Week #32 - Skittles and M&Ms

Hola Padres! 

Wasn't General Conference amazing?!? We had one investigator show up to the church. We had one watch from their computer. We have an investigator and recent convert all set up to watch it on their computer now. 

 

Wow that is super awesome that there were so many people there! No one really showed up to the church to watch and after our investigator left we went to watch conference with some members (It seemed more productive than sitting in the church with the elders..)

I really loved Elder Nelson's talk on increasing our faith. and President Uchtdorf's was completely fabulous (as always)

Wow, I wish I could meet Lee and Austin! They sound completely amazing! As for baptism of course the sisters need to follow the spirit in inviting for baptism, but that really is their purpose - to invite others to come unto Christ by sharing the Restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. 

I understand not wanting to push but knowing (having received that revelation that your investigator really is ready.)that this is your purpose and essential for their salvation.  This is kind of something that I have been struggling with myself for a long while. We have/had an investigator Rosa, and her daughter Yaireth, who have been taught everything and taught everything again, reads the book of mormon, comes to church every Sunday (we were at that point there is very little that you can continue to do as a missionary) We kept inviting and Rosa kept saying that there was something more she needed to know she wanted to be baptized but there was something more. (I believe everyone has some piece of knowledge that is going to hold their interest and really help them accept what they have learned.) For Rosa she received that piece of knowledge during 3rd hour when President Smith talked on patriarchal blessings. At that point she KNEW for herself that she was ready. We were inspired to go over and extend the invitation again and she has finally accepted. Rosa and her daughter are going to be baptized this coming Sunday! I can't tell you how excited I am that they are finally going to be taking those steps. What adds more to my joy is that she is going to come into the fold and she is going to stay in the fold! She is soooooo amazing and her daughter Yaireth is someday going to be the BEST Sister missionary EVER!  I thought baptisms are awesome but what I am really excited for is to see them and my other investigators go to the temple to be sealed together forever as families! 

So after that long story I guess the moral is that you love them, you encourage and support them, and you bear heartfelt testimony of the truth you know and the Lord will handle everything else. And I have full confidence that as Lee and Austin come to church and continue to align their lives with the gospel of Christ they will develop that conviction that they need (it may not be the perfect 2 week conversion like every missionary is dreaming of it may like Rosa take 71/2 months, it may like Brigham Young take 2 years) but as long as the sisters continue to teach in a loving manner, follow up and congratulate for the progress made and keep working and teaching through the baptismal interview questions everything will turn out according to God's will. 

Preach My Gospel is the coolest book in the world besides the Book of Mormon. I am excited to hear your insights from it. Chapter 1, 4, and 6 are my absolute favorites! Way to follow the counsel of Elder Ballard! I see what cha doin there!

Oh my goodness! Temples are so amazing! I am so grateful for all the work you are doing for our ancestors! Thank you for sharing that sweet experience with me! I can't tell you how excited I am to get into family history work when I get back! I have made it my life's goal to work on family history for at least an hour every Sunday when I get home! (pretty neat goal right?) I received that little piece of inspiration from General Conference.

Hahaha, I really like that object lesson that is so cool! I think it is really neat how the missionaries in Spokane use so many object lessons. We really don't use that many...or any... but I really want to try it sometime!

Missionary work is awesome! I absolutely love my new companion! She is a super duper people person and talker but she is so totally herself in missionary work and I really love that about her. I have learned a lot about vision, goals, confidence, and faith from her. 

I am so grateful for all of my many blessings and being able to serve the Lord. I can hardly believe how amazing He is, how beautiful the gospel is, and how many blessing we each receive daily. 

After general conference I have really realized how much I need to up my game and serve. I have been a missionary  but I want to be the missionary that God wants me to be. 

Wow, this has turned into quite a long e-mail. Oh and I wanted to say thank you for the dress! It is super cute with this stretchy red belt that I have acquired on the mish. Not to mention it is an awesome length. The sweaters are a little way to big though... I wasn't sure if you want me to return them or send them to you, or give them to someone here in Warren/Monticello.

