8 Mar 2011

Mom,

Thank you for the email. It was pretty great! I enjoyed reading it all. We've had a crazy week this week, but once again, I've forgotten my post it note, so we'll see how this email turns out. Haha. Well, maybe I'll try to attach some pictures and that can help jog my memory. I swear, my memory has gotten worse and better all at the same time. Haha.

We had a great district meeting last Wednesday. And I had this really cool experience preparing for it. I had to talk about teaching people, not lessons. And I prayed really hard to have the Spirit help me to teach what my district needed to hear. Everything I prepared went AWESOMELY along with what everyone had and it was a great meeting. We spent all day in Yakima and got to see lots of less actives in the Spanish branch. Pretty productive.

I went on exchanges with Sister Holmes Wednesday night to Thursday night. It went splendidly and even though I had some weird feelings and thoughts during parts of the exchange, it went really well. We got to teach a lot of people and just, great. I love Sister Holmes, she's so awesome! I also had this really weird/cool experience that night. I was praying for more charity and patience. I was kind of stressed and after I ended my prayer, I felt my heart soften and just this peace came over me. It was really weird because I could actually feel my heart getting soft, but it was, so cool. I'm so grateful for experiences like that that confirm that God is our loving Father and He DOES listen to our prayers.

That lead into a really great weekly planning on Friday. We had great insights on how we need to help the people we are teaching. It went super! We also had a great time following the Spirit. And we had this awesome lesson with a lady named Ramona. We taught her a first lesson and it went awesome. She said she was baptized in a church in Los Angeles and then came here and found a Seventh Day Adventist church which made her get baptized and she hated it. And now she's semi-studying with us and we told her that all those other baptism she had weren't valid and she needed to be baptized in Christ's church if she wanted to do what was right and serve Him. Pretty intense, and we'll see if she lets us come back...I hope so! She's awesome!

Saturday was...wow. Haha, just so funny. We were doing whatever, finished weekly planning and all sorts of good stuff. We went and saw this lady named Emelia and her son, Dimas. Sister Kendell had taught them before and so we went over to see if we could teach them again. Well, so after her feeding us tamales and flower water and shoving turtles into our hands, we decided that they weren't interested. But, then just as we're leaving, her friend from Vegas pulls up and she comes in and as like 'Oh, so you're Mormons.' So we're like yeah, and then we start talking and she's like well what about your king...Mr. Smith? And we're like oh no, he's a prophet, etc. etc. And so Sister Kendell starts talking about family history and stuff like that. It leads into the Plan of Salvation and we taught her a lesson about that. It was crazy because the friend was on our side the whole time. Everytime Emelia would start to almost...argue with us, she'd be like 'Let them talk. They'll explain and then you can ask questions'. It was just so funny and we were shocked. And after it was all done, the friend was like 'Show her the book! They have a book and it's awesome! It teaches great things and I love to read it. Oh and they sing. Well, at least mine did.' Keep in mind she is NOT a member. But then she also was like 'And they have this movie and...it's so great. Have you shown her the movie yet?' Just hilarious. And it went awesome! The Spirit is so great.

Sunday was long, but awesome! A member in the ward brought one of his employees to church and she loved it! She asked if she could come back and if we could teach her...if that would be okay. Umm, YES it would be MORE than okay! =) But, so great. Unfortunately, it was Gaby's last Sunday. She's reporting tomorrow to the MTC and will do AWESOME. We have some pictures with her.

Monday we did service for a part member family...Emy and Miguel. We once again, went at some ivy and it was....crazy! We spent for hours there with the Naches sisters chopping most of it away. We'll go back tomorrow and finish...hopefully.

Today we woke up to snow...joy. But the sun's already melted it. And things are going great! I love you all and I'm so happy to be serving a mission! You're the best!

Con amor,

Hna. Pleshek

Oh, did you call Sister Martinez? I want her to bring some of my stuff to Wisconsin and if you and/or Dad can go get it, that would be awesome! Sister Mitchell should be calling you, but ...oh man. I need it done ASAP because the Martinez family are leaving...on the 18th. Anyways, love you!

8 Mar 2011 from last week

March 1, 2011

MOM, This came back to me...apparently you didn't get it? SHOOT! But, I love you! It's from March 1st!

Mom,

Soooo much to tell you this week. Last Tuesday, we went to the high heel exhibit at the Yakima Valley Museum. I have this all written down, but I lost it...shoot. So maybe I'll find it and send it to you. But anyways, it was pretty legit and I'm glad that we got to see something awesome!

