September 29, 2014

HEY YALL!

this week was GREAT!!!!

we set 3 baptismal dates!!!

one with juan carlos-we reset it :) HAPPY!

and one with Marivel-shes a doll!!! shes like 22 and from Belize. and shes such a cutieee!!!

we taught her about prophets and the book of mormon like 3 weeks ago, and havent been able to meet with her since! and on tuesday, we were just gonna stop by to set up an appointment for another day, but then we were able to have a lesson! we taught the restoration, and she wants to be baptized!!! it was soooo cool! i felt so happy! heres a selfie of us after we told president ;)

and the next one is with Minerva-i met her on the street on exchanges! we went over and taught the restoration, and she wants to be baptized as well!

it was such a happpy week! all dates are in november and i am so happy!!(:

we met a lot of nice people this week too.

i just have such a strong testimony of prayer and enduring to the end!!

i know god hears our prayers, and knows our struggles. i know he is helping us, even when we feel alone.

i know in his own time we will recognize the blessings we have, and see his hand in our lives.

i am so happy to be here!!!

this is the last week of transfers, then im out of training!!! yay! i am so excited to see how much ive learned and to do this!! (:

we get to watch meet the mormons tomorrow hehe yay!

its still hot here, but the leaves are changing and its so pretty! cant believe its like 90 degrees and its almost OCTOBER! weird!!

we were able to go to an Olive Branch Baptist church on saturday-OH MY. best thing ever haha

there were baptisms, singing, and baby dedications. crazy. but so fun.

life over here in tennessee is pretty good!

its coming along, and spanish is so fun!

love you all, cant wait for conference!!! tell me your favorite talks okay?:)

con amor,

hermana eastwood (:

September 22, 2014

HI!

this week was good, we had exchanges on thursday! it was so great! Hermana Jensen is  A DOLL! she's going home in a few weeks, and she taught me so much.

I've learned i need to take this moment by moment, work hard, but also enjoy it! laugh! smile! yeah.

i’m still very afraid of knocking, but I'm glad i endured this week! we met so many awesome people! todo van a ser bautizado!!!

:) seriously though, i am excited for this week, to go back and visit them and teach my little heart out! and i am excited to meet more people this week too. Imma work so hard!

i had a fun experience, we were at the door of one of our investigators, we were gonna set up a date with him and everything!(saturday) and he wasn't home, so we were waiting for a bit. then he called us, (he's in North Carolina) and Hermana Smith talked to him, cause she can understand phone spanish better than me haha) so while she was on the phone, hermano kaelberer and i were chatting, and then i saw a guy so i walked over and talked to him! WHAT! (i was scared but did it (: ) and we were talking and he was like i wanna go to church! and i was like well perfect thats what we’re here to do. so we gave him a pamphlet and the address and our phone number and everything, and it was an amazing contact! and i felt so good, cause we have the church and he has been looking for it, and the cool thing is, he didn't even live there! talk about right place right time!

and earlier that day i had been talking to hermano kaelberer (ward mission leader) about how i have been so shy on my mission. and after this contact, he was like HERMANA EASTWOOD great job tonight! you did so good and you had an amazing contact.

i seriously wanted to cry! it was so nice, and just what i needed to hear:)

then after we had about 20 minutes before we could go home, so we went to kroger to tract! and we played an ‘i dare you’ game and when we see people we dare each other to talk to them. i was so scared! but i did it, and i am grateful because i had fun and we talked to nice people, no hispanics though haha we need to go to a mexican gas station next time :)

im pumped cause we’re gonna go get ice cream today, cause its half off somewhere haha fun fact for ya ;)

we have about 2 weeks left of this transfer, and im determined to work so hard!

we have a few people who can be baptized, we just need to meet with them and get them to commit! i know if i work hard, and have faith in the lord, i will have the confidence to do what i need to do, and they will be able to know the truth. i get nervous when thinking of inviting them to be baptized, but i know i shouldn't. baptism is the door to eternal life! to happiness! to being able to live with our families, and our HEAVENLY FATHER once again! its so happy!

i had some humbling experiences this week-i cant use a lot of details cause confidentiality and what not:)

but there is always so much to worry about, sometimes we forget about what others are going through.

as much as we pray for ourselves and our own safety, success, and happiness, we should [pray for that for others as well. i’ve learned, especially being a missionary, as much as i want something for myself, i should think of others first. i should want it for them MORE.

i want to be with my family forever, i am here helping others realize they want that too, and HOW they can get it! i want to be happy, and i am here sharing the gospel, the way to everlasting happiness, with those who dont have it!

