Home is whenever I’m with YOU!

Hola a todos!

I feel so content to tell you all that in one week I will be returning home from being a full-time missionary for 18 months in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission.

I would like to end with the 18 things that I have learned in 18 months.

1. Everything happens for a reason.

2. If your trainer can have patience with you, you can have patience with yourself.

3. It doesn't matter where you are, the gospel is the same.

4. You don't need words to know someone.

5. There are only 2 types of people in this world; those that you love and those that you don't know yet.

6. There is ALWAYS calm after the storm.

7. There can be sunshine in your soul every day; you just have to learn to love someone to be able to find it.

8. Pride divides but humility provides.

9. Latin America has the most beautiful culture.

10. We have family everywhere; there is no need to be homesick.

11. Christ is light and whatever is light is good.

12. The Lord uses imperfect people and situations to show His power.

13. I am a daughter of God.

14. Love solves everything.

15. God ALWAYS answers prayers.

16. Christ works from the inside out.

17. We are here to be tried.

18. "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Nephi 3:7

Those are really only a few things. Like I said, I don't have many words so maybe this is the worst last missionary email ever. I will just leave you all with my testimony.

I know that our Savior is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I know that He lives and works within us daily. I know that God is our Father in heaven. I know that this time on earth is just a time of probation and if we want to live it in happiness we must live the gospel. I know that humility is the best way to come to know God. I know that one day We can be perfect but that day is not today... but that doesn't mean we should give up, on the contrary, it means that we must fight harder and harder every day. I know that HOME is whenever I am with YOU. Or with him or her or that person in the corner or the bum on the street or the Chinese lady in the Mexican restaurant. HOME is where we make a personal connection with God through the presence of someone else. I know that Christ died so that we can live. I know that we are never left alone. I know the God is love. I know that the spirit guides us to know where we need to be and what to say. I know that miracles exist. I know that the gospel is true. I know that we just have to try every single day, to learn to love those around us and to just be grateful.

I love you all. I will see you soon.

Hermanaut

14 Days

Yep, you can see it. It's happening.

We continue to see a lot of progress in our area. I have been super anxious. I feel like the last change of my mission has been the hardest, spiritually speaking. I had to do a lot of stuff today and don't have much time to say much. 

Again, I just leave my testimony. This work is real. What i have been doing for the last 18 months has changed me more than any other experience in my life. I love it so much. I have come to know my Heavenly Father in a way that I didn't know was possible. I have felt the pure love of Christ fill my heart. This gospel is real and true it’s the best way to live. I know that we are here to gain experiences that will help us to become like the Being who created us. THIS is happiness. This is real. And THIS has changed me forever. 

Love you all so much.

See you soon!

Hermanaut

PS I ask for your prayers for my health spiritually any physically

Better Safe than Sorry.....

HOLAAAAA!!!

Ok so the title of this email is "better safe than sorry" becaaaaause, I will not be sending anymore pictures home from this point on. Sorry, but I have gotten viruses on my memory cards 2 times already and LUCKILY I got the majority of my pictures back but NONE of the videos and next week I have to send 12 to the mission sooooo you'll all just have to wait. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me and fool me thrice.... JUST DON'T LET IT HAPPEN THREE TIMES haha. I don't knooow. Anyway!!! This week I am going to attach my itinerary for getting home. There have been a lot of people asking me about when I am getting home and the details so I'm just going to attach the thing. Also, if you want to be at the airport or see me directly afterwards call my dad's cell phone so that you can arrange it with him. I am planning on eating at in n out or chilis (for their tortilla explosion salad) afterwards. OR Red Robins or J dogs. I DONT KNOW. Ok yea, enough.

Anywayyyys!! We have just seen a lot of miracles. We have a lot of investigators progressing and it is so awesome. We are able to truly see how the gospel of Jesus Christ truly blesses people and allows them to feel the realest thing that they have ever felt in their lives. Yesterday we had 11 investigators in church. We lost one though because he's moving to Distrito Federal in the state of Mexico :( Super sad about it but he's going to keep going to church up there. Honestly, I just want to share my testimony of this gospel this week.

