Mesquite Nevada Stakes
Sister Nayeli Andrade
God Be Thanked ❤️
Joyeux Nöel!
What a wonderful couple of weeks it's been. Not without their challenges but oh so joyful and miracle filled. So this will be long, but if you want to get to the point there's a spiritual thought at the end!
I've been so grateful to be a missionary at this time. Where we get to remember the most miraculous birth. The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Sharing the message that He lives is just about my favorite thing.
Over the past weeks there's been some I've also been able to go on exchanges with some incredible sisters, Sister Lees, Sister Somerville and Sister Palara, Sister Smith. And I have learned so much from each of them! These were two incredible experiences:
- Sister Lees is incredible at ministering to the one and helping others feel loved.
- Sister Somerville is an amazing missionary, she is so spiritually powerful and has such a love for Christ and His Gospel!
- Sister Palara is also such a powerful missionary! She shares so openly and forms real and genuine connections with all the people we meet, and has so many wonderful questions, she has a pure desire to grow in any way.
- Sister Smith is just pure light and goodness! She serves so selflessly and her smile is contagious.
With Sister Somerville, we had an amazing experience visiting a member where all the stars aligned, early in the days she said how the song "o come come Emmanuel" had been stuck in her head lately and she didn't know why, when we visited this member she shared o come come Emmanuel. The member, a mother of 5, who is constantly running at church, had silent tears roll down her face. At the end of our visit she asked "sisters, why did you come today?" We shared we felt we should. Then she started crying profusely and shared she really needed it, and that this Christmas season, she too had randomly been playing o come come Emmanuel. A pure miracle. The Spirit was so strong. God is aware of His children.
That day just the day after the last exchange, Sister Palara and I, again had a powerful spiritual experience. With a schedule gone slightly awry we narrowed down those we planned to visit to just visit one part-member family. A little nervous to approach, we knocked the door and the Sister opened the door with slight confusion but a smile and said "come in come in" so we did, we got to know her, she is facing some big health issues and it's been a hard few months. She explained why her family had been away for so long. And we offered to share a message. She graciously accepted and after sharing she too had silent tears rolling down her face. And again we heard "sisters, why did you come visit me today?" She shared she, for the first time in many years, had started praying a few weeks prior and was thinking of trying to come back, and not too long before our visit had wondered "I wonder who the Missionaries are now". She gave us big hugs and said we are always welcome in her home. A miracle. God is aware of His children.
And yesterday our good friend Lance was baptized. He has overcome a lot, and in His testimony he shared “I wasn't lost, but now I know I am found” His story is a miracle.
These are just three experiences, there isn't enough room or time to share all the miracles happening. As 2025 is coming to an end, I couldn't be more grateful for the people the Lord has let me learn from and the testimony growing experiences He has so graciously gifted us with.
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
Saturday we had people all throughout the day, in lessons, in finding, in random conversations, ask us "do you really believe that?” “Do you believe that or do you KNOW that?" And Sister Escobar and I had the opportunity to boldly proclaim "I KNOW...." I have constantly pondered on it since, especially after an interaction in a parking lot.
"God is our Father in Heaven, He loves us, He knows YOU"
"You believe that?"
"I KNOW that"
"Because He loves us He sent His son"
"You believe that?"
"I KNOW that"
Just a few weeks back after the passing of a good friend back home and amidst some questions, I received a priesthood blessing in which I was reminded to find comfort in that I KNOW I have a Father in Heaven and I KNOW I have a Savior who loves us. Those words were engraved into my heart.
I may not have felt the prints in the hands of my Savior, or sat on His knee, but oh He is so real to me. The experiences over the past year have shown me, HE LIVES. I watched Him change lives. I watched the master healer help some of my dearest friends overcome addictions through His Atoning Sacrifice. I saw His hands as He ministered through the hands of others. I saw His pure love in people dropping everything to bring warm food and clothes to a wandering sheep. I saw His light in the members, missionaries, and friends around me. I watched Him soften hearts. I saw His pure goodness in stangers helping strangers. I felt His love for people I had never met, people from all around the world and grew to love the cultures from around the world. I felt His embrace through the hugs of strangers who needed His message, and the hugs of my dear companions every night. I heard His voice through the scriptures, through inspired words, and through worthy priesthood holders. I felt His strength as He enabled me to complete His work. I felt His forgiveness, as I fell short time and time again. And I knew of His personal love as I felt Him kneel next to me as tears were all I could express some nights. HE LIVES. I know He does. A Baby was born 2 millennia ago, to bring us hope, peace, love, forgiveness, Eternal life. We have no greater reason to rejoice.
I thought I had a testimony starting this year. But oh how it's grown, it is my goal to make 2026 another year full of my Savior. Whether in Canada or back home. I will do everything to continue to grow my relationship with my Father in Heaven and my Savior day by day. I encourage you all to do the same. What goals can you set this year to grow your testimony in Him, in His Gospel, every day? Do your scriptures have dust on them? Have your knees hit the floor lately? How have you prepared every week to take the Sacrament? Have you done any good today? Who can you help that is more tired, more sad, more overwhelmed than you?
God Be thanked for the matchless gift of His Divine Son! He lives! Make Him real to you.
I love you all so much and hope you had an amazing Christmas and have an amazing New Year!
Sister Andrade