Week 44 - Loving Life

Hello all of my lovely people!

Okay, so I think I just had the BEST day of my whole mission yesterday! I am so happy right now. So first of all, the ''Super Cambio'' of 8 weeks ended on Sunday. Hermana Martos and I are staying together here in San Juan, Whoohooo!!!! She is so fun, we're pretty much the same person but she's the Peruvian version and I'm the American one. Haha it's great :)

So here's the amazing story. Last Wednesday, we had a training with Elder Carlos Godoy and it was amazing! I learned a lot of great stuff. That afternoon, we were walking down the street and we saw a family--a husband, wife, and their son. My companion pulled out a little card with Christ on it and we gave it to them. Jennifer, the wife, was very interested. Her husband Oscar wasn't super interested, but he didn't reject us either, so that was good. Their son, Joshua, was just a happy little boy! I told Jennifer I liked her shirt and she was like ''I like your eyes!'' Haha the people here aren't used to hazel eyes :) Anyway, we tried to visit them on Sunday but they weren't home. On Sunday night, we went to bed and I was saying my prayers. I asked a special blessing to my Heavenly Father that He would help us find a family this week that is ready to be baptized in this cambio. I didn't know if it would be Jennifer and Oscar or another family, but I was willing to do whatever it takes to find this chosen family. I have already seen so many amazing miracles here, so I knew God would work more miracles. Well, yesterday morning, we went back to the house ofJennifer and Oscar. Jennifer came out and was really happy to see us. She asked us to come back in the afternoon so we could teach her and her husband together. She told us she wanted something to help her family come closer to God. It was a perfect situation :)

I was super excited all day to be able go visit them. We got to their house yesterday in the afternoon and they let us in. We started talking and getting to know them and began to teach the Restoration of the Gospel. They understood everything and they were both super receptive! When I invited them to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, Jennifer was like ''Of course! How are we not going to read it?'' It was like there was no other option for her. We told them how we felt that God had sent us there and everything. Jennifer said that the day we talked to them in the street, she had been praying for something that would help her marriage and family be stronger. Isn't it amazing how God works? He had every little thing planned out so that we could find them and talk to them in the street and find their house (it's pretty hidden and hard to find), but He made it all happen. I am just blown away by how perfect He is and this amazing miracle we have. 

I keep crying of complete joy for all that has happened. I cannot believe how amazing my Heavenly Father is. I was reading my mission calling yesterday and there's a part that says ''Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.'' I know that this promise is true. I have never been more happy in my whole life. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Well, that's my happy story :) I hope you all can find complete joy this week! I love you all!!!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

2 Nefi 27:23

P.S. Funny/really sad story: In Sunday School the other day, there was a bird that came into the room. It was flying back and forth from these little windows near the ceiling, but it couldn't find a way out (even though it was right next to the window!). Unfortunately, there are two ceiling fans in the room that were turned on and no one thought to turn them off. After flying back a forth a few times, the bird flew into the ceiling fan and feathers began flying around the room. The bird was on the ground, still alive, but its chest had been cut open. Someone picked it up and took it outside and told us later that it had died. One member said that it was a sign that the Holy Ghost had died in our class and my companion said it was our only investigator in church that day. Haha it was pretty sad... pobrecito. 

Week 43 - I'm officially 20!

Hello everyone!

Thank you sooooo much for the emails and letters and everything that you have sent to wish me a Happy Birthday. It was a wonderful day! Yesterday was elections day in Peru, so things were a little crazy. Here in Peru, it's mandatory to vote and it's against the law to hold any kind of reunion that day. So we didn't have our meetings in the church yesterday and we had to be in our houses at 7:30 pm to protect us from whatever crazy things might happen. They also gave us permission to sleep with other companionships to be in a safter area. Well, our area is full of schools and other places where they do voting, so we had permission to sleep with the sisters in the Jardin ward and the sisters from the Armonia ward came too. So last night, we just had a big slumber party with 6 sisters! It was so fun :) My companion made salchipapas (french fries and hotdogs). I also ate a lot of cake yesterday from the amazing members here. It was a great day!!!

So last week, I (finally) finished the Book of Mormon in English. I'm still working on it in Spanish. But I was able to strengthen my testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon. Honestly, in those moments when we feel down or depressed and we just want to feel God's love for us, all we need to do is open that sacred book and light will flow out of it. There are times when I just don't know what to do as a missionary to find new investigators or help them progress. Well I always am able to find those answers in the Book of Mormon. It truly changes lives. 

