Tue, Nov 10, 2015 Losing myself in the service of the Lord.

Hello,

I'm sorry that I don't have much time this week to write. My zone was able to go to the temple today so that took up a lot of our time. Wow, what a blessing it was for me to go to the temple. My heart is so full and I feel even closer to God. From when I was little, I have always made the temple a huge part of my life! It has been such a special place for me to feel close to God and remember those sacred promises that I have made with Him. I love how beautiful the temple is...everything just shines. The best part of the temple is the feeling there. It is a piece of Heaven on earth. I challenge all of you to go to the temple this week. Feel the incredible Spirit there. I can promise that you will receive strength, guidance, answers, and comfort as you go. Those aren't empty promises..I know that that is true. I have felt all of that in my life. I am so grateful for it! If you can't go inside the temple, I invite you to go to the temple grounds and feel the sacred spirit that is there. 

Vancouver Temple November 10, 2015

Driscoll, Ditto, Ealy, Unwin, Hoth, Polanco, Lai,  , Rood

Canada Vancouver Temple

Love These Sisters

Haha, this week has been a week to remember. We have literally been "losing" ourselves all over Vancouver in the service of the Lord. Haha, it's tricky not having a GPS or a companion that can read maps, but slowly and surely we are figuring it out! 

I want to share one of my favorite experiences that I had this week. We were finding one night in downtown Vancouver. So lots of people. Lots of lights. Lots of different smells. We begin a conversation with a man that's sitting on a bench. He seems interested so we teach him the whole Restoration right then and there in the middle of Vancouver city. Apart from him leaving in the middle of the lesson to throw something away (he was out of sight for like 5 min...haha we thought he left us), the lesson went really well. It was such a powerful experience for me to bear my testimony on the Restoration and share the 1st vision with him. The Spirit was so strong. I realized that this event that happened in 1820..when Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ...has changed my life. It has changed the world. It was such a special experience for me to feel the Spirit in the middle of a huge city with millions of people walking by. I know that God is so aware of each and every one of us. 

My Home in Vancouver

haha! oops! I'm fat

We had another lesson with basically our only investigator right now, Yasmin. She didn't read the Book of Mormon and didn't pray about it either. We had a powerful lesson on the importance of the Book of Mormon and receiving an answer that it is true. What does it mean if it's true? Why is it even important to know if the Book of Mormon is true? Well for me...it has changed my life. I know that God loves me and has given us all of His truth. It has given me a second witness of the divinity of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know God's truth was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith for every single one of us. Because of these things, we can know the purpose for life. We can have direction. We can know our potential...and even greater...fulfill our potential. 

Sometimes it's a bit tricky to stay positive when all day long we are in the streets of Vancouver finding people. It's seems like people's hearts are so hard. I have been thinking again and again on something President Burt told us. "If you really want to be happy, work harder than you really want to." I love that. I think back on my mission and the times that I have loved my mission is when I have sacrificed everything for the Lord. I have a recommitted desire to do my best and serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I love all of you so much and am so grateful for your support!

Love, Hermana Hoth

P.S. Haha...Sister Polanco was teaching me how to use the word gordo. And she said it is impolite to use it unless you add an ita to the end. Haha so it's okay to call someone a little fat. I just told her that in English we just call people chubs. Haha I shouldn't have...now all the time she says to me, "Are you serious chubs?" or "lets go chubs"!

Mon, Nov 2, 2015 Some harden their hearts, and others see angels. (Hel. 16)

My new comp ~ Hermana Polanco. She is so cute!

Hello!!

