Mon, Feb 22, 2016 1:32 pm Learning to Trust God

Dear family and friends,

I am so grateful for my mission. I love God and I love this amazing work. I can't believe that I have been on my mission for a whole year. It seems so unreal. But God has blessed all of us so much this year, don't you think? He has truly guided us through the storms to the promised blessings. Isn't He so good?

One of the greatest lessons I have learned on my mission is to trust God. To trust His plan and find the joy in the journey. It has been amazing to me as I have allowed God to lead me through my mission and through life that He always tells me that He wants me to be happy. God's plan is not only the best thing for us, but it is the plan that will bring us the most happiness. I know that this is the gospel of happiness. I learned this week that those times in my life that I'm not truly happy are the times that I am not truly living the gospel. I'm not truly having faith in Christ, repenting or changing, staying faithful to my covenants, and instead of enduring and enjoying to the end, I'm just going through the motions. To find the true joy of the gospel we must give God our whole hearts and follow Him. I have learned what it means to have faith. Someone with faith trusts the Atonement of Jesus Christ to take care of the past and trusts God's plan to take care of the future. 

So we haven't heard much from Rita and Lenin...I know that he is recovering slowly but surely. Rita is still a bit shaken up by all of it.

We have had some great lessons with Rosa and Raul this week. It has been so fun to watch them prepare for the little Emily to come. Sister Cendreda and I have been praying that when Emily comes they will realize the need and their desire to live the gospel and have an eternal family. Who wouldn't want that? 

We didn't have any lessons with Colombia this week, but we finally got a hold of her yesterday and she said that she has been sick all week! So this week we should be able to see her!!:):)

So yesterday, Obsipo (Bishop) Riquelme was released. It was so sad for me because he has been the Bishop for so long, the whole time I have been here. It was amazing to me to watch him change from when I was here first to now. He is happier and more energetic about sharing the gospel. I learned so much from his selfless service. As he was being released, I realized that all of the callings we receive within the church are really just opportunities for us to serve. Opportunities for us to be the Lord's hands. (Moiah 18:8-10) I have loved my calling as a missionary. Sister Cendreda and I were talking about this the other day. We realized that some of the members forget the missionaries that have passed through their wards..even though they are just one person, just one name. But us as missionaries, we remember their names, their faces, their families, their stories. Why? Because we have truly learned to love them. We pray for them and think about them constantly. This is what a disciple of Jesus Christ does. This is true charity.

We have been working so hard with our recent converts Jacqueline and Jerermy. We realized that our lessons weren't reaching her and weren't sticking with her. So this week, we took a step back and made a gameplan. We had a lesson with her on Thursday and brought a member with us that had just moved from Mexico. Her name is Jessica and she is seriously such a good missionary. She has a goal every year to finish the Book of Mormon..how perfect! We had her testify of the Book of Mormon. We taught Jacky the Restoration again and her face just lit up. She remembered the joy of her conversion and realized that she had a testimony of the things we taught her! It was was such a powerful experience, and I realize now the importance of remembering our conversion and testimonies. We must be seeking the Spirit every single day! 

Yesterday, I remembered a girl that Sister Johnson, Sister Cobb, and I had met like 10 months ago. Her name is Kayla and she is like 20 years old. When we met her, she was so friendly and so open. It was really neat because she told us that she has 2 friends that are serving missions right now! They must have been great missionaries before their missions because she really respects them and the church. We were able to see her and visit with her yesterday! Right now she is busy with midterms, but soon we will be able to see her again!!

I pray that all of you are doing so well and seeing so many things to be grateful for. I know Heavenly Father loves each and every one of you! 

Love,                                                                                                                              Hermana Hoth

Rosa is almost going to have the little Emily!

With Hermana Ciastillo

Sticky noted from the sisters on my 1 year. 

More papusas to celebrate my 1 year mark with Melida Hernandez

We love rice pudding. And my hair looks so blonde. I'm sad about that.

Maria Christina....haha...she's totally not interested in learning anymore but she was really nice!

Heh Heh

Did you get this yet?

Sister Hemenway...last week in exchanges

Rangel family

Yes to Kenia's baptism. We got to sing at Kenia's baptism. She is is so sweet!

Yes to knocking doors.

Yes to lovely members.

Yes to curls

No to this.

But Yes to Pupusas!

with Jacky

Mon, Feb 15, 2016 2:11 pm One year of blessings.

