Week 68 - This kind of happiness only comes from missionary work and tacos!

This week was so awesome.

We are doing so much work here and there is so much to be done! We have been running around like crazy and I have never been so tired haha.

Yes we went to the border, I bought a shirt and a headband and some rings. Our investigators are doing really well, we are able to set dates almost weekly and add a lot of new people. My companion is wonderful and patient and is a really good missionary. I'm trying to help her learn how to take the lead and to lead others around her. And no we haven't met the new President.  President and Sister Schmitt leave at the end of next transfer. We will probably meet them then.

Last night we had a super cool thing happen. We were teaching a wonderful family and we were already running super late, so we didn't have time to teach much. We decided to just read the first verse of the first chapter of Nephi. And we talked about the importance of "goodly parents." The whole atmosphere of the home changed just from one scripture. And when we committed them to pray as a family, they accepted and called the whole family in to tell them that they were going to make a new change and that they were going to start praying at night. And the dad said the prayer and it was beautiful and I have never felt like I have fulfilled my purpose more than in that moment.

It is the small moments like that when I realize why I am here.  I love you all so much and I love my mission. I love all the people here and I'm so grateful for the person that Heavenly Father is making me.
Talk to you next week!
Hermana Fowlks

 

Lunch with a recently returned sister missionary, Shantell

District Meeting at the Mormon Batallion

 Flautas!

 A ward party, a Kermes!

 The Elders at the Kermes!

 Exchanges with Sister Thompson.

 This kind of happiness only comes from missionary work and tacos!

Week 67 - Isidro en Ysidro

Hola, 

The work here in San Ysidro is so great! We have been so blessed to be able to see our wonderful friend Isidro get baptized. He's always telling us about his "cholo stories" and about his time in the army, but that is how much the gospel has changed his life. The best thing is his "10 Mandamientos de Las Chivas" shirt (picture) because it pretty much just trash talks all other soccer teams ever except Las Chivas and it's so awesome. 

It's funny how quick your heart can just open up to so many people right after it being torn out of your chest! Haha but even though I miss the beautiful people there in Santee I already love the people here so much. 

We have been able to find a lot of new people to teach and we expect to just keep on helping our brothers and sisters get closer to Christ. Working super hard every day.

Last night we got really close to TJ and today we are going to the border! And we're probably going to go shopping! Whoo hoo. I need some new dresses, and I want to be able to buy a new swimsuit here too because they are cheaper haha. There's this mall called Las Americas that's literally like a mile from Mexico and they have some pretty cute stuff. So we will see!
I love you so much Mom, and I miss you tons. I'm starting to stress about coming home haha. I mean, I'm completely focused on the work, not trunky or anything, but I don't want it to be a huge shock so I'm reminding myself of it every now and then, so that I don't just expect  to live here forever. Anyways, that's what's going on. My new companion is wonderful, I love her tons.

We had our last interviews with President yesterday because they leave this transfer. Super sad! I love them so much. 

I feel super happy to be able to be here, and I know that this is where I am supposed to be. Thanks for all the love and support. 

Hermana Fowlks 

 

Isidro at his baptism

 Isidro and his 10 Mandamientos shirt

 Saying goodbye to Pres and Sis Schmitt

 

 

Week 66 - I can see Mexico!

Hey all!

So the big news of the week is that I am out of Santee and into San Ysidro! It's a beautiful little border town and I can look to one side and see Mexico and look to the other and see the ocean.  It's beautiful.

My new companion is named Hermana Echeverria.  She is also wonderful!  She is from Utah, but her family is from Guadalajara Jalisco.  Same place as Hermana Garcia! But Hermana Echeverría is waaaay less Mexican.  I feel like I'm more Mexican than she is half the time!  But it will be good.  We've served together before, and her and I have already had a ton of experiences together. We should be having a baptism this weekend, so I will let you know how that goes.

My new area is amazing! WE CAN RUN TO THE OCEAN IN THE MORNING.  AND I CAN SEE TIJUANA FROM THE APARTMENT.  If that's not paradise I don't know what is!
 
I'm sure things will turn out just fine here. I'm so sad, but we're having a baptism this weekend so that's awesome! The Lord has some of His children prepared here for me to find and teach and invite and help and love. And I am excited to find them! I'm auditioning to sing at a devotional today so hopefully that goes well and I can sing at it this Sunday. 😊

My heart aches to have left Santee, I truly felt at home there. But I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me! This picture is of Jose Luis. He has been such a big miracle.  He is actually the uncle of Manny and Julian and should be getting baptized at the end of the month.  He bought Hermana Garcia and I Mother's Day gifts!  He lives in a trailer outside of Manny and Julian's house and we can't go in because there has to be another woman inside.  But we had to take a picture with him because it was so kind of him to do that for us!

I love you all!
Hermana Fowlks

Week 65 - Speak of Him!

Hi everyone, 

 

This week was another great week here in Santee! We were able to talk to so many people about the restored gospel. And so many people are starting to accept the truth. One specifically is Felipe, and he the only thing keeping him from being baptized is the fact that he has to move out because he's not married to his señora. So we're hoping and working our tails off to be able to make it so he can get baptized on Saturday. 

 

We also were able to have a family home evening, and it was so cool. We talked about the iron rod and how it is the word of God. Our investigators Ashley and Anais loved it. 

 

We also had a pretty neat experience this week. A member was struggling with something, and we were able to talk with him for a few moments on Thursday and as we were talking all of the sudden I felt the need to testify to him that I knew God was our Father, and that Jesus is the Christ and that the Holy Ghost is our companion in this life. And this big tough Mexican guy just breaks down crying. And I felt so special to be able to be trusted that moment to help someone come closer to Christ. 

So this week I invite you all to find those small moments and to not let them pass you by. When you don't know what to say, speak of Him. 

I love you all! Have a splendid week. 

 

Hermana Fowlks

 

Week 64 - Workin'

Hello all!

My finger is feeling tons better but turns out the culture came back and there was a bacteria in it that the doctor had never heard before. So, he called in other antibiotics so that we can get rid of that. But my finger is almost normal size again! It still looks gross though.

This week was good, the coolest thing that happened this week is with our investigator Felipe. He's such a cool guy, and his family is all members. He just barely got back here from Mexico.  At first he wasn't progressing much and we felt like he was just getting baptized because his family wanted him to. But we started reading the Book of Mormon with him and everything changed. It was so cool! And every time we go over we see him differently. The Book of Mormon is changing him! It's amazing.

I love you all,
I hope you have a good week!