Roller Coasters!

Burbank Overlook

Canolli

Dina's Baptism

Helen

Happy Valentines Day

Heyo familia!

Everything's been rocking it over here. Hermana Nelson and I have had quite an amazing week! We're talking to everyone, teaching up the wall, and .... we had a baptism! The lovely peruana Dina got baptized on Sunday! 

It was quite the roller coaster ride to get her there though, but she's been doing AMAZING!

Sunday comes along....and she calls to tell us she can't make it tochurch. She's too nervous. We try to call everyone for a ride and everyone is super sick. We rush over to her and say a prayer and are blessed with a calming spirit. A ride is found and she makes it to church. We push her baptism out an hour so she can still have dinner with her sister and all is well. We show up at the baptism and....nothing has been done like we planned! But that's okay, because I take after mom when it comes to doing things on the spots. We quickly put together a program, got someone to share a testimony about baptism, we gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, the Elders gave a "missionary minute".....it all worked out and was wonderful.

Oh but here comes the best part.

Dina is deathly afraid of water. And by deathly, I mean stinking super scare, in all forms of the word. We convinced her to be able to do it just once and everything would be fine and she'll survive. Well, she did it. But they didn't use her full name. She had to do it again. She hates water and was all covered in it and etc. and starts saying right there in the font, "no puedo, no puedo, no no no" our hearts dropped and were pounding like crazy! This is quite the leap of faith and she is still put to the test! Immediately we grabbed her towel and reach our hands out to her, like the angels at the door of heaven words come to our mouths to calm her down --thanks to the Spirit. She wipes her face and we testify and she bears testimony of why she's doing this. She takes a few breaths and is back in the font. Just one more time I promise her. The audience is full of tears. The suspense is thick . . . she doesn't go all the way under. ....last time, we promise Dina! Hermana Nelson and I are literally kneeling at the edge of the water/font and praying so hard in that moment that it would be the last time and that Dina would do it. And she did!

Her faith truly had to conquer that fear of water. Afterwards she was very glad she had survived but even more glad she made the covenant with God. She bore overpowering testimony and everything worked out fine in the end. But it was a crazy roller coaster of emotions! I've learned that faith truly does conquer all and that we shouldn't let our fears get in the way of stopping us!

The end is truly worth it, and it was quite the perspective to be on the side where I knew the blessings and the ending and the whole point and knowing it would all be worth it. I realize that we have friends here in this life -- and our Heavenly Father too, of course-- who we learn from, support us, and know that "end point" and want to see us there and see us reach it and feel happy. It was a moment I've never experienced before, but one I'll never forget. I learned a lot about God's pure love and his true desire for all of us to have eternal salvation and exaltation.

I hope you all have an amazing week! I know this church is true and make sure to read scriptures and pray daily as a family!

con carino, hermana day

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!

Zone Peeps

Camera Test

A little piggy (for Rosie)

Hola hola  familia!

I am officially in the last transfer of my mission…7 weeks! :) 

I seriously hope there's still lots of snow when I get home, or at least it's still cold! Because it's hot here again and I can't stand it! 80 degrees!

I'm excited you get to go on trek and high adventure!  I'm jealous actually!

I JUST WANT TO HUG YOU ALL SO BAD!!! :D I'm thinking those glass walls at the Manchester Airport might just be in the way.... .... .... not that I'm thinking that far ahead.

Did you know muddy buddies can be made gluten-milk-and soy free? They taste really good still, I promise!

This week has been pretty decent. Dina is getting baptized this Sunday en lugar because her work horario changed last week.... but we're still super excited and she is SOOOO prepared!

We're still searching for the elect and those others whom the Lord has prepared for us in this last transfer together. Hermana Nelson is great-- I'm super excited to finish with her and see the gospel continue to bless people's lives. Missions seriously do influence our eternities! :D

As you all know, some of my favorite moments are not just seeing the conversion of others, but studying and strengthening my testimony as well! This week I had some amazing insights and revelations -- especially about the atonement, the plan of redemption, and the power of the Holy Ghost's constant companionship in our lives.

