Changes! Mar 11, 2013

amily!!

First- the rules have changed! I get to email whoever I want! Friends, family, recent converts ect. AND we get an hour and a half instead of an hour! YAY! Everyone email me and update me!

Second- I'm getting transfered! I am going to Liahona 3 right by the temple.. like RIGHT next to it. We walk to the temple. AND guess who the other companionship in the house is??? Hermana Larson! yay! I guess if we can't be companions again, this is the next best thing. My companion will be Hermana Weber from Mexi-cali. She doesn't speak too much english, which i'm really excited about so I can learn a lot. She just finished getting trained so I will be her greenie braker.. that'll be fun. I'll still be on bike which is fine, but i'll be in the VC for most of the day anyway. The mission gave me a different bike because my tire exploded last week. I have a cute little basket now... which i'm a big fan of. Anyway.. Hermana Newton will be training! Along with the other half of the mission. There are soooo many coming. 1/3 of the mission is training or being triained they said. Awesome.

We had a lesson with some less actives at the vc and Hna Newton told them a story about when we needed to go to a lesson but my sinus's were hurting to the point where I was crying and I decided to go to the lesson anyway. During the lesson, the pain completely went away! And after it came back a little, but we talked about sacrifice and having faith when you sacrifice and guess what? They came to church! That was the first time in months.

Agustin passed the sacrament! He was so excited :) I didn't get to see it though because Ana called me right when sacrament started saying that she had came! So that was bittersweet.

The 6th was a year in AZ! Sister Ellsworth (pres ellsworth's wife) came to a lesson with us.. she's learning spanish so she wants to go out with the spanish missionaries to learn and she does such a good job! We had a lesson with Judy and she is SO close to being baptized. I see the change in her eyes and i'm so excited for her and Richard. I will have to come back for the baptism.

I have started FREE physical theropy for my back and my ankle which is going good.. we'll see how long I gotta do it but the guy is LDS so he doesn't make us pay anything. On of the asistance is a girl that is one of the ten virgins in the easter pageant! The next time I went in, her sister took care of me instead of her and I ALMOST asked her "OH, are you a virgen too?" Bad idea. We keep having to catch ourselves when we talk about the easter pageant and the 10 virgens! They are all such good dancers. .....:/ The pageant will start on the 20th and go to the 30th. We met with the cast the other day and practiced with them because before the pageant they all come out and talk to the people in the audience and invite them to go into the visitor center. There's going to be so many people. Go on Facebook and 'like' it. Apparently they have there own facebook page and there is a picutre of me on there with some other sisters.

We went to the temple this week and it was amazing! I love learning and entering the temple as an agent instead of an object, like Elder Bednar says. In the celestial room I was talking to a sister that is about to go home tomorrow- she has become a really good friend. But we were talking about our missions and she said something that she heard and I really liked it. She said being on a mission is like being on a airplane. you can see SO much of the big picutre that Heavenly Father sees. But it's up to you to remember what the picture is when you step off the plane. That's why I have like 5 journals that i have kept up with haha.

After the temple we went to a zone meeting and talked alot about planning. It was cool when they were talking about planning they related it to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. My mind started goin. They are perfect planners but it makes sense that they probably planned with a pencil like us because we have our agency and they write in lots of back-ups because we doen't always follow their plan (like our investigators) or we don't do the things we commit to. Maybe that doesn't make sense to people who haven't used the missionary agenda- but it turned on a light bulb with me. We truly are Gods investigators.  

Decisions- 3-4-13

Hello Family... 

Crazy week. So it started off last pday and we went and played mini golf with our zone and after we watched 17 miracles. That movie drains me emotionally. During the movie I got a call from President Ellsworth. He said, "i'm calling because you asked me about extending your mission" I said, "I did?" He said "oops" I asked him to tell me what he was going to say anyway and he said that I would be welcome to do it because with all the changes, he wouldn't need permission from SLC for me to do it. That..... threw me off. I knew something would happen like that because in my setting apart, the stake president said, "I will use this blessing as scripture and I wont go home until I hear, "well done my faithful servant" deep breath. I then found out that like 3 other people were extending. I was really upset about it for a few days, but after praying I made a decision and I have felt peace about it. I have felt like the Lord doesn't need me.. I always knew that but I feel like there are so many amazing, prepared missionaries that can take over just fine. There are 8 new vc sisters coming in June.. I don't know who's going to train them all- Sister Beckstrand interviewed me and said that there is no pressure but they would take advantage of my leadership. As of now i will be coming home June 4th unless I feel otherwise, but I really want to continue to feel peace about my decision and not have any regrets. I know Satan will try and confuse me, but I know I will be serving the Lord the rest of my life where ever I am so anyways... Thank you all so much for all your prayers and fasting it really helped me more than you know!

