Three Peas in a Pod

I love my companions! They are so fun and we have the best time!

Random experiences this week:

 

We had a two hour long member visit this week...she needed it, but they had DOGS! So I've also had allergies the rest of this week!

Sister Olson, Stock, and I have been speaking in British and Australian accents all week. It's been hilarious. 

I got stung by a BEE on my finger :(

It was Sister Stock's 3rd month mark <3

It was Vanessa's daughter's birthday and we went to the end of the party to support Vanessa. She asked us to watch her bouncy castle until the guys came to get it...we watched it very closely!

We had an exchange with the ojai sisters and I got to be with Sister Gowans who is the sweetest!

General conference was amazing! The overall message was of peace and christlike love. It was so up-lifting. I am grateful for the Spirit who taught me and inspired the speakers. I am grateful for a modern day prophet and apostles! Something that really struck me was Elder Andersen's talk about how we need to stand up for the Savior and bear testimony of Him. That we need to talk of Him, testify of Him, and rejoice in Him! I love my Savior and have grown much closer to Him over my mission. I love who I am becoming as I do grow closer to him! 

And then there were three.

Sister Stock and I got a third companion this week. Her name is Sister Olson, she is from South Dakota, and she is a hoot! We love her already! Tri-pans are literally so fun! We have been working hard this week, too. Three heads are better than two, so now we have a whole bunch of new ideas!

We went "chalking" where we walk to a park or a bike path and draw in chalk spiritual messages on the ground. We have gotten a few responses! Some good, some bad, but people are actually reaching out to us! One person texted us and told us they weren't sure which path to take, they believe in Christ, but didn't know which church to be a part of! Woah!

We saw some MIRACLES this week! One of them was the chalking person. Another was we received a referral from Vanessa for her step-daughter, Venice, to be taught! We will meet with her this week. 

We were also able to go visit our friend Robert IN PERSON. He is paralyzed and has been locked in his facility for the past six months! Now we are able to visit, sitting outside, six feet apart, wearing masks! 

Our ward met IN PERSON! We had a sacrament meeting outside in the back parking lot wearing masks, sitting six feet apart. Sister Stock, Sister Olson, and I helped check everyone in by taking their temperature! It was so cool to see everyone! 

We were on a walk and ran into one of our friends we are teaching who we have only taught online! It was so crazy! My companions felt like we should walk home from the lesson instead of driving. When we saw him, and Sister Stock recognized him, yelled, and he almost crashed his bike! Haha. Then we set up a lesson and taught him the Plan of Salvation. It was so cool! The smallest promptings can bring huge miracles! The Spirit is nudging us all the time! 

So much more happened this week, but I can't fit it all! I am loving my mission, and my companions are the greatest! 

Sister Hadden

Moments Matter

 

This week has been a roller coaster of ups and downs!

⬆️We went on a split in Ojai with Sister Keele and Sister Gowans! Soooo fun! We went store "contacting" (we just are really friendly and try to start conversations), set up a family history booth, and drew a sidewalk chalk plan of slavation!

⬇️Our most progressing person, Sergio, decided he didn't want to learn anymore. We're sad but people have their agency and we can't help them more than they want to be helped. 

⬆️ We got in contact with Melissa and got to see her four times this week! She even cam to church and we invited her to be baptized, she is praying about it! :)

⬇️ We only have a few people in our teaching pool so we have been grinding trying to find people...but haven't found anyone new quite yet. The miracles will come!

⬆️ We went to a member family's house last night to pick up dinner ,and ended up staying and filming the amazing stories they told us. Our FB page is doing a series called Moments Matter, and they both shared incredible experiences with us. We had to film it! This is a miracle because we've been trying to find stories for a while, and none have worked out! Peep "Come unto Christ - Ventura" to see the moments matter. They'll probably go up in about a week or two!

Now what you've all been waiting for: TRANSFER NEWS! 

Sister Stock and I are both staying!! AND we are getting a third companion! Her name is Sister Olsen and we are so excited! 

Pictures: Family history efforts, cinnamon rolls for Hermana Roylance's month mark, the district, IHOP and baskin Robin's!

The Savior Heals All Wounds

This week has been jam packed! Here are some highlights!

Vanessa GOT BAPTIZED! Her whole family came and it was so sweet! She bore her testimony at the end. She said how much she had felt the spirit prompting her that she was ready. She has come so far and the Atonement has truly changed her! Christ makes all things possible! We're so happy for her! She couldn't stop smiling after! 

We had Zone Conference! It was really fun! I got to see my old companion Sister Taupa'ū, she's the sweetest! We learned a lot about how to find effectively during Covid. We're starting to try Family History, service, and working with members WAY more! 

We found a couple new friends this week, Nico and Ruben...but they're both YSA so we will have to pass them off!

