Members Galore!

​Buenas Dias mis amigos!

Entonces.. This week was pretty darn good. I can't really explain how this week went, it was successful, but as us missionaries say, it doesn't always show in our numbers of lessons. It was successful because we truly learned how to teach, and not just anyone, but the members! Ever since our recent ZTM we have turned our focus for this month on working with members on their missionary work and strengthening our relationship with them. For instance, we have done a lot of service this week! We even had a member's son chase us down the street last night to give us freshly made cookies! I'm pretty sure he ran at least a mile. #13yearoldathlete

 

We've had some awesome dinner appointments this week with these amazing members. We have had a blast working with them.

 

I don't have much more time or much more to share, but the least I can say, is that I love being a missionary. And I've got 3 more weeks to live it up! 

 

Love you all! Have a great week!

Mom Update...

Our Sarah arrives home on August 16th!  She will speak in the Providence Second Ward at 1:00 the following Sunday, the 21st.  If you were good friends with her before her mission and would like to attend, the address is 355 Canyon Road.  We will be having a meal after the block, so about 4:30 at our house.  Please please please RSVP to me if you are coming to eat, and to get the address at lindamarble@landez.com.  I won't publish our address here. 

We can't wait to see our beautiful girl again! 

Waainning in Wenatchee

Hello everyone!

This week was awesome! Our District Leader's greenie has been sick for a while now, and so because our last Pday was 7/11 we had a member take us to 7/11 so that we could go pick them up some slushies, and we took those by at the end of Pday... The poor sick elder is suffering from bad allergies/head cold.. It reminds me of my first few months here!

We met some really cool people this week and we had a young member come out with us on Tuesday for some lessons, and she ROCKED it. She and her family had me and my companions over for dinner multiple times at the beginning of my mission, and they are so sweet. On Wednesday, we had our Zone Training Meeting, which this month, we as a mission are focusing on Member missionary work. We've read and studied a story/talk about a sister missionary who goes above and beyond to get members involved with missionary work. If any of you are curious, look it up! (The Susan Fulcher case) We've been taking it above and beyond to involve our members in doing the missionary work. We have loved it!

We are currently working with a less active member to stop smoking and to come back to church. Luckily he doesn't have the money to buy much more right now, so he won't be tempted to buy it anymore... until his next pay check comes. So we made a calendar for him, and a to do list for every day for the next two months. Pay his tithing, pray, read his scriptures, and go to church every Sunday, that way he can check it off and be accountable to himself!

Unfortunately, our main investigators are not making the gospel a priority at the moment. So we won't be visiting as often, and only mainly working with the wife who has the most potential at this time. The husband on the other hand, has deliberately said he is not searching, and he is happy the way that he is.... So that's that! But, his wife is still on board for everything! She got attention on Sunday during Relief Society where we talked a lot about temple work and family history work. She wants to get started on Family History! And we'll be talking about the temple with her this week for our member home court lessons!

We also had some AWESOME exchanges with our Sister Leaders, where I was able to go with Hermana Tecuatl to their area which is... MY old area. So Luckily, they asked me to direct them about where certain people live, and which people to continue teaching, and to go find less actives. Some recognized me, which was pretty fun to catch up! I have really enjoyed serving wth Hna Tecuatl.

Over all this week has been great, and we are looking forward to a great new week! We are so pumped to keep working! We also had interviews with President and Sister Lewis, which was a blast!

Well, have a fantastic week mis amigos, y nos vemos pronto!

A walk down Memory Lane...

Making last minute visits in White Salmon with Hermana Knight before I left.

So this week has been quite the ride!

I said goodbye to a few people before Wednesday when I got transferred. That was a bit sad, but it was also not as bad as I expected it to be. 

On Wednesday, we got to the transfer site and received all the missionaries coming to our zone, and also we received Hermana Knight's greenie!  Hermana Hull is from Texas as well (coincidence, right?) and had some flight problems, so she didn't show up in the Yakima airport until just past midnight with her MTC companion, and then woke up bright and early before all the other missionaries to get ready to drive down to us. That poor Hermana... Hopefully she slept well!  

Then I jumped into the Assistants' Nissan Truck and drove up to Yakima. It's about a 2 hour drive, and I was the only Hermana getting transferred, let a lone, in either car.. so it was me, Elder Shugart, who was my second district leader during my mission, and another spontaneous elder we love to serve with. We three had a blast talking about the work happening in our areas, and telling stories of investigators. 

We arrived in Yakima and then, during another 4 hours, drove up to Wenatchee and arrived around 3:30. I was so exhausted from driving so much and moving luggage around and helping everyone get situated!  As we arrived in Wenatchee, I received the cute Hermanita Baird! She's adorable and so ready to work! She is from Missouri, and has been out on her mission just since March; she's still fresh in the field. :)  

As we gathered our stuff together, I slowly came to the realization as she and I talked about what would happen that day, that we are in a WALKING AREA!  Woo, I looove walking, yes I do!  We cover the boundaries of 2 wards on the west side of Wenatchee, and we have no car.  Which is definitely tough!  We do partially share a car with a set of sisters, but we only have it twice a week. But hey, a car is still a car even though we barely have it!  So we got situated in someone's car, dropped everything off, went to a Hispanic member's house for dinner, and then went out and worked!  We really can make it work without a car. I can probably say I'm bound to have blisters REAL soon, but I love walking! 

