Things I learned this week on my mission!

• Utah is freezing
• Utah is a dry desert where you have to bath yourself in lotion
• Josh Groban cures all
• My companion and I got a new car on wednesday. 2013 corolla is my best friend.
• People in Utah like to answer the door while not wearing any clothing.
• Men in Utah like to answer the door in Utah while not wearing any clothing. my life.
• This lady made me eat meat and I was crying and then she told me it was soy and life was not so bad. Most terrifying/delicious meal of my life.
• Everyone will and has laughed at my spanish
• All of my investigators are named Maria. all of them.
• THEY ARE GETTING BAPTAIZED.
• members are the greatest.
• Tostadas are the most delicious meal ever.
• Utah is still really cold.
• Wendy's is no longer good food. I love home cooked meals.
• my alarm clock hates me
• you can automatically tell who is hispanic by looking at their house. Christmas lights and 900 cars would be the main indicator.
• When you tell me me you are already a member while holding a beer in your hand and your house smells of cigar smoke, I know you are lying.
• EVERYONE hides from the missionaries.
• Saying that you are not home is a pretty good indicatior to me that you are home, especially when we can see you in the window. People these days.
• Mission life is crazy.
• Patience is key.
• The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith WAS a prophet.
• I really love my family.

Pollo es carne

Welp, they kicked me out of the MTC and it was quite sad, but I did
survive my train ride. We got to the Mission home and took pictures
and ate breakfast. We then went to the Draper Temple, which sits on
the side of a hill and looked out to the valley. Elder Thomas ( one of
the AP's) was trying to be spirtual and tell us that this was all of
our mission and the first thing that popped into my head was
"everything the light touches is yours" and just started dying of
laughter. I will take something serious.one day.

I then found out that I was going to be companions with Sister
Stroud. ( I am so lucky), and then I found out that we are
whitewashing an area. (which is chaos in spanish btw)

I am living in West Jordan, Utah and living with members in a
basement and It's really nice (another plus) It's just really, really
cold.

I love the members of the ward. I love the hispanic culture. they are
my people. I can totally now see the hispanic in me . They love food,
and they love to talk. ( granted I can't understand a single thing
they are say) but I love them, I have also never received those many
kisses on the cheeck then i did this week.

Friday was probably the funniest day so far on my mission. We went to
a lady in our ward for dinner. My companion told her before hand that
I did not eat meat. We got there and she said " Usted no comer carne.
Yo comer pollo? I then explained that Pollo was CARNE, and then I ate
rice. She started asking me lots of questions about my family. I told
her that my sister was getting married and she then asked me in all
seriousness If I was getting married. I told her "maybe" She then
proceeded to tell me all of the members of the ward I could marry,
even her 14 year old son with a moustache. yes please. Oh, she was
also extremly upset when I told her that I did not a quincenera.
later, that day I got my arm stuck under my seat while we were
driving. I don't understand how I do these things. It was hilarious
and a good reassurance to me that I am still the same person.
On saturday, we went to a farewell for a missionary going off to serve
in Paraguay, she made my farwell look like a funeral. These people
KNOW how to party. Also, that morning during zone workout my companion
got hurt, and was given permission to stay home and rest. Naps are
blessings from the Lord.

Sunday was insane. We went to 5 corralation meetings. Crazy eh? The
members are so helpful and they have such a desire to help my mission.
I also bore my testimony in complete spanish and I felt like running
down from the pulpet and having a rocky moment. We taught our first
lesson last night. It was in a garage with a lady and her daughter in
law. Her son was the scariest man I have ever met. He was huge and
mean and was yelling about jesus drinking wine. It was crazy. We will
be teaching her again next sunday. It was a really big eye opener and
testimony builder to me. People really do have problems and the Gospel
and the savior's atonement can help them. I love being a missionary. I
have never been so scared walking up to people, but "in his strenght,
I can do all things"

All is well. The church is true. the book is blue. Estoy agracida por
una oportunidad a hacer la obra del Senor.

