A Monumental Week

Hello, lovelies!!!

First thing's first...

CONGRATULATIONS to Kyle & Sara Burton! 

Wow, you are seriously a BEAUTIFUL couple. I am so happy for you both and I love you. You truly are a couple of the Lord and I want to thank you for your amazing example. 

So, this week was monumental over there in the West with the wedding, but it was also pretty big here on the East Coast in Boston!!!

WE HAD A BAPTISM! 

Our sweet friend, Isaiah, was baptized yesterday and I am so grateful. 

Training is so great, but that's mostly because Hermana VerHoef is a champ. She is a great missionary and talented in so many ways. We are going to get some serious work done here together. I LOVE her! This week we've had many bonding moments, including being preached to by a drunk Ethiopian about how much he loves us, singing an African Christmas carol "Bethelehemu" together, and performing several special musical numbers this week (one of them I had to sing for the Portuguese group here in Boston... hahaha I don't know Portuguese!!! but I guess the gift of tongues comes in handy!). 

We are great friends. 

The work is Boston is busy and so fast paced. We are constantly presented with golden opportunities to preach the gospel to the people of this great and beautiful city. It is a privilege and blessing to serve here. 

I was pretty shocked to hear, through the grapevine, about the terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris this week. The only that I have to say about it all is that I am SO THANKFUL for the steadiness, sureness, and protection that the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ provides. In a world of chaos and war, it is the only thing that will stay standing and when we build our lives and testimonies upon it, we surely cannot fall. 

Helaman 5:12

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

Hermana Webber

Hermana Verhoef and I :)

Isaiah's Baptism

Isaiah's Baptism

Hermana Verhoef

Dearest loved ones,

It was a phenomenal week. 

On Wednesday we had transfer meeting and Hermana JoLynn Verhoef is my new companion. 

She is fresh out of the Provo MTC and she is absolutely AMAZING. 

I LOVE HER!

She is so prepared and is down to do anything!!! Missionary work doesn't scare her at all and her Spanish is already really good. She is an amazingly talented cellist and swimmer. 

We didn't take any pictures this week because we've been really busy... I know, I am the worst, but I will send some next week! Don't worry! 

This week, Hermana Verhoef set her first baptismal date for next week. Isaiah Vasquez will be baptized next Sunday and I am PUMPED! We've got a lot of work to do this week. Wish us luck (send us some prayers too!). 

So, with all of the Church Handbook changes, I just want to take a moment and say that I know God loves us. He has blessed us with a prophet to lead and guide us and to receive revelation for us in these days. There is no doubt in my mind that the changes were necessary and inspired by God. 

It makes me think of James 1:5... "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..." I know that if ever we doubt, or have a question, or just need a little guidance, God will provide for us. He will give us what we need, just as he answered Joseph Smith's simple questions 200 years ago... An answer that changed the world forever.

He will answer us too. He does it because he loves us. 

Infinitely and perfectly. 

I love you!!!!!!!!

Love, 

Hermana Webber

PS Shoutout to Sara and Kyle this week!!! SARA BURTON never sounded so good!!! Congrats, love birds! :) 

Happy Halloween!

Dear loved ones, 

We had a great, great week. 

Seriously, it was great. 

We had an incredible experience at church yesterday. So, we challenged our investigator to bear his testimony at church, and he did! Let me tell you all something about Rene, okay? I LOVE that man. He's 52 years old, from Guatemala, and he is the most humble, selfless, loving little man I've ever met in my life. We have fallen in love with his family and I have learned so much from them! 

So, in his testimony, Rene talked about how his entire life he's never really been a part of any religion. When he was younger, he was baptized after the tradition of his family, but since then has never found a religion for himself. 

He talked about how he'd always seen the young, Mormon missionaries in the street and how something about them really stood out to him. And then, just a year ago, his son Carlos began meeting with them and was baptized. He said, "I always thought that as a father I was the one who needed to teach my son about God, but in the end, he's the one who has brought me to Christ." 

He then testified that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brings people closer to Jesus Christ more than any other religion. 