Sergio is doing great! We thought we lost contact with Melissa...BUT yesterday she texted us and said she's been crazy busy but still wants to meet! We are going to do family history with her and her Mom tonight! 

I love my mission. God is great!

Sister Hadden 

I Live In An Oven!

This weekend there is a heat wave in California! I happen to be serving in the area that is furthest inland in my mission. Saturday was 115° and yesterday it was 117°! We are melting! When you go outside it literally feels like you opened the oven door! So we don't go outside...unless we have to! Today we are retreating to Ventura to stay cool! 

We were so crazy busy this week! I had Mission Leadership Conference (MLC), District Leadership Conference (DLC), Combined District Council (CDC) (I gave a discussion in that one), and two exchanges--one with Sister Keele and one with Sister Jacobsen.

I love being busy! It keeps me working hard and focused on the mission! I love my sisters and have had so much fun getting to know them and encouraging them! 

Our people are doing great! Vanessa is getting baptized this Saturday, Sergio has been reading the Book of Mormon daily, Melissa quit coffee BEFORE our Word of Wisdom lesson because "she felt like she should". WHAT?! MIRACLES!!! 

I know my Savior lives and is strengthening me! I literally could not keep up with all this without his help. Prayer has been a huge support to me as I try my best to serve others! I am really learning to rely on my Savior, my Heavenly Father, and the Spirit! As my mission plaque says "I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." Alma 26:12

God is good! 

Sister Hadden 

Ps: Check out the video we made on my FB page!  

M. I. A.

I am writing this asap today because last week was one of the only weeks in my whole mission I didn't send an email. 

This week was awesome! 

Some quick updates:

Vanessa is getting baptized on the 12th of September! Please pray for her to be able to reach that goal! She came to her family's sacrament meeting yesterday with her husband and her daughter! It was soo tender!

Sister Stock and I are thriving and have been working HARD this week! We get home and crash every night because we're exhausted! It is great though! I hit my 14 month mark last week and only have 3 months and two weeks left so I'm full sending!

Our friend Sergio is doing really great and so is Melissa! They both have amazing faith and are loving the gospel!

We had follow up training in Oxnard this week and interviews and also exchanges ALL ON THE SAME DAY! It was a crazy day but sooo fun! I went with Sister Lehauli and Sister Stock went with Sister Jacobsen! It was so fun to see missionaries I've served around in the past! ALSO...Last week we went on exchanges with Sister Keele and Sister Gowans! 

Funny story: After district council on Friday, we stuck around in Santa Paula to do food share (service)! We packed lunches and were eating them outside in the back parking lot of the church (which is fenced in) with all the sisters. One sister kindly gathered up all the garbage and took it over to the dumpster because we aren't allowed to throw things away in the church. She climbed the little wall surrounding the dumpster and was about to throw the trash in, but ran back with it instead whisper-yelling ,"There's a man in the garbage!" We look over and there is a man peaking out of the dumpster at us. We were all dying laughing (an uncomfortable laugh) and ran inside the church. It was definitely an experience!

I love my mission and never want to leave! 

Sister Hadden 

Re-Stock the Mission

Our mission received 34 missionaries this week, all new missionaries, many reassigned. Sister Lee and I drove to Oxnard last Monday and picked up our new companions! My new companion is from Texas and her name is Sister Stock (hence the title of this email)! (I'm hilarious). She is awesome! She was originally assigned to the London England mission, Portuguese-speaking. 

This week was one of the busiest I've had in a while. Sister Stock took it like a champ and crushed it! We taught eight non-member lessons and 10 member lessons! We helped a less active member move, served at food share, helped a member make bookmarks for the primary kids, and had many, many meetings! 

Sister Stock and I got a call on Tuesday asking us to be facebook support missionaries, meaning we call and remind other missionaries of the posts they should be making, and help them brainstorm ideas and make quality material for the page! Kinda fun!

Our people are doing great! On Monday the ward put together a drive-by welcome party for Charlotte. They all drove by her house, cars decorated, armed with posters and presents, honking and yelling hello! It was a highlight! The ward has shown so much support and love to her! Our other friends Melissa and Sergio are cruising through the lessons and loving the Gospel! 

Fillmore is HOTTT! Not just because there is a fire close by, but because it is 112°F every other day! If you ever visit Fillmore (I don't know why you would) DON'T DO IT IN AUGUST! You will die!

Loving the mission and the experiences I'm having. It's been a learning curve this week and I'm excited to learn more next week! The harder things are, the more I rely on my Savior, and the more he builds me up! 

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Matt 11:28-30 

Sister Hadden 

Oh, also: I got into BYU PROVO 🏻 

Pictures: wildlife encounters, food share, zoom meetings, on a walk with Ele, first taste of Sothen California mexican food!

(More pictures to come...we took so many this week)