Sometimes on my mission, I feel so much like Nephi in 3 Nephi 7. The people in this chapter are so wicked and will not hearken to his words. He knows he is declaring the truth and so he does it boldly, without ceasing. He preaches repentance unto baptize, and only a few are converted. He does it with great power and authority. This is missionary work, but what makes his mission unique is the incredible faith he had. In verse 18 we can see just how great his faith was, "And it came to pass that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily." Life is sometimes hard. Missions are sometimes hard. But I know that if we have faith, we will recognize the angels that God is sending to minister to us DAILY. I believe this is what got Nephi through it all. He had so much rejection, but he chose not to harden his heart toward God or the people. He chose faith. And because of that...he saw and performed miracles..."in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people." He had angels ministering unto him daily! His story reminded me of a chapter in Helaman...Helaman 16...it's actually not even the sciptures, but the heading. It says "some harden their hearts, and others see angels." I love that. I love how black and white it is. We can choose to see angels every day...or we can harden our hearts! I know that God is so aware of us, He loves us. He is meeting all of our needs through the Spirit and those around us. I pray that each of us will recognize that living the gospel is the best way to live our lives. We are promised so many incredible blessings! We are promised that angels will minister to us daily.

Pizza Finally

I am loving Vancouver so much! It seems like we don't have a lot going on here because we are always finding, but Sister Polanco and I are always laughing! Haha, it has been so fun to get to know her better and know Vancouver better! This is a happening place! There is so much to do, so much to see, and the best part is there are people everywhere!! So many people to talk to...so different from Sidney! Granted, most of the people we talk to speak only Chinese or Punjabi, but hey we are enjoying every second of it! Now that I know where I'm going, I have loved taking the bus and train everywhere! It's so incredible to talk to so many people and hear their stories! I love it. 

Our Halloween Costumes!

Haha...for Halloween...we dressed up as missionaries. We did all the normal stuff like walking around, looking at all the costumes (very interesting), and knocking on doors. Ha, the people weren't extremely receptive to the gospel, but they gave us some candy. So that was cool. Halloween night, we had to be in our apartments by 6pm to plan for the next week! We could hear all the festivities happening outside! These Canadians sure like their fireworks! 

So Hermana Polanco is basically the cutest thing ever. Not only that, but she has such a strong, powerful testimony! I'm amazed at her every single day! She has so much faith and wants to work so hard on her mission! Such an inspiration to me! I absolutely love my mission, and I absolutely love the people that I have been able to meet. We have been able to meet with two of our investigators this week...Lorena and Yasmin! They are great and I pray and hope that they begin to progress! Hermana Polanco is helping me so much with my Spanish and we have been able to have great lessons with members, investigators, and others as we are unified with the Spirit.

Haha...I've met some amazing people here in Vancouver! And I've met some really interesting people. On the bus, I said hi to a man that was standing by me. He looked at me and was like, "Are you talking to me?" I said yep. And he took a huge, dramatic sigh and said, "Okaaaaaay." And moved to the front of the bus. Haha, I died laughing. It was so awkard! Although we have so many experiences like that everyday! I can feel that God is preparing somebody to accept the message of the gospel. I truly can feel that Sister Polanco and I will baptize someone this transfer! We can do it with God's help! I love this gospel and I know it's true. It has changed me. I pray that all of you will accept it and let it change you! It won't be easy, but I know it will be worth it! Love you all so much!

Cute little Hermana Umana                                                                                                                                        Also...Esperanza went to the temple!!! So special!! (Mom...you should put her picture on my blog) 

from Hermana Wilson:

Esperanza WENT TO THE TEMPLE! It was her first time. We were able to help her do some family history work prior to the temple trip, and she got all the information she needed to be baptized on behalf of her older sister who passed away when she was a young girl.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Hoth

Mon, Oct 26, 2015 Look Up.

Saying goodbye to Sidney pics 

Our last night. Peace out

Our investigator Norma and her grandchildren 

Goodbye breakfast with the Snarrs. love them forever.

Saying goodbye to Sister Huszti

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!
Wow. Leaving Sidney was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. The people there have become so much a part of me. They are my family! It was also so hard to leave my little Sister Huszti! She wrote me the sweetest note before I left. I read it on the ferry ride over back to the mainland and couldn't help but cry. This basically sums up our friendship: "Do you know why so important our friendship? Because we worked so hard for it." We truly went through a refiner's fire while we were together, but we came out of it so strong and with a new best friend! I love her so much!

