oopps forgot the pictures Jan. 19th

Jan. 19th

Hey,

So this week has been pretty good, we are hoping for a baptism this next monday, so prayers would be very very much appreciated! Sorry for the late notice, they changed out Pday for today instead of tomorrow because we will be having a world-wide missionary conference with I'm assuming would be the apostles so I'm definitely excited for that! Today we had our last zone activity for the transfer so it was very bitter/sweet....well maybe more bitter because we've all had a blast this transfer. And it started out crazy to say the least! So as my companion throws her hot water into the buckets for her shower, I'm sitting at my desk in my moo moo reading the Liahona when my companion tells me in a panick voice "Compa, get out of here right now don't look behind you". So I'm looking at her like she's crazy and as she repeats it again, I get up and head for the door super freaked out that there was a haitian in the house *okay side note, I'm not racist, it's just that one of the Haitain Elders in my zone told us scary stories the night before about Haitian voodoo and people appearing in houses*. Continuing with the story I asked her what was happening when she told me there was a spider in the house. ACK! They really do have it out for me, first in Puerto Plata now here! I didn't know what to do so I pulled out the phone and start looking through the list of who we could call, but then realizing that we were still in our moo moo's we knew that calling the elders was now out of the option. Being a BOSS, my comp decided she could do it, so I went to get the broom, and I held on to the mop for protection, and we went in. The first swap with the broom didn't kill it, and then it hid behind our gallon tanks. Again, being the boss that she is she moved the tank all by herself and then the beast came back out and started running towards me....okay for the door that I was in front of. Luckliy my companion finished it off before it could get me, but man it was yet another scary encounter with the spider. It's a good thing this one was a baby tarantula instead of the biggies out in the countryside. Yes, I was screaming and screamed even more when my companion chased me around the flipping house with the dustpan that had the dead spider. BUT, this experience just made us think of how much we are going to miss each other. We are SOOOOO BUMMED to say the least that one of us is headed out this transfer. However, we are going to kick up the notch these last few days before it ends and if all goes as planned we will have our baptism this monday. FINGERS CROSSED! We have just had so many growing experiences here together, and I'm so grateful for every single one of them. 

Have a great week,

Hermana Van Woerkom 

Jan. 13, 2016

Hi!

Okay mom and a few others wrote and complained that my letter was tiny last week and someone *ahem* mom threatened to no send my package if she didn't get a super long one today. However, there really wasn't too much crazyness that happened, but we will see what I can come up with. 

Okay well this week we have been really trying to strengthen our area and finding those that are prepared and ready to hear the gospel. Trust me, sounds easier said than done! Sometimes missionaries get caught up with turning in the numbers more than strengthening their wards. It's a balance game that we always have to play. So as we were going out this week we've felt like we really needed to start seeing more less actives and members then we had been seeing before. The bishop's family, the second counselor in the Stake Presidency, and the seminary teacher, just to name a few. And it was so nice to see how happy they were to have the missionaries over for family home evenings! I would have to say the bishop's house was our favorite because after we played a good game of JUMBO with their kids in the streets (it's like a game of tag).  It really made the bishop's wife happy and after she said, "I'm so glad you guys came over, it's been awhile and I almost thought you guys have forgotten about me". I felt bad to say the least! 

As the week ended and Sunday came around my companion and I were sitting in Relief Society when after the bishop's wife ended her lesson and then asked if she could share something with everyone. Then she continued by saying she felt impressed to mention the importance of Visiting Teaching. The visiting teaching program down here is really non-existent, which is super super sad, and in reality sometimes we take on the role as VT's down here. Anyway, she shared her testimony of how important this program was and how important it is to strengthen each other. Then she paused, and shared how she hadn't been visited by anyone for over 2 years and doesn't know who they are or if she has any! That definitely broke my heart! So that's one thing we want to help them strengthen. Sister Thompson gave a talk in General Conference and stated, " The beauty of Visiting Teaching is seeing lives changed, tears wiped away, testimonies growing, and families strengthened". 

