Welp we got our transfer calls...actually our calls started last night. We were in an appointment and we heard the little beep of our phone. We got out of the appointment and we saw that it was a random number and they didn't leave a message and it was 9 so we figured we would just call it back the next day. Then we started driving and we got another call from the same number so Hna Clark answered because I was driving. She started talking to the person in spanish and I was SOO curious who it was...finally she looked at me and she mouthed "Its Elder Bills"...who is one of the assistants to the President. He then said Hna can I talk to your companion Hna Tippetts? She said of course and put on speaker phone. He did all the little small talk and then finally cut to the chase and said "Hna you have been called by the Lord to serve as a trainer this next transfer".....BAAAAAAAAAAA. Of course I said ok and he said wed find out where tomorrow. So this morning right before studies we got a call from the zone leaders and we found out that I will be training here in Newbury Park!! Yayyy I finally get to stay in an area longer than 2 transfers. Hna Clark will be going to Taft (a little town outside of Bakersfield) and she will be white washing with an older missionary (white washing means there use to be Elders there and now there will be Hermanas). Its going to be such an adventure for her and I think that is what has given me the most confidence. I am just so excited for her and her new adventure. Im praying that my baby will be a native but we will see. I know the Lord qualifies who he calls. Hijole. We will see.
Anywayyyyyy....a quick few things because we have to go.
1. Thank you SOOO much for all the love you all have sent me. I love the CDS SOOO much and I love my spanish CTR ring. Everything is so beautiful. THANK YOU.
2.It was great hearing all of your voices even if it was just a random conversation. Haha. I just love you all so much
3. a member was so convinced that I was leaving that he gave me a tearful goodbye. HAHA can't wait to see him Wednesday.
4. Mario. He is the boyfriend of a member. He pretty much became a member because of the BOM c=CDS you sent me Dad because he has a hard time reading so has avoided the missionaries but the CD made him so excited. Anyway he's listened to it every day and loves the BOM. We've taught him twice now and we taught him about the BOM and prayers he was so touched about the fact that we just bare our heart to our heavenly father and he was very teary eyed after the prayer. He didn't come to church though so we will have to focus on that more. I loved the Restoration and it makes a lot of sense to him
5.We were knocking and found this random less active member that we didn't know existed
6.I have this random note in my agenda to say and Im not exactly sure what it means..it says joy=diligence in the work of the Lord. Im pretty sure I was studying PMG or something and I know that that is where we find joy is when we are diligently serving the Lord and his children
7. We went to a christmas devotional in wednesday with the missionaries from Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley. It was really spiritual and really got me thinking about how this feeling we feel during the season can last forever
8. Also at the christmas devotional I found out that a couple of people I taught in Oxnard got baptized and one is preparing to be baptized!!!!! That made my week. I love that family so much!
9. Im glad you had a good christmas and that Jed Chrissy and Jaden could come over. I thought about them during the court day. Im assuming everything worked out?
10. I can't stop at 9 soooo Silvia is doing wonderfully and will be baptized on the 28th of Jan. YAY! Along with her daughter.
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANKS sO MUCH FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME!!!!
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Smooth Move Exlax
Maybe Ill explain that subject one day. Mom, I do like snacks but I don't really need them. The only ones I would say I would want are these hershey kisses that are mint truffles
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HNA SPILLER (my companion from the MTC). Hopefully you are still forwarding these to her. Have a great 22nd!
Anyway so I did get your package...Im going to keep the shirts but the skirt didn't look right, its cute though. But maybe it would be easier if you sent the receipt here? Here we have a Kohls, JCpenny, Macys, Nordstrams, So if its one of those send it off today so I can take it back next Pday. We have transfers 2 days after christmas and who knows WHAT could happen. I think Ill stay but who knows.
OK so my week....
So there is this member Ingrid and she was telling us about a friend of hers that she wants to share the gospel with and has been talking about families ext. She didn't know her address and said she would get it for us. Well a couple days later we had like 15 minutes until our appointment so I was like lets knock for a second and we knocked on this door and she let us it. We started talking about eternal families and the Book of Mormon. It was great. Then she started to tell us that she has a friend that is a member...turns out it was the friend of Ingrid, so we totally found her on our own. We came back and taught her the Restoration and she really accepted it.
A cool thing our ward is doing for us if they are delivering a plate of goodies every day to our house so that we can give them to investigators and less actives for christmas. Its been super fun ding dong ditching them.
A cool miracle...it was late and we were walking back to our car and we here someone shouting from a truck, we weren't sure if it was at us or not but we just kept walking...they kept shouting and started backing up so we stopped for a second thinking they needed help and out jumped this white girl running towards us....it was ASHLEY...one of our old investigators that just up and moved. Anyway its a long story but she was being abused so she finally escaped and now she is going into a 6 month program to help her get over all the trauma she went through. I know the Lord answers prayers, we have been praying for her for a long time. We have her address now so we can write her.
Carlos is doing so great, he didn't come to church this week because he had to work but he is SO open. I am so happy we didn't give up on him when he told us "i think I'm still good with my church". He's come to all the activities and has just been really embraced by the members. Its wonderful.
