My Final Week 8.25.2014

Dear Family,

It's kind of hard to believe that I will actually be home tomorrow!

Monday starting out with having a dinner with President and Sister Weidman and then having a testimony meeting with all the missionaries that were leaving this transfer. It was fun to reminisce all the funny stories, and to also see how much everyone else has changed. 

Yesterday we went around saying goodbye to a few families. It's a weird mix of emotions. I want to continue to serve them and yet at the same time I know I did what I could and that these families need whatever the next missionaries have to offer them. I know that the Lord will continue to look after them, and I will support them the best I can from home and school and I'm ok with that. 

Part of my letter to president:

 "This week has been great! I was a little apprehensive at first about what I would feel my last full week as a full-time missionary, but just like always my expectations were completely off:) Instead of nervousness, and sadness about leaving these people I just felt pure love and complete joy. I know I did my best and that I will continue to learn and improve. I know this next part of my life will be just as challenging if not more than the mission but I have gained things on the mission that are priceless. I have deepened my faith and increased my love for my Savior. I understand a little bit more what it means to rely on the enabling power of the Atonement. I know how to use prayer and find strength in it. I know what it feels like to be filled with the pure love of Christ. These are only a few of the things that I know will bless me for the rest of my life. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spread the good news and to see it change the lives of others. 

As I have started the Book of Mormon reading I have felt so filled! The Book of Mormon is true! I am so excited to continue to read it and make it a part of my daily life. I know that reading it with the purpose of looking for Christ will bless and help me so much as I move into fitting 'Sister Ford' into BYU:)"

I'm excited to see you all tomorrow and to be able to finally explain everything a little bit better!

I love you all so much and thank for all of your letters and prayers you have offered during these past 18 months!

Love,

Hermana Ford

Saying Goodbye

Almost Home 8.18.2014

Dear Family,

This is what you face at a departing missionary fireside. 

You have 3 minutes to leave my legacy with the mission as President Weidman would say. You have 3 minutes to tell members, recent converts, less actives, investigators, and missionaries not only what I value most but something that they need to hear. Just 3 minutes, and let me tell you those 3 minutes go by extremely quick. All week I prayed to know what to talk about and what I could share that impact those attending the most, and I week I was coming up with a blank. Everyday I didn't feel any peace or clarity about anything! By the time Sunday came around I was pretty much freaking out. I have never felt so anxious about something for such a long period of time. Not even entering the mission! We had 30 minutes for personal study on Sunday, so I took that time to prepare somewhat. I prayed, I read my patriarchal blessing, and I thought back to scriptures that have a lot of meaning to me. I finally came to the conclusion that the one thing that meant the most to me throughout my mission was learning more about using the atonement in my life, and as I studied our purpose("Invite others to come unto Christ....through faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement...") I finally felt like that was what I should share. I shared Omni 1:26and told them with as much power as I could about the power of the atonement, that we all have a personal Savior, that the atonement can only take affect into our lives on condition to our faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and our obedience to our gospel, and that we can all use the power of the atonement more effectively in our lives. It was certainly not what I expected to finally be on the other end of the fireside, but it was rewarding in so many different ways. I was filled with so much love for the people I was able to serve and gratitude for the things I have learned. I was also grateful for the feelings of peace and love from my Heavenly Father telling me that I serve my mission as best I could and I can come home satisfied and continue to progress in the gospel.

This is just parts of my letter to President:

"This last transfer has been such a mix of emotions, joy, love, heartbreak, sadness, uncertainty, but when it come down to it I am just filled with gratitude. I am filled with gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve in certain wards, to serve and learn from my companions, learning from my leaders, but mostly I am grateful for my Savior and my knowledge and testimony of the restored gospel. The mission truly is what every what everyone says, the hardest but best experience. At times I am so scared about the future. There are small moments of peace, but after the fireside last night there are no more doubts of whether I did a good job or whether I became the person I was suppose to become. Yes, I still have a long way to go and much to learn but I have know doubt that I did my best that I could and it's time for me to go on to the next phase of my life.

After zone conference I threw out 2 or 3 shirts that I had and today we saw another miracle similar to one that was shared at conference. While we were waiting in the parking lot in the library today for the sisters a car in his car slowed down and told us we were dressed nice and then asked us why. We were able to explain that we were missionaries and a little bit about what we do. He told us he has gone to SLC multiple times at worked for an LDS professor at Utah State for a little bit, and then asked us if we had services anywhere! We also used the Book of Mormon in a street contact and were able to get a new investigator out of it! This week I saw the Lord guide us so much! I don't know if my companions recognize it but when I go to bed and think throughout the day I am once again filled with so much gratitude because if we are obedient and diligent the Lord will guide and direct us in every aspect of the work! "

OH exciting news! Maria had her baby on Tuesday!! Her due date was the 27th of August and the whole time she has mentioned how badly she was the baby to be born before I left so I could see him and what do you know it actually happened! On Saturday we made dinner for them....correction, Sister Yanez cooked for them. I mostly just washed the dishes(that's my specialty:)) 

Welp, I love you all and will see you soon!

Love,

Hermana Ford

8.11.2014

Dear Family,

So, I guess the first thing that might be interesting to mention is the training I went to for leaving. Sister Young and I went on exchanges that day, and that was one of the biggest tender mercies ever! We were both so grateful to have someone to talk to about everything that has been there from the beginning and that understands what you are feeling and be able to talk about all the plans without feeling guilty for talking about home especially since sister buys is just starting out:) They talked about a lot of things, but I guess one of the biggest things I took from it was making plans/goals, and keeping busy:) I'm so excited to see you all and to hear about everything with more detail other than the watered down version of your lives. I'm sure your excited to hear a little more detail from my end as well:)

We had a ward activity on Tuesday and we thought it was just the normal monthly activity, but I guess they had announced in Relief Society(we were teaching Primary that day) that there would be games and food as kind of a farewell for me. They had me come up during the spiritual part of the activity and bear my testimony again and bishop said a few really nice things about me, so it was fun:) They played an activity where someone in the middle of a circle of people had to get a few random objects. I wasn't really playing because I was just on the outside of the circle, but it was super funny when I gave the people in the middle the objects the fastest(Tylenol and a flashlight) haha:)

There's this family that has been in the states from about 8-9 years from Guatemala and when they came here to the states they had to leave their oldest newly born boy there(talk about hard). Anyways the boy(Russell) was finally able to move here to live with their family. We ran into in the hallway at church because primary was a little overwhelming for him(it's all in english) so we stopped to talk to him and introduce ourselves. His mom mentioned that I was leaving soon and he was like "NO!" and ran over and gave me a hug. Ok, generally I don't let the little primary boys hug me, but this one caught me by surprise and it was so cute!

