Transfer calls were last night! I am getting transferred!! New adventures! I am sad because I love Sister Torralba, but I am excited to continue to learn and to grow!! :)) Who knows, maybe I will go to Fort Myers! :)   

1     What has been your biggest challenge this week?

So biggest challenge this week was for me personally was staying focused. I kept thinking of home or school or just things that I shouldn't be thinking about, I really had to have self-discipline and control so I am glad that I am getting transferred. I am getting too comfortable! I need to get out of my comfort zone! :)

Amazing Street Art

      2     What has been your biggest concern? 

My biggest concern is letting myself plateau. I cannot let myself think, “I am almost done, I can just chill” when in reality I still have a ways to go. I need to keep working hard and staying focused. I need to remember why I am here. It tends to happen to missionaries who get older in the mission. Just have to keep myself in check at all times.

 

Only way to "chill" on mission is eating frozen yogurt with a member...

 

 

 

 

 

...or a smoothie at the Farmer's Market!

3     What has been your biggest miracle this week? 

After Julia’s baptism that Monday, she started her chemo, so we couldn't see her for a week. On Friday is when we finally got to see her and she said that her tumor before chemo was a 5.5 and now after a week it’s so small they can’t find it! The doctors are freaking out so she has to go through all this stuff to make sure it’s really gone. She says she feels good and at peace. We know for sure that it was because of her baptism that he not only cleansed her sins but her body as well. I love her so much and I am going to miss her!!! She is the biggest miracle so far on my mission.

Hanging out at Farmer's Market on P-day

4     Who has been your favorite person this week?  Why?

Sister Davidson

My favorite person this week is Sister Davidson. She is a less active who is amazing! Me and Sister Torralba love her! She has taught me so much about how to be humble and patient and smile even when things go wrong. She has taught me how to be me. I am going to miss her so much!! Seriously the kindest lady ever. She is so close to Heavenly Father! I admire her. She has been married twice and both of her husbands died. She has two kids, one is in the Marines and other is still in high school. She is a nurse and works crazy hours to make ends meet. She is such a big example to me. She is always smiling!! Never once have a I seen her cry for herself. It’s always been for someone else.

Sister Davidson likes to feed us

5   What has been your most significant tender mercy?

My tender mercy this week! Super cool experience! We were hungry so we decided to eat at this cool place called Tijuana Flats. When we walked in, the manager knew who we were. He was so happy to see us and said that he went to the temple open house and has been trying to get a copy of the Book of Mormon for 3 months! He said it was such a blessing that we came! We gave him a Book of Mormon and he then paid for all of our meals as well as gave us a free meal card for another visit. It was so cool! He said that he is so interested and fascinated by our religion and that he has so much respect for us! Also one of his coworkers is a member too. She is less active and was so happy to see us because she just moved here and was wondering where the church was because she wants to go back! So many blessings!! Heavenly Father is so amazing!! It was a good dinner hour.

Biggest Baleada. Sooo Good!

      6     What are you looking forward to this week?

What I am looking forward to this week is my new area and comp!! I am excited to see what Heavenly Father has planned for me!! My goal is to continue to trust in God and stay focused!! Keep moving forward as well as making sure I am never comfortable.

 

Only in Florida. Lady trying to get some shade with a plant

7 Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

A scripture that helped me a lot this week is D and C 78:17-18 We need to replace fear with faith!! :)

If ever in Fort Lauderdale, you have to go to Jaxson's! YUM!

This Sunday we had stake conference and Elder Bush from the Quorum of the Seventy spoke. He told the story of when he was a kid and how he loved chocolate. They never had chocolate in his house. Elder Bush and his brothers had to always save up for it if they wanted some. One day, when there mom got home from grocery shopping, he peaked into the bag of food and saw a box of chocolate. He got really excited but his mom said “that's bakers chocolate it is super gross, don't eat it”. He didn't believe her. So one day when she was gone, he snuck into the baker’s chocolate and took a bite out of this big chocolate bar and he said it was the grossest thing ever!! He said that sometimes Heavenly Father lets us struggle for a bit to let us know there is something sweet out there. It was super good! I loved hearing him speak. So much revelation!

