Why Are You So Happy?!

Let's just say this transfer has been an emotional roller coaster for me. It's crazy how much bad luck we've been having. Seriously. I've never had to cancel a baptism the day of.....I cried all night and day. All our investigators dropped us. I pulled a muscle in my back while working out. It was just one thing after another. We felt like Satan's personal punching bag this whole week. I'm working on being positive.....

So on Monday we saw our golden investigators at Smiths. They told us that they are too busy to meet with us. So we got dropped.....In the middle of the produce section at Smiths. I was sad, but I decided to fake being happy, until I actually felt happy. I got a bunch of on sale yogurt, and bought supplies to make cookies for people in the ward. I got happy real fast, and the deli guy called out and said,"YO! Why are you so happy!!" I turned around and said,"Because I'm a representative of Jesus Christ". I talked about missionary life, and the church! He took a card and said he would love to learn more! It was seriously the best moment ever. I was uncontrollably happy for the rest of the day!!

So I'm just going to write about that. Yes. It's a short email, but I hate sending sad stuff. I finally talked to the President about the sadness and frustration I've been feeling. So I'm feeling a lot better now. We talked about how I need to trust more in the Lord, and learn how to trust other people. Hahaha. All I could think about was the "trust no one" quote. So I am now working on my trusting skills.  

I got to see my Alta Vista family!!!!! I always feel so loved and at home when I'm with them. Some of the sisters made a plan to kidnap me and keep me Alta Vista. Hahaha. Carlos is preparing to go to the temple, the Lozano's are getting sealed next month, all my recent converts are still active!!! And the most exciting news ever. My best friend Jessica Gomez is going on a mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so proud of her! She has come such a long way, I am coming back to see her for her farewell!!!!

I also got to see my bestie Audrey! <3 <3  Plus I got selfies with pretty much all of my Alta vista peeps!!!! Oh man!!!! It was just what I needed. I feel rejuvenated, happy, and optimistic!!!

Even when you can't see an immediate outcome of your work, keep giving it your all. It's so hard, but keep being positive!! Trust the Lord. He is there every step of the way!!!! A mission is a hard journey, but I could not image my life without all of my new friends and family that I've met here. I'm changing everyday, and I'm helping others change!!! I'm learning to be happy no matter what. People need to see happy. This world needs happy people! So that's what I'm striving to be! I am a representative of Jesus Christ. He is the Light of the World. He makes me happy! Because of Him I can overcome any challenge Satan puts in my way! Christ is my best friend. I invite people to come unto Him every single day. THAT is why I am happy.

<3 Hermana Cordova
My best friends in the whole world! <3 <3 <3

This Week Was A Piece....

You know those weeks where it seems like everything you do goes wrong. Yeah....It was one of those.

So on Monday we had a lesson outside. The member had a super cute pig with wings statue thing. My companion used it to hit a giant bug off the table. She broke the poor pigs ear. I tried to fix it, then the member and her nephew both thought that I had broken it. (I tried to fix it with this sticky lipgloss I have) It worked for a couple minutes!!

Then earlier on Monday the family history center was still closed so we had to go to the crappy rec center computers. 15 minutes into emailing a guy comes in and sits at the drum set. Then he starts playing. He looked up after a couple of minutes and says,"Oh yeah. We are going to have a drum class in here". Then as if on cue a group of 6-9 year olds walked in with their drum sticks (no not the ice cream). They all started playing, it was awful. Erickson and I couldn't get out fast enough. 

So we came up with the great idea to go to the library that is right next to our area. She got a computer right away....I had to wait 30 minutes for one. As I waited a lady sat right next to me. Like.....almost on top of me. (there were plenty of seats available). I took it as an opportunity to talk to her. She was reading a book about dolphins. It was the most awkward conversation of my life, she did NOT want to talk to me. Later I told Erickson about the awkwardness and said, "Bro. I don't even really like dolphins. I was just trying to be nice....".

