May 26 - I'm a Trainer!!

Hola Familia,

I absolutely loved my box mom! Thanks so much and I did get my contacts.  Hermana Hernandez got her box as well. I did get the card and money from grandpa. Thank you so much!!  My new companion is Hermana Young.  She is from Utah. She is straight out from the MTC. Oxnard is great. Our investigators are great and we are working really hard with them. I don't need anything right now. I'm ok for dinero right now, thanks. It would be great if you sent Hermana Hernandez an email every week. 

This week went by so fast. It's crazy how time is flying I feel like I wake up and then the next moment I'm going to bed but I love it. On Monday, we had a lesson with one of our investigators named Julian. He is a 10 year old boy and we taught him more about the prophet Jose Smith and why we have the Book of Mormon. We committed him to be bapitized as well and he said "Yes". His baptismal date is for June 14th. He is so excited and a little shy when we come over, but he eventually breaks out of his shell. 

We said goodbye to the people that Hermana Hernandez wanted to say goodbye to and then we went home for the night. 

On Tuesday, we had transfer meeting and it was so great. I was filled with spiritual enlightenment at the trainers meeting and at transfer meeting. We arrived back at our apartment and we went straight to planning lessons. We had a couple of appointments and some of them fell through but we did the things we needed to to prepare for the week during that time. 

We had a lesson with Hermana Claudia. We talked about talents and how she is very creative and how God gives us talents to help us grow. 

We visited Hermana Rojelia who isn't doing too good health wise or spiritual wise. She hasn't been coming to church for about a month or so now and we talked to her about the importance of coming and having the faith to be able to stay for all three hours and not just leave after sacrament. 

We had correlation that night and Hermana Young met Bishop, our Ward Mission Leader and the ward missionaries. We went home and unpacked a little bit more and did language study. 

We hit the ground hard on Wednesday. We had an appointment with a new investigator which was a refferal from the elders and they gave us the address. We tried the address but the lady that answered the door said that our investigator didn't live there. We called her and she said she does, but we had another appointment to get to, so we set up an appointment for two in the afternoon. We had lunch with a member and then we went to our appointment. Their names are Veronica and Hector. They are so nice and around our age. They are expecting their first baby together. We had a get-to- know you lesson and talked about the Word of Wisdom because they are having problems with keeping it. We set up other lessons this week but they couldn't make them so we are going to try to catch them this week. 

On Thursday, we had District Meeting. It was so good. I always feel enlightened and empowered after them. We went to go see a potential who was home but didn't answer the door. Then we went to go see Jose and Angelina who are back from Las Vegas. She didn't get time to go to the church to see if her records are there but we talked about the gospel and how they need to make baptismal a goal or they are never going to get there. So they said "Yes" to June 21st for their date. But it mostly seems like Hermano just wants to watch movies instead of have us teach. 

We taught Filemon and Mari Carmen too. We taught the Gospel and they loved it. We extended a baptismal invite to Mari Carmen and she said she needs more preperation. Filemon didn't say anything so we are going to try again with him again this week. We also ran into a lady who we taught the Restoration to and she said all churches are true. We'll try back and explain the Great Apostisia again. 

Friday, we had weekly planning. It was great. We had all of our appointments fall through on Friday, but we tracted and talked to people. 

On Saturday, we had a lesson with Julian and we taught the Plan of Salvation. He understood, and we committed him to pray about it. We tracted alot as well because our appointments fell through again.  But we did find one of our investigators and we set up a return appointment because she was sick. On Sunday, we had Filemon and Julian come to church it was so exciting. Filemon liked it alot. It was kind of dishearting though because our ward mission leader made me feel that I wasn't good enough because I explained where the church was and everything but our ward mission leader just said that the problem with having non-native missionaries. I just felt frustrated because I have worked hard to where I am at in my Spanish, but I eventually let it go and went back to work. 

We tracted and found a couple of people who are semi-interested. In all, it was a great week.

I studied alot for my investigators this week on their own lessons. I also studied a little bit more in the Book of Mormon. I was asked to give a talk on Sunday on the importance of forgiveness. It went well and I understand alot more of the importance of forgiving other and not judging their faults because we all have them.

