desafios, milagros, y comida

This week was really eventful!!!!! also I just feel motivated to write more. haha most preparation days it is so hard to remember what happened that week! But I am going to try today! 

First of all, one of the hermanas in our ward told on us to our ward mission leader because we apparently did not do enough to talk to a lady at church. I dont know. it was this less active that just came to church for a food order and didn't even want to talk to us. Anyway we had to go apologize to the Hermana who told on us. And when we were there, basically the Hermana was telling us how to be missionaries ahhahaha. Which was kinda whack but we just took it!

Also our ward had a trunk or treat this past week!!! It would have been super fun! If it had started on time. Haha it started over an hour and a half late (becuase we are on hispanic time) and one of our friends that we invited with all his kids came multiple times and since hardly anyone was there he just kept leaving. which we didn't even know he had come multiple times, till the damage was done and he didn't want to come at all. And we were supposed to have a lesson with him after the activity but that fell through and he acts like hes not mad at us but he also is kind of avoiding us. So that was not fun. Hopefully all is well between him and us but we will see haha. 

BUT on the blessings side of things. We taught Gabriel the Word of Wisdom and he is down to live it!!! He hasn't had coffee or beer since the lesson (as far as we know haha) Both of which he drank before. 

Also we found a new family to teach and they are great. Also we talked to two less active families (one is a single mom and the other her husband is not supportive/member). They were both so so sweet and I think they are ready to come back to churc h they just need a LOT of support right now. 

Some miscellaneous funny things. 

Oaxacans love mole. It's basically a sauce of every random thing in the kitchen you can think of. The signature ingredient is cocoa powder. They also put in bananas, almonds, toasted bread, and honestly so many random things but it somehow tastes nothing like any of those ingredients haha. They put it in everything. We have had it traditional style (chicken smothered in mole with rice, beans, and tortillas). Also one of the members made us tamales this week and one of the kinds she made was mole (they were soooooooo good). And they also use it like a salsa in pazole (which we are also starting to get a lot lately and I love it). We were teaching our friend Gabriel the other day and trying to use a comparison in teaching with his favorite dulce and he said he didn't really have one. He's more into Mole hahahha. He said Mole is his favorite food and I think that perfectly sums up Oaxacan's love for Mole. 

Speaking of food. The hermana that made us tamales also made us chocoflan for desert, which was awesome!!!! GET THIS! You put the cake part in the pan first and then the flan part on top, and in the oven, THEY SWITCH PLACES!!!! It's that WILD?! Anyway we had to take it to go, so we left their house and within the time of walking from their door to our car with our chocoflan in our hands, two cars drove by commenting on our cake. Haha if I knew all it took was carrying around a plate with cake on it to get people to talk to us, I would have changed up my proselyting tactics months ago!!!! 

Biked this week so that was fun. Honestly like 5 things went wrong. First of all, my bike doesnt even have a kickstand so that was annoying, my chain fell off (easy fix though), I'm too short for my bike. AHha but other than that I actually really fun!!! It is great weather here right now. 

Sadly I saw a cat get hit by a car last night... It was like seizing and then it died.. It was so sad. There are stray animals EVERYWHERE!!!! ANd some of them aren't even stray they just don't stay at home. 

I think that about sums up my week. I know I am missing some details but you get the gist

I love you all!!!!

(Pics: we got a bunch of pomegranates this past week I LOVVVVEEEEE it. And I wore Halloween socks to trunk or treat!) 

Mission Life

This week was full of funny and sweet moments. 

Last Monday we were in a lesson with Gabriel and he was shocked to find out that I am 19 because he thought I was 15 hahaha. 

Tuesday we were in the park and started talking to two guys playing basketball. One of them is a member, but doesn't go to church much anymore. This was our second time running into him and he kept telling us he had been thinking he needed to go back but just still hadn't. So I made a bet with him that if I made a 3 pointer than he would have to go to church. Ladies and Gentleman it was nothing but net. And we ended up visiting his parents last night who also haven't been to church in a while and they said he went!!! I don't know if it was the shot that did it or the spirit but I'm so glad he went!

Wednesday we had dinner with our friends Claudia and Carlos!!! They are from Guerrero, Mexico so Claudia made us Enchiladas Guerrero style. They were yuummmmmm. 

Saturday we had a lesson with Gabriel and at the end of all our lessons we have been asking him to pray but he hasn't felt comfortable. This lesson, we talked to him more about it, tried assuring him that it doesn't have to be perfect, and he did it!!!! It was so sweet because it was his first prayer ever out loud!!! And it was awesome! 

