Transfer number 9, trying to stay alive

Mi familia eterna,

Pierce--HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow and congrats on the Sports Illustrated ad!! Wow. Sister Novakovich and I saw the SI with the high school basketball player who's LDS and were really tempted to open it up and read it but conjured up enough self-control to just walk away.

Mom--I was waiting for the scriptures last week but assume they're headed here this week! I died laughing with your Roman stories.

Sorry I don't have more pictures to share this week--I forgot to bring the camera connector because I packed a different bag since we went to the temple this morning! We got transfer calls last night. I thought for sure that I was out of here, so last week I told President Lewis that Sister Schow wasn't ready for me to leave yet and that I wasn't ready either. I loving living in her home too much, and the ward has really grown on me--plus I don't want to leave the familia Rodriguez yet! It turns out that I'm sticking around East Sac for at least two more transfers because I'm training again. I cheated and came to the mission office today and found out that her name is Sister Toro and she's from a small town in Utah, and President told me last night that she was born in Chile (her father is Chilean) and they moved here when she was about seven or eight. Hallelujah for a bilingual companion! I'm still determined to be companions with Hermana Estrana from Peru (of course) and Hermana Romero from Mexico (the one I was originally going to be with last transfer). I think this means that I won't be going on exchanges with the sisters this transfer since I'll be doing the training program (two hours of companionship study each day... not my fav).

I'm sad to see Sister Novakovich go. We really had a good time together, and now she's headed down to Manteca. My dying wish to President before I finish my mission will be to go to Manteca--I'm crossing my fingers! That means I wouldn't serve in the Spanish branch in Sacramento/Elk Grove, but I love Manteca too much that I'm willing to make the sacrifice!

Let's see--our car's broken down right now and in the shop. I went to sleep after midnight last night (just kept thinking and thinking--I did that last transfer, too) and woke up at 5:30 to go to the temple this morning, so my eyes are burning like none other. And we're rebuilding our investigator pool right now becaue we dropped a lot of people this week who aren't progressing--we're on the hunt yet again! But hey, life is good and I'm getting a brand-new missionary who has lots and lots of energy to walk in the sun every day to find new peeps. She might have to start dragging me soon.

Sister Novakovich and I taught Gospel Principles this Sunday--the lesson was on sacrifice. That's a word that's become very common for me on my mission. Sacrifice, patience, love, humility. Those are definitely prominent themes on my mission. The interesting thing is that the mission is always an uphill climb--hike. I thought at some point I'd just start coasting along--nope. But it's been a beautiful climb with lots of little miracles here and there that bring sparks of hope and light that keep guiding my feet along each and every day. The lesson really made me think about how our lives really are not our own. Heavenly Father blessed us with absolutely everything that we have and an eternal promise that we can return to live with him in never-ending happiness if we just forget ourselves and look to Him in everything. He sent His only Son to die for us, so that we can repent and be completely forgiven. He's blessed us with families, with bodies, with brains, with trials, with laughter, with prophets, with the scriptures, with commandments and associated blessings--all for the sole purpose of finding happiness and purpose in this life and an eternal reward in the life to come. It brings me a lot of peace knowing and having the full and true gospel in my life--and the Spirit to confirm the truth.

Love you all,

kates

P.S. P-day next week is on the 4th of July I believe, so you prob won't hear from me until Wednesday.

Family Baptism and PICTURES!

Querida familia,

Happy birthday Jo in three days!! And Grayer in five days!! And Pierce--well, you have another Pday, but happy birthday in nine days!! Wow, so many June bugs.

Today I'm really hoping to get some pictures sent off, so I won't have much time to write.

The familia Ro was baptized on Saturday!!! It was absolutely wonderful. Sister Novakovich played the piano and I sang "When I Am Baptized" in my shaky voice--I've never sung a solo before, so happy baptism day present to you, familia Ro.

