July 16th Snail Mail

Dear Family,

How are you?  How was Snowbird?  I bet y'all are doing great!!  Thank you for all the emails!  (You know I do love written letters, too!!)  My email this week was a little depressing.  But this week will get better!!  We have zone conference this week which I am very excited for!!  I am giving the Diligence recitation in Spanish!  Yay!

My Spanishg is getting better.  I am still learning.  I think I will feel like I am learning all through my whole mission!!

It's way exciting to almost be out 4 months on my mission.  We were talking during lunch the other day and Sister Taylor, my companion, tells me that I only have 10 more transfers left!!  I have sure learned a lot!!

Somethings that have happened...My old roommate, Erin got married.  Christine Hymas got her mission call to Lima, Peru and Hailey Heaps got her mission call to Brazil.  Way exciting!!

One of the scriptures that hit me this week is found in Luke 9:61-62.  "And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Sometimes as missionaries we think about home.  But we need to remember, we are on His time.  One quote that President Castro shared, "If you can't give 100% to this work, how will you be able to gie 100% to your family in the future?"

Thanks for all you do!!

Love,
Hermana Fitz

July 15th - Some Weeks are Better than Others...

Hola Family,

It is so great to hear from you.  Mondays are days that we look forward to when we have had a difficult week. 

I do get to go to the temple during my Birthday month.  We have transfers on the 30th of July so I will wait and see where I am at before we schedule anything because we have to have a member take us. 

Everything is going. I don't know if Heavenly Father wants me to learn patience but I really have felt this week that we are walking the path that Christ walked. 

Manuel, came to church last week.  We had a lesson with him on Wednesday and committed him to be baptized on July 27th. He was really excited and wanted to change for the better. We set up another appointment on Saturday.  He told us that he broke the Word of Wisdom.  To be baptized you have to be clean for three weeks. The other part that was frustrating is that he is on disability and he doctor asked what he did this weekend and he said he went to church with us and the doctor right then and there brought up Anti-Mormon literature for him to read. We asked if we could do anything to help him with his Word of Wisdom problem and he said no. He wants to get off the alcohol himself.   He clearly needs help but doesn't want to take it. 

Daniel is ok.  We have been struggling with what to do with him. We had an appointment last night, and we are still trying to figure out what is going on. He can't come to church on Sunday because he works.  His work is saying either you take the job or you walk away. He hasn't been reading because he doesn't have time.   We know that he can read.  I did offer my CD's to listen to in the car but his CD player in his car is broken. 

Most of our investigators are too busy to talk to us or don't come to church even when we invite them. Some of them don't show up for the appointments we set or aren't home. It's really frustrating and sometime you wish you could just take away their agency but we can't.

Our dinner calender is full!   We have eating peppers in corn tortillas and lentils and other stuff.  All of it is really good. Sister Taylor is good.   We both just wish we were having more success.  Maybe this transfer we are just planting seeds. 

I have bought peaches, plums, and strawberries. I really love peaches and plums. 

The most spiritual thing that happened this week is that one of the family members of our recent convert wants to come to church and learn more. We also get to teach the YW next Sunday which I am really excited for. 

The scripture that means the most to me this week is Jacob 5: 70-76; 41. (Parable of the vineyard) 

The funniest thing that happened this week was when we were walking from the door of an investigator and I wasn't watching my step because I was marking something in my planner.  I fell because i didn't see the step. After what happened processed in my head, I just sat on the ground for a few minutes but my right calf area and side of my leg are bruised but i didn't cry, I just laughed!! 

Tell Sister Schoen that I say hi and wish that I could see her. She will do a fantastic job on the house. I can't wait to see the pictures when she is done. 

Oh. one other thing that I thought of that you could get me for my birthday is more bath and body works perfume and stuff.  We found this picture on the ground and I thought of you. Love ya!! 

Snail Mail will be on the way this week. I'll get better I promise :)

Love,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Snail Mail...July 9th

Hi Family!

How are y'all doing?  I hope you are having fun at Snowbird.  I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July!  We have been busy trying to find new people to teach.

This past week we had exchanges.  They were great!  We tracted a lot and gave a 30 minute declaration and gained one new potential investigator.

