Today is like... finish that sentence!

Well hello family!

So, Pday is like Christmas morning for me EVERY week! haha , but seriously. I always wake up at like 5:30 and can’t fall back asleep because I’m so excited to write you guys and read your emails. This morning I woke up from a dream that I had… it was about Sumner’s mission call. He got called to Tonga, then I just laid in bed thinking about it because it was such the perfect call for him! Study time before emailing is TORTURE… I just can’t stop thinking about emails haha. But I’m supposed to have an eye single… I DO have one eye single to the Glory of God, and another eye single… nevermind. Haha.

Alright so I learned some HUGE lessons this week. Faith and Patience. Seriously, best lesson I have ever learned. I just got an email about how everytime you pray, pray with faith believing He will answer them. It’s true! Heavenly Father is going to answer any prayer that we ask in faith. He has power to do all things and WILL do all things that are righteous desires. Oh, I love it. Along with that- we cannot do anything on our own. I think I say that every week, but we just have to work our hardest and then put our faith in Him and He will make up the rest. Oh, I love it.

Patience: Sometimes it seems like life is hard or something may never work out BUT it always does. Seriously. Like this week, I was a little downhearted because three people canceled on us… in a row! But I knew that everything would work out eventually and IT DID! Holy smokes. His hand is in everything! We had three investigators come to church. Tabby, Tiffany, and Daniel. It was ward conference and the theme was "prayer". SO PERFECT! The spirit was so strong. Tabby is a 9 year old girl who’s grandparents are completely inactive and parents aren’t members. We went over on the Sunday morning to make sure Tabby was getting ready because we had a ride for her, but then she started throwing a fit. Finally grandma said “will you go if I go?” HALLELUJER! the little girl did! So grandma went in sweats to church because she doesn’t own a dress. Everyone was so welcoming and they stayed for 3 hours. Oh, I loved it. It made me so absolutely thrilled!! And Tabby is getting baptized in 3 weeks. We asked her if she wanted to be baptized and she said sure! then she yelled to her brother and said “Brandon! Want to be hypnotized with me?” hahahah… we had to explain it better to her :) but it’s all good now.

Tiffany kind of pulled away from us this week and was acting all sketch. It really worried me and I let it affect me, so I got kinda insecure around her. Charity is the key. Seriously. If we have charity for people, we won’t ever worry about ourselves- just them and their salvation! And we love them so sincerely that we would do anything for them! So Tiffany came to church for all three hours!! Everyone was so kind! Gosh, it just makes me happy!

I feel like my testimony grew so much this week. Baptism is the key to salvation and it is available to everyone who will call upon the Lord! (Helaman 3:27) It does change lives and make people happier! More happy than they can imagine.

OKAY so last night was BOMB. seriously, I had such a good time. We had a tongan bbq at Darci’s house and Tiffany came. There were Tongans, Thai, white, and wanna-be poly’s there (me). haha It was so good. It was pouring down rain- rain doesn’t stop anyone up in here. They were grilling with their umbrellas haha. So funny. It was the BEST FOOD I have ever tried.. Besides mom’s of course :) So we all just sat around chatting and talking. One of the guy’s wives just came over from Thailand a year ago and doesn’t know anyone. I was talking to her about everything, she was a convert – such a cool story. Anyways, apparently asians love “Lady Gaga” haha. The love her music. But later after dinner, we shared a message with Tiffany. the spirit was sooo strong. Leka, the guy from Tonga, bore his testimony. Gosh! They have SUCH strong spirits. I love listening to them. Everyone there was so real and down to earth. I love real people and I love what that gospel can do for our lives.

Black guys= most flattering haha. They make us feel so good about ourselves. We were tracting and this guy yells at us and asked what we were doing. I told him that we were missionaries. He got this HUGE smile on his face and said “I’m coming to your church!” hahah.

There is this one guy that holds a sign on the corner for this pawn shop. Everytime we pass him we honk and wave and they he yells “ HEY! IL OVE YOU!” well yesterday I saw him walking and I told Sister Banks to honk at him so she did. Well we were stopped at a stop light and he yells “I love you!” then runs in the middle of the street… so I rolled down my window and was like oh hi! (wasn’t thinking) he said “I’m Charlie, I want to learn about Jesus, do you have a card?” haha so cool! I love love love street contacting. We drove past this other guy like 6 times in one day so I took that as a sign that we needed to talk to him. So we pulled over and I jumped out and I ran up to him and introduced myself. We got his phone number and he wants to learn more!!

