Tuesday, September 23, 2014

22 September 2014

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Sarah sent a couple of songs she sang as attachments to her last email.  Blogger does not have an audio player so they are easiest to post as "videos" even tho' there are no visuals.
Hola,
I can not believe that we are already in week 6 of this transfer. The first couple of weeks were very slow and now it is almost over. For the first time I am 100% sure that a change will be made, but there is still the anticipation of [not] knowing what changes they are! It was another amazing week. With lots of great miracles and moments!
On Monday I had a great 16 month mark day. It just gave us reason to celebrate which was fun! Then we had an amazing 1st lesson with the Saldana family. When we originally met them the wife had stopped us and asked for a pamphlet. She said that she would call us but never did so we just kept bugging her. Then almost a month later we have an appointment with her. So, we knock on the door and her daughter answered. She told us she wasn't home. We were a little disappointed, but then she said that she was at her aunt's apartment so we go over there and she asked us to come back at 8:00. SO, we came back at 8 and the whole family was there! Even the daughter-in-law. We gave them a house blessing. Then we talked more about God and how he guides us. Everyone seemed engaged and interested so we are excited to see the future of their family.
Tuesday was another great day. We started it off with a wonderful district meeting! Then we went to do service at the senior center. It is always so interesting to be there and try to help out. Then we had an appointment with one of our investigators, Sandra.  We brought a new sister that just moved in, who speaks Spanish, but of course, she was not home. Then we went to a potential in the same trailer park and she let us in. We had given her a house blessing the previous week.  The one who had never let anyone from any religion come in. We came in and talked about the Book of Mormon. We had left her one the last time we were there so we explained a bit more in order to help her understand the importance and start reading it. Part way through her husband came in and joined in the lesson. It was a good family bonding moment for them. The accepted our invitation to read and so we are going to follow-up with them about it this week! We started teaching a second family! Then we had a practice member lesson with one the teenagers of the Ward. She is really sweet and had really good and deep questions for us. It was a good practice. It was also so nice just to get to know her! Anyway it was a really good day!
Then on Wednesday we had planned to do service for the Bishop's neighbor but she forgot to buy the paint. So, we went out in search of service and couldn't find anything. We stopped by the homes of members and went to some food banks, but no luck!
We went to an appointment for a house blessing with Georgina. She told us that she is a believer of the Catholic Church which means she isn't very active, but she believes in God. She enjoyed the house blessing and accepted a second visit.  We will see where that goes. Sometimes as missionaries you can't tell if someone is just being nice or they actually are interested. With her it is also very questionable, but the best part is that we can just try it out and see what happens. In the evening we had a nice talk with JB. She just moved back into town. She acts like our mom, so we wanted to take care of her for a change. It was nice to just talk openly with her and answer her questions and help her to learn more about the gospel!
Thursday we went to Laytonville to see a potential we had there. It was raining, but it just made all the trees and things look so pretty. We went by the potential's home and were a little surprised when an older non-hispanic woman answered the door. Turns out that her husband was the potential and when he came to the door he let us right in. They were very welcoming to us, not too interested, but we shared Because of Him with them and left them with a prayer.  At least we planted a seed of the Spirit for later! It was a wonderful experience.  We headed back to Willits for the Farmer's Market. The coolest part about it is that we met these 2 girls traveling from Spain.  Hermana Hooton and I got to talk to them in Spanish. It was really cool. The part that was even cooler was the man in the booth across from ours officially introduced himself and now we are acquaintances.  He sells produce and assorted meats like lamb. He gave us free lemon cucumbers just to snack on.  He was really nice! He is also a very good business man. I have noticed him before and how he networks with people and things like that.  He does a very good job.  It was nice to officially meet! In the evening we taught a member lesson to Sister Starr. I love being in a member's home because it helps us learn who they are, be in their environment.  To me that is when the relationship really develops! We talked about the spanish work and how it is starting to boom, but that we still need the members help. She gave us some people we should go and see. It was really nice. Except the scary part was that she lives up in Brooktrails.  We had to travel in the dark on a windy mountain road, but we made it home safe!
On Friday evening after planning, we went for a walk with a sister in our ward. I know she has had medical problems which restricts her at times from coming to church  She recently had a doctor appointment where they told her that her brain is like someone who is 85 when she is only in her 60s. In order to slow down the memory loss she needs to be more active, verbally and physically. SO, we went with her on her nightly walk and got her talking! It was a really nice stroll through the country side and a tour of her farm! We really enjoyed it. It was so peaceful and relaxing and we did a lot of good. We were also walking with her neighbor who works on the farm and is also a member.  When this sister went home, the other sister had us help move chickens and see the wool she had died from her sheep and things like that. I learned a lot about animals and got to be around a lot of them too! The best part was seeing their draft horse compared to their other horses. He was HUGE and I was amazed at the differences! It was a nice little experience.

On Saturday morning we went to a baptism for the spanish elders in Ukiah. We did the missionary moment, when they were changing.  I sang a song with Hermana Hooton accompanying (the Baptism Song included). It had been a while since I sang a solo.  I really enjoyed it. Baptisms are always great! We were so happy to be there to support. The Elders invited us to lunch with a member, one of the spanish member,s and so we got free tacos and boy were they good.  I realized how much I missed hispanic food.We had a night of finding because of canceled appointments and things.  W have some that have potential so we are excited to go back!
Sunday was lovely. We did a special presentation in PEC about how we all need to "Work together as one" and that missionary work really needs to start with the Ward Council if you want it to grow! It was the Primary program, which was awesome of course! I love to see those little kids being silly and bringing the Spirit! It is always a great experience. After church we went to Covelo. I don't know if I have explained Covelo before. It is a town in our area over an hour drive from Willits. Our ward missionary leader lives there as well as the 1st counselor in the bishopric.  They are currently the only active members. Every 3rd Sunday they have a Sacrament Meeting there in the afternoon. The 4 of us missionaries went to Covelo. The only problem is that it is in the valley and so the road to get there is very windy and doesn't make you feel very good, We got there safely.  Sadly, no one showed for Sacrament Meeting.  We just had a special meeting for missionary work in Covelo. We planned to organize a caroling group as well as a day we could come up and do missionary work in Covelo. It was great to support them in the efforts to strengthen the kingdom. The one default was I got pretty sick on the way back. I didn't actually throw up or anything, but I am still recovering from the symptoms.  We are going to Fort Bragg today, another windy road, so I don't know what is going to happen. Anyway I took it easy the rest of the night and I hope everything goes well today!
I hope you all are having a great day and I hope you will have a wonderful week. I am so very grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord. To see my weaknesses and turn to him in order to make them strengths. There really is plan for us here on this earth and my hope is to fulfill it the way God wants me too!
Les Quiero!
Hermana Cornwall

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