Hermana Megan Stoor

Monday, December 19, 2016

FELIZ NAVIDAD

My dear family and friends,

I just wanted to send you a quick little email to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope that you all get to enjoy time with your families and that the love of our Savior fills your hearts this Christmas season. I have felt His love so much throughout the last year of my life. I know with every inch of my soul that our Redeemer lives and loves each and every one of you. I hope that you will all take a chance this Christmas to remember the true importance of all that we do. Remember the first and the best gift that we all received when our Father in Heaven sent His son. Every time you see a Christmas light, think of the joy the shepherds must have felt as the promise of the new star was fulfilled. With each gift you open, think of the baby who was wrapped in swaddling clothes who became the Savior of all mankind. Count your blessings this Christmas season. And share your love and the light of Jesus Christ in your home, in your travels, with your friends and those who need of your service #LightTheWorld

I love each and every one of you and send my best wishes from El Salvador!

Hermana Megan Evelyn Stoor

P.S. Enjoy your white Christmas. See you all in 4 months!

Santas reindeer ;)

The Nativity by the courthouse :)

Joseph and Mary...how cute are they :)

And a photo I got last night sitting with Roberto (our investigator) in the street :)

Dad, Mom, Mara, Seth and Shelby,

I am beyond excited to talk to you again this Sunday! It seems like the time has gone by so fast and I can hardly believe that it will be the last time that I will videochat you in my mission. I will be there at 3 to talk with you if Mara can just send me the link :) (2:00 your time) but like always...if i don't get right on...don't worry...some way or another I will make it work :)

This week was full of small successes and always a few disappointments. This week I have a little more time to tell you about my investigators. We are teaching a older man named Roberto Leal. He is 80 years old and is progressing more and more every day. The first time that we went to his house, we met with his grandson and didn't know why, but we felt something special about that house. So, we decided to go back a few days later. We met Roberto and two of his children. Since then, we were able to find the difficulties with each of them and have been teaching the whole family. Roberto is progressing more than the rest, but little by little the family is following. We talked with Roberto about the word of wisdom because a few members that live there close told us that he came home drunk almost every night. (This was about 3 weeks ago) He struggled at first, but when he finally stopped drinking for a few days, he told us he felt really really good, physically and spiritually. He has been coming to church and attending the activities with us and I have seen such a big change in him. He has a light in his smile and eyes now that was never there before. He didn't drink for about 11 days....and then he fell. He went to watch his son play soccer and told us that a few friends had invited him to go out for one drink...so he agreed to ONE. And you know how it is when someone is addicted to something...one turned into 5 and when we showed up Saturday night he was pretty bad. So, yesterday night we went back and we found him sitting on the sidewalk. We sat down with him and asked him how he felt. He said he felt horrible, worse than he had felt before. He was all teary eyed and we could see that it wasn't just a physical pain that he was feeling,, but he was feeling a godly sorrow. We explained the guilt that he was feeling and talked about the Atonement of Christ and its healing power. AND FOR THE SECOND TIME, he agreed to say a prayer with us. (He had never prayed before in his life until Friday and Sunday night.) We prayed together that God could forgive him for his mistake and that He could give him the strength to never do it again. After the prayer, he told us he felt calm and thanked us for helping him change his life. He is preparing for his baptism on the 14th of January. We need lots of prayers for him. :)

We are also teaching another older man named Ramon Ramirez. He is 63...or something like that. He had talked before with the missionaries but told us that he had never had a desire to go to a specific church. The first couple of lessons weren't so great...and I feel like it maybe had to do with the fact that he always answered the door and sat down with us in his underwear and it just made it hard to feel the spirit. But since then, we have asked him to put pants on and everything has changed. He even told us that he felt a big difference in his house when we are there. This last week, he has started to read the Book of Mormon and agreed to pray to know if he should be baptized the 21st of January. I think things will be a little more difficult with him because he is a very political person and has alot of crazy ideas, but I feel something that tells me that he will get there...we just have to be patient.

