'Cause we're halfway there, wooo-oooh, Livin' on a Prayer...

Take my hand, we'll make it swear, wooo-oooh, livin on a prayer"   (this one's for you mom)

It's been a pretty decent week! For missionary work and all that good stuff, not too much craziness has happened, which is a little unusual, but that's a'ight. 

It's freaking hot outside here. You literally bake in the heat. Biking...well....biking is quite the adventure. No worries though, I drink soooo much water. Plus, there's these 99 cent slush puppies/icees from food 4 less that i take around with me, they're the best. 

We did some service at the armry this week where we put together a bunch of packages for the military. It was pretty awesome! :) Lots of us missionaries were there, so tons of fun and we got a LOT of packages sent out! eso!

Here's some funny stories from the week:
-someone said i looked like the greek godess aphrodite because of my red hair>?

-i got to play the piano for sacrament meeting OTRA VEZ, and this time they decided randomly on an intermediate hymn. As i got up to play it, and opened up the hymn book, the pages went from 41 and skipped to 45 . . . it was super funny . . . 'cause like the music sheets weren't there . . . and there were no other himnos up there . . . luckily, my companion has my back and ran up another hymn book. It was hilarious. Mostly my playing. Just kidding, turns out I can play the piano pretty decently and prettily :) using those talents....

Anyway, lots of miracles nonetheless and here's a cool scripture that stood out to me this week :)

2 Nephi 33:3-4

"But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For i pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of htier fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal."

Talk about missionary work! Nephi described it perfectly--we really do looove our people here and do everything for them! Missionary life is the best!

Love you all lots and lots! Have a great week!

Con carino,

Hermana Day

Ginger Brea FROM HOME ran into me at my apartment!

Starfish bracelet from boy at church

100 degree weather playing Frisbee and football as a zone

It is SO VERY HOT!

See? My ice pack taped to my head.

It's been a hot week.

So hot, i ended up getting a super crazy fever and getting suuuuper red and out of breath on monday, tuesday AND wednesday... 

tuesday we thought it was food poisoning because of how fatigued and gross feeling i felt, but it wasn't.....anyway, elders brought over some ginger ale and tylenol... 

but since then i've had a headache and dizzyness. i've been wearing my glasses to help focus things more and we've been taking breaks and making sure i'm eating enough (because when it's hot i don't like to eat) and getting plenty water (and gatorade for Electrolytes.)

anyway, eventually we called the mission nurse.....she said i was getting the first signs of heat stroke and to take it easier on myself--take some breaks thoughout the day, go from biking to walking, take breaks in the shade, do some work inside in the AC, etc. which explains why the tylenol wasn't helping my headache....

anyway, then the elders came over freaaaaaking out because turns out it's a serious thing, and they tried to convince me to just take a few breaks during the day. They gave me a blessing for my dizziness and it brought a lot of comfort -- blessed to know how to listen to my body and still complete all the work the lord has for me here in the area. Pretty sweet. Still a little dizzy but I have my focus and don't push myself too crazy hard if it's over 100 degrees. 

I can't even describe how hot it is, but ti's nothing my body has ever endured hahaha!!

Love you tons! looks like we figured out this heat thing before it gets even hotter -.-

on a side note, our new mission president is awesome!  :)

Fireworks outside of a store

Muscle Car

Zone and New Mission President, wife, and daughter

All my SUNSCREEN!

Yay! Biking for at least another 6 weeks!

Neighborhood Kid Magnet

Christian and our Ice Cream stop

Add caption

Hola Hola!

Transfer calls this week! Hna Escobar and I are staying together here in the bike area! Eso! :) We're very excited for this crazy awesome adventure we are on!

Nataly, our investigator who is 9 years old, was able to receive all the lessons from us this week, AND remember everything. It was so awesome! Yesterday she was baptized and her sister came and everything! It was adorable  I played the piano and there were yummy refreshments afterwards :)

This week has been crazy fun! We've had icecream from the ice-cream man, received a bunch of donuts for only $5 from some super awesome spiritual prompting to stop by the donut shoppe nearby, and, the most fun and joy was to teach Nataly and see her baptism! 

Anyway, I know that this gospel is true and I love being a missionary! Love you all lots and lots! 

