August 21, 2017

It's a YEAR!!

MOMMA!!!

So this past week was a little stressful but ended really well! So I'll start with a little story before I answer other questions. There is this lady named Gladys that we met last Saturday who is an interesting character, she's in her 60's and spends all days watch Novellas, which are those cheese spanish tv shows. When we first met her she said we could not come in and teach her because she is too "busy", but that she would come to church to take the lessons. So we talked to her this week and she said she would only be able to be picked up by someone at 10, which is when our sacrament services end haha. So after sacrament we had someone go get her and bring her to the church and then that member that brought her sat in with us and we shared the first lesson with her and she really liked it and became our new investigator woot woot! So that was pretty cool!

Then later that day we went over to a Part member family's house for leftovers from their now 4 year olds b day party which we went to for a little bit, we talked with them for a while and ate lunch and then made the husband, the nonmember of that family, another new investigator. He has investigated in the past so we picked him back up with the hopes of harvesting the seeds already planted!

And Alma could not make it to english class, but we did see her on Sunday! We had a great lesson with her about the gospel of Jesus Christ! She said we could come back Tuesday and that she would try again to make it to English class on Wednesday so she's doing super awesome! and I think that was all the exciting stuff that happened this past week!

Hitting the one year mark feels pretty weird to me! I am blown away at how fast a year has gone by and at the same time it does feel like it's been a little while haha. But Elder Bird and I are doing great! His Spanish is doing better every week! As for my testimony, I feel like the church just make so much sense now, and I don't think there could be anything said that would make me believe anything differently, I always believed the church was true but I've come to see that it is, as it changes other peoples lives, we really do have the restored gospel in our days and I know the church is lead by Jesus Christ through a living prophet! Love you so much I'll send some pics in a second!

So here is Mateo, he missed his nap so he was grumpy for the picture haha, thats his dad who is our new investigator

Another one of Mateo on sunday when we went over for lunch, he had a cars themed b day

This is Lehi, i met him in richmond when we were teaching someone over there. He's with a group that was here doing summer sales and he comes to our branch every now and then, they kind of go all over the place haha

August 14, 2017

Baptism Day

Salomon got Baptized!!

MOMMA!!!

So the baptism for Salomon was super awesome!! Right before he was so nervous and then after word the guy seemed so happy and even yesterday at church he just seems less worried or weighed down by things. Right after the baptism the branch had some food and when Elder Bird and I were leaving he pulled us aside and said just how grateful he was for us helping him out and if there was anything he could do to repay that. He is so awesome!!!! Presidente Sanchez baptized him and I did not do a musical number, haha thank goodness, not trying to drive away the spirit here. So the Investigator from the laundry mat, Alma, is doing super awesome we actually saw her yesterday! That is a common girls name in the latino culture by the way. Of course we shared a scripture from Alma with her haha. But she is doing alright, she says she's going to come to our english class this Wednesday which is awesome! and we should be meeting with her again on Friday! Other than that we are really just trying to work on finding more people. As for service opportunities, we usually do like park beautification with this lady that has been working with missionaries for a really long while which is super fun, pretty much the whole zone goes to that, and it's usually moving mulch around or weeding which is a good time, haha. 

It's so crazy how all the boys are going back to school haha, i remember when I started the hitting when I did football! I did not like it that much haha! And I am not familiar with any of those seminary teachers names but that is a bummer, church stuff is neat and I wish I had payed more attention when I was there. 

As for a package address, 1063 Detroit ave, it is the lds employment center. I'm not sure what my card balance is right now but could you please check that for me? I will send some pics in a second. Love you!!!

August 7 & 9, 2017

Talk to Everyone!

pic on top of the temple

On August 7, Brig only had half a Pday, but he messaged to let me know he was going to wait and write me on Wed the 9th. On Wed they got a Temple day and a half Day.  Love this boy so so much!!

MOMMA!!!

So this Week has been a pretty good one! We just got out of the temple which is always a great time! Elder Bird and I have been doing really good, we are still working on his Spanish and on finding new investigators. we have some people that are looking pretty good right now we just need a little more time with them. 

Glad to hear the Utah drive is shorter now, haha. So you guys have already seen Jared Gygi! I want to know how that guy's doing! It's pretty crazy how quickly I'm coming up on my year mark! It does and doesn't feel like it's been that long if ya know what I mean!

I do remember that another cousin Brig was born, but I think it's weird that that was 8 months ago!! That's quite some time!

 

The whole zone every other morning goes to the chapel to play sports together which is super fun but other than that Elder Bird and I don't really work out too much. So are you excited the boys will be back in school or is it sad they won't be around all the time? And that's so crazy that the Eatons are going to be living in San Diego! What are David's plans? Is he going to start a Build Up over there? And yes Grammy and Grandad are so so so kind and generous I love them so much!!

Oh ya I almost forgot! Elder Bird and I are going to have a baptism tonight!!! Salamon passed his interview on Sunday and we are having the services tonight at 7! So excited for him, I will make sure to take pictures. He's asked that our Branch President does the ordinance for him which we are so happy about! Presidente Sanchez has helped us in lessons a lot so this will be a super great experience! 