 Dear family and friends,

I want to start my letter off with talking about my experience in Vancouver, my last area. This is something I have been pondering about for a long time now. I questioned God so many times..."why is it so hard? Why do we go out and do the same thing every day? How come none of our miracles are complete?" Hermana Polanco and I asked ourselves these questions many many times, but despite that, we went out and worked every single day. Was it hard? Absolutely. But I know now more than ever the goodness of our God. I felt that when I left Vancouver that I hadn't really made a difference. We worked so hard, but didn't see much come from it. That time for me was a trial of my faith, but I endured and enjoyed to the end. I have been praying about my experience there ever since I arrived in Surrey. I just wanted to feel good about it and know that all I did there was not in vain. So there have been so many answers and miracles that God has given to me to help me know that my time there was effective and worth it. I was pondering about it one day, and the Mormon message came to my mind about the current bush and the gardener. In the video, the current bush was growing so well...that's like me..I felt like I was a missionary on fire in Surrey and Sidney. Even though the bush was growing so well, the gardener saw it fit to cut down the bush....that's what I felt like going to Vancouver...that God had cut me down. But we learn in this video that the gardener knows best, and that he cut the bush down so it could grow bigger and stronger and more beautiful. Like the gardener, God knows it all. He cut me down, knowing it was exactly what I needed. I needed this trial of faith so that now I can have stronger faith. He cut me down to allow me to grow, flourish, and become a stronger disciple of Jesus Christ. And I have done just that. God consecrated the work I did there. Nothing was in vain. All of it was for Him. Hermana Polanco has been writing me every week and telling me about the miracles and success that her and Hermana Kartchner are having in Vancouver. They are teaching and meeting with people we found. They are doing amazing things there. I love that there are so many miracles happening here in Surrey, in Vancouver, and in Sidney. I'm grateful that I decided to serve a mission. Best decision of my life.

So this week! Rosa...my guess is that she is going to have her baby on my one year mark. That's right...one whole year of being a missionary for our Heavenly Father! I can hardly believe it! I feel so blessed. Rosa told us that her desires to be baptized are growing. We asked her and Raul what their goals are for their family and I absolutely know that the gospel can help them with those righteous goals that they have. It was really neat, in our last lesson with them we all wrote down our testimonies of Jesus Christ. Rosa's testimony was so beautiful. She said that when she belonged to the Catholic church, she still knew Jesus Christ and He has never changed for her. The only thing that has changed is the love that she feels and has for Him. I love visiting Rosa and Raul because their home is so filled with the Spirit. It is so peaceful. Sister Cendreda was telling me that it is because they are about to have a baby and so they are so close to Heaven! I love that.

With Rosa and her "trouble" that is coming soon!! 

So Colombia. She was going to come to stake conference yesterday, but then everyone told us that their wouldn't be Spanish translation so it didn't work. But when we got there...guess what...there was translation. We were pretty bummed out that she could have had a really spiritual experience. But...theres next week! We were able to meet with her and teach her the gospel of Jesus Christ! Its amazing...she always has baptism on her mind and is the one who brings it up. The Spirit was so strong in that lesson and she is going to pray to see if she should be baptized on March 13! I hope that all of you will pray for her!!! She is such a miracle for me. God is so good.

Familia Rodriguez! 

Stake conference was such an uplifting experience. It wasn't a normal stake conference because it was a broadcast that only some parts of the world would watch for their stake conference. There were two talks that really stood out to me. The first was by James J. Hamula of the 70. He talked about how crazy and scary the world is today. But he reminded us all of how many times Jesus told us to "fear not". He asked us, "So how did we not have fear?" He then gave 3 answers. 
1-Keep your sight on Jesus Christ. I love this because if you are looking at the world and are so tuned in with what is happening, you're going to have fear. But if we look to Christ in all things, we will have faith and hope. 
2-Trust in the Savior and His power of Salvation. We must remember that Christ has overcome the world. We must believe that absolutely ALL will be mended through His Atonement. 
3-Support the church and the leaders of the church. I know that the prophet and apostles are called of God. What they teach is straight from God. They teach the truth and we can trust their words. You should all read Luke 21:26-27...it's my ponderizing scripture this week! The second talk that I absolutely loved was by Dale G. Renlund one of the 12 apostles. He taught the importance of teaching the restoration to all. I felt so strongly as he spoke that he is an apostle of God. He witnesses to the world that Jesus Christ lives and that this is truly his church. So powerful.

We were able to find a few new investigators this week...Lidia and Carolyne! I will tel you more about them next week! 

Well, it has definitely been a year of blessings for me and my family. This mission is the best thing I have ever done. I love my mission. I was reading in PMG this morning and it says that "our attitude towards our mission experience is a reflection of our love toward God." I realized that I really love my Heavenly Father. He has blessed me so much. I love my mission and I love that I have been able to meet and love so many of God's children. I pray that you all are doing well and that you pray for God's work to continue to hasten. I hope that you are all reading the scriptures every day, praying everyday, and going to the church every week, and going to the temple every week. God asks a lot of us. But I decided from a young age to do the things that matter most...I pray that you will all make that choice too!

