Long haul

Hello Family,

 

Well got transfer calls this morning. I will be staying in my area, Hermana O'Neill will be leaving. I had a sick feeling in my stomach all week worrying about transfers, it happens every time. I don't like change. I am glad though that I get to stay. This will be my 4th transfer here, these people are my family! I love this area, I will be happy to stay here for the next 9.5 months. It's possible too, as lots of people have been in an area for more than half of their missions. So I have hope. But I'll do what the Lord asks.

 

I had a brutal experience last night... It was our stake Christmas choir concert. First, as a general fact, Hispanics can't sing. Y'all should go to a Spanish ward just once, and y'all would send me flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep(name that movie!). It was just so painful. Dad(anyone with sense and no missionary name tag) would have walked out. I unfortunately couldn't. I wish I could explain adequately. The best way that I can describe it is like this:imagine a herd of deaf donkeys running over an edge of a cliff while two experienced yodelers try round them up and throw in there an occasional sickly elk being shot and you got what it sounded like.... But as my kind missionary side would say...it was........................................................................................................................................................................................well........................................................................................................bless their souls...............................................................................................................there was great effort.........................................................................................................................................they all looked lovely.

 

 We had an awesome with the Diaz Family yesterday, they still won't set a date for baptism but they are progressing really well and have such a strong desire to be good. They will find their answers soon. They want to really be solid about their choice, which I appreciate. It makes me sad when people will be baptized, for one worldly reason or another, and son't keep working at their testimony and fall away. But this family is solid, they are great, I love them.

 

Well Family I love y'all so much! We are going to lunch with Crystal and Harold today, they are our best friends. :)

 

Have a wonderful week! See y'alls faces on Christmas!

 

Love,

Hermana Erica Florence

Freezing!

Hey Family!

 

This week has been crazy. Very very cold. We're expected to get a huge ice storm tomorrow...it's been looking really gloomy and feeling real cold all week so I expect something cool to come out of it. Have no fear, I'm bundled up well every time we go out, my toes are quite cold though...boots for Christmas? :) Sometimes I feel like the little brother on "A Christmas Story"..."I can't put my arms down!"...member laugh at me. Nothing new. We also did a birthday lunch for me last monday. We went to Tornado Burger!! It's my favorite.

 

Funny story for the week! So I needed to go and pick up a prescription at Walgreens, a store that is frequented. Well it was at night and we were tired so we decided to go through the drive through. The old Indian lady kept telling me I didn'thave an account with them...lies, I have been to Walgreens lots. But I complied and sent her my insurance card through the tube thing and we said and spelt out everything for her before hand as well. 30 minutes later...I get my prescription and I could not stop laughing!!! I have recently changed my name to Erica Slorence, my new address is 118 E. Van Angelio Ave. No wonder she couldn't find me in the system...So I now have two accounts with them, Slorence is my secret identity. :) it made everything worth it. I'll attach a picture so y'all can see, it was hilarious!

 

Well the Christmas Devotional was last night, hope everyone was able to see it! We got the last talk by Elder Nelson, who by the way will being coming to our mission in January! There is something special about Christmas time. It may be because so many people are more aware of the Savior and the things they are grateful for. People justify giving more because it's the season, which is wonderful! I just wish people would be more willing go give so unselfishly all year round. I personally think it would diminish the powers of Satan on the earth. When we serve our Father in Heaven's children, we build fortifications again Satan's influence in our lives. That has become more real to me these last 8 months. (holy moly...10 months left...just had a little freak out) As we choose faith over fear and kindness over selfishness, we cannot help but receive so many blessings and become better people through Christ. I hope everyone gives a little each day, not withstanding the time of the year(not withstanding? I have been reading the scriptures too much...I also often say "like unto it" it's a weird life).

 

We have been asked to study more about the attributes of Christ. And everyone has been given a specific topic to study as well. Mine is Christ's example of administering to the one. It is quite the emotional topic for me, as I feel many times in my life, as do many, that I have been the "one" that Christ has sought. As followers of Christ we are charged to do that same as He would if He were on the earth. Let us all find someone, at work or school or within the church, to administer to as Christ would. It not only brings them so much happiness, but it will bring us the pure joy as well.

 

I am so grateful for this true Gospel. I am grateful that I am able to share it with so many every day to help them find happiness. I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Love y'all so much!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

 

P.S. I miss hearing Blake say "Marry Christmas!!" every 5 minutes... :)

Happy Thanks-Birthday!

Hi Sweet Family!!

