new NEWS!!

So here's the latest scoop on Hermana Mitchell:

I guess I've been loving Castro Valley too much, because it's time for me to go again! I've been called to a new (full-proselyting) area called Brentwood (everyone says either "It's beautiful there!" or "you'll be HOT!" which in both cases I'm exited about, because I'm always cold) and I'll be serving in English still, and (drum-roll please) I'll be TRAINING! Last week President Meredith called me and said the Lord has a special assignment for me to train one of the young new missionaries, and I know that President Meredith is inspired by the Lord so I told him that I trust him, and he said "Well, the Lord trusts you!" So that's that. I'm going to miss it here, and Sister Lau has taught me so much and really helped me prepare for training without me even realizing it! So here we go! I'll miss the VC too, but I knew I'd be going full-pros sooner or later. And as far as Spanish goes... we'll just have to see about that... I feel like I've been so blessed to have had 3 good transfers in Spanish and I hope to return to it again someday--there are some sisters called to Spanish who have spent their entire missions in English. It's all about where the Lord needs us and when. So I'll just keep practicing! So that's that! New experiences are right around the corner! 5th transfer, 4th area, 4th compaion, Training (AAAAAHHH!), Full-Pros, Shot-gunning, English, and countless children of God to find, love, and serve! I love being a MISSIONARY--it's so HARD! :D but that's what makes it so good.

always Remember to put your trust in the Lord, and He will direct you for good! Proverbs 3:5-6.

Un gran abrazo de

Hermana Mitchell

exchanges and artichokes!

Hello my dear family and friends! I love being a missionary in the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission! It's incredible how the Lord really is working alongside all of us in His missionary work. This week was hard, I went on 2 exchanges, both times they took Sister Lau away and left me to be the driver and organizer and everything! Well, I've been the driver all transfer, but still--It was stressfull! Everything is so fast-paced here in this mission and I'm learning so much about efficiency... a quality that I don't think I've ever had... Sister Lau is one of the most efficient missionaries I've seen, I know that that's one of the many reasons the Lord put us together--I just hope she's learning something from me too! So we had 4 investigator lessons fall through this week, but we still saw miracles. 

My first exchange this week was with Sister Oa, from Samoa. She's brand new to the field and she's a BLAST! it's her first time in the states and we had a great time. We had an awesome lesson planned with Gerry (a father of 3 who's wife recently converted) at the Bishop's house, but Gerry told us that we wanted some "me-time" .... so we did some media referral contacting, this man named Joseph was finally home, He's from Persia, speaks 8 different languages, believes very strongly in Christ and is a follower of Him, but wonders why every church he's been to has so much contention within it. We talked with him for a few minutes and set up a return appointment and invited him to church--the coolest part is that HE CAME! He really liked it and has lots of really good & genuine questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His wife passed away 2 years ago and it's so clear that the Lord has been preparing him to receive the gospel. We can't wait to see where this goes! 

My 2nd exchange was with none other than my trainer, Sister Garcia. She is now a VC sister trainer and it was just like old times again--but better! she spoke Spanish with me ALL DAY (except for in tours and lessons) and I was comforted to know that my understanding level is still way high, it's all about keeping up the practice so my mouth and brain don't forget how to speak it! We both had our first experience with eating artichokes too! We had dinner with Sister Stadleman, She's in the Stake Relief Socity Presidency and the dinner was so proper and peaceful. It was really strange being there with Sister Garcia because I had flash-backs of the crazy meals we had with the members of the Spanish Branch and it was just so backwards! It was a blast though, we learned how to eat artichokes and they're REALLY GOOD! anyway, the night went on and we had an appointment fall through, but I felt really strongly to go visit a family in the ward--the husband a wife were recently sealed in the temple, and they have a step-son, Brandon, who has never wanted anything to do with the the Church--until last Sunday when he came to hear his family speak. He said that at church he felt like he was home! So we went to see if we could have a chat with him and it turned into the Restoration lesson!  MIRACLE! Even though Sister Garcia and I haven't taught together for months, we were so unified and balanced in our teaching--I learned more about how the Holy Ghost speaks to me personally and how very important listening is. I'm so grateful for that exchange too. They really are to help us learn and grow, and give us new goals to reach within our own companionship.

