Family History Miracles

Dear family-

I spent most of my time sending out private emails to you all so i do not have time for my mass email! but i have it all written in my journal so i will tell you all about it when I get home. thank you haley and ashley for your package!!!!!! I loved it!!!!! it made my life haha really. ask my comp how happy i was :)) love you guys. this week tons happened- one thing i must share is that we had a miracle where i went on an exchange-

we were going out to tract and use family history as our contacting approach. 

       well at the end we were led to a random street we didn't plan to go to- and we decided that on this particular street we only had a short amount of time left so we would knock 4 doors before our next appt. well the first 3 nothing- then the 4th door a woman came to the door- we opened with introductions then asked her "do you know where your family comes from?" the second she opened her mouth i heard a familiar accent- Grandpa. Before she even answered i knew. "Iran". she said. I told her about Grandpa- about how I had been able to find some of his ancestry (she was concerned she wouldn't be able to bc she was from Iran. she completely had a change in attitude when I told her about Grandpa- she lit up like a tree! she kept saying, "I cant believe that!" she has only been here for 8 years- she then asked us 2 questions, the first she said, "did your grandpa convert?" I told her he did and she was dumbfounded but riveted- she then said, "why do you do this? what value is there in this for you?" oh- man- then I got to testify! about the plan of salvation- how we draw closer to them and they to us as we engage in their work and how that adds to your sense of self and the legacy they left behind. she said, "Oh i see. i understand this." and then she agreed to come to the church and learn more! she said to us as we were leaving, "You have both blessed my day." as we left i burst into tears bc i felt so close to Grandpa and then I remembered our prayer- and that this was even the 4th door- I know that was grandpa helping me in the work, which is a testimony to me that he is in fact doing the same work i am on the other side.i have never felt closer to him. tallahassee is a big place- there aren't that many Iranians in america...I know that this was a miracle wrought by the Spirit of Elijah and the tender mercy of God to allow me and Grandpa to work together for a day. I love you all. I got to sing a lot this week- its a long awesome story :) i will write about it later :) 

much love sister Bertoldo

oh! I also got to meet and teach a man that has never heard of christ! He is from Japan His name is Takuya- he has only been in America for 10 months- he is 23 and came here for school. we met him with family history- after we did fh with him, we gave him a church tour after and he said, "I never been to church." we asked if he was religious at all- he responded no- not even Buddhist. I asked him, "do you know who Jesus Christ is?" and he looked at me confused and said, "No". wow. I have never met anyone who doesnt know christ. the spirit flooded my heart- oh to teach someone and testify of Christ to someone who has never before known him! to introduce someone to that savior I love so much!!! I will never forget his face- after we taught Him of His nature and showed him pictures, he said looking at Christ- "He is brave. People love him because He loves all." Me and my comp cried- then we explained to Him Gethsemane- and the atonement- my gosh I will never forget his face or how it felt to share that- we then asked him- do you want to learn more of christ? He looked at us and with fervor said, "Yes. I do! I want to learn more of Christ." i will never forget that. what a blessing and choice experience.

"When You Have a Vision of What You Can Become, Your Power and Motivation to Act Increases Enormously" Elder Oaks

How important it is to have a vision for yourself and others in line with the vision of God.

Dearest family-

this week was the kind of week that time didnt even exist- each day blended into the next and i lost all concept of time and never knew what day it was! What a week truly. I dont know what I am going to do- going back to normal life, living normal days without insane experiences, miracles, exhausting responsibilities, and life changing experiencing- it is honestly insane! It is really picking up here towards the end! every day is spiritual marathon! I have officially realized that i am the happiest, busiest, most engaged, fulfilled, used, and needed that I have ever been in my life. I am truly happy. It's like God is using me like crazy now, now that I really know how to be a missionary- this is the most effective I have ever been in my time on earth. i will just never be the same. My whole sense of self and perspective has shifted in an eternal, permanent way, and my understanding of self, life and others has just...its more eternally accurate and in perspective. My mission has literally changed, and saved my life, and i didnt even know I needed saving and changing before!