Here's some I'll share:

·         "The purpose of the gospel is to cleanse people of their sins so that they can receive the savior's mercy" (Preach My Gospel, pg. 6). No wonder we are responsible to share this great knowledge!

·         Confidence to stand before god = having the spirit! A cleanser, the sanctifier, a witness to the Advocate... gives you confidence, ability, and change of heart necessary! (Alma 5)

·         The reason repentance is a good thing = brings the sanctifying power of the spirit! 

·         Gift of spirituality - understand the eternal perspective and improve/strive for/be blessed with/know and feel of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost!

·         "When we live as righteously as we know how to live, He will open the way for the fulfillment of the blessings that so earnestly and diligently we seek" (President Thomas S Monson)

LOVE YOU ALL TONS!!!!!!! Aave an amazing week!! Hope you get tons of snow!!!!!! Big hugs!

con carino, Hermana day 

All is Fun and Games in Missionary Work

Service Selfies

Jedi Master

Official Service Vests

Hey fam how's it goin! I don't have many updates, all is going well. It's windy today. We talked to 1000 people this month and  there's a place that sells canolees --wait, back up, that's right--WE TALKED TO 1,000 PEOPLE THIS MONTH!!!!!!

I'm a little short on time today because we have a lot of plans and things to do, and I'm also working on scholarships and BYU housing and classes and such.

It's been a crazy week but not too busy. A wonderful family we were teaching and they were planning baptisms, changed plans and we haven't been able to connect. I hope they are all right.

We stopped by and visited with a lady who has gone back to her Catholicism. It was quite emotional testifying--and she gave us brownies. There's people out there still ready to receive us and we'll be looking.

Let me share with you what I've learned this week: Don't lose yourself in the little things.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Con carino, Hermana Day

62 days!

Making Papusas!

Star Wars! It'll be out when I get home, right?

Russian Chocolate from Armenian contacts.

Pday games with our animal blankets.

15 yr old sketch of Sister Day

Hey familia!

Familia "Al" may be getting baptized this Sunday. I love those kidddos and family soooo much! Long story short, they actually are in the Burbank ward boundaries but we have been having appointments with them. Miscommunication is difficult to deal with sometimes, but I'm learning to work through it when it happens. I am just so very happy for them!

Oh so this is strange, but I want to paint a fence. Like in videos showing missionaries performing service, there are always some painting a fence! I want to paint a fence! Guess what? We have a time this Saturday. To. Paint. A. Fence. I'm stoked!

Our investigator "D" is so incredible! She is so excited for her baptism! She has a quite a store of being prepared- the other night when we taught the Word of Wisdom, she said, "Phaw, smoking! I stopped smoking weeks ago when I realized that it only made my cold and asthma worse!"

Then we mentioned cafe (coffee) mandamiento. She says,   "Ha. I found out the other month that coffee is bad for my arthritis, so I haven't had a cup since. I never drink it anyway." 

WOW!!  So prepared! The lord truly does place the elect and prepare people who are sooo ready and willing to receive the gospel into your path! 

Oh! Almost forgot! We had a world-wide missionary training broadcast the other day and we got to do it with the whole mission. It was fun! We learned about teaching repentance and baptizing converts. With some more studies and experiences, we're all going to be rock star missionaries soon enough! This work is hastening!

I love missionary work and am so thankful for this opportunity to be serving a mission---it's seriously the greatest thing that has happened in my life yet.

I was thinking about the night before I left on my mission, and how crazy emotional I was and how fearful I was of the unknown. It about paralyzed me. I was crying on your shoulder, Mom! I now look back and realize that I am having in the greatest moments of my life yet. I can conquer doubt and fear, put my faith first, lean on and trust the Lord. Then it hit me that the future holds even better life moments as I move forward faithfully. New doors and opportunities will open to me.

Love you all! Have an amazing week! Big hugs!

Con carino,  Hermana Day

Talking and Teaching

Hermanas Day and Nelson FUN

Destiny and Yaretzi

Beautiful Sunset

Hey familia! Les quiero! 

It's been a super good week and we've been working milagros and seeing a lot of success!

