Week 7

So..here I am in Phoenix or The lone and dreary world as I like to call it right now. I never knew being a missionary could be so hard! I had a lesson in the CCM of how our homes were the garden of eden and we were cast out into the lone and dreary world -- or the CCM. Then, the CCM became the garden of eden and the mission field is the lone and dreary world. That is where I am right now. The Lord wants to prune me a little more and teach me some more things. It's a bit difficult from this end though! Dad, I appreciate that I am allowed to feel overwhelmed. Every day it gets a little better though.

So, the trip. I made a goal to give away one BofM in the Mexico airport. I told my teacher that and when I went to our classroom to get my things I found 3 more sitting on my desk. Apparently he wanted me to give out some more - so I did! I traveld with one other girl (going to Boise, Idaho -- look out for an Hermana Clegg mom and dad) and we acted as companions and gave out 3 Books of Mormon and many Mormon.org cards. It was scary at first, especially because I couldn't understand them, but luckily Hna Clegg is really good at Spanish. I just bore testimony and handed them the book. We figured it was a great way to start the mish. I tried to call you, mom and dad, but the operator said your phones weren't collect calls and it wouldn't go through. It'll be more fun in a couple weeks anyways. The flight was super uneventful (I used that word just for Jayna). I walked out of the terminal to find this 7 foot man and his wife waiting for me. Little did I know he was my mission president. I definitely look up to him in more than one way...lets just say that. One of the elders that is an assistant to Pres. Toone is like 6'7'' too. It was strange going from the Mexico people to Americans. I was the tall white girl in Mexico, and quite the opposite in the airport. I got to talk with them for about an hour as we waited for the missionaries from Provo to arrive. That was pretty cool. I didn't realize that most missionaries don't get that much time with him, so I was grateful for the opportunity. They are amazing, definitley like my parents here in Arizona. I was pretty homesick for Mexico the whole day. I missed my district and my comp, the food, everything really. All the other missionaries knew each other so it was weird. It was really hard knowing I had just had these amazing experiences in Mexico and no one understood the transition I was having. We stayed in a members home that night and had transfers the next morning.

My trainer is Hermana Taylor. She is from Washington. She's been out for about 3 months. She's pretty cool. Hermana Gates set a high bar for my other companions, but she's growing on me every day! She knows a lot of Spanish, so that's good and bad at times. That night we taught a man named Jose. That was a little intimidating! haha. I'm so green it's ridiculous. Our zone leaders tease us about greenie blessings. We had 6 investigators show up at church on Sunday and we had like 11 member presents this week and one investigator on date. We really have been blessed. I'm definitley fine with it!

So I'm serving in Phoenix, if you didn't catch that yet. I'm in a spanish ward. It's great, just different. I really can't understand anyone yet so that's pretty frustrating. I'm ready to be good at spanish now. haha. We have dinner appointments every night with some of the best mexican food I've ever had. They definitely feed us a lot. I'm just praying my body can process it all and I don't gain wait. My companion has already gained 10 lbs and I hear the average is 15. Oh my cupcakes. We'll see what happens. The members here are amazing. We took a lady to an appt and she ended up teaching the whole lesson! They are so focues on missionary work and so willing to help us. A lot of the members are converts themselves so that helps a lot too. They're great.

Yesterday was Stake Conference for our area. President and Sis Toone actually came to our meeting and talked. For some reason I had a feeling Prs. Toone would call on me to bear my testimony...sure enough. He asked me and one other elder to come up on the stand and bear our testimony of the Savior. I was so grateful for that experience. I've never been so calm talking in front of 600 people. It was really cool and I'm so glad our investigators were there to hear it. They have translation for spanish speakers, so even though I can't tell them in their language yet, they know now that I do have a testimony of Christ and I am a representative of him. It was cool.

Anyways, my time is running out. But, I want you to know that I do have a testimony of the Savior. This has been the hardest time of my life, but I know that He has been with me every step of they way, holding my hand and pushing me along. I have never felt closer to my savior than I do now, and I am so grateful for that - especially during the Christmas season. I love you all and hope you can feel the love from the savior the way I do. Have a great week!