Its Almost Over......

This was such a wonderfully special week!!!!!! Such a good way to go out! Even though every one of our lessons seemed to fall through and there was lots of knocking it was perfect! I had an amazingly tender mercy on Friday starting off with reading an article in this month's ensign about "truth and tolerance" about standing up for your belief while loving and being considerate to others, it was a great article and Heavenly Father really wanted us to put it to practice because as we went out to work that day we talked to lots of people and honestly almost every single one was discussing how our beliefs are false or how we are a cult or their misconceptions on our beliefs. It was a challenge but a very humbling experience as we were able to testify boldly with the spirit of what we believe and how we have come to know and validate their beliefs and experiences. The Lord teaches us in so many ways! The young women are being rockstar missionaries and it was so fun this week to work with them and helping their friends get excited about reading the Book of Mormon with them as a class. We had a ward miracle in regards to one of our investigator's daughter. She has been in the hospital for 3 weeks in a coma for a case of pnuemonia that went toxic, after lots of prayer and one ward fast the outlook was very dim and they were about to prepare a funeral but the prayers continued and as the next ward fast commenced on Wednesday that same morning Elise woke up, she has since gained conciousness and the ability to nonverbally communicate and comprehend it is no longer a case of live or die rather simply how long the recovery will be. Such an amazing example in the power of Christ and in the blessings of fasting, it is real! (Isaiah 59) I was also this week able to go with a recent convert in our ward through the temple for the first time and it was just icing on the cake to just see what this work really means! It put it all into perspective and the spirit was so strong. Many members came to support her and as we were all there, happy, and in white, and loving each other it was such a pure taste of Heaven! The fact that it was my last week really was not hitting me all week, bits and pieces, but it became real on Sunday. We had a jam packed schedule with meetings and appointments but as we were in ward council and to hear the bishop thank me for my service and tell me how much I was able to do for them with tears in his eyes I just knew this was real. I felt such a wonderful feeling of peace and accomplishment! Then the first tears were shed as we sang the closing hymn in relief society, "let us all press on" cause I knew that is what I needed to do, no more being a ward's missionary at church.. The lessons were all wonderful and though it was a little bit of a failing surprize the ward threw me my very first surprize party to wish me farewell.. this ward is so so amazing I love them and will miss them so so much! Then to make the day even crazier we get transfer calls and find out that we are being doubled out to put in elders for logistical reasons.. That is when the real tears came I just bawled thinking of all of our investigators and that I was leaving all this work to people I didn't know and trust bah! but as I thought my mission scripture played through my head, proverbs 3:5-6, and I know without a doubt that this is what this area needs no matter what my hesitancies are! What a great way to seal my time here with the scripture that helped me get here! The ward will probably not be so excited, most likely they are going to freak because we have only had sisters here for 1 year and they love us but all is well! We have an insane day ahead of us and we are just so so excited! Missionary work is the most incredible thing. It is true joy being able to be a representative for Christ to share such beautiful restored truth that God loves us, that He is real, that we have a Savior and a Redeemer to rely on who knows us so much that He can guide and support and provide all that we would ever need! I know with no doubt that the Lord is real, that this is His kingdom on the earth, that we have a Prophet on the earth today and that any and everyone can know these things if they will but read and pray and embrace the truths and strength available in the Book of Mormon. It is all real and I am just not quite finished about 5 more lessons to go today! Thank you for all of your support and prayers I have felt them and appreciate them more than you will ever know! I love yall so very immensely much! Keep Smiling!

with love

Sister Camarella

Januray 28,2013

I think that it is finally starting to hit just what is going to go on in 3 weeks! We had ward conference this week and it was so very amazing! Everything focused on the "garners" it made me really contemplate my purpose as a missionary and I had this overwhelming rush of love for every single one in this area and that I have worked with thus far. It was really amazing another one of those Ammon/Alma moments!The work is good! We are working with two of the youth with some of their friends and helping them be missionaries. After Zone Conference, which by the way I almost died having to role play since I had made it a goal not to have to do that, we were really focused and ready to "thunder" a concept we talked about using the power of the authority we have been given. We had a lesson that night with Tyree and had the most amazing lesson with him! We talked of finding our faith in Christ by following what He invites us to do and as we extended the baptismal invitation I just felt so powerful. Even as he spoke of his concerns I had no doubt I was just filled with this real "power" to be able to promise him blessings and to be able to testify. It was a really neat experience! We are in the process of really trying to find new people to teach and working on our approaches with inspired questions, always a fun process that brings a few blunders but it is good! We are doing our best and that is all that matters! Sister Nielson is still steadily improving she had some milestones in the grieving process this week that were really good for her I think and that makes me really happy! She loves to serve so much it has really taught me how to receive and how to love more and how to be more honest and more trusting! Such a big heart! Funny story we had a dinner appointment that we went to a chinese restruant and this sister is mentally unstable, she is having to take a week off of work and it was amazing to be able to be there for her you could tell she just trusted us and of course sis n got along with her really well she does that with all of the crazies! haha Anyways, that is enough raving for this email, hope you have a great great week! please be safe in the snow! i want to come back to a whole family :) give abby loves for me! i have been missing her this week so excited for those ears! haha love you bunches and bunches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

miss you!

