Dearest Family :)
I am just gonna say, I cant believe that it is the middle of November all ready!! Just saying.
Guess what! I found out some really cool facts from President Van Cott. He sent them in our letter. Here they are:
- This is going to be an historic week in the California Redlands Mission. Since we arrived in July we have gone from 156 missionaries to 212. We have also had four more senior missionaries arrive with another four coming in the next couple months. That will put us at 222 missionaries! As of right now that is where our missionary complement is set which means we may go a little above that number or a little below.
Why is that exciting? We have one more good sized transfer on December 10th requiring us to open a few more areas and then we will be more stable. It means that now we can focus on our areas and the work that we have been called to do. It means in three to four months we will all be trained and ready to be effective missionaries. We will be ready to receive blessings for our diligent preparations!
How neat is that!! Our mission is going to hit maximum capacity this coming transfer! Over half the mission is in the 12 week training program. That is the program they now do, because we only get 12 days in the MTC. It is so crazy!! The training program includes the missionaries being trained, and the trainers. It is neat :)
OKAY. Now about my week.
This has been a good week. Everything seems to be a blur though, so bear with me. It is crazy that it is already monday. Time is flying by.
Great news!! Linda, the sister we are teaching, is getting baptized on Saturday!! We are all so excited!! She is getting baptized, then confirmed, then is moving to Colorado :( it is sad, but we know that this is what she is supposed to do. She is going to Colorado for a job, so it will be good :)
We also are going to be meeting with Ray and Delilah this coming week. They are the couple that I felt inspired to go to there house, and then Sister Straatman and I taught them a little of the first lesson. It was really cool. They are reading their Book of Mormon, so hopefully everything is going great! :)
We aren't teaching Robin any more :( we kept calling her, and stopping by, and she hasn't been picking up, and has been telling us to leave :( It is really sad. We have decided to give her sometime. She will come back when she is ready :)
The ward is kinda getting excited about missionary work. It has taken us a while to get things done, and to really push the missionary work. The stake president is really trying to push missionary work. In his stake 5 new areas just got opened. He has over 20 missionaries to work with. Some of the wards are doing really well with missionary work. A lot of the missionaries have their daily planners full everyday. A lot of the wards are amazing with their missionary work. Our ward has some really good ideas. The ward is getting there :) It will be good :)
We had exchanges this week, which means that Sister Anderson and I were together for the first time. The exchanges lasted two day this week instead of just one. The other sisters had a training with president and the other zone leaders, and the other sister training leaders. When they had that, me and Sister Anderson had to go and take the other her car to the dealership. There has been a very funky noise in the car. It is kinda like a thunking, and it happens randomly, at random times. Well, we took it to the dealership, spent 5 hours there, and they blamed the noise on a water bottle. It was so upsetting. We put that water bottle there that morning, so that we could have something to drink during the day. The sad part was, we had appointments for that entire day. We had to call and cancel almost all of them. It was really really upsetting.
Cool story though :) When we were in Redlands,we were by Citrus Plaza. It is like a big shopping area. It has Kholes, a book store, Target, Cafe Rio, Coldstone, Jamba Juice, and some other places. Well, we were hungry. So we took the courtesy shuttle from the dealership to Cafe Rio. When we got into Cafe Rio we were standing in line, and this lady started talking to us. She is a member of the church and was wondering where we were serving and that kind of a thing. She was really sweet too :) Well, the line was moving along, and we thought nothing of it. When we caught up to her again, she turned around and gave me and Sister Anderson both 10 dollars. This sister, who did not know who we were except for knowing that we were missionaries, decided to buy our lunch for us. She wasn't in either of our wards. It was so nice! It made me realize, that the Lord is aware of us, and the things we need. He places simple acts of kindness in our paths, to show us His love. It was great. :)
Th day after that really cool experience, we were on exchanges again. We got to go and see some people, and then went down the ward list, and realized that there were a lot of people that we hadn't seen, and knew nothing about. We went to some of there houses and were having a really tough day. Sister Anderson and I were both really struggling and were just having a hard time. None of the people we had seen wanted to really talk to us, and it was just hard. Well, we stopped at this one lady's house, and there was a man outside. We started talking, and found out that the sister that lives there, got remarried to this man. We were like okay, no big deal. He told us that they weren't interested in the church anymore, and that they didn't want to do the Mormon thing anymore. It was a little sad :( But, we complemented him on his garden. When we did that, he then took us all around his garden. He has so many fruit trees, and plants! His entire backyard was full of different fruit trees, and everything. I have tasted guavas now! It is great :) He told us to come back whenever we would like more guavas :) We might just take him up on that offer.
