Week 23 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 7)

This week was pretty normal, so I'm not quite sure what to write about...

Well, the highlight was this weekend. It was stake conference again! Elder Nelson went to Orlando, and we had a broadcast to 40-some stakes in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Elder Kapischke came too, but stopped in Tampa first. We had an optional mission wide training from him. But the mission doesn't get together as a whole very often. So most people came. I saw Hna. Russell! It was awesome :)

He talked about Hastening the Work, because one of the elders asked what that really changes about expectations from the missionaries. He told us that Hastening doesn't necessarily mean faster. It means more effective. He also told us that part of the second coming is that the days are shorter, or go by faster. Hna. Miller and I had been talking about that just a few days earlier! Have you noticed that? We need to work better (maybe even faster) because the end is coming faster! He also told us that by taking the sacrament worthily on Sundays is a way to Hasten the work. He told us that if every singles member of the church could worthily take the sacrament every Sunday, there would be no way to hinder the work. Blessing from Heaven would come pouring down faster than we could count them. I hope that each of you can study a little bit more about the sacrament, re-evaluate (maybe do some repenting?) and take the sacrament worthily EVER Sunday! I think sometimes we all just get in a habit of taking the sacrament, because it's what we've always done. I can honestly say that I didn't really know how to prepare for the sacrament, and I'm still working on it. I know that if we can all be actively preparing to take the sacrament ever Sunday, blessings will pour from Heaven, and we will be Hastening the work.

One other thing. Satan is real, and has power. Never, ever, ever let him into your lives. Do EVERYTHING possible to keep him out. That means filling up the holes in your life with things from God. Read your scriptures, say your prayers (have REAL conversations with your Heavenly Father), and take the Sacrament worthily every week. That's it. The rest will come easily, if you can do those simply things.

 I love you all so much! I'll see you in 11 months (AHHH!!!!)

Les quiero, siempre!

Hermana Despain

Week 22 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 6)

First off, we had transfer calls, and...... I'm staying in Tampa! Surprise! I'll probably never leave, it's all good :) I'll be here longer than any sister that's served in the ward in a while! But only by 2 weeks ;)

This week was fairly...chill. It was so weird teaching Anthony as a recent convert and not an investigator! 

Hna. Miller and I decided we wanted to start fresh with the ward. So we went through the ward directory and found all the members in our area, and started visiting them. Mostly, the records aren't up to date, so we've just been meeting random people. But a couple of them have let us come back and teach a little more! So that's good :) One of them turned out to be a less active family that I've met once, because they don't actually like us or the church. But it's been months since we contacted them, and they let us in! I was so surprised!!! I totally forgot they lived there, and there was a different name in the records. But all the kids and the dad were there and told us what they've been up to. We left a prayer with them called the Savior's Peace and Blessing. It's like the story found in Luke 10, where missionaries are sent 2 by 2 to visit homes and leave the Savior's Peace and Blessing. It's something we get to do as missionaries, and it's awesome! It's how we start teaching people, so help them know what the Holy Ghost is, and they understand better why we're there. We see miracles with it all the time! We do it for less-actives and members too, and have good experiences like this one. I love it!

So we've been doing a lot of that this week! Pres. Cusick is really stepping it up, which means we are too! He told us to study Hel. 13-15 about Samuel and his boldness in teaching the people. I'm not sure if that means we're suppose to be climbing walls in skirts... But it's cool that we're hastening the work with everyone else, not that everyone else is coming up the missionary standard or something. We're stepping it up together! Basically, if the people we're teaching aren't progressing, we drop them, and go out and find the people who are ready to hear the Gospel. It sound kinda scary, but it's what we need to do! Everyone needs the chance to hear the message we have, and we're the ones that have it! We have to share it! So basically we're to talk to everyone, and give them that chance to accept it! 

Oh! Here's a good story for the week: We were going to check on a recent convert, and he also lives with other people. Some lady answered the door, so we asked for the member. She just looked at our car and said we couldn't park there. We pointed to a different spot and asked if we could park there, and she said no. We asked about a couple other spots, and she just said no a few more times. Then she shoo-ed us and shut the door. Uh... Ok! We'll try again another time ;) I think sometimes the rejections are the funniest time of the day!

Well, that's about it! Keep up the good work! Remember, we're hastening His work, not just maintaining it. We all gotta step up, and do exactly what He needs us to do. Definitely use PRAYER!!! It's the only way we can ask Him was He needs us to do, SPECIFICALLY! Ask specific questions and you'll get specific answers. I promise :)

Les quiero mucho! 

Hermana Despain

Week 21 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 5)

ANTHONY IS BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't hardly believe it! It was so amazing to go through the whole journey with him, from finding to teaching to being baptized. Him alone made this mission worth it for me. If i don't get to help with anymore baptisms out here, that'll be ok. It's such an incredible thing to watch someone change their lives, and become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's been an incredible journey! He also says how grateful he is to us for changing his live, and I just tell him thanks for being willing the change his life. He says thanks to my family for praying for him and being excited for him. And I want to thank you too! I love when you guys are involved in the work with me :)

Well, now what? We just keep going! Find, teach, baptize. We've been going through the areabook more. (I'm pretty sure if people knew about the records they keep, they'd be really freaked out. But really it's exactly what the angels in heaven do :) We've found a couple good ones! Here's my favorite: There's a man who was taught everything, loved what he learned, loved the Book of Mormon, but didn't want to get baptized. So of course he was dropped after a while, because there's only so much to teach before a person's ready for baptism. (Seriously, it's so funny when people think they need to know EVERYTHING before their baptized. I just tell them it's impossible, but they must not believe me...) We went and saw him, and found out that he's starting to go blind. He doesn't know why, he doesn't like it, and he said we could come back. We have an appointment with him tonight, and I'm really excited!