We had a couple of miracles happen like I told you about in my previous email.  Manuel is almost 30 and has had a hard life.  He is kind of like an ex gang member and has some word of wisdom issues, mostly alcohol.  We have been trying to get him to come to church.  First, he didn't even want to come. And then at our last visit, he said he would come if he had the right clothes, like the Elders.  When we called him again, he had totally changed his mind.  He came to church for all three hours and he didn't even care about the clothes he was wearing.  He really enjoyed it and realizes he ned to change.  We are going to set him up with a baptismal date this week!!

The other miracle that we had was that we have been trying to get an appointment with Daniel.  Finally, we were able to see him last night.  We asked him how he was doing.  He is still reallly busy.  He's been praying, but not reading.  We we still read read with him and reset his baptismal date for August.  He is getting better at not having coffee, which is great!  How he just has to attend church 3 times and he is set.  So, we are close with baptisms and having worthy converts!!

I have been reading the Book of Mormon.  One of my favorite scriptures I read this week was 1 Nephi chapters 13 and 14.  In the first book of Nephi, it talks a lot about our day and the fullness of the gospel.

For my birthday, all I really want is letters from my family and friends, more pens, stamps and one of those cute Sister Bear animals with the missionary stuff at Deseret Book.

Love you all!!
Love,
Hermana Fitz

p.s. Thanks for all the packages.

p.s.s. Another one of my favorite scriptures this week is Alma 31:35 "Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these our brethren, again unto thee."

July 8th - Loving the Mission!!

hola Familia,

Yo soy muy bueno y esta pasado semena nos tenemos milagros en nuestra misionaria trabajo. Esta semana, un investagador nombre Manuel. Cuando primero visitar con el, el decir el no quiere asistir a la iglesia. Pero es pasada semana cuando llama el a set up otra cita con el. El decir por medio el telefono que el quiere a asistir a la iglesia. Ayer Manuel, venir a la iglesia y stayed por todo tres horas. El really gustaria it y decir as long as nos get him a ride, he will come. 

(Here's the translation...)  I'm very good.   This last week we have had miracles in our missionary work. This week, an found an investigator named Manuel. When we first visited with him, he said he didn't want to go to church. But this last week when we called to set up another appointment, half-way through the phone call, he said he wanted to attend church.  Yesterday, Manual came to the Church and stayed for all three hours. He said he really liked it.   He said as long as we get him a ride, he will come.  Baby steps.  

When we met with him, he is having some word of wisdom problems.   During the lesson I had the feeling to ask him if he wanted a priesthood blessing.  He said, "If you think it would help."  We talked more about what the priesthood is and what the blessings are for.  After church, we had our zone/district leaders come and give him a blessing.   One of our district leaders found Manual and gave him to us because he is more Spanish then English. If that is all I do this transfer, I will be really proud. 

We also had exchanges and I learned alot and how to be a better missionary. I have done more piano playing, I played in the branch yesterday because the person that is assigned to play didn't show up. 

I think I might get transferred next transfer but I never know because there have been some missionaries who have come to this area and have spent a whole year here.   It has mostly been elders that have said that. 

I did see Hermana Rubow at transfers. I was so excited because she is in the Ventura,CA mission and that gives us hope to be in the same district or be companions. I also got a letter from her this week and she told me  that after the mission, her mom and her and us will have to go on a daughter/mom trip.

Oh, TiWi. Well TiWi has been nice to me but I did get a call from Elder Truman from the mission office asking if TiWi was still causing problems and I said yes it has, so TiWi is going to get replaced but since that call TiWi hasn't made a sound.

The Funniest thing that happened this week, well Hermana Taylor and I  have been looking at swimming pools and torturing ourselves. We were in the car and Hna. Taylor spilled her water bottle and she said, "Well, that is the wettest I will get for a year and a half!"   There are other funny things that happen throughout the week.  Everything is better. We have gotten so much closer and are trying our best to be the best missionaries that we can be. 

Our biggest challenge is finding new people to teach. We've knock every day and nothing has come out of it. Another tender mercy beside Manuel, is Daniel. We set up another appointment finally with him. He has been super busy with work and hasn't had time to read but he is still praying and still has the desire to be baptized. We have been challenging more people to be baptized and so August will definitely be a baptizing month for the branch. I will snail mail ya this week (no kidding).  I'm still thinking of what I want for my birthday. 

Love y'all

Herman Fitzpatrick

Kenzer Lou  

July 1st - Another Great Week in CA

Hi Family,

How are y'all doing? I know It's so crazy how the time passes here on the mission. I feel like I just got here and I can't believe I am already out four months. CRAZY!!!  When they say time sure flies by when you are having fun, that's no joke!!  It sure does fly by when you are working too. 

