Long time no see

Wow first of all just a small shout out to another cousin of mine that will be serving in Spain! Halla Halla go Spanish! And missions! Spanish in Spain is a tad different but still super crazy awesome. This week well let's be real was crazy fast again. Nothing super exciting happened so in all honesty I'm really sure why it was super fast. I guess that's what happens out here in the mission. You do the same thing every day and then your week is over. I'm just going to hit some high lights. 

We have a few potential investigators that could progress so that's wonderful. One of them is an older lady. Not like super old but definitely older than me. Anyway, we invited her to read the BOM and well, she did! The first 12 chapters of 1st Nephi. Ok, sometimes people read and don't understand a single bit. But she's the complete opposite! She understood every single part! Totes cray. 

Unfortunately none of our investigators went to church...BUT I'll just keep praying for them and all will work out. Let's see....I have learned that some people really really like to talk. Sometimes for 30 minutes without us saying anything. I have also learned that I can't keep up with 30 minute stories haha. Poco a poco I'm going to stick with it. Friday was awesome. Hermana Egbert called us and said she had a little treat for us. We do our weekly planning on Fridays and we just got started and she arrived with cinnamon rolls! how sweet?!?! Seriously the best mission ever. President and Hermana Egbert just are the most wonderful people. Seriously our parents her in the mission. 

And Saturday. I SAW HERMANA OJEDA!!!!! I knew she was coming to visit but I didn't think she would have time to see me. Next thing I knew she was at our door! I was so thrilled! Jsut love that girl so much. But really strange to see her as a normal person. That was pretty much a huge highlight. This week with lessons, yes we have found new possible people but also had to leave a couple more. It really is best for their progression. In reality I'm just so happy to be out here. I can't imagine anything better. Have a great week everyone! Love you!

hermana Cross

Becoming the norm

First of all, super stoked that the Broncos won! Our recent convert Alex texted us and told us they won. I was pretty happy haha. Anyway, this week was pretty long. and fast. We started the week with intercambios...or splits with the sister training leaders. It was super fun! i left my area and I realized how grateful I am for my area. It seriously just feels like home. I mean I am coming up on 5 months in the next couple of weeks. intercambios are just super great. I learn so much more. It's a lot of work for those sisters but they have a big impact on the rest of us. We did 2 different things of service that day. it was nice to mix it up a bit. The 2 services were cleaning. seriously I don't understand why people don't clean. its kiiiiinda gross. I'm happy to do the cleaning because some of these houses desperately need it haha.I talked a bunch with the sister i was with and we just laughed and laughed. the mission is fun too...who knew? ;) 

Right now we are struggling to find new investigators. we are kind of at a plateau (is that right? I really don't know haha).  we are finding people and then next thing you know they are sending us a message on Sunday saying that they talked with their pastor and he said they cant go to our church (true story). People these days. Always asking everyone but God. If any of you are wanting to know if this is the true church, all you have to do is pray and ask our heavenly father. i promise he will answer. 

Anyway, we had our zone training and it's always fun to be with a group of missionaries. we talked about repentance. Before the mission I always felt like it was a heavy topic but now it's probably one of my favorite topics. just because it changes lives. It's incredibly hot here. It feels like summer every day. 

Oh the thing that is super exciting this week is that we had another BAPTISM!!! WOOO. Our mission leader told us that it's becoming the norm to have a baptism almost every week. I wish it was the norm but I think we are done for the next few weeks. Yolanda is our convert and everything went super smooth this time. everyone gave me the thumbs up. very successful. she has been prepared and she shared her testimony and just wow. so happy for her! the 2nd convert I've seen progress since the beginning. I love that feeling. The converts/members/investigators are my family and I just love them all so much. love the mission.

That was my week in a nutshell. i hope you all have a great week and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY because that's on Sunday haha oh fun fact, I finished my first journal 100%. I have never completed a journal . That is a success itself. Love you all!

Hermana Cross

Yolanda's big day and me

Mondays = Pizza Day!

our white board full of info of the area

Third Times a Charm!

