Hi Family.. I am in the office in Lisboa just waiting to go to the mission home for the night. It was a crazy week of miracles in Olhão and i can´t wait to tell you all about it. I Love you all and i will see you soon.
Just wanted to let you know that i LOVVEE YOU!
Take care :) XOXO
See you on Tuesday.
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Monday, December 3, 2012
PICTURES FROM PORTUGAL
Monday, November 26, 2012
Vinde a Mim (Come Follow Me)
There is a song that Irmã Tingey and i listened to EVERY SINGLE DAY, 20 times a day that has impacted my life. I don´t have the lyrics perfectly memorized but it goes somewhat like this.. "Today is the day i will open my mouth i will shout from the roof tops, the truth will come out and i swear in my soul that the words that i speak with the love that has made me this way, yes today is the day i proclaim, what i believe... The gospel´s the good new, and life´s everlasting with families that won´t fade away.. I´ll stand as a witness, that love lasts forever, i will not wait one more day to say, today is the day i will open my mouth.." This week i will not rest until every soul in Olhão has heard the gospel. We have a nice sized pool of investigators to teach, but they all have different situations and aren´t quite ready for baptism. They are all progressing in their own way and the Lord has blessed Irmã Valdez and i to help many less active members return to church this transfer.. It´s not that we´ve completely stopped focusing on baptism but there are so many factors to missionary work.
For example, we have been working with Nã and Aline. They have been dating for 5 years.. they are both married.. but not to each other.. Aline´s divorce papers are already being processed and Nã´s situation is a little more complicated, but Saturday night we were at their house and randomly Aline said, Nã and i are going to get married in your church soon and go to the temple.. Irmã Valdez and i couldn´t keep our cool.. We were jumping off the walls. literally! Aline is so excited to get the divorce process over with and marry Nã.. It is adorable..
Something i learned this week.. Everyday during personal study i study the bible. Do you remember me talking about the study that President Fluckiger gave us?? Well, i read John10 and i talks about the lord being the good shepherd. "He calleth his sheep by name... the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."
The verse that stood out to me the most was verse 9. "i am the door of the sheep. by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture." The savior is our door to everlasting happiness. We have been sharing this with our investigators.. All we have to do is show our faith, accept the lord in our EVERYDAY LIFE, and he will give us more than we can imagine. Even as a missionary i am learning to apply this and follow the savior in all that i do. We truly can´t live one day without him. Study this chapter.. It will strengthen your testimony of the Savior!
So a quick update on other things that happened this last week...
Our investigator Adriana fed us squid ovaries yesterday.. It was interesting, chewy and different.. ha ha i though it was like an egg at first and then she explained what is was and i had already eaten like 2 ovaries... ha ha
Last Monday we were supposed to go to Lagos but we only made is to portimão. We visited a couple of beaches and went shopping at a HUGE mall.. The road trip was super fun.. I´ll send you all some pictures.
Thanksgiving.. well, a member in Lagos invited us to her thanksgiving dinner.. She lived in Utah for 11 years and celebrates Thanksgiving better than the Americans(from what i have heard).. For days we tried to figure out how to get there with the transportation because it is so far away.. but the transportation ended up not work out. The Elders in Lagos were trying so hard to help us get a ride over but in the end, members couldn´t drive us and a taxi would have been £100.. We wanted to go so badly.. It wouldn´t have been really cook, however we ate a deli sandwich for thanksgiving dinner on a bench outside.. ha ha It was delicious.
The mission is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I know that my redeemer lives, I know this is his gospel and only through him can we over come our trials, we can become better people and through him we will return to our loving heavenly Father. I hope you have a great week! XOXO
Beijos
Com muito amor,
Irmã Boshard
For example, we have been working with Nã and Aline. They have been dating for 5 years.. they are both married.. but not to each other.. Aline´s divorce papers are already being processed and Nã´s situation is a little more complicated, but Saturday night we were at their house and randomly Aline said, Nã and i are going to get married in your church soon and go to the temple.. Irmã Valdez and i couldn´t keep our cool.. We were jumping off the walls. literally! Aline is so excited to get the divorce process over with and marry Nã.. It is adorable..
Something i learned this week.. Everyday during personal study i study the bible. Do you remember me talking about the study that President Fluckiger gave us?? Well, i read John10 and i talks about the lord being the good shepherd. "He calleth his sheep by name... the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."
The verse that stood out to me the most was verse 9. "i am the door of the sheep. by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture." The savior is our door to everlasting happiness. We have been sharing this with our investigators.. All we have to do is show our faith, accept the lord in our EVERYDAY LIFE, and he will give us more than we can imagine. Even as a missionary i am learning to apply this and follow the savior in all that i do. We truly can´t live one day without him. Study this chapter.. It will strengthen your testimony of the Savior!
So a quick update on other things that happened this last week...
Our investigator Adriana fed us squid ovaries yesterday.. It was interesting, chewy and different.. ha ha i though it was like an egg at first and then she explained what is was and i had already eaten like 2 ovaries... ha ha
Last Monday we were supposed to go to Lagos but we only made is to portimão. We visited a couple of beaches and went shopping at a HUGE mall.. The road trip was super fun.. I´ll send you all some pictures.
Thanksgiving.. well, a member in Lagos invited us to her thanksgiving dinner.. She lived in Utah for 11 years and celebrates Thanksgiving better than the Americans(from what i have heard).. For days we tried to figure out how to get there with the transportation because it is so far away.. but the transportation ended up not work out. The Elders in Lagos were trying so hard to help us get a ride over but in the end, members couldn´t drive us and a taxi would have been £100.. We wanted to go so badly.. It wouldn´t have been really cook, however we ate a deli sandwich for thanksgiving dinner on a bench outside.. ha ha It was delicious.
