Week 58, Roswell, GA- Spanish Speaking

Dear Family,
We had a Spanish/foreign language conference this week! It was super
cool. Elder Alba (from the 70) was there and he was able to really
help us out. It's all the same work, but sometimes in conferences we
sit there and we look at the council and it can be a struggle seeing
how it applies to the different cultures we work with, but at the end
of the day the most important thing is charity.
We are teaching Irma's daughter Lesly. Lesly LOVES church. She
actually went to girls camp and she loves the scriptures. She even came
to church on her own (she's 12) last Sunday. The only hard thing is
that she is super shy. So it's hard to tell how much she comprehends
and really what she's thinking ever...
Otherwise we have been super busy trying to find less actives and
focusing on the part member families. We are still working with the
family of girls. The mother is not a member, but her three oldest
daughters are. (So her youngest is also not baptized). Something we've
been trying to focus on is teaching these families in other members
homes. We have been super blessed because a lot of members have opened
their homes to us to have FHEs with them. We are excited for what's to
come.
Hotlanta is definitely back. We have been enjoying our 100+ days.
Saturday it was so hot we think it actually killed a lot of bugs,
because there were none. Then Sunday it rained so it was like bug
heaven. I just think about how last summer I was on bike. While it was
hot, it was super fun. We are actually going to try to pull our bikes
out this week and ride them. We'll see.
We also had missionary leadership council. I like it because they give
us food. We also learn a lot.
Something we have been focusing on is faith. Well, because everything
kind of boils down to faith. I love this from Elder Uchtdorf's Summer
with GreatAunt Rose.
"most of those busy, unhappy people have forgotten the one thing that
matters most in all the world--the thing Jesus said is the heart of
His gospel.”
        “And what is that?” Eva asked.
“It is love--the pure love of Christ,” Rose said. “You see, everything
else in the gospel--all the shoulds and the musts and the thou shalts
--lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be
like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about
our own problems and help others to solve theirs.”
“And that is what makes us happy?” Eva asked.
Great-Aunt Rose nodded and smiled, her eyes filling with tears. “Yes,
my dear. That is what makes us happy.”" Luke 17:33
I love and miss you!!!
Love,
Hermana Wallis

Week 57, Roswell, GA- Spanish Speaking with Hermana Ray

English sister, French sisters and Spanish sisters.
Then the Elders are from Oxaca Mx and Chile. Someone told me this was
the most diverse zone...

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!
Well. Hermana Ray and I are doing well. We taught our first English
lesson yesterday. Yep. We also now partially work in the English ward.
It was so weird. We were both at a loss when we were leaving. (Like I
don't think Americans would appreciate it if we kiss them when we
leave...) like the whole atmosphere was different. It was just weird.
Also, this is what happens when one decides to actually commit to
doing their studies in Spanish finally...
It was so sad to see Sister Solis leave. Everyone here loved her, and
she loved it. Of course, leaving your first area is always the
hardest.
Hermana Ray and I have had fun. We've both changed a lot. So its been
fun to catch up on that. Yesterday in church I was the pianist and she
was the translator.
Other than that, things are still kind of weird here, but I love it! I
know that these are the Lord's children and that this is His work. Our
Heavenly Father is so merciful. He is so loving and wonderful. He
heals our hearts and strengthens us to fulfill our potential. It is so
wonderful to know of our celestial family. I love this gospel and this
work.
Love always,
Hermana Wallis
PS so additional mission preparation that would be REALLY USEFUL:
Read "quick to observe" from December 2006 ensign. And start trying to
develop the gift of discernment, starting with the gift of being quick
to observe. The gift of discernment is something we can pray for and
can be a protector and help us utilize our gifts and talents to help
others. One of the most valuable things one can learn is how to
recognize the spirit and recognize promptings that come from the Lord.
Also, if you want to pick up a preach my gospel, a good place to start
would be chapter 4.

Week 56, Roswell, GA- Spanish Speaking

Dear family,

Thank you family members Dan & Kevin Thorstenson and Gloria Jones who has uploaded so many pictures on the family history ap! We started using family history in contacting, and it's been really neat to show people how I was able to find pictures of my family members. So thank you This has helped eliminate the confusion with many people thinking I am from Brazil and hopefully softening hearts with the spirit of Elijah. So far we've only creeped out a handful of people. (After role playing and practicing a bit more that stopped being a problem. 🏼)

But it has been really cool. I know I'm probably going to sound like a Former Scrooge (but that's what repentance is for right?) but really on my mission I have realized just how important family is! I honestly had no idea how much I actually loved my family until reality checked in about a year ago and I had to board a plane with the knowledge that I was going to leave them for 18 months and have minimal contact in that time. (I refused to fly by myself because just the thought of it already had me homesick). Primero Dios, y luego la familia!

This Tuesday they were having an immigration activity for the adults so we came for finding purposes, and the youth were working on family history. Someone had brought their daughter so we were helping her get just feel comfortable  with the young women, so I pulled up my family history. On the ap. Which is super easy. And it's cool because there's pictures! And it made me so happy to see pictures of my family!

