I'M HOME!!!!!

I'm home!!!! And now on to the next chapter of my life. 

April 1, 2013

hola family 

how is everyone doing this week. hope everyone had a great Easter and were able to take some time to think about the real reason we celebrate it. i also hope that we are preparing to listen to the prophet this weekend. I am excited. Its like Christmas for a missionary.

well this week was great. i will sum it up by explaining the pictures. 

We had zone conference. it was great. we celebrated our birthdays for those who have birthdays in the coming months and then we got flu shots. terrible. then i got sick. great birthday present. I was sick. my stomach rebelled. Then we had easter. the cute hermanas stuck little eggs on chocolates and we went to find them. adorable. church was great. we had a little noche de hogar. with our branch. it was really great. its great being a missionary. our little branch is great. they are all reading the book of mormon together. 2 chapters a day and are finishing this month. wow!! awesome. our branch president is great. he is so organized and it is great working with him. he just keeps giving us work to do. this week with spring and all we got a new baby cow. he is so stinking cute. he just runs around like a crazy person and then all the big cows/la mama yell at him to hurry up and stop messing around. i have come to the conclusion that parent child relationships are the same in all species. He is adorable though. he also doesnt like grass. he looks at it funny sniffs it and decides its gross and would rather have milk. same with baby horsey. they are adorable.

today is april fools and we convinced the hermanas that hermana tarver wanted to go home. she started packing and then we told the it was a trick. it was hilarious. 

Well i am lame, i am sure you are all sick of hearing about cows or seeing cow pictures. but we are here working. i will try to think of better stories for the coming weeks. i love being a missionary. Hows is my family doing?? aur, kels..... hank you have an excuse and nicole actually writes me... so aur kels?? How are we?? I would love to hear from you! Have a great week!!!

Hermana Iroz

March 18, 2013

I am a mom too! Okay she is cute but baby Iroz is cuter! Wow this week has been crazy. It doesnt seem like a week ago I was in Ciudad satelite. Well first things first.

I am training. Her name is Hermana Tarver, she is from California. She is great. I love her already.

Second thing,

We are in the campo, or in english... our neighbors are cows. We in a town/city called melipilla, look it up. And it is farms. We are in between lots of hills and mountains. it is super tranquil. Everyday I look our my window and just happily look at the cows eat their grass. What a life. The ward is good i think, well actually we are in a branch. But there is a good amount of people. Really we dont really know many people. They havent had hermanas in a while so they are happy. We are sharing our branch with the elders. We live about 40 minutes from our sector. lots of walking. We live with other hermanas. there are 4 of us in the zone. i feel like i am in evanston a lot of the time. There is a plaza in the middle and the little towns around. Lots of walking. But it is good. Super pretty. We climbed a hill/mountain today. It was fun. And yeah. Thats all. We are working, trying to open the sector. Lots of work but here he are.

Love you lots, you are all in my prayers. 

hermana Iroz.

March 11, 2013

Hola familia,

Thank you for all the letters this week. I feel so loved!! This week has been crazy this week. Sooo first things first...

Today is happy 8 months in the mission, and tomorrow is happy 6 months in Chile. Almost half way. Where has the time gone??

I´m training!! Well not yet, my hijita comes wednesday. She is from the United States and thats all I know. I am also opening a new sector with her. This should be a fun experience. I have no idea where I am going, but I am going with a greenie. Pray for me and my daughter. Hermana Mercado is staying in Ciudad Satelite and training two!!! She is awesome. This week we had a training for all the trainers. There are 36 of us. Meaning we are receiving 36 new missionaries. 13 are hermanas. Presidente King refers to all the missionaries as ´the tsumani´ but really it is a tsunami of people. And how is it all working out, all the housing, and transportation, all of it? The members. We cant do anything in missionary work without the members. 