I've been thinking a lot about my purpose here as a missionary. As missionaries our responsibility is, "inviting others to come unto Christ to recieve the restored gospel through faith, baptism, recieving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end". The more I've been in this area the more I've felt that my purpose as a missionary, but as a member is to INVITE others (including members and less actives) to COME BACK to Christ. Often times we think that we need to find more people and more people and we FORGET those around us. Sometimes we forget that even though they are members who have callings in the church, they have their own struggles and need just as much strengthening as those who maybe are less active or don't have the gospel in their lives. Just like the bishop's wife in my ward. She's a strong woman in the church, her husbands the bishop, she has a calling, has a wonderful family, and goes to church every Sunday. But, until she shared with us her personal struggles the other sisters and I had no idea of what she was feeling, but now what other sister might be feeling. 

As members of the church of Jesus Christ,our responsibility is (Mosiah 18:8-9), "to be willing to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort...." So there has been so much that I have learned this week to say the least, and it wasn't the easiest way to learn it either! I've learned that as disciples of Jesus Christ we have the responsibility to care for and serve our brothers and sisters in our ward. I can defnitely say I was not the best at visiting teaching when I was at college, but now I can say that it's definitely more than just a number or a check list of things to do for the month. SO PLEASE, do your home/visiting teaching! It's important!  

Love, 

Hermana Van Woerkom 

 

Jan.6th

HEY!

Well How was that new year! Looks like the weather has been insane!! Things are still hot here! The only thing to ring in the new year was an earthquake that we had! We were in a lesson, my comp and I were on the couch and all of a sudden the couch was shaking back and forth! It was only for 8 seconds and it wasn't anything too serious, but #myfirstearthquake holla! Anyway my comp and I rang in the new year like never before! We went to the store and got matching grandma moo moo's because 1 they are just so dang comfy, 2 all the homie grandma's here do it, and 3 You only live the mission life once....as a single sista haha. Then played phase 10 (which is pretty boring with two people, but hey we did what we could), and monopoly until midnight. We have too much fun!

Okay well this week has been significantly better! I totally understand the Christmas song, "It's beginig to look a lot like Christmas" now. Because as it says, "And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again", is how I'm starting to feel. NO ONE HAS BEEN HOME! However, this week things have been dying down and tomorrow school and work will be starting again, and people will now be home to visit! Yoohoo! So we have people to see again! 

But, this talk came into my mind this past week as we have been finding new people to teach. Elder Worthlin states,

When I was young I loved playing sports, and I havemany fond memories of those days. But not all of themare pleasant. I remember one day after my footballteam lost a tough game, I came home feelingdiscouraged. My mother was there. She listened to mysad story. She taught her children to trust inthemselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes, and give their best effort in everythingthey attempted.When we fell down, she expected us to pick ourselvesup and get going again. So the advice my mother gave to me then wasn’t altogether unexpected. It has stayed with me all my life.

“Joseph,” she said, “come what may, and love it.”

And it's so true! We have been starting our search to find new people to teach. Contacting isn't really a missionaries favorite thing to do. Door to door, people saying their Catholic, are too busy, or are just hiding behind their doors, it can get really discouraging, really fast. BUT, understanding who we are as missionaries, who we represent, and changing our attitude we've made the best of the situation. And humor helps out an awful lot. Sometimes you just have to laugh. 

So on to our funny story of the week. As my companion and I were contacting, we were trying to find an address (which is next to impossible to do here). My companion being fearless decided to ask the first person she saw....which happened to be a group of Jehova's Wittnesses walking down the same street. Before I could stop her, she began to flag them down and then ask them for the directions. Well they aren't from here either and then told her they didn't know. UGH sooo embarrassing! She had no idea who they were until I told her. And by that time we were just dying! On a different day, we were walking to an appointment when this guy rolls down his window and whispers, "Listen" and then turns on a little R&B and sings, "I'll take care of you" and then speeds off. haha too funny. 

But, hey have a great week! Stay safe! Don't get into any accidents like little Camden and have to get staples! AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND MOM!

love,

Hermana Van Woerkom

pictures

Dec. 29,2015

Hey ya'll!