sister c

January 14, 2013

As for me and my week! oh my goodness! with great blessings and power come great great adversity! this week I could say was probably one of the worst or maybe just hardest of my mission.. surprizing to me! There were wonderful highs a great interview with president because I will admit those always freak me out and he said i have grown so much and was doing so so good! We were able to go to the temple on Thursday and that was so very amazing! I learned so much and felt so much peace I was grateful to be able to do that with Sis. Nielson and then not to mention Elder Holland. That was a huge motivator and a ginormous blessing to be able to have my testimony confirmed of his power and his calling. like i told sissy he talked a lot about the RM thing but just also how great this work is.. that we have the responsibility to do what Christ has to get done before he can come again! The spirit was very strong and very encouraging! We also had great lessons with our investigator Tyree, who dispite our lack of teaching skills is progressing and truly coming to know God for the first time in his life, all because of the power of the spirit! Also we had two investigators at church this week! Amazing blessings but on the other hand of those things it was a really really trying week for Sister Nielson and though I tried so so hard to help her she was really really down. As I of course stressed and worried about her my mood was complicated a few times and there were moments I felt I just couldn't do anything more to help her, I was tired. The Lord gave me some very real experiences that allowed me to live even just for a few hours some of the feelings she was feeling for me in my own circumstances and that was a huge eye opener! The Lord truly has placed me here to help her and I have tried to take those experiences that allow me to be a little more sympathetic and understanding of ways to overcome what she is going through. We are taking it a day at a time, usually even an hour at a time and we have high hopes for this next week! I am so so so grateful for the gospel because I know that ALL problems are fixed with faith, repentance, keeping our covenants, and being worthy of and following the spirit. I know that without a doubt! And I am so grateful for that!!! So we are going to keep on! Sister Schwarze wrote me she told me.. "He has to accept our labors or whos Savior is he?" my new moto, that girl is amazing! So thankful for Heavenly Father giving her to me as a trainer!! Hope all is well for you! Thank you for everything! I love you lots and lots! hope that you can share this with sissy and papa! miss you have love you lots and lots!

with love
sister camarella 

12/24/2012 Merry MerryChristmas

happy happy Christ's birth!!!! i apologize for lack of blog updates but as of late things are going fabulously!! Sister Nielson and I are now together.. still in San Pedro ward and loving it! This ward is so so amazing! They take so much good care of us and my companion is a hoot! We are a match made in heaven.. literally.. we have lots of fun together which has helped make this the best Christmas ever!! I love being a missionary at Christmas time! We have seen wonderful miracles and have been able to go caroling lots and sharemormon.org/christmas with everyone.. As of this week we had an amazing experience.. Friday morning we had a service appointment fall through so as we were changing to our back up plan we headed to a woman's apartment that we had talked to a few weeks ago, she didn't answer so we were walking to another building to go and knock and we see this lady sitting up on her porch.. we start a wonderful conversation with her, she knows a few people in the church and we discussed our various Christmas traditions.. we asked if we could come and visit her again and she said no but as she spoke she started crying and she told us that she needed our visit.. she needed our visit more than we would ever know and she we so kind and gracious.. she is going through a lot in her life right now and so we ran upstairs and gave her a hug and our number and the next day dropped off a wrapped Book of Mormon for her with a scripture to read.. it was such a simple moment in time but it was where God needed us to be and I absolutely love those moments the little things! They are so precious.. her story is still unwritten and I will follow up if I am able to be a part of more of it but it was one of my highlights of the week! I have really been thinking a lot on one of the thoughts that was shared at the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional this month about the importance of receiving.. that sometimes we can get wrapped up.. in a good way but nonetheless, in always being the one to serve or to give like Christ did but something just as important and true that He did was to receive.. He allowed his feet to be washed, he welcomed all that wanted to serve him and in today's world we sometimes have too much of an "independence kick" when we are here to rely on one another.. there are blessings received both for the giver as well as with the receiver.. we were talking with a member this week and she had learned this principle in a difficult way when her youngest daughter died and as people offered to serve her and her family she realized that principle.. that receiving is a way we show our love for God, especially when we take the time and humble ourselves to receiving the most important thing.. HIM! Our Savior! He wants us to receive Him and all His strength and all His comfort and all His help and understanding and hope and peace! Ah! It is such an incredible thing and we get a whole month to celebrate it and rededicate ourselves to receiving Him! Just some of the thoughts I have had this month on the season! We had an epic Christmas conference this week! So so so odd to be one of the few old sisters in the mission and to get to see all my old companions! Esspecially Sister Alfaro, I hadn't seen her since June so it was a great reunion and yes I did actually sing  in front of everyone.. I have finally acknowledged my love of singing and having that as one of my talents so that is one of my new goals to actually learn how to read music so I can sing more.. haha.. no one complained at the conference so i am guessing it is not a bad thing! haha.. we also got to carol at the Alamo again this year! Another fun adventure, so so many people were there and as I was out in the crowd taking pictures everyone was asking me what choir we were with.. I proudly told him that we were simply missionaries spreading the gospel! :) Oh and most exciting news ever ever ever! Remember Fred.. from Uvalde the investigator who in August set a baptismal date for Dec. 22.. well it really happened he was baptized Saturday and I was so so so so excited to hear it!!!!! Jumped for joy a few times that man is incredible! Oh and another thing I wanted to share that i thought was neat.. one of Sister Nielson's siblings shared it with her.. the meaning of fear.. False Expectations Appearing Real.. so profound and so great.. the only expectations we need to think about are God's expectations.. not ours or our friends.. just some of my random thoughts and happenings.. will promise to be better at updating yall with the TSAM epicness.. I love yall so so much and hope that this season has been wonderful! Soak it up and enjoy the snow for me! Keep smiling!!!!!! miss yall

