Have An Open Mind

Week 32, Transfer 5
Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch)
Companion: Hermana Park

We had transfers this week! I am now officially back with the one and only Hermana Park! MTC us could never have imagined where we are now, haha. It's been so cool to see how far we've come with Spanish and as missionaries. It can only be attributed to the Lord's hand!

On Friday, we had the wonderful opportunity of experiencing two back-to-back bash sessions where we were preached at for far too long. By all means, it's wonderful to share your beliefs, ideas, and thoughts, but boy, is it different when the whole purpose is to prove another belief wrong. Needless to say, dinner with Rosa that night was much needed, haha.

Speaking of Rosa... homegirl is AMAZING. FANTASTIC. INCREDIBLE. She has been helping out a family we are teaching outside of lessons and when we’re not there. Last week, we were supposed to have dinner with Rosa and go to Ceci's house later that night for carne asada. Hermana Leatherwood, being the genius she is, had the idea to combine the dinners and have a cook-off with Rosa and Ceci, both of whom love to cook.

One of the biggest miracles was how quickly it all came together (and how delicious the food was). Both were so excited and willing to combine! We ended up having a huge fiesta with basically Ceci's entire family (brothers, sister, cousins), Rosa's family, and eight missionaries. Dinner was followed by an incredible lesson. Alejandro came up to me afterward, and we had a really good conversation. We even ended up giving him a Book of Mormon. Later, we got a text from Francisco saying he felt something special during that lesson and has a deep love for God.

We are in the very, very, very, very beginning stages of trying to start a Spanish branch in Yuba! So many of our friends live far from the branch in Linda but are just down the street from an English ward. Between the four companionships in our Spanish branch, we are teaching enough people to not just create a branch but to make a ward. We just can't get them to church because of the limited cars and ride situation. Please, please, please pray that translation will work out and that our friends will continue to have the desire and ability to attend a closer church, however this needs to happen.

Mosiah 5:12-13
"12 ...retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything!

Remember that God loves you, always and forever,
Hermana Ellis

Fotos: Photo Album

Notable Quotes:

Hna Park: What things are stressing you out right now?
Hna Ellis: The eternal salvation of all of these people.
Hna Park: ...that... that... you can be stressed out about that.

Henry (this 10-year-old kid): Can I share my announcement?
Us: Yes.
Henry: Okay, I have five body parts... (He was drawing dragons.)

Hna Leatherwood (laying her head on her lap): Whoa, you have abs!
Hna Horton: ...that's my leg.

Hna Ellis: How are you doing with the tiny shower?
Hna Park: I can see over it, so it's going good.

Hna Ellis: What are we going to be for Halloween?
Hna Park: Avocados! (Stay tuned.)

Hna Genzer: Bucket goals. (Referring to a bucket list.)

Hna Leatherwood: Soggy knees... that unlocked a memory for me.

Garrett (a friend after a lesson): Can we pray for you? That you'll have an open mind?

Hna Horton to Hna Leatherwood: You're just jealous of the Greek translation Bible.

Elder Peterson (straight-faced): Do your hips LIE, Elder Layton?

Hna Leatherwood: I was just touching the starfish!
Hna Horton: You were HARASSING the starfish.

Hna Leatherwood (to the Elders): Do you guys like building stuff? I just want to help you release your manliness.
Hna Horton: They're eating yogurt with socks on... maybe they do need to release it.

























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