Week 51--"Don't Sweat the Petty Stuff, and Don't Pet the Sweaty Stuff"

(That was a funny quote I heard at ZTM this week!)

So this week we get to go to the temple on Thursday, which means our P-day schedule is a little different than usual. So I actually only have about an hour to write today instead! I'm gonna try to hurry and get everything in, there's been a lot of things happening this week!

Monday- P-day here in Ellensburg is VERY different. It's definitely going to take some getting used to. Instead of going to a church and playing sports with all the other missionaries in our zone, we actually went to the Institute Building with just a few other missionaries and played pool and played instruments, it was so different! Kind of nice I guess, but I'm definitely going to have to be a good motivator to get people out and exercising regularly!

Something funny/sad. I lost our house/mail keys!! I don't know what happened but I have this carabiner that I keep them on, and somehow they must have fallen off. We even went back to the store and retraced our steps looking very thoroughly for them! Fortunately, we have a couple of spare sets, but still!

That night we had a lesson with Fernando. We had a review of the Gospel. He is SO awesome! He just got baptized in August, so it's like teaching Raul. He told us he really wanted to bear his testimony that upcoming Sunday (yesterday was Fast and Testimony meeting.)

We also visited the Reina family again. We talked to them about their conversion stories and then ended up on the subject of the temple and they shared with us some pictures from when they got sealed in the temple not too long ago. It was really sweet and special :)

Tuesday we were in a trio with one of the English Sisters, Sister Goodrich, because her companion, Sister Atkinson, is a solo STL and had a mission leadership conference to go to. It was SUCH a weird day. Literally EVERYTHING fell through except for doing some weird service for some old people... We went to this one old lady's house to help her vacuum and she was watching Horror movies! The Spirit was 100% not there... then we went to visit Clemencia and she was super standoffish. It was so weird. Then we went to visit Janie and ended up meeting her friend Mitchell, who also has special needs and likes to worship Satan? He was like "I love hatred," and we were just like... okay this is a weird day.

Fortunately, Wednesday was a GREAT day, thank goodness. We actually met a new investigator, Kristina! She just got here from Tijuana about three months ago and is looking for a church to go to. She was Catholic growing up but said she doesn't like how they worship the Virgin Maria. She also said she loves to watch "videos about God," so we showed her the Mormon Messages channel on YouTube and are going to go watch the Restoration video with her today. She soaked it all up.

Later that day we went to the APOYO food bank to help out. We met a sweet girl named Emilia there, and also a girl named Imelda. Imelda is like Dolly Parton's identical twin! I really hope we can teach those girls they are so, so sweet!

We had a TAM (teaching active members lesson) with the Braxons that night. We shared with them parts the Character of Christ (aka my fave talk ever). It turns out Brother Braxon speaks Spanish! Supresa! and he gave us a referral right off the bat of some Hispanics that are neighbors with him. Sweet!

Thursday we stopped by the store again to ask the customer service people if they had any keys turned in... still no luck. Then after that we had a REALLY weird lesson with our (now former) investigator, Tayde. It started off alright, but then she went on this really weird tangent for like a half hour about Halloween and how it is the day people worship Satan, etc. So that was weird. Ha ha but then that evening we got to meet the Jameson Family and have dinner with them. It was DELICIOUS. And then we played Pictionary with prophets like Moses, Noah, Joseph Smith, Nephi, Adam, etc. and then talked about conference and what we learned from Thomas S. Monson. Thank you, Libbie, again for the Boogie Board!! It really comes in handy. They have such a cute and sweet family, and another supresa—Sister Jameson speaks Spanish too! We actually have a surprisingly high number of Spanish speakers in our wards. Awesome!

Thursday night we had Spanish correlation meeting. For some reason my Spanish was just broken that whole meeting! It was so strange. I was like, where did it go? Man. Then we went to the Family History Center with Fernando to help him do some research and try to find a name to take with him for his first temple trip this Saturday! They/we have been working on it for five weeks now and finally found him enough information to be baptized for his Grandpa! Woo hoo! Speaking of this Saturday, October 15th, guess what AMAZING NEWS I got? MAX IS GETTING BAPTIZED! Cue the Hallelujah Chorus! That means this weekend Hermana Shewell and I will be taking a trip down to White Salmon! I'm so excited for Max. I knew he was almost there! He was so close!

Friday morning, we had lunch at Bishop Shipman's company again. They made Carne asada and, holy cow, it was so delicious! We also met a new potential investigator, Omar. He has a lot of Mormon friends at work there, and has a lot of questions. We're meeting with him soon!

