27 April 2010

Mom,

Well, it's been a nuts week! I've almost been in Vancouver almost a week and I've got myself all moved in and we've been working. Really hard. It feels like we are opening up a new area. Nothing really has been done for a while, so we're finding new investigators and trying to teach people the good word of God. It's hard when missionaries don't work and ruin things for the missionaries to come. It's like that talk from Spencer W. Kimball - Lock Your Heart. It talks about ruining all the work that was done and can be done by little things. And I think that's definitely what happened here.

So, we're teaching some really cool people. And we're hoping that Sister Dunoskovic will go out with a bang and on a good note. I'm determined and so is she. And we're SO excited to be together again, working our little butts off. It's exciting because we work well together and she teaches me something new each day that I can use in my teaching to make me a better missionary. She's definitely got experience and I would be stupid not to soak up all the goodness of her that I can.

It's been crazy learning the area. I, in fact, think that this will be a lot more difficult than Kennewick. Vancouver is SO big, but my trusty Garmi and I are a good team. And I know that the Lord will bless me since I'm doing HIS work and not my own. So, it helps that I've got Him on my side. :-D I'm also glad that I got a letter, even if the seminary lesson did get put on hold. But, I appreciate it. And even though I really don't worry about things too much at home, it helps to know that things are going well and nothing is happening to worry about.

That's scary about the nightmare Dad had. I can't even imagine going home at this point. Like, it's just been an amazing experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. The Lord has things He needs me to do here in Washington. Hna. Dunoskovic and I were talking about this on Sunday. About the missionaries that influenced us when we were younger. And even though they didn't baptize us, it didn't mean that they weren't fulfulling their purpose to come unto Christ. I know that I probably would not have thought sister missionaries were cool if it wasn't for Sister Freddie and her influence on me. She showed me how cool it was to be a missionary and what was all possible. I credit a lot of being here to her. And Hna. Dunoskovic has a sister missionary like that, too. We spent some time on Sunday with the family Buttars. They are members and they have 5 kids. 4 girls and 1 boy. And we spent a lot of time just playing with the girls and talking to them about being missionaries. Giving them attention they don't get and influencing their lives. Some missionaries would think that would be a waste of time, but we invited them to come unto Christ and I KNOW that we made a difference in their lives.

Gall. I can't believe Andrew is so huge! That's nuts! He was shorter than me when I left. It's amazing how much things change in the course of 6 months. I can't believe that I've been gone for that long. In another week or so, it'll be a year til I come home. Where has this time gone? I just have been so caught up in teaching that I haven't been able to watch each day pass. We wake up and in the blink of an eye, it feels like our whole day has flown by. But, it makes it easier that we are teaching and helping others.

Haha, have we got rain! We've gotten some rain on and off all today. It hasn't rained as much as I thought it would, but then again, I've only been here for 6 days. But, it hasn't dampered anything spirits of ours. We are determined to work! Especially since we're together and both know what we're capable of! We're so excited to be here and help change Vancouver and turn around people's perspectives on sister missionaries.

I did get in contact with the Dobberfuhls a couple days ago. I just looked in the phone book and called them up. They were so cute! Doug was so excited to talk to me and I am so excited to see them. They're taking us out to lunch on May 5th. Speaking of lunch, we had lunch today at HomeTown Buffet, which, is the restaurant where Doug and Steph took us when we were in Vancouver back in January 2008. I thought it was funny. I was like 'I've been here before' and then Hna. Dunoskovic looks at me and goes 'yeah, but not in Vancouver' And I just looked at her and went 'Yeah, here in Vancouver. They don't have these where I live'. But I thought it was funny.

Dang, what is wrong with Erin's roommate? Sounds like a weirdo. Who the heck shows clips from Bruce Almighty in Sunday School? That's whack!

Speaking of whack, Mother's Day is coming up in a few weeks and so I'm thinking that I'll be able to call sometime in the evening. We have church from 2-6 [meetings afterwards] and so we'll probably call before we eat dinner. But as soon as we hammer out some details, I'll let you know for sure when. But I'm really excited to talk to all of you!

