15 Jun 2010

Hola Familia!

I'm always super pressed for time and so, I've started making lists to make sure the emails are always packed with something good to tell you all. Well, we've had a lot happen this week! It's been insane! I can't believe another week has already come and gone! YIKES!

So, we had this big trip over to Kennewick on Thursday because President called me like the day after I got with Hna. Kendell and was like 'Sister Pleshek, I want you to organize this trip for all the sisters in Vancouver to get to Kennewick and I want you and Sister Ulrich to drive' and I'm like sure President, anything you say. So we all went over there for this devotional thing and it was amazing! Hna. Kendell and I didn't bring blankets along [we wouldn't have had room for them anyways with all the stuff Sister Neff and Allred brought. But it's okay], so I just figured I'd talk to the Chandias and see if we could get stuff from them. We went over there on Thursday night and Sister Snapp and Lippard were with us and so it was just fun to see them all again! The best thing about the night was when I ran into the living room and I saw Elizabeth, we just hugged and she was just crying. It was so tender. I missed them all and it was like coming home again! =) All of the Hermanas stayed at the apartment in Kennewick and that was so weird...to be back where I used to live. AHH! It was insane! So Friday, Brother Cabbage gave us this devotional about becoming who we are meant to be and it was just...oh. So amazing! He talked about how you can have the connection or control with your companion. I just looked around the room and grabbed my companion and whispered: I'm so glad that you're my companion. It was so true though. I'm so blessed to have Hna. Kendell. She was my first choice and I'm glad that's who the Lord knew I needed to be with! But then, that didn't even end the excitement. We had stopped at a few places in Kennewick before heading back home - The Office, the Bookstore, etc. So, we finally start our drive back to Vancouver and we are almost at I-84 when our car starts to make this squeeky noise. And so Hna. Kendell calls Elder Beutler and asks him what we should do. He tells us to turn around and come back. By the time we get back to Kennewick, it's about 4 and he gives us this new car to take back to Vancouver. So, I get in the front seat of this car [after I got done peeling the plastic covers off the floor mat!] and it's got 16 miles on it. 16! I was like holy crap! I'll probably never ever drive a car this new in my entire life ever again! But, we now have a new 2010 Gray Toyota Corolla and we love it. It just turned 300 miles yesterday. Haha. But, it was lovely.

Saturday after we got back, it was SO beautiful outside. I think I actually got some color. Haha. One of the less active members we're working with asked us to come over to her friends house and weed. We've done lots of weeding this week and it's just been so great to be working out in the SUN! I've missed it. It's actually raining right now and it's the first time that I've seen rain in like 5 days. WOW! We're all in shock and I loved it!

So, I love being a missionary. And I love working with Hna. Kendell. She and I just geek out together during companionship study. I learn all sorts of new things and I've been studying the Conference Ensign and I'm just loving it all! I've definitely got a better clue as to the things I need to do when I finally have to come home and get married. AHH! I don't wanna get married! Haha. That's one thing that Hna. Kendell and I talk about - how we're so not ready to get married. But it's all good. We don't have to right now. But, my zone is really awesome, too. We played with them all last p-day and it's amazing what you learn about people...even the people that you've been around for a while. So, it's great and I sure do love being a missionary!

One of our goals as a companionship is to look for all the little baby miracles and tender mercies that happen every day in our lives. There's been one that happened yesterday that I want to share. Sunday night, we were planning. We were both so tired, but wanted to be obedient and plan. So we're planning and going through all these old investigators and Hna. Kendell picks up this one and goes 'Let's go see her'. Granted the record is 2 years old and with Mexicans, they move A LOT, but we remembered our motto ['What have we got to lose?'] and we put her in our schedule. So, we're making a list for Wal-Mart yesterday and I'm like writing down the things that we need. And so I write down that I need CD's. And I just kind of look at that and think 'I don't need CD's. Hna. Kendell only has 4 CD's and I have 2 of them.' But, I put them down anyways and debated with myself what if I actually needed them or not. So, we're knocking on doors and trying to contact all these people and we get to this lady's house that we had wanted to try. We knock on the door and ask for her and the girl at the door says that she's in a hospital right now because she's depressed and isn't coming back. So what do we do? 'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Well, I'm Hna. Pleshek, and this is Hna. Kendell and we're missionaries...' You know where it goes. We start talking to her and she tells us that she's not really interested...she's learned all she can about church. And instead of just saying 'Thanks, have a good day', we just keep talking to her. She opened right up and told her basically her whole life's story. This girl - Maria - is 19 and she's a foster mom to her 2 year old niece and 7 year old nephew. She's absolutely amazing! She's going to college full time and trying to work and helping her mom with her two injuries from work. She's the rock of her family. And as she talked to us, she said that she had bought a CD of Christian music and listens to it when she gets down. I got the impression that we needed to make a CD for her to listen to. Right before we were leaving, Hna. Kendell asked if we could make a CD for her. She said yeah and that we could come back and drop it by. We get in the car and I'm like freaking out and telling her that's what I was thinking and that I had put CD's on my Wal-Mart list and all this good stuff. But, I'm absolutely amazing at how much the Spirit works between us. We've had many moments like this where the Spirit both tells us something and then one of us says it, even though we absolutely have no idea the other one of us is thinking it.

