Road Trip!

We had another great week here in El Paso. We ended up teaching the English class last week, and it was so much fun! We called Rodolfo, left him a message, as well as texted him about the class.  All he did was text us back, “oa.” We didn’t know what that meant, but we thought he wouldn’t come. SURPRISE! He showed up. We were so very happy. We gave him a tour of the church building and everything. Then we taught the English class to Hermana Jareugi, Holguin, Diaz, Hermano Torres, and Rodolfo. They were all so cute. We talked about how to pray in English, getting to know someone, and then we did this adorable play thing that I made up. I took one of Nephi’s stories, “Building the Boat” and wrote out parts for every person. For example, Hermana Holguin was Nephi. Rodolfo was Laman, Hermano Torres was Lemuel, Hermana Jareugi was the narrator, and Hermana Diaz was God. It was super helpful for them I think.

Do you remember the hilarious guy named Bobby who is married to cute little Mexican Connie? He is the one from the south who told us when we went caroling to his house on Christmas to leave because Connie was crying tears of joy. He didn’t like to see her cry.  Anyway, we went to go see him the morning we left for Albuquerque. We had recent convert Carmen Enriquez with us. The first thing he as he walked outside of his apartment was hush us and motioned for us to follow him away from his apartment. He proceeded to tell us that the police had come the previous night and asked him some questions. Apparently some sketchy stuff had been going on in the neighborhood. He was being so hilarious…asking us a million questions as always. The best quote from Bobby, “Is it better to be a man or a mouse?” He was looking straight at me and I about died! Sister Fallentine did too and then he started laughing…good ol’ Bobby. He was scared that if he were to pray with us that he was going to get shocked by lightning.  Or, that his brother (who told him not to meet with us) was going to come in and yank him into his apartment. As Sister Fallentine gave the prayer, he started snoring…I looked at him and told him to be quiet. He then said, “Someone is looking at Bobby.” Haha.  

We were able to take Carmen with us to go see Susanah and her son German. It ended up being a great lesson. Carmen was so sweet and we got her number, because they live close by. Once Susana can come to church, I just know she will be solid. Her cute three other little kids are so stinking adorable.

After that we headed out for Albuquerque. The Horizon sisters were late…not great because it was snowing in Albuquerque and we knew the roads would be bad. Anyway, we started our trip and made it to Las Cruces. Then about an hour after that, Sister Fallentine commented, “Man, those billboards don’t look familiar. They must have changed things up. I don’t remember seeing firework billboards.” Then Sister Oxley said, “Why is the sun in my face? It is never in my face when we go to Albuquerque.” Then a little bit after that, Sister Fallentine said, “I think we are going the wrong way.” Sure enough we were, haha. We had missed the exit that you have to take to head to Albuquerque after Las Cruces. We were dying! It was so funny. We finally found a place to get off the freeway called Gage, New Mexico (totally outside of our mission). We were on our way to Tuscon, Arizona!

 

 

The only thing that was in this tiny town was a gift shop and a Dairy Queen. Of course we got some food, and shortly after met some members who were passing through on their way to Dallas. We had a good laugh. We didn’t have to go all the way back to Las Cruces, but instead went Northeast through Hatch. It ended up being about a 100 mile mistake. J The roads got pretty bad at a certain point, but that is ok because I was driving at that point. We made it to sweet Sister Dennis’ house. She had chili ready for us and our beds made out and her sister was there visiting.

When I woke up the next morning Sister Fallentine told me I was talking in my sleep. I thought, well that’s pretty normal for me (and her too...she talks a lot). Then she told me that I was speaking in Spanish and saying, “Dios ama a cada uno de ustedes. No quieren sentir el amor de Dios?” I apparently said that I as I pointing into the air at each person. Then she went on to tell me that she woke up, because in her dreams she was in a lesson trying to explain an analogy in Spanish and then she woke up saying it out loud. It was right after that that I took over and said what I said. She said she thinks we were role playing in our sleep.

MLC was so awesome with President and Sister Miller. He talked a lot about apathy and how it is part of the members right now, but also creeping into the mission a bit. There is a lack of diligence. Oh! A woman named Sister Carter told me that Farah Hosman went to her ward last Sunday. She is here to help out Tia for when she has her babies. We had delicious haystacks for lunch. The Ellis couple who made our food last time also made it this time. Last time they asked me what we should have next time and I suggested haystacks. J It was super great! When MLC was over, we got the Horizon sisters and went to the mission office. Sister Dennis was using a blow horn and being so funny as people walked in.

Zone training went great! We came up with this very cute training with balloons and stuff. Everyone really liked it. Sometimes missionaries just want to talk things to death when we just need to get out and work and our problems will be solved. After training, we went to the mall to eat. I had Chick-Fil-At and it was delicious. We decided to be better examples at lunch and talk to some people. We got some great potentials from that. The rest of the day was long-ish. We came home and did language study and then went out to work.

