Merry Christmas

Hey fam!
Merry Christmas! I'm stoked! Can I call around 2pm your time? I'll call at around 8 your time to confirm.
We had zone conference and a temple trip this week and it was SO great....although we didn't get much teaching accomplished...and we somehow ended up arriving LATE to EVERYTHING this week...it was super annoying... but I'm excited to work my bum off this week. Also, we ate SO much this week. I've figured out that you eat more in Spanish, but the food is less healthy in English work....but they"re so sweet and generous!! we're so grateful for our members.
We went with our investigator, Linda to her church yesterday morning...it was way fun to experience a black Baptist church...we read the story of Abraham being commanded to sacrifice Isaac and one thing that the teacher said I really enjoyed: "It says' God won't tempt you above what you can stand...' oh yes He will, but He WON'T test you above what you can stand with Him"
It was a fun experience... Linda later came with us to a baptism and seemed to enjoy it, although we were worried because it seemed like our having gone with her to her church made her more intrigued with her church again....but she just barely called and talked about how the Lord keeps putting us together and it must be for a reason, so she told me that she's done with her old church and she's going to come to our church....um ok major blessing. She's so sweet!
Also, I think I wrote about a recent convert for another ward and how her mom was completely overwhelmed and impressed with the Spirit at her daughter's baptism...well, the mom and dad got baptized yesterday...He was baptized at 8am, got confirmed in church, received the priesthood after church, and baptized his wife in the afternoon. It was such a beautiful baptism and they were both so so excited....AND their two granddaughters and a friend are getting baptized on New Years Eve. Miracles!!
We met a really great guy at the frozen yogurt shop who is ex Air Force, has studied all forms of Christianity extensively, and is very open about religion. We have an appointment with him this week and we're praying that it goes well!
I think that's all.....I'll talk to you in 6 days!
Merry Christmas!
Love you more than all the miracles this week!
Hermana Beauchamp

Birthday

Hey Fam,
Thank you for the birthday package! it did get to me on Saturday. It made me so happy! Hermana Prince arranged it so that I was blindfolded and taken to a member in Rancho Vista branch's house for lunch. It was way fun! That was the day before, then we went to lunch at an Indian Restaurant with a member named Sister Makanui. She's a way cool older lady from Hawaii. We found 2 new investigators (miracle of miracles) and then ate corn dogs and cake for dinner. We finished the day with fire breathing. We ran out of matches though, so it didn't last too long. A few weeks ago we got a media referral that said that this man was interested in joining our church....of course we were stoked, but it turned out to be a prank. We decided to knock the rest of the street to see if anyone else in that area has been prepared. We tried one night, failed miserably, so we tried again on my birthday. It seemed liked things were going to go about the same way, but at the door that Sister Jensen and I had independently resolved would be the last, we met this sweet young single mother named Belsie who let us in right away, was very open about her beliefs and interest, and expressed a desire to come with us to church. She didn't end up coming yesterday, but we're praying hard for her. Tender mercies from God!
There's a mission newsletter that comes out every month, usually listing birthdays. Bummer: mine was left off, so aside from my sweet companions, nobody really knew. Somehow our Zone Leaders found out they had missed it and they started yelling about what terrible zone leaders they were and sang a very loud "Happy Birthday" to me right before a baptism. They're awfully nice :)
We really have an AWESOME zone. I really think I'll be moved back to Spanish after Christmas, but our zone is super hard working, very creative, very dedicated, and way fun to boot. We had a "snowball fight" last monday.....we filled socks and knee highs with flour and played capture the flag, dodgeball, etc. Awesome.
We have zone conference AND a temple trip this week and I'm so stoked!
I might have mentioned this last week, but one of our investigators just came out as gay, so we've been doing a lot of reading and research to know how best to teach the gospel so that he can fully understand the importance of it and know how to live it. We love him so much and we've been praying that he'll stay close to the Spirit. Anyway, during all that research this week, I kept getting caught up in the New Testament. Man, I love it! There is so much wonderful stuff in there. Dad, I love when you send me little spiritual thoughts about your scriptures study. I sure love your brain.
I think I also mentioned Linda....we met her at Wal-mart and then she magically showed up to our ward Christmas party. We went and visited her on Saturday and she kept saying "You girls are a Godsend, and I'm not just trying to flatter you. I was just so tired...so drained...in every way. But I'm feeling the fruits of the Spirit right now....love, peace, joy, hope....you girls have the Holy Spirit with you." Yes Linda. We do. She's so perceptive and she has such a deep love for the Savior. She's been attending a black baptist church but she really doesn't enjoy it because there are too many cliques and church politics. She says "If we were really the body of Christ, we wouldn't be back biting and gossiping like that." She feels that God led her there for a purpose, though and she feels that she should stay there to help the other members of the congregation. She's so great! But technically not our investigator. She lives in another ward's boundaries so we're trying to figure out how to make a smooth transition. I know that if she comes to church, she'll feel that ward family love. Poor thing is just so lonely....
But she is such a blessing for us.
Anyhoo, I think that's about all the news around here....
I love you more than all the Baptist churches in Lancaster
Hermana B

Windy California Dec 5, 2001

Dearest loving fambly,
Hooray for Tomi! I'm so glad she's a part of our lives. She's such an angel.
It HAS been super windy around here. It's getting pretty chilly, too. Certainly not -7, but there was ice on the ground yesterday. I've rescinded my "I hate tights" stance. When you can't wear pants, they're pretty miraculous.
It was a little slower this week. I was feeling pretty sick on Wednesday, so we didn't get to go out and teach as much as we would like, but we already have 19 scheduled appointments this week. That's a lot. Especially for English. I'm stoked.
I think I forgot to tell you about the Creche Festival...apparently Lancaster and Palmdale put on a really great multi-faith Public Affairs Christmas activity every year and it keeps growing. They have a huge display of probably 500 nativities from all around the world placed all over the cultural hall and then they opened up the chapel to have musical performances from all kinds of different choirs, groups, singers, pianists, etc. It was really beautiful and it's helped establish friendships with different churches around Lancaster.

Also, we met a lady at Walmart last week named Linda. We ended up talking with her for an hour while we waited for a prescription to be filled, and we got her number so that we could visit with her sometime. We've been trying to contact her all week with no success, but at our ward's Christmas party, one of our members came and told us to come sit with her because she had brought a nonmember friend. We did so, and it was Linda! She kept saying how amazing it was and how she was so sure it was not just a coincidence that God kept throwing us together. She's great :)
One of our other investigators who has wanted to be baptized FOREVER but has never wanted/been able to quit smoking. BUT HE IS!! He's down to 4 cigarettes a day and realizes that he just can't afford to waste money on killing himself slowly anymore. So please please pray for Chris that he'll stay strong and that even if things take a turn for the better economically, he'll still remember his need to rely on the Lord.
ASL  (American Sign Language) is coming along, quicker than I imagined. We still really haven't used it much, but we're practicing with our Relief Society president. She's a super cool lady. She had been sitting in the temple and felt the impression to learn ASL. She signed up for a class at the local college the next day and a week later was called to be a stake interpreter, despite the fact that all she knew was the letters A-G and mom and dad. But she's super involved with the deaf community in California and she's quite the fireball.
Love you more than all the tipped-over semis in Utah!
Hermana B

Dang Gina, that's a whole lotta news! I love it :) I'm so glad the reception went so well! I sure love each of our family members and all the others you mentioned.Also, I love that you entitled it "FAT DOG". Nobody here believes that it helps. Poor saps.
Our area's doing pretty well. I think I wrote last week that we're working a TON with members to strengthen the ward and organize the ward roster, but we're finding quite a few new investigators. Apparently missionary work has been super slow lately so finding 3 new investigators per week is awesome. Also we've been surpassing our goals for having members with us at lessons and meeting all our other goals for the number of lessons we teach to members, etc. IT'S SO COOL! Our ward is really great and the members are so so generous. We're working on helping them be more missionary minded, so if you have any ideas of what we can do for them, please let me know!
Sister Jensen is from Gilbert, Arizona and is a Special Education major at ASU. She's a good, hard worker, and very practical when it comes to setting goals. She's so sweet about helping me relearn English :)

We taught Gospel Principles yesterday and talked about Christlike attributes. We had planned to talk about a few of the less commonly mentioned/examined ones, but we ended up talking about virtue for most of the hour. We talked about how virtue deals directly with purity and power. When we focus on keeping the commandments and living well, we allow the Holy ghost to penetrate our lives more fully, which not only purifies our spirits, but empowers us to be greater representatives of the Savior. That's why it's so important to have "virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly." The idea that spiritual healing promotes physical healing has been rolling around in my mind a little bit...which is interesting, considering what you wrote about trauma observed being recorded as trauma experienced personally....

We found a new investigator at a frozen yogurt shop: David who's 20 years old. He's recently gotten his heart broken, so he's looking for help to feel hopeful again. We have another named Jeff who's about the same age and we'll be teaching him more aobut Joseph Smith this week. He seemed like a pretty spiritual person, so we're hopeful.
Also Raj, an investigator from India who is married to one of our members (both are AMAZING people...i would love to be more like them) they are both going to visit the LA temple today. Raj has been to the SLC temple and he LOVED it. Please pray for all of them that they'll be touched by the Spirit and feel motivated to come closer to Heavenly Father.

