I love Kingman, Arizona!

September  23, 2013

Oi Minha Querida Familia e Meus Amigos! 

Como vao voces!!!  So first of all, I tried out the AlphaSmart but I keep forgetting it at home!!!! ):< Hopefully next week! geeez. well, it's super nice cause I type sooo much faster than I can write! and my hand cramps way less haha! I know, I know: Kid's these days.. but it's true! technology is niiiiiiice hehe. 

2nd of all, I've attached some pics of fun things here in the dangerous wilderness of Kingman, AZ. a SCORPION!!! in our living room!! while we were studying! omg! It's HUUUGE haha and I've never seen a live one before! Soooo weird!  They are like bugs, but worse.  Because they pinch, sting, AND bite! WHAT!!  Who's idea was this.... But the other pic is of my AWESOME flats tan.... oh man, if you could see my watch tan and farmers tan and skirt tan... I’m so ashamed. hahaha! I should go swimming right when I get home. beacccch trip!! :D

I also have a CTR tan on my ring finger.  Kinda cool haha! ANd I haven't even gotten to Brazil yet! oh man!

So update with the bites.... We have been getting a TON more all of a sudden this week! I think you're right, it comes in cycles!   And this time, it was BAD!  Sister Roberts got the worst of it.   I don’t think its a coincidence cause she's sleeping on Sis Jensen0-Coon's old bed and she got the worst of it too!   But yeah idk. she got it REALLY bad. so a doc from our ward prescribed her steroids cause she was super hyperallergic like getting hives too so yeah. plus she scratches allll the time!!  The maintenance came in again this morning to check and didn’t see anything still, we set off a bug bomb in our apartment yesterday, nothing dead. Sleeping in sleeping bags in the other room and now a pro inspector will come in tomorrow to check. but other than that we have NO idea what this is!  I just want this taken care of cause it's definitely interferring with the work.... We had to make several trips to Walgreens or other stores for meds or stuff, we end up talking about the bites to everyone instead of anything else and the whole hour of a lesson is actually them giving us advice and stuff to try that we've heard and tried from the last person we just saw. It's kind of frustrating... ): but it's a huuuge test of patience I guess. 

Anywayyyyy enough of my complaining. believe it or not, my comp and I are getting a long a little better.  We've had some good talks so we are working through our rough patches. I am really REALLY working on letting the little things slide.  Just the little things she does that bug me.   I'm finally starting to be able to let go of my pride and pick my battles.   I think the key is laughing.  I need to just laugh and brush things off and just realize it's not worth it to get upset with things.  I notice that when I lighten the mood or even just pretend I'm not upset and smile or joke or something, it's resolved just like that.  I never noticed how bad MY attitude was and how much it was showing!  I need to keep in mind how much I'm at fault with many of the conflicts. It's a two way thing … well, most of the time.  ghaha. but yes. I definitely can change and do my part.   Like Travis said with him and Phillipp. by me giving up some things and being open and selfless, it allows the other person to change and do the same. sighhhh so much easier said than done, but it’s definitely something I need to learn and something Heavenly Father knows I'll need for the rest of my mission and my life.  It's amazing the opportunity it is to be on a mission and to see these things and learn them.  I am so truly grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to be here.  I am honestly so grateful to be a missionary.  It's literally the hardest thing in my life I’ve ever done or ever thought I'd have to do, but it's the most rewarding and amazing things I think I'll ever do.   And I've still just barely started!  How crazy!!!! 

But on the other hand I can't believe how long I’ve been here!  It's almost October!! AND IT’S FREEZING  OMG!  It's like 70-80's here!  And I'm FREEEZING! haha mannn if I don’t go to Brazil soon, I’m gonna freeze to death! haha. Well, there are some amazing members who are willing to give me warm clothes so that's good :) they take care of us here haha. how sweet. but yeah, I am definitely feeling like I'll be here in Kingman for at LEAST another transfer or two. So, I'm gonna get on that! :)   I am honestly soooo happy to be here in Kingman.  I love it.  I loooove it here and the people and everything!   People think I'm crazy and I think I’m crazy haha .  I never wanted to be in a desert small town, but I honestly am sooo excited to be here.  I kinda don't wanna leave!!  I've decided that if I am ever transferred, it better be to Brazil, I wanna stay here in Kingman until I leave. I don't wanna go to Vegas. Idk. I just looove it here. I can't wait to come back and visit after! haha. bring you all :)

Okay I talk too much dang. Quick update on Helen. She finally came with us to a baptism to watch and I think she felt something!   I'm soooo excited!   She almost came to church but illness again.... it's sooo hard!   She's 93!   She'll never be pain free!  She just needs to come to church and FEEL the answer! and she WILL!  I know she will.  We just have to be patient. 

The Pherigos are the couple who kind of adopted us here! She sent dad the pics of me and Sis Jensen-Coon.   I looove them but they are having a hard time accepting the Book of Mormon.  It's a complicated work but we are working on them.   Almost got dropped but we saved it ahah. Mostly testimony and mormon messages. omg. I just want to recommend to everyone reading this to watch mormon messages on mormonchannel.org.   They are literally the best thing in the world!   I never feel the spirit soo strongly than when I’m watching some of those with investigators  or anyone.   Watch them, find a favorite and share one with a friend.  They are so good.  Dad, you were right.   There is so much on mormon.org that is so amazing and so powerful. 

Well, I talk too much ahha.   don't remember what I was needing to answer this week. uhm, well, I hope it's nothing too urgent. ):  I have a horrible memory as to what I want to respond to this week.  It's been a crazy week.  But I loove the letters and the input and the support from home.  I have a huge stack of letters and each one has things highlited and underlined and cut out and I have so many quotes and pick me ups and good ideas from every one.  You have no idea how much of a help it's all been for me.  I have been so extremely blessed to have this gospel in my life and these amazing friends and family.  I don't know what I would do without it all, honestly. that sounds so cliche, but I look at my life and realize just how insanely blessed I am to have this and this knowledge of my purpose here and how I can be with my family forever.  I know this is the true Church, Heavenly Father's full gospel once again on the Earth and that through this gospel, we can know how to return to Him and live with our loved ones for Eternity in complete happiness. I love my Savior and the hope He brings to my life and all those who accept Him. I love you all sooo much!!!