We are also teaching a young man named Omar Jaco. We had been teaching his sister in law and when we went back, she hid from us...so we made a plan number 2 and started teaching him. He has shown alot of interest in our message! He is reading the Book of Mormon and has never gone to a church before so everything seems so new to him. These last few days he has faced a few difficulties because the sister in law decided to leave his brother and stole everything out of the house...when we went back there was nothing but some dirty clothes that she had left. It is really sad...but I just figure maybe it will open his heart a little more to accept something new in his life.

And one more older man...I like to teach the grandpas :) His name is Romulo Guerra and is around 65 or 75 years old. We made good friends since the beginning because I showed interest in his cows. haha He has a farm and reminds me alot of Sid Thompson so I enjoy teaching him :) He is from the Adventist church...I don't know if that's how you say it in English or not... but they are one of the few churches that believe that the Sabbath day of the Lord is Saturday. He told us that if we can help him to understand why the Sabbath day is Sunday, he will be baptized in our church. So, we are going to teach him tonight about the sacrament and why we partake of the sacrament on the day that Jesus Christ was resurrected. I know a few scriptures from the Bible that explain that the disciples partook of the sacrament on the first day of the week, but what I hope is that he can learn by the spirit and from the Book of Mormon. That way he can gain a little bit of faith without having to read a scripture from the Bible. We will see how that goes! We have invited him to be baptized the 28th of January.

We have lots and lots and lots of other investigators...but these are those who are progressing a little more than the rest. I hope that, although we may not be able to baptize every week this next change like we had hoped, that we can have the area ready so that when I leave the area...they will be ready to baptize. Its always hard to find people who are ready to learn and change, but with lots of prayer and lots of work and lots of sweat and tears, the Lord has been answering our prayers. I know the Lord has people ready for us to find. We just have to ready ourselves to find them. Anyways, I think my time is already up, so, just know that I love each and every one of you and I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Hermana Stoor

We went to Burger King this last week. I love Hermana Houston

A little bit of cool graffiti in Santa Ana :)

My daughter and I with the Metapan Christmas tree :)

Monday, December 12, 2016

Well, you might be bored of pictures and short letters, but I just want to have something to talk about with you on Christmas :) Let me know next week what time you want to write for sure. I think I will be available to talk at any time after 1:00...which I think is noon your time. Just let me know and I will verify with you next week :) Cant wait to talk to you all!
Just know that I am good, happy, healthy, and still loving the mission! We had interviews with President Spjut this week and it reminded me just how much I have been through and how much I have changed. I never thought I would come to love this country and being a missionary as much as I do. I have never been happier!!
I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that each and every one of us are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father and that He is always there for us when we need him. I know that this is His TRUE church and the only church on the earth that has the power to baptize. The keys to the kingdom of God are here on the earth once more and ONLY in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love you all so much. And cant wait to SEE you soon!!!!!

Hermana Stoor

#LIGHTTHEWORLD

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....but loving the coconut season in El Salvador.

Here is a picture of the chapel that Dad wanted and a few pictures in the house so that you can see where I am living :::

We sleep outside because its too hot to sleep inside.....And just pray really hard at night that the Lord protects us :)

This is where we shower....with a bucket :) I have learned the simple way of living in El Salvador.

My companion makes a cute little model :)

Making latin rice...its the best. And a picture of our stove top :)

And another picture that I never sent...with Hermana Delgado when we found out about our changes :)

BTW.....in Santa Ana someone has a pet monkey.

Some more pictures from the dinner in the house of President and Hermana Spjut. With my two besties from day 1. We all talked and laughed about how the first day that they came to the CCM, I about tackled Hermana Rosario and Hermana Torres to the floor when they told me they were going to my same mission after being alone for 4 weeks. I got a little overjoyed. :)

They wanted a picture with their "gringa".

