We've had an AMAZING WEEK!!!!!:)
We've done a lot of finding, and seriously we've been led by the hand
of the Lord. We have met the most prepared people! It's been amazing.
We've been the happiest little missionaries, so full of and led by the
spirit. God is so good :)
Halloween was so fun! There was a trunk or treat for the ward so we
went and saw all the kiddies and it was so fun!:) then we went to
president catens house a have out candy:) I love this Place! Then
after, Hermana James and I snuggled on the floor and watched the
testaments. Ahh the missionary life (:

We had a baptism last night!!!! Richard is 12 and has been waiting for
so long to be baptized! His older sister got baptized I think 2 years
ago, then her mom last year, and her dad just this past August. And
now Richard! They're an amazing family, and the baptism was very
spiritual and HAPPY!!!! He couldn't stop smiling, and me either. It's
amazing the spirit and the happiness
this gospel brings.

Monserrat and her family came too! They faithfully come  to church
each week. Yesterday I got the feeling, 'they know this is true.' But
they're Catholic, and feel their infant baptism was sacred, and don't
wanna get baptized again. They won't read and pray,it's heartbreaking
cause we can only do so much, ya know? Please keep them in your
prayers. Monserrat, Yolanda, Leti, Carlos Raul, and Jairo. They're
amazing.

Here's some fun things happening this week:
Got growled at by a HUMAN while knocking. Tight. There's a first for
everything :)
Killed a dog. No biggie...don't ask.
Got told to never get married.
Papusas #forthewin. We make them often (:
teaching the GOSPEL and ENGLISH to a PROFESSIONAL soccer player from Mexico.
Nbd.

I am so grateful to be a part of this little McMinnville family. I
really feel so loved here. :)
The Fall is B E A U T I F U L.
I love being a missionary. I love this work. I love my savior. I love
riding my bike for dayzzzz sharing his gospel. I love the unity I
feel. I love my companion. I love this gospel. So grateful to my
father in heaven, who sent his son Jesus Christ to die for me, and
that I have the privilege to represent him and share his gospel. I am
grateful for my testimony and how it's grown, and the fact that I know
my family is eternal. I love what I am doing, helping others come to
know that as well, giving them this peace and hope that comes only
from the spirit. :)

IM BACK WITH HERMANA JAMES!!!!!! this never happens!:)
She came here to McMiracleville with me! We have been having an
absolute blast! It's been so fun to reminisce on our good times in
Providencia, with our investigators, our bus stories, The members, all
the good times :) it's such a blessing to have her be here with me!
I've missed her. Her Spanish is amazing, great accent, solid testimony
and she's so strong! So good at our goal of 'fear no man!' Love her.

We worked so hard together, and so far it's been the same. A bunch of
hard work!!!!' We're going to KILL IT this transfer! So excited :)
We've been biking a lot so far, but have seen so many miracles! We've
been finding a lot of new people to teach! Heavenly Father is blessing
us and leading us to the Hispanics :) I love knocking.

Our branch president has a feeling in these next couple weeks were
going to find out next relief society president, and elders quorum
president. We have the faith it's going to happen :D  I am so pumped
for this transfer!
We've set some amazing stretching goals this transfer, and I really
feel like we can do it!

Monserrat's mom came back from Mexico, and brought along with her her
uncle and cousin! 2 more solid investigators to teach!:) were very
excited about them, just need them to A C T . To read and to pray.

Please keep Monserrat, Mandi and CIRO in your prayers! They're our
miracles for this transfer :)

We had a cool experience last night: there's this less active member
named Carlos I've never met, but have tried so many times. Last night
we went to the address we have for him, and met his Son!! Who is
interested in learning about the gospel, and gave us the general
direction for where Carlos lives now as well. We went over there, and
knocked on this lady's house, who is the mother of Carlos's
girlfriend! And her husband is Hispanic! Anther family to teach :)
then this lady gave us e address where Carlos lives, he wasn't home,
but I'd say it was definitely a successful night, and completely led
by the hand of the Lord :) cool cool.