I hope you all make an extra effort this week to strenghten your testimony of the Book of Mormon. One of the best ways to do that is to share what you know! I hope you have wonderful experiences with it. I love you all so so so much and thanks again for all of your love and support! Que tengan una bonita semana :)

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 42 - Conferencia General 2

Hello Everyone! 

How are you doing? I hope you all enjoyed conference as much as I did. It was the best weekend ever! 

I really enjoyed President Uchtdorf's talk about how Christ can help us rebuild our lives. As he spoke, I thought of this couple we are teaching. Rudy and Yolanda are a young couple that we found a couple of weeks ago. We found Rudy one day when he was sitting outside his door, with sadness in his eyes and we knew we had to talk to them. We have only taught them once because it's been a little hard to find them. Anyway, Yolanda has 4 or 5 kids, almost all of them are from different partners. Rudy just moved in with her a few months ago. Last Sunday, we went to knock on the door and Yolanda's sister and partner were there, drunk, and said that Rudy wasn't there. We walked away (the house had a strong scent of alcohol) when Yolanda yelled out ''Hermanas!'' We went back and she said that Rudy didn't want to come out (I think he was embarrassed for being drunk), and told us to come back another day. We still haven't been able to find them again, but I know we will in God's time. I just want them to know the hope they can have through their Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful for this restored gospel in our lives. I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and I know that Christ is at the head of this, His church. I know that He lives and loves us. He knows each one of you and is there to lift you up. Just trust Him. Do what He asks of you and you will feel His precious love. 

I love you all soooo much and I hope you are able to apply everything you've learned in conference. Have a wonderful week and remember you are a loved child of God! 

Love, Hermana Winward :)

P.S. Lima is getting a new temple! Woohoo!!!!!!! :)

Week 41 - I love being a missonary!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

How are you all doing? I hope things are going great! This week has been absolutely wonderful. Andrea and Alexandrea were baptized on Saturday! It was a beautiful moment. I love them both so much!!! They are so strong. On Sunday, their whole family came to church! Their mom, Sonia, got baptized about a month ago and her son Diego has been coming. He's 8 years old. Sonia's husband Hernan and her brother Eduardo also came yesterday. It was so great!

Well, pictures say more than words do, so I'll just send more pictures! 

Have an amazing week! I love you all so much! Remember that Christ lives!!!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 40 - And then there were two...

Hey Everyone!

How's it going? I hope all is great! This week has been pretty crazy! On Saturday morning, we received a call from President McGinn. He wanted to talk to Hermana Leon and we thought that maybe her visa had come and she was going to go to her mission in California. But she had an emergency transfer to Cañete! She went there with Hermana Jara because her companion had been sick and was going to go home. It was really sad because Hna Leon, Hna Martos and I have gotten really close in the one week we were together! 

In other news, we have two baptisms coming up this Saturday! Alexandra and Andrea, the daughters of Sonia are getting baptized! I am so excited and happy for them. I remember the first time I met them and they were both kind of hard-hearted, but now they have changed a lot. They are so excited. Andrea keeps saying she feels like it's her wedding day and she's getting married to Jesus...haha. She's a funny person :) 

Funny story: Last monday all of the hermanas went to the new mall that opened in our area. It's called Mall del Sur and they've been working on it for forever! So we all decided to go last week. We were in search for the food court. We had to go all the way to the 4th floor to find out that they've barely even started building the food court! It was a big disappointment but a really fun adventure :) 

I really hope you are all doing wonderful! Stay strong and remember that there is always someone who knows how you feel and that is Jesus Christ. He is our light and life! 

Have the best week ever!!! I love you sooooo much!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 39 - Oh, we're halfway there...

Hello everyone!

So, can you believe it? On Wednesday I will have 9 months in the mission!!! WHAT?! The time passes waaaaaaay too fast. I'm just barely getting a hang of things. But I'm glad I still have 9 months (and two weeks) to keep learning and improving. Being a missionary is the BEST thing in the whole entire world!

This week we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in a ''Face to Face'' activity for the YSA, and from Elder Lynn G. Robbins from the presidency of the Seventy. He came and spoke to all of the missionaries in all of Lima. He spoke a lot about developing Christlike attributes and how it prepares us for marriage. Then he came to our Stake Conference we had this weekend. So I was able to learn a lot of great things from him this week! 

