July 25, 2011 Cucarachas

Well I have A LOT to say, especially since I didn't get to say anything last week. But I have about 5 minutes left to write, so we'll see how it goes... haha

1) I REALLY hate cockroaches. And I really HATE living with them. I stopped counting my kills... haha. Gross. I especially hate at night when you turn on the lights and you see them scurry. *Shiver* EW. But we're becoming better friends. I think it will help our living situation if I stop hating them so much... haha

2) God saved my life this week. Fer rills. I don't have time to tell you all the details. But let me just say that thanks to angels preventing my companion from turning when our light turned green, we weren't creamed by a truck going about 45mph that decided to run a red light... God is SO good to me. I literally have replayed that scene in my head over and over again and I am convinced that we were protected by angels. There is no other explanation for why I am not at least in the hospital right now. So you should all say a prayer of Thanksgiving. :)

3) The Martinez family was baptized yesterday!!! All four of them!!! And I'm SO happy for all of them! I wanted to send a picture home today, but I don't have time. But I'm SO SO SO SO SO happy for them! And what's more, I got to go! What a tender mercy in my life!

4) David and Julio both came to the baptism yesterday, so I got to see them, too! And the Alanis family! David accepted a baptismal date for Aug. 28th, so we'll see. And the Alanis family are planning on being baptized sometime in September. I love all of these people so much and I'm so glad I was able to see them again!

5) We had dinner with the Monrroys last night after the baptism. Oh my heart was going to burst I was SO happy to be with them again! Guess what? Sergio got the priesthood and passed the Sacrament last week!! AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!! SO SO SO SO SO SO HAPPY!!!!

6) I forgot to mention that we went to Wendy's on dad's birthday. :)

Well I love you all so very very much!!! I hope you have a great week!

D&C 64:33-34

Love
Hermana Blackburn

July 18, 2011

Well so I only have 5 minutes to write but I love you all so very much. I'm learning. A LOT. Probably more personally than as a missionary, but sometimes that is what Heavenly Father wants. So I'm ok with that. :) Um the week has been long and rocky, but Heavenly Father is giving me the personal tender mercies that I need most. My predictions from last week have been pretty accurate... this transfer is bound to be a very humbling one... but I'll be a much better person and missionary because of it!

John 16:33
John 13:17

Just some food for thought this week. :)

I hope you are all doing well!

Love,
Hermana Blackburn

July 12, 2011

So sorry I didn't get to write yesterday! It was transfers, and I moved! Not gonna lie, it was completely unexpected, and therefore slightly devastating, but I'm taking it like a champ, if I do say so myself. Turns out there is a sister who has been having a rough time here so my amazing Hna. Garcia has been given the special assignment of taking care of her and helping change this girl's life/mission... It has been an incredible privilege for me to work with and learn from Hermana Garcia and I hope that we'll get another chance before she goes home in November, but if not then I'll at least always know that God loved me enough to bless my life with her, even for a short time! And my district... it was hard to leave Elder Camacho and Elder 'Otuafi also... not going to lie there either. They have become like my brothers, just like all my elders in the MTC. We made a great team but now it's time to make new friends and love and teach and serve people and missionaries in another part of the Lord's vineyard!

So guess where I am? Yeah... you'll never guess. So I'll just tell you: Sylmar/Pacoima, which is basically the ghetto of San Fernando. The situation here is entirely different in every aspect of living. We live in one room of an apartment with a member family living in the other. Cockroaches. Pollution. City. Mexican gangs. Requirement to carry pepper spray wherever we go. Entirely Latino. Established Spanish ward in an established Spanish stake. Yeah, REALLY different. haha But in time I'm sure I'l come to love it for what it is just like I have everywhere else I lived. I'm grateful for my experiences in the Middle East and Mississippi especially right now, because it's kind of a good mix between the two. And my companion? Her name is Hermana Williams and she is from Portland, Oregon. She is 6 ft tall. So that takes me back to the good old days of walking with Eryn in downtown Indianapolis! So far I think she's a lot like me, so this kind of seems like Heavenly Father's way of teaching me what it is like for others to live with me... I'm sure it's bound to be a delightful, eye-opening, humbling experience for me and I hope I can learn as much as possible from her! Also, she's only been out one transfer longer than I have, she's only served here, and her trainer left today... so I am her first real change in the mission field so far. But for me, she is my 3rd companion and this is my 2nd area in just 3 transfers... I think I'm one of the newest missionaries with that many changes already in the whole mission. Do you think maybe God is teaching me how to deal with change? hahaha... My move here to San Fernando is my 24th move in the last 5 years... I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. Here's what I know so far:

God ALWAYS knows what is best for me. God has a plan for me. God is going to use me WHEREVER I am if I am willing. I can learn to love and serve wherever I go. Growing pains are good for the soul. There is someone HERE that I am meant to teach and love, and there's something that I'm meant to LEARN here, too!

So it was really hard to leave... but I'm ready to dig in and get to work here in Sylmar! I'm ready to love and serve and testify of Jesus Christ to my brothers and sisters here in this area. And now I have the opportunity to get to know so many other members, investigators, and missionaries here in the San Fernando Valley!

So here's my new address:
10943 Laurel Canyon Blvd. #B5
San Fernando, CA 91340

I love you all and hope things are going well for you there! Godspeed!

Love,
Hermana Blackburn

July 5, 2011

So the Monrroy family was baptized and confirmed on Sunday. We met them, taught them, and they were baptized all within 5 weeks. Why? because they are 1) incredible and 2) prepared. They are seriously so great. I can't imagine heaven without them and now I know that I don't have to! The baptismal service was really great. President Martin even came for part of it! The Spirit was so strong as this incredible family made their first promises with Heavenly Father and began down the path to being an eternal family. No words will ever be able to describe how happy I am or how much I love them! I had very little to do with the process of them receiving their own witness from the Spirit that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that His church really HAS been restored again to the earth. But I'm so grateful I was able to witness this process with them! I know I've never actually ATTACHED photos to my emails before, but I thought I could make a special exception for this occasion. :)

I don't really have any more time, but I guess that's ok because I could write all day and never be able to adequately describe in words how happy I am--for the Monrroys, for my calling as a missionary, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life--or how much I am filled with love right now--for my Heavenly Father, for my Savior Jesus Christ, for my family, for my dear friends, for the Monrroys... everyone. This gospel really IS the only way to find lasting joy in this life or the next, because it is GOD'S way. And He's in charge...

Happy Belated Fourth of July!! Not going to lie... I was a little homesick yesterday as I was watching the fireworks. But now today I get to go back to work inviting others to come unto Christ and be healed (3 Nephi 9). I love you all so very much! Pray always, that you may come off conquerors!

Love,

Hermana Blackburn

June 27: A Six Flags kind of week.

So it's definitely been one of those weeks where you feel like you're on a terrible roller coaster ride and all you want to do is get off. But when you get off the sick feeling doesn't really leave until your organs all return to their correct place. haha I know that might sound a bit dramatic, but that's really how I felt. The week started out... well... ROUGH. EVERYWHERE we went we saw and felt Satan at work destroying families. And it felt like everyone. Members... LOTS of member families crumbling here in this ward as one or both spouses decide to let go of the iron rod and walk toward the great and spacious building of the world. And Investigators... LOTS of investigators stumbling in the mist of darkness as they try to figure out where to go and who to go with. Satan is so sneaky. I hate him. The first half of the week we literally felt like we were wading into deep swamps of sin trying to rescue people. Some of them calling out for us to help them. Some of them rejecting our offer to help pull them out and even becoming offended that we had offered. And all the while trying not to get bogged down or stuck in the swamp yourself. Yeah, does that paint a good enough picture for you of how the first few days felt? It wasn't despair, because that would mean I didn't have hope, and I always have hope in Jesus Christ. But it was definitely a time of "sorrowing for the sins of the world" as Christ warned His disciples about. Yeah that was rough.

