December 9, 2013

Hola!

Solvang.  I haven't been around so many white people for a long time!!  I hadnt been to church in Enlish since I gave my farewell talk!!  It was so crazy!!  Solvang covers a few little towns surrounding it as well.  Hermana Howell and I, we cover the northern part of Solvang, and then Buellton.  There is only one ward that meets here.  It is much different here than Oxnard.  Oxnard is known as little Mexico...and here in Solvang, it's like a Dutch village!  MUCH different.  I've eaten dinner in mansions....I never imagined this!  I'm not used to teaching in English either.  We are looking for Spanish work here, we are working on starting a Spanish unit here.  Hopefully that can happen soon.  

Let's see....we have gotten lost SO many times!!  It's so funny, we work in the smallest little towns...but we get lost haha.  This ward though...Oh my goodness.  I am honored to serve in such an amazing ward!  We get dinner every night.  We get members to come out on lessons with us all the time.  Many of the members bring us the investigators!!  I went to ward council for the first time since I've been on my mision.  And our bishop said, "I feel like we as a ward are failing when we hear that you are knocking on doors.  That needs to stop.  It is our job to provide the investigators."  The thing is, we never knock doors here!! :D  IT's amazing!  I met atleast 10 members before we even came to church yesterday.  This ward is fantastic.  THe people are great too.

I love Solvang.  It's VERY different.  But I love it.  I guess Solvang brings over 3 millions tourists every year....let me tell you!!  I NEED to come back here again as a tourist.  IT is such a fun place!!  But as amissionary I need to work!!  I am coming back!  hahaha.  

It's freezing here.  It's been in the 40's and 30's....I need gloves.  Haha.  I love it though..

My companion is from Virginia.  She has been out for about 8 months.  (As long as Hermana Corniea...in fact they were in the MTC together).  It's always an odd start getting a new companion.  I think we are still trying to get to know each other a bit better.  She is very different from me.  She is SO smart!  She KNOWS her scriptures very well.  She knows Spanish too.  She really relates to people well.  

That's about all I've got for y'all!!  

Have a great week!!  Enjoy this season of Christ.  He is the center of this season...It's Him.  Not Christmas.  I really enjoyed the Christmas devotional from the 1st Presidency last night!  If y'all didn't watch it, WATCH IT. :)

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu

December 2, 2013

Oh man!  I love them so much.  Thank you.  Hey Owen!!

 

Hola familia y amigos,

 

This week was crazy!!  It was fantastic!!!!!  Besides the fact that all of our lessons fell through except 2.  (We had like 15-20 lessons planned...).  We saw many, MANY miracles!!  There were just many instances where we were in the right place at the right time.  It was cool. 

 

We were on our way home to eat dinner.  We decided to get gas (We didn't have a clue why, other than the fact that the next day was Sunday...but we had enough gas...it was weird.).  We were at the pump and some man walked up to us and started asking us about our Ford Fusion.  Then we told him who we were (missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of...)  And he said, "What happens after we die?"  You can imagine how this went on.  We left him with a mormon.org card because he wasn't from around here.  He commited to contacting missionaries and going to the website.  We truly feel he will do it.

 

Another.  We had met this man named Juan....a few months ago.  But we couldn't ever find him after an appointment had fallen through (because of lack of planning on our part...it was FRUSTERATING).  We decided to go visit a woman that is not progressing at all...not really ready to be taught just yet.  but on the way to her house Juan walked up to us.  We found him!!  HE FOUND US actually!!  We talked with him.  It was cool

 

There were many many more!!  But I don't have time!!  I guess I should tell you..........I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED.  I'm kind of freaking out...but not at the same time!  I am getting moved to Solvang (Tell Dianna Smith...she really wanted me to go to Solvang and I know she would love to hear that I'm going!).  My new companion's name is Hermana Howell.  I will meet her tomorrow.  I have been packing today.  Packing stinks.  I just think of all the people that are here.  Oxnard is all I know.  I love the people here.  Most of all....as much as I struggle with Spanish, I love teaching in Spanish.  Solvang is English.  We are supposed to be looking for Spanish work....but it's ENGLISH.  We are supposed to work on getting a Spanish unit up there.  Also, Hermana Howell and I are white washing in.  Which means that we are both NEW to the area.  I am the driver....so this'll be interesting.  Haha.  Hermana Howell has been out a while.  I am excited to meet her.  I am just really afraid of forgetting my Spanish.  But I know that I am supposed to be in Solvang now.  I expected to leave...but It makes me so sad.  I just keep thinking, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord."  Isn't that a common theme as a missionary? 

 

Oxnard has treated me very well.  I know this will be a place I come back to.  I love the people here so much.  I have loved the areas I proselyted in.  I love the missionaries I worked with.  I am getting a fresh start.  A clean slate.  ....going to church in English will be odd....but it's OKAY!! :)  Bring it on!!  I love this work.  I learn so much...I think I've said this before, but I feel like the biggest convert I've seen on my mission so far is myself.  Funny how that works, huh?  I know that the message that we as missionaries teach is true.  It's amazing.  This work is fantastic.  I love it!! 

 

I love you all.  Sorry for not writing more!!

 

Love you!!

 

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu

November 25, 2013

I am sorry!!  This letter might be a bit short, I spent most of my time writing President Castro.

 

This week was fantastic!  We have SOO many golden people we are teaching!!  I am really wondering what will be in store for me next transfer.  (A week from now I will know what happens to me!)  Yes.  I am in the last week of this transfer...ALREADY!!??  I can't believe it!!

 

Okay, zone conference.  AMAZING.  I loved it so much.  Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 was the theme.  We focused on "sharpening our sickles."  Which is quite important, I might add!  :)  Never let it get dull. 