thank you for your prayers, i can feel it. i know i couldn't do this alone, without the help of our father in heaven. i am so grateful for the power of prayer, and that he knows us perfectly. i know if we try our best, we will be blessed by his help for our efforts :) we are never alone!

love you all, have a great happy week! :)

con amor,

hermana eastwood:)

September 15th, 2014

holaaa!!!

this week was goood, its getting cooler here so holla! haha i can see my spanish improving a lot, still got a long ways to go, but i know i can do it! i have the lord on my side :) (<—thats what the mission president said to me my first Pday here, so i’ve kept that in mind ever since :) )

MIRACLE! Juan Carlos CAME TO CHURCH OH MY GOODNESS!!! #PRAISE

hes the one we set a baptismal date with my first 2 weeks here!

and we told him a few weeks ago he needs to get married, and we were finally able to meet with his woman, sofia! and they talkedabout marriage, and we’re like hey we can help!

haha so we’re so happy! he finally came to church!

its cool, cause hma smith wanted to give up on him, but i had faith and felt that we shouldnt give up just yet. HEY good thing we didnt, cause looky! miracle! he came and we were so happy, and he liked it! :) i have faith that he and sofia will get married, and he will get baptized, and we will also be able to convert sofia  (catholic) and it will be a whole family of happiness YAY!:)

we went to the temple this friday, it was absolutely amazing and perfect timing!

i have had a hard time this week, because i just havent been feeling very good about myself, cause i havent been feeling loved.

But, at the temple, i just felt an overwhelming feeling of the Lord’s love for me, and it really just changed everything. i know whenever we are sad, we can turn to him and if we are patient, in his own timing he will help  us. all we need to do is keep the faith, and show our trust in him. Give our Will’s up, and do His. he knows better than any of us what is best, and we need to trust him :)

this week, is finally my first exchange, im excited! ill be staying in my area, so im nervous, but i trust that god knows what he’s doing, and i’ll be able to do it :)

i am also determined to be so diligent at knocking this week!

this literally freaks me out like nothing else-i have no idea why also! its just talking to people inviting them to salvation and whatnot…no biggy. but its just super scary and i am determined to LOVE it and to keep trying, and not give up-even when i feel awkward. its fine haha.

we met some cool people this week, and had some really good lessons.

my favorite is teaching about the Atonement, because the spirit is always so strong, and i know im in the right place, doing what im supposed to be doing.

i hope everyone has the happiest week ever!

remember Christ knows exactly how we feel at all times, and when  we reach out to him, i know he will bless us with the comfort and strength we need, if we are patient and trusting :)

con amor,

hermana eastwood

September 8, 2014

heeyyyyy!

so weird week, not too exciting. i dont know what to say. haha saturday my trainer was a bridesmaid in a wedding for her recent convert! so we roadtripped up to nashville!

there were 4 hermanas and 2 elders in the wedding!

so i got to hang out with everyones companions, while our companions were all in the wedding! it was so fun to get to know other hermanas, and to talk about missionary work and to get motivated and advice and stuff(: elder spiker, was in the wedding! holla! i remember when we were in 9th grade we were office aides together, haha now we’re serving the lord together, in spanish!(: he’s doing awesome!!

this week we had the car and had to fix a bunch of things on it, (for whatever reason we always have problems ha a) so that cut into our missionary time!!

we went tracting and met this lady named esperanza-shes so cute! shes like i wanna come to church!! and so we are gonna go back this week and teach her and shes gonna get baptized :)

we had zone conference on wednesday!! it was so good! we learned about the power of prayer, the atonement, integrity, and our power and authority. it was so motivating! i got so pumped to go out and work!!!!!

that night, we were at dinner at a members house (what!? thats a first, no just kidding hah) and the mom was not being too nice to me about my spanish, and i felt so bad! especially since earlier that day i was so motivated and pumped to be a missionary!

i realized fast it was satan, he could tell i was doing okay, so he hit me again!

i prayed so hard and i just realized i am so much stronger than him, we all are! we can overcome anything, through prayer and having faith not only in ourselves but in our heavenly father, and our savior jesus christ.

i know through praying to our heavenly father we can receive strength. HE LOVES US SO MUCH. he knows exactly what we go through, and he is there to help. i am so grateful i know i have a loving father on earth (S/O DADDY YOU ROCK!) and in heaven.

i am so grateful i have the gospel in my life, i’ve seen it bless me so much, and i am SO GRATEFUL to know i can be with my sweet sweet family for ever and ever! knowing that, makes it easier to be away from them for 18 months. i dont know what i would do if i thought we couldnt be an eternal family. thats why i am on my mission, to bring this happiness to those who dont know! this gospel brings me happiness even when im sad or feeling like a terrible missionary, and knowing there is a way to happiness, motivates me to keep going, to share my happiness~!

i feel like i say that always, but its true!(:

its whatever.

haha

i don’t really know what to say now…

im thankful to be in a place where i can hit taco bell whenver—doritos locos for dayysss!!!

shoot i remembered i need to email my president, hah so this is all!

love you guys!!!!!

