"The cockroaches are coming! The cockroaches are coming!"

This has been a crazy week, people! The good news is:  We made it through and we're all alive!

I guess I should explain my heading.... Our apartment is overrun with nasty little beasts... Not that I'm complaining. I just didn't realize that I would have this problem as a stateside missionary. I guess it just adds to the adventure! We actually had to sleep at our sister training leader's house last night because of it. Hopefully, we can get that fixed soon...

This week we had zone conference, which was incredibly inspiring. However, we got Tiwi's put in our cars at the conference... For all of you who don't know what that is, it's a monitoring device that yells at you if you speed, or go over a bump too fast, or anything like that. Not that that should matter because I'm an amazingly safe driver, it's just kind of obnoxious.... We also got our car inspected, and guess what companionship won cleanest car in the Zone? Yup. We did:)

We also had exchanges and the broadcast of the General Women's Meeting this week. Exchanges were pretty crazy. Hna. Buchanan and I stayed with Sister Carlson. By the time we were done with studies and lunch, every appointment we had had texted us and cancelled... and it just sorta went downhill from there. Since it was such a crazy day, we decided we needed to go to the newly opened Café Rio for dinner. Being in that building is like being in Utah again, people. It's the only one for miles, so it's always full of members. Why do Mormons like Café Rio so much? I have no idea, but it's great. So we were standing in line and we saw a member from one of the wards. He came over and talked to us for a second and then handed us some money and told us to buy our dinner with it. That was the biggest tender mercy of my entire life!!!! And then, to make sure I really knew that God still loved me, He sent TWO more people to offer to buy our meals! Can you believe that?! I was sooooo grateful to those kind souls! It made my entire day! And then, of course, after that we watched Women's conference, which was absolutely amazing!!!! I see a book coming out any day of Pres. Uchdorf's parable.

Anyway, I hope you all have an amazing conference weekend and that you all watch it and learn a lot and feel the spirit:) Have a blessed week!

Hermana Fields

On Being a Trainer

Hola!

 

This has been a crazy week. Driving for the first time in 10 months, leading an area and training is a little scary, but we made it and we are alive! My new companions are Hermana Mardis, like I said last week, and our new missionary is Hermana Buchanan! There is a picture of us below. I just love these two beautiful women so much! They are the best! Hna. Mardis is from Cedar City and Hna. Buchanan is from Layton.

We had a pretty great little miracle happen this week. We have really been struggling in our area to find anyone new to teach, so we went tracting in a trailer park that hasn't been tracted in a long time. On the third trailer we walked up to this man. He comes over and starts talking to us through the screening around his porch. He was kinda being weird and grumpy. He kept saying stuff about how there is only one God, but  we couldn't really understand what he was getting at because his English was kinda broken. So I said, "This is a ramdom question, but, where are you from?" He said that he was from Guatemala. So I said, "Entonces, habla español ?" He nodded, and I said,"Nosotras tambien!" When I said that, he completely changed. There was suddenly a smile on his face and he asked us to come in and if we wanted anything to drink. I had to try not to laugh, he went from grumpy and closed off, to open and super nice in less than a second. We taught him the Restoration lesson and he said he would really think and pray about it. We'll see what happens!

I hope you all have a fantastic week! 

Remember that God loves you!

Love, 

Hermana Fields

 

Hermanas Mardis, Buchanan and Me!

My Hamburger "tostada" - #ThatGlutenFreeLife 

My last district

 

News from the News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello friends!

Well, another week has come and gone, and today officially marks a new transfer. That probably makes you all wonder (or not) is Hermana Fields moving, or staying in Newport News? Well, I'll tell you. I'm staying! And guess who's coming to be my companion?! Hermana Mardis! And guess who else?! I don't actually know, because she is currently in the MTC! I'm training!!!! Weird, I know. I feel way too young to be a mom.

In other news, we had stake conference this week. It was pretty darn amazing. Our stake president is going to be an apostle one day. He is so darn powerful! Like, almost Elder Holland powerful (I hope that's not sacrilegious to say...).  We were all thoroughly called to repentance in the most loving way I have ever heard. President Hamilton is an amazing example of bold but loving. Here are a few things I learned:

1. A thought from the stake relief society president: God doesn't need our prayers. He wants them and lovingly waits for them, but He doesn't need them. We are the ones that need our prayers. We need to be reminded every morning and evening that we have a loving Heavenly Father that gave us everything and is still giving us all that He can. So, say your prayers morning and evening!

2. Knowledge from President Baker: The quote "Open your mouth and it will be filled" has a twin, "Pick up your pen and you will receive revelation." When we are searching for revelation we need to study and have a pen and paper ready for revelation and write it down, and the,n as President Baker says, "Ask the simple question, 'Is there any more?' There usually is." As we act and write down our promptings God will know that we mean business.

3. Wisdom from the stake president's 11 year old son: "Who needs caffeine when you have family history?" Family History is energizing! This stake has a huge emphasis on family history. They made a goal to submit 10,000 names to the temple this year. As of yesterday, the stake has submitted 11,525 names. How insane is that?! Family history is so important! It provides salvation for our ancestors and protection and help in our homes. That is a promise from God! So all of you need to do it because I can't, yet!

