May 5th 2014

A couple of things...

I apologize that I failed to validate your excitement of having cute little bunnies and a tent in the backyard! I always loved setting up the tent and going camping. I hope Nicolas is feeling better!

We also saw a kitty die this last week, it was very sad, I tried to help him but he was bloated and almost completely limp. It is sad :( But animals will go to heaven! We will see all of the parakeets and bunnies and fish and kitties up there ;) Although I don't really want to see the parakeets as much haha.

Next Sunday is Mother's Day! And that means I get to call yall :) Also Skype has been approved for all missionaries in our mission to use when calling home! I know you don't have a computer so it's probably best if we just talk on the phone. I'm planning on calling at 6pm my time, so that's 5pm your time! I hope that works! I can't believe that time has flown by so fast! Every time someone asks me how long I've been out my stomach does a double front flip. It's crazy sauce!

So there is a certain couple that we have been visiting that looked me up on Facebook and read my entire blog. It was interesting to hear his insight and feedback. He really liked it all! But I realized then more than ever that a lot of people can see everything that I say. I hope that I have not said anything offensive or negative. I also hope that no particularly personal things have been posted or shared with anyone that doesn't need to hear it. If I ever mention a first AND last name of someone, please delete one of the names as to keep people's names secure.

Also! I signed up for classes and changed my major to Elementary Education! I have classes all day tuesday and thursday (including Institute and Institute Choir) and nothing MWFS or Sunday. :D I have been granted financial aid as well! I haven't heard back ion my BYU-I application yet, but if I make it I will probably transfer there after the first semester of UVU. School starts the 25th of August! I am taking American Civilizations, Public Speaking, a Psychology class, and a Theater class based on Elementary education :)

Let me know what Grandma says! And I am sure that I can find a roommate if I need to.

Tomorrow there is a mission wide Sister's Conference. We will all be going to the temple with the Mission President and his wife! I am so excited :)

There are so many wonderful people everywhere we go :)

Here is something funny for you! It got sent to me from another sister from my MTC district. That burnt part of the map is where Eagle Pass is supposed to be haha.

So this week the Mission Department came down from Salt Lake and sat in on our Mission Leadership Conference meeting. It was awesome! I was filled with excitement as I learned better ways to do missionary work! I just wanted to go out there and teach!! A lot of it was helping us to use the pamphlets to teach the lessons, they already have pictures and scriptures in them! It's like going in with a disguised note card right in front of your face! I love it :) Things are definitely improving in missionary work in general throughout the world. 

We have been meeting with Christina a lot this week. She is going to be baptized this Saturday! She has a lot going on in life and I pray for her a lot. With this past fast Sunday I fasted for her too. She got some bad results back for her thyroid cancer. She just knows everything about the gospel though! She knows that everything will be okay and that God will take care of her. She has now read all of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and of course the Gospel Principles book. When we teach her she nods and says, "Yep, I read that. I remember that." All we really do is invite her to keep those commandments that she has learned about. We also clarify things like not shopping on Sunday. We did that with another couple as well but they weren't as ready to keep the Sabbath holy as Christina. We have also been teaching that couple during this last week. The husband talks a lot and I feel like the wife may be confused at times. The last thing we want to do is complicate or confuse. The doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ clarifies. It is God's way. When He commands us to do it He has all authority and to expect us to obey. We are less than the dust of the earth because even the dust obeys with exactness, not questioning why or procrastinating, but simply obeying. Are we simply obeying? I am certainly not perfect and I make mistakes daily, but I know that when we obey we are blessed more. When we trust in God, he blesses us more. When we love our neighbor, we are blessed more and promised the kingdom.

I can not write all that I am experiencing, I hope to be able to share with you more when I return home. Hopefully it won't be too boring to listen haha.

I love you, I am excited to hear your voices. Keep smiling, wave at people who pass you by, you could be making someone's day!

Hermana Hopkins

April 28th 2014

I decided to change my major to Elementary Education. I am going to attend UVU. I was thinking maybe I can live in Grandma's house so that I don't have to pay rent? Or with an aunt or uncle? Preferably closer to orem than farther away?

So this week was awesome :) This following week is going to be insane! Tomorrow we will be on an exchange, Wednesday is district meeting, Thursday is the mission leadership meeting, Friday we have another exchange with the Sisters who are over us, and then Saturday we have an exchange with another set of sisters! Sister Breakall and I committed to sitting next to each other no matter what during our meetings since we won't get to be together a lot during this week haha.

