Dear Familia,
I can't even describe this week. Oh my goodness, it has been a week full of
hardship, full of miracles and full of.... unexpectiveness? ja ja. That's not a
word... But let me first just say, Yo amo ser una misionera. WOW, I love working
with less actives, I love working with investigators, I love working with
members and I love this gospel! Okay, now here was my week.
Lunes- Pday! Miracle day! After I wrote to you all we went thrift store
shopping! I got THE coolest sweater for 3 dollars, I will take a picture and
show you all. Then after p-day we went to visit this member family. La
familia tremillo. They have a son who just got divorced, named Armando. We spoke
with him, (the first time we talked to them he was VERY drunk) But this time we
spoke about the atonement and ah, I just love him so much! He has SUCH a desire
to change, and this sunday HE CAME TO CHURCH for the first time in 34 years! Ah,
the coolest thing was that missionaries have been working with him for YEARS,
but finally in his time of need we came into his life and I am SO grateful I
have the opportunity to see his faith in the gospel grow! I get to be the
instrument in Gods hands for him! HOW GREAT IS MY CALLING! It was SO cool, Hna
Tremillo fed us, holy cow SO good. Mexican food is SO good, and SO fattening.
Ah, we are meeting with Armando today:) at 6, and yep I'll be fed even more,
ja ja.
Martes- It was, rejection day. One reason we knock doors so much is
because our district has a goal of everyone knocking for at least one hour a
day, and we count the minutes from when we start knocking the first door, and
every door in between we literally run literally, (half to keep warm and half
because we want blessings so we work urgently). But today we had some tough
rejections, so we caroled to ourselves:)
Then we met with Hno Ortiz, he is
less active. He joined the church 4 years ago, and IS AWESOME. But we just can't
get him to church because of some personal reasons, but HE LOVES US, and feeds
us A TON. Hna Velez comes with us too, and we shared a message, ate and it was
the best because he asked us on Viernes to come help him put up his Christmas
Tree and eat dinner! He is coming SO far! YAY FOR WORKING WITH LESS ACTIVES!
Really it is one of my favorites, because they are the source for referrals and
they love us and we love them:)
Miercoles- We had a training meeting and I got to see HNA PEARSON! Happy
day!
I learned a lot! Then we had a rough lesson with Consuelo, she REFUSED to
pray, because she only likes her recited catholic prayers, oh have I mentioned
everyone here and their dog is catholic, yeah. So that was so very very hard, so
then we started knocking doors, and we came to this door and I had a really big
impression, KNOCK THIS DOOR, so we did por que no:) and the ladies name was
Maria (we found 5 Marias this day, because everyone and their dog is named Maria
as well ja ja) but she let us in. We got to know her, and she was the sweetest
lady. We taught her the Restoration and after Jose Smith we asked what she felt and
she started to cry, and then I almost started to cry and she was like, "yes,
this is it, this is what I am looking for, I feel paz, y gozo.." and we were
said this is the spirit telling you this is true. It was the coolest lesson
ever. After I invited her to be baptized and she said YES, and we said we
will be holding a baptism on Jan 4th, will you be baptized on that date? And she
said Yes. She described that she didn't think she was ready and we said,
oh no don't worry we will help you EVERY STEP OF THE WAY... ah, well so then it
was awesome, because we have someone ON DATE! WHAT! Hot lucky am I to be the one
led to her! And to see this womens faith grow! We are hopefully seeing her
tonight! AH SO cool!
Then Nelson, (our less active we found) Came to an activity
at the church! WHAT DAY OF MIRACLES! that was awesome! what a good day it was.
Jueves- Well, this day was planning day, and both of us were SO tired. it
was awesome, we took some pictures that show, after four hours of weekly
planning.. ha ha. This day was full of studies and knocking as well, kind of a
hard rejection day, but after the rejection days ALWAYS come miracle days! So
its worth it!