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week!

You are in my prayers and I am glad to hear how much you are supporting the missionaries. If I have learned nothing else from my mission it has been how to be a member missionary. Meals are nice, people to teach are 10 times better! 

We are going to have to have a block party sometime after I come home! That would be such a wonderful finding opportunity for the missionaries! 

Anywho,

Have a wonderful week!

I love ya!

Hermana Ives

Week #31 - Look out April here we come!!!

Hey family! 

How is everything going?

Lol, you aren't doing the whole Apple thing? The Dell is probably the best thing! Learning a whole new operating system is more than a little confusing. So I am glad that you are learning the ropes of your new computer. 

 

And as for greek yogurt I have been wanting to get some I just never have so now I have the perfect amount of motivation. 

My new companion is Sister Hicken (no, not a Spanish speaking sister...but I don't really feel like I qualify as one either, now that I haven't really spoken Spanish on a regular basis for over 4 months...) 

Wow! Way to work with the missionaries that is completely awesome! Those Newman Lake sisters are lucky to have such an amazing missionary mom with them! 

Man, the temple is so awesome and I am really missing it. I can't wait to be able to go on a very regular basis when I get home. As for now I am learning to be content in the present salvation of souls! wow, what a thing to be content in! I can't really think of anything better. However, I really want to go to the temple with Rod and Erma Zendejas in a year! They are sooooo amazing and they are just thriving on the gospel. I really want you to meet them. Erma calls her sister missionaries, "her girls" and sometimes she calls me the little rich spoiled one... apparently if your clothes come from thrift stores you are rich and I am spoiled because I am the only girl and the youngest... whatever...

 

We had a baptism this last Sunday Amanda Reed is the newest member of the Monticello branch! Pretty crazy stuff. Throwing together a baptism 3 days before the fact was a little more stressful than I could ever imagine but it happened and it was absolutely fabulous!

Ummm as for a package....if you could send some more of those ogwalla bars... but only if there is room...maybe some more CDs... but I don't really need anything. 

Thanks I love you have a wonderful day/week! 

Can you believe tomorrow is April? Where did March go?

Thank you so much for your letter dad, not to mention the Debit card ;) I will try to use it wisely! lol

You are fabulous! Stay strong stay awesome!

Con amor,

Hermana Ives

Week #30 - Re: Moving beds and meeting friends

Hola! 

You got a new computer? What?!? That is awesome! What kind is it? I am sure you will be able to adjust beautifully and that the transition won't be too difficult, because you are really one smart cookie! And dad is a fabulous instructor. You just can't freak out because it is different the concepts are still the same! (wow, look at me preaching, sorry.) 

So transfers are this Wednesday...and Hermana Howton is leaving. I am pretty sad about that! I love her so much and being companions has been a total blast! She is so spiritually in tune too, so that has really helped me. She loved the chalk and the journal and pens! Thanks so much! We haven't made banana bread yet, but I think we are going to do that today! Yummm!

Can you believe general conference is right around the corner? I am SOOOOO excited! And the general women's broadcast sounds fabulous! I and my new companion will probably be going to sister Kulbeth's house to watch it with our investigators Rosa and her daughter Yaireth (Ja-I-wreath). Yup pretty awesome stuff. 

Grandma Caye needs/has hearing aides now?!? What? When did that happen? Does she like them? I am glad that she enjoys getting letters, I love getting hers. And sorry I don't always get a letter to you when I send her hers. But I have been trying! Did dad get his card too?

Teehee, you got to have the sister missionaries over? How awesome! I am glad they liked my quote wall! I miss that. Hermana Howton and I made a happy door in our apartment with awesome quotes and pictures and random stuff that makes us smile.

Oh my goodness!!! I want to meet Skeeter so bad! that is awesome! 

