Merry Christmas!

It is incredible to be a missionary at any time of year, but I particularly love it during this Christmas season. Every miracle seems to mean twice as much. Every heart touched seems to be twice as important. And everyone we teach... seems to be twice as distracted. haha I have never had a lesson interrupted because they discovered that the Pixar Short films were playing on TV and they just COULDN'T miss them. But I guess there's a first time for everything. And on the plus side, we made it through the story of the First Vision in that lesson without the fire alarms, dogs, birds, or anyone else spontaneously going off! haha So like I said, every MIRACLE seems to mean twice as much!

We taught a new family this week. We sat there and listened to them talk for more than an hour, and the whole time I was just so impressed with how prepared they've been to hear our message. We both felt impressed to just stay quiet and let them talk for the most part... Well the effect was twofold. 1) They were drained of everything they had to say at that moment. And so they were basically obligated to listen to us now. 2) They were so touched by how "calm and peaceful, respectful, confident, and loving" we were that they WANTED to listen to us. CHA-CHIIING. Now I'm not saying that strategy works with everyone... but I'm really grateful that it did with them. And that we followed the Spirit in just staying quiet for so long. We're excited to go back and teach them again this week. :)

Cesar was confirmed yesterday, and he was just SO HAPPY!! Which, of course, just makes US SO HAPPY!! And lots of people in the ward know him because he comes to EVERYTHING with us, which is both rare and awesome. So we hope that they will take good care of him! And put him to work! ;)

Yesterday we went caroling with our ward to a few inactive and home-bound members. It took forever, but it was well worth it to 1) musically help out the ward members, 2) build relationships with different members so that we can all help each other better, and 3) spread Christmas cheer to the families who need us most right now. It was also great to show our Bishopric that as missionaries we have personal relationships with these families because we DO visit them and we try our best to take care of them and love them and bring them back. So we're glad we took the time to participate in this ward activity, even though on the surface it may have seemed frivolous.

Today we're having a "traditional" Mexican Posada with the other missionaries in our zone. It's a Christmas activity where neighbors all go from house to house and eat way too much food and do a few other activities. My district was in charge of bringing the pinatas. We tried our hand at making them... hahaha. NEVER. AGAIN. But I am going to make my famous hot chocolate for the zone. We'll see how it goes. I don't think I've mentioned this yet. But I have discovered the secret to making the BEST hot chocolate EVER. I was going to keep this a secret, but I guess that's not a very missionary-like thing to do to keep great news to yourself! haha Use Vanilla Almond Milk. It doesn't seem to matter what kind of mix you use after that, but obviously the better the mix, the better the hot chocolate. And if you want to make it extra delicious, put a scoop of your favorite ice cream or gelato in it. Yeah... you might die and go to heaven--It's THAT GOOD. Seriously. :)

My district leader, Elder Ruiz was a street performer in spray painting before his mission in Oakland, CA. On Friday after our district meeting he made us all paintings as our Christmas present. He did each one in about 5-7 min. Incredible! He actually ended up making an extra one... so I got two! What great fortune! haha I've attached a couple pictures to give you an idea, but I haven't taken pictures of the two that I got yet... and some day I'll post the videos I took of him making them.

As for calling on Sunday... I have no idea yet what time you should expect. But we have church at 11 PST, and our District Christmas probably after that. So it'll probably be between 2-9pm my time since I have to call you all individually. I think this is the first year where NO ONE in our family is spending Christmas together. WEIRD. Anyway, we'll figure it all out. This is the first of two times we have to figure out 3 missionary phone calls on the same day. So fun!! :)

Well I love you all and I hope you have an incredible Christmas. I hope that each of you have come up with something you are going to give to the Savior this year... as it's HIS birthday we're supposed to be celebrating, right? ;) And don't forget that the Spirit of Christmas can be kept all year long! Have a great week!!

