Baby Week

Hello sweet family!

 

What an exciting week with all the babies!! It seemed like every where I looked this week I saw a baby. It stings a little, not being able to hold and kiss the new little babes, but I'm happy to be here and help other become eternal families like we have. I got the package today!!!! And laughed and cried through the whole thing. :) I got really excited when Scott started playing the guitar, I thought he would sing to me...but I was jipped. Still happy for the song though. Kid, you totally owe me a letter. And it was SO good to see everyone's faces and listen to them! Charley is such a little lady!!! That's the first time I've seen her walk...it's a little sassy, just like her. :) Skylar and Alaina are just so beautiful, I can't get over it!!! We have the cutest kiddos. :) Can't wait to see them in such a short time, in reality. I think of the year I have left...and then I think of the months I've been here...and it's starting to freak me out. Time is flying and soon it'll feel like I never even left.

 

This last Monday and Tuesday, it took me a bit to get back into the game. I was pretty wrapped up in the idea of missing out on family stuff and the new babes. So I was a little tender. Well it took some strength to get up and just get going. But as I went through the days this week and focused on one thing at a time, other than myself, I felt lighter. It's amazing how when you focus on others, even during your own personal struggles, your own burdens become light. I learned something very special this week about honesty. When I pray, I try not to complain. Because I know I should be so grateful for everything. Truth is, learning Spanish is hard, having your investigators not answer the door even when you hear them home is hard, and working all day and sometimes not getting enough sleep and having to get up at 6:30 anyways is really hard. Because well...I'm really not a morning person, surprise. And I've been trying to not complain about how frustrated I am sometimes. Especially in prayers because I don't want to seem ungrateful. But silly silly Hna. Florence. Heavenly Father already knows that I'm having hard time. He knows what exactly is going on. But although He knows, it's so vital that we tell Him. So what I really learned is that the beginning of spirituality is honesty. Until we are honest with ourselves and the Lord, especially about what we are doing, have done, and need, we do not allow God to work with us.  As long as we are lying to ourselves and to God about our situation, we eliminate truth from our lives. And God is light and truth. However, once we decide to be honest and accept the truth of our situation, God will begin to heal us and give us the light that dispels the darkness in our lives. The more honest we can be, the more we will dispel darkness from our lives and the more joy we will have. I invite you to be more honest this week with yourself and with God. Be positive and have faith. I know that God will help you as you open up to Him and honestly recognize where you need His help. I am accepting that I am having a hard time with some things. And I really need His help. It's truly the only way I'll become better out of situations. I know that Heavenly Father is so loving. He wants to hear from us, more than anything! And He wants the whole truth. He already knows it, but there comes spiritual strength from admiting it and moving forward with faith that He will come to the rescue.

 

I love y'all and am so grateful for everyone. I'm grateful for the package that was sent and the sweet little videos that I can watch. I love everyone of you and am so grateful we have the opportunity to be together forever.

 

One quick funny story about my spanglish... The other day in a lesson with Rosa Marrufo, I was sharing a personal experience. The Spirit was really strong and I was pretty intot he story. And out of no where comes my gringa...and I say "because" in a Spanish accent... Oh my life. I would have kept going but Rosa noticed and started laughing really loud. Pretty embarrassing. But it's a fun story to tell now. I'm in this weird libo still of Spanglish. I'll think of a ord in Spanish better than English. And I talk like a Spanish-hick. Someone please save me.