So I know how to say “I love you” in Swahili, Thai, Tongan, Samoan, and Marshallese. haha This place is a melting pot! I love love love it. We find out this Saturday if we are getting transferred. I can’t believe how fast the time goes by. I love my mission!

k, I gotta go. I love you guys and am more grateful for you than you will ever know. You are my best friends. I thank Heavenly Father for you all every night. Don’t ever change and stay close to our Heavenly Father!!! Love you with every part of me!!!

Love, Sister Mara.

ps. we get to play soccer today!!!!! cheeeee!

Talofa Aiga!

That means Hello Family. I'm pretty much Samoan now. Like, I'm funny and easy going, and all I need is a tan... I already dyed my hair black. Not really though...

Ok, I LOVED THIS WEEK! Sorry i didn't feel much like writing last week, but this will make up for it :) 

Oh my goodness. I feel as though I am never sufficiently humble! I feel like a new person since last week. I love this work, my Mission President and I love my Heavenly Father. I love my companion and my area and I love how much this gospel can change people's lives. I glory in tribulation.

I have been truly humbled this week. I know that the Lord is aware of everyone and is shaping them into exactly who He wants us to become! This week's scripture is D&C 58:3-4 "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings." So true! I let my faith and hope waiver last week.The Lord blesses us if we are diligent and give our heart, might ,mind, and strength. Miracles happen.

SOOO the power went out and we had a big ice storm! Cars were taken away so we had to walk everywhere... haha Sister Banks and I don't even live in our area! We live like 3 miles outside our area so we had to walk in the snow and ice for an hour before we got to anyone we needed to visit. So cray cray. Such an adventure though. we took lots of videos!

I will start with Tuesday before the storm hit. We went tracting in some very ghetto apartments. OH em gee. I LOVED IT hahah. Half the people spoke spanish so I was just talking to everyone in spanish. I love hispanics. Basically I love anyone who isn't white. Sister Banks was acting so funny and sketch. One guy walked by us with a HUGE tub of homemade cookies. We saw him later in the parking lot and I said "Donde esta los galletos?" haha so he let me pick some out of his car and we chatted for a bit in spanish.  Then I ate the cookie and got sick.. learned my lesson haha. but I loved it! Later that day we went tracting and found a guy named Daniel... The Lord will find those who are ready. Seriously, everything just works out the way it is supposed to. I love it. We had planned to go tracting in this one neighborhood. Neither of us wanted to tract so we tried a bunch of different people and no one was home. Finally we gave in and went tracting and found Daniel! We had a lesson with him and went back a couple of days ago and had another lesson. We put him on date to be baptized for February 18th. So EXCITING!

So Wednesday is when our cars were taken away from us... we had walked into our area and I was wearing rubber boots that I found in the house. Umm rubber boots= no insulation. We had a couple of lessons and began our hour long trek home. NO bueno. It felt like there were bricks of ice in my shoes. Like my knees and legs were hurting because my feet were so frozen and I almost threw up. I prayed that anyone/someone would stop and offer us a ride. I knew Heavenly Father would answer it. 2 minutes later someone stopped and was like "Oh hi sisters! I'm lost... do you need a ride anywhere?" haha. Oh my gosh. That is the kind of faith that we need to act and pray with everyday! Heavenly Father will answer any blessing if we act and ask in faith!

I love this adventure and the exciting new experiences I get to have everyday. I love the different people that i get to meet. No other time in my life will be like this! It is such a superb time. Just delightful, ya know? :)

Haha ok, So thursday night, we are tracting around 5pm. EVERYONE is still without power. There are no cars on the streets and everything was black. It was pretty eerie. Sister Banks was convinced that zombies were going to come out of nowhere. She said "This is the part in 'I Am Legend' where he goes inside and locks the doors" hahah she was so scared. But we found one guy outside smoking a cigarette. We talked to him and I felt like we should share a message so we did and he said " i'm glad you came by, I have been looking for missionaries! Take my number" Miracle!!

Family, the Lord watches out for us! Members were to the rescue the whole week. We had people giving us rides everywhere and taking us out to dinner every night. They were so worried about us. I felt so so blessed. We were visiting one family and I asked the Dad if they had any neighbors who would be interested in hearing our message. He said "Our neighbors next to us are kind of weird. They do really weird things." So I was like, okaaay, what do you mean? and he said "They like eat organic food and stuff" hahahah! I DIE. so funny. He was being dead serious too!