The mission is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I know that my redeemer lives, I know this is his gospel and only through him can we over come our trials, we can become better people and through him we will return to our loving heavenly Father. I hope you have a great week! XOXO
Beijos
Com muito amor,
Irmã Boshard
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
DAY TRIPPIN TO LAGOS
Monday November 19, 2012
Hey!!! I can´t write you all back right now and it is possible that i won´t be able to write you until next Monday because WE ARE GOING TO LAGOS FOR PDAY!!!!! president Fluckiger gave us permission to leave our area with our district and a member to visit the Algarve.. I love you all and i hope you are well. Thanks for the emails.. I am happy, healthy and loving the work.. this week i had an interview with President Fluckiger and i love that man with all my heart. I love sister Fluckiger too. President and i just cried together as we talked about the progress and miracles we´ve seen in Olhão. Pray for him.. He is working super hard out here!
Love you all. Take care. XOXO Beijos. Com amor, Irmã Boshard
Hey!!! I can´t write you all back right now and it is possible that i won´t be able to write you until next Monday because WE ARE GOING TO LAGOS FOR PDAY!!!!! president Fluckiger gave us permission to leave our area with our district and a member to visit the Algarve.. I love you all and i hope you are well. Thanks for the emails.. I am happy, healthy and loving the work.. this week i had an interview with President Fluckiger and i love that man with all my heart. I love sister Fluckiger too. President and i just cried together as we talked about the progress and miracles we´ve seen in Olhão. Pray for him.. He is working super hard out here!
Love you all. Take care. XOXO Beijos. Com amor, Irmã Boshard
Monday, November 12, 2012
KEEP LOOKING UP
Happy Holidays you studly family! I hope you are well and happy. I sure am in Olhão. Irmã Valdez and i have been working so hard to find those the lord has prepared for us to accept baptism and well.. the work hasn´t been the same as to what i have been use to my whole mission, but Irmã Valdez and i have had the opportunity to teach many less actives recently and it is going really well. We now just have to get them to come back to church. ha ha They love us and accept our lessons but getting them back to church is the hard part. Right now we are teaching Nã and Aline. They are dating and living together.. Nã is a member and Aline has accepted to take the discussions. She has accepted baptism and once we get somethings resolved she can be baptized in a few months! Hopefully sooner.. but we have to wait and see. She is so wonderful and someone the lord has prepared for years.. and now it´s her turn to finally dive in!!!! we love it!
There is a topic i have been studying and thinking about this week that came from a phone that i received. Irmã Walker (my comp from the MTC) called me and gave me a scripture to read that really made a difference in her life. Well, It has now made a huge difference in my life.
Luke 9:62 "and Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
okay.. strong words right?? yeah, that´s what i thought. But the more i thought about it, this life.. the one we are living right now is about progression. So i realized i wasn´t perfect out here in the mission field.. it was news to me.. ha ha anyway, we all make mistakes in life. We take the wrong trun, we do things we regret, we say things we didn´t meant to say.. Well, Christ suffered for all of this. That is why we have been so blessed with the atonement. We can repent of all that we have done wrong and he will forgive us.. but that means we have to forgive ourselves as well. We cann´t look back a dwell on something that we have already be forgiven for. Like it says in the scripture above, we are not fit for the kingdom of god if we continually look back. We need to be okay with the past, learn from it, love it and live for it. Because if we didn´t pass through the challenges and hardships, we couldn´t progress and become stronger. My goal for all of you is to forgive yourselves of whatever it is that is bothering you from the past, chat it out with Heavenly Father and move on. Don´t be Lot´s wife that diminishes into dust because you lust for somethig that is already gone and won´t come back..
Psalms 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
That is exactly what the Lord will do for each and everyone of you. We´re not perfect and we will continually apply this teaching in our lives, but I feel EXTREMELY blessed to have this knowledge and know that our savior "knows how to succor his people according to their infirmities." alma 7:12 I´m not looking back.. only forward. I´m taking everything i have learned for the last 23 years and i am literally running with it.
Have a great week my loved ones!
Love you XOXO
Com muito amor,
Irmã Boshard
Luke 9:62 "and Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
okay.. strong words right?? yeah, that´s what i thought. But the more i thought about it, this life.. the one we are living right now is about progression. So i realized i wasn´t perfect out here in the mission field.. it was news to me.. ha ha anyway, we all make mistakes in life. We take the wrong trun, we do things we regret, we say things we didn´t meant to say.. Well, Christ suffered for all of this. That is why we have been so blessed with the atonement. We can repent of all that we have done wrong and he will forgive us.. but that means we have to forgive ourselves as well. We cann´t look back a dwell on something that we have already be forgiven for. Like it says in the scripture above, we are not fit for the kingdom of god if we continually look back. We need to be okay with the past, learn from it, love it and live for it. Because if we didn´t pass through the challenges and hardships, we couldn´t progress and become stronger. My goal for all of you is to forgive yourselves of whatever it is that is bothering you from the past, chat it out with Heavenly Father and move on. Don´t be Lot´s wife that diminishes into dust because you lust for somethig that is already gone and won´t come back..
Psalms 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
That is exactly what the Lord will do for each and everyone of you. We´re not perfect and we will continually apply this teaching in our lives, but I feel EXTREMELY blessed to have this knowledge and know that our savior "knows how to succor his people according to their infirmities." alma 7:12 I´m not looking back.. only forward. I´m taking everything i have learned for the last 23 years and i am literally running with it.