ok- well to start- this week we took another sister to the airport- weird! and then this week was transfers! me and my comp sister harris are staying together- this is the longest i have ever had a companion but i am glad bc we are a powerhouse together with the Lord-i feel so blessed and am so grateful for our companionship!!!!!!!!!!!! and honestly what we do is so hard- i fully rely on the lord- literally you have no idea how i pray haha we have each other and president&sister smith- but other than that everyone else in the mission leans on us so i am so grateful for her! she is a great strength to me! We are a strength to each other.i had a feeling we would be staying together bc I know God knows my limitations. but we got to help out with all the new sisters coming in from the MTC! I loved it it was so fun!! I have a soft spot in my heart for new sisters- I love greeting new missionaries and seeing how scared they are and helping them feel comfortable and safe. Its my favorite- i think thats why i trained so much. i love making people feel secure when i can feel they are nervous. 

So we did training with them at the mission home along with the AP's and then we took them out working with us to our appointments and guess what! we had a miracle. the part member family we have been working with- the cartwrights? her nonmember husband came to church for the first time to do fh work- it softened him more than anything else! afterwards we were able to give him a church tour- and when we went in the chapel he felt the spirit so strongly he couldnt speak- it was incredible- i told him tht this was God answering Him- telling Him He wanted Him here- I asked him to visualize himself there with his daughter- i could see the Spirit working in him- i kept saying I knew this was God's answer to him- he just looked at me and said, "thank you for saying that. I have been asking." He said he felt something in that chapel....he couldnt get over it. It was beautiful! that was one of the most spirit led church tours I have ever given. It was such a testimony to me of how important family history work is to softening hearts and changing demeanors- when the Spirit of Elijah is paired with the Holy Spirit- MIRACLES HAPPEN! 

well- later this week- we had the opportunity to have dinner with President and Sister Smith- they invited us to the farewell dinner for all the departing missionaries- i had been burning to tell President smith about our fh miracle- (bc he is HUGE on using fh in the mission). i told him everything (someday i will tell you all the details too in person) I did the voices and everything- well him and sis. smith were practically laughing in tears! Then President looked at me and said, "Sister Bertoldo- after Elder Ballard speaks- they are giving me 30 minutes to speak- I am giving 10 of those minutes to you to share that story. can you tell it in 10-15 minutes?" well this saturday- The apostle, Elder Ballard himself came to speak to us- WOW. WOW WOW WOW. The south is being flooded with church leaders bc there is a great work going on here bc as Elder Ballard said, "Here in this part of the United states people already believe in christ,There is great potential for growth in this part of the Lord's vineyard- so you missionaries here- you have to be good.You have to be good teachers" Elder Soarres of the 70 also came and spoke to us. they wanted to shake each of our hands. 

 I can truly testify that he speaks the words of Christ- i felt the spirit so strongly as those men spoke- the biggest thing that Elder ballard told us that stood out to me was when he said speaking of missionaries who may fel discouraged or tired, "there are times i am tired. i am weary. I am an old man! when I feel insufficient strength physically. it is then elders and sisters, that I look at this....(he pulled out a pass along sized picture of Christ) I would encourage you all to carry this. I look at Christ in those moments and my mind goes to Gethsemane, and I think what He did for the people I am on my way to meet, and then i feel okay. When all is said and done Elders and sisters, I'm a missionary. just like you." what gifted humility. How that touched me,"My mind goes to Gethsemane...and then I feel ok." How blessed I am to be here.

