Lift someone :) May 25th 2015

So I was really exhausted this last week but it went by fast... but it also felt long. I feel like its all a blur now. Changing pdays really throws everything however it was a good week. just interesting.

My companion and i had to go to migration offices for her papers. We were there with missionaries from the east mission from 730 am until 130pm. that was a long day... we came home and went straight out with a member.... i was pooped.

We had english class this last week and its starting up nicely. We were teaching how to pray in english. My companion is learning really fast too. At night we almost completely speak in english. Shes going to be fluent by the end of her mission... thats the hope. :)

Sunday we finally got one of our investigators to come to church but we went to the wrong ward because he got there early! However, at least he came right? 

We had a family home evening with another family were working with and we brought another family with us and it went very well. Had another family home evening too with a family in our ward. We´re trying to leave with different members each week and just find people ready to receive the gospel. 

Im sorry my thoughts are scattered... I am tired ha. However, this is the best work ever. I know its true. I know it. 

very quickly i want to share this video

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/lift-the-power-of-service

its about 9 min long and really touching.

Service truly is key... I love the quote at the end. 

 Hope you all have a fantastic week and remember the bascis

pray

read your scriptures

and go to church.

 and try to serve someone today!

theyll help you! I love you all!

 

Hermana Hildman

Im sorry I am writing this a day late -May 19th 2015

So we changed our Pday to today so we could go to the zoo! The only day they close is justo on monday so we changed our pday to go today. It was actually really fun too. They have animals I have never seen. They had Rhinos, and hippos, lemures, camels, jaguars and just the way the zoo was set up was really cool. its basically ALL open... like the only ones really caged away were the lions, tigers and jaguars... and some birds of coarse but like everything else was really open. it was cool.

 

i saw red deer? i didnt know that existed. All kinds of cool animals from all over the world. I will try to send some pictures. 

 

This last week I did splits with the MTC. These hermanas are going to puerto rico and santiago... so not our mission dang. I went out with Hermana Gubler. I have never gone on splits with the MTC so it was interesting. It doesnt feel like its been that long since i left the MTC but it really has. Hermana Gubler was really excited but super nervous about leaving into the mission. Little nervous about speaking and didnt understand much. and I was like woah... I have come along way. However, it was good. Young missionaries have a special spirit... Greenie spirit. We get sent out here not really knowing anything but trusting all in God... and really Hes the only one that can help us in this work. 

 

We also had zone conference this last week and it was really good as well. One thing that really stood out to me was focusing on the Restoration. We as missionaries, im guilty, are so slow to get to the ´meat´of the message we carry: about Jose Smith and how the church has been restored. That there was apostasty etc. That really hit me. Because really it helps us also measure if they the people we visit are truly interested as well. Plus, the first vision brings such a strong spirit. I know that this church is true. I cant deny it and I will never deny it... and I want to be firm forever in the faith because i know that it truly brings us happiness... eternal happiness. I want to be with my family forever and I know it is possible through the restored gospel. Through those sagred covenants we make in the temple we can be sealed on earth and in heaven.

 

I know that this gospel is true and that heavenly father truly does love us. we go through trials but as we lean on Him... everything will be okay. Its just like a young tree growing. As we lean on that stick that helps us stay up straight we´ll make it and be strong as we keep looking up. I love you all and hope you all have a great week!!!

 

 

con mucho amor,

Hermana Hildman

Pictures April & May 2015

Mother's day weekend May 11th 2015

So this last week my old companion hermana Olsen.. well now its kaitlin olsen ha.

She came back to visit with her family and took the 6 of us out to eat. Hermana Martinez another hermana who lives with us was also her companion so it was cool to visit with her. We ate at Chilis. that was crazy. 

 Also yesterday, was an eventful day. One of our investigators Jose came to church again! He is a member of the 7 day adventist church. Hes really awesome and super sweet. 

I gave a talk and it went well... and then after church we were able to call/skype out moms. It was good. 

I feel like my weeks go by so fast. We're already halfway through the transfer. shoot. I love my companion Hermana Alas though, shes super sweet and is always serving me. 