Have a great week my loved ones!
Love you XOXO
Com muito amor,
Irmã Boshard
Monday, November 5, 2012
It´s raining... raining rain.. wholy moly
HEEEELLO BOSHARD FAMILY!!
We´ve hit the rainy season down here in the Algarve, and OH MY does it pour when it pouuurrrrrs.. The streets have been filled with rain, it´s hard to walk anywhere without getting completely drenched. the best part is the dirty water that splashes up from the cars.. yes.. just like the movies we are getting hit with water from the gutter. It is lovely.
The work is coming along really well. We are seeing a lots of success with the less actives and their families.
Irmã Valdez is soo sharp.. It is as if she has been in the mission for 18 months and is ready to go home. She is killing it out here. She is so ready to just work. work work work..
funny story.. We were teaching an investigator this week and he was asking us if we had boyfriends back at home waiting for us and we laughed and replied, no. He said, oh that's right, Jesus is your boyfriend. ha ha oh i love the Portuguese.
I hope you all have a great week. Continue serving one another and even when no one is looking.. Do what is right.
LOVE YOU XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
p.s. the pics above.. 2 of them are from Zone conference in Faro. One with the whole zone and of course one with the irmãs.
the other pic is octopus!!! One of our investigators fed us lunch this last week and i was super hesitant at first but it was actually delicious. I love octopus. mmmmmm
We´ve hit the rainy season down here in the Algarve, and OH MY does it pour when it pouuurrrrrs.. The streets have been filled with rain, it´s hard to walk anywhere without getting completely drenched. the best part is the dirty water that splashes up from the cars.. yes.. just like the movies we are getting hit with water from the gutter. It is lovely.
The work is coming along really well. We are seeing a lots of success with the less actives and their families.
Irmã Valdez is soo sharp.. It is as if she has been in the mission for 18 months and is ready to go home. She is killing it out here. She is so ready to just work. work work work..
funny story.. We were teaching an investigator this week and he was asking us if we had boyfriends back at home waiting for us and we laughed and replied, no. He said, oh that's right, Jesus is your boyfriend. ha ha oh i love the Portuguese.
I hope you all have a great week. Continue serving one another and even when no one is looking.. Do what is right.
LOVE YOU XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
p.s. the pics above.. 2 of them are from Zone conference in Faro. One with the whole zone and of course one with the irmãs.
the other pic is octopus!!! One of our investigators fed us lunch this last week and i was super hesitant at first but it was actually delicious. I love octopus. mmmmmm
Monday, October 29, 2012
Welcome Irma Valdez 
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL
WHAT A WEEK!!! Last week, sunday night Irmã Tingey and i recieved a phone call from the office saying that she needed to pack her bags and head up to Braga the next morning, and i was going to be training and needed to stay with the irmãs in Odivelas.. So for the millionth time i went to Odivelas.. I am so blessed to have returned there so many times during my mission.. I got to visit with my recent converts.. Fatima, Isidoro, Avelino, Lourindo.. I got to visit some members too! I don´t know why the lord blesses me with so many tender mercies.. It was so great to see how strong they are in the gospel. Fatima is a counselor in the primary presidency and she is preparing to receive her patriarchal blessing!!!!! The men all have the aaronic priesthood, wear white shirts to church every sunday and they are doing their best to prepare to go to the temple!!!
I was in a tripla with Irmã Baer and Irmã Walton for about 4 days!! All three of us were training so we just worked together in Odivelas until Thursday when we met our new companions.. those girls are incredible. Irmã Walton has blossomed since i first served with her about 8 or 9 months ago.. Irmã Baer is still just a stellar Irmã...
My new companion is Irmã Valdez, she is 24 years old, She is from Texas.. she speaks Spanish fluently and basically speaks Portuguese fluently.. she picked up the language quickly in the MTC.. Irmã Valdez is a blessed soul. She is hilarious and outgoing.. i love it.. she is already contacting people. I love her!
We didn´t get to work much here in Olhão because we arrived her late late late Thursday night.. But the work we did, payed off! We have been working with less actives recently and well.. the men we have been working with came to church.. One of them even brought 3 FRIENDS! It was wonderful.. We have an appointment to teach them this week. Their names are Fatima, Bruna and Paula.. Pray for them :)
I´ve gotta run.. I love you all i hope you are all doing well. Keep reading the general conference talks.. They are so uplifting and just what we need right now! The work is growing.. I am just blown away at how many applicants are ready to serve missions.. 4000... that is HUGE!!!
Okay.. really i have to run.. Love you love you love you... XOXO
Beijos
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
I was in a tripla with Irmã Baer and Irmã Walton for about 4 days!! All three of us were training so we just worked together in Odivelas until Thursday when we met our new companions.. those girls are incredible. Irmã Walton has blossomed since i first served with her about 8 or 9 months ago.. Irmã Baer is still just a stellar Irmã...
My new companion is Irmã Valdez, she is 24 years old, She is from Texas.. she speaks Spanish fluently and basically speaks Portuguese fluently.. she picked up the language quickly in the MTC.. Irmã Valdez is a blessed soul. She is hilarious and outgoing.. i love it.. she is already contacting people. I love her!
We didn´t get to work much here in Olhão because we arrived her late late late Thursday night.. But the work we did, payed off! We have been working with less actives recently and well.. the men we have been working with came to church.. One of them even brought 3 FRIENDS! It was wonderful.. We have an appointment to teach them this week. Their names are Fatima, Bruna and Paula.. Pray for them :)
I´ve gotta run.. I love you all i hope you are all doing well. Keep reading the general conference talks.. They are so uplifting and just what we need right now! The work is growing.. I am just blown away at how many applicants are ready to serve missions.. 4000... that is HUGE!!!
