Great Week!! :)

Last pday we saw Omar at the bus stop. I gave him a bag of chips!! It was a funny encounter! I love that kid. He is such a hard worker. And he found a job that he doesn't have to work on Sunday! Such a blessing, and miracle! Whoo hoo!

"Takis and I have a love-hate relationship....I love them. They hate me." "The Takis be hatin' me..." Hermana Espinosa and I great bonding time over Takis. hahaha.

I ate a stingray on my mission!!!!! Espinosa made me a stingray pancake, with blueberry eyes, and the cutest tail ever!!!! I obviously have the best companion ever!! Apparently it's an old Mexican secret recipe or something.

7 levels of the inferno. Have you ever eaten a super spicy pepper, and then touched your eye? Um yeah....I went blind while driving on a main road. And had to emergency pull over. I was crying. Literally. Espinosa had to drive to our appointment, while I sat in the passenger seat dying. I finally regained my sight before the lesson.....I don't recommend the experience y'all.

Then the next day Espinosa's eye started itching. It was driving her crazy. I used my persuasion skills to convince her not to take her eye out. "Sister  if you want to marry a two eyed, blue eyed husband, you have to just deal with it." Good news!!! Her eye is all better!

This week was freaking hot. We decided that we are not going to Hades.....We are already living here. So....hot....all...the...time. We walked everywhere this week! Heavenly Father definetly blessed us for our for our dedication and sacrifice. hahaha. We talked to 108 people on the streets!!!!! It was awesome!!! We are rocking ensign!!!!!!!!!!!!

We knocked on a door an a naked Cuban guy opened the door. Ijole....

I saw a police officer on bike puling someone over. It was awesome.

A member is going to teach me how to make papusas on Sunday! Freak yeah!!!

"American by birth. Southern by the grace of God."-Favorite quote of the week #truestory

The Lord softens hearts! Yesterday...We street contacted a family. The wife was not interested, and we were about to walk away, when a guy pops in out of nowhere. He pretty much forces us to eat a taco. Then two....Espinosa taught the 1st lesson in like a minute, and we gave him a Book of Mormon. We told him what we do as missionaries. His heart was definitely was softened when we left. Hot dogs, beef, and chicharron  do NOT go together. I threw up.....And wanted to die..... So did Espinosa. Struggle of life!!!!

So that's what happened this week!!!!!

I love y'all!!!! Have a great week!!! <3 <3

<3 Hermana Cordova
*My outfit was on point today! #haters #didthisforyou #hahahaha
*Street money!!! :)

It Was Love At First Sight..... Hahaha!

First off! I freaking love my companion!!! Hermana Espinosa and I have been having fun and working hard since day one together! We are both studying the New Testament, and are currently in Romans. We are reading the Book of Mormon all the way through and marking all the times it talks about Jesus Christ. And we both have the goal of memorizing The Living Christ. So pretty much we are bestest friends ever. I love her! We are constantly laughing, and we have seen so many miracles together! It's been great, because we totally push each other to be better and work harder.

So now that I'm done gushing about my companion. I'm going to write about this week!!!

One of my elder besties went home on Wednesday. His birthday was on Wednesday, so we had a mini birthday party! We brought pizza and cookies! It was awesome!!! Shoutout to Haddon!!! 

A member took us out for pizza. The logo for the pizza shop is "Friends don't let friends buy $5 pizza". A couple days later a member gave us money for dinner, and we bought a $5 pizza so we could use the rest for groceries this week. #brokemissionarylife

A little girl spit red juice all of my face on Monday. I smelled like jamaica and spit for the rest of the night. It got in my glasses, all down my clothes, and made my eyelashes stick together. I'm learning patience.....obviously.

PURE TESTIMONY MOMENT

So Hermana Espinosa is like the most boss street contact-er I have ever met. We talk to a lot of people everyday! So this guy was being super rude to us. And started saying false things about the church. We bore pure and simple testimony about our Heavenly Father, and how the church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, and then about the plan that our Heavenly Father has for us. His heart was softened, to the point that he took our card, and we left him with a commitment to read 1 Corinthians 15, to find out more about the Plan of Salvation! It was so cool!

Then I contacted two people chilling on a porch. "We are here to help people get a closer relationship with Jesus Christ". "I'm getting close to him right now". Then I realized that they were high..... Oh Las Vegas. "Wow, I really like your pigeons. Do you send messages with them?"(espinosa) "Naw man. I raise them to do flips." Then he took one out and it flew to the top of the roof, and just looked at us....It was so awkward. #THEHAMPTONS

Sister Espinosa and I will be hot chocolate drinking buddies in Hades.....We are too snarky and sarcastic awesome to go to heaven. hahaha.

We have made water drinking a competition. I'm winning. I don't liek hot chocolate warm water, so I drink the water as soon as we get it. I might start carrying hot chocolate packs for her. Hahaha. 

