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

Last Transfer!

Hello!! Okay… this week… it’s going to be short.

1. We had an AWESOME sisters meeting with all the sisters in the mission. We discussed 1 Nephi 8 and how it applied to the doctrine of Christ and our purpose as missionaries. That was the big thing. I LOVE being apart of meetings like that. As a council. I think that’s why I love zone leader council so much too.

2. We were able to meet with a less active, Ana this week. She said she really wants to come back to church and be involved. Her daughter that is 15 is not super into it but they were both excited to see that we were sisters and not elders.

3. We are doing service at the Arboretum in Arcadia now. We do work in the Rose garden. It is SOO pretty! Mom. You would be jealous. I have never actually been in and walked around the garden but it is beautiful what I have seen.

4. We contacted this lady who was gardening at her house this week who wasn’t interested but we gave her our card and told her if she needed help with anything or changed her mind to les us know. Then we went on our way to the next house. Didn’t think too much of it. We walked by again to go back to our car and she was still outside. We walked by and said bye to her again and then she goes, "I don’t usually do this but I feel like I should tell you that you two glow with the love of God. I can just look at you and you glow. I have only ever met 5 other people like that in my life. I just had to tell you." She walked away but we were both just in shock. We will be visiting her again lol

5. We were in charge of activity days this week. A lot of the girls tell us how cool we are because we are missionaries and how they want to go on a mission. Of course we told them they should. And our activity was missionary minded. Some even came up to me on Sunday and told me how they talked to some of their friends! LOVE IT!!

6. We have been doing these booths every Friday and we finally met someone! Her name is Sarah. She is new to the area and she set up a tour of the chapel for this week. She said she is trying to find a church that is closer to her. She seems like she is in a humble place right now.

7. Yesterday I had the missionary moment in church and shared a moment that HOPEFULLY will light a fire under some member’s bums. A lot came up to me afterwards and thanked me for it. We shall see the effects soon

8. Transfer calls!!! We didn’t get one. BUT we will now be taking over the Duarte ward too. President said that elders have worn out their welcome there and it needs sisters. Shall be fun training and covering two new areas lol Lord must trust me or something:]

9. Favorite scripture this week is 3 Nephi 17:3 it is ALL about action, 5 actually. We must go, ponder, ask, prepare and come. I love it. Everything we need is right there. We just need to go do it now.

Love you all!!

Sister Arbogast

Adventures!

Well here I am again and here are my adventures from the past week!

1. Last Monday we had a zone activity and we played capture the flag. My team won best of 5, no big deal :D

2. Paula is AMAZING! She not a morning person but she has been going to seminary for the past three weeks now and LOVES it!  When we went over this week for a lesson we asked her how her reading was going. She told us all about how she was reading her seminary homework and how she loved being able to go to class and talk about it. She even gave the devotional this past week. We went over the Strength of Youth pamphlet and she LOVED it. She was like, "So many people at my school need this!" We of course proceeded to talk about missionary work and who she knew might want to listen. He even told us how she was with some friends and one said, "Hey, we are all Mormons here." She said that it was finally true. She was Mormon.

3. Chloe was hard to get a hold of this week since they are moving BUT we were able to help her mom Clara a lot with service and have lessons with her. Clara is going through a  lot right now and whenever we talk about the gospel is just makes sense to her. Chloe was so happy to finally be confirmed on Sunday. Both her and Paula’s confirmations were beautiful and had a lot of promises for them. I have tried to be like Denise and write them down for them like she does-Thanks Nee Nee!

4. Went on exchanges with Sister Flemming… LOVE her! She is a really solid girl. She knows who she is and knows why she is here. We have two booths. One at a college and one at a park. Then we had this amazing lesson with this lady who has been less active for years but wants to come back now. She is a great teacher too. She knows how to relate to people which is KEY in missionary work.

5. Chloe and her sister Katie and her mom Clara made fun of my prayer knees this week. I swear people have really noticed this week for some reason. It what I get for praying so much… I’ll take it.

6. Sister Butler and I had a booth here in Monrovia with other elders on Friday. I finally met the Anti guy, Bob. Wow. He does NOT like sister talking to him. It is hilarious. I was trying to contact him and he just stops talking and starts using his phone. I wasn’t trying to bash like he was to the elders when we showed up. So sad.

7. We met with this part member family this week, Suriweics. She comes to church with her son but won’t go to the classes. Just stays in the foyer. She was so nice to us. And we invited her to come to church. Now that we know what she looks like we can invite her to come to Relief Society. She has a testimony… just needs to be nurtured.

8. Favorite scripture this week was 3 Nephi 14: 7-8. Jesus Christ has just come down and the people have been converted. He tells them something we ALWAYS read in the scriptures. Ask, seek and knock. How simple. All action words too. We HAVE to have action and He will guide us. I know that. I have seen it in my life. Before the mission and during and He will after too. We just have to then act on what he tells us.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Arbogast

BIG News!

Hello everyone!! I hope your week was as wonderful as mine!

1. I went to Chinatown again... not so wonderful. I have been too many times now hahha BUT my companion LOVED it and wants to go again and again. Give and take. In the picture... umm lets just say it was hard to get on that poll thing BUT the pictures were fun :]

2. We had a great FHE with Chloe and Paula on Monday. We went over the 10 commandments and law of chastity. Oh yeah did I say how president Becerra and his family came to FHE too? President, his wife and son knocked on the door right after we finished the law of chastity. Thank goodness for that HUGE blessing. Would have been awkward to teach to him and his son who is 14. Either way, the girls are great. They were already living the commandments we taught that night.