 

My companions and I have been singing a ton...We sang for President and Sister Castro.  And all the Sister Training Leaders, and the Assisstents to the Presdient....We don't sound too bad!  Hhaha, you know me, I love to harmonize.  We are a fine trio (don't worry though....Kristen, Holly, and Charlee!  Y'all are WAY better :)  And you always will be!)  We are going to sing for the special Christmas program our mission does...so that's pretty exciting!!  We sang at a beautiful baptism a few days ago.  Baptisms are amazing. 

 

How is everyone's assignment going?  Anyone thought of a family/friend to give a Book of Mormon to??  :) 

 

Happy Birthday Ollie!!  You are such an old man!!  You're a DAD!!!  WOW!!!   Weird.... :)  Be expecting something...hopefullly that adress you gave me is correct this time!

 

Happy Birthday Mom!!!  You also should be expecting something :)  I love you mom, you helped me get out here.  I think of you a lot.  And this sunday I will be thinking of you!  I love you!!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  We are going to eat with La familia de Vero.  They asked us about 3 weeks ago!  Haha they beat the rush, apparently everyone wants missionaries over for Thanksgiving...

 

I hope that I am still here in Oxnard, we have baptisms coming up next transfer.  But if I'm not here, then that's what is meant to be.  I will let you know in a week!! :)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!! 

 

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu

 

P.S.  Hey.  Owen. Olson.  Donde esta mis cartas?!  ;)

November 18, 2013

Hola familia y amigos,

This was a good week.  So so so s so so many miracles.  I am all about miracles, there are seriously always miracles.  Always look for the miracles everyday.  They are always there, you just need to be watching.  

I love the Book of Mormon!  I love it so much!  And I love sharing it with others.  It really is the greatest tool in conversion.  The first thing we teach people about when we meet them is the Book of Mormon, and we have started reading 3 Nephi 11:10-11 with them.  A lot of the time they are a little nervous about us reading scriptures from it, but after we finish reading to them the words of Jesus Christ they feel something.  We have heard people say, "Wow.  That is beautiful." or "I've heard this before, someone has read this to me before." and we will testify of the truthfulness of it and they agree.  Most people agree that it is the word of God.  

I invite you all to pray about someone/a family that you can give the Book of Mormon to for Christmas.  It is one of the greatest gifts.  I don't think I would have ever done it before my mission...but that is because I didn't have the strongest testimony of it.  So if you are too nervous, then study it.  Read it.  And obtain a testimony of it.  And then you will want to share it.  That is actually how my mission president got baptized.  He was given a Book of Mormon.  It's amazing.  I love it.

I don't have much time.  Sorry about that.  But I am thankful for the prayers and the thoughts.  I love the letters, thank you to those of you who send me letters.  I love it here in California.  I love being a missionary.  Have a fantastic week. 

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu

P.S.  For those of you who still call me "Alex" ...It creeps me out...So I'd love it if that would not continue...hahaha My name is Hermana Ah Mu.  I am a missionary.  So please!  Call me "Hermana Ah Mu"  (I work hard to be an Hermana....)

November 11, 2013

Hola!!

 

How is everything?? 

 

I've had a great week!!  I have learned that I snore.  A lot.  My poor companions.  But hey!  I'm just happy that I am finally getting sleep!!  My first two transfers I could never sleep no matter how exausted I was.  So this is awesome.  I lay down and I am gone.  It's great. 

 

Mom!  I got the blue and white skirt!!  Are you sending multiple?  I didn't understand?

 

Here's something funny, there is a little boy in our ward.  His name is Benjamin.  I love him!!  He is 4, and he always tries to hug me.  I met him in Primary (I haven't been able to get away from primary...I love it!!  And they need help teaching and playing piano).  But anyway, yesterday I saw him and I said, "Hey Benjamin!!  How are you?"  You wouldn't believe what he said...He replied, "Hey beautiful!"  And he WINKED at me!!  Hahahahahaaaa. 

 

We had the Primary Program yesterday!  It went so well.  I played piano.  Hermana Hardy conducted.  And Hermana Player held up the signs with lyrics on them.  I have been told multiple times that I am a future Primary president....let's hope that doesn't happen for a long, long time!!  Too stressful!!  Sister McKee, you are a strong woman hahaha It's hard!!!

 

We teach a homeless man, he is less active.  So we have to go looking for him if we want to teach him.  And we randomly run into him.  But anyway, last night we ran into him and he said, "Hey, I wanted to give this to you."  He handed me a brand new wallet.  I had to ask him where he got it...I never want to take anything that is "borrowed"  but it was brand new and he said he got it from his cousin.  He is so nice.  I met him my first transfer.  He calls us angels, I always tell him that we are missionaries!!  But he insists that we are angels too.  hahaha.  

 

I had the wonderful opportunity to go out with Sister Castro this week!  It was probably one of my favorite things that I've been able to do on my mission!  She is the ultimate missionary, and she's just so great.  But I felt so lucky to work with her.  She taught me a ton.  We made a goal to do 10 declarations and 2 lessons.  We had a lesson with a man, Beto, right when she got here.  We went looking for Beto at his house, but someone else opened the door, Maria.  She told us Beto wasn't there and so we started teaching her.  Sister Castro just whipped out the Book of Mormon and had her read from 3 Nephi 11.   Maria said that maybe Beto was home, so she went and grabbed him.  Then we talked with both of them.  I loved how easy it was for Sister Castro to relate to them.  We found out a lot about Beto and Maria.  And it was really cool because Maria didn't seem all that interested, but right after she read some of the Book of Mormon she listened and then grabbed her husband to listen as well.  It was so neat!  Right there I realized how great it can be to read straight from the Book of Mormon in declarations!  We have been doing that ever since then, and it gets people listening because it is in fact the word of God.  It's so cool.  Sister Castro and I did a lot of finding.  We met lots of people, I really enjoyed it.  She helped me be more confident in speaking.  I loved how she didn't even acknowledge that we were speaking Spanish.  She didn't tell me I was doing well or comment on how bad my Spanish was.  Sister Castro had never gone out with Spanish sisters before, and she said she never went out finding, she only went to lessons.  She loved coming out and teaching in Spanish (Spanish is her first language).  It was funny because it was actually my idea to see if she could come...I didn't know if it would be I guess...appropriate to ask the mission President's wife to come out with us.  But I called her anyway.  She was SO happy and thankful.  While we were out walking and finding she asked, "So...who's idea was it to ask me to come out and work anyway?"  I laughed and said, "Mine!!"  She says, "Hahaha...I had a thought that it was probably you!"  She has a great memory, some how she remembered that this was only my 3rd transfer...I have no idea how she keeps track.  But anyway, We did reach our goal!  It was cool.  Sister Castro is awesome!!  We hope that she can come out with us again. 

