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! :)

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!

She's Still Not Married - Really

I love reading Eric's emails and think it is so cool that we get to share this experience together. I can't wait until we are both out in the field at the same time! It is crazy that he leaves the MTC so soon. The rest of the mission will only get better. :) 

This has been such a busy week. My companion is sure teaching me how to work hard, shes the best! Transfers are next Monday and I have a feeling that I might be leaving this area, especially because I have been here my whole mission. I am still the youngest Spanish speaking sister in our mission but we have two new ones that are finally coming next week.

This week we had many great lessons. We are teaching xxxx, and she talked her mom into listening to us too. Both of them are great! Her mom changed her work schedule so that she can come to church on Sundays. We hadn't even asked her to do that yet and she did it on her own. They both want to be baptized and were talking about it once we left and xxxx's little brother who is 9 heard them. He asked his mom if he can be baptized too. He is planning on coming to the lessons from now on so that they can all prepare together. I love seeing the people we are working with progress and change and seeing how happy it makes them. I think one of my favorite parts of the mission is being able to see the change when people accept the gospel into their lives. 

We had another great lesson with one of our single adults. Her sister who is 20 sat in the lesson with us and it went really well. They didn't see the importance of baptism again since they have already been baptized into the xxxx church. She has received an answer and knows that the Book of Mormon is true though. We have explained the restoration and the authority many times, but this time basically told them straight out that the xxxx church doesn't have the authority to baptize. We asked them to pray to know if they should be baptized again into this church. We have never been so bold, but I think they finally understood and agreed to pray about it. They both want to come to church on Sunday, and said that what they have learned from us makes more since than the xxxx church. I just hope they really do pray about and come to church because I know that they will feel different here. 

A couple of nights ago we were talking to people as we were on our way back to the car. We started talking to three guys standing outside and taught them a quick lesson. After, one of the guys looked at me and he was talking really fast. I thought he asked, "Are you married?" But he really said, "Do you believe in marriage?" I said "no". Lets just say it was really awkward and I am thankful for a companion who fixed what I said! Haha! 

Eric I'm glad you liked the package. I'm so proud of you!

Anyway, time to go play soccer with my zone! Woo! Have a great week! Love you all so much! :)

New Apartment, No More Roaches

My dearest family,

This week I went on Exchanges again to La Habra. It's was an English speaking area but I was able to do quite a bit of contacting in Spanish which was fun. Spanish is still pretty hard for me but I really do love it. I love the people, and I love their culture. 

Kitchen in the new apartment

(Briana and her companion moved to a new apartment last week. She enjoys not having cockroaches running around everywhere.)

We have three investigators who are progressing right now but there is something that it stopping all of them from making the next step which has been hard. 

One of them has a very strong testimony and he loves it when we come over. He says that he can feel the spirit when he reads from the Book of Mormon and when we are there. He has almost read all the way through Alma! He wants to get baptized and knows that he needs to, but he only works three days a week and Sunday is one of them. We had a lesson with him about sacrifices this week. I know that he will be blessed if he comes to church and I think he is really scared to take Sunday off because it would be a huge sacrifice for his family in Mexico. We are going to see if he will look for another job, but right now he is just not making that next step. 

We are teaching another lady who is so awesome. She has changed her life around so much and really wants to be baptized. She knows that the church is true and is doing everything that she can to be the best she can. But... do you remember me telling you about the lady that we were teaching in jail? She is on probation for like 6 months so she cant get baptized until after she is off. So sad! 

We are teaching another lady who is a friend of one of our recent converts and she loves the lessons. She has four kids and wants them to be able to come to church. Her husband doesn't want anything to do with the church though. She thought he wouldn't let them come. He is the only one that drives in their family but when she talked to him he said that she could come. The problem is that he works during that time. 

We are doing to try and find a member who can take her. (Even though our ward mission leader and bishop tell us not to ask members because they said our investigators should make sacrifices to get there.) But that is the only way to get them to church because so many of them don't have a car and live so far away. We were going to get her a ride this week but she just had surgery and she cant leave the house for a month now because of it. She still lets us come in and teach but she cant get out. 

We have a list of other investigators that we have found but it is so hard to find them again. I think some of them hide from us. 