Oh and I have some exciting news! Hermana Leon and I gained a new companion! Haha, now we are in a trio with Hermana Martos from Trujillo, Peru! It is the best thing ever! It's kind of different at times, but it's nice. Hermana Martos was in the CCM with me, so she has some time in the mission. I learn so much from her everyday! Also, guess what's funny? All of our birthdays are in April! Mine is the 10th (yes, you still have time to send me something...hahah just kidding ;) ), Hna Leon's is the 12th and Hna Martos' is the 17th!!!

Well, in other news, we have our investigator Andrea who will be getting baptized on the 26th. She is so cute. Now we are just trying to find more and more people to teach so they can all be baptized! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember how much God loves you!!! That love will never go away. Stay strong!!!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 38 - A week of Revelation

Buenas Tardes! 

How are you all doing? I hope work and school and everything is going great! You are all amazing people and I love you so much!

So the most exciting thing that happened this week was teaching Alexandra and Andrea, the daughters of Sonia who got baptized two weeks ago. They are both super great and want to be baptized as well. We are helping them get ready for their baptism on March 26th. Haha, I decided 26 was my lucky number because Giorgino was baptized September 26th, Araceli on December 26th and now Alexandra and Andrea in March! 

Helping others come unto Christ and be baptized is the most amazing process I have ever experienced. I never expected to receive such great joy in preaching the gospel and helping others come unto Him. This week in our zone meeting, we watched this video called ''Missionary Work and the Atonement'' from a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland. I invite everyone to go watch it. I am so grateful for this opportunity to experience just a little tiny part of what the Savior did. Yesterday, we walked in the hot afternoon sun for two or three hours, looking for less actives (lost sheep) in our area. I was so happy to do that because I was able to appreciate even more what Christ did for me and does for me everytime I lose my way. The things I do as a missionary are just small tokens of my overwhelming sense of gratitude I have for Him. I could never do enough to repay Him. But I will do everything He asks of me with a smile on my face and love in my heart.

I love this gospel. I know it is true. I am so blessed and lucky to experience the things I am experiencing. I pray that you all have an opportunity to bring someone closer to Christ this week. Even if it's just a little message or smile, we can all do something to bring more souls unto Him so that He can heal them. 

I love you all so much and I am grateful for your examples and firmness in following Christ. Stay strong and keep smiling!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

P.S. This week, we get to hear from Elder Holland (Face to Face for YSA), and Elder Lynn G. Robbins (TWICE!) so I'll let you know how that goes next week ;)

Week 37

Hello Everyone!

How are you all doing? Things are going so great here in San Juan with Hermana León! She is amazing! Haha I feel like she's the one training me, she is just so smart! We work really well together. And guess what? We had another baptism on Saturday! Alondra (10) and Celina (8) were baptized on Saturday night. Their dad is a less-active member and their mom is investigating the church. They aren't married, but their daughters come to church every sunday with their aunt. Yesterday we had a lesson with the whole family and read ''The Family: A Proclamation to the World''. It was really good! 

Everything else is going great! We witnessed a million miracles yesterday. I have been learning so much that as we have faith and put trust in the Lord, He will work miracles in our life. I have also been learning a lot about how the Atonement can help us turn our weaknesses into strengths. There's a really good talk in the Liahona from last year that talks about this. I know that I am weak and there are so many things I can't do, but I have the Savior on my side! He makes up for all my weaknesses. His grace makes me strong!

I hope you all can learn and apply something new from the Atonement this week. It is universal and you can never overuse it. I love you all with my whole heart! Have a wonderful week :)

Love, Hermana Winward :)

2 Corinthians 12:10

Week 36 - I'm a mom...again!

Buenas Tardes todos!

Como estan? Espero que muy bien :) Haha my Spanish still isn't that great, but it's getting there! So we had cambios this week! By the way, this cambio is going to be 8 weeks long, so it will end in April because they're changing the time in the MTC for those not learning a new language. Anywho, I thought Hermana Trejo would just stay here with me in San Juan, but they changed her to Cañete! I was really jealous but mostly excited for her to go there! Haha. And they told me that I would be training again!!! WHOOHOO!!! So I went to the office yesterday and we had our little meeting for everyone training and then we met our new companions. My new companion is Hermana Leon! She is from Trujillo/Chiclayo, Peru (her family moves a lot for her dad's work). Her mission is actully going to be California Sacramento, but she is waiting for her visa. She didn't even go to the MTC, she's just starting right here, right now! But she is absolutely amazing!!! She knows SO much already. I don't even feel like I have to train her because she's just perfect. But it will be super fun to learn from her and I'm going to teach her English and she's going to teach me Spanish and it will be perfect! I am super excited to be working with her.