Eating Carne Asada!

We also had Weekly Awesomeness! It was great, and the zone leaders actually called us and asked if I would do a training (teaching the 24 other missionaries in the zone for 15 minutes) about planning in our Meeting on Saturday. I was like WOW, okay sure! They said a "little bird" told them I love planning. I want to know who it is!

That evening we met the Gibson family and the Darwin family, and a couple more potential new investigators. We shared with the Darwin family the Secret Service hearts (an activity my mom did for us once when I was little) it's where you do anonymous service for someone and then leave a little paper heart behind that says "Secret Service" on it. It’s a cute and fun way to get families closer and doing more service for each other.

 The Secret Service!

Saturday we had an awesome Zone Training Meeting. There are a lot of us who are new to the Selah Zone, so we actually went around the room and all introduced our companions, including telling everyone, “If my companion was a piece of furniture he/she would be a _______. Ha ha! It was really fun. My training actually went pretty well, too! I was a little nervous because I've never given a training by myself before. I usually play the piano for meetings, so I never get asked to do other things, and the one time I did do a training was with Hermana. Hull! SO I was nervous but Hermana. Shewell said I did great. It was a little hard getting people to participate, but oh well.

Hermanas Knight, Torman, and Shewell

at Zone Training Meeting

Sunday was my first time going to church in this new area. We're over three wards, but just attend one, the First ward. It was Fast and Testimony meeting, and Fernando really wanted to bear his testimony. Since it is a primarily English congregation he asked me to go up with him and translate! I was like *heart is beating out of my chest* "Uh, yeah, I can totally do that!" *screaming inside* But fortunately it all went well! I was super nervous being in front of a congregation where at least 10-20 people would know if I messed up. But fortunately the Spirit took over and the Don De Lenguas was muy real. Fernando's testimony was so powerful! So many people came up to us afterwards thanking him for his words, it was so simple and pure, and just awesome. Go Fernando!

Last night Hermana. Shewell and I both actually started feeling really sick. I've got a bad headache again, but this time I think it's from my sinuses, and both of us have sore throats and runny noses! Your prayers would be greatly appreciated! We want to work super, super, super hard this week to turn our area around and light it on fire, and we can't do that if we are dying! Thank ya’ll so much for your support.

I love and miss you all!

Patriotic mission cars!

Week 50--Goodbye Mr. Edwards!

There's this one member in White Salmon named Joe and he looks EXACTLY like Mr. Edwards on “Little House on the Prairie”, which was one of my favorite shows growing up. I thought it might be a fun name for this week but it might actually just be weird. I don't care. 

This week was AWESOME.

I am seriously loving my new area SO MUCH. 

Okay, back up a minute.

Monday we had my last lesson with Raul, and said goodbye to Max and Jane. It was a little bittersweet but I feel so confident in Hermana Hull. I'm sure she's already doing amazing taking over the area. We also called Larissa to say goodbye to her, too. Then she told us she's actually going to be staying in Alaska for a lot longer than we thought, so she's moving her records over there! That means she officially lives out of mission boundaries by a LOT and I can email her! Sweeeeet. 

Tuesday was my last day helping at the Seventh-day Adventist Thrift Shop. It was pretty fun saying goodbye to everyone, including Mr. Edwards! People were so sweet and nice! I also said goodbye to the Holdens, which was funny, because Brother Holden is pretty short, and when I wasn't paying attention he went in the other room and grabbed a stool and put it right next to me and stood on it. "I want to see you eye to eye at least once before you go! A new lease on life!" Haha! It was so funny. Of course he had to stay on the stool for pictures too so he wouldn't look too short. Goodbye to Bob and Loretta :( Goodbye to the Goodriches! :( and the hardest one of all, Goodbye to Mama and Papa Abken. It was sad but more bittersweet. I was definitely ready to go. After six months in an area you start to know a little too much about people. It's so nice and refreshing to have a change and a new start! PLUS…PURO ESPANOL!!!

 Goodbye David!

 Goodbye Bishop Goodrich!

 Goodbye Holdens!

Goodbye Jody!

 Goodbye Max!

Goodbye Vansickles!