We started teaching Christina this week who is a friend of a member in the singles ward. We had our first lesson with her on Thursday and she had already been reading the Book of Mormon. She was in 4th Nephi! Then on Saturday at our next lesson she had finished the Book of Mormon and gotten to section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants!! She said that she has a lot of time to read while she is at her job because she watches over a man who is on his death bed and he sleeps for 5 of the 12 hours that she is there. So she reads a lot! She has also already read all of the Gospel Principles book! She is just amazing. She is going to be baptized on May 10th.

We are still teaching Crystal and we taught her the law of chastity this week. She expressed how she wants her daughter to live that law as well haha. She is so humble and very teachable. We are also teaching Ani who is married to a less active member. Ani is also very humble and teachable. Its interesting to note that the prideful don't learn very much or very fast. So if you want to be smart, don't be prideful! 

We had Zone Conference this week and President Slaughter was talking about being decisive and not getting offended. He and his wife said that one of the keys to a successful marriage is learning to never be offended. I thought that was so insightful! I have had companions that get offended if I word something wrong or do some little thing that annoys them and I have also had companions that haven't ever mentioned or seemed like any of that phased them whatsoever. I'd say that is a great goal for all of the human family, to practice just not getting offended so easily. People are going to do things that bug us. Duh. We are all different. Sometimes they will do it on purpose! Either way we can practice a Christlike attribute, patience or forgiveness, or humility. Considering being decisive instead of indecisive, President said that when we are indecisive we are showing a lack of faith and trust in God. We should make a decision based on good judgement and then let the Lord steer us. Again, I have had some different companions with different levels of decisiveness. I admire someone who makes a decision, moves forward with faith. Then if they recognize that they were wrong they admit it humbly and without blaming those around them. Or if they were right they don't brag about it, but give the glory to God ad thank Him for His mercy in showing the way. 

We had Stake Conference this weekend as well and I LOVED it! There was a man (we will call him Brother S) who talked about an experience that he had in selling alarms. I could relate to that haha even though I never actually sold them. Brother S talked about his second day selling for his alarm business that he had just started and his experience with a certain man that he met while knocking doors. The man that answered the door was blind. The man stuck out his hand and said "I'm Harold." Harold ended up letting him in, talking to him, and even signing the papers of agreement. Harold had asked Brother S to describe his parents and his wife to him. Harold had also asked him how many customers he had. When Brother S nervously, yet honestly, said that he only had 6 customers so far Harold agreed to give him his credit card to run. Brother S was amazed by all of this and asked Harold why he was so trusting even though he couldn't see. He said, "I let you in my house based on how you shook my hand, I signed the paper based on how you spoke of your loved ones, and I gave you my credit card based on your honesty."

This story touched my heart. I want to be the kind of person that deep down even to the very bottom corners is honest and true and charitable. How do I become that way? I figured it out, it's by forgetting myself.

The Stake President also spoke of faith. For almost two weeks I had this phrase stuck in my head, "It was by faith." but I couldn't remember where to find it in the Book of Mormon. I searched halfheartedly until yesterday when President Spendlove quoted it. This is exactly what I needed to hear. Ether 12, baby. It has changed me. I wrote that phrase on a sticky note and put it on my wall. 

It was by faith.

Read that chapter in faith and tell me how it changed you.

I love you dearly. I am a daughter of God. I am learning to act my part.

Hermana Ally Hopkins

April 21st 2014

Hanna and AJ got baptized this weekend! They are so awesome! We are still working with the dad. He was so proud of them and had a big smile on his face during the entire baptism and confirmation. Their family came from out of town to support them and the dad's family even came although they aren't members! That is a great opportunity for them and anyone to feel the spirit and spark an interest in learning more. I am so excited to see this family grow and stay close with them. We were kind of stressed out because the building was reserved by another ward and we didn't find out till the day of. We were able to have the baptism anyway and the other ward was so gracious that they even invited everyone from the baptism to come and join in their activity! No one actually did but it was very sweet of them to offer. Through all the running around we forgot to get in a picture with the family!! Can you believe it??? We got pictures of them though :) It just slipped our minds to actually get in the picture haha. 

