9 Months Say Whaaaaaat?!

April 27, 2015

Thursday marks 9 months, folks!!!! 9 months, out of 18. That's like half! Yikes time goes by far far too fast!

This week was grrreeaaat! :) (Imagine the Frosted Flake's commercial) Isaac came to church again yesterday with Lyli and Elvin and is doing so good! He's getting baptized on May 9th and we are so excited!! Turns out Elvin has never received the priesthood, even though he's been a member for 3 years. So we're working on that, and hoping that he will have it in time to be able to baptize Isaac!! :) Isaac is 20, really shy, but super humble and ready to learn. He's already like 100 pages into the Book of Mormon, and is so excited to take this next step! Keep him in your prayers this week!!

Speaking of Elvin and Lyli, they are doing great! They haven't missed a week of church since we've been working with them. They have been practicing their hymns too! Haha. Last time we went over, Lyli chose the hymn and she actually sang it really well and followed all the notes (Elvin on the other hand...well we still got a ways to go! hahaha) But after we sang, we read The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It was the first time they had ever read it. By the way, if you have never read it, I suggest searching for it and google and reading through it! Incredible! But anyways, we all would read one paragraph each and every paragraph, they had the sweetest comment!! When we read about the premortal life, Lyli says "I love thinking that my baby lived with Heavenly Father." (She's pregnant and due in December!) Such a precious moment to sit in their little apartment and talk about their responsibilities as mother and father.

In other good news, the zone leaders texted us last night to tell me that Omar, remember Omar? My first baptism back in Marysville? Well he kind of disappeared off the face of the Earth for the past 7 months. He was in Mexico for a while, then moved back in with his girlfriend, wasn't coming to church. Well yesterday, I found out that he has been at church for the last 2 weeks!! :) And that he's trying to find a new place to move to get his life back in order with God! I was soooo incredibly happy when I got that text! Omar has such a strong testimony, and so I'm glad he has humbled himself and is coming back! I've been praying for him for months, so this was a big answer to my prayers! Also, I heard that Avelino is doing well! It's so exciting to keep up on their progress even when I'm not serving in the area anymore.

One of my favorite quotes so far on my mission is from President Ezra Taft Benson when he said, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.” I really have felt God's power much stronger recently as I've learned to love the principle of obedience! Remember to put down your umbrellas of doubt, fear, and disobedience so you can receive all the wonderful blessings that God is pouring down upon you!!

I KNOW that He loves us and I KNOW that this is His church!!

-Hermana Webb

Sometimes we get to this point at lunch time..hahah!

Miracles Never Cease!!

April 20, 2015

So I thought last week was my favorite...until this week happened!!

This week was full of miracles! We have some truly incredible investigators right now. And the members in our area are stronger than ever!

So Wednesday was the miracle day. We were teaching this guy named Alberto, and he was keeping all his commitments- reading in the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets, praying, all the right things and his testimony was growing. The only problem was that he couldn't come to church because of his 2 jobs. (Which both happen to be in like my 2 favorite restaurants- Olive Garden and Pandra Express! YUM!) So we stopped going to see him for a while. But this week I felt like I should call him and set up a time to go by one more time. And the first thing he says, I QUIT MY JOB!!!!!!!! Whaaaat!? Ask Hna Fifita, I literally stood there dumbfounded for like 5 minutes, so incredibly happy. I said Alberto, you can come to church! You can be baptized!! He just looks at us smiling and nods his head. I have never seen such great faith to put so much trust in the Lord to provide for him and his family in Mexico. But He trusts His Heavenly Father more than worldly things and I know he will be greatly blessed!

The next miracle of the day was with Kinari. She has been meeting with the missionaries for about a year now. Last week, we challenged her to talk to her dad (who is a less-active member of the church) about her desire to be baptized before she goes back to Mexico in a few months. So we go back on Wednesday and she tells us that she talked to her dad, and he told her he would do all he could to support her and bring her to church. Then she set her own goal to be baptized on May 10th! She wants this so bad and she told us that her dad explained about his baptism and how he felt so clean and happy- and how that has motivated her to search for that same feeling.

