Super Latino 10/25/21

 WOW! What a week!

Our friend Anna is still doing great! In one of our lessons we just had she brought up baptism and that she has a desire to be baptized and follow Christ. She is so ready and we are super excited for her. We also had another lesson with Jesus and Ruby this week and it went great.

We found three new people this week to teach about Jesus Christ. One was through facebook and we have a lesson set up this week. One was a media referral which means they reached out to us (the local missionaries) through the media. One was through a member, a coworker that she works with. The Summer Grove Ward has been doing good and we just pray it continues to grow. Especially the Spanish because we want to turn this Spanish group into a branch!!!  

Funny story! Thursday night la familia Rabadon fed us tacos for dinner. Hermana Rabadon asked if we like Spicy food and I said I love Spicy food! She then pulled out extra sauce to put on it and I naturally put a few extra scoops on the tacos. Time passed and once we were all done eating Hermana Rabadon said surprisingly "wow you really do like Spicy, I saw you put a lot more on and I looked at my husband and said oh no. Then you started eating and were fine and I looked at my husband and he was sweating" she then started laughing so loud and her husband just sat there. Lol it was soooo funny. (Dad I know you're proud of me there, I have upped my game:))

This week I was reading about obedience. President Russell M. Nelson said, "Obedience allows God's blessings to flow without constraint" I love this quote so much. God loves each and every one of us but he doesn't lower his standards for us. He cares for us and will bless us BUT if we want all of God's blessings we must strive to be obedient. Yes we fail and yes we make mistakes but that is why the Savior died for us. We must actively strive to be obedient and there will be continuous blessings without the restraint that we put on ourselves. 

Pictures:

1-2 : a sunset we saw while driving home so of course we had to stop!

3-4 : at my favorite tienda, Super Latino, in Newnan! (A pic of the pupusa and taco I got;))

5 : the Medorios had a día de los muertos party and of course we went! 

6 : a random pic of waiting for our friend to answer our call while eating pretzels 

7 : HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hermanita Johnson 10/18/21

Wow! What a good week! So much happened! Big one is that we received Sister Johnson! She is so awesome! She is from Saint George Utah, loves to dance, is the second oldest child in her family, and loves sharks MAYBE as much as ME (jk but we do love them haha) 

Not going to lie, I was a little nervous training in a trio with a companion that JUST got out of training but it has been so much fun! We always joke around to make each other smile, even though Sister Ginn and Sister Johnson always team up on me.

This week we had a lesson with our friend Anna and it went so good. She is really progressing and loves going to church. There are a handful of members that are really good friends with her so she is getting great member support. Anna's birthday is today and the members are throwing a party for her! 

I hope you all have a great week and remember, God loves you!!

Pics:

- Sister Ginn and my last pic as just the two of us

- The BEST custard at Whits 

- Sunday Picture with our roommates

- A lunch walk:)

Unexpected News Again 10/11/21

 Just as I thought getting to Summer Grove things would chill out, yet unexpected things would be happening... I am training! President called us last Monday night and said how there is 1 new sister coming in to the mission next week that has a weird MTC track and will be speaking Spanish. President told us how I will be training the new sister in the Summer Grove area and that we will be in a trio until the end of the transfer (for 2 weeks). After the 2 weeks there will be transfers, and Sister Ginn will leave, and I will continue to train the new sister in Summer Grove! I am super excited and a little nervous but I know God really does qualify his children for the things they are called to do! This Thursday we are going to go pick her up at the Mission Home!

On Sunday Ruby came to church with Jesús! Our first lesson together was the week I got here. Ruby is a member and Jesús is interested in learning. They also had their baby’s blessing today! It was really special. After church we had a lesson with Hermano Sanchez and it went really well. We are super excited for the next few lessons, he expressed how he really wants to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Cool little miracle! Since the Elders left and I arrived here, all of the friends that they were teaching were switched over to us to continue teaching. We haven’t been able to get in contact with one guy, then on Sunday at around 5pm we called him and he answered! Not only that but when we asked what day is best to have another phone call he said how about after church this next Sunday in person! (He had come 2 times before) We also told him about English class that we are teaching community members and that the classes are every Sunday at 6:30 pm, then he showed up an hour later!

When we were driving home from a lesson Sister Ginn asked me what is one of the biggest things I have learned from serving a mission so far and I said, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ NEEDS to be central in our lives. Jesus Christ did not just die on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven. He died so that He can stand by our side knowing the hard things we go through. He died so that we can live with our families and Heavenly Father forever. He died so that we have the opportunity to repent and be better every day. He died so that we can be filled and know of His love. I know that Jesus Christ died for you and me. You are not alone no matter where you are. I hope each and every one of you can try making the atonement more part of your life. I know it has changed mine and it will change yours too! 

Pictures:

- A church classic Georgia sign Sister Ginn and I passed when working out

- Us with our friend Emmalyn who just got baptized, she has goats! :)

- Snow cones that melted faster than I have ever seen

- Fun Service!

God Loves You 10/04/21

Hey everyone! My first full week here in Newnan! I feel like I have been here forever! 

