February 17, 2015

Hey family!

February is halfway over! How crazy is this! Time is going so fast! This week we did lots of service which was so fun! I love giving service in the community and helping all the people we teach, it's my favorite! Hopefully that will carry over after my mission.

This will probably be a short one because we don't have much time to email since yesterday was a holiday and all. Promise I'll try better next time.

We also had a really good zone meeting which helped us get refocused and doing the things that matter most in our areas to help those around us. Then this week we have Zone Conference coming up which is the meeting that our mission president is in charge of. So I'm sure we'll learn even more from him about the things we can do to keep the work going strong!

I don't think I can tell you guys enough how much I love the people here. That was hard for me at the beginning of my mission - to love the people. Especially because of the language barrier and the fact that I've just met them. But throughout my mission I've worked really really hard to learn Spanish to dissolve that barrier and be able to get to know them and I've prayed and asked Heavenly Father to be able to feel the love that He has for them. It has been such a cool experience to see and feel that prayer be answered. There are people here that I don't know very well and I don't spend much time with but I can just feel the pure love that God has for them and it is such a blessing to be able to feel that. I love my job and being able to talk to these people about the things that matter most in life is just such a great opportunity. 

Hermana Jaynes and I are doing well too, we're working hard to help her feel more comfortable in the area and talk with the people more so that they get to know and trust her too. I know we're companions for a reason and I know that every single companion I've had has been for a really good reason. There hasn't been one that I haven't learned from, even if it meant learning something about myself. I have loved all of my companions and I'm so blessed to have gotten to know them.

 

Love,

Hermana Granado

Since I always talk about my little English class, thought maybe you'd like to see the wonderful people we work with!

 

February 9, 2015

Hey family!

This week was a good one, Hermana Jaynes and I are working as a team more and more everyday. She's becoming such a great missionary and growing more and more right before my eyes! I'm so lucky to be her trainer.

 

It sounds like you are all doing well and I'm very happy to hear that! It is so interesting to see how you're all taking on new adventures in your lives. I hope you all know that I love you and support you in all the good that you're doing. I am so grateful for all of your support too!

I got to go to Tibby's baptism in Indio yesterday! I was so lucky to find some members that would drive me all the way out there to see her and another member to stay here to work in the area with Hermana Jaynes. And she was such a trooper to take over the area while she's still in training. All so that I could go see Tibby get baptized :) It was such a good experience.

Other than that, everything is pretty much the same. Always working hard and trying our best! We got a new roommate at transfers so it's been fun to get to know her. Also I'm not sure if I told you last week but our mission president challenged us to read the Book of Mormon before General Conference which is the first week of April. So I've been working hard on that as well. Reading the Book of Mormon in 60 days! As I'm reading it I am paying close attention to every time it mentions the Savior or any of His attributes or His words. The Book of Mormon really is another testament of Jesus Christ!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day and get to celebrate with your loved ones! Love you and miss you all so much! Have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Granado

February 2, 2015

Hey family! Happy February! I cannot believe how fast time is going!

We got transfer news this morning and both me and Hermana Jaynes are staying here in Redlands/Highland. I love this area so I'm glad I'm staying and Hermana Jaynes has been teaching me a lot and I'm glad I'll get to finish her training!

 

We've been trying to do more service in our area. We're still teaching our English class which is... interesting! I love our little class. Also this week we were able to help one of the hermanas in her garden, it sounds like a piece of cake but we did some work! I have a whole new appreciation of all the stuff Papa did in the yard. It looks nice and pretty but it's some dirty work! I discovered a new dislike for worms that I didn't know I had. Not exactly a fear but we're definitely not friends.

We also had a really fun activity with our branch on Friday night! We had a movie night at the church! We invited everyone - members, investigators, people on the street, everyone! They even rented a popcorn machine and we had hot dogs and nachos and a projector and surround sound for the movie. We watched the Testaments which is about Jesus Christ but with other stories too. It's hard to describe but it's really good! There were probably around 80 people that came and everyone really liked it! It was a hit!

This coming week one of the people I taught in Indio is getting baptized so hopefully I'll be able to find a member willing to drive me out there so I can see her baptism! Keep your fingers crossed! It always feels so good to see someone taking that step in their life and seeing how happy they are and to know you were a little part of that. It's the best!

Hope you guys have a great week, love you and miss you all!

