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

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