We talked to 310 people this week! THAT'S NOT NORMAL! Literally, think about it. We talk to random people on the street and at their doors and ask them to hear about a message of God and we tell them that God loves them and that there's another testament of His teachings. We did that, at least, 310 times.

In my mission we call this "OYMing" --Opening Your Mouth. We talk to everyone that we see and share this blessing of the gospel that we have! I'd have to say, it's the toughest thing in the world. Talking to people you don't know. . . I've come to the conclusion that missionaries are sometimes crazy! And we definitely couldn't do this without the help of the Lord!

We have a family now, the "Al" family (a mom, dad, and 2 little girls ages 11 and 10 ... hey, remind you of someones? ;) They're planning to be baptized on the 31st of the month! We are so excited for them! We got to show them the baptism pila the other day and the girls are so excited! On Sunday we translate the talks from Spanish to English so that the girls understand  #secondgenerationthings.  

We also got to see D again, the investigator that Hermana Nelson and I found on her first day – she is preparing to be baptized the 7th of February. :) SO EXCITING! These are the moments that matter most--seeing others come onto Christ—it is the greatest thing in the world!

I love you all tons and tons! Have an amazing week and enjoy the weather! 

Con carino, Hermana Day

P.S. There's a super amazing food stand on Kittridge and Laurel Canyon Blvd in North Hollywood that sells the most amazing quesadillas in the whole world. One day we shall go. 

74 days until I return

Yoda, I am

Fooled you? Mom knows this isn't a real mouse

Hermanas Nelson and Day

Hermanas William and day

Hey familia!

Yo decidé escribirles en espanol tambien para que sepan que pudeo hacerlo. Creo que, por ahorita, puedo hablar mas mejor de mi hermano. Se vale! Para compartir mi testimonio, solo quiero decirles que sé que este evangelio es verdadero y es un gran milagro tenerlo en nuestras vidas! 

I want snow! This week, we woke up, and there was SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS on the horizan! It was insane! I want more!

We are so very thankful that the wonderful "Al" family came to church! As well, we talked to another 250 people and taught over 13 lessons! We got to see and support "J" and we sipped some herbal tea and talked about how God really does exist. These are moments that I will never forget.

We've been studying like crazy and really taking advantage of our time to invite people to get to their Savior. Plus, we even got to make apple crisp, it was delicious!

I love you all! Have an amazing week!

con carino, hermana day 

Happy 2016!

No caption needed. Kool Bus.

New Comp, Hermana Nelson

For you Mom

Super fun

I am glad it is finally getting cold out there! I secretly hope to come home to a huge pile of snow and just jumping in it will be the first thing I do! After hugging everyone of course ;)

I'm sorry that school started again, but just remember that every day is what you make it. I remember Mom would always yell out the door as we walked out, "Make it a good day!" and well, she's right! If we leave the house with our armor of God on (from prayer and scripture study) a smile on our face, it will all work out and we'll see the good in the day. 

I feel like I have definitely learned that as a missionary. There are things that happen around us that we cannot control. But when we do all that we are capable of doing, fervently pray, study, fast, and do our part and use our gifts that Lord gives us -- then everything turns out just the way it needs to be and was planned to be. We are blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with us to guide and comfort us, as well as blessed with amazing family and friends. 

"As we move forward into the future with quiet confidence, His Spirit will be with us. There is no end to His power to bless and direct the lives of those who seek truth and righteousness." -President Packer

I got a new companion, she is super new and right off the plane from the Mexico MTC and she's the bomb.com. Hilarious, laughs at jokes, works all day every day every second of the day! This past week together we talked to 300 PEOPLE! Talk about amazing! She's super styling and she bought a rice cooker, so we've got some good lunches in store for us. She teaches like a boss and already knows Spanish, so this transfer is going to kill it! We're ready to work miracles and find the people the Lord has been preparing!

We had a lot of other lessons, new investigators, and members to serve. People came to church, we stopped by an antiguo and SHE HAS A BAPTISM date!  For January 24^th and she is amazing! Missionary work seriously is the best! Love you all tons!

con carino, hermana day