Focusing on Others

This week was...... Challenging in many different ways. Our work here has really slowed down, and not much is happening, sadly. Our person with a baptismal date was evicted and her mom died, so the timing is not good right now. We have been finding, but a lot of our investigators haven't been keeping their commitments. I'm trying to remain positive and see what the Lord wants me to do here.

Miracle of the week: We got a referral from Mormon.org. The family members that he lives with are really against religion of any kind, so he asked to meet somewhere else. We were able to have a lesson with him at our church building, and he had tons of questions. I asked how he had found Mormon.org, and he said it had just popped up on his screen, so he decided to check it out. It's
interesting to see how Heavenly Father works. Sadly, he is YSA (Young Single Adult) age, so we had to pass him off to the sisters that cover that ward. But, he went to church on Sunday, so I'm excited to see how he continues to progress!

This transfer has definitely been different than the last, and I'm realizing that I need to change my focus from the area/key indicators to the ward and my companion. Our sacrament meeting this Sunday was all about service, and I felt impressed that I needed to focus on serving the ward and focus on the needs of my companion. Sometimes as missionaries, we get caught up in constantly asking the ward members for help, and not giving anything in return. I am totally guilty of expecting each ward to be the same and willing to do missionary work. So, I want to serve the ward, especially our Bishop.

I know that I am here in this particular area with my companion for a reason. I need to trust in Heavenly Father's plan. I have been really grateful for prayer these past two weeks--it is amazing that we are able to communicate with our Heavenly Father as much as we want each and every day. I'm grateful for all of your prayers on my behalf. Scripture for this week: 1 Nephi 3:7--" I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no
commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Love,

Hermana Erickson

Mother's Day and Food Poisoning

I can't believe another week has gone by already! It's been a crazy week with lots of changes and adjustments. It was completed with my last FaceTime call with my family. That is really weird to say. I remember my first Mother's Day and thinking that it would be forever until I saw my family again. And now, the next time I see my family will be in person. Time has gone by way too fast.

I was cleaning the house Tuesday morning in preparation for my new companion, when I get a call from another set of sisters in our zone. They told/warned me that Sister Daulton had food poisoning/stomach flu, and was throwing up. Poor Sister Daulton had begun feeling icky Monday night and didn't feel better until Thursday evening. It was a long start to week one. It's nice to be at home for about 2 hours and then you start going crazy with nothing to do.  There are only so many things that you can write in your journal. Or only so many Mormon Messages.

I was really grateful for the opportunity to serve Sister Daulton right off the bat. It is easy to feel Christ-like love for someone when you serve! I was really grateful for our ward members this week
as well. They were willing to bring me dinner, and also go on splits with me. I really appreciated all of the things they were able to help me with. It helped me not to feel so alone in all of it! I was also able to receive a priesthood blessing, which has really calmed me down with everything going on. I love that I have a ward family no matter where I go!

Sister Loveless was transferred to my zone and is my STL. :) We were able to go on exchanges this week, and it felt just like old times. I love that girl so much! She helped me through a lot and gave me the confidence that I needed going into the rest of the week. I'm glad I have my Washington buddy yet again :)

That was about it for the week since we were inside for most of it. Keep the prayers coming, I need as many as I can get! I love you all so very much :) "Keep the faith, the church is true!"

Love,

Hermana Erickson

Elder Holland and Transfers yet again!

This week has been really great here in Henderson! It has definitely kept us on our toes, but we received so much revelation and guidance this week. We definitely saw some miracles and Sister Greene and I enjoyed our last week together. To start it off, we were able to finally set someone with a baptismal date!!! YAY :) Her date is set for May 28th. She is a single mom, we found her by just knocking on her door. We are so so excited :D

Elder Holland was here from Friday to Sunday. We only were able to see him on Friday, but you could feel the spiritual force throughout the valley for the weekend ;) Not really, but I wish! Haha! Before meeting him, we took a picture with our whole mission. It took about a half hour to get all 200 missionaries in one place and quiet. Just as we got all figured out, the mission leadership told us that Holland was pulling up, so we all needed to be quiet. Then, he walked it....it was
intense! The first thing he said was "Boo!" Haha :) We then all went and shook his hand..... I can't remember looking at his face. I think I was in so much shock that all I can remember thinking is "His hand is big" haha!

Elder Holland and President Robins both gave very spiritual talks. Pres Robins talked about how we are here in our mission will determine the kind of person we are after our missions. We have to not only do Christ-like things, but we must be Christ-like. Elder Holland told us that the apostles and full-time missionaries are the only ones that share the gospel full-time. I loved something that he said--we have to talk to everyone or we are judging them as God does. He also spoke of how important it is to teach by the spirit, but also that we have to be worthy of it. The spirit is the only way we will help the investigator understand the gospel. It was a great Friday and I learned things that I will always remember!!

