June 16, 2014

Hi Family,

This week was great! We taught 17 lessons this week, which is the most we have ever taught in one week. Normally, we shoot for 10 since half of our time is taken up in the VC. So we were pretty excited about how much we were able to get done.

We finallyyyyy met with the Herrera family. They are less active with 2 over-aged youth. I LOVE those kids!! They are the cutest. They came to the VC as well and brought us pictures that they drew. So adorable.

We also found a less active that no one knew about. We knocked on a door and the woman said something like, "Missionaries! Come in, come in!" God definitely lead us to that house. We had a good talk and will be going to see her tonight. 

We received a referral and were able to go contact him. His wife is less active and is about to have their first baby. He's not a member. When we went to go talk with them, the wife was saying that she really wants to have an eternal family. He is interested in learning more. We're going to teach him tonight. Hooray! We might have to give him to the Elders though because he wants the lessons in English. I'm secretly hoping we don't have to do that. 

Yesterday, we had a big lunch at the Huerta's. There were 10 missionaries there. They were having a little goodbye thing for our district leader and one other Elder that are going home. I love the Huerta family. They are the kindest people ever. And hilarious. Miriam is getting baptized on the 27th with her daughter. Can't wait!

Quick funny story: We knocked on a door and a man answered and said, "The aliens are here!" We had an interesting talk with him about that and about how he believes that we're called Mormons because of a man named John Mormon. We told him that wasn't right and tried to explain, but he just said that we need to research our religion better. Good times.

Transfers are this week and Sister Caballero and I will be staying together in Idaho Falls! I'm excited about this because our area has so much potential and we have found so many people. Plus, Sister Caballero and I get along great, so that's always good.

I love seeing how God is leading us in His work. When appointments fall through, it just means that we're supposed to be somewhere else. I've seen that a lot this week. Heavenly Father knows exactly where we need to be and He will guide us there if we listen to Him. 

Hope everything is well with everyone! I love and miss you all! Hope you had a great Father's Day!

Hermana Clay

Picture 1: Idaho Falls Central Zone

here's one from the sisters lunch we had last Monday

June 9, 2014

Hola familia,

This week was great! We were able to beat our member present goal. Hallelujah. Members add SO much to lessons! Here's a few things about this week:

We taught Nayeli this week. She's 12 or 13, I'm not sure. I LOVE her. She is very reserved, but once you gain her trust she'll talk to you. She is so beautiful. Her home life is not good. Goodness, I wish I could get her out of there. It was really sad. I am so grateful that I grew up in such a great home with a wonderful family.

We taught Ernesto at the VC. When he came in we asked if we could watch the hour Restoration movie with him. He said that was too much time but that he would watch half and then the other half another day. He ended up staying for the whole thing plus more afterwards to look around. He really enjoyed the movie and had some really great questions.

Miriam Huerta is the sweetest woman ever. We talked about the Restoration with her. And then about how men are dumb. It was a good time.

We were out in our area trying to find people and we saw a Hispanic man sitting outside. We stopped to go talk to him. He was crazy. He told us that there was a big man with a big nose that came to preach the gospel. He also said that there were people from other worlds that came to get gold but they were so stiff that they couldn't reach it. I had a really hard time holding in my laugh. 

Yesterday, we had an awesome experience. We had about 30 minutes before we had to get to dinner. Sister Caballero saw a virgin Guadalupe on a car so we stopped to try that house. There was a sign on the door that said something like, "We're Catholics. We don't need any other religion!" We decided it would be fun, so we knocked. A woman answered and was SO nice! She told us to come in and go upstairs where her husband and 3 other relatives were eating. They had us sit down and ended up feeding us! Oh man it was so good. We talked about the Book of Mormon and they were all really receptive. They each said that they would read it and said that we could come back. Hooray! This gospel brings so much happiness! I'm so grateful I have the chance to share it with others.

That's it for this week. Hope you all are doing well! Miss and love you lots!

Hermana Clay

PS Happy early Father's Day!

June 2, 2014

Hi Family,

This week was pretty good. Let's see if I can remember about it.

We were able to meet a few new people that seem somewhat open to listening to us. Hooray! We need more people to teach so we're hoping they will be the ones.

We taught Rocio on Thursday. Originally we planned to meet at her home, but then we felt like we should take her to the Visitors Center. Good thing we did because she had just lost her job that day and was in need of some serious comfort. The VC was the best place to take her. Sadly, she didn't come to church so we have to push back her baptismal date.

I know I always say this, but I love the Visitors Center. A few weeks ago a couple came in who was less active. The woman was going through a really hard time. She smoked and was just in a rough spot. This week that same couple came back in. I can't tell how different they were. Even though they were still struggling, they looked SO much better! They didn't smell as strong as smoke. They went back to church and started reading the Book of Mormon together. It was such a neat thing to see. Miracles happen!

We also had zone conference this week. It was awesome. President and Sister Brinkerhoff are the best. They have so much love for each of the missionaries. I learned a lot from that meeting. Our standard of excellence has changed. Elder Perry came and told President that each companionship should baptize 20 people in a year. Holy cow. It's definitely possible though. One thing that was said that I loved was, "The Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible." (D&C 35:13-14, D&C 29:4-6) I was also able to play my violin for the meeting. Sister Shumate and I played "If You Could Hie to Kolob". Sister Shumate is awesome at piano. So that was fun.

Not much else to report. Hope you all are doing well! Happy birthday Cawubee! 

Hermana Clay

The "snowball tree" in front of the Lusk's home. Before this picture, we had a snowball fight with them. Good times.

The Lusk's made us the best icecream/milkshake. So yummy.

May 27, 2014

Hola familia,

This week has been great. We were able to reach many of the goals that we set which was awesome. 

Rocio is progressing really well. She is 20 and has gone through SO much in her life. It's crazy to see the difference between she and I. In our first lesson, we extended the baptismal commitment, but she said no. But, this week during one of our lessons, she brought up baptism and said she wanted to be baptized. She said something has been bugging her and she feels like that's what she needs to do. She really has been prepared.

Cecilio continues to be awesome. He's going to prepare family names for the temple.

We met with Miriam twice and she fed us both times. Yessss. She cooks so good. She is set for baptism in June with her daughter. She's basically already Mormon. The Huerta family is such a strong family. They shared their testimonies with us about how the gospel has blessed their lives, especially tithing. It brought me so much joy to see how much the gospel has blessed them.

Aide is going through some really hard times. I feel so bad for her. We love her so much! She needs the gospel in her life. She has been reading the Book of Mormon in Moroni. She loves it and feels peace when she reads. Pretty much the only struggle we have with her is getting her to church. 

I am still loving serving in the Visitors Center. It's the best. This week I saw Emily and Cindy Baldwin and Robin Ritchey. That was so fun. Emily is getting married! What the?! I was able to give them a tour. We watched God's Plan and the whole time Sister Ritchey kept her arm around me. So sweet.

That's about all I have for you this week. The Lord hears and answers our prayers. I know that's true. He also blesses us according to our obedience and faith. He loves us so much and wants the best for each one of us. He's pretty much the greatest.

Love you all! 

Hermana Clay

Emily and Cindy Baldwin and Robin Ritchey

Only in Idaho would there be this sign.

All the Sister of the Idaho Pocatello Mission

i LOVE the springs here! it's so beautiful!