Also this past week we were tracting late at night and we were walking back to the car and noticed people sitting outside their apartments waiting for their laundry so we decided to go talk to them and they were very nice people and pretty interested in learning more about the gospel!! We added them as new investigators woot woot! I know the lord blesses us as we talk to every one we can!! I will send some pics in a second Love you so much!!!!

Yo y mi padrastro

Throwing the WC sign! (Walnut Creek)

Zone picture after temple

New Comp Elder Bird with Brig

July 31, 2017

New Comp!

here is mi hijo Elder Bird

MOMMA!! 

I am doing pretty good! Not going to lie I totally forgot you guys were going to Spring Haven this year! I am so jealous!! 

My new comps name is Elder Bird and he is from Long Mont, Colorado and he is a pretty cool dude! He came from the Mexico CCM and he is still learning Spanish, just like I was at that time. No body else came with him from the CCM so he pretty much dind't know anyone when he got here haha, same! Ya we both daily plan and weekly plan just like normal, I would like to say I've got that fire that those guys have but It's been pretty hard in this area the past little while because we haven't been finding any new investigators that seem interested or willing to make it past a first visit, and It's kind of like that for the whole district right now, but we are still working hard to find those prepared!! 

Haha ya i would love to kick some of you guys in the pants sometimes but i still love and miss you like crazy! I'm glad Mason gave me a brief synopsis of his trip and he even sent me a couple of pics today which were beautiful! Sorry about Ammons finger! Have they started full pad practicing? I hated that when I tried football haha, hope he has a good experience though!!

Love you so much I'll try and send some pictures from the week in a sec! Tell hi to all the cousins for me!

July 24, 2017

Still in San Diego.. Elder Dayton Still in Walnut Creek

So these are the Sister Missionaries I came out with from the Mexico Mtc and we are all training now!

MOMMA!!!

Sounds like you are all still having a great time in SD still! I wan't to hear all of Mason's stories from FIji so bad! I miss the monsoon weather! It's still been pretty hot here every day, reaching the 100s. And I hope Ammon enjoys football, I remember not enjoy it a lot haha, but then I learned how to hit people in lacrosse and it was all ok. 

So the moment you've all been waiting for! Elder Stone is leaving and I am going to be training a new missionary!! Elder Stone is going to richmond with Elder Tackett this Tuesday and I will pick up my new missionary on Wednesday! It'll be a party and a half! I'm super excited, everyone in our district will be training a missionary, except the zone leaders. One of the zone leaders is training the other one how to be a zone leader, haha. This past week was alright for us, we knocked for hours this weekend and were able to find one investigator which is good!  We will hopefully put Salomon on date this next week with the new missionary! Not much else happened this past week but I should be able to get some good photos with my son this upcoming week! Love you!!!!

Nothing like an awkward Missionary Photo, haha!

Me and Elder Stone before the transfer eating Mac and Cheese 

July 17, 2017

Loving Cali!

District Meeting! Brig is the district leader!

MOMMA!!

 

I'm doing good! I'm emailing late because we went to an institute building today to play ping pong and pool which was super cool! I showed everyone how to play skrud and that was fun! 

Ya I had some members send some pics because I did bad last week haha! We ate at a members house and then at Chilis. Haha, Ya there was a member there too lol! (Member's sent me pics mid week!!)

Solomon is doing good! We are going to postpone his baptism for a little while longer because President wants him to feel like he has recieved forgiveness of his sins. but he's still doing super awesome!!! Being a district leader is going good. Driving is fine, but I think President Frandsen is going to come to my district meeting tomorrow, so that will be stressful! Haha! I feel like my testimony has grown a lot just because I understand everything so much clearer, it is pretty hard to put into words but everything just makes so much sense in the church.

Thank you so much for all the pics! Were there anymore from Mason's trip on that insta account? I wan't to see what he's doing out there in Fiji! Yes, I will for sure send dad an email for his birthday! thank you! So this week was pretty  good but a little stressful because President Frandsen came to our sacrament meeting so that he could do the interview for Salomon afterwords. And we did not have too solid of an interpreter, so I actually went in and helped translate for a little bit which was cool! Other than that it was pretty low week for us, we have to really work on finding this next week!! 

Love you so much! I'll send some pics right now!!

A sweet member that fed Brig & the other missionaries and then sent me pics!!
My favorite thing ever as a mom!!

Here is us at the Merril's again

Zone Conference goofing around!

July 10, 2017

Summertime...

MOMMA!!!

I am doing super well thank you for asking, those pictures were awesome and I'm sorry to tell you but I forgot my camara so there might not be pictures of me this week:( But our week was super great! 

