Hermana Inman Letter May 28, 2013

Hello from San Marcos!!

So they've moved me to San Marcos. This area covers all of San Marcos and a little corner of Escondido, and it's HUGE! I whitewashed here and am greenie-breaking again. This was an elder's area but they've switched it out for hermanas now. Whitewashing is stressful! This ward has 12 missionaries in it! Can you imagine that? There's 600 members in this ward but 300 are inactive.. so there's a lot of work to do. Hermana Moffitt is my new companion, she's 19! I won't find out for 5 more weeks which mission I'll be staying in, so you can keep sending all mail to the Carlsbad Mission. It doesn't split until July 1st. Thank you for sending me an SD Card and pictures and letters and meds! :)

 

We're still getting to know this area, but the members are great and willing to help! We're focusing on finding. The other day we were tracting and there was a lady cleaning out her garage. We walked up to her and quickly she said "nope, no, no thank you, I'm already saved." We said, "ok, well can we help you with your project or anything?" and she said no. We walked across the street to knock the next door, and then she calls out to us "wait, ladies, there's something you can do!" So we went back over to her garage and she asked us to help her with a couple small projects. I patched up a hole in one of her blankets and hermana Moffitt put together a shoe box of toys for a kid in Russia (this lady puts together shoeboxes of gifts for children in poor countries and sends them to them at Christmas time!) She was timid and not talkative at first, but as the time passed, she kept asking us to stay and help her with her garage. We did, and she opened up and was friendly, and carried out conversation with us. After about and hour and a half or so, when we had finished organizing the boxes in her garage, she said, "you know, missionaries pass by my house all the time, but not one of them has ever asked if they could help me with anything before. You two were the first. And at first I was thinking no, I know where everything goes and I don't need your help. But as I thought about it more, I thought well why not? Thank you for helping me." She was not interested in our message, but at least she was able to have a good image of the church and maybe someday she'll remember and invite the missionaries into her home! It's a rare and nice experience when people just let us help them or when they'll just talk to us.

 

Alfredo is getting baptized this Saturday and I better be able to go! I have a few phone calls to make, but San Marcos is next door to Vista, so it shouldn't be a problem. It's hotter here since it's farther away from the ocean.

 

I'm happy for Taylynn and Dowlin! Tell them congratulations for me! She wrote me an email and I'm still in the process of writing back. I wish I could have been there to celebrate with them! That's so awesome that Rigdon recognized my picture on the missionary wall!! That makes me so happy! Tell Morgan I say hi, and if you see Brittany tell her I say hi! And Syd! And everyone.. haha. It sounds like everyone has a fun summer planned out! I continue to keep you all in my prayers.

 

Thank you for all of your prayers :) it's been pretty rough lately but I know it's your prayers that make things more bearable! I don't really have any other cool stories or experiences to share today, sorry.

 

Oh, I forgot to tell you the other week that I ate tacos with cow tongue, cow cheek, cow head, and cow intestines! Not too bad... suprisingly enough cow tongue tastes pretty good, but the rest of it was only alright. Annnndddd that's about it. We've been trying to learn "dichos" lately to talk more like a latino. If you know any (be appropriate) send some to me!

 

I love and miss you all tons! Have a great week and stay cool down there in the AZ heat! Thanks for all of your love and support!

 

Love,

Hermana Inman

Hermana Inman Letter May 21, 2013

My Baptism's cool, my baptism's dunkin.

Dominick got baptized!!!!! :) It was a beautiful baptismal service. The events leading up to his baptism were chaotic and things have been stressful, so we can tell Satan did not want this baptism to happen. Dominick has zero support from his family at home, but his dad promised him that he'd take him to his baptism. 25 minutes before the baptism starts, Dominick calls us and tells us that his dad had just taken off with the truck and that he didn't have a ride to his baptism. Dominick lives on the opposite side of Vista from the chapel... So we called our ward mission leader to pick him up, and finally they showed up at 7:15 (the baptism was supposed to start at 7). We started the service at about 7:30, and some of the people who were assigned to give talks didn't show up, so Hermana Eskeets and I, as well as a couple of other sisters put together something on the spot, and it all turned out just fine. The spirit was so strong that night. The next day he received the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood :). His confirmation blessing was so awesome; he was told that he will enter into the temple of the Lord with a righteous young woman and be sealed to her for time and all eternity. Dominick is blessing his family for generations to come and I am so excited for him and for how much this will change his life.