 

Well again, I'm sending lots of love to all!!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

Tortas

Dear Family,

 

Well I had another wonderful week! It was incredible to see many miracles this week, with the change in my heart and the work. We found a less-active family in our area, the Gonzalez family. They are very sweet and I can see how the Lord has been preparing them to come back to the Gospel. We contacted them at around 8 at night, our last stop before we needed to head back home from Houston. We met the daughter Yanet (pronounced Janet) and the son Jose, they were out in the front enjoying "cool" weather. We just stopped and got to know them a little bit and asked if we could come by another time in the week to do an F.H.E. with them so we set the time for Friday to return. Well a couple days later Yanet called us and asked if we could call the Elders and have them perform a blessing for her friend who was diagnosed with cancer. The Elders couldn't make it so the ward mission leaders came, which I prefer anyways. Richard, the friend who has cancer, and his family were there, all non-members. The blessing was INCREDIBLE and the spirit was SO strong!! Afterwards we taught the Restoration upon request of Richard. We did it in English because not everyone spoke Spanish, that was a nice change. :) I don't think I have felt the spirit so powerfully in a lesson. I think it meant more for me because just that morning I studied in P.M.G.  in chapter 11 on bearing testimony throughout lessons. As we taught the lesson to the families I remember what I studied and made it a point to make simply testify with everything I said. There is a power that comes with bearing a testimony. There is a reason why we are askde to share our testimonies every month in sacrament meeting. When we bear testimony we allow the Holy Ghost to work through us, helping us become more sanctified and purified as we do so. I know that is so true. Sometimes in lessons I am so lost with the language, all I can really do is testify. But I have learned that it is not only at the end of a lesson when you share a testimony, it's at the beginnng, throughout the lesson, and at the end. To tell the rest of the story, at the end of the lesson with Richard's family and the Gonzalez family, we asked if anyone would like a Book of Mormon. Richards mom was the first to say yes and many followed right after. We have an appointment set up for tonight with all of them again to explain the Plan of Salvation. And what's really great is, the les-active Gonzalez family was at church yesterday. :)

 

This week was truly humbling. I am so grateful to be here and to be able to be a part of these people's lives, even in some cases a small way. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is only through Him that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father for eternity. I testify of the need for a restoration of His Gospel. Heavenly Father is not a God of confussion. And as we humbly, with an open heart, search the Book of Mormon and listen to the teachings of our modern prophets, we will not be confussed about our eternal purpose as children of God. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have. I am grateful for my wonderful family and the sure knowledge that I have that we can be together forever. I love y'all so much. Thank you for all of the love and support.

 

I bet everyone else is excited to welcome 2 new little angel babes into the family this month! Mandie and Bryan will meet their new little girl on the 13th, I'm SO excited to see pictures of her sweet face! And hopefully soon Ryan and Cari will meet their little girl too! I need updates people! Once they're born I am sure I will be flooded with pictures, at least that's my hope. Or better yet, my demand. :)

 

Love y'all!!

 

Hermana Erica Florence

P.S. Incase you didn't know, I had tortas this week! Everytimes I hear that word I think of Maryn because it was her password from something a long time ago... :)

10 dinners in 6 days

Hello my sweet family!

 

I hope all is well at home! From the email from mom and dad everyone is doing great and are happy! I'm so glad.

 

So this week has been really fun and crazy! I have been some issues that I'm working on resolving with eating better, but that can only go so far if you're fed twice a night almost each day by members and investogators. If you say no, they get offended. If you eat it all, they add more. If you don't finish all but about 2 bites, they're offended. BUT, if you leave the 2 bites, they usually leave you alone. Most nights as we walk to the car and into our aparment and are scared to make any sudden movements or we'll barf. Seriously, most nights I'm stuffed to my throat with beans, tortillas, and rice. So regardless of my efforts to eat better, I'm getting freaking fat. It's rough.

 

The great part of my week is that we have a new investigator, Lina! She has a date for the 21st of this month. Lina is great and full of awesome questions, super eager to learn. More than half of the people we were teaching the weeks before and had dates have dropped us. It's been hard because the excuses they come up with are insane...what is comes down to is, they don't want to change their bad habits. It's so sad to see these wonderful people give up something so special just because they like their beer on the weekends and smoking. One of my favorite, moronic excuses was, "I smoke because I get stressed, and stress can kill you!" ....OH MY GOODNESS!!! I've been really struggling with understanding people. Sometimes, some peole's angency is just annoying. But I just pray for patience and great faith that one day these people will understand what they are missin out on.