We stopped by another man that had a similar story, he doesn't believe that the authority to baptize was taken from the earth. When we pulled up he was leaving for work. But he recognized us and asked why we don't come by anymore. So we told him we'd come by again, and he seemed kinda excited! I am too! I hope he's a little more ready to hear about the restoration of the gospel now :)

Oh!! Last Monday we went to the zoo for p-day. It was really cool!!! No literally, it was cold. I was so not prepared for that! But we made it though, took pictures, and had lots of fun! 

We also have this less-active that's too old and broken to go to church. And she drinks coffee... But we visit her anyway! It's hard to teach her, because she gets bored, especially when we read the scriptures... Last week I asked her if we could paint her nails for the next time. She said sure. So this week we did that! I gave her a manicure and Hna. Miller taught her about covenants. She actually listened! And participated! I don't know if we'll be able to paint her nails every week, so we might have to come up with something else... But it was cool :) Oh, and then she made us eat some chocolate. Usually I'd be all for it. But lately I've been realizing that my skirts don't fit like they use to, and I still have a year left... So... some things are gonna have to change :(

Well, that was the week! Lots of blessings, lots of hard times, lots of laughter, lots of teaching, lots of prayers, lots of tears. Lots of working in the Lord's vineyard :)

Con amor siempre
Hermana Despain

We got to go to the zoo!

Us with Anthony and his grandson, Jaeden, at church :)

Us and Anthony! The weather wasn't too great, and we don't look our best... But that's ok!

Right before the baptism! The elders were so excited to be the witnesses, because they got to go into the ocean

Week 20 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 4)

This transfer is just FLYING by! It's been awesome :)

It has been COLD!!!! (ok, so only like 48 at the lowest, but it feels colder, ok?) Apparently it gets cold here in January. And I guess it's January now! That is so weird! Wednesday I will have been a missionary for 6 months!!! I feel like I was just in the airport with Grandma, Mom, and Jonathan, questioning if I really wanted to do this. Guess what, I do :D

To celebrate the incoming of 2014 Hna Miller and I went to bed at 10:30, woke up at 11:59, drank a small glass of sparkling cider, took a photo, and went back the bed. Woooo! What a party! haha, we also went to a couple parties at houses, lots of food! And lots of fun :)

I just love being a missionary, SO MUCH!!! (I know, you never would have guessed) I love that I get to be a part of people changing their lives, and then correcting them when they say that we changed their lives. Yeah, we accepted the call. Yeah, we're reminding them about what they're suppose to do and who they're suppose to be. Yeah, we listen to them. But we're just their hermanas! And I love that! I love that I don't have to take the credit. I love being the Lord's servant. It's the best :)

Anthony is for real getting baptized! Like, fo sho. It's so awesome! It's been so fun to see him click everything together. Last night he was telling us about how the thing in his life have led him to this point in life right now. We watched Elder Holland testimony about the Book of Mormon, and he just kept nodding and saying amen, amen, amen! The ward is so excited for him, and they're so supportive! It's hard for most of them to travel around, because they don't have cars or money for gas or time. But they're making a carpool to get to the beach on Saturday to show they're support! It's so great!!! Having ward support is so vital! I don't know if he would have been as willing or excited if the ward wasn't supporting him.

We met with a less-active, Luz, who hasn't been going to church very steady for years. But she started going to the English ward, and she's as active as ever! We'll have to pass her off, so I'm going to miss her, but I'm more excited for her to be changing her life :)

You know that feeling you get when someone breaks your heart? You'd think that going on a mission you'd never have that feeling, right? WRONG!!!! Hna. Miller and I got our hearts broken this week when one of our investigators told us he didn't want to continue with this doctrine. It was like a bus hit us. We didn't know what to say. And his wife what just as shocked. This is the 2nd time I've had my heart broken on the mission. I DON'T LIKE IT! But we just keep going. We fast for him, we pray for him, we try to do everything we can, and then leave the rest to the Lord. He knows what's going on better than we do, and He'll tell us what to do. But I think that's the hardest part of the mission. Especially the part where you have to move on so quickly, and trust in the Lord. It's His work, we're just the instruments in His hands. 

But, the good always outweighs the bad! In ever aspect of life. When we're teaching Anthony we talked about Satan trying his hardest to stop his baptism. Hna. Miller reminded him that no matter what Satan tries to do, we know who's gonna win. So why would we ever give in the the one that we know will lose? We can't just sit back and wait for something to happen, that's when Satan will catch up with us. This gospel is not for fence sitter, it's for hard working, goal setting, truth loving Children of God (which should be everyone :). As long as we always remember that, we will chose the right, and do the right, and we won't have to wonder what will happen to us when this is all over. We'll just know. 