with love 

sister camarella  

November 5,2012

The work here in San Pedro is wonderful! We are working really hard at finding those who are ready to accept the gospel but we saw so many miracles this week of how the Lord works in His children's lives! There are a lot of single older sisters in this ward and as we were out working this week we were able to simply bless several of them with a answered prayer and an acknowledgement that they were loved. During a dinner appointment as I offered the closing prayer I simply prayed that the sister's new job this week would go well and after we got up to leave she looked at me and sincerely thanked me telling me that is exactly what she needed! I have the greatest testimony of how powerful specific and heartfelt prayer can be! Another sister going through a divorce just needed our friendship and support as she received a blessing from the bishop. The simple things are so powerful! The greatest miracle we saw this week was Ryan. Ryan is a man that in this recent week lost everything! He is currently out of work and home and has been beaten by thoughts of shame unworthiness. By the hand of God we were blessed to receive a phone call from him asking for our help. By entire God's design we were able to meet up with him with a set of elders in our district and had one of the most powerful lessons! We testified that he was a son of God that God loved him, he prayed the most sincere prayer of humility and pleading. We left not knowing if we would ever see him again but praying that he would be able to make it to church. Then two days later still praying for him back down in the same area, mid prayer i look over and there he is on the steps of a building another sign of God's love for him. We went over to see him and just told him that he was an answer to our prayers and he saw hope and more perspective on his circumstance. We were able to arrange for the sisters of a different ward to meet him and have another lesson and throughout this week just the light in his eyes, the hope that he has been able to receive and the knowledge that God sent his representatives to help him is amazingly apparent! It is the best feeling to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord! I don't know what the end of Ryan's story is but I know that God loves him and that we were blessed to be able to tell him that! The work is good!!!!!!! Hope all is well where you are! God is aware of you! Keep smiling and keep praying!!

with lots of love,

Sister Camarella

October 15, 2012

This week felt like a crazy whirlwind but I loved every bit of it! Leaving an area is so hard but amazing things are happening and are in store for Uvalde and I know that they are in good hands, Sister Jesperson is amazing! I was really nervous to find out where I was headed but the verdict is......... San Pedro Ward right north of my first area! It is semi similar but more well off than a lot of the parts we normally worked in. The ward here is fantastic! So ready and willing to serve and help out they love the missionaries and there are a bunch of older single sisters and those are always a favorite of sister missionaries because they are just so sweet! We did a service project for one of them.. Sis. Tatsch and cleaned up her crazy overgrown backyard. First time ever using a gas weed wacker, those things are intense but it was so so fun even if my arm is still sore. :) There is lots of work to do in this area and we are really excited to get to it! Going out with a lot of faith and a lot of energy we were blessed tremendously to see beautiful miracles like having the first man we knock into being Victor, this sweet younger guy who has been searching for God and studying for awhile now. It was entirely inspired that we stopped by when we did and the next day when we actually got to teach him he just ate up the Book of Mormon and was so excited to learn more! Also one of the investigators the sisters were teaching before had hit a rough patch and they weren't sure how to move forward but we met with her this week and were able to figure out her concerns.. she is incredible. And also a former investigator that had dropped us a few months ago we were asked to stop by from the ward mission leader.. i love inspired leaders.. at first it seemed we were unwanted he left to do to the store we talked to his kids for a bit and headed to the car.. as we did he drove back and pulled over to us and asked us when we could come back.. time is a very precious thing and I know that God has timing for everything. It was a huge tender mercy and hopefully this is Jessie's time to fully accept the wonderful blessings of the gospel! I am so excited for this next transfer great things are in store.. Sis. Fritz my new companion is from Florida and worked at disney world for two years before her mission.. that is a pretty good indicator of how much fun we will have togther :) all is well! love yall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

with love sis camarella

October 8, 2012

Oh my goodness what an incredible week! It was a little slow during the week, sadly Sister Jesperson was hit hard by the flu going around down here and so a lot of the time we were inside the house helping her get better which means lots of time to think and lots of time to do other random tasks I never seem to have the time to do.. even got to journaling after procrastinating it till the very end! We got to teach a few lessons though when she was feeling up to it.. Robert loves the plan of salvation, Bro. Ruiz' life is completely changing through the gospel overcoming his depression and just feeling so much love he deserves! The real miracles happened along with conference and though that isn't surprising because it has so much power.. what was wonderfully surprising was at the end of the first session who walks in??? Jean!! She made it! Complete miracle and working of God! All starting with us being able to take sister yanelli to a lesson Friday morning.. she had us stop at HEB for some cat food and while she was in there who did she run into.. Jean! She invited her to conference since we have not been able to be in contact with Jean because of her husband's wishes. So with that invitation, Jean made it! We went out for lunch us and some members.. she was glowing and I think that is my favorite thing as a missionary seeing people be and feel loved and being able to make new friendships! It didn't end there Sunday she was there the whole time.. we had a family style lunch all together. One of the sisters in the ward, two of the people we have been working with to get back into the church and then two of our investigators.. all there laughing and talking about the gospel and the talks. It was one of the highlights of my time here just success! Talked to Tom before the last session.. he has been struggling with the idea of prophets and apostels so i asked him about it and after one of his distant answers and asking again "do you feel these are men of God?" he looked at me and sincerely said "yes, i really do" you could see in his eyes it was a realization for him.. an acknowledgement of the testimony he has been building and gaining.. it was beautiful! The work is so good here and sadly that is how it is going to end at least for my stay here. I am getting transferred wednesday and it seems surreal but i am excited for what is ahead even though I love love love love this place and these people! Wasn't conference amazing!!!!!!??????!!!! it was truly evident that the theme of God's message for us at this time is love and discipleship. God just wants us to keep going.. to endure.. to know how much we are loved and with all of that he just wants us to be happy! it is all so good! i hope yall will do a good job of taking the answers you received and implementing them to your life.. more happiness is waiting.. :) haha i love yall you are wonderful! Thank you for all the love and the prayers of support! i feel them! missionary work is THE BEST!!! 