Thank you so much Mom for ordering those BoM's! 

This Sunday I will finally be a part of the oh so famous departing missionary fireside. It's a little scary to think that my time has finally come, but when it comes down to it I'm happy with what I've been able to do. I'm so filled with joy and love for the people I have been able to serve and I go to bed just at peace and acceptance AND I'm super stoked to see you all!:)

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Ford

8.4.2014

Dear Family,

Funniest excuse ever:

"sorry, I just burned my mouth from eating too much chile. Can't talk"

I bore my testimony in church yesterday, and while I was waiting Hna Balbuena was sitting next to me and after a second she put her hand on my knee and said, "ohh, it's your last fast sunday!" yikes. The members are all so aware of my ticking time bomb..... Tomorrow I have my departing missionary training. I think I am still in shock that is actually my turn, and that I'm one of "those missionaries". I'm trying to keep it out of my mind, so on to last weeks events!

This week we had lots of great opportunities to teach the restoration. On one specific day our plans and back ups were falling through very early on in the day, so atleast I was getting a little worried about what the day had in store for us. A little bit before an intersection I just started praying for someone that we could teach. We crossed the street, I was still pretty focused on keeping my thoughts positive, and Sister Yanez stopped and said hello to this guy that was sitting in his garage that was set back a little farther than his house. He let us come over and we were able to teach the restoration. Heavenly Father answers prayers! Then we went to try and contact a potential again and he was home and we had one of the most powerful restoration lessons! After he had said the closing prayer he just sat there looking down. When he finally looked up he just said, "I feel different. This feels really good." We stopped to explain the spirit a little bit more and the blessings of baptism. It was so powerful!

On Saturday we were eating with a family, and one of the teenage sons said that his friend might come to church on Sunday. We continued to ask him how religion came up because he is only 14, and this is how he said the conversation went:

"What religion are you?"

"Catholic"

"What religion are you?"

"I'm a Mormon"

He then went on to invite him to church, but told him that they could only give him a ride home. Guess what! He came to church by himself, and got a form to go to the beach with the young mens and when we were talking with him outside after church he told us we could teach him more about the church! If only it worked like that all the time:) What a blessing!

The work is coming along. It's slow and hard, but God knows I could handle a hard area for such a long time and love it, well I have learned to love it and through myself into the work and in return I have learned SO MANY valuable lessons for which I will be eternally grateful for. 

I love you all so much and prayer for you often. 

Sisters, good luck with all your preparations to leave for school! Enjoy every moment with the family! Live in the moment. Don't look back. Plan for the furture, but don't live in the future. Advice from a missionary who constantly prays to not be distracted by the date:)

Love you lots!

Hermana Ford

My Final Transfer 7.28.2014

Dear Family,

I love the beginnings of transfers! I feel like there are always so miracles! Even though it was the beginning of my last one I felt oddly calm and peaceful inside. No twinges of regret or fear just peace and faith. I'm ready to work hard and give every little last bit of energy that I have for these last few weeks. It's funny because I hadn't even realized that we would have to get an extra 10 conversations until the new missionary orientation on Thursday, but the HUGE blessing is that on Tuesday and Wednesday we got 30 and 33 conversations:) God truly does bless us if we work diligently and show our faith! 30 conversations a day is pretty much taking everything out of me everyday, but I'm grateful for an extra little challenge:)

Another miracle! Maria an investigator that has been coming to church for the past 3 years got her birth certificate on Friday and she still hasn't drank coffee since that day after the LAE meeting at the beginning of last transfer when we committed her to stop drinking and take REAL action towards getting married! Their baby is being born on August 27 and plan to get married after that:)

Tuesday we were scrambling around for a member to go with us to visit our baptismal date, Nicholas, and Hna. Balbuena(the temple prep teacher) our angel was so kind as to come with us! Well, he didn't end up being there(always sad) but there is always a reason for something being cancelled. We decided to go visit a LAish family that lives a few apartment complexes down the road, and guess what! The entire family was there and had time to sit down (that has maybe happened one other time the whole time I have been here). The mom was suppose to start the temple prep classes a month ago but for some reason hadn't been coming to church. We had an awesome lesson on faith and families, and the mom really opened up and shared her concerns about the classes and why she hadn't been coming to church. Hna. Balbuena helped so much with addressing her worries! The Lord really guided us to their house that night and I'm so grateful Nicholas wasn't home and we thought to visit that family instead. I would love to say that lesson changed everything, but we're human and we are so easily consumed with fear and the mom still didn't come to church this week, so there is more work to be done, but all we can do is pray and teach with the spirit. It is so apparent that in the end we have no control.

If only I could describe everything in detail....

All the members just keep saying that I just need to buy a house here. I laugh and agree, but in my mind I just think "that would not make the family very happy":) haha

Oh yeah! Ok, so our new companion is Hermana Buys. She is from Dallas Texas, 19, went to  BYU-I before, she sings really well, has 3 brothers, and speaks a little more spanish than what I could speak when I came in(I still don't speak fluently, but I've come a long way considering it took me a while just to get the name of the church down:) haha)) 

hhhmmm, que mas? It's getting hotter, but it doesn't bother me like it did last summer so that's a good thing:)

This past week we had a lesson with a family that was taught by some sisters I know a little over a year ago. They still had the same concerns and weren't really open to letting us try and resolve them which was pretty sad because they love the missionaries. The dad was pretty much crying because he felt so awful that they were telling us they weren't ready to change. It's was just crazy because they even told us they thought we were a sign from God because we came when they needed a little extra more of God's love. I don't know how more obvious you can get than Him sending his missionaries to your door.

The other day on our way back to the car we saw a lady walking towards us without shoes on(obviously extremely drunk) and we said hi, and she just started to cry and tell us all these things that happen to her. She went to go hug sister Yanez, and Sister Yanez thought she was going to hit her our something so she had backed up a little which made her cry even more, but once she saw she only wanted a hug she let her hug her. Our lives are so blessed! 

I love this work so much! I love you to pieces!

Love,

Hermana Ford

New Assignment 7.24.2014

24 July 2014

Stephen and Trina Ford

6808 S. Jackson Ridge Ln.

Greenacres, WA 99016

Dear Brother and Sister Ford,

Sister Rachel Rose Ford has been appointed as a trainer in the California Los Angeles Mission.  No more important position exists than that of training a new missionary.  New missionaries need to be properly taught immediately upon entering the mission field.  Initial experiences truly influence the remainder of one’s mission.  Your daughter will teach by both precept and example the attributes and skills that her companion will need to become an effective representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am confident that she will, with the help of the Lord, be very successful in her new calling.

Sister Weidman joins me in extending to you our sincere congratulations for having a daughter of such quality and our appreciation for having Sister Ford in our mission.  We know she will receive your continued support in her missionary service.

