"Nothing is Free in This World....Except Blackberries"

August 31, 2015

When I first arrived to Washington, I heard my mission president say: "Nothing is free in this world....except blackberries." I had pondered on this phrase many times, knowing that President Bonham is a very wise, inspired man, wondering what he meant by that. And in this last week, I've finally figured it out!! You see, here in Washington, blackberries flourish by the side of every street. They grow big and wild and as the summer progresses, they start to turn from red to black- and they are prime for picking! And eating- and they are completely free! I saw a tiny little box of them at Walmart for like $6 and I just laughed. Ha. I saw a lady walking down this road with a big basket in her hands, wondering what in the world she was doing. But people do it here all the time. So we stopped the car, and offered to help her and we got to fill 2 big bowls full of blackberries that she makes into jam. Thumbs up for unplanned service opportunities! #softeninghearts. We walked away with some very purple hands. Ha- good thing hand sanitizer took away most of the stain. And so, some mornings when we go for a run, we stop to catch our breath and pick some berries to add to our breakfast that morning! Just a little quirk of Washington life! (:

Second, I simply must tell you about Hermana Lopez!! She got baptized a few months ago, and since that time, has gradually lost her sight after a surgery gone wrong. She is now completely blind and is the most amazing example to me! She is still so happy and has a very positive attitude on life. For the past six weeks, she's been unable to drive herself to church and her family has been unwilling to take her. She always gets ready to go to church on Sunday morning, and then no one is willing to take her. She has been very patient and loving with her family, but she has been so sad without the peace that church attendance brings. So this week, we talked to her visiting teachers and one of them went to pick her up from church. When I saw her walk into the church building, her face glowing, o mi corazon! We got to help take her by the hand and guide her around the building to all the classes. To put the piece of bread and cup of water into her hands and see her partake of the sacrament. She helps me remember that being happy is truly a choice. It also reminds me of a quote from last conference:

"The more we ponder the significance of the sacrament, the more sacred and meaningful it becomes to us. This was what a 96-year-old father expressed when his son asked, “Dad, why do you go to church? You can’t see, you can’t hear, it’s hard for you to get around. Why do you go to church?” The father replied, “It’s the sacrament. I go to partake of the sacrament.”

I know that the peace of this Gospel can help us overcome all the trials and sadness that this world can throw at us! May we CHOOSE to be happy and "make our own sunshine" like we do here in the Washington Everett Mission!

-Hermana Webb

Pic: Hno Ramirez passing the sacrament for the first time!!

Sister Laing! Our day in Everett!

She is literally Meredith from Brave!! Haha!
She looks just like her!

The rain is back folks so we have to
revert to "making our own sunshine"
as Sister Bonham says! (AKA vitamin D)

PLOW!!

August 24, 2015

Hola folks!!!

It's been another good one! Can't complain!

We have found lots of people and a new family. We taught 5 lessons to 5 wonderful people who accepted a baptismal date. It's exciting to see the work hastening!

Our mission president has emphasized this week what we call P.L.O.W.!

It stands for: 

Preach My Gospel

Love

Obedience

Work

As we focus our lives on these things, we will truly become instruments in the Lord's hands. He needs each one of us to hasten His work- to build His kingdom.

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;
 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul..."
I've felt the presence of the Spirit so many times this week. It continues to change my heart and cleanse my soul.

A challenge, for family night this week, or just on your own, watch this video:
http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/mountains-to-climb-2
Let me know if it brought tears to your eyes like it did mine!

I love you all!!
-Hermana Webb

Pic: my little Hermana Clark sent this to me!! haha my fav.

I Got Transferred to Mexico! (Well, Almost)

August 17, 2015

 Hey Everyone!

First and foremost, the BIGGEST congratulations to my beautiful sister and her new hubby! It's official- Mrs.Smith! I'm soooo happy for you two! 

Second, I've been transferred to Monroe (aka Mexico). Literally, everywhere you look here there are hispanics! It's blowing my mind. Haha. It's a small little city and so spread out compared to my last area. It's ok though, because literally you don't even have to go out and hunt down people to talk to- they come to you!!

Literally!! We were walking to an appointment yesterday and this guy stops his car and rolls down the window. He's like [translated into english for all you gueros ha]: "Hey!! I've been looking for you guys! Are you busy? Can I talk to you!?" Uhhhhh....YEAH! So he starts talking to us and says that he's been investigating the church for years, that he just got back from Salt Lake City and got to see the temple. That he knows all about Joseph Smith, and his wife Emma, and the Doctrine and Covenants, and how Joseph got the Pearl of Great Price. Wait, whaaaat?! I looked at him and said "Just to clarify, you have not been baptized?" Haha- and nope! He hasn't but he shall be soon!! I can't wait to start teaching him, although from he sounds of it, he will be teaching us. Ha. I'll keep you updated on what happens this week! WHITE AND READY, foks, white and ready.

Also, there was a baptism in this area 2 weeks before I got here. He is sooo awesome. Like Carolina-status awesome! So we're working a lot with him and he actually got the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday! He was so happy. We're also teaching two of his friends and he is such a great member-missionary! Wow! He basically has lessons with them on his own and makes them read the Book of Mormon and tries to bring them to church with him. Ha. If only we were all like that!

So yeah- this area is great. Tiny little slice of heaven. (Literally- there were about 25 members at the branch on Sunday). The members are super good about helping us teach. And I love how new and different everything is! Change is good! (:

I know that families are forever!!! The power to seal us together with the people will love the very most is an incredible blessing. Keep the eternal perspective.

-Con amor, 

Hermana Webb

Pic: Check out the bride and groom!

My last day with Hermana Clark! Of course we were twinnin!

Hermana Bagley!

Transfers and Fresh Views on Eternity

August 10, 2015

Well, folks! It's time to say goodbye to my beloved Lynnhood! Oh how I will miss it!!! These 7 1/2 months here have been some of the very best! Just the thought of leaving Carolina, Alberto, Lyli and Elvin, and Hermana Clark just make me want to bawl my eyes out! The charity is so real.

I also got an unexpected call on Friday that I will be serving as a Sister training leader, which means that I will be in charge of about 4 or 5 other companionships of sisters to be an example and help train them to be good missionaries! Nooo pressure...haha. I'm excited. Just more opportunities to serve and to love more people! :) And it will be in a new area with a new companion, so lots of changes this week! I'll spend the rest of the day packing and with many tearful good-byes I'm sure!  It was the saddest thing- when I told Lyli and Elvin that we had transfers this next week, Elvin looked at us in all seriousness and said "I'm going to cry Hermanas. We've known lots of missionaries, but we have such a special bond with you".....I am not looking forward to going over there and breaking the news  Anywho, I'm especially grateful this week that I served in the US to come back and visit!! I'll be back to see Lyli's new baby girl (she's due in November :))...Carolina is already planning on flying to Utah in a few months so we can go to the Salt Lake City temple together. All is well! Goodbyes are not really the end!

And on Sunday, I figured it would be my last in Chennault Beach, so we arranged to sing with two of the Elders "I need thee every hour." The angels were literally singing with us because singing is not Hna Clark and I's strongpoint. We didn't sound that great when we practiced, but somehow when we got up there, everything was on-key and it sounded so beautiful! We looked out into the congregation and saw grown men crying!!! It was a good Sunday to end on.

Wow. It's kind of crazy. When you finally get used to your companion and really, truly enjoy their company...you get split up. But I am so glad my companion and I have had this past week together--we have done some incredible studying and have just had our minds blown with revelation and new perspectives. I would like to share with you all some things that we have learned that have changed our perspectives that I hope will help change yours--for the better of course!!

In a sense as missionaries, we have learned that it is out job to find those who are prepared by our Heavenly Father to be leaders in His kingdom-not just leaders for His kingdom now, but in the eternities to come. The declaration made by the Lord in D&C 121:34 has never been more true: many are called, but few are chosen. The Lord sees our potential and wants us all to become leaders in His kingdom, however, the truth is that very few will actually do so. That is why as missionaries we must diligently search out those who will do what it takes to accept and receive this calling from our Heavenly Father.

Now of course, the fact that you are not a full-time missionary does not make you exempt. Let me apply this principle to us as individuals:

Why are we here on this earth? If we read in Abraham 3:35 which says, "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." we might say that we here to be tested. And that is true. But for what purpose? Are we here to leave our Heavenly Father, be tested, just to have some reunite with Heavenly Father and others not? Of course not! If that were the case, it would not be called the Plan of Happiness. But when we understand that Heavenly Father is looking for those who he can trust to be His leaders both now and in the eternities, we can understand better this test here on earth. We are being tested to see if we will use our agency, our ability to choose, to be obedient to His commandments. When we are obedient to His commandments, we show Him that he can trust us. I like to think of this life a little bit like an internship:

God, our "boss," has a certain position He wants each of us to fill as individuals, but we must prove to Him that we are worthy to fill that position and that He can trust us to get the job done the way He asks us to. 
This is the task of our lives. To show Heavenly Father that he can trust us. How? Obedience. The necessity for commandments and agency makes much more sense when we realize this. He gives us commandments to see if we will do what He asks. He gives us the ability to choose to obey and gain His trust, or disobey.

I've learned, especially here on my mission, that Heavenly Father really has to find His leaders amongst a world full of followers. While I am searching for future leaders, I must also use this leadership role in my life to show my Father in Heaven he can trust me with another role in the future. The term, "magnify your calling" has never meant so much to me.

Makes more sense why we have callings in the church, right? Why developing leadership qualities is so important? In His church, he is preparing us for divine and eternal roles and positions we will fill in the eternities. Don't ever forget the potential you have. You have the restored gospel and every resource to become what your Father in Heaven wants you to become.

Be a leader. Work to be one of His chosen. That is the challenge I leave with you this week (and hopefully you apply this the rest of your lives). Live in such a way that if you had to hand in your resume to Heavenly Father today, that He would say,

"Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been true and faithful, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" [Matthew 25:21].

-Hna Webb

Last time at Cafe Rio!!! Nooooo!!

So fun!!!

These two little 3 year olds are the funniest combination!