Hello!

Hello Friends and Family!

It's a BEAUTIFUL day in Castro Valley, California! It's unbelievable that we're coming up on the end of February already, time is flying by, especially as I'm working hard to serve those around me to the best of my ability. 

So in case any of you didn't get the latest news: I've been transferred again! Transfers are craziness but they are also amazing. Sister Lau is my new companion, she entered the MTC the same week as I did, but she's been in the field a transfer longer than me. She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English and has served her first 6 months in the Chinese program in Oakland, and as I've spent all my mission thus far bouncing around in the Spanish program, It came to both of us as a BIG SHOCK to find out we we're being paired up together and shot-gunning (which means both of us are brand-new to the area) in an English program no less! But let me tell you, even from the first day we have been seeing amazing miracles! Castro Valley is just incredible. We are the only missionaries in the Ward, which is an adjustment because BOTH of the Spanish branches I have been in before we had 6 missionaries! So the pressure's on a bit, but on the other hand I have NEVER been in an English ward that is so involved in missionary work! It is incredible. So I know that Heavenly Father is blessing us a TON to have the opportunity to serve here and He's really counting on us to make the most of the amazing love and support here. We already have a Baptism next week! Sister Ure and sister Hunsaker, the incredible missionaries whom we just replaced, were working so hard and seeing amazing miracles and I know it broke their hearts to leave, and I see why, this ward really is like a big family. 

So cool story: our first day in Castro Valley we already had members signed up to feed us and we went and had dinner with the Schiller family. They are just the coooolest ever. So anyways, we get to talking and Sister Schiller mentions that she grew up in Houston Texas and learned Spanish there. So when I asked her which part of Houston she was sure that I wouldn't recognize it, but she said "Baytown" and I said WHAT?! my parents live in La Porte! and we're like, "small world!" and she asked me if I knew her Grandparents who just happen to be Herman and Arlene Berges!! and she was blown away to find out that he was my Patriarch! So yeah, the world got even smaller and it was just such a blessing to find that closeness to home even on the first day in a brand-new area. Such tender mercies. Sister Lau and I are going to continue working on our teaching skills in English and getting to know Castro Valley inside and out! I'll keep you posted on exciting mission-life! Remember to count your blessings and share with those around you just how much you love them through your words and actions!

Love love love,

Sister Mitchell

new news-ful news!

Hello Family and Friends!!!

Not much time to write today, just that I'm doing well, working hard and learning as much as I can as I teach. We got our transfer calls this last Saturday. YEP! I'm being transferred again! and there's a catch: I'm going ENGLISH! crazy right?! Just as I'm getting really comfortable with my Spanish. My new area is Castro Valley, I've been there before on exchanges before and it's really nice. I'm only slightly bummed, but mostly excited! I just love that Spanish language and culture so much! But I know there are many many things to learn in my new area! My new companion will be sister Lau, She's fron Hong-Kong! We're both going to be brand new to the area and I'm sure it will be full of amazing experiences! I'm going to miss sister Ferguson a TON, we've been seeing lots of miracles here and learning a lot together. But that's how the Lord works, giving us new opportunities to learn and grow once we're ready for them. Always remember to count your blessings and serve one another. 2 Nephi 26:30

con amor,

Hermana Mitchell

:)

Buenas Tardes!!! Here's another weekly update from Hermana Mitchell! It's already the last week of the transfer, and I can't believe how quickly it's flown by here with Hna. Ferguson. Hayward is sunny and beautiful and FULL of missionary experiences. This last week has been HARD. all week after the Torres family happily committed to baptism, It has been IMPOSSIBLE to get a hold of them. None them answer their phones, and when they do, it's to cancel with us... they wouldn't give us the time of day at all and it was so frustrating. We FINALLY found Angelica at home this last Saturday night, like, 8 or 9 days after she committed to be baptized and as we were talking to her outside, her son Brandon came around the corner on his bike and when he saw us at the door he BOLTED! It was so sad! We don't really know what happened, but we need to do SUMTHIN to eliminate this awkward barrier that has suddenly come up. It's not looking like the baptism date will stick, Hna Ferguson and I are praying to know if we should give them a break for a while and come back later or keep up trying hard now to support them in preparing to make this life-changing step! siiiigh. 

We had a Zone Conference on Friday and it was so AWESOME! the theme was "Finding" and it was definitely inspired. We've been working with the same bunch of investigators all transfer (and long before too) and even though they have good intentions, they're not taking the time out of their busy lives for the Lord. It's like we just keep on going in circles with them and we've taken the initiative and counsel from the Mission President to practice and improve our finding skills to broaden our teaching pool. We have seen miracles as we have focused on this over the past few days! last night we were contacting a former investigator to see if she's interested in learning again and on the way back to the car we ended up knocking on a door. A very nice English-speaking lady opened to us, apologized and said she was a Jehova's Witness but wished us luck and safety. Before she shut the door we asked if she new any Spanish-speakers in the area and she pointed to a door right across the street and mentioned that the family living there is probably Catholic. So we gladly went right over!! They were SO awesome! Gillermo, Magdelena and 4 energetic kids ranging from ages 2 to 13! They were all ADORABLE. The parents said they were Catholic by tradition (which was obvious by their giant painting of the Virgin Mary kissing the Pope on the head right inside the door) but aren't active in any church. After talking at the door for about 5 minutes about our missionary purpose and the love of God, they invited us in and we ended up having a great time with them--learning about their lives and sharing about ours and how the gospel has blessed us and why we're even on missions in the first place! Magdelena vends tamales every Sunday and she even gave us some--the best EVER! We shared part of the message of the Restoration with them and they said that over the 12 years they'd lived there they've had missionaries from different churches come to their door, but but all they would ever do is open the window for them and talk through to share their message--they've never actually invited anybody to come in, but they invited us in and It was so special how the Lord put them in our paths. We are SO excited to see them again this week and talk more about they way God has reached out again in love to us, His children by calling a prophet to lead and guide us in this difficult life.

I LOVE being a missionary, I'm happier than I've ever been and I know that it's the light of the true and restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't take it for granted if you have it. Reach out to those around you and share it with those who don't! And if you're looking for it, find the missionaries! We love to teach it :) I love you ALLL!
Have a beautiful week.
Hermanita Mitchell

********Note: Pictures from Kristin's BIRTHDAY have been added to the January 29th post!********

Hola!

Hola Familia y Amigos! This week has been amazing! It started with some bad news, turns out Joseph won't be baptized this Saturday, He's letting the noise of the world get to him and is beginning to doubt a lot, said he's not going to do it. But I know that he knows it's true, he's just got to tune out that noise and static of the negative things around him make that step! I'm still praying for him and the missionaries that will continue to teach him. BUT here in Hayward we are working with a little family and they are just amazing, the Mom, Angelica, is incredible, she works so long and so hard just to provide for her family. the oldest boy, Brandon who's 16, was recently in prison for... something... but he is so humble, he is making big changes in his life and gives the most sincere prayers, and there's little Juliana, she's 10 and just so bright and sensitive to the spirit. We had a really amazing lesson with them this last week about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what we all need to do here on earth to return to live again with God and our families forever and they all said that they want to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized! It's just amazing! The thing is now they need to show their desire and commitment to God by actually going to church and reading and praying (which they haven't really done yet) so we'll be working HARD with them! Being a missionary is amazing, I'm learning soooo much and doing my best to teach from my heart, in unity with Hermana Ferguson, with the Spirit guiding us. I'm understanding and speaking more and more, and I can feel the love and support from all of you, from my Savior, and from my Heavenly Father every day.
All my love, until next week,
Hermana Mitchell