Hermana Bybee and I were bawling. It was a sacred experience and I will NEVER forget it. 

Feeling CHARITY, the pure love of the Savior, Christ, for another human being is the most moving, changing, and overwhelming emotion. I've experienced it in increments in my mission - for my investigators, members, missionaries... - but yesterday, I think I really caught a glimpse of how Christ feels for each one of us. 

Feeling that love has transformed my life and changed my heart. I know it came from serving Rene. 

I will forever live my life in search for feeling that love for others. 

Love, 

Hermana Webber

PS I was called to train a new missionary this week! She gets here on Wednesday!!! Pray for her and pray for me too. :)

1 John 4:18

One time we ate lunch in a stairwell. 

We carved pumpkins for P-Day :)

It was a good time. 

Look how cool E. Garrido is hahahahaha

Yeah, carve that pumpkin. 

#HaitianPumpkin #HaitianDreams

Please enjoy my poop pumpkin. 

Boston East Zone! #BEast

What a BEastly pumpkin.

The senior missionaries in our zone (Elder & Sister Braithwaite and Elder & Sister Walsh made us a halloween lunch and it was the most adorable thing ever. 

Have you ever seen an Asian mummy?

Now you have.

Early morning FUTBOL!!!

Hey, look. It's me with a pumpkin on my head. :)

The Single Greatest Adventure Of My Life

This week I celebrated one year in the mission. I am so happy for the things I've learned and the ways I've changed. I'm also so sad to know that I only have 6 months left to serve here. I never want this to end. 

I could never express how much my mission means to me. It is absolutely sacred. I have grown so much here. 

The Savior's Atonement has literally transformed into one of His disciples. And the best part is, it continues to do so every single day. 

To celebrate, we did Weekly Planning! Woooohooo! And one of our elders, Elder Villar (from CHILE!) made us Chilean Hot Dogs. I LOVE Chilean Hot Dogs. It was a great day. 

We had a Zone Conference in Cambridge, MA this week. We talked about becoming "Epistles of Christ" and The Sabbath Day. I love this big push about sanctifying and observing the Lord's day. I know it's really what we need to focus on right now, as members of Christ's restored church.

Hey, I love you all. I love the church. I love this mission. It is the most important thing I've ever done in my life - Proclaim the everlasting Gospel to the world (#DigitalMission) and the people of New England. 

Thank you for the endless love and support. I am truly blessed.

Love, 

Hermana Webber

Idayls Baptism

Hello, beautiful people!

This week was superb. Wanna know why?

IDALYS GOT BAPTIZED!!! 

We've been working really closely with her for the past couple of months, and yesterday she was baptized. It's been so cool to see her progress. She is one of my favorite people in the world and I'm so proud of her!

The baptism was so great. Wanna know why?

EDWARD BAPTIZED HER! 

Yes, our good friend Edward. A recent convert of a month and half. He is now a worthy, steadfast priesthood holder. He is a great leader here in our branch in Boston. 

It was total bliss to see the lives of two people I've come to love so dearly be blessed by the Gospel. The Gospel is so true! The best moment of yesterday was right after Idalys came up out of the water, Edward goes, 

"YOU'RE BAPTIZED!" 

Hahaha I will quote that kid for days. 

To celebrate, Hermana Bybee and I went to Idalys' house and set a baptismal date with  her grandma, Luz, and her brother, Isaiah! They'll be baptized in three weeks on the 8th of November. They all came to the baptism, along with Idalys' aunt, Angelica. I love how the church truly does bring families together. 

In other news, we had exchanges this week with the Portuguese sisters. I went to the Portuguese program with Sister Knutti and we had an adventurous day, which included the following:

1. Setting a baptismal date with Maria, AKA "Gugu"

2. Giving service at a Senior Center for Cape Verdeans... We danced with them. It was one of those infinite moments.

3. Getting terribly lost in Dorchester

4. Contacting TONS of people

It was a great exchange and I learned a lot. I am really grateful I can serve as a Sister Training Leader. I've learned so much from the incredible sisters in our zone. What a privilege it is. 

