February 21

I hope you all are doing well. And that Sariah is feeling better. I
am worried about Grandpa. How is he??

I am sorry but again I don't have much time. I am practicing on
reading faster... but something that I have been able to witness this
week- The gospel really makes life so much better!!! I have a family
here, the Garcia's, that are my home away from home. I am helping one
of the sons get reactive in the gospel. He is Alfredo. He got sent
home from his mission after only 6 months and hasn't been back to
church since. that was 5 years ago. He is an amazing guy and He has
been going to church for the last 2 months!!! He now can take the
sacrament and has a calling. Why is it so amazing?? Because when i
first met him his faith was amost gone. He didn't think he could ever
been forgiven by God or ever be worthy of blessings in his life. He
was ALWAYS sad when we saw him. Now the sad days are very few!!! I
have seen how the gospel can take all the pain that one has and turn
it into love and light! without the gosepl there is No Hope. It is a
future of darkness and sadness. It is like a Necapal. This is athing
used by the people here to carry loads up to 200 lbs., They put a
strape of cloth on their forehead and with there sight downward they
load up the strings with the wood or whatever they carry. the necapal
is like our sins. when we use the atonement our sight isd up on the
Lord and we can see the bright furtur and not the shadows of our own
body or sins.

I really need to go. I love you all. Always remember to take off the
Necapal. Repentance is so sweet!!!!

I will right more next week.

Hna. Pelaez

February 14

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

I am doing what my mom suggested and writing to the family first this
week. I don't know why but lately I think I have been taking a lot of
time reading or such and never seem to have all the time I want.
Hahaha. I hope you all can forgive me for the lack of communcation.

This week has been good. I have been learning how to make the
adjustment of not having Hna Ruiz with me. She is truly like a sister
to me. I miss her TONS!! But the Lord has helped me with the
adjustment. I had two days of conferences and Hna Ruiz was there. :)
And today we (the Hermanas) got permission to join up with two other
zones and I got to see her this morning!!! I like my new companion
and being with her I have learned what it means to lead more. It is
hard to tell if she likes doing what I suggest becasue she just goes
with the flow. I am trying to make everything fair but I hardly get
an opinion from her. If I have ever done that to any of you please
forgive me!!! I know understand that it is REALLY good to have an
opinion. Hahaha.

I was reading in Enos this week and verses 1-4 are amazing. They
teach us how we can improve. There are three steps. I challenge all
of you to search for the three steps and write me the response. I
would say you would get a prize but... I am kinda far away. Hahaha.

Yesterday in sacrament I had one of the littles kids that I have
really grown to love come sit with me and my companion. He is Luis
Carlos and I have learned so much from having him sit with me for the
last two weeks. first he helped me remember something that my parents
have taught me.... I need to focus on the Sacrament (the whole time)
during the opening exercises and such. We need to have our thoughts
on the significance of the sacrifice of Christ. Luis was mostly just
excited to eat and drink but he showed me that we don't "color"
before the sacrament is passed. I also learned from him that we must
be eager to recieve the sacrament. He sits there watching the deacons
passing and then whispers to me... "Here it comes, here it comes!!!"
when it reaches our row. I saw the way I should see the sacrament.
This small moment of the meetings is THE MOST IMPORTANT!!! I am just
beginning to understand the healing powers of the Sacrament. We can
not afford one week without this ordinance!!!

I hope you all are learning about the gospel!! It truly changes
lives!!! Even good ones!!!

Love you all!!

Hna Pelaez

Ps I saw live tigers!!!!