September 1, 2014

Hola amigos!
This week was preeetty cool it rained a ton! Haha I don’t know what to
say in these emails cause I forget everything. We have zone conference
this Wednesday, get to drive through Nashville YAY! And were gonna do
my first exchange on Friday yikes! Haha nah it’s chill. I gave a talk
yesterday and it was good! Hana in Spanish what!? Everyone said I did
good, and I’m very grateful. They’re so nice.
My Spanish is really improving I can tell! I’m speaking up a lot more
and getting more comfortable every day:)

We had two homies come to church yesterday! Euguino and vicente ,
(somehow it took us 7 weekdays to realize his name is Eugine in
English.. Haha no idea how it took so long for that, but it was a
happy time haha k random by sorry)
But they’re awesome!
We have a bunch of friends! (Investigators). And today the branch is
having a party cause #diadetrabajo and so we invited all our friends
to come and play futbol! WE GET TO WEAR PANTS.  Yes. And all our
friends love futbol so they’ll all come and make friends then they’ll
come to church :) hehe yay.

We met some cool people this week, and just hearing how much they open
up to us at the first visit, really strengthens my testimony on how I
have the spirit, and am representing Christ.

I really just want to help these people. Honestly. I want to help them
find the happiness I have through this gospel. Because I know I can be
with my family forever, and that is so comforting. (CAUSE I LOVE YOU
GUYS YALL ARE MY ROCK-seriously though, where would I be without you
guys? ) I want others to know that too. I want to let them know how
they should live their life, and that it’s not hard to keep the
commandments when you look at the big picture. I mean it’s always
hard, cause satans cray, but I know if we pray for strength, not for
no temptations, we can do it! (:

Imma go play futbol now YAY! Happy Labor Day!(:

August 25, 2014

Hi guys!

This week was crazy. Haha first of all fun fact I ate lamb on Tuesday:)

Secondly, on Wednesday we had interviews with the president and holy

cow that was awesome! He and his wife are so inspired, i loved

talking with them, they helped me a ton!

Thursday I gave my first training in district meeting, SCARY! Haha i

was told I did well, but idkkkk….I’m glad it’s over, until next time

haha.

Also I’m giving a talk this Sunday :) HOLLA @ Spanish! Tight.

Also our car broke this week! #1stworldprobs so we rode bikes, which I

LOVE, more than the car, but my companion hates it so she wasn’t too

happy haha. But Tuesday night our car got possessed likeee legit and

so we rode our bikes. And took it into the shop on Wednesday, which

MIRACLE! K awesome, it has to do with prayer.

We were driving to the mechanic, and our car freaked out. We were on

the side of the rode, and then it worked again. So we went on the main

rode, and awkward it stopped working in the middle! So it was

sketchy…haha but then we said a prayer that we would make it to the

Toyota parking lot safely. So after the prayer, we sat for a bit, then

yolo’d and started driving again. It was windy and rainy. And so we

were .2 miles away. And I was gonna get out and push it through the

intersection! Haha but it worked! So we made it and turned left

through the intersection, and literally barely made it into the

parking lot. Then it died, for good. IT WAS SO COOL. our prayer was

answered, so specifically! We made it into the parking lot!(: also I

got to get out and push the car to the people, so remember how I

always wanna do that? Like run out of gas and have to push the car?

YAY IT HAPPENED ON MY MISSION HEHEHE. but seriously, I know god

listens and answers our prayers, even if it’s at the last minute.

Also another miracle, we were at the church on Saturday unexpectedly

for one hour, and a man named Adiel walked in and asked when the

Spanish service is? So we said tomorrow, and guess what, he come to

church! And we had nothing planned for Tuesday afternoon, and that is

the only time he can meet with us this week! Miracle! The Lord led us

to the church at that specific time on Saturday, and made it so we

were free on Tuesday, miracle :)

Haha also Juan Carlos is the bomb, he’s the one I invited to be

baptized my first or second week. I felt really good in our last

lesson with him, last night. All I did was cry faith and repentance,

and that’s what we need to do. All is possible by having faith, and

repenting, coming clean so we can be worthy to live with our father in

heaven again.

