June 24, 2013

This week went by sooo fast.  The transfer meeting was so great! We all drove up to Tempe and said good bye to all of our missionary friends that are going to other missions (Sister Lemon and Sister Anderson are going to the Gilbert mission....sad day!) We all took pictures, and had a good ole time.  We had to leave at 3:30 to get there on time, so we are all still trying to play catch up :D

 

Well, lets see, cool story time!  Had a lesson with F this week.  We read out of Preach My Gospel with him about how all doubts and questions can be traced back to if the Book of Mormon is true and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. It hit him really hard.  He has tons of really good questions, but he is caught up in the knowledge aspect of it instead of being concerned about the testimony aspect of it.  So..... we invited him to read ALL of the Book of Mormon this week :D haha.  He is in Alma, but he said he wanted to start at the beginning again.  So before the end of the month, he will have read the whole thing completely. (he doesn't have work or school so he has time :D) If he does it for the right reasons, there is no reason he would not want these blessings in his life after he is through with it :D

 

Another really cool thing! We were biking and we passed a lady, felt like we should go back, so we did. We talked to her and her daughter and they were not interested at all.  But as soon as they found out we were Mormon they told us to go visit a lady 4 doors down, named A.  Well we went to visit her.  She comes outside and starts crying and says "how did you know where to find me?" Well, turns out she is Mormon and she had no idea there was a church down here.  We found her an hour before a church activity and we hurried and found her a ride and she came.  She was so amazed that there were missionaries on her door step :D It was sweet :D 

 

So we had a dinner at the church on Saturday to celebrate Fathers Day (better late than never :D). It was a miracle, there were more people from Somerton there than from San Luis.  WOOHHOOOOO.  It was cool to see all of those families we have been working with there....now they just all need to come to church :D Little by little. 

 

Well, we found lots of cool people to teach this week, I am excited!

 

Also, the broadcast was awesome!!!! Well, what we heard of it.  We watched it with the Spanish branch and there was a lot of technical difficulties, we probably ended up hearing only about half of it, but the half we heard was awesome!!!!! I loved the story by President Monson at the end about the branch president looking up names in the phone book.  haha.  Pretty sure we are going to try to start doing that in Somerton.  Haha.  It was amazing. 

June 17, 2013

Found out that Hermana B and I are staying here in Somerton for this next transfer.  I am excited, I really wanted to stay :D  There is just so much work to do here in this town it is crazy.  Most people are so closed off to acting on anything we teach, but there are the less actives here that make it all worth EVERYTHING!  The goal for Somerton is to get its own branch so we are trying to activate and then find people through less actives. 

 

This week we met the C2 family, they were baptized in 1995, sealed as a family in the temple, and then he started drinking 6 years later and she stopped going to church because the members started to ask where he was and she didn't want to tell them he was drunk, so she stopped going to.  But they still have strong testimonies about everything.  We walked in and they started talking about their sister missionaries when they were baptized.  One was really tall and the other was really short.  They couldn't help but laugh at Sister B and I :D We broke the ice right off the bat and I absolutely love this family :D They will come back to church. 

 

The next family is the B's.  They were baptized 4 years ago.  She has to work every Sunday at Sears in Yuma, and he had an accident at work about 5 months ago and is still having problems with his legs and has to wear shorts all the time because he is wearing those big medical boots on each leg. He says he doesn't come because he doesn't want to wear shorts to church, I think it is just an excuse, but we will see, haha.  We have been reading Alma 32 with them and just getting them excited to read the Book of Mormon again.  They are so nice to us and I love them!!!!!!!

 

So Hermano B has a sister(this whole branch is related somehow :D)  She and her husband are less active too.  He is super stubborn about it and really doesn't want to come, but she really does but is sick a lot.  We have been going over to their house teaching their grandson named D this week.  His mom is a member and inactive (surprise) and the dad is pretty much anti.  Well, it has been soooo fun! It is the coolest thing to teach kids because they are so accepting of everything and have so much faith!  Well we went over to their house last night and they were all so happy to see us.  All of their family was there for Father's day and so we got to meet them all.  They are so special people!  

 

Well, lets see..... this week we didn't find G.  We talked to him on the phone though.  He is reading and loving it, his family was going camping so we will try to find him next week :D  But we have been teaching a guy named F ever since we got here (I don't know if I have talked about him before). He loves learning and loves coming to church and has the COOLEST insights in the scriptures.  But he is really caught up on Joseph Smith and the priesthood being restored.  The Elders before we got here explained it like 5 times.  We have been trying to have patience with him and it finally paid off a little.  He finally prayed specifically about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  He is really trying to get his answer (although he really has received an answer like a billion times already).  Hopefully he figures this all out so he wants to be baptized!!!

 

This last week we had a pot luck in Somerton, the first activity Somerton has had in like 15 years because they are normally in San Luiz.  Well, like 50 -60 people came and it was amazing! All of our less actives came and brought non members, it was the best night!

 

Oh, another family that I want to tell you about.  The S family.  She and her daughter were baptized about 5 years ago, she loved the thought of being sealed in the temple, so that's why she was baptized.  She soon found out that she could not be sealed to her kids without having a husband too....she was offended and hurt and didn't want to be sealed to any of the father of her children so she stopped coming.  Well, at first there was a big wall up, now we are all the best of friends.  The other night we didn't have a dinner so we showed up at Sister S's house with the stuff to make french toast and potatoes.  We all cooked together and watched The Testaments.  She also just quit her job yesterday at the prison as a guard, she had been doing it for 13 years and it had taken a big toll on her and she realized that it wasn't worth it anymore.  Well, she has some stories about some people she met there that are funny funny funny.  It was a precious moment with them.  She has 3 kids, one is older and is a member, the others are 10 and 11 and we are trying to teach them :D

 

Well, tomorrow we are reading the Book of Mormon for 9 hours ( I am not kidding) I am really excited.  We have been reading the BOM as a mission and in 3 weeks we are already in Alma 47.  It has been amazing to read it and learn from the faith that these awesome missionaries had! It is great.  Then Wednesday we are all going up to Tempe to say good bye to President Howes and to split the mission.  It is going to be a good and bitter sweet week:D 

 

And I forgot to tell you about the new house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is SOOOO BIG AND PRETTY! It has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and is so elegant.  For this past week Sister Bryant and I have been having a ball! haha.  We think there will be more moving in so we will enjoy it while it lasts :D But, it is a nice house!

