Know Who You Are‏

(A/N: Happy Monday everyone! Alejandra here with another update sent (via email) by Hermana Ramos-Escobar! Enjoy!)

This week has definitely slowed down from last week!! Haha, we didn't have 5 baptisms, which is okay. I think I needed somewhat of a break, haha! :P Who am I kidding? There are no breaks in the mission!!

This coming week is the last week of the transfer. It finally hit me that I can actually leave this area. The first two transfers I knew that I was staying because I was getting trained. This past transfer, I was pretty positive I was staying because Sister McArthur was leaving, but now it's totally up in the air!! I have no clue what will happen. Part of me thinks I'm staying and part of me thinks I'm leaving! So we'll see where Heavenly Father thinks I should go!

On Saturday we had the chance to watch the Women's Conference and it was AMAZING!! I love President Uchtdorf's talk! His whole talk was really great. He talked a lot about the commandments. I have truly learned that the commandments are simply guidelines to keep us safe. It's really hard to see that some people don't look at it that way, they see it just as some rules to keep. But it's not that at all! I love keeping the commandments. But it really is because I know who I am. I know I am a child of God and I know that I will return to live with Him one day. I know that following the commandments is the only way I can do that.  I have learned that if you truly know who you are, living the gospel is so much easier. If you don't know who you are, you don't know the reason to obey all the commandments, to attend church, to do anything really. But I know that if everyone in this world were to know that they are a child of God and they really truly knew the importance of it, they would change their lives around for the better.

I love being a missionary! I wish I had more time to write but I got to run! :) 

Love always,

Hermana Ramos-Escobar

Hannah, Izzy, Noemi, Miguel and Derek All Got Baptized and Confirmed Members of the Church!!‏ :)

(A/N: Hey everyone! It's Alejandra here bringing you Hermana Ramos-Escobar's weekly email update! Enjoy!)

This week was truly AMAZING!!!!

We'll start from Wednesday. Wednesday, the 17th, was the day that Hannah got baptized. It was really great to see her enter the waters of baptism. She was excited and so ready to be baptized! When she came out of the water, her face was just beaming! She was so happy and she had the biggest smile on her face!! I had never seen her soo happy. I am so grateful I got to be a part of her baptism.

On Thursday we had zone conference and I was beyond happy! I didn't realize how happy I was until one of the elders said, "Sister Ramos, can you stop smiling for like 10 seconds?"  And I realized I couldn't! I realized that I had been smiling for like ever!! Haha! It's incredible to be with soo many missionaries. I don't know what it is, but it recharges my batteries. Even though we had to wake up 5:30 AM and drive for about an hour and 20 minutes, I was filled with energy! I was walking and talking with everyone and laughing with everyone. It was the best zone conference I have been too. I know that the Lord provided.

On Friday, was kind of a normal day...not really. We kind of did our weekly planning, but we kind of didn't. We were helping Sister Horan box up her house...Yeah, she has to move sadly. But she will be staying in the area! So we're happy about that. Along with helping her move, we had to make sure that Izzy, Noemi, Miguel and Derek where all set for their baptism the next day!

Saturday was the big day!! We started off by going to eat lunch with Noemi and Miguel. I was really excited!! Not only is Noemi one of the best cooks here in Los Banos, but Sister McArthur was going to come eat lunch with us!! She was driving down Friday night for all the baptisms and Noemi had invited her to come eat lunch with us, so she was going to come! When she finally got to Noemi's house, I about died!! I was soo happy to see her! I had missed her so much! And I was really happy to see her again and meet her sweet mom! Well, we sat there and ate with Noemi and Miguel...Noemi stuffed us with food!! But you can't turn down her food! You never know when you're going to get that great of Mexican food! 

After being with them we went to go set up everything for the baptisms. At 4:30 PM, Izzy, Noemi and Miguel, were all at the church, ready to get baptized. They all went into the water and they all came out smiling, happier than I had ever seen them before. The same happened with Derek at 7 PM, he and his sister got baptized together and they were all beaming after. 

I am truly grateful to have the gospel in my life. I am so thankful that I was able to help my Heavenly Father bring 5 people closer to Him this week!  I absolutely love being a missionary. I know it is the best decision I have ever made (Besides getting baptized)!

Today during personal study I was reading the book "Our Search for Happiness", by M. Russell Ballard. He was talking about the Holy Ghost. He said that it was much like living close to the fire department station. Everyone is able to receive service from the fire department, but those who live the closest, will be the safest. We all have access to the light of Christ, we all were born with the light of Christ to help show us the difference between good and bad. But those who have the Holy Ghost will safer and better protected.

