Testimony

My dear friends and family, the day has come. I can't believe it's already been 18 months. has it really? well. I guess my time has come. You all already know that I am heartbroken to leave my people.

These are my brothers and sisters. These are God's children. And Heavenly father has sent me to help them come home. There comes a special love for people when your main desire is their salvation. When you see these people as God see's them, you can't help but feel his love for them. I have come to love them more than i would have ever imagined possible. 

I have come to love the gospel. I love studying it. I love teaching it. I have felt the spirit testify to me time and time again the message of the restoration. Each time i say the words... "i saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head...." the spirit bares witness to my heart of the truthfullness of this gospel. I know the gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph smith. I know that this is christs church, and he guides it today through his living prophet. I know the priesthood has been restored, and it is the power of God given to man to bring to pass our salvation. I have seen the preisthood work miracles. I have felt its power countless times.

I have come to love the book of mormon. I know that it is true. It is a pure vessel of the spirit, and has taught me more truths than any other book. It is the tool of the restoration. Everything is dependant upon that book. If you do not have a testimony of the book of mormon i invite you to pray and gain one. I know without a doubt that the book of mormon is true. 

I know that God knows me, and loves me. I have come to know my heavenly father through prayer. I know he loves each of us. I know he hears and answers prayers. I know he has a plan for us. I know he wants all of us to live with him someday. 

It has been a long hard journey, but I wouldn't change a thing. You know what they say "life is a roller coaster, but if it wasn't it wouldn't be worth the ride." I would not change a moment of my mission. I have enjoyed the ups, the successes. the baptisms, the happinesses, and the miracles. But i am also grateful for the sorrows, for the pain and hardships that i have come to know.

President Hall once said, "there comes a great strength in passing through trials." I have faced mountains on my mission. I have been brought to my knees time and time again, asking myself, what am i even doing here? What more can i do for my vineyard? and those are the special moments where I have come to know my savior. I know that my savior knows me, and knows everything I have passed through. He is my personal savior. He has strengthened me more than I ever thought possible. I know that he has walked with me. He makes up for all i cannot do. He atoned for my sins, and he atoned for my shortcomings. And even when i don't feel good enough, and i feel i don't deserve it, he is always there. 

The miracle of a mission is that it changes lives. even if i spent all my days as a missionary, and had no success, didn't change anyone's life, i know that my life has been changed forever. "every missionary can have at least one convert. One true blue through and through member of the church who will remain faithful long after the mission is over." That convert is me. I have been changed forever. And i am grateful for every day I have had here, that God has changed me. 

Love you familia. See you soon.

Love

Ness

Last week ever!

Dearest familia, this is the end. my only friend the end! haha no just kidding. Almost the end. Almost the last email I will ever write as a misionera de la iglesia de jesucristo de los santos do los ultimos dias. I don't have a lot to say, but I do have a story I want to share.

We have a wonderful man who lives in our neighborbood, his name is Eloy. He is about mid 50's or so, and loves to drink beer. But he is my best friend. We first met Eloy in the park while teaching Pedro. He was one of the very first lessons Hermana Jensen ever taught. We taught him for a little minute, but we didn't get very far cause he was too drunk to understand anything. Well Eloy has become our really good friend. We see him all over the neighborhood, sometimes drunk sometimes not. But whenever we see him he always yells to us "Mis Angeles!" he calls us his lil angels. The other day when we saw him he told us "you know angels, I hope that one day you find your prince and get married and have the happiest life cause you deserve every happiness in the world."

We always make a special note to invite eloy to church every week. He always promises that he will come, but he never does. Well the other day he was walking by and I said Eloy I want to invite you to church this sunday, it's going to be my last sunday here. He looked at me and said "my angel is leaving? NO!!!" he got so upset, he had to walk away, and he started crying!!! the next day we walked passed his house, and he was drinking with a few buddies, but he said "Mis angeles!!!" he called us over, and gave us some flowers and limes, and he talked to us for so long about how sad he is that his angels are leaving. He started crying again and he told me he would always remember me and keep me in his heart, and he wanted to give me a plant so I could always have a little piece of his spirit with me, and he was just being so sweet! Even his buddies that he was drinking with (who we didn't even know we just barely met them) they started crying too! they all kissed our hands before we left (don't think that's missionary appropriate) and as we walked away Eloy yelled I love you guys! It was a little strange, but so sweet.

It really made me stop to think about the difference I have made here. Even though we only taught eloy maybe twice, and he never came to church, he didn't get baptized or come anywhere closer  to his heavenly father, We made a difference in his life. We made a lasting impression that he will never forget. We touched his life for good. I don't think I have ever truly realized what an impact being a missionary makes on others lives. We truly are angels in others lives. Sometimes I feel like a normal person, just walking around the streets saying hi to people, and sometimes I get discouraged and feel like I haven't made a difference. But Eloy really taught me that my service here hasn't gone unnoticed. People know who we are, and know what we have to share. People can see the difference in our eyes and our smiles. They know we have something different. When we have charity for others, that is what changes their lives. Sometimes, that's all they really need, just love. that's all Eloy needed, just to feel God's love.

I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have come to know. They all have taught me so much. I am going to miss them all with all my heart. you know what grandpa watts always used to say "you've got a friend in California, a friend who misses you."

Love,

Ness

The Castillos :)

Hey! my familia! okay well here is the dealio.... SOOOO much has happened the last week and a half I don't even know what to tell you! But I guess I will just tell you a great story.

la familia Castillo, remember? the one we have been working with FOREVER!!! Well. they did it. They made it to their baptism. Oh my you have no idea how hard we have been working with them. It has been so hard, but so amazing. So so so amazing. We visit them every day, the house has been more calm, the kids are more well behaved, the Hermana has been more patient. it is just so unreal to see all the changes in that home.

So their baptism was planned for the 19th right? I think satan was working really really hard to make this baptism not happen. It was not good. the first trial was that my companion got the flu. she was out for two days, but we had to see them every day or they wouldn't make it to their baptism!!! so you know what we did? yep we took bed-ridden sicky pants Hermana Jensen to the castillos. I am actually pretty impressed with her, she made it pretty far before she turned to me and said I think I need to vomit now. So after she puked in Hermana Valenzuelas bushes I took her straight back home and to bed, called up the sister training leaders and said QUICK! we need an emergency exchange! Hermana Francis and Buxton quickly came to the rescue, and we left Hermana Jensen and Buxton home while Hermana Francis and I ran to the Castillos. We did a mock interview, which is basically we just told them all the answers to the questions they would ask in their real interview. And they were Perfect!