Before I left, we had one last lesson with Christine! Wow, she is so wonderful. We talked about the temple again with her and she said that next year in December, she wants to go to the temple! Which means she has to be baptized in December! I have so much faith in her. I know that she can do it. I hope that we will all keep praying for her!

The ferry ride over was rough. I was such a mix of emotions and I had to ride the ferry by myself...again! Haha, it was hard to see Sidney drift off in the distance. I don't know when I will be able to go back so I pray that God will take such good care of my Sidney family!

WOW VACOUVER! Crazy city. I've never really been much of a city person so coming here is a big culture shock to me. Everything is so different here. Sister Polanco and I have a lot of work to do! We have the smallest ward, like 20 active members, but they are so filled with love. I am excited to be in Spanish work again. I kind of feel like a greenie. Sister Polanco has to take the lead in our lessons and I can't communicate with the members very well, so lets hope I can learn this language soon. I was able to bear my testimony on Sunday in my broken Spanish. To say the least....Spanish is hard. Haha, but with my cute, little Guatemalan companion, I will be speaking Spanish in no time.

So...Sister Polanco..she is from Guatemala and has been a member her whole life. All of her mom's family are members and none of her dad's family are. She is such a great, powerful missionary! It seems like she doesn't even need training! She is the one training me!:) We will be such a blessing to each other as I learn Spanish and as she learns English.

One of the things that is so crazy about being here in the city is realizing just how much people are obsessed with their phones! No matter where you go...sky train, bus stops, restaurants...every one is always on their phone. They are missing the meaning of life! There are so many miracles right beside us if we just choose to look up and talk to those around us. All of us desire to be connected to each other. I guess social media makes it easier than opening our mouths and talking to people. I have such a strong testimony that if we open our mouths and share the good news of the gospel that we will be so blessed. We will feel greater joy than we have ever felt. We will have more charity and love for those around us. I know that God loves us all, we are all His children. I love the scriptures in Moroni 7:45-47. And when you read verses 45 and 46 replace the word Charity for Christ. Without Christ, we are nothing! I know that our Savior lives. Because He lives we can find peace and comfort in a changing world! Thank you all so much for your support! Love you all!

Love, Hermana Hoth

Mon, Oct 19, 2015 Goodbye my dear, sweet Sidney. Hola Vancouver.

Hey Ya'll!

Cheesy missionary pics. . everybody's got to have at least one

Wow. I just want to start off this letter by bearing my testimony. I know that God is our loving Father. His love is so real. As I studied "God is our Loving Heavenly Father" from Preach My Gospel this week, I had such a sweet and miraculous experience. God's love is real, I felt the Spirit testify that to me. I know that God's plan is perfect. His plan for me has been quite a crazy ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I have come to know God this transfer in a new way. I know Him now as my Father, my Friend, my Peace, and my Support. When I have had no one else to turn to, He has been there. He has been my support. He has been my Father. 

District pics: Elder Kaanoi,   , Wildes, Davis, Snarrs, Sisters Cornia, Jensen, Jeppson, Hoth, Huszti, Brook

I want to share with you what has made this transfer so difficult and so very special for me. I remember when I got my call to be a trainer...I was so humbled. I was so thrilled for the new opportunity and adventure of helping a brand new missionary start this journey. My excitement soon turned to fear as I looked across the table at my new Hungarian companion during a weekly planning session. I looked at her and thought, "this is impossible. I can't understand her. She can't understand me." I completely turned away from God as I got up from that table and got to work doing EVERYTHING by myself. I figured she couldn't help me. I was so wrong. For 2 weeks, I literally did everything by myself. The planning, the calling, the driving, the teaching. All of it. I was only relying on myself, and because of that I completely broke down. I have learned that "with men (myself) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) As painful as it was to transition from doing everything by myself to taking things at a slower pace and truly relying on God, other missionaries, and the ward for help, it was no where near as painful as it was feeling completely alone. 