It was nice talking to you last week! Nothing's really changed so I'm going to keep it short. But remember that I love you and above all: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

take care, 

Hermana Van Woerkom

JUST KIDDING! Okay okay it was really nice talking to you guys on Christmas! Love the package and my companion and I, a long with 2 other sets of elders enjoyed the treats Santa (mom and dad *wink wink*) brought me. Well as I told you before everyone celebrates Christmas here on the 24 not the 25. Unfortunately the 6 of us didn't get invitations to anyones houses for Christmas. So we celebrated it by going to the church, popping some popcorn, brought my jellybeans, and played a good round of phase 10 multiple times, as well as the game Risk. That was Christmas Eve, and then the next day we celebrated by going to TGI Friday's for lunch, and then skyping ya'll after. THAT WAS DEFINITELY THE HIGHLIGHT! Ya'll look sooo good! I mean didn't get to see Lonnie and her fam, but I imagine they are still their crusty selfes. Just kidding. After talking to ya'll it's weird to think that's the last time I'll see everyone before coming home! Talk about exciting, but I'm super nervous! AHHH real world again! 

I can't believe that 2015 is coming to an end but, BRING ON THE NEW YEAR! 

New year and new time to make resolutions right? BUENO, as a person being very seasoned in making new years resolutions and BREAKING THEM THE NEXT WEEK, here's some advice from, NOT ME, but one of the homie apostles that's been around the block a time or two and has a lot more wisdom than me, HOLLA at ya Elder HOLLAND! 

He invites us to read one simple scripture in Luke 17: 32 and it states, "remember Lot's wife". Okay, now he invites us in his talk "Remember Lot's Wife: Faith is for the Future", re-read the story of Lot and his wife. 

He then states in closing, " So, as a new year starts and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone, nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead, we remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. So a more theological way to talk about Lot’s wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently she thought—fatally, as it turned out—that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind."

So now this is my invitation as well. DON'T LOOK BACK!! Look forward with faith on what you can become! OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SENT US TO EARTH TO SUCEED NOT TO FAIL! I'm so grateful for the time I had this year to serve my Savior, and am looking forward to the time that I have left this new year to serve. 

Love you all, stay safe, and have a happy new year!

Hermana Van Woerkom

 

 

 
Well here´s hoping that your Christmas will be better than these poor piggies who have to spend it in someones garage waiting to be Christmas dinner haha. 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Wow it's crazy I'll get to talk to you in 2 days! I'm more excited than when I got my package of goodies haha! Well let's start off on all the festive things my companion and I did. So Christmas party number one was a "christmas devotional" of sorts where we each ward in the stake had to go up and sing something. So our ward dragged my companion and I into this activity and we sang "Angels We Have Heard on High" first. And then we sat down and thought we were done for the night. Then we are watching these other wards go up and sing Evangelical Christmas songs. This was pretty funny because it was jumping up and clapping type of songs. As my companion and I are listening to them, the choir director from our ward grabs my companion and I and tells us that we will be singing "The little Drummer Boy" with the bishops wife, but we will be singing the 2nd part in English. WHAT WE DIDN'T PRACTICE ANYTHING! So I'm here trying to teach my ward the "rum pum pum pum" part because they don't sing that part in Spanish, they just have words. So we roll up on stage like a hot mess of people. I go up first and the bishop's wife sings and I initiate the "rum pum pum" and everyone tries to follow, but fail, as my companion turns around and shhh's them haha. Then it's our turn. So my companion and I start singing. As we do the first "rum pum pum" I move the page up on the screen of the phone and my companion gets lost and reads the next line from the top of her head and sings, "I am a poor boy too pa rum pum pum pum.....I GOTTA GIFT TO BRING..." and I start to giggle, because if the drummer boys poor how does he have something to bring....then she bumps me with her elbow...so the audience starts laughing....and then I lose it and start laughing uncontrollably. And then you know what happens next? THEY CLOSE THE CURTAINS ON US! TALK ABOUT EMBARRASSING! We didn't even get to finish the whole song, WHAT A FLOP! And that's not even the end of it! The whole stake was talking about the "white girls" everywhere. The Zone Leaders told us that the members in their bus said that we were the sisters they see all the time that are soo happy....yeah probably think we are the crazy ones! And THEN the other ward that met in our building had members that would laugh when they saw us...run up and then shake our hands to tell us how much they loved the show last night....and then as they walked away I start laughing and the bishop in the other ward comes up to me and says "Hermana Van, your always laughing aren't you". Oh my heck. By this time I was dying. My comp and I are still looking for the video. Someone has to have it haha. 