Another week has passed by and here I am starting my 3rd week as the mama bear. Life is absolutely great and absolutely crazy. I don't think the stress ever goes away to be honest haha.  Tuesday we started out the week great. We had a bunch of lessons and our mission leader came with us. It is

AWESOME to have such a supportive mission leader who is ready to work and give his all too. We had lessons with some really good possible progressing investigators....sadly none of them went to church so that's unfortunate. During that day I really began to understand what it's like to have the holy Ghost present. It's a quiet peace and everyone understands. let me tell you there is nothing better than a solid lesson with the spirit there. Wednesday we had our typical district meeting. My district changed. I'm kinda bummed about that because if I didnt change districts I would have been with 2 missionaries for 6 months! That usually doesnt happen but we are in the same zone so that's good. That night we had the baptismal interview of Estefany. SHE PASSED AND WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!! Probably weird to say she passed her interview but she did haha I don't know a better way to say that. No worries I will get to the baptism but it's a long story. The next day was great. We had our first ward missionary activity. We had 3 investigators go and tons of youth. More youth than adults but sometimes it's more fun with the youth. We did a reenactment of The tree of Life (the tree in Lehi's dream). It was super fun. We had a good turn out and hoping for the same our next activity this month. We have dropped a lot of people this week. People that we thought would progress but arent doing their part. So we told them that if they need anything and when they are ready they can call us. Sometimes it's necessary because the work needs to keep moving forward. Before you know it we were doing our weekly planning again. Nothing exciting there haha. Okay. Saturday. 

THE BAPTISM. Everyone this investigator Estefany has been progressing for a very long time. Her original date for her baptism was in November. 3 months later we made it. But it was very stressful. All I hoped for was a smooth baptism because it was just a long time comin. the baptism was in the morning so that's always more stressful. We were trying to prepare and our district leader called at the same time to have our weekly reports and let's just say a ton of stress. Then the baptism. We had a good turn out and everything. The stress began during the ordinance. Our recent convert Alex did the ordinance which is AWESOME!!! Seriously if I don't have more baptisms he is the reason I'm on the mission. Anyway, the first time her knee was out of the water so it's all good because that happens. He did the ordinance again. That time completely in the water and everything. There was a question about her full name and well I said it was okay. Here is the stress. She got changed and everything and we went to check on her. I asked her what her full name is and WE FORGOT THE 2ND LAST NAME. I totally spaced it that mexicans have 2 last names. She obviously had to be baptized again. Because God has a perfect order. Everything that happens here happens in heaven too. That's why we did it again. I felt SOOOO embarrassed. It was awful. BUT third times a charm and went perfectly. Thankfully she was prepared enough to not care being baptized 3 times. It's a day to remember in all honestly. We all learned that day. Because we all were forgetting something. Anyway she was confirmed yesterday and all is good. Estefany is officially now a mormon haha. 

And yesterday was good. We ate with a ton of members at one of their houses. Super fun to be with a lot of members. We only had one more lesson but they usually are super distracted. This time no! They actually were readying the Book of Mormon just before we arrived. It really does make a difference to read the BOM! Oh how I love the BOM. It's the greatest. Anyway, that was my week! Love you all and thanks for everything!

Hermana Cross

Training overload

Okay everyone. I survived my first week as a trainer. And there has been a ton of training. That was my week. First of all I am a mom. Who knew being a parent was so much responsibility? hehe Shout out to all the real parents out there. Tuesday was our first full day together, my new comp and I. It was stange not going to lie. Well in reality it felt like intercambios for a day and I would be seeing Hna Ojeda again....but nope haha.  I actually contacted all of the people that day. I am not a HUGE fan of contacting but I saw the reason we do it. We had about 3 unplanned lessons and some new investigators that we found this week. I guess talking to everyone is a good idea. Wednesday was pretty dang slow. We had little to no lessons. When we aren't teaching the day is like turtle slow.  I remember in the beginning that I didn't want to teach because my brain was tired from not knowing what to say and understand but now I just want to teach every hour! Oh but the good thing about Wednesday is that we had a world wide missionary training. So all of my friends that are serving and my cousins that are serving watched the same training...as long as their internet was working haha. It was super good. They talked about how we teach repentance and baptize converts. The main thing that stuck out to me was Elder Bednar. He taught how really the Spirit is essential. Without this member of the Godhead, we wouldn't have a true understanding of the gospel. The spirit testifies of the truth and through Him, we can gain more knowledge. I feel like Elder Bednar could be the Prophet so keep your eyes out for him.  Thursday was more training. 