I love being a missionary and I know I say that every week, but I just can't say it enough. The Lord is blessing my companion and I through our efforts and continues to do so as we obey. I love to learn from the scriptures and I love learning something new each day from the people I come in contact with. I love you all and I will be talking to you soon!

20 April 2010

Alright, this email is going to be super quick. But I hope it's a good one.

So things here this past week have just been NUTS! I can't believe all that's happened in such a short time. We got transfer calls this week and yep! You guessed it! I'm being transferred. I'm going over to Vancouver. And my new companion? None other than my mission mom - Hna. Dunoskovic! I'm beyond excited as you can imagine and I'm just counting down the days til we get to serve together again!

Meanwhile, I'm here in West Richland with a trio of English sisters. I'm having a lot of fun and it's been great! 2 of the sisters in the trio are from Temple Square. Sister Burgoyne and I are hitting it off well. Turns out, we were in the MTC together - entered the same day and everything. And I remember talking to her there, too. We made that connection last night. So, she and I will be ending our missions the same day and we are SO excited! We stayed up way too late last night talking. But, it was just so great! She's amazing!

So, I sent Sister Garcia off last night. It was difficult. What was even more difficult was saying goodbye to all those people in Kennewick that I love and treasure dearly. I surely will miss them more than I can say. But I do know that I have a purpose in Vancouver and that everything will be well in Kennewick. It'll just be a drastic change going from Kennewick to Vancouver! It's been so hot here! High 80's. And I've been melting. So I'm excited for the new change.

Since I'm going to Vancouver, is there a chance that you might get a hold of the Derbs and let them know? I'd love to see them while I'm there. And I'm pretty sure I'll be there for a while since I'm killing Hna. Dunoskovic. I guess President wants me to kill all his missionaries. But, I'm definitely okay with going back to her. Even if I do have to kill her :-D

Let's see...what else? Well, this last week I've been able to study out of the Engisn alot. Sister Garcia was 'sick' all the time and so she'd stay in her bed until 12 or 1 some days. And so I studied the issue from last Conference and it has just been amazing! I've been geeking out on that and the scriptures like nothing else! These last 3 weeks have been so rewarding for me. It's just been amazing! It's great to be a missionary!

I truly do love serving here in Washington! I love the Lord and I love teaching people about our Savior and His Atonement for us. It's wonderful to always be a representative of Him - wearing His name on me 24/7. This is the best decision I've made yet - hands down. I couldn't ask for a more rewarding experience and I know that it will only continue to get better. I know that the Lord provides for His missionaries. I know that is true 100%!

My time is really short today, but I love you all! And I will write more next week! Thank you for all you do for me and for this work. We [the missionaries and the Savior] really appreciate it!
Con muchisimo amor,
Hna. Pleshek
P.S. I have been thinking and I think that you should send the missionaries over the Barb's house. She's been on my mind alot lately and so, that's what I think should go down.
P.P.S. Super weird about all the drama and about all the engagements. Dang. Anyone else? Haha. Love you!

13 Apr 2010

Sorry I'm emailing so late. It's just been a crazy hectic day! I truly wish that I could just go back and rewind it all. It went way too fast. We started off at the temple today and it was crazy. We had a 7 a.m. session and so I had to wake up at 5:30. Crazy, I know, but I didn't fall asleep and I learned so much today. I've been studying about the Creation in prep for the temple this week and I have learned SO much. It's been amazing. I've got it all written down in my journal and maybe I'll just photo copy it and send it to you because I don't have the time to write down everything I learned. My personal study this week has been so rewarding. I've been having so many insights that are so relevant to me and man, it's just been so great. I've been learning new things each day. Which, is how it's supposed to be. But, yeah, it's great! And the audio and video didn't work at all today in the temple, so it was narrated. And that was really interesting. I payed more attention to it than I ever have before. But I learned so much in that session today.