 

I'm doing so great.  So much better than I was at the beginning of this transfer.  I love my companions.  I love Oxnard.  I love being a missionary!!!  I love this work.  Have a great week y'all!!

 

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu

 

P.S.  I did hear from Sharree that Charlee got her call...but Sharree refused to tell me!!  And now I haven't heard from Charlee yet...But THANK YOU for telling me!!  I'm happy to finally be finding out where she is going!!  Tell her I love her so much!!  And to write me ASAP!!!  Por Favor!!!  Gracias!!!

Hermana Bartschi and I

What a week!

November 4, 2013

This was a good week.  Very good week.  It was also probably the hardest week I have had so far. 

We had exchanges with Hermana Coleman and Hermana Linford.  Hermana Hardy and I went with Hermana Coleman.  I had a really hard time that day.  I felt so out of place.  I know I let myself get very discouraged about everything, so that didn't really help.  It was just hard to work with two other people (instead of just one) that really know Spanish.  I wanted to cry all day.  It was the hardest day of my mission, silly right?!  During the exchange review I really figured out I just needed to get over it, and stop being selfish.  Because this isn't about me.  Hermana Coleman helped me to make the goal to talk to EVERYONE.  And to speak up.  That's always my goal, but this week after exchanges I REALLY put it into action.  The day of exchanges was hard, it's hard to work in three's, but I really learned that it's best to just to get over it.  And talk to everyone, to "invite everyone to the party" as Hermana Coleman put it.  Because this gospel is available to everyone, any time.  And not everyone will want to accept it right now, but atleast they know they're invited.  And this is better than a party.  But when it's all said and done...I like my trio.  Hermana Player and Hermana Hardy.  We are what's best for each other, and I never want to go on exchanges in a trio...hahaha ever.  But if I do, I will know what to expect now.

We had a miracle that day, we ran into a woman that Hermana Coleman and Hermana Corniea had run into last exchange.  We talked to her and taught her the Restoration!  She asked amazing questions.  She committed to reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it.  It was so cool.  At the end she was crying and asked us, "Why do you glow?  I just see this glow about you, and you're happy.  It almost makes me mad because I want to glow like that."  We told her about the Holy Ghost.  It was pretty neat.  She is ready and prepared for the gospel. 

At the beginning of that day we had exchanges we all decided to pray that we would be able to find 5 new investigators.  So all 5 of us prayed all day for this specific miracle.  By the end of exchanges we each got two, so we still had to find one more!  We had about 45 mins left to work, we kept praying that we would be able to find 1 more.  The last house we were at we found one more new.  It was a miracle, and we are thankful that we were able to really put our faith into action.  It would have been easy to give up, but we didn't.  I love praying for those specific miracles.  There are miracles everyday, we just need to slow down and look for them. 

We had visited with a less active.  His name is Sal.  He is homeless, he is really hard to find and we hadn't been able to find him for about 2 or 3 weeks.  We just decided to go check this house he does laundry at and he was there!  Turned out he really needed us there to pray with him, and he gave us a refferal out of no where!  He said he knew this person needed lots of help and could use the gospel in her life.  The referral's name Denise. 

We went looking at Denise's house right after we talked with Sal.  Turned out no one was home.  Then 2 days later we tried again.  An elderly man opened the door.  We asked if Denise was home, he said no Denise lives there.  We decided to give him a Book of Mormon card and explain to him the Book of Mormon.  Time went by, I felt we had been there longer than we usually are for declarations and such, but turned out that someone drove up.  We asked this man, Fransisco, who it was.  He said it was Denise!  She walked up and we told her who we were and that Sal had told us to come.  She had us come in and we just started teaching!  We taught the beginning of the Restoration, but a lot of how to begin teaching.  The lesson went beautifully, especially the fact that Denise asked us if it would be alright if we came and taught her, from the beginning I might add.  So that was pretty cool.  Denise is in fact prepared and ready for this gospel in her life.  She cried a bit.  She described the Holy Ghost when she would explain the reason behind her crying.  It was amazing.  Golden referral.  Just golden.  We are excited to see where this goes.  

My goals this transfer are to talk to everyone and speak up, to rely  on our Heavenly Father when I speak, because I need tons of help with my Spanish.  I have already seen how these goals are helping me, I love it. 

This is a transfer of growth for me.  Lots of growth.  I am so happy, I love this glorious work.  It's just glorious.  I was bummed to miss the wedding and baby blessing.  But, this is all worth it, I wouldn't want to be any where but here on my mission.  This will be a great week, I know it!  We are getting so much work done!!  SO MUCH!!  Oxnard is hoppin!!  I love it!!!  I love Camarillo too.  We are going on splits with Sister Castro (President's wife) this week!! :D  I'm so excited, she is so awesome.  

 

Thanks for all the support and prayers, I feel it.  And I need it :)  It's great, thank you.  Ollie and Ashley, did you get my card?  Isn't it just the cutest thing you've ever seen?  (Kinda like Katie, ;) right?)  Mom and Dad, I wrote a letter to you and to Auntie Dida...don't know her address though, so if you could get that to her?

 

I hope everyone got home safely from their travels.  Have a fantastic week.  Look for miracles..

