Nov 10, 2011

November 10, 2011 Letter

Well another week has come and gone.  We are really excited as we see the hand of the Lord working in the lives of those we are teaching.  We have a baptism this Saturday...on Mitchell's Birthday.  We are so excited to see this family all come together in the gospel!   I love them so much!!!

So not only has another week come and gone, but another transfer has also come and gone.   Next Tuesday and Wednesday are transfers.  We're not really sure what will happen.  I feel like I will end up staying here at least another transfer, and Sister Lao thinks she will leave.  I definitely don't want her to.  I will miss her a lot, but I know that the Lord always places us where we are needed the most. 

So this has definitely been a sad week, because of the news of the two Texas missionaries who were killed.  It makes you really think about life.  I know for me it has really put into perspective that, even though we are on the Lord's errand, we are not immune from tragedy.  I do believe that God allows bad things to happen to good people.  Every tragedy is paired with a lesson that can be learned, and an opportunity for growth if we allow it to. It motivates me to live life to its fullest and never allow room for regret or "what ifs..."  I guess with that said, I want each of you to know how much I love you.  I'm thankful for the continuous support that I receive from family and friends.  I don't know how I could do it without you!  I also want each of you to know, that I know, with all my heart that this church is true.  I'm so thankful for the Book of Mormon.  It has pulled me out of some of my darkest times.  There truly is a spirit that comes from reading it.  I will forever be grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.  I know that even when I'm going through some of my hardest times, that I'm never really alone.  I know that he is always there, walking right beside me.  I'm thankful for modern day prophets, that lead and guide us today.  I'm thankful for their love and their prayers in our behalf.  I know that when we listen to the prophet we will be protected from Satan and the many evils of the world.  I'm so thankful for my family and the knowledge that we can be together forever.  It's such a comfort to me to know that this is not all there is, that there is more to life the just right now, and that I can spend eternities with those that really matter most to me.  I just love the gospel and everything that comes with it.

Well with all of that said, I wanted to let you know that this will also be my last mission blog that I post.  We have been asked by our mission president to discontinue any use of blogs, including that of family members writing things for us.  I've loved writing for a blog and am sad that I can not continue.  But like Nephi, I know that every commandment is given for a reason, even if we don't understand.  And even if I don't understand it's purpose, I am determined to be obedient! Thank you all for talking time to read my letters and experiences.  I've loved getting letters from those of you who have read it.  If you ever want to hear any more mission stories feel free to write me, and I will definitely write back!!!  Thanks for all of your love!!!

Love Always,

Sister Tracy

October 27, 2011

Another week has come and gone.  It's been good, but now it's really cold!   It started raining last night, and there are rumors that it is going to snow soon too.  I'm freezing!    I can't wait till summer comes back and it's back to the 100s!!!   I hate the cold so much!  Ha Ha Oh well, that's life for you. 

This week we found an awesome family.  They all live in this little trailer.  There is two different families living there.  Each has 4 kids.  Plus the grandma stays there occasionally as well as one of the nephews.  So in total there are 13 people living there.  They have been through so much in their lives, but they are just great.  The kids are so excited to learn about the gospel and have been carrying their new Book of Mormons around everywhere since we gave it to them.  It makes me really appreciate what I have in life.  They really don't have very much, but the have each other and they realize that that's all they really need.

Oh and we also have been teaching the Davis family for a while.  They are so funny!  We get to see them once a week.  The mom and younger sister are members, but the 16 year old isn't.  I absolutely love this family!  They are awesome!! 

Well other then that things are going awesome!   I'm super excited for Halloween!  I will let you know if we get to do anything fun.  We might have to go home early cause of mission rules, but I'm sure we'll make it an adventure either way. 

Well I hope you all have a safe week.  I love you all tons!

Love Always,

Sister Tracy

October 20, 2011 Letter

Hey family and friends!