So it's transfers again....it's crazy that I only have three transfers left. GAH! Time is going way too fast!! So the verdict of transfers........I will be staying in Pueblo, Sister Greene is going
over to my last Zone, Warm Springs/Anthem. We are really sad to be separated. We knew that she would probably leave, but it's sad to know that it is actually happening now. I have another special assignment (I got another call Sat morning from our Sister APs before transfer
doc), and am following training again. My new companion is Sister Daulton. Send some prayers my way because I am pretty nervous for this transfer!

I love you all! I can't wait to talk to my family this coming Sunday. I wish I could talk and see you all, but that will just have to wait for another four months :) Until next week!

Love,

Hermana Erickson

The week of locura

So this week was not the best. It was hard and not a ton happened. We
had lots of pains and afflictions.... I will talk about it more in
just a bit. But all that matters is that we improve this week and
become better. The Lord will always give us trials, it just depends
what we do with them that matters. We are very optimistic for this
week and for what is to come.

So Tuesday morning I woke up sick and was just feeling awful. Luckily
it didn't last for too long. At the beginning of the week, Sister
Greene mentioned that her knees were really bothering her. We called
the mission Doctor, but they just had her keep trying different things
to ease the pain. But nothing was working, it just continued to get
worse. So they had a doctor call her from Salt Lake, and diagnosed her
with arthritis. They think it's that, so they are having her take
medicine for a week to see if gets better. I feel so bad for her--it
is never fun to be a missionary when you are in pain.

We also had a crazy experience yesterday. We were having ward council
(it's basically where all of the congregation's leadership gets
together to discuss the needs of the members) and the Primary
president mentioned that there was a outbreak of Hand-foot-mouth
disease in the kids. So they cancelled church for the last two hours.
It was a madhouse trying to disinfect the chapel before the ward got
there. So fingers crossed, it ends soon!

We had a really great lesson with an investigator. Her
grandpa recently died and she is going through a really tough time. It
was difficult for me as well when my Grandma passed, but the only way
I got through it was with the gospel. I knew exactly where she was and
that I would see her again in the future. It was wonderful to be able
to share that  and to help her through her trials. I know
that God gives us challenges to help us become better and to rely on
him more. The wonderful thing is that he never leaves us alone during
them. He is always there for us.

I love you all! Keep the prayers coming because I will need them for
this week!! I am really excited to meet Elder Holland and receive
counsel for the last part of my mission.

Love,

Hermana Erickson

Visitors and new friends

This week has been pretty good! It was a little slower than the last
couple, but it was bound to happen at some point. But, all is good. We
still taught a lot and found some people to teach. It was a good week
overall :) We had some really fun experiences and some pretty amazing
miracles!

There was a big zone conference this week, and President had an
announcement for us...... A few weeks ago, we found out that one of
the Quorum of the 12 would be coming to our mission! For those of you
that have no idea what I am talking about, here's some help :) As
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we believe
that we have a modern day prophet on the Earth. His name is Thomas S
Monson, and he has the same responsibilities that prophets of old had.
He also has 12 apostles, just as Jesus Christ did. So to meet one of
the them is a pretty big deal! The apostle that will be visiting
is...(drumroll please!)......HOLLAND!!! GAH!! I am ooper dooper
excited beyond belief! We each get to shake his hand....it's going to
be intense!! :D Definitely the highlight of my week :) He will be
coming April 29th!

The not so exciting part of zone conference was getting our new
"friends"...... We call them the black boxes. Black boxes of death
basically. They go into your car and hook up to the odometer and
computer inside. And then they talk to you if you go too fast, and
make hard stops or turns. You have to slide a card each time you get
in or out of the car......it's really fun getting used to. So we all
are loving our new amigos. Claro que NO Jajajaja.

One thing I LOVE about being a missionary is seeing how God works out
His plan. Basically, there are no such thing as coincidences. Last
week, we had an appt that fell through. As we were walking away from
the house, there was a guy across the street working on his car. We
went over and started talking to him. At first he said he wasn't
interested, but then asked about missionary life since he had a friend
that served a mission. We talked about that and the BOM, and it ended
up being a great lesson. We weren't able to set up another appt, so we
decided to visit him the next Sunday. When we went there, his mom
answered the door. At first she wasn't interested, but then asked a
question about the Book of Mormon. Then we taught her a lesson, and
she committed to come to church. It is a testimony to me that God has
it all worked up out there....we just need to trust in His plan.

We are teaching this super fun couple. They let us
inside because of how windy it was one night. They are so funny, and
really love to talk. This last week, we had the
opportunity to teach them.  We had left her a chapter to read in the
BOM, about faith. When we what the chapter was about, her eyes got all
big. She then asks "How did you know?" I had no idea what she was
talking about....and then she asked it again! It turns out that two
people that week had told her that she needed to work on her faith.
And then we gave her a chapter to read about faith. It was so cool!
She also told us that whenever we come, she feels peaceful and she
doesn't hear the wind or traffic outside. I love the power of the Holy
Ghost!!

