I guess this dream is for me

Ohhh Family. I love your emails. As we were driving to the internet this morning, Hermana Aquino asked me who I was most excited to hear from today....and without hesitation, I said my family! :) It has been confirmed after your email this week. Thanks for the good laughs :) I'll do my best to answer all of your questions...

FAMILY: So, how many staples are in your head?

-Well, we've been having some problems with the staples because the day after I went to the hospital, I forgot that they were there and when I went to brush out my hair...yeah, i'll let you finish that sentence. OUCH. I said some bad words and pulled a staple out and loosened some up. I go to the hospital on Saturday to get the rest removed.

FAMILY: Do you like Craisins?

- I actually do like craisins. and raisins.

FAMILY: Would you rather drink gross water or have soggy socks?

-I've told you all a thousand times, I'd rather die before having soggy socks. Gross water, please.

FAMILY: How exactly did your last accident happen?

-I was playing soccer with a flat soccer ball...on a hardwood floor.... in socks. Enough said?
I went to kick the flat soccer ball and instead of kicking it, i pretty much stepped on it, rolled over, slipped in my socks and my head fell into the corner of the wall. Cracked mah head open. Passed out a sec. Luckily it was only a few staples and a minor concussion. All is well.

FAMILY: Were the EMTs, a.k.a. ambulance dudes, cute? 

-Hahahah. so funny you should ask. Maybe this story isn't appropriate for the family email. We'll save this story for when I'm home. I'll just say....oh, yeah :)

FAMILY: Did you give them a B of M?

-No. But I gave him my number. Does that count for something? MY MISSIONARY NUMBER, not MY number. Com'on guys.

FAMILY: What’s your favorite Disney movie? (btw, Nacho Libre is not Disney.)

-I think The Sword in the Stone or Peter Pan....or Brink :)

FAMILY: Speaking of Nacho Libre, do you still hate all the orphans in the whole world?

-Always

FAMILY: How is Elder Welch?

-TAYLOR WRITE HIM BACK. He's so depressed because you're ignoring him.

FAMILY: Did you have a concussion?

-Minor

FAMILY: Why is your companion, Hermana Aquino so stinkin’ cute?

-Because she's Dominican. You should see this girl move her hips when she dances. Daaang!

FAMILY: How’s the weather?

-Perfect. always. it's too perfect.

FAMILY: Would you rather be singing opera every time you talk for the rest of your life or walk around picking your nose all the time?

-I already do the first. So. Obviously Opera

FAMILY: How did you like conference?

- THE BEST!
I think my favorite part of conference were Boyd K Packer and D Todd Christofferson's testimonies about their PERSONAL relationship with the Savior.

I'm going to steal a part of my friend Aaron's email from this week because it clearly expresses how I felt about these two talks...

"I know the savior!" When President Packer was a young man and desired to know of the truthfulness of the gospel he was desperate.  When he finally received his witness he thought, "If I could receive this witness, anyone could."  

How much confidence and comfort can we take from these words?!!!

How often in our lifetime will we hear someone say, "Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigden once said, "We know the Lord lives, becasue we have seen him," Their words are my words."

"I bear my special withness with all humility."

(At this point, my jaw drops to the floor.)

D. Todd Christofferson echoed his remarks. "I Know.... Many believe, many disbelieve, few know, but in due course, all will know.  I know."

So Cool. Conference was amazing. My testimony was strengthened and much revelation was received for my investigators and me. As you know, Conference is like Christmas in the mission. I just can't believe this was my third and last conference. Time is a tickin' and it makes me sad and a beet nurvus (New Zealand accent).