Our photo with Hermano Manuel before Hermana Delgado left :)

Woke up with a friend next to me....I'm just glad that he couldn't get in :)

The sunset was alot prettier in real life...but I like this picture just the same :)

They sent my companion to San Salvador to talk with migration...so I got to spend a day with Hermana Thompson (cousin to the Nielsen family) and Hermana Vissoni (my sister of the mission because Hermana Crowley trained her as well) :)

Monday, December 5, 2016

Dear family,

Well, just the same as last week...I am mostly just going to send pictures because I have a TON of pictures and the time goes by way too fast. ;) But I can just write you long enough to tell you how happy I am. I am loving every last minute that I have here in El Salvador. Everyone always told me that the last 6 months are the best and I already believe it. I LOVE EL SALVADOR. I LOVE METAPAN. I LOVE MY COMPANION. I LOVE THIS WORK. We are having so much success here in our area. My companion is less and less timid every day as we practice more and more and more. I feel like she is actually learning from me which makes me happy because sometimes I feel that I learn alot more from her. It is REALLY HARD being a trainer...but I am loving it more and more every day. The people we are teaching are making small progresses every day and we are meeting lots of goals that we put each week. Everything is just too good for words!

Anyways, Love you all and I will talk to you next week! Enjoy the snow. I miss it some days.

Hermana Stoor

A picture of our zone last change

The last dinner with Hermana Gomez and Hermana Delgado.

The last picture with Hermana Delgado in the park here in Metapan. (There are catholic churches EVERYWHERE.)

We think we are cute.

Some little mangos that a drunk lady gave us in the street. She gave us a great big hug and a snack...what more could you want? haha

And this cool cow I found. I miss real cows.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Hey family!
I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving. Ours sure was good! I am mostly just going to send pics this week because I have a ton. But, everything is so good here! We found a TON of positive people this week, so we have lots and lots and lots of work to do :) We also set another baptismal date for the 31st of December! It was a true miracle! Her name is Mercedes...I will tell you more next week! I am loving being with Hermana Martinez! It is a struggle every day to overcome her fear, but she improves every day. AS WELL AS I DO. I have been learning so much! We made it our goal to fight more, because we dont know anything else we can do to make our companionship better and all sisters fight. So we will see how that goes this week. Maybe with a little more fighting we will learn to love each other even more. ;) Almost everyone mentioned the earthquakes and hurricanes in your letters. Dont worry! haha I am just fine. I enjoy it when the earth moves a little. Its like a little roller coaster. haha But yes things were a little shaky this week. I only felt 3 earthquakes but apparently there were more throughout the night... but I sleep like a rock. We will see what this next week brings.

LOVE YOU ALL! Talk to you next week!

Hermana Stoor

A fun bandaid picture after our immunizations. :)

Thanksgiving dinner

Pumpkin pie.

Hermana Jensen (Winemucca, Nevada) and Hermana Houston (Utah)

Just in case they didn't send you the picture.....here was my note of gratefulness :)

The Idahoans in the mission.

Hermana Stokes (Preston) Elder Harris (i dont know) and Elder Channell (Boise)

We made Christmas Ornaments :)

A picture with the catholic cathedral in Santa Ana this past Monday :)

One of my best friends and my hermana leader now! Hermana Torres and I came together to the mission and I just think she is the most wonderful person I know! She is from Costa Rica :)

