July 26, 2016

week 39: chasing cows

Monday, July 25th, 2016

HELLO EVERYONE. Great news! I'm not getting transferred! Yep I am staying in round valley for another 6 weeks! Praise. So President Robinson switched transfers that were on Friday to Tuesday and we find out our transfer news via call not email anymore. Also our district got smaller though and the Elders aren't in Lima anymore. Anyways this week was good!

Monday we had a lesson with Gaylon. The Cricks came with us. He is having a hard time and there is a lot going on in his life right now so trying to quit smoking is just that much harder. He is very emotional in lessons and said he didn't really want to come because he was so down on himself but he said this would make him feel better and he made this commitment. He has been reading his Book of Mormon!

Tuesday we had a lesson with Haylie about temples and eternal marriage. She is cute and wants that for herself. She went to the snowflake temple before girls camp and loved the peace the temple brought. We took Abby out (a laurel) and we saw Jerry. He is so funny, he doesn't know he is less-active so teaching him is difficult some times. Plus he talks a lot. We then saw Teri and she seems to be doing a lot better. Her and Kenny made it to sacrament yesterday! They sat in the foyer and left right after but that's so good for them! They both know they need the gospel in their life and this was a huge wake up call for them. We then had Sister McNeill come out with us and had a miracle! Seriously she is the best. We got to see the Williams (less-actives we have been trying to see for a while). It was very good and we got to share a message with them. They are a great family and have been sealed in the temple. It's just sad to see great families fall away.

Wednesday we saw Haylie again and had our last lesson with her before her baptism! Ah she is awesome. We then saw the Tisdells, Colin was there which was good. We then had a lesson with Gaylon and he was doing better. We read the talk from last conference called "He will place you on his shoulders and carry you home." It's a very comforting talk and was good for him. It brought a lot of hope. We then saw the Nelsons. They are so cute. We taught the church, pray, read. The dad says he wants to get to church which was great because was the only one who didn't come last week. They all came to church yesterday! We then had a lesson with Daryl. We taught them about spiritual gifts and patriarchal blessings. It was really good and everyone was there. He and his daughter decided to wait till winter break to get endowed for multiple reasons. Basically Daryl doesn't feel ready yet and wants to be at church more regularly.

Thursday we saw Cyndie. I just adore her. She is doing well. She keeps a lot of our commitments and I am really impressed. She loves personal progress. We then had our last district meeting! I'm gonna miss everyone that is going home. We then saw Chelsea, it has been forever since we had seen her. We then saw Tyric. We had a good lesson on the sacrament and blessing it. We committed him to come help prepare it but he didn't...sad. We then saw Sally and she just had a hand surgery done but she was still really preppy. Probably because her hand was still numb. We then finally saw Anna Davis and her family. Her husband is sick and not a member. But he was doing well that day. We then had two other appointments that night but of course they fell through. We had Chelsea with us and we felt like we should go to the Eagar family. Chelsea didn't recognize the name and then we get there and she is like I dated him! Haha. But it was a while ago and it wasn't awk at all. I was super bold with them and invited them back to the temple. They want that for themselves. They just feel like judged and such. We get that problem a lot with being in a small town. Everyone knows everyone's problems here. They are getting their baby blessed in September! It was really good having Chelsea there, she was perfect for them.

Friday morning we went to the Tisdells for like three hours and painted the trim on their house. It was pretty fun. We got to talk to their grandsons who aren't members and one is less- active so that was good. And we got banana pancakes πŸŒ  we then went to Luna, New Mexico! They were celebrating Pioneer Day all weekend so we got to go. No one we invited came but that's okay! Haha. I saw the Estradas in McDowell ward! I was so confused when I saw them. It was good seeing them! Now I can say I have been in New Mexico on my mission. How exciting. On our way home the HUGE elk ran across the road and that was a bit scary.

