Woman of Strength

In my never ending quest to better myself (thank heavens for eternity, I am going to need it!)

I decided that I would focus my scripture study on the woman of the scriptures.

While doing some research I came across this video from the Emma Smith Movie.

I strive to someday have even half the strength and courage of Emma, she is truly an amazing woman!

Emma's Birthday is this Sunday, July 10th. 

For more information on that and other wonderful woman of the scriptures go HERE:):)

Hola Phoenix!

After nine weeks of joyous life in the MTC in Provo

 Sister Kathryn Alvarez finally boarded the plane to Arizona.

We had the opportunity to talk with her for a little bit at the airport and from what we could tell she is  SO ready to begin the work she was called to do
 and she has not lost that Katie spunk! 

Watch out Phoenix, I think a storm just blew in!!! :):)

Phoenix Airport March 22, 2011

President & Sister Beck 

Signing the Phoenix Arizona Mission Flag

The new recruits  @ the mission home 

She is going to be an AWESOME missionary!!!!

For Japan: PLEASE

If you can give a little help, it will make a BIG difference!

HELP HERE

or 

  http://www.forjapanwithlove.com/

Finding Miracles

As I think back to last week at this time my mind is filled with sadness and 

yet an increased faith as well.

The devastation in Japan is heartbreaking and words can not describe how desperate

 I feel in helping these amazing people! 

I have met many Japanese people through my brother who served his mission in Sendai, the hardest hit area. 

They are warm, kind and loving people! 

What has come out of this tragedy for me the most though is an even stronger testimony of 

the power and love of our God. 

I could not sleep the first few days as my heart was turned to all the missionaries serving in Japan, I had to know if they were safe. I was crying for the mothers and fathers of these young stripling warriors. 

What an incredible miracle, EVERYONE is safe and well! 

God knows and loves each of HIS children and will protect them!

 I know there has been a great lose of life and the Japan is devastated by this tragedy. We can never know the whys of it all, personally I learned a long time ago to stop asking why?? 

What I do know is that our Heavenly Father is VERY aware of each speck of sand on this earth and He knows what he is doing. It is our job to find the opportunity to turn tragedy into joy, to turn a broken heart into one filled with love. We are on this earth to make ourselves better and become more God-like and to help our neighbor do the same.

I DO know that among tragedy we can find hope, among sorrow we can find peace.

 I had a friend yesterday complain that she was giving up soda and was drinking only water now. She was saying how much she hates the taste of water. We then started talking about Japan and she paused in mid sentence and looked over at me and said

"I guess I should stop complaining about having to drink only water, I am 

sure those people would love to have my water". 

Everything is a matter of perspective!:)

THIS IS A  MUST READ: Enjoy:):)

JAPAN KOBE MISSION

Photos from Here & Here

Update from Hermana Alvarez- 3-3-11

Family and Friends
Hola! Como esta?! I am loving the MTC!

I have learned & experienced so much here!

I know I still have lots more to learn though, especially when it comes to the language.

I only have 2 1/2 weeks left in the MTC then they will be shipping me off to Arizona!

I can't wait to get there but it will be really hard to leave all my new friends behind.

My first group of friends were a bunch of Elders in my Zone. They went to Malaga, Spain.

The other district in my Zone is also full of just Elders that leave a week before I do and they are all going to Chile. I think I'll miss them the most, except for my district.

Three  Elders and my two companions are going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Another Elder (he's Hawaiian) is going to Jackson, Mississippi. Then there is only one Elder that is going to Phoenix with me.

My Zone has 3 other districts. We are the biggest zone in the MTC I think!

My companions are Hermana Hong and Hermana Geest. We are very diverse, haha. Hermana Hong

is of Chinese descent and Hermana Geest is of German descent. And of course I am of Irish, Fench and Spanish descent! We are all different but we get along really well....for the most part! HAHA.

It hard not having your independence but the experiences you gain here make it so worth it!

So we have a progressing investigator, her name is Alice. She lives in Brazil but her Mormon friend lives in the states.

She asked us to come by because she wants to know why her friend is so happy and seems to have direction in her life. It has been some what of a struggle teaching her because she wasn't very open until

last Thursday when we taught her.  We read Mosiah 4 together and she really enjoyed it!

She even came to church on Sunday. Today we are teaching her again, we've decided that we are going to do lesson #3 in Preach My Gospel. We are going to ask her to get baptized tonight!! So excited!!

That is all that's going on around here!

I miss and love you all and would love to hear from you!!

Remember to always have faith and trust in God. He will never lead us astray and he wants to help and bless us but we have to ask for it. Here is  a short testimony in Espanol.

Yo se que dios es nuestro Padre celestial. Yo se que Jesu Cristo es nuestro salvador y redentor.

