Helllooooo Familia Fors!
So, I considered various titles for my email..I thought about "Me siento muerta." or "Satanas!!!!" or "Death by Coffee" but words just don't suffice. Hahhaa I'm starting really dramatic, because this past week definitely had a dramatic end, which I'll tell you about, but it's all good. I feel like my mission could be likened to "The O.C." in terms of how much drama there is, and I feel like my life afterwards will be the home shopping network in comparison. But don't worry, I like both home and the mission for their own reasons.
Anyways, so familia fors the time is dwindling down and I'm trying to just leave it all. I write "me siento muerta" because Christmas lights really is very tiring, and I wake up in the mornings and feel like I need my legs amputated because I'm so worn out. But I press on! And yes, I am being overly dramatic still. Anyways, this week we had some good things happen in our area. We got one new miracle investigator, who is the 10 year old granddaughter of an active member. Her less active mom just gave her permission to finally be baptized. They live together so it seems like she'll have the support she needs from her grandma. Here's to teaching kids! I really can't escape it...it's so funny. But I'm not complaining, I really do love it. She's very sweet and very smart. It was funny though, she was pretty open with us and chatting with us, then we started the first lesson with her, and the minute after we said the opening prayer it was like her lips were sealed shut...she got soooo shy. We'd ask her a question like "How do you feel when you pray?" and it'd take like 30 minutes to respond. It's funny because Sister Schwartz doesn't really love teaching kids, so It's just a funny situation...we're teaching her in English and she doesn't respond, and then her grandma can't understand and so she gets impatient and starts asking her in Spanish why she's not saying anything. Hahaha. But she came to church yesterday and is doing well. For a commitment after the 1st lesson we told her to look through the pictures at the front of her Book of Mormon, and when we came back she had done that, and also opened up to a random page and started reading, and had a little bookmark and everything. So cute.
Alright...as for el drama. Ok...ISAAC! Alright. so. Monday night was before I wrote you last week...miracle lesson. Wednesday, we go and teach Word of Wisdom to him and Ana. They accept it really well...Ana was just a little bummed about coffee. Isaac said the only thing that he had issues with was junk food, he didn't really care about the other stuff (this is a key point to remember). Then I told him that he needed to be living it for 2 weeks before he got baptized, and he said that he had already been living it, so he was still good for the 15th. Apparently after we left he continued to talk with his member friend that came with us. We get to his house on Saturday and he told us "I'm having doubts" and said he had talked with the member about them. I felt like we were doing pretty good resolving his doubts...he had questions about homosexuality, the law of chastity. With the law of chastity, he wasn't fully convinced at the end...so he said he'd pray, read, etc. He hadn't continued reading the Book of Mormon when these doubts started a few days before, so that was no bueno. So he'd start reading again, and then we said we'd do his interview on Tuesday, and that he'd be able to tell if he's ready. And there was still more that we needed to teach him, etc.
So, he, Ana, and Valeria were only able to make it to sacrament on Sunday. They're so good...they come to sacrament even though they all like fall asleep during it haha. But afterwards I went to talk to members, and Sister Schwartz talked to Isaac. He said 'I don't feel like I'm ready for this Saturday, I think I need more time." and Sister Schwartz handled it well and said "that's okay, we'll be here for you." and he said "Well, and this morning...I drank a cup of coffee." Remember...he doesn't even really drink coffee!! So, basically, what we think (and maybe we're wrong) is that Satan tempted him with the cup of coffee on Sunday morning, and he drank it subconsciously on purpose so that he could NOT get baptized on Saturday...he did it so he could get out of the pressure. noooo me diga! So heartbreaking. I was so sad...but so it is. It's just so weird how tricky Satan is...that he could plant that idea in his head to drink coffee to buy himself more time. Super interesting. Again, maybe we're wrong, but that's the impression we felt from it all.
Anyways, so here I was way bummed out about this all on Sunday after church. Then, we get a phone call. Joe had come to church for the first 2 hours, and then left before sacrament, saying he needed to make food for his brothers. Pedro tried to convince him to stay but he wouldn't. We didn't think much of it. So, while I'm sitting on the couch all teary-eyed about Isaac, we get a phone call from one of the young men. He said that Joe had actually stolen the cell phone of the YM President's wife, and that the YM president and this YM had to go and get it from Joe after church. Joe denied stealing it, but there was a tracker on the phone and he finally gave it up, then closed the door. IY! Really sad, because the YM president was in the process of working with other leaders to help Joe get the support he needed to eventually get off of probation, and then Joe went and did that. Rough. So...that was like a double whammy, for lack of a better term. We're trying to figure out what to do with the Paz family...we think we need to drop them to help them begin taking more responsibility for their progress, because Leticia didn't come on Sunday either.
Anyways, so...familia. DRAMA! Christmas lights are going well. This year there's less pressure for "numbers", more about quality/not quantity, which I understand, but it has been a little hard to have the same sense of urgency and drive, while not getting too pushy or obsessed with numbers. But there have definitely been cool experiences. Just people who are prepared! It's also really cool how you can tell who is prepared...like when I do the Christus presentation, and some people will just stand out. One time this one lady really stood out to me, and I went and talked to her afterwards and she just talked about how she felt like she needed guidance and didn't know where to turn, and she accepted missionaries! It's cool. You asked about concerts...we do have 1/2 hr concerts every night at 7 pm til the 25th. ON the 17th is Jordan Bluth, a vocalist, fyi mom and dad :) Hahhaa. But this past week I got to announce it, and then you get to stay and watch them when you do. It was a high school choir and it made me miss going to choir concerts and hearing beautiful music! Anyways, so yes...we do get to do that.
Que mas...well my time is running out. I feel like I need some crazy profound last paragraph for my last email. I was thinking it about it last night. I'm getting to the point where I really am very sad to leave here, because I do feel like I'm leaving lots of things unfinished with my investigators. Yes, I'm excited to see my family and to catch up with friends, and there are certain parts of normal life that appeal...i.e. listening to music and shopping at Trader Joes, but I feel like my life will feel just slightly empty after the mission. There is a fulness of joy that you experience several times on the mission, that I know I can feel afterwards but it will be harder to find. I know there are things I wish I did differently, but I am so grateful for the Atonement and I'm grateful for the joy that my Savior brings. I LOVE IT! And I love you all! See you sooooon, so weird! Love, Sister Fors
Monday, December 10, 2012
Pictures from December 4, 2012
Isaac - All Star of the Week
FHE with Isaac and Ana
Thanksgiving with Sis. Schwartz
December 4, 2012
Hello Familia Fors,
This week had it's up's and down's, but it ended last night on a really good note, which I will tell you about.
One thing about this week is that I got SICK! Que es esto? I was pretty bummed out because I just wanted to go all out, and then I found myself cooped up in bed. It's all good, one sister got chicken pox 2 weeks before she went home, so I can't complain. But yeah, from like Thursday to Sunday I was sick, with a cold that wasn't super bad but for some reason made my body like shut down completely and I felt muerta. The worst part about it is that your mind wanders like crazy when you're sick, and that's the last thing you want right before you go home!
But, luckily, after feeling way dead Sunday morning, I suddenly felt better around 10 am, and I've been doing really well since then. So that is good.
Christmas lights are doing well! It's cool to see all the prepared people that come into the lights. It's been also cool because our area is the one right around the temple, and so we get to see a lot of the benefits...we receive a lot of referrals already from it. I've had the opportunity to talk to a few people in the VC who accepted missionaries and were actually in our area, so we get to teach them!
I had a cool experience yesterday at the VC. There was an LDS hispanic family visiting that I showed the Christus to, and then afterwards they wanted to watch God's Plan. They started watching it (in Spanish), and these 3 LDS people from Palmyra, NY joined in. As we were about to enter into the next room, I told them that they could wait to watch it in English, and they said they wanted to watch it in Spanish (I don't know if they understood or not..I don't think so). But afterwards everyone was crying and definitely touched by the Spirit. and When we walked out of the presentation, the American lady just embraced the older Hispanic lady and they just started crying in eachother's arms! It was so cool, they couldn't communicate with eachother but it was these 2 mothers just expressing their love for the gospel and for eachother. Way cool.
Lots of other VC miracles. It's cool to see people that come in and bring their friends...some members bring their friends in that are so prepared, btu then they don't want to have them really talking to missionaries. But others are right there, really encouraging their friends to meet with us. It's cool seeing how quickly people open up about the questions they have about why there are so many different churches, what they want for their families, etc.
Ok..as for the milagros this week. Well, we'll go investigator by investigator. Eric is doing okay...he didn't come to church, and we talked with him afterwards and he says he loves the Book of Mormon and believes what it says, but just looks at the church and some of the things we believe/practice and doesn't always think it fits in with his belief system...he's very much into the nondenominational Christianity...so, we're going to see what happens there.
The Zazuetta's are doing okay, we taught them L1 officially this past week, and the mom is really taking initiative to learn. She takes notes on the things we say and encourages her whole family to get involved. But she seems to have doubts about Joseph Smith. We're not sure they'll be ready for the 15th, they might just do the wedding that day. We will see.
Ok...so, Ana and Isaac. Well, Ana we're a little worried about...she seems like she has some doubts that we haven't yet uncovered. But they're both doing great at reading the Book of Mormon...Ana's in 1 Nephi 8, Isaac read all the way to 1 Nephi 10 in just the past 2 days. Isaac is SO great...so he's the 16 yr old who has a ton of LDS friends. He almost got baptized when he was 10, but his parents (who are in Mexico) didn't let it happen. He seems like he is LDS, part of that group, he's in AP classes, in the orchestra (and fiddling club...hahaha!), he's great. We had a lesson w/ him in the VC last week, and he prayed at the end and in his prayer he said "Thank you for Sister Schwartz and Sister Fors, [pause..chuckle}..They're really cool." aahhhhahaha we just about died we were SO happy. I couldn't contain my smile. Anyways, so he came to sacrament on Sunday all by himself. He's in a quince that has practices on Sunday mornings and he's been talking with them so that they schedule them so he can come to church! He's already making it a priority.
Last night (after our FHE with the Paz's..which I'll tell you about), we went and taught him. Ana was asleep but we chatted with him. He told us about how he had read so much in just 2 days, and he had questions about Nephi killing Laban, but quickly accepted it. He started telling us how he relates to Nephi because he's the youngest of his friends but wants to be an example to them to make good decisions. Then he started telling us how the doubts that he used to have go away when he reads the Book of Mormon. He tells us that he envisions himself getting baptized and this time really feels like he really wants it for the right reasons. But he said he wanted to hold off setting the 15th because he wanted to prove it to his parents and go to church more, etc. We asked him, "If your parents were cool with it, would you want to be baptized on the 15th?" and he was just like "Yes." so sincerely and quickly. and so we're going to pray lots and he's going to talk to his parents and we'll see what happens. So everyone Pray for Isaac! And for his parents! He is so great! We were so happy after the lesson...and also because another cool miracle happened right before it:
So, as you know, Joe Paz (the 14 yr old) has been in jail for 3 weeks-ish. About 1 week ago, Sister Schwartz told me that she had a dream that Joe had been reading the Book of Mormon in jail (she's never met him), and that he had left jail and wanted to be baptized and got his whole family on board living the gospel. She told me that she really felt like we needed to be praying that he'd read the Book of Mormon in there, so we have been in almost all of our companionship prayers, etc. I had heard from Leticia that Joe had been reading in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and that he had told her he wanted to get baptized/go to church when he got out. But I didn't know the details. They actually moved apartments to the old apartment of a recent convert family, which is a huge blessing. But Kiko is still pretty MIA, and Alex also seems to have some doubts still. Really sad...pray for him too!
