Transfer Week

Mi Familia!

This week is transfer week! We got calls last night so we know whether we're leaving or staying, but we won't know any more than that until the Transfer Meeting on Thursday. I'm staying in Riverside!! Yay!! And Hermana King is finishing my training. Called it. :) She is definitely ready to train. We're both a little nervous because this is a Spanish area and we're both still new. Hermana King must be setting a record; she's only been here for 10 weeks! (she was in an advanced class in the MTC and got here between transfers.) We'll be praying a lot. It will be ok. :)

Hermana Hearne has a really exciting transfer ahead of her. She's training a greenie, opening an area, and is going to serve as a Sister Training Leader--a new position that was just created; it's like a Zone Leader for sisters. She's really nervous but I know she'll be amazing. She's so in tune with the Spirit and is passionate about this work. She'll be just fine. We're going to miss her, though.

I'm glad you went Mexican for your birthday, Kevin. I've got so many Mexican dishes I want to share with all of you. Like pizole, agua panela, tacos al pastor, horchata, chiles rellenos...oh man, my mouth is watering. Remember when I used to say I didn't like Mexican food? Yeah. That's in the past. I love it. And in my mind, the spicier the better.

I have SO MANY MIRACLES I want to write about! But I don't have enough time! Ok, let's see. Well, on Saturday we were in the parking lot at the apartment complex of one of our investigators, Kerman. We were rummaging through the trunk to find pamphlets when a white lady just popped up out of nowhere from behind a shed. Hermana King gave one of the pass-along cards she had just grabbed from the trunk to her. The lady--Keri--told us that she actually was a member of our church who hasn't gone for a long time. Then she just started to cry. She said that she just got a divorce and just feels like there's no hope. She said she's been thinking about how she needs to come back to our church (she's been trying out different churches) and was actually talking about it with a friend yesterday. But she says she doesn't feel worthy. She said she was taking a "prayer walk" when we found her. We were able to share our love, share God's love, bear testimony, and invite her to the English ward. She said she'd come. And we gave her info to the missionaries of that ward so the Relief Society can help her come to church.

I felt the Spirit SO strongly when we were talking. Heavenly Father totally answered her prayer by putting her in our path right at that moment. It was a complete miracle and it felt amazing to know we were being Heavenly Father's tools. I just pray she recognizes it and will act on it. 

Then that night we were driving to see a menos-activo after ALL our plans for the night fell through. Hermana Hearne had a thought to go try to see Cristina--another menos activa--as we were driving past her street. We have been trying to visit Cristina FOREVER--since long before I got here. She did not want to see us. There were times when she saw us through the window and we waved to her but she still didn't answer the door.

As we pulled up to her house, we saw her getting out of her car. She was cornered! When she saw us she gave us the most exasperated look. But she consented to let us come in and share a scripture with her. 

When we went inside, Hermana Hearne asked to use the bathroom and Hermana King and I just talked to Cristina. Just casual stuff. We talked about cooking Italian food and her daughters and October in Utah because she's been there then. As we sat and chatted, her countenance changed. She seemed to loosen up and begin to trust us. But when we asked if she had any doubts or questions about the church she just said no.

But when Hermana Hearne came back she asked her again. this time she said that she did have questions and doubts. She said she was baptized 8 years ago but that she hadn't felt ready then. She said the missionaries really pressured her into it. When she said that she didn't feel ready they told her that she was and that she would know with more certainty after she was baptized. So she was baptized. And became inactive 2 years later.

Then Hermana Hearne just started talking. I don't exactly remember what she said but it was so amazingly, perfectly tuned-in to Cristina. We all bore testimony with the Spirit, but Hermana Hearne was especially directed. It was amazing to watch. She shared the perfect scripture and said the perfect things. Cristina said that she knows she needs to go to a church and "have a group" but she's not sure which one. She said it's very important to her that she feel that something is true before jumping into it. And she agreed to let us come back next week.

The whole thing--finding her, getting her to trust us, and speaking the words she needed to hear--was a complete miracle. As we left, we all were so happy. Hermana Hearne especially. She said she felt like that lesson was the reason she was called to this area. 

The Spirit is so strong and so near! I'm learning how important it is to always strive to be in-tune and willing to follow every prompting. Miracles happen! And just a side note: I totally understood everything everyone said. MIRACLE.

And just to finish off a perfect day, when we got home there was a torrential rainstorm. And we danced in it. 

I feel like I always talk about menos-activos. I promise we have investigators, too. (Remind me to tell you about Carlos Escobar.) But we have been seeing a lot of success with our rcla's and I love it. I love Riverside! I love the work we do and I love the people. I hope I'm here for a while.

If there's one thing I've learned on my mission it's that this is a big deal. God is hastening his work! Christ is coming! This has got to be the most exciting time to be a missionary, and we feel it every day. It's crazy! But God needs everyone to be working hard, not just His missionaries. Now more than ever it's so important to strengthen our families and those around us. Please, please, please, make FHE, family scripture study, and family prayer a priority! It is so important, especially now. Pray to know what God needs you to do. Because I promise there's work our there for you to do. I really regret not doing more when I was home, and I'm excited to come home--eventually--and get to work. 

I know this all is true. It's such a blessing to be able to testify over and over again of this gospel and know that I mean it with my whole soul. I KNOW this is true! 

Les amo muchisimo. I'm praying for you all. 

Hermana Lund