keep smiling!

with love 

Sister Camarella

September 24, 2012

apologies.. I have no time this week and thus i cant even begin to describe all of the incredible miracles and blessings we have had this week.. great loud and crazy hispanic family parties, the power of primary kids singing primary songs, seeing two youth that have way too much on their plate find solace and peace in attending mutual and seeing the temple for the first time!, a man who has been away from the church for awhile stepping up to the call of an assignment and bearing beautiful testimony, seeing robert come to church for the first time and being so excited, getting to do crafts with a sweet sister, being able to draw again while serving Bro. Ruiz, persevering through opposition of sickness, inspired dinner messages that touch members hearts.. The Lord is good! Things are going really really well! I love this work and I love yall hope you have a beautiful week and get to see all the miracles in your own lives.. keep smiling!
with love
sister camarella

September 17, 2012

Wow.. another week has flown by but yet I feel as though there is so much to tell! Amazing things are happening here in Uvalde! One of which is how I somehow ended up getting a pedicure by a man to start the week off.. haha awkward? most definately.. surprising? not for how my life goes haha but that is another story! We had an awesome zone meeting that was just full of inspiring goodness including a training my companion and I did that included watching 12 different missionaries sprint for a finish line, i love object lessons :) We were blessed to survive a trip to Utopia where we lost cell service and came really close to running out of gas in the middle of no where and successfully dodged all dear on the drive home in the dark which really is a miracle for two sisters who are night weak and near-sighted :) We got a down pour of rain which has made contacting and working just so pleasant! I love fall weather! Heavenly Father was busy working miracles to touch people's hearts this week as we received a message from a young man we had contacted a few weeks ago who realized he wanted what we had a needed a change in his life. It is the spirit that does amazing things in God's timing even after we leave that I am just amazed by each day that I am here! We also were led to work on this one street this week since we had contacted this woman who lived there but were unable to get the house #. So we decided to knock till we find her.. no big deal that the street is 15 blocks long haha anyways.. had broken it up over a few days and last night as we were walking and talking Sis. Jesperson said something to the effect of "we should have gotten her address this is hopeless, we were wrong" I felt differently as though God had a plan for us.. and He did! No lie the next house we arrive at we talk to this man, I was inspired to ask him about his family and if they do family prayer together. We offered to have one with them and as we visited with them and got to know them we come to find out that they have met with other sets of missionaries 3 times in the past in different areas and that at this point they are trying to get back on track.. we share a wonderful prayer with them and are invited back and the sweet words of the mother "I truly feel that God sent yall to us tonight for a reason, we needed this" just melted my heart! God really is in charge of this work! I love it! So amazing miracles and rewards mixed with lots of stress this week! Tom has been working on receiving his answers and this week we were really worried on making sure he was ready to have his interview and to be baptized next week. We met with him multiple times and each time there was just a mix of things, confusion on the highest level. We really pondered and prayed this week about what he needed and where his testimony is at since during our conversations it is sometimes unclear. We ultimately took the eternal perspective and relied on the spirit knowing that in all reality the date doesn't matter it is whether he is ready. So we decided together that he would wait, even though he is willing to take it all on faith, and live all the commandments, and has his desire.. he just isn't there yet.. it hurt. Being a representative of Christ this week was humbling, I felt the huge weight of love and concern and pain for my brother that Christ feels everyday. I was drained after that lesson. Emotionally, Spiritually, Emotionally.. but I felt peace! This work is good! It is of God! I love it so so much! Give cheerfully, Give bountifully and receive it in return! 2 cor. 9:6-7.. i love you all! hope yall have a wonderful week! Keep smiling! Say your prayers! 
with lots and lots of love
sister c

September 3, 2012

okay family this is what is sad.. my entire brain has now been contained in something called a missionary planner and with a new transfer i only have the new one so last week's happening's are a little blurry but i will try and remember some highlights!

1.. Belia and her family!!! Paulo went basketball with the youth and loved it!!! he came home and told his mom he wants to be mormon and then at our lesson jessica his sister said she wanted to be too and then Belia and Sis. Alardin from the ward completely hit it off it was amazing and something i thought was hilarious..

sis alardin's mom has been meeting with missionaries but is holding on to her catholic background.. so she is now a "mocah" a mormon catholic.. haha love her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Tom is doing amazing, life does exist without coffee in the morning! haha

3. Fred came to church and loved it, he is just so intuned!

really.. i can not think of all of the things and i dont want to take more time from the wonderful family of the christensens so i hope you will just take my word that the work is amazing and i am stoked to be in Uvalde.. i love these people!!!!!!!!!!! learning so much studying the atonement! All we have to do is be humble! God loves you all and i love you all almost as much! You are wonderful! Keep smiling!!!!!!!!

With love..

Sister Camarella

August 20,2012

Too little time today apologies! The week was wonderful! Had an awesome miracle just last night.. my companion has been under the weather this weekend and thus we stayed in a few days for her and we had a lesson scheduled with LeAnna and Andy a family that we have been teaching. Sis. Jesperson had enough strength to make it to the lesson and as we begin LeAnna just starts talking and talking and talking and both of us worry that the lesson won't happen but after an inspired question the entire mood changed. The spirit came and we were able to introduce them to the Book of Mormon. This family is so amazing, they are really hesitant afraid of changes and going out of the "catholic box" their entire family is apart of and the lifestyle changes it will require. As we taught them you could just see their hearts being softened and this desire to read and learn from the pages of the scriptures just grow it was amazing and such a tender mercy! I love the Lord! Not only them but another girl we just started teaching is also not familiar at all with the scriptures and how to learn and read them and as she has started to read the Book of Mormon she is gaining so much peace and her faith is growing so much! Fred is now studying the Bible the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles book for church every day and is loving it! The scriptures truly answer all of our questions! I LOVE THEM!  I hope yall have a fabulous week and I will write more next week!

with lots of love..