Okay.. really i have to run.. Love you love you love you... XOXO
Beijos
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
6 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
Monday October 22, 2012 - OLHAO PORTUGAL
6 WEEKS TO FINISH SERVING MISSION AND 6TH GREENIE TO TRAIN....
Whoa.. today is TRANSFER DAY.. These days come way too fast. I am going to be staying in Olhão, Irmã Tingey is going to Braga wayyyy up north... and whelp.. I am training my 6th little missionary. I am excited. I need some greenie fire.. I know the lord is going to push me. I´ve gotta start this transfer running.. I know you all pray for me, but maybe add just one more pray in there would ya? ha ha
My brain feels a little blocked right now and i am not quite sure how to express all the tender mercies from the lord. Irmã Tingey and had a great transfer. We were tested and brought to our knees many times throughout the days. I have no doubts though that the work we did, did not go unnoticed.
One night Irmã Tingey and i were walking the streets of Olhão and we thought of one of our investigators Adriana.. We thought, hey let´s go pass by and invite her to church tomorrow.. We knocked on her door and when she opened the door, she had been crying. She had been so overwhelmed and stressed that she broke down and knew that we were an answer to her prayers. Her son has schizophrenia (i think). He is 37 years old and acts as if he is 5 or 6.. She takes care of him all day long and it is emotional draining.. but on top of her stress the night before she had found out that her daughter betrayed her and has been lying to her for months. Tingey and i were able to read some scriptures with her and help her feel full of love and peace. She thanked us for being such wonderful people in the world. She said i don´t connect with many people in the world because they are so worldly and not the kind of friends that i need in my life..
It is amazing a simple whisper from the spirit made a huge difference in Adriana´s night..
Summer has finally ended in the algarve and the rain is hitting us hard.. My water jacket that should be waterproof... is definitely not waterproof.. ha ha ha ha The rain storms makes talking to people in the street a little harder and we´ve gotta whip out the hard knuckles and start knocking.. but because of this Tingey and i found a miracle.. I saw an apartment building.. I looked to Tingey and said, let´s go there.. We went and started knocking on the 8th floor. no one answered. So we rang the 7th floor and a kind man answered and i said we would like to come up and offer a prayer to bless their home and said yes.. come up. WE went up and entered the home to see his sick wife lying on the sofa.. She recently had surgery on her eye and everything went wrong and she is close to being blind. We said if you listen to our message and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in your home, She will be healed. The husband cried and was so excited for us to say a prayer with them. They invited us to come back at a more convenient hour.. so we returned a few days later and explained the power of the book of Mormon.. left them with a book and they said they´ll read it. I LOVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. It is amazing how it influences our thoughts and feelings.. do not doubt those small promptings.. they lead to great and marvelous blessings!
I love you all.. I hope your daily scripture study is going well.. Have a great week :)
XOXO
BEIJOS
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
6 WEEKS TO FINISH SERVING MISSION AND 6TH GREENIE TO TRAIN....
Whoa.. today is TRANSFER DAY.. These days come way too fast. I am going to be staying in Olhão, Irmã Tingey is going to Braga wayyyy up north... and whelp.. I am training my 6th little missionary. I am excited. I need some greenie fire.. I know the lord is going to push me. I´ve gotta start this transfer running.. I know you all pray for me, but maybe add just one more pray in there would ya? ha ha
My brain feels a little blocked right now and i am not quite sure how to express all the tender mercies from the lord. Irmã Tingey and had a great transfer. We were tested and brought to our knees many times throughout the days. I have no doubts though that the work we did, did not go unnoticed.
One night Irmã Tingey and i were walking the streets of Olhão and we thought of one of our investigators Adriana.. We thought, hey let´s go pass by and invite her to church tomorrow.. We knocked on her door and when she opened the door, she had been crying. She had been so overwhelmed and stressed that she broke down and knew that we were an answer to her prayers. Her son has schizophrenia (i think). He is 37 years old and acts as if he is 5 or 6.. She takes care of him all day long and it is emotional draining.. but on top of her stress the night before she had found out that her daughter betrayed her and has been lying to her for months. Tingey and i were able to read some scriptures with her and help her feel full of love and peace. She thanked us for being such wonderful people in the world. She said i don´t connect with many people in the world because they are so worldly and not the kind of friends that i need in my life..
It is amazing a simple whisper from the spirit made a huge difference in Adriana´s night..
Summer has finally ended in the algarve and the rain is hitting us hard.. My water jacket that should be waterproof... is definitely not waterproof.. ha ha ha ha The rain storms makes talking to people in the street a little harder and we´ve gotta whip out the hard knuckles and start knocking.. but because of this Tingey and i found a miracle.. I saw an apartment building.. I looked to Tingey and said, let´s go there.. We went and started knocking on the 8th floor. no one answered. So we rang the 7th floor and a kind man answered and i said we would like to come up and offer a prayer to bless their home and said yes.. come up. WE went up and entered the home to see his sick wife lying on the sofa.. She recently had surgery on her eye and everything went wrong and she is close to being blind. We said if you listen to our message and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in your home, She will be healed. The husband cried and was so excited for us to say a prayer with them. They invited us to come back at a more convenient hour.. so we returned a few days later and explained the power of the book of Mormon.. left them with a book and they said they´ll read it. I LOVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. It is amazing how it influences our thoughts and feelings.. do not doubt those small promptings.. they lead to great and marvelous blessings!
