Monday, January 25, 2016

Mon, Jan 25, 2016 Bienvenida a Su Casa

                                                           Hey everyone!


Goodbye chubs

I am back in Surrey now! On Monday, I packed all of my things together and then on Tuesday Sister Polanco and I drove to the mission office to switch companions. It was so sad to say goodbye to Sister Polanco because we had grown so close together and had really learned how to rely on each other and the Lord. It is sad to leave Vancouver, but so joyful for me to go back to my first area, SURREY! I love my new companion, Hermana Cendreda! She was called to English work but this last transfer her dream finally came true. She was put in Spanish work in Surrey with Sister Kartchner. Sister Cendreda is from the Philippines, then moved to Quebec, and then later to Mexico. So she speaks 5 languages...english, spanish, french, tagalog, and another language from the Philippines. She is so fun! She only has two more transfers left so I bet I will be the one who gets to see her off! She is a convert to the church of 3 years. It has been so fun visiting the members this week with her because I know the members really well here in Surrey and she knew a lot of the members here when she lived in Quebec. A lot of the members have moved here since then. So it's like we have a big family here. Sister Cendreda and I are literally always laughing. 


The Hermanas!!! (Kartchner, Polanco, Cendreda, Hoth)


My little chubs with Sister Wright in the back

Sticky notes on a less active door. She loves us

Comp unity~matching: with the Guevaras





Haha...do you recognize this puppy (from first time serving in Surrey)

Haha, to start every conversation off she always asks "do you know where a Mexican restaurant is?" And then goes off about how she's new here from Mexico and serving a mission here. At first, I was like...okay that's pretty ridiculous. but actually it is so effective! The people take time to slow down and talk with us. They realize that we are normal people and then we both open up and talk about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We have found lots of success from this so far. It is so good to be back in Surrey. We are on fire here.


Rosa and Raul!

It has been such a blessing to come back here and see how Rosa, Raul, and Rita have progressed and changed. I love it because these are the people Sister Johnson and I were teaching and now I get to be a part of their lives again. I feel so incredibly blessed. We have had two lesson with Rosa and she is the sweetest thing ever. The sisters have taught her everything and she wants to be baptized in time. Right now she is pregnant and has a due date at the end of February. She told me that she wants to name her Emily. Haha...I love it...I'm definitely going to tell everyone that she is naming her after me!:):) We visited Rita...and well...that is a completely different story. Lenin isn't doing so well and I wasn't able to see Him. Rita looks older and more stressed out. There was a robbery in her little Cafe and so she closed it down and is still struggling with all that happened there. She has desires to be baptized but we can't quite figure out what is holding her back! Please pray for her!

Pasquier family

While I was gone, the Sister found the Gomez family. Jackelyn, the mom, and Jeremy, the oldest were baptized. They are so sweet and miss Sister Kartchner, their missionary, so much but welcomed me with open arms. I feel so much love for this sweet family. They came to church yesterday and we were able to watch Jeremy receive the priesthood. It was so powerful and the Spirit was so strong. Jackelyn is a single mother and has four kids: Jeremy, Kelly, Orlando, and Jamie. The two little twin boys are the cutest things ever! And Kelly sat with me during all the meetings yesterday. i seriously love this family so much! I'm grateful that I can be a part of their story and conversion as they progress as recent converts!:):)


;0 Sister Wright!




I love sister Jeppson and Sister Grant


Ludwig and Isabella. So cute

So last night we had a fireside with President Burt and Sister Burt and their whole family. They each gave a talk. The Burt family is so powerful, I love them so much. I learned so much about love and really loving my companion and loving those I teach and serve. I learned that if we have charity for those around us, we can be powerful teachers. I also felt so strongly that my life and mission have been so hard, but that is how I know that Heavenly Father loves me. I'm grateful that He has given me so many experiences to help me learn, grow, stretch, and put myself outside of my comfort zone. He has molded and shaped me here in the Canada Vancouver mission and I feel so blessed. I know that God's plan is perfect and that it's also hard. President said, "if it's easy, the plan is not working." Family and friends, I know that life is hard. I also know that it is not only possible but fulfilling when we live the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior and love serving Him and testifying and teaching of Him. I know that as we follow Him and do what God has commanded us to do...we will be happy...we will have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:20) I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that's why He gives us trials. He wants us to become better...He wants us to become like Him. I pray that you all have an incredible week!