Hermana Young is doing great. She is going out there and talking to people. She isn't a huge fan of knocking on doors but with time, it will happen. She is doing great and wants so hard to become the missionary the Lord wants her to be in one transfer. She is awesome and willing to do things that we ask her.

 

Te quiero mucho,

 

Hermana Fitzpatrick

May 19 - Another Great, Busy Week!

Hola Familia,

 

Thanks for sending a package.  I think we will get it tomorrow.  Hermana Hernanadez needed the peppermint oil. I am staying in Oxnard and guess what.... I'm training!!  Hermana Hernandez is leaving:(. Gilbert, didn't come to church this week but we will be visiting with him this week. Everyone looks so great. Dad has lost weight. Blake looks so big and tall. He definately has a football build. The backyard looks great. My dog is funny. Send some pictures of everyone for graduation.

This week was so great. On Monday, we ran into one of our investigators who didn't have time for a lesson but we set up an appointment to have one. We then went to dinner and had a nonmember friend who has contact with the church through being homeless and needed some help so the missionaries helped them. She was so open and willing to talk to us. She had such a great spirit about her. 

On Tuesday, we had a lesson with Luis. He hasn't been progressing and we have done everything on our part to help him come unto Christ. We read the Book of Mormon with him because he hasn't been reading on his own but he will read with us. We had a lesson with one of our less actives Hermana Claudia. We talked about faith and how we can grow our faith in our home. She really liked it and committed to grow her faith in one thing. She found her Book of Mormon and the only place she can read it is in the bathroom because her two daughters won't bother her. She has a strong testimony and has a lot of family that is active in the church. We then had a lesson with a refferral we got. He met us in our area because he actually lives in the zone leaders area. He gave a false address. He is going through alot. He recently lost his job and doesn't know how to support his family. He told us he has a problem with looking at other women even though he is married. We read some scriptures out of the Book of Mormon and he committed to read it. He said he's been reading little by little. His priorities have just gotten changed. 

On Wednesday, we had a lesson with a less active who is confined to a wheel chair and doesn't want to come to church because he feels like he will be a burden to the members. We talked about how the members want to help and how God wants him at church. His family just experienced a huge miracle. They were losing their sister and she was on life support but they took her off and she was dead for 46 minutes but she came back to this life. It was a big testimony to them that God is a God of Miracles and they haven't stopped. 

We also had a lesson with Jacqulin. We explained more about the Book of Mormon and why we have it today. We read the introduction with her and committed her to read the testimony of the Prophet Jose Smith. We also had a lesson with Luis. This was our drop lesson because we told him he wasn't doing his part.  We explained about the word of wisdom and he wants help with it. We came at 7 with a ride for him and he was busy fixing a car with a cigarette in his ear. He said he was busy but his friend will take him in 20 minutes we waited at the church for a half hour and he still hadn't come so we knew that he really doesn't want to change or progress. He just isn't ready right now. 

We had district meeting which was really good. I loved focusing on the Atonement because it is central to our message.

After district meeting, we went to go see a referral named Yolanda. She lives alone and we shared the message of the Restoration. We gave her a Bible and a Book of Mormon and committed her to read the Book of Mormon. 

We also had a lesson with Filemon who is progressing very nicely. He has read the Book of Mormon all the way to 1 Nephi 5 and he was waiting for us but we couldn't go because we were sick. But he is so ready for this gospel. On Friday, we visited Hermana Rojelia who is going really less active. She hasn't come to church for about a month and a half. We have been visiting her and helping her feel the Spirit. We watched Jose Smith: Prophet of the Restoration and she really enjoyed it and had great questions about the early history of the saints. 

We also saw the Ruiz's and they are struggling a little bit. Hermano fell out of the habit of praying and because it has been so hot, he wants to go back to drinking.  We told them that these are just temptations of the devil and that he can do all things if he asks God for help. We ate dinner with them and share a little message. It was exactly what they needed. They are so sweet. 

On Saturday, we had a lesson with Julian who is a new investigator, They were referred by a member family. They are so interested in the Church and Julian loves it. On Sunday his dad asked what he needs to do to become a member of the Church. So cool! 

We also had a baptism. The man that got baptized from the elder's area is so changed. He and his family look so much happier with the gospel in their lives. 

On Sunday, we went to see a member who is having difficulties in her family.  We read the Book of Mormon with her to bring the Spirit into her home. 

