Week 30: You're not going to believe this...

Querida Familia y......actually I should say Dear Family and Friends,

          So, no more Spanish for me as of now. I got transferred yesterday to the other side of the mission to the Edmonds Ward. It is very much full of white people. Also I am training so that means we are white washing this area! Super duper exciting! I am hitting my 7 month mark soon.  It's just weird suddenly being way "older" and being the one in charge. I am happy to focus more on learning the doctrine and becoming a better teacher since I will be teaching in English, but I am praying that I don't lose all the Spanish that I have learned. This week seems like a blur...we found a lot of people that had lots of potential including a young woman from Venezula. She was super cool, but she and my beloved Seahurst branch are back in Seattle Zone. I must say, it is way prettier up here near Canada than where I was in "the ghetto." Well, wish me luck! I love all of you and wish you all the very best. I will tell you more on Monday. Dios les bendiga!

Week 30 Challenge:

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard 

*I will forever and always be an Hermana:)

Week 29: It all started with a fortune cookie...

Querida Familia y Amigos,

          This transfer has been hard. Not going to lie. Right now we are talking to a zillion people per day, but no one seems to particularly care about their salvation. We have been talking to people from all walks of life from all over the world. Many of them are Muslims from Africa. I am finding that there are many similarities between our Church and the Islamic faith except for the most important fact: that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, not a just a prophet. The Muslims who speak English are some of the nicest people that we talk to. They are really good at being missionaries too. They are always giving us websites and wanting to give us the Qur'an. One guy told us that we would be even more beautiful if we had some Muslim in us...wow. 

          It so crazy how hard this work is and how very little fruit comes from it. With how many missionaries and members there are in the world now, I thought that we would be baptizing the millions! But today I was reading in 1 Nefi 13 and he prophesied that the church of God will be few in number, but it will be in every land, nation and tongue. So, prophecy fulfilled! By the way, how is the Book of Mormon reading going for all of you? I am on page 29 already. Also, have you been praying at 6:00?

          Back to my story about a fortune cookie. We have had a rough week, but on Friday we had a youth, who is a member, out with us so we treated ourselves to Panda Express. Alba, the member, is super cool. She was baptized a year ago actually in the Seatac ward, but she is preparing for a mission so she comes out with us every so often. From then on out, we had a night full of miracles. We found an inactive member who is a returned missionary named Ada. She served in Washington D.C., but she moved to Washington about a year ago and hasn't come back to church since. She explained about how she can't feel peace because she knows she isn't doing the things that she needs to be doing in her life right now. She has a lot of guilt from that. I know that once she comes back to church she will be a strong member. One of our members made an interesting observation the other day. He said that if they have the gift of the Holy Ghost, they will eventually find their way back one day.That was such a comfort for me because many people that I love are members, but haven't continued on the path of conversion. I have faith that one day they will be able to see with their spiritual eyes how much they are missing out on. You can never understand the gospel until you live it. 

          Later that night we were tracting (typical missionary phrase) with not much luck. Then a rather scary looking lady opened her door. She had dark circles of make-up around her eyes and a number of piercings up her ears. We started in with our usual greetings and summary of who we are and what we do and who we represent. All of the sudden Hna. Wrubell was like, "So do you have some time right now that we can share more of these things with you?" The lady proceeded to show us her "ankle bracelet" and told us she couldn't leave her apartment, but we could come in. So we went in. Seriously, I was ready for this lady to pull a knife on us or start chewing us out, but surprisingly I felt at peace. We started teaching her, but she didn't say much. About 30 mins into the lesson she started opening up. She told us she was from Florida, but came here for college. She was studying theology. She ended up an alcoholic, homeless and in prison.   She is currently on house arrest. But wow. Cecilia is a very intelligent human being. She asked very deep questions and she was very pensive when we gave her answers. She seemed surprised that we did have answers to her questions. She accepted a Book of Mormon and she wanted us to stay for hot chocolate. Man, I could be best friends with this lady! She probably isn't much older than me...We felt bad that we had to decline having a "tea party" with her because we had already been at her place for almost 2 hours. Sometimes I just like teaching in English because I feel like I can pour out my heart and soul. It was such a good lesson! As we were leaving, she told us that she has lots of Mormon friends, her mom is taking the missionary discussions right now and that it wasn't a coincidence that we knocked on her door that night. It's moments like that when I feel like I am doing my job right. A few doors down, as soon as the guy found out we were Mormon yelled, "Joseph Smith was a murderer!" and slammed the door. Talk about mixed reactions! As a missionary, I feel like I have seen and heard it all, but everyday there is something new. People are so strange and interesting. Being rejected doesn't offend me personally at all. It's just sad to think that people are rejecting Christ. Actually I kind of find it hilarious when all these adults act like children just to get out of talking to us. But there are some really nice people out here as well that I love talking to. 

