Almost a Year into my Mission! #LifeIsGood

Can you Find the Parrot?

Hermana Day and Hermana Escobar

A REAL parrot! And it's Orange!

YSA mini mission for a day

It's kinda funny. I'm about a year into my mission, and I'm staying in my second area for another 2 months again! So far I've served in 2 areas and had 4 companions. With those numbers, it really does show how time is flying by! Got transfer calls the other day, and looks like I'm staying in El Camino for 7 months just like Burbank :) I really do love it though because you really get to know the ward and be able to help their needs and the people in your area.

I also received a call from President Henrie . . . I am going to continue to train my companion and serve as a Sister Training Leader with another Hermana. We will work together to encourage, uplift, and help–  6 other sister missionaries, go on splits with them, conduct meetings with the District and Zone leaders; serve the people in our area with rides, direct information from President to them, etc.

Had a blitz this week, where the whole district met up in our area and we split up knocking a bunch of different areas of apartments! We saw many miracles and new investigators come.

The Young Single Adults had a mini mission activity, so we had a sister come out with us for the day. It was super fun and we got to teach 3 new investigators and bike around in the heat allllll day :) Having members doing missionary work with us is the greatest thing in the world! Your testimonies bring so much spirit and truth <3

I'm going to end with a short, simple scripture that I really enjoy; 

"Wherefore, let us be faithful." (1 Nephi 3:16).

Keep being amazing my friends and continue faithful!

I love you all so much!

Con carino,

Hermana Day

I'm Starting to Show My "Year Mark"

Vivian Rides with us Sometimes!

I know it's not quite my year mark, but it's starting to show . . . Hermana Barfuss will quote movies or ask me if I've seen something or heard of something . . . and I have to deny it!  Que en el mundo!?

We met a Rabbi who was named "the Chosen one"  and he also happens to look JUST like Nigel Thornberry from the Wild Thornberry's cartoon from way back when. And I quote, "Missionaries like you are pretty cool, but Rabbi's are cooler." I denied his fist pump.

It is so freaking hot outside -- hit 120 TWICE this week while we were knocking on doors, the rest of the week has been a nice and cool 110. Yep. Just said that. The best time of the day is when the sun goes down though. It drops a good 20-25 degrees.

It happened to be so freaking hot that my bike tire flopped out. By flopped out I mean, stopped working. I figured at first it was because I was just tired, but 3 minutes later and only 10 feet further, I decided it had to be my bike. Flipped it over and took a look at it. My tire was practically DEAD. And dead tires are not good tires. And it's a Sunday.

I spent a few minutes observing my tire and picking out shards of glass and all thatroad stuff. Walked the bike back and came up with some plans of what to do with getting a new tire, etc. I felt impressed to check the tube inside as well and prayed that maybe just fixing that would work. As we made it back inside the apartment and took some more time to check my bike-- it was just my tube that was popped (WHAT? BLESSINGS!!!!). It had practically exploded and worn out to the point where there wasn't really a simple hole to "patch" -- so the tube repair kit wasn't going to hold it. But I knew we could take care of it and all I needed was a $5 tube from Target. The amazing elders ran over this morning and got one for us and all worked out well :) #BikeLife. It's the best!

Fruits are everywhere! Right now we're getting a lot of limes and lemons from contacts and we can see bananas growing, woooo! :D Super fun! (p.s. they really DO grow "up-side down")

I looove personal studies and digging into the scriptures and receiving revelation! I had a really cool insight this week and have decided to share:

"I think one of the most important things I've learned (and am learning) on my mission is how to serve those around me. I know now how to show my love. I know how to help people be happy and find confidence in themselves. I've realized that is where my joy comes from -- seeing those I love be happy! My life--not just 18 month mission--is to SERVE. To help those around me in any way that will help them. The Lord has blessed and helped me to realize the purpose and importance to SERVE." 

I promise that "You will find that the true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others." (True to the Faith, Serve). 

Go out and be amazing my lovely friends and family! I love you all tons and tons!

Con carino,

Hermana Day

Kicked Out of a Funeral?

Flour fight on our day off!

Hello family and friends!

Lucia, my past investigator whom we taught for a few months with her children, Rosmeli and Ramiro, the one who has been in the hospital from liver damage.... she passed away last week. We were able to go to the funeral the other day. However, it was held at a community church for the rest of the family. We walked in and we gave the kids hugs and a note, and sat with Hermana and Hermano Chavez. We didn't get to long. 

