In the Head of Hannie: December 15, 2014

Hno Allan

A Week of Crazies

Literally everything crazy that could have happened, happened this week. We received news this week, and here is what it is.

A new mission is being formed here. WE are loosing most of our mission. It is the Modesto California Mission. It takes most of the southern part of our mission. We received this news last night. We were all shocked. Some of the missionaries will be transferred over to that mission. We will find out more information in January about who leaves and what not. The switch/mission change isn't until July 15,2015 so we still have a while. The whole mission is in a little bit of a shock. We were all expecting the news to be IPads, it wasn't IPads...

Anyways, in other news. We had another lesson with Ramiro and Marina this week. Ramiro is super sick so we kept it short. We taught about the importance to read the scriptures and pray about what we are learning. It is only when we pray that we can receive the spiritual confirmation that we are learning is true. That is one step in becoming truly converted. We are really sad that we didn't get to see them for the rest of the week but we are going to make them number one priority because they are ready.

We went caroling to Jozi this week. She's had a lot of people die lately and we wanted to help her out. We were going to go with the whole relief society but there was a storm (which was simply rain, if the Californians saw what a real storm was, I'd think they'd die. Like, school was even canceled.) and so they didn't feel like they could make it up to our area. We knocked on her door and sang to her ourselves. It was a little awkward. We gave her Finding Faith In Christ because it was the only DVD we had in the back of our car. Talk about lame missionaries. haha

Also, we had another lesson with Clemen. She basically bashed us in the nicest way possible. It was really weird. She wanted us to come worship the Virgin Guadalupe with her at 3:00 in the morning, of course we politely declined her invitation. However we did say we'd go to catholic church with her when she came to Mormon church with us. To be honest, I am not looking forward to catholic church. But she has also yet to come to church with us so that is a tender mercy from the Lord if I have ever seen one. She did, however, invite us to her daughters birthday party. We did attend and we had some delicious pasta. (but we also had 3 dinners that day. It was extreme and our stomachs haven't been the same since. )

This Thursday was our Mission Temple Conference. It was so great. The peace I felt in the temple was like no other. At first, I was really aggravated because I felt like I wasn't receiving my answer to all of my questions. But then, I just felt all of this peace and I was fine. The Lord works in mysterious way, I tell ya. Afterward we had a Christmas devotional and it was really comforting to take some time and just reflect on the Savior. I LOVE this time of year and I'm glad I get to be a missionary during it. People are so receptive and hearts are being softened. It is so amazing to be able to see it up close.

This week we had another FHE with the Rodriguezes. They signed Rafael up for seminary on Sunday and he missed Monday. We told him he HAD to go on Tuesday, even if that meant we would drive over at 5:00 in the morning and wake him up. He said he would go but he is shy because he doesn't know what to expect and he doesn't know anyone there. We asked if he would be more comfortable if the Missionaries went with him. He said yes. So Elders Espiritu and Wilkins woke up at 5:00 am and biked to that church building to go to seminary with him. We owe them our lives considering sleep is the most important thing to missionaries. (We would have gone with him but that building is out of our MISSION and they are the only ones who have permission to go there.) We did call Rafa at 5:00 to wake him up. We sang "Get your head, out of the bed." He got a pretty good chuckle out of that. The seminary teacher gave them permission to bring Christian (Rafa's little brother) to seminary even though he isn't suppose to go till next year. The Lord struck again when Rafa and Christian came to soccer on Saturday night. They usually don't do things out side of church on Sundays. We were stoked. They even got the Ramirez son to come with them. He hasn't been to church in 2 years. We were on cloud 9. Jonathan came to church on Sunday as well. We are making a lot of progress with the less actives here.

Woohoo! Thanks for the package this week. Well,

whatever Laura gave me! Black scriptures yay! and money and gift cards! Momma loves this girl! I was able to go to lunch with Laura and it was so great. She is really like a mom #2!! It was uber great to see her and I was only a little homesick but that ended as soon as we started working again!

So funny moment from this week.

1. Bishops daughter backed into our car. We had to switch cars because of the damage but before we could do that we had to wash it. We couldn't get the bike rack off the back so we asked the Zone Leaders to help us. E. Soper and E. Fernandez live with E. Baker (also know as babybakes) and E. Owusu. E Baker was watching the ZL work on our car and was also eating a banana. Once they had finished E Baker came down and said hi but then ran into the garbage place where they keep the dumpster. He then proceeded to perch himself on the wall and swat at the tree. He look like a little kitten. We were dying laughing. When he realized we were laughing at him he said " What? I got my banana peel stuck in a tree. I thought it would be rude to leave it for my neighbors to see first thing in the morning. "

It had to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

2. We went caroling with the foothill elders this week. E Rentz and E Durtchi. While doing that they were being really sassy. E Rentz is super tall and E Durtchi is really short. So I said "E Durtchi you are little sass and E Rentz you are big sass." E Rentz turned around looked me dead in the eye and said "Did you just say, I have a big sass?" and then continued walking with no further comment. It was SO FUNNY. (Sorry mom, you probably didn't like that one, but i did.)

Shoutouts

Mom

Dad

Misty

Diana

Amanda (for a handwritten letter that contained a christmas card)

Brad