One of the elders also serving in Ensign is from the Dominican Republic. I told her that people from the D.R. hate it when you say that Haiti is better. So when he was introducing himself in District council she yelled,"Yeah. But Haiti is better". He was pissed, I died laughing. Then later that day she told an elder, "Oh yeah. I heard the Matchu Pichu was moved to Canada to help with tourism..." He believed her. Hahaha. #favoritecomp

AWESOME PRAYER MOMENT

So before we got out of the car, I sincerly asked Heavenly Father to help us find someone who would be interested. We got out of the car and street contacted this lady that was outside with her kids. We shared with her about how our families can be together forever, and she was super interested. And then she told us to come back, but she was like "I would like to be taught in Spanish". Pretty much my heart did a happy dance. It was so cool! Prayer works, and Heavenly Father prepares His children! :)

I got to go back to North Las Vegas this week. Ana, a lady that I taught forever ago, got baptized. "I cried every time you visited me. I knew what you were saying was true, I just didn't feel ready to do it. Thank you for not giving up on me!" It was awesome!!!!!

So yeah. Espinosa is the best. I love her. It's going to be a fun and awesome transfer!!!!! Also she is kicking my butt into shape! I've been running everyday! :) 

Have a great week y'all! I love you! Choose the right! Remember who you are! Heavenly Father loves you!!!! Mormon Message of the week: A mother's hope.

<3 Hermana Cordova

*Ana is awesome!

*We got free food from a gas station scratch off! SCORE!

Miracles.....Close Brush with Death....And Fish Tacos

This week I almost died. The first time, my companion left the gas stove on for 3 hours. We came home and got super dizzy and almost passed out. The housing coordinators told us to get out of the apartment.... The DL told us we couldn't stay with our mini missionary, so we had to drive to another Zone to stay with the other sisters. Then I slept on the floor.....They have scorpions in their apartment...... Let's just say I almost died of exhaustion the next day.

We got ipads.........

The elders from the english ward called us. They could not get in contact with any of the other missionaries in the area. They were stranded at the dealership and need a ride home. So we picked them up. They had eaten fish toacos with a member. We rode with the windows down the whole way home. Fish tacos taste great but they sure do not smell great...... hahaha.

We had a flash flood and a dust storm this week. #2ndcoming

"Please help that we will stop having awkward moments."-Erickson Then we had 5 awkward moments in a row, while knocking on doors. "Sister, your prayer didn't work!!!!"-me

Oh!!!!!! My family got endowed this week! :) Lozano's!!! I'm so happy and proud of them!!!!!! They are amazing!!! It's been such a journey for them!!! I also got to spend time with Mama Pecjak! Love her!!!!!! <3

It was a good week! :) Quote of the week "There is no such thing as a part-time disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ". #truth

I love y'all! I pray for you and I'm grateful for your love!!!!!!! <3

<3 Hermana Cordova
*Mi familia!!!!
*Julia is going strong! She came to the temple to support them! She got her Patriarchal blessing on Sunday! So proud of her! :)

Great Week in East!!!!!! :)

Okay! So this week was crazy good! I guess Satan decided to cut me a break. Hahaha. Jk Obviously Jesus fought him off for me. #grateful

We taught a two hour lesson on Monday. We have an investigator that the Westies were teaching in English. So we literally had to teach him the first three lessons again, because he didn't understand them.... Ijole. So We went in planning to teach him the 10 commandments, and ended up teaching lessons 1 and 2. He loves the church and is ready to be baptized! We talked about the covenants we make at baptism, and also showed him the Bible Video, when Christ was baptized. He is so happy to make this change in his life! :)

So we have been helping a family in our ward move. We've been packing things into boxes...I've been climbing on counter tops to grab things from the top shelves, because we are all short. hahaha. It's been fun. Anyway. So Friday comes around, the day of the big move. Literally, no one from the ward shows up. It's us and the elders, and we both had to leave for appointments. The poor family was stressed out. We called the Desert Inn elders to ask if someone from their ward could help. They called us 2 hours later to say that they had gone to help, and that a bunch of people from their ward were there helping. I'm so grateful for our church family. It was such a blessing. We went to make sure everything was okay, and saw huge families helping move things into the moving truck! I'm grateful and proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"Hermana I am so full. Thank you so much. But this is Hermana Medina's favorite food. She would love to have more." If looks could kill, I'm pretty sure Ellie's would have killed me. I love mini missionaries.

We had a temple walk with a part member family! The spirit was so strong! I love the temple! :)

I learned how to teach English this week!!!! It has been so much fun! I read the English class handbook, and got some ideas! As we've been implementing it I have seen a positive difference in the class!!! :)

We met a nice old lady. She let us right in, gave us Gatorade, and kissed my cheek like 5 million times. Fat cheeks for the win! hahaha.

We got our carpets cleaned this week. I was talking to Phil, and found out that he worked at the original Nothing Bundt Cakes. He gave me a bunch of tips. I'm going to be a pro cake maker now you guys!

"Can you teach me how to not be fat." Oh elders......

