Ellis, Lexi PT

Week 43, Transfer 7 Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch) Compañera: Hermana Park After 4 months in Yuba and MTC time plus 2 transfers with Hermana Park, I'm staying in Yuba for transfer #7 and going for MTC plus a third transfer in the field with Hermana Park! We both had strong impressions that we were staying. Everyone was convinced I was leaving since I've been here for 3 transfers already, but the Spirit doesn't lie, and I guess our mission president felt the same way. I am so beyond excited to stay in Yuba with Hermana Park! Christmas this week was amazing! We made tamales with Hermana Quintero on Christmas Eve morning, and we spent Christmas Eve night with the Hernandez family in our branch and basically their entire extended family. It was so fun! You can always feel so much love and the Spirit of God in their home. It was so special, and we shared a message about loving others with Light the World. Super cool night! We slept over that night with the other sisters i...

Week 42, Transfer 6 Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch) Compañera: Hermana Park Highlights Found Sylvia this week! Hna. Park found her on an exchange, and she was so down to come to church. She ended up having a situation and couldn't come, so we stopped by and shared about eternal families, and she was very excited to set a return appointment next week! Had our mission-wide Christmas party! We did some service projects making food bags, birthday cards, and fun Christmas things, made a rap about Buddy the Elf, ate Christmas dinner, and had a super good devotional that was basically our zone conference for the transfer, so it was super lit! Our Spanish branch's Christmas service on Sunday was combined with the Hmong branch and the English ward. It was super crazy but super cool. There was a lot of music! Each branch/ward sang a musical number, and so did the primary kids. One of our new friends came to church for the first time and really liked it! Fun fact: the realization of...

Week 41, Transfer 6 Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch) Compañera: Hermana Park Highlights Junior got baptized on Saturday! He was so happy and excited, and the confirmation was amazing on Sunday. Junior was thrilled to choose one of the songs we sang at his baptism—his favorite hymn—I Know That My Redeemer Lives. Also, the font may have drained a little bit right before he was baptized, but all was well in the end! I didn't know it was possible to feel as much joy as I did the morning of his baptism. I've felt joy from the gospel before, but my soul just knew how meaningful this would be for him for the rest of eternity. All I could feel was an undeniable, indescribable joy deeper than anything I've ever felt. I can testify that this gospel is joy, and there is a reason missionaries do everything in their power every day to help people like Junior experience that same joy. It is of eternal importance for each and every one of our souls. Gladys is on date for baptism! As ...

Week 40, Transfer 6 Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch) Compañera: Hermana Park Highlights Had a super interesting conversation about missionaries and Utah's economy that turned into an hour-long lesson. Had about eight lessons with members planned this week... all of them canceled except one. Then, we had an impromptu lesson with one of our members when we asked Hermana Quintero 20 minutes before the lesson. She's phenomenal. Junior's baptism is in less than one week! He is so ready and so excited. We had a lesson with him on Sunday, and when he walked into the room, he was glowing. Keep him in your prayers, please! Hermana Park and I hit nine months this week! We got Coldstone to celebrate (Nita, I thought of you!). Can't wait to go full steam ahead for the next nine months. Spiritual Thought Alma 26:22 "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries...

Week 39, Transfer 6 Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch) Compañera: Hermana Park A little longer than normal, but some cool stories this week! Highlights Thanksgiving this week!!! Due to a slowly improving concussion (please keep praying for Hermana Park!), we weren't allowed to leave the house until Friday, so I cooked up our own Thanksgiving dinner for lunch on Thursday! Hermana Park and I pooled our resources - stuffing, mashed potatoes, and rolls from a member a few days earlier. I even Meta AI'd a gravy recipe that doesn't involve any actual normal gravy ingredients because we're living on a missionary budget here. I ended up making mushroom gravy, and it actually turned out really good. We were scared until we ate it, to be honest. We even got to call our families! So fun to see so many family members at Thanksgiving dinner in Utah! Also, shoutout to my mom for DoorDashing us Thanksgiving dinner. Those burgers were 10/10. Despite the concussion, we were able to h...