But, last night, we headed over to their place to invite/take them to an FHE with the Lopez family. We knew yesterday was Joe's court date and he'd probably come out. We got there and he walked in the door and looked SO much better! He was so different, lively, joking around, happy, respectful, everything. Such a miracle. So we get the whole family, minus Kiko, to the FHE. Including their new puppy haha. We watch The Restoration DVD and afterwards we're talking about it. Hna Paz said she thought it was interesting, etc. Then we ask Joe, "How do you feel when you read The Book of Mormon?" and he goes "Well, I was reading it when I was in jail, and it made me want to check my ways. I don't know, but when I read it it makes me want to change and to stop doing bad things and to become a better person. I'm in the Book of Jacob now, and I really like what I'm reading." I just smiled sooo big...MIracle! Miracle! And my companion has prophetic Hispanic dreams! It was sooo awesome. He is CHANGED and I just hope and pray he can retain it. He has 30 days til his next court date and there's a chance they'll take him off probation, which means he could get baptized! Hopefully so!
So, right after that, we left the FHE, running over to Isaacs. And I get on my bike and I'm going crazy happy and then I proceed to fall off my bike and totally crash, ONCE AGAIN right in front of members. Such is my life.
Anyways, so that's the deal. Thank you for everything! Thank you for your great encouraging emails! And thank you mom for being willing to plan out so much for my return...it really does help me a lot to not have to worry about it, so thank you for understanding. I love you all! Sister Fors
This week had it's up's and down's, but it ended last night on a really good note, which I will tell you about.
One thing about this week is that I got SICK! Que es esto? I was pretty bummed out because I just wanted to go all out, and then I found myself cooped up in bed. It's all good, one sister got chicken pox 2 weeks before she went home, so I can't complain. But yeah, from like Thursday to Sunday I was sick, with a cold that wasn't super bad but for some reason made my body like shut down completely and I felt muerta. The worst part about it is that your mind wanders like crazy when you're sick, and that's the last thing you want right before you go home!
But, luckily, after feeling way dead Sunday morning, I suddenly felt better around 10 am, and I've been doing really well since then. So that is good.
Christmas lights are doing well! It's cool to see all the prepared people that come into the lights. It's been also cool because our area is the one right around the temple, and so we get to see a lot of the benefits...we receive a lot of referrals already from it. I've had the opportunity to talk to a few people in the VC who accepted missionaries and were actually in our area, so we get to teach them!
I had a cool experience yesterday at the VC. There was an LDS hispanic family visiting that I showed the Christus to, and then afterwards they wanted to watch God's Plan. They started watching it (in Spanish), and these 3 LDS people from Palmyra, NY joined in. As we were about to enter into the next room, I told them that they could wait to watch it in English, and they said they wanted to watch it in Spanish (I don't know if they understood or not..I don't think so). But afterwards everyone was crying and definitely touched by the Spirit. and When we walked out of the presentation, the American lady just embraced the older Hispanic lady and they just started crying in eachother's arms! It was so cool, they couldn't communicate with eachother but it was these 2 mothers just expressing their love for the gospel and for eachother. Way cool.
Lots of other VC miracles. It's cool to see people that come in and bring their friends...some members bring their friends in that are so prepared, btu then they don't want to have them really talking to missionaries. But others are right there, really encouraging their friends to meet with us. It's cool seeing how quickly people open up about the questions they have about why there are so many different churches, what they want for their families, etc.
Ok..as for the milagros this week. Well, we'll go investigator by investigator. Eric is doing okay...he didn't come to church, and we talked with him afterwards and he says he loves the Book of Mormon and believes what it says, but just looks at the church and some of the things we believe/practice and doesn't always think it fits in with his belief system...he's very much into the nondenominational Christianity...so, we're going to see what happens there.
The Zazuetta's are doing okay, we taught them L1 officially this past week, and the mom is really taking initiative to learn. She takes notes on the things we say and encourages her whole family to get involved. But she seems to have doubts about Joseph Smith. We're not sure they'll be ready for the 15th, they might just do the wedding that day. We will see.
Ok...so, Ana and Isaac. Well, Ana we're a little worried about...she seems like she has some doubts that we haven't yet uncovered. But they're both doing great at reading the Book of Mormon...Ana's in 1 Nephi 8, Isaac read all the way to 1 Nephi 10 in just the past 2 days. Isaac is SO great...so he's the 16 yr old who has a ton of LDS friends. He almost got baptized when he was 10, but his parents (who are in Mexico) didn't let it happen. He seems like he is LDS, part of that group, he's in AP classes, in the orchestra (and fiddling club...hahaha!), he's great. We had a lesson w/ him in the VC last week, and he prayed at the end and in his prayer he said "Thank you for Sister Schwartz and Sister Fors, [pause..chuckle}..They're really cool." aahhhhahaha we just about died we were SO happy. I couldn't contain my smile. Anyways, so he came to sacrament on Sunday all by himself. He's in a quince that has practices on Sunday mornings and he's been talking with them so that they schedule them so he can come to church! He's already making it a priority.
Last night (after our FHE with the Paz's..which I'll tell you about), we went and taught him. Ana was asleep but we chatted with him. He told us about how he had read so much in just 2 days, and he had questions about Nephi killing Laban, but quickly accepted it. He started telling us how he relates to Nephi because he's the youngest of his friends but wants to be an example to them to make good decisions. Then he started telling us how the doubts that he used to have go away when he reads the Book of Mormon. He tells us that he envisions himself getting baptized and this time really feels like he really wants it for the right reasons. But he said he wanted to hold off setting the 15th because he wanted to prove it to his parents and go to church more, etc. We asked him, "If your parents were cool with it, would you want to be baptized on the 15th?" and he was just like "Yes." so sincerely and quickly. and so we're going to pray lots and he's going to talk to his parents and we'll see what happens. So everyone Pray for Isaac! And for his parents! He is so great! We were so happy after the lesson...and also because another cool miracle happened right before it:
So, as you know, Joe Paz (the 14 yr old) has been in jail for 3 weeks-ish. About 1 week ago, Sister Schwartz told me that she had a dream that Joe had been reading the Book of Mormon in jail (she's never met him), and that he had left jail and wanted to be baptized and got his whole family on board living the gospel. She told me that she really felt like we needed to be praying that he'd read the Book of Mormon in there, so we have been in almost all of our companionship prayers, etc. I had heard from Leticia that Joe had been reading in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and that he had told her he wanted to get baptized/go to church when he got out. But I didn't know the details. They actually moved apartments to the old apartment of a recent convert family, which is a huge blessing. But Kiko is still pretty MIA, and Alex also seems to have some doubts still. Really sad...pray for him too!
But, last night, we headed over to their place to invite/take them to an FHE with the Lopez family. We knew yesterday was Joe's court date and he'd probably come out. We got there and he walked in the door and looked SO much better! He was so different, lively, joking around, happy, respectful, everything. Such a miracle. So we get the whole family, minus Kiko, to the FHE. Including their new puppy haha. We watch The Restoration DVD and afterwards we're talking about it. Hna Paz said she thought it was interesting, etc. Then we ask Joe, "How do you feel when you read The Book of Mormon?" and he goes "Well, I was reading it when I was in jail, and it made me want to check my ways. I don't know, but when I read it it makes me want to change and to stop doing bad things and to become a better person. I'm in the Book of Jacob now, and I really like what I'm reading." I just smiled sooo big...MIracle! Miracle! And my companion has prophetic Hispanic dreams! It was sooo awesome. He is CHANGED and I just hope and pray he can retain it. He has 30 days til his next court date and there's a chance they'll take him off probation, which means he could get baptized! Hopefully so!
So, right after that, we left the FHE, running over to Isaacs. And I get on my bike and I'm going crazy happy and then I proceed to fall off my bike and totally crash, ONCE AGAIN right in front of members. Such is my life.
Anyways, so that's the deal. Thank you for everything! Thank you for your great encouraging emails! And thank you mom for being willing to plan out so much for my return...it really does help me a lot to not have to worry about it, so thank you for understanding. I love you all! Sister Fors
November 26, 2012
Hi FamBam,
Okayyyy pues another great week was had in the campo misional. I guess there was Thanksgiving and a whole bunch of other things that happened that I've already forgotten about.
My Thanksgiving was a good day. The weather was perfect, all was well. It was a normal proselyting day, so we had to find ways to not be annoying missionaries. After studies we went and served the Naumann's by helping them set up for their Thanksgiving dinner. The Paz and Zazuetta families came and ate at their house, so we were really grateful for that. After we helped them, we stopped by some people then headed over to the Beckstrands for Thanksgiving at 1 pm. They invited any of the VC sisters that wanted to come, so there were probably like 10 of us who came, plus them and their family. Sister Beckstrand pulls out all the stops and it was just a traditional Thanksgiving meal but all really good. After that, we went and visited Ana and Isaac at their house and helped them prep for their Thanksgiving meal, and talked with Isaac about his thoughts about baptism, etc. Then at 4 we had to be at the Visitor's Center! And we had a prep meeting and then the lights were on!
So, yes...Christmas lights are on! It's so fun. It's so interesting because it's pretty much exactly the same as last year, and it's interesting doing it with like different missionaries by my side, and also seeing how my attitude towards it has changed. Last year, I love Christmas lights and worked super hard...but I definitely saw how I got way too consumed by numbers, competitiveness, image, stuff like that. This year as a Visitor's Center we're all trying to get away from being too focused on numbers, and I'm trying to do the same, and it's interesting to find the balance. It's interesting to maintain the same sense of urgency, but to have it come from the right desires...having a sense of urgency to bless others lives, not just to receive x number of referrals.
But already I've seen a lot of blessings. I'm trying to focus on quality, and I feel like as I do that quantity will come. There were two people that I invited to accept missionaries that I felt like were really prepared. One was this 19 yr old kid who came in with his LDS girlfriend. He told me how his parents were less-active, but he never got baptized, and he always has kind of wondered "what if?" His girlfriend started talking to him about it, and you could just see the wheels turning in his head and the Spirit working on him. He was kind of nervous filling out the card, and he was like "I just feel like I'm trying something really new", talking about visiting with missionaries. But his girlfriend was so happy and I just know that something is going to come from it. So good.
Another guy was last night. I was talking to his wife and she seemed mildly interested. Then she handed the card to her husband and walked away. I started talking to him and immediately he's just like "Well why are there so many different churches, anyways? I feel like I'm pulled in a million different directions to raise my kids, and how can you know which direction is the right one?" saying all these great questions. I taught him the Restoration, and I think I maybe got a little too eager ahahah, but he accepted missionaries and I'm really excited!
So that's that...I'm sure lots of miracles will come from it. It's fun seeing great families who are eager to share the gospel with their friends. That's one reason why I love serving in Mesa is seeing all the many, many examples there are of great, converted members.
What else...well hopefully my letter will tell you more of the details of what's going on in the area. Basically, really good stuff! Ana and Isaac are doing really well...they are the fruits of years and years of good member missionary work. Then we had a breakthrough with the Zazuettas when we went to the lights with them. And Eric finally came to church! I was super nervous but he really enjoyed it, which I feel like is a big step...because basically the only thing that was holding him back from setting a date was that he hadn't gone to church.
