Monday, May 19, 2014

Email 5/19/14!


From: Camille Weller [mailto:camille.weller@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 11:24 AM
To: Melissa Wheatley;
Subject: What an amazing week!!

 I know i say this a lot but this week was amazing!! It felt good to finally get back to chivay and be "home" on monday(: Tuesday we had english class which is always fun, we played a lot of games this week, and then had a surprise birthday party for Elder Maylett who turned 21. It actually turned out to be one of the biggest ward parties weve had! There was 13 investigators and 6 members and then the 6 of us missionaries. I think were going to have birthday parties more often, they love em here! Wednesday and Thursday me and my companion were both super sick and didnt leave the room much, we think it was something we ate because the elders were all sick too and tuesday we all ate lunch at the same place. But being in the room so much gave us time to read and think a lot and the desire to get out and work was just killin us. So finally friday and saturday we got out there and worked our butts off. and it was worth it! we got some new investigators and also got some very good news from brenda (our 14 year old investigator)!! We walked in and as soon as we sat down she told us that she had been thinking a lot and that she wants to get baptized and knows that its going to change her life... we were in shock but so happy!! it had been so long since someone had told me that, it was like music to my ears (: She told us that she wanted to go to church and then we would talk more sunday night. Saturday we also cleaned the church and had our weekly movie night with all the kids. and the relief society had another activity! the church was hoppin! i got into one of those cleaning moods and man that church got a good cleaning and organizing. As it should be since its the house of the Lord (: Sunday we found out that Elder Tenorio(the branch president) was getting transfered.. and also Elder Maylett. they both gave talks and everyone was crying. I think its hard for the members because they get so attatched to the elders here being their leaders and president. Elder Hulett is going to be branch president now and were excited for that! I had my YW class and it was a good one, we talked about prayer and read bednars talk called "pray always" one of the challenges is to say a prayer and only thank god for all the blessings you have.. to not ask for anything. So we all agreed to do it that night and  It was actually one of the coolest prayers ive had in a while..  i reccomend we all do that once a week to remember how blessed each one of us is in our lives and to be reminded of all the things we have to be thankfull for. Sunday night we had an amazing lesson with Brenda and her Brother Junior (who´s 8). First Brenda told us about how she pretty much read the whole first part of the Book of mormom.. introduction, and the testimonies and that she knows that the book of mormon is true and that Joseph smith really saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that this is the true church! She told us that when she was going to the catholic church that she never felt the way she does when shes with us or when shes at church.. so cool to hear someone who has felt that differnece!  We read Alma 32 with her and she is just so amazing. she has so much desire to change her life and to follow Gods will for her. i just love her. Then we talked to her little brother, who by the way is a little on the trouble maker side, and taught him about baptism and asked him if he wanted to be baptized... he sat there with his head down for a while and then  my companion asked if he was sleeping.. he told us that he was meditating.. that he knows he doesnt listen to his parents and hes not being a very good son.. and that he wants to change.. It was the sweetest most sincere thing ever! They both have been coming to church the past couple weeks and its cool because junior is in the primary with hna stone and brenda in young womans with me so we get to be there teachers all week, even on sundays (: were really excited to be a part of their change and growth and to help them grow closer to their heavenly father, and were hoping they will be examples for their parente! i know how much we love them and cant imagine the love their father in heaven has for them. She reminds me a lot of the change that i made in my life and i love sharing my testimony about that... anyone can and has the strength to change.. if you dont believe that than you are denying the atonement of Christ.. He made it possible to be forgiven of our past mistakes and to have the power to change and be better than we were... we are not set in stone.. especially not our weeknesses, but if we turn to him he will help us to know our weekeneses and be able to change them. 

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

 I have felt this, especially as a missionary. Being a missionary isnt easy but it is the best and most amazing thing i have ever done. I know that i am weak but with the Savior as the third member of our companionship i can overcome them and be the instrament in his hands that he needs me to be. I know that there are more people here that are ready to change their lives and grow closer to our Heavenly Father we just have to keep working and find them (: Keep the little branch of chivay in your prayers(:

 
I love you all so much!! Thank you for your prayers, love and support! 

Hermana Weller! (:

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

5/12/2014 Pictures!!!

Walking down to the Baptism! 


Overlooking where they did the Baptism! So pretty!!
Angie and her Elders! 
Everyone at the Baptism! 
Is this not the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen?
Such a cool experience! 

Relief Society Activity! 







Where we Skyped from! 
cleaning up at the mission home! 
Love my companion! 
Making milk shakes! 




'
Monday adventure day at the random Catholic Church
at a nearby town... 
Peek a boo...(: 
That was harder than it looks haha 

Love you guys! 
more team yoga! 
Pulling a cactus out of Elder Hulets leg..ouch! 
Our buddy on the way down to Arequipa! 
Hna Robinson and I at Chilis! 
Best meeting ever!! Chilis!! 
Helping Elder Haskell in the office. 

Elder Hulets one year party! 