So Friday... still no cars. Ice melting, falling from the power lines. Trees falling over. Downpour. Our district leader wanted to have a district meeting. The closest building was 2 miles away from all of us. Well, my boots were wet from the night before so I grabbed another pair. Turns out they had no traction. We Sister Banks and I are walking along the road: very windy, no sidewalks, etc. So we are walking and we hear this big snap above our heads and we know a bunch of ice is about to crash. So Sister Banks dashes infront of this TRUCK to the other side. I tried following her but in the middle of the road, my shoes lost traction and I ate it. In front of like 5 cars. I was so embarrassed. but not hurt :) We made it to district meeting and had it in the dark. We could see our breath in the building haha. We all walked to lunch afterwards before we had a district blitz in our area. It was so fun. I love my elders. I never knew there were so many friends I could have in my life. I love these people so much!

Oh, someone asked if I was pregnant this week.... haha. My layers were hefty. Seriously, this wet cold is soo cold! Oh Friday night we went and visited Tiffany- she lives across town so we couldn't walk to her. But her power was still out and her room was the warmest place. So we all sat in her bed, under her covers and taught her the Plan of Salvation by flashlight. Weirdest experience. haha. She came to church on sunday!!! yeah!!!!!! I was so nervous for her. She called us "her missionaries" I have never been called anyone's missionary before, I loved it!!

 I will try to write a letter. Thank you for the pictures ma! I love love love getting them. I love our family so much and pray to thank Heavenly Father everyday.

Oh! one last thing. this morning I was studying the stripling warriors story Alma 56:47-48. I love it so much. I cannot wait until I have my own little children and get to teach them these things. President Larkin said if we are lacking faith or testimony, to rely on our mothers testimonies. I love that! I can't wait til my kids can rely on mine! Oh I love this gospel and work!

I love you all!!!! Be good. Be happy. Love Everyone.

Sister Mara. 

Ello Poppet

Oh my goodness family! Hi!

I don't really feel like emailing today. Is that bad? haha. I just don't feel like it! But this week was super interesting. Also, Alia sent me the family picture with the big pic of my face haha I LOVE it. Thanks for including me guys :) Makes me feel pretty warm right around my sternum area. You guys are just such a handsome group. FABULOUS.

Haha, guys I have way too much fun. This week was a little discouraging just because it was VERY SLOW and everyone that we were teaching disappeared. But then I read alma 26:27. The Lord really looks out for me. I am so grateful for prayer and the priesthood. So every Saturday night and Sunday morning we do a round up. Well this one kid never comes to church and never responds to our text so I just start texting him really random things to get him to respond. This week's text was " Meng, you have to come to church! Lasandra needs you there!" Lasandra doesn't exist... but he didn't know that :)

Oh, I was hugging this little boy goodbye and he picked me up. He is 9 years old and picked me up and wouldn't put me down and I was really embarrassed. I emailed Sumner about someone hitting on me. Axe him about it. haha I really don't feel like emailing.

The relief society asked me to lead the music... OKAY never led music in my LIFE. So I get up there and don't know what I'm doing and like 3 sisters are waving their hands showing me how to lead... why couldn't one of them just lead? huh? haha my armpits were sweating and I probably got a zit from that.

Speaking of zits. I had like three little dots on my head and this makeup woman was like "here, take this acne medication" so I put it on my face and my face was BURNING. I had to run it under cold water and it still burned.

Last night was really really cool. Tiffany kind of pulled away from us because of her husband and she is just secluding herself. So she hasn't been wanting us to visit. Sister Banks wanted to visit her last night and I didn't want to because I was scared that she would get mad. But when we showed up she said "Sisters, I was expecting you. I was going to take a shower and go to bed early but I knew you would come because I needed you" SO COOL. Oh I love her.

FATIH. the answer is faith. Ether 12:2- he couldn't restrain himself from teaching. I can't wait to be that way.

 I love you guys. I will write better next week haha. sorry.

Love, Sister Mara.

CHEEEE- HOOOO

Hiya there pals!

 

Haha. This area is great. Tiffany, bless her heart! Her faith and hope is so amazing to me. I love her. We took her to a member's house this week for dinner with a bunch of women from the ward. Sister Banks shared a message about the Atonement and then the women bore their testimonies. We left after about an hour but Tiffany stayed and was one of the last ones. We met with her two more times this week. She is recognizing the Lord's hand in her life. She just got promoted and will be able to go to church on sundays now! Oh happy day! We taught her the restoration and about baptism. We told her that she already had a testimony and she paused and said " Crap! I do have a testimony!" hahaha.  I love that she is reading and recognizing that her happiness is coming from the way she is living. I'm happier than I could have imagined.