As far as Christmas and birthday, to be honest, the vast majority of things I would like are things I have at home. I have a bunch of CDs that I would LOVE to have here.... like Josh Groban, Coldplay(it fits the mission standards, so far as I can tell), The Rocket Summer, Nickel Creek etc. I might not actually have the Rocket Summer CD, but if it's not there, that's one that I'd love to have. Also, the Little Women soundtrack would be lovely :). Aside from that, fun earrings would be cool...I have a bunch at home that I left. Also, a page-a-day calendar. A good one, like DIY crafty stuff or something. Also, some cool paper to write letters. Aside from that, whatever you think I'd like I'm sure will be AMAZING. you tend to have great taste :). Oh! also: footie socks. but the ones that just cover the toes, not the ones that come halfway up the foot.
I talked to Sister Martin about my unusual tiredness and she says that generally when they check these things out, it's just mission exhaustion and I haven't been sleeping as well as I need to be. Incidentally, I did get a new mattress the same day I talked to her. I can't tell yet if it's helped. I've been having super vivid dreams un/fortunately I remember all of them. Last night's involved elders tracting with pink bras over their suits. Anyway, we're going to ask the mission doc what he thinks this week.
Love you more than all the holes in my socks,
Hermana B

New Area: Lancaster California: English/ ASL, not Spanish!

Mama and Papa,
Have I told you lately how grateful I am that you write me every week? I really love it and appreciate it :) Please take lots of pictures from their reception! I can't believe that it's Thanksgiving already. I'm super close to my year mark, I can't even believe it. We've been invited to a couple members' houses for dinner on Thanksgiving and one of our investigators will be at at least one of them, so we'll be eating lots, I'm sure. It's been really rather nice to not be eating so so much. The members in our last branch started wanting to feed us lunch AND dinner, so we were eating probably 4x more than what we should. BUT my jeans still fit, so I'm not too torn up :)

So my new ward is great! It's super weird to be in English and an actual ward again. I got used to our little tiny branch where each person had about a million callings and branch activities only happened every 4 months. I was so so scared at first to talk to people in english, especially to go knocking, (and I'm still a little nervous about it) but knocking has gone so great and I'm loving American culture again.(Although I miss pupusas so much). One of my first days in the new area, we went to the library and there was this one man that I kept awkwardly making eye contact with, so I decided we should contact him. Bad choice. The second I finished saying "Hi my name is Sister Beauchamp" he went off on this 15 minute rant about government conspiracy theories, coincidental numbers, being in hiding,secret bank accounts, and homosexuals. He also told us he was the devil and that his knees go backward. I wish I could say that I learned my lesson and starting making better contacts after that, but I seem to have a knack for talking to the most awkward people....and in my "re-learning English" stage, I'm probably about as awkward as they are.

But I'm loving my new area.:) My companion is Sister Jensen, a missionary who came out with Hermana Prince just 2 transfers ago, so I'm a step mommy! She's super great and very patient with me. I always accidentally start speaking Spanish to her, so she'll just counter with ASL. I definitely have the better end of that deal because I understand the majority of what she signs. We're working with the ward a TON and it's been really neat to help them. I've never really taught members before, but it's helping me a lot to work with investigators. Heavenly Father has a plan for every thing!
    One of our primary investigators is a man from India named Raj. I've only gotten to meet him once, but I've heard so many great things about him. His wife is a latina member who is just amazing and I'm super excited to get to know them both better. Our deaf members are super cool and so sweet. Our relief society president started learning ASL not too long ago. She was in the temple and just felt like she really needed to learn it, so she enrolled in the community college. 2 weeks later she was called to be an interpreter for the deaf, even though all she knew was "mom" "dad" and the letters A-G She's really an amazing lady and I think you'd get along super well with her, mom. She's feisty :)

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful for you!

Oh ALSO we knocked into this really cool guy and his family. He  was pretty standoffish at first but he started warming up to us little by little. He said "Oh I know you believe in God and Christ, we just believe in them a little differently." After talking for a little while, he said, "Well, you know, one of the issues that I have is that mormons don't believe in the Deity of Christ".  I thought a little and said "Actually, our beliefs might not be so different" I showed him on the title page of the book of mormon where it says that the book is a witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God. He stared at it for a moment and said,"I think I have some rereading to do." He had met with the missionaries a long time ago and still has about 3 copies of the Book of Mormon. He showed us inside and gave us a glimpse of his family's 55,000 books. Yep. 55,000. It was beautiful. the vast majority of those are on theology. He's a chaplain, LOVES genealogy, is super close with his family, believes in eternal progression, and is pretty cool. He's also going through some big life changes, so we're praying that he'll be more open to discussing the gospel.

Love you more than the supposed attempts on Mr. Crazy Library's life,
Hermana Manzana

Jared's Wedding Day

Hey Fam,
I so loved seeing you all. I felt so spiritually filled all day Friday and I've been trying to keep up that feeling. It was so wonderful to hold my babies, to hug each of you, and to have some good ol' spiritual chats. I just love your brains! They're amazing!

I really can't believe that I was afforded such a blessed day. I'm so grateful! I think it's helped me recharge spiritually, although I was pretty pooped this weekend from all the excitement!
I have some more exciting news....I am moving out of my area today.....to Lancaster ENGLISH AND ASL! Can you believe it? I sure as heck can't. I'm curious to know what President's logic was....or if it was just pure inspiration. Because I sure didn't see that one coming! I'm super excited though. Way bummed to leave Hermana Prince, but she's incredible and she and her new companion will make great things happen here in Palmdale. I'm only moving about 5 miles away, but it sure seems farther, considering that I'll be in 2 very different cultures. Cool.

AND I was told that we don't really teach anyone in ASL, just work with less active members, but it just so happens that one of our current investigators has a deaf son that she wants us to teach. AND one of the members we work with a lot here is taking an ASL class and has access to members of the deaf community. I'm hoping maybe we can contact and find through some of those sources. Man alive. I'm going to be able to talk to Bomee so much more now! I can't WAIT! I'm so excited to learn more ASL and have so many new experiences! I'm fairly certain that they're just a little short on English sisters, so I'm thinking I won't be there for too long, but you never know what Heavenly Father's got up His miraculous-surprises sleeve.

I love you more than all the sticky notes I've accumulated up to this point on my mission,
Hermana Beauchamp

Halloween Week 2011

This was a MUCH better week. We had a good Halloween. The missionaries in the Valley had to be at home by 6pm and weren't allowed to leave, but thankfully the desert is much more chill. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows with our elders' landlords, helped hand out candy, and visited our recent converts. Hermana Prince and I had exchanges with Hermana Erickson and her new companion, Hermana Blackburn. Hna Prince went down to be with Hna Erickson for the day and Hna Blackburn came up to experience Palmdale with me. Those sisters live in Sylmar, in San Fernando Valley, right next to uber-sketchy Pacoima, so Hna Prince had a very interesting time experiencing the Valley at its finest. She had been super bummed because there were quite a number of people who kept saying how she really needed to learn Spanish, but when she went to Sylmar, everyone complimented her on how well she speaks. She really is a rockstar at Spanish, I think there's just some people who, no matter how well you speak, will never believe you can actually speak their language if you look white. So her confidence got a major boost after that and I'm so so glad.
 1st MIRACLE OF THE WEEK: We had an AWESOME lesson with Zitlaly, her mother, and a young man named Christian who is renting a room from them. Her mom said she'd like to come to church and that she'd read the Book of Mormon when she was sad (kind of wierd, but we'll take it.)
2nd, 3rd, and 4th MIRACLES OF THE WEEK: Zitlaly came to church! She seemed to really enjoy it,a nd she really wants to come to mutual this week.  Her little brother came to church, too. Her mom and Christian didn't, but hey, they're still open to it. We're starting to teach this mother and son (Graciela and Bryan) but they have no phone and it's difficult to coordinate with them. They usually go to the Lancaster Baptist Church in the Church Bus on Sundays, but we left them a note saying that we would come by at 8:45 sunday morning to pick them up with a member. We stopped by at 8:45 to check if they would come (we were fairly sure they wouldn't)but Graciela's oldest son (very much a "too cool for anything in this dimension" teenager) told us they had already left. We didnt' have a way to contact our member to tell him not to pass by their house, so we just went to church. Magda (the one who read the whole Book of Mormon in a week) was waiting for us on the back row, then in walked Graciela, Bryan, Zitlaly, and her little brother. As it was fast sunday, we were a little nervous how things would go, seeing as members are sometimes a little unreliable on keeping their testimonies focused on the Savior, but all of our investigators seemed to really enjoy it. In fact, Bryan (who is 11) got up and spoke about how he wants to change his life and help his mom. Our branch welcomed them very warmly and they seemed to really like church. IT WAS SO GREAT!
Thank you thank you for all your prayers. They are helping me, us, our investigators, everybody so so much.