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Despain

Week 19 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 3)

This week was still pretty awesome! We had a Christmas party, ON THE BEACH!!!!!!!! We didn't touch the water, claro, but we did get to sit in the sand, take beach photos, and deal with tangled hair when we got home. It was so awesome to see old missionary friends. It was only half the mission, so I didnt get to see Hna. Russell, but I did see Hna. Newbill! It was awesome. We've both grown up so much in the passed 5 months, it's nuts! I really just love being a part of this amazing work. These missionaries are amazing people! I wanna be like them when I grow up :) It was cool to have some chill time to catch up and relax. I almost forgot we were missionaries! But maybe that's just because it's the norm to me now :D

Wednesday was a pretty fun day. We had district meeting, and it was kinda like a Christmas party. My district is full of big elders, and then Hna. Miller and me. So it was funny! Mostly us just sitting in the corner and them being boys. It's whatever. And then we got to talk to our families, via Skype! That was so awesome :) And then we went right back to work! We met with Anthony, who wants to get baptized in the Ocean! We taught him the Word of Wisdom. He brought out all his tea and asked what he wasn't allowed to drink. He had a couple that are still good, and for the others and was SO willing to give up. He said when he has friends over, they can have tea and coffee and he'll just have water :D He is so prepared! I'm so grateful I've gotten to be here to watch him make the changes in his life in order to follow Christ more closely.

Yesterday we followed up on a referral from the English sisters. It was for a less-active. He is the definition of lost sheep. He knows he messed up his life, he knows he has a long road of repentance, but he wants to do it. He just kept saying "I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is where I need to be." I am so glad we found him! He wants to be worthy to baptize his son next September, and I'm really excited to help in anyway I can to get him there.

This work is the work of the Lord. We are all here to help with the work. Even though there are other things to do in this life, we need to make this work our priority, because it's His priority. I know that if we will all hasten this work together, we will be blessed, individually, as families, and as children of God. If you need any ideas on how to help, go talk to your missionaries, they would love to help you :)

Gracias por su apoyo, oraciones, carta, paquetas, y amor!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Despain

This is us dropping off the Christmas tree for Bernardo. It was so adventurous! 

Christmas eve! We had matching sweaters (walmart) and socks (Grandma Despain)!

Christmas morning! Right when we woke up...

Week 18 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 2)

Ok, before I forget again. I GOT BIT BY A DOG!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure that means I'm officially a missionary :) Remember the story about the chihuahua that was NUTS!!! He really is. We were at that house again, and someone let him out of the room. He ran right passed Hna. Miller and tried to eat me! I didn't think that he actually got me. But later I found that he got a tooth in me! It's just a little hole, but it did draw blood! The owner freaked out, and felt really bad. Maybe she'll be more willing to be baptized :) jaja

Hna. Miller was feeling sick this week, so we had some time to relax a little, which felt REALLY weird. But it was also good, because WE'RE MOVING!!! But don't worry about not sending mail, STILL SEND ME MAIL!!! The elders are moving into our apartment, and we're moving into a new one. We found it ourselves, toured it, and did grown up stuff. Even though we have crazy amounts of responsibility put on us on the daily, it was really weird to do adult things! Just I'm really excited to move. We're on full car, but our apartment isn't even in our area, so we've been using up our miles real fast! So it'll be nice to actually live in our area and not freak out about miles.

Ok, highlight of the week: We've been trying to make sure that Hna. Miller meets all the people I've been working with for the past 4 months, but we haven't gotten to one of them, because they live a couple miles out of the way. She was always a backup, but we never got around to it. We finally got to see her, and it was a perfect time. She had just had a huge fight with her boyfriend, he said he was moving out, and she couldn't wait for that. She knows she needs a fresh start. So we left what we call a "Peace and Blessings from our Savior" (it's from a scripture in D&C that I can't remember right now...). Basically it just invites the spirit into the home to stay for a few days. She loved it. Right after the pray she seemed to have more peace, and didn't seem as worried. We explain our purpose as missionaries, and she said she would love to learn more. We texted her saturday, and she reminded us of our  appointment on Sunday! Then we got there yesterday and she was waiting for us! She had come home early from something because she wanted to see us. And she seemed SO happy. Like she could really feel joy. Her boyfriend had left, for good, and she had time to read in the Book of Mormon. We taught her the message of the Restoration, and she loved it. She still needs  to know for sure the truth of our message, but she's on the right track. I LOVE HER!!! I'm so excited to be with her on this journey. 

Also, we met with a man that we haven't seen in a while. And we challenged him to baptism. He said he would for sure be baptized, when he knows it's true. Here's the kicker. HE WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED IN THE OCEAN!!!!!!! We're not suppose to suggest it, because they don't want everyone to do it. But it's totally allowed if it's what the person wants. I'm so excited to go to a beach baptism! We just gotta make sure we're being strictly obedient so that we don't mess anything up. Oh man, good things are happening here!