I had a really interesting experience with Kiko. I tell you, the Paz family has been one of the most like...challenging families to teach, because I feel like it requires so much on our part to know how to help them, how to show our love for them, etc., because they have so far to come. Basically, Sister Schwartz was feeling like we needed to drop Kiko, and I was still feeling super torn...Sister Watkins and I were so close to helping him and we loved them so much. We went over on Saturday because we were going to go the VC with him. He outright rejected going there, with some excuse. We told him we wanted to talk to him, and basically he was like really just aloof and not being honest, etc., with us. His friend (who is the same one that gave Alex a hard time before getting baptized), was there and is the worst influence on them! Oh man it makes me so sad the ideas that are planted in their head. Basically, we drop Kiko and I start crying there, because I was so heartbroken and felt like it was all failing! The boys saw and Kiko saw and was like "Oh man, I can't see this." It was the first time I've ever cried about an investigator in front of them. It was so heartbreaking. BUt we're hoping that members will be able to help them out and we'll see what happens.
Anyways, ROLLLERCOASTER! But my time is up. Love you all! Sister Fors
Okayyyy pues another great week was had in the campo misional. I guess there was Thanksgiving and a whole bunch of other things that happened that I've already forgotten about.
My Thanksgiving was a good day. The weather was perfect, all was well. It was a normal proselyting day, so we had to find ways to not be annoying missionaries. After studies we went and served the Naumann's by helping them set up for their Thanksgiving dinner. The Paz and Zazuetta families came and ate at their house, so we were really grateful for that. After we helped them, we stopped by some people then headed over to the Beckstrands for Thanksgiving at 1 pm. They invited any of the VC sisters that wanted to come, so there were probably like 10 of us who came, plus them and their family. Sister Beckstrand pulls out all the stops and it was just a traditional Thanksgiving meal but all really good. After that, we went and visited Ana and Isaac at their house and helped them prep for their Thanksgiving meal, and talked with Isaac about his thoughts about baptism, etc. Then at 4 we had to be at the Visitor's Center! And we had a prep meeting and then the lights were on!
So, yes...Christmas lights are on! It's so fun. It's so interesting because it's pretty much exactly the same as last year, and it's interesting doing it with like different missionaries by my side, and also seeing how my attitude towards it has changed. Last year, I love Christmas lights and worked super hard...but I definitely saw how I got way too consumed by numbers, competitiveness, image, stuff like that. This year as a Visitor's Center we're all trying to get away from being too focused on numbers, and I'm trying to do the same, and it's interesting to find the balance. It's interesting to maintain the same sense of urgency, but to have it come from the right desires...having a sense of urgency to bless others lives, not just to receive x number of referrals.
But already I've seen a lot of blessings. I'm trying to focus on quality, and I feel like as I do that quantity will come. There were two people that I invited to accept missionaries that I felt like were really prepared. One was this 19 yr old kid who came in with his LDS girlfriend. He told me how his parents were less-active, but he never got baptized, and he always has kind of wondered "what if?" His girlfriend started talking to him about it, and you could just see the wheels turning in his head and the Spirit working on him. He was kind of nervous filling out the card, and he was like "I just feel like I'm trying something really new", talking about visiting with missionaries. But his girlfriend was so happy and I just know that something is going to come from it. So good.
Another guy was last night. I was talking to his wife and she seemed mildly interested. Then she handed the card to her husband and walked away. I started talking to him and immediately he's just like "Well why are there so many different churches, anyways? I feel like I'm pulled in a million different directions to raise my kids, and how can you know which direction is the right one?" saying all these great questions. I taught him the Restoration, and I think I maybe got a little too eager ahahah, but he accepted missionaries and I'm really excited!
So that's that...I'm sure lots of miracles will come from it. It's fun seeing great families who are eager to share the gospel with their friends. That's one reason why I love serving in Mesa is seeing all the many, many examples there are of great, converted members.
What else...well hopefully my letter will tell you more of the details of what's going on in the area. Basically, really good stuff! Ana and Isaac are doing really well...they are the fruits of years and years of good member missionary work. Then we had a breakthrough with the Zazuettas when we went to the lights with them. And Eric finally came to church! I was super nervous but he really enjoyed it, which I feel like is a big step...because basically the only thing that was holding him back from setting a date was that he hadn't gone to church.
I had a really interesting experience with Kiko. I tell you, the Paz family has been one of the most like...challenging families to teach, because I feel like it requires so much on our part to know how to help them, how to show our love for them, etc., because they have so far to come. Basically, Sister Schwartz was feeling like we needed to drop Kiko, and I was still feeling super torn...Sister Watkins and I were so close to helping him and we loved them so much. We went over on Saturday because we were going to go the VC with him. He outright rejected going there, with some excuse. We told him we wanted to talk to him, and basically he was like really just aloof and not being honest, etc., with us. His friend (who is the same one that gave Alex a hard time before getting baptized), was there and is the worst influence on them! Oh man it makes me so sad the ideas that are planted in their head. Basically, we drop Kiko and I start crying there, because I was so heartbroken and felt like it was all failing! The boys saw and Kiko saw and was like "Oh man, I can't see this." It was the first time I've ever cried about an investigator in front of them. It was so heartbreaking. BUt we're hoping that members will be able to help them out and we'll see what happens.
Anyways, ROLLLERCOASTER! But my time is up. Love you all! Sister Fors
November 20, 2012
Hellloooooo Familia,
well a new week, new companion, new transfer. Let's just say, I have nothing to complain about. Things are great. Sister Schwartz is awesome. My subject line comes from the fact that even though she's been out less time than me, she is way more Mexicana than I am. 2 of her 3 companions have been Mexicana, so she knows all this lingo that makes her get along quickly with all of our Latinos here. She's very diligent about always speaking in Spanish, which is really good for me. My Spanish has definitely improved a ton on my mission, but I feel like because I've helped out my companions with their Spanish mostly, that I haven't been as diligent about improving my own. So I'm hoping in this transfer to really immerse myself in it and learn all the palabras mexicanas that I need to. There's still a lot of improvement to be made.
But yes! Sister Schwartz is greeattt, Visitor's Center is greattt, the area is great. Sister Schwartz is way diligent, way obedient, way fun and outgoing. We get along great. It's interesting, because we both feel like there's a lot expected of us this transfer. It's a shorter transfer, and we'll have Christmas lights going, but we feel like we have a lot to accomplish. Pres Ellsworth actually called sister schwartz to tell her transfer news, because it was a surprise that she was leaving her area, and he told her that he was putting her with me to make sure I keep working hard til the end of my mission haha. Then he stopped us in the hallway at transfer meetings and told us how surprised he was that he felt like we should be together, and how we will bless many lives in our short transfer together. So..high expectations!
We have a lot of fun together, and we were talking about it this morning how we feel like it requires a lot of self-discipline on our part to still remain focused and diligent when things are going so well. We're both used to filling the role of working hard, being obedient, etc., and so now that we're both on par with that, we find ourselves not feeling obligated to fill that role, if that makes sense? So, we're having lots of fun, and we're going to see great things happen. I'm excited to see the lessons i learn in this transfer together.
Anyways, so that's great. Also...Visitor's Center. LOVE being back! I love that place so much...I love the Spirit there, I love being able to teach by the Spirit so easily, I love being able to teach members and non-members alike, I love being able to teach people that really need to feel the Atonement in their lives. While the Visitor's center makes the mission harder in some ways, because of time and whatnot, in many ways it is a tender mercy, to be honest. It's great.
my letter to President tells more about what's going on. Al asked about Thanksgiving plans...last year was a pday on Thanksgiving, but this year is not the case. So we'll probably eat dinner with the Beckstrands actually, the VC directors. Then at 4 pm we need to be at the Visitor's Center ready for our first night of lights. Almost all the lights are up right now and I'm so excited!
Our area is doing well, but it has been interesting seeing how the investigators that I thought showed the most promise at the beginning of this week are facing opposition. On Tuesday, Kiko (Frederico) was doing awesome. He was still happy, still feeling the Spirit, he set his own date for December 8th. He was asking to read the scriptures and where he could buy a quad. I told him I saw a difference in him and he said that he did too, and I asked what it was that he felt and he turned and looked at me with a huge smile on his face and said "I feel full of life!" so happy. But, unfortunately, Joe the 14 year old didn't come home from school on Tuesday and they later found out he got put in jail. So, that upset the whole family, and Frederico was totally different after that, Sister Schwartz has only seen a very different side of him. So sad.
You can read my letter about the rest...Ana and Isaac are great and I'm excited to see what happens. I love you all so much! Thanks for everything, and hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Happy 1st birthday, Jacob!
well a new week, new companion, new transfer. Let's just say, I have nothing to complain about. Things are great. Sister Schwartz is awesome. My subject line comes from the fact that even though she's been out less time than me, she is way more Mexicana than I am. 2 of her 3 companions have been Mexicana, so she knows all this lingo that makes her get along quickly with all of our Latinos here. She's very diligent about always speaking in Spanish, which is really good for me. My Spanish has definitely improved a ton on my mission, but I feel like because I've helped out my companions with their Spanish mostly, that I haven't been as diligent about improving my own. So I'm hoping in this transfer to really immerse myself in it and learn all the palabras mexicanas that I need to. There's still a lot of improvement to be made.
But yes! Sister Schwartz is greeattt, Visitor's Center is greattt, the area is great. Sister Schwartz is way diligent, way obedient, way fun and outgoing. We get along great. It's interesting, because we both feel like there's a lot expected of us this transfer. It's a shorter transfer, and we'll have Christmas lights going, but we feel like we have a lot to accomplish. Pres Ellsworth actually called sister schwartz to tell her transfer news, because it was a surprise that she was leaving her area, and he told her that he was putting her with me to make sure I keep working hard til the end of my mission haha. Then he stopped us in the hallway at transfer meetings and told us how surprised he was that he felt like we should be together, and how we will bless many lives in our short transfer together. So..high expectations!
We have a lot of fun together, and we were talking about it this morning how we feel like it requires a lot of self-discipline on our part to still remain focused and diligent when things are going so well. We're both used to filling the role of working hard, being obedient, etc., and so now that we're both on par with that, we find ourselves not feeling obligated to fill that role, if that makes sense? So, we're having lots of fun, and we're going to see great things happen. I'm excited to see the lessons i learn in this transfer together.
Anyways, so that's great. Also...Visitor's Center. LOVE being back! I love that place so much...I love the Spirit there, I love being able to teach by the Spirit so easily, I love being able to teach members and non-members alike, I love being able to teach people that really need to feel the Atonement in their lives. While the Visitor's center makes the mission harder in some ways, because of time and whatnot, in many ways it is a tender mercy, to be honest. It's great.
my letter to President tells more about what's going on. Al asked about Thanksgiving plans...last year was a pday on Thanksgiving, but this year is not the case. So we'll probably eat dinner with the Beckstrands actually, the VC directors. Then at 4 pm we need to be at the Visitor's Center ready for our first night of lights. Almost all the lights are up right now and I'm so excited!
Our area is doing well, but it has been interesting seeing how the investigators that I thought showed the most promise at the beginning of this week are facing opposition. On Tuesday, Kiko (Frederico) was doing awesome. He was still happy, still feeling the Spirit, he set his own date for December 8th. He was asking to read the scriptures and where he could buy a quad. I told him I saw a difference in him and he said that he did too, and I asked what it was that he felt and he turned and looked at me with a huge smile on his face and said "I feel full of life!" so happy. But, unfortunately, Joe the 14 year old didn't come home from school on Tuesday and they later found out he got put in jail. So, that upset the whole family, and Frederico was totally different after that, Sister Schwartz has only seen a very different side of him. So sad.