I love my mission so much. I love the spirit I feel. I'm so grateful
to be a representative of Jesus Christ. To have this time to give him
back everything He's blessed me with. To be able to preach his gospel,
and to help others come to know him. In the time I've had  of being in
his service, helping my fellow brethren come closer to him, I've drawn
closer to him myself. I am a much happier person now that my savior is
the center of my life. I love him with all my heart.

Ps currently making papusas. No big deal. Just call us Hispanic :)

So we started off the week great! Our investigator German, we've kinda
been holding off on him for a little, but he texted us and asked to
meet! We learned he had read Alma 7, just opened randomly to that
chapter! SUCH A GOOD ONE!! And it was cool, we were able to see the
power of the spirit in the Book of Mormon change his heart :)
We had exchanges, and cute sister Svedin came over to McMinnville with
me again! Another great day of bikes. :D she is so positive and has so
much faith! Such a good outlook on life, and so good at following the
spirit. I look up to her a lot, such a good day! Love her!:)
We had a lesson with Richard and Nicky, ages 12 and 10, theyre so
ready for baptism! And it's perfect cause the mom was baptized last
year, and the dad was baptized in August and just received the
priesthood so he can perform the baptism! So keep them in your
prayers! Their mom said hopefully November:) :D
Also another miracle! That part member returning family is doing
amazing! The mom is coming back:) and she has 6 KIDS two are ready to
be baptized!:) Mandi said she got a confirmation from the spirit this
is the true church! Shes agreed to be baptized on the 21 of November,
keep her in your prayers!:)

This Friday we went to the temple with PAUBLO to do baptisms for the
dead:) it was amazing, the spirit and peace you feel in the Lords
house is amazing. I  know this is Christs true restored church. That
the priesthood power allows men to act in His name, for the salvation
of everyone of us. I am so grateful for this gospel, and to be able to
share it in Tennessee:) also at the temple I was able to see a family
from Antioch, and it was amazing! I am so grateful for my mission :)

Saturday we knocked a lot and found some cool people to teach! We got
transfer calls, and Hna Sorensen is leaving me! I learned so much from
her, I'm very grateful for out time we've had together, we've been
stretched and have grown a lot. We have a really good friendship and I
love her so much. I'm grateful for her example and how she's helped me
so much as a missionary.
I am so happy to be Able to stay here for this next transfer! It's
been a harder area, but amazing. I really have seen the atonement in
action, and have come to know my savior better. I love the bible and
the Book of Mormon, I love serving others and I love my savior and my
father in heaven :)

Today we went Hiking, it was really fun!!!!!!!!! And we went rock
climbing and it was awesome!:)

Have a good week y'all!!!

Monday night we had another cute family home evening with this part
member, / Less active family. It was darling. 6 CRAZY KIDS, but so
sweet  to teach them the gospel. On Sunday they all came to church,
and the mom who is the less active was so so happy! It is so sweet to
see and to be a part of seeing them coming closer to Christ :)

On Tuesday we met with Efraim in his store, with PAUBLO our recent
convert! It was perfect, they both have had many health problems, like
heart, diabetes, and missing part of their legs. Crazy, but perfect
match. Efraim feels god has abandoned him, and PAUBLO [not purposely
capitalizing it] felt like that for a while, until the missionaries
found him.. The hope and light this gospel brings is amazing. I love
being a missionary. I have grown so close to my father in heaven, I
know he is very real and loves me and everyone of us. I know he will
never abandon us, and it brings me so much joy and comfort to be able
to help others Come to know that as well.
We had interviews with president that day too! I love him so much. So
so much. Preach my gospel says we need to always live worthily of our
converts here in the mission. That day, I got the feeling, not only do
I need to continue to live worthily for the people of my mission, my
family and myself, but also for president and sister Anderson. I never
want to let them down. I love my mission!!