 

Last night we had an F.H.E. with la familia Parada. Hey Maryn? Does the name Myra Parada sound familiar? :) Myra served on Temple Square the same time as Maryn! How cool is that! Anyways, the Paradas have a son that is married and inactive and they're expecting a baby. Marvin and Michelle came to the F.H.E. and we taught about the Plan of Salvation. It was a very special and strong lesson. I felt prompted at the end to share our families experience with Brycen. As I bore testimony that families could be together forever, I knew the Spirit was touching the heart of Michelle.

 

I am so grateful that I have the special opportunity to live with my family for eternity. I am so grateful for all of you and the love and support I recieve from everyone. Thank you all for being the best family in the world!

 

All my love,

Hermana Florence

Lessons to be learned...

Hello my sweet family!

 

I'm pretty sure I disturbed the entire library as I read the last email from everyone...I love y'all so much!! I just still can't get over Blake's message. I wish I knew when he was serious and joking. But I figured that last part out right quick! There needs to be more emails to me like that, where everyone says a little something. It was very special and I needed it this week! I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing so well! Camille- your note made me laugh pretty hard too! "Woohoo...gag...woof..." I just love you. And please make sure Charley learns my realy name...I refuse to be Auntie Helga... Maryn- you're looking for a picture? Me. Obviously. A big one. On the cieling. Of your bedroom. You're welcome. :) Dad- BAD IDEA!! Don't take mom to Tennessee in the fall. It's supposed to be the most lovely weather in the south...you don't know what you're doing. You'll be moving in a heartbeat if she finds a house she likes! Just be carefy. :) I'm glad you two will be able to go and see Mandie's new babe, I'm jealous beyond repair. The worst rule of a missionary is that they can't hold babies...it's killer. Also dad, yes we'll be struggling together with Spanish. Mine is very slowly getting better. Hna. Greenwood thinks otherwise but I know better. It's a struggle and a half. But I'll get over it and as I do my best I know Heavenly Father will help me as I try to communicate with His children. 

 

That kind of leads me to my experiences this last week. Hna. Greenwood and I were out for almost 4 days because of the new missionaries. They brought over this sick bug. She caught it first and then I followed. I felt so unproductive, it was annoying. But I got over it right quick. We also had Zone Conference with President this week and it was AMAZING!!! We are completely changing the way missionary work is here. I don't know if it's much different at home but this is pretty wild. We're starting to put together cottage meetings, which we call Noche de Mormon(pretend an accent is over the last o...that bugs me) and it involves the member a ton more! The meetings will be held in the homes of members, so exciting!! It creates more opportunities for the investigators to create more and better friendships than ever before. Everything is still a work in progress. We had our first one on Friday and it was just great. Out of it we got referrals from the investigators...WOO!!! The work is hastening and it's SO EXCITING!!!!!! Oh! And mom and dad, have the sisters in the ward over for dinner, feed them normal food. They like that. I ate cow intestines at the noche de mormon and let me tell ya. My intestines do not like any other intestines in them. The flavor of them was good actually! But...it was chewy. Camille would have barfed. :) I have video of that night, it was so fun! And I'll attach a picture of the tacos! 

 

