Family!! :)

            I don't have lots of time to write, but I got white washed into an area! Fresh new start!! Wahoo!! I am serving in Hollywood Hills West or in others words Hollywood because it’s so ghetto. There is all African American people and some Latin areas as well. I am in a Latin ward again!

I missed my Latinos but this area is scary! Our house is in a very sketchy part of town. We hear gun shots all the time and see cop cars every day and drug dealings. We went to Target to get some things and I was the only white person there. They had a police watch tower in the middle of the Target parking lot! It’s scary. We actually have a street that's called Hood Street. It’s crazy.

Watch tower at Target. Must be some serious shoplifting going on

My companions name is Sister Torralba. She is my twin! She lives in Portland Oregon but she is of Mexican descent. We have so much in common it’s scary. ha-ha. I love her to death and so excited I get to spend the next 7 weeks with her!

Me and Sister Torralba

Listen to this our house is so gross! It’s terrible. It is a ghetto box. It is so old. The bathroom has black mold everywhere!! Like everywhere! Mom, how do i get rid of it!!  It’s making my allergies go crazy. We only have one closet in our room and it’s so small. We only have one dresser for both of our stuff and two beds. We don't have a vacuum cleaner. There is no heat so its freezing. Thanks for the sweater and scarf! Came in handy!! It is just gross. I will send you pics. It is in a scary part of town. It was a big change coming from a really nice apartment. But we are smiling through it and making the best of it. Ha-ha. Our area is huge and covers half the stake so we do have really rich parts in our area but they all speak English. So we have to teach in the ghetto to find Spanish people. I really do love it here though. It’s a great change! We both are new to this area so we are just trying to figure things out and get in the groove of things

Black mold in bathroom

Teeny kitchen. Remember there are 4 of us in this apartment

Living room

Bedroom

Me outside our scary place

Our ward is amazing. I love them all. They aren't so excited about missionary work so that's our goal is to give them more of a pump up! The ward is super small. It’s like a branch almost but it’s nice and homey. This week, we went to go see a less active. She is an older women in her 70’s or so. Her name is Maria Allen and she is the sweetest little thing ever! She just told us her whole life story and showed us pics of her family. She is amazing and reminds me so much of Grandma Hale. Love her. 

Nicer part of our area

We had a miracle this week as well. We were harvesting in a pretty good area and the first door we knocked on we found Sawhani. Sawhani is a 40 year old single man who is amazing. He was so excited to see us. He said he had been looking for a church to go to. He let us say a prayer with him and he asked when our church was and where. He said he would be there for sure. Me and my companion both felt impressed to tell him about a Christmas party that was going on at the church and he said okay I will come! So lo and behold, he came to the Christmas party and he loved it! The members were awesome and fellowshipped him and he had lots of fun.  The next day he came to church! He was just eating everything up. It was so cool! He only speaks English though so we have to pass him but we know that he is going to get baptized for sure! He was a great miracle even if he isn't our investigator.

This week I learned how important it is that we serve with our heart, might, mind and strength. We need to give all our hearts (3 Nephi 9:20). We need to have a broken heart and contrite spirit. We need to be humble! Being humble is not a sign of weakness. It shows that we want to be closer to God. It shows we are willing to ask for help. D and C 67:10. When we are humble he will reveal His spirit unto us. Never get to the point when you think you can do it by yourself. Work with all your might doing all you can. Give it your all! D and C 123:12-14. We stand in the way of people receiving eternal life. We need to wear out our lives for this work. Don’t compare your best to anyone else.  Alma 26:12, 29-30. Ammon suffered everything and his attitude was, I am going to suffer and save some. He suffered a lot and he baptized a lot. If we know that this is God’s work and our work we will work miracles. We can do all things. We already beat Satan once and he doesn't want us to beat him  again. He remembers us and doesn't want us to succeed. Satan knows the people we will convert, who will be baptized and he will do anything to stop us and all he has to do is distract us.

Like I said I love my companion. She is amazing and I am so happy. She is teaching me a lot. We both have been out the same time so we go home together too. She says her dad works in Seattle! Other than the scary ghetto house that I swear is haunted haha. I love it here and I love my mission!! I should of asked for Comet for my birthday lol. But don't worry too much, I am safe. Can’t wait to see all you guys on Thursday!! :))

  I love you all so much! Remember to smile!! Have a good week!! So excited to see you all!!

Hermana Heacock

Everglades