A few of the other Hermanas asked us if we could play a musical number and sing, to contribute a peaceful, hopeful spirit. We asked the Pastor of the church if he would allow us to do so. He completely blew up all angry and told us that ALL the Mormons needed to leave because they were NOT good people and had completely wrong beliefs. The members took the words exteremly harshly for just a kind gesture they had suggested, but as missionaries, we're very used to rejection. It took some courage, but I opened my mouth and, in Spanish, asked the Pastor since we were the missionaries of the church and we're the ones that preach the beliefs, could leave as long and he let the family members and other Mormon guests stay. Luckily, he allowed it. With tears in my eyes, with an even greater understanding that this gospel is SO true, we hugged the family and members goodbye and left in peace. 

We barely made it down the street before we needed to sit on the curb and take a few minute to ourselves and our emotions. I think what just stands out to me most though, is this wonderful knowledge that we had in that room, that the Chavez family will see their sister again. It breaks my heart to know that people are living in this darkness and craziness of the world and caught up in so many things, when right here in front of them is this wonderful gospel of hope and peace and guidance. But, it also makes my heart grow even more when I can share my love and desire for all of them to come unto Christ and see these promised blessings. There really is no greater work than missionary work.

Hermana Escobar (previous companion) sent me some streamers for my bike!

I love you all lots and lots!

"Faith is the spiritual ability to be persuaded of promises that are seen afar off...Faith in its full and pure form requires an unshakable assurance and...absolute confidence that God will hear our pleas and grant our petitions in His own due time" -Sister Pingree 

 Have an amazing week everyone! Keep being awesome:)

Con carino,

Hermana Day

Summer Lasts Until September Here! (Includes notes home from the last 3 weeks)

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New Missionary and New Companion, Hermana Barfuss

Natalie!

Pretending to wash my face in a Bird Bath -- My cousin Harry and I really did this when we were 8 years old!

Homemade Churros

Cards from my extended family from the Day Reunion! 

My favorite reunion Tshirt!

07/20/2015

"Insert Title Here"

Transfer calls have come and.....I'm staying in El Camino! Most of my district is leaving and I got a call from the assistants to the president last night and ....... turns out .... I'm training a new missionary who is coming straight from the MTC

President has started a super cool new thing called "Knock Out" hour, where from 4-6 every day we just knock doors and find people.

We went to get free Slurpees at the 7-11 twice! They were so yummy.

Here's a super sweet quote about prayers:

"In His mercy, the God of heaven, the Creator and Ruler of all things everywhere, had heard a prayer of a very minor thing. One might ask why He would concern Himself with something so small. I am lead to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the things that are important to us become important to Him, just because He loves us. How much more would He want to help us with the big things that we ask, which are right?" -Elder Cornish, Ensign

love you all! con carino,

hermana day

07/27/2015

"Woo! Summer lasts until September here!"

It's been quite the week -- as usual, I mean, we're missionaries...and we have missionary work to do!​

This week we've been working on stating simply and clearly the gospel truths. I found this awesome quote from "Preach My Gospel" book:

"Know that truths so well that you can state it clearly. To be known, the truth must be stated and the clearer and more complete the statement is, the better the opportunity will the Holy Ghost have for testifying to the souls of men that the work is true" (pg 182).

One of the coolest things as a missionary is all the time that we are given to study; you truly learn so much and strengthen and deepen the testimony of the truths of this gospel. I am forever grateful for this indepth time I have to truly study the scriptures. To learn from obedience, and share what I learn to help others in their lives. :)

Had an amazing experience this week-- after constantly being denied and having doors shut in our faces, and given all kinds of excuses, we knocked on the door of a VERY prepared husband and wife :) Victor and Nora let us in and we shared a quick lesson about the Restoration. They had AMAZING questions and we were able to hand them the Book of Mormons we had randomly placed in our bags earlier that day :) They are so amazing and so nice, right off the bat we felt a happy spirit and we testified of the truth

Anyway, lots and lots happen every day, by the end I am sooo ready to sleep! There are many miracles in our lives daily and I love you all! Have an amazing week!

con carino,

hermana day

08/03/2015

"Ain't No Rest for the Missionaries"

Thank ya'll for the wonderful packages and notes and love!! Hope you enjoy the cute photos as well :) I LOVED all the cards from the family reunion and I was so very happy to get my own Tshirt! The Survivor one is my favorite!

I'm loving El Camino ward and the members are so cute -- Hna Adriana Rodriguez gave us some awesome bike shorts and we got shoes perfect for biking and proselyting!! Then we celebrated our birthdays with some cake :) She's getting us some cute sweatpants in a few days as well -- she's sooooo cooooool!!!!!! I love her tons and tons, she's preparing to go to the temple in October ahhh! :D :D :D

This week we've had a lot of adventures and have had some awesome lessons and testimony-bearing moments :) I love this work and this gospel! This week I learned that sometimes things fall through over and over again, but the Lord STILL has a plan for you and we can control our attitudes and reactions and still be optimistic and have fun with it all :)

Love you all tons and tons! Enjoy your weeks!

Con carino,

Hermana Day