Called to Serve: week 26: somos las DOS hermanas

hey gang!!

This week started off kinda sad...Hna gomez left for Mexico!!! My buddy:( But it's ok and she is loving it, so we're happy for her!!

With spring break in Utah, it seemed like practically everyone was gone!! We did lots of service in the area with the nice weather though, taking dogs on walks and picking up trash(@dad...we picked up soooo many masks and hardly any cigarette butts haha, but it's still my least fav thing to do and I'm so sore everywhere!). We met lots of people and got some referrals from that, which was a WIN though!! Also met a guy that asked if I knew "Paul and Sandy" to I finished his sentence with "Rands!! WAIT they're in my home ward!!!" So super small world. I love people haha.

First time real life in person interviews with President O'Riordan, so I have now, 4 transfers in, officially done a zoom and in person interview with both mission Presidents. President O'Riordan goes home in 2 transfers, so I'll probably only get one more with him before he leaves. Big sad bc he is my Australian bff, but he's going home to family so we'll hug goodbye and then say hey in a year when I go visit them haha. Pres and Sis O'Riordan are the best, so sorry non UPMers!!

Fun and exciting news is that AVERY LOGSDON got baptized!!! Yay! We met her 2 months ago, my first day in Springville and after a COVID scare, a few heart attacked doors, every board game lesson we know, and transfers, that cute girl is baptized!!! It made sister draper and I so happy for her and we were so glad we were able to go back for her big day!!

Sister Gomez being gone led to our #1 worry. How will lessons go with 2 first transfer hermanas? Probably not so hot, but with our third companion(the Holy Ghost!!), it went surprisingly okay!! We taught Santo Rio and Joseph about the law of chastity and the word of wisdom and it all went well!! They had no major questions and concerns(good thing Silvia wasn't there bc she def would have...) and they are on board to follow them! Santo Rio did mention that he should probably eat less because even though it is a cultural thing, he doesn't always feel healthy and could probably lose some weight off his tum. Facts. That man made us laugh!! Oh also, they loved conference!!! And he is down for church next week when he is off work! Then baptism is the next step!! Woo hoo!!! Pray for our friends!!!

A goal we set now that it is just the 2 of us gringas is to always always always have a fellowshipper in lessons!! A, because we should always do that for friendships. And B, because the members help with the language. Win win right?? Well in Victor's lesson it was a WIN WIN WIN!!! Hermano Avilez joined the lesson and was pretty convinced he could get Victor on date by telling him if he is baptized first, he can baptize his family when they come in October. Not exactly what happened, but he was a fire fellowshipper and made great connections and bore a great testimony on faith leading to actions in the lesson. So good, but that's not all!! After Victor's lesson, he kept us in the chapel a little longer for a lesson of our own. He gave us advice on where to go next with Victor's lessons and with his family as well as giving us a big rundown on Hispanic religious culture and the differences between the catholic church and our church! We learned so much and now we know how we can improve our lessons with not just Victor, but every other person we are or will be teaching!!

Milagro: Analia Gagarza !!! She is the first lady we called from our SIM after we finished calling all the numbers in area book. She picked up on the first ring and talked to us for a half hour! She has a bunch of member friends/family, but she grew up catholic and is kinda stubborn to change. She has read the book of Mormon and has lots of questions, has received priesthood blessings from multiple bishops, and has gone to church in the past, so we were kinda shook she isn't baptized. We didn't have her in our area, so we called around and found out she was in a different ward, so we sent her over to the other sisters who visited her on the spot. This stubborn Latina told them she already had "her missionaries" and a lesson set up for Monday so I guess we are hers now haha. We talked to our bishop and got some more background, but basically she just wants a big faith changing moment in life. We have some good plans for how to focus on priesthood and the importance of faith, so prayers prayer prayers!!!

love you all :)

hermana dougall

p.s. mission stories movie comes out in may! go watch it and lmk how it is! (the sisters part was filmed in our Provo apartment and one of them slept in my bed haha!!!)