 

We met two new investigators this week: Eli and Carla. Sister Banks tracted into Carla a bit ago and we finally were able to contact her again. We are meeting with her tonight. She has a strong spirit. We are praying for her. Eli, has a tender heart and is looking for friends and a place to belong. We think we will turn him over to the Single's ward missionaries. That will be the best for him.

 

I got down on myself this week. I feel like we were working so hard and nothing was happenin and everyone else was doing so great. But then I read in Alma in the Book of Mormon. Ammon was having SO MUCH success with Lamoni and the Lamanites. Amulek was being rebuked and cast into prison, but his heart was so happy for Ammon. Comparing is of the devil. Dumb devil. haha. I know that I'm giving this my heart, might, mind and strength and that's all the Lord requries, right? haha.

 

So we met with a woman from Hawaii- she is Tongan. Her name is Silvia Vaapuu. Hahaha she was so funny. I was laughing cause I was thinking of Sumner. She said that all the brown people stay inside cause they don't want to get burned but all the white boys are out on the beaches everyday. She said she calls em "beach bums" she is thug. haha. Love her. We offered her some soup that a member gave us. It was like a whole quart--- she took it all. Bless her lil heart. haha.

 

Don't get mad... but yes. My beautiful boots were stolen! hahah! ah! Man. I didn't want to tell you. But then some member, who I have never met bought me new boots from Nordstrom! sheesh. Heavenly Father is watching out for me. I seriously felt so so blessed. My goodness I couldn't believe it.  I'm so oblivious to the area that we live in but apparently it's for real ghetto haha.

 

This is the Lord's work. I love this gospel so much and it has changed my life forever. Stay strong family. Thank you for all of your emails and examples. Pray for Tiffany and her husband! and Doreen and Carla. I LOVE YOU!

 

Oh, I went running along the marina this morning- so gorgeous. I am so so blessed to serve in such a beautiful area for such prepared people. I love my mission! I love Sister Banks :) We laugh so so much. She says she hasn't laughed this much in a long time... that made me feel really good. We were sharing a message with a member family about setting dates to find investigators and I bore my testimony and shared a story. The dad looked at me and said "How long have you been out?" and then he said, "You're a good missionary." The Lord has blessed me with abilities and gifts and I'm trying my best to apply them to the missionary work. Don't thing I'm bragging- cause I'm not. It's just made me feel good that he said that. Heavenly Father is helping me in my weaknesses! "I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold my joy is full, yea my heart is brim with joy and I will rejoice in my God. Yea I know that I am nothing as to my strength I am weak but I will boast of my God for in His strength I can do all things."

 

 I love you!!

 

- Love Sister, Me.

Talofa!

 Haha! This is TOTALLY WICKED!

Oh my heck. Seriously, I met like 2 white people this week. I am learning so much! So I get all nervous and tongue tied when I'm talking to Polynesians. But I learned a valuable lesson- not to esteem one flesh above another. haha. I love them and see them as children of God and I just "beee myself" and it is so much better! I was giving pass-along cards to some Samoans and I was like "H-h-h-here is a s-sp-spssp- ecial card for you" no kidding. Stuttering. It was so funny.

I feel so blessed to be here! Honestly, I don't know what I did right, but I'm trying my best to stay humble and rely on the Lord and let Him know how grateful I am.

Oh ps... happy 2012 by the way!!!!! Ahhhh! It's gonna be such a great year!!!

The people here are humble... and stubborn. I don't know how you can be both, but they have managed to do so, but I love them for both of those qualities! I seriously love them all so much and wish I could just give them my testimony to have because I know this will bless them more than they can imagine. Oh I love this gospel and this work. I just want it all to click in their heads and for them to gain a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father. He loves us all so much, we just need to turn to Him.

So this week. my shoes got jacked. hahah I'm not even kidding. I took my shoes off to go into this Samoan's home and left them on the porch.. WITH EVERYONE ELSE'S. I came back out and mine were the only ones gone. Guess that's what you get for having the cutest shoes :) haha I laughed so hard. Polynesians have the biggest hearts- they gave me a pair of shoes right then and there. they are so giving.... and taking ;) whoever it was hahah. Oh man, funny. Sister Banks and I went and did stop bys for the next couple of days ... but I have come to terms with the fact that I will never see them again. haha. I hope they needed them!