Being a missionary is super hard, super tiring, and embarrassing sometimes (especially when trying to learn a new language). But it is also so so fun, and all worth it when I get to see people grow their faith in Jesus Christ!!

One transfer done and dusted

Welp one transfer down!! (1 transfer = 6 weeks). It seems like I just got to California haha. Man the next 16 ish months are going to fly by!!!

One of our friends that we met a couple weeks ago, Gabriel, came to church this week! He's like mid-late twenties. He just got here from Oaxaca, Mexico about 4 months ago. He's really cool! I think he really wants to know more!! I'm super excited to keep teaching him and helping him develop a stronger faith in Christ and learn how to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ into his life! 

We are still teaching our friends Claudia and Carlos. They are the sweetest! They want to have us over for dinner because they feel bad that they never feed us when we come over, haha. 

Life is good here in Madera, California!!! We do so much every day, but when it comes time to sit down and write about it, I can hardly think of anything to say haha!!! 

But I just want you all to know how much a appreciate your support! I love being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know that the same gospel and authority that Christ established while He was on the earth has been restored through Joseph Smith. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that I am a child of God, that God has a plan for me, and that part of that plan was to come to Earth to learn and grow. Most importantly, that despite all the trials and tribulations of the world, I can find peace and Christ and the knowledge that I will be able to live with my family for eternity. I know that is the same for us all!!! I love the Book of Mormon and know that just like the Bible, it testifies of Jesus Christ. Y'all should read it 

I hope you all have a great week!!! I love you all. 

Pictures: 

All us Missionaries serving in the Madera 3rd ward!!!!! Woop woop! 

All the fruit people give us!!!!! (it is almost pomegranate season my friends) 

The missionaries in my district! (some of them are being transferred to a different area)  

Making tortillas with members

I love burritos!!! 

Making tortillas with members (part 2) 

 

Las uvas y los chinches

Well friends... You will never guess. This week, the chinches (bed bugs) came back. Well I guess they wouldn't have ever left haha. We were in the clear for like 4 days before I started getting bites again so it was crazy but they must have just needed time to build back up. This time I guess I had like an allergic reaction so the bites broke out into hives. Was not super fun, but I went to a dermatologist and he is having me take claratin, zertec, and zantac (and I normally never take medicine) so I should be on the mend pretty soon haha. Also my mission president is determined not to let us move back in until we are sure they are gone. He said him and his wife are going to go over the apartment with a black light before we can move back in haha. They are so sweet and care for us so dearly!!! I love them! 

But the good news is.. because it is harvest season, and because everyone and their mom works in the fields (literally), we had multiple people give us grapes so I think we got 3 bags total within a 2 day span. I have had grapes with breakfast most days this week, and for a snack every day. I love it. 

This week was filled with tender mercies. One night a lot of our appointments fell through, so we decided to pick a neighborhood to start knocking doors on. It's kinda hard to just pick a spot (especially because I am so indecisive) so we decided to say a little pray to get some help on knowing where to go. My companion said she was feeling a certain street and I was feeling a certain area so we went where the two overlapped! As we got there, the first 5 houses we tried each one someone was home, AND talked to us, AND accepted a little pamphlet so they could read more, AND said we could come back!!! Guys that is not common. It was 100% a miracle. God really does have people prepared to hear our message!!! We just have to work to find them. 

It's great to be a missionary. It's great to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's great to know that we can be a little bit better everyday because of the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ! It's great to have a prophet on the earth to day to lead and guide us as he receives revelation from God. 

I encourage you all the watch General Conference this weekend! For my friends who are not familiar with General Conference. It is an awesome opportunity that we get twice a year to hear talks/testimonies from appointed members of our church, including the prophet. There are multiple sessions Saturday and Sunday that are broadcasted and can be watched from our local church building or online at lds.org! (for my east coast people that's 12am-2pm and 4pm-6pm sat and sun. As well as a women's broadcast saturday night 8-10pm I believe). I know that these people have searched, pondered, and prayed about the messages they are going to share. I know their messages will truly be able to bless our lives if we listen to them and apply their council!!!!!!! 

Have a great week friends!!!!

Pictures: A few pictures in there of my hives from the bed bug bites. I don't know if it truly does it justice, but you get the jist. 

Not only are there stray cats and dogs here, but there are also stray chickens

A man walking his child on a horse/pony

Hermana Hernandez, one of the members of the ward, is the cutest and makes these cute crochet dress, hand towels for her kitchen!!!

Two funny signs at houses we saw this week 

Me and Hermana Malmstrom with our uvas!!!

And all of us missionaries that are serving in the Madera 3rd ward!!