Okay then we had 2 ward Christmas parties that we attended which was fun. One was for our ward and then we went to the other wards as well because I guess we are just that popular now with the people after our performance...no lol, but we went as well with our investigators that couldn't make it to the first one. 

After that we had our Mission Christmas dinner which was fun as well! We did a talent show and now that you know of our show stopper last time we do have to say we did a pretty dang good act as a zone. We did the 12 days of Christmas, but things that pertain to the mission. They loved it to say the least! I'll have to send the video! 

But, now the highlight will definitely be seeing the family for Christmas! Can't wait to see ya'll. After looking at the pictures this week ya'll have definitely changed. Don't know for the better or worse...JUST KIDDING! But seriously, soo stoked!

Well take care and catch ya in 2 days. 

love,

Hermana Van Woerkom

P.S. did I mention that yesterday was my 14 month mark? SAY WHAT? 

 

 

 

​EGG NOG! Careful they don't tell you if they put alcohol in it! 

ANOTHER TRANSFER BITES THE DUST,

And.....I'm still in 100 fuegos with none other than my homie sista Hna. Bossard haha! After the two crazy incidents we've had here we both thought we were out of our area and they were closing it. We both started planning for what we logically thought was coming: packing, cleaning, and prepping our investigators for what we thought would be us heading out and them putting elders in. It was super SUPER sad to say the least because all of our investigators (especially two brothers) were now telling us that they were praying for us to stay. And they would put the emphasis that they were now praying on their knees because we had a lesson about the power of prayer and the importance of kneeling haha they are super cute kids. Really pulled my heart strings, and I told them that sometimes it's not what we want, and our needs sometimes aren't in Heavenly Fathers plans that he has for us. So anyway, I've washed all my clothes the night before and we both head out the next day to find out where we are going. On the drive to the church we were talking about what a bummer it was that we won't be together for Christmas and that we will have to get to know someone knew for the holidays. So we get in the church and they read out that.....WE WERE STAYING TOGETHER IN 100 FUEGOS! We were soo excited, the only thing we were missing was the chest bump haha. We make such a great companionship! We are now nicknamed the figher fighters of 100 fuegos haha love it. Well even though we aren't going atleast we got our laundry done and a good deep cleaning of the house right haha. 

Our investigators are excited to say the least and we are more than thrilled to be here for their baptism! My companion and I have been teasing saying that either President must have forgotten what happened to me in our area OR the Lord must trust us an awful lot to be here. I'm definitely agree with the second one. Our Heavenly Father must have a strong, REALLY strong reason as to why we are both here in this area. Obviously, we haven't finished what we started and I'm excited to be able to continue seeing this area grow. 

And guess what!?! IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Sounds like baby Gavin's trying to be Santa and stuff himself in the fire place, splitting his lip open! That crazy kid! Looks like ya'll are getting ready for the season. WHAT'S even MORE important and ya'll need to get ready to SKYPE! HOLLA! So I'll get you in on all the details next Wednesday so be ready to chat! This is the most funnest time, but the most stressful time for me because I want to see everyone. YOU ALL STRESS ME OUT! HAHA cause I love you too much!

Take care and see you next week!

Hermana Van Woerkom 

Dec. 9th

Hey everyone! 