 

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu 

10/28/2013

Hola Familia y amigos,

 

This was a pretty great week!!  My new companions!  They are awesome.  I really think I am going to grow a TON this transfer.  I have already seen that being in a trio is a lot different-HARD.  I can see why people think it is difficult.  But we have started out pretty well this transfer.  I feel like we are figuring out things and how to work together rather quickly.  So it'sthat's good. Hermana Hardy is very energetic.  I can tell she loves the scriptures.  I love her insights.  Hermana Player!!  This is her first transfer out in the feild.  She is doing FANTASTIC.  She knows more than I knew when I got here.  She already speaks so much better than me, I am learning a lot from her during studies.  I really look up to her.  She is going to do so well here in the California Ventura Mission. 

We are teaching some pretty amazing people.  This week we taught Lourdes (not sure on the spelling yet).  She was a member referral.  Hermana Corniea and I found her.  Hermana Hardy and Hermana Player and I taught her this week.  We taught the Restoration and really focused on how she can find these things to be true through reading the Book of Mormon.  Her daughter Yolanda, joined in on the lesson in the middle.  They both commited to reading and studying the Book of Mormon, then also praying to know if this message that we share is true.  It was so cool.  We ended with a kneeling prayer and the whole family wanted to join in. 

Saturday.  That was a miraculous day.  We pray for a specific miracle to happen everyday.  Saturday, our miracle that we wanted to pray for was to have 4 lessons.  So we prayed that that would happen all day.  Turned out we taught 8 lessons!  We got 12 declarations, and 2 new investigators.  It was so exciting!  We were so happy.  It was so neat, we were able to talk with and meet so many people that day. 

Sunday, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting (since it was the 4th Sunday).  I spoke on how I prepared for my mission, how others can prepare, and how members can do missionary work.  It only reminded me of how bad I am at Spanish.  I seriously don't know any Spanish.  I am trying so hard to get it.  But I am just slow when it comes to languages...It is very easy to compare myself to others.  I was thankful for the opportunity to speak though, I'm trying so hard and that's really all I can do.  I pray that I may be able to understand and speak more everyday.  But I don't have much luck most of the time.

That's about it for last week. I am excited for this week.  We have Hermana Coleman and Hermana Linford coming.  We always love having the training sisters come.  I learn so much from them.  I really look up to them. 

I have really been focusing on the Christlike Attribute, patience.  I am trying to study it often because I know it is something that I need right now.  I also feel that I need to have more charity and love for everyone.  I know that I have such a love for the people here, but I want to make sure I have that same love for all those I serve along side with. I love the Christlike Attributes.  I am also trying to be the best companion, and missionary I can be.  I really want to do better.  I know there are always things I can improve on.  I always want to find things that I can make better.  I can tell that this transfer will be one full of growth.  Being in a trio isn't the easiest thing.  I have never wanted to cry so badly until this transfer.  ButI know that I am here right now with my companions for a reason.  I love them, they are teaching me a ton.  And I know I will be thankful for all my trialsone day.  I usually do find myself thankful for the trials I have had in the past.  There are some nights that I find myself very close to our dear Heavenly Father.  That's all I could ask for.  I know that He loves us.  He is always there in our times of need, we just need to be worthy, humble, and willing to accept His will.

 

I'm thankful for this opportunity I have to be here on a mission.  I love it.  I have loved EVERY minute of it.  I have seen things here that let me know that I (Hermana Ah Mu) am supposed to be here.  I am here for specific people, I have something to offer that others can't.  I have seen myself testifying or telling a story about my past and it helps people.  I am called of God, He wants me here.  I love it.  I love being a missionary, It kind of scares me how fast time goes by though!  This is my purpose in life, can't I just be a missionary for the rest of my life?  And no, I mean a MISSIONARY, like wear my tag everyday.  Haha, seriously though I love it.  This gospel is glorious.  People think we just believe in it because it just makes us feel good.  NOPE.  That's not the only reason why.  People say that it's unbelievable and to wishy washy...but seriously what's wishy washy about eternal families?  About the Plan of Salvation?  The Book of Mormon?  Of course it makes us feel good, people don't believe it because in this world today it's hard for people to have that hope and desire.  It sounds too good to be true, but that's HEavenly Father.  He makes all things possible, and OF COURSE he wants us to be with our families forever.  Of course.  It's amazing. 

 

I love you all.  Thanks for the prayers...I need them all the time :)

 

Love,

 

Hermana Ah Mu

TRANSFERS

Hola! Como esta??

 

We had a good week.  We always feel like we do so much, but not enough!  There is so much to be done, and we don't ever get it all done haha. 

We had an appointment with this woman named Aliza.  She is pretty great, she is elderly.  Her husband is very sick.  And we know that this gospel would really help her get through it all.  I think I met her the first week I got here, and then she went to Mexico for a while.  We have finally regained contact with her, to a certain extent.  She will let us come in, we have great lessons with her, and then we'll schedule an appointment with her.  And she won't be home for the appointment.  We aren't really too sure why.  But we are just persistent. 

We met with Maria.  She is very Catholic, but she has been reading and studying the Book of Mormon.  She loves it, she says it is true.  We kept going over the Restoration with her, she loves it all.  But then we invite her to baptism and she doesn't accept, she says she will never be baptized.  It's interesting, but we don't want to give up on her. 

