Best Christmas Ever!

   So remember how I said that my companion and I were going to be able to eat with the mission presidents and their wives, there was another surprise!! After everyone gathered (24 missionaries) into the place where we were going to eat someone else walked through the door.......ELDER BEDNAR!!!!! I was speechless, i still am! There were about 8 tables, so I wasn't sitting at his table but after everyone ate,  he talked to us and lets us ask him questions. He was literally two feet away from me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He looked right into my eyes, oh man that was intimidating. He is so amazing and wise and very blunt. For those who are reading this email and don't know who this is, he's basically like a rock star to us LDS members. (look him up! lds.org)

    Here's something he taught us: 

        1. To get over ourselves: The mission isn't for our benefit, its for others. Our purpose is to invite OTHERS to come unto Christ... He said that he's met many missionaries that complain about how hard they are working, and how they're obedient and following all the rules and they aren't having success. Success comes when we invite. 

        2. We need to ACT and not be acted upon. We show our faith when we act. 

        3. The atonement of Jesus Christ is for EVERYONE. For the sinners and the saints. He told us that the atonement gives us the chance to repent of our sins but it's also there to strengthen us, enrich us, and enlarge us. With the help of the lord we gain capacity and skills to accomplish what we are called to do. Whether it is the president of the Relief Society, chorister, Bishop, greeter, or just a member, we all have a responsibility and with the help of the lord we can go above and beyond what is expected of us. This applies to everyone!

        4. Discouragement is the tool of the adversary! Lately I've been feeling a sense of inadequacy; that i don't have what it takes to be a good missionary. I don't know most scriptures by memory, and I don''t have all the answers, but what Elder Bednar said really hit home for me. He said that even HE doesn't have all the qualifications to be an Apostle but the Lord helps him and strengthens him. When we turn to God he will lift us up and help us!

        5. Remember who we are: We are children of our Heavenly Father, He loves us and wants us to be like him and return to him. 

        6. We need to turn out, forget about ourselves and focus on others. When we lose ourselves in HIS work we find ourselves after!

   It was such a blessing to be able to hear the counsel of one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. He was called by God to help us in these latter days. 

   So after lunch there was a devotional and all the missionaries in the MTC would hear from Elder Bednar. Instead of everyone hearing him talk he did things a little differently. They passed out about 200 cell phones and he gave us a specific number we could text to and ask questions that would send the messages directly to his ipad! Isn't that cool!!!? It was awesome, I learned so much! I am amazed that he always had the perfect answer to every question! He is an amazing person and there's no wonder why he's an Apostle.

   We wanted to take a picture with him but we couldn't, but that's okay it was still a great experience! Probably once in a life time experience!

   So my companion leaves tomorrow. I'm super sad but so excited for her; I know she is going to be great!!! Most of the people of my district are leaving too.

   I have some good news. So since i will be serving in the Mormon Battalion for our training we get to go to temple square to practice!!! I cant wait!!!  As much as I love the MTC, I really want to be out in the field!!! So we have what's called "TRC Training" basically people come and volunteer to be our "investigators". But this time we had to teach our investigator as a member, which she was. She told us about herself, how she's divorced and has a daughter and she told us about all her troubles. With the help of the Holy Ghost we were able to touch her heart, reminder that our Heavenly Father is always there for us no matter what. I shared my favorite scripture which is in D&C 88:126. 

"Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen."
 
"Orad siempre para que no desmayéis, hasta que yo venga. He aquí, vendré presto y os tomaré para mí. Amén."

She started to cry, we each shared our testimony and it was the best feeling ever!!! I love helping others!!! I can't wait to get to California! 

   So I got fitted for my outfit for the Mormon Battalion!!!! I love the dresses! We will have 2 dresses and a skirt and shirt outfit! AGH! Jan. 7th can't come any faster!!!!! 

   I love you all and miss you so much and hope you have a happy new year!!!! Shout-out to Cynthia Morales, Happy Birthday!!! 

-Hermana Recinos

First week at MTC!