Ate a proxima Semana!!

-Sister Yoshimoto

 

Trials and Bear Sausage and Snake

Oiiiiiii Minha Querida Familia!!!

I feel like a poser when I write that now because I'm still in Arizona haha! But it's okay!!  I received an email saying "they continue to work on the established procedures for obtaining a VISA" and 3 other sisters from my MTC Zone are in Brazil now!!!  SOOOO it's okay!  I'll get there when I'm needed.   wooh. haha.

Soooooooo first of all, I received letters from the Garrett’s, Skinner’s, and Bertagnolli's and wanted to thank them for their continued love and support! Those letters about life back home and what's going on and how everyone's doing are so great! I love getting glimpses of the real world haha. That is soooo exciting about the soon-to-be missionaries!  I can't wait for them!  It's going to be an amaaazing, yet suuuper difficult, experience.  How exciting!!!  I am still learning just how hard this work is, yet so gratifying!  It's the weirdest thing.  A real roller coaster of emotions sometimes.  Sometimes the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that it's all inspired.  I'm here at this time with these people for very specific reasons and so all I can do is find those things Heavenly Father wants me to learn while I'm here.  I love what the Bertagnolli's said about how this is the one time in my life I can say for a surety that I am exactly where Heavenly Father wants me to be, when He wants me here, doing exactly what He wants me to be doing.  What a comfort.   D&C 121:7 or 8 I don’t remember.  But this has been a shining scripture for me during the hard times. I should have it memorized by now but dang. it's something in the gist of Be of good comfort for thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. or something... look it up haha. homework :)    … But yeah, this scripture helps me so much just helping me remember the eternal perspective. this is all just a tiny dot in my life and yet if i endure well, it will be for my huge benefit and there's nothing  I will sacrifice here that won't be made up for.      And boy, are there some lessons I'm learning now!

The new companion is still pretty tough.   A lot of it is getting a little better cause we had a bigggg talk.  Ugh I hate talking... communication is hard.  But it's good cause it does help a lot haha.  So we're working a little harder so that's good.  And we're working together better.  I just need to suck it up and stop being so prideful haha.  I have the hardest time "picking my battles" as Mom and Dad would say.  Just all these little insignificant things will bug me beyond reason because she is that type of girl who I would never be able to deal with for more than a few minutes.   So I have to kind of breathe a bit and think about if it's really worth it.   Patience is a biiiiiig thing I’m learning; patience and really just "picking my battles".    Soooooo this will be another great lesson to learn! :) What a blessing haha.

The harder part of a mission is the fact that now that I'm also forced to see all of MY flaws and weaknesses and all the bad qualities in me: my pride, my judgemental-ness, my impatience, my slowness in forgiving, etc.  I  could go on, but basically the charity I've fasted and prayed for since last year in college has slowly come in bits but I never knew how far off I was until I came on a mission.  But now that I can see all my flaws and weaknesses, I have to change them. It's a hard, painful process but really, I feel like this is what a mission does for people. This is why so many RM's come back a whole new person.  They are forced to see these things and decide whether or not to change them.  I definitely want to. But that's my nature and as Elder Jepsen said, the only way to change my nature is by changing my will to His will.  I need His help to change my nature. and that's the hardest part for me at this time. 

So last Tuesday, we got to go and see Elder Neil L Andersen and President Callister!   They were amazing.   Man, it was for two missions.  Every missionary in the Nevada Las Vegas and Nevada Las Vegas West missions!   It was amazing -- Just feeling that spirit and the combined spirit of every single missionary there.  I love missionary gatherings because you can feel that spirit exponentially stronger!!  That scripture about having 2 or more gathered together in His name, there His is also.  It is definitely so true and it's always the best experience.  That's why Church is so important for everyone!!   For members and nonmembers alike to go and to get to FEEL that difference is so important.  Oh, and I got to shake hands with an apostle!!  How coool! haha.

Oh, yeah haha basically he talked about having that real personal relationship with the Savior, like Keilyn said before I left.  Also how missionaries need to stay in their areas longer! so we can bond and get to know the people -- the members, non members, so we can have that bond and allow that bond to bring in more referrals as well as better, stronger investigators in their beginning stages of investigating the church.  It makes sense cause even in my area alone, the tons of changes so far.  I came in, then Sis Jensen-Coon left and Sis Roberts came in.  They barely know ME and now there's like 2 new sisters.  Then I'll leave when I get my Visa and it'll be 2 new sisters again!  Within 3 transfers or whatever. so yeah, it's been a little hard with the members especially and the new investigators.  But we'll see how it works.

I got the package! OMG! I feel sooo bad!! I didn't want real toms! :( no waste money on that! I feel bad. theyre pretty expensive!  Buy Emily's new ones from online somehwere cheaper haha. sorry.  I just don't want to waste money on missionary stuff that will get used to the ground in some months. but thank you so much anywayyy!! and omg!! so much good stuff!   Haupia!!!  So excited hahahahh and HiChews mmm!!  I feel bad cause Sis Jensen-Coon requested that one but she's not here anymore! moa foa me!!! heheh. and the district of course haha. Maybe.  Well and the journal! is soooooo nice! wow! What a beautiful journal.  I can't get over it. so cute! and thoughtful!!! Please thank her so muchhhh for me!!!

Ps. there's been some trouble with my MSF money here cause I'm a Visa waiter so I don't get my own card and it's just put onto my companions card but since Sister Jensen-Coon got moved, she still gets my money and not my new comp so now I have no MSF with me and it's been complicated and for some reason it’s still not moving over!  I called last week when we first realized it was messed up and thought it would be taken care of this week, but we just checked again and it's not sooo I might have to use my own money again. so yeah, I might have to use my debit  card again.  Sorry. I'm calling the office today again, but it most likely won’t transfer over until next week!

 :P

Heyyyyy Dad! I met Sister Smith!!  I met her at the conference thing with Elder Neil L. Andersen and we talked and she was laughing cause of our strange connection!   [My father was Sister Smith’s father’s first companion and trainer in Japan many years ago].  She's awesome! We talked a lot after the conference but we don't have a ton of time to talk but she's really cool.  She said you added her on FB and told her to add me when we were both in Provo!   How random!  We're now in the same mission and shared a companion. haha. She keeps saying "say hi to KEN!" haha! so funny. 

