Called To Serve...in Houston, Texas: JUNE 30, 2014: ONE YEAR

Hello family!

Can you believe it? I've been on my mission for one whole year (july 3rd). Every time I try to comprehend it, I kinda freak out..It's not possible!

This past week was filled with so many awesome experiences...where to begin...How about Tuesday! So we woke up at 2:30 am...yes you read that correctly...to get ready and drive down to houston for our temple session that started at 6:30..It was one of the coolest experiences thus far on my mission...President and Sister Pingree joined us and it was like we were all one big happy celestial family, dressed in white. Before we left, he and his wife hugged each of us and everyone was just crying their eyes out. I'm going to miss President so so much..He has changed my life forever..He is by far the most christlike person I've ever met. When he looks at you, you instantly feel the love of the Savior fill you up! Our new mission president, President Mortensen arrives today with his family..pray for them por favor!

On the way back from the temple, everyone except for Hermana Crandall (the driver) passed out from exhaustion. I slept for an hour and a half straight until I heard a firm voice say, "You need to wake up, right now." I was jolted awake to see Hermana Crandall resting on the steering wheel, nearly asleep. I said, "Hermana, are you okay?" She sat up straight and nodded her head. To keep her awake, we told stories lol...After we got home she said, "You woke up right when I was about to fall asleep."

There is no doubt in my mind that we are watched over 24/7 by heavenly angels..There have been so many instances on my mission where we've been protected by the hand of God..Thank you for your prayers too!!

On Thursday before english class, Hermana Crandall and I decided that we should invite Elvia and Olga (two young girls in their 20s from mexico) to be taught the lessons. They seem super prepared and open to hearing more about the gospel. They were the only students that came to class and at the end of class, Elder Barney began to ask questions about religion and whatnot...He turned it over to us and guess what? We get to teach them tomorrow! I love these girls so much and I hope that will have the desire to come closer to the Savior..

Friday was amazing...why? Because I got to go on an intercambio (exchange) with my mission mommy!! That is.....Sister Schellhous! It was just like old times and we could not believe that it had been a nearly a year since the last time we were companions..We had a really cool miracle that day too..So one of the ladies they're teaching, Aneliese, wants to get baptized after only having like 3 lessons..The problem is, she smokes..She called us during our lunch hour and said, "Hi sisters, I'll be able to meet with you on Monday and Wednesday but I won't be going to the addiction recovery meeting on Thursday." Our hearts dropped for a moment..Does she not want to give it up? She continued, "I quit." She quit smoking that morning! She said that when she got up and prayed and then went to smoke, she got half way through a cigarrette and it tasted AWFUL to her. She completely lost the desire! She couldn't stop her grateful praise...From this I learned: When there's a desire to change to become more like the Savior, the Lord helps us in any way possible. With God, nothing is impossible. (luke 1:37)

Last night was quite the night...After we ate dinner with Norma (recent convert), we had an hour before our lesson with Dad..We hadn't done our studies because usually on Sundays, we have meetings, church, and then its go go go..But we felt like we needed to go home and do a half hour of personal study and a half hour of comp study. As I knelt down to pray, I asked God, "Should we teach him this lesson?" We were planning on teaching him about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost but something just didn't feel right to me. I studied and prepared for the lesson but when we came together as a companionship, it just did not work. It didn't flow at all. We were out of time and I felt so scared. What in the world were we going to teach him?? We prayed, left the apartment, and went to the Gaspar's to use their computer. I felt so much fear at that instance. I didn't feel connected with Hermana Crandall and I felt like she didn't care. I told myself to stop. This was the adversary trying to throw us off. With tears in my eyes, we prayed and went into the Gaspar's house. We connected with Dad, had some small talk and then started with a prayer..I still didn't know what we were teaching..I opened my mouth, praying that the Lord would give me the words and said, "Alright Dad, today we're going to teach you about...." I said the first thing that popped into my head, "Repentance and baptism." HOLY COW. I turned to Hermana Crandall and we both gave each other surprised looks.

We let the Spirit guide us through the lesson..It was so special to be so in tuned with the spirit..We did whatever the Lord wanted us to do and it was the exact lesson that my dad needed to hear.

We invited him to be baptized on August 1st and he said, "I'm going to have to decline...I don't know if I'll know by then and I don't want to say yes and change my mind." From there, we were able to dig deep and see what was holding him back. What did it come down to? Family. He is afraid of what his family will think and not being able to keep the Word of Wisdom. He said, "Would you rather me be a bad mormon or not a mormon?" We told him, "You're going to make mistakes after your baptism. You will not be perfect. That is why we have the Savior."

After he shared his concern about his family, I felt prompted to ask, "Dad, do you seek to please God, or man?" His eyes went big and he said, "Well, I'd like to say that I want to please God more.." He took the question to heart as we continued to ask, "What is it going to matter in the eternal perspective of things? The approval of man? Or being able to live with your family forever."

I know that the words we shared touched his heart...He told us that the senior couple in Virginia asked him why he hasn't gotten baptized lol...He said, "If I were to get baptized, it would be right to wait for Emma to get home." Wahoo!!!! He has been giving it some thought! He also said, "Maybe there's something in the Book of Mormon that I haven't read yet, I'm only in Alma.." Oh daddy... :)

I'm so grateful for the time that I've had so far to teach my dad...It has taught me so much...The greatest thing I've learned? Patience. Everyone receives their answer in the Lord's time. The important thing that matters though is that everyone who seeks an answer, receives an answers that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that this is true.

Haircut-5 inches gone-feeling refreshed.bye bye 5 inches....and it's still long! wahoo!! #longhairdontcare