Saturday we saw Sister Markley. She is painting her kitchen and seems to being doing better. She has come to church the past couple weeks. We talked to her about getting back to the temple. We were in an apartment complex and decided to try to see some less-actives that never let us in. The door opens and our recent convert's daughter opens the door who isn't a member. I was super confused. Her name is Destiny and is 16. She was cleaning their house. Anyways she wasn't getting paid much and let's just say she needed LOTS of help. It was the messiest thing I had ever seen. So we randomly did service for her in a less-actives house. Winning. We then filled up the font and set up chairs for Haylie's baptism! The baptism went super well. Mark had to dunk her twice. I'm not really sure why but he did. We went back with her and got to be on the sides to watch her get baptized. It was a really great feeling to know she made those covenants with God. The Spirit was so strong and Haylie looked so happy. The talks were good and her choir sang a hymn. It was overall just a great baptism. I love that girl a lot! And SO many people came that we had to set out extra chairs. Haylie then had a dinner at her house afterwards. Her step mom Peggy and other family bought her a quad!! We then visited the Shupes. He can not hear so we have to yell the whole lesson. It's kind of hilarious.

Sunday (Pioneer Day!) Haylie got confirmed! I'm so happy for her!! We saw Dave Jr and Dakota (nonmember) came! He is ysa age but he comes to all of our lessons. He is awesome! And the Ericksons aren't moving yet! I'm so happy about it! We then saw Dave and Haley, they are the best.

We are watching 17 Miracles right now in celebration of Pioneer Day!! I wanna share this quote from President Monson that was in the Ensign. So you maybe have read it.

"To be a Latter-day Saint is to be a pioneer, for the definition of a pioneer is “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.” And to be a pioneer is to become acquainted with sacrifice. The path of a pioneer is not easy, but we follow in the footsteps of the ultimate Pioneer--even the Savior--who went before, showing us the way to follow."

I love this. Probably cause I can apply to it a lot as a missionary. There are lots of good things we sacrifice. But these sacrifices really do bless us. I'm so grateful to be a missionary.

Oh and this morning we helped heard a cow. These nonmembers asked us to get their cow from the woods, it got loose. They had been trying for days. So yes this morning we chased a cow. We did get him though. They are going to get horses this weekend to get the cow. Sounds cheesy but it made me think of going after the lost sheep. His cow had strayed and we needed a whole team (fellowshippers) to get him back. But it takes time and lots of trying. But to never give up. We are to feed his sheep and go after the one. πŸ‚πŸ

Anyways I love you all! Sorry my emails are so long. Hope your summer is going good! ☀

Xoxo

Sista Fisha

s u n s e t s

Nights as a missionary

Luna, New Mexico





Nights as a missionary

HAYLIE'S BAPTISM









Love that girl


Nights as a missionary


Free Hawaiian shaved ice

July 18, 2016

week 38: GIRLS CAMP (peel the avocado)

Monday, July 18th, 2016

So this week might have been the best week of my mission because we went to GIRLS CAMP. But really we were so lucky to go. It was so much fun, it was like one big flash back.

Monday we had a lesson with Gaylon. Sister Henrie went with us. He is still struggling with word of wisdom and hasn't started the 15 step program yet. We then had stake FHE and met our new mission president and his wife! President and Sister Robinson are the sweetest. I already love them so much. Their son is finishing up his mission in Seattle! Whoop whoop represent. It was fun getting to know the Robinsons. They are really sweet.

Tuesday (MEET THE ROBINSONS) we went to meet the president meeting! It was super good. You can just tell that they are supposed to be here right now. The mantle has been passed. They are so ready and excited to be here and we are excited to have them! And President Robinson cries!! And President Sweeney never cried. I have already learned a lot from them. They talked about how this is the greatest work ever to be a part of. We are gathering Israel in these last days, it's even bigger than Moses parting the Red Sea. We then had district meeting and it was the best meeting ever cause it was less than 20 minutes long haha. I love my district. We finally then got to see Sister Markley and shared a message with her. She lost her husband recently and has been struggling but she came to church yesterday! That was a miracle. We then had another lesson with Gaylon. We bought him the stuff for the 15 step program! So hopefully he has started that! He is so sweet and wants to be better.

