12/28/15 Happy New Year to All!

 

 

 

 

 

 

-So that is a tree made of soda bottles....they don´t waste ANYTHING here :)

-The manger in the park

-Me and me companion

 

 

 

Happy New Year to all!  Wow, I can't believe it is here!

 

So here...Christmas is not celebrated all that much...and where it is, it is all about the drinking, fireworks, and other wordly things.  Very few people decorate and maybe 3/4 have trees? But, we did have a great Christmas!

Yesterday we have a great family night with a partial family and an active family. There were lots of children so we wanted to teach in a way they would understand. Wow, it was so AMAZING!  The spirit was so strong as we went back to the basics.  We used Janga blocks to explain Christ forming his church, the church falling, other churchs taking truths and starting, and finally the Restoration. The spirit testified to me again of the truthfulness.  Oh how powerful it is when you can hear the message in the clearest, easist form!  I invite you all to renew your testimony that you have of the Restoration!  

I hope Christmas went well, and that you are all looking forward to a great new year!  2016...Where will it find you?

As some of you may know, life can be trying. It can be difficult, challenges and trials come, and they always will.

 Why? The sunday school answer that we all hear is "it is for our progression, it is the reason we came to earth- to be tried and tested".  But do we really comprehend that?  Ultimatly the goal is to become like Christ.  We have so many great examples. Some of whom are, Christ himself, Moses, Abraham, Nephi, Moroni, and the list goes on.  But how can we expect to sit with these men one day if our life was a "cake walk"?  The trials of these men  made them who they are.  They struggled, they fought, they cried, they CHOSE to keep going, to get back up on the horse and FOLLOW CHRIST!  IT WAS NO "CAKE WALK" FOR THEM, so why would we have think it would bo so for us?  

I know that God has "customized" our lives.  He hand places the people, the situations ( in my case companions) and areas-SPECIFICALLY for you, for me-in our lives!  He knows what we need to help us grow and to BECOME like Him.  He is going to push us to the limits (that really we place upon ourselves).  He is going to help us stretch, to take the next step in the path TO HIM.  That being said...HE IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE US TO DO IT ON OUR OWN!  If we let him, if we INVITE Him...He will be there with us, every step of the way, and just when we are on the end of our rope, He will pick us up and carry us to the end.  I know these things to be true.  I have felt His hands carrying me, I know He can and will carry you.  I invite you to find Him, rely on Him, and to keep going!  There is a way. He has a divine path, SPECIFICALLY for you.  He loves you, He died for you and He will do anything for you.  En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

See you soon, 

Hermana Fox

Merry Christmas to all!

 I hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!  It is going to be a very special day :)

So this week has been full of twists and turns!  I have felt my Savior truly carrying me through my challenges.  I know that he lives, and wants to help everyone one of us.  What a special relationship we can have with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!  I will always be indebted to them!

So we have started teaching a family.  They have a boy of 11 years.  We were talking about prayer and he started to share an experience of when he was scared of the thunderstorm, but then he prayed and felt peace.  THIS IS A BOY WHO HAS NEVER GONE TO CHURCH AND SOME MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF GOD EXISTS!  He testified that God lives and loves him.  It was so special.  In a later lesson we gave him a Book of Mormon and he starting reading it right then and asking questions.  "I am going to read it all!" He exclaimed!  What a spiritual boy that was placed in our path!  

So on Saturday...we were contacting and we both had an impression to knock on the last house of the street.  Well, that was when we were at the first house.  Not listening to the prompting, we knocked on almost every house facing rejection after rejection.  When we knocked on this last house, we offered service, (which no one in all of mission has accepted) she said, well actually I'm decorating my Christmas tree and I would LOVE help! YIPEE!!!  After decorating and sharing a message, we sang "Oh Come all ye Faithful".  She teared up and said that was the best gift anyone could have given her!  That was the best part of my birthday!  :)  Seeing the spirit work in the hearts of others!

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes and I wish you all the best Christmas! 

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

This is at the Christmas devotional with President and Hermana LaPiere! It was full of games, food, and the spirit of Christmas!  It was the best! :)  (I won the bowling competion...WOOT WOOT!) Oh and President dressed as Santa Clause and I about died!  Oh how I love President and Sister LaPiere!

12/14/15 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The picture is of us today when we explored the Jungle with the Elders .  We had a good time!

 Hello to all!

Well, actually its not the Christmas that I am used to...but the Christmas Spirit is here!  What a special time of year we have to reflect on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ!  :)

This week we had the opportunity to message with a family from the branch.  Each one of us told what the Atonement means to us personally.  It was such a powerful experience and the spirit was so very strong.  So I invite you to reflect...what does the Atonement mean to you?  How have you applied it?  How are you allowing it to CHANGE you?

