Ah, another Great Change!

The time came again!! Yes 6 weeks, a phone call all us missionaries wait to get! The 6th week of the transfer is always crazy, it seems to be all we talk about and try to guess where everyone is going. Then Friday comes, the whole day we have butterflies in our stomach and just wait for Friday to end so that we can know whether we are staying or going. Then Saturday comes.. We await the phone call, cant seem to do anything. We cant sleep, cant study, cant eat.. Oh intense right? Ya well that's how it is for all of us missionaries..
Now, the change..

Santa Rosa was a GREAT area.. There were so many things that I learned, about the gospel and about myself. I'm grateful for the companion (friend) that I was able to serve with to help me with my struggles and helped me to become a better disciple of Christ.

I have only been here in Fairfield a few days and I'm already starting to love it.
Sometimes I think why things have to change.. Why do we have to get transferred from place to place and be with different companions?
I love what Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley says, "Everything you are learning now is preparing you for something else."
I know this statement to be true.. Everything that I have learned in an area, I take it with me and apply it to what I need to.
Kinda like our purpose of why we are here on earth. It says in the scriptures that everything we learn here we take it into heaven with us, and apply those things when we get there.

I have to remind myself everyday that I will always learn something new, I will never know everything.

I am grateful for the Spirit helping to recognize what things in me and my life that I need to change. I know that I wouldn't be able to be a better disciple of Christ if it weren't for the different areas and companions! I'm so happy the Lord gives us So many opportunities to change and become the person that He knows and wants us to become! 
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Need Medicine?!

A couple weeks ago Sister Lewis had this really bad ear ache. We talked about it, and tried to figure out what we could do to fix it, or make it feel better. We went to the store and looked at some things that we could poss get to help. The options that we had weren't bad, but they didn't really fix the problem. We finally came to the conclusion that we needed to call the mission nurse.

We did, and after the conversation we had with her on the phone, she told us to do something totally different then what we were going to do or plan on doing..
So where am I going with this? Well let me try and explain....
There have been many times, in my life when I have had a problem.. Somethings that I try and figure out. I find that when I try and do it myself it is hard and I cant ever seem to solve it. When I put my trust and relying on my Heavenly Father, the problem doesn't go away, but with His help I seem to figure things out.

He gives us things to help us with our everyday struggles and challenges. For example the scriptures... What an AMAZING thing!! I can read them, and find answers to questions and concerns that I have.. Another one is a Prophet and other church leaders.. Like the mission nurse, she was able to tell us right then and there what we needed to do.

The leaders that we have, have been set apart with certain callings to help us.. Aka the Bishop, Mission President, Relief Society President, the Prophet. I am so grateful to the Lord for giving us these people to help us in the things that we need.
I know as for myself I need to learn to put my trust in the lord and His trusted servants.. When I do I will be able to face any challenges that come my way.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

The Only True God & Jesus Christ Whom He Has Sent

                       
I watched this video this morning, and as time started going by.. Ive been really thinking about it. I just want to say my testimony about our Savior Jesus Christ.
He is central to the message that we have to share as missionaries and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It is through Him that we can be cleansed of our sins. He is the way..
We (Sister Lewis and I) were role playing this morning and there was a verse in the Book of Mormon that really stood out to me this morning.. I've read this verse over and over again, but I just felt the spirit so strongly as I read this this morning. "And the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do."
What a great example our Savior was and IS, He was baptized and we are to follow Him and do the same.
I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior! I'm grateful for His love and example.. He is the center of the message that we have to share.. I have come to understand the Atonement, and that is why I am serving a mission..
Remember who you are and what you stand for..

I love being a missionary!

                              

I've been reading in the Book of Mormon and as I was reading, there is something that really stood out to me.
This part of the video can be found in Mosiah 28:5-8.
I love how Mosiah asks the Lord if that is His will to have Ammon and his brethren go and teach the gospel to the Lamanites.

The Lord answers Him with the most peaceful answer. The Sons of Mosiah then go to the land of the lamanites, and before they separate they say a prayer together. I love the sons of Mosiah and enjoy reading about their adventure, and that the Lord does "deliver [his] sons out of the hands of the Lamanites." 

Being a missionary I really look to their examples. Just as the lord says in this video, "Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." Alma 26:27
They are great examples to me about being patient in their afflictions and trials. We all go through them, but this was a desire that they had, to teach the people of the Plan of Happiness that our Heavenly Father has for us. They wanted the Lamanites to receive the same happiness and joy that they have felt.
When you study and study for a test, you take that test, and pass it. Don't you just go around sharing it with EVERYONE?! WHY?! Because your happy, you studied and studied and you got a awesome score.. EVERYONE should know this right?!
This is how I feel about the gospel. I studied it and studied it, I wanted to know if the things that I studied are true. I found my answer, I went through tests (or trials) and found that the gospel of Jesus Christ truly does bring joy to my heart. He helps me get through my trials and struggles, and I want everyone else to feel of this same joy that I have.
Ammon said, "..for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo." This is how I feel about my mission.
I love the scriptures, I'm so happy that we have them, that we can read and learn from them. I'm grateful for the living prophet we have on earth today that helps lead and guides us.. I'm so happy for all the missionaries around the world teaching our brethren about our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Do you have a willing Heart? Mind?

