August 26, 2013

It's been a busy week, I'm sorry I haven't sent anything.  I have a letter than I've been meaning to send, but I keep forgetting.  I'll put the memory card in there, too.  It has pictures from Odlanier's baptism. 

 

We have 4 people set for baptism!  Norma and Michelle Martinez and Jose Valadez on the 14th of September and Jaime on the 7th of September.  Funny story.  We set Jaime for the 21st, but he insisted we do it sooner.  Now we're just going to have to pack all the laws (WOW, Law of chastity, etc.) before his big day!  His wife Louisa is super excited and grateful.  Jaime's a good man.  Boy, was Louisa lucky!  She took a big chance with him, but he loves her a lot.  He really wants to be sealed in the temple with her and her son. 

 

We went to the temple!  It. Was. Awesome.  About 30 minutes longer, though.  It seriously didn't seem like it though because I enjoyed it A LOT.  I like it a lot better.  And it has EMOTION!  I teared up and everything during the video.  Maybe I'm just dramatic, but it did have a lot more emotion and I love how they portrayed Eve as more of a hero than anything else.  That was how I interpreted it anyway. 

 

The zone leaders are pretty much obsessed with me and sister Veazey.  The other night they said, "how are the two best sisters in the whole mission doing?"  It's entertaining.  The other night we had thought someone may have broken into the Hopkinson's house because they left for Utah for a few days and when they leave, they ALWAYS close the garage door because they leave the back door unlocked and they have an unlicensed Corvette in the garage.  When we got home that night, though, the garage door was open, and knowing that the back door had been unlocked for who knows how long, we felt a little uncomfortable.  So we called the zone leaders and they came over.  It was quite a site.  They're a couple of goofballs.  Elder Robison and Elder Ross.  We stayed out while they went in the house to check all the rooms.  Elder Robison took a broom from the garage and was riding it like a horse through the house.  Everything was good, and then they left to go make sure their own apartment wasn't robbed.  They got robbed before...well, someone broke in, but didn't actually take anything... but they live across from a gang leader apparently and they think that's who did it.  They were laughing about the whole thing, though. 

 

Sister Franco finished her mission on Friday!  She called me and asked for some phone numbers and she was with her family and friends!  They came to Vegas to pick her up and were visiting people she met on her mission and then they're going to head off to Disneyland. 

 

Everything is good with the work.  We had interviews on Friday and it went well.  Sister Neider gave a training on the importance of the Book Of Mormon, which I finished 2 weeks ago by the way. ;)  Transfers are on September 3rd...I think they're moving me.  I've been here for 6 months.  Vamos a ver... 

 

I love you all very much!  Always in my prayers!!!!   Oh, by the way... Elder Christofferson was in our ward???  What?  Like the apostle???

 

Oh, and Mary Fulton's getting MARRIED?!  And where's my plaque picture??!        

August 19, 2013

Wow, they're setting the ward up into two areas?  Cool. :)  
  Did Sera and Mallory leave for BYU yet?  

Oh, I thought I should mention... those clothes that you saw in the pictures I sent you...the striped shirts, the green shirt and the alligator necklace?  I purchased those with my Old Navy gift card.  Just so you know I'm not going on shopping sprees every p-day.  Haha. 

 

Anyway, I've been thinking alot about my talents and what I can do after my mission and what I want to do when I grow up (haha) because my patriarchal blessing talks about me pursuing certain talents or vocations that I have in order to help make OTHER people and their lives happy.  It boggles my mind and I've been thinking about it a lot.  I dunno... but I guess I should start praying more about it instead of thinking about it.  I suggest you do the same.  I'm sure you have been - you being a spiritual giant and all - but you are without a doubt the smartest, most multi-talented woman I've ever known.  No joke.  Again, not just saying that as your daughter.  So you'll think of something.    

So.... what's new.