Okay so what else happened? We had zone conference and they showed us a slide show of the new mission president. They look really cute.. even though he wont be my mission pres. I can't believe transfers are next week! Pres said that everyones eyebrows are going to be raised and we're gonna say, "why the heck did he do that?"... we'll see. Ha.. I might have 2 areas my whole mission. I wouldn't mind changing. I have grown to really love the people in Liahona 1st. I honestly still don't know why I got sent back because any other missionary could have done what I have done here, but maybe i just needed to have these experiences for myself. 

We are getting ready for easter pageant! I hope they put me back in the vc next transfer. They had their own "restoration" there. After a long time, a lot of the rules got switched and changed (apostasy) and then last transfer they just went completely back to the way all the rules are written. That being said, all my pdays will be mondays and we will be in the vc for 6 hours everyday instead of 3. We got a new exhibit too.. i don't know anything about it though. 

We set a date for Judy and her son to get baptized this Saturday.. which I really wanted to happen if I end up leaving the area.. but I didn't feel right about it. she's dating her exhusband again and I don't see the change in her yet. I don't think she's been honest with us. We'll see what happens. 

On a brighter note.. Agustin got the priesthood! YAY! I wanted to cry. He will pass the sacrament next sunday. Not only that, but he had a friend move in with him named Miguel. And Agustin introduced him to us. Last night we went to the Fireside where recent converts bare there testimonies and we sing. Agustin and Miguel came and Miguel said to me after, "I wanted to get up there and bare my testimony too, can I?" I said, "Miguel, we gotta get you baptized first!" He... looks pretty promising. He just says weird stuff like in church he's like... "when are we going to wash each others feet? That's what Jesus did!" 

We had a lesson with Ana and we walked in and she had a big black and blue eye.. from the guy she's living with. Broke my heart. I almost beat him up and stole all the beer that was left over.. I was so mad. She's moving out today. Good. but I hope she's still in our area. 

Anyway.. that's the week. Love you all. Thank you again for fasting and praying. 

Love,

Hermana Cottrell

Moroni 7 

SFTE 

Aunt Gayle and April visit VC - 3-2-13

Sister Beckstrand blog 3-3-13

My Hand Hurts Feb 25,2013

Man I can't even think what happened this week! On Wednesday I was sickish but I didn't want to stay in because Hna Newton had been sick and we needed to work. It was hailing! Soooo cold on bikes! But now it's like summer so we're good. We had a lesson out in the cold with this guy and I said in the middle of the lesson, "you're not interested are you?" I love how much more blunt I am in Spanish. I guess it's the culture, but i'm definitely more bold. Speaking of which, we went to contact someone and found someone else in the garage. He kept looking behind an object like there was someone else there. I gave the guy an invitation and as I walked back I literally saw this grown man crouched in a baby position hiding from us. I smirked and acted like I didn't see him. I kept talking to the guy and he said he wasn't interested. I said, "that's okay! What about your friend over there?" He started laughing uncontrolably while I just sat there. And then he tried to play it off and say "who?" I said that guy over there that is hiding from us! He was super embarrassed. It was funny. Poor guy. 

We are teaching an old man named Jose. We were riding on our bikes and we didn't see him but he said HEY! so we turned around and went to teach him. He's like an Agustin! Like 70 and lonely. He is going through a really hard time though because he was fixing his car and it FELL on him! And... chopped his fingers off. Ouch. He said that the devil did it. Well we taught him how to pray. We taught him that prayer is nothing recited, its a conversation with you and God so feel free to say anything you want. This was his prayer, "Heavenly Father.. MY HAND HURTS!! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"..... Can't argue with that. Amen. 

We spent a good chunk of our weekend helping the Correa Family. They got sealed in the temple! We decorated Friday night and helped Saturday as well. Lets just say I really know how to throw a Mexican Wedding. We had Cheetos and fruit with hot sauce on top... that's what they wanted. Okay they had a lot more than that but I love every bit of the hispanic culture! 

In the VC meeting I talked about how even though I burnt easy bake cookies earlier in the week, God is the best chef! He brings all of us very unique people together and he needs us all to become something amazing and delicious. If just one person is sour though and has a bad attitude, it could spoil the whole thing. A lot of times, we don't know what he's cookin, but he always does! 