my comp hna meza and I and our chicken

Seriously so much training. This time was with the trainers and the trainees. So weird to think I was in the same spot just 3 months earlier. I learned my responsibility as a trainer and seriously we are the example in all aspects. Words and actions. How we teach, how we abbreviate, how we eat, how we share scriptures, how we do everything. It's like a mini me...just from Honduras haha Weekly planning on Friday flew by but it was hard planning and explaining at the same time. Poco a poco I will figure it out. We ate hamburgers for lunch and all I can say is I could really use some In n Out. Saturday we worked all day and found more people! There are some weird people out there...like random dudes that think it's okay to use the bathroom in a field that everyone walks through....like isn't that illegal? who knows haha anyway,  We didn't eat with a  member for lunch  but she brought us food. And not just for lunch but just to have at our house. How great our members?!?! Super great. 

And finally Sunday. Wow what a crazy Sunday. We went to 3 church services. 8, 10 and ours at 12. We thought an investigator would come at 8 but sadly no. BUT our investigator who has been progressing and not progressing for the past 3 months came to church which means her baptism should be FRIDAY!!! Oh how I am praying like crazy that this time it's official. And after all our church services, we taught an investigator who should be getting baptized the first week of February. Everything is really great right now. I'm loving the mission and loving the chance to learn from my hija and become the trainer and missionary that God wants me to be. I love you all so much and thanks for everything!!

love

Hermana Cross

PS GO BRONCOS! Really happy that they are headed for the Superbowl. Our recent convert kept me posted on all that went down haha love these people

My new agenda

A family of our ward who are super super great

Tear drops on my guitar

Wow guys I'm going to be real with you right now. I've never cried so much in one week. Tear drops on my guitar is the only reasonable Taylor Swift song to decribe this week. My companion says that a better name would be "waterfall on my guitar." Yes part of it was because of sadness but a ton of it was because of happiness. I have welcomed change with open arms this week. I don't want you all to think I'm a cry baby. I promise a majority was just the realization of how much I have changed for the better. How much my testimony has grown. How much I have learned in these past 4 months and the past 12 weeks with my trainer. I am incredibly happy to be here. 

The best part about this week was our baptism!! ALEX WAS BAPTIZED!!!!! WOOOOO!!! It was incredible. absolutely great. We did a practice baptismal interview with him on Thursday and wow. The change he has made is fantastic. I remember in the beginning he felt that January 16th was too fast but let me tell you, if a person who has never known the gospel can change everything to follow christ in 4 weeks, can we not do the same? The answer is that we can. Change is something we need to accept. Change to be better followers of Christ. Only through the Atonement of Christ can we truly change for the better. 

I have learned a ton. Absolutely a ton. Maybe that's why president called me and told me "Hermana Cross, you're going to be a TRAINER" Yep you read that right. I am officially a trainer! I'm a tad nervous because I set the tone for her whole mission. At the moment I have my hija Hna Meza and my mamá Hna Ojeda. The whole fam! She's from Honduras and is 19 too. Haven't learned too much about her. She does indeed speak 100% Spanish so that's fun haha. I am now an English specialist too. That just is a fancy title for "give the Spanish speakers a verbal quiz every week" Super cool though that everyone has a chance to learn a language in the mission. Sunday holy smokes. 

I have never eaten so much dessert. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack from the sugar overload. I tried fried banana and it was divine. woooo doggie it was good. My poor poor body. We ate at every lesson because we visited members so Hna Ojeda could say goodbye. Yay for goodbyes! Yeah it's been a  tad rough. I just love her so much. She has been a great example to me. S/O to her even though she doesn't read this hahaha  Today we just cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Picked up my hija and shopped and here we are! Wow the weeks man are crazy fast when you are enjoying every moment. OH also when we were contacting we saw a car reversing and then all of a sudden BAM! the car did a hit and run. totally on purpose. Totally cray. Yeah that was something random of my week haha. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING!!! Love you all.

Hermana Cross

18 months and 12 weeks

Holy cow this is the start of my 12th week in training. Can you believe that 12 weeks in the field has already come and gone? I can't.  Seriously guys it's crazy. And my companion has hit her 18 month

mark. WOOO!!! The latinas have the better luck because always the american sisters never fully complete the 18 months just because of transfers. And speaking of transfers, I don't have a lot of information. I will know on Sunday what the happs are. A little nervous but at the same time no. It should be fun! this week was great like the rest of my weeks haha. 

