"Christ...loves all of us individually"

This week Faith got baptized!! She is the daughter of Michelle, the lady that got baptized last week.  Also, they were both able to go to the women's broadcast.  I love that we had the chance to baptize this family within a week of each other because the gospel really is meant for families.  That is what I had a spiritual thought on this week.  I shared that with baptizing one person, it's hard for them to stay active in the church, but with bringing a whole family to the waters of baptism, they will be able to stay in it together.

This week some of the funny things that happened were that I sprinted to the same dog that made me fall over on my bike because it's there every time we ride our bikes on that street.  This time, Sister Eggett dared me to run toward it, so I did. It was pretty funny. Haha.

Also, me and Sister Eggett got matching Eyor night gowns. We saw them at Walmart and Sister Eggett was like get one!! So then I did, and we love matching every night now.

Also, this morning, when we got up to exercise, we found a cockroach on Sister Eggett's desk, so then I had this grand idea to put baking soda and baking powder on it to kill it. We did, but those things never die though! It's crazy! It kept moving it's hairy legs everywhere. Gross!  

This week for district meeting, I was assigned to the safety training on biking, so we brought all these old skirts and dresses and made them wear them to bike...they now realize how hard it is to bike in a skirt. 

Also, when we were contacting a door, I said the restaurant name "Guadalajara" and the guy asked me where I was from because I guess I said it really Spanishy.  It's really hard for me to see Sister Tavarez without an accent too.  That's the member we live with. I really feel like I am a white Mexican all the time.

This week, we were able to find a family to teach.  It's really awesome because they have a garden, so we left the lesson with chard, kale, beets, and a dozen eggs. They are a great family, and hopefully they progress.  They kept calling us crazy for being missionaries lol.

It was a great Easter yesterday, and so many people came to church! We have been trying to reactivate a lot in this area, and yesterday, 3 different families came to church, and I think if we keep working with them they will continue to come. I know that Christ lives and loves us.  Even though he could've chosen to free himself from the cross, he still did it because he loves all of us individually.

I challenge all of you this week to read Mosiah 3:19. It took on a whole different meaning when I read the part that says, "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him." I thought about not giving up and using the Lord whenever we are going through a hard time.

Love you!

Sister Findlay

Bug's Life, bike mishap,and a BAPTISM!

Hello,
Michelle got baptized this week!!! We were so excited for her, and next week her daughter is getting baptized. Sister Eggett and I were super happy.  Also, one of the ward members had a towel for her, which she forgot, so that was a blessing in and of itself.

One thing that we did that was really fun this week was help Pedro, a recent convert who only speaks Spanish, mow his lawn.  He is so funny, and it turns out he also got a goat this week.  When we went over there, we asked if we could name him, so we named him Guillermo.  I was so happy to ride a bike in jeans over to his house!  Also, he bought us Mexican food for lunch. 

I have a new favorite sport now!  It's called soccer tennis. A  less active member got all the missionaries together and taught us how to play it.  It's kind of like volleyball, juggling in soccer, and tennis all together.  It's kind of hard to explain the rules, but I really want to start up a club or something at BYU with that sport.

On Thursday this week, we were biking down the street, and this little dachshund was chasing after us, growling.  So, we sped up really fast, and I was only looking at the dog, but when I looked up, I see Sister Eggett turning the corner, so I tried braking really fast to turn, but then I fell, and my arms were  all scraped and bleeding, but I am lucky to just have those.  It could have been way worse.  

Also, this week in Texas, it feels like I have stepped into Bug's Life.  I probably killed 8 bugs over the course of about 12 hours.  Haha it's crazy.  

This week we also had a crazy thunder storm.  I woke up at 1 AM and it was lightning nonstop...definitely the scariest storm I have been in.  

This week we also had a really good zone conference.  The APs were talking about how out of the five mission pillars (love, obedience, hard work, animo (excitement, don't know word in English), good attitude) we need to work on love.  That's really what it's all about.

Love you,

Sister Findlay

St. Patrick's Day

Corpus Christi

 This week, as some of you know, I was transferred to Corpus Christi in a little town called Annaville.  The day of transfers was pretty crazy because I went to bed at about 11 and woke up at around 4 AM to teach seminary.  It was a little hard to have a good attitude about that because there is already a bunch of stress moving areas.  

After about 4 hours of sitting in the car  with the car packed and no room to stretch my legs, we finally made it.  It was crazy that we were able to fit 5 bikes on a bike rack that is only supposed to have 4.  Then, I arrived in Annaville and found out that my companion was going to be Sister Eggett!!! We were actually in the same ward at BYU, but didn't know each other too well.  I love her so much! Also, guess what!! We are in a bike area!! I love it so much!

The first day here, it was raining cats and dogs with thunder and lightning, but we still went out to work the whole day until we heard the loudest thunder I have ever heard right about 8:30...close to when we were supposed to get home. We both were pretty scared, but it was a great first day.  I loved biking in the rain, and it was a good little temperature change for a little bit.  The good thing about Annaville is that the weather is more mild here..it's not too hot yet, but I am bracing myself for the summer.  Ahh!

We had stake conference this week, so I haven't been able to meet too many of the members so far, but the ones that I have met are really nice. We don't have that many meal appointments, but if we ask, I am sure they would be willing to feed us. I love eating with the members and getting to know them and their families. There are tons of less actives here though, so that is a little hard, but hopefully, we'll be able to change that.

This whole week, we have been working super hard.  I love this area because we are teaching so many people.  People are so prepared here!  Also, this Sunday, we are hopefully having a baptism.  Her name is Michelle, and she is so great.  She just needs an interview, but the first time I met her, she called us "spiritual sisters" in her prayer.  She is so great.

Another thing that is weird here is that pretty much no one knows Spanish. Someone even asked me this week what the "hermana" on my name tag meant haha.  I am still keeping up on my Spanish though talking to my companion, and getting the members that do speak Spanish to only talk to me in Spanish.  I love Sister Eggett, and I love this area.  It is going to be a great transfer!

Love you,

Sister Findlay

Bike Riding in the Rain

It looks like a stream full of fish

Second Transefer Day

Tomorrow is going to be transfers!! Crazy right? This transfer went by in a blink of an eye. 

Anyway, Alicia got confirmed this week by her husband.  Turns out even though he's been inactive for a while he could still perform the ordinance.  After, Sister Villatoro and I got up to bare our testimonies.  I was a little nervous, which I don't know why because I bare my testimony pretty much everyday.  But I basically shared how through the gospel of Jesus Christ we can find more happiness than any other source.  I also shared how I know that this church has been restored, and how the Book of Mormon is true. 

A good study that I had was in Isaiah 29, and it talks about how the church has been restored.  The reason why I read that is because Sister Villatoro and I are going to teach seminary tomorrow about that chapter.  It is going to be a long night because we may have to stay up packing for transfers and we have to exercise before seminary, but I'm excited.  Also, tomorrow, we get to help out Sister Maluenda make dinner for the new greenies coming in.  I am officially done with my 12 weeks now, meaning that I am no longer a greenie. Yipee!

This week, our district had the opportunity to help out a family in the ward paint their house. It took a long time, but it looks so much better now!!

Another exciting thing that happened was Alicia's daughter accepted a baptismal date of April 3!! She wants to follow the example of her mom.

Love you all,

Sister Findlay

Before

After

What does the hat say?