Monday, December 9, 2019

You Girls Wanna Taco??

[This is 2 weeks work of email....Enjoy!]

This week was crazy fast. A blink of an eye p-day was over and so was your week.
Let me think of some amazing things that happened this week...
#THANKSGIVING🦃
That was super amazing. I'm so grateful for the people that I get to serve with, the members of the ward.
We went on exchanges that day so I was with Hermana Triana. She's from Mexico.
We went by some of her families and a ton of members to give them thank you cards.
We also went to Wal-Mart and had people write something they were thankful for on a sticky note and put it on a poster board. That was such an amazing way to get to know more of the people here. We did that for about an hour until a manager came and told us we had to leave because we can't do that.
Ok sir...sorry for bringing joy to your customers. Jeez the weez.
It was fine. We then got invited by some members to go eat another dinner at the church. That was pretty good.
After we got home I Facetimed my fambam. I was shown a butt potato saved from being devoured by Simon....thank you for that... It was pretty awesome. 😂😂
We've been trying to get in contact with some of our people. We've been praying for them really hard to come to church. 
There is this old man we are teaching he doesn't have a ton of teeth and he's like 80. His name is Juan. He lives when we come over. He always isn't wearing a shirt...so he'll tell us to wait while he finds one. He likes to laugh and crack jokes in Spanish. I can't hear him a ton of the time... Then he'll look at us with his 5 tooth smile and start laughing soooo hard. It's my favorite.
Anyway... He came to church!!!!
He didn't get lost either.
#blessingsonblessingsonblessings
He stayed the first hour then had to leave the second hour because he forgot to eat breakfast and lunch. But he came and he really liked it. He can't wait for us to come back on Wednesday.
Also during our first Thanksgiving dinner a members little girl asked us if we had pink dresses. We all said yes. Then she told us we should wear them(she's like 4). So we decided we'd wear them on Sunday and the Elders would wear their pink ties. So the title comes from when we were deciding that. I said... On Sundays we wear pink. Haha
Ah...the people here are amazing. I love being a missionary.
This transfer has been flying...
This one is also the shortest one it's only 5 weeks long because they didn't want to have transfers on Christmas eve.
Crazy sauce.
We're trying to find more and be directed by the spirit on where we need to be. We've been finding some potentials families too. I love it!
I know this church is true and Jesús Christ lives.
He suffered for all of us.
I am so grateful for his atonement in my life.
I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It's true. Read it.
If you want one and you don't have one go to... comeuntochrist.org
Also #lightheworld is here!!!!!!
Please help spread the true meaning of Christmas by doing those each day!
#iluminaelmundo
I love you guys.
If you're unsure about going on a mission... Just do it. It's literally been some of the best moments I have had in my entire life. God has blessed me because of it. And he'll bless you through anything.
I love being a disciple of Jesus Christ everyday.
Stay 2 legit 2 quit and Light The World.
-Hermana Darling

[2nd Week Email]
Hey,
We only have like a little over a week left in this transfer. Who knows what's going to happen with our Zone.
We've had some amazing things happen this week.
Juan, our 80 year old investigator, wants to get baptized. He is super happy to be learning more and more every time we come over and every time he goes to church. He has a baptismal date for the 21st of December!!!! He told us he wants to go three times before he is baptized. So he came this past two Sundays but only for the first hour. He had to go eat one time and then the other he had to go home and feed his dogs. At least he came though.
He was soo funny during his lesson. He told me..."callate" when I was asking him a question. I died laughing. Then at the end I was saying the prayer and he kind of...somewhat understands what a prayer is. But when I started the prayer, he started repeating everything out loud and then just finished the prayer that I started. 😂😂😂😂
La familia Garcia- They have 5 kids all in the spread of 5 years. They all pretty hyper. But when we pray their house is silent and you can feel the Holy Ghost so strong. I love them. We might have to pass them off though. The kids don't really know Spanish. But the Dad basically only speaks Spanish, the Mom speaks both. It's all the same work and the same Mission. So it doesn't really matter in the end. But it's still a little sad. They love when we come over and they are really trying to go to church. But their van is broken and they don't know what's wrong with it.

La familia Martinez- We were walking buy the lavandería and there were two girls outside. I felt impressed to go talk to them. They have actually talked to the elders in the past. A long time ago. They were so excited for us to go to their house they gave us their address. We showed up a little later one night and met their Mom. She was so happy to see us. She kept asking if we were going to have a lesson right then and there. But it was like 9pm so we set up another time to go back and teach them. We went back like two days later and taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They loved it. I can literally picture all of them in baptismal suits already willing to make a Covenant with God. They really want to go back to church. Good thing that's what we help people do here.
We also went back and taught them the restoration. Ana (the oldest) was so excited to pray and ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was such a great experience.

