Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Wiilliamson

THIS WEEKS EMAILS

Well this week was a great week for finding people. We contacted into a ton of lessons, and we are praying and hoping that we can reap some fruits in this week, it being the last of the change. It is almost certain that we will be staying together for another change, so we aren't really worried about it. We did find out something that was kinda hard but answered some questions. With the family of Jorge and Sara, who´ve now assisted for a straight month at the chapel, we found out they arent married, which caught us off guard. I mean we never let it past through our minds cuz theyre loder and have three kids and always say my wife and my husband, even though people do that a lot, but we just had assumed they were married. We had brought up baptism again, like every lesson, and they finally told us they weren't married, but that they are already planning it, and the baptism will be able to happen as soon as possible after ha. Jorge even told us in church on sunday as we were talking about temple sealings and blessings, he says, well we better hurry up and get married, get baptized and go to the temple than! so gold. You just dont enjoy anything more than something like that. This is what motivates us to keep searching, to keep at it, to fight off satan and his army and be valiant soldiers of Christ. I love being a missionary. This just seems like my life and what i was meant to do. W also had a great fhe with a fam that the sister is always helping us out whenever she can literally, and we hoped to have animated the brother into getting the priesthood and going to the temple, she and her kids totally deserve to get a family eternal. Weather is supposedly getting cold here, there in sweaters me in my short sleeve shirt, pobrecitos dying in that horrible 70 degree weather. Well i love you all soooo much, and hope that you have a great week. its already November!!??
Elder REdfern
todos, les exhorto que vayan al templo mas y mas frecuentemente, el Señor les bendecira.

Hola Familia y amigos!Yet another week has flown by in the mission field, I cant even blieve I already have to start my “going home diet” haha. This week I have been really trying to focus on doing all that I can do, putting all my heart, might, mind and strength into the work and then letting the Lord do his part (thanks to the uplifting blog from Lindsey Redfern my famous and AWESOME sister-in-law). Last night we got word that the dad of Nicolas (one of our investigators who was going to get baptised but then his dad said no) said that he feels like Niko is old enough to make is own decisions. Tonight he is going to talk to Niko alone...The Lord has this one in his hands and I know that he will make things happen. This morning I decided to do things a little different. Normally for preparation day we start studies earlier (skip running, yes I run every morning with my comp, and normally we don't shower haha) so we can be done earlier and get started doing all the things we have to get done before 6 pm. The problem at times is our studies aren’t as focused and we are excited to get things done to relax. This morning we decided to do everything like we normally do. Get up, run, shower, say our morning prayers with focus, eat and then study. I had one of the most spiritual studies ever. I was focused, alert and ready to receive answers to my questions. To be honest I am a little teary-eyed right now as I think about how the spirit touched my soul this morning. First I read from the 2 Ne, the chapters of Isaiah, and actually understood! Then I read an article about Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin from the Feburary of this year Liahona (it is absolutely wonderful and those who want more direction for their relationship with their spouse should read and apply this article). It talks about a moment in his mission when him and his comp were talking about their hopes, dreams and goals for the future. In this moment he said, “I made up in my mind that I would magnify any callings I received in the Lord’s Kingdom”. I felt the spirit confirm to me that this is what brings happiness. If we want families that are strong and unified, this is what we need to do. The Lord and His Kingdom come first. Oh how wonderful is this gospel, oh how great are the promises. All we need to do is put Him first and he will provide. He went on to say that some may think that GA rarely experience pain, suffering, or distress, but this is not true, “the Lord in His wisdom does not shield anyone from grief or sadness.” The Lord sometimes allows painful things to happen but he NEVER leaves us alone and we can “find comfort in the doctrines of eternal life”.This life is meant to be hard. We all knew it would be when we decided to come, but we still chose to be here and we said that we would do all that we can to return to live with Our Heavenly Father again. Now is the time to prepare, we must put Him and His Kingdom first and everything else will fall into place. We will be happier and more at peace. I know this to be true with all of my heart. I love you all.
KEEP THE FAITH!!
Hna Redfern

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Poncho as Mirror Mirror

Toni as the Queen

The Adorable Hoags

The girls

Joyce as the runaway Bride

Oh the Cooks...next contestants on the biggest losers

Sexy Shannon and the flashback of his younger yrs Shawn

The Pasquinis- Burt & Mary Poppins

The party throwers the Richards as Jon & Kate

Are we the couple or what?

