Christmas Miracles and Funny Stories From this Week! :)

Great week!!! Two of my favorite investigators got baptized this past Saturday!!! Also we had some awesome experiences this week!

It was the best baptism I've ever been to! Everything went perfectly! And we got the sweetest text from Ashley!!!! I cannot believe how many blessings I've seen in my mission so far! I literally cried when I read the text. It was so powerful!!! She said that she feels like we were specifically sent to her, to change her life!!

The most powerful part of conversion in my opinion is when they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Those blessings always give me goosebumps. 

Life in Hashtags...
#candycaneaddicts
We have had more candy canes in the last month than most people do in a lifetime. We have really good breath! :)

#Poweteam
She carries the dishes to the sink, and then I wash them. Hahaha. Also, on a more spiritual note. She is really good at explaining doctrines simply, and then as she says it, "You come in with a powerful testimony and seal the deal". hahaha.

#Certifieddogcatcher
Yesterday we were trying to contact a former. I opened the gate, and one of the dogs shot out. I watched in horror. I quickly realized that it wasn't going to come back. So I put my bag, my scriptures, and my planner on the ground next to my companion, and started running. Mid-run I kicked off my shoes, because no one has enough skill to run in flats. I finally caught up with the dog, and I grabbed it from it's sides. It hissed at me the whole walk back to the house. Hermana Allen totally stood there laughing the whole time. In the end, sadly she wouldn't talk to us. :/

We were at dinner with a member who is our age. She is about to have her first child, and just hit her first year of marriage. It is so interesting to go over to her house. This past week was hilarious though! I was trying to clear the dishes, and my straw flipped out of the cup, and in between her cup and plate. She yelled "GOOOOOAAAAL". I'm pretty sure I died laughing.

I got locked in the weird trash room at the retirement community, while my comp was in the bathroom. I thought I was going to die. Hahaha. I prayed and was able to jiggle the door handle to get out. My comp said my face looked panicky and super white when she saw me. Awk.

 "We live at opportunity village" -Me. "NOOOO! We live at VICTORY village"-Hna allen. Hahaha.

"I thought beans and rice, was already spanish." -Our elder bestie Butcher. He always trys to talk to us en espanol....

We read the Christmas story with a lot of investigators and less actives. My comp always wanted to read verse 21 in Luke.... Hahahaha. Awk.

"Hermana Cordova. Your Spanish has gotten so good.When you first got here you were like a bobble head.-Hno Lozano

I totally rocked zone white elephant. I got it from my mama!!

"Jesus wasn't a JW!!!" -Me, when my comp tried to justify her hatred for Christmas.

"You're not girls. You're my sisters." -Julius (our punky now recent convert. He cracks me up!!)

"I feel famous"-His response to the feeling he gets when he prays....

"Thanks for the missionaries, even though they didn't do anything." -Julius, when his grandparents didn't show up to our appointment, and we asked him to pray for us before we left.

"There was this hermana who came in. She looked hispanic but didn't speak any spanish. Like nothing..... Oh wait. That was you hna cordova."-A member at dinner last night. Hahahaha. (that was all said in spanish)

We got harcore pranked on new years eve, by the aspen peak elders. Ijole.... Pictures included.

My comp drove like a cholla yesterday. Proud trainer moment. hahaha. 

Hermana Allen has been sick for the past 5 days, but she is such a trooper!!! She has worked so hard through her sickness!!! I'm seriously so impressed with her. She is doing so well. We have finally figured out all the bugs in our relationship, so we are super open about everything! We are the alta vista besties, and our goal is to make Alta Vista branch into a ward! :) We have lofty goals, but we're working towards it!

We didn't find any new this week, but we did give out 2 english referrals, and one is a new investigator! :) Yay!!!!

I love being a missionary! It's such an amazing feeling!! I just feel like I belong out here. All of my recent converts, and investigators are like family to me. I love them all!!! I felt so loved this Christmas. <3 I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I've been given. I learn new things every single day. My testimony is strengthened and my desire to serve increased!!!

I love y'all!!!! Remember, that it's because of Him, that we can overcome any challenge in our lives! He loves us, we have a loving Father in Heaven. We are NEVER alone! Remember that you are an elect child of a most high KING!

