It's definitely August in TN

What a great week!

On Wednesday we had Exchanges!! The Love of my life Sis Svedin came here to McMinnville with me! (These people are crazy, letting me take over the area after a week....haha. We biked all day, and had fun in the rain too...;) livin that missionary life. I love sister Svedin so MUCH!!!!! We had an awesome day, sip learned so much from her. We lived together for three months in Antioch:) she's an amazing teacher and so happy and sweet. 

On Thursday We had ZONE CONFERENCE. I loved it. I love being around all the missionaries, the spirit just makes me so happy. We learned about obedience, the spirit, faith and prayers and finding. It was an amazing day! 

On Fridays We go and do service for an assisted living center, we push the ladies around in wheelchairs and it's so fun :) 

Saturday.....aka LA MUERTE. But actually such a really good day. Let me explain.

We were SO TIRED. we had been riding our bikes since 10 am and no one was home/if they were they said they were busy..aka taking a Siesta #hispanicprobz so we just were goin and going and we did not have any idea how we were going to live this day. It. was. so. hot! But we ended having two lessons before dinner, 

-with PAUBLO a recent convert, so amazing. He's read the Book of Mormon, the doctrine and covenants and the pearl of great price. And now he's on round two. Also he started Jesus the Christ last week, and is almost done. He reads and reads and reads. I love him though cause he says, always, I'm happy

-And the next lesson was with  Andres and Lucy, Andrés fell off his roof before I got here, and got really injured. But they're a very nice couple, and said they'll be baptized!!!!:)

-After that, we went to the church and had a lesson with Onesimo. We teach him multiple times a week, cause he loves it but it's hard cause he tries to teach us...Pentecostal problems..and he talks SO... MUCH...but we are learning how to try to control it..but he's praying about baptism too! :)

-After that, Alberto another recent convert called and asked if we were busy and he said he was coming to the church with his kids, so we had a lesson with him:) BEST PART WAS: we were waiting inside for him, then grabbed some chairs to bring outside and we LOCKED OURSELVES OUT OF THE CHURCH. Everything, the keys, our iPads, our bags and our phone...so we use Alberto's phone to call the elders, and they come save the day! It was so funny! 

We ended up having a really great day on Saturday, even though it was so hot, we were happy cause we had the spirit with us. 

That's something I say all he time, but i think that's what I've learned the most on my mission, is how important and precious the spirit is, and the difference it can make. I know I was happy before my mission, but I'm just so much happier now. I just want to serve and I want to help every smile person in any way I can. I am so grateful to be a missionary,I love this work :) 

I'll end this letter with a quote and some over random things from Hermana Eastwood. 

"In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us." Gordon B. Hinckley.

LOVE YOU ALL:)

Fun facts:

-Yall already know this, but Taco Bell just makes everything better:) 

-Don't take Benadryl at 2 in the afternoon...and then ride your bike. Just don't. But on the plus side, I slept really well that night ;)

-DADDY! I ate grits this week! ...not my favorite..

-I LOVE TENNESSEE.

HOLA HOLA from McMinnville!

HOLA HOLA.

So to start off, Last Monday was probably one of the saddest nights of my entire mission..

We went to a noche de hogar at our Ward mission leaders house, and we invited our investigators and some members as well. We talked about missionary work and we all bore our testimonies and wow oh wow there was not a dry eye in the house! It was so hard to leave Antioch.. It's like Disneyland:the happiest place on earth. BUT we're on to new things, new places new people and new adventures!:) 

Tuesday was transfers! So fun to see all my mission friends, and so hard to say goodbye!): I'm now serving in McMinnville, TN with Hermana Sorensen, she's from South Jordan Utah, we graduated at the same time, she's served in Murfreesboro and with Hermana Kilgore my fav!;) her Spanish is absolutely unreal, and she's a very obedient and diligent missionary :) I'm really excited to work with her this transfer, I just hope I can learn this area and be able to help these people as best as I can, and as fast as I can. I always feel kind of helpless and hopeless at the beginning of the transfers...but I know things will get better :) 

We've had a long week of moving in, (elders apartment haha) and knock knock knocking!! It's seemed as if no one has been home..but I was able to meet a couple members and investigators! It's been nice, I've made some good friends already :)

We're In a little Spanish branch here, and the members are so good and strong! That's what I've loved about my mission, seeing the strength of the church in the members I've served. 

