fourth floor last door - knock until we find Harriet :)

Exchanges

 NOHO!

 We had another great week here in Sunny Sun Valley! Here are some highlights

1. Sunday our Ward Mission Leader came and knocked doors with us! It was so fun. He was not even nervous. We set a faithful goal to find 2 new investigators, and GUESS WHAT!? Our prayer was answered and we found exactly 2 new investigators! This week I have been thinking a lot about Presidente Utchdorf's talk about having the faith to knock until the fourth floor last door. God has promised us that hearts have been prepared. The field is already white. BUT we must be full of faith and knock until we find Harriet :)

2. This week we have been working hard to help members become more confident missionaries. We have started by giving the members in our area a copy of El Libro de Mormon, and we asked them to write their testimony on the front page. Now as we go and knock doors we can hand out LDMs that already have a powerful testimony of a convert inside of it. We plan to connect our members to the inv. we gave their testimony to. Members are the key to missionary work. Fact.

3. This week I have been studying the difference between being faithful and faith FILLED. I remember Presidente Campbell teaching this in an institute class, but I think I am truly understanding it now! It seems strange to call Laman and Lemuel men of faith, but they did what God asked of them. They, in a way, were faithful men BUT let's take a look at Stephen. 

    Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, FULL OF FAITH and POWER, did great wonders and miracles among the people."  So being full of faith means our entire body and soul in filled to the brim with faith. That means my brain (thoughts) my body (actions) my heart (desires) my spirit, everything is working in faith. Stephen is a perfect example of a missionary that was all in. Being full of faith=Being fully dedicated to the work of the Father. And what is the work of the Father? To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (moses 1:39) 

4. We were out knocking doors and this nice protestant couple gave us some soda they had just gotten from Mexico. Fanta and Pepsi are 100% better when "hecho en Mexico"...just a small thing that made me happy this week :) 

ALSO The Hansen family (looooove them) sent me a fall package filled with decorations, talks, snacks, and goodies. Also something that made me very happy this week :)

Well I cannot wait for conference! I hope you have a great week mom. Keep on keeping on! 

LOVE YOU MOM!

   Hna Moo 

I saw Jay Leno!!!

Phew. What a week! It is go time here in North Hollywood! I am still in North Hollywood. They just moved us to a new apartment, so I could live with the other STL. Here is how the week has gone:

Monday: We had an AWESOME family home evening with Norma and her family! We had two families from the ward come, and everyone got along so well. We played a little game called "Getting the family Domine to the temple." I will send pics.

Tuesday: Transfer day is always a little nuts. BUT GUESS WHAT!? I saw Jay Leno!!! Hahaha for some reason he was sitting in his super fancy car in the middle of Sun Valley. He was just chillin'. I was like, "Whoa. That's Jay Leno!" and my comp said, "Who the heck is Jay Leno?" Well at least I was pretty pumped! 

     

My new companion is Hna Smith from Virginia. She is 19 and has been studying at BYU Provo. She is great. I was praying that I would get a companion that would want to work hard for these next 12 weeks, and my prayer was answered!! Her first day in the mission consisted of us going to teach English class at the church building, but someone ended up calling the cops over something silly, so we had to be evacuated. Welcome to North Hollywood!

Wednesday: We are teaching another family, and we were able to have a lesson with almost the entire family. The oldest son and Dad are not interested, but the mother and 3 teenagers are meeting with us. The mother doesn't want to make any big decisions without the approval of her husband, so we will be praying for the heart of her husband to soften, but Hna Smith got to give her first baptismal invite at that lesson!!! Wahoo! 

Thursday/Friday: Consisted of us meeting with members, knocking doors, and helping Norma make Mole for El Dia de Espanidad!

Saturday: OH MY LANTA! THIS WAS A WONDERFUL DAY! Guess who I saw at El dia de Espanidad??? La familia Montoya!!!! I about wet my skirt. They are still consistently going to church, and they told me they are getting married at the end of November. We swapped info, so they could keep me posted! Turns out my old companion Hna Vega just visited them with her family and they all went to Malibu together :) I always make sure to tell the Elders in Canoga Park to keep a close eye on la familia Montoya!

Sunday: Church. I love Sundays. I think my favorite 10 minutes of the week is when we take the sacrament. It is just a peaceful moment to recommit ourselves to the Lord.