Thursday was kinda cool. My companion has been sick for 2 weeks, and
her voice kinda comes and  goes, and she has cough attacks. Well,
anyone who knows hermana Eastwood knows she is terrified of English
people and teaching in English. ...not my thing. But she does her best
to do what the lord asks! On her porch swing We teach this lady named
Patricia, who is English but is married to a Hispanic. She's your
typical southern lady. We were teaching the plan of salvation so I was
doubly nervous! Haha and hermana starts dyinnnng coughing so she
leaves and goes away so she's not distracting, and I teach alone.. It
was really cool, cause you know how satan is the worst and always
attacks ya? He's been attacking my confidence a lot this week, and
this lesson really helped me a lot. I had the best companion, my Book
of Mormon. This lesson made me think of this quote by Ezra Taft
benson:
"The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use. It shows that
Joseph Smith was a prophet. It contains the words of Christ, and its
great mission is to bring men to Christ and all other things are
secondary. The golden question of the Book of Mormon is “Do you want
to learn more of Christ?” Now, we have not been using the Book of
Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using
it to bring our children to Christ. Our missionaries are not as
effective unless they are “hissing forth” with it."

We had a bunch of tender mercies this week!:) lots of cancellations
and rejections, but God is so good. On Friday we went to see a man
named Felix, and it started pouring, and he was getting in this car to
leave to buy cigars, but he got out and we had a lesson! He said he'd
be baptized! (Don't worry we'll get the word of wisdom soon;) )

Then Saturday we had a really hard day, but at 6 we went to see this
family, we rode our bikes and they saw us from the laundromat and
drove home just for the lesson! We haven't been able to see them for
almost 2 months so total tender mercy! :)
I love sharing the gospel.
Here's another funny moment, last night we were teaching the man named
Gregorio on his porch, and in the middle of the lesson he said hey in
a couple weeks I'm gonna take you to a Mexican restaurant! And I just
could not stop laughing!!!! I don't know why but it was so funny!
Also sometimes when you're the McMinnville hermanas you live next to a
Mexican store and so when it's not time to go home yet you go store
contacting./buy salsa and tortillas and sit outside to eat them at
8:45;) goooood times.
Cute PAUBLO gave us a back of candy! He was like I dunno if y'all will
be able to trick or treat this year ;)

I'm so happy to be able to serve my mission. This Saturday we have
transfer calls. Tying hard to be in tune with the spirit to be able to
accept Gods will, and know he has a plan and a purpose for all things
:) wish me luck!
Thank you for your love, support and prayers. Until next week,
Con amor,

 Hermana EASTWOOD(:

FAIR WEEK

It was a Many-a-door^step-and-Mexican-TIENDA-lessons kinda week :)

We met a girl named Isabel a few weeks back, and we're able to teach her the restoration this week! It went really well, so spiritual and so much unity :) another appointment tomorrow! She fed us afterwards, [see picture] I LOVE HISPANICS:) 

There's not a ton going on with our investigators, we've had a slow couple weeks trying to find, this past week we have had luck and been blessed to find a couple!:) hopefully this week we'll be able to go back and visit with them, I love finding people! Knocking til my knuckles crack :) being able to share our testimonies on the porch step really brings the spirit, i am really grateful for that. We'll keep workin hard this week, being diligent and faithful in our callings to bring the gospel to all nations!:) 

I've learned how important it is to believe in the lord, whose work this is, but also that we need to believe in ourselves. Yes we see our weaknesses and we're very aware that we're not perfect, but that does not have to stop us, or even slow us down! We need to believe in ourselves, and believe in the power of our Saviors atonement, he can change us and strengthen us in ways we can't do alone. I am so grateful for him, and the strength I receive. If I've learned anything, it's that I Know we have a loving Heavenly Father, and the

At he truly knows us by name, and loves us. Unconditionally. He hears and answers our prayers. I know that to be true. I love love love being a missionary. 

McMinnville is so country. <3 

We have this goal of FEAR NO MAN. Which aka just trying to be like every other good missionary in the world and talk to everyone, no matter if it's awkward or uncomfortable but just being bold and doing it!:) I've taken this goal to the lord, and I KNEW he would give me chances to be tested, of course. 

Which brings us to the fair! We and the elders took turns manning the booth the church has, giving out candies and pamphlets and books and things :) it was really fun! Definitely serving in the south. The fair is so huge here!:) cassadee pope from the voice performed on Thursday, idk who she is but my companion loves her so that was fun! So exciting :) 

LOVE YALLL have a fabulous week!

