6/30/14 Week 16

AHHHHHH!!!  This was THE CRAZIEST week of my entire life!  Right now I seriously feel like the only thing that is holding my body together is my clothes!  That's a kind of morbid image, but you get what I mean.  I'M EXHAUSTED!  But when you are a missionary, that's a good sign:) 

 So to start off Hermana Black and I had the honors of being the first Sister/Spanish exchange that President Ames and his wife has ever gone on.  Yippee!  Talk about nerve-wracking.  We went to teach la familia Martinez who had a baptism date for June 28th but it wasn't looking good so we decided to pray for a miracle...and then guess what?!  We got an exchange with our Mission President!  I'd definitely count that as an answer to our prayers

President and Sister Ames- Selfie

. We go in and start our lesson, and it starts off good, but then we read a scripture about "bearing one another's burdens" and the mom bursts into tears.  She just cries and cries. It was a little awkward after a while, but then through her tears she chokes out that we brought up the reason why she hasn't talked to her husband about baptism yet.  She feels like a burden to him, because she's sick all the time (she has diabetes or some other systemic disease), and then President and Sister Ames saved the day!   He gave her a blessing and told her that God will give her the strength she needs to talk to him, and he knows he will support her and follow her example, and all these other really cool and inspired things.  We told her his words because we were translating…also nerve wracking!  You could almost see the Spirit in the room.  I don't even know how to describe it.  All I know is, its moments like that that makes everything we do here worth it.  

We had pretty much the best Sunday ever because not only did the Martinez family come to church (including the dad) but so did four other investigators!  We had 7 people at church which apparently is pretty rare! It was awesome, except one of the girls that came was a 14 year old who  needed entertainment like every second of church...ugg.  I have no idea how you put up with us Mom.  I'm definitely bringing her a snack bag with a coloring book next week!  

Four of our investigators are YW which is so fun!  We get to go with them to all of the activities.  Mom I wish I would've listened to you and paid more attention to the girls in YWs who didn't have many friends.   The girls are 13, 13, 14 and 15.  I remember how self conscious I was at that age.  If the girls in our ward would just be cool and talk to these new girls they could make such a difference.  I know they  would want to come so much more.  But now it's getting to a point where they just like coming because they get to hang out with us...that won't be very good in a few months.  But I do love being with them too!  I feel like I can relate to the YW so much better.  Other than that we have a lot of newer investigators who are progressing super awesomely!  I want to avoid the appearance of bragging…but this week we were among the mission leaders as far as our work stats go; contacts, discussion, etc!  That's crazy!  I'm getting so spoiled here I'm scared for transfers because I don't want to leave and I don't want Hermana Black to leave.

It's so SOOOO  HOT here!  It's usually about 95 and everyone says its gets a lot worse.  I'm scared but I guess I did ask for it!   We have practically no miles left on our car because it's the end of the month, so we will be using our bikes a lot for the next few days.  And we apparently live in the 2nd most ghetto apartments in the whole mission!...??

If I tried to write out all of the things that happened this week, this email would be way too long and I would have no time to write any individual letters.  But pretty much this area just exploded this week with so much AMAZING potential and so many prepared people.  The lord is blessing me out here so much I feel like I don't deserve this great of a mission. but I'll take it:)   The church is so true.  I literally watched lives and hearts change before my eyes this week.   I don't think anything or one could do that if they didn't have help from our Heavenly Father. 

Love Hermana bonny

6/23/14 Week 15

Well this week was pretty darn eventful!  Get ready!   On Monday we got a call from our Zone Leaders, and we all have interviews with President Ames next week, but then they told us that after our interviews President said that he really wants to see the Martinez family! Ahh! So what does that mean for us?  … Yep I'm going to be teaching a lesson with PRESIDENT AMES!!!  AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!  Nerviosa.....but also un poco excited!   Well actually a lot excited, because this family was supposed to be getting baptized this Saturday, but after a rather disappointing lesson with them, the dad told us that he feels like he got an answer to his prayers and that he feels like he needs to wait.  (Hand slap to the forehead)  That wasn't the "answer" we hoped he would get!   We can only teach him on the weekends when he's home, so he is way behind everyone else.  The rest of the family is so ready to get baptized but don't want to without him.  I think that President coming to visit them is maybe the miracle they need.   But I still am probably going to pee my skirt......