Also this week we had a visitor. We had emergency changes before special changes and Hermana Bigo has been with us for a week. It has been delightful. She is great. From Buenos Aires, Argentina and is just a fantastic missionary. It has been fun to be with her and learn from her. And she is sooo sweet. (Maybe that is why all the bugs are biting her) 

There are so many miracles that happened that I cant count them all, but something that really sticks out in my mind is that God is so aware of our needs. There were so many times this week when we started to talking to people and they tell us that all of their family died or they have been praying to talk to us and we arrive (obviously through the prompting of the holy ghost) but really we are his instruments, when we follow the holy ghost we can help his children here on the earth. I feel so blessed to serve him. I love being a missionary. Thanks for all the prayers and all the support. Love you lots.

Hermana Iroz

P.S. This months theme for the mission is about easter. Watch this video and tell me about your thoughts!! http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/he-is-risen?lang=eng

March 4, 2013

Hi family! 

How is everyone doing? Everything is great here in Chile. It is finally a little bit cooler. In the mornings it is chilly... in Chile. HAHA. There are going to be lots of changes these next few week. This week we recieved 19 new missionaries. March 12 and 13th we will recieve 37 more. Surprise. 24 hermanas. Another suprise.... And everyone will be training... more suprises. We dont know exactly what will happen or where we are going but there is change in the air. In Ciudad Satélite there is going to be two fresh of the airplane from the states hermanas. One of us is going to be training two hermanas at the same time and the other is going to be opening a new sector and training. I dont know which one is worse of better, but both will be fun and full of learning experiences. I am willing to go where ever the Lord sends me.  There is also going to be a new mission here is Chile. Chile Santiago Sur Mission. I am sure they part of my mission but will we see. Nevertheless, it is very exciting all the changes. We literally are in the fulfillment of the dispensation of times. The gospel IS flooding the earth. What a blessing to be part of this. I think this is why I waited the terribly long 5 months after I received my call, to help, to train to be a part of the flooding of the earth with the word of God. Our new mission president is coming in July. Lucky guy, he´ll miss the chaos as we receive all the missionaries. 

Something funny that happened this week. Two Jehovah Witnesses knocked our door. Seriously I think they are scared of us. This is how it happened. WE walked out and they were in shocked. I asked if they need water. They stuttered out the words no. They proceeded to ask if we lived here. Yes, we left the house, this is our house. And then they ran away. I think they can feel the spirit of truth. But it was funny. 

You know the scripture in Moroni that says if you dont have hope you cant have faith. We experienced this scripture this week. We met this guy Jorge. Jorge has had a rough life and doesnt believe that God exists. He doesnt understand why terrible things happen, and why God doesnt do anything therefore God doesnt exists. Jesus Christ died to die. He didnt die to save us, to help us be clean, nothing. He died. How terrible is this thought. We ask him what it the purpose of life.. to live and die. We testified of the reality of the resurrencion. He doesnt believe it. He really doesnt have hope and for this reason he doesnt have faith. It was so sad to see the pain that he has and what was sadder was the he  had no hope there God is here to help. I am so glad for my testimony. For the knowledge I have the there is life after this one. That Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and the Son of God who came to the earth to save us. 

We have stake conference this week. Man of man, the technology of the world is incredible. It was a broadcast from church headquarters. We heard from Elder Cobridge, Sister Burton, Elder Andersen and the Prophet!!! president Monson. The translation was a little bit rough in some parts but it was such a miracle to see the prophet thousands of miles away. It was really good. About the things that are most important, the atonement, love and missionary work. It was great.

Well I dont know what else to say. I love being a missionary. Its not easy but it is worth it. Thank you for all the support.

Hermana Iroz.

February 25, 2013

Hola Familia, 

I don´t really have that much desire to write today. But I want to share something with you. Every month as a mission we have a inititive to help us try new things. This month was ´´What think thee of Christ´´ We have been sharing the Living Christ will everyone we can think of. President invited us to memorize the Living Christ and and also write our ouwn testimonies of Jesus Christ. This is what I want to share with you this week. It might a little awkward, I translated it from Spanish to English.

