Week 8

Friends and Family!

I finally feel like I am starting to get a hang of missionary work. I'm sort of kidding, but if I say it enough maybe I actually will get the hang of it. This week has been full of ups and downs - but mostly ups, which is all anyone can really ask for. First of all, Phoenix is a really cool place. I have a new love for street art and lightning storms. Did you know that you can see a huge lightning storm just a little bit away from you and it can still be over 100 degrees? I didn't. Now I do. This week it hit a high of 112 degrees, which I am pretty sure is the hottest weather that I have ever been in. Every time I think of complaining about the heat I am ashamed of myself, because I have a car with AC and other Elders are on bikes. 

A selfie in Hermana Martinez's glasses

As for this week we did a few things that were slightly out of the norm but were super fun. We got to take a less active family to the Mesa Visitor’s Center to watch Meet the Mormons in Spanish. Thank goodness I had seen it before so I knew what was going on. But even if I hadn't, it was a super cool experience and the family really liked it. We also got to go to DI with a member - it was so fun. She goes a lot and finds the cutest clothes so she took us and showed us her mad skills and both my companion and I found four things each for super cheap. We also had a ward talent show this week, which was fun. It was what you would imagine from a church talent show, but with the added fun of it being a ward and branch (English and Spanish) combined talent show. Lots of laughing…at mostly the right moments. 

As for food I am doing so well at eating whatever the members give me, which generally I really do like and I always appreciate. We ate at a branch member’s house this week. They kept telling me that the more spicy food I eat the more Spanish I will learn, and the quicker I will learn it. They also told me that I needed to be fatter because being fat means you look better and I need to go home looking very fat. So that was interesting. I love all the members of the ward and the branch. They are so sweet and loving and I feel so welcome here. The gospel is the same no matter where you are, and that is always a huge comfort. 

I had to get the flu shot for the first time ever
and I am so proud of myself!

This Sunday, right before the ward's Sacrament Meeting started, I was asked to give the opening prayer. Then in the branch I was asked to help teach the class with two of the Elders. So I got to just walk in straight to the front and start teaching in Spanish. I didn't know what the lesson was about, or how to say anything in Spanish, but the words just flowed when I needed to say them. So I guess my Spanish is improving, which is great!

This week Hermana Martinez and I got matching pajamas, shirts (that we wore to Zone conference like the adorable people we are), and matching rings. So we are killing the whole comp. unity thing. 

Matching pajamas

Well I am out of time, but I love and miss you all! Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Doxey

Week 7

Family and Friends,

Well it’s now officially a week into my mission in Scottsdale, which is insane because I feel like I’ve been here forever and a half. Like always, so much has happened but none of it can easily be explained. But I will try my very best!

On Thursday morning we started the day off doing service for a family in our Spanish area. We worked in their front yard for two hours. I have decided that two of my goals for my mission are to (#1) be the hardest worker - especially during service - and (#2) to eat whatever is put on my plate. Well, I got the opportunity to try my skills at both during that service. Working outside, even at seven in the morning, in Phoenix is really hot. But I worked so hard the whole time and by the end the yard looked one million times better. Then, the member fed us breakfast. Black beans and this chicken (?) stuff. Remember how I really don't like beans? Turns out that if I am going to love my mission I am going to have to learn how to love beans. So I ate everything she gave me and smiled the whole time! Another food that I am going to have to learn to love is ceviche. It is this salsa type stuff on a hard tortilla with shrimp. The one that I ate, the shrimp wasn't cut up so it was definitely an experience for me. Because I love all types of seafood (starting now, because I have to). 

We get fed a lot - more than I thought we would. Yesterday we dropped off some stuff at a member’s house and then they fed us lunch and talked to us for a little while. Then we went straight to our dinner appointment. I was so full after having two full meals. I was in a hardcore food coma. The dinner appointment was at the branch president’s house. Him and his wife speak Spanish only, but his daughters all speak English. As we were walking in, one of the Elders we eat with says, "Oh, by the way Hermana Doxey, you are giving the spiritual thought." So much panic in such a little amount of time. So I got to give my first meal thought at the branch president’s home to him and all his family in Spanish. I shared 3 Nephi 11:15 about how Christ let people come unto him one by one. He knows us individually and wants us to come unto him. 

We have had so many teaching appointments canceled this week. It stinks not only because those people don't get to get taught my amazing lessons and see my beautifully burnt face, but also because I haven't been able to meet all the people in the area that we normally get to see. We also got dropped by a less active family, which was super random and sad. But even with all of the appointments that we didn't get to go to, we did get to teach this week. We mainly teach less active families but we do have two investigators. It's so much scarier when they are real. We actually had an investigator call us and tell us that they wanted to go to church. My companion started crying we were so happy. I would say I teach in English 65% of the time. The other 45% is SO scary, but I normally can get my parts of the lesson out and my testimony. My motto from the MTC has continued into the field: when in doubt, share your testimony. 