PS. I got to eat BEAR here!! Idk if I told you already but I’m so excited hahahah! It was a bear someone hunted and butchered into sausage. It was suuuuuper good! omg!  So weird!  There are a lot of hunters here so I asked them, the Burgess family, to feed us snake. hehehe.  He said he would.   He said “If I catch and cook a snake, will you eat it?”  … and I said YES. idk if  I told you all but my secret goal on my mission was to eat snake.  I thought it would be in Brazil, but hey, I'll take some rattlesnake in AZ! woooh!!! hahaha. I'm so excited.

Anywayyy.   Quick update on Helen. I just wanted to tell you all how amazing she is. 93. still living alone and cooking and doing her thing.  She is almost completely blind and deaf, but her mind is 100% there.  I love her so much.  She just WANTS to die, but we've been teaching her and telling her there's a reason she's still here with her entire mind.  She is amazing and I never feel the spirit so strongly than when I'm teaching her.  She thinks so deeply about things and has been able to receive another answer. "wait."  This was most likely because she had previously made the decision to be baptized Lutheran this Tuesday because she wants to be baptized but is scared of immersion.  We explained the priesthood again and why it isn’t the same with the Lutheran church.  We talked about how the adversary works because she gets super sick when she decides to go to church and so she hasn’t made it there yet.  She is considering this very much and we had the elders give her another blessing.  I've never prayed so hard for someone in my life.  Her and the Pherigos.  I just KNOW how important this gospel is and how amazing it can be for them and I just want nothing else for them, but the very best.   I always cherish my Pday time and what not, but she said she might come with us to a tour of the church building today and the first thought was its Pday!   But then I realized that the spirit in the church can be the key to helping her recognize that answer to her prayers and accept the gospel.  Then I realized that I would give up every Pday for the rest of my mission for her and the Pherigos and all our other investigators to recognize the truth of this gospel.  To accept it into their lives and finally receive that peace and allllll the blessings that come with it.  Helen is my emotional rollercoaster investigator … the most strenuous exhaustion after each visit but I know it will all be worth it.  She admitted herself she just needs to stop fighting God's way cause she's so stubborn but she knows it's true.  It's the recognizing the answer, what she already knows that's the hard part.... and she keeps dismissing the feelings she gets after a couple of days.  Satan is powerful, but prayers and the spirit, Heavenly Father, is so much more powerful.  Like you said, Dad, the answers usually come in the final quarter, after the trial of our faith.

I am so grateful for all the letters of encouragement and support You sent me.  I have never had a harder week of my life and those letters of advice and stories from your missions have helped me soooooo much … beyond words. Just remembering that I'm not the only one having to go through hard things and that it can always get harder, haha, has helped me so much.  Thinking positive, leading by example, putting my pride on the altar of sacrifice.  I want to thank you all sooo much!  You have no idea how much you all help me.  My Heavenly Father KNOWS how much I needed such a strong family and ward and friends supporting me through this time … and I am so grateful, because I know I could never do it without you all.

Love you all SOOOOO much!!!

Amo Voces muiiiiitoooo!!!

Ate a proxima semana!!!
<33333333

-Sister Yoshimoto!

BTW, We don't know what's biting us cause maintenance came in and checked and said it's not bed bugs! But we moved to the spare room in our apt and slept there with sleeping bags from members and then cleaned our sheets. And got no other bites.  So we went back and slept in the clean sheets and i got alll bit up on my arm. and now a few on my legs but now it's like less and less. Idk though..... sooo yeah we'll give it another week see if i still get bites, if not its all good. sis Roberts doesnt have any sooo idk! weird cause she's sleeping on sis Jensen-Coon's old bed where SHE got all bit up begining of last transfer. THEYRE TRAVELING BED BUGS AHH!! update next week haha. Love YOU!!!<333

Time For Me to Grow ... Cast Our Nets

Sep 9, 2013

Oi minha querida familia e amigos!

Let me just tell you... Heavenly Father is certainly pushing me forward.  I realize now that I don't think I've ever actually had to do super hard things. There have been tough situations and I guess challenges in my life, but I guess it's just never been those things that stretch me so thin and push me right to the edge, but now, He's urging me "it's about time you learn something, Sister Yoshimoto!"  Man... I thought the first week out here was tough.  This week has been so much tougher.  I think this might have been what it was like for Sister Jensen-Coon when I first became her companion, cause She had to take the lead of the area AND as the trainer of a new missionary.  I don't know, It's just been super stressful and overwhelming at times because I had just gotten in sync with Sister Jensen-Coon and was starting to get to know the members and the investigators and now all of a sudden everything is changed and I'm thrown into a new situation.

New companion, new responsibilities. It's been so hard because I feel like I need to plan and lead everything, yet I'm not supposed to. My companion is still the senior companion but she doesn't know the area or the people or anything so it's like this weird situation. Especially since I still don't really know a lot of the people yet either.

The hardest part for me though, is that I don't think my new companion likes this area very much and that is so hard because it's suuuuch an amazing area, but she doesn't have that love for it or that desire to love it and so it's so hard to get her to get going. This has been the hardest challenge because when I first got to this area, homesickness and the ssloooow long days all that were so hard to overcome, but the only thing that fixed it was working hard. getting things done. always being on the go and always keeping my mind on the work, on the people, on the spirit.  The weeks FLEW by and it was fun, fulfilling work. But now, it's so hard again.  The people we need to see stop progressing, and it seriously is so hard to keep going, but I love the people and this area so much. Sorry it sounds so depressing haha! but it has been a touuuugh week!

The hardest part is learning how to rely on the Lord and not on my own abilities, because they only go so far ... and not that far, either haha. so ...  It's definitely something I'm working on this transfer. as well as patience and love for my companion.  Patience........ is...... a... virtue...... that Heavenly Father reeealllyyyy wants me to have.

SOOO anyway, that's my vent rant for the week. Sorry its so depressing sounding. I'm really doing alright though! Fasting and praying a looooot!!!