<3 Hermana Cordova

*hope y'all like the random. I like to keep things interesting!!!

Elder Haddon as santa claus at the white elephant! And christmas adventures! :)

<3 Hermana Cordova

MERRY CHRISTMAS

This week was interesting to say the least. On Monday I ran into the screen door. Our apartment got inspected, and the inspector closed the screen door, and I wasn't paying attention. It was one of the funniest experiences of my life!!! Also, our screen door no longer is a problem.....

We had a 3 baptismal interviews this week. Martha was first. When we screened her, she answered yes to the serious sin question. We stopped and asked her what the sin was, and she said it was stealing candy at the store. Then she laughed, and we moved on. Then at her actual interview, she opened up. It was the first time that I have ever translated. It was the most powerful experience I've ever had. President C. came and finished the interview. I could see a visible change in her, she had experienced years of guilt and pain, and as I translated for President C. the spirit was so strong. It was so cool to see her experience the power of the atonement and repentance!!!!

At the end of Julius and Ashley's interviews, we promised that we would happy dance with them!!!! They are so ready to be baptized! They are so amazing!!!! I love them!!

Hermana Allen got peed on this week. She was so mad, I thought it was hilarious..... Dogs hate her, and they all love me for some reason!!!! Hahaha.

#spiritualpsychatrists
Missionaries are totally spiritual psychatrists!! I realized that while talking to one of our investigators, who is struggling to develop a strong enough testimony, to stand up to his friends who make fun of the church.

I taught Gospel Principles yesterday!!! There were so many people!!!! I was kind of nervous, but everything worked out so well! I followed the spirit and taught/spoke to the best of my ability!! Some of the recent converts asked me to teach again next week!!! <3

"Julius....What are you thinking about". "Donuts". We were trying to get him to be serious....

Then Saturday at the baptism we had some mishaps. First the font wasn't filled. I was getting lunch ready, when I had the prompting, "you should go check on the font". I told Hna Allen, and we ran out the door. It was such a blessing that we got there when we did!!! Then the copy machine broke, so we couldn't make copies of the music. So the Alta Vista 2 elders ran to the Palo Verde chapel to pick some up for us! The rest of the baptism went super well! And her confirmation blessing was one of the most powerful that I've ever heard! It was beautiful! Martha was so ready to be baptized, and she totally rocked answering questions in my class!! :)

We had a Christmas conference/party this week. It was pretty fun! :) I also learned a lot!

We had a dance off with our investigators at a stoplight. It was one of the funniest things ever!!!

Thank you so much for the awesome package Champions Ward Relief Society!!! <3 <3

I accidently called 2 people old this week. #confidencedestroyer. Ashley, our investigator makes fun of me all the time now. It's super hilarious. I was at the mall, when an older lady came up to me. I kind of freaked out, because being at the mall is already a shock to my system as a missionary. Then instead of asking if she was Pres. C's wife, and asked her if she was his mom...... Awk...

I'm pretty sure I've been blessed with the best area, with the best members, and the best investigators!!!!

Also an elder just gave me a bag of beef jerky, so I'm a happy camper right now! Thanks Elder Haddon!!

Hey!! One of our neighbors reminds me of that guy from Friday Night Dinner, the one with the german shepherd named Wilson. What's his name???

Also! And awesome member bought our lunch, when we were at the 99 cent store. And we found out that she speaks spanish, served in tx, and wants to come to lessons with us!!!! Blessed!!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Turn Down For What!!!! Best Hymn Ever

This week we have an investigator getting baptized!!! We also have solid baptisms lined up for all the weekends this transfer! :) Whoo hoo!!!

Also I love all our investigators so much!!! I love hearing them pray for us!!! It brings the spirit into the room so strong!!! Martha feeds us every time we go to teach her. Hahaha. It is so awesome!!!!

Then we got invited to a baby shower. We didn't go, but we were on bikes when we passed the house. The whole house was shaking with rap music. Thug baby shower, for the win.

