Monday, October 29, 2012

I Like This Room, I Can Feel the Spirit in Here


 Hola mi familia!

Last Tuesday after I emailed we went to the temple. I love it there and was very grateful to have the chance to go! After the temple our district went to the park for the rest of our P-day to feed the ducks.
No Turtle Races
We started feeding them, and a bunch of turtles would swim up to eat the bread. We caught some of the turtles and were going to have turtle races but we ran out of bread so they stopped coming. It was lots of fun! 

This week we were on a street headed to a lesson and the guy had just gotten home from work and was cleaning up so they asked us to come back in 15 minutes. We decided to go find some of the potentials that lived on that same street. As we started walking towards one of their houses a lady ran over to us and said,

"Wait! Are you Mormons?"

We said yes, and she told us that she has been looking for us. She used to meet with the missionaries, and would go to church all the time but moved and lost contact with them. She said that she couldn't find missionaries anywhere and so she went to many different churches but none of them were the same. She was really excited that she found us and wants to start coming back. Well this week we found out that she has to move again, and wants the missionaries to come visit her there. Also, when we were teaching her I had a random thought that she looked like one of my old investigators so I asked if they were related, and she said that it was her mom! Haha crazy! It was cool to be able to meet her and see the desire that she had to learn and come to church. 

Making Caramel Apples
This week we also taught [Brother X] a few more times. We had a lesson about the Sabbath Day and he told us that he was going to come to church and that he knew he needed to. Well, sadly he didn't show up. He said he was out of town and got back too late to come. It was really sad though because this is the third week in a row that he said he would come but then didn't. We have been praying a lot for him and I hope we can help him see the importance of church. 

This week I had a couple of cool experiences. The first one was a couple of days ago. I went on exchanges to Anaheim hills and they had their Halloween party that night. They had members in all of the classrooms handing out candy to all of the kids. The kids were all really excited and running around. There was one room off to the side that had a church video playing and it was a lot quieter. A boy who was probably about 5 or 6 years old walked in and sat on the chair for about 15 minutes while the rest of the kids were running around getting candy. Then he stood up and walked over to us and said, "I like this room, I can feel the spirit in here." That was so amazing to me that this little boy could recognize the spirit, and that he liked being there because he could feel it. 

Another experience that I had was last night. There was a member in our ward who was in the hospital. Her husband who is not a member, couldn't be there with her for most of the time because of work. We went to visit her and started singing hymns with her. During on of the last songs, her husband walked in the room and started to tear up. I know that he was able to feel the spirit. 

Yesterday was the wards primary program. Remember how Curtis used to sing really loud...Well there was a girl in the ward who reminded me of that. It was so cute!! I love those kids! The primary program is always my favorite!
The Cute Snake
This coming week we have the Halloween party for our ward. Its going to be after Halloween, but that's normal for my ward. haha! At the Halloween party when I was on exchanges there was a lady with a huge snake and she let me hold it for a while. It was so cute. It kinda freaked me out though when it's head started coming closer to my face. I think I want a pet snake when I get home (or probably not).

So yeah, exchanges were fun. I am super grateful to be speaking Spanish and to be in my area. We went tracting in Anaheim hills and it was really sad! It is a very rich area and the people were not very nice. At least here the people are super nice and talk to us even if they don't want anything to do with our message.  Anyways, that's about it for this week.

Eric! That's so awesome that you are the AP! I can't wait until you are out in the field! You are going to love it! Sounds like your Spanish is coming along really well! You probably will pass me up soon! :) Good luck!! You are always in my prayers! :) Love you all! :)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Investigators Helping Investigators

A Cali Sunset
So today we get to go to the temple and I am really excited! 

Eric, is there a temple close to where you're at in Guatemala? Also I don't know if I already told you this or not but keep an eye out for Hermana Andreason once you are out of the MTC. She was one of my companions in the MTC and I think she is in your same mission. 

This week we did a lot of finding again. We have been visiting part members families and have a lesson with one of them tonight. We visited [x] again this week. He is doing really well and seems to be really understanding the message and making changes in his life, but he hasn't come to church! He always says that hes going to come, and the last two Sundays we called in the morning and he said that he was sick. We are planning on teaching him the Sabbath day this week, so I hope he comes this next Sunday. [x] tells us that he has had dreams where he is with us in our congregation, and he knows he's supposed to come but he still hasn't. 