You can read my letter about the rest...Ana and Isaac are great and I'm excited to see what happens. I love you all so much! Thanks for everything, and hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Happy 1st birthday, Jacob!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Pictures from November 12, 2012
Commercial freezer by the apartment study room
Saying goodbye to Sis. Burton
Saying goodbye to Sis. Parker
Departure gathering
Departure meeting for 4 sisters
Zone training meetin
November 12, 2012
Hello Familia Fors!
Okay, lots to tell. This is the last week of the transfer, which means I have transfer news! And let's just say Sister Watkins and I ended our transfer on a great note, we had a great, very well-balanced week...before we were struggling in that we had lots of lessons but no one at church, and this week, all of our key indicators ended really well and balanced! We had seven investigators at church! Which was great.
OK...so, transferencias. I am staying in the area! and heading back to the VC! Which will be crazy because there is so much work in this area, but with Christmas lights our time in the area was bound to be cut down either way. Sister Watkins is going to Liahona 1st to be with Sister Holladay there, they're getting bikes instead of a car which makes sister watkins really happy and sister holladay not so happy. Also, the Paz kids' grandparents live in that area, which is where I met Leticia...so Sister Watkins will get to meet them! I'm getting Sister Schwartz! She is from Georgia, was studying anthropology at BYU before coming here. Her mom is LDS but was less active for years and years and her dad is Jewish! She has a cool background. She's the one that I stayed with her her first day out, and I was training and everyone thought she was the sister I'd be training. We're really similar and get along really well, and just joke around a ton. We've both been full field for the last 3 transfers so we always talk about how we never see eachother and why we've never been companions, and here I'm with her my last transfer! I feel like it'll be great...we'll have a lot of fun, and Heavenly Father is really being kind and blessing me with great circumstances for this coming transfer.
Okay...que mas, well...the weather! It's cold already! And on bikes, it's colder! I got my winter coat on and scarves and everything, but it's actually really nice and beautiful, and they're getting the Christmas lights all ready and it's very exciting.
Okay, so I'll tell you what all happened this week, and my letter to the president is just copy and pasted throughout.
So, we had SEVEN investigators at church yesterday, plus 6 little non-member kids that also came but are under age 8. We had a miracle family, Familia Zazuetta, all come to church. They came to church for 1 year straight and no one knew they were members, they started getting taught by missionaries then for one reason or another stopped meeting with them. We visited them on Saturday and they were on board for getting baptized, and getting married beforehand. We set a date for December 8th. They all showed up to church, all 7 of them in Sunday dress the next day for Stake Conference. They're eating dinner with some members tonight then coming to an FHE.
We also had Cristian and Lupita, the granddaughters of a recent convert, come to church with their little siblings. They were also coming before and then since stopped. We've struggled to get them to progress, so it was a big step for them.
We also had Federico (aka Kiko), the oldest brother of the Paz boys, come to church for the first time! Now that his brothers are baptized we've been able to focus more on him, and we're seeing a lot of progress. He came to church and was really happy afterwards. We taught him the Word of Wisdom with a 17 year old girl that he knew in junior high who has been fellowshipping him really well. He needs a lot of help, he has some friends that are bad influences and he has Word of Wisdom issues. But it's been great to see how the Spirit changes him. He went from never talking to us, to never waking up from being passed out to talk to us, where now he wakes up when we arrive, he gets dressed, and comes to church! He's great.
I love Kiko...working with him requires a lot of patience and hard work, because he comes from such rough rough circumstances, but it's so cool to see the power of the Atonement work in him. Normally when we arrive at his house, him and all his friends are totally passed out on the floor, and he just seems dead and depressed. We take him to the Visitor's Center or church, and he comes back a totally different person. And he knows it's because of the Spirit...when we were at the Visitor's Center he talked about how he felt "joy" and how he knew it came from God, and when he came to church for the first time, he was saying afterwards how much he loved the mood and the spirit there. It was a transmitted regional stake conference, which had some great talks but he was thrown off why we all went to church just to watch a tv. But we explained it to him and it was alright. We stopped by Sunday night afterwards and it was great because he was still happy! Normally it wears off the minute he gets back with his friends..but he was smiling and awake and energized and happy to see us. So, he is slowly getting there!
We have another great investigator, Eric, who still doesn't have a date. He had one previously and it made him nervous, but we're hoping to set a date before transfers. He was late getting ready for church, and so his ride thought he was still asleep and left. But this Sunday he seems completely determined to go! We have great lessons with him...we had one with him in the Visitor's Center about priesthood authority. He's studying theology at a university right now, so it's been really fun to teach him on that level. We're trying to maintain our role as missionaries and teach simply while still teaching to his needs.
Eric is probably our favorite investigator to teach. We have so much fun because he really grasps the magnitude of everything that we teach him, we have to be careful to not get too carried away! But with him I've definitely seen how Heavenly Father puts specific missionaries for specific investigators. Sister Watkins and I have been able to teach him in a way that I feel like helps out all of us...I try not to be like weird or prideful about it, but it's cool to see how Heavenly Father uses us as tools to specifically reach out to His individual children. Sister Schwartz will also be great for him.
We have 2 great new investigators...Ana and Isaac. They were a referral from some other missionaries...Ana works with a ward mission leader of Sister Shurtz. We gave them the introduction to read and when we returned she had read all of it and thoroughly understood it, it was great. She was talking about the gathering of Israel and all of that stuff, and then she was like "But I feel like the most important part of all of it was the invitation for me to read it myself and ask God." and we were like "couldn't say it better myself". They couldn't come to church but are coming to the FHE tonight and seem very reliable and responsible.
So, as you can tell, great things are happening. We're working with our recent converts to get them all lined up with new member lessons. We worked with one of them a lot this week because she was still praying to saints...we've had to talk with her a lot about it. It's really sad...she's this older lady who got baptized really quick last fall, and now she tells us kind of that she doesn't really know what she got herself into. She just says she feels happy when she goes. She's the one whose granddaughters we're teaching. So we had 2 lessons with her this week because she still is very clearly holding onto her Catholic traditions...and basically she'd be like "well, praying to the Virgin Mary isn't wrong, right?" and we'd have to talk about it, then she'd be like "Well, my sister sent me this rosary, that's okay, right?" and we'd have to talk about it, and one by one just basically address these things that have been part of her entire life. It's really hard for us, but she's very humble about it and basically told us how we need to be patient with her, etc. We also a less active who didn't come to church last week, then showed up this week but didn't know it was stake conference! We felt so bad. We're also having several of them speak in the charla fogonera in our ward this coming weekend...including Eduardo, the 10 year old! Hahaha.
I am really excited to see what happens this coming transfer. I already know Sister Schwartz will be great for our area. I'm reallly excited to be back in the Visitor's Center. This past week we had the last "departure meeting" of 4 sisters that are all going home tomorrow...it was sad but made me just miss the Visitor's center a lot! I've been gone so long and it'l be so good to be back. It'll be hard because we really do have so much good stuff going on in the area, and it'll probably means some sacrifices on our part, but that's okay.
I love you all! As you can probably tell, I'm pretty excited for all the things that are coming up soon...Christmas lights, Visitors' Center, a great companion, it'll be great. I've learned a lot from Sister Watkins, she is one of the best missionaries out there. We'll see waht the future brings! Love you all! Sister Fors
Pictures from November 5, 2012
Paz boys' baptism
Paz family
Paz boys
With Sis. Watkins at the Paz baptism
The "Drawing"!
Halloween FHE
Carlos Paz
With Carlos Paz
With the Naumans (couple missionaries) at the Paz baptism
Zone Halloween activity
The marine characters :) Brittany the narwhal
The Elders at the Halloween activity with their masks
November 5, 2012
Hello Family Fors!
HOLA OBISPO FORS!
Ahhhhh that's so exciting! So, I know that I totally saw that calling coming, did all of you, too? That's so exciting, dad! I'm so excited when I get to go to the Tujunga Ward and see you in action. It sounds like there are really good things happening in the Tujunga ward...six missionaries! That's the same amount that we have here in Liahona 3rd...and for right now, it's the only ward in the mission that has that many missionaries. It's had 8 in the past, and some wards have had 6 in the past too. So it sounds like great things are happening!
I'm sure it must be scary and frightening. Especially this past week I've learned a lot about the responsibility of a bishop (temporally and spiritually...I'll explain), and I can't imagine how challenging it must be. But you'll do GREAT! I know you will be a wonderful, wonderful bishop, I know I'd love to have a bishop like you to work with! I will keep you in my prayers!
Ok, so exciting. Sounds like great things are happening at home.
So...let's just say this week has been CRAZYYYYYY!
But...all in all, the three Paz boys are baptized! And Leticia is hopefully shortly on her way. I will explain.
Ok, we need to do a "blow by blow" for this week.
Monday..pday. We had a Zone activity that was way fun...we had to come up with costumes w/ whatever we had in our apartment. Sis Watkins and I were going crazy...she's just as into costumes as I am, actually moreso. Us 4 went as marine creatures...I was a narwhal (can't really tell), she was a starfish, then the other sisters were a jellyfish and octopus.
That night we had a halloween themed FHE. WE went there and Pedro brought the Paz boys. He said that Leticia was going to go but she was crying when he got there because she said she wouldn't be able to pay diezmo. She wanted us to go over there afterwards. So we go there, and she's crying and it's horrible and she's saying how she was going to have light and then it fell through, etc etc. Carlos (the 8 yr old) said a prayer to make her feel better, and in it he prayed that they'd be able to buy dinner! We realized that they were in worse circumstances than we thought. We called in all the boys to say a prayer together, and it was really powerful.
That night we get home and Sister Watkins really felt like we needed to get a whole bunch of food put together for them ASAP. That night and the next morning we got in this super intense ongoing conversation about what was the best way to go about doing it...which members to call, how involved we should be, what was the right way to go about it. Basically, it was a big like learning moment for me, because Sister Watkins is definitely more just like an act immediately kind of person, while I was there like analyzing the logistics, what we could do to make it so it wouldn't be a burden on the members, how far we could go in our role as missionaries etc. And I had to realize that I was putting all of my analysis and self-consciousness of the situation in front of my love for them...which was kind of a really hard thing to realize, because that's not the type of missionary I want to be.
But, thankfully, we decided to take action, and the members helped out immensely. We called up their primary teachers, etc, and it was this huge outpouring of generosity and we end up bringing over like a whole van of food to them. That night, she goes to the bishop and he gives her a bishops storehouse order form. He also, without us even asking or mentioning it, pays her light bill! So she has light 2 days later. Later that week, I was talking to Leticia, and she said she's already going to start saving up money to pay him back so he can help other people, even though he didn't ask her to.
It was a big lesson that sometimes I feel like the Lord needs to give us. I'm definitely the type where I can get way too wrapped up in logistics, cautiousness, and rules, and miss opportunities to be Christlike. I was really grateful for the example of the members, the bishop, and Sister Watkins that just go out and serve these people no matter what, not worrying about whether or not it'll make them "overly-dependent" or anything like that.
Ok, so next day. We go there and Leticia is doing much, much better. She's back on track to get baptized on Saturday. 5 minutes before her interview, she tells us that she has a legal thing that she has to work out, which subsequently is going to push back her baptism for probably a few weeks/months! Literally five minutes before, and she hadn't mentioned anything like that before, even when we had asked her.
So, she's really sad after her interview. The next day we go over and talk with her and the boys and the boys, the bishop, and the mission president are all on board to let them still get baptized, as long as she is still going to church, etc.