          I assume the Seahawks won again. Going for the super bowl again? Yesterday there were muchisimas fiestas! Much honking, many fireworks mid-day and let me tell you about all those drunk people! I have never seen so many car crashes in my life in one day! Fortunately, the Lord was protecting us and we stayed out of a lot of that. The worst that we got was getting hit on by drunk men every so often. 

          Well, that raps up another week in the great Seattle zone. Transfers are soon so we will see what this next week brings.

Week 29 Challenge:

Loves, hugs and kisses from Seattle! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

Week 28: Night at the Heights

Querida Familia y Amigos,

          How's reading the Book of Mormon going? I am on page 19, right before chapter 11. Something that I liked that I read this morning was in 1 Nephi 9:6 and 1 Nephi 10:17. God literally knows everything. We shouldn't be satisfied with the knowledge that we have as the inexperienced and imperfect human beings that we are. We have to learn and know for ourselves through diligently seeking. The truth will come through the Holy Ghost. It sounds simple, but the road to conversion is a constant struggle. The best way to find out what you know is learning how the Spirit communicates to you individually. No one can tell you how the spirit feels and how you are going to receive answers. That's why isn't so important to live in harmony with the teachings of Christ in order to feel the Spirit. As a consequence, mere beliefs turn into knowledge. It's so important for every member who has entered into the waters of baptism to have that knowledge.

Hermana Stoddard and Hermana Wrubell
Beautiful West Seattle

          This week I went exchanges for the 3rd time with Sister Nelson, my sister training leader. I didn't appreciate her or the experience the first two times so I think that's why I had to go on yet another one. She is so down to earth with people and quickly relates to them, but doesn't go down to their level. She is always classy and dignified. That's something that I have struggled with is finding that balance of representing Christ, but also not being a preachy missionary robot that comes off as arrogant. I also learned about a lot of things that I need to change between me and my companion in order to work in more unity. Got to love those trials of love and patience! 

          Also, it's always an experience spending the night in another missionaries' apartment...especially when they're are in The Heights. The Heights are a ginormous complex with thousands of people in them. It's known for being "little Mexico," super ghetto and super sketchy. Don't worry, nothing too crazy happened! It's just crazy feeling the contrast between their cozy, clean apartment and when you walk out and you are blasted with the smell of weed and non-hymn music.

Hilarious Sign on someone's door at the Heights

          We were tracting during the Seahawk's game...do you want to know how successful that was? Hehe actually we ran into quite a few Hispanics, but everyone and their dog was watching the game which is a true statement because everyone has a dog here. No joke!

          So something that our mission president has asked us to do is to share our "High Expectations." That's our mission motto. In Isaiah 55:8-9 it talks about how the Lord's ways are not our ways. Part of our challenge here on Earth is to align our will with our Heavenly Father's will. We can't live below our potential or else we will never be happy. Last year, our mission goal was 1,663 baptisms and we ended up having 330.  This year we decided as a mission that we are going to have 1,042 baptisms which means every companionship would have to baptize every month. It's hard, but very doable. President Choi shared a story of a master telling his servants to push a rock. They tried everything they could, they would push for hours, but the rock wouldn't budge. When they complained to the master that the rock wouldn't move the master replied, "I didn't ask you to move the rock, I asked you to push it. And because of that you have become so strong." 

