"All Things Work Together for Good to Them That Love God"

Hey there fam! Como Estan? Estoy muy bien.

And that's about all the Spanish I can get into a conversation down here. I'm actually in two Branches, an English Branch and a Spanish Branch, and there are three other sets of missionaries. Eight missionaries is a lot to have in two small branches. I think I'd have been over whelmed with eight in our big family ward back home. Someone told me that the Border Zone was President Jones' project area, so there are a lot of missionaries down here. So there are North and South Areas, with a set of Elders and Sister's in both. I'm in the North area, which is mostly the upper end of Del Rio, so we work mostly with the English branch, and the South Sisters work mostly with the Spanish Branch. But there are those outliers here, so I do get to speak Spanish.

 Well, I mostly get to HEAR Spanish more. When I speak it, there are blank stares all around. And then my companion will say the same thing and they'll respond. Feeling good about my accent last week? Boo. Down the drain with that. I'll just have to start forcing my way into the conversations and saying things anyways, even if they can't understand I word I say to them, it's fine, I'll say it anyway. It's really hard though actually, because most of the time I'm content with letting Sister Lund do the talking when we come to Spanish, but that's not how it should be. Eh. It'll come. For now, just smile anyway when they stare at you blankly. 

My bike. It's gotten a lot better this week. One of the Sister's that we live with, Sister Clark, showed me how to tuck and things with my skirt so that it's not riding up all the time, it helps a lot. Mostly now I just hate getting on or off my bike while people are watching, it's not really attractive. One time, we were pulling up to the church for correlation, and I was trying to brake while coming up the curb a little, and get off at the same time, in the ending I kind'a ended up sliding/hurdling over the back of my bike to get off it so I didn't fall. The Elder's drove up right behind us right then. Cool. I'm tried and sweaty all the time. And it's almost November...shouldn't it be like time for cardigans and scarves yet? No.  Oh wait, I've been wearing them anyway haha. 

This week, I got asked if I was a fashion blogger before my mission. "What? No." Should I have been? hahahaha...probably not.

We met with this elderly couple this week, Marilyn and Jerry. They're GEMS. They're Baptist, and very firm in their beliefs, Jerry's been reading the Book of Mormon. Four pages a day actually. He's in the beginning of 2 Nephi now, and sometimes he reads it out loud to Marilyn and they discuss it. Only a matter of time. They're kind'a hillbilly people, and they have the best accents :) I adore talking with them, every time we walk away I feeling a little more like singing and bouncing and peddling a little faster. Plus, Marilyn is going to teach us how to make pecan pie this Friday. I guess she's pretty good at it.

We're also teaching another older couple, Rosie and Eloy. Their grandson was taking the lessons and going to be baptized, and the Sisters having been trying to help them progress as well. Rosie is a Sunday school teacher for their Methodist church, and she LOVES teaching the children. Actually, she usually uses things in her lessons that the Sisters have taught them. We dropped off a Children's Friend magazine Saturday afternoon and set up and appointment to come back that evening. When we came back, she had already read through it all and picked out something to use for her class. 

We decided to watch The Testaments with them that night since they were having a hard time getting into the Book of Mormon, we thought it would help them understand the location and people in relation to the Bible. They were in Sister Lund's words "enthralled" with the movie. We could only watch half of it since we had to be home on time, but we're going back to night to finish with them. When we stopped it, Rosie looked at us with her eyes big and her mouth open. "I never knew about the Mormon religion before you came" she said. "I had no idea." We're really excited to see them tonight, and we're hoping to help them understand that the Book of Mormon does testify of Christ and is a Sister book to the Bible. Neat things going on here!

So doing personal study in Spanish. Not workin so well. I've felt kinda drained this week, physically, emotionally and spiritually. While on a bike ride home the other day, I was thinking about what I could do about it. I felt like I was doing everything right, so why did I always feel so worn out and down right tired? Like I wasn't getting my "daily bread" that Elder Christopherson talks about. Yesterday morning, I was looking through my Christ-like Attribute Book of Mormon that I had been study last transfer, and I felt very sad about not finishing it. I had thought now was the time to study everything in Spanish, and I've been waiting three transfers to start doing it. But I didn't really get that confirmation that it was time, and I went ahead and did it anyway. Well, some things are good, but only in the right time. Timing is essential.