This week has just been so eventful! I went on exchanges with Sister Burtenshaw, she is from Canada! She went to BYU-Hawaii and it made me want to go there really bad when she talked about it. Maybe you can pray as well to see if I should go there?? ;) We talked to a woman at the church when mutual was about to start (we were asked to share a thought at mutual, usually we don't go to that haha). She is recently coming back to the church after being baptized when she was 17 but lost contact when she moved from Mexico to the U.S. Her children aren't members but she is bringing them to church as well. She talked about how she is divorced and was abused... It's crazy how many people I meet on my mission who are in the same situation as everybody else! I know that my testimony is strengthened every time I meet someone like that and get to testify to them that the Atonement heals us. 

On Wednesday Hanna and AJ were interviewed for baptism and they were so happy. I love the peaceful look on the faces of those who are softened by the Spirit. They looked so much happier that night than they did when we first met them. It's amazing how we all can think we are so happy at the moment and then realize that there are even MORE blessings ahead of us! Hope gives us the chance to have joy now and also later. 

We came out of our apartment door one morning and halted as we saw five little kittens in the corner of our front door and the outside wall. They were way too small to have climbed the apartment stairs so we figure that the mom cat brought them up there cause she saw Jesus's picture on our door ;) Or maybe its cause its more secluded than the bush where little kids would run by that they used to be in downstairs. Either way, we now have some kittens sleeping outside our apartment and we don't know what to do with them! We will figure it out. The mom comes and feeds them all the time so maybe they will just stay there till they grow and can walk away ;) 

Sister Breakall and I sang "I know that My Redeemer Lives" in Sacrament yesterday. We did better than we thought we would do! It was fun :) And we had 6 investigators at church! I was so happy to see them all there because we know the trials they are experiencing and how hard it must have been to come. One of them that was there was Crystal, she brought three of her kids and also her neighbor! She recently got separated from her boyfriend and lost her job. I am grateful though that God makes things happen so that better things can take place. It made me reflect on the time I got fired from my job and then got a new job a month later where I never had to work Sundays. I am so grateful that God fired me haha :)

Well, that's all for today folks, I love this work and I love my Father in Heaven. I read this morning about King Lamoni's father who was willing to give up half his kingdom, than all of his kingdom, and then all of his sins as he came to learn more and more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What are we willing to give for joy in this life and eternal life in the next? The pride that we sometimes feel when someone offends us? The resentment that we hold on to? The stubbornness of waiting for someone else to apologize first? All of those are barriers that we put up for ourselves to halt our spiritual progression. Whether we are drifting away from God's presence or halting and refusing to go forward, it is still sin. Aaron tells Lamoni's father the way to "know God" is to repent and have faith. How wonderful and beautiful is the sacrifice that our Redeemer made for us. That as we practice faith in him we can repent and have joy now and for eternity. I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives. God lives.

Hermana Ally Hopkins

April 14th 2014

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of the fun things that you have been creating and how you are helping the kids so much! I know that the quality time with Nathanial, Andrew, and Victoria are all appreciated. They will look back later on and remember with a smile and a good feeling in their heart the good times that you spent with them. :) Also it makes me happy that you decided to go to the Hope of America! I don't remember if you went to mine or not, but there is something about knowing that you have got your mom out in the audience somewhere. It makes you a little nervous but also determined to do your best :) I think that's how it is with our personal accountability to the Lord. At the end of the day we tell God what we did that day and it makes me a little nervous if I haven't achieved all that I had hoped but I feel more determined to do my best the next day. I am grateful for prayer. :) I am also very grateful for Uncle Ben. I prayed that God would send somebody to help Andrew. What a blessing that is to both of them, you, and me! I know that our prayers are heard! I feel such a deep love for my Savior and Heavenly Father when I think of how wonderful that probably was for Andrew to learn with Uncle Ben for 8 hours :D I too have been taking a personal interest in cars as well! When I was trying to decide what to major in recently one of my bigger desires was to go into auto mechanics! I think it is so fun and I love to work with my hands! I fixed a less active woman's VCR for her and it made me feel good to fix it and know that I helped her. Buuuut... I decided to go in to music because I really love to sing and I want to do something I enjoy and progress in it! I am so excited to get better :)

