4th of July

FAMILY,

This week has been another great week! This week we taught a new investigator Norma. We taught her The Plan of Salvation and it was really cool because she has been a really religious person her whole life. She kept telling us about experiences in her life and things that she has learned about prayer or about other principles and would say "tell me if this is crazy..." and then tell us a story. Every time we would be shocked and say no that isn't crazy at all that is exactly what we believe! It was really interesting and impressive to see that even though she did not grow up in the church, she still believes so much of what we as members of the church know to be true.

We taught another investigator Margeaux this week. Let me just tell you that I love Margeaux. We went over to her house and watched the talk from general conference "Lord, I Believe." She liked that talk so much that she wanted to watch more so we watched two more shorter conference talks with her. My favorite thing about her is that she is so excited when we come over and she just soaks up whatever we teach or show her. She also is so nice, sweet, friendly, ans she even invites members herself to come with her to our lessons! She also asked us if she could have some type of calling even though she is not a member of this church yet because she wants to do something to give back to the church. She is really the greatest and she is like a second mom to Sister Randall, Sister DiLiberto, and me. She always has snacks for us when we come over and this time she sent us home with a ton of fruit.

We also taught one of our investigators Shannon again and she is planning on getting baptized this Saturday! We had Family Home Evening with her and her family to show them how FHE works. It was so great to be with her family and see how much her and her family have grown in the church and really come together as a family. You can really tell that her and her husband want to do what's best. I am just so happy for her and her decision to be baptized. She has been wanting to be baptized for a while now and so we are so excited that this day is finally coming!

At our ward 4th of July breakfast

4th of July was great! We had a ward pancake breakfast and a lot of our investigators came! It was so much fun and little kids even decorated their bikes and scooters and did a little parade. We were a little bummed because we could hear fireworks in our apartment but we looked out of our windows and couldn't see anything. It was okay though, we got to go around and try to talk to tons of people that day and it was great! For dinner, the members had some people over and we had a 4th of July BBQ. It was just a great, patriotic day. By the way, we made Sister DiLiberto go all out for the 4th of July. We sang only patriotic songs for a week for the beginning of our companion study. Haha she loved it though!

A member's animal bushes all decorated for the 4th

Yesterday was Sister Randall's Birthday! It was so funny because at church I told the family whose house we were going over for dinner that it was her birthday. We basically told every one we saw at church that it was her birthday. Anyways, at dinner the little kids were so excited! They made her this little Happy birthday banner and wrapped some of their toys and gave them to her. It was seriously the cutest thing ever!  It was sad that yesterday was fast sunday because we wanted to make her a birthday breakfast. We made her breakfast this morning and went shopping for a little bit at TJ MAXX today for her birthday. We have been trying to make it a great birthday for her

We get to go to the LA temple next week!! We get to go once a year in the month of our birthday. The bonus is that we get to go for Sister Randall's birthday and then I get to go again next month for my birthday!

I love these Sisters!

I still love my companions. They are amazing. Sister DiLiberto's knowledge of the gospel and the Preach My Gospel lessons is impressive. The great thing about her is that she knows so much but doesn't take over the whole conversation. She lets Sister Randall and me have the opportunity to teach and learn. Sister Randall is so nice and reminds us all the time to be exactly obedient in everything we do. When she speaks you can tell the great love she has for everyone we teach and she always has wonderful things to say. They both are great examples to me. Seriously though, can you tell how spoiled I am here?

Twin Sisters

Mom, you would be shocked.. I now am a salad eater. I never knew that would happen to me but every night when we have dinner at members' houses I eat the salad. I know, I am a totally different person! Also, somehow I now love potato salad. What has happened to me?

SO much love,

Sister Mason

I Am Blessed!

[We received a letter from Melia that was written the same day as her last e-mail. She had more to say than she had time to in her e-mail.]

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The Field Is White

Dear Mom and Dad,

Guess what?  I SAW SISTER SNOW AT PEP BOYS LAST PDAY!! We had to get our oil changed and she was there getting something done on their car too! I basically died I was so happy!

Me with my MTC companion Sister Snow at Pep Boys

[Here is what Sis. Snow said in her own blog about this event:
"On Preparation Day last week I ran into Sister Mason and her companion at Pep Boys.  (We had to get our oil changed.) Our jaws dropped and we both just kind of stood there! Then we gave each other a big hug! It was a tender mercy to see her that day! I found it crazy that for only knowing her 12 days I missed her so much."]
 

I still love being in a trio. I can't tell you how wonderful it has been to be able to learn from both Sister DiLiberto and Sister Randall.  Sister DiLiberto is a Salt Lake visitor's center missionary and is leaving our mission in 3 weeks and then will be back at the visitor's center for just one more transfer. She is a seasoned veteran! She did not know English before her mission and I am so impressed at how well she speaks. Honestly many times I forget that she just barely learned English.  She has been in this area for her whole outbound mission here [6 months] and so she knows her way around here and basically knows everyone in the church here! Sister Randall has been out for about 3 and a half months now and she is absolutely wonderful! She is our driver of our mission car and does such a great job. Both of them have been just so great to be around. Things have been so great with them because we just laugh so hard at the many, many awkward conversations we have on a daily basis. It is crazy because it seems like with 3 of us, we push each other more and work harder. Lately, I have been observing them and trying to take note on what they do best.

My companions. Seriously, I am so blessed to have them!

This week has been great because I have been learning how to fully understand the investigators needs and adapt the lesson to them. It has been hard to jump right in teaching people because I do not know their background or things they need. I have been learning how to better get to know people in such a short amount of time and ask Heavenly Father for help with what they might need. It has been hard for me to learn but I have been working on it! 

So we live in apartments, we are fed dinner every night by members, and we drive a car around everywhere. The members here have been absolutely amazing! They are so willing to work with us and are always looking out for us. This week a family was moving and someone called us and asked us if we wanted the food from their fridge and freezer. That was so nice! We got TONS of food so we will be set for a while. We decided for our district meeting the next day that we would make food for lunch. We had a nice buffet of bbq pork sandwiches, sweet potato fries, pot stickers, watermelon, and cookies. Ha,ha it wasn't as nice as it sounds but it was so much fun and we had a feast! I will send a picture of my district soon.

This week we saw tons of people! We met with some of our investigators, less active members, and random people. It was a great week. Saturday was such a miracle though! We really wanted to reach our goals for the week and knew that some miracles had to happen for us to accomplish them. We were able to find people home who we had tried to see a few times earlier in the week. We also visited a referral and were surprised to see how nice they were and that they wanted to meet with us next week. We also went to see someone we had talked to and gave a Book of Mormon to a week or so ago. Her son actually answered the door and was curious to know what we taught and said he is open to different religions and might stop by our ward next week! We were so surprised to meet him and we are excited that we can go back and talk to both of them now. It was just amazing to see that people almost everywhere we went, people decided to let us in or let us teach them even if it was just for a few minutes. So many people seemed to want to talk to us and people were popping up from nowhere! Even though it was a very hot day (it was over 100 degrees), we weren't miserable at all. We just felt so blessed and were so excited to meet these people who were prepared for us to come.

Chris, Pam, and Alyssa dressed in white!

Yesterday was baptism day! IT WAS AMAZING! It was such a wonderful service and the spirit was so strong.  I am just so proud of Chris and Pam and the change they have made in their lives! They have come so far already and have stayed strong even when this week has been a struggle for them. It was wonderful to hear their testimonies at their baptism to see how much they have grown and their absolute love for their Savior Jesus Christ.  Their daughter Alyssa is so sweet and she honestly knows so much more than I knew when I got baptized!

After the baptism with President and Sister Castro

We are blessed every single day!

Love you so much!!!

-Sister Mason

It's So Beautiful Here!

Family,

I MADE IT TO CALIFORNIA! I am still in the Ventura Mission! 

We're here! We flew into the Santa Barbara Airport.

Only one of my MTC people went to Bakersfield.  Brother Howe went to Bakersfield.  I almost cried when I found out.  He was basically my dad in the MTC, even though he is younger than me. He gave me a blessing before we left the MTC and he basically took care of us sisters.  He is the nicest person, and I am devastated that I wouldn’t be able to run into him anymore.

The new missionaries. What a group!

Seriously this week has been so great. On Monday we were picked up by President and Sister Castro. We had interviews and training, then all split up to spend the night at members' houses. The next day was transfers where I saw Angela Linford!!!! [Melia's friend from Mesa] I love her and it was so great to see her the second day I was here! 
 

I saw Hermana Linford on transfer day this Tuesday!
I was so excited, I couldn’t stop smiling!

Basically I love my area and my companions! Yes, companions plural. I have not one but two trainers! Sister Randall is 19 and from Centerville, UT and Sister DiLiberto is 23 and from Milan, Italy. I love them so much and I have already learned tons from them so far.

Sister Randall, Sister DiLiberto and Me

I am in the Agoura Hills area and let me tell you it is GORGEOUS. The location itself is gorgeous and all the houses are just so cute and nice. Mom, every house has the prettiest flowers in their front yard and every day I wish you were here to see all the wonderful flowers we see because you would just love it.

The beautiful mountains of Agoura Hills

So the mission field isn't as bad as I dreaded! I thought it would be completely exhausting and I would feel so out of my comfort zone. That hasn't been the case. Don't get me wrong, it still is exhausting and tons of work but I have been able to handle it! I haven't been as shy as I thought I would be and it is awesome because I have been so blessed to be surprisingly outgoing and bold. I love it because I don't feel too much like a greenie and I am picking it up so fast. I honestly love it so much here and I wouldn't rather be any other place! It is exhausting to knock on so many doors and no one answers or to talk to people who just want to criticize and argue, but it is still so worth it. I know the work I am doing is so important and it can bring so much happiness to the people I am teaching, so that's what gets me through! Also, I think my hardcore side is coming out. Hahaha, I am always just so excited and I just push my trainers to meet with as many people we can each day and to basically run from house to house. Haha, ya I bet you can imagine what I am like. 

On my first day, we taught a FHE lesson to investigators Devon and Forrest. I am so happy because Devon and Forrest have had trouble quitting smoking. This week though they took quitting smoking seriously and they have been clean for about 5 days! They seem like they are doing great.

We went over the baptismal interview questions with our other investigators the Pernicones to get them ready for their baptism and that went really well. It was a great opportunity to see how strong their testimonies are and how well they understood the material we taught them.

 I am just sad because our ward mission leader called us yesterday after talking with Chris. Chris told our ward mission leader that he felt that he wasn't ready to be baptized. We are praying for him because we don't know if he is going to be baptized this Saturday, but hopefully Heavenly Father will give him the strength to press on and he will still feel the desire to be baptized. He has made such a huge change in his life and has come so far so hopefully he will be able to come through and make this important covenant with God. We also taught their daughter Alyssa about The Plan of Salvation. She is just so sweet and is really excited to get baptized on Saturday! This family is getting baptized this Saturday and we are so excited! 3 people are getting baptized on my second week here! 

The awesome thing is that Sis Randall and Sis DiLiberto have been working hard in this area over the last transfer so we have 9 investigators with baptismal dates. Crazy! We met with some other investigators and less actives this week. Some of the people we met with were frustrating because they were very contentious and were asking very controversial questions. It was hard to know what to say to them and to keep the spirit with us during a discussion like that.

I also went tracting many times this week! It wasn't as bad or scary as I thought and I kind of liked it. I know, I'm weird. I really loved the less active people I met this week. We met with this woman Barbara and she was the best! It was a miracle that we finally were able to find her house because she lives up on a hill with confusing roads. Anyways, when we got there she was so happy to see us and even though she had no idea we were coming, it seemed like she was just waiting for us. She was so great to talk to and she also ended up calling a potential investigator we have met before and invited her to church! That person showed up and we plan to meet with her and Barbara for a lesson next week! It was so cool to meet her and it was awesome that Barbara got Frieda and her husband to come to church. Also it was great because we didn't have any contact information for Frieda and now we got her number from Barbara and we will get to meet with both of them next week. What a miracle!

 We also we able to have 11 investigators at church with us this Sunday so that was so exciting! This week has been so great and I made it through my first week in the mission field!

We saw the broadcast yesterday! I hope you guys are all ready to become awesome member missionaries and refer a million people to the missionaries in your ward. Seriously, the missionaries need your help in this great work! Like they said last night, your job is to fill the missionaries' planners with people to teach! 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!

-Sister Mason

Sister Mason's Letter from the Mission Home

Me with President and Sister Castro
They are both from Ecuador.
He was a professor at BYU-Idaho
before being called as a mission president.

Letter written the 2nd day in California, before being assigned her first companion.
(Click to enlarge)

Last Glimpses of the MTC

Here are some of the last pictures and memories from the MTC

Sister Mason & Roommates

Sister Mason & Roommates at Provo Temple

My district at the map

Our zone girls' hardcore missionary team "go out and convert the world".
We have our game faces on!

Sisters in Melia's Zone - All going to the same mission

My district and our teachers Bro. Starkie and Sis. DeArton

Missionary Model

Dear Mom & Dad,

Did you know that you have a missionary model for a daughter?!?!  Last week was the first time that all the missionaries at the MTC had their devotional at the Marriott Center at BYU.  Well, there were tons of camera people as we were walking over, taking pictures of all the missionaries.  The sisters in my district and I tried posing for the cameras hoping that we would end up in the newspaper or in the Deseret News or something.  Anyways, a few days ago our Branch President came in and gave us all this picture he found in the Provo Herald Newspaper.  Hahaha, we made the news!

So much love!

Sister Mason

Sisters Snow, Mason & Anderson enjoy their walk to the MTC Devotional at the Marriott Center