This night we got a phone call at 11 at night and both of us were
SO confused because, we were asleep and it was President. And he called Hermana
Felt to be SISTER TRAINING LEADER! ... which is SO sad, because I LOVE her and
she's leaving me. He also said (I wrote his exact words in my journal), "We
had choosen You Hna Felt, 6 weeks ago with the strongest new missionary, because
your missionary is going take over the area." ... These were exactly my thoughts,
"Does president know I am directionally challenged."...Bajajaja well, so yeah, I
am getting a new companion Hna Jones, I am worried and scared to take over an
entire area, and I can't speak Spanish fluently. Yeah, either of us
couldn't sleep very well that night.
Viernes- This day we got to go to Hno Ortiz and help him put up his
Christmas tree with Hna Velez and we shared a message about the healing power of
the atonement. He fed us some AWESOME food.... uh.... I am so glad I am
getting fat... yep... ja ja. This day I went on exchanges with some other Hnas
because Hna Felt had a "sister trainer leader meeting" and we SADLY had to
cancel our cena apt with the lady with 14 snakes, hopefully we are going to her
house soon! Hna Felt and I were so tired this day, but then again, I am SO tired
every day. Literally, I cant explain it, I am so happy, but I am SO tired, ja ja.
Sabado- Good day, we had a lesson with a new investigator Angeles. She is
really nice and fed us some Awesome mole (Mexican dish) and she is very catholic
so we need something to soften her heart. She also LOVES me for some reason, she
was like, wow you just look like a child, how do you survive here, and why are
you here. She also asked my favorite question for an investigator to ask, which
is "How did you get your testimony, how do you know." and I got to testify and
say all that I know and love it's true, and that if I didn't know it I couldn't
survive out here, and she said "why" and I got to testify even more! Ah best
thing ever! Knocking today was freezing! PS, it is SO cold here when we knock
doors we look like bandits I have a picture, don't you worry:)
Domingo- AH THE best day ever! We had Armando come to church and another
less active family! MIRACLE! Wow, so cool, then we knocked doors and apts fell
through, but we really did try! Also had an AMAZING lesson with Ricardo and
Carmen! We brought a member and her son to be friends with their son and it was
the coolest thing, the members son BORE AN AMAZING TESTIMONY! Only 13 years old!
He was like, "hey, at school I get judged, bossed around and hurt, but I know the Book
of Mormon is true!.." he went on and it was AWESOME and Brian (Carmen and
Ricardos son) is SO shy it took him 25 minutes for him to come sit down to
listen to us. At the end of the lesson we (committed them to read, pray, and go
to church) we were saying goodbye to the members son, (this is my favorite part) took
Brians shoulder and said "hey I wanna see you at church" ... Brian just
kept looking down, but ITS okay! I know on paper it doesn't sound as cool as it
is! But IT'S AWESOME!
Well this has been my week. I am nervous for my new companion, I am nervous
to take over this area, but how lucky am I to be called here! To work with all
of these amazing people! How lucky am I to be the instrument in Gods hands! I
feel SO blessed. I have found that we have to work for our miracles here,
whether that's a day full of rejection or to just keep moving forward. We have
to work! There isn't enough time out here already! Well mi familia! I love you!
I miss you! I really wish you were here sitting in on all of these lessons and
with all of these people, because I love them SO much! Ah, well transfers are this
Tuesday, AH Manana! CRAZY! I love you all, here we go for another adventure!
Hna Hammond
Mom,
I am scared, because I just hear (from Hna Felt).. that Hna Jones isn't so lifely,
and I thought Hna Felt wasn't lifely.... so I am scared, because I GO insane when
I don't laugh and have fun! But I am SO grateful she is a hard worker:) its hard
because every day is a day of hardship, miracles, work your brains out, and FULL
of choice, but every day I know that by poco a poco I am building Gods kingdom,
and that's good with me! I just sing! (My mission pres said "Your goal Hna
Hammond is to get Hna Jones to sing, ya know what, youre goal is to get this WHOLE
mission singing") haha well that's what gets me through! and a lot a lot a lot of
prayer!
Oh to answer your question, I drive ALL of the time, it is SO scary, people here are crazy, lets just say I
am now a very good driver:) its because all of the these Mexicans come right
from Mexico and think driving is the same here.. well nope they are
wrong:) and the Christmas call, I have no idea- I will find out & let you know! Thanks Mom, you are the best!
Making lunch on thanksgiving in our apartment
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