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