I am so grateful for this time I have to serve my Heavenly Father.  He is teaching me so many things, in such a condensed amount of time.  The mission truly is a special place.  Nobody can really understand it until they are actually here.  It is unexplainable, but because of that it is impossibly rewarding.  It is the greatest work in the earth, and it will go on!  :)  

 

Yes, I am using my piano skills.  I play prelude and all the hymns I know.  If I don't know it, then we sing acapella.  We have been able to serve more lately, mostly less actives and members.  

 

I love you all.  Thanks for your love and support.  I miss you and I will see you soon.  Merry Christmas!

Hermana Starlee Fox

 

‏‏ 12/7/2015 Primera semana en Diciembre :)

pic. 1.  So this is a picture of the 3 front eras...on my right is Paraguay, on my left is Brazil, and I'm in Argentina!  It was so fun to see, sorry  the picture isn't that great... :)

pic. 2.  This is the inside of our studio apartment.  It is all one room except for the bathroom.

 

 

 

Hello to all,

I hope you are all having a great Christmas season!  I love you and I'm so grateful for you!

I am so grateful for this time of year and the time we have to think more about Christ.  God is so loving to send us His son.  I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven, who would give us such a wonderful gift.  I don't know what I would do without my Savior.  The atonement is real. It has healing powers.

Life is hard, but God is good, and it keeps moving on.  I know that God answers prayers, and He has ALL power.  As His children, we can call upon it. But it is up to us and our faith.  The work has been quite discouraging this week, so I don't have much to report on.

 

I wore my Christmas scarf on Sunday that you sent, Mom.  Thanks, it was really cute.

 

You asked about the dress in my picture last week.  It was made by Hermana So.  She is so great!  She is married and has 3 children.  Her whole family is active which is so special and unique here!  She told us she would make us dresses for $4.00 if we bought the fabric.  She is actually going to make me another one.   We usually have family night with her family and other less actives.  She is a great example.

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

Live, Laugh, Love, find the JOY!

Baptism...Oh an angel member made me this dress :)

Cleaning the baptismal font :)  WAHOO!

HEY HEY!  Time is flying, the spirit is testifying, the work is progressing, people's hearts are being touched, God is working miracles, and life is great!  :)

Well, An. was baptized this week!  She is such a special child of light.  She is truly seeking Him and following Him.  What does it feel like to see someone dressed in white, willing to take upon herself the name of Christ and always follow Him?  Well, it is quite heavenly if you ask me.  She is such a great example to me.  She is truly an elect of the last days, conquering the worldly fears and following the truth.

So the branch had a temple trip this last weekend.  A recent convert (Luciano age 12), was able to go. When we saw him this week we asked him "How was the temple?"  He was in a group of friends and we expected him to play it off as nothing.  He paused, and he got big tender eyes and softly said, "Really, it was incredible.  Like nothing else."  It was the sweetest moment!  How special is this coming generation?!  How beautiful is the Gospel?  (P.S. I miss the temple SO much!  I can´t wait to have one close by again.  We are so blessed to have so many, SO close at home in the Utah!)

A quote from Elder Uchdorf that I have come to love...

 "With such a glorious future, why get swallowed up in past or present things that don´t go quite as planned?  Faith gave me the hope I needed to live joyfully now."

Find the joy!  This week, as most has been full of unexpected twists and turns. THIS work is NOT going to be perfect...it is in the hands of humans, 18 and 19 year old's at that!  It is ok when things don't go as planned.  Find Joy and know that you are doing what you can!  LIVE LOVE LAUGH.  FIND the Joy...it is there!

I love you all!  Hope you have the best FIRST week of December! :)

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

Hakuna Matata!!!

So we have a few pets in the apartment....Cockroaches, lizards, and mosquito :)  This is my island of protection :)

We had zone conference this week which was amazing!  WOW!  I am learning so much! (Me with Presidente and Hermana LaPierre)

 

Oh and I helped a less active make bread this week. :)  That was happy!

 

 

Well, first off...I hope you all have the best thanksgiving ever!  That is one Holiday I will surely miss, but how great it will be to just serve others on this very special day!  

Well, I´ll sorry if this letter gets a little long...but so much is happening and I want to share a little bit of everything! :)

WOW!  Being a missionary is great!  Just imagine...DECLARING and DEFENDING the truth all the day long.  That about sums up the 1.5 or 2 years :)  When Christ taught he taught with clarity.  He told it how it is, clearly, as to avoid any confusion.  Yes he shared all the beautiful poetic blessings and doctrine, but he also shared what would happen if we chose not to follow him.  Well Hermana Castillo and I were in a lesson and we were urged to do just that. We were urged to plainly declare our outcomes of our choices.  The spirit was strong as we BOLDLY testified, I believe everyone within a mile could feel it!  Oh how amazing the power of the spirit and our calling is.

