November 23 - LIFE IS GOOD

Hey family!! 

This week was good.  Between exchanges and training I feel like the time is just flying by.  People it is week 4 of this transfer.  I am a goner.  I can't control the time, and too many things just keep happening.  

Stressed out I tell you.  

But I am living it up!  And I made a resolution to take more pictures these last weeks because I have taken like 2 this entire transfer..... So then you can see more of my life and I can remember it better because at this rate I will remember a whirlwind.  

This week was a great week of miracles.  I just feel like we were guided with the time we do have to the people, even though none of them were truly interested.  BUT my miracle moment of the week is when one of my favorite people Mxxxxxa, felt the spirit.  She is a feeler.  Like she goes 100 percent off of what she feels and she was honestly searching and didn't feel it when she prayed the first days we were meeting with her.  So she kind of retired the idea from her mind for a bit, but then her husband wanted to try out our church (he just walks into the room, we have never met with him before, and he is like ya I think I want to try going to your church) so we had a lesson with the Union sisters so that they could go to the english ward here closer in Manteca and she prayed at the end and CRIED.  It was amazing, she totally felt it.  I love her a lot.  I want to be her friend.  She has the cutest girl named Gxxxxxs, and she loves me.  I hope they keep going strong.

Cxxxxs Jr came out and contacted with us this week for the first time!  He is super stoked to SERVE A MISSION!  He is awesome it was a good time, and he shared the gospel with his aunt and it made the biggest difference!

Cxxxxs Jr!

Thanks for the recipes and the money!!!!!!! I also got your Gratitude board!! I got it when the whole zone was together to have interviews with president, so I walked around and made everyone there sign it.  Then Sister Palmer signed it.  The two elders in our ward are Elder Moreno, and Elder Lopez.  Elder Moreno took it when he went to the mission office the next day and got everyone to sign it there haha.  Then I took it to the ward Thanksgiving party and got people to sign it there. It has been so much fun.  These elders are awesome but I went to a district meeting in Modesto, and saw Elder Griffin, and it was the best.  Elder Griffin is just irreplaceable.  And I saw Hermana Carpenter!  All these people I miss.  There are soo many people I love.  I want to get rid of facebook, but I don't think I can!

This picture just explains my life lately.

The shirt is my Christmas present opened early from the dear Hermana Porter!!  She knows me so well.  And I mean its a giant cardboard cutout of salsa sooooo.

We had the ward Thanksgiving party and it was awesome!  The party was so funny because it was a talent show too and so we had to sing.  Elder Lopez and Exxxxo also sang a Mexican song and Exxxxo was loving it! Haha he was so into it it was hilarious.  I can't wait to listen to hispanic music like crazy when I get back.  Scary thing is that Exxxxo actually got in a car accident the same day..... but he is ok.  He brought his dad to the party, so now I have met the whole family basically!  

We actually spend Thanksgiving  working like any normal day haha.  So hopefully that goes well.  We are participating in a turkey bowl though in Tracy, so hopefully that will be fun.  We also have a dinner appointment set up!

Note from Sonja: We have no idea what the story is behind this picture. We zoomed in on the envelope and everything. So we are going to assume it is Sister Splendid's first ever letter in the mission field.  Sounds good, eh?

Everything is going great!  Hope you all have a great week!

LOVE HERMANA SHEFFER.

NOVEMBER 16 - answering all of mom's questions

Money:

Yes I need money. For some reason I am out out and it is only half through November.  Could you possibly transfer some of my money to my actual card? I haven't used that card in forever because I don't think I have any more money on there!  But I need some for this Christmas season/going home season.  I want to send home the rest of my library, and also I have something I have been meaning to send Nathan for his birthday!  Also I don't know my pin number anymore.... can you find that out? 

Christmas list: 

I want nothing.  Seriously don't send me a lot of stuff, I would rather get a little bit of start-up again money :)  I will be coming so soon after Christmas!  So don't worry about Christmas!  I want letters, and Newsie Broadway tickets (thanks Grandma!).

STL duties:

I am Sister Training Leader over 6 sisters, and my companion :) They are all the companionships that have a Spanish sister put with an English sister!  So I am the zebra STL :)  
We did lots of splits in the sisters areas so it was good to get to know all the Sisters.  They are all new new and still going strong, I am so proud of them!