We found out the news of 58 more missions! Did you all see that we are getting two more missions? Gilbert and Scottsdale? It wont effect me, but some of the missionaries in our mission will have to change missions! 60,000 missionaries! Can you believe that? Can you imagine Joseph Smiths face right about now! So cool! I'm so glad I decided to come! The bar has been raised... drastically! Gives me chills. We're getting a TON of new missionaries next transfer and splitting areas and everything's gonna get crazy to put it lightly. The new mission president will come in soon.. poor guy's gonna be a little overwhelmed. We are going to have a meeting and President ellsworth is going to show us all the changes that we will have on Wednesday, so I'll keep you updated. 

We sang in church yesterday! That was good. There was a lady that had her dad pass away like 3 days ago and had signed up to feel us and forgot. We felt really bad so later that night we doorbell ditched her with a box of chocolate covered strawberries that mom sent us. I was prayin to know who to give it to and I knew she needed them. Sister Newton knocked really lightly so I thought they didn't hear, so I went back up to knock really hard and they opened the door so I ran as fast as I could.. they caught us. But it was funny. 

That's the week! loveyou!

Read Ether chapter 3! The Brother of Jared. Think of the plan of salvation as you read it.

Write me! SFTE

Love,

Hermana Cottrell   

We're all on the same team, right? 2-18-13

Another good week :) It started off with an old lady giving us $20 at walmart for our groceries. Nice. It was a little different experience from the last time i went to that walmart. Some old guy saw that I was holding a Book of Mormon and yelled, "that's a Book of Mormon?? EVERY ONE OF THOSE BOOKS SHOULD BE BURNED! That's a cult!!!!" ahhh... good times. 

Sister Newton was sick for a couple days.. it was hard trying to figure out splits and still trying to work. We couldn't afford to not visit people for two days. I got to go out with sister Larson though, that was really fun. We even set a baptismal date together. Speaking of baptismal dates.... Remember Judy? So I get a call from the english elders in our area and they said, "hey are you teaching a lady named Judy?" I said "yeah, she's getting baptized in a couple weeks on the 23rd" they said, "uh... we have the same investigator with the same baptismal date" What? So apparently we've been teaching the same person with the same date because she speaks both english and spanish. I found her when I first got out on my mission but I just said that whatever is best for her and her family.. as long as she gets baptized. Well, we had a zone meeting this week and the Elder taps me on the shoulder and says,"ehem, so I talked to Judy and her son said that he wants to go to the English ward.. so sorry.. but hey.. we're on the same team, right?" I had a good attitude before he did that. So... the day before Valentines day when Sister Newton was sick, me and Sister Larson went and heart attacked her fence. She texted us the next day and said she wanted to meet with us. I told her that she could either meet with us or the Elders but not both but she is welcome to come to the primary activity on Saturday and church on Sunday. She came to both! Ya wanna know the best part? On the way to go to OUR ward in Spanish, Judy got a flat tire and the Elders went to go help her. So basically they helped her get to our church. But hey.. we're all on the same team, right? haha It's fun to joke around with them and they are really good Elders. Judy already has a few really good friends in the ward and her kids love it and have friends too. She came to the baptism last night too which was AWESOME! It was a "waptism" (wedding and baptism) We had to take everyone from the relief society to the chapel because there were so many people. It was a really good turn out. It was the Ferrer family and they looked SO happy! 

On Valentines day, it was pretty funny. We got lots of new investigators but it was all old, single men. I think people were just lonely. But one of them came to church! We set a baptismal date with Osvaldo (Claudia and Nadia's dad!) I hope he's serious. That was a good day. 

We had a fundraiser for the young women to go to girls came. They did a nice dinner and they had a bidding on the desserts they made. We (they) raised over $900!! They did a good job. I was glad we could help though. The next day was the primary activity. We got all the primary kids and had them decorate cut-out hearts. My personal favorite was one that said, "all the cool kids go to church" we then went and delivered them with all the kids to the less actives. So we had like 50 kids show up at each door with hearts and cupcakes. They loved it. it was really fun. 

I had a prompting to go knock on a door of a white person that I had referred over to the english elders and I didn't know why. I found him outside his house and he's super hardcore but really nice. He was a little smug the first time I met him but I knew i had to go for some reason. He used to be like a preacher or something and then eventually left and came up with his own believes... which are spot on with ours. I knocked on the door and started talking to him and his face was completely different from the first time. I said why are you different this time? He said he has been depressed and he needs a job. Sister Newton (who wasn't here when I met him the first time) told him to read 3 Nephi 11 before we left. I couldn't believe it. That was the same chapter that I had left him with the first time. He needs to read it apparently. Anyway... I hope the Elders take all the time they were spending on Judy and go over to his house. There were a lot of other miracles that happened with him but i don't have time ;/

Anyway... that was the week! I hope everyone had a good valentines day filled with... good stuff :) Love you!