          Now that we are strong, we have to work smarter in order to move the rock this year. We have to make a lever to move the rock. We believe that lever will come from the support of our families. So one big way you can support me is by obeying one of our mission rules with me. Every day at 5:00PM all missionaries and members in the Seattle Washington mission stop what they are doing and pray for the missionaries, investigators, and leaders. They also ask Heavenly Father what they can do to help in the work. Will all of you set alarms on your phone for 6:00 so that you will be praying with me and my mission at the same time? Pray for our goal of 1,042 baptisms as a mission and 27 baptisms for the Seahurst branch. I know these goals are possible with your prayers and with the loving hand of our Heavenly Father. Thank you for all the love and support that all of you give me. I think about all of you and pray for you everyday.

Week 28 Challenge:

Con Amor,

Hermana Stoddard

(Some photos and challenges have been added to the last few weeks)

Week 27: A White Christmas After All

Querida Familia y Amigos,

          Weirdest New Years of my life!  We just did weekly planning for three hours on New Year's Eve and then went to bed. The next day there were signs of hardcore partying all around - broken glass, red solo cups, confetti, staggering people on the streets and silly string. Lovely, just lovely. People chose to spend the first day of the brand new year not remembering what they did the last day of 2014. But we ended up having a white Jan. 3 (almost Christmas). 

          Our investigator, Virgilio, finally decided that being dressed in white and entering the waters of baptism was what he wanted to do in his life. I have never seen anyone so excited to be in a white jump suit! He was dancing around and it was just a blessed and happy day! He has been my investigator for basically my whole mission. I met him two or three weeks after arriving here in Seattle. While I was in the MTC I prayed my little heart out that I would find the prepared people, the people I can make a difference with and Virgilio was undeniable the first answer to those prayers.

President Campbell, Virgilio & the Hermanas

Virgilio's Baptism Day

           Although we are still working on finding new investigators, new people to teach, we had a lot more success this past week with lessons actually working out, especially with less actives and members. Man, it's going to be rough when the day comes that I have to leave this area. I love all the members of the Seahurst Branch, especially President Campbell. He is an example of someone who truly puts others before himself and that's what I want to develop while I am out here on my mission. 

          Hna Wrubell and I were divinely inspired to go out of our way to visit a family in West Seattle this week. This particular family just seems like one of those strong families in the church that have leadership positions and that we rely upon to have many responsibilities, especially to help others. I have never visited them, but when you go into someone's house, you can step a little bit more into their shoes. We found out about all these trials they are going through, one of them being cancer that we didn't know about because they never complained so we assumed they were fine. It really opened up my eyes. There are people all around us who we assume are just fine, but they could be going through the biggest trial of their lives. They are strong, but everyone needs support and love. My testimony of inspired church programs like visiting teaching has grown so much. As members of Christ's church, we have the responsibility and opportunity to visit our brothers and sisters and help them the way that Christ would help them.

          We talked to another Atheist guy this week. It's so sad to think that they don't have faith or hope in anything. Hna Wrubell and I were talking about some trials in our own lives and trying to imagine what it would have been like if we believed that there wasn't a God. It would have been impossible for me to emotionally and spiritually get over things. I am more than grateful for having the gospel in my life.

          Wow, I am getting preachy! It's been awhile since I have shared a funny story so here is one for the books. I am Sr. companion so I drive the vehicle and I have a great companion who always offers to fill up the tank for me. So she did, just like she does every few days, but this time as we were driving away I heard this weird noise. As I was saying, "What was that?" She looked at me in terror and said, "The gas cap! I set it on top of the car and didn't put it back on!" I pulled over and, lo and behold, the gas cap was in the middle of 1st Ave in Burien (a pretty busy road). Yup, we stopped traffic and everything to retrieve the cap. I was laughing historically the whole time. She didn't think it was as funny at first, but we laugh about it all the time now.(If you didn't find that funny then you just had to be there:) 

          I am on page 8 of the Book of Mormon challenge for those who are doing it with me. "If the Lord is on our side, then whom shall we fear?" 1 Nephi 4:3

Have a very happy, lovely week!

Week 27 Challenges:

Mucho amor de Seattle,

Hermana Stoddard

A drawing I made for Virgilio