And then I got a letter on Wednesday night. TENDER MERCY. This letter was from my dear friend and teacher Richard Rust who is an incredible scholar on the Book of Mormon and gratefully followed the promptings from the Spirit to send me this letter. Well he talked about how I was in the middle of a war between good and evil, a continuation of the War in Heaven. And he sent me some scriptures and the lyrics to the hymn "Let Us All Press On." It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I immediately got on my knees and pleaded with Heavenly Father to help me press on with the steadfastness He needs from me. At least I know I'm on the winning team!! Anyway, THANK YOU to Brother Rust for helping me out this week. Just another testimony, too, that God REALLY does know me and He is going to help me in whatever way He can, and sometimes that means using some of YOU. So be obedient and FOLLOW the promptings of the Spirit.

Well, that letter was the turning point of the week. That's when my organs started return to their rightful places... first and foremost, MY HEART returned to be how it SHOULD. And on Thursday we had our weekly planning. Well, my companion decided that we should set a goal to set one more baptismal date by the end of this week. That was Sunday... yesterday. I was quiet and just looked at her, but in my head I was thinking "WHO?!?!?! NO ONE WANTS GOD'S HELP. WE HAVE TO START ALL OVER!" But I didn't say anything. But she knew what I was thinking. haha She said, "Compa, don't even ask me who, but we're going to set a goal, and we're going to WORK. Only God knows who it's gonna be, but we can be excited to find out!" Well, I thought back to the words of the hymn I had read the night before and so I agreed. We set the goal. And then we made some plans to start all over with the work in our area and with the ward.

So now I have to tell you just "how great the tender mercies of Lord are unto all those that believe in His name." They aren't just great. They are AWESOME!!!

This woman, Marta Martinez called our number asking about English class. Just before the other Hermanas left their area last transfer, they had made a flyer for English class and put it I don't even know where. But Marta saw it. And she called. Well, we set an appointment to see her on Saturday and we were actually able to find a member to come with us (another miracle in and of itself) and we did "How to Begin Teaching" with her and her 3 children (Daniel 12, Oswaldo 10, & Karen 8). (It's a section in PMG ch.10, Tanner, and you should DEFINITELY LEARN IT WELL!!) Well they live in one room of an apartment, that might be 11x14ft if they are lucky. The most humble circumstances I've seen yet. They have bunk beds, a microwave, a little shelf, and a little tv. That is it. And the 4 of them live in there all together. Well we also taught them how to pray, and the Spirit was SO STRONG. Oh my goodness, I seriously can't even tell you how much Heavenly Father loves this family. I feel it SO STRONGLY for them. We invited them to church and they were so happy and excited to come. We found them a ride (another miracle!) and they CAME TO CHURCH. We taught them again yesterday after church (again with a member!) about the Atonement and we watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with them on our little dvd player. Both Hna. Garcia and I felt we should extend a baptismal date to them, but we hadn't talked about it with each other. And then each on our own, we came to the same conclusion--24 July. And so as I was getting ready to just go with the Spirit, even though I hadn't talked to my compa about it, I was going to just invite them. And then my companion starts talking and she invites them to be baptized. On the 24th of July. Coincidence? Absolutely not. INSPIRATION. Let the Holy Spirit Guide. Yep... that's how missionary work SHOULD BE. So within 2 days of meeting us, Marta and her son Daniel accepted the invitation to be baptized. Oswaldo had fallen asleep from the heat and Karen had left, but we'll definitely invite them when we see them on Wednesday. We are so stoked. So of course, awhile later I realize that miracle of all miracles, we REACHED OUR GOAL. And we EXCEEDED OUR GOAL. 2 MORE baptismal dates by Sunday. Yeah. God is REALLY good to us. Because this is HIS work. HIS CHILDREN and Their eternal salvation. And He wants them back even MORE than we do!!!