Wednesday, we had this awesome district meeting. Mega spiritual! And even though I'm in a "SISTRICT", it's awesome. Pretty funny. We also had this funny lesson with Heather on dating. Now that she wants other things in a man, it's funny because she's so scared to date now. And she gets really nervous around men. But you know, I told her she'd be fine. Not that I'm the world's best advice on dating giver, but I helped her out the best I could and she'll be okay! =) We were sooo busy. We had some great lessons and just all was so awesome. The funny part was at District Meeting, Elder Dresden told us we weren't to be walking around at night...and so that night, Sister Kendell and I were walking around Yakima at night because we were low on miles. Not sure that was the smartest thing, but we are okay and it was just a block. I thought it was funny because he kept telling us we weren't invincible. Yeah.

On Thursday, we took Heather over to a lady's house in the ward. She's awesome and also used to live in Vegas, like Heather. They're around the same age and hit it off pretty well. It was sooooooo cold on Thursday. Just frigid. Every place we went, we froze our butts off. We also told one of the member's brothers that we would go to Thursday night soccer. So, we got a member to take us over to Selah to play and she ended up getting hit in the face. But she's doing okay. Good thing she came with us earlier to a lesson that went awesome with a lady that should be getting baptized soon. AHH!

Friday, we treated Heather to a haircut for her baptism. It's been almost a year since it's been cut, so that's what we got for her. We also got roped into helping the Wilseys clean up this duplex that they own and are trying to get clean for someone to move into. Well, it was still FREEZING and the heat wasn't working in the house, so Sister Kendell, the elders, and I all froze ourselves helping clean and paint. But it was super fun because they stuck the 3 of us in a room together and we laughed ourselves silly singing songs. 80's songs to Patriotic songs, we just had a blast!

Saturday was HEATHER'S BAPTISM! It was AWESOME! SOOOO SPIRITUAL!!! And we had an investigator there and it hit her, really hard. She was crying and just...wow. It was such a great baptism and everything went perfectly!! It's probably the most spiritual baptism I've had on my mission. We also met a less active in the ward earlier that day and he's a little crazy. He was all 'bad and rough' and at the end, he kissed our hands goodbye. Yeah, a little creepy, but that's how it goes. Yikes. I also started coughing my lungs out. Not fun. I was losing my voice after dinner and the singing Hna. Kendell and I did at the baptism was semi-amusing because I couldn't talk.

That continued Sunday as I got made fun of in ward council. Haha. We did have a lazy Sunday. I was feeling like a piece of junk and it just...ahh. I wanted to die. Same thing on Monday. But I'm feeling better today and things have been great! We went to the temple today and that was awesome. Now all 5 of us are emailing together and we've got zumba on the program for tonight!

Oh, so I was talking to a member on Saturday. She's headed to Madison with her family for some training and they want to stop in Nauvoo and stay there and I told her about it and all the things to do. And she was wondering where we stay, so I told her about the Pountain's house. And she wants that info. Her phone number is xxxx and her name is Sister Martinez. She speaks English, so it's a-okay. =) Actually she's white. Haha. But anyways, you should call her so you can get that to her ASAP.

Also, I have lots of garment tops I don't use because they're too short. I haven't used them for a while and I was wondering if you just wanted me to send them home and you could use them or if you just want me to ditch them. They're not in bad shape, so that's why I'm asking. [And you don't have to put this part in the blog. Haha]

Anyways, I love you all! You are amazing and in my prayers! I love being a missionary! It's sooo awesome! Let me know where Mikey gets called to.

LOVE YOU!
Con amor,
Hna. Pleshek

1 Mar 2011

No letter this week. Only pictures. Enjoy!

22 Feb 2011

Mother Dearest,

I'm sending out a letter of my last week. More so for my benefit than for yours, although I do like you to know what's going on. I've also realized that it's a lot harder for me to write if I don't have a sticky note of things that I've done this week. I usually have my planner, but that's so vague.

On a random note, there's this man sitting next to me and he's talking about this movie and how they used so much movie and he goes 'They used so much fur in the movie, I though PETA was going to have a cow'. I laughed really hard. Thought I'd share it. =)

On Tuesday, Juanita had her interview with Elder Urbina for baptism and she did AWESOME! Juana is so great and I'm so grateful that I got to teach her all the way through. It's fantastic. But, she did so great. During p-day, we had a talk with the Naches sisters [they're in the tri-panionship] and Sister Kendell and I decided that we should take one of the sisters with us on a mini-exchange to help her out a little bit and deal with all of the stuff she's going through. Well, Wednesday, we were supposed to have companionship study with the zone leaders and things just...got crazy. Everything exploded and Sister Kendell and I found ourselves in the middle of it all. We were emotionally exhausted after we left district meeting. Good thing we went over to Sister White's with Heather and made some super cute alphabet magnets that I'm going to be making a lot when I get home, FYI. =)

Thursday, we ended up going to the hospital to sing to some people. We sang to one family a member in the branch had met while he was there. And then another was a less active in the branch who is ...dying. She is. We walked in and she was shouting 'AGUA' really loud. And it scared me a little bit. I can only imagine how much it scarred little Alex who was with us. Her dad drove us around to these hospitals, so ...yeah. It was pretty insane. But it was okay. We stopped and saw a lot more people and had some great lessons. We had a lesson with Cindy Judd and read the Book of Mormon with her. She's doing great, but definitely cannot be pushed in any way shape or form. We recognize that she's doing something big by even talking to us, so we're helping her understand the gospel and the Book of Mormon.