Also, we had lunch with a couple in our branch this week. The husband doesn't seem to recognize that any slightly scandalous or inappropriate comments or jokes should just be forgotten and the conversation should move on.  Somehow we got on the topic of the virgin of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, etc. Unfortunately, my brain/mouth filter was malfunctioning and I asked "How many virgins are there?"
Bad move, Hermana.
But I am curious. How many Catholic holy virgins are there?
Anyway, love you more than however many there are,
Hermana B

Steep Challenges"

Hey family:

It's so beautiful to hear from you! I DID get the clothes and I LOVE them. I've worn a different item every day since I got them. I was so excited initially to get it that I wasn't looking where I was going and tripped, ripping my tights and landing flat on my back. No cuts, no bruises, even. Just my companion cracking up at me and lots of pine needles on my back. 

Dad, it's funny you wrote about those verses in Romans. It's been a REALLY tough week and we were noticing last night that it seems like every missionary in our zone, possibly a great many others in our mission, and all the members of our branch are having a rough go of things. 

We've been having trouble contacting our investigators, we got dropped by some, found out that one is an abusive, alcoholic drug user (we've already covered the word of wisdom, chastity, lliving Christlike lives, etc) and is getting kicked out of his house soon, we only had one investigator at church (who is also researching a ton of anti-mormon garbage, despite our warnings that hate-filled anything only drives away the spirit) we got chased away from a promising potential investigator by her mother, and I had lost my journal. which stunk majorly. BUT Heavenly Father loves me so He let me have it back. :)

 We had a really great training at our district meeting by our District Leader, Elder Selk on Friday about learning through trials in which he shared DyC 101:4-5 ("For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified") with us. Those verses have been running around in our heads all weekend and we've been understanding and FEELING the stretching part of Heavenly Father's "grow up" plan. We've been teaching people that we're here to have experiences and become more like Heavenly Father and that even though (actually BECAUSE) not every experience is easy or fun, we have the atonement of Jesus Christ to help us. We're putting that into practice in a very real way right now.  We're still feeling a little bummed, but we're both very grateful for the sacrament....and P Day (Preparation Day - the day the missionaries write letters, do laundry and relax just a little.) A chance to start over is so needed at this point and we're gearing up to be the missionaries that Heavenly Father needs. We're relying on Heavenly Father a great deal and doing our best to just go and do to be guided by Him to know what He wants. We're also becoming closer and closer as a companionship. I'm immensely grateful for Hermana Prince and for the wonderful example she is to me. I love our investigators and I'm feeling like I'm being worn down to the nubbins so I can learn to rely FULLY on the Lord. It certainly doesn't feel great, but I'm learning and I'm grateful.

So that's basically what happened this week. I got a letter from Chelsea a few months ago that has helped me a million times over and she wrote that at one point of her mission she really realized and felt "man, this is HARD WORK." I acknowledged it before, to be sure, but I'm feeling it now. I'm grateful for your prayers and letters. They help both Hermana Prince and I so so much.
Yesterday we were both exhausted physically, spiritually, emotionally, but we still had a few appointments, so we just said "Ok Heavenly Father. I don't know what you have in mind, but we're here. We're doing what you ask. Just help us keep moving."


I'm so excited to see you and squeeze the breath out of you. It will be so so beautiful to see your faces in the temple!

I have a letter full of little notes I always forget when I write emails, so I'll send that along very soon.

I love you more than P-day,
Hermana Manzana

Lots of Work in Palmdale

Dear Family:

Please please tell Lucero congratulations for me! I'm so proud of her!  (Allison's friend Lucero Barrera from our ward was called to the Provo Spanish-speaking Mission.)
 
Thank you thank you for the clothes! I haven't gotten them yet but I'm super excited. Hermana Prince's mom sent us a GIANT package full of vegan junk food. I know. It truly does exist. And it's delicious. We've been eating pretty well lately, but these dang holidays keep getting in the way. 

We had interview with President this week and they went great! He's really pleased with the work we've been doing. The elders that they put in our branch apparently talked about how we've set a really high standard..which definitely felt good. I can't stop thinking about how glad I am for Vanessa and Raz!  (Allison's cousin Vanessa eloped with her boyfriend Raz last week...we are all very happy for her!)
 
President also made it sound 99% sure that I'll be leaving Palmdale after this transfer's over. I've been missing the valley and being with so many missionaries, but I really love the members here and we've found some INCREDIBLE investigators this week.

I've been feeling lately like there was someone (or maybe someones) that we needed to find, so Hermana Prince and I have been trying to be more prayerful about contacting and finding new investigators this week. Maybe it was just borne of my frustration that most of our investigators stopped progressing, but in my head there was a tall thin man that was waiting for us to find him. We had met a nice couple last week named Augustin and Maria and, despite the husband's immediate wall of "I'm Catholic and I plan on dying that way" they were very welcoming and seemed pretty open. They came to English class, really liked it, and then we got to teach them about the Restoration. They had really great questions that were actually quite telling of their true attitudes and interest. At the beginning of the lesson, Augustin asked "Why do people change religions? Why do they feel so insecure in the  traditions that they are raised in that they betray what their parents teach them? "  but then a few minutes later he asked "why are there so many religions? Shouldn't there be just one if there is one God?" A little later, they commented on how their priests come in, give mass (or however the correct grammar would be in English), and leave. They said "That's been fine for us for years, but I'm starting to feel like those repetitious traditions aren't filling me spiritually." They opened up to us SO much, expressed concerns, asked hard questions, answered hard questions, and showed a lot of faith. They recently went through some pretty trying experiences that have brought them a new perspective on life and they are seeing that they want more answers about God and life than they have previously been afforded. They're an AMAZING couple and we're praying super hard for them. Their in-laws that they live with are very closed to other religions, so we can't teach them at their house. Please pray that they'll by touched by the spirit and the Book of Mormon!
Also, we met a lady last week named Magda...She's super sweet and has been church-hopping for a long time. unfortunately, she seems pretty skittish of churches now. We met with her yesterday and asked if she had read the pamphlet we gave her. she said "No, I read the book, but not the pamphlet" Wait.....we asked "you mean the Book of Mormon? What part did you read?"  "All of it. It's not that long. And I was having trouble with some of the words...why didn't you tell me about the index? That's like half the book anyway"

Magda read the WHOLE BOOK OF MORMON! We asked how she felt about it and if there were any particular parts that had touched her...also if she had prayed about it. She answered vaguely, and said that she already knew it was true and didn't feel like she needed to pray about it, so I shared my testimony of the Book of Mormon and as I told her how I felt when I prayed--that Heavenly Father was telling me that I needed to read and apply the things in that book to every day of my life, she began to cry and said "That's how I felt too!"

We explained how the Book of Mormon is the convincing evidence that Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the church he established is the church of Jesus Christ again on the earth and how this church has the authority to baptize in His name. We then invited her to be baptized, to which she said "No. I was baptized Catholic when I was a baby." Oh. ok. Let's re-explain. Apparently we left out something. We're going back tonight to talk about the restoration again. Please pray that she'll not be afraid of coming to church and understand why baptism by the correct authority is necessary! 

Also, we briefly met a man named Oscar last week, and had our first lesson with him last night. At one point, the things he was saying, combined with the feeling in the room, the way he looked, and different thought processes brought about a HUGE bout of deja vu and I realized that that moment had been in one of my dreams last week. Crazy? yes. Tender mercy from God? Also yes. He told us that he didn't particularly feel like he knew how to pray, so we taught him and prayed with him. I felt so privileged to be able to teach this great man how to speak to his Heavenly Father and to recognize that God hears him.  Man alive. It was SUCH an amazing feeling.

I'm probably forgetting a million things, but I'll hand write them. I love you more than all the tumbleweeds in Palmdale!
Hermana B

Early October - Baptism!

Hey fam:

I don't have much time to write...Things are going really well. Guadalupe got baptized yesterday and it was beautiful. Rick is on track to get baptized this weekend, although Alexis doesn't feel ready yet (which is fair, since we haven't really gotten a chance to teach her as much as she needs). Bummer. But we'll keep trying to meet with her. It's tough because we're teaching everyone in the house, but they're all on VERY different pages and some demand more attention than others. We've been trying to be careful about how we spend our time when we're there, but I guess we haven't been prudent enough. Oh well, guess we'll have to keep going!
Our new elders are working super-duper hard and doing so great. We've gone to a couple of appointments with them to kind of make an  "investigator handoff." They're both great teachers and Hermana Prince and I have a ton of respect for them. Hermana Prince and I are working hard, trying to find new investigators, and becoming closer. 

We had stake conference this weekend and a Seventy, Elder Edwards, came and spoke and one of the things he said keeps running around in my head and is becoming an annoying reality: "When there has been a particular outpouring of the Spirit for a specific occasion, it will back off for a little while so that we can be tested." Satan was trying pretty hard to discourage me for Guadalupe's baptism, but it was a wonderful experience. Hermana Prince and I sang a special arrangement of "I Stand All Amazed" because it's her very favorite hymn. She loved it and cried :).
I have a card to send to you with little things I always forget during email time so I'll try to send that along this week.
Love you more than all the success our new elders are having!
Hermana B

Oh my gosh those pictures of Jared and Tiffany are so beautiful! I cannot WAIT! It's going to be such a wonderful, incredible day!
I'm so proud of you for going out with the sisters, Mama! Members who are willing to go out with the missionaries are THE BEST and we appreciate and love them immensely.