We taught Prisma the law of chastity!!! This is how is went. "Oh....we're not married, so are we living in sin." Awkward silence... the Spirit prompted me and I asked. "So, do you want to get baptized?" "Yes." "Do you want to get married?" "Yes. But not to him". So then there was more awkward silence. Then she went to her room, and talked to her boyfriend, one minute later she came back and said, "Okay. We'll get married." My jaw dropped. But yay!!!

This is my life in hashtags:
#allmydreamscametrue
I finally, after 5 months of my mission, contacted a person driving down the street in a motorized scooter!!!! It was the most exciting thing in my life!!!! He was super nice! We also have been doing so much better in street contacting! Sister Allen, has even been taking the lead!!! :) I'm so proud of her.

#biblebashingscriptureman
Another interesting street contact. Some people literally just want to fight...

#Themissionariesgotyo'back
This is a quote from the other day!!! We were teaching some of our youth about sharing the gospel with their friends!!! This is what one of the girls said to another one who was worried about rejection!!

#grandmasgoldensweater
Only the best analogy of my life. Yesterday during a lesson Hermana Allen said, "Taking the Lord's name in vain is like taking your grandma's prized golden sweater, and then cleaning your car with it. She gave you a gift that was really important to her and then you totally just totally trash it."

Then we were talking to our 13 year old investigator, who will be getting baptized next week! We asked, "Julius, what is your favorite hymn, that you want to sing at your baptism." He took a few seconds and then excitedly said, "TURN DOWN FOR WHAT!" Hermana Allen and I literally fell over laughing!! Hahaha. That's my favorite hymn ever. :)

Hermana Allen got poisoned by cornbread this week. Ijole! :/

"You are the hardest working sisters I've met on my mission!" -Elder May. That was my favorite moment of the week.

21 lessons taught this week! Whoo hoo!!!!! We have so many people progressing toward baptisms!!!!

Love you!!! Have a great week! <3 Christmas Cards are in the mail!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

End of Transfer 4!!!! Alta Vista 1 is Workin'!!!!!!

We FINALLY hit 10 mp's this week! :) This has never happened! We had 18 lessons total this week! It was sooooo busy! Hermana Allen and I are totally a power team, working together to bring souls unto the Lord! I've never seen so many miracles before!!!

We will have 7+ baptisms this transfer, we are excited beyond belief!!! Oh goodness! We also will hopefully have a mission wedding! Ashley needs to get married before the 27th so.....We are hoping!!!

We went bike riding on Tuesday, and it started raining so bad! We were going to give up and go back to the car, but I the phrase "one more door" kept repeating in my head. We found 3 new investigators that day, and we were able to talk to so many people!!!! One lady we stood on her doorstep, trying to figure out a day we could visit her, we stood there, on her doorstep for 5 minutes getting soaked. Then suddenly, her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Disculpeme!!! Come in, come in. Usted son muy mojado." We taught her the 1st lesson, and set a return appointment for 2 days after! Our other miracle person let us right in, she didn't have a lot of time, so we taught the 5 minute restoration to her. It was powerful! She has never met or talked to missionaries before, actually neither of them had!!! Then the last new investigator is a lady we street contacted a while ago, but she said she didn't have time. Imagine our surprise when she too welcomed us in, and said she wanted to learn more about Christ. #ridin'intherain

We received a referral the other day from the office. The guy called us and thanked us for leaving the "He is the Gift" card on his door. He was so appreciative, and was sorry that he wasn't home to welcome us! :) It was crazy!!!!

Funny quotes from this week:
"My soap operas are on..." Her excuse for not wanting us to pray with her....
"Jesus was jewish too" A street contact who did NOT want to hear a special Christmas Message.....

"Are those the CUTE mormons??!" -Random person driving by in a car, in our sketch area.