 Some things I have learned this week is that I am not perfect. Imagine that. But I realized something that I am pretty sure has changed my mission. I have always know this but it finally clicked in my mind. I'm not perfect, but God is. And I am his child. Therefore I have the potential to become like Him and be perfect. I have many weaknesses but as a work on them and ask for guidence from Heavenly Father, they will one day be made into strength. And I need to give myself a little more credit. Cnsidering my circumstances I am doing a good job. Eric Maynes sent me an email last week about success. Success is measured in lots of different ways. As missionaries we sometimes think that since we didn't reach the number goals we set, we weren't successfull. But what it is, is the day to day activity and productivity that we acheive. Success comes from knowing that you did your very best in a situation. Last night we had a lesson with a man named Fransisco(I thought of Scott a lot, especially while Iw as making the teaching record. It took a lot of restraint to not say his name like that to his face.) and in a normal point of view the lesson was the pits. I mean he was so insane!! And it didn't help that he talked a million words a minute so I got lost, but I knew it wasn't good because I could see Hna. Greenwood get a little heated. I did my very best to participate in the lesson. Bear my testimony when he wasn't shouting Bible verses. I am not sure anything got through to him. The lesson itself was not a success. But how Hna. Greenwood and I reacted to it and what we learned from it was a success. I know that we did our best, and I feel good about it. Although circumstances aren't always ideal, we need to make the best of them, and that is success to me.Eric challenged me to pray for something specifically that I wanted to be more sucessful at, mine was handling awkward lessons better, I tend to shut down a little when I don't know what's going on. But instead I pushed through it and did my best. So yesterday I feel like a successed at something. I'm not sure if I explained this in a coherant way. I wrote it down better in my journal.

 

Thank y'all for who you are. I feel so blessed to have so much love and support from home and I pray everyone is well and happy and succeeding in different ways in life. I can't wait to hear from everyone next week! Also, random thought. It's been raining all day. And it's quite nice. El fin. :)

 

All my love,

Hermana Erica

 

P.s. Charley's hair is getting long...what a little lady! :)

Habeneros...

Hello my sweet family!!

 

This week has definitely been an advenure! I am back to a Spanish speaking area, Missouri City, and my new companion is Hermana Greenwood. I LOVE HER!!! It's nice to have a companion that I click well with without having to try. She is from Lindin Utah and is a horse girl, the like, one thing we don't have in common. We have the perfect amount of fun and work during the day which I really needed! I know that the Lord new I needed to be with her. Hna. Greenwood is very patient with the growing Spanish. She leaves to go back home in November so she is quite experienced with Spanish and missionary work. I'm learning lots from her. Want to know something crazy? She likes taking pictures more than I do, I think. I went to the bathroom yesterday and when I came out she took a picture of me...it was ridiculously random and then that picture led to many...many...more pictures. Of just me. Just a little weird. She said she is going to make a book of our adventures when she gets home and she needs lots of pictures to choose from. I joke with her that she'll just use the pictures to make a shrine for me. :) I'm pretty funny. Our first night togther, Wednesday night, we were out visiting a few people. I was nervous like crazy because I hadn't spoken Spanish in forever! But that part went well, surprisingly. The scary part about that night was the HUGE storm we got caught in! The rain storms here are so scary. We walking out of the Briscuela's house and BAM there was a storm raging! She gave us big black trash bags to cover ourselves as we ran to the car. We looked pretty good! I wish I would have gotten a picture of us, but it was kinda wet outside. Good thing she was our last appointment for the night. And it's stormed like that 3 times since I've been here. Tons of lightning followed by thunder of course, which is what makes it scary for me...no me gusta.

 

