January 28, 2014 - Peyton Manning is Being Prayed For!

I have learned that when people ask me where I am from, that I quickly need to change the subject. People here do not like people from Denver right now-All I gotta say is that the Broncos are the subjects of many prayers of the missionaries here in my zone.

If anyone wants to send me a Payton Manning t-shirt this week, I would be ok with it!

WHAT A SOLID WEEK! Sister Hansen and I started off the week putting our faith in Heavenly Father and setting higher goals than we normally do. We worked our tails off and ended up teaching 40 lessons and adding 8 new investigators!! Going to bed completely exhausted every night feels so good. I have honestly never been this tired in my life, but I'm so dang happy I don't even care! We found a woman named Laura last Monday and within the first 5 minutes of meeting her we just KNEW that she is prepared, and has been waiting for this message for a long time. She's getting baptized March 1st!! The few lessons that we have had with her have been some of the most powerful and clear lessons we have ever taught. You can tell that we are literally doing nothing- %100 spirit. I love those lessons!

Did anyone else know that the stones that the Lord touched for the brother of Jared's boat were used in the Urim and Thummin? Because I just figured that out, like, yesterday. Not my finest intellectual moment. 

 

Bertha got baptized last week!!! We got to go down to Chula Vista for the baptism and it was amazing. It was so good to see everyone. A lot of the investigators that we taught while I was there were there and it was good to see them again:). Bertha looked so happy!! She was glowing the whole time and just kept saying "I've been waiting for this for so long!!". I love her a lot, and I'm so glad I got to go back to see her!

 

Our investigator here in Santee, also named Bertha, is blowing our minds! She finished the Book of Mormon (took her 2 months....) and is now reading the principles of the gospel manual....FOR FUN. She gave up coffee and swearing and comes to church faithfully every week. She seriously talks like she's been a member all her life, she retains everything!! It's so weird, she still refuses to get baptized. We have been praying so hard for her and to figure out what is holding her back. Keep her in her prayers!!!

 

For some reason this week all of out investigators have opened up a ton. I love that point of the relationship-where we are not only their missionaries, but someone they can find a friend in and trust. These people here are so easy to love, they just need to be reminded of how loved and looked after they are. I guess when you always have that in the back of your mind, it's not that hard to be a missionary! 

 

So I was reading in the Book of Mormon the other day while I was on an exchange, and 3rd Nefi 21:10 blew my mind. "But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil." I think of Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. To those on the outside looking in, they were failures. Joseph Smith was killed at the time where the saints were at their weakest. They were pushed out of Nauvoo and had to walk thousands of miles to a place where they could live in peace. Jesus Christ was crucified. The Apostasy happened. (although they shall be marred because of them.) I bet in those moments, Satan thought he won. But "..The life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him.". The death of Joseph Smith increased the faith of the saints and gave them the push they needed to go west. Christ paid the ultimate price and because of Him, we will be victors over death and sin. They are sitting in the Heavens together, rejoicing in the 15 million members of the church that know the truth, That doesn't sound like losing to me. "For I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.". I am grateful for hindsight. I am grateful that while it may seem like everything is against us, God's wisdom is all encompassing. There's no way that we can't win.

 

Well that was long-winded haha. I love you all!!! I hope David's birthday was the bomb....I wish I could be there to see you bless the sacrament for the first time. Have a great week and be so happy!

 

Hermana Hess

January 21, 2014 - "You speak Spanish? But you're so white!"

Oh hey crowd! Ready to hear about the insane week we had? I don't think I've ever been this tired in my life....

 

Last Tuesday night we got 2 calls from 2 different companionships who all told us that they were ready to call it quits and go home. The sad thing was, they've been out over a year and only have a transfer or two left. So Hermana Hansen and I went on 2 emergency exchanges this week to try and see what we could do. I went to bed Tuesday night so nervous about what I was going to say to these missionaries who've been out 4-5 months longer than me, so I prayed and prayed for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Let me tell you, I have never felt the guidance of the Spirit more in my life haha. Man, can I just say how much I love being an instrument? Hermana Hansen and I were preparing so hard spiritually to help these sisters, and I know for a fact that without Heavenly Father's guidance we would have gone and returned in vain. Neither of us really remember what we said, but we are hoping and praying that it made a difference...that was something I never expected when I got this calling haha. Midnight phone calls are really fun.....