  
What I need: 

Could you send me a banana creme pie recipe and a gingersnap cookie recipe? :)

But I will just tell you that my soul was taken to the heavens this week when guess who came to church?!?!?! Rxxl!!! The husband of Lxxxxe!  The Elders and I were freaking out!! Lxxxxe was on cloud nine.  I taught the Principles of the Gospel class and he asked SUCH good questions.  The talks in Sacrament were about tithing (which new members sometimes have a problem with) and doing temple work for the dead(one of the more unique things about the church) and I was just laughing inside.  But I taught about the recogimiento de Israel and how it was a family thing, and he totally made the connection that it affects our family for generations to come to become a member, and then he also said and generations back too right? He was referring to the talks about ancestor work!  He is super intelligent!  We are going to talk to Leslie tomorrow and see how he liked it and what he said.  I guess Hno Haro had invited him to a priesthood testimony meeting, and he actually went with him, and then the next day he wanted to go to church!! WOW!  I didn't expect this at all, so we will keep you updated on him and Lxxxxe!   I am so excited!!

That was the highlight of my week!  It is always good to have a heart lift like that! 

We have our ward Thanksgiving party this week so I am so excited.  Lxxxxe said it is her first time having turkey haha.  Mxx starts school this week so Lxxxxxe is going to finally get some rest!  I am relieved for her.  That talk by Jeffrey R. Holland about mothers being like Jesus Christ is 100% true in Lxxxxe's case.  

I am sad about Uncle Burke :(  But I felt really good reading what you had sent me, and I am excited for him to be with his family again and out of pain!! I will send a letter to Grandpa and Grandma!  Keep me updated on Grandma. Let me know how she is and tell her I love her!

I am reading in Revelations, and am about to finish the New Testament!  Then I am going to start Doctrine and Covenants, and after that the Old Testament.  I am going to have read the standard works before my 22nd birthday!!  

We had lots of good times this week for sure.

Thanks for the package you have sent, I always love awaiting packages!

More next week!

Hasta Luego!

HNASHEFFER

NOVEMBER 9 - SENSEI AND SPLENDID

(NOTE FROM SONJA: We received this picture from some kind soul in California. We figured it was Emily's new companion.  I zoomed in on her name tag but couldn't make it out. I could tell her name started with SP and had an L so I decided she would be hereafter known as Sister Splendid.)

Hello family!

This week was like level 100 with a Bowser level.  But it was AWESOME! 

I had problems balancing Sister Training Leader with my area of Manteca before, and now add in a new missionary who is on fire and wanting to contact the whole world, but is getting drug along to sit outside meetings.... I am definitely learning how to use time wisely that is for sure. 

I am grateful that she is being patient, and she is helping me out so much because she makes me LAUGH.  

My new companion is Hermana Spilsbury  (hahahaha or Splendid, I think that is appropriate as well). She is from Mesa, Arizona.  She was one of the rare people these days to go to the CCM in D.F. Mexico!! She loves the Spanish language, and is willing to communicate with everyone, even if she doesn’t understand a word they say.  She can sing, and play the piano, and can quote books and movies like nobody's business.  The moment I met her, I was like, “you are a kindred spirit with my sister Elizabeth”.  Seriously people.  They have the exact same humor.  I feel like this is a part of home come to me.  Which is great!  

One fun experience that we had is that I had a leadership meeting and so I decided to leave Hna Spilsbury in the area with Leilani to be her companion.  Other Sister Training Leaders dropped Leilani off at our apartments and then I went with them to the meeting.  Hna Spilsbury asked if this was the moment that we parted and I was like yes, and gave her a hug.  But then I went to get in the car and Leilani hadn’t gotten out yet and Hna Spilsbury started walking back to the apartments.  Haha she thought that I was leaving her without a companion her 3rd day in the mission!  Poor girl was like what is going on?!?!?! 

I chased after her, and we met Leilani together haha.  3rd day abandonment haha. 

We also went biking and talked with a bunch of rude people in the dark.  Haha She is a trooper because she kind of got depressed that there were so many mean people.  I guess I got used to it, because it didn’t bother me and then she felt sad.  Ah man - those first days are the worst!! But she keeps going, and trusts me a lot.  I think she is grateful she has a trainer because lots of the new missionaries are training each other.  Craziness!  She always says lead the way Sensei, hahahaha.  Sensei and Splendid. New nicknames.