So one morning during personal study I was searching the scriptures to find something to share with a member during our lunch apt.  Lunch was great (as always, with this angel) and we shared the scripture and everything was normal.  I didnt think anything of it! Later that night, we had an apt with an investigator and we had planned to share the restoration. When we got there, this woman started telling us an experience she had and her difficulties.  She was crying and visible shaken.  This scripture that I had found for lunch was the perfect scripture to give her peace!  God works in mysterious ways.  He knows our paths, and he knows what each one of His children are need of. It is so amazing to see Him in the works.  I love being His mouth piece and bringing his word to his children.

AE. She is 18 years old and has been investigating the church for over a year.  Her parents have been against her getting baptized, but now that she is 18...it is her choice.  We met with her last week and she was quite torn.  Her parents told her that they would (basically) abandon her if she joined the church.  She asked if we would fast with her.  She wanted the strength to tell her parents that she had made her disicion.  We fasted and  the next morning she texted us and said "I`m ready!"  We said,  " Good, we are too!"  She is such an example of Faith, standing for the truth, and courage!  

Hakuna Matata- Our moto this week.  "It means no worries, for the rest of your days, its our problem free philosophy".  You guys all know how it goes.  :)  So sometimes I struggle, (like many of us do) with questioning if I´m doing what God would have me do.  Am I learning what he would have me learn,  acting as he would have me act.  And so forth...well this morning I was reading in D&C 76:2-3 "GREAT is His wisdom, MARVELOUS are his ways and the extent of his doings NONE can find out.  His purposes FAIL NOT, neither are there ANY who can stay his hand."  WOW EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED!  I just need to stop worrying, because God has a plan.  He will provide me with the experiences I need. He will make me in to the person that He needs, AND NOBODY can get in His way!  (not even me!)  So, take a deep breath, and sing HAKUNA MATATA! :)

I love you all so much!  Thank you for everything!  Hope its the best Thanksgiving ever!

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

11/16/15 How do we progress?

OH... FUNNY STORY!!!  So we were walking one night...in straight darkness.  I felt like I stepped on something squishy....I look down and see a frog the size of a FULL GROWN CHICKEN!  It was SO GROSS!  Me and my companion screamed SO LOUD and started running, all the neighbors came out of thier houses to see what had happened.  HA!  Oh what they must think about the CRAZY mormons!  :)  I´m just glad all is well, because apparently there are frogs here that are fatal.  They actually kill dogs all the time! HA!  Now we don't ever walk in the dark without flashlights!

Another FANTISTIC week in the work of the Lord!  I have been studying a bit about the plan of Salvation and I wanted to share a bit of my thoughts.

 What is our purpose here in this life?  Preach My Gospel describes it in 2 parts:  We are to PROGRESS and we are to be HAPPY.  Many times we get sucked into the progression, and forget about the being happy. We just want to learn, to overcome our obstacles, to be better than we are now. We want to be better listeners to the Spirit.   We want to be more patient, loving and faithful.  We want to live the commandments with more exactness.  We want to one day return to our Father in Heaven, being our BEST self.

These are NOT BAD desires, in fact they are great!  However,  it is important to remember that we ARE TO FIND JOY,  and if we are not doing that, we are not completly fulfilling our purpose.  We are to smile, and laugh.  Enjoy hard times, good times and just plain life!  Look for the small things, because there is ALWAYS something to smile about and be grateful for.  

When we can learn to PROGRESS and have JOY, that is when we are fulfilling our purpose!  Oh and P.S.  I think you will find that you like your life better when you put the two together!

Thank you all for your examples! You're amazing, and dont let anyone convince you otherwise!

We also  offered service this week to a less active member, and she finally accepted!  We spent time washing clothes and chatting with her!  We have contacted a ton this week and have been rejected a ton too!  All is well and the work moves forward!

Oh, our AC doesnt work, so it is SO HOT AT night.  We havent slept the greatest! Ha, I just lay and bed and sweat!  GROSS!  HAHA

I made Banana bread today...that was really good!  Just like home!

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

starlee.fox@myldsmail.net

Loving Life in Eldorado!

What a BIG fantastic week!  I guess I´ll start at the beginning?  Ha.