This is the end of Hermana Prince's 1st transfer and we're so so happy to be staying together. We're also going to be splitting our area and getting some bike elders to come work in the northern chunk of our area. We have about 50 square miles that we haven't even touched, so hopefully now we'll have time to explore and teach down there.

I love conference! We had 4 investigators come to various sessions and they each had some big questions answered. We worked hard to help everyone we met be excited for conference and even just helping people prepare for conference provided for some great teaching opportunities. We're very excited for our upcoming baptism this weekend and we're praying hard for her to come closer to the Savior every day. We made a "baptismal countdown" paper chain with different little spiritual thoughts and challenges every day. She's so great! Her grandsons were baptized not too long ago and we're excited for them to grow together as a family. Her husband is coming closer and closer and trusting us more to answer questions, although we always refer him back to Heavenly Father to confirm truths we teach.

Elder Yamashita's talk was a tender mercy. I've been feeling great and optimistic, but yesterday afternoon right before the last session of conference, I got really discouraged and felt totally inadequate and frustrated with various aspects of our teaching (specifically that our investigators don't seem to fully grasp the importance of the gospel, even when they're willing to take huge steps of faith). But his talk specifically addressed my momentary frustrations and sadness and even more than his words, I felt Heavenly Father's love sosegarme (I don't remember how to say that in English)( Mom:  it means to be calmed, quieted.)

Speaking of Spanish, Hermana Prince's Spanish is coming along great. There are sometimes when she's teaching and the Spirit is super strong and she starts speaking like a native....past present future subjunctive included. So cool!! We're studying, working hard, loving our companionship, the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and life in general!. We're so excited to have new elders in our branch and I can't wait to see the miracles they bring to pass in our little branch, too!

Jesus (our investigator) tried to come to conference on Saturday but he tried to walk there. He got all confused and wandered around palmdale all day long. I guess that's what we get for telling him how to get to the stake center while he was drunk. He was sitting next to me while we watched the afternoon session on Sunday and he smelled strongly of old lady perfume....which makes me wonder what he had been drinking. ..... hmmmm....

ANyway.
As far as things I need, clothes would be lovely. I always thought my other companions were just whiners when they talked about how sick of their clothes they were....but I'm getting there too. Anyway. If that could be arranged, that would be wonderful. :) I'm sending pictures this week, but I have one that's specifically for Jared. Can I get his address?

I love you more than all the conference talks that touched my heart and shook my soul awake!
Hermana Manzana

Fambly!
I'm so glad Dad had such a fun time in Utah! I would greatly enjoy seeing pictures...nudge nudge wink wink knowhwhatImean knowhatImean?

I'm having trouble distinguishing individual days anymore, but we continue to see miracles left and right. Actually, I was thinking. We're always looking for miracles, so what could be considered little miracles are a big deal to us and we try to always make sure that we thank Heavenly Father for them. And then a whole slew of HUGE MIRACLES comes along and we don't even know what to do with ourselves! You know how I told you that Rick set a baptismal date last week? Well so did his daughter Alexis! They're both kind of unsure still.....not about whether or not it's something they should do, they know for sure they need to, they're just both quite stubborn. I love them with all my little heart and I'm excited for them to come closer to Christ during this time that they are preparing to be baptized and then to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion and to feel Christ's love incessantly!

Hermana Prince is learning about cultural differences in a variety of ways. The standard for how long our long lessons should last is 20-45 min. Even President Martin in one of the first meetings I went to said "According to missionary standards, your lessons should last no longer than an hour." and then he looked around sternly for a second. Then he busted up laughing and said "That's not going to happen in Spanish work! Just do the best you can." We went to an investigator's home the other night for a lesson (and they really have no interest in our message and have told us so very lovingly----although the wife read all of 1 Nephi when we just asked her to read the first chapter....she recited basically all the major and minor events of the first 10 chapters to us. Dang.) Anyway, we had an appointment after them so we told them we would need to be mindful of the time. They looked at the clock, guaging how much time they had with us, and said "You only came for an HOUR??????!!" ummm....
I didn't know they like us so much! 

Also, the family of Jesus (also know as Chuy, you'll be tickled to hear) keeps sitting in on our lessons. He received a blessing for help to overcome some trials he has right now. We went over last night, read parts of 3 Nephi 11 all together and watched the Reflections of Christ DVD. We bore our testimonies of Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel and the Spirit was so strong I could almost taste it. We invited them to come watch conference with us and come closer to the Savior by hearing His words through a living prophet and apostles. We pointed out the Spirit we felt so that they could recognize it too. It was SO cool! They're such a great family and a really great support to Jesus (our investigator, not the Savior)....well, I guess both.....anyway. They're ALL planning on coming to English class this week and I'm way stoked to see them more often. We also set up an appointment to share the Relief society message with his sister-in-law.

Also, Jesus and all his brothers have the most amazing mustaches. and German shepherd puppies. Just sayin'. There's more than one reason they're some of my favorites.

Gotta run! love you more than I love puppies.
Hermana B

Amazing Missionary Methods

Hey Mama and Dad..

THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME! We had Zone conference and Elder Golden of the 70 came to speak. Super cool. Super motivational. He's from South Africa and his accent was way fun to listen to but of course the Spirit he brought was incredibly strong.

I don't have a whole lot of time, sorry, so here's some snapshots of our week:

We helped a new investigator, Jesus to set a baptismal date this week. He showed up to our 2nd appointment pretty tipsy (he's apparently had a major problem with alcohol for years and years) and we told him we could only come visit and teach and help him receive the blessings God has waiting for him if he quit drinking. The next time we met with him, he had studied the verse we gave him to read and motivate him and the Restoration pamphlet inside and out. He even quoted parts of it back to us and made a million different connections to help him apply it to his life. We invited him to be baptized on October 9th and he said YES! He asked us for more things to read from the Book of Mormon and promised to come to church (which he DID!) Hermana Prince and I made it to the car before we started screaming for joy. He's so great!

We also helped Rick (who we've been working with FOREVER) to set a baptismal date as a goal. He's still pretty unsure about it but we promised him that if he did his part, that he would be ready by that date. It was an incredibly intense, spiritual lesson and I could feel the Savior's love for him so powerfully.SO GOOD.

We went over the Zitlaly's house yesterday morning to help her get ready for church. Her mom didn't seem opposed so we barged in, ripped her covers off and did all we could to persuade her to come. (We wouldn't normally do that, Just FYI....we have a really good friendship with her...) Her little brother Alan who is probably around 4 helped us by crawling into her bed, snuggling her, kissing her face all over, grabbing her toothbrush so I could coax her out of bed, and bouncing around us. He's the cutest little thing....he's got a buzz cut, he NEVER has a shirt on, he's always a little sweaty, has a Harry Potter scar on his forehead, and runs and hugs us every time we come over while yelling "CHURCH GIRLS!!" Sometimes though, I'm pretty sure he says "church bus" instead (the Lancaster Baptist church has a bus that picks up kids to bring them to church functions and it always passes by the places where we teach....DANG how I want one of those.)He also stutters and has no front teeth. Which is precious. Every time I see him, I can't help but think of Jesus' admonition to be as a little child, patient, humble, meek, full of love, etc.

Love you more than I want a Church bus,
Hermana Manzana

Hey Padres!!
things sound way fun at home...Thank you for the update on Jared and Tiffany! I'm praying all goes well and romanticky! He's so creative. I love it.

I'm super stoked to hear about the Mormon.org thing. I think it'll be great! It hasn't come to Palmdale yet, but then again, not much does....Please say congratulations to Adam and Josh! I'd love to see pictures if you've got them. They're so great!

It's been a great week. I  totally love Hermana Prince and I'm reasonably certain that we're pretty much the same person...except she's much more patient, Christlike, spiritual, healthy (haha!!) than I am....We've been running in the mornings and it's totally kicking my trash. But we're working like crazy, loving missionary life and becoming closer to each other, to our investigators, and especially to the Savior every day.

In almost every single lesson we had this week, the Spirit was super strong and we were able to teach super powerfully and promise some really cool blessings. Yesterday was a little rough because Sunday is kind of the culmination of all our work throughout the week. We invite, teach, pray, prepare, plan, and pray some more in hopes that people will exercise their faith by reading the scriptures, praying, and coming to church, especially. But we only had one investigator at church. It's frustrating because I feel like we're becoming the best missionaries we ever have been, becoming better teachers, relying more on the Spirit, being exactly obedient, but at the same time, our investigators are dropping us or just stop progressing. But Hermana Prince is such an angel and I'm so grateful for her positivity and diligence. Our recent convert, Amanda just got a calling to be our branch's YW president (we're combined with an English ward so she's essentially the first counselor in the combined YW presidency) She's so excited! and she's going to be the most amazing young women's leader ever! Hermana Prince and I got to share how our YW leaders changed our lives and how they are such role models for us. We also taught her dad Rick again and he finally said that he would pray about Joseph Smith. So great.

