The little miracles are what make the mission worth it:

"I would be delighted to be baptized!"

-Claudia after being asked in our first lesson if she had ever considered baptism

"Where were you girls a year ago!?!"

-Stephanie, when we contacted her knocking one day

"I just kept feeling something tell me 'Open the door, open the door!' I never open the door!"

-Rafael during our door conversation while knocking an apartment complex

I love the mission, ok.

.........

We're teaching a cool family. The 9 year old daughter and I get along PERFECTLY. We love all the same kinds of icecream. We are obsessed with Japanese stuff. We are sassy.

The elders in my district, my companion and I all discovered recently that we each grew up watching Willy The Sparrow. I have NEVER been able to find anyone else who knows and loves this movie as deeply as I do. Wow. I am home. Also can we give a shout out to: Scamper the Penguin, The Buttercream Gang, The Seventh Brother, and Once Upon a Forest. Anybody? Anybody?

We were in the elevator the other day leaving our apartment. Three men got in. I was holding a big box of Books of Mormon.

One of the guys said: "Hey, uhh.. whatcha selling?"

Me: "Oh, I'm not selling anything.."

Guy: "....Are those Bibles?"

Me: "Nope..."

Long Pause.

Me: "They're Books of Mormon.. Would you like one?"

I proceeded to hand out 3, 1 in Spanish and a couple English. I told them this book comes with a promise, and we all turned to Moroni 10:4-5. Read it. Testified it was true. They're in #312 so we'll be making a house call soon. :)

........

Halloween Ward Party on Saturday. Primary president asked us to do a game. We set up a table with a whole pile of Books of Mormon and Libros de Mormon. Pens. The game? Write your testimony in a Book of Mormon. Haha.

It started off as I expected. No one wanted to do it. But eventually we got most people to participate. We had some really heartfelt tender testimonies of members both old and young. Some even asked if they could take the book home so they could give it to a friend. So stoked on that. Nothing makes missionaries more happy than members sharing the gospel. Honestly. If I didn't get another letter my entire mission but I saw a dramatic increase in member missionary work, it would be 100% worth it.

Welp. Big gulps eh? .. ttylski

Mission Rules I Have Never Had A Problem Keeping:

+ Use deodorant

+ Do not sit on the stand unless you are participating in the program

+ Do not fast for more than 24 hours at a time

+ Do not change diapers

+ Do not become involved in adoptions

+ Never take part in pranks or jokes about terrorism

+ Do not write directly to the First Presidency

+ Do not call Church Headquarters

I've pretty much struggled with all the rest at some point or another..

I would like to listen to this on repeat for the rest of my mission. That's 7 months if you were wondering..

Can't believe its almost Halloween. Last Halloween I had my mission call, was in a haunted house, threw a massive dance party, got it shut down by the cops, had a panic attack at Emily Labonte's house.. bleh. That honestly feels like it was 4 months ago max. Caaahraazy.

We're teaching a homeless alcoholic man named Antonio. He lives in an alley behind a meat market. We got him to church on Sunday. Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles. He has a baptismal date of November 27th. Wish us luck.

I've been thinking a lot about the man I'd like to marry someday. Chiropractor, makes all my decisions whilst ordering fast food. So far those are the only requirements.. joke.

Sunday morning about 30 minutes before Sacrament meeting I get a phone call from the 1st counselor in our ward. He wanted to me to speak for 20 minutes. I thought he was joking. I wasn't even home. We were out tracking down Antonio and finding him a ride to the church. So with close to zero preparation I gave a 20 minute talk in Sacrament meeting.. in Spanish. I only used Spanglish twice, i didn't know the word for shelf and when i tried to translate the saying "If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want God to talk to you, read the scriptures" I got a bit confused and just had to say it in English. The thing is, everyone understands English... they just don't speak it. So no worries.

Then in Relief Society someone had brought a bag of clothes to give away. They were advertised as being for a "10 year old boy." My ears perked up. So yeah. I have a new pair of jeans and a couple tshirts. Noice.

Sometimes as missionaries we almost hope no one shows up to church... because sometimes church is CRAZY. We had 4 investigators at church on sunday. It was good... because I spoke. I was followed by someone who just destroyed any sort of Spirit I may have brought. Aye aye aye. You wouldve thought we were at some sort of evangelical or jehovahs witness church. They are so obsessed with dooms day and the end of the world. Jehovahs witnesses use scare tactics to intrigue people. They are such conspiracy theorists. Anyway.. it was like that. But thats ok, because the church is true and somehow it's all gonna work out. I'm trying to manage my anxiety so sometimes I just gotta let things slide and not freak out too much.

Lifes good. Lifes great. Hugs and kisses.

Peace out Girl Scout.

The little things that make up my life...

The phone.

The planner.

Current color.

AK's ipod.

My qualifications.

Stuff I keep in my wallet.

Cards of true value.

Places I no longer shop.

Coin Laundry.

My face.

Fav snack.

The tag.

The drugs.

The jewels.

Earrings of choice.

Promise ring. Emma's waiting for me.

This week.. hmmm. Homesickness. Anxiety. The like. Gained 10 pounds last transfer.. (thats a 6 week period for those who don't know...) but in all the right places if ya feel meh. Went to a leadership training. Sneaking suspicion that I'm gonna train next transfer. Yikes! The Hollywood sign is officially off limits. Darnitall. The people of Sylmar, San Fernando, and Pacoima California are very much ready for Halloween. I have never seen so many people get so into any one holiday before. Wow. Received a lovely package from my mother and another from the former Elder Cody Ryan. Thx frensies. Jewdabest.

My address.. one more time... in case someone is feeling inspired.

14078 Astoria #204

Sylmar, CA 91342

The ghetto is beautiful.