And oh my gosh- have I even told y'all about Lyli and Elvin yet!? They are the JOY of my life! So what happened is we were at an apartment complex one day, going to an appointment, and the people we were supposed to visit weren't home. As we were walking back to the car (heads hanging just a bit) we see this Hispanic couple and stop to talk to them. Without even introducing ourselves, they invite us into their apartment- Well, alright! So we go in and find out they are actually members that were baptized three years ago in Guatemala, and have never been able to find the Spanish branch here! So they hadn't been to church in like 6 months, and when they saw us and heard us speaking Spanish, they got sooo excited! :) So this week was their 4th week in the branch, and we are visiting with them every week, teaching and strengthing this couple. Lyli is pregnant (due in December) and they have a 10-year-old in Guatemala who they are trying to get to Washington. They are probably the nicest people I have ever met! They want to go to the temple so badly and be sealed as a family. And they always want to feed us! Oh my gosh. SO MUCH FOOD. Ha. We always tell Lyli "poquito" and she dishes us up enough food to feed my whole family. We went over on Wednesday and all shared our favorite scriptures. Then we asked them what their favorite hymns were. Lyli chose The Lord is my Light. It is SO funny listening to them sing. Oh my gosh I was dying- Elvin looks over at us at the end of the song and says "I could not keep up with you guys. I was way behind, then way ahead." Haha. And then the best part- we ask Elvin what his favorite is and he tells us the page number. We open up to it and it was "Away in a manger. hahahaha. A Christmas song! But we all sang it and Elvin was so happy. So yeah, they are going to the temple reallyyyy soon and actually brought one of our invesitagtors, Isaac, to church this week because he lives super close to them. They sat with him, and explained it all and were joking with him about the hymns cause he can't sing either. I was sooo thrilled that they were being little missionaries, and it made Isaac feel so much more comfortable. Basically, this family is my favorite ever.

As for training, things are great! I loooove being a trainer and me and my Hna fifita have a grand time together ever single day. It is an adventure, and I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my whole life than being around her and hearing her learn Spanish and such. She is so good at laughing at herself and not taking it too seriously when she messes up on something. She decided yesterday for language study to sticky note the whole house, labeling everything with its Spanish name! haha- pretty effective way to learn, I must say!

And yesterday, funniest thing. We were trying to visit this guy named Carlos, and when we get to the door, I turn to Hna Fifita and say "take it away. I'm not going to say a word" as she's knocking on the door. She looks at me in panic, and then the door swings open. She says hi and introduces ourselves, then turns to look at me... I just look back at her smiling. Hahaha. So she says a little bit more, then looks at me to say something... and I just smile some more. It was so great because she taught a lot of the restoration. I didn't leave the poor child hanging for the whole time, but it did give her the opportunity to take the lead! Haha it was so great. Later, she told me how much she was freaking out when she realized that I really did mean what I said about not saying anything! I think I will use this technique more often..(;

Favorite new scripture: D&C 123:13 "Therefore, that we should WASTE & WEAR OUT our lives in bringing [others] to the light!" I definitely feel soooo worn out at the end of every day as a missionary. But that is a good thing!! I want be worn down and dedicate my life to the service of the Lord and His children! It brings the most joy and eternal rewards!

-Hna Webb

Can't get enough pictures of the tulip festival!!! Amazing!!!

Fifita-mi Bebita!!!

April 13, 2015

So this week may have been my favorite on my mission so far!!

On Tuesday, we went to the mission office and all the trainers waited for the new missionaries to get in from their various flight times. Of course, the group of Hermanas were the last to get in from Mexico City. I was sooo happy to see em all file in, and knowing that one of them would be mine! :D President Bonham had to interview all the new missionaries before he made the training assignments, so we just sat around, getting to know each other a little bit, and having some dinner because those poor sisters hadn't eaten anything all day! So finally, at 9 PM, President comes out  and had all the trainers sit on one side, and the new Hermanas on the other, and as President made the assignments, the trainer and trainee moved to the middle together. So cute, right!? And finally, President announces...drum roll please, "Hermana Fifita, you are assigned to labor in the Lynnwood area with Hermana Webb!" I just about plowed her down with a hug.