Man, I miss my music and being able to sit down by myself and just have fun. I have decided that in my future home I am going to have a nice baby grand and an organ! Yup that is right I am officially going to learn how to play it . That way I won't get completely freaked out when I am asked to be a ward organist or to play at funerals. 

I am trying to think of the new and crazy things that have happened this week...But the truth is it has been very routine. But we have been getting really nice weather for biking now. 

I am officially 20! Sister Bryant took us out to eat at an Italian restaurant in Monticello. And it was DELICIOUS! I got Alfredo tortellini.  Talk about delicious and totally NOT healthy! lol. 

Yup...I love ya'll! Keep up the awesome work! I can't believe that March is practically gone. Or that I am staying in Warren... Yet another 6 weeks with cockroaches and a bathtub drain that doesn't drain...yeah! lol we have the worst sister's apartment in our zone... but that always makes for an adventure so it is good.

I love you

Hermana Ives

Week #29 - 20 here I come!

Hola!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!! Are you wearing green?!? Have you noticed how not big St. Patrick's Day is when you aren't in an Irish Dance class??? I certainly have...

Oh My GOODNESS! Thank you so much for the package!!!! I got handed the package and i nearly dropped it for how heavy it was! And all the cards and stickers are SOOOOOOooooooooo adorable! Hermana Howton's eardrums are probably STILL ringing from how much squealing there was going on. So Thank you! It really made me VERY happy! Can you believe that I am going to be 20? I know that I am still going through shock! It is only 2 days away before it is going to be official! (Would it be inappropriate to ask how it feels to have your baby girl turn 20?)

Ahh man! It sounds like grandma Caye is having an interesting time adjusting to everything! That has got to be hard. But you are so amazing to go and get milk for her even though it was late. And I know that you have/will receive blessings for it.
What did Tyler do to Melody's song?

How To Begin Teaching (HBT) is in Preach my Gospel chapter 10...(pg 162?)
And the 10th bullet point leads into the baptismal invitation perfectly! And it establishes your relationship with the investigator so you aren't wasting time but they know right up front why you are there. To help them prepare themselves to come unto Christ through the waters of baptism.

ITM ing is (Inspire the Members). It is a short 15 minute lesson.
2-3 minutes chitchat.
open with prayer
5 min share a scripture/spiritual thought
3 min testimony
Invite members to think specifically about people that they could share the gospel with. Then offer the prayer.
Ask for referrals, if they don't give you any, set up a next appointment and invite them to continue to pray and fast about it.

This week has been crazy but really it all climaxed on Sunday. We had a baptism! Rod Zendejas was baptized! And we had a funeral. Sister Eileen Smith's mother Sister Forrest passed away. And they asked me to play the organ and accompany a grand daughter singing the hymn In the Garden... It was more than a little stressful... But hermana Howton and I got through it.

The Rodgers just moved into our branch and it just so happens that they know Ben and Mamie Winters!!! We went over to help them clean up their new house. And when Jen Rodgers found out that I was from Spokane she said, "This is probably a shot in the dark, but do you happen to know a Ben Winters?"  We both may have freaked out a little bit when we made the connection!  Anywho, that was just super neat!

Well, I love you all so much!
I know that the gospel is true, that the work is hastening, that the Lord loves His children and that there is nothing better than sharing the things that truly make us happy!

I love you!
Hermana Ives

Week #28 - What a week!

Hello Familia y amigos!

What a week! Usually the days feel super long and the week flies by...this week, total opposite! The days went by WAYYYYYY to fast and the week seemed to last forever!

So on Monday we went to Monticello and we went to a thrift shop with Sister Wadsworth (The senior couple serving in our branch) and she had a ball shopping with us! I seriously felt like I was shopping with grandma Caye! lol she just got so tickled when something she picked out fit! So we were able to get a couple of new clothes! Soooo much fun, but I have never spent 2 1/2 hours in a thrift shop before without ever leaving the dressing room! lol

Shopping in Walmart was like heaven just because everything was SO much cheaper than in Warren. We made it all the way back to Warren...and guess what we forgot to get...yeah so it is good that we are still on car week! ;)

On Tuesday we got to put on our jeans again and help Sister Eileen Smith clean her house. She has a bad back so we got to do some bending and scrubbing for her. She uses ever cleaner under the sun though, and I was most definitely NOT used to that. 

