we slept in until 7:30.........I felt like a sinner

Another wild week in Santa Clarita! 

Transfer day is always pretty hectic. Because we are Sister Training Leaders we help the other sisters get moved and settled in. This transfer we had two sets of sisters who are all new to the area. Plus two of the sisters are completely new to the mission! So we were running all over the place (in the rain) trying to help the sisters out, and get done in time for L's baptism. I am not sure why we planned the baptism on the day of transfers hahaa. 

 

We also got the news that we had to move apartments. Now we live in Stevenson Ranch. I forgot to write down the address, but I will send it next week. Our new apartment is super nice. We are spoiled! We live in the "departing missionary" apartment, so whenever sisters are going home, they stay at our apartment for the night. Our apartment has 4 bunk beds in it and two bathrooms...which means for every other day of the transfer Hermana Salazar and I have our own bathrooms! The departing missionaries that stayed with us this transfer were Hermana Day (my trainer) and Hermana Woods (another Hna I served around) plus two other Hermanas. It was fun to see them right before they left! We had to wake them up at 4:20 am and make sure they were out the door by 5:20. I was exhausted. It was hard to go back to bed after all the excitement of them going home, but we were told we should make up on our lost sleep, so we slept in until 7:30. That was weird. I felt like a sinner sleeping in... 

 

(we shouldn't post names or pics of anyone besides missionaries - I'm breaking a rule - this is a wonderful picture!)

Anyway! Let's move on to the highlight of the week. L's baptism!!!! It was perfect. So many people came out and supported her. She was so happy to talk to her son, and he was thrilled to see her be baptized. At the end of the baptism, he got to share his testimony over skype. But here is the best story. Fast forward to Sunday morning. Hermana Salazar and I went early to conference so we could watch the Spoken Word (I love the Motab). 15 minutes before conference, in walks Hermana L. She was sweating and her church shoes were covered in dirt. She had walked 1 hour to the stake building to watch conference! Majority of the branch members drove to SLC to watch conference, so Lidia was nervous no one would be able to give her a ride so she decided to walk. She walked in the chapel and said,

 "I took the whole day off work. I was NOT going to miss this."

 I sat next to L with a very happy and humbled heart. I felt the spirit so strongly as we sang the "halftime hymn" (which they do not translate into spanish) and I could hear her quiet voice singing "Rejoice the Lord is King" and pronouncing the words that she could. Then to turned to us and said, "Are you fasting too? It's the first Sunday of the month right?" I. Love. Her. And I know Heavenly Father had the biggest smile on His face to see His daughter being so faithful. A scripture came into my head: Alma 48:17

 

17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Lidia Flores, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men. 

 

I love being a missionary! Conference was awesome. Our Heavenly Father loves us very much. He sends many voices to call us, beckon us, plead with us, direct us to repent, change, reach our eternal potential, and keep our families safely on the path back home. God is not silent!

 

Random Stuff:

1. I hit my 10 month mark!

2. We had carne asada after conference yesterday...I think that should be a new family tradition! Forget the ice cream :)

3. I thought I saw Brennan running by my apartment yesterday. Pretty much whenever I see a tall bearded man I think It is Brennan hahaa. You would be shocked how many times I've had to do a double take because I thought I saw Brennan. Love you Brennan!

4. The Zone Leaders I work with are from Shelley, Idaho and some other random town 30 minutes from Rexburg. So life is good. Idaho missionaries are the best ;)

5. Thanks for sending Grandma Hedges funeral stuff. I really enjoyed reading it all!

 

Love you Mom.

 

Hermana Moo

View from my apartment

weird flowers!

We bought some Mexican candies at the food truck. This is called Pelon: Pelo Rico. It is supposed to look like hair! I love these candies. They are made with tamarindo and chili powder. Yummmm

 We found a punching bag during Knock Out (when we knock doors from 4-6) We had to take a pic!

Here is a photo to remind you that I am a goober

 We found some random outfits as we cleaned our old apartment

These nasty lizard's are everywhere! Why does something so little scare me so much!?