We met with an investigator name Manuel.  He is actually Gilberto's brother (an investigator we handed off to the zone leaders).  We teach an English class every week, but our appointment was just before the class.  We had been running late, and we were walking up to the door of Manuel.  Hermana Corniea says, "Hermana.  We can't have a lesson, we are going to be late to the English class."  I felt very strongly that we HAD to stay and have a lesson if he was home.  Manuel was in fact home, and so we did have a lesson with him.  It was miraculous actually.  We sat down, the TV was on, it was rather crazy really.  Lots of people and I just knew that what was on TV was not good just by the sounds, I refused to look.  I am glad I refused, I was actually thinking to myself, "Ugh, maybe I was wrong to think we should come in here and do a lesson..."  Because the spirit could not make it's way into that room.  (Those brief moments without the spirit make me sick and feel alone.  It's crazy how receptive we are to the spirit, and how quickly it can be gone.  I never want the Holy Ghost to leave because of my personal decisions, ever).  But Manuel automatically asked them to turn it off.  After they turned it off he told them, "Hey, listen to the word of God with me."  They ignored and left.  But just within seconds it went from craziness to silent peace.  The environment was inviting of the spirit, that is always important!!  We told him that his brother was getting baptized, and that he should come.  He said okay.  Hermana Corniea started teaching the Restoration...but I just KNEW without a doubt that we needed to teach him the Gospel.  So I started teaching him the Gospel hahaha and he asked, "So what does someone have to do in order to be baptized?"  We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He said, "Hmm.  How long does it usually take for someone to be ready for baptism?"  "Well, it is different for every person."  "How long would it take me?"  "Well, we would have to teach you and see what happens."  "Yes, I have a lot to learn, but can I get baptized?"  "Yes, but we can help you.  How about we make a goal?"  He agreed!!  We set him with a date.  He pretty much asked us if he could be baptized.  It was amazing.  We said a prayer with him and left him with the Restoration pamphlet to read.  And we ended up being on time to our English class.  It was pretty amazing.  The spirit was there.  We are thankful that we were willing to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  So inspired!  Afterwards Hermana Corniea and I couldn't say anything all the way to the car.  And the first thing she said was, "Dang. I'm glad you made me agree to do a lesson with him tonight."  We were in awe.  It was awesome.  We are just so thankful to be able to help him, we know that he will be so happy.  I can already see him at church, and getting baptized!  He'd be sooo happy.

We had a pretty awesome Stake Conference.  I really really enjoyed both sessions.  The adult session was very, very good.  This stake!!  What an amazing stake it is!!  They are SO focused on missionary work, it is not even funny!  The first presidency actually sent out a letter to all stake presidents saying the adult sessions of stake conference must be focused on the hastening of the work.  It's pretty amazing.  I know that members and missionaries must work together as ONE.  Something that was said in the conference was, "Too often missionaries are looked at differently, like they are totally different than us."  Yes.  We are missionaries.  Yes we live without TV, music, movies, etc.  But we are members of the same church.  We are regular people.  And we do want to interact with members, we do want to work together!!  They really focused on inviting everyone to preach the gospel to their friends.  Both the Saturday night session and the Sunday session were ALL (literally ALLLLL) about member missionary work.  That's big.  Also, each family was invited to invite one person to come to church and take lessons from the missionaries.  It was cool.  I've said that in our stake there are 12 wards, right?  Well, every ward sets aside the 4th Sunday to be focused on la obra misional (missionary work!).  And as you all can see...Sunday is in fact the 4th Sunday.  I am speaking this Sunday in our ward.  This is my first talk in Spanish...I pray that I may be able to be understood and speak well.  Please pray for me.  It stresses me haha.  I'd rather give a talk in English, but I know this will help me. 

 

Also.  Transfers.  It has been a different sort of weekend.  Hermana Bollwinkel got her VISA to Argentina.  She is leaving Wednesday.  I am very happy and excited for her.  But I am pretty bummed too.  I love her.  She is an Hermana that lives with us, but serves in a dfferent ward.  She has been such an example to me.  I love her A TON.  Haha, she has kept me sane.  She and I wanna room together at BYU after our missions, she has the same expectations as to what a clean house and kitchen is as I have.  I like that.  Hhaha.  She is just!  AHH.  She is one of my best friends, she knows me and understands me.  She and I are opposites...but not.  I really believe we make friends that will last a LIFETIME while on missions.  Even though she is going to Argentina, I really believe she was here for this short time because Heavenly Father knew I would need her example.  I love her!!

 

Hermana Prestgard (Bollwinkey's comp.)  Is going to Solvang!!  (Tell sister Dianna Smith that I may possibly serve there one day, she'd been wondering about that).  That does mean She is moving from Spanish to English for a while, that will be hard.  But she will do FANTASTIC.  I have loved Hermana Prestgard, she was always there to provide ice cream, chocolate, and well you know, all my favorite guilty pleasures.  She is always striving to be so so obedient and she wants to be the best missionary she can be.  I love that.

 

Hermana Corniea.  She!!!!  Is leaving me for Paso Robles (Like 5 or 6 hours AWAY)  :C  I have really loved working with her.  I truly love her.  I do believe that if you don't love your companion then you're doing something wrong!  Things were perfect, but we learned how to work together and to do things together.  I love her, she always tried to be the companion I needed!!  But I knew she was, she taught me that being selfless really is important.  She has been VERYYYY patient with me.  I know I am not the easiest to live with, but she had the patience to bear my presence haha.  And I always knew she loved me and cared about my well bing.  She always wanted me to be the best that I could be.  I am thankful for the things she taught me.  I will remember her forever.

 

Now.  Me.  I am............................STAYING in Oxnard!!!  Yayyyyy!!!   I am in a trio starting tomorrow.  I am with Hermana Hardy (she has been out a while now, I think atleast 6 transfers?) and then she and I are training!!  I would much rather just say she's trianing me again...but that wouldn't be the truth.  Haha.  Being in a trio will be quite intersting...I never could have predicted that!  I am anxious to see how it goes, what they will be like.  I kinda wanna cry sometimes.  Haha, but oh well, that's what we girls do I guess...I know this is what Heavenly Father wants.  I know I am here for a reason.

 

I love being a missionary.  I can't say it enough.  Thanks for all the prayers.  I love you. 

 

Hermana Ah Mu

 

 

PS No skirts yet...hopefully soon mom.  Thank you so much I love you and the family so much.  Have a GREAT week.  I'll try to write y'all a letter. 

