Great Week!!

September 28, 2015

Hola Mamacita!!

This week has been so great! We had interviews, a baptism, the primary program, confirmation, put people on date, went on a cleanse, got a package of goodies, did missionary work, all that Good Stuff!!

Jose's baptism was amazing!! The room was packed! President Jardine baptized him and he did it in Spanish! It was amazing!!! The spirit was so strong!

September 23, 2015 Jose's baptism,
he was baptized by President Bruce Jardine

We also put 3 of our investigators on date for October 17th! They are the daughters in the Pardo family: Dianara 10, Natalia 14, and Karen 18. We have been teaching the family for quite some time.

The parents love the church, but they always work and therefore haven't been able to come to church. The daughters however, come every week and one of the members drive them. This past Sunday was so great! We had Jose's confirmation and the primary program! It was so neat to see Dianara get up and sing in the program! I've never had an investigator be so involved, and at such a young age! These daughters have such great faith! We invited them to be baptized on Wednesday and when we asked them to, the 2 younger daughters nodded, then Karen said, strong and bold, "I WILL." The spirit was so strong! We are very excited to prepare for their baptisms and we are praying that we can do whatever we can for them.
We were also very excited to see that Jose Ivarra's entire family came to church on Sunday and the father, Jesus, now no longer works after 6 pm. The whole family is now baptized, except for the father, but they haven't been as active as we would like, but we are working with them and in strengthening the family. We are very excited to begin teaching him again and to strengthen that family. They are so special.

This week we also did a district/Spanish missionary cleanse for 3 days. We could only eat fruits and veggies, not including member dinners.  As one Elder put it, "it's like fasting, but without the blessings."  It was pretty funny and yes it did feel like I was fasting. :P Haha on day three, I got the package and all it was filled with was sweets, goodness, and love! Oh no!

Haha, but at least I only had to wait a day, but I think it made the whole cleanse thing pointless :P

Women's Conference was amazing!  I was actually reading a conference talk by Sister Bonnie L Oscarson that morning from last women's conference and there was a quote that I absolutely loved that made me think of you "one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God."

(It was originally said by President Thomas S. Monson) I love this quote because it is so true!  Mama you are amazing and I am so thankful for the loving example that you are to me.  You are my role model and I have always aspired to become like you when I grow up!  You are so selfless and kind, charitable and loving. You are so dedicated in showing others that you care.

I've been thinking a lot the past couple days about who I want to be. We had interviews on Wednesday and President Jardine asked me what my goals are for the next 3 months. Haha then he asked if I have 15 months.  No President Jardine, I only have 13 months!  I still have 5 months left! not 3! Haha but it made me think, what are my goals?  What am I going to do with this precious time that I have left?

I was thinking about some of the attributes that I want, and a lot of them are the one's that you have mom! I love you so much! and I thank the Heavenly Father all the time that he has given me you!

I am so thankful for my family! I am so thankful to be living in this day.  I am so thankful to be a missionary in the best mission in the world.

Para Siempre Dios este Con Vos

Con Amor,

Hermana Twitchell

Baptism this coming week

September 21, 2015

Hola Mamacita!

Things are going great! Yes, we are having a baptism this week on Wednesday! His name is Jose Ivarra and the special thing is that President Jardine is coming to baptize him! He said he's going to memorize the baptism pray in Spanish! We are super excited! 

Well, it turns out that we weren't allowed to go to the event on Wednesday, so we just went about our normal day. 

Things with Hna Stout are great! Her first name is Krista. We've been having lots of fun! Our miles this month have been cut down a lot, so we've been biking a bit more! It's lots of fun! 

I am fine with money, I am being honest! Don't worry about money or food, because I am doing great with what I have been given.

We had a temple tour with one of our investigators, Jennifer. It was great! We also went to her baby shower since her due date is in 2 weeks. She is super great, but We're going to stop teaching her because she won't come to church!!! 

It finally rained this week! Not a bunch, but we were still excited. We were with one of our members coming out of a lesson and it was raining, some we started dancing in the rain. :) it was fun. 

Hna Fly came to visit on exchanges with the STLs! It was so good to see her! 