After a really rough beginning of the week, we ended up exceeding almost every single one of our goals. I have no idea how it happened, but I know that God did it. God helped get 10 investigators to church yesterday. TEN! We're normally lucky if we can get ONE. But TEN. And we now have TEN investigators progressing toward Baptism. And oh I can't even find the words to express the incredible blessings that await them after baptism!!!! SO EXCITED. And the ward... starting to see miracles, there, too. We started calling literally every single member on our ward roster that lives in our area. We're doing a lot of clean-up, but in the end, we will be leaving the area a thousand times better than we found it. Just like we should.

The Monrroy family is still incredible! Still the great light throughout our week. Still getting baptized this Sunday. Oh sweet JOY!!!

So moral of the story, God works miracles when we BELIEVE and WORK. James says that "faith without works is dead." But have you ever thought about how faith WITH works is so very much ALIVE?! Because it is. Seriously. So "do not doubt. BUT BE BELIEVING." And have a great week! I love you all!!!

Hermana Blackburn

June 20:The Best is Yet to Be... but we came pretty darn close.

So thanks to the Spirit, a well-prepared and patient family, and an adventurous companion we were able to have a really fantastic lesson about the Plan of Salvation with the Monrroy family. We set up their apartment like the Plan of Salvation, with each room being a different phase of God's plan for us. It was really intense. And involved. And both Hna Garcia and I were afraid that we were crazy, and that this family was going to get so confused because the idea perhaps was just in my head and not from the Spirit. Especially when we showed up 30 min early for our appointment to "set-up" and they were watching us run all around taping scriptures and pictures to the walls, etc. hahaha So funny. But it totally paid off. The Spirit was incredible. We invited them to be baptized on 3 July. They accepted. Without hesitating. Seriously, every day Hna Garcia and I thank Heavenly Father for the privilege and blessing of teaching this family, because this situation as a missionary... NOT NORMAL. Not even "among the Lamanites" here in California as Skylar would say. Neither of us know what we've ever done to deserve them in our lives, but we are so very thankful, and we're SO excited!! We love them so much!!!!

Yesterday an 8 yr old from the ward, Gabriel Lopez, whose family Hna. Kiewra and I helped to reactivate a little bit, was baptized by his father. So great. And even though as missionaries we don't have any sort of "responsibility" in the baptism of children from member families, Hna Garcia and I 1) filled up the font, 2) set up the room, 3) I played the prelude, 4) we gave the special musical number as a surprise to us, and 5) shared the missionary moment. hahaha I seriously felt like I was a one-woman circus running around. Such is life in a Spanish ward though. And plus it was all worth it because 1) Gabriel got baptized!! and 2) The Monrroy family were there. And they loved it. They are all so excited for their own in a couple weeks. AAAAHHHHH SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!

So I had to "drop" my first investigator yesterday. Meliton Alvarez. Made me so sad to know that he just doesn't want to know the truth for himself. He's a good man, but he has no desire to know for himself, and he doesn't believe or want to believe that what we're teaching is true. This is a normal missionary situation I know. But it still broke my heart. Sigh. I just hope one day in heaven when he is tempted to ask me why I didn't do more to MAKE him understand, that instead he'll recognize that I literally did everything I could to INVITE him to come unto Christ. And that is all I can do. Because everyone can choose for himself.

So have I mentioned how much I love my companion? Or how many miracles we're seeing together? Even just little ones make all the difference when your spirit is sucked dry every day from trying to help deal with everyone else's problems... Such is life as a missionary. As Eryn writes, "SOOOOOOOO EXHAUSTING," but in answer to Tanner's question, oh, so very very worth it! The Ward members are slowly changing. And we finally have the trust of the Bishop so hopefully we'll only be able to work harder and more effectively from here on out.