Oh Tuesday... I got a call from the Sister Ap. She was like " you have been specially invited to come to the leadership meeting this Thursday. You companion needs to stay in the area to work." I was stressing out. I do not want to be a leader. I like being a quiet leader, a leader by example,a normal missionary. "I'm just a nobody missionary from east"!!! Later that day we got money for dinner. So we went to one of the places on our "food bucket list". L&L Hawaiian. I got curry chicken. BIG mistake. #currymakesyahurry Lets just say.....I almost didn't make it.....

The elders completely took the English class over..... So annoying. "Ya polo's"-Erickson. Shout out to Tui!!! hahaha. After the class we went to a lesson. It was super great!! As soon as that was over we went back to the apartment for exchanges....

Exchanges........It really depends on the type of STL you get stuck with. I ate 2 year expired peanut butter and almost died. Then in the morning I climbed a wall so we could go running. I woke up at 5:30am and couldn't go back to sleep. My body was like,"Good morning sunshine!!" .... I was still tired so while she was getting ready in the morning I totally fell asleep on my knees while praying....I got carpet burn. Hahahaha. We pretty much did nothing all day. It was awful. Every lesson we did teach was awkward and the people were super not interested...... I was so happy to go back to my own companion, own area, my own awesome investigators, a comfy bed, and non expired food. 

So Erickson went to the temple on Thursday with a english member. I was supposed to go, but I had to go to the leadership meeting thing."Dang it. I just want to renew my covenants!!" It was a super great meeting. I made a new friend, because our STL's totally ditched us, and I saw my girl Allen!!!! I didn't realize that the meeting was going to be all day. So I panicked because the member had to go to work. So I went to the office to call Erickson to let her know. There was a blond chick in the office talking to Sister England. She turned around and it was HERMANA DAVIS!!!!!!!!! We screamed and hugged each other!!! It was such a great surprise! I love that girl like crazy!!!!!! It was so good to see her!!!!!!!!!! Anyway. So Erickson had a stressful time getting another member to stay with her. I felt really bad.

*The meeting was super awesome! I now have the tools I need to be a better missionary! I'm so excited to apply it all!!!

I told the office that I was going to be the first ever sister district leader. I was with Allen at the time, and they were all like,"President is never going to put you two back together. You're too wild". hahah. #BESTIESFORLIFE

Then that night we had a lesson with Omar. We asked him what answer he got about his baptismal date. He said he felt good, but then he felt confused. He said that he started thinking about a mission, and all the other responsibilities he was going to have. We explained that the first step is baptism, the other things come later. All he needs is a testimony of the church and the Book of Mormon, and everything else will happen when it happens. I felt prompted to leave him Moroni 6 to read before he prayed again! He agreed to read it!

Friday.....We reorganized the area. Bro. The sisters haven't reorganized in at least 4 transfers. Our records were a mess. We redid the map, I called a bunch of people who have moved, and we consolidated all of the records. It feels so much cleaner now! I am so happy!!!!! I love having a clean and organized area book, map, and traveling area book!! It makes the work easier. It's a pain in the butt to have to redo everything. *To future and current missionaries, update as you go. Seriously. It saves time and energy for the next missionaries.*

Then we had an appointment with Omar. He wasn't there, because he was walking home from the strip. His aunt called him, and he was like, "Put me on speaker so I can talk to the hermanas". "Hermanas, me voy a bautizar". We had Ellie with us, we started screaming! We are so excited. We visited him later that night, and he was like "I want to invite you guys to my baptism". hahaha! He also said that he loved the chapter that he read! #followtheHolyGhost!!!  

Bro.......So many people that we visit don't turn on the AC. Strugs....

"She killed a fly with Jesus". Yes, I did smack a fly with the Restoration pamphlet, but it was on the other side, not the one with Jesus.....

I'm making a mission bucket list! Send ideas!!!! I've already had some pretty awesome experiences. :)

"Sisters. I just wanted to tell you that you taught very well. He knew everything. Usually I have to teach or remind them of things to pass the interview. He was very well prepared". -DL Walker. Omar is just elect! I love that kid! 

Our Zone Leaders went proselyting with Tyler Haw's the basketball player!! SO COOL! I've watched his Mormon Message a million and one times!