I am so excited! We just got new ward mission leaders. Yes. 2. A couple just got called on an 18 month assignment to be co-ward mission leaders! They are so cute! They just moved from Juarez, and they are so missionary minded! So many great things are going to be happening in Ensign now! I'm so happy! :)

Okay. So the most important and amazing thing happened this week. Omar got baptized!! I saw him at English class, and he was like "are you ready for Saturday?" I was like "um...yeah. are you?" "Yup. I'll see you then." I love that kid!! Satan was definitely working on him, I'm so impressed with his conversion to the gospel! His aunt bore her testimony at his baptism, and said that he told her "Tia. Praying has become such a habit for me. Whenever I forget to pray in the morning my day just doesn't feel right". She also told us how he has been fasting on his own, so he could know for sure this is what he wants. After he got confirmed, and received the Holy Ghost on Sunday, he was like, "okay in one year from now, I want you all here for my mission farewell!" He is getting the priesthood next week! :) Omar is the best!!! I'm so grateful that I was able to be here to teach him! He is one of my best friends! I love that kid!

I love y'all! I hope you are doing well!!!! I am grateful for your love and support! This Saturday is transfer doctrine! Can you believe that I've been here for 6 week!? Crazy!!! #ensign

<3 Hermana Cordova

*I wrangled a goat this week! It was the most fun thing ever!!!!
 "Hi. We are looking for Juan." "No Juan lives here. Only me and my dog....oh and my boyfriends goat." "Wait....What? Can I see you goat?" "Sure." Then she let us in! My companion thinks I'm crazy.... hahaha.

*Zone Conference was fantastic!!!

Good Week Close To Paradise (the zone next to us....hahaha)

This week I had the best exchange ever!!!!! I was with one of my mission besties Hermana Leete!!! We rocked Ensign Ward! It was so cool! We talked to 15 people on the street, two different families let us right in (which hasn't happened all transfer), we spoke Spanish all day, and we taught a boss English class. I love Hermana Leete so so much. It was just what I needed after a hard transfer. We worked hard, and had fun all day!!! I felt like my spirit was rejuvenated. I'd say that was an effective exchange.

I went and talked with President Snow today!! It was much needed. I learned how to set my own vision of being a good missionary. I also learned "revel in your imperfectness. If God wanted you to be perfect, He would have made you that way. He knows that we will mess up, but that's the whole point of this life." He is so wise. I love that guy.

"Do you want some chocolate milk? It has vitamins in it."-Ellie "I feel like I just drank a chocolate bar..."-Me hahaha.

We went to visit a recent convert on tuesday, when we walked in I smelled mole. There is no better mole than surprise mole. It was so good! :)

I saw a cute fat pug wandering the streets on Saturday. "Sister. As soon as I'm done praying I'm going to go pet the fat pug." I said amen, and then I opened the door and fat pug was outside waiting for me! It was the best moment of my life! I totally got a picture. I named it Kiki, after my best friend pug! (Shout out to Carol and Jessie) hahaha.

I got the awesome news that Carol and Parham are going to be ward missionaries in Havasu!!! Also Kyle is coming back to church, and they're having a Why I Believe!!!I I'm so proud of my Havasu family! :) It makes me so happy to hear how well they are doing! I can't wait to come back and visit!!!

My best friend Janice is going Spanish Speaking to California!! She leaves a month before I get home! Sad life, but I'm so excited for her!!!!!!!!!!! :) #spanishbesties #asian #proudbestie

Yesterday while driving in a cul-de-sac I saw a something shiny in the road. I parked, leaned out the door, and then I picked it up! I am 5 cents richer now. haaha. Then we had a really cool RM guy come out with us. He was walking behind me, I saw a penny. I nonchalantly fell back a little, then he stopped and watched me pick up the penny. It was awkward.....

We are doing a lot of door knocking.....That makes for a lot of fun stories.... And long days. Hahaha. I talked to a cool guy named Jay, he has no legs. Also Leete and I contacted a cute pilot guy, and a really cool bartender dude that has a testimony of "fix-it" videos on YouTube. Hahaha. It was a fun week.

So yup! I'm doing better! Kickin' Satan to the curb! I've learned a lot this week. I love serving the Lord. And I'm grateful that He loves us, even when we make mistakes. It's a blessing! It's all thanks to the Atonement and Jesus Christ. He picks us up every single time Satan pushes us down!!! Jesus is the best big brother! :)

What I learned this week: Happiness is a Choice.
 "There is nothing wrong with feeling a little discouraged once in a while, and you ought to know that. Otherwise you wouldn't know what it is like not to be discouraged. You don't want to persist in it because it is not of the Lard to remain so, but if you have been a little discouraged, a little worried, a little concerned, you ought to know that it is normal and natural. You're just like President Christensen is, and like I am, and like anyone else is. Just keep working on increasing your faith until it is almost impossible to make you discouraged. "-Qualifications for the Work

I hope y'all have an amazing week! I love you! I'm grateful for your continued love and support! You are amazing! <3 <3 Never forget how much our Father in Heaven loves you!

<3 Hermana Cordova
*baby Leete and Cordova (last year, CCM)
*Old Leete and Cordova :)