We've been trying to visit more members this week, and one house we went to was a less active named Jonathan. He is probably in his 20s and he lives with his mom, who is very active. We talked with him about why he doesn't read the scriptures and he said it was because he had some doubts. We asked a few more questions and he said he didn't agree with our stance about gay people. We tried to explain our beliefs and that God still loves all of his children, but he wouldn't listen. Then I asked him how he felt his relationship was with Heavenly Father and if he ever prays. He said no, he doesn't. Then we bore testimony about God's love for us as our Father in Heaven. We asked him if he would pray to feel God's love and he refused. Hna Stout, the active member, and I started crying, but Jonathan remained hardened and uncomfortable. The spirit was so strong, but he wasn't ready and Satan just had such a strong grasp on him. It was devastating! It is so sad to see people that just refuse to feel the spirit and be healed. God's love is there, but they just refuse to see it. I have such a strong testimony that God loves each and everyone of his children so unconditionally, knowing that some of them will never love him back. I know that he reaches out to all of his children, but some of them are so blinded that they don't even see it. I am so thankful to have this amazing and perfect gospel in my life! I am so thankful for the family that I have on this earth and for the true love that never ceases!

Para Siempre Dios esté con Vos,

Con Amor,

Hermana Twitchell

The last pic is Jose Ivarra's mom, she is so amazing and she was baptized several months ago

Love my area

September 14, 2015

¡Hola Mamacita!

This week has been really great and we are probably going to have a baptism next week! Hopefully we will finalize everything this week and I can tell you more next week. The new area's great! It reminds me a lot of my first area because we hear sirens several times a day. ¡Hogar, Dulce Hogar! I love being back in the city, the Hispanics are everywhere! My Spanish is good, I really haven't seen any big changes in it since I left Spanish work. I think my vocabulary level has gone down, but that's okay, I can work on that! My companion is great! She is super enthusiastic about the work and is always on the Go. Haha she's also really funny. Honestly we don't really differentiate too much with Senior & Junior companion, but ya, technically I am the senior comp since I have quite a bit more time on the mission. Hna Stout has been out for about 4 1/2 months. President Jardine says that 50% of our mission has 6 months or less time on the mission. We are a young mission. Haha I'm not old, I still have 18 months left! 

This week is Mexican Independence Day, so all the Spanish missionaries will have the opportunity to go downtown on Wednesday for the event. We are super excited!! 

We have quite a few investigators and right now we are working with a family, the Pardo family, that has the parents and 3 daughters. They have so much faith, it's amazing! This past week, we had the Elders come by and bless their home with the priesthood and we were able to talk with the family about the importance of having a worthy priesthood holder in the home. It was a really neat experience! The parents work on Sunday's at restaurants and we were talking with the mom about the importance of going to church. She wants to go to the temple so badly! She just kept talking about her desires to go to the temple with her family. It was so neat to see that her end goal isn't baptism, it's being sealed with her family for eternity! I am so thankful that we have a temple in our mission and that really no matter where we are serving, we can always set up temple tours! They are amazing for investigators and it's such a great way to let them know that baptism isn't the end, it's only the beginning! I was so thankful that I had the opportunity to go to the temple last week, it gave me such a clarity of thought and a peace of mind. I know that it is a house of the Lord. 

I love Sacramento and the people in it! Sure there are a bunch of hobos, druggies, and other interesting people, but this place is amazing! It's my home! It's sad that we are in a drought and that we are suggested to take 5 minute showers, but I know that it is not the Lord punishing his people, he wouldn't do that and there are so many amazing people here! There are so many people that are just waiting to hear the gospel and we are going to find them.

Para Siempre Dios esté con Vos,

Con Amor,

Hermana Twitchell

Hermana Twitchell AGAIN!!! Yay Spanish speaking

September 8, 2015

¡Hola Mamacita!

This week has been absolutely crazy!! So both Sister Lalomanu and I left the area and it was shotgunned!  I'm going to miss the people so much, especially my new-found family 

Then we also got our picture with Dixie Smith and her daughters, Denisa Myrick and Kathleen Fox. my cousins!

and Maricruz our amazing, Mexican investigator who has the most beautiful daughter!She is so great! I know she will get baptized! 

We're going to miss our beautiful home!!!