Well this week has been SUPER TOUGH! But, you can't know the good weeks without the bad ones right? And this one we've hit the lowest of lows. For starters one of our baptismal dates fell.  We were asking her the baptismal questions...well first off she's not completely there...she's like a sister phillips. Anyway I asked her about her coffee habit and if she's quite. She said no and said its tradition because she's with her family. I said she has to change it because she can't get baptized if she's drinking and I told her we encourage her being with her family but maybe change it to herbal tea or hot chocolate. Then she said I know the church is true. And I asked if she thinks JS was a prophet...she said yes....and then I said do you think he could receive revelation for us....she said yes...and then I if you think all of that you have to know that the WOW is the word of god....and she said she will not be baptized....SUPER BUMMED. 

Then the cherry topper is we had another late night incident with some crazy in the street. So the question that President is thinking about is whether or not this area is safe for the sisters. I'm hoping that we can stay together one more transfer, but I'm feeling that that idea is fizzling out quickly. But, President receives revelation for the mission so we know that he'll put me where I need to be and he'll know what needs to be done with the area. 

Well this was a little bit of a low as well but, something that we all grew from, as a companionship but our investigator as well. So this investigator is really really looking for the true church. Her boyfriend just joined but doesn't want to join the church for him or for anyone. Which is good, however she is having a hard time finding the answer that this is the true church. She's committed some major sins before in her life and she feels like she's never going to be forgiven. Me and my companion then shared with her our experiences with the Atonement. My companion is a convert of the church and there  was a time in her life when she was a  little less active, so she shared some powerful experiences that she's had with the atonement. Then she told us about her progression that as missionaries our experiences with people accepting and rejecting the gospel and how we've felt. I then began to share with her how hard and amazing it's been as a missionary to see everyone progression. I then said that I've had the opportunity to have a glimpse of how Heavenly Father see's his children. It's so amazing to see everyone progressing in the gospel, and then sometimes our investigators make a wrong decision. AND IT'S SO HARD FOR ME TO WATCH!  You just want to take their agency away! But, we can't and Heavenly Father won't because he loves us so much and wants us to make our own decision  even if it hurts him. Needless to say that lesson was packed with the spirit and she is still searching to know if the church is true. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be here and the experiences that I've had, EVEN THOUGH they've been rough. 

I'm glad you've had a great week and an amazing cruise,

love and pray for you always,

Hermana Van Woerkom 

Hey, everyone!

Sounds like Thanksgiving was a hit! I do have to say that we have amazing members here that loved us sisters so much as to give us a Thanksgiving haha. Family Martinez invited us over Thursday night for dinner. They told us that they knew of our holiday and wanted to celebrate with us because they haven't had two American missionaries together in a long time and wanted the full effect of a Thanksgiving. So that's probably why they didn't invite the elders, but don't tell them anything haha just kidding. 

Well this week hasn't been the best finding people in their houses, however we have been blessed in so many other ways. We've found two new families to teach! It happened as literally ALL OF OUR APPOINTMENTS FELL THROUGH! So as we are walking in the rain, soaked, because we forgot out umbrellas, we began to contact and literally ran into a mom who was watching these two crazy white chicks trudging in the mud. As we began to share with her, her husband pulls up on his motorcycle from work and wanted us to come back to teach more this upcoming week. The next family that we found we had been teaching their sons because they are in the english class that we do at the church. So we set up an appointment to visit one of the sons and he wasn't home, however the parents were home and invited us in (because it was raining again haha). So as we began talking we started to share the first lesson with them. These are just two families that have a lot of potential I'm super excited!

Hope all is well and can't wait to see pictures from the cruise!!

Love you,

Hermana Van Woerkom

even if it hurts him. Needless to say that lesson was packed with the spirit and she is still searching to know if the church is true. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be here and the experiences that I've had, EVEN THOUGH they've been rough. 

I'm glad you've had a great week and an amazing cruise,

love and pray for you always,

Hermana Van Woerkom 

Dec. 2nHey, everyone!

Sounds like Thanksgiving was a hit! I do have to say that we have amazing members here that loved us sisters so much as to give us a Thanksgiving haha. Family Martinez invited us over Thursday night for dinner. They told us that they knew of our holiday and wanted to celebrate with us because they haven't had two american missionaries together in a long time and wanted the full effect of a Thanksgiving. So that's probably why they didn't invite the elders, but don't tell them anything haha just kidding. 

