Old Ladies for Dayssssssssssssss

Wow I can NOT believe that the transfer is already over. Sister W and I have been crying for the past week. Not really, but we sure do not want to leave each other. But the verdict is in and I am not getting transferred. However, I am training and I will also be the oldest missionary in the apartment which is a tad nerve wracking for me. Sooo, whoa! Sister W is also training and so it Sister A (she will be living in the apartment with me still). So Sister W is most likely going to whitewash (meaning neither of them have been in the area and are going in blind, which is obvious since she is getting a fresh greenie), Although they could split our area. Then they might give each of us a ward. That would be interesting, but I hope they don't do that because we haven't had much work lately. Then there would REALLY be very little work. Anyway it was a good week.

On Monday we visited a ton of less actives. As we were leaving one house, we came across a VERY drunk lady. She is gorgeous and in her late 20’s probably. She was all over the place and eventually we found out that she is a member of the church. She has had missionaries over before but had to tell them to stop coming because they were being too "pushy". So she talked and talked and talked to us for a long time. She seemed to like us and told us she would love to come to church again sometime and that the teachings were still in her heart...yet she was wasted. So she was an interesting lady! She said to come by another time when she can think more clearly. But then she decided that her husband needs the gospel (non member) so she hid on the side of the house and told us to knock on the door and talk to her husband. He came outside looking for his wife when we knocked and she comes around from the side of the house and acts like she has never seen us before and we reintroduce ourselves and such. Quite hilarious!

This week we have been able to teach our member referrals! We have had 3 which is AMAZING. They seem pretty solid. We taught a young woman again and she cried again and was feeling really touched again she said so that was awesome! She works on Sunday though so she couldn't come to church. Then we taught a 9 year old, She really wants to be baptized so that is awesome too! It's kind of hard to teach little kids that have never heard of these concepts before though. So we are trying new things! Then we also taught a young man. He seems so chill and happy and he says he likes it, but he is also dating a girl in the church which is why he is investigating so we will see how that goes and how dedicated to the church he is! However, she said if he wanted to date her that he couldn't drink or smoke anymore, so he stopped on that day. How awesome! So we are proud of him for sure.

We teach 3 old ladies and they were HEART BROKEN when we told them that one of us would most likely be leaving the area. One of the ladies took us to lunch and she is taking us to dinner again tonight and she is so sad. But we got pictures and that was great. .But geez, all of them always had to put their lipstick on before they took a picture! We have been trying to get pictures with them for a while but they always say they look bad. I think they only said yes just because one of us would be leaving. Man, I swear the only people we have really affected have been the old women just because they are so lonely!

We had the opportunity of being a part of an engagement this week.

The girl is one of our Bishop’s daughters. Her now fiance had some little kids she babysits wear t-shirts. They said: 1. "marry" 2. "Me." 3"?" and then he wore a shirt that said 4. "please". So this girl came with the kids to the park because the dad called and said that one of the kids had broken her arm. So they were rushing over and we "nonchalantly" drive down the path and slow them down and see what’s up and stuff. They are rushing and we say we will come help.

As they walk down the path the kids pop out of the bushes and swarm her.

She just covers her eyes and turns around just standing there laughing and probably crying a little. The poor girl didn't have all her makeup on yet either because she thought she was just going to be babysitting that night! Haha. So then Jake comes out of the bushes and is standing behind her when she finally turns around and he proceeds to ask her and all that jazz. So cute. She was ecstatic. Every time we see her she always is angry because she hadn't been proposed to yet and she told him it had to happen before our transfer was over. Haha so voila!

The members are just so nice to us. We had a member stop us on the street and ask us to visit her less active daughter in a few weeks and we said of course. Then she gave us four boxes of Girl Scout cookies! Turns out it was a blessing from the heavens because we were famished. We both seem to have the flu and a cold so we are just plain exhausted and weak. So we took a cookie break. It was great!

So we seriously have just been involved in so many things for weddings.

Witnessed one wedding, played the brides march for the other wedding, helped a proposal take place, and then we also helped a guy plan his honeymoon. Fun fact the relief society president has a son that is getting married (the one we helped plan the honeymoon) and I went to EFY with his fiance. Crazy! That was kinda cool.

Lastly, we substituted the 6 year class in primary yesterday! The primary president is pretty tight with us and asked us to fill in. So we had ten minutes to prepare and then just went for it. It turned out to be pretty fun and the kids just loved it. It was awesome. Then last night we had transfer calls so today is going to be filled with a lot of packing and cleaning and such. We have to get   ready for our little newbies! (I still feel like a new missionary so this is weird). Anyway, pray for me. I definitely need all the help I can get. Love you all! Have a good week!

COOKIE BREAK!

Flowers.....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

This week it has been oh so hot. Ok, not really. It's only like high 70s and 80s but still, it’s only February. The nights haven't been too cold this week either. It's ridiculous; this last week we had a record high for a certain day in February. I'm already getting so sweaty when riding my bike and my makeup just melts right off. Not fun. But this week was good!