Sincerely yours,

President David N. Weidman

California Los Angeles Mission


cc:  President Gregory D. Mott

       Bishop Keith L. Clark

       Sister Rachel Rose Ford

BLESSINGS!!! 7.21.2014

Dear Family,

Welp, the final transfer call came in last night, and I'M STAYING!!!! When I came here last November I would have never imagined I would be so incredibly blessed to serve here for 7 transfers! Sister Yanez and I are staying together and we are training a new missionary. I was anticipating being in a trio. I think most of us who are leaving early are in trio. I don't know how president did it because what I have heard is that with this past transfer and my transfer of missionaries leaving it adds up to almost a third of the mission.(26 missionaries leave this transfer) I think I am still in shock that this is my last transfer, but there is no where else I would rather spend it! Today we spent most the morning moving things around and I'm just trying to throw things away. We get our new missionary tomorrow, so that will be exciting! I think I'm still in shock I'm on my last transfer. It is incredible to look back and to think about all the things I have learned and all the people I have met. 

We have been working a lot more with Nicholas(the baptismal date we set last week). His kids are warming up to us a little more. Just Fabiola(the youngest) runs out of the room laughing whenever we invite her to come sing with us or pray, and Jesse made sure he knew what his dad's reading assignment was. haha so cute!:) We're still just praying that they have a car so we don't have to scramble for a ride for them every week since taking the bus wouldn't be very reasonable with 4 kids and being unemployed for the past 2 year.

A less active who came to church the other week gave us permission to start teaching her kids the missionary lessons to prepare for them to be baptized and to strengthen her testimony of the fundamental doctrines, so we're excited to start working with them!

Do you all want Cali shirts or Dodgers shirts or would you all prefer something else? As of right now I'm just planning on some Cali shirts. 

I'm gave in on throwing away my black flats and buying a pair of some cheap flats. They were starting to strain the tendon on my right foot when I walked, but I can't complain for a reason to go shopping since I pretty much haven't bought anything that I didn't need:)

This week we met a modern-day Korihor. Either I understand people better or I've met more rude people lately. Thankfully I was full of patience and love that day:)

hmmmm, what else is new? We finally went and visited some former investigators that were dropped right before I got to the area, and they are really cool, and it is crazy because just the week before a missionary had called them to invite them to their departing fireside, and they recognized how much god is aware of them and sent His missionaries to visit them when they needed it most:) Hopefully, we can run on that and help them to progress!

I love you all and I hope you keep enjoying your lazy days at the lake!:)

Love,

Hermana Ford

7.14.2014

Dear Family,

I feel like the mission just keeps getting more and more difficult emotionally.It's interesting how getting more emotionally attached hasn't made things harder, just more satisfying. Oh the lessons you learn on a mission:)

 Thankfully, I have learned how to cry without it draining me and shocking me by the fact that I was finally able to cry, but I know it's because I LOVE THESE PEOPLE SO MUCH!!!! I wish I could give so much more to these people! 

People trust so much in missionaries. Sometimes it's a little scary. This morning while were getting ready a member from  Tiajuana knocked on our door and said she had been looking for the door, and heard from people in the neighborhood that we lived there and she was waiting in the street all day yesterday to be able to talk to us!

Last night we stopped by an investigators house, and it's always a miracle when we get in because the apartment complex is gated and they don't have a phone. Well, the mom was really desperate to talk to someone and she was telling us that her son was just telling her to wait because he knew "the Sisters" would come.  I know Heavenly Father truly directs us in every moment. We are guided to who we need to talk to. I have seen God answer so many prayers through us. Anyways, she just spilled a bunch of stuff(most we shouldn't be aware of) and I just bawled! I think that was one of the first times I have really cried in front of any of the members/non-members, but I knew it was ok because I just love that family so much and my heart was just so pained for what she is facing in her life right now. Sisters, we grew up in such a sheltered, safe, loving home. We don't really realize how obedient and faithful our parents are!

This week the zone leaders challenged us to set a baptismal date by the end of the week, and we set one right before sending in the weekly key indicators! I know that was such a huge answer to my prayers and diligence because we just kept pushing forward even after super long days we continued to pray to be able to set a baptismal date with someone. His name is Nicholas and we met him while we were trying to contact a potential. We walked past his apartment and through the window he just looked so I smiled and waved then we kept on walking to go knock on the door of the potential. We talked to a few people then as we were leaving the complex I smiled and waved again. Before we got too far away I just turned around and went to knock on his door. We had talked about the Book of Mormon and committed to read the introduction(which he actually did!).

.Another miracle of the week! I less active of 4 years who has very clearly said that when she is ready to come back she will decided that she is ready to come back and wants to change! The Elder's Quorum president called us and asked us to go visit her and she told us her goals to return and wants her 2 oldest boys to be baptized and she came to church this week! All the members did such an awesome job of saying hi and talking to her. If she didn't feel loved I don't know more they can do:)

Transfers are next week, so pray that I stay! haha just kidding I know that where ever I spend my last transfer it will be where I am needed:) 

I love you all and I hope you enjoy the lake and give all the cousins big hugs for me!:) I would send a little Cali sun your way, but I know by now Spokane is finally getting some sunshine:)

Love,

Hermana Ford

7.7.2014

Dear Family,

Well, this week was full of a little bit of everything. Well more of the half where people cancel and keep inviting us back but then keep hiding when we come. Honesty is such an important value:) haha 

On Thursday morning we decided to call a less active that I haven't even seen in a few months, and she actually picked up the phone(that never happens) and invited us to come over in 30 minute. Well, we show up and one of her friends was there. So we thought, sweet an opportunity to share the gospel and possibly get a new investigator! Well, she was super catholic, and we had just planned to share Alma 32 with the less active and commit her to come to church(which she did woohoo!). By the end of the conversation the friend told us we should pray about our religion and find out how the church was started because there are so many churches now a days that are started by people who don't know what they're doing. I just had to laugh inside and listen patiently:)

I have never become so aware of the adversary as I have in this area lately. Jose was suppose to get the priesthood yesterday, but his boss called him into work and didn't even give him an option which is a little frustrating because he got saturdays and sundays off before he was baptized. Oh well, there's always this week. Yesterday was a little hard because literally everyone cancelled, so we set something up so we could see Jose. I know we are suppose to be the one's teaching him and supporting him, but I feel like it's the other way around. He finished the Book of Mormon Saturday so he read it in a month and a half! It was so funny because he told us how many books are in the book of mormon, how many chapters there are, and was telling us the story of the brother of jared because Obispo had mentioned it the other week in sacrament meeting. He is going to bless the church so much! Sometimes with certain commandments members like to justify them like the Sabbath Day and that God knows our hearts, but Jose knows he is clearly not keeping that commandment, and it brings so much peace to my heart because he knows it's bad to justify any disobedience. That sad thing is he is moving in September, but I know he'll be taken care of wherever he ends up. I wish you could all meet him, and just experience the absolute joy when I sit and listen to him talk about the experiences he has with the Book of Mormon and the the church.