Let's see. Oh, so then Sister Garcia had her departing session with the Belnaps and I went on splits with Katie Jensen. She just got back from her mission to Korea about a transfer ago and is headed to Idaho for school on Friday. Her and her sister. But, she's amazing and I'm so glad that I just got to chill out at her house with her and write letters and just have fun. It's so awesome to be in a house. Like, we are ALWAYS at apartments and we LIVE in an apartment, so when I get a chance to be in a house, I never pass it up. I miss home.

And then we had a zone p-day and that was really fun. I got to play basketball with the elders again. Although it's really hard because I can't touch them and they can't touch me and so it's not as fun. Because it's not physical or anything. So, I'll just wait until after my mission to play with the elders in my zone.

Transfer calls are coming on Saturday and I'm really nervous. I know my companion is leaving, but I don't want to be doubled out of the area. I still feel like I've got so much more work to do here and that I have people I need to teach. But President Belnap is making a lot of changes so we don't get comfortable right before a new mission president. But still. I really hope that I don't get transferred. But we'll see. I'll go wherever the Lord needs me to go. It's part of the job.

It sounds like there's been a lot going on at home. Here, too. I just, we're teaching and we're busy and we're going, going, non stop. It's insane. And I really wish that I knew the language. Body language helps alot. Like, when we ran into some Cubans and they talk really fast and I didn't understand what the guy was saying to me, but I did understand when he kept telling me my eyes were pretty and when we left, he blew me a kiss. Yeah, I understood that. Oh well. I'm making progress with the language and saying more things and trying with all I can to understand. They just talk so fast.

Speaking of hair. My hair has gotten really long. It's beginning to bug me and I kind of want to cut it, but I'm scared. My trainer said that anytime she got her hair cut here, it was just demolished. And I'm really picky with my hair, so I don't want that. She said the best bet was just to let it grow out. So, we'll see how that goes. Because once my hair starts bugging, I always want to cut it.

Everything is going good here. I'm learning to build patience each day. And I'm learning all sorts of things. And I'm definitely finding out what qualities I can and cannot have in a future husband. Haha. For real, though. It's crazy.

Man, and one of my goals is to NOT gain 50 pounds while I'm on my mission. But I totally understand why it happens. Okay, so we had double dinner duty yesterday. We ate a dinner with an English family and a dinner with a member in the branch. Dang. I was one tiny bite away from puking. I came home and I did, actually. But it was terrible. I know why people gain so much weight. Double dinners! And because people ALWAYS want to feed us and shove food in our faces and then tell us they'll be offended if we don't eat it. Dang. But, I'm going to try not to. But I know the Lord will take care of me if I just do what He asks.

Well, I can't think of anything else to say really. Things are going good and the Lord continues to bless His children. I love you all and I pray for you every day!
Con mucho amor,
Hna. Pleshek

6 Apr 2010

Hi Mom!

Dang. We had such an amazing Conference this weekend! It was so legit and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to watch all 4 sessions of it! My friend Elder Olsen called Elder Holland's talk a 'rock concert of faith'. And he sure was right. I love Elder Holland. HIs talk and the talk by James Marino was legit, too. I just loved it all and I can't wait to read the priesthood session talks!

People are crazy and you know what? When they know the difference between right and wrong and they've been taught, it's on their own heads what happens. It doesn't make a difference really who they are. If they've done wrong, then there's really no defending that.

Grandpa's is always fun. I miss home. It wasn't quite the same Easter. We went over to some member's houses in the Southgate ward and we had some good food - ham and all the workings - but it just wasn't the same as being home. Of course, nothing is. But you know, it's all part of the experience.

I didn't know Gerald Maas died. Well then. Sorry, this letter is going to be stinky and short because I am short on time. And I don't have a whole ton to say this week either. My plan of writing things down didn't really succeed. I was sick this week. Yeah, swollen tonsils and everything. It make me feel all nasty inside and it was hard to work because I always felt like a piece. But, what can you do? Just keep pressing forward.

Oh, so I met this guy in the MTC and he was a teacher there and he told some elders in my district that he knew Dad. His last name is Tellington. And I'm not sure if I told you about this or not, but I'm doing it again, just in case. And he served in Wisconsin. So, yeah. I don't know.

