Sixth Week in the Field

Hola Everyone!

This week has been absolutely wonderful! So many miracles and so many other great things happen!

MONDAY:

• we went and visited that San Miguel Mission/church...kind of creepy, but super old and super cool...we walked around the cemetery and found out that the first Christian Native American was buried there! Fun fact!
• we got cowboy hats at the 99 cent store and did a LEGIT photo session on the railroad tracks in San Miguel (pics to come)
• although we didn't do that much proselyting, it was really hot and took the energy out of both of us

TUESDAY:

• we had correlation with the Spanish branch and with the English ward
• we had an inspection of our apartment and, of course, we passed :)
• we started English lessons with one of our Spanish investigators...she's really enthusiastic about learning English so she can communicate with other people better...it's great for us too because we can talk about the gospel while we're teaching her even though she's not super enthusiastic about taking the lessons
• after correlation with the ward, Hermana Romero and I went on some visits with Brother Grover, our ward mission leader, and Bishop Richards, one of our ward missionaries (used to be bishop)...we got to see some less actives that were really happy to find out that sister missionaries were now in the area
• on our way home, we were joking about how we'd see Rascal Flatts on the street (they were the ones performing and the fair this night) and we started singing "Life is a Highway" after a few minutes we rolled down our windows as we were passing the fairgrounds and WE HEARD RASCAL FLATTS SINGING LIFE IS A HIGHWAY right on the chorus!!!! I almost died!!!

WEDNESDAY:

• Pioneer Day!
• we got to go to the ward activity and the best part (other than the fact that we had two investigators there!)....we dressed up! we went to Goodwill and found the best outfits we could
• while we were at Goodwill a little girl came up to us and asked us if we were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...so cute! she told us that she was in the Atascadero ward and was excited to see us!

THURSDAY:

• we had district meeting and Hermana Romero and I got to give the EDPEP (explain, demonstrate, practice, evaluate, practice)...it was kind of fun!
• every visit that we went to we sang and people commented on how much they could feel the spirit and how much they loved it!

FRIDAY:

• we didn't do any proselyting due to weekly planning and service
• for service, we got to pull weeds at a wolf rehab center...it was really cool!  the wolves were so pretty and the heat wasn't too bad
• we had the branch pioneer day activity and watched "Legacy"...it was great because since I can quote it in English, I was able to quote it in Spanish too!...only the Gonzales family and President Custodio came, but it was still a really nice experience and I got to talk a little bit about how much I love Nauvoo and the pioneers

SATURDAY:

• we managed to talk to all of our English investigators with a baptismal date!
• BOB - smashed his pipe!!! He's trying really hard to quit smoking and we couldn't believe he actually did that!
• LAUREN - we got to feel the baby kick and talk to her a little bit about hope
• ANGIE - we had dinner with them and she opened up a lot to us! she showed us a ton a pictures of her and her kids from when they were little...we found out that she's only a year older than Hermana Romero too!
• BRO. FOLTZ - we actually got to stop by and see him and his wife after not seeing them for three weeks!

SUNDAY:

• the Foltz' came to church today!! they were going to leave after sacrament meeting, but Brother Grover convinced them to stay for Sunday School...the lesson was about baptism and after the lesson, Bro. Foltz went up to Bro. Grover and asked him to baptize him on August 10th if his brother still wasn't feeling well!  at first, bro. Foltz didn't want to be baptized by anyone else other than his brother, but he's come a long way!
• we got to teach Angie a lesson about the Book of Mormon...we read 3 Nephi 11 with her and her husband...she told us that we answered a lot of her questions about baptism without even knowing! it was truly a miracle!!

Since this was the last week of this transfer, the Assistants call all of the missionaries that are going to be training during the next transfer on Sunday night.  They let everyone else know where they're going on Monday.  It turns out that I get to train this next transfer!  I'm really nervous, but I know that I'll be fine because it's what the Lord wants.  This morning we got another phone call from our zone leaders telling us where we're going.  Herman Romero is staying in Paso training, but I get to go to the Moor Park 1st Ward...I'm training, we're whitewashing, AND I'm doing it all in English!! I was completely shocked that I wasn't doing Spanish!! Hermana Romero told me that she thinks that I'm doing English because Heavenly Father knows that I can already speak Spanish and He needs me to help train an English sister!  Transfer meeting is tomorrow, so next week I won't be writing from my beloved Paso...I'll be in Moor Park!

Thanks for all of the prayers and support!

Con Amor,

Hermana Halliday

 

Bob smashed his pipe!

Olivia Coons

Jane Foltz

Working in the vineyard for the Lord

Even more gorgeous views!

 

 My District

Fifth Week in the Field

Hola Everyone!

This week was FULL of so many things!

On Tuesday, we had zone conference!  It was a really neat experience and I learned so much about how to be a more effective missionary.  We drove down to Santa Maria and combined with the Santa Barbara zone.  

