Some Photos Today. Most are from when Ari was in Gijon.

Transfers

¡HOLA A TODOS!

Transfers: I´m staying in Alcorcón with Hermana Shaumann!! YAY. But Hermana Volquardsen is leaving us... no more trio. I´m super excited to work some miracles this coming transfer. And now that they have cleaned up about all of the trash,  Alcorcón is a much more pleasant place. 

This week we have had some setbacks and trials in the work but it is teaching me a lot of patience, humility, and hard work. Our investigator Jo was not able to get baptized because of various things, but we are still working with him to get to a point that he can make that step. 

The most amazing experience EVER: We have a chinese investigator.... His name is Chen Jin Yun... And he doesn´t speak more that a lick of Spanish. We had given him and his family a pamphlet and Book of Mormon in Chinese and when we went to visit him the other day he was reading the pamphlet about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We had used Google Translate to make a list of questions for him to answer that went something like this:

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

Do you like the pamphlet and the Book of Mormon we gave you?

Are you interested in learning more?

Do you pray? 

Do you go to church?

Would you like to know what church is true?

Will you read the Book of Mormon?

Could we meet with you again?

(Más o menos) He answered yes to all of the questions. He would read them out loud in Chinese and then start talking to us in Chinese as if we understood him. I have never felt the gift of tongues as strong as I did in this moment. Somehow we were both able to understand each other even though neither of us spoke each other´s language. It was the most amazing lesson I thing I have ever had on my misson. We are going to keep working with him and his family. He has a 19 year old daughter that speaks really good spanish so we are going to be relying on her to be the translator. I can´t wait to see what happens.

More next week. Write me a letter and I´ll write you back :)

  

Un beso,

Hermana Fuller

Miracles are definately happening in Alcorcón

¡HOLA!

Once again this week I almost have no time, but I will do my best to be quick and tell you everything I can. This week has been great again and we´ve taught the most lessons this week than I ever have in my entire mission. We also had 5 of our investigators at church yesterday. Our chapel is so full that they are looking into finding another place for us to meet. Also, 3 brand new priesthood holders blessed and passed the Sacrament this past sunday. Miracles are definately happening in Alcorcón. 

Our investigators are also doing amazing. Joe is getting baptized this coming Saturday!!!! I couldn´t be more happy and excited for him. He has been through a lot in his life. Every time we meet with him he thanks us for sharing the gospel with him. I can´t wait to see this miracle take place. Me and both of my companions are definately feeling the pressure of the work. Every day I feel I need to work harder and do more because the Lord is coming. This feeling has become more and more aparent in our lessons. We recently had a lesson with our other African investigator, Canis. I felt the spirit so strong to tell him that he had to change his life and change it now. He doesn´t have time to wait. None of us do. We are in the last days and God sent us here at this time to prepare the way for our Savior, Jesus Christ, to come again. I am so greatful to be participating in this marvelous work. 

I´m sorry this is so short but I´m going to try to send some pictures as well. Know that I care so much about each and every one of you. 

Con Mucho Cariño,

Hermana Ariana Fuller

Segovia

Hola Mis Queridos,

Today we went to SEGOVIA! It was such a good experience and we had a really good time... but that also means that I have very little time to write this week. I will do my best.

This week we have really received many blessing from the Lord. Our numbers have been the highest numbers that I have ever received in my mission. In just one week we were able to receive 10 new investigators. (9 of them being Africans...) The main miracle I would like to share this week is with our new investigator Jo. Jo is a 33 year old man from Mozambique. We met him in a locutorio where we taught him and four of his friends The Restaration. He told us that his brother was baptized a member of the church 17 years ago in Spain. He said at that time he didn´t listen to the missionaries but now He is ready to devote his life to God. Then he asked us how he could become a member... and well, it all started from there. After that lesson he told us that was one of the most be The next time we met we taught him The Plan of Salvation and half way through the lesson he stopped us and asked us "So, when can I be baptized." We replied, " When do you want to be baptized." To which he said, "As soon as possible." We are now working with him to be able to be baptized on the 15th of February. Jo is so prepared to recieve the gospel at this time. I feel so humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to teach him and help him take this step in his life. 

God is also blessing me very much with the courage (and the spanish) to talk with everyone around me. Not only this, but He is continually putting me in the path of people that will listen to His message. I am so grateful to be able to be a tool in the Lord´s hands. I know that if you have the desire and put in the effort (through pray, scripture study, etc) you will be able to have this blessing too. And God will use you to work miracles in the lives of other. I have found this to be true not only for our investigators or for the people we meet on the street, but also between me and my companions. 