Love,

Hermana Hoth

WHY??   Haha...we have no idea...I was just trying not to be by it in the picture...i can't believe she took that. she's obsessed with pics!

Tue February 9, 2016 Another week on fire...

Dear family and friends,

It has been anther incredible week in Surrey. I love being with Sister Cendreda! We kind of started the week off rocky. Sister Cendreda had the flu so we stayed inside all day long after getting her a priesthood blessing. It was fine...I did lots of calls, planning, cleaning. I literally sanitized everything in the house. There is no way I am getting sick a 4th time in my mission. Haha.

Finally a sunny day!

But after that...we went out and worked so hard. Our latest update on Lenin is that he needs to get heart surgery. Poor Rita...we are feeling so sad for her. But if anything, it is helping us turn to God and have more faith and trust in His plan.

The relief society put together a baby shower for Rosa this week. It has been incredible for me to see how the ward is embracing Rosa and helping her progress in the gospel. I remember the first time Rosa and Raul came to a ward activity...Sister Johnson and I ran from member to member, making sure that everyone introduced themselves to them. Now they are friends with all of them. Seriously, this ward is so good. Her baby shower went really well and was so fun for all the hermanas to be together! I love going to Rosa and Raul's house and watching them prepare everything for their sweet baby girl. They are going to be such good parents and have the cutest eternal family!:) We had a powerful lesson with them on Sunday night. I was able to tell them how grateful I am that God has allowed me again to be a part of their lives and conversion. I truly feel so blessed. God is so good to me. We told them very boldly that God's plan for them is Rosa to be baptized and Raul to be an active member in the church. The Spirit was so strong in this lesson, especially as we sang Families can be together forever!

With Rosa & Jacqueline

So Colombia...wow, she is so solid. It has been such a long time since we have had a solid investigator. We have no way to get a hold of her so we just showed up at her house to set an appointment with her. She said that we can't meet in her house because she shares it with her cousin and they wouldn't like that. So she took two buses all the way to a gas station where we could meet her and then walk to a member's home where we could have the lesson. We had the lesson at the Rangel home, Hermano Rangel is our ward mission leader. We taught her about the Plan of Salvation. It was neat for me to come to the realization that the world has such a limited view of God's plan...all they see is the here and now and occasionally worry about going to heaven or hell. It was such a blessing to help her see the entire picture. I know it brought her a lot of peace because her mom just passed away a few months ago and her husband has Alzheimers. This lesson was a bit challenging for me because its been so long since I have taught the Plan of Salvation in Spanish. But if anything, I know she felt the Spirit as I told her about my sweet grandma who had Alzheimers. The plan of salvation is not something I just believe in, but something I know. I know my grandma still lives and I know that I will see her again. 

Cendreda, Hoth, little Emily

Cendreda, Jacky, Hoth, Moro

So remember Alejandra? She is the cute little old lady we would visit...she always sat in her big chair as we read the Book of Mormon and sang hymns to her. We went to visit her this last week, and it was so shocking to me to see her. She is so different...very ill and very frail. She just laid there as we sang hymns to her. Then for just a moment she had so much strength. She sat up and started singing families can be together forever with us. She is so special and I know God is watching out for her. 

This week, I have really found a love for repentance and receiving forgiveness. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just for sinners, but for everyone. I think sometimes people think of repentance in a negative way, but for me I LOVE IT. I love having the opportunity to change every single day and account to God what I did with His time each day. I love reflecting on the question, "how did I use the Atonement today?". It feels so good to be filled with the Spirit and receive God's forgiveness, love, peace, and comfort. I pray that each of you will be able to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and use His Atonement. We have been seeing miracles here because of YOUR prayers and YOUR faith. So thank you thank you thank you. I pray that you will all receive stronger testimonies every single day. 

Love,

Hermana Hoth

Mon, Feb 1, 2016 1:32 pm A Colombian Miracle!

Dear family and friends,

Okay. So I love Surrey. I love Sister Cendreda. And I love working with all of these people that I already have so much love for. It is such a blessing to me to be here again in Surrey. We are on fire here. All this mall contacting and store contacting is super uncomfortable for me, but it is so effective. Who would have thought that we would get 5 new investigators this week from asking, "Do you know where a Mexican Restaurant is?" Haha. 