 

Okay, well sorry that was super not organized and that I rambled a lot :D It has been fantastic though.  I love you all and hope things are well.  LOVE YOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

June 10, 2013

Well hello there! Sorry this is a little later than normal, but today has been really busy!!!

 

So first of all, one of our members found a house for us to live in, in Somerton (that cuts out of 20 miles of driving = YEAH!) The mission has been looking at it and they offically signed the contract.  It is SUPER nice, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and pretty pretty pretty....and across the street from A, one of our investigators.  Well, transfers are coming up so they weren't even going to move us in until they saw if we were going to stay down here.   BUT, 3 days ago my bike broke.  I was just riding down the road and a few of the spokes broke and the rim is all bent (but I didn't die!).  So I am going to send my bike up to Tempe with some members to the bike shop and they are going to fix it. (for FREE! name that movie cristy :D)  So anyway, long story short, because we don't really have miles, and because I have no bike, they are going to let us move into the house on Wednesday (even if it is just for a week and a half) But I am super excited to live in Somerton!

 

So we found one of the people that we were teaching, G.  He is the one that just invited us in to his house and totally felt the spirit. He works in Phenoix during the week so we can only find him on weekends.  Well, we had a lesson with him on Friday and one on Saturday. We taught the restauracion about Jesus Christ and Prophets and Joseph Smith and President Monson.  When we told him that there is a prophet on the earth today he almost started crying! He asked if we had a picture of him and Sister B had a picture glued to her planner, He got his camera and started taking pictures of him! It was so precious! At the end of the lesson we really wanted him to pray....but he wouldn't do it.  So, better than nothing, I helped him and he repeated what I said (the time after he prayed on his own...YES!).  But in the prayer I said, "Help G to know that these things are true"...when it was his turn to repeat what I said, he said....."I already know that these things are true." It was so funny.  He is awesome.  Hopefully I will remember to send a picture of him :D  He is so READY! we just need to get his family on board.

 

Well, tomorrow we are having an activity here in Somerton (they usually have ward activities down in San Luis beacuse that es where the capilla is).  Well our goal for dear ole Somerton is to have its own branch one day.  So we are trying to reactivate members and find those prepared people to teach! It is super exciting to be working here in this area right now.

 

Hmmmm...what else.  We had exchanges (well not really).  One of the Sisters from Tempe came down with us for a day.  It was so fun.  Her name is Sister Thompson, we were actually both in the MTC together.  It was nice to hear that we are doing things right.  As a trainer I have really been trying to let Hermana B make the decisions and let her think something through before I help her.  And sometimes she gets a little frustrated with me for not giving her the answers right off the bat.  But Sister T said that is exactly what I need to be doing.  It was really nice to have her here to help Hermana B understand how things work better, that I am not just making these things up.  It was really good :D

 

Well, I have to get going. P-day is officially over in 4 minutes. Love you all.  Thank you SOOOOO much for the package with letters and supplies and goodies in it!  I love you all so much! We don't know the address of our knew house quite yet, there is no mail box in front, so we think it is going to be a P.O. box.  So I will let you know as soon as I find out.  Transfers are on the 19th so I hope we are going to be staying.  If there is already mail on the way, some elders are moving back in to the other apartment, so we can get the mail from them.  LOVE YOU!!!!!! SO much!!!

June 3, 2013

Well another fun week out here:D We have been biking lots and loving the 110 degree weather.  It actually is not that bad, well yet :D hahaha. 

 

We met a new family this week! The C's. Brother C is a member of the church, very less active.  He and his wife, R, got married 2 years ago and he loves her so much! He keeps telling her about how families can be together forever if they are sealed in the temple.  Well, she got really curious about it and now we are teaching her.  We taught the restoration about how through the restoration, the priesthood power to be sealed has been restored.  It was one of the most spiritually powerful lessons ever.  It was AMAZING!!!!!  Have I ever told you how cool it is to be a missionary?!  Well, it is the BEST thing ever!

 

So lets see, in the branch in San Luis there are 5 missionaries serving their missions (which is so cool!)  There are 2 sisters that are preparing to go as well, D and J.  They are so fun and they have been coming on splits and asking questions and we have been having so much fun with them! Well there are also like 7 other guys that should be going on missions, but for whatever reason they don't want to.  Well the branch president has been trying to help the people preparing and the ones that don't want to go.  Last week and this week there was a fireside at the chapel about missionary work.  We heard testimonies from us missionaries, from return missionaries, from parents of missionaries, and it was POWERFUL! Well there is this one guy named JM.  The first time I saw him I thought, he is going to be a great missionary.  I soon came to find out that he wanted nothing to do with serving a mission, he just didn't feel like it was for him.  Well the elders in San Luis have been working with him like crazy, they are best friends.  He was there last night at the fireside, and after it was over, president asked if anyone else wanted to share their testimonies.  JM raised his hand and told Elder Murphy to go up with him.  He started talking about how he was looking through some papers and certificates that he had and how before he thought they meant so much.  He was looking at them and realized that they meant nothing.  He started crying and said that he was not going to put off a mission any longer.  He was going to finish his papers this month and go.  There was not a dry eye in the room.  Presidente Ginez was crying, JM's parents were crying, all the missionaries were crying.  It was SOOOOO COOL! It was so neat to see how the branch came together and it made such a BIG difference.  It was the coolest thing ever.  Happy day!

 

Well, basically all of the families we found last week don't really have any interest (sad day).  But there is a girl named A that wants to be baptized but she has to work on Sundays! She works at Albertson's as  a florist.  Well, hopefully she can get her schedule worked out and that her boss will let her. 

 

Other than that, we are just having a blast here in Somerton.  It is lots different than my other areas, it is a lot harder to find people interested to teach.  They all are Catholic and don't really want to change.  Well, we know that there are prepared people here, we just need to keep bearing testimony and find them!

