Many Miracles.

    So this past Sunday we had a ward missionary activity! About 3 recent converts gave their testimonies! Two of those three were Cynthia and Carlos! I am always so amazed by them! They are truly trying to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They've both expressed the change in their lives since the day we started teaching them, and I cant help it, every time they talk I just have the biggest smile on my face. Their testimonies help me so much! There are so many people who are looking for the truth, they are looking for true Happiness, but they don't know where to find it! That's why I am here, serving a mission, trying to help those who the Lord has prepared to receive this restored Gospel. 

    There have been many miracles this week! We found this lady about a week ago, she was a referral from her neighbor. Her neighbor told us her name was Lorena so we knocked on her door and it turned out we met her already a couple of weeks ago! So now we are going to go back to the night we first meet her: She introduced herself as Maria. She said that she was just here visiting her cousin and that she was from mexico. We explained that there are missionaries all over the world that they could go by and visit her, she was a little reluctant, so instead she took down our number and told us she was going to call us. We knew we wouldn't ben getting a phone call, but we gave her a Joseph Smith pamphlet and invited her to pray. 

    Now we are  fast forwarding to the 2nd time we met her. We knocked on the door, asked if Lorena was home. It was her! Turns out Maria's real name is Lorena! Hahaha it was pretty funny! Although she lied to us we still found her again! She is super sweet! We didn't mention anything about the other night, but she did remember us! We had a short little lesson about prayer. It was great! She said that before we came she was really really sad, but once we got there she became really happy! That night we had a Relief Society activity and we asked her if she wanted to come. She was a little hesitant but we basically gave her no other option. She came with us and loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We knew that it wasn't a coincidence that we met her the first night, and that we found her again after! The lord works in mysterious ways! 

    I know that we are all children of our Heavenly Father, he loves us and wants the best for us, he knows us perfectly, and he wants us to return with him. But it is up to us. The only way we can return to live in his presence is through our obedience! There is a scripture in the bible John 14:15 and it says " If ye love me, keep my commandments" It may be hard but as we have faith, keep trying to do our best and be our best the Lord will help us and guide us! 

    So both my companions, Sister Rex & Benfield, are gone! The Lees came by the batallion to say goodbye. (pic below):(( By this time now, they are probably with their families and in jeans! weird! It was super sad seeing them go, but they have other missions now! I don't now who my new companion is yet! It's nerve wracking, I find out tomorrow! So this week was good, we had an awesome lesson with Lorena, (Carlos and Cynthia Lee came with us). They shared their testimonies on how they changed and how much this Gospel helped them! It was exactly what Lorena needed! Carlos shared an AWESOME scripture about having doubts, but as you have faith those doubts will be resolved; it was the perfect scripture! Lorena has a date to be baptized on April 19th!!

    Some funny things happened as well, we had lunch with some members yesterday. One of the sons, Christopher, asked if I was African American. That goes to show how tan I've gotten.  

    We also had a dinner appointment with the Lee family, Cynthia made mole verde, green mole, oh my goodness that was super gooood! Then our next appointment was with the Bahena family and they fed us pizza! I was soooo full I couldn't finish it! It was sooooo sad because I love pizza. 

    Miracles at the temple!!!!!! About once a week we get to walk around the Temple grounds and talk to everyone. So this guy comes and he is from China, so his English isn't good, and he says "I'm ready, I'm ready for your mission, I want to learn more" AMAZING!!!!! So we receive his information and gave it to the Sisters that speak Mandarin. He has a really hard name to pronounce but the english version of his name is horse, and his son about 2 years old is Swan. We were able to see him a couple of days ago and he is getting baptized! MIRACLES! 

    Also, a member who was visiting the temple gave us 40 bucks! Tender mercies because I had zero dollars to my name!!!

    I hope all is well in little Rhode Island! Every time someone asks where I'm from, they are all surprised! Haha it's fun seeing their reactions. 

    Since both my companions are gone that means that I will be "In charge" of the area, just because I now it and that scares me. So I really had to trust that the Lord will help me. I also had to realize that change is good. Sometimes we don't know why some things happen, but there is always a plan. We may not now why things happen, but we know that it will help us grow and be better.

-Hermana Recinos

Yek, Do, Se.

    Yek, Do, Se is one, two, three in Farsi! That's right, I learned some Farsi! I took these people from Iran on a tour the other day, and they taught me some Farsi! They were so awesome, they loved it! I love being at the Mormon Battalion so much, you meet so many people! A couple of weeks ago I met a man from Qatar, some people from Germany, also someone from Boston, which I was super happy to hear because I thought of everyone back home! Everytime I Tell people I'm from Rhode Island, they try to crack a joke like "Oh 1 out of the 5 people there" hahaha so funny! (but not really!)