We also ran into one of our former investigators this week named [x], and he is probably the funniest person I have ever met! We couldn't stop laughing. He talks like a gangster and says the funniest things! He said he was going to find his Book of Mormon, so we might stop by again to see how he's doing later this week. 

Last night we went to visit [x], a less active member who we used to teach. He was baptized in Mexico when he was 12 and only went to church for a year and then he stopped going. We have invited him to church many times but he never wants to come. We were talking to him at his doorstep and this guy named [x], who we used to teach walked by. He is friends with [x] and so he came and started talking to us. We asked [x] if he still has his Book of Mormon and he told us that he is just going to read the Bible. Before we said anything [x] started explaining all about the Book of Mormon and how important it was, and telling [x] about when Christ came to the Americas. He started quoting scriptures and sharing his testimony.
Hermanas Schofield y Layton at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
It was awesome! He remembers so much! We ended up being able to make another appointment with [x], and [x] is going to try to come. It was a cool experience. 

This week our Mission President's wife called my companion and I to come help write names on the back of all of her pictures for the photo albums, and so we went to the mission home and hung out with president and his wife for a couple of hours. It was a fun way to use our service hours for the week! :) We are probably going to go over again soon to finish up. 

Well I think that's about all that happened this week. Thanks for all the letters and support everyone!!!! Love you all! :)

Have a great week!!!!!!!!!

Love, Me

Monday, October 15, 2012

Heavenly Father Puts the Words in My Mouth

Hello family!

First of all, Eric that's awesome that you have been playing soccer. We still play almost every p day. Isn't it the best! Also Hermana Longoria is my last companions new companion. She is training her. There is a very good chance that I will be companions with her. That's awesome that you know her. I haven't met Elder Brooks yet but I will keep my eye out. Sounds like you've been having a lot of fun in Guatemala! :) Keep up the good work bro.

This week we found a man named Jorge. He accepted a baptism date for November 4th! He invited us right in when we knocked on his door and said he felt different when we were there. The lessons that we have had with him have been very powerful. 

I know that the gift of tongues is real, and I have seen that a lot this week. Sometimes I think I can't explain something or say it right in Spanish, but when I start speaking, Heavenly Father puts the words in my mouth and I am able to explain. I am grateful for his help with the language because there is no way I would be able to teach without it. Sometimes it is still hard to speak outside of gospel topics, but the Gospel is why I'm here so it's all good. :) 

This Sunday our two most promising investigators from last transfer came to church. I was so happy to see them there, but when I told them that they don't live in our area anymore, and that the others missionaries were going to teach them she started to tear up and asked if we could still come see and teach her. It was so hard to explain that we have to stay in our area and I don't know if she completely understood why, but I introduced her to the other sisters and after that she seemed okay about the change. We are going to see how it goes. I love them and really miss teaching them! I am enjoying this half of the area though. :) 

Mom, you asked about the food. We eat with the members almost every day for dinner, and usually just have sandwiches for lunch. I don't have a favorite food because it's all really good but it is all so fattening! And they fill our plate with so much food! I always sneak some of my food to the other missionaries to help me finish. That is awesome to hear that Alexa and Brook are both thinking about missions! And Jerricha's going to absolutely love it! :) The weather down here has been nice still but cool at night. Yes, I still use my heated blanket every night. It's the best! :)  

You wanted to hear more about the embarrassing moments.. there are too many. Haha... a lot of them are hard to explain, you just had to be there. Anyway thanks for everything. Love you all!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Wasn't Conference Awesome?

Jericho Road

I'm so glad you got the pictures! I was worried that you might not get them. And dad that's funny about the Jericho Rd. sign! :) (FYI, Jericho Road is the name of an LDS musical group. Briana sent us this picture last week.)

Wasn't conference awesome?! I hope Eric was able to watch it in English. I was able to, and I think I was able to enjoy it more that way. I can't believe that sisters can go out at 19 now! That is so crazy!! 

Right when he said that, I thought of Brooklyn.  I was thinking about her all day since she told me that she's been thinking about a mission. Brook, I think you should do it! I couldn't imagine my life without these experiences. I think that so many more sisters will serve now, and I think the missionary work is going to grow a lot. 