Some exciting news is that Rxxl, the husband of Lxxxxe came to the church to play soccer!!  The bad thing was that we had to cancel it..... So he came to play soccer with nobody and drove all the way from Manteca.  We called the Elders and got them over there fast, but then no one else could come so he would arrive to a church with 4 missionaries waiting to pounce him.  hahaha ITS A TRAP!!  So we decided to just tell him it was canceled.  It was the WORST timing ever..... Oh well I think he will come next week!! Hope soo!!  But I am so proud of Lxxxxe too!  She is one of my heroes in this world.  She is so strong to do what she does.  She is amazing. 

WOWWOWWOWWOW NEWSIES TICKETS?? MY life is complete.  WOW.  I am so excited!

Thanks for the compliments on my clothes and skirt. Hermana Spilsbury lent me her skirt.  I had to talk in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, so I wanted to wear mixed patterns, so she lent me her skirt!  My hair was curled on the toppish layers because we are now not allowed to get up before6:30am...... and we have no time to get ready in the mornings, so I shower at night and hope for the best in the morning haha.  But I do have to curl the top to have it be normal looking.

And I don’t know why you think I’m too skinny.   I have actually gained a little weight on my mission sooooooo... hahaha don't know whats going on there.  Don't be surprised if I am biggerr when I get home because I still have a Christmas season to go through :)

Wow you always sound so busy all of you.  Way to be, thanks for having time for me.  I appreciate it.  LETS EAT PUPUSAS IN PROVO AND GO TO THE TEMPLE!!! THAT SOUNDS AWESOME! 

Thanks for the email!

I LOVE YOU ALLLLL

HSheffer

NOVEMBER 2 - do I qualify for Manteca citizenship yet?

So this week was super long and stretched out but right now I am so HAPPY!  

I received my call Sunday night that I would be training a new missionary as well as remain a Sister Training Leader (my mother has sixth senses) and that I will be serving in MANTECA.  

I will just say that being in Manteca for a year should automatically qualify you for Manteca citizenship.  I mean I have already met the Mayor, so it should be a piece of cake to get that arranged. I only have 2 transfers left soooo Manteca til the day I die!!!  I was a little shocked, but EXCITED! 

Hermana Carpenter will be going to Modesto 12th branch training a new Sister Training Leader!  Elder Griffin is actually going with her!  So I win the record of being in the same area, I am only behind Hermana Hurley in the most time spent in the ward Monte Vista.  She had a year there as well!

I am super excited because training was the best time of my mission, and I am grateful to spend it here in Manteca with the Christmas spirit, and we have so many people here ready!  It is going to be an amazing 2 transfers!   WWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTT.

I am almost done with the New Testament and I am eating it up!  It is so good!  I feel no difference sometimes between that and reading general conference talks.  Go team apostles.  Apostles are just amazing.  I really like Elder Bednar.  I am just really grateful for the moments I have every morning in the scriptures.  Seriously that hour is the fastest of my whole day and I love it a lot.  

Lxxxxe is still coming to church and I have no doubt that she will be baptized soon.  We are trying to love her husband and help him have good experiences with members and us.  He is really sweet they are the cutest couple ever.

Sad thing that happened this week.  I forgot Exxxxo's birthday, and he got MAD at me... it was not a pleasant experience.  I felt so bad especially because he does so much for our birthdays!  I am going to go buy him an animal tie, and Jesus the Christ on Deseret book.  But still.... sympathize with me, it wasn't pleasant.  haha life.

 

The best thing I have eaten this week was homemade flour tortilla quesadillas with beans and chili.  I am learning how to make the tortillas so don't worry!  It was on Halloween night before Fast Sunday and I ate so many of them.  I did some damage.  

On Halloween we were told to stay inside, so Hermana Carpenter and I organized our area books.  Then we cleaned.  Then we made planners!! We were keyed up because we were supposed to get our calls Halloween night........ supposed to.  So that was a long night.  We did our facial masks too!  They were awesome! THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!  Axxxxn one of my favorite Manteca kids ever told us one time he was scared of the dark so we gave him the glow-sticks.  It was so funny he was a black ninja for Halloween, and we were outside his house in the car and he saw us and came out and was trying to sneak like a ninja to the car and we totally saw him but it was the cutest thing ever!  I want a kid like him! You will understand when you meet him!  I got a video recording of him and it is sooo cute. 