However, This week has been slow in lessons cause a ton of people are out of town and the investigators we've been seeing are all hitting walls. Helen got a blessing and said she didnt feel anything.  She was expecting to feel healed. or less pain. but we try to explain sometimes she just needs to pray for comfort or strength to got hrough these afflictions.  It's hard cause she can't read the Book of Mormon and she can't listen to it either cause she can hardly hear and she said the pain makes it too hard to concentrate on what she hears. So we're gonna try to play it super loud and read with her. She hasn't made it to church yet. She breaks my heart because that day she was crying and saying she wants to get baptized as soon as possible because she was thinking about it all day and we were prompted to show up and she took it as her answer... she now dismisses it as hysteria that day and says she doesn't know what she was saying.

There have been other blocks with the other investigators too. and I think just all of this being thrown at me at once has been overwhelming but I made it through one week! VISA says its still being worked on. I know I'm being prepared for something big haha. But in the mean time, I LOVE this area and these people and want to be able to help EVERYone here.

It's been a long week but tomorrow we have a mission meeting with Elder Neil L. Andersen from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and hopefully I'll receive some spiritual boost and revelation for my area. I'm excited!!!! I'll let you know next week what happens!!

Well, my love to everyone!! Sorry it's a short email. I can't get any thoughts straight, my mind is constantly racing nowadays. haha. I didn't even get to write a list of what I wanted to write to you about!  Well, tomorrow will be a big day and I'll have tons to write anbout next week!

Quick spiritual thought:  There was an amazing talk given yesterday about Peter and how Jesus asked him to cast aside his net and follow Him.  He talked about how we can cast aside our nets and follow him. how it will be hard--that net was Peter's whole livelihood, the norm and the familiar to him--but it was worth it.  Sometimes, for us, that net is our pride, or our desire to be like everyone else, or our fear of standing alone. If we cast that net aside and folllow Christ, eventually it will all work for our benefit and our reward will be more than the sacrifice.

Find your net and cast it aside.

Love you SO MUCH!!!!

Amo Voces muito!!!!

-Sister Yoshimoto <3

Uma Grande Semana de Milgres!!!!

September 2, 2013

Oi Minha Querida Familia e Amigos!!!

SoooooooOOOOOoooooo much has happened this week! I don't even know where to start!!! Well first off, the first transfer just ended and guess what........ .I never would have guessed. But I Sister Jensen-Coon is getting transferred to Henderson!!! She leaves tomorrow morning!!!  So weird.... we had ONE transfer together!! and now i'm staying here with another sister and finishing my training with her and so it's weird cause i'll be training her on the area and she'll be training me on missionary work... so strange.  I don't know what to do. IM SO NERVOUS because I barely know the area, myself and now it's basically--or feels like--it's all on me. I KNOW this is definitely inspired because I have definitely been feeling myself hiding behind Sister Jensen-Coon's knowledge of the area and experience with these people. Right before we found out about the transfers, I had a feeling/thought of "Man, I need to be more open and get to know these people more!" ... and now I know why ): It's gonna be suuuuper hard, but I know this is exactly the kind of challenges that Heavenly Father gives and will give me throughout my mission to help me grow and be the person he wants me to be. I just have to trust in that and keep it in mind as I struggle through this next transfer haha.

It's also really sad cause Sister Jensen-Coon and I have just BARELY finally been able to get in sync.   It's still been a challenge, but we were finally able to really get to be friends and open up and talk and stuff, and dang, now it's like WOOP, okay! Good job now here's someone NEW! ): I'm suuuuuper nervous. Companions are the hardest thing for me just cause i have such a hard time in opening up, especially with people who are not really compatible with me haha. I know this is definitely one of the things Heavenly Father wants me to change. It'll be one of the hardest.

So Sister Jensen-Coon is going to Henderson!!! and she'll be in Green Valley in a YSA ward. Which ward is Uncle Jimmy in??  I know not YSA, but just curious haha.

Sooooo miracle of the week!!! of the MISSION!!!! AHH!

Helen!!!!!! I loooooove Helen!! OMG. so I mentioned we met her again last week on exchanges--(I realize was another preparation for me taking over this area)--and it was amazing! So we saw her again several times this week, and when we saw her, we talked about baptism and what it meant, how it would help her, etc. We had her pray about it and said we'd come back in a few days to see her again. She agreed and we left.  The next day, we drove past her house to a dinner appt and saw the garage door open and immediately, we both said "Helen!". we turned in and no one was there, so we ran in and knocked on the garage door and she came out and was genuinely shocked! We explained that we had a feeling to come and stop by and she was crying and said she'd been praying allllll day and really torn up and thinking about what we talked about. She had been praying and asking and didn't get an answer. She said she felt in her soul an dher heart that she wanted to be baptized, but she didn't want to be Mormon. haha. We explained that by being baptized she would be automatically a member and didn't have to like fill out papers or applications or anything to be Mormon.  We talked about what happens after baptism, like going to church, continuing the sacrament, prayer, reading, etc. and said she's not Obligated to do this, but when she is baptized and understands all this, she will naturally WANT to do this because of the importance to her. She was very relieved cause she didn't want to be forced to do anything--she's very big on being self reliant and independent. She said she'd been having this debate and turmoil all day in her head--coming up with reasons not to go to church, etc, by herself and then we showed up and she just cried saying "How wonderful, how marvelous, the power of God, the power of Prayer!" She recognized that Heavenly Father had answered her sincere prayers of whether or not to be baptized, through us! She was so relieved and amazed that her answer came so fast! By the time we left, she was so excited and happy and kept saying okay! I'll go to church tomorrow!  Can I be baptized as soon as possible!  It was amazing.... We left, walking on clouds! I truly felt sooooo full! it was amazing! I suddenly realized what Travis talks about every week about being the answer to someone's prayer and sometimes Heavenly Father's tender mercies allow me to see how I've answered their prayers. It was the most amazing tender mercy and I just can't imagine feeling any happier!!

She's been in and out of the hospital so she hasn't been able to go to church yet, but she is so sincere and so determined its amazing. she keeps asking us why she gets her prayers answered now when no one else does and we keep reminding her that when she prays to her Father in Heaven, because she prays so fervently and sincerely, her prayers were and are answered. It's so amazing to see how such a sincere prayer can truly make the difference. We're working on getting her baptism set up for the end of this month.  Oh wow, what a blessing.

