Week Five of Transfer Five

Dearest Loved Ones,

I love you all so much! The things that you are all experiencing is amazing! I wish sometimes I could be with you, and then I think of all the blessings that we are all receiving because I am on a mission. I know that the Lord is protecting you all from danger, because I ask for that every night in my prayers. The work here is truly amazing! I love it so much!

This past week has been a good one. It is gonna be some repeats, because I am not sure what I have already told you....

This past week, was kinda, well, jumbled. We went to the Temple on Wednesday, which meant that that was our P-day. On Monday, we went around and saw the "lost" members. There are a lot in this ward, which is very sad, but also kinda nice. We did that a lot this past week, along with meetings.

So, Wednesday was amazing! The temple is my favorite part of well, everything!! I love feeling the Spirit that is there and getting my questions answered. It is amazing! P-day was really good. We got to talk and email everyone of you, which was amazing! I love talking with you all so much!! We also went shopping, and then that night, we went and taught Ernest!! He is the investigator that we picked up the first week I was in Crafton Hills. He is going so well!! Ernest is progressing a lot, and is has been so good to watch him grow!! I think the next time we go and see him, we are going to commit him to be baptized. His girlfriend is a member and she texted us that night, telling us thank you, and that she cant wait for his baptism!! It was so fun!!

On Thursday we had weekly planning, which meant we spent a lot of time, planning our week for this week. We have decided that we need to find more investigators, so we are going to be visiting all of the former's that we have. It should go well. We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for us.

On Friday we had zone conference. Which meant we got together with all the missionaries in the Redlands Stake, and with President and Sister Van Cott. There are so many things that we got trained on. One thing they focused on is getting the wards to work harder, and the part we have in them. It was really neat to be able to sit there and think of all the things that there are to do here and how the work is going to start picking up. It was so neat!! I can see the progress that this ward is going to make!! It is amazing!! Our Stake President came and talked to us too, which was really nice. We got to here what he thinks we as the missionaries need to be doing. It was really cool. Afterwards, we went to say thank you to President, and he looked at us and was like, how is the work going, do you have enough to go? It makes me smile that he is so concerned. He told us to tell him if we have too much down time. I am sitting here thinking, well, we have 5 hours in the morning of studies and lunch, and then we work the rest of the day, have dinner and then on certain days, there is an activity for us to do. It is a lot of work, and I assured him that when the area starts to get slower I will let him know. It may come to a point that that happens, but I am not sure right now. We then talked to President Strong (stake president) and he told us that he has told all of the members in the ward that they need to double the number at sacrament meeting, which means they all need to bring a friend. Then yesterday, he issued the challenge to all the Elders Quorum, that they need to bring someone to church next week, and that we as the missionaries are going to be asking if they have their friend all ready to go. This ward is truly amazing!! I love it so much!!

On Saturday, the YSA ward had an activity called the dating game. It was so much fun!! They had based if off of the older TV show. It was so fun to watch the YSA participate in it. They also had a couple of chocolate fountains, and then a photo booth. It was so great!! We had a lot of fun being there and being with the ward members! And, Elaina one of our investigators, showed up with her boyfriend!! It was so much fun!! This was has some really great activities.

Well, Sunday was Sunday only, I got a surprise. I got to teach Relief Society, and say the prayer in sacrament meeting. It was a little stressful, but so good! One of our investigators was there, but she wasn't able to make it to Relief Society, which was sad. Hopefully she will be there this next week! It was so nice to be at church. I never realized how much I really crave that Spirit at church. It is amazing to be able to walk into the chapel, and just feel the stress go away. I love it so much!!

Sunday night we had ward prayer, as usual. It was really funny though. This ward truly is a bunch of Young adults, including the Bishopric. It was so great to be there in the Bishop's house, and really feel apart of a family, and not just a ward. The Bishop is a huge joker, I love it!! At one point in the night, Sister Letoa kept mimicking the Bishop's son. His laughter sounded kinda like a little boys, and when Sister Letoa mimicked him everyone would start laughing!! It was so much fun!! The Bishop's sons, who by the ward are all married, were in the kitchen, and I was helping Sister Brice (our Bishop's wife) with things she needed help with. Well, we were working on cutting this pineapple, and the sons started making fun of me with the knife I was using, then I got a better knife, and was about to cut with it and the sons started freaking out. It was so funny to watch! They then pushed me aside and were like, we can cut this. We were all so worried that one of the sons was going to cut off his finger. It was so funny to watch! I felt like I was at home all over again.

I love this ward and this work so much!! It wouldn't be the same.

Have an amazing week!! I love you all so much!! You are all in my daily prayers!!

Ou te alofa ia oe!

--
Sister Randall

Week Four Transfer Five

Dear Family,

The past week and a half have been great!! Sister Letoa and I are getting along so good!! She is amazing! Her English is just amazing!!

We have also stopped by a lot of people. Before I came into the YSA ward, they had just received tons of names of people from the different stakes that are YSA, and the other wards have no idea who they are, so we get to stop by them. It is really nice, because it means that we are getting a lot of work done! It also means a lot of miles, but that is okay. This is what are are supposed to be doing.

We have also been trying to get to know the ward. It is really nice, because I get to go to institute 3 times a week, and we get to go to any of the activities that the ward is having. It is a lot of fun :) We also get to go to FHE, which will be way nice. This ward is awesome :) It is so fun to be in a YSA ward.

Today we got to go to the temple. It was so nice! I love going to the temple. Everyone is the same there, I love it! The Spirit is also so strong! The temple really is a place of learning and growing. It is a place where we get to have the Spirit really with us, and we get to be rejuvenated. I love it! While we were there, I had prayed and asked Heavenly Father what I could do here to help this ward. I have the distinct thought that all I have to do to get the work going is to love the members. They just need love, and that is one thing that I can do for them. I love getting answers to prayers :)

We have also been teaching a couple of our investigators. We have a woman who is turning 20 in March. She has been taught all the lessons and wants to be baptized, but is a little worried that baptism is going to harm her struggling relationship that she has with her mom. It is really hard. I know that the Lord is going to bless her for being baptized, but I can also understand why she is worried. She is doing well though. She is thinking of going into the coast guard, and is really debating on going active or reserve. It is a hard decision. All we have really been able to tell her, is to pray about it. Heavenly Father will answer her prayers. She knows that and I am hoping she will now do it.

We are also teaching a young man. He is a new investigator that we picked up last Wednesday. His girlfriend is in the Spanish Branch and speaks English and Spanish.  He on the other hand only speaks English. The Spanish Sisters were teaching him, and then passed him off to us. The first lesson we had was amazing!! We taught the Message of the Restoration, and it was perfect!! Sister Letoa did most of the teaching, and I was there to just help her out. It was so great!! He ended up coming to church, which was fantastic!! I loved it!!

We also got a new Investigator today. He is about 30, and is trying to find the right church for him. He has a lot of questions about everything. It is really crazy. He is also telling us that he is having a hard time with why God would put people on the Earth with certain commandments and then give us things to tempt us and make it hard. I looked at this man and told him that it wasn't God who gave us the bad things. We were sent here with the gift of agency. That gift to choose right from wrong. Satan is the one who tempts us to do the wrong. It is not God. We talked a lot about repentance and what it truly means to repent. It was really neat. We also talked about how we need to pray to find out the answers to our questions. It was really cool.

This week has been a lot of learning for me. So a funny thing happened. When we were in the temple, I had mouthed I love you to Sister Anderson. Well, Elder Maynes was sitting behind her, and thought that I had mouthed that to him. His face was so funny!! It was this shocked scared look!! It is great!! Also another funny thing, Sister Letoa is still working on her English, so when we have been talking about the ward, she would mention some people that would make her funny. I would just smile at her, and then tell her that they make her laugh. She truly is great.

I love you all so much! You are all in my prayers! I know that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives! It is amazing to be able to say that to people, and to know that is is so true!

Have a wonderful week!! Love you bunches!!  

Week Three of Transfer Five in Fourth Area

Dear Family, Friends, and Loved Ones, 

Yup, you saw it right. I am in my 4th area. Let me tell you a little about this crazy week.

So, last Monday we did the normal things, email, shopping, the normal stuff. We actually did a lot that day, I have to say, very impressed with us :) 

On Tuesday, we went up to what is called Lytle Creek. It is up in the mountains, and a beautiful area! It is like driving through the canyons in Utah. Absolutely gorgeous! We went up there to find a few members. We knocked on a lot of doors, but didn't have a lot of success getting into them. That was fine though. We had an awesome time going up there :) That night we had splits, which was neat. We went with members of the ward, and were able to go and see lots of different people. It was really fun :) I was able to go with a sister and see one of our investigators Pedro. He is 15, and has been investigating the church for a few years. He is all ready for baptism, but his parents wont let him get baptized until he turn 18. Which is fine, we go and visit him so that he has the Spirit. :) It is really nice. 

On Wednesday, we went to go and see the less active YSA in our ward. We were given this really long list of people, and told to go and see them. So we did. While we were there, I got a phone call from President Van Cott, he asked me if I like my area, to which I said yes. He then told me about an area in the desert that could use my help. He also said that if I do get transferred, I would be first going to the YSA ward to work with a new sister there, and to just kinda wait. It all didn't really make sense to me. I was kinda in shock after I heard the words, I am thinking of transferring you... That I was not expecting. President said that he knew that I would do whatever he asked. It is true. I have really come to appreciate President Van Cott. He is an amazing president, and I trust him a lot. It goes both ways too. President has told me that he trusts me. I guess that I have earned that, I now just hope that I never lose that. I don't know what the mission would be like if I ever lost that, and I don't want to find out. 

Well, the rest of the week was kinda a blur. I spent the week, worrying about transfers and what was going to happen. It was really hard. The stress of that made it so that I couldn't sleep. It was okay though. Looking back at my planner, we just made a lot of visits, knocked on a lot of doors. It was great. I learned that missionary work is a lot of knocking on doors. It doesn't seem like that would take work, but it does. It also takes a little bit of heartbreak. We have knocked on so many doors, and haven't gotten into any of them. It was crazy!

Well, on Saturday we got a phone call. I ended up getting transferred. I am now serving in the Crafton Hills YSA ward in Redlands. This ward is huge! I am here, because we are supposed to be waiting for an apartment in 29 Palms for us to live in. I am hoping that we will be here for longer than just until they find us an apartment. 

This ward is huge!! We cover all of the Redlands stake, which is all of Redlands, all of Highland, and I think Loma Linda. We also cover the Yucaipa Stake. Which is all of Yucaipa, and I think Banning and Beaumont. It is HUGE! That means that there are lots of less actives. We also cover a couple of college campuses. The ward has members in it that are in the 5 different colleges in South Cali. It is way neat. Just being here is amazing,

It is really funny. I once said that the one place I didn't want to serve was in the Singles ward. Well, here I am. It is actually really fun. Yesterday was church, and it was kinda a shock for a lot of the members. I spent a lot of saying hello to people, and then explaining why I was here, which I honestly haven't really figured out yet, well, now I have, but then I hadn't. Every Sunday night, the ward does a ward prayer. They meet at Bishop's house, and just kinda get to know people and have a good time. They also share a spiritual though, scripture thought, and then someone prayers for the ward for the week. It is way neat. Well, we went to that last night. It was really cool. It is a more relaxed environment that the members get to go to, and get to know each other. While we were there, I got go get to know the ward members. There was also a few non-members there. Hopefully we get to start teaching them soon. Because they are in our ward boundaries, and Young Single Adults, we should get to teach them. Hopefully we get to start doing that this week! It was way neat. Something that I really liked. The Spirit was strong, and we were able to get to know the members. That ward prayer was nothing like the others that I have been too. I really really liked it :)

This ward is amazing! There is tons of work that needs to be done, and we are going to do it! I am really hoping and praying that we get to stay here, and help the ward grow. It is really needed. They need us, and to be honest, I feel like I need them. I need to have this growth. I am finally feeling like I can do this, and it is now my time to prove it. I can do this, I believe in myself. 

Well, with the transfer I got a new companion. Her name is Sister Letoa. She is from Samoa, and is learning English. She got into the MTC only knowing Samoa, and spent 9 weeks there learning some of the basics of English. She is great! We are getting along really well. I love her so much! I am learning a lot about speaking simply, and explaining my words and terms with her. She is wonderful!! 

Oh, something fun. I decided that I wanted to get my bangs cut, so I did!! Yay! I did it myself, and then Sister Stewart had to help me fix them. I then came to my new ward and the bishop's wife had to really fix them. I have decided that I am not going to try and cut them myself again.. They do look really cute :) 

Well, I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week!! You are in my prayers!!

Transfer Five, Week Two

Dearest Familia,

I have to say, it is really weird to be in my 5th transfer. It is crazy that I am working on my 7th month. The time is really going by fast. I can still remember the day that I had to say goodbye to you. I can still see mom's face as I walked away at the MTC. At that point I was so ready to come home already.  The time on the mission has been hard. I am going to be honest, missions are very hard. I know that y'all already know that, but it is something that I have really come to realize. I knew that this wouldn't be a time of partying, but I never realized how much stress the missionaries have. There is so much information being given to us, it is amazing that we are all still getting through it. We are having to really pick up from the beginning. It is just very different. After being on my mission I am realizing that when I get home there are things that I am going to do while I am a member missionary. One of them, is to always have something for the missionaries. Whether it be food, drinks, snacks, investigators. I am going to try my best to help the missionaries wherever I am. It is amazing to have the support from the members in a ward. It is also hard, when things aren't quite what they are supposed to be with the members. Everything is so different. Every area I have been in has been an experience. It is amazing, do not get me wrong, but it is definitely an experience. I am learning so much about everything while I have been out here. The spiritual growth that I have experienced is amazing. I love having the Spirit with me always. It never goes, unless we are at a place we aren't supposed to be, and then we leave that place and get the Spirit back.

Okay, so maybe that was a lot of ranting. I just have learned so much. It is crazy!

Can I just say, that my companions are amazing!!! I love them so much! This area and the work that we are doing right now would not be the same without them. It is going to be really hard if we get transferred. This transfer is definitely one of my favorites. I thought that it was going to be really difficult to be in a trio, but I love it!! It is all about the missionaries that you are with. Sister Stewart and I get along so well! We are the same age, well I am actually 10 days older than she is, just saying. She is great! If we were back home, we never would have gotten along, or been friends. It is amazing what the mission does for you. You meet people that you never would have met, and get along with people who you normally would get along with. It is amazing! I love the people that I have met! Sister Litster is also so great! I am learning a lot about her, and everything that she has gone through. The experiences that she has had, and the things that she has gone through, it is amazing. I am learning so much about having a good attitude, and really experiencing the things that I am going through. The trials I have had to go through, are nothing compared to what she has had to go through. Both of my companions have gone through great loss. They have been able to move forward. It is amazing to me the strength that they have. I love them both!

We have been overwhelmed with information here. We have a ton of people that we need to visit. We have such a huge area too. We technically cover 3 cities. Little Creek which is in the mountains, and about a 45 minute drive from our apartment, San Bernidino, which is a 20 min drive from our apartment, and then some of Rialto, but that is also a 10 min drive from our apartment. It is just so crazy!! We are really working on planning our day so that we don't go from one side of our area to the other side in one day. Our area is HUGE! It is great though :) I love it :)

This work is really progressing. Like I said, the mission is hard, but everything is great! I am learning a lot, and having a great time.

I love you all so much! I hope that you have a great week!!! Know that you are all in my prayers!! Have an awesome time!!

Love you!

I love these sisters!! They are amazing!! This transfer would not be as good as it is without them!!

Transfer Five, Week One

Dear Family,

I love this area!! This transfer is going to be amazing!!!

I am serving in the Rialto 1st ward. It is amazing how missionary minded this ward is! I love it so much! The ward has 7 missionaries in it. 2 sets of elders, and my sister trio! It is so neat! I have never served in an area that has so many missionaries in one ward! They have the ward split into 3 different parts. North, which is what the sister have. It is the biggest part, so we have the car, and a lot of miles. Central and then South. The elders both have central and south. It is actually really neat. We are hoping that the ward will really start using us sisters. We are able to go into places that the elders can't, so it will hopefully go well :) Things are going to be great! The elders that were here before us found a lot of people to teach, so now we are just going through and seeing if they still want to take the lessons. It is a lot of work, but we love it!!

My companions are amazing! I am in a trio, and I honestly thought that it was going to go awful, but it hasn't! My companions are Sister Stewart, and Sister Litster. We get along so well! It is amazing! I have been out the longest, but we are all the senior companions. I think that they did that, so that one person isn't superior to the others. It is working out great!

Sister Steward, Sister Randall, Sister Lister

Sister Stewart has been out for 4 1/2 months. She is just one transfer younger than I am. She has served in the San Bernadino 4th ward, so she is totally cool with going into the ghetto parts that we cover. There aren't a lot, and we do not go down there at night, but it is nice having someone who is okay with being down there. She has our backs :) She is currently from Malad Idaho. It is about 13 miles from the Utah Idaho border. She grew up in Utah though, and claims that as her home :) well, kinda. She does the same thing with Idaho that I do with Saudi. It is where home is, but was not born there and didn't grow up there.  It is great :) She reminds me a lot of Emily Holmes. We have so much fun together! Sister Stewart's trainer and last companion was Sister McCoy. Sister McCoy went to school with Tysha (Chaylee's older sister) and they were in the same singles ward. It is so crazy the connections that we have. Craziness. Apparently, I remind sister Stewart of her best friend back home. It is way fun :) Kinda freaked her out a little though the first couple of days.

Sister Litster has been out for 3 months. She just got done training by one of the sisters I was in the MTC with. She is an amazing sister! She just came from the Fontana Stake, and was serving in the ward with Danja. Danja served her mission with Shanae (Chaylee's oldest sister). Isn't it amazing the connections that I have with my companions? They both know people that know my sisters :) I love it :) Sister Litster is currently living in Draper Utah, but she grew up in Orem. It is way neat that we were close to each other in Utah. Kinda fun :) She is awesome! Sister Litster is quiet, but then again she isn't. When she says some things, Sister Stewart and I are  shocked. It took us a few days to get used to it :)

Both of the sisters have a great sense of humor! It is exactly like mine! Very dry, and extremely funny!! It is awesome! We are laughing all the time, which is amazing! I love them so much!

For example, Yesterday Sister Stewart was picking off hair of Sister Litsters back, and she said, "don't worry, I got your back". Another time we saw this couple making out, and Sister Litster said "at least we know they are straight". Also, Sister Litster is crocheting an Afghan, and I was like "that is a blanket right?" She was like "yes, and it is also a person." It was way funny!

Everything is going great! We also really understand each other. We have gone through different trials, but we understand each other. :) I love it!

The three of us get along so good! It is amazing the difference a companionship makes when you get along with each other. I don't have as much stress of worries this transfer as much as I did last transfer.

I love being a missionary! Especially now. After a hard transfer, I am very grateful that the Lord put me here with sisters that I get a long great with. Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. This is where I am supposed to be. I know that. I have definitely been blessed this transfer! I love everything here!!

I love you all so much! You are in my prayers!! Stay safe!