May 28, 2013

HELLLLLLLLOOOOOO Family dear!!!

Suprise! Yesterday the library was closed and we couldn't find any members in Yuma to email at. (well basically we don't have any members in Yuma and we didn't have an extra 20 miles to drive to Somerton and back), so we just finished district meeting and we are writing from the church house in San Luis. Better late than never :D

Sounds like you are just having so many cool moments with the missionaries.  I KNOW they love being with you guys.  They are really the luckiest missionaries in the world, hope they realize that :D  It put a smile on my face knowing that they were washing their cars there, haha....it beats using a water pitcher from the kitchen :D hahaha.

This week has been amazing! I wrote letters to you guys yesterday that probably has the main highlights in it.  But here is goes again :D

So this week, Hermana B told me that she wanted to go home.  We talked for 2 hours and it didn't really help her any.  She called Presidente Howes and he basically told her in a very nice way to stop thinking about yourself and go to work.  I am trying to find the balance between working like a maniac (we all know how I get sometimes) and catering to her needs.   We had interviews last week and President said, "don't you dare change, Sister Crawford." So I am trying to keep working hard, but at the same time be aware of her and do the things that I need to do to serve her as well.  It has been a good learning experience.  True story.  But things are good :D

Also this week we have found basically a new family to teach every day! We are now teaching 5 families and they all have 3 - 5 kids and lots of potential :D happy day.  the gospel really does bless families :D

We basically went to Mexico this week.  I can't wait to come back and actually go there! haha.  We went to a town that is in our area called Gadsden for the first time on Sunday, and it is a border town.  We knocked doors for a bit and found a lady that knows and works with a member and she is so prepared to learn more! I do think that it is really cool that the boarder is like 10 feet away from her house! haha, it is the simple things in life. 

Also this week has been full of lots of food.  Wow.  Presidente Ginez in the branch on Sunday promised the members that if they would feed the missionaries there would always be food in their house.  Well, since then we have eaten a 5 course meal (SOOOO much food!, and SOOOO good :) and had phone calls inviting us over and shoot.  I am going to need to do more biking.  But I am so grateful for the members here.  There is this one family the L's.  The mom is coming back to the church and they have 6 kids under the age of 7.  Haha, and they are the cutest family EVER! We did an FHE last night with them and had the best evening EVER! They are going to be sealed in the Temple one of these days and that will be so COOL!

And the speakers didn't show up to church on Sunday.  Guess what that means? Yep! Sisters get to speak.  That was a BIG suprise.  haha.  I talked about the Book Of Mormon and took up more time than I thought I would. Hermana B I thought was going to pass out, but she did good too :D It was pretty fun and definitely taught me the importance of relying on the spirit in everything!

Thank you for the special letters you all sent me this week, I love you all and miss you muchisimo!  Stay sweet and enjoy your week!!!!

May 20, 2013

Well, first full week of Somerton is done! Haha, it was so awesome!

Serving down here in the Yuma zone is a lot different than serving in the valley (aka Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek....) basically everyone here is Hispanic (yes!) and instead of teaching a lot of formal lessons in peoples houses, we teach a lot of more informal lessons on the street, which is super duper cool. This week was a record for lessons taught for me on my mission, 30! woohoo. Found 12 investigators....well some of them already told us they didn't want us to come by anymore, but when one door closes another one opens (true story).  I have had some really memorable things happen this week too! 

While we were biking we stopped to talk to this guy named V.  He asked me what part of Mexico I was from!!!!! haha.  That says too things....1. he was probably not in his right mind and 2. he thinks I have a Mexican accent, which I will take as a compliment :D

At one of the dinners we had with a member, and don't get me wrong, I was so grateful, BUT...for dessert she gave us chocolate pie.  Yum right ????? negative.  It had mold all over it!!! I took one bite and I almost died (should have noticed the mold before, haha) I just kindly said I was full and asked if I could take it home.  She was not offended by it (thank goodness) and got me a to go plate.  haha.

Also we learned that we will be moving to Somerton either the last week in May or the first week in June...just to give you all a heads up. It will be exciting to live in Somerton and not to have to spend so much in the car.....that means we can talk to more people! :D  I will give ya the knew address as soon as I can :D

The trickiest thing about serving here is that everyone goes to Mexico on the weekends, meaning it will be harder to get our investigators there (but of course not impossible).  Well the first thing is that we have to find interested people to teach, haha.  Basicamente every one is Catholic and not interested in learning too much.  The funniest rejection I have heard is that someone didn't want a Book of Mormon because they didn't want to confuse themselves, ha. Little do they know that they are a little confused right now and the Libro will help with that, haha. It was really cool though. On Sunday there was a record of people at church, 132! woohoo.  If that keeps up who knows, maybe the Spanish branch will be a ward :D but sometimes they say there is only like 15 people there.......we will have to wait and see! 

We are working with a guy named F.  He is an investigator in the English ward and he is so awesome.  He has been investigating the church for about 3 months.  He is SOOO prepared.  He has read the book of 1 Nephi and he is so good at really applying the scriptures to himself. He was telling us about how he was reading about Nephi wanting to see the dream that Lehi saw and how the angel said, "What desirest thou." He said that he felt like the Lord was asking him that very question.  It was neat to hear that because he hasn't prayed about if the  Book of Mormon is true or if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and hopefully with that discovery he will really see that our prayers can't be answered if we don't actually pray and ask a question.  Well, F is a very wise person, because really, that is the question that Heavenly Father is asking us all the time.  What desirest thou.  He can only help and answer if we are humble enough to ask him in our time of need.   

I love and miss ya! Hope all is well and that you are enjoying each and every day!!!!!! MUAH!

May 13, 2013

OH HEY HEY! It was so cool to talk to all of you yesterday!!!! loved it! Best thing EVER! and I only teared up a few times, haha. 

We will be staying in this apartment in Yuma until the mission finds a place in Somerton( probably 3 weeks or so they said....we will see).  There were elders that lived in the apartment a little while ago so they already had stuff there.  

So, yep. We are here living in Yuma, serving in Somerton and the branch is in San Luis (you should look at a map!) I can't remember who I told what on the phone yesterday, but when we had Spanish training and all the Spanish missionaries went to Yuma, My companion and I came to San Luis for that night....and ever since then I wanted to serve here.   Wish granted!  The branch is SOOO excited.  the branch president could not be any happier.   We serve in Somerton and 4 elders serve in San Luis itself, so 6 missionaries in total.  Party!  The elders told us to be at the church at 8:00, 30  minutes early yesterday before we had correlation.   We got there and they were cooking us breakfast to welcome us to San Luis, haha. They made us pancakes (with peanut butter and syrup!) omelets and hash browns and a smoothie.  I think they are excited to have sisters serving here too, haha.  It was so nice of them. 

Well, as I told ya, there are only like 3 or 4 active families that live here, and we have visited all of them and a few of the less active families too.  And it is so interesting, the less active families are giving us referrals (a lot!) It is neat to see how everyone here still has desires to do the work.   So we are getting ready to teach lots of people!!!  We also cover a small part of the English ward here, so all the people in Somerton we get to teach.  A town of our very own :D

This is all so exciting, and I don't know what I did to gain presidents trust so much that he would let me train, whitewash, open an area, and be in the San Luis branch all at the same time, but I am STOKED! I have never been so full of energy ( that will come in handy when we are biking around in 120 degree weather!) and excited to do the work.  
Bring it on.  Assignment accepted and full speed ahead :D

I love you all and remember how MUCH I LOVE AND MISS YA!!!!!!!!!!!.    Take care :D

May 6, 2013

We are back on our bikes! I texted Sister Howes last week and told her I was good to go.  The AP's came over on Saturday to pick it up.  So my birthday was the first day back on bikes.  It really was the best day ever.  We got to talk to 62 people on the street that day.  The only sad thing is that Sister B hates riding bikes, all she seems to do for now is complain about it.  But hopefully it will get easier for her and she will come to like it.  SO FUN!

 

M had his baptismal interview yesterday and he is all set for baptism next Sunday (after I talk to ya!!!!!!) happy day!!!! This week has been full of amazing opportunities.  We had the most number of lessons this week than I have had in any other week on my mission, yeah for meeting goals!

 

Well, we didn't get transfer calls last night...they moved it to today (which is really strange).  I have a feeling I will be staying, so we will have to see what happens tonight when they tell us.  I have no idea.  There are 4 more Spanish sisters coming in and there are not enough Spanish sisters that are not being trained to train them all (pretty sure that is a good problem to have). Also they are calling sister trainers, meaning the sisters get to go on exchanges!  That will be fun!

 

So, do you remember me talking about J2? I met him down in Queen Creek and went back for his baptism a few weeks ago? Well, cool story.  His whole family is taking the lessons now.  His mom is being baptized on the 18th, the dad is still working towards it, and WE are teaching his sister K! She is in the singles ward for ASU campus that meets in Tempe.   The assistants cover that ward....but she may or may not have put the moves on one of the elders, so now we get to teach her.  Kind of an awkward situation, BUT  it is so not a coincidence that we are teaching her! This family is SO cool.  Happy day.  We are trying to help her stop smoking and really just be converted to the Gospel and find her own testimony.  She is so cool :D We love teaching her!

 

One thing that I have really learned this week is about enduring to the end.  We have been sharing this scripture with pretty much everyone lately. Enos 1:27

                     

 And I soon go to the place of rest, which is with my Redeemer;; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me; Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my father. amen.

 

When we think about the bigger picture of life and the things that are going to take place in the next life based on our actions here, doing those things that we are asked become a bit easier.  Going to church on Sunday becomes something we want to do.  Reading the scriptures becomes our favorite moment of the day.  Keeping the commandments is something that we strive to do at all times.  Because when we truly internalize that Jesus Christ really is our Lord and Redeemer, we want to keep all of His commandments and make him happy.  We are trying to help reactivate a lot of less actives and it is so sad to see when some of them have known the truth and have turned away from it and have stopped doing the little things. But most of the time, the little things are what matter the most.

 

April 29, 2013

It was lovely to hear from you all, love you so much :D Transfers are happening on the 8th, so I will still be in Mesa for sure on my birthday.....which is really weird because it doesn't seem to even matter to me.  We have so many cool things happening right now!

 

Well, first of all.  We went to Queen Creek for E and M's baptism.  It was amazing, I have pictures that I will have to send you.  M was ready for baptism from the beginning, but she wanted to wait for E.  I am so happy that E took the time to find out for himself that these things are true.  He was so happy when he was baptized.  M was going to be baptized in a chair, but she decided against it. There were 4 priesthood holders in the water with her to help her down and back up, and they had to do it twice...oops.  It was so beautiful and amazing....pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in the building.  It was so cool to see everyone from the Queen Creek ward again.  Such a good day. 

 

Well, this week started off with 1 person on date for baptism.....we now have 6. WOOHOO! We were teaching English class on Tuesday night and the Bishop asked us to come to his office after.  We went in and there was a family in there!  They had just moved here from the Mesa mission where the missionaries were teaching them for 4 months.  It is L and K A and their 2 kiddos d (14) and k2 (4).  We have met with them a lot this week.  The parents are getting baptized on May 11th, and D really doesn't want to.  It is so interesting to me that the parents want to be baptized, but the 14 year old boy keeps saying he has already been baptized and doesn't want to be baptized again.  Well, we are still working with him :D He will come around.  They are so great.  They came to church on Sunday (miracle) and were giving comments in Sunday school about how they feel the spirit and want to learn more. They are nothing other than golden. 

 

We also had a lesson with J (the less active) and M, E and M's daughter E2.  E wants to be baptized and has so much faith.  M is super hesitant about it,  but accepted with date along with her daughter E2.  They all accepted a date of May 18th to be baptized. 

 

We also had to move M's baptism back to May 12 because we were not able to have a lesson with him this past week, but we were able to yesterday.  He is so cool.  He is in his 40's and he wants to be baptized for all the right reasons, and because he wants to be an example to his brothers about taking action in their lives and doing good things. He is on fire!