Sister Lau and I had an FHE with Brandon's family last night and we taught the Plan of Salvation. Brandon wants to learn, but he's not so keen on the spiritual aspect of it all yet--very logical person--the concept of prayer and the atonement are pretty foreign to him, but we'll keep praying for him and doing our best to communicate in a way that he can understand and feel the spirit. He's seen what happiness the gospel has brought his Dad and step-Mother, so that's really positive. 

Well, my time is up, but I'm so grateful for your love and prayers and the ways you support the missionary work. Keep it up! Heavenly Father a purpose for each of us, have faith in Him! Study the scriptures daily! Pray to have charity for those around you! I love Alma 32, especially verses 27-43. 

LES QUIERO!!!!

Hermana Mitchell

Hola!

Hey there all you who care! It's P-day again and Sister Mitchell has another chance to write!!! I just want to thank you all for your prayers and support, the mission field is so hard and so amazing at the same time! This week has been awesome. Sister Lau and I are working more in harmony lately --everything really has been an adjustment for us, new cultures, teaching styles, stress-coping styles, and even just trying to communicate has been a struggle--but we both love the Lord and want to serve Him the very best we can, so every day is getting better and better! The second week into this transfer, I received a little note in my inbox from my Mission President--he must have known Sister Lau and I would be going through some not-easy transitions in the different language programs and he said, "It is a compliment when the Lord trusts missionaries enough to move them back and forth between programs. I don't feel spiritually confident doing that with everyone." That little note helped me so much. I realized that the Lord gives us challenges and responsibilities because He knows we can accomplish them and learn from them along the way. And when we finally reach that level, He gives us something new to help us grow a little more. The last couple of weeks have been much better and this transfer is suddenly flying by--so we're going to make it count!

Noelle was baptized on Saturday and it was really special! The spirit was SO strong, Noelle is 21 years old and has sought God in many different stages throughout her life and when she bore her testimony about how God reached out to her and she couldn't close the door on Him, it really touched my heart. I know that we can all be instruments in the Lords hands, just like those sister missionaries who felt prompted to stop at her door that night a couple of months ago. 

Yesterday we had a special Stake Conference and we heard from Elder Causse from the quorum of the seventy. He also talked about how all we can be instruments in the Lord's hands. We need to pray for missionary experiences, be neighborly to everyone, and Invite! If we are living in a way that the spirit can guide us, and we're willing to act on his promptings, we WILL be instruments in the hand of the Lord. So last night we had a shift in the Visitors' Center and guess who came in with his family?? Elder Causse again! Sister Lau and I got to take them on a tour and it was SO great :D They loved the VC, and there's something really special about the Oakland Temple--the second level terrace is open to the public to walk around on top--and the view of the Bay is just breathtaking. The sunset was beautiful last night and it's amazing how much love I feel from the Lord, I'm so grateful for the mission He has sent me to.

As far as the Spanish goes... let's just put that on hold ;)

Keep on counting your blessings, and don't forget CPR (Church, Pray, Read) it'll save your life!

Un GRAN abrazo de

Hermana Mitchell

Castro Valley

HELLO family and friends! It has been an amazing week being a missionary in Castro Valley, California! It's such a great place to be, really special people here. We're working on Noelle's Baptismal program for this Saturday! Noelle is amazing. She has been through a lot in her life and is making really incredible changes that she knows will change her future. It's such a special time! We were trying to teach her Mom, but she would just show us pictures of Noelle's Catholic communion and she's still pretty set in her ways, BUT It's also clear that the choices her daughter is making is softening her heart, and it's really special to see that. Sister Lau and I had our first orange-picking experience here in California and they are DELICIOUS!  best oranges I've ever had in my entire live, I've been eating a couple oranges a day for the whole week now, and I'm not tired of them yet!!! Heavenly Father is still blessing me with amazing opportunities to use my Spanish in the Visitor's Center, which really is a tender mercy, I know I'm not practicing much, but it still keeps me on my toes to be ready for when a Spanish-speaking family happens to come into the VC and needs assistance! It doesn't seem entirely fair to sister Lau, more Spanish families come in than Chinese families, But she still smiles and is right beside me the whole time :) She's an amazing companion by the way, we're both learning a ton because we're having to adjust a ton, and that's been really hard, but those hard things make everything worth while. I hope you all a healthy and happy week, remember to thank Heavenly Father for all you have and pray for opportunities to share your blessings with the people around you. Jacob 2:18

abrazos y besitos! 

Hermana Mitchell