 I LOVE personal study, and sometimes I'm really selfish with it, and trying to do it all in Spanish, was not giving me what I needed right now. So I've decided to go back to English. It took a bit out of me to admit that maybe that's just what I needed to do, and then I thought about D&C Chapter 9 were Oliver Cowdry was told that at that time, it was not needful that he translate. I also for some reason thought of Romans chapter 8, so I went to look it up and in verse 28 I read "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purposes." Whatever may happen, I'll be able to learn Spanish. And maybe it's needed that I meet someone in the future after my mission who needs to be able to help me learn it. Who knows, but for now, I'll be still. I'll still study it and work hard, but for now, it's not needful that I push into things so much.

Well family, I think that's about it. Tomorrow I'll be old. Friday, my companion will be even older, 20 and 22. We're actually probably still babies. We've just been singing Taylor Swift's "22" song a little bit to get us in the mood haha. We've decided to change up the lyrics to fit a missionary life style.

I'm proud of all the missionary experiences y'all have been having. They make me smile :D You're doing good family.

I'm excited for the changes and the maps in your new area Danika, you should send me some pictures. Sometimes I wish we had a Pinterest for missionaries. Would do wonders sharing creative and effective ideas for organization, finding and teaching. Wonders I say. 

Sharlan. I'm proud of you playing in church! Ya done good kid :) sometimes it's healthy for us to do things that makes us what to scream... or other things...and I've always wanted to be the towel lady too. Quite JEALOUS. 

Have a good week and a happy Halloween!

Until next week

Nos Vemos!

Hermana CheyennE  Montgomery

Up Hill Both Ways

Well Family, some unexpected events have happened this week.

So after an emotional two days of packing, cleaning, updating and goodbyes, Sister Clements and I picked up another Sister, and then drove down to San Antonio from Austin. I was the driver. It was POURING rain. We made it okay, and I God really does answer those prayers for safety.

So we got the the Stone Oak Chapel and loaded all my stuff onto the trailer, and then we headed down for the border. There were a lot of people that I knew heading down as well, so it was a good trip. We did drop off some Sisters, and then as we were moving back on the road, we got stuck in the mud. Because it has been raining all week here, the mud was extra sink-ish, and our huge 12-seater van and trailer sunk more than a foot down into the mud. After 8 Elders pushing, shoving, jumping and pulling, we called for help. The local ward mission leader came with his truck and cables to pull us out of the mud. As we were all watching one elder said "Now that's what they're talking about when they say the members and missionaries need to come together as one in this work!" We all had a good laugh.

 So we made it out and continued on. In Del Rio I found my new Companion, Sister Lund and the other Sisters we'll be living with Sister Clark and Sister Pond. We got all of our stuff home and I was unpacking things that night only to realize that I was missing one of my suitcases. Really? Now? After calling around and talking to the Zone Leaders a bit we found that it had made it's way back onto the trailer and down to Eagle Pass, and I won't be able to get it until November 15 when all the Zone Leaders meet for monthly Missionary Leadership Training (MLT). Cool. The things that were in it were not things that I really needed, but they're obnoxious not to have, like root pump, blow dryer, envelopes, etc...oh well. Embrace the flat hair I guess. It'll be under a helmet five out of seven days a week anyway. Yeah, I'm on a bike. All day, everyday. Except Tuesdays and Saturdays, then we get the car. I'm probably one of the only Sisters to get sick and have anxiety over riding a stupid bike, and I go to the ONLY Sisters bike area in the mission. You'd think that dad liking biking and all, I'd inherent something of that. I guess I got Grandma Troumbley's and Shar's genes more, because it's a huge stress factor in my day now.   Whatever God was trying to make of me by having me do this, I didn't want to do or be it. We got on the bikes 30 minutes later and I started singing primary songs. I got my gears figured out and it helped a lot to not feel like I was pedaling and steering air, but that I actually had some control over it. I don't know how I made it to that appointment.