 

BUT we did go to the valley for an exchange! Oh man, driving into the desert felt like coming home! It felt like I never left, but at the same time, it didn't feel "mine" anymore. I lost all the stewardship for that area when I left 3 months ago. That was hard to accept haha, but my love for the people there will never diminish. We had a really great day seeing their new investigators, and we also saw a few members (my favorite ones:))!! We went and tried to see Damian, but he blew us off. I guess he hasn't been going to church since Sister Oliver and I left....We are bummed:( Keep Damian in your prayers! We called him and I left him a rather lengthy message. But other than that, I was in heaven. I am a reunion fan, people. It was so good to see them again! But as we drove back to Santee, I felt like it was mine, too. Life is good!

 

So those exchanges were how we started the week haha. It's cool to be working closer to President and Sister Clayton and the AP's. I have so much respect and love for the leaders of this mission. I'm stoked for this opportunity to learn from them.

 

Before I left Chula, the other sisters in the ward were teaching a woman named Ivette who is super solid! The day I heard I was getting transferred, we went to a Relief Society activity and Ivette pulled me aside and said "I need you to go to Santee and teach my sister!!". Her name is Diana and I've been thinking of her ever since I got here. We finally met her the other day and she is AMAZING! Man, she is prepared. She came to stake conference on Sunday and then to a fireside later that night and loved them both! We invited her to be baptized at the fireside and she said she'll have to think about it more and be more sure of her answer. I LOVE HER. PRAY FOR DIANA!

 

Favorite lesson we've ever taught: Samuel the Lamanite. Write down temptations or obstacles on a piece of paper, on the other side write how to overcome them, wad them up into a ball, and throw them at someone. We played this with the Calvillo family a few days ago and their 16 year old Elias was "Samuel". When we told him to declare repentance he just said "Repent or you will go to hell". It was easy to throw things at him. I've never been with a family who loved a lesson more, haha. With God, all things are possible!

 

We are also teaching a woman named Bertha who is blowing us away! Her 2 grown sons were baptized a few months ago and are still going really strong. Get this-she started the Book of Mormon the day after Thanksgiving and she is already done!!!! She pours over it ever day and retains everything! She says it's true and probably knows more about the Book of Mormon than I do. The thing is, she doesn't want to get baptized. We have been praying to know what we can to do help her, but we still can't seem to figure it out. She's afraid, we think, of what changes she will have to make if she gets baptized. I think she knows that becoming a member of this Church is lifelong, and I guess I never really understood why that was scary to converts or people taking the discussions. I've been blessed to know the joy and peace that comes from being a member my whole life, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it really is a huge step for these people who are searching. It requires a massive leap of faith and a lot of work. But it's cool to look at recent converts when they say  "it's so worth it!" Countenances don't lie. We will work with Bertha as long as we have to to help her realize it. She'll be a stellar Relief Society president one day.

 

Hey! I love you so much! Sorry this is a rushed email. But I hope you all are so happy!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORY AND DAVID!!!!! David, even though you are turning 16 you may not go out on dates. It's giving me a heart attack.

 

Les quiero!

 

Hermana Hess

January 14, 2014 - Helloooo Humility!

Hey Fam!!

 

This past week has been NUTS. It flew by and I can't believe it's already P-Day. But man do I have some STUFF TO TELL Y'ALL.