But, that's about all I have for now. Things are moving slowly, but surely. I love this Gospel and this work and NO ONE can tell me that God isn't in it and behind everything 110%!!! I love that my testimony is strengthened every single day! I love you and thanks for your support!
Con amor,
Hna. Pleshek

8 Jun 2010

Hey Mom!

I wrote down some of the things that I wanted to write this week. I only have about 10 minutes, so we'll see what happens and how much of it I actually get written. This week has been crazy! It's been my first week without my 'mom' and wow! It's nuts! I'm always thrown back at how much the Lord provides for his missionaries and how much this is HIS work and not ours. Wow.

So, we have this recent convert family and their oldest son Erick was having some problems with being temporarily paralyzed a couple times this morning. Their mom is out of town and the 17 year old daughter calls us frantically on Saturday morning. All of the missionaries in the zone were at this breakfast at this house and we were talking about missionary work and stuff like that. I told her that I'd talk to Elder Arnold and Elder Bair and that we'd all be right over to give Erick a blessing. Erick has been having problems since he's been baptized. He's a single dad, going to school, has a 17 year old girlfriend who's a junior in high school. Erick's 23. But anyways, he hasn't been coming to church and doing the things he's supposed to be doing. Elder Arnold and Elder Bair gave him a blessing and told him that if he would live the gospel to the best of his ability, all of his problems would go away and all the stress would be gone. And he said it like twice. And oh my gosh. All of us were in tears as we listened to this beautiful blessing. It strengthened my testimony that the Lord really does know us and He loves us. We're so special to him.

Another thing that's been happening is that we're doing alot of finding. Hna. Kendell and I are doing really well, but we spend most of our days trying to find investigators and people to teach. We've been working really hard and haven't been having a lot of success. We were sitting in our car after dinner one day, in the apartment complex we were going to try and contact these people in and we decided to have a prayer. Hna. Kendell started praying and she said 'We know there are people waiting and help us find thy children.' That stood out to me really distinctly. So, we're walking over to this door and there's this lady standing in the window. She's not doing anything. She's waiting. We go and talk to her and teach her a first lesson and get a return appointment with her. Her husband and 2 year old son were sleeping on the couch while we were talking to her. I find it amazing that while the men in her life were sleeping, she was waiting in the window. She could have been doing a million different things, but she wasn't.

My Spanish has started to pick up a lot. It's amazing. The gift of tongues is SO real. I feel like it's progressed alot and I'm using it more and more each time we go out. Hna. Kendell and I are in this together and we're learning a ton! I've also had some success with sewing the other day. I had to fix a couple of my skirts and a shirt and I did it! I even loaded the bobbin all by myself. I was really pleased that I did such a good job and I can now wear my two skirts.

Driving around Vancouver has been fun. We haven't gotten lost and I think it's funny because once it's all up to you, you realize you know a lot more than you thought you did. Yeah, it's awesome! I sure do love this place and this people and I really hope that I'm here for a while to see the work grow and flourish. Heavenly Father has definitely helped me every step along the way and I owe him so much.

I've got about 2 minutes left and I want to share something else. This morning, Hna. Kendell and I were talking about being missionaries and how we aren't who we were anymore. I'm not the same person I was before I left and I know that. And it's amazing to me how much I've grown up in the last 7 months. I used to watch General Conference as a form of recreation. I want to read my scriptures every day and geek out about them all the time. It's amazing to see the change in myself and feel it. But, I love being a missionary and everything about it. And even though it's 11 months away, I'm so scared to go home. This is what I know how to do and I love it!

I love you all! Thanks for all you do for me!

Con amor,

Hna. Pleshek

31 May 2010

Hi Mom!