Well this has been another good week.  We worked really hard last week and were able to teach a lot of lessons.  On Sunday we got a call from our zone leaders telling us that we were leading our zone.  That was pretty exciting.  It definitely made us want to keep teaching and doing well.  Although this week we weren't able to teach as many people.  I'm not sure what the difference is, but we will just keep working!  

This last Tuesday we had a huge storm. They haven't had a storm like that since the 1930's.  If you have ever seen "The Mummy."  There is a huge sand storm thing, with the mummys' face in it.  Well that's what we had on Tuesday-minus the face part.  It is called a Hauboob (p.s. i know i spelled that wrong, but that's what it sounds like.)  It was a nice hot day, clear skies...then bamb!  The sky went completely dark.  Our car was even rocking back and forth.  Sirens were going crazy.  It even broke some pretty big trees in half.  The winds ended up getting to 70 mph in some places.  It was pretty intense.  So now we have really cold weather.  It's been an average of 50 or 60 degrees.

Then on Wednesday we had a combined Zone Conference with Elder David S. Baxter of the 1st quorum of the 70.  It was a really good conference.  There were about 50,000 things that I realized that I need to improve on, but it was really good.  You think that, that is how we grow the most--When we realize what we could be doing better, the it gives motivation and the vision of what we really can do to improve.  Needless to say it was great. 

So I guess that's about it for now.  I will keep you updated if anything else cool happens.  Oh and I would like to make an official shout out to the Lao family. Thank you for letting Sister Lao come be my companion.  She's awesome!  She really is such a hard worker and a great missionary.   She would also like me to let you know that she would love a journal and some information on her grandma.  Well hope everything is going well in California.  Happy Birthday Sister Lao, Sister Lao's twin, and Audrey!  Hope it was a good one!

I hope that all of you know how much I love you!  Thank you so much for your love and support!  I couldn't have asked for better families or friends.  My prayers are always with you!

Love Always,

Sister Tracy

September 15, 2011 Letter

Well another week has come and gone.  Today has been great!!!  It started at five in the morning when Sister Lao and I both got to go to the temple!   This has been temple week for both Mitchell and myself!   The temple is seriously the most awesome place ever!  We got to go with Sister Augustin (the mission presidents wife). It was a really great experience!

It's also raining this week!!  It started yesterday and has been going nonstop ever since!  I love the rain.  Last night there was lots of thunder and lightning.  I hope it continues for a while.  Only problem is that I don't have any rain boots.  I will have to get some today.  Otherwise my feet will be soaking.  Hopefully i can find some for cheep.  Also I might have to invest in a rain jacket.  I guess well just have to wait and see how bad it gets.  I know that last year it flooded a few times because of the rain. 

This week we were also able to set a date with Matt and Abby Reyes.  They have been taught for a while and we were able to set a date with Abby for the 24th of September and one with Matt for October 8th.  We are pretty excited to see them coming closer to Christ.  They are an awesome family!  The ward loves them too!  They really have tried to take them under their wing, and just love them!!  We have a few other investigators that are coming close to baptism, so we will I will keep you updated on all of that.

Hopefully everything is going well back home!  I miss all of you and love you lots. 

Love Always,

Sister Tracy

November 10, 2011

Well another week has come and gone.  We are really excited as we see the hand of the Lord working in the lives of those we are teaching.  We have a baptism this Saturday...on Mitchell's Birthday.  We are so excited to see this family all come together in the gospel!   I love them so much!!!

So not only has another week come and gone, but another transfer has also come and gone.   Next Tuesday and Wednesday are transfers.  We're not really sure what will happen.  I feel like I will end up staying here at least another transfer, and Sister Lao thinks she will leave.  I definitely don't want her to.  I will miss her a lot, but I know that the Lord always places us where we are needed the most. 