The Water Gardens...as close as I come to swimming

Also this week I had my first exchange with our sister training leaders where I was the one in charge.  This was also more than slightly nerve wracking!  It's like having a sleepover and then spending the whole day with your boss.  So I was in charge of planning out the whole day;  who to see, what to teach, backups, directions, phone numbers, commitments, dinner, everything!  I'm just a little greenie! I'm not used to that kind of responsibility! A few months ago I couldn't even remember to close my drawers and know I have to remember all that?!  Whoever says missionary work is easy is either a liar or hasn't been on one! But alas, I think I pulled it off:)  I only got lost twice...hehe

Then this Saturday we had our Casa Abierta (open house).  It was this huge activity that we've been planning for months now, where all the missionaries assigned to our ward invited our investigators to the church to play games and get to know the members. Then we split into 3 groups had a church tour.  We took them around to all the different classes and had speakers in each class explain what we do in ym/yw's, priesthood, relief society, and primary, and then we all met back in the chapel and the Bishop spoke about the sacrament.  HUGE SUCCESS!  No joke! I was kind of preparing myself for the worst, but we had at least 30 investigators there!  Work pays off:)

Although I am doing great, of course it's not perfect all of the time.  I go through so many ups and downs everyday it's crazy!  But my downs are usually based around the same basic things.  The first, and probably the most common, IM EXHAUSTED.   This is hard work!  Sometimes I would give anything in the world to just have 2 hours where I could just sit down on a couch and vegetate and watch a missionary chick flick.  The only time I'm free from stress is when I'm sleeping…and even then it always goes  way too fast.

The second,  to be honest is probably related to jealousy.  I didn't really imagine that on my mission this could be an issue.  But sometimes when I read the emails from my friends who are serving in all these exotic, faraway lands, and I just feel a little stuck in the bad part of town.   Also since there are four sets of missionaries in our ward, I have felt like there is a constant competition of who the members like best.  That game isn't really fun for newbies who can't speak the language.

Sister Black and I have been getting along better than ever! Not gonna lie, in the beginning we didn't click quite this well because she was a lot more shy and quiet, but now I think my weirdness has broken her out of her shell and we've been having so much fun together!

Yesterday, coolest story!  We had a lesson with our investigator Alba and her 3 girls, (they are kind of like Cinderella and the step sisters...it's funny).  We started  teaching lesson 1, but then an awesome thing happened.  We got to the part about baptism and how all of your sins can be washed away and ALL 3 of them, before we even invited them, asked us if they could be baptized!   Whaaa! I almost didn't even know what to say! ....umm..OF COURSE!  And this gets even crazier because the mom has been investigating for like 4 years, and she finally said that she wants to find out for real this time if the church is true. So she's going to start attending Mutual and church with her daughters! I. love. my. mission. THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE! 

 

Love Hermana bunny (that's what everyone calls me here cuz they can't say bonny..haha)

6/9/14 Week 13

I know I probably sound like a broken record now but I LOVE MY MISSION!!  This week was seriously awesome! I think all of your prayers have been working because I feel like my Spanish is finally clicking!  Hermana Black and I pretty much taught equal this week which hasn't even come close to happening up until now:)  I'm just going to tell you a few of the highlights...

1.  We went to teach our normal lesson with the Martinez family, and we were teaching about eternal families, then all of a sudden the 17 year old daughter who got baptized in march just started tearing up.  I was a little nervous because I hoped I hadn't  offend her or anything, but I asked her what was wrong and through her tears she choked out "Nothing is wrong.  I just think you guys are so amazing.  You leave your families for a year and a half so that other people can live with theirs forever. It just blows me away."  Then she just completely broke down in tears.  No joke. That right there made all the stress, frustration, and gross back sweat worth it!  

