Amazing Missionary Moments

Dearest Family and Friends:

Things went really well this week. The big news is that the trio is now just the lonely duo. We are getting through it. I think it is really good preparation for Sister Frost though, so she didn't have do all the changes by herself. After we dropped Hermana Jackson off at 4:30 on Monday we went to Wendy's and cried a lot. It was really hard. We were in a weird little funk, but since then we've been working hard and finding, finding, finding.

Some cool experiences from this week:

Cool Lesson Moments:

*We went to go see a Less Active/Part Member Family named Hermana Cruz this week, her husband isn't a member. Her daughter is 8 and hasn't been baptized. So we are going to teach them the lessons again to see if we can #1 prepare her daughter for baptism and #2 help the mom come back to church. The Hermana had told me before that her husband wasn't interested. But, we went over twice this last week and he sat in on BOTH of the lessons. It was a miracle he was even there! I had never met him in the 5 months I've been here because he works a lot. What are the chances? The second lesson we taught was the Restoration and we didn't even get past prophets until he started asking TONS of questions that he's had in the past. He told us that he has been to lots of churches and never felt anything, but that he wants to feel something. 

*When I was on exchanges last week the sisters picked up an investigator named Vanessa. She is really cool. We had an appointment with her on Thursday and taught her the first part of the Restoration. The next day we were in her apartment complex for another family we visit and she asked us to come over again because she is moving out to a rehab place where we might not be able to visit. We went over and finished the restoration. After we talked about the first vision she looked really pensive. I asked her what she was thinking or feeling. She said "I've never felt this before. I can't describe it; it feels like God is right here with us." We committed her to read the Book of Mormon and when we left she was already reading it so intently! SO COOL!!!! She said she would be baptized and that she had been praying for someone to help her change… and then we met her!

Coolest Finding Moment:

*A couple of weeks ago we met a woman who was amazing and wanted us to come over. This week we were able to actually have a lesson with her. She is excited for us to help her learn so she can teach her kids. She doesn't know too much about God or religion....especially because she called her catholic prayer necklace a 'Rosemary' instead of a Rosary. It was really sad because I showed her kids (probably ages 4-9) a picture of Jesus Christ and they had no idea who he was. She told us that she has never really talked to her kids about that kind of stuff but she knows she should. 

Tender Mercy Moment:

*This week Cynthia (a nonmember in a part member family we are working with) decided to go to seminary. Here the school year just started today.... so it was SOOO AWESOME! She had originally said 'no' to doing seminary, but yesterday while we taught the YW lesson, a young woman bore her testimony really strong about seminary!!!

It's been really really awesome here! I love it!!! I spoke in Sacrament yesterday....and 3 weeks before that. And 2 weeks ago Sister Jackson and I sang Grande Eres Tu (How Great Thou Art) together as well. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!!!! 

Thanks for all of your prayers and faith! 

Love  Hermana Wright

One great experience after another...

This week was awesome! I love this place and I love my mission. This week went by like all the others, super fast, but super awesome! 

We got the chance to go to the Stake Missionary Correlation meeting. They wanted us to share our experience about working with Less Actives. He said that in January on average our stake had 18 less active members at church. But that in July our average was 53!!!! In our ward alone we got 23 Less Active members to church last week! SO AMAZING! The people here are so great! That really strengthened my testimony that we are doing what the Lord wants here in the Rancho ward! 

Lake Gregory

Cool experience

 

*On exchanges this week we went to go contact some people. At one house a man named Jason answered the door (not Julie, the one we were looking for...). We started talking to him about his religious background. He is Christian and then he told us that he receives visions. I asked him what his latest vision was. He said, "I'll show you". He went inside and we all looked at each other confused. He came out and said that one day at church he saw Jesus Christ extending his hands to the congregation. He then unfolded a paper that had..... Get this....the picture we have in all of our church buildings of the second coming (Jesus in white robe with angels surrounding him). We were all in shock. I asked where he got that picture. He said that he had looked online to find exactly what it had looked like and that was the one!!!! SO COOL! So hopefully the sisters get to work with him!!!!! AMAZING experience!

 

On exchanges with Sisters in Crestline.
They live in a cabin on Lake Gregory.

I went on 2 exchanges this week. So that made things go by really fast. Sister Jackson goes home today so we are all a little emotional. But, she is amazing! I am really grateful to have had her as one of my companions! We have had some really fun and amazing times!!!!!!!!



Pioneer Day hats.

I love my mission! And I love all of you!!!
Hermana Wright

Crestline Ward Pioneer Day Celebration.

I LOVE MY MISSION!

Last Zone Conf...Me & Hrm Erickson

Hola Familia:

This week was really good! I love this place! I love my mission! Just some quick moments from this week:

 

Updates: 

-Eric, Kassidy's son (less active) we are working with...who is the coolest and I love her! She keeps her house so clean, we actually call it the Celestial Kingdom. She literally cleans everyday including baseboards!!!! She's an angel! She is going to help me figure out how to get ink out of my skirt.), Erik is getting baptized soon, he is 8. She is really excited and we had a great lesson about the Plan of Salvation this week. There is no better way to help people see the importance of baptism than teaching them about the purpose of this life, which is to progress and make covenants. Her husband is not a member, but all of his family is really strong in our ward. In fact, at this point I think he is the only nonmember in all of his family. He is really liking that the kids are changing and we are having them memorize scriptures and recite them to him. His family is praying so hard that he will get baptized!!!