Then, I made cookies for our last "Nish-drict" meeting. I forgot about them, so they stayed out in the car. Later that night our investigators got back from Mexico, and we were able to run into them! We read scriptures with them, ones mostly about the plan of salvation. (her mom just died) Then her daughter-in-law told us as we were leaving, "It's her birthday". I got so excited, we ran out to the car, got the cookies, came back and sang happy birthday to her! She was crying, it was the most powerful moment ever! She was so happy, and I am sure it was a way for the Lord to show her how much He loves her! She is beyond amazing, she is getting baptized on December 20th, she told us, "Hermana's I've been repenting everyday, I'm ready to be baptized". Oh man! She is so ready! :)

I got food poisoning at the branch christmas party. Not. Fun. Potato salad was the only thing left, and I was the last person to eat. Dude. I literally almost died. Also our other investigator, the son of the alzheimer investigator, came to the party flat-out-drunk.... Ijole. Our members were super good about it. His poor mom was beyond embarrassed. Keep in mind he is in his late 40's. We taught the word of wisdom the next day. Now they have a picture of Jesus, and we wrote, "No tomo alcohol" on a sticky not to put on it!!! Jesus is watching now, friend.

We had one appointment after another on Sunday. We taught one of pretty much every lesson! And the best part was, we were on time to every single one of them. We were emotionally drained, but spiritually on fire by the end of the night. It was awesome!!!!

I seriously feel like the work is progressing so fast! We've been receiving tons of referrals, and people are letting us right in. Faith. I truly believe that is what it comes down to. We plan, we pray, we hope, we have faith, and THEN we see miracles.

Our primary kids want to be missionaries so bad. We go into their homes to teach their families how to be missionaries! It's so fun! "Member Missionary Training Center", I love seeing the youth and children get excited. Some of them are counting down to 16 so they can come out with us! :)

I love y'all! Thank you for the cute cards and packages that I've gotten! I will be writing back as soon as I possibly can!!! Thank you for your love and support! I'm so blessed to have you in my life!! <3

Have a great week!!!!!! I love you all!

<3 Hermana Cordova

*My favorite district EVER!!!! Most of them are leaving tomorrow. Transfers are bittersweet! My elder bestie Elder May is going to another area for his last transfer before going home to Cancun! He is awesome!

*Quick...Let me take a selfie....

Thanksgiving 1 in Field, and Tons of Other Stuff

Super short email time. I just played 2 hours of football. Tired.

My pictures aren't loading right now.

Watch the He is the Gift video, it's super good!!!! Cool experience with that. I'll hand write a letter with all the cool things from this week, during dinner or something.

Love y'all! Have a great week! Good luck with finals, and whatever else you have going on! :)

<3 Hermana Cordova

Alta Vista 1 Sisters Are the Best EVER!!!

First off!!!! Hermana Allen is learning so fast!!! She is very awesome at letting go of things that we can't control!!! I am seriously learning so much, she keeps me grounded when I get stressed out about getting members to come out with us and other things that I can't control. I'm so grateful! She is also so hilarious! We laugh all the time, and our comp bike riding skills have improved so much. She claims that I'm a crazy bike rider, one time I was leading the way, and out of no where I get a push from the side. I looked over, and she yells, "Hermana!! You need to learn how to ride your bike in a straight line!!!"

Entonces, we sacrificed P-day yesterday, and we got 2 new investigators, who have never heard or spoken to missionaries before! It was a day full of miracles! We contact tons of people that have never opened the door, the whole time I've been here.  And we spoke to everyone on the streets, our OYM'S were off the charts! We have also been having super effective street contacts!!!

Then last week was super rough. We had people cuss us out while riding our bikes, standing on their door steps, and on the street. But I also saw how much my Heavenly Father loves me. We found a family of english members, by offering to help them carry their groceries into their house. Through that contact we got the numbers of 5 YSA Rm's who speak espanol, and are willing to come out with us! :) Also I have really wanted pumpkin pie for like the last month..... But I didn't want to buy one because my comp can't have it.... You'll never believe what happened! While we briefly visited this family they pulled out a giant pumpkin pie, and cut a slice for me!!!! It was the nicest thing ever! I know that it was tiny thing, but I knew that was one way that Heavenly Father told me that He is aware of me, and He knows exactly what I'm going through!!!

Also my comp got gluten-ized this week. It was the scariest thing ever!!!! Poor girl was asleep for hours, and she could barely get up!!! She's all better now though!!! She is back to making fun of my driving skills, so all is well! :)

We have a miracle investigator, Julius. He is 13 years old, and his family are our recent converts. He has not been interested at all for the last 3 months. And suddenly we felt prompted to ask him at a Branch activity, if he would be willing to listen to our message. He agreed, and shocked his parents by accepting the invitation to be baptized and leave his old life behind! He is amazing!!!!