On Saturday, we were trying to contact 15 people and doing our best to TALK TO EVERYONE. It was dinner time, we were tired and the sun was going down. As we were walking back to our car, we saw a kid that looked a bit down and depressed. I told Aquino girl that we needed to go and cheer him up before we could return back home. He is 24. And after living in a crack house for two years, he decided a year ago to check himself in. He's been sober for 6 months. Until we bumped into him. He relapsed and was drinking a beer when we found him. He was so sad and disappointed in himself. He asked us, "How do you guys see me?" I instantly started to cry and bore my testimony of our Heavenly Father's love. The spirit was amazing as we taught him about The Atonement and how we can never fail if we put our trust and faith in the savior. We invited him to come to conference and he came the Sunday Afternoon Session! He loved it. As we were leaving the church he said, "Hey, do you by chance know an Hermana Kelemen? She contacted me one day and never came back..." I was so excited! I told him that she was my old companion and I'd get in touch with her to find out what happened. Hma Kelemen was so excited when I called her because she had gotten the wrong addess from him and wasn't ever able to go back and find him! She said she prayed and prayed that she would come in contact with this kid because he was so ready but could never find him! BUT WE FOUND HIM. We are teaching him again tomorrow. His name is Junior and he is the best. So ready. Pray for him.

We invited Enrique and Socorro to get married AND baptized the week of April 25th. They said they would pray about it and let us know. We have a lesson with them tonight to follow up with this commitment. Please, please keep them in your prayers. We've been making lots of progress with this family the last couple of weeks. They both came to conference and I think Enrique took a lot from it. He is progressing. He doesn't express himself but you can see it in the way he carries himself. He knows...He just needs to have it confirmed through prayer.

This mission is so exciting here in California! This last week was a bit hard with having to crack my head and stay in for a couple days but we've picked ourselves back and are back to work. We had a great zone meeting yesterday that really pumped me up and got the missionary spirit raging inside me! I love this week. I love our Prophet and his apostles. This church is true and I invite all of you to continue studying the words that we heard this weekend. I felt a very strong sense of urgency in the fact that we need to be preparing ourselves for the dark future. Trials are on their way and Satan is ready! So we need to be as well!!! He can bruise our heals, but remember, with God, WE CAN CRUSH HIS HEAD.

I love all of you so so much. Have a beautiful week and remember how important you are to me.

Love,

Kathy Kath

April Foolz

Today I am happy. For many reasons, but mostly

1. I GET TO STAY IN CHULA AND FINISH TRAINING MI HIJA :)

2. GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEKEND

3. DIET COKE WAS ON SALE AT WAL MART

4. IT STOPPED RAINING

5. I GOT MY HAIR CUT

6. IT'S APRIL FOOLS DAY AND I'VE BEEN PULLING THE BEST PRANKS

7. Because I'm alive :)

 

Yeah, today is just a good day. It also was a good week with Socorro and Enrique...well, they failed to come to church on Sunday because Socorro girl was sick. BUT our lessons with them have been solid and very spiritual. We are trying to get them married on April 11 and baptized the following the week.  (Well, at least Socorro. Enrique is really being stubborn on the whole baptism thang.) I think listening to the prophet this weekend is really going to help Enrique with a lot of his doubts. He is such a scary man when you first meet him--but after you get to know him, he's the biggest sweetheart. He loves us so much and told us that he's never liked the sister missionaries before :/ It's a blessing that we get to stay together for one more change to help him continue progressing. Little Enrique has completely stole my heart. He wouldn't leave his room he was so shy but now, he comes out and gives me the biggest hug and hates when I leave. We are bff's. So, yup. Just keep praying for the beautiful family.

 

I've been studying a lot this week about the life of Pilate and the role he played in the life of Jesus Christ. It's incredible to me how scared he was of the Jews and how much his conscious ate at him when he, a man who came from a very logical government, far from spiritual, felt that this man, Jesus Christ, truly was innocent and maybe was the Son of God. He tried to tell the Jews three times (maybe more? not quite sure) that Jesus was innocent...but they still wouldn't listen. 

People during that time were so ferocious and blood thirsty. I understand that Pilate had done many other terrible things prior to the judgement of Chirst...but I don't know how I really feel. If I feel bad for him and consider him innocent...or feel sorry for the fact that he didn't do anything more to stop the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It's interesting to study and think about these things around Easter time. It makes me feel so grateful, to the point of tears, every time I think about what Jesus Christ did for me. For all that he suffered and went through so that I might be able to become a little bit better every single day. I feel like I used to judge people so harshly--but now, with a better understanding of the atonement, I feel my heart is softened and I'm truly learning to love those around me no matter where they currently stand in their lives. It's impossible to put into words the gratitude I have for him.