Sister Camarella

August 13, 2012

What a crazy busy week! I feel like so much has happened and with it lots of miracles.. Where to start.. we learned a great lesson about prayer this week. We had planned to visit Bro. Ruiz with a sister in our ward but last minute she needed to cancel so we ended up meeting with him outside and at that time the sun was just at the spot of beating down on Bro. Ruiz at the table we were sitting. He is so sweet and eager to learn more he just contently listened but seeing his discomfort Sister Jesperson said a silent personal prayer for a cloud to help him out from the sun and sooner than a minute later a huge cloud appeared and shaded the table and for that next 30 minutes it dropped almost like 10 degrees.. amazing! Heavenly Father does answer prayers and it still continues.. so after this experience she told me about we were at another lesson with Fred, outside. Once again just that time of night the sun was beating down on all of us and as we were trying to listen to him and focus on the lesson we were just dying. Remembering the miracle from a few days earilier I decided to say my own silent prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ and waited. Five minutes passes.. Seven.. nothing was happening. As I so badly wanted to listen and focus on the lesson I struggled and thought "well i guess i just don't have enough faith like my companion, i am just defective and he's not going to listen to me" as these thoughts were going through my head I humbled myself and thought of God's will and instead corrected myself and said "no, God did hear me but for some reason He needs the sun out right now, someone in uvalde needs it more than i do and so i can just listen and have this lesson and be okay in the sun and heat"  once i got to this point I felt at peace and continued to try and focus and a few minutes after that the clouds did arrive and they shadded us all! The temp dropped, we had a great lesson and felt the spirit! I was so excited! Not just that He had answered Sister Jesperson's prayer, or my prayer.. but at that moment I realized just how amazing prayer is and as long as we are in line with God's will, are patient and faithful in his timing of our blessings everything is amazing! God wants his work to move forward, He wants his children to know how much He loves them and He will answer their prayers! So amazing! This week we saw miracles with Jean, this woman is facing MAJOR opposition from her husband, she has no support but her love and trust in her Savior is amazing she has no fear and just wants to do what God wants of her! And to add to the power of that lesson we also got to do it at a recent convert's house that bore beautiful testimony of the amazingness of the gospel! I love it so much! We got to have a fun missionary fireside with all the youth on wednesday for their activity and they are so great! It was at one of the ward missionary's houses complete with a real stuffed lion, bear, and giraffe head no biggie :) I wanted it to go so well so I was a little nervous right before and to add to the stress before we were about to start the Bishop comes in to drop off his kids and tells me that i'll be speaking on Sunday in Sacrament meeting and just to kind of wing it talk about missionary work.. well the rest of that week was insane with president interviews and zone conference I had no time to think or plan out what I was going to do till the morning of.. pulling random things together I was able to survive and was so grateful for the power of the spirit and knew that even if I didn't do good no one would know it was me cause on the ward bulletin it said "Sister Camgrella" was the speaker :) haha i love it and so does the whole ward now.. it is my alias as sister ingerson told me! The work is good! I love the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ! Yall are amazing! I love you and hope yall are well! Keep smiling!

with love

Sister Camarella

August 6, 2012

It is insane how fast time flies! Can barely believe it is already August but we are enjoying it even as it get hotter :) This week was so good! Started out with a trip to Del Rio for a surprise P day activity compliments of the elders.. and it was an adventure. We piled into our truck all six of us and they took us to this random old cemetery that ended up not being the right place so they gave us the right directions and we end up just at this huge hill with a cross on top. It was hilarious there we are six missionaries, skirts, ties, and dress pants and we hike up this steep slop hill thing.. the top paid off it was cool to see all around del rio and I got to see Mexico!! woo hoo! we made it down safely thank goodness and then headed back to work.. fun to have a little road trip and the elders are so funny in our district it is awesome.. two of them from round rock got put together and are down here with me on the border and don't worry the tradition of sending awesome made up songs and messages is still alive :) The leg fire ant bite quickly healed at the beginning of the week with the help of some benadryl goodness that stuff is STRONG, thankful I have an awesome companion that takes care of me and helped me just in time to get another bite right on my toe haha it was contained on my toe thankfully! We had a wonderful miracle of knocking into a woman who had been to church before with some of the members in our ward and has a lot of questions.. i love those little miracles because it shows just how aware God is of his children! He makes sure they get they things they need by using the instruments he has and I get to be one it is awesome! Like with Fred, Fred was just prepped and ready to go and so amazing this week the Lord truly showed him just what he needed to hear about a story from the bible from a preacher on a random TV show. He came to church this week and dressed up and just LOVED it! Oh it was so good to see and to hear him talk about the joy and peace he is receiving in his life it was just so true! Jean is doing really well we were able to see her this week and her pure heart she is concerned with some aspects of leaving her catholic traditions but as we spoke with her and explained to her that these things were not to take away anything and that she could still have her "our father" to comfort her in times of need it was like peace and understanding just washed over her and she was relieved! She is so genuine and the power of repentance and the fullness of the gospel are working miracles in her heart! And then Tom! Tom is continuing to do so good.. he has some concerns and is a very meta physical thinker and he's bee struggling a little to stick with the basics, at one of our lessons with him this week he brought an article that had some "out there so called beliefs" of the church he started talking about these questions and doubts and just simply and powerfully Sister Jesperson just looks at him and says.."Tom, what are you expecting out of meeting with us" it was such a simple question but it allowed the spirit to hit his heart and as he pondered and started to explain his true real concerns just surfaced, how he is just in fear of being decieved and just so desirous to have a personal connection with God. It was beautiful and he is amazing! We got to serve Sister Ingerson this week, a sister in our ward and mowed her lawn twice since she had surgery this week.. she is an 80 year old firecracker and I just love her! I love serving the older sisters, it is such a wonderful calling for us as sister missionaries to be able to do that and i am positive one of the reasons we need sister missionaries in the missionary field and not just 19 year old boys :) what a fun calling.. it warms my heart :) Then I can't forget the miracles with Bro. Ruiz a less active brother.. We taught him once with my last companion here and he just wasn't ready he wanted to stick with his other church he had started to attend, we respected that and after about 3 weeks had passed i just felt prompted to stop by and see how he was just to let him know we cared and that was all it took. God knew he needed that time and had prepared him to be ready for the change.. he is so sincere and has lots to work through and learn again since it has been awhile for him since he was baptized and learned everything about the church but he has now been to church twice and is getting involved and that is it.. one major thing that has stuck out to me this week is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to everything! everything! and if we work with it and do what Christ has established for our help we can get through it.. faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure.. endure one of the most crucial parts.. we are guaranteed happiness :) it is wonderful! ah the gospel is amazing the work is amazing I am learning so much and yes feel a little dumb sometimes for the things i never got before but that is the beauty of it.. it's just a progressive learning process and finding joy and enjoying the ride :) life is beautiful.. hope y'all are smiling, staying happy, and saying your prayers :)
with love
sister camarella

