6 weeks

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks for your love and support! I love you all!

I'm going to start with a story. I met this man in my area named Jose. He reminds me of my Uncle Evan AKA super cool. He joined the church 15 years ago with his family, but since then has had a lot of doubts form in his mind, and now he's quite far from being an active member of the church. When we stopped by to visit, he expressed a ton of doubts. I was able to remember about 7, and I deep studied them. The hardest one was, "Why do politics exist with some bishops?" That's my rough around the edges translation from Spanish to English. Basically, he didn't like that his former bishop would let him into the office to talk whenever he needed to, but his new bishop tried to teach him how to make an appointment with the executive secretary, and he felt less important. I couldn't find much on it in the scriptures, but the Spirit led me to President Eyring's talk from the priesthood session of the most recent general conference. This was special because I had never read or heard it before, but I felt the Spirit guiding me to it. It was perfect! It taught me as well. We shouldn't expect our leaders to be perfect because they're mortals, but we should trust that they have a right to revelation from God, and if they mess up, we don't need to spread that around. We can take it up with them and God. I recommend the talk. 

Stories!

We had some missionaries come to visit our area and knock doors for a couple of hours. We found 4 new investigators that day! One of them was a family. It was the very last door we knocked on. 

The day before, I lost the keys to our bikes. All 3 keys to all 3 locks. Nice one, Hermana Sleight! To keep it brief, we had to leave KO early to get our back up keys and get the bikes before the key thief came back in the cover of night to steal our bikes! The last door we knocked before we left had a super cool new investigator behind it! He's 1/2 Armenian, 1/2 Salvadoranean! And he's interested because he's seen a Mormon Youtuber! 

Mario is really cool. I sent a picture of him about 2 weeks ago. He doesn't want to be baptized, but he can see that we're helping his family follow Christ. He keeps all of his commitments except he misses church 2/3 of the time, but I'm really happy for him. 

What was something unexpected that happened with you? WE didn't expect to find anyone Spanish from the BOM experiment BUT THEN somebody had the bright idea to go to the soccer fields on a Saturday morning. #foundem

I love you so much! Have a great week everyone!

7 weeks left

Dear Friends and Family,

I love you! Thanks for your support. I need it now more than ever.

Faith a principle of power and action. Faith without works is dead, but one of our (the missionaries of the great CASFM) favorite scenes in the New Testament is one where Christ says, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible." It is possible to do all the right, obedient things without believing, and when we do, miracles slow to a halt. A believing heart together with faithful works are required. 

Stories!

CASFM is working together with the Book of Mormon experiment. Google it! It's so cool! It's all about how the Book of Mormon speaks for itself. Basically we go "incognito" dressed like normal people without nametags and invite people to read a page of sacred religious text. We actually are very interested in measuring the feeling that they get from reading a random page of the Book of Mormon without knowing prior what book it is from. It has been interesting you could say. Still most people don't want to give us the time of day. Then there are people who do the experiment but aren't interested, and those who love it until they hear what book it is. 

One woman I met last week talked to me for about 20 minutes before I could get her to do the experiment. She told me that Jesus had told her that that day she would meet a woman who would talk to her about sacred things. She knew it was me, but did she want a copy of the Book of Mormon? Haha, no. Good try though. 

Another thought it was all wonderful and "recognized" the story from the Bible (This is especially popular regarding Nephi and the boat vs Noah and the arc, any time Adam and Eve are mentioned, etc.), and was all on board to let us publish her page but when I said Book of Mormon, she said, "I can do this much, but I can't sign.", and sped away. 

But then I met a Spanish YSA from Canoga Park named Raul who offered to buy me a taco(should have said yes. I'll never get to try those tacos! They're just outside my area and don't open until P day ends). He loved it and asked for the missionaries to bring him a copy. That's what we come for. That's what makes it all worth it. 

Between Saturday and Sunday Knock Outs we got kicked out of 4 apartment complexes including one young man who filmed kicking us out. I'm sure he will present it as evidence before the judge if we ever come back. But suertamente, Carlos is interested in the Book of Mormon, so we'll be invited back soon:) 

I love you guys, I miss you a lot. Have a great week!

Me faltan 2 meces! Quien cuenta?

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks for all of your love and support. It is sustaining me as I miss my home and family more each day. 

What a special day this is! Today we have had the opportunity to sustain our new and beloved prophet and President of the Church, President Russel M. Nelson! I thought it was very representative of the Lord that in the press conference following, they stood up against pressure to change, and held true to the commandments of the Lord. God has spoken, and his servants cannot change His law. However, we all have a responsibility to love. Any person who is falling away needs love. May we hasten to care, to listen, and to sympathize before we counsel.

Stories!

About 4 weeks ago, I left the English Book of Mormon we were supposed to be delivering in my bike basket, so we walked all the way back to our bikes to get it. We OYMed to Fernando, and he's due to be baptized this Saturday in the English ward! He needs your prayers. This is a very delicate time for every convert! If all goes well, pictures will be coming next week.

THe same Elders that are teaching Fernando introduced us to Jose! He's cvooll.. More next week..

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Love you!

Mario Martinez the older came to church Sunday! This is his daughter, Eliza, with him, me and Hna Maw.

The missionaries in the Buena Vista ward! We took the picture on the wheelchair ramp so we'd all the the same height.E Wride, Hna Maw, E Stoltz, E Rivera, E Nelson, Me, E Gibbons, E Leishman

I bundled up for the rainy day with.... bike shorts, tights, socks, shoes, shirt, undershirt, sweater, sweater, coat, raincoat, scarf, gloves, hat!

Triste, y Emocionante!

Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks for your love and support! It is very encouraging to know there are people who remember me while I'm a missionary.

I was very sad to hear about the passing away of President Monson. I hope to keep his example of selfless service in my mind forever. What a great life he has led! 

I reviewed a talk that kicks all missionaries' behinds called "A Consecrated Missionary" by Tad R. Callister. Then I read the talk by Elder Holland on becoming Perfect  - Eventually from last conference. It was a very complimentary way to decide to rededicate to the work, but not beat myself up about my mistakes. I've definitely made mistakes, but that's not out of the ordinary for anyone.

Stories!!

I usually don't write about the hard drops, but they happen. This week we had a lesson with Mario where he tried to tell us that he feels that all religions lead to God and that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are like Jumanji - AKA the Book of Mormon is like the Bible. It's been really hard to see him slip away after so many strong spiritual experiences, but this isn't what he wants anymore, and we've had to say goodbye. 

Last Tuesday, we received a referral for Gabriela from Mayra Hernandez Sanchez, a missionary in Riverside. I was surprised when it finally clicked in my head. Hermana Hernandez was my MTC companion! What a wild ride this has been. We taught Gabriela for the first time on Thursday, and she liked it so much that she called Hermana Hernandez's mom and asked for us to come and teach her husband! Well, we'll be doing just that:) It's time for this family to become eternal. 

I love being a missionary!

 Socks and a new outfit for Christmas!

And a sweater from Nana that matches the new outfit! 

Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Dear Friends and Family,

After 15 days of not writing, I almost forgot to write this little baby up!


Ah! There's no time! 

It's been a great few weeks! Some sad drops, some happy times! Mario finally started reading the Book of Mormon, so his baptism has never seemed so real! 

Don't forget to set goals for this year, month, week, or day. Whatever you can handle and believe you can achieve:) God helps us with the rest. 

Love you!

Love,

Hermana Sleight 

P.S. from Mom, she sent a lot of pictures without any explanations so I tried to choose the best and you can deduce what's going on!