I got kissed by a woman... without any teeth. It was disgusting. She lost her dentures so we were lookin everywhere for them- how do you lose your teeth? Well she wanted a hug goodbye so i bent down and gave her one of those awkward sitting/standing hugs and then she straight um kissed me with her gums! Oh my nasty.

Sister Banks and I were driving and this woman was yelling to everyone in their cars "Get out of town. We are being quarantined. They are starting to gas everyone on the busses!" hahahah! We followed her for like 15 minutes so we could listen to her. I think she watched "I Am Legend" one too many times.

I love teaching with Sister Banks. It just flows with us. I love love love it. She is so down to earth and chill. She is such a hardworking missionary and obedient. I am her first white companion.

I'm gaining such a testimony of working and how being tired is a choice. This New Year's Eve we went to every house that we had planned for and NO ONE was home. We kept trying all of the names we had written down, but got no one. Our very last door was a girl named Tiffany. She was someone that Sister Banks had visited a long time ago and she didn't let them in. She is amazing. She knows and wants to be baptized and is having such a lonely/difficult time with her husband. She just wants to get life in order before she is baptized. But... the Lord will help her to see otherwise. We are having dinner at a member's home with her this week!

Jerry, a former investigator came to church! He stayed for sunday school. He is looking for a church and hopefully we can teach him with the spirit and he will recognize that.

The assistants are in our ward with us... that's intimidating. Especially when they tell the Bishop that they have 7 new investigators and we only have 3... haha. Oh well. We are doing our best and I don't regret a thing!

Oh, something i learned from a member this week, she said : "I don't get why people have dreams/wants and never get them. everything we want to attain is up to us and how hard we are willing to work for it. i don't have one regret in my life. if something didn't work out, I don't regret it because I gave it my best." I love that! We can have anything and everything we desire! It's up to us! Just remember that this year 2012 ;)

So I sent some pictures! One is from transfer day with all the sisters. Another is us on New Year's Eve- with the family that we live with- they bought us sparkling cider ;) Another is the view from our backyard... its Gorgeous. Then I can't remember the other's that we sent. haha. I love you guys so so much! write me soon! ps- I have THE bEST bed in the WORLD. I sleep like a princess every night and I can do 6 pull-ups now... throughout the day. Not all at the same time ;)

oute alofa ia oe- Sister Mahaffey

Pictures!!

WOA BUDDY!!!

Hello Hello Family!

Ok, so I know that I JUST talked with you like 2 days ago, but SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED. So I was all warm in my little bed at 10:15 and feeling so secure/exhausted from crying so much. Transfer calls were supposed to be that night, but Sister Wiley and I were positive that we were staying together because she is training me and it is a 12 week program and it has only been 6 weeks. They hadn't called so I was about to doze into a most deep of slumbers- FALSE. then the phone rang. Zone leaders called and said
" Hello, Sister Mahaffey, thank you for serving in the Bellevue South Zone. YOu are being transfered." That was it. Haha. I was in shock and started crying and couldn't sleep for another hour. Sister Wiley and I have been crying for the past 2 days.

I feel so humbled. Seriously. I trust the Lord so much and know that wherever he has me go, that it is for a reason. I will go where he wants me to go and I will do what he wants me to do. I love the people of snoqualmie falls so much. I love the less actives, i love the investigators, I love those who are going through hard times. We went and visited everyone that we could and shared our testimonies with them. The member's testimonies lift me up so much. they are so inspirational to me. Always share your testimonies with the missionaries. It does so much for them. More than you will know.

I have given my heart to that area and loved my companion and the people in snoqualmie falls more than I could have imagined. It hurt my heart so much to have to leave the people and Sister Wiley. She has become such a close friend of mine and has taught me so much. More importantly, I love our Savior Jesus Christ. I love our Heavenly Father and know that he loves us so much. I know that we are the happiest when we are doing His will. There is no other way to find true happiness.

I think something switched in me after I talked with you guys. I just want to be as obedient as I can. I get to be a missionary only for 18 months of my life. I am his servant and I have been selfish in allowing myself to think of my needs/wants! So I trust that wherever he wants me, that is where I will go and give my heart to that area as well. I know that there will be more friends and people to meet that I never knew i had. I already love the people in my new area and am praying for my companion.

So transfers just happened. I got called to the Federal Way area ( aka polynesian central) I took the place of a polynesian sister and we live in a mansion with members. Their house is right on the Puget Sound. The area is HUGE and amazing. haha. I miss Sister Wiley and snoqualmie. I love this area already though! I can't wait to go out and teach! Haha. Transfers are such a rollercoaster of emotions! It's exciting and thrilling and sad and hard. This mission is amazing.

