November 18th 2013

Dear Family,

Ok I told you I would tell you about Hna. Fleytas. She is from Argentina and was baptized there a long time ago, but moved soon after being baptized and couldn't find the church in the new city where she lived. Last Christmas some missionaries came to sing at the nursing home she was at, and recognized the missionaries!!! She was so happy, and hasn't missed a Sunday since then! Everytime we go over there we sing Count Your Many Blesssings, I can't even describe it, but she is just so happy to be back in the church and loves us all so much!

So more info about Cudahy. The neighbor hood is like all Muslims which is super cool. i heard that they just called 4 elders to speak Farsi in this area so our mission has 4 of 8 missionaries in the whole world speaking Farsi. LA is seriously one of the coolest missions. There is a little bit of everything, and so many opportunities. My area covers a little bit of Bell, Hunington park, Cudahy, and maywood. It's flat so being on a bike is not hard, It took us 40 minutes to bike to church yesterday, but I am absolutely loving it!  We're in Bell Gardens ward which is a combination of 2 wards that happened about a year ago. there hasn't been a baptism in my area for almost 2 years, but there is a lot of potential. A couple that hasn't been able to get married are finally going to be able to get married and then the girl, maria will be able to get baptized soon! It's a little funny that this has happened twice in a row. I should probably just move from area to area and somehow the couples will magically be able to get married.

Saturday we were riding our bikes to the church for coordination, and we stopped to look at my bike because it was just way harder than it should have been. Sister walker's bike pump has a air pressure thing which is super nice. Anyways, my wheels are suppose to be at 50-60 psi and they were at 10. Let's just say that I enjoyed biking a little bit more than I have been the first 3 days.

Ok, so I guess the easiest without making it sound super depressing was I just sort of started to break. I don't know. I was struggle to feel like I was progressing as a person, struggling to find the spark a loving the work like I have been, and my relationship with my companion wasn't what I wanted it to be....ok,happy news now!

I didn't come to Cudahy and everything was magically fixed. I felt the same the first day, so I was a little anxious, but I made some goals, and a few activities to do everyday to help me be happier, love the work and have more faith in it/patience, and love myself(that can be a hard one, especially trying to notice what my strengths are). Anyways I have 2 little books. In one every morning, I write in one a few things that happened yesterday that i love about my companion, not that we don't get along...I just want to love her more. Then in my other book i write things about why I love the mission, being a missionary, and things I love about myself. I'm determined to really know what my strengths are and be confident about them:)

Yesterday we had dinner with the Reyna family. they have been members for about 3-4 years and were sealed sometime within that time. One of the talks during Sacrament meeting just really got to her, and I guess things had just started to build up for her too, and she just kind of broke, and little like I felt. She explained it like her glow stick just felt super dim. I don't know why but this week I have shared Mosiah 23:21-23 and this one has really been a favorite on my mission, and I was able to share that with her, and at least for me I felt like I could help her. I felt like I knew how she felt, and that I could help her. Every time I have felt bad about myself, and was able to puch my selfish thoughts away and really help someone I have come out feeling better myself with a brighter hope. I have no doubt that we go through things to be able to better relate to people and when we forget about ourselves and look to console others that's where we will find true joy. Sorry, if that was super broad, but I never know how much to share about others trials.

Ok Dad, I'm going to put you to work with all your knowledge about your BYU athletes:)

Every month there is a "why I believe" fireside at the VC, and last night Chad Lewis and his wife, Michelle came to speak. We weren't able to go, but on Friday me and my companion were invited to go to a fireside with him this morning. Only about 50 missionaries were invited to go, and I don't know why we were selected, but Heavenly Father truly does know our needs. I could have broken down crying a few times during it, but I was sitting in the front row but I didn't want to look like a complete wackoo:) I was so grateful for everything they talked about! One thing that Sister Lewis said was that we don't realize how many people are praying for us. We hear that all the time, but for some reason I just really appreciated that this morning. The other day I was looking back from my notes in the MTC and someone told us that when we are having a hard time, just picture your parents, siblings, family members kneeling at their beds and praying for you, and i know that's true.(great, I was tearing up just thinking about it!) when I remember that I can feel all of your love, so I guess just wanted to say that I am so grateful for your love and prayers. 

They talked about a few different things, but one thing they talked about was letting our talents, and personalities shine.(matt 5) we have a responsibility to let our strengths show! we're all a little weird so we need to give people their space and let their personalities shine.President Weidman and the Lord are going to ask us to do things that will make our hearts pound but we just need to have the confidence and strength to do them, and when the natural man comes and starts sneaking into our thoughts, just forget them! I learning a lot to allow myself to be proud of my strengths....well I'm still working on acknowledging them, but it's coming along;)

One thing Bro. Lewis said was "have a high tolerance of boredom"(someone told him that before going in to the NFL) we're going to hear the same training, scriptures, and we need to fight all the pride, and tiredness to stay awake in meetings and take something out of them, and see the same scripture from a different angle. I thought it was pretty funny, but extremely true.

This week we have zone conference which I am super excited for because last night and this morning i feel like I've been on a little high, and things are feeling like I'm on the upward climb. True, we only have 2 investigators but there is so much potential and work to do. I want you all to know that I love my mission, I love LA, I love the people here, and I absolutely love the gospel and my Savior. 

Love,

Hermana Ford