 

We are planning an activity on Thursday for all of our investigators and the elders' investigators to come and meet the ward leaders and to watch The Testaments at the church.  It is going to be great! So we are doing a lot of inviting, hopefully people will actually come and it will be a success :D

 

Well, other than that it has been a pretty normal week in the mission.  Training is going good and Hermana B is speaking more and more Spanish (woohoo!) We have seen lots of miracles this week with trying to reach our goals.  Every week we have a goal for each companionship in the mission to talk to 140 people about the gospel on the street.  For the past few weeks we have been getting around 130 or 120, but not 140.  Well, this week we have a goal to be super diligent and to reach it to show Heavenly Father how grateful we are for all of these miracles.  Well it came down to Sunday and we needed to talk to 27 more people.  We had a pretty long dinner and we didn't know how we were going to have enough time to "oym" (open your mouth) and go to the lessons we had set.  Well, we just got out of a lesson with the A family and it was 8:55 and we needed to talk to 14 more people before we were home by 9:00 (well, we may have been a little late, but we are allowed to be out until 9:30 if it is because of a lesson).  Anyway, the miracle of it is, is that while walking back to our car we found exactly 14 more people to talk to about the gospel.  MIRACLE! and we reached the goal of 140.  It is really amazing how much God really does help us reach our goals when it is something we are really striving to reach.  So neat!  

 

We also get to go back to biking now! I don't know it they are going to take the car away, but I can officially ride my bike again, the elbow is all good to go.  I am SUPER excited.  Bring on the heat:D

Okay, well I love you all.  Hope you remember how much you are loved and missed :D   LOVE YOU!!!!!!

April 22, 2013

Well another week has come and gone....craziness!

 

This week we had zone conference, it was soooooo good.  President talked a lot about being consecrated missionaries and our purpose.  The only not so good part about it was that our district has been passing the stomach flu around, and it was my turn to get it. The night before I was up all night, but there was no not going to zone conference, haha.  By the time zone conference was over at 3:00 Sister B wasn't feeling so good either and I had a fever of 103.  Well, needless to say, we came home and slept the rest of that day. You know you are sick on a mission when the only thing you want to do is go out to work, but your body just wont let you, haha.   But everyone is all better now, so HAPPY DAY!

 

There is a family in the ward we go and visit about once a week or so, the Z family.  They are so kind to us and always feed us (sometimes against our will, haha).  Well, I love them dearly.  We were are their house this past week and Hermana Z said she had the same exact skirt that I was wearing.  Well, we may or may not have planned to wear the same outfit on sunday. Haha, it was so funny! We walked into church together and everyone laughed (at us or with us I don't really know, haha).  Happy day!

 

Well the area in dear ole Mesa is still doing good.  M is still on date and we are still working with him, so happy day! AND I have the biggest miracle to tell you!!!!!! Remember me telling you about J, the inactive man we found, and his girlfriend M and dad E that we were teaching about 2 or 3 weeks ago? Well, they were on date for baptism, and then they fell off the face of the earth. Stopped answering our calls and wouldn't answer the door.  Well, we were at church and ward council had just finished with 30 minutes to spare.  We decided to try to go by their apartment again.    And J was there AND he answered the door, even better.  He let us in and said he was coming to church and M was getting ready to come too.  WE were SOOOOOO happy! Well, they came, and J loved every minute of it.  He was baptized 6 yrs ago in a different ward and was even the ward mission leader, then he moved and stopped coming.  But yesterday he FINALLY came.  Probably one of the happiest days of my life!  Hopefully M liked it too.  We have an appointment set up to meet with them again, happy day:D la familia D is back!

 

Yesterday was a mission president fireside, and E and M from Queen Creek came.  It was so cool to see them, they were crying and I may or may not have been crying too, haha.  They are getting baptized on Saturday at 10:00 in the new stake building that was just dedicated, they will be the first to be baptized there.  We are trying our best to be able to go, hope it works out and we can :D  We took a picture with M and F,  and E and M with all of us.  Tender moments :D

 

We have still been working on finding, 'nothing happens in missionary work unless you have someone to teach' is a very true story.  We were contacting a few potential investigators and found a guy named D.  He said he always wanted to learn about our church.  Shared a few scriptures and he committed to be baptized after he has studied and knows for himself.  He came to the mission president fireside last night too.  Yeah for D! (such a good name, don't ya think?)

 

We also have been helping the elders out with the English ward that we use to have.  There is the guy named L that we were working with when we have the ward, and the elders can't seem to meet with him.  He is trying to quit smoking so he can be baptized on May 4th (hehe).  We have been meeting with him and put him on date.  We were having a lesson with him outside standing by the stairs and this guy was walking up the stairs, we said hi, but nothing else.  3 minutes later he came back down and said he saw the pamphlet I was holding that said the Gospel of Jesus Christ and wanted to know more about our church.  He was Hindu, but just recently became Christian and moved here last week and was trying to find a church to go to.  COINCIDENCE? no way.  I am so grateful that he came back to talk to us, and we felt awful that we didn't talk to him more when he was walking by the first time.  BUT it all worked out and the elders are going to go by and teach him.  Pretty sure he will be baptized in 10 days.  He is so cool!!!!!!

 

Well, I am definitely grateful for the spirit and for the help that it offers us every day if we let it.  I love you and miss you all so much.

April 15, 2013

Well, my companion Hermana B is so fun.  We are learning lots and having lots of fun together!

