20 Jul 2010

My dear familia!

It sounds like you've had some exciting things happening this week! Que suerte!

Last week was SO nuts and I'm sorry I was a poop and didn't write a longer letter. Getting everything ready for transfers was hectic, but things are a little less hectic now...sort of.

Yeah, so congrats on being Nana again, Mom. My daughter - Hna. Christina Rico - was born July 14, 2010 at about 12:40 p.m. She's got curly brown hair with her brown eyes. She's about 5'6" and 120 pounds. Okay 130. Nah, I don't know how much she weighs, really. She comes from Draper, Utah and she was only in the MTC for 3 weeks. Her dad is from Mexico and her mom is from California. She's the 2nd of 4, with a 32 year old brother who lives in Cali and a 18 and 15 year old sisters at home. Her family is less active, so I think it's legit she's here. But she's cute and I love her to pieces.

When I got the call last Saturday, Hna. Kendell and I were sitting/laying on my bed and when I heard I was training, I about fell off the stupid thing. Usually, trainers receive a call on Friuday before they send out the voicemail, but no call. I thought Hna. Kendell and I were staying together. Sunday morning, President Greer called me and he was like, "So Sister Pleshek, it looks like you have a new assignment coming your way" and I was like "Yep, I definitely learned that from the voicemail. I was shocked, that's for sure." He just laughed and told me that I was called by God and hand picked tobe her trainer. That made me feel semi-calmed. But he then proceeded to tell me her name was Sister Ree-cow. You know, like how people say Rekow. I figured it wasn't right because he said it with a gringo accent. And he had told me she was fast tracked through the MTC. So anways.

On Monday, I got a blessing from E. Arnold. I was just really feeling inadequate and like I couldn't do it. He...well, my Heavenly Father told me that He had already planned out my mission before I was even on one and that I was the right person for the job. When things like that happen, I just..I know Heavenly Father is mindful of us and loves us. There's no way He doesn't. He knows my fears and gave me the faith to overcome them.

Saying goodbye to Hna. Kendell was hard. Probably not as hard as saying goodbye to Hna. Dunoskovic because she was leaving the mission. I know I will see Hna. Kendell again, soon! And I can always leave her a message. But we had SO much fun together. She was great for me to have right before I trained. She helped me a lot and I grew so much!

We had a trainer's meeting with the Greers on Friday. That was awesome! I love the Greers! Sister Greer is SO tender and just...I love to give her HUGE hugs because she's a hugger and so am I. The meeting about about training vs. teaching and bold vs. overbearing. They also taught us tips on how to help our greenies more. I am the only sister missionary training this transfer. I'm also the only Spanish missionary training, too. It's fun because a lot of the elders that are training on this side of the mission are my buddies and first time trainers, too. It's really exciting.

My first day - Thursday - was really hard for me. I felt so alone. It wasn't good. But after being on my knees to my Father in Heaven, I felt a lot better. And Friday night. Oh my gosh, I was in tears. Elder Arnold had given a spiritual thought about sharing the gospel and his grandma. His grandma isn't a member, but he has a sister in Chile on a mision, too. And as they write home, they've started giving her reading assignments from the Book of Mormon. He said the have never given up hope and now, little by little, she's coming around. I just had all my thoughs turn to my Papa. I felt like I needed to write a letter to him. As I got my paper and started to write my letter, the tears just fell from my face. I was so filled with love and just the deepest desire for him to repent. Just like how Alma feels. I began to think of my experience in the temple and how I wanted my grandparents to be in the temple with me. I was breaking inside and the tears were coming and then the phone rang. It was Elder Bair calling about dinner and when he asked me why I was crying, I proceeded to tell him. He listened and then just talked to me. He told me to always remember 2 things. 1 - I was never to lose hope, even though I haven't. And 2 - if it wasn't for my Papa's testimony of the gospel, I wouldn't be here. He assured me my Father knew how I felt and once again, it was the words I needed to hear from the mouth of an elder. The Lord works in mysterious way, but they always benefit us.

We had a rock awesome day yesterday. We were getting really discouraged because we had an awesome district meeting and everything and then, we just weren't finding anyone to talk to. All of our appointments fell through. So, we just finally sat in our car and said a prayer. And, we started in a totally different place and just started walking. We ran into so many new people and got appointments to come teach them. It was SO awesome. And this lady came up to us, asking us how to get ahold of the missionaries because she wanted to take the lessons again. Oh my gosh, this is SO the Lord's work and He's in it 122429035239035823590%!!!!!!!! I have such a huge testimony of that.

Well, I love you all and things are really going good here. I love Vancouver and I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to train. Hna. Rico and I are growing and learning together and enjoying it while it comes. I love you and thank you for all you do for me. Be safe and don't let George come and getcha! =)

Con amor,
Hna. Pleshek

13 Jul 2010

This is going to be short because I'm out of time. And I just want you to know that I love you and that you should wish me luck bceause I'm getting my new companion tomorrow and she's green! But I love you and I'll write you again soon!

Love you!

Hna. Pleshek

6 Jul 2010

This photo is the Vancouver West zone with President and Sister Greer.

Always so many things to write and not enough time to do so. Ugh. But we'll start with first things first.

So, I already sent you a picture of my zone and the Greers. Mom, she's precious. I love Sister Greer. It was weird hearing from them because it just felt like they were visiting from the 70 and that they'd make their debut and leave. But they're here. And it'll take some getting used to, but I'm excited for them. The transition was so smooth. Nothing was ruffled and it was just...lovely. But, the missionary department has made a lot of changes. I'm not sure if this is international or just in the U.S., but there have been changes. Zone meetings and interviews are now quarterly instead of every transfer. We have 8 more lessons to learn as missionaries, but they're for us and not our investigators. For the sisters, the skirt line has been raised and we can now have shorter skirts. They need to cover our knees when we sit, but if they do that, then they're good! We also can wear open toed shoes. And ready for this...NO MORE NYLONS! The only thing we need to wear nylons for is for ordinances, so sacrament meetings and baptisms and stuff. But other than that, it's free air! And we there's no more color restrictions. If I want to wear lime green, I can! =) But, that's just an update on that.

On the 1st, Elder Arnold had his birthday and we threw a surprise party for him at the Churches. We [the whole district] hid in the closet and when they came in, we jumped out and yelled surprise. It was all sorts of fun and we had an absolute blast putting it on for him. Oh man, it was his last birthday here on the mission and I think he really loved it. I would have if I was him. Haha.

We also celebrated the 3rd of July at the Hibbards. We went out to see some people in Washougal and just made our way to their house that night. They roasted a pig and it was SO good! Oh my gosh. I ate the nose. Haha. Somehow, some people thought I should eat it. I took a bite of it and it was NASTY! I'll never do that again. Haha. If I hadn't known it was the nose, I probably wouldn't have eaten it. But I did. And it was bad. Haha. But, it was just so much fun and there were lots of other Elders there that I didn't really know too well and now, we're all buddies. We also got a new investigator out of it all, so it helped that we were still doing missionary work while enjoying ourselves.

On the 3rd, my compa and I spent some time with the Reschke's. They're a white family in the branch since the parents both speak Spanish. But we went strawberry picking in our skirts and that was really exciting. We also ate at their house on Sunday. It was fun to have American food for the 4th. But they sure did take care of us this weekend and I appreciate it.

We had an awesome day yesterday! Everything seemed to work out just as we planned and we taught some amazing lessons! I think Heavenly Father blesses his missionaries with good Monday's so then when it comes to the rest of the week, we're still pumped up and ready to go! WOOT WOOT! But, yeah. This p-day is going to be exciting. It's one of our last before the transfer. Transfers are a week from tomorrow and I feel like both my companion and I are staying. Of course, I'll do what the Lord needs, and I still am sort of scared for phone calls, but I feel like there's so much more for me to do here with her. I think we'll be okay. But of course, I'll let you know next week what happens! Haha.

I love you! And I'm sorry that this is short. But, life is crazy as a missionary. Thank you for all you do for me and I love you all!
Con amor,
Hna. Pleshek

29 Jun 2010

Dear Mom,

So this has been an amazing week! To say the least. It sounds like all is well at home and things are going good. That's what every missionary loves to hear. I'm glad that I'm always excited to check my email because there will be good things on it instead of depressing things. A lot of missionaries hate p-days because their companions always get sad emails from home about how things are falling apart. I'm glad that I don't get any sorts of that stuff.

And this email is going to be short. As always. The time just slips away and I have no idea where it goes! But, we've had some bomb things happen this week. We had Dance Festival and that was amazing! I can't even describe to you how awesome it was! I don't have enough time for that. BUt it was legit and I cried and felt the Spirit and was uplifted just as much as the youth were! It was so awesome! I saw the Dobberfuhl's there. All 4 boys were in it, but I didn't manage to see one. Probably because there were also 2000 youth there and that's a buttload of kids.

Haha, so last Wednesday, we met this lady and her name is Lois and she's old. Haha. She's so funny. She was talking to us and we were helping her and her granddaughter pick weeds. So funny, I've gotten really good at that since my mission. But she was talking to me about how it wasn't safe to leave the country and how there were too many foreigners here in the United States. I just laughed to myself because I was like 'if she only knew that I work with mainly Hispanics, she probably wouldn't have said that'. Anyways, she was funny and I hope we get to help her again. Also, her dog ate my bubble gum.

So, here's something that was nuts! It happened yesterday right after our district meeting. A family in our branch just had a baby and so we were taking a card over to them, but they weren't home. We had called them earlier and they told us they probably would be really busy, but we went anyways. We left the card in their door and all of a sudden, there were all these chickens squaking, so I was like, 'hey, let's go look at their chickens'. Yeah, it's kind of creepy, but I decided that it wouldn't hurt since they weren't home. We go back there and there's a dog in the chicken coop. So, we call Brother Woodland and Hna. Kendell is like 'so, there's a dog in your coop and is he supposed to be there?' and Brother Woodland told us they didn't have a dog. So, we chased the dog out and called the Elders to help us catch all these chickens. There were about 24 chickens and we got about 20 of them. 2 got eaten and I'm not sure what happened to the other two. MIA, I guess. But, either way. I learned how to catch a chicken and put it back in it's pen, thanks to Elder Arnold. I had no idea that he even knew how to catch chickens until yesterday. And I'm glad that he did, because neither Hna. Kendell or I knew how to catch them and we probably wouldn't have gotten like any back into the coop. Thank goodness for Elders, right?

So, we got a new mission president yesterday. And, so Hna. Kendell and I called Sister Greer and we welcomed her to the mission. It was nuts, because in the 5 minute conversation all 3 of us had, I felt this instant connection and I'm so excited to meet them both. We get to meet them on Friday and I'm super excited for it!

But, that's all the time I have. I love you all and will email you again next week!

Con amor,

Hna. Pleshek

22 Jun 2010

Querido Familia!

Wow, I have so many things to say in such little time. I hope that it all comes out the way I'd like it too. There's just so much. It's been a fantastic/weird/crazy/bad/productive week and wow. Yeah, so let's get started. I don't even all know what really happened this week. That's the kicker. I never really remember what all happens, but somehow, I always manage to find things to say.

So, our half mission zone conference was AMAZING! It was President and Sister Belnap's last chance to drill the marriage/family message into our heads. Everyone talked about it except for the Assistants. But the conference was awesome and I learned so much. Poor Hna. Kendell. She has to deal with my random outbursts of 'I'm too young to get married' and 'I can't get married yet' and all sorts of stuff like that. Haha, but you know, that's me. We also had this big thing during the Conference about the Dance Festival that's on Friday and Saturday. Almost 2,000 youth from this half of the mission are going to be doing the festival and we as missionaries - all the missionaries on the western half of the mission - get to participate in it! Oh man, so stoked! We have this amazing part in the programs. Like reciting the Standard of Truth and just singing and marching out. Oh man, it's going to be so legit! And for the YC portion of it. Oh man, that made us all bawl. So, what's going to happen is Captain Moroni is going to come out with his Title of Liberty and then Helaman is going to come out and stand by him. They're going to talk about how they need armies. A bunch of YM are going to come out. And then they'll talk about how they need an even stronger army. A bunch of YW will come out carrying all the YW colors. And then they'll say they need an even stronger army. And all of us missionaries will come out. We'll do our part and then we'll go into the bleachers where all the youth are and sing Army of Helaman. Oh it's going to be great! The Conference was so good! But pretty sure I was in tears when I left. All the of the mission presidency got in a line and we hugged and shook all their hands. By the time I got to the Belnaps, I was holding it together. Then I shook President's hand and the tears started flowing. And then, oh man. I lost it when I got to Sister Belnap. Especially when she told me 'You're doing so well. Keep going - you have SO many more miracles to work over here.' Oh man, I lost it. But, I'm going to miss them more than I can say!

Sounds like things are all exciting at home. With Andrew and his hair and B and all his talking. Man, there are sometimes I just wish I could be a fly on the wall. But, I sure do love my mission. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'd do this over and over and over again in a heartbeat. I've learned so much this week, I wish I could begin to list all the things. I've learned about my Heavenly Father's love. Every day, I learn more about it and how He's here. He's here for us. And I always knew that. But now, it's becoming more and more real for me. Especially after Zone Conference. I'm also learning more and more about my relationship with Dad. It's amazing how things all connect and especially since this last Sunday was Father's Day, it was really hard for me to be away from home on Sunday. But, it's life.

We went to the temple today. A lady in the Salmon Creek ward took us down to Portland and we all went as a zone. Except my district. We all went as a district since we got there early and went to the 7 a.m. session. Yeah, but, it was AMAZING! It was the best session I've had in the temple yet. Not only did the session go really fast, but I also was looking at it from a different perspective. And not only that, but I was so peaceful and calm. I've never felt that calm in the temple. And as I sat in the Celestial room today, I was reading in Ether 3 about the Brother of Jared. And then as I was praying...I can't even describe it. I just, it was so relaxing just to sit up there. As I got done, I was just looking around and Hna. Kendell and I were sitting on the couch. I had a spot open next to me and I could just feel Nana there. She was just sitting there, watching me. Making sure I was okay. And then Hna. Kendell leaned her head on my should and we just sat there. And I knew Nana was there. Sitting next to me on the couch, watching my companion and I. It was the most amazing feeling. I don't think I've ever felt her so strong since she's died. Even know, I just can feel it inside of me. I know that she's helping me out here. She's aware of me and she loves me. And I know it. She wants me to be happy and gall, here I am, sitting at my computer, crying. Haha. But, it was a really special day in the temple for me. So, I love you all. And I'm out of time. But, I just wanted to share a little bit of my week with you. I hope that everything at home is going well. Know that I pray for you all the time. I'm so lucky to have a family whose foundation is that of the Lord. I'm blessed beyond imagination! Love you!

Con mucho, mucho amor, como siempre,

Hna. Pleshek

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