During that big transition, I received a priesthood blessing from Elder Snarr, the Senior couple serving in Sidney. It was so powerful for me and I felt the healing power of the Atonement enter into my life and into my soul. In my blessing, I was told over and over again that all would change if I walked in her shoes and really tried to understand her. That was a huge turning point for me. As I turned back to God and turned to my companion, I found light. I love Sister Huszti so much. I genuinely love her and am in awe at her courage for serving a mission. She has been so brave and has helped me grow in miraculous ways.  She is God's elect. 

As we tried to understand each other, we found the joy that God was offering us the whole time. We have had so much fun and have worked so hard together. I had to slow down and take things at a slower pace than I usually would have, but it made all the difference. We were diligent in a new and inspired way. We had the Spirit with us and we changed lives. Our lives were changed. 

Last planning session

So  this last week, as I looked across the table at my little, Hungarian friend, I was filled with so much love. I shared my testimony with her and told her how grateful I was for her. She has taught me so much. We understand each other now. We understand a little more of just how perfect God's plan is for us. 

That is my story. I have loved my story here in Sidney. It is so dear and close to my heart. I have been changed here. And each person I have met, has become a part of me. I have come to know my Heavenly Father here. I am sad to leave, but I also feel so blessed to be back in Spanish work in Vancouver. My new companion came out at the same time as Sister Huszti so I will be follow-up training her. Her name is Hermana Polanko and she is from Guatemala. She hardly speaks any English, so this will be another adventure! I look forward to it! 

My Home

They have these statues everywhere in Sidney. On Beacon Street...our fav

Huszti, Hoth, Heaton ~ WE MATCH!

It was hard saying goodbye to everyone yesterday, but I realized just how many friends I have here on the island. I have loved the ward, my investigators, and my companions. They are so special to me. I cannot wait till I can come back and see them all again. It was so wonderful to hear that I had made a difference here and that I will be missed. I just feel so blessed. 

Okay...so I have a few miracles I want to share from this week!

1. CONNIE WENT TO THE TEMPLE! She was able to go this last Saturday to do baptisms! I love it! The church is true!

This is so special for me! It warms my heart! I love Connie and she was able to go do baptisms this last Saturday!!!!!!

2. Tabitha, the girl that Sister Wright and I found, moved to Sooke so we couldn't teach her anymore! But this last transfer, they opened Sooke and so we sent her info over to those Sisters and she is being taught! Miracles.

Bye Rita! Love her!

HaHa! The Holdens!

3. So this isn't really a miracle. Just super funny things that Sister Huszti says. One of the members was telling us how she was going to an opera tomorrow and Sister Huszti was so confused because she thought we were talking about an Oprah Winfrey. Haha. Then she was telling me about the time she had red hair, "I used to have hair like a fork." A fork?? Haha..she meant fox. So funny. 

Do you like the creeper in the background?

Sister Huszti begged me to go to a museum..so we went to the Sidney museum and it was closing so we were only there for 5 minutes but she loved it!

4. I forgot to mention last week, when it was Thanksgiving that we went around asking everyone what they were grateful for. Even if people weren't interested, they were more than happy to say what they were grateful for! The responses we got were, "working, breathing, life, family, dog, God,  and so on.." When it comes down to it, for me, all that matters is  God, Jesus Christ, my family, and my friends. I 'm so grateful and so blessed to have all of you! Thank you for your love and support. I pray that you all have a great week!

Love, Sister....

HERMANA Hoth

I seriously love this family so much..the Dawley fam. they remind me of us (my family)

I'm so little

RCMP aw yeah. bro dawley was in the police force. HAHA

Sister Huszti

Tue, Oct 13, 2015 (Happy Canadian Thanksgiving on October 12th)!!, eh!!

