finding families

Hello!

I hope you are all doing well! The week before last was a hard one for me, I found it hard to be motivated and I didn't feel very united with my companion. Last Monday I decided to try and serve my companion more and this past week went a lot better. Tuesday and Wednesday I felt better and closer to my companion and I didn't even mind that we couldn't find people. But then on Thursday we found a family, and then Friday we found another family and on Saturday, yet another! It was incredible. There really are so many people ready to hear the Gospel and when Heavenly Father confides in you, he will lead you to them. 

     Last week we were knocking on the door of an investigator when we spotted an elderly lady across the street watching us. After a moment she motioned to us to knock louder and still no one came out. So we went and talked to her and she told us to come back later. Well, she is a crazy funny lady! She had us cracking up the entire lesson and she is just so sweet—I love her already. We contacted another street last week and one lady let us in, right then and there! When we first started talking she kept smiling and giggling and we finally just asked her why! She was intrigued and surprised that we walk the streets and talk to people and that nothing happens to us. She was also impressed that as we are so young that we've decided to be here teaching people, instead of home with our parents. I sometimes forget how strange our lifestyle is to some people. I've gotten so used to being a missionary that it is weird to consider that in just two and a half more transfers I'll be back home. 

     But I have the next three and a half months to make the most of it. I want to invite you all to serve someone and also take care of the missionaries. Go on splits with them, or accompany them on visits—it all helps so much! 

     I love you all—have a great week!!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

P.S. Sorry I don't have any photos this week. Next week I'll send some!

packages

This week was long and hard. Every single day had its challenges but we got through it. Last Monday I got a much-needed package from home and it certainly made the week go by a little faster! Another highlight this week was going to a baptism in my companion's old area, which was actually my first area! It was great to see my old Bishop and some of the members as well as attend a baptism. The little old couple that got baptized was just adorable—so loving and wonderful with everyone. There were as many missionaries as there were members of the ward—13 missionaries in total. We all went up and sang for them and it went well! Except that it was too much for the lady getting baptized and she broke down and was bawling. It is incredible when you find people who are so prepared and so in tune with the Spirit. Not everyone has that gift but she certainly does.

With the gifts received from home.

At this week's baptism.

That night my companion got asked to give a talk the next day in church and she got the topic of Law of Chastity. She was nervous but she did a great job! She spoke on the media a lot and how what we post on Facebook or social media is just as important as what we listen to or read or watch. It was a good reminder for the members as well as us as missionaries.

I don't have much else to say! We watched a Mormon Message with a family yesterday after lunch and it's one I love and I don't remember if I've already shared it. But I'll send it again! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV2YlnbXgAs Please watch it! It's a great reminder to take advantage of all the opportunities we have around us.

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!!

white-washing

Hi!

This last week went by quickly! Well, we had changes on Tuesday and I am in a new area with a new companion! We are in a ward called Juan Escutia and there are three other companionships here. Yup! Eight missionaries in the same ward, and we are the only sisters. Also, neither of us knows this area and in missionary terms, that means white-washing. We had to start from scratch! So after we figured out where we lived and called a member to help us out, we went through the books and made a list of members to find. We made little maps to carry with us and with just a little bit of time we got started! This week has flown by and we are learning so much every day. We contact a lot, knock a lot of doors and are meeting awesome people. We actually have about 90% of the members in our area alone. The ward is small but steady and I already love being here. Everyone just wants to help us and so far most of our contacts accept us. We found some new investigators last week and are also working with some investigators the last sisters found before they left. The only downside to last week was that I got really sick Thursday night and was out most of the day Friday. I had some strain of the flu and I felt awful for a few days but I'm finally feeling better.

     So companion #10 is Hermana Monarrez! She is a Mexican-American from Chicago who has just a few weeks more than I in the mission. She's 20 and studied Finance at BYU Provo before the mission. Things are going well for us and we are working hard to learn the area and find people. It's hard but worth it!

New companions!

I guess what I've learned from this week is to just keep going - even when sick and tired, moving forward is the only way to go. 

I love you all so much!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

fhe + pride

This last week went by quickly and much of it was spent serving others. We have one recent convert who engraves mugs and paints them for his work. An elder in our district ordered some and so we painted them for him. It was time-consuming but very relaxing! Last week we also had to attend a meeting at our stake center; Hermana Nance is training this cycle and Hermana Benson is training the next one. I got to catch up with one of my past companions who finishes her mission tomorrow! It's crazy to think about friends and companions who are finishing up and heading home for their next adventure. I've only got four and a half months more and I am going to make it count! During our weekly planning this past week I convinced my companions to do it up on our rooftop. I wanted to get some sunshine and hopefully get a little more tan. Of course, both my companions got really red and nothing happened to me!

     We also had a great week with our investigator Ana Lilia. We got to take her to the temple to go through the visitor's center and it was perfect. She has grown so much and has a testimony that is already so strong. We got to have our own tour from the sister missionaries at the temple and they asked really good questions and helped her to learn and understand. It was perfect! I love taking investigators to the temple—there really is no substitute for the spirit they can feel there. She has also decided to enter the temple as soon as possible so she can help her ancestors. Heavenly Father really does prepare people all around us who need our message and need the peace of the Gospel.

The sisters and Ana at the temple.

This week we studied the importance of Family Home Evening. This is something that everyone struggles to do down here. I can honestly say that the times we did FHE in my family, I (almost) always enjoyed it and I fondly remember those short times we were all together learning something and enjoying a treat. I hope you all are trying to have FHE regularly—it strengthens families as much as it does the individual. I also found time to study a talk by President Benson called "Beware of Pride" that he gave in 1989. It is a fantastic talk and one everyone should read. We often think of pride in a very specific way when in reality, all are guilty of it at some point or another. This next transfer I'm going to focus on trying to eliminate all aspects of pride from my behavior. I'm not overall a prideful person but the talk brings up some things, such as gossiping, and a refusal to forgive another, as indications of pride. And as President Benson comments, pride is the universal sin and the downfall of individuals and nations. So do all you can to avoid it and change your behavior and nature—you will not only feel the spirit so much more, but others will notice the difference as well. 

     I love you all and hope you have a great week! I pray for you daily and I am so thankful for all your prayers and emails. 

Love,

Hermana Bennett

The sisters (and a photo-bombing elder) enjoying crepes. 

The entire district gathered for food.