 

I am now serving in Santee (I went from the beach to the mountains....BLISS!!! It's absolutely beautiful. Very different from my last 2 areas. It's the first time I haven't served on the border so finding people is a lot harder, but it's on fire so I'm so stoked to be here!), and companions with Hermana Hansen. I've been called to be a Sister Trainer here in the mission, and I'm incredibly humbled by that. Hermana Hansen and I get to go on exchanges once or twice a week with all of the Spanish sisters in the mission and provide coaching and get them excited about the work.....um, WHAT?! I think I've been called to this position because I need to get trained by every other sister in the mission haha. But nevertheless, I am extraordinarily humbled by this opportunity to learn from the sisters and work closer with President Clayton and mission leadership. We had Mission Leadership Council the other day (Surprise! Elder Ballard was there.....not bad having an apostle as your president's father in law.) and we discussed the hastening of the work and the state of our mission right now. I felt very inadequate being in that room haha....We discussed how the mission in general needs to become more consecrated and really "take up our cross for the Lord" and get lost in the work. The spirit was amazing in that lesson and I'm excited for what this transfer will bring!

 

Saying goodbye to Chula was hard, but Bertha is still getting baptized soon, so I will be able to go back for that, and we will be doing exchanges over there next month. Also, GUESS WHO IS GOING TO THE VALLEY THIS WEEKEND FOR AN EXCHANGE!? This one. No worries, it's not my area anymore and I'm not going to go and be all "Let's go see this person!! Let's go see this person!". It's their area now and all we are doing is going and providing support and counsel. (I have no counsel, by the way. Thank heavens for Hermana Hansen.)

 

Oh man, I love Hermana Hansen!!!! I've been on an MTE with her before and she is so solid! I've already learned so much from her. The day I got to Santee we just went out and worked our tails off and haven't stopped since. I really feel like I am getting lost in the work, because I have never been this happy on my mission! We both have a goal just to work-and both of us keep saying how happy we are. At the same time, we both feel like Satan knows how hard we are trying, and he is working hard to keep us from succeeding. We have had experiences this past week where we have just felt Satan's influence on some of the people we teach-so much that we literally had to get out of the houses asap and run to our car busting out hymns and praying like crazy. But we are NOT going to stop working as hard as we can. God protects His servants and I have felt His influence more than I ever have!

 

I love this area and I really feel like this is where I need to be. I didn't feel at all like I was going to leave Chula, but at the same time, I didn't feel like this the last week of the transfer over there. I'm already completely in love with the members! We are just a branch, but it is SO solid and they really have a huge fire for missionary work!!! I've been blown away by how much they want to help us! They love to feed us (I'm going to gain all the weight I lost by being on a bike...) and they are incredible teachers to our investigators. Ah, I am so stoked to be working with them!! We are teaching some really amazing people. The pool is a lot smaller than it was in Chula Vista but that ok because it just makes us work even harder finding the people that have been prepared for the message. We have one investigator who is getting baptized next month named Jorge, and you can tell how much the gospel has changed his life. I've only met him once, but he told me before how rough and hard and how big of a chip he had on his shoulder before the missionaries came over. He still looks physically...well...scary, but when you talk to him, his face lights up. Coolest thing ever.

 

At the transfer meeting, President Clayton said something really cool. He told us that if we aren't personally consecrated and working as hard as we can, the work will still continue, but WE lose out. Man, I have this huge fear of missing out. I am so afraid of missing someone that has been prepared for the Gospel just because I was too freaked to talk to them or bear my testimony. I am so stoked for this new opportunity to serve and learn and get more and more lost.

 

Life is so good! I hope everyone is happy, and that you know just how much I love you!!! I am so grateful that I can call you mine!

 

Hermana Hess

January 7, 2014 - Didn't See That One coming!

 

 

AAAAAAAND:

 

Transferred. What the heck! Yep, I'm leaving. I was honestly so shocked! I definitely wasn't expecting it AT ALL! It feels so weird! I spent 7 months in my first area and just 3 in this one...it feels like I just got here! I'm bummed. This area is exploding and I love the members and the investigators and I feel like I just barely got to know them. But I will say, it feels right. And even though I know it's right, I'm still heartbroken to leave. Struggle bus to the max.

