July 30, 2012

Happy birthday Kinsley!!!!! I was thinking of her all day yesterday and I couldn't believe that it's already been a year since she has been born. This next 11 months is going to fly by. I'm sad, but excited to see y'all again. I love my family soo much! I've been keeping a gratitude journal that I update everyday in my studies and this morning I wrote all about my family. I had so much to write it took up a whole page where all my other entries have just been a paragraph. :)

 

It sounds like everyone is doing well back at home! Thanks for the updates on everyone mom. I love getting to hear how people back home are doing. Tell Kristine Congrats for me! :) Also, if it's ok could you send me a copy of the ward list? I have some people from back home I want to write! Everyone here teases me that I'm never going to get caught up on writing people back cause I have a stack of mail that I still need to respond to, but I love all the support and love! Mail is a missionaries best friend. :) By the way mom, the package you sent me was great! I'll be good on tooth stuff for my whole mission, but I've also been giving some of them to the families we teach. The kids LOVE the kids toothbrushes! Thank you. And those waterbottles were inspired! THEY ARE THE BEST INVENTION EVER!!!! We bike a lot lately, and when it's hot a normal frozen waterbottle defrosts in about 15 minutes when we are outside. But the waterbottle you sent me lasts all day and it's fresh COLD water! I love it!!!! Thanks so much! :D

 

I actually really like biking out in the heat. It is really really hot, but it's better than being in a car all day driving around. I'd rather be out talking to people, and letting people see us missionaries dedicated (even when its as hot as you know where!).

 

Last week was a really great week. We had 25 sit down lessons, and that was a big jump from our previous week of 18 lessons. I'm not supposed to know this, but I guess we are leading the mission in the number of lessons we have each week. We had interviews with President Ashton last week and he is very excited for us. I know it's all because the Lord knows who is ready to receive His gospel, and as we've been working with members and less-actives we have seen miracles happen in our area as we've applied what President wants us to work on.

 

Yesterday Sister Perez and I got an intimidating phone call from the assistants. I always get nervous when I get calls from them cause I think somthing bad happened, but this time they told us that President wants us two to do a training for the zone leaders at zone leader council tomorrow! Scary huh? He wants us to speak for 15 minutes on how to work with members, and then he wants us to role play with him how we contact people on the streets. I'm really nervous, but it's been soo cool to see the revelation we've received as we've been preparing our trainings. Pray for us tomorrow!

 

Sister Perez is such a hard worker. She is very dedicated to the work, and sometimes our opinions get in the way of what we need to do. I've really been working on my patience. We love each other, don't get me wrong, but we get so caught up in getting stuff done our way, that we forget how the Lord needs it done. So one night this past week we spent 30-45 minutes after our planning talking through with each other of how we can overcome it. Being on a mission really will prepare me to be with a husband my whole life and eternity, because I know it's not always going to be fine and dandy. But we figure how to work things out! It's been a good learning experience.

 

I really love the direction this mission is going. It is a really big change, but I can already see the benefits of it. As I've been thinking about why we are shifting away from tracting to working with people who have already made promises with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ I've realized it's because we need to strengthen the stakes of Zion before our Savior comes again. There are so many people who have made those promises and we need to help them to remember WHY they made them. I dont think the time is very far away that our Savior is coming, and we need to make sure not only we are ready, but our brothers and sisters too! Today in studies I was thinking about how differently I would teach if President Ashton were in the lesson with us.... but then I thought about Jesus Christ. If He were there in the lessons teaching His children with us how would I change what I teach, what I testify, and what I ask each person.

 

Anyways, I'm just rambling now you're probably wondering what I'm talking about. :)

 

As for Marlon, He is still progressing! He is going to be baptized in 2 1/2 weeks and we are so excited! I am so excited for him, and everytime we visit him he can't hold back his excitment.

 

Jeff H. had to get his other leg amputated last week so that is putting a hold on everything. Keep him in your prayers! He isn't doing too well.

 

Noo told us this past week that she wants to serve a mission after she retires this coming december! She is good friends with the Senior Sister missionaries that are in our ward. We all had dinner at her house this week and she just loves them and their example.

 

The work is moving onwards! I hope y'all can find a way to help out in the member missionary work. Maybe pray about someone you can give a Book of Mormon to, or just refer to the missionaries. :)

 

I love you all sooo much and I keep all of you in my prayers!

 

Erianne