 

What a WEEK!! Everyone went out of town for Thanksgiving...the entire weekend. Some of our members were still in town and came back for Sunday(the most important day for a few obvious reasons) and all of our investigators and the potential investigators that we tried to see weren't home. After a few hours we decided to start laughing about it because it was becoming frustrating. We laughed a lot. This week was pretty slow and it tried our patience. BUT it was SO FUN!!! Thanksgiving morning we went and played some sports with our Elders in the ward and quite a few other from the ward. Hna. O'Neill and I were the only girls, that just made it more fun though! We started off by playing soccer....I have not much of foot-eye-coordination. I was much better at defense and being goalie...you know, the fat kid job. I nailed it. Then we went inside and played some basketball, not as fun, I'm not great at that either. Our last sport though was VOLLEYBALL!!!!! It was SO FUN!!! And I am still getting over being sore. It was a little frustrating because they are all Hispanic soccer players...so they did a lot with their heads, feet, and chests. And mostly just wacked at the ball, nothing was really set up. But I still had fun! We ate at two different houses that night. Too much food and no turkey. I felt a little homesick then. The next couple days were uneventful as we walked around like old people because of our sore muscles and tried to talk to people on the streets, as we had no other options. They might have ran away as they saw us hobbling over to them. It was quite pathetic.

 

Sunday(MY BIRTHDAY) was really awesome! I thought I was going to hate it because I had only received a card from Dad so far and my package was no where to be found. Elder Nilsen even headed my plea to mand the office on Friday while everyone else was gone. But apparently the office told them not to send packages to the office until today. I'm pretty miffed, but I can't really do anything about it. So I'll get it today!! But I was sang to in our correlation meeting and in the Primary(Hna. O'Neill and I taught primary, it was so fun). After church we went to the Reyes home and Yanis and Lupe bought me a cake and pizza(breaking the Sabbath never tasted so good)! She also gave me a gift card so that will be fun! Then we had this AMAZING lesson with a new family that we got from a referral. The Diaz Family. The mother, Diana, had a very sad experience at the beginning of the year with her mom passing away. She has never forgiven herself for ignoring a call from her the day she died. The moment we stepped into their home the spirit was incredible strong. I have never been in a lesson like that. My heart was pounding the entire time as we taught and bore testimony of the Plan of Salvation and that we can be together as families forever. I cried quite a bit, as we as a family have struggled through a loss and have found strength and hope through God's plan. They loved the lesson and the thrived within the spirit setting and accepted to prepare to be baptized. They are incredibly prepared by the Lord. After that amazing lesson we were to go to the Rodriguez home to have a Noche Mormona with them and the Garcia family. We got there and the house was dark, but we decided to knock anyways. So we did and Hermana Rodriguez let us in and right as i stepped in the lights went on and I had balloons in my face!!! They threw me a surprise party!!!! Lots of ward members were there, it was the sweetest thing ever!!!! Hermana Rodriguez bought me a ring and I got a necklace from Vilma! The got my a cake and I even got my face smashed into it...don't worry I have the video and all. :) I had an awesome birthday!! I am so grateful I have an extention of my family here in Texas. I felt SO loved!!

 

Well that is all I have to tell. I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving and Happy Birthdays! From everyone's emails, it was great fun! Thank you for all of the love and support! I look forward to the packages and letters coming my way that I heard about! Be good and safe and be and example of Christ!!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

Thanksgiving food aka chilies:

Birthday Cakes:

Everyone at my surprise party!

COLD

Hello Dear Family!

Primero, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Camille and Mommy this week!!!!!!! I will be sad to not share a birthday dinner this coming Sunday,but I will be thinking of y'all lots! I sent birthday cards, hope they were received. I got my birthday card from Grammy and I am just dying to open it, but I will wait. It will be strange being away from home for a birthday, and to not be there for Camille and Mom's. Make sure someone takes a video of the singing and candles!!!

This week was pretty good. There was an activity for Thanksgiving "Accion de Gracias". Let's just say I will really miss an American Thanksgiving... they put chilies in their mashed potatoes...and chilies with their turkey...and chilies with the green beans...and chilies with the corn. Everything tasted the same because it was spicy. Ha ha ha...mommy I miss you. We, as missionaries, sang "Because I Have Been Given Much" in the program. I seem to be the designated piano player, which is actually very fun! I won't be out of practice when I get home. I don't think I mentioned that I also played for the Primary Program a couple weeks ago. It's on my list of favorite callings! We will be playing football Thursday morning for Thanksgiving. It's funny because most people in the ward are confused at why we call it turkey bowl. And it's adorable when they try to say it!