I don't have a huge amount of time today and I'm not feeling super well, so this is probably going to be a short email. Sorry. Hopefully next week I'll have more time.

So, once again, I said goodbye to my 'mom' and sent her off on a van to the opposite side of the mission. There were lots of tears, hugs, and I love you's all going around. But, you know, what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger. And so here's what I got going on for this transfer. I'm going to be greenie-busting Hna. Kendall. She's a transfer younger than I am, so we're going to be two little baby missionaries out here in Vancouver doing the Lord's work. It'll be fun - I'm excited to work with her and learn and grow a lot this transfer.

Let's see...what else. Well, I got food poisoning last night. At least that's what I think it was. I'm not sure. But I was up all night last night puking and doing all sorts of good stuff. Yeah, it sucked. And I'm still feeling poopy, but I sure do feel a heck of a lot better than I did last night.

Yeah, I know Hna. Lippard. I'm in a trio right now with her and Sister Neff. She wasn't at Spanish Conference, so you don't have a picture of her. But that's so funny. What a small world.

So here's another story that's a small world. There's this girl in the Van West stake and her name is Sara and she's 13 years old and has terminal cancer. I think it's cancer of the nervous system. Anyways, it's sad because she's only 13. Anyways, during Stake Conference, one of the members of the presidency was giving a talk and talking about these t-shirts that say 'Love the life you live' and how she was selling them and just all this stuff. It was a good talk, but Hna. Dunoskovic and I wanted some, so we contacted this girl and went over to her house. She's selling the shirts so that she can go to places. She's already been to NYC with the sales and who knows what's next. Anyways, we were talking to her dad and he was telling us how he served his mission in California San Bernadino. And I freaked out and was like 'No way! That's where my dad served'. And he asked me when and I told him 80-82? I don't know if that's right - just a guess. But he was like yeah! I totally remember Elder Pleshek. So it was pretty funny and I told him to look Dad up on facebook. But, Elder Turley remembers you, Dad. Funny stuff.

But other than that, everything is going good. I don't have anymore time left, but I love you all and know that everything is going well here! Thanks for your support and all that you do for me. The Lord's work is great and I absolutely love being a missionary!

Con todo de mi amor,

Hna. Pleshek

25 May 2010

Hola Mama.

Glad to hear that it has been hot and humid by you and not by us. Haha. But, we are getting rain...and lots of it. Surprise, surprise. Last p-day, we went fishing and it just DOWNPOURED on us. Luckily, the Hibbards had raincoats they sent us out with and we survived. Of course, it's just a little rain, but still. We just sat there with our poles in the water, rain just bucketing down on us. It was so much fun and we all enjoyed it. Elder Montoya said it was the best p-day he had had on his mission. Elder Arnold and he thanked us profusely for showing them the pond and knowing the members that would let us fish. It was so funny. They're hilarious and I'm glad they're in Vancouver with me. We all caught some fish, too. Each of us caught 1, but Montoya caught 4. Arnold's fish was the funniest. We all caught our fish within the first hour or so. And we really wanted Arnold to catch a fish before we left. He tried and tried. Poor guy, wasn't even getting a bite. Well, he did catch the ground. And then a tree. And a stick. But no fish. And he's using this little girl Hannah Montana fishing pole...so hilarious. Finally, he gets a bite and you can tell it's a big fish. It's fighting and fighting and we're all like sitting in suspense because it's dragging the line from one end of the pond to the other. Finally, he starts reeling it in and I swear, that pole is going to break. But with the help of Montoya [the fishing expert], they get the fish out of the water and it is the biggest catch of the day. Both elders were SO happy and oh man, it was just worth it to sit out there all day in the downpour to see the smiles on those faces. We're so glad we went. We cooked the fish on Saturday and ate them for lunch. Yeah, even me - the fish hater, partook of those rainbow trout and it wasn't too bad. It was pretty good for fish. But, that was our p-day last week.

Looks like you've got some excitement going on with your track team. Not only with all those that qualified for sectionals but the kissing games. That's GROSS! Oh man, I would have smacked those kids. Eww, who in their right mind thinks that's okay? Gross. Well, gjkl;aegjdakl;twdjag;klwejaf that's soo nasty! But who do you think will all be making it to state?

