6/8/15- One Last Time

Dear family,

Words cannot express the feelings of my heart, the conviction in my
mind, or the gratefulness that I feel. In the words of Paul, "I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith.." My mission has been the most sacred experience of my life it
has changed me into a young man of courage, of testimony, of God. I
know now who I am and where I am going. The last two years I have lost
myself in the service of God and in return He has given me more than I
could ask for. I have served Him with all my heart, might, mind, and
strength. Like Alma, "this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an
instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and
this is my joy." Being a missionary has made me so happy. I don't have
much to say just that I know everything I have done these last two
years is true! I am excited for the future, for the new chapter in my
life. See you on Wednesday :)!

With Love,

-Elder Miguel Ibarra

6/1/15

Dear Family,

Esta semana que paso fue buenísima trabajamos duro y encontramos a
nuevas personas para enseñar. Estoy tan emocionado que esta es mi
ultima semana en la misión. La verdad que paso bien rápido el tiempo.
No hay mucho que decir mas que el Sábado fui a despedir me de mi gente
en Blue Island. Ya me llegaron los planes de regreso llego a las
12:18. Bueno nos vemos en una semana y les cuento toda mi misión. :)
que tengan buena semana. Los quiero

5/25/15

Familia,

Wow esta semana paso muy rápido. Trabajamos duro y préstamos mucho
servicio. Ayudamos a un hermano echar cemento. Hay muy que paso pero
tengo poco tiempo para escribir. Me es suficiente decir que otra vez
tuve bautismo en mi cumpleaños como el año pasado y otra vez célebre
mi cumpleaños con una de mis familias favoritas la familia Anguiano.
El bautismo que paso fue en Gurnee, Nadia se bautizo ella es ukrania.
Pase mi cumpleaños muy bien mucha comida y muchos abrazos!

5/18/15

Dear Family,

This week was awesome! Tuesday and Wednesday we did lots of teaching
and had many appointments teaching the gospel to those in need. It
still brings me great joy when I see the gospel light up people's
faces. On Thursday we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the
temple as a zone. It was a beautiful experience. We did an endowment
session and the Spirit just taught me so much. We were also able to
experience a sealing, the temple president spoke to us about the
temple sealing and other things. We then went to the mission home and
everyone sang happy birthday to me. This week I also went on exchanges
with Elder Bertram. I went to their area which is downtown the loop.
Yesterday we had stake conference since the stake president was called
to be a 70 in this last general conference the stake was reorganized.
Upon arriving I was immediately approached and asked if I could
translate. I said sure even though I feel like my Spanish isn't up to
par due to the lack of usage. I translated for three speakers and it
just came to me, I translated for the old Stake president, president
Scott, the new stake president, president Holbrok, and for President
Woodbury. At the end of the service a member from the Spanish Ward
came up to me and said, "Ibarra good job translating! As soon as I
heard your voice I cheered up, you did a fantastic job!" So as you can
see I'm enjoying my mission still. Someone also came up to me
yesterday and said that I have like 25 days left.... Well I hope you
guys have a great week. I love you!

5/11/15

Dear family,

It was so good to talk to you guys yesterday. It felt surreal since I
will be seeing you guys in person pretty soon. This week was
wonderful. We have been working with this investigator named Victor.
He has been coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon, it is
amazing how much he has changed since Elder Miner and I started to
meet with him. His countenance is changing and his desires to do good
continually are overpowering his desires to do evil. He truly is
feeling of the grace of God. On Wednesday I had my temple recommend
interview with President, he just told me how please our Heavenly
Father was with my mission and he gave me other great advice and
prophetic counsel that I hold dear to my heart. Our area is so sweet,
we are just working with a good group of people, the forward
progression our area has made in just a few weeks is getting some buzz
around the mission! On Friday we went to a Serbian restaurant with a
member, I got to see the Bulls win! On Saturday we went to a Mother's
Day party and on Sunday we prepared a special meal for the mothers in
our Ward. We also found two new investigators Sunday night after our
calls home. I really do miss you guys! I love you so much. I hope you
have a great week and remember to smile.

5/4/15

Dear Family,

This week was awesome. We hit the ground hard and worked hard. One of
our investigators is doing really well. He has been reading the Book
of Mormon and feels like he should be baptized. We will be praying
that he does. We also did so much service this week. It was fun. Our
week flew by and now I only have 5 weeks left! Don't worry about
school to much just do what you can do and if there is no more that
you can do just leave the rest to the Lord. Also as to when I get home
the mission office will send you an email or letter with my flight
info. Also we get to call home next week. I can call at 5 o'clock
Chicago time which is 3 o'clock Arizona time. All is well in the
kingdom. I love and miss you!

4/27/15

Dear Family,


This was another great week! After six weeks of hard work and
whitewashing we finally got an investigator to come to church! It was
awesome. We taught the investigator on Tuesday with a member and the
investigator said, "I just want to change my life and start over and
you guys give me hope.." So that's awesome. Tomorrow I start the final
6 weeks of my mission and I am so excited! I am staying in Logan
Square with Elder Miner. President called and asked me to be a
District Leader as well so that should be fun. This week we also went
back up to Gurnee for a baptism. Heather was baptized. We found her
back in February when I was in Gurnee, she changed so much giving up
her past life to start over it was awesome! So much stuff happened
this week. I love you guys and I miss you