I've been thinking lately about, well alot of things.. I kinda can be a worrier from time to time.. Try not to be but it happens.
This morning I read a talk in the Ensign titled, "The HEART and a willing MIND" by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom. He talks about the heart being "symbolic of love and commitment." We can see that, in the world we celebrate Valentines Day, a day we express our LOVE to our loved ones. 

He says," We make sacrifices and bear burdens for those we love that we would not endure for any other reason. If love does not exist, our commitment wanes."  

He later says," having a willing mind connotes giving our best effort and finest thinking and seeking God's wisdom. It suggests that our most devoted lifetime study should be of things that are eternal in nature. It means that there must be an inextricable relationship between hearing the word of God and obeying it... We demonstrate a consecrated heart and mind by consistently following God's commandments no matter how difficult the circumstances."
He then gives 5 ways we can really sincerely seek to give our heart and mind to the Lord:
1-Gain and constantly nurture your own testimony- "..if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them..that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
2-Honor priesthood ordinances and covenants- "When we live by covenant (promise) rather than by convenience, we direct our lives toward our heavenly home."
3-Root out duplicity-Do we act a certain way in public then act another way in private?
4-Continually study the doctrine-"When we know the commandments of God and 'liken all scriptures unto us' we will change the way we think and act."
5-Establish a life of service-"By serving others we emulate the ultimate act of service offered to each of us by the Redeemer of the world."

I learned alot from this talk, its important to have a willing heart and mind to the Lord. I know that when we do, we will be able to receive all the blessings he wants us to receive.

I know that when we submit ourselves to the Lord and His will, we shall see that everything else will fall into its place..
I know that God is literally our Father in Heaven, His son Jesus Christ is our brother, our Savior. I know He lives, this is His gospel. 
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

He Chastened them, Because he LOVETH them

This past week has been an interesting one. Ive been thinking about ALOT of stuff.. Just things that, at this moment, don't really matter. I've been wondering what I can do to be a better disciple of Christ.
Ever had a question or concern about something and when you receive the answer you feel as tho you are being chastised?
Oh goodness this is how I felt the other day.

Me and my missionary companion talked about this, this morning during companion study.

Why do we get chastised? Its funny how when other people are honest with us and tell us what we can to do be better we get upset, but when its God that does it we listen and follow His counsel.
In the Book of Mormon it talks about how the Lord chastised the people for not repenting. "...yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them." Hel 15:3
He loves us, he wants us to be happy.
My parents yelled at me, when i did something wrong. All parents do, Why? because they love us.
I hate getting yelled at, I hate getting into trouble. But I know that when I feel as tho I am getting chastised, its because the Lord knows I need to wake-up and get my butt back into gear.
One of my fav verse in the Book of Mormon is in Ether 12:27,"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

So many things can be learned in this one verse, at least for me. I know the closer we come to God that we recognize our weaknesses more and more. Not going to lie, its hard I hate recognizing what I am doing wrong. But that's when I need to humble myself and ask the Lord to help me to be better.

I know that that is a life time process.. and we need not fear of recognizing our weaknesses. What a great blessing to see those and to be better and become more and more Christ-like. That is what we are here to do.
I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful that he does hear and answers our prayers.. I know He loves each and every one of us.
Remember who you are and what you stand for.

Love music?

The other day we were doing choir practice at the church with some of the missionaries in our zone. We were practicing a hymn that we are going to be singing on Sunday. 
As we were practicing, I couldn't help but watch everyone. I noticed how we were all laughing and smiling and having fun while we were practicing. After practicing the hymn one of the elders went to the piano and started playing songs on the piano. Before I knew it we were all gathered around the piano singing along.
During the time that we were practicing I felt so much love within that room. Later that night I thought about why there was so much love in the room and so much happiness.
The next morning for my personal study I wanted to know and understand why we have music. There are many things in the Bible that talk about music, even the people in the Bible times laughed and enjoyed singing and playing music.
"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.." (Doctrine and Covenants 25:11-12)
We were singing a hymn, which is "a prayer unto [God]".
This was the Lord speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith, for his wife Emma to put hymns together.
As a missionary, I teach how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families and draws our family closer together. This night at choir practice was just another testimony to me that this is true. I am miles away from my mom, dad, brother and sister. However, the people I meet here, and the missionaries, I consider my family. This night being gathered together singing hymns just drew us closer together.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ does indeed draw family and friends closer together! I love the comedy show "I Love Lucy". There are many times in the episode when it show the four friends singing together, happy and joyful songs. It is those happy, joyful, and uplifting music that brings us closer together. I know Heavenly Father wants us to be close and I know that music is a great blessing to have.