I got the best phone call this week from the sisters in my old area, Hermana L and Hermana A (both my old comps :D)  They told me that E and M are getting baptized on the 27th!!!!!!!!!!!!! I about died of excitement.  We had taught them so much and he was so not willing to accept baptism,  but we all knew that it would happen some day soon! They are the ones that are just the cutest old couple ever, they are like my adopted grandparents.  She is in a wheel chair and E does anything and every thing to help M.  AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sosooooo excited for them:D 

The second cool thing that they told us will need a little story to fill you in.  When we were down in Queen Creek we talked to this couple and started teaching them. We found that their son, J, is a member of the church! Well we started getting to know J and he came to a Christmas concert with us.  He brought his friend named J2.  We told the elders over the singles ward that a member was bringing a friend with him so they should come and get to know them so they could teach him.  Well, I met J2 and knew he was super prepared to hear the gospel.  He and I really got along and talked for a bit until the elders got there.  Well, the elders started teaching J2. J2 was \Catholic and couldn't see how Joseph Smith was a prophet..  Then I got transferred out of the area.  But, every 3rd Sunday we have a mission president fireside that is in my area in Mesa, and the past 2 times I have seen J2 there.  Every time I saw him I would ask him, when is he getting baptized?! And we would talk about his doubts and the spirit and how if he just keeps studying it will all come together.  Well.....so the sisters called and told me that the elders were not teaching J2 anymore.  I was devastated.....until sister L started screaming that it was because he was getting BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!  I was so happy!!!!!!! I called president to see if we could get permission to go to it, he had just met J2 and told us to go and support him.  So we went down for his baptism and surprised him! It was so cool!   I have never felt the spirit more strong in my life than at that baptism.  It was so neat.  He is the only member in his family, and all of his family came.  Hopefully one day in the near future they will follow his example :D

It was so much fun to go back to Queen Creek for a bit :D loved it!

Okay, well this week, we have had several miracles of our own.  We have been working with a guy named M for quite some time. He is in his 40's and all of his family is members.  He always told us that he is just not ready for baptism, he wants to learn more.  Well this time was different. It had been a good 3 weeks since we had been able to meet with him, although he comes to church all the time.  We talked about repentance and baptism.  He felt the spirit so strong and he accepted baptism for May 4th.  Coincidence or revelation, it doesn't matter.  But M.F. is going to be baptized on my birthday!  :D 

We also have been working with the M and F B grand kiddos a lot lately.  twice this week we have taught a group of them and their friends.  It is so much fun teaching kids about Christ and to see all the faith that they have.  It was one of the sweetest experiences of my life !  Those kids are awesome.

Best we really need to find more people to teach, we have been going through all of the old investigators and going to visit them and see if they are ready to learn more.  Well yesterday we found some amazing people that are ready!  We weren't going to go to this particular complex yesterday, but I definitely felt like we needed to change our plans and we found 4 new investigators.  It is so amazing to see how the Lord guides His work.  

Sad story of the week.  J, the less active guy we found, and his girlfriend M and dad E who were on date for baptism are now ignoring us.  We took a member to a lesson with us and she was getting on to J about being less active and accusing him quite a bit.  Well we thought that they had all felt the spirit despite the bad lesson......hopefully they will answer our phone call or door knock one day :D 

Well. I love you all soooooo very much.  Hope all is going well and remember how much I love you!!!!!!! It is a lot :D  LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

April 8, 2013

This week was sure interesting.  Hermana B and I are having lots of fun together.  I am trying to do my best to help her get adjusted to missionary life, it has its rocky moments, haha, but over all it is fantastic :D We ate jalapeno and habanero peppers one night for dinner with the elders at a members house.  That was a fun experience.  Oh the things we do to get member trust, eating whole raw peppers, seeds and all. my mouth is still on fire thinking about it :D

Remember me telling you about J, M and E? Well we have had a lot of lessons with them this week.  It has been amazing.   As we are trying to teach M and E, J is remembering all the lessons with missionaries from when he was baptized 6 years ago.  He is remembering and bearing his testimony, the most powerful one that I have ever heard.  He is on fire! (well not literally, haha).  M and E were not able to come to church and watch conference with us, so they fell of date for the 20th (sad day!!!!!!) BUT if they come to church these next two weeks, they can be baptized on the 21st.  It will all work out how Heavenly Father wants it too, but I sure hope it happens on the 21 st :D 

Oh, and crazy story of the week.  We have been contacting lots of former investigators and trying to find new people to teach.  We have talked to tons of really interesting people lately. haha. Oh Mesa is a special place :D We talked to this guy we meet on the street about the church.  He was definitely on drugs and it was one of the most awkward conversations I have ever had with anyone.  Well, we promised him that if he followed the teachings of Christ, he could change his life.  Well, about an hour and a half later we were back on the same street and there were about 8 police men and lots of cop cars all with their lights flashing arresting this guy we talked too...turns out he needs Jesus more than we thought in the first place.  It was super crazy.   We have talked to a lot of anti people.  It is always so interesting to me when people try to tell me what my beliefs are, when they really have no idea.  It is one of the saddest things to see how hard peoples hearts can be.  It just pushes us harder to find the elect people that are ready to hear the gospel.  

Conference was AMAZING!!!!!!! I loved all of the talks about obedience and keeping the commandments, they were all so powerful.  It is one thing I am learning a lot as a missionary.  All of the work is affected by obedience.  If we want to have success, we have to be completely obedient to the rules and commandments of God (including when your car is out of gas and you are stuck on the side of the road by a gas station and your companion wants to just go fill it up on Sunday when it was our fault that we forgot to do it the day before).....not that that happened at all :D But when we are obedient to the commandments, our lives are blessed so much! Such as a member stopping to help us out and get us to our next appointment because I wouldn't fill up the tank on a Sunday. Blessings are predicated upon principles of obedience.  

Well, I love you all so very much.  Hope your week is good and I LOVE and MISS you all SOOOOO MUCH!!!

April 1, 2013

This week has been great! We got permission from president and went and saw W this week! It was so cool! She and her family were getting ready to go to bed so we didn't stay to chat with them, but it was fun to get family hugs :D  Hopefully we can work out our schedules and set up a time to get together. 

 

Well, F got the priesthood yesterday.  It was so neat to be there to see it and feel of the spirit there.  I love the B family so much, and I think that we have seen them ever day this past week.  We went to the Easter pageant at the temple with them (SOOOO NEAT) and stopped by so Sister A could say goodbye before she got transferred, saw them randomly one day while we were contacting former investigators and they invited us to come eat dinner at this birthday party with them (they didn't really give us a choice), and then saw them yesterday at church and had Easter dinner with them at the park last night.   I love the random cool 'coincidences' that happen :D

 

My new companions name is Hermana B, she is 20 years old.  And she is so fun! We have been laughing our heads off ever since she got here.  She is learning Spanish really fast (hopefully she can teach me too! haha) and we have already seen miracles the 5 days we have been together.  And Sister A got transferred to Queen Creek!!!!! She is going to go teach all of my favorite people, E and M, and L and E.......hopefully they will be baptized soon so they can be eternal families!  Also with transfers, we got a lot of new missionaries, so our English ward that we covered got taken away.  We are just over our Spanish ward, and we share that with the elders.  I am so excited to just be able to focus on Spanish work! It will be amazing:D although the English ward members are really cool and I am going to miss working with them here.

