Lost and Found- but not really

Sunday we had lots of meetings and planning to catch up on from going on exchanges. we only had one hour to proselyte. from 4-5pm. WE were going to meet with a woman named Kris. At church her fellowship told us she would not be able to come to Kris's. After church we got a text from Kris canceling the appointment. After lunch we were driving and sister aren’t made a wrong turn we drove past an apartment complex where we had tried to contact a woman named carol but she is never home. we both felt like now was the time to try again. 

As we walked to her apartment we ran into Donny, half of this young married couple we had talked with 3 weeks before. he said he was grabbing stuff from his car, his wife was on the phone, but, " If you're around in a half hour come by."

so perfect- we went to knock on carols door and she was home and talked with her. She had lived in thousand oaks next to an elder’s apartment. She was very impressed with one elder, elder spackman, who now is in my zone in simi. We talked about god, his love, how to strengthen faith etc. sister aren’t very good at recognizing the sincere efforts of others and complimenting them in a sincere way that builds them up. she asked how we got her address, we said elder spackman must had gotten it,

"hum... i didn't give him my address..."

 "Wow, well what a miracle then," sister arndt said

"Yes, what a big miracle." 

then she looking into our eyes and said, "thank you for finding me."  we will have a lesson with her on Wednesday! My heart was touched to ear those words come from her. it’s as if she knows or can sense the eternal importance of this message. To god, she was never lost. 

so then we went back to Chelsea and donny (the young couple) we only had a few minutes before our dinner appointment. they let us in. they had read the introduction like we’d asked. he had questions about where we get the doctrine of eternal marriage and being saved by grace "after all we can do" we didn’t have too much time to teach but they were very welcoming and we set up an appointment with them for next Monday. you can tell they have such a strong marriage and strong faith in god. we are excited that they are willing to hear out this message. because all who ask sincerely will be guided and given that confirmation that Christ's church is once again on the earth. 

Highlights of the week:

1. We had a lesson with Danny, joseph son. since his dad’s baptism he has changed, he recolonizes the joy his father has and he wants it for himself. we taught about faith and expectations for our lessons and will be meeting again on Friday. There is a light about him that wasn't there before!

2. In thousand oaks, sister Morrison and I walked down the wrong street and we couldn't find the right circle. we asked a man outside who already has a book of mormon and said we could come back and talk more. 

3. in santa sussana with sister devires we had a loud conversation with a man who was bed bound when we knocked on his door. he said we could come back, we asked what he would like to learn more about, "I just want to really believe in Jesus, i respect him, but i want to be sure of who he is" 

4. today as we were walking back from changing laundry sister arndt talked to a landscaper worker. all she said was we share messages about Christ, he started talking about his background how he went a few times to our church in Honduras and that he would like to learn more. we didn’t have our planner or the Spanish missionaries number we said we would drop off our laundry and come back in 5 minutes with information. we grabbed a Spanish book of mormon because we live with hermanas, and tried to call then so see what the church address was. they didn't answer right then we heard people coming up the stairs, sister arndt screamed and said, “Its them!" the Hermanas just got home from grocery shopping, we told then there was a Spanish man who wants to learn more, so we walked down and introduced them and they starting talking. I’m excited to go home today and have then tell me how it went!

God knows all his children and he places them around us, his children who have the fullness of the gospel so we can help point them to Christ and to happiness. The funny thing is when we focus on helping others feel joy and peace, we receive joy and peace. Preaching the gospel saves us as much as it saves them. 

Let us wake up day after day,

  "Casting all your care upon Him, for he careth for you."        

                                                                     1 Peter 5:7

Love, 

Sister Snow

PS take all your friends to see Meet the Mormons!

Joesph was baptized Saturday and 5 of the missionaries who taught him were able to attend!

This just in....sister snow's email

Joesph Huerta was baptized on the 11th! the service was great. his son Danny came and said a few words after others bore testimony(he's not a member). he said this year has been hard for their family with his mom passing away and joesph getting cancer. but, he says his dad is happy again, and he thanked everyone. he said he's been too busy to get involved, "but it's only a matter of time" that was such  big progress for danny! Usually when we come over he will talk until we are ready to start the lesson and then he leaves and goes to his room. but he said he will meet with us next month. Also ha came to church for the confirmation and stayed for fast a testimony meeting. the ward has been very welcoming to them all. joesph was confirmed and he went up a bore his testimony. :)

after church we went to donna's (an investigator) and she received a blessing.

We had our second lesson with a woman named chris. her member friend came to the lesson with us. last time we sat in her living room. this week we planned on watching the restoration dvd and we were planning on asking if we could sit in another room with a tv. when we got there she walked us past the living room and saying it's too hot in there and we were going to have our lesson in the family room. we sat down on the couches and it was right in front of the tv. even little things like that strengthen my faith and knowledge that god loves me and is in charge of his own work. 