-Hermana Lopez is the cutest!! She is a Less Active as well. Yesterday we had a lesson with her and she told us, "Al verlas, voy a regresar a la iglesia." (Seeing you guys, I am coming back to church....it makes a lot more sense in Spanish....sorry). So awesome!!!!

-Hermana Vera is probably one of my very favorite members. She is Less Active but has come to church the last 3 Sundays in a row! She loves the Book of Mormon and is just hungry to understand. We are re-teaching her the lessons and reading with her to build her faith! She's amazing and has 11 kids, by the way. 

-Hermana Corona dropped us this week. She said she wasn't ready to make a decision yet. That's fine though. Hermana Frost was pretty crushed, but life will move on. We have lots of other cool people!

Hermana's Frost, Wright, Marler
Zone Conference

-We went on exchanges this week, I stayed here with Hermana Frost and Sister Bates (From the mountains). It went really well, it was a little stressful, as always, but it was really good!

Favorite Lesson:

-This week we had an AMAZING lesson with la Familia Lara. We had been wondering if they were really interested. We watched the Restoration with them and then we talked afterwards. They talked about how much they wanted to know which church is true. He was so worried about 'not feeling it' about the Book of Mormon, but with the spirit we helped him see that he WILL receive his answer!

 

Favorite Study moment:

-I studied a cool talk this week about Teaching doctrine by David A Bednar. A lot of times we teach applications when we should be teaching Doctrine. The doctrine is what motivates the people to act. Doctrines are like the Plan of Salvation , Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, etc.. Principles are how we apply those doctrines in our lives (ex. Faith, Repentance, and Baptism are all principles and are the only way to apply the Atonement). Applications are like motivating people to read the book of Mormon by offering them a candy at the end of the week.  Applications and Principles are still very important, but remember that "True doctrine understood changes thoughts and behavior more than a study of behavior will change behavior..." (not a direct quote). 

Random Miracle Moment:

- Palaez: This week I have been thinking about this random member family I have never met. We were going to go see them but ran out of time. At ward council a member brought them up and said she thinks they are ready to come back to church!

 

-Bianeyda: Found this cool former investigators teaching record. She sounded awesome so we went to go see her. Instead we found out she moved, but her sister told us how she just decided to take her kids to a church, before we could even ask, she asked us to come over!!!

That's it for this week!   

Love you all!!!!

Hermana Wright



Zone Conference.
Left to right. Marstella and Bates(Mountains sisters and our STL assignment),
Marler and Anderson (Highland Sisters and our STL Assignment),
Frost, Wright, ___, Dalton and Bates (our roommates),
Stalder and Erickson (Redlands and our STL assignment).

Elders Nickel & Craven serve in our ward and are the only ones whose names I know..



 

11 Less Activites at Church - So AMAZING!!

I will keep it short and sweet this week. (It seems like I say that every week).  Basically, I LOVE MY MISSION! 

Yesterday was such a rewarding day. We had 11 Less Actives at church! SO AMAZING! And guess who the sacrament speaker was. Hermana Mendoza! It really was such a sweet experience for me (yes, involving some tears) to hear my recent convert speak in sacrament. She is the only one I've ever been able to watch. I just felt so proud and blessed to know such a wonderful person. 

Also the Elders passed us over a part member family that they had been working with. Cynthia, the daughter, isn't a member. A few weeks ago she said she wouldn't go to Girls camp, but we talked her into it and now she's GOING!!!!! YES! I have full confidence it will change her life and she will get baptized when she comes back! 

Things are going really well. I love my companions; I am in a trio still. We did exchanges this week. I just love helping people! It was really beneficial. 

Funniest Quote:

*One day, in my testimony, I used the word 'Dramastically', and everybody laughed...I actually had no idea that wasn't a word.

* This morning Sister Frost read a scripture that talked about how God stood in the 'midst' of his children (I think she was reading in Abraham), and she went on to tell us how we were all standing in the 'mist' together. Sister Jackson and I shared a secret chuckle! haha 

 Favorite Study Moment:

I just want to share something quick from my studies. It's from True to the Faith:

"A testimony of the plan of salvation can give you hope and purpose as you wrestle with the challenges of life. You can find reassurance in the knowledge that you are a child of God and that you lived in His presence before you were born on the earth. You can find meaning in your present life, knowing that your actions during mortality influence your eternal destiny. With this knowledge, you can base important decisions on eternal truths rather than on the changing circumstances of life. You can continually improve your relationship with family members, rejoicing in the promise that your family can be eternal. You can find joy in your testimony of the Atonement and the Lord’s commandments, ordinances, covenants, and doctrines, knowing that “he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”  (D&C 59:23)."

I love this gospel! It gives us our purpose. The path God has shown us is made up of principles and covenants. If we follow HIS plan we will be guided back home. 

I love you!   Hermana Wright

New Mission President

Beloved family and friends:

This week was awesome! Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!

