Family, it was so good to read your emails and see your pictures and feel your love :) So good to hear from all of you. I think of you often, but I try not to think of you too often :) Haha but I love you all so much, and thank you for all of your support and love.
Ok so this week was good, it wasn't as like crazy miraculous as the first week, but there were still some really good things that happened. I'm starting to see how I would like this area to change, but it's tough because I'm still a greenie and I have to remember that I probably dont know as much as I think I do...But yah. So the issue with the ward is getting the MEMBERS to chip in with missionary work! Dad, you asked why I'm in a branch, and that I don't know...just boundaries I'm guessing, there are more Americans in my area, so there aren't tons of latinos in the boundaries...but there are some spanish wards that are booming. Anyways, so yah...maybe I told you this last week, but there used to be elders in the area, and the members loved them, because they were super goofy and fun. So, they actually were disappointed when sisters came into the rama 3 months ago, and we're trying to turn that around. They very rarely give referrals just because they say they dont know anyone, or everyone they know is mormon, ladida. Anyways, so yeah...Mom, Dad, everyone...I need your wisdom on how to get members involved!! And Also, I'm definitely trying to figure out how to be a blessing, not a burden on the branch pres. Before I didn't think it was possible to be a burden, but now I can see how that might happen. So yeah, we're meeting w/ the branch pres and ward mission leader (dad, now I can tell you do a really good job at your calling :) ) tomorrow to talk with them, and we have some ideas.
Another thing that we're trying to combat is lack of TIME. Because I'm new, we have 2 hours of comp study each day, plus we try to have language study...then we have the vc for like 3-5 hours a day on most days. So that equals like 3 hours of proselyting time. So there are definitely some challenges, and this week I've just been trying to wrap my head around all these challenges, and trying to figure out how I can make things happen without stepping on any toes, and how I can accept that I still don't know everything and I have to take it one day at a time and be patient. So yeah, but it's all good!
So some highlights...well one lesson we had with a recent convert w/ margarita. We decided we were going to teach her about the priesthood, and I kept thinking that was pretty random. But we went into it going to talk about that, and then she starts talking with us and she tells us she's having a rough time because they found a lump in her breast, and she used to have cancer, and this one might be cancerous. So we were like DING! priesthood blessings! So we talked all about them, and then this past sunday we lined up 2 of the men in the rama to give her a priesthood blessing. So that was really cool.
Other highlight was on saturday night, we went to a "boda", of a couple that got sealed! They got baptized a year ago, and were sealed on saturday. So saturday night they had a big party at the chapel, and the wife had on a legit wedding dress and everything. It was sooo happy, and the elder who baptized them was there was just freaking out with pure bliss, and they were so happy. It was cool, because they have like teenage kids, but they were like "starting over" or renewing their marriage, it was really cool. Something to look forward to!
Also, we're teaching a lady named griselda, who's not in our area, but her husband gets jealous of the elders, so we're teaching her. She's totally ready to get baptized, she really wants to but her husband is hesitant. So she's doing really well, she's really unhappy with things in her family, so we're trying to give her hope. But she's so sweet.
The family baez is progressing! The mom and Kytsia are READING the things we give them! Hopefully we can get them to come to church on sunday. The mom is soooo ready, and everyone in the family is so receptive and loving. The only issue witht hem is the same issue with everyone...WORK. Everyone works all the time, they gotta do what they gotta do, and they're just happy to have jobs at all. It's hard to get the family all together, and the mom works on sunday. Mom, dad...how do you work on this in the tujunga ward? I need your wisdom! So yeah, but I have high hopes for them.
What else...the visitors center is going well. I LOVE the director and his wife. Elder white, the director, is so awesome. He gave a talk at one of our prep meetings on friday and talked about faith and about how we need to have the idea of having our calling and election made sure a legitimate goal in our life...might seem super random, but it was really inspiring. Anyways, I love them. Because you don't interact w/ your mish pres as much anymore, I feel like Elder White is totally becoming like that figure in my life here, he's great. So yeah, in the VC i have cool experiences every day. I've been able to talk with nonmembers, tell them more about the church and testify. I've seen families come in for FHE and really leave feeling a lot closer. I'm drawing a blank on specifics, but I love it. There's ahomeless guy that comes into the VC really frequently and wants to get baptized, but he can't because he moves around a lot, and he's really angry about it and confused about the BOM. So I gave him a list of my favorite scriptures to read in the BOM, just little things like that. There was a less active girl that came in who had just been laid off and didn't know what to do, and her and i watched "i'm a mormon"s together for like an hour, and that was really good (including Daisy's :) ) There's just moments like that, and I'm definitely getting better at talking to everyone, at asking for referrals from everyone, all of that.
OH another cool VC experience, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to do stuff in spanish here. So one girl talked to me about how I need to make goals to do spanish work in the vc, and how i need to pray about it and stuff like that. Then right after that, that night, I was able to give 2 tours in spanish! So that was cool.
Also, another highlight...rachel and her boyfriend chauncey came to the vc. So good things!
We also had zone conference yesterday (hence why I emailed you today, some days my pday will be on tuesday, sorry for the delay :) ). But zone conference was good, talked about being CHEERFUL, and being humble and working with members. All things I needed to hear! The mish pres and his wife are definitely inspired.
So the work is good. Everyone always talks about how hard the mission is, and i think it's "hard" for everyone in a different way. For us, we have a car, I eat delicious mexican food every day, I'm in air conditioning. Really, the heat has barely been an issue at all, ya it's hot but I don't mind it one bit. So it's interesting, because I still have hard times, and I think it's just because I really feel like I'm being refined every day. And I'm learning every day, realizing I'm not perfect, realizing really how much I need to rely on the Lord. We need miracles, and I know I can't do them on my own...so I'm learning how to rely on faith.
Anyways, I gotta go...I know that's scattered as usual, but I love you all sooooooo much! Love, Hma Fors
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