So Halloween was weird because we went to bed a little early AND it was daylight savings time.  I got the most sleep I have ever gotten on my mission!  It was weird because I had a VERY vivid dream where I was getting married to an Elder in our Manteca Zone in a very big Catholic church! hahaha.  That is the most vivid marriage dream I have ever had! I loved that Elder a lot in my dream, and I really don't in real life.....  I THINK MY MIND IS GOING TRUNKY! TRUNK OR TREAT! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! HOPEFULLY THIS NEVER  HAPPENS AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS WEEEEEIRD!! So that was the scariest thing that happened to me this Halloween :)

I am sending home a box of notes/books that I don't need right now.  

SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NATHAN FOR ME!

I got to keep it short because I am going to make Yoga disks on the computer today, but thanks for the amazing email!

I LOVE YOU!

Hermana Sheffer

OCTOBER 25 - TRANSFER WEEK AKA "THE REAPING"

I am sorry to be typing this, and I don't know if it is true our not, but I think I am leaving Manteca!!..... 

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LONGEST TRANSFER WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.  

I have my transfer board out and ready to predict. I like your prediction though mom :) haha for that to be true I would probably have to be switched to some English work.  I wouldn't put that past President either because he likes switching everyone around.

I wouldn't mind some cold though!  I now own a nice pair of sock-able to wear boots!  And tights!  It is still so warm in Manteca!  It was definitely colder in Sacramento I feel like.  But my predictions as of now... training a newbie in Manteca, or with Hna Porter in Lodi as Sister Training Leader.  Who knows.  We call transfer calls, "The Reaping" haha. I think that is the closest feeling to the reaping that will ever happen in my life.

We are teaching Mxxxxy Hernandez the older sister of Cxxxxs Jr.  She is really involved in her church, but she always asks really good questions.  She is definitely an amazing person, and I hope that she will be able to recognize and follow the spirit.  She is a single mom of two young boys, and she is a powerhouse.

Lxxxxe can't get baptized still, but she is coming to church no matter what!  Her husband doesn't want her to change religions.  So we are aiming for a date in December, Christmas Miracle, to be baptized and we are working with her husband.  I just want him to like us.  Our apartment got selected as apartment complex of the week to have cheap Domino's pizza!  So we went and got pizza to share with Lxxxxe and Rxxl for when he got home from work!  We got there with the pizza and 5 minutes later Rxxl came home from work with pizza to surprise his wife with........ he walked in, saw us with the pizza, and then was like ppssshhhhh.  Haha I am sure we will all laugh about this someday.... But he is just the sweetest person.

Another miracle that happened this week!  We were out with Exxxxo visiting his family members and we met a new cousin of Exxxxxo that lived there.  He said things like "Hola hermanas" and "How long have you been on your missions?" and Mormon talk basically.  You could kind of tell there was something different about him. So we were super surprised, and I asked him if he was a member and he said YES!  He was a convert, served a mission to New Hersey, was active until he got married, and it has been 10 years since he got married. 

WHAT??

EXXXXO HAS MEMBER FAMILY!  It was a total shocker, and he was married into his family, but they still have each other!  He is less active, but he still reads his scriptures every day and has the app and he shared the most beautiful testimony of the restoration of the gospel.  He is still a convert to this church, he is just going through his own thing.  I know that God knows his children and what they need.  Elder Hamula said that just because less actives don't go to church doesn't mean they are less active from the gospel.  I want to always think about God's plan for every person we see and not worry so much about them, unless they are like seriously denying God and stuff.  

For English class this week we learned I/you/they/we with the vocab of clothing.  So we went out into the halls and told everybody what they were wearing:

"You are wearing a boy scout shirt" 

"He is wearing shorts with socks and sandals" 

"He is wearing a BYU shirt" 

"You are wearing very modest skirts" just kidding haha but it was really fun to just get them talking.  

Exxxxo I swear is going to be fluent soon.  It was really funny because we do our English classes on Wednesday night in Manteca and the Elders do theirs on Thursday.  During our class Exxxxo received a text from Elder Griffin reminding him to come on Thursday.  So I texted him back in perfect English on Exxxx's cell phone, "Wow thanks for the cordial reminder Elder Griffin, but I feel like something really just clicked with my English, and I can speak it without a problem.  The Sister's English class is really spot on and I have learned so much.  But I will be there, thank you very much!" 

hahaha

Later that night Exxxxo texted me and was like, "Elder Griffin got mad at the message!" 