Wednesday morning at 7:30, a member, Sister Clark, came and picked us up and took me to the Hall's house. Then she and Hermana Hull were companions for the day since Hermana Baird was coming down all the way from Wenatchee and wasn't going to get there till 6 pm! Then the Halls drove me to Yakima to the transfer site. It was pretty fun at the transfer site because I got to see a bunch of friends! Of course, Hermana Luevano and I were inseparable, and we found out our best friend Elder Najarian got a crazy transfer call! He's being doubled in to Quincy, a District leader AND training for the first time! I got to meet his "son" too, I think it's going to be an awesome transfer for him. If anyone can handle it, it's Elder Najarian. We also found out about a MIRACLE FOR REAL. I AM SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOOOOO EXCITED, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TURNED ROYAL BACK INTO A SISTER AREA. When I left Royal City, Hermana Luevano and I got doubled out and elders took our place, but now they doubled back in sisters!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? My dreams could come true! I could die there!!!! Gah! I'm so happy about that. 

Transfer Site! 

Me, Elders Najarian and Ence, Sister Clark

 Elder Miles, Hermanas Luevano, Fano, Stocking, Knight

Elders Oliverson & Quast, Hermana Knight

Then I rode with Elders Taele and Boshard up to Ellensburg and met my new companion, Hermana Kayley Shewell. She is SO awesome! She's from Utah, is neighbors with David Archuleta, (COOL) and is the oldest of 6 kids! She is really chilled out and laid back. Super sweet and gentle. Pretty different from silly, loud, and bold Hermana Hullheart! Haha! I'm already so excited for this transfer and can't wait for all the stuff I will learn from Hermana Shewell! And applying all the stuff Hermana Hull taught me to this area! Hermana Shewell is also a competitive dancer, which made me think of my sister, Emily, and she wants to be an eye doctor when she grows up :) 

Me and Hermana Sewell

 Ellensburg transfer site!

So a little about the area. We are "Ellensburg Spanish" and we cover all of Ellensburg (3 wards and YSA) for Spanish work! So it's a huge area, but most of the work is in downtown Ellensburg and Kittitas. We're the only Spanish missionaries in the whole Selah Zone! So that's pretty crazy and weird. Definitely different, but I like it. Our area is pretty new and hasn't had many missionaries work it yet, so that's nice to have a lot of places that are untouched! We also have a LOT of Spanish-speaking English members to work with, so I'm SO excited. This area is also a lot like Royal, in that there are a lot of members who own orchards or farms or hay businesses, etc. and have a lot of Hispanic employees, so I'm excited for that too! 

Ellensburg! 

I love our apartment! We live in a college town with a lot of housing options, and ours is pretty sweet! We also get to live with the Ellensburg 3rd Ward sisters, so it's really fun living in a “quadpan” again! Unpacking was bleh, but I'm getting pretty good at doing it quickly at this point! I had to get another bag last week though, because I gathered so much stuff in White Salmon! I need to get rid of things! Wednesday night we met La familia Reina. I have missed Spanish work SO MUCH. The good news is my Spanish isn't rusty! We walked in their house and the Hispanic feel and smell was like coming home! AH, it was just so right.

 Unpacking!

Thursday we did a service project helping some people move, so that was good! (Got to wear pants!) Later in the day we met the Quincy family on the lawn outside of a building on campus (cool right?) for a pizza picnic for dinner. Ellensburg and central Washington University campus actually remind me a ton of Logan and USU. That night we went to the Institute to put out some fliers about a cultural event we're going to have and ended up meeting some awesome returned missionaries who speak Spanish and want to come out with us. Sweeeeeet. Then we had correlation with our Ward mission leader, Brother Doman. He is awesome! We went through the ward directory with him and color coded things and learned everyone's callings, so that's awesome! 

Friday we went to lunch at Bishop Shipman's (1st ward) work. He owns a hay business and has a lot of Hispanic employees. It turns out that one of our Recent Converts from Yakima, Manuel, works there!!! It was so exciting to see that.  We had delicious carnitas pork and beans! The beans recipe was 2lbs beans, and 10 lbs of bacon!! Haha…typical!

At Bishop Shipman's work...beautiful!

Friday afternoon we had a lesson with Janie. She’s mentally challenged, I think she might have fetal alcohol syndrome. She's really sweet and interesting to teach. We're not totally sure if she even needs baptism, because of where her mental capacity is at, but she did really enjoy conference! Saturday we went to the church to watch it, and then on Sunday we went to the Hill's house with Janie. She was responding really well and actually understanding a lot, so we'll see! We also taught a lesson to Clemencia. She's 70 and just lost her husban, so she's really grieving right now. We had a powerful lesson about the Plan of Salvation and eternal families. It was really awesome. I felt like a missionary!!!

Us with Janie

We also met the Nunez family. They are so funny! There have been a lot missionaries serve here from Texas, and also a lot who have gone home early due to illness, so they were like "Which one of you is it going to be? Haha!" 