THIS WEEKS EMAILS

So another great week here in Valles. We had a crazy week, a lot of rejection, and even met and antichrist. It was interesting. She talked to us for about 15 minutes straight going on and on about anything you can think of and claiming all the wrongness of the bible and belief in Christ, and then looked at us and said with a fire in her eyes of determination ¨and people will wait for thousands of years, and he will NEVER come!¨ Oh no you didn't. We calmly, explained, and bore testimony, that Christ would indeed come, and with something she had not, nothing given to me from study of the bible, but of a pure witness of the third member of the Godhood that Christ will indeed come. And this day will be a great and terrible day, great for those who accepted Christ, terrible for those who didn't. Sometimes in between moments like this and others I wish the coming of Christ was here already. Done with pain, affliction, temptation(until after the milenio for a short period and than gone forever) from the adversary, sickness, poverty, hate, jealousy, envy and last but not least pride. And also it would be pretty legit to be a missionary in that day. But the mere knowledge of that day is a great motivation, a relief within the sights, that Christ will come to collect his fold. Also another reason i need to preach to more of my beloved brethren here in mexico. Jorge andSAra and there fam are progressing and on their way to an eternal family. There is nothing better than witnessing the baby steps of someone entering the gospel, and if you beg to differ, well, than, you re wrong, or have your own eternal familia. What i want to say is that i love this church, and know its true, and man can say what they may about why the Mormons are wrong, but in my heart i will always know. Espero la segunda venida con todo afan de mi corazon, y me regocijare cuando el Señor yo y mi familia eterna recibamos la promesa de exaltacion. I love you all so much, have a great week.

Elder Redfern

Hola!

Okay, it is official, sadly I am one of those people from the book of Mormon that are compelled to be humble, not one that is naturally humble. Something I have been trying to work on since the day I came into the mission (8 months ago!). Really, it isn't easy to be humble, to accept that you really are nothing without God.I am learning TONS this transfer. I didn't realize how much I depended on my comps to do things. And now I am having to remember them to take notes and actually listen to the things we are suppose to do. I forgot about a lunch appointment (she cooked for the four of us and we never went!), I set up a FHE with Maria, her kids and another family, when Maria told us she couldn't do it, I didn't bother to call the other family until late that night when I remembered. I forgot to get the baptismal papers sent off to the office and still don't have a signature from the Bishop...I could go on and on and on. But I will save you the details. Oh DETAILS, something I have never been good at. Its a good thing that I am learning now  Yesterday was interesting...We walked and walked and walked and walked, went to all of our cites and NO ONE wanted to hear our wonderful message. My legs felt like jello and I felt like I could fall at any point. It was 8 oclock and we had no one else we could visit, I was searching my Brain for someone, ANYONE that had listen before and might let us in their house. I had a distinct impression to walk towards the church, it was far and we only had an hour, but something I have learned is you listen to this little thoughts. We started walking and right in front of us was the perfect person to talk to, a young mom with two beautiful girls. We started chatting and she told us that for 4 years she has been studying with the Jehovah Witnesses and is near the end of her study and they are telling her she needs to make a decision. But she felt like something is missing. I told her, “we have exactly what you are missing and all we ask is 5 mins, can we walk with you back to your house?”. She was a little hesitant but said that it was fine but she really only had five min because she had to make dinner for her hubby. We ended up having had one of the best lessons of my mission (and we were there for a good 40 min but she didn't mind). I felt exactly like the scripture in D&C 64: 33-34, “wherefore be not weary in well doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great...behold, the Lord requireth the heart and willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land in these last days.” All night I heard the Devil in my mind telling me, “call it a night, you arent going to find anyone who wants to listen”. Had I listened to this voice and given up we never would have had the blessing of teaching Daniela. It was truly a blessing from God and now she has the opportunity to have the truth in her life. We left with energy to run home, we ran and giggled like two little girls on Christmas. It was truly wonderful.There are people who are being prepared. People who NEED our message, who are searching for it. We need to do all the we can to share it. I love this gospel. I love my Heavenly Father and my savior. I feel truly blessed to be living in the last days in Argentina sharing this wonderful message! I love you all!

KEEP THE FAITH!!!!