HIGHLIGHT(s):

Funnel cakes.

Fried cookie dough. 

Fried Oreos.

Friend snickers.

And yes, Fried twinkles. 

#south.

Alooooooooha

Soooo this week. Pues.

It's starting to cool off this weekend :) yay! 

On Tuesday we met with this woman, Patricia, (my favorite kind of person: complete southerner) who a couple weeks ago we had given her a Book of Mormon. She said, I want to return the book, I don't want it. 

And she said that, my heart dropped. I was so sad! 

We sat and talked for a minute, and I wouldn't take the book back.l.hermana Sorensen did, and we continued talking. All I could do was try to give her the Book of Mormon back,I'm just testified boldly and sincerely, and said, Patricia I truly know this book can change your life, because it has changed mine. 

And I mean that. I've always wondered about that, how everyone says the Book of Mormon can changes one's life...it's so real. To think of the person I was two years ago, I am completely changed. Because of the Book of Mormon. I truly do know and understand my savior better, and I am so grateful for the comfort I feel when I read those words :) 

Ps She accepted the book back :) yes!

Wednesday, a less active lady called us, that we had been searching for all last transfer! We were able to meet her on Thursday and wowwwww her story. She is ready to come back! She has 5 kids, all ready to come to church and be taught the lessons, we are so excited, so much hope for her and her family! Please pray for the Lopez family.

Monserrat and her family weren't able to go to church yesterday ):  we invited them to be baptized last Friday! And they have been reading the Book of Mormon :) they are nervous, but said they'll read more and and pray some more about it. We feel so good about them,  they're our transfer miracle! We know it can happen,theyre so prepared :) please keep Monserrat and her family in your prayers as well:) 

Saturday. Oh Saturday....such a hard day.. no tengo palabras.

Here's all I have to say, or better, here's what our dear friend Elder Holland has to say,

"When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him--the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ. I know as he was in the garden, he experienced every single moment of my life. I know as he walked to Calvary, he walked in my shoes. He died for me on the cross, so I can be brought back and live with him and our father in heaven once again, with my sweet family. I know as we struggle, and take up his cross, if we turn to him, think about him just a little more, we will be strengthened, and braver, and happier. 

I am so happy to be a missionary, to struggle, and to work hard, to come to know my savior and to be able to represent him, and share the joyful news of the gospel. I love him. I want everyone to come to know their savior as I know him, and i am going to work hard for that :) 

Here's to a new week! Full of miracles waiting to happen, lives waiting to be changed, prepared people waiting to be found, and the warren county fair waiting to happen :D

Con amor, 

Hermana Eastwood ️

Here's some funny facts:

-"Is yours the religion who is so annoying and knocks on everyone's doors?!"a friend of one of our members...

-catfish is good. Frog legs, however, are not...

 -I've never been honked at so much in my life than here in TN.

-that awkward moment when you find yourself falling asleep more often on your knees than in your bed. #ItsAllGood

Hola from McMinnville!

The spirit you feel when you have a family home evening and the end of the night you pray on your knees..unbeatable.

Monserrat and her family are doing great!:) were planning on asking them to be baptized for October tenth this week! /tonight!:) they came to church yesterday and the week before, the branch LOVES them and they love the church too!:)! 

this week we got transfer calls An investigator decided to invite us to his restaurant to buy us dinner, so we went anddddd it was delicious and only slightly awkward cause he asked who was les I got and we said NO ONE. 

Hermana Sorensen and I are staying together for 6 more weeks here! It'll be fun, we have been thinking about goals and trying to find those who are R E A D Y. We see a lot of potential, but we know what we have to do to help them see their potential.

This week has been a good one, andd a little discouraging at times. This is how I've received yet another confirmation from the spirit that this is the Lords work, and the scriptures are true :) 

We've been working so hard, and we're doing all we can to share the gospel clearly and boldly. We find so many people were so excited about, with so much potential, and then they fall off the face of the earth and were sad and eat Mexican ice cream...[see photo;) ]

But throughout my studies this week, what has stuck out to me has been diligently doing your task. 

