The Caverns are COOL!

Last Monday at the caverns was so cool! I was amazed at how detailed this world truly is. Even underground it's beautiful! And it truly felt like we were in a completely different world! The two pictures I sent were from inside the caverns, you can barely tell how intense they were, but it was so cool! They were huge!! It took us like an hour and a half to walk through it all. And I may have slipped and almost fallen to my doom...but we're all good:)

Also, sad new Dezire didn't end up getting baptized this week:( She just wasn't ready. But some day and we're still going to work hard with her to be ready! Because literally, the only thing that seems to be holding her back is that she wants to "want" to be baptized. She believes it's all true.  She loves the gospel, and she is so solid. She just isn't actually excited, so she's waiting until then. Pray that if something is wrong, we'll be able to help her!

The Kings, one of our favorite families, moved. It was so sad! It was probably for the best, because they are going to be close to family, but we will miss them! They were doing SO well and progressing SO much. Hopefully they stay strong and one day make it to the temple!

We also got to go on splits this week with our relief society president and visiting teaching coordinator. It was so much fun! It was weeeeeeird to not be with another missionary, but I love the women of our ward, so it was great. It was my first time ever on splits! And we did some great work. We were able to contact a lot of people that haven't been seen in a while, and we just had fun the entire time. 

This week flew by and I cannot believe how fast the transfer has gone. We have been contacting a ton of former investigators this week, and we have met so many amazing people through that! One lady was so sweet.  She let us right in and was excited to meet with missionaries again. The crazy part was that the next day, we were cleaning out trash from our car and we found this flyer for a house that we had grabbed to see how much stuff costs here (sorry, random tangent of the story). ANYWAY, we looked at it and she was the one selling it! It had her name and face on it! We couldn't believe it! God had been pointing her out to us for a long time, and we didn't even notice! I'm just glad we finally got there:) God just had to practice His perfect patience with us for a few days.

Also, today we saw the coolest miracle ever! We had to take my companion to the clinic here in town, and when we went to pick up her medicine, they hadn't properly sent in the prescription. After a lot of confusion and a frustrated companion, we ended up back at the doctors just in time to run into someone we've been trying to contact, plus we met this amazing guy who really wanted to know about the gospel! We have appointments with both of them now:) My companion and I walked out of the doctor's office and both looked at each other in total awe. God is always leading us. This work is amazing and I love being a part of it! MIRACLES PEOPLE! SO MANY MIRACLES!

I love you all and I hope you have a great week and a happy fourth!!

Hermana Peck

IT IS HOT HERE. OH MY LANTA

IT IS HOT HERE. OH MY LANTA...I don't even know what that phrase means, but that is how I feel. It has been a wild week full of sweaty faces and teary faces. But lets just say, I am grateful for clean water to drink, and dirty rivers to stare off into.

Anyway, happy father's day dad! Our Sunday school teacher had us all share experiences about our dads and Sister Bleyl and I were on the verge of tears. I just miss you so much dad! You're the best dad out there!

This last Tuesday we had zone training and it was Sister Slade's last one, so she shared her farewell testimony. I balled. All my friends that I love so much are leaving the mission! I can't believe it! It's weird to start being the old ones in the mission, because all your friends leave and you have to make new ones again. But it's fun, because I get to meet new people all the time! Especially with how huge our mission is. We have soooo many missionaries it is wonderful!

This last Thursday, we had our bike day. And we went to go check out this senior citizen's place for volunteer opportunities. It was supposed to be like 5 minutes away...it was more like 4.5 miles away on back roads, in the 100+ degree heat next to huge semi trucks that honk at us. So, of course, I had to whip out my camera and document the ridiculousness of the moment. We were so nasty by the time we got there, but they were happy to have us and now we have a wonderful opportunity to serve more people in the community! I love it. Serving in a bigger town means more service opportunities. We actually use the 10 hours a week that they let us use to serve! It is so much fun.

Our investigator Desire still has a baptismal date set for this Friday, so we are hoping that will go through. There's a ton of outside factors that may push it, but pray that it will go through! If not this week, it will happen soon. She is so ready. The light of the gospel is already in her eyes brighter than it was when I first met her! I know this gospel changes people, I know that because it is changing me and the people around me. I love it and I want everyone to know it!