Welp. Thank you so much for such a magical christmas! I looooved seeing you guys! I'm sorry I wasn't as obedient as I should have been. (calls were only supposed to be 40 minutes) but starting today- I am transforming. I am the Lord's and will do only his will! Thank you adam for the advice. Thank you everyone for the support. I'm wearing my new boots :) and cami, I have worn your scarf 2 days in a row now. I LOVE IT! alia. I got transfered to an area with a barnes and noble and I need a new journal so i'm using your gift card to buy one today! yay!! Thank you everyone!

Mom, can you tell suzzaney how grateful i am for the package? I loved hearing from her and she didn't need to send me 20 dollars!! sheesh. The head bands are perfect. The candy... I will have to eat it and work out really hard :)
 Love, Sister Mahaffey

(Can you put this on the blog) for the girl group?

Shout out to the girl group. I LOVE YOU GUYS! I think about each of you all the time and miss you so much. I will never have another group of girls so close to me. I hope you are all living the dream and staying close to our Heavenly Father. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Write Me LADIES! haha. Alex, I will writeth you sooneth. so sorry. Karli- if you're thinking about a mission still... DO IT. Aly, are you married yet? Stina.... write me :) Sara- I saw you on skype. and send that letter. Taya. You know how i feel about you.

Shout out to Nate Burgess- OH MY GOODNESS! thank you!!! I looooved the suprise package and love the calender and songs! How appropriate for my mission :) thank you for your uplifiting words! ps, silly guy. If you wanted me to write you back you should have sent me a return address :) you will just have to write again with the address on it.
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

HOLLER! 

 

ahhhh! hahah I cannot believe it. Mission president called this morning and explained the rules about calling home- OH MY GOSH. I'm so excited!!!!!! We already talked to the family we are chilling with on christmas and they said we can use their phone! woot woot! hahahah! I can't wait! This is going to be the best christmas ever. I'm so excited to talk to you all! Sister Wiley and I planned a party and game night on christmas night for all the older single people who will be alone on Christmas. I'm excited and they seem excited too. There is this little girl and her mom who have been having a rough go. The mom is going through a messy divorce and the husband is scary. The little girl has such a big heart and is 3 years old. Oh i love her. She asked Santa for a space station hahaha. So Sister Wiley and I are building her a space station and going to leave it on their porch christmas eve. We are also cooking a lobster Christmas Eve. My idea- thank you very much :) They say that the lobster will scream! And the lobsters are fresh up in here so I wanted to try. I will probably make Sister Wiley do it though ( she doesn't know that yet).

 

This week was so great! It's amazing how HARD satan works on you when something amazing is about to happen. We were so discouraged and down but we had so many little blessings this week.  First, we went tracting in Fall City and it was gorgeous! There are pictures and videos of it on the card I will send back home. We walked along the river and walked for about two miles just visiting all the HUGE homes that were really far apart. As we were walking these ferocious dogs started running after us and barking, I thought i was going to die. I screamed and threw Sister Wiley in front of me- without thinking- and she just waved at them and put her Cinderella voice on. Seriously, these beagles were gonne eat our faces. But we were ok. They realized how much bigger we were than them. I think it was my muscles that scared them off.

 

Anyways, as we were tracting I kept feeling like we should go down this one road (for like the past 2 weeks) so we finally did. The first house we knocked on- no one was there. But then we got this text message from Mormon.org about a referral and the address was THE SAME ADDRESS WE HAD JUST KNOCKED ON! woa! So we went back the next day! The guy's name is Larry, he is in his 20's and has a lot of Mormon friends and wants to learn. We have an appt with him this week. Then later that night we were tracting and this 19 year old girl let us in. Her name is Ellie and her friend Nadia was there (ps we had met a dog the day before named Nadia, and Sister Wiley was like "oh i just met a Nadia!" and I said " yea, it was the dog's name" haha she was so embarrassed) They had a Book of Mormon and all these questions about where we go when we die, where we came from, how are we saved... so cool. We are meeting with them tomorrow. I told them I liked them and that I would be their friend.

 

A woman that we have been teaching - Jodi Toney read the Book of Mormon for an hour the other day! We are meeting with her tomorrow too. She was baptized when she was 11 but it didn't mean anything to her and she hasn't been to church ever since. It's like teaching an investigator.