 

Odlanier's baptism went swimmingly!  We had to do a lot of preparation last minute, but everything fell into place.  He felt the spirit!  He even got teary eyed at one point.  He's a very laid back, chill, whatever kind of guy, so hearing him bear his testimony and seeing how he felt the spirit was a confirmation to me that we did the right thing and that he was really doing it for himself and not just his wife.  That was something I worried about at times, just because he's always like, "porque no" "muy bien.." very laid back.  I think he's solid, though.  And Hermana Juarez, who is his sister-in-law, told us that he didn't want to talk to the missionaries a year ago.  And so sister Holland, Veazey and I were the ones he had to meet.  (I started teaching him with sister Holland.)  The family on his wife's side were very grateful to us.  Hermana Laza (wife) comes from the Villatoro family, which is a very well known family in the church all throughout the Spanish wards in the Vegas Valley.  That pretty much consisted of the people who came to see him get baptized (only a small portion of that family) and Tomas. :)  I will send pictures today!  And you can see how much taller he is than his father-in-law who baptized him.  Haha. 

 

No, Jose's baptism was moved to September 17th, because the family basically wants all of their best friends and family to be a part of the celebration.  The person they want to confirm Jose is on vacation right now, so that's why they pushed it up.  Poor Jose... I think he'd be perfectly happy either way, as long as his dad baptizes him.  He's really excited.  He seemed a little bummed when they changed the date. 

 

No, we didn't get 20 this week....we got 18.  The zone leaders were on our butts, though, telling us we need to get 20 in order to make up for the other district's low numbers...they're a little number happy... because our district is like top in the mission as far as LTM's go...and our zone is only made up of 2 districts.  Ensign and Paraiso (paradise).  We're not complaining, though!  18 is bomb!  President only expects us to get 15 anyway.  Well, he wants each companionship in the mission to get 10 per week, but he expects 15 from our district.  Pressure, pressure...

 

I'm glad to hear Hope is blossoming well!  Has she grown at all?  Is she 6 feet yet? 

 

I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON!  Whooo! 

 

Oh, where's the picture of my plague????? 

 

Les quiero mucho!

August 12, 2013

I'm so happy to hear that Hope had a good experience at camp.  What a tender mercy from the Lord!  How did she make the Bishop and Sis. Arick cry?  By the way, tell her to look out for a package in the mail soon!  The post office said it should get there today! 

 

Do you like chill with the missionaries a lot?  It sounds like it.  We were never too terribly involved in the missionary work in the ward before...which is going to change when I get back!  Oh hey, guess what?  I have officially LESS than a year...

 

This week was pretty good.  I think I'm developing a thicker skin, too, which I'm excited about, because as you know, I'm kind of a sensitive person.  Learning a new language is quite the humbling experience.  We got 16 LTMs this week!  Our zone is the second most successful zone in the mission. (according to numbers...) And based on last weeks numbers, I think our district is #1...in the mission.  Cool, huh?  Numbers are not everything, of course, but they reflect how hard we work.  The zone leaders told us that because we're doing so well, President expects our district to get at least 15 a week per companionship.  Don't worry, though, I'm not getting prideful about it.  The zone leaders did a little bit, and as a result, their numbers were a bit lower this past week.  Haha.  No, The Lord humbles me everyday and these past two weeks have been a huge blessing.  I guess I'm doing SOMETHING right.  Haha.  Odlanier is getting baptized on Saturday and Jose Valadez is getting baptized next Saturday.  We have to step it up and get everything ready for them.  We haven't been in contact with Veronica for some time now... tsk, tsk...she's so solid, but she just won't answer phone calls and is never home anymore.  I know she's still interested, though.  The last time she met with us, she mentioned in her prayer that she wanted us to keep coming and never give up on her.  The sad thing is, though, is that we are on the Lord's time, and if a person doesn't do their part and won't even pick up the phone and call us back, we have to move on and focus our time and efforts elsewhere.  Jaime, an investigator we haven't heard from in a while - just came to church again this Sunday with his wife, Louisa Garay.  We started teaching him again and he is much more open now than he was 2 months ago.  We took him and his wife to the temple the other day at night and he LOVED it.  He wants to be sealed to Louisa.  I love how temples have that effect on people.  Make them want to change. 

 

I'm in 3rd Nephi right now!  Chapter 17. :)  My mind was blown this morning when Jesus Christ was talking about the different sheep that He needed to visit.  It just opened my eyes to how many records there are out there that we are unaware of.  It was also cool how he was clearing up confusion from the bible.  In John 10, the people had assumed he was talking about the Gentiles, but He told the Nephites that he was not commanded to appear unto the Gentiles.  Speaking of which, how would you define a "gentile"?  Give me your opinion.  The bible dictionary says that the Book of Mormon usage most likely refers to other nations that don't have the gospel, even if they have some of the Jew in their blood.. anyway, what is your take on 3 Nephi 16?        

