6/13/16 Bom dia em familia

Hola Family and Friends!

 

I hope all is going well there and that you are all enjoying the warm sun!  Winter has come, and oh it is cold!  Actually it doesnt drop below 0 C.  There isn't a single building with heating.  After being without heating all day, you feel it quite strongly.

It has been quite the week! I know I'm not going to be able to share it all, but I'll do my best!!!

So it has been a week of miracles!  Wednesday we passed by an investigator that we had lost a bit of hope in, due to the law of chastity and boyfriends not willing.  We decided to pass by one more time, and reteach this law.  She testified to us throughout the whole lesson that it would be a great law to live.  Then in the end she said, "so I told my boyfriend that He can live here anymore until we are married." Say WHAT?!  Ha, she told us that she is feeling a lot better since he left, and BAM FETCHA BAUTISMAL!!!  We are working to prepare her for the 25th of JUNE! 

Oh but it didn't stop there, right after we had a lesson with JA.  She is the less active, who had the miracle with her baby living after receiving a blessing.  We walked in and asked her how she was doing, and how her "boyfriend" is doing.  She got quiet, and said, "Well Sunday I told him that if he doesn't want the church, then I don't want him.  So I kicked him out, and oh, can I tell you how good I feel?!"  I was literally SHOCKED!  The change in this woman is incredible and she desires to just do want is right even before we invite her. 

Thursday morning we recieved a call from a member.  He said he wanted to bring us breakfast.  Ok, WHY NOT?!  We dropped down from our apartment and he had 2 kilos of  Dulce de leche (similar to carmel), and nothing else. Haha!  People here are so funny here, yet so very generous!!! :)

Also we had a lesson that was FULLY in Guarni this week!  Thanks to members and all their help to make it posible.  Basically there was a lot of translating.  We taught and then the member repeated in Guarani.  The members continue to help and bless us!!!  I am blessed beyond measure!

Yikes we found quite the Catholic this week. She said, "There is only 1 HUGE difference between me and you.  "You are Christian, and I am Christian AND "Mariana" (HUGE believer in Mary)".  It makes me so sad to see people who place things in the way of coming unto Christ.  I know that Christ is the ONLY way.  He is the ONLY Savior.  There is NO other way, and there never will be!  I am so grateful for the sacrifice and investment He made for me. "I STAND ALL AMAZED"!  I love this gospel, and I am so grateful to stand up to the world and testify of Him.

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

 

Mission Argentina Posadas

Cordoba 1243

Posadas CP-3300

Misiones

Argentina

6/6/16 Hola from Paraguay!

Hola Familia!

First week in Paraguay, Ciudad del este Barrio  is literally paradise!!! This ward is the reason I am here in the Argentina Posadas mission!  I am in love!!  I have recieved the warmest welcome from all the ward members!  There is so so much support from them!  They seriously just want to serve us in everyway that they can!  We enjoy lunch everyday with them.

A little about Paraguy, Cuidad del Este, It is a HUGE city and I LOVE IT!!!  Everyone basically speaks 3 languages or more.  Portuguese, Spanish and Guarni.  On top of that there are a lot of Chinese.  We were shopping today and in one store I heard a conversation in all 4 of these different languages,  AT THE SAME TIME! HAHA!  Sunday dinner was Brazilian and absolutely DELICIOUS!!  I am loving all the comodities that I have been missing out on.  I'm loving showers with water pressure, a kitchen sink with hot water, a toilet that is NOT plastic,  just to mention a few.  HAHA!  The people are VERY humble.  It doesn't matter if they have money or not, they want to talk with us and listen.  The people here are incredibly loving!  Just about everyone lets us in to listen, and then we cant leave without them feeding us.  Im just praying I can control myself and not get FAT!

We are currently working with a couple of youth, who are progressing for baptism.  There is so much work to be done here.  I have never had a ward who fully understands that EVERY member is a missionary, like this ward.  We are constantly recieving references, and having lessons with members.