    Anyways, someone on my tour had to write a paper on the history of Rhode Island and they told me some funny laws that they had before. One of them was something like, "Thou shalt not bite another mans leg" and "If you marry an Idiot than the marriage doesn't count" Good thing those laws where there huh..... There were some crazy laws back then. 

    This week we had Zone Conference! Mind Blowing! Basically about 2-4 Zones get together and the Mission President, his assistant, and his counselors talk to us and help us improve on some things. President Clayton talked about 19 evidences that prove that the Book of Mormon is true, it's the word of God. I will list them for you :

1. The speed at which the Book of Mormon was translated- 2 months 

2. Plausible History

3. Plausible Geography 

4. Volcanoes

5. Chasms

6. Metal Plates

7. Gorilla Warfare

8. Locations

9. Alma

10. Land of Jerusalem

11. Burying Record

12. Mosiah

13. Olives

14. Thieves & Robbers 

15. Simile Curse/Oath

16. Cognitive Accusative

17. Sidon & Tyre

18. Bible Quotes

19. Pseudepigrapha 

    Now you're probably thinking, what in the world are you talking about? Although we have all these evidences that the Book Of Mormon is in fact ancient writings of people who lived long before we did, they do not matter. The only evidence we need is the Holy Spirit testifying to us that it is true. So many people get caught up in the facts, in the little things, but when we ask God with a sincere heart then we will receive the BEST evidence that we need! I know that the Book of Mormon is true, that it was translated buy Joseph Smith by the power of God. It is our guide to help us so that one day we may return with our Heavenly Father. I know it has the power to change people's lives, but only if they let it. To all those who have a copy, read it, learn from it, and ask God if it is true. If you don't have one go to Mormon.org and have a free copy sent to you, then read it, learn from it, and ask God. 

Love you all! 

-Hermana Recinos

Baptism!

    The Lee's were baptized on March 8, 2014!!! Probably one of the best feelings ever! So the service was supposed to start at 6:30, but to Spanish people that are Mormons that actually means 7. so we didn't start till 7! We had a surprise guest there, our mission president, talk about intimidating! After the ordinance Cynthia and Carlos had the opportunity to give their testimonies, and it was great! They were so sincere, I might have teared up a little bit! They are the best! 
    Before the Baptism we had a temple shift, and boy was it hot that day! (hence my bad hair in the pictures) but we went to buy them a little gift. We bought them the Book of Mormon with pictures; they were so happy! On Sunday they were confirmed Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and were given the Gift of the Holy Ghost! Now we are helping Hannah, (the little girl by me) be prepared for baptism! Saturday was such a great day full of Miracles! 
    During our temple shift we met this Chinese man, not sure what his name in mandarin is, but the English translation is Horse. So he lives next to the temple and was walking with his son, he was so intrigued by the temple, he wants to learn more about the Church, and is ready! He kept saying "I'm Ready for your mission, call me, I'm ready." It's crazy how the Lord prepares people for us! We didn't even have to ask him if he wanted to learn more he told us to go to his house and teach him. We had to give him to the Mandarin Sisters, hopefully they see him soon! 
    The week went by so quickly because we are already on week 4 of the transfer, and there are 6 weeks in a transfer, so my companions will be leaving in 2 weeks! It's crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had Zone meeting, which means, all the missionaries in our Zone get together and we talk about things we can improve as a zone, so this is my zone! (pictured below) They are all great! It's a tradition that whoever is leaving this transfer has to give their testimony, so my companions, Sister Rex and Benfield, had to give theirs and I couldn't hold it in, I started to cry! I'm going to miss them so much! I'm freaking out because I don't know what i'm going to do when they leave? I will be in charge of the area and its very very stressful, but I know I can do it and I know the Lord will help me! 
    This week was great we met so many new people and we had so many lessons!!!!! Since we are in the Battalion half of our day we aren't in our areas, so that means less time teaching people, but we had about 19 lessons this past week, that's our record high! It was crazy awesome! 
    I'm learning so much here! Although it may be tiring and hard, I couldn't be happier. Seeing people change, seeing the blessings that come from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and seeing the Atonement of Jesus Christ help others, is what helps me wake up in the morning. We all have the responsibility to help others come closer to Christ, to build the kingdom of God on this earth, so lets get to work! There's no time to waste, that's what I've learned the most! We have such a limited time, and there's so much to do! I know that the Church that Jesus Christ established when he was on the Earth, is here once again, for the very last time. That the church has been restored by a Prophet called by God, whose name was Joseph Smith, and now today we have the fullness of his gospel, and the evidence is the Book of Mormon. As you read, ponder, and pray, you will know the truthfulness of this gospel because the Holy Spirit will testify to you that it is. My life has been so blessed because of this gospel! I know it, I live it, and I Love it! I'm a MORMON! 
-Hermana Recinos