The day of the interview was equally crazy. It was a struggle getting them to the church, but we got them there! They were both so cute. They each have little side bags like sister missionaries, and cute little Linda took out her book of Mormon in the interview and was so excited. They said she did so good and it was one of the most amazing interviews. She is the sweetest.

Well we kept visiting them everyday, and on Friday night we were all ready. The girls were so excited, and to make the event even more special for the Hermana, we gave her skirts! some old skirts we had that we weren't using. She looked so good and so modest in them:) it was so sweet to see her face light up with our little act of kindness, and before we left we taught the girls the rainbow baptism song, because they wanted to sing their own baptism song.

Well then comes sunday. oh sunday. the big day. We show up to the Castillo's at 11:30 to help them get to church. The girls are all ready, they are just waiting, and the Hermana is getting out of the shower. Well then she comes out and says is the diaper bag ready? do the kids have their shoes on? that's it we're not going! I don't want to go, you're not getting baptized, forget it.

OOOOOHHH NOOO!!! stress emergency! we had to talk to her in a very soothing voice and it took a decent amount of shoe searching and diaper bag prepping, but we did it! We got them to church! (good thing too cause if they didn't go to church they couldn't get baptized!) they got to church, and it was all amazing. So so good. sheesh. Sundays are the most stressful days of missionary work I tell you what.

Well after church came the time. The baptism. oh man. Like I said it was a miracle the whole thing actually came together. We had a lot of help from all sides, and especially from padre celestial. But it came through! Probably not one of the most reverent baptisms I have ever been to, but I would say one of my favorites. The girls put on their white jumpers, and decided they looked like karate suits so they started doing karate. The little five year old kept wanting to swim in the font. Everyone got their late. The girls couldn't decide who they wanted to go first, they were standing outside the font saying no you go first, no you! haha. Then they all the sudden realized they needed to go potty. oh gee just everything was nuts. But the highlight of the whole thing: All the primary kids went up and sang the rainbow song. The two shining stars stood in the middle and sang with all their heart. It reminded me a lot of my baptism, and it was so special.

I love the castillos so much, and am so grateful for the chance I have had to work with them. Even though it was a lot of pain and heartache and work, it was so sweet in the end.

Well family, that is all I have this week. I love you so much!

Love,

Ness

iPads!!!

familia. spoiler alert. The email of today is not too long. and not too interesting. Well it was pretty interesting. and now it is not. first. Here is the big news. The California San Fernando mission is the next mission to get iPads!!!!! WOOOOO!!! We don't have them yet, but we get them next Friday!! How exciting! I'm not really sure all that that entails. I think we are going to start online proselyting, and other great things. I am not 100% sure on all the details, but i'll let you know next week.

Saddest news. I just read president's email and this is what it says:

"On a separate note, I have some disappointing news. I received a call from the Missionary Department that they have decided to postpone the rollout of iPads to our mission. It appears that there were some missionaries in another mission who decided not to follow the rules for the use of the mobile devices and used them inappropriately. The Missionary Department has decided to hold off on providing additional missions with mobile devices until they can review the situation and determine an appropriate path forward." 

wow. That just made me the saddest! Disobedience is the worst! it brings sadness to so many people! especially to me!! (and president hall, and the entire California San Fernando mission!!) and to the LORD! yikes. Just be obedient people.

In other more uplifting news, wasn't general conference just the most amazing thing on the whole planet! oh man. I was sad when it was over! Some talks that I really liked were the one from Jorg Klebbinger something I think was his name... where he talked about spiritual confidence. He was just so bold and told it like it was! I really loved that one a lot.

Another one that was probably one of my favorites was elder Bednar's talk about missionary work. Oh man he is great as well. I loved how he said "devoted disciples always have been and always will be valiant missionaries." the driving force behind everything we do is the love we have for our savior. If you all don't have a personal testimony of the savior and his atonement, I challenge you to obtain one. There were so many talks about revelation, and how we can obtain a testimony. I truly know that a sincere love of God and his commandments, an unshakeable testimony of the truth, are the only thing that will keep us safe in a world surrounded by the distractions and evils of the devil. I know that God lives and loves us, that Jesus Christ is our savior, and that he stands at the head of the church. His church has been restored, and it is guided today by living prophets. I know that living the gospel is the way to true happiness. And if you are not all truly happy, I invite you to reflect and think about changes you can make in your life.

I love you all and pray for you always.

Mucho amor

Hermana Watts

Meet The Mormons!

So familia. Here comes the drama story of the week. Member like two weeks ago when I told you about the crazy lady that came by at 1:30 in the morning? Well. She came back!!! Yeah so Tuesday morning bright and early she comes knocking on our neighbors window being a little too loud and saying many mean things. Well she is yelling at freddy through his window and he is like go away i am sleeping, and then she was getting really angry and yelling at him about a phone charger, and all that jazz. Well then she is banging on the window so so hard that it breaks!! ah! So yeah our neighbors are causing lots of drama. And people are not happy about it. But it makes our life interesting:)

umm what else happened this week? I really have no idea! we had Hermana Jensen's six week follow up, and it was basically the worst meeting ever because all of the new missionaries are there just so excited to have finished six weeks in the field. And for most of their trainers this is our last transfer, so it's like the last six weeks! AHHH! we all got together and had a nice little meltdown due to the quickened pace of time. I can't believe how fast time is going!

Well. In other news. This week we were super lucky! and we got a sneak peak preview of the movie meet the Mormons! We had a mission wide conference and we all got to watch it together in the chapel. Missionary movie night! hooray! If you haven't heard about the movie, go visit www.meetthemormons.com. Then watch the preview. Then you will know! Here are my thoughts on the movie:

I was just really impressed by the whole thing! it made me realize how great and worldwide the church really is.  It is not just a Utah Mormon thing. you know, typical Mormon families living in Utah with their typical lives the dad works 9-5 the wife is a stay at home mom and all that jazz. But I was super impressed with just how amazing the members of the church really are! They are so diverse. They live amazing lives. It just testified to me once again that this is not just a church. It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is perfect, and good, and for everyone! And it all of God’s children deserve the opportunity to hear this glad message. It made me want to be a better missionary and to help the people understand the beauty and happiness that comes from living the gospel. I know this church is true, and I am so grateful to be a member and to experience all the blessing that come from living the restored gospel. I love being a Mormon!

Well so familia, I will leave you with two thoughts for the week. 1. Go see meet the Mormons! and 2.  Watch General conference! I am so so so excited for conference. It is such a blessing to be able to hear from prophets and apostles who receive revelation just for us!  Make sure to watch ALL the sessions! I want to hear all your thoughts and input! And that is all. Sorry the email is short. Lots to say, little time. But I love you all so much! have the best week!