So I am going to go to UVU! I don't know how it is all going to play out but I applied again and have sent an email to my academic advisor. I hope to go right when I get home as to keep the good schedule and working habits that I have here on the mission. I don't want to get lost in laziness or boredom. I know I will have to work so that I can get out of the house so that housing doesn't make the rent go up... I don't know how long that will take but I have been praying hard for help with that when I get home. I know a lot will be expected of me and I will have a lot of things to take back on again, one being paying cash for medicine....... car payments, insurance, cell phone, rent, etc... So pray for me as well!! The thing that makes me most nervous is paying for medication and such since I won't have insurance. I feel that I can't function without the medication but I can't have the medication of I don't have money... but I can't function at a job with out my medication... so its a never ending circle of bleeehhh. The older couple that came and gave the ukulele to you have a son who has a few businesses and they said they could line me up with a job when I get home, so that's nice. Also I am excited to be close to the family when I get home. Even though I will have a lot to do I am excited to spend time with you all! I want to be apart of my brothers and sisters lives and help them stay close to the Lord and be happy. I also am excited to tell you all the experiences that I had and introduce you to the wonderful people I have met either by phone or email! Or when they come to visit eventually! I am excited to go to UVU because there are still great student wards but at the same time not everyone is a member so I will still be able to do missionary work as a member in my classes! Wahoo! My mission president said that if I were his daughter he would send me to BYU to get married but since I don't have the grades for that, UVU will just have to do. I can transfer to BYU-I in the future. Maybe in January or even in the spring next year. What is important is that I stay strong in the church and don't get bored.

Now Mom, You ARE awesome! I like you a lot! I think you are so funny and I love your smile! I also like your way of joking around when things start to get frustrating. Sometimes we need to just not get so frustrated by the little things and just let it go. Laughing is a great substitute for stressing out ;) I love it when you hum and rub my back. You truly care about me! You love your children, you are charitable and compassionate. You serve your neighbors and older people because you want to help, you are kind and desire to do good! There are many blessings that God has promised people like YOU because of such attributes. You are also experienced. You have lived through abuse, divorce, confusion, hatred, anger, depression, belittlement, poverty, stress, disappointment, and STILL you have come out ON TOP. You have a beautiful daughter on a mission! That shows a lot!! Your children watched AND enjoyed listening to the Living Prophet who you have taught them to follow and they felt the Spirit! You provided that environment for them by living worthy yourself and emphasizing the IMPORTANT things in life! Your faith and trust in the Lord is strong and He makes YOU strong because of it. You cannot fail because your foundation and your rock are our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. You pray for me, I know it because I am blessed each day. You follow the Spirit. You wouldn't treat anyone the way that you treat yourself. Those words and negativity towards yourself are not from God. I am so grateful that you know that and are thinking positively instead! I love how the prophet said this quote 

I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight

That to somebody’s need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind. 

Be kind to yourself too :) I know for me I get nervous that if I'm kind to myself I might get prideful, but I think it's good to recognize what the Lord rejoices in about you. My Mission President's wife once had me write down a list of the things that the Lord rejoices in about me and told me to put it in my scriptures. I did, and I put it there in Alma. I have not looked back to see what it says, but when I open to that page, I know. I love you so so so so much, Mom.

As for this week... The father of the family that we are teaching decided that he is not ready to be baptized but he is excited to see his children baptized. We think its because of the word of wisdom. It is hard sometimes to give things up that we have held on to for so long. Especially if they have become part of us, whether they are good or bad things. He is a wonderful father, and because I know that, I know that he will get baptized in the future. But the two children are going to be getting baptized this Saturday! They are all going to be there. We are teaching them again tonight.

We also met another family that really has an interest in coming to church and also in giving us their full attention. The father said that he can tell that we are serious about what we do so he is too. He said that he wants his whole family to be there when we teach and give us their undivided attention. It is not often that we hear that! He is a good man and his wife is searching for the Lord in her life as well. They are such a beautiful family! Their little boys are the cutest :)