The work in this area is great! Hna. Greenwood opened the area last transfer so it's still being built up. We have 10 dates set for our investigators and they are all so solid! Well, except for Dulce...but she's a long story. She likes to play the victim, granted she has a tough situation, but she creates those situations by staying where she is. It's a little frustrating at times. I often have to repeat, "I am kind, I am patient, I am loving". Maybe after a year and a half of pretending I am those things it'll become real life. :) My mission has been really good for me. I like to think that I'm changing for the better in a lot of ways. The emotional and physical rollercoasters I've experienced have only strengthened my spirit. Before, I don't think I would have let the trials make me better. In some instances yes, but usually, no. I've learned that a pitty party with netflix and a pandabowl with chowmein and orange chicken, unfortunatly, don't get you anywhere in life and they don't change the situation you're in. Ha ha if only those things could change the hearts of some people here...that'd be an easy fix! The real change comes from your desire. But the desire that you have can only get you so far. You need to act. But that too can only get you as far as you can, we NEED the help of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior. Without them, once we got to a certain point, doing all we can, we would stop. There is no true progression without heavenly help. Many times I have thought I was really progressing and doing well and then the next day be back at square one. How does that even happen?? I thought I had made obvious improvement! I didn't improve at all. Nothing in me had changed. I was just seeing more results to my same work and I wasn't the one progressing. There needs to be a constant change every day. Especially in my life as a missionary. All of a sudden my weaknesses and imperfections are magnified and I have felt very VERY small at times. I am starting to see, as I really turn to Heavenly Father in the morning when getting up is extra hard (always) and say, "I just can't do it alone, please help me through this day" He strengthens me and I am able to stretch like I didn't know possible. Some days I'm stretched thinner than others. But I know that God know what I can and cannot handle in life. He gives me weaknesses so I can make them into strengths. He gives me trials so I can become like Him. And the best part is, I am never alone through all of it. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Gospel of Christ. I am grateful for the plan that God has created so we can return to live with him again WITH out families for all eternity. There is no better feeling of security in the world that I have than knowing that I am sealed to my sweet, crazy, funny, and loving family. Thank you all for your love and support. I love you all so much and I appreciate each one of you for the different roles you play in my life. How lucky! We get each other FOREVER!! I pray that by then I'll be a little easier to get along with. :)

 

So I must explain the subject of the email..."habeneros"... I ATE ONE!!! Well...part of one...like a little slice. But it was SO HOT!!! We ate at a members house last night, la familia Rodrigez, and she made this "salsa" (onions and habeneros) and we had these awesome tacos! I made a promise to myself when I came out that I would try everything, no matter what. Unfortunately I didn't know what I was promising...ex. the wild roadkill racoon. Anyways, Hna. Rodrigez was pretty nervous for me to try it because I am, in here words "blanca". Clearly that yes. But I tried it anyways. And I was sweating and drinking for the next 15 minutes. Ha ha ha it was a lot of fun! She had me eat salt to take away the burning...that didn't help..it must my mouth feel sour. I felt a little tortured. But it's definitely a memory! And I can say that I did it! That's kind of what missionary life is like when it comes to food and activites...you do it to say you did it. It sure makes for a lot of fun! Well I don't have a ton else to tell. My area is great, I love my companion, I'm on my way to learning Spanish, and I feel closer and closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ every day. The only thing that would be better is for y'all to be here with me! But y'all would just be in my way... ;)

 

I LOVE Y'ALL!!! Be good and safe and share the gospel with everyone you meet! If it makes you so happy, why not share it with others? :)

 

Todo mi amor,

Su Hermana Erica Florence

This is my life...

Dear Family:

 

Well, I'm being transferred back to Spanish. This is kind of bitter-sweet for me. I have really grown to love Sunnyside and the Sister and Elders I work with. And honestly, I've loved being able to actually communicate with those I talk to! Ha ha I've been spoiled with English. I had my last Sunday with everyone yesterday and it was a great one. Annette Hood was baptized!!! I'll try and attach pictures. She was just glowing and afterwards she bore such a sweet testimony and one of her boys, Maurice, stood up and thanked everyone for being so kind to his mother. He said he could see how happy she is and how her life has changed. He is now taking the discussion with the Elders. :) Nailed it! I'm so sad to leave Annette, she made me promise to write her and invite her to my wedding. I love her!! Want to know why else yesterday was awesome? We were "fed" by Sis. Helton. She brings us the weather report for the week from the newspaper every week with usually some kind of canned food. Last week is was evaporated milk...and this week is was a couple pork chops in a bag. I'm not sure how old they were an how long they had been unrefridgerated but we chucke them just incase. I'm sure though Camille would have eaten them. ;) So from Mom's email she said everyone was guessing what I was doing on Sunday night. I was eating lots and lots of spaghetti. And cheesecake. We were over at the Samperts, Monika and Ronny, and they are amazing! They are a sweet young couple in the ward, the do so much. We went over after the baptism which was at like 4. Elder Pooper(Cooper) made banana muffins, they are ridiculously good! But the last cake he made for district meeting was gross. It was so dry and he didn't know what to do for icing...powdered sugar and kool-aid. WHAT??? Who even thinks of that?? He's been in Sunnyside too long. But yesterday was really great.