It has been VERY cold here this last week. I haven't seen the sun all week, it hasn't reached over 55 yet, and it's rainy and windy. Every time I walk outside I am layered and bundled but still COLD! I always picture dad laughing at me and calling me a "desert rat". And I want to live in Canada some day...very funny. The good thing is though that everyone makes us hot chocolate! A less-active, Maria Fuentes, made us warm milk the other day. To our surprise after we had drank it she told us how to make it...milk and a little coffee. So I accidently transgressed a law. We then taugh the Word of Wisdom, ha ha which she is not a fan of. It's adorable how little old ladies think they can do what they want just because they're old! Hermana Fuentes is progressing though and is coming back to church. A miracle that happened this last week was she prayed for the first time in 30+ years!!!! It was a very sweet feeling to be a part of that, I love her dearly. Eva Vasquez is progressing slowly. We had an awesome, I mean AWESOME lesson with her about recognizing the Spirit this week!!! She really does want to find the truth, she has great faith, she just needs to exercise it. We had another miracle this week with receiving a referral! These last two weeks we have been very lacking in that area...we ask everyone for a referral and we are always given nothing. Every morning before we go out we say a prayer and we ask to find new people to teach that are prepared to receive the Gospel and to receive referrals. Well on Wednesday we were out walking around a neighborhood to find new people(yes, it was a HUGE sacrifice because it was freezing) when we got a phone call from a lady that Hna. Greenwood and I contacted months ago and haven't heard from since. Her name is Leanora. She called and gave us a referral for her son!! He doens't live in our area...BUT!!! It was a referral!!! God always answers prayers. It's usually not how we expect or in our timing, but he hears them and aswers them because He loves us! Although this week was all around slow with lessons and numbers...we saw lots of miracles. Hard weeks only mean there are great ones to come if we're faithful through the trials!

I hope everyone had a great last week and that this week will be even better! Happy Thanksgiving y'all!! I am so grateful for everything that I have been given. I have a wonderful family and great friends! And I feel SO blessed to be able to serve a mission, to help other come unto Christ, and serve God's children. I can't believe I will be 21 this week. I am grateful that I have lived this long, it's incredible if you think about how silly I am sometimes. :) Be happy, be safe, and be grateful!!

Love,

 Hermana Florence

Creepy hugs!

Hello Dearest Family!!

 

This was a very awesome week! We were able to see a family that we haven't been able to catch at home for a few months this week, the Cruz family. They don't have much desire to change...so we see them when we can. There is only so much we can do to help them if they don't want help, ya know? But we had a really great lesson 2 with them, about the Plan of Salvation. Hermana O'Neill and I are getting better and better at teaching with each other! She has the scriptures ingraved in her brain I swear...she knows a solid scripture for every principle of the Gospel and any question or doubt they have! I am very lucky to have her as a companion. She took great care of me when I got pretty sick these last few days. It was a little frustrating at first though...she called the medical assistant on me and tattled...then we had to go to Walgreens and home where we were instructed to camp our for a couple days. Not at all my idea of a good missionary time but I do what I'm told. I did sneak in one last appointment though with the Santillan's, so I felt a little better about it! Tha Santillan's threw a party for Eduardito, he's 6 and thicker than Brayden! We went in time for cake and we were able to share a quick lesson with the adults after the party was over. I got the best video of everyone singing Happy Birthday in English...I crack up every time I watch it!!

 

On Saturday at like 6 we went to see a potential investigator, someone we contacted on the street, taught on the spot a few principles and got his address to try again another day. his name is Jose Martinez. he was SUPER nice when we stopped and talked to him, he is very Catholic as many people are here. His wife answered the door and seemed suspicious that two young girls were visiting her husband at night. I'll give it to her, it's kind of weird. We wanted to talk to her though too but she wouldn't have it. Well Jose came out and talked to us for a bit, we tried to teach but he was all over the place. Then we noticed that he couldn't stand up without wobbling. Yup, he was drunk. We call those borachos. Right when we noticed we shared a look and started to say our goodbyes. When he shook Hna. O'Neill's hand he put his other hand on her shoulder. I got the same thing but it turned into a creepy CREEPY hug that was difficult to pull away from. But as I pulled away he did the hand down my arm linger thing that made me feel so filthy. We then very quickly left. Maybe we'll try him again during the day with a male member...maybe.

 

Eva Vasquez is supposed to be baptized this next week along with one of her girls. Eva, however, has been studying with the Testigos de Jehova(Jehovah's Witnesses) and is struggling with her faith. We are working on daily contacting to encouraging her to receive her own answer about the Book of Mormon. I haven't prayed so hard for an investigator before. Eva has so much potential and her family could have so much more. I pray and pray she will continue to at least try. I love her so very much.

 

No one came to church yesterday. Which was a little heartbreaking. Having investigators come to church is so crucial. They feel the Spirit there so much more and they find answers they might not have otherwise found. That's really why we all go. It's why it's a commandment to attend church every Sunday. To remember Christ by partaking of the Sacrament and showing our willingness to do more and progress. There are many reason to attend all 3 hours of church, but if anyone is struggling with it, please, go because it's a commandment. If you will do that then you will find more reasons to go each week. our Heavenly Father loves us so much! He wants us to be so happy! Church can make us happy, if we let it.