I love you all.. I hope your daily scripture study is going well.. Have a great week :)
XOXO
BEIJOS
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Monday, October 15, 2012
We are Pollinating the World
WE ARE POLLINATING THE WORLD!!! That was such a good talk from President Uchtdorf, was it not?! It is so true and little by little all our efforts count and that is something that i am continually learning here in the battlefield.. there is no room to loose hope, we´ve gotta fight it out and do it with a gladful heart. The only reason i made it through this last week was because President Fluckiger has given a study sheet for the next 3 months. We are studying the ministry of Christ and all the miracles he made.. It´s going great! I am learning how i can better my teaching and how i can be an example by truly serving the lord with all my might, mind and strength.
A few days ago i studied Luke 5. It is the story of Simon fishing and he wasn´t finding fish ya know?? Well, Christ was taking a stroll past Simon and could see that he was struggling. Christ said, let down your net. Simon replied, Lord i have been here all night. We´ve found nothing.. But i´ll try one more time. After he let his net down the multitude of the fish was too great that the nets were breaking, then the ships began to sink so they called over all their friends to help them out.. Simon kneeled before the Savior and said, Depart from me. I am a sinner. I can relate this story to my mission. At times i have a lack of faith.. The lord tells me to call someone, or go visit someone and i say.. Lord.. Do you know how many times i have tried and i have been rejected and that person wants nothing to do with us?? yet, he gently tells me.. Irmã Boshard.. go visits so and so.. So i do and we end up having the best lesson and it was just want i need to get my feet back on the ground.. But i still cry and feel so guilty for having a lack of faith and complaining to the lord.. i Truly know that he loves us and if just forget ourselves and do what he says he will bless us beyond our imagination.. All of you can relate this story to your life too.. I hope you know that he is aware of EVERYTHING. there isn´t one thing that he doesn´t know.. He is fully aware that his return to earth is near and that is why he has called a younger generation to get out here and serve.. Don´t deny the thoughts and feelings that he puts in your minds.. He knows you better than yourself and all you need to do is act.. There is no more time to wait.. Heavenly Father needs us to Pollinate the WORLD.. That means, Visiting teaching, Home Teaching, a simple phone call.. or a contact with a friend about the gospel.. We´re doing it together!!!!!
Alright, Last week was a huge blow for me.. Do you remember me telling you about our friend Paulo who we met through a window and marked him for baptism??? Well, He should have been baptized yesterday but it didn´t happen.. We taught him on Thursday about the 10 commandments and finalized everything to prepare him for his baptismal interview.. Friday we scheduled the interview, The elders came to our area to meet with Paulo and he wasn´t home.. He doesn´t have a cell phone either.. and we waited for a good hour and a half.. Saturday came around and we passed by Paulo´s house again, but no one seems to know where he is or what he is up to. Sunday morning arrived and we went to go pick him up for church.. yet he still is home.. The strong winds of the enemy have been blowing my way and i have felt so defeated.. WHY!!!!!! Paulo was trying so hard to give up drugs, smoking and drinking for a better life. Why did Satan have to get him?!! UGH.. it is so frustrating.. Saturday afternoon all our plans fell through and we thought we would start knocking doors.. Every door was rejection. At one door we were testifying to an evangelical family and i started bawling like a baby, pleading for them to just pray to know that our message is true and.. wham.. the door shuts. We finally made it to one door and a sweet lady opened her door and asked us to come back next Saturday.. All i needed was for one person to hear the lords voice and it made me feel so much better.. I know the announcement of 18 year old elders and 19 year old sisters is proof that we are preparing for the return of our savior.. it is close.. and it is time to scream.. gently.. but loudly..
We have to press forward and endure the challenges and trials of our faith.. We already know that Lord will win in the end.. There is no sense in wasting time playing both sides of the field.. Stay on the lords side and don´t move..
Love You XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
A few days ago i studied Luke 5. It is the story of Simon fishing and he wasn´t finding fish ya know?? Well, Christ was taking a stroll past Simon and could see that he was struggling. Christ said, let down your net. Simon replied, Lord i have been here all night. We´ve found nothing.. But i´ll try one more time. After he let his net down the multitude of the fish was too great that the nets were breaking, then the ships began to sink so they called over all their friends to help them out.. Simon kneeled before the Savior and said, Depart from me. I am a sinner. I can relate this story to my mission. At times i have a lack of faith.. The lord tells me to call someone, or go visit someone and i say.. Lord.. Do you know how many times i have tried and i have been rejected and that person wants nothing to do with us?? yet, he gently tells me.. Irmã Boshard.. go visits so and so.. So i do and we end up having the best lesson and it was just want i need to get my feet back on the ground.. But i still cry and feel so guilty for having a lack of faith and complaining to the lord.. i Truly know that he loves us and if just forget ourselves and do what he says he will bless us beyond our imagination.. All of you can relate this story to your life too.. I hope you know that he is aware of EVERYTHING. there isn´t one thing that he doesn´t know.. He is fully aware that his return to earth is near and that is why he has called a younger generation to get out here and serve.. Don´t deny the thoughts and feelings that he puts in your minds.. He knows you better than yourself and all you need to do is act.. There is no more time to wait.. Heavenly Father needs us to Pollinate the WORLD.. That means, Visiting teaching, Home Teaching, a simple phone call.. or a contact with a friend about the gospel.. We´re doing it together!!!!!
