Week 68 in Florida (Naples 7.6)

Hello people that I love, and will be seeing quite shortly!
This week was crazy! Which is probably perfect, so that I didn't go to crazy. At least, I don't think I went to crazy. Hna. Packard might have a different story.

Anyway, Tuesday we had a zone training meeting, where we talked a lot about reaching baptism goals. We thought of the people that we already have on the calendar and what we need to do to help them out. But then
we also thought of anyone else that could possible be ready to get baptized this week. It was cool to see the other people that came out the their minds! We set a few goals, mostly fasting.  Next week they're going to do a project purification as a district, it should be awesome! Then we went to the beach! It was so cold! Well, it was
probably only like 50 degrees, but it was very windy and everyone was in shorts and t-shirts! Luckily, we had an ugly sweater contest, so most of us just wore them to whole time. We had lots of time to visit with everyone, I mostly just hung out with Hna. Paulsen and Hna. Newbill. We had dinner, and sang lots of carols, and just had fun! On the way home we stopped at a Starbucks to get some hot chocolate! We met a man who was fairly nice. And then he asked where we were all from. We were with the other hermanas, and one of them is from Utah
and Hna. Packard is too. So then he joked that we were Mormons, and we told him he was right! That's when it got ugly. He started telling us all the bad things about us and then threw away the He is the Gift card we gave him. Basically we just had to walk away. It was kinda strange, but not that uncommon I guess.

Wednesday we had our weekly planning, man was that weird! It basically was just going through the motions, pretending like I was going to be here for all those plans to follow through. We also saw Vicky and taught her the last of the lessons she needs! She's so ready! Thursday we went to the sisters' planning sessions. It was so
interesting to just sit and watch! You can tell a lot about a companionship by the way they plan, the spirit that's there and how smoothly the move through everything.  And then we made out way to metro! This is the third metro training I've had, and this one was by far the best! Of course, each training fulfilled its purpose, but this
one was much more enjoyable and I think helpful in more aspects of the work, and for after the mission! We learned a lot about working with the members, and even got to practice with real members! We learned a
lot about how to be more professional, set good first impressions, get out of awkward situations, and involve the members better. A lot of it was good training for when I'm a full time member missionary. But it  was also just fun, and testimony building!

We were there until Saturday and then booked it to Naples, because we had to fill the font! And then Vicky got baptized!!! Not too many people showed up, but I think she liked it that way. It was perfect! She was so happy!  We went to another baptism from the Haitian elders, and then got transfers emails. Yep, I'm for sure finishing the
mission!

Yesterday we sang and both spoke in church, and then everyone wanted to get pictures with us! We felt pretty famous :) Vicky got confirmed! And the ward is just eating her up! She threatened to hide me in her attic, and the Lobatons said the same! Haha!  We had few dinner appointments to get to afterward, and then home to pack! And now I'm just trying not to get sick thinking about all of this ending. I know
that there are people here that I knew before his life. I know that I needed to learn from them, and I'm glad I got to be with some of them when they've started on the path back to our Heavenly Father. The relationships I've gained are worth the sacrifices, and the sacrifices don't even feel like sacrifices. It seriously has passed like a dream,
and it might take me a while to wake up from this one. I'm excited to see you all soon, but there's for sure a large chunk of my heart that'll be left here!

This is the true church, Jesus Christ is our leader, and Thomas Monson
is His prophet. The Priesthood power has been restored, and we will
all be together again.

Los quiero!

Hermana Despain

Week 67 in Florida (Naples 7.5)

Hola Mis queridos!

Well is week felt like the longest one on the mission. We actually talked about that in MLC on Friday, president asked for feedback. So we gave it to him! I'm glad everyone else was as shook up about the
p-day switch as I was. But! It's all good, because we all survived and are stronger now from it!

Ok, basically the best thing going on in life is Vicky!!!! She is seriously the most converted convert I've taught, and she's not even baptized yet! She's getting baptized Saturday :) We saw her Monday with the Chatfields, who are the missionaries who chatted with her on mormon.org when she was looking for a Bible. Well, they're son is the bishop here in the English ward that Vicky's in, so they came to visit for thanksgiving and stayed long enough to come to a lesson with Vicky, which was awesome. And then they took us to lunch after. They served in the Portland Oregon mission! So we had a few things to talk about :)

Tuesday we had exchanges with the Spanish sisters again. I stayed in Lehigh Acres again, so fun! But I think Naples is prettier. That exchange was very good for me to realize how important it is to take and receive corrections. There's a talk from Elder Christofferson from April 2011 I think that is all about that. It really is vital. The sister was with is a great missionary, works hard, and gets work done. But she does not take correction well, from anyone. I let her know that and she said she wants to ask President about that. Hopefully she'll listen to him, or maybe I really am wrong.