 

I love y'all so much! Thanks for all of the love and support, it means the world. I am so grateful to be here in Texas, there isn't anything as great as being a missionary! Work hard and love each other!!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

Longest week of my life.

Hello family!

 

This week was very strange for me. With getting a new companion, taking over the area, and planning a baptisms, it felt a little stressful and crazy. Especially since I wasn't in my area for almost 3 days. But turns out I made it through everything that came my way this last week, thank goodness. I don't think I have prayed so hard for charity and comfort as I have had to this last week.

 

Crystal Ann Marin was baptized this last Saturday and confirmed the following day at church!! Her baptism was the most tender one I have witnessed. She is so incredible, I can't help but feel that she was someone I was meant to teach. I feel so blessed to have been a part of that special time in her life! Her boyfriend, Harold, baptized her which was sweet. He cried, which made me cry. And then I cried the rest of the day every time I thought of Crystal. She really is so special, one day she'll visit me in Arizona and y'all can see how amazing she is! Harold was so much help with the whole baptism process, he made the program and set up all the assignments. All I had to do was get her interview in line, set up chairs, and fill up the font! And somehow all of those were stressful enough, I can't imagine having to do the rest during this week. Heavenly Father was definitely taking care of me!

 

We have been teaching the Vasquez family lately, I think I've talked about them before. But yesterday Rodrigo and Myra came to church!! We've been trying to get them to come for a month, longer really, since conference. They came for conference and yesterday was the primary program so they still haven't been a part of a normal church service. They think we're weird, but everyone just loves them so they like to come!  Today, we're going over to see them and re-extend dates to the family. The mom, Eva, is still good for her date on the 23rd of this month! But she has a hard time wanting to come because she wants her whole family to do it at once. We're trying to help her see that she could be a great example for her kids by being baptized first, so we'll be having that lesson with her today and talk about repentance.

 

We're been focusing a lot on repentance lately. It's been really good for me because I have been able to repent better daily and ask for help. Every time I am able to teach about repentance I am able to bear testimony about it more strongly, because I apply repentance in my life personally. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to get on my knees everyday and ask for forgiveness of my faults and petition for His grace, so I may become better. What a blessing.

 

Well my sweet family I sure love y'all VERY much! Thank you for all of the love and support. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and stays safe! Happy Veterans day!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

The Cricket

Hello Family!

I had a very interesting week. It was Hermana Greenwood's last week here. I just dropped her off at the mission home. There have been a lot of tears these past couple days, obviously. She has really become like one of my sisters, it felt like saying goodbye to family again. Definitely not easy. I'll be out of my area for a few days but will return to it with a new companion on Wednesday. Yep, I'm taking over my area, pretty scary. But I know I have a lot of support from the ward and the Lord. It'll be tough but that means I will grow. We have the baptism for Crystal Marin coming up this weekend! There is a lot to do to plan a baptism...I feel a little scared without Hna. Greenwood helping me, but the Lord will too. But I am very excited, Crystal is just amazing! I have never had an investigator as prepared as her. I feel like it's a huge blessing for me. President Ashton said that when we find prepared people, we are doing our job. That means the Lord trusts a to teach well and to the needs of the person. I hope that by finding Crystal that means I am an adequate missionary. Sometimes I feel like I'm just not quite there with somethings, maybe with the language or my teaching skills in general, but there is a definite desire to do what is best for these people, so I feel that I have the trust of the Lord. I'm giving my best, and that's all He asks.

I was so happy to see a picture of little Z! She looks like a darling little girl! I wish I could hug her tight! It was cute to see Charley's cute Halloween outfit, it fit her personality very well!

We had a Noche Mormona(kind of like a family home evening, but a more teaching setting) Last night with the Rodriguez and Garcia families. Hno. Garcia was baptized recently so we are going through the new member lessons with him. We taught about Temples and eternal families. I got emotional during the lesson, as I mostly do when we talk about families. It's not entirely because I miss y'all, it's because I have a strong testimony of it. Families are so special, they are literal gifts from God. And I feel so blessed to have such a loving family who lives and loves the teachings of Christ. After we shared our message we had dinner...pizza, pasta, pan dulce, and CRICKETS. Once upon a time I promised myself that I would try everything I was asked to eat(unless it would kill me). So far I have stuck tot he promise. Yep. I ate a cricket. It was dead of course and roasted with chili and lime. The flavor was pretty good...but then I remembered I ate a bug and that's when I had the hard time chewing. I eventually swallowed it with juice! They eat crickets like chips...I think I'll stick to chips. After I did it Hna. Greenwood did it as well. She has a video of it so look for it on Facebook maybe!

Well my sweet family, I love y'all. I am so grateful to be able to serve the Lord in such a great cause, to help families return to live with God. I am grateful for all of your love and support! Les quiero mucho mucho mucho como la cola del chucho! Hna. Santillan always says that to me. :) Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Love,

Hna. Erica Florence