God has been blessing us with so many people to teach. It absolutely crazy. There was one day we were literally running from appointment to appointment. We ended up being late to our dinner appointment and also having to leave early. We felt sooo bad. But Hna. Cavasos told us it's okay and that it's good we have so many things to do during the day.
She was just baptized like 3 weeks ago by the Ap's. She's amazing. Her and her son were baptized the same day. He husband was there to support but didn't want to get baptized. But after he saw how happy his wife and son were. He was baptized the next week. Ahhh!!!! There family is amazing. After she was baptized she hugged all of us sisters and was telling us she was so excited for her girls (who are like 3 and 5) to grow up in the church and be just like us missionaries. Ah... Right in the feelers. 😂😂
We were knocking some apartment complexes by ours the other night and we met this Mom and her two sons. One is almost 12 and the other is 3. The boy is super interested in Jesus Christ. So we went back a few days later and wanted to teach the restoration. But ended up teaching the Plan of Salvation. They loved it. And they said they'll read, pray and see us at church. Yeah!!!! I love them so much.
I love all the people we are teaching right now. It's so satisfying when our days are so busy with return appointments and people are actually home when we go by them. Haha

Not all of them went to church. So we are probably going to stop teaching a few if they truly aren't going to act on what we invite them to do. It's so sad when people can't keep a simple commitment like...read two pages...go to church for two hours....it use to be three. I'm sure none of the people we are teaching would go if it was three hours to be honest 😂😂
We were walking in this neighborhood one night and saw like 20 people outside so we went and talked to them. They said they've had missionaries in the past come by both boys and girls. We gave them a picture of Jesus and started walking away..."you girls wanna taco"
"yeah that would be awesome, thank you!"
They were having a carne. So we had some ribs and some sort of yummy meat, and some rice. We talked to the whole family and got to know them as we were gnawing on some meat. We shared the light the world video with them and they loved it. The dad/owner of the house said we can come back any time we like. Yes!!
They're pretty awesome. And their food was super good.
We went and visited a member that was on our area book a few days ago. Hermano Montoya, he was so happy to see us, he doesn't get a ton of visitors. He brought out his scriptures and asked if we were going to share anything. Of course we were! When we were done he asked if we could go visit all of his neighbors with him. So he took us to his neighbors and we knocked for like an hour with him. He's a great example of what a member missionary should act like. He called us his angels. That was pretty cool and we got some great return appointments out of it.

Yo sé que vive mi señor. Yo sé que el Libró de Mormón es verdadero. Es muy importante en mi vida y en las vidas de la gente aquí en Texas. Me encanta la oportunidad sentir el espíritu santo cada día cuando estamos caminando los calles. La gente aquí tienen mucho amor y gozo en sus vidas porque ellos creen en Dios y Jesucristo. Ellos quieren a aprender más sobre Jesucristo y su iglesia. Este misión es no mía, es el misión mismo del Jesucristo. Gracias por sus ejemplos en mi vida. Gracias por la expiación. Gracias por las personas estamos enseñando. Gracias por todo lo que hacen para mi y los otros misioneros.
Les quiero!!!!
Con todo mi corazón,
Hermana Darling 









Sunday, December 1, 2019

If You're Happy and you Know It... Go to Church

Santos frijoles!!!!!
We've been working pretty hard this week to find more people. We found like 7 new people that are interested to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

We had so many stinking lessons this week.

AND NONE OF THEM CAME TO CHURCH... AGAIN

Uh, that probably one of the most frustrating things about being a missionary. You try as much as you can to help these people learn more about a way to be with their families for...literally eternity. They love it and say, "yeah we'll see you there" and then they don't show up.

But out of that we had two surprise people that we aren't even teaching appear.

WHAT A BLESSING.

One was a girl that wants to get baptized but her mom said no. And the other is a friend of one of the young women. Who wants to get baptized!!!!!!

Yeah, God is blessing us thankfully!!! 

Thanksgiving is coming up!! I'm so excited to have a Mexican Thanksgiving here in the valley. 

Remember to thank God for everything we have. 

Hopefully you all have a great one and eat tons of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie for me! 

I thankful for all of you🤗

Love ya tons, 

Hermana Darling




















Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Give Thanks to your God

Transfers!!!!!!
So I got Sister Greer on Tuesday!!!!

She's in a cast haha a tendon on her right foot collapsed when she was in Corpus and they thought it was just a sprain...nope. Haha so the whole 3 transfers in Brownsville she was walking on it and made it worse. So they put her in a cast.

But we're Gucci.

Holy guacamole we have found soooooo many families to teach. We literally have like 4 families we're teaching and spreading the restored gospel to.

We have been busting our booties this week and have reaped so many blessing because of it. Literally the holy ghost keeps whispering to us which house to knock and BOOOOOMMM a family of like 5 or 6 is there.