Con carino,

 Hermana Day

My Skater Friends

Skater Friends

Just a flesh wound!

Favorite Neighbors!

Fourth Bike, Second New Bike

  

Hola Hola Familia y Amigos! :) 

This week has been pretty crazy....AWESOME!

First off, on Thursday I took a nice slam into the sidewalk. I hit a crack in the road--and can usually catch myself, but this time apparently needed to learn a lesson--so I hit the sidewalk and got this pretty nasty, yet very cool, road rash. Close to us there was a CVS so I limped over. As we locked the bikes, some kind man stopped me and told me I should probably put a band-aid on that leg of mine. Great idea, Sir.

Some little skater-kids all went "ooooooooo" and a few days later I met up with them again on the sidewalk and they asked how my leg was hahaha :)

Elder Otto and Elder Green came to the rescue with giant band-aids and bought me some chocolate! The CVS employee gave me a huge roll of paper-towels from the back, and we sat down and cleaned up my wound and tried to stop the bleeding.  

Later that night we were all joking around about my "flesh wound" being "tis but a scratch" 

[She is referencing "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" Just a Flesh Wound scene, here's the link, it's at about 2 min:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikssfUhAlgg ]

And so because no one understood the reference, the next morning, Hna Escobar called our mission nurse and told her that I had a giant flesh wound on my leg! The nurse was like "AHHH DOES SHE NEED STITCHES!?" but that's not what Hna Escobar heard, so she responded, "YES, Of course we got pictures!" haha hahahaa

We've been teaching a little 9 year old girl, Nathaly, the daughter of our inactive member from Spain who is coming back from church :) Her baptism date is THIS SUNDAY! THE 31st OF MAY!!! AHHH!!! We love her so much. I taught her how to make some origami swans and she drew us a picture :) I looove this work, missions are amazing!

Anyway, it's been an amazing week :) I love you all sooooooo much :) Keep being awesome and keep reading the scriptures! :) The gospel is true!

Con Carino,

Hermana Day

What a Wonderful Kind of Day, Hey! ♫

Elder Anderson and Hermana Day

Biking with Groceries

Making Homemade Churros

Lego Store on Pday

Fun with Kids

Ashley and I were given clay from Axl

My Comp, Hermana Escobar

Speed Racer!

Hola Hola Familia!

Last night we were crossing the street when the flashing-white-cross-walk-dude was on; some punk kid turning right hit my companion as we biked across the cross walk. She flew! My bike ran into the side of his car, but somehow--with timing wise and physics and all that--my bike tire just ended up getting stuck between the wheel and cart, so I didn't go flying, I just like...stopped....the angels were definitely there! I instantly jumped off my bike and ran to Hna Escobar, lying in the street. I picked her up and walked her over to the curb, she was having a panic attack at this point​, so I just hugged her, let her cry and yell, and called everyone- literally-- the district leader, the zone leaders, the cops.

It was pretty chaotic, but we're all good. Hna Escobar doesn't even have one single scratch or bruise! We were definitely being watched over!

So many people were there making a crowd and the poor punk kid was only 18 with his little 12 year old brother and was scared that he'd have to go to jail. So I had to deal with calming him down at the same time and the whole time not knowing what to do even do.

Out of nowhere, someone stopped and for some reason I instantly and only trusted him. I didn't know what to do or who else to call or how to help Hna Escobar and she wouldn't tell me if anything hurt, and he was just there and he was calming me down and telling me what to do and he moved our bikes out of the road and he picked up and held our purses and he talked to 911 for us and he helped me "fight" the firefighters and paramedics to let me in the ambulance with my companion.

He was quite the angel! When the elders came, they knew him, it turns out he's a member of the church who hasn't come recently, and they've only seen him once. His name is Hermano Suarez, and oh my word he is an angel, he helped me so much! I didn't have to worry about anything.

The EMTs checked Hna Escobar  and she's all good. The only "damage" is the bike tire needed to be pumped up.

#BikeLifeIsCrazy

Con Carino,

Hermana Day

Ridin' Down Sherman Way All Day

Hermana Garcia

Swinging and Having Fun on day off (aka: Pday, or Preparation Day)

Hola Hola Familia! 