Silvia is on track to get baptized. Her and Tomas should be married in the next couple weeks. AHHH seriously a miracle. We are so excited and blessed for this opportunity.
We also set another baptismal date, its a daughter of a member and her name is Nadia. She's a sweet girl, we have just got to get her fellowshipped
The Cano family have been AWAL this week..I don't know what happened but we are just praying all is well.
We are just working and teaching, we set some goals at the beginning of this transfer and we are really seeing results. I know the Lord loves us and that he wants us to come and live with him again. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!
Good luck branden with your wisdom teeth!!!!
Love you all so much!!!! Thanks for everything you do for me!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HNA SPILLER (my companion from the MTC). Hopefully you are still forwarding these to her. Have a great 22nd!
Anyway so I did get your package...Im going to keep the shirts but the skirt didn't look right, its cute though. But maybe it would be easier if you sent the receipt here? Here we have a Kohls, JCpenny, Macys, Nordstrams, So if its one of those send it off today so I can take it back next Pday. We have transfers 2 days after christmas and who knows WHAT could happen. I think Ill stay but who knows.
OK so my week....
So there is this member Ingrid and she was telling us about a friend of hers that she wants to share the gospel with and has been talking about families ext. She didn't know her address and said she would get it for us. Well a couple days later we had like 15 minutes until our appointment so I was like lets knock for a second and we knocked on this door and she let us it. We started talking about eternal families and the Book of Mormon. It was great. Then she started to tell us that she has a friend that is a member...turns out it was the friend of Ingrid, so we totally found her on our own. We came back and taught her the Restoration and she really accepted it.
A cool thing our ward is doing for us if they are delivering a plate of goodies every day to our house so that we can give them to investigators and less actives for christmas. Its been super fun ding dong ditching them.
A cool miracle...it was late and we were walking back to our car and we here someone shouting from a truck, we weren't sure if it was at us or not but we just kept walking...they kept shouting and started backing up so we stopped for a second thinking they needed help and out jumped this white girl running towards us....it was ASHLEY...one of our old investigators that just up and moved. Anyway its a long story but she was being abused so she finally escaped and now she is going into a 6 month program to help her get over all the trauma she went through. I know the Lord answers prayers, we have been praying for her for a long time. We have her address now so we can write her.
Carlos is doing so great, he didn't come to church this week because he had to work but he is SO open. I am so happy we didn't give up on him when he told us "i think I'm still good with my church". He's come to all the activities and has just been really embraced by the members. Its wonderful.
Silvia is on track to get baptized. Her and Tomas should be married in the next couple weeks. AHHH seriously a miracle. We are so excited and blessed for this opportunity.
We also set another baptismal date, its a daughter of a member and her name is Nadia. She's a sweet girl, we have just got to get her fellowshipped
The Cano family have been AWAL this week..I don't know what happened but we are just praying all is well.
We are just working and teaching, we set some goals at the beginning of this transfer and we are really seeing results. I know the Lord loves us and that he wants us to come and live with him again. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!
Good luck branden with your wisdom teeth!!!!
Love you all so much!!!! Thanks for everything you do for me!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
I'm old now and falling apart...HaHa
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I made my companion promise not to tell anyone but the Zone leaders some how found out and sand to me last night...and then we got to work outs this morning and all the elders there knew and one of the elders made me a birthday cake out of balloons. Its cute. We all took a picture. Then as we were studying I got a package in the mail from LISA! Thank you so much. Im wearing the scarf right now. I love it! We are going to buy some cheesecake and just do normal stuff (cause thats what I wanted).
Oh and mom I haven't got the package yet...but if you sent it to the Oxnard address it might take a little bit I guess they aren't opening that office until December 11th. THey will have a forwarding address at the Ventura address people just need to make sure they are writing "California Ventura Mission" under my name. But you can send them to the Oxnard address...that would be better.
Im so excited for Jed Chrissy and Jaden. I will be thinking about you all in those days. Oh and I can't call on Christmas Eve...rules are christmas and mothers day. Ill let you know next week. I would love to talk to everyone but if they can't come over on christmas I understand. Ill let you know next week or so. We have church at 9 but we only have sacrament.
This week was good. We had to drop Leydy and that was hard because I feel like she is so close to the truth but refuses to open her eyes. We've tried really hard but finally...you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Sad day, but I have faith that her name is now in the area book and one day when she is ready missionaries will find her.
We FINALLY got to teach this man named Rogelio...we were knocking when we found him and he has talked to missionaries before and has good friends that are active members. We were finally able to teach him and it went pretty well. He is totally seeking for truth and is willing to read the Book of Mormon
We had zone conference this week and it was AWESOME!!!!!!! I just felt so taught by the spirit. We had talks/lessons from Sis Castro, President Castro, the assistants, and our Zone leaders. We have the best zone leaders ever. We talked a lot about our purpose as missionaries....which is to invite everyone to come unto christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through fe in jesus christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. We talked about how we need to invite ourselves to do that first and how we can be purified by the Holy Ghost. I loved it. The whole time I was just thinking about...well a lot of stuff but one thing that came to my head was soccer...and how if I played 100 percent the whole game...no matter the out come...if I knew I left my heart on the field I felt satisfied. Thats how I feel and want to always feel about my mission too.