#blessingsonblessingsonblessings

#missionzoneisthepromiseland

That has happened so many times this week.
But with success there is also failure.
Well not failure... But we have like 25 people we have been teaching/in contact with this week.

One person came to church. Vicky. Ah I freaking love her.

We met her at a pizza parlor and yesterday she told us we were an answer to her prayers. She has come to church twice and literally works all day everyday except Sundays so she can go to church. BUT and that's suppose to be a huge BUT. She doesn't live in our area and we have to pass her off to the other zones elders. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

But she's definitely getting baptized. I can literally see her doing that like next week hahah. The elders are getting an amazing woman. Hermana Greer and I have just been put in the right place at the right time for so many great reasons.

If you feel like you should do something don't ignore the prompting. JUST DO IT.

I have some great scriptures I want you all to read. If you don't have a Book of Mormon there is an app you can download called Gospel Library.... Do that now because I don't want you miss out on the blessings you'll get from reading these. :)

Alright...
Mosiah 2:20
Mosiah 4:10-11
Mosiah 15:15-18
Alma 5:60
Alma 7:23

These were just some scriptures I have read throughout this pass week that I have loved reading over and over.

Especially Mosiah 2:20 because that one talks about giving thanks to the God who made everything. We shared this with a family in our ward and had everyone go around and say something they are grateful for. Just like what my family would do every right after family prayer

I am so grateful for everything I have been given. I know this gospel is true and is blessing the lives of so many people here in Texas. I know my Savior lives and lives all of us. He literally died for me and you. Appreciate it and be thankful for it.

I'm thankful for all of you and your support. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving us coming up and I love when we all gather together and thank God for everything he's given us.

Have an amazing week!

Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit and look for someone that's lonely and talk to them for me.

Tell them Jesus love them😊
Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Darling 



























Friday, November 15, 2019

#grindweek

This week was #grindweek!!!!!! 

We would leave our apartment at 10am and not come back until 9pm. We'd bring lunch and then go to the park to study. HOLY COW!! Our whole zone did this.

We received so many amazing blessing because of our actions and willingness to work as hard as we can.

We were at a noche de hogar on Monday. It ended at like 8:30. So we only had 30 minutes left. Sister Bainbridge didn't feel very good but was willing to stick it out another 30 minutes. We went to this neighborhood I really wanted to go knock. As we're walking and knocked a few doors we both feel like we should go to this beautiful house. This guy opens up and we're talking to him about his house. We kind of explain what we do as missionaries. Eventually I just straight up said that we teach families and we would live to teach yours. He was like totally! Come back tomorrow at 6pm and we'll all be ready my wife and I and our 4 kids. We were so happy. He is so excited to learn.

Tuesday we went on exchanges and I was with Sister Triana. She's from Monterrey, México. She is super awesome.

But Bainbridge was with Willardson. And they went and taught that family, the Hinostrosa fam. They told us later that they taught them the Plan of Salvation and they all can't wait to get to the Celestial Kingdom. What a blessing!!

We've found some amazing people this week:

Lucía y Beto -super cute couple that wants to raise their kids in the gospel. I played soccer with their 9 year old...he's super good. Haha

Roy- he was a person from the other elders but the boundaries changed and he's our now. He is amazing. He literally has been pronounced dead after a car accident but then came back to life. God has saved him so many times. He loves the plan of salvation because he had no idea about what happens after we die. He thanked us so many different times He also went to a baptism with us and he really enjoyed it. He wants to get baptized, he told us that he is going to pray for a day of when he wants to do it.

Hinostrosa family - we also went back a few days later and taught them the restoration. The mom told us that they have lots of work to do hahaha But they all loved the lesson. The whole family came to church with us and LOVED IT. Yay!!!

Maria y Jesús--we knocked their door one night and sang them a song on the ukelele. She looked up our church but only found one in McAllen for some reason. But she wants to go back to church.

Noe-we haven't taught him we just met him one day. He was drunk out of his mind. But told us that his brother just passed away and his last wish for Noe was to have him go back to church. So Noe repeated to us so many times, "I'm coming. I'll see you on Sunday".

We asked where he lived and he explained it and told us he doesn't k ow his address. Then we kept talking. At one point he just randomly blurts out his address. Haha

We found it and knocked on his door Sunday morning. He opens it and says he remembers us from somewhere. We explain where we met. Then he goes off about on Sunday he was wanting to come to church then got busy and decided he wouldn't make it....I tried so hard to not laugh... Then Bainbridge explains how today is Sunday and we still have a couple hours until church even starts. Haha he said he's going to visit his mom then meet us at church.

He didn't make it. Haha

Vicky-we talked to her at her work which is a little pizza shop thing. We got her number and invited her to church. She came and really liked it. But she doesn't live in our boundaries so we have to pass her off to the other elders. She's super spiritual.