Well- they brought SUCH A STRONG SPIRIT that my nerves were calm and i had no fear that I would not be guided in what to say even though i had no time to mentally prepare/write out thoughts. I know the Lord wanted me to see that it wasnt about me- He just wants me to fully rely and trust in Him. The spirit is what captivates, motivates, and inspires- i know that. i learned many things that day. 

well afterwards- we felt endowed with power- we went out and contacted, we found a man in the side streets by the homeless shelter and engaged in one of the sweetest gospel discussions i have ever had with a first time street contact. we gave him a BOM and read out of it with him Hel 5:12- he was mesmerized- we are meeting with him again tuesday. Also, our investigator Rex (felon man) just committed to be baptized April 12th! we had an awesome lesson with him last night- over 2 hours long- utterly exhausting- but amazing- we taught the Plan Of Salvation. he wants to be baptized- and best of all- he asked his younger brother Robby to baptize him! Robby is a less active member- so now he feels motivated to prepare himself ready and worthy to baptize his brother- its is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen- seeing how the priesthood and love and the gospel is working in these men to elevate them and their families!!!! what a week. I love you all. One last summer to witness to the south- I love being used by the Lord, and know I still have much to learn.

All My love <3

sister Bertoldo 

"Ye are Eternally Indebted to your Heavenly Father, to Render to Him All That You Have and Are" Mosiah 2:34

Dearest family-

I am so grateful to each of you. Your letters and emails for me this week were so needed and such a sustaining joy- hearing the good works you are all endeavoring in and the success God is granting you fills my soul with joy!! I am so proud of hearing of your good works and accomplishments and most especially for the eternal lessons that can be learned from them!

Cierra's baptism took place this week- her whole family came!!!!!!!!!! it was a very different baptism experience- we made the program entirely based on the wishes of Cierra and helping it to be focused on her family. They all loved the church- this was monumental and a huge step closer to their dad allowing his daughters to be baptized- we gave them a church tour and they kept saying, "oh dad can't we go to this church? we love this church!" It was one of the most beautiful, calm, still, smooth baptisms i have ever witnessed. then her little niece raykell tapped me and said, "I want to be baptized. Just like that." ah- it really tugged my heart! they said the prayers at her baptism (her and Harmyni) and then we did a special musical number haha bc her dad can play REALLY WELL and we wanted to involve him really badly so we had him play a VERY gospelly, soulful "Amazing Grace" and me and my comp. and Harmyni and Raykell sung to that whole congregation- it was so out of my comfort zone and i was so nervous about it!! haha bc seriously he was going all out- but we did it for Cierra it made her and her dad SO HAPPY and so i loved it once we were up there- everyone was laughing and clapping and I just went all gospelly and went for it and everyone loved it!! haha we didnt even really get to practice before haha o man it was so awesome- that was the most unself conscious I think I have ever been- and it just made her so happy! everyone after was like- "that pians and song has never been sung like that! amazing!" haha it was funny also my comp sis. harris hates singing so that added to our nerves before haha but i loved it! it ended up going great! Cierra felt so special and so many people came!!!

Another highlight- a few weeks ago i went on an exchange with a sister on FSU campus and they are in desperate need of new investigators. I prayed all day that the Lord would be with us and help me know how to help bc i was nervous since i have never been on campus before- but i really prayed- and when we went to campus I was CONFIDENT we would find someone- and i told the sister that, which made her excited- well- we did find someone- there was a girl sitting in the middle of the busy campus square and i felt that tug and pull- so we went for her! It all started with me saying, "Ah! I love your shoes- I have the same ones!) and i do they are hot pink nike trainers like i had at home- well then we got to talking- i told her we were missionaries- she told us all she has been through and wow- is this woman amazing! so prepared- well to make a long story short- we ended with getting her number and inviting her to church, hugging her and a powerful bond between us. and then i went home and came back to my area. well- last night i got the news from that campus sister- London (that was the girls name we talked to) is getting baptized march 16th!!!!!!!!!!!! I cried my face off!!!!!!!!! I cannot express what a powerful experience and testimony to me of the power of God and the reality of Him! This really is His work, He really does lead us and will use us if we seek him out and then press forward in faith!! I know God placed her DIRECTLY in our path that day, and i know that is because I DIRECTLY prayed for that all day, and FULLY RELIED ON HIM- I cant express how amazing it was to get that news- i will never forget that. God answers prayers- we have to have the faith to ask, and then the courage to act to help it come to pass. 