Hey, so my companion knows Heather Chaffee. Do you have her email address? I want to email her a picture of Hna. Garcia and I as soon as I figure out how to get my pictures on a computer.

Oh, so I went and traded my camera for one I liked better. And it's legit. And I can hear my videos on it. So, I've been watching my videos like crazy. It's amazing!

So, not too much has happened this week. It's been kind of frustrating, but you know what? We can only do as much as we can do. People have their agency and get to choose whether or not they want to follow. As long as we teach them, we can't be held accountable. But, we're getting new people to teach and Kennewick is looking great. We have amazing people that are so ready to be baptized, but just dont' think they're quite there yet. It's kind of frustrating.

One thing that was really cool about companion study yesterday is that we were studying about the Apostasy. The great apostasy. And so we were just kind of brainstorming and had all these questions like were there 2 apostasies? Because we teach it after Christ and his Apostles died, that's when the apostasy was. But, then Christ came and established his church in the Americas. So, that was tricky. And then were there 2 sets of apostles and 2 prophets? We had all sorts of questions and so we called President Belnap and asked him and he said they were really good questions. He cleared it up for us and so that really helped. And it's just really cool to understand this doctrine more and more each day.

Everything here is good. I love you all! I'm glad to be a missionary, even though sometimes it's really hard. But it's always so worth it!
Con mucho amor y carino!
Hna. Pleshek

30 March 2010

I for sure know what you mean about the mind going blank when you sit down to write. It's so true. I should just start making a list of all the things that I want to tell you each week and then when I finally sit down to write, it'd be a lot easier. But that would be a lot of effort and I don't always have time to do those little extra convenient stuff. But, here we are. Another week gone by and I can't believe it! Where is time going? It doesn't seem like it's been a week since I last wrote. Everyone always says that a mission flies by really fast, but I just...half of me still thinks it takes forever, but the other half is like holy cow!

Like, in all honesty, I'm almost at my 6 month mark and that freaks me out like you have no idea. It feels like you guys just dropped me off at the MTC. Well, I'm not really there anymore and it does feel like I'm still brand spanking new, just stepped off the plane. But that's not the case and it's almost just a big slap in the face every week when I sit down on a p-day to write about the week that just flew by.

So, let's see if anything exciting has happened this week. Oh, we went tracting for Collect the Elect this week. Which is we tract every other day for 3 hours on double exchanges. I have all the papers at the apartment that explain it, but we each take a lady from the branch for 3 hours and go tracting apartment complexes. In two days, we got 30 return appointments and we had about 7 new investigators this week. We had 3 baptisms in the branch this week and it's just been amazing! The Lord is truly blessing our efforts.

We're still working with some of the investigators I had with Hna. Dunoskovic, but a lot of them are either dropped or we don't pay as much attention to as we should. It's kind of frustrating to see these people I was teaching not progressing. But, everyone has their agency and that's something that we always have to remember. We can't force anyone to do anything. It's just the way the Lord intended it to be.

Let's see, what else? Did I mention how much I love my district? My district is amazing! Right now, my DL is Elder Garrett and he's so inspired. My ZL's, too. They are just absolutely amazing! I couldn't ask for betters ones because they walk and teach by the Spirit and when they teach us or have a meeting - whether it's in Spanish or English - it's always something that I am in need of hearing and helps me grow immensely.

Minus the minor frustrations, everything is going well. We're plugging along like missionaries do and we are always blessed beyond measure. But it's a HUGE testimony to me to see how much families are blessed by missionary work. Not only the families we teach, but the families of the missionaries!