Funniest Moment and Favorite Lesson moment:

This week, we had a lesson with la familia Corona, they are awesome.  She has 6 kids. This time we finished the restoration and committed them to be baptized. Right before we asked them to be baptized the Hermana had the biggest smile, like she knew exactly what we were going to ask her. They are seriously the coolest family ever! All 6 kids are ready for us when we come over and they sit patiently through the lesson. And they understand!!

The funny moment came when we were waiting for her to answer the baptismal commitment, and she waited to answer.....so Hermana Jackson got out of her chair and knelt down on the floor where the Hermana was sitting on the ground and held her hand and promised her some beautiful blessings. Only bad thing was that it looked like an engagement....... But I guess it was an engagement… with God.

 One more:
This week while we were in the church, Sister Jackson tried to catch a baby lizard, but ended up killing it. We got it all on camera, she may or may not have cried. Haha!

 

Coolest Moment:

This week we met President Dixon, (our new Mission President) who is awesome.  We had MLC with him on Thursday.  Because Sister Frost was a little bitter that she didn't get to meet him, we invited him to our lesson with Hermano Mendoza. It was really great. President Dixon is so loving and supportive!

 

Things are going really well!  I LOVE THIS PLACE!  Have a happy safe Fourth of July! 

Love, Hermana Wright

 

Spiders, Spain and Super Lessons

Good Morning/Afternoon/Night!!!! Thank you for tuning in this week! Things are going REALLY well! We love our ward!!!! They are really pressing forward! 

Funniest Moment: 

* So this week was full of funny moments. There was one night where Sister Frost freaked out because there was a large spider in our room. So Sister Jackson and I rushed in. Immediately, Sister Jackson starts screaming and crouches in a ball in her bed. I, being the brave one, killed the spider (and only threw one thing at Sister Jackson to quiet her). The best part is that it is all on camera. (In hind sight, it was really not that funny.....but it was hilarious in the moment. Maybe it's because it's so hot… we come home sweaty and mostly delusional...and at that point EVERYTHING seems funny)

*There was one day that we were packing up to go out and Sister Jackson told me that if I were any other race I would probably be from a country in South America, Spain probably. We laughed for a good little while. And now we are working on our Geography in Companionship study. 

Spiritual Moment: 

*Yesterday, Brianda came to a lesson with us to teach la familia Lara. She was so excited to bear her testimony. She cried and the spirit just filled the room. She was beaming. She couldn't hold in her excitement!!!! 

*We also had a lesson with one of my favorite Less Active members. Cassy! She is SOOO awesome! We talked about Eternal families. She confided in us and told us how unworthy she felt to wear her garments and come back to church. We got to share some scriptures about how god doesn't expect us to pay anything back to him for the years, months, or days we have gone astray. He loves us so much that he just asks us to start today. Just like if you haven't been paying your tithing, he doesn't ask you to pay the money for the times you missed, he just asks you to start paying your tithing now. It's SO much more than money! It's SO much more than paying him back!!!!!! He wants us! That's it! With all of our imperfections! She started to cry softly. They committed to come to church. When she came to church on Sunday   1) she was wearing her garments and    2) the Primary president came up to us and said, "I don't know what you are doing with Cassy, but keep doing it, because it's working." Cassy's husband is not a member, so we are hoping to start working with him. 

Favorite Lesson Moment:

*This week we taught our favorite investigator family, la familia Corona. THEY ARE SO AWESOME! The Hermana has 6 or 7 kids...I don't remember exactly. When we came to their house they were all ready, all 6 kids! Sitting there.... WOW! We taught them the restoration and it was awesome! The Hermana said that she was willing to keep her mind open. So we will see where that goes! She told us that she has seen a difference in how her kids act when we come over. The spirit is AWESOME!!!!!

Most Interesting Moment:

*So I have neglected to fill you in. A couple weeks ago we got a referral for a woman at the Patton State Mental Hospital. The first week we went over and had to get background checks.... the next time we went over we taught a lesson through the telephone and glass (YES THE KIND YOU SEE IN MOVIES ONLY....except I EXPERIENCED THIS ONE IN REAL LIFE!!!!!!!!). This last time, we taught her the Restoration and we actually got to have a 'contact visit' (That's prison vocab friends...yes I am already up to date with all of the words!!!!!!!). It was a really interesting lesson, and experience. I will keep you updated! 

Well that's it for this week folks! I love you all! Have a great week! Keep living the Gospel, smile and wave at someone today! 

Love you!

Hermana Wright

Temple, Exchanges and Hot HOT HOT

 Dearest Family and Friends:

This week has been a really good one! We got to go to the temple with Brianda and did baptisms for the dead (we watched). She was so excited!!!!! 

It has been EXTREMELY HOT HERE!!!!!! But, I guess it's probably hotter in the desert. But, I love it so much! 

This week:

*Went to the temple

*Did 2 exchanges--1 in the Mountains with Sister Bates and Marstella and 1 with our roommates who cover our same area but in English (Sister Bates and Dalton). They went really well. I have absolutely loved being a Sister Training Leader. It has really forced me to become the missionary/person that God wants me to be. What a blessing. I really have relied on my calling so much more than I thought I would. It is cool to see how our personal experiences in our area is helping those we serve.