Love,

Hermana Blackburn

December 12, 2011 I Believe in Miracles

Well, I don't know how we did it, but last week was the best week we've had so far this transfer. God is so good to us. I don't know why He is being so very merciful to us, but He is just POURING out the blessings. And I've been so humbled by that this week. We found 4 new investigators--the sister and nieces of Cesar, received 6 referrals, and had Cesar's baptism!! So many miracles. Compared to many other weeks I've had in the mission, maybe that doesn't sound like a big deal... but this transfer has been a slow one due to many other circumstances--with ZERO new investigators and ZERO referrals until now. And as the cherry on top of it all, we got our gas turned back on!!! YAY FOR HOT WATER!!!! And oven. And stove. And heat. We're SO grateful!! Aside from heating up tortillas like the real Latina I'm becoming, the first thing I made was Kathy's famous pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. SO GOOD. EVERY TIME. Anyway, so many miracles all in one week.

Cesar's baptism was great!! And members actually came!!! (Which was especially great because our speakers didn't show up so we asked some others on the fly and they did great!) And so did some of our other investigators! Cesar is just AWESOME. I am SO happy every time I see how happy HE IS. God's plan for us is really one of happiness. Men are that they might have JOY. And there is enough to go around for everyone when we live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The entire purpose of this gospel is so that we all might experience a fullness of joy now and for eternity. Now who WOULDN'T want that?! Yesterday was full of LOTS OF JOY. 

And LOTS of singing. We sang a special musical number in Sacrament mtg. Then another one at Cesar's baptism. And then it was the Stake Christmas Music Devotional, where we sang with two other choirs--a missionary one and a ward one. It's a new experience learning Christmas songs in Spanish, but I'm liking it. It's going to be weird eventually going home and going to church again in English. haha 

Anyway, I love you all and I hope you have a great week spreading Christmas cheer, which in one word: the GOSPEL. Loves loves loves!!!

Hermana Blackburn, the one and only ;)

December 5, 2011 The Prayer of Faith

I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but one of my absolute FAVORITE parts about being a missionary is helping people come to understand what it means to PRAY IN FAITH. Before I share my experience with you, here are what some prophets have to say about this.

The prophet Jacob says: (Jacob 3:1-2)

 1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and ^apray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will ^bconsole you in your ^cafflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down ^djustice upon those who seek your destruction.

 2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his ^alove; for ye may, if your^bminds are ^cfirm, forever.

And Elder David A. Bednar, Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ has said,

"Asking in faith requires honesty, effort, commitment, and persistence. Let me provide an illustration of what I mean and extend to you an invitation.

"We properly pray for the safety and success of the full-time missionaries throughout the world. And a common element in many of our prayers is a request that the missionaries will be led to individuals and families who are prepared to receive the message of the Restoration. But ultimately it is my responsibility and your responsibility to find people for the missionaries to teach. Missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I are full-time finders. And you and I as lifelong missionaries should not be praying for the full-time missionaries to do our work!

"If you and I would truly pray and ask in faith, as did Joseph Smith—if we would pray with the expectation to act and not just to express—then the work of proclaiming the gospel would move forward in a remarkable way. "

(To finish reading what Elder Bednar has to say about member missionary work, here's the link to the talk: http://lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/ask-in-faith?lang=eng&query=pray+faith. It's so great! I highly recommend it. But this really has nothing to do with the original point I was trying to make, so I digress. haha)

Anyway, the point is that praying in FAITH is often taken for granted in both the amount of effort and real intent to act it takes on our part, and in the true power of God to bring about miracles in response to our prayers of faith. 