We went hiking today, with a girl leaving on her mission soon and her siblings. and it was so fun! And exciting. We got chased by a swarm of bees! And We all got stung and all we were saying was how we're so blessed compared to the pioneers. They couldnt outrun the bees cause they didn't have good food like us and medicine and stuff like that. We are blessed. Ive been thinking of how I really have been so blessed. We have cars, AC, showers, food, medicine, ipAds, (haha) we have everything. I've been blest with the most amazing family and support, keep me going every day. I've been blessed with wonderful parents, who taught me so well, and helped me grow up in the gospel, <<---blessing. This gospel is amazing. To know we have such a strong purpose in this life, I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father :) 

Now that I've babbled on for long enough, I Hope you have a good week :) xoxoxo.

Here's some pics!

My Antioch family 

My fishy meal with my new comp!!:)

We like to hike!

Hermana Eastwood 

Hola família

Basically Hispanics are my favorite and I never wanna stop being a missionary.

We went out to lunch a couple times with this cute hermana, trying to help her do her visiting teaching, and when hey weren't home, we feasted :) I made hermana hoferitza try cow tongue this week, she didn't really like it....or me that much either for making her do it haha she's the best :) 

We had a fun family lesson with Ody, we talked about FAITH and we all planted seeds :) it was so fun!

We did a lot of knocking and finding new people! It's fun to go places you've never been before, I always lie the adventure. We went a little  farther on the busses this week to Go find the ovejas :) I love this work!nee always have the weirdest things happening when we knock, especially in the Tennessee HEAT. It's so hot here, but I can already tell I'm gonna miss it...anyways.

We had an awesome district meeting, probably the most spiritual ones I've had! I am so done being around dying missionaries. It's so hard. I just love them so much! What I learned from them is that We all just need to be so passionate about the gospel, and let it show :) 

We went to Olive Garden this week, I'm saying that because Hispanics call it Oliver garden and its darling. Then we visited Biviana, she's doing great!:) I LOVE HER. Her son, Hyrum, adopted me as his sister. Score!:)

Friday we planned, which I actually don't hate anymore :) then we visited Amanda, I love her. She's doing great. We all went to the lake on Saturday for a Ward activity, and everyone went swimming and it was fun:) 

That night we got the big phone call. Transfers. I'm leaving Antioch! I felt it coming, but I still am so sad and not ready. 

This is my place!  This is where I've come to know and love the gospel, and missionary work. Where I've strengthened my testimony. Where I've been so loved and where I've loved so much, and I've learned and grown and I know it's time for me to go, because I am comfortable haha. But I've loved my time here. I've been so blessed my whole mission, with wonderful areas, members, companions, and people in general. I am SO grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and my calling to serve him and preach his gospel.

I know the lord has a plan, and a reason for where I am going, and with who :) I am excited for this next part of the adventure that is my mission. 

LES QUIERO!!:)

Ody and her fammmmm

THe Ward missionaries 

My fun district 

Hermana Eastwood 

July 13, 2015

Howdyyy yalll. It's HAWT.

We did a mission fast last Sunday, and wow all I can say is God is real and he loves us and miracles for days. Yesterday at church, Elder Amulfo Valenzuela from the 70 came and talked to our Ward! It was legit. The spirit was so strong and I was just like, yeah he's an apostle of God. He talked about e Book of Mormon and keeping the sabbath day holy. Do it. :)

We had a fun noche de hogar with Biviana and her cute family :) her and Hyrum have been reading the Book of Mormon together, and they're almost finished! My heart was so happy when they told us that :) 

We found a place to go do service! Woo! At an old folks rehab center, it was really fun to go play board games and color with them (: 

We found this less active family, and met with them last week and they gave us lunch cause #hispaniclyfe and we set an appointment for last Thursday, we thought the grandmother was an investigator! So we go over on Thursday, and she tells us how she was the first member of the family! It surprised us a lot haha we had a family home evening with them that afternoon, with all her cute kids! It was darling! They came to church on Sundayand now we just love each other and we're gonna go over and eat dinner with them this week :) 