We had this family come to sacrament meeting on Sunday and I was SO excited! It was a family that Hna. Dunoskovic and I were teaching and the mom was like 'yeah, I know that I need to be baptized' and then when the dad came back from Texas from working, he forbade her from coming. Well, the mom went to a lady in the branch and told her that we were pushing her and she didn't want us to come back. We honestly weren't, but you know, we respect her wishes. So anytime I'd go tracting with Hna. Garcia, I'd just look at their house and be like man! I just wish that they would have been baptized. Well, I forgot what apartment they lived in one day when we were tracting and we tracted into her husband [who I'd never met, so I had no idea it was him]. We gave him a pamphlet and asked him to read it. Their whole family shows up at church on Sunday and I was SO EXCITED! Like, I was just, oh I can't tell you how happy I was to see them in church again. So we're going to call them and see if we can come visit with them sometime soon.

On to your letter. I'm sure Todd will have a lot of fun coaching. At least it will be fun to have him along. Especially if he knows his stuff. You can only add when someone knows what they're talking about. It's his turn to do the coaching now and Tiff will have to take care of the kids, huh? Well, I'm sure it'll be exciting, regardless of the outcome. The weather here has been nuts. In the last week, I've worn my jacket more than in the past 2 months I've been here. It's crazy! Haha, oh, so it's been super duper windy. And so on Thursday when we went on exchanges, right before we went, I put my shorts on underneath my skirt so in case it would blow up, which it has previously, no one would see my stylish underwear. Haha. So, we were walking and a gust of wind came and my skirt went all the way to my head. No joke. And the ladies were like OH MY GOSH! I was like don't worry about it, I have shorts on. Haha. So funny.

Aww! I love Hna. Dunoskovic! I miss her like crazy! She's just a sweetheart!

Haha, I love that you said the letter was going to be boring like your life. That's funny. The weekend doesn't sound like it was boring in the slightest. Amidst all the puking and drunkeness, it does sound like it was not boring. I would be peeing my pants if some drunk guy was coming at me, trying to vandalize the squad. Dang. We have drunk people calling us all the time and it's kind of scary because they'll ask us where we are and to come over and it's just like oh man, guys. Get a life. So, yeah. But it sounds intense. I hope there's no puke in my bed. That's nasty!

I did get the package you sent. I was super excited! Elder Iosefa helped me opened it. He was really excited about it. Just as much as I was! I also appreciate the letter in there from Elder Heidt. Haha. I think it's funny that he sent one back to the house. I sent him a postcard with an address he needed and I didn't put my return address on there cause it's a postcard. So, I wrote him today and told him what was up. Haha.

We ate dinner with this family the other night and her sister was in S.O. It was cool cause I got to tell her all about Tom and stuff and we got to talk Special Olympics. It just made her day. She's like almost 55 or something. And I told her she didn't look a day over 22. She was just so happy. Grinning from ear to ear. It just makes my day when I can make someone smile. She honestly didn't look like she was 55 though. It was nuts. Oh well.

Well, that's all I really have for now. I'm glad that things are going swell over in Wisconsin. Oh man, I have to tell you about this other family we ate with the other day. They live on this HUGE farm and it smelled like home...so nice. But, they have 15 kids. Yes. 15. I was like HOLY BUCKETS!!! But, they were fun, but just kind of over the top rude at some points. Like I was trying to give a spiritual thought and he just kept interuppting. On purpose. Because he thought it was funny. My comp just thrived off of that and started doing it, too. I was just like, oh my gosh. But their kids were really nice. It was just the dad that was a little over the top. Like they kept saying retarded and talking about the kids with disabilities and I was like yeah, I work with one every day. It's my brother. That shut them all up. I was just like come on people...you have no idea what people's circumstances are. Let's try and be a little more compassionate and not say stupid things. I wasn't mad, but I was just like hey. Some people really would get offended. You don't know about what people's backgrounds or families are like. Anyways, that's all I have. I love being a missionary! It's legit!
Con mucho amor,
Hna. Pleshek

23 March 2010

Hola familia.

It sounds like there's some fun things going on with track. I bet Erin is just loving being the assistant. Even if there is a big creeper over in Bowler. Oh well, we all have 'em. I certainly have my share of creepers out here. What the heck? I'm on a mission. I shouldn't have creepers. But they certainly present themselves.