But we had 6 come to church with us. That was a PHAT BLESSING

#blessingsonblessingsonblessings

We found this super awesome former, who had a baptismal date set. She still really wants to get baptized!!!

TRANSFERS HAPPENED!!!!!! I'm getting another companion and staying in Mission 3rd.

#6thnewcomp

But she was my STL in Brownsville. Sister Greer. We went on soooo many exchanges together. We are going to find and grind Hard this next transfer. I'm soooo excited. Haha

We also got a new AP and STLT so there were a ton of changes happening.

I know the spirit has guided us to so many amazing people. We have found some awesome prepared people that are super willing to follow Jesus Christ. I know we didn't find them on our own. We were definitely grinding hard this week for a reason.

I'm going to miss Bainbridge. We partied hard with each other, but worked even harder. Yeah we were out of commission during her operation. But we were still willing to work hard and find God's children.

Love ya all. Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit and party hard!!!

Con todo mi amor,

Hermana Darling



 









Tuesday, November 5, 2019

A week in McAllen

These weeks are flying so much. Literally next week is transfers. Holy frijoles!!!
This week...was something else lemme tell ya.
We had an awesome lesson with our investigator Roy on Monday night. He loves the Book of Mormon and wants to study it and watch all of the videos as well.
We drove to McAllen to our President's house... He said howdy as he opened the door for us. What a sweet man. We're best friends with him and Hermana Ocampo.
Tuesday we were at their house all day because Hermana Bainbridge was literally taking a laxative all day in preparation for her procedure on Wednesday. So we just chilled all day at Prez' house.
Wednesday H'Bainbridge went in and had her Colonoscopy and endoscopy that morning. When she came home she was drugged up and super loopy.
I was companions with Hermana Ocampo all day. That was pretty fun. I just felt like I was out on a super long shopping trip with my mom...that lasted all day.
This woman loves to talk. But we were laughing and cracking jokes with each other.
During lunch she said we could watch a movie if I knew how to turn it on...literally just plugged an HDMI cord in. Haha
We watched the other side of Heaven number 2. Then prez came home ate lunch and watched it with us. By far one of the coolest experiences with my mission president and his wife. 😂😂
We stayed the night at our mission nurse's house.
Thursday H'Bainbridge still was definitely not 100% so we stayed in McAllen until after dinner then went back to Mission. We stayed in our apartment and passed out some candy with Jesus cards to the whole 5 kids that knocked on our door.
I wouldn't blame people for not wanting to come to our neighborhood. It's pretty sketchy. Literally the day or two before there were tons of police cars and swat team members that raided an apartment complex literally a corner away from us. Our neighbor Jeremy got a pretty cool video of it when he was driving past on his way through a detour to get out of our neighborhood.
Friday we had a car rodeo for our Zone and half of another one. We went over changing a tire on our cars. Proper parallel parking and how to use our bikes properly. It was hilarious. The changing the tire thing was a competition...and we beat the other team super fast.
Later going out to work felt soooooo good to finally get out and grind. To search for the souls that are needing to be saved in this point in time. We were guided by the spirit to some pretty awesome neighborhoods that needed our ukulele song sung to them.
We got more miracles filled out on the cards too.
Saturday went by super fast we were working as hard as we could all day to find more people interested in the gospel.
We talked with Lucía a lady we met last week. We talked with her, her husband and their son. I played soccer with him...he's super good...way better then I will ever be...he's also 9 haha.
They are super ready for the gospel and want their kids to grow up with God in their lives. They also have a 5 month old baby. Super chunky!!!!
We had a great lesson with Roy and his girlfriend Hermana Tapia. Roy is super cool and is really open minded and respectful of the beliefs that his girlfriend has. They also made us tacos...that was nice because we didn't really eat dinner.
Sunday we were so blessed to hear some amazing testimonies of a ton of members. We had a ton of less-active families show up as well. That was another huge blessing.
The AP's had two of their people get baptized on Saturday and they were confirmed and given the holy ghost and they were beaming. They were so happy and you could tell. They made one of the best decisions they could possibly ever make in this lifetime. They were two friends that got baptized together. They told us they are so happy that their kids will grow up in this gospel.

I know this church is true. I know God put me in the TMM for a reason. To help find his children that have wandered off the path. I love helping people get back on the Covenant path with God. It brings joy to their life and joy to everybody else's. Who wouldn't want joy and happiness in their life.
I love being an instrument in the hand of my God. Who love and knows me. And every single person on this earth.
He has an amazing individual plan for every single person. Whether they know it or not. I'd love for all of you to read Romans 8:38-39. It's one of my favorite scriptures.
I love you all. Jesus loves you! God loves you! You are never to far away from the love of God.
Stay 2 Legit 2 Quit
Con todo mi corazón,
Hermana Darling