We taught Ody again, with her husband. She's doing good, not reading the Book of Mormon though. It's hard cause she wants to know its true, but she won't act..we have a lesson planned this week!:)

Amanda is doing good, we taught her the word of wisdom and she gladly gave up Sweet Tea :) she says she'll drink coconut water now, ;) it's been so fun meeting with her, she is so prepared. This area has my heart! My testimony has grown so much, especially in my Calling. I know as missionaries we are called of God, to build up His kingdom here on earth. I know he really is preparing his children to hear this glad message, and he is also preparing them for who we are personally :) 

 On Friday before visiting an investigator family to give their daughter a birthday present, (this family, loooove them but they hurt my heart cause they're totes eternigators but about a month ago I got a strong prompting to not give up on them, and they've really been turning around!:) ) We were walking into their apartment complex to knock, and Hermana hoferitza STEPS ON A BEER BOTTLE AND HER FOOT POURS OUT BLOOD. It was so sad, we called all the mission nurses, the mission presidents wife, the sisters we live with, everyone. And no one answered. So we called the assistants and bless their hearts they came and saved the day and brought us back to our apartment for the night. Pobrecita, my companion. Moral of the story: Don't drink, kids. 

Sunday.

This is where we all learn to understand why my mission is a Novela [and i'd say this is a pretty normal day in the life of Hermana eastwood].

At church, there's this Hermana named Eva, she has diabetes, I've met her only a few times, and I just love her and she loves me! We were jus chatting and she just gave me the biggest hug and then church started.. Then during relief society, another Hermana runs out and grabs the husband of Eva and once he comes in, she FAINTS hardcore. The Hermana giving the class stopped, and we all just freaked out. We called the police and the firefighters came, and the elders have her a blessing. It was a whole Ward affair. It was CRAZY. And so scary. Still haven't heard from anyone how she is now.. But it was really sweet to see how much the ward cares for every member, and how they'll just drop everything To help.

Then, we went and saw one of our dear friends. We've been trying her all transfer and she hasn't been home, but our appointment cancelled and I got a feeling to try again. Loco. And perfect timing. She had just gotten home from being in the hospital for 4 days for her stomach, and we were talking and she said her husband was taken to jail on Wednesday, and it completely innocent and it's her roommates fault and he left and this poor girl is so alone and, man she just cried to us. We sang for her, and she cried more. It was so sad! She really needed someone to talk to and someone to listen to her. We followed the spirit and did what we could. 

NOVELA.

I love being a missionary. I love my mission.

 the end.

Happy Fourth of July from Tennessee!

ONE OF THE BEST WEEKS EVER.

God is real. God loves us. This week was amazing. 

We had a papusas and horchata for lunch on Tuesday, which is probably my favorite meals :) then we met this guy named Jose looking for a less active woman, but we didn't find her but Jose is awesome! We ended up having two more lessons with him with members and everything! He was reading the restoration pamphlet and the Book of Mormon and MAN we were just so excited about him! Such a miracle. He didn't come to church which was sad, but claro que si we have a lot of hope for him :) 

This is our next miracle: Melida. Hermana James and I met her one last week together, and she's just this SWEETEST lady and we've gone back weekly with Hermana flor, who is just awesome. In the past 3 weeks we've seen such a big change in her, because of the Book of Mormon. She's starting to read it, with a prayer, and is able to understand it. It's teaching me so much of the power in this book :) she came to church!!!! It was so happy, everyone was talking to her and were so happy to see her :) totes gonna make papusas with her this week too ;) #blessings.

We had a fun district meeting, I gave a training on helping and using the members, and elder spiked (LP shout out!) gave a training on commitments, it was really fun. I walked out just so happy and grateful to be here. I LOVE MY MISSION. I love my friends, I love the missionaries, and my investigators and these members. I am so blessed :) 

We had basically a flash flood in a crazy storm, SO FUN. I love Tennessee. We met with Ody, her husband and family are members. She wants to get baptized! But needs time or something. Keep her in your prayers, we love her (: 

Totes ate dinner from a taco truck this night, that was great. Life complete.