 

Being a missionary is so hard. It's difficult to be your best 100% of the time...probably  because that's impossible. I used to beat myself up quite a bit on my bad days or when I felt like I needed to stop and regain my strength. Now I know that God is merciful. He understands that we are weak, but through him, we can be made strong. We get through this whole "life thang" together and all he expects of us is to try, try again. It makes hard things worth it. So, yes, what I'm trying to say is, I love the mission. No matter how difficult it may be :) This time is precious and I'm happy that God trusts me this much with his children. Life is perfect and good.

 

Okay beautiful peps. Thanks for all you do. I hate you!!! april fools Love you :)))))

Love, Elder Pendleton

"So let's get out of here, past the atmosphere‏..." -Andrew Bird

We started out this beautiful P-day with an amazing tour of the Olympic Track and Field Center in Chula Vista! We were able to get the hookups and have a "special tour" thanks to Uncle Craig. : ) We watched the Men's USA Paralympics soccer team practice and go down on the track to meet a lot of the track and field Olympic runners and long jumpers. We were able to go into the weight room and around the campus. It was really awesome to say the least. It would be so cool to be able to come back here and do an internship. Oh, and my new dream job is to be a guide runner for the blind athletes. How cool would that be?!

This week was so crazy. So many blessings. It is killing me that we're already at the end of this transfer!! Only two more transfers :( I'm really hoping that I'll be able to die here in Chula. I can't leave Socorro and Enrique :( I've got to get them married and baptized before I leave! This week, Enrique was in every lesson-participating AND praying! 

We went to the Mormon Battalion on Saturday for a ward activity and they were able to come with us! They came to church on Sunday and for the first time ever, Socorro stayed for the classes. Tonight we are having a lesson and dinner with them and are planning on inviting them to choose a date to get married. Please pray for us. Hermana Aquino and I are kind of freaking out but just really trying to trust the spirit to guide us on what we need to say.

Edwardo wasn't able to come to church with us this week. We had a wonderful lesson with him yesterday and are going to try to put together a family home evening this week with the Familia Quintero.

We put two more baptismal dates yesterday with two new investigators. Marta y Filiberto. They are both in their 50's. Brother and sister. We contacted Marta in front of her house and she told us that her brother was a mormon but died when he was 22. I'm not sure how interested Marta is but, in the word's of Hermana Garcia, Filiberto is "the chosen one". He is so humble and really has a desire to learn more. When I asked him if he wanted to be baptized all he could say was, "Wow. Yes. Wow. But please come back! I need your help to learn more!" hahaha. He's the sweetest.

This week was a bit scary. In the sense of thinking about coming home. I tried to gather all my thoughts and all the things I've learned in the last 14-15ish months. I've learned so much and am so grateful for all the experiences I've had...but a part of me doesn't feel like I've changed enough. I don't know if I'm going to be ready to come home! I keep trying to tell myself what I learned in the MTC from my teacher Hermana Thompson. When I told her I didn't feel like my Spanish was good enough or that I didn't know the lessons or scriptures. Simply put, I didn't feel ready. She would always say, "If you are trying to trust yourself on this, you'll never be ready. Trust in God and you'll always be ready." I don't feel ready to come home and start making all those "big decisions"....but I know that if I put my trust in Heavenly Father and his plan for me, all will work out the way it's supposed to. (I think I just said the word 'ready' 250 times. sorry :/ ) #ready

God is my best friend. I really am learning to put 100% of my trust in him. One of the hardest, most rewarding things I've learned is to swallow my pride and look to him in every decision. I'm still so far from perfect at doing it, but I get a little bit better everyday. With emotional problems, it's difficult to feel the spirit when we're down. So I'm learning to make decisions based on KNOWLEDGE, not on FEELINGS. There are some days where I don't feel good and I want to quit. I want to give in. Even though I feel bad or negative, I know the right thing to do, so I do it anyway. In the end, all works out and I feel the spirit more in my life. 