YES! I'm super stoked for my box to come! And have all sorts of good stuff in it. Did you see if it takes the same memory cards that I have? Man, I need to send a box home. I've got some stuff that I don't want here, but I want at home. Oh well, I'll get around to it eventually. Probably when I get transferred out of here, but who knows.

I'll ask around about those people, but does he know their exact address? Cause that would be a little more helpful. Yeah, I go to Pasco alot. But, I'll ask around too and try and find a directory. Or, I could even ask President Montierth. He's the Stake President over Pasco and I have to call him today about one of our investigators. But I'll probably for sure find them. That would be really cool. I want to see someone that Dean knows!

Yeah, I read Clare's email about the whole Roy/house situation. What a turd. I can't believe he thinks that anyone else would want to buy that house. Yuck. If he's not going to sell it to the Gourleys, he's better off just tearing it down and selling some of the crap she's got in there on ebay. Yikes. I can't believe he was a jerk about it all, though. Lame. At least they'll be living in MaryEllen's house. What a sweetheart. I just love her. And it'll be fun for them to still be in their own house and to be close by and yeah. Good deal.

Aww, Cami's all 3 now. What a little cutie! I'm sad that I missed her birthday, but that's okay. I bet it was fun. The cake looked good, excpet for the creepy Aurora topping. Clare showed me it in a picture and I was like EWW! That's nast! But at least she loved it. Is Princess and the Frog good? I'm sure it is. It's Disney! I don't think they're really allowed to be bad. I definitely want to see Cami with her little pop gun, pretending to shoot a deer and make it into jerky. Just make sure she doesn't try and kill Gus or Betty. That would be really sad. I think I would probably cry, since they're like my favorite ducks on the pond.


Yeah, we've still been having excellent weather! It's beautiful out here. We've even had the AC on in our apartment.

That's awesome about Lacy and her call! CONGRATS LACY! I'm sure she's just thrilled beyond all belief! It's still just a miracle that she hasn't fainted or anything since. Oh man, that's amazing!

That's crazy about the dream! It sounds amazing though. I just wish...I just wish that Papa would change. But everyone has their agency and we can't make them change. Which is unfortunate for some people. GALL. But, we just tell them we love them. And that we're there for them. And it's all we can do. Pray. Fast. You know.

Well, the most exciting/scary thing that happened this week was on Sunday. We were driving to church and we saw this 2 car accident. This lady was driving [it was raining and the roads were wet.] and she hit the guard rail and started spinning. Luckily, she didn't go over, but she did hit the inside brick wall and stopped. But the car behind her...yeah, not so much. So that car smacked into the 1st one and just was out of control. It stopped right before the 2 roads merged. But anyways, my comp stops the car and is calling 911. She runs across the road and hops over the middle wall. I'm like okay, well, let's turn off the car and turn on some hazards here. So, I do it and then I run across the highway and hop the wall and there's just glass everywhere. This lady, Trina, had a HUGE goose egg on her head and it just was not pretty. She wasn't bleeding or anything, but she was really shaken up. We just stayed with her holding her hand, and telling her it was going to be okay. Finally police arrived and this state patrol man comes up to us and he's like Sisters? What are you doing? And we just told him what happened. We ended up staying at the scene for about 45 minutes and had to sit in the back of a cop car while we filled out our witness reports, but it was crazy. And it was such a testimony builder to me that God really does have a plan for all of us. This lady was SO lucky that she wasn't injured more than she was. She should have been. But, the Lord has a plan and it's just amazing to me that people go through that kind of stuff and don't realize that. We talked to her later in the day and she was sore, but doing okay. They realeased her from the hospital. Apparently she has a niece that's a member. She told us she was really grateful for being there with her.

Another thing to is that while I was getting ready for church on Sunday, I was listening to a John Bytheway talk and he said something about putting on your missionary tag and how it has Christ's name on it in big bold letters. Just as he was saying that, I was putting on my missionary tag and it was just amazing to realize once again, I'm a servant of the Lord. I'm doing HIS work. HIS time. HIS plan. These are HIS children and He's trusted me with them. It just built my testimony of that so much stronger. My testimony has been built so much this week.

