'Murica

July 6, 2015

Hola todos!!! Happy Fourth of July... belated!!! 

Well this week was great. We witnessed a lot of miracles. One of which has a name. His name is Julio. He walked in one night to the church where I was doing nursing stuff and after that awkward when we realized he wasn't a member because he said he wanted to be baptized. We talked with him a little more and found out that he had met with elders and then the hermanas <sisters> but he was a minor and his family didn't want him to join the church. Now he is 19 and is really excited and wants to join. He had some interesting reasons when we asked him why. Such as wanting something to do, social life, and other things that didn't really line up. Because of this, we taught lesson three and REALLY focused on baptism and the purpose and what it truly means and what has to come first such as faith and repentance. He is really smart and educated and has some very good and thought-probing questions from the reading he has done. Such as 'why did it take the Lord so long to give the restored church back to the earth' and some others that I don't remember. He says he has prayed about it and received an answer. He has a fecha <date> for the 25th of Julio (coincidence that his name is also Julio?? maybe). 

Cecilia is at the back table
on the far right

Cecilia is doing great and we are going to have a noche de hogar <Family Home Evening> with her tonight, in fact, and she will be getting her baptismal interview this Wednesday or Saturday for her baptism on the 18th of Julio. She is so prepared and really loves the church and is very involved with the members. Not just with us as missionaries. Really, she is the greatest. I just love her. Then we also did a lot of good contacting. We also had a fun little adventure being a foster family to a new hermana that came. Her "mom" couldn't cross into Posadas because her passport is still in Asuncion. So we got the call to cross and be her foster mom and
sister for the day; which also meant I had the opportunity to give the nursing and sick training to the missionaries at orientation. It was a lot of fun and we have some great new missionaries entering the field. 

As for Carla, she is doing so much better. She is now the 1st counselor in the Young Women organization and she has come the last three Sundays and the last two for all three hours by herself without Guillermo (novio) <fiance'>. She is looking really happy and is doing a lot better and is doing the daily little things to gain and strengthen her testimony. We are also trying to meet with her a bit more often then before because we realized she was a lot weaker and tender than we had thought previously. She is just such a strong person it is hard to remember sometimes that this gospel is foreign, new, and very demanding at times. But she is adjusting and finding her strength little by little.  

As for me, I did a good bit of soul searching this last weekend and have been praying a lot to have my weaknesses shown to me (scary idea) and, man, did I receive a loud and clear and surprising answer. Pride. Who knew? I just thought I was confident, but I was shown that there is a fine line and I truly need to be humbling myself before the Lord to receive and have His divine guidance and support. I know that the Lord can help us as we humble ourselves before him. One of my favorite scriptures about this is in Ether 12:27!! Just recently memorized it!! It is a great one! Remember that all weaknesses can be made into strengths as we come unto our Savior and allow him to make us what HE wants us to be! 

Well, I think that is about everything! I love you all and hope you have a great week and remember that the Lord is there and loves you as well. You are never alone when you remember who your best friend is. 

Funny story: We visited an hermana who always has a fish out on her counter in its bowl. My comp noticed that the fish was missing so I asked the hermana about it. She told me it was at the vet. I thought that was kind of weird until I saw her give the sign of slashing her finger across her neck to show it was actually dead. She is going to go "pick it up later" so that her son doesn't know that his fish died because it was so cold. Oh the funny parenting stories. Made us a giggle. 

Chao,

Hermana Albach

Happy 4th America!!

Enfermera down!!!!!!!

June 29, 2015
<Nurse down!!!!>

Hola mis queridos!! I don't have a lot of time for reals this week. So good thing not much happened... Due to the fact that my body is usually known for it super human abilities to resist disease, sickness, and anything that leaves it less than incredible!  ;) But when it does succumb it dies hard. It all started Wednesday. I woke up with a scratchy throat and from there I just died from Thursday to Sunday. We were able to go out for just a little bit Friday and Saturday and I can testify that what I learned this week is that I am nothing in this work. It is truly the work of the Lord and He can do it with or without me. I just have the privilege to have a part. 

We were able to see Carla and Cecilia at church without going to get either of them. Cecilia is still on date for the 18th and is SO READY! She even told us she is putting aside time every day for "Mormon" (El Libro De Mormon). It is so awesome. Carla is getting stronger again and we are still on the continual search for more. Today were transfers and am I STAYING and finishing training Hermana Bernal!! Hooray! 6 months here and going strong! I love this area and know I have grown so much and will continue to grow and be stretched. The scripture for this week is in Alma 62:48-51. We must ALWAYS remember the Lord in our lives and his part. He is so important and as we remember him and turn to him we will continue to be blessed eternally and prosper! 

Love you,

Hermana Albach

Setenta...

June 1, 2015

Bueno. I have like no time. But highlights of the week:

We had a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, first quorum, Elder Vinas come and visit us and talk with us. It was great and really inspiring. I learned a LOT! There was a real embarrassing moment when I tried to sit next to him because I thought people were afraid to for the picture but really it was just the spot for Pte. LaPierre and his wife. Hashtag: AWKWARD! But hey, made others laugh so that is good! 

