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!
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