Felices Pascuas! Happy Easter!

One of my favorite weeks of the year!  The week before we celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Two weeks ago I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish and for the past two weeks I have been trying to finish Jesus the Christ and read a talk about the Atonement every single day.  I can´t even explain the love and gratitude I have for my brother Jesus Christ.  The poem below is from a Greg Olsen Art picture and it made me realize how blessed we truly are...

Hand in Hand

Like a child in the woods I lost my way,

Alone and afraid I stopped to pray.

"Father in Heaven," I cried in my need,

"Please guide me home, I'll go where you lead."

Like a light in the forest He sent down His Son,

My heart became warm, a new hope had begun.

"Take my hand and I'll lead you", I heard Him say,

"Stay by my side for I know the way."

Now a child in the woods all filled with delight,

The journey is joyous as I walk in His light.

No longer alone in a shadow filled land,

He leads me home as we walk hand in hand.

I don't have the words to truly express how grateful I am for the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Because of Him, we all have the opportunity to one day return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.  I am so thankful for the knowledge I have that He truly lives and his suffereing was truly a gift given to us both by Him and our Father above.  Sometimes we often think of how hard it must have been for Him to suffer all that He did, and we forget how hard it must have been for our Heavenly Father; to watch as His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, fell on his face and bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane.  To watch as nails were driven into the hands and feet of His Son, making it possible for him to hang in agony for hours on a wooden cross.  One of the apostle's in the talks I read, mentioned, "I wonder how many drops were shed for me."  Does it make you wonder how many drops Christ shed for you?  Either way, I know with all of my heart that His sacrifice was a gift given to us by our loving Father and brother.  Not only that, this is the time of year to celebrate that He lives, and I have a firm testimony that as the poem says above, Jesus Christ is walking hand in hand with us every moment of every day on our journey to return to our Loving Heavenly Father.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know that He lives.  I hope you have all had the chance to watch the new video, "Because He Lives," and I hope you all take a moment to think of all the things that He did, and continues to do for us every single day.  I love you all and hope you have a wonderful Easter next week :) Felices Pascuas!

Also, shout out to the most beautiful mom in the world, HAPPY BIRTHDAY  on the 2nd, mom!!!! I love you with all my heart and I hope you have the best day ever because you deserve the world.  Family, have a blast in Hawaii but don't have too much fun without me!  Give Mom a billion hugs and kisses for me on her big day! Loves!!

Quote of the week:

As you prepare for General Conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered....There are messages in General Conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Can't wait for General Conference next weekend! :)

xoxo

Nika

pics:

lots of pics with members because we have transfers next week and I think I am leaving Godoy A next Monday!

missionaries from Huelgo

Family Duarte and Suarez

Hermana Thorp

principles and doctrine class that I teach every week!

Fabian who we baptized in December lookin sharp with his new tie!! 

HAPPY BDAY mom!!!!!

Otono, Autumn!!!

Buen día todos!  Not too much happened this week but the weather is finally cooling down which is great!  A week ago it was 100 degrees and we were sweatin bullets but now it is FALL!! woohoo! By the way I am emailing late today because today is an Argentine holiday (they have a billion holidays) so everything is closed this day until about 5! 

Last week we had a zone meeting and interviews with President Lovell.  In my interview we talked a lot about having faith at all times, not just when we are in need of help.  President said to me, "Right now there is a drought in Utah.  When the reservoirs are full, usually we don´t recognize how much our Heavenly Father does for us.  But when the reservoirs are empty, that is when we turn to our Father in Heaven, in faith, for help."  I love this message he shared with me and like the talk by Elder Cook I shared last week in my email, it all depends on our faith from the very beginning (yes I know you all read the talk, right? ;) I hope so!)

Friday night we were in Fabian´s house teaching him about eternal marriage and then a drunk guy knocked on the door.  Fabian knew him so he let him inside and the guy started asking Hermana Oliveira and I why we are here and other things like that.  He then asked me my name about five times, told me I am pretty, and then asked me out on a date hahaha.  Everyone burst out laughing including Fabian and his 3 cute little nephews (age 12,14, and 15).  After that, we shared a little message about Jesus Christ and we got outta there quick!  haha funny experiences here in Argentina!