We also had Julian and his dad and one of our other investigators that just moved into our area at church it was so cool to see miracles happen everyday!

This week I studied in the Book of Alma. All about the wars and Captain Moroni. I read the recent conference Ensign and loved what all the the prophets and apostles had to say. I also finished the book Our Heritage. It was so interesting and wonderful to read all about the History. I love everything that I have studied and I learn so much.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to work with Hermana Hernandez. She has taught me so much and I am going to miss her. I have made an eternal friend. But I am also grateful for the opportunity to train a new missionary and help her gain the experience she needs to be a great missionary. I'm so excited for this opportunity to learn and grow and even share experiences and miracles with her. I know that she is awesome and she is ready to be the Lord's servant for this 18 months.

 

Love ya/ Te quiero mucho,

 

Hermana Fitzpatrick

May 12 - Loved Mother's Day!

Hola Familia,

I think extra money would just be helpful and also will you get me a copy of the General Conference Ensign (English)? I really think so for the registered dietician thing. I know i've been thinking about the school stuff, just a little.

Thanks mom! I hope you had an amazing Mother's Day. I will see you in a few short months and I will just enjoy myself and my family for a couple of weeks. I can't believe how fast the time is going and i am enjoying every minute of my mission. It was so great talking to everyone too. Kellie sounds so different and Blake sounds the same, so does Sydnie. Oh, to play a joke on Littles, you can tell her there was a circus here. Which there was! I hope you have a great week and I can't wait to hear from you next Monday. I love you and everything you have done for me. When its summer time, tell my siblings they can actually write me now! hahaha. Give Gracie a hug from me. Love you!

This past week has been full of resting and studying. Our first day out was on Thursday. We went to Zone meeting and it was great. Full of spiritual enlightenment and a way that we can better ourselves on reaching the goal of 40 lessons a week. After that we went to an appointment we had with Luis. We read chapter 5 of First Nephi. We committed him to read Chapter 6 and 7 of First Nephi. He also said he was coming to church. We called him early on Sunday morning and he said he would be ready. We stopped by on Sunday with a member from the ward to bring him to church. He said that he wasn't ready to go and that he will come next week. But we could feel that he was disappointed in letting us down and even for the member. We at least got him to know someone who we can take to our lessons. 

We had a lesson with a Less Active named Hermana Claudia. We shared "Come and Join With Us" by President Utchdorf. She really loved the talk and is helping her with her family that aren't members or that are now doubting the Church. She loved the faith part and how we need to keep to the faith. We explained the quote that President Utchdorf said "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." She is so strong and has a strong testimony. She just found her scriptures and said she will start reading them. The only thing that is keeping her from coming to church is her husband. Her husband is a truck driver and is gone for 2-3 weeks at a time and Sunday is his only day off. So they want to spend that day as a family. We have asked her to talk to her husband about letting her come to church but she hasn't taking that step. We think she might be afraid in asking him. 

We had dinner with the Ornelas family. They are pretty cold when it comes to the gospel. They aren't reading or praying as a family. We are working with their less active son to help him read. We also committed the dad to read who isn't a member or who doesn't want anything really right now to do with the church. It is really hard to see a family that has an active mom, two less-active sons, and a non-member dad. We know that the mom is trying. We are going to start helping them come closer to God and to gain that foundation that they once had. On Friday, we saw Hermana Rojelia who isn't doing that good. She hasn't come to church for awhile because her husband wants to go fishing on Sunday. She is also having some family issues that she told us about. She has some questions about polygamy in the early part of church history. She wasn't doubting her faith but she wanted to know about it and she didn't know that the saints were persecuted and things like that so we are going to be showing her the Restoration video to explain that it wasn't easy for the saints in the early formation of the Church. 

On Saturday, we had the dia de las madres activity. It was so fun to see the members and those who really came and recognize the importance of mothers. There were a couple families from barrio quinto. It was such a great time to enjoy one another's company. We went home and rested the rest of the day because of Hermana Hernandez's ear but she is doing much better and we are ready to work this week. On Sunday, we had church and the talks and classes were so good. In sacrament meeting, the talks were on mothers.  All the mothers received a rose. We then helped primary with their mother's day song. Then my favorite part was Relief Society because the teacher was talking about the Book of Mormon and how we need to be witnesses of its divinity as well. She said if your are not reading the Book of Mormon, you will not be able to go back to the presence  of God. SO cool and so powerful. We talked to our families. They are all doing great. Hermana was really excited to talk to her family in Mexico. I think I was more excited for her to talk to her family. 

