Clementina's Baptism

We have a huge miracle! I've known about a little hermanita named
Clementina for about a month. Or maybe a little more. Anyways, she's
from Honduras and moved to Smyrna, (close to my first area, the BORO,)
about seven months ago. She lives with a family who are members and
come all the way to providencia for church. She's been coming to
church with them too. She has wanted to get baptized for about the
past month or so, but I could never find her slash meet her! This
whole transfer I've been calling families and families trying to find
her. Finally last week, We got ahold of her. Thank goodness! We met
her on Monday, and worked our lil tushies off and met with her
everyday, annnndddd she was baptized on Saturday!!!!! There is no
doubt in my mind this is the Lords work. She's the most prepared
little person I've ever met! She is the sweetest and her prayers are
the best. She always says how she's so happy and is so excited for her
baptism, and she's thankful for the Hermanas to help her :) man I
don't know it was so fun to teach her and to work with her, I'm so
blessed to be here.
At her baptism I had a little moment. Our Ward Mission Leader had
everyone there raise their hand if they were found and taught by
missionaries. Every single hand went up. It was amazing, I always sit
at church and think of how grateful I am to be on my mission and to be
in this Ward, these members are SO STRONG, and to think it all started
with missionaries..It was just amazing.

We had a great week, we worked really hard and baked in the sun and
were soaked in the rain :) I love being here!

We had a real nice 3 hour bible bash with our dear friend Evelio last
night. He was baptized in August and he's from Cuba. #Stressful if I
talk more about it imma get overwhelmed again haha it was really
crazy, and hard, and being in the Bible Belt is great. bible bashes
are hard in English and Spanish. Haha cause the bible is hard and so
is English.. And Spanish.
But, life is good! We're all still alive and well:)
I've learned and realized we can do so much and really leave all the
rest to the Lord. We can do our part, and I know we can pray for help
we need and that the spirit can work through us to help touch the
hearts of others.:)
Byes yall have a great week!!!!!! :)
Hermana Eastwood

I like to share the gospel with everyone. and everything.
Happy earth day!
Clementinas baptism :)

April 20, 2015

What a week! I don't know what's going on, the time is flying faster and faster...

Let's talk about Roberto. The hermanas in West Nash sent us a referral, for Roberto. He goes to the elders' English class. HE. IS. GOLDEN. He is the nicest man, we met at Hardees(tennessee's Carl's junior haha) and he bought us lunch the first time we met him! We gave him a Book of Mormon and he loved it! Then on Saturday, we taught him the Restauracion and he loved it so much. He agreed to be baptized on the 16th of May! We are seeing so many miracles over here, I am so grateful to be a part of this work, to be able to share my testimony with everyone I come in contact with.

Also 2 more miracle humans to share! Manuel-we met him in this sketchierr part of town. And he said hey can yall come back Monday night? My whole family will be home and I want you guys to teach us all. (Um, okay. ) we aren't usually in that area at night, so we asked if its okay if we get a ride with a member, and he said oh we can come pick you guys up! So we have scheduled it, and he is bringing his family to the church tonight so we can teach them! We are SO excited!!(: 

And Clementina. This little 13 year old girl is getti baptized next week. I've never met her. She's even coming to church for a while, and for about a month I've been working so hard to meet her and teach her! Finally, got a hold of her family and everything, and we have an appointment everyday scheduled for her so she can be baptized on Saturday. She is in YW with out ward mission leaders wife, and she said she's all ready and just needs the lessons!(: the Lord truly prepares his children, and I have a testimony that U.S. As missionaries, we are his instruments. Please keep Clementina in your prayers this week, that every night will go as planned (: 

We also had interviews this week! I LOVE PRESIDENT ANDERSON. Nuff said.

I went on exchanges this week with Sister Hochstrasser! She came to my area this time and it was sooo fun. We got a nice chocolate shake from a 14 year old boy, it had cocoa puffs and honey smacks crushed up....it was interesting. Haha we were able to visit a lot of people! We saw lots of miracles :)  Earlier that morning we were talking about our missions and about what is a testimony. We said, a testimony if found in the bearing of it. 

