New Location

Dear Friends and Family!!!

 

Well everyone I am in Broadway 2 East. I am with Hermana Morales.She is a native. Born in Peru but lived in Utah most her life. I like this because her accent is great and I am going to learn Spanish so much better with her by my side. We live in a little white house, and I'm "White Washed" because this use to be an Elder's area and now it's got Hermanas there. Yay! Our first day was crazy because when we got paired up at transfers Hermana Morales had cut her head and fallen that morning so we spent our first few hours together in different urget cares, etc. Yeah, it was crazy. And we got super lost and accidentally drove to downtown. But all is well now.

So this last week was quite a big change. Everything about my ward, area and companion is all so different than what I was use to in Jacinto City. And while I miss my old companions and investigators I know I'm where I'm suppose to be. Numbers were so low this week and I was pretty sad about that. With being "white washed" and back to a duo and with Hermana Morales's injury it was all pretty crazy at first. But I know that we have the faith to find and that as long as we are obedient and have faith the spirit really does take over! The work is slower than I am used to when I was with Hermana Pitts and Mellor, but we have high hopes for this area and we have already seen the miracles begin.

So, a few days ago we were encouraged by our District Leader to pass out 2 Book of Mormons within the week. Hermana Morales and I decided to go to a members home and see if we could teach them "willing and brief" since we still didn't know the area or the members yet. We didn't know why but we felt very strong desire to place a Book of Mormon in that hour. We felt that maybe the member would have a friend to give it to or something. The member wasn't hope but her none member aunt answered the door and told us to try back later. While we were talking on the door step a lady passed by and asked, "Are you mormons?!" We told her yes, and she said she would wait over by a bench to talk to us when we were done. After finishing the conversation with the member's aunt we went over to talk to her. Her name is Opa and she was SO excited to talk to us. She is from Samoa and has been homeless for two years. She has been abused and sexually abused, etc. Such a hard life. She has seizures often and wants help so she can go back to live with her family in Samoa. It turns out that her parents are Mormons and she said finding us was an answer to her prayers. The most amazing part is before we even started the conversation she asked us for a Book of Mormon, and if we could mark passages for her to read. Such a miracle!! We are going to refer her to the English bishop to help her. The Lord really works in mysterious ways, but HE KNOWS HIS CHILDREN! And what they need. 

Love,

Hermana Salcido

 

Pictures: Jesus who lives right behind us made us eat his crab. Mi Cunado, Eric, would have been so jealous

Me and Hermana Morales on our first day.

the gospel blesses everyone

Dear Friends and Family,

Once again we had a great week. A lot happened but I will try to be brief ;) First off: Vicente and his kids (Kiara and Vicente) all came to church yesterday! It was so great because Vicente was able to really engage in Sacrament meeting and classes because he had his kids there and wasn't worried about them. The members were all saying "Hi" to him, and they all call him by name. I think that really made him feel good. I just love that. It's such a powerful thing to have a "Ward Family." I know I will always be grateful to my ward family I had all growing up. That's just one of the many great things about the gospel is that the organization of the church is so inspired and really created to "bless families and individuals." Anyway, so they are progressing so well. We teach them almost everyday. We taught Vicente the Law of Chastity a few days ago and it was such a good lesson. The spirit was so strong. He has had a lot issues with the Law of Chasity in the past: married and divorced in Mexico. Then lived with a women whom he had Vicente and Kiara with. They ended up having a lot of problems and she left him. So sad. He even said, "I know that everyone has problems, but sometimes I feel like no one has had it as hard as me." Wow. Don't we all feel that way sometimes?! We testified of the atonement and how this commandment will bring him that peace and happiness he wants. The spirit was so strong and he committed to live the commandment. His testimony of repentance is growing stronger and he is so happy to live this commitment. This whole experience just strengthened my testimony about "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." My hope is that EVERYONE I know lives that to the fullest. 

