Email - December 23

On Saturday, Javier Gonzalez got baptized so that was exciting! Today he took us out for breakfast at Denny's. He said that to be baptized was the best decision that he has ever made. His whole family was there supporting him too, it was cool.

I love you and I can't wait to talk to you on Wednesday!! Have a Merry Christmas Eve. Tell the fam and the ward and the Hartsfield's that I love them!!

Email - December 18

    So lots of changes have happened this past week. Saturday, we had 2 ward Christmas parties. One for Mesa Del Sol and tons of our investigators came so it was pretty awesome. The ward has it at the prettiest place ever!! It is at this ranch that has a pond and boats and horses and it is just so beautiful! I want to buy the land! They had a GINORMOUS bonfire!! And steak! When we were there, we got a call from our zone leaders, they said that Sister Ward is transferring on Tuesday, so she needs to pack her bags. We were all super duper sad about it because she is just an angel and we love her. We went to the second Christmas party with the Spanish branch. I got told that I am speaking in the Spanish branch this Sunday... I am so nervous because no hablo espanol!!

   Last Sunday, we went to our churches and then we took off to Tempe that night with all the missionaries in the whole mission. We all went up for our Christmas Conference. Sunday night was the Mission President Fireside, which they have once a month but I have never been able to go because it is too far. It was the BEST THING EVER besides what I am going to tell you in a little bit. But they had new converts speak and I loved it! Usually missionaries bring recent converts or investigators to these things. They are hopefully starting one in Yuma soon! That night we stayed at the Brown's home (huge house) they are going to be a new missionary couple that stays in the office. Doing what my grandma is doing on her mission. They are so nice! The next day (Monday, this is why I didn't email you) we had devotionals about Christ all day and about the Temple and got to know all the missionaries in our mission and had a testimony meeting. I don't think the Catmull's niece is in our mission anymore. That night we had family home evening and got to hear a ton of musical numbers! It was awesome! So much musical talent, it's ridiculous! Then we slept again at the Brown's with all the missionaries from Yuma. This is the best part.... I GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!! yayayaya I have never been so excited in my life and I was just imagining those people that live far from the temple and only get to go once in their lives. I was so excited I was tearing up! The Mesa Temple is drop dead amazing! No kidding! It is beautiful! And the new video, ahhh I loved it! I was so happy to be there and found so much peace! Guess what, I got to hug President Toone in the Celestial Room, I hugged a man! The biggest man ever! Have I ever told you how tall he is!? yeah so it was amazing! And then we drove home last night! And we found out for Mission Leadership Council Sister White and I have to drive back up Thursday night to Friday evening. Our week is shot!! And we have Javier's baptism this Saturday that isn't really planned, so this will be interesting and all of our baptisms for the 28th, who knows what we will do! And right now I am on exchanges with another sister. 

    This past week our zone met a new time record of how many investigators at church, we had 35 and before our record was 27. As a zone we have 20 people on date for baptism. Miracles happen! In our area, which is down right awesome, we had 14 people at church, and we have 7 on date. At the Christmas Conference everyone was coming up to me and saying, I hear your area is doing amazing! It is so cool to think about how this area was "the struggling area" before, and now it is one of the best in the mission. I know that is because of obedience and diligence, miracles happen! 

    Also, I talked to Sister Toone this past week. We had a zone conference Sister White and I taught about sustaining ourselves in our callings, leaders, fellow missionaries, and the Lord in this work. I was so nervous, my self-esteem was definitely gone that day, but President and Sister Toone said they have seen an amazing change in me and that I did amazing, that they really felt the spirit. 

Uhm... I think that is all. But just know I am thinking of you all a whole lot! And finally it is getting a little warmer again back up to 70 during the day :) Suprisingly I don't miss the snow, which helps not getting as home sick. Well I love you and I can't wait to talk to you all :) :) 

Poem

Before this life , we live together as spirits,

We knew each other, very well.

You promised me that you would be my friend in this life,

And lead me to my Savior.

You promised me that you would keep me away,

From the evil and temptations of the world.

You promised me that when I lost my way,

You would be right there by my side.

Where are you now?

My spirit is gone, my heart is weak,

These feelings just don’t feel complete.

I need you now more than ever.

I lost my way, I fell off the path.

My friend, please come back and be my healer,

Lead me to my Father,

Keep the promises that you did make.

               Come find me now, don’t come too late.

Letter - December 7

My neighbors, two doors down, Laura (mother) and Standen (daughter) were baptized on November 30th. I don't know if I have told you about them, if not than I am surprised because they are seriously my two favorite people! So funny and so random, it kills me! They are my joy each day! Laura pretty much calls me her daughter. She has really taken care of me and loves me so much. I am so grateful to have her here. They crack me up! Laura has been smoking for YEARS and we helped her quit. She had a really tough time, but finally quit for good. I asked her what had made her quit this time. She said, "I want to be a member! I want to be baptized!" It was the most true and honest reply and I felt the Spirit through her. The elders had always tried to share the lessons with them, but they haven't wanted to listen before. I love them so much!

Laura (right) kept singing "Oom-pa, Loom-pa" while in the baptismal suit

Email - December 2

Transfer news!!!
dun dun dun...

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...........

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I am staying.... hahahaha whooo. So I am staying, my companion is staying. We are still sister training leaders and we are also training a new missionary together. Which means that we will be in a trio of sisters, in a trailer, with one shower, hahaha! This shall be an adventure!! I am really happy to be staying though, so that is good! I have family here, it is nice. 

