Week #77 - Snowday

Wow! How crazy that my last p-day is actually a snowday! or should I say an iceday? It was really weird just staying in all day... so we watched the testaments and the legacy (church produced movies) played some bopit and card games and then I went to town in the kitchen! I made banana bread and monkey bread and meatloaf! All those fun things that are really simple but you just don't have time to actually make (so just a warning, mom, I might go a little crazy with some time and a wider variety of ingredients!) 

This past week has been crazy we have started doing some work up in North Little Rock so that has been fun just because it feels like it has been untouched by elders for awhile. We even met this cool Chilean guy that used to go to our church when he was younger (his brother even served a mission) So we are pretty excited to start teaching him some more. 

This week has been sooooo good! We were able to teach a lot of lessons and see quite a few miracles. One that was really special was that we were finally able to see Orlando! And he was totally still planning on being baptized on the 14th but he couldn't because he didn't come to church this past week, but we moved it to this coming Saturday and he is well on his way. He had us pretty nerveous at church though because he didn't come for the first two hours and then he walked into sacrament meeting 5 minutes late. But Hallelujah he was there! Boy oh boy I could have shouted and jumped and danced right there (but I held it in, relatively well. I was just grinning ear to ear)

So since we have a baptism this Saturday I won't be able to make it to Memphis (but I really wish I could have)  I hope the wedding and everything goes well! And give Jaccob a big hug for me ;) 

Valentines day as a missionary is always just so weird. No one was home, they were out celebrating, we met a couple of drunk people though... And Jerri Ibarra (the coolest missionary member) came out teaching with us! Sad day that no one was home but we went door to door and that was pretty fun. 

We gave up the car last Sunday so we are now on foot. It was actually so cold Sunday night we got dropped off at Orlando's house so we could teach him and then we made it to the closest store possible (Dollar General) and then asked for a ride home. It was SO cold, I couldn't believe it and we hadn't bundled up because we just got dropped off straight from the church building. Tender mercies of the Lord for answered prayers! 

People keep asking me how much longer I have and just seem shocked when I say a few weeks. I can't tell my Heavenly Father thank you enough for allowing my last Saturday to be a baptism. I am so excited for this week even though it'll be on foot it will be amazing! 

I love y'all and I'll be kickin' it up with y'all soon!

Love,

Hermana Ives

Week #76 - One more week gone away

Hola family,

People keep asking me when I'm coming back to visit since my previous 3 companions all came back within 3 weeks... lol, I don't think I am going to be able to break their record. 

Luckily this week I didn't break anything, me included. (We didn't end up going to the trampoline park... sooo...I'll prolly have to do that sometime after I get home...) We have been doing an insanity workout. It feels really good, but I have also been really sore. So I am excited to do a bunch of getting back in shape. 

I have no fear of telephones any more... I made a TON of phone calls. Mostly all in Spanish. Craziness.

Another week is gone. 

I mailed home some books today. I nearly fell over at the first price she offered a hundred and something bucks, but then I realized that she was talking about priority shipping with insurance and that it would get there in like two days... for just a bunch of books??? I think not. lol don't worry it was a lot cheaper than a hundred dollars.

We taught some people, we found some people, we testified to some people, we served some people, we learned a bit, we studied a lot...

yup,

Hermana Ives 

Week #75 - I Love February

Wow, another week has come and gone... 

 

I started getting what the mission has termed, "trunky mail." Those are the dreaded letters that tell you not to think about home but while not thinking about home there are some things that you have to get done so you can go home... yeah, it kind stinks. 

 

But for the most part all the assignments are done and sent back so I don't have to think about them until I am completely finished.

 

This past week I got the stomach flu... yeah, I ended up having to get some anti-nausea medicine (the side effect said drowsiness, not KNOCKOUT.  I guess my system just isn't used to meds. I was out an entire day. I felt completely better the next day and then my companion got it! Two days in a row without much of anything going on. 

 

But to make up for it, my companion was able to invite someone to baptism this week! Man, she really is killing it! And all that door to door selling that she did before her mission has really helped her have NO fear in talking with anyone - a little bit jealous about that one, lol just kidding, but it did take me a long time to get over the fear of knocking on random doors. 

 

I am so excited to Janice! Isn't that awesome news?!? Yeah, she sent me a personal e-mail! I can't wait for her! She is absolutely going to love it. 

My last week is a bike week... I'm thinking that I'll probably just ship my bike home this week and then borrow someone else's for that one week/ just walk (not Hermana Reed's favorite, but I personally prefer walking around here when there are so many hills.)

 

Have you started reading the advent calendar from Christmas? lol, I know you mentioned that you might do that as a count down to my coming home lol.

I'm trying to remember anything particular that happened this week... Oh! I remember! We had a FHE with President Wakolo's family, a less active family in our Spanish branch, and a deaf recent convert of the ASL sisters. 3 languages, 1 home, I somehow got put in charge of the lesson and my companion just translated the entire evening... It was super stressful but super awesome too! We had a great lesson about putting on the whole armor of God. I even made cardboard armor and everything. I think it was a hit. 

 

Something that I really noticed that evening was the feeling that the Wakolo's had in their home. And I realized just how important it is to make our homes Christ-centered. Because there really is a difference between their home and the feeling that is in the less-active's home and I know that that feeling is the Spirit. And as we do the little things of reading in the scriptures, praying and going to church we can make our homes Christ-centered and a place where the Spirit of God can dwell. 

 

I love my mission. I love Arkansas and all the amazing people here. I love all of the memories I've made and all the crazy adventures I've had. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

 

I know the gospel is true!

 

Love,

 

Hermana Ives