 

The coolest thing happened this week.  There is a referral we got for a guy named A. We went by his apartment to try to find him and he doesn't live there any more. BUT the guy that does live there is named J (i can't remember if I told you the beginning of the story already).  Turns out that he was baptized 5 years ago in a different ward and he was even the ward mission leader.  Well, he has been inactive for a little over a year now.  He absolutely could not believe that there were missionaries on his door step.  He definitely took it as a sign that he needed to get back into church.  Well, we stopped by last night to talk to his girlfriend that lives with him, M, and J's dad, E.  We talked about Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon and baptism.  They accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 20th of April!!!! Woohooooooo! Definitely not a coincidence.  Well, M and J are either going to have to get married, or move out......I think they will get married, so we will get to plan another wedding! nothing but weddings and baptisms in Mesa. 

 

Well.  I love you all so very much.  I hope you had a fantastic Easter.  I am so grateful that I get to be a missionary especially around Easter time and go up to random people on the street and talk to people about Jesus Christ.  It is the amazing.  Hope you are all doing good! Love and miss you BIG bunches!!!!!!!!!

March 25, 2013

This week was so cool!!!!!! So much to tell you :D

Last Monday was so crazy.  We went with M y F to the court house to get their marriage license.  I have never felt so nervous in my whole life, and I have never seen anyone so nervous in my whole life as they were that day.  We got permission from President to go with them to help them translate, and it took about 4 hours.  They are kind of not here legally and taking them to a federal building made them super nervous (not to mention us too).   But it all worked out! For a second, M didn't have the right ID and so it wasn't going to work, but she found it and we got their license. We wiped the sweat off our faces and walked out of the court house SO Happy!!! Sitting there with them in the waiting room was so fun.  There were 2 girls there getting their passports to go on a mission and M and F loved talking to them.  M was super loud and laughed ridiculously.....it made F really scared about all the attention they were getting, hahaha.  He would just put his hand over his face and pretend to hide.  They are so cute:D

Well.  Tuesday, went to the doctor for my arm.  He said to wear the sling for another 2 weeks and to keep trying to move it and straighten it out more and more.  He said no bike riding for 2 months and even longer if it still is bugging me.  Party in Mesa. 

  

Thursday we met this super awesome man named L.  He referred himself on mormon.org.  He is friends with some of the members in one of the other wards.  He told us that he has no idea what to expect from meeting with the missionaries, but he wants to be able to have a smile back on his face.  He said that he hit rock bottom in life and then kept digging and had no idea what to do.  Well our dear friend L is super prepared to accept the gospel.  He is super humble and willing and wanting to learn. He said that he wants to be baptized and of course we were SUPER excited.  We are meeting with him again tonight. 

Friday was so GREAT! Sister D, one of the sisters that taught Lori S in the beginning was in my zone here in Mesa.  She finished her mission on Saturday, so on Friday, Lori S came to eat lunch with her.  Sister D told us she was coming up and invited us to come along, and I was SO happy!!!  Their son Z came home from his mission the same Friday, only in the evening time.  It was so fun to see how excited she was :D She is doing so great!  Also on Friday, President asked us to help out at the Easter pageant.  It was so cool! It happened to be the same night that the people from the Queen Creek ward were there and so I got to see quite a few of them, tender mercies :D  The Easter pageant is so beautiful.  It is all about the life of Jesus Christ and the things that he did while he was here.  It was so beautiful.  We got to talk to a bunch of people there and invite them to come to the visitor center and to meet with missionaries to learn more.  It was a wonderful experience.  We also took some pictures with one of the soldiers.  Haha.  He was so FUNNY!

Well that brings us to Saturday! We made cupcakes for the wedding and centerpieces.  Got the room all set up for the reception and the font all filled and the chairs set up.  It took about 4 hours for everything, but it was all so worth it.  M and F got married and tons of their nonmember family was there.  Hermana A and I were the witnesses to their wedding (SWEET!).  Afterwards they were baptized and they were so excited and happy.  They asked Hermana  A and I to give the talks and it was neat!  When we were giving our talks we couldn't help but cry.  Looking down and seeing them smiling back at us, it was too precious.  Oh and by the way....Next March we are coming back for their sealing in the temple!!!! I promised them:D The thing they love most about the gospel is that families can be together forever if we do those little things every day and prepare ourselves to go to the temple.  Well family, sorry you are stuck with me for eternity, but I am so excited and thankful that we will be together forever :D  Anyway, they were baptized and then we had their reception.  They had a DJ and tons of food there.  And let me tell you, Hispanics know how to throw quite the party.  Haha.  We stayed and got to know their family and had a great evening. 

It was the most special day ever.  Seeing how happy they were makes it all worth it.  Families really can be together forever.  oh Happy day :D

Speaking of family:D I got permission from President to go see W last night!!!! She literally lives a mile away from me.  We caught her right as she was going to bed, so we couldn't stay and chat, but we switched numbers to set up a time we could see her again. She and her family are so cute.  It was awesome to get a hug from her, it made my day!!!!!!!!

Well, last night was transfer calls.  Hermana A is leaving and I am training.  I second half trained Sister A (she had been out a transfer before we were companions) but this time it is a sister right out of the MTC.  Oh boy:D So excited and so nervous.  I have learned though that as long  as I put my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, it all works out in the end.  I am really excited to meet my knew companion, I still haven't figured out quite why president trusts me with a newbie hahaha.  It is going to be an awesome adventure.  There are 5 Spanish sisters coming in (which is unheard of), we are pretty sure that there are some 19 year olds in this transfer coming in this transfer too.  The work is going to grow so much. 

Well.  I love you all.  Hope all is well and remember how much I love YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MIss you mucho!