Oh, side note. halloween. Hahhaa. So on Halloween night we had to stay inside of our apartment and just be productive inside. It was right after Hna Paz's interview so we were in kind of a somber mood, b/c at that point we didn't know if the boys were going to be baptized. But we got some stuff done. The end.
Ok, thursday. An actually very normal day for baptismal week. We figured out the details and all that.
Side note: we're teaching this 19 yr old guy named Eric who is awesome! I've mentioned him before I think...we gave him to the singles ward but then ended up picking him back up again. He read all of Alma 32 and just talked about how much sense it made, and how he felt like it taught him about "true, raw faith". He's the one whos a bible studies major. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he talked about how it made so much more sense about Adam and Eve, etc etc. It's been really fun to teach him because he grasps things quickly and is starting to understand the magnitude of what we're teaching him. Way cool.
Friday, weekly planning. Friday night...I go to the Visitors Center to make phone calls. While in there, a sister walks in with a giant pencil portrait of me. What in the world? I quickly realize that it's from a member that I haven't seen since probably last December I don't think. She's Dianna Santa Cruz, who I had a great experience with in the VC last October-ish. Her husband and her came in in December and told me that he likes to do portraits of the missionaries. They took my picture and I forgot about it eventually. 11 months later, they walk in with the portrait. It was hilarious, but also a miracle that they caught me when I was actually at the Visitor's Center while being full field. Anyways, I attached the portrait. It's pretty hilarious, probably the best souvenir I could ask for from my mission.
Friday night, we do a chapel tour with the Paz's to show them the font, etc. Kiko and his friends come along, one of which just got out of jail on Tuesday. His friends start making snide comments throughout it, which ends up really upsetting the 12 yr old Alex because they were saying how he's not going to be able to party, etc after he's baptized, his life will be boring with no girls, etc. So sad. So, I ask them to leave haha. The chapel tour ends up with like all of them really sad and we're worried.
Saturday morning, all 3 boys come to play soccer with our zone. Hilarious...they were all there, and they were just hanging out with all of us missionaries. They ended up staying with Pedro for most of the day, playing video games at his house, etc., so that they wouldn't be at their apartment where there are often negative influences.
We show up a little before the baptism, struggling with paperwork, etc., and get them to the chapel. Get them in their white suits, they're going crazy. The baptism actually went really really smoothly...all in all probably the least stressful baptism day I've had on my mission. We almost didn't have barely any refreshments but then miraculously one of the ward missionaries brought a bunch of sodas and 2 huge cakes, when we had just told him cookies! Anyways, not as important as the actual baptism. Sister Watkins sang "I like to look for rainbows" in both english and spanish and I accompanied her. It all went really smoothly. THe boys were reallly giddy in the font. Pedro baptized all 3 of them. Eduardo swam out of the font afterwards. Carlos was SO happy...he's the happiest little boy in the entire world. Afterwards he was like "I feel great! My life is good!" We invited Leticia to bear her testimony afterwards, and she talked about how she is ready to keep all of the commandments with her sons, and she thanked everyone for all they've done for their family. Afterwards, Alex told us that he didn't feel ready to be baptized! Which broke our hearts. He's definitely in the tween phase, trying to figure things out, so we tried to just help him to realize that he was ready, and to not be too hard on himself. The next day at church he seemed happier. We gave them a picture of Christ to put in their home (but the frame broke), and all the boys CTR rings (including the 2 older brothers...Kiko loved his! And he actually came to see the actual baptism ordinance, but we didn't see him), and Eduardo and Carlos little "Future Missionary" tags.
The next day, their confirmations, they showed up to church, looking great. One lady gave Carlos one of her son's old suits. Pedro bought them all pants, etc for their baptism. There has been a huge outpouring of generosity.
So...that's the Paz family week of baptism in a nutshell.
Ok, well that's everything. Oh...mom! You had asked about a package before. Mostly...if you could send like a comfy casual sweatshirt..it can be my blue/gray puma one. And bare minerals! I told you the ones I want...the bronzer and a light and fairly light foundation. Those are the main things I need. Thank you!
Okay, I love you all! Thanks for everythign! My letter to the mish pres will probably be the same information, just shorter, so I won't send it this week. Love, Sister Fors
HOLA OBISPO FORS!
Ahhhhh that's so exciting! So, I know that I totally saw that calling coming, did all of you, too? That's so exciting, dad! I'm so excited when I get to go to the Tujunga Ward and see you in action. It sounds like there are really good things happening in the Tujunga ward...six missionaries! That's the same amount that we have here in Liahona 3rd...and for right now, it's the only ward in the mission that has that many missionaries. It's had 8 in the past, and some wards have had 6 in the past too. So it sounds like great things are happening!
I'm sure it must be scary and frightening. Especially this past week I've learned a lot about the responsibility of a bishop (temporally and spiritually...I'll explain), and I can't imagine how challenging it must be. But you'll do GREAT! I know you will be a wonderful, wonderful bishop, I know I'd love to have a bishop like you to work with! I will keep you in my prayers!
Ok, so exciting. Sounds like great things are happening at home.
So...let's just say this week has been CRAZYYYYYY!
But...all in all, the three Paz boys are baptized! And Leticia is hopefully shortly on her way. I will explain.
Ok, we need to do a "blow by blow" for this week.
Monday..pday. We had a Zone activity that was way fun...we had to come up with costumes w/ whatever we had in our apartment. Sis Watkins and I were going crazy...she's just as into costumes as I am, actually moreso. Us 4 went as marine creatures...I was a narwhal (can't really tell), she was a starfish, then the other sisters were a jellyfish and octopus.
That night we had a halloween themed FHE. WE went there and Pedro brought the Paz boys. He said that Leticia was going to go but she was crying when he got there because she said she wouldn't be able to pay diezmo. She wanted us to go over there afterwards. So we go there, and she's crying and it's horrible and she's saying how she was going to have light and then it fell through, etc etc. Carlos (the 8 yr old) said a prayer to make her feel better, and in it he prayed that they'd be able to buy dinner! We realized that they were in worse circumstances than we thought. We called in all the boys to say a prayer together, and it was really powerful.
That night we get home and Sister Watkins really felt like we needed to get a whole bunch of food put together for them ASAP. That night and the next morning we got in this super intense ongoing conversation about what was the best way to go about doing it...which members to call, how involved we should be, what was the right way to go about it. Basically, it was a big like learning moment for me, because Sister Watkins is definitely more just like an act immediately kind of person, while I was there like analyzing the logistics, what we could do to make it so it wouldn't be a burden on the members, how far we could go in our role as missionaries etc. And I had to realize that I was putting all of my analysis and self-consciousness of the situation in front of my love for them...which was kind of a really hard thing to realize, because that's not the type of missionary I want to be.
But, thankfully, we decided to take action, and the members helped out immensely. We called up their primary teachers, etc, and it was this huge outpouring of generosity and we end up bringing over like a whole van of food to them. That night, she goes to the bishop and he gives her a bishops storehouse order form. He also, without us even asking or mentioning it, pays her light bill! So she has light 2 days later. Later that week, I was talking to Leticia, and she said she's already going to start saving up money to pay him back so he can help other people, even though he didn't ask her to.
It was a big lesson that sometimes I feel like the Lord needs to give us. I'm definitely the type where I can get way too wrapped up in logistics, cautiousness, and rules, and miss opportunities to be Christlike. I was really grateful for the example of the members, the bishop, and Sister Watkins that just go out and serve these people no matter what, not worrying about whether or not it'll make them "overly-dependent" or anything like that.
Ok, so next day. We go there and Leticia is doing much, much better. She's back on track to get baptized on Saturday. 5 minutes before her interview, she tells us that she has a legal thing that she has to work out, which subsequently is going to push back her baptism for probably a few weeks/months! Literally five minutes before, and she hadn't mentioned anything like that before, even when we had asked her.
So, she's really sad after her interview. The next day we go over and talk with her and the boys and the boys, the bishop, and the mission president are all on board to let them still get baptized, as long as she is still going to church, etc.
Oh, side note. halloween. Hahhaa. So on Halloween night we had to stay inside of our apartment and just be productive inside. It was right after Hna Paz's interview so we were in kind of a somber mood, b/c at that point we didn't know if the boys were going to be baptized. But we got some stuff done. The end.
Ok, thursday. An actually very normal day for baptismal week. We figured out the details and all that.
Side note: we're teaching this 19 yr old guy named Eric who is awesome! I've mentioned him before I think...we gave him to the singles ward but then ended up picking him back up again. He read all of Alma 32 and just talked about how much sense it made, and how he felt like it taught him about "true, raw faith". He's the one whos a bible studies major. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he talked about how it made so much more sense about Adam and Eve, etc etc. It's been really fun to teach him because he grasps things quickly and is starting to understand the magnitude of what we're teaching him. Way cool.
Friday, weekly planning. Friday night...I go to the Visitors Center to make phone calls. While in there, a sister walks in with a giant pencil portrait of me. What in the world? I quickly realize that it's from a member that I haven't seen since probably last December I don't think. She's Dianna Santa Cruz, who I had a great experience with in the VC last October-ish. Her husband and her came in in December and told me that he likes to do portraits of the missionaries. They took my picture and I forgot about it eventually. 11 months later, they walk in with the portrait. It was hilarious, but also a miracle that they caught me when I was actually at the Visitor's Center while being full field. Anyways, I attached the portrait. It's pretty hilarious, probably the best souvenir I could ask for from my mission.
Friday night, we do a chapel tour with the Paz's to show them the font, etc. Kiko and his friends come along, one of which just got out of jail on Tuesday. His friends start making snide comments throughout it, which ends up really upsetting the 12 yr old Alex because they were saying how he's not going to be able to party, etc after he's baptized, his life will be boring with no girls, etc. So sad. So, I ask them to leave haha. The chapel tour ends up with like all of them really sad and we're worried.
Saturday morning, all 3 boys come to play soccer with our zone. Hilarious...they were all there, and they were just hanging out with all of us missionaries. They ended up staying with Pedro for most of the day, playing video games at his house, etc., so that they wouldn't be at their apartment where there are often negative influences.
We show up a little before the baptism, struggling with paperwork, etc., and get them to the chapel. Get them in their white suits, they're going crazy. The baptism actually went really really smoothly...all in all probably the least stressful baptism day I've had on my mission. We almost didn't have barely any refreshments but then miraculously one of the ward missionaries brought a bunch of sodas and 2 huge cakes, when we had just told him cookies! Anyways, not as important as the actual baptism. Sister Watkins sang "I like to look for rainbows" in both english and spanish and I accompanied her. It all went really smoothly. THe boys were reallly giddy in the font. Pedro baptized all 3 of them. Eduardo swam out of the font afterwards. Carlos was SO happy...he's the happiest little boy in the entire world. Afterwards he was like "I feel great! My life is good!" We invited Leticia to bear her testimony afterwards, and she talked about how she is ready to keep all of the commandments with her sons, and she thanked everyone for all they've done for their family. Afterwards, Alex told us that he didn't feel ready to be baptized! Which broke our hearts. He's definitely in the tween phase, trying to figure things out, so we tried to just help him to realize that he was ready, and to not be too hard on himself. The next day at church he seemed happier. We gave them a picture of Christ to put in their home (but the frame broke), and all the boys CTR rings (including the 2 older brothers...Kiko loved his! And he actually came to see the actual baptism ordinance, but we didn't see him), and Eduardo and Carlos little "Future Missionary" tags.