Shout out to KELLI because she is THE BEST and sent me the cutest shirts ever! I miss her so much! It ain't even funny! Well, I miss all my friends so much!!

My thanksgiving was great! I had 3 dinners=stuffed!

I love you!

   This week was very emotional and stressful. So much work! But it is great because we need this work, right :) On Saturday, very happy day with the 2 baptisms, Kainoa Renaud, he is 18 and down right AMAZING! And Kylee Earl, she is 9, so adorable!

Email - November 18

   This week has been amazing!! I am pretty sure that my area has the most taught lessons per week in the mission, if not, then it has to be pretty far up on the list! But the Lord has prepared many people here to accept Christ in their lives. 

  I don't want to leave this area, haha. I am pretty sure I have about 20 moms looking after me here and I feel like I am home every house I go to. Some moms have been fighting after me to marry their sons when they return from a mission, haha. I am just so grateful for the people here that love me and I feel like they are all my family. It makes it easier to deal with the daily stress as a missionary with such wonderful ward families.

   Last Monday, for p-day, my whole zone went to San Luis, Arizona (look on map). It is on the border, like I saw Mexico. I saw the people lining up at the border entry. All hispanics there. It is probably 45 minutes from my area. Those missionaries in San Luis are in my zone as well. And I define that it is San Luis, Arizona because San Luis also goes into Mexico. This is where all our Spanish investigators go for the weekends, which means that we can't get them to church... very frustrating! Anyway, we played soccer, volleyball, softball, basketball with the zone and with some members in San Luis. It was really fun! Luckily today is a nice relaxing p-day where I finally get to get caught up on the letters I have received. I will write you a longer letter today. I have so many miracles and stories to tell you. P.S. we have two baptisms this Saturday the 23rd. Yay!! I will tell you about them.

Email - October 28

Facebook-- So I can do whatever on Facebook, as long as it fulfills my purpose as a missionary. My missionary purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ. So occasionally, I do see my friends status' and stuff when I am scrolling down but I try not to look too much because it is not fulfilling my purpose and it makes me miss my friends, a lot! I am not the biggest fan of Facebook proselyting just because it is really hard to be on there and seeing everything that people are doing and also, because I have been called to work with the people in Arizona. So on Facebook, I usually just try to look up the people from my area and talk to them or I really try to seek for council of who I should message to or what I should say on the daily status to everyone. It isn't my favorite thing, but also it is nice because I have thought about random people from home every once in awhile and it is nice to look them up and send something to them. But also, if ANYONE has friends I can talk to about the gospel through Facebook, I would love to know so that I can do all that I can to bring others to Christ. I can teach lessons, share videos, share scriptures. If any member has a friend that they chat with, then I can join in the conversation and the member and I can teach a lesson together to a friend. So technically, family or friends, you can help me out in lessons that I teach online and it wouldn't be against the rules. Also I can talk to less active people online from home or mission or around the world.

So today, I am heading up to Tempe for MLC ( I think it stands for Missionary Leadership Council). All the sister training leaders go and the zone leaders and assistants to the president. p.s. I was mixed up about the sister training leader thing last time. So I found out more information. There are 12 total sister training leaders in the mission. There is either 1 or 2 sister training leaders for each stake in the boundaries. My companion and I are the 2 for the Yuma Stake. Pretty exciting but very stressful! Who am I kidding, I don't get stressed very easily ha. But we are heading up to Tempe in about 15 min to have these classes and I-pad training. Which means I get an I-pad today or tomorrow and we are heading back to Yuma tomorrow. My new companion's name is Sister White or Hermana Blanca. She has been out for 16 months. She is from Millcreek, Utah. (SLC) and she makes me very nervous because of how long she has been out here. I feel like I don't even know what I am doing compared to her. So this week was kind of crazy because I have been trying to teach her the area and all but it is great! Oh and her Spanish is really good!! Everyone in the wards are so happy I am still here. I feel loved :)

 

Shout out to Kylee Aspen Hunt because she sent me the only letter I got last week. It was a way good letter, also. This is the first week I haven't really gotten like any mail. Probably because I have a stack of people I need to write back to sitting on my desk. My bad. 

Email #2 - October 21

SHOUT OUT: The Muirs for sending me an adorable Halloween package!

Also, to the Plummers for their ridiculous generosity and the Birthday package!

#feelingthelove

Email - October 21

Transfer News! Guess what!!!? 

................(drum roll) 

I am staying!!!!! hahaha But, I am super excited because this area is becoming greater and greater and I would feel awful leaving it, so I am happy with where I am at. I think I need to find that person I am suppose to help before I move on or something! I don't even know. My companion is leaving today up to Tempe and flying out on Wednesday :( I am super excited for her but also super sad! She's my best friend these days. I am definitely going to miss her so much! But she will do so well in Argentina and that is where the Lord wants her, so I guess it is okay. 

This week has been a little crazy with everything that is going on for transfers, but my companion and I did really well. We taught so many lessons and had a great week! 

I really don't know if I have much more to tell you. Life has been ya know GREAT but nothing new :) 

Oh and also I am a Sister Training Leader for our zone. So they have sister training leaders for the whole mission (4 sisters) and then they have 1 or 2 for each zone. It is a pretty new thing but I am one of them, so that is pretty cool.

hey also... Yuma should be the first place to be getting ipads (besides Mesa zone because they were the trial zone) but we should be getting them before the end of this month :) wahhooo

and the new adventure begins.... :)