 

This last week was incredible, though! Bertha came to church and introduced herself to everyone and just said how excited she was to be baptized next week! I'll still be able to come to that, which makes me really happy. Her countenance just shone the whole time. And Friday we took a member out with us to go see one of our investigators, but they cancelled last minute. Us and this member (bless her heart) knocked on 4 more doors and no one answered. Before we turned in for the night, we felt the impression to go try our investigators Helario and Maria. When they opened the door, they let us in and proceeded to bash us right in front of the member (that was a really lovely experience...). So we just asked if we could leave them with a song and then go and they agreed. When we sat down, the member we took with us (Hermana Sores!) just laid down the law and bore her testimony so strong! It was so cool to just watch! We seriously sat back as Maria and Hermana Sores just went back and forth talking about the Gospel! By the end of the night, Maria's countenance and heart changed COMPLETELY! As we left, Hermana Sores told us that before she left her house, she prayed that she would have the opportunity to bear her testimony to someone who needed it. Man, her testimony was ANSWERED. There was so much power, and her simple conviction of the gospel totally changed our investigator's heart. That was one of the coolest things I've seen on my mission!

 

One positive thing about being transferred: I don't have to speak in church this Sunday.

 

January 6th is "Die de los Reyes Magos" in the Mexican culture, and what they do to celebrate is they bake this huge thing of bread (Rosca del Pan) and hide little figurines of the baby Jesus in it! If you get the piece with Jesus, you have to cook tamales for everyone on February 2. I love this culture! We went over to a member's house and celebrated last night. Pictures have been attached:) I'm keeping my little plastic Jesus for the rest of my life. (Sacrilegious?)

 

This week I've been thinking a lot about how God answers prayers and how we receive divine guidance. I've been thinking about that and studying it for a lot of my mission. I am not a very good decision maker and I'm constantly worried about making the wrong ones, which only amplified after I entered the mission field. A lot of the time I pray and pray and expect this big, spectacular manifestation of the spirit and am constantly disappointed when said manifestation doesn't happen. There have been times where I've gotten off my knees frustrated and feeling alone (I'm working on it, people. This is what missions are for!). But after concentrating on this topic this past week, I realize that I have been going about it all wrong and that because my mind is so focused on getting an answer, I'm not paying attention to the simple feelings of peace that always accompany prayer. One thing that has brought me a lot of comfort is that receiving revelation and inspiration is supposed to be a struggle. I think it's SO cool how Heavenly Father respects our agency so much, that He lets us struggle and work and sweat. And then figure it out. The wonderful thing is, if we are obedient and righteous, God will consecrate our actions. God will never lead us down a path He doesn't intend for us to take, and it's a really amazing thing that sometimes, He lets us figure out that path on our own.

 

Sorry this is short and boring! I'm still reeling a little bit haha. What is going on with my life? But I am excited for this new area, wherever it is. I feel that I did what I needed to do in Chula, and while I'm really sad to leave, I know there are things that I need to learn wherever I need to go. Life is so good! It feels good to know that you belong to someone who knows far more than you do.

 

I love you SO MUCH!!!!!! Have a great week!

 

Hermana Hess

December 31, 2013 - Nos Vemos 2013!

FAMILY!

 

Hey! Remember that one time where we got to talk a couple of days ago and it was THE BEST THING EVER?! Man, it was so good to talk to you!!! I barely remember what we talked about jaja but all I know is that it felt really, really good to hear your voices! It was so fun to hear Russell and Jacob in the background (by the way Cory and Joe, thank you for training Russell to say "I love you, Kelsey" as it was the best thing of my life.). I'm so glad all is well and everyone is happy!! David's email filled me in on all of the hand and foot/falling Christmas tree/YouTube video/Neil Diamond/Canadian Christmas song adventures and I couldn't help but laugh out loud and say "MY FAMILY IS THE BEST".

 

Christmas was amazing. I think the biggest miracle, though, was how quickly we went back to work after the festivities ended. We all spent the day at our bishops house, eating (and eating and eating....) and opening presents, but we also sang at the veterans home and got the chance to talk to some of the bishop's family who weren't members. By the time dinner was over, all the missionaries cleared out, and were back on the streets finding people to teach. We didn't get the chance to teach anyone that day, but we felt that the Lord was pleased with the decision we made to go back to work and not linger, when it could've been really easy to do so.

