Week 4 in Florida

Hola mi gente!

Well, this week was kinda long! We did a lot of stuff.

We had a less active contact us! We visited her a couple weeks ago, but she didn't seem like she really wanted us to be there. But then she texted us to tell us she had her baby, and that she wanted him to have a blessing! Then we went  to go see her, and she told us she wanted her son to go back to church. She doesn't really want to go back to church, but at least this is a start! And if she wants her baby to be baptized, she'll have to come to church, and maybe that'll spark something in her. We went to her house later in the week to help her organize some things, because they just remodeled their kitchen. It was fun, and I think just our presence might help her realize she needs to come back to church.

We challenge an investigating couple to be baptized in October, but they said they're going out of town and aren't sure when, but that's they'll leave in October. But they said that if they're ready to be baptized they will be! So that's good. We see them again to tonight, so we'll try to get them to commit better. 

We met with our less- active, who came back to church for the first time 3 weeks ago! He's name's Jorge. We showed him Hastening the Work, and let him know he could help us by just talking to his co-workers and friends, and asking if we could come visit us. He kept saying things like "Oh, I'm too busy" or "I'll try, but no promises." The next day, we got a call from him. He'd already found a person that said we could come over! Then he called us again that evening and had another person! And another person that hadn't given the "green light" for us to come over! And then he came to Sacrament again! I'm telling you guys, if you can just keep missionary work in the back of your mind, and in your prayers, you will have opportunities to be missionaries!!!! IT'S SO GREAT!!!!!! 

There's a family in the ward that's actually less-active right now, because the mom just got done with a hard pregnancy. They're hoping to be back to church by the end of the month, and they really have to be, because they want to be sealed in the temple in November. We went to visit them, and the mom told us about her getting baptized about 18 months ago, and how excited she is to be sealed in the temple. I'm so glad that she has that goal in mind, and that they're whole family does. I love when we can tell people about that restored power, the power to seal families together. I am SO grateful that I have a family who is sealed together, and that I'm living my life so that my future family will be sealed as well. That is one of the blessings we get specifically from the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't ever forget what a blessing and privilege that is, to be sealed as a family.
 

We've been teaching this family, who doesn't actually seem interested in the church, but like learning and talking about God. The mom and dad actually believe a lot of the same things, they just don't like organized church, or something like that. We usually teach them on Fridays, but this week we had to move it to Saturday. It was just the mom and kids at home, and it was perfect! She told us that she's been searching for something her whole life to fill the hole she's always felt. She loves her life, her family, and everything, but she still feels that something's missing. I knew there was a reason we were still teaching this family! She says she doesn't like to read, but we told her that if she would read the Book of Mormon, she'd be able to figure out how to fill that hole. I hope she reads!!! There are many people in the world like her, that know that something is missing, and want to find it. Those are our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and random people on the street, and it's our job to find them!

Here's the funny part of the week. Since there are 11 missionaries in my ward, we don't actually get fed by the ward. Whenever we're talking about going to someone's house I always joke that we should go at dinner time so that they feed us. But we never have done that, because it's weird. So! Last Saturday evening, all our plans and backup plans were used up, and we were thinking of somewhere else to go. I thought of  the Moreno Family. They've been investigating for a little over a month, and they really just need the blessings of the Gospel! They're already so wonderful, cute, and so loving, and the Gospel can give them so much more! Anyway, Hna. Russell agreed and we went over there. Right after we pulled up, the mom pulled up with all the kids. We helped bring in the groceries, and found the dad, uncle, and a friend with 5 pizzas and chicken wings. It was perfect! They asked us if we wanted to eat, and so we did! I had already had dinner, so we didn't eat much. But it was just great to visit with them, ask them about their reading, and remind them that we were coming back the next day for a real lesson. We taught their friend about the Book of Mormon, and the daughter, Joslynn (11), asked us questions about what she read about. She asked for a real BofM, because all she had was the children's book. When we came back the next day, she told us she had already started reading it! Not much, but she was going to read more. And she was going to bring it to school to read! She's SO amazing! She's better at reading than her parents and uncle!

Well, that's pretty much my week. Esta obra es tan maravillosa! Veo milagros cada dia. Se que con Dios, todo es possible. Esta es Su obra, soy Su trabajadora. El promete que si estoy diligente, humildad, y paciente, voy tener bendiciones. Ya he visto esta bendiciones. Y puedo ver como este tiempo puede bendicir el resto de mi vida. 

Gracias por todo!

 Les quiero muchisimo!

