Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Hello everyone, I hope that you have had a good week! This week has been a good crazy week. 

We started the week off on Monday with an amazing lesson with the Bishops family. They are so cute and wholesome, they know how to have a good laugh and make you feel at home. We went over to an older couple in the ward and she made us homemade soup that was amazing! And ended the night with a family in the ward named the Jackson's ( haha how crazy is that I love it so much!) and they brought us some flowers and a cute note just for fun! They were so cute and thoughtful. It is nice to know that there is someone thinking of you and flowers are something so simple but so nice! 

On Tuesday we went to see one of the Relief Society Presidents in one of our wards. She was so cute, had lunch for us, and we had a nice conversation. Do you guys know the old turtle from Kung Fu Panda? I can't think of his name. But

Brother Weight is just like him. It is the cutest thing ever. Just a wise old man, and just wants to do so much good in the world and help everyone know about the gospel of Jesus Christ! We then had the probation boys, and we were able to cover another Book of Mormon story with them. It was so cool to be able to see the want and the desire that they have to read the Book of Mormon. In both of our lessons this week we were able to talk about the Book of Mormon and they want help reading. So we have and are going to continue to call them and read with them at night. It is a good way for them to get in touch with the spirit and Jesus Christ during the week. And help them to grow their testimonies. They continue to do good, and little by little. We asked Perry how would you feel if you found out that someone was teaching you false teachings? Trying to show him that we are the true church, but there are a lot of churches out there teaching false teaching. He said " if someone teaches me false doctrine I will murder them!" Oh shoot, good thing we are the true church. Haha. I am so glad that we could help him and teach them the truth! 

Mission Wide training, the SisterTraining Leaders came over and watched it with us. It was a lot of fun to be able to spend time with them. In the training we learned a lot. We were able to go over goal planning and setting. I think this is one of the best things because it is helping us a lot on the mission but it is going to help me a lot after the mission, to continue to make the goals and plans that I need for school work and a family one day. Right at the end the President stopped and he said that he was going to change the topic and talk about something that needs to be addressed and I was waiting for him to say what he needed to. Well what he said I felt like he was just talking to me. It is crazy how it can feel like that. I know what he was talking about was inspired by God and something that me and other missionaries are struggling with. It was a really good thing that he talked about it. But crazy how even on zoom in a group you can feel singled out like he is telling you something that you need to change and do! But it was so good to hear. We went to Canes with the sisters and were able to do comp study while we ate. It was so much fun and it was so good! I would highly recommend it to anyone! 

It was so sad, Rosa the lady that we had on date and was going to get baptized texted us this week and sent us a drop text. Telling us that she didn't want to get baptized and that she is going to go somewhere else. It made me so sad, it is her salvation on the line but all that I can remember is I did all that I could do to help her and it comes down to people's agency on what they want to do and not do. I know I did all that I could and she is going to realize it at some point and I am glad that I was able to help her! 

Centro Hispano, we are having some of our biggest classes every week and the same people come back. It is so happy and exciting, they are all doing so well and learning a lot. It is fun to be able to go back each week and help them. We afterwards went and got frostys with the Spanish district and it was a lot of fun!!! 

District council was fire, always a time to learn more and improve and grateful for it. We later took Elder Ford some soup that we left over because he wasn't feeling too well. It was fun to be able to help them out. 

It was so sweet a member gave us some money to go out and get us some food for my birthday. We went and got a panda and some yogurt at Yogurtland. It was so kind of her to think of us and want to do something like that. 

On Saturday we had 3 video calls and they all went good. Two of them were with people that we are teaching and we taught the Plan of Salvation. They loved it and wanted to continue to learn more. The joy that people can feel from the Plan is amazing. It shows how true it is and how others are able to know the truth when they hear it! I love it so much. 

Then we went to the Spangler’s for dinner, they are so cute. A good simple meal and conversation. A good laugh, we were talking and all of the sudden birthdays came up and they asked when mine was. I told them August first and she didn't think of it and then all of the sudden she said, oh that's tomorrow. It was so sweet that sang to me and we had some ice cream. It was so good and sweet of them to think of me. There are really good people in my ward. 

Sunday was my birthday! It was a lot of fun, thank you to everyone that texted or emailed me. It was so thoughtful of you and kind to do so. It made my day and helped me to remember you all and the love that you all have. So thank you so much!! Church was amazing. The members were all so kind in saying something. Prez. Rodarte called me and wished me happy birthday, and I loved that a lot! That night we had 2 member meals, we were going to party so we did. We first went to the Stewarts and they made my favorite, hamburgers. They were so good, some of the best that I have ever had. The youngest son made me a hat and a little sign that said Birthday Sister sits here. It was so sweet and full of thought. And Anna made me a leis to wear. It was so sweet and thoughtful with all amazing food and then one of my favorite desserts German chocolate cake with homemade vanilla ice cream. So good, I loved it all. Then we went to the Berkabiles, and we made homemade pizzas and pazzikies. They were so good. I loved it because it felt like it was at home with all of the talking and laughing. It was a really good day. Some of my mission friends called to wish me a happy birthday and it made me know that I am loved and that it is ok to have this time away from home because I also have people out here that love me!! Overall it was a good birthday. I was able to talk to the family! I love them and am so grateful for them. 

Today for P-Day we went to the aquarium, it was so much fun to be able to walk around with the elders and see all of them. The little kid came out, we went outside and there was a little hose that was running so what does elder Ford do? He picks it up and sprays us all. Haha it is all good it is so hot here that we all just dried right off. Haha it was fun to be able to go and do something like that! Then two of the elders, Ford and Johnson, got their eyebrows threaded. That was one of the best things to watch. They just had tears falling right out of their eyes. And then after a little John Cena action. But overall it was so much fun to be able to get out and do something like that. Most of Vegas is casinos and bars, but once in a blue moon you can find something fun and " Clean" in Vegas! 

Today I want to share with you all a little from the story of Samuel the Lamanite. 

Helaman 16:1-2

1 And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spoke upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord.

2 But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.

He was so confident because he had the Spirit of God with him. He was able to show everyone that with God we can do all things. I love to think one of the biggest things was his example. If he wasn't an example and lived the way he did them he wouldn't have been able to get on the wall and he wouldn't have been able to help all of those people come unto Christ and have that same power for themselves. There are all of these different things coming our way in the world. Social media, movies and TV shows, friends, drugs and drinks, and Satan. He is trying to throw all that he can at us so we won't want to come unto Christ. That we will want to find an easier way to walk around the problems of life. But the best thing that we can do is to come unto Christ and keep his commandments all that he has asked us to do! Because when we do that we will be able to be safe. All of those things coming at us won't hit us and by our example we are able to show others and help them come unto the waters of Mormon or back on the Covent Path of our Savior Jesus Christ! I love you all and know that our Savior Jesus Christ does as well. I hope you all have a good week!