I know that the purpose of our lives is to gain experience. And that means all kinds of experiences. That means we will suffer physical and spiritual and emotional pains. That means physical, spiritual, and emotional happiness. But our loving Father in heaven wants us to enjoy this life through the hard times and that is why He has given us the gospel. The gospel is the only way to fill the emptiness that we feel. I know Christ lives and works within us. "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." I know that this statement by President Ezra Taft Benson is true. I have felt it. I testify that Jesus Christ can change us and that His gospel is perfect. I know that the only true happiness that we can feel in this life is through people.

We feel God when we love others. I know that our understanding of God is so little but if we humble ourselves before Him, He will illuminate our minds and broaden our understanding so that we can feel HIS love. This life is not a race. It's one step at a time. And we must allow ourselves to make mistakes and to be imperfect so that we can progress and become more like Jesus. I know that THAT is the reason that Christ died for us, So that we can make mistakes, repent and grow and so that those mistakes don't lead to shame and guilt in the sight of the Father. I know that God loves us and knows us by name, which His arm is always extended towards us and calls us in the name of Christ. I know that I am not perfect but I do know that in Christ I can be perfected. 

I love you all so much.

See you soon!

Hermanaut

21 Days

The Real Miracle

Hey everyone!

Another week gone by! Everything is just unreal right now. Last week I experienced my last multi-zone conference. It was different than all of the conferences that we have had since I got here. We met our new mission president, President Àvila. He is very nice. We basically just had an open question and answer conference with him and his wife. They are from Guanajuato, Mexico. He is here with his wife and his son who has down syndrome. They are different from President and Sister Kusch but I am grateful for them and the spirit that they bring.

I have had loved my time here in Burgos. I've come to understand better the worth of a soul, I believe. In Palmas (the last ward that I was in) we were blessed with a lot of baptisms. Coming to Burgos, I think those expectations were what kept me frustrated and anxious from time to time. I think that there are sometimes these speculations put on us as missionaries that we are only here to baptize, and if you're not careful you fall into the trap. But the work that we are in isn't for only a certain type of soul. It's not only for the soul that doesn't or hasn't known the restored gospel.

My joy in Burgos has not been the baptisms, but seeing those who already knew these things returning. One of our biggest miracles has been Brother Bernardo. I think I told you guys about him a few weeks ago. He is the husband of a very active woman here in Burgos. He has been a member his whole life but for the last 15 years has separated himself from the gospel. This last Saturday we had an unreal experience with him. We wanted to teach him about what it really means to have faith in Jesus Christ. This is a theme that my companion and I have been learning a lot about in our personal studies. It's not like we are trying to study it but everyday we find things that help us and those we teach about what it is. In our lesson with Bernardo we started with a story in the bible that is found in Luke 8:43-48. It's about a woman who has had a sickness for 12 years and as Christ and his disciples walked by she touched the border of Christ's clothes and was healed instantly. Christ then tells her that she was healed by her faith. She had such faith in Christ that she thought, "I don't have to talk to him or look at him in his eyes, I just have to touch his clothes and I will be healed." He sat listening as we talk about how faith is an action and that action is the obedience to the commandments that we have been given. Then out of nowhere he pulled out his phone and said I want to show you something.

He works in air traffic control in Mexico City and is also a pilot. He pulled out a video of a pilot trying to land his plane. He explained to them that pilot have to have faith in the air traffic control and their systems because as they land the literally can see nothing. He showed us this video as this pilot lands his plane and literally in one point (I was utterly shocked) THE PILOT CANNOT SEE ANYTHING. He literally can't see anything but he listens to the indications of air traffic control and his systems and whatnot to successfully land the plane. As the video ends, Brother Bernardo looked up at us and says, "that's faith, right?" I had tears in my eyes. HE brought the spirit so strongly in the lesson. And we testified that it was exactly that.

We testified that even though we don't understand the reasons sometimes of commandments and just things in general we must be like the pilot and trust that Christ and our Heavenly Father like air traffic control can see things more clearly than we can and we must just follow. We then helped him understand what we were all feeling and that he was successfully feeling the Spirit for the first time in 15 years. It was a huge step. It was a lesson of about 10 minutes but it was one of the most powerful and it jut edified me. We taught in a way that he understood and could make his own connections and receive his own testimony. I felt so grateful that the Lord let us be clear enough in our lessons to let that happen. Brother Bernardo's wife has been out of town for about 3 weeks and he on his own is still coming to church and participating of the sacrament continually for the first time in 15 years. It was amazing.