This week was a bunch of nursing catastrophes so my poor comp got a lot of studying time in for her Spanish while I did a lot of middle man emailing work. Oh the joys!! But everyone is still living so I think that is a success!! We had a great contact and lesson with a lady named Dora...yes, like Dora, the Explorer...but we haven't heard anything since. We will try again in a week or two!! I'm stubborn! We are going to start teaching classes of Ingles <English> to get more members to bring friends and people we could possibly teach. Should be fun!! Starts this Wednesday!! Woohoo!! 

I got to throw a football for the first time in 9 months today and it was marvelous! (Shoutout to my uncles....the elders playing volleyball all stopped when they saw me throw!! They were like...she throws like a guy!! Your lessons payed off!! Gracias) Ate strawberries and cream for the first time in a long time and about died. 

Overall Encarnacion has its perks! I am loving the work. I am loving my Savior more and I am finding out why I am here each day more. Yesterday, I was a little homesick...just a little :) and I was so comforted in my personal study when the Lord answered my prayer as I read the talk on Being Genuine by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He said, "I am here because I desire with all my heart to follow my Master, Jesus Christ. I yearn to do all that HE ask of me in this great cause. I hunger to be edified by the Holy Spirit and hear the voice of God as He speaks through his ordained servants. I am her to become a better man (woman), to be lifted by the inspiring examples of my brothers and sisters in Christ and to learn how to more effectively administer to those in need. In short, I am here because I love my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ." This is exactly what I needed to read and remember. This is exactly what and why I am here in the mission doing what I do everyday....why are you here?

Love you and hope that this th

ought helped you as much as it helped me.

Love you all,

Hermana Albach

Work is the Cure to All

June 8, 2015

Hey everybody,

I really have no time at all but I wanted/needed to get this email off and let you all know that work and service is truly what brings us happiness. This week was a bit of a struggle for me in a number of different ways but I found that as I worked and turned outward I was able to combat and overcome what I was struggling with. It was after the 'trial' of my faith that I was then able to see the Lord's hand in my life and see the miracles. We have a investigator Cecilia that came to church and was treated so great by the youth and members. We also now have another investigator Miguel with a baptismal date. We are very excited for both. I know that as we make goals and plans and bring them to the Lord and ask for his help. He WILL answer, and He WILL help as we do our part to hasten the work. Truly we develop the faith to do this through consistent obedience after which we are worthy to receive the GIFT of faith that God is willing to give. 

9 months out... 9 months to go

Read Faith in Christ: Kevin Pearson's General Conference 2009, I believe. I love you all and will be sending my Happy Hump Day pictures next week to celebrate! Remember that is is only by following and accepting the Lord' will and plan for us that we can truly find and have true happiness and peace in this life. 

I love you all and you are in my prayers. Also, a scripture to remind you of the duty of the members is in Alma 23:4-5. Ammon and Aaron were successful after teaching the members to do the work. From there they were able to convert thousands of souls!! Pretty incredible testament of the importance that each and everyone of us as members of this incredible gospel has!!

Oh Kate! - Hump Day traditions

Love,

hermana albach

Hashtag: Feelin' 23

June 23, 2015

Hola mis queridos!!!

<Hello my beloveds>

Chipa! For birthdays

This week was craziness. Cecilia is still progressing and actually came to noche de rama <Family Home Evening>, Father's Day dinner, and went and did a service project with the youth on Saturday!! Greatest feeling in the world. Especially when she comes even when we don't go to get her and it is IN THE RAIN!! People, that means real dedication here! No one leaves in the rain. No one. We are excited.

We also have been really searching so that we can reach the new mission goal and standard of excellence of ten new investigators a week. This means we are now resorting to contacting in apartment buildings. To some of you this may seem weird that it is a last resort and more of a question as to why we weren't doing it before. Usually in other places living in an apartment means a little more poor and less well off which sometimes translates to humble and ready to hear and receive. Well, here if you have an apartment you are pretty well off and rich. But we have had some good contacts so we will see how that goes. 

Hermana Delgado

The cake...not sure what it was made of.

Oh yeah and I turned the big ol´ 23. I made some no bake cookies to celebrate the night before, I treated myself and didn't do Jillian Michaels and ate french toast instead. Hashtag fatty life. Hahaha. Then we had our weekly planning. Great stuff. Then an awesome birthday lunch with the familia Delgado. It was awesome. They even made me a cake that is on top of an upside down pan. The people here are incredible. I love them. 

Birthday surprise from
the Elders

Then our Elders that share our area bought me dinner, a cake, and made me a really cool scroll card. Overall, one of the most memorable birthdays by far and really awesome because we found cute
little Carmen to visit. 

Honestly, the greatest birthday gift is realizing that the mission has, is, and will continually be changing me into the person the Lord needs me to be. I am so grateful for this gift of serving a mission and seeing what this gospel and a knowledge of our Savior can do. One word. CHANGE! Experience it, seek it, and be grateful for it in your own lives. It is truly one of the most precious gifts we have is the ability to change. Animals can't really, we as humans through the power of the atonement are the only ones that can truly work to change our nature and make it every so slowly more aligned and like our Father in Heavens. It is incredible. So if you haven't started, start the journeynow. It is so very simple. Read. Pray. Go to church and strive to come to know your Savior.

Love you all so very much,

Hermana Albach