I know that it is only by being baptized by water that we are able to receive the Holy Ghost. I know that by making the decision to be baptized, we are only taking one step closer to our Heavenly Father. It truly is only one step. We have to continue to have faith, repent, renew our convenants, listen to the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. That is the only way that we will be able to live with our Heavenly Father again.

I love Hannah, Izzy, Noemi, Miguel and Derek soo much! I have been able to feel just a little glimpse of the love Heavenly Father has for them. I am so proud of them for making this decision. And I am so happy that they now have the Holy Ghost with them, to help them be safe, to help them be protected.

I love this gospel with all my heart! I love serving as a missionary. There really is nothing I would rather be doing. It fills my heart with joy. I love it so much!

The Best Week EVER is About to Start!!!‏ :D

(A/N: Alejandra here, wishing you all a happy Monday everyone! Hope everyone is having a good day and will have a great week! For a little spiritual uplift, here is Hermana Ramos-Escobar's latest mission up date! Enjoy!)

AHH! :D :D I'm soo excited for this next week that's about to start!!

Noemi, Miguel, Hannah, Izzy, and Derek will all be entering the waters of baptism this week!! Hannah will be getting baptized on Wednesday, the 17th, the day of her birthday. Her sister Izzy will be getting baptized on the 20th! They are such great examples for me! They are truly amazing!! They have gone through so much stuff and they keep going through so much but they keep standing strong. Hannah is such a great missionary already! She invites all of her friends to come to church with her. And when we ask her about it she always says, "Well I just want them to be happy. Going to church made me happier and I feel like they need that." She truly is amazing and Izzy is also! She is such a great leader in her family!

Then we have Noemi and Miguel!! I love them soo much!! They are incredible! They are the golden investigators that everyone wants to find! At first, it was a little nerve racking because Miguel would always test us. He would say, "Why do you believe in this?" Or, "Is it true that this and this happened?" "What are your beliefs in this subject?" He would always ask us questions and he really would do it to test us! I am so thankful for the Holy Ghost and the Spirit and my companions! Haha, there is absolutely no way I would have been able to answer all of his questions on my own! They are an incredible family! I love them so much and they love us soo much as well! Noemi spoils us and Miguel's kids love us too! They're the cutest things ever!

And then we have Derek!! He will also be getting baptized on the 20th with his sister, Emma!! They are such great kids! They love having us come over and they are soo smart! Everything that we teach them, they remember! They have been soo ready for this day and I'm so happy that they both get to share the experience together! 

This is going to be one crazy week! We have District meeting on Tuesday, baptism on Wednesday, Zone Conference on Thursday (we have to leave at 6:15 to get there in time), and Friday...is somewhat normal...and then 4 baptisms on Saturday!! It's going to be a busy (but fun) week!

I am so excited for all of them to enter the waters of baptism. There are no words to describe how much I love each and everyone of them. I feel so honored and blessed to have been able to meet them and teach them. I know they will grow and do great things in the world. I am so thankful for the Spirit.  Because I know that if it wasn't for the Spirit, there wouldn't be any baptisms happening. Heavenly Father really has thought of every little thing. I am so thankful to be part of this Gospel. I love being a missionary. I know I probably say that in every e-mail, but I really do! Nothing has brought me more happiness! I'll let you all know how everything went next week! :D 

I love the Gospel and I know it's true and I cannot deny it. Nor will I ever!

Love,

Hermana Ramos-Escobar

Cuando Se Salva A Una Nina, Se Salva a Generaciones‏

(A/N: Alejandra here! Hello everyone! I'm not sure if these Author Notes have made it clear or not, but just in case it hasn't, please know that Hermana Ramos-Escobar is not the one updating this blog but it is I (THE AWESOME ONE!!) who is doing the updating. :) So with that out of the way, enjoy her email from the week!)

This week was so good! Things are definitely picking up! I guess it's just the first week of the transfer that is always really slow. So I'm glad that that part is over and we can pick up right where Sister McArthur and I left off!

The craziness is about to begin!! Dun dun dun!!!!

We have a baptism on the 17th and then four on the 20th!! Sister Roemmich and I will be super busy that week! We'll need lots of prayers! Hannah and Izzy will be getting baptized!! Hannah on the 17th (on her birthday) and Izzy on the 20th! (they wanted their own days), and then Noemi and Miguel will be getting baptized on the 20th also a long with Izzy! Derek will also be getting baptized on the 20th with his little sister, Emma, who is 8! They're a part member family, so it's really cool that he'll be able to share that experience with his little sister! I am so excited for all these baptism! I'm nervous because I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I am beyond excited for all the blessings that they will receive!! I absolutely love them all!