Really it is difficult for me to describe my feelings of the Jesus the Christ. There are many stories scriptures and prophecies about him. He is the savior of the world. He is the Son of God. He is the only perfect being who has or will live on the earth and his name is the only name by which we can be saved. But this is not all. I have my own testimony of Jesus Christ that I obtained throughout my life, through my experiences, trials and triumphs. He isnt just a man that lived and changed history or someone that is really important. (He is but this is not all). To me he different. He is my mediator, my savior, my comfort, my example, my best friend, my teacher, my brother. I have felt his hands heal my broken heart, his arms to lift me up when I have fallen, his hugs to comfort me, his words to teach me, his shoulders to carry me when i dont have the strength, his eues to tell me that i am a daughter of god. the marks in his hands and feel to show me that for me he dies. There are not words that can explain of describe the infinite love that i have for Jesus Christ.That I will always five to him that has given me everything. I testify that he lives. He is eternal. He was in the beginning and will be for the eternities. He was born into this world to save it from death and sin. Through him and only him we are free. He have his life for all that would come unto him and partake in his love and mercy. He was resurrected as a being perfect and glorifies. He still teaches us and guides us today through his holy prophets. through his restored gosple we can become like him and our father. We can obtain eternal life. I anxiously await the day when I can kneel before my king and redeemer to my thanks. I testify of these things in the name of his sacred name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all. Have a great week. The church is true.

Hermana Iroz

New Mission President

Jose Antonio da Silva Barreiros, 48, and Alba Valeria Altheman Barreiros, four children, Lake Reams 

Ward, Orlando Florida South Stake. Brother Barreiros is a stake high councilor and former 

counselor in a stake presidency, counselor in a district presidency, bishopric counselor, ward clerk 

and ward mission leader. Managing partner, JBARR Capital Advisors. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 

to José Maria and Alexandrina da Silva Barreiros.

Sister Barreiros is a Cub Scout leader and former counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, 

ward Young Women president, ward Primary president and counselor, counselor in a ward Relief 

Society presidency, seminary teacher and Primary secretary. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Armando 

Martinho and Laura dos Santos Altheman.

Some general information about us:

Our family is originally from Brazil. Our parents are converts to the Church, they were baptized 

during the 70’s. We have 4 children, 3 boys and one girl. We are taking our youngest son James 

(15) with us. The others will stay at BYU Provo. 

President Barreiros received a MBA degree in Finance from BYU in 1998 and since then he has 

worked in Wall Street. Even though he is Brazilian by birth, he is a terrible soccer player. He enjoys 

jogging and reading. The stock market is his passion. This will be his first time in Chile.

Sister Barreiros lived in Santiago from 1980 to 1983 as young woman. At that time Sister Barreiros’ 

father was an army officer in the Brazilian Embassy in Santiago. We can tell that she is very excited 

to go back to Chile. Her maiden name is Altheman and they were members of the Providencia 

ward at that time. Sister Barreiros plays piano and enjoys reading and walking. (We can see that 

the Lord loves Alba, because she lovesss Chile)

To all:

We are very thrilled for the opportunity to serve in the Chile Santiago West Mission.  We are sure 

that the Lord is sending us to the Best Mission in the world, and we hope to build upon your great 

work among the Chilean people.

We want to testify that we know the God lives and His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior. We trust that 

through Christ all things can be done. We hope to join our efforts with the member in Chile to help 

to grow and strength the Church. We look forward to be there. We are very blessed to be called to 

serve in Chile. 

To the Missionaries:

What a blessing you have to be called by a prophet to be ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ and 

to serve under the leadership of President and Sister King. We look forward to meet and serve 

with all of you in the near future. We already feel the love of the Savior for each of you, and we 

love you also. You are already in our prayers. Keep doing  your good work. This is God’s work to 

save His children. He lives and we are His instruments to bring salvation to them. He will bless our 

efforts.