Honestly, I didn't know how to get over this little curve ball that had been thrown at me, I wasn't worrying about Spanish at all now, I was just trying to make it to the next bend in the road without crashing and throwing up.

I've been studying every morning and praying the whole time for two days to try to figure out how to get passed these feelings of frustration, fatigue and stress. I read through the talks, "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox that dad suggested a few weeks ago and Elder Holland's talk this last conference "Like a Broken Vessel" trying to grasp onto some part of the Atonement to help me.

 My First night there I stood at the sink drinking a glass of water and thought, "What am I doing here? I want to go home."A paper taped to the front door then caught my attention, it read "DON'T QUIT." Yeah, I know. "it'll all be worth it, but right now it's hard."

 The Next day in Brad Wilcox's talk I read "God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus’s grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, you will feel the enabling power and divine help we call His amazing grace." I WAS looking for excuses. I WAS looking for a way out. I was backed into a corner, and now I had to decided if I was going to seek the grace of Christ.

 While studying I read Mosiah 3:7 which says "And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for...his people." Christ suffered these things before I ever did. And somehow, He was going to help me through it. So I got back on the bike.

Sister Lund has been a Godsend through all of this. She came out the same time that I did, and she will be 22-years-old on November 1st. She's been in all Spanish areas so far, and she's pretty good at it. She stresses out about things too, and she has real people feelings. She's a hard worker, and she wants to be a good missionary. She understands the factors of this anxiety, and she has been so good with me. She and I will stop and walk it when it's hard, and she talks and relates to me a lot. She's been so good to have here with me. She is an example to me of what a Christlike missionary is.

Saturday night Sister Lund and I got blessings from the Elders in our district. Her for stress, and me for, well, riding a dumb biking. In the blessing I was given, Alma 7:11 was actually quoted. I was told  that not only did Christ suffer for emotional, mental and Spiritual stress, but for physical stress. I have said it over and over again to people in lessons, but I didn't really "Get it" until now. Christ knows what it feels like to be exhausted and have jello legs and a sore behind after riding a bike all day. He knows what it feels like to have all nerves on edge while coasting down hill, feeling like I'm gonna flip the whole bike. He knows what it feels like to feel sick in the pit of my stomach feeling out of control while riding in the dark. He knows these things. He's felt these things so "that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."  Now, is it still hard? Yes. But is it getting better? Yes.

I don't claim to be able to be a professional biker, or that I now desire to be one, or even that I can ride up the hill both ways (don't ask me how both ways is up hill, it just is) and be fine. I can't. But his grace is sufficient. And as Elder Holland said " if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." And so I'll drink it.

On the upswing, I can already tell my Spanish is getting better. I do a lot of the praying in lessons and was asked to bear my testimony in Sacrament Meeting. I forgot how to say "I say" (diga),  as in "I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ..." in Spanish, and so I just said "I say esas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, amen!" really fast so now one would catch my lack of Spanish Vocabulary. Sister Lund said that people probably didn't even notice. I was also told that I "sound like a Mexican" when I speak Spanish by a Less-Active women we met with. Cudos to me haha! My Spanish accent isn't half bad I guess :)

I've also switched my personal studies in to Spanish every morning. I feel like it's now time to really dig into this language. It's like being a fresh missionary all over again. Yikes this stuff is hard. Dad, keep the Spanish coming, it's good to have it!

I love and miss you all.   It's rough here, but it gets better. I'm learning so many more angles about the Atonement than I ever thought I could understand before. And all the edges are being more refined to me. It really all does come back to it.  It's made me understand more as well that sometimes God doesn't change our circumstances, but instead changes our heart. And "if the bitter cup doesn't pass, drink it."

Hasta la samana proxima mi Familia! Les Quiero muchisimo :)

Your

bike-peddling-Spanish-speaking-Gospel-loving-almost-20-year-old-and-half-way-through

Hermana

Border Run

Hey Fam. I have news. Buckle in.