Not going to lie, I hit a bump in the road this week. Kinda broke down on Saturday, and it messed with my head, but my companion has been amazing to me! And my president pointed me in the right direction to start finding some peace. What I loved the most that he said, that have come to know for myself, is that sometimes opposition comes out of nowhere. It's not necessarily from obedience, or the actions of others, it simply comes because God wants us to take the next step forward. He wants us to grow and be better. So this week was full of growing pains, but luckily, we have the grace of Christ to help us, not only at the end, but all along the way! It's never fun to be in a trial, but it is worth it, because I know the strength it will bring me. Just maybe send some extra prayers my way this week to not get discouraged:)

I have to go, we're off to the caverns today! I can't wait!

I love you all!!!

Love,

Hermana Peck

The message of the restoration holds so much power

The weeks just get better and better out here in Carlsbad! I cannot believe how much I love it here already. Some days I think about how sad I was to leave Borger, and it just blows my mind that I already love it here just as much! Although, they will all have such special places in my heart:) Karla wrote me and told me she'll be going through the temple this transfer, so I will hopefully get to go with her!

Anyway, as for things here in Carlsbad, we are being so blessed! Somehow, even with this crazy heat, we have found amazing people to teach. We found a new investigator this week. She is so amazing. She was a media referral, but she can't remember requesting the bible that we got told about. But she let us right in and we were able to teach her the restoration. She loved it! She cried for about 5 minutes after we shared the first vision, and she just kept saying how every single breath she took after hearing it felt like more and more weight off her shoulders. The message of the restoration holds so much power. It is amazing to see how it changes lives, and I love being the one who gets to share it with so many people for the first time. Even just the words of the first visit changes hearts!

Our other investigator, Desire (not Desiree, Desire) is doing AMAZING. She has been taught for about 1 year now on and off. And she has never progressed or accepted a baptismal date. BUT the very first time I met her, she told us about an amazing experience she had. She finally asked God if she should be baptized, and no matter where she turned in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, she read a scripture or story about baptism. She knew God was telling her that she needs to be baptized, but her problem was that she simply just doesn't want to do it. We went over and talked a ton about the why of baptism and it was an amazing lesson. The spirit was the one teaching her the entire time! It came so clearly to her mind that if she wants to have a desire to be baptized, she has to actually read every day, come to church, and act on what we teach her. She was like, "man! That's why y'all always ask me to read and pray and come to church! I get it now!' We were STOKED! It is so rare that that actually clicks in an investigator's head, but when it does, they just soar:) Her baptism is planned for the 26th and she will be ready! Pray that it all goes through. We can't wait!!

This week we also got to do service at a food pantry here run by the Methodist and Catholic churches. They loved us! It was so fun. We walked in and they were like "Oh, it's the Mormons coming to help!" They were so happy to have us, and it was so wonderful to be all together, working as Christians, simply trying our best to follow Christ and help others. No one cared that we were LDS.  They were just happy to have help. That is truly the way it needs to be. Pure love, and pure service!

Also, I hit my 9 months this week! I could not believe it!!! Time is all downhill from here,  but I know the works is all uphill:) I have been blessed with an amazing first half of my mission and I cannot wait to see what's in store for the second half. 

I hope y'all have a blessed week and know that I love you tons!

Hermana Peck

Goodbyes to People I love so much in Borger.

Goodbyes to People I love so much in Borger. 

Goodbyes to People I love so much in Borger. 

At the transfer sight 

At the transfer sight 

?

At the transfer sight 

The bunny room I wrote about last week 

My new district 

NINE MONTHS 

Investigator's daughter's old prom dress.
I look like an 80s Cinderella! 

Feeding the ducks behind our apartment 

The river behind our apartment 

Spanish sisters love our Mexican candy!

The peace in trial is so worth it

So, saying goodbye in Borger was so hard! When I first got the call that I was leaving, I was sooo not okay with it, because I just didn't feel like I was done there. But after saying all my goodbyes, I felt okay leaving. It was weird, I could completely feel the reality to the fact that it wasn't my area anymore. It wasn't my job to take care of them, but I still love them so much!

Tuesday was the day I headed out to Carlsbad! I am loving it here so much. I got to see Sister Slade on Transfer day, because her new companion and I rode down together, which was the best. She's my STL now, so we can actually talk! So I help her answer all her language study questions on Sunday, because I don't know what to study anymore for language. My new companion, Sister Bleyl is the best! She is my best friend. I swear, this was a premortal friendship! I don't know how it happened, but by the time we got to Carlsbad from Roswell, we were such good friends! We just laugh all day every day, people probably think were insane, but I love it:)

As for the area, it is AMAZING. First off, we live right by the Pecos river. It's like our backyard, not even kidding. I forgot to take a picture, but I'll send one next week. At night, I can fall asleep to little waves on what people out here call a beach. It's not a beach. But it's what I got and I love it! It is HOT here though, like way hotter than Borger was. But it is so much fun here. And we will get to go to the caverns soon. Probably near the end of the transfer.