So on Saturday, Sonia got baptized! It was so amazing! The Spirit was so strong during the meeting. She is going to be such a strong member of Christ's church. And now we are working with her daughters and husband so that they can get baptized too! Her husband was so happy on Saturday. They are going to be an eternal family :)

Well I hope all is going well in nice, cold Utah (or wherever you are)! I'll just say that I regret wanting this hot weather...hahaha. I have never sweated so much in my entire life! And I am so glad none of you are here to witness it. So enjoy the snow for me :) Have an amazing week! Remember that to God, all things are spiritual.

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Hebrews 4:16

Week 35 - Hope of Israel

Hey Everyone!

Time keeps flying by...Tomorrow will be 8 months on the mission. I just love being a missionary and I never want the time to end! 

This week was pretty good, not a lot has happened. We've been struggling to find new investigators, but yesterday we found two. They are both men who are from part-member families. One is named Jose and he was sharing what he wants for his family and everything he said went exactly with what we teach in the church. I am so excited to start working with him. The other was named Carlos and his kids are members, but less active. He said he has his own way of thinking and living and basically that he didn't need religion, but then he said that one day he will change. And I'm just praying that that day is today! :)

This Saturday, Hermana Sonia is getting baptized! She has been through so much, but she is one of the strongest women ever. She's already sharing the gospel with everyone she sees. She carries her Book of Mormon and all the little pamphlets with her all the time. I love it!!! 

I hope you are all doing wonderful. Happy Valentines Day!!! I love you all with my whole heart :) Have an amazing week and keep sharing the love of God with everyone! 

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 34 - ''Como esta?'' ''Trabajando'' :)

Hey Everyone!!!

How are you all doing? I hope everyone has had an amazing week! We have had a busy week full of a lot of work. I love being here and love being a missionary. It is the best thing ever!!!

So to start off, guess what I got to do on Thursday? Go to the temple!!! We all went to the Lima temple as a zone and it was so special. I LOVE the temple. I love being inside and feeling complete peace in my heart. If you haven't gone to the temple lately, GO! I promise you will feel God's love there.

Numero dos: so....for the first time in my life, I saw someone die. We went to sing hymns to this old lady once like a month ago. This week, her daughter told us she wasn't doing very good and wanted us to come sing again. Well, as we went I was just thinking ''I hope she doesn't pass away when we sing to her...'' and that's exactly what happened. Her name was Lorea and she was at least 90 years old. She passed away while we were singing ''Divina Luz'' (Lead Kindly Light), which is my favorite hymn in espanol. It was a very unique and special moment.

And to finish it all off, yesterday our investigator Sonia had her interview with the District Leader and it went very well! She will be getting baptized on February 20th! She is sooo excited. It has been amazing to see the change in her. When we first started teaching her, she was very hopeless. Now she has more hope and light in her life. She is going to be a powerful member of this church for the rest of her life! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Find some way to take part in the amazing work. We need to keep working hard and work together to keep God's plan going! I love you all with my whole heart! Tengan una buena semana :)

Con mucho amor, Hermana Winward :)

Week 33: I love the Atonement

Hey Everyone!

How are you all doing? This week has been so great! We've been witnessing so many miracles lately, it's amazing. 

We have been teaching this young less active brother named Editson. Last month, his wife left him and took their four kids with her to Chiclayo. He's been super depressed and it was really sad. A couple of weeks ago, his wife came back with all their kids for their cousin's wedding. My companion wanted to have a lesson with them and talk about ''The Family'' promclamation. It was really awkward at first because they were having marriage problems and I didn't want to get involved in it. But then we started talking about repentance. I shared Alma 36 with Editson and we invited him to repent and do what he could to change. Well, this week, we met with him and everything was so different. He said his wife left him again but she left all the kids with him. But he had talked to the bishop and done what he needed. He said on the inside, he was completely destroyed because he loves his wife and just wanted her back. But he said he was happy because he put his complete trust in God and knew that he had been forgiven. A couple of days after that, we were near his house and we ran into him. He had an Inca Kola (soda) in his hand and he told us it was for his wife. She had come back! We were so surprised and so happy. We wanted to just hug him, but we couldn't so we hugged each other! That night, we saw them together going on a walk and holding hands. Then they all came to church together yesterday. They are just so special!!! I love it! Tonight we are going to have a Family Home Evening with them and talk about being sealed in the temple. They are an amazing family and I have been so blessed to witness how the Atonement can heal their marriage.

I hope you all search for the healing power of the Atonement this week. It is the greatest power we have on this earth. I love you all so much. Stay faithful and true!!!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 32 - Repentance and Baptism

Buenos Dias!

How is everyone doing? I am doing great! I love being a missionary! This week, we had a worldwide training for all the missionaries. They talked a lot about repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. The day after the training, we had interviews with President McGinn and he talked to me about how we need to be baptizing more. So with all of this consejo (counsel?), we went to work!

This week, we have been teaching Sonia and her daughter Alexandra. They have a lot of problems, but they also have a lot of faith. The other day, Sonia accepted the invitation to be baptized and is preparing for the 20th of February. Last night, we had a lesson with Alexandra alone and we could feel the spirit so strong the whole time. We also invited her to be baptized on the 20th and she said yes. They are both so amazing. They have a long ways to go, but they are already recognizing the Spirit and the change that's taking place. 

We have another investigator named Rosio who also accepted the baptismal invitation for February 20th. She's a little harder to find and didn't come to church yesterday, but she is really good! I just want to work as hard as I can to bring more people unto Christ and experience the great joy that comes through repentance and baptism.

I absolutely love being a missionary. Actually, I had a dream last night that I had finished my mission and it was the saddest thing ever...I want to be a missionary forever!!! I hope you all join this great work. Talk to everyone about the gospel and just invite them. He will put the words in our mouths. Just trust in HIm! 

I love you all sooooo much! Thank you for everything. I finally received Christmas letters and everything this week, and I loved them so much! Thank you all for your support! I hope you have a wonderful week!!!

Love, Hermana Winward 

Helaman 6:3

Week 31 - Hello San Juan!

Hey everyone!

How are you all doing? I am doing a lot better now. I'm trying to get used to my new area and the new people and everything. The people in Lima aren't as open and loving as they are in Cañete, but they are pretty great! 

Our area is smaller than my area before, so we walk everywhere. It's super hot because it's the middle of summer right now. We live on the 5th floor, so that's really fun! Haha. We have this window that I like to look out and see the city every night. There are some hills with all these houses on them, which is kind of what it was like in my area in Cañete, but even bigger hills. It's all part of a different area, but it's really beautiful. 

This week, we found a new investigator named Sonia. She has a daughter named Alexandra who is belimic. She throws up everything she eats and she is so skinny, it's really sad. Sonia is really stressed out because she just wants her daughter to be healthy and happy again. This gospel has brought a lot of peace and hope into her life so far. She came to church yesterday and they had a lesson in Relief Society about the scripture John 14:27 (my favorite scripture!) and how we can find peace through Jesus Christ. It was a really good lesson.

We have a training this week for all the missionaries and as I've been studying and preparing for it, I have learned a lot more about the Doctrine of Christ. This morning, I realized, again, that everything is centered on Love. This whole plan and gospel is centered on God's love for us and the love we have for Him. I love this gospel with my whole heart. I love my Father and My Savior Jesus Christ. I love serving Them. I love being a missionary!!! 

I hope you have a wonderful week and find some way to show your love for Christ. I love you all so much!!! Stay strong!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 30 - Don't want to say goodbye

Hey everyone!

How are you all doing? I hope all is well wherever you are. I had cambios this week! I am now in San Juan, Lima with Hermana Trejo from Honduras. I am really excited to be working with her! Yesterday was our first day together and she told me that she thinks we will have a baptism together. So we're going to work hard so that happens!

Saying goodbye to Cañete was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my entire life. I left my heart there with those amazing people. We had barely gotten a new pensionista the week before I left and I already felt like they were my family. We had been teaching Ricardo a lot, the less active we found last week. Maria, our only investigator with a baptismal date, came to church on Sunday. It was a good way to end, which made it really hard to leave. 

I can't explain in words how I feel, but I've pretty much been crying non-stop since Sunday. I have found a lot of comfort as I think of Jesus Christ and knowing he's been through all of this for me. I know he will help me and bless me as I give it all I can here in San Juan. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all so much!!! Thank you for the prayers and everything you do for me! Remember to rely on the plan that God has for you. Even though we don't understand it at times, He has great blessings in store for us.

Love, Hermana Winward 

Week 29 - Feliz Año Nuevo!!!

Buenos Dias Everyone!