Hermana Fifita is 19 as well, from Colorado but her dad is from Tonga and her mom from Somoa. So she knows Somoan, Tongan, and English, and is now learning Spanish!! Haha, yep 4 languages under this girl's belt. Pretty impressive. And she has 13 brothers and sisters!!! Haha and I thought 5 was a lot.  I just love her so much! We have so much fun together, especially learning Spanish!!! Everyday during language study, we just laugh soooo much as she tries to pronounce things the right way. And then, when we're at a lesson with someone, or at church, and I hear her use subjunctive or future tense, my heart just swells with pride! Haha, motherly pride. So funny! But it's so true, I just love watching her learn and I am so happy when I get to see her put all we're learning in action! She's such a hard worker, and we just fall into bed at the end of the day sooo exhausted!

Our second day together, we were all over Bothell and so we decided to take the bikes...bad idea. Haha. Up and down and up and down these huge hills. The next 2 days we looked like little old grandmas, hobbling around in pain. Haha..we just fall into bed at the end of each day totally exhausted, but totally happy!

And it's also soo great to see her learn to love the people here as much as I do!! We walk away from every lesson, and she always says "Wow! They are so awesome! They are my favorite family!" Until she meets the next one. Haha. So much love for these people!! On Friday, we did a little bit of tracting for the first time together (door-to-door knocking to find new people to teach). After a few doors, I told Hermana Fifita it was her turn and so she knocks, and this guy answers the door and she starts speaking to him like 90 miles an hour and then when she gives him a card, and he closes the door, she was so freaked out. Haha. It was soooo funny, I love to see her try things for the first time and get all worried even though she's doing such a great job!! :D

Well, that was my week! It has been wonderful, and even though I was SO nervous to have to train a new missionary, and teach her perfectly, I have learned to completely rely on the Lord for help and guidance. I know that He does not expect us to do anything in this world alone. What a blessing!!

-HERMANA WEBB

Picking up all of the new Hermanas, fresh into the field!!
And spending some time with our amazing mission presidents wife!

Hermana Fifita-mi Bebita!!

Our #graciasaqueElvive activity!

Little photographer Paxton

Millions, and millions, and millions of tulips!!

VOY A DAR A LUZ!

April 6, 2015

So we're getting ready to get for bed on Friday night when we hear the phone ring and our Zone Leader's name pop up. I answer it and Elder Gressier tells me:

"I need you need to do something. Be at the mission office at 3 tomorrow, cause you're going to be training! Va a dar a luz!!!!"

I am SOOOO excited, and SOOOO nervous. So for those of you who don't know, we have transfers every 6 weeks and some missionaries are finishing their missions and some new ones are coming in. The new missionaries get assigned a trainer, or a mission "mom". So "dar a luz" literally means give to light, but it's the equivalent of you're having a baby in English. Crazy, huh? So anyway, I'm getting my "Baby" tomorrow! A brand new Hermana, fresh off her 6-week training in Mexico! I don't even know her name yet, but I already love her so much and am praying for her! My first 12 weeks training in the field were absolutely magical, and I'm praying I can make it the same for her!

In other news, we had 3 people come to General Conference. It was awesome!! Isabel came, and she loved it!! She was taking notes the whole time and it was so cute! She wants to get baptized so bad! And then...MIRACLE! So our STL's have a neighbor who is from Mexico, but we've never met him. Until...Saturday. We were over at their apartment, and Mario walks out and I start talking to him, and introduce ourselves as the missionaries. He tells us he's always wondered where our church was! So I invite him to General Conference (because I was with Sister Connors, who speaks no Spanish! haha) and he says he'll come! So we were sitting there on Easter Sunday, and Mario and his cousin Pablo walk in! They really liked conference and we're excited to teach them more!

Let's see, what else happened this week??? Oh! We donated blood! That was fun. I didn't even pass out! And we had dinner with the Eames (friends from Illinois!)

And of course, General Conference!!! So GOOD! I really got some answers to the questions I've had and felt the Spirit strongly, testifying of a living-day prophet.

And Easter was such a wonderful holiday as a missionary! To testify of the Resurrection and the infinite hope we have in Jesus Christ! We went over to our Branch President's house on Easter afternoon to have a wonderful dinner! And it wasn't Hispanic food, so it really tasted like home! Ham, potatoes, lemon cake, the whole shabang. 

This week has seriously been so full of miracles!!! Former invesitgators calling us, telling us that they want us to come back and teach them more! We went to an apartment complex for a lesson, but they weren't home so we walk back to the car to find a Hispanic couple, beckoning us to come into their apartment. Turns out they are members who were recently baptized in Guatemala! They are an incredible couple, and we are working with them now to get them to the temple and be sealed as a family! They came to both sessions on Sunday, and are always begging us to come over so they can feed us! I LOVE this family! So yeah, after a few really slow weeks, I feel like Heavenly Father is just showering blessings down on this area now, preparing me and my trainee for an incredible 12 weeks together! Please pray for her and us this week!!!  

-Hermana Webb

Easter morning!!

Easter dinner at the Waites!

Easter egg hunt!

EAMES!!!

Haha! Laughed so hard when we saw this!

My FAVORITE Sister Training Leader ever!!

#GraciasaqueElvive

March 30, 2015

If you are reading this, Stop.

Go to HeLives.mormon.org. Watch the 2-minute video.

I feel the Spirit stronger and stronger every time I watch it. So go watch it again. And again. And then share it with your family. And your best friend. And your grandma.

Tell everyone that you know that Christ lives.

And because He lives,

If you reach, if you call out, if you cry out, He is here.

He rose on the third day, He lives today, FIND HIM.

I had the privilege to speak on Sunday about Easter, and the blessings of the Resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ in my life. As I really pondered that, I thought Because He Lives...what?

And then I started to realize that Because He Lives, everything is possible. That this life is not the end. I will see my grandpa, my friend Brady, and that all that is unfair in this life will be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That Because He Lives, His living church is on the Earth once again. With prophets and apostles to lead and guide us. With saving ordinances like baptism to open the gates of the celestial kingdom. And with temples dotting the Earth to seal families together for time and all eternity.

So that's all I can think about, all I want to tell  people about. Is the most joyful news that this world has ever received, from the mouth of an angel. "He is not here. HE IS RISEN."

If you don't already know that for yourself, find out. Find Him. Through prayer, through living the way He lives, through reading His teachings in the scriptures.

This Easter season, take the time to really know for yourself. And when you do, Share.

I love you all. And more than anything in this world, I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

FELIZ DIA DE PASCUA!!!

 

Hermana Webb

Secret Service! TRY IT!!

March 23, 2015

Hola! 

This week was wonderful! We had the coolest lesson with Nadia! We were teaching her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the steps to take in our lives to return to our Heavenly Father. We talked about faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and at the end we explained to her about the temple and eternal families. And during this particular lesson, I felt the Spirit so strongly. Like yeah, you strive to have the Spirit present with all of the people you teach. But while I was talking to Nadia, I really felt that the words I was saying were not coming from me, but from the Spirit. One thing that is something all missionaries have to learn is how to teach by the Spirit. It is easy to worry and always be thinking about what you will say next, but we learn to instead focus on what the people are saying, and trusting the promise in the scriptures that "it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say." So at the end of this amazing lesson, I asked "Nadia, will you be baptized and prepare to enter the temple?" (but in Spanish of course!) and she said Yes! I felt so much joy and know that she will soon be ready for this step. Please keep my dear Cuban friend in your prayers this week! :)

So there's this man named Jorge. He's a member and from Jalisco, Mexico. And he loves missionaries! He is soooo funny. Last week he was talking to us at church and he asks if he can take a picture with us. Then yesterday he was talking to us after Gospel Principles class and showing me all the pictures of missionaries he has known. Then, while I'm distracted, he reaches over and gives me the biggest hug!! I was SO shocked! He just starts laughing and laughing. He KNOWS that he's not allowed to hug the Hermanas, so he was just doing it to make me mad. Hahaha. The Elders were watching and just looked at me and shook their heads. Haha, oh Jorge. He is crazy, but we love him! 

Also, this week we decided to do some secret service. So what you do is you go to someone's house, secretly do some service in their yard, or whatever they need help with, and then leave! It's great! :) Haha. We were thinking about Paola, and even though we can't teach her anymore, we realized we could still serve her and her lawn is in pretty bad shape. So we rode our bikes over and just sat down and weeded all of her yard. And I might add, in the midst of all this, I feel something land on my lap and look up to see a nasty worm on my skirt!!! Hermana Miller thought it would be pretty funny to send the little guy she had found my way. I didn't think it was very funny...haha, ok yeah it was pretty funny. Anyways, we finished up her lawn and put all the weeds into Hermana Miller's bike basket. So we ride away, so happy and content, probably looking like a few weirdos riding around with a basket full of dirt :) Yay. Haha. So you should try it!! Especially if you're having a hard day, look for someone in your neighborhood or just a complete stranger and do some secret service! It can really turn your day around!

-Hna Webb

Swingingggg!!!

Decorating our little robin eggs. Yay for almost being Easter!

Hooray for sunshine!

So what do we do?
We knock anyway (:

Cooking Catastrophes and Cuban Commitments

March 16, 2015

Hello

2 Miracles with 2 Awesome Investigators:

1. We are still teaching Nadia, the lady that invited us in right away from Cuba! We taught her about the Plan of Salvation, and the beautiful opportunity she has as a mother to raise one of God's children. We told her that this plan allowed for eternal families and she was just radiating- talking about all the things she loved about being a mom. Then we started talking about baptism and a goal that she could work towards to prepare herself for this sacred ordinance. Out of nowhere, she says "I want to finish the whole Book of Mormon." My jaw just dropped. I mean, we have a hard enough time getting people to read one little chapter of scripture. After I recovered from the shock, haha, I asked her how long she thought she would need to finish it. A month?, I suggested. She flipped through the 531 pages of the most precious book I have ever read and said "15 days." WOW. She set her own goal to finish the Book of Mormon in 15 days, and I know that when she's done reading, her testimony will be so strong and she will be ready to be baptized into the true and living church of Jesus Christ. MIRACLE

2. Gabriela. She is also related to the Lopez family and is from Mexico. We were teaching her this week and mid-sentence, she stopped me and told me she had to tell me something. She goes on to tell me that she had a dream after the last time we visited with her and that she was in God's presence and was afraid. God told her not to fear and to take the key that was in front of her. She told me she had felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and love to be in the presence of her Heavenly Father. She said she had never had a dream like that before. I explained to her how God can sometimes communicate with us through different ways, including dreams. And then I explained that baptism is the key to unlock the door and qualify us to return to our Heavenly Home. I asked her if she would follow the heavenly guidance she received and be baptized. She said Yes!! MIRACLE

And I also learned that sometimes Heavenly Father puts you in people's lives to bless them for a variety of reasons. For example, Hermana Miller's cooking skills are...well less than par. Haha. She tried to make pancakes yesterday and I walk into the kitchen to see all this smoke and this black, fat glob of dough that somewhat resembled a pancake sitting in the pan. Hahahaha. Oh man. So the next day, I made sure to teach her how to make some delicious golden-brown pancakes without almost burning the apartment down. So that was our cooking adventure of the week!

LOVE,

Hermana Webb

Pretty Petalssss

We love Spring