Martha and Prisma our golden investigators left to mexico for the funeral of Martha's mom! :( I was so sad. But it's one of those things that I cannot control. I just pray for them every day, and hope that they will find comfort in the church, and gospel of Jesus Christ.

We had an awesome prayer contact with a woman named Daniella. She is going to jail soon, and she was so broken and disheartened. While we prayed with her, and shared a message about the restoration, I felt the spirit so strong. The Spirit, really did whisper to us the things that she needed to hear. It was such a beautiful experience.

We have seen awesome milagros since we've started biking! We have been consistent in new investigators, and finding!!! It has been quite the adventure! I love talking to people, and sharing the gospel with them. The gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me so much joy in my life, and I'm grateful to share this message with others!

I love you all!!!!!! Thank you for your love and support!!!! This week I've been learning about trusting in the Lord. He is aware of us! He loves us, and He will never leave us without support!!!! I've been working on specific prayers as well, I encourage y'all to try it out. What I've been doing, is making a list of people that I feel like I need to pray for, and think of their specific needs, then I take a few minutes in the morning or at nights, and I offer up a special prayer for them. I felt the power of prayer as I have done this!!!

Choose the right! Remember who you are!!!!!! I love you!! <3

Les Quiero,
<3 Hermana Cordva
Happy thanksgiving y'all!!!! Also, since it's close to the holiday season, I busted out this beauty!!!! It's from a newly converted JW!!!!!! What now sons!!! I kind of love it a lot......

Oh..... Did I tell you. Since I've been on my mission, I have become the dog whisperer. They love me...... Hahahah! :) 

La Dia De Preparacion pasado

This Week...

This week was an interesting one. I moved. again. We lived in our new apartment for three days without power or hot water. I really have come to appreciate granola bars..... Our new apartment is nice, we also have a roach investation........ Trials, man. The miracles at the end of this one are going to be amazing!!!! Hahahaha. :)

We had super great trainings this week, but of course I forgot my notebook with everything I wanted to tell y'all about. We had a member of the quorum of the 70s come and speak to us!!!!! I also saw Hermana Hutchinson at that meeting, her group came all the way from Arizona to hear him speak! It was super inspired.

I'm developing talents!!! I sang at the baptism, and the branch wants me to sing in the Christmas party program, and in Sacrament meeting. I'm excited. Also, my comp is super skilled at the piano, so we make a pretty good musical team! :)

We have 4 investigators with a date this week, and 2 new investigators as of yesterday!!! Also my girls got baptized this weekend!!!! :) I'm so impressed with their strength and testimonies!!! I love them!!!! I can't wait to come back in a year to see their grandparents go through the temple, and hopefully Maira can do baptisms in the next couple weeks. ( also, someone accept maira's friend request of facebook, por favor) I will never get over how amazing it is to see people accept Christ, and desire to change their lives for the better! I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I've had to teach and help them!!!!

Espanol milargros all week!!! I'm so grateful!!!! <3 I'm pretty sure I still sound like a gringa, but at least they can understand me! hahahah.

Oh! And today in personal study I read PMG about prayer, and recognizing the spirit!!!!! it was amazing!!! I will be specifically praying for each of you! You are such amazing examples to me, thank you for your love and support!!!!

I LOVE you!!!!!! Have a super great week!!!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Soy Mexicana!!!!

Oh my goodness! This was probably the best week of my mission thus far! We got the most oym's in Alta Vista 1 history (52), we rode our bikes EVERYDAY, and we found three new investigators!!!!!! 

As we ride our bikes we talk to everyone we pass, no matter how awkward it might be. And every time we knock on a door of a mean potential investigator, I recite my commission! I always have to remind myself to NEVER be afraid of man! I am called of GOD! My authority is above that of the kings of the earth!!!!! I'm so grateful for my calling!!!