It's so strange that it's Christmas! It's not even cold enough to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. And today it's really humid. But, you can for sure feel the Christmas Spirit. It's a great time to be a missionary here in Tampa, and that it's Christmas makes it all the better :)

You still have a few days to focus on that one person to help bring unto Christ! And even if you don't just set a new date and do it anyway :)

Les quiero mucho! Que tengan una buena navidad, and make a snow man for me :D

con amor, siempre

Hermana Despain

This is Allison and Nathan, some kids in the ward. I love them!

Here's the guy that wants to get baptized in the ocean! His name's Anthony. We had a Christmas party on Saturday and he came.

Week 17 in Florida (Full Spanish Week 1)

I'm still in Tampa!! I've been working with the same people for 4 months, but I've moved twice, lived in 3 different apartments, taught in 2 languages, had 3 companions, and driven 3 cars. I still have a year left of this adventure, and I've already done a lot! But it's awesome!

My new companion is Hna. Miller. She was Hna. Russell's MTC companion. She says it's weird to be companions with the trainee of her MTC companion. I'm really excited to be her companion. She says she understand spanish a lot better than she speaks, and I speak a lot better than I understand. So we're gonna help each other out. But I'm pretty sure I'll learn a lot more from her than she will from me. I'm really excited!

This week was a little different, just because there was a lot of changes to make. When I got the Tampa 5, there were 5 full-time companionships, then it went to 4, and then 5 zebra-companionships, and now it's 2 full-time and 1 zebra companionship. Basically we're starting over with areas, phones, members, organization, and everything. But it's going to be great. I think this is going to be best for Hastening the Work. I'm really excited to see what happens!

Another reason why the week was different was because of Night in Bethlehem. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! You can check it out at http://nightinbethlehem.com/ and I'll send a couple photos too, but they aren't as good. Basically it's a life presentation of the nativity, and it's awesome! The stake does it every year, and it's a huge missionary activity. People come from all over, and they can take a Book of Mormon, or DVD's or whatever to learn more if they want. I think I'm going to come back every year because it's just awesome!

Most of our lessons this week were introducing Hna. Miller to people, and me to her people, nothing too exciting happened. Probably the best part of the week was Thursday when we spent 7 hours in our room. We're living in an apartment with another companionship, so it was a little smooshed. The first night, we had air mattresses and our study tables. The next day we got beds, but we didn't have anywhere else to put our study tables, so we just rearranged things so all of it could fit. On Thursday we had studies, and then weekly planning and getting ready for the day and lunch. It was just a little ridiculous! I forgot to take a photo, but I will for next week!

It really doesn't look like Christmas around here, but it's coming up pretty quick! I hope you're all focusing on that one person that Elder Ballard invited us to invite to church or something :)

Les quiero, mucho!

Christmas decorations in our apartment!

Grandma's Christmas tree on my study desk. I LOVE IT!!!

This is the last part of Night in Bethlehem. My favorite part is the angel!

Week 16 in Florida (Zebra Week 6)

Ok, first of all, we got transfer calls on Saturday and.... I'm being transferred! Not that I really know what that means... But it definitely means that I'll have a new address. So don't send mail to Camden Bay anymore! I know Grandma has a package, and hopefully that'll come today. Sis. Behr is staying, so she'll be able to forward everything to me, wherever I get sent. Which hopefully will be right back to Tampa! We're thinking they're just going back to full Spanish, and no more zebra stuff in this area. At least, that's what I'm hoping! There are so many people here that are SOOO close to baptism, and I want to help with that. But of course, it's not my plan, and whatever happens will happen because the Lord decides.

This week was fairly normal. Not too much out of the ordinary. We focused a lot on the restoration this week, we probably watched the video at least 5 times. But it was perfect! We watched it with a recent convert, and he said, "Why didn't you show this too me before?" We watched it with Emilio, and he said the same thing. I tried to tell him that I just couldn't explain it, because my Spanish wasn't good enough, but he said that it was just because it wasn't my story, and that my Spanish is way better than when we first met :) I explained to him that really the story of Jose Smith isn't really his story either- It's God's story. And because we're all a part of God's story, it is our story. We've all had to go through what Joseph did, we all need to ask what the truth is. All of our lives have been changed by what happened to Joseph Smith, and the proof of that is that you're reading this right now. Even if you don't even know who he is, or know what his story is, he changed your life. That's just how it is. Sorry! (well, not really. I'm glad he changed our lives :) We watched it with a less active and her non-member sister. The member said, "You just never get sick of watching this video." And her sister said, "It's just a lovely way that it all happened!" Relief Society was a lesson of Joseph Smith the Prophet. We had an investigator there, and she kinda got the feeling we worship Joseph Smith... "/ We'll have to fix that one! I'm eternally grateful for what he did, but he's not the focus. It's the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints. We love Joseph, we appreciate Joseph, we worship the Father and His Son, because it's Jesus' church, and Heavenly Father is who we're going to return to. That's all, no big deal :)

Also, it's so not beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but it's only 2  weeks away! We're having record highs here, while there's a huge snow storm going throughout the rest of the country, so we've heard. I'm glad to not have to bike in the snow, but I do miss it just a little bit! I hope you're all finishing up plans for Elder Ballard's invitation it invite ONE person to church, or to do something, before Christmas, as a gift to the Savior. Start with prayer, and then go do something! Ask the missionaries for ideas, and set up a plan. There's still time!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Despain

Week 15 in Florida (Zebra Week 5)

Well, we had a conference call this week with all the zebra missionaries to see how things are going and how they can approve. Everyone agreed that having 2 Spanish speakers teaching Spanish and English would  be ideal. So! They might be changing things up again this transfer. We find out on Saturday. If our predictions are correct, I'll be staying and Sis. Behr will be leaving, and I'll get a companion that speaks Spanish! Hopefully better than me! That would  be great, because I'm definitely not old enough for this job. Some days I feel like a 30-year-old business lady, and other days I feel like a 12 year old. The Lord definitely has a better picture of what's going on, because it's a MIRACLE that this work is run by 18-25 year-olds. This is the only place you'll find a world wide organization like this, I'm pretty sure. It's NUTS!!! But it does work. I'm telling ya, A MIRACLE!!!!!!