That was our week here in Pueblito :) We are now starting our
"prepping for Holland" for the next two weeks. I can't wait to see the
miracles that come! Love you all :)

Love,

Hermana Erickson

Monsoon Season is here!

It has been another great week in Pueblo :) The beginning of the week
started out really slow, and to be honest, I felt really out of it.
Missionary work is not an easy thing.....but the best part is that we
have the help of the Savior! He is our best ally, if we are willing to
use His atonement. Something really cool Sister Greene and I have been
doing is evaluating our week. So if something isn't going right, or we
aren't being as successful as we were the week before, we stop and try
to figure out what we can do better. It has been really helpful and
has helped me improve a lot!

We had a really cool miracle this week! It will take me a little bit
to explain, so bear with me! When I got into the area we had an
investigator, Eric, but Sis Greene had no idea where he lived. We just
had his cousin's address, and they wouldn't open their door to us. We
were going to drop him, but the day we decided to do that, we ran into
him on the street. We went back for the appt we had set up, but he
wasn't there. We ended up talking to his sister, Tifha. She wasn't
that interested at first, but we shared the meaning of Easter, etc.
She missed her next appt, but we were able to catch her this Monday.
She said that she had gone to Mormon.org, and had been really thinking
about the things that we said. She even was thinking about baptism! We
had another lesson with her on Friday, but the atmosphere was crazy,
so we didn't think that she got much out of it. (Here comes the good
part!) Sunday morning, she texts us 10 min before church and asks if
we could find a ride for her. We had no idea who to ask, so we
suggested just to wait a week. She decided to walk in the rain to come
to church!!! It was amazing :) We are super excited for her and feel
blessed to be teaching her.

We had opportunities to do some service this week. We talked to
someone outside that was pulling weeds in his yard. We offered to help
out whenever he needed it. We got a text a few days later, from a
member. Apparently the guy we talked to was friends with a member! We
were able to go and help him pull his weeds, and he was really
appreciative. We also made hats for the homeless shelters. We learned
how to knit with circle hoops.....haha! It was super fun and relaxing
to knit ;) This week we get to help paint a house! Yay :D! Service is
the best!

Another miracle to close off the letter. We were able to get a RM to
come with us. He served in our mission, and now lives in our ward. The
lesson that we were going to teach, cancelled, so we went to try the
next people that we had planned. Right across the street was a guy
working on his car. We started talking to him, and he said he wasn't
interested. We were about to walk away when he told us that he had a
friend that served a mission. We stayed and talked for a good 30
minutes, and were able to share the BOM with him. He was really
excited to read it and to learn more. I guess the reason why I share
this experience is for two reasons: God always put people in our path.
There are no such things as coincidences! We just have to trust in his
plan. And #2: I can't wait to be an awesome member missionary! I have
learned so much, I just want to share it with everyone around me. It
was cool to see how much a mission had affected the RMs life.

Well, I love you all! Enjoy the warmer weather as we try to stay dry
here in Vegas. I'll attach a picture of the crazy rain. Les amo
muchisimo :D Hasta la proxima semana


Love,

Hermana Erickson

Tan Lines, General Conference and Miracles!

Summer has come once again.....! The weather has been super bipolar lately with wind one day and then 80F the next! Sister Greene and I keep saying how hot it is....but I just keep remembering last summer.  We ain't seen nothing yet! But I'm attaching a picture of my ridiculous Tom shoe tan line....haha

Though its crazy to say, we had an even BETTER week than last! The miracles just keep coming and I keep praying that it never stops :)  We've been finding, teaching, learning, and having fun. It probably has been some of my favorite weeks of the mission so far. To add to it all, we had general conference, where we were able to hear from our modern day prophets. It was really good, and I was happy to receive a lot of guidance for the rest of my mission. I keep trying to convince myself that I am a young missionary. But I told an elder today how long I have left...and he told me that I was on my death bed. Haha!  I'm denying it ;)

So we found some super cool people this week. One, we met her son looking for her, and we shared about our message, and he invited us to come back. When we did, he wasn't there, but his mom was. At first, she had a lot of questions so we kept answering them with the Bible and the Book of Mormon. She invited us back and apologized for not having us sit down!! It was amazing to see the spirit change someone's heart so quick. The spirit was so strong, and it has to be one of most favorite experiences!

We are teaching one of our member's in home nurse. He served a mission with his wife, so he loves to share the gospel. He started reading the Book of Mormon with her (he had her read it to him ;)) and she really likes it! So we started reading more with her. This last week, we taught about General Conference, and how we receive the revelation that we need. She was really intrigued by that, and asked if she could write down more questions than just one :) she has such a great spirit about her....we are excited!

Well, I'm loving little O'l Pueblo and Sister Greene. Keep the prayers coming, cause they are definitely helping us out :) I love you all! We having a saying here that I will sign off with: Keep the faith! The church is true! ️

Love,

Hermana Erickson