This week I studied in the Book of Alma and his mission and how he gave up his seat to go preach the gospel. I love how he gives his testimony to his son Helaman. I have been reading the conference Ensign from November 2012. I read a talk on sacrament and how this man would write down what he thinks about on a card during the sacrament. I also have been reading Our Heritage about Church history. I really took for granted all that my ancestors have done to come to the church. I want to go back to the church history sites and learn more and see all the things that the Prophet Joseph Smith and the 12 did. It is so cool to read about their personal experiences and hardship that they had to endure for the gospel. I also have been reading a little bit in the Bible about Jonah. This week I came upon Nahum and how he fortells the destruction of Ninevah. I want to compare to what will happen to the world during the Second Coming. I also read our virtue scripture but especially read where the Lord called Emma Smith and "elect lady" and the things that she needs to do. It was so cool to read that it is basically our responsibility as women. 

Te amo ustedes

Hermana Fitzpatrick (Kenzer Lou)

May 5 -Crazy, Sick Week

Hola Familia,

I Can't believe it's already May either. The year has just flying by. Our church time is 11-2. I will call at 6p.m. I can't wait to talk to y'all. 

Yep, I do like exercising outside, but I do miss my gym equipment. I can't believe all the events that are happening. Dad told me about the backyard and it sounds bombing. Can't wait to see it. Hey if you have tim,e can you find the CD Living Eden by Brandon Heath and send it to me when you have a package ready. Thanks mom your so awesome. Oh and Have a Happy Mother's day. Wish I could be there to celebrate with you but we will have plenty of time to celebrate when i get home. Can't believe it's so close. 

This week was unpredictable. So on Monday, we did an FHE with a family. We watched Finding Faith in Christ. The coolest miracle happened. We asked them if we could watch a DVD.  They said that it hasn't been working, but we can try. So we tried and we were able to watch the whole video without any glitches. So amazing! Then the cutest thing happened. They have a 2 year old little boy and he was looking at his dad's hand for the marks that Christ had. It so amazing for how young he is, he is realizing the influence of Christ in his life. It was such a great lesson. 

Monday was also the most stressful p-day ever. Anything that went wrong did. The stores were closed, the car wash broke down, and our emails weren't working for about 3 hours. But we handled it and got what we needed to done. On Tuesday, we declared to alot of people who were passing by when picking up their kids from school. Some people didn't want to hear from us and other were very open. We had an appointment with the Flores family. We read 1 Nephi 1 with them and the wife said she is going to get her glasses fixed so she can start reading the Book of Mormon. The husband was reading the Book Of Mormon all that way to 1 Nephi 1. They liked to read it outside and learn from it. They are progressing nicely. We only need them to come to church. We had a lesson with Jose and Angelina. They are doing very well too. We taught tithing and fast and offerings. They committed to live it. They came to church and are wanting this more and more. Hna. Angelina is doing so well with the Word of Wisdom and Jose is doing less and less of what he did before but they are progressing and understanding more of this gospel and how it can help them. On Wednesday, I wasn't feeling very well but we had alot of appointments and we went to our appointments. We had a lesson with one of our LA, Hermana Claudia. She is doing well. She just got back from Mexico and we shared the talk by President Ucthdorf, "Come and Join with Us." We commited her to read it. We also had a small lesson with Hermana Rojelia. We shared a scripture on faith, hope, and patience in trials. She is going through alot, family wise. After that, Hermana and I weren't feeling too well the rest of the day. So we came home and rested. On Thursday, we canceled all our appointments because we still weren't feeling too well to go out. Then Hermana started getting worse with her ear and her face. It was so swollen. We called Sister Castro who had us call Sister Judson. They reccommeneded we go to an Urgent Care. Hermana was in a lot of pain to where even moving just hurt. We went to an Urgent Care in Ventura and we were seen by a nurse practitioner. She didn't even tell us what Hna had, but gave her an antibiotic to take. We have been inside since that day. But this experience has reminded me of the apostles where Christ told them to wait an hour. Hermana was having a hard night one night and she couldn't sleep, talk, move or do anything or she would have pain. So I stayed up with her.  I know what the apostles felt when Christ had to suffer the pain for all alone. I could be with Hermana but I couldn't take away her pain. It was like the scripture, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" is what i experienced. At times i was so tired but I knew Hermana needed me, so I stayed awake until I knew she was asleep. Through this experience, it has taught me the compassion and love that Christ has for us to go through the Atonement. He has felt everything that we are going to go through and he knows how we feel. I couldn't relate to Hermana because I never experienced what she had, but Christ has felt what she has and has gone through that pain for her. If anyone can relate to Hermana, it is Him.  Hermana is getting better slowly but surely.  She still has some ear problems but hopefully the antibiotics will fix it. She will get better I know it. I had a lot of time to study this week. So I mostly studied in Jesus the Christ and the Book of Mormon, reading in Alma.