My ol' crib

 We have a small, tiny, little apartment, and our Sister Leaders live in my old house with the Bishop of another ward across the river. That was reminiscent on Sunday as we stopped by after correlation for lunch at their house before returning to go to Sunday school. The ward is pretty small, but during the winter, like most Spanish areas in our mission, it will get more busy since most members are working in the field. Being in a walking area is really fun. It's really easy to talk to people, use time more wisely and plan everything out to almost a "T".  

We have service opportunities pretty often during the week at a local Museum where we help prepare projects for the youth camps and activities they have during the summer. We have a sweet ward of members who remind me so much of my Hispanic families in Yakima; ALWAYS willing to feed us, give us rides, go out with us to lessons, and all that good stuff. 

I was able to see a lot of old faces in the Spanish ward, especially Wendy and her older sisters. We had some good time to catch up during our ward dinner together after Sacrament.  

Can I just say, I LOVE change? 

I was able to really feel the spirit yesterday during sacrament meeting. And I've been thinking hard lately about why Heavenly Father wants me in the Spanish ward again... and I had a warm fuzzy feeling come over me, almost in all the classes that this is where I need to be, and to be companions with Hermana Baird. I feel so at home here... Just like in Yakima in the Spanish Branch, It's literally the best feeling ever to be just working in  Spanish area again. I have really missed speaking this much Spanish, and just being a part of the Hispanic member culture. I truly missed it here, and I love the people we are working with right now!  We are currently teaching a few couples who are holding each other back from certain things, and particularly one named Lucy. Hermana Baird and her trainer met her right before transfers last week, and Lucy has literally lost everything.. her family, money, and nearly everything she owns. Her face lit up as we taught her the restoration, and said she wanted to come to church, and to find friends. I was a little skeptical at first to hear that she wanted friends, but she literally needs them... She has nobody close by; family, friends, relatives of some sort, None! She came to church once we found her a ride, and she LOVED church yesterday. The ward has already embraced her like family. The work is somewhat slow, but we are excited to get to work this week with our current investigators. I wish you all the best for this week!

Espero que tengan buen semana, y hasta luego!

In front of my old house with our Sister Leaders :) The short blonde one is Hermana Baird!

Adios White Salmon!

Hi everyone! 

Happy 4th of July! Hope your day is full of fun plans! This past week has been really slow again. Not much has been happening... But we did have a great revelation experience this past week together.  On the verge of tears, laughing so hard because we were so frustrated, and ready to tear our planners apart, Hermana Knight opened her scriptures to something that completely changed our point of view.

In the Doctrine & Covenants section 25 is when Heavenly Father instructs Emma Smith to compile hymns and songs for the saints, and these are the first three verses of the chapter that called our attention. 

 1 Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma  Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.

 2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue  before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

 3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

Through every little struggle we've had, this whole chapter brought so much comfort to us in our time of need. This chapter was literally an answer to our prayers, which I know and can testify that our prayers were answered, and that Heavenly Father DOES listen. We just have to pay attention to the "still small voice." Lately as from my past emails/blog posts, Hermana Knight and I have had a struggle. Together as a companionship, and especially in our area... We've been struggling with so many things, but we've come to the conclusion that we have learned SO much together that we are in store for some new changes soon. 

When transfer call day came on Saturday, neither of us knew what to expect... But surprisingly, we got a call! President Lewis has asked Hermana Knight to train a brand new missionary, and he's asked me to return to Wenatchee, to cover an area of two English wards, and to work in the Spanish ward I used to work in at the beginning of my time there; ever since after that split it became harder for us.

I WONT BE TEACHING IN ENGLISH ANYMORE. 

This is just so crazy for me to think about.. My Spanish is rusty, but luckily I'll be fixing it up in no time!  Right after I left that area, they pulled together the Spanish ward into our stake center and had a lot of changes, so this will be very interesting!  I am quite sad to leave White Salmon, but I'm happy to have another chance and another shot at finishing strong in my "baby area".  I am a little sad for Hermana Knight, for training a new missionary in a very very very slow area, but I am so excited for her to train!  She's gonna be one of the best trainers I've ever worked with. She's gonna rock that new Hermanita's socks right off!  Well, I am extremely thankful I could serve in The Dalles, and work with my amazing zone.  They are all basically my role models, and this area has so much potential.  We are seeing little small miracles every day despite our slow areas, and of course, we've spent quality time together. I love these missionaries, they'll always be in my heart.

I can't wait to get back up to Wenatchee, this has been an amazing journey, I'm going back. 

Love you all!

 We hiked to Wachela falls last Pday, because this is my favorite water fall in this whole area, and no body had been to it yet except for me... So Hna Knight and I pulled together our zone for the short hike. #exiledtothedalles