I'm so excited for Noemi and Miguel because they are so prepared!! They said that they would like to get sealed together in the temple!! They are truly amazing! They are the only ones we teach in Spanish! So I love being with them because I can actually practice my Spanish! Haha!

Today in the morning I was reading a talk from General Conference of April 2013 by Sister Mary N. Cook. I read it in Spanish and it was called: "Cuando Se Salva a Una Nina, Se Salva a Generaciones" ("When You Save a Girl, You Save Generations"). It was just talking about how one person can make a difference for so many generations! I know that is so true! I have said that before. I'm so thankful that I have the gospel in my life because I know now that my children will be raised in the gospel. Sister Villareal and Sister Salazar didn't just bring me into the gospel but they brought my children into the gospel also! I know that one person can truly make a huge difference.

But I started to think of the adversary also...There are so many people that fall away. There is always that opposition. Just like there are generations that come into the gospel because of one person, there are generations that fall away because of one person. It's kind of harsh to think of it that way, but I know it's true. And we need to look at the reality of things. We shouldn't live in fear but we need to live in reality. It happens.

I am so thankful that I have my Heavenly Father that is watching over me because I know that He is protecting me, especially in this world today. There are so many crazy things going on. I am so thankful that I am part of this gospel and that I am gaining more knowledge everyday. I absolutely love my Savior. I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father. I absolutely love being a missionary! There is nothing more that I would rather be doing. I know that God lives, I know that his son Jesus Christ died for us. I know that we can all feel His love as long as we pray. Prayer brings us so close to our Heavenly Father. I love this church and I know it's true.

Love always,

Hermana Ramos-Escobar

Group photo of the missionaries!

Hermana McArthur and Hermana Ramos-Escobar

Photo of our dear missionary serving the Lord.

Short but Sweet

(A/N: Hey everyone! Here's another update on our Hermana Ramos-Escobar!)

 

I'm not going to lie, this week was the longest week of my life. It was probably one of the most challenging weeks I have had on the mission so far. Nothing bad happened, it was all good things, but it was just adjusting to something new...

 

Sister McArthur left Tuesday morning, and that was really hard. They never prepared me on getting a new companion. The friendship and bond that Sister McArthur and I had, was probably the most perfect companionship ever! I know everyone probably says that, but it really is true! I really miss her but I'm happy that she's home and moving on to greater things!

 

My new companion is Sister Roemmich. She's different from Sister McArthur clearly, but she's a great person! She's been out for 10 months and is from Sandy, Utah! I'm excited to work with her because even in this past week or so, little less than that, I have learned soo much from her. I know that it was inspired that we would be companions. It's just going to take some adjusting, which is fine. I'm already getting used to it! So that's good!

 

I just want to talk about how amazing it is to have the opportunity to receive blessings from worthy Priesthood holders. Brother Horan is someone that I am truly so grateful for. He gave me a blessing Tuesday afternoon and no words can describe how much of a help that was for me. I am so thankful for the blessing that he gave me. This past week and a half has showed me how important it is to marry a worthy priesthood holder. The past 2 blessings I have received has been exactly what I needed and I am so thankful that we have that opportunity to receive blessings from our Heavenly Father. I can honestly feel that when Brother Horan was giving me that blessing, that it wasn't from him. It was from My Heavenly Father, and He knew exactly what I needed.

 

I am so thankful to be in this Gospel and to have the knowledge I do now. There is nothing more that I would want in my life. I know I am here for a reason and I'm going to find my best friend that I had in Heaven. I'm looking for them and I know I will find them.
 

Sorry this e-mail was short, but I ran out of time!
I love you so much!
Mami, Papi, Aly, Beatriz! thank you for all you do! I absolutely love you!

Love always and Forever,

Hermana Ramos-Escobar

 

(A/N: So while Hermana Ramos-Escobar is adjusting to her new companion, some of us here in Utah got to go and meet Hermana McArthur at her homecoming talk! She is such a sweet gal and it was so awesome to finally meet her! She let us know that our little missionary is doing well and she is a strong missionary. We hope to keep seeing her around and get the chance to talk with her more!

 

I'm sure Hermana Ramos-Escobar would appreciate some love and support so be sure to write to her!)

Family at Sister McArthur's Homecoming