We also met a new family in the ward. Their names are the Imig's. They are a young couple with a 4 year old girl, and a baby on the way! They just moved here from Utah I think, and are fantastic! We are going to see them this week, and get to know them better :)
Other than that, nothing much has really happened. We went to the Ward Mission Leader meeting for the stake. It was amazing, and there was so much to learn.
This work is amazing! I love being a missionary, and I am amazed at how fast the time is flying by!
I can't really think of anything funny. I know that there must have been something that happened, but I can't remember. I am sure that once I get off my email and we are shopping, I will think of something funny. Isn't that how is always happens? :P
My companion and roommates are great :) We all get along, and then there are sometimes when a little bit of drama happens. I am trying really hard to stay out of it. I am doing pretty good at that. I tend to just sit back a not say much. It is working so far. I am becoming a really good listener :) I guess that is what happens when you have to listen to the spirit, and the person you are teaching at once :) It is working out really well :)
Sister Anderson is great! I love her so much! We have decided that if at all possible, we want to go on a road trip when we both get back from our missions. She is from Utah, so it will work great! Sister Young has also said that she wants to come :) I am excited!!
President and Sister Van Cott are amazing! They are incredible people! They are both young, and have a daughter out on a mission right now. They have 5 kids. 2 daughters and 3 sons. Their oldest is the daughter and she is 19, and then their youngest is a boy, and he is 7. They are all so cute! Sister Van Cott is really good at taking care of us, and helping us when we are sick. President Van Cott is an amazing man. When he speaks it is amazing! You can hear the spirit come through his words, and it just hits you like a wave. It is crazy. They are also really funny. Just like a normal person would be. :) I enjoy them, a lot :)
The best teaching experience I have had... hmm... Idk. They all have been great. I think the one I really liked this week, is when we taught Linda about tithing and fast offerings. It was so neat to be able to tie in eternal life, and the temple into that lesson. She is so excited to get baptized, and then to go to the temple and be baptized for her family. She is already working on her family history work :) It is great :)
Well, I should be going.
I love you all so very much!! Have a great week! You are all in my prayers!
Love always,
Sister Randall
I am just gonna say, I cant believe that it is the middle of November all ready!! Just saying.
Guess what! I found out some really cool facts from President Van Cott. He sent them in our letter. Here they are:
- This is going to be an historic week in the California Redlands Mission. Since we arrived in July we have gone from 156 missionaries to 212. We have also had four more senior missionaries arrive with another four coming in the next couple months. That will put us at 222 missionaries! As of right now that is where our missionary complement is set which means we may go a little above that number or a little below.
Why is that exciting? We have one more good sized transfer on December 10th requiring us to open a few more areas and then we will be more stable. It means that now we can focus on our areas and the work that we have been called to do. It means in three to four months we will all be trained and ready to be effective missionaries. We will be ready to receive blessings for our diligent preparations!
How neat is that!! Our mission is going to hit maximum capacity this coming transfer! Over half the mission is in the 12 week training program. That is the program they now do, because we only get 12 days in the MTC. It is so crazy!! The training program includes the missionaries being trained, and the trainers. It is neat :)
OKAY. Now about my week.
This has been a good week. Everything seems to be a blur though, so bear with me. It is crazy that it is already monday. Time is flying by.
Great news!! Linda, the sister we are teaching, is getting baptized on Saturday!! We are all so excited!! She is getting baptized, then confirmed, then is moving to Colorado :( it is sad, but we know that this is what she is supposed to do. She is going to Colorado for a job, so it will be good :)
We also are going to be meeting with Ray and Delilah this coming week. They are the couple that I felt inspired to go to there house, and then Sister Straatman and I taught them a little of the first lesson. It was really cool. They are reading their Book of Mormon, so hopefully everything is going great! :)
We aren't teaching Robin any more :( we kept calling her, and stopping by, and she hasn't been picking up, and has been telling us to leave :( It is really sad. We have decided to give her sometime. She will come back when she is ready :)
The ward is kinda getting excited about missionary work. It has taken us a while to get things done, and to really push the missionary work. The stake president is really trying to push missionary work. In his stake 5 new areas just got opened. He has over 20 missionaries to work with. Some of the wards are doing really well with missionary work. A lot of the missionaries have their daily planners full everyday. A lot of the wards are amazing with their missionary work. Our ward has some really good ideas. The ward is getting there :) It will be good :)
We had exchanges this week, which means that Sister Anderson and I were together for the first time. The exchanges lasted two day this week instead of just one. The other sisters had a training with president and the other zone leaders, and the other sister training leaders. When they had that, me and Sister Anderson had to go and take the other her car to the dealership. There has been a very funky noise in the car. It is kinda like a thunking, and it happens randomly, at random times. Well, we took it to the dealership, spent 5 hours there, and they blamed the noise on a water bottle. It was so upsetting. We put that water bottle there that morning, so that we could have something to drink during the day. The sad part was, we had appointments for that entire day. We had to call and cancel almost all of them. It was really really upsetting.
Cool story though :) When we were in Redlands,we were by Citrus Plaza. It is like a big shopping area. It has Kholes, a book store, Target, Cafe Rio, Coldstone, Jamba Juice, and some other places. Well, we were hungry. So we took the courtesy shuttle from the dealership to Cafe Rio. When we got into Cafe Rio we were standing in line, and this lady started talking to us. She is a member of the church and was wondering where we were serving and that kind of a thing. She was really sweet too :) Well, the line was moving along, and we thought nothing of it. When we caught up to her again, she turned around and gave me and Sister Anderson both 10 dollars. This sister, who did not know who we were except for knowing that we were missionaries, decided to buy our lunch for us. She wasn't in either of our wards. It was so nice! It made me realize, that the Lord is aware of us, and the things we need. He places simple acts of kindness in our paths, to show us His love. It was great. :)
Th day after that really cool experience, we were on exchanges again. We got to go and see some people, and then went down the ward list, and realized that there were a lot of people that we hadn't seen, and knew nothing about. We went to some of there houses and were having a really tough day. Sister Anderson and I were both really struggling and were just having a hard time. None of the people we had seen wanted to really talk to us, and it was just hard. Well, we stopped at this one lady's house, and there was a man outside. We started talking, and found out that the sister that lives there, got remarried to this man. We were like okay, no big deal. He told us that they weren't interested in the church anymore, and that they didn't want to do the Mormon thing anymore. It was a little sad :( But, we complemented him on his garden. When we did that, he then took us all around his garden. He has so many fruit trees, and plants! His entire backyard was full of different fruit trees, and everything. I have tasted guavas now! It is great :) He told us to come back whenever we would like more guavas :) We might just take him up on that offer.
We also met a new family in the ward. Their names are the Imig's. They are a young couple with a 4 year old girl, and a baby on the way! They just moved here from Utah I think, and are fantastic! We are going to see them this week, and get to know them better :)
Other than that, nothing much has really happened. We went to the Ward Mission Leader meeting for the stake. It was amazing, and there was so much to learn.
This work is amazing! I love being a missionary, and I am amazed at how fast the time is flying by!
I can't really think of anything funny. I know that there must have been something that happened, but I can't remember. I am sure that once I get off my email and we are shopping, I will think of something funny. Isn't that how is always happens? :P
My companion and roommates are great :) We all get along, and then there are sometimes when a little bit of drama happens. I am trying really hard to stay out of it. I am doing pretty good at that. I tend to just sit back a not say much. It is working so far. I am becoming a really good listener :) I guess that is what happens when you have to listen to the spirit, and the person you are teaching at once :) It is working out really well :)
Sister Anderson is great! I love her so much! We have decided that if at all possible, we want to go on a road trip when we both get back from our missions. She is from Utah, so it will work great! Sister Young has also said that she wants to come :) I am excited!!
President and Sister Van Cott are amazing! They are incredible people! They are both young, and have a daughter out on a mission right now. They have 5 kids. 2 daughters and 3 sons. Their oldest is the daughter and she is 19, and then their youngest is a boy, and he is 7. They are all so cute! Sister Van Cott is really good at taking care of us, and helping us when we are sick. President Van Cott is an amazing man. When he speaks it is amazing! You can hear the spirit come through his words, and it just hits you like a wave. It is crazy. They are also really funny. Just like a normal person would be. :) I enjoy them, a lot :)
The best teaching experience I have had... hmm... Idk. They all have been great. I think the one I really liked this week, is when we taught Linda about tithing and fast offerings. It was so neat to be able to tie in eternal life, and the temple into that lesson. She is so excited to get baptized, and then to go to the temple and be baptized for her family. She is already working on her family history work :) It is great :)
Well, I should be going.
I love you all so very much!! Have a great week! You are all in my prayers!
Love always,
Sister Randall
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