We had an interesting experience the other day. There are people on Bishops road that don't want anyone to know they are Mormon, but their records are on our ward list. So we asked Bishop if we should go see them and he said they might throw us off their property, but hey, we could give it a try. He said he would stand outside and watch us to make sure we were "safe" and stuff. So we approach the house and turn around to see Bishop hiding behind his truck, frantically waving his arms at us so we know he is still there. Hilarious:) Anyway so we knock and the door slightly opens and we ask if the woman who is in the ward was home. The man says no and we ask if there is a good time we can catch her. He gets this smirk/smile on his face and says, 'UH NEVER!" (in a super snobby, flamboyant, rude voice, but he's smiling with anger the whole time) He goes on to say that people keep stopping by from the church (no one has stopped by ever except out of neighborly kindness to give them goodies for the holidays. No one has ever said anything about the church) and that if we don't stop that he is going to sue us, "because it is getting THAT bad. It's seriously to that point." (all the while laughing with fury). We explained that her name is on the records and if she doesn't want people to stop by then she needs to get her name removed. His response, "Have you EVER tried to get your names off the records! It's a cat and mouse chase! You should really give it a try just for kicks and giggles!" Sister W says, "uh no, I actually like being Mormon so I haven't tried." Haha, hilarious! He continued to chew us, out but we just laughed about it. We went back and reported to Bishop and filled him in on what we couldn't hear. It was quite hilarious and ridiculous. I feel bad for those poor people. They don't understand what they are throwing away!

We got to go to the Gilbert Temple Open house this week! Man, OH man is it GORGEOUS! It is probably the prettiest temple I have ever seen on the inside. And that celestial room...breathtaking! I am considering getting married there now ;) haha but really, it was amazing. So we got to take one investigator to the temple. All the people we wanted to take never worked out. Well, Bishop was walking down the street last year and invited a man to go to the temple open house with him when it opened a year later. So Bishop remembered and went and asked him if he still wanted to go and he said yes! So we got to go too. The man said that he wouldn't mind learning more! WOO! So we hope to be meeting with him soon. Bishop is so awesome. He even took us to “In and Out” on the way home :) What a nice guy!

We visited one of previous investigators this week and talked about baptism. He said it is something that has been on his mind and he might want that eventually, but it is going to take some time. He also said that he doesn't think any other missionaries will ever be able to replace us! (awww). We also were at another investigator’s this week and she gave us these cute valentines and said she thought of us when she saw them, so she bought them for us! (adorable!) She is such a cutie but man, is she stubborn. She focuses on the little things, like the fact that we go by “Sister“. She HATES that and thinks it’s "a bunch of crap." Hopefully she gets past that someday and will better understand it. No matter how much we explain, she seems to go back to her same opinion. But she loves us and wants to come to church with us eventually when her health is better.

We taught a man this week that we have taught before. He makes me so nervous. He knows the Bible SO well and he doesn't believe in the King James version.  He believes in the English Standard Version. He even bought each of us one. He isn't very open, I think he is more just trying to prove us wrong, but he's really nice and they want to feed us dinner next time we meet! We think his wife might be open to the gospel though. So Sister W and I have been reading the Bible together,   trying to find the differences and dissect passages he has given us to read so we can answer his questions or philosophies. But those lessons with him always EXHAUST me.

We also taught a young woman again this week and her friend was there this time. (Mormon friend). She was so much better, and she participated well. She is going to be allowed to do the youth cultural celebration, so she is excited to do that as well. She told us that whenever we leave, she writes down what we taught her on a piece of paper so she remembers it! That shows me that she is dedicated to trying to find the answer for herself and that she really does want to learn about the gospel, so that's awesome!

Our Valentine’s Day was super fun! A good friend sent me a package full of goodies to bake and stuff to decorate it with! (brilliant) So we baked some cupcakes and sugar cookies and were able to deliver them to a bunch of people we love! We also heart attacked peoples doors. We took a bunch to investigators and some people in the wards who have helped us a lot! It was really fun and it was a good way to let people know that we love and care about them!  

We were able to be a part of another wedding this week too! We teach this couple’s the five year old daughter. Well it was her dad (non member) marrying a less active in our ward. We showed up a little early and helped with food and then Sister W threw me under the bus and said I could play the piano! (It wasn't very well prepared and put together, so there was no music or anything). SO Bishop hurried and searched the internet to find me the Brides March and Pachelbels Canon. I had all of ten minutes to plunk out both of them. Ya...I messed up a little but it was fine. I think they appreciated it, or they would have just been walking in silence. So that was interesting. I guess there is a first for everything!

Lastly, we had dinner at a member’s house last night (as usual). We had challenged the Gilbert ward to have each family give us one referral that we could teach in their home. Well they invited a non member to dinner! This particular girl is a senior in high school. Her brother is dating the family's daughter and so they all came to dinner. It went SO well. We talked about the atonement and how the gospel helps us through hard times and the brother told her how much he loves her and that he wants her to have the gospel because it has helped him so much in his life. She was crying and was so touched when we asked her if we could help her learn more about Christ and how it can help her life. So we have a new investigator and will be teaching her this week! Seriously, members helping and giving us referrals, is the only way the Lord's work will move forward in these last days! What a blessing that was and a confirmation that this is the way the

Lord wants his work done now. So do your missionary work! :) We can't do it without you!

Oh we also taught J again last night and one of our favorite member families joined us for the lesson. It went well and J really opened up and told us he is finally trying to be engaged in the lessons and pray to know if it is true and he feels that it is. What a change in this guy! He has let missionaries in his home for 16 years, amazing. He said next week he will set a date for his baptism! How exciting!

Well the gospel is true and I love it with all my heart. Stay strong and always remember to be a missionary in your words and actions! "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words." -Elder Uchdorf 

Baking on Valentines Day

Ready to deliver!

There are tons of Gecko's out right now!