On Wednesday, we had exchanges with the travelling Hermanas.  I was with Hermana Palafox for the day and we were able to get so much more done than we would have in a regular day.  We got to go teach this potential investigator that we found last Sunday and it turns out that they are GOLDEN! They told us that they are looking for a church to join and want to give their kids something to believe in.  They're really family oriented and are really friendly.  We also finally made contact with some less actives that we haven't been able to see yet.

On Thursday, we didn't have much success with teaching, but it was totally made up for when one of our investigators came to the Relief Society Enrichment activity!  It was at the Paso Robles Sports Club and we got to learn more about being healthy.  Angie seemed like she really enjoyed it and the women there were really welcoming, which was just what she needed.

On Friday, we got to teach Bob.  We've been having some issues with trying to figure out how to help him stop smoking because nothing seems to be working.  When I was talking to him about the importance of relying on the Atonement for strength, it was the first time that I could honestly and truly feel the spirit working through me.  It felt so good that Heavenly Father trusted me to be able to convey this sacred message.  

Yesterday, Hermana Romero and I got to talk in the Spanish Branch Sacrament Meeting.  I was freaking out big time, but once I got up there, I didn't really feel to nervous.  I just said what I knew and said what came to my mind.  I'm pretty sure I don't even remember half the things I said, but afterwards a bunch of people came up to me and told me I did a really good job, so I must have said something right!

Each day as we proselyte and teach, I'm constantly reminded of how blessed I am to not only have the gospel in my life, but to have all the temporal things I have as well.  We teach in some scary places sometimes, but I know that we're protected at all times as long as we're obedient.  

The closer it gets to transfers (one week left), the more I freak out and get nervous.  Hermana Romero keeps telling me that I'm probably going to train in Spanish.  They're sending another set of missionaries here to Paso at transfers so they're probably going to split the english and spanish areas which means that even if I stay in Paso, I won't get to do both :(  I love all of the people we're teaching and don't want to have to leave any of them even though it'll happen at some point.  I just don't want it to happen this soon!

Thanks for all of your prayers!  You're all in mine!

Con Amor, 

Hermana Halliday

Me with the Sisters in my zone.

Sister Romero and I with the sweet sister who kept our dinner calendar up to date.  She is now moving to Utah.  :-(

Look!  I'm FAT FREE!  :-)

Fourth Week in the Field

Hola Everyone!

This week has been seriously really great!! Each day I learn something new and am able to apply it better to my life.  

On Monday, Hermana Romero and I were able to visit the Foltz family again.  We had a little Family Home Evening lesson with them and were able to watch The Testaments.  The spirit was very strong and I could tell that Brother Foltz was really touched by it.  After the movie, his wife had a lot of questions and before we could answer them, he jumped in and answered them!  It's almost hard to believe that he's only preparing to be baptized.  

On Saturday, we had a baptism in the branch!  Hermana Higgs and Hermana Linderman have been teaching Rosa and finally on Saturday, she was baptized.  Hermana Romero and I decided to sing a special musical number.  We sang "Asombro Me Da" aka "I Stand All Amazed"!  It was really nice to be able to sing it again and think of the MTC.  Hermana Higgs played the piano and she did a really good job as well.

Bob came to church yesterday!  We were really happy because he's the first investigator (other than the Foltz, who are practically already members) who has come to church since we've been here.  He came in to Sacrament Meeting a little late, but at least he came!  

We had dinner with the Coons Family yesterday and an investigator and her family were supposed to come as well, but they ended up cancelling.  Celia, the mom, wanted her daughter, Pilar, who has some special needs, to receive a blessing in Spanish, but we think that her husband didn't really want it.  We also think that she's just looking for a miracle so we don't know if we'll be able to continue teaching her unless her heart's in the right place.  

Tomorrow, we have zone conference!  Hopefully it'll be fun and I'll learn a lot.  We get to drive down to Santa Maria to meet with the rest of my zone (San Luis Obispo) and the Santa Barbara zone.  On Wednesday, the travelling sisters are coming up here and we get to do exchanges!  I'm a little nervous for it and don't really know what to expect, but I'm anxious to see what feedback I can't get.  

Hermana Romero is amazing as usual and is always so charitable.  I absolutely love having her as my companion and really hope that we still get to be companions next transfer, even thought that probably won't happen.  I can always hope though.  

The California Mid State Fair starts this week, but obviously we can't go.  :(  I found out that Trace Atkins and Brantley Gilbert are coming in addition to the four other country artists I mentioned earlier.  I'm definitely coming back after the mission!  Traffic is going to be crazy though all through this week and next.  Not looking forward to that!

This week, I've learned that the Lord will always be there for me no matter what.  It's been kind of difficult trying to fully understand everything in Spanish, but I've tried to listen with love and understand as much as I can.  I've definitely been able to tell that my love for those we're teaching has increased a lot even if I still don't fully understand them.

I love all of you and hope that you're all doing well!

Con Amor, 

Hermana Halliday

I attached some pictures in the next email that pretty much some up the gorgeous views here and why I don't want to leave!  One's from the front porch of the Foltz' home and the others are in Shandon.  I get to look at this everyday! :)

From Dad:  Here are a couple of pictures Sarah sent that I decided to add.  Who says missionaries can't have fun!  :-)