Training Week and Transfer Reports

Hola familia,

Well, we had a new missionary training last Tuesday for all the missionaries who came out with me. It was really good to see the two elders who were in my MTC district--one is in Galt (next to Lodi) and the other is in the hills of Sacramento (really wealthy, hard to find Hispanics). I made a HUGE mistake and told the APs that I could play the piano, so they asked me to play Called to Serve and We Are All Enlisted. Wow, I don't know how to play those hymns. It was humiliating and I laughed it off--a lot. President Lewis and one of the APs thanked me and told me I did a good job--don't lie? Commandment? :) The training was in Sacramento--so we had a fun little field trip up there. I guess it's about an hour north of where we are. We talked about questions we had, how we could overcome certain challenges, and heard from President Lewis and his wife. They had all the new missionaries share their testimonies and then they served us lunch. One of the elders we came with is from New Zealand and he shared with us that his mom was getting baptized on Saturday!! We were really excited to hear that. And then one of the sisters who came with us from the MTC is from Kiribasti and her dad got baptized on Saturday, too! We're seeing miracles happen every day, even if they don't happen in our mission.

That night was pretty ridiculous. We were running around trying to hit all the places we missed in the morning because we kind of forgot about the training. Then one of the coordinating sisters (the two coordinating sisters are companions and they go on exchanges with all the sisters in the mission--I think there are about 20 of us in all--because our district leaders can't go on exchanges with us like they do with the elders) was going to stay with us Tuesday night and proselyte/teach with us on Wednesday. We were pretty nervous to have her come stay with us and spend Wednesday with us because we felt like she was going to observe us the whole time. Of course she did observe us but it was a great experience. I felt like I'd kind of run into a wall because Sis Carlos hadn't really taught me much more. I learned a lot from the coordinating sister (Hermana Fernandez) about how to organize things (like our area book), how to effectively contact people, and how to plan (for member present lessons, with commitments at the end of lessons, etc.). It's amazing how much she crammed into my little head in just one day. The coordinating sister is 30 years old (but she looks like she's 24!) and she's from the Dominican Republic--she was baptized in 2008 and went on a mission just two years later.

On Thursday we had dinner at the Martinez' house. Brother Martinez is the new (I think) first counselor in the bishopric and we just got a new second counselor. Sister Carlos was surprised that they invited us over to dinner because they never invite the sisters over (even though they're in our area). I think it might have a little to do with the fact that I play the piano every Sunday in every meeting and he and his wife really appreciate that. Even though playing piano is not my favorite thing, I think it's helping the ward members recognize who I am and giving us an opportunity to know each other. It's a blessing in disguise. =

On Thursday night we got a call from some English elders in the other Stockton zone who said they found a gem of a man. His name is Jose (he's our third Jose, and we have three women named Rosa--we have a lot of Sandras too). We met with Jose on Friday--we had the most Spanglish conversation ever. Jose is an alcoholic and was in the park reading a Christian book the day that he met the missionaries on Thursday. He realized he needed to change his life and had prayed on Wednesday for help to overcome his addictions. When we taught him on Friday, I asked him to be baptized on September 24 and he accepted! We have a lot to work on before then--we haven't taught the Word of Wisdom yet or any of the other lessons for that matter, but he came to church with his daughter Jasmine and that's a huge first step. Sis Carlos and I prayed so hard this weekend that the talks on Sunday would be appropriate for him and that Priesthood and Sunday School would go okay. The talks during sacrament meeting were absolutely perfect--about eternal families--and Priesthood was about the temple. We're very excited to teach Jose (Reyes) this week and are praying that he can remain firm for baptism on Dain and Malinda's birthday. :) You like how I did that? Yeah.

We also met with a woman (one of the Rosas) named Rosy whose husband just left this last week. She has three children and doesn't really know what to do now. We were trying to teach her what the Holy Ghost is and point out a time in her life when she's felt the Holy Ghost. She said she's never really felt loved (because her parents abandoned her as a child and she grew up with her grandparents) and that she's felt peace maybe just a little bit. My heart broke for her and I know that what she needs is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the comforting words of the Book of Mormon, and the fellowship of the ward members. We're hopeful for Rosy, too, and are anxious to find her at her apartment again.

Is it weird that I love contacting people? I love tracting. I'm sorry to say it, but white people are just not friendly like Hispanics. Americans slam the doors in our faces with no shame, but Latinos are respectful and are willing to talk and hear our message. Every time the door is slammed in our faces or people tell us that our church and the Book of Mormon is just fantasy (we had a man tell us that this week), my testimony is strengthened. I feel the Holy Ghost stronger thanks to the people who reject us--and I recognize that as a tender mercy from the Lord.

I love you!! Have a beautiful week. Dodge those hurricanes and earthquakes that are supposedly happening in the world. News to me!

Love,

kates