We made a ton of phone calls, like an hours worth of phone calls! Yes, I can actually talk on the phone now. It isn't my favorite thing. But I can do it! 

And we had a spiritual harvesting miracle! We were out spiritual harvesting on Parks st and we knocked on all the houses that looked inhabited. And after not very much success we decided to get in the car, pray, and then be led by the Spirit. We came to the main road and Hermana Howton parked. She pointed to two houses and I picked the one that was directly on Main st (we really only had time to visit one house.) We knocked and a voice said something. So we shouted, "the missionaries" and the voice said, "I said come in!" (I don't like it very much when we are the ones to open the door and step in, and it happens a lot more frequently than you would imagine!) Anyway we opened the door and I introduced ourselves and the lady said, ''yeah, come in, come in! Sit down, Sorry I missed you last time ya'll came I was in Little Rock." (we had never knocked on this lady's house before....what happened was that we had received this lady as a referral from the elders in Monticello. Her name was Ebony, and we had try to contact her but the elders had given us the wrong street name and we weren't able to find her house anywhere!) So the Lord had led us to Ebony and after talking with her for a little bit we discovered that she is actually the daughter of one of our investigators! How crazy amazing is that?!? So we gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a return appointment!

On Wednesday we had zone meeting and we were able to discuss the importance of prayer, faith, and works all together. I have never felt so inspired to do missionary work! Our mission president has really been focusing on the importance of using the how to begin teaching points and inviting everyone to be baptized during that first visit! Do you know how inspired that is?!? How to begin teaching is SO effective. I have no idea why the entire 6 weeks in the MTC wasn't spent on roleplaying, memorizing, and using it!

We went on exchanges and I was able to go to Bryant with Sister Miller. And it was AMAZING! All we did was use How to begin teaching and inviting to be baptized! We taught 5 lessons, invited all to be baptized and set one date! It was so amazing! All of that and we were able to avoid going contacting in Walmart. (Sister Miller had planned that for 8:30) and I was trying really hard to look forward to it....but I wasn't really succeeding. I have never had anyone ask to see my ministerial certificate and driver's license before either... that was a bit crazy...

On Thursday we exchanged back and we had a pretty interesting night. We visited with the part member family, Scotts. And the lesson was...well, it made my brain hurt. It was super overwhelming how much we read on Nephi's vision about the great and abominable church...yikes, that just happened to be where sis scott was in her book of mormon reading so we decided to help her. And her husband read with us...yeah. I am just praying that we can go back...

Friday was awesome because we used How to begin teaching and set a baptismal date with Shalanda! She is a referral from Sister Bryant and she has two daughters that are baptismal age! We are so excited for them to come to church. 

We were able to talk with a lady Ms. Wilkers who is in her 90s and she was out digging in a flower bed. She was also telling us how she still runs her own tiller! It was pretty impressive. 

Pentacostal people are nice but they scare me a little bit. We got a referral from a recent member to go contact these people. They read us the Bible verse from Galatians where Peter or Paul was telling the people that if anyone preached any other gospel unto them let their souls be damned... so we left them with a prayer....

Saturday was sweet! We were finally able to get a hold of Rabbit and talk with her. She is such a sweet lady and I want her and her husband to get baptized so bad. 

We were able to set 2 more dates this evening with Amanda and Michael Reed. They are the cutest couple ever. You would never imagine them being together but they are so sweet and they want to really learn for themselves! I know that they are going to get their answers and be baptized! 

Sunday was awesome. After church was potluck and then we were able to go and see Nora, she is struggling to quit smoking again. But she gave us an almost full pack of cigarettes... I have never handled so many cigarettes than on my mission... actually this week! Hermana Howton and I are not quite sure how to dispose of them....