So this has definitely been a sad week, because of the news of the two Texas missionaries who were killed.  It makes you really think about life.  I know for me it has really put into perspective that, even though we are on the Lord's errand, we are not immune from tragedy.  I do believe that God allows bad things to happen to good people.  Every tragedy is paired with a lesson that can be learned, and an opportunity for growth if we allow it to. It motivates me to live life to its fullest and never allow room for regret or "what ifs..."  I guess with that said, I want each of you to know how much I love you.  I'm thankful for the continuous support that I receive from family and friends.  I don't know how I could do it without you!  I also want each of you to know, that I know, with all my heart that this church is true.  I'm so thankful for the Book of Mormon.  It has pulled me out of some of my darkest times.  There truly is a spirit that comes from reading it.  I will forever be grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.  I know that even when I'm going through some of my hardest times, that I'm never really alone.  I know that he is always there, walking right beside me.  I'm thankful for modern day prophets, that lead and guide us today.  I'm thankful for their love and their prayers in our behalf.  I know that when we listen to the prophet we will be protected from Satan and the many evils of the world.  I'm so thankful for my family and the knowledge that we can be together forever.  It's such a comfort to me to know that this is not all there is, that there is more to life the just right now, and that I can spend eternities with those that really matter most to me.  I just love the gospel and everything that comes with it.

Well with all of that said, I wanted to let you know that this will also be my last mission blog that I post.  We have been asked by our mission president to discontinue any use of blogs, including that of family members writing things for us.  I've loved writing for a blog and am sad that I can not continue.  But like Nephi, I know that every commandment is given for a reason, even if we don't understand.  And even if I don't understand it's purpose, I am determined to be obedient! Thank you all for talking time to read my letters and experiences.  I've loved getting letters from those of you who have read it.  If you ever want to hear any more mission stories feel free to write me, and I will definitely write back!!!  Thanks for all of your love!!!

Love Always,

Sister Tracy

Oct 17, 2011

Texas Snow!

The picture is of the cotton fields here!!!  They are all pure white right now.  They call it "Texas Snow."   It's pretty cool.  the field is literally "white and ready to harvest."

October 13, 2011 Letter

October is already half way over!  How crazy is that?   Well this week has been good.  We've been able to teach a lot of lessons this week.  I know that the Lord is blessing us with people to teach.  This week we have been focusing on studying the "The Gospel of Christ-The Missionary Purpose."  It really makes me so thankful to have the gospel in our lives.  We have such a blessing to be able to take this gospel to people around the world.  I think we forget that sometimes. 

Next week we are having Zone Conference and we are going to be visited by Elder David S. Baxter of the 1st quorum of the 70.  I'm pretty excited for it.  I will take good notes and let you all know how it goes next week.

Okay so this week we had a fun thing happen.  Our stake held a "Share Fair."  The Share Fair was a two day event.  On Friday people from three different wards brought all the things that they didn't want any more.  Kinda like garage/yard sale stuff.  But there was everything from furniture, to kitchen, to crafts, to clothes. Pretty much everything you could think of.  We organized it on Friday and there was seriously so much stuff!!! Almost every room in the building including the gym was packed with stuff.  Then on Saturday they opened the doors, and members and their friends came in and took what they needed.  Everything was FREE!!  So needless to say it was packed!   Then around four we put a sign outside for the public saying that everything was free!  We had a good turn out and a lot of the stuff was taken, but we had a ton of leftovers too.  The Salvation Army brought a huge moving truck and we filled it full with all the leftovers.  It was quite the project, but I know that it really helped a lot of the families out.  Sister Lao and I worked at it the last shift on Saturday, so we went through the left overs and found some pretty sweet stuff!!!  Sister Lao got this awesome Christmas dress that has a vest attached to it!  Ha Ha And I was able to get this pretty sweet Mexican looking vest thing!  I love it!   I can't wait to come home from my mission and wear it all the time! :)  I will have to send pictures of all of our awesome finds next week.

Well that's about all the news I have for this week!   I hope you know that I love you all so much!!   My prayers are with you!  Stay strong and don't forget to rely on the Lord! 

Love Always,

Sister Tracy