It also made me reflect on how much I've changed in the past 17 months. It's been step by step, so it's hard to see I think for me, but thinking back to how and who I was before, I am so much happier and hopeful now! I have a great relationship with my Heavenly Father and I know what I can do with His help.

Friday we had MLC, which is always good :) I just love seeing how problems in the mission are solved and knowing that each of us have something to offer to solve the problem.

Back to Vicky, she's just a rockstar! She had her baptism interview with Pres. Lewis on Wednesday and after we just visited with her. She is so on fire! And President Lewis was so impressed with her! We usually call or text her every morning to follow up on stuff, but the passed couple of days she's beat us to it! She's so happy and hopeful! She was so excited to go to relief society and loved the lesson! She was the star of the show! And she's just hilarious! We're going to be best friends for forever, no big deal :) Then last night for the Christmas devotional, she watched it at home, but was texting us throughout just saying how inspirational it all was, and how much she
just knew that this is the true church! She knows what she's doing is good, and she loves the family aspect of everything and the service and callings and classes and basically every little part of the church. She's just amazing and there's not enough words to explain why! I'm glad I get to be here when she gets baptized :) So, I wasn't planning to actually tell the whole world that I only have a week left here in Naples as a full-time missionary, but sweet Hna. Cortes, our mission mom, announced it from the pulpit yesterday in her testimony! So now everyone is invited us to their house for dinner. But! The jokes on them! We have an all day Christmas party tomorrow, Thursday and Friday we're going to be in Tampa, Wednesday we were planning to go on exchanges, but we might not be able to, because we basically already have plans for every other minute of life for the week. Which is probs exactly what I need so that I don't have time to realize what's happening and then have some kind of breakdown or something. Oh yeah, life is good!

Thanks for all the support! All the letters and boxes and prayers and
love! I can't do it alone :)
Los quiero!
Hermana Despain

Gotta love that Florida sun!

This is what December in Florida looks and feels like.

The 2nd counselor in the mission presidency, our bishop, our recent
convert (Harvey) and some youth all playing basketball together. You
don't see that everyday!

Week 66 in Florida (Naples 7.4)

Ok, this week was a little ridiculous. Let's see if I can describe it so you understand.

So last time I wrote you was Tuesday. We finished out the day sleep deprived and saw a few members to let them know we need their help in the work. Yeah, good stuff! Wednesday we went on exchanges with the English sisters! We also found out that the Spanish sisters were actually never gone, just a huge misunderstanding. The exchange was awesome. I was with Sis. Trebotich, she's awesome! She's a convert of about 5 years, but you would never know! Except the fact that her dad and step mom are not the most supportive people of her being here. Which just makes her so much more amazing for being here on the mission. We got to talk to Carmen Uvalle and mention that it'd be really good for her to move the baptism  date up, but she doesn't want to. She's fully confident she'll overcome whatever crazy things Satan does with her life. Which she probably will, she's a boss. We met with a guy we met on the street a few days ago, just went over the restoration. Yeah, he wasn't having it. Joseph couldn't have seen God, because according to the bible if someone sees God, they'll die. Also! We don't need a living prophet because everything we need to know, Jesus told the apostles. Yeah, that was

fun. So we just told him to pray about it, he never said he would. And asked him to read and come up with questions and we'd follow up with him. But when we came back a few days later, he was too busy. Probably

just needs some more time in oven :) Which brings me to.... thanksgiving! So, President Cusick decided that

we should change p-day from the next Monday to thanksgiving, meaning today we get to shop and write emails in 2 hours, and then work straight through. Mostly he was thinking of all the English missionaries in that, so that they could go to their 10 dinner appointments, while us little spanish missionaries just move on with life. Most of the Latino people do have a dinner, they'll take any excuse to have food and a party, but basically no one thought to invite us for some reason. They don't really think of it as a family thing, so they didn't think that the missionaries would want to be with families. The Uvalle did invite us to come like 3 weeks ago, so we went there. It was so fun! But the rest of the day we just laid in bed and caught up on sleep. Which was very much so needed!