Con amor siempre,

Hermana Despain

We had a donut party last week! It was Sis. Kenagy's 9 month mark, so we all got together and ate donuts! (probably not the greatest idea...)

These are the English elders in our area, Elders Crowley and Miller. We always see them on bikes while we're driving passed them. They're such troopers!

This is us with Elder Ator, one of our ZL's. He's going home tomorrow! He learned Spanish for his last two transfers, 10 weeks! Just in the field! And he's really good! The Power of God, guys. It's good stuff!

Week 3 in Florida

I'm not sure how much longer I'll actually be a trainee, we've been going through the training program pretty quick, we just started doing stuff for week 5! But that does NOT mean that I'm ready to take charge or anything. I still don't understand half the people when they're speaking Spanish! Hna. Russell is gonna have us only speak Spanish for the week, so I think that'll help a lot. I'm excited!

We have 7 progressing investigators right now, and we have plans to give them all a baptism date this week! We've asked them all to be baptized, and they all said they will think about it, and that they need to learn more. Which is perfect. There's a brother & sister, an older couple, and a family that we want to be able to be baptized next month! I'm really excited to ask them all, and to keep teaching them all, and for them all to be baptized, and then go to the temple, and live happily ever after!!!! We realized when we were planning all this, that if we aren't exactly obedient, something could go wrong, and someone might now accept the date to be baptized, or might stop progressing, or something else. It's so important to be obedient!

Obedience brings blessing, but EXACT obedience brings miracles. It works in your lives too! I promise! It's such a great responsibility to know that if we mess up, it's not just our lives that are affected. In all honestly, my choices right now can affect generations, for my family, and for others'. So I'm trying my best to be a little better everyday.

For the family that is progressing, we taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel. Hna. Russell shared the First Vision, and after I asked them how they all felt. It was the mom, her brother who lives with them, and her 11-year-old daughter. The uncle said "I think it's true....No. I know it's true." And then the daughter said "Yeah, you just know it's true because of the way you feel." And then the mom said "You said that with so much power that it was as if you were there!" AHHHH!!!!!! That was so awesome!!!! Usually people are just like "oh, wow. That sounds incredible." Or " I guess that could be true." They are going to be baptized for sure! I don't know when, but someday! I've already seen the blessings in their lives from reading the Book of Mormon, and taking the lessons. I love it!

This weekend was Stake Conference. It was such a great missionary opportunity, because there are 2 meetings that people can go to. We have a less-active couple that joined the church in Mexico, but when they moved here (20 years ago) they stopped going. They haven't been back to church because the wife works Sundays, and the husband doesn't care too much. But we told them about the Saturday meeting, and then they came!!!!!!!!!!!!! We talked to them after, and the husband said he had some questions for us! We stopped by Sunday night, and they weren't home, so we still don't know what the questions are. But we'll find out soon! They looked so happy to be back! I think that helping a less-active is just the same as a convert. Less-actives, a lot of the time, may not have had a real testimony of the Gospel to begin with, or it was weak. When you can help them come back, it brings back the testimony they had, and then some! 

The mission is starting a new thing called "To the Rescue". Our focus for the rest of the year is to get less-actives to come back. I don't know about all of you, but I know that Hood River ward had a lot of less-actives, that most people don't even know about! If you could ask the missionaries in your wards who are the less actives, and then go out with the missionaries to meet them, I know there would be a huge difference. They are just as lost, if not more, than the people who have never heard about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they deserve our love and attention too. I'm really excited to get started with this, I think it'll really help my ward here.

Well, I think that might be about it. No puedo pensar que mas. Esta obra es muy importante. La conferencia de estaca tenia muchas cosas sobre la obra de misional. Por favor, ora para tener oportunidades para ser misioneros. Se que bendiciran sus vidas. Nuestro proposito como misioneros es para invitar. Es muy sensillo. Habla sobre sus vidas en la iglesia. Invita personas a las actividades en la iglesia. Pero lo que mas importante, tiene la luz de Cristo en sus ojos. Las demas pueden ver las. 

If you didn't get all that, or if my Spanish is not correct (which is very likely), I'll just sum up: Our purpose as missionaries is to invite. That's pretty easy. Of course out in the real world, there are worries about losing friends or being judged. But if you can just ask people if they want to know more, if they would come to a ward activity, or something, they can say no, and nothing about your relationship has to change. If you can keep the Light of Christ in your eyes, other will see it. Every member a missionary is a real thing, don't ever forget that. We all have the responsibility to share the truths, love, and happiness that we enjoy every day. Some day, after this life, do you want someone to come up to you and ask "why did you never tell me about all this?" I sure don't want that. I know that it's scary, but I also know that your confidence is only as strong as your faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Hna. Russell always tells me, He's not going to let you say or do something that's going to ruin their salvation. And that's true. He loves when we help Him in His work, and He will be there will us 100% of the time. Have faith, and sige adalante (continue forward).