The alvarenga family are doing good, and making good progress for getting their birth certificates. The mom should know by the 16th when in will come in, so we are praying for everything to work out. 

This week was really hard for finding new investigators and in having progress with our current investigators. I'm learning a lot about the Atonement and really using it to not be so overwhelmed and discouraged by my weaknesses and all the little things I like to pick at. I don't know if you have read the talk by Elder Gong in the June ensign called Becoming Perfect in Christ, but it is super good! Grace is the divine help that gives us power in every aspect of our lives, but only as far as we let ourselves rely on the Lord. So basically our happiness and progress boils down to the fact of our Faith in the Lord and our ability to just give everything to him. (Moroni 10:32). It's a work in progress, but probably one of the more valuable things I am learning on my mission.

For the 4th of July we had to be back in our apartments by 6 so we just did our weekly planning. I think I got a better firework show than anything in Spokane! Pretty much everyone does fireworks, so from any window in our apartment we could see some fireworks. Last year our windows only showed an alley so it was a pretty fun. We got some carne asada and pasole which is pretty typical of any holiday or celebration. 

This week we had one of the most spirit filled ZTM that I have ever been at. The mission is completely changing and it is creating so much more powerful missionaries! I am completely in awe sometimes of the work that we actually do. Elder Ballard invited us to study the principles found in the lessons we teach and then ask ourselves why each principle is important to ourselves. We did that with baptism and then practiced inviting our companion to be baptized and it was so powerful! It brought tears to my eyes as I really thought about what baptism means to me! Challenge! Take a minute or two this week and think, really think about what baptism means to you. 

Happy 4th of July!!! 6.30.2014

Dear Family,

Let's just start with the mission has changed so much in the past year! We have all grown such much in our faith and in our dedication as missionaries, and it has been so crazy to hear about all the miracles that have been going on in the mission. Every month there is a baptismal goal for the mission and at some point this year we started to pray for this goal in every single pray. This month we prayed for 60, and the Lord blessed the mission with 67! So cool right! 

This week I was told my schedule for leaving, what day I would be going to the temple, my departing fireside and all that stuff. That was a little scary....

Then the thought of doubt of whether I did what I was suppose to do came in. Whether I have learned what I was suppose to learn and teach the people I was suppose to teach. A sister in the zone reminded me something so important. Our expectations cannot be higher than the Lord's. He knows our potential, but we can only reach it with him, and if we do our best and work hard. At the end of the night when I pray I can have the assurance that I am doing what I am suppose to be doing and becoming who I am suppose to be becoming...sometimes you just need a little reminder that you can't be someone else and I can't judge my success against another missionaries success. We are all striving to become instrument's in his hands, but all things are in his time and He uses us in different ways:)

Ready for an awesome miracles!

So there is a part member family that we are working with and they have been super tight on money and this week the dad was running around like crazy on the last day to pay rent. He went to the pay phone to check to see if his money had come in yet, and it did! Blessing#1: The amount was exactly 1 dollar more than what he owed for rent. Blessing#2: the amount he received was more than he usually receives. Blessings and happiness ONLY come from exact obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ and he blesses us as we strive to live worthily to strengthen our faith, especially after trying times of striving to keep strong!:)

It a lot of the wards here for 5th sunday the missionaries talk(does that happen everywhere else and I have just been oblivious!?) and after the meeting(Sister Weller and Sister Yanez spoke) we went up to a less active that comes off and on because of work told us she has 3 different families from work that said they would have an FHE with the missionaries so they could learn more about the church! Woohoo! Well, most of the them live outside of the ward so we won't teach them past the initial meeting, but it's still cool that she has been sharing the gospel and has been such a good example to the people at her work for the past year of working there! We went by later to learn more about her friends and this is what one of her friends story is. She's been having this dream for the past 5 years of a house(looks exactly like the LA's new house that they just moved into 3 months ago) and this beautiful building with a spiral staircase where there are lots of languages spoken, but she has no clue what any of it means. Ok, let me just tell you that in the LA temple there's a gorgeous spiral staircase that you walk up, so obviously she was dreaming about the temple! haha:) To us she sounds super prepared, so we are just praying that her spirit and heart will recognize the spirit and the church as an answer to her prayers!

We have been consistently been having 20 gospel conversations everyday and we have truly been seeing the miracles! Saturday night we stopped and talked to some people that were out on their lawn and they immediately invited us in and we spent the next hour teaching the restoration and answering any questions they had! Ok, this woman has 10 children! Crazy right!!!! Hopefully, our return appointment goes well!

hmmm what else? So at the beginning of the transfer I realized we were going to go WAY over our allotted miles, and I have never done that so normal reaction I started getting really worried and we began biking everywhere! By the end of today we will have used the exact amount of miles allotted which is such a huge miracle! I can go to sleep with peace in my heart haha:)

I'm doing well, and loving life like always!:) 

I hope you are all doing well and I love you lots!

Love,

Hermana Ford

6.23.2014 Another year in the books

Dear Family,

A week in the mission is always filled with every kind of experience/emotions. I like to think that a years worth of ups and downs and all jammed into a week or even a day:)(I'll start with the lows so we can end on a high:)) This week I think I experienced some of the harshest rejections that I've faced on my mission. We got the "normal" eyerolls/don't talk to me faces, but these two guys just might have been the best. 

Rejection #1 We started talking to this guy who was just sitting in his front yard and he asked us what we believe so of course we started talking a little bit about the restoration and prophets and it wasn't too long before he just flat out said we were wrong and that everything we told him were lies. 

Rejection #2 We crossed paths with this guy at an intersection and he turned back around to talk to us. First off, he introduced himself as Lucifer, crossed his arms and said, "ok, tell me something."...never a good sign, and when people are obviously not going to listen my brain turns off, and I feel completely lost. We tried to get to know him, and tell him a little bit about the restoration, and he pretty much just told us we were young and didn't know anything and he knew the scriptures better than us, then to top it all off his departing words were "You didn't do anything for me." Ok, normally that wouldn't bother me but this week I just happened to have taped a piece of paper on my preach my gospel that says "What have you done for them?" Yep, so that one stabbed me in the heart for a little bit, but all is good. One day his heart will be softened:)

Rejection is pretty normal, if it wasn't We would be having baptisms every week, but I thought I would just share a few of the experiences this week:) 

Ok, now for the happy stuff!)