I live off of that. I don't know everything, I am trying my best. We are all still learning together. As long as we are showing our faith and trusting in God, trying to do His work, he will help us. We were at a lesson with Pedro and Jeny, the cuuuutest investigators. And we had a member come with us! During the lesson, I was thinking a lot about my chat with sis H., and as I was testifying about this gospel and Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon, I couldn't stop the tears from coming..I don't know everything, but I felt the spirit and was able to testify strongly and with love. Later that night, the member called us to see if I was okay. People are so good! 

I know God knows us personally, and all our struggles and weaknesses. I know he puts people into our lives for a reason, I know we can overcome everything when we put our trust in him.

I love these people. I can't imagine myself anywhere else. I am so grateful for my mission. 

Fun factys: 

Last Monday as we went out to work, well let me start this again. A few weeks ago we were walking home, and this nice lady gave us a ride. About a week later we saw her again, and found out where she lives..(we are creepy, but we weren't creeping...we were at the same apartment complex..) so we were trying to visit our friends, and we had a feeling to visit her and share the restoration with her! We thought, there's no coincidence we've seen her so many times. So we talked on her doorstep, and her neighbor was locked out, so he listened too. Afterwards, he brought us to his Pastors house cause he wanted her to hear our story and stuff.:) so we go over there and we're talking, and man it was so fun!!!! I'm obsessed with the south cause these people really love Jesus!!!! The pastor said to her friend, I feel tempted to pray for these ladies. Haha sooo she prayed for us, and it was just great. They want an invite for our weddings haha I LOVE PEOPLE. Then as we were starting our trek to the next apartment complex, the First Lady we had met a while ago, gives us a bag of food. #blessings.

My companion has an album called : Happy Eastwood. It's all our selfies-and it's cause I struggle at writing happy Easter. 

My lil roomy played a prank on us. My tag is now pink haha. 

We went out to eat with this cutest couple and I don't know if I've already told this story but we were eating like chicken and pasta and stuff and she said, Im only missing tortillas! Haha mannnn these Hispanics, they love their tortillas :)

Today we were feeling tourist-y so we went to Nashville! I love being there it is so fun:) even when we get rained on :):):) 

Love you allll have a great week!(: 

Hermana Eastwood 

Welcome to Tennessee Hermana James!

WE'VE HAD THE CRAZIEST WEEK. 

And to top it off, it's the first week in the mission for my companion. On Tuesday I got mi hija!!!!! BIENVENIDO A TENNESSEE HERMANA JAMES!!!! My cute greenie is from Oregon, and loves to play the French horn and she has a talent for knowing when it's going to rain. She's legit. We have worked soooo hard this week! It's been one of the craziest weeks of my mission! 

Welcome to mission life Hermana :)

We taught a lot, and worked HARD. We ate nopales this week--cactus. sooo good!

The highlight was when cute VIVIANA got married and BAPTIZED!!!!!

Hermana Kilgore got to come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):)):):) I was so happy to see her!(: she is in Murfreesboro! :) 

Viviana has been wanting to get baptized for SO LONG. Like years. It made me very grateful to see how much this means to her, and to watch her get baptized and to be able to have worked with her. She's truly a blessing! Her son was able to baptize her it was sooo sweet. 

(I promise she was happier than the picture shows haha :) )

I am so excited about this area. There is sooo much going on and this ward is just amazing. I just watch every single member walk in each Sunday, and they're so strong and it's wonderful.

To just see how much this gospel means to each and every one of them and how SUERTE it is that I am living 24/7 trying to share this with others.

Les quiero muchooo

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!:)

Hermana Eastwood 

What a great week!!!!!!! It went by so fast! 

First of all we were able to go to the temple! It was amazing, I am sooo thankful. :) I felt the spirit so strongly, and I just know that this is happiness. We have Gods priesthood power on the earth, we will be with our families for E V E R. how merciful is our Heavenly Father? I am so grateful for his gospel, and the time I have to serve him and share his word.

On Saturday we had a ward actividad, we did a little 'Hispanic' hike, (aka walking around the park) haha and taught about the plan of salvation and how we need to depend on our families for strength and support. :) then we played kickball! It was the funnest.

