from President Monson, "NOW is the time where members and missionaries become ONE." He said that we ALL need to participate in this historical moment in the church. If we don't follow this call, ARE WE TRULY CONVERTED? Are we truly being obedient? Well, no. This is the moment where we HELP the missionaries. We help by giving references and sharing our testimonies. We need to STOP having fear and START having faith because Jesus Christ is coming soon, and we need to bring the wounded souls, the lost souls to the loving arms of our Lord. Please, help the missionaries and SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY!!! Please, the Lord has prepared EVERY heart to hear YOUR testimony, specifically YOURS!!! Please, the Lord said he would hasten the work in HIS time. Well, that time is NOW - the Lord needs YOU!

Stake Conference with Karla and Monica, members of the stake.

 We gave gifts for Valentine's Day! Hermana Eliason (la otra Americana) gave me a necklace of an elephant, and dulces, and I gave her a stuffed elephant!! :)

TODAY, Hermana Moreno and I played SOCCER with the Elders!! And wow, the stereotype about Mexicans being awesome at soccer is TRUE! Oh, how I loved playing with them. Always encouraging and always helping me improve! It was exhausting, but I LOVED IT! I am going to be a professional soccer player before I get back to Arizona, hahaha! 

After playing FUTBOL today with the Elders - great exercise and, man, I love playing soccer!!!!!)

 The Mexican elders said I was practically "Mexicana" because I wore a Mexican shirt, 

I am getting ridiculously tan, AND I played soccer.

Dad, I am going to be honest, I was a little angry with your bluntness - because I am stubborn :) hahaha. But thank you, I need bluntness. And I know you love me. After I cooled down, I thought "Man, I have THE best parents. I am going to make them proud." And Mom, thank you for your bluntness as well, haha! (I have blunt parents....and it is GREAT.) Thank you for your constant love and support and words of wisdom. Every time I think of you, I am reminded of how stinkin' blessed I am. 

I love you ALL SOOOO much! Remember, YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!! Nothing is impossible!! NOTHING! Yeah, sometimes life stinks.... but what are you going to do? COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT! VENGA LO QUE VENGA, DISFRUTALO!

I love you all, and know that time is FLYING by!!! My third exchange is in 15 days and I am going to be training most likely. We're going to blink and mom and dad are going to be HERE to pick me up! Oh and mom and dad, could you bring someone who speaks Spanish to come with you in the airport. I get kind of scared when I think of my gringo parents in La Ciudad de Mexico airport, haha! Or START PRACTICING YOUR SPANISH! :)

Love you all!

Con amor,

Hermana WINSOR

Araceli, Axel and little Dana (a little fireball)....LOVE THIS FAMILY!!

Hermana Araceli Alatorre, menos activa - I seriously love her so much.
She has become like my second mom and, man, she cooks food SO well!!!

We entered in the house of the family Alatorre and ALL the kids were on the couch with their phones and tablets. So I came over with my Book of Mormon and said to my companion "take a picture" and we gave Dana (the smallest one) our phone....and, well, we made THIS masterpiece.

1.       Bufalos!!!! When we were hiking down the mountain on a bridge, we just walked up and Elder Cather dijo "Wow, they are like hippos....but like, with horns" bahaha! And there was a chain link fence between us and the bufalo!

Entering the ZOO!!!!!! We hiked down the mountain on a BRIDGE and part of the zoo is on the way down the mountain. There is practically NO protection from the animals....it is AWESOME, hahaha!!!

1st animal we saw at the zoo, an AVESTRUZ! (ostrich)

And also with EL TIGRE! We walked up and there was two parts, one part with a REALLY high chain link fence and the other an observation window. We waited and waited. Then a small door opens and in comes RUNNING a TIGER!!!! I yelled, "NO WAY!!!!!" It ran around, walked up to the chain link fence. I literally was like 2 feet away from a TIGER - it was awesome! I officially declare the zoo in Mexico 12 times better than the Phoenix Zoo. It is SUPER small.... but awesome :) And not every single animal is SLEEPING!

"Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine" ... and Zoo

We had a tour in a REAL mine! It was crazy steep but super fun! And the result in the end was
that we could see ALL of Fresnillo!!

TODAY for Pday, we hiked a mine and walked around a ZOO!!! 1st animal - AVESTRUZ! (ostrich)

Was sick ALL week. And the members brought me food.....CHICKEN FEET, HEART and LUNGS. Oh boy 

I love this cathedral!

TRES MESES!!!!

Hermana Moreno made me a card y bought "penguinos" for a cake!!

Wow, 3 months DOWN in the BAG! (Or however that phrase goes!)

Hilarious story...kinda: So, we were eating at a family´s home on Tuesday and when we walked in, there was music BLARRING upstairs. And, well, more than half of the music was in English - hahaha! Beyonce, Queen, One Direction (I about cried), Green Day, Bono... you name it, it was playing. And then another song came on in English. Remember how in our [church youth groups, the leaders] talked about how, when we like a song just for the rhythm, we should REALLY listen to the lyrics to know if it invites the Spirit or not? Well, that was the case. This song was ONLY about drugs, sex and money, "Shots" by LMFAO...wow! The Spirit RAN out of the house and beat the record for the fastest runner in the universe. The song is in English, so it makes sense, they don't understand the song! The parents were outside the house talking while Hma. Moreno and I were inside. My hands covered my ears as the song played, and Hma. Moreno had NO idea what was going on, hahaha! Oh man, it was terrible.

Oh and Miguel isn't getting baptized on Feb 15th :( :( He has problems with attending Church, therefore we keep pushing his baptismal date farther and farther AND farther. He has SUCH a strong testimony, but his parents won't let him go. This week, we taught him about faith and being clean from your sins after baptism. I asked him, "Miguel, what is your testimony?" "What?" "Tell me your testimony." And wow, HE KNOWS this Gospel is true!!!! Please pray that the hearts of his parents will be softened!

After, like, 2 weeks, we finally found Hma. Dolores!!!! I had been thinking about her every moment of every day. We watched, "Finding Faith in Christ" with her and wow, the Spirit was THERE! Her daughter has completed a year since she passed away from Lupus, and well, Dolores is suffering. She is hurting herself and losing her will to be here. She told us she can't see herself get baptized in our church, but we are always welcome to come visit her and teach her. HAH! No, I see her getting baptized in our church, I see her doing the ordinances in the temple for her daughter. I am NOT giving up THAT easily!

So after the movie, it was hard NOT to cry the Spirit was there SO strong. I told her this, "Dolores, faith isn't just believing what you can't see. It is an ACTION. It is WORKS. Jesús Christ isn't with us, but I know He is our Savior. How do I know this? I have prayed, I have fasted, I have had trials that have testified the power of the Atonement is REAL. I wasn't there with Joseph Smith when he translated the plates. But I know he did and I know he was a profeta de Dios and I KNOW El Libro de Mormon es la palabra de Dios. How? I have read it. Dolores, I have prayed and I have read it with a desire to know. Because I have heard MANY people say, “Oh, it's true. It's the Word of God,” I wanted to know of myself. And I am here today because of this book. Dolores, you don't need to suffer, you don't need to have pain. You have a Book of Mormon. You can feel your Savior's love for you MORE through not just the Bible, but the Book of Mormon also... why? Because it contains ALL of the Gospel of Jesús Christ. Have faith, Hermana, I am telling you this because I have prayed every gosh dang moment for you, asking what you need. And you need the Book of Mormon. We love you Dolores, we truly do...." (Add in tears and, well, the power of the Spirit.)

Afterwards, Dolores said a powerful prayer, "Father, please tell me if this is the way I should go. Please bless me with guidance and with more faith, help me read." Oh man, family...one of the MOST powerful moments in my misión. Family, please please PLEASE pray for Dolores. Pray that she'll read and pray...pray that she'll be guided to this Gospel...she needs it BADLY!