3. I had zone leader council this week. A lot of it was about what we can do as a mission to double our baptisms. That has been the thing since president Becerra got here. We looked over all our funnel charts and everything has doubled except baptisms on the chart. We were discussing what changes we can make to make it happen. A member of the seventy came and he said that in about 3 months something big is going to happen in this mission. Well that was a little over a month ago... its happening. So Cal is getting ready and I LOVE being a part of it for now.

4. Peter dropped us this week. The spirit was so not there in the lesson. He came in just prepared to not really learn. I feel like he is just not willing to act on the answers he receives. Its sad.

5. The new joke between Sister Butler and I is, "Remember when…" and say an embarrassing moment or funny thing that happened. The week she was like, "You have never seen Star Wars? That’s an abomination before the Lord!" It was hilarious!

6. Went to the dentist… my mouth still hurts.

7. Got home on Thursday for dinner and Brother Card come to hand the mail to us… I saw that it was from the mission and I started to worry. Open it and yep, its what I thought. All my checkout stuff and my flight plan to get home. I cant believe it. It makes me want to work harder though. I fly into the Seattle Tacoma airport May 8. My flight lands at 1:03pm. Weird.

8. The past couple Friday nights we have been having a booth at the street fair in Monrovia. We have a banner thing, videos from

9. Chloe and Paula were baptized yesterday. It was AMAZING! We set up the chair to fill the primary room like normal. Yeah, we had to move it to the chapel and it was full. The ward was AMAZING in support. The talks were given by Paula’s high school teacher that is in our ward and another was by their seminary teacher. Spirit was strong. Everyone kept commenting on how wonderful the girls were and what a reflection it was of their parents. Both of the girls parents are taking the lessons and I’m sure was nice to hear that support and love for the girls and their family. The girls were SO happy after. After the service when they were welcomed to the war and each given a new quad scripture we had refreshments in the gym. The girls were skipping around with all there LDS friends and so happy. I LOVE it!! The gospel changes people for the better. And being able to see two girls that don’t have really the same friends at school be so close and happy together with the gospel… such a blessing. It was a WONDERFUL day to say the least.

10. My favorite scripture of the week comes from Doctrine and Covenants 130:21. I have been really thinking about obedience this week for myself, after zone leader council and then on Sunday it was our gospel essentials lesson. Scripture says, "When we obtain any blessing from God, it is obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." Heavenly Father wants to bless us. It doesn’t have to be a HUGE disobedience factor but it is in refining the little things we could be better at. In class on Sunday our teacher read Romans 5:19. The changes we make good or bad… will and can affect many. We just need it to be for the better.

Love you all!!

Sister Arbogast

mormon.org and Mormon messages, a church table cloth, the works. The Spanish elders have been getting people from it but not so much the English work. We shall see. At least people can see we have Christ pictures everywhere.

Monrovia, 3 Weeks Later

Hello!! Here we are 3 weeks later. I can’t believe it!! It has gone REALLY fast!

1. I got my hair cut last week... just a lil' trim but WOW. It needed it bad hahha

2. Chloe and Clara are amazing. We have met with Chloe this week and she is SO excited about her baptism. She is really progressing. She is such a great example to her family. She is excited to have FHE with them and her sister who we didn’t think would be able to come to her baptism will be now. Chloe really wanted that so it will be amazing!

3. One of our investigators Peter... well he says he is honestly meeting with us to learn more but in reality he hasn’t prayed to know. So when we met this week we answered a few questions and then he brought out some other books to try and tell us what he learned And we didn’t want it to turn into a bash so we just bore testimony and told him he needs to pray to find out if anything we or the elders previous have said is true. He said he would so we shall find out when we meet tomorrow.

4. Mike is a less active man we are working with. He had an AMAZING experience, well is currently having an amazing experience. He has been on multiple drugs including medical marijuana for his pain in his joints. He said that he had a prompting to stop taking them on Sunday. We met on Thursday. By then he had been off of them and he was having no pain whatsoever. He is really making an effort to seek first the kingdom of God. He shared with us he has had no real desire to go to the temple and now he wants to do all he needs to, to get there. I LOVE being able to hear things like that :]

5. Eric and Natalie are new investigators. They are recently married and looking for a church. Eric has a LOT of questions. When we were on our tour we could tell Natalie was feeling it, Eric just has a lot of questions. BUT he did say he was going to take the Book of Mormon and read what it was about. We shall see.

6. I went on exchanges with Sister Eggleston to Diamond Bar. FUN! We were able to teach a man who is married to a member. He has met with missionaries a lot but is starting to really improve. His biggest hurdle is that he is an alcoholic. Not sure if he wants to change that yet.

7. I also went on exchanges with Sister Filimoehala to Creek side and West Covina Samoan ward. Well… you all know I LOVED the Samoan ward! I love the culture. Thank you Lakewood for starting it hahha But we had this AWEOME lesson with these two sisters who are coming back to church. You could just tell the strong desire and will they had for themselves and their family.

8. Interviews were this week with President. It was GREAT! We were in there a long time but it was very comfortable and we were just talking about things that were going on. He told me he wants me to extend for a year but he knows that’s not possible. Told me again how much Sister Becerra loves me and how she has people she wants to set me up with when I get home… awkward hahah He is a good man. I will miss him and his family when I have to leave.

9. My favorite scripture this week… 2 Nephi 9:10. Shares with us how Gods plan is so great to escape the monster… I LOVE the visual of that. It has never before stuck out to me till this week as I was preparing the lesson for the youth Sunday school. The evil around us today is the awful monster… we need to stay away from him.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Arbogast

Week 2 in Monrovia

Hello EVERYONE!!

1. So our car died last week... it was pretty fun being able to walk everywhere so now we just do it even though our car works haha

2. I am back to doing laundry at the laundry mat... not fun BUT we get to talk to a lot of people and tell them about the church so that part works out WONDERFUL!

3. Chloe and Clara are doing great! We had a lesson on Tuesday and Clara had a LOT of questions answered with the plan of salvation. It was pretty amazing. Her biggest realization was of the Godhead. How they are all 3 separate beings. It was like, "Oh yeah... that makes sense. I've felt the spirit before!" She was really happy about it. Then I went over with my mini missionary for the day and we set a baptismal date with Chloe for March 10th. She had told us Tuesday that next time she wanted to talk about what she needed to do to be baptized and so we did. Clara is really supportive of her and excited for it to. She even said, "Who knows. I might even jump on the bandwagon sometime." I hope so. She keeps telling me I have to come back and see them so we can hang out after my mission.

4. We got to do service at the Unity Center here in Monrovia. It is for people with low or no income to get food. They get a cart of food and we take it out to their car and load it for them. SO funny. One man that was there every time I walked by would say, "Oh girl you are beautiful. Oh. Girl. So beautiful" Lets just say AWKWARD! And then we were talking to a man about the church and he asked about what we did before the mission and I told him how I was student teaching 9-12 graders. He goes, "How? You look like a senior in High School." It was pretty funny. It that was all by 10:30am... great day.

5. Paula is still doing amazing! She is well on her way for March 11th. When we met this week she was telling us how she really liked the scripture in Alma 32:21 about faith. She just kept saying how beautiful it was and how it was so true. We talked about the restoration and the authority that was brought back. She was really attentive and accepted it.

6. The ward has given us a few names of people to check and we have officially checked them all. We have even already had a lesson with one of them. It has been fun to get to know the ward members and their reaction to sisters in the ward. We just keep hearing, "Oh we haven’t had sisters in so long! We are so happy you are here now!"

7. We set up a booth on Myrtle where this street fair is every week. Well we had a lot of people looking at us but we just realized today there is a spot for people of non profit to be. Sister Butler and I had an appointment at 7 so we left for about an hour and when we came back the elders told us they had a man come to them and tell them anti feelings. Poor elders. We are going to do it again this week so hopefully it goes better. And more missionaries so we can go walk and have some at the booth too.

8. We had mini missionaries are Saturday. SO fun! I was with Rachel Potter again. She was my first mini missionary every in the mission and we got to be together again a year later hahah We were able to set Chloe with her baptismal date, talked to a black J-Dub, a Russian Baptist with a HUGE Mercedes van with, "Where do you want to spend eternity? Heaven or Hell Your choice" plastered on the side of it, and we talked to a less active who was the nicest guy and being strong even though his family is not and apparently will not come back to church with him.

9. My favorite scripture this week… well it’s the book of Enos. Wow. I have read it a million times but I just need to be like him more hahaha I LOVE putting my name into verse 27. It becomes alive and real to me the promise that is given.

LOVE YOUA LL!!

Sister Arbogast

　

Hello from Monrovia!

Well hello everyone!! Here are the adventure for the past week!

1. Had a lesson with Chloe and her mom Clara. Chloe has been going to seminary this whole year and been going to church for about 2 years now and never met with missionaries... why? Couldn't tell ya hahaha But Sister Cornwall her seminary teacher invited her and we met at their home. Chloe is SO ready, her mom is just meeting so she will know what her daughter is learning. She is very supportive of her though which is great. She can see the change that the Gospel is bringing to Chloe's life.

2. Valentine’s Day!! I got my new companion! Her name is Sister Butler. She is from American Fork, Utah. She went to University of Utah for 2 years. She is the middle of two brothers. It was funny an elder reminded me it was Valentine’s day... my days are just dates and names now. Crazy.

3. We met with a lot of members this week and we are trying to get to know them and ask about anyone they know who needs a little extra visit. Many names are coming to us.

4. We had a training session with the trainers and trainees this week and during we had a break out session. Us trainers when to a question and answer type of this and WHOA! We got into a really deep discussion about Faith. At the end president just goes, "Can you feel it? The spirit is teaching us all and telling us the answers to the questions we haven't asked out loud." Every one of us raised our hand. It was awesome!

5. In a meeting with Paula one of our investigators, WoW! The youth are so much stronger. She is amazing! She is friends with president’s daughter. She has come to church and committed to be baptized on the 11th. We were able to meet with her mom as well this week. She knows her daughter is ready and wants to learn more too. She also wants her son who is at Weber in Utah to meet with missionaries too. Paula is doing great. She is up to 1 Nephi 10. Well that was on Saturday. She was at church on Sunday and really seemed to be talking to the other youth and seemed to enjoy it.

6. We had dinner with this pretty funny family. We were shown a video of when eh got his eyebrows waxed earlier that day lol SO funny! They are ward missionaries. We have heard from the Relief Society that they might need a little extra help to stay active. They like to pick and choose commandments to live apparently. We shall find out.

7. Favorite scripture this week... Alma 56:16-17. Not sure if I have shared this one before but I have been thinking about it a lot since I don't want to be "conquered" by an area. I want to be able to show the people here what the gospel is all about and the blessings that can come to them.

I miss and LOVE you all!!

Sister Arbogast

Only 12 weeks left!

Hello!!! Umm this week was crazy and it is about to get even more crazy!

1. On Monday we had a "sisters" hike with our mission presidents wife and all the sisters. We went to this canyon in Monrovia which is really close to Pasadena. We were all told it was really flat... it wasn't flat. BUT it was fun!! There was a baby waterfall at the end of it. not so much worth it but oh well!

2. We went to play with a bunch of other missionaries. While we were there I was talking to a few different missionaries and I was thinking about how these friends will forever be my friends. We are all going through something and are learning so much being missionaries. it brings me comfort to know I'm not the only one.

3. I got to meet with president this week and it was AMAZING! I just had somethings I needed to talk to him about. He just kept saying "Be candid with me. Tell me how it is." So I did ahhaha I really felt SO much better after I was able to talk to him. He gave me a wonderful blessing. I LOVE the priesthood. I think every time I receive a blessing, all the wonderful feelings of true, peace and love come back to me from past times. SUCH a great feeling.

4. We went to a members for dinner... She had a non member there and we were able to have a lesson on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him. We even set up a return appointment for the next Monday. We goes currently to a Christian church.  The member is a running partner and he is also a math tutor to her daughter. I hope tonight goes well!

5. I went on exchanges to Diamond Bar this week with Sister Mello. She is so sweet. The area was super slow but she wants to do more and is willing to try new things. The area needs something new.

6. I went to the Zone Leader council and wow! President said there was going to be a LOT of changes in leadership this transfer. A lot of the training was also on change and how its okay to change and how we need to focus on the doctrine of Christ. It was REALLY good!

7. When we met with the Vasquez this week... WHOA! We had a lesson on the priesthood and he FINALLY really understood the importance of it and how much he wants to baptize his sons. He even told us what things he was really insecure about with coming back to church. I'm really sad to be leaving him.

8. Moises had a GRETA lesson on the plan of Salvation and a tour of the chapel. He is coming along and FINALLY came to church! We had been trying to get him there for forever now and he finally came! He was just starting to open up to me too. But he is in good hands.

9. Can you tell I'm leaving Pasadena? We got a transfer call and I will now be in the Monrovia ward... just down the road from here. Another kicker is ready?! I'm training again. The only sister coming in tomorrow for English work is Sister Butler from American Fork, Utah. We went over today to clean the apartment that we are going to be living in from the elders... I shouldn't be surprised but DANG! It was NASTY!! This shall be interesting in either of us knowing no one and getting to work. But I'm excited!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Arbogast

Getting Hit on at the Gas Station

Alrighty!! Here we go...

1. SO this week wasn't the most exciting but on Monday we went to go get gas for the car and we went in to get the receipt and this guy Phil hit on us. We got free drinks out of it so it was fun lol

2. Liz is doing good. We had a dinner and lesson with her and her family. Her daughter who is a member was there and her husband. Her husband is very NOT interested but is okay with her learning. Our stake president is going to help us and invited them over to have a lesson at their house. We shall see how it turns out.

3. We had Zone Conference and pretty much AWESOME! It was a recap of the things that we learned at the zone leader council but it was still great. Main thing that I learned it to Be the Light. Love it!

4. Got to go on exchanges with Sister Pack and WOW! It was pretty amazing! We stayed up pretty late and talked BUT it was really needed for both of us to be honest.

5. We had a great lesson with Cesar and talked about the second coming. Pretty much we need to just be ready for it tomorrow but live like it isn't for forever.

6. Favorite scripture this week was Moroni 10:32. It talks about grace and we are SOO blessed!! LOVE IT!

I know its short BUT I still Love you!!!

Sister Arbogast

Only 99 Days Left!

Well hello from SUNNY California!! Here are the happenings from the week!

1. We went to Goodwill last week and I think I am now loving thrift stores. All of the sudden I see them EVERYWHERE we go and I have been here for 6 months... hahah

2. Our investigator Malachi accepted a baptismal date. He actually brought it up. He is 11 and so in touch with the spirit. And how he has responsibilities here on earth.

3. We went to a part member families this week. LOVE them! The non member husband said we could come back because it was us. His wife was telling us that he has has lesson before and been to church just not ever happened. We shall see. He was pretty open with us and set a return appointment.

4. We got lemon seeds to grow... they aren't growing. BUT We got lemons from a member and made lemonade... SO good!

5. We were out contacting one day and we ran into these 3 ladies. We got into a really nice talk about Jesus Christ and how we have to found and accept him. They weren't interested in learning BUT we offered service and it just so happens two of them are doing work in their homes! HOPEFULLY we can get in and help them feel of the Spirit and want to learn more :]

6. We went to a members home whose son just came off his mission. This father is NOT active and tried to talk him out of going on his mission. We were there when he got released. Wow. The stake president asked him for his name tags. I was about to cry!! My tag is little and just a black thing I clip on every morning... but not. It is so much more. I'm different. And I was thinking about how blessed I am to be here and get to wer this little black tag. I LOVE it!!

7. We FINALLY got to meet with a couple that hasn't been to church in a LONG time. Found out that he is a return missionary and now agnostic and she hasn't been to church but wants to come. Very interesting how that works out. But she wants us to come back. I think she can feel the void in her life without the gospel and gave us the biggest hug when we left. We shared a scripture about ow the spirit wont lie to us... I know she was listening, hopefully he was too.

8. Beverly a less active we teach has not been to church in YEARS and she came on Sunday!!! It was HUGE!!! She came, participated and everything. She told us that her biggest thing was that she has a really close connection with these two families and they ended up moving and she had no one to connect with. She didn't put the effort in BUT hopefully she enjoyed meeting people and we shall see if she will come back next week.

9. Sister Harker and I were welcoming people to church when we met a man who was visiting from Fuller Seminary College. He was there for a class assignment. It was a PERFECT day to come! We had a recent convert and a return missionary speaking. The whole time we were in Sacrament meeting he was nodding and writing a few notes. One of his notes he had written was "children part of service" In my head I was thinking, well duh! Oh well. When we explained to him that no one was paid he was also very shocked. He was able to come to Gospel principles and he was participating and reading scriptures with us... he had said earlier he would stay then he ended up leaving after gospel principles. He was feeling the spirit. Love it!

10. "The Boys" were born!! I am a proud auntie for the 3rd time on the mission and for the 14th time in my life... how lucky am I?!?

11. Favorite scripture this week... well it is a few. I have been studying the words cheer, cheerful, things like that. One of my goals this week was to be happy. Not just look happy but feel happy. Yes, life is hard but there are so many happy and cheerful things we could focus on. SO. Mosiah 24:15 Tells us to submit cheerfully and patiently to the will of the Lord. Not our will, the Lords. Then in 2 Corinthians 9:7 It tell us that Good loves a cheerful giver. Then in D&C 78:18 (new fav) Ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.... riches of eternity are yours. We can not bear all things... especially if we try to do it alone! Not happening. But if we let him lead us we can have the riches of eternity... LOVE that blessing. We need to be happy. I know when we teach lessons it is a message of JOY!  Be happy. Life is hard but good.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sister Arbogast

Howdy!

The week has been good! Busy and so happy about that!

1. We got lemon seeds in red plastic cups... they were from our lesson on Faith. So we now we also say we have to water our faith. I hope they actually sprout up... I would LOVE a lemon tree!!

2. We had some GREAT lessons this week... with Lydia we talked about Agency and how if we don't know where we want or where we are going, it doesn't matter what we do or path we take. She even had her cousin in town and we read from the Book of Mormon with her too. We read about how the scriptures can bring comfort and closer to Heavenly Father. Our member with us bared really strong testimony and it finally seemed to click with her.

3. One of our new investigators Liz is great. One of her daughters is in a different stake in the area and her grandson keeps teaching her about the church. She loves the strength of youth pamphlet and we watched the Restoration DVD with her this week. She says that she thinks it could totally happen with Joseph Smith seeing God and Jesus Christ. She "goes" to another church. I asked her conversion and she said she hasn't had one. We can tell that she is intrigued by her grandson and all she keeps telling us is how amazed she is at our dedication at such a young age. We were able to bear testimony to her and it was AWESOME! A little side note on her... the Movies risky business, cheaper by the dozen and some Audi commercial from Christmas apparently where he brings gifts inside and the family goes and takes his car... well they were all filmed in her house... No big! hahahaha AND when I met her the first time I was with Sister Foster... she told us this week she was agonizing over taking up our offer on giving service... she said, "I didn't want the other one here. She is too mousy. She just wouldn't be able to cut it here. I even was thinking if there was a way I could have you come and not her."

4. We got to take Jerry on a tour of the chapel this week and he said he could feel what we were saying could be right but he needed to ask and read. His wife is not interested but he is. Its AWESOME!

5. Orrillius doesn't want to meet with us anymore. Which I was sad about but relived about too. He isn't ready. He said some hurtful things which I was more worried about with my companion BUT we cant force him and we will keep going :]

6. Decora spoke more than EVER in a lesson this week on the 10 commandments... it was amazing! She was all into learning the little hand signs and teaching them back to us. She is progressing for sure.

7. President Becerra came to our district meeting this week and role played with Sister Harker and I. He is a great man! He is so involved with us missionaries and going to lessons with the elders. We might even be going to play basketball with him today... he is awesome.

8. People are starting to ask how long I have been in the ward now since it has been a while. Even people from the other ward we share the building with are asking... its kind of funny hhahaha

8. My favorite scripture this week came from preparing a lesson for a less active on hoe we can study the scriptures. It is in Doctrine and Covenants 131:6-It says that we can NOT be saved in ignorance. I LOVE this. We cant have any excuses of "I didn't know." We can lie to the Lord... He knows. And I have to think about that when people reject our messages even after they have had the spirit testify to them. I'm doing my part, spirit has done his part now its their turn.

Love you all!!

Sister Arbogast

Happenings from the week...

Well... here we go again! Another weekly update for you lovely people!

1. Last Monday we went bowling and it was AWESOME!! It was a zone activity and I was hoping to not make too much of a fool while there. First person up.. me. What happens? STRIKE! Oh yeah!! Only happened one other time and it was a spare from the gutter I did before hahah BUT I broke 100... I got 101! Oh yeah! Thank you online bowling classes :]

2. Our presidents wife came out with us to a couple lessons on Monday night. She came to an FHE we were having with couple who is trying to get back into the swing of church and want to start good habits now while their daughter is young.

3. She also came with us to the Stevens. They are a mother and son who call themselves active but never come to church. I think the whole 6 months I have been here I have seen them at church maybe 4 times and one of the times her son was speaking. We taught about agency and how we have to choose the right. Simple as that. We went over a talk from President Monson, The Three R's of Choice. It was really good. Part of me thinks that Sister Stevens just likes to talk. We shall see.

4. We did some service for the Stevens too... well mainly her non member dad. We cut some trees down and pushed/broke down a gazebo. Kind of fun actually :]

5. Since President gave me the sister specialist (sister zone leader) title I got to go to a REALLY amazing training this week! It was on Wednesday and it was all the zone leaders, president and his wife, and two people from SLC in the missionary department for the church. It was really good for me to just soak in everything. Main two things I got was to be personal to the people we are teaching-DUH! But it just really hit me today. Then the next thing was a quote one of the people from SLC said, )teach your purpose, with purpose, on purpose" We have our purpose that Preach My Gospel tells us and making sure we do all three things with it. I got home and wrote it out on colored paper and put it on our wall by our desks. President said we will be going to the trainings, training the sisters, and going on exchanges. Shall be interesting what happens.

6. With our recent convert Cesar we went over the home teaching message for the month, the Abundant life. We were able to read from it and apply the principle to us and how we need to have a better attitude, belief in ourselves and courage. I think he needed it this week too. He was a little down about something. She is still doing great! He has been passing the sacrament and loving his calling as a primary teacher.

7. We have a new investigator, Linda. She is REALLY interested in the Relief Society and the sisterhood of it. We were able to tell her our expectations and really help her feel the love of her heavenly Father. She came on a tour with us and we brought the Relief Society president. She wasn't able to come to church this past Sunday but she said next she would. I hope so. Everything she said she is looking for is within the gospel. Now we get to teach her about it :]

8. Decora come to church!! We went over to have a lesson with her grandma who is already a member and she stayed and said the opening prayer and actually talked when we asked questions... this was HUGE for her. She got a little turned off for a while I think while her brother and his friend were there... but she seems to be back on track.

9. Went to Chinatown yesterday... same as it always is BUT we rode the Metro and it was FUN! We went with a group of missionaries. My companion had never been and wanted to go so bad so we went. She wants to go again too... I dont know about that ahahhaah We will see.

10. My favorite thing that I learned from studies this week was how important questions are. During our district meeting when we talked about questions and then asked a few and critiqued them with each other I was really aware of the importance of how I word my questions and why I ask what I do. I started to think about the questions that I ask myself and how they can be answered with the gospel and so can everyone elses... not just mine. The gospel is so true. I LOVE it!

LOVE YOU!!

Sister Arbogast

Happy New Year!

Well... here are the happenings for the week!


1. We FINALLY went to the taco truck on Fair Oaks... YUM!!! We went with two other elders from the Spanish work. We saw 4 members while we were there too. My companion was so excited to have real Mexican tacos again.
2. One of our investigators whose family and friends ALWAYS bash the church ALWAYS stands up for us! It has been amazing to me how strong she is but when it comes to baptism she says she isn't ready. We taught her this week about obedience and the blessings that come from obeying all the commandments and living the way our Heavenly Father wants us to.
3. We have a new investigator, his name is Malachi. He is in a part member family. His family is not active. His mom is a single mom and struggles. But one if the inactive sons comes now to basketball every week at the church and they came to church Sunday. They woke up and got ready, a 16 and 11 year old. So amazing. We had lessons about the wonderful Restoration. They ask GREAT questions and really love how Joseph Smith said he couldn't deny because he knew that God knew. Such a tender comments from an 11 year old.
4. We met with Brother Brown who is not active but we left him to read in the Book of Mormon and he read! We weren't sure if he would and he did and loved it! We had a great dissucion on Lehi's dream and where we are in it. He said he might come to church next year... so Sunday we shall see.
5. Sharon our less active member... an AWESOME missionary! She brought a friend to meet with us this week. Her friend loved it so much when we invited her back she said yes and that she was bringing another friend! We read with her a talk from President Monson about choice, the great gift of agency :]
6. Orrillius is moving along, hesitant that he isn't ready for baptism yet but that he wants to... Little frustration BUT he had an AMAZING lesson on the Apostasy with him (which was this past weeks topic and role play in District meeting). He really taught us about it as we asked him questions and backed him up with scriptures... I LOVED watching the Spirit just unfold the truth to him.
7. We met with a recent convert that has since gotten into a few hard things and not active. We read from Alma chapter 5 with him... we only got a little into it but I think it is starting to make him think a bit.
8. Happy New Year!!! Sister Zamora and I got Mexican coke in a glass bottle (the best way to drink it apparently) and went to bed at 1040-rebels we stayed up 10 minutes extra. But we woke up again at 12 since our neighbors were firing guns... yep, you read that right. They were doing it randomly till about 1230... then we went back to bed. hahha
9. So transfer calls were this week... but since I am training with a 12 week program we were clear right? NOT!! We got a call... he talks to my companion first and tells her she will be going to "white wash" an area. She they took two elders out and put two sisters in. They talk... then hang up. Uhhh what about me?! I call him back and ask, "Umm you have any news for me?" He goes, "Oh yeah. You will be training again Sister Arbogast. This isn't a normal thing. But President knew that you did such a great job with Sister Zamora that she only needed the 6 weeks and you will be training again." Wait what just happened?! Yes... so here I am... waiting for another new sister... I will pick her up on Wednesday. So I guess you will find more out about her next week! Apparently I am needed in Pasadena since this will be my 5th transfer here, so 6 months down. CRAZY!
10. We gave talks on Sunday!! I spoke about Mark 9:24... my favorite scripture this week :] My companion spoke about Faith proceeds the miracle. She talked about faith and I talked about how we develop faith... afterward I got the BEST reward. A woman came up to me and said that she felt like the talk was written just for her and she was coming back to church and my talk gave her teh little extra that she needed. She also said that her son that I have seen at basketball that our investigators go to who is not active was so engulfed in my talk and thinks that it will help him come to church. Another member said that was the best talk he had ever heard. Now that best part... I remember writing down bullet points to talk about but I hardly remember anything I said in my talk. The spirit is real and I LOVE being able to be a mouth piece for the Lord. WHAT A BLESSING!! I love it!


Love you all!!


Sister Arbogast


OH PS!! I went to the Rose Parade!!! hence the pictures :] It was AMAZING!!!! SOOOO awesome!! I was like in the front as much as I could be!! We even got into where they decorate them on Friday... for free, no big! Smelled SOO good!!

Merry Christmas Again!

Well HELLO!! Merry Christmas to all!! Here are the happenings in the area!


1. Last Monday it was a sisters birthday so we went to the stake center by the mission office to play games and what not. While there the elders were playing basketball and of course i wanted to play but I didn't say anything... THEN they invited me... apparently I'm moving up in the world! I get invited to play ball with elders hahaha THEN President Becerra comes in... get a little nervous but he untuckes his white shirt and tie and PLAYS! It was the best! President truly is the BEST example to us about how to work hard, listen and act with the spirit and have fun.
2. We had dinner with a recent convert this week and he is just amazing! You would NEVER guess that he has only been a member for only 4 and a half months. He is so in tune with the spirit and making sure that his life is in line with what the Lord wants and he is willing to do so. I think we all could follow that example.
3. We got to teach our Gospel discussion class this week. It started out as a new member class but now investigators, new members and less actives come. We got to teach about goals and how we need to set goals to work on becoming more Christlike. Sister Becerra came to the class as well. At the end everyone was so thankful. I LOVE teaching. 
4. We had a lesson with a less active who is coming back to church, Chris. We talked about the temple. He goes once a month to do baptisms. We talked about the spirit that is there and how we need to keep that spirit with us always. He commented on that since our bodies are temples we are little holy places and should stay such. Good thought. I know our bodies are temples but putting the two together like that was a nice new way to look at it.
5. With Sharon this week we talked about agency. We talked about how wonderful it is to be given such a gift. She also used that gift in a weak moment and had a cigarette. BUT she is back on the count! 3 days and going! 
6. We finally got to meet with Brother Vasquez this week. With crazy schedules and such it was been a while. But we had a great lesson on obedience. He knows what he needs to do. They shared with us that she is pregnant which is a miracle and we played off of that how we need to be obedient for blessings. During his prayer he thanked his Heavenly Father for the blessings he has been given, including "this little guy you have blessed us with." He even came to church yesterday! He had a Sunday off and he came! It was SO nice to see the whole family there!
7.We watched, "On the Lords Errand" with Cesar this week at a members home and I was the only one who ad seen it before. At the end and even 3 days later we were all talking about how amazing it was and the wonderful perspective it gives about a prophet of God. You know he is called of God and is prepared to be the President of the church.
8. This week my companion and I took advantage of the season and went to Old Pasadena on Friday night with 100 rolled up Living Christ testimonies. We put a little note in each other with our number and Mormon.org on them. We handed out about 80 of them in an hour and only got bashed on about 5 times. We are hoping we get some feedback. If anything, they now have heard of the website and have our number.
9. Our Christmas Eve dinner cancelled and so we ended up getting to go to the Standings. It is a mother and daughter. A son is on a mission in Idaho. We had ham and cheese omelets and TONS of laughs! We got to meet a few less active member's and get to know them which was REALLY helpful!
10. Christmas was GREAT! We woke up, prayed, read the Christmas story in Luke and then opened our presents. I got lots of fun gifts and a BEAUTIFUL ring from mom and dad! Black hills Gold. Lucky me!! Then we got to skype home... CRAZINESS! I LOVED it! It is so fun to actually see anyone and talk! But it hit me that I will be home before the next chance I get to call home... by then I will be talking to them all in REAL LIFE! hahaha
11. Favorite scripture... well it was reading about Christ on Christmas morning. It was a nice way to set the mood for the whole day. It makes you remember to think about Christ first. It was even calmer opening gifts and being so much more grateful for them. I just think about how blessed we are to be able to have the truth of all things. To be able to know about Jesus Christ and to know about the plan about where we came from, why we are here, where we are going afterwards and how to use ALL the resources that our Heavenly Father has been to us. I LOVE it!! I love being able to share my love with those I come in contact with. It is such a blessing.


LOVE YOU ALL!!


Sister Arbogast

Merry Christmas

Only 6 days till CHRISTMAS! Love it! Here are the happenings for the week that looking back on felt like a MONTH! So busy and I LOVE it!
1. We have been having meals with members and it has been really fun! This week my companion and I both got sick from a members cooking that I got sick AGAIN from a different member... what are they trying to do to us?! hahah
2. We had our mission Christmas party this week... AWESOME!! They asked us to share a talent and so it was in two parts. One part in the chapel with spiritual talents like singing a Christmas song or hymn, playing piano and such. Then the next part was in the gym with the stage after lunch WHICH was like a legit Christmas dinner with turkey, potatoes and everything. It was a really nice way to get the Christmas spirit and have fun and laugh with each other. I was part of a group talent. We lip synced Oh Happy Day from Sister Act 2 and the I hope they call me on a mission from Popcorn Boppin' CD. It has a rap in that part... i was one of the rappers. Sister Olsen and I were.  SOOO nervous but we looked AWESOME! I have a video. People told us all after us that it was so unexpected and best of the day when we just came out.
3. We watched the Prophet of the Restoration DVD with Sharon this week. She LOVED it! She was all teary eyed and afterwards she just kept saying that she was going to be thinking about that all night and how much he went through. Next time we met with her she just told us how it just confirms to her how we all go through trials and how real Joseph Smith is. I LOVE it!
4. While teaching Orrillius the word of wisdom I was a little nervous. I knew he drank coffee before. As we were having the lesson and we asked him to live it he just goes, "Its the word of God, I have to live it. Yes I will live the word of wisdom" Our next lesson we went over his baptismal date again and again he said yes. It is December 25th. A white Christmas here in Pasadena! I'm so happy for him. His countenance has changed and he is so happy. We talked more about his mother and her feelings about it and he was telling us that he cant deny what the spirit is telling him. Love that faith!!
5. It is amazing to me how much our investigators are helping bring their friends to lessons and such more than members are. makes me feel bad for all the times I could have and didn't. But I am now! :] We were able to get two new investigators from one current investigator. Amazing.
6. I was able to go on exchanges this week... LOVED it! I was with Sister Filimoehala. She is so sensitive and full of the spirit. Love her! We stayed up till 130 talking... 630 came WAY too quick hhaha
7. As we met with Lydia this week, we watched the Restoration DVD with her. We had taught about Joseph Smith but we weren't sure she was fully understanding. She LOVED being able to watch it and seeing it unfold. She told us how she could feel that he was real. She is really starting to open up and ask questions she has or about things she has heard. She is really good. The kids are still all excited and happy coming to church and church activities.
8. I got TWO new pillows!! The Ronald McDonald house lady we work with Vicki gets 10 new pillows every quarter. But this time she got 30. She told us, "Please take one or two!" So we did. I got a temperpetic one and a down feather one with an air thing to make it firm or not... SOOO nice! My pillows were dying.
9. Yesterday was President Becerras birthday and we got invited over for ice cream and cake. We went over and it was the senior missionaries from the office and 3 other sets of missionaries. One of the sets were the assistance to the president... of course they were there. We ate cake... talked then about 9 when we are usually supposed to be home we sat down for a question and answer time with president... it was AWESOME! It was so personal and a good discussion with all of us, president and his wife and two kids. We left their home at 1045... lights out are supposed to be 1030 hahah We got home at 11 and fell into bed happy and blessed.
10. My favorite scripture this week... is really a few. In the beginning of Matthew 2 it talks about the 3 wise men out to find baby Jesus and how they followed the star. And as they got to him the presented their gifts. As our spiritual thought the past week we have been sharing a story about the true meaning of Christmas and the symbols that are all around us and how they all have a true meaning. And as I thought about the star I think about how the light is what we should ALWAYS be going to. As I read the scripture in Matthew though I thought about as we go to judgement and present ourselves... will it be enough? Our gift. I want to make sure that I am doing all I can so it will be enough.
 
LOVE YOU ALL!!
 
Sister Arbogast

'Tis the Season

Well is doesn't really feel like Christmas BUT it is the season... Here are the happenings for the past week...
 
1. We got to decorate GIANT gingerbread men! They are about a foot tall. A member invited us over and it was the first time Sister Zamora had EVER done it! LOVE creating memories hahah
2. Members at lessons are usually the BEST!!! If the missionaries ask you to go... GO! We meet with Lydia this week with a sister from the ward and it was a HUGE difference! We had a member with us before but it hadn't clicked so much like this with Lydia. We read from the Book of Mormon with her and her family. They are so great and really want God in their life.
3. An investigator Decora came to other lessons with us to less active members. She was really excited to come and afterwards she really liked it. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and talked about what we need to do in this life to get to the Celestial Kingdom. We invited her to be baptized and she said yes! I hope we can keep being her guide to help her see the light.
4. We found out one of the less active men, Blake, was ordained an Elder but never went to the temple. He went less active about 4 years after he was ordained. He really seems like he wants to come back though and that is REALLY important!
5. Orrillius is still amazing! We went over this week and he told us he "wasn't feeling this. Any of this" We got to talking and his mother is very against him joining the church. He is 54 but loves his mom and respects her. We started to read and he said he would just listen. By the end he was discussing how true the chapter was and reading and involved. He is so amazing. He still has a baptismal date set for Christmas... hopefully he will be able to keep it.
6. David, Orrillius' roommate we are also teaching. He is young, party type but still very open to learning and reading the Book of Mormon. I never cease to be amazed at how much joy it brings me to see the light come to people. David had read the chapter we left for him at our last visit and came to the next visit saying it was confusing. We prayed and then read... he answered his own questions he had about it. We pointed out the only real difference was it was read AFTER we prayed for the spirit of understanding. He knew it.
7. Saw the Southern California Mormon Choir again this week... it was their Christmas program... WOW! It was AWESOME!! I felt like I was getting blasted out of the chapel but the music and everything was great! And two investigators came and they LOVED it! Guess thats all that really mattered hahaha
8. Sister Zamora and I got to go to the temple Saturday! Our Relief Society was having a "White Christmas in the Temple" activity. Either endowments, baptisms, or just visiting the visitors center. Then a box lunch salad afterwards in the temple apartments here. WOW! They had a chapel session first, which I have never been to but it was AMAZING! The temple president and his wife came and spoke to us, they are in our ward :] They spoke to us about covenants and how important it is to not just make them but to KEEP them! She said she wishes instead of telling her kids to remember who they were as they went out the door to say, "Keep your covenants!" How true. We made them when we were baptized. Going to the temple lead me to my favorite scripture this week. I was studying covenants and Mosiah 5 hit home for me. The joy we find in the gospel leads us to want to make and keep covenants. Its truly the simple as that.
 
LOVE YOU ALL!!
 
Sister Arbogast