Trios, Transfers, and Tacos.

Our new TRIO!

A member of the English ward visits with us.

 Hello to anyone who still reads my crazy emails!

Trio: This was an exciting week, and the start of an exciting new
transfer! Firstly, we got a phone call last Monday night telling us
that we would be in a trio for the next week, and we need to pick up
the third Hermana the next day! Her companion was finishing her
mission a week early, and so she needed a home for the next week until
transfers. We went to the mission home Tuesday and picked up HERMANA
WALTON! We got to eat dinner with President and sister Griffin too,
that was fun! The past week with Hmna Walton has been so fun! She is
super sassy and a hard worker, and one of the funniest people I have
ever met. She is from Idaho falls and has been serving for 8 months.
My grandma Janalee Garn actually helped her with some family history
before she left on her mission! What a small world. 

Transfers: Saturday night we got our transfer call: Hmna Buehner is
moving to Arlington Hights as an Hermana training leader! And I am
staying here, with Hmna Walton!! I'm super excited, but I will
definitely miss Hmna Buehner! I will be doing something called 'taking
over the area' which means even though I am the Jr. Companion, I kind
of take the lead because I know the area, and Hmna Walton has never
served here before. That's a bit scary but exciting! 

Tacos: we were finishing up our weekly service at the food pantry,
when we met the farmer that takes the food that goes bad and uses it
for his farm. He was very nice and coincidentally Mexican. He offered
to buy us tacos at the restaurant next door, and since he was 60 yrs
old and shorter than me, we felt safe saying yes. :) the tacos were
super good and we talked to him about life, family, religion, and his
farm. We told him thank you with a Libro de Mormón and a Restoration
pamphlet. Sadly, he lives out of our area so we can't teach him. But
we will pray someone will! 

We went with the Monrreals from our ward to visit and teach some
people. We went to the park by the Hesed House, the homeless shelter
in our city. It's somewhere we wouldn't go without a man, but it was a
really cool experience. We talked to a group of people sitting at a
picnic table. Hmna Walton ended up sharing a lot of her story, and
explaining how God helped her throughout her life. This seemed to
really click with the people there, who also seemed to not have had
the best lives or experiences. Everyone needs Jesus! It was really
cool and we hope we made their day better.
We taught a lesson at a members home to the parents of one of our
investigators! That was interesting. We taught about the promptings of
the spirit. They were very involved and bore their own testimonies a
lot! So cool.

This is a cool quote I found:
President David O. McKay promised every man who uses the priesthood in
righteousness that he “will find his life sweetened, his discernment
sharpened to decide quickly between right and wrong, his feelings
tender and compassionate, yet his spirit strong and valiant in defense
of right; he will find the priesthood a never failing source of
happiness--a well of living water springing up unto eternal life”
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay [2003], 116).
I can testify that this is true! I have seen this manifest in my life
many many times, including on my mission. When men use, respect, and
live worthy of the priesthood, everyone's quality of life increases
and God's work moves forward that much faster. 

 I also found this really awesome song in the hymn book. You should all
find it and sing it! 

 297: From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise: 

 1. From homes of Saints glad songs arise,
For there the Lord is King.
There faith is learned and prayers ascend,
The Spirit’s peace to bring.
For homes where scriptures old are loved,
And living prophets, too,
All thanks we give; the Father praise
For guidance sure and true. 

2. God’s truths protect the hearth from wrong
When error’s ways allure,
Lift minds from self to nobleness
Keep thought and action pure.
Then sing, O Saints, in hymns of praise;
Sing thanks to God on high,
Whose counsels kept in homes on earth
Bring heaven’s glory nigh.

Hermana Hokanson

This is our gang (the SAENZ)