Muchas Personas!

Hello Family,

       Did I get transferred? No. Not yet thank goodness!!!! President had a meeting with me recently and asked how Sister Garfield was doing and how she was connecting with the people here. (So maybe she will be taking over soon...) Sorry I didn't get a chance to email last week. We had to go to the office to drop off Sisters and help move them around. (Sister Adamson was there because she is training...AGAIN!) Sister Reid left the mission last Tuesday and when a departing missionary goes home, they usually stay the night with another set of missionaries so their companion has someone to be with after they are gone. So we had a President approved sleepover. YES!!! I have had 3 so far on my mission. They are the best! Very rarely do we get to see other Sisters so it’s awesome! But every time they leave I feel a desire to work harder and to be better. It’s scary to see missionaries go home. People keep asking me how long I've been out and I have to think a while before I realize I'm not brand new anymore. Yikes!

        We have seen SO much success in the past few weeks! I wish words could describe the way I feel or the way my faith has grown. "Serving" whether it is a mission, a church calling, or just helping those around you, is humbling. Anytime we are in a position where we are to "serve," we are, or should be, humbled. I have found myself at times serving so that others can see me serving. I have served to make myself feel better and to feel accomplished. Dad, I loved what you said about Stake conference last week because it has been something that has been on my mind as well. Not only is it important to love, but also it is important to have Christ-like love. We must constantly check our true intentions and ourselves. This week I have experienced a greater love for my companion and for those we teach. I really appreciated your letters these past few weeks. I have read them multiple times! Sometimes, I am too hard on myself. And other times, I'm not hard enough. It’s hard to find the balance. But this week I have tried to believe all those awesomely positive (and sometimes outlandish) good things you say about me in your letters. Haha. The thing that’s helped the most is simply to know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me. He understands me when no one else does. He understands the people that we are teaching and he knows their hearts. If we pray to him to help us fix our weaknesses, we will have success. If we try to brave it alone, we often will fail or loose hope that we can succeed. Success is relevant. But when you love these people, it is easy to see success. I know, concretely, when they have made a decision or a commitment that will lead them closer to real happiness. It fills me up and I just couldn't be more excited for them!

 This is CLEO!  

(I wrote about him earlier)

Ida is from the "Senior Life" center
at the methodist church
  She always bosses me around! 

        Very few times since being out here have I gotten to do missionary work the way Preach My Gospel says to do it. We mostly meet with inactive members of our church. We prepare messages for them that we have prayed about that we believe will strengthen and encourage them. We teach about the restoration of His gospel and about His plan for us to everyone we meet. But the lessons are brief. They are either on a doorstep, or in a casual conversation. Very rarely however, have I had the opportunity to meet in someone’s home and have a lesson. Sister Garfield and I have been working hard. I feel like we get better every day! I know that there have been times where I have been exactly where I needed to be exactly when I needed to be there. So family...what is all this "success" I keep talking about?...Well this week we taught about the Restoration 4 times! We have a total of 7 investigators now when 6 weeks ago we had 1.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to be meeting with such wonderful people and to have the opportunity to share my testimony. We had 4 investigators at sacrament meeting yesterday and they all had a really good experience! I am so thankful to be here at this time to finally see this area bloom and to see people allowing the gospel to change their lives. It really is a physical difference. We met with one of my favorite men who is a neighbor to the Tourtillott family whose husband is dying of cancer any day now. He came to church for the second time and he has cried almost the whole time. He is this scruffy guy with facial hair and drives a F599078890890 truck or something. It cracks me up because he will always say, "I'm just leakin'." Haha. He has never felt that feeling before in his life. That love from God. The more he feels it, the more his heart is softened and I can SEE the change in him. It’s truly amazing to be a part of it.

       Mom! What?!?!? Thai dinners without me?!?!? That’s awesome! We have two Pilipino sisters in our mission and they are my favorite! I am so grateful for you Mom and for the zest you have for life. Man, I don't know how people can do missionary work while dragging their feet and hanging their head down. Although we are not, and will never be, perfect in this life, we have found joy from this gospel and from a utilization of the Atonement. It’s a joy that can't be described in words. It’s a happiness that means we don't wake up in the morning to drudge through another day but we lift up our heads with excitement because we know who we are and we know His plan. Missionary work is just about showing that light. Living so that others can see the joy that this gospel has brought you. It’s so easy! What a great opportunity to live where we live and to have the awesome friends that we have. I know you guys are crazy busy but if you get a chance you should definitely have those missionaries over! I hear the missionaries are pretty cool. Just sayin'. If you see a Tongan one, ask if he knows Sister Fololini Totau! (She is in our mission and I love her! We are praying that we will serve together next)

Welcome to cali!

        Okay. I rambled again. Does anyone really read these? I feel like I talk like a crazy person! But I love you all! I'm grateful to be serving. This transfer is going to be the BEST TRANSFER EVER! You just wait! Have a great week my loves.

Love,

Sister Mitchell