JUST DO IT!!!

"Bianca, will you do the dishes?" "Ya ma, in a min.." 10 min later, "Bianca, DISHES." "Coming...." (still in my room, doing.. not the dishes). 30 min go by and I hear the dishes being done, by... not me..

Have you ever said you were going to do something and then end up not doing it? And because you ended up not doing it someone else had to do it. How did you feel about it?

I am the FIRST to say that this happened(s) to me ALOT and my family are all witnesses of this.

How many times have we said we're going to do what God has asked us to do, and I end up not doing it? I'm sure many times.

There is a parable in the Bible that relates to this. Matt 21:28-32

...A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

The first son, said he wasn't going to do it at all. He felt bad, repented and went and did what his father asked. The second son said he was going to do it and ended up not doing it.

Is it better to say you will do something or to actually do it?

My mom always said in our house, "If you say your going to do something then by heck you gosh darn better do it." Pretty intimidating phrase yes?

When I say I'm going to do something and then end up not doing it, this phrase comes into my mind.

What about the promises that we make to our Heavenly Father? Maybe the promises that we made to Him when we were baptized, or the promises we made when we entered the temple, or what about promises we make to him in our prayers? Maybe that we would be better at missionary work, not yell at our family members, or that we would try and read our scriptures everyday?

I know that when I don't keep my promises that I made to Him that I don't feel very good. The spirit will always help remind me of the promises that I make to him, but its up to me to keep my promises.

I know its important for us to do the things that we say we are going to do. We are able to be trusted by our family members, friends, co-workers and most importantly the Lord.

Its a great feeling knowing that these people trust you because we do what we say we are going to do.

How can we be better at this? JUST DO IT! Ask the Lord for guidance and a friendly reminder.

Remember who you are and what you stand for! 



TRANSFERS!!---

That time has come again. Yes, transfer calls came and I am now in Santa Rosa, training! Yes, training! I thought alot to myself about the type of trainer that I would want to be. I thought about my previous companions and thought about the things that they all taught me.

Sister Nestman, was one of my first companions when I first came out here. She was full of energy and complete love for the gospel. We had many good days, but we also had some hard days. No matter how the day was going, good or bad, she always had a positive optimistic attitude about her. She always told me to be optimistic and something better was going to come.

Sister Beardsley, had the attitude of never giving up. She continued to push forward no matter what she was going through. I'm grateful for her willingness to serve a mission and was able to put the negative things behind her and to keep going.

Sister Lewis, was full of complete Christ-like love. She was always just loving everyone and always expressed her love. The first day I met her I felt love from her. She knew that Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of His children, and I could feel that from her.

Sister Tuifua, had an amazing way of talking to people. When she spoke you could feel the Spirit immediately! She was very good at following the Spirit, in her words and actions.

I've been so blessed to be able to serve with some amazing woman. I know that Heavenly Father gave them to me for a reason.

Now that I am training I only hope that I can take each and every one of these things that each of them have taught me and to be able to apply into my everyday life.

I've come to understand and realize that people DO come into our lives for a reason. We may not ever know the reason, but I know that the Lord does put them into our lives. So I'd like to ask, who is in your life right now? What are you to learn from them? What are you to help them with?
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Remember, Sacrifice isn't easy.. But its worth it!!

Today in church one of the lessons was about sacrifice. I like this video, of the sacrifice this young man made. He loved surfing more than anything, and he put that aside for something he new that would help him later on in life.. Seminary... Because of this decision he made to put the Lord first something better came along.
Sacrifice is a hard thing to do. Think of Abraham, he was told to sacrifice his son. Abraham was willing to do anything the Lord asked of him.  
The law of sacrifice was practiced since the time of Adam and Eve to the time of Jesus Christ.
A hand goes up (in class) and a question was asked, "how does this apply to our day? I don't find that its hard for me to make a sacrifice to the gospel." I thought this was a really good question and thought to myself of the sacrifices I have made for the gospel.
One thing that came to mind, was the recent converts that I have met and seen. They make many sacrifices, to do what they know is right. Some sacrifices are harder to make than others.
Missionaries sacrifice 18-24 months of their lives to serve the Lord. That can be hard there is school, jobs and family that we are leaving behind.
Yes, serving a mission is a sacrifice but its worth it. I know better things will come in time.
Its not just the missionaries that make a big sacrifice, there are many other sacrifices that people make to follow what the Lord asks of them. "One family sold their car to get the money they wanted to contribute to a temple building fund. Another family sold their home to get money to go to the temple. One brother sacrificed his job because he refused to work on Sundays."
Why do you think our willingness to sacrifice is related to our readiness to live in the presence of God? What sacrifices are you willing to make to do what the Lord asks.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Remember, To be HaPpY :)

Well, its that time again! Transfers!!! Every 6 weeks we find out if we either stay in our areas for another 6 weeks, leave for a new area, get a new companion or both. Pretty exciting and quite intense, waiting for that call to come. (Phone call comes).......