The pictures below are from last p-day when we went to a fruit factory!  All the members here told us we should go because Villa Regina is known for its pears and apples! So we went and they gave us a tour of the factory and free pears which was pretty cool!  And yes they made us wear lovely white hats and jackets so don´t judge the photos!  Sorry for all the selfies as well ;)

Have a wonderful week everyone!! I love you all!!  Family you should probably cancel your trip to Hawaii and wait until I get home...I heard there is snow in Hawaii right now...haha jk I am so excited for you guys!! 

Quote of the week:

The feeling of love from our Heavenly Father is like a gravitational pull from heaven.  As we remove the distractions that pull us toward the world and exercise our agency to seek Him, we open our hearts to a celestial force which draws us to Him.

Elder Paul E. Koelliker

p.s. Yesterday I completed 5 months in the mission!!! Time is flying by, almost too fast!! But I am absolutely loving my mission and I am so happy :)

xoxo

Hermana Van Boerum

Building Faith!

Other than the fact that I was sick for the past few days, this week was great!! I laid in bed half day on Friday but this entire week we have been working really hard to get our investigators to go to church because that is one of the main things preventing them from being baptized!

On Tuesday we had lunch with the Bishop of our ward and after we left his house, a lady named Angelica walked up to us cryingand asked us if we could pass by her hose to talk with her.  We went to her house and she had her neighbor, Lali, come and join in on the conversation.  It then became one of the most spiritual lessons I have had as Lali and Angelica began to tell us more about their lives and as we began to share the message that Heavenly Father had in store for them.  Angelica told us how she is trying to move out of her house because her male neighbor is doing inappropriate things and takin advantage of her.  After that, Lali started crying and told us how she suffers from depression and one day about a year ago she was doing all she could to find a gun to kill herself.  Listening to their stories brought tears to my eyes and Hna. Oliveira and I were inspired to share the scripture Alma 40:11-13 with them.  We bore our testimonies about the Atonement and told them how much their Savior and Heavenly Father love them.  The Spirit was really strong and I know they felt it as well.  What a blessingitwas to help them come a little closer to Christ.  Before we left they asked a couple questions about our lives and things like that, and Lali turned to me and said, "Correct me if I am wrong, but you really love and miss your family huh?"  I responded, "Yes, how do you know??" and then she said, "Because I can feel it in my heart when you talk about them."  I love you family :)

This transfer we are focusin on the talk, Faith in Jesus Christ by Gene R. Cook.  If there is one thing that you take away from my email today, READ THIS TALK, because it is amazing.  My favorite part in the talk is when he says, "Someone said long ago, when great events occur, there are three types of persons manifested: First,the one who doesn´t realize anything great is happening, second, the one who realizes something is going on but doesn´t know what it is, and third, the one behind the scened making it all happen."  I invite you all to read this talk by Elder Cook and learn how we can use the power of faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to wrought miracles in our lives and the lives of others.

Dad, shout out to you because your birthday is in 6 days!!! Birthday picture attached below :) and I hope you have a wonderful day because you deserve it!  Eat 2 extra sushi rolls for me to celebrate :)  I hope you get some good skiing and cycling is as well! Hopefully you get my letter before your birthday, I love you!!! Happy Birthday on Friday!

Quote of the week:

True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior.  The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.

Boyd K. Packer

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!

xoxo

Hermana Van Boerum

ps lots of pictures attached!  I don´t have time to explain them all but the big white statue is the "Indian" of Villa Regina!! We went last P day and it was awesome!!