I know that this church is true. The atonement is real and it's never too late to apply it. I'm thankful the experiences that I'm having and I LOVE CHULA VISTA. I might just have to come back and live/work with Uncle Craig for the rest of my life here :)

Uncle Craig, the best tour guide EVER!

Have a beautiful week.

!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAM!!!!!! 

That is so cool you're starting to play lacrosse! I bet you'll be the best!

Love you all SOOO much :)

Love Hermana P.

Love is all you need.

Our District

There is so much that happened this week that I'm not really sure where to start or what would be the best things to share.

We were supposed to have an appointment with Socorro on Wednesday but she cancelled. She didn't seem very happy when we talked to her on the phone and wasn't sure when she would want to reschedule. It's always scary when one of your investigators says, "I'll just wait and call you". We were trying to think of a way that we could show her we loved her and that it her baptism would work out with time without bugging her and calling her everyday. I prayed for a couple days and thought of the idea that we should heart attack her door with a big sign letting her know the missionaries love her and her family. Aaaand, it worked :) She called us crying and was so happy. Socorro, Enrique and Enrique jr. all came to church on Sunday and last night, we had the BEST lesson with them. This was the first "real" lesson I've had with Enrique and it was amazing. We were watching the Joseph Smith movie and half way through, he paused it and said, "you know, I used to think that mormons worshiped Jospeh Smith, but now I know that he was just another one of God's prophets"...... :)))) YES. Good, Enrique. Good.

So. We are making progress. They invited us over for dinner and another lesson on Wednesday. Pllllleeeeeassse keep praying for them. Please. They will forever be worth it. I love them so much.

I experienced a miracle this week and know that the power of prayer works. About two weeks ago, we had a family home evening with a family in the ward (Familia Quinteros) and for the activity we taught about conference and how all of us can receive personal revelation as we watch it. We told them all that we were going to receive personal revelation that night through prayer and receive an answer on who we could invited to come and listen to conference with us. We all knelt down, everyone with a pad of paper and a pen, and said a group prayer that heavenly father would let us know who we needed to invited to listen to conference. After we prayed, everyone wrote about 4 or 5 names. Then we did it again, except this time, asking who, out of these 4 or 5 people, really needed to be invited and hear the messages that will be given at conference. We did this until they had 1 or 2 names of people they were going to invite. (Okay, pause the story).

We have been working with a man named Edwardo for about a month now. I found him with Hermana Kelemen. He was sitting outside his house, enjoying the sunshine, next to his walker. He is young--last 40's, early 50's and lives with his wife and 3 kids. He is the nicest man in the world and unfortunately had a stroke 3 years ago and is having to relearn how to walk. He has so much faith and really has made so much progress since I met him. We teach him once a week, every Monday, and last week, we invited him to be baptized. He knows that only God can answer his prayers so he told us he would pray about it. We told him we are having a church activity this Saturday and are going to the Mormon Batallion. Familia Quintero told us that if we had any investigators that we would like to bring, they would be happy to drive them for us. So, we told him that a Familia Quintero, a family in the ward, would be willing to take him and his family if they wanted to go. He smiled and said, I know Familia Quintero. They used to be my neighbors and would invite me to church. We figured out that, sure enough, it was the same family! (Okay, unpause.)

We met with Familia Quintero a couple days ago and told them that we were teaching Edwardo, their old neighbor and that they were going to take him and his family to the Mormon Batallion this Saturday! The Hermana Quintero got really quiet and started to get teary eyed. I thought she was going to tell us she wouldn't be able to take them or something...but once we asked her what was wrong, she smiled and said, "I wrote his name on the piece of paper when we prayed about who we should invited to come and listen to conference with our family. I didn't know how I was going to be able to ask him, but this is our perfect opportunity!"

IT WAS SO COOL!!! WAHOOOOOOOO! BLESSINGS! MIRACLES! COOL STUFF! THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

Yeah. So, that was some awesome stuff that happened this week. This mission is amazing. I love it so much. I love good days. Bad days are hard, (duh) but it's true. I'm thankful there is so much sunshine here and I love my companion, Hermana Aquino. She is a superstar and really working hard. She has her struggles but she's making 'em strengths. I'm proud of her for trying her best.

