May 29, 2013 - I like Pigeons

OH HEY HEY!

 

So we were at our bishops house for dinner on Sunday night, and the topic of legalizing pot came up (don't ask why....). When I reminded them that I was from Colorado, Bishop promptly yelled out "Oh THAT'S why you're so happy all the time!". Nicely done, Colorado, for making innocent and true joy seemingly impossible without the use of substance-abuse. Not pot, people. The gospel. GO GET HIGH ON THAT.

 

Hi guys!

 

This has been another crazy week here in the Valley. It is hot. The humidity has rolled in. The people here still don't turn on their air conditioners....But it's been such a great week! Me and my comp had the awesome opportunity to teach mission prep to a bunch of 18 year olds on Sunday, which was a total blast! There are few things I love more than teaching youth, especially when you just get a "good group". We were asked to talk about "obtaining the word"-so dad you have been officially quoted here in the Valley. "Preparation precedes the miracle!". People wrote it down. You're a big deal. They wept. Awwww yeah. Job done.

 

We were talking to our investigator named Yolanda (the crazy ghost-obsessed one) about why she needed to come to church. All of a sudden she yells out "OK FINE. I will go to your church. But if I go and it's not right I am telling God to blame both of you. IT'S NOT MY FAULT." We were so stoked! Unfortunately she called on Saturday and said she couldn't come...because her caretaker was coming....because she couldn't move....because she was sick.....and about 4 more excuses. Not awesome.

 

This ward's numbers are slowly but surely going down. Our bishop came and talked to us about it. He says that it happens every couple of months-they have a few really good weeks, and then people stop coming because they just forget that it's important. I guess it's this never-ending cycle this ward has always been dealing with. So as a district we decided what we could do to help the ward and we felt prompted to ONLY SEE MEMBERS this entire week, and help them to remember their testimonies. Not gonna lie, I was kinda skeptical when we decided that's what we were going to do, but as the week went on, I saw miracles. We taught the same lesson to all the members-the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, but every lesson turned out different. I just love it when the Spirit guides the lesson, and that was especially apparent this week! I love it when you can literally see the person in front of you "remembering". Missionary pay-day, right there. You can see it in their eyes, you can see it in their smiles. Being in the business of reminding....it's a good life people. It's a happy life.

 

This week me and Sister Garlow (the other one of the English sisters who are serving here....basically becoming my best friend here on the mission) made up a missionary-centered song and dance number to "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" and then danced to it in the parking lot of the church on P-day. Alma 26:16...."Who can glory too much in the Lord?" NOT ME.

 

Every day I am continually in awe of the perfect Gospel we have, especially the Book of Mormon. The more I teach about it, the greater my testimony is about the perfection that it contains. You know what, it feels good to be a part of an army that is preaching this gospel, and our main choice of weaponry is the Book of Mormon. It feels good to hold perfection in your hands, people. And that's really what it is. It's a miracle that we can hold in our hands. My copy is beat up. The pages are falling out and it's no longer all shiny and pretty-looking, but it is my prized possession. It is our salvation. Cool, huh? That was something fun to teach in mission prep this past Sunday. As missionaries, we are preaching salvation. The Book of Mormon is our textbook. So study up, because this is a test that we cannot fail. We need to go get our brothers and sisters and bring them home, and this can only be done through the Book of Mormon.

 

I learned how to make tortillas....The member who taught us told me that I wasn't very good....but she said "it's ok, you can sing good."

 

Being a missionary is definitely the hardest thing I have ever loved to do.

 

I love you all, with all of my heart!!!

 

Hermana Hess

Official Border Patrol Agent

May 21, 2013 - 'Tis a Gift!

OH HEY HEEEEEEEYYYYYY!

In the story of the 10 lepers, after they were all healed, we know that only 1 of the original 10 came back and thanked Christ for performing this miracle. But what I like most about this is that the scriptures say that this one healed man "...turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God."

I've never been healed of leoprosy, nor have I seen people being raised from the dead or have seen the blind and deaf be healed. But, like this one grateful man, I have so many reasons to glorify God with a LOUD VOICE. Because holy shoot dang, I have been so blessed!!!
First off, isn't it cool how we believe in a gospel that is truly so simple, but is never mastered? There are scriptorians, prophets, witnesses and people like J who are so knowledgeable about the doctrine and have the amazing opportunity to pour over scriptures daily, but they are never finished!  We are NEVER FINISHED studying! COOL, huh? I know, right?!

I've had a good week of studying. Can ya tell?