Alright, Last week was a huge blow for me.. Do you remember me telling you about our friend Paulo who we met through a window and marked him for baptism??? Well, He should have been baptized yesterday but it didn´t happen.. We taught him on Thursday about the 10 commandments and finalized everything to prepare him for his baptismal interview.. Friday we scheduled the interview, The elders came to our area to meet with Paulo and he wasn´t home.. He doesn´t have a cell phone either.. and we waited for a good hour and a half.. Saturday came around and we passed by Paulo´s house again, but no one seems to know where he is or what he is up to. Sunday morning arrived and we went to go pick him up for church.. yet he still is home.. The strong winds of the enemy have been blowing my way and i have felt so defeated.. WHY!!!!!! Paulo was trying so hard to give up drugs, smoking and drinking for a better life. Why did Satan have to get him?!! UGH.. it is so frustrating.. Saturday afternoon all our plans fell through and we thought we would start knocking doors.. Every door was rejection. At one door we were testifying to an evangelical family and i started bawling like a baby, pleading for them to just pray to know that our message is true and.. wham.. the door shuts. We finally made it to one door and a sweet lady opened her door and asked us to come back next Saturday.. All i needed was for one person to hear the lords voice and it made me feel so much better.. I know the announcement of 18 year old elders and 19 year old sisters is proof that we are preparing for the return of our savior.. it is close.. and it is time to scream.. gently.. but loudly..
We have to press forward and endure the challenges and trials of our faith.. We already know that Lord will win in the end.. There is no sense in wasting time playing both sides of the field.. Stay on the lords side and don´t move..
Love You XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Monday, October 8, 2012
Pictures - Olhao Portugal October 2012
8 October 2012 ~ Olhao Portugal
WHAT A WEEKEND!!!! Conference was another testimony that the second coming is here... Can you believe they lowered the age for missionaries to come out here and enter the field.. Irmã Tingey and i were SHOCKED. Our mouths hung open all weekend! It is a call for the most powerful young men and young women in the world to walk the streets and testify of a restored gospel and a living Christ. I have no doubts that the lord needs more mouths and testimonies to spread righteousness throughout all the wickedness in the world.. Ahh i am so excited to see the missionary work load sky rocket. We are truly preparing our brothers and sisters to stand at the judgement bar with god and our savior.. As missionaries we are the tools in the lords hands to prepare the world to accept this divine message. Ohhhh yeeaaahh. I feel so blessed to still be here and have SO much time left in my mission.
On Tuesday this week Irmã Tingey and i received the most special miracle this transfer.. We were walking through an apartment complex and normally everyone has their windows open during the day and sometimes men yell things at us, and we basically ignore them and continue walking.. Well.. We heard someone call our attention and I looked back, said hello and continued walking.. The man said some thing again and we ignored it.. But then we heard, "MORMONS!" Irmã Tingey and i laughed and turned around to talk to this guy.. He was poking his head out his kitchen window and we said what´s your name? He said Paulo.. We made small talk and he told us that his life is a mess and a disgrace to the world. He said he has a burden in is life that he would like to get rid of.. What a better way to relive that burden than through baptism.. so we talked about the blessings from baptism.. Paulo said, i would adore to be baptized.. I need this in my life.. He said i am a slave to drugs.. I need to make changes in my circumstances.. So we said, alright, lets say a prayer right now and ask Heavenly Father when it is that you should be baptized.. We all prayed and agreed that on the 14th of October he would enter the waters of baptism.. Paulo was so happy.. Everyday since Tuesday we have met with Paulo to teach him the atonement of Christ and the commandments that will bring him more happiness than he has ever felt! He is changing everyday and he is getting so excited for his baptism.. I LOVE IT! He went to priesthood session with the men in our branch and he said it was great.. He is receiving the direction he needs. The lord is preparing the hearts of men everywhere.. At zone conference this week we were taught to teach the gospel in the most inconvenient opportunities.. Sometimes it has gone well, and others people just need to soften their hearts, but we´ll leave that to the lord.. I love the lord, and if he were to ask me they way he asked paul if i loved him.. I would respond with a dignified yes. I love him. He is our savior and Redeemer of the world. We are all doing his work and preparing to live him for eternity. XOXO
Take care. Beijos.
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
p.s. Sister Fluckiger showed me an awesome youtube video that a member made here in Portugal.. It is called "Blessings of the Temple" It is 4 min and has a lot of good shots of Portugal.. Look for it.. She wants all of you to see it! The member is a tennis coach who helps youth here and don´t worry it is in english.
p.p.s Thank you to the primary in our ward who sent me all the pictures and letters! I Loved them.. Thank you so so much.. You´re all future missionaries :)
On Tuesday this week Irmã Tingey and i received the most special miracle this transfer.. We were walking through an apartment complex and normally everyone has their windows open during the day and sometimes men yell things at us, and we basically ignore them and continue walking.. Well.. We heard someone call our attention and I looked back, said hello and continued walking.. The man said some thing again and we ignored it.. But then we heard, "MORMONS!" Irmã Tingey and i laughed and turned around to talk to this guy.. He was poking his head out his kitchen window and we said what´s your name? He said Paulo.. We made small talk and he told us that his life is a mess and a disgrace to the world. He said he has a burden in is life that he would like to get rid of.. What a better way to relive that burden than through baptism.. so we talked about the blessings from baptism.. Paulo said, i would adore to be baptized.. I need this in my life.. He said i am a slave to drugs.. I need to make changes in my circumstances.. So we said, alright, lets say a prayer right now and ask Heavenly Father when it is that you should be baptized.. We all prayed and agreed that on the 14th of October he would enter the waters of baptism.. Paulo was so happy.. Everyday since Tuesday we have met with Paulo to teach him the atonement of Christ and the commandments that will bring him more happiness than he has ever felt! He is changing everyday and he is getting so excited for his baptism.. I LOVE IT! He went to priesthood session with the men in our branch and he said it was great.. He is receiving the direction he needs. The lord is preparing the hearts of men everywhere.. At zone conference this week we were taught to teach the gospel in the most inconvenient opportunities.. Sometimes it has gone well, and others people just need to soften their hearts, but we´ll leave that to the lord.. I love the lord, and if he were to ask me they way he asked paul if i loved him.. I would respond with a dignified yes. I love him. He is our savior and Redeemer of the world. We are all doing his work and preparing to live him for eternity. XOXO
Take care. Beijos.