How are you all doing? Heppy New Year!!! Do you want to hear my new year's experience? Well, I'm telling you anyway. So we went to bed at like 11 on new year's eve after we had talked about all the amazing people we've met here. Then about an hour later, I was startled awake with this panic. I'm pretty sure I thought I was dying. There were fireworks going off so loud, it was crazy! I went and looked out our window and I'm pretty sure our neighbors across the street were shooting off fireworks from their roof and there was a cardboard box on fire in the middle of the road. Peru is crazy. But I love it! 

So this week we had some miracles with finding less-actives to start working with. On new year's eve, we went to the young women president's house because no one else was home. We ate paneton and drank inca cola with them and shared a little message. Her sister Nadia was there and she hasn't been to church for a long time. We made goals for the new year and one of hers was to come back to church ''poco a poco''. Now she is going to be our new pensionista and it will be a great way to support her more and help her come back.

Last night, we went to visit a less-active (Angel) we have been teaching and also found his brother, Ricardo. We talked about repentance and a little about the Atonement. Angel was mostly laughing and not really paying attention, but Ricardo was understanding that he needs to change his life if he wants to receive blessings from being active in the church again. We could tell that he has a real desire to change. He gave the closing prayer and he promised God that he would change. I felt the spirit so strongly last night with their family.

I hope you all have an amazing week and continue seeking ways to feel the spirit. It is one of the greatest gifts we have from our Heavenly Father. I love you all soooooo much!!! Les amo un monton!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Week 28 - Best Christmas Ever!

Hello Everyone! 

How are you all doing? How was your Christmas?!?! I hope everyone had a wonderful day and enjoyed the nice, cold snow :) It is starting to get really hot here in Cañete!

I had an amazing Christmas here in Peru! On Christmas Eve, all the hermanas got to sleep over at Elder and Hermana Tharp's house. We had an amazing testimony meeting as we each bore our testimonies of Jesus Christ. The spirit was so strong. After that, we exchanged letters and gifts. Then we got into our pajamas and went up to the roof to watch fireworks! So here in Peru, everyone stays up until midnight on Christmas Eve to put baby Jesus in his manger in all of their nativities. Then they set off a bunch of fireworks and they eat a giant meal. It's pretty crazy! 

Christmas day was amazing! Full of weekly planning and talking to my beautiful family. We also made oatmeal cookies with Hermana Tharp and watched an amazing sunset.

On Saturday, Hermana Araceli Luna was baptized!!! She is absolutely amazing. She is so strong. On Wednesday, her uncle (who is like her father) passed away. We hadn't been able to get a hold of her all week until Christmas. She told us she would come to the church two hours before her baptism so that we could have the last lesson we needed with her before her baptism. We waited for her for almost an hour and it was so stressful! But then she came and we were able to have the lesson. But then during the lesson, she told us she forgot the baptismal form that needed her guardian's signature. She lives kind of far, but Hermano Luis (who baptized her) drove her really fast to her house and back to get the signature. Satan was just working as hard as he could to do so that she wouldn't get baptized. But her strong testimony never failed and she is stronger than ever before. After her baptism, she bore the strongest testimony I had ever heard. ''Yo se que Dios y Jesucristo vive. Yo se que esta es la iglesia verdadera.'' She spoke with such power and surety. I absolutely love her! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week this week and do something to make your testimony stronger. Remember that it will grow as you share it. Keep sharing this good news! I love you all so much!!! 

Love, Hermana Winward

P.S. THANK YOU to everyone for all the letters, packages, emails, and prayers. You are all amazing!

Week 27 - Merry Christmas!!! Feliz Navidad!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

How are you all doing? How are the Christmas festivities going? I'm sure you are having a wonderful time :) Send me more pictures of all the great memories you're making! 

I am SO excited to talk to my amazing family on Friday! Christmas down here is definitely different, but so much fun! Last week, we went to Lima for a Multi-Zone meeting. We played a white elephant game and each of the zones performed a musical program. I felt the spirit so strongly while we were there.

So on the 26th, the day after Christmas, our investigator Araceli Luna will be getting baptized! She is so excited to be baptized and it has been a great experience teaching her and helping her come unto Christ. 

We have been having a lot more success in finding new investigators to teach, including new families. I'm so grateful with the ways the Lord blesses us as we do His work. He is watching over each one of us and blessing us in our effors. I know that as you all put in your strongest efforts to hasten His work, He will bless you with miracles. 

I hope you all search for miracles this week as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. He is the gift! He is our miracle! Share that love with everyone!!! I love you all so much! Have an amazing Christmas!

Love, Hermana Winward :)

Isaiah 9:6