I love this work so much. It is incredible. I know that this is the real and through gospel on the earth. the only gospel that allows us to have an understanding that gives us real and true hope. I know that we can change and the real miracle of missionary work isn't baptisms but the c

hange of heart that the people that we teach go through. The miracle is that they open their hearts for even a minute to let the spirit of God penetrate their hearts so that they can feel His perfect love. And though out these 17 months I have felt the Lord's love more purely and fully in my life.

I love you all so much
See you soon!
Hermanaut

Catch up

                                                                           Hi everyoneeeee!!!

 SHOUT OUTTTTT!!! Yesterday was my sweet mother's birthday. I would like to share with you guys a story that really just explains everything about my mom. Within the first few weeks of being in Mexico I wanted to go home desperately. I tried to only tell a few people and not my parents because I didn't want to worry them. However, I finally told my mom what I was feeling and that I wanted to go home. My mom was very worried about my coming here to Mexico and I honestly expected her to tell me that it would be ok if I went home... But she didn't. My mom doesn't form part of any religious group but she has a very great understand of enduring to the end. I don't remember the exact words that she told me and I can't find them….but I remember clearly that she told me that I made the decision to come here and that I need to complete with the calling that I was given. From that day on the mission didn't get easier but it was better because I knew that my amazing mother was behind me on it. I am grateful that she told me that because I am now only 5 weeks from finishing it and I am 200% sure that I would have regretted it. I owe a huge thanks to my mom, Denna, for always supporting and helping me in all that I have done. I LOVE YOU!!! 

This was the last district meeting with my last district and the
cutting of ties of the missionaries who went home last change.
I feel like I have said this a lot...but elders are SO ODDDDD.
In 5 weeeks I will be getting my tie cut :(

Anyway, this week was another wonderful weeek full of miracles and just happiness. It's stressful the last few weeks because you want to do a lot of things and have to think about a few things at home but I just love it. This has been the best ever. I don't plan to write much so that I can send you all a ton of pictures that will sum up the last few weeks! LOVE YOU ALLLLL!!!!

Hermanaut

34 days

DISTRICT JERSEYSSS AND RENO ENVY!!

This was me trying to combine FIVE area books into one.... 

Then me SUPER MEXICAN...LIKE MEXICANISIMO!! 

My last time in Cuautla... I cried

And a whole bunch of pictures from Cuautla!

 When my companion and I matchedd.... 

                                                                                       And what we had to do to fix a problem....

We had a talent show... and it was unreal! So much success!

Hi loved ones!!!

So I owe a HUGE HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my wonderful father!!! And I owe it to a lot of other men in my life who have been here with me as well! I can honestly say that I have been blessed with an incredible amount of father figures along with my amazing biological father.

It was an excellent week. I can’t believe that i am in my last 6 weeks. I have been giving all that I have for the last 17 months, everything. Today my companion and I were able to go to Cuautla (where I started my mission and the last area that I was in) to say goodbye to investigators and members. It was an incredible experience. I was able to talk to so many people that I love. To finalize this trip we went to my first area. I had to so many flashbacks. I was able to see a member and an old investigator for the very last visit in that area. It was very emotional as I left. What hit me so hard was the huge change that I have seen in the last 17 months. There were a lot of tears and I cried a fair amount as I left Cuautla. It amazed me that I could barely talk Spanish when I had first got there but had made some of the strongest connections in my life there... 

Honestly I can't describe what I feel in the hour drive back to Cuernavaca I just felt content and satisfied. I was able to look back and say to these last 17 months that I have left EVERYTHING that I had in that time. I am not perfect. That doesn't mean that I was perfect nor that my decisions were the best, but in every moment that I have had here in Mexico I have given everything that I had in that moment. 

There is a lot of work to do still. It's not over. I know I will cry when I leave, but when I am home I know that I will be ready to start my life there with the confidence that I did all that I could in 18 months. I have given the Lord my whole being. I know He lives and works presently in our lives. I know that we must work every day to be perfect like our Example and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that every moment that we dedicate to him is worth it. I know that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that faith is action. 

I love you all so much.

Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.

Just because I am going to be home in 7 weeks...

I am officially a "valiente!" Which pretty means that I am officially 

almost home! That's the list... haha  We took pictures at the mission home :)

DOES NOT MEAN that everyone STOPS writing me. I need you guys still, ok? Haha! I am not mad... but I am being honest that I still need your support until the very last week! 