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
p.s. Sister Fluckiger showed me an awesome youtube video that a member made here in Portugal.. It is called "Blessings of the Temple" It is 4 min and has a lot of good shots of Portugal.. Look for it.. She wants all of you to see it! The member is a tennis coach who helps youth here and don´t worry it is in english.
p.p.s Thank you to the primary in our ward who sent me all the pictures and letters! I Loved them.. Thank you so so much.. You´re all future missionaries :)
Monday, October 1, 2012
WITHOUT A TITLE ....
I have to start this email off by saying that i know Heavenly Father makes miracles happen. Irmã Tingey and i have been running low on the money side and we haven´t had as much food in our house. We´ve still had enough to survive, but we are learning to be humble little eaters.. Anyway, we had just a little bit of rice in our house and decided to eat it for lunch the other day because that was literally all we had.. We stuck the rice and water in the pan, put the lid on top and whaalaaa.. when we took of the lid, there was more rice in the pan than we originally poured in there.. I can say that only that miracle would come from a loving heavenly father who knows his servants in a little town wayyyy down south in Portugal. I´ll never stop being humbled by the Lord.
Last week i studied the talk "We Are All Enlisted" by Elder Holland. Ya know i have once or twice read this talk but last week my spiritual eyes were opened and It meant so much more to me.. Elder Holland started his talk by stating that we sometimes over look the experience that Joseph Smith had right before the first vision. Satan was trying to destroy a young boy and block the revelation that was to come. The power of Satan is very real. He is definitely against the love of the lord and atonement of Christ.
One thing we have learned about Satan as well, is that he knows in the end he is going to lose. He knows he will be defeated and yet his determined to take down as many souls as he can with him.
This quote chilled my bones.. "..Satan cannot directly take a life... But apparently his efforts to stop the work will be reasonably well served id he can just bind the tongues of the faithful.. speak up. We are at war." Okay.. so as a missionary, there is always so much more than i can do and when i read this talk. I got the hint.. I need to step it up and open my mouth more frequently wherever i am.. the store, a members house.. on the street.. Satan will never win.. But as for you.. there are so many ways to pass out cards, or the strength for youth, a proclamation to the family.. Do not back down or be ashamed. Are you willing to stand alone?? Are you willing to stand before god at judgment and tell him that you did everything possible during your short, ever so short time here on earth?? We need to open our mouths and speak miracles like Elder Holland has said. "Unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" D&C 132:12
The book of mormon is your compass. It is your guide and it will help you to avoid the traps of the enemy.. Read it. Memorize scriptures, learn of its worth.. I´m not perfect and i don´t know everything that is in it, but i know it is true. I know god speaks to us through scripture and his power is strong than the enemies.
The mission is the hardest thing i have ever done. I am strengthened and challenged everyday but i love it! It´s easier to change when you are not doing your will, but the lords will. I am so grateful Heavenly Father trusts me to teach his children. He has entrusted me to wear this name tag and represent him everyday, every hour and every second i am in public.. Yeah, talk about responsibility. Irmã Tingey and i have been counting down the days until general conference and we are freaking out!! We lack 5 days.. 5 days until we hear the words of a prophet and the apostles.. eeekk.. I hope you are all spiritually preparing to get the answers you need. I love you.
LOVE YOU XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Monday, September 24, 2012
by small and simple things, great things come to pass
My sweet little ones :) I love you. If i don´t say enough i am sorry.. I LOVE YOU. Mom, I got your puzzle letter and boomer and hannahs letters. Thank you so much. There is nothing like going to the mail box and getting a letter. It made me so happy. Boom and Hannah.. You are in high school together.. Umm i feel like i was just in high school with Drew, if feels like it was just yesterday. Be good. Make good choices and BE AN EXAMPLE! There are so many paths to walk, so many temptations and i want you to know that the Lord trusts you two to be good examples to your friends and schoolmates. If you are wondering what kind of example you need to be.. go read the strength of youth.. I love you and care about you and your future.
Our second week in Olhão was awesome but getting progressing investigators was a wee bit difficult. We´re not making too much progress with baptisms however, we are really getting to know the members and recent converts and we are working through them to get references. Yesterday Irmã Tingey and i went to a members house- Paulo Matos.. He is a DJ here in the Algarve and he is pretty cool. He knows people and he´s got friends.. so we told him we want to teach his friends and last night we made a list of his friends, prayed about the names together and after the prayer we all felt one specific name and knew that we needed to work with her this week. Paulo was on a high.. He felt so good after the prayer and said this is what you do all day? We said, yep! and we do it for hours!! He was like jumping.. calling his friends and seriously on cloud 9. I love the revelation we receive and we get to show members how the work goes.. We´re making a difference here little by little and the little efforts i know do not go unnoticed.