Love Ness

picture: we are training the castillos to be future missionaries. Meet sister Linda y sister Kimberly:)

So many things

Well mi querida familia, I don't even know what to title this email this week, because there are just so so so many little things that happened! strange. Where to begin.

Well we will start with the ward. so we have been working really really hard with the young women lately. The girls in the Spanish branch now go to young womens with the English girls, and they aren't mixing well. They don't really like it. So they asked us to go to help them out. Well we got a big old group to go! and by big old group I mean instead of the 2 girls that usually go we had 6 youth there. It was a combined activity and I can tell why it was so intimidating. Kids are crazy! I forgot what it's like being a youth. Man. I felt awkward and out of place, and I'm a missionary. And I had a companion who is basically assigned to be my friend! But there was the cutest little investigator boy there named Antonio, who is the shyest little thing ever! he reminds me so much of Easton! so he became my new best friend of the night.

Another fun thing we did this week was we had this dinner way way far away, and we were running late after it (as usual) trying to get to English class on time. Well mid way to the church I popped my bike tire, and so I had to ride the last 2 miles on a flat bike tire. I almost crashed like 17 times, but I couldn't stop cause then we would never get going again! We arrived to English class looking like the scariest, sweatiest, ugliest sister missionaries ever... but the class went really good! Hermana Jensen taught it like a champion!

and then what else happened this week. Oh. We got the low down on how all the refugee missionaries made it out of Africa! there is an elder that was reassigned here from that mission, and we got the lowdown on the whole story. Basically the coolest ever. No time for all the details.

Oh also, we had another fun clean the river activity. Except it wasn't really a river it was a dry river bed... poor little California is just in such a bad drought situation! So we picked up lots of trash and saved the environment one fish at a time!

another silly thing that happened is we decided to do a kind deed and give all of our recycling bottles to one of our less actives. she is the cutest, and they are just so so so poor. So we took our pluthera of plastic bottles, put them in a giant box, and strapped them onto the back of Hermana Jensen's bike. Well after a solid two pedals the box tipped over and all of the bottles went spilling into the street!! ahaha! good thing we are not engineers or anything!

Well. those are all of the silly things. Now for the best part. Sunday. Oh man. Best day of the week by far! so we started by going to the familia castillos house to help them come to church. Well we get there and all of the kids are all ready looking so fly in their church clothes and they are all so excited. Well then out come the mom in her pj's and she says "I'm not going. the house is a mess, I'm too frustrated, I am not ready, the baby isn't ready, I am not going." OH NOOOO!! all this work for nothing! talk about a stress emergency! so we get on the phone trying to get the kids a ride while trying to calm down the Hermana from her fit she is throwing. We may or may not have kidnapped the two little girls to take them to church. haha just kidding we didn't. But we did find a ride for only the two girls, so we took them. Well it turned out during the second hour of church Hermana Castillo came too!!! with the other 3 kids! oh happy days it was the best thing ever! We have been working all transfer to get that family to church. think they all really liked it a lot.

another amazing thing that happened at church, our friend Ramiro came! we haven't even taught Ramiro a lesson yet, he is just way too busy all the time. But we saw him Saturday night before church, and he said yeah for sure I will come. and he did! he actually got to church before we did due to the fiasco with all the ninos. haha. good work. oh it was just amazing to see the chapel so full on sunday! there were like 70 people there. And that is quite a lot for our little rama! (branch). It has been so fun working so hard with the ward, to help people come back and to help others come for the first time. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. It's where all your hard work and labors pay off. Seeing old faces in church and seeing how happy people are as they leave just makes my heart melt. I love the gospel, and the peace it brings into our lives. Especially into mine. I don't know what I would do without it. So next week at church, take a moment to stop and ponder, and appreciate the people around you and the sacrifice they are making to be there. But most importantly take the time to feel the spirit, and remember the reason we even go to church, to worship our savior jesus Christ.

I love this gospel and my savior. And I love all of you!

consecration

okay familia! sorry I skipped the big email last week. I will tell you the problema... we just had an overall lack of diligence. We weren't working as hard or as efficient as we should have been, and it showed in the results of our week. So we repented and changed and decided to have a better week. And it was amazing! gosh I don't even know how to word this email so sorry if I ramble.

we'll start on a not spiritual note... haha so Thursday morning we woke up early... too early. Okay actually I woke up to Hermana Jensen throwing her stuffed shark at me at 1:30 in the morning. I had no idea what was happening so I just rolled over and started praying. Then I heard the crazy argument that was going on outside. Our gang friend drug dealing neighbor named sam who is the sweetest was in a fight with this crazy lady who was swearing and yelling very profane things that are very unpardonable at 1:30 in the morning.. so after listening to them argue we went to sleep and she came back at like 5:00 to yell at him again in some more foul language. I may or may not have spied on them through the window... :) I tell you. They always keep me on my toes!

continuing with drama stories, one of our investigators juan (who we call the chosen juan.. haha get it like chosen one! that one was all Hermana Jensen) but he is like way in love with us. He invited us to go out dancing with him this week. So we started taking our recent convert Pedro to his lessons to protect us! haha we have another creepy investigator that wants us to date his son. yikes.

and then one day this week just for fun hna Jensen made us a fort because we had to watch some training videos. haha she's just a hoot. So here's some nice fotos. anyways, now that you have been filled in on all the unspiritual things, now onto the spiritual things to restore your faith in me as a missionary of the lord!

so I have been studying diligence a lot. Cause I don't want to finish my mission being one of those trunky missionaries that just wastes time. I want to Finish Strong. Well in preach my gospel it says“I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There willbe no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.”