 

Despite the fact that we had a lot less proselyting time as usual, this week was awesome! Hermana Kelemen and I worked really really hard teaching as many people as we could find. There weren't a ton of people home (Tijuana is probably overflowing with the residents of Chula Vista right about now...) so we got the chance to see people we don't normally see and teach a bunch of different people. We've really been pushing to get members out in lessons with us; those lessons are always the best and most spiritual! The members of our ward haven't really caught the "urgency" of the work, so Bishop Chavez asked us missionaries to teach a lesson on how they can become involved in the work for the fifth Sunday. We set a goal of having every family inviting another family to their house for an FHE or dinner with the missionaries, and we expanded on that goal the whole lesson. It was so cool! We talked about how the people around us (our friends) don't have something that they desperately need. Once the members realize the enormity of what they have (the gospel) they'll want to share it more. We introduced ways that they could start a gospel conversation with their friends or co-workers, and addressed some of their fears. It was really cool to be up there, looking at all of the nodding heads and smiles as you could see the spirit of missionary work start to enter into their hearts. By the end of church, all of the companionships had members running up to them, inviting them for an FHE or offering to come out with us. MIRACLE!!!!

 

Speaking of miracles, Bertha is doing amazing! We went over the other day to teach her, and we asked her how she first heard of the church. She told us her friends were LDS but they never said anything about the Church. She always wanted to learn more, but she just didn't know how to ask. She ended up asking her friends "hey! how can I learn more about your church!? I think I want to be baptized!", and so they referred her to us missionaries. My testimony of member missionary work skyrocketed! She told us she would've been baptized months ago if someone just told her how to do it. She even asked us if she could have some pass along cards and pamphlets so she could give them to her friends. MAN I can't get over how much I love her!! She is well on her way of being truly converted. We taught her the word of wisdom yesterday and when we told her about tea and coffee she goes, "I can't have tea or coffee???? I drink it every day!!!.....but ok. This law is true. I'll obey and be blessed." Our mouths literally dropped to the floor. Just when we picked them back up, she says "I can't wait to tell my kids all about this church, that way they'll see my example and want to get baptized because of how happy I am!". I would like to add in my testimony of how missionaries do nothing. 100% Spirit right there. I'm so grateful I got the chance to know her!!

 

We are teaching a woman and her mom (Perla and Araceli) who are also really, really prepared. Whenever we teach them, they look like they're hanging on to every word we say! (THE SPIRIT IS AWESOME.) We taught them the Plan of Salvation the other day and when we laid the visual aid out in front of them, they just stared and stared and smiled and said "This is SO COOL. This makes so much sense!". The first lesson we ever had with them, Perla asked us "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It was a sweet experience to lay out the plan of salvation and testify that all will be made right in the end. I think that was one of my favorite lessons we've ever taught!!

 

Yesterday, we taught a bunch of self-proclaimed atheists. They were actually really kind and really open and it was a really fun lesson! At the end, one of them told us "man, I would LOVE to serve an 18 month mission for Jesus!"....5 minutes before he told us he didn't believe in Christ. Again, the Spirit does all the work! He told us he is going to University of Utah and when I told him that I was an Aggie, he reminded me that they were playing in San Diego that afternoon for the Poinsettia Bowl. I had to hum "Nearer My God to Thee" in my head for the next 15 minutes so I could get that out of my head and focus.

 

I was never one for new years resolutions, but as a missionary our minds are continually filled with goals and how we go about accomplishing them. David in his email mentioned that with the new year, we have the chance to change. I guess these past 11 months have helped me realize that as children of God, our potential is far greater than we realize, and that if we follow the council that is stated in Ether 12:27, we can hand God our weaknesses and become stronger. We can slowly realize this great potential that we have. I love looking at the people we teach and seeing them for who they can become, but every once in a while I forget that I can do that for myself. When we ask, Heavenly Father will allow us a glimpse of who He sees in us. We get the strength and the power to change and become more as a result! When I started my mission, one thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to come back a lot different, and while it's hard to see personal progress, I know that God takes His time shaping us IF WE LET HIM. We are going to become polished. I'm grateful I still have 7 months on my mission and a lifetime afterward to become polished.

 

Well, know that I love you all and am so pleased to be serving in the greatest place in the world!

 

Hermana Hess