Sunday night we met Leila. She reminds me so much of Andie! (Shout out and thanks for the letter!!) 

I think that's it. I'm running out of time! I love you all so much!!!

A diagram that shows how I'm connected with my companions

and they are connected with their companions.

Arrows mean a trainer, regular lines mean companions.

Week 49--Goodbye Goldsalmon!

This is going to be a quickie this week because the computers are broken! Hopefully more next week. 

False Prophecies

Biggest and most important news as you can probably tell is that I'm being transferred! I leave early Wednesday morning to drive to Ellensburg! They have recently started a new Ellensburg Spanish group. So I'll be transferring there and becoming a "Dad"! AKA “Greenie Busting”, or in other words, being Hermana Shewell's first companion after her trainer! 

Okay so now a quick run-down of my week. 

Monday was awesome as usual! P-day fun! Volleyball, soccer, etc. Elder Watt's last P-day!

 Hermana Hull 

AKA "Lonestar"

Tuesday we had the BEST District Council ever. We roleplayed for some specific investigators who are having some really tough problems. Brainstorming together for people with big hurdles. It was a truly revelatory experience. Everyone was joking about me leaving, too which was funny, and when we did transfer predictions, or "false prophecies" as we call it, three people actually guessed correctly that I would go to Ellensburg!

District Council

Wednesday we met a cool family named the Greens. They have a lot of interesting animals they have rescued! two baby deer, a skunk, and a tiny baby squirrel! We got to pet and hold them. Then they told us all about their house's crazy back story. It used to be owned by this crazy Nazi/KKK guy and they keep finding old letters written in German all around the house and property. So crazy! We had an AWESOME lesson with a member, Megan, that night. She shared with us her conversion story and all about how the Book of Mormon changed her life. She showed us a bunch of dark poetry she had written in the past, and then related the Book of Mormon as her "Flashlight". She said "No matter how dark it gets I will always have the Book of Mormon to light the way back up for me."

 Lilly the Skunk

Willow the Deer

Baby squirrel (She doesn't have a name yet.)

 Cool old stuff at the Greens' house

Old German letters found on their property

Thursday we had a great lesson with Raul and one of the youth in the ward, Courtney. It was awesome. We went super deep into the Restoration. 

Friday we found a new Hispanic hub in White Salmon which had previously gone undiscovered by the missionaries! Woohoo!

Saturday we taught Raul again and prepared him for his confirmation on Sunday, which happened by the way. Good thing! Saturday evening, we had a potluck at the church and then got to watch the women's conference with the other Relief Society sisters. It was AWESOME. I love going into Conference with specific questions and then seeing how Heavenly Father will help me to answer and understand them through the sessions. President Uchdorf's talk was perfect for me! 

Saturday night we got TRANSFER CALLS. I got a little bit of anxiety just because it's a change, and I've gotten so used to being here. But it didn't last long because I've had six weeks to prepare myself mentally and ,emotionally for this! I was pretty much expecting it. I've met my new companion a couple of times very briefly and she seems really sweet. So I'm excited. It's going to be SO hard to say goodbye to Herman Hullheart though!!! I LOVE HER SO MUCH. 

Goodbye White Salmon building!

Yesterday at church was a little bittersweet I can't believe it was my last week in the White Salmon Ward! I've been here SO LONG. Some funnies from yesterday:

Brother R was teaching Sunday School this week, and we were talking about some chapters in the scriptures where these lawyers are tricking everyone, and Brother M in the class is a lawyer! So of course he was getting a lot of teasing. Then Brother M raised his hand randomly after we had gotten to a different part of the lesson and said "Elder Holland and Elder Oaks are lawyers, I just wanted to point that out!"

Also, at dinner last night we were at the Taylor's house, their four-year-old son would not eat any of his food, because he "didn't like it" even though he hadn't tried it yet. So his dad was like "You are being a fibber when you don't try your food but then tell people you don't like it! Do you want to be called Pinnochio?" Then the little boy was like "*Gasp!* No I don't, Daddy!" Then the dad was like, "Well then try your food before you tell people you don’t like it." Then about a minute of silence went by as we all continued eating. Then the little boy said, "Did you know that (insert politician's name here) is also called a Pinocchio?" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! We died laughing! The mom was laughing so hard she cried. The dad was like, "I swear I did not teach him that!" Kids are so funny and so smart!

Goodbye Goldsalmon Members!

Well that's gonna have to be it this week. Sorry it's a shorty! Hope you all have an amazing week! I love you!

My cute companion