Okay, I love you all so much! Have the best week ever! The church is true and I love you!

Love, KTPyo

...and at once I knew I was not magnificent‏

I don't really know how to start out this email. Especially after having received so many "wow you're so wonderful!" replies from last week.

 

maybe I'm not so wonderful as you all thought. Well.  no. that was dumb to say. But I'm just reeeeeeeaaaallly confused.

 

I probably should have given it more than 24 hours for thought, prayer and fasting on the August decision before writing an "I'M INVINCIBLE" email to the world. When president called me into his office last Monday, logically, the thought of staying until August made sense. I didn't have school, work or anything to come home to. I LOVE being here in California and this mission is a dream. What an opportunity to stay a bit longer. I thought that by the President asking me, that was the Lord's way of asking me as well. After I sent that email last week, I felt so sick. I didn't know why because I felt so okay about staying. I decided that it would definitely need to become a matter of MORE prayer and that fasting was necessary. All week, I kept praying to see if I should stay until August but never did I feel good about it. It kept me up real late and because the thought never really left my mind, I'd wake up at about 5 and just feel sick. What a frustrating situation, to be willing to stay, but to not feel good about it. This Sunday, for my fast, I decided to ask the other question. "Heavenly Father, should I stick to the original plan and go home in June?" All day, I felt so much peace. I continued to pray throughout my fast and just felt good.

 

So. Now what? I don't know what to do. What I said in my email last week still stands true. "Not as I will, but as thou wilt" ....I am more than willing to stay until August. Like I said, logically, it felt good because it made sense. I just want to do what Heavenly Father needs me to do. I'm just going to continue fasting and praying about it. Whatever I decide to do, I want to make sure it's His plan. Not mine. 

 

This week was LONG though. I think we are all getting back on our feet though. My companion seems to be getting the hang of everything a little bit better. She seems happier and has more of a desire to work hard and go out everyday. We were able to get her into a counselor this week and I think that really boost up her energy. I'm so proud of her and love making sure she's okay. She is going to become the best missionary! I'm proud of my baby girl :)

 

I want to make a shout out to Hermana Barnes this week. I am so happy this girl stayed another change and is still in our district. We are becoming veddy veddy close and love each other dearly. If I ever decide to move to Provo for a third time, I'll definitely be living with this hottie. We got to do exchanges this last week and we were killing it. It felt good to just get out and work hard again. She shared her life story with me and what got her here in the mission. She is invincible. Love that little lady (really though. she is barely 5 feet)

 

Last week, we were able to put a date for Socorro's baptism...April 12. Her brother is LDS and lives in Arizona. He comes to California every three months for work and she thought that was about the time he'd be here next. We told her that she really needed to talk to him ASAP so that we could start planning her big day out. She was really wanting to make it a surprise for him but she realized it was necessary to call him and get an exact date. She wasn't able to make it to church on Sunday so I called her that evening to make sure everything was okay. She was SO excited to talk to us. She was really sick and hadn't been able to get herself out of bed for church BUT she had just gotten off the phone with her brother. When she explained that she was finally planning on getting baptized and wanted him there all he could say was "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! I'll fly out any day to come to your baptism!" So, she wants to be baptized March 15th!!! Wahoo! We are so excited for her! After 5 years of listening to the missionaries, she is so ready!!! I feel so blessed that I get to be here for her big day!

 

We are also working a lot with Lisa (35, single, half Latina). She lives with Ofilia, her mama, who the missionaries originally started teaching. Lisa moved back home with her mom about a month ago and we've been teaching her ever since. We weren't sure if she was ever going to progress but we finally got her to commit to church this next Sunday. She has had some pretty bad experiences with other churches in the past and doesn't feel she needs to go to church to have a relationship with God. Please, please pray for her. She is ready!