Well, I love you all! All is well in Zion! Hahaha but really, the mission is so wonderful. I testify that when we are willing to make sacrifices to our Lord, the blessings that come are more precious and of more worth than anything we could ever give him. The Lord truly is a God of miracles. 

Love, 

Hermana Webber

A Living Prophet

GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS MAGICAL! 

We are seriously so blessed to have a living prophet! Thomas S. Monson is truly a man of God! 

I loved getting to watch General Conference in Spanish. At the beginning of the Saturday morning session, I said a silent prayer that I'd be able to understand the Spanish, and I did! I really do believe God blesses me with the gift of tongues and interpretation every single day here! 

He is so good to me! 

Right now we have a LOT of investigators we are working closely with. We have four baptismal dates coming up in the next two months. I am praying so hard that everything goes according to plan. Idalys, Isaiah, Juan, and Rene. I love these people so much. What a tender mercy it is to be filled with the pure love of Christ! 

God really is so good to me. 

I really feel so blessed to have been able to listen to General Conference this weekend. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk about the simplicity of the Gospel. It truly is simple, and we really should "Simplify our discipleship." God really does trust His children to carry forth this week. I loved hearing the testimonies of the three new apostles called. I know they are really called of God! 

God is good. 

I LOVE YOU ALL! 

Happy, happy week! And happy fall! 

Love, 

Hermana Webber

PS: Fall in Boston is magical. Thought you'd want to know. 

EMBARK

Dear Family & Friends, 

Hey. 

Transfers were this week. 

I am staying with Hermana Bybee. 

We are SPRINTING. 

There is a new elder here in the Boston Spanish branch. His name is Elder Davis and he's adorable. He just came straight from the Mexico MTC and Elder Villar is training him. He's a champ. A super hard worker with a great attitude. We are really happy to be working with him. 

This week was superb here in Boston. We are working really closely with a beautiful family. Luz Sanchez, and her granchildren, Idalys, Isaiah, and Alex. They came to church on Sunday and Idalys and Isaiah have committed to being baptized on October 18th! :) 

So, something I really wanted to write home about this week was a section in the Doctrine and Covenants. In every missionary meeting we have, each of us stand up and recite this section in D&C together. "O ye that EMBARK in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." 

It's a powerfully spiritual experience every time, to see us all standing as one, stating our purpose as missionaries. 

This is the 2015 Youth Theme in the church... And it is my hope that people are taking this theme seriously!!! 

Last night, Hermana Bybee and I had the privilege of attending a Youth Fireside with Idalys :) President Holmes, the Young Men's General President, came and spoke. There were youth from all over New England gathered to listen and it really felt like an army of God had assembled to receive guidance from him. The Spirit there was tangible. 

President Holmes taught us about our identity as SONS and DAUGHTERS of God. He taught us of our divinity and our potential... That we can truly come to be like our Father in Heaven is. After teaching about our identity... He taught us about our purpose.

When we are baptized and confirmed as members of this church, with make a COVENANT, or a sacred promise, with God that we will take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. Each day, when we go to school, or to work, or out on the town, or wherever it may be, who do we represent? Are we living our lives in a way that, by a stranger, we would be recognized as a DISCIPLE of Jesus The Christ? 

Think about it. 

When we were baptized, we covenanted with our Lord that we would EMBARK in His service... Are we all living in such a way that we serve him with all our "heart, might, mind and strength?" Are we consecrated to our Heavenly Father? Can we put him before all else? Before facebook, instagram, twitter, trends, make-up, clothing, shoes, cars, television, friends.... Are we putting our Lord first? 

It's an interesting concept. I think the GREATEST way to EMBARK in the service of God is by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to EVERY CREATURE. Embarking in such a great cause, in the cause of saving human souls, is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life. I have a long way to go, but I testify that this is the most important thing any of us could ever do. 

So, my challenge to you all (especially you young folks) is to EMBARK. 

Share His gospel. 

Do it with all the energy of your heart. 

I promise, the blessings that will come are beyond anything you could imagine. 

They are eternal blessings. 

I love you all! 

Love, 

Hermana Webber

EMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!