The chapter is 3Nephi28 

SFTE

Hermana Cottrell 

FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT 2-11-13

Hola!

It's a cold and rainy day here in AZ! We are grateful for the English sisters with a car that can take us around on pday. This week has been pretty eventful. I sent Sister Holladay and Sister Sordes home. That was sad. But i'm sure they are enjoying being with family. I went out with the english sisters on splits while I waited till Wednesday to get my new companion. I was soooo excited for an american meal.. Chicken/potatoes/steak... Guess what we ate? Mexican food! I just laughed and said, of course :) It was really interesting going out with the English sisters though. We went and saw this lady that they are teaching and she speaks Spanish too so I taught her the plan of salvation in spanish and she can feel the spirit and understand better in spanish so it was good that I was able to teach. It was really cool too because whenever the english sisters would talk, they didn't understand me, but they were spot on and they would even repeat some of the things that I would say or ask. That's when you know you are all teaching by the spirit :) English work actually made me a little homesick! I guess being in real homes with real couches reminds me of home! It surprised me. It was really fun though, i'm glad I got to go.

The promptings of the spirit are starting to become clearer and clearer to me. It's like elder Bednar said, "one of the ways you can distinguish if the spirit is telling you something is if you really don't want to do it, you should probably do it" We were going to visit some people and then we were on our way.. I thought.. eh we should go see Marta and see how she's doing. In the same trailer park there was a lady sitting outside. Apparently she's never home (i've been in that trailer park probably 100 times and i've never seen her) but she just happened to be there. I invited her to the easter pageant and started talking to her. After about 5 min we come to find out that she is a member, she's gone through the temple and she's been inactive for 12 years. She got offended by someone. I asked her if she still believes it's true and she said yes and that she still reads the Book of Mormon. She said that she's completely alone and no one cares about her.. not even her 6 kids that have grown up and moved away. I told her that she has a family at the church and we were there to help her but she kept saying, "Nope, i'm alone!" Before I walked away I asked her to think about this question, "Do you have a testimony of the church? Or do you have a testimony of the people?" To my surprise she sat there for a min and said, "i'm going to think about that" I told her we would stop by when we were in the area. 

Another time when i felt a prompting was when I saw this little boy playing soccer by himself. I said hi and then rode off. I then thought... nah, lets go play soccer with him. So we went over there and started kicking the ball back and forth. I was thinking about all the people that we needed to visit, but the spirit said... just wait. So we waited and out walks his uncle. I continued to kick the ball around (so they wouldn't go back inside) while Hermana Newton talked to the Uncle (Jorge). We found out that Jorge has taken some lessons before and knows all about the church he asked what "ward" we're in- that's when you know they know alot. He wants to learn more! So we taught him and set up a return appointment. 

The last one i'll share is when we were biking home from a long day and we were so hungry. I passed a different trailer park and remembered we had a referral there. I knew the referral guy wouldn't be home because he works during that time, but I knew we needed to go over there. So we turned around. (Poor Sister Newton- I always just randomly turn around) We found his next door neighbors home fixing some bikes. I said, "hey! Will you fix MY bike?" I started teasing them and found out something interesting! The kid said, "hey I have that book!" I asked him if he still reads it and he said he did. Apparently, him and his brother and sister got baptized like 3 years ago (but not their parents) and they moved.. so they didn't know which church to go to so they just didn't go. We are excited to go back and teach the parents and the whole family together.

This week we taught the Young Women at mutual in the English ward. The leaders wanted us to come because the elders serve in their ward. That was really fun! We talked about spiritual experiences that we've had on the mission and we talked about gross things we've eaten and how a mission can change their lives. It's good to reflect and what not.

We are still teaching Ana.. She's... like my best friend. I love her. I'm so glad we started teaching her again. I think I like her so much because she thinks i'm hilarious. I don't know why.. anyway, I have seen how Heavenly Father has been preparing her when I left the area the first time. Ana lost her 22 year old son a couple years ago. He was murdered in Mexico and she is still devastated. That being said we had a really powerful Plan of Salvation lesson. We also had a church tour with her and she is really making progress. I hope round 2 will be her time to join the church. 

I am loving my companion! It's so fun working with someone that came out the same time as me! I just realized that we haven't taken any pictures together! I actually don't think i've taken any pictures at all this week! I will do better.

The chapter is 3NE 11.. I studied this chapter this morning. Pay attention to the order that Christ does things and teaches the people, it's really interesting. Hope you can feel the spirit as you read it, I did :)

Love you all! Happy Valentines day!

Pray for me

Seek for the Eternal

Hermana Cottrell