Ok, so that was a LOT of build up for the experience I'm going to share with you. Yesterday Cesar had his baptismal interview, which he clearly passed. But I guess he mentioned to Elder Ruiz that he's concerned he doesn't REALLY have a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith or Pres. Thomas S. Monson. That sounded absurd to us considering he has been watching all of my movies on both of them like CRAZY. He's finished the D&C dvds, and the biography on Pres. Monson. Well, I realized that having the testimony isn't the problem, but RECOGNIZING that you have a testimony sometimes takes more convincing for some people. So last night during the First Presidency Devotional, (which he obviously came to because he's obsessed with Pres. Monson...haha), I wrote him a note and passed it to him just before Pres. Monson started speaking. I basically told him to ponder and pray in his heart while Pres. Monson spoke to know for himself if he is a true prophet called of God, living to guide us on the earth today. Well, sadly many people--even members--would blow off an invitation like this. But Cesar didn't. Instead, as soon as Pres. Monson started talking, he bowed his head, and closed his eyes, and prayed. Through almost his whole talk. About 2 or 3 minutes before he closed, Cesar let out a big sigh and looked up and then asked me for a pencil. He wrote me back on the same post-it note "Yes! I believe. Amen." Wow. That might be the simplest purest testimony I've ever heard. But it pierced me to the core. And I'm SO HAPPY for Cesar. Because now that he recognizes his personal testimony in a living prophet, he will recognize when he has a testimony of other things too. And really, recognizing and acknowledging that we BELIEVE and will therefore ACT on something is normally the hardest part of the battle. So he's getting baptized on Sunday, 11 Dec. and we're SO excited for him!

So that is my invitation to all of you: pray in faith. It's definitely something I need to get better at, too. But pray in faith, recognize your answers, and act! :)

Everything else I have to say is really very worldly.

Food for missionaries this holiday season... A word of advice for all of you wonderfully generous members who will feed any missionaries anywhere anytime during the month of December: We love dessert. But We like eating real food, too. haha Maybe missionaries in English wards don't have this problem. But in this particular Latino ward I'm serving in, our meal calendar can be sparse sometimes. But EVERYONE LOVES to give us desserts. Last week we had no food and all dessert in our fridge: cherry pie, lemon meringue pie, caramel apple, flan, corn cake, banana pudding, raspberry walnut pastries, shortbread cookies, pepperidge farm cookies, etc. But we only had 2 dinners. hahaha  Anyway... we are grateful for all your generous gestures. But we, at least as sisters, would be even more grateful for a delicious salad right about now! That being said, maybe missionaries in your area feel the exact opposite. So don't take my word for it. Ask them. I only say that because one time 10 years ago some Elder told a sister in our ward that he missed eating pasta, so now she makes us pasta. haha Anyway, just some thoughts... (and don't worry mom. We've successfully gotten rid of most of those desserts without eating them... by pawning them off on the Elders and other investigators! hahahaha... oh the tricks of the trade! ;)

Another insight into the funny life of a missionary. In the laundry mat, realizing you don't actually have as many quarters as you thought you did, and no cash to make change. So what do you do? Put all your wet clothes into the bag and take them home to dry them all over your apartment. Yep. That was me this morning. haha

Oh and we are just counting down the last three days until our gas gets turned back on!! I haven't showered in 3 days. I forgot what that felt like to feel so disgusting. hahaha oh man. NEVER a dull moment!!

I also got to decorate a little Christmas tree on Saturday. Thanks mom! I didn't think I would really care too much about not having Christmas decorations. But now that we have one, I realize how much HAPPIER I am WITH it! Hmmm... it's like a metaphor for people and the gospel... haha. But I won't go there. 

And as for Zone Conference that we had on Wednesday... it was good. LONG. But good. I think I would've liked it better if I hadn't been feeling so terrible, but I still learned a lot of things to improve one. I'm just grateful that I have my whole life to perfect my missionary skills instead of just 18 months. Cuz really... that's just NOT enough time! 

Anyway, I love you all. I hope you have a fantastic week! 