So this is what it feels like to be an aunt!!!!

October 14, 2013

Woohooo!!!!

 

What a great start to this PUSH WEEK we are about to have!!  I am an aunt!!! :D  The baby is ADORABLE.  Oh, and please, I have a suggestion concerning the name....Name her:  Alexandra Renee.... ;)  I mean who wouldn't wanna be named after their aunt?!

 

This is what I would have written to you last week:

We were very, very happy and excited to have the training sisters come this week! Hermana Bartschi and I had the opportunity to work together. I was so happy to work with her. She really helped me at the beginning during companionship study and language study. I found out some better techniques for studying Spanish. She and I had a goal to work on declarations, I have been wanting to do better on having quality declarations. She really helped me know how to do that. We discussed how a lot of declarations may only last maybe a minute, but it is still quite possible to bring the spirit. And also discerning what the person is in need of, and we are able to discern if we are spiritually in tune. So! We had the goal to have not just declarations, but quality declarations. And to talk to everyone we see. We had a blast, and we pretty much had lesson after lesson the entire day! I don't think we even had 10 minutes without talking to someone, or teaching a lesson. It was awesome! Hermana Bartschi really helped me to speak up. I was kind of quieter at the beginning, I was trying to figure out how she was teaching so I could know how to teach with her in unity. But by the end of the day I finally got it. She helped me really use what we studied in language study that morning. Hermana Bartschi really helped me a lot. She teaches with power! She asks very inspired and powerful questions. I like that. She is bold in everything she does, I love that! She bold, but not overbearing. At the end of the day, I made some goals. I want to speak up! I want to ask better questions. And I want to teach with power. Ever since then I have really been working on speaking more, and asking better questions. I am figuring out how to teach with power too. I loved working with Hermana Bartschi. She is an example to me. She really helped me emphasize how important the Book of Mormon is to investigators. I know that the exchange helped me know how to be a better missionary, and I will always remember it.  She and I sang hymns during every lesson too!  And there was one song, we were singing and I looked at the woman we were singing to, then at Hermana Bartschi.  We smiled so big, sang even louder!  I realized...I am on a mission.  I am helping so many people.  I am a missionary!!  I am preaching the gospel!!  I love this work.  It's a beautiful, glorious work.  None other like it really.

 

Hermana Corniea and Hermana Coleman set lots of people with a baptismal date when they were on exchanges!! How exciting that was. I haven't really met Rey and Esmeralda, but Carmen I do know. I know that they are ready. It's so exciting, this gospel with really help them. Hermana Corniea and I were able to set another investigator with a date. His name is Everardo. I have spoken about him before. He is the man that had a baptismal interview about a year ago, but didn't end up getting baptized because his wife said she'd divorce him if he was to be baptized. I totally understand him not wanting to risk losing his family, this gospel is centered on families. And Everardo loves his family. But this past Friday, we really felt that he could be set with a date for November 2. His wife and son were there with us. He said he is ready. That he will prepare for the 2nd. At the end we had a kneeling prayer with his family. It was very neat. We have a lesson with them on Thursday, we are excited to see what happens. We want to make sure his family is supportive and understanding of his decision to be baptized.

We are now seeing that the way we are ending this transfer is awesome. We had made a goal to always make sure we end our transfers well. Just in case we have to leave, we want to leave our area the way we would want to enter an area. We want there to be success because we would love to go to an area with people that are progressing and have dates.

General Conference was just so great. To me I saw a common theme: The importance of families in a world that downgrades families, and missionary work. All the talks were so good. I think that one of my favorite talks was by David M. McConkie. His talk was fantastic! I felt like everything he said would help me. It was all about missionary work and how to be successful! When I couldn't write fast enough to write down things that I liked, I realized I would just have to get the talk in print. It was an awesome talk. I loved what he said about how we need to remember teachers are students too, and teachers today are too focused on what technique they use in teaching rather than focusing on the needs of the students. I believe that same principle goes along with missionaries.  Elder Dalin H. Oaks!!!!!  WOW.  FANTASTIC.  I loved it!!  D. Todd Christofferson!!  Was it Charles? Dube!!!!  We need to stop looking back at what we have done, and look forward.  WOWWW!!!  You know, that goes along with sin.  We have sinned.  Lots.  But QUIT worrying about the old sins if you have repented of them!  You are going to keep sinning.  The best we can do is try our hardest!!  And that is all Heavenly Father expects of us as well.  Ahhh.  I need to stop, I will just start naming all of em!  But for real, who said we need to "look up"?  I can't wait to get the General Conference Ensign.  Which by the way...anyone, and I mean ANYONE have the Conference issue from May?!  I NEED IT!!!  Please, anyone I would love you forever if you could send it to me. 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a good week.  I really love it here in Oxnard!  The people are just so awesome!  Hermana Corniea and I are teaching some great, great people.  Full of potential.  We are hoping to have a few more people with a date this week. 

We teach a woman named Evangelia.  She is so, so great.  She is Catholic.  And she really wants an eternal family.  She has so many great questions too.  We learned this last week that she has a hard time reading and holding on to what she reads.   So we are really trying to read the Book of Mormon with her.  And we want to answer all of her questions and concerns, as much as we can of course.  The rest of it we tell her to turn to the Lord.  She really wants to know the truth, it was really cool to see how humble and teachable she is.  So willing to change as long as we help know why it is important to make changes. 

We also, as you know, were teaching Carmen!  She had a baptismal date for the 26 of October.  But the very first thing she told us when we walked into her house was, "About baptism.  I can't get baptized, I'm moving to Chicago on Tuesday.  But I want missionaries to come teach me there."  So we are sad that she is moving.  We had a fantastic lesson with her, we read the Book of Mormon with her.  We are just so happy to know that she wants missionaries to come visit her!!  What a great referral!  And she will be baptized one day, I know it.  She knows this gospel is true. 