I have to say that members are the answer to missionary work and Hermana Howton and I really saw that this week. We have been studying PMG 160-162. And what was really awesome was that we talked with with a member's less active son and received an invitation from him to visit his friend Johnathan. I can't tell you how many times I have knocked on Johnathan's door and never has anyone answer but that night he did and we were able to invite him to read from the Book of Mormon everyday. That experience really taught me that members ARE the key! So we are really going to be working on ITM-ing our members in Warren and start teaching more in their homes! 

Plus we had the opportunity to be an answer to a prayer last night. We decided to see an investigator that we haven't been able to see in a little while and we knocked on the door and she opened it and said, "Wow, I had just sat down in my chair and said, 'Lord, I could use some help just about now'!" And then we knocked! How amazing and perfectly timed is the Lord!?!

Being a missionary is the coolest thing ever! I am so glad I have been so greatly blessed! 

Keep up the good work!

Go and share the gospel because there is no greater gift that you can give!

Love ya'll so much!

Hermana Ives

Week #27 - What a week...

Hola Familia! 

Let me just say that I have never had a week quite like this one. It just seemed like everything was happening and it just wasn't turning out. You know that my bike tire exploded last week so we were on a partial walk week. But it was all good because we were getting the car on Tuesday at district meeting in Pine Bluff (an hour away from Warren)...Well district leader came down with the flu so district meeting was cancelled...we would either have to wait til Thursday or find a ride....we couldn't do another 2 days of walking. So our angel Sister Bryant gave us a ride. 

Oh talking about Sister Bryant maybe you should talk to her about charcoal (She is very into natural remedies) I imagine she would love getting into super food and super tonic. Plus she is having problems with her knee and I was thinking Dr. Cough might be able to help. (She is very spiritually in tune so I don't think she would get freaked out by long distance adjustments...)  Also you should look her up on Facebook! (These are all suggestions....you don't have to do any of them if you don't want to) 

Anywho so we did eventually get a car and we were able to go spiritual harvesting and contacting in some areas that are relatively far to bike to! Hallelujah!  

We were able to teach Johnny (has a date for the 16th of March) about the word of wisdom. He has a problem with smoking and drinking coffee. So in order to support him and Nora to quit smoking Hermana Howton and I quit chocolate... for the rest of our lives... I know right!?!?! Hermana Howton and I make crazy goals but it really seemed like the only thing that we ingest that has close to the same effect because we crave it and everything... so, yeah... we went through our apartment and put everything in a bag to give to various investigators. 

We were able to have dinner with the branch president and his family and that was awesome because we received some counsel about how we could better serve the branch.

We had interviews with President at district meeting this Thursday. Pretty awesome...he counseled me to talk with EVERYONE about the gospel and to not play with it in my mind anymore. To just make the decision today that no matter what/who/when I would open my mouth about the gospel. 

On Friday...... what a joke...EVERYTHING fell through, NO ONE answered their doors, etc... we literally had a ZERO key indicator day! It was so ridiculous it was almost unbelievable. Anywho, we got in bed "early" 9:30 and we both had this ridiculous feeling that our district leader was going to call so we couldn't really fall asleep and then right when I had almost drifted off our phone rang...it was our district leader, just calling to see how our day went! lol man, it was rEEdonculous!

Saturday we helped Nora organize her trailer that she just moved into. That was fun (we got to wear jeans!) anywho on the way back we needed to grab something from the store and before we went in Hermana Howton had a feeling that we would see a member....in our jeans... anyways we got to the check out and the Worthens come up behind us. It was awesome because we got to know them a little better and actually talk with them face to face (it was super weird being in jeans talking with them though.)

Sunday we had an awesome fast and testimony meeting. we had 4 investigators to church this week even though we had only taught 4 lessons the entire week! Yessssss! Thank the Lord! He really is the coolest, awesomest person EVER! 