Love,

Hermana Blackburn

P.S. The pictures: 1) Hermana Erickson and I with Hno. Velasquez and David at David's baptism, 20 Nov 2011. 2) Hna. Erickson doing the faith/teabag demo with Sebastian just moments before he freaked out and blew it in her face. hahaha 3) My district last transfer. I made Hna. E. take off her heels so she wouldn't be towering above me. We thought they wouldn'tget her feet in the picture... haha. Oops

November 28, 2011 Let the Holidays Begin

The last week has been a pretty bizarre one in the way of our routine. Hna. Erickson had a leadership training on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then Thanksgiving, but we still had some great experiences. Tuesday I spent with Hna. Williams (my former companion) and her greenie, Hna. Quick. Turns out I MET Hna. Quick several years ago. I'm good friends with her older brother and his wife, and I know her older sister, too. ANYWAY, small world. Wednesday I spent with the Hermanas in my first area--Canyon Country. But we studied the whole time I was with them because of this new greenie training program that came out. So I was bummed I didn't get to see anyone, but I got LOTS of hours of studying in, so I guess that was needed! But I was relieved to be back with Hna. Erickson. I am just SO GLAD that SHE is my companion. I'm going to definitely enjoy the time we have left together!

Well, I started getting some weird phone calls from Vladmir. And last night he called and thought he was talking to me and started saying some weird things again, and so Hna. E. called him out on it. I didn't know what was going on because I was in our bedroom, when I just heard through the wall, "Are you in love with Hermana Blackburn?" in a very loud, serious voice...hahaha... I about died when I heard her say that! Well, her bold missionary self made it perfectly clear to him after his confession in the affirmative that I could not nor would not be interested in him romantically now or ever, and that we can't teach him anymore. Well... I have mixed feelings about that whole situation... I have been teaching him for 4 months, so OF COURSE I care about him! And it is sad that I basically have to cut ties with him for now. But I'm also irritated that he would act like that. I mean he's 63... so I'm not sure where he got the idea that he could get away with that... haha And I also think it's really funny and awkward how Hna. Erickson called him out about it. Oh man... never a dull moment as a missionary!

In other news, we have no gas in our apartment. I guess it was never signed up for, so somehow we've been having it for free the last two months we've lived there? Well, it was turned off on Tuesday, and we thought it must've just been a fluke thing. Well, by Thursday, still nothing. So we made some phone calls and found out we never were supposed to have it to begin with. And the gas company won't turn it on until Dec. 8! haha So no heat, no stove, no oven, and... NO HOT WATER! Yeah... it had been a LONG time since I'd taken such a freezing cold shower... but we worked it out with the English Elders to use their showers when they're out every couple days... haha

Thanksgiving was pretty uneventful. The highlight was setting a baptismal date with Cesar for Dec. 18th! We ate with Jose and Marta... tomales. And then of course we had Thanksgiving Dinner with the Vargas family an hour later. I felt bad that I barely had any room, but I couldn't have said no to Marta without hurting her feelings! So, we zipped up our extra-large man suits and ate two dinners that night and wanted to die afterward. haha But Hna. Vargas had a delicious meal prepared for us! And to my pleasant surprise, I didn't have to eat Turkey this year!! SO HAPPY!! (That has always been my least favorite part of Thanksgiving, and I never eat it if I can avoid it. haha) Like I good Latina, she made us CHICKEN! haha I know I eat chicken at almost every dinner here on the mission, but I still prefer it over turkey any day... And the rest of the food was all great, too. I definitely was counting my blessings to have any food at all!

On Friday I gave the training at our District Meeting... I talked about the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, and how we as missionaries can rely on and facilitate that better. I learned a lot from preparing it! I hope someone got something out of it... haha.

David was confirmed on Sunday without any glitches... PHEW! I'm just so very happy for him! And I'm SO excited for Cesar, too. I hope they become friends with people in the ward to make their transition easier once we leave. That's why members are SO CRUCIAL in missionary work!

We have zone conference on Wednesday, which is always nice. So hopefully next week I'll have something a little more... spiritually enlightening to share with you all. We'll see. ;) Have a great week! I love you all!

Love,
Hermana Blackburn

November 21, 2011 Happy Thanksgivi​ng!!