The first picture is the family before their baptism. The father and taller son are Ra (13) and the smaller son is Cr (11). The second picture is them after the baptism (after Ra the father and Cr shared their testimonies and were crying) with Sister Lewis. The third picture, if I remember right, is the boys (Ra, Cr, and Jo) after a lesson--Jo with his lollipop, of course, and Ra with his goofy outfit). The next is Sister Novakovich and I eating habaneros the very first time she met them. Sister's tongue was on fire and her face turned red and she was like milk! milk! even though she's lactose intolerant. Habaneros are killers. And we ate cueritos--pig skins in vinegar--that night, too. Another pic is when we did service for Sister Schow in the scorching sun, but no worries, she gave us some straw hats from Puerto Vallarta to battle the electric rays (we were a sweaty mess after). And there's the lovely Sister Schow!!! And a picture of our district last night at Bishop Woodland's house after dinner with the family. Yep, all 10 missionaries serve in the same ward.

The baptism was really great. Ra gave such a wonderful testimony of his gratitude to be a member of the Church. He was really choked up when he said that Heavenly Father sent us sisters to his home. He called us Hermana "Brinca" and Hermana "Novaca." :) It was a very touching testimony--he has truly been touched by the Spirit and changed. At times I think that I was sent on my mission just for them. I feel a special connection to each member of that family, and the first year of my mission has been preparation for finding and teaching them. We promised them last night that we'll return to go to their sealing in a year in the temple!!! So I'll need to be planning a trip back to Sacramento next June. :) We had a lesson with them last night about temples and taught them the first verse of "I love to see the temple"--everyone was singing, and I think Ra el padre was singing the loudest. :) He loves us--we love them!!

I went on my last exchange for the transfer. It was fun, but I don't like being out of my area for a whole day. The whole week gets kind of funky when that happens. But we had a great week baking in the sun. Woof it's so hot. My left arm keeps getting sunburned.

Love you all! Sounds like you're doing well! 

Love,

kates

Find, teach, BAPTIZE

Familia!

So much to say, so little time. We're going to have three baptisms on Saturday!!! I went on an exchange this week with the English sisters in Folsom. I left Novakovich in East Sac to hold down the fort, and she did it with ease! ... despite some crazy things with finding companions, switching companions, all those fun things. She had a lesson with the Ro family, our ward missionary leader, and her companion who is a return missionary (went to Guatemala). She said Lu (the mom) was almost in tears by the end of the lesson and we learned that a few days ago, Ra and Lu knelt down in prayer and asked if this was the right thing to do and had an marvelous experience. Ra kept saying in the lesson, "I'm ready. I'm ready." Sister Novakovich said this is the best she has ever felt on her mission and that she almost cried. We love this family so incredibly much--don't worry, you'll be seeing plenty of pictures! Oh, and the best lesson Sister Novakovich has had... yeah, I wasn't there. I was in Folsom. But Sister Fernandez always used to say that miracles happened while the exchange sister was gone or with your companionship, and it's true! While I was on the exchange, we visited a woman who randomly came to church (and it's really hard for this area to add new investigators) who is from India who came to the church to find service opportunities (oh she can find it there!) and wants to learn more about Jesus Christ. She said she stays at home all day while her husband works and is very lonely. I couldn't even imagine. She was a true angel.

I went to a funeral on the exchange of a 10-year-old boy who died of cancer. It was a bad sign when I started crying during the opening prayer... I don't even serve in that area! The service was absolutely beautiful. The mom said that he was diagnosed with cancer May 27, 2010 and died two years later to the day. He fulfilled his mission on the earth. They shared wonderful memories of him and talked about the Plan of Salvation. I was filled during that funeral. Somehow they always make you want to be a better person and live your life to the fullest--that's how I feel.

We had a training from President Lewis after district meeting on Thursday. After the training, Sister Lewis came out with us to visit some of our investigators and potentials. We were thinking, "Great! We have two appointments that she'll be able to go to. This is perfect." And then the two appointments CALLED (somewhat rare) and cancelled. So we did our backup plan and met a man who just lost his job and moved to the area with his wife by his side, reassuring him that there is something even better to come. (Answer: the restored gospel.) He was telling us about trials in his life, how he knows that Christ is the Savior and that's how he found peace a few years ago, how we need to LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ (didn't use those words exactly but that's what he meant). He just talked and talked and talked and Sister Lewis and I would look at each other and think, "He has no idea that what he's describing is the Church. This is what he needs!" It was a sweet experience and the exact reason why our two appointments cancelled. Goodness me, love the little miracles that happen every day.