Apparently, Saturday mornings president calls for special assignments for next transfer.

 I completely forgot.. Around 12 we look at the phone and see he's called 4 TIMES!!!! 

(..sorry President.) I've been asked to train a Brand new missionary!!!!  It came as a huge shock, I thought Hna Kilgore and I were staying together for sure. She's leaving me): I'm sad for that, I'm really grateful for the transfer we've had together, I've learned so much from her. We've both grown a lot, and we're best friends, I will miss her so bad! 

but I am really excited for my new Hermana!!! It's going to be so fun to introduce her to missionary life :):) 

Remember julia, kedwin and  doroni? I emailed about them last week I think. We had a nother AWESOME lesson with them last night. Doroni is changing a lot, at first he would just sit silently and laugh..then he read...then he said he wants to come to church...then he accepted a Book of Mormon...now he's coming to a noche de hogar tonight with the ward! I am so excited! 

Well, Here's to a new week, a new transfer and a new missionary!!!!!:)

Les quiero mucho,

Hermana Eastwood 

HOLA AMIGOS!! :)

THIS WEEK. 

Here's a fun story about Martha: we met her about three weeks ago, she's from El Salvador and is about 60. She works a lot so we aren't able to find her home a lot, and she can't come to church. Yet. So we had given her a Libro when we met her. And We finally were able to teach her the restauracion on Tuesday. At the end, her son walks in...what happens?

 WE SIT THERE WHILE SHE TEACHES HIM THE RESTORATION. it was hilarious.. But she did such a good job, like it was perfect. We have an appointment with them tomorrow, I'm so excited. She's like our little grandma and we love her. 

This week we Totes got dropped, Julia and kedwin live with TWO MEMBERS and they've been learning for about two months. We haven't been able to meet with us for like 2 weeks cause they've been not answering and not home and it's sad haha. But on Saturday we got a call from the Hermano, he said they don't want to talk to us anymore. So we were bummed. And then we got over it and said what you can't lose us that easily! So we went over last night and it was perfect. The hermana was just getting home, so she let us in. Julia was home! And the Hermano was just waking up from his siestA. We had an AWESOME lesson about testimonies and the Book of Mormon and church, and I dunno it was just really good. taught me a lot about not giving up and being persistent;) so we're re-excited about them (: 

We had Zone meeting this week and got new iPads. Funny story, we were 2.5 hours late to the meeting so we came got the iPads and left. It was so sad! We had an emergency with one of the members, Pues when the going gets rough... Haha we ended the day with a nice lunch at Chuy's, a tex mex place with the English sisters we live with. Soo yummy and fun. Then we started getting ready for the BAPTISM OF JHONNY. we got the program's done and then he had his interview, all went sooo perfectly. I know this is His work, and He is helping us every step of the way. We could not do this alone, we do not see miracles because of magic, GOD IS REAL. 

Now Jhonnys baptism!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana Kilgore gave a talk on baptism, and I gave a talk on the Holy Spirit. It was such a sweet service, he was soooo happy! 

He told us some amazing things. At first, on Wednesday when we went over prophets with the bishop, he was saying is he never planned on becoming a member, he just wanted to learn. Even trough all his doubts, when we questioned him and tried to help, he's like:it just makes sense! I've seen him change so much-having this experience with him has been a huge testimony builder of yes this gospel really does change lives. And changes them HARD.

The best part was when he said, I'd been praying to God that if it wasn't right, that he'd put an obstacle in my way. Even when I got in my white clothes I prayed. And NO OBSTACLE CAME. That also was a testimony to me that is really is His church, and this is the right way, and the only way to truly have eternal life and happiness :) I'm so happy for jhonny!!! On Sunday he was confirmed, and he just was sooo happy and felt so good!:) I'm so glad to have been able to walk with him a little bit through his experience :) 

Fun facts:

*One time we were at the gas station and I thought I was getting hot chocolate buuuuttt I got Coffee!! HAHAH lol @my word of wisdom.

*This ones for spencer-U2. So apparently U2 was downloaded on all the iPads, and it went off playing during church!!! QUE?! It was so embarrassing, I thought somehow in some crazy way you did that...haha. It's fixed now ;)

*i was saying the prayer last night in a lesson, and then all the sudden LOUD MEXICAN MUSIC STARTS PLAYING IN THE SPEAKERS and I thought I was being shot at.  that's all.

