Adventures in Mesa: We Progress best And Are Happiest When We Focus On Other People

Hi Familia and friends! 5-5-14 Email

I know I threw everybody off by sending pictures this morning and then not emailing. Haha, sorry about that. They decided not to give us transfer news until this morning to help us focus on our areas better (and kill us with anxiety) so we were waiting for that, and as soon as we got it we went to a dual zone transfer birthday party with all the Spanish missionaries. It was super fun - brincabrinca, piñata, Sonoran hot dogs and piñas. But we got transfer news this morning and we were pretty surprised! We were pretty sure I would leave and Hna Brons would stay, but it's opposite! She will be leaving, and I will be staying.

My new companion is Hna Hurd. She is from Allen, TX too! (That is where Alycia’s, Natalie’s sister’s, husband is from.) I always ask her if she knows any Braithwaites but she doesn't. She's been out for a few transfers less than me, and is super great. I am excited to have a companion that knows the language and already has lots of experience because we will just be able to get to the work like crazy! I am super sad to say goodbye to Hna Brons though. We have really grown to love each other a lot. Transfers are always a great learning experience, and I am excited to see what is in store.

This week... It was great. I am learning so much. We are continuing to work with Amanda and it's going well. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ this week, and she really liked it. She just needs to get to church. Really though that family has soooo much potential.

We have been visiting Lupita and Jime a lot, and at first this week it was a bit awkward because they were fighting a lot and criticizing each other, but we kept sharing messages about the importance of family/charity, etc and by the end of the week they were sharing why they decided to get married, etc so that was a really good change to see. They like to chat a lot and are convinced they have to make a meal for us every time we come over haha and love to show us all their old pictures. So the doctrine is coming bit by bit, but we are hoping to help them understand more.

And Paula, we are still working with her, trying to figure out what her needs are and how we can help. I know she will get baptized, but when people are so close the adversary works really hard. She hasn't come to church lately, but we are praying that she will. Last night we had dinner with the Raymundos and invited them to come visit Paula with us, so we all took a walk to her house and visited with the whole family. That was really nice to help her feel more love and support. We are teaching other people too, but those are the most progressing right now. We are always trying to find more and help the ones that we already have. We did lots of little heart attacks for the people we are teaching this week, so that was fun. I think it always means a lot to them too.

We got to go to the temple this week, and it was super great. There is no other place like the temple! The spirit and peace there is just so special! It was the coolest experience being in the celestial room surrounded by so many people that I love - surrounded by all my friends and all my fellow servants in the work. I realized that that is a rare opportunity. Something I have to cherish!

So this week was a bit of a struggle for me, but a great learning experience. I was just feeling pretty inadequate and like I wasn't doing a good enough job. It was starting to discourage me a little bit. Sometimes it's hard feeling like you are trying so hard, but you are just going in circles and not seeing your investigators or less active members progress in the way you want. But I was just praying to be strong and to know what to do, and just trying to always do my best. I did a lot of pondering on how I was feeling and how I could fix it throughout the week.

On fast Sunday though, things really clicked into place and I was able to change my perspective. We were doing our personal study in the car after stake correlation and before church started and Hna Brons just looked at me and told me to smile and to smile like I really meant it. It really hit me hard. I just looked outside and saw how sunny and beautiful it was and realized there is so much to be happy for. Then at church, thinking it might be my last Sunday, I started thinking about all the members in that ward and how much they all meant to me and how much I have grown to love them. And an Hermana shared her testimony, and it really hit me. She talked about how selfishness is the greatest enemy to our personal progress. How we progress best and are happiest when we focus on other people. All these things just came together, and helped me refocus on what is important. All that really matters is that I truly love all these people around me and do all that I can to show them that. I need to go out of my way to show these people the love that Christ would. I need to stop worrying about myself and just get lost in the work. I need to be happy with the huge amount of blessings God has given me, instead of being upset about what I don't have. I am really happy I get to stay in this area and continue trying to help it progress, and continue trying to progress myself along with it.

This transfer, I really want to make it all count. I want to just work so hard and give every single ounce that I have to the work. I especially want to work with the members, because I feel like that is a key thing that we have been struggling with. And that's probably what our investigators need most right now. I know we are going to work hard and see good things.

I am so excited to see you next Sunday! We are going to do our skyping on Sunday evening at 6pm, and probably just on the same account as we did last time. (Could someone send me my username haha?) I don't know if I will be able to have access to a computer (most likely will not), so I don't know if we will be able to do the group video call, but hopefully we can work it out. But I have 40 mins to talk, so will probably do 20 and 20. I will start at moms around 6, and then dads around 6:20. May cut it short and skype Alycia for a few mins if we can't get the group chat to work.

Well, just want you to know how much I love you. Every prayer that you do for me and the investigators counts. Sometimes it is such a great motivation for me knowing that there's so many people around the world praying for the missionaries. It means a lot. I love you so much and I am so excited to see you! Have a great week!

Con amor,

Hermana Haynes

My District At The Temple