I am loving every minute of the mission. It's not always easy but it's the best! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! :) :) :)

Love, Me

Six Month Mark - Already!

Sisters Breitenstein & Layton at a Ward Activity - apparently held in Texas

Hello my dearest family!

We have had a great week. We have been trying to figure out new ideas for finding people so we decided to start teaching English classes. We are planning on doing them 2 days a week starting on the 18th. 

We will start the classes with a prayer and spiritual thought, and then end with a prayer. This Sunday we started inviting the members and asking them to bring friends and we've also been puting flyers all around our area. A couple people have called asking about them, and we have seen people pull our flyers down and take them, or read them and put the number in their phone. Missionaries have done this before and lots of them have had success stories, but others have tried it and it hasn't worked out in their area. We are going to see how many people come for the first few times and see if it is worth our time. We will see what happens though. The sisters from another area sent us their lesson plans that we are planning on using. :) 

My 4th of July was great! It was just like every other day and our exchanges got changed so I wasn't by the Disneyland fireworks for the 4th... but guess what.. the 4th of July was my 6 month mark! Woah, time flies! I really think the time needs to slow down. I just love being out here so much. 

This Saturday I went on exchanges with the sign language sisters. It was so cool watching them communicate. I learned how to pray in sign language, but thats about it. It was a fun day. 

Sister Breitenstein and I get to be companions again this transfer. I am so excited! She is the driver this time though. They made a new Spanish zone, so we have 3 zones now instead of 2. Ours is really small now. Our President asked for some more Spanish speaking missionaries so it will grow eventually. 

The other good news is that we have 2 more sisters in out zone now! Wooo! Growing up with all brothers, I always wanted sisters... and being around so many Elders all the time, has really made me want sisters even more! Haha! 

We are changing apartments this Friday. I am so happy. The Cockroaches are nasty. I was sitting on the couch and a big one crawled accross me. I screamed so loud and think I really scared my companion. Haha! But lets just say I am so grateful that we are moving. We are going to have washers and dryers in the new apt! Wahoo! :) Anyways, thanks everyone for the letters. Love you all. Thank you Nennemans for the cookies! :)

Also, dad I just have to tell you, everyone loved that "Biggest piece of Sacrament bread" pic that you sent me. Too funny. :) Oh, and just one question... How is Ginger? :) Haha... Love you all so much! :)

Setting and Meeting Goals

Dad! Happy late fathers day! I hope it was a great one. I wish I could have call home like we did on mothers day.

We have had a very busy week. We had zone conference and they focused a lot on finding new people and sharing the messege of the restoration. I learned a lot and it got me excited to go find more people. One of my teachers in the MTC taught us the importance of setting goals and writing them down and then doing all that you can to accomplish them.

We made a goal this week to share 10 Books of Mormon and figured out what we needed to do each day so that we could meet our goal. I know that when we set goals and work hard, Heavenly Father helps us accomplish them.

Each day in our prayers we have been asking for help with our goal. This week we were able to find 7 new investigators, and shared 18 Books of Mormon. I know that Heavenly Father led us to these people that were willing to listen. We found some families to teach, and I am so excited!

My companion is the best. She helps me out a lot, especially with Spanish. It has been hard because we speak english most of the time except for when we are in lessons. She is so great though and she's always looking for ways to help me!

This week we get to go to the temple with our zone. I can't wait. I loved being able to go every week when I was in Provo. I love the spirit there. Well sorry this is short. That is about everything that happened this week. Love you all. :)

Spanish Is Pretty Hard But I Love It

MTC district

Hola! This week has been another great one. I love this area! My companion's names are Hermana Vilches and Hermana Breitenstein. Hermana Vilches is the one that is fluent with the language. She knew Spanish before her mission. They are really helpful with the language.

Spanish is pretty hard but I love it. There was one day this week where I was talking in Spanish all day and I knocked on one door and said something to them in Spanish. I was so used to speaking Spanish that I didnt realize that they answered me in English and I kept replying in Spanish and he kept talking in English. The conversation probably sounded really funny. My companions were laughing at me the rest of the day. So funny. :)

So this week I extended the baptismal invite for the first time. It was the first lesson that we had with him and it went really well. When I asked him he sat there for a couple minutes thinking about it and then he said that he would, but first he wants to know for sure that this is true. He has been reading his scriptures and praying so I know that he will find his answer.