July 23, 2012

This week has officially been insane! So much is going on and so many miracles i have just loved it! Had to say goodbye to Sis. Erickson which was sad. She is so wonderful! Glad we got to see all of our investigators before she left and had some miracle contacts as well! The border run came Wednesday and brought me my new companion Sister Jesperson and I was so excited!! And also two of my favorite elders are also now going to be in our district! Sister Jesperson is from riverside cali and is just so fun! Studying to be and esl teacher and is just an inspiring missionary as well! I love her have loved her since i met her and have always wanted to serve with her.. this entire week we just couldn't get over that we get to be.. scratch that, that we are companions! We have already just had so much fun! First night she was here we hurry off to a first appointment with this sweet woman, with so much faith that just LOVES to talk!! I love those lessons and her cute little daughter and grandson made us all these random prizes.. left there with a necklace, 2 rings, a sticker and a coloring page, and a painted cross for the two of us :) so cute i love kids!! Then at our dinner appointment a hail storm hits us and it was crazy! The hail was the size of golf balls and and such crazy wind and water! The streets just looked destroyed with leaves and branches and luckily we got out with only a few little dents to the truck! The next day we had this amazing first lesson with a dad and daughter i had knocked into last week.. the member we brought was also a little chatty but it totally brought all walls down, we started teaching and as we began to talk about baptism and finding out if these things are true he stops us and tells us that he has been praying and wanting something and just knows that what we have to share is true, that he knows we were sent by God and knows this is right for his family! and then.. in his prayer at the end he thanked Heavenly Father for enlarging his family and oh it was just so sincere and he was so happy! Amazing!! Stopped by Helen's again that night because we were near by.. the kids announced our coming as the " It's the Christ women!" :) Love being a missionary! Tom is doing so well! We taught him about the gospel and just where his faith is at. He has just so much trust it is wonderful and he is really starting to open up to the ward and now just fits in! Then Jean, she is still just on fire and is so ready and wanting to be baptized! At our lesson Thursday she just kept telling us how much this all means to her and how much she wants her family to be able to feel all that she feels and knows. She is simply wonderful! We had the funnest pioneer day activity on Saturday with the ward! Tug of war and chili and just mingling.. i LOVE this ward! So cute and southern.. and oh yes some other funny happenings this week.. dont worry got five more fire ant bites on my hands, who knew they could also live in your kitchen!! :) so had a big puffy hand and achey arm for a few days and then got bit by a dog on the other hand the day after all the bites.. haha i was a mess and to top it off Sister Jesperson is just recovering from some crazy sickness so we were all over the place but it was hilarious and we are excited for what adventures we have yet to have! This week I have just been overwhelmed with the LOVE that God has for us! It is so immense and truly life is just so great! The gospel is so real! It is the way THE way to the promised land.. HEAVEN! ..alma 37last few verses.. The atonement truly covers all we are just here to do our best and to trust in him for the rest! I also got a huge blessing, one of our investigators is going through something insanely difficult.. I have so much love for this man and to see bad things happen to good people it can be so hard, i am grateful to be put in a situation where, even with many tears i can just trust in Christ's mercy and justice and it is so real, so very real! I love being a missionary and sharing that with people and just loving them! All is well! Time is flying! Enjoy it loved ones! Keep smiling and reading your scriptures!
with love
Sister C