.... crucial plot point Elder Griffin is never mad.... 

So we called Elder Griffin and he said he had answered back in English, "Those Sister missionaries!  I am going to come after them and whoop them!" He was totally just kidding but sarcasm doesn't transfer very well through text haha, especially if English is the second language.  Exxxxxo was like warning me, beware Elder Griffin is coming after you!  He was seriously concerned haha.  It was a fun experience. 

 Something I hope to always have in my mind to do, well first Visiting Teaching, and second always ask my Bishop if there are families he would like me to visit and fellowship.  I know that those Bishops receive revelation for the Ward, and want to be able to help him out.  I think Bishops have the hardest jobs ever.  

I told somebody about the Manteca Car theft show dad watched, and they explained why.  Manteca has 4 different freeways surrounding it so the robbers could go so many different directions and never get caught.  So they have some reasoning!  

Well this week was very relaxful for me!  I am studying in 2 Corinthians right now and I love the New Testament.  It is like reading General Conference talks!  I pick up a lot of cool stuff!

I can't say I have been fully vegetarian (not for lack of trying) because member dinners are hard.  But I avoid it when I can, and I am still loving it!  

Well until next week!  THE WEEK OF DECISION

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN MY FAVOR

Hna Sheffer

OCTOBER 19 - BACON

Hi family!

Where are the Thalmans moving to??? Where are the Andersons moving to?  How dare they leave, 5th ward is their last name.

(Note from Sonja – I told Emily about our Ward Roadshow)

Hahaha missionaries on a cruise ship that is the most hilarious thing I have heard of.  I do admit I have thought of that before though... It probably wouldn’t be very effective.  #TRUNKYALLTHETIME.  That’s what would happen.  

That is so weird that Craig Blake is my bishop.... haha.  Well he will do super good! He will never get his beard back. 

WHERE IS LIZZY WORKING?

We only had one exchange this week, but it was 2.5 days long.  President gave us permission to have a sleepover basically!! Parrrtttaayyy (except you had to tell everybody to go to sleep at 10:30 and wake up at 6:30am.  Haha. its no fun correcting people).  We got to sleep on air mattresses. Then one of our missionaries went home because she crashed on her bike and broke her leg, and now we have another set of sisters who are training themselves :) woot. 

We are having a meeting on Tuesday with President Palmer to talk tactics because we are getting 7 new Spanish Hermanas this next transfer and seriously everyone will be training after only 6 weeks or training themselves and ya..... We have had to train on so many things because nobody knows what they are doing.... So hopefully tactics are inspired to help this mission out.  I am the oldest Hermana now - weird huh?? 

I had a panic attack Sunday.  President asked us to accompany him and Sister Palmer to a single adult fireside to help speak.  I was like GREAT.  Also I had to teach the lesson on Sunday about eternal marriage.  It was only us and the Elders and Lxxxxe soo.... but then Exxxxo came from his library duties. 

So I was a stress case with both assignments.  But the lesson was good and Lxxxxe said that her parents watched Mxx and for the first time in 3 years she and her husband had 5 hours to themselves.  They went to Red Lobster and to the movies (3-D) and he bought her a watch when they were shopping. Aaaahhhhhh it is so cute.  Seriously I can't even imagine how much she goes through every day with Mxx.  Mxx is one lucky kid to have his amazing mother and dad. 

At the fireside I thought that it was going to be a bunch of young single adults, and so I wasn’t expecting a bunch of old single adults.  But it was a little less stressful!  So I had prepared something, and I tried going off of my own knowledge/self and I kind of did it!  I kept repeating myself and then I would think (ya dije) in my head and got a little lost and didn’t share all I wanted to, but I consider it progress:) Then they fed us cinnamon oatmeal cookies.  But we got to carpool with President and we talked about dating... He said we shouldn’t compromise and if we did he would hunt us DOWN downdowndowndowndown!!

(Note from Sonja – Elissa told Emily that if she is ever having a bad day she needs to replace all the nouns or verbs in her sentences with the word Bacon)

I am going to start using the bacon thing haha.  I can't get out in front of my head :(  My mind is pretty powerful to bring me doooowwwwnnn.  That seems like a perfect solution haha. 

