Feliz Ano Nuevo

Hello everyone, HAPPY NEW YEAR (FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!!!) I hope that you all have an amazing week. It is crazy to think last year at this time I was a missionary, and well I still am. But that I have been one for a whole year, insane!!! But so many good things and a lot of good adventures. And crazy to think, WOW! 

Monday wasn't anything too special, shopping and cleaning, sports with the district. We were playing a few games and you know your girl was winning!  But then we went to play chair soccer and while we were playing Sister Jackson got kicked in the upper ankle by an

elder. It was an accident but it hurt so bad. I stopped for a second and the spot was white and hurt so bad, I knew that I was going to bruise. Fast forward a little bit. It hurt to walk but I am no wimp. But my whole ankle is swollen and bruised on all sides of my leg. It is a little tender when I touch it. So all good things! 

But that night we had our first 24 hour exchange with Sisters in our stewardship and they are so cute. 

That night I was with Sister Vanlenagveled and Sister Stevenson. It was so much fun to get to know them and what they like to do. We had a lesson with the Walker family, Tehani and Vincent. And it went so good. We talked about CPR ( Church, prayer, and read. It was so good and the spirit was so strong. It was awesome because today in church they sat with the Walker family. It is the small things that make me so happy!! 

It was such a fun night getting to know the Sisters and what they like to do. It was funny because they are a trio and they are all

younger sisters and my comp. is a younger missionary. So we figured out that all of their time in the mission added up together equals how long I have been out. Haha I am so old, it is so funny!!! 

Then the next day I went with Sister Stevenson and Poppleton. We had a good time. We went street contacting and talked to a lot of people, well the ones that were out in the cold and at the end we found a guy. He was very nice and we had a good time!!! 

And then we came home and called people and found a few people that way. To say the least it was very successful, and awesome. 

And then that night we had English class, but everyone had to cancel because they were either out of town or at work. So sad, but we were able to spend that time finding. 

We went to one of our members and knocked on her door and we felt like we needed to visit with her. It was good that we went over. There had been a lot of things running through her head and she needed to talk! 

After the day was over we were so tired, I didn't realize how tiring it would be to be in charge of full exchanges. 

Thursday we woke up and Sister Snow wasn't feeling well so we called the mission nurse but there have been a few things going around and she got one. So we got some orders to go to the store and get some medicine and then she needed to get to bed. So that is what we did. 

Let me just say I can't sit still. It is so hard for me. So to say the least it was an interesting day. But that night I wrote texts for EVERYONE that isn’t a member in our system. And to say it was quite a few, but it felt good to do something. 

We have good members that were looking out for us and got us some food. It was so sweet! 

Thursday wasn't too eventful, we had to stay inside the whole day because Sister Snow wasn’t feeling well still.  We went and dropped some banana bread off to a lady we are teaching. And then we had a few phone call lessons! 

Also that night we did a video call with the member missionaries in our Spanish branch and it was amazing. I love being able to laugh and not understand anything! And then more video call lessons. Nothing too crazy but a good day! 

Friday was an insane day. We got up and went to our sisters district council meeting. And it was a blast. We were able to have a good time, and then we went to our district council meeting. 

That night we had a few phone calls with Sister Rodarte and our elders. And then we

went to Matildes, the lady who dropped her baptism date. We went and knocked on her door and she answered. It was more of that look of she knew that we were coming and more of the come and let's talk. So we went and talked to her and we had some yummy Piña (a pineapple drink). But we were able to talk to her about the situation. It was really good because we were able to talk to her about some of her concerns and things that we can help her work on. I feel like it was a real big blessing and we went at the right time. We then called some people and had to reschedule some of the lessons because people weren't able to talk to us. We run up to our sisters that we are over. Sister Conover and Bartschi and dropped off some treats for the new year. After talking to them we decided for the sanity of us all we were going to stay the night. So we went and got all of our things and then ran back over and contacted a lot of the people, we needed to remind everyone about the church time change. Let's just say it was a good night and one that we all needed. We sat and talked and did face masks and steamed our faces. It felt so good and then got a good night's rest!!! 

And then on Saturday we went up to Ana Maria's and had a good time. She was so cute. She gave us hot chocolate and pasture, a Mexican desert. And then we just talked to her, she is sweet. She wants to talk to all about God but is not interested in learning more about the gospel. So nice though. After our visit with her we went to Hermano Orans and we had lunch. And it was so good we had a lot of Filipino food and real orange chicken. It was so good. It was fun to visit with him and his family and get to know them. He is in town for Christmas with his family and we finally got to meet him. 

We then went and walked around a few apartment complexes, then left for another one. Well I think because of the holidays none of them had people out and people were probably asleep because of the hangover they were all having from that night. It felt good to be able to be outside and at least walk around. We went back to the apartment complex that our car was in and we couldn't

get in. So what did I do so we could get to our car? I slid under the gate. The best part is this lady watched the whole thing. But it was so funny my comp was so embarrassed but what are we supposed to do to get to our car. You tell me. so I guess I will just make a fool of myself. 

We then went to a few of our members and they gave us some butter because we were making cookies for our elders. It was fun to visit with them and get a good mom cookie recipes. That night our lessons canceled and so we went and street contacted and then went and had a lesson with Philly at the church. We had amazing fellowship, hermano perez, he helped so much answer all of his questions. It was good to have him there. We talked about church prayer and reading and the importance of all of them. And then we took the elders the cookies that we made for them. They are so funny and gave us a half eaten cheesecake. Oh how sweet and interesting. We love them     

Sunday was great, we had our first church meeting at 9am. And it was so good because we had 4 people at church, Tehani and Vincent sat with some members! And then I was able to talk to Toya and we talked about how she is going to start to take the steps to get baptized and we are going to start teaching her boy. I love her and have grown so close and we reached out at the right time. Things happen for a reason!  And then we went to our other ward, it was a good meeting but I fell asleep in the second prayer, all of the sudden I felt my companion pat my back and I thought, oh shoot. We then went and helped with primary and it was a lot of fun. That night we went and dropped off cookies at our bishops and then went and had dinner at the Murray's. It was a lot of fun, we talked a lot about the importance of church and what we need to do. One of the friend is having a hard time and asked for our opinion. So I gave it! And then we went to the Walkers and dropped off banana bread and visited with them and did the same thing to the Leavitt’s it was a good night and fun to be able to visit with people. 

I want to share this week Moses 1:25 

25 “And calling upon the name of God, he beheld his glory again, for it was upon him; and he heard a voice, saying: Blessed art thou, Moses, for I, the Almighty, have chosen thee, and thou shalt be made stronger than many waters; for they shall obey thy command as if thou wert God.”

I love that we are able to read all of these different scriptures and learn from them. And this year we get to go more in depth in the Old Testament. But how amazing we got to start with Moses and Abraham but I love that it says in this that when he called upon God this is what happened. 

Moses was blessed for all that he did, and because he is willing to follow God and do what he is asked he was blessed with the powers of God! He is here and is willing to bless us. This is a great time to remember everything he has given us and the power that we have through him. 

I hope you all have a good week.