 

Bob Jarchow- the guy i asked to be baptized, came to church!!! For all 3 hours! so cool :)

 

I am learning more and more as time goes on that this is it. There is absolutely nothing greater than this. If we give the Lord our hearts and minds we will truly come to know ourselves. Everything just makes sense when  you understand the gospel and your relationship with the Lord. granted, there are still hard times and times I want to be home- but I know that is just my will and not the Lord's. There is no greater work. If I don't convert any one on my mission or see a baptism, I will be ok with that because I have been converted and that will make all the difference in my relationships throughout my life. Thank you so much for your support. I love you all so much and cannot wait to talk to you Sunday!!! I'm sending a package home, hopefully it gets there in time.

I miss you!

Hi there!!

 

This week was spiritual/weird/great! Haha. Both Wiley and I just wanted chocolate everyday last week. So we ate chocolate everyday. Now I'm on a diet. This is not good.

 

Haha I'm loving my life right now. Seriously. I do miss being able to watch movies and ski and everything else, but I love my life! It's so great. I feel so confident and comfortable in my skin. I'm just so content.

 

Do you guys know what fruit cake is? I do now. We were at the johnson's home and they asked if we liked fruit cake. I said " oh we love anything with 'cake' in it" and sister wiley's face was mortified. So Sister Johnson gave us these huge pieces of fruit cake. I thought I was going to hurl after I took a bite. OH it was just so awful. I told her I couldn't eat it. I didn't like it hahahaha. Good thing it was store bought and they didn't like it either..

 

Guys. I met my kindred spirit/soul mate. I'm not even kidding. Did I tell you about buddy? Oh  my word. He is a black golden retriever. He came out the wrong color! Just like me! haha we both have identity issues and he can just relate to me. It's nice knowing I'm not alone in this world. I'm actually going to walk him right after I get done emailing.

 

WE have a Christmas tree!!! the Barnards left it on our doorstep. It's covered in lights and ornaments! So exciting! 

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this ward. We went and taught Benzi Pantoja. He is 7 years old about to get baptized. They are a part member family. One of the boys has to be able to do a pull-up to get something passed off for boyscouts so they have a pull up bar in the kitchen. After the lesson I got everyone in the kitchen and got the whole family to have a pull up contest haha. I loved it!

 

Sister Wiley and I wanted to get the ward more involved/excited about missionary work so we came up with this rad idea. The ward has an emailing list and we are going to send out "blasts" through text to the Ward Mission leader and then he is going to email it to every family in the ward. It's going to be a miracle that happened or someone that we want them to pray for and then we are having them text us if a miracle happens to them. We think that if we do this, the ward will be more involved so when we have investigators come to church, members will be legitimately excited!

 

It's so weird, I keep thinking that the investigators we have, we are just going to turn them over to the missionaries to finish teaching them... um, I'm the missionary. It's so weird. It's on our shoulders! 

 

 I'm so excited about the missionaries you are sending packages to! That's going to be so cool. I have become so grateful for everything since being on my mission. This guy in the temple today had cerebral palsy and couldn't even talk or move really. It made me so grateful to be able to say the words I want to. I'm just so grateful for my life.

 

We found 3 new investigators and I love them. Joel, Dale, Shane. Joel was a miracle! It was like 8pm and we just wanted to go home but we felt like we should go to Lori's house. We knocked on her door and she didn't answer but we looked across the street and Dale was just standing there. So we went and taught him the restoration of the gospel and about prophets. He said that him and his wife and little daughter have been looking for a church! Dale is so great. He is from Taiwan and is a photographer. We taught him about prayer this week and he said a prayer to close the lesson. It was the first prayer he has ever said, his whole life. It made me so happy! Shane is 40ish and lives alone. He is divorced and has had such a crazy past with drugs and everything. He is just alone and lost. He said he attends this non denominational church because he feels loved but he talks about our life after this life and it is exactly what we believe. He died once and saw what happens after this life, and then he came back to life. His Faith is super strong. We are getting him fellowship this week!

 

Two of Sister Green's kids came to church this week! Oh happy day! We went over and Family night with them last monday and the entire family sat in. it was amazing how it all came together.

 

Crazy Stories

 

1.So Sister Wiley and I were sitting in our car for our lunch break eating and sister wiley waves at this guy walking by. I hit her and say, "why did you wave at him! he is going to think we are watching him" well... the guy comes over to us. It was trippy. He was from Boston and is a less active member. Their family is estranged and he moved back to make it better. But he went into really deep doctrine stuff that was WAY over my head. He wouldn't shake our hands or tell us his name. It was weird. Cray Cray.