I'll "snail" ya this week too.

Love ya,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

April 28 - Another Fabulous Week!

Hola Familia,

Our missionary conference was great!  We couldn't take any pictures or anything but it wasn't right occasion to take pictures but we got to shake Elder Russell M. Nielson's hands. 

We did do Mormon helping hands this week. We cleaned up a river area but it was so great because we had a lot of people look at what we were doing. 

The backyard looks so great. I can't believe we got a new bishop but I bet that he is great. What's his name? I'm so happy to see everyone is doing great. What time is your church again? What is the home phone #? I will tell you what time I will call you next week. Have a great week and I will snail mail ya!

This week has been fabulous. On Monday,we had an FHE with a less active family and we talked about The Gospel with them and the steps they need to take to go back to Heaven with our Heavenly Father.On Tuesday, we had a lesson with Luis who explained his doubt about being baptized and how he is recieving family troubles for studying with us. We did service for Hermana Rojelia.  She had some concerns and is really depressed on how her life isn't what she wanted and how she has been raising her kids. We also had a lesson with Jose and Angelina we taught the gospel and set them with a baptismal date of May 9th. They are so excited to be back in California and to see us in their home. On Wednesday, we had exchanges. After getting locked out of our apartment, we were finally able to go out and work. We saw a former who doesn't live in our area but they were in our area book. They said we could stop by if we had time, so we will give this former to the elders.We saw a couple of potentials who have been taught, but they mostly said that the previous elders came by for food or to just hangout, which is disappointing to hear. We found some new investigators: Gavino and Marie and Filemon. Filemon is so great he knows all about Joseph Smith and his story and he knows alot about our church. We think he might be a member we just have to ask him at our lesson this week that we have with him. We had a lesson with Jesus as well who hasn't been reading because of his eyesight but he said he will try. They stopped doing the kids homework to listen to us.  We are still wanting them to come to church but all that we can do is keep inviting. 

Hermana Siddoway said to work on sharing a scripture from the Book of Mormon in any teaching situation and I am starting to do gratitude prayers to help me realize the smalls things that happen during the day. Thursday was great. We had a lesson with a LA named Olympia who kids are former investigators. We didn't know that she was a member until she told us. She works on Sunday and so that's why she doesn't come to church. We are going to start meeting with her to get her re-activated. We found some new people this day too, and so we are going to start teaching them. We had another lesson with Angelina and Jose. They are doing so great and we are really trying to help them reach their date. We had a lesson with Luis and extended a baptismal date to him for may 23. He is struggling to come to church as well. 

On Saturday, we had Mormon Helping Hands and the elders had a baptism.  It was so good. We had a lesson with Fiilemon and explained more about the Book of Mormon. On Sunday we had church and had a lesson with Jose and Angelina. We watched the full movie of the Restoration. This week we found one new investigator.  Tthis week was a really a success.

This week I studied 3 Nephi 20 in the Book of Mormon.  During my language study and during my personal study I was in Alma and reading the missionary chapters. I also studied more about virtue and diligence and how we can find more. I also was studying the fall of the Lamanites and Nephites and how they are compared to the world today. I had great study sessions this week and learned how i can apply what I study to my investigators.

Hna Hernandez and I are great. We are seeing alot of success and working the way the Lord wants us to. We have come to love and understand each other alot better. We are growing to love and work in unity.

Te amo mucho, gracias por todo.

Hermana Fitzpatrick