On Monday night, we stopped by to visit Lucia, who is listening to Gospel lessons. She is currently really sick with liver failure (from being an alcoholic for so many years.) Recently she has been attending church and has been slowly getting better with the medication and miracles of this gospel! She has two adorable children, Rosmeli (age 15) and Romero (age 13), who LOVE to read, so I was able to talk to them about all the cool series (you know how much I love to read!)  It got late, so we made an appointment to return the next evening, and we brought two Book of Mormon's with us. We shared the story of the Army of Helaman, to grab their attention of the super sweet stories in the Book of Mormon, and also to testify and learn of faith in Christ, and how when we don't doubt there are so many miracles that come!

Romero really liked that story, and Rosmeli was shocked that such faith had kept them all safe! We asked  them what they would do to have these miracles of God in their lives? Romero said he'd start by reading the Book of Mormon! Rosmeli thought for a minute, then said she would go to church. The spirit was so strong! We siezed the moment and asked them if they would also prepare to be BAPTIZED They planned it on May 31st, so their mom can be baptized as well.

I never could have imagined this. but I love it! and I love these opportunities and blessings and miracles Heavenly Father has entrusted with us missionaries. I love all that I am learning, especially about the importance of the spirit in our lives! That's what I want for Rosmeli and Romero throughout their lives! I know that's what Heavenly Father wants for them as well <3" Personal revelations is awesome! :) I love this service! What a fun week :)

Our air conditioner is broken!! It also just so happened to be the week where it hit 105! AND we're riding a bikes. Add all those together and you get is a giant sweat monster!  

OH! Here's the recipe I promised, Real Horchata: 

·         rice and water in the blender; strain or scoop the rice out

·         add lechera/condensed milk, along with a cinnamon stick, and a little vanilla; mix

·         enjoy in a cup with ice! YUMMMM!!! :) :)

Anyway, it's been an awesome week and I'm loving the area,the people and this obra misional! I love you all lots.

Con carino,

Hermana Day 

Redheads Biking

First Bike, stolen after one day of use

New Comp, fellow Redhead, Hermana Escabar 

Jose and Rebekah

Service River Clean up

Second Bike with Camo tires, stolen after second day 

Hola Hola todos!

Welcome to #BikeLife ! :) 

I got a super sweet bike from the previous sister missionary when she was transferred out. I love to stand and ride and coast, the church is about 3 miles away.

…However…

the next morning, my bike was STOLEN FROM THE FLIPPIN GARAGE and it has NEVER happened here before!

So we went and I bought a cheap $90 bike with blue camouflage tires! I duct-taped it up, put grocery bags on it etc. We kept them in the apartment. Saturday night we chained--literally CHAINED--them to the post, quickly heading off to stake conference. There were 4 other bikes down there......

Sunday morning; woke up; went down to the garage; AND ONLY MY BIKE WAS STOLEN AGAIN …they cut the chain, AND ONLY TOOK MINE AGAIN! Ahhhhhh!! I'm using an Elder's old, junko bike for now.  AND we are hiking our bikes up 3 flights of stairs to our apartment.

My new companion is Hermana Escobar! She's a fellow redhead and is from Texas/Mexico! She's super sweet and loves to laugh too, so we get along, and she is really helping me out with my Spanish!

On Saturday we had a service activity for the valley, cleaning up a river. It was pretty fun! A lot of us missionaries were there and some of my Burbank family as well :) We really just got to pick up a bunch of trash from the park! We all had shopping carts -- literally, people just have shopping carts everywhere here as their bags/homes/junk drawers-- full of trash! 

In my new area we speak Spanish about 99% of the time and it's soooooooooo sweet!

One convert we visit is Hermana Adriana Rodriguez. We went over for a of beans and rice, and she has these adorable and very energetic 3 young daughters.  Hna Rodriguez swears she knows me from somewhere! We couldn't decide where, so decided on the fact that we had to have known each other and meet each other here in this life! :) She's too adorable! I love her tons!

I looooooove horchata, to the point where i have about 6 recipes of it and make it in the apartment and live off of it! sooo good! 

  

Thank you for all your prayers and all your love! I love you all so much and hope you all have an amazing week!

Con carino,

Hermana Day