 

We are still without a car so we are doing lots and lots of walking. It was pretty crazy this weekend. It rained....and rained.....and rained....we were soaked. But, I loved it :) The sun is now shining again and we love the beautiful weather here!

 

Alrighty. I love you all. I'm not sure what's up about when I'm coming home. But, for now, I'm happy to be here. Chula Vista really is the promised land.

 

Mama. you are the hottest mom Cancun has ever seen!....and dad, I bet you were the hottest bishop down there as well! Thanks for the pictures! I love you all!

 

Love, Hermana Pendleton

 

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Last week, Tyler Morgan wrote me and asked, 

"What do you think the biggest lesson is that you have learned on your mission?" 

My email today will answer that question...

I will never forget the promise that I made to Heavenly Father October 31, 2013; that for the rest of my life, I would not only turn to him for guidance, but accept whatever he would want me to do in this life. President Kahnlein had just called me and told me that I was going to be staying in Chile for the surgery and that it would be a 2-3 month recovery in the mission home. I was....devastated, to say the least. I remember just falling on the ground, crying like a li'l baby and then remembering Matthew 26:39.

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."

I knew that if the Lord wanted me to stay in Chile, I needed to accept it and trust him. So, I regained my strength, just enough to get on my knees. Instead of asking him to help me find a way to go home for the surgery, I asked for Him to help me understand and give me the strength to accept His will. That was a rough time thinking that I was going to be in Chile for the surgery, but I accepted it. What a relief. Then, I later found out that there was a doctor (who is in our STAKE back home) that would be able to do the surgery and that I'd be home for the holidays to recover! As as many of you know, when I got home, I was home for good. I felt good about the 10 months I had served and was content with staying home and going back to school.

After being home for a few weeks, I felt that I hadn't really turned to the Lord 100% in this decision. I knew I needed to ask him if he wanted me to go back out and finish my mission. Long story short, I'd never received such a direct answer that my mission wasn't over and I needed to return back to finish my calling as a missionary. I was happy when President McKay (our Stake Pres.) told me that I was only expected to go back out and finish my last 4 transfers, 6 months, and that it wouldn't be necessary to add the time I was home for surgery if I didn't want to. I knew I would be able to serve strong and faithfully with a return date of June 24.

Back at the airport headed to the San Diego California mission.

My first transfer was more than a success. It felt so good to be back in the mission, healthy and happy! I loved my district and I'm in a perfect area.The night before transfers last week, President Clayton called me and asked if I would be willing to stay until October. Like I told you, Mama, my first reaction was H no! (Didn't say it, but thought it!) Then when he asked if I would stay until September, it was another H no! But when he sincerely asked me if I would consider August 5, I told him I would pray about it. I didn't want to extend. I came out here to finish and in my mind that meant June 24. It was hard enough to decide to come back out for a SECOND mission but I didn't want to have to decide to extend or not. I felt really guilty all week that I didn't have a desire to stay longer...and I wanted to feel proud of my work that I would have accomplished from now until June. 

On top of that stress, my dear sweet, new trainee has really been struggling with anxiety and other personal problems. She met with President Clayton yesterday to figure out what is going to be best with her. She doesn't think she can do this and wants to go home. I'm trying my best to love her and work with her. We don't have a car or bikes so we've been walking like crazy and are still waiting for my background check from the DMV in Utah. It's been a long week to say the least.

After my companion met with President Clayton yesterday, he asked if he could talk with me. He told me that it would be an easy procedure for President McKay to write a letter to church headquarters, asking for permission for me to have a release date of June 24th. Ughhhhhh! Now, I was back to being able to go home June 24th without any problems. But something in my heart told me that by the time my return date would come, I would regret not staying for as long as I could. Without me asking, President Clayton asked me if I would like to call my mom and talk it over with her. Like I said to you Mama, NEVER would President Kahnlein have let me do something like that; but it was the best thing for me. Talking to you helped more than anything and I felt really clear about my thoughts and what I needed to do.