Well this week hasn't been the best finding people in their houses, however we have been blessed in so many other ways. We've found two new families to teach! It happened as literally ALL OF OUR APPOINTMENTS FELL THROUGH! So as we are walking in the rain, soaked, because we forgot out umbrellas, we began to contact and literally ran into a mom who was watching these two crazy white chicks trudging in the mud. As we began to share with her, her husband pulls up on his motorcycle from work and wanted us to come back to teach more this upcoming week. The next family that we found we had been teaching their sons because they are in the english class that we do at the church. So we set up an appointment to visit one of the sons and he wasn't home, however the parents were home and invited us in (because it was raining again haha). So as we began talking we started to share the first lesson with them. These are just two families that have a lot of potential I'm super excited!

Hope all is well and can't wait to see pictures from the cruise!!

Love you,

Hermana Van Woerkom 

d

 

Nov Letters

Nov. 4th
Well This just in! We had transfers today and I've been taken out of PARADISE! :( Super bummed, I wasn't expecting it, but it makes sense due to the amount of time I have there. I suppose I was just in denial because I have my baptism on Saturday of one of my investigators. I'm hoping that she can get baptized now because the day that I went to say goodbye to them is the same day she told us that she might not be able to be baptized because she was teasing her sister and her dad (her parents are less active members) told her that she isn't responsible enough to be baptized. She has the strong desire to be baptized and you know how siblings are (I won't mention names CASEY cough cough) they love to tease and pester. So we told her that she has to obey what her parents say and be good...so her baptism is in pending. If all goes well and she behaves well, she can continue with her baptism...and now I'm looking for members to go on exchanges so I can be there.

Now I am in the concrete jungle of Santiago. This is definitely a first and foreign concept for me! Lots of cars and movement, but luckily I'm not in the heart of the city so it's a little more calm. My new companion is Hermana Bossard! She is from the same group as my daughter Hermana Baez so I know her a little bit and is super sweet! So I'll get to be her step mom! Anyway she's from California and we are excited to start the work here in La Union, Santiago. 

Okay ya'll wanted a long letter today haha so I'll make sure to give you my spiritual tid-bit for this week. So last Sunday we had a stake meeting where we talked about the missionary work as well as Sacrifice and the Obedience. In the meeting the stake president shared the story of what I find is the perfect story of sacrifice and that is the story of Abraham and his son Issac. I learned that as members and children of God we are asked to obey our father in heaven. As imperfect beings its difficult, impossible, or sometimes ( and I feel like I fall in this category) undesireable to obey as with the story of Abraham. He loved his son Issac, but was asked by the Lord to sacrifice his son. The thing I find interesting is that in this story sacrifice and obedience goes both ways. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, as well as Issac was willing to obey the will of his father and the Lord. I also had the time to read this week the parable of the rich youth...um I can't remember how to say it...haha... anyway it's the parable where a young man goes to Christ and asks him what he needs to do to enter into the kingdom of heaven and Christ says that he needs to keep the commandments. After saying this the young man replied that he has been following all the commandments, and then Jesus replied then sell all your possessions and follow me. In the end the man was upset and walked away. I found after reading that a lot of us now can compare ourselves to the rich young man, sometimes we aren't willing to make the sacrifices we need to obey our father in heaven. As members of the church there will always be times where we need to make sacrifices whether its with our time or our talents. And if we don't sacrifice and obey or follow up with our callings or be the members that we really need to be, we won't receive the blessings that the Lord has for us. 

But, I'm glad everyone's doing great and I LOVE hearing that it's snowing!! It's still hot here ahaha but it is starting to cool down at night! Love you!!

Hermana Van Woerkom 

Oct 22

Hi everyone!

