He is Risen

Dear Family-

What a week this has been- this was an Easter I will never forget. The day before easter, we had an hour before our next few appointments, so we said a prayer that we would be inspired to know whom to see that needed us most at this exact time- then a family was immediately brought to our minds- the douglas family. We immediately went to see them- and when we got there the LA daughter answered the door- she told us that they had just gotten back from hospice, and that her mom, Donna had just passed. shcok. I was shocked. She invited us in and ran to get her dad- he is the most faithful man i think I have ever met. His wife Donna had a stroke years ago and has been in a vegetative state for years, but he has loved her and stood by her faithfully nonetheless. True love. the last time we came over he was feeding her and talking to  her like she was perfectly fine. well- he came out- and all he got out was , "Sisters" and then he started weeping...it was gut wrenching. he sat down on the couch beside me and started telling us of his last moments with her. then he  looked at me and said he thought of me (he loves music) and he asked me if i would sing at her funeral, her favorite song, "Peace Like a River". I started crying just seeing him in his heartache- and of course said yes- I just feel really humbled. its a beautiful song, she was an incredible woman, and he is a faithful man, their love is inspiring. How beautiful it was to be able to then testify to him of the resurrection! To testify that Christ lives and because of that the "sting of death is swallowed up in Christ" and he will see her again, and this time she will be glorified, and perfected, and she will be able to speak to him and run to him, like she hasnt done in years! He just wept and wept, the spirit was so strong! and all of this hope bc of Christ. We shared Mosiah 16:8-9 my favorite scripture of the ressurrection. I have a testimony of the Living Christ and the hope that comes from Him both in this life and the life to come!
We also had a lesson with Mark, (the one I asked you to pray for)Taylor's nonmember fiance- he cooked us dinner it was so fancy :) they came to churchthis sunday!!! Big deal...we introduced them to the people in the ward that we felt inspired to have them meet and they really hit it off!! Our investigator Rex came to church as well- he is on track to get baptized May 17th. We also gained a new investigator on Easter- her name is Marsha, she was at dinner with us at a members home, they are good friends- well i just loved her! after lots of laughs and conversation- we shared our message of Christ- we showed her an easter mormon message then read in John and Mosiah about the resurrection- her heart was pierced- she opened up to us about the death of her mother- we had a beautiful discussion...she now is open and wants to learn about the plan of Salvation. Oh how marvelous the Plan of our God! 

I have just been waking up happy lately. I wake up, and feel indescribable peace and gratitude. I love being a missionary. I love the call. I love the work. It's exhausting and utterly draining- but I cannot believe how much I am learning and how closely God is walking with me. I wake up in a state of peace and joy I have never experienced before in my life, or even on my mission until now. It's unearthly- this week we also got the position of Head Sister Training Leader organized, which has been a goal of mine- I can't leave this mission until I know its all organized and I have my part so that it will be organized that come for the sisters after us. And we did it :) its beautiful. It took a lot of phone calls and time, but God really helped it along and now all expectations are clearly laid out and full order is established :) I am at peace with it. We also had the opportunity of training 2 new Sister Training Leaders- what a joy teaching is to me and how much i always end up learning. I now know each of the 100plus sisters in our mission officially by name :) Sister Smith told asked us to prepare for teaching the sisters at an all sisters conference! What a joy to do especially at the end of my mission- she asked us to ponder what needs to be shared- and then teach it. We are meeting with her next week to discuss our ideas and coordinate all the logistics. I feel so blessed and humbled at all the Lord is teaching me and all the opportunities He is giving me to help me learn and grow. I rely solely on Him for everything- I cannot express that enough- I love Him and am more aware than ever at all He has done for me. 

I love you all very much. happy Easter!

Much Love-

Sister Bertoldo

Why Should We Think To Earn a Great Reward if We Now Shun the Fight?

Dearest Family-

I have a lot in my heart right now. This week has been the kind where time seemed irrelevant and God just used this week to spend time with me and teach me. Some lessons very hard- but He was there with me and miracles ensued. I am almost overcome with all the miracles that took place- innumerable. I have come to truly feel He is my Father, I truly feel sustained, heard and close with him and I have never been able to communicate so closely to the Infinite. 