Les quiero muchisimo! Thank you for your prayers and emails!

Hermana Despain

P.S. I don't have anyone's address, because I told everyone to write to me first. So if you want me to write to you, you have to write me! Also, if you do it soon I won't have a million letters to write, and there is a good chance I will be able to write you back the same week I get your letter!

This is us with our Sister Training Leaders, Sis. Davis and Sis. Kenagy. They are so awesome!!! I love them a lot.

Week 2 in Florida

I'm not totally sure what to write this week! I think I'm kinda getting used to everything, so it's hard to pick out the super cool things that you guys would want to hear about.

Here's one: I had my first exchange! The new thing for sisters is the Sister Training Leaders, and they're basically Zone Leaders, for the sisters. (I think. I'm still getting use to all the lingo in the mission world). So once a transfer, each companionship goes on an exchange with the STL's. Mine are English sisters, and I went to their area, so I got to speak English for a day! It was fun! We had 4 appointments, one of them was dinner! It was SOOOO good! We don't eat with members much because my ward has 11 missionaries (5 Elders, 5 Hermanas. I think I forgot to mention that last week) so it's hard for them to organize it for everyone. I think it's just up to whoever we teach, and which members love who most. JK, they love us all equally, I think.... Anyway! Most of the appointments were less actives, and one of them, the dinner appointment, was especially hard. It's a mom and her daughter. The mom is 87, the daughter is 62. The mom wants to go back to church, but it's hard for them to go and sit for sacrament meeting. The daughter has had a lot of hard things in life (divorce, her son died). I asked her if she still prays, and she said no, because she doesn't believe that He's listening. That just broke my heart. I hope you all know that every time you pray, addressing the Father and closing in the name of Jesus Christ, HE HEARS YOUR PRAYER!!!! No matter how dumb you think it is, no matter how long, where you are, kneeling, standing, laying down, sitting. HE HEARS IT!!! I don't know how else you get everyone to know that without reaching through this computer and shaking you! Which, of course, I'm not actually allowed to to (no touching!). If you don't feel His presence when you pray, pray harder. I have found here that when I really try, and I'm paying attention, and really praying, I can feel His love for me. EVERY TIME!!!

Back in Spanish world, we've been reaching out to more less actives, and getting many different responses. But it's all going well, for now. We have a couple that said they'll come to church, and so we remind them most days that they said that. We'll see how it goes.

Speaking of church, we had 2 investigators come!!! Both were a total surprise because they had both told us earlier that they weren't going to make it. But they did! They only stayed for Sacrament, and one of them was really embarrassed because he wore jeans. But we talked to him last night, and he said he'll come back, next time in different clothes. 

Here's a fun bit: Hna. Russell talks in her sleep. Hardcore. It's quite entertaining. The other night I sat up to fix my blanket, and I looked over and she was sitting up, and started talking. I told her to go to sleep a few times, and eventually she woke up. But when I asked her about it in the morning, she didn't remember anything. She wants me to voice record it some night. It's pretty awesome. 

She's a great trainer. I'm really glad I got put with her. She makes me do things I don't want to do. We get along very well. I think we push each other. She's very good at pointing out when I say something wrong, but in a way that's loving, and understanding. She's pretty crazy, but I really do love her. I think that before this training stuff is over in 8 more weeks (our training got cut from 12 to 10 weeks because of a catch-up transfer) we're going to have some pretty fun adventures!

Familia y amigos. Yo se que este evangelio es el mismo evangelio que Jesucristo su mismo establecio en la tierra en Jerusalem, y entonces en las Americas. Se que con Dios todas las cosas son posible. Esta obra es de Dios, Jesucristo, y el Espiritu Santo, y necacitamos los tres para hacerlo. Gracias por todo, y por favor sean misioneros en sus vidas como mi y las demas. Recibiran bediciones de Dios.

Les quiero, muchisimo!!!

Hermana Despain

This is my trainer!! Don't we look so cute together :D

Our recent convert, Jose made this for our lesson last week! We had also just rode through some rain on our way there. So that's fun!