Yesterday was my first Sunday in the area. How church works for us, because we cover both the Spanish branch and an English ward, is that me and Hermana Martinez have to split up. We get member companions for two hours. We start together in the ward in Sacrament meeting. Then one of us goes to Relief Society and Sunday School with the ward, and the other goes to those two meetings with the branch. Then we meet back up for Sacrament meeting with the branch. This week I got to go the ward and Hermana Martinez went to the branch. Which means next week I get to go the branch. I am so scared to be speaking Spanish all day WITHOUT A COMPANION TO TRANSLATE FOR ME. So yeah, that is very intimidating, but I will just study hard this week and pray even harder. After our four hours of church we have branch correlation, which is where the three sets of missionaries that serve in the branch meet with the mission leader. So I went from MTC church with an hour break in the middle for lunch, to church here where we are in meetings for five hours. It's great! 

Night selfies with the YSA elders

Missionary work is hard. There are so many ups and downs that mainly come from when we have such hope for people to accept this gospel and then they don't for one reason or another. But it is also a ton of fun. Hermana Martinez and I have so much fun and are laughing all the time. You can have so much fun and still be obedient to all of the mission rules. Spanish is so hard but I am also learning so much. My goal for this week is to just speak more. I get nervous so I just get quiet, but that isn't how you learn. So I just need to push myself out of my comfort zone. 

All is well with me, I love being a missionary and teaching people about Jesus Christ and why this gospel brings happiness into the lives of people who live it! The Book of Mormon is true - so go read it. Church is a great place to feel the spirit - so go!

I love you all and pray for you all the time. Seriously I say so many prayers a day I can't even keep track. 

Have a fabulous week, much love,

Hermana Doxey

Week 6 (first week in the field)

Friends and Family,

I made it to the field! It is so hot here I am basically melting. I am in Phoenix for my first area. I am serving in an English Ward and a Spanish Branch so I get to speak both languages, which is so fun.

Before I forget I will say a few things that happened before I got to the field. Sunday was my last time going to church at the MTC and, just my luck, I was picked to give the talk in Sacrament meeting! It was a little scary because they just call on someone random and you get up and give your talk in Spanish. I spoke about having faith in Jesus Christ. I did all right other than when I read a few versus of scripture in Spanish. I butchered those so hard - I felt bad. But all is well, Brother Gerny said I did great so I am just going to take his word for it because it made me feel good! On Sunday night I watched the Character of Christ video by Elder Bednar again. AMAZING. I learned so much and everything I learned was different than from the last time I watched it my first Sunday in the MTC. After that, my district and some of the other members of my zone met up in our classroom to say goodbye. It was so sad and I am already missing them! We sang Joseph Smith’s First Prayer in Spanish to the tune of Come Thou Fount. Holy - it was beautiful. It was so loud and powerful- probably because we had more people in the tiniest room than was probably safe- but it was an amazing an emotional experience. I’m sad to leave them but I am so happy to be here in Arizona.

My Companion is Hermana Martinez. She is the best. She has such a great sense of humor, we have a ton of similar interests, and she is fluent in Spanish! Basically she is just a dream. The only problem is that she is not the best at directions so we end up getting lost some times. BUT we are in a car so I am counting my blessings for sure!

We took this picture like 30 seconds ago so we'd
have more than one picture to send...my bad

We got picked up from the airport by my mission president and his wife and the assistants to the president. They are all so nice. I really love my mission president. It helps that Hermana Martinez is close with him so I can joke around with him too. They drove us to a park where we ate outside and I kind of felt like death in the heat. It was 110. Then we went to the mission office and the mission home where we did some orientation. Next, we had about twenty minutes of practice of street contacting before we left to do it for real! I was basically about to pee my pants/skirt. I got put with Hermana V, who is now my sister training leader. She was so helpful and made me feel so great. We went to a slightly sketchier neighborhood where we just walked around and talked to people IN SPANISH. We passed out about four pass-along cards, and someone accepted a Book of Mormon! It was the craziest thing! We also visited one of the families that Hermana V teaches because we were in her area. We ended up teaching them a lesson about Faith and Hope. I feel like all the Spanish I learned in the MTC was a lie. Real people talk about 200x faster but I understood about half of what they said. I also got to speak a little and they complimented me on my Spanish (but I kind of feel like it was a pity compliment). But I loved it! They were so nice. And now I am a little less nervous to street contact, although it is still pretty scary.

After street contacting we had dinner in the mission home and watched an AMAZING video called Missionary Work and the Atonement by Elder Holland and President Eyring. Everyone go look it up on Youtube right now, because it makes me cry every time. Not really, but I love it so much. It made me extra happy because it was the video that my district and I watched a bunch of times in the MTC. So it was very comforting. The sisters left after that and we walked down the road to an apartment where we stayed the night.

The next morning, we watched a safety video and had to take a mini driving test (I passed, go me!). Then we got out trainers and our assigned areas before the big transfer meeting where the missionaries who aren’t new get with their new companions. Hermana Martinez and I got a little shout out at the end because President Sweeney asked if anyone had questions and he thought Hermana Martinez did because we were already laughing and joking with each other. Then we packed up our stuff and went to our area.