Transfer calls came last night, and I am yet again being transferred out. In fact, both Sister Clements and I are leaving. We're being doubled out and new Elders or Sisters are coming into our area, we don't know which yet. Area #4? Bring it. 

We've found some great street signs recently, like this one.

In fact...I'm going to the border. eeehhhhhhhhhh!! Whhaat?! Yeah. First Spanish area will be fully thrown into it down on the border of Mexico and Texas. Learn by fire I guess. God does like to do that. 

This morning, after freaking out all night maybe, I got up and for personal study  I studied the next Christ-like attribute in Preach My Gospel: Patience. And next week's? Humility. Good right? God is funny, huh? "Sendin' her down to the border hahaha...gonna learn some Spanish she is heeheehee...might need a little pinch of patience this week and a little dab of humility next week she will hohoho. Mix it all up real nicely, and she just might turn out okay." We'll see.  It's a "Rocket-roller-coaster-throat-hits-the-pits-of-your-stomach-maybe-I'll-need-extra-deodorant-I'll-be-sweatin-so-much" kind of ride? Probly. Bring it.

I actually thought that President Slaughter was joking when he told me that I'd need to be ready for the Border run by Wednesday. Nice five hour car ride we gots to do. Lovely. My old Companion Sister Miller is headed down as well, as well as another sister and elder from my MTC district, so it could be a party.

I really do hope Sisters come into this area though, because our investigators need 'em. But if Elders come, God's got it covered. I will miss my Austin. It's been good here.

Another great Lord of the Ring street sign

So...news of the week with Karl, our stubbern-as-ever-investigating-for-12-years friend. He wants to be a "Temple goon." Yes, a Temple worker. AND, he wants to serve a mission with his wife. BUT, he doesn't want to get baptized. Whhaaatt?! "What do you meannnnn?! KAAARRRLLLLLL!" Yes. He talked about how when a family friend's daughter got married in the Temple and he had to wait outside. He said he tried to walk passed the Temple workers and they stopped him and asked him not to go past that point. "What are ya gonna do, stop me?" I'll rush ya!" he said sticking is toe just passed them. Just imagine...Karl is a big guy...and those nice men who work at the Temple...he probably gave them a heart attack! Karl meant it all in good humor, but really, it still must have panicked them. Poor guys.

So I studied Jacob 5 this week. Cool. "Cool"? No. It was TOO FANTASTIC! I want to go and read it a million times over now. Holy cow there was good stuff in there. In fact, I've always kinda passed over Jacob...kinda "la la la" deal. No. Not this time. Read it. And first read Jacob 4:17 as a preface. I'll show you:

Jacob 4:17

"And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner?"

let me add in

"And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these [the Jews... or others], after having rejected the sure foundation [Jesus Christ], can ever build upon it [gain a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and repent and be forgiven], that it may become the head of their corner [or kinda navigate and guide their lives]?" 

And another one!

Now go back and read verses 15 and 16 of Jacob 4 with this in mind, coupled with Ephesians 2:20. Recognize the foundation. Zoom in on it and analyze the pixels.That, in my opinion is a thesis Statement for Chapter 5. Boom. Mind bomb. 

So going into Chapter 5. One original. natural. mother tree. the branches get taken out and grafted into other trees, the roots stay. Those Branches are grafted into three different trees, one into a poor spot of land, one in THE poorest spot of land, and then one in a good spot of land.The first round, all four trees produce good fruit, even the ones in the poor land. Verse 21 the servant questions "how comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot of all in the land of thy vineyard." The Lord responds in verse 22 "Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit." Jump back to Jacob 4:10"...seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works." 

God is in control, and He does know what he is doing. He is quite frankly smarter than us, and if we learn to submit to His will in all things, He will bless us. Even if we get sent to the border of Mexico hardly knowing anymore than MTC Spanish. 