We saw this AMAZING rainbow on our way to church! It when over the whole sky, with both ends on the ground! But we didn't find any gold :(

This is how I look pretty much everyday. Just if you all were wondering. 

Week 1 in Florida

Hola familia, amigos, y mi gente!

I'M ACTUALLY A MISSIONARY!!! I love this so much! It's really hot, and humid, and it rains like crazy, and there are no miles left on our car, so we've been riding bikes mostly, but IT'S JUST SO GREAT!!!! And at least we can have a car later. I'm really grateful for that! Sorry for you missionaries who have to deal without it. But honestly, you meet more people on bikes or walking. The other day, I got to give a Book of Mormon to a guy who I'm pretty sure could have been in a gang of some sort. But he said he'd read and call us! But he speaks English, so we'd have to send the English Elders to him (darn). My area is called Tampa 5A. There are 5 areas in Tampa for Spanish speakers, I'm thinking for English missionaries too, but I actually don't know anything about the English stuff. 

Hermana Newbill from the CCM is in my ward, and my district! So we see each other a few times a week! Elder Spach from my CCM branch is also in my district, so when we all get together it's like we're back in Mexico! It's pretty fun.

Mostly we meet with less actives, there are a lot here! But we have 4 progressing investigators, and a few normal investigators that we haven't had a chance to  meet with much yet. But I have high hopes for them! Cubans are really hard to understand, like I was expecting, but I think I can understand them a little more than I thought I would. My trainer, Hma. Russell, says I'm way better at Spanish than she was when she first got in the field, 5 months ago. And now she's fairly fluent, and understands mostly everything! So my goal is to be independent in Spanish by Christmas. I think that's a pretty good goal. 

Here's my favorite story from the week: There's a less-active that Hma. Russell and her old companion had been trying to get to church for a while. He hasn't been in probably 2 years. We saw him one day while we were biking, and he told us that he and his wife are looking for a house, and he really doesn't have time to go to church. We told him he should just take an hour and come, and he said he'd try. He speaks English, so Hma. Russell had me call him on Saturday. I asked him to come, and he told me that he wouldn't have time. I told him that I would really love for him to come and to take the Sacrament. He changed his tone a little, and said he would do his best.

At church, we didn't see him or anyone else we invited. Then we walked out of the chapel and I thought I saw him. I asked Hma. Russell, and she said it was him!!! We were SO excited! We talked to him for a few minutes, he asked for a new Book of Mormon, and then he had to go. But that's not all!!!

 When we got home for the night, we had a voicemail. It was him!! (His name's Jorge, BTW). He called because he was setting up a mormon.org profile and he needed is membership number. He also asked if we could autograph his BofM so that he could always remember the missionaries that brought him back to church. We called him back, and talked to him. He said he was so grateful, and that he felt like he had come back home. It was amazing!! Even though I haven't been with him through all this, I'm just as excited as anyone! I think when a less-active comes back to church it's just as good as a new member joining! I can't wait to see more people come back, and see a few people start coming!

I LOVE THIS WORK!!! It's hard stuff, I'm so exhausted at the end of the day, and 6:30 comes way to early. But I know that I'm doing all of this for the Lord. Este es Su obra, y estoy muy agradacida por la oportunidad de ser un parte de este obra. Yo se que sin Dios, Jesucristo, y el Espiritu Santo, nada de este puede ser funcional. Esta iglesia, este evangelio, es la iglesia que Jesucristo establecio en Su dia, en Jerusalen. Yo se que tambien, El establecio Su evangelio en las Americas, y que el Libro de Mormon es un testimonio de este.

I hope everyone is doing well! I love getting your emails, and I read all of them, even if I don't respond. BTW, you can send letters and packages straight to my apartment! 

Hermana Chrysta Despain

8102 N. Sheldon Rd. #807

Tampa, FL 33615

Please please please!!! Make sure you are all being missionaries. And if the missionaries in your wards ask for help, remember that it's the Lord's work, and it's really Him asking for help. Whenever you can, help the missionaries. I know that they fully appreciate it! And if you help someone else's missionary, maybe someone else will help yours (aka, ME). 

Also! I don't have a camera cord, and I'm hoping to fix that in the near future. But for now, I can't send pictures home. Sorry! 

Gracias por todo! Hurrah por Israel!

Les quiero!!

Hermana Despain

Week 5

I LEAVE HERE IN 3 DAYS!!!!! I am SOOOO excited to get into the field. I’m nowhere near ready as far as the language goes, but I’m ready to try to bless the lives of the people of Florida. I really love this place, and I’m going to miss is so much, as well as all of the amazing people I’ve met. But most of them will be going to school in Utah in a couple years, so we’ll just have to get together then. It’s going to be great!!!!