Jesu Cristo murio en la cruz pro nosotros.

Yo se que Jose Smith fue al Profeta. Jose Smith restaurado la iglesia en la tierra.

Testifico que la iglesia es verdadera. Estoy agradecido por la oportunidad de estar aqui.

Peo la habilidad servirte. Estoy agradecido por Jesu Cristo y su Expiacion. Amo a Jesu Cristo y a mi Padre celestial y mi familia. Amo a evangelio. En el nombre de Jesu Cristo, Amen.

Love,

Hermana Katie Alvarez

(until March 22nd)

Hermana Kathryn Alvarez

MTC Mailbox #142

AZ-PHX 0322

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, Utah  84604

(After March 22nd)

Hermana Kathryn Alvarez

Arizona Phoenix Mission

18001 North 79th Ave.  Ste 50

Glendale, Arizona  85308

Tender Mercies-The Lord's watchful eye.

A few weeks back Josh's Mission Presidents wife posted this on her blog. It really struck close to my heart  knowing that this could have been my son.  I am just so grateful that our Heavenly Father watches over our Missionaries.  As I have thought about this accident I have been reminded of so many times in my life when the Lord has lovingly spared my life or the life of a loved one. He truly does watch over us daily.

Tender Mercies

This past week we had a near tragedy in our mission. We have certainly seen the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father in sparing the lives of two of our missionaries.

Last Thursday morning, November 11, two of our Elders were sent to the emergency room by ambulance with carbon monoxide poisoning. They spent that day in and out of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber and were released late that night to go home. One Elder is doing fine but the other has been in and out of the hospital for more hyperbaric chamber treatments due to dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue and elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels. It may take months before he could possibly be feeling better and also to know if there will be other symptoms as a result of the poisoning.

The Elders are living in the basement of a member's home where a water boiler is located. The exhaust pipe broke loose and was leaking carbon monoxide. Wednesday afternoon, while the missionaries were gone, the carbon monoxide alarm went off. The batteries were removed and replaced. The monitor began to beep again. The person living in the home took it outside where it stopped. Upon coming back in the house it continued to beep. She determined that it must be faulty and put it on the counter with intentions to replace it.

Wednesday night the Elders were in bed by 10:00 p.m. One of the Elders got up to use the bathroom at about 4:00 a.m. He was extremely dizzy and while trying to go back to bed ran into a wall and collapsed. The sound awakened his companion who got up to help but started vomiting and also collapsed on the bathroom floor. Both Elders managed to get back to bed thinking that they had the flu.

About 7:00 a.m. on Thursday morning the owner of the house went to the basement to exercise. After about 10 minutes on the elliptical he went up stairs and told his wife that he must be getting sick because he had no energy and was feeling weak. His wife asked him if he heard the missionaries up while he was downstairs. Ordinarily they could hear the shower going and on this morning they heard nothing. He went down to check on them. They were still in bed. He had a hard time arousing them. They realized at that time that something was wrong. They managed to get the missionaries up the stairs, where they collapsed again. They immediately called the paramedics and the Elders were taken to the hospital.

One Elder had a carboxyhemaglobin level of 11.8% in his bloodstream (normal is 0-4% depending on air quality). The other had 26% level of carboxyhemoglobin. The fire department began to measure the carbon monoxide in the house and because of the level of the measurement, determined they needed to "suit up" before they could even be in the house. The upstairs measured 100 ppm and the basement could not even be measured because it was higher than 1000 ppm. Ordinarily any level between 150-400 can be fatal. The doctors have told us that if either one of the Elders had been in the room for another 4 or 5 minutes they would not have been alive. The fact that they are alive today is an absolute miracle.

As we look back over the events that have taken place the past week we know these two Elders have been blessed and their lives have been spared by our Heavenly Father. One Elder is still struggling with symptoms but is able to move around and to communicate. We are so thankful for tender mercies.

Vegas Baby....

You have NO idea how much a picture can do to calm your nerves and bring you peace until you have sent out a missionary! The photo's and letters are like rain falling on the drought riddled soil of the desert. 

(Elder Alvarez arriving in Vegas from the MTC-he's pacing himself:)

So when I received these photo's from Josh's Mission home (THANK YOU SISTER BLACK:):) it was as if the heaven's had opened and it was pouring rain down upon my soul.

(President Black, Elder Josh Alvarez & Sister Black)

I  feel so blessed to live in a time that technology affords us the ability to have instant pictures and messages. How did we ever make it before the world of high speed Internet, smart phones and texting?

(Filling out mission paperwork-a VERY short note home)

(The new arrivals for November 15, 2010)

President & Sister Black

Elder Millington, Elder Alcorn, Elder Kakau, Elder Alvarez

& Elder Larsen

I have no idea how I am going to survive having TWO missionaries in the field.