September Brings a Change (Emails)

September 12, 2011

Hi Everyone,

...we see most people in our area is in the mornings when they are exercising. We are right by some mountains, so it's a really pretty place to go walking/jogging/hiking/biking. So many people are the super-intense bikers that wear the spandex and have the jugs of energy juice in pockets of their shirt. We actually had to go on bikes once the last couple weeks....up and down the same hills that they do for fun. I don't understand it. Basketball....soccer....swimming...dancing....these things are fun! But biking? Your butt gets so sore. Just not my cup of tea I suppose. This morning we actually went on this mini-hike up this trail behind our neighborhood. It's one that a lot of mountain-bikers use....I still think that's nuts! That was one of the scariest experiences of my life. Anyways, the hike was nice, and it was really pretty. Also, the weather has been GREAT the last few days, which I'm sure helped. Yesterday, I think the high was mid to upper 90's....it's still crazy to me that that is nice weather for me now! But really, you can feel the difference between that and 105 and definitely 115.

We got a new investigator this week! Her name is Hilary, and she just walked into church on Sunday. It was kind of weird actually....we still aren't quite sure how or why she came, but she did, so we are happy! She has really been prepared by the Lord, and is ready to make changes in her life. She is really excited about it all, and just knows that it is good and right. Before we even met with her after we saw her at church, she had watched the Joseph Smith movie and had picked up a Book of Mormon at the library to study. We have been able to have....4 lessons with her this week. We haven't gone over a ton of material so far--she's been a little overwhelmed. She is trying to find a job so she can move out of her boyfriend's house, and she wants to stop smoking. She decided this before we ever talked to her. But she's been involved with some really bad stuff in the past, so I am happy for her to feel the cleansing power of the Atonement when she is baptized. The date is for October 22nd! We won't actually be there for that, cause she is moving at the beginning of October into an apartment that she's signed for, but we will teach her as long as we can. It's been great!

Our other 3 investigators are doing fine themselves.....the real problem are their parents! Each one is totally good to go, but their parents keep putting off the baptismal date for some reason or another. I wish that they would just allow their kids to receive the blessings of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost! Hopefully one will get baptized on Saturday....that has been his date the whole time. Hopefully they won't postpone it again....and then he can get baptized! It will be great, and hopefully we will be able to get in touch with them soon and smooth out the details. :)

Sister Hoyt is leaving next week! She will be going home, so it's weird to know that there definitely will be a change coming for me. I find out on Saturday the transfer news. I most likely will stay in my area, and be the one that's supposed to know everybody and their situation and where they live. Eeek! 4 wards is a lot of people. Ah well, it'll be fine. I'll let ya'll know the news next week. I suppose in the meantime, don't send mail to the VC. I could possibly go full-field. I've been trying to figure out who is going to be my new companion..... We have 3 new english sisters coming to the VC- from Mongolia, Kenya, and Pakistan. Yay for diversity! :) I am excited to meet them. I met some sisters from places like that in the MTC, and they were all incredible. They had sacrificed a lot for the gospel, and really had their priorities straight. I'm sure it'll be humbling to be near them, they are going to be awesome.

I have started reading the book "Jesus the Christ" this last week....never thought that book would suck me in like it has! I have trouble putting it down sometimes.....it is just really good! It helps me understand some of the events of the life of Jesus Christ, which has been wonderful. I've read a lot about the last few days of His life this week. It reminds me of my trip to Israel. It's been really good.

Anyhow, life is going well! Hope you are all doing good too!

Ps. Saw my Fourth scorpion a couple weeks ago. Sick.
the scorpion. After this picture we realized it was alive. They are tricky little things....act so still like they are dead. Beware of them! Sick.

the crazy curtain. This is the home I live in...now I'm in the basement, it's not SO extravagant. I just think it's a little much. Haha, reminds me of the curtains in Cinderella.

September 20, 2o11

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing great and that life is good. :) Amber said it's been cooling off a little in CA, and Oma said it rained a bit in Texas, that must be nice! All those in Seattle....well, I just hope that you've gotten some extra heat from the rest of us! It's been cooler here--high 90's has never felt so nice! It's comparable to a 75 degree day in Colorado--it's been great. :)

Well, I found out who my new companion is--her name is Sister Dyer. She's from Utah as well, and will be leaving at the end of this transfer to go home. It's pretty weird and sad to send home missionaries--this will be my second 3 transfers into the mission! We are still in the same area though, and now I'm the one that has to know everybody. Its' really weird, cause after this transfer I'll most likely be training. TRAINING! Everyone....that's just a little bit intimidating. Hopefully I'll improve a ton this transfer so I don't ruin the next sister. I know this because after this transfer, there will only be 6 of us VC sisters that speak English. One will already be training somebody that flew in this morning (she's from Africa! Sweet, huh?) and so that makes 5. And there are 5 new sisters coming in (From Mongolia, Pakistan, France, and I don't know about the other 2.) Anyhow, it's pretty much the only way, cause new sisters have to start at the VC, so they won't give them to a full-field sister. This is getting too detailed, so just trust me. It's weird.

It also means I'll be in my area at least 3 more transfers. Unless they send me somewhere else to train which would be CRAZY. So anyways, this transfer will be great. :) I'm excited to learn all I can from Sister Dyer--she is an awesome missionary.

All of our investigators are kinda weird right now....the one girl that came into church? I'm pretty sure we are going to stop teaching her....but I'll let you know more next week. There's just a lot of craziness going on with her. The other 3 are progressing....step by step. I think I'm here to learn patience. We all learn and change at different paces, you know? They are all great kids though, super cute.

I totally forgot! Elder Chai (spelling?) from the Quorum of the Seventy spoke to us last Thursday--it's called a "mission tour." Him and his wife spoke to us...it was fantastic. They are from Korea, and are just such neat people. He just made you want to be better without making you feel guilty at all. I think Jesus Christ would be a teacher like that--let's you know where you can improve with love, and just makes you want to be more obedient. Elder Chai talked about being over 100% obedient--like getting up at 6:15, instead of 6:30. That's the second time I've gotten that counsel from a general authority, the other one was in the MTC, Elder Kikuchi, so I guess that means God really wants me to get up early and show him my zeal for the work! :) That's one of my goals for this transfer--to be extra obedient in everything that I do.

I'm excited for this transfer--its' like New Years or something. New companion, new start. I've been thinking of goals I want to set for myself this transfer, and I'm really looking forward to it. :)

I've been reading Jesus the Christ, by Elder Talmage, like it's a novel or something. There is so much to learn about the Savior--I can hardly get enough! I love reading about His gospel in that book and in the scriptures. It's definitely true that the more you read, the more you want to read. :)

Love you all, thanks for all the letters.

Love,

Mary

September 27, 2011

Hi everyone,

My new companion is Sister Dyer! She is from Kaysville, UT (wherever that is) and is so much fun. She has a TON of energy. She is always excited about something, which is good cause it's getting people in our area excited too. It's nice to be with somebody that is always laughing and smiling and happy. She has some great new ideas too, so hopefully the work will pick up here as well.

This week we went on a hike one morning for exercise....it really is getting so pretty here to me, and the mornings aren't so hot! They're really nice! Our house is right up on some "mountains"...more like glorified hills, but it's nice to feel like you are out in the wilderness a little bit. Sister Dyer saw her first vulture out here last week, and she about peed her pants. Haha, I guess they are kinda big, and their crooked necks are sick. We've yet to see some havalinas (I haven't seen them either)....I'm a little doubtful that they exist. You know how some people really believe in jackalopes? I'm starting to think havalinas are amongst that group. :P Apparently they are gross, hairy, super ugly pigs, with really dark brown skin. We've actually prayed a couple times to see some...haha, but we figure God wants us to enjoy ourselves and see His creations, right? :) Hopefully we'll stumble across some soon.

So, I noticed that I really need to start taking more pictures, my camera is full of boring things. But here are a few for you. There's one of me in front of the VC sign....you have to take this one!


It is kind of boring though....soon after that we were looking at the sky (we were locked out of the VC for a few minutes cause we got there when everyone else was in some meeting.) and we found an oasis. I'm pretty sure I just stood there for a good 30 seconds staring at those palm trees.

Doesn't it look like you could be on a hammock and staring at the sky and trees above. I imagined I could hear the ocean and everything....ah, it was wonderful. :) I'm going to have to go back there sometime soon. Haha The other one is of everyone that works at the VC. Sister Hoyt was going home, and so we had a group photo.


They are all such great people! I feel really lucky to serve there because then I have a ton of friends with the other missionaries, versus just seeing them once a week at district meeting. The last one is creepy, I know. But a couple got engaged! Haha, that's what sister missionaries do on a slow morning--watch the couples and other random crazies outside. But it gets slow and we get bored, so that's what they should expect really.

We've dropped a few of our people this week, and are starting to teach "member-lessons." We want them to really understand what we do so that they invite their friends to meet with us. It's going to be great, I'm really excited about it. We did our first one last night...it was surprisingly, really good.

Love you all, and pray for you often. :)

~Mary