*Armando came to church again! I probably haven't talked too much about him.... He is really interesting. We haven't been able to a have a lesson with him recently. He is the one whose brother in law is a member. He was really argumentative in our first lesson and I had to whip him back into shape. :) just kidding. But then he came to church the day after that lesson. Yeah, that's Armando. I am pretty sure he will get baptized, but we will see. 

*Sister Clarke goes home tomorrow!!!!! and President Van Cott leaves this next Monday !!! 

*The ward had a father's day fiesta. It was really awesome and fun! 

It has been a fun-filled, hard work week! I love it!!!!!! Thanks for all of your support! Keep being the great members you are!!!!

Love Hermana Wright

What a Week !

This week I have 3 main highlights--

1) This week I got to go to the departing missionary temple trip. I still have a while, but because our mission president is leaving he wanted us to have the chance to go. Also, we don't want the other mission president to be too stressed when over 26 missionaries leave (and it will be his first transfer.)  That is a lot of missionaries! 

We went to the temple! LOVED IT! And we had lunch with the Van Cotts. They gave us all sorts of life advice- marriage, dating, parenting, career, schooling, and staying converted. It was really awesome! I love the Van Cotts. I think I love them so much because they remind me of my very own parents. They have deep, abiding testimonies. Both husbands make jokes and love to make people laugh. Both wives are firm mothers with forte's in cleanliness, primary songs, and discipline.  



Brianda & Chris's baptism.

2)  Saturday was the day that Brianda and Chris got baptized! It was such a special service. We had such a great support from the ward. They are such great people. It was a great service! Short but powerful! Brianda was so happy!  On Sunday she was talking about how she knows Satan will still try to tempt her but,  now she has the Holy Ghost to help her (**Last part said with a high pitched squeal**). I love her so much! She is such a miracle and a blessing!!!!!

Benito Gonzalez's Baptism

3) Literally, immediately after Brianda and Chris got baptized, I left for the desert with Chila (a recent convert in our ward) and her nonmember friend. We got there with time to spare and I got to see all my family there! They are still awesome!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THAT PLACE!!!!!!! Then Benito Gonzalez got baptized! He is such a powerhouse. He bore his testimony (not the first time!) at the service and thanked his missionaries. He told the story of how we first met, and how he has loved reading the Book of Mormon. HE IS SUCH A GREAT MAN!!!!!!!!!!! 

I LOVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE! I am so grateful for this mission God has given me. These people have become a part of my heart and life for eternity. I know that it is a blessing to be a part of this work. God could do it himself if he wanted to, but instead he allows ordinary people like us to be a part of the happiest moment of someone else's life! Thank you for all of your support and prayers! They are very needed and appreciated by everyone here! Thank you!

Love, Hermana Wright

 

This week...Baptisms & A Temple Trip

Family, Family, Family!

I am so excited for this week! I received some AWESOME! NEWS!

1) This week we get to go to the temple because President Van Cott is leaving and we are doing our departing temple trip early

2) BEN'S GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited! Maybe you don't remember him, but he was my investigator in the desert. The really cool one with a son that came to the church tour and baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!!!! I am so excited for him! 

3) Other news: BRIANDA's GETTING BAPTIZED TOO!!!! So, this Saturday the plan is, at 5pm we have Brianda and Chris' baptism, and then right after I will head out to the desert for Benito's baptism at 7pm...IT WILL BE SO AWESOME! Pray that everything will work out! I cannot miss either of them!!! 

Chris, if you didn't know...is Brianda's 9 year old son. He is a genius. Literally. At church yesterday he read 11 chapters in the Book of Mormon stories book, and when we went over last night to teach them, he had read 35ish chapters!!!! He is so awesome and knows everything there is to know about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He is such a great kid. He will be an awesome missionary. This week we started and finished teaching all of the commandments: so at church on Sunday Chris said he doesn't like Sunday anymore because his mom wont let him watch TV! SO CUTE! They tried on the baptismal suits after church and he was getting SO EXCITED! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Brianda also got to go to the temple this weekend with one of our members! She loved it!!!!! 

D&C18:15-16

Alma 26:3

I will keep it short this week! But, I love you all! Have a great week!!!!!

Hermana Wright

Fellowshipping, People in our Path and 'Throw-downs'

Dearest family and friends:

This week has been really good! I have to say that I love our investigator, Brianna, SOOOO MUCH!!! She really is such a miracle! Every lesson with her seems to be a lesson that answers questions she's always had. June 11th is approaching fast! But, she is so ready. Our ward is really doing a great job of fellowshipping her! She always has someone sitting by her and she is seriously besties with ALL of the Hermanas.

 



A horse waiting for the light???

She spent all of church yesterday talking to Hermana Mendoza (recent convert). Later Hermana Mendoza texted us to ask us to remind her about Brianna's birthday (this Friday) so she doesn't forget. WOW!!!

