Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Hielo en Harrisonburg

Querida Familia,

     Well...Sometimes it's really hard to email home. I think to myself, "I could spend 30 minutes writing a quality email to Mom, or I could look at pictures of Millie." It's a real lucha every week.

     I also am short on time this week because libraries are closed for "inclement weather" and so all of the missionaries have to email here at the Family History Center. But I will do my best;)

     On Tuesday we did a blitz in the Broadway area, which is basically the middle of nowhere. I went with Sister Gale. From a map, they had determined that we should knock "War Branch St." The GPS had a hard time getting us there, but we finally arrived. There was literally one giant farm house on the street in the middle of giant fields of nothing. We knocked a small trailer/tenant on the property. Jehovah's Witnesses. They were super friendly, but less than interested and said that all of their neighbors are Mennonites. 

     On our way there, we had passed through a little town (size of Chester, UT) named Hinton. We went and knocked there instead and found a few potentials. We were also doing an exchange, and Sister Gale joined me in Harrisonburg. We stopped at home for lunch after knocking and decided to check the map. Apparently we knocked on the wrong side of the street...we were right on the border of the 1st and 2nd Wards and didn't know! So we found some potentials for the 2nd Ward Elders;)

     The exchange was really great! Sister Gale got surprise fed and everything! That evening, Elder and Sister Edstrom (Senior Couple) came with us to a few appointments. We visited Odalis. She understands English pretty well, but I had to translate a few things. It was really powerful when the Edstroms talked about eternal families! They have a lot more experience than me;) We also took them knocking in a trailer park. They waited in the car while we knocked a bit and found a lesson. It was a really great night and afterwards they took us to their apartment for cake and ice cream:) I love having a senior couple!!!

     Thursday was Zone Workshops with only our Zone. President and Sister Wilson come with the APs. They each give short trainings on teaching and then we do role plays. One of them films our role play on an iPad or on their phone and then we get to watch ourselves teach! At first it feels really weird and unnatural, but they're actually very beneficial. 

     Elder Thomas (AP) gave a great training about teaching the Restoration of the Gospel. Sometimes we focus so much on the Restoration, that we don't even talk about what was restored--the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We did a role play teaching the Restoration while talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every point. God loves us so He gave us the Gospel--faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He gave us families so that we could help each other live this Gospel. Prophets have authority to teach the Gospel and administer the ordinances of the Gospel. When people decline in their faith, or don't want to repent, they reject the prophets. Jesus Christ came to teach His Gospel and to perform the atonement--which makes the Gospel possible. His Apostles continued to teach the Gospel after the ascension of Jesus Christ until they were likewise rejected. Over many years of apostasy, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ was distorted. Jose Smith wanted to know what was the true Gospel. Through him, God restored the knowledge of the Gospel as well as the authority to perform its ordinances. The Book of Mormon clearly teaches us the Gospel. Millie, remember this. Hermana McRae and I have tried to teach the Restoration by focusing more on the Gospel and we've seen a huge difference! It's much easier to invite people to be baptized if we've been talking about baptism the entire lesson. The Spirit is a lot stronger. Go look in PMG, Chapter 3, Lesson 1, and highlight how many times it refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ! THAT is our central message:)

     We also did a role play where we taught a lesson and we could only say one line at a time, switching off with our companion. The Franklin WV Elders did Tithing and some of the stuff they said was super funny!

     I've been really sick the past few days. (Like upset stomach, wanting to throw up, etc.) It started Friday and I'm just starting to get over it. I really think it's just from stress. I'm worried about starting my last transfer, about Millie leaving soon, trying to get Odalis and Ana baptized, etc. I'm really grateful for a patient companion who tells me to stop worrying about it;) I've been eating basically only saltines for the past three days, besides being surprise fed some sopa con arroz. My appetite is wayyy down and just going shopping and looking at food today made me feel icky. Hopefully I'll feel better soon. 

     It's also been freezing cold here. Church was canceled on Sunday because of the cold. It's been about 15 degrees, but 0 or -10 with windchill. (School is also canceled, which is ridiculous if you ask me;) It snowed a ton yesterday so cars were grounded at around 7 pm. We got a member to take us out last night and then spent the rest of the evening shoveling our snow and our neighbors' snow. We only got about 4-6 inches, but VA just doesn't know how to plow snow like UT does. 

Hermana McRae & Hermana Crandall
     We're disappointed that church was canceled because now we have to change Odalis's baptismal date. 

     Oh, and on Valentine's Day we made cookies with Ana to deliver to people. She's doing pretty well and is already in Mosiah 17!

     Also. I had a realization this past week that God wants us to do family history so that we learn to love our ancestors more! Why would we want to be with our family forever in the Celestial Kingdom if we didn't truly love them? My setting apart blessing talks about how my family will feel the Spirit of Elijah while I serve my mission. Looks like the genealogy bug bit Hapa this past week;) Only 7 weeks left for Lindsay and Rob to catch on...

Okay that's all for this week:) I love you all lots!

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