Good bye Elk Grove Zone

 Well, we went to the transfer meeting yesterday and President Jardine called me over before the meeting started and said he thought it was funny that he recently read my email telling him that I finally got my English nametag. It was funny because I am going back to Spanish work!! WHAT!? I was so excited that he told me that! Sister Lalomanu is going to the El Dorado zone! She's going to love it! I don't know what it's like there. Haha as of now that is the only zone in this whole mission that I have never covered. As long as I stay in Spanish work, I will never cover it. I have been called to serve in the North Sacramento zone in the Rio Tierra Ward and my companion is Hermana Stout!!! She just got out of training and she is super awesome!! She is from Hurricane, UT! She is my companion #10! Woohoo! I am so thankful that I am in Spanish work! It feels like I never left! At first yesterday, I was a little rusty, but I'm starting to get back into it! Haha I was a little bummed that I had to pack again, I've moved for times within the past 12 weeks! But it's okay, I get to have meat, rice, beans, and tortillas for dinner again :) I am so excited!

So I went to the temple with Hna Stout and it was so amazing! Our whole district actually went, so we got to take a pic together!

Haha mom, we don't even notice holidays. The only holidays we acknowledge are the one's that we have special p-days for: Christmas, thanksgiving, New Years, Halloween, 4th of July... I think that's about it. Oh! And Mother's Day of course! Well, I better go, te quiero! I hope you have a great week! 

Para Siempre Dios esté con vos!

Con Amor,

Hermana Twitchell!

Hermana Stout and Hermana Twitchell

New North Sacramento Zone

Hermana Twitchell and Stout went to the Temple today

One Year Mark -- Sister Twitchell

Querida Mamacita, 

Haha I emailed so early because that's the time I usually email, or at least I try to. It depends on how long it takes us to go shopping. The reasons why I emailed so late those last two weeks was because We weren't done shopping until 2pm (we were at a thrift store and Sister Lalomanu got really excited)' and I went to The Coloma field trip and didn't get back to my area until 4:30pm. 

I haven't gone to the temple because we can only go on transfer p-days. I wanted to go really badly this past transfer, but when I got to this area We couldn't because we had an unchangeable appointment on p-day. I was slightly devastated, but I am going next Tuesday!! It's going to happen, even if I have to make several phone calls! :P I think I'm ok on names.

I am happy, why do you keep questioning my happiness? :P  It's a choice to happy, no one can inflict it upon me or take it away from me. No matter what happens, it is always easier to just be happy, so therefore, I choose to be HAPPY! Haha mom, your so silly, you don't have to go through Hna Burke's mom to tell me that you love me, you can just tell me! I can get emails at anytime, I just only have one hour a week to respond to them.

My birthday was great! I got a ton of letters the Monday night after. I counted and I have I think about 18 thank you notes to write :P I might need more cards. Haha I'm figuring by the end of next transfer I might have them all written. 

My year mark was good too! We weren't sure where to burn a skirt, so we did it in our kitchen sink :P it turned out pretty good! I burned an old missionary's skirt so don't worry, I still have plenty of skirts to wear! 

Haha the funny thing is that the next day, I received my English nametag in the mail. NOOOOOOOO!!!! Haha good thing it came with some candy :P I love the senior office missionaries!! They're the best! So I wore my "Hermana Twitchell" nametag for exactly one year, and then the next day I'm wearing "Sister Twitchell". Haha at least I made it to a year! 

Yes, you won't hear from me until Tuesday, like always, I have no idea what is going to happen with transfers. Next time I talk to you I could be in another area with a different companion, beware! I'm going to the temple so I might email a little later :P I want to go back to Spanish work more than anything, but if it is not the Lord's will that I go back this transfer so be it. I will be happy anyways! I'll go find my own English speaking Hispanics! :P haha 

Ya I've met Elder Weber. Hna Burke and I fist bumped him in zone conference because our moms know each other :P after we said hi, Hna Burke and I just looked at each other, "our moms!" We love you! Yes, he is in Hmong work, Hmong are super cool! We shared the same church building with that branch back in Sac!

For the 5th Sunday (this past Sunday), we had the great opportunity to speak with the youth during the 3rd hour of church for both Vineyard Ward and Wilton Ward. It was a lot of fun and a great experience for us and the youth. In the vineyard Ward, Sis Lalomanu and I were in charge of the whole hour, so we had ourselves a district meeting! We recited D&C 4 with them and committed them to memorize it. To get to know them, we went around the room and had them introduce themselves. Then we invited them to ask us a question. Some of them were silly like, "What's your favorite color?" Or "What's the weirdest food you've eaten on your mission?" But then we had some really thoughtful ones, like, "What has strengthened your testimony the most on your mission?", "What made you decide to go on a mission?" And "What is something you would've done differently to prepare for your mission?" The spirit was so strong and I am so thankful that Sister Lalomanu and I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to the youth. It strengthened our testimonies and reminded us of how important this work is and how important it is to help the youth to see that. I love this work!