We have established relationships with pretty much every person in pittman!!! We have inside jokes, AND the respect of all the people in this sketch area, even though most of them are not interested in having missionaries over right now, I know that one day they will!!!!!!

We have a solid family!!!!! They came to church last week! Crazy amazing! They loved it, especially the primary program. Tambien, mi favorita ninas sera bautizada este semana!!! Estoy muy emotionada por ellas!!!!!

Y'all my spanish has sky rocketed, speaking, obviously not writing!!! hahaha. It's amazing to see the amazing blessings of the gift of tongues! 

We have invited every single person in our lessons this week to baptism. This is the first time I've experienced this. My companion and I have seen such amazing miracles as people accept the invitation, and start preparing! So amazing!!!

I love love love being a trainer! I love being a missionary, I have absolutely no regrets every day! I know that I'm on the Lord's errand, and at the end of every day I'm physically and spiritually drained! As Elder Holland says, "If you're not exhusted by the end of the night, you're not doing it right"..... I have such a long way to go to become a completely concencrated missionary, but I am comforted by the fact that I do my best every day! :)

Love you all!!!! Choose the right!!!!! I pray for you every single day! I love you more than I can ever say!!!! Remember who you are, YOU are children of the most high KING! Our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, not only KNOWS you right now, but they also know who you can become!! Never forget to turn to them!!!!! 

<3 Hermana Cordova

One of my good elder friends from the zone, Elder Larson, bought this at GoodWill today. Oh elders.....

Y'ALL! I'm on a bike... annnnddddd...... (Quote THAT song, mom.....) Hahaha!

It's so much fun! I love it! Thankfully we still have our car too, but president asked us to get on the bike!!!!

Switchin' up the name tags!! :)

Week 1: Trainer Life!!!!!!!!

This has  been one of the best weeks of my mission!!!! Being a trainer has changed the way I see everything! We got the most street contacts that we ever had this week, we saw crazy blessings. Sunday night 10 minutes before we sent in numbers we found 2 new investigators!!!!!!!!! We have seen so many blessings from our Father in Heaven. I am speaking way more Spanish than I have in the past few months combined! I know that Heavenly Father is listening and answering my prayers! I love Hermana Allen, I'm learning so many things from her already! She and I are going to be on bikes more this week, so we can talk to more people! :) Being a missionary is the best decision I've ever made!!!

I've been soooo tired. Seriously as soon as my head hits the pillow, I pass out. My comp said she tries to talk to me, only to realize that I am legitimately asleep!!!!! hahahah! 

Halloween was interesting, we had a party with all the missionaries in the Valley, which means I didn't get to see my trainer.....

Saw 17 Miracles for the first time. I didn't cry....... I did get close though!!!!

I was in singles ward on temp exchange....... That was quite the interesting experience.

Um..... So I think that's it! Love y'all!!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

TRAINER Y TRAINEE!!!!!!!! (Taken today in ghetto kitchen!!)

Mom!!!!!!! I'm going to be a MOM!!!!

I just finished my training on Friday, and then Saturday at Transfer Doctrine, it was revealed that I have been called to be a TRAINER!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness! I am so so excited!!!!!!! I have no idea who she is until Wednesday, when she comes from Mexico!!!! I cannot believe it!!! Only 2 other Spanish missionaries in the last 3-4 years in this area have been called to train right after being trained!!!

I've finally started to get better at kinacki!!!!!!! Whoo hoo!!!!!

Sister Pecjak, told me that because the last two weeks have been challenging, it was Satan trying to get me to give up, and therefore not be able to train!!! In YOUR face Satan!!!!

We exeeded our goal of street contacts this week! 53 people man!!!!!!!! Ah! We've have NEVER gotten so many! And our transfer number was 219 people talked to, and invited to do something!!!! We were 2nd in the district in street contacts this week!!!!! YAY!!!!

Last week we got creeped on by two young hispanics. We were walking, and they drove up and said, "Hey. You are pretty.... Do you need a ride?". We had to think about it, NOT. It was so weird, especially because of the fact that they had only seen us from behind.....