I know I am doing my part, I am giving the lord everything I have, and I have to trust that is enough. I am doing what he's called me to do, and the rest is in his hands, and according to the agency of his beloved children. 

Sometimes It's discouraging, but I know our Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us, and I know he has blessed us with the spirit, the comforter, to strengthen us and inspire us, and to carry us. I am so grateful for my savior, and this time I have to be his representative and preach his Gospel.

Love,
Hermana Eastwood 

Time is going by so fast!

Time is literally going by so fast. 

We've done something cool this week, we began last Sunday and did a full week of Gratitude-Only prayers! It was so cool! A real faith tester and builder, to not ask for anything. But knowing that my Heavenly Father knows the desires of my heart, and he already knows what I need, and he knows better how to help me. So to go for a week without asking anything, I know we truly did his will, completely. It was amazing. Plus with us being so sick this week, he blessed us immensely with the energy and strength we've needed to do his work!

We have been finding some really cool people! 

We have a girl named Monserrat, and her mom-Yolanda, and her mom -rosa, and her mom-....something Hispanicky..#4GENERATIONS. They know two members, Monserrat works with them, and we've started teaching them!:) they walked into church yesterday!!!!! They loved it! And the second lesson we had with them, Yolanda asked about baptism! Oh my gosh earlier that day we were talking and praying about setting a date. We're thinking October 3rd :) never lose the faith that people are prepared by his hand :)

Something I've learned/realized this week is that we need to treat everyone we meet not only as Jesus would, but as we would treat Jesus Christ himself. I've been thinking a lot about that, and His Atonement. I know he suffered and died for me personally, because he loves me. I know his atonement paid for every single one of us, out of his never ending love for us.

Also, I know yall are not tired yet of our never ending adventures with bikes and rain.. Literally biked through a river this week. Life is so good. 

Ps tender mercies: an Hermana from the branch gave us a HUGE jar of peanut butter, (crunchy ;) ) AND NUTELLA. S/o to you sweet girl Hermana Kilgore!;) #GodBlessAmerica

We took our friend Joselyn (baptized last year) out with us on Friday night, and we were running around for 2 hours finding people to teach, she was so sweet though! Says going out with the missionaries makes her excited to serve! She's 16! So sweet:) we ended the night with ice cream, the only reasonable explanation to a very sick week haha. We smart. 

I've realized we only learn as we struggle, we only grow when we fall. This week I had an interesting experience. We were contacting a referral, AWESOME FAMILY from Puerto Rico, we're so excited about them. And we taught them about the restoration, and I was just OFF. I was not feeling like a good missionary or teacher, and I could not understand how I had been doing this for so long...satan was getting to me so strongly. I felt bad, and looked down at my restoration pamphlet and saw the picture of Jesus holding the sheep, and I just felt so much love, and his tender arms around me. After the lesson I expressed how I was feeling, and after I calmed down a little bit, we got to teach a recently baptized family and teach them. It's amazing how bad I was feeling, and once I gave it to the Lord, he helped me so much. He truly carried me that day. 

I love this work, I love growing and learning and struggling and teaching and doing my best. I know when I struggle, I am in his hands, and I know I can't let him down cause I'm doing my best. And I know my weaknesses will not slow down his work, because he is a God of miracles! I am honored to represent his son Jesus Christ, and I know it is him who is working these miracles, not me. I am simply his instrument :)

Hope yall have a happy week (: 

Love,

Hermana Eastwood 

A Stormy Week in McMinnville

All I remember of this week is that I was wet the entire time. Rain and bikes is a really fun, dangerous adventure :) 

On Wednesday I gave a training at District Meeting on prayer. It was really nice be able to reflect on my relationship with my Heavenly Father and to think about how big of a blessing it is that we pray. 

I've definitely strengthened my testimony of prayer so much on my mission. I know our father in heaven truly cares about every single one of us, and that he listens. And more than that, I know he answers us. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost, the comforter we have been blessed with to get us through the best and hardest times. 