On another note--about Howard and Diane, the Priest and his wife who wanted to "cast the demons out of us, Mormons" haha. They dropped us. We had suuuuch an awesome first lesson with them and he decided to start reading the BoM, but then when we saw them again, it was on exhcanges and with a member. I think having those two new people threw them off a bit, and the member was very knowledgable on the  Bible, which we thought would hlep, but I guess it really was a bad idea. it turned more into a bible bash ): I kept having to jump in and calm it down. It was bad..... but we ended well and He said he would give us a call when he finished the book of mormon and was done with school cause he's too busy and stuff. So we bore testimony and assigned a chapter to read and said we'd love to come by and check on them every so often to just say hi and he agreed. So at least we left on good terms. but mannnnnn he just kept slamming on things that made no sense haha. I honestly felt so sad afterward just htinking about how quick he was to dismiss the evidence of the Book of Mormon in the bible and I just hope and PRAY one day he'll allow the missioanries to really teach him and he'll see just how amazing and COMPLETE this gospel really is.

OH! I forgot! Dad, Diane Pherigo and Jim Pherigo are investigators of ours and is literally like our Kingman family here! They are AMAZING!!! They took us to Golden Corral and took a pic of us and tried to send it to you on Facebook haha. Idk if you got it but check for her. She's so cool and they are so amazing. they were 7th Day adventists and have realized how similar our beliefs are. We showed them the Restoration video and (Joseph Smith is a huge block for her) they loved it. They want to see the Full movie and want to know more about it. succcch an amazing step for them! I'm sooo excited about them! :)))

So anyway, How did Emily's talk go??? That's so cool that Kelsey came! How is senior year going?? :) Tell emily to check her email haha. Thanks for the emails and addresses!!!

How is the Ward mission plan going?? Sounds like some CRAZYY stuff! I'm a little disappointed cause our bishop is suuuuper nice and amazing but he is so worried about the members that he doesn't want to burden them at all. and it's understandable but if we are to progress as a ward and as missionaries, we need to be pushed!  It's hard. But I know he definitely is meant to be the bishop so we will just work with him until we can find a happy medium :) haha. we'll see.

Anyway, How is everyone else doing?!?! I miss Rusty!! so many dogs here): none as cool as Rusty! :) Well yeah. I can't remember what else I wanted to say. Well I'll hope to write later. letters. Love you alll!!!

Ps. I found some people who went to Brazil! woooh! hope to have dinner with them or something to practice Portuguese!! i'm LOSING IT AHHH!!! :(

Amo Voces!!!!
-Sister Yoshimoto

Miracles and Tender Mercies

August 26, 2013

Oi Minha Querida Familia!!!!

Whatta week!  Well,  first of allllllll...WE GOT A BISHOP FINALLYY!!!! WOOOOOH...JUST yesterday!!! And BOY OH BOY WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER BISHOPRIC!!! So the bishop is the old EQ's President who hosted the BBQ that was SUCHA hit with the investigators and was sooo great for fellowshipping.   He is AMAZING and is so focused on everyone else and the youth and helping the missionaries.  Poor guy!  You could just SEE in his face that he was overwhelmed with the magnitude of this calling. But we could just feeeeel how inspired this call was. He will be amazing and JUST what this ward needs. And his counselors. Oh boy, get this:  first counselor: the Ward Mission Leader. WAAAAAT hahah! Sooo great!  He was the BEST these past few weeks as we went bishopless trying to get the ward involved with the mission work. and Second counselor is this AWESOME brother who has been one of the KEY people in helping us fellowship this new family. He is ALWAYS making himself free for some missionary work and is genuinely concerned for the people we teach.  This is gonna be GREATTTT. and we already have some ideas for who the new ward mission leader will be haha.  We are STOKED and READY TO GO!!!  It's been a dry transfer--or 2 as I've been told--with no baptisms in this ward--but we have some people who are SO ready and we just need to get them there. But now that we have the ward on board--or almost--we are ready to let the floodgates go!  I'm so excited! I honestly am just so thrilled to be out here!!!

It's so crazy just seeing how seeing these people's progression really does make me so insanely happy!  It is literally a taste of that pure joy that we will feel when we finally do bring those souls to Christ. WOW. So miracle of the week--we had exchanges for the first time and it was weird...  Very stressful because I was staying in this area and would be leading the companionship for the first time. I conducted the planning, the lessons, the day! and it was scary stuff.... But it turned out pretty well. kept busy, not everything went as planned--silly me, thinking I could plan out the day--but we were able to make it work with the help of the Lord. I definitely have a testimony of relying on the Lord. He kind of just reminded me that day that I can't do this myself.  I just can't. (ESPECIALLY since we went phoneless that day cause Sis Jensen-Coon accidentally took the phone with her to the other place..)  So that was fun.. haha but yeah so we defintely had to rely on the Lord that He would guide us and help us make everything work out in the end.

MIRACLE: so on this day of exchanges, I was planning the day and put down this one family who is less active and we were gonna invite them to church the next day.  I didn't realize but they were in another section of our area and way out of the way. but we decided to go cause it was planned. So we went over there and passed by Helen's house.  The garage was still closed and so we just kind of chatted about her and how amazing she was when we got to talk to her and how sad we were that we couldn't see her anymore.  Then we got to the less active's house and she was sick so we couldn't see her. So we didn't know what to do, out there in a different area. So we decided to go stop by Helen's and just knock on her door even though she said she only answers the garage when it's open.  So we went over and knocked. Rang the door bell. knocked again. Nothing.  Then I decided to knock one more time. Realllyyy loud cause I know she's kinda deaf.  And a few seconds later we hear the garage door open. OMG. we run over and see her coming out and her arms are open for a hug and says "Come here!" and I  run over and hug her and we are all so happy and omggggggggg!!!  It was A MIRACLE!  It turns out she was going to the garage to get her pants from the dryer and she heard the last knock. She said she'd been going outside to sit in her garage waiting for us in the mornings but we don't go out of the apt until after studies which ends at like 1pm so we never were past there when she was out. She said she figured we gave up cause her garage was closed so often... which we did.. and she was so happy we were there cause she had just gotten out of the hospital again and was thinking about us all that day.  She said she'd gotten her answer to her prayers and the answer was "Not her will, but His will". We got her to recognize the spirit and that the answer she got was through the Spirit and we taught her about baptism and told her to specifically pray if that's the decision God wants for her.  She agreed and we have an appt tomorrw. I am soooooo happy for her OMGGG!!! She is so much happier and wants the Spirit with her always and WANTS to feel God's love for her all the time. and i just KNOW that's the reason she's still alive, even if she doesn't want to be. God wants her to be able to enjoy that peace and happiness for even just a short time before she goes.  Wow it was the most amazing experience ever. I gave her a origami flower. :) THANKS DAD! what a great idea!!!