Dear everyone,

I want to start off by sharing some insights that I got from a conference call that our zone had last night. It was all about sacrifice. One of my favorite examples of sacrifice is Job. In Job chapters 1 and 2, we learn that he literally lost everything. His animals, house, family, etc. Everything! He remained faithful to God and did not let his sorrows and trials stop him from being a disciple of God. In chapter 42:12 of Job, we learn that "the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." I have learned so much about sacrifice on my mission. Sacrifice truly is the test of a disciple. I have learned that I can't let Satan distract me with the things that I have already chosen to sacrifice. I have also learned that Heavenly Father can't work with things that He doesn't have. Does He have me? It's scary giving up our will and our desires. But I know that as we give everything to the Lord, He will bless us. He will give us so many blessings that we will not have room enough to receive them. I love Mattew 10:39. Sister Huszti shared it with me this week. "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." She told me that sometimes we have to be lost. It may be hard to lose ourselves and give all we have to the Lord, but I know that God will support us and bless us. In true to the faith it says, "With an eternal perspective, you can see that giving up the things of the world is really no sacrifice at all. The blessings you receive are greater than anything you ever give up." 

We had some incredible miracles this week. My favorite was when we were stopping by Mayanna to see if we could set up a time to come back and she was gone. We left her a note, and headed back to our car. As we were getting in the car, the Snarrs (senior couple), drove by and we talked to them for a moment. As we were talking to them, Mayanna drove by!!! We asked Sister Snarr if she wanted to come teach a lesson with us and she said yes! So we had an incredible lesson with Mayanna. She is so prepared and so open for the gospel! 

One of the lessons from this week was definitely not a miracle! But it's all good! :) We stopped by our Hungarian investigator for a lesson. We were answering some of the questions she had by showing her verses in the Book of Mormon. As she was reading those verses in Hungarian, she all the sudden stopped, slammed the book closed, and looked up. "That is so offensive to me." Were the only words she said. Apparently one of the words that was explaining the "great and abominable church" in Hungarian was an awful, disgusting word. We apologized and didn't really know what else to say. Sister Huszti was crushed and kept on teaching her even though Klara really didn't want to listen. We kind of settled things down and the last words that Klara said to us were, "You should really talk to the person who translated the Book of Mormon to Hungarian." Haha. Wow...I've never had a lesson like that. We just had to laugh it off...

Haha, I sure love training Sister Huszti.
 She is so sweet and has the strongest testimony. Her English is so simple, but everytime she bears her testimony, the Spirit immediately fills the room. Haha, one of my favorite teaching moments with her this week was when we were role playing a lesson on the plan of salvation while using the pamphlets. She was explaining the Fall of Adam and Eve and how they partook of the fruit so we could be so happy. She went on and on about how this life is all about finding joy. Then she finally flips the pamphlet page to "our life on earth" to explain more about how we're supposed to be happy. The only problem is that the picture that goes along with that section is a picture of the saddest girl in the whole world. We died laughing. Ha...we are learning so much together! And I am so impressed at how much Sister Huszti has grown! Good thing the Lord is the one that's really training her!

So Canadian Thanksgiving. Definitely not as good as American Thanksgiving. We were so blessed to be able to go to the Draper's home for dinner. It was like home, we were all laughing and telling great stories! At the end we shared a message. Everyone said what they are grateful for and I was able to share my testimony about serving a mission and how blessed I have been. I told them my ponderizing scripture 3Ne 5:13. And my new one is Matthew 19:26. It was such a powerful experience for me! The Spirit was so strong!

Thanksgiving at the Drapers! Emma Holmes leaves for her mission in England this week! So much love for her!!! Canadian Thanksgiving is not as good. 

Well I love you all so much and am so grateful for your love and support! Have a great week!

Love, Hermana Hoth