I have remembered my promise that I made to Heavenly Father, "Not as I will, but as thou wilt." I asked him if He would like me to serve until August 5th and I feel really good about it. Even though I would like to come home for summer time, road trips, friends, fun, work, etc., I feel like this is what I'm supposed to do. Six more weeks will fly by and what a blast to be able to get released here in SD and go straight to the beach house in Newport to be with the family!!! I have faith that all will work out and that I'll never regret the opportunity I had to serve a bit longer. 

I know that if we humble ourselves, leave our nets and follow our Savior, we will be blessed and constantly guided by the spirit This mission has been FAR different than what I had planned, but I wouldn't change any of the experiences that I've had for the world.

I wish I had more missionary/investigator updates but nothing new has really happened this week. My main focus right now is helping my companion understand why she is here and get her going. She is incredible and has so much potential! She is an amazing missionary and has a beautiful testimony. Her family is from the Dominican Republic but she was born and raised in Queens, New York. She is a native speaker, 23 and has a beautiful spirit.

We get along great and I love her dearly.

Congrats Tay Tay on getting accepted to USU!! That will be such a great experience for you! I hope you have a Happy Birthday this week! I sent you a little something today. :)

Thanks Mama for helping me yesterday! You are wonderful and I hope you and dad enjoy your Cancun get away this next week! Love you cuties.

THE CHURCH IS TRUE AND I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE IN SUNNY SO CAL!  :))))))

Love, 

Hermana Pendleton

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...

I love singing Changes my David Bowie every time we have transfers. It's always stuck in my head for the entire week and the words really do speak the truth of how changes are.

Valentine's Day was the best day of my entire life. We had a District picnic in the park and a double date with the sisters at the Cheesecake Factory. I then threw it up on the side of the road when we were driving home :-/

Yesterday we did service for German (yes, German from the BYUtv reality show called "The District") and his mom. Their house was DISGUSTING. It could have been on one of those reality TV shows where they go around and clean nasty houses. It took 8 missionaries, 4 members, 3 hours and a lot of cleaning supplies. As we were cleaning, I got really sad thinking about changes this week. I have become so close with every member of our district and wish I could serve with all of them for the rest of my mission. It's been an amazing first transfer- so much fun, so much work, so much success. Our goal as a district was to get every companionship to have 3 investigators, consistently coming to church every week by the end of this change. We worked hard and we did it!  :) AND, all four companionships in our district had a baptism this change. #blessings 

But, sad to say, every companionship in our district is being broken up. After 7 months of Chula Vista, Hermana Kelemen is leaving....and guess who is training a brand new, gringa?! MEEEEE! hahaha. YES! I am so excited to have this opportunity. I trained three times in Chile but never a gringa. It'll be so cool to watch this little, white girl, assuming she doesn't already know Spanish, progress, change, grow and see the blessings of the mission. I can't wait to be her Mama and take good care of her. I am so blessed to be staying here in Chula Vista. Aka, "the promise land" of the San Diego Mission. I am in the district from "The District". This is the place where miracles happen and I thank Heavenly Father every single day for the blessing to be here. He is taking such good care of me. I am happy.

Sing it with me. It's stuck in my head:

"Strange fascination, fascinating me. Ah, changes are taking the pace I'm going through.....Pretty soon now you're gonna get a little older. Time may change me. But I can't trace time."

Socorro is amazing. I feel like she is the reason I came here. We get along so well. We still aren't sure if she is married to Enrique papa. She was married before but her son, Enrique (5), says they are married :/ hahah. so. I'm not sure why we've waited so long to ask her.....but we are just going to be brave and talk to her this week. She wants to get baptized end of March/beginning of April when her LDS brother is here from Arizona. She has committed to keep all of the commandments...except Law of Chastity....which we are teaching her this week. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER.

All of our other investigators are............good? They are fine, just not really progressing. Our district planned a Noche de La Familia that we are putting on tonight. All members, less actives, investigators are coming. I think it'll be a good way for our investigators, who haven't come to church yet, to get to know the church and how it all works in a fun, friendly way.

Okay. Don't really have a cool spiritual thought today. Just happy to be a missionary. I know this church is true. I love Heavenly Father and I love my family. :)

Make it a great week!

Love, Hermana Pendleton