–President Ezra Taft Benson
I have really come to understand, appreciate, and gain a testimony of this principle. If you are not working diligently, you don't have the spirit, and if you don't have the spirit, you are not happy. One of the most amazing things I have seen is that diligence in planning really pays off. If you plan with precision, the lord is going to put people in your path. He will lead you to them, or them to you. So this week has been a week of being in the right place at the right time, and working on the timetable of the lord.
For example Monday we met this one guy named Marin who I had met like one month previously, and he remembered me. He asked if we could teach him. So we taught him right then. For our return cita we went to his house, and he wasn't there, but we found a family that said oh we know the missionaries, they used to teach us! and we were able to go back and teach them! they are way cool. Santos and Delmi. So we were guided there by marin who remembered me from forever ago! miracle!
Another time we were planning, and Hermana Jensen says to me hey remember that guy that was washing his car? we start trying to remember this way cool guy, decide we should try calling him, he doesn't answer, but later that night when we are out contacting guess who we run into? CAR WASH GUY!!!! coincidence? I think NOT!
The lord was just putting us where we needed to be at exactly the right time. It was really unreal how everything worked out perfectly. If we had a return appointment, and they weren't home, the Lord had the perfect backup plan waiting. So I really know that when we work hard, and do our best, the lord will make up the rest and guide us.
We also had the amazing opportunity to have a mission conference this week with Elder Bruce A. Carlson of the seventy. He is so cool! he used to be a General in the air force, so he told lots of cool stories about war and stuff. Most of which went over my head. Dad you would have loved them! We talked a lot about what it means to be a consecrated missionary. Or sanctification. What I really think is the most amazing thing about consecration is that it's personal. It's about turning your heart to God. Submitting your will to his. Like Christ did when he was on the earth. Whenever he was asked what he was doing he always answered I am doing the will of my father, or doing what my father sent me to do. He never thought of himself. His own agenda, or his own desires. He was here to serve his father. And that is the kind of missionary I want to be. More than just a missionary who sacrifices 18 months to serve the Lord, but a missionary who has truly become sanctified, and become and instrument in the lords hands, to carry out his will. I know this church is true, and the Lord needs missionaries "who love [him], truly, truly love [him], and love what our Father in Heaven has commissioned [us] to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world." Jeffry R. Holland.
So my dear family "Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you." Love you all so much!

Happy two months!

Hey Family! happy two month anniversary! Surprise I have only been a missionary for two months.... just kidding. I wish that was real life. No today is Hermana Jensen's two month anniversary in the mission! But i decided i am switching places with her and I will stay here forever!!! Because it's just too much fun! here are the fun things we did this week.

So we are famous with all the kids right? well okay not even joking we are now teaching a small army of little ninos. okay well only like ten. We go over to teach the part member family, and all the lil ninos start running out of their houses "are you gonna teach us about God?" "I wanna sing the song about sunbeams!" so yeah we have a little gospel study outside on the steps and teach all the crazy dirty little neighborhood children about how jesus loves them.

Oh i just love those little ninos. the two girls Linda and Kimberly are progressing really well toward baptism. We took them on a field trip this week to see a baptism! (and by took them on a field trip I mean we had their mom drive us all cause we are on bike...) haha it was so fun. They loved it! they can't wait for their baptism!.. except then the next day they didn't come to church >:( so hopefully they will make their baptismal date. But anyways, they are the little joy to my soul for the time. I love teaching kids!

On the other hand, we also spent a lot of time this week with OLD PEOPLE!!! haha So we have started volunteering at a senior center and it could be the funnest thing ever! On Wednesdays they have a live band (like fancy old band with trumpets and stuff) and all the old people get up to dance! they kept trying to dance with us! and this one little latina lady is super hilarious and everytime we passed her she would start singing a song to us. Oh man. Old people are a hoot. I can't wait to be one!

well I just can't remember what else happened this week. OH. We had interviews with President Hall. He is just so perfect and always helps me with my life struggles. Newest life struggle: I just want to end my mission working so so hard, going 200mph and living every minute. But my compie can't go that hard. In fact, she might die at the pace we are going. President's advice Hermana Watts, the Lord knew you would be training. He knew who your companion would be. Take these next few months and make sure she has the best beginning to her mission. Be the companion she needs. The best companion ever! So... I get to learn patience and lots of love. But it's going to be the best two months ever!

Well fam, sorry this email is so lame and short and I have no pictures! AH! I promise I will be better! this week is going to be awesome and we will do crazy things. But I love you all so much!

Love,

Ness

We're Famous!

Okay fam here is the deal. I am pretty sure I tell you ever email how we are going to be famous someday. I mean we are in the heart of Hollywood! Of course we are going to be famous! Well here is the deal. We did it. We are FAMOUS! Just maybe a little different than you might think. We are totally superstars with all little children, homeless people, and all of the drunk guys here.

First I will start with the kids. Okay stop I just love all the crazy little kids here. They are so much fun. This week we went into this apartment complex and met a bunch of kids jump roping. So then obviously we challenged them to a jumprope contest. They were actually way good. Jumproping in a skirt... a lot harder than you would think. But it was so fun! as we were jumproping with this little group of girls all the neighborhood kids just started coming out of the woodwork! "Hey are you the church people??" "I wanna jumprope with the church people!!" haha they are my new favorite! you see our genius plan is to win the kids hearts, and then the parents will listen to us!

Okay well then that exact same night we go to a different apartment complex, and run right smack into a squirrel funeral. I kid you not there is a group of like 15 kids trying to dig a hole in the ground to bury their pet squirrel that fell out of the tree!!! hahaha they were the funniest! Okay so the squirrel wasn't exactly dead yet... just dying. So being the missionaries we are we gathered all children and we prayed for their little baby squirrels. I just love kids. They make my life so happy.

The last group of kids is this cute little family we are teaching. The familia Castillo. Stop I love them so much! so the mom Brenda is a menos active and The two little girls Linda and Kimberly are going to get baptized soon. Everytime we go we teach them a new primary song, and they just love us and make us feel so famous!

alright enough with the children. now onto the homeless people stories! mom you will probably die reading this part! haha! so we were walking down the street this week, and we met our friend Preacher (preacher is a homeless man in his like 20's and he's hilarious) well we say hi to him and he holds out his hand full of tacos and says I want you to have one of my tacos! and obviously we say no because it's not kind to take tacos from homeless people. But he says no I want you to take them. God blessed me with all this extra food and these tacos, and I want to bless your day. So we ate tacos with our homeless friend preacher! (don't worry mom they were from the taco truck, so they were very edible and not sketchy at all:) ) and then after we ate this poor homeless mans tacos, he insisted we take his burrito as well! What the heck preacher! so just like the other week when we walked around with stolen beer, this week we walked around with a burrito in hna Jensen's backpack! haha I love this area.

Oh man I just can't tell you how much I love being a missionary! it is an adventure every day. Aside from all the crazy things we did this week, I assure you we did spiritual things as well. We talked to everyone about jesus and how much he loves them:) I just love this work oh so very much. Sorry family but I am never coming home!!!! haha just kiddin love you! have an awesome week!

My Favorite People

Dear Family,

HEYYY!!! okay well I don't really know what to write about this week. So I will write you about the people here!

