This week has been full of adventures (and exchanges). I got to hang out with Sister R, a sister-friend who actually found my missionary blog and emailed me before she came on the mission. It was awesome to go on exchanges with her! She just got to the mission a few weeks ago and is having oh-so-much fun.

Sister Mortensen and I celebrated Valentine's Day with birthday brownies and a lot of extra chocolate. It was your typical lonely missionary pity party, brownies courtesy of some loving members. If you're EVER looking to give away brownies, ship them to this sister.

As far as the work goes, we are trying really hard to find new investigators, especially for our YSA ward. It's strange, but there are a lot more guys than girls in our particular ward, and it seems like the elders always have four investigators while we have one. If you know any non-LDS girls in the Carlsbad area, TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE CHURCH. And ask if they want to hang out with some super awesome sister missionaries. ;)

One thing I've learned this week is about truly being a servant of God. I have seen God work through me so much this week, and it's been incredible. Even simple things like dinner messages can end up being answers to prayers, and knowing that I was able to represent Christ in someone's home and help them draw closer to God makes all of my struggles with this mission worth it.

So if you're receiving promptings, little thoughts to drop a line to an old friend or invite the clerk at 7-11 to check out Mormon.org, DO IT. You could very well be answering a prayer.

I love you! Thanks for all that you do to help me and, more importantly, to help those around you.

Love,

Sister B

P.S. If you live "back East" (that's what everyone says here when referring to the East Coast, even if they've never lived in/been to the East) then I'm sorry that you keep getting piles and piles of snow.

Here's how one Californian dealt with snow:

"When I was at BYU, I hated the cold. I insisted on wearing bermudas all winter. I just ignored my cold legs."

So there you have it. Just pretend like you're here in SoCal (where it is currently around 73 degrees) and eventually the cold will just go away. ;)

I'll have to be quick because I'm a ditz and almost forgot the whole reason that I come to the library in the first place.

This week has been pretty scattered. We had two exchanges this week, and for one of them my darling Sister Lemon got to come back to Vista! We were so excited to be reunited for twenty-four hours. We visited some of our friends and talked about our lives and were treated to Peppertree Frosty malts by members of our ward.

We also had the wonderful/crazy adventure of a wedding reception on Saturday! David and Acasia, members of our YSA ward and the son and daughter-in-law of our family ward bishop, were sealed in the temple Saturday morning! Our dinner appointment forgot that they were attending the reception, so we ended up going with them for dinner. It was pretty noisy (especially for a missionary... "Yeah" by Usher? How am I supposed to not hear that or dance to it?) but it was wonderful to see our friends so happily married and meet some of their friends, including some old mission companions of Acasia's. 

Then on Sunday, one of our pals was set apart to be a missionary! We saw Sister Riddle briefly at the YSA ward before she left to go home and get ready to head to Utah. She reports to the MTC on Wednesday and shortly after is on her way to the Washington Spokane mission! We will sorely miss her here, but we know that she's needed in Washington.

Basically, it's been a wonderful week, and I am excited to see what the next week holds in store!

Love you,

Sister B

There was a lizard in our apartment this week.

It was a few hours before our transfer meeting. Sister Lemon was giving the apartment one last once-over before we took all of her things out to the car. I went into the bathroom to wash my hands, came back out, and something dark on the kitchen floor caught my eye. 

I froze. I stared at it. I couldn't comprehend what it was for a few seconds.

"OH MY GOSH WHAT THE CRAP" was all that I could yell out before I went running for the door.

Yeah.

A lizard.

In our kitchen.

Just chillin'.

I told Sister Lemon that I was not about to go near that lizard or catch that lizard or leave that lizard in the apartment as we went to our lunch appointment. Unfortunately for her, I had the car keys, so we weren't going anywhere until that lizard was gone. 

I'm a total weenie. I stood outside while Sister Lemon had the most epic battle with that lizard. At first we thought he was dead. Later we decided he was being possessed by the devil himself. He went from comatose to scurrying under the stove in about thirty seconds. after brushing him around with a broom. That little demon crawled literally into the bottom of the stove, and all I heard for the next ten minutes was banging and scratching as Sister Lemon tried to dislodge him.

Eventually she did, and that jerk ran straight under a giant hutch which we could barely move. Twenty minutes later, we had somehow maneuvered it just enough that Sister Lemon could manhandle the lizard out from under the hutch (he was clawing at the carpet for dear life) and shove him into an empty Christmas popcorn can.

Then we took him to the far side of the orchard and unceremoniously dumped him into a ravine.

That's probably the most exciting story I have this week. My new comp, Sister Mortensen, is a gem. She's a Sister Training Leader, which means I'm in for a lot of exchanges this transfer. But you know what's great? Sister Lemon gets to come on exchanges back to Vista on Friday! It's so funny. Sister Lemon is companions with my trainer, Sister Saxton (we all just laughed at transfers) and my companion is their STL! So I get to go on exchanges with two old companions this transfer!

It's going to be great.

We've met some great people this week and had a lot of great lessons. Sister Mortensen really knows how to get stuff done! I'm excited for the transfer ahead, and hopefully for some baptisms!

Love,

Sister B

My favorite Sister Lemon is getting transferred tomorrow! We have no idea where. I'll be staying here in Vista for another transfer, which I couldn't be happier about. I love love it here, and the work is finally starting to pick back up again!

We had a family history training on Sunday during Sunday School, which was phenomenal! Now our ward is fully equipped to start using family history to hasten the work, which is something our mission is focusing on. We're having a genealogy party at a member's house next week to teach some of their friends and neighbors how to find their ancestors. How cool is that?! And some youth family history consultants are coming as well to help them. 

Don't you worry about me or my frame of mind. I'm sad that Sister Lemon is leaving but entirely hopeful and excited for the transfer ahead. I know that I'm making my way out of Schmucksville, slowly but surely, and if I can stay faithful and diligent, I will be able to witness so many miracles.

It's about time we made Vista a town of miracles! There are so many people here who are ready for the Gospel. We just need to find them (hopefully with the help of our members)!

I'll tell you next week all about my new companion (who I meet tomorrow!) and the adventures we have.

As always,

love,

Sister B