Monday, November 21, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hey family!
This week has been crazy busy, fun, nerveracking, and stressful, but so so wonderful! My new companion is Hermana Martinez! She is from Retauleu, San Felipe, Guatemala. My 4th Guatemalteca ;) She is the cream of the crop as I think you say in the states. I was so nervous to have a new companion that I didn't know anything about...but I am overjoyed to be with her! She is such a beautiful person and has good desires to work :) She is 22 and was baptized about 2 years ago. There is something about the testimony of a new convert that is so special. She has such an excitement about learning the gospel. It has been fun to read the scriptures and learn with her. It is fun and hard to be with a new missionary. I have been learning the basics all over again this week and am trying to find the best way to help her. I have been reminded of my training...I left all of the talking up to my trainer and just did my best to stay awake in the lessons. haha Now the roles have flipped. But we have been practicing ALOT before we leave the house and she is feeling more and more comfortable every day. On Saturday she even invited an investigator to be baptized. I was so proud! I feel a pressure even more than ever to do all things the right way and be a good example for her. I know I will never come to be the perfect missionary or trainer, but I hope that when she finishes her training that she will have picked up some good habits from me and will always have a good attitude. I have already learned a ton from her. She is such a happy, patient person and does everything with a willing heart.

Hermano Manuel Acosta was baptized on Saturday! I am just so happy for him. This week, we saw a true repentance from him. When we went to visit him on Monday, we felt the need to ask him again if he was drinking coffee. He told us that he hadn't drank coffee since we had talked about the word of wisdom except for that morning. He ran out of milk so he had to drink coffee instead. I was devastated! We discussed with him the importance of keeping the word of wisdom and during the lesson, you could see that he felt really bad. We explained to him that what he was feeling was regret but that it could be alieved if he chose to repent. We invited him to pray with us and ask forgiveness from God and promise Him that he would never break the word of wisdom again. As he prayed, tears started to fall from his eyes. When we asked him what it was that he felt, he said he felt a peace and felt that God had forgiven him. He told me right before his baptism that he felt like it was Christmas day and that it would be the best day of his life. I haven't seen a smile so big in a long while as I saw yesterday on his face when he stood up to receive the gift of the holy ghost. God has been preparing him for this for a long long time. It is such a beautiful thing to see how his life has changed now. I know he will be a strong member in the church for the rest of his life.

This week we found a ton of new investigators. Yesterday, we found a hermana named Mercedes. We had been contacting a ton of doors and I was feeling a little bad because my hija was feeling a little disanimated after about 20 minutes of not talking with hardly anyone positive. The last door that we decided to touch was a cute little white house in front of the house of the other missionaries. I hadn't ever contacted there, thinking that the other missionaries had wiped out the area, but as soon as Mercedes saw us out the window, she quickly opened the door and asked, before we even introduced ourselves, if we wanted to enter. So we went inside and had such a beautiful lesson with her! We shared the Book of Mormon and at the end, I invited her to come to church with us. She said yes! And even invited us to eat dinner with her tomorrow. When we left, I gave my hija a big hug and we had a good talk about how persistence and diligence bring miracles. God answered our prayers and gave us a miracle even bigger than what we had asked for.

Overall, it was a wonderful week. I am so happy to be here in Metapan with Hermana Martinez. I have been so blessed! We have made it our goal to have a baptism every week next transfer, so we are going to work like crazies to find a ton of people so that we can meet this goal. I know we can do it. We have been guided to so many wonderful people this week and if we keep working how we have been, I know God will keep blessing us for our efforts. This is the work of the Lord. All we have to do is have faith, be diligent, focused and obedient, and work for and with love. The holy ghost does the rest.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. My testimony has become firm in the Book of Mormon throughout my mission. As we have started the 12 week training program with my companion, I have been watching videos of how we can be better missionaries. In one of the videos, Elder Holland talked about The Book of Mormon. He said," No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.” I love the Book of Mormon so much and testify along with Elder Holland that it is true. It is so divine! It is so true! It is so necessary for each of us! It breaks my heart each time that someone here in El Salvador rejects the invitation to read it. I want to leave you all with my testimony that I KNOW THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE. I have felt that every time that I read it. And I invite each of you that read my letter, to read it a little more often. Read from the beginning until you finish it and I promise that whatever hard situation you are in will get better. You will have peace and joy in your life. I love this gospel and am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I am eternally grateful for my mission and all that I have learned and all that I continue to learn every day. I hope this letter finds you all well and that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Love you all!

Hermana Stoor