Once we got to the area, Hermana Martinez and two other Elders who are in our ward with us went to dinner at one of the stake councilor’s house. It was great but it made the fact that I am a real life missionary so much more real (side note, my new favorite dessert is blackberry cobbler). After dinner we went to a meeting with the ward mission leader, the bishop, the missionaries, and some of the ward missionaries. It was cool to be a part of it, but I didn't know any of the people from the area so I didn't have much to contribute. While we were there the bishop gave us a referral so after the meeting we drove over to say hi. We made an appointment so we get to teach her tonight! I am so excited because I got to be there when we first met her. I have so much hope that she will become an investigator because I know this Gospel is true and can help her and I already love her so much! After that, we contacted another few houses and talked to a couple that only spoke Spanish. It was kind of scary but a good learning experience.

Today we got to go back to the mission home because I forgot my overnight bag like the ridiculous person that I am. It's about a 25-minute drive, so I felt really bad. Two other Hermanas drove with us just for fun. They are so funny and I love them. It was kind of fun to be in the mission office when it wasn't full of all the new missionaries (21 came in with me) because I got to talk a little more with the office staff and the President, so that was cool. They are all so funny.

The two hermanas (on the left) that went back to the mission home with us

We got back and dropped my stuff off, and now I am typing this email from a VERY slow computer at the church family history center. I got my iPad yesterday, but I have to do some online training stuff until I am allowed to officially use it. Once I have done that I can technically check emails everyday, but I don't want to get distracted from the work that I love so I probably wont actually be checking it everyday. But I will be emailing on Mondays. This week p-day is Wednesday because it is a transfer week.

Hopefully I remembered to say everything that I have done, but it has really only been a few days sense I talked to you last.

I love and pray for you all! Have a wonderful week! The Church is true!

Much Love,

Hermana Doxey

Week 5

Friends and Family!

Well it is finally time for me to leave the MTC! I will be leaving at 6:30 on Monday morning for Scottsdale. I am so excited to finally start the real work! I am so nervous - the MTC is a fantastic safety bubble that I am not sure I want to leave yet. I am going to miss my teachers and district the most. They are such amazing people. I don't feel like my Spanish is ready for the real world, but hopefully it will come quickly in the field. I know it will take a lot of work, but I am ready!

We have to come up with fun things to break up the study time. This week we found a new game. The back of our chairs bend back really far. If you pull them back, set something on it, and let go they fling really far. We took the Swedish Fish that Andrea send me (THANKS SO MUCH) and would shoot them into my mouth. It took quite a few times of being hit in the eye before we did it, but when I finally caught one in my mouth it was a huge success.

"Blue Day" at the gym with our ring pops

In the residence halls when we are getting ready for bed Hermana Sherrow’s favorite thing to do is try to scare Hermana Barker. It started with hiding in closets but has escalated. Yesterday to get back at Hermana Sherrow, Hermana Barker hid under her bed and grabbed her foot as she got into bed. As I type this I am realizing how this is one of those "had to be there” moments, which is why I rarely try to email about the funny things that happen in the week. Just know that I am having fun and spend a good majority of my day laughing!

We had to say goodbye to all of our investigators this week and it was so hard. You grow to love your investigators so much. Realizing how many goodbyes I am going to have to say over the next 17 months is the saddest thing ever. As hard as it is to say goodbye it makes me so excited to find new investigators in the field because I just know that I can love them so much and I have such a happy message to share with them, full of hope. I hope I can find people who need the Gospel as much as I need it!

This week we got to host again, but this time instead of traffic hosting we were the actual hosts for the new missionaries. We helped them get their tags, get their luggage to their rooms, and find their classrooms. I liked traffic hosting so much better. Turns out carrying luggage all over the MTC campus is a lot of work, and the weather wasn't helping anything. I was glad I got to do it once, but when my district got back to the room we all agreed we wouldn't want to do it again, even if we were here for another week. 

Our district with one of our main teachers

Every Sunday we watch a devotional and then a church film. Some of the church films are old devotionals that apostles gave while in the MTC. This week we watched one by President Uchtdorf. It was so good! He talked about how grateful he was to the missionaries who found him and his wife and taught them about the Church. Their apartment was the last door at the end of the hall on the top floor of the building. If the missionaries were not dedicated enough they might not have kept going to the very end. I want to be the type of missionary that works as hard as I can until the very last second of every day. Continue up, keep going, and don’t turn around. 

On Thursday all of the missionaries leaving the following week go to "In Field Orientation," which is eight hours of people talking about how you can be the best missionary possible. As hard as it was to focus during that, I did learn a lot of cool things. The most important thing I learned is how to work with the members of the ward to find people to teach. Members can be such a blessing to missionaries, but missionaries have to earn the trust of the members. I hope I can do that with the members of my new ward that I will meet next Sunday!

Finally got a map picture!

Thank you all for the nice letters, packages, and Dear Elders - they are so sweet and I love them so much! You are all the best. I brag about all my family and friends all the time. 

Have a wonderful week! I will spend the next two days frantically packing and learning as much Spanish as I possible can before I leave on Monday. 

Love you all,

Hermana Doxey