 

Then, we set a firm baptismal date with Alfredo for June 1st!! Alfredo is getting baptized in 2 weeks!! SO STOKED!!! I don't know what it is about the youth these days, but they are the ones who are open to the gospel. They are the ones who are anchors and examples for their friends and families.

 

THEN, Blanca finally came to church on Sunday!!!!!! It was a MIRACLE! Then, what's even more miraculous than that, is that the family who was sitting in front of her at church was one of her family's life long best friends! :) It was so awesome and Blanca was so excited to see that she knew someone at church.

 

Well... it's transfers today, and they're finally kicking me out of Vista. I guess 5 months is long enough to stay in one area... but I'm sad to leave. I love this area and I truly love the people here. We were finally starting to see the fruit of our labors! But, the Lord needs us somewhere else I guess. They're actually whitewashing our area, which means that both Hermana Eskeets and I are moving, and that two new sisters will move in here. It's a rare occassion that this happens, but it's been happening more often as they prepare to split the mission next transfer. I don't know where I'm going yet. I just hope I get permission to come back for Alfredo's and Blanca's baptisms.

 

I'm glad to hear that the family is doing well! I'm happy to hear that Jesse has been interested in the Book of Mormon lately and that he has a desire to learn. I'm also glad to hear that the seminary graduation went well (you always do a great job Mom). That SD USB thumb drive sounds great! You asked if I was wanting any food or clothing.. if you could send me some of my basketball shorts that'd be nice- it's warming up and I'm still wearing my sweats when we run in the mornings. And did I keep my black dress? I can't remember if I gave it away or not, but if it's still in my closet, can you send that to me too? As for food... snacks would be cool. Like granola bars or something. And chocolate haha. But you don't have to rush those things to me, just when you get the chance.

 

The weather here has been pretty warm, and it's so nice! There's always a nice breeze here in Vista because we're pretty close to the beach. How's the weather over there in AZ? Are you baking yet? When does school get out? Are the dogs back in their kiddie pool?

 

I hope you have a great week! I'll let you know next week where they've sent me! This is the last transfer for President and Sister Cook, and the last transfer we have as the original "CA Carlsbad Mission" because they split the mission in July to create the Irvine mission (which I may or may not be moved to...). Exciting times!

 

I love you all and miss you tons!

 

Love,

Hermana Inman

Hermana Inman Letter May 14, 2013

Hello Family!

 

It was so good to see you the other day :) you all look great- healthy and happy! Me hace feliz, eso.

I hope you had a happy mother's day mom! The other day I was watching some cool mothers day videos on lds.org, and they made me get all teary-eyed because I miss you so much! You are the best mother in the world and I love you dearly. Thanks for everything. I'm sure the seminary graduation will go well this Sunday, I know you've worked really hard and put a lot of time and energy and planning into this.

 

Congratulations Torie on getting straight A's! You are so awesome! You are so smart. I'm glad Jesse had fun on his campout.. I know Jesse would camp for the rest of his life if he could. His sweet room will make him think he's camping all the time! That's crazy that Jake is already training!! He is one stellar missionary, no doubt. His little trainee is lucky to have him. It was nice to talk to him the other day :). I'm glad everthing else is going well at home and that you are enjoying the house and making it a "refuge from the world." I told Jake that the only reason you are doing all this cool stuff after we leave is because without Jake and I at home life is boring, so you have to make up for it somehow ;) haha.

 

Mom, you asked how you could share the gospel with the neighbors across the street, and that as you've been praying for them, you keep running into them more and more haha. That is no coincedence! The Lord needs you to be a missionary to them- it's not as intimidating that way like it would be if the full-time missionaries came over. You may have already tried these ideas, but if you haven't, they're worth a shot: invite them to a ward activity/party with you. Go to the park or the pool together for a play date with Jesse and their kids. Invite them over for dinner or a bbq or something. Bring up Jake and I and what we're doing on our missions. You just need to be their friend. Being their friend and an example to them will open up more opportunities for missionary work than just inviting them to church or to listen to the missionaries. Just spend more time with them and get to know them, and then keep praying to have a missionary opportunity with them, and that their hearts and minds can be open to the gospel. The majority of converts I have talked to have told me that they joined the church because they had a friend who introduced them to the gospel.