So I will now take you through the day of Sunday, just yesterday because it was a bit crazy. We got up got ready and went to church like normal, we had a lesson with Salomon who's on date for baptism still (I will talk about him in a bit), then we went home and did some studies and went off to do a service. A couple days previously this non member came in contact with the YSA missionaries in our zone, saying she needed help moving out her storage unit. So we go to help them out with that around 3:30, with a group of six elders, and her unit is on the second floor. We take a bunch of things down the elevator and into the U-haul, and Elder Stone and I drive over to the house to help unload while 4 others stay and move things downstairs until we get back. They all had dinner appointments at 5:00 too, so they left and when we got back the YSA elders showed up and so we were getting ready to start unloading the second half of the storage unit. But the elevator broke! And the other elders that were there previously didn't move the piano, china cabinet or the recliner couch soooooo we got the wonderful opportunity to move it all down some stairs:) It was super fun, her son was there helping us too and we figured out that she is from Guatemala, so we talked to her for a little while and by the time we dropped off the last load at her house she was so grateful she insisted on taking us out for pizza haha! So, we went and it was super awesome! After she ordered and we were getting drinks she started crying because she was so grateful, later while we were eating she told us her mom had been in the hospital for a while and her son and daughter had also in the hospital recently, and herself and things have just been going bad, she had to leave her new job to go see her mom in Guatemala and now they're really tight on money and so thats why they were so grateful!! And now she told us she would come to our English class and church next sunday!!!! So cool!!!!

So Salomon's doctrinal knowledge is not as sound as I had thought it was. He is following all of the commandments and believes the church is true, but there is a lack of religious backround so we need to keep working on him. He accepts most everything we teach him which is super cool. He loves all the members and has really made a huge change in his life! 

Super jealous of Mason right now! I really want to know how he's doing out there in Fiji! And I hope he's taking tons of pictures too! I love all you guys and hope you have a great week!!

July 3, 2017

Happy 4th

Here is the pic of John from the YSA in my last area and his little sister, they were up at the chapel we do our district meetings at and were doing some fund raiser so I paid to slap whip cream in their faces!

MOMMA!!!

I'm doing super good, I finally got the package so thank you so much! The week felt really quick which is good! Nothing really new happened, our investigator is on date, and is doing pretty good. After church we were waiting around for a member to give him a ride, but the member was in a meeting so while we were waiting me and him talked for a little while and he's is going through some trials and lots of temptations as he get's closer to his baptismal date so thats tough! 

That's so good to hear!! You are all healed now hurray! Go in the ocean for me! Wow so jealous of y'all being in San Diego! The weather has been pretty nice here though which is super great! Wow 15 years of dad not taking a whole week off for San Diego, that's pretty crazy! I hope you guys enjoy you're time there, so no one is in the Piersons condo? 

So, we aren't exactly sure what our plans for the 4th are, we are having a Zone Conference that morning, so that'll be cool. I think we are going to do a horchata stand in some heavily latino populated park and see if people will come talk to us with that for a while. I don't think there are ward activitys for a while as far as I know and Elder Stone and I have just been tracting and trying to contact potential investigators and trying to visit actual investigators, sadly not a lot of our investigators are progressing so we are mostly just working with Salomon right now. 

Nothing cool or crazy has happened this past week, sorry! Actually I did slap some whipcream in some peoples faces and I will send the video and corresponding pic in just a second. Thank you for all of the pictures they were super cool! Keep them coming every week please!! Love you!!

It was Kate's birthday yesterday on Sunday and they have a birthday hat that the birthday person wears just like our family! And she told me to wear it haha, she's so funny!

Here's another one with there dog

June 26, 2017

Summer Time

MOMMA!!

Ya I dont think we get to do anything special for the 4th of July, but I am jealous of where you guys will be on the 4th. So is Mason going by plane alone? When is his trip to Fiji?  Being a District leader is pretty neat, I guess, i just have to send in numbers on Sundays and just do follow up calls with people, and I get to conduct meetings within the district and that's about it. It's pretty cool just being a step up from what I was before, because it gives a little wider perspective. It can be a little stressful preparing for district meetings.

Elder Stone and I are doing pretty good so far, driving has been pretty good, no accidents or anything. I am sure the package is here, it's just probably waiting for me in Oakland. They don't call us or anything it just waits for someone to pick it up, we have interviews this Thursday so I'll get it then at the latest. The new area is pretty cool, but pretty big, it for sure helps that I'm driving! We have some pretty good investigators right now, one of them has a baptismal date for the 16th of July, his name is Salomon De La Cruz, pretty cool guy, made a lot of changes since he met the missionaries. The branch is pretty great and they seem super good at fellowshiping investigators so thats great! 

This last week we went on exchanges and I went with Elder Henson who is a super awesome guy!! We stayed up kind of late just talking about doctrine and stuff and it was so crazy awesome and weird, but I felt like my testimony grew over that exchange. I'm not sure how common this is, but you should look into what a "calling and election made sure" means, probably too sacred to just talk about it over an email, but that is some super cool stuff that when I have free game on any study materials thats what im going to be studying! I also heard a second hand experience from someone about Elder L. Tom Perry which was super cool, I just really came to realize that Christ is at the head of the church, and it's not just a bunch of old people that are doing what they think is best for us in this moment.

I too was bad at picture taking so I'll try and take some right now and send those when I can! It's been a great week here!! Love you!!

So here's another pic of me in the family history room, they will probably come like this a lot. thats elder Jaco sittling next to me, he's a pretty cool cat.

...and another one at a slightly different angle the person looking at the camera sitting on the other side with his hands together in the shape of a triangle is Elder Henson! He's way cool!