Okay.......So some good things happened this week. I'm just being dramatic.....

My mission grandpa passed away yesterday! :( That was an awful phone call to get. 

I tried riding the bike from the mission office. The first day I was walking down a driveway with it to street contact and I fell into a hole in the driveway and twisted my ankle. That was fun.....

Then yesterday freaking took the cake. We are out of miles. So we decided to ride our bikes to church. I wore a skirt that usually does okay with biking. We were riding across the street when I felt my skirt getting caught. The crosswalk sign told me my time was up. So I kept peddling. I heard an awful ripping sound. I put my hand on where I thought the rip happened.........I bore my testimony to every person who happened to be on Nellis..... (a main street). The hole was huge, and I wasn't even wearing shorts.(I knew I should have...) My comp tied up the hole with a ponytail and we decided to continue riding to church. Then my chain popped off..... I literally sat on the corner of Circle K on Cincinatti and Nellis. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. So I just did both. My poor comp didn't know what to do. I called a member to pick us up, and then my girl Ellie to take me home to change. I was emotionally unstable for pretty much the rest of church. It was my second freaking week in the Ward! Ijole. Anyway....The Bishop thought it was hilarious when I told him what happened.....Looking back it was hilarious. So yeah. That was the end of one of the crappiest weeks EVER.....

*I took the sacrament in an English ward later that day.... Such a blessing!

But on a good note, our key indicators freaking rocked this week....Not sure how that happened.....

<3 Hermana Cordova

*My recent convert gave me that skirt. I'm so sad.....

*Biking....

EAST SIDE week 1 #ghetto #spanish #lifeisgood

his week was so amazing! We talked to 73 people, and had some awesome experiences!! I felt prompted to street contact a very loud garage band. I'm not going to lie, I was a little scared. Sister Erickson was like, "It's all you hermana". So I applied a training given by one of my zone leaders in Havasu. I related to them, showed that I cared, they played a song for us, and said that they would love to check out the Brandon Flowers Mormon.org profile!!! (they love The Killers) It was so cool!!!! So yes..... I might become a Child Support groupie after my mission! They are so good!!! #icantimmormon (<-the drummers last band name) #childsupport #indieband

I love Hermana Erickson so much! Omg. She is amazing! She and I work really well together! I'm excited for this transfer! She's on fire. My little grand baby. (don't worry I never call her that to her face.) I'm so happy right now! I'm literally exhausted everyday because we are working so hard. I've missed this!!!

My Spanish is getting so much better already! It's crazy how the gift of tongues works! Such a blessing! We have a super solid investigator! Omar is 18 and total future missionary material! So elect! "Hermana, we are here to help you with your spanish.... You need it". Thanks 2nd councilor of the obispado. He said that in front of the whole ward council...I was border line embarrassed, but I know he's right.

EAST SIDE! Yup. I didn't think anything could be as ghetto as North Las Vegas. I was wrong. Hahaha. The soundtrack of my life is police sirens, and gun shots. It's great. There are so many humble people that live in this area, so lots of people to help come unto Christ!!! I met this lady named Big Mama, she searched the whole apartment complex with us to find one of our potential investigators. She said she is going to look into our church. I love her!!

Sunday a guy walked into our ward from the street. Our members quickly introduced us to him. He spoke no Spanish, and so it was a blessing that it was a missionary homecoming and she did half English, half Spanish. He said he was looking for a church and felt like he should come to ours. The members were awesome. One hermano came up to him and said,"Welcome my brother. We love you. Please come back". It was so beautiful!! Mandela said that he felt something different during the service. We got all his info, and invited him to stay for the 11am English ward. He did, and now the elders have an appointment with him for tomorrow! It was so cool!! #milagros #elect

Got preached at....2 days in a row. One by a legless man who blames his mothers pact with the virgin Guadalupe on his legless-ness. And the other by a baptist preacher. Those were fun.

I got hit on by a creeper. I'm used to laughing at my companions getting hit on....It's not super awesome to be on the other side. But then Erickson got hit on by a 6 year old on the street. "Hey girl you cute. I'll see you tomorrow". I told her that's she not allowed to date 6 year olds.... Hahaha. Then yesterday a guy was like "sorry, I can't talk to you. I need to throw away my dogs poop." I've never been avoided by the excuse of poop before....