 

The rest of the week was really good as well. We have this lady in the ward, her name is Sis. Norris and she's a hoarder. Whenever we go over to do service we leave with a ridiculous amount of food and random things. I got a purse and a ornament. Woo. She is the sweetests though, curses like a sailor, but the sweetest.

 

Happy birthday to Mandie this week!! I have a card for you...um...but I don't know your new address so you might get the card a week late. But I still love ya! i got an email from Cari and I loved hearing about the boys and I got pictures from the lake! Brayden is such a little stud, it's freaking me out. And apperently Charley is such a little talker but doens't make sense, that's the best age!! I can't believe I'm missing it. I love and miss y'all so much! Y'all should probably send any letters, those never happen though, to my mission office since i'm being transferred. That'll be an excited email next week for sure!!

 

I love y'all and I hope every one is doing great! Thank you for all of the love and support, I pray for every one all the time! Be safe!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

 

 

 

This is my cute Annette Hood!! With all my companions and Elder Betts and Cooper.

We got caught in a storm...

This is from Houston 9, my first area, apartment complexes are trying to keep it classy. 

This is the Boudin I was talking about! Wrapped in my classy newspaper. :)

Hermana Florence and Sis. Mekini.

Last week....going on 6 more?

Hey Family!!

 

This last week was just incredible! I was able to get out a lot, the health in my companionship is doing great, and we taught and visited a lot! It felt so good to be useful! I'm grateful that I get to teach the lessons in English, it'll help me once I get to speak Spanish again. Because before I didn't really teach lots, I hid behind my trainer and other companion because I was so insecure. Now, I don't have the option! I feel like I'm really growing. Turns out Heavenly Father is a pretty smart guy for putting me here. :) I actuallly even asked for one more transfer here...there is just SO much work to be done and I want to be a part of it! It's amazing how little or how much you can get done within 6 weeks. I am really in love with trashy Sunnyside. :)

 

We took Annette Hood out for lunch the other day and we bagged up in endless laundry to do at our place, her laundry hasn't been done in who knows how long...we have to wash it 3 times... We went to this place called Navy Seafoods. GAG ME!!!!! First, I hate anything that comes out of the ocean. And second, I don't trust anything kind of seafood in Sunnyside. Their main fish was catfish, which is like the cockroach of the rivers. I was really sweating bullets, thinking I would have to stomach seafood. But then I saw they had cheeseburgers! I was still nervous about it but hey, it's better than fish. So I ordered that. It was the most pathetic cheeseburger in the world. Blake wouldn't have even eaten it, it was THAT bad. So I ate my greasy fries and sulked, I also enjoyed seeing everyone else's faces as they ate the fish and what not. Fabulous. :) At least Annette loves it, right? That was an adventure. I only had two bites of my burger and felt sick the rest of the day/night. Never again...

 

So yesterday we had our break-the-fast after church, it seems like we have a lot more people present at church on the first Sunday....wonder why.... BUT!! Guess what?? I now have 4 investigators!! AND they all came to church and loved it! I was asked to lead the music in Sacrament Meeting and they all walking in during the first song. The Elders Betts and Cooper saw me beaming and turned around to see them and they did a little high-five. We have great Elders in our district! Elder Cooper makes rockin' banana muffins and Elder Betts plays the guitar. He was actually playing it at a dinner appointment that we all had, it was just background music but he was playing some Joshua Radin and Black Bird. Made me really miss Scott and Brad.

 

I love ya'll and I hope I hear from everyone soon! I got dad and moms package!! Thank you!!!! I wrote a letter to dad...I haven't sent it yet, I'll do that today. The package was JUST what I needed!! I need to hide my cashews so Sis. Mekini doesn't eat them all! I hope ya'll are having so much fun this summer and are being safe! Lots of lake trips? :)

 

All my love,

Hermana Florence