The next day, their confirmations, they showed up to church, looking great. One lady gave Carlos one of her son's old suits. Pedro bought them all pants, etc for their baptism. There has been a huge outpouring of generosity.
So...that's the Paz family week of baptism in a nutshell.
Ok, well that's everything. Oh...mom! You had asked about a package before. Mostly...if you could send like a comfy casual sweatshirt..it can be my blue/gray puma one. And bare minerals! I told you the ones I want...the bronzer and a light and fairly light foundation. Those are the main things I need. Thank you!
Okay, I love you all! Thanks for everythign! My letter to the mish pres will probably be the same information, just shorter, so I won't send it this week. Love, Sister Fors
Pictures from October 29, 2012
After the Paz boys passed their baptism interviews
Alex, Carlos and Eduardo Paz at Trunk or Treat
Investigator Ximena
Paz boys getting ready for church
Companions at Trunk or Treat
The Correas and Sappiens -- ward missionaries from Liahona 1st ward
October 29, 2012
Hi Fam Bam,
Well, all in all, we had a great great week, with lots of success and lots of miracles. I wrote about a lot of it in my letter to Pres Ellsworth so hopefully you can look at that.
But...first and foremost...FAMILIA PAZ! IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAYYYYY! The mom and the three youngest boys. We've been seeing them lots and lots this past week. Well, except for Leticia, because she goes missing for days at a time for work and that makes us super nervous!
But, we started prepping them on like Thursday for their interviews. Leticia was MIA from like Thursday to Saturday, which made it really hard. But we went over all the questions, and they were doing alright. Needed to go over repentance. Eduardo is the 10 year old and we're pretty sure he is a compulsive liar...or just really likes story telling. So we went over repentance and he starts telling us he's done "150 crimes" and all these things. Then he says he needed to say sorry to his brothers, and so he says sorry to them for being mean to them and he repents right then and there and the brothers say sorry and they all have a great moment of forgiveness and all hug! So good. Hno Pedro Vasquez went to get them all white shirts and ties afterwards, which you hopefully saw pictures of. So then on Friday we continued to go over the questions with them. They know some things in Spanish and some things in English, which makes things difficult. For instance, we're like "What is tithing?" and they go, "Diezmo!" hahhaa.
But on Saturday we headed over to the VC for their interviews. Sister Watkins and I were stressing most of Saturday and Sunday because the mom was MIA and we didn't think the ward would let the boys get baptized without her. And we have no way of contacting her when she's gone. Anyways, so they go to their interviews. You could tell they were all kind of nervous...Carlos got mad at Sister Watkins because she he asked her if he was dirty and she said "a little" and so he got mad and she told him "you're my favorite dirty boy in the whole world!" and he took that to mean "You're the dirtiest boy in the whole world!" So, we arrive at the interviews and Carlos is not forgiving Sister Watkins haha. Alex, the 12 yr old, is super nervous. And Eduardo and Carlos are wrestling on the ground in front of the Christus. So, we were all a little high strung. But they passed their interviews! Elder Meza had to come out in the middle of his interview w/ Eduardo because Eduardo told him that he had gone to juvy (he's 10), and so the older brother Joe had to get him to tell the truth. Oh jeez haha. And Elder Carrillo, in his interview w/ Carlos, convinced Carlos to forgive Sister Watkins in preparation for his baptism. So, they were all happy.
So the three boys came to the Halloween party that night (which I'll talk more about), and they were all set for church the next day, but the mom was still missing. That night we asked their oldest brother and he said that Hna Paz had told him that they were all going to church the next day, but we didn't know how reliable that was.
So, Sunday morning I'm stressing out really bad trying to figure this all out. We get to their house to see if they're awake/ready for church, and lo and behold Hna Paz opens the door, she is AWAKE, she is DRESSED, in a DRESS, which is MODEST and she is READY for church! And the boys are AWAKE and they are dressed in WHITE SHIRTS ready for church! Such a miracle, and the sign that we needed to see to know that the mom really was ready to take this step and support her boys through it...that they were not dependent on us.
So we get to church, and this is my favorite moment. Hna Paz's dress went to like just above her knees, basically what most members wear. She was sitting next to me in gospel principles, waiting for it to start, and had her books on her lap. She takes the books off, hands them to me, and then goes to adjust her dress so that it covers her knees! Sister Watkins and I were just like...in shock. Hahhaha something so little but we loved seeing a moment like that to show how they can catch onto things.
So, they stayed for all three hours and afterwards had an interview with the bishop. We went by last night and talked w/ Hna Paz about her baptismal interview and she seems ready. So excited!
So, that's the big miracle. Other big miracle...we had seven non-members come to mutual! We've been trying to make a push to use more activities. So we rounded up some of the kids in the ward to walk with our investigators to mutual. We were outside waiting for them and saw them all round the corner, looking like a huge gang, showing up to the church to play volleyball. so happy.
Then, the Halloween party was another huge miracle. We had 25 non-members that we had invited show up! Crazy! About 15 investigators and then some potentials or little kids. Sister Watkins and I were running all over the place, trying to accommodate to all of them. We'd turn around and see another random person we had invited on the street. We had decided that we were going to try to do chapel tours during the party to get people to come to church. So we ended up doing about 3 chapel tours that were really simple but successful. I also saw a bunch of people from my old Liahona 1st ward which was very happy.
Que mas...we had a funny story. We were going to a lesson at night this past week and had left our bikes at a member's house. So we met a different member outside the lesson, but they weren't there. We visited some other people then had to walk home, because it was an hermano and we couldn't go in his car. But, it's definitely the more dangerous part of our area so he didn't want us to be alone. So he said he'd follow us in his car home to make sure we got there okay. We got to a major street and our bikes were close by so we told him we were fine and we'd call him when we arrived home. He drove off, and about 2 seconds later we hear this "Excuse me!" and we look and it's this lady and her 4 kids. She goes "Do you know that there's a man tha's been following you for several blocks?! We were so worried about you!" hahahhaa. So she had been following us for blocks to make sure we were okay. We ended up walking the rest of the way with her to her home, and invited her to the halloween party. And she came! She's english speaking but it was so good.
Anyways, so lots of miracles. There are definitely still hard days, anxiety is like a minute to minute battle, but then I see all the miracles and it shows you that it's worth it, no? Anyways, I love you lots! Love, Sister Fors
Well, all in all, we had a great great week, with lots of success and lots of miracles. I wrote about a lot of it in my letter to Pres Ellsworth so hopefully you can look at that.
But...first and foremost...FAMILIA PAZ! IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAYYYYY! The mom and the three youngest boys. We've been seeing them lots and lots this past week. Well, except for Leticia, because she goes missing for days at a time for work and that makes us super nervous!
But, we started prepping them on like Thursday for their interviews. Leticia was MIA from like Thursday to Saturday, which made it really hard. But we went over all the questions, and they were doing alright. Needed to go over repentance. Eduardo is the 10 year old and we're pretty sure he is a compulsive liar...or just really likes story telling. So we went over repentance and he starts telling us he's done "150 crimes" and all these things. Then he says he needed to say sorry to his brothers, and so he says sorry to them for being mean to them and he repents right then and there and the brothers say sorry and they all have a great moment of forgiveness and all hug! So good. Hno Pedro Vasquez went to get them all white shirts and ties afterwards, which you hopefully saw pictures of. So then on Friday we continued to go over the questions with them. They know some things in Spanish and some things in English, which makes things difficult. For instance, we're like "What is tithing?" and they go, "Diezmo!" hahhaa.
But on Saturday we headed over to the VC for their interviews. Sister Watkins and I were stressing most of Saturday and Sunday because the mom was MIA and we didn't think the ward would let the boys get baptized without her. And we have no way of contacting her when she's gone. Anyways, so they go to their interviews. You could tell they were all kind of nervous...Carlos got mad at Sister Watkins because she he asked her if he was dirty and she said "a little" and so he got mad and she told him "you're my favorite dirty boy in the whole world!" and he took that to mean "You're the dirtiest boy in the whole world!" So, we arrive at the interviews and Carlos is not forgiving Sister Watkins haha. Alex, the 12 yr old, is super nervous. And Eduardo and Carlos are wrestling on the ground in front of the Christus. So, we were all a little high strung. But they passed their interviews! Elder Meza had to come out in the middle of his interview w/ Eduardo because Eduardo told him that he had gone to juvy (he's 10), and so the older brother Joe had to get him to tell the truth. Oh jeez haha. And Elder Carrillo, in his interview w/ Carlos, convinced Carlos to forgive Sister Watkins in preparation for his baptism. So, they were all happy.
So the three boys came to the Halloween party that night (which I'll talk more about), and they were all set for church the next day, but the mom was still missing. That night we asked their oldest brother and he said that Hna Paz had told him that they were all going to church the next day, but we didn't know how reliable that was.
So, Sunday morning I'm stressing out really bad trying to figure this all out. We get to their house to see if they're awake/ready for church, and lo and behold Hna Paz opens the door, she is AWAKE, she is DRESSED, in a DRESS, which is MODEST and she is READY for church! And the boys are AWAKE and they are dressed in WHITE SHIRTS ready for church! Such a miracle, and the sign that we needed to see to know that the mom really was ready to take this step and support her boys through it...that they were not dependent on us.
So we get to church, and this is my favorite moment. Hna Paz's dress went to like just above her knees, basically what most members wear. She was sitting next to me in gospel principles, waiting for it to start, and had her books on her lap. She takes the books off, hands them to me, and then goes to adjust her dress so that it covers her knees! Sister Watkins and I were just like...in shock. Hahhaha something so little but we loved seeing a moment like that to show how they can catch onto things.
So, they stayed for all three hours and afterwards had an interview with the bishop. We went by last night and talked w/ Hna Paz about her baptismal interview and she seems ready. So excited!
So, that's the big miracle. Other big miracle...we had seven non-members come to mutual! We've been trying to make a push to use more activities. So we rounded up some of the kids in the ward to walk with our investigators to mutual. We were outside waiting for them and saw them all round the corner, looking like a huge gang, showing up to the church to play volleyball. so happy.
Then, the Halloween party was another huge miracle. We had 25 non-members that we had invited show up! Crazy! About 15 investigators and then some potentials or little kids. Sister Watkins and I were running all over the place, trying to accommodate to all of them. We'd turn around and see another random person we had invited on the street. We had decided that we were going to try to do chapel tours during the party to get people to come to church. So we ended up doing about 3 chapel tours that were really simple but successful. I also saw a bunch of people from my old Liahona 1st ward which was very happy.
Que mas...we had a funny story. We were going to a lesson at night this past week and had left our bikes at a member's house. So we met a different member outside the lesson, but they weren't there. We visited some other people then had to walk home, because it was an hermano and we couldn't go in his car. But, it's definitely the more dangerous part of our area so he didn't want us to be alone. So he said he'd follow us in his car home to make sure we got there okay. We got to a major street and our bikes were close by so we told him we were fine and we'd call him when we arrived home. He drove off, and about 2 seconds later we hear this "Excuse me!" and we look and it's this lady and her 4 kids. She goes "Do you know that there's a man tha's been following you for several blocks?! We were so worried about you!" hahahhaa. So she had been following us for blocks to make sure we were okay. We ended up walking the rest of the way with her to her home, and invited her to the halloween party. And she came! She's english speaking but it was so good.
Anyways, so lots of miracles. There are definitely still hard days, anxiety is like a minute to minute battle, but then I see all the miracles and it shows you that it's worth it, no? Anyways, I love you lots! Love, Sister Fors
Pictures from October 22, 2012
Carlos Paz birthday
District picture
Grocery shopping on bikes!