The Sisters in my Zone

Which leads me to my favorite part of Chapter 5. Verse 23 after the whole "counsel me not" part. "Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit.." 

God does not leave us alone. Sometimes, He plants us in the hardest, most undesirable, poorest spot of land, and lets us grow. And when the trial and the tears have ended, "behold the tree." it bringeth forth much fruit. God, in His infinite grace and mercy can "deepen [your] joys, expand [your] vision, quicken [your] mind, strengthen [your] muscles, lift up [your] spirit, multiply [your] blessings, increase [your] opportunities, comfort [your] soul, raise up friends and pour out peace" When we turn our life over to God, he can make way more of it than we can. So trust him. "And doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith"

On Wednesday we got a phone call letting us know it was time to get our tires rotated and our oil changed. We also had been having trouble with the brakes and so we had them check them as well. Long day not shortened...we spent three hours waiting at Pep Boys. We saw some Elders from our Zone there as well getting their tires and oil done and so we chatted it up. Pero, uno de ellos hablo solamente espanol. And his companion, is actually the cousin of the Andersons, like Joel and Tori Anderson. Small world right? So anyways, my companion told me "go on, practice your Spanish with him." But really, more than eight months later and no better than MTC Spanish...if that...that's embarrassing. But I did talk with him for a bit. *cough* rusty *cough* 

We were joking around for a bit all talking in Spanish, except Sister Clements who was English called. So then Sister Clements started doing sign language, since she took two years in High School. A man walked passed us and kinda did a double take on her and then kept walking. We later sat down and were waiting in the sitting area, and the same man was sitting close to us. Then all of a sudden, he started signing to me. He asked me if I knew sign language...and how the heck I understood I'll never know. The gift of tongues is real...I mean the gift of arms...hehe. Then I pointed at Sister Clements. Her through process? "Oh, crap. You're talking to a real deaf person...don't embarrass yourself!" His name was Steve and he'd been waiting for his car for a long time now. He told us some nice stories, asking where we were from and what we were doing here as well. I could even sign out my name for him. Too bad I realized halfway through signing it that it was my first name...gotta figure out my last name now! I actually understood a lot of the things that he would sign, it felt pretty simple. And Sister Clements didn't do so bad :) I got to tell her "go on, practice your sign language." Payback haha. 

We had an exchange this week. Hmmm... As feedback she told me that she liked my "quiet dignity" (that's a first...) and "silent leader" status, but I needed to talk more. (What?)  She told Sister Clements she needed to listen more. what? Whateves. Sister Clements told me to just go with it.  As for our area, Jesse, the less-active we've been working with is staying committed. He came to church again, and he's committed to reading a page a day from the Book of Mormon starting at the beginning. So that's good news :) we were talking to our Ward Mission Leader about him and I asked what do we do if after three weeks he feels like he's done his part? And Our leader told us "Commit him to three more weeks. And then do it again." And so we are. 

In our last lesson with him as we were talking, I asked him to do several things ya know "will you come to church this Sunday?" "will you read a page every day?" "will you pray to know it's true for yourself?" etc... and then he said "will you stop asking me to do things?" and I said "will you start doing 'em? Touche. He told me "I bet I know the next three words that will come out of your mouth...'will you...'" Sorry Jesse, that's only two..but then Sister Clements said "PRAY?! Will you pray?" And so he said the closing prayer.He has a way of getting under my skin, but I will miss good 'ol Jesse haha. 

And that about sums up our week. Kinda a funny one :)

God is good. And He is near.

I love y'all.

-No longer Sister, but Hermana Montgomery once again :)

"Well, you go on with your life, we'll just be in there...planning. Enjoy."

Dearest Family of Mine.

Man, just hearing about all the soccer and band and things makes me remember those good 'ol days. It sounds like a lot of fun things going on, I'm proud of y'all :) Keep on winning the games and bringing home the awards. I always liked Jeff Chamber's music, he's up there in my favorite composers. He'll do great things.