Speaking of being purified by the holy ghost President sent us a quote this week and I loved it, I thought I would share it with you all
“If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as evidence that the Atonement is working in your life. For that reason and many others, you would do well to put yourself in places and in tasks that invite the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost works both ways: the Holy Ghost only dwells in a clean temple, and the reception of the Holy Ghost cleanses us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. You can pray with faith to know what to do to be cleansed and thus qualified for the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the service of the Lord. And with that companionship you will be strengthened against temptation and empowered to detect deception.”
I know that this is true. That is one reason why I love the mission, I feel the spirit so strongly every day! I know its possible any where.
Also president told us we are the closest thing to Jesus Christ in our area...talk about something to make you think.
We have a good chunk of people we are teaching and they are really awesome...
Oh Juan Carlos...he was the guy we "re"met knocking and I totally remembered his name...well we've been teaching him and he came to the ward christmas party and church this week! He was like Ill be at church next week so you don't need to pass by...ha. Doesn't get the total purpose of us being there but we explained. He was so comfortable there and really just soaked it all in.
The Cano family are progressing. Hno Campos came with this week and he was really able to to relate with them and their strong Catholic background. He wants to know which church is true and I know they will know through diligent seeking.
I could go on and on but I am running out of time. Everything is good and wonderful and I am just living this up. Tell bishop I understand they couldn't come by...i doubt president wouldn't have let him haha and we are always really busy. But it would have been cool to see him and Kira.
Oh and camping of course I want to come...I will be hope like July 18th? Yeah..something like that. Don't make me talk about that any more. Yikes. Ok love you have a good week!
Oh and mom I haven't got the package yet...but if you sent it to the Oxnard address it might take a little bit I guess they aren't opening that office until December 11th. THey will have a forwarding address at the Ventura address people just need to make sure they are writing "California Ventura Mission" under my name. But you can send them to the Oxnard address...that would be better.
Im so excited for Jed Chrissy and Jaden. I will be thinking about you all in those days. Oh and I can't call on Christmas Eve...rules are christmas and mothers day. Ill let you know next week. I would love to talk to everyone but if they can't come over on christmas I understand. Ill let you know next week or so. We have church at 9 but we only have sacrament.
This week was good. We had to drop Leydy and that was hard because I feel like she is so close to the truth but refuses to open her eyes. We've tried really hard but finally...you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Sad day, but I have faith that her name is now in the area book and one day when she is ready missionaries will find her.
We FINALLY got to teach this man named Rogelio...we were knocking when we found him and he has talked to missionaries before and has good friends that are active members. We were finally able to teach him and it went pretty well. He is totally seeking for truth and is willing to read the Book of Mormon
We had zone conference this week and it was AWESOME!!!!!!! I just felt so taught by the spirit. We had talks/lessons from Sis Castro, President Castro, the assistants, and our Zone leaders. We have the best zone leaders ever. We talked a lot about our purpose as missionaries....which is to invite everyone to come unto christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through fe in jesus christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. We talked about how we need to invite ourselves to do that first and how we can be purified by the Holy Ghost. I loved it. The whole time I was just thinking about...well a lot of stuff but one thing that came to my head was soccer...and how if I played 100 percent the whole game...no matter the out come...if I knew I left my heart on the field I felt satisfied. Thats how I feel and want to always feel about my mission too.
Speaking of being purified by the holy ghost President sent us a quote this week and I loved it, I thought I would share it with you all
“If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as evidence that the Atonement is working in your life. For that reason and many others, you would do well to put yourself in places and in tasks that invite the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost works both ways: the Holy Ghost only dwells in a clean temple, and the reception of the Holy Ghost cleanses us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. You can pray with faith to know what to do to be cleansed and thus qualified for the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the service of the Lord. And with that companionship you will be strengthened against temptation and empowered to detect deception.”
I know that this is true. That is one reason why I love the mission, I feel the spirit so strongly every day! I know its possible any where.
Also president told us we are the closest thing to Jesus Christ in our area...talk about something to make you think.
We have a good chunk of people we are teaching and they are really awesome...
Oh Juan Carlos...he was the guy we "re"met knocking and I totally remembered his name...well we've been teaching him and he came to the ward christmas party and church this week! He was like Ill be at church next week so you don't need to pass by...ha. Doesn't get the total purpose of us being there but we explained. He was so comfortable there and really just soaked it all in.
The Cano family are progressing. Hno Campos came with this week and he was really able to to relate with them and their strong Catholic background. He wants to know which church is true and I know they will know through diligent seeking.
I could go on and on but I am running out of time. Everything is good and wonderful and I am just living this up. Tell bishop I understand they couldn't come by...i doubt president wouldn't have let him haha and we are always really busy. But it would have been cool to see him and Kira.
Oh and camping of course I want to come...I will be hope like July 18th? Yeah..something like that. Don't make me talk about that any more. Yikes. Ok love you have a good week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)