Tuesday night we had dinner with the Garcia Family. They don't speak a lick of English and are less active members. They are so sweet and loving. We got to know them and they said they would love to have us over AGAIN! For our spiritual thought at the end of dinner we shared Alma 37:36-37 which states;  

    36 Yea, and ^acry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy ^bdoings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy ^cthoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

    37 ^aCounsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for ^bgood; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the ^cmorning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

We talked about how prayer has been a part of their life and they shared some humbling experiences with us. We are really excited to go back over and visit with the Garcia Family again soon. 

We got quite a few Spanish calls set up for this next week! We had a call last week with a guy named Irvin and it was so good. It was our first lesson with him and we set up another call later and he said he was wanting to come to church! 

We have English class every Sunday night. Last night Hermano Sanchez started our class for us (we were going to be a little late coming from a dinner). We walked in and he was teaching about the Gospel! There were only 2 people that came to the class but apparently one participant asked about church, so for the whole English class we talked using English (defining words). We invited them to church this next week and so we hopefully they can come! 

I am so grateful for all of you and I pray you all are doing good! Remember that God loves you and he wants to communicate with you! Don't forget to say your prayers!

Pics:

- Sister Ginn and I getting ice cream @ Brusters 

- General Conference with the Olivers and our friend Anna!

- Sister Ginn and I waiting for a friend to answer our FaceTime call

SISTER GINN 09/27/2021

Hey!! This week was a wild one! I left Jackson GA and I am now in Newnan GA! My companion is Sister Ginn and she JUST got out of training! She is from Utah, is the oldest in her family, loves being outside, and attending musicals. We also graduated in the same class.

 On Tuesday President called me on the phone before transfers and said how he is putting me in an English ward and is trying to start up a Spanish group and that I will have a comp that doesn't speak Spanish! All of that is true lol. Summer Grove is the name of our ward and the people are so awesome. Apparently there use to be a little Spanish branch a few years back but it closed. The Branch President (Hermano Sanchez) of the closed Spanish Branch is now the Ward Mission Leader here in Summer Grove! There are quite a few Spanish members that are already in the ward. Hermano Sanchez is awesome. Every Sunday he translates for the Hispanics that come to the service. It is a pretty unique situation. Once a month we also have sacrament talks in Spanish, along with Spanish lessons during Sunday School.

I am now in the Newnan Zone/ Stake. Apparently last transfer there was only one Elder that spoke Spanish in the Zone because there is not a ton of Spanish around, and he was in charge of everyone. (President is trying to open more Spanish areas in Newnan) That Elder just left this transfer and I just arrived here. I am now the missionary that will teach English classes and the Gosple to the all Hispanics that live around here. I am a little nervous haha but I am sooooo excited! Next transfer I will get a Spanish companion and it will be in a Spanish area. As Sister Ginn described the situation as "We are in the Puberty stage of turning this area into Spanish" 

We live with 2 other sister missionaries. One of the sisters is named Sister Burch and she also just came out of training. Her companion that just arrived here as well as me, is Sister Griffith! She trained Sister Golightly and was with Sister Silveria which is funny because I have been comps with both of them too. Both sisters are from Idaho as well!

I love you all and hope you know Heavenly Father loves you too. This transfer, one of my goals is to have deeper prayers (cuz I am gonna need them lol) I know that prayer is so important and God hears them! I know that life is crazy but as long as we make Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our foundation we will not fall! I hope you all will make extra time to have deeper prayers this week and I know that if you will Heavenly Father will give you strength!

Pictures: 

-A picture from Sister Denios Baptism last week

-Saying bye to the Knights!

-Sister Ginn and I at Downtown Newnan

-Our apartment playing chopped with the minimal amount of food we had this week 

-The Sisters decorated my bed for my 7 month mark

-Breakfast today!

Transfers This Week 09/20/21

 Hey everyone!!! We are outta quarantine and alive!! Sorry this week will be another short email! 

- Rebecca's baptism was on Saturday and it was so special! Her husband baptized her and it went really well.

- We found 2 people in JACKSON! Crazy huh? In the good old boonies!

- I attended my second sacrament meeting in the Jackson Branch

- Sarah and the Volles did an "UP" dinner for sister Silveria and I:)

- We got transfer news this past weekend and I am leaving Jackson. On Wednesday i'll know where I am going and who I will be with.

Pics:

Still in Quarantine 09/13/21

Happy PDAY everyone!!! This week was a week of quarantine! Definitely had its ups and downs but I am doing good! Here are some things that happened below!

-I went and got tested for Covid again because I started to not feel good and I was negative again (just a fancy cold but its pretty much gone now)

-I think I watched almost every video on the Gospel Media App

-Crated extra content for our Facebook Page

-Got to call and talk to my family on and off

-Had our last Zoom lesson with Sister Deino before her Baptism on Saturday the 18th!

-Colored a lot of pictures and sent them out to people(good ole service)

I love you all and appreciate the sweet letters and emails I received this week! Have a great week!!

Here are pictures I have for y'all this week:

1. Me getting to talk to baby Arlo!

2. A coloring sheet I sent to a friend:)