Well there was so much more that happened I wish I could share it ALL with you but it's really too much haha. but that was definitely the high light of this week!!!

I'm so excited for your talk, Emily!! :D how exciting!!! haha You should invite all your friends and all my friends who know you and they can cheer you on! wooohooo!! haha. I want to hear it! record it and send it to me hehe. jk I know you'll do awesome.  Family prayer and reading scriptures together at the end of the day is so important. I never realized it cause it never occured to me but it really does keep every individual in the family strong and at the same time bring the entire family so much closer to each other and to Heavenly Father. It's something worth making the few minutes sacrifice for.

Well, I'm sorry to hear about all that craziness going on in the ward! Sister Moura and all that. My prayers are with her family and with the ward! I Hope her service went well. But I know she's happy now and can finally be reunited with her family and teach them there :)

Did something happen to a missionary up there? I didn't really understand but I guess some one said something happened and someone had like a hemorrhage or something? scary! I'm praying for you all up in SJ!

Well I just wanted to thank everyone again for all the support and love and prayers! Especially Sister Stevens and her lovely card I received and the Bertognalli  family and their constant support and uplifting letters, and Sister James and her amazing gift! What an awesome idea--a special journal for the mission! thank you all soo much I really appreciate it! and I'm sorry I can't write all the time or rememeber. My brain is probably gonna explode soon hahah. but I love you all and keep you in my prayers!

Keep up the good work in SJ! Love you all and give referrals to the missinoaries! Never be afraid to share something you love with someone you love! The gospel truly is for everyone and will be such a gift to anyone, no matter what is going on in their life!

Eu Amo Todos de voces!!! Ate a Proxima Semana!!! <3

Sister Yoshimoto

Cute Little Dog Bit Us

August 19

Oiiii minha querida familia!!

Como vao???  I miss you alll!!!!!  I JUST got to get onto the computuer! omg!  We were stuck outside for an hour cause no one came to unlock the door for us to the family history center! 

So updates: Megan and Craig, the couple we wanted to get married.... sighhhhh.  The bishop of their ward--not our bishop cause they live in the other ward boundaries--special situation, they wanted sisters teaching them instead of elders :) --so that bishop went and visited them for a second and kind of explained really quickly how they cant get baptized until they are married and I guess he didn't realize we already explained that so he kinda went more shallow than we did and she took it the wrong way and thought he meant don't get married until you're ready and then get baptized..... sooooo we gotta work on that with them ):  This past lesson though I realized that they didn't even really understand why they would want to be baptized.   So we're gonna start there and get them really fired up to be baptized and then get that to be the key to them getting married.  They're out of town a lot and so I'll update that again later.  Kinda cool though cause they wanted a cultural marriage--She's Navajo--so that includes him having to butcher and cook a cow and serve it to her whole family..... that'll be interesting! hahah

OH MY this week has been an interesting one!! hahah. Soooo first of all, Sis Jensen-Coon and I got bit by a dog! It was the cutest dog and totttttalllyyyy reminded me of Rusty!!! WOW! even the one ear up one down thing! and his patchy spots! This one was more grey though. he was tied up and ran around a pole so the rope was shorter and we were walking by after talking to his owners. Then the dog got smart and as we were walking away, unwound from around the pole and so the rope was longer and we didnt even notice but he ran up to us and I honestly didn't think he would do anything cause there are  SO Many dogs here that bark crazy but are the nicest things ever.  But yeah he actually came up and bit us!!  He hit my knee so it was bone and I kinda saw it coming the last second and jerked my knee up by instinct I guess and hit his mouth and I think it scared him so he ran after Sis Jensen-Coon and she was a  little ahead of me so she I guess it looked like she was running away and he bit her thigh. It left some big bruises on us but nothing punctured and so we were all good.  We got it cleaned just in case but we're both fine.  Just awesome stories for later! hehe.

Awesome story number 2!

We ran into a Priest from another church and we were contacting him on the street and he started talking to us about how he knows Joseph Smith had the vision but it was actually the devil angels in disguise and we were all posessed and that's why we all believe it so firmly.  He was like I KNOW that you're possessed. You're both so sweet but its sad seeing you so possessed. So we set up an appt with him to kind of just discuss our beliefs and stuff and we were scared he was gonna throw holy water on us at the door or perform a seance or something but we just discussed the bible and proved our beliefs with scripture and he was super open and it was an awesome discussion with him and his wife and guess what!! It turns out a lot of our beliefs are the same and Mormon beliefs can be proven in the Bible!! Who'da thunk. hahah. I was like ... yeahhhhhh that's what we try to tell people but for some reason no one believes us. haha. fun stuff.  We have a return appt where we'll teach the Plan of Salvation with scriptural backup because he's very against the idea of the premortal life. But here comes the Bible references!!

WOW I learned how much I LOVE studying!! When an investigator has a question and we say we'll look it up and return and report, hehe, we go home and it brings up tons of other questions that I had growing up but never really thought about or asked or kinda just pushed aside because I didn't know the answer ... and I would search them up and find things in the Bible and Book of Mormon that made so much sense and everything just falls into place and its the coolest feeling!!  It's such a testimony builder when I realize that this gospel really DOES answer all the questions! If people would just be open to hearing us out they'd realize that we DO have all the answers!  Even members need to  realize that, I think.  I never felt comfortable asking these questions because I was raised Mormon and thought I had to know everything.  So I just wouldn't talk about it.

