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

Talk about a memorable Memorial Day!

Wow time really is flying by!! This week has been so nuts!! I had had more crazy experiences this week than ever so far in my mission! Hollywood gets weirder everyday!

First story: Memorial Day 2014

So it is a little after 9:00 AM and we are waiting for the gate for our parking to open when all of the sudden I hear a thunk. I look out the back passenger window and see a camper shell moving like a turtle next to us. I don't see any legs or anything just a moving camper shell. We pull in and Sister Uele gets out to back me up and starts talking to someone. Then she comes back to the car and fill out our car info and pray. Then we hop out and go to help this guy. We walk up and offer to help him. He was like "well you don't really have to but if you want." We assured him we wanted to help and he was like "Thank you so much! I didn't realize how hard it would be to move this by myself." I set our bags down on the front steps of his building. We picked up the camper shell and the three of us carried it down this little alley and around the back of the apartment. The whole time we were walking he was asking us questions and we were bumping into the walls and we could hardly talk but he was really nice. Then after we finished we introduced ourselves and got to know him a little. As we walked back around the corner. I went to grab our purses and THEY WERE GONE!!! The crazy thing was I didn't even really panic. We looked up and down the street but it was basically empty. But as we looked to the top of the block we saw someone walking with bags. We figured it maybe was them. So the guy we were helping, Jesse, checks inside the door and then takes off running down after the person. We decided we would go the other way. We asked some people on the way if they had seen anyone and they said no. Then we realized that our phone, scriptures, keys, everything was in our purses. We decided to pray. So we prayed and then we met a couple and asked them and they said that they had just walked the whole street and didn't see anything. They offered to call the cops and if we knew who to call. We didn't have anyone's number. As we were with them trying to figure out what to do, Jesse comes walking down the street carrying two bags. As he got close he goes "Well no good deed goes unpunished" He said that he walked up to a lady and her 8 year old daughter and asked them where they had gotten those bags and they said they were going to return them to whoever they belonged to. He said I'll take them back. The couple who had stopped were like WOW what a miracle and you girls we so calm. We thanked them and they left. Then we stood there and talked to Jesse and found out his is an actor and has done a few lower scale movies and commercials. Look him up on IMDB.com (Jesse Wilson). I want to know what he has been in! He was super nice and gave us his info and told us he owed us dinner. Then he asked what church we were from and we found out that when he was younger he used to go to the mutual activity and stuff with his friends. He was super cool. It will be a memorial day to remember. I know the Lord put things in our lives to bless others and to work miracles. I also know that he hears and answers prayers.

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.

That is a very simplified version of the week but things are going great here. The work is slow but moving forward. I love you all so much! Have a great week!

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

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

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

Trials and Promises

This week has been a real eye opener for me.

This is the first time in the mission where I have 6 days in a row of 20 conversations. I say conversations because we talk to and give out cards to more than that but we have had 20 meaningful conversations. Sister Uele is really great at contacting. I have already learned a lot from her as far as that goes. We have met some really awesome people and heard some really cool experiences. The only problem we are having is that when we set return appointments, they always fall through. We are trying to find ways that we can turn these people into investigators.

We extended 2 baptismal invitations this week to our investigators and they both said that they needed more time. I guess the Lord is testing my patience. But I waited for Abuelita so I'm sure I can wait a little more. Our other investigator is in Mexico and won't be back until next week.

We have restarted teaching a couple who have been coming to English classes. During district meeting we prayed about who could be baptized this month from our area and we felt that they could. So we have been focusing on them. She has had almost all the lessons but never came to church. They recently returned to English classes but it still took them a while to warm up. We went over and taught them 2 times and they came to church. Everything was going great!  They arrived before us and we mingling with the members. But then tragedy struck. After the first hour we searched all around the church-inside and out, to find the husband and we couldn't find him anywhere. When we finally found him he was in the wrong Sunday school class but we figured it would be ok. By the time we walked around to the other door. He had been told he was in the wrong class, and was headed out the door. As we tried to take him to his class he got mad and basically said something like this "I don't want to go in there, this is my first time and people are kicking me out of classes and telling me I can't be there, I'm so embarrassed and this is my first time so I don't know where to go and I'm leaving and never coming back to this church again" I tried to get him to stay because the wife wanted to stay but I couldn't get him to stay. In that moment my heart sank. I was holding back the tears. His wife had told us the night before that he had doubts and then he had a bad experience at church. I felt so helpless. He literally disappeared. We checked all the rooms, the whole parking lot, and even after that he left. I have never felt so awful at church in my whole life. I'm not really sure what we are going to do. Right now our plan is to just stop by and  try to explain and asking him to try again. They just have so much potential!!

Almost all of our appointments have fallen through this week so we have just been contacting like crazy to find more people to teach. Hopefully at least one or two of the 120+ we talked to this week will decide to have the lessons. But we received a promise from President Weidman that if we had 20 conversations for 14 days we would have more than we have ever had before. We are halfway there.

Also yesterday I was able to go on exchanges with a recent convert and one of my new very best friends from Los Angeles. Sister Uele had a baptism in her old area but we had appointments and it was during church so I got permission to have a member companion for the day. It was so awesome! I loved it! All of our appointments fell through but we were able to street contact a lot of people and it was awesome! I also got to help them with girls camp stuff. It was great. I love her so much!

We have zone conference this week. I love zone conference! It is always so good.

It has been so hot here!!! I have seriously been melting. The other day the bottom of my shoe melted.
Sorry I don't have time for much else but I love it here and hopefully we will find new people soon!!

Hope you all have a good week! Happy Cinco de Mayo!!
Hermana Montgomery

GREAT Week :)

WOW this week has been SOO busy!

Last Monday we went on a hike. Our destination was the Hollywood sign. After hiking for a while down what we thought was the right trail we hit a dead end. But the view was so gorgeous. So we turned around and decided that we would hike to the observatory. It was so much fun! It was super hot but no importa (as Emma would say). We went with Chris, Stephanie, Josiie, and Alicia. The hike down was downright hilarious. I haven't laughed that much in a long time!!

Other good news!!! ABUELITA AND J GOT BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED!!!!! This was by far the happiest day of my mission. Words cannot describe how much love I felt for them, especially for Abuelita. I love her so much. She is like another grandma to me. I was able to be at her side most of the day and just hold her hand and walk her around. She is one of the most special people I have met so far. Their baptism was so good and we had food afterward. It was really awesome. All the missionaries who had taught them came back. It was so special. They are incredible!

This week I also got to go the temple again. I love the temple so much. I was able to see a proposal, engagement, and sealing all at once. It was really cool! We also had a special meeting before and got to listen to some really good talks. We also had Hermana Monroy's farewell. It was super awesome. I got to translate for Hermana Petra. I was really nervous at the beginning but the words were just there. After I finished I was just filled with the spirit and I knew that I would be able to handle myself in Spanish. I am grateful that Sister Monroy asked me to translate.

So transfer news!!! I'm staying in Hollywood! :) My new companion will be Hermana Ulele. She is from Tonga. She is super awesome! She is coming back to the Spanish program. She has been serving in the Tonga program for a while now. I am really excited to work with her. I will be picking her up tomorrow morning. I also am in charge of driving some other sisters to their apartment. Who knew 3 months in I would be driving around LA like a pro! :) I actually love driving here. Weird right?!?

This is just the highlights of this crazy week! I hope everyone is doing great. I love you all so much and am grateful for your support and your prayers.

Love, Hermana Montgomery