I apologize from my scattered emails. This week was good. In my personal reading i am reading in Alma and reading about Alma and Amulek is so neat to read as a missionary. They had so much success but so many trials too. Missionary work is a hard but such a wonderful work. I love to be part of it. I have hard days but the good days are so good. I was able to focus much more in the work this last week. My days are getting closer but this is 4th quarter... this is where i need to work the hardest ever. Give it all I got. 

I love missionary work. I love the DR.

 

I know that Heavenly Father is always listening to your prayers... dont give up. Keep working hard. 

have a great week. i love you all! 

 

Hermana Hildman

Short but sweet - May 4th 2015

I am sorry that this email is going to be short. However it was a good week. We had a less active came to church on sunday named Pasqual. It was a big surprise. I guess he hasnt come in a very long time and he promised he would go. I didnt think he would though. And he did. He really is a sweet old man.

 I truly have a testimony of how divinely led the mission is. We are with certain companions, in certain areas, in specific times... there truly is no accident. Everything is so divinely led by Heavenly Father. Its tough to sometimes remember that but I know its true. Heavenly Father loves us and as we trust Him and serve Him by serving His children He uses us and transforms us into someone better, stronger...  

I love you all and know that you are all passing through your own personal struggles... but dont lose faith. Trust in Heavenly Father. He is truly there. He loves you. 

Have a great week!

con muchisimo amor,

Hermana Hildman

My first week in Quisqueya - April 27th 2015

Well its weird to be in the capital again. Its hotter too. So im getting a little more dark ha.

 

I love my new comp. hermana Alas is from El Salvador and is a sweetheart.

 

I am in a ward again so thats weird ha but I am excited. Where we live we are surround my members. Its like the mormon block. Its cool though. 

 

We work a lot in callejones which are like houses on top of other houses... more poorer. We have some solid people though and its cool. We had 3 investigators come to church. Church was relaxing didnt have to worry about teaching everything. One of my old MTC teachers is in my ward and she remembered me. I was her last group. Crazy.

 

Anyway, Im sorry my letter is all scattered but I had a good week. We are working hard and giving all our all. I live in house of 6 again and we all get along. what a blessing!

 

I kind of feel like im in america. I have a taco bell, burger king, wendys, krispy kreme, etc... all in walking distance. and i see a lot more cars and white people. I dont know if its preparation for going home... but its making me more sad as the weeks are getting closer to ending.

 

i truly love the DR and to be part of the marvilous work. I miss all of you but I know will miss all of this too. I will miss all the fresh fruit, the crazy loud music, colmados, sun, tranquility, the spirit from testifying, seeing peoples lives change...

 

I will really truly miss being a missionary. It has been such a wonderful pleasure to serve the Lord. I can testify that He lives and that truly this is His work. I have felt the Spirit testify through and to me. I know God loves us and despite all the hardships and loneliness we often feel... He is right there through it all. He cares so much for us and wants all the best for us. 

 

I love you all and hope you have a great week. 

 

con amor, 

hermana hildman 

Well I´m off to a new adventure April 20th 2015

So we received transfer calls and just as we suspected I am leaving dear San Juan. I am off to the capital, an area called Quisqueya. It´s a richer area than where i was before in the capital. Different work for sure. We will see how it wil be. My new companion is Hermana Alas and she just finished training. Shes from El Salvador I believe. I will let you all know next week. 

Saying goodbye to the Ramirez Sanchez family was tough. But it was a great sunday. They all attended church yesterday. Loriel in a white shirt and tie and has a calling now! Lorenzo is getting the priesthood! and Lorenny came. She will get baptized soon i know it. She knows its true. Yesterday we had exchanged gifts and they gave me and Hermana Kantoa gifts. I gave them some gifts as well and Lorenzo (the dad) said he wasnt going to open it. He said whenever he looks at it he´ll think of me. 

 

 I really love this family and its hard to say ¨see you later¨s . But change is part of the mission and I have learned to really appreciate them because without them i would never have gotten to know the people i have.

This last week of the transfer was a hard one but a refining one. I know Christ lives and that He suffered for us. We are never alone through our trails. Never ever. 

 I love you all and testify that this Christ´s church. Keep praying, keep working hard, and keep the commandments.

I love you all.

 

Have a great week!

 

con mucho amor,

Hermana Hildman

 

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and enviethnot, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easilyprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.    (Moroni 7:45)