Hello, Hello, Hello! I hope all is well!
So, there is so much I have to tell you, and the truth is I forget half of it by the time I actually get to a computer on P-Day! ;-) So, I'll do my best to make you feel a part of all that has been going on. My mission is amazing! It is the best choice I ever made, and I know that is true. Come what may, I am so grateful that Heavenly Father allowed me and prepared a way for me to come!
So, this last transfer, I kept my companion; however, we lost the set of Elders in our branch and we took over the entire area! That's been fun getting used to! I don't know how much I'm supposed to tell you, but Sunnyside is a little sketch-mc-getch! I hear sirens everyday down here. But it's the most amazing thing! I know for sure that the Lord protects His servants. There are very few times when I've felt uneasy being here, and when I feel uneasy I listen to the Spirit and all is well. :-)
We are teaching a handful of investigators right now, but we're mostly just trying to find all of the people that are supposed to be in the branch. We have like 60 Less Actives, and like 15 regulars at church. Then we have members from neighboring wards that are called to serve in Sunnyside. So, in case you don't know, Sunnyside is GHETTO, I have had some of the craziest things happen out here. And it only happens in Sunnyside! :-)
So, We're teaching a woman named ----, who is a single mom with 5 kids. We're teaching a man named ---- and his girlfriend ---- and their kids. We're teaching ----, who is super cute and has two precious little kids. There are a handful of others we are teaching, but I unfortunately don't know how long we'll be able to because we get ditched a lot. So, I'll refrain from mentioning them.
I want to tell you a story about ---- though. We met her on Saturday, she is super cool. She wanted a Bible, and we ended up teaching her the Restoration. She has an amazing story! She has nine kids, and a few years back she went to sleep and didn't wake up until a month later. When she did wake up, she was paralyzed from the waist down. The Doctors said she wouldn't be able to walk ever again, and she would also have brain damage. She said the time when she was in the hospital and she couldn't do anything she was praying, and reciting Bible verses. She finally got a copy of the Bible and read it. She began to improve and she is comppletely functional today with no real lasting effects. She lost her Bible and that's why she wanted another one. I know that God blesses all of His children and He knows how to prepare them to receive His word. She has a solid testimony of the power of scriptures and prayer. It's amazing! She was really excited to visit with us. It was a miracle in my life to meet her.
The members are great out here! They live it like it's everything. The members that come out from Silverlake are really nice, they are usually the ones that feed us, because the members that live in our area can't really afford to. There are some really amazing families. And I can just see Heavenly Father's hand in it all. Why these members at this time, and why the old ones get released when they get released. Heavenly Father is good and planning! I am astonished more every day at how intricate Heavenly Father's plan is, and how He weaves each life of His children together. Simultaneiously molding and shaping us to become Celestial. Heavenly Father knows how to handle all of His imperfect children perfectly that they might become such as well! There are a couple of families that are my super favorite. They are just so sweet, and caring.
You can see the people who are dedicated when they have to pack up a familiy and drive 30 min., or the people who have to ride on the bus just to get to church, but whatever comes they get there. There are crazies in this branch, just like there are crazies everywhere, but they teach you so much about how Heavenly Father loves us all, and they show their dedication to Him through sacrifice.
The weather down here is hot, but it's going to get hotter. I miss the snow so much! It finally rained last week, and it felt so nice. It was cool for a couple days after that, but it's warming back up again. Feels like you just got out of hot shower when you step outside the door. :-) I'll get used to it, but I'm looking forward to freezing when I come home for Christmas! ;-)
On P-day we do all sorts of things. Sometimes we have district activites, sometimes zone activities. Usually, I just do whatever my companion wants to do. So, recently that's been going shopping, or activities with the district at the church. Today we're going to Jamba! There isn't one in our area, but there is one in a zone. And we can go anywhere inside our zone, but we usually stay close to area because of miles and stuff. At the beginning of my mission my companion, who is now home and engaged, took me to bridal stores every P-Day. I even went ring shopping with her. ;-) That was an adventure. She didn't have a boyfriend when she was my companion, just so you know. :-) My other companion went home in Dec. and married an Elder from the mission in Jan. ... That was a little weird, not gonna lie. It's funny all the mission drama! ;-)
I enjoy the activities with the others, more than all the shopping, but that's okay. I'll take what I can get, right. :-)
I'm kind of out of time, so I'll have to tell you more next week. But my Mission President is a great guy, and he's taught me a lot. My prayers are answered every day, and I'm always meeting somebody that's just "only in Sunnyside"! ;-)
I love you all very much! Life is busy, but life is good! I hope you have a blessed and safe week! Peace be the Journey!
Forever,
Sis. Chris.
P. S. The Brethren just made a new Sister calling...they're kind of like ZL's but only for sisters. They are Sister Training Leaders. Pretty cool, huh? With so many new sisters they needed somebody to take care of all the drama since the Elders wouldn't know what to do with it! :-)