I Love my mission, I am so grateful to be here!

Have a good week YALL:)

Hermana Eastwood 

Here's a fun city pic :):)

March 9, 2015

This week was GREAT I hope I can write a semi decent email about it.

On Tuesday we had exchanges! I went to the english area (yikes!!) with sister oldroyd, we served by each other for 4 months in murfreesboro! I love her sooo much, I learned a lot from her. We had such a party on our exchange-sleepovers for days! I always get nervous for exchanges, but they always end up being AMAZINGly great. 

On Wednesday we had district meeting-great as usual. Then after, all the sisters went out for PAPUSAS!!!!!! :) it was sooo fun-and pouring rain made it even better :)

On Thursday we got snowed in, so we had a nice Skype lesson with Jhonny!!! Thank goodness for ipads and wifi and stuff :) he's going to get baptized this Saturday! We are sooo excited!! He's having a bit of a struggle with prophets-he loves the Book of Mormon, the church, he wants to get baptized so bad, he's fine with everything juuussttt prophets are a struggle. I've been studying a lot about the restoration and joseph smith and it was cool to be able to share what I've been learning, and to try to help him pray sincerely. We are meeting with him tonight, we're so excited and hope all goes well! We know to put our trust in the lord and his time :)

Saturday we had SPANISH CONFERENCE!!!!!!:) SO FUN. There's about 35-40 spanish missionaries in this mission-I am so grateful to be one of those. I absolutely love my calling, I come home every day just so happy to be apart of this work! To be able to get to know these wonderful people, and learn from them. 

I was able to see all my spanish friends and just have a really good day!!:) we learned a lot about things specifically related to our work-and how we can improve and what more we can do! I'm so happy to be here :) 

Pues hasta luego!!!:)

Pictures:

Exchangee

spanish missionaries 

Happy 'bump' day!:) ... I'm still a dork.

Mission Conference Week

This week We had a mission conference this week, it was sooo fun to be able to see all my friends! I'm so grateful our service has brought me to know so many wonderful elders and sisters! I love my tennessee nashville mission family!!:) 

At the conference, we had trainings by elder Schwitzer from the quorum of the seventy, and brother Gonzalez and they were really cool! It was mostly focused on online missionary work and stuff like that, but they can be applied to all phases of the work, even for when we go back home and are member missionaries :)

I loved an example he gave, about MATH, what!? He was talking about exponential and linear growth. Anndddd I was so lost, untill he related it to missionaries haha 

I learned that yes it's definitely so important for us as missionaries to gain our own testimonies and to develop spiritually, and how that is linear growth. It's good.

It's better to have exponential growth, when we study, we should be studying with our investigators in mind wanting to help them in every aspect. 

Sometimes I have things I want to study personally things I want to learn, but I've noticed as I keep my mind focused on who I am here for, I learn a lot more and I grow a lot more from studying for them, And as we do that, as we use our time to serve and help the needs of others, we grow as well. Exponentially:)

We have been working with jhonny, he's going to get baptized on the 14th, it's been amazing to see him turn his life around and change so much! 

I just really know God loves every single one of us :)

This week was a super test of faith for us, we had so many cancelled appointments, which is normal, but we just kept being diligent and doing our best! Being obedient, and trying, and praying for guidance. I know God always listens, and helps us learn and grow. I know he always gives us what we need, and he sends little angels around when we need them :) This cute investigator couple we have, Pedro y Jeny, surprised us and came over and brought us chips and salsa / queso and fruit salad and orange juice. It was sooo sweet, we about cried because we had had a hard day haha. 

It was so sweet, it was snowing a little bit and cute little Jeny said HERES SANTA. Little tender mercy :) 

Also we heart attacked the door of the sisters we live with! It was so fun. #hermanasforlife

It's starting to get warmer! I'm actually sitting out side in the sun writing this email :) some things don't change haha. I am grateful I have this time to serve, and I am excited to see what is in store for this week!:) 

Love yall!!

Hermana Eastwood