15 Months! :)

November 17, 2015

I got your package yesterday!!!! Thank you so much!!! Mom and Dad, you are the best! Love you sooo much! 

That is so cool Madison got to meet Elder Ballard! So legit! 

This week one of the secretaries from the mission office called me to ask what the closest airport to my house is....no! I told him Long Beach...is that ok? On Friday I turned 15, like Sister Rhodes (Marinne). Seriously 15 months have gone by fast. So grateful for the time that remains. I love being a missionary!

Yesterday we had a zone training....so great! Our zone leaders talked about faith. Sometimes, if we are not having baptisms in our areas, we might start to doubt our faith. But they talked about the agency our investigators and less actives have. We may a steadfast faith in Christ and in His gospel, but it us ultimately up to the people to receive His gospel, and act. We cannot force them to act. HOWEVER, we can have the faith to invite and help them act. Our faith determines if we will invite all to come unto Christ. It was so great. The work in our area has been slow, and after reflecting a little, I have realized that we cannot control the decisions of others. I cannot beat myself up about the choices others have to make for themselves. Case closed! 

We did companion exchanges this week! Hermana Villalba came to our area to work with me on Thursday. She is from Colombia, and we entered the mission field together. She is so sweet, and she helped me a lot. We found two new investigators! It was a great day.

Last Tuesday we had a lesson in the church with an investigator, Lilianna. We gave her a tour, and we we felt the Spirit very strong. She talked a lot jajaja, but it went well. 

Wednesday we did some service with some members. We helped clean the backyard of a member and her son. The son, Hermano Cesar, has 34 years (around), and his mom is older. They are really fun to be around jajaja. Hermano Cesar is so funny and always teases his mom, and she always responds sassily.... love service!! Afterward, we had a family home evening with them. Another family from the ward came too. We talked about the importance of the family. It was great!

Thursday we went to find the house of a contact we had made. Hermana Villalba was with me. We found the contact, and she let us in! It was a miracle. She had listened to the elders a long time ago, and she is really receptive. She says she is Catholic, and she does not intend to change religions. We could not teach a lot because she talked a lot! .... but we have hopes to return this week and teach her more about the gospel!

Friday we had a great lesson with one of our investigators, Patricia! We have not been able to see her for a few weeks, so it was great to be able to talk with her. We read 3 Nephi 11 with her! She loved it! We invited her to be baptized on the sixth of December...she said she is going to think about it and pray about it. Yay! She is so prepared! So humble!

Sunday we had lunch with our Bishop and his family. We ate completos... que rico! Their son comes home from his mission mid-December. They are really excited. After lunch, one of their sons, Mylenko, accompanied us to our lessons. We visited an investigator but it was kind of awkward because she had relatives over and there was loud music. We shared the message of the Restoration with her. Always a good time sharing the words of Joseph Smith. We felt the Spirit so strong when we shared the first vision.

We always visited an investigator with Mylenko, and our ward mission leader, Hermano Lepe, came too. It was awesome. Jose is the name of our investigator. We taught him the Restoration. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet! It is so cool to feel the Spirit every time we share the words of the first vision. Truly he saw our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. I love it! The gospel is so true! 

Last night we had a family home evening with a family in our ward. We made cinnamon rolls to take them! We watched, "Together Forever" and talked about the importance of the family.... love it! 

I am doing well! My companion is well. We have two changes left in this change...who even knows what will happen! 

I know God lives. I have had some moments of doubt on the mission.... but not now! I KNOW Heavenly Father is real. Jesus Christ is his son! They live, and they bless us EVERY DAY. Their love is infinite and unconditional. I am so happy! Sometimes I feel there is so much to do and change...but I testify of the reality of our merciful Savior. He is so merciful. He accepts us as we are TODAY. He will bless us with the grace we need to become better.

I love you all! I pray for you daily! May Heavenly Father bless you this week with peace and hope.

Con todo mi amor, Hermana Mittleman