I think we inherited a little of the hot weather here because it was 100F the last couple of days.  But today it sure did cool down a lot. We are so grateful. 

Can dad send me his talk?  Everything in California is going fine. I know it's a little hard right now. We are kind of at a dead stop in this area because none of our investigators are progressing.  Some have lack of desire and other personal matters that get in their way. 

Having a new companion is a new challenge, but a great one.  It has made me miss Hermana Romero and I that I learned from her. It's just a different perspective of a person and just different attitudes on life and how the mission is viewed.  I am not having as much fun as I did with Hermana Romero or the district that we did have last transfer, which is a bummer because I know last transfer it was really rare to have a great trainer and to have a great district as well. 

We don't have any progressing investigators which is a bummer but it will get better. Daniel isn't doing too good. He hasn't attended church and he hasn't given up coffee and he has quit reading and praying so we are working with him but we have to move his baptismal date. 

Our branch is OK, we are not getting a lot of fellowship.  One of our zone goals is to have a member present at every lesson.  We have a lot of dinner appointments this month.  14 so far this month.   I don't know if it is stress or just switching from vegan to eating meat or just  the Spanish food but no matter what I do, I have an acidic stomach all day. I eat a lot of TUMS.  Recommend anything? 

The most spiritual experience this week, I think the is when someone isn't reading their scriptures and we just read with them.  Also, for me, it is all the insight that I get when I study in the morning, especially the scriptures from Preach My Gospel. 

The funniest thing, well maybe it's not funny but its sweet. We were going to see a referral and his family was outside and they offered us some of their peaches off their peach trees and bought us Popsicles.   We gave them a Restoration pamphlet and an El Libro de Mormon.  Also, some of the branch members who work at a car wash, washed our car for us this week. 

Most challenging this is this whole transfer. I feel like such a burden because I still don't know what I am doing, I ask a lot of questions, and am trying to do the best I can but I feel always stressed. 

I learn the most from the scriptures. I now truly enjoy learning from them as we apply them to our lives. 

No, I haven't had to talk in Sacrament meeting yet. We haven't really had to teach Gospel Principles.  

I really don't know what I want for my birthday. I am always good with surprises.  The only bad part is that transfers are the 1st.  So, I'm not sure I will get all my packages for my birthday in time. But it will all work out. I think about it today and I will snail mail ya. I

I'm so excited that Nancy is coming. I got a sweet letter from Sestra Schoen from the MTC and she is doing great. She was going to write me but I beat her to the punch. 

I love y'all so much and can't believe how long it has been since I've seen ya.   But I know that you are only a couple of states away. 

'Talk' to you soon.  I'll snail mail y'all at Grandma's. Have fun at Snowbird and ride the new rides for me. 

Love Y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Virtual Hug and Kiss (MUH) and Happy Fourth of July!

Love always,

Hermana Fitzpatrick

Kenzer LOU

June 27 Snail Mail

Hi Family,

Sorry about the problems with the emails.  This week feels so long! We had transfers.  Hermana Romero went to Paso Robles.  Our district isn't as close as last transfer was.  It definitely got a lot stricter.  For example, I can't park the way I want to so that my companion doesn't have to stand behind the car and back me out.  The zone leaders don't want us to take pictures of anything weird.  (?)  But, I think maybe there is something I need to learn from this district.

My companion, Hermana Taylor is from Georgia.  She has been going to BYU.  She is a newbie and only 19!  We have a golden investigator named Daniel.  The only problem is that he hasn't come to church because he works on Sunday.  He is going to try to see what he can do to change that.

We really did a lot of knocking and street contacting.  It's hard to fill out our planner this transfer.  Miles aren't going so well because we travel to Moorpark almost every day which is about 20 miles round trip.  We just wish we had more fellowshipping in the ward and had more members helping us with referrals!!

My Spanish is better.  Especially now because I have to carry and talk to the investigator in this companionship.  But, I am excited to learn and teach people!! It's getting easier to knock on doors even though it's not my favorite thing to do.  I'd rather talk to people on the street.

I miss you all a lot and think about you often.  It's weird that I have been out 4 months!  :)  It has gone by really fast!!  I can't wait to hear from you next week!

Love,
Hermana Fitzpatrick
Kenzer Lou

June 26, The Best Kind of Mail...

So happy for our girl!  What a great missionary she is!  

She's so excited to be part of a great Army of Missionaries!!