Hermana Cendreda & Hermana Hoth (Lots & Lots of RAIN in Surrey)

Okay...so update on Rosa and Raul. We have had some amazing lessons with them this week. Rosa is really searching her real intent and seeing if she even wants to be baptized. We are working hard with her and we can see how much she is progressing. We are also working with Raul to get the priesthood. I can just picture this sweet family going to the temple in a year or two. They are so special. Rosa is so close to having her baby...she is so nervous. Haha, she was showing us all of the cute baby clothes they have gotten for her. 

Surrey District Elders Kirkham, Salazar, Neal, Gurr, Ast, Eschrik, Cendreda, Hoth, Yonk, Hemenway

We weren't able to see Rita this week because Lenin is in the hospital and not doing well at all. Please keep them in your prayers. Rita sure has had a hard time, and I just pray that all of these trials will create a way for her to come close to God. For me, it has been my hard time and struggles that lead me to God and allow me to strengthen my relationship with Him. I sure hope it is the same with her.

Jacky and Cendreda

Okay...so about my Colombian miracle. So to start this story, I have to tell you about a story from nine months ago when I was a brand new missionary in Surrey. Hermana Johnson and I worked so hard here. We went out and found every single day. I know the Lord always blesses us for our hard work. One day we were visiting Hermana Saenz...and in the end of our visit she told us that one of her nonmember friends needed something from her. So Sister Saenz being the amazing missionary she is sent the thing over with Sister Johnson and me. Her friend's name was Colombia is from Colombia. We talked to her and had a great discussion with her. But before we could teach her again, she went out of town and with time Sister Johnson and I were moved/went home. Well a week ago, Hermana Saenz, not knowing that I had been transferred back called us and told us about her friend Colombia and how she was so interested in taking the lessons. Apparently she had been back ever since September, but they had both "waited" until I was back in the area. I couldn't believe this miracle. so every since this phone call, I have been praying so hard for Colombia. She wasn't able to come to church because she slept in, BUT we were able to have a lesson with her at Sister Saenz's house last night. It was such a sweet reunion..she remembered me and Sister Johnson so well and is hoping to be in contact with her soon. She told me that she thought she would never see me again. We taught her the Restoration and the Spirit was so powerful. Sister Cendreda asked such an inspired question about "the need for a Restoration" and Colombia gave such a powerful answer. Something that i have realized on my mission is the difference between a lesson with someone who is prepared and someone who is not. With someone who is prepared, it seems like the Spirit multiplies every second. I know that the Spirit is always there when we teach, but it can only go UNTO their hearts and not INTO unless they allow it. Colombia definitely is prepared and allowed every word to sink deeply into her heart. It was such a powerful experience for all who were there. I loved reciting Joseph Smith's first vision. It is probably one of the greatest blessings I have seen in my mission. Why? Because it always allows the Spirit to be there. I would love all of you to feel the Spirit that I felt as I told this miraculous experience and manifestation of God's love. So go read it...go memorize. Say it often and remember that you have a loving Heavenly Father that knows you by name. My eyes filled with tears as I looked at sweet Colombia and shared the words of the experience that changed the world. That has changed my life. Sister Saenz, Sister Cendreda, and I all shared how we know this is true. Colombia expressed her desires to know the truth of it. Something that she noticed from the beginning is that we pray different...we don't say memorized prayers...which is really different from the Catholic faith. She told us that she would say memorized prayers, but then there would be a moment where she just had to cry out to God...and that's when she felt something "weird"...that's when she felt the Spirit. She told us that she believes one of the reasons why she moved to Canada is to learn about the gospel. We invited her to baptism and she said yes...she also understands how serious that is and how special it is. This is such a miracle. God is so real and is so good. Another neat experience for me was in the middle of the lesson. I am so filled with gratitude. As we shared the gospel with Colombia and as we watched her accept it all and even love it all, all the feelings of disappointment, fear, stress, discouragement that I have felt since Vancouver completely vanished. we gets rejected every day for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we get doors slammed in our face, we get means words thrown at us, we get a wide variety of things, but none of that mattered when we taught Colombia. She was worth it. And so all of you who may be struggling with hard times or those of you on missions, I know that God makes everything right. He is a loving Father. He makes every trial, pain, heartache, struggle worth it. He makes it all worth it. 

Cendreda, Sister Saenz, Colombia, Hoth

I love God and I love Jesus Christ so much. I truly have gained a stronger relationship with them while being on my mission. I am grateful to serve them. I know we have a prophet on the earth today who speaks directly to them. President Thomas S. Monson has told us to be a light and example to the world. It is my prayer that we all remember who we are, cherish and live the truths we have, and shine for all those around to see. 

Love Hermana Hoth

Love you! ~~missing Hermana Polanco~~ (a pic sent to Hermana Hoth from Hermana Polanco)