Mini golf on P-day
Sis. Slater, Sis. Christensen, Sis. Fors and Sis. Watkins
With Sis. Watkins
Temple VC Sisters!
Companions!
Tree of Life FHE
Mini Golf
Volleyball with the Tongans!
October 22, 2012
Hi Familia Fors,
Ok, I need to write quick. Hope you enjoyed all the pictures! And the insights into my daily life. Sister Watkins is really good at getting us to do fun things on pdays, which I am grateful for. For instance...playing volleyball with a bunch of huge Tongan guys. Wouldn't think to do it otherwise. I laugh because I feel like that picture could look kind of strange, but I'm pretty sure it was an approved missionary activity, so we have fun.
Ok, news. We had 7 investigators at church! LETICIA CAME! Hallelujah! And they stayed all three hours and sat on the 2nd row with the bishop's family and they're going to fhe with them tonight. The familiy is coming along! Today, Pedro Vasquez (the guy who does everything for missionaries), is going to walmart with the boys to buy them all white shirts to wear. So great.
Ok, other miracle of the week. Is this great new family! So, we went to visit some investigators last Wednesday I think. We call up this random less active lady to come with us, and she turns out to be AWESOME. She was like suggesting that we say a prayer before we leave, that we sing a hymn, everything. So, our investigator isn't there, so we go to talk to this lady standing outside her door. Our member starts talking with her about being a mother, and the lady starts crying right then and there! We go inside and have a prayer with her and her daughter. She had been stressing out a lot about her older daughter, Gemma. We set up a return appt the next day. So, Thursday comes and they call and cancel. So, we go by to visit one of their neighbors, and can see that they're home, but they're arguing. We knock anyways. And they let us in! We teach the Restoration and the older daughter, the one who was causing all the problems, was there. We tell the first vision and she tells us like she feels like it's true. We ask her if she's ever felt like God has answered her prayers and she goes "I feel like he answered them today." and she's crying and the mom's crying and it's awesome. The next day, we go see the joseph smith movie with them at the VC. Then, on Sunday, Gemma and her little sister came to sacrament! Woohoo! After only teaching them for like 4 days. She's this super cute, stylish, cool girl, that's just trying to get along with her family and make good choices! So good.
Que mas...another great bike story for the week. We TTI this guy named Steve from LA, and we have a really good conversation with him...he's from East LA, and he was wearing a dodgers hat so I try to make it seem like I'm actually a bigger Dodgers fan than I really am, etc etc hahaha. We give him a Book of Mormon, and ride off. Only get like 3 houses down, and my skirt gets caught in my brakes, really badly. The tire won't move and we're in the middle of the street and I have to like waddle over to the side. Sister Watkins cant get it out, and this guy sees us and asks if we need help, we tell him we're okay. Then these members go by, and we tell them we're okay. We're still struggling, and we look at Steve pulls up in his car! He said he had seen us struggling, and so he decided to drive his car down past like just 3 driveways to offer to help. So, Steve helps me get my skirt out of my brake. We ask him what we can do to repay him and he's like "Well, if this book's as good as you say it is, that's all you need to pay me!" ahahaha. It was a great moment in my biking career.
Que mas...I know there were other miracles. But I'm out of time. I love you all! Thank you for all of your support!
Mom, you asked about stuff in a package...I can't think right now, but I'll try to send you in a letter some ideas. I'm going to register for classes right after this.
Ok, I need to write quick. Hope you enjoyed all the pictures! And the insights into my daily life. Sister Watkins is really good at getting us to do fun things on pdays, which I am grateful for. For instance...playing volleyball with a bunch of huge Tongan guys. Wouldn't think to do it otherwise. I laugh because I feel like that picture could look kind of strange, but I'm pretty sure it was an approved missionary activity, so we have fun.
Ok, news. We had 7 investigators at church! LETICIA CAME! Hallelujah! And they stayed all three hours and sat on the 2nd row with the bishop's family and they're going to fhe with them tonight. The familiy is coming along! Today, Pedro Vasquez (the guy who does everything for missionaries), is going to walmart with the boys to buy them all white shirts to wear. So great.
Ok, other miracle of the week. Is this great new family! So, we went to visit some investigators last Wednesday I think. We call up this random less active lady to come with us, and she turns out to be AWESOME. She was like suggesting that we say a prayer before we leave, that we sing a hymn, everything. So, our investigator isn't there, so we go to talk to this lady standing outside her door. Our member starts talking with her about being a mother, and the lady starts crying right then and there! We go inside and have a prayer with her and her daughter. She had been stressing out a lot about her older daughter, Gemma. We set up a return appt the next day. So, Thursday comes and they call and cancel. So, we go by to visit one of their neighbors, and can see that they're home, but they're arguing. We knock anyways. And they let us in! We teach the Restoration and the older daughter, the one who was causing all the problems, was there. We tell the first vision and she tells us like she feels like it's true. We ask her if she's ever felt like God has answered her prayers and she goes "I feel like he answered them today." and she's crying and the mom's crying and it's awesome. The next day, we go see the joseph smith movie with them at the VC. Then, on Sunday, Gemma and her little sister came to sacrament! Woohoo! After only teaching them for like 4 days. She's this super cute, stylish, cool girl, that's just trying to get along with her family and make good choices! So good.
Que mas...another great bike story for the week. We TTI this guy named Steve from LA, and we have a really good conversation with him...he's from East LA, and he was wearing a dodgers hat so I try to make it seem like I'm actually a bigger Dodgers fan than I really am, etc etc hahaha. We give him a Book of Mormon, and ride off. Only get like 3 houses down, and my skirt gets caught in my brakes, really badly. The tire won't move and we're in the middle of the street and I have to like waddle over to the side. Sister Watkins cant get it out, and this guy sees us and asks if we need help, we tell him we're okay. Then these members go by, and we tell them we're okay. We're still struggling, and we look at Steve pulls up in his car! He said he had seen us struggling, and so he decided to drive his car down past like just 3 driveways to offer to help. So, Steve helps me get my skirt out of my brake. We ask him what we can do to repay him and he's like "Well, if this book's as good as you say it is, that's all you need to pay me!" ahahaha. It was a great moment in my biking career.
Que mas...I know there were other miracles. But I'm out of time. I love you all! Thank you for all of your support!
Mom, you asked about stuff in a package...I can't think right now, but I'll try to send you in a letter some ideas. I'm going to register for classes right after this.
October 15, 2012
Helloooo Familia Fors,
Ok, I will write quick. The subject line comes from the fact that if there's one thing I can't seem to get away from on my mission, it's teaching KIDS! Yesterday, we had 4 investigators at church...but, their ages were 10, 10, 8, and 7! Oh my goodness. Anyways, so yeah, throughout my mission, wherever I go, I always find myself ending up with a ton of kids in my teaching pool. We're teaching a ton of families right now, but they're almost all single mom families, and so the kids have much more time to dedicate towards coming to church and their progression. Most of them include teenagers that are a little more mature and can support the progress more, but all the teenagers didn't show up to church yesterday for one reason or another...so we ended up having members haul a whole bunch of primary kids! So, I love it...but I also know that it is definitely a tricky tricky situation and not one that is ideal. I just think about my little convert Cesar and how hard a time he had. Anyways, so that's the entertaining tidbit of the week.
Que mas...so, the Paz's are up and down, everyone progressing differently. But Kiko, the 17 yr old, is so awesome. So he's the one who wouldn't talk to us for forever. This past week we walked with him and his little brothers to the Visitor's Center, and watched the Testaments. He was like super depressed walking into it, and left so upbeat, respectful, and grateful. Then, we went on Fri night to see them, and he wouldn't come out to talk to us...pretty sure because he was high on something. Kikoooo! So, yesterday afternoon we go and talk to him because he didn't show up to church because his stomach hurt. We start talking with just him, not getting distracted by his hyper little brothers. We had SUCH a good conversation, and we just talked to him about how he needs to have the power in his life that comes from the priesthood, not from drugs or violence or anything. He started crying like multiple times and then we offered to have a guy give him a blessing. So Pedro Vasquez came over, and gave him a really simple but powerful blessing. Afterwards, Kiko was just like crying. He feels so much pressure to provide and support for his family, because he's like the man of the house since their dad left the family this year. He feels guilty when he feels like he messes up and has caused their poor economic situation. So sad! Anyways, but it was SUCH a powerful lesson, and that family is just so great, but has so so much opposition. We're going to keep working with them!
I love you all, sorry this is super short! Don't worry about meeee, I just want you to know what all is happening. Thanks for being the best family EVER! After my counseling session, that's what I decided...that you are all great, and that I grew up in the best circumstances I could ask for. Love you all! Sister Fors
Ok, I will write quick. The subject line comes from the fact that if there's one thing I can't seem to get away from on my mission, it's teaching KIDS! Yesterday, we had 4 investigators at church...but, their ages were 10, 10, 8, and 7! Oh my goodness. Anyways, so yeah, throughout my mission, wherever I go, I always find myself ending up with a ton of kids in my teaching pool. We're teaching a ton of families right now, but they're almost all single mom families, and so the kids have much more time to dedicate towards coming to church and their progression. Most of them include teenagers that are a little more mature and can support the progress more, but all the teenagers didn't show up to church yesterday for one reason or another...so we ended up having members haul a whole bunch of primary kids! So, I love it...but I also know that it is definitely a tricky tricky situation and not one that is ideal. I just think about my little convert Cesar and how hard a time he had. Anyways, so that's the entertaining tidbit of the week.
Que mas...so, the Paz's are up and down, everyone progressing differently. But Kiko, the 17 yr old, is so awesome. So he's the one who wouldn't talk to us for forever. This past week we walked with him and his little brothers to the Visitor's Center, and watched the Testaments. He was like super depressed walking into it, and left so upbeat, respectful, and grateful. Then, we went on Fri night to see them, and he wouldn't come out to talk to us...pretty sure because he was high on something. Kikoooo! So, yesterday afternoon we go and talk to him because he didn't show up to church because his stomach hurt. We start talking with just him, not getting distracted by his hyper little brothers. We had SUCH a good conversation, and we just talked to him about how he needs to have the power in his life that comes from the priesthood, not from drugs or violence or anything. He started crying like multiple times and then we offered to have a guy give him a blessing. So Pedro Vasquez came over, and gave him a really simple but powerful blessing. Afterwards, Kiko was just like crying. He feels so much pressure to provide and support for his family, because he's like the man of the house since their dad left the family this year. He feels guilty when he feels like he messes up and has caused their poor economic situation. So sad! Anyways, but it was SUCH a powerful lesson, and that family is just so great, but has so so much opposition. We're going to keep working with them!
I love you all, sorry this is super short! Don't worry about meeee, I just want you to know what all is happening. Thanks for being the best family EVER! After my counseling session, that's what I decided...that you are all great, and that I grew up in the best circumstances I could ask for. Love you all! Sister Fors
October 8, 2012
Hellloooo Familia,
Well, this might be a shorter email, because I just spend forever looking at all of your pictures and writing you back individually!
Ok, this week. Up's and down's, what else is new? But let's recount some of the miracles...
Ok, we were riding our bikes down Hobson (like the main road in our area), and this lady stops her car in front of me and is like "Excuse me, I need to talk to you!" (but in espanol). She proceeds to tell us that she's been going through an incredibly hard time, and that her husband left her like a month ago after a miscarriage, etc etc, all this stuff. She's like "I've always seen missionaries walking around, and these past couple days I've really felt like I needed to talk to you! and so I had to stop you in the car when I saw you today!" we were like "alright!" and set up an appt for the next day.