Love,
Hermana Hoth

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Hey parents...I wanted to send you Sister Cobbs letter because Michael and his family, Lori and Glenn, and Christine are all people that I found and taught. I didn't find Christine but taught her. My mission has definitely been one of planting seeds and then others have the chance of harvesting them. 

Happy New Year! 2016 is going to be a beautiful year; I already know it! 

There were many miracles this week!
  • Michael and his family set baptismal dates!! Their whole family will be baptized February 27th. After a beautiful lesson studying 3 Nephi 11, we asked, "Why is it important to have power to baptize?" and Michael literally turned to his children and taught the restoration. It was incredible. All the children downloaded the Gospel Library app on their phones and read the scriptures with us. Michael's family gave me a cute pink mug, candy, and family Christmas card for Christmas. I love them! 
  • Last night we went to a cute family's home in our ward for dinner. There were about 15 people (less-actives, investigators, etc.) over. We taught a massive lesson on the Doctrine of Christ, and it was SO fun teaching such a big group. Everyone was very attentive and interactive. At the end, we did a little quiz, and everyone knew the answers (even the little kids); it was so rewarding and fun! 
  • We went on exchanges this week, and when we arrived home, the first thing we said when we walked into the apartment was, "It smells like gas." We looked around and didn't see any signs of the source. We found the carbon monoxide alarm and pushed the test button. If it beeps once, it says to check the manual. If it beeps four times, it says to seek fresh air immediately and call 911. The alarm beeped four times! Sister Jeppson and I looked at each other and screamed!! We frantically ran around the apartment grabbing our essential items and raced to the door. We called our landlord who checked it out and said some old tenets used to have hockey gear that smelled like gas. We thought, "Okay....Why did the alarm go off?" He opened all the windows and told us to take a coffee break. We slept over at the sister's apartment in Victoria, and the next day a gas inspector fixed everything. It was quite an adventure! 
  • Christine quit smoking this week to prepare for baptism this month!! She is also preparing to do baptisms for the dead next month. She is diligent, and says she treasures her testimony and the sweetness of the Gospel, because she's "tasted the bitter." 
  • Yesterday, we picked up Michael's kids to take them to church. Only the teenage daughter answered the door ready to go. I asked, "Where is Isaiah?" She said, "He's upstairs. He's not coming." I said, "What?! Will you go get him for me?" He came to the door, and I said, "Hey Isaiah! You look great. Put your shoes on right there, and come with us!" He looked at me for a second, and then he put on his shoes and came with us haha. He is a cute 13 year old boy. 
  • Lori and Glenn are doing so good!! They have come to church 5 weeks in a row, and they are preparing for their baptism February 13th. Glenn's only question about baptism was, "February 13th isn't the superbowl, right?" haha. They are incredible people, and I absolutely love teaching them.
  • I have been studying conversion lately, and I'll share some of my insights (borrowed from Elder Scott and Elder Bednar). Characteristics of conversion:
    • consistent obedience and repentance 
    • allegiance to God in interest, thought, and conduct
    • desire for things against God's will has died (no more disposition to do evil)
    • fixed determination and self-control 
    • unwavering, rock solid, and unshakable in commitment to God
    • understanding of life's meaning
    • willingness
  • Fruits, or blessings, of conversion:
    • joy and peace
    • confidence in oneself and the future
    • purification
  • How to become converted:
    • consistent obedience to the commandments
    • more frequent repentance 
    • great diligence and determination
    • honoring our covenants - using the sacrament more fully!!!
    • awareness of our standing with God
    • humility and submissiveness
I love you all!!! Keep your diligence. God will always, always bless you for it. Your lives will be enriched, and you will be happier.

Sincerely,