I have truly come to trust God. My missoin has accelerated and intensified and compacted that understanding in ways i know would not be possible for me any other way. Everytime I am faced with something that pushes me beyond my comfort zone (which takes a lot) I turn to Him like my life depends on it, because it does, because there are so many who depend on me and I know it- so I have to go to Him so I don't break- and EVERYTIME I have done that- I SEE LITERAL MIRACLES. Miracles like contacting a young woman bc she just happened to be sitting right where we were walking on that  massive campus, and i just happened to feel that tug in my heart and pull to her- that is straight from God bc He knows London's heart, and that she was ready, and He knows I am there seeking and trusting that He will lead us to find those hearts prepared- because of that, London is now being baptized in 2 weeks! I trust the Lord- He has showed me over and over again- He is in control- He has a plan! Because these personal experiences on my mission when i thionk my future before me i feel at complete peace bc I know God will lead me. I truly have learned to fully trust in God- I feel so free and at peace and grateful. 

there is a lot more i want to say but don't have time! but Elder Ballard is next week and me and Sister Harris got invited over to Presidents house for dinner! I am so excited- This week has been very high stress and exhausting- but I can honestly say that I have felt God with me every step of the way, walking with me. One day we hadn't eaten all day and I was starting to feel really sick- so was my comp- and we just had lesson after lesson- so said a prayer bc my vision was all blurry bc i was just so depleted- so i said a prayer for help- and then the next house we went to (her name is tosh we taught a new investigator we found 2 weeks ago) she opens the door and says, "sisters I just baked some bread!" and she went and brought us both a slice!! i could have cried- haha we then went on to teach her the Restoration with our renewed energy :) but it was funny bc after that i told my comp- "that was like manna from heaven" haha it was hilarious- bc it literally was. Anyways- God knows how to provide for His children if we ask in faith and then keep working! Love you all!!!!!

Sister Bertoldo

Flying

Dearest family!

thank you for the happy little package!! that meant so much to me mom thank you!!!!!! well this week was great- it flew- transfers are next week so that is crazy. we did another 2 exchanges this week and saw a lot of miracles. we had zone conference and i have some big news- i have caught the "Spirit of Elijah" big time! I have been working on Grandpa's and grandma's side since dad did a lot of work on his side which is awesome!! and guess what mom/! I found grandpa's parents! I am working on finding his grandparents- but i felt the spirit so strong when i found them- I really feel they have accepted the gospel and want their work done- I put Nonny in their too and her parents- I am determined to have names of our family ready to take to the temple to do for them the second I get home!!! So mom if grandma is still there could you please get all the info possible on her and grandpas families so i can do their work?

we found 5 new investigators! we have received 8 media referrals! It is just amazing- i have never heard of that on my mission- we are very blessed, but are working ourselves to the dirt and i guess the Lord sees that. We are so blessed. Cierra is excited to be baptised this saturday! Please pray for her, and also please pray that her families heart, especially her fathers heart, will be softened- her whole family is coming to the baptism. we are planning to pull the dad aside after the baptism and ask if he will allow his 2 other daughters Harmyni and Cierra to be baptized- they want to so badly- Harmyni last night said, "I am scared if I have to wait to get baptized until I am 18 I will forget what I feel now." 

We had a really cool opportunity, me and sis. harris my dear companion, to got to President's house (the mission home) and just talk to him and Sis. Smith- they were'nt even dressed in church clothes they were in pj's!! it was so cool! we were talking in their living room about a few things and when we brought up Cierra President said, "I want to meet her. bring to my home and we will have a lesson with her here in the mission  home." I cried. How incredible that would be, how incredible. I am so grateful to be here and have the opportunity to work so closely with President. It was his idea to committ the father to allow his younger daughters to be baptized after the baptism. we are doing it!! It is also really exciting because me and sis harris and Harmyni and Raykell are all going to sing at Cierra's baptism "Amazing Grace" and the dad agreed to play the piano for us after Cierra begged him- that will be amazing! I have a lot of vids to show you when i get home. 