So we went to the appt, her name's Angelina, and we just talked about the Atonement and she prayed and there was a great spirit and we set a baptismal date! Then, the next day we had a lesson in the VC. I was on splits, but Sis Watkins told me that Angelina told her that for the first time in a month, she hadn't cried either that day nor the day before! (since she started meeting with us!) and in her prayer she talked all about how she finally feels like she's going to be happy again. So great!
Other miracle...the Paz family came to conference! Minus Joe and Kiko....which means Joe's baptism is going to have to wait. But the little boys came and we colored with them during it and Leticia really enjoyed it. During Elder Oaks' talk, Eduardo (the 10 yr old), tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the bald high counselor w/ glasses sitting 2 rows behind us. He thought he was Elder Oaks! Ahhahaha so funny.
Leticia is progressing really well. We committed her to read the Book of Mormon, and a few days later, we followed up. She opened up to Mosiah 18 and said she had read it. We were super confused (because we hadn't assigned it), but super happy (because it's all about baptism!) She said she just opened up to the pictures at the beginning of the proselyting book of mormon and saw in the captions of one a page number that lead to Mosiah 18...and that's what she read. Coincidence? I think not!
What else...oh yes, I am a real biking missionary! The other day, I was riding down Hobson. I saw this nice looking tree whose branches were hanging over the side, and thought it'd be a great idea to reach up and try to touch the leaves. So, I did that. What followed? A trash can right in front of me. Ahahaha so my handle bars hit the trash can and I totally crashed. But I'm totally fine! I actually crashed right in front of some members that were parked in a car, so this little like 9 yr old Activity Day girl was terrified ahahhaa. I'm fine!
What else...so, I'm doing the Book of Mormon study where you pick one theme and read the whole Book of Mormon with it. I really felt like I should pick the theme of "healing"! So, I just started, but I really like it...and I feel like Darron should do it because it makes me think a lot about doctors. So, there you go.
I'm out of time! Love you all! Sister Fors
Well, this might be a shorter email, because I just spend forever looking at all of your pictures and writing you back individually!
Ok, this week. Up's and down's, what else is new? But let's recount some of the miracles...
Ok, we were riding our bikes down Hobson (like the main road in our area), and this lady stops her car in front of me and is like "Excuse me, I need to talk to you!" (but in espanol). She proceeds to tell us that she's been going through an incredibly hard time, and that her husband left her like a month ago after a miscarriage, etc etc, all this stuff. She's like "I've always seen missionaries walking around, and these past couple days I've really felt like I needed to talk to you! and so I had to stop you in the car when I saw you today!" we were like "alright!" and set up an appt for the next day.
So we went to the appt, her name's Angelina, and we just talked about the Atonement and she prayed and there was a great spirit and we set a baptismal date! Then, the next day we had a lesson in the VC. I was on splits, but Sis Watkins told me that Angelina told her that for the first time in a month, she hadn't cried either that day nor the day before! (since she started meeting with us!) and in her prayer she talked all about how she finally feels like she's going to be happy again. So great!
Other miracle...the Paz family came to conference! Minus Joe and Kiko....which means Joe's baptism is going to have to wait. But the little boys came and we colored with them during it and Leticia really enjoyed it. During Elder Oaks' talk, Eduardo (the 10 yr old), tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the bald high counselor w/ glasses sitting 2 rows behind us. He thought he was Elder Oaks! Ahhahaha so funny.
Leticia is progressing really well. We committed her to read the Book of Mormon, and a few days later, we followed up. She opened up to Mosiah 18 and said she had read it. We were super confused (because we hadn't assigned it), but super happy (because it's all about baptism!) She said she just opened up to the pictures at the beginning of the proselyting book of mormon and saw in the captions of one a page number that lead to Mosiah 18...and that's what she read. Coincidence? I think not!
What else...oh yes, I am a real biking missionary! The other day, I was riding down Hobson. I saw this nice looking tree whose branches were hanging over the side, and thought it'd be a great idea to reach up and try to touch the leaves. So, I did that. What followed? A trash can right in front of me. Ahahaha so my handle bars hit the trash can and I totally crashed. But I'm totally fine! I actually crashed right in front of some members that were parked in a car, so this little like 9 yr old Activity Day girl was terrified ahahhaa. I'm fine!
What else...so, I'm doing the Book of Mormon study where you pick one theme and read the whole Book of Mormon with it. I really felt like I should pick the theme of "healing"! So, I just started, but I really like it...and I feel like Darron should do it because it makes me think a lot about doctors. So, there you go.
I'm out of time! Love you all! Sister Fors
October 1, 2012
Hey Fam Bam,
Well, another good week was had in Liahona 3rd. And, what's more...it's transfer week!
So, I'll tell you what's happening. Last Thursday, I got a phone call from President, which is always interesting when he's deciding transfer news. He basically told me that he would like to keep me in Liahona 3rd, because he feels like Sis Watkins and I have been doing really great work and he wouldn't want to make that stop. But, I've been full field for 3 transfers, which is normally the guideline for the max amount a VC sister can be full field. He asked me how I would feel to stay out for a 4th transfer, and asked me what I wanted to do, and I basically didn't feel like deciding my destiny, so I told him I'd be fine either way and he can just do what he feels is right :)
So, Sunday night, I got a phone call and we are staying exactly the same! So, full field #4. I thought I'd be sad about it, but really I've gotten to the point where I'm so used to full-field, and this area has so much work that it doesn't get boring. It is weird though that I'll only be back in the VC for my last transfer. I bet when I go back I'll realize how much I've missed it and I'll want to make the most of it for that short time.
So, that's the news! Alright, so...things that happened this week. Well, the Paz family is moving along. Joe, the 14 yr old, is the one that's progressing the most. He went to mutual on Wednesday w/ his brother and loved it, and came to all 3 hrs of church yesterday. He's been reading the BOM and talks about how he gets a good feeling in his heart every time he reads it. He also says that when he goes to church it's like he can get a weight off of his chest and just feel good inside. He's so great!
Also, his older brother, Kiko, at first would never listen to us. We'd always invite him for lessons, and he would never join. This week, something changed! It might've been that we came over and did service for them. We cleaned their kitchen. Alright, let's just say I feel so bad for the conditions they're livign in. So they haven't had light for like 3 weeks. Also, found out on the day that we did service, that they haven't had PLUMBING for 3 weeks. So, that made things interesting. And we cleaned their kitchen all up, and it was so cool to see how it just changed 100%, and it became just like an actual HOME! Cleanliness is next to Godliness, folks. Anyways, so I think that might've warmed Kiko up to us a bit, and after that, he started joining us just for the closing prayer, and then he joined us for a whole lesson! He started reading the BOM and he's committed to be baptized with his family. Way cool!
Also, on Monday night we had the elders come over and give Leticia a blessing for her foot. She seemed really tired and depressed when we came over, but they gave her the blessing and we think it really helped her. Several days later, we found out that that morning, she had actually had like a violent fight w/ her boyfriend...which explains why she was probably so depressed! So, according to her, he's moving out and she's getting away from the situation. So, another miracle.
Other miracle...on Saturday was like a day of miracles. I street contacted this one guy, and the conversation went nowhere really. So we went into our appointment, and when we left, he was standing there. He motioned us over, and introduced us to his wife and was like "Talk to her about God." and so we started talking and she said that she had once invited elders to come over, but they could never teach her because her husband was never home. She said she had been having really bad stomach pains, and so we offered to have people come give her a blessing! So, something always comes out of nothing.
Last miracle...that day, we were strugglign to find members for a lesson. We had like 2 members cancel on us, no one answered their phones, nada. It was 7:25 and the lesson was at 7:30, so we just headed over, accepting defeat. We ride past this guy that I recognize on our bikes, and i'm like "hey! I know you!" I had recognized him from coming into the VC like 8 mos before. I was like "Are you a member?" and he was like "Yeah" and he was in our ward, totally less active, but he came to the lesson with us right then and there! And had a great experience!
Anyways, tehre were a lot more miracles but I must be off. I love you all! Sister Fors
Well, another good week was had in Liahona 3rd. And, what's more...it's transfer week!
So, I'll tell you what's happening. Last Thursday, I got a phone call from President, which is always interesting when he's deciding transfer news. He basically told me that he would like to keep me in Liahona 3rd, because he feels like Sis Watkins and I have been doing really great work and he wouldn't want to make that stop. But, I've been full field for 3 transfers, which is normally the guideline for the max amount a VC sister can be full field. He asked me how I would feel to stay out for a 4th transfer, and asked me what I wanted to do, and I basically didn't feel like deciding my destiny, so I told him I'd be fine either way and he can just do what he feels is right :)
So, Sunday night, I got a phone call and we are staying exactly the same! So, full field #4. I thought I'd be sad about it, but really I've gotten to the point where I'm so used to full-field, and this area has so much work that it doesn't get boring. It is weird though that I'll only be back in the VC for my last transfer. I bet when I go back I'll realize how much I've missed it and I'll want to make the most of it for that short time.
So, that's the news! Alright, so...things that happened this week. Well, the Paz family is moving along. Joe, the 14 yr old, is the one that's progressing the most. He went to mutual on Wednesday w/ his brother and loved it, and came to all 3 hrs of church yesterday. He's been reading the BOM and talks about how he gets a good feeling in his heart every time he reads it. He also says that when he goes to church it's like he can get a weight off of his chest and just feel good inside. He's so great!
Also, his older brother, Kiko, at first would never listen to us. We'd always invite him for lessons, and he would never join. This week, something changed! It might've been that we came over and did service for them. We cleaned their kitchen. Alright, let's just say I feel so bad for the conditions they're livign in. So they haven't had light for like 3 weeks. Also, found out on the day that we did service, that they haven't had PLUMBING for 3 weeks. So, that made things interesting. And we cleaned their kitchen all up, and it was so cool to see how it just changed 100%, and it became just like an actual HOME! Cleanliness is next to Godliness, folks. Anyways, so I think that might've warmed Kiko up to us a bit, and after that, he started joining us just for the closing prayer, and then he joined us for a whole lesson! He started reading the BOM and he's committed to be baptized with his family. Way cool!
Also, on Monday night we had the elders come over and give Leticia a blessing for her foot. She seemed really tired and depressed when we came over, but they gave her the blessing and we think it really helped her. Several days later, we found out that that morning, she had actually had like a violent fight w/ her boyfriend...which explains why she was probably so depressed! So, according to her, he's moving out and she's getting away from the situation. So, another miracle.
Other miracle...on Saturday was like a day of miracles. I street contacted this one guy, and the conversation went nowhere really. So we went into our appointment, and when we left, he was standing there. He motioned us over, and introduced us to his wife and was like "Talk to her about God." and so we started talking and she said that she had once invited elders to come over, but they could never teach her because her husband was never home. She said she had been having really bad stomach pains, and so we offered to have people come give her a blessing! So, something always comes out of nothing.
Last miracle...that day, we were strugglign to find members for a lesson. We had like 2 members cancel on us, no one answered their phones, nada. It was 7:25 and the lesson was at 7:30, so we just headed over, accepting defeat. We ride past this guy that I recognize on our bikes, and i'm like "hey! I know you!" I had recognized him from coming into the VC like 8 mos before. I was like "Are you a member?" and he was like "Yeah" and he was in our ward, totally less active, but he came to the lesson with us right then and there! And had a great experience!
Anyways, tehre were a lot more miracles but I must be off. I love you all! Sister Fors
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