I loved the talk by Elder Holland, and how bold he is. I thought the whole conference was really good and I really enjoyed the music. I wish I could go back and watch it all again. :) 

Hermanas Layton y Schofield with a local sister
We've had a good and busy week. I love working with sister Poulson. It's always sad when my companions get transferred out of the area, but every time a different companion comes, there is always so much to learn from her. It's been weird since they split the area but it's good too. We are finding more people and spending less time driving across that area to appointments. 

Mom, you asked about the sisters areas. Well, we have three. They had spanish sisters in Garden Grove, Anaheim, and here in Orange. When our area got split into two they gave the Garden Grove area to the Elders and so now the only Spanish sister areas are both halfs of the city of Orange and Anaheim. Maybe one of these days I will go to Anaheim, but if not, I won't be disappointed. I love it here! :) 

Las Hermanas
Anyway, there is not a lot to say this week. We found a lot of people, we had a lot of really embarrassing and awkward moments (that's just part of being a missionary), and got a lot done. I got to meet Hermana Breitenstein's new trainee. There is a good chance that I will be companions with her someday. She came out already knowing quite a bit of Spanish because she took Spanish classes before her mission. She is going to be a really good missionary. Sister Schofield is also training a new missionary right now in Anaheim. I can't wait to meet her. It's weird not being the youngest Spanish sister now.

Anyway, hope all is well back home. Love you all so much!! :)

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Best Decision I Have Ever Made

Sisters Layton and Schofield

That's so awesome that Eric was in my same zone!! Best teachers in the MTC! I cannot believe that he is headed to Guatemala. We have people in our ward from there and they were very excited when I told them that my brother was going. He will love it. I heard that there are really big spiders... that's why he went there and not me! :)

Ok, so this week has been crazy. I thought for sure that I was leaving this area because we knew that there were going to be changes with all of the spanish sisters. We got transfer calls Saturday night and they are actually splitting my area in half and I am taking the north half and Sister Breitenstein and her companion are taking the south half. I think I will just plan on staying here my whole mission! :) I was really sad at the thought that I might have to leave. We will have 4 sisters in our district now! That never happens. The half of my area that I will be working in has some good potential and most of our investigators are there, but the other half has our most progressing family. I'm glad that I will still get to see them at church but will miss teaching them. I know that sister Breitenstein will take care of them though. :) 

Anaheim, California Mission Sisters
Sister Schofield is going back to Anaheim and my new companion is sister Poulson. I am so sad that I was only companions with sister Schofield for one transfer. It was definitely my favorite transfer of the mission so far. I learned so much from her. Sister Poulson will be great too though. She is from Colorado and is going to BYU. Her major is history teaching. She came out with sister Breitenstein, so only has three transfers left. 

That's awesome about Michael's mission call! I love how many missionaries are coming out lately! He will do great! 

Mom, did you go to the women's conference? If not, you should watch it! I am getting really excited for conferences coming up this next weekend. I am grateful that we can listen to our living prophet and apostles. We taught Pati about Prophets this week and she thought it was really cool. She said she want's to come watch!

It is so amazing seeing the change in her from the time we started teaching. She is so great! Our new ward mission leader has been so great and helpful with the missionary work! He is getting the ward excited about doing missionary work. I am looking forward to this new transfer and am so grateful to be out here!

Cooling off with the district on a P day
Dad you said in your letter that you wondered about all of the things I'm not telling you like anything negative. Haha... There honestly not much to say and really nothing to complain about. The language is hard but it's okay because I always have a companion if I get stuck. The hardest part of the mission is watching people not accept the message and not keep their commitments, but there are others who do accept and do keep their commitments and that is one of the most amazing things to see out here! Another thing that is hard is saying goodbyes to my companions, but hey, I'll see them all again so what is there to be sad about? Haha. Don't worry I'm not hiding anything negative. 

I love the mission more than anything. It is the best decision I have ever made coming out here. I know I am supposed to be here. I cannot believe that in a few days I am at my halfway mark. Crazy! Make the time slow down!! :/ Anyway, I have to go. Love you all so much! Tell Michael congrats for me. Oh and also tell Matthew congrats for his baptism. I don't know if I said that before but I meant too. I am proud of him. 

Have a great week!