Friday was fantastic because ALL of the things we planned, we DID! Nothing cancelled and everything was awesome! Heather had her baptismal interview with President Greer and it went great! She passed and is so excited for her baptism. We also had a great last lesson with Juanita before her baptism and the Mitchells came with us. It was on tithing and was fantastic! I'm so glad that they were there to help us teach. We also had dinner with Emiguel and had a good lesson with them as well. It was a pretty productive Friday.

Saturday, spent the morning in Yakima. We had a meeting after interviews. I had my last interview with President before my exit interview he will have with me in a month or so. It was nuts to hear him count the days I have left before I go home. I didn't really appreciate that. It was crazy. But I had a great interview with him. I love the Greers. They are so awesome. When I was talking to Sister Greer, she got down on the ground and was showing me yoga poses that could help me stretch. Haha. They're hilarious and I know that they're in the mission to help me!

We went up to Selah later that day to contact the million referrals we had there. We saw a lot of people and talked to them about the gospel. It was pretty great. We also spent a lot of time at the church, filling up the font for Juanita's baptism! Which, was excellent! She was on time, had friends and family there, and did spectacular! I'm so happy for her. The choice she made to change her life and become a member. She's awesome! The baptism was so specific to her, I just loved it. Hna. Kendell and I just smiled the whole time. =)

On Sunday, she was confirmed and it was such a sweet tender mercy to see it. She's so excited for this and I know she'll do amazing! And we planned Heather's baptism on Sunday, too. We've almost got all the details hammered out for it. And on Saturday, she will FINALLY be baptized, after all the seizures, sickness, and re-teaching EVERYTHING. It was all worth it to see her change and just...oh my gosh, she's so amazing, too! The Lord really has blessed me and my companion!

I know that this gospel is true. It changes lives and blesses families. I'm so grateful for this chance that I have to be a witness of Christ. To share the message that His church is again on the earth. It's a priviledge to do that. I've changed and I know it's because of my mission. It saved my life. And I'm so glad for the family that I've been blessed with. I count it as pretty much the biggest blessing in my life. Because without my family, I wouldn't have the knowledge of the doctrine of Christ. Thank you for being an example for me. Dad, too. I know I can't do any of this without you guys. I love you!

Con amor,

Hna. Pleshek

15 Feb 2011

Oh Mother.

So little time and I've been like running around like a mad person. I will for sure write you a letter this week to make up for this lame email. But, I hope you enjoy the pictures. They're exciting and I love my companion! She's soooo awesome!

I love you all and I will write you soon! Thank you for all you do for me!

Con amor,

Hna. Pleshek

8 Feb 2011

Oh Mom.

What an email I have for you this week. I'm writing you first so I don't get all distracted and frustrated because I'll get sick of writing emails right away. I think an hour isn't long enough to email, but I'd rather have my hour spread apart in different section so I don't get too sick of the computer and email. Yikes. I never thought I would say that. Anyways.

Last Tuesday was crazy! I spent 5 hours in the hospital with Heather. Sister Kendell and I got a call from her that morning just as we were leaving and she asked us if we could take her to the ER. We can't because we can't take anyone in our car, so we called a member and she thankfully took her. And we all spent some time with her there. She didn't leave until a few hours after we had left, but they got her medicine changed and she's doing a lot better! We also had an awesome lesson with Juanita that night. It was super! And to top the night off, we walked in on Heather fighting with her daughter's father on the phone. It was really uncomfortable, and so we left. We called her and told her we would come tomorrow, but she insisted we came over that night. When we got there, she was crying and had punched the wall and it was just nuts. Perfect time to talk about the Atonement. I just love that no matter what, that subject ALWAYS applies to what we do.

Wednesday, we had a loong district meeting. We had this thing the elders wanted to do...yeah, it was weird. But, whatever, we did it anyways. We were at the church super early at their request and then we waited forever to start the meeting. Finally, we just decided to start without them. We opened with a prayer and a song and then I did some training. I was in the middle of it when all the elders walked in on us and they just looked at us in a state of shock. It was pretty funny, but then I just let them take it away. It was really funny to see the look on their faces. But, the day just kind of dragged on and wasn't the best. We felt sick after the meeting because it was Sister Stewart's birthday and the elders had made us play these weird games....I don't even know. But we were both sick because we had just eaten junk. And that doesn't put you in the best mood. We had this appointment with Jacobe and Sister Kendell said that if he cancelled, she just might cry. We walked into his house and he was like oh shoot, I forgot. Can we do it a different day. I almost burst into tears, but just started laughing and said that it was cool. And then all of our appointments cancelled on us pretty much for that day. So, despite ourselves, we decided to tract. We did and even though we didn't really have any success, we saw the blessing of it later that night. We had an AWESOME night and one of our investigators texted us out of the blue saying that he missed us and wanted to meet with us again and that he would be in church on Sunday. I know that was a direct blessing of us being obedient.