Saying goodbye...Wow that was hard!  There are so many great people in Lavalle!  It was like saying goodbye to my family all over again.  Most of the goodbyes went really well, one family when I told them that I would be leaving both of the parents started crying.  It was quite a great experience, because the whole time that we had visited, the father was quite hard hearted.  He didn't want to participate in the lessons, he just wanted to tell us everything he knew about the Bible, and how there cannot be another book.  In the end it was so great to see that his heart is starting to change, and he can recognize  us as the servants of the Lord that we are.

Coming to Eldorado...It is about 4 hours North of Posadas in a bus.  It is about 100% different!  I love it here!  I am literally in HEAVEN!  It is like a Jungle...We walk down streets and pick Papayas!  I had Mango in my oatmeal...which was fantastic!   It is a bit cooler, which will be such a blessing this winter!  

 

So I walked into the apartment and my companion tells me, that we don't have hot water in the shower, the kitchen sink doesn´t work, there is a gas leak, and there is no light in the bathroom.  In my mind I was thinking...WAHOO!  This is what I was imagining when I called to Argentina!  Ha!  But all that changed when I realized how inconvenient all these things were.  As of now, we have just about fixed everything!  It is GREAT!

Speaking of my companion: She is so great!  She is a spiritual GIANT!  She is the only member in her family, and her family has practically abandoned her because she joined the church and came on a mission.  Her testimony is so strong and I am learning so much from her!  She is from Peru.

The Branch here is great!  There is so much love within it.   Wow can I tell you the difference that makes?!  I have already fallen in love with so many of them!  The total atmosphere of the branch is different because everyone wants to be a part of this great work!  I urge all of you, where ever you may be, to JOIN this great work.  Talk to the missionaries in your ward, stake, or area.  YOUR LIFE will change.  YOUR TESTIMONY will be strengthened.  The Lord will bless you!  I am the luckiest girl in the world to be able to be a small part of His marvelous work! 

Some of you have asked about the Spanish. It is going well!  I can communicate easily. YES, I learn more every day, but it is not a barrier.  :)   I actually had members complement me this week and said it sounds like you've been out for a year!  I replied, God is real, the gift of tongues is real, and I am just one blessed missionary!

I love you all!  Thank you all for you support and love!

See you soon,

 

Hermana Fox

P.S. Our area is huge...12 kilometers:)  Lots of walking, lots of cows...I secretly want to ride one, so we´ll see how that goes!

Today we explored the jungle a bit...and picked Papayas :)  Do I look indigenous? (is that word Spanish or English?)

Walking to appointments...ya we get lost...just about every day :)

Enjoying ice cream...my last night in Lavalle!  I have the best sister missionaries in the world!

Hey Hey, Happy November! How crazy is that?!

 Can you believe its November?  Next November...I´ll be home!  How fast does time fly when your having fun in the greatest work on earth?  I don't actually know how to describe it...but  WOW! Its fast!

It was just a fabulous week!  It is such a blessing to be able to watch people progress in the gospel, and watch how it truly changes their lives! 

Gl. is great!  He is working on quitting smoking.   He is truly struggling with this, but this will make him all the stronger in the end.  Without the sacrifices, we wont be able to notice the blessings.  This is true in whatever part of your life, and may take on many different forms. 

Go., well he is just the funniest person I have ever met.  We taught the law of chastity this week. I said, "So Hermano Go., will you live the law of chastity?"   He looks at me and with the biggest smile on his face says, "Hermana Fox, do you know what your asking?"  ha!   I said, "Of course Gustavo, I'm inviting you to live the commandments of God and better your life!"  None the less, we will be having more discussions on the law of chastity in the near future.  I have hope and I'm not to worried about it!  Ha.  I about died laughing!  He will be the strongest member in all of Argentina after his baptism.  He has the biggest heart and wants to do so much  good!

Ga!  She is doing so well.  Yesterday we taught about service in the church and she is so excited to get a calling.  Then she asked us if she could give a talk in church, because she wants to share all she is reading in her  Book of Mormon studies!  I love to see the light and the spirit she has.  She basically teaches us, and MAN does she have the spirit with her!  

 Ok, sorry for the rambling!  The gospel is the only way we will make it back to our Father in  Heaven. Choose it, Live it, Share it,  Love it!  Love you all!  Thank you for all your support, prayers, and love !

Love, Hermana Fox

P.S.  I forgot.  I will be getting transferred this week, to Elderado?( I don't know  how to spell anything in Spanish :)   I will be senior companion this time.  My new companion is from Peru.  Its 4 hours from Posadas I believe. I am sad to be leaving all of the great people here, but I cant wait to embark on the work of the Lord in Elderado! It truly doesn't matter where we are serving because we are all in this for the same purpose.  We are bringing to pass the immorality and eternal life of man! 