First person, my new compie. She is Hermana Jensen. From Kaysville Utah. she is tall blonde and beautiful and so I never stand next to her! haha just kiddin. umm yeah she is probably the cutest lil thing ever and just so excited about missionary work. I forgot how much fun it is to have a brand new missionary! They are just so darn excited and ready to work! But I keep forgetting she doesn't know Spanish, or doesn't know how to ride a bike in a skirt, or how to weekly plan or all these things. It's fun to be a new missionary again!

Second person of the week: our super star PEDRO!!! I love him so much! Pedro Flores-- newest member of the church of jesus Christ of latter-day saints! he was confirmed yesterday!! I am so proud of him! but the funnest thing ever, is even before he was a member we used him in missionary work! This week after one of our lessons in the park with him he was walking with us to our next appointment. Of course we had to stop to talk to everyone on the way and mid contact we would turn to pedro and say "this is our friend Pedro, he was actually just baptized last week. Pedro how has the church changed your life??"  then Pedro would just jump right into bearing his testimony "I know joseph smith was a prophet and that the book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph smith translated it by the power of the priesthood!!" ................. thank you pedro.. we actually hadn't mentioned joseph smith yet but hey your testimony is way solid!

we are also working with another super star her name is Stephanie. Oh poor Stephanie. She is having a hard time with some pretty big commandments... not anything little like tithing or reading the scriptures everyday. Well. we had to move her baptismal date. But the saddest part is the reason she does what she does is because her family just doesn't love her! She just wants her mom to be happy and proud of her, but she doesn't get that love from her momma so that's why she does bad stuff. But she came to church yesterday, and LOVED IT! she is so cute. Then that afternoon she also went to a meeting for seminary. Yep she is going to take seminary. Are you kidding me! what kind of 17 year old who is not a member and who's parents don't push them out of bed at 5:30 to get to 6:00 seminary would wake up that early? only super star stephanie!!

We are also teaching this way sweet part member family the Castillo family. Yeah the two daughters are going to get baptized.... if they will ever come to church! dangit. But they love learning the book of Mormon stories song! we sing it every time with them. I love visiting them.

hmm lets see what else was fun? oh man there is this one sister here from China (not Spanish speaking. She is learning English) and she is SOOO funny! haha we had dinner with an English family, and these English sisters (and when I say English sisters I mean this Chinese sister and her English companion. And she was the funniest little thing to walk this planet! I want her in my pocket! She was going on and on about the food and how it's okay to eat lots and then at the end of the meal she starts cleaning the table, "this is how we do in China!" haha sister Xu.(pronounced shoo) My favorite missionary evah!!!

and the last cool thing we did is while contacting one night we met this drunk guy, and told him that Christ can help him change his life, and then I asked him if he would trade me his beer for a picture of Christ and he said yes! so then we finished our night contacting with a huge bottle of beer in Hermana Jensen's backpack. haha it was fun! Don't worry mom. We are still being safe :)

yeah that was our week. It was just way fun. Lots of adventures learning how to ride a bike, and how to be a missionary. But I just love having a new missionary! I especially love it because it makes me realize oh man! look how much I have grown! I used to not know any Spanish or not know how to talk to people! I am so grateful for the mission, and how it has changed me. I love you so much famiky thanks for your love and support!

All my love,

Ness

Pedro :)

WOW! okay familia this email is going to be WAY long today. Bear with me here, cause the story is just awesome! it comes in two parts.

Part one: I have this companion and her name is Hermana Barnes, and she is super awesome. Like way way good missionary. And she has had one grand dream her whole mission: to BAPTIZE! She has dreamed and worked hard and planted the seed and not casted it out, but for some reason she just has never seen the fruits of her labors. She has never had any of her investigators be baptized. She has been so faithful, and worked so hard, but just has never seen it. She also has had a triple combination and bible in Spanish she has had with her her whole mission, just waiting to give it away to her convert. But just never happened. Well. So I get with Hermana Barnes the last three weeks of her mission and I say oh man. This is it. We are going to BAPTIZE!!! Well we had this way solid investigator Stephanie, that is really excited and willing, but it was just too rushed for her to get baptized in three weeks! So we decided it would be better if she wasn't baptized on aug. 10th (the last sunday Hermana Barnes has here.) Well oh no. How in the heck are we supposed to baptize now???

Part two: along came PEDRO!!! okay how do we explain pedro? The best explanation could be a miracle that fell straight from heaven. So here is how his story begins. He is 21, and from Peru. and actually he happened to be an atheist! But he started coming to our English class. Then from there, he wanted to know a little bit more about the church. So he started meeting with the missionaries Hermanas Hall y Glauser. He knows the bible like super good, and originally he just wanted to bash with the hermanas. But after a few visits he started opening up. They loved teaching him and would always tell us stories about him. Well.... as Pedro continues to learn more, come to church, and read the scriptures, he starts changing. One day he tells the hermanas "hermanas I have good news. Well, it's good news for me at least, I don't know if it's good news for you.... But I want to be baptized." The Hermanas are stunned speechless of course I mean Pedro the atheist wants to be baptized! They say okay when? he says as soon as possible. So they set the date for Aug. 10th......

Now you're probably thinking, that's nice... but how do these stories go together? Well my friends. Three days after Pedro says he wants to be baptized, he moves into our area.... meaning we become his missionaries. There you have it. A golden investigator handed right to us on a silver platter all ready to be baptized! Guess why he wants to be baptized?? so he can serve a mission!!

So we taught him all of lesson 5 (about priesthood and the temple and missionary work...) He is probably the cutest little thing that has ever existed!! here are some cute pedro quotes:

(sunday after noon after fast and testimony meeting) Hermanas what is a testimony? we explain a testimony to him. Two days later... "hermanas good news! I think I have a testimony! I was reading in the book of Mormon, and my heart felt all warm and then I stopped reading, closed the book and said this book is from God!"

Hermanas how long do I have to wait to get my priesthood?

Hermanas I didn't take the sacrament today, I didn't know I could cause I was fasting.

Hermanas, I took the sacrament today, and I felt something amazing! Like the feeling I felt when I got my testimony!

I swear he is the most golden human I have ever worked with. He is so amazing. And I think one of the most amazing things is not only did Pedro completely change his life and learn to trust in God and how to make covenants with him, but Hermana Barnes got to see her dream come true! Her very last sunday in the mission field she got her very first baptism!!!! And also, Hermana barnes got to give away her Spanish scriptures finally! To someone who will love them and cherish them. All four of us hermanas (Barnesy, me, Hall, and Glauser) wrote our testimonies in them, and on Sunday night Pedro called us crying because he found the testimonies. He is so amazing. The whole experience was just surreal. I am so happy for him and the covenant he has made and the completely different person he is. I am also way happy to have been able to see Hermana Barnes dream come true as well. I know it's true what is says in DyC 10:15--

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

I know God prepares his children. The gospel changes lives. And the church is true. I love you family! Have the best week ever!

