Dear family,
Welp. It snowed this week! It was pretty funny because everything was
closing early, and it didn't look all that bad. How the times have
changed me! Haha
It was super nice though because everyone was home!
We had exchanges. I got to spend the day with Sister Gonzalez. She is
from El Salvador, but lived in Utah since she was about 11. We taught
the triplets this week and it was cute because she was baptized when
she was 11 so she was able to relate how she knew the Book of Mormon
was true. We also talked about keeping the sabbath day holy, so when
our video didn't work, I shared about my soccer experience. (Didn't
play or go to the slumber party on Sunday, wound up being the only one
who didn't get sick because the coach's daughter had strep). They
liked it and came to church! So I got to go to Sunday school and
sharing time with them! It's a great time to be a missionary because
all the classes are on the Book of Mormon, and particularly the
chapters the kids had read this week. It was so good! They were so
excited to participate because they were familiar with the stories,
and they were better abled to understand and learn from them. It was
fun.
I am so excited for them. They read at least 1 page of the Book of
Mormon every day. It reminds me of when I was their age, 11, that's
when I started reading the Book of Mormon every day. I remember
praying about it and for the longest time I thought I wasn't getting
an answer. I remember one day being really frustrated, "but I know
it's true!" Then I realized I had my answer. Since then I have never
missed a day of reading the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon.
It is another testament of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my best
friend because of that book. I know that He lives and this is His
restored gospel. I love sharing it.
I love and miss you all!!!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Week 35, Norcross, GA- Spanish Speaking
Dear Family,
This week was cold. And practically no one was home during the day, but the nights always redeem themselves, and so do holidays. :)
On Wednesday, when no one was home, we decided to tract around some referrals, when we were greeted by a small gang of dogs. They were AWFUL. The whole thing was traumatizing! One of them actually bit my companion! It didn't break skin though, so she's ok. :)
I walked up to the first house I could to seek refuge. No one was home, but then a truck pulled up and we talked to the lady who lived there. All she said was, "ooooooohhhhhh Siiiiiiiiii", and she added, "I think I've read this in my bible!" when we taught her the restoration.... LOL she wasn't really paying attention at all. But that night we found a less active and began teaching her 4 kids! They are the cutest things ever!!! They each read 20 pages of the Book of Mormon and will totally rat eachother out if one of them didn't read. Haha
Sorry, my ipad is a bit screwy so I don't have much time today, as I am old school in a Library today. (we think it's haunted. It will open and close windows and randomly type stuff.... weird.)
I love you so much!!! Thank you for everything!!!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Week 34- Norcross, GA- Spanish speaking
Dear Family,
Welp. Another week in the work of the Lord. It is such a privilege to
be here. I love it.
This week we got to go on exchanges, which was fun because we were in
the same area, but just on the English side. Wow. Spanish vs English
is so weird because it's like 2 separate worlds. The English side is
super duper nice! It was a lot of fun. We went to try to visit a less
active who just moved here, but hasn't come to church. Her mother
opened the door, and is from Haiti. When she said her daughter wasn't
home, I started to try to contact her. Turns out she's a member! She
invited us in and we shared a message about the sacrament and talked
about the temple with her. The funny thing is that she is very active,
just goes to a different Ward. It was really sweet though because her
parents were there as well, and they are very elderly, don't speak
English, and I think her mother is blind. But they still came and sat
down to listen to us! The spirit has no language. Love knows no
boundaries.
Sister Staufer is hilarious. I loved spending time with her. Their
apartment is super nice. It was kind of crazy because I hadn't slept
in our actual apartment for a week. So it was also really nice when we
were finally able to go home.
Immigration is in our area for the month. They start at 5 am and are
knocking on all the doors of people who didn't show up to their court
dates, and if they don't have papers they are deported. So this is
making our work really interesting. Most are reluctant to answer the
door. And some are paranoid. #spanishstatesideprobs
So we have this one investigator, who is married to a member, but when
we teach her, she doesn't remember anything. So we have been trying to
use visuals. We drew her a picture of the Plan of Salvation, and she
loved it. She still doesn't really get it, but it's up on her wall.
