BEST. WEEK. EVER!

Wow! This week was absolutely wonderful!!! :)

On Monday we had a shortened Pday, but we got to go see Lori in the afternoon. Bless her heart, she is having a rough time! I hope that things work out better for her. Hopefully things will look up soon and she will be able to get her life in order.

Tuesday was also awesome! We got to go over to the Baroi family's house for dinner again (The family from Bangladesh). She made us all of our favorites and is even going to teach us how to make them later this week! Woo Hoo!! Bengali food for everyone!!

Wednesday was truly a special day! We got to start the morning off by going to the temple :) After nearly a year away it was so wonderful to just be inside those walls and be able to feel so peaceful and really at home. I love the temple so much. I think the best part was being able to do a family name. It was neat to feel a little more personally involved in the work there. I hope that i have this same spirit of Elijah 6 months from now :)

After the temple we were able to go and visit this nice woman, Rita. Rita is an older widow. She is so sweet and has so much faith! She is Seventh Day Adventist, and just wonderful. We got to know her and she told us of lots of spiritual experiences that she had had. We 'forgot' a Book of Mormon at her house, so we should have more to tell you about her soon :)

Also on Wednesday we were able to have a lesson with Jean. It was short and we were able to answer some of her questions that she has had while reading the Book of Mormon. She is so wonderful! She is like my mom away from home :) She was baptized about 5 weeks ago. She just finished 2nd Nephi, and is practically counting the days until she gets to go to the temple :) Love her!

To close off that day we went to Young Women's. Since this is mostly a student ward, the youth program is pretty small. It was so fun though. We gave the thought and we talked about the Book of Mormon. We both told about how we came to know the Book was true and the power and impact that that had had on our lives. We then went on to enjoy the activity with them. They all got a blue copy of the Book of Mormon. They chose a word that described how they wanted their year to be and decorated their book to go with that. They wrote their word inside and throughout the next few months they are going to study with that word in mind. How awesome, right?? The words ranged from peace to joy to adventurous to epic.

My word was FAITH.

Great Faith to be exact :)

Thursday was very exciting also! We didnt get to count homeless people :( They decided it was too dangerous for the sisters.-- I am not sure they realize how many homeless people we talk to from day to day. Oh well though. better safe than sorry.

We did get to go help out and be the organizer type people for the homeless count while the elders and others went out though. That was fun!

We also got to go drop off some citrus to some wonderful people that we have met lately! Citrus in Southern California is great! It softens hearts like nothing else :)

In the evening we got to have dinner with Tanya, TK and their family. Tanya has been a member for a couple of years. TK is a former investigator. That night will talking we asked him if he would be interested in taking the lessons again, and he said he would. We will see how it goes! We have an appointment there tonight!

We have had lots of fun picking citrus and bringing it to people :)

Friday and Saturday were a little slower. Lots to do, but less to report. We had pumpkin curry for dinner on friday. I would highly recommend it. Thank you Haines family! :)

Saturday was super busy. We had interviews with president in the morning. The were a bit longer than expected. Like an hour each. It was good though :) 

We also got to teach Jean again on Saturday. We talked about patriarchal blessings. She loved it, she is hoping she will know if it is the time to get hers or not soon :) Cute :) 

Sunday was also wonderful! Church. Of course :) wonderful Sabbath:) We got to have dinner with the Lambert family. They are pretty much the coolest people I have ever met. If you want to know what it means to really live your life consecrated to the Lord. Ask them :) 

And now TODAY :) Sister Decker and I have decided that we wanted this week to be one of change. So, we made a movement to make it just that :) 

This morning we got up and went hiking in the hills of Loma Linda again, but this time it was better. We brought with us some paper swords and such that we had made and did our studies up there. During our personal study we wrote on them our 'weapons of rebellion'. and then we buried them. 

Alma 23:7

"For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against god any more, neither against any of their brethren."

Well, that has been my week in a nutshell :) It was a lot of fun. I love you all so much! I hope that you all get the opportunity to "Lay down your weapons of rebellion" 

I know that this Gospel is true. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ works. It strengthens us and helps us to be better each and every day if we just let it work in our life :) 

Have a good week!

Sister Hope

Ups and Downs

If there is one thing I have learned since coming to California it is that missionary work definitely has its' highs and its' lows. This week has been a bit slow.

We were able to teach Lori, and it was interesting to say the least. One of the hardest things about missionary work is when people are simply just not in a state where they can accept the message of the Gospel. Everyone always asks what the hardest thing is. Its not being away from family. Its not missing out on Facebook or new Movies. Its not getting up early or living on our own. Its seeing people that have felt the spirit, who have received some kind of witness that what you share is true, and simply choose not to act on it.