The Lord is full of Surprises!

Well Family. It's been a strange week to say the least. How about we start from the beginning. Once upon a time there was a little mission called the Great California San Fernando mission. It was a tiny happy mission with the happiest of missionaries. And then it got struck with the plague. No but for real. This huge poopy plague of depression, anxiety, strange health problems and all sorts of things. Well as a result, lots of missionaries died from this plague. (and when I say die it's just for the story purposes. They actually just had to go home from their mission early.)

 

So we lost two missionaries from the Burbank zone, one of them happened to be sweet Hermana Blacker, who I trained. well that left her companion Hermana watts (Ashley watts) companionless. So we adopted her!!! TRIO!!! it was so much fun! We had a blast being in a trio. It was like a sleepover every night! And we got to work two Areas, and go to two different wards on sunday! 5 hours of church! We got to introduce ourselves as the hermanas Watts and Labanc. and everyone asked us if we were sisters. So yeah. We spent the week in a trio just waiting for the call from president telling us what would happen with Hermana watts.

 

Well. The call Finally came. Saturday morning while eating my nice Yoplait yogurt president called and asked to talk to us each individually. so he started with me. He said "Hermana Watts there are some really strange and unexpected things about to take place, so just follow me for a minute. I know we are in the middle of the transfer, but in about three weeks there will be new hermanas coming in. I have called you to be a trainer of one of the new missionaries."

 

instantly my thought is "OH NO!!! he is going to put me and my new missionary in the North Hollywood 4to area, and then I am going to end my mission exactly where I started it and I am never going to leave the Burbank zone my whole mission!!!!" but no. luckily that didn't happen.

 

He said "I am going to extend to you a release as a sister training leader, and you will be leaving  your area." WHAT! didn't see that one coming!!!

"Sister Watts is going to stay there and replace you, and you will be coming up to Santa Clarita to be companions with....HERMANA BARNES!!!! you'll be with her for her last three weeks, and then train a new missionary in that area."

 

Okay what. no way. I about died of excitement!! Reuniting the Dream team?! President are you sure? I think the world might just die of too much awesomeness. (oh p.s. Hermana Barnes' companion also went home early because of health reasons, hence she was companionless as well.) It is so incredible how all the pieces just seemed to fall right into place. Although it was so very strange, and completely out of left field, and no one saw it coming, I know that these changes are inspired. While I was talking with president I just felt so at peace with all the changes. I know that the lord is in the details of this work, and he guides it. He has the master plan and all we need to do is trust him, and everything will fall into place. The church is true and I love you all!

Lice

Okay momma, this email is just for you! So remember how we got given the task of getting rid of lice in our recent converts hair?? Well yikes. It is the biggest nightmare that has ever existed.

Mom. It is the worst case of lice I have EVER seen. We were there for 2 and a half hours and didn't even make a dent!!! the mom has it, the three kids have it, the mean awful older brother has it, even the BABY has it!!! oh man. We washed the hair mom for like ever, and then we tried to comb out the nits... oh man. Yeah we didn't get like any of it out. We had to wash out the comb like every two seconds because there is just way too much lice. I would almost say there is more like than there is hair!

But enough complaining. I am going to go straight to heaven for getting lice in the service of others right? This is me and barnsey washing out OUR hair with lice shampoo...

dreams do come true!!! AGAIN!!!

Hey family! What's good? so here is the deal. About 5 months ago I had a way stellar email about how all my dreams were coming true and I got to be with my dream companion. Well awesome news the dream team is REUNITED!!!!! It is SOOO good to be back with Hermana Barnes. She is just my favorite. It's been fun to see how much we've grown, and all the new things we have learned. She is just my best friend!

here are some of the adventures we have had together:

well first we are on bike. I mean stop everything that in itself is a dream come true!!! I've wanted to be on bike my whole mission!!! It was a little rough in the beginning. especially cause I don't know anything about bikes! but it's okay, my bike (the beast) and I have settle our differences and decided to be friends. And also the guy at the bike shop is an angel and fixed my bike for free! (how was I supposed to know how to put the tire on correctly? I'm just a white girl!)

The next awesome adventure is every single day in our area! It's a missionaries dream! its super paisa (latina) and the people here are so so nice! I love Mexicans way more than white people. wait did I say that out loud? sorry America I take it back!  But for real. They are just SO nice! this one lady I just barely met invited us into her home and made us enchiladas! Almost everyone we see offers us water. And even when the people reject us I still feel way good about myself! I love it!

Another way way fun thing we did was we got to walk to church with a caravan of teenage girls! haha it was like a little parade! picture attached. the girls are all way awesome. they are the only members in their families, but they still come every week without fail!

We made a drunk man cry! We have an investigator named Beto, who is a big time alcoholic. We just met him last week and we shared a scripture and he was in tears just saying "I want to change! You have to help me!! I know you two will be my angels." 

We got to do this way fun service! we were trailblazers! (that's people who make trails right?) cause that's what we did! we made trails! holy tolito it was so hot and super hard manual labor, and I was for SURE feelin It the next day. But it was so so so much fun! now I am an expert ground tiller, and I can use a mccloud like no ones business.

but out of all the fun and all the adventures, we have seen so many miracles. I am so happy to be in this area. It is so amazing the people her are just amazing. I am so excited for all the adventures we are going to have in this area, and all the lord has in store for us.

Well honey lovers, I miss you and love you! Besitos!

Love Ness

The Lord is full of Surprises

Well Family. It's been a strange week to say the least. How about we start from the beginning. Once upon a time there was a little mission called the Great California San Fernando mission. It was a tiny happy mission with the happiest of missionaries. And then it got struck with the plague. No but for real. This huge poopy plague of depression, anxiety, strange health problems and all sorts of things. Well as a result, lots of missionaries died from this plague. (and when I say die it's just for the story purposes. They actually just had to go home from their mission early.)

 

So we lost two missionaries from the Burbank zone, one of them happened to be sweet Hermana Blacker, who I trained. well that left her companion Hermana watts (Ashley watts) companionless. So we adopted her!!! TRIO!!! it was so much fun! We had a blast being in a trio. It was like a sleepover every night! And we got to work two Areas, and go to two different wards on sunday! 5 hours of church! We got to introduce ourselves as the hermanas Watts and Labanc. and everyone asked us if we were sisters. So yeah. We spent the week in a trio just waiting for the call from president telling us what would happen with Hermana watts.