This week specifically I have strengthened/gained my testimony of having s prayer in your heart all the time. For example, When you're biking in a storm, sometimes it gets hard.. But as you pour your heart out to God, thanking him for the many blessings and realize you're communicating with a he sent being, you're filled with the spirit and strength you need :) #GratitudePrayers.

One day the Elders had mercy on us and gave us the car for a few hours. Blessings, Let me tell ya. It's like we're a little McMinnville missionary family-there are 4 elders here and we all live SO CLOSE. It's so fun!

LA CAZONA. so on Friday we had planned on eating dinner with this less active Hermana, and she invited a member too. So we all go over there, anddddd she doesn't feed us so we teach her and ya know be missionaries and do missionary work and what not.. Then we leave and the member is like, do you wanna go eat with me? So we go to La CAZONA where almost every Hispanic in this town works, and we eat dinner :) some delicious chicken with cheesy sauce, and fried ice cream! And the best part was our investigator was our Waiter! It was so awesome!:) 

I just love serving in the south. These southern women, man I'm telling you...so many good memories!:) 

I'm so happy to be serving my mission.

“… It is not enough to serve God with all of our might and strength. He who looks into our hearts and knows our minds demands more than this. In order to stand blameless before God at the last day, we must also serve him with all our heart and mind.

...Service with all of our heart and mind is a high challenge for all of us. Such service must be free of selfish ambition. It must be motivated only by the pure love of Christ”-Dallin H. Oaks.

 

Love yall, have a great week!:) 

Hermana Eastwood 

Temple trip in Tennessee

WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a double blessing cause we drove through MURFREESBORO!!!!:) ah. My heart just aches for the Boro I love it so much.

The temple was amazing. I love the spirit one feels there, I didn't want to leave. It's so peaceful, I felt so loved. I am so grateful for this gospel.

Friday night we had the FUNNIEST LESSON EVER.

there's this man named Bernardo the hermanas met a few weeks ago I think, he's really cool. We've pursued and feel like he is our transfer miracle!! We went over on Friday to visit him, and his brother Juan came out too....oh my gosh. It was crazy, it was such a good lesson, Bernardo has so much interest!! But it was the funniest lesson and the most crazy as well. Juan was all drunk and being all distracting and weird...Hispanic men sometimes I swear haha but we were able to teach Bernardo a solid lesson about the restoration of the gospel and the Book of Mormon!  It was a hard lesson cause wow lots of distractions (and patience is definitely a virtue), but it was AWESOME because it showed how much Bernardo has :):) 

Saturday-

We helped the branch president (Caten)and his familia clean the church! Then we went to Smithville with his mom to visit a less active named Xochitl -new favorite name. (Zo-cheee).

Then I lived my county dream and we worked on a farm!!!! Sister Caten has like 30 cows!!!!

I realized something huge while In a lesson with Onesimo Saturdays night, a man who's been investigating for a while, and reads and comes to church and everything (is unsure about life cause he's already been baptized). I was sharing an experience I'd had on my mission, about how i had obtained my testimony on a certain principle.  

A testimony is something so precious and personal. Your testimony is never shared without all your heart. i give a piece of myself to these people as i testify to them, I feel the spirit working through me to touch their hearts. Never miss a chance to bear your testimony of your savior Jesus Christ :) 

I have never felt more certain that I by myself am nothing, but I am an instrument in the hands of my God, being led and guided through him to help his children find their way back.:) 

I wouldn't want to be doing anything else at this time.

On Sunday during branch council I was told I would be giving a talk. Awesome.. on missionary work and why I am here and how I got here. AWESOME. It was good to reflect on my mission and on my decision to serve, and the difference I've seen in myself and all I've learned. 

I am so grateful for my mission :) for my family and the support I have from them and their examples, I am so grateful for how much I have come to know my savior Jesus Christ, and to wear his name over my heart everyday, and to testify of him in his name. THis has been the best experience I've ever had, I love sharing the message of the restoration,  and helping others come closer to Christ and find purpose in this life. 

Hope you all have an amazing week!!!!:)

Love,

Hermana Eastwood