I heard winter finally hit Utah! I'm happy for those of you who like snow, and sad for those of you who don't. I can't pretend to know what it's like over here, but we did walk around in 40 degree weather one night! Not gonna lie, we were frozen haha

This past week has been good. On Tuesday we were able to watch President Nelson's address and the press conference that followed. I loved it. I know that he, President Oaks, and President Eyring are the men whom God has chosen to serve as the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am excited to hear from them in the next General Conference. One thing that was said during the press conference that I loved was "A well-educated person never stops learning". 

It was also a week of yumminess. Sister G and I have had crepes every day since Tuesday. No joke. We had crepes at our dinner on Tuesday and the family gave us 50 to take home. We also had crepes for dinner again on Friday. Guess what though. They are Sister G's favorite as well!

Our friend K** is doing well. We still haven't been able to teach her because of schedules that have been in the way, but she comes to church. She stayed for Sunday School yesterday and participated which was awesome. She told us that she loved yesterday and it hit home for her. We have a lesson scheduled for Tuesday and we are really hoping and praying that it happens!

On Thursday we went to the Relief Society activity which we enjoyed! We learned how to make homemade cleaning supplies, organization, and things like that. I'm excited to try it out!

One of the pictures in sending is a quote by Mother Teresa that I love. It really is between you and Heavenly Father, no one else.

Transfer calls are this Saturday so next email I will be bringing transfer news. Until then, everyone have a great week and remember who you are!

xoxo, Sister G 

I celebrated Mom and Parker's bday with ice cream!

Sister G and I went to Malibu because it's part of our area. The ocean was so pretty!

our area

Another Great Week

Hey everyone!

Happy birthday this week to Mom, Parker, and Ana!

This email is a little late today. The district went on a hike this morning in Malibu. It was way pretty! We weren't able to see the ocean though because there were clouds covering it. Ha I was thinking about the last time I went on a serious hike though and I had to laugh because it was the day Dad, Mecham, Parker, Jacob, and I hiked Grandeur's Peak (I hope that's the name of it because I forgot...). It was the hike that I was being a weirdo and fell down the trail hahaha. For anyone who is confused right now please go ask my family to see the video. I promise it will provide a laugh!!

This past week was good. It feels like spring here which is tripping me out! We've slept with all our windows open for a few nights now. It's great!

We were able to watch President Monson's funeral which I enjoyed. He was a loved man and a faithful servant of the Lord. He will be missed.

I had Stake Conference this past weekend which I enjoyed. I learned a lot! I feel like some general themes were conversion, the Sabbath, and the temple. Some things I wrote down:

We dwindle in unbelief when we stop reading the scriptures. It doesn't just happen instantly.

The sacrament is the ONLY ordinance that is ALWAYS for you.

The moments we fail are as crucial as when we get it right.

There is no retirement in enduring.

In all the innumerable worlds that God has created, He knows your name.

To be content is not to be happy.

We were able to meet with our friend S** this past week who is doing well. It's really hard to get things going because she has a busy high school schedule and her family situation takes her away every other weekend so it's hard for her to come to church. We were able to set up a time to meet with her weekly which should help, though!

The time is going quickly, but I am so grateful that I've been able to spend this time serving the Lord. This past week was the first time in a long time that I've been the happiest I've ever been. I know that our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ know us individually by name and that They love us. They live and are cheering us on, willing to give help if we just ask. If you struggle during part of this journey, just hold on. Keep going. Keep trusting and keep trying. It's so worth it.

Good luck this week everyone and have a great week! And good luck Sister H**!! The people in ** are so lucky to have you and you will be amazing!!! Go get  it!!

Xoxo, Sister G

Another Good Week

Well, another week down! This past week was good. It is currently raining (more like sprinkling) which is a blessing for California!

Sister G** and I had exchanges this past week which were good. It's always fun to spend a day with other missionaries and learn as much as you can from them. I went with Sister M** who is so awesome! 

Ok crazy story! Pictures this: Sister G** and I are walking down the street to visit a potential. I get the strongest impression to knock this door at a particular house. A full glass door. I decide to knock it on the way back. On the way back I get the same impression. I grab Sister G** and tell her "we're going to go see if Todd is home." ( sometimes it's just fun to knock and see if someone is home. It starts a better conversation. This time though I really felt a man with a name that starts with T.) Sister G** replies, "Todd? I'm looking for T**." We knock the door and a man answers..."Hi, is Todd home?" The man looks at us then responds "Todd? Do you mean T**? I'm T**." We proceeded to tell him we had just heard that someone had met with missionaries here. (Which inside I was freaking out because it had popped out of my mouth. Inside I was talking to myself saying "Sister G you just lied to this man's face. You don't know anyone that had met with missionaries here!") T** proceeded to tell us that in fact he had met missionaries a couple of times here. In the end T** wasn't interested but it was a testimony to us how the Spirit can work through us. We had no record of him at all but the Lord knows T** and He loves him.