Te quiero!

Para Siempre Dios esté con Vos

Con Amor,

Hermana Twitchell

 This was from a couple weeks ago when the Jardines took our zone out

for chick-fil-a. Hmmmm! I can't count how many time we've been this
transfer, but we have to go at least twice a week :P some of the
workers have become pretty good friends with our STLs :) we are
chick-fil-a missionaries!

Statue in Wilton

Fun at Wilton

Aug 24, 2015

¡Hola Mamacita!

This week was pretty great! We've been focusing a lot more on our prayers and recognizing the little miracles that happen everyday. There wasn't always success, but we saw tender mercies of the Lord that told us that he really does answer our prayers. One instance was that we had an appointment with a part member family. We parked in front of their house and pondered what it was that we wanted to pray for. We decided to pray that we would be able to talk with the husband that isn't a member. We got to the house, knocked on the door and no one was home. So we decided before we left that we should write a note. As I was writing it, a car pulled up, and it was the husband!! Our prayer was answered and we were able to talk with him! He wouldn't give us a return appointment... But it was still a miracle!

A few days later we had another miracle. We have a solid investigator in Wilton, named Maricruz, who is the sister of a recent convert. She knows a lot about the gospel already from sitting in the new member lessons with her sister. When I came to visit them last week, I thought, why haven't we been teaching Maricruz when she's right here! Haha so we've started teaching her. We invited her to be baptized and she said that she knows that she will! She wants to learn a little more, but that she knows it's going to happen. We are hoping that we can help her to set a date, but as for now we are so excited that she wants to be baptized! 

As always, we have met some fun animals this week, we met some snakes, rats, tons and tons of bunnies! (I'm just watching out for the were-rabbit... I guess that's only in Wallus & Grommit), zebras, lamas, emus, rumors of mountain lions just down the road eating the emus, cute pugs, scary black dogs, horses, all that jazz! The other day my companion and I were knocking on a door (big surprise!). As soon as the door was open, a dog ran out and tackled me! I about fell to the ground! I thought it was just an over friendly dog that can't help but jump, I've seen some very jumpy dogs out here! But then I heard it bark and I knew it was out for murder. Haha but seriously! Thank goodness the owner got him off me! 

Last week during zone conference we had to introduce ourselves by saying what is our favorite thing about our area. I can't lie, my favorite thing is that it's a petting zoo!

Para Siempre Dios esté con Vos,

Con Amor,

Hermana Twitchell

Quick letter

Aug. 17, 2015

To answer your question, yes! We did have zone conference on Wednesday in Rancho! Every zone conference we are asked to clean and wax our car. Well, our area is very dusty, so we hurried up and did everything we needed to do, then we covered it in old missionaries' sheets for the night. What lengths we go to to have clean cars!

Zone conference was so fun! I got sang to for my birthday (and other missionaries birthdays) and I got to see all the Hermanas in the mission besides Hnas Kaaa, Webb, and their trainees! *photo of all the Hermanas. I also took pictures of our cute little house at the "Wilton Hilton"

Dorky birthday, we went and got PUPUSAS!!!! My favorite! At Las Palmas. They were so good! Then we went to the church where the zone had a surprise for me!

The people we live with found a rattle snake near our houses, so they killed it and skinned it! Pretty cool!

haha it's Hispanic tradition! we have 8 Spanish speaking missionaries in the zone even though only 4 of us are actually in Spanish work. Beforehand they sang happy Birthday to me in English, Samoan, and Spanish. It was awesome!!

It was a lot of fun! Also, we went to Coloma today, all the missionaries that are going home in February, April, and May (makes us feel old). So I was with Hna Kaaa for most of the day! I'm pretty sure it was a field trip that I did in the 4th grade... but I don't remember! In the end we were panning for gold :P it was pretty funny. We just got back about an hour ago though, it took up the whole day! I'll hopefully have pics next week.

Sorry, I have to go! and the emails pretty short, but I love you the most!!! Also! I had to give a talk yesterday and it was super intimidating, but good! haha I love giving talks! :P