Week 35

Hello all!

This week was super hectic but really fun. I just feel like I could pass out from being so tired, but that’s okay. 

We had two exchanges this week, one in South Scottsdale and one in North Scottsdale. In both of the exchanges I got to be with a sister who came in with me, so it was a blast to catch up and see how much we have all grown. It was cool to see the kind of work they do in the different places in the mission. As much fun as I had in Scottsdale, I am very grateful to be in Phoenix. I think that the biggest difference was that there are just so many more people walking around outside in Phoenix. We have a lot more opportunities to talk to people and it made me realize I shouldn't take that for granted by not taking every opportunity I can to talk to the people around us. One cool thing that happened on one of my exchanges was that we got to do some Spanish contacting, and my companion for the day is the French speaker in their trilingual English-French-Spanish companionship. So I got to do all the speaking. It was kind of fun to test out my Spanish without the option of looking to my companion to take over. I apparently understood enough because we got two return appointments and both seemed pretty interested in learning more. I have so much fun on exchanges, I love all the sisters we work with, but I am always very happy to see Sister Ferre at the end of the day. We have our last exchange starting tonight and I will not lie - I am going to be pretty happy when they are over. They are very tiring! 

Me and Sister Ferre

We also had MLC this week where we meet together for FIVE HOURS to get trainings form the Mission President, his wife, and the assistants. I learned so much and I really loved everything we talked about it, but there really isn't a way to get over the fact that it was a five-hour meeting and that is pushing my attention span A LOT. We learned about digital safety, how we can use our iPads in more effective ways, helping others become converted to the gospel, and family history. My favorite training was the family history one because I learned SO MUCH. I have never been a huge family history fan, as in I just never do it. But now I want to do it all the time. In our mission we get up to two hours a week to do family history work. This past week Sister Ferre and I were looking for names to bring to the temple on Thursday, and it was such a cool experience. Sister Ferre found her 6th great grandma. I found an entire family to add to our tree (and by I, I mean the really nice member who was helping me). It made me realize that If we just put in a little bit of time to learn how to do family history work, it isn't that hard and it is so important. It is cool to see where our family comes from and all the names of the people who have paved the path for me to be where I am today. 

Along with our renewed efforts on contacting people comes two things: 1) Funny stories (got to love Phoenix), and 2) Miracles. 

I don't have a ton of funny stories that I can explain, but we did have one man sing to us all about Jesus. He said he normally charges people for that kind of entertainment, but because we are friends he let us go, no charge. 

The foot of a lady we teach :)

As for miracles, off the top of my head (I really should keep a list of the things that happen- that will be my goal for this week) I can think of one. We were contacting this lady (another crazy story, lets just say her bunnies were legit giving birth left and right) because her neighbor, who was who we were trying to contact, wasn't home and on the way back to our car a car pulls up to us and apologizes for not being home. They lived in the house that we had originally gone to and invited us to stop by another day. Turns out they weren't even who we were trying to contact. God had just put us in the right place at the right time. It’s the little things like that that make me LOVE being a missionary. God is so aware of everyone and their situations, and I know that if we reach out for help, he will help us- even if it takes some time or doesn't come in the way that we expect it to. 

We have two weeks left in the transfer and I am a little bit freaking out about Sister Ferre leaving me, but I know that I will be okay. I really love the area I am in right now. The people are amazing and I love them so much. 

I love you all SO much, thank you for all of your support. Have a fantastic week!

Hermana Doxey