We had Zone meeting this week and Sister Breakall and I gave a training on "Talking to Everyone" and "Not Beating around the Bush."  At first I laughed inside when the Elders asked us to give that training because I felt like I beat around the bush sometimes. So in the few days we had between then and when we would give our training we got to practice. We were teaching a second lesson to a man from Sai Pan named Jessi who listened to us but can't let go of partying and drinking. His friend showed up in the middle of the lesson and was working on Jessi's car. Jessi said that he couldn't come to church until he fixed his car cause he didn't feel right getting a ride from anyone. So I went up to his friend who was rummaging through some things in his truck and said, "Kyle, will you come to church on Sunday? Jessi needs a ride and this is the only true church on the earth today." He laughed. He looked at me and laughed saying, "I'm sorry, haha, but you said that all with a straight face, I couldn't help myself haha" He was surprised because he thought I was joking but I wasn't! We all laughed together and then I said, "But really." Haha what an awkward experience! He laughed again and then said he couldn't come because he had training. We ended the lesson on a positive note as we included Kyle as well and ended with a prayer. As we got into the car Kyle asked if we had a book for him (referring to the Book of Mormon) and of course we did so we gave him one. He opened it up and started turning through the pages. We left and laughed, blushing because of how awkward it all was but as we reviewed what just happened we came to the conclusion that missionary work in general is just gonna be awkward! We talked about in our training about the time that we rode the bus for a week and what a great opportunity it was to talk to everyone. We did a roleplay with everyone where they had between 5-45 seconds on a bus to talk to those around them. I think it really helped because they seemed excited to go out and strike up conversation focused quickly on our message. We found out from the Zone Leaders that the numbers for new investigators this week in our zone was the highest its been since December. So that's good! It was a fun roleplay to do :) We meet a lot of people that only speak spanish so we refer them to the elders in the spanish ward and they told us that half of their investigators come from part member families and the other half come from the referrals that we give them haha. It's good to still be able to speak spanish everyday and help those that we find to be taught in their own language. With just english sisters in this area in the past they have only been able to give them a card since they couldn't understand! But since I have been here those people get passed on to the missionaries :) I love to hear how those people are progressing from the elders when we talk to them.

I love you all, keep your chins up!

Hermana Hopkins

April 7th 2014

I have prayed and asked God where to go to college. I am going to apply to BYU Idaho and UVU. I will be going into Music and/or Elementary Education.

Something funny that happened this week was we were helping the Barreras to rake their lawn and a truck drove by with a barbeque attached to the back. There was smoke coming from it and so we all paused to watch the truck drive by and stop at the stop sign. We saw a man get out from the drivers seat with an apron on and a spatula. He then proceeded to open up the barbeque and flip some sort of meat! He closed it and got back in the truck and went on his merry way! ONLY IN TEXAS!!! We loved it and I was laughing for hours! You better believe that I wrote that in my journal haha.

My companion is such a blessing to me. She is so funny and the other night I was rolling on the floor laughing at what she was saying. I can't remember for the life of me what it was that she said but we were laughing so hard hahaha. I like to try to be funny like her ;) She loves everyone and notices the good and points it out too. It changes things from sad to happy in mili-seconds.

We are continuing to teach the Barrera Family and the father joined in for a lesson on Saturday. He expressed that he is more spiritually prepared now than we was in the past. We invited him to be baptized on the same day as his children, on the 19th of this month, and he said yes!! His wife who is a member had tears fill her eyes. I thought of how long she has been praying for this, how many prayers her parents have offered for this, and how happy his children were to feel a strength in their family added to them! I caught myself in the middle of probably the biggest smile I have ever had on my face!! A FAMILY! A family. To think about it now still makes me emotional. I am so excited to be their best friends for the rest of our lives :)

Conference truly uplifted me in ways that I didn't even know that I needed. I have been learning a lot about supporting my companion and also the necessity of obedience. In Conference I noticed many themes of the talks including obedience, repentance, the Resurrection, and my favorite Book of Mormon scripture was mentioned more than 3 times. Its funny because I had read that verse where I am at in my Spanish Book of Mormon on Saturday morning... I can't help but think that I must have a trial awaiting me somewhere in the near future. But as we learned from Elder Bednar's talk, it is the LOAD which enables us to move forward. It is the load that gives us traction. A common theme that I have noticed on my mission has been that of Sacrifice. We MUST sacrifice some things for ETERNAL HAPPINESS. Our Savior sacrificed EVERYTHING for our eternal happiness, why shouldn't we have to sacrifice something as well? When investigators sacrifice sleep or popularity or money and work to come to church, they receive more blessings than they possibly could have obtained from their own efforts. When we sacrifice 10% of our gross income we are showered with blessings. When we sacrifice time to help, comfort, or lift SOMEONE ELSE the blessings that come to both parties are numberless.

I also noted the theme of standing for truth. It is in those small moments or those "gray areas" in which I find myself falling short. There is no gray area. When we feel that there is it is simply a test of our Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. A test of our LOVE and OBEDIENCE towards him. Basically I write these things to you in hope that I will learn, remember, and apply them better and quicker. It is almost like a self pep talk haha.

I love you and cherish you. I pray that others will come in to your life that may be of support to you and show you our Heavenly Fathers love.