We also had an emergency come up- one of the sisters in our mission had to be sent home, so President called us and she came over to sleep at our apartment (I had to sleep on the floor bc we only have 2 beds! haha i slept great actually :) and then we had to take her to the airport. He also gave us money to take her out to breakfast. We really wanted to make her feel special so she didn't feel any nervousness or sense of failure- it was a really amazing experience. It was weird going to the airport though- the last itme I was at the tally airport my mission was just beginning! so going back really brough back memories and made the reailty that that will be me in a couple months really hit me- it was weird- i was glad to leave the airport and go back to being a missionary! but we walked her to the gate and stayed with her as long as possible. I love you all so much. excited to meet Elder Ballard next week! Hope all is well with you <3 tell grandma I would love to hear from her and love her very much.

Love sis. bertoldo

Mind on the Ministry

Dearest family-

mom thank you for your valentines card and email!! I appreciate the update on our family- they are all getting so big my gosh.It was such a blessing, so needed and so appreciated! and I gave out all the chocolate you gave me to kids we are teaching and they all loved it and i told them it was from  you and one girl asked what your name was and I told her Sue, and she said, "thank you sue bertoldo!" haha :) and dad- your long letter meant the world to me- I received both of your letters/little package right on v-day which you cant know how much that meant to me.

 i cant believe my mission is coming to a close. i realized after this transfer i will have 18 weeks left instead of 18 months. 18 weeks. 18 more sundays. well- i read something in D&C that talks about keeping your, "Mind on your maker and ministry whereunto you have been called" rather than of things of the earth- that pierced my heart with such force- my mantra is now "Keep your mind on your ministry". My ministry is coming to an end. (my formal ministry that is, but i will continue to minister all my life) The magnitude of that is beginning to hit me bc transfers fly by faster and faster and i only have 3 left. I am determined to complete all that my Heavenly Father would have me do on my ministry- for others- and also within myself. I have had to stare some deep rooted weaknesses of mine in the face and root them out but i am willing to do it bc i am determined to leave my mission as the being he wants me to be. I am also determined to find all the people he pre-ordained me to find and to fulfill my purpose with each individual he has entrusted me with. My mission is the most sacred thing to me in the world. so i tell myself, "keep your mind on your ministry."

This week we had 2 exchanges- kind of a lot for one week, and we have another double header this week- but i always have incredible experiences and growth on exchanges! we also had Izola's baptism this weekend! what a beautiful spirit filled baptism it was. It isnt very often an older woman gets baptized, and she was a Messianic Jew before- so it was incredible to see her entering into the waters of baptism and see her glowing like an angel! I sang right before she was baptized her favorite hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee". It was a beautiful experience. our investigator Cierra was there too and she will be getting baptized in 2 weeks :) The Lord has blessed us in our work and ministry. 