We are hoping that seeing it every day will help it click.
This week we also did some service. We helped one of our investigators
paint some shelves. It was funny because I got paint in my hair. Then,
We help out at this really cool place that offers help, financial,
clothes, food, whatever! To people in need. We help in the clothing
closet, which is a lot like "Clothes to Kids". There was one lady who
came for coats. She was able to find coats for her kids, but not for
her husband or son. So we went down to where they sort all the clothes
to get her what she needed. She started crying after we gave her the
coats, which then made me cry. We are so blessed! Later that night we
were helping a less active with her laundry, so she could come to
church. She is a single mother of 3 kids aged 6, 2, and 1. She is the
only one from her family here, and basically has no support. The whole
home was a bit chaotic. She was super embarrassed by some of the
things her 6 yr old was saying. "I don't know where she got that! It's
so hard because I have to work, so I can't be there to mother her like
I want to!" Then she was crying as we put all the clothes away and got
everyone calmed down so they could go to bed. She was so grateful we
were there to help her. It would have otherwise taken forever!
Everyone has needs. I am so grateful for this time that I have to give
to others! I know that the Lord loves His children and hears their
prayers.
(Side note: if you ever want to help your missionaries, call them and
ask who needs a meal or cookies. SOMEOME ALWAYS NEEDS A MEAL OR
COOKIES!)
As we serve and love others, I think the most important thing that
comes is that we and they can draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He who lived the perfect, selfless, humble, charitable, life. I know
that He lives and that this is His restored gospel.
I love you all so much!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Our plan of salvation picture; the castle; and selfie inside the
castle with the sisters in our district.
Welp. Another week in the work of the Lord. It is such a privilege to
be here. I love it.
This week we got to go on exchanges, which was fun because we were in
the same area, but just on the English side. Wow. Spanish vs English
is so weird because it's like 2 separate worlds. The English side is
super duper nice! It was a lot of fun. We went to try to visit a less
active who just moved here, but hasn't come to church. Her mother
opened the door, and is from Haiti. When she said her daughter wasn't
home, I started to try to contact her. Turns out she's a member! She
invited us in and we shared a message about the sacrament and talked
about the temple with her. The funny thing is that she is very active,
just goes to a different Ward. It was really sweet though because her
parents were there as well, and they are very elderly, don't speak
English, and I think her mother is blind. But they still came and sat
down to listen to us! The spirit has no language. Love knows no
boundaries.
Sister Staufer is hilarious. I loved spending time with her. Their
apartment is super nice. It was kind of crazy because I hadn't slept
in our actual apartment for a week. So it was also really nice when we
were finally able to go home.
Immigration is in our area for the month. They start at 5 am and are
knocking on all the doors of people who didn't show up to their court
dates, and if they don't have papers they are deported. So this is
making our work really interesting. Most are reluctant to answer the
door. And some are paranoid. #spanishstatesideprobs
So we have this one investigator, who is married to a member, but when
we teach her, she doesn't remember anything. So we have been trying to
use visuals. We drew her a picture of the Plan of Salvation, and she
loved it. She still doesn't really get it, but it's up on her wall.
We are hoping that seeing it every day will help it click.
This week we also did some service. We helped one of our investigators
paint some shelves. It was funny because I got paint in my hair. Then,
We help out at this really cool place that offers help, financial,
clothes, food, whatever! To people in need. We help in the clothing
closet, which is a lot like "Clothes to Kids". There was one lady who
came for coats. She was able to find coats for her kids, but not for
her husband or son. So we went down to where they sort all the clothes
to get her what she needed. She started crying after we gave her the
coats, which then made me cry. We are so blessed! Later that night we
were helping a less active with her laundry, so she could come to
church. She is a single mother of 3 kids aged 6, 2, and 1. She is the
only one from her family here, and basically has no support. The whole
home was a bit chaotic. She was super embarrassed by some of the
things her 6 yr old was saying. "I don't know where she got that! It's
so hard because I have to work, so I can't be there to mother her like
I want to!" Then she was crying as we put all the clothes away and got
everyone calmed down so they could go to bed. She was so grateful we
were there to help her. It would have otherwise taken forever!