We had a very special opportunity this week. Elder and Sister Renlund  came to the mission, along with Elder and Sister Pimentel from the Seventy. It was a little different though. Normally a visiting authority will visit the whole mission, but he only had enough time for one conference so the meeting was broadcast from S** M** to the T** O** Stake Center where the south half of the mission met. Yep, you read it correctly, S** M**! Haha it's funny that I was just there!

The meeting was full of gold. You could just feel the spirit they had with them while they talked. 

Sister Pimentel talked about fires. Not physical fires, but spiritual fires. Negative thinking, self doubt, and disobedience cause a bad fire within us. We can fight the fire of negativity with the fire of our faith. To fuel the good fire we do things like studying the scriptures, serve, remembering and keeping the covenants you've made etc. 

Elder Pimentel  talked about what we are using to fish. We need to fish with nets rather than a fishing pole. 

Elder and Sister Renlund were so powerful. There were three talks we read to prepare for this conference and Sister Renlund talked about them. I loved listening to all the comments. Here are a few I wrote down:

Jesus Christ is the focus. 

Obedience is greater than sacrifice. 

Your faith will not grow if you start from a position of doubt.

Faith is patient.

Faith is never steady. It is either increasing or decreasing. Which direction is your faith going?

We express our faith with our feet and We have to go the distance.

Elder Renlund is truly called of God. You could just feel it. There were many things I won't share because of the sacredness of them. One thing that he did say that I loved was that the Savior loves to fix things. He likes to take broken things and mend them, especially broken hearts. I loved that. I loved the genuineness and sincerity in his voice when he talked of the Savior as well. It was so real. 

He also showed us a quadrant of who we are and who we could become. I'll attach a picture but it all has to do with our attitude and our effort. We all are naturally in one of the 4 quadrant. Our goal is to get to the quadrant of miracles. When we are in that quadrant things happen that you never thought of happening. The Lord is able to help you become the best you can be in this quadrant. 

Overall it was a great conference. 

We had to take our car in to get the oil changed so we had permission to leave our zone; so I was able to get new shoes!! Haha they don't even look like the same shoe or size!

We also met with a few of our friends. We are teaching a couple of people right now, but not consistently because of all the holidays and school breaks. We should be meeting with a few of them this week though! One of our friends Kathy has come to church for the past couple of weeks. We haven't taught her a lesson yet because of the holidays and stuff, but she wanted to come to church. She has a couple of really good friends who are members and she wants to learn more! She is so sweet.

It was a little different hearing about President Monson out here. He is truly missed! I am so grateful to have a prophet to lead and guide us here on Earth and I know he truly was a prophet. I am so grateful to know how the new prophet is called and that we don't have to wonder or guess. And to know that the authority will never again be taken from the Earth.  One quote I love from President Monson:

The past is behind—learn from
it; the future is ahead—prepare for it; the present is here—live in it.

I love this quote because it's so true. We have to live in the NOW. Give 110% each day that you live. There is no reason do do anything else.

I hope you all have a great week and that you remember how much your Heavenly Father and Savior love you. They know you by name and they are there to help you. You just have to sincerely ask.

xoxo, Sister G 

Exchanges

...Sister G** has been sick so I was trying to get her favorite Gatorade...that was in the back on the top shelf....

I Don't Think I'm from *** Anymore.....

I don't think I can say I'm from *** anymore....I get so cold here! During the day the temperature is in the 70s which is great, but when the sun goes down it is freezing. There is more humidity here as well which doesn't help.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 

From what I heard it sounds like everyone celebrated well. Sister G** and I celebrated by going to sleep, setting an alarm for 11:58, saying happy New Year at midnight, then going back to sleep! You don't have to tell us we're party animals because we know we're crazy! Hahaha

Sister G** and I worked hard this week and saw many miracles. We know this is the Lord's work and that we are just His instruments. We met some great people. One of our friends came to church yesterday as well! Her boyfriend is a member and she wants to learn more. We haven't been able to set a lesson up because she's been busy with the holiday season, but she was excited to come to church and have a lesson this week!

Do you remember my friend N**? Cute little 98 year old N** returned to her Heavenly Father this past week. Not gonna lie, that was some tough news to receive. I knew it was coming, but it still hurts. I know Heavenly Father is aware of me though and He prepared me. That morning at the end of my personal study, I was flipping through my notes and my focus was drawn to this quote:

"The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life."

It's interesting because everything that I write down has its reference with it, but this quote doesn't have a reference, so I have no idea where I found it the first time. It brought me a lot of comfort though and it's 100% true. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the opportunity I had to help N** understand more of the gospel. 

2018 is the time to work hard! I hope everyone has set goals😀 I am so excited to work hard and to become more of the instrument God needs me to be. 

"Now more than ever we cannot be part-time disciples." -Robert D. Hales

Have a great week everyone!!  

Good luck on your mission Sister H**! I heard your Farewell was yesterday and I know it was great. You will be an awesome missionary, you have been your whole life!!

 

Xoxo, Sister G 

[Surprise call Christmas morning!]

[Sister Groneman tearing up as she listened to her nephew speak in sentences.]