July 16, 2012

This week flew by and now I realize this entire transfer has flown by as well! We had lots of fun adventures and more miracles this week which was wonderful! Had a zone meeting and got new phones.. felt so lame being a clutz at using our new touch screen phones, never had one till now but don't worry I learned quick! :) The members here are amazing, totally helping us out with our lessons. Tom is awesome, such a thinker but has accepted a baptism date and just looks so comfortable at church and with all the members. As well as Jean! She got sick this week and we weren't able to meet with her until we stopped by Saturday and had a little lesson, she is reading and is just absorbing it all up. It breaks my heart to see her have such a fire for the gospel but having to hide it out of respect for her husband.. she is such a good woman and completely melted my heart when we got a text that night that read..
"To sister camarella and erickson, thanks you for the treasure of your friendship.. for showing me God's special heart of love! Jean" Then at church the next day she was able to stay for all 3 meetings and loved them all! The relief society just swooped her up and she just felt so comfortable it was amazing! Church entirely was amazing! Our ward is doing so much, a less active we had met with this week surprisingly just showed up, then in sacrament on of the sisters gave the greatest talk, she spoke of overcoming and seeing our trials in the right perspective.. "who can say what is good and what is bad" truly we sometimes can get caught up in experiences and things in our life and forget that everything will work out for our gain. I really hit me and just strengthened me to know that even those things that fall through here in the mission field or for those who chose not to accept or act it is not over. Only God can judge if a decision or an experience is bad and we can trust that and just do the best we can and let others do the best they can as well! Just a wonderful thought to ponder.. The Lord blessed us with a tender mercy of knocking into a less active we didn't know lived there who invited us right in to meet her and her family and I just love those moments cause here in Texas the people are so nice they will do that even if they aren't a member so it is always a game to figure out if they are or if they are just a nice texas christian :) This week was in addition to miracles, a wet one and i got to do my fair share of puddle jumping, here in texas the weather goes extremely fast, it will be just fine one moment hot and normal and ten minutes later it is dark and windy and just pouring with the streets all flooded.. needless to say we love our truck :) And demolition.. as we got to help one of our members tear out their bathroom from a horrible leak they had.. service just makes you feel so good! Missionary work just makes you feel so good I love it! Iove y'all and hope you are having a wonderful week! Keep smiling!!!
with love sister camarella

July 9, 2012

In Alma 26 Ammon has a boasting sesh, not of his own strength but in the strength of the Lord and the incredible miracles that he was able to be apart of as he did his missionary work amongst the Lamanites. Right about now I am feeling the exact same way! This week was incredible and the Lord blessed us with miracle after miracle and I just love it so very much! Just to mention a few of the highlights:

- Was able to finally see a recent convert family who has been insanely hard for not only us but the whole ward to contact
- Fred is "on the right path and won't let anything stop him from continuing" and is now praying about a specific date to be baptized
- Jean is learning and loving it all and was really touched by the awesome testimony of another recent convert who came with us that also had no family support when she chose to be baptized
- Siria is stepping up and is determined to read and pray about the Book of Mormon
- Leeanna and Andy are the sweetest family we just began teaching and are asking all the right questions and said their first vocal, kneeling family prayer this weekend
- I caught another random animal, this time a horny toad
- Tom is still analyzing everything but in the process putting more and more things into place and growing his faith so much
- Joe and Mindy decided it was time to act and came to church as a family even when he hadn't slept and got home from work at 6 a.m. that morning!
- 4 others also made it to church and we almost didn't know what to do with ourselves but the ward was amazing and helped us make them comfortable
- Rosalee had a break up the day before our lesson but listened and we felt the spirit so strong
- Listening to Rita, a less active member, during a lesson I was inspired by the spirit with a greater understanding of her concern keeping her from church
- We were led to knock and find another less active and make contact with her
- A different couple completely opened up about themselves and we felt the spirit so strong as we talked about getting back on track and becoming active again
- We were able to gracefully handle by the spirit a very anti less active member who happened to be at our lesson with one of the investigators we have
- Didn't die from the random fruit we found and tasted while we were out knocking that we were able find out was a type of olive you are NOT supposed to eat!
- Experience gratitude for our freedom with a texas style fourth of July treat.. flag decorated tres leche cake
- Davina came home just at the right moment as we just stopped by and were talking to her husband
- Was able to successfully put together my choppy spanish and  have a lesson with Luciano in 80% spanish thanks to the spirit and a pamphlet in espanol 
- Ninfa just at the right time as we were getting in the car to leave chose to head out to her car as well and was able to meet with us and make it to church the next day
- Alex is continuing to find comfort and hope and see miracles as his trials reach their climax
- Edward wants to read and study the Book of Mormon without a christian background

..these literally only scratch the surface and don't even begin to give them justice but with lack of time I wanted to share a little bit with y'all..
overall I have learned so much this week that God truly does answer prayers and He is there for us! Missionary work is the best!!! The gospel is so beautiful and I hope you have a fabulous week with miracles of your own and lots and lots of smiling!!
with love
sister camarella

PICTURES!!!!!!!

Jessica here.... Sister Ju Ju sent her SD card home to be emptied and I decided to put some of her pictures on here. Go up and click on My Photos to see them. :) She looks great!!!