I found a John Deere!  This is for you, Dad!

I made pumpkin pie for our 5 month service mark!

10/26/15 Great Week Serving in Argentina

WOW!  So much is happening I don't even know where to start!  It has been such a great week in every way! 

So I believe I shared a bit about Gl. last week...but it he is just the greatest! He came to church yesterday and is doing so well. He is preparing for his baptism on the 28th of November!  We have had some of the greatest spiritual lessons with him.  He told us this week, "I have never felt like this in all of my life!"  This is what the Gospel is all about!   If you are not happy while living this gospel, I invite you to evaluate what you are doing, because it is the not gospel that has the problem.  (Sorry, I tend to be a bit direct...Ha)  At the end of every lesson is common for us to ask if there is anything we can do to help the investigator or Less active.  I asked Gabriel this week, and he said,  "No, just keep talking!"  He loves the truth and is feasting upon every word of it!  He gets so sad every time we say can we close with a prayer...because he wants to keep learning!  It is such a pleasure to be able to witness him conversion unto Christ! 

It is amazing how easy it is to teach someone who is prepared.  There is no convincing, dragging, or arguing.  They recognize the Gospel as truth and want to live every part of it.  I absolutely love it!  It is such a rush to teach people like this, I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

We are also working a lot with Go.  He is so great!  We are taking small steps with him, but he is really progressing.  He told us this week he has prayed more in these last 2 weeks with us than he has in his whole life.  Not only that, but he can feel the difference it is making in his life!

I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I love being a missionary and spreading this good news.  Through the gospel, Christ changes lives.  He has changed mine. He is changing others, and He can change yours.  Choose to come unto Him and partake of His goodness! 

Thank you all for everything!  Love you tons!

See you soon,

Hermana Fox  

So...This was our 5 month celebration.  Apple empanadas...which taste like apply pie!  YUM!

10/19/15 So hard, So happy!

Wow, what a great week!  The mission is quite the experience.  I have never been so disrespected as a woman, rejected so much, yelled at with profanity, or BEEN SO HAPPY IN ALL OF MY LIFE!  It is so amazing what happens when we dedicate ourselves to the work of the Lord!  He did not say it would be easy, only that it would be worth it!

So this week we made empanadas, but we stuffed them with apples!  They tasted like a small apple pie, and boy were they delicious!  I realized that it is fall back there at home and that I would probably eat lots of delicious pies if i were there!  It was like a little taste of home, and I loved it!

This week has been a bit crazy with my companion and I.  We had divisions almost every day this week, because of the circumstances of other hermanas. Which means it was a great week of growing!  I love learning from other missionaries, and getting out of routine!  It was so fun to meet other investigators that are progressing in other areas.  It was very eye opening!  I love to see the moment when things start to click for people.  When everything we are teaching is not just a bunch of good information or good ideas.  This is a way of life, and when we follow it we true are happy!

So we have met Gl.  He is SO GREAT!  We talk to him and he analyzes everything.  It literally is so hungry for the truth.  As of right now he has a date to be baptized in the Catholic church because he feels that baptism is the step that he needs to take, so yesterday we had a lesson about the authority, and he is praying to see what church has the authority.  It is really such a rush to teach him.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the rush, the extreme, the limits.  At home it may take the form of snowmobiles, razors, wake boarding and such...but here, it is seriously such a rush to teach God´s children.  To testify with all of your heart the truths of God.  It is so great!  I love the mission.  Yes it is hard, and there are difficulties everyday, BUT it is the best experience ever.  It is the experience of a life time! 

 

One of my funny highlights of the week:  Remember when I told you that I went to the bathroom in a home that didn't have a door but only a lace tablecloth separating the bathroom from the main living. That was only preparation for my experience this week.  Well this week I got to use the restroom, which was actually an outhouse with no door or lace covering.  No big deal!  I can handle that.  It was so great  to sit there and watch the dogs playing and listen to my companion talking to the owner of the place.

 

I am reading the Book of Mormon again.  This time I am reading a new copy that has not been marked.  I have written a question on the first page and I am reading the book with this question in mind.  It is literally the coolest experience ever!

It is truly helping me to feast on the words of Christ.  I invite you to read the Book of Mormon with a purpose.  Ask a question.  Ponder a subject.  It can change your life! This will help you EMBRACE the gospel of Jesus Christ!  Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley said, "For those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ,  things will work out.  Don't get discouraged.  Things will work out!"

 

I love you all!  Thank you all so much!  You´re the best!  Hope you all have a great week!

See you soon,

Hermana Fox

The sunset...it honestly looked like the sky was on fire.  God is so creative and I love His creations!