I was knocking on a door last night.....I had a silent freak out because a spider had crawled on my arm!!! Erickson was laughing so hard. I've realized that I have some mad dancing skills.

We are going to start biking this week! I'm excited!!! It'll be very effective in this area!! :) I got a new bike from the mission office. I'll get it at sports today!!! I'm so excited!!!

I miss Havasu like crazy, but Ensign is keeping me very busy!!!! It has been a crazy awesome week. The funeral went great I cried like a baby (no surprise there), but now grandpa rader is in the ICU. Things aren't looking good, keep praying for them please!!!

This week I was studying a lot in Acts! I finished the book this morning. I love Paul. He is my favorite example of a dedicated and awesome missionary! He loved the lord and the gospel so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life!!!! I love this gospel. I love serving the Lord. It's such a blessing!!!

I love y'all! Keep choosing the right!!! Remember Heavenly Father loves you!!!
<3 Hermana Cordova
*New Companera
*Bugs are bigger in East...... ijole

The End of My Journey....In Lake Havasu City Arizona!

This week my mission grandma passed away. We were at the hospital to visit her when we found out. We have gotten so close to Sister Rader. We visited her every Sunday to sing to her, and bring her the relief society lesson. Sister Tui and I formed a really strong bond with her. Sister Rader was such an example to us. She was a convert to the church, and has been a strong member for over 30 years. She suffered through a lot of health problems, but she never lost her spicy attitude! I love hearing her stories, and her hugs were the best ever! It was such a blessing to know her, and have her influence in my life!!!

I am also so grateful! I got permission to stay here for her funeral. I was praying so hard that President would let me stay even though it's on transfer day!! Amazing miracle!!!!!

Quotes of the week:

"Now I know that I don't like humility....I mean humidity." -Tui

"Her attitude is, if a little is good, then a lot must be great. I guess that's a good theory....unless it's about drugs or cinnamon..."-My favorite less active family. hahaha. 

So....I'm all packed up to leave Lake Havasu City. I've only cried once....when I first found out. I've been called to serve the people of the Ensign Ward in East Las Vegas! I'm going to be teaching in Spanish again! I'll be with my granddaughter Hermana Erickson! That literally never happens in the mission!!!!!!!!!!! So crazy!!!

I've learned a lot from the area and Sister Tuimaualuga. Getting double transferred into the area was so rough!! We had to learn to work through trials together. The past 2 transfers I've learned patience, diligence, humility (lots of humbling experiences), love, and the joy that service brings into the lives of others. Our miracle recent converts, Carol and Jessie are doing amazing things! Their testimonies are strong and powerful! Yesterday, Carol bore her testimony about the power of fasting! I'm going to miss them!!! The ward members have shown me such incredible love, I feel so close to them, and I feel like they're my family! I've also found a lot of weaknesses that I didn't know I had, so I've been searching and pondering how to change. It has been an amazing three months, I'm so glad lake havasu city is only like a days drive away from Texas, hahaha. I'll be back! :)  

Favorite Mormon message of the week is Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them. Yes, life is hard. We all have trails and difficulties. However, we have the hope that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings into our lives. I know that this life is not the end! Because of Jesus Christ we will all live again! We can choose to trust Him, or we can be miserable. Simple as that. I love this gospel, I'm so happy to be a chosen representative to share this happiness with others!

I love y'all!!!! Have a great week!! Stay strong!

<3 Hermana Cordova

*We went to the Parker Dam, so we could see baby wild burros. We drove for days....No babies were seen. It was probably to hot for them. Sister Tui got out of the car to take pictures. Then she got chased by a really mean burro. I was laughing in the car. Hahaha. I'm a great companion, obviously. 

*Sister Tui took all the pictures we've ever taken with Sister Rader and made this poster for the funeral and for brother Rader to keep. My contribution was pictures and my 99 cent store markers. Hahaha. #notartistic