For now, I would like to share a couple experiences I have neglected to share in the last few weeks:

Rey.  One time we were doing language study in a park. On our way back to the car a man stopped us and we started talking. He said it was a sign that he needed to get closer to God. I read to him 3 Nephi 9:13. He really liked it and accepted a Book of Mormon. He said when he was ready he would contact us. Really cool to see how God works with each of his kids individually. He knows how to work with us and when to put someone in our path.

Another day as we were walking into a members apartment complex. There was no parking inside so we parked in another apartment complex close by. As we started to leave the car a man came out. We started talking to him. He said he saw us in the camera, and that he had come out to make sure nobody bothered us. We got talking and he told us that one of his sons had died as a baby and he always wondered where he was. I shared Moroni 8 with him, which talks about how little children are alive in Christ. He was so grateful that we answered one of the questions that he has had for years. He said he would start to read the Book of Mormon as well! So cool!

This week was a week that Hermana Jackson and Hermana Frost called a
'throw down' week. We had a lot of great opportunities to call people to repentance, which I don't usually like to do unless they make me frustrated :). Examples: Armando and Norma. They are investigators that the elders gave to us, and they have been taught for a really long time!  When we went in to determine if we should continue teaching them, they tried to start arguing about doctrine with us. We asked them a few times if they were ready to make necessary changes in their lives to come unto Christ. They kept beating around the bush, and arguing, until finally I interrupted them in their arguing and did what we call a 'throw down'. (That is when Hermana Wright has had enough.) I told them why we were there, and exactly what we expected them to do and asked them if they were interested. It got really quiet and everyone was kind of staring at me for a little bit. Norma finally said no and that she told all of the missionaries that she
wasn't interested but they kept coming over. Her brother said he wasn't really sure. So after that lesson we decide to stop visiting them. But then guess what, Armando came to church yesterday!!!! What?

Other highlights: Hermana Jackson and I sang in church yesterday. We sang Asombro me Da ('I Stand All Amazed.')  Everyone cried! It was so cool and the spirit was so strong! We did the last verse A Capella. It was one of the coolest experiences! I also spoke in church with Hermana Frost and Elder Nickel. I chose to speak on the sacrament.

It was a really good week!!!!! I love missionary work! Have a great week!!!
Love,  Hermana Wright

We love this healthy Mexican food!

Our new 3-some, Miracles & High Speed Chase

Familia and Friends!

This week has been another great one here in San Bernardino!!! Some exciting things have happened..., but the biggest news of all is transfers. For the next 5 weeks, we will be in a trio! Our new companion is Hermana Frost!!!!!!!! That's right, Hermana Jackson, Wright, AND Frost! CRAZY!!!!!!

Miracles:

-This week-- Brianda. I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She has literally been such a miracle! In her second lesson we came in and sat down with her and she said, "I want to prepare for my baptism, what do I need to do and when can I get baptized"...literally, that was the conversation starter!!!!!! She came to our ward party on Friday, a baptism on Saturday, Church on Sunday, and had us over to eat on Sunday night!!!!! SHE IS SO AWESOME!!!!! Literally we saw so many miracles with her this week! Her date is June 11th! She is so ready! We received so much support and love from the ward. She had so many people come and meet her. She clicked with so many of the hermanas, things could not have worked out better!!!! Brianda is a single mom with 3 adorable ninos- Chris, Ivanna, and Melissa. Chris is 9 and will get baptized too. WOW! Ivanna is five and calls us her Tia's (Aunts :)). They are all so cute!!!!!! 

-We also ate dinner this week with la familia Mendoza. Hermano is sure he will be baptized before I leave. He also came to church AGAIN this Sunday!!! YES!!!! We had planned to talk about the Book of Mormon in our dinner thought, but hermano is SUPER talkative...we didn't get much in. But, he is SO SO AWESOME!!!! Hermana Mendoza came up to us in church and said that she had been pretty frustrated the night before after we left, but that she read the Book of Mormon and felt so much peace. YES!!!!!!! Another miracle!!!!



-At the end of Relief Society, like 5 minutes to the end. A homeless-looking woman walked in to the room and sat in the back. So before closing the class, the relief society president asks her to introduce herself and she says something like this, "I have been looking for you for months. My family and I just moved from Sinaloa and we have been living on the streets for a few months. We eat maybe 1 or 2 times a week I wanted to find my church but I didn't know where to look. But I finally found you. I know that my church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I am so grateful I found my Brothers and Sisters." all through tears. At the end of the closing prayer, I went over and hugged her. She told me that she hadn't eaten this week, but was grateful to be here. I hugged her and told her everything would be ok. The members flocked around her, Hermana Lujan gave her all of her church snacks, the other gave her a white envelope (containing money for sure), and it was so hard not to cry. WOW! The spirit. Later as everyone is filing out of the relief society room Hermana Loera (from the nursery) comes rushing in, sees her, and yells "MI HERMANA! (my sister)" They hugged for a good couple minutes crying. Apparently, Hermana Loera and her husband went to go give food to the homeless at a homeless park, and that is the first contact this woman had had with the church for a while. She walked about 2 hours to get to church. She is a return missionary whose husband is getting deported. She has such a strong testimony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! I cried....a little bit! 