Aww, the Barrets. Haha, funny story. So, this is while I'm still in Kennewick and it's at the end of the transfer and I call President Belnap to see what pair of sisters I'm going with when Sister Garcia goes home. So, I call and ask him and we talk for a little bit and right as I'm hanging up, I go 'Thanks President Barrett' and I just started laughing and was like 'Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry President Belnap'. He just laughed too, but I did feel a little ridiculous about it all. Good story, though. But, I'm sad that they're leaving. Definitely a family I'm going to have to go see when I make my next trip out to Utah...who knows when that'll be. But, one day. We've been assured by President Belnap that the transition between him and the Greers will be absolutely flawless. So, I'll let you know. I'm sure it won't affect me too much, seeing as I'll still be over here in Vancouver, doing missionary work and won't really see the results until President Greer meets with all the zones in the mission. I'm grateful for President Belnap and his inspired leadership. He's a great mission president and I couldn't have asked for a better one to start my mission with.

Aww. All those kids are growing up so fast. I can't believe it. Well, I can, but it just seems so surreal to me. It's funny because I don't really know how I would act around the kids anymore. I mean, I know that I'll love them and want to hold them, but I'm not quite sure just how to act. I don't have to worry about that for a while yet, but it just blows my mind that I have a relationship with those kids. Well, Cami at least. But, it's crazy. They're so stinkin' cute. Clare emailed me some pictures. But, yeah. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. Sure do miss 'em.

Oooo, P-a with the big changing. I'm sure it can only help improve the Mill. Haha. And the GPS...that's whack.

Things are going well here. Transfer calls are coming on Saturday and I'm kind of nervous, once again, because this transfer affects me, just like these last 3 have. I know I'm getting a new companion, but I also know that I'm staying in Vancouver. I'm taking over the area, and by the sounds of it, I'm being the senior companion. As of yesterday, I officially started driving because Hna. Dunoskovic and President Belnap think it's a good idea to get to know the area. So thus, since last night, I've officially become the driver and am driving in Vancouver. It's scary, but you know what, it's going to happen eventually.

Well, my testimony only continues to be strengthened as I know I'm doing the Lord's work and He will take care of me. I love this gospel and I love being a missionary. There is no greater calling for me right now and I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to be. I love you all and I'm so grateful familias pueden ser eternas!

Con todo de mi amor,
Hna. Pleshek

19 May 2010

Well, sorry I'm kind of a slacker and didn't email last week. It was a crazy day and I thought that since I had talked to you guys on Sunday, it wasn't a huge deal. Not a whole lot more happened since then, so I didn't think you'd mind all that much. What happened was we decided to go on a hike to Punch Bowl Falls. It's a really pretty hike and has a ton of waterfalls. It's a huge hike, but it was so much fun. We left really early in the morning for that and hiked all day long. About 6.6 miles. Not to mention the 40 feet we climbed up the side of the mountain. One of the elders thought it would be wise to climb the side of the mountain that had virtually a vertical steep side. Yeah, so we did it. And we were in front of all the elders, but one, so just in case we fell, they would catch us. Ha! There's no way that anyone would have been caught. We would have all gone down the side of the mountain. Elder Montoya had to grab my feet like 5 times because I was climbing and slipping in just wet dirt. [Didn't help that it rained that morning.] But yeah, so we did that. And it was fun and really pretty, but I think I've got my fill on the hiking front. We didn't get back from that til about 5 and we had an appointment then, so I didn't really get to email anyone last week.

Saturday we had a baptism! That was really exciting. Mario Botello got baptized and it was a really great service! We have a lot of fun teaching him and he's really excited about it all. He's a really cool guy and I'm glad that I was there to be one of his many missionaries that helped teach him the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, I got this email today from an elder that was in my zone in the MTC. He's serving in Argentina. I'm just on his regular email list, so I get the weekly emails. But anyways, I was reading about how he got emergency transferred because 3 new missionaries came in and they needed his companion to train. So he's talking about his adventures getting transferred and then he's like 'Yeah and my new companion Elder Huckbody' and I was just like WAIT, WHAT? Hold the phone. Yeah, David Huckbody is companions with Elder Matt Moore who was in my MTC zone. And I think that's hilarious! I was super excited and just started to laugh. The world is SO small...especially in the Church. And it was really cool to see that.

Yesterday, we had Spanish Conference and that's why my p-day is today and not yesterday. So, we had Spanish Conference yesterday and that was really good. We had some really amazing speakers and I enjoyed most of it. The only part I wasn't fond of was towards then end when one of the speakers just lectured us and lectured us. I was getting really irritated because I was just like 'Okay, I get it. I can do better on my Spanish.' But who can't? It's a challange to speak Spanish in the states because you have to discipline yourself to do so. We're not immersed in it like other Spanish speaking missionaries are in other countries. So, it was really frustrating.