We have an investigator named Zitlaly and it's completely a Cinderella type situation. She's a good girl and she wants to be baptized and come closer to God, but her mom is INSANE. I've never seen someone so filled with bitterness and spite in my life. Her mom won't let her come to activities because Zitlaly (according to her) hasn't made drastic changes since we've started meeting with her (which, first off, is a little difficult, seeing as every time we come over we can't actually teach anything because her mom starts screaming at us about how her daughter is a worthless lowlife. Secondly, the changes her mom wants are behaviors that result from her mother tearing her down incessantly.) The first time I met her it took everything I had to keep from hauling off and slapping her and poor Hermana Prince was almost there yesterday. We went over to convince Zitlaly to come to a youth fireside but she insisted that her mom would flat out refuse. We talked about it for a while and we prayed together that her mom's heart would be softened so that we could just take Zitlaly for an hour...or at the very least that her mom would take this gesture as a sign that she really does want to change and allow her to come to church next week. After the prayer, Zitlaly stood up, completely determined, and marched out to ask her mom. Unfortunately, her mom started in on her usual tirade that lasted about 20 minutes. A few of her mom's friends were there and they were all wincing at how vulgar and cruel she was being. They were defending Zitlaly and our case so that we could take her to church and allow her to change. At one point, Hermana Prince bore fervent testimony of the changing power of the atonement, but her mom started yelling again and Hermana Prince started speaking sternly (working up to yelling) at her in English because of how evil she was being. Please please please pray for Zitlaly. She needs help! We've found a few families where I seriously wonder if foster care would be a better option. I have almost no doubt that it would be in Zitlaly's case. Her mom sometimes won't even allow her to go to school because she wants Zitlaly to help earn money for rent by working 3 days and nights in an onion field. Not cool.
Please pray for her. She's clinging to the little light we can offer at the moment, but big changes are needed.

I love you more than all the crazies in Palmdale,
Hermana Beauchamp

Good News from Palmdale! September 5, 2011

How I love you all! I'm so glad about new baby cousin Rebecca Leigh Stuart's birth and Aunt Joanne's improving health. Our family is so precious to me and I love hearing about how everybody's doing. I got the family newsletter this week and it always brings me so much joy!

I must say, Dad, I'm super jealous of your concert adventures. (Mom and Dad had a date to the Alison Kraus concert at Red Rocks.) Please tell me you got the CD! That would be so dang cool.

I haven't gotten the photos quite yet, but I'll watch the mailbox diligently :)

Things keep on truckin'. Every day better and better! We're seeing more and more miracles every day and IT'S THE BEST!!! My companion is teaching me so so so so much and I love her immensely. We have been working with a less active man who has been inactive for years and years and he's been having a ton of trials, among them finding a job and quitting smoking. This last week we prayed a ton for him....and he got a job!!! which is a total miracle in Southern California.....and then we held a special fast for him to be able to quit smoking. He's such a great guy and we love him so so much. He looks really thin and frail but it feels like he's going to rip your hand off when he shakes it.

Also, I asked President Martin for permission to come to Jared and Tiffany's wedding....and he said yes! I won't be able to come to any other parties and I'll need to make sure to do an endowment session before the sealing, but yes!

There's so many great things happening in our area...We might even need to split it.....We were feeling overwhelmed with too many investigators but Heavenly Father has been helping us weed out people who aren't ready yet. Please pray that we'll be able to find more solid investigators and that the ones we have will understand the importance of being baptized!

Love you more than all the heat waves we still have left for the month of September!
Hermana Beauchamp

New Greenie - Hermana Prince August 29, 2011

Hey fam!
     I LOVE Hermana Prince! She's the absolute best thing that could have happened for this area and for me, too. I never really understood when Hermana Strong said she felt like she was trying to keep up with me, but I think I get it now. Hermana Prince is an incredibly hard worker, so thoughtful, incredibly in tune with the Spirit, and just one of the most Christlike people I've met.
These first few days have been long and tiring, trying to set new goals, contacting, teaching, etc. We've had a ton of set appointments, and my current worry is that we won't be able to work very effectively with all of our investigators. Our area is great and there are SO many people who are ready. I think it will be a matter of prioritizing our time more effectively, balancing contacting, teaching, dropping, and sleeping somewhere in there. I was feeling a little overwhelmed yesterday with how much there is to do and what is expected of us, but as I was praying about it, I thought of 2 Nephi 25:23 and wondering how to gauge what "all I can do" is, I thought of something we've been teaching our members and investigators all week: Christ doesn't wait for us to get our act together before He's willing to help us, but He is always there to help, starting with right where we are. The words "Let Him constantly magnify you" came to my mind and I've found a better perspective for today in those words. I love the Savior and I know He's helping us, particularly now.

      I decorated Hermana Prince's desk with all things green, one of which being a water gun. On Saturday we came back home, totally exhausted from the day, but I sneakily grabbed her water gun, filled up both hers and mine, then walked up to her with them behind my back and said "I have another present for you." I tossed her her gun and started squirting her. We had a great battle in and around our apartment, getting totally soaked and then had a soggy, but much more energetic nightly planning session.
There's so much to do!

Also, we're putting more of an emphasis on inviting people to be baptized and prioritizing so we can help our investigators progress toward making those special covenants. We're working crazy hard, we're totally exhausted (well, I am), but loving mission life more than ever!

Love you more than all the marriage proposals we got while contacting this week,
Hermana B.

Allison to be a Trainer, August 22, 2011

I'm having a baby!!!!
I'm finally on par with the rest of the non-missionary world...
But really. I'm training a greenie! I'm going to be her mission mom! Actually, she's a friend of Hermana Strong's. Her name is Hermana Prince, she's from Utah, she's a dance major, does triathlons, and Hermana Strong just adores her...This is sounding promising. Hermana Erickson's very sad to go, and I'm going to miss her so so much but I'm excited to work with Hermana Prince! She and all the other new missionaries are arriving Wednesday afternoon, so I'll be with an English sister, Sister Starr till then.

Dang. I'm stoked. Scared out of my mind but so excited!
 Gosh, what else happened this week? Thoughts of training, picking up my baby, figuring out how to get Hermana Erickson  going are occupying most of my brain cells currently...
Oh yeah! We had a musical fireside for the Spanish units in the Stake last night. We had a bunch of choirs made up of primaries, youth, young single adults, and the missionaries as well as individuals perform songs about the Savior and His life. We had a fairly good turnout and Sister Erickson and I sang solos at the beginning of one of the missionary choir songs. Eek! It went well though.

We had quite a few people at church who hadn't come in a while...like Ricardo.. Maybe I haven't told you much about him....He's PHENOMENAL. Seriously. if he became bishop right away, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. Back in April he was going to be baptized and he was so so excited, but he isn't actually married to his wife because there were complications with a previous divorce. It's so frustrating because one little typo on a form is keeping him from making promises with God.  Stupid red tape. He hasn't been able to come to church for quite a while because he's working a TON and when he's not working, he's taking care of his wife Leslie whose health is pretty poor at this point. We brought our branch president and the executive secretary over to give them both blessings, and we had an awesome discussion afterward about the Holy Ghost and the purposes thereof. They're SO amazing. Leslie is pretty stubborn, and insists that our beliefs don't really mesh (even though they totally do.) I think that during our discussion, she finally started realizing that our beliefs don't go against hers at all, and that the doctrine that we teach actually expand the truths that she already understands and holds dear. Yes ma'am that's the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

  Rivers and Eduardo got confirmed yesterday and it was so sweet to see these usually bouncy, distracted, "oh-look-a-chicken" type boys sit so reverently, arms folded, eyes closed, completely focused on what was being said when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Eduardo even drew a picture of Jesus with children in my planner for me. We taught his grandmother Guadalupe again this week and she's SO wonderful. She wants to be baptized as well, but she feels that she has a lot of bitterness in her heart that she needs to work through before she would feel comfortable doing so. We promised her that if she prayed and read from the scriptures every day and came to church consistently for two weeks, her heart would heal and the Savior would take away that weight she has carried for so long. i love being a missionary!

Also, we took Alexis Cueva to the singles ward and it was SO GREAT! She made a ton of friends, she's going to go to Institute on Wednesday, and she's even going to visit the temple on thursday! I love friendly members.

I've gotta run, but here are some pictures, too. One is yours truly expecting my mission baby (the blanket was a little lumpy) and the other is of my district here in Palmdale.

Love you more than all the great singles' ward members in Antelope Valley!
Hermana B

Happiness in Palmdale, August 15, 2011

Hey Fam,
I'm sorry I haven't updated on the packages I've received. I got the skirt, I've been wearing it a ton. I got the obedience lesson and I LOVE IT. I remember reading it with you a few years back but I understand a lot more about the gospel in general now so it's awesome. The CD hasn't gotten here yet, but I'm sure I'll love it :)
Thanks mama!

I'm so glad for Josh  Ogle and Adam Shapiro and Jennifer Prusse! Dang! They really are dropping like flies. Hoowee! Baha. I'm glad to hear about Cambria G. I hope she recovers from reverse culture shock soon!

Please smother my niece and nephew with love and kisses for me! They're so stinkin beautiful.

As far as struggles, just general mission ups and downs. Like I said last week, obedience is making a HUGE difference in my perspective. It's a little pathetic how many times I have to be hit over the head with the "DUH! Just do what God says and your life will be easier!" stick. I'm just grateful that Heavenly Father hasn't struck me down for my persistent stupidity. :)  I am noticing that I'm learning some major life lessons that I really need. Go figure, eh? I'm constantly learning new things about my personality, my capacity, my habits, etc. Rough stone rolling, right?

Rivers (the son of Amanda and the grandson of Carmen) as well as Eduardo (the grandson of the lady who flagged down the missionaries on the side of the road) got baptized yesterday and it was so great! Of course they're old enough to understand that baptism's important and a major blessing, but boys will be boys so they were super squirmy during the baptism. Rivers doesn't speak any Spanish but neither his nor Eduardo's grandmother speaks English, so it was a very Spanglish baptism. Rivers' uncle who is deaf also got to come and we arranged for an ASL interpreter from one of the English wards to come. I sat next to her and translated the Spanish bits to English, which she then signed. She did so great and the Spirit was really really strong. Carmen, Ric, Alexis, Amanda, and all of the rest of their family were really touched that we cared enough to arrange that. I'm so grateful!!

We had a branch picnic on Saturday, complete with water balloons and slip-n-slides, and one of our investigator families came! They haven't been able to come to church and this is the first activity we've had in a while. The parents seemed to have a good time talking with the members (we have a really cool, really funny Cuban couple who told tons of neat stories and kept the parents entertained) and the kids had a blast running around and playing with the other kids in the branch. I hope this experience gets them more intrigued and excited to come to church.

Also, we had been teaching a little girl some Bible stories (per her mother's request...the mom told us that if whatever message we had included her changing her religion, she wasn't interested) but after the second visit with the little girl, we asked the mom if we could come to specifically teach HER. She agreed and we arrived at her apartment, hoping to meet with her and her husband. She said he wouldn't be home for another hour, but he showed up not 30 seconds later and sat in on the last part of the restoration lesson, and was quite attentive during the part about Joseph Smith. Claudia (the mom) said, "Wow. I'm trying to imagine how he must have felt. That's so amazing that he had that experience!"  So we're meeting with her and her husband again this week to see how things go.

Please, please, please pray for Virginia that she'll receive an answer to her prayer (she loves the church and wants to be baptized, but after her son recovered from a bad accident, she promised the Holy Spirit that she would stay in the church her son was attending. She doesn't want to go back on that promise, but her homework this week is to pray to be released from that promise since she knows the church is true), that Nick and Cheryl will have a good experience with their scripture reading this week (they need to get married, but are afraid to because they have established bad habits in their relationship regarding bickering and teasing.... "The study of the doctrine of Christ will change behavior faster than a study of behavior will change behavior"....They are to read 5 verses together every day so they can have the Spirit in their home and maintain a better perspective and respect for each other), that Gus will come to the conclusion that baptism is something he can do to enable God to bless him, and that Ricardo's divorce will go through so he can get married then baptized. I'm not trying to keep you in the dark, I promise. Sharing each of our investigators' stories is really tough and very sensitive, and I'm nervous to share immediate successes because we also have so many disappointments. Like Sister Erickson told me, it's sometimes easier to share the stories once the end is known. But thank you so so much for praying for our investigators! Your prayers are helping me immensely and I feel your love and strength support me all the time :)
Love you more than missionaries love basketball!
Hermana B

Obedience and the Spirit, 8 August 2011

It's been an interesting and cool week and I've learned so so much already. I had had a few weeks where I felt really down and frustrated and helpless. I tried hard not to acknowledge it but how I was feeling was manifesting in missionary work, too. I'm not sure what exactly changed but Wednesday I just threw myself into obeying with exactness (specifically for keeping a more regimented missionary schedule)....maybe more to have something to occupy my mind than anything else, but Wednesday was the best day ever. Not only did we see quite a few big and little miracles, but I just felt happy. So there you have it. Obedience= happiness. Amen, the  Church is true!

 

We had had lunch with a member and were trying to decide whether we should visit a man on one side of town or a woman on the other. We decided to stop by the woman's house first and it JUST SO HAPPENED that her daughter drove up at the same time. She invited us in and we talked for quite a while, even getting to teach her about the Restoration. She felt really really good about all the things we taught and she said, "You know, it's funny how God puts people in your life at just the right time. I was supposed to meet you today." She's AWESOME!! We met with Joel again and it went pretty well. We got to know him a bit better and read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. I really hope he reads this week! I'm learning that one of my favorite things is to have the people we teach really get into reading the scriptures. They really are so cool and SUCH a blessing from Heavenly Father!

 

We hadn't seen Carmen's husband Ric at church for quite a few weeks and we really wanted to see where he's at with reading, praying, gaining a testimony and such. We went over to their house after church yesterday and he was fairly resistant to talking with us but thankfully, Carmen helped us drag him into the other room and we talked for a good 2.5 hours about his concerns, experiences, etc. He's very strong willed and we read the first part of Enos with him about how Enos "wrestled in mighty prayer" with God.He had been reading the war chapters of the book of mormon and was getting frustrated by the lack of spirituality. Pues yeah! You have to read more than just the war chapters or the isaiah chapters, ayou HAVE to pray to get heavenly father's help to understand why the prophets wrote about specific things. We talked a LOT about Heavenly Father's perspective in regards to the scriptures, family, marriage, the role of women in the church, and a ton more super deep doctrinal things. They are a really remarkable family and I feel so so blessed to know them.

 

We also got Nick back!! Nick had dropped us but we had a really great conversation last night and we're going to continue teaching him.

 

Also on Wednesday: We visited two teenage brothers with the plan of dropping them, but we ended up inviting them to be baptized instead, to which they said yes! Whoa. Divine intervention is the BEEEEEEEST!!

Oh PS I ate my first helote this week a la Nacho Libre. Dericious.

 

I got the family newsletter and it brought me SO MUCH JOY!!!! I just keep staring at the pictures, feeling our family's love for one another and basking in the residual glow of family camp. I think my comp thinks I'm crazy. Meh. Totally worth it. THANK you for the pictures. Give Sabrina a HUGE hug from me! I love her little guts!

 

We're putting on a zone talent/variety show this afternoon and I'm gargling primary songs. Pray for me!

 

I love you and pray for each of you every stinkin day!

Hermana Manzana

This Week in History July 25, 2011

Hey fam
Thanks for filling me in on life at home :) I'm so proud of you guys for being such good missionaries and helping the members of our ward, too. Sorry your trips aren't quite as entertaining as you had hoped but I trust that you'll make the very most of it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!!! I've had your birthday presents ready for a while but I still need to send it along. I promise to send it very very soon! I love you bunches and I think the world of you :)

We just got back from a way sweet hike around a place called the Devil's Punchbowl. IT's been horridly hot here and I think it was above 100 when we were out there. There were a few weeks where if it got down to 100 it felt nice and cool but it's been a bit better lately.
I got to go to a leadership conference this week and I got to see Hermana Waite, Elder Castro, Elder Torres, Elder Banuelos, and a bunch of other people from my last district and it was GLORIOUS! They gave us a lot of really great advice and help to be better leaders and I'm excited to put it into practice. I forgot to prepare myself for the "be better" kick in the pants that always accompanies conferences and trainings, though. But no big. We've been setting more and more baptismal dates with people and we have quite a few who are progressing well.
We helped Carmen and Amanda organize a couple things in their garage and they ended up giving us a ton of food and makeup and stuff. They're so generous! They are the best couponers that I've ever met so they have a good food storage and stockpile of other goodies. They told us that they feel very blessed that they are able to share with others, so I didn't feel quite so bad taking away bags and bags of treasures.
I love Sister Erickson! I'm supremely grateful that she's my companion!
hope you're all doing well and I'll send some pictures and Lauren's Bday gifts later on this week.
Love you more than all the joshua trees in the desert!
Hermana B

Undead in Palmdale July 18, 2011

Hi Fambly:

I loved the pictures of Audrey and Elijah! I have the most beautiful niece and nephew in the world! I loved Ryan's description of the head tourniquet....Gosh I love our family's brains.

This was a way cool week. As missionaries, we try really hard to have a lot of church members present at our lessons, but because of work, schedules, faulty phones and such, 5 member present lessons a week is pretty dang good. So.....10 member present lessons. I'm not entirely sure how that happened. But I'm so grateful!! Hermana Strong told me that knocking doors, even if nothing specifically comes from the knocking itself, and sometimes even if we don't get around to it, if we at least PLAN to knock, the Lord will bless us in other areas. And HE DID!! Actually, we had a really wonderful experience tracting the other day. We started talking to a woman named Rita who was doing her very best to put us off and communicate that she was Catholic and not interested. We asked if she would share with us her views about God. She scoffed and said "What for?" We talked to her about being members of God's family and how every uplifting moment in which we can share our beliefs is a blessing. Her face completely changed in that moment. She was still trying a little bit to get rid of us, but by then, she was too intrigued and even invited us in to talk for a long long time. We answered a lot of questions, attempting to follow a general lesson 1 (restoration) outline, but ended up teaching principles about the Plan of Salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even some of the commandments and genealogy. It was so cool! As we were leaving, she said "I'm glad you came. You came at the right time. I feel better."

I love being a missionary!
Speaking of genealogy, our Branch President told me yesterday that he had come across a story about a mormon pioneer from Australia with the last name of Beauchamp who served a mission in Denmark. I told him I didn't think I was related, seeing as my Australian ancestors weren't Beauchamps and were Irish criminals, but I told him I'd ask if we were connected. So this is me asking :)
.
I've been studying a lot about the Spirit of Elijah this week in personal study and I'd really like to be more involved in Family History work. Mama, could you send me that folder with Alva Keller's story?
Also, I had a really cool experience studying 3 Nephi the other day. I had been having a hard time figuring out a good way to explain the necessity of proper priesthood authority in oridnances like baptism. A lot of people ask: "If it's done sincerely, shouldn't one baptism be just as good as another?" I was reading about Christ's parable of the wise man and the foolish man and their respective houses built on sand and stone, and I thought of when one of my MTC teachers said "Really the only uniquely different thing our church has that other churches don't is the Holy Ghost" I'm still working through that one, but I thought about how it's true, one house with 4 walls and a roof IS just as good as another. They can both be claimed as property, both be decorated, be called home, etc but during times of trial, if it doesn't have a sure foundation, no amount of walls is going to matter. It's the same with our baptisms. They may be done very sincerely and blessings will ALWAYS come from showing faith in God, but if our baptism isn't "sealed" with the gift of the Holy Ghost, the blessings that come from having been baptized will be void.
I hope I explained that well enough. It was a good learning moment for me :)
PS Dad I'm SO stoked about that CD DVD set John Butler is coming out with. Please tell me you're getting one! That daddy/daughter date with you will always be my very favorite date ever! Plus the music rocked my ugly missionary shoes right off.

I get to go to a Leadership conference this week and I'm really excited! I always love conferences and trainings, plus I'll get to see Elder Torres, Elder Castro, Elder Banuelos, and Hermana Waite! I love them all so much!

We were talking to a young man the other day and the topic of Jehovah's Witnesses came up. He had quite a bit to say, and seemed mortified that JWs don't celebrate holidays. "Yeah man, they don't celebrate nothin! Not birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, not even Leap Year!"
Of all holidays. They should at LEAST celebrate Leap Year.

Also we had dinner the other night with our recent convert Amanda and her family. Her 3 year old boy Brody was telling me some kind of story, but I was mostly just zoning out and nodding. He caught my attention with the end of the story with wiggling his little fingers at me and saying "Undead! Undeeeeeeaad!"

I love my life.
I love my family!
Thank you for writing me, dear family!
I'll probably be ordering  contacts later this week, just FYI.
Love you more than all the blessings Heavenly Father is getting ready to pour out on our family!
Hermana B

The Lord's Tender Mercies July 11, 2011

Audrey is so beautiful!!! (Audrey is our new niece - Lyzi is Allison's friend from Educador Exchange who just had Oliver.) Oh my goodness!!!! What a beautiful blessing she is! and I can't wait to see more pictures of her, Ryan, Chelsea, Elijah, and Lyzi and Ollie, too! Babies everywhere is right. Dang.

I love babies. I miss them. Good thing those babies will be just the right age to play with by the time I get home :)

Lots of fun things to tell this week: First off: transfers. No change for me and Sister Erickson! I'm really really glad to have more time with her. She's a phenomenal missionary and we're learning a ton from one another (or at least...I'm learning a ton.)
Also, I totally forgot to tell you but we went to a Gospel Choir Jubilee a few weeks ago....It was AMAZING!! We were the only white people there and it was the BEST. There was so much happiness in the room and everyone was so so nice to us, even with our nametags on :)

I got a root canal this week. You know how when we have car accidents they happen in the best way possible? That's how it was with my tooth, too. The dentist filled it in and he says I probably won't need a crown on it till way later, if at all. Cool. But he did this electro-pulse test on my tooth to see if the nerve was still alive and kickin' or had given up the ghost. Before he (He's a member of the church, PS and is very familiar with missionaries) did it  he said to his assistant, I think we'll do an EPT, just to be sure" and then he turned to me and said "Early Pregnancy Test. We just want to make sure your baby's doing well." Haha, doc.

We had a lot of really wonderful experiences with our investigators this week. Amanda (a recent convert that we've been working very closely with) bore her testimony about how her life has changed since she's been baptized. She talked a lot about how she was hesitant because she thought adding church and church activities would make her busy mom life even more hectic but she knew it was the right thing. She said ever since, things have been easier. Her relationships with her family have gotten even better, she feels like a better mom, a better wife, she fits everything and more into each day than she did before and she's just happier all around. She's so great!
We also had an experience with an investigator named Manolo. We're teaching Manolo and his step-dad Gus, the mom's a member and we always have lessons with all 3 of them and Manolo usually stays pretty quiet, listening to his mom's advice and gauging Gus's reaction. The other night, however, Gus and Amy forgot about our appointment so we got to chat just with Manolo for a long time. He and I talked a lot about recognizing absolute truth, and if there was such a thing. We talked about the difference between individual opinions, even reasonable, virtuous ones, and God's truth and knowing how to recognize it. He said it's probably just something you can feel....what's true and what's not. He said he's talked to a lot of people who talk about how you "just know" because you get this feeling you can't really describe that just.....exists in your heart. I asked if he had ever felt something like that before. He said he hadn't but he added that he would like to. I challenged him to ask God about His Truth, and advised him that he could use the Book of Mormon for his item to pray about, because we're better able to recognize specific answers when our prayers are specific. I actually dont' remember all what I said because they really weren't my own words, (insipration!!!!) but he accepted. We came back a few nights later to meet with the whole family and before his mom and step-dad came downstairs, we asked how his prayer had gone. He said "Good. It was really good." He seemed unwilling to share more, but later on in the lesson, we were discussing that feeling of complete surety again. We asked Gus if he had ever felt it before, and he said yes. We turned to Manolo and asked him if he had had that feeling before and he answered "Yes" very quietly. AAAAHHHHHH!!! He felt it! How amazing is that!?!?!?! I love being a representative of the Savior and helping people to feel God's love.
On 4th of July, we went out to breakfast with Ricardo Rodriguez, and on-again, off-again investigator who has an absolutely phenomenal testimony of the church and the Book of Mormon but can't get baptized yet because his divorce from his first wife is stuck in court so he can't officially marry his current "wife" Leslie. It's completely heartbreaking that his progress is being hindered by outside sources and I just want to help him in anyway possible. Leslie also has a lot of health problems and it's beginning to take a toll on Ricardo. He didnt' say much about it aside from ' our relationship is getting better, even though her health is getting worse, and I know it's because of other people's prayers for us" but the look on his face completely tore me up because I know how he feels, at least to some degree. My heart goes out to him and I hope there's some way my experiences will help him out, too.
Anyway, he love the "Waiting on the Road to Damascus" talk by President Uchtdorf from last conference, so I printed off the "Of Things that Matter Most" talk from last October and he called later to say how much he loved it and how it was written specifically for him. I love inspiration :)

Also on 4th of july, we played slip-n-slide kickball as a zone and it was AMAZING! The first two bases were kiddie pools, then 3rd base and home were slip-n-slides. We had a ton of fun, but all of our feet were pretty torn up from the dead grass and they got pretty burned on top.Ouch. Socks are in order next time.

Also, I got invited to a leadership conference next week and I 'm way stoked to go. I love conferences and trainings because I get to learn how to be better. It's the BEEEEESST!.
I love you more than all the cute babies in our family and extended family!
Love, Hermana Manzana

Happy July 4th, 2011!

Hey mom, I saw on my blog that you put in GIANT letters that Jared is planning on proposing to his girlfriend...isn't there supposed to be an element of surprise? Maybe not. I trust you.


I had the craziest dream last night. You and dad had moved to a nearby city called Lancaster and you were planning this huge birthday party for yourself, but you were suffering from some kind of midlife crisis in which you developed an affinity for all things anti-government and you even got a tramp stamp with a Colombian anarchist group's symbol and the word "ANARCHY" really big just above it. Kind of weird. Dad was okay with it, too. I think I had had a dream a few nights before in which you found out that as a nurse, you were also licensed to be a tattoo artist (maybe having something to do with tattooing people's colons...) so this huge group of polynesians came over for your party and were lining up for you to give them pink hibiscus tattoos. Also, Celeste was there and she got "familysearch.org" tattooed across her arm. Of all things.

Anyway, it's been a good week, albeit a little slow. We visited a lot of less active members and recent converts and had a great time talking with and teaching them. One of our investigators, Nick, is the only nonmember in his family so we get to have his kids teach him gospel principles, which he seems to really like. His wife Cheryl asked for your phone number so she can call you this week. They're a really great family and they're trying so so hard to do what's right. They've all had some pretty rough experiences in life and it's been such a blessing to see how happy they are whenever they trust in the Lord's promises. They're extremely loving and generous and we love to go over and teach them!

We had zone conference this week and it was SO good. We talked a lot about habits and how to be the most effective missionaries possible.
We also talked a lot about the Spirit: "Darkness is merely the absence of light. The Spirit is light, therefore when we have the Spirit in us, it pushes out all darkness."
So we compared that to the repentance process and how sanctification works.

Sorry there's not a bunch to tell this week, but you're wonderful, I love you!

Love you more than all the degrees above 100 it's been this week in Palmdale

Love,
Hermana Manzana

Busy Times on Both Ends - Baptisms! 26 June 2011

Man alive, SO MUCH NEWS!!!

Please tell Sister Holub and Brother Wood congratulations! I must admit that it totally took me by surprise, but tell Sister Holub that I think about her every time I use a pen, sticky note, and any other little knick knack that she  gave me:)

 

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Micah and Victory! I'm so excited to meet baby Liberty. She's awful cute! Does she have a Corwin head? (Corwin babies always have huge heads.)

 

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Jennifer Prusse! I'm so happy for her! (Engaged to be married.)

 

Also, Sister Barnum wrote me and told me not to write her back (pfft. Like I could NOT.) but she filled me in on their family's happenings and I just love Celeste to little tiny bits. Also, I hear that Emma and Patrick are moving in September? 

 

I'm pretty bummed about the Pecos fires, and that a fair number of our family won't be there to play, but it'll be the best part of the year anyway...it always is :) (We always hold our family reunion in the Pecos Wilderness in Northern NM, but it's closed to prevent fires.)

 

I'm so stoked that Vanessa and Raz will be so close!

 

Mission time is going crazy fast...and I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, THIS is what I've been waiting for for almost my whole life and I'm having incredible experiences and meeting the most amazing people and becoming a better person every day (some days faster than others), but on the other hand, progress in the rest of my life is waiting. But I'm learning so so much that I have no doubt will help me be the best person I can be. Buh. Anyway....enough of that.

 

I have an appointment with the endodontist on the 6th... I think....but it IS an endodontist, I promise. Sister Martin takes VERY good care of us! It's the lower right first bicuspid. Or thereabouts. It hasn't given me any trouble since the beginning of the month, but if it still looks suspicious, I'll have it checked out, anyway.

This week:

CARMEN GOT BAPTIZED!!! It was so so great! Presidente Maldonado (our branch president) baptized her, Sister Erickson and I sang, Carmen's husband Ric was all smiles and has made some friendships in the branch, and they scored a bunch of free sunflowers that they gave to everyone who came to the baptism. We had some trouble finding a jumpsuit that was the right size, since she's a very petite person, so she ended up wearing an overlarge man's jumpsuit. She was so cute! I helped her come out of the font (kind of) and she had the biggest smile on her face. She said "I just wanted to jump in the water, but i couldn't because my pant legs were too long!" She kept saying "I feel so good! I feel wonderful! I've been waiting for this my whole life! It's so overwhelming and wonderful!"

I love her.

We're trying to plan a temple baptism trip with her and her daughter Amanda sometime within these next few weeks. That would rock my face off.(This comment is so Allison!)

Carmen's other daughter, Alexis, came to a Young Single Adult fireside with us where she met some really sweet girls and she ended up going to a dance with them that very night! Hooray!! i love the members in our branch!

 

OH MY GOSH!! ALSO!!!! ERICK IS GETTING BAPTIZED! maybe I haven't told you much about Erick. He's from my old area, came from El Salvador a few years ago, doesn't have much close family around, loves the church and the members and is basically a rascally 24 year old kid. I love him to death. He's getting baptized sunday. I definitely almost cried when Elder Banuelos called to tell me. 

 

Yesterday was a series of a million fiascos and tender mercies....it was kind of overwhelming. I won't bore you with all the details, but I accidentally locked us out of our apartment with our car keys still inside when we were trying to get to ward council yesterday. Thankfully we had our phone and THANKFULLY the branch president's wife came to pick us up, but we had to hop the fence of our apartment complex in our sunday clothes because we didnt' have keys to open the gate. Whoops. 

 

Also, I'm becoming more and more grateful every week for the sacrament. I'm realizing that I enjoy being oblivious far too much and that leads to me making really dumb mistakes that make me feel very small and crummy. BUT! I get to take the sacrament every week and promise Heavenly Father that I'll be better. It's the most amazing thing. I love being able to say to myself, Heavenly Father, and everyone at large "I was someone else last week. Now I'm a new person and you can expect better things of me." It's the most liberating feeling!

Oh my goodness gracious I love the Gospel.

And I love the Savior SO much.

I hope you know that!

Love you more than all the people on your end who are getting married and all the people on my end who are getting baptized!

Hermana Manzana

Excitement in Palmdale (is this possible?) 20 June 2011

 (A note of explanation:  Allison's oldest brother, Jared "Beans" Beauchamp is preparing to propose to his girlfriend and he is planning a wedding in the Los Angeles Temple.)

OH MY GOSH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I'm so stoked for my Beans! After we talked on Mother's Day, I casually mentioned to Sister Martin that you had asked about me being able to attend the sealing and she told me to ask President. I think I heard a rumor of someone being able  to do that....but I just sent him an Email asking him anyway. We'll see :)

Jared I LOVE YOU!! Guh. He still hasn't written me!!! There's a missionary in our zone that reminds me so much of him, it's crazy.

Speaking of other crazy things. Holy Mountains of Babies, Batman! (Our family is expecting three babies in a month here this summer.) I'm so so so excited to see pictures and such! Did Ryan and Chelsea mostly decide on  (the name) Audrey? And have Micah and Victory decided on a name yet (or rather a dictionary full of names)? That's so crazy about  Lauren's potentially damaged cranial nerves...when did she start noticing? And is she still going to the Broncos physical therapy place (or whatever it is...)? I'm so so sorry to hear about the Pecos. ( wilderness areas are being closed daily because of very high wildfire danger.) That's totally heartbreaking. I really hope we can go next year! I know it's the people and not the place that makes family camp so special, but Holy Ghost Campground has a very special place in my heart.

I'm so glad you had so much fun with Vanessa and Raz. I'm super excited to meet him and play with my Ness. Daddy, did you get my card?

Anyway, I don't know that I have all too much to tell...I spoke at a funeral on Friday....We went hiking last week...Carmen is still progressing amazingly well, her husband is too.... and so is their daughter Alexis! They're a really remarkable family and I'm so excited for all of them. Carmen's baptism is on Sunday and she's asked us to sing "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." I'm slowly overcoming my horrible fear of singing....I love growing up. Most days, anyway. Carmen will be my first investigator that has remained "mine" that I'll be able to see baptized and confirmed. I'm so so excited for her! We talked a lot this week about experiences she's had that have brought her to this point where she understands the importance of the Gospel and has the desire to apply it. She has had/ has INCREDIBLE spiritual experiences and she's just the sweetest, strongest woman. I'm so so grateful for so many great examples in my life! We go over, planning on teaching her certain principles, but she ends up teaching us so so so much more!
Mom, I think you talked to Sister Martin this week...I didn't go to the dentist but I'll probably go and get my...whatever....abcess? checked out.. The other dentist said it's strange that my dentist at home didn't catch it on my x-rays before I came. 


Love! 

Hermana Manzana

June 14, 2011 Palmdale, CA

I can't remember if I wrote about this family last time, but a young mom got baptized right before I got here and we started teaching her parents. Her dad was super skittish but we had another 3 hour lesson and her mom said, "Well.... I think I'd like to be baptized." I had no idea what to say, I just wanted to jump and scream for joy! Her husband was totally dumbfounded and said "This is news to me!" We got to teach them Lesson 2 with some of the English elders who have been feeling low lately because of their lack of work and miracles, so I hope we fueled them up for a bit :). Ric and Carmen LOVED it. Ric was still stubborn about it, but he's so smart and Carmen kept saying these amazing things about premortal life and the celestial kingdom. Holy Cow. She told us a little bit about how she received her answer about the truthfulness of the gospel, and man....the spirit was so strong. It was AMAZING!!

We had gone tracting with the English Elders one afternoon to help them out, but it was pretty discouraging, poor guys. HOWEVER. We knocked on this one door that had a huge tortoise sauntering around the yard and some old lady came out and yelled "Porkchop! get in here!"  I guess when the tortoise was smaller, she thought it was a porkchop that had fallen on the floor. My pets will NEVER have normal names. I'm determined. 


We also keep running into these two men who are a father-in law and son-in-law duo and they both really love everything we teach. I'm super stoked!

Mama, I'm so so sorry about your Uncle. I remember you always speaking so fondly of him and I 'm so grateful for the understanding that we have about life and death. It offers so much comfort and understanding. I'm so proud of our family members. They're just so dang impressive, every one.Tell Ness and Raz I say hi and that I love you. I was thinking the other day that Raz (a friend from Israel) must be having quite the American experience. Tornadoes, wildfires, garage sales, Mormons everywhere you look, Boulder for goodness sake, and I'm super jealous that you all get to go to camp.

There may be quite a few gangs around here, but honestly compared to NoHo, it feels quite safe. Everyone knows us and most people love us. OH! OH!! We were wandering around an apartment complex the other day and we started giving a group of 10-15 little kids passalong cards and we taught them about prayer. It was the BEST!! and we taught an awesome smorgasbord lesson to some 15 year old punks the other day. They were very polite and had great insights.
I'm sorry but I've got to run!
Love you more than all the prayers of thanksgiving we've gotten to say this week!

Hermana Manzana
P.S. My friend elder Mortenson says hi to you all