29 December 2014

Merry Christmas to you all!! I think I forgot to say so in my last letter.... :) But, better late than never! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I sure did. It was so great to talk to my family. All of them! It was so amazing. 

This week in general was wonderful. On Tuesday, I received two Christmas packages, from my Momma and from Jeremy & Ethan. They are so sweet. 

We also met a super sweet lady, named Ginger. She loves this time of year, and was so excited that we came and knocked on her door. She wasn't really interested in us teaching her, but was really looking forward to watching the He is the Gift video. It was so wonderful! She was so sweet.  We had dinner with a family in our ward, the Longs. They are so awesome. 

Wednesday was Christmas Eve! It was so great. We went to go visit with a couple of potential people... But they were all getting ready to go to Christmas Eve Services at a different church. So. We went in early that night, so as to not disturb people. We were able to have Christmas Eve dinner with the Enke family. They are so  sweet. Their two little kids acted out the Nativity. So adorable!

Thursday was Christmas! Such an amazing holiday. I am so grateful that I will be able to spend 2 Christmases on the mission. It is such a special time of year, and what better way of celebrating it than sharing the message of Christ with others? So amazing. I am so grateful I was able to skype with my family. We even were able to conference call with Elder Dean in England! That was so great! It was such a wonderful blessing to be able to talk with all of them

Friday we did our weekly planning session. That was good. :) I'm excited for this upcoming week. We also tried to contact a couple  less active members. We have appointments to meet with some of them later on.

Saturday, we knocked around for a little bit, and then went home, because I didn't feel very well. We stayed in the rest of the night, because I felt sick. I had a really bad headache, and just needed to rest, apparently. Once I had rested for a while, I felt much better. 

Sunday was also really good. It was a typical Sunday :) We went to church, knocked around for a little bit, and then had dinner with a member, and went home to do some training. Next Sunday, our ward switches to 1pm. Which will be good :) I'm excited. 

I love you all! Have a happy and safe new year!!!

Love, 

Hermana Dean

Merry Merry Christmas!!!!

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe this week is Christmas!! It feels so far away! Probably because I am in Texas.. And am freaking out because there is no snow ;) But all is well! I am so excited to be here. This week was definitely interesting.

On Tuesday, we met with a family in our ward, and talked about Christmas. They are such a sweet family. It was so great. 

Wednesday was our Christmas Conference! Hooray! It was so good. President Slaughter spoke about the Atonement. We also had a talent show.. Which there is some great talent here in the TSAM. They are all pretty great!

Thursday was our weekly planning session. So that was good. We set some good goals for this coming week. I'm excited. Also, we had a really cool experience of being in the right place at the right time. We were headed to see a potential, and parked a little ways down from their house. As we were walking towards the house, we heard someone say "Sisters!" and turn and see a member getting out of her car, and needing our help. She had just gotten home from surgery. Her husband was in the car, but was on the phone for work stuff. We got there just in time to help her inside and get all situated and comfy. It didn't really seem like a big deal... But it was nice to see the Lord's hand in even the simple things we do. 

Friday, we met with Lauren again, and answered some questions she had. She is still really sweet, but a lot of our beliefs bother her. I'm sure someday, she'll figure it all out for herself. I'm really glad her best friend is LDS, and seems to be a really good influence on her.  We also went over to a member's house for dinner, and had ratatouille ! It was so yummy. I really enjoyed it. :) 

Saturday and Sunday were hard days. Both Sister Bills and I were sick on Saturday, and she was still feeling sick on Sunday. So we stuck around the house all day. I was able to get some good rest on Saturday, and got better... and then Sunday was able to get some good studying done.  I'm glad we are both feeling better! 

I love you all so much!

Merry Merry Christmas to you all! Don't forget what this season is really about. 

Love, Hermana Dean

15 December 2014

Hola!! 

This week has been crazy! But so much fun. :)

Monday we met with Lauren and her family. They are so cute. They have 3 little kids, and are just so adorable. I am excited for them. We showed them the He is the Gift video, and they absolutely loved it. We also talked about the Restoration. They had a few questions, which is normal. But I think they definitely felt the spirit. We are going back tonight, to meet with them again. :)

Tuesday was Sister Vivas' last day! She & the other departing missionaries spent the day with President and Sister Slaughter. I was companions for a day with Sister Dimatera. She is originally serving her mission in Temple Square in Salt Lake, but is here for 2 transfers. She is so amazing! When she goes back to Temple Square, you should all go find her and hug her for me :)

Wednesday we had a Zone Meeting all about He Is The Gift-- how to better share it and help people understand it and accept it. It was very good, and I learned a lot :)

Thursday was Transfers!!! Sister Bills is my new compañera! She is so sweet. She is from Layton, UT, and has been on her mission for 6 months. I am her first trainee. 