1. Hermano Flores considers himself active now:) Next step...the temple!:)

2. After an LA English Meeting(I'm the unit leader) I was just super determined and impressed to go to the Alvarenga's house and set goals and make plans to help them get married and help Maria have a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon and the power in the Atonement. Long story short they have already made some big steps to getting married, and Hector gave us her coffee, and began praying about being baptized:) Of course, with progression comes lots of pressure from the adversary, but we are determined to fight for them:)

3. A potential called us about church!(yeah, that never happens!)

4. Went to the temple and it was glorious:) I am so incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to be reminded of God's plan for me and my family, and to always keep an eternal perspective:)

5. We went to dinner with our ward mission leader and we had the opportunity to share the gospel with a few people while we were there and a some point this homeless guy came in and started asking people for money so he could be some food. One of the cookers came out and tried to get him to leave, but Hno. Garcia just took him buy the elbow up to the front desk and told him to order what he wanted and that he would pay. I am so grateful for the example he was to all the people that were there some day. Find someone to serve today!:)

6. A hot day on the bikes, and this guy gave us 2 water bottles, then one of our investigators gave us some yogurt and a pear:) #foodmiracles

7. My birthday wish came true:)(it was to have someone accept a baptismal invitation) We have begun teaching this guy Jaime who doesn't really know all the much, but he was a referral from an ex-girlfriend in Mexico. He's in his upper 40's and divorced, and we are pretty much teaching him from the ground up which is super fun:)

All throughout the day I kept forgetting about my birthday until someone would remind me. We had a lesson with Jose at the Reyna's and it was time to head back in for the night, but as we were leaving they pulled out a cake and sang to me:) (sorry, you'll have to wait a while for some pictures) Then as we were planning our ward mission leader called and told us he had something for us. He had bought me some chessecake. Yum!

Pretty much if I could some everything in a sentence it would be...I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! I would not trade being here for anything else in the world. I am so grateful to be here and to be serving my Savior. I have learned so much about myself, the gospel, and God's love for all of us.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Ford 

6.16.2014 Happy Father's Day!!

Dear Family,

Another week 1 of another transfer down. Time is going by way to quickly!
It feels like almost second nature now just to be in charge and to know everyone now that this is my 4th companion in the area. Sometimes I have to stop and try and remember what it's like to not know everyone or where everything is at. I am so grateful to be in this ward. By the end of the transfer I will have spent half of my mission in this area. I have learned quite a few things, but one thing that always makes me laugh is that I have been in more wards(6) in college than I have been on my mission(3) and I think I have been the happiest here because I know what I'm doing so I think I my have to stay in a ward for more than a semester when I go back to school if I really want to love where I'm at:)
If I had to describe this transfer so far in one word it would be running. We have just been running from appointment to appointment yet trying to figure out how to use less miles haha:)
There is so much work to be done here and the Lord is truly blessing us with great people to work with! 
This week we were blessed with free churros!! woohoo the best:)
We went to go contact a super vague(we only got the cross streets with the description of they drove a white van) from a member so we decided to go check it out and see how "lucky" we were. Well before leaving the car I remember specifically praying to be guided by the spirit that we could find Adilyn(the referral) or whoever else God wanted us to find. Well, the first door we knocked on it wasn't her, but it was this girl Stefany who opened the door that was just visiting her friend's house! We started talking with her and by the end we were able to set up a return appointment and as we were leaving she mentioned that her younger sister had looked into the mormon church a little while ago and would be in town that week and would invite her to the lesson! Pretty cool experience because we have really been focusing on really harnessing Elder Ballard's promise and exhortation to draw down the powers of heaven in our work.
The ward had a Father's Day activity at the park on Saturday that we went to for a little bit which was super fun. It was really weird to be at a park. 

Rough...my computer just froze for like 10 minutes...:(

I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

Nat, great work on the letters! haha:)

Love,
Hermana Ford

6.9.2014 Transfer #6:)!!

Dear Family,

Realization of the week. It's important to be patient to wait until other people are ready to talk. Props to you mom because you are a pro at that and never forced me to talk....but I think I have improved a lot since I was little about opening up to people. Thank you so much for waiting so long for me to come around:)

Jose is doing super well and just wants to absorb everything! He is already in Mosiah! I'm sure tonight he will tell us he's in Alma, and he's memorized the order of the books and always has all these funny little questions:) He was suppose to get the priesthood this week and get his recommendation to go to the temple with the ward this week, but he got sick and wasn't able to come to church. A little frustrating, but patience is my best friend:)

At zone training meeting we talked more about a few things that Elder Ballard talked about making spiritual connections and committing to our investigators as we give them commitments. Pretty much my go to phrase that we all got from it was "teach from the heart and by the spirit". As I have pondered and really let that phrase sink into me it has made all the difference. I have let the truths of the gospel sink deeper down into my heart and I have felt the power of it as I teach people about the restoration of the gospel. I have felt the spirit work on my and the people around me and my love for everything has increased even more. I have no doubt that trainings and visits from apostles and the things they say give me the direction that I need and that moment. It would not have had the same impact if it had come earlier or later. Our Heavenly Father knows us all too perfectly:)

Crazy experience for the week:

We were kicked off of someone's property....oops. I promise we weren't doing anything wrong, and got as far as way as we could...Don't mess with angry catholics. We had slowly moved to the sidewalk with the guy(the husband and friend) because we could tell they were getting super angry, but they just stood there and yelled, "get off! 45 feet away!!!" I felt super bad, but sad that they were so upset with us.

I don't know if I've ever explained this but at the end of every transfer there is what is called a Departing Missionary Fireside where all the missionaries who are leaving have the opportunity to invite everyone from past areas to come and see them one last time and they get to bear their testimonies, and then us remaining missionaries can go if we take an investigator. Well, Sister Howell is leaving so I obviously had to go! One of the best blessings about that little event is I get to see some of the members! I saw Hno. and Hna. Flores(4th ward who came back when SIster Howell and I were there) and it was soooooo great seeing them! Hna. started to cry and when she hugged me one of the first things she said was "me salvo". No obviously, I know we did absolutely nothing. The Lord put us in their lives at the right time, and the spirit softened her hear, but I love the fact that I will always be a special part in someone's life. Then I saw Cynthia and Elvis!(also from 4th ward) Cynthia's baby(she had her when I was there) is so big! She can stand and laughs, oh my goodness it is so adorable!!!! And Cyrhtnia told me they were engaged and are planning to get married in September and then in a year get married in the temple!!!!(I taught Elvis a few times and then was transferred). OH my goodness I just filled with so much joy last night. Other than you(my family) I have never felt like I have really belonged as much as I do in the mission with my companions, with the members, and even the streets:) At the end of this transfer pretty much all my companions will be leaving, so it will be another joyous reunion:)

Hard experience of the week:

Saturday morning we ran to the library to print off our lessons for English class that afternoon and this guy in a wheelchair approached us. He told us he had been seeing missionaries everywhere lately and it was such a miracle that we were there at the same time! First thoughts were obviously, "cool, he's a non-member and has had a change of heart and is ready to get baptized!". Well, turned out he was a member and is money had run out and needed money for his hotel that night because his sister wasn't going to be able to come and help him out till the next day and he needed help paying for the motel that night, and asked us if we could call our bishop and help him out. First of all he was American so it wasn't in our boundaries and second I had no clue what is allowed and not allowed with financial stuff, and because my comp really had no idea what was going on I had to figure out what I could do. I asked our district leader but he said it was up to us if we wanted to involve ourselves or not. I tried a few times to say " oh we can't really involve ourselves with financial stuff or whatever" but the look on his face was so hopeful and every time I tried to say no or something the apostles words just kept popping up in my head "if you need help with......ASK THE MISSIONARIES!" and if I let him go no one else would help and missionaries really are the last chance and hope in some people's eyes. So I kept making calls to our bishop then the English wards bishop and he was out of town and couldn't really do anything that quick, but he would be more than happy for him to show up to church and help him out.(something I had offered earlier but he was so desperate and I'm just like you dad and hate to tell people no). We were already running super late, and I felt like we had done what we could do and so I made the decision that we had to go and didn't no what else we could do and the bishop just said he could come to church tomorrow. Seriously, if you had seen the poor man's face. Pure loss of hope in the missionaries, church, and God. I honestly don't think he went to church:( We asked if we could say a prayer with him or read a scripture with him because he had his bible on him, but he put his head down, full of tears, and wheeled away ready to knock doors. Honestly, I felt so awful like there was something more I could do like give him the cash I had but I hadn't thought about that earlier, so I looked in the white handbook because I recalled a rule that we couldn't lend money so I looked it up just I could feel at peace that I had done what I could. Tender mercy: the next morning in ward correlation Obispo Flores talked about "caring for the poor and needy". I know it wasn't just because of our experience, but it was such a tender mercy to me that he would give that training the day after. Sometimes the best thing we can do is say no....

As for the work. It's going well. Lots of work to be done, and there is lots of hope for a baptism or 2 in the next few months.

These past few weeks have been super cool because I have come to understand a few more things from my patriarchal blessing. I don't think I have received as much revelation as I have on my mission from it.

I hope you are all doing well and enjoy your last week of school! Woohoo!:) Nat, congratulations!!!:)

I love you all, and pray for you often.

Love,

Hermana Ford

6.2.2014

Dear Family,

This week was pretty awesome and so filled with the spirit! Yesterday President Weidman set up a little conference with Elder Ballard, Elder Schweitzer, and Elder Acosta(our area 70). I remember thinking before shaking Elder Ballard's hand just trying to muster up as must of my faith as I could and love for the Savior so he could know that I support him and love the Savior and have no doubts about this gospel, and then when he got up to talk one of the very first things he said was that he could feel our love for the Savior. I'm not even trying to exaggerate that he said exactly what I was thinking. It was kind of a shock because his hand's just immediately made me think of Grandpa and I was trying so hard to hold back the tears! At Jose's baptism Obispo Flores told him that the gospel makes us crybabies(because so many people were crying) and I've decided to change it to "the mission makes us crybabies". (Brooke, you would be so proud!:)) The spirit was so strong! I can't even explain it...hhmmmm try your most spiritual experience in the temple times 2:) The church is so church because there is no way that a room full 300 missionaries can receive all the answers to their questions from the same talks! We are really struggling getting people to church and I got some good ideas and they gave me a different perspective for attending church. Elder Acosta talked a little about how Once they have enough faith to attend church they are ready to make and keep other commitments and I had never really looked at attending church as having faith, but the more I think about it it is so true! One thing(out of all the great things he talked about) was calling down the powers of heaven in this work. For all missionaries that's not an uncommon phrase because Elder Ballard talks a little bit about that in one of the Preach My Gospel videos, but it reminded my that I need more faith. When I wake up in the morning I need to expect that I am going to find someone and that the spirit will touch whoever we are teaching. That we will find, teach, and baptize. I should wake up filled with faith and love for the Savior! 

 Within 3 minutes of him leaving as we were just writing down our impressions an Elder had a seizure. I've never been around someone having a seizure so it was just a big shock for a lot of us because it was so quiet in the chapel and the spirit was still just so strong, but it was a really cool experience because you could tell that we all just turned back and started praying really hard. It didn't last super long and it was a blessing because the mission nurse was there as well as one of the stake presidents who is a physician. It was just a very surreal experience. The power of prayer is real. 

Jose is getting the aaronic priesthood this next week at church!

Thanks for the letter Julia and Natalie!

I hope you all have a great week and know that I love you lots!

Love,

Hermana Ford

.....next week I will write more 5.26.2014

Dear Family,

Ok, this email is going to be extremely short. I am a huge fan of public libraries....except when they're closed on Mondays:)

This week was a little trying, but this is still the Lord's work and I love sharing his gospel so I can't really complain...no matter how times a lesson falls through and people try and teach us and tell us we're wrong:)

This week Elder Ballard is coming! I am really excited to see what he has in store for us, and am so grateful yet another opportunity to learn from a general authority. 

Everyone in the ward keeps joking that I should just move my records to the Bell Gardens ward:)

Sorry this is really all over the place. I feel like I don't have enough time to give a lot of details of anything.

I guess I just want to tell you all that I know that this gospel is true. Christ is the only person in whom we can find relief from in our trials, and it is only through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we can truly find peace and happiness. If we want to see real changes in our lives we have to turn to the Lord and lose ourselves in the work of Salvation. We are changed through obedience to the Lord, and it is through that obedience that we can become like him. If you ever get the chance read The 4th missionary by....ooh I forgot who but it's super good! Every now and then I read it and even though you aren't missionaries I know you all can find some way to apply it and learn from it:)

I hope you are all doing well and when you feel weighted down turn to the simple and pure truths of the gospel. They have brought me so much happiness!

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Ford

5.19.2014

Dear Family,

Starting letters is always the hardest part....

This week has been....emotional, but full of joy and happiness. God is blessing this area so much, and I am so grateful for the miracles/blessing we have seen because it has helped me to be able to throw myself into the work, and see the rewards. 

A few of the blessings of the week:

1. Jose didn't come to church because his family is having a hard time back in El Salvador, but he is so in-tune to the spirit that he feels bad and is determined to live the things he has learned. I am so grateful for the spirit and it's ability to move people to action.

2. Getting a blessing from president. Every time I think about President Weidman and his wife I am just filled with so much gratitude. They are exactly the type of people that I need on my mission to feel comforted, loved, and pushed to have deeper faith and higher expectations.