Sounds like everything is going wonderful at home. And YAY for Amy being married! I definitely want an invite for her wedding! Haha. I wish I could go, but I love her and I'm so excited for her! She's going to be an amazing wife! She's already an amazing person! And YAY for Lyssa having her baby. I bet he's just cute! But, that's cool that Lex and Evan got to go with him. They're in Chicago? That's fun. Closer to Kurt. I bet he's enjoyed that! Especially since he gets to be near his new grandson.

Well, we've got a fun filled day ahead of us. We're going to hang out - just us Spanish missionaries and go mini-golfing or something. It'll be really fun because we're the only ones with p-day today. WOOT! But, I love you all and thanks for always emailing and supporting me.

Con mucho amor,

Hna. Pleshek

19 May 2010

The 6 Spanish speaking sisters in the mission.

Mario's baptism last Saturday.

Mario's Baptism

I think Sammi is absolutely gorgeous in this picture!

I am currently having issues with my computer. Will post this week's letter as soon as it will allow me to paste it on here.

4 May 2010

Good morning Mom.

I wish I could say the same about the sunshine, but alas, it is Vancouver and it sure does like to rain here. So I can say that we're expecting rain today with a chance of sunshine and maybe the temperature will get above 60 degrees, but who knows. That's alright, though. It sure is green out here that's for sure.

Sounds like your stake conference was bomb! We had stake conference this weekend, too and it was lovely. We didn't get to go to the adult session because our investigators got really sick. But we did get to go to the general session and that was exciting. The ward boundaries got changed and everyone was in tears. I'm just sitting there thinking 'People! You're all still living in the same 1/4 section of Vancouver. You still live 4 streets down from that person. You're still in the same stake. You will see each other again. I promise.' It was kind of ridiculous and what was even more crazy is to have the stake president up at the pulpit pleading for these people to go to their assigned wards. Apparently there's like 100 people who don't attend the wards they are assigned too. That's so unfortunate. It really isn't the end of the world and they said that they've been praying about these changes for the last 2-3 years. It's sad when people can't see the Lord's hand in all things.

The work here has been going really slow. We're trying to find new people and it's just...it's difficult doing Spanish work here. Yes, there are people, but Vancouver is SO HUGE that it isn't quite as easy as it was in Pasco/Kennewick. It's little Mexico there and it really is easy to find people. But, I'm happy to report that we had amazing success yesterday. We taught some amazing lessons and found some amazing people! They are all just great and so legit. The thing is is one of the Elders that got doubled out of the area when sisters got put back in is our zone leader now. He left a list of people for the sisters to visit and contact and teach. And they didn't do it. So, we found the list and started trying because it had been over a year since that list was made. We contacted some of them and got new investigators. It's amazing to see how the Lord blesses us when we work hard to do His work. I always knew that, but everytime I see it, it just amazes me!

I got a letter from Stefanie yesterday and that made my day. I love that she wrote me finally. But, it was really good to hear from her. I'm really excited to talk to Alex. I haven't in so long and it just doesn't seem real. I've always loved talking to him, but I can't wait to talk to him about more things - gospel wise. And in Spanish. Woot woot! I need to write him a letter down there in Arkansas. I just got his address from Loey a few days ago, so I'll get on that. And I hope that Zane gets to go on a mission. A mission does everyone good who goes on one. It's the best thing that we can do for our Heavenly Father. It's an amazing opportunity and gift that we get from Him. Everything we get to service Him back is a gift from Him. We're so endebted to God for all the things that He blesses us with continually.

As far as Mother's Day goes, I'm so excited to call home. I can't believe that I come home in less than a year now. Yesterday was my year mark til I come home and that's just insane for me. It doesn't feel like I've been out this long, but here we are - another p-day coming and going. It's crazy just how fast time flies when you are doing missionary work. But, my companion and I are hoping that we will be able to call our families Sunday evening. We have church from 2-5 and we have meetings afterwards. I'm not sure if that will still be the case, but we'll see. But expect sometime Sunday evening around 8-ish or 9-ish. But I'll get it all worked out and let you know for sure. So, I'm excited! And then I'll have one more phone call to make and that'll be it. That's so crazy!

Everything here is going wonderful and I love being a missionary so much! It's amazing how much we are blessed. The time will fly by all too quickly and I know that. So I'm just trying to do the best I can each day. I love you all and I will talk to you on Sunday!
Con amor,
Hna. Pleshek