Wednesday-Friday was GIRLS CAMP. We drove up to Vernon on Tuesday night and got there in time for the YCL devotional. Haylie (investigator) came to camp all week and she was a YCL. She loved it and it was so good for her! I love that girl so much it's ridiculous. Let's see, girls camp was loads of fun. Lots of less-actives and non members went so that was super cool. We got to know so many girls and not just from our wards. And also the leaders. We went on a hike and that was really great, I love actually working out on the mission cause we never really do...we did lots and lots of crafts which was way fun. And we just helped around camp with whoever needed us. The food was really good, I was impressed. The weather was really nice. It only rained for like two hours one day, we were blessed. Cause camping and the rain isn't always that fun. But really being in jeans for four days felt super odd but really great at the same time. The skits were like the best part of the week. They go all out here. I really wanted to do a skit but none of the other sisters wanted to until President Hamblin said we had to. And so we literally had 10 mins to prepare. We just did the exercise one where you sit on the personal stomach and their legs are your legs. No one else here or the other missionaries had ever heard of it before which I thought was weird cause we did it so much at my girls camp. But anyways everybody loved it. I'll try to send the video of it. Friday morning we taught a lesson (well the same one to each year). The whole camp theme was about pressing forward so we talked about how we pressed forward with coming on a mission and while on our mission. I talked about my fears and experiences that I had before the mission. We talked about missions and the blessings of one. A lot of the girls are thinking of one or know they want to go. We did color run one morning and got destroyed with colors. The bishopric came one night and we had dinner with them. We ward hopped and went back and forth between our wards. We played games and then had a testimony meeting. Girls camp is just so great. I have all the girls camp songs stuck in my head now haha.

Saturday we packed up and left to go home. We were all so tired. It was a little weird going back to the real world. We did weekly planning which is always so fun...Haylie then had her baptismal interview and she passed!! She is getting baptized on Saturday! We are making it very publicly known so we expect there to be a lot of people. We ate dinner at the Tisdells and grandma made burros with really spicy green chili. Idk how many chills were in there but our mouths were on fire 
πŸ”₯ ahh the joys of being a missionary. 

Sunday was good with lots of meetings. We taught Brylee after church. She is so cute. She made cupcakes for us and fruit salad. She loves it when we come over. We then taught Dave and Haley. Well more like Dave taught us the plan of salvation. He did a really good job. We taught Dave Jr and his brother Dakota (nonmember) was also there. And he read some of the Book of Mormon! A lot happened with the Ericksons and they might not be moving, or they might move to Snowflake or something. Idk it's all up in the air! We met with President Hamblin and discussed the missionary work and such. It was really good to get help from him.

Here is the scripture for girls camp:

2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

Since its been a lot on my mind this week I thought I might as well share this scripture. I love the word steadfastness. It doesn't necessarily mean we are going fast but rather holding on to the iron rod. It doesn't matter what our pace is, as long as we are in the direction headed towards Christ.

I was reading in 1 Nephi 20:21 this week and it says "And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out." I love how it talks about the water and the rock. Christ is the living water and he is the rock. We need to cleave unto Christ and we will not thirst. Pretty cool. My Savior has given me so much strength. I know that I would be nothing without him.

I read the talk "Your Happily Ever After" by President Uchtdorf. He says, "Isn't it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father know you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of "once upon a time," complete with your own true story of adventure, trial and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage and love. And most glorious of all, he offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all - eternal life and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own "happily ever after.""

I just love that quote a lot & wanted to share it with you all.

I know that life is much better with Christ as my pal. God is good, life is good. I love being a missionary! The joy is unreal 
😊

Xoxo

Sista fisha

MEET THE ROBINSONS




The best district





Bye Elder Baumer



Girls Camp


Hiking






























Watch tan line