We had 3 investigators at church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

San Bernardino Moments:

-Saw another High Speed chase

Fiesta Time ... Ward Party

-Later yesterday, we were having a lesson with a less active member. People here leave their doors wide open to let the breeze in..... so in the middle of the lesson we here like 8 gun shots and sirens right after them.... needless to say Hermana Frost looked Terrified!

I know that this church is true! I know that God will take care of us when we keep our covenants. He is bound when we obey! I love this work. I know the Book of Mormon is True and that it contains the fullness of the Gospel, meaning we can never be satisfied with the word of god until we read and study the Book of Mormon. Hold to the Rod!!!! Have a great Day!!!!!

Love, Hermana Wright

Lots of work...lots of miracles

P-day Hike

It's the week of transfers again folks!!! I will let you all know what happens, there should be a lot of changes coming up soon because there are 4/19 hermana's going home. That's a lot since the last sisters to go home were 1 in Feb. and a couple in November. So...big things! We are also getting 2 new hermana's! The first since last October!!!!!!! I just have to say that I love this ward! What a great place to be! I am going to start off with some miracles. This past transfer has been a lot of work, lots of miracles, but not a lot of results. It has been pretty rough, especially because that makes you feel like you aren't doing a good job. This last week we really feel like we have seen the fruits of our labors!!!

Miracles:

1) This week we had 10 LESS ACTIVES at church! That's crazy because the last weeks we've have 3-4 max. It was so cool! I love these people!!!!! We got the chance to see 7-8 Less Active families and teach them. It was so cool 

2)  Familia Loera: Hermana Loera is awesome and is a convert of a few years. Her husband isn't a member. She is really excited to come back to church! We had a lesson with her and she cried. She told us that she wants to come back to God, that she misses him. It was so spiritual! We are having a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with them tonight.

3) Over this last week or so, I have gained a really strong testimony of Member Missionary work! It works!!!!! This week we had 4 actual referrals from members, and all of them are truly interested in listening to us!!! It has been so awesome to see the members get out of their comfort zones and invite!!!!!

4) Last Sunday night we received a referral from Hermana Erickson in Rialto, of a woman who had come to church in their ward. Her member friend had invited her, so she went. She loved it so much she cried. We went over on Monday to contact her and she is so awesome!!!!!!! I am so excited to teach her. She is excited to get baptized!!! Go member Missionary work!!!!!

I love you all! I hope you have been having a good week!!!!

Love, Hermana Wright

Short and Sweet

This week we have been focusing on our sweet Less Actives and Recent Converts. What great people! We are not only trying to reactivate them, but also we are trying to make them, their families and friends, our main source of investigators. We have some good prospects, mainly husbands and children who are non members. We are truly seeking to be guided. I know that we are going to see miracles. 

These last few weeks have really been a metaphor for me for life. A lot of these last few weeks have been cancelled appointments and investigators that either we've had to drop or they have dropped us. At times I have felt like its punishment or that we aren't doing something right. This last week I realized that I think that is how God is guiding us.

Missionaries in the Book of Mormon like Alma, Abinadi, and Ammon didn't have much success at the beginning either. What made the difference? They were guided and led to ONE convert. ONE person that would help push the work forward. And that ONE person was the ONE that would help them baptize cities! For Abinadi his convert was Alma, who later baptized thousands. Then that Alma had a son, who also served a mission. On that mission he was led to Amulek, who became his companion. Together they baptized thousands! Ammon went into the land of the Lemuelites and found his convert the king, who later opened doors that would never have been opened otherwise. Ammon baptized thousands and opened more doors for his companions to baptize thousands! The Lord leads his servants!!!! The Lord will lead us, ALL of us! We have the potential to find THOUSANDS when we are led to the ONE! God always works with the one! He knows and loves us all individually. So individually that he knows our names. He can look into our eyes and know our past, present, and future! We are his children! 

I love you all! Pray to find the ONE! 

Love,  Hermana Wright

 

Paying the Price when the Price goes up!

Dear Family and Friends, 

Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers!  Welp, here they are-----this week's moments---

Feeling the Spirit Moment:

Hermana Mendoza's dad is in the hospital again. He has got some heart problems. CUTEST old man ever! He isn't doing very well. In ward council they talked a lot about things they would do to help. We hadn't planned it, but felt like we should stop by yesterday and sing for him. So we did! It was really cool and they were all teary eyed when we stopped singing (Asombro Me Da...I stand all amazed). Very special experience! 

Miracle Moments:

While leaving the Hospital after we sang to Hermano Preciado (hermana Mendoza's dad), we walked out the front door to the hospital to see a woman crying and saying bye to her family. We walked by and I felt this pressure that we needed to go back. So we turned around and waited for her to be done. When she walked by us we gave her a hug and asked if we could sing for her and her family. She took us up to the room where her husband was (he will be put in hospice care because his cancer is pretty progressed). We sang again while she cried. We prayed and then we left her with her number. We told her she could call if she wanted us to come sing again. She asked if we only sing in the hospital. We told her we could go to her house too. She said her daughter isn't taking this all very well. What a great powerful woman! It was an awesome experience! Very sad, but we gave her a plan of Salvation pamphlet. 

The next miracle is that we finally finished Weekly Planning! YEAH!!!!!!!