There is a family Ojeda.  Their grandson was literally dying.  They were in the hospital and the Doctors said that there was nothing else that they could do.  It was 4:00 in the morning.  The Grandpa, (active member) called another member to give the baby a blessing.  During the blessing the baby start throwing up and started to react!  What  a miracle!  The mother,(less active) was touched and started to come to church again!  :)  I know that God is a God or miracles!  He loves us and is aware of each of us.

Funny story:  So the bishop came to fill up our propane tank.  We live in a apartment building on the 4th floor, so I threw the tank over my shoulder and packed it down.  When bishop saw me he was like,  " WHAT?!    Now, you have my respect!"  

Hermana Lopez is an angel!  I have so much to learn from her!  She has the biggest heart full of love, and so much patience.   I feel so blessed to be serving here with her at this time!  I love this gospel!  I love to see such a happy people, that LOVE to live the gospel!  This is the only way, and oh how very blessed I am to have this knowlege!

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

5/30/16 Transfered to Paraguay! Wahoo!

Well HELLO!

It has been quite the week, full of growing experiences!

First off, TRANSFER NEWS:  I will be leaving Argentina this Wednesday and off to Paraguy I go!  My new companion is Hermana Lopez from Honduras.   :)   We are going to be in Cuidad del Este!  For all  who dont know, that is a HUGE city on the boarder of Paraguy, Brazil, and Argentina.  Here we go with Portugese and Guarni language as well as Spanish!!!  Needless to say, I am sad to be leaving the small town of Corpus Christi and Roca and the eternal friends I have made here, but I am excited for a new adventure!    :)

As for Corpus Christi and Roca, I am going to miss so much the branch members here!  I remember my third night here in Corpus, after I passed out with the Dengue fever, Karina and Ruben came and took such good care of me: getting me to the hospital, buying me a Sprite, and giving me a blessing.  I remember thinking, Wow Ruben is the ONLY preistood holder here in town and I am blessed enough to have him here with me!  And how how blessed I feel to be a part of the Pittana family (This family basically makes up the whole branch of Corpus).  President and Andrea take such good care of us.  Washing out clothes, feeding us multiple times a week, and just being the greatest support for us missionaries!  Then in Roca there is family Piava.  They have kept me on the edge of my seat LAUGHING!  They have 2 children, but more than 30 exotic pets!  They are always so excited to feed me odd things and then tell me after what I ate!  And oh how I will miss the youth of this branch!  I have loved teaching Sunday school each week and feeling of their GREAT desires to follow Christ and SHINE out in the world today!  Sorry for the short moment of reminiscing.    :) :)

So yesterday we taught a young man, and can I tell you how much I love it when someone ACTUALLY thinks about what we are saying!  We were explaining that Christ established His church and how only Him and His 12 apostles had the Preistood authority.  "And as each of them died, this authority was lost and the Chrurch of Christ wasn't on the earth in its plentitude."  He looked at us and said, "So I guess we just have to wait for the 12 apostles to be ressurected!"  Well, BASICALLY that is what happened!  That was  perfect way to enter the Restoration of the Preisthood and the church! It was great!  He has agreed to learn more and pray for answers!

Thank you all so much for all you do for me.  I appreciate all the love and prayers that come my way!  I feel so blessed to be on a mission right now.  I know it is where I need to be.  God has a plan, and it is PERFECT.  I would not want to be in ANY other place.  I know that God lives, and that the church of His Son, Jesus Christ, is on earth today.  What a privledge I have to share this with my brothers and sisters her in Argentina and Paraguay!      :)

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

 

Mission Argentina Posadas

Cordoba 1243

Posadas CP-3300

Misiones

Argentina

P.S. Im really sorry, but pictures are not sending again.  We have a very weak connection out here.        Just imagine me HAPPY, for THAT I am.

5/23/16 Hey, Hey, His work moves on!

 Hello Family and Friends,

Ask and ye shall receive!  It is a common phrase my mother always taught me.  When last week, the topic came up about a church that believes and practices CONSTANTLY "el don de languas" or the "gift of toungues".  I always wondered what it would be like, because it is a false church.   So how does that work?  I told my companion, "I want to hear it!"