One big thing for me was the Godhead.  It really was a tough concept for me to understand but I knew what we believed, they're separate beings, so I just accepted it and moved on. but when we have to explain it to people I realized I don't actually know what I'm talking about so I had to study. It's amazing how much my testimony of the gospel and the scriptures and the Book of Mormon and the nature of God has grown just from me learning and studying it out for myself. 

I've learned so much about how we are all still learning and will CONSTANTLY be learning until we're perfected AFTER this life in yearsssssss and years to come.  It's okay to have questions. God gave us that ability to think and question for a reason--that reason being to find out and when we do find out, that's when we grow and it builds that testimony! It's the coolest feeling ever.   I looooove it!  Funny, cause I always hated studying before... school, church, everything. haha. oh, the things you learn on a mission ;)

BEFORE I FORGET! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY CAMI!!!!!! I don't remember if I wrote it last week. but our pday last week was cut short cause of appts so we didn't have time to write any letters): hopefully I'll have time today!  I hope you had an aweeeesome birthday!!! woooooh! youre old(;  haha.

So we've been having a lot of success with LTM's but our finding is suuuufffering.  I think only like 3 new investigators a week ):   It's so hard cause we don't have a bishop. Our bishop moved last week and the whole time I've been here, he's been prepping for the move and kinda in that awkward stage of what to do cause he couldn't really start anything cause he wouldn't be here to follow anything through and now it's our second week without a bishop and we're DYING HERE!!!!  We had 1 ward council so far and it's toughhhhhh!!!  I honestly wish every ward had a bishop like you, Dad.  We don't even have a Ward Mission Plan, or if we do, no one knows what it is. ):  I just sooo greatly appreciate the amazing dfference the ward makes in this work.  It literally cannot go forward without the ward.   The Bishop is suchhhhhha huge help and If we had a  bishop like you, we'd have the HUGEST growing ward ever!!!  We have the families and members and everything who are willing to go out with us and everything but its so hard to coordinate activities or events or anything to get people to bring friends to!  There was one event, and EQ BBQ and it was the biggest hit. the EQ prez had a party at his house and we had soooo many investigators go it was amazing.  We need more activities like that at the church and stuff or something. and we need to get involved with the youth!!!!!   It's so hard to get anything done without the bishop. ):   We were hoping for one this past Sunday but nope. Gotta wait another week then!  Prayingggg!!!!! haha.

Its kind of funny how not many people understand what missionaries do.  They ask us what we do for fun or for our breaks and stuff.  When I first came, they're like "Oh, is the other sister on vacation??"   haha. stuff like that.  We're like wow no one realizes that this is all we do.  All day. Everyday. haha.  It's funny cause its such a huge thing when I think about it like that.   But while I'm here it just seems normal ... like... We volulnteered for this. We're PAYING to do this. hahahah! We were joking about that.   Next time someone asks us we'll emphasize that we WANT to be here so bad, we're paying to do this haha. but really its kinda amazing how the days and weeks flyyyyy by!  I can't believe its already almost another transfer!!  This feels like a SECOND compared to the 6 weeks in the MTC even though the MTC was way more chill and fun haha.  This is the WORK part. and it's amazing!  It's reallly soooo coool how one amazing thing makes the entire day a good day!

So my testimony of Fellowshipping is growing sooo much as well!  Being on a mission teaches me sooo much!  Shows me the kind of member I want to be when I go home, what kind of family I want, what kind of ward I want, what kind of HOUSE I want haha. and so many things.  I realize just how important it is for the ward to welcome those who are intersted in the church.  They might have the biggest testimony, but they won't be able to get over the huge difference of just the culture. and it can't work without the people welcoming them in and makin them a part of it ... and its SO FRUSTRATING WHEN NO ONE DOES IT!!!!  We can't be the fellowshippers!!  We're leaving in a couple of months at most!  It's so hard ): but idk. we will definitely fix this after we get a bishop!!!!! ahhh!!!!!!

Okay wellll I gotta go.  All these misssionaries are waiting for the comps): sadddddd. Hopefully I'll be able to write all the letters today and send them out!  I'll be sending them soon! Send my love to the ward!

Love you allll!!!!!!

Miss you, all!!!! Praying for you all!
Thank you mom for the letters!  I'm glad youre having fun with the stuffing ENVELOPES now haha.  I will write a letter today for you cause I gotta goooooo!!

MUITO AMOR!

Ate a Proxima Segunda!

-Sister Yoshimoto<3

Learning and Improving

August 12, 2013

Oiiiii minha Familia!!!!

Wow this week is crazy!  I have a looooot to write!  But first of all, I'm in the Boulder Springs Ward!  Oh and what ward is Uncle Jimmy in, in Hendersen?? just curious.

I got the pics from mom! So pretty!!! Awwwww I love it!! haha. So cute! And the story of the snails and fertilizer for your plants and stuff haha!  Well when I get back I want a home grown feast! hehe. from all the plants and stuff you got back there! :) yummmmm!

We got some pics coming in soon from the Temple. WE GOT TO GO ON FRI!!! sooooooo great!  It will probably be the last time for my mission unless I'm here another couple of months. I'm so sad there's no temple in Teresina. but I do hope I can get there soon!!! :)) I wanna be able to speak Portuguese with people!!! I miss it!): but I'm keeping it up. saying all my prayers in Portuguese and songs during companion study.

This area is pretty strange now that I've learned more about it!  It's got about 30,000 people in this town, but like 8 wards or something!  Crazy!  The members here barely know anyone outside of church!  How sad! They like to keep within their bubble so finding is hard here.  We're trying to get people to meet their neighbors and parents from school and stuff...  It's a work in progress.  We need creative ways to find... goal of this transfer.

So a lot of the people here are pretty nice and will a little less harshly reject us, but the other day we acutally ran into a lady who was pretty crazy.  She was watching us and sitting in her garage so after a while we went over and before we said anything she asks us how many husbands we have. and we were like uhhh none. We're missionaries and were explaining what we do but she kept cutting in with stuff like don't lie!  You have 10 husbands!  And some other pretty vulgar things I can't say  haha.  She basically cussed us out and ran us off the driveway.   It was a very interesting encounter.  It got more bizarre when her neighbor, who we briefuly talked to before, saw and started yelling at her to leave us alone and then they started scream fighting as we quickly walked away awkwardly.... Oh my. what an advcenture.   We felt so bad that they started fighting.  We were down the street and turning and could still hear them fighting :(  sooooo we stay away from that house now.