Well, this week was pretty good. Here's the best part: There's a part member couple in the Spanish ward that we go see every now and then. The wife has been a member for like 30 years, I think, but her husband has never been a member. He's had the missionary lessons multiple times, but doesn't like the commitment of coming to church every week. We saw him a couple weeks ago, his wife has been in Cuba. I just asked him what he believes, and what he thinks about baptism. He knows it's something he needs to do, and he was baptized Catholic, just because his friends were doing it. Jaja.  So I asked him to just think about being baptized by someone holding the proper authority of God. He said he would. He's been challenged to baptism many times, so I didn't really think much of it. But there's also that hope! So this week we saw him again, and I asked him if he remember what I asked him about the last time. He remembered. He asked when people get baptized, and I said whenever people are ready. He asked if people get baptized on Christmas, and I said I'm sure they can. Then he said he thinks he could be ready to be baptized by Christmas. WHAT THE!?!?!? I had to ask him a few times to make sure I understood. He said no promises, but that he thought he'd be ready. SO..... WE MADE A CALENDAR WITH HIM!!!! AND WE WENT OVER THE BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW!!!! He needs a testimony of Jose Smith, refresher on the commandments, give up cafe for real, and he'll be good to go! I'm trying hard to not get my hopes up too much, but I'M SO EXCITED!!!! I might die if this goes the way I hope it does ;) OH BUDDY THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!!! We pretty much couldn't believe it, and of course Sis. Behr didn't even know what was going on. I turned to her and asked her what she thought about a baptism on Dec. 29th, and she said "uhhh, yeah, that feels pretty good." When we left she said "Did that really just happen?!?!" I was just as lost as she was. Totally unexpected, and totally miraculous!

We also met up with a less-active and her non-member family. Her husband has also had the lessons many times, he thinks he's had about 200 missionaries. The member seems really excited to have us teach her family, and talks about "our church" and says they should be able to come to church in a couple weeks, when they figure out work schedules. Lots of potential built up there! Maybe we'll be the missionaries that break the camel's back ;)

This work is awesome, but it's also really hard. Se que no pude hacer esta obra sin su apollo. Les quiero MUCHISMO!!!! Estoy muy agradacida por los oporunidades en mi vida, especialmente los personas en mi vida.

Feliz Navidad! :D

Con amor siempre, 

Hermana Despain

Week 14 in Florida (Zebra Week 4)

Whoa. It's so weird that I've been doing this zebra thing for 4 weeks. I think it's getting easier. I think my Spanish is getting better. And I think I have a little more confidence. But then someone yells at me for not understanding them, and the confidence goes down the toilet again. But I'm working on it!

Let's see, this week was AWESOME!!!! As a district we had a goal to find 2 new people to teach per companionship. Sis. Behr and I found....wait for it.... 4 NEW PEOPLE TO TEACH!!! And they seem pretty promising too! I'm excited to follow up with them. And my district met and exceeded our goal! Oh man, the church is so true!!!

Here's my favorite part of the week, maybe even my favorite part of the mission. One of the new investigators we got was a referral from a member. We went to the house, and learned that the lady, Caridad (it means Charity :), is a care taker for elderly people that need 24-hour care, like people with Alzheimer's. We sat at a table with her and a few of the people. I asked her how she met the member that referred her, and she said the man comes to visit one of the people she cares for. She said the man she cares for is a Mormon, served a mission, and has family that live here and go to church. I heard her say his name and realized who he is. There's a sister in the ward who has a husband with Alzheimer's. I knew that he wasn't doing very well, doesn't really remember her, and lived in another home so that someone else could care for her. I've never asked her about him, because I know it's hard for her. Anyway, I realized that this man I was sitting across from was her husband, and I could tell he wasn't doing very well. But then he started singing "Se que vive mi Senor" and then "Tengo Gozo en mi Alma hoy". So I pulled out my hymn book and sang with him. He remembered all the words and loved it. I thought about the Restoration of the Gospel, and asked if he remembered Jose Smith, he said he did. I was reciting the first vision, and one time when I paused, he said the next words. At the end I was talking about having a prophet now, and he said it was Pres. Hinckley. I told him that it's actually Pres. Monson now, because Pres. Hinckley passed away. I have a book that has a buncha gospel photos in it so I pulled it out and Caridad was looking through it. There's a picture of the Salt Lake City Temple, and he thought it was the Orlando Temple, but I told him it was in Utah, and he said it was the Salt Lake City temple. I asked if he was sealed in Orlando and if he remembered it. He said he did. I sang another hymn with him, and Caridad said he was more calm than usual with us there. I know that the church is true, even if it's just because a man that can hardly remember his family or his life before knows that it's true. I know that he can remember all those things because they are true. I loved it so much. I can't even explain how incredible it was to meet him.