For those of you who are members and read this, I invite you to set aside some time in your schedule this week to offer to the missionaries in order to accompany them to lessons? Please. We need you. YOU make all the difference in our lessons. And to those of you who aren't members and are reading this, I invite you to pick 30-60 min sometime this week in order to meet with the missionaries who have been called by a living prophet on the earth today to teach YOU and your neighbors the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you don't feel good after they leave, then you never have to have them back. But if what we teach really can help change your life for the better, what have you got to lose? Maybe only 30-60 min out of your entire life...So why not?

Well, that's all I really have time for this week. But I love you all so very much. Have a great week!!

Loves,
Hermana Blackburn

June 15

Sorry that I didn't get to write on Monday, but at least now you only have to wait 5 days to hear from me again!! As usual, SO much to say and no time to say it. Thanks so much for all of the emails from everyone! When I opened up my email today I had 19 emails to read!!! Made my day. Especially since I haven't gotten any mail the last few days! **HINT HINT**

Well, the main thing I want to write about is the Monrroy Family: Sergio and Maria, and their two children Vannessa (13) and Jhair (10). They are amazing. I hate the term golden investigator, because all of God's children are golden in His eyes... but they ARE PREPARED. And Why are they prepared? Because they have lived among many members while living in Nampa, Idaho and West Valley, Utah and they have SEEN your examples. They have FELT of your love and goodness. And now they WANT to KNOW for themselves and have all these good things for their children. When I was in the MTC, I had a lot of really great lessons, but I also knew that real life lessons are never "MTC perfect." Well, now I know that they CAN EXIST in the real world. Because we've had THREE of them with the Monrroy family. Every time all four of them are sincerely wanting to hear what we have to say. All four of them participate, even when it might be especially hard for Jhair because he doesn't speak Spanish. (He and I click really well because I don't really speak Spanish, either! haha So I go over things in English with him to make sure he's understanding everything.) This family has asked us to come every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 4:30pm. And they are always there... waiting for us. They READ the scriptures we invite them to read. They are praying. They have cleared their schedules completely on Sunday so that they will never have an issue coming to church (except they need a ride, which is totally different story). All 4 of them loved church last Sunday. A member at church gave them a copy of the Gospel Principles manual and Sergio and Maria are reading it together, and they love it. Sergio asked us about tithing because he wants to pay it. Seriously, THIS NEVER HAPPENS. Part of me is amazed at the miracles Heavenly Father is allowing me to witness with this family because they are just so prepared. Because of good and faithful members like YOU. I wonder if the members ever knew that this family would look up the church when they moved away. Probably not. So I hope you are all being that kind of friendly, loving, powerful example for good in the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors who don't yet enjoy the blessings of the Gospel in their lives. Part of me is also saying, "This is too good to be true. It can't be THIS easy. What's going to be their hang up?" haha But seriously, I really don't think they are going to have one. Because they are so prepared for these blessings in their lives!

Well, as for everyone else we are teaching, no one else really seems to be progressing because just like Amulek, "they know, but would not know... they hear, but would not hear." We are going to have an awesome lesson with David tonight though. He's going to understand tonight more fully just how ready he really is to make a covenant with God in baptism. And the Espinoza family... Melissa no longer wants to have anything to do with going to church really. Can't figure out what happened, but her attitude is one of... perhaps jealousy? now that we are teaching her father... Not sure. We are going to start working with the Hermano and Hermana Espinoza alone once a week though to help them learn how to mend their relationship and maybe hopefully get married one day... PRAY FOR US. I know if we teach them the doctrine of the Atonement though according to their understanding, that it can have a powerful influence on their hearts to soften and change. We watched "Fireproof" as a district yesterday. Incredible. Seriously, you should all watch it.

Well I'm just about out of time! I love you all so very much! Happy Father's Day to all the incredible men in my life. I'm so grateful to each one of you!

Tanner, GET THOSE PAPERS IN!!!! What are you waiting for?!?! You only have one interview left! Hurry up dude!

Loves loves loves!

Herman Blackburn