March
20th, 2017
This week we went on our last exchange as missionaries. The way
that exchanges are done is different now. Before, you and your leaders would
trade companions and one companionship would stay in your area while the other
went to the leaders' area. But now Salt Lake has asked that we do exchanges
where both companionships work in the leaders' area. So we got to go to Oakdale
this week to work in our leaders' area. It was pretty cool! I absolutely love
Oakdale. The people there are so nice.
I was on exchanges with Hna Williams and we had a really
successful day. We were trying to find former investigators, and the first door
that we knocked on was answered by this nice lady who at first said she was
busy taking care of her grand kids, but then she just let us in and offered us
pizza and tacos. She said the missionaries could come back another day. I just
find it so weird that people trust us, complete strangers, to come into their
house and eat their food.
We talked to a man on the street, and after a few minutes, he was
like, "You should meet my grandchildren!" and he invited us into his
home and we taught four kids, who ranged from like ages 10-17 or something. It
was so cool!
I also got to go back to Modesto 12th ward for a Relief Society
activity. (The Spanish Sister Training Leaders are in that ward, but they live
in Oakdale and cover the northern part of the ward.) I got to see some familiar
faces and I was touched that those sisters were so happy to see me.
One day, Hna Maya and I were knocking on doors and a guy that
answered was really nice but he was kinda distracted and as we were talking to
him about family history he just randomly asked, "Have you seen my
chickens?" and we were like "....No." And he said his chickens
had escaped and so we said we'd keep an eye out for them, and we found them as
soon as we left. We helped him chase his chickens! That was the last thing we
were expecting to do!
This week we found a new investigator!!! Rxxx is her name. She
had met with missionaries before, since her mom was a member and her mom just
passed away recently. The missionaries would visit her mom while she was sick.
Though Rxxx belongs to a Christian church, she likes missionaries and she
was really awesome as we taught her the Restoration and committed her to read
the Book of Mormon. We're excited to meet with her again!
There is also this super nice lady named Lxxx who we met this
week. We talked to her once while she was in her garden getting rid of Aloe
Vera, and I asked if I could have some, and she gave me this giant bag of it!
Hispanic people are just so nice and so willing to share their stuff.
Funny story: remember how I told you that I have been trying to
get over my addiction of pulling my hair, since it makes it look like I'm not
paying attention to anyone? So one time, a while ago, Hna Maya had to go to the
bathroom while we were out biking. So we went to a gas station and I sat and
waited while she went, and she came back out and was like, "Hermana, do
you have your camera?" And I'm like, "No, why?" And she was
like, "I wanted to take a picture of the aliens." And I'm like
"What aliens....oh!" And then I see that the entire store has like
100 aliens all around. I totally didn't notice because I was too busy picking
at my hair!
This is a sign we found at another gas station which we loved.
This is that outside of that gas station. I'm not sure how I
didn't see that the first time...
Just nine more days and then I get to hug you again!!!
Love you!!!
Hermana Aburto
With a sister from our ward
With our ward mission leader and his wife
With a couple from our ward
Zone picture!!
