Week 36: The Rollercoaster of a Mission

EY EY EY everrryyyone,

I am officially over the hill as of yesterday. Starting the 7th of 12 transfers today.. pretty darn cool.

Well the week started off on Monday with a real good lesson with a cute family who has two nonmember children ages 18 and 16. I really want to work more with them. 

Then on Tuesday we had our LAST district meeting. it was so sad. It was Elder Esparza's 22nd birthday so we made him a really good german chocolate cherry cake. Unfortunately we couldn't eat half of it because his companion shoved his face into it as some sort of Equadorian:Peruvian tradition. Way fun though. We also got to go visit a non-active with the Relief Society President. She got a job and doesn't have much time now to see us and what not but that's okay. We still love her and her testimony is so strong. I wish we could get her to come to church!!

Last District Meeting Before Transfers

Wednesday we found a new investigator for the first time in two weeks... so that was refreshing. She is an African mommy of 4 and is a little skeptical of this whole Mormon guy (Joseph Smith) but she wants to follow the way of Christ. She lives like infinitely far away so that doesn't help. We taught Hayate and Sofia on Wednesday as well. Hayate wasn't getting it and she ended up dropping us yesterday... but Sofia on the other hand was totally uplifted by the member that we brought with us. She said shed start to read now and really pray to know its true. She has so much going on, but she really wants her new born to be on the right path.

Hayate and Sofia

This week was just fun. We were busy and it was good. We visited LOADS of less:nonactives. One of the members in the ward has two normal kids and two handicapped kids and she is awesome, from Oregon actually so that explains lots. She called us this week and invited us over. When we got there she was asking her kids if they knew why she invited the missionaries over... she said to prepare them to act as if Christ was at the table. She also said that during conference she felt that the prophets were speaking to her when they said to open up their homes to our friends and the missionaries... but because of her autistic children; she is embarrassed to invite people over. So she decided that every week she was going to have us over so that her kids can learn how to act when the missionaries come and eventually she is going to start inviting friends and our friends. Well also we ended up getting talking to her and she is a crazy good member missionary. She has like three families that she's working with and were sure going to help her! Ha, believe us. I thought it was so cool how she took the prophet's council to heart and STARTED ACTING, even if she couldn't do all of it at once, she starting to take steps. I am really grateful for her example and want to be like her.

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Katia, a Less Active Member, and Her Son

Then on Friday we went to drinks with a member and her friend. It was so natural and easy as we invited her to meet with us to come to church. Ha, she just kept saying yes, yes! And then she came to church and just loved it and she texted US after and just thanked us. She is a 25 year old Russian who is so so cute and looks a lot like me. not that I am cute but she has my hair color and my huge cheeks and face shape..; that was actually the reason why the member thought of her, because I looked like her. 

Friday was also the ward "Trunk or Treat" party which was a hit. Tons of people came, less actives, non actives, and investigators. It was way fun and Sister Denning and I dressed up as missionaries from the 90's, since we aren't allowed to really dress up, with all the old missionary clothes that we found under our bed that the old missionaries left. that was fun. We also made baby cup o' dirts for everyone with chocolate pudding; crushed up Oreos, and worms. We were the hit of the party for sure.  You'd be proud to know i only ate one piece of candy at the party. ya... I'm improving ha thank you very much.

Sister Denning and I Dressed as Missionaries from the 90s

Sunday was soooo cool. it was the primary program and the chapel was PACKED! Litterally. Good thing two of the bigger families in our ward were out of town because they wouldnt have fit. The program was so cute and multi lingual. I definitely cried. Their spirits are so sweet. I cant wait to have my own family. One day right? Ha, so we had five investigators at church which was great. They all loved it. Adele, who has the baptism date just really soaked it all in

Well then life kinda crashed... well it did on a Sunday morning. Long story short, I ended up being chastened infront of all the missionaries and church leaders by the Stake President for a big misunderstanding. It wasnt fun, and it was so hard to just sit there and be humble and take it. It was a good learning experience for me. It was sad to end such an amazing week on such a low, but we live and we learn and we keep going on the ride of the mission.

So Sister Denning and I are staying here in Luxembourg for another transfer!!  We're happy. Ha we like each other. Wellllll, I think that's all folks! love you and can't wait to hear from you next week!! 

LOVE ME