I'm learning to rely on the Lord a lot. A lot more. It's super hard with my companion some days. And I'm learning patience. And love. And just how to rely on the Lord. He's always there for me and I just need to let Him help me. And I do. I always need the Lord's help. He's just been there for me. But whatever doesn't kill us only makes us stronger! And that's what I love. I know I'm going to grow from this so much!

Anyways, I love you! Thank you for all you do for me! I miss you, Mom.
Con mucho amor,
Hna. Pleshek

17 Mar 2010

Sounds like everything with Elder and Sister Christofferson went really well. That's really cool. I'm sad I wasn't there to see it, but you know, I've had some pretty amazing experience with General Authorities, especially when I was in the MTC. So I can't complain too much. :-D Tom...that's such a Tom thing to do. That's really cool though. It really does make them more human when we see them on a normal basis. That's how it was in the MTC. We got to see those GA's and you know, the other auxiliaries in a different light than anyone else. And so it's really cool to see yeah, they're human and that they still get scared and all that jazz.

Looks like it's been a busy week. A lot of fun stuff going on. Normal stuff, and that's good.

Things here are going great. Hna Garcia and I are working our butts off. It's insane! We're starting this new program called Collect the Elect on Sunday. And it's a month program where we just work like dogs until we're absolutely burned out and yeah, we're super excited for it. We've been tracting a lot and it's been my first time, but it's super fun. I know everyone is like eww, tracting, but it's great! I love it. Hna. Garcia and I have a blast. It's definitely a change from Hna. Dunoskovic and it was so hard to let her leave. I can't even tell you how hard it was. But, the Lord sees the big picture and has a plan. And everything is going to be okay. I know that. It just sucks because Hna. Garcia is on her last transfer, so I have to say goodbye to another one of my companions. Gall. It's definitely going to be a test, that's for sure. But, the Lord knows and has a plan for all of us. I'm curious to see at what He's trying to do. Haha. See how much I can cry in 12 weeks? I don't know. Haha. But it's all good.

Oh man, I'm so excited to see where Lacy goes! And as far as Nick goes, when does he report? Some time in May, right? Man, that's nuts! That's not a long time. I can't believe that I've been out as long as I have. I hit my 4 month mark tomorrow. WHAT THE HECK? Where does the time go? I can't believe it. But I love every single day I spend out here in Washington! My Spanish is getting better every day and I'm astonished. It truly is a testimony to me that the Lord blesses His missionaries and that the gift of tongues is so real!

I'm going to miss the Barretts. They've been amazing. I'm going to miss the Belnaps, too. They leave in July as well and then we get President Greer. I think that's his name. But he's a lawyer, too. He's also from Arizona and so I'm really excited for all the change that's coming, but at the same it's crazy. I just...wow. A mission is full of change and sometimes I have to remind myself that I signed up for this and I knew this was going to happen. But it doesn't always make things easier. But sometimes it does. :-D

Other than adjusting to life with a new companion and all that jazz, it's pretty uneventful here. We're just doing what we're doing - finding people and teaching everyone about how great of a guy God is. We had Zone Conference yesterday, and that was fun. I love Zone Conference. And we get to learn so many awesome things! Yesterday, President Belnap was giving us advice for after our missions and the biggest thing he told us as sisters is that when we're interviewing our future husbands, always ask if they've been a full tithe payer. And he said, it's not about the tithing. It's about the act of faith it takes to pay tithing. So, I thought that was really cool.

Oh another quick question I had. So, I really need a new camera. And preferably one soon because I don't want to have my camera that's breaking for my whole mission. I've just been using my companions' cameras, but eventually I probably will need a new one. So, could I just get that now and have a new camera be my Christmas and birthday present? That would be awesome. You should probably let me know, so I can look for one or not. Or just start buying disposables. Haha. That'd be great.

Kay, I love you all. Thank you for everything! Keep being member missionaries, because without the members, the missionaries don't go succeed as well as we can.

Con mucho amor,

Hna. Pleshek