 

Well. The call Finally came. Saturday morning while eating my nice Yoplait yogurt president called and asked to talk to us each individually. so he started with me. He said "Hermana Watts there are some really strange and unexpected things about to take place, so just follow me for a minute. I know we are in the middle of the transfer, but in about three weeks there will be new hermanas coming in. I have called you to be a trainer of one of the new missionaries."

 

instantly my thought is "OH NO!!! he is going to put me and my new missionary in the North Hollywood 4to area, and then I am going to end my mission exactly where I started it and I am never going to leave the Burbank zone my whole mission!!!!" but no. luckily that didn't happen.

 

He said "I am going to extend to you a release as a sister training leader, and you will be leaving  your area." WHAT! didn't see that one coming!!!

"Sister Watts is going to stay there and replace you, and you will be coming up to Santa Clarita to be companions with....HERMANA BARNES!!!! you'll be with her for her last three weeks, and then train a new missionary in that area."

 

Okay what. no way. I about died of excitement!! Reuniting the Dream team?! President are you sure? I think the world might just die of too much awesomeness. (oh p.s. Hermana Barnes' companion also went home early because of health reasons, hence she was companionless as well.) It is so incredible how all the pieces just seemed to fall right into place. Although it was so very strange, and completely out of left field, and no one saw it coming, I know that these changes are inspired. While I was talking with president I just felt so at peace with all the changes. I know that the lord is in the details of this work, and he guides it. He has the master plan and all we need to do is trust him, and everything will fall into place. The church is true and I love you all!

dreams do come true!!! AGAIN!!!

Hey family! What's good? so here is the deal. About 5 months ago I had a way stellar email about how all my dreams were coming true and I got to be with my dream companion. Well awesome news the dream team is REUNITED!!!!! It is SOOO good to be back with Hermana Barnes. She is just my favorite. It's been fun to see how much we've grown, and all the new things we have learned. She is just my best friend!

here are some of the adventures we have had together:

well first we are on bike. I mean stop everything that in itself is a dream come true!!! I've wanted to be on bike my whole mission!!! It was a little rough in the beginning. especially cause I don't know anything about bikes! but it's okay, my bike (the beast) and I have settle our differences and decided to be friends. And also the guy at the bike shop is an angel and fixed my bike for free! (how was I supposed to know how to put the tire on correctly? I'm just a white girl!)

The next awesome adventure is every single day in our area! It's a missionaries dream! its super paisa (latina) and the people here are so so nice! I love Mexicans way more than white people. wait did I say that out loud? sorry America I take it back!  But for real. They are just SO nice! this one lady I just barely met invited us into her home and made us enchiladas! Almost everyone we see offers us water. And even when the people reject us I still feel way good about myself! I love it!

Another way way fun thing we did was we got to walk to church with a caravan of teenage girls! haha it was like a little parade! picture attached. the girls are all way awesome. they are the only members in their families, but they still come every week without fail!

We made a drunk man cry! We have an investigator named Beto, who is a big time alcoholic. We just met him last week and we shared a scripture and he was in tears just saying "I want to change! You have to help me!! I know you two will be my angels." 

We got to do this way fun service! we were trailblazers! (that's people who make trails right?) cause that's what we did! we made trails! holy tolito it was so hot and super hard manual labor, and I was for SURE feelin It the next day. But it was so so so much fun! now I am an expert ground tiller, and I can use a mccloud like no ones business.

but out of all the fun and all the adventures, we have seen so many miracles. I am so happy to be in this area. It is so amazing the people her are just amazing. I am so excited for all the adventures we are going to have in this area, and all the lord has in store for us.

Well honey lovers, I miss you and love you! Besitos!

Love Ness

Our Miracle Family

Hey my sweet family. I have wonderful stories for this week. So listen.

 

Once upon a time there was a missionary who was just having a hard time. She was working really hard, and not seeing the fruits of her labors. For the purpose of our story we'll call her Hermana Watts, because that's her name. So this Hermana Watts is getting discouraged. With herself, with the work, with her investigators that seemed to be so cool and just aren't progressing. She just can't seem to figure out what she is doing wrong. but then she reads a scripture in Mosiah 23:21-22

 21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
 22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.
So this little Hermana does the only thing she can do. She prays. She puts every last little ounce of trust she has in the lord. Her and her sweet Japanese companion begin to pray that they will find the elect. The people really searching for the gospel. Not only that, but that the will find a family.
So what happens with this cute little companionship of downtrodden hermanas? The Lord says I think I will bless them with a miracle. I think they're ready. And along came Lyneth.

Lyneth is a referral we received. So Miracle #1 we never ever receive referrals. So we schedule an appointment with her, and we go and teach her. She is absolutely amazing. She doesn't have a religious background, but believes in God and Jesus Christ. She has been looking for a church. So we get to know her, and right as we are about to say the opening prayer Miracle #2 her husband comes home. and instead of being very against missionaries like some spouses tend to be, he sits down with us, and says oh yeah I went to the Mormon school in Mexico. I almost was baptized but my mom wouldn't let me. WHAT? So we teach them the message of the restoration. Miracle #3 We were able to teach the perfect lesson perfectly tailored to their needs, and they loved it. The spirit felt was incredible. We set a return cita for the next day. Miracle #4 they were actually HOME for the return appointment. Miracle #5 her two sons were also home, and so we taught them as well. We taught them all about the book of Mormon, and they all promised to read it. Miracle #6 when we went back the next day Lyneth had read more than her assigned reading. She read right past the introduction and through all of the testimonies! miracle #7 Lyneth came to church. miracle #8 she brought her whole family! Our miracle family of 4! miracle #9 Lyneth and her family came super late, but for some strange reason, the Obispo decided to have all the youth get up and bear their testimonies BEFORE the sacrament, so the sacrament started late and our miracle family didn't miss a minute of the best part of the meeting:) Miracle #10 Lyneth wants to be baptized:)
I know God hears and answers prayers. I know he is mindful of us. Lyneth was an answer to our prayers. She is an elect. Not only did he bless us with the opportunity to teach an elect, he blessed us with a family to teach. I know trials strengthen us, and I am so grateful for the blessing that comes from each trial of our faith. I love you all so much! Keep being wonderful, and pushing through your trials, because there are great blessings in store.
Love Ness

WattsX2

Hey Fam! What's new? So get this. In this zone of mine we have two Hermana Watts. How cute. And I just happen to be her sister training leader, so logically, we are going to have to go on exchanges! And what does that mean? WATTS X 2 (or watts squared whichever you prefer...) It was a blast! We introduced ourselves all day "hey we're the Hermanas Watts" or "Hi nice to meet you my name is sister Watts.... my name is also sister watts". People were just all sorts of confused! One investigator, cute Mayra asked us, are all the misioneras going to be called Watts now? ha. Too fun.

