Miscellaneous Hermana Inman Photos

First Baptism - January 2013
Mayolo and his son

Hermana Inman Letter February 19, 2013

Hola mis amores!

Call me crazy, but I love my companion. These last few weeks have been much better, and I feel crazy saying this, but I would love to stay another transfer here in Vista with Hermana Farr. We have both grown to love each other and get along and have a good time while doing the Lord's work. Maybe we just needed to go through this dry-spell in the work in order for us to learn how to work better together, or maybe we both humbled ourselves a little, who knows. But we've both been hoping and praying to stay here together for one more transfer as Hna. Farr finishes up her mission (this will be her very last transfer). We find out on Saturday what will happen.

Yesterday we got to teach 3 lessons, and it was wonderful. We haven't taught that many lessons in a day in almost a whole transfer. We were also able to finally get a hold of Oscar and Loo Loo last night, and they let us in for a lesson :). He's reading the Book of Mormon, and hopefully she will start to read this week too. This was a miracle because we haven't been able to talk to them for almost 3 weeks for different reasons, either they were sick, he didn't call us back, they would cancel, or whatever. But finally yesterday we had an awesome lesson on the Book of Mormon and the spirit was there and we read together and they were so interested! We'll see them again on Thursday, and we couldn't be more excited!

I read something really helpful in Preach My Gospel yesterday that not only applies to missionary work but also to callings in the church, as well as just about any other aspect in life. It says, "Some may not accept your message even when they have received a spiritual witness that it is true. You will be saddened because you love them and desire their salvation. You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit." I loved this. It gets so discouraging at times, whether it be as a missionary or another church calling, and we so often get discouraged, but we need to remember that if we let ourselves get discouraged, then we allow our faith, effectiveness, and desire to weaken, and our selves to be distanced from the Spirit. Now that wouldn't help our cause very much, would it? We just need to keep pressing forward and give it our all. We receive no witness until after the trial of our faith, and we don't get to decide how long that trial lasts. However, I feel like if we try even harder rather than allow ourselves to be discouraged, then the trial will not last so long. 
 
Sometimes I feel so inadequate as a missionary. So many times a day I feel like I don't know enough. I really do have such a small bank of Gospel Knowledge. But, I do know that because I have a desire to serve and share what I DO know, the Lord helps me to be able to know just enough- just enough to answer the questions of those who are waiting to hear our message. And I guess that's all I need! Also, it's like any other teacher- as you study and prepare to teach your lesson, you tend to learn more than the student does. This happens every time we prepare a lesson. No matter how many times we've taught the Restoration, each time I plan for it, I learn something new that I never noticed before. 
 
Anyway, the Spanish is coming. No, I'm not fluent yet, but I can understand pretty fluently if that makes sense? I can get through a lesson fine, it's just normal every day conversations that I have a hard time with. I've been told my Spanish has gotten much better since my first day in the field, so that's good. I'm at that point where I can't remember how to talk properly in English and can't remember some vocab in English, but can't quite speak fluently in Spanish either, so I'm hoping that my turning point where I start dreaming in Spanish happens soon haha. That would mean that I'm that much closer to speaking like a normal human being again, and not any more of this uneducated cave-man talk. Blah.

That's so exciting about Jake!! I can't believe he has already in the field! What a champ. He is going to be one stellar missionary, that's for sure. I'm glad to hear that everyone is healthy again :). I pray for each of you. I'll keep praying!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, I love each of you so much and miss you! I hope you have a wonderful week! 
 
Love,
Hermana Inman

Hermana Inman Letter February 12, 2013

Hey Valentines!

 

A million thanks for my valentine package :) I really do have the greatest family in the world. Thank you so much :). I absolutely loved it- and the CD was inspired because lately we have been so tired of listening to the same CD's all the time, so it's very refreshing to listen to something new! Thank you thank you. The homemade valentines were so sweet and I enjoyed reading a few updates from my other missionary friends! Chocolate is always a winner as well, so that was awesome. And thanks for the medicine! It makes a huge difference for running in the mornings.

 

We got to do a session at the San Diego temple today! It is absolutely GORGEOUS!! Oh. My. Goodness. Stunning. Breath taking. Just beautiful! We'll definitely have to go there as a family when we go back to visit the mission! I remember we went together and looked at the outside, and you think that's gorgeous... just wait till you see the inside! We are so blessed to have temples.

 

I'm glad to hear that everybody is getting healthy again. I'm sorry that you have to work so much dad :/ thank you so much for all of the sacrifices you are making to give Jake and I the opportunity to serve missions. I know you sacrifice so much for us to be here too, mom. Thank you so much.

I liked Jesse's poem about the fire belly toads! Did he make it up all by himself? It was great! I got Torie's letter in the mail yesterday, I'll reply to it as soon as I can.

 

I'm not allowed to read any blogs, so I can't read Jakes :/ I wish I could. How crazy that he's already leaving the MTC next week! He told me about his companion who sings musicals and sleeps with stuffed animals haha that's awesome.  Have Alex and Jake seen each other yet at the MTC? That's so exciting that they get to be there together at the same time.

 

I hit my 4 month mark in the mission this past week and my 2 month in the field! Time is starting to speed up a little bit the farther I get into the mission. Sometimes it just feels like an eternity. It gets better and better each week though.

 

We have zone conference this week, so that's pretty exciting! It's in Temecula with their zone and President & Sister Cook where we'll get some awesome training. I've been driving for the past month or so, and guess what? I can totally drive on California highways! There are some crazy drivers here. I haven't been caught in heavy traffic yet though, so I don't know if I can consider myself a good California driver or not. I'll be driving to Temecula at 6am on Thursday, so we'll see how that goes.

 

This week we found a new investigator knocking on doors again (we spend a few hours a day doing this now since we don't have very many people to teach at the moment). Her name is Adriana, she's in 10th grade and just moved here from Mexico all by herself. She doesn't have any friends or family here, she just lives with her mom's friend here in Vista. She let us in when we knocked on her door and we have an appointment with her this week :) we're so excited. This is the perfect teaching situation! The perfect time in her life to receive the gospel! We also met a lady at church on Sunday who came with her friend, and we'll teach her the first lesson tomorrow night! So we could potentially have 2 new investigators :) it's such a good feeling to have somebody to share the gospel with! Somebody who wants to listen! Oh, and Nancy, the one we're teaching tomorrow has 2 children who are also old enough to take the lessons and be baptized, so that's exciting.

 

That's all I have to report on this week... some weeks are more exciting than others. All in all it's been a great week though! Next week is the last week in the transfer! So we'll be finding out if either Hermana Farr or I transfer to another area. One more week of training and I'm done! Woop Woop!! I'll finally be a normal missionary haha.

 

Anyway, I love you all and am so very grateful for you. Thanks for your thoughts, prayers, letters, and packages :) you are the best.

 

Since this week is Valentines day, read the talk "And the Greatest of These is Love" by Gordon B. Hinkley. It's lovely.

 

Have a great week!

 

Love,
Hermana Inman

Hermana Inman Letter February 5, 2013

Nachhooooo​o

THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE!!! That was so wonderful!! :) thank you thank you thank you. I loved it, and am still enjoying it! Thank you for the meds, the food, and the letters :) it was the perfect package. I got it on Saturday.

 

I am SO EXCITED FOR DOM!! Oh my goodness! Milan Italy! Wow! He is so lucky! Is he stoked? Where did he open it? Did they have a party? How does he feel? How is his mom handling it? How awesome that he has family there! This call is no accident or coincedence! Wow. I want to write him a letter. What's his address?

 

The letter the Thalman's sent me had ____ in it. I have no idea why they did that for me but I am so very thankful for them for doing that and being so generous. I am going to write them a thank you note today, but if you could pass on my thanks until it gets there, that would be great.

 

Today is such a huge day! Jake becomes a missionary! I am so excited for him and know that he will be a fantastic missionary. I wonder if they'll make him stay at the MTC for 2 weeks instead of 3 now? Are his suitcases so heavy and fat with all of the warm clothes he's taking? I hope he brought enough parkas! I'm sure you've taken care of all of it haha.

 

I'm sorry to hear that Dad and Jesse have been sick :/ I hope you both get better soon. Everybody has been sick lately, there is definitely a bug going around. I'm pretty much all better from my sickness, but now my roommate Sister Bergau and a few other missionaries are sick with the flu bug too. How sweet that Jake was able to give you a blessing Dad :) the Priesthood is a wonderful thing. That's an understatement.

 

We had to give Andres to the English elders to teach, and we're really bummed about it. Andres wanted to go to the singles ward instead of the Spanish ward so we can't teach him anymore. We had a great lesson with Oscar and Loo Loo last night about the Plan of Salvation, and they're coming to church this Sunday, so that's good :). We also found a 15 year old girl yesterday who let us come into her house and teach her a lesson when we were just knocking doors on her street; that's always nice when people randomly let you in. She would be a great investigator for us, except that she also speaks English, so we have to let the English missionaries teach her, too! We find all of the really awesome investigators and then have to hand them all over to the other missionaries for some reason or another. But, in our efforts to find new investigators, the Lord blesses us with referrals from other people who do speak Spanish. I don't know if I've told you about Carla, but we have a new investigator named Carla who just turned 21 and has 2 little girls and is married, and she is just awesome! She loves the gospel, especially the Book of Mormon. She has so much potential and we are excited to teach her and get to know her better. I don't have much else to report though, we've just been doing a lot of finding and searching lately.

 

I'm meeting people here who I'm sure were the inspiration for Nacho Libre. There are people exactly like that. Haha oh my goodness. I met Nacho the other day. People always feed us toast. I've had helote a few times (the corn on the cob with the mayo, pepper, and cheese on it), I met Chancho and he was really wearing sweats. Sometimes I feel like I'm living the actual movie.

 

Anyway, our companionship is doing alright, it has its ups and downs- but overall we're doing good! Thank you so much for all of your prayers! It makes all the difference. Oh, guess what?! We get to go do a session at the San Diego temple on Feb 19th, and I am so so excited! I finally get to go inside! The outside is absolutely gorgeous, so I can only imagine what it looks like inside. My friend Hermana DeMille is a sister missionary at the Mesa Temple visitors center- you should look for her next time you're down there and tell her you know Hermana Inman. We were roommates at the MTC for awhile.

 

I realized I'm out of albuterol... I'm sorry! I know you just sent me that amazing package in the mail! I didn't realize I was out of albuterol until after you had sent the package... You don't have to send anything with it, but if you could please send me an inhaler that would help a lot with running in the mornings. Sorry! Please and thank you!

 

I'm excited to hear how the last day with Jake went and how his setting apart went. Tell me all about it! How's Torie doing? Do you know how Eric is doing? I haven't heard from him since I started my mission except for the belated birthday card I got in the MTC... Are Dad and Jesse feeling better? Thanks for the scriptures you've shared with me both last week and today :). Mom I wish I had actually memorized scripture mastery when I was in seminary. I memorized them to pass them off and then never remembered where to find them. I can remember what the scriptures say, but can never locate them without taking the time to look it up in the index or topical guide, and it would have helped me so so much here on the mission. Those scriptures are truly inspired and answer the controversial questions or concerns people have about the gospel. I'm trying to re-learn them all over again. Tell your seminary students that if they want the mission to be easier, that they need to know their scripture mastery- especially in the Bible! Oh man. Bible Bible Bible. If you don't know the Bible then people don't take you seriously and they want all of their questions answered in the Bible. The answers are there, but they won't wait for you to look it up and find it. Luckily, Hermana Farr knows them all, and so she's been able to whip 'em out when needed, but once she's gone, I'm going to have to know them all myself. Ah!

 

Anyway, this church is true and God has a plan for each one of us. Nothing is coincedence or happens by chance. God loves you and is so very aware of you. I hope you each have a great day/week and find a way to share the gospel with someone new!

 

I love you and miss you.

 

Love,

Hermana Inman

Hermana Inman Letter January 29, 2013

Good News!

Hello Dearest Family!

 

This week has been much much better :) so many miracles have happened. We picked up 3 new investigators this week!! They are golden!! After much fasting, prayer, and hard work, the Lord has blessed us with opportunities to share the Gospel with His children here in Vista. Oscar & Loo Loo are 2 of the new investigators. They are husband and wife and have a 10 year old son- the ideal teaching situation!! They were actually a referral and they really want to learn and come to church, so we are excited for them. Andres is the other investigator we picked up this last week. He's about 19 years old or so, and we found him last week knocking on doors. He is SO ready for the gospel! Throughout our lesson with him the other day he kept saying "oh yeah, that makes sense." and "oohhhh! okay! I was wondering about that!" and he just soaked it all in. Then towards the end of the lesson, when we were really feeling the spirit and we were telling him about the Book of Mormon, his mom came in and said "ok, you have to leave now. Go to your room or the church or something, I need to clean." And Andres got so upset, he said "oh my gosh! as soon as we get to the really good part the devil interrupts us because he doesn't want me to learn the truth!" haha it was so funny, and not that his mom is the devil, but it was neat to see that he already recognizes the spirit, and also the influenzes/interruptions satan brings, because he can't stand it when we can feel the spirit. So to close, we told him to read the Book of Mormon and pray before our next appointment, and then we'd talk about it when we came back. He said, "oh yeah for sure, I'm defintely going to because I want to make sure I'm not going to the wrong church or anything!" And he was being serious! This guy is GOLDEN! Too good to be true. But it is true, because the Lord is preparing His children. :)

 

My health is also getting better, which is wonderful! I'm still a little sick, but compared to how I was, I'm doing great. I also received a priesthood blessing last week, and in my blessing it said that I would be healed and that my sickness would not impede on the work. Thank you for sending me medicine! I haven't received the package yet, but I'll get it right before I run out of singulair, so that was perfect timing. Thank you! We usually get mail each Tuesday, but the time of day always differs. We try to see our district leader in the morning so that we have time to reply to our letters before p-day is over, but today the zone leaders said there wasn't very much mail this time so they are going to wait to give us our mail until Monday. Lame.

 

That's great about so many sisters wanting to serve missions! My companion's mission got cut short as well because of the influx of missionaries. This transfer was cut to 5 weeks instead of 6.

 

I loved that story you told me mom about Jesse recognizing the Spirit :) he is just such a sweetheart. I'm so glad to hear that you can feel the spirit stronger and that you are seeing blessings :) I wonder what blessings you'll receive when Jake is out! (which is in just 6 days... wow). How fun that you have been able to get all of the shopping done for his mission! And yes mom, we can definitely go to the westgate outlet mall when I get back. Thanks for telling me Jesse's pirate joke, that was funny! I'm going to tell it to my district at our district activity today.

 

Dad you asked which language I do my studies in. I was doing them in English for awhile because they want to you to learn first in your native language so you understand the doctrine, and then later they want you to study in the new language. This past week I have been trying my best to study in Spanish. I understand most of it. I'm getting nervous, especially about learning the language, because President told me I'll be training really soon (probably within the next 3 or 4 transfers), which means I have to be able to speak Spanish because the new missionary won't be able to yet! Aaahhh! So scary. We're already starting to see the flood of missionaries here in the Carlsbad mission. Generally each transfer we get 10-15 new missionaries. Last week we got 19 or 20 new missionaries, and next transfer we are getting more than 20, closer to 30 I think. So exciting!

 

This past Sunday I gave my first Spanish talk in sacrament meeting! In fact, I was asked to speak in both of the wards we cover! We work in Vista and in Fallbrook. Then to top that off, they asked Hna. Farr and I to give a musical number and give a talk at a baptism that night. What a day! I did alright, I guess; I got compliments on the one I gave in the Vista ward... the other one, I'm not so sure about haha, nobody said anything.

 

Last night we went to a Family Home Evening with Mayolo's family (he's the one that got baptized with his son last month). They invited us over to their house to show them how to do it, and when we got there, half of their branch was there too! In a one bedroom apartment! It was a fun surprise and they made us Mole (mole-eh... I don't know how it's spelled), and we all just had a good time and shared their first family home evening with them! It was so great. The spirit was so strong. I'm finding however, that Hispanics can be really dramatic, not necessarily in a bad way, but they are just very passionate people. So this FHE felt like we were living in a Spanish soap operah for like 2 hours. Everybody took turns saying things like "I'm so glad to be here with you. Thank you for taking our family in, and feeding us, and letting us be in this part of your life." and "each and every single one of you has a place in my heart. In this moment I feel like our house transformed to our house in Mexico, and that I'm here with all of my family. You all make me feel like I'm at home." and things like that haha. Seriously the whole entire night- man I love it here. :)

 

I hope you all had a great week! I'm sure this next one will be a very busy one getting Jake ready to leave on his mission. That is so exciting! Have a fun and great week together. I want to hear how Jake's setting apart goes and stuff like that.

 

Thanks for your letters and encouraging words :) they mean a lot.

 

I love and miss you all very much.

 

Love,
Hermana Inman