The day before this happened, we had that sister at a lesson with us, with Emilio! He's not married, but he has 2 kids, and lives with their mom as if he's married. He doesn't want to marry her legally, because she has Chrome's disease, and he's afraid that he'll have to pay more for her treatments, because right now the government pays for most of it. We taught him about the Law of Chastity, and thought it was ridiculous that girls that could be his daughters were teaching him about being chaste. But having that sister with us was great. She talked about her husband, and how important it is for them to be sealed in the temple. She doesn't know why they are going through this trial, but she knows there's something she needs to learn from it. She also told him about the finances of it, and that helped a lot. He said he'd think and pray about it, and I hope he'll act on the answer he gets.

Thanksgiving is coming up! Here are the 3 things I'm most grateful for this year:

1- The Plan of Salvation!!! If we can understand that plan, we will know what  we need to do here, we'll have hope for what happens when we die, and I feel such joy and peace about the future. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!

2- The way I grew up- I'm realizing a lot, with being in homes of broken families, seeing all the heartbreak that comes from divorce and bad parenting, and I've gained a better appreciation for my parents and siblings that taught me a lot, but in the way that God intended. I wish that everyone could have been raised the way I was.

3- The MISSION (obviously...)- I don't think I could have ever learned all of this without the mission. I can't imagine life without all these experiences I've already gained, and what I'll yet learn here in Florida. I wish everyone would serve a mission!

 

Les amo tanto!!!! Muchisimos gracias por las oraciones y cartas! (especialmente las cartas ;)

 

Vayan con Dios!

 

Hermana Despain

Week 13 in Florida (Zebra Week 3)

Helllloooo Everybody!


Well, this week was exhausting. You know in 1 Nephi 1 when Lehi gets home from preaching and just crashes into bed? That's pretty much an everyday occurrence here on the mission. But it's all good! We wake up in the morning and work out and get energy and make it through the day! It's great how it all works out :)


Well, the fun thing to explain this week was that Sis. Behr is not going to learn Spanish. That's not what she was called to do. She's still an English missionary, and of course she'll pick up Spanish, but it's totally up to her to learn whatever she wants. I had to explain that to a couple of the Spanish speaking people, because they were telling her about all these ways to learn, and that she'll pick it up in no time, and that she needs to do this and this and this. So I really had to tell them that it's just going to me teaching for a while. That was a little hard. And kinda a realization for me. Sis Behr is great, and is supporting me in any way I can, but in most of the Spanish lessons, she just has to sit there, not knowing what's going on, and feeding of the spirit, instead of actually understanding what people are saying. She says that doesn't frustrate her, but I'd be a little frustrated. 


Our date set, Victoria, is being very flaky, and it's not so fun. But I need to keep reminding myself that as long as I'm doing what I'm suppose to, she'll have her chance to choose, I can't choose for her. We set a date with an English investigator, Jade. But! Later that day she texted us saying she talked to her grandma, who thinks she should wait. She was SOOO excited when we told her she could be baptized in 2 weeks, so we need to help her remember that. Another investigator, Michael, that we didn't really think would progress too quickly came to church yesterday! But we went to the Spanish ward, so we didn't get to talk to him about it. I'm excited to see him and see what he thinks about it
all.


Everyone else is just trucking along, not progressing too quickly. Rosa and Jose need to understand that baptism is just the beginning, not the end goal. Emilio doesn't have desires to do much right now, and the Moreno's know it's true, but haven't done much to show it. This transfer has for sure been humbling, and slow, but I know that I have a lot to learn still. I know that I'm just an instrument in His hands, and whatever He needs me to do, I can do. It's easy to lose track of the big picture, and we have to remind ourselves of it all the time. I use to have a hard time believing that I'm a missionary, that I represent Jesus Christ. It's still hard to believe sometimes, but this transfer has helped a lot with that. I know that the only reason I am here and doing all this crazy stuff is because I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I represent Jesus Christ. This is the best job in the world, and also maybe the hardest. But I'm forever grateful to be here, and to see how it affects the rest of my life :)


Vayan con Dios!
Les quiero :)


Hermana Despain

Week 12 in Florida (Zebra Week 2)

Ok, not only does the Lord qualify people spiritually, He also qualifies us physically. We were riding bikes last week... And today, and tomorrow. I am so grateful that Tampa has ZERO hills, that would just kill me. We probably only ride at the most 20 miles a day, but that makes for a very tired missionary right here! And yet, I made it though everything, I'm still alive, I have more muscles, and I fall asleep so fast now! It's also way easier to talk to people in the streets. We've talked to a few people, not had too much luck, but we're pretty positive that when someone's ready, God will put them in our path.
 
