A Week to Endure

Well to be honest this week was pretty rough all around. Monday, we did our shopping at the mall and tried to just relax. We had a family home evening with the Artola's and Erika and her girls. It was a really good lesson. It was simple because, like most Hispanics, we spent most of the time talking. Then we spent the rest of the night knocking doors and looking up some less actives.

Tuesday, we spent the the beginning part of our day knocking doors and trying to find anyone who would listen. Then we tried a less-active named Claudia Requeno. She was there which was awesome because we hadn't been able to talk to her in a long time. She had surgery on Sunday. So we shared a quick message and tried to help her feel good. Then tried Anguie but she wasn't home. So we went to an investigator the Elders gave to us. We gave a quick lesson and spent time trying to get to know her. Then we had dinner with a member named Raquel. She is super nice and she makes some good food! She is from Columbia. Then we helped her out and did her dishes.

Wednesday was a day of knocking doors. We spent most of our time going door to door because all of our lessons canceled. Then we tried Myriam Perez. She was home but so was most of her family and one of her friends. It made it more of a conversation than an lesson but it was pretty good. Then we went to Lourdes and Mynor's. Once we got there no one was there so we tried calling them but no one answered. So we left to go look someone else up. We got like 5 min away and they called asking where we were so we turned around. We had a good lesson with them. They are really progressing to baptism!! It is so exciting seeing someone so ready to make this covenant and to progress closer to our Heavenly Father.

Thursday was a little crazy. We had service at a community place and we planted flowers and pulled weeds. It was fun! Then we had district meeting. It was kinda of funny. We practiced door approaches and what we say when we knock doors. Our district leader was an old woman, and I was the mean one that slams the door. It helped a little bit and changed what we said some what to hopefully get more people. Then we just counseled about our people and went our ways. We did some more knocking doors and just trying to find someone. That evening we talked to a less active named America. She is from Peru. Super sweet. She told us that she doesn't work Sunday's any more so she can come to church! Yay! Then we had a really good lesson with Anguie that night. We learned more about her thoughts and feelings.

Friday was really slow. We had weekly planning which takes a while anyways. Then we had deep clean so we had to do a really good cleaning of our apartment. My mom would be so proud of me. I did a lot of mucking and chucking. We tried to get rid of anything we didn't need and reorganize. We moved out beds back to our bedrooms to get more room in the living room. Then we had dinner at Hermana Quispe. She makes some yummy food. She even like had made up the recipe and it was still really good. Then we tried meeting up with the ASL sisters but they were running late and that person couldn't do it any later. They were working with a deaf kid but his parents speak Spanish so they don't understand the parents and wanted our help to help the parents and make understanding.


Saturday we painted some guys back patio. The ASL sisters had been knocking and he need help so we helped. It was kinda of fun. Then we went to Artola's and I did Hermana Artola's hair for a wedding she was going to that day. Then we did some knocking. However we found an investigator who had been taught in the past that we have been trying to get in contact with for the past almost 12 weeks. Her name is Joana Rivera and she is from Honduras. Then we had our lesson with Milagro and her kids. It was good we are trying to figure a way to get her to church. Then we spent the rest of our day knocking.

Sunday was Father's Day!! Happy Father's Day to all the dads! We went to the English ward to translate for Kelly. After church she told us she wanted to get baptized Saturday. no matter what it took. So maybe a baptism this week! Then we had Spanish ward which was only sacrament because not many people came so there was more point in the whole three hours so it was only one. Then we had dinner at the Artola's. Then knocked some doors. We went to our appointment with Hermana Mercado but the Elders were there so we couldn't be there. Hermana Williams was not all that happy they took our FHE. So we knocked some more doors and looked up a less active named Rossy which in the end was good.

Funny/ rude moments of Geraldine Artola.
On Monday she told Hermana Williams she was getting a little chubby.
On Tuesday she said she guessed she liked her new skirt but it would have been better in white.
On Sunday she told me If we get married we had to invite her to the wedding. So over all Hermana Williams and I will most likely not get married because we are chubby and have no fashion sense. So everyone knows
this is our future. Which is ok cause Hermana Williams and I can just grow old together.

This week I did a lot of study on the atonement and enduring to the end. I was looking for a talk for one of our less actives and this is the one I found which helped me a lot. It is from October 2015 General Conference called "The Strength to Endure" by Elder Maynes he says:

"Every morning when we wake up, we face a new day filled with the challenges of life. These challenges come in many forms: physical challenges, financial setbacks, difficulties with relationships, emotional trials, and even struggles with one’s faith. Many of the challenges we face in life can be solved and overcome; however, others may be difficult to understand and impossible to overcome and will be with us until we pass on to the next life. As we temporarily endure the challenges we can solve and as we continue to endure the challenges we cannot solve, it is important to remember that the spiritual strength we develop will help us successfully endure all the challenges we face in life."

I know each of us face hard things in our lives. I know that some seem impossible to overcome. However I do know that through the atonement or suffering of Jesus Christ anything is possible. My companion and I saw small miracles of the Lord leading us to some people to at least talk to when knocking doors. None of which we have been able to talk to again but at least they know the name of the church. In those miracles we became stronger and relayed a little more on the Lord. This week I learned the importance of pushing forward and giving everything to the Lord. I would encourage each one of to find the strength in the atonement and put all your trust in the Lord. He will make you strong in times of need and he will see you through. I love each and everyone of you! I pray and hope you have a great week! Maybe share the gospel with a friend😉

Love
Hermana Ashford