August 5, 2013

Did you get my letter?!?  Mother!  I can't believe you're an alcoholic!?!  Haha, wooooooow.  Not cool that someone would spread that around.  Some people... eyeroll.  I hope you know that I am still sending pictures and look forward to your emails and mail EVERY WEEK.  It is refreshing.  Keep it coming, please!  Preach it, sister!  Keep up the Book of Mormon reading.  I'm in Alma 61 right now.  It's amazing how much I'm learning and how it all really applies to our day.  I need to write the bishop back... he just sent me another letter.  It's in my hands right now, but I haven't read it yet. 

 

This week was super good!  We got 15 LTMs (lessons with members present) this week and it has been probably the busiest week on my mission.  It's true what they say!  Work, work, work, there is no satisfactory substitute!  When we are working every minute, having shorter lessons and picking up member after member, there's no time to think about, "oh, I said that wrong" or, "oh, I suck.."  Just work, work, work and not giving Satan any time to slip in.  As a result, I've also been the most tired!  It's a blessing, though.  Oh, tomorrow is my 1/3rd mark.  And 3 months from now is my half mark.  Time is flying by.  Sister Veazey and I are going to celebrate together because it's her 1/3rd mark, too!  It's nice having a companion who has the same time as me, because my other 2 companions were on the verge of going home.  Not only did they give all their stuff to me, (which is why I have new clothes, btw.  Perks of being a murderer. hehe) but hearing about them going home sometimes got me a little distracted.  Sister Veazey is super cool.  She was only in the MTC for 2 weeks because she studied Spanish before, but she's super humble and easy to get along with.  She's also super against "flirting" with the elders, which is a huge blessing, because I'm against that as well.  Some sisters....not so much. Haha.  No time for hanging out with other missionaries.  Work! 

 

Mom was telling me about how she read in Mosiah, and it reminded me of an article I read by elder Bednar about the Atonement.  In the scriptures we read of so many righteous men and women who rely on God to give them strength.  In this talk, Bednar says, "we shouldn't pray for our circumstances to change, but we should pray for the strength to change our circumstances."  I love that because all of these great examples that we read from the Book of Mormon and the Bible pray for this strength, according to their faith in Jesus Christ.  They never pray asking for God to make their lives easier, they pray for STRENGTH, so that they can bear their trials with hope and happiness.  That's how we can use the power of the Atonement in our lives.  When we can not get over our trials on our own - as imperfect as we are - we can turn to our savior, Jesus Christ and rely on them to help us through this life, as long as we're willing to do our part.  The talk is called, "the enabling power of the atonement."  I think I'll mail it to you guys. :) 

 

We had a funny experience this week in the home of a part member/less active family.  The husband is a less active and his wife is a non-member.  They are super nice and we were about to say a prayer when the Hermana's drunk cousin came in the room.  He started touching sister Veazey's arm and being super creepy and during sister Veazey's prayer, he grabbed her arm and started stroking it up and down.  Then he tried to hug her when we left. When we left, the Hermana apologized like 5 times!  Haha. I gave him a dirty look and so I think he was scared of me.  I think I scare people a lot...  I got super upset one time when I was with sister Holland because I felt like a lot of people wouldn't take me seriously because they don't look me in the eyes when I'm talking to them sometimes.  She told me she thinks it's because I intimidate people.  Hispanic people can tend to be gossipy and Sis. Holland told me she's noticed that some people act intimidated by me because they know they can't mess with me.  I don't know if that's true, but it made me feel kinda cool.  Oh, I don't think I told you guys yet, but sister Andher (Anders, I spelled her name wrong before) admitted that she's scared of me.  Apparently I remind her of her older daughter...this one time I guess I raised my eyebrow a certain way in the middle of her babbling and she about jumped ten feet.  I don't know what I did, but I guess my face scared her...?  Haha. Anyway... 

 

I love you all very much and I will send pictures, I promise!  I hope you will send me my skirts and what the poop shirt and memory card (with pictures from home!) soon!