This week me and sister harris taught at Zone training- we taught about having the courage and the faith to open our mouths in under the most uncomfortable, difficult circumstances- WE MUST OPEN OUR MOUTHS! this is something that has been the greatest struggle for me at the beginning of my mission- but it is something the Lord has worked with me on- and through other experiences my trust in Him has built so my courage to do that which is difficult has increased, so OYM'ing is now something I am passionate about and can teach and testify of without feeling like a hypocrite. well it went very well (the teaching) God was with us, and the Spirit was there. I cant believe how much i love teaching, administrating and speaking- i always feel a bit daunted when the calling comes initially- but then it drives me to my knees and causes me to rely fully on my Heavenly father and His Spirit and then I get to experience the miracle of feeling Him speak through me and enhance my words- i know its not me- I know its Him- and that's why I pray so earnestly for His Spirit to be with me.that is the purpose of great responsibilities being placed on our backs- growth. humility. faith. trust. realization we need Him, something higher than ourselves. then MIRACLES ENSUE and he NEVER LETS US FAIL WHEN WE DO IT HIS WAY! With our way there is no promise-

       I have more stories from this week than can be typed in a letter- but i will share a few

we received 2 media referrals. One woman, Linda, we brought a BOM to and a Bible and explained to her and testified of the BOM- we read 2 Ne 26:24, Hel 5:12, and 1Ne 3:7, explaining what they meant to me so she could feel the power of the book without us having to say a word- the power is in the BOM itself. her eyes welled with tears and she said, "I never knew, I never knew of this book. This is what I've been missing." and she cried and held the book to her heart. we both were overwhelmed by her sincere response and i thought- this is why i came out on my mission- to find those "who never knew" but are seeking. those words keep ringing in my ear...the spirit confirmed our message is true. Linda will be baptized one day- pray for it. Also I was on an exchange with a sister and we had the opportunity of doing a lot of OYMing we talked to EVERY PERSON GOD PLACED IN OUR PATH- well we were at the park and taught a woman about eternal families and the BOM, and got her info and she wanted to come to church. 

            Then as we were leaving, I saw 2 teenage girls sitting under a pavilion listening to loud music and one of them was smoking. the spirit urged me to talk to them- i resisted bc they were engaged in deep conversation and looked angry- it was very AWKWARD to interrupt them...but as we were fixing to leave, again the prompting came and i could not deny it and i thought about how I had just taught other missionaries to act even in awkward/uncomfortable situations, and i knew i had to follow through with my words- so i said, "sister- we have to go talk to those girls." we walk up- awkward -i am not normally awkward- but let me tell you- that was awkward- she breathed smoke in my face and looked at me like, "what do you want?" the only though that came was "just be real" so i was. I said, "i saw you guys sitting here and kept getting the feeling to talk to you. hows your day going?" they softened significantly- and we talked a bit- we found out they were 15 and came from very broken families- the only thought that came was to tell them they were daughters of God and He loves and knows them- I asked them if they ever talk to God? the one girl, Cheyenne, the one not spoken was very spiritual and lightened up the second we mentioned God's love for her- she just softened. She said," I pray every night." and from there we talked of prayer and God and how he helped me through hard teenage years, and got their numbers and hugged them each goodbye. 

         Well, later that day we were contacting a LA family and who should pull up in the car of the home we just walked to than Cheyenne in the car with her aunt, who we were coming to see! we were astonished to see her and she us! she ran out of the car (we were shocked how different she seemed and happy to see us) and said, "I told my aunt about you and here you are! how are you here?" and she threw her arms around me- i was so touched and in awe- the timing of it! if we hadn't opened our mouths and spoken to her earlier, we would've missed out on this miracle. 