Our ward here is so cool! It's weird to serve English. I've spent 9 months trying my hardest to relate to Hispanic people, and now I have to relearn what our culture does. But I love the ward! They take such good care of us and they LOVE missionary work. And they feed us a TON. Probably not a good thing, but I'm not complaining! Everyone at church kept saying that me and Hna Bleyl looked like twins. Who knows, but I'm not against it!

This week I got to hold a baby goat while at a members house! It was so darn cute. And other story, one of our former investigators that we still do service for has a room full of bunny stuff. No real bunnies, but just a whole lot of stuff. It was kinda creepy, but she was so excited to show it to me when she found out that I like bunnies. Random, but an essential part of being welcomed to Carlsbad.

This week I've been weirdly off the norm. It's probably just the adjustment to a new area! This town has very unorganized streets, but we're finding our way around! Sister Bleyl has only been here 1 transfer, so we crack out the map on an hourly basis. As for investigators, we don't have too many. We've got a lot of finding to do, but I know they're out there! God is always preparing people to hear the message of the restored gospel, we just have to share it enough to find them!

I miss you all so much! I hope the family is enjoying the fair, know that I am extremely jealous. BUT I would never change this opportunity for anything. I don't even want to go home, it is too blessed and perfect here. Even in all the struggles, the glimmers of hope and the peace in trial is so worth it. This work is so special and I am so grateful to be a missionary-more and more everyday!

Love you! Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Hermana Peck

The baby goat

PIZZA NIGHTS ARE MY FAVE

Next? Carlsbad Caverns!

Crystal and Mariah

WELL, the news is here, the awful day has come....I HAVE TO LEAVE BORGER:( I am seriously SO sad about leaving. I love serving with all these people and with Sister Vance. Borger has been good to me and I have grown so much from being here. I will miss it so much, but I am already making plans for a TON of the people here to come visit in San Diego, so Mom and Dad, prep for a lot of visitors when I get home:) I will be going to Carlsbad, NM! Not going to lie, I AM SO EXCITED TO GO TO THE CAVERNS. Plus, now a bunch of the members here are planning to vacation there this summer so they can come visit me. I can't wait. I will miss them so much, but I am excited for a new adventure! And apparently there's a beach there...like a lake one, but hey. A BEACH. I will be serving in an English area though. Teaching Spanish is out the window... At least for the next 6 weeks. My new companion is a Spanish missionary too! So I'm hoping that they'll let us teach in Spanish:) 

Anyway, my new address is:

210 W. Riverside Dr. #17 Carlsbad NM 88220

So send stuff there!!!

As for this week, I have been having so much fun here my last week in Borger. It is getting HOT. And we are having a blast! Our investigator Judith is doing AMAZING. She has a baptismal date for the 27th.  We had to move it, because she missed church..again. So pray that she can come and that her baptism will happen! She is so solid though. She loves everything about the church, and the more we talk to her, the more we can tell how prepared she really is. Her husband wants to get baptized too!! He just has to wait until his work calms down so he can go to church and take the lessons. I am seriously sad to leave her! I was so blessed to be able to find and teach here that I want to be here for her baptism but I'll just have sister Vance send me pictures:)

Janie and Doug are doing so well! Janie was mad when I told her I have to go, haha. She was not okay with it. But I'll just have to come back after my mission and go to the temple with them! They are doing so well though and are well taken care of.  The Longs are such good home and visiting teachers, so I'm not even worried about them. They will be solid forever!

I fell in a hole this week.  We went to visit our investigator Jose, and he's been redoing his yard. When we walked across it to his chairs, my foot fell straight in and I just turned back into my classic, klutzy self. It was fun. Jose was TERRIFIED. But all is well and no ankles are sprained!

I think one of the hardest goodbyes was with Crystal. She is amazing and I know she was the main reason I came here to Borger. Teaching her totally changed my mission and I love her dearly! 

Saying goodbye has been hard! Basically everyone tried to get us to come to dinner today, which was funny. But there is too much to do! I still have lotsssss of goodbyes before I can "peace out" of here! I will miss it so much here in Borger, and just being in Texas too! I can't believe I'm headed back to New Mexico! But I am excited for the adventures to come.

Love you all.  Have a great week!

Hermana Peck

Find the missionary! 

Y'all didn't know I got sent to a foreign mission 

I love this girl!

Doug and Janie

Judith

I just really love Mariah so much! And her mom! 

Annita and Marisol, soon to be 

the best missionaries this world has ever seen!