My challenge to you this week is to read in Alma 22-23!!!! Ammon and his brothers are probably my favorite missionaries ever!!!! They endured so much, and sacrificed EVERYTHING, and they are the most successful missionaries in the history of ever!!!!! So I invite y'all to be the best MEMBER missionaries EVER!!! Go out with the missionaries to lessons, help them, and support them!

Thanks for the awesome package y'all sent!!! I loved it!!!!

I love y'all have a great week!!! :)

<3 Hermana Cordova

Hey Mom!!!! I climbed a Mountain!!!!!!

This morning we climbed a mountain with the sisters!!!!! It was much fun!!!!!

Um.... Hard week. Nothing else to write.

Love you all! Choose the right, remember who you are!!!!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Sister Bennett, hutchinson, me, area

This week!!!!!

So, this week. I'm not even sure. I wrote y'all a letter, so I'm not positive on what to write!!!

Funny story: So we were visiting a member from our ward. The lady is pushing 100!!! So her son and husband were arguing about something stupid. And out of nowhere she takes her teeth out, and starts "shining" them with her finger. It was the darndest thing I've ever seen!!!! It took all my self control to not bust out laughing.

Um..... What else..... We had to learn the word for necklace in Spanish. It was a necessity!!! The same lady thought we were complementing her breasts.... It was beyond awkward......

My favorite recent convert (before I got to Alta Vista), is going back to Mexico. I look like a giant next to her!!!

​

Our recent converts are going to the temple to do family names within the month!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!! There are going to be so many people from the other side, who are going to recieve essential convenants!!!! I'm crazy excited for them!!!! They walk around the temple as a family every week!!!! It's amazing how strong they are! And Martha might have her baby this week, I talked her out of Brittney, so now she's going for Allison!!! :)

We had awesome street contacting experiences this week!!!

Went to a REAL LIFE movie theater to watch Meet the Mormons, with our investigators!! It was the coolest thing ever!!! I love the NVLV mission!!! It's the coolest/best mission ever!!!!!!!

Interviews went great. Learned a lot!!!!!

Okay!!! This is a picture from saturday, the elders think it's hilarious to mess with our car, and cover it in Jesus Cards, and folletos. Not pictured.....All the times we've done it to them.......

​Love y'all. Have a great week! Choose the right! Pray every single day! Remember who you are, and who you represent!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Estoy Fluent!!!

Hahahaha. Obviously I'm not, but whatev's I'm trying and learning more every day! Carlos said that he can actually understand me now!!! Blessings!!!!

Three investigators that we've taught got baptized! I forwarded the pictures to y'all!!!!!! I love that family so much!!!! Carlos and Martha are so awesome!! And Vanessa is beyond amazing, although the elders got her in the split!!!!

I met Jose Manuel. The recent convert, Book of Mormon burning, missionary hatin, super apostate person who only got baptized because he fell in love with one of the sisters who taught him!!!!! (they found out his reason after the baptism)  People have been talking about him since I got here, and I was really scared. Then I met him in the shady apartments in our area.... Dude, I could take him....

We had ZTM this week, and it was at the stake center. Someone had used the bathroom before me and didn't bother to tell me that they had used the last of the toilet paper. So, I awkwardly had to ask my comp to give me some from the next stall......

General Conference was like missionary Christmas!!!!! I loved it beyond belief!!!!!! It was crazy amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I loved how a lot of the talks talked about The Sacrament, temples, and families!!!! I'm grateful for Christ's sacrifice for us, and the opportunity to take his name upon us each week, and make covenants with our Heavenly Father!!!!

This week was pretty slow other than the baptism. We got dropped.... A lot. BUT we had an awesome experience with specific prayers! We asked that someone would be outside of Alva's house, so we could get her phone number (she has a scary pitbull outside her house, and there is no way to get in), we walked past her house and no one was there. We were disappointed,but on the way back7 minutes later, Alva and her whole family were chillin outside!!!! We talked to them, and shared pamphlets and made an appointment!!!!! The Lord answers our prayers in His own way and in His own time!!!!

Love y'all!!! Have a great week!!!!! Remember who you are and who you represent!!!!! Listen to your favorite conference talks again, and try to apply the teachings in your life! I promise that as you do this you will establish and stronger relationship with your Heavenly Father!!!! Love you guys a ton!!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Vanessa, Carlos and Martha got baptized on Saturday!!!!! It was one of the happiest and most spiritual days of my life!!!!! Also, those elders are May and Wasden, Alta Vista 2 elders. 

