Hello Everyone!!!
First of all this is a big milestone week for me in the mission!! I have my 6-month training tomorrow, Wednesday the 25th is when I will return home next year (which also happens to be Kazley's entry mark. So her one year mark will be my come home day!), Then I hit my 6th month mark on Friday, and then my birthday on Sunday!! It is crazy how time flies!!
I am learning so much here in the mission. Both temporal and spiritual. For example: I am getting super good at reading a map. I can fold fitted sheets. I can clean like no ones business. I can plan effectively. I can manage miles on a car. I can get up early. I can walk all day and not be exhausted. I can have a conversation in another language. I can budget money, and lots of other things! I have also learned to love the scriptures. I have learned the importance of prayer. I have learned to trust the Lord. I have learned the importance of being a good example and helping people change their lives. I have learned that the atonement of Jesus Christ covers everything, we just have to apply it. I have learned that effective planning makes for effective days. I realized that I wasted a lot of time doing things that weren't that important. Fun for sure but there was probably more productive things to do. I have also come to love the temple. Everytime I get the opportunity to go I love it! There is so much peace there and we can feel so close to our Heavenly Father.
Now onto the small world!!! I met Stewart Mabey's brother. I met another lady who is cousins with Val Hymas. And in the temple I met a lady who is cousins with Jeff Himes. It is such a small world!
My new ward put us to work right away. After our first sacrament meeting we got a list of people to visit. Then Friday we got a call to speak in church and then Saturday we found out we had to teach Gospel Principles. And then ward council so it was a busy day but nothing I haven't dealt with before! This ward is really awesome and the members are great!!
I have met people from all over the globe this week. I met 2 from Sweden. A TON from India, one from Palistine, an amazing family from Egypt (they are teaching us Arabic), one from South Africa, Northen Australia, a few from China, tons from the Philippines, and all over the US. It is crazy how people come from all walks of life to live here in Los Angeles. It really is a melting pot of the United States!!!
Summer is heating up!! What are you all up to? Any fun trips planned? I would love to hear from you. I can't always get back right away but I love to hear from you! I know I would always hear that but I didn't know what to say to a missionary. But really we want to know everything. Even if its small. We want to know what's going on in town, what trouble you are getting into, what you have been doing for fun, any activities coming up....anything is good!! :)
I love you all so much! Thank you all for your great examples and for your love!
Love Hermana Montgomery
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Time is FLYING...
Sorry I haven't wrote in a while!! It has been crazy around here!!!
This week I have learned a lot about honesty, trust, patience, and faith.
There have been crazy changes going on and a lot of commotion. In all the commotion, I set down our phone and we ended up leaving it on a random member's porch. When we went back to get it, it was gone. We searched high and low and all around but with no luck. Being new to the area, we didn't know anything or where anyone lived. It was nuts! But we prayed and had faith that the phone would turn up. Well we know that some lady has it and it trying to get it back to us but it has been a process. During all this we just decided to work as though we had it and the Lord really did bless us. We found people in the streets and turns out they were the ones we were looking for. The Lord is definitely blessing us in and through our trials.
I just want you all to know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. He loves us enough to give us the gift of prayer. I know he hears and answers prayers. I know that he gives us leaders to help us. I know that trials we go through are greatly affected by our attitude. I know that this church is true and it lead by a living prophet. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Reedemer and only through him can we return to live with God again. I want you all to know that I love this work and I love seeing people change their lives! This is the Lord's work and I am blessed to be a part of it.
I love you all and hope you have a good week!
Love, Hermana Montgomery
This week I have learned a lot about honesty, trust, patience, and faith.
There have been crazy changes going on and a lot of commotion. In all the commotion, I set down our phone and we ended up leaving it on a random member's porch. When we went back to get it, it was gone. We searched high and low and all around but with no luck. Being new to the area, we didn't know anything or where anyone lived. It was nuts! But we prayed and had faith that the phone would turn up. Well we know that some lady has it and it trying to get it back to us but it has been a process. During all this we just decided to work as though we had it and the Lord really did bless us. We found people in the streets and turns out they were the ones we were looking for. The Lord is definitely blessing us in and through our trials.
I just want you all to know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. He loves us enough to give us the gift of prayer. I know he hears and answers prayers. I know that he gives us leaders to help us. I know that trials we go through are greatly affected by our attitude. I know that this church is true and it lead by a living prophet. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Reedemer and only through him can we return to live with God again. I want you all to know that I love this work and I love seeing people change their lives! This is the Lord's work and I am blessed to be a part of it.
I love you all and hope you have a good week!
Love, Hermana Montgomery
Monday, June 2, 2014
Talk about a memorable Memorial Day!
First story: Memorial Day 2014
This is him!
Next story: Squirrel Day
So every morning we work out in the parking space below our apartment. Every morning there is like one to two squirrels that run around the trees but this day there were like 20 not even joking. They were playing on the toys and running everywhere and chasing each other. I have never seen anything like it. I have always wanted to be a squirrel....now I know why. It looked like so much fun!
Also this week I went to a baptism in the Tongan ward in Inglewood. It was kinda a small turnout but we gave the missionary moment and the spirit was so strong. I couldn't help but cry. We shared some scriptures and then I bore my testimony in English, Spanish, and Tongan. It was a really awesome experience.
We found some really cool people this week! I don't have time to go into that but it is going well.
THE BIGGEST NEWS: Elder Ballard came to our mission yesterday!!!!
It was so good!!! We had a great conference with him. All the missionaries were together and we all got to shake his hand. I learned so much from it and the Spirit was so Strong. I know that he a true Apostle of the Lord. I know that he received revelation for us. I know that he is a special witness of Jesus Christ. I know that the Priesthood is on the earth again and that through it that everything we do here on earth lasts for the eternities.
Hermana Montgomery
Santa Monica Exchange
Wow I can't believe it is Monday again. Even crazier is that this week is my 5 month mark!!! Also more big news...Elder Ballard is coming this Sunday! I am really excited to hear what he has to say.
This week I went on exchanges to Santa Monica with Sister Atkinson. I love her so much! We became immediate best friends! She is from West Virginia and she goes home this transfer :( It was fun to be in English for a change but at the same time I was on the lookout for Spanish people to talk to and I found a few so that was really nice. I also got to do some service with her which was a nice change. People here in Hollywood do not accept service, so it was nice to be able to help someone out. Then we got to stop by a nursing home and crazy enough that was one of my favorite parts of the day. They were having a crazy hat day. I guess after you spent your whole life visiting and hanging out at nursing homes you come to love those little ole folks. They have the best stories!
We were also able to walk along the pier and be right next to the ocean. It was really nice. The weird thing was it that it was the exact same spot I had visited on our senior trip. That felt a little awkward but still cool. Who would have thought I would walk it again as a missionary? Not me!!
We met some very interesting people and I learned a lot for the people we did meet. We had some really good lessons and just had fun. We also met a woman named "D". She had a really cool life story. She had been a drug addict and living on the street and in and out of jail for most of her life. But she has been clean for 9 years. We talked to her for almost an hour but we could have been there all day. The next afternoon we met "B" (one of their recent converts) He is super cool. He was going home teaching for the first time that night and he was a little nervous but was excited. I really loved being in the English area for a little bit but I was glad to come back to speak Spanish.
This week has been a little tough as far as the work goes. We have been finding a lot of new people that seem really good, but then after we teach them once or try to go back for the first time they are not there and we can't get a hold of them. It is really hard but I am learning a lot about patience, long-suffering, and trusting in the Lord's timing.
As I thought about why we work so hard with some people and they still don't change and I found a scripture in D&C 124:49,54,55. It brought me a lot of comfort. As long as I do my part, everything will work out.
There was so much more I was going to write but now I can't remember what it was...I hope you are all getting ready for summer and that you have some fun things planned.
Here's a challenge for all of you. Read D&C 62:3. I love how it says that every time we share our testimonies it is written in heaven and are sins are forgiven. It doesn't have to be a big long speech but simple one sentence truths. I invite all of you to bear your testimony at least once this week. It could be as simple as putting a family picture on Facebook with a caption like Families are Forever. I would love to hear back if you have any cool experiences.
Love, Hermana Montgomery
This week I went on exchanges to Santa Monica with Sister Atkinson. I love her so much! We became immediate best friends! She is from West Virginia and she goes home this transfer :( It was fun to be in English for a change but at the same time I was on the lookout for Spanish people to talk to and I found a few so that was really nice. I also got to do some service with her which was a nice change. People here in Hollywood do not accept service, so it was nice to be able to help someone out. Then we got to stop by a nursing home and crazy enough that was one of my favorite parts of the day. They were having a crazy hat day. I guess after you spent your whole life visiting and hanging out at nursing homes you come to love those little ole folks. They have the best stories!
We were also able to walk along the pier and be right next to the ocean. It was really nice. The weird thing was it that it was the exact same spot I had visited on our senior trip. That felt a little awkward but still cool. Who would have thought I would walk it again as a missionary? Not me!!
We met some very interesting people and I learned a lot for the people we did meet. We had some really good lessons and just had fun. We also met a woman named "D". She had a really cool life story. She had been a drug addict and living on the street and in and out of jail for most of her life. But she has been clean for 9 years. We talked to her for almost an hour but we could have been there all day. The next afternoon we met "B" (one of their recent converts) He is super cool. He was going home teaching for the first time that night and he was a little nervous but was excited. I really loved being in the English area for a little bit but I was glad to come back to speak Spanish.