March 18, 2013

This week has been the strangest week...ever!

 

So first of all, Tuesday night was M and F's baptismal interview. Everything was perfect and it is all set for this Saturday, the 23rd.  Woohoo!

 

Do you know whats worse than being sick on your mission?  Okay okay, I will tell you...having a sick companion.  Poor Sister A has been sick for 5 days straight.  Maybe it was the flu, maybe not, they don't really know.  But she slept for the whole time pretty much.  It has been quite the learning experience for me to realize that I am not just here to help our investigators, but I am also here to help my companion.  I have been trying my best to help her get better.  And it has been fun.  I have been reading, a lot.  I finished Jesus the Christ, True to the faith, Our Search for Happiness, this other book called "Mormon Scientist" (coolest book ever, by the way) and had a lot of time to study Spanish and the Book of Mormon too.  It has been a blessing to have all of this time to study the gospel, I have absolutely loved it......probably wouldn't have chosen reading over teaching our investigators, but such as life :D When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!!!!! Sister A and I have had a lot of time to talk and share stories, so that has been fun too :D

 

Well, yesterday was so COOL!!!  We went to the mission president's fireside (a meeting for people investigating the church and recent converts) and it was so cool.  Got to see some of my missionary friends that are still in Queen Creek and it was great (I think that I have really missed being able to talk with people after not seeing anyone for 5 days, haha).   When I was down in Queen Creek I met this guy named J.  He is the friend of one of the less active members in the Spanish ward.  He ended up coming to a Christmas concert in Queen Creek when I was there, and I was the first missionary he met.  We introduced him to the single ward elders and they have been teaching him since, and it is super cool.  Anyway, so I saw him last night.  He knows that the church is true.  Yesterday was Palm Sunday for the Catholic Church and he said that he went.  He told me that he didn't feel a thing there, it was like night and day compared to this church.  We talked about that for quite a while and how the Spirit works and everything.   He said that he wants to take this decision slow, but he knows its true.  The Spirit was so strong during that conversation. It was so cool!  One of my favorite scriptures is Acts 2: 37 - 38.   It says how the people were pricked in their hearts by the Spirit and wondered what they should do.  Peter tells them to come and be baptized! Well President used that scripture during his talk and I told J that that scripture was for him.  He has been "pricked' in his heart by the spirit so many times, especially with the whole Palm Sunday thing.  He knows what he needs to do....he just needs to do it! Hopefully he gets the courage up to act, and hopefully I see him at the next fireside to see how it is going!   He is so cool!

 

Second really cool thing that happened at the fireside.  After it was over, about 3 rows up in front of me this guy turns around and says HI!  Haha, it was Nate.  He is one of my super good friends that I met at BYU my freshman year. Haha, the world is so small.  It was really neat to see him.  Heavenly Father knows just what we need, and he does work in the details of our lives.  It is SO true. 

 

Well.  This last week, however strange it may have been, was so good!  After all of the reading of different books that I read I started to really read the Book of Mormon a lot the last day.  I was reading in it and it just had a different spirit about it than all the other books did.  It really hit me how sacred of a book this really is.  I love in D & C section 20 :10 what it says about the Book of Mormon. 

 

"Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them— Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever Amen.  Therefore, having so great witnesses, by them shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work.And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life;"

 

What a great privilege it is to have and to be able to read the Book of Mormon every day and to show how grateful we are for it, by how we read it and live by its teachings. 

Well, I love you all so much! This week is going to be great! M and F are going to get married and baptized on Saturday, and there is lots to do for it! Hope you all have a good week and remember how much I love you!!!!!!

March 11, 2013

This week has been great and really interesting.  Sadly I did not take any pictures of my lovely mishap with my bike.....I really didn't want to remember it :D haha.  But things are good.  The bruise on my chin is pretty much gone so it doesn't look like I got beat up, my knee is not as swollen as it was, and I can move my arm quite a bit.  Things are definitely on the up side :D And that is super funny you emailed Sister Howes. Sorry if I worried you, but it was too funny of a story to keep all to my self :D bwhahaha.

 

Well this week........where to begin.  I want to tell you something, but I promise that it is nothing to worry about, but it is really interesting.  So this guy named K that we are teaching, he is friends with all of the homeless-drug addicts in Mesa I am pretty sure. He himself is trying to quit a few drugs.  So basically we are teaching all of the homeless drug population in Mesa in a crack house.  Haha, but really, don't worry, we always take members with us.  But Sister Anderson and I really have to laugh at times. 

 

Also, I have never talked to so many people that want money from the Bishop.  This week we have taught a lot about how to be self reliant.  Money doesn't grow on trees, you have to work for it. So many people want to take the easy way out these days and not take any responsibility.  They obviously did not have parents like mine (thank you by the way :)

 

Okay okay, on a HAPPY NOTE! We are so sososososo excited for the 23rd for M and F's wedding and baptism. Really, it is going to be one of the best days ever.  I have been thinking about all the things that I like doing (not that I am good at them, but I like them) like doing hair, cake decorating, teaching, getting to know people, helping others change their life, throwing parties......and really I have decided that for my whole life Heavenly Father has prepared me to serve a mission because I get to do ALL of those things!  Really a missionary is a wedding planner, decorator, friend, maid, hair dresser, and teacher.  Haha, all of my favorite things in one :D Bwahahhaha.  Well to say the least, we are going to do the best we can to make their day special :D

 

So this week we have been sharing Helaman 5:12 with a lot of people.  It says, "Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

 

I love it.  It talks about building our foundation in Christ so when trials come, they won't knock us down because we have that firm foundation.  And really, that scripture tells us everything we need to know. That is the reason we go to church, the reason we read our scriptures, the reason we say our prayers, the reason we need to keep the commandments...because all of those things help us build that foundation of Christ in our own lives.  Every single one of those things will help us feel the Spirit more in our lives and will protect us from the evils of the world.  We don't have to change the world, we just have to change ourselves. Important? Yes.  Without that foundation of Christ we have hope for nothing, but with that foundation in Christ we have hope for Eternal Life and for families that are together forever.  All due to our Savior Jesus Christ.