Some of our favorite ward members

1     What has been your biggest challenge this week?

So biggest challenge this week! I think it was getting used to the trio with Sister Torralba and Sister Matheson. It was hard at first because one of us would feel like the third wheel. But after a big companion inventory it’s all good. I am learning so much from them. They are amazing girls!! :))

My trio: Me, Sister Matheson and Sister Torralba

Trio of Croc flats. A must with all the rain here.

2     What has been your biggest concern? 

My biggest concern is just having trust in Heavenly Father. It seems to be the theme these last couple months and I guess I haven’t figured it out yet. My testimony has grown so much though. I know he is my Father and I am his daughter and he has a plan for me and his plan is better than my plan. It’s helped me so much even though I just want to master trust already.

Thank you so much dad for the snippet from Elder Hales book! It’s funny because that's what I was studying today during my personal study. I was in Alma 32 and I was reading about patience and faith. It was an answer to my prayers. I have thinking a lot about different things and praying for an answer to a specific question and that helped me realize that I just need to once again trust in Heavenly Father and have patience and faith and it will all work out. :) So thank you for that inspired email Dad!

3     What has been your biggest success? 

 Our biggest success this week is......JULIA GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!! Probably the biggest miracle on my mission!! Last Sunday we fasted that Julia’s chemo would be pushed back and that she could get baptized. We fasted and prayed sooo hard! Last Monday when we went to go see her, she was supposed to have started her chemo that day but she said that when they went in apparently the doctors forgot to do the paper work for her chemo. They said it was really weird, because the doctors never forget to fill out the paperwork. After they got everything figured out they said she wouldn't have to start chemo until the following Monday. Which means she could come to church on Sunday and she could be baptized!!!!!!!!!! So right after the appointment with her, we called the Mission President and asked him if she could get baptized on Sunday (we usually baptize on Saturdays) and confirmed right after, and he said yes!!!! We were so happy!! I have never been so happy in my entire life as when our prayers were answered and Julia was baptized! The baptism was beautiful! It was such a spiritual experience we all cried as we watched her be baptized! I have never felt so much love for someone as I do for her. I know that in the premortal life, I promised her I would find her and baptize her. After her baptism and confirmation, she got up and bore her testimony and it was so powerful! It was like she has been a member for forever!

Such a miracle because that morning was crazy! Since it was daylight savings we woke up an hour later at 7:45 and had to be at the church at 8:20 and we live 20 min away from the church. Apparently our phones are so old we have to set daylight savings manually and we didn't know that. But Heavenly Father answers prayers and everything went so smoothly!!

Julia's baptism with her son Jesus

4     Who has been your favorite person this week?  Why?

My favorite person this week is Julia. She has taught me so much on how to have faith. She is so strong. If she’s scared about her cancer she doesn't even show it. She is so spiritual and such an inspiration for me!! She said that she doesn't need to fear because she has her Father in Heaven and her best friend the Holy Ghost with her. And it’s true! There is no room for fear when we have Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost with us! :)

5   What has been your most significant tender mercy?

My tender mercy this week is Julia not having to go through chemo and her being able to not have any pain on Sunday so she could enjoy her baptism.  She said she felt so much peace while she was getting the Holy Ghost. She said she could feel it as she received it!

6     What are you looking forward to this week?

This week I am looking forward to teaching this amazing family of four. They are super elect! We are taking them to the temple on Tuesday! Super excited! They couldn't come to church yesterday but they are coming for sure next week!!  So many miracles! Its miracle march!!

Ward activity, great food!

7      Do you have a goal set for this coming week?

My goals for this week is to just have faith just stop worrying and take leaps into the darkness. Be bold and enjoy my mission! I find myself being a worry bug and it’s my goal to do as President Uchtdorf says "STOP IT!"

Mmmmm, frozen custard!

 8      Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

A scripture that has helped me this week is Alma 32:26. Sometimes we don't need to know everything, we just need to believe. :)

Thanks so much for all your love and support family!!! I miss you all so much!! I hope you have an amazing week!!

Hermana Briaunna