Spaghetti Tacos

Exchanges Moment: This week I went on Exchanges with Sister Anderson in her area (Highland). They are doing a great job! We talked to a WHOLE bunch of people! We got names and lots of addresses. We also got Spaghetti Tacos....yes...a taco shell filled with spaghetti. That is was happens when you go to English world :). I also got to meet their Recent Convert, Martin, who is the ABSOLUTE PERFECT fit for our new investigator Jose. That was a miracle!!!!!

Favorite Teaching Moment: This week, one of my favorite moments was teaching our combined Relief Society and Priesthood activity. It was AWESOME! and very powerful!!! We started off altogether and then separated into 2 classes (one taught by the elders and one by us). We taught about how the members can help us in our missionary efforts, and the elders taught about how they can share the gospel with their friends and family members. We narrowed it down to 3 things they can do (Escuchar, Amar, y Testificar) In Spanish it spells eat, but it means Listen, Love and Testify. It was actually a VERY spiritual experience! I felt the spirit as we taught! Great activity. At the beginning we had given them all a post it to write ALL of the names down that came to their minds. There were some great hermanas that were a little teary eyed in the end! Very cool! 

Inspiration Moment: So, I think probably the most valuable life lessons I will take from my mission is "Are you willing to pay the price when the price goes up?" A long time ago we had a mission conference with Elder Hamula that literally changed my WHOLE LIFE! Not even just my mission. He taught this principle and it is just barely starting to make sense with everything that is happening right now. So. He showed us a video "Pure and Simple Faith" (I would HIGHLEY RECOMMEND WATCHING IT) about a poor family who every Sunday had to pay the bus fair to get to church. Because they were low on money they did not have much money to buy food and other necessary supplies for the week. One Saturday, after setting aside the bus fair money, the daughter is sent, with a little cash, to buy the groceries. When she gets to each place she finds a new challenge. Sometimes the price had gone up....but the miracle happens when she reaches in her pocket and finds just the right amount of cash for their bus fair and food. I didn't tell the story very well...but....the principle is the same. God expects us to act! When we pray to have charity, we can pretty much assume that he will give a trial or a person to love that forces us to develop charity. It is the same with missionary work. Sister Jackson and I have a goal of 5 baptisms. Guess what we are struggling with? Keeping appointments with investigators. Almost all of our appointments with investigators or members have cancelled for the last week and a half. It is extremely hard, but it has made me think back to the girl. If my goal is 5 baptisms, what am I willing to give when the price goes up? It is the same with the world right now. Are we willing to pay the price when the wickedness increases and when the storms arise and when people persecute us and when wars come. What are we willing to sacrifice? This is a time to consecrate ourselves to the Lord, give everything we have. Give him the last drop of resistance! Are we willing to pay the price when the price goes up? 

I love you all!

Hermana Wright

Exchanges, Referrals & Asking random questions

Family, Family, Family:

It's getting to be that time where I have to read my least email to see what happened last week. Things are moving SO FAST here! 

Miracles:

Service opportunity.

*Our first day together, we went to go visit a 'potential' named Julio. When we got out of the car, his next door neighbor was halfway in her door. I called her and told her I had a question. (PS apparently I am good at coming up with random questions that I actually know the answer to. Like, where is E street? To which the answer is usually, its right before F Street. Don't worry I'll get better) After we talked for a little while we scheduled a time when we could return. Turns out I know her sister because I taught her in Rialto way back 1 year ago!!!! So, this week we got to have a lesson with her, and guess what! She happens to be the COOLEST person ever. She said yes to being baptized and was SO excited to start taking the discussions. We haven't had a chance to meet with her since then, but we passed by her house once and taught her 2 older daughters (7 and 9 ish) how to sing Las Familias Pueden Ser Eternas (Families can be together forever). Very SPECIAL!!!

 

Exchanges with Hermana Biggerstaff

*Went on exchanges yesterday! Sister Biggerstaff, who usually covers YSA in San B, came here with me to my area. We had a good day! We talked to LOTS of people, and I got pretty sunburned. The funny part is, we didn't walk that much. I parked the car about 2 minutes from the house we were going to, and it took about an hour and a half to get back to the car because we talked to so many people! Sister Biggerstaff has been out 4 months. She got to do her first street contact ever!!! Glad I could help change that around. For all of you who are going on missions in the future (Yes dear nieces and nephews, I don't care how scared you are...you talk with EVERYONE!!!!!). We asked everyone for referrals, and a lady we met named Milagros gave one of her neighbors. As we were walking past the house a little later, I said, "let's go contact that referral we just got." Sister Biggerstaff looked at me panicked! She told me she had never done that and that she didn't know what to say. So I told her that it was her turn to try. After almost vomiting and doing some deep breathing on the way up to the door, she DID IT!!! The person sadly was not interested, but she DID IT!!!!!

 

Exchanges with
Hermana Jackson

Later while going to contact another referral, I saw the neighbor out. I said, I am going to finish writing this note, but you should go start a conversation with that man! She looked at me panicked again!!!! I said, I will be there to help with the rest, but I will just be finishing the note for the first part. So she deep breathed and went over and started. I really did have every intention to go over, but then another person stopped me to ask me who we were. So, she got to do a whole street contact by herself!!!!!! SO COOL! We talked about it in the car after, and she was very pumped!  It is really cool to be able to help sisters be more courageous and feel the spirit!!!!! 