Sister Palmer is just the most beautiful person ever.  She is pure of heart if you know what i mean.  I think you do.  I want to be pure in heart too.  I want to be pure in bacon and love bacon and everyone around me and conquer my bacon so that I can be happy and have bacon all the time and just do what the (Lord) would have me do and have joy in my bacon because it is all so beautiful this bacon living life and I can do it!!!! hahahahahhahahahahahahaha that was good.  I laughed writing that. 

But some amazing things happened this week.  Exxxxo received his Patriarchal blessing!  yayayay!  He is amazing I tell you people.  He is going to be put to work that is for sure!

Lxxxxe is still amazing, and we are all going to fast and pray together that her husband will let her be baptized. 

I am breaking down Romans chapter 12.  It spoke to me so I am studying that part of the New Testament.  That’s where I am.  I also made potatoes in french fry style but round (i am going to open up a Rrench Fry In-N-Out) with coconut oil and they were great:)

I learned that Modesto got its name because a man founded it and gave his life to establish a good city, and the citizenswanted to name it after him, but he gave all the glory to God, and wouldn’t let them name it after him, so they named it Modesto :) Too modest.  Fun stories! 

Thanks for your email :) It cheered me up! I don't really need anything, but I was thinking about Christmas.... I was thinking don't send me anything! :) I think that would be better because it is so soon after that I am returned and I might need start up stuff again.... my thoughts right now.  

But ya I love you a lot, and I love you a lot and hope you have a good week down in Richfield town!!

Hermana Sheffer

OCTOBER 12 - Cxxxxs is baptized!

( NOTE FROM SONJA: I sent Emily some information about some Study Abroad opportunities that Elizabeth found that she wants to do with Emily this summer. This is what she is referring to)

MOM! I want to go with Lizzy so bad!! Are those from a BYU site?  Because here’s what happened this week… I decided that life is too short to not do stuff you really want to do. You just got to do them, and work hard to have them, and etc. 

SO I decided I have loved the earth too long to not work in something with the environment, with National Parks, with water, with museums, with knowledge and research.  I want to be a crunchy for the Air Force and I want to go and help the world!!!  I should worry about money, but I should do what I like to, and then work won’t be work, and I will be happy. 

Anyway those opportunities sound amazing!  I want to go to both of those.  I also heard that if you speak Spanish BYU will send you to the Dominican Republic really cheap to teach English. Two weeks ago we started an English class here in Manteca and I felt like I was in my prime! It was so much fun! Plus I have 6 credit hours I can use for Biology credit internship hours, and I AM GOING TO USE THEM!  Plus if I want a good job, I will have to an internship anyways is what I’m thinking! 

What are the prices?  I want to do this with Lizzy soo bad!  I will start applying/preparing for those after my mission :) Plus the Air Force pays for your schooling after and I could get a Masters after for free!! It is a genius plan.  

I have also been vegetarian for a week, and I LOVE IT. I just decided to change my life. This week was ROUGH, but now I feel so empowered... I am not telling anyone else though, even members because I don't want to be a burden.  But the second day, for dinner a member bought us cheese pizza... she looked at the box, and was like, “hmmmm I bought 2 pepperonis. Weird!” It was a miracle!!!  

(Note from Sonja: We told Emily that Nathan’s football team won their championship)

WOW!  HE IS A CHAMMPPIOOONN HE IS A CHAMPIOOONNN!! Ya take that Manti (slash South Sevier)!  My brother is awesome!!  I’m so proud! What position does he play?

(Note from Sonja: We told Emily about Nathan being signed up for 3 powwows this month and how he is not that happy about it haha)

He will have fun at the BYU Powwow. I remember at BYU there were always a million scouts running around but I think that was in the summer time.  Fun though. 

This week I was on exchanges with Hna Porter’s trainees and we got called in to do some service in the whole mission-wide size (from Lodi to Turlock) Scout Camp.  There were a bunch of scrawny Nathan’s running around shooting bows and arrows and army crawling and American flags and I am not even kidding I just started crying.  Not like sorrow cry, but Grandpa Taylor kind of cry.  The beautiful life moment thing kind of cry.  It was great and the sky was blue blue which I always love.  Good times.  

(Note from Sonja: We told Emily that Elissa had tried out for her first competition routine of the year and was selected even though her lift group fell )

hahaha Elissa wiping out.  I’m glad that she made it still.  I am excited to see her dance!  She is my motivation to become flexible because I remember she wasn’t and now she super is, and I’m not but I hope to be soon.  