Oh man, teaching solo is un poquito dificil. Es TAN importante tener el Espiritu Santo. Mi companera no puede entender, y entonces no puede ayudarme mucho en los lecciones. PERO!!! Si tengo el Espiritu, el puede ser mi companero. Con los bicicletas, tengo un poquito sueno, y necesito orar mucho por la energia para sentir el Espitiu mas. Significando que estoy aprendiendo mucho, entre el Espiritu, oracion, confianza en yo, Dios, y todo. Es muy chevere :) 


I feel like I've been thrown into the deep end a little bit, just with more people relying on me and what-not (remember, I've only been a missionary for 4 months!!). One of the assistants called yesterday, who use to be my Zone Leader, to figure out more about the zebra business. The Spanish ward doesn't totally understand what's going on right now, and they need some help. He asked if I could work with one of the other elders, also serving Zebra style, to help iron out some of the confusion. SO..... I might have to work on my leadership skills a little bit, if he's expecting me to step up a little more. Hopefully it'll be an easy thing, that the other elder can do most of the work, and I'll just have to help a little! But whatever it is I need to do to help this situation, I know I'll be able to do it. 


Oh man, I've learned so much! Being a missionary is so awesome!!!! Sometimes I feel like I can just take on the world! But then that moment passes, and I remember that I really can't. Unless that's what I'm called to do. Which hopefully never happens. Wow, this email is really scattered. Sorry!


Ok, here's how the week went. We challenged Rosa and Jose to live the Word of Wisdom for 10 days, like Daniel in the Bible. They said they would, even though they LOVE their coffee in the morning. We saw them a few days later and we asked how it was going. Rosa said it was great! It was so healthy, and that everyone should be doing that. Jose said every time he thought about drinking coffee, he'd hear my voice telling him not to! But he knows it's a good thing, and they said they'd follow it for the rest of their lives! They haven't been to church yet, and haven't committed to a date for baptism, but this is a great step!


The Moreno's also have never been to church, but they told us they'd try very hard! We had a lesson with them, and just read from the Book of Mormon. At the end Jose, the dad, thanked me for my patience with them, because they never read or go to church. That was so great to hear, because that means that he realizes that they need to! I think... I just reminded them that those things aren't for me, they're for Heavenly Father. And that I didn't need to have patience with that, they needed to have patience with me! Teaching them alone is hard, because I'm so use to playing off Hna. Russell. But it'll get better, and they said they didn't mind much. Anyway, Sunday we couldn't go up to the Spanish ward, because we didn't have the car. But I had a member who was going to wait for them. It turned out that Jose didn't get out of work until too late to go, so they didn't go. But I think that was the most willing they were to trying! Baby steps, baby steps. 


There's an investigator on the English side who has been reading the Book of Mormon just like another book! She thinks it's such a soap opera, with the pride cycle and everything. She says she just wants Christ to be there already, and that she doesn't look at what the date is until she reads the whole page. She got to Alma, and has been stuck in 70 BC for forever! She's so awesome. We taught her about the Restoration, and is excited to learn more. She had lots of questions about the apostasy and order of things. I'm excited to teach her more :) 

Being a missionary is so amazing!!!!! I really can't imagine doing anything else with my life right now. Of course, it's also the hardest thing I've ever done. I feel like I've never been very good at doing something with my whole heart, might, mind, and strength. But this is something that I can and will do with my whole heart, might, mind, and strength. Which means that I'll be able to do everything else I need to do in this life the same way. I still got 14 months to go, but I've already learned so much! I'm so excited to see what else comes my way on this grand adventure :)



Les quiero!
Hermana Despain

Week 11 in Florida (Zebra week 1)

Ok, I know you're all dying to find out what happened at the last transfer. But I'm pretty sure no one was dying as much as I was. Here's what happened. I went Zebra. Which means my new companion, Sis. Behr, doesn't speak Spanish, and isn't necessarily expected to learn it. I moved into her apartment, cover her area of English people, and also my old area, which overlaps her's. We have 2 area books, 2 bishops, 2 ward mission leaders, 2 wards, and twice as much work. SUPER FUN!!!! SUPER BUSY!!!! And a little bit overwhelming. Just to remind you all, I've been hardcore learning Spanish for not even 4 months. I'm nowhere near fluent. I still don't understand what people say to me half the time, and I still struggle to get my point across. BUT!! This is not my work, this is the Lord's work. He's the one who told Pres. Cusick to put me in this position, and He is the one who's going to be carrying me through it. I am not doing this alone, and I know that because there is NO WAY I'd be able to do this alone. When we teach Spanish people, I teach alone. I'll ask Sis Behr if she wants to add anything, and I'll translate for her. The wards are sad because we have to split our time, and they don't really know how to handle that. The ward mission leader from the Spanish ward just told me yesterday that  I can only do what I can do. The Lord doesn't expect any more from me. But He does expect all I can do. And then He'll do the rest. I have seen that so much this week. I've been able to understand better than ever. I've been able to speak more than usual. I've had more confidence in myself. And I've built more trust in Him. I know this transfer is going to be a hard one, but it also means I'll learn more than ever. I'm very excited to see the missionary that I'll grow into in the next 6 weeks.

