#I'mtheonlyonewhospeaksspanish...!

Well family, can you believe another transfer has come and gone? It just feels like it was the beginning of December...nope...it is February now! This past week was crazy busy, but an amazing way to end the transfer.

Monday- For our p-day activity we went down to Palmdale and went to the swap meet! It wasn't as cool as I was expecting, but I still found a California sweatshirt! That night, our FHE with the Juarez family cancelled because they were all sick, so we passed by a less active, and then ran by Hna Gutierrez house to explain more in detail about the activity we were planning. And then right before going we passed by Sheila's house and got a referral from her. Her friend is moving into the same apt complex and she wants us to help her move/teach her!

(Two of the cutest girls!)

Tuesday- We did service in the morning, thank heavens we did not get bible bashed this time! After that we had a short lesson with a lady in the ward and we read and talked about the Articles of Faith. Each time I read those I realize how easy and basic our beliefs are, and how easy it is to share it with our friends. We then ran to the Gutierrez home again, but this time we taught Hna Gutierrez how to bake a delicious, but easy cake. Well, we then continued to run around like crazy, and we contacted a bit before dinner, and then after dinner we had a super good lesson with Claudia, which we brought Hna Gutierrez with us and she shared with Claudia all her experiences and how the gospel has helped her and has changed her family. Claudia just sat there in amazement...the spirit was there really strong. We then passed by a member to prep her for a lesson the next day.

Wednesday- We had the chiropractor in the morning and then treated ourselves to Jamba Juice because we weren't going home for lunch. We had a lesson with Pedro where we finished talking about the Plan of Salvation. Pedro is so awesome!! Every time we teach him I just get so happy inside. We then ran to Rosaura's and had a lesson with her, we read in Enos about prayer and invited her to pray about baptism and whether it was something she needs to do. After that we contacted a bit before our lesson with Rosemary. We read the talk "Let your Faith Show" by Elder Nelson, and she really enjoyed that. We then ran to our next lesson with Aida and FREAK she is so awesome. She read the introduction and the testimonies of the Prophet...no one does that! But she has such a strong desire to learn. After that we had dinner and then stopped by a member to prep her for a lesson.

Thursday- Not a lot happened...thank heavens. After Tuesday and Wednesday Hna Lau and I were both dead. haha We (well I) planned while Hna Lau packed. Something that we discovered was it takes half the time to plan when you are by yourself then when you are planning with your companion haha. We then ate dinner with Hna Arnold and she fed us the MOST AMAZING verde enchilada...we both ate 5...well I almost ate 5. I couldn't finish...haha. They were so good, but I was so full after that! We then headed to have a lesson with Claudia and Enrique, but they had unexpected company arrive, so we rescheduled it, and then stopped and visited a couple less actives.

(My companion for the day, while our companions were at the departing temple trip (Sis. Winnie))

Friday- We were up early, and got Hna Lau off to the departing temple trip. So for the day I was with Sis Winnie, which her companion was also at the temple. We had district meeting and then did some contacting and found a ton of cool Spanish potentials #thatmomentwhenyouaretheonlyonewhocanspeakspanishinthecompanionship. It was a good experience! We then headed to the west side of Lancaster where Sis.Winnie's area was and visited a few less actives over there. Hna Lau got back and we headed to dinner and then had a great lesson with Maria Morelos about the 10 commandments. 

(minute to win it with the branch! Left: this activity was called "chocolate unicorn" Right: this game was called "nose dive")

Saturday- We ate lunch with the Alvarez, and she made bombing awesome empandas! We were full, let's just say that! After that we contacted a bit and found a really cool potential that wants us to come back and teach her. After that we had a lesson with Chris about obedience and tithing. Something that my companion brought up that I have never noticed is that one of the blessings of paying tithing is that we will have more power to overcome temptation. It is amazing to know what blessings we can receive when we keep the commandments. We then ran and ate dinner with the Miranda Family and then ran to the church to get things all set up for the branch activity! We had a fantastic turn out! Lots of the members came and less actives and brought friends! We had a blast and we laughed A TON!

(All the missionaries in the Joshua Branch (Hna Aase, Hna Lau, E. Howell, E. Carter, E. Willyerd, and E. Hullinger))

Sunday- Church was amazing. It was a good testimony meeting, and guess what I got up and bore my testimony IN SPANISH!! And I think everyone understood me! (hopefully). ALSO!!! PEDRO BLESSED THE SACRAMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hna Lau and I were about in tears, we were so excited for him :) The rest of the night we ran by a bunch of members so Han Lau could say bye. Pedro threw her a party, and we ate super yummy sopes! 

Well family, I will be here again in Joshua. My new companion is from Peru (well she lives in Florida now), and her name is Hna Soto :) I am excited to work with her and learn more Spanish!

I love you all and I hope that all is well with you :)

Love you!

Hermana Aase