So this week, I RECIEVED!  We were in a lesson, and apparently the truth we were sharing with a couple, irratated them quite a bit.   Out it came!  I heard all sorts of things including: God loves me, but I teach false doctrine.  I have it all wrong.  I will not be saved. More that what I heard was what I felt! It was oh, so very dark and something I never ever want to experience again!  It makes me so sad to think of how many of  OUR brothers and sisters are confused. They are so lost in false doctrine that they confuse the whisperings of the Devil to be from the Holy Ghost. 

La. is doing well.  She faithfully dropped Coffee and is reading diligently the Book of Mormon, even though she only has a 5th grade education.  There are just some people, who find God's treasures and really treasure them!  This is La.!  Her "husband" has decieded to reject the gospel, and will not get married.  That makes it so that Lorena's progression is a halted.  It was so sad to see her face as she came to the realization that she will not be getting baptized here in the near future.  We pray for her each day, and know that she is in God's hands.  As she does HIS will, He will provide a way!

I know that this is God's kingdom on the earth!  It will prevail!  Nothing can stop us...till death we will fight.  I am so grateful to be on a mission!  It is like nothing I have ever experienced.  I am so grateful for what I have learned.  We are so very blessed to have the truth in our lives and live the FULNESS of His Gospel! 

Love you and see you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

 

Mission Argentina Posadas

Cordoba 1243

Posadas CP-3300

Misiones

Argentina

5/16/16 One year down!

Hey Family and Friends,

 

What a week in the work of the Lord!  I cannot tell you how many hard hearted people we have found this week.  It  really saddens my soul.  It has been a really tough week.  But on the other hand we have felt the spirit so strongly this week!  Sunday was just a day full of miracles.  After we had a long week of feeling like we accomplished ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!  We didn't have power all morning, so we had church in the dark.   :)   As we sat in church, in walked an investigator that we had dropped 2 weeks ago!  She came by her own will!  I LOVE IT.  Then we had lesson after lesson lead by the spirit.  We had planned something for all of them, but as we sat and taught, the Spirit guided us to say exactly what these people needed to hear and FEEL!  I am so grateful for the Spirit!  I know that God lives, and that this is His kingdom on the earth today.  I am so grateful to be a part of it!

Love you all and see you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.com

 

Mission Argentina Posadas

Cordoba 1243

Posadas CP- 3300

Misiones

Argentina

 

 

So this is ROCA,  (It is one of our areas.  The tree population is 12x more than the people population. :)  )

5/9/16 HELLO! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Well hello again!  Well first off Happy Mothers day to all of you.  I hope it was a great day! 

This week has been so great, with so many fun twists and turns!  On Tuesday we travelled to Obera for divisions!  It was so great! There were  4 sisters, from 4 different countries, with 3 different langauges, all untied for one purpose.  Needless to say it was great and I am so grateful to be surrounded by such great people!

Well, while we were gone, something went wrong with our propane tank and when we travelled back we got a call from our branch president saying that our neighbors could smell gas leaking from our house.  YIKES!  We came to a house full of gas, and an empty gas tank.  God's hand was in it to keep us safe and we feel so VERY blessed.  It didn't blow up and there was no HARM was done!

Wednesday night I recieved a surprise call from my favorite HERMANA WOODWELL!!!  That made my day!  It is so fun to see the growth each one of us have had in the last 8 months.  The mission is a time of concentrated growth.  The experiences that we go through are unique.  They are like NONE other and they are specific for each one of us.  :)  God knows us perfectly and puts us in the situations that will help us become who He needs us to be.

Well on the bus this week we overheard a conversation of two women.  They were hating on the church and all the members of the church in our area.  I have never heard quite so horrible of things.  It was so sad to hear, and as we got off the bus my companion let out a big breath and said, "DID YOU HEAR WHAT THEY WERE SAYING?!"  The only comfort I had found I shared with her, and I share with you today.  EVERY knee shall bow, and EVERY tongue confess that HE is the Chirst. It doesnt matter what others say, or do against the church, WE WILL PRESS ON!  This is the kingdom of God on the earth, and NOTHING will stop its progress.  All the opposition that the church faces is all the more proof that it is right.  Satan would not try so hard to destroy somthing of lesser worth.