3. Meeting Alex(a referral). We contacted him last night, but he was busy at our set appointment which was a little bit of a disappoint because I thought he was just trying hide from meeting with us, but he said we could come back later that night at he is so great! He told us he felt the need to be connected to God, and was willing to do anything to be apart of this church and put in his part with what he us as missionaries want for him! Complete joy! The whole way home and well into nightly planning I was just laughing out of complete disbelief that God has blessed us and this area with such a prepared family!

4. Contacting 20 people a day almost everyday this week, and feeling/seeing the impact it is making on myself as a missionary/disciple and the area! I feel like my purpose is truly being written on my heart! Hard work has never been so satisfying! (I don't know why this came to my mind, but I prefer this work a lot more that using a pick to dig ditches for a sprinkle system....you can all watch that video to put a smile on your face, and I know you all know what video I'm talking about:))

5. Free raspados and pupusas

6. Setting a baptismal date with 17 year old girl names Genesis.

7. 510 out of the 490 conversations we are suppose to get for our district this week! Such a miracle! The ward/stake goals that have been set for our areas that use to seem so high and impossible are getting closer and closer within reach, and we are meeting the goals in a few of the areas! 

8. The Bell Gardens ward. The wards I have served in have truly become my homes.

9. The Scriptures, Prayer, talks by Apostles

I love being a missionary! I love being a representative of Christ and having the opportunity to proclaim the good news of the gospel and be so involved in watching the Spirit changing peoples lives. It is such an incredible thing to be apart of. 

I love you all SO much!

Love,

Hermana Ford

5.12.2014 My Grandparents passed away 5 days apart

Dear Family,

I pray for you all daily and especially at this time you feel comforted by the truths of the gospel, and know that I am being taken care of here. I would be lying if I didn't say it's hard. I wish I was there to cry with all of you and remember all the good memories, but I know I need to be here. I know there is something for me to be learned being here and not at home. I know there are more lives to be touched by the light of the gospel and more miracles for me to be a witness of. 

As I have been studying the plan of salvation this week to teach to others the same verses I have read over and over throughout my mission have come to have so much more meaning to .

Alma 40:12,23 and D&C 138:11-60

12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

I hope you all can take some time this week and study these two chapters. They have brought so much hope and comfort to me because I know they are true. I know without a doubt that Grandpa and Grandma are happy and are at peace. 

The work of the Lord continues to amaze me. No matter what trials we are going through the work goes on. There are people that have been placed in my path to remind me the joy of being a missionary and that there are miracles around every corner:) Just last night we met a woman named Louisa that told us she was Catholic, but felt like there was more and wanted to learn more about the church. Then today while we were at the grocery store for the second time(long story short my debit card info for the mission got stolen somehow, and we were at the store trying to get all the money left on the card) and a boy that worked at the store a few weeks ago asked for the information for the church, and he stopped us in the parking lot and told he lost the card with all the info of the church and our number, so he wanted to give us his number! Such a tender mercy because I had just figured he didn't really care, but turns out he did!:) woohoo!

Jose was confirmed this week! I have absolutely loved "teaching him" aka watched the spirit change him(because really I feel like we didn't do anything)! He was so funny because he was so nervous all meeting, and he is so excited to learn more and go to the temple! Small little blessing: Jose's phone broke Monday(typical) so we hadn't gotten a hold of him so we started to worry because no one likes to leave a recently baptized person alone for Satan to bring bad thoughts and tempt them. Anyways, we were driving down the road with a member coming back from a lesson and we saw Jose riding his bike down the road near an intersection where we were able to pull off to the side! It was perfect timing and such a miracle that we were able to see him!

We also had zone conference this week, and everything that they talked about was exactly what I needed to hear, and gave me the direction I needed to know how I can improve the missionary work here in Bell Gardens. They weren't any training that I hadn't heard before, but the gospel is a gospel of repetition:) We hear things over and over again because as we grow the same lesson means different things, and through that we grow and new light on simple doctrines are shown. 

I was so fun seeing all your faces for a few seconds! I love you all and I am so grateful for all your prayers. They have brought so much comfort to me:) 

The gospel is true! I know our Savior loves each and every one of us, and the He is aware of all things because he has felt it all(Alma 7:11-13)

Love,

Hermana Ford

sorry it was such a short email this week. I had a hard time thinking of things to write....

May 5, 2014

Dear Family,

Well, I think I'm pretty positive that I may have accidentally thrown away my camara card....oops, but no worries I've been on the lookout for something that I can just put the sd card/usb thing....

This week has just been full of miracles/blessings! 
#1- On the SAME day as Jose's interview for his baptism his boss called his and told him that he didn't have to work on Saturday or Sunday's anymore!
#2- We had a lot of new students at English class
#3- We invited this woman to be baptized during a tour of the church building her first day at English class!
#4-Jose was baptized exactly 1 month and a day after he accepted the invitation to be baptized
#5-Everyone in the bishopric came to the baptism plus a bunch of people from the ward came to the baptism to support him.
#6-new clothes....:) Thanks mom!
#7- finding new people to teach

Ok, but really this list could go on and on, but I'll stop with those ones:)

I think I have said this before, but whenever we teach Jose I just want to start laughing from joy and unbelief. I feel so blessed to have been able to be such a personal part of his conversion. Sure, I feel like I absolutely did nothing to because it really was all the Spirit and the support of the members. 
As we were waiting for the baptismal service to start I was playing the piano and I just looked up to see how Jose was doing, and he just looked up with red eyes full of tears. I can't even imagine how he felt at that moment, but I was just filled with God's love and happiness as I thought about this huge step that he was about to take and not only his sacrifices that he had made to get to this point, but the sacrifice that Christ had made so that he could washed clean of his sins. It is such a satisfying feeling to know that we helped bring someone into the ward that is going to make the ward stronger and someone that the Bishop would be able to count on. I am SO excited to have the opportunity to help him receive the priesthood and eventually go to the temple. Also, I don't know this always pops in my head when I see him now, but he is almost exactly the same age as you dad! 
Sister Mocellin and I are doing really well. She's teaching me how to read in french. Last night as she was helping me pronounce things after planning she said I was a miracle because I could pronounce the r's better than some missionaries who had been serving in France for 9 months. Not sure if I believe her, but it makes me feel good, so I'll just keep believing her and feel silly when I repeat words:) haha
Also, Happy Mother's day! Thank you so much for all your love, patience, and amazing example to me! 
I'll talk to all of you soon!:)
The gospel is so incredible. God is good always:)
I love you lots!
Love,
Hermana Ford

April 28, 2014

Dear Family,

Well, another transfer has come and gone. I'm staying in Bell Gardens! Last night before we had received transfer calls began to take some of my decorations down. I'm a little surprised that I am actually staying because I didn't want to leave, but I was so excited to hear that I am staying! I really feel like there is something I need to do this transfer with Sister Mocellin. I'm not sure what it is yet, but I feel like it is really important and I am so grateful that God is giving me a little more time in this ward to serve. 