Hermana Van Boerum, Van B, Ban Boorum, Ban, Van Percy, no se (I don't know)

^^^^The subject line of this email is all of the names that I have picked up since I have been here haha.  No one can say my last name so now I introduce myself as Hermana Van to make things a little easier for the people here!  I got the name Van Percy from an elder who always yells, "WOOO VAN PERCY" when we play soccer and now all the missionaries in my zone call me Van Percy ;)

Miracles do happen:  After 3 1/2 months I have finally found gluten free empanadas this week!  Hallelujah!  They were delicious and I enjoyed every single bite :)

This week was awesome!!  We had zone meeting and it was so spiritual.  We talked a lot about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which I want to talk about a little more in my email next week but this week I want to share a little message about a lasting conversion.  Last transfer as the mission, Neuquen, we studied the chapters of Alma 17-27.  These chapters are full of wonderful stories that we can apply to our lives but I love the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies when they truly showed that they not only have testimonies, but they truly have a lasting conversion.  The story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies is when they were being attacked by the Lamanites, instead of fighting back, they hid their weapons, knelt down, and 1005 of them were killed.  They had made a convenant with Heavenly Father to never use their weapons, to "hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day."  They were so converted and grateful for the power of repentance that they were willing to give up their lives.  Like them , we have made our own convenants with God, but do we truly have a lasting conversion?  As missionaries sometimes we talk about what life will be like after out missions.  Our district leader told us that fifty percent of returned missionaries fall away from the church.  This really got me thinking and I began to ask myself, "What will keep me going to church after my mission and especially 30 years from now?  Do I truly have a lasting conversion?"  I think these are both questions that we can all as ourselves.  I invite you all to find the reason why you are still going to church this very day and strengthen that anchor that you have in the church.  If you don´t have a reason, start to study the life of the Savior and Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness that he has given us and I know that your joy, testimony, and gratitude will begin to grow as mine has.  Begin converting yourselves now, each and every day, to accept the will of God, repent, and hold firm in your faith until "we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby."

Family, I LOVE YOU!!! 

Shout out to:

Mimi and Bubba, thank you for the sweet card you sent me!

Heidi Monson, thank you thank you for the darling sign you made and sent me!!!! There is a picture below!! I love it!

Madi Olson, good luck with your wedding this week, I am so happy for you!!!

Jordyn, congrats on the engagement, I love you so much and I am so excited for you!!!!!

Quote of the week:

In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold to the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited...When these moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.

-Jeffrey R. Holland

xoxo

Nika

HAVE THE BEST WEEK Y'ALL!!! 

Hermana Oliveira my new Comp!

Happy Missionary Monday!! I had a wonderful week and my new companion Hermana Oliveira is awesome!  To tel you a little bit about her, she has a super fun personality and she cooks really well.  Basically she is always dancing or singing and we laugh a lot throughout the day!  She was baptized 3 years ago and has a super strong testimony.  She is the only member in her family but she is setting such a good example for her sisters and her mom.  We work great together and I am excited for the next 5 weeks we have to serve the people of Godoy A! (still in my first area)

This week we had exchanges and a "tsunami" in Mainque!  I had exchanges with Hermana Villalobos who is form Costa Rica!  She is awesome and I learned a lot from her.  WE didn´t see any big miracles that day but we did talk to tons of people and set 13 new appointments for this week which is great!  For the tsunami, Hermana Oliveira and I helped out in Mainque by setting a baptismal date for a darling mom and her daughter named Andrea and Marta.  We were able to teach them the Plan of Salvation and set an appointment to have the elders of Mainque to pass by and teach them!

Not too much happened this week but our investigators are doing well!  Unfortunately Agostina told us that her dad doesn´t want us passing by anymore but hopefully the future missionaries of Godoy A will be able to pass by and teach her!  If you all could keep Agostina, Juan, Martin, Axel, Osvaldo, Jose, Iris, Carina, Vanesa, Brenda, Matias, Margarita, Karla, and Leonel in your prayers that would be awesome!  Our investigators need all the prayers they can get! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week and know that I love every single one of you so much!! I am so happy here in Argentina and learning a ton.  The mission is the best.  Thank you for all the love and support!

Quote of the week:

Our love for our spouse, parents, and children is reflected most powerfully in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds.

David A. Bednar

p.s. caution to all you living in Holladay, Natasja Van Boerum has her permit so stay off the roads for a bit!! I can´t believe you all are growing up so fast Tosh Torb and Britt.  Love you guys!!!!

Hermana Perez and Me

Hermana Oliveira and Me

Me Hermana Gil & Hermana Chumioquee

Me the Jolly Green Giant with Hermana Villalobos

Me and mah new Comp :)