It was a little sad, because none of our new investigators came to church!!!! But we are going to work even harder and faster this week!!!!!! BUT, Hermano Mendoza came to church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was the first time since he cancelled his baptism!!!!!! And this week we will hopefully go to the temple with the Hermana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I love you all!!!!!!! Have a happy week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana Wright

Big things have happened this week!

My new companion, Hermana Jackson!

Dear Beloved Family and Friends:

Many Big things have happened this week.

* First and foremost...you should know that Transfers happened this week. I know you have all been waiting and wondering on the edges of your rolling computer chairs.... but the moment is here. My new companion is Hermana Jackson, my MTC COMPANION!!!!!! Wow! Neither of us saw that one coming!!!!! It's a great place to be here in San Bernardino (experiences below will demonstrate why) and a great Time to serve a mission!!!!!! 

*I got to see Hermana Erickson for the first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so exciting!!!!! She is doing well and told me that BEN CAME TO CHURCH twice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for the day he gets baptized!!!!!!!!

Hermana Carbajal y yo

*Before Hermana Carbajal left we went to go contact a potential investigator. When we got there a man was just getting out of his car, Jose. He said the man we were looking for wasn't home. We got to chatting with him about his relationship with god. He said he had been to some other churches before. He agreed to give us his phone number and we set up a time to meet with him at the church building. Then on Thursday (set lesson day) he ACTUALLY CAME!!!!!!!!! SO COOL!!! We had a really great lesson! We went into the chapel and sang one of my very favorite hymns, Grande Eres Tu (How great thou art). Afterwards, I asked him how he felt. He said, "Honestly, As soon as I walked in here I felt something different. I don't know how to explain it. It's like a peace and calm." That lesson we put him on date for May 7th !

 *We had a lesson with the friend of the investigator Consuelo, named Rafi. I am not sure if you remember her. She too is now on date for May 7th!!!!!

 *San Bernardino Approach: (Official name) So this miracle moment starts off with a little bit of sad news. We set up a follow appointment with Jose at the church building with the Elders Quorum president and his wife-a sweet young couple in the ward. We waited for about 30 minutes and he never showed up....sad news. But.... just wait. So, Our church building is surrounded by a large white gate, because it is in San Bernardino, right by Baseline....When we went to church for the lesson we unlocked the gate for all our cars. While we waited outside the gate (hermana Jackson and I), we hear this noise, and see 2 men running as fast as they can....towards us. As we turn back to the church so they don't see us, our members, who by this time had come out of the church building, walk up and ask us why we looked worried. Just then, the first man running runs around us into the church parking lot and then into the church building. We are all running after him, because who knows what's going on. The Hermano runs in and the man tells us in Spanish (Listen to me, listen to me! They are going to kill me! I can't leave, I have to stay here!!!). We are still all waiting by the door, a little shocked. Then the crazy man then runs into the chapel to hide in the pews and the hermano runs after him. So the three of us still standing half in and out of the church door, see a car pull in. A scary man with a gravelly voice leans out the window and says, "Did you see a man run in here?" To which of course I replied "No, we are waiting for someone else." you can't be in here". (Hermana Jackson said I was pretty good at acting cool....so I might look into acting after the mission). The car turns and drives out of the parking lot. So, we go back in and the member had finally gotten the crazy man out of the church after they saw the car drive by. SO................. choosing to look on the miracle side of this story, 1) We saved that man's life 2) Jose didn't come, which means those creepy men didn't come into the church during the lesson...maybe without us knowing. 

Whew!!!! we are alive!!! Don't worry mom! 

 *We are trying to get the members fire going with missionary work! We are starting to go over and help them practice teaching the Restoration in 5 minutes and we are helping them think of people and things they can do to help those people. We had 2 really cool experiences. 1) Familia Carrillo: we bore really strong testimony of Missionary work and then the next day at dinner the Hermana told us that she had though all night about it. She said she wants to somehow start with the people at her husband's business. 

Familia Loera: We taught her the Restoration and committed her to teach it to us when we came back. Then we talked to her about her friends and family. She had been thinking about her son who isn't a member, but she just talked about how she doesn't know what to do to help him. This hermana loves to work in the temple, so we suggested family history work. She got so excited to know that angels from the other side could help prepare her son just a little more to accept the gospel. 

Morning of transfers. Our apt is in
the background

*MLC- This week at MLC we got to answer the questions of a future mission president leaving from the Redlands stake. He and his wife are a little nervous, so we got to testify of all of the things that have made us the mission we are. It was also really cool because apparently 6 of the 10 Sister Training Leaders are from our little group that came out last February! President said it was fulfilling a prophesy and that he remembers all of us coming in as new missionaries all scared. He told us in the training meeting that we would carry the mission.....and that we would probably be the leadership for the new mission president in June. VERY Cool!

Well that is all for this week! Thank you for your prayers! They are needed and they work!!!!!! I love you all!!!!!!!

Hermana Wright