Well, I definitely have A LOT to be grateful for, so in no particular order, here a just a few that came to my mind:
1) THE BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD sending me a pre-Christmas package!
2) We are 3 Blackburn MISSIONARIES now! WAHOO!!!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!
3) I have an incredible family who has taught me the gospel and the way to REALLY be happy in this life.
4) I am a MISSIONARY. I get to share the BEST NEWS IN THE WORLD with people. Everyday!  (See #2)
5)  I have the BEST best friend a girl could ask for! Fer rills.
6) I have a great companion who is an awesome missionary. We have so much fun teaching together!
7) I have the privilege of teaching some incredible people here in Sylmar. And I was no less blessed in Canyon Country!
8) I have made some eternal friends here, with missionaries, members, and investigators alike.
9) I'm learning Spanish! That's cool, right?! haha Well, I might speak like a chola, but people can understand me nonetheless.
10) David got baptized!!! SO SO SO happy about that!!! :)
11) I bought all the ingredients and pan to make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins this week. REALLY looking forward to that.
12) The new sister missionary dress code allows colored tights. I'm grateful for that.
13) I am here on earth. With a body. Even if it doesn't work very well, I'm really grateful I have it.
14) Christmas music that keeps my spirits high.
15) Dr. Richardson. Is. An. ANGEL. Wow, I don't know where I would be without him right now.
16) I have health insurance! Phew!
17) People that feed us.
18) People that talk to us.
19) Playing the piano... my one stress reliever that I can still do as a missionary!
20) The temple. And my eternal family. I don't know where I would be without this comforting knowledge.
Ok, Well I really could go on FOREVER, but you all get the idea. We all have SO much to be grateful for! So I hope you each take a few minutes and write a journal entry about what you're grateful for this week.
Speaking of journals... I've written in my journal every night for over a month! Seriously, that is SO good for me! haha Anyway, I let the first third of mission go by without a very good, consistent personal record, and that's a shame. So I'm pleased to report that I'm doing my best to correct that!
Also, David got baptized yesterday. SO HAPPY!!! He is just SO wonderful and I'm so proud of him! It can be a scary step for people, but he didn't balk at his anxiety. He knew what he felt, he knew it was true, and he just moved forward with faith. He is a great example for me, that's for sure! I definitely need a lot of faith these days! Anyway, for some reason this computer won't let me send pictures. But you'll see them all eventually. haha But it was a great baptism. Too bad no one came. I hope you ALL go to baptisms in your wards. If not, shame on you for not supporting the missionaries and new members. I hope I sound serious about that. Our work is almost pointless without the support of the members. Just sayin...
Well, that's all for now. I hope you all have a very HAPPY Thanksgiving!!! Don't forget to actually GIVE THANKS. I love you all!!
Hermana Blackburn

November 14, 2011 Holidays in Sylmar!

Well Hermana Erickson and I get to spend another transfer together here in Sylmar!! And we are both SO excited! Three transfers with one companion is a record for both of us! And we're just so grateful that we work SO well together and have a great time. After our exchanges a couple weeks ago we had both decided that we just wanted to stay together... haha So we're excited for 6 more weeks. And to be together for Christmas!! :) So mom, you can just send that Christmas music I asked for to me here in Sylmar. Thanks!

Well, we certainly ended the transfer with a bang last week! We had 9 lessons where members accompanied us--I think that's a record in this ward, because no one ever wants to come with us! And we had 7 of our investigators at church. It probably had something to do with me playing piano for the primary program and telling them it might be my last Sunday here... haha Funny how a little motivation goes a long way sometimes. ;) But then most of them ended up staying for the whole 3 hours and LOVED it! See?! We've been telling them all along they were going to love it, and we were right!

Well do you remember Cesar who I told you about last week? The man who just showed up at church after a 5 min conversation with us? Well, We taught him 4 times this last week. He came to church again, and then a baptism, and then a special devotional from the Conference Center for Spanish speaking members of the Church. He bought a whole car load of Vitamin Water so that he can stop drinking coffee. He watched the Restoration movie TWICE on Saturday night. Yeah... don't worry. He has a baptismal date for December right now. But it is SO fun to teach people who just WANT to be taught, and who understand what you're teaching them! Seriously, how am I SO blessed to teach all of these amazing people? I'm not really sure, but I'm SO grateful.

We are teaching this boy who's family has been inactive for several years, named Sebastian. Well, there is this demonstration you do with an empty tea bag and you light it on fire while someone holds it in their hand, but just before you think it burns you, it floats up into the air. We use is to teach Faith. Well, I've done it LOTS of times. I've never had a problem, with anyone. I've never heard of anyone having a problem either. But we tried to do it with Sebastian, and half-way down, he FREAKED OUT and blew it into Hna. Erickson's face--flames and all! haha I thought her hair was going to catch on fire! But gratefully it didn't. But now we know that when you ask "Do you trust me?" and the person says "NO" that you should have someone else do it! hahaha... Oh man. Never a dull moment as a missionary! :)
Anyway, life is good. The work is moving forward here in Sylmar, and we're looking forward to another great transfer of helping God's children come unto Him and make sacred promises with Him and receive all the blessings that God has in store for them! Have a great week!

I love you all!

Hermana Blackburn

November 7, 2011 Transfer 5 Week 5

Hello Family!!
I hope things are going well! Tanner--9 days until the MTC! How are you feeling? Haha Yeah I know... I hated that question, too! And Logan-HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!! For some reason MY birthdays don't make me feel nearly as old as YOUR birthdays do! haha But I hope you have a great one!

Highlights from the last week: exchanges, training, and church.

I went on exchanges with Hermana Beauchamp up in Palmdale. It was great to be out of the city and have clean air and blue skies. But it was a pretty normal missionary day with lots of canceled appointments and knocking. So nothing too out of the ordinary. I had a great time with Hna. Beauchamp, and I learned a lot from her. But by the end of the day I very much looked forward to getting back to work with Hna. Erickson. In a very grateful kind of way, that I have such a wonderful companion who is an all-star missionary. She never lets a moment go by with someone without bringing up the gospel in some way. She is persistent, but not pushy, which is a rare skill as a missionary. Anyway, I just LOVE working with her so I'm grateful that I have one more week to soak it in. We have transfers next week, so I'll find out on Saturday if I'm staying or leaving. I've been here for 3 transfers (4.5 months) so I kinda think I'll leave. But who knows.

Hna. Erickson and I gave a training to our Zone on Friday morning about our Missionary Covenant and our Quest for Obedience. I will try and attach our handout that we made for it. It went really well. I've pretty much shared with you in my emails over the last 12 weeks the ideas of STRIVING to be obedient and our missionary covenant based on our studies and our Zone Conference with Elder Golden several weeks ago. We had a really great time preparing and giving our training, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. So we consider it a success. :)

I may have mentioned this before, but as missionaries church is always a bit nerve-wrecking hoping and praying that those you are teaching actually come and that once they are there they can feel the Spirit, feel welcomed, and not be taught any false doctrine from anyone! But this last Sunday was one of the BEST Sacrament meetings this ward has had since I've been here! It was SO GOOD. The Spirit was SO strong. And our investigators there felt it and recognized it. Another miracle? have I mentioned Jose and Marta who we're teaching? Well they are great, but this story is about a man, Cesar, who rents a room in the back of their house. We met him briefly as we were leaving a lesson at their house. We invited him to church, but just like most contacts you make like that on the street, we didn't have any expectations that he would come. But lo and behold, he CAME! i could hardly believe my eyes when he walked into the Church on Sunday! haha I was so happy! And he LOVED IT. We haven't even taught this man yet, and in the middle of Sacrament meeting, he leaned over to Hna. Erickson and said he felt something "funny" and pointed to his heart. He said "I don't know what this is. I've never felt it before. But I like it." So she taught him about the Holy Ghost and what it means when we feel it. :) So we have a lesson with him and Jose and Marta tonight! But seriously, it was great and we're excited to teach him more!

Well that is all I have for now. But I love you all and hope you have an incredible week! God is so good to us, so he blesses us with families and prophets. And I'm SO grateful that I know Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet on the earth today. I've prayed and asked. And God has answered me through the Holy Ghost. I love that! And I love sharing the love of our Savior and Heavenly Father with everyone here in Sylmar!

Love you!
Hermana Blackburn