Welp, it’s super hot and humid here as usual, basically sweat buckets

on the daily, but we love it! can hardly wait for fall and winter:)

the Hispanics are my bffs and oh hey yeah we made tamales yesterday!

Funnest:)

I love all you fools! Have a great week and remember to say your

prayers and brush your teeth!(:

August 18, 2014

HEY FIRST OF ALL HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. YOU
seriously don't know how much you've helped me, you're an amazing
example. Have the best time in CALI!!(: spencer today
at my hike, I met a guy who just returned from his mission in Brazil!
And the guy we hiked with he's leaving in a few weeks to go there!
Tight! I was excited to tell u when I found out :) k love you!!

So this week was good! We met a couple, Ana and Marco, TOTES gonna get
baptized. We had an awesome lesson with them about the plan of
salvation, and they took it really well and have the cutest family!
I'm excited for them (:

K miracle time! (: we were going to an appointment on Saturday, and we
saw these guys outside so we talked to them. Apparently Josue had met
with missionaries for like 6months in South Carolina! So we were like
hey we gotta go but church is tomorrow. And he came! And brought his
friend Gabriel too! It was crazy! I was so so happy to see them at
church, and we have an appointment with them this week.
A member came out with us at day too, and he asked if people let us
talk to them, and we're like, yeah the men do. Hahah it's hilarious
how many people yell at us when were on bikes! Besides the point sorry haha

This week was kinda slow, one day literally no body opened their door!
We rode our bikes for 4 hrs around the city, back and forth trying to
find someone, back ups and back ups haha all fell through! This is the
part where you'd normally hear some crazy miracle happen, but nope
still no one answered. But the funny thing was, I wasn't discouraged.
I kept going. Kept pedaling. Kept knocking. Kept trying. And I could
feel gods love for me, and I know he's proud of me for trying.
We had trainer/trainee meeting on Friday, with the president and his
assistants. In Nashville so HOLLA at a field trip! (PS we're goin
there tomorrow too, cause my Hermana has to go to the doctor and we're
riding the bus so double HOLLA!)
Anyways that was a good meeting. I learned a lot. I learned about how
to study, how to plan, how to feel better, and just stuff idk haha
sorry everyday feels like years ago! What I'm trying to say is
yeaahhhh good meeting. Sorry I'm really tired today so this email is
probably wacky.

I said this last week, ONE DAY AT A TIME(:
Today was so fun we went hiking! It was so weird hiking in humidity!
Seriously it was like we all walked into a pool! But it was so green
and pretty, way different than Utah trails, when it's just red and and
stuff hash both are beautiful (:

Many many times this week, I've realized how grateful I am to speak
Spanish. I don't know why, I just am so grateful. It's so fun, and the
people are a lot more patient and nice than I thought. I thought it
would be scarier, (don't get me wrong I'm terrified basically always)
but the people are do eager to help, and impressed that we can speak
Spanish, even though we, (I) struggle. Haha my companion is basically
Mexican I tell her that like everyday. She was so cute, one day she
was like "I would love to have you as a mom!" Haha it was sweet, cause
i was making us dinner (: and she said that before once and it made
me feel good. Anyways, I, not a mom so haha that's off subject. Random
fact: we met this lady named Shelby, and she like told us our
fortunes. She has a gift or something, haha but it was cute, she's
like you'll be married in the next few years, and you'll have several
children and you'll love them so much. They're gonna be your life, and
you're gonna love it. It was cute(:
But anyways again, I'm not getting married anytime soon, I'm on a mission!(:
Also she said is quote, "don't tell god how big the mountain is, tell
the mountain how big your god is." SO GOOD HUH.

I've realized a lot this week too, about my mission. How I struggle,
but I'm doing the work. I'm trying hard every day to submit to God's
will for me, and to help him. That makes the tough times easier.
Knowing all he's done for me, this is the least I can d to try to
express my gratitude, and I know no matter how effective I am each
day, as long as I work hard and try my best, I know he's proud of me.

I found this quote I absolutely LOVE: (elder holland talking about
Jesus Christ)  "He will carry in His hands, feet and side, evidence
that there is sacrifice involved in serving God, our Eternal Father,
and in establishing the Church and the Kingdom of God on Earth."

I love that quote. I know our trials are hard. And serving is hard. I
know Jesus Christ had it harder. He took upon him the pain that none
of us can imagine, and he did it because he was commanded to. I know
whatever we are told to do, called to serve a mission, for example,
live  the commandments and keep our covenants we made at baptism, we
can do it. It may not be easy, but we can be made stronger by relying
on Jesus Christ and having faith.
I love you all have a wonderful week! (: