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
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
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
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
Monday, December 12, 2011
'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
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
Monday, December 5, 2011
Even More from Pasadena
Well hello all!!! Here are the happenings for the past week! I feel like so much has been going on...
1. My companion is still AWESOME! I don't feel like I'm "training" her at all.
2. Orrillius is doing GREAT! We met with him twice and the first time you could just see the light go off in his head about the 3 kingdoms of glory. Then the second time he was all excited how well the Book of Mormon and the Bible go together... duh! It was amazing though!
3. Sharon is now on 72 without smoking!! SO proud of her. We had a lesson about the second coming and the signs it was really good. We focused on if we are prepared and doing what we are supposed to be doing then it will be okay. The next day was the HUGE wind storm. We stopped by on Sunday because we felt like we needed to and she told us that she has been praying whether she needs to keep coming to church if this is the right religion... WHAT?! But then she went on to say that us coming is an answer to her... and she is going to keep reading... LOVE promptings and following them!
4. We were given a list of names from the ward of people they have no idea who they are. One we went to this week, Blake. He is a sweet old man who wants us to come every week! He said he hasn't been for 40 years but that the church always finds him where ever he is. We will bring him back to the light.
5. Luis is a recent convert who we taught obedience too. Wow. He has no true understanding of obedience before we met. But it clicked while we were teaching. he is a great kid who is very encouraging to his mom about always going to church. The youth now truly are so strong!
6. Our investigator Dacora is a really sweet girl but lacks the knowledge of how much she matters in her Heavenly Fathers eyes. We had a great lesson on Sunday about why we are here and it is to be happy. It was amazing to be able to tell her that I cared for her and then to reassure her how much Heavenly Father and Christ love and know her. What a blessing it is to be a mouth piece for Him as a missionary.
7. The wind storm... yes it happened. It broke lots of records and lots of other things around the city. There was gusts up to 100mph. My companion and I had no idea how bad it was until a member called us in the morning and asked if we were okay and that we were in a state of emergency. Schools were shut down due to damage, power has been out now for some people since Wednesday, tree were uprooted and branches everywhere. CRAZINESS! But it is time like this that bring people together...
8. Had interviews with President Becerra this week. He is amazing! I KNOW he is called of God. He is so personal and caring.
9. My year mark was this week and I got SURPRISE cupcakes from mom and dad! The were yummy and still have some at home. The Kohnles helped with the surprise and had us for dinner. Crazy how the time flies! I'm starting to become one of those missionaries that just thinks of life as a missionary not about everything before. It is cool. Means my heart is fully here. LOVE it!
10. We had a Las Posadas for a church activity this week-whoa! SO awesome!! We had a LOT of less actives that came and investigators who could feel the spirit and talked about it. It was really good! And since it is a Mexican tradition, my companion LOVED it
11. My favorite scripture this week... Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible" how true... and from a card I got since being out here Within the word impossible it says, I'm possible. Its true. We can with God do ALL that he wants us to. What a blessing!
Love you all!
Sister Arbogast
1. My companion is still AWESOME! I don't feel like I'm "training" her at all.
2. Orrillius is doing GREAT! We met with him twice and the first time you could just see the light go off in his head about the 3 kingdoms of glory. Then the second time he was all excited how well the Book of Mormon and the Bible go together... duh! It was amazing though!
3. Sharon is now on 72 without smoking!! SO proud of her. We had a lesson about the second coming and the signs it was really good. We focused on if we are prepared and doing what we are supposed to be doing then it will be okay. The next day was the HUGE wind storm. We stopped by on Sunday because we felt like we needed to and she told us that she has been praying whether she needs to keep coming to church if this is the right religion... WHAT?! But then she went on to say that us coming is an answer to her... and she is going to keep reading... LOVE promptings and following them!
4. We were given a list of names from the ward of people they have no idea who they are. One we went to this week, Blake. He is a sweet old man who wants us to come every week! He said he hasn't been for 40 years but that the church always finds him where ever he is. We will bring him back to the light.
5. Luis is a recent convert who we taught obedience too. Wow. He has no true understanding of obedience before we met. But it clicked while we were teaching. he is a great kid who is very encouraging to his mom about always going to church. The youth now truly are so strong!
6. Our investigator Dacora is a really sweet girl but lacks the knowledge of how much she matters in her Heavenly Fathers eyes. We had a great lesson on Sunday about why we are here and it is to be happy. It was amazing to be able to tell her that I cared for her and then to reassure her how much Heavenly Father and Christ love and know her. What a blessing it is to be a mouth piece for Him as a missionary.
7. The wind storm... yes it happened. It broke lots of records and lots of other things around the city. There was gusts up to 100mph. My companion and I had no idea how bad it was until a member called us in the morning and asked if we were okay and that we were in a state of emergency. Schools were shut down due to damage, power has been out now for some people since Wednesday, tree were uprooted and branches everywhere. CRAZINESS! But it is time like this that bring people together...
8. Had interviews with President Becerra this week. He is amazing! I KNOW he is called of God. He is so personal and caring.
9. My year mark was this week and I got SURPRISE cupcakes from mom and dad! The were yummy and still have some at home. The Kohnles helped with the surprise and had us for dinner. Crazy how the time flies! I'm starting to become one of those missionaries that just thinks of life as a missionary not about everything before. It is cool. Means my heart is fully here. LOVE it!
10. We had a Las Posadas for a church activity this week-whoa! SO awesome!! We had a LOT of less actives that came and investigators who could feel the spirit and talked about it. It was really good! And since it is a Mexican tradition, my companion LOVED it
11. My favorite scripture this week... Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible" how true... and from a card I got since being out here Within the word impossible it says, I'm possible. Its true. We can with God do ALL that he wants us to. What a blessing!
Love you all!
Sister Arbogast
Monday, November 28, 2011
More From Pasadena
Hello!! This past week was AWESOME so get ready...
1. I had LOTS of trainings this week... sometimes a little boring but it was all good information. Tuesday i picked up Sister Zamora... yep, NOT Sister Gomez. Apparently it is her second last name... everyone was confused hahaha She had the most stuff of all the missionaries. She has GREAT English since she has been at BYU for the past 2 years and she learned it when she was younger at school. She was baptized 6 years ago. She has 2 sisters, one older and one younger. She jumped right in on Tuesday night as we taught a recent convert lesson. She was bearing testimony and sharing scriptures.
2. We met with Lydia this week and really focused reading the Book of Mormon and listening and acting on the answer we receive from the spirit. Anabelle and Jacob have committed to baptism, Lydia is hesitant.
3. In a less with Sandra we were talking about the priesthood and helping her understand the differences. She opened up and is worried about her daughter spiritually. She is a strong woman trying to raise her kids right and in the gospel with a nonmember husband.
4. We had an AMAZING lesson with Orilious this week. It was going great and the whole time I was thinking, I need to commit him to baptism but I just couldn't... why? I was having this battle in my head. I kept leading up to it and just not saying it.. THEN after i lead up to it after probably the 4th time Sister Zamora invited him. It went great! I realized why I wasn't so she could... then I also realized why missionaries that are training want to call their trainees their children... you are so proud of them and happy for them! She was so happy too and Orilious accepted so we will have to keep you updated on him.
5. We went knocking on a few neighbors of a members and talked to people who were out. Sister Zamora was nervous but did great! The MTC is truly amazing if we actually try to learn and take what they have to offer there. We set up a few return appointments and scheduled 2 church tours.
6. Thanksgiving was FUN! We helped a few people cook in the early mornings and then we ate with a member who had about 25 other family members there... it was GREAT! Ate too much but it was fun!
7. Training is different than it has been in the past we now have a 12 week training program. It is pretty laid out for us but she knows a TON so its great and easy lol
8. My favorite scripture this week was D&C 100:3-8. Im hear in this area for a reason which I have never really had a problem with realizing. But I love how it says to declare and in the footnotes it says, Meekness and sincerity. The Holy Ghost will bear witness for us and he does. I have witnessed it over and over again being here and I LOVE it!
Love you all!!
Sister Arbogast
1. I had LOTS of trainings this week... sometimes a little boring but it was all good information. Tuesday i picked up Sister Zamora... yep, NOT Sister Gomez. Apparently it is her second last name... everyone was confused hahaha She had the most stuff of all the missionaries. She has GREAT English since she has been at BYU for the past 2 years and she learned it when she was younger at school. She was baptized 6 years ago. She has 2 sisters, one older and one younger. She jumped right in on Tuesday night as we taught a recent convert lesson. She was bearing testimony and sharing scriptures.
2. We met with Lydia this week and really focused reading the Book of Mormon and listening and acting on the answer we receive from the spirit. Anabelle and Jacob have committed to baptism, Lydia is hesitant.
3. In a less with Sandra we were talking about the priesthood and helping her understand the differences. She opened up and is worried about her daughter spiritually. She is a strong woman trying to raise her kids right and in the gospel with a nonmember husband.
4. We had an AMAZING lesson with Orilious this week. It was going great and the whole time I was thinking, I need to commit him to baptism but I just couldn't... why? I was having this battle in my head. I kept leading up to it and just not saying it.. THEN after i lead up to it after probably the 4th time Sister Zamora invited him. It went great! I realized why I wasn't so she could... then I also realized why missionaries that are training want to call their trainees their children... you are so proud of them and happy for them! She was so happy too and Orilious accepted so we will have to keep you updated on him.
5. We went knocking on a few neighbors of a members and talked to people who were out. Sister Zamora was nervous but did great! The MTC is truly amazing if we actually try to learn and take what they have to offer there. We set up a few return appointments and scheduled 2 church tours.
6. Thanksgiving was FUN! We helped a few people cook in the early mornings and then we ate with a member who had about 25 other family members there... it was GREAT! Ate too much but it was fun!
7. Training is different than it has been in the past we now have a 12 week training program. It is pretty laid out for us but she knows a TON so its great and easy lol
8. My favorite scripture this week was D&C 100:3-8. Im hear in this area for a reason which I have never really had a problem with realizing. But I love how it says to declare and in the footnotes it says, Meekness and sincerity. The Holy Ghost will bear witness for us and he does. I have witnessed it over and over again being here and I LOVE it!
Love you all!!
Sister Arbogast
Monday, November 21, 2011
Pasadena for 18 Weeks
Here are the happenings for the week!!
1. We went to the Rose bowl and had a BBQ and playing football. I was naturally the only girl playing hahahahaa It was nice to get out and play with other missionaries.
2. Alisa Ence... my trainer in the mission got ENGAGED this week!! She is SUPER happy! Love her
3. We got to teach a lesson with Beverly. She is less active but LOVE us coming over! We were just finishing up talking about Heavenly Father and His love for us, importance of families and prophets when one of her neighbors comes over... starts trying to bash with us and tell us we worship Joseph Smith and all this other stuff. Wow. We just invited her to check out Mormon.org :]
4. Sharon is now 57 days NO SMOKING!! She is happy but said it is hard for her. She is doing great! We discussed the family proclamation. She had never read it before. She is doing great!
5. Lydia and her two children who are investigators are doing good. We taught faith, repentance, baptism. Anabelle and Jacob accepted the invitation to be baptized but Lydia said she isn't ready yet. We talked about it a bit but it will happen.
6. Another investigator Marilyn is okay. She has a problem with Joseph Smith but the first time she got the Book of Mormon and read it she knew it was true. She had a stroke about a year ago and is still recovering it. So she doesn't want to meet with us every week.
7. Luis is a recent convert who has a mom who is a recently active member. We taught them about tithing and it was great! Laura, his mom said the first thing she did when she got her paycheck was went to the bank and took out her 10 percent. She wants and feels like she needs to go the temple. She does. Luis is really good about making his mom go to church he always says, "Even if you break your leg. No your whole body. We are going to church!"
8. Alice is doing good. She is reading her Book of Mormon and wants to understand. She even has been to Church the past two weeks. She needs to commit.
9. Orilious is doing awesome! Besides the fact that he isn't sure about doing to church. But he wants to come to our study class on Tuesday. He watched the Restoration DVD and he said, "I feel like I know he is a true prophet" He is doing good.
10. We were with a part member family and one of their children came up to me and said, "Candy" I was like what? "You smell like candy" ahhahha It was so funny! We went over another time and he told me I smelled like Bubble Gum :]
11. Mom... you would be so PROUD! I have had Salmon 4 TIMES in Pasadena and I have LOVED it each time! :]
12. Well now to the subject heading... we got a transfer call on Saturday night. I will be staying in Pasadena BUT I get a new companion. I don't know her... no one does. She gets here tomorrow fresh from the MTC. Yep. I'm training. I'm nervous. BUT it will be great! All I know about her is that she is from Mexico, Spanish is her native language and her name is Sister Gomez. Shall be fun!! :]
13. Favorite scripture this week... 2 Nephi 25:26 Yes everyone knows this Scripture BUT being on a mission I didn't think I would have to explain that to people so much. We are the Church of JESUS CHRIST. But lots of people but understand that. This scripture is true. We are centered around Christ. And always will be. LOVE IT!!
Love you all!!
Sister Arbogast
1. We went to the Rose bowl and had a BBQ and playing football. I was naturally the only girl playing hahahahaa It was nice to get out and play with other missionaries.
