Poor Planning

     Well this week was incredible! Wow! on Saturday we were privileged to hear from Elder and Sister Bowen, Elder and Sister Garns, AND Elder and Sister NELSON! I cannot describe in words how strong the spirit was in that meeting. The moment we walked into the Sacrament room you could feel the spirit and you knew that the missionaries there had prepared the best they possibly could to have the spirit and receive revelation for our investigators and ourselves. It worked. We as a mission kind of got kicked in the rear by Elder Bowen. He basically said that we aren't reaching our potential and we need to step it up. Oops! You can bet the missionaries here are talking to EVERYONE that passes them now. I have so many notes on the meeting I can't even put half of them on here. I can't even remember my favorite part. But after walking out of that meeting I was so spiritually fed. I had definitely just been in a feast, where there was no shortage of food, drink, or dessert. I wish you all could have been there! 

     Before Elder Nelson came we talked about many things in preparation. They told us that he liked when people sang with vigor and put themselves into it. I can testify to you that there were angels singing with us that day. You think I am kidding. It was very powerful and as we sang the closing song, I had the feeling that my friend Brother Landy was there thanking me for the work I did with his family. Angels were there.

        Yesterday we had a stake conference and Elder Bowen and his wife spoke to us again. They are so great! Our investigator Vicky was able to meet them and he had some really sweet things to say about her and us missionaries. He called us angels. Don't worry about it. Anyway, Vicky was also able to meet President Castro which was another great experience. His talk really touched her and helped her to feel the spirit. It was just a great day. 

        I was kind of bummed to start the day. We had a lunch appointment but no dinner appointment. I was grateful for that lunch, but on holidays you just want a nice home-made meal with an awesome family. So we had our lunch and don't get me wrong I am very grateful for that! it was delicious. But after we realized that we didn't have any food at home except cereal. Whoopi do. Then I forgot that it was Sunday yesterday and forgot to put gas in the car. So we were on empty to begin the day. Lets just say we walked and stayed in one area the whole day. So half way through the day we needed to use the restroom and get a drink (it was a super hot day yesterday). So we decided to walk to a member's home and see if they would let us in. The son who just returned home from a mission a few weeks ago let us in. After talking to my companion he found out that we were parked a couple miles away and that we didn't have a dinner appointment. He asked me if this was true. I didn't want to say yes and impose on their Easter dinner but I couldn't lie either. So I just kind of looked at him and he got the point. Then his mom walks out of her room and says "You don't have dinner!?" We hesitantly told her that was true and she quickly invited us to join their family. I wanted to cry. I am going to tell you now, that Heavenly Father answered my prayer right there. I am so grateful to this family. So we walked back to our car did some more work and went back to their home for dinner. We had an incredible dinner message as well. We decided to do something different. First we read a couple scriptures about Jesus (namely 2 Nephi 25:26 and Jacob 4:11 (I think) ) then we decided to have the family all bear their testimonies of the Savior. That really invited the spirit. To finish we watched a video called "Because of Him". If you haven't see it, go watch it. It is amazing! So it was a great Easter Sunday that was totally focused on the Savior. I wouldn't have it any other way.

    Ok, quick funny story. Once upon a time I was making fun of the movie "The Best Two Years" and how it was blasphemy. Well I get a package this week with a voice recorder. I try to turn it on and the batteries are dead. I felt like Elder Johnson looking for batteries for his tape recorder! then we found some batteries in the apartment. They were dead too. Remember how the tape recorder had batteries that were dead? Yeah. Sister Hiapo made sure to make fun of me all night. We had a good laugh about that. Maybe I will be able to listen to it today haha!

 Well, Happy Easter to you all! I love you!

Sister Skeeter

They Call Me Trainer

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>      Wow, I have so much to tell all of you! First off: I ate pot. Nope, not the drug. I literally ate clay pot. On Monday we went to a recent converts home and her family is very Mexican. While we were there we were able to try a lot of different Mexican treats. The convert's name is Stephanie. She is so great! She is 11 and was baptized in December. Anyway, her sister is pregnant right now and thus craving weird things. So she goes into her room and brings out a bag with what looks like broken pottery. We ask her what it is and she says its a pot. Just then I notice sitting on the counter is a broken clay pot. In my head I am thinking that it is come sort of clever candy. We have candy that looks like rock, so why can't they have candy that looks like a clay pot? She tells us that she craves this stuff now and when it rains and you can smell the dirt she says she just wants to grab some from the sidewalk and eat it. HAHA! Sister Nicholas and I are still confused and Stephanie hands us a small piece to try. Sister Nicholas is thinking it is going to be cinnamon flavored and I am still thinking this is clever. The second I put it in my mouth I realize that it is just what it looks like. A clay pot. The sister then tells us that Mexicans will bake these pots and every once in awhile will sit and eat them....right. So there you go. I am now eating things that are not to be consumed. Cool.
>        Guess what!! Elder Nelson is coming to the mission! I am so excited! In a couple weeks we will be able to listen to him speak to us missionaries and we will get to shake his hand. It's ok to be jealous.
>         Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY STONE!!! How does it feel to be 18!? Just like 17 huh? Yep. Stone you are so awesome! I have loved being able to be your cousin and watch you grow up. I hope you had a great birthday and I hope you know that I love you!
>          Ok, Did anyone else LOVE conference!? I did! Elder Holland is such a beast! He was so fired up that first session! Then you had that awesome talk by Sister Reeves. All I can say is AMEN! I feel like a lot of the talks were focused on how to have a happy family. Here is what I have learned about that
> 1) Family Prayer is essential
> 2) Family scripture study will show your children you love learning and the importance of scripture study
> 3) Family home evening will strengthen family bonds and help your family grow closer to the Lord and is a time for parents to be teaching their children the gospel.
> ........I know this is true. I have seen the difference it can make and I will be applying these principles in my future home.
>       Oh! Did you all hear the quote by Elder M. Russel Ballard? I hope so. Go get a Preach My Gospel. He says, "Preach My Gospel is a guidebook for missionary work. That means it is a guidebook for all of us," Guess you better order yours if you don't have one!
>         Ok, one last talk that I liked was President Uchtdorfs. I loved how he talked about how we resist endings because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We aren't meant to have endings and in God's plan their are no true endings,only lasting beginnings. Let me guess that quote is on all wedding pictures already? haha That quote and the one by Sister Stevenson saying "The gospel is not weight. It is the wings" are probably all over the internet already huh? Saw that coming from a mile away. Oh and I loved how President Uchtdorf talked about being grateful IN our circumstances. Gah! There were so many great things said! What was your favorite talk? Why?
>        So in case you were wondering my "heritage" as a missionary has some really great missionaries. My trainer is now a training leader, her trainer is a training leader, and her trainer's trainer was a training leader for a year before she went home. So it runs in "the family." So far I am no exception. I am not saying that I am going to be a sister training leader but now I will explain my title. I am training a new missionary. SCARY!!! I am so nervous! Also I have a request for you. Would you all write her a letter welcoming her to the mission field? I won't know who she is until tomorrow at transfer meeting but you can address the envelope to me and I will give the letter to her. I would have loved a letter of encouragement as a new missionary so I would really appreciate if you would do this for her. Especially you RMs!
>      Well, I am going to need a lot of your prayers! I miss you all!
> Sister Skeeter