Nine months

That's right. After starting our missions together, Hermana Ivey and I have hit our halfway point together. We celebrated by running around Lake Merritt - the whole three miles of it - for the first time! The day before, we went to a local burrito shop for dinner. And then on Wednesday, we just went out and found all day until we went to the Visitors' Center. We ended up running into two less actives from other wards and we found five potential investigators! Our goal was originally 9 for 9 months......but 5 in just a couple hours is pretty good! We also got this HUGE bag of chicarinas for 2 dollars on the side of the road (chicharina is the Guatemalan word but it has a million names and I can't remember what they called it) but you eat it with lime juice and they're crunchy and literally so addicting. Even more addicting than popcorn. I can't remember what we did at the Visitors' Center, but all the people from English class came over afterwards and we gave them a quick tour! I love English class! Hermana Ivey and I are going to teach it for the first time this week! And we have a couple people who are interested in learning. It's going to be exciting!!!

What else.....so much happened this week, I can't even keep it straight! I didn't do a very good job at noting our VC tours.....but the VC hasn't been super busy. The temple closed this week for six weeks so the VC has been pretty slow. We've mostly had member families coming in on vacation. But once the temple opens up again in August, it's going to be packed with weddings. For just one of the sealing rooms on August 17th, it's booked EVERY HALF HOUR from 8am until 3:30pm. It's going to be a mad house.

We found three new investigators this week! One was because of one of our 9-month-mark referrals - Gloria said we could pass by but wasn't home when we came. And actually, no one was home. So we waited a few minutes and then someone drove up and parked right in front of the house! His name is Anthony - he invited us in, we taught a lesson and he invited us back! And we already had a member with us so we were able to go in and teach him! It was quite the miracle. He works a lot so we'll see how often we get to see him, but he was touched by something we said. And there are three other people in the house, including the potential we were sent to contact. We'll see!

We also added this GOLDEN family. We met them a couple weeks ago in our miracle contacting day where we found SIX potentials in ONE hour on the SAME street. So we met this lady, Guadelupe, and she had been taught by missionaries over ten years ago. And then we met her husband this week, and he is GOLDEN. He's totally searching - his name is Martin. It was hard to set an appointment with them for a few days because Guadelupe wasn't feeling well but we finally saw them before church yesterday and they're ready! They said they'll come to church this next week and they'll get baptized if they know it's true!!! They also have two sons, Ryan and Martin, who could both be baptized as well. We're so excited to work with this family! We love them so much already.

As for our other investigators, we weren't able to contact or see any of them last week, except for Paul. I totally forgot to write about this, but Paul has a baptism date! It's progress because he really didn't understand the point in being baptized again at the beginning, but he still doesn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He reads it all the time and keeps all commitments - Word of Wisdom, the law of chastity - he even fasted with us yesterday to help him receive this answer. That's what we're working on with him - recognizing his answer. He watched the missionary broadcast with us yesterday - we watched it in English because he wanted to hear the prophet's voice. He was blown away - he felt the Spirit, but we're just not sure if he recognized that feeling as the Spirit. His date is July 7th......we'll see if that needs to change. We've taught him everything - we just need to follow the Spirit to discern his needs and resolve his concerns. It's going to take so much spiritual power but it's going to be a great week with Paul. 

Speaking of the broadcast - words can't describe how powerful that was to watch. It was like General Conference all over again but better because it was ALL about missionary work. I feel so proud to be part of the 70,000 missionaries that wear Jesus Christ's name on their chests. It was so empowering and the Spirit was so strong. And it's so great to remember that we're not doing this work alone. Everyone is involved. We had a special missionary sacrament meeting yesterday before the broadcast - we have a new missionary in our district straight from the MTC, Elder Clark, so he spoke and then Elder Bradford spoke (this is his last transfer) and then I spoke. Nine months into my mission and there I was, giving my first Spanish talk in sacrament meeting. It was nerve-wracking but the Lord helped me so much. I don't need to make any excuses for why my Spanish isn't perfect - I'm exactly where the Lord wants me to be. 

I'm still stretching and growing and every day is a challenge. But I love it and I've seen how Christ has been able to extend my capacity to speak the language - He has helped me to become more than I could be on my own. I still have to learn A LOT, like practically all my Spanish teaching skills, but as I have the faith to open my mouth, I know it will be filled. And it fills my heart to know that even though I'm halfway through my mission, the things I'm learning on my mission will help me to serve as a missionary and bring others to Christ for my entire life, no matter where I go. Every member a missionary!!! If you're not doing missionary work, start now. How are we supposed to become like Christ if we don't teach his gospel to others? We have opportunities everyday to be Christ's angels, to speak His words to those around us who just need to feel God's love. They can feel it through us. I testify that the gospel is how we can learn to become completely selfless and charitable - without the perspective of the plan of salvation, we cannot truly love all others around us. So pray for and seek out opportunities to love and serve those around you, even complete strangers. All you need is love - the love of Christ - and that's exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. That's exactly what His church is all about. And I know that His church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by living prophets and apostles. 