I heard from Elizabeth that you are taking on many crafts! Good for you! I am inspired by you to be creative and have often found myself drawing or doodling while my companion is on the phone or while I eat. :)

You have such a strong spirit and I know that you are a terrific example to the kids :) I love my brothers and sisters here in Texas and there living with you.

Here are some pictures for ya!

Hermana Hopkins

March 31st 2014

There is a wonderful recent convert here that has so much faith! Here is an example of how he prays, "Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you in the holiest name to strengthen us. We glorify you and praise you! You are who provides for us and heals us! We ask you to bless the people who are in pain or in suffering to be lifted up in your glory and love. And we say these things in the most powerful name, Jesus Christ, Amen." When he prays he means every word! I thought of how we need to glorify God more. Johnny sells fruit and vegetables to restaurants all over San Antonio and he is a blessing to us as he gives us fruit and veggies for free. Strawberries, bananas, oranges, apples, grapefruit, limes, lemons, avocado, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, all of which we are very grateful for. I have been eating grapefruit with salt on it almost every day. It's delicious! My last companion used to cook eggs and peppers for breakfast, it always smelt so good! I also really like cucumbers cut up with salt and chile on them, its a Mexican thing but it tastes delightful! Be creative! I know you are! It has helped me so much to have all these fruits and veggies because I feel better about my food choices which lifts my self esteem and I feel clarity of mind because of the good food that helps me physically. I didn't realize how yummy it all was and how good it feels!

One of the books we have out here is called, "adjusting to missionary life" and it helps us to be healthy with all the stress we have. One part explains why it is so important to do Cardio exercise daily. It says that the more we exercise consistently the more we will see that our body needs less sleep. I was amazed! The better exercise I get the less sleep I will need?! AWESOME! Because I love to sleep but I just simply do not have time to be taking naps all the time. Run for 30 minutes, do lots of jumping jacks, get your body moving and when you feel tired and like quitting, DON'T. Push through and tell yourself, only 5 more! And then after those 5 more just tell yourself again, only 3 more! You will see that you can do a lot more than you think you can.

Also, for me to wake up I have figured out a strategy! I put the alarm clock in the bathroom. It is loud and annoying! When it goes off I go in the bathroom and turn it off and go to the bathroom since I always have to do so when I wake up. Then I come back in my room and immediately make my bed and then kneel down to pray. I tell my Heavenly Father of the plans of the day and the goals I am working on. I pray for strength to overcome weakness. Then I get up and start that exercise! I don't even change! I just go into the front room and start jumping jacks or stretching! And it totally works! When I only have the phone alarm go off in the bedroom I fall back to sleep. Try it! I know it has really helped me to put the alarm clock in the bathroom where it echoes loudly and just gets louder and faster beeping.

Are you studying your Book of Mormon daily? Are you attending church each week? Are your prayers each day sincere? These three things are the simplest and easiest things to stop doing but are what give us the GREATEST STRENGTH. Did you watch the women's conference on Saturday? It gave me such strength to push forward! We are DAUGHTERS of a LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER. He wants to see us succeed and be happy! My companion said the other week, "When we put ourselves down or hold on to guilt we are doing Satan's job for him." Let it go, Mom! That's Satan trying to hold you back and keep you down. The Savior suffered for you personally. He knows your weaknesses perfectly and has so much mercy and patience for you. He also knows your potential and exactly HOW you can and will reach it.

Now, after reading this you are probably going to think in your head, "That's great Ally, but I just can't seem to get up. I am sick! I am tired. I just don't feel like I have the strength."

I wish I could video tape some of the things that I have seen in this last week alone and send it to you. I wish I could record my exact feelings and gently place them in your heart so that you could truly feel them.