also- this week we were able to teach the entire Pleas family!! They are an African American family in a rough neighborhood that when I first met they were having a lot of family trials and conflicts threatening to tear them apart- I suddenly had a vivid vision of what that family could be, and a sense of urgency to share the gospel with them at this critical junction in their life bc i know that that is what will save them!!!! well this week- it happened. it happened. their entire family gathered together- the first time their family has ever been all together on one couch. they have 3 little kids- 2 of the cutest little boys I have ever seen, sahmaj 3, kayden 8, and sanaa 11. we taught them the Plan of Salvation. the whole thing. I cannot express the joy, deep joy and fulfillment i felt in my soul, sitting there teaching that little family being ravaged by the evils of the world. In that moment I knew I was doing exactly what God would me do with my mortal time on this earth. I knew I was exactly doing the Father's will and fulfilling my purpose in life. I will never forget how beautiful that scene was- to see Marlo (the step dad) with his 3 yr old son on his lap, and the mother Ty sitting with her 2 other children around her. and the grandmother Dorothy (who is a less active member) in the center beaming with joy in seeing her family united in faith. Mosiah 18:21 comes to mind "Their hearts knit together in unity and love." Every time we asked a question Kayden would shoot his hand up bless his heart, his little heart wanted to participate. We asked, "how do you talk to God?" he said, "in a soft voice in my imagination." at the end I told them to look around them- I told them how beautiful a sight they were to me- they looked around and saw the scene of their family all gathered together learning of god's plan- and ty the mother teared up and Marlo smiled and kissed his sons face. I will never forget that- I told them i could see God's vision for them. I cried- I just feel really strongly for this family I want to see them make it. I want to see Marlo with the priesthood! they need it! we all do! we committed them to have family prayer like this every night- they agreed then at the end we all put our hands together and cheered, "team family!!" which was really cheesy but it made them all laugh and they all secretly loved it :) Things like that increase the worth of my mission exponentially and eternally. 

This week all the missionary leaders (ZL's, AP's, and STL's) had the opportunity to meet with all the stake Presidents of the Florida panhandle, and parts of Alabama, and the Area Seventy Elder Munns, and Pres. and sis. smith of course. WE discussed mission goals and what Elder Perry talked to us about over satellite- it was a really intense experience to be a part of and see how priesthood leadership and organization works in the church.

well those are some highlights. I love you all very much. I love this gospel very much. I love you all so much. Happy birthday to Kristen, Lindsay, Satcey and Michael!!

Much love,

Sister Bertoldo

"Search Me Oh God and Know My Heart" - Psalm 139:23

Dear family~

wow. another mind blowing week. This week i have been doing an in depth study of Godliness: the quality of living a Godly life, devout holy, sanctified, and essentially in the world BUT NOT OF IT. I have also been doing an in depth study of CHARACTER- and the more I study it, the more i see the complexity and importance of our character, and the more my desire to have the character God would approve of has sky-rocketed. I wrote this this morning- I have learned that character takes:

c-courage

h-hope and honesty

a-ageny CONSISTENTLY used for good. every right choice you make, unseen by all but God, everyday, THAT is what develops character. everyday I get up at 6:30 am with a pounding headache or not- my character grows- everytime you read your scripture or choose to serve or not watch an inappropriate movie, your character solidifies a little more. Every time I kneel to pray instead of stand, or make another phone call or knock another door when I am drained, my character is deepened. that is how the Lord has shaped me on my mission- right choice by right choice- it is the same for all of us.

r- righteousness. pure desires and thirsting after truth and God's will

a-active faith. its not enough to just say it or think it- true faith requires ACTION- action is what biulds character.

c- confidence in the Lord and in yourself. "Search me O God and know my heart". Psalm 139:23 If we can be this open with the Lord, than he can purify and purge us from our fallen natures and all our "secret parts" will be known to Him and purged- THAT is true confidence before the Lord. This is what has increased my confidence within myself- knowing that God knows me bc I evaluate myself with Him each night.

t-true to God and self. this is where peace lies, when our actions are consistent with our beliefs.

e- effort and eternal perspective. when we make decisions based on ETERNAL TRUTHS, rather than circumstance or popular opinion, that builds character. this takes great effort and often requires us to sacrifice our comfort zone or pleasures that others indulge in- but it ALWAYS deepens character.

r- respect. respect for self and respect for others. respect precedes love for self and others- which is one of the greatest commandments- "love one another as I have loved you" so we must respect all men and ourselves first.

I know that suffering precedes sanctification. I know that sounds brutal! but it is worth it! Lorenzo Snow said, "He will try us and continue to try us, in order that he may place us in the highest positions in life and put upon us the most sacred responsibilities." I know this is true. I have learned this on my mission. I see that my whole life has actually been in preparation of my mission- its crazy- and i know that my mission is preparation for my future life, which is ultimately preparation to my eternal life, where I will continue to progress, as we all will. that is God's great and glorious plan!