 I love how many tender mercies god gives us. he truly has blessed us this week. we even gave a book of Mormon to another security guard at a gated community. 

 we got to do service for a lady we met at the post office. it was great because she lives in our area in a development that is gated that we can't knock in, but because sis arndt opened her mouth on a p-day we got to go help her un-pack. she moved from Colorado and her good friend there is LDS. she has been to church before, we told her about FHE and offered to teach her family one, she said yes but in November. she believes god is important and wants her kids to learn about him. we are going to hand deliver a trunk or treat invite to her this week

God will help us live the gospel if we desire it. He will help us share the gospel if we desire it. 

"And it came to pass that mas manyas were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires."  Alma 62-28

Joseph is a wonderful example of righteous desires, he wants to repay the lord, or at least try to offer him efforts of gratitude for all that he has been blessed with. 

I know that as we live in harmony with our understanding of the gospel, we are happy, we progress, we are strengthened. I know god desires to bless us for our benefit. for our ETERNAL benefit. Our souls are precious to Him.

Love you all, 

Sister Snow

Quick recap of the week

-joesph and brenda came to all sessions of conference

-joseph (if all goes well) should be getting baptized on Saturday

-sister mason (now melia) will be coming down for the baptism

-one of the sister we are over found out over the weekend her dad has lung and brain cancer. it is amazing to see how the lord gives us trails to help others. sis arndts dad had cancer and was bale to relate, and I was able to know to an extent the range of emotions she was feeling. if you can add him in your prayers his name is carlos solorzano

-the relief society did a clothing exchange so we got to get free clothes I got 2 shirts and a dress that’s pleated and I can’t iron very well- I’ll probably take it to a dry cleaner.

- I suggested to the mission president’s wife about a clothing exchange for the sisters-s o she will do one for the mission. it is cool to see your ideas implemented!

-we will be seeing meet the Mormons this month (in our church building) we're excited for that

-it was cool to have speakers talk in their native language at conference

-my favorite talk was by Elder Jorg Klebingat at conference

-we went to a semi active family’s house last night. the girl (she's 11) told us how she was doing homework during conference and the question on her assignment was "in your own words describe what a good Samaritan in" she asked her mom who said, :I don't know," JUST THEN on the tv the 70 giving his conference address talked about his neighbor being a good Samaritan in bringing him and his family water. he explained what a good Samaritan was! god helps us in little miraculous ways 

“it gets HOT in simi”

really big black berry

really squished eating lunch after transfer meeting

the PROS of Conference

My dear family and friends,

Hello!

It has been a great week in the work of the lord! We have found 4 new woman who are interested in learning about the restored gospel! a new transfer has started and we will have another whirlwind of exchanges this month, as well as president interviews, and screening of "Meet the Mormons."

I am touched to realize how much god loves ME. His love for me does not increase because I’m  his missionary, I don't get more love than any other when I follow his commandments. it is simply his desire to bless and care for us. 

Watching the woman's broadcast Saturday really became aware of this love. we had three investigators show up, donna, brenda (who is now out of the hospital and doing well), and audrey (a daughter of a less-active). As it started I kept looking for answers to their questions, their concerns and words that could relive their heartache. I was a little stressed from trying to make sure everyone was happy and having the best experience possible, I was praying that they would get what they needed when the holy ghost communicated a message to me from my father in heaven. He said,

"Don't worry about them, this is for you."

yes my role as a missionary is important, but must never overshadow my purpose as a daughter of god which is to get back to him. he used the broadcast as a loving way to remind myself I am of great value and worth. NO MATTER WHAT. or as Pres Monson said last year, "that love never changes. it is simply always there." We simply have to be still and seek it. and it will be given. 

The Lord has given me many tender mercies lately (or perhaps my eyes are simply opened recently to them). I am so grateful for the savior and for the experiences I receive in his service. they ranged this week from, talking about god with a lady as we walked her dogs, working with 11 other sister missionaries to develop a mini message for all the sisters in the mission, to mopping floors. 

I get so much more out of what I give god than he does. He build that into his masterful loving plan.

1 Chronicles 28:9

"Know thou the god of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of our thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever."

This weekend is a perfect opportunity to seek the Lord with general conference right around the corner. I challenge all of you to pray, watch, listen and record. Ask the lord for guidance, and with pen in hand, he will give it to you. He's done it for me, so he will do it for you.

Love, 

sister Snow

Quick update

Quick update: Its transfers. Sis Arndt and I are staying together in Simi- I love her! Joseph is doing well and on track for baptism october 11. Donna is going to come to the woman’s conference. I feel some good things will be happening with Michelle. I have the feeling we need to start working with the other member families in the ward. A less active named sis gillaland is doing well and reading her scriptures! Oh, sis draney is going back to Ventura 2 (where I trained her) she is companions with sister Hiatt (my trainer) and is now a sister training leader