Hermanas Vilches, Breitenstein and Layton

We are working with a lady that set a date to be baptized on the 26th of this month but it all depends on of she gets married or not. She really wants to but her boyfriend doesn't quite yet. She knows that the church is true and she has a really strong testimony so hopefully they will get married before the 26th.

We had my first zone conference this week. It was awesome. We heard from my mission president and his wife. It was a really great experience! They have amazing testimonies.
I am starting to get to know the people in the ward a lot more. They are great! The little kids are the cutest! On Sundays we stand by the door and greet everyone coming in and sometimes the little kids will just run up and give me a huge hug. It's sad that I'm not supposed to hug back but their hugs still make my day.

I don't have a ton of time but I want you to know that I know that the Gospel was restored to the earth and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I love teaching the first lesson and especially the first vision because it brings the Spirit into the room so strong. I love the gospel. I know that it can bring so much joy into our lives. Don't be afraid to share it with people. Find names that you can give to the missionaries in the ward. That is the best way to do missionary work! :)

Oh and a question that I think you asked last week that I forgot to answer... I was told that most likely I will be serving in all Spanish speaking areas. The only reason why they would move me to an English area is if they really needed drivers. A lot of the missionaries from out of the country can't drive. The mission president really likes to keep you where you have been called though so my companions said they really do not think I will serve in an English area. I guess there is a chance that I could though.

I love and you miss you all so much. Tell Aunt Karen that there is a letter on the way. It takes me forever to write back especially now that I am out in the field. Tell Grandma, Grandpa and Sean that I love them so much!!! and the Vegas family too! :) Gracias!

First Talk in Spanish

Hermana Hunter

Hola! This has been another great week in the MTC. I cannot believe I only have a week and a half left!

Each week we are supposed to write talks in Spanish and they don't tell anyone who is speaking until they announce it in church. The week before this one they called an Elder up to speak and when he got up there he said "If anyone saw me writing really fast before I came up it wasn't because I was procrastinating, it was because I wanted to make some changes." The branch president with a loud voice then said, "If you are not ready then Hermana Layton will be happy to come up and speak for you." It was funny at the time because I knew that he was kidding. But guess who he decided to call up and speak this last week!

Yep, I gave my first talk in Spanish. It was actually a really good experience and good practice.

Friends Headed to Korea

Yesturday I got to be a host for the new missionaries that came in. I was a host for a girl who was going to Japan on her mission. It was fun to be able to show her around and tell her how awesome this place is. It doesn't seem long ago at all when I was the new missionary. Time flys!

This morning we went to the temple again. When I got there a lady asked me if I would do one of the names she had with her. It was pretty cool. I absolutely love the temple! I can't wait to go to the one in my mission. When I get home I want to go through Salt Lake! I love my classes and all of my teachers. It is so crazy how in tune with the spirit my teachers are here. There were a couple of times while they were bearing their testimonies that they said exactly what I needed to hear at that time.

Like I said last week, I know that Heavenly Father loves us. The church is true. Missions rock!

Eric, I am so proud of you for getting into BYU. Smarty pants. You liking the new job? Tell me about it! Mom said that you look really cute in that tie dye. ;) Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I was thinking about you yesterday and wanted to send a happy birthday email so bad... I wrote a card earlier this week but just barely sent it out this morning. I hope it was a great day for you! Tell Dallin, Michael, and Allyston that they are going to love BYU Idaho. It is such a great school, and so much fun! Congrats to Brooke! I bet BYU is just as awesome! :) Love you all tons!

Adios! :)

Hermana Layton

Another "Amazing Week" in the MTC



Sister Layton & Ricky Pullan (cousin)

It´s been another amazing week. The temple was great, like always! We woke up at five this morning to do laundry so that we have more time to write during our free time. Hopefully I will have time to write everyone back. Thank for all of the letters!!

It was so awesome seeing Ricky yesterday! I´m glad he sent you a picture. Now that I know where he works I will definitely go visit more often when I have time.