 

Hasta Ver and Temple Square

Sigh, Well Tuesday came and they're gone. My district and some of my best friends have left to their mission field and I am so happy. On Monday night, we sang "Hasta Ver" ( This is what the missionaries call the Spanish Version of "God be with you till we meet again") I know that God WILL be with until we meet again. Technically, Tuesday was kind of dramatic and brought a lot of tears. Things just happen to be ten times sadder when they happen at 5 AM and it's pouring rain. Mother Nature did a pretty good job of setting the stage for a dramatic goodbye. After I hugged all of the sisters in my district and gave those elders a firm handshake, I was walking back to my residency feeling pretty low about myself. I know that my Heavenly Father really knows me, because he always teaches me lesson when I need them the most. As I was walking back to my residency, being drenched in rain, I notice that two sisters needed help with their luggage, So I helped them carry their luggage to the travel office. I know that does'nt sound like much, but it was exactly what I needed at that time. I know that when we are sad, and going through a hard time, if we put the focus not on ourselves, we can be healed. I so greatful that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to teach me these lessons when I truly do need them the most. Elder Stoneman, PROVO'S BEST MISSIONARY, left later that day. He told me that Salt Lake City was not ready for me and that I was going to do really good things. I miss my district so much. They are going to be the best missionaries. California, Texas, and Utah are pretty dang lucky.

 Welp, I began my Visitor Center training and really has been so much fun. The first day was hard to get into the grove, mainly because I was still suffering from separation anxiety but it slowly got better and seriously has turned out to be so much fun. I am so amazed at how much my Heavenly Father blesses me. He has given me so much and I in turn am so blessed to be able to serve him. This is not a sacrifice by any means. Visitor Center training is so different because we actually have the oppurtunity to talk to real investigators. We used the mormon.org chat and answered some of the questions people had. One person asked if Animals went to heaven ( the answer is yes, Doctrine and Covenants section 77) I did not realize that Visitor Center sister got to contact and teach people like this. My mission call gets better and better everyday.

On Friday, we did VC training at temple square where they gave us a missionary from temple square and we were companions for a couple of hours. THIS IS WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE. My companion was from Argentina, we got to speak so many people who spoke Spanish. It was so fun to be able to talk to them for a little bit. My Spanish knowledge is very, very small. The sister missionaries who serve on Temple Square are so blessed. They have such a great mission. Being that it was the Friday before General Conference, the square was packed.

It's crazy to think that my time at the MTC is almost done! I leave on Wednesday. These seven weeks have taught me so much and I am not the same person who came in on February 20th. I am so excited to see who I am in 18 months after I have been shaped into the person my Father in Heaven wants me to be.

 All is well. The Church is True. The Book is Blue.

 Hermana Fastle

p.s I will still be annoying when I get home , do not worry ;)

Pictures!!

 

Blessed are they that hast not seen, and yet believed.

This week was my favorite. But, I am quite certain that every week here at the CE CE EME is my favorite. This place is camp. I love it so much and I am sad that my time here is ALMOST up. Lucky for me, I get another week before I get to be a "real" missionary. On Friday, Hermano Sangers, wrote a letter and gave each of us a pass along card that reminded him of us. This is what he wrote to me. " Sister Fastle is a disciple of extreme faith and patience. Being a missionary isn't easy, but you would never know if you met Sister Fastle. She posses a gift to be patient as she learns and is determined to stay the course until she has done all she can do. The picture of Mary praying with the child Jesus reminds me of the patience and love that Sister Fastle posses in order to truly become the son and daughter of God" It meant so much to me.

 Easter was so special here at the MTC. Yesterday was the best day of all. It started by waiting for an hour, sitting on the floor of 18M for the special sacrament meeting. We had heard all week that a  General Authority was coming, but we had no idea who it would be. Elder Stoneman told me it was Holland. I cried. You do not joke about Holland. It ended up being Bishop Cosse( this name is french) His message was so sweet. He spoke of the conversation he had with Thomas after his resurrection. He was not with the disciples when Jesus first came and Thomas did not believe until " I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" ( John 20:25) 8 days later, Jesus visited the disciples and Thomas was with them. Jesus tells Thomas to "Reach hither thy fingers, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and trust into thy side and be not faithless, but believing" Thomas does and says " My Lord and my God" "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that hast not seen, and yet believed. (john 20:29) His message was that we need to strengthen our testimony of Christ.

Our district sang " A child's prayer" during fast and testimony meeting. The spirit was so strong. President Peer aka P-dawg cried. I love my district so much. We had the departure devotional. President Mcnally said that we were going to be somebody's missionary. Sunday night devotional was given by Sheri Dew. She said that the savior was not our last chance, but our only chance. He is the answer to ALL of our problems.

Easter is my favorite Holiday. It was hard being away from my family, but I know that the best way to show my love for my Savior is share the message with the world that He lives.

 The church is true. The book is blue. All is well

 Hermana Fastle