My cute mama. My soul longs to be with her. Love you maaam. P.S. It's officially cold enough to send that thing you bought me that I was supposed to wait til it's cooled off to ask for. It pourrrreed the other day, so we took our district to the Temple to get out of the rain. So goods.

Mission Mom! My trainer Mariana ;) What a babe rright? If anyone feels like flying down to Guatemala to take her out on a date, let me know. (It was a long 18 months if ya know what I mean... and running)

Every missionary knows that teaching the first vision is powerful. We know this because Satan will do whatever he can to destroy that moment while teaching the first lesson, the restoration. Every time... as we are about to start reciting, "I saw a pillar of light..." or "Vi una columna de luz..." we wait for it. Whats gonna happen this time? The phone rings. The dogs go nuts. A garbage truck crashes outside their house. A train goes by. Ambulances arrive across the street. The doorbell rings. Someone has a freak coughing attack. The TV turns on... all by itself! The neighbors BLAST reggaeton... SOMETHING. ALWAYS. HAPPENS.

So this week we of course, once again, had an opportunity to teach the first vision. We've been to this house many times. It's quiet. It's nice. No distractions. As soon as we start teaching the first vision... their 2 parrots who have not yet made so much as one peep suddenly become POSSESSED BY DEMONS and are freeeeaking out. "RAAAAAH RAAAAAWEHH Hermana! Hermana! WROOOF WOOOOOF! Holaaaa Holaa Hellooo Helloooo HAHAHAHAHhahahah." On and on and onnnnn. Typical.

...

We taught the restoration another time last week. We had the lesson at the church. It was nice and quiet. We taught without distractions. When I recited the words of Joseph Smith telling his experience in the grove the Spirit was SO strong. Unrestrained. It was beautiful. We asked David if he had had a chance to read and pray about the Book Of Mormon. (We gave him a copy when we contacted him and explained how he can know if it's true.) He said he had read the part we marked for him, twice. And that he prayed. And he felt something wonderful and he knew that it was true. I asked him if he would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood power, the authority of God. He was already nodding his head "yes" when I told him we would be having a baptism on October 30th and asked if he would prepare himself to be baptized on that day.

I LOVE being a missionary. It is moments like these that make all the other crap worth it. I am the happiest. The most pleasant and agreeable. The most calm and patient. The most excited to share the gospel. Wouldn't trade this for the world.

Alta. Thanks mom for these great shots. Sure do wish Sylmar, CA was as gorgeous.

A few family email excerpts.

i need to open up the box inside my soul that is ME. i need to step off the map. i need to be completely irrelevant and consequently be truly relevant for the first time. i need to forget what i look like in the mirror.

-emmaline

I received your disturbing birthday card. I laughed and set it aside. Read your note a few times... Got freaked out by the picture of that guy and turned it over. It sat there for a while but I was still uncomfortable with his butts cheeks hanging out. Put the card away and am looking forward to tossing it except I love your note too much.

-daddyo

James looks good... still wearing those jeans and shoes you bought him. I think when you get home you will need to take him shopping again.

-maaaam

HEY. Does anyone read this? (Other than my mom...) If so it'd sure be sweet if you could let me know. Comment. Email me. Write me a letter. Thx. xx. mwah.

To be a missionary is to be so many things:

+ Secretary

+ Personal Trainer

+ Life Coach

+ Therapist

+ Parental Adviser

+ Stalker

+ GPS

+ Jungle Gym

+ Detective

+ Moving Company

etc.

Coin Laundry. Where I spend a good hour of my P-day morning writing letters and soaking in the latino beats pumping from the ceiling. I dont think those are the "Forget Me Not's" that Elder Uchtdorf was referring to in his talk at the Relief Society general broadcast.. but I'm into it.

My mama in the mission (my trainer) Hna Mariana Lissett Rodriguez sent me a package from Guatemala. She sent it over a month ago. It sat in the mission office for weeks. Then sat in the zone leaders trunk for a few more. Included in the package was this tshirt, wallet, scripture cases for my spanish scriptures, some jewelry and other fun stuffs. THANKS MOM.

Speaking of my trainer, I used to scare her by using this demon voice because she was genuinely afraid of demons. She once saw her neighbor be possessed and try to strangle her mom... So anyway... the other night a demon tried to possess my companions body in the middle of the night. No really. She woke up in the middle of the night and felt someone on top of her. The Spirit told her to rebuke the demon in the name of Jesus Christ in spanish... so she did. And the weight lifted off and she heard a thud on the ground next to her bed. So last night we had the Elders come over to bless the apartment. Oh the mission!

So, this week marks 9 months as a missionary. It feels like it's been about a month..

I learned all about the mexican mafia this week. How the mexicans and the whites are all on one team in all the jails and the blacks and asians are on another whenever a fight breaks out.

This cute little old senior missionary who works in the employment center told me a joke today. What do you call a blonde with big eyes and intelligence? ... A golden retriever.

Sylmar is a strange city. Where ranchos meet cholos. The city is full of cholo gangs but then you also see these old ranchos on their horses riding down the streets on their cell phones all the time. Such a strange place. I miss nature.

What else? Everywhere we go we are called "La flacita y la gordita." I'm the skinny one and my comp is the fat one. Latinos are so blunt. They just say everything like it is. Ha, so sad.

Conference was great, was it not? Conference is like every missionaries version of a vacation. I loved it. Sad its over but excited to apply everything I learned or relearned. I looove being a missionary. I love the prophet. I loooove my family and friends. Miss you all. Mwah.

New apartment means no furniture. So we were given a little money to do some yard sale shopping. Scored this sweet old mirror and a cute couch. Somebody from the ward donated a nice dining room table and chairs. So we're living in style.