JeRuPa BaBy! 5/9/16

iHola amigos y familia!

I hope everyone enojoyed their Mothers Day celebrations as much as I did. I had the pleasure of speaking with my beautiful life giver and it was just wonderful. I have no doubt that I am here because of her. Gracias Mama por todo. <3

UPDATES! So... The time has come for me to leave my cradle and depart into the unknown world of Riverside County. I will be serving in a tiny little valley called Jerupa just West of Riverside. YAY! I am super excited because I will be serving in a TRIO. What???? But actually that means that we will be able to get even more work done together so I am thrilled about it. 

So this week I had a pretty spectacular experience. 

I have written about one of my dearly beloved investigators a few times. His name is Gerardo. Leaving him will be the hardest part about leaving Moreno Valley but I know he is in good hands. Anyway, we had my last lesson with him earlier this week and it was just a miraculous experience. 

So Gerardo is wonderful, he is progressing so quickly. He is friends with the whole ward and he comes to church EVERY SUNDAY plus reads his scriptures and folletos diligently. He prays morning and night in his own way and has such a great desire to learn more. The most difficult thing this transfer has been getting him to pray for us as a group and in the way that our Savior has instructed us. We spent the entirety of our lesson stressing the importance of prayer and how we NEED this relationship with our Heavenly Father. The spirit was so strong and I could feel the great love that Heavenly Father has for his son Gerardo. 

Finally, at the end of the lesson, we asked him to say the closing prayer and he said... NO..

UGHHGHG.... Hermano! We just spent the past hour testifying and teaching about this!

No, we didnt say that exactly but we sure tried to help him see how important it is to pray. With a sigh of defeat, I said the closing prayer. 

Almost immediately after I finished, Hermano Gerardo began talking. It took us a minute to realize it but HE WAS PRAYING! His prayer was so beautiful, simple and heartfelt. The spirit in the room intensified. I almost cried as I listened to this man make a big step in the right direction. JOY!

What a miracle. I love this man, and I am totally going to return to my beloved Moreno Valley for his baptism. I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to teach this darling man. My life is better because of him. 

Thank you all for your continual love and support. I will talk to you all again next week!

Stay Safe & God Speed.

Love, Hermana Tobler

Gerardo con migo a la Iglesia!!

Moreno 1/2 zone family photo. The Elder in the center looks very happy. no se por que.

Last Day in MoVal!!

With a side of spiritual.... 5/2/16

My apologies up front for the overly detailed letter last week. I thought I might as well make a dramatic story out of a boring week. 

ANYways! This week has been more of a spiritual journey and I have been learning a lot more about myself and how missionary work is basically the best thing ever. Who would have thought that busting your buns for the good of others would bring you the greatest and most equisite happiness. Not to mention, help you understand the greatest questions of your heart and see the world through Heaven's eyes. What the what? Why is Heavenly Father so nice to us? I feel like as humans we are just so difficult and silly- but God still loves us to death and no matter what, has a plan for us. I love that about Him. I have found great joy in testifying of my Savior and our father's love for each of us. I hope that some particle of that truth will touch the hearts of all that I meet and they will feel it. 

Miracles are real on the mission. Spanish has been an stormy battle for most of my mission I have recently been seeing some light poking through the clouds. It has been absolutely amazing and humbling to feel the spirit work through me and help these people. 

This week my companion and I planned to do splits so that we could get more done. I was paired with a lovely recent convert whom I adore but does not speak much English. We found ourselves sitting in the living room of a 60 year old woman and her 25 year old son. I was SO NERVOUS! This wasn't my first split, but I honestly felt like I was on a little English island and I had to jump into the scary Spanish ocean. With a prayer in my heart, I cannon-balled in. I am happy to say that my experience in that lesson was wonderful, and the spirit was there. I felt words come out of my mouth that I hardly knew and yet, they made sense. By no means was my communication perfect, but they understood, and they Spirit was strong. That is all that mattered. 

I feel so humbled to be a part of this beautiful work. I know that Heavenly Father works in ways that mysterious but are the best for his children. I am grateful that I can feel the flames of the refiners fire every day here on my mission, and that I am being CHANGED for the better. I wish there was some way that I could fully explain my joy and gratitude. This week I hit 7 months and though it is difficult, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I love each and every one of you with my whole heart. I hope you all have a fantastic week.

Love&Blessings

Stay Safe&God Speed

Con amor, Hermana Tobler

Mis hermanitas <3