I am formulating the theory that
penguins waddle to keep from slipping on the ice. So far the more I
waddle when I walk on the ice, the less I slip. The penguins are onto
something. I'll get back to you when my research is complete. In the
meantime I continue to waddle.
The week was really awesome. 23 lessons! We now have 8
investigators and I love each of them with every ounce of my being. I
don't know if I've told you about our newest one, but she's GOLDEN. Her
name is Chenisse and she's a 22 year old single mom. Everything she's
said is spot on. She's not super emotional but she said the moment she
stepped into the church building, she started crying. She felt the
spirit so strongly the moment she entered, she said that something just
"felt right" here, and like she was so close to finding what she's been
searching for. The hardest part is going to be the opposition from her
parents. Anyways I just love her.
The quote of the week is from a woman we contacted named Jamie. She
said "Oh man, yeah, the missionaries stopped by last week and I meant
to Cliff Notes that Book of Norman" I wanted to scream laughing so hard,
but I held it in as she flicked the ash off of her cigarette.
I am missing music like crazy, I won't lie. This morning I
had Booty Wurk stuck in my head, I don't even wanna talk about how many
times I had to sing Nearer My God to Thee until it was out.
We received a mystery loaf one night, upon eating it was discovered to
be banana bread. And upon investigation it was discovered to be from
Tiff, the one black girl in the ward.
The snow is beautiful here. I like kicking icicles, I think it should probably be a sport or a hobby.
I was able to play the piano this week (thank you mommy for the
sheet music) at beehive home. My audience was a sweet lady in a
wheelchair named Pauline at Beehive Home, and I played some Christmas
songs.
A cowboy made fun of me this week during a lesson because I have no idea
what a rodeo is. All I know is that someone sits on a bull of some
sort. I will get back to you when I have done deeper research. I hear it
is actually "fun", but I have my doubts.
We helped one of the wards with a christmas party dinner and I cut
lettuce like a mad man. No joke my wrist hurt for the whole next day.
OH! And that day was my one month mark! SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY HOMIES WHO
HAVENT WRITTEN, EMAILED, OR EVEN CARED ABOUT ME FOR A MONTH. I hope you
guys stub your toes. No but really, I've been out for a month and I do
miss everybody so send me stuff. I heard you can send even like a sandle
in the mail if you put an address and postage on it, so you guys should
try that.
Okay you know how we always do SILENT AUCTIONS at home? Well the
YSA branch did a LOUD AUCTION! You would not believe how much I loved
it. You got "money" from donating cans, and bought services with that
money. We had three sign ups:
1. Job Shadow the Sisters
2. Dinner cooked by Sister Heck (Sister Valdez plans on just watching cause she cant cook)
3. Popcorn and a Movie (Mr. Krueger's Christmas) with the Sisters
OKAY AND HOLD UP HOW COME NO ONE TOLD ME THAT MR
KRUGERKRUGER IS JIMMY STUART AKA "I WISH I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS, HOT
DOG" JIMMY STUART? I'm outraged and also its probably cause when I used
to watch that movie, I didn't know how to read, so I didn't notice the
credits.
But that movie really is awesome we've been able to watch it for a
few lessons, and the scene where he talks to Christ gets me every time.
Imagine how meaningful our prayers would be if we spoke with that much
sincerity to Christ every single time we prayed? If we really imagined
him there in the flesh, how much would we thank him for, like Mr.
Krueger does? He really has walked beside us through every hard time and
I can't believe how often I neglect to thank him for that in prayer.
Sunday afternoon we were able to experience the power of the
priesthood as two of our investigators (Adrien and Jesus) received
priesthood blessings to help them overcome their struggles with the Word
of Wisdom. I know they will receive strength, but only according to
their faith. They are set to be baptized next January.
A miracle that happened this week was with our investigator Jon. We
were having trouble figuring out what to do for him, what lesson to
teach that day, and nothing quite felt right. We realized that we had
scheduled his appointment for the same time as the Christmas Devotional
on Sunday night. So Sister Heck, being the genuis (not sarcasm) that she
is, texted him and told him that he should come to the devotional and
we'd reschedule the lesson. Now a thing that Jon struggles with is his
testimony of Christ. He is solid in so many other ways but the one
concern is sometimes his faith in Christ himself falters. But he studies
the scriptures so well and understands so much and can't wait to have
the priesthood. Anyways, the devotional that night, if you saw it,
included a talk where the speaker spoke of a young boy named Jon. She,
throughout the talk, addressed Jon, testifying to him that "Christ died
for you". She even ended the talk by testifying personally to Jon that
Christ was his Savior. There truly was a reason our investigator needed
to be there last night. I hope that testimony in him grows.
Sunday morning me and Sister Heck also gave talks, which was such a
blessing (crazy, right? talks are supposed to be the pits). We were
asked to speak on the best topic: The Savior.
Mine was
organized as such: WHO is the Savior, WHAT did he do and WHAT does that
mean for us, WHEN and WHERE will he "save" us, and WHY did he perform
the atonement?
I really learned so much as I was able to elaborate on the Savior,
his life, his purpose, and his love for each one of us. I testify to all
you cute people reading this, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the
World, that he suffered every kind of pain and affliction and sin for
each of us individually, so that he can help us wherever we are in our
lives, whenever we need him. He walked the path he did, and suffered the
things he did, so that He could come to us. He will lift us from
where we stand, if we will only reach towards him. I testify that he
loves each one of us. That knowledge has been a light in every dark
moment of my life. I miss you all but I know God is watching over each
one of you, cause I've asked him to in prayer in night. And he's
supposed to answer those, right? Right.
I love you all lots and lots,
I miss your faces and your butts.
Love love,
Sister Cassandra Valdez
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