We are teaching a man named Javier.  He is cool.  He told us he knows there is something different about us.  Hermana Corniea and I know it's the gospel, of course!  Haha, so we have been teaching him.  He is progressing very well!!  He does his reading and prays.  We know he has potential.  But sometimes we feel like he is a little too friendly.  He always wants to take us to get ice cream or dinner.  And the last few visits he's grabbed on of our shoulders multiple times.  We aren't really too sure what to do.  We don't know if maybe he is just a nice guy, or if we should see if the zone leaders can go teach him.

We are also teaching Everardo!  We had a FANTASTIC lesson with him and his Wife, Gabina.  And also one of their sons, Michael.  We watched the Testaments with them.  By the end of it, Gabina said, "Wow.  That is so beautiful, isn't it?"  We told her it is.  And that it is in fact true, that Jesus Christ did come to the Americas.  We commited all three of them to study 3 Nephi 11 together.  We are sooo excited.  They are also going to pray about it.  This gospel will be such a blessing in their lives.

We have really seen our work progressing!  This has been such an exciting transfer, especially the last two weeks.  Something the zone leaders asked us to do is spiritually create baptisms.  Ever since Hermana Corniea and I started doing that everyday before we left the house, we have seen a difference in the work.  That's when we got progressing investigators.  That's when we got people with baptismal dates, we see more potential in people.  I love it.  I know that it helps me help others. 

Hermana Corniea is doing great!  She is such a good example to me.  She is seriously constantly serving me!  She is so selfless.  I want to be more like that.  She has a lot of hope.  She teaches me what hope really is, not just by words, but by actions too.  She is so helpful with helping me feel good about my Spanish.  And she's really let me teach a lot more, which has been really helpful for me.  I taught the whole Restoration in Spanish!!  It was so cool.  I know this much Spanish because of Hermana Corniea.

I have really pushed myself since the exchanges with the training sisters.  I made a goal to speak more, and now I am.  I know it is important to open my mouth.  I never want to hold back just because I may not know Spanish as well as the other missionaries, the only way I can learn is by speaking it!  There's no time to hold back just because I might embaress myself, haha because that does happen.  I also memorized the 1st vision in Spanish (finally).  Hermana Bartschi helped me realize that it was in fact VERY important to know by heart. 

I have just got to say.  We have lots of people with baptismal dates....one of them is moving to Chicago, but if you would have gotten my email last week it would have been 4.  They are all so prepared and ready.  And this next week should bring a few more people who will have dates.  I am not about numbers though.  I don't like to name off numbers, these are people.  They are very special to me, they will never just be a number to me.  And if what I am expecting to happen this next transfer, I won't even be here for the baptisms.  I am just happy they are taking this great step to follow Jesus Christ.

 

So yeah, transfer calls will be Monday (Oct 21) morning.  So I will tell you what happens.  But our prediction is that we are both leaving.  The reason is because our area is hoppin, and this is how we want to leave an area.  I always want to leave an area the way I would want to come into one.  And Hermana Corniea and I are DEFINITELY ready to say this is how we want to leave an area.  Of course, I don't want to leave.  Oxnard is so great.  Everything is fantastic.  I love the people.  But I also know that I will love where ever I go because that is where I am supposed to be. 

 

I know this church is true, without ANY doubts.  I would be long gone if this wasn't true.  Not that I have even really had a hard time, it's just that I am not about wasting time.  Not one bit.  This is not a waste of time.  I have never felt myself grow more than I have these last few months.  I know that I am not the same person who entered the MTC.  I won't ever be the same.  I know this is all true.  I know the Book of Mormon IS in fact the word of God.  Every question I have had is answered in the Book of Mormon.  Seriously, try keeping a question in mind and read the Book of Mormon front to back.  You will get an answer, I have heard that promise time and time again from prophets and apostles.  This church is true my friends.  It is the same exact church Jesus Christ established on the earth during his ministry.  It's true.  So true.  I love it.  I am giving my life for it.  We don't have time to waste here, the second coming is near.  This is in fact the last days, we must prepare now.  We cannot be like the 5 foolish virgins, we must collect our oil now before it is too late.  And you can do that through this wonderful beautiful gospel.  I know it, if you ever doubt, remember what President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."  I love that. 

 

Have a great week, sorry I don't mean to blab, I just know what I know!!  I have a strong testimony of this gospel.  I love you all, I feel the prayers and support.  It means so much.

 

Hermana Ah Mu

 

Ps.  I mean it when you give your life and your all to the Lord...that includes our bodies.  I have gained many pounds.  Don't expect any pictures any time soon...

Great week

Sept 29, 2013

This was a pretty good week.  There is so much work to do, it's so great.  We have had many appointments not go through.  That's always a disappointment.  Again, we had multiple everyday this week.  But for some reason people forget or get busy.  I'm not sure why, but we will just keep visiting!  They need the gospel and they will be happier with it in their lives. 

We have an investigator, Carmen.  She is Gilberto's sister.  This week we watched the Testaments with her.  It went so well!  At the end the spirit is so strong.  She asked, "So.  You really believe Jesus Christ came here?"  We said yes of course!  And she asked us, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"  We said, "Exactly.  And that's why we are sharing it with you."  She is praying about baptism, she said she would come to church, but didn't come yesterday.  That was a bummer, but we will see what happened this Wednesday. 

We had the General Relief Society Broadcast!  It was so awesome.  I really, really enjoyed it.  I loved how there was this common theme of keeping covenants.  The talks were fantastic.  I loved President Monson's talk.  He talked about how "fear replaces faith."  I love that, because it is SO true!  As missionaries, it could be easy to get scared to walk up to people and talk to them, or even feel awkward.  But, if we just have faith, that fear will go away.  I also loved how President Monson really emphasized how much God loves us.  And that we have not been placed on this earth to walk alone.  That is not at all what it is supposed to be like here.  We have Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.  I loved it!  It was all just so stinkin great!!!  I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Hermana Corniea.  She is just fantastic.  She and I are really feeling great about everything and we are working hard.  But our key indicators don't show that as well.  That just shows us that we need to do better.  We realize we need to do a lot better with many things.  So this week, we are hoping to see many miracles and much accomplished.  I can't wait.  And neither can she. 