Thursday, we walked into Moxee again. We had some awesome lessons with Jacobe and Sister Carlton, a less active. We also had a super lesson with Heather and since our dinner cancelled, we ate with some members of the ward. They are awesome! And then the funniest thing that happened was probably our lesson that night with a 14 year old named Aramis. Our WML came with us cause his son is friends with Aramis. And we were teaching about the Word of Wisdom and then about the feelings of the Holy Ghost. While we're teaching his mom comes in and he starts explaining to her what we're talking about and says 'Yeah, and it's a burning in your gizzard.' and I about peed my pants. Seriously. It was ridiculous, but SOOO funny! That kid is funny!

Friday was the day where we were persecuted for being righteous. It was hard, but after some prayer and hymns, we had a great weekly planning session. But both Sister Kendell and I felt like we were living in the BOM days like in the story of the Tree Of Life where those who are trying to do right are laughed at, mocked, and persecuted by those who SHOULD be doing right. Yeah. Lame. We had a good day though and there was a little surprise party that one of the elders organized for those missionaries leaving. It was low key and neither of us wanted to go, but we did to show that we loved them. It helped relieve us after a REALLY intense lesson that we had with Emy and Miguel. But, great day!

Saturday, we had a baptism in the branch. One of the little girls got baptized and it was awesome. We had a crazy busy day and it was just...nuts! But, awesome. We didn't even have time to eat dinner because we were just running around from lesson to lesson and just all over. So great to have days where you just crash afterwards. We also were supposed to get transfer calls, but didn't. And that was distracting as well. BEESH!

Sunday morning came pretty early. We got a text from Jacobe like 3 minutes after we woke up saying that he wasn't coming to church. We've been trying to stress the importance of church and such and it has hopefully been semi working. Anyways, we told him it was his loss and that we hope to see him before one of us left. And then he told us not to make him feel bad. I said I wasn't trying to, but just saying it like it was. Then he went on this whole tangent about how he has faith and whoever thinks he doesn't is wrong and he still believes in the teaching of the Church and I just told him that faith is an action word and if you don't use it, it's going to leave. And how Satan is trying to get him. Anyways, we left it at that and I was kind of irratated a little bit. But we went to our meeting and then after church had started, I looked back and in the overflow, Jacobe was walking in. It was a miracle! He told his dad that he wasn't going to Seattle and came to church instead. AWESOME! It taught me a great lesson to NEVER make exceptions for not going to church. It's such an easy habit to getting into and then you become inactive. That's the trend I've seen with most of the less actives. They skip one week and then the next and then they're inactive and out of the habit. We also had an awesome lesson with a lady named Cindy. She told us she wanted to read the Book of Mormon, but didn't understand it so she wanted us to come read it with her. She's awesome! But, we had a great lesson with her and gave her a seminary manual to help her understand it more. She loved it!

Yesterday, we had an AWESOME day. Sister Kendell and I got transfer calls at about 10 a.m. and it was hilarious. They're reading it off and we're just sitting there together, holding hands. And then they finish, and we're like....wait! Our names weren't called. And we start screaming!!! The Mitchells were like what happened? Brother Mitchell heard us in the garage. Haha. But, we went to work and just had a great day. We did SO much. We helped a lady paint for about 2-ish hours, which, really was awesome to see her. She's been struggling and just needed some friends. And we taught a lesson to a lady named JoAnn and she had some doubts about the Sabbath and polygamy. And when we explained, she understood and thought it was awesome! We had a fabulous dinner with someone from the ward and our night was filled with the Spirit leading us. So great!

Anyways, this is a HUGE letter and it's taken forever to write. But I love you all! Thank you for all you do! You're the best! And I'm so glad I'm staying here with Sister Kendell. We had a work here to do together and it's very obvious to us that this is right. I love you and I miss you!

Con amor,

Hna. Pleshek

1 Feb 2011

Mom,

I wish I had more time, but I just don't. Things have been nuts and I spent about 5 hours with Heather in the hospital today. It's insane! But, time is winding down and I can't believe it's February already! Sheesh.

I wrote you a letter...I hope you got it. I'll write you another one to make up for the lame, short email. Sorry. I'm just a pooper. But, I love you! Have a fantastic week!

Hna. Pleshek