We found a new family of investigators that are SO prepared. We had a first lesson with them yesterday and the spirit was definitely there! They were a media referral, and they have a deep love for the Savior. We are so excited to continue teaching them. Enrique: we didn't get to see him this last week. I don't think I've ever shed so many tears for someone else. He is such a hard worker, and now financially has to work two jobs which is why we haven't seen him in awhile. I just want him to have all the help and blessings that he needs because he has had such a hard life, but he can only receive that through the restored gospel. I just hope we can teach him this week and help him keep commitments. I just love all my investigators and hope I can be the instrument in our Heavenly Father's hands to help them get what they truly want in life. (Ether 12:4; Moroni 7:41)

We also did service at a park in Magnolia. It was some Hispanic convention thing for health and we helped people register, etc. It was pretty great, but took most of our Saturday away. We also deep cleaned the disgusting Jacinto apartment and I am pleased to say it looks so much better! It was quite a project and we found some weird stuff( a fish under the oven, hair balls, etc.) Haha, but cleanliness is next to Godliness. Other than all that the work continues to move forward and so do the miracles. I got a letter from my mom aka the other sister Salcido that had a great talk in it. I really liked a quote from it, "Blessed are those that give and don't remember and those that receive and don't forget." That's what it's all about. Becoming more Christ-like everyday. Love you all! The Church IS true!!

Love,

Hermana Salcido

Aren't you like 13?

Mis queridos familia y amigos,

"Hellooooooooo!" Well, a lot has happened recently  We have been SO blessed here in Jacinto City. We taught so many lessons this week: 29! That's the most we've taught in a week ever. I love getting to watch how the Lord is doing HIS work! And my testimony of "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven" is growing every day.  Something I'm learning from the mission is how I can improve. It's interesting how the more you learn about the love of Jesus Christ the more you notice you need/want to change your life around. Even though we are exactly obedient to commandments and mission rules it's so great that you can always find some little thing to change or do better. And it's that the Christ taught?! That we can change and become happier. I just love the restored gospel and that I get to teach it all day every day! My companions Hermanas Mellor and PItts are the best examples of just that. Wow. It is so great here in Houston Texas. The Lord has prepared so many and we are so lucky to find and teach them all.

We've had some great miracles with our investigators this week. Enrique was out of town working, but we got to teach all the others. Hugo is still struggling with the Book of Mormon, but we know His natural faith in Christ will bring him to an understanding that it is 100% true!!!  My favorite is that we got like 9 new investigators this week! Something I love about Hispanics is that they are so humble. They feel blessed to live here in the U.S. and want to draw closer to God. Every time we knock their door or talk with them in the street asking if we can share our message their response is, "Claro que si, pasanle!!". I just love my people! ;) We found a sweet family from Honduras, Elizabeth and Joel and had a great lesson with them. We also met this terrific family from Dominican Republic. It threw us off because they are black and we expected them to speak English, but they are great and love God so much. Their accents are the BEST! Gabbi is doing great! She just likes to talk a lot haha. So we have to teach slower but she's excited to come to church next week.

On a sad note we dropped Gilberto...we just feel he's not progressing and isn't quite ready but I KNOW he will be baptized one day. Also, Juaquin dropped us. He was our Cuban friend that said he was gonna be the first Cuban missionary in Cuba. He gave his family pamphlets and Books of Mormon while he was in Cuba and he KNOWS the Book of Mormon is true and loves the church. His girlfriend got to him and told him stuff and then he said he can't meet with us :( Pretty sad, but I know he'll come back one day.

Best part of the week: We are now teaching Vincint's kids!!! Yay! Teaching family's together is the best way to do it. We taught him and his kids last night. Kiara is 8 and Vincint junior is ten. We taught lesson one and prayer and Vincint junior said the most sweet and sincere thing ever! We told him that God's listens to us when we prayer and then he said, "I know, I just want God to answer back." Wow. I love kids. They have the most sincere hearts!! We were able to bear testimony that God hears AND  answers prayers! Isn't it great to know that God is our father and that we can talk to Him and He'll answer back? And it's all because it loves us. The church is true everyone!!! I know it, I live it, I LOVE IT! Love you all, thanks for everything! :)

Love,

Hermana Salcido

p.s. ignore how terrible I look in the picture, but this is Isabela, our crazy lady Honduras friend that is like 85. She's like a crazy, Latina version or Lucille Ball :) love her!

p.p.s. EVERYONE asks me how old I am and they think that I am usually 15, but Carlos was convinced I was lying and that I am really 13 years old. 13!!! Are you serious?? haha it's probably because I gave up and make up and all that jazz a long time ago haha o well.