It's crazy to think back on just how much I've learn in the past nine months, and I'm so excited for the next nine! Que Dios les bendigas!!!

Hermana Hunsaker

Always in the middle

My testimony and faith keeps growing that there are prepared people EVERYWHERE, especially here in Oakland. I don't have time to list off all the miracles we've seen this week, but I know that this is the Lord's work. We're just instruments, working hard and showing up to help him find His searching children. We had a great zone meeting with Elder Packer and Brother Fairchild where they essentially asked us to do two things - exercise faith in missionary work and STOP complaining about everything. Hermana Ivey and I have been struggling with a tiny teaching pool and hardly any progress with these investigators so we definitely needed to hear the message. The next day, we tried contacting an investigator who can never meet with us because her work schedule is always changing. After once again not finding her at home, we decided to knock the whole street. It was a tiny street - maybe ten houses on it - and we'd been meaning to do if for a while. Even though it was the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week, every door opened and we walked away from that street with six referrals! Not all were Spanish-speaking but there was one super solid family that we are going to see tomorrow afternoon. The mom, Guadelupe, took lessons from missionaries ten years ago and wants us to come back and teach her husband and her two sons as well who are both older than 8. We haven't been able to contact the others, but the Spirit knew that's where we needed to go even if it's just for that one family.

We've also had some amazing experiences at the VC. Saturday mornings are always crazy busy but Saturday nights slow down a lot. We had a whole wedding party from Africa come in and we got three referrals from them. There was a also a family from Mexico visiting their son who is going to school in LA. When the father heard that we have a living prophet, he immediately filled out a referral card. Their son's friend who was with them, who had grown up with no religion, said she wanted to learn too! It was a day full of miracles. There are times when I feel like the Visitors' Center takes away from my time in my area, but I know the Lord blesses our areas when we're using our time effectively at the Visitors' Center.

I'm lucky to be staying here in the Oakland 6th Spanish ward for yet another six weeks :) Hermana Ivey and I get to celebrate our 9-month-mark together this Wednesday! Halfway! Time flies so fast on the mission! Parker's only done with a quarter of his mission, while I'm already at half :/ but I'm just trying to make this time count! I've finally figured out most of the ropes of missionary work - now I just need to climb! Our district has some high goals this transfer and I'm so excited! I love this work so much and I'm so grateful to be a part of it :)

Hermana Hunsaker

One day late

The email program was down yesterday so I have only a few minutes to give a recap from last week. It's 2:09 - I've got maybe ten minutes. Here goes nothing.

Rosa - We taught her last week and again last night. We taught her the entire first lesson about the restoration of the gospel and she nodded her head the entire time. At the end, we invited her to be baptized and she said yes! And then she said that she was already baptized into the Catholic church......we tried explaining it again and asked her if she would change if she knew the church was true........and she said no. She said it would be too hard to change. But there's a reason that we knocked on her door. We're going to teach her a little more and see if she has any desires to change. And if she's not ready now, someone will find her in the future.

It nearly broke my heart to hear that Rosa didn't want to change. I know that we can change because of Jesus Christ, and the purpose of life is to change and learn and grow! I'm learning a lot about that especially in the mission. I have to step outside my comfort zone everyday in little ways but I can't express how grateful I am for this time I have to serve the Lord and how it's changing me and others.

Paul is still struggling - but he came to church even though he was sick! He sat in the corner away from everyone, but he came. He's slowly getting there - we're working on focusing our lessons so that he can understand the very basics. It's taking time but we're inviting him to be baptized again this week and he's almost there.

VC story of the week - we met a family, a mom and her two daughters - from Brazil. They all spoke great English (which is good because my Portuguese is pretty rough). The two daughters are returned missionaries, they have a brother and sister who are about to go out to serve their missions, and their dad and mom (who was there at the VC with them) was called to serve as a mission president and wife in a brand new mission in Brazil! I love taking members on tours in the VC - it strengthens my faith so much and we taught each other so much. The Spirit really does teach the teacher and the student. (D&C 50:22)

I went on exchanges to San Leandro this week with Hermana Hill. She's in her 2nd transfer and doesn't feel confident in her Spanish so I ended up talking more than she did even though we were in her area. It was good for me to lead, but we taught in unity also. Exchanges are the best - we learn so much.

Friday - two dinners. Right in a row. Our ward mission leader said he only wanted us over for 30 minutes and was going to provide a small snack - which means rice, chicken beans and horchata. Not a small snack. I felt so sick. It was awful. Other than that, Hermana Ivey and I have been eating mega healthy and we feel great! It's so nice to eat fruits and veggies.

Saturday was the best day EVER. Because of the VC, we usually have appointments for most of our open time during the week. But we had a district activity on Saturday where we went contacting on one street and we also were contacting people in the street that night. It was a little sketchy - we got caught in a lengthy conversation with a man on drugs - but we actually got to get out and FIND PEOPLE TO TEACH! It was LOADS of fun. I used to be so scared of contacting, but I love it! That night, we talked to two brothers on the way to a less actives home. One of them was SUPER ready for the gospel - he was talking about how the Bible has been changed and that he didn't know why there were so many churches and it was so exciting! We testified and taught the Restoration but his brother was a staunch Catholic and that kind of got in the way of things. But there really are prepared people. This man didn't want us to come over, but the Spirit told us to give him a Book of Mormon anyways, even without contact information. We planted a good seed and we may not see it grow, but it will one day :)

La familia Lopez - Carmen is ready to be baptized; her husband is not. And they still haven't come to church. But we're going to have a lesson with them next Sunday at the VC right before church and then they can come right after! We'll see how it works.