One of the youth in our branch, Isabela gave us a reference of her friend, Emma who wants to hear the missionary discussions.. Tingey and i were STOKED.. We prepared for the lesson and went to the appointment and Emma wasn´t there. She couldn´t make it. We were so bummed. She didn´t make it to Church either until the end of sacrament meeting.. but we marked with her again this week and PRAY FOR HER. Pray for Emma. Pray for Isabela too. She wants to fill up the chapel with youth and she is gonna help us do it.
This morning i was studying the talk, forget me not by President Uchtdorf i was comparing a lot of this talk to my mission. I am on this incredible journey.. searching for those to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.. along the way we find the elect, we get rejection, we´re happy, we´re sad, we´re exhausted, we have random bursts of energy.. along this path i seem to find myself frustrated because we don´t see the success that should be our end result.. baptism.. I ready this quote from the talk and it says, "God is fully aware that you and i are not perfect." "our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tinest steps in that journey." President Uchtdorf talked about the story of the golden ticket.. There are so many of us waiting for our golden ticket.. That perfect life.. or which we think is perfect and holds the keys to happiness and what we have always dreamed of.. There is nothing wrong with righteous desires but the problem is that when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for future events.
So i have realized that we´ve gotta step it up.. we´ve gotta stop worrying about next week. What are we going to do TODAY that will change tomorrow? What did you learn from yesterday that is going to help you today, and to prepare for tomorrow?? I´ve gotta do this and fam.. you should do it with me. We´ll recognize the small and sweet little forget me nots along the way.
I can see the difference we are making with the members.They trust us and want us to teach their friends. I LOVE IT. I have never had this in my mission before. the members here are dedicated and so willing to work with us. We can feel your prayers. I am eternally grateful for you. I know the lord is preparing the way for the the return of our savior.
Stay strong, fight the good fight this week and take care.
XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Our second week in Olhão was awesome but getting progressing investigators was a wee bit difficult. We´re not making too much progress with baptisms however, we are really getting to know the members and recent converts and we are working through them to get references. Yesterday Irmã Tingey and i went to a members house- Paulo Matos.. He is a DJ here in the Algarve and he is pretty cool. He knows people and he´s got friends.. so we told him we want to teach his friends and last night we made a list of his friends, prayed about the names together and after the prayer we all felt one specific name and knew that we needed to work with her this week. Paulo was on a high.. He felt so good after the prayer and said this is what you do all day? We said, yep! and we do it for hours!! He was like jumping.. calling his friends and seriously on cloud 9. I love the revelation we receive and we get to show members how the work goes.. We´re making a difference here little by little and the little efforts i know do not go unnoticed.
One of the youth in our branch, Isabela gave us a reference of her friend, Emma who wants to hear the missionary discussions.. Tingey and i were STOKED.. We prepared for the lesson and went to the appointment and Emma wasn´t there. She couldn´t make it. We were so bummed. She didn´t make it to Church either until the end of sacrament meeting.. but we marked with her again this week and PRAY FOR HER. Pray for Emma. Pray for Isabela too. She wants to fill up the chapel with youth and she is gonna help us do it.
This morning i was studying the talk, forget me not by President Uchtdorf i was comparing a lot of this talk to my mission. I am on this incredible journey.. searching for those to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.. along the way we find the elect, we get rejection, we´re happy, we´re sad, we´re exhausted, we have random bursts of energy.. along this path i seem to find myself frustrated because we don´t see the success that should be our end result.. baptism.. I ready this quote from the talk and it says, "God is fully aware that you and i are not perfect." "our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tinest steps in that journey." President Uchtdorf talked about the story of the golden ticket.. There are so many of us waiting for our golden ticket.. That perfect life.. or which we think is perfect and holds the keys to happiness and what we have always dreamed of.. There is nothing wrong with righteous desires but the problem is that when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for future events.
So i have realized that we´ve gotta step it up.. we´ve gotta stop worrying about next week. What are we going to do TODAY that will change tomorrow? What did you learn from yesterday that is going to help you today, and to prepare for tomorrow?? I´ve gotta do this and fam.. you should do it with me. We´ll recognize the small and sweet little forget me nots along the way.
I can see the difference we are making with the members.They trust us and want us to teach their friends. I LOVE IT. I have never had this in my mission before. the members here are dedicated and so willing to work with us. We can feel your prayers. I am eternally grateful for you. I know the lord is preparing the way for the the return of our savior.
Stay strong, fight the good fight this week and take care.
XOXO
Com amor,
Irmã Boshard
Friday, September 21, 2012
4TH OF DECEMBER, 2012....
Estou animado para anunciar o retorno de Irma Mackenzie Leigh Boshard, 4 de dezembro de 2012. Festa na TBA o Boshard mesmo!!
PRIDE in the Lisbon Portugal Mission and Momma Bragging. ....
Mon Sept 17, Irma Boshard wrote ...........
" How did you get my mailing address? ....you really are so amazing mom.. i took for granted what i had at home."
On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 12:45 PM, Boshard, Roxanne wrote:
oh sorry.....I may have explained that in a written letter you wont get for a week....
I called the Mission Office.....Elder Ferreria was soooo nice and said you are a great missionary, Irma Boshard is getting many baptisms and your mission is the number one in Europe !!! #1 by numbers of
Baptisms ! Preparing them for the TEMPLE !
" How did you get my mailing address? ....you really are so amazing mom.. i took for granted what i had at home."
On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 12:45 PM, Boshard, Roxanne
oh sorry.....I may have explained that in a written letter you wont get for a week....
I called the Mission Office.....Elder Ferreria was soooo nice and said you are a great missionary, Irma Boshard is getting many baptisms and your mission is the number one in Europe !!! #1 by numbers of
Baptisms ! Preparing them for the TEMPLE !
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