Gracias por todo. Seguid Adelante.

La Hermana Fuller

PS: I had great experiences with my companions this week. When we had companionship inventory my companions both told me that I was what we call "A Preach My Gospel Missionary" and that I was very Diligent. I felt really happy because I do try to work really hard and do the best that I can. Then when we had splits again this week I was with Hermana Volquardsen (the 26 year old one). I have the hardest time learning how to work with her but when we had splits it felt like a miracle happened. She sort of had a breakdown and so we sat on a bench while she just told me everything that she was thinking and feeling. I was able to give her advice and lift her up. Afterwards she told me that I was very humble and that I was the most patient companion she´s ever had. I feel so grateful to God for giving me these experiences and allowing me to help the others around me. None of it comes from me. Patience, humilty, diligence. It all comes from God. I just hope and pray I can continue to develop these qualities and more. Much more. 

Don´t worry. We´re safe here and the Lord definately takes care of us. The trash hasn´t resolved itself yet though... it´s actually worse. Much worse. And it smells. haha And we were put together because it just wasn´t working between one of my companions now and her old companion. But the hand of the Lord is in all things. I am praying for all of you and just keep pressing forward trusing in the Lord. Thank you for sharing that experience with me. It´s good to hear that the Lord is taking care of all of you there too. 

Love you Mom!

la Hermana Fuller

EL BAUTISMO DE PETER

Garbage Strike

Another week in Alcorcon...

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week in Alcorcón. I´m still getting to know the area more and more. My companions and I have bonded a lot over this past week and we are really starting to teach with a lot of unity. It has been really amazing working and meeting with a bunch of new investigators. Our investigator, Peter, has a fecha bautismal for this coming Thursday!! and our other investigator, Ronald, who has a fecha bautismal for the 1 of February, came to church for the first time this Sunday. I am so excited for these people that are progressing in this wonderful Gospel. 

 

Un-expected cool experience: The other day when I was making a bunch of calls to future investigators, I accidently dialed one wrong number for one of our contacts. The man told me I had dialed the wrong number but I started talking to him anyways. He said his name was Christian and he was from Menorca (that´s a long ways away from Alcorcón.) I introduced myself and started talking to him about the church. I was able to bear my testimony of the church, God, and my Saviour, Jesus Christ. After we said bye I sent his number to the missionaries in Menorca. This experience was a huge testimony to me that God is in all things and that if I am doing my part He will use me to accomplish His great work. 

 

Funny(ish) story: I am always in charge of calling the elevator and opening the door. There is usually never someone in the elevator when we are using it. The other day as I opened the elevator door, I was so surprised to see someone in the elevator that I jumped back. Then the lady that was in the elevator said, "Que fea, ¿no?" We all couldn´t stop laughing. 

Funny(ish) thing: My companions call me "The African Whisperer" because I´m really good at teaching/talking to them for some reason.

Today I feel prompted to share a bit of what I wrote in a letter to a good friend of mine. These are three simple things that we teach to our investigators every day. They are the three things that everything else rests upon. Three things that increase our faith, strengthen our testimonies, bring us answers to prayers, and grow our relationship with God and Christ.

1. Pray - Of course. Sounds simple. Well it is. And it works. My mom has a board with the quote, "Prayer changes things." Prayer DOES change things, including us. Including our situations. And as members of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we are blessed with the beautiful knowledge of how to pray. That we pray to God our Heavenly Father, in the Name of Christ, our mediator. That we can pray anytime and anywhere, about anything. Use this wonderful knowledge and gift of prayer and you will see and feel the differance in your life. 

2. Read - (Study) The scriptures. There is a saying that goes, "If you want to talk with God, pray. If you want him to answer, Read." The scriptures are the word of God, I have gotten some of the most powerful answers to my prayers through the scriptures. The more you read the more you will want to keep reading and you won´t be able to stop. If you have doubts or questions pick up the scriptures and start reading. 

3. Attend Church - CHURCH IS SO IMPORTANT. It´s a place where the spirit dwells in abundance. And most importantly, the time and place we dedicate to God to renew our covenants with him and ponder upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through repentance and partaking of the sacrament, we are cleansed from all our sin. But not ony this, from all of our sorrows and pains and heartaches as well. If you struggle with making it to church every Sunday, Study the Atonement, Study Repentance, Study the Sacrament. Then Pray. As a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ, I Promise you that if you do these three things (prayer, study, and church attendance) your life will be changed, and you will never forget to pray, you will never be too busy to read, and you will never want to miss going to church again. 