You guys, I am so sorry that I forgot my birthday list this week again but I DO have shout outs for those that I remember.

  

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND FATHER'S DAY to my amazing father. John Naut, you are such a wonderful man and I am so lucky and SO BLESSED to have you.

This is the last picture that I have with 

my mission president, President Kusch 

and his wife Sister Kusch. :( 

They leave for a week and we will be 

getting a new mission president 

for my last transfer.

2. HAPPY GRADUATION to my hermanito Chris Naut!!! He is graduating on Friday from welding school and I just feel so happy for him! He has gone through a lot but the Lord has been merciful and has helped him achieve this goal!

3. CONGRATULATIONS TO SAMANTHA HUTCHENS who is officially engaged and will be getting married in late August! I am sooo happy that I will be home to see such a special moment! 

I am sorry, I know that I have forgotten people. I promise that next week I will get on top of things.

This is the family that I mentioned last 

week about the husband that is less-active.

We have a dog... named Perry... well he's

 the bishop's dog...and we live

 next door to the bishop and 

share the same patio sooo it's our dog too

As my title mentions... 7 weeks. 6 p-days.... that's it. You guys. This has been the best year and a half of my life. I have learned so many things. This week was so much better. I feel better health and spiritual wise. I feel so up and down with my emotions recently but the Lord has been with me every step of the way. We are just seeing little miracles left and right. The Lord has blessed me with the perfect companion for my last 12 weeks in the mission. I love the way we work together. She works harder for me because I am ending my mission and I work harder for her because she is starting her mission.

A few of the members of my

 ward...they are awesome!

We had a baptism on Saturday. I totally forgot to tell you guys about a huge miracle that happened when we got the whole ward a few weeks ago. Remember that I mentioned to you guys about a lady named Mari? I found her with Sister Canales in February. Well, when we had transfers and we were taken out of that part of the ward the other missionaries and her just didn't get along that well. They weren't patient with each other. Mari fell into deep depression and the other sisters just kind of let her fall. Well when we got the whole ward we were able to visit her and see how she was. She had A CHANGE OF HEART. Mari had a hard time with the Book of Mormon. She said it made her stomach sick every time she read the word Mormon. Well a member let her borrow another book of the church called Gospel Principles. She began to read it and she was just looking for all of the errors. Then she got about halfway and realized that she didn't get anything out of it. She started to read it again, and read all of the references to scriptures that it gave and came to a better understanding of all that we teach. She finished the book and realized that she doesn't feel the way that she did towards the Book of Mormon. 

Last Monday we went to Centro where you 

find a lot of art and historical sites. 

The big building you guys see is called "Palacio de Cortez." 

When Cortez came to colonize the Americas he 

stayed in this place for a while... If I am right haha

 

She began to read it and came to and understanding that she had been doing everything that God asks us to do HER way instead of His way. She came to love the Book of Mormon and finally was baptized. She took is so seriously. After her baptism she just kept saying that it's a new start and that she just sees up. Her daughter was able to see the baptism and that was a great support for her. It was truly a miracle. Another miracle was that Sister Canales called last night to give us a reference and I was able to give her the great news. She was so happy because the way we found Mari and how things happened was just a miracle. 

Mari was baptized by Elder Smith from 

every part of the US possible. He and his 

companion are going home on Friday. 

Elder Smith is going to BYU Idaho in Fall as well. 

We aactually will have a Book of Mormon 

class together and Elder Holmstead is f

om POCATELLO IDAHO!!! WOOO HOOOOO!!!!

The baptism was wonderful :)

Things are good. I was to make a special request that all of you, my loved ones, in these last 6 Mondays just send me inspirational stuff. I don't want to be unfocused for any reason at all. I realize that I have to make a few decisions right now but that won't let me be unfocused. I feel so happy about my whole mission and I just want to live up these last 7 weeks. I can feel the Lord's love so much more in my life. I can feel that He is here with us and that He is helping us do some great work! I love this ward. I love where I am. I love the mission and I love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. And I am grateful.

I was able to do divisions with a sister from my 

MTC district, Sister Corriveau from Illinois

I love you all soooo much!

See you sooooon!!!

Hermanaut

49 days