Sister Bills and Me. :) I know. we're adorable.

Thursday was also our Relief Society Party. It was so well done. The theme was Christmas Past, Present and Future. Prior to the party , the presidency gathered traditions, recipes, etc from people, and put them all in a book for everyone to have. It was so cute! Everyone had so many different traditions, and unique ways that their families focused on Christ. I absolutely loved it!

Friday was weekly planning! Hurrah! That pretty much took up most of our day. It was good though. I feel like our weekly planning session was definitely inspired. Also, Happy Birthday to Larry!!

Saturday, Sister Bills wasn't feeling too well. She thought one of her previous investigators in her area before got her sick. So, we stayed home for the day. I did a lot of personal & language study. It was nice. I'm sad she was sick, but I was grateful for the extra time to study. 

Sunday, we had ward council, which is always good :) Sacrament meeting was good. It was Brandon's mission "farewell" talk. He spoke of things that helped him prepare for his mission. It was good. He will be a great missionary. Also, Happy Birthday to Joy Joy!

Well.. that brings us to today! Which... So far has been great! I am looking forward to this upcoming week. :)

Also, I am curious. How have you all been "Sharing the Gift"? What are some things you have come up with?

Here is one example from a Sister here in my ward. She wrote this poem, and attached it to a little box of treats. I thought this was such a wonderful idea! And so simple. I absolutely love it!

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I love you all! I hope your week is fantastic!! 

Love, 

Hermana Dean

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8 December 2014

Hola!! 

I hope everyone's week has been amazing! Mine sure has been.

On Tuesday, we had exchanges again. Instead of going to Fair Oaks, I stayed in Encino Park, and Sister Davis came there with me. It was really great. She is going home this transfer too!

Wednesday, we had dinner with the Foote's. They are such a sweet family. He is our stake president. She reminds me a lot of Sister Keaton, for those of you who know who that is. :)

Thursday, we had Weekly planning... Hermana Vivas's last one!!! :( So sad. But she is super excited. I'm really excited for her too.

Friday, we finished redoing our area book (rewriting potential sheets, removing those who have moved, etc) That was quite the project. :)

Saturday, we had a meeting with Elder Corbridge and Elder Wright. That was so wonderful. Elder Wright talked about the blessings of being a missionary. He quoted a talk President Hinckley gave in a priesthood session of General Conference. It is so great!

Sunday was good. We taught Gospel Principles again, about Honesty. It was good :)

We also got to watch the Christmas Devotional at a member's house. It was so amazing. I absolutely loved it.

I love you all so much! 

Let me include some pictures :)

​First time having Whataburger... pretty good!

​There are squirrels everywhere!! They are so cute!

Me and Sister V! Last P-day together! :(

Love you!!

Love, 

Hermana Dean

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1 Diciembre 2014

Hola familia y amigos!

This week was great! 

Tuesday, we knocked part of our area. We met a lot of really nice people! 

We also made little Turkeys... Like how we all did in kindergarten. And took them around to some of the people in the area. We also talked with a PM/LA family. They are so sweet. They were fixing their Christmas lights, and we were able to get to know them just a little. We are going to visit them later this week.

Wednesday, we knocked some more, and met with another LA family. They are the sweetest. We talked about the He Is The Gift video, and they said they would watch it. 

We had dinner with a family in the ward. Their son is getting ready to leave for his mission in 2 weeks. He is really excited. 

Friday, we knocked again. We also met a couple of really cool people. The majority of people we meet while knocking aren't really interested. They are grateful for our working to spread the word, but are comfortable in their religion. I think the He is The Gift video will help with that. To show we have that same belief in Christ as our Savior. 

Saturday, we walked around part of our area, instead of driving. It was a super nice day outside, and we got to talk to some more people. 

We met a man later that night, while knocking another street. He is Christian, and talked about his beliefs. We chatted with him for a few minutes out on his doorstep. He agreed with some of the things we said, and not so much with other things. He wasn't really interested in learning more, but I think we at least planted a seed.

Sunday, we had Church, like usual. :)

After church, we went to an apartment complex that had a few potentials living there. One of them answered the door, and we talked with him outside for quite a while. He told us he had been drinking earlier and so he was sorry if he didn't really make sense. We talked about how we know he is a son of God, and that God loves him so much, more than we could ever comprehend. And we know that Christ knows everything we ever go through in life, because of The Atonement. It was a really great talk with him... And afterward, before we knew what was happening, he hugged us. It was really awkward. So yeah. My companion and I got hugged by a drunk yesterday. We laughed about it for a while afterward.

I love you all so much! Thank you for your support and love. I hope all is well with everyone ;)

Love you!

Love, Hermana Dean