There are so many people here that there have been a couple meals where we literally ate all the food. It was kinda crazy, and one of the hermanas in my casa was home sick, so we were going to bring her food. But we couldn’t because by the time we were done eating, all they had left was bread. So we brought that, and it was good enough, since she didn’t really want to eat food anyway.

The first generation of Americanos left this week. It was so crazy to see them go, and then for us to be the "seniors" on campus. It’s hard to help the new missionaries though, because a lot has changed in the 5 and a half weeks that I’ve been here. We know the basics, but everyone has different schedules, and now when people get here they get green packets of information and we have no idea what’s in them. But that’s all part of the adventure! We also realized a few weeks ago that we don’t get dork dots!! I totally forgot that Provo does that, and when we realized it, I was a little disappointed. But I got over it pretty quick :)

Last Tuesday was the first world wide broadcast of the MTC devotional from Provo!!!! It was broadcast to 8 of the 17 MTCs, and we got to be one of them!!!! Elder Scott spoke about prayer, and how powerful it is. I think sometimes we forget that when we are praying, we are speaking to our Heavenly Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s not something to take lightly! Take your time, tell Him the things of your heart. He hears every prayer, and He answers every prayer, whether you realize it or not. When you don’t feel like you’ve gotten an answer, sometimes that means He is showing His trust for you in allowing you to make your own decision. I think that is incredible! That He would trust me enough to make decisions, it makes me very happy :) Although, when that happens, usually I just want Him to tell me what to do.

Who remembers Elder Holland’s talk from last October? About Peter and the Apostles after Christ’s crucifixion? That talk was from a devotional he gave to missionaries in the Provo MTC back in January 2011. It was a very memorable devotional, and we watched it last Sunday. He quotes the end of the Book of Matthew in the New Testament. The Apostles don’t know what to do after Christ has left the earth, and so they just go back to fishing. The Savior comes back, meets them on shore, and asks Peter "Do you love me?" three times, and each time that Peter says "Yea, Lord. Thou knowest that I love thee." Jesus tells him to feed His sheep. If we love Jesus Christ then we need to feed His sheep. Which is exactly why I am here. Quiero Jesucristo muchisimo. Asique, voy enseñar los hijos de Dios en Florida. Que es porque estoy aquì. Que es porque yo vivo en la manera hago. Porque Jesucristo es mi Salvador, y Èl pide a mi, y ustedes, que necesito hacer que Èl quiere para mi hacer.

If you need help figuring out how to be good member missionaries, look up Elder Bednar’s talk called "Ask in Faith". Hermano Arnold showed us a clip of it in class a few days ago, and it was very good in helping us all to be member missionaries.

Este obra es de Dios. Estoy muy agradacido por la oportunidad de ser un parte de esta obra. Hay missionaros en todo de mundo, y soy solomente una. Pero yo sè que soy llamò de Dios, y soy un parte de este obra. Ustedes estan un parte de este obra, y Èl tiene un plan para todos de Sus hijos. Siempre recuerden este. El Señor tiene mucho amor por yo, and por ustedes. Piden a Èl si no sienten este amor. Yo sè que el amor de Dios siempre està con ustedes.

I forgot to tell  you that I got to go to the temple again today! How could I forget that!?!

It was really cool to get to go our first week and then our last week. I think I understood more that was being said, and more of what I was saying. The temple workers were a bit more prepared for us too, and that helped a lot! I have loved being able to go to the temple, and I don`t think I`ll be able to go anymore for 17 months. So you all need to go for me! Take part in the blessings that are there! If you can`t go in, just walk around. Take pictures, read your scriptures, write in your journal, or just breathe in the temple air. The Temple is the House of God. It`s the closest we can get to Him while we`re here on this earth. Just as I am very excited to see you all again, I can`t wait until I can be with my Heavenly Father again, and you ALL better be there with me! NO EMPTY CHAIRS!!!!

 

Thanks for the prayers and letters! It`ll be easier and faster to communicate in a few days, which means you guys don`t have much room for excuses to not write me letters!

 

Les amo!

Gracias por todo!!!

Les amo, muchisimo!!!!

Hermana Despain

This is my district, and Hma. Mackay today. I love all these people SO much!

This is my district with Hma. Anderson and Haywood`s district. We all got here the same time, and we spend a lot of time together. Hma. Mackay teaches them in the evening, so we all got a picture together.