So this week has been fantastic! We have 2 baptismal dates set for this next month! Fingers crossed I can be here for one more transfer. I´m sure praying, but I´m hoping that you will pray too haha. And we had 7 investigators at church! Yoohoo! Other than that nothing too exciting is happening here, minus that we have been without water for 5 days! Haha it´s been interesting. We have gone to a members house to take a shower for the last couple of days, but we are hoping that the water will come back soon! Fingers crossed! Well it sounds like that things are starting to get cold there in the states! I do have to admit that here it´s the same temperature, in the 90´s BUT at night its starting to cool off to the 80´s. I know crazy right haha. And I do have to admit that I get cold at night! It´s a little sad haha. I´m so glad you guys are having a blast this Halloween! You need to send more pictures!!  

Well I didn´t have too much time to write this week because we were playing baseball with members and came back late. BUT know that I love you and that I pray for you every day! Keep me posted on everything and send more pictures. 

And before I go HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LINDSEY AND LONNIE! AND TRAVIS THAT'S THIS WEEK! Hope you guys have fun on the cruise and that Kellie and Travis had a great time in Japan. 

Love 

Hermana Van Woerkom 

 

Nov. 11

Service Day!

So this last week was national service day! So we went around and cleaned up the streets where we lived with the members. It was nice because I got to get to know the members a little bit more. And what better way to end last week than with a baptism! Winnifer got baptized and her mom and sister ( who are less active members) came to the service to support her. It was nice to go back after 4 days haha but it was a little sad too. The members who knew I had left were glad to see me and the members that didn´t know I had left were sad to see me go again. It was especially hard to say goodbye to Gabby, one of my little buddys in the primary. I promised her that I´d be back before I left the mission and that I´d come back with my family to visit again. So yeah you now I have to keep my promise haha. They have my heart in Puerto Plata. 

My area is very different. It definitely isn´t in the countryside or a small town like I´m use to. But, I´m learning to love them just as much here. The members are super nice. They are wanting to help in the missionary work as well as with my cooking skills haha. We have dates here for baptism! I´m excited to see their progression.

Well looks like your on the count down for the cruise! I´m excited for ya´ll keep me posted on everything and most importantly send the pictures of your adventures! Love you tons! 

Hermana Van Woerkom

 

Nov18th

 Hey family!

The count down begins! I'm so excited to hear that ya'll are getting ready for the cruise! Sounds exciting! Please calm Lindsey's fears and buy the kidnap insurance. Let's be honest, if anyone on that trip were to get kidnapped, as the hunger games lady would say, "the odds would ever be in her favor". haha LOVE YOU LINDSEY! But, really you guys are going to have fun but be safe! 

So this week hasn't been too eventful, but we have gotten to see some special things happen. So first I'll start with one of my favorite less actives. She is such an amazing lady that has come from a really difficult situation. She's lived most of her life in New York, but now has to live here. All of her family lives in New York and she's struggling with some financial situations here. But, I have learned so much from her. She's had problems with the law and drugs in the past and seeing the situation that she's in now, it would make sense for her to feel alone and abandoned, but that's definitely not how she's taking it! In fact, it's the exact opposite, she has turned to the church and Heavenly Father for help and has overcomed almost all of her difficulties. On Saturday we had several appointments planned for the day and almost every one of them fell through. So we made are way around contacting and happened to find ourselves contacting close to her house. Once we started passing by she asked us to come in and visit with her. We shared a brief message and she opened up and said she was so grateful we came by because she was struggling through something very personal and knew that it was an answer to her prayers that we came by. In short, I can't really go into details of all that happened, but you can tell that God has plans for each and every one of us and we can be that instrument for Him is we choose to be and follow the promptings we get. It's just amazing being a missionary and seeing the true conversion we can all have if we are dependent on Him who can heal us.  

Well as for Thanksgiving, we are going to party hardy next Wednesday and get our Turkey Lurkey on for P-day. Hopefully we can make it american....with the latinos haha my companion and I thought it would be funny if we did indian hats and pilgram hats...only if I could be one of the indians haha. I think we will try to make pumpkin pie too! It's not a holiday without it right? 

Well here's some pictures for ya'll! This was P-day eve and we bought icecream and did face masks! And my companion has BYU vocal point and she had 70's music....so we kinda went all out haha just kidding

Love you all and take care! 

Hermana Van Woerkom