March 9, 2015

 

Hey family,

Sorry for the world's shortest email last week. President Van Cott has told me to make sure I'm planning for home and school and everything so that means taking some time out of my emailing time to be able to look at schools online. But! My short emails in no way reflect a lack of wanting to talk to and hear from you! I love getting on and seeing what's happening in all your lives.

Well the past couple weeks have been good! It was pretty chilly last week but thankfully it's warming up. I thought I was going to freeze to death one day, I had on three shirts, a sweater a scarf and a jacket and leggings under my skirts and I was still shivering! Then I looked at the car display and realized it was 57 degrees... I am in big trouble when I head back to Utah!

We've been helping a lot around the community too, doing service and stuff here in Redlands. Lately we've helped remodel the bookstore, it is run completely by volunteers and donations and is a big asset to the community so it was fun to be able to help with that.

One day last week we were in Highland and the member who had signed up to give us dinner cancelled so we decided to go grab something because we couldn't go back to our apartment in Redlands (we have mile restrictions on our cars we use) So anyway, we went out and as we were sitting there eating and chatting, I looked up and a man had appeared at the side of our table, slid a gift card between us and disappeared before I could finish chewing to say thank you! Best of all he left the nicest note saying that he thanked us for serving and how much he appreciated what we do. It was such a tender mercy. The Lord is so mindful of us!

We had a really cool experience at church last week too. One of our investigators, Martina, got up to share her testimony. It was only her 2nd time at church but we've been teaching her for a few months and she says she knows what we're teaching is true! So she got up and told everyone how she honestly has no idea how we found her, all she knows is that she's happy we did! She said "They teach me, they help me and they tell me what to do so that I can make my life better. I love those young ladies" It was such a cool thing to hear her tell her experience, I love being a missionary!

Love,

Hermana Granado

March 2, 1015

Hey Family! Sorry this one is going to be super short.

This week was great, we had lots of great conversations with people on the street. I love talking to people about the gospel. 

I was also able to have an interview with President Van Cott and he helped me think about ways that I can make the most of this time that I have left and also think more about home and make some life plans for when I get back. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

There was a missionary a few years ago that got hit by a bus in Brazil and they weren't sure if he was going to make it. Well he did and although he hasn't made a full recovery, he and his mom spoke at a conference in Utah and someone shared this with me.

The theme of the conference was Develop the Power within You.  The scripture that went with the theme was:  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philippians 4:13.  The keynote speakers were Karla & Britten Schenk.  Britten was the missionary in Brazil who was hit by a bus and was not expected to live about 3 years ago.  He had major brain trauma.  Karla is his mother and they both spoke.  I hardly think there was a dry eye in the chapel as Karla spoke and then Britten did amazing.  He still has a ways to go -- he is almost 90% blind and still gets things mixed up -- but he was just great. The Schenk's passed out a card that had a picture of Britten in Brazil and then on the back was an email that he had sent to his family previous to him being hit by the bus.   I thought I would share that with you. 

On the front of the card with Britten's picture is the statement:  The future is as BRIGHT as your FAITH.  (President Thomas S. Monson)

On the back of the card was a part of his email:  "There has to be challenges and trials in our lives, to make us rise just a little higher, do just a little better.  It is those challenges and trials that shape who we are, and depending on how we react to them, we can become even better, stronger and more prepared.  Even though, in our lives, when it seems we're doing so good, working so hard and being so righteous, there are challenges.  Because, as we are doing what is right, yes, we are doing good, but, there is no way to continually get better without challenges.  There is a famous quote that says, "Just as a gem cannot be polished without friction, a man cannot be perfected without trials."  Challenges and trials are a part of this life.  We agreed that they would be a part when we accepted Christ's Plan.  I don't believe that God makes things happen to us, but He allows them to happen because He knows that it is through those challenges and trials that we will become better, and that we can become the best we can."  (Britten Schenk)

Love you all! Talk to you next week!

Love,

Hermana Granado

February 23, 2015

This week was so great!

Since Monday was a holiday we did a sports activity for the youth. They didn't have school so it was a good alternative to being in front of the TV or video games for the day. We played soccer and volleyball and a lot of people came! Some of the members that didn't have to work came and brought Gatorade and we had hot dogs and chips so that was super fun.

Wednesday we had zone conferences, which means we got about 6 hours of instruction from our mission president about how we can be better and how we can improve the work that we're doing in order to help the people that we're teaching. It is always a bit of a struggle for me when I am taught how to teach because that means I have to apply it in different situations which I'm not very good at. But we tried our best and we got some people to come to church that haven't been in a really long time! So we saw a little success :)

Also, we had a great time with our little mini-missionaries! There were two girls that came from Yucaipa to spend the day with us. One was 16 and the other one was 20 and they're thinking about going on a mission so they wanted to come see what it's like. So me and my companion each took one and we split up and showed them real missionary work! From getting doors slammed in our faces to helping a recent convert prepare for her talk (that's another story). At the end of it I think it was really good, it helped them see what missionary work is really like and they said they still want to go on a mission! And even more now! So that's good!

The recent convert we helped prepare for her talk was Carmen, the one that I taught in Rialto and then she moved here and got baptized and now I get to work with her as a member! It was so cool to go over and get to talk to her and help her figure out what she wanted to say in her talk on Sunday. It made me reflect on when I met her and taught her over a year ago. It is so cool to see the progress she's made and how far she's come and how happy she is! I love it.

The past two days have been chilly and rainy but other than that I've been LOVING this California weather. It's the best. Definitely does not feel like February. But that's just fine with me! I honestly cannot believe how fast the time is going, it's crazy! We're getting Hermana Jaynes ready to train next transfer - can't believe my little trainee is growing up so fast!

Hope you all have a great week! Talk to you next Monday!

Love,

Hermana Granado

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