Cute ladies in town (:

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

5/12/14 Email


From: Camille Weller [mailto:camille.weller@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2014 11:20 AM
To: Melissa Wheatley;
Subject: Happy Mothers Day!!! (:

 

Wow it was so fun and good to see all of your faces yesterday!!! And I dont think you realize how much motivation it gives us to get out there and work even harder to make our families proud. We miss you all so much but i think we understand now how important the work we are doing is and also that the time we have until we get back home to you all is so short! Thank you for all of your love and for the advice that you gave us! Also happy mothers day to all the moms out there! especially to my mommy (: and aunts, and grandma and sister(: haha Alright so ill get down to business.. heres a little from each day of what happened this week (:

Monday... Cinco de Mayo.. sad to say we didnt really do anything for the holiday.. not even tacos or anything. we suck. sorry mexico. But we did go explore a little town down the valley and had some fun there, visited an old catholic church, went on a hike, and did some more yoga haha then we had a family home evening with Hermana Asunta and Hno Santos, cant say it enough, love that family. Then we got to go help one of the girls in my young womens with her english homework, anyway to serve is worth it right? haha 

Tuesday we got to go down to Arequipa. we rode down in a mini van sort of thing and made friends with the driver, we ended up teaching him the restoration and it turned out really good! He even let us put in our english church music and we were singing fools the rest of the way there haha when we got to arequipa we went and got a couple things we needed and then went to the mission home. We met up with Hna Robinson and Levitt who are our sister training leaders and got to go to chilis to have a little meeting with them. 1. Chilis was the best thing in the whole world. 2. They helped us a ton with ideas and things for the branch in Chivay because there in an area thats also a small branch, theyre a little more advanced down there but they still helped us a ton! They even gave us a cute little present with a branch inside and a note that says "lets go build a branch." love it! 

Wednesday we had a nice yummy breakfast at the mission home (captain crunch(: ) and then went to our zone conference with our zone down here in arequipa. It was an awesome meeting and made us even more eager to get back up to our area and get to work. One of my favorite things that was taught was that sometimes we think too much about the "how" and not enough about the "why". If we only think about how were going to baptize people and not the why.. the importance of baptism and how its necessary for the life hereafter.. the work is pretty much pointless. There are so many reasons of why the work we do as missionaries is so important and i think its good to remember them! Our mission also started a new challenge that is to read the Book of Mormom for fifteen minutes everyday as a companionship. We have been doing that every day since then and it has become one of my favorite parts of the day, we always seem to read what we need to hear and i can feel how much power the book of mormon has when we read it. We ate at subway and headed home. 

Thursday we had weekly planning and we both felt really strongly after praying for about a week that the Lord has 7 people that are ready to be baptized this month.. so we had lots to plan and prepare for to make that happen! we had english class too.. still going strong!! then we planned a surprise party for elder hulet and it turned out to be so much fun! Hna Asunta helped us and it was a fun little party for him! 

Friday we had an amazing lesson with Hna Brenda and her mom, We taught them the restorationa and invited them to pray about it and if they recieve an answer, to be baptized. they both accepted.. they also both expressed how difficult it would be to change religions but that if thats what God wanted for them they are willing to do it. We are praying so much for them that they can feel the spirit and make the change. I love that family and want them to be able to recieve the blessings that are waiting for them.. i know that God has a plan for each of his children and that when their ready they will accept the Gospel into their lives. Im grateful to be a part of at least planting the seed and i hope ill get to see it grow(:

Saturday we got to be there for the baptism of Angie. One of the Elders investigators, it was probably the most beautiful baptism ive ever been too. We had to hike and cross the river to get to the spot and when they did the actual baptism the spirit was so strong, i thought a lot about how before there were baptismal fonts that that is how they had to be baptized.. its cool to see how nature, and a beautiful ordanance of baptism make for such a spiritual experience. That night we had the movie night as usual and also had our first releif society activity of the year!! Things are starting to get going here in the branch of chivay(:

Sunday was a great day (: first i got to talk at church and talked about charity and the love of christ. Then we handed out little gift bags that we made for all the moms and got a special present for one of the elders investigators that we also visit.. she doesnt know how to read so while we were down in arequipa on wednesday we bought her the book of mormon and doctrine and covenants in CD form so she can listen to them, she loved them! then we rode down to arequipa again and had lunch with my pensionista in Graficos, my last area. So yummmyyy!! miss her food! then we went and skyped our families.. loved that(: then we stayed at the mission home and made milkshakes. 

It was a busy but amazing week!! There is so much work to be done and so little time. Next week is transfers but were almost 100% possitive were both staying. So keep the prayers coming for Chivay! I cant believe how fast this month is going by... time needs to slow down!! Well just like i told my family yesterday i have a challenge for all of you.. there are 4 things to do to better your relationship with your family and with God and i promise that if you do them you will be happier and your relationship with your heavenly father will grow. They are:

1.Have Sripture study every night as a family. (Even better if its the Book of Mormon)

2. Family prayer at leaste once a day!

3.Go to church ( all 3 meetings) every sunday. and keep the sabath day.

4.Have Family Home Evening Every week!!

Well i love you all and hope that you have a great week!!! thank you for your love, prayers and support!! (: Til next week!!! 

Hermana Weller ( from the Steller companionship.... (stone+weller) (:

Monday, May 5, 2014

5/5/2014 Pics!

is anyone there? 
knocking the dorr to neverland(: 
pretty view of the streets of chivay! 
saddest day ever..my poor dog friend.. 
crazy FHE, love them! 
us with the family of asunta and santos! 
my aunt jenny would be proud(: 
Companionship trust test(: hair cuts! 
how presh! 
Love my companion! P day hike! 
oops, empty plates! 
Buffet time! 
helping Brenda get ready for her Quincenera!
Love her!! 
inside joke with the comp but worthy to share(: 
cute bows we found(: 
the water slide of doom! 
crossing a huge river! ha 
pretty waterfall hike! 
grandma wont like this one, adventure time! 
pretty view right outside of our room! 
about to get dangerous!