This week was really good! I can't remember if I had told you this last week but we got permission for Jose to be baptized on the 27th even though he had only been to church twice, so we have been going crazy trying to finish and get everything ready, but in the end he had to work:( This whole month we have been praying as a mission to have 48 baptisms which would be a record for what we usually average and we got 47. It's only a little too obvious that Jose would have been the 48th baptism, but it's ok. We did what we could and then more. This week we went to the Visitor's Center and it was such a great experience. It was so great because he just kept looking at the temple until it was completely out of sight. We just keep praying to he will be able to get work on Sunday completely off. 

This past week we had a 12 month training...a little late, but it was still good:) I don't have a lot of time, so this is just what I sent president about it.

The 12 month training was so helpful for me! I have been so worried about going back to college and just feeling sick to my stomach about having to socialize with new people again, but as you talked about babylonian trinkets and that we won't be going home I began to think about if I was holding on to anything. I didn't think I was holding on to anything, but I realized that worrying about the future was my "babylonian trinket" and that I wouldn't be able to reach my potential as I continued to worry about that because it won't be the same. College won't be the same because I won't be the same and I don't want it to be the same. Once I decided that I have felt so good and if the future comes to my mind I don't feel sick at all. Even though it has only been a week I have seen the difference it has made and i'm excited to just focus and work hard!

 

This is a little miracle....this is what I sent to Sister Shepherd.

"Hna Rojas hasn't been to the temple for one reason or another even though she and her husband took the classes before I even came to the area. 2 weeks ago at dinner we talked about praying to know whether she and her husband should go through the temple. She agreed because that's what the elders told them about getting baptized. She said she knew she needed to and that she would start praying about it. Well, this past week we were eating with her and she told me that you had written a blog post about...well everything. She began to tell us a few things that really touched her and especially about your experience about praying to know whether you should be here or it was time to go home. She was so touched by that experience and she went on to tell us that she knew she needed to go and would be going through the temple before her and Giovanni leave to visit mexico in August! Seriously Sister! It is such a miracle and you played in extremely big part in Hna Rojas finally deciding that she truly needed to go to the temple!"

Other than that things are going really well. There is so much work to be done! Oh really quick! So, since I have been with Sister Mocellin I have just been losing my mind while driving because my mind is always thinking about other things. I kept forgetting to turn on certain roads, even going to the church! Well on the way to a service project while getting gas I kinda ran into a curb....in the middle of the parking lot. I know! I pretty much feel awful about it. Well, Saturday after english class I decided to get a blessing so I could not feel so overwhelmed with everything and I could focus on what needs to be done. Well, I'm happy to tell you I can focus while I'm driving. I'm not sure why I shared that with you becuase it was so dumb that I ran into that curb, but it was a little tender mercy nevertheless.

Love you lots!

Happy Easter April 21,2014

Dear Family,

This week has been so good! I wish I could give you so much more detail of everyday, but that would take forever. 

Tuesday we went to the temple, and it was amazing. Probably one of my favorite times I have gone. I just had such an overwhelming feeling with just having listened to General Conference and then going to temple that I just want to be a better disciple! It has just been an extremely busy and enriching week.

Ok, so Jose is one of the most amazing people ever! I don't know if this is very silly or not, but every now and then throughout my whole mission I would pray that I could be apart of the entire process of someone's conversion from being found, taught, and being baptized, this week we have been extremely busy trying to finish all the lessons so Jose could be baptized this Sunday. He is honestly the most prepared person I have met. The first time he came to English class he asked for a Book of Mormon and started studying it. This week we were teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to him and I was filled with SO much JOY! I had to have so much self control to not just burst out laughing  because I was so happy to watch Jose be so changed and really learn by the spirit as he has read the Book of Mormon. Then this Sunday was going to be his 2nd Sunday and then he was going to be baptized next week on his 3rd Sunday. (it's a requirement to attend at least 3 sacrament meetings). During my prayers Saturday night I decided that I wanted to fast the next day for him so he would be able to get work off on the 27th and be baptized. As church started he still wasn't at church so I just started praying as hard as I could because if he didn't show up in time for the sacrament it wouldn't count and his baptism would have to be pushed back. Long story short he didn't show up, and needless to say I was super disappointed because the 27th is the Sunday of the transfer and I've never stayed in an area for more than 6 months. Turns out that he showed up to church at 9:10 and the doors were locked, so he just went home. We went home to do personal study and I was reading in 3 Nephi 18, and this is the chapter where they talk about not casting people out of the sinagogas and I thought to myself, "aahhh that's what happened to Jose! We locked him out of sacrament meeting and now he can't get baptizednext sunday!". I continued to read and in verse 32 it says to not cast people out, and continue ministering unto them because they might return and repent and come unto him with full purpose of heart.(loose translation). So I just thought to myself, "ok, it's ok. He still can get baptized and if I get transferred and I'm not there physically there to watch him be baptized it will be ok. He is still determined to become a part of this church" As I was thinking throughout the day about fasting for Jose to be able to be baptized on the 27th I thought that I wasn't fasting so that he would make his baptismal date, but that when he didn't show up to church I would be ok and would be able to remember to have an eternal perspective and that if I get transferred next week it won't be the end of the world:) Later on Sunday we went to a baptism with him, so he could be a little more prepared for his. We could just see it in his face how let down he felt because he knew he couldn't miss church if he wanted to make his baptismal date, but we were talking before the service started and we began talking about how this was just a little set back and he told me that it was ok and that this might just be a part of God's plan and we talked about having an eternal perspective and that this is only the beginning. Seriously, he is so amazing! I had to translate for the service because it was in English. It was a little bit easier translating this go around, but I can definitely tell that I'm serving in America and not immersed in the language, but I can't complain, because he understood:) 

Jose is pretty much the the note worthy stuff that is going on. We have a bunch of new investigators that are in the beginning stages which is always fun, the less actives that we have been working with have been coming to church and progressing spiritually and Sister Mocellin is getting better at shopping in a mexican grocery store in America:)

Exciting news! Elder Ballard is coming to our mission June 1st! I think I'll consider that as my birthday present:) I think this is like the 3rd general authority that has come to our mission. I feel like we have been so lucky! I'm excited to go and receive a little extra help and revelation for being able to help our investigators better. 

As far as I go I'm doing great! I'm loving live and just drinking in the scriptures as much as I can! 

I hope you are all doing great and the summer comes to you all soon:)

Love, Hermana Ford