I am grateful for my knowledge of agency and why it is such an important thing, but lets be real-- sometimes I hate it. Its heartbreaking to see people miss out on so much happiness in life because they dont have the faith to take a big step. Some day they will I hope. Life has a way of building our faith. Or rather, God has a way of building our faith.

We also got to stop by and see Mary and Lemar last night! We had a wonderful visit, and we are thinking that now might finally be the time when they have been prepared. Mary is coming to our stake relief society conference this weekend, so that should be awesome!!

Also some fun things happening this week:

We get to go to the temple tomorrow!! WOO HOO!!! It has been so long :) I am so excited!!

Also, we have an awesome service project! We get to count homeless people at 5 am :) How fun!! AHH-- It is so neat to be able to work in such an awesome community! I love it! Redlands is wonderful!

Anywho! I hope that all of you have a wonderful week! I love you!

Sister Hope

Sorry. Please excuse me while I brag about the weather for a moment. Our chocolate melted together in the car because we left it there overnight. In January. Yes, I am enjoying the sunshine :)

Language of the Spirit

Well, dear friends, another week has come and gone. It seems like they are flying by extra quickly these days :)

I dont have too much time, so I will just tell you of a few of our adventures this week.

First off, did you all know that you can request to have sent to you patriarchal blessings given to deceased ancestors? Um. Coolest thing ever. I would highly recommend it. It is a neat way to be united with your family. Spirit of Elijah :)

Onto other things though.

This week we had a way awesome experience. Being in southern California we get to meet people from all over the world. I am pretty sure that I have served a more foreign mission that most other people. Besides having running water and electricity all the time (Tender mercies really). This week we were able to have dinner with some members of the ward that are from Bangladesh.  My name is now Bon Asha at their house :) (I have so many names here... :))

Anywhoo we got to go and experience their culture, and it was AWESOME :) We got to eat with our hands and feel of their Christlike love :)

The invited many of their non-member family members over, and at the end of the meal we decided to just sing for them since some of them didnt understand very much english. They were really interested in me being able to speak a little spanish, So I sang "How Great thou Art to them in spanish. At the chorus Sister Decker came in in English, and to our surprise the whole family came in in Bengali. It was so neat to be able to be united with them in our belief in Christ. They are such a wonderful family. I hope that  I have more to tell you about them soon :)

Anywhoo. I hope that this week has been wonderful for all of you and that you have all been working hard to accomplish your new years goals :) If you dont have any, now is a perfect time to set them :)

I love you all!

Sister Hope

no pictures.. Beautiful sights

This week was a pretty slow one. Not a ton going on. The area is pretty slow in general right now. The Elders are having a hard time finding people to teach as well. We are always busy though, so that's good!

We did have a super awesome experience this week!

Remember Lori? Maiden name Beach? So we had a lesson on Family History with them this week and silly me did not even make the connection until that day that her husbands last name is Nelson. WHAT?!? I was telling them all that I could remember from what Mom has talked to me about, and I think that I am related to both of them! CRAZY! I showed them the temple name that Mom sent to me and there was a lot of silence. It was so awesome to feel that spirit of Elijah in the room drawing us together :) We want to set up a time to go to the family history center to help them prepare their family names for the Temple, and also figure out where the relations are at! Woo Hoo :) 

Other than that I dont have too much to report. We just talked to LOTS of people. That's pretty fun though, so I cant complain.

The ward I am in is a little different. There are two huge hospitals here, and most of the members of the ward are residents. Its like a singles ward, but everyone has like 3 kids under 5. Primary is huge :) Its really fun though. Lots of young vibrant people to make things interesting. And lots of doctors to ask all of our medical questions. Its weird how transitional it is for a family ward though.

Also something interesting about this area is that one of the medical schools, and hospitals -- Loma Linda-- is a religious school. They are Seventh Day Adventist. Its fun and interesting. Its like Provo is to Mormons as Loma Linda is to Seventh Day Adventists. People always tell us we are in the wrong town... Its great though. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met! 

We had an awfully fun adventure this morning. For our exercise and studies we went out to some mountains-- okay, more like large hills-- and went for a hike and did our studies out there. It was so fun! It was a little annoying because you could hear the interstate buzzing in the background, but over all it was great. I love being able to enjoy God's creations! I have lots of pictures, but I forgot my camera. Lo siento. Maybe next week :)

Well, I love you all! Hope this New Year is looking BRIGHT :)

Sister Hope