Everyone has needs. I am so grateful for this time that I have to give
to others! I know that the Lord loves His children and hears their
prayers.
(Side note: if you ever want to help your missionaries, call them and
ask who needs a meal or cookies. SOMEOME ALWAYS NEEDS A MEAL OR
COOKIES!)
As we serve and love others, I think the most important thing that
comes is that we and they can draw closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He who lived the perfect, selfless, humble, charitable, life. I know
that He lives and that this is His restored gospel.
I love you all so much!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Our plan of salvation picture; the castle; and selfie inside the
castle with the sisters in our district.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Week 33, Norcross, GA- Spanish Speaking
So this was an eventful week. We are living outside of our zone
because our members are staining their floors, so the whole house
reeks.
Yay for a week long slumber party!!!!
Holidays as a missionary are weird, because it doesn't really ever
feel like the holiday.
We are honestly so exhausted that whenever we pray, it is so hard to
get up and get going because we can't reopen our eyes!!!! So for New
Years, we were obediently in bed at 10:30, nice and sound asleep on
our air mattresses. ☺️
The fireworks started early, so that was fun. We were able to see some!
We were trying to find a less active, and their neighbors were blowing
off fire works in their coldesac. It was terrifying. Lol. Our area has
basically sounded like the hunger games, and at this point everyone is
dead.
We have been spending our time talking with everyone and teaching at
every opportunity. This week we talked a lot about the gospel of Jesus
Christ, which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the
Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The center of this is CHANGE! How
great is it that we get a fresh start with a new year a week after we
celebrate the birth of He who made such change possible! Because of
Jesus Christ we can repent, or change. We can be made clean and new
through our covenants or promises, and live with pure peace and joy. I
know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I love being a part
of His work. It is a privilege to be able to serve, and I am so
grateful for it.
This week we found a new investigator who told us all about how he
wants to change. We are excited because this is what the whole gospel
is about. This is why Christ suffered for us. He lives, so that we can
change. Through Him we can better ourselves each day, and be
strengthened beyond what we can do on our own. Isn't that wonderful?
I love and miss you! Happy belated New Year!!!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
because our members are staining their floors, so the whole house
reeks.
Yay for a week long slumber party!!!!
Holidays as a missionary are weird, because it doesn't really ever
feel like the holiday.
We are honestly so exhausted that whenever we pray, it is so hard to
get up and get going because we can't reopen our eyes!!!! So for New
Years, we were obediently in bed at 10:30, nice and sound asleep on
our air mattresses. ☺️
The fireworks started early, so that was fun. We were able to see some!
We were trying to find a less active, and their neighbors were blowing
off fire works in their coldesac. It was terrifying. Lol. Our area has
basically sounded like the hunger games, and at this point everyone is
dead.
We have been spending our time talking with everyone and teaching at
every opportunity. This week we talked a lot about the gospel of Jesus
Christ, which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the
Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. The center of this is CHANGE! How
great is it that we get a fresh start with a new year a week after we
celebrate the birth of He who made such change possible! Because of
Jesus Christ we can repent, or change. We can be made clean and new
through our covenants or promises, and live with pure peace and joy. I
know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I love being a part
of His work. It is a privilege to be able to serve, and I am so
grateful for it.
This week we found a new investigator who told us all about how he
wants to change. We are excited because this is what the whole gospel
is about. This is why Christ suffered for us. He lives, so that we can
change. Through Him we can better ourselves each day, and be
strengthened beyond what we can do on our own. Isn't that wonderful?
I love and miss you! Happy belated New Year!!!
Love,
Hermana Wallis
Trailer Park Santa
Chocolate Treats
Lunch
Georgia Eiffel Tower
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