I want to share a pretty awesome experience (like always): One of the moments where I thought "Holy crap this is hard".... I prayed! I begged for Heavenly Father to help me not think of home and to take away my desire to return home early. And after, I opened the scriptures to study.....with NO idea what to study... and I opened to Alma 26, and the first word that showed was "Patience"...and I read the scripture, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethern, the Lamanites, and bear with PATIENCE thine afflictions, and I will give you SUCCESS." 

Wow, ha...uh, I get it Heavenly Father! I'll just shut up now, hahaha! I KNOW scripture study AND prayer are powerful. I know the Lord reveals to us in EVERY scripture study what we need to do to return to him and endure through this life. I have no doubt in my heart that the scriptures are the words DIRECTLY from God (through the mouths of prophets).

We are teaching another investigator, Martín. We taught him La Plan de Salvación (Lesson 2) and that was one of the MANY times when after the lesson I have thought, "Next lesson, baptism question!!!" He is SO ready. We taught Lesson 2 in 2 separate days since it's a LOT of información. The next day when we taught the 2nd half, we asked if he read the first half of the L2 folleto, He replied, "I read all of it." WHAT? AH! :) And he told us EVERYTHING he read! And he participated during the lesson and asked questions and wanted us to come back and teach more! His family is SUPER Baptist and have been investigators BEFORE with other missionaries. And when we teach the family, Martín BARELY speaks. But when it is just him and us, he teaches US, haha!

We also gave him L1 and L3 folletos and asked him to read them by the next lesson (which was in 3 days) and he said, "I will read them by tomorrow." Wha- .... AH! :) And when we invited him to church, "Martin, will you come to Church?" "Yes! It's at 9am and I will be there!" AHHH! After the lesson, Hma. Moreno and I looked at each other and both said, "Lesson 1, The Restoration, and baptism question." Well, he didn't go to church....but today we are teaching him Lesson 1 and asking him "the question," haha! I am nervous but I know he is READY!

Oh and random, I have a tan line on my feet where the strap is...que pena, haha! I will try to take a picture of it and send it next week,

How was everyone's Fast Sunday?? Did you bear your testimonies? I did! :) I feel like my spirit gets a little stronger every time I do.... and read D&C 62:3 ... yeah, we should ALWAYS bear our testimonies! Our testimonies not only benefit others, but ourselves AS well. Always share what you KNOW.

Family, I hope you are all doing well. I fast and pray for you all.... I love you ALL like MUCHISIMO! :) bahaha. Spanglish.

Yesterday, I studied the talk by Presidente Uchtdorf, "You Can Do It Now!" He said, "...our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward." We are not perfect. We are going to sin and have difficulties. That does NOT make us a failure. We have the Atonement, we have a way to rise up, dust ourselves off and MOVE FORWARD. We have to rely on our Savior Jesús Christ and Padre Celestial. We are not perfect but when we fall and get back up and move on, we are moving forward to PERFECTION.

ESCRITURA DE FEBRERO: Job 19:25-26 :)

Familia, es el momento de escribir en español :) Te quiero mucho, de verdad. Recuerde que nuestro Salvador, Jesucristo SIEMPRE. Él lo sabe todo - TODO! Él sufrió y murió por ti! Hay muchas promesas en la expiación de Jesucristo, usarlo! Conozco el poder de Satanás es real ... Pero el poder de la Expiación es real, también :) Te quiero tanto - mi misión ha sido bendecida a través de sus oraciones y apoyo! Bueno, hasta luego y te amo!

Con Amor,

Hermana Winsor

  

New Distrito!!! Elder Cuayahuitl, Elder Ibáñez, Elder Durrant (líder de distrito)
 y Elder Velazco.

Forgot to send this 2nd picture of my deceased rat-investigators last week, hahaha -
the things you find in Zapata (part of my area in Fresnillo).