week 51 (4/4/2016)

                                                        Attending the
                                     Asunción Paraguay Temple

                           Companion recovering from surgery and Marissa battling                                                 a few aliments herself.  Both pressing forward in the work of the Lord.   (:



           Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him

week 50 (3/28/2016)

Well happy Easter yesterday!!

 I hope everyone had a great Easter celebrating the Savior and His sacrifice and love for every single one of us.

 I know that He lives! He loves us. He knows us, and He came for every person on this earth. He came to help us, to heal us, and to save us. Just wanted to share a quick video with all of you, that's only 2 minutes long about our Savior, Redeemer and Elder Brother. The man that gave all, just for us. I hope you can all take a second out of your day to watch this quick video, and remember Him and His love for you!

 https://www.mormon.org/easter 

I love you all! Hope you had a great week and have an even better one this week!

With love, 

Hermana Speakman 

He Lives! 

week 49 (3/14/2016)

Hi everyone!! 

I hope you all had a great week! 

This week I want to share a part of a talk really stood out to me, while I was reading the Ensign this month. I came across an article by Katy Mcgee, the name of her Article is, "Gaining Gospel Insights through Motherhood." Her article is based on a few basic truths of the gospel that she learned through experiences with her children.. and one of the experiences that touched me the most and stood out to me was her first insight that she shard about our Father in Heaven.. She shared the following story: 

"One day while I was ironing, one-year-old Claire began to cry in her crib. It was nap time, and I knew that if I could quickly give her a pacifier, she would fall back to sleep. Three-year-old Lucy was playing in the room where I was ironing. I debated for a moment and then decided to keep the iron on, knowing I’d be out of the room for only a few moments. “Lucy, do you see that iron on my tall table?” I asked. “It’s VERY hot. I need to give Claire her pacifier. Please don’t touch the iron while I’m gone, or it will hurt you.”

I was sure Lucy understood, so I quickly slipped out of the room. I returned a moment later, and I heard a whimper from behind a chair.

“Lucy?” I asked. “Where are you?”

She didn’t reply.

“Are you OK? Why are you hiding?”

I walked over behind the chair and sat on the floor. Her face was buried in her hands. After a few refusals to tell me what happened, she finally said, “Mommy, I touched your iron.”

At first I was confused that she hadn’t heeded my warning. Then I felt heartbroken that she would hide from me after making a small mistake, afraid she had lost my love and confidence. I knew she was powerless to take the pain away, and only I could help her burned finger feel better. I comforted Lucy, and as I rushed her to the bathroom sink to ease the pain, the Spirit whispered to my heart: “This is how Heavenly Father feels when His children fail to heed His warnings and won’t allow Him to ease their pain when they need it most.” In that moment I felt such joy at this knowledge and a confidence in the Lord’s willingness to teach me."

After reading this story I thought about how true it is.. aren't we all like this young child, we all commit errors or pass through hard times and a lot of the time, rather than turning to the one person that can heal us and help us to make it better, we run away, we hide.  We feel that somehow He will stop loving us or that we are better off alone to deal with it.  When in reality.. that isn't what He wants, that is Never what He wants.. The things that we go through are not to drive us farther away from Him in fact that's the opposite of His plan for us. He wants us to come unto Him he wants to live with us again, but we cannot do so if we don't receive His help and His healing power. That is why Christ came. He loves every single one of us, just like a mother loves her child even with they make mistakes, or pass through hard times. 

Don't forget about Him and His love, You are never alone. Let Him heal you.. Psalms 147:3. 

I hope you all have a great week!  Don't forget to pray, trust in the Lord and His love. :) 

Love you all!! 

With love, Hermana Speakman 

week 48 (3/7/2016)

Hi everyone! 

 

Well this week has been full of adventures some better than others haha. But I have to say it has been a pretty great week, between long bus drives and big heat waves... The spirit was still found and felt in the smallest and simplest of things.

Being out here on the mission, I have learned many things.. and seen many things. But one of the things that I have learned is, that you have to find joy in the little things in life. The mission isn't always easy, but I have come to find through time that Happiness is a choice.. and that it can be found in the simplest of moments. 

For example... my companion, who is still adjusting to the different foods of Paraguay, has found a way to look at the positive side of some strange meals that we have eaten... pointing out the good things that she found, like the lemonade hahaha.  I know it changed her day and her attitude, from the simple act of finding the positive thing in the different situation and it also helped me see the difference the littlest things make.

 

I know that life isn't easy... but I know that this life is the best gift we have been given! Even though its hard... there is always something we can find to be grateful for. 

2 Nephi 2:25 

Thank you all for all of your love and support! I hope you have a great week! 

Will love, 

hermana Spekaman 

 New companion Hermana Roncallo

week 47 (2/29/2016)

Hey everyone!! 

Well....its official, I have finished one year of my mission!  .... 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

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!

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