July 2, 2012

This week has been a truly unique and spiritual experience, I feel as though so much has happened and I have learned so incredibly much which I am truly grateful for. It started off very simple and normal with a busy evening full of great lessons. That night around 11:30 Sister Erickson got a phone call from Pres. Jones informing her that her dad was not doing well and was told he only had a few days to a week to live. Background on Sister Erickson, she is entirely incredible! She has 6 siblings and lost her mother six years ago this week. Before she left her father had a little back pain and since being her on her mission for the past 5 months the back pain was discovered as 3 large, cancerous tumors, one eating away at his backbone with cancer also spread throughout his body. Though his diagnosis and pain was severe Sister Erickson has been peacefully faithful he would pull through but the sickness declined and declined very rapidly. I knew something was wrong as I listened to her talk to President and as she told me the news I literally didn't know how to react it was so sudden and unexpected and she was simply calm. She was able to speak with her family and her dad briefly that evening over the phone. The next morning was.. blessed if there is a word to describe it. We had a very full day of lessons and as she contemplated on going home, and communicated back and forth with President, started to try and process it all we were able to do our work and have wonderful lessons. I was blown away by her faith her trust and her diligence. As I contemplated how I would react to the news I was simply taught by wonderful example of the power of this gospel and how much Christ can truly help and uplift us in some of the most difficult circumstances. What a blessing and need there is for us to fully understand that families can be together forever sealed through the true authority of God that has been restored. I couldn't possibly imagine going through this experience without that assurance. That night we got another update on how he was doing and woke up to the news that that morning he had peacefully slipped away and was now gone. Once again the spirit just surrounded us and supported the hard news. Only a few tears were shed as she processed and as we continued through the day we saw miracle after miracle of support from the incredible ward members. Miracles with the people we are teaching and the sweetest feelings of comfort as we talked of the wonderful person he was and their very best memories together. Throughout all of this, I through my own study and feelings was also going through a stretching process and the scriptures and subtle promptings were answering slowly the questions and needs I needed. Friday was the anniversary of her mother's death and we celebrated the knowledge of her parents being able to be together at last and enjoyed more reminiscing of their lives and as she read me some stories of her mothers I gained a huge insight into not only what incredible parents she has who shaped her into the faithful person she is but also into the strength of the Savior. Her mother had a very hard life and her experiences of diligence and love were exactly what I needed as well. The work that day was blessed. We had such powerful lessons with the spirit so present. Jean, one of our investigators explained to us just how happy us and what she is learning is making her and as we shared with her and her husband who was not supportive of the idea of her being baptized hearts were softened and it was simply a beautiful tender mercy. Pepe, a recent convert,  was able to open up about how he has been struggling with the transition into his new lifestyle. The spirit and our Savior continued to be with us as we were able attend a session at the temple on Saturday. I am absolutely in love with the temple. There is NO greater feeling than the power in that building. As we sat there together with Pres. Jones and his wife and other sisters who came with us there was once again just this overwhelming assurance and peace. I was flooded with answers and greater understanding of the power of the atonement and our purpose here in this life. We came out truly strengthened and spiritually and emotionally exhausted but what a wonderful way to celebrate and participate as back home the funeral was going on. I am so sure of the love and power of our Savior in our lives. So grateful for the ability to rely on him and the reassurance and peace He can bring. I have an awesome companion and Uvalde is beautiful! I love you all so very very much and hope that all is well with you! Life is precious and we are here to be happy! Keep smiling, keep having faith, and remember to say your prayers!! :)
with love
sister camarella 

June 18, 2012

Goodness I am absolutely smitten by Uvalde! It is so charming! There are so many fun people here and getting lost walking down dirt roads, passing jack rabbits and horses you simply can't help but to smile and love it! We got to explore a little bit more of this area of Texas going to Del Rio for district meeting and visiting our members on the outskirts of town and this place is absolutely beautiful! Byron's baptism this week was wonderful! He was so happy and grateful for it all, his testimony afterward was beautiful! One of our investigators Fred told us of this awesome experience he had with the Book of Mormon during the week where he just couldn't sleep cause the scenes of all the chapters he had read kept replaying in his mind and he just couldn't help but read more and more when he had free time! It was amazing to here him describe it to us and help him see that that is Heavenly Father answering his prayers that it is true! I have been loving the Book of Mormon lately and just how much is jam packed into those amazing pages! It's exciting when you realize what a verse means in a way you had never thought before! Siria, a mom we are teaching, was able to learn more about the Holy Ghost from her reading and was asking awesome questions during our lesson this week. It's just great! Another great moment of the week was when Pepe a man that was recently baptized was telling us of how he had written a song about Christ after the Lord had answered one of his prayers. He had his guitar with him in his car and pulled it out and sang the song to us and it was so beautiful! Completely melted my heart this man, so sincere and it was a way good song! The people here are just the absolutely best part, I love it, and am having so much fun! All is well here in Texas, hope y'all are having a fabulous June! It is flying by! Be happy and keep smilin and remember to say your prayers!  :)
with love
Sister Camarella

June 11, 2012

 Well I am officially serving in the quintessential Texas town of Uvalde and loving it! I now am a truck driving missionary surrounded by old thrift stores and cowboy hats, heat and porches, spanish language and sunburns. What a transition this week has been! Saying goodbye to everyone in McNeil is always sad but they are so very wonderful! The trip down to Uvalde was so much fun.. going the wrong way for a bit with another sister trying to get to San Antonio and then having my own little learning lesson from one of the smartest sweetest elders out here. There is so much going on down here it is so wonderful! We are teaching multiple wonderful people and there is a baptism tonight of a man who just married one of the members in the ward and has come to have a great testimony of the gospel. He was the first person I met here in town and I knew I would love everyone here after that, there is something endearing about the southern hospitality and the use of ma'm! Everyone else has been just so very sweet and welcoming! It is getting pretty toasty here, never sweat so much in my life but that is what makes it an adventure right? I also have been able to kill three cockroaches already with only a medium amount of screaming and running, i'm learning! :)The ward is little which is a huge transition! There were 10 of us in relief society yesterday including the presidency! I appreciate so much more the faith and diligence the members here having balancing so many major callings in the ward and doing it with a smile! We met with one man of the ward last night and he is the only member in his family, and though his wife is pretty against the church he still carries on and as he bore his testimony of his conversion it was just so powerful the spirit and the faith that he has! I love that, I love that about this work to see people just get it and feel it and smile because of it! This transfer is going to be an awesome one and i'm hoping to pick up some spanish along the way! Hope all is going well where y'all are at and keep smilin!
with love,
sister camarella