         I can't believe it's almost been a week!!!! The first day at the MTC was crazy! Everything was thrown at me, and i couldn't really process it all! We had orientation, we got to meet our teachers. We met with the presidents of the MTC. They are amazing! People say that Disneyland is the best place in the world, but that's because they've never been to the MTC! The first couple of days here have passed soooo slow! Waking up at 5 am is a lot harder. So basically all we do is have class, study, eat, and study more!!!! Sometimes its hard to study just because we are studying most of the time, so my district likes to fool around and make jokes once in a while! They are the best!
         My companion is amazing! Her name is Hermana Caceres, she's from Chile! She knows David Archuleta! Crazy right? Guess where she is serving!!!!!!!!!! BOSTON MASS MISSION SPANISH SPEAKING! thats right she's headed your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If she goes to our ward make sure you get to know her and feed her! She's truly an amazing person! Shes a recent convert, got baptized about 2 years ago!!!!! isnt that amazing! she's been a member for only 2 years, but she has such a strong testimony and spirit! she is such a great example! I love her! We get along so well, and shes helping me with my spanish! im getting better! ill try and write to you all in spanish, one day.
         The MTC is such an amazing place! The spirit is so strong! I've learned so much! Our teachers and leaders are truly amazing and inspirational. One of the members in our branch residency, his name is Brother Niellson, gave our district kind of a pep talk. He talked about Samuel the Lamanite and how we need to STAND ON THE WALL. My goal is to be brave, trust in the the lord and know that he will guide me, and be willing to stand on the wall. There's more to the story but i dont have much time to write.
         I love you all and miss you! I think about you daily and wish you were here with me so that you could feel the spirit. Im re-learning things that i already know, but when the spirit teaches you its a whole different experience! My challenge to you all is to truly try your hardest to convert yourselves to the gospel. Read and pray daily so that the spirit can testify to you the truthfulness of this gospel. Live and love the gospel! 
     Send me letters! ill give you my address in-case you dont have it! 
                                                      HermanaVanessa Alejandra Recinos
Jan 07 CA-SD
2023 N 900 E UNIT #581
Provo, Utah 84062

If anyone wants letters please send your address to vanessa.recinos@myldsmail.net

Love and miss you! Hermana Recinos!
       
The first pic is of me and my companion, and the second is all the people that i know that are going to San Diego! 

Hasta La Vista Baby!!

My name is Vanessa Recinos, I am 19 years old and in about 6 days I will be leaving to serve a full time mission (18 months) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been assigned to labor in the California San Diego Mission, in addition to that I will be serving in the Mormon Battalion Historic Site. I'm super excited and scared to go, but I know that it will be an amazing experience regardless of what happens. I love this gospel and am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to serve and help others like the missionaries have helped me. I grew up in the church, was baptized at the age of 8, by one of my best friends, Scott Eagleston, (side note: any single 20-30 old women, he's single and ready to mingle)(He's going to kill me for writing this, but oh well :)) Anyways, I didn't always want to go on a mission, I thought that I didn't know enough or that I didn't have a strong enough testimony, but with the help of my friends and family members I realized that I don't have to have a perfect knowledge of things, all I need is faith. All I need to do is trust in the Lord, try my best, and let him mold me into the person that he wants me to be.

These past weeks have been the fastest, yet the slowest (if that make sense) weeks in my life. I've had moments where I would wish I was already on my mission, but other times, I would think "oh my, I'm leaving soon and I'm no where ready".
6 days! in 6 days I leave behind my family, friends, music, shows, movies, my phone, basically any and all connections to the world and dedicate 110% of myself to the lord! AGH!
Words can describe what I'm feeling.
I think I have everything I need, but I'm sure once I'm on my mission theres going to be something that I need. I started packing today! I noticed that I have a lot more clothes than I thought! Which is good, the more the merrier!!
Speaking about merry, Christmas is coming up soon!!! Unfortunately, I won't be home for Christmas, but I will be in the MTC (for those who don't know, it is the Missionary Training Center). Many people have told me that it is amazing to be there for Christmas. I guess I'll have to wait and see!!
Anyways, my emails will be posted here, along with pictures! I hope that I can hear from everyone! Tell me about your lives, bf/gf, school, kids, etc. You can email me or write me!
Email: vanessa.recinos@myldsmail.net
Address: Don't have it yet, but once I get it, ill post it here or on Facebook.

Love,
 Soon to be Hermana Recinos!

The Family