I hope all of that made sense to you all...

I'll have to give you all an update on my little greenie next week.

I hope you all have a beautifully blessed week!

Hermana Fields

Quick Note :)

Hola!

Well, awkwardly it's Tuesday and I already don't remember anything that happened last week.... But I Just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive! And well! Things are going well for us and they are going to be even better this week! 

We went to colonial Yorktown on Monday and so that's where these pictures are from! 

I love you all and I hope that you all have a fantastic week!

Hermana Fields

Us Trying to be Serious

We Are From El Salvador

Yorktown Victory  Monumen

Time Keeps Flying By

Hola!!!!

Another week has passed! And the transfer is, once again, almost over! What the heck, time? Will you just slow down????

Exchanges were this week and I left to go to the Sister Training Leader's area. We saw such a wonderful miracle! We were walking around this big fountain/pond at the huge fancy city center, talking to people. We saw a lady just sitting by herself so we went and gave her a "Because He Lives" card. It was a very short, slightly awkward conversation, and we walked off. Later, Sister Harrison said, "She was having a bad day, we need to go find her and talk to her again." So we found her! We walked towards her and neither of us really knew what to say, all we know was that we needed to talk to her! As soon as we walked up she just looked at us and said, "I want to let you know that I was having a really bad day and you were an answer to my prayer. I have been thinking and praying all weekend and when you handed me that card I looked at the website and I knew that God was there." WHAT? It was crazy! Heavenly Father is so aware of every single one of his children and as missionaries we are so blessed to help Him in this great work.

This morning we were studying Mosiah 1 and 2 (Can you believe that in 3 weeks we are already in Mosiah???). King Benjamin is the best. Here is my scripture of the week! It's from Mosiah chapter 2:41.

" And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

What an amazing promise that is! Living with God in a state of never ending happiness? I know I want that! Sometimes keeping the commandments is hard but it is always worth the pain!! Always! Elder Holland once said, "The joy of the gospel is greater than any of the demands it imposes." Amen. I can testify that that is true.

I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed week!

Hermana Fields

PS  -  We went to the beach again this morning and that's what these pix are from. :)

9 Months! (Half-way through)

This is it, on Wednesday, I turn 9 months. What? When did that happen?! Sometimes it feels like I have only been out of training for like a week! And then sometimes it feels like I have been on my mission for 19 years. I'm not on the downward slope though... I'm still on the upward climb toward missionary perfection!

In other news: WE HAD AN INVESTIGATOR AT CHURCH! I have never had an investigator at church since my Greenville days. That was 3 transfers ago! It was an absolute miracle!

My Spanish is coming along. Lately, I have seen a lot of improvement in myself. I led my first lesson in Spanish last week! I had a goal of being able to lead a lesson by the end of last transfer, but that didn't happen... but it finally did! Usually Hermana Nyre teaches more than I do, but we were in a lesson and she had kids climbing all over her, and so I just taught. And it went really well! Heavenly Father takes care of his servants! The gift of tongues is a real thing!

Like I have talked about before, we are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission and I thought I would share some thoughts from what I read today. :)

 23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
24 He doeth not anything‍ save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth‍ the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all‍ men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
 25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come‍ unto me all ye ends‍ of the earth, buy‍ milk and honey, without money and without price.
 26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart‍ out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
 27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given‍ it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
 28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all‍ men are privileged the one like‍ unto the other, and none are forbidden.

Christ doesn't care who you are, what you look like, what your circumstances are or what you have done in your life. He loves you, and he just wants you to come to him and repent. It's just our decision to do it.

I hope you all have a fantastic week!
Les quiero!
Hermana Fields

Eating Hispanic Candy That Someone Gave Us :)

Sensitive Plant - Look how big my little plant is! For those of you who don't know, I grew this cute little thing from seeds:) When you touch the leaves they close! It's basically the coolest plant ever.

Stuck Inside While We Were Sick

Enferma :(

Hola!

Well, another week has passed. And it was a very exciting one. OK, it wasn't that exciting. Hermana Nyre got sick on Monday evening and I got sick on Tuesday, and we both stayed that way until we finally called the nurse on Friday and she made us go home, sleep and go on the "BRAT diet" for 24 hours. Apparently everyone knew about the BRAT diet, but not us! A member told us that we only didn't know about it because we aren't moms yet. That explained a lot. The good news is, after two days of sleep, watching The District and diffusing OnGuard, we're all better now:) AND, we got some great bonding time.

Unfortunately, because of that it was a really unproductive week. 

Our Book of Mormon reading has been going really well. We started 2 Nephi today. I literally don't think I have ever learned so much from the Book of Mormon in my life! It's been really cool reading personally, and then sharing with Hermana Nyre, and seeing the different insights that we receive from the same chapters. We had a really great section in district meeting last week where we just shared what we have all learned. It really was amazing to see all the different insights and I feel like it has really helped unify our district.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Fields

 

~Editor's Note: I received this photo from a sister in Hna. Fields' branch. It's just too cute not to share. :)