Oh, I meant to tell you last week that I got my hair cut. My first haircut in seven months. Siiick. So yeah, chopped off a good 4, 5 inches maybe. Also, I mentioned to Sister Schow that I wanted some new t-shirts a few weeks ago and she pulled out a shirt that was too small for her, so I'm wearing my 81-year-old friend's t-shirt from Daytona Beach, FL as we speak. :) I'm sure there's something else random I wanted to mention but forgot.

Love you all!! 

Love,

kates

Que Calor!

Mi querida familia,

Que calor! WOW. I feel like I'm laying my face on the stove when we go out--it is so hot! I think we passed 100 this week and it was 97 and 95 other days. I've been making great headway to a very promising farmer's tan. But I will not complain--I'm the one from Texas and Sister "No vaca" (no cow) is the Alaskan. She's suffering and I keep chugging away at the boiling water! But with the determination and work we were able to do this week, we have SIX investigators to church yesterday! Yay! I love when Sister Schow says, "YAY!" and does her little fist pump. It's nice to have a cheerleader at the house when we come home at night.

We taught the Ro family the word of wisdom, law of chastity and tithing--and they've come to church three times and have a baptismal date of June 16--so they are firm for baptism! We're praying that everything goes well and that we'll see three baptisms in a few weeks! I absolutely adore this family. The 7 year-old J still reminds me of Asher (nephew)--they do the same things with their eyes; like how they're checking that you're looking at them. I don't know how to explain it but we are great friends! (Probably because I give him candy of each lesson.) We also had another family come for the first time--la familia Sa (Ed and Mi). They're going to tell us their thoughts about church on Wednesday--we'll see how it goes! We haven't been able to teach them a whole lot--just some of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Restoration. They have two children--one of which reminds me of a little friend in Manteca who was our little missionary (came to a lot of teaching appointments with us!). And the last investigator who came was a girl who lives across the way from a family in our ward. We didn't really get to talk to her a whole lot, but we have an appointment with her on Thursday and she wants to meet in the member's home--bingo! She's almost 21 and has Spanish heritage--one of the first Spaniards I've met on my mission! We're excited to start teaching her--and she just showed up at church. Wow.

I went on my first two exchanges this week--real exchanges like the elders going on splits. (In the past the exchange sister has come with both of us at the same time.) It was really fun! I went with some of the English sisters who actually cover a teeny tiny piece of our area. I got to teach in English and it was a beautiful thing! I know I was called to Spanish work for lots of reasons--one of which was to be humbled a LOT. I have been humbled! Many times! And now I appreciate sharing the gospel so much more, being able to share it in my native tongue. The people that we taught are all so wonderful and I would be just fine if President wanted to transfer me to English for a transfer. Actually, I'd probably not like that so much--I would miss my people a lot. I suppose I'm just fine with going on English exchanges every once in a while! I'm going on my next one on Saturday with the English sisters in Folsom.

We had Zone Conference this week and it was perfect. We prepared talks about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Our numbers have been less than stellar these past few months, although Elder Holland came and said that these next few months would be the best this mission has ever seen and that they would essentially be talked about in years to come. After that our numbers went down and President made a lot of changes to how we administer in the mission--with more focus on ministering, thank goodness--so that we would be a Preach My Gospel mission. Well, I think we're all adjusting to the new changes, which are great changes, and this week we saw a great jump in our numbers. Our companionship alone saw success from it! In Zone Conference President had us think about and answer certain questions like "What lack I yet?" and "What wilt thou have me to do?"--questions that Jesus was asked in the Bible. I received what I needed from the conference and am really grateful for President and the things we learned about being better disciples of Christ.

We had a missionary activity this week at the chapel. The attendance was rather poor, but the ten of us missionaries had a fun time planning and setting up! We made the church into a human Plan of Salvation, decorating the rooms according to the different phases of our lives. Sister Novakovich and I were in charge of heaven, of course, and decorated the Celestial Kingdom exceptionally well--well, with the limited resources we have! We brought in lamps and lots of pictures of temples and Jesus Christ and our district leader made treats and we had music playing. It was a great experience and I think--I hope--the ones who came were touched by it.

Love you all!! Hope you have a great week and don't melt in the blazing hot sun.

kates