So this week was FANTASTIC!

In Los Ficus, it is so different from Paita and even still different from Miraflores.

I love having all the members in our area and being able to have such potential 

for many new investigators. It was a little rough coming though and there were no

investigators nor less actives and the converts hadn't been to church or taught in

several weeks. But we went to work and we found our converts, found three new less- actives to teach and 1 new investigator. We have set goals on how we can bless our ward as well as many couples are having marriage problems. We are working to knock two birds with one stone by serving them while they help us in la obra misional. 

I think my favorite experience that shows that this week was went we went to go get to know the bishop we found his wife, Milagros a little bit sad and down. She said she had been feeling very empty. We comforted her as much as we could and then invited her to accompany us. As she did, we found a less active that was assigned to visiting teach with Hna. Milagros and as we taught about the sacrament as found in 3 Nephi 18, we read and asked a question to the less active but Milagros gasped and blurted out the answer. She was so excited as she saw the connection between the sacrament and being filled with the spirit. She was then able to testify strongly to the less active and the spirit was so strong. Needless to say, this less active after months of not coming, came on Sunday. 

In that moment I was so immensely happy. I knew that I was doing what the Lord had called me to do. 

God provides the way. Several times this week we were immensely guided by the spirit to arrive at home just at the right moment. 

You are also SO right Mom. Repenting every day is so essential. On Tuesday night we taught a less active... lets just say he wanted nothing with the church and the missionaries have tried before teaching him but he never showed up. I had no idea of this when we started the lesson with him. He said that he had lost his testimony in Christ and that he didn't feel anything anymore. The Spirit brought to my mind Alma 5 and I straightforwardly explained that if he wanted to feel he needed to repent. Everyone looked at me shocked at my boldness but its true. Repentance is not a bad thing or something you have to do only when you break the law of chastity of the word of wisdom. It is a constant and daily action that brings us closer to God. It is a privilege. 

I feel so happy here and I love this area and the work. This work truly is the Lords work.

I love you all!!! Take care and Repent daily! Pray don't forget your scriptures, take 

the sacrament and you will have the spirit!!!

LOVE YOU!!

Hermana Tanuvasa 

Week of April 11

So this week has been hectic and yet miraculous.  We had two intercambios, 

consejo, zone meetings, and elections for two days where we weren't allowed to 

contact or go to church. Hahah sounds soo enjoyable right?

Well it was! Even with my back killing me I had some amazing experiences and

the hand of the Lord was recognized. There was so much that happened but I'll sum it up. Basically I was stubborn and i didnt want to rest for my back, but Hermana Gutierrez got mad at me and told me that I needed to be humble and that although we were going to do intercambios I had to rest for at least three hours. I was frustrated because I felt like i would be giving a bad example but it turned out that both Hermana Velasquez and Hermana Pay needed some time to just talk and destress. Then when we did leave, the members accompanied us, the appointments were there and in two days we found 8 new investigators!! It blew my mind but I knew thatthe Lord was blessing our area and the intercambios. Thursday we had our Leadership Coucil. So I dont know if I told you guys but a while back when Elder Godouy came to visit us he told us that out of the 30 missions in South America, we were number 30 in our baptisms. Well this week, according to the first three months of this year, WE ARE NUMBER 9!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!! God has seen fit to bless us. We have truly come to see the tender mercies of the Lord in our lives. I love this work and I love Peru. I love my companion. I love the Hermanas. And I love my God. Im glad to hear you are putting conference into practice. I dont have a ton of time right now but I promise to write you guys next week on how it went. I love you guys. Keep listening to the Spirit and I promise that tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among us.

Love you!!!

Hermana Tanuvasa

It's been a Magical week

So this week has been magical. seriously. The Lord has been with me every step of the way. So we have been struggling a bit in our area to find investigators that are actually progressing. Every one we were teaching has either disappeared, or doesn't want it, or whatever other reason. So we walk and walk and walk and knock doors and contact and beg for references and search and search. And results.... not many.