In our apartment Hermana Bollwinkel and Hermana Prestgard live with us.  I love it, but I have noticed a lot within this last week especially there has been so much negativity.  I'm not a huge fan of negative comments.  Haha, so I told everyone that we are NOT allowed to say anything negative!  It doesn't help anyone.  It never makes anyone feel better and we have too much to be happy about.  I hope that this week there is a difference.  I know our apartment with feel better to be in once there isn't so much negativity. 

We taught Primary yesterday!!  :D  It went very very well actually.  Many interesting things happened in there...haha.  The teachers left.  So it was Vero (Primary president) and her two daughters (YW age).  And also the secretary.  It was interesting.  Haha.  It all went great though.  And now the kids are learning what Primary needs to be like.  They're usually talking and walking around.  It was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen.  Haha, the chairs were every where.  And that's not how primary starts, the chairs are always in nice straight rows.  But the kids move them.  It's crazy.  But yesterday, ooo We made them stop and look at the chairs at the end. I said, "Okay.  What's going on with these chairs?!"  The kids sit and look at me with big eyes. "Why are they like this?!"  one kids says, "Because we move them."  "WHY do you move them?"  "because we're walking around."  "Exactly.  Don't.  No more walking around, this isn't how it started is it?"  "No."  "Yeah, next week Hermana Vero will watch for this and there should be rows, okay?"  I'm sure some of them hate us now, but they need to learn how to act!  And there's not much help.  Obispo wants us to teach every 5th Sunday Haha.  I felt like such an adult...but now I understand why adults do the things they do.  Like I would make boys sit by girls, ooo I hated that when I was in primary, but it works!!! 

 

Well.  That's about it for the week.  THis week is going to be FANTASTIC I know it!! :)  Tell Ashley and Ollie that I NEED pictures when they have the baby.  I NEED to know all the details ASAP!  Even when my neice is born...you should just call the mission office and tell them to tell me.  They won't care.  I need to know her name!  Haha, I'm just too darn excited!  Thanks for the support.  Did the beehives get my letter?  I sent it to Deb Colby.  I know that they will love it, it's all in Spanish! 

 

Have a good week y'all!!

 

Love,

Hermana Ah Mu

Sept 22, 2013

Hola.

 

Not much to say this week.  We have been trying to visit more ward members.  Which is really really nice.  I have been wanting to get to know more of the ward members.  I really love our ward.  It is fantastic.  The members are the greatest.  A plus that goes along with visiting members is that they ALWAYS make us eat with them.  :)  We love food.  LOVE IT.  Hahaha.  So it's really fun to just sit down and eat with them.  I really think these are the most generious people I have ever met.  They would give you everything they had if you needed help.  I never knew there could be people as nice as this.  Missionaries really are taken care of! 

 

Yesterday was interesting.  Literally 5 minutes before Sacrament started I was asked to speak for 10 minutes about how I prepared for my mission, and what others can do to prepare.  Do you understand how crazy this was?  It had to be in Spanish!  10 minutes?!  I really almost threw up.  You can ask my companion.  Bishop came over to me and said, "Ah Mu!  No.  You are NOT speaking today, I am making the zone leaders speak.  That's what they're here for.  You will speak next month."  Hahaha.  I have never.  Ever felt so much relief in my entire life.  I get to play the hymns in Sacrament meeting.  I work with the conductor to figure out music.  Sad thing is, we saw the program and the hymns that we picked out were no where on the program.  It was changed.  I would have attempted to play the hymns in the program, but I really didn't know them!  Some how I spoke enough spanish with one of the bishopric members to change it!  Talk about hard...hahaha.  We then went to Primary for the 2nd hour.  I love it so much.  But we have noticed that the children are like noodles.  We have worked it out with Vero (The primary president).  We (Hna. Corniea and I) are in charge of Primary next week.  Vero is very excited...let's hope we don't let them down.  We are helping them to get ready for the program, and this will help everyone know what to do.  (alot of the members that work in primary are converts so they don't know what primary is really supposed to be like).  Don't get me wrong though, it is pretty darn good considering the situation they're in.  But yes, the kids listen to us.  So next week will be very interesting!  I'm excited!  It'll remind me of the good ole days in Primary when I was a helper ;)  Haha.

 

Many, if not all of you will be VERY surprised to hear that I have been eating fish...Call me a picky eater if you want.  But I never liked fish.  Still don't love it.  But I am eating it.  And I have had some fish that really doesn't taste too bad.  Oh!  Guess what else??  I had boiled pig skin on Saturday.  It is very interesting actually.  Not too bad on tostadas.  :)  Yum.  It's actually pretty good.  Weird texture, almost like gelitan, but not. And they kind of look like chopped onions.  It's good though.  I won't ever turn them down :) 

 

We got to have interviews with President Castro.  It was THE best!!  Some people were nervous.  But I wasn't.  I really like President.  He is awesome.  The interview made me feel better.  Like I was actually doing a great job.  At the beginning he said, "Alright, before we really get started I have a question for you."  Paused for what seemed like a life time.  "How are you so cheerful all the time?"  Hahaha, me?  I was surprised he asked that.  But it's good to know that he can see the positivity I've been working for.  He also said many other things that made me know that I am doing well.  It was nice.

 

That's really it.  Sorry.  Not much else to say.  Other than it was a different week.  Haha.

 

Have a fantastic week y'all.  Tell Ashley I'm sad I missed that baby shower.  Laura, YOU BETTER SEND ME A WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT :)

 

Love,

 

Hermana Ah Mu