 

Lets see what else happened this week. Well we had a great Mission Leadership council with president Hall, where we learned how to teach better. I tell you the gospel is so amazing and I am learning so much about it every day. But it's so hard to teach! okay false, it's hard to teach it simply! I just want to tell everyone everything I know, but that just doesn't go down well. And then you have to factor in teaching with a companion, and then of course the spirit is the real teacher, why should we even worry about teaching? yikes. The struggles of teaching the beautiful gospel. I'll be good at it one day, just you wait!

 

Lesson that I learned this week, is that if you invite people on the street to come tour the chapel it is not a great finding activity. No one came to our church tour... :( I know saddest days. Except! our atheist investigator Carlos. he is the sweetest. He knows basically everything about the gospel, he just can't feel that it's true. So everyone, Pray that Carlos Can feel the spirit!!

 

okay yeah my time is gone, love you lots and be good and happy!!!

 

Love, Ness

"It was the load"

Hey Fam. what's new? Well. The email today won't be too long, because to be honest this week was kinda hard! I don't have any crazy stories, no incredible miracles occurred, it was just a rough week in the life of a missionary. Had exchanges with Hermana McGlothin, and then Hermana Larsen. two great hermanas. We are teaching an atheist, and that's fun, and then last they were filming a movie right by our house Friday night, and they crashed a bus on the corner of our street. So I guess that was pretty cool.

 

But something I have learned a lot this week, is about trials. Why we have them, and how amazing they are to us. Really trials our a vital part of our mortal journey. God gives us trials and burdens to help us learn how to depend upon the atonement. I love the talk by Elder Bednar from this conference "Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease". I invite you all to read it. he says "We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and 'strength beyond [our] own.'" One thing I have been learning is that we can receive so much strength through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We don't need to carry our load alone. The savior is our constant companion, and he has done everything possible to help us live with heavenly father again. I am so grateful for trials. I am so grateful for my savior. I know this gospel is true, and I love my calling as a missionary.

 

Thanks for all your love and support. I love you with all my heart!

 

Love,

Ness

Happy Mothers Day!

Dear Fam. Okay here is the run down of the week. So here is what happened. I don't really remember.

-We had a cinco de mayo party last week, and it was so fun! got a paisa piñata and everything! Super fun.

 

-Our investigator Mayra taught us how to make enchiladas!

 

-ummm we aren't on bike anymore. So no more worrying mom ;)

 

-We taught he COOLEST homeless man. well first he was a referral, so all it said was Benjamin, go to the park on magnolia and Tujunga by the Amelia earnheart statue at 4. So we did. And we taught this super cool guy, who is from Honduras and has only been in the US for 10 months. He is homeless yes, but so cool! He even accepted the invitation to be baptized june 1st! The only problem is after that day we lost him. We spent the end of the week knocking on every homeless persons shoulder trying to find him. no luck.

 

-we found 13 new investigators this week. UH yeah that was crazy unreal. We actually taught this family of four girls on Monday, and they are all super sweet! We'll see what happens there.

 

-We are learning how to teach simply, and I is so awesome. I am finally coming to really understand the gospel, and know what it really is to be converted.

 

-We had two exchanges this week. One with Hermana Blacker, and it was super fun. She is just a hoot and I love her. All our plans fell through and it was a terrible day, but she is just so good and down for anything.

 

-Exchanges with Hermana Simpson did NOT go as well. Hermana Simpson is going into law. Nuff said. She is an excellent missionary, it's just super intimidating to be her leader! AH

 

-The last thing that was maybe my most favorite part was the opportunity to talk to my sweet family. If there are two things I know to be true, it is that God gave us families because he loves us. Families are so important and I love my family with all my heart. And the second thing is that the gospel blesses families. This gospels changes lives. It makes bad men good and good men better. When we apply the teaching of the gospel in our families we can have so much joy and success in our homes. I testify this gospel is true. I love it with all my heart. I love you all so much, have a wonderful week.

 

Love Ness

 

p.s. sometime during this crazy week I hit my 1 year mark! ah crazy!

Story time

Hey Family what's new? Okay so I am just going to play story time with you this week, and tell you about my favorite little investigator Andres.

 

So we had a lesson with them on Friday. Well we were running a little late, and by the time we got there Andres is sleeping on the couch! Dangit! so Hermana Umana gives us cheesecake while we wait for him to wake up. About five minutes later, he comes rolling off the couch like a grizzly waking up from hibernation. And so we teach the plan of salvation to him, and he was absolutely hilarious! we invited him to be baptized on June 15th with another little girl in the ward, and he said, "no then my water will be cold!"

somewhere during the middle of the lesson we were talking more about his baptism, and he just says "I just want my water to be warm."

He is so the cutest little honey ever! hands down my favorite investigator. Him and his cute mom Maria. They are the sweetest. Maria even memorized the scripture and gave it during relief society! they are just a golden little family!

 

We have another awesome investigator named Victor. He surprised us this week by being AWESOME! so we invited him to church and all that jazz. Well come sunday morning we call him and text him and he is just not answering. Dangit Victor! Well we go to church and sit by our sweet Golden family, and all of the sudden who do we see in the back row? VICTOR! so I think I really have come to learn never to give up on people. They will surprise  you. The people who really want this gospel won't need a lot of pushing from the missionaries. They will make it happen.

 

The last and saddest news is that Hermana Barnes is getting transferred. To BIKE! that lucky lady... (not the transferred part. the bike!) but. I am going to miss her a lot. It's been an amazing three months. Its probably safe to say she has been my favorite companion. She has just helped me grow so much, and become a better missionary. It has been really refreshing not to have to worry about companionship drama or anything, and just focus on missionary work. I have seen the area blossom, the people change, but most of all I have seen the change in me. I am grateful for every life that has touched mine for the better. I only hope to be able to touch others lives and help them become better people as well. I love you all so much! Have an amazing week.

 

Love,

Ness  

 

Oh. Other things we did this week you might want to know.

Fed a homeless man a sandwich

Died in the super hot 100 degree weather.

Had awesome zone conference with president (p.s. we totally won the cleanest car award! yay!)

and accidentally drove out of the mission! (again!)