I was struggling, truly, and on top of that I realized that I still had not  overcome my weakness of not opening my mouth, when sometimes I should say something to help someone improve. Sometimes I'd prefer to suffer than hurt another persons feelings. But, Wednesday we had interviews with President.  They weren't anything crazy special but what I think happened was as I was able to open up and be honest with President, I was also able to be open with myself and recognize that I could do better. I could say how I truly felt.  Afterwards Hermana Gutierrez and I talked. Although it was a little painful for me and her, the Spirit guided my words and I was brave. In the end we set goals and we put our shoulders TOGETHER to the wheel a little bit harder. I then had 3 other opportunities to do other brave things that I would have never done at home. I can see the miracle that the Lord has worked in me. 

Family and friends, I am a personal and living testimony that the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His gospel are real and that they work when we put them to action in our lives. 

I want to testify of the message of Elder Bednar. 

Truly I received many answers to many questions, spoken and unspoken and I received lots of personal revelation.

However with Elder Bednar's talk, I was so excited from the beginning. I have been studying and trying to better understand what really means the word, "Sanctify" He spoke of the sanctifying power that the Holy Ghost has. I know that this is true. When we received the Holy Ghost at baptism, we received a companion that would drive us to choose the right, a companion that would correct us to refine us, a companion that would give us comfort when we need it, and a companion that would help us to change our weaknesses into strength. That is why it is sooo  vitally important that we always strive to have the spirit to be with us. I have felt so immensely the power of the Holy Ghost carrying me throughout this entire week. 

I know this gospel works in every way. 

I want to share two more experiences. 

One, we were teaching a girl named Claudia the other night. She is a strong Catholic and frequently attends church. However she accepted to listen to us. Well we explained baptism and she asked if her baptism was valid with the authority of her priest. We then in five minutes explained the Restoration and she appeared to understand. (Like the majority of people) So we asked her to pray and she accepted. Then we invited her to be baptized, and (like many others) she was taken aback and said she was Catholic, and that all the churches are good. Honestly when people start talking and explain priesthood authority it doesn't make much sense. Well I  felt the whisper, Perhaps shes afraid to change because of what she will lose. Imagining this, I saw that she would lose friends in her church. Perhaps her family, who are of the Catholic faith would be angry. Perhaps she would feel alone. 

So I began to speak. I testified that there is only one God. And only one Christ. Who established one church, that contains one authority, that teaches one doctrine and one way to obtain eternal life. I testified that she would have to change and perhaps it would be difficult. But that the blessings that can come from the one True God that lives and loves her, only fully exist in one place. And there was only one way to know. By asking Him. I then asked again that if she felt, when she asked, that this is the church of God, would she be baptized?

After a pause of thinking, she slowly nodded yes. And promised that she would ask. The power of the Spirit was so strong. I felt it work in me and I knew it was true. And so did Claudia. We will visit her again this week and I am so excited. (:

Two, a little shorter but stills means a lot to me. 

This morning we were heading out the door to go to the beach as a zone. We were halfway down the stairs from our room and the Spirit whispered, 'Bring your first aid kid'. Ive never done that and nothing has every happened. I paused and thought "No i have to go all the way upstairs" Stairs my worst enemy haha. But then again I thought, yesterday the apostles taught, just listen to the Spirit and act. So I ran up the stairs, huffing and puffing as I went and got my first aid kit. Later on the beach one of the Elders totally tripped and died on a rock and scraped up his arm, took off some of his toe nail and opened up his toe. It was a bloody mess and luckily I had my first aid kit. 

I know that the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts of God that we should treasure and seek to ALWAYS have with us. I testify that partaking of the sacrament is one way we can renew our covenant and more fully feel the Spirit in our lives. 

I love love love loved conference. I know that President Monson is our living prophet. I know He leads and guides us. Follow their words and BE HAPPY!!! For the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ lives and directs his living church on earth today. 

I hope everyone knows how much I love them. Don't forget it, but more importantly how much our Father in Heaven loves us. 

Hermana Tanuvasa