I Went To A Catholic Funeral And Ate Brownies

Week 48, Transfer 7

Area: Yuba City (Tierra Buena Branch)

Compañera: Hermana Park

Disclaimer: I fully admit that I copy-pasted Hermana Park's email that she sent out. Anything in parentheses was added by me. Haha. Sorry it's a little long. Enjoy.

Hola familia y amigos! Sorry this email is so late, but I have another extended p-day because we went to a Catholic funeral today! I'll explain more about that later, but let's jump into the highlights of the week!

Highlights:

Knocking in the rain! It rained like every day this week, but the work plugs on, so we knocked in the rain! I'm not a huge fan of the rain (this is where we are different—I, Hermana Ellis, love the rain), but the joy of the work helps me to just get out there and do it, rain or shine, so it was great! We didn't find a ton of people, but that's okay. God's got a plan for them and for this area! (We did find an inactive member from one of the English wards in the area and were able to share some light with her!)

We tried to put our friend Ezequiel on date, but he said he wasn't ready yet, which was so sad! We really stressed the importance of praying about receiving an answer and then being open to actually accepting the answer you received. We brought the Quinteros with us—they are so awesome—and they dropped the mic about how Ezequiel needs to read the Book of Mormon and do the "homework" we assign him to do. Haha! I believe Ezequiel will get baptized one day (same here); he just has some fears, and we need to figure out how to help him conquer those fears! So, if y'all got any ideas on how to help him, send them my (our) way!

We had Zone Conference on Thursday, and it was so good! The whole theme was about Jesus Christ, and it was lit! Sister Basha started by showing different pictures of Christ and talking about the significance of each of them! President Basha talked a lot about being consecrated, which is always something we need to hear and work on, so that was fire! Then the APs talked about receiving spiritual promptings, called "BINGs," and how important they are in the work, and also how to make Jesus "Our Mark" in our lives! (Something the APs challenged us to do was to pray every morning as the first thing we do to be TRUSTED to receive at least one spiritual prompting a day, and then promise God you will follow and ACT on it. As missionaries, and even as disciples of Christ going about our day-to-day lives trying to do our best with family and friends—not as a missionary—we receive multiple promptings usually daily, so pay special attention to when you have a thought or idea to do something GOOD or uplifting, and then go DO IT because it could honestly and genuinely save someone's life.) It was such an amazing Zone Conference, and I learned so much!

Had another lit lesson with the Martinez family and also found their daughter, so another person to add to the souls we can save—yay!

We went to a Catholic funeral today (hence why this email is so late—extended p-day for the win!) because the dad of our branch Relief Society President died. She is the only member in a whole family of Catholics, and we wanted to support her, so we spent half of our p-day at the luncheon of a Catholic funeral. (They also had brownies there, and I have been craving brownies the WHOLE WEEK, and it was just perfect timing—a tender mercy from the Lord.) It was really good but low-key sad because everyone was wearing black and was sad because they don't know the plan of salvation! (We did leave Jesus Cards with scriptures and happy messages and our number on them, though, at the welcome table, so we didn't come empty-handed. Don't worry.)

I hit 11 months on the mission today, which is so crazy for me to think about! (This is the same for me, Hermana Ellis, because we started our missions together—MTC comps for the win!) I used to think 18 months would be the longest time of my life, but now I only have 7 months left, and I can't believe it! (I also agree with this statement. My mom asked me today if I'd be sending anything home in a box before I come home, like a winter coat/sweaters, etc. Seven months will go fast, but it's still a long time. Lol.)

Spiritual thought: We watched the YSA devotional with Elder Uchtdorf and his wife yesterday, and it was so good. I recommend watching it if you haven't! Elder Uchtdorf related our lives to a painting and how, in a painting, you can't see the finished picture until each dot connects. But it takes a lot of time to connect them all, and throughout the time, you wonder why each dot or brushstroke is important. But they are, because you need every single one to create the finished picture, or else it doesn't look the same! Sometimes we have to trust "The Artist" (God) to help paint our pictures and connect the dots to make our beautiful portrait that is our lives. He knows all, and He loves us so much, so TRUST IN HIM!

Keep being awesome! God loves you so much more than you can ever imagine, and I love you all too!

/Hermana Ellis

Fotos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UtFZf4erpztBvg7x5

Notable Quotes:

Elder Bartholomew (while playing the Secret Hitler game): "I'm not putting you as Chancellor, but I don't necessarily think you should DIE." (In the game)

Hna Ellis: "We should probably buy dish soap on Monday."

Hna Park: "I can't afford that. I'm too broke to buy dish soap. I can't even afford a rock...on the side of the road...that's free!"

Hna Ellis: "Que tenga un buen tiempo en México."

Our friend: "Igualmente."

(All the Bryan Regan fans know. Haha.)

Hna Genzer while merging on the highway: "I can't wait to go back to Wyoming where all I have to dodge is tumbleweeds and buffalo."

Elder Neal: "Today we'll be talking about spiritual promptings."

Elder Bitter: "Oh good, I love those."

On a phone call

Maggie (one of our friends): "Yeah, I was gonna start reading the Book of Mormon tonight."

Hna Ellis: "That's awesome, it's a good read!"

Hna Genzer shows her page filled with dried flowers