      Well- this week- I was really taught this. It was amazing. first of all- we had interviews with President- I love him so much. He is truly my father away from home.He knows me so well- I will really miss him. 

      second, big news!! We are meeting with Elder Ballard in 3 weeks!!!! March 8th we will be meeting with him in person, he wants to speak with us, and it will be for 2 hours!!!!!! I cried when we were told the news- I have been quoting that man for years and now I get to meet him in person! what a blessing and privilege. so yes- big news! I was excited to tell you.

         Also, we had trade-offs and I went with a sister for a day who was struggling a lot ( I love her a lot) so I prayed all day that i would be strengthened so that I would know how to help her and so we could have a day of miracles. I prayed all day. Well- we did!! we ended up finding 6 New investigators, placed 3 BOM, and had 3 lessons contacting on campus- it was amazing! and she was so happy, she kept saying "I needed this day so bad- we haven't had a good day like this in forever! I needed this." It was the lord who gave us success and I told her that- I told her that they could have days like these all the time if they wanted and had the faith. I was so happy to see her so happy- I thanked the Lord all day. it was awesome! 

I felt kind of sick on the exchange day but just kind of ignored it- but Then the next day after the exchange I was really sick- i was so nauseous/body achy I couldn't eat all day it was so awful. but we had a busy day so I just prayed all day for strength and we had great lessons. It lasted all day yesterday at church too- total agony- still couldnt eat bc my body aches were making me nauseous. but then i realized- this was God letting me prove and build my character- I think the old me would have curled up in a ball and complained and cried and slept- but I thought- how would I want my husband to handle this situation? what would be the admirable way of handling this? what does God want me to learn? so I just ignored it and we went from lesson to lesson- we got 5 new investigators: Rex (just out of jail, read the Book of Mormon in jail) and taught a man named Marlo the family Proclamation and he loved it so much he said he wanted to share with his whole family! we are going back to teach the family next week :) ! So my point is- i saw that as we worked through fatigue and physical pain, the Lord spiritually blessed our efforts even more and helped us have success. Izola is being baptized this saturday. And Cierra is being baptized next saturday!!!!!! so excited...we thought we were going to lose Izola bc when we taught her the Word of Wisdom she didnt like "no tea and coffee"- but we urged her to pray for understanding, (and we prayed too) and when we went back to see her (the day I was way sick) she announced that she had prayed- and she said that god told her, "you can choose: do you want tea and coffee or do you want MORE. More knowledge, more spiritual understanding, more blessings, closer to God" and she said, "I choose more, so I choose no tea and coffee and I choose to be baptized." me and sis. harris practically cried we were so relieved!!!! haha it was amazing. "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."

Now mom! I got your chocolate package!! we have been giving out to the kids and they love it!! thank you!  love you all so much.

Much Love sister Bertoldo

Officially a Year!!

Dearest Family-

So wow- a LOT happened this week you cant even begin to imagine!! I do not think I have ever been BUSIER in my life!!! which is saying something....well first off I will tell you we set a date with our investigator Izola I have been telling you about!! she is so prepared- she made us cry with her testimony she bore after we invited her to be baptized she said, "I will- I will because I trust the Lord and He has led me this far,and I will continue until he tell me to stop." then she said, "and I love the Book of Mormon. I KNOW that book is true- and I won't stop until I get to the temple. I want to be in that white castle of the Lord." we showed her a picture of the salt Lake temple and she went silent- she was in complete awe- she just said- "I want to go inside there." She is being baptized to achieve her goal of going to the temple- it will be in 2 weeks. She is amazing!!!! We are so excited, and so blessed by the Lord to have had the privilege of teaching her and being taught by her example of faith. 

