Fwd: Pictures!

My Hike! 

Enduring to the End

Well this week was pretty good! We had some wonderful lessons, one with our investigator from Jordan. It was so fun we gave him the pamphlet about the plan of salvation and all he could talk about what how we needed to go over to jordan and the other arabic countries and tell them about the church. Yes I would love to!! only problem is this thing called the government... hahah But he is so awesome! We had so many good lessons this week, and we also gave out bread to the homeless last night. that was fun. 

Fun story of the week:

We helped a family in our ward with a yard sale and they asked us to go take down the signs that were along the street. so my comp was driving and we pulled up to a stop light and there was  a sign on the post next to us. so I quickly jumped out and ran to the sign. But I couldnt get it down because of the tape. so I kept glancing at the light because if it changed my comp would have to drive so eventually I got the sign off and hoped back in the car and shut the door and pointed at the light and said go! it turned green right then. In my head I was quoting pirates( I know i havent changed a bit ) any who the quote of jack saying " did everyone see that because I will not be doing that again" ran through my mind. it was great. dont worry mom I was safe, I didnt run in front of cars I was in the cross walks. hahaha

So now to the title of my email. Enduring to the end. We went on a hike last pday with the ysa ward, to a place called garuapata. or something like that. its over in Carmel. anywho for those of you who dont know. I am out of shape. very much so. hence the reason why I am not on a bike. Also there is this thing called asmtha... but I decided I would do the hike anyways. So we were going and it was so much fun! but then we reached a point where part of the group decided to head back. Because we were reaching the most difficult part and one of the girls had a broken arm. So I am here at the point deciding what to do. I could turn back, no one would judge me. or I could head up that mountain. So I decided to keep going. Im not going to lie it was rough. I had to go slow and half the time I wanted to quit but I kept going. I just had to. everytime my comp would say do you want to stop I would just point up. And then eventually it got easier. At one point one of the ysa's and my and my comp played out "nephi and the broken bow" because he broke a stick he was pretending was a bow. But then I made it to the top. And what a view. We could see for miles over the ocean. I must say it was hard. I was tired and I hurt. But I had compeleted the hike. Something I didnt think I could do. I began to think about life and how there are often times in life or even on a mission when we just want to quit and turn around. But if we keep going the reward at the end will be worth it. So if any of you ever want to go on this hike I would love to go with you. However first I need to get in better shape. hahaha

Well I better go, but I love all of you and have a good week!

Annlie

Ps shout out to Jamey on her mission call to Mongolia! Congrats!

And another week goes by!

So here we are again, another monday has come! Funny they seem to come so fast, I swear it was just monday yesterday! So this week was really good!

We had... wait for it... 41 lessons. YEs thats right. I have never seen a number so high! Our district leader challenged us and him and his comp to each get 40 lessons. So we totally did! With the lords help of course because there was no way we were going to get that many without him. But the funny part is that the elders didnt get 40 lessons. Yes Sisters Rock. hahaha

LAst monday was fun, we went to the aquarium. so fun!!!!! I took plenty of pictures, dont worry.

We also had a lesson with our investigator Nael. He is from Jordan and speaks Arabic. I officially fail at arabic. i could barely say "shukran" which I think means thank you... hahaha but he is way nice! 

Oh and at FHE on monday we made valentines day sugar cookies with the ysa ward. That was fun!

We also had some fun lessons with our recent converts. The best was we were teaching Alex who is 15 and her friend that she lives with Abby was there with us and we decided to teach them the law of chastity and virtue. So of course Abby's dad is the bishop and he walks in and asks if he should stay and what we were teaching. So we tell him and he says " great! thats right up my alley!" and sits down. hahaha not quite the reaction I was expecting. But it was good.

We also got to see a few less actives, who I love! The are always good fun.

We also had a lot of luck finding our investigators this week, we Saw a ysa girl Amy, who is awesome! she is really fun, I just wish we could get her more serisous about coming to church. WE also had a lesson with our 10 year old investigator Thomas, who goes to church with his dad every week but his mom is a little hesitant but they totally came to church yesterday which was amazing! and Then the best is that we had a lesson wiht the Mabini's the parents are less active and the 2 little girls arent member and we set a baptismal date with them!!! so excited!!! hopefully all goes well!

We also had a new investigator drop out of no where. that was fun. she is slightly crazy but fun. She came to church yesterday, but hten she called and told us that she didnt feel very welcome. Im not sure if she was dropping us or just giving us feedback.. more to come on that!