2.  We now have an investigator who is 90 years old.  I hope she doesn't die before we can help her get baptized!

3.  Not sure if this counts as a "highlight", but we rode our bikes for the first time...ha.  Dad remember how big of a turd I always was when you wanted to ride bikes to Coldstone for family night?  But I never would because I didn't want to look stupid, especially wearing a helmet?  You would be so proud of me now.  We had quite the adventure!  There's this gang in the hood now that calls us the "Girl Scouts".  I feel like it would be fun to actually bring them cookies sometime:)
  
4.  I'm sort of living a novella (aka Mexican soap opera) right now.  It's pretty intense!  I'll make a super long story into a super short one...  We have 2 less actives that both had lame excuses for not coming to church, and we just found out its because they both used to be friends but then 5 years ago something HUGE  happened between them.  So now they both are afraid to come to church because they are afraid of seeing each other.  And apparently the whole ward has taken sides and takes it out on their kids....ya, I thought I would miss watching my stupid drama shows, but no, I get to live it!   But what was the scandal between Veronica and Lucy?  Was Hermana Gonzalez involved?  And who will come out on top?  Find out next week as the saga continues!

5.  We went to an awesome fireside with President Ames yesterday.  While I was there, I saw Blaine! ..or I should say Elder McMurray!  It was sooo awesome to see him!  We weren't even that great of friends in school, but I really can't even explain how happy I was to see him!  He even teared up a little!  Seeing each other was probably just a sweet reminder of home. Anyway he says hi to all o' y'all!  We took Arleta and Stephaney and her date.  And I watched the slow-mo hand hold happen during the whole fireside!  They sat with their hands touching for the most of the fireside, then he finally got up the courage during the last 5 minutes to take her hand!  Oh young love:)   

I think that is about it!   We gave a card to a guy who said, and I quote "Wow I've been searching for God for a long time now.  You couldn't have come at a better moment".   SO COOL! 

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

love Hermana Bonny

6/2/14 Week 12

Super super great week!!!!  Not to brag or anything but guess who made it in the top 8 companionships in the mission for this week?  Yep, US!   But even though numbers are just numbers we still had 6 people at church on Sunday, which is SOOO awesome because for the past 4 weeks we've only had 1 person come.   But anyways, this week the whole M.. family (including the dad which is a really big deal), and this guy we found named Fabian who is this 23 year old ambulance driver who was baptized in Ecuador when he was little, but then hasn't been to church in like 10 years.  He is super awesome!  He just found us and said that he wants to come back to church, and relearn all of the lessons!  And then an older guy, who only likes to talk about his kidney stones also came.

View out of our back window

 This week we were pretty 

 much sick of everyone telling us that they were going to do things and then not doing them, so Sister Black found this awesome scripture (Col 3:23-24) that basically says "Don't do these things because we are telling you to.  Do it for God!", and it worked!   We seriously saw so much progress in ALL of our investigators this week.  Sometimes being bold is scary..especially in Spanish, when I don't even know how to be polite yet...but it works.

Funny story:  Last week it was the end of the month so we had basically 0 miles left on our car, so we figured that now would be a good time to put our bikes together...Dad I seriously took you for granted!  I don't even know if I deserve to call myself your daughter anymore!  It took us like 40 minutes just to figure out how screw on the wheels and hook up the chain, and then just when we thought we were done we remembered about the brakes.  They were beyond both of us!  So we decided to take an adventure through da hood and take them to an awesome less active family, the H.. family, because the dad is a super "fix it" type.  He kind of reminds me of you dad, except he's Mexican and has way more swag;)  Basically just picture the 2 of us white girls walking our bikes that both have flat tires, in our skirts, weaving though like 3 different gangs who were all out jumping around with their pants falling off their butts! I don't get why that's fun..?  We looked a little out of place.  So then we finally get there and he fixes our brakes in like 2 seconds..embarrassing.  But then he says we has an air compressor so we can pump up our tires in like 2 seconds.  The next thing we hear is a huge BOOM  (it was Sis Black's tire if you didn't catch that).   I've never seen a Mexican turn red in the face before, but it was sooo funny!  So then while he went in and tried to find something to replace it, we invented a really fun game with the kids where you put bike helmets on your face and then punch each other as hard as you can!  I would definitely recommend it:)

Don't ever tell me you get tired of these Bonny/Black selfies!

 Well that's basically it! I love y'all sooooo much!!!  keep me updated on your lives!:)  

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!     - Hermanita Bonny