We had the BEST lesson with Hilda de la Pena and Magali and her daughters…it was so great that they committed to come to church (they ended up not coming)! BUT…it was the perfect fellowship I have ever made happen. We were SO happy after that. Then we had to go pick up the food for dinner. After that, Sister Diaz came with us to visit Edith/Antonio. That was also perfect fellowship. Then we taught the Enriquez’ how to lead music. We want Carmen to do that for Relief Society and she was so excited to learn.

We had exchanges with the 5^th ward sisters. I went with Sister Hunt to their area and Sister Wilkinson came here. It was a lot of fun. Sister Hunt is 23, from Kaysville Utah, and just a sweetie. The day was crazy though! The first lesson we had is a lady we met. Well actually a guy on the street told us he wasn’t interested, but that Tracey two houses down was. She thought she was so great…went on talking about grace, how we need to read the Bible literally, how the church and everything was for the Jews. We are in a dispensation of grace, so for that reason if we are part of a church and are preaching like we are, we are going to be in big trouble (like go to hell). She just kept talking really jumbled sentences. She is the first person like this that I have met. She said, “I’m in.” I asked her, “What does that mean?” She said, "I am going to heaven! Yay!" and basically that we weren’t. I kept my cool for most of it but I lost it when she said that all the leaders of churches (for example our prophet) is a hypocritical, horrible, corrupt person. I said, “I respect your beliefs, but I will not sit here and let you say that about my prophet…” and I just went on to testify. She wouldn’t even look me in the eyes when she did that. Not surprising, because she was feeling the Spirit every time. Whatever, she was nice to let us in, but she was very rude. After that we went and taught this sweet family who is getting baptized soon. The dad is less active and wasn’t there (he is in the army and coming home in three weeks). His wife, Lisa and the older kids are getting baptized by him when he gets home.

After dinner we taught June, a less active. We read from her huge Bible. We invited her back to church, but she was making up very stupid excuses. Apparently she stopped going 22 years ago, because someone offended her.  She wore a short skirt to church and the bishop told her to go home and change. *Members- people are fragile! Be careful what you say! Especially to recent converts! Just be their friends! J When we got home, I had a package from Nicole Rios.  She sent me some cute stuff and then also wants me to send her the scriptures that she left here.

Sunday was no doubt one of the most stressful days I have had on my mission, if not THE most stressful day. We were literally doing things from 9:00am-11:30am to prepare us for church (rides for investigators still good, cookies for 2 birthdays, etc. etc.) We just had SO much to do. We were both SOOOO sure that so many investigators were going to come to church: Edith and Antonio, Cecilia and her family, Magali and her family, Rodolfo, Mary, Esli, Javier. We were so excited and nervous all morning. Well, to make a long story short basically all the investigators canceled. It was very depressing. Mary, Esli, and Javier still came though.

When we got to the church the bishopric and elders were getting out of ward council, which they hadn’t invited us to…sad. They only have it once a month so that was a huge bummer. We were doing SOOO much at church and were not getting any help from the elders. I don’t write all of this to be super depressing, but so I can remember that I had some very hard days.  This was one of the hardest days on my mission. We had dinner with the Roman’s. It was yummy green enchiladas…at least that cheered me up!  Then Hermana Roman went with us to visit some people. We dropped off cookies to Michelle (the others were for Esli…birthday). Then we had a lesson with Mary where we watched the long Joseph Smith movie.

Yesterday was  an up and down day. I swear we have the HIGHEST OF HIGHS and LOWEST OF LOWS. Highlights of the day is finding the sweetest, most golden sweetheart. Her name is Roxanna! I love her. She is 20. An ex missionary met her on a cruise and gave the referral to the English missionaries. They taught her today and said that she needed to be taught by Spanish sisters. It was awesome. We invited her to our noche de hogar and she came! Well Jesus picked her up. She is so adorable! J I already love her tons. She is going through very hard times and wants to learn about God. She really wants this.

During weekly planning, we got the BIGGEST and loudest knock on our door. It was Fed Ex or UPS. I don’t remember and they had a package for me. It was from Liz! I cried I was so happy. I miss and love her so much. I am so grateful for all the sweet people I met from doing Miss Idaho, but I am MOST grateful I met her. Holy cow…it came at the most perfect time.

 

The noche de hogar that we put together was a HIT! We had two different less active families there, three investigators, recent converts, and some members. It was fantastic! J And then to start the week off right, Grandpa made crepes for breakfast this morning. I am feeling pretty great right now! 

Biebs followed me to NM!

The church is true and I love you all! Have a great week!