We met a woman that is less active and has three children and is pregnant with another. We knocked on her door and when she opened it and saw us she said, "Well that was fast.." I asked her what was fast and she said, "I just said a prayer." and she broke down in tears. She let us in to her small apartment and scattered over the entire floor were broken pieces of cereal and trash. Crumbs and such covered the table and the counters. She explained to us that she was going to be evicted in a week. She doesn't have a job, her husband is bipolar and schizophrenic and there is a protective order in place so that he not visit them. He is homeless and the way he gets money is he steals from walmart and then takes things in to get an exchange for money back. She feels that he is just sick and that if he had medicine he could work and provide for the family. But he can't get medicine without a visit to a psychiatrist and he doesn't have money for that. The three children have been taken away before and she fears that they will be taken again. My companion and I offered to help. She let us. I cleaned the kitchen, my companion cleaned the front room. The woman seemed to not have enough energy but she picked up a few things. Hanging on her wall was the Young Women's theme. I cleaned out the food and cigarettes from the dishes and the sink, washed them, and swept the floor and thought the entire time of how my mother had taught me to clean the kitchen. She taught me to not be grossed out by wet food in dishes and to clean off the counters and then sweep. In that moment I thanked my God for my mother who taught me well and for the wonderful example she has always been to me of enduring and finding joy in even the toughest times. We finished cleaning her apartment and vacuumed and the feeling there was completely changed. Afterwards we sang her favorite hymn, "Abide With Me Tis Eventide" and shared a short scripture. She shared that her husband had abused her and that she was going to domestic violence classes. A specific invitation came to my mind by the Spirit. "My mother has been in a very similar situation as you. You have to come to church consistently. That is only way. Your family will be protected and strengthened. I know because of the example of my mother. I have never gone with out food or shelter and I know that God lives." This was my testimony that I bore to her. The Spirit was strong and she knew what she needed to do.

The difference here is clear to me. This woman's children NEED her to go to church and to be that example of faith. Mom, you go to church. You pray daily and all day. You delight in the scriptures. We have been protected and watched over in every trial. God is very much aware of our thoughts and actions, our trials and joys, our desires our dreams, our potential and our faith. He is consistent. He is patient. Be patient with yourself. If you have made mistakes, repent and let it go. When God forgives he also forgets. He expects us to forgive ourselves as well. Heaven is filled with those that have this in common, they are forgiven and they forgive.

I love you. I am grateful for you. I know that God lives. I know that we have the truth and I am grateful for the comfort and peace that it brings to me daily.

You are incredible.

Love, Hermana Alexandria Juliet Hopkins

March 24th 2014

This week in the Texas San Antonio Mission, deep in the heart of San Antonio, two young Sister Missionaries set off to ride the bus for the week in order to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ with love and boldness. Their successes were many and their regrets were few. They talked to everyone in sight and were guided each second by the Spirit of our Maker. They were timid for only a day and then triumphantly broke through their comfort zone to invite and commit and follow up and teach each day and then safely return home each night. They were protected in each hour by the love of their Savior and overcame obstacles of being lost and not having a map, sunburns, and missing the bus. All while carrying in their purses one small book and maintaining in their souls one firm testimony. What we preach is not ordinary. What we say is not complicated. What we know is all true. What we do is MISSIONARY WORK.

Basically I love every minute of riding the bus. We meet so many amazing people and we experience miracles. I sat down on the bus next to a girl on friday and she stared at me with big eyes and said, "This is awkward... I was just praying to God to send me a miracle." I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's only true church on earth today. I know that the Priesthood has been restored. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. How do I know? Because I have had experiences in prayer and fasting that I can not deny. I have seen God's love for me and it burns within my being. Heavenly Father loves me!

Yesterday I was complaining about how someone was not keeping commitments and how I didn't really want to go visit them. We said a prayer and during the prayer I realized that I needed to repent. I trust that God knows how to help His children to return to Him.

We helped an elderly lady fix her VCR and we turned on the Church's movie called "Our Heavenly Father's Plan" The music that played was so comforting. I love listening to old songs that have helped me feel the Spirit before. Like Michael Mcclean. (Do I know how to spell anymore? Of course not.) I am so excited for General Conference! I will be ready with questions written down and my journal open to record the promptings and impressions that I receive.

We are teaching a family right now that is excited to get baptized. They said they were online picking out CTR rings and wondered if they needed to buy the white jumpsuits?... ? Are they prepared or what! The mom is a member and is working and going to school and has 5 children. Her husband works all week as well. Her children Hanna and AJ and her husband all want to be baptized. They just have to come to church! Pray for them for sure, they are amazing.

I found out that Ruben taught Gospel Principles class last Sunday in Eagle Pass, how awesome is he! I don't worry about him, I know his faith is rooted. But I keep praying for him.

I also heard that Daniel gave a talk last Sunday and people were crying because it was so good and that he passed the Sacrament, I am SOOO happy! I just can't help but smile when I hear the wonderful things that are happening in these friends' lives. 

Well, here are some pictures of this week, I hope that you can feel of at least part of the pure joy that I am feeling here on my mission. I love you!!!!

Hermana Ally Hopkins