I am so grateful to be a missionary and proclaim the truth.  I know that God lives, as does His son Jesus Christ.  This is His work, and it will continue forever and ever.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

List of things not to eat again:

Chicken liver

Suprisingly good foods:

Cow tail,  Cow leg and bone marrow :)

05/02/16 Endure to the end!

Hola familia allá arriba en el norte!  Como estan? Espero que han tenido una semana excelente!  Les quiero mucho, y quiero que sepan que siempre estén en mis pensamientos y en mí Corazon.   :)

 

Interpretation:  Hello Family up there in the North!  How are you all?  I hope that you guys are having an excellent week.  I love you all.  I hope that you all know that you are in my thoughts and my heart.

It has been a great week here in the little towns of Corpus and Roca.  The work continues.  It may not continue at the rate that I would like, but God is in control and as I do my part, He will hasten His work in his timing.

 So a few weeks ago we started to teach a woman named Carmen.  Well there was absolutely NOTHING special in the first 2 lessons.  She showed NO interest and made it CRYSTAL CLEAR that she believed her church was the correct church and she would never leave it! Well needless to say we insisted a bit and wanted to at least teach her the Restoration.  Last week during our studies, we studied about the importance of the Book of Mormon in the conversion of each one of us and investigators. We taught the Restoration and gave her the BOM with an invite to read and pray about it.  She wasn't ex tactic at the invite, but she did accept.  :)  When we returned for the next visit, she had read all of the Introduction, witness pages, and the testimony of Joseph Smith.  She explained all of it to us and had a couple questions.  It was such a special moment to testify of this precious testament that we have today.  When she finally understood what we were asking of her, a light came into her eyes and she was THRILLED that we would give her this opportunity to find out for herself the truth.   :)

So this week I have been studying about what it means to "Endure to the End".  It is such a common phrase in church language that many times I feel it is misunderstood.  Being the last step in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is more than important for our progression and salvation.  Enduring to the end is more than just casually reading the scriptures, praying, and sitting on the church bench.  It literally means that we will continue to progress.  We will constantly strive to become better in EVERY WAY possible.  I love the parable that we find in Alma 32.  We are all growing into a beautiful tree filled with the fruit, but if we stop feeding it, it will not produce fruit.  It will die (Alma 32:40-41).  Or we will grow too fast without spreading roots and we will fall with the smallest of storm that passes through, whether that be taking offense, or a trial. (Jacob 5:48).   We must CONTINUALLY nourish the tree, SINK our roots down deeper and deeper so that no matter what passes, it CANNOT kill us!  Think of a baby.  As a baby is born, there is only one thing that you can give it.  Only this thing will give it all of the nutrients that it needs to have health and grow correctly.  Babies need MILK.  But what happens after 1-2 years?  This ONE thing that was ALWAYS sufficient, now IS NOT sufficient.  If a baby continues on this diet, it will be malnourished and never grow to capacity.  Eventually you must start to give this baby food.  Mash up a piece of potato, carrot, and banana.  It needs MORE so that it can grow.  We are the same spiritually.  As we start in the gospel, a diet of 20 minute scripture study, church attendance, and prayer IS sufficient.  WE WILL GROW....BUT ONLY TO A POINT....then like the baby we will start to be malnourished!  We must do more.  We must drink from the scriptures deeply.  We must POUR OUR WHOLE HEART out in prayer.  We must BEG for the spirit and we must PRESS FORWARD and FEAST on the words of Christ.  (2 Nephi 31:30)   There is nothing casual about it and if it is....we are probably dying or already dead on the vine.  I love my Savior, and this gospel which He has given us.  It is through Him that we can press on.  He is my strength and my all.  I invite you to choose Him, send your roots down deep and prepare for the moment when you will stand before of Him.  (Alma 34:32) 

  3 Nephi 27:19...Seek Him, and be FAITHFUL until the end.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

 

WINTER  HAS ARRIVED!  Actually we just dropped from 90 to 40 in one day....and oh I am SO not used to that!!!

This is our house in Corpus! :)