And as an answer to our fasting and prayers we are getting some of our less active members excited about missionary work and have some missionary lessons in their home! I have never really taught an investigator in someone's home! ...okay that's a lie, I have but the investigators/friends were more there for dinner than for the lesson! So things are really looking up. 

I am so proud of ya'll for all the missionary work you are doing! Keep up that fabulous work! 

I hope you have a wonderful week full of opportunities to share the beautiful message of the gospel! 

And if anyone asks you, ''whatcha know?" The gospel is true, the book of Mormon is true, God is our loving Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, Miracles are real, and the list just goes on and on. 

I really love Alma 7:15, "lay aside every sin that doth easily beset you" nothing, no sin should be standing between you and God. If you know who He is and in relation who you are, (a divine son or daughter of God) then that is all you need because His strength, His wisdom, and His mercy are over, and around, and through all!

Keep Going and doing and I will try and do the same =)

Love,

Hermana iVES

Week #26 - CRAAAAAAZZYYYYY

Hola Hola!

This week has been CRAAAAAAZZYYYYY! Probably one of the fastest weeks on my mission thus far. It seems like EVERY thing happened!

The weather has been so nice which has really been a blessing since Hermana Howton and I have been on bike week. We had a wonderful zone conference on Wednesday where we got to meet with a lot of the other Spanish speaking missionaries we all gathered around one table to eat lunch. It was crazy packed but it was super fun! I have noticed that this week my comprehension of what is being said has really increased. So I know that your prayers are working and all I have to say is Please keep it up =D 

I am so glad that Sister Bryant got to e-mail you. She is SO amazing! She is really into essential oils she is actually an aromatouch practitioner with douterra! It is super cool getting to talk oils with her! lol I can actually hold my own in that conversation. And she has really been getting my thinking about going into message therapy when I come home... who knows, maybe yes, maybe no.

The area is fabulous! We had both of our investigators with a baptismal date at church! I have had some really amazing spiritual experiences this week with the work. I have really come to know that Heavenly Father is aware of every aspect of our lives and especially this work. We decided to try contacting at the city park, and I was a little timid about it (I have repented already) but hermana Howton made the comment that we would see a miracle if we just went and did it. So we went and it wasn't terribly successful and as we were walking away I had seriously just had the thought, "some miracle" when we heard someone call out to us. It was Francine one of our investigators that we had been having a really hard time contacting because she had been so busy! And we were able to talk to her and continue to encourage her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I love this area so much and the people here are so amazing I have really been able to feel the Savior's love for them. We have an investigator Rabbit who has been really just struggling with everything going on in her life. And I just felt prompted to share my testimony that Heavenly Father knows each of his children and that she is so very precious in his sight. I can't tell you how amazing it was to truly be an instrument in His hands to share his love. It has been an answer to a priesthood blessing! And that love has really helped my testimony to grow about how much the Savior loves me. 

I love Hermana Howton so much! She has such a sweet testimony and is a wonderful example. She knows her Savior and has been amazing in sharing that testimony and belief with others to help them come closer to Him.

We had a pretty crazy bike week...on Thursday first Hermana Howton's skirt got caught in her bike wheel and got ripped up pretty bad. and then my back tire kind of exploded.... so our bike week quickly tuned into a walk week. And let me tell you how EXHAUSTING walking is! It is super crazy you wouldn't think it would make you that tired but it does! 

I am studying Mosiah 1-5 I have only gotten to chapter 3 but I have really learned so much mostly about how our Heavenly Father has promised blessings to those who are obedient to his commandments and the more exact we are in following the more immediate the blessings. I hope throughout this coming week that I will be able to let go of little thoughts or actions that keep me from keeping a strict adherence to the schedule and to really take advantage of talking with everyone that the Lord has placed in my path. I know that I am in Warren for a reason and to help very specific people and I hope that I become more obedient I will be blessed to know how to better help them come unto Him. 

I am loving my mission!

Hermana Ives