<3 Hermana Cordova

This Week Was a Blur

So yeah! This week was good, but I don't really have much to say. I wrote y'all a letter today, and sent it in the mail. Which was good, because we got the worst emailing time ever, and p-day is almost over. I love you all tons!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Being An Instrument in the Lord's Hand-Life of A Missionary!

Another amazing week in the mission field!!! This week we saw crazy awesome miracles! We street contacted everyone we passed on the street, and we got to know a lot of formers. Monday night we knocked at a door three times, and the lady finally opened it right when we were going to leave, she welcomed us in, like old friends. We listened to her, and shared a message about eternal families!!! We have another appointment tonight!!!!

Then last night after the "Why I Believe" fireside, I had a strong prompting to go and see an inactive member, that we've been trying to contact for two weeks. We went to her house, and to our surprise she opened on the second knock. She welcomed us in, and begged us to help her get a relationship with her Heavenly Father again. She said that she had had a really rough weekend, and had been drinking. She had been praying that He would send someone to help her, and that is when we knocked at her door!!! As we started to pray with her, her son's girlfriend walked in. She decided to sit with us and listen. Sister Hutchinson and I had the same prompting, to begin reading the introduction to the BOM with them. Natalie (the girlfriend) was extremely interested. I pulled a El Libro de Mormon out of my bag, wrote our number, and the steps of prayer on the inside. I had also put a Restoration pamphlet in the that specific BOM a few days ago. We were able to invite them both, to read and pray. We also challenged them to overcome their addictions! The spirit was so strong in that lesson!

I have such a strong testimony of making plans, but also being willing to follow the promptings of the Spirit. The Lord cannot change your plans unless you make them. He sent us to her right when she needed us, when she was ready to hear our message! Natalie will hopefully be there for our next lesson!!! I'm grateful that the Lord inspired us to do little things to prepare for this opportunity! And also that He gave me a companion, who is so in tune with the Spirit. I KNOW that this is the Lord work. He loves His children. And He places us on the path to help His weary and disheartened children! I am so grateful to be an instrument in His hands!!!!

I love you all!!!!! Try to look for someone having "a hard time" and serve them!!!! Service brings so much joy, and peace! By serving we follow the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

So I made a birthday gift for my mission mom!!! Sister Pecjak! And the m&m had 7 packs instead of the advertised 6! Blessings!!!

Hoover Dam, Boulder City Exchanges, Area Splitting....

So! I am staying with my companion this transfer, I still have six weeks of training so we weren't surprised. BUT! We had to split our area in half with the help of the Branch President, because, we are getting ELDERS! Alta Vista is going to have 4 missionaries! 2 training missionaries, but we are pretty sure the other trainer is fluent!!!! 

I went to an english area in Boulder for 2 days this week. There is a Spanish sister going home, who has been serving english for 2 transfers, and she really wanted to go Spanish again. It was hard. BUT, I got to see the Blumenthal family!!!!!! It was so awesome. (pics will be on the email to my mom)!!! I seriously was so excited! The sisters had organized it, so when I came into the area they surprised me with the news!!!!!

Hoover dam was amazing! We actually just got back! I love my district, but a lot of them are leaving this transfer. :(

This is going to be the most amazing 6 weeks ever! My bike is fixed, I have a lock for it, and we have plans to start riding more so we can find more people to introduce the gospel to!!!

I love love love my mission! Everyday I go to sleep exhuasted, and extremely happy. I love the people that we have been blessed to teach! We have a WHOLE family, 6 people, getting baptized next month!!!!!!! The spirit is always so strong in our lessons with them. They are a miracle family!!!!

I encourage y'all to work on your personal prayers this week! That's my goal for the transfer! I know that as we have more meaningful conversations with our Father in Heaven, we will be more converted to the Gospel, and be able to see amazing miracles in our lives!!! I love you all!!!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Choose the right. Remember who you are. And remember who YOU represent!!!!