I got a new companion this week. again... haha! She is my 6th one!! I didn´t know I was that hard to live with but hopefully this one sticks around longer.

Mom you asked about the investigators. They are our teachers role playing investigators so no they are not real. Thank goodness because I´ve said some really weird things on accident. Haha!

The lessons have been hard since I have had so many companions. We keep starting over with new investigators so that we can both know what is going on in the lesson. Spanish is hard but I do feel like it is coming. I can understand quite a bit.

There was a fireside the other night and the first talk was in Spanish. It was so cool! I could understand most of what she said. It is definitely harder speaking though.

Sisters Layton and Hunter (First Companion)

MTC District In Front of Provo Temple

That is so cool that Chanel got called into the nursery! She is so lucky. I miss those kids soooo much! Well, I am about out of time. I am so grateful to be here at the MTC. The church is true, I know it! Love ya´ll!
(It was short but we also got snail mail letters last week. She's doing great!)

Called to Be a Representative of Jesus Christ

This week has been so great! Hermana Hunter moved up to the advanced class and now my companion is Hermana Andreason. She leaves in 3 weeks for Guatemala so I am going to get two new companions. Hermana Andreason is a lot of fun. She reminds me so much of Erica Marley!! They have the exact same personality, it's so funny!

This week for devotional Elder Nelson came. It was awesome! Our district president said that it was probably a rumor that the prophet was coming which was too bad.

This week we continued to teach our investigator Martin. He accepted a date to be baptized finally and we are teaching him again tonight. We are getting new investigators soon.

Spanish is hard but it is slowly coming. On Sunday we walked to the temple and this morning we got to go through. I love the temple so much and am so happy that we get to go each week.

The food here was really good the first week but it gets old pretty fast. We get gym time almost every day. The soccer fields are closed so we are supposed to stay in the gym. I played basketball one day but usually end up playing volleyball. I always accidentally kick it though.

Haha! I really like my district, we do almost everything together. The two sisters that I will be companions with when Hermana Andreason leaves are headed to Arizona and I will be with them the rest of the time. Most of the Elders in our district are going to Anaheim. I think there are at least 5 of them. It will be nice to know people on the plane ride over there. I love being here SO much! I am probably going to live here forever if they let me. But seriously I am so happy and I love the spirit here. I am so grateful that that I have been called to be a representative of Jesus Christ and wear his name wherever I go.

Please tell the Hallmans that I love the bracelet so much! And mom, I wear the watch every day. They don't really have clocks around.

Thank you sooooo much for the package!! We have dinner at 4:30 every day and sometimes I get get pretty hungry at night so the candy was great. Feel free to send more! ;) Thank you for all of the letters! I am going to try and write back to everyone soon! Tell Sean that he is in trouble because he said that he was going to write more than anyone and I haven't heard from him at all. Curtis and Eric write too! How about for FHE? Miss you all so much, love you!

First Letter

Hola mi famila. I dont have a lot of time to write. My P day will usually be on Thursdays. I seriously love it here at the MTC! It is crazy how much I learn each day. It feels like I have been here for a long time and it hasn't even been a week.

The very first night I got here I was sent with the first group of girls that walked by. They were from Thailand. We went to a devotional that night and then I went to class with them. I could not understand anything! It was pretty funny.
The first day that I went to my spanish class, the teachers wouldnt say anything in english. I didn't understand most of what he was talking about but it is getting a lot easier to understand now. When we told him we couldnt understand, he said that we were called by God and He wouldnt send us here if we couldnt do it. I have already learned that I have to be patient and I know that it will come.

My companion is awesome. She has taken four years of spanish at BYU Idaho so she knows everything that is going on in class. Today we found out that she is moving up to the advanced spanish class here and she will be leaving the MTC in three weeks instead of nine. I will find out who my new companion is soon.

The prophet is coming to the MTC January 31st!!! I am so excited!

Friday was our first day teaching our investigator in espanol. I was so glad to have a companion who knew what she was talking about. Haha! Today we taught him again and he said he would commit to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. He also said he would come to church and he wants to bring his kids. Anyways I am almost out of time. I know I am supposed to be here. I love and miss you.

Dad thank you for the letter. Tell everyone to send more letters!!!!!! Adios