This week it began with spiritual gifts. I think is amazing how Heavenly Father loves us so much, that in addition to the blessings that He rains down on us daily, He has given us individual gifts that are solely "ours". He's given personality traits, or characteristics to everyone, each one with an individual purpose. And when we realize the purpose of these gifts, great is our joy!!
Dad, in one of your letters, you said "You carry your message in song....so sing it in everything you do!". That has stuck with me ever since I read it! After that, every single letter that I have received has mentioned "Sister Hess, I hope that you are singing. Don't stop, whatever you do, don't stop!". You'd think that Heavenly Father was trying to tell me something:). So this week I sang A LOT. In lessons, on the street, while serving, by myself, with the kids, with the investigators...and holy crow. Miracles. EVERY person that we taught has come up to me and said "I needed you, I needed that song, I needed that joy." and then they followed with "Are you always this happy?"

I LOVE MY HEAVENLY FATHER. I can't get over how merciful He is! He has given me something that makes me so happy personally, but can also somehow benefit others. Don't know how it works. I don't even know how I am so blessed. My MTC teacher said that "Missions are the easiest thing you will ever do...because you will be so happy". This week, the mission was easy. It was hard work, but easy work. Joy, people. Beautiful. HOLLA. 

 

So Heavenly Father has given ALL OF US these gifts, but He also says that "When much is given, much is required". I have been so blessed,  so how could I not work as hard as I possibly can? Where much is given....much is required. Don't waste those gifts! How many times to I need to be told that until I just PAY ATTENTION? Junk. We have been given gifts...use them for Heaven's sake. 

 

This week I have seen miracles! We have an investigator with a baptismal date who is just so faithful, even with the world falling apart around her. Her husband has to go to dialysis 3 times a week, her car broke down and she has 5 small children that she needs to feed. But she never hesitates to invite us over, and when she does she offers the most sincere prayers and the most humble testimonies. Pray for the Brillones family! They need a miracle. I have no doubt that they will receive one! Pray for Yolanda, who finally said "if you can get me a ride, I will come to your church" (she also said if she didn't feel anything, she will tell God to punish us....). I have a lot of things to pray for, yet a lot to praise Him for. Actually, all of us do. 

 

We went out to lunch as a district, and we ran into a member who insisted that he pay for all of our meals. Right before we left, a random stranger came up to us, said "are you all a district?" after we said yes, he "said who is your district leader?" When he raised his hand, this guy hands him $60 and says "next time you go out as a district, it's on me." People are cool. I love these people. 

 

I hope all is well at home! Sorry this is long-winded and full of a whole lotta nothing. Just a lot on my mind. Oh by the way, next week we have a meeting in San Diego on Tuesday so you'll get an email on Wednesday. 

 

Go and glorify God. Do so with a loud voice, because it deserves to be shouted from the mountaintops.

 

Love you all, with all my heart.

Hermana Hess. 

May 14, 2013 - Mexicans and Poltergeists

Hola Familia! 

 

To explain the subject of this email:

We taught a lady this week about the plan of salvation, and we asked her about where she thought we went after we all died. She said (and this is verbatim) "Our ghosts just kinda hang around in our houses and do whatever they want. Sometimes they go to the people they don't like and make bad things happen to them. That's a looooooooot of ghosts running around". Yolanda is a special soul....

 

We also taught a man who, when we asked him if he has heard about Joseph Smith, said "Is that the guy with a lot of wives? OH wait! That was the next one!" After we said that we don't do that anymore, he went on a 20 minute tangent about how he thinks polygamy should be brought back. "Hey, if the guy can support them, I think he should have as many wives as he wants. That's why I don't have one."

 

It was SO GOOD to talk to you guys on Sunday!! The minute I walked out of my room my companion said "Are you always that loud when you're on the phone? It's annoying." Aw yeah!! No but really, I loved hearing your voices, even though David's sounded WAAAY different. Basically, it was the best thing in the world. I was especially thrilled to hear about the changing of the color of our house:) bahaha.

 

Yesterday we were teaching the Brillones family. They haven't come to church yet because they don't have gas for their car. So me and my companion went and bought them a gas can filled with gasoline so they could go fill up their car and pick up their kids from school. They were SO grateful that they both started crying! After we taught them their lesson, we invited them to baptism, this time with a date. They said YES!!!! THEY'RE GETTING BAPTIZED ON JUNE 6TH!!!!!!!! They are so great and I am so SO happy for them that I left and just wanted to cry. Best ever. Our mansions will be next to each others in the heavens....:) It was basically a missionary pay-day. 