This week has been a little tough as far as the work goes. We have been finding a lot of new people that seem really good, but then after we teach them once or try to go back for the first time they are not there and we can't get a hold of them. It is really hard but I am learning a lot about patience, long-suffering, and trusting in the Lord's timing.
As I thought about why we work so hard with some people and they still don't change and I found a scripture in D&C 124:49,54,55. It brought me a lot of comfort. As long as I do my part, everything will work out.
There was so much more I was going to write but now I can't remember what it was...I hope you are all getting ready for summer and that you have some fun things planned.
Here's a challenge for all of you. Read D&C 62:3. I love how it says that every time we share our testimonies it is written in heaven and are sins are forgiven. It doesn't have to be a big long speech but simple one sentence truths. I invite all of you to bear your testimony at least once this week. It could be as simple as putting a family picture on Facebook with a caption like Families are Forever. I would love to hear back if you have any cool experiences.
Love, Hermana Montgomery
Street Contracting is like a box of chocolates...
Well well well....I feel like I was just writing last weeks letter. The days are flying by. We were melting for the majority of the week but it finally cooled down over the weekend. That was really nice.
Life as a missionary this week: Street contacting!!! This is where you find the best stories!! I have met some of the interesting people in my whole life. I have met some of the nicest people, some of the meanest people, some people who are super awesome! I met someone that really needed some help so we are going to give her some clothes and food today. Street contacting is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.
Most of our week has been street contacting. I'm learning to love it.
Other news: "F" isn't going to get baptized until June or July. Super disappointing but I'm happy with how much he has progressed. He has stopped working on Sundays and is reading the Book of Mormon on his own. There are just some things he needs to straighten out before he gets baptized.
"T" also has changed her mind about being baptized. She wants to go to Guatemala and get baptized there. It's just a big mess with her. And all the other people who have baptismal dates didn't show up for church and are starting to ditch on us. But we are still fighting for them. Agency is such a pain sometimes :)
As far as my recent converts go: There are doing alright, a little shaky here and there and that really worries me. I keep having nightmares about them leaving the church. I wake up so bugged I have to call them later that day and make sure they are ok. It's just really sad that you can't visit them like you used to. That is the hardest part.
I am happy to say that the Spanish is coming along nicely. Sometimes now I don't remember if our conversations were in English or Spanish. Also it is nice that people think I am not from the US. That always makes me feel good. Sometime I think in Spanish too and then have to put it back into English. Not always but sometimes. At the CCM they told us that at 6 months we would most likely be fluent, I have to be honest, at 4 months I thought they were liars-that there would be no way I would become fluent in 2 months. But now maybe I will be fluent by then.
I hope that everything is going great for all of you and that you aren't melting like me! I miss you all!
Have great week and be someone's miracle :)
Hermana Montgomery
Life as a missionary this week: Street contacting!!! This is where you find the best stories!! I have met some of the interesting people in my whole life. I have met some of the nicest people, some of the meanest people, some people who are super awesome! I met someone that really needed some help so we are going to give her some clothes and food today. Street contacting is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.
Most of our week has been street contacting. I'm learning to love it.
Other news: "F" isn't going to get baptized until June or July. Super disappointing but I'm happy with how much he has progressed. He has stopped working on Sundays and is reading the Book of Mormon on his own. There are just some things he needs to straighten out before he gets baptized.
"T" also has changed her mind about being baptized. She wants to go to Guatemala and get baptized there. It's just a big mess with her. And all the other people who have baptismal dates didn't show up for church and are starting to ditch on us. But we are still fighting for them. Agency is such a pain sometimes :)
As far as my recent converts go: There are doing alright, a little shaky here and there and that really worries me. I keep having nightmares about them leaving the church. I wake up so bugged I have to call them later that day and make sure they are ok. It's just really sad that you can't visit them like you used to. That is the hardest part.
I am happy to say that the Spanish is coming along nicely. Sometimes now I don't remember if our conversations were in English or Spanish. Also it is nice that people think I am not from the US. That always makes me feel good. Sometime I think in Spanish too and then have to put it back into English. Not always but sometimes. At the CCM they told us that at 6 months we would most likely be fluent, I have to be honest, at 4 months I thought they were liars-that there would be no way I would become fluent in 2 months. But now maybe I will be fluent by then.
I hope that everything is going great for all of you and that you aren't melting like me! I miss you all!
Have great week and be someone's miracle :)
Hermana Montgomery
Mother's Day
This week has been super busy!
Elder Ballard is coming to our mission on June 1st! He has given us a challenge to talk to 20 people a day. Our mission president promised us that if we talked to 20 people a day for 14 days in a row we would have more success in our areas than we ever had before. Then he promised us again that we would be finding, teaching, reactivating, and baptizing more than we ever have before. Sister Uele and I took this to heart because we didn't really have anyone to teach. We have has 12 days straight today is 13 and tomorrow we make the mark. But we have already seen the blessings.