 

Speaking of the Gospel, Dominick is getting baptized this Saturday the 18th!!!! WWOOOOOOO!! Can I just say that I am STOKED? I am so excited for him! He is a champion! He's been inviting all of his family and friends and is such a great example to them. He's so faithful and a such a strong desire to do what's right. I'll send home pictures. I wish I could email them, but for some reason I can't do that with my camera until I install this special software. But, if you send me the other SD card soon, I'll send home this one here with more recent pictures.

 

This past week has been kind of hard for me- it's been really humbling and that's never enjoyable haha. Nobody likes humble pie. It tastes gross. I've been told a million times this past week and a half that I have really bad Spanish. People make comments about how they knew someone who's spanish "was worse than yours!" and how the other missionaries were better to listen to because they could understand them better, and how I still sound like a gringa... BAH. It's really frustrating. I'm trying! I'm supposed to be fluent by now and sound super cool but that's not how it's working out for me! Nevertheless.... I'm still working on it and hope that someday I will be able to speak better. Everyone felt like they needed to point out my flaws this week too, so that was nice haha. Oh well, I know it's for my benefit and that I need to get rid of my pride. It makes better missionaries, right? AND I STILL LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.

 

I'm catching up on my letter writing, be patient with me! I will write you back!

 

Thanks for all of your support and love. I'm so glad I got to see you guys the other day. I love you and miss you all! Have a great week and remember to share the gospel!

 

Love,

Hermana Inman

Hermana Inman Letter May 7, 2013

BAPTISM NEXT WEEK!

So let me tell you about our investigator Dominick. We started teaching Dominick about 2 weeks ago; he's a former investigator who has been taught all the lessons, but wouldn't get baptized because he had an issue with one of the commandments(about one year ago). Two weeks ago hermana Eskeets and I decided to go over to his house and meet him and try to talk to him about the church again. It went well and we had 2 more appointments set up with him for that week. We had intended to just reteach him everything and hope that maybe he would feel the spirit stronger or get a deeper testimony or something... but when we got there to teach the lesson, the spirit prompted us to go a different route, and just re-teach this one commandment that he was struggling with. We did. We taught him with analogies and focused on the blessings that come when we obey this commandment. At the end of the lesson he said that it made a lot more sense, but that it's going to be so hard to obey. But, if it's worth it, then I will do it. We promised him that it is worth it and that the Lord would bless him with the strength to keep this commandment if he asked for help. We invited him to pray that night and ask Heavenly Father for a desire to keep this commandment. We didn't get to see him for about a week or so after that, and then the other night we got a text from Dominick that said "hey, can you get me a ride to church on Sunday? And is it to late for me to be baptized?" We told him that of course he can still be baptized! So he then asked, "when is the soonest you can baptize me?" (this isn't real life- this doesn't just happen). So basically, he came to church, we had a lesson with him yesterday, and he told us that he had prayed about keeping the law of chastitiy (you guessed it), and knew that it was something that God wanted him to obey. So, he broke up with his girlfriend, and he's 100% willing to do everything he needs to in order to be baptized. He's already invited all of his friends and family, he's been going through his itunes and deleting all of the innapropriate songs (without us even telling him to), he's stopped swearing- he's turned into a saint haha. Anyway, that was a really long story that sounds way the heck more boring than it is- because it's actually super exciting. But, long story short- DOMINICK IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON MAY 18!!!!!!!! WWWOOOOOOO!!!! :) :) :)

 

Alfredo, one of our other investigators came to church again on Sunday and he's doing awesome. He still hasn't set a baptismal date with us, but we will soon. Blanca is still being stubborn but still defends us when other people try to talk to her about "the mormons" and she told the JW to go away the other day because she's with the mormons haha.

 

Torie CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SCHOLARSHIP!!! YOU ARE SO AWESOME! You worked so hard for that! I am so proud of you! :) wow! Jesse's room sounds fun! You'll have to send pics.

 

I'm doing great! I was sick this last week with asthma and sinuses, but I've been taking medicine and I'm pretty much all better now. I'm not sure if it's due to the fires or not, but from what I can tell, I haven't seen or smelt any smoke from the fires.

 

Thanks for sharing cool mission stories! It's always encouraging and fun to hear about other people's experiences. Sorry to those who have written or emailed me who have not ret received a letter back... I've been super busy but will write to you asap!

 

I love you all and hope you have a great week! Pray for Dominick that he may be ready for his baptism next week!

 

Love,

Hermana Inman