Thursday we did lots of knocking, and MAN I'm talking about right place right time. We met so many new people, and they're so interested, nice and prepared (: we're excited for the coming week to go back and teach them the gospel! 

We had a sweet miracle. A while back when elder spiker was here he was teaching a girl named Nancy. She would come to church and was super interested and they even helped her get married! Then they dropped off the face of the earth cause the husband wasn't interested. We went to visit them, and the husband said literally  I'm interested. Goes to show we plant seeds and it may not seem good at the moment, but with time those planted seeds grow and they can't be stopped :) #noeffortiswasted.

Basically I'm obsessed with my mission. and Tennessee. and everything. and I love my savior and I love being a missionary and I'm so grateful for all I'm learning and seeing happen. This is the Lords work :) 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY. You can bet I celebrated my freedom by going to bed at 9:) #Murica hope yall  had fun with fireworks! On Sunday they had all the missionaries, (the gringos...)stand up in front of everyone and sing America the beautiful...God Bless! 

LOVE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD WEEK!(:

Hermana Eastwood 

I love my savior!

HOLA!!!!:)

Monday night we had an awesome Noche De Hogar with our Ward mission Leader and our investigator Amanda, and her friend Byron who is a member. It was so awesome! We talked about the apostles and elder L. Tom perry and wowwyyyy I learned a lot! But we had a really good time, and Amanda loved it! :)

Tuesday, we gave an investigator a blessing cause she's really sick, and we had an awesome lesson with the member that came with us. The priesthood is so cool, and God is so good!

Wednesday we had district meeting, I gave a training on becoming more like Christ, and focusing on Charity and hope, it was really fun except wow I'm such a spaz when I give trainings it's embarrassing. But it was really good, I love my district and my friends.:)

Thursday we met with Rosio and went over the plan of salvation. This was a lesson that just made me really grateful for my mission. She was talking about how much she's changed from coming to know Christ, and I thought, this is the reason I'm here. Because there is a light in this gospel, this gospel is hope and it really does change us.

Saturday we had an awesome lesson with Amanda again, we talked about the plan of salvation as well. She said 'hey yall I wanna know how I can have an eternal family,' and we were like well you're in the right place here's all the answers. It was a really awesome lesson, it made me realize how much God truly loves us. I know he does have a plan for every single one of us, and although we can only see a few steps ahead of us, he sees the big picture. And he puts people and situations and trials in our life all for our good, so we can grow and learn and one day help others. (Also side note we ate Colombian food and I had empanadas and they were delicious :) )

We were able to set two baptismal dates this week! For Amanda and Rosio, who were having a Noche de Hogar with me both tonight as well :) on the 11 and the 31 of July. We are so excited. It's been amazing to work with them, they both are so sincere, and teaching them has helped me to know this really is Gods work, and he really does prepare people to accept his gospel. I am grateful to be his instrument, to bring this gospel to them who are truthfully seeking it. I know we are blessed when we obey and work diligently, and keep our faith in Christ.

This week as we did service, and hermana James asked me what my favorite part of my mission is...I didn't stop talking  about it the rest of the night. There's too much to love!

These members are amazing, their example and faith and willingness to serve and help and share is amazing. I will forever be grateful to be able to serve around them, and come to know them and be changed by their humility and selflessness. 

My companions have all been amazing. It's so fun to love with your best friend and to just see how the gospel has brought us all so close, that through Christ we're able to help one another. Im grateful for the friendships I've made here :)

I've been able to see the reality and blessings of the gospel. We are really so blessed to be members of the restored church of Jesus Christ. I've seen the change this gospel has on gods children, and in myself. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost,and the hope we have through this gospel. I am so happy to be here, to share what I love and that I know this gospel is the biggest blessing we can have, and I know it can and does bring so much happiness to every one we meet. 

My own testimony has grown so much and just wow. I think this is one of the biggest blessings I've experienced on my mission. I was talking to my hermana this morning, and she said how I had a strong enough testimony to get me on a mission, to have the desire to share the gospel. I'm grateful for her. I sit here now, seeing I've learned and grown and I think, wow I feel like I didn't know anything before my mission, and I love every day because I learn so much every single day. I love reading the Book of Mormon, and I've been working so hard to know the truth of it. I truly know that our Heavenly Father listens to us, and knows us by name and heart. I know he loves us so much, and when we sincerely pray and try our best, He helps us-through other people.

