My Week

Hey!

Sorry I don't really have a cool "title" for my email this week. Thinking about it, I usually don't even put one, so be happy I even put one!

This week wasn't too eventful. We had to drive to Santa Paula twice this week. About 1hr 45min away. We needed our car serviced and when we went the first time they didn't have time to help us. So we made an appt for Thursday and drove the long way again. Sister M and I really spent our time in the car this week haha! The drive is beautiful though so it's worth it. We drive along the coastline so we get to gaze longingly at the blue ocean the whole way. If you think about it long enough though, it was actually a happy and sad thing because we can't touch it.

I actually get to make that drive again tomorrow. That's right - transfers.  Sister M** is headed down to Simi YSA to follow-up train a sister she came out with, while her companion is training her! I, on the other hand..am staying! and training again! That's right, a brand new sister I get to meet tomorrow in Oxnard at the training meeting! I will definitely miss Sis M, she is an incredible missionary and I know she will do amazing things! I am excited to meet my new sister though, I love her already.

The General Women's meeting was so good! GC is literally Christmas for me and a lot of missionaries! I loved all the talks on Saturday.  They are definitely all rereads!! And shoutout to mom--President Uchtdorf quoted her! "Remember who you are"   :D haha loved it!

One more cool thing this week. Yesterday we were sitting in Sunday school and X** H** (A**'s husband) commented and it was so spiritual and the things he said about families and family relationships were so eternally-minded. It was neat because 6 weeks ago he wouldn't be saying any of that. The gospel truly does change people. 

 I hope you all have a great week this week. One thing in my studies this morning that really sunk deep was when Christ is telling His disciples to love one another. He tells them that this is the way others will know that they are His disciples. LOVE is the answer. It is overall how we are different. When love is our motivation, we can and will achieve things we would've never thought of because when we love, we are thinking of others. I know I want people to know I love and follow Jesus Christ and I hope you do, too. Love is the way.

xoxo, Sister G

 

Elder and Sister Schwitzer, Pres and Sister Nakken, Elder Wakolo

 

Hey!

Well, there's not much to update since Wednesday. Except A**'S BAPTISM!

It was so good! It was Saturday night and it went well. Haha Sister M and I were almost late though because we had to go back to our apartment because we forgot the paperwork:P Oops! We made it though! 

It was different being able to go to hers though, compared to others I've taught. Because she is a girl it's a different relationship that is built. We were able to go back with her and watch the baptism from the side of the font. When she came out, she sat there crying because she was so happy and you could see just how much this meant to her. I think that was my favorite part about the whole thing- Seeing the affect it has had on her and her family's life. They are so happy. 

Other than that, it's been a good past few days. It's crazy to think that this week is week 6, end of the transfer. Transfer calls are on Saturday. I'll let you know what happens!

Just a few thoughts before I go and you have to wait another week to hear from me!

-We all need 2 things: we need to be loved and we need to belong.

-Our faith is not determined by the outcome

-Casualness leads to casualties

Have a great week!!

xoxo, Sister Groneman

 

 

Let's See How This Goes!

Hey!!

So normally I have written down all the things that I want to email and tell you all about, but I didn't have time to do that sooooooo I'll try to remember things and not be too scatterbrained!

And I am sorry for emailing so late! Sister M and I had a lesson with N**, a 98 yr old lady who is LA, this morning. She reminds me so much of Great Grandma (happy birthday by the way!!!) and it's so fun to teach her! She was baptized at 8, but never really learned any of it so she is just absorbing everything we are teaching her. The Spirit is always so strong and her eyes light up and you can just tell the Spirit is speaking to her. I love it!

This past week we had a lot of things happen. We had interviews with President and Sister Nakken in our apartment, Stake Conference, and Zone Conference with Elder Schwitzer and his wife, along with Elder Wakolo.

Stake Conference was good! One thing that I took away was something that someone said in their talk. They were talking about being self-reliant and service and how in order for us to serve to our full extent we need to be self-reliant. I forgot my notebook, but they said something along the lines of how can we give, if we have nothing to offer? The answer--you can't. We have to have something to give in order to serve , no matter what it is- time, love, resources, etc.. 

Zone Conference was good! We had a sisters meeting with Sister Schwitzer and it was so good! It kept getting better as the day went on with Elder Schwitzer and Elder Wakolo giving us more training on how to be better missionaries. It was so good!! Something crazy was that Elder Schwitzer and his wife spoke in the MTC when I was there. Man, you can just feel the Spirit that is with them and you can just tell that they are special witnesses of Jesus Christ!

A** is doing so well! THIS IS THE WEEK! She has her interview tomorrow and her baptism is on Saturday! I am so excited for her and her family. They have changed so much and they are so much happier. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way!

This transfer has gone by so fast...I have learned a lot though which I guess is what is supposed to be happening so that's a success hahaha!

I hope everyone has a good week this week. Just remember who you are!! And remember why you are here and who makes this all possible. (If you don't know who that is, it's Jesus Christ.)

:):)

xoxo,

Sister G

ps...We demolished a couch this week😁 SISTER POWER!!

Never a bad day

Hey Hey Hey!

This week flew by! I feel like I was just sitting at the computer sending you all my hello from Santa Maria. I guess you just have to hear from me again:)

Update on A** and her family: We had a good lesson with A** this past week. We talked about her baptism date a little and it needs to be moved because her daughter will be out of town at science camp on the 23. It took the rest of the week, but with a lot of praying, she and her husband have decided that September 16 is the day! We have a lot of lessons to teach, but it will work! She is so excited and we are excited for them!

We now are teaching 2 9yr olds. C** we have been teaching and last night we picked up A**. A**, like C**, needs the lessons because he wasn't baptized at 8. Teaching 9 yr olds is a little different because the lessons aren't made for little kids, so we've had to be creative in how we present the lessons to keep them interested and quiet hahaha. It's so interesting to watch. They are so innocent, yet so wise. I can see why we are asked to become like children.

The ward is great as always! You can tell they love each other and take care of each other. They have pulled us in as well. We had dinner with one of the members this past week and she makes blankets for everyone. To our surprise, she made matching California blankets for Sister M** and me! It was so sweet of her! Also, we have some secret friends from the ward who leave little notes with food at our apartment every so often. We have no idea how they know where we live, but it makes our day to see their drawings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week is a little different- we have Elder Schwitzer from the Seventy coming to the mission. He, along with President and Sister Nakken are visiting every apartment in the mission and doing interviews there. Next week we have a day full of different meetings starting around 7:30am. It's actually interesting because he came and spoke when I was in the MTC. We'll let you know how it goes!

It's also been crazy hot. Like triple digits very hot. We are surviving with fans though (Almost nobody in Santa Maria has AC...) We are grateful for the rain we got yesterday!

Well I hope everyone has a great week this week. I heard the big rival game [Utah vs BYU] is this week....May the odds be ever in your favor!!

xoxo,

Sister G

PS. Awkward that I forgot about exchanges. GUESS WHAT! Sister A** and I were able to be companions again! It was so fun to be able to work together, it felt like we were back in Moorpark. I loved it:)

 

 

PPS. We are emailing on Wednesday next week because of everything that is going on with the General Authority coming.