Yesterday - we were able to do so much yesterday because we couldn't email. We went to Fenton's with the Berkeley sisters (which includes my old compy Hermana Sia) AND we went hiking in Orinda at Tilden National Park with our district. It was a blast. It's nice having a day to relax a little bit and prepare for the work. Thank heaven for preparation day.

Also - added a new investigator, Angel. Missionaries taught him in the past and he had a baptism date and everything. He's super busy with work because he doesn't have a secure job, but he's such a sincere, humble GOOD guy. We're excited to teach him. We're praying that he has work, but also that we can see him. We'll see how that goes.

That's the wrap-up for the week! We have transfers last week so we'll see what happens!!! Love you all!

Hermana Hunsaker

Hello again!

It's only been a few days since I last wrote so there's not too much to say but we did have a couple miracles this week in finding. At the beginning of last week, seven days ago, we only had one investigator. Now we have six and some SOLID potentials. We worked so hard and didn't achieve all the goals we wanted to, but we are building up our teaching pool so that we can achieve our goals in the future. 

Paul: Paul is still working on gaining his testimony of the Book of Mormon. We brought him to the Visitors' Center again and watched a movie called "How Rare a Possession" about a preacher who finds a Book of Mormon without the title, prays to know if the book is true, and starts using it in his sermons at the expense of his career. It takes him years to find out the origin of the book and finally join the church. It's a really powerful film - a little outdated but still super interesting. We brought a member with us, Hermano Cordova, who had a hard time believing the Book of Mormon was true as well but he bore a powerful testimony of the truth. I think it stuck with Paul. He didn't make it to church because he was in Antioch, but we'll keep working with him.

La familia Lopez: We started teaching the whole family just yesterday - before that, we just taught the mom, Carmen, a couple of times. The elders gave them to us - we're still not really sure why, but we're grateful. They're an awesome family and they've been reading the Book of Mormon, but it's really hard for them to get to church. That's our next step with them.

Carmen Palomar: We've been trying to get in touch with Carmen since I came to the area. She came to the VC with her husband and their daughter Melanie but her work schedule is really crazy. She went to church one time before we started teaching her and hasn't been able to come since but we finally dropped by her house last week and she was miraculously home! We were able to have a first lesson and set a return appointment, even though she might have to cancel it depending on her work schedule. She works in San Francisco and doesn't know her work schedule until the day of. So it'll be rough but this family is so ready for the gospel.

Saira: MIRACLE FIND. I had an exchange with Sister Ferguson in my area on Saturday. It was my first time by myself in my area - Sister Ferguson is also a Spanish-speaking missionary so I wasn't completely on my own. We had a couple lessons planned, but we had an hour open for contacting. We were on the same street as a potential that I had wanted to visit so we stopped by. Saira let us in and we talked and we have a return appointment to go back! She has had missionaries in two different instances and the next day at church, the elders told us that this family had all had baptism dates! I had no idea but the Spirit told me and Sister Ferguson that we needed to go there. We're going back tonight and expecting to meet her husband and her four kids too. We're so excited!

Rosa: ANOTHER MIRACLE. We met Rosa while tracting a couple weeks ago and she told us to come back at the same time next week. She wouldn't even give us her phone number or open the door much. For a few days, we debated if we should even go back, but we decided to. So on Thursday at 3:30, we stopped by. She was home and she let us in immediately. She said she had forgotten that we were coming over but asked if we could come back the next day. She also told us that she met with missionaries 3 years ago and we had no idea! When we went back to her house she wasn't there and we kicked ourselves for not getting her phone number. We stopped by again that night and her husband was home so he gave us her number. We're going there tonight too! We're so excited - it's going to be a busy night of new investigators!!!

Last big news: Chris' baptism! At Zone Conference, President Meredith announced a new rule effective next transfer that we can't go back to old areas for baptisms. It didn't apply to this transfer because there were already people - like me - who had promised old investigators that we could come. So I got to go! And it was at the ISC across the street from the VC so it didn't take much time away from working in my area. She was so happy :) it's so amazing to see how she's changed and how much happier and confident she is.

 

I know this is Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's work. It's amazing to see the power that people gain through the Atonement of Christ when they trust in Him and His Church. I know that I've received the power to be guided by the Spirit to find these people at just the right time. And we couldn't do it without Him. I know we can all follow His guidance as we are obedient, as we work hard, and as we listen to the Spirit. Missionary work is that simple, the gospel of Jesus Christ is that simple. And "by small and simple things are great things come to pass" - that's how we see miracles.

Have an awesome week!

Hermana Hunsaker