Ok, where to
begin! It is super weird being transferred in the middle of a transfer!
My new companion Hermana Smith is a super hero and my Spanish is getting
better because I HAVE to speak in lessons more than just give my
testimony at the end.
Our baptismal goal for this month is 4 and we have already set 2 dates
and I think we already know who is going to be next! It is super
exciting bearing testimony about the gospel and hearing about the
beliefs of others. It is really weird how some people don't know even
who the old prophets are such as Noah, Abraham, Moses! They don't know
the stories associated with them... how crazy is that, it blows my mind.
We are teaching a couple of Less Active members who have baptism
age kids... One family is the mother, an 11 year old daughter -
Esperanza (Hope), and a 7 year old daughter Ruby (having her birthday
Nov 16 and baptism on the 17th. Anyway while we were teaching them last
week Esperanza said that she wanted to be a missionary and when we
asked why she said, "So I can think about God all day on Sunday!" It was
so adorable! And when we asked Ruby what her favorite part of Church
was she said the Sacrament (that completely blew my mind...I know when I
was 7 sacrament meeting was not my favorite part...) she said that she
really liked the symbolism of the sacrament! The are such an awesome
family!
Favorite quote of all church boards everywhere... and trust me
Arkansas has a LOT of church reader boards... "Living without God is
like trying to dribble a football." tee hee, isn't that awesome?!?
I absolutely love the Book of Mormon. everything hinges on the Book
of Mormon you either believe that it is the word of God or you don't.
You either gain that testimony and then know that Joseph Smith was a
prophet that received revelation from God to restore is church or you
don't. There is no other way to gain a testimony of the Gospel without
the Book of Mormon. It is impossible you just can't do it. I have been
making a list of all the things I want to study....I just don't have
enough time! lol but I guess I will know what I will be studying for at
least 15 years after my mission so that is all good.
We found a couple of Chinese people to talk to and we are hoping to
be able to do that this week! I am super excited... I have decided that
I am going to be at least tri-lingual...I am going to be fluent in
English, Spanish, and Chinese... It is going to happen! lol (I am such a
big dreamer!)
I got a letter from one of my Primary Children!!! It absolutely
made my day...which was great because that particular day had been
good...but it was also just plain rough.
I was in Walmart
today and right as you walk in they have a countdown until Christmas
board...do you realize that there are only 43 days until Christmas? How
crazy is that? I could hardly believe it!
Ummm....yeah, so this week I got a hug...not from a female....that
was super akward-o.... I'm not quite sure what you are supposed to do in
those situations... It was after we taught our lesson and he said he
would be baptized December 1st we shook his hand and he pulled us into a
big hug...oops
Anywho...All of my companions have been awesome and I am so glad I had the opportunity to work with each of them!
The
elders in our branch (there are 4 sets of missionaries...) had a
baptism last Sunday! I played the piano...did you know that the timing
is different between the Spanish and English Hymns of I believe in
Christ? Yeah...I didn't either until everyone started singing...it kind
of sounded bad...but whatcha going to do when no one will make
eye-contact with you to trade hymnbooks because they are all so focused
on singing the right words...eeeeesh...
This is a random thought but I wish missionary lessons happened
around a dining room table. It would be so nice to sit in a close circle
with good lighting, and a table to put pictures and cut outs on... (has
any one else had this thought/desire?)
The hills in Arkansas are 10 worse than the hills in Mississippi! Like you can be peddling your legs off and still have only gone 2 feet...they are so steep that I make it barely half way up and then HAVE to get off and walk. But every time it makes me remember dad so it is all good :D thanks for teaching me to appreciate the ability to get up hills and now I have the knowledge that it could always be worse. I think one long gradual hill is a hundred times better than 6 super steep hills with Stop signs in the valleys...yup you pick up so much speed and then you have to lose it all and start going up hill with little to no momentum...it kind of bites... but we are on car week so I haven't had to worry about it in a while.
Ummm....I'm not sure what else to talk about..the weather is a lot
warmer than where you are all :) teehee... not to rub it in or
anything.
Love you bunches!
Hermana Ives