 

Sorry that this letter is boring and short. The mission president and his counselors are coming out today so we have to go clean everything and shine the elders' shoes.....

 

Love you all more than ANYTHING!!!!!! I'll write a more exciting letter next week! Thank you for your prayers and I love you all so much!

 

Hermana Hess 

May 7, 2013 - The earthquakes are a comin'!

LOVES OF MY LIFE! 

The entirety of the Valley is preparing for earthquakes. It was super hot last week and this week it's super cool (like, in the 70's. People are wearing coats.....). Apparently weather like this is signs of earthquakes. I hope one happens. Check that off the bucket list of LIFE. 

I can't believe I just started out my letter talking about the weather. 

Hey hey HEY family!! How is life?? Is it still snowing? I tell a lot of the people we teach that it's snowing in my hometown. They usually reply with confused looks on their faces and then say "what's snow?". Welcome, everyone, to El Centro. I can't WAIT to talk to you on Sunday!! I'm not sure when I will, but I think I'll either call or text you the night before or early in the morning and we'll set up a time. It's gonna be great. 

This week FLEW by! I can't believe it's already P-day. We were super busy! The elders gave us a list of 45 people in their ward that speak Spanish (side note, I am not a fan of English wards that offer translation. No one comes to the ward they're supposed to. Gah.) that they want visited so we spent a lot of the week finishing that up. We taught a bunch of really cool people and met a lot of nonmembers so it was a blast. We also had doors slammed in our faces, people screaming Spanish swear words at us and even a dog chasing after us. That was not a blast. No it was not. 

It's been a busy and hard week. Our investigators kept dropping appointments and none of them have been keeping commitments. It's super frustrating. This week I kept thinking "What am I NOT doing that is keeping these people from progressing?". It was rough. Trying to lift up struggling members, investigators who have no desire to change their lifestyle because it's "easier", a companion that is coping with depression and, bless her heart, is sad and tired all the time, and getting down on myself because I don't know what more I can do. It was one of those "How Am I Supposed To Lift All These People Up When I Am So Broken Myself" week. Then I remember that I am a Hess and Hess' don't break. I think our family has been called to LIFT, and I needed to remember that this week. I've felt my shoulders become strengthened through fasting and prayer on my part, and the prayers of you all. So thank you Mom and Dad and Michael and Cory and David and everyone else for teaching me that no matter how tough it is, the business of lifting others will always bring joy. Besides, life is better when you wake up your companion at 6:20 in the morning singing, "OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MOOOOOOOOOOORNING" and dance around the apartment blasting MOTAB. I have fun. 

Wanna know my favorite part of being a missionary? Promising blessings. This week we taught a family returning from being less active. They have SUCH a desire to follow God and have so much faith, it makes my heart clench with just plain joy when I talk to them. We taught them the law of tithing. This family is on welfare and neither of them have jobs, so it was a big concern for them, especially because they have 4 kids. But all of the sudden I just felt the spirit literally RUN through my veins, and I opened my mouth and the words "The most important thing to God is the family. We promise that if you make an effort to pay tithing and follow the commandments of God, you and your husband will find work. You will not have to worry about your family. God will take care of you".  It was such a cool moment that tears came to my eyes! Being a mouthpiece of the Lord is SO SHOOT DANG COOL!!!! Miracles, people. They happen every day. 

Yesterday we went to go teach an investigator couple, but they weren't home. Their daughter answered the door and invited us in so we began teaching her the restoration. When we said the first vision, she started to cry. She said "I don't know what this feeling is, and I can't describe it, but I feel like my burdens have been lifted and I have this new-found inspiration and motivation for my life." IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER. We told her that that feeling, that indescribable feeling, was the Spirit working through her, testifying to her of the truthfulness of our message. Her name is Marlene and she's 18 and SO PREPARED! She's so open to our message and I just saw the JOY enter her eyes when she felt the spirit for the first time. It's all about the eyes (right, dad?). I can't wait to teach her again. Meeting her was a major tender mercy, because we were pretty bummed out about our investigators never answering their door. Holla. She's gonna go on a mission. 

Sometimes when I don't know the Spanish word I say it in English but with a Spanish accent and hope for the best. 

Sometimes I cook tortillas on the grill and slather it with nutella and make a nutella quesadilla. It's the perfect blend of mexican and french cuisine! 

Sometime I eat an entire jar of nutella in a week. 

Have an amazing week and I'll TALK TO YOU ON SUNDAY! Woot! I love you all so much! More than you realize. You mean more than the world to me.

Your loud and grateful daughter,

Hermana Hess