Love,

Hermana Granado

These two lovely ladies got baptized on Saturday! I met them when I very first got into the area and they weren't interested in hearing our message at all! But we worked a little with them and the elders in the branch taught them and they decided to be baptized because they've been coming to church and they've really changed a ton! They're so happy with their decision and all the changes they've been able to make and I am just happy to be a little part of it! The elders did most of the work and their mom is a member and gave them a great example and we all worked as a team on these girls! Love them!

January 26, 2015

Hey family,

Hope you all had a fabulous week! The time is going so fast I can't believe it's already been a week since I wrote! 

Our week was good, we found a few new people to teach which is awesome! We've been trying hard to find some people that are interested in learning more and that are willing to take steps to change their lives and come closer to Jesus Christ. One of the people that agreed to learn more even came to church with us the day after we met her, so cool!

We were able to go to the temple on Wednesday which was amazing! I can't believe I've gone almost a year without being able to go. We are so blessed to have a temple in our mission and have it so close to us! I love going to the temple, it always makes me feel so much peace and happiness and I'm able to have a more eternal perspective instead of focusing on trivial small things that don't really matter in the long run. Plus I always feel like I can think so much more clearly in the temple

We also got to do lots of service this week. On Thursday we got up early to go help the county of San Bernardino do a count to see how many homeless people we have on the streets so that the county can get funding for resources for them. Then later that night we were able to help with a church activity "Family Fear Factor" which was really fun! 

On Saturday we had a Women's Conference and that was really beautiful. It was called "Where can I turn for peace?" and it talked about how we can find peace and happiness in our everyday lives. It was really good. Then after the conference we got to go across the street and walk around the temple with some investigators and talk to them a little about the temple and they are looking forward to when they can go inside! They're so great!

I was reminded yesterday that some missionaries that I served with are going home next week. It;s so weird to see all these people that I served with going home and even weirder to get an email from them at home! I feel like we're all just missionaries forever!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Granado

January 20, 2015

Hey fam!

So this week might be short, I'll put my fast typing hat on and let's see how far we can get! This week is crazy!

We've been having ups and downs a lot, this past week was a trial of faith to say the least. But I have found that every day has a little miracle there. Sometimes it's hidden but if we look we can always always ALWAYS find it. A few times this week everything went wrong but my companion and I grew in unity or we had a great conversation with a stranger or we helped someone in some small way. Bottom line - miracles daily.

 

We have been able to work with a lot of members who haven't been to church in a long time and we're getting them back! Two of them haven't been to church in so long that they didn't even know how to get there! But we recruited some members to either pick them up or show them the way and they were there! One of them isn't even in our records it's been so long. But with the help of the Lord we found her and she came to church on Sunday and all is well. It was a struggle for me at the beginning of my mission to work with those that had the gospel and then turned away from it for a time. I personally just didn't understand that. Now that I have found the gospel I don't ever ever want to let it go. But as I've really loved them and listened to them I've gotten to understand them a little more. Everyone's story is different as to how or why they lost their way for a minute or why they don't want this in their life. But I am so grateful for the chance I'm getting to work with them more and help some of them come back.

This week is so crazy I can't even wrap my head around it. Today we get to go teach the English class once we're done emailing y'all. Then tomorrow we're going to the temple! I haven't gotten to step foot in a temple since last February! That's forever! I am so beyond excited I probably won't even be able to sleep tonight! You probably all think I'm kidding but I'm seriously so excited and grateful that we finally get to go again! 

 

Then on Thursday I have to wake up at 4:30am to do a volunteer project. The people in charge told us missionaries the time and they saw our faces and laughed and said "Don't worry you can all go home and take a well-deserved nap!" ...uh, nope! We just gotta keep on keepin on with the two less hours of sleep that day. And any of you who know me really well know that I like my sleep!

 

Friday we're doing some more service with our recent convert Arely, they just moved into a house and so we're helping them clean and get everything situated. 

 

Saturday we have a women's conference for everyone in Redlands so that will be fun! I'm looking forward to it. And Sunday is church again! This week is going to fly.

Something that's been on my mind a lot lately for a lot of different reasons, is the importance of treating ourselves and others with love and respect. Every single person we will meet is a child of God. God is our loving Heavenly Father and that means we are all brothers and sisters. I have thought many times this week, how does Heavenly Father feel right now seeing this? Seeing the way we talk to each other or the way we treat each other. I just imagine how incredibly sad it must make him to see His children mistreat each other. It is something I need to work on and I'm trying my very best. It's not easy but when we remember that every person we deal with is our brother or sister, it's a little bit easier.

