Hola!

Well I finally had my first baptism and it was on my birthday which was actually pretty awesome! This week was actually a pretty busy week for my companion and I but it was also a really great one. On Tuesday we had the sisters conference which was really great because we got to see all of the sisters and Presidente always talks about how much he loves and appreciates the sisters. On Thursday we were supposed to have our baptism but she was super nervous with all of the people that were there and she was having family problems so we actually didnt end up having her baptism that day. On Friday we had a ward talent show night and Presidente Hintze and his wife came and my zone and I sang the EFY Meledy. All of the talents were adorable and it was a lot of fun. On Satuday my zone and I went to pizzahut to celebrate my birthday and then later that night we had our baptism for Hermana Alicia. The service was really simple, but it was really nice too. She felt so good afterwards and when she was confirmed on Saturday she was so happy. On Sunday we had a conference with Presidente and our investigators and we watched On the Lords Errand, the movie about Thomas S. Monson because its important for our investigators to learn about the prophet. Basically this week went really well and I cant wait to see what more is about to come. I love you all, thank you for all of the prayers!

Love,

Hermana Ontiveros

Well hello there!

I received a new companion this week and her name is Hermana Wood. Shes actually my first gringo companion that Ive ever had in the mission field, so its definitely a new experience being the one that knows the most Spanish. ha This week was really great, weve been working really hard with our investigators and one of our newest investigators, Hermano Gerbet, went to church and stayed for all three hours which was great. This Thursday we have a baptism scheduled for Hermana Alicia and I am super excited for that. I hope all goes well and that its a day that she will always remember. This week we had the opportunity to go to a multistake family activity with our zone and with our investigators. The activity was a talent show and each stake did something. Most of the stakes did dances that are native to El Salvador, but there were also some people who sang or read a drama. It was actually a lot of fun and our investigators really liked it. Also the activity was at the chapel next to the temple so we got to take pictures at the temple and explain the temple to our investigators. Im loving the people here in my mission and Im so greatful for the opportunity that Ive had to share the gospel in Spanish in El Salvador. I know that I have definitely had the help of the Lord in everything that I have done, and my testimony has really grown on my mission. Im so greatful for the church in my life and for all of your love and support. 

Love,

Hermana Ontiveros

Hola como estan? Well this week we have changes and well I have been called to train another newbie crazy enough. I dont wont know who my new companion is until Wednesday but Im going to be a mom again and I have to put my other daughter up for adoption...pobresito..haha This week Hermana Alicia went to church for the third time which is fantastic and she is really progressing so Im thinking that she might be my first baptism on my birthday of all things! ha One of the greatest moments I had this week is when we went to vist a mom and her four year old daughter and we taught the Plan of Salvation. After we finished explaining it she told us that her brother had died recently and that she had been wondering what happened to him when he died and that this was an answer to her question. We could really feel the spirit so strong during this lesson and it made me really greateful to be a missionary. Hopefully we can work with her family to bring them into the church and help them to learn more about Christ and his love for us. My area right now is pretty challenging but I know that Im here for a reason and that someone is waiting for my companion and I. I hope all is well at home,thanks for all of the prayers.

Love,

Hermana Ontiveros

Hola!

Well this week has gone by really fast, but it has been a good one. Weve been working hard to find new people to teach and weve been praying that when we find those people they will be ready to be baptized because for some reason when we mention the word baptism they all seem to scatter. ha Well Hna Alicia is really progressing and we are really praying that she will be able to be baptized on the 28th. This week the had stake conference which was really great. A membe rof the 70 came and spoke, the temple president and his wife spoke, our stake president spoke, and President Hintze and his wife spoke as well. They talked a lot about temples and the importance of helping the missionaries find new people to teach which was definitely nice. This week we also had an interview with President and his wife. They are so great, Im so greatful to have them in my life. Well thats my week, sorry its so short!

Love,

Hermana Ontiveros

Hola!

Well this week had its ups and downs but it was good. Last Monday we had a family night with our investigators in a less active members home. We watched the video "La Restauracion" and we shared our testimonies about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and how the church has helped our lives. It was a really great experience and one of our investigatores told us that she understands the gospel and the book of mormon more clearly now because of the movie. Well the baptism we were supposed to have on Saturday we didnt end up having because he told us that hes just not ready. It was sad to hear him say that, but hes coming to church and what not so hopefully he will come to the knowledge that he is ready and that he will get baptized. We are working with a lady right now who has a baptism date for my birthday and she is progressing really well. She loves the gospel, likes reading the book of mormon, and others have said that theyve seen a positive change in here so thats good. Were still working hard to find people who are ready to recieve the gospel and were doing our best to visit, more often, the investigators that we do have. One unfortunate thing that we found out this week is one of the families that we are teaching will be moving, so hopefully we have prepared them enough for those other missionaries to recieve them and help them to be baptized. This week we had a meeting for the trainees and trainers with Presidente Hintzie and it went really well, I learned a lot about how I can better my teaching skills and how to rely on the members and the Lord more. During my mission Ive definitely learned the importance of faith and pacience. Well thats all for this week. Thanks for all of the support!

Love,

Hermana Ontiveros