I am so grateful for my mission, for how much I've grown and changed, and that the gospel is such a big part of my life now. I'm glad to finally realize what's most important in this life, and I am so grateful for my time I have to serve these loving people in Tennessee. I'm so honored to be a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful to be engaged in this work, to share His gospel and the good news :) I've learned its so important to really live your life like Christ, to live for others and do all you can in your power, (and His) to help them come unto Christ. I love my savior :) 

I started my mission with elder Nielson CCM buddies! 

June 1, 2015

So we had the most awesome pday night! We met a man named Luis, who is so prepared, we went back on Wednesday and taught him the restoration! He is so interested and so prepared, we are hoping he had been reading and praying:)

Then we met with like 4 members who live in the same apartment, with our investigator Rosio. She's amazing! We had An awesome family home evening, she just loves the book of Mormon and church and the members, we're so excited!(: her brother is a member, and she wants him to baptize her, it's probably going to be next month, (Julyy, WHAT?! Cannot be,ie e that's next month..) but wow we just love her so much and I'm so grateful to know her and to be able to work with her :)

ThEn we met this Less active lady, who is so sweet! And we had an awesome lesson with her about Joseph smith, then she drove us home after! SUCH AN AMAZING NIGHT!!:)

Tuesday we did a lot of knocking, with a surprise THUNDERSTORM!!!!!! It was so awesome! It went on for days, (like 30 minutes,) but there was wind thunder and lighting! So fun! We also met some really solid people, we'll go visit them again this coming week :) also it's been raining each day this week, but we love it! We come home every night and our shoes are soaking wet haha but the work goes on :):)

Wednesday we had district meeting, always fun. I love being with other missionaries, we always have a good time and learn a lot.

Thursday we had another awesome lesson with Rosio and Michael, our Ward mission leader about the atonement of Jesus Christ. It was so good, the spirit was so strong, I'm so honored to be a representative of my savior, an to preach his gospel. 

Then after that, we met up with Jhonny who bought us ice cream :) he has been out of town a lot, like every weekend, so he hasn't been able to come to church. But we love meeting with him! He's so awesome, we're best friends :) 

Friday we did weekly planning...I'm getting a lot better! Haha I used to have mini panic attacks each week, I don't know the problem,  but it's getting better and I don't dread it as much! Haha!

Then we went out tracking and saw a miracle. Everyone we knocked into was white, but said the Hispanics are here, just come later. So we thought okay we're not supposed to be here right now..so as we were leaving the complex, we see this Hispanic lady! We totally go up and talk to her and she's very interested and says we can come back!  After that, as we were walking away, I show hermana James this scripture, 

Alma 26:27 "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." 

It was really amazing to see the Book of Mormon relate so directly to our life! I know if we put our trust in the lord, and pray for help to open our eyes, we will see his hand in our lives and his miracles :) 

We then had an awesome lesson with Amanda, and Byron-a member. She's so interested and has come to church so much, we're having a family home being with her and Michaels family tonight! She loves the Book of Mormon and church, and already knows it's true. She knows so much. She's a miracle :) 

Saturday we went out to dinner with a member, and had a miracle night. Our day was a bunch of door slams and no success, but that night we found a less active hermano, and his wife is not a member. It was kinda late, but we scheduled s family home evening for next week :) it's amazing how when we truly want to help others, the lord really will bring scriptures to our memory,many will fill our mouths with the words we need to say, and that others need to hear. 

Yesterday church was good! Rosio and Amanda came, they both loved it (: 

also this comes to my subject line, this homie of mine here was leaving church and I was like hey are you gonna come to class!? And he walks away really slowly and awkwardly and says "I need to go find my wife..."it was hilarious cause he's not married. I lol'd. 

I love this Ward, they are so caring and loving and willing to help. There's about two weeks left of the transfer, I really am sad cause I really don't wanna leave...but I know gods in from of this work and I'll do what ever he needs me to do :) I feel so blessed to be able to serve here with these amazing people, it feels like home :) 

Con amor,

Hermana Eastwood