Then Friday we did planning and worked, everything fell through. Awesome! Saturday we got approved to take our car to the shop, the battery had been having issues. They were probably actually working on the car for maybe and hour, but we were there for maybe 3 hours. Way fun! Also, while we were there, Hno. Brieva called to let us know that Esperanza passed away early that morning. That just made the whole week awesome. No matter how prepared you are, or how much you understand of the plan of salvation, it's still hard to see them go. I am really glad she's moved on though. Visiting her wasn't the same, she really wasn't here for the past couple weeks. I'm so grateful I got to be her missionary for a little while :) Her non-member son is in charge of everything, and isn't involving the ward very much. Hopefully we'll know about everything and get to go to her service, but I'm not sure.

Sunday was awesome! Hno. Calzada, who hasn't been to church in about a year and a half, who keeps promising me he'll come, who is angry at the members for not visiting him, CAME TO CHURCH!!!!! Most of the nvestigators didn't come, but him alone was good enough. He sat in all the classes and everyone was excited to see him :) Bishop asked if it was my last Sunday, I told him 2 more weeks. He said he wants me to give a nice long talk that week. Yay. Haha. Vicky came to the English Ward, and we got to go to classes with her, it was so fun! And she loved it! She almost didn't come, she was feeling really down, but we finally convinced her to come. She was a little annoyed, but eventually she said she was really glad she came. She's meeting with a

member from the mission presidency on Wednesday, and should be good

for baptism on the 13th! It wouldn't be worth it if it was easy! I can't believe how fast it's all going. And I think it's just going to go fast here on out! If you want to send me anything, how's your chance! Especially for those of

you who haven't sent anything :) Or not, no big deal.

Hey! How are you going to #sharethegift?

Los quiero, a todos!

Hermana Despain

Thanksgiving district meeting!

Week 65 in Florida (Naples 7.3)

Ok, I have a great explanation as to why I'm writing on Tuesday and
not Monday. But first I must warn you that I'm running on about 4
hours of sleep. Which was slept on the floor. Fun stuff! But totally
worth it. Because.....


WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE!!!!!!! Holy cow, I will never ever ever ever ever go 15 months without going to the temple again. Seriously, it was basically a dream (mostly because we had to leave at 3 am to get there on time, and we spent the night at the English sisters' apartment, so I was exhausted). But it was incredible. The new movie is so great! We went to the Orlando temple, so beautiful! I seriously just wanted to sit in the celestial room all day. It was perfect, so good! Everyone needs to get there! I have a better grasp on the importance of pointing people, investigators, new members, inactive members, toward the temple. It's where they need to be. I never even want to go a month without being in the temple, or a week! I wanna go back right now! But there's other work to be done. The workers were so sweet. The man that said the prayer started getting choked up, and it was because the next thing he prayed for was the missionaries. After, the temple president took us into a room to visit personally with us. So great!

Anyway, were only allowed to go to the temple on a p-day, so they changed our p-day to today and we worked yesterday. There were 6 elders and 4 sisters, and President and Sister Healey from the mission
presidency.

This week we set a date with Carmen Uvalle! She wants to wait for February to get baptized on her moms birthday, which is kinda far away. We were thinking for more like the end of the year. But actually, it'll be easier for me to come back in February than the week after I get home.

Vicky is doing awesome! She finally got to church! We went over the law of chastity yesterday. She was concerned about having to get rid of the feelings she has toward women. We just explained that she's not
to act on them, and focus on what God's plan is for her. She liked that and is totally on board. She's having struggles with coffee, but that should be petty easy to nip in the bud. Emily Silva had to be dropped :( Her mom doesn't want her learning anymore. So that breaks my heart! But she'll get baptized eventually. For sure :)

Elmer Gomez is anew one, and he came to church! Alberto picked him up :) He just want to learn everything! And know the truth for real. Shaynna Shoemaker is an old one we picked back up. She's English, and totally amazing! I just love her so much! But, she had family come into town for the weekend, and didn't make it to church :/ So she'll have to wait to get baptized until I leave. Which is fine! I think the weirdest thing for me right now is realizing that all these people will be progressing and getting baptized after I'm gone. Yuck, that so weird. Anyway, we saw Shaynna yesterday as well and the first thing she told us is that she knows it seems weird and that she's not really into it because she hasn't really kept commitments yet, but she's totally into it! She promised us :)