Wasn't conference FANTASTIC?! Gosh, the whole thing just spoke to my soul. I wrote down a bunch of questions that had been running through my head and had been on my heart before hand, and every single one of them was answered over the course of the two days. Lot's about marriage, women, the little decisions, and rising up to our duty. I loved listening and took pages of notes. April is quite far away.

Last Monday we had dinner with Karl and Vanda again, and we talked quite a bit to him about committing. I was praying the whole lesson to know what to share to touch his heart. Then I thought of the scripture where the Lord told Oliver Cowdary to study the matter out in his mind before asking, the problem was, I didn't know where to find it. So I prayed. I told Heavenly Father that I had done my studying and it had come to my mind, and I really needed help to find this scripture now. Then I found it. I shared it with them, and we asked Karl to study it out in his mind, to really try and think about it and ask Heavenly Father what he should do. We asked him to try it for three weeks. This man has worked with Missionaries for 15 years now, and he says he just can't push the "I believe" button, he needs proof, an "ah-ha moment." I told him to study it out for real for three weeks and he would find an answer. Sometimes it's really hard for me to promise things to my investigators in return for them trying. Because...what if it doesn't come? But in Preach My Gospel it tells us to have confidence when promising blessings. So promising people good things to come is an act of faith on our part. A big one for me. But I do believe that if we do our part, God is faithful. Always. Karl expressed a concern about tithing during that lesson and then Elder Bednar's talk came. I was praying that Karl and Vanda were watching it. They didn't, but we went over to their house on Sunday to watch the last two sessions with them. His wife took notes, we're meeting with them again tonight. 

I mentioned last week that Sister Clements and I bought coloring books to help us distress...well, we bought princess wedding coloring books since there weren't normal princess coloring books...WHO"S DUMB IDEA WAS THAT?! Sister missionaries coloring princess' wedding pictures to distress. What a joke. 

We had our Sister Training Leader Exchange this week too with Sister Hill. She came out just before I did, and she is a doll. I always get so nervous before exchanges, and then I realize they're not as big of a deal as my brain explodes them to be. It was excellent! We when to the fancy Salt Lick restaurant with Sister Hill and our district after district meeting since it was one of the Elder's birthdays. Sister Hill and I got matching T-shirts :) Yeah TEXAS!

So the member we live with, Celeste, she has a nice boy. He came to visit her yesterday for conference and they made us breakfast. Then we parted ways for conference and Sister Clements and  I were out the whole day. We came home later, and found them sitting on the couch holding hands. AHHH don't walk in the room! Nothing was evening wrong, but we peeked around to talk to them anyway. We talked for just a few seconds and then Sister Clements says "well, you go on with your life, we'll just be in there...planning. Enjoy." Those poor Sister missionaries...I felt like slapping my forehead and asking Sister Clements "enjoy?"  Way to set the mood for 'em Sister Clements :) haha! "You enjoy sitting on the couch with somebody you love, we'll just be in here planning...like missionaries do!" Poor, poor awkward missionaries. We had a good laugh from it.

This week, I had my first sick day. Awful nasty thing. Sore throat and achy stuff. I slept it off for a while, after calling our mission President's wife. Then I felt better and we went about stuff. Sister Clement's also got pink eye this week and took a nap cause it hurt and was kinda swelling. So I had a sleeping meditation phase...mostly sleeping... But I was thinking a lot about what to do to help our ward the most, and I kept sitting up and looking at our master board while I was sleeping. I usually get my best ideas while I'm sleeping or right before I'm sleeping. And after the matter, I felt a lot like we should focus on getting our members involved in the work. Know the members, and help them share the Gospel kind of thing. So that was my conclusion. We need to help our members share the Gospel. It was one of my questions going into conference, and I got the same answer: help the members share the Gospel. And so that's become our main focus for this week.

Transfer calls come next Sunday. What the weird?! Things just go by too fast.

Celeste found a scorpion in our house this week. Gross nasty thing. She's keeping it in a jar. It freaks me out at night. 

Well family. That's about all for this week :) It's been a good one.

I love hearing from y'all! Keep the letters coming!

-Hermana Montgomery