Sis. Behr is from Alberta, Canada! She's been in the field 1 transfer more than I have, and she's a great missionary. I love her a lot already, especially because she's just as freaked out about all this as I am. I feel totally comfortable in telling her my concerns, and that's a weird one for me, because it usually takes me a while to warm up to people. She tells me that she worries about me teaching lessons alone, and I tell her that I worry that she's getting frustrated because she can't understand anything. We both say we're doing fine, which another indicator that the Lord is working right along side that. He really does qualify who  He calls. I remember seeing that with mom when she was called to be the Relief Society President, but it's much different being on the other side of that. I've learned a lot in the last week that I need to not freak out about all the changes. It's God's work, and He's not going to let us mess it up, in an eternal way. Everything will be fine, even if we're struggling at the moment. We're all here to learn and grow, and that's exactly what I'm doing here!

Basically, we're just always busy now. The English ward has a million less-actives, so we go see some of them throughout the week. The Spanish area has some investigators and some less-actives, so we see them too. We're trying our best to not let anyone down, and so far I think we're doing ok. OH!! Here's the kicker- We're on car share, which means we have the car one week, and the next week we're on bikes. They were out of miles when I got here, so we were on bikes for the last couple days of October, even though we had the car. We're gonna work on budgeting that! It'll be great. We're also working on EXACT obedience, working on 3-4 things every week, so that by the end of this transfer we will be ALMOST perfect ;) We could really use all the miracles we can get right now.

Anyway, that's about it for this week. And I'm running out of time...

Entonces, Ciau! Que tengan buenas semanas, y vaya con Dios. Les quiero. MUCHISMO!!!!

 

Love, Hermana Despain

This is Rosa and Jose. They're from Peru! He plays futbol on Sundays and so he doesn't come to church. But as soon as they can get there, they'll be baptized. I know it :)

ME AND SISTER BEHR!!!!

Week 10 in Florida

So.... I'M OFFICIALLY A TRAINED MISSIONARY!!!!! Pretty much all that means is that I'll have an extra hour every day to go do work! It's awesome! 

Also, I forgot my planner, so I don't remember everything I wanted to tell you all. But that should be ok, because mostly I'll just let you know about the transfer.

Here in the Florida Tampa Mission, we get a call the Saturday before transfers and the Zone Leader tells us if we're transferring or staying. He doesn't say where we're going or who we'll be with. That way we don't have too much time to call other missionaries and learn about our new companions or areas. We just go into it with a fresh view, the best way to do anything! But it also can cause some extra stress and worry! Which also leads to lots of time to learn how to trust the Lord and remember this is His work, and He won't let us screw anything up. At least not for eternity.

BUT!!! Our worries started Tuesday. We got a call from the Assistants, and they told us that our apartment was being CLOSED!!! So we were to take some extra time and pack up the WHOLE apartment!!! There have been lots of things being said about what's going to happen in this next transfer, so we started thinking of worst cases, and freaking out. Just a little. Then on Saturday we got a call from our Zone Leader, who told us we were both being transferred, and our area is CLOSING!!! What does that mean!?!? Well, we'll find out tomorrow at the transfer meeting, where 2/3 of the missionaries will be, because pretty much the whole mission is changing! President Cusick is not wasting any time in cleaning up this mission, and it's awesome!!! Based on all the info we have between us and other missionaries, all the areas in the city of Tampa will be zebra areas, meaning there will be an English missionary (or 2) and a Spanish missionary. That way no matter who you find in the street, no matter what language they speak, or if the kids speak English, but the parents speak Spanish, you can teach them. That means that is very possible that even though both Hna. Russell and I are being transferred, we could be coming back to the same area, but with 1 or 2 English sisters. Which would be great! We have about 8 people who are SO close to being baptized, and we don't want them to have to start all over with brand new missionaries. But, then we remember that it's the Lord's work, and He has a plan. 

And so, we didn't really know what to tell people. So we just both said goodbye to everyone, got pictures, and bore our final testimonies, with the hope that one of us will be back. It was really hard! You get so attached to people here!

Here's the other bit - Hna. Russell has been in this area her whole mission, 7 months. SO! It's very likely that she'll be leaving, and I'll be staying. As a solo Spanish missionary. With 1 or 2 sisters that don't speak or understand Spanish. That will definitely be a learning and growing experience! I'm trying really hard to not freak out!!!

But seriously, I've learned so much about trusting God, and knowing that all will be fine. Yes, I do need to do my best, and learn Spanish as fast as I can. But He's going to be with me the WHOLE time, cheering me on, picking me up when I fall. And not only is He here for me, He's there for every single one of us. Don't ever forget that! Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial. El es un padre PERFECTO!!! Nunca va a dejarnos solos. Siempre Dios estara con nosotros. Solo necesitamos estar mirando por El en nuestras vidas. Porque El esta alli. Se eso.

Thanks for everything! Thanks for reading my emails, even if it's only every now and then. It means a lot to have people in my life that have my back :)

Les quiero!

Hermana Despain

his Bernardo! He's 91, but acts like he's 70, maybe! He can't come to church because of health problems, so we visit him every week. He's so sweet! I just want to adopt him or something!

Luz Ortiz! She also came to church yesterday, and she hasn't been in almost 2 years!!! She's been telling us she'd come for almost 6 weeks now, but she finally came!!! Just in time ;D

This is Jorge Noda, my first mission miracle! He came to church yesterday, so we were able to say goodbye to him. He was almost crying! But I'll see him again :)