    Earlier this week, we met with Takuya again (our Japanese investigator who had never heard of Christ) and he came to us and said, "My grandpa die last week. It's very hard- I'm not there with my family." i welled with tears, amazed how I could relate. he then thanked us for teaching him about family history because he said, it made him think of his grandpa while he was still alive, so he had been thinking of memories of him before he got the news he had passed away. then he turned to me and said, "Will you teach me how to pray? so i can feel near. Its very hard." oh- how i love that boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh the spirit was so strong!!!!!!!!!!!! we taught him how to pray- we explained Christ's resurrection and how he would see His grandpa again. We showed him a video of Christ's life and Resurrection, after I asked him, "how do you feel? With tears in his eyes he said, "I feel better, because I know Christ knows me, and He knows my grandpa- so we know someone who knows us both. so we are closer." then he put his hand on his heart and cried. the most beautiful part was then when we asked him to pray- the first prayer he has ever prayed- we had the PRIVILEGE of teaching him and hearing that tender, heartfelt humble prayer, from a Japanese boy, who Heavenly Father has been longing to hear from for a long time i'm sure. i will never forget what he said in that prayer. it was the most beautiful thing i have ever heard. Every soul is great in the sight of God. These are a few of the things that took place this week. 

me and sister harris are together another transfer! we are training 2 new sisters coming in this transfer- i am so excited! also- taylor's fiance Mark now wants to take the discussions!!! Please pray for Mark- please- i have a vision for this family! Please pray for mark that he will have a soft heart and open mind and feel the spirit as we teach him and be baptized. I love you all. Yes- mom i will be calling on mothers day :) i love you. happy easter! what a wonderful season- Christ. new life, new starts, hope, and eternal life, bc of Christ.

Much Love, Sister Bertoldo 

"It was the Load." -Elder Bednar

Dearest Family-

Hope you had a great conference! Dad- it was so good to hear from you it sounds like you and Jared had a great time! and mom- thank you so much for the easter package! that made my day! Both of your letters meant so much to me- thank you.

I loved Conference- our investigator Alton came and we were so happy. We had another MLC this week and it went really well- President had us meet like a council rather than a "lecture" set up and i loved it- so much more effective we really got some issues resolved and we did it all together as a group- it was cool. 

I went on an exchange with a sister who has been seriously considering going home- I prayed so much before that exchange, that Heavenly father would guide my words and our conversation, so that she could be empowered and inspired to stay. well wow- the Spirit led that discussion- I was really open with her about some of my struggles i've faced on my mission, and I shared with her how i overcame them and then I told her, bc i felt overwhelmingly to tell her, that there would be people she won't meet until the end of her mission that will change her life and she will change theirs. I know it. I told her how missions change, and for all she knows this could be the hardest part of her whole mission! hard times are temporary- just tests-If she can get through this, great blessings will follow on her mission, I know the Lord has experiences, choice experiences in store for her towards the end of her mission- worth staying out for! so worth it! She started crying and then smiled the biggest smile and said, "you just gave me hope!" and she just kept crying and crying, so happy. then we had the opportunity to teach a girl preparing for her mission, we taught her how we prepared and so forth- well that was the best thing for this sister- as she testified of why she came on a mission and how she prepared I could feel the Spirit testifying to her that her decision to come and serve was right! she will be so blessed! I know this sister will stay! It was such a beautiful experience.

 

I loved what Elder Bednar said, "it was the load." how true that is- that was answer to prayer. That changed my perspective on having heavy responsibilities placed upon my shoulders- it is the load that enables us to progress and move forward on the straight an narrow path! it is the road that focuses us and accelerates us to be able to attain and achieve and fulfill! rather than feeling drained, overwhelmed, or daunted by heavy loads/responsibilities placed on my back, I will forever see them as an empowerment and seek them out! I was so grateful for his words! They were an answer to prayer- for this short 15 weeks I have left on my mission I will carry this load and let it move me in progression on the path to eternal progression! I have a whole new perspective- not one of fatigue, but one of empowerment and gratitude! It is the load that brings happiness- not waiting for the load to be alleviated! well, our lesson with Taylor (the woman i was talking about last time) went well, we got to meet her nonmember fiance! We established a good relationship with him- they really opened up to us. We have a new Investigator Keisha. 