2. We went tracting in Fall City (which is where all the trailer parks are) and we walked, parked our car on the side of the road, and walked up to this farm house. This old guy was outside and we started talking to him and he said " well are you gonna sing us a carol?" and I'm like "no" but of course sister wiley says "yes" so we go inside and meet his wife. then they look past me through the window and say "who are those people". Oh my gosh. It was a family from the ward. I said " i know them, you guys don't?" hahah. The Barnards had seen us walking into this random persons house and so they followed us and brought rolls to them. CRAZY. it was funnny and the old couple really appreciated it and then they gave us deer pepperoni and summer sausage that he had killed himself. I can't eat it, knowing it's deer.

3. We walked outside after meeting this old couple and our car is SURROUNDED by cop cars. Sister Wiley just says " did we do that?" haha. Then we realized that there was a cemetary right by our car and a big funeral going on.

 

Well this is ALL OVER THE PLACE haha. Sorry. But that's this week for ya! haha.

 

I LOVED the package with all the pictures in it! I loved it so much. It totally made my week. And I absolutely cherish the letters i get from Emma and Jaina. Thank you for thinking of me! I'm so grateful for that!

 

love you!

 

write soon!~ xoxoxo Sister Mara

Life Is Good!

Hey There Family and Friends!

I miss you. The end. Haha but seriously! I am missing my family so much right now! I just want to sit in our family room by the fireplace and listen to christmas music. But, this is more important right now ;) How is everyone?? Is everyone excited about Christmas? Who is giving to who? Oh that is going to be so so magical. Gosh, what a blast! I can't wait to talk to you guys. I sound really mature now, so you probably won't even recognize my voice.

Sister Missionaries = the ULTIMATE visting teachers. no lie. We visit all the single women in the ward all the time and I LOVE it. I love these women and their faith. They teach me so much more than I could teach them.

Bueno. This week wasn't as funny as last week, but I laughed a lot still. We got to go out to dinner with Sister Feller and her companions and that was way fun! I got to tract with her for a little while, while our trainers met together. She's is great. She is growing a lot and I love seeing that change.

We have a TON of part member families in our ward. Honestly, it's probably half of the ward. My heart goes out to the moms that take their kids to church each week without the support of their husbands. I love these women. They are so humble and have such faith.

Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel is all about the attributes of Christ- I feel Like i have been taught EVERY SINGLE one of those this week. haha. I have learned that I'm pretty prideful. I'm trying my best to swallow it. Any advice or constructive criticism I get, I have to step back and think if it will make me a better missionary and before I react to what the natural Mara is feeling I think about those things and then say a prayer and it's better! It's so much better to do that then react then ask for forgiveness when the damage has already been done. And there are no tense feelings. I really appreciate everything I'm learning. 

I am loving life this week more than I have this whole mission. I had to change my perspective but that makes all the difference! Sorry I'm like talking all about me... but we aren't really teaching anyone hahaha. We are visiting this woman who is going through a hard time right now and I keep telling her, the only thing that she has control on right now is her attitude... in a more mild way. But it's true- the only thing constant in our lives is the Lord and the only thing we have control over is our attitude. If we attach our hearts to the Lord, then what can the world do to us? I feel Like I'm lecturing. sorry. Just saying EVERYTHING that has been in my mind this week.

Oh! We got to do this sweet service project for a potential investigator. She has Cleisdale horses and had to do carriage rides through the town and she needed us to help her get them read and then watch them while people loaded and unloaded. It was fun! and freezing.

Ok, so we do have 1 investigator. His name is Morgan. He is a young single adult. He looks like a vampire from twilight. Everyone here looks like a vampire from twilight. Pastey paste! He is suppper philosophical. I love talking and teaching him because he thinks about things so deep and it's really amusing. I'm so grateful for this gospel because it makes life so much simpler! I always like to analyze things really deep and think about the why's of everything, but with the gospel those are all answered! It brings such clarity. Anyways Morgan- he is great. He came to the Christmas Devotional last night. Morgan will come around. Pray for him! He has a strong spirit- he is such searching for clarity and direction in his life. I think. haha.

WELL I am tooootally rambling. I love you guys. Sorry this was absolutely EVERYWHERE. Thank you for your letters , they are so helpful to me :)

I love you!! Don't forget me this season!

ps- you guys keep asking what I want for xmas- just letters and pictures from you guys! Seriously. Maybe boots would be nice. and a new skirt from HM or Gap. haha I don't know. I just want love from you guys! I don't need things. I love you!!

- Sister Mara