"I did not pee in the font, but Elder Parry and I did shed a few tears"

This past week has been incredible! 

Jack and Yu were able to be Baptized and Confirmed this weekend!

At the Baptism on Saturday, Sister Preece and I sang (per Jack's request), but we were also able to be the witnesses for the baptismal ordinance! It was great to be up so close and to be able to see the joy that they both felt! When Yu came up out of the water he cried and hugged Elder Parry who baptized him. Jack was beaming the whole day Saturday. He was baptized by his friend Art in the ward! Jack also brought Sister Preece and I letters to say thank you for teaching him. It was the sweetest thing and we were both amazed to hear the impact we had on him!

Sunday after both he and Jack had been confirmed, Yu bore powerful testimony that we need to share this knowledge with others! He also cracked a joke (like he always does) during his testimony he said "Art told me not to urinate in the water! I did not pee in the font but Elder Parry and I did shed a few tears!" The whole room went from laughing hysterically to and awee sound. Yu knows how to work a crowd! He continued by talking about how he has only cried three other times in the past six months. The first two were because of tragedies that had happened in the world and the third was the day before he was baptized. He cried for all the people who do not have the knowledge that he now has from the gospel and the love he has gained from the members in our ward!

After receiving the Holy Ghost, I think Jack recognized the Spirit for the first time sitting in that meeting! As he listened to Yu and Elder Parry, who also spoke, he was filled with the Spirit. He said he truly felt the difference! He also talked to us about the love he has felt from the ward members and joy he feels from the knowledge he now has! 

Seeing their joy and the way the Spirit has helped them both has truly strengthened my own conversion! I am so grateful for both of them and their examples of faith and Christ-like love!

TRANSFERS

Jack told us yesterday that the first thing he did that morning before he even opened his eyes was to pray that both Sister Preece and I would stay! 

His prayers were answered and I am grateful for it! 

I am staying in the Santa Barbara YSA ward but I am whitewashing the other set of sisters in the ward. So Sister Preece is training a new missionary and I am getting a new companion, Sister Taupa'ū from samoa! BUT WE BOTH GET TO STAY IN THE WARD!

Will You Be My Galentine?

Zone Conference selfie!

Hello all!

This week was so great! We had zone conference this Wednesday and I learned a lot from it! We had been doing a challenge to read all of preach my gospel before zone conference so the whole thing was around PMG. We learned a lot about how to use and  implement it into our teaching and the work in general! 

Jack had his baptismal interview on Saturday and he's READY! Yu will have his this tomorrow night! They are both doing so well and really excited for their baptism! Yu was able to come to a baptism this week and it was so cool. This couple from Colombia was getting baptized and after, the husband got up and bore his testimony! He said that he came to the US for an education but the most valuable thing he had gained was not his PhD but his knowledge of the gospel! The Spirit was so strong! They have gone through some hard things in their lives but the Atonement of Jesus Christ has truly healed them and they are so grateful!

Valentines day was so fun! We started teaching a new friend named Austin! That night, Sister Preece and I threw ourselves a Galentines party! We made a little movie nook, made heart shaped pizzas, bought a cheesecake and some flowers, and watched Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration! It was sooo fun!  

Galentine's Pizza

Galentines Party with Sister Preece

 It was a great week! Today we are going to the Zoo and Jack is coming with us! Transfers are in a week and WE WANT TO STAY SO BAD! This area and these people are the best! 

Love, Sister Hadden

12FEB Zone Conference

District Sisters

Exchanges!

What a week! Sister Preece and I were only together for two days this week. She is a sister training leader so she has to go on exchanges with all the sisters in her stewardship. 

Tuesday Sister Preece had MLC down in Oxnard so I got to go on splits with Sister Rea! We served with each other in Oxnard when I was in the Camarillo YSA ward! She is the sweetest and it was so fun to see her! 

Wednesday I went on an exchange with Sister Eckman. She is also serving in Santa Barbara YSA! We had a great day We had interviews with President Nakken that day too!

Thursday I went to Santa Barbara family ward with Sister McKean. We had an awesome lesson with their sweet friend Janet who is like 80. We got to teach her the plan of salvation! She loved it and was tearing up. She has had many close people pass away lately and had so many questions about the next life. We were able to answer many of her questions and bring her peace! 

Friday Sister Preece and I were back together! We had Compined District Council up in Solvang it was awesome!

Saturday I went back to Santa Barbara with Sister Stout this time! I sprained my ankle at district sports and it was WLAK DAY! We had a great day though and talked to a ton of people. We started teaching this cute family (a single mom and 3 kids). They are going to start teaching them every Monday! The mom (Theresa) is so ready to have the gospel in her life! We got to have dinner with this hilarious member Patty Pattee and she had some great pictures of Jesus!

Sunday Sister Preece and I were back together. I missed her! It's nice to be with other sisters but it's even nicer to be back with the comp! 

It's been a super hectic week and it has flown by! It was so fun but I'm ready to get back to a normal schedule. Exchanges are exhausting!

Sorry for the long email but it was a full week! 

Sister Hadden

"I'm British, It's against my religion not to drink tea"

Ramen with Yu

Hello there!

This week has been incredible! We have been super busy, but it is so great!  Every day we go, go, go, and when we get home at the end of the day, we are so tired, but I couldn't be better!

Yu decided this Tuesday that he wants to be baptized! It was out of the blue. Last week he was questioning if Christ was truly the son of God, and this week he has gained a testimony and knows this is the restored church of Jesus Christ! We asked if he had a date in mind, and he said no, so we knelt down right then and had him say a prayer. He prayed to know when he should be baptized, and when he finished, he immediately said the 22nd! That's when Jack is getting baptized, but he actually has been saying that he's nervous to do it alone, and doesn't want all the attention. So it's perfect!

Pathway to the sea

 We haven't found someone new to teach for about two weeks, so this week we decided we would asked people if we could come in and teach them right then!  The first door we tried this at, we were let in and were able to start teaching this really cool couple! We had prayed before tracting that we would be able to find someone to teach and WE DID! Their names are Heather and Chris. They are from Texas and they just got married in December! We are going to have to let the Elders teach them, because they should be in a family ward,  :( but it was a really cool miracle!

Playing on top of the cliff

The ocean

 This week was Jack and Yu's quit date for Word of Wisdom (they need to live it for three weeks prior to their baptism). Yu said he already lives the WoW, which is awesome! Jack told us it would be hard for him, but he is excited to try his best! The ward members got together to give him a blessing! There were like 8 members there helping and the Spirit was so strong! This ward is incredible, and they are all so good at supporting our friends!

Boothing with the Elders

Spring has sprung in California!

Tea for Jack

Every day on the mission has been tiring, but I've grown so much, and will continue to do so! This week I've really learned that our conversion is not one event but a continual process. I become further converted everyday as I see the changes this Gospel and the Atonement can work in people!

Love, Sister Hadden

Pictures: Ramen with Yu, Tea for Jack, spring has sprung here, boothing with the elders🤦🏽‍♀️, ocean, companionship inventory, the ocean again, exchanges!