Hna Redfern

We know that great things happen in the lives of those who faithfully serve full-time missions. Missionary service is not easy, but it is infinitely worth it. Those who serve and return home with honor have established a pattern of living and serving that will bless their own lives and the lives of generations to follow. They return better prepared to be strong leaders and teachers in the organizations of the Church. They return better prepared to be righteous fathers and mothers and able to teach their children the gospel. Full-time missionary service is a blessing for those whom the missionaries find and teach as well as for the missionaries themselves

Elder Ballard

THIS WEEKS EMAILS

Que tal! Greetings from the south! Its finally starting to warm up a bit more down here but I havent made up my mind what season it is, one day it is hot hot hot, the next we is cold cold cold and then the next its raining, I guess that would mean it is spring.Things are going GREAT. I started my English fast last Thursday. The rule is I have to always speak in Spanish except when I am helping my companion learn English. A few English words slip out here and there completely on accident but I quickly repent. It is good for me, good control practice. My comp is a gem. Really, she is the sweetest, funnest, cutest, littlest thing in the world. We have a blast and work hard. It is kind of nice to have a language barrier because it helps us to only talk abut things that are important, things about the mission. We have seen so much success in our first week together and I am stoked to see how things go. I know we are going to see miracles.I have had to learn to lean more on the Lord this week. I felt a lot of pressure, getting a companion who is almost brand new, and then the President asked me to work with the other companionship, do divisions and help them to find more success. I felt completely unprepared and so totally not ready. It is interesting how the Lord prepares us. The day before transfers I was reading a talk from President Monson and found this quote that I put on the back of my planer, “Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks.” I know that I was not asked to do this because I am better than any other missionary or because I have the ability to do so, I was asked to do this so that I can progress, so that I can learn and grow. And now I have to lean on the Lord so that he can give me the ability to do what I am asked. I don't think that words can describe how I feel right now, I have never felt so happy and so ready to do anything. I know that ANYTHING is possible when we put our faith in our Heavenly Father.I know that right now I am in the work of the Lord. I know that the only way that we can bee happy is if we follow the commandants of God and if we share our wonderful message with others. Keep the faith, always remember who you and and who you can become! I love you all. Write. ;)

Hna Redfern

Hey! Well this week was a great week now wasn't it? I got a phone call from the presidents wife during a lesson on Wednesday and i told her i would call her back when we were down. She told me she had some great news for me, and even without her telling me i knew what she was going to say! WE WON! Oh man there is nothing more promising and joy filling than the prospect of going to the Lords house and sealing your family together for the eternities, oh man, just soooooo amazing. My heart was overwhelmed with love for my Heavenly Father and my little chubby nephew who will soon be sealed to our eternal family. This is just so chido, padre, suave or however you wanna say it. This is also the best part of being a missionary. We are still teaching Jorge and Saras family, they are just sooo awesome. On Tuesday we went there and they busted out a keyboard for my comp to play, and we listened to him play and than Jorge goes, lets start with a hymn! ANd all the kids were like dad will you buy us himnarios? and he is like of course i will.Its just sooo awesome marellous amazing to watch people progress in their own desires to do what God wants them to. sara is the one who is a little more skeptical, but she is coming along, we keep on challenging her to just pray and ask God, but Satan is all in that trying to stop as many people as he can from praying, just like it says in the book of Mormon. But its so easy to know the truth, all you gotta do is ask. How simple is that? But why wont more people do it? The promise is for everyone. But we also have to look for the answer, we cant just pick up the phone ask God a bunch of questions than hang up without receiving the answer. WE have to meditate it, study it out in our minds, and search diligently for Gods answer, and in his hour it will be there without a single doubt. We had a ward Family home evening and we watched the Joseph Smith movie, a lot of tears were shed and we bore our testimonies at the end. It was such a great experience. Does a mission really have to end? I love you all and hope you have a great week, with your normal life, a mission is just so much cooler. Haha. i love you all

Elder Redfern

D-Day

Today at 1:30 Utah time we will be in the court room where Joniece relinquished her rights...where the trial was last month to hear the ruling on Gavins adoption.


It is a scary time. it is a hopeful time. It is a time to exercise more faith than I have ever had to.

As I have snuggled and loved on him today several times tears have welled in my eyes.

He belongs to our family.

He has a right to be sealed to a family for time & eternity

He has a right to have a mom & dad who cherish him

An extended family that will be there to support him thru the trials and joys of his life.

He has a right to have his big brother who says " i love you Gavi"

So today at 1:30 his life will be determined by a judge who will either give him all those rights or take them away.

And so I say another prayer...the 100 something one this morning...that the judge will give him all the rights he deserves!