I will start with "M". We found her one night street contacting. She told us that her cousins were members. And she wanted us to come back. We came back on the day we had our appointment miraculously the gate opened but when we went to her apartment she wasn't there :( so we left a note and decided to go street contacting. All the people we talked to took forever blabbing on about everything but nothing. We were going to take the long way around but then we noticed the time and had to rush back to the car. On the ways back Hermana Uele's bag broke and stuff went everywhere. We hurried and gathered it up and ran down the sidewalk. We needed 2 more people to make our 20. We saw a white puppy and we decided that we would talk to whoever owned that dog. When we made it there we turned and saw it was "M"! She told us that she was sorry that she wasn't there for her appointment and that she had had a terrible day. And then her daughter walks out and talked with us too. We prayed with them in the street and prayed that she would find her keys. As we were leaving her daughter said. See Mom, that's why I forgot my sweater. We needed to talk to the missionaries! We set a return appointment and as we drove home we just realized that everything was a miracle. If people hadn't talked so long we would have left that area. If Sister Uele's bag hadn't broken we would have passed the gate too soon. And after a really hard day it was just what we needed.
We also had zone conference this week. The theme was diligence. It was a really good conference and we learned about priorities and also about using our time most effectively. I learned a lot. Diligence is one of the characteristics of Christ. Without diligence, when the going gets tough we would quit. But with the quality of diligence we are able to take that 5th step back to Heavenly Father by enduring to the end.
Other miracles from the 20 contacts. "F"and "T" are both getting baptized on the 25th!!!! They are some of the most stubborn, but sweet, people I have met here and they both agreed to get baptized! I am super excited!
Things here are chugging along, day after day, but I learning more everyday. I am coming to love the people here more and more everyday. My Spanish is actually better than I thought and I can at least hold my own in a conversation! Anyways there is always so much to say but not enough time to say it all.
I love you all so much and hope that life is treating you well! I hope you enjoy your spring days because it is getting forever hotter here and my shoes melt a little more everyday. hahaha
I hope you all have a great week!
Love, Hermana Montgomery
Elder Ballard is coming to our mission on June 1st! He has given us a challenge to talk to 20 people a day. Our mission president promised us that if we talked to 20 people a day for 14 days in a row we would have more success in our areas than we ever had before. Then he promised us again that we would be finding, teaching, reactivating, and baptizing more than we ever have before. Sister Uele and I took this to heart because we didn't really have anyone to teach. We have has 12 days straight today is 13 and tomorrow we make the mark. But we have already seen the blessings.
I will start with "M". We found her one night street contacting. She told us that her cousins were members. And she wanted us to come back. We came back on the day we had our appointment miraculously the gate opened but when we went to her apartment she wasn't there :( so we left a note and decided to go street contacting. All the people we talked to took forever blabbing on about everything but nothing. We were going to take the long way around but then we noticed the time and had to rush back to the car. On the ways back Hermana Uele's bag broke and stuff went everywhere. We hurried and gathered it up and ran down the sidewalk. We needed 2 more people to make our 20. We saw a white puppy and we decided that we would talk to whoever owned that dog. When we made it there we turned and saw it was "M"! She told us that she was sorry that she wasn't there for her appointment and that she had had a terrible day. And then her daughter walks out and talked with us too. We prayed with them in the street and prayed that she would find her keys. As we were leaving her daughter said. See Mom, that's why I forgot my sweater. We needed to talk to the missionaries! We set a return appointment and as we drove home we just realized that everything was a miracle. If people hadn't talked so long we would have left that area. If Sister Uele's bag hadn't broken we would have passed the gate too soon. And after a really hard day it was just what we needed.
We also had zone conference this week. The theme was diligence. It was a really good conference and we learned about priorities and also about using our time most effectively. I learned a lot. Diligence is one of the characteristics of Christ. Without diligence, when the going gets tough we would quit. But with the quality of diligence we are able to take that 5th step back to Heavenly Father by enduring to the end.
Other miracles from the 20 contacts. "F"and "T" are both getting baptized on the 25th!!!! They are some of the most stubborn, but sweet, people I have met here and they both agreed to get baptized! I am super excited!
Things here are chugging along, day after day, but I learning more everyday. I am coming to love the people here more and more everyday. My Spanish is actually better than I thought and I can at least hold my own in a conversation! Anyways there is always so much to say but not enough time to say it all.
I love you all so much and hope that life is treating you well! I hope you enjoy your spring days because it is getting forever hotter here and my shoes melt a little more everyday. hahaha
I hope you all have a great week!
Love, Hermana Montgomery
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