Yes!! Staying in Napa for at LEAST another 6 weeks, and I get to stay with Sister Tuifua for another 6 weeks. Very exciting!

The thing I look forward to every transfer is zone conference. Which is a certain number of missionaries in certain areas gather together and hear some words of wisdom (as I like to call it) from other missionaries and President Bunker and Sister Bunker.

We had it today!! Ah, I was so excited and pumped to go to San Rafael. Its such a testimony to me, that the Lord really does know what we need and the desires of our hearts. Everything that was shared to us missionaries is just what I needed to hear.
The past few months I have just felt so.. so.. I don't even know how to describe it. Just felt tired and blah.

Something that dear Sister Bunker talked about really touched me and to be honest helped me kinda snap out of it. She has been a great example to me since I came out here on the mission field. She was diagnosed with breast cancer not to long after I came out here. Every time I have seen her or talked to her, she has always been cheerful and always greeted me and other missionaries with a smile. She has been very positive with this trial of hers and is doing much better.

She asked a question today that really made me sit back and think alot. What do we have to not be cheerful about? 

She quoted a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 123:17,"...Let us cheerfully do all things..." She is SO right!! I have no reason to feel blah! We are SO blessed I have no reason to not be cheerful. This gospel has brought much happiness into my life, and I am so grateful to be reminded of why I am here serving the Lord.

I'm so grateful to be here in the California Santa Rosa Mission. I learn something new everyday.

I know that our Heavenly Father lives and loves us, and Jesus Christ is His son, and He is our Savior.

Our greatest source of happiness, is found in the gospel. I'm grateful for Sister Bunker's testimony that she shares to us every month. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Remember who you are and what you stand for!

A sister's experience on bike

These past 2 days we have had the chance to do what the rest of the elder missionaries do... That is to ride bike.

We peddled all over Napa, or so it seems like. Visiting people and talking to many people on the streets. We had some good conversations about our Savior Jesus Christ. Its great that so many people know of Him, but there are those that do not.

We ran into one gentleman, we had a good conversation with him. He said something that really touched my heart. He said, "if you pay attention to the people walking down the street and stop ignoring them... You'll be amazed of what you find." I have a strong testimony of this statement. I have met some amazing people on the streets when walking or, now, biking. 

Talking to people is something that I have struggled with. Its just hard for me to strike up conversations. My friend back home is really good at it, and so is my dad. They can talk to anyone they come in contact with. Before I left on my mission I told myself that by the time my mission is over I want to be able to talk to anyone about anything. 
In the scriptures it says (Matt, Mark, Luke & John) that Christ taught His people. In the Book of Mormon, starting at 3 Nephi 11, Christ visits the people in the Americas after His resurrection and He teaches the people.
Jesus Christ is that example of a true missionary. It shows the love that we have for our brothers and sisters and our love for our Savior.

You never know who is looking for happiness, or who is looking to find truth. I testify to you that following Jesus Christ does bring happiness and He is truth. We never know how we, personally, can help others by our testimonies of Jesus Christ.

I love my Savior, I am grateful for the people that I have had a chance to meet. I'm grateful that He and His gospel is in my life and i have this time to teach others and help others find happiness. It wont stop for me after my mission, I will continue to do my best at talking to people I come in contact with. "You'll be amazed of what you find."
I love this gospel with all my heart. I'm very grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the Atonement. I love being a missionary and serving the Lord my God. Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Temples

Temples
Being a missionary, temples and marriage WAS the last thing on my mind. It was something that i didn't want to think about.
But, as of lately I have been hearing alot of talks in church and from my mission president about marriage, and now this months church magazine is on temples! I'm thinking to myself "what the heck? There is no way avoiding this subject!" Its scary for me to think about, and that marriage is the next step for me. But why am i scared of that next step? Should I be?
Its a blessing to have temples! It is the house of the Lord and its a place that we can go to learn more about His plan for us. I always learn something new when I visit the temple.
Its a place where we can go to be with are families forever. Because my parents were married in the temple we will all be able to be together forever.  I don't know about you, but when I get married i wanna be with my husband and my kids forever!  Isn't that amazing that the Lord promises us this, if we follow the example of Our Savior Jesus Christ?!
Now, for me talking more about temples and marriage is exciting. What a great way to learn more about the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us, and that we can be with our families forever.