I also had to speak in the ysa ward. yesterday. I did not like that. but whats new?

So yes it was a great week! and I am sure another good one to come!

Love you all!!
Annlie

And...

Its still raining. awesome. 

So this week was good! we had some very good lessons and even had an investigator who we hadnt seen in a few weeks come to church for the first time! and he still wanted to get baptized this saturday! We sadly had to tell him that it might be a few more weeks because he has to go to church 3 times before he can be baptized. and then we sadly passed him over to the elders. Sad day. oh well!

So we also had a fun contacting story. We were walking along the street and sis Neff stopped to talk to a guy and I kept walking and this lady stopped me and was like hey wait where are you from? (im thinking sweet, hooked!) I then told her Utah and then I  I found out that she was a "Witness for Christ" No idea if thats a religon. Anywho so her and her friend went on about how we needed to follow Christ and how we were being led astray and then she was like "Dont even get me going on prophets!!" and the all of a sudden one of the ladies was on the ground praying for us. and the other was calling us to repentance. Yep best day of my life. hahaha 

So friday was a lot of fun as well! we got to help out at the AT&T golf tournament which meant I totally got to go on pebble beach golf course!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO COOL!!!  I didnt really see any famous people but the elders helped earlier in the week and they saw a ton! So jeolous! but still it was a neat thing to do. 

But Saturday was the real kicker! We got to have a mission wide conference and listen to... drumroll..... ELDER COOK!!! Yes that right not only did I get to listen to elder cook but I got to SHAKE HIS HAND!!! It was awesome. and his talk was amazing and all the other speakers did wonderful and it was just amazing. I also got to see all my old comrades like sis ellis and sis bliss and so on. Best day ever!!! 

Then yesterday we went contacting in the rain and people took cards on us because they pittied us. ahhaha okay maybe not, but thats what I would have done had I been the other person. 

Well it was good week! This next week brings a few milestones, my 8 month mark but also this saturday marks 1 year since I got my call! Thats crazy!

WEll love you all, have a wonderful week!!

Annlie

The blessings of Fasting....

So to start I would like to inform you all that fasting really works. not that I didnt already know that but I figured I would just tell you all a little story. So In case you all didnt know, california is in a drought. Its snowing in Georgia and cali cant get any water. Yep. so any who they announced about a month ago that the entire state of california would be doing a fast on fast sunday for rain. first thought "THATS SO COOL, ITS TOTALLY GOING TO RAIN!!!" next thought "oh man its going to rain." So I counted the days down till fast sunday as I begrugdingly started my fast for rain. Then I woke up sunday morning and it had rained. then durning personal study it started pooring. and didnt stop. at all. all day long. So fortunatly I spent most of the day in the church but still.  I like how the bishops wife put it. "It is amazing to see the miracle of fasting and the rain we have recived for it. But I am ready for some sunshine again." hahaha we will get along great. So yes, so far today it hasnt rained to maybe the lord will listen to me when I prayed that it wouldnt rain on pdays. hahaha so yes everyone, fasting works. bring on the rain.

So as for the rest of the week, it was busy!!  We had quite a few lessons and lots of service. Which is my personal favorite. We get to garden ( I might come home a pro gardener, but then I remember that it snows in utah and I cant grow things all year long) we also helped a family in our ward with a yard sale. They are trying to get money to adopt their 3 kids in hati, and at their yard sale the earned just enough money to go on to the next step. I guess that has happened everytime the go to do the next step in the process, they always end up with enough. The lord is amesome people.

Lets see here, also we went on exchanges this week. I went to marina with sis monson, she is so fun! and cute! we did service there, as in we walked along the beach barefoot and picked up trash. Hard life I know. then we had dinner with a family from jordan so check off trying medeterranian food. Not sure if I liked it... oh well.
But the best was contacting. We totally contacted 2 Jehovah witnesses. It was great. They were really nice and we both just discussed our religions with each other. but they would sneakily through a dis about us in their conversation. My favorite was "and there is one true church, and its going to be a great day when everyone knows that and belongs to it. wouldnt you say so?" Yes, yes I would. especially when its the mormons. Of course I didnt say that part out loud. haha we also contacted a guy who told us we were idiots and that "joe smith was a liar and that we needed to listen to God" "at your own peril.." pretty funny. But then... we contacted a spanish couple. who were totally JW's. hahaha such a good day!!!

Well it was a good week here in the bay of monterey so I hope you all had a good week, and thanks for your support, have a wonderful week!
Love,

Annlie