What job did Lizzy end up getting???   I love football!

I am pretty sure my return date is the Wednesday in the early afternoon........ like January 26th or something :) I hit 15 months this week and the 100 day countdown down....... WHAT?!?! 

(Note from Sonja: I told Emily about a show Darren watched where the cops planted cars with keys in the ignition to see how long it took before they were stolen. The show took place in Manteca!! Nice…)

That is super funny about the car stealing show. I want to watch it, too so I can point out all the places I recognize! Manteca can get kind of scary in parts but it’s not bad.  Haha what are the odds…that is so random.  

Good moment of this week we went with Leilani out for some Thai food.  I AM IN  LOVE WITH CURRY.  SERIOUSLY PEOPLE.  IT IS SOOO GOOOD.

 I am running out of time.  It was a rough week. I was depressed about Spanish.  Exxxxo was depressed.  I was never in my area.   All the problems of other people become your problems because you are their Sister Training Leader.  We had some fights (not us -  the Sister’s we cover – but everything was so hard as we were not communicating  very well, either).  Waaaahhhhhhhwwwwaaaahhhhh.   My companion and I got really distant from each other.  I thought she was always shooting my ideas down. I felt like I was just getting run over… know what I mean? Like why even try if nothing I say even matters. So I would be suuuper silent. I throw pity parties for me in my head sometimes.  You know how I made that pride reference to how stupid it was and people should just get over it??  Yep … never judging anyone again (EVER) because I behaved in some pretty embarrassing ways due to it.  Then this Sunday the lesson was on pride hahaha. I am definitely learning some better communication skills that is for sure.   I decided NO MORE.  Communication 852 that’s for sure! I’m passing this class! I know I have problems communicating, let alone helping other people communicate.   I have been studying the talk "Come What May and Love It" and sometimes I laugh at myself when I get annoyed haha.  So that has helped.  But my comp definitely deserves a hug.

CXXXXS IS BAPTIZED! SE BAUTIZO! BAUTIZADO!

It isn’t really a surprise because we have been working with him for about 6 weeks now, AND he is totally prepared.  His father is one of my favorite people here in Manteca (Cxxxxs Hernandez Sr.) and he has been baptized for one year now.  He was the only member in his family.  He is constantly studying the scriptures.  He is the father also of Axxxxn who is my favorite kid in Manteca!  He is hilarious.  

 Axxxxn and Axxan (little boy in first picture) were being a bit irreverent so I asked them to draw a picture of Junior getting baptized.  This is Axxxxn's picture.  I gave it to Hermano to keep forever :)

So I was really excited.  But Cxxxxxs Jr is amazing!  When his family wasn’t going to church he went by himself to a little Christian church!  Then his dad really plead with him to come to church with him, and now he says that he knows without a doubt that this church is the true one!  He is really good at reading scriptures.  He doesn’t worry so much about knowing exactly everything that is happening, but is really good at picking out principles that he can apply in his life.  He is awesome!

This is a picture of Axxxxn at the baptism. He was super funny because he was like,"I want to get baptized! I want to get baptized!" He kept saying it over and over.    Then he was like "my dad called me a bad word!"

"What did he call you??!"  

"Callate"  hahahahahahah which means be quiet a little roughly hahaha it was hilarious.  We are so good buds we have a secret handshake.  I love this family!  They are amazing!  He talks so cute.  He sounds like he is from New Jersey if that makes sense haha.  Someday you will meet him too!

Hermana Carpenter and I have done 4.5 exchanges this week!  People there are only 7 days in a week.  I felt like I didn’t even remember who my companion was, or Manteca town, but I am grateful for the beautiful end of a rough week.  We have now done exchanges with all the sisters so now we can start focusing in on what they need.  

On exchanges we were outside talking to people and found a chili on the ground next to the bush........ so we ate it!! hahah #hermanas 

I love being able to get to know so many awesome hermanas!

Not even kidding we need more Sister Training Leaders, or need to become traveling Sister missionaries because it has been rough on the area and everything!  Too many things to do that’s for sure!  I go to bed at 10 every night and still feel tired in the morning. I am learning a lot though! I am so happy with all that is going on in my life! LOTS OF GOOD THINGS!

You are all good things in my life too.  Thanks for your emails!  

Love Hna Sheffer