Elotada

May 25, 2015

This week was pretty good. We got stopped twice by some people from other religions just throwing opinions at us. We were standing on the street for twenty minutes while two girls were drowning us in scriptures and all sorts of weird things. It was strange. And so uncomfortable. Hopefully that's not how people feel when we stop them on streets. Fingers crossed. 

But it made me super grateful for the Book of Mormon again, to help us clarify doctrines in the bible that are interpreted so differently by everyone. 

Other than that, we went to the strawberry festivals this week! It's this big carnival thing that they have here in garden grove with rides and food and booths and strawberries obviously. It was so fun. 

A miracle of the week? We stopped by to see a guy we met a week or so ago and before we could knock on his door, the neighbor came to her door and asked,

 "did you call me?" 

"Um...sure." So we started talking to her and she loved it and she is letting us come back this week. We're so excited. 

Another miracle? One of our other investigators got bombarded by some anti stuff and she didn't believe it! And now she likes us  more than ever now. Woot woot. 

Miracle three? Karen's dad is letting her get baptized!!!!!!! Thanks for the prayers and faith! 

One more? I can do a whole pull up on my own now!!!!

 miracles happen

Today we went to the Elotada! It's the Hispanic party my stake does every year for Memorial Day. It was kinda chilly though. Had to put on a sweater. It was good as always though and fun to get to see everyone. Even the president showed up. 

Last night we went to a baptism of this cute little girl who loves us and before the baptism she just ran right up and gave me the biggest hug and says "when I saw the water I just felt something inside of me and I think it was God telling me He is happy for me."  She is so cute. I told her He was so happy for her and He loves her so much. Haha she is adorable. Her little sister cried for ten minutes before the baptism because she was convinced that her sister was going to drown in the font haha. 

Our area is doing well lately. We have been finding a lot more! Yay! And there is a lot of potential. This is the last week of the transfer so we will see what happens. I decided I don't mind if I stay or if I go. Wherever God wants me. Sister Howard and I planned something fun to do everyday this week just in case it's our last one together. We are so excited for JFK day though. We decided a while ago to celebrate every holiday in our calendar, so we've been planning ice cream for a while now. 

I have a lot of pictures to send this week, not because we took a lot, just because I've found all sorts of pictures I never sent . . . 

Okay pues I love you all. Have a great week. Don't die. 

Love hermana may. 

Pictures explanation 

1- the strawberry festival 

2- today at the Elotada with the STL's

3- the hike from last week 

4- we did a blood drive and parked in the managers parking and got passes. We cool. 

5- I'm a pink nightmare 

6- our cute snail friend. We gave him a leaf to eat 

7 and 8- pictures from the trampoline place last transfer. 

Don't see any pictures?  That is because for some reason she never sent them!!!  Yes I am very disappointed as well and plan to tell her so in the very next letter!!!   Hopefully we will get to see them all soon because some of them sound pretty interesting! :)

Wilderness in California

May 17, 2015

This week was pretty good. We had zone conference. There were some
super great talks given. Our mission presidents wife talked about
having charity. I love charity, it's one of my favorite topics I
think. I decided if I accomplish nothing else in my life, I want to be
charitable and that will be enough for me. President Taggart talked
about having more faith to baptize so that is something I'm trying
super hard to work on. Si se puede! Another highlight of zone
conference? Chocolate chip cookies. I've been wanting one of those for
about 5 months. Mmm mmm good.

We went on exchanges again this week. I went to the YSA ward. They had
a baptism of this kid who has been through so much. He was soooo
excited. It was so fun to see. I got roped into playing the piano. I
just walked in the room and this one elder goes "hey sister may, you
know how to play the piano. . ." Ay ay ay. One song I don't think
anyone had heard of besides the guy who wrote it, but I persevered.

Let's see . . . Sister Howard and I are avid David Archuleta fans now.
Even though I'm still not sure how to spell his name and we only have
2 random songs, he's our favorite. Fan girls for life.

Our investigator Karina is still progressing really quickly! We just
need her to come to church. But hopefully she can be baptized soon.
And Karen. Man they are both so close. Pray for a miracle for us. That
would be just swell.

Today we went hiking! Who knew there was nature in Southern
California? We hiked a round trip of 14 miles to some waterfall that
was dried up...but it was fun nonetheless. We had to do a bit of rock
climbing to get there. Not actually rock climbing but there were some
pretty massive boulders stacked on top of each other that we had to
climb. I don't know if that counts. Hopefully not because that's
against the rules . . . But I was innocent, I didn't know rocks would
be involved. But we made it and we were all so proud of ourselves. I
will be sore tomorrow, I am sure of it.

I feel like these get shorter and shorter every week. Sorry mom. I
still love y'all.
Have a great week!
Love sister may

Day after Mother's Day

May 11, 2015

Hey family. It was a lot of fun to see you all and get to talk to you.
I'm not sure what to say either...we got more flowers this week. There
was a Mother's Day party with loud music. We ran a blood drive
thing...we like making cold chocolate. Hot chocolate but cold instead.
Yum. I'll send a picture of these cute girls we are teaching. They're
great.

Yeep. I love you!

Spider Sanctuary

May 4, 2015

This week was just dandy! Sister Howard and I committed to live the word of wisdom more fully. So we are drinking so much water and trying to eat all of our food groups every day and avoid sugar ... Except for twice a week. It's hard, but I've sure felt a whole lot better. I feel like I have so much more energy and I feel a lot happier too. Yay for the word of wisdom blessings! And now I feel more ambitious to do more active things. Like what? Like rock climbing. So excited. 

So last week before we started our whole word of wisdom shebang we bought hotdogs to see if we liked them now. So we roasted them over our stove and that was half the fun. And we do like them, so much changes on your mission...and your food standards kind of lower too. But don't worry we will eat our hotdogs sparingly. 

We finally got a member referral.  Only took 6 months. But we are sooo happy because this girl is awesome she is super prepared and we are teaching her in the members home and now she already has a fellowshipper and some one to answer her questions. Missionary work at its finest. Investigators progress sooooooo much faster when they're referred to us by their friends. So don't be shy to share the gospel. 

We visited a less active this week and he told us he decided to go to a different church and not visit him anymore. We were so sad. I've been working with this guy for 7 months.  But luckily right afterwards we went over to Dante (the one I told you about last week) and he was so nice and really understood and took in what we taught. And then he fed us. He bought three large boxes of pizza just for us. Holy moly, I was so full. He kept putting slices of pizza by threes onto our plates. Then he gave us chicken wings and then cake. And I wasn't hungry again for a very long time. We got a return appointment for a later time and told him we were going to bring  a member. So we figured we were safe from getting fed another second dinner. Wrong. He bought us KFC. Luckily we served our selves this time but he still made us take home the left overs haha. At least we know he likes us. 

AND another less active family came to church finally! It took so much work but they came. We were smiling the whole day long. 

Our apartment was invaded this week. Probably because it got hot but we had weird creepy unknown bugs and spiders all over the place. They broke the treaty we made long ago. We gave the bugs and spiders the back patio and decided we wouldn't kill them as long as they stayed there. But now? We probably still won't kill them because we're too scared to go on the porch but they will be killed if they come inside again. 

Well that's all I can remember so far about this week. I love you! Can't wait to talk to you! 

Love hermana May 

at church we gave the elders some cake and drinks we got from someone the day before and this is how we found it in the fridge. haha