Monday, February 29, 2016

week 47 (2/29/2016)

Hey everyone!! 

Well....its official, I have finished one year of my mission! ðŸ˜¶ .... and it still feels like I'm in my first week haha . Time flies but it doesn't seem real.
I love Paraguay, I love the people! The love they show and the spirit and courage they have. I am so grateful for everything that they have taught me in this year that I have been here, and I wouldn't change this experience for the world. 
I have to say... haha before coming on the mission I did not think I would ever say anything like that. The Lord has a way of always knowing whats best for us. :)

This week I had changes, my companion Hermana Morgan finished her mission, and I am now with Hermana Roncallo from New Jersey! It has been a crazy week, but a lot of fun. She is my first American companion in this year out here in the mission! haha I have already learned so much in this first week with her! We had a devotional with Elder Bednar, and it was amazing. He spoke about how, we have and teach and know the plan of happiness... we need to show that we believe it and live it, with a smile always in our hearts and on our lips. 
I know that this life isn't always easy, but there is always something positive, something to learn in every situation.
This life is a gift! Don't give up! And, don't forget to smile :) 

I hope you all have a great week! I miss you all! 

Love you all! 
Sincerely, 
Hermana Speakman

Monday, February 22, 2016

week 46 (2/22/2016)


hna Zelaya
She's the best. She cooks for us every Thursday and always makes food like a restaurant. She turns on her AC for us especially too ❤ two of her sons served in the US. one in Utah and the other in CA.  She calls us her princesses :,)


My companion, Heading home tomorrow.  Mission completed!



Monday, February 15, 2016

week 45 (2/15/2016)

Hi everyone!
This week its going to be short, but I wanted to share a quick thought that I have been trying to learn and remember this week on my mission. 
Out here, is one of the biggest blessings and one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. This week has not been an exception to the learning process haha. 
As we were passing through trials with leaders with members and as I started complaining John 8:7 came to my head... "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone." ..... nice wake up call haha.
 There is always something more that we can all be doing, there is always something more others can be doing. But I realized that I would not appreciate it if everyone just looked at all the things I don't do and started complaining instead of looking for the way to help me do better.  So my personal goal this week, month, year, life, haha, is to try to remember that nobody is perfect, and instead of looking for what others don't do or what they lack.. look for what I can do to improve myself and to help lighten their burden. 
I've started this week and it has made a huge difference in my day and in theirs.
 
I hope you have a great week!! 
I miss you all! 
Thank you for your prayers, love and support! 
 
With love, 
Hermana Speakman
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Monday, February 8, 2016

week 44 (2/8/2016)

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a great week.
 This week was pretty good :) Ovidio was baptized! :) it was a great experience and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to participate in this moment with him. Attached is a photo of him after leaving the water :) he walked out and was so happy! 
Today, I wanted to send a talk that has helped me out this week from President Uchtdorf. I know that it isn't always easy, sometimes things are harder than we thought possible and we don't understand why. But I know that the Lord has a plan for everything, and I know that these trials... are just for a moment, trust in Him, have faith in Him, in His plan and in His love. Stand firm and true and you will see at the end of it all, there is a grand purpose in our struggle in this life. 
¨Not long ago my wife, Harrietand were at an airport watching magnificent airplanes land. It was windy day, and fierce gusts of wind whipped against the approaching aircraft, causing each one to swerve and shudder during the approach.
As we observed this struggle between nature and machine, my mind went back to my own flight training and the principles I learned there—and later taught to other pilots in training.
“Don’t fight the controls during turbulence,” used to tell them.“Stay cool; don’t over re-act. Keep your eyes focused on the center line of the runway. If you deviate from your desired approach path, make prompt but measured corrections. Trust the potential of your airplane. Ride the turbulence out.”
Experienced pilots understand that they can’t always control the things that happen around them. They can’t just turn off the turbulence. They can’t makthe rain or snow vanish. They can’t cause the wind to stop blowing or change its direction.
But they also understand that it’s mistake to fear turbulence or strong winds—and especially to be paralyzed by them. The way to land safely when conditions are less than ideal is to stay on the correct track and glide path as perfectly as possible.
As watched one airplane afteanother make its final approach and recalled the principles learned from my years as pilot, wondered if there wasn’lesson in this for our daily lives.
We can’t always control the storms that life puts in our path. Sometimes things simply don’t go our way. We may feel shaken and blown about by the turbulence of disappointment, doubt, fear, sadness, or stress.
During those times, it is easy to get caught up in everything that is going wrong and to make our troubles the center of our thoughts. The temptation is to focus on the trials we are facing instead of on the Savioand our testimony of truth.
But that is not the best way tnavigate through our challenges in life.
Just as an experienced pilot keeps his focus not on the storm but on the center of the runway and the correct touch down point, so too should we keep our focus on the center of our faith—our Savior, His gospel, and the plan of our Heavenly Father—and on our ultimate goal—to return safely to our heavenly destination. We should trust God and make staying on the track of discipleship the focus of our efforts. We should keep our eyes, heart, and mind focused on living the way we know we should.
Showing our faith and trust in Heavenly Father by joyfully keeping His commandments will bring us happiness and glory. And if we stay on the path, we will get through any turbulence—no matter how strong it may appear—and return safely to our heavenly home.
Whether the skies around us arclear or filled with threatening clouds, as disciples of Jesus Christwe seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that if we do soeverything else we need will eventually be provided (seeMatthew 6:33).
What an important life lesson!
The more we obsess about our difficulties, our struggles, our doubts, and our fears, the more difficult things can become. But the more we focus on our final heavenly destination and on the joys of following the disciple’s path—loving God, serving our neighbor—the more likely we are to successfully navigate through times of trouble and turbulence.
Dear friends, no matter how violently the winds of our mortal existence howl around us, the gospel of Jesus Christ will always offer the best path to safe landing in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom.¨

love you all!! have a great week. 
love Hermana Speakman 
This is the gentleman that I wrote about a few weeks ago.  Before being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he belong to the Jehovah witness church.