 I love you all- you are in my prayers and thoughts always <3

Much Love Sister Bertodo

Communion with God

Dear Family-

Well this was a different week- really weird week- but hey- who said a mission would be easy! Even with the disappointments there were some amazing things that happened throughout the week. 

The first one i wanted to share was meeting Taylor. Taylor is in her 20's she just had a baby, and moved out here from Utah 3 years ago. Her whole family is active- she just kind of got lost in the shuffle, and she is now engaged to the father of her baby. Well, her little brother is on a mission right now- he sent us a referral to go and see her- begging us to help her get back to church, he said, "i know she wants it she is just scared." we were so touched- this elder out there just like us is away from his family- so he reaches out to us, while we are away from our family but near his, to strengthen her. Missionary work is the coolest! Well when we got there she started crying and couldnt believe we came bc she said she has been wanting to come back ever since she had her daughter and then she cried and said, "the most important thing i can do is get her back safely to heavenly Father." she said she has been scared- i asked why she's scared and she said she's scared of being judged and coming back to church now that she has a baby, tattoos and no husband. I have never felt such love for someone. We assured her no one will judge her out here and that we will be there every step of the way. She emailed her brother on his p-day and told him we came by and that she is going to be meeting with us every week now, she said he said, "Are they kind and loving to you?" she said Yes, and she said he was overjoyed. Pretty cool.

We also met a woman named Kristel, most amazing story ever- only in Tallahassee can you find such people, seriously! she is from Jamaica- she was converted and baptized at age 9 then converted and helped baptize her whole family! she then went out proselyting with the missionaries until she was 13- and she said she was on fire and loved and had such a burning testimony! then when she was 13 she came to America, and got pregnant when she was 15, and apparently, the church treated her poorly and kind of "kicked her out" or at least that was her perception, and her family disowned her as well, so she was devastated and heartbroken because she already knew she had done wrong and couldn't handle the judgement, and hasn't been to church since. its been 10 years. we met her daughter, who is now 10 and she is beautiful, spiritual girl. well- we listened to her- and she she said, "so now is where you can leave like every other missionary bc i am too far gone." well- we just bonded- i had her laughing up a storm! she kept saying, "oh you are hilarious! I have never met a missionary like you!" and she would just crack up haha and i have never felt more at home with anyone! i felt like i had known her for years! and i told her that. well- then we got down to it- we explained how sometimes the people, even thought the doctrine they are taught is sound and true, they can still use their agency wrong. I urged her to not let the poor actions of others interfere with her testimony and hold her back from the blessings i know Heavenly Father wants to give her and her family. We asked her if she still had a testimony of the Book of Mormon- she said she wasnt sure anymore- we urged her to read it again for her sake- I proposed that she take the lessons again and experiment and see if she could re-discover her testimony- regardless and separate from past experiences we told her, its about the doctrine- go to god, and ask him as you learn if these things aren't true and he will  answer her. We told her how much we know God loves her, especially considering that she had been missionaries like us and helped many people enter into the covenant of baptism in Jamaica! we told her, "God loves you for that! He loves us even if we mess up." I told her that if after taking all the lessons again and reading the Book of Mormon if she still didn't have a testimony and that fire again then fine, and she will be no worse off then she is now- but she has everything to gain! she was silent for awhile- but then she said, "I have had a lot of missionaries try- i've never listened in the past. or i will just lie and then cancel on them later- but because of your spirits- i will sincerely pray about taking the lessons." ah- it was so amazing.....she then ended up digging out her old photo album of her baptism and missionary work in Jamaica as a girl- it was so cool- she was so happy talking about it! and sis. Harris was explaining the Book of Mormon to her daughter- it was incredible.

 We also met with Philip again- and he really opened up! we had a great lesson. Harmyni and raykell and Cierra all got to come to the General Women's Broadcast! so that was awesome- and yesterday at church i sang for the first time in this ward- i sang, "If you Could Hie to Kolob"- the Lord really blessed me. Our investigator Tosh and Phil both came to church to hear it :) that meant so much to me. I register for classes today! crazy. 

Much Love sister b