My Last Email!

Hello Everyone!!! Well here go the happenings for the last week and next week I will tell you in person :]

• We went and got manicures and pedicures last Monday. Mainly for my birthday and I needed it. Felt SO good!
• We had zone conference this week. The main focus was on getting our investigators to church and helping them realize the blessings and how they can receive revelation there.
• We met with Valerie this week and talked about Lehi’s dream and how we can apply it to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was SUCH an awesome lesson! You could tell that she felt the spirit and she came to church again this Sunday. I fell like she is really getting comfortable at church.
• Went on exchanges with Sister Davidson this week. She is a super hard worker and really nice girl! We checked on a lot of people.
• Also went on exchanges with Sister Mello. We got to help with Mormon Helping Hands. Wow. We helped clean this neighborhood that the majority of houses were breaking so sort of city code. It was hard work but one lady let us in and was talking to us about how her brother was Mormon and he has missionaries over all the time. It was a REALLY good way to get the church’s name out there.
• Darlene and Robin are our two new investigators. We had met with them before but this time we were able to have an AWESOME lesson about how God is our Heavenly Father. At first Robin (the daughter) was very closed off and just sitting there. I got the impression that she was frustrated that her mom might buy it to what we were saying the first time we met. But this time both of them were both really involved and the spirit was so strong. It was great.
• It was my last Sunday in the Duarte ward since we switch every week and it was great! It was the fullest I have ever seen that ward. Including on Easter lol Maybe all these people we have stopped by and called is really working.
• I went on a Hike this morning… had to wake up at 4 AM BUT it was good. It was really hard but worth it once we got up there. Its called the “A” in Azusa. It was me and Sister Fleming and about 8 other elders lol
• I will be home in Washington in 8 DAYS! This short time has FLOWN by! I can’t believe it. My companion keeps bringing it up to me to watch me squirm I swear. But I have loved being here and grown more than I ever thought I could have. LOVE IT!!
• Favorite scripture for the week…4 Nephi 1:15-17 It is talking about how there was so much peace in the land at the time… verse 15-no contention in the land because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. Then in verse 17- they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. Wouldn’t that be nice? I loved the visual of having “peace in the land”  

LOVE YOU ALL!! And see you soon!
Sister Arbogast

Another Week!

Well this week was pretty good! It has gone by so fast! I can’t believe it is already p-day again.

We had a lesson with Lisa again. She even invited her seventh day Adventist cousin over. We went over the Ten Commandments. I think it was good for him to realize we aren’t weird and we believe in living them too. The kids also LOVED the hand signs.

The rose garden is SO pretty! We do service there every week and the lady we work under, Jill, loves us! We took pictures with her this week. She is great.

We watched the Joseph Smith movie with the Nancarrows. They are a part member family. He said he is looking for a church to go to, one he feels good at. Then he tells us how when people of other faiths come to his door he tells them he goes to the Mormon church and tells them he goes there.

We had a creeper referral from the elders. They insisted on coming with us to the appointment so they came and yeah… they were right. The man opened the door 3 inches, saw the elders with us and said, "Hold on a second" He leaves and 10 minutes later one of the elders calls him and he tell him that he can’t meet today and isn’t really interested anymore.

We had an AWESOME lesson on the priesthood and patriarchal blessings with Paula this week. It was cool to watch how everything just clicks with her. She was really excited to hear about the patriarchal blessings and how personal it is. My birthday was AWESOME!

Got lots of flowers and birthday wishes and good food :] I even got to hold a parrot at the street fair. It was some guy walking bys pet lol Can't lie I was a little bummed being 25 but by the end of the day I was LOVIN' it lol

The Stogner’s in the Duarte ward are AMAZING people! They have had us over for dinner 3 times now. Each time we hope that Tess, their less active daughter will be there. Well, yesterday she was and she actually talked to us! We met her on Easter but she was pretty quiet. Yesterday though she was laughing with us and listening as we were sharing our message. I hope it clicks with her.