I got the letters and packages! WOW mom!talk about inspired! that talk haha! and now I have it in portuguese too!! Thanks dad!!  It's super good!  I got the alpha smart thing! so coool!!! Is there a place to connect it to the usb? I couldnt find it, but I didn't look really hard yet.  That's super cool though.  I think it'll definitely be handy in Brazil maybe.  The Ensigns! im so excited to read them!  They're sooooo interesting already! One's about Jesus Christ and the other about the Book of Mormon, if anything its good for me to use as reference to some of the most common questions in missionary work. plus language study material!! Thank youuu!!!  I was starting to run out of material haha.

I talked to the elder from my MTC district who's in brazil already. he said the language comes so quickly now.  I'm so happy for him, cause he had such a hard time with it in the MTC.  But I'm also pretty jealous haha! I can't wait to head over there and really use this language!!  I can/t wait to see the people of Teresina!!!   They sound soooo nice and humble and genuine, already! :)

Well, with the companion, things are going well.  I think much better now.  Man, the thing about missions is you get to see who you reallllyyyy are and sometimes---most times--its not what you thought before.  And for me, it wasnt good news.  I really start to see things about myself.  I would just hide and push away.  Now I'm forced to see them and not only that, but change them.  Which is really the super hard part.  I never realized just how prideful  I really am.  I have a hard time LOVING people instead of just tolerating them. and that's what I really have to do with this companion. I'm also a very closed off person. I don't like opening up to ANYone unless I really know/ like/trust them.  This is super hard for me cause esp with my companion, its essential to be able to open up to her.  I really don't want to cause I like to kinda do things on my own and with Heavenly Father's help.   But that's whats so amazing about the Atonement, it allows me to lean on Him as well as others who He provides me with to help me. I just gotta really learn to use that.  I hate it, but it's gotta be done haha! and I know I will be thankful for it in the long run.  Once I had a real talk with my companion I feel like it went better.  We talked about how she kinda had the same problems when she first came out.  Her comp was a super bubbly friendly lets hug 24/7 girl and they didn't get along at all. but I only saw them at the end of the transfers where they were super close.  So of course I felt like everyone gets along like that from the start and it was just me who couldn't make things work.  It was definitely comforting seeing that I'm not the only one who has to change in order for things to work. haha. oh, that pride.

Well,  Helen is pretty much a dropped investigator):  She doesn't come out ever and we haven't seen her since the first time.  But we have other people who are progressing and even a family!!  How exciting!!  It's tough because each person has their own challenges and concerns that we need to address and only so much time to meet. B ut one couple we're teaching is Megan and Craig.  They're a couple and they have a 3 year old and are pregnant with another. but they're not married!  They want to get baptized, but we have to help them get married first.    Soooooo if it all goes well, we might be wedding planners this transfer!!!! wooooh!! hahah. how exciting!!!  I'm just so excited cause if they do and are baptized, Craig can get the priesthood and bless their new baby and baptize their 3yr old when she's 8! !!! oh mannn.... what blessings. It's hard during the days where there aren't a lot of appts or people cancel and every one rejects you, but then there's just that one lesson where it all goes right and you walk away and think what an amazing day! I love how that one person's progression makes everything else kinda not matter.  They don't even see how amazing this is for them yet, they know they want it, but they dont see just how amazing it is yet.  Then there are those who I wish I could just SHOW them what I see and be like OMG! LOOK WHAT YOU COULD HAVE!! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST READ AND PRAY!   but we can't...... so we gotta work WITH them haha. but I guess thats what missionary work is really about.

I'm so excited to hear about the mission plans back home!! Mini missions!!!  That's awwweeesome!!! I love how bold commitments are the best.  They really are hard to make but they are the ones that mean the most. or bring the most out of them.  The bolder we are, the stronger the spirit can testify!!! haha. its crazy cause I know how hard it is for members to really do their part. but I also know how important it is to do it. Missionaries cannot do this alone.  We are barely a fraction of the process. it's mostly up to members. and I always heard this but man, its true. when I go home, I'll be the BEST member msisionary ever hahahahha. just cause I know how frustrateing it is whne they don't help at all.  Here, we just teach the members that we really just need to invite.  Our job is to just GIVE people that chance to hear and accept the gospel.  They just need that chance.  and if we do our part to invite and fellowship, the rest is up to them. WE succeed when we invite.  I loooove how Mom is really going out there and inviting people! So cool!!  I love it! People don't realize the impact we have from just talking about the gospel in a casual conversation.  The gospel isn't some big scary secret!!  It's not something just for us! It's something we love so much we want others to have as well!   It's something that is literally a part of us so we can talk about it whenver we want! and if they happen to have questions about that part of us, we answer them! Mom's ideas of conversation  starters were so cute hahah.   Monday's are my fave day! why? cause my daughters on a mission and can write home now! hahaha.  Sneeeakyyy mom. hehe jk. but really, it's that simple. but that important.

On top of that, just living like we should is such a good missionary way.  Being examples.  People are watching us cause they know we're different. We can all be Mormons, but are we all Latter Day Saints?  We have to live as Latter-day Saints. Because that's what we are. and that can be the best way to invite others. :)

Well that's my spiel for the day.  Just a few quick updates:  We had sushi with that member who thinks I don't eat meat haha.  Cleared that one up. although the tofu he gave was awesome too hehe. and he gave me tamarind candy!  Sooo good! never heard of it before!  But he also gave me TONS of nori! WHAT A BLESSING!!!!! hahahah.

Blesssingssss!!!!  Well I gotta go soon but I just want to let everyone know how much I love you all!!  I love all the support and letters I get from home!! I miss you all and pray for you every night!!  I hope you're all doing better ... Especially mom and her shoulder!

Emily, how's your schedule!??! Teachers?  When you start?

DAD that trip sounds soooo intense!!   Is your shoulder okay now???  That is so hardcore haha

Kei!  So excited you're going to another ward now. funnnn!!!!!

Love you all!! I'll use the Alpha smart next week so maybe I'll have more time to write!! :)
<33333

Sister Yoshimoto