    Also- Cierra came to church this sunday and is progressing nicely- she is being baptized the week after Izola. We taught them about prophets and we taught her the "Latter prophets" song and all her siblings haha- it was precious!! they all know all the LDS prophets now!! :) truly- I LOVE being a missionary- i cannot imagine not being a missionary- I am at the point now where I don't even want to go home. I love being a missionary- I love it. I don't want to be in the world again! if it weren't so exhausting/all consuming I would want to be a full time missionary forever. I love it. I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!! The Lord has taught me great things- my mission has saved/change my life. it truly is- I know who I am- I know God's plan- and I know what I am to do the rest of my life and how to go to him for support/strength. 

    I also received the incredible and touching news- the hernandez family who i love SO MUCH  just emailed me- they were just SEALED IN THE TEMPLE FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was BAWLING- THEY DID IT!!!!!!! They looked SO HAPPY AND BRIGHT!!! I have never seen them happier. they did it. they are an eternal family. That is why I'm out here. To help people be with their families for eternity. I love it. worth every sacrifice. every one. These people are a part of me forever. 

       

also- we had a lesson with a 13 year boy who we have been trying to teach for FOREVER!!!!!!!! I cannot express how special this young man is- he has a special spirit- his family has been lost to drugs and his older brother to gangs- he lives with his god-mom (adopted mother almost, but not legally, just by love) who is a less active member of the church which is how we found him. and I tell you I would die first before I will see Uvon get swallowed by gangs and drugs! He has such a light about him. we taught him about the BOM- he loved it- we have another appt with him next week. I will do everything in my power to strengthen this young man- I told him all I see in him and all his potential- he was riveted- listening intently- he's special. he wants to be a good person. Also- Harmyni the little 10 yr niece to Cierra who we are teaching? well at our last appointment she came up to me and hugged me and wouldn't let go- I could feel something was wrong so I just hugged her then she looked up at me dead in the eye and said, "Will you be my god-mom?" My heart melted- what came to my mind was the line in my patriarchal blessing that said, "there will be many that will call you mother" and I teared up and she just kept looking at me waiting for a response- so I looked her in the eyes and told her she would be in my heart forever and even after I leave I promised her I would find a way to keep in touch with her the rest of her life. and i meant it. I will. (she is adopted by her grandma bc her mom is a drug addict). 

  so yeah- that is a bit of the missionary work side of things, the most poignant experiences. Now- to tell you about the Missionary Leadership Conference we spoke/taught at- wow. I can't even tell you how amazing/draining that was. I have only been to an MLC meeting once before, so to be speaking at my 2nd one, and not just teaching but teaching all the leaders of the mission, and the AP's was really intense. We were given 30 minutes to teach/speak- which is the longest I have ever been asked to speak/teach. It was an incredible experience that I know I need for future experiences- I still have lots to learn-but the Lord is teaching me. I can tell you- the best part of it was when i was testifying of the hastening of the work and of the importance of this work and the foundation we are laying for future generations- i felt so full of power and peace from God. It was amazing- but i seriously have never prayed harder in my life than before that presentation- I would be useless without the Spirit and I know it! so I prayed and prepared spiritual A LOT for weeks previous- and He came through :) A lot of people came up to me after and said that it addressed a specific thing they were struggling with or concern they had- so the more I hear that from various missionaries who I respect a lot the more humbled I was, and knew that it was truly Spirit led. It was just such a testimony builder to me of how to receive, recognize, record, and share revelation so it can bless the lives of others for it's intended use. and afterwards president stood up and told me, "Well done." I respect President more than anyone (except for you dad and mom) so that is something I will never forget. he is a second father to me. 

  So yeah- it was quite the week! Afterwards I was drained. but we still went out and worked :) God helps us!! Anyways- I love you all so much.  I love this work. It snowed in Florida this week too! It was the first time in 7 years- it was so weird- but now its back to sunshine. Mom- let me know how your teaching went and Jared/dad let me know all about the court of honor! Love you so much.

Sister Bertoldo.