We also met with another part member family, the Smallwood’s. Two of the daughters are investigators. One of them, April (10) we thought would be more open to be baptized than Anna (14). We asked them about it last night and April was SUPER quick to say no. But Anna said she wants to be but she felt pressured from the past elders. We told her it is between her and her Heavenly Father. But we asked her to pray and ask Heavenly Father when she needs to be baptized. She said she would. I’m excited to find out about it this week

My favorite scripture from the week… well I finished Doctrine and Covenants and I LOVE section 135! It is about the martyrdom BUT the testimony of Joseph Smith is wow. I love in verse 3 when it talks about how great of man he is and in verse 6 when it says, "…that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption." Wow. I do NOT want to be dry.

LOVE YOU!!
Sister Arbogast

I'm tired, but that's good, right?

Hello!! Well this week has been great! I'm tired which is good right?

1. We meet with Lisa who is a less active in the Monrovia ward. She has been pretty depressed about life lately. She knows the church is true but she said that Satan is working on her extra hard lately. We had a lesson about the restoration and it went really good. Her two children were there and as we all discussed the importance of the restoration and Jesus Christ I really felt the spirit there. You could tell the children know about Christ.

2. We met Darlene. She was a referral from someone in Arizona. She has a son that is a member in Alaska. At first her daughter and her were a little stand-offish but by the end they were really nice and telling us to come back. We are planning on seeing them tonight.

3. We got dropped by a man this week that we have been trying to meet with but he was rescheduling with us. My companion calls him up to check on our appointment and he tells her, "You know, I haven't been really honest. I just wanted to meet with you two because I thought I could date one of you." What?! Creeper. Oh well, it brought a good laugh.

4. We have an investigator in Monrovia named Phyllis. She has met with missionaries before but didn't really learn too much. We had a lesson on the Book of Mormon, she went from being very anti reading the Book of Mormon as the word of God to maybe it isn't so bad. Hopefully she just reads it now. 

5. It was a service week... 1. I swear I am now a MASTER at weeding gardens. We did about 5 hours of it this week. 2. We laid laminate tiles and molding at home 3. We cleaned a refrigerator and cleared out a living room to sweep the floor and then put it all back at an investigator's home.

6. We met a less active Michelle in the Duarte ward. She is raising her 8 year old grandson and has a few of her children living with her. She said she wants to come back but is really busy. She told us that she left the church years ago because of someone in the church. She knows that it isn't the church or gospel but she still needed time. We set up an appointment for this week to hopefully help her find the importance of coming to church and bring it to her grandsons life.

7. Just got back from the temple! We went with two other elders from the area. It was really nice and the session was really small. I was thinking about it and this was probably the last time I will ever go to the temple as a missionary. Crazy to think about.

8. Mission life is GREAT! I love being a missionary!!!!

　

LOVE YOU ALL!!

　

Sister Arbogast

More from Monrovia

Well HAPPY EASTER!! Just a lil late :) Here are the happenings of the week...

1. Our recent convert Paula gave the BEST talk ever! We were able to go over and help her prepare for it. She was super nervous but we read a few scriptures about the spirit and following it when we give talks and how when we give our talks there is someone who needs it in the congregation. Her talk was amazing and MANY missionaries went up to her afterward to talk to her about it.

2. We met Tonya in the Duarte ward. She is a less active who decided that she needs to be at church. She said that it makes her happy and feel better about herself. She lives with her "husband" who is really just her boyfriend, Jose. They have 2 children. Jose has met with the missionaries before and he wasn’t there when we went this last time. We scheduled another time when he will hopefully be there.

3. We had a GREAT lesson with Alejandra and Ivette this week! They are 17 and 12. We went over 3 Nephi 11 and how we need to have a conversion for ourselves. They said they both want that. Alejandra just had jaw surgery but still said we could come over. We are excited to help lay out the red carpet for the spirit to give them their conversion.

