Christ and Faith.

Today I just feel so grateful for the time that I have to be a missionary! I love this work, the Spirit, my experiences, my Heavenly Father, the answers I have recieved, and especially for the people I have met in the mission. This transfer for me in certain areas has been a little bit more difficult at times. I love my companion but in this mission my companion is famous and to be her companion can be hard if you start comparing yourself to her. In my mission I haven't really felt super inadequate at times yes but not really, but this transfer I have felt more like that. It's because she is amazing! Amazing, amazing, amazing at everything! And she does lots of things different than me. And for one of the first times I started to have doubts in how I do things, my abilities, etc. But this MLC everything was resolved. I know that when we go to meetings with questions and prayers we will recieve answers. I love the leaders of this mission and their counsel! I know that Satan is the author of doubt. I know that I am here to meet different people and learn from them. So, I am going to share just a few stories of these people and their examples:

President Heap and his wife: I know without a doubt that missionaries are called not only to an area but to a certain mission president and wife. Every time I have to be with them I learn and love them more. I also love their daughter, Emilee who is the same age as us and has been here for the past month. My companion: Talk about an amazing person! She is from Guatemala and moved her with her family to the USA about 14 years ago. Obviously this was hard but her example of faith is incredible. In the mission, about 10 months ago her mom was in a horrible car accident. She almost died. She was in a coma for 2 weeks and all of the doctors thought she would die or having major lasting effects. And my companion stayed in the mission. And her mom is doing great now, the only lasting effect she has is that she can't smell. Sister Villondo: This week we had exchanges with the sisters in Carlsbad. This was soooo awesome for me! We were talking about the blessings that we have seen from our service and were in awe of all of them. Then we were talking about our journey to the mission field and she shared her pre-mission story with me. She decided she was going to serve a mission and recieved her call and was to report in February. Well 4 days after Christmas her dad died, completely unexpected. She said it was so hard, that she was so angry, but that she knew she still wanted to and was supposed to serve. And so she came a little later but she came! And she is an amazing missionary!!! Larry and Paula: Paula is our most progressing investigator right now and she is amazing!! Larry too, to see the change in him since the first time we met him to know is incredible, he is sooo happy!! The gospel does that!! Anyway they came to church yesterday for the Larry the first time in 40 years, and Paula the first time in forever. She has a desire to be baptized she just feels kind of overwhelmed right now. So pray for her! We taught her this morning and have our next appointment Wednesday. We love her sooo much!! And holy cow we went to their house this week and her husband is sooo talented with wood!! Don't worry I took like 50000000000 pictures of everything!! El Llano Branch: Forever my favorite Spanish branch! And favorite people!! I love the Gutierrez and Quintana family with all of my heart! And can't wait to return and see them after my mission! I'm already planning on being there for Angel's baptism! Hermanas Gonzalez and Rocha: My convert companions! Oh my goodness the faith!! Both are converts of less than 5 years. Hermana Gonzalez had only been a member for 1 year and 2 months before she came on a mission. Talk about faith!! I could go on forever and ever and ever with people. But basically I know that I came on a mission to meet these people. Because they have forever changed me! Because Christ and faith and seeing examples of others and having that desire to change yourself does that!! I love Christmas time!!! xoxo con amor, Hermana Slade