I love you all so much and I hope you know that. I think of you all the time and pray for you. I hope you are all happy and healthy and having success in school and work and the different responsibilities you all have. I look up to you all! Thank you for all your love and support!

Love,

Hermana Granado

January 12, 2015

Hey Family! This week was a great one! ...with a couple lows as well but that's life!

We had a baptism for Arely. She was so beyond ready and super excited to get baptized. She told us later that it was a beautiful day and she had such a warm feeling and that she will remember it for the rest of her life. The Spirit was really strong there and we had 4 people there that are investigating the Church so hopefully they felt the Spirit too!

On the other hand we had 3 people we've been teaching for awhile tell us that they don't want this in their life right now so that was sad for me. But I have faith that we will be able to find the people here in Redlands and Highland that are ready to accept the gospel right now!

We did a lot of service this week, they re-did part of the local library here so we went and painted and cleaned and all that good stuff. I always love doing service, I think it's just so fun! We also got to get back to teaching our English class! We teach one class every week at the community center and they had a break for the holidays but we're back in business now which is exciting!

Sorry this email is a little short, here are some pictures to make up for it! They're worth a thousand words right?

Love you,

Hermana Granado

Stephanie's Christmas & New Years!

Hello family! 

Sorry about last week, I wanted to make sure that Hermana Jaynes had time to email. But let's start with last week.. It was so good to talk with you all on Christmas, I hope you enjoyed your Italian dinner :) we were invited to have dinner with one of the senior missionary couples that works in the mission office. They invited us and five other sisters over and they said they loved preparing the meal because it reminded them of cooking for their kids and they didn't feel so far from home. It was nice to have dinner with them and, as much as I love Mexican food, the ham and cheesy potatoes and rolls and fresh fruit was exactly what I needed this Christmas! Thank you again for all the Christmas cards and packages and goodies you all sent, I felt very very loved.

But, as was expected, with the holidays it was hard to get into some houses because they were busy and spending time with their families. We were able to bake some cookies though and deliver them to some of our investigators and other families in our area. They loved them! Well, I'm not sure how good the cookies were but they loved that we thought of them and they loved our visit. A lot of people are so much nicer during Christmas.

Then on the 27th we had a mission wide conference! Which is rare. This is only the 3rd time we've done it since I've been here, and one of those times was a multi-mission conference so we didn't get to really talk to other missionaries from our old areas. But this time we got a lunch break and we were able to socialize a little bit which was so great! I got to ask questions about my old areas and see how my old investigators are doing and I got to see missionaries like sister Tauteoli that I haven't seen in forever, it was so good to get to catch up with her. It's crazy how fast time flies!

This week was good! My birthday was great, thank you for all the birthday wishes and treats :) I am very spoiled and I loved getting to spend my birthday doing what I love to do. We had such a good day, even though it was pouring - that just makes things more interesting. 

New Years was good, we had to be in at 6 for safety and we spent the night planning for the coming week. It was a quiet New Years, so quiet that I didn't wake up even once! Guess our whole apartment complex went to sleep early, or I was just that tired haha. But my companion and I were sitting on our beds talking and reflecting on the past year and the year to come and it was so crazy to think that at that time last year I was in her exact position. I was in my first area here in California, with my trainer, and I remember thinking that I had the whole year of 2014 ahead of me and that the entire year would be dedicated to the Lord doing His work and now here I am and now I'm the trainer and the coming year holds so many changes and adventures for me I just don't know how to handle it! I'm excited to see all that the year 2015 holds for all of us.

On Monday our mission president's daughter got home from her mission in Chile and she was dying to go out with us and get back into doing missionary work. So we picked her up for the day and even though a lot of our plans fell through, she got a reminder of the real side of missionary work! 

Yesterday at church was one of the best Sundays ever! One of our investigators came and since it was the firstSunday of the month, anyone who would like to can go up and bear their testimony of the gospel. And she went up! She said she doubted a little bit because she's not a member yet but that she wanted to bear her testimony that she knew the gospel is true and that she knew that what the missionaries (us) are teaching her is true and that she's excited to get baptized. So we're planning her baptism for this Saturday! We're really excited.

Plus there were a lot of less actives there who haven't been to church in a long time so we were all really happy to see that! Such good things!

Love you all!

Hermana Granado