We went on exchanges with the mission STLs, we just stayed together and they taught us how to plan better. That was fun! And then we went on exchanges with the other Spanish sisters in the zone. That was my first one as an STL, it was cool! I went out of the area, so I wasn't really guiding the exchange, but I was able to ask the right questions and know to help the hermana. We actually found out they both got pulled out of the zone. So we're back to 1 set of hermanas (us) and 1 set of English. Fun! I'm really grateful to have had this chance to
serve as an STL. I've definitely understood better how leaders are the servants more that the people they lead. That might make more sense in my head than it does typed out... Anyway! Here's my three things I'm grateful for this year!
1- the country we live in. It's not perfect, but from hearing stories from the people we teach, we're doing a lot better than other places.
2- I'm so grateful for all the people I've met on the mission. Before I left, Pres. Bischoff promised me I'd meet people I knew before this life. I know that was a true promise.
3- I am so grateful for the restored gospel, most specifically for the temples and for all the blessings that come with it. I know that is Gods house. I will do whatever I must to always be worthy to enter there.
I love you all so much! I'll see you soon :)
Love, Hermana Despain

A bit of a tropical storm came in while we were in the temple. So
we didn't get to get typical temple pictures. But these are pretty
cute!

There were raccoons at the church last night!

We went to a baptism and they had the coolest cake! It tasted
pretty amazing too!

Has gas been going down all over the country? It's dropped at least
50 cents around here.

Week 64 in Florida (Naples 7.2)

Well, time is just going by really fast, which makes it even harder to remember what goes on in a week. So, we'll see how this goes! 

Last Monday, we had an FHE with a less active family from El Salvador. The mom was telling us about why they moved from there and it was actually a terrifying story. Basically, I am so grateful for this country we live in, the freedom we enjoy and protection we receive. The hermana said, many Americans judge the immigrants by just saying they come and feed off the system, which may be true in some cases. But the majority are actually here because it's better than where they came from. 

Tuesday we went to the cardiologist! I forgot what it felt like to be the youngest person in the office by like 50 years. The phlebotomist said they never think it's the young one that's the patient. Haha! Also, we were there for forever! But we met a cute little Colombia lady. She sat next to me and made a comment so i knew she spoke Spanish.  I responded in Spanish, and she was so shocked! It was awesome! We went to visit Esperanza Rojas in a care facility. She's been there for a couple months now. She's not doing very well at all. I was hoping I wouldn't have to be here when she goes, but they way it's going, I'll probably be here for her service. We saw her Tuesday, and she was still semi-ok. The Pajaros visited her on Saturday and she'd been moved to the second floor because she needs to be watched closer, and now she's hardly keeping her eyes open. When we went by, we showed her the video "Sunday will Come". I love that video. I know that her Sunday will come, and I'm so excited to see her again in the next life. She really is such a miracle story. 

Wednesday we went to a park to find some new people, but by the time we made our rounds, we hadn't found anyone. And then as we were walking to our car, a guy stopped us just to say that we were lovely young ladies. So we politely accepted the compliment and explained why we are so lovely. He seemed pretty interested, and so we invited him to church. We also got to see Vicky! And we set a date with her! She's so special :) and then! She didn't come to church... Satan gets at her really bad. Hence, she's pretty special. 

Thursday we had an appointment with the guy we met at the park, and then he didn't show up. So that was lame. 

Friday we had two parties! Back to back. It was funny! Harvey was at the first one and asked us why we had to leave. We said we had another party to get to and he said, "whoa, I wanna be a missionary!" At the second one, it was a birthday party for one of the young women. We knocked on the door and she answered it and saw it was us and then said "the parents are in the back, I'll show you". Oh my goodness, did that make me feel old! I told that to all the parents and they had a good laugh about that.  

Saturday we walked and walked and walked. But we made a good song! "Saturday is a special day, the day that no one is outside! So we'll walk over here, and we'll walk over there until there's someone to talk to!" Oh ya, good times!

Sunday was awesome! So, we called the guy from the park, Eduardo is his name and we got him to come to church. We had told Ivis the night before there there might be a couple new people and asked if he'd watch out for them. Eduardo was late, and we didn't get to sit by him. During the sacrament, I saw Ivis move over to sit next to him and heard him explain what the sacrament was and then explain other things throughout the meeting. We talked to them after and it turns out their even from the same country! It was perfect! I was so proud of Ivis for stepping up and looking out for a fellow brother. I have loved so much staying here in Naples long enough to see the people progress after baptism. We have some really great converts here! 

Well, that's about it! One more month. We got this! I'm not freaking out. At. All. 

Los quiero!

Hermana Despain

We found a snake! It didn't move, so we aren't sure if it was really alive. Or maybe it was just cold or something.