Os Quiero Mucho,

Hermana Ariana Fuller

Ps. Friday is my 6 months!!!

Baptism

Trash Strike

 Baptism

Emergency Transfer

¡HOLA!

EMERGENCY TRANSFER. I´m no longer in Móstoles. I am in an area close by called Alcorcón AND I´m in a trio. I am still with Hermana Shauman (20 from Tenessee. She´s been on the mission for 10 months and her previous area was Las Palmas in the Canary Islands) but now I have a new companion, Hermana VolQuardsen (26 from Texas. She has been on the mission for 13 months and she has been in Alcorcón for 3 transfers already.) So we have one from the north, one from the islands, and we both met up in the middle with one in the center. Hermana Shaumann were in Móstoles for less than 24 for hours and halfway done unpacking when we got the call that we were being moved. It´s been a crazy stream of events but I am excited for this new area and I can´t wait to see how this transfer goes.

Madrid is Completely different from the north. There are a lot more South Americans than Spaniards (but I am determined to start getting some Spaniard investigators). The first time we went contacting we received 5 referances in about only half an hour....I started crying. We would contact for hours at times in Gijón and still not have 5 referances. I have become even more grateful for my time in Gijón. Being in the North really taught me to work hard, and because the work was harder the success was that much more rewarding. 

The one investigator I would like to talk about this week is Peter. Peter is a 45 year old man from Nigeria. He has been taught by Hermana Volquardsen for some time and we met with him last Friday. He made us this delicious Nigerian dish that we had to eat with our hands. (I had no problem with that). After we ate we had a lesson with him and went over the Restauración. He had a date to be baptized the first of february, but after we were done teaching he told us that he wanted to be baptized before that. We are hoping to have a baptism with him this Saturday :)

I believe that is all I have for now. Next week I will send you more :) 

Thank you for all. Keep praying. Keep reading. And Keep pressing forward.

Mucho Amor,

Hermana Ariana Fuller

Emergency Transfer:

Two Hermanas needed to be switched out so they transferred us over here. That´s all. I LOVED all the pictures you sent me. I cannot wait to see the house! It looks so beautiful. That´s awesome that you are going to the temple. I will get to go to the temple once a transfer now because I´m in Madrid. Why did they have to change her name? It´s a beautiful name though. Do they still call her bree? Did you get my new address? Sorry, I don´t have my chord again because it´s in my suitcases somewhere but I´ll try to send pictures next week. I LOVE YOU:)

Two Hermanas needed to be switched out so they transferred us over here. That´s all. I LOVED all the pictures you sent me. I cannot wait to see the house! It looks so beautiful. That´s awesome that you are going to the temple. I will get to go to the temple once a transfer now because I´m in Madrid. Why did they have to change her name? It´s a beautiful name though. Do they still call her bree? Did you get my new address? Sorry, I don´t have my chord again because it´s in my suitcases somewhere but I´ll try to send pictures next week. I LOVE YOU:)

New Year Goals

Querida famila, 

It was so amazing to talk with you over skype! It seriously made the past few days so amazing. I was so blessed to be able to talk with you and share my testimony with you all. Only 6 more months till we can talk again... haha :)

The rest of my week has been great. I finally got my new Scriptures! Mom, Thank you so much. I will talk to Sister Jackson to figure it out but no worries. I love them. Also, Everyone that sent me anything at all MUCHAS GRACIAS. I seriously felt so loved this christmas. 

Welp, the work it still goes. We have had a few very promising first lessons this week with future investigators. And on Saturday all of the 5 lessons that we had planned went through!! Whaoo. That is a big deal. 

The past few weeks I have been thinking about the new year coming up. I am usually not a person to make new years resolutions, but the thought that this whole next year I´m going to be a missionary, really impressed me a lot. As I pondered about this I came up with two new years goals that I have set for myself:

1. Read all of the standard works this coming year. (ALL of them :))

2. Bear my testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ, everyday. 

Now I will be accountable to all of you so that I make sure I do these goals. I would just like to leave you with my testimony. I know this church is true and that it is led by a living prophet of God. I know that God lives and loves each and every one of us so much. I pray every day to become more like my Savior so that I can truly be a witness and representative of him. Keep praying, reading your scriptures and attending church. And know that I am praying for each one of you everyday. 

Hermana Ariana Fuller