Alrighty. I think that about sums up the week. We have been seeing so many miracles. It is amazing what can happen as we pause, pray, and take time to feel the spirit. We were sitting in the car this week, and we were trying to choose a less active family to visit. We said a prayer and we felt prompted to visit a less active family that had previously told us they were not interested in meeting with us. Well spirit knows best, so we went over! We ended up meeting a less active son we didn't even know existed! His daughter, who is 17, had just run away from home, and he was in need of some comfort and support. He said he would love for us to meet with his 2 daughters. I am so glad to know God is in the details of our lives :)

I love you Mom! 

Hna Moo

"vas a votar por Trump?" (are you voting for Trump??)

The Seeeesters

Me and Sis. Ipson

Alrighty...here is the scoop!

I have been called as a trainer and a Sister Training Leader! I will be living in a 4-man pad with the other STL and her trainee! I have 12 weeks left of my mission, and I have been praying fervently for an opportunity to step up my game 10 notches. My prayer has been answered! I cannot wait. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to serve the other sisters and help a new missionary learn to love being a missionary. I love being a missionary. Seriously though...it is the best :)

This week we have planned a family home evening with Norma's family. It was so fun to sit down with her family and give each kid an assignment! They are very excited to be hosting a FHE :) Hopefully this will help the family recognize just how much the gospel blesses families!

We had a zone training this week on the Book of Mormon. We talked a lot about the early missionaries and how all they took on their missions was the clothes on their back and the Book of Mormon. They were WILDLY successful! The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is a book with a promise. You can touch it. Read it. Pray about it. And you will receive an answer through the Holy Spirit!

Look what I found! (Idaho License!)

Two other cool quotes from my studies this week.

"When you can either be right or have peace, CHOOSE PEACE."

The Book of Mormon is to be used to "restore knowledge" Cool! (2 Nefi 30:3-5)

Random/Funny Stuff

1. Some Elders have been growing some peppers in their apartment. They gave us their pepper plant and it was FULL of weeds. They thought it was just more peppers. They need to spend a day in the garden with you and dad :)

2. This nice little Mexican man asked me the other day, "vas a votar por Trump?" (are you voting for Trump??) Just because I am the only tall, white, blonde one in the room...hahaa

Well I hope you have a great week mom! Have so much fun in October!!! Give those boys a million besos for me :)

LOVE!

   Hna Moo

 District Dinner

we had to get our oil changed. waiting outside of pep boys pic...

these have been sitting in our apartment forever...we finally got rid of them!

The District

We made this little cake for the elders...apparently 'yeet' is something people are saying these days. I am too out of the loop!

Living The Mission!  

BOOM - a pit bull was standing in front of us.

 First things first...the weather has been BEAUTIFUL here. 

We are talking mid 80s.

 It is glorious. 

We had another great week here in sunny Sun Valley. We are teaching a family that has been investigating the church for about 6 months. They were being taught by Elders, but they decided Hermanas would be better for the family. We have taught them a few times, but we felt like we needed to have one-on-one time with

the mom. 

We saw her while her children were at school, and she really started to open up with us. Her extended family is SUPER catholic, and they keep asking her when her children are going to do their first communion and all that jazz. Her daughter wants to have a quinceanera (it's like a sweet 16), but first, the catholic church wants you to do your first communion. It is all very traditional, and N...... is afraid her family will look down on her for converting to another faith. 

It is a tricky situation. The goal is to keep the family strong and united. We are praying that her family will open their hearts and their minds and support N........ and her family. You can't help but envision N........ and her family dressed in white being sealed for all time and all eternity. ETERNITY.

 One of my favorite quotes is by Richard G. Scott. "Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences."

Here is a cool scripture I read this week. "When he [The Lord] hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" -Job 23:10. We are sons and daughter of an all powerful God. Our potential is limitless! Everyday we have the opportunity to be refined...we can look at our trials as an opportunity to to become shiny like gold :) God is shaping us to be genuine gold not gilded brass. 

Random

1. Warning *you are about to read a typical missinary vs. dog story*

A couple days ago we approached a fence. We rattled the fence. Whistled. Rattled the fence again...we saw no dog, so we walked in. My comp is TERRIFIED of dogs, so as she walked in the gate she told me, "If there is a dog, I am going push you in front of me." Well that is exactly what happened. I turned around for one second and BOOM and pit bull was standing in front of us. My comp pushed me and she ran. We both got out alive.

2. We had a pretty chill Labor Day. We were able to talk to a lot of people who are usually out working, so it was a blessing! We had a noche de hogar with a few families from our ward. The theme was temples because a few of those families are preparing to be sealed. WAHOO!!!! I want to go to a sealing so badly!

Ok that is about it! I love you Mom. Have a great week. Look out for miracles!

LOVE,

   Hna Moo