I think I'm starting to get it. (Hermana Solis is starting to make fun of me because whenever someone says they're not interested, I've just started talking about family history. I think the spirit of elija includes contacting people with it too lol)

Today we had transfer calls. And Hermana Solis is leaving me. Which is so sad. I love her so much. I know I have said much about her, but she's amazing. And we've gotten really close. 

But Hermana Ray is coming! And she'll be a sister training leader with me! Which will be super nice and helpful. 

I love Cumorah so much. I love this gospel and the privilege to share it. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that HE LIVES! 2 Nephi 25:26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Primero Dios y luego la familia!

Love always, 

Hermana Wallis 

The first one is from this past week. We discovered that we all did he
same HEFY trips, just in different groups. Lol
The rest are pictures I found on Sister Greenman's iPad during
exchanges! Haha they are from Norcross, about 3 months ago....

Week 55, Roswell, GA- Spanish Speaking

Atlanta Temple

Dear Family,
This week was a bit CRaZY.
We got to go to the temple on Wednesday! It is such a privilege and
blessing to be able to go to the temple. Every time I go I am
overwhelmed with gratitude to have been able to grow up so close to a
temple and to still be close to the temple! Like Grandma always says,
"be grateful for the time and place of your birth." I know that our
God is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows us and loves us perfectly.
He's always giving us exactly what we need (whether or not we can see
it in that moment...)
Today was super busy because of apartment inspections. Everyone is
doing well. We have been in the process of finding new people! Super
fun.
I am so grateful to be apart of this work! I know that it is the
Lord's and it is filled with His love!
Love and miss you!
Hermana Wallis

If you would like to write to Madeleine her address is: madeleine.wallis@myldsmail.net`

Week 54- Roswell, GA - Spanish Speaking/ French exchange

This week.
Well, this was the only week I felt like we weren't going to have
anything going on so we had two exchanges. I got to so serve in
French! With sister Tekurio. She's from Tahiti (Heaven on Earth... She
adds. But you know, she's from Tahiti so can't really argue with that)
and actually here for two transfers from temple square! There's a lot
of Haititians and Africans here and they speak mainly French and
Creole so she's here to help with the French. She's companions with
Sister Gonzalez and they split their time in Cumorah and in the
English ward where they have French translation. Then I went on
exchanges with Sister Mitchell and she's super cute from Orem, Utah and she
played the violin for Elder Holland and goes to BYU Provo and did a
study abroad all over Western Europe. She's like my double. It was a
lot of fun.

Baptism! Ok so her name is Irma. She's super interesting. It's been
really interesting. She comes from very humble circumstances in
Central America.  (I imagine like a small village out in the middle of
nowhere where the people live in almost makeshift houses...) going
into her apartment is kind of like entering a third world country.
Bright blue walls and a bunch of kids running everywhere and
everything's everywhere and super hot with a kind of weird smell. We
wanted to drop her so many times, but she was keeping all of her
commitments, so I just decided to pray for charity instead. The woman
not only reads the Book of Mormon, but studies it! One time we came
and the first thing we always ask about is Book of Mormon reading, and
she flipped open to the index. She'd been studying the definition of
Hosana and what it means. Church was very interesting with her. There
was one Sunday where her pastor from her past country was calling her
and she would answer during church! We prayed hard and the Lord did His
wonders! Because we were worried she wouldn't be able to make her date
but the Sunday before it was like everything had clicked. She was
teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in Sunday school! And then the
Plan of Salvation! So we set up an interview and prayed really hard.
She loved it. When she got out of the water she was singing a hymn
about baptism from her country. The best was when she was confirmed.
The branch presidency was setting up the chair and microphone for her
so you know, the pulpet was empty. So naturally that was her first
stop. She walked right up there, introduced herself and started bearing
her testimony! Our branch president was so sweet and patient. He just
came and stood by her and when she stopped to take a breath asked,
"Would you like to receive the Holy Ghost and be confirmed a member?"
"OH YES!"
We love her and really the credit has to go to the members. She has 3
families living in her complex and they have just taken her under
their wing. It's been a really neat experience to see obedience to the
prophets counsel from this last conference. One member even took her
to the temple to show her and walk on the grounds! The members are the
ones who have really made a difference. I love it here.

We had dinner with the YSA and we had to leave because it had been an
hour and we had an appointment. It was so sweet. They were all begging
us to stay. A less active we work with even came with her boyfriend
and begged, "Don't go! Y'all fun" It was the one of the nicest things
I'd heard all day. Especially after a HOT day of tracting.

Last night we had the sweetest dinner ever. It was just a mother and
her daughter. No dad in the picture but she has a son on a mission.
You could tell it was very special for her to feed us. She had 
candle lights and hymns playing and the table was set up so fancy in
her very humble apartment. It was so tender.

I am so grateful for this privilege to be a part of the Lord's work. I
love it so much. The Lord loves His children and he helps us love
them! I know Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and no one is
excluded from the Lord's saving grace made possible through Him. We
just have to repent and follow Him. "His hand is stretched out still" 2
Nephi 20
I love and miss you!
Hermana Wallis

Sent from my iPad

If you want to write to Madeleine please use: Madeleine.wallis@myldsmail.net