2. Alisa Ence... my trainer in the mission got ENGAGED this week!! She is SUPER happy! Love her
3. We got to teach a lesson with Beverly. She is less active but LOVE us coming over! We were just finishing up talking about Heavenly Father and His love for us, importance of families and prophets when one of her neighbors comes over... starts trying to bash with us and tell us we worship Joseph Smith and all this other stuff. Wow. We just invited her to check out Mormon.org :]
4. Sharon is now 57 days NO SMOKING!! She is happy but said it is hard for her. She is doing great! We discussed the family proclamation. She had never read it before. She is doing great!
5. Lydia and her two children who are investigators are doing good. We taught faith, repentance, baptism. Anabelle and Jacob accepted the invitation to be baptized but Lydia said she isn't ready yet. We talked about it a bit but it will happen.
6. Another investigator Marilyn is okay. She has a problem with Joseph Smith but the first time she got the Book of Mormon and read it she knew it was true. She had a stroke about a year ago and is still recovering it. So she doesn't want to meet with us every week.
7. Luis is a recent convert who has a mom who is a recently active member. We taught them about tithing and it was great! Laura, his mom said the first thing she did when she got her paycheck was went to the bank and took out her 10 percent. She wants and feels like she needs to go the temple. She does. Luis is really good about making his mom go to church he always says, "Even if you break your leg. No your whole body. We are going to church!"
8. Alice is doing good. She is reading her Book of Mormon and wants to understand. She even has been to Church the past two weeks. She needs to commit.
9. Orilious is doing awesome! Besides the fact that he isn't sure about doing to church. But he wants to come to our study class on Tuesday. He watched the Restoration DVD and he said, "I feel like I know he is a true prophet" He is doing good.
10. We were with a part member family and one of their children came up to me and said, "Candy" I was like what? "You smell like candy" ahhahha It was so funny! We went over another time and he told me I smelled like Bubble Gum :]
11. Mom... you would be so PROUD! I have had Salmon 4 TIMES in Pasadena and I have LOVED it each time! :]
12. Well now to the subject heading... we got a transfer call on Saturday night. I will be staying in Pasadena BUT I get a new companion. I don't know her... no one does. She gets here tomorrow fresh from the MTC. Yep. I'm training. I'm nervous. BUT it will be great! All I know about her is that she is from Mexico, Spanish is her native language and her name is Sister Gomez. Shall be fun!! :]
13. Favorite scripture this week... 2 Nephi 25:26 Yes everyone knows this Scripture BUT being on a mission I didn't think I would have to explain that to people so much. We are the Church of JESUS CHRIST. But lots of people but understand that. This scripture is true. We are centered around Christ. And always will be. LOVE IT!!
Love you all!!
Sister Arbogast
Monday, November 14, 2011
Pasadena Message!
Here are the happenings for week 11 in Pasadena!
1. A group of missionaries went to the LA Zoo on Monday... that place is HUGE!! It was fun! There was about 40 of us so we got the group discount then once in the doors we just split! hahah It was really fun!
2. One of our investigators Lydia moved this week and the elders quorum was GREAT with trucks and man power! It worked out perfect for her son too because he is 13 and the Young Men's president was there talking to him about Scouts and he is pretty much signed up now hahah She is so grateful!
3. We took Orilious on a tour of the chapel this week. He has a friend that lives in another stake and she gave us the information. The tour went really good! When he walked into the chapel he said, "I know there is no one in here but the spirit is so sweet here." The only problem is he is diabetic and it is hard for him to be up for meeting on the days he feels bad.
4. We had Zone Conference this week! LOVE THEM! One of the topics was on "Real Growth" I LOVE it! How true we have to have REAL growth not just a front or be able to say what people want to hear from us. A few missionaries shared experiences and one was talking about how much he has grown on his mission but how much time he wasted before his mission. A mission is CRAZY! The emotion, physical, spiritual, mental tiredness is life. Maybe in life not as a missionary you only have a few at a time but everyday on the mission is all of them. Talk about preparation for life! I don't know how you don't have the real growth after you leave here!
5. With a recent convert Cesar and a less active Chris we had a lesson on the priesthood. Whoa. I LOVE being able to see the light in their eyes when they realize that they hold the same priesthood that the president on the church has. Not the same office of course but same power and permission from God. Cesar passed the sacrament for the first time and he shared with us that he felt "free" passing it. He was so happy even though he was nervous.
6. We had 2 "mini missionaries" on Saturday. They were 17 and 16. They came with us to knock, meetings and lessons. One had gone the year before and said they just sat there but with us they actually got to talk in the lesson and teach. it was fun to have them with us for the short time.
7. Yesterday we went to have a lesson with a less active woman, Glenda. We meet with her on Sundays and her two grand kids are usually there. This Sunday, I don't know why it took us so long to do this we invited her granddaughter to the lesson. Her name is Dacora. She is pretty quiet but a sweet girl. When we would ask about her thoughts they were very tender. We went to the lesson with talking about missionary work with Glenda and turned into Heavenly Fathers love for us and finding "home" spiritually. We gave her a Bible that we didn't have a copy of her own and asked if she would want a copy of the Book of Mormon, she said no. We told her that next week we would be talking about the Book of Mormon and then she might want a copy then. When we got in the car we saw Glenda and Dacora walking away looking at the Bible and Glenda just hugging her so happy.
8. I have been having CRAZY dreams lately and remembering them... that is always interesting to wake up too hahaha
9. My favorite scripture this week is... Alma 44:4 I LOVE that if we are just true to the faith of God, He will support us! EXCEPT we fall into transgression. We cant even let that be an option... Yesterday we were talking to a member and she said that growing up her dad would always say, "Keep the Commandments! They will keep you safe!" She said he would say it so much that they would just start tuning it out. Now that she is older she said that now it is just so simple as that, Keep the commandments! How true.
Well... I LOVE you all and hope you are doing well!!
Sister Arbogast
1. A group of missionaries went to the LA Zoo on Monday... that place is HUGE!! It was fun! There was about 40 of us so we got the group discount then once in the doors we just split! hahah It was really fun!
2. One of our investigators Lydia moved this week and the elders quorum was GREAT with trucks and man power! It worked out perfect for her son too because he is 13 and the Young Men's president was there talking to him about Scouts and he is pretty much signed up now hahah She is so grateful!
3. We took Orilious on a tour of the chapel this week. He has a friend that lives in another stake and she gave us the information. The tour went really good! When he walked into the chapel he said, "I know there is no one in here but the spirit is so sweet here." The only problem is he is diabetic and it is hard for him to be up for meeting on the days he feels bad.
4. We had Zone Conference this week! LOVE THEM! One of the topics was on "Real Growth" I LOVE it! How true we have to have REAL growth not just a front or be able to say what people want to hear from us. A few missionaries shared experiences and one was talking about how much he has grown on his mission but how much time he wasted before his mission. A mission is CRAZY! The emotion, physical, spiritual, mental tiredness is life. Maybe in life not as a missionary you only have a few at a time but everyday on the mission is all of them. Talk about preparation for life! I don't know how you don't have the real growth after you leave here!
5. With a recent convert Cesar and a less active Chris we had a lesson on the priesthood. Whoa. I LOVE being able to see the light in their eyes when they realize that they hold the same priesthood that the president on the church has. Not the same office of course but same power and permission from God. Cesar passed the sacrament for the first time and he shared with us that he felt "free" passing it. He was so happy even though he was nervous.
6. We had 2 "mini missionaries" on Saturday. They were 17 and 16. They came with us to knock, meetings and lessons. One had gone the year before and said they just sat there but with us they actually got to talk in the lesson and teach. it was fun to have them with us for the short time.
7. Yesterday we went to have a lesson with a less active woman, Glenda. We meet with her on Sundays and her two grand kids are usually there. This Sunday, I don't know why it took us so long to do this we invited her granddaughter to the lesson. Her name is Dacora. She is pretty quiet but a sweet girl. When we would ask about her thoughts they were very tender. We went to the lesson with talking about missionary work with Glenda and turned into Heavenly Fathers love for us and finding "home" spiritually. We gave her a Bible that we didn't have a copy of her own and asked if she would want a copy of the Book of Mormon, she said no. We told her that next week we would be talking about the Book of Mormon and then she might want a copy then. When we got in the car we saw Glenda and Dacora walking away looking at the Bible and Glenda just hugging her so happy.
8. I have been having CRAZY dreams lately and remembering them... that is always interesting to wake up too hahaha
9. My favorite scripture this week is... Alma 44:4 I LOVE that if we are just true to the faith of God, He will support us! EXCEPT we fall into transgression. We cant even let that be an option... Yesterday we were talking to a member and she said that growing up her dad would always say, "Keep the Commandments! They will keep you safe!" She said he would say it so much that they would just start tuning it out. Now that she is older she said that now it is just so simple as that, Keep the commandments! How true.
Well... I LOVE you all and hope you are doing well!!
Sister Arbogast
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