4. Had zone leader council this week… wow. It was great! I LOVED it when president quoted I think Elder Bednar how our knowledge comes from the head, our understanding comes from the heart and intelligence comes from both. And one of the assistants quoted from conference, "The what informs and the why transforms" Sister Becerra addressed how we need to find "seekers" and be "seekers" and how we need to be willing to sacrifice to get more, even though we think we have sacrificed already.

5. We got into to do service with our neighbor Joann and her less active boyfriend Rich. They both have gone through really hard times but want a change. Joann doesn’t trust people since. BUT they both came to church on Sunday and said they should be coming back next week.

6. We had an AMAZING mission wide meeting on Friday. That is where Paula spoke, Sister Becerra, the assistants to president, presidents 2 counselors and president Becerra. I can honestly say I think that was the strongest I have EVER felt the spirit at a mission meeting. It was also the time I finally realized I was leaving soon. We were singing our mission song and just started bawling! I felt silly but oh man. Its coming and it makes me want to work harder and act like I’m never leaving.

7. Finally got to go to church in Duarte ward yesterday! Well I went to sacrament and gospel essential in Monrovia and then to Duarte gospel essentials and relief society. We had member companions for a couple hours. It is a nice ward. A lot of sweet caring people. A lot of part members too.

8. Favorite scripture this week was from when president was telling us why we come together for our mission wide meeting. It is in Doctrine and Covenants 44. Verse 1 with the why… it is expedient to be called together. Verse 2 we are promised if we come together He will pour His spirit upon us. Verse 3 we will go out and verse 4 MANY shall be converted to obtain power. I have never felt the spirit so strong in a mission meeting than I did then. The church is true. The spirit is real. Once you feel it, you cant deny it and be okay with it. I love it. I LOVE coming together to council. We have done it since the grand council in heave before we came, why stop now? Just love it!

LOVE YOU!!

Sister Arbogast

More Pictures than Words!

Well the week was BUSY!! And I loved it!!

1. The bishop in our new ward is great! We met with him on Monday and had a really good talk about the area. Then on Sunday he invited us to dinner with 2 part member families. We were able to get to know them and hopefully get in to teach them. One of the families, the Velts were really great. She is a member and he isn’t. During our lesson though we was nodding the whole time and really into it. We shall see.

2. I have officially had the worst meal in my WHOLE mission this week… lamb soup aka rubber and vegetables. I have had lamb on the mission before and it was AMAZING! But this time well let’s just say we both were so sick afterwards.

3. We went to visit a girl Sarai who we have seen at church twice now. We met her mom who is not active but Sarai wants to be active and wants to now serve a mission. She is AMAZING! We watched conference with her on Sunday and she was talking notes and really into it. She is simply great!

4. I was prayed for in one of our lessons with an older lady as "Sister Bronzenic" this week… tried my best not to laugh when she was praying. It didn’t help that my companion was snickering though.

5. We met with the Smallwood family. There are 2 girls in the family who are not members. Apparently they didn’t get along with the previous missionaries. But the older one and Sister Butler got along great! Lots in common! This lesson was a little bit of a get to know you lesson but next week we are planning on figuring out why they weren’t baptized with their mom and other sister. I think they trust us so it should be good.

6. Paula is SUPER excited to go to the temple and do baptisms We had an awesome lesson on all the blessing that can come from going for ourselves and others we love.

7. Conference was AMAZING!!! I loved the theme of families in EVERYTHING I felt like. I think one of my favorites though was President Utchdorf when he was talking about judging others and to just "Stop It" He also said that when we judge others we condem ourselves. And that the merciful will attain mercy. I loved it.

8. Favorite scripture this week is 3 Nephi 19:35. The idea of missing out on miracles because of our own selfishness or unbelief is so sad to me.

Love you all!!

Sister Arbogast