We have a new ward mission leader and he is the best. He has a ton of energy and is ready to work. He has a lot planned to work with the members. And seriously you members out there have a huge part in the work of the Lord. Your references are the best thing out there. I actually gave a small talk on that in church on Sunday. It was fun haha I don't feel uncomfortable talking in front of everyone or making mistakes because well I'm learning and the only thing I can do is rely on the Lord. Church was super great other wise. Our investigator came to church again which means he is good to go to be baptized on SATURDAY!!! WOOO ANOTHER BAPTISM!! He is just super great and the sacrifices he has made to follow Christ is just wow.  I will let you all know next week how the baptism went :) 

Anyway, on Thursday we had our zone training. Super good as always. the fun part was that I had to have a flu shot. Okay I don't really understand why I needed it because I got it before my mission...oh well my body is just double protected now. Haha I know that's not how it works but whatever. We also went to a young womens activity and talked about goals. that was a hoot. It reminded me of being a youth and really that it's something we should enjoy and take advantage of. After we had a traditional bread called Roska. Super good. The bread here man is just the best.  

This week we completed our standard of excellence of 40 lessons is the week. YAY! We had a ton of members join us. I just love members coming with us. They always just have a spirit that's so strong. We also went on splits with members on Saturday because we had a ton of lessons. I actually wasn't scared. The first time yes because going alone with a member and barely knowing the language was a struggle, but this time no! I feel ready for my transfers now. I just learned that relying on the Lord is the most important part of everything. That was basically my week. I probably left out stuff and this sounded very scattered but oh well!! Have a great week everyone!!!! LOVE YOU!!

Hermana Cross

Goal of the year: become a Mexican

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! wow can you believe it's 2016? I can officially say I'll be home next year.

Ahhh that gives me the hibbey jibbies. So weird. It's weird to think that so many of my friends will be finishing their missions this year too! Crazy how fast time flies. And even faster on the mission. To be honest the last week of 2015 I don't remember a lot haha. Just finished the year working hard and having lessons and such! 

An ex-missionary came with us in a lesson. Like he just got home. I always feel judged when they come with us when they are fresh out of the mish. hehe oh well it's nice to have their help. On Wednesday we had interviews with president. Just small check up interviews. It was super good. He's a great man. He has lots of insight on life haha. I'm super nervous that I'm going to have to train next cycle (well 2 cycles if yes). He helped me realize that the Lord doesn't have limitations. He will give us these challenges to help us learn and grow. These challenges will stretch us but God will never leave us to drown in our challenges. Thanks to the atonement we can be strong from our weaknesses. New Year's eve. We pretty much did the same thing like the other days. We ate twice that day so more food than usual but that's mexico for ya! That family was super nice! We had a small family home evening with them and talked about our year and just the upcoming year because that's what you do the last day of the year. Doesn't matter if your on a mission or not, you always talk about what happened and what will happen this year :) 

Like I said last week, my year was well good! Sometimes it's hard to reflect on that much time. In our district meeting that morning we talked about the success and challenges of 2015 and goals for this year as people, members and missionaries. It was good to look back at the success and the challenges. For me, it brings hope and the realization that every  year has it's ups and downs but if we focus on Christ, well those problems just become highlights of the year. The time we grew the most. Back to the new years eve hehe. We just ate and nothing traditional. It's really whatever is your favorite food.

And I did tell the fam on Skype that I like salad now. So for everyone out there that knew me premish and my dislike for salad...well say hello to salad loving Hna Cross! I had a lot of it this week. Yay for feeling healthy! We had sparklers so that was super great. that night Hna Ojeda and I set our alarm for 11:50....but when it went off we said "happy new year" and went back to sleep. We were going to eat our 12 grapes in a minute because that's a tradition here but we were too tired haha welcome to the mission. We ate them the next day at noon during our weekly planning instead. Let me tell you. It is not easy to eat 12 grapes in a minute. Nothing more was super exciting this week. 

OH WAIT. Yeah one of our investigators,who is super great and awesome...baptism this month hopefully, said before he met us he had a dream with me in it. that's why he accepted us because he thought he met me before. WHAT SO COOL. The lord prepares people in various way but that by far is the coolest one I've heard. Any way, I hope your new year has started great and make goals and make every moment count!! Love you!

New year, new me #2016

Hermana Cross