Fun is happening in Borger!

So this week I wrote everything down that I wanted to tell y'all so I wouldn't forget! Hopefully, this email will actually have something worth reading. Anyway, this week has been so packed full of random things happening. Fun is happening in Borger (FINALLY)! We went on exchanges this week and Sister Affleck came to Borger with me for the day. We had so much fun, laughed a ton, set 5 baptismal dates, and had a lesson at Braums. It was a busy 24 hours, that's for sure. Plus, she doesn't speak a lick of spanish, so I taught 100% of the spanish lessons. Plus, never did I ever get lost. NOT ONCE. Hallelujah to that. I was so paranoid that I would. Me and Sister Ogles had driving privileges switched so I can keep getting to know the area in case she gets transferred. And just my luck, a snowstorm rolled in the next day and I got stuck relearning how to drive in the snow. I may have given Sister Ogles a few heart attacks, but we're alive!

I finally convinced Sister Ogles to go to the doctor this week...it's our first counselor in the bishopric, so it was a little awkward, but they fit us in quick! He thought she had mono hahaha he would not let it go either, because the idea of a missionary with mono is just wrong. But it came back negative...no idea what's wrong, but we'll keep working anyway!

We had dinner with a member this week and she is the epitome of mom, but like 100% more intense. She has this crazy huge garden, pigs, chickens, all of it. And she loves music and I could just go on but there's no time. Anyway, it just felt a little homey this week with her. I think mom and her will be best friends. Too bad she doesn't use Facebook...that's like the one difference. I also got albondigas this week! FINALLY SOME HISPANIC FOOD. It is my fave and I just about died when they brought it out to us. And it was at the end of probably the worst and coldest bike day of my life. Such a blessing. While we were setting the table that night, her son came up behind me and just lifted up my skirt hahaha...so awkward. Luckily I had on tights, but that doesn't do much!

Our investigators are doing well. They are progressing! Progression in Borger is way different from other area's definitions, but it is still great:) And people I would have never expected to progress are doing so well. Just keep praying for them. "Anti" is big out here, and it is so heartbreaking when that happens!

Also, last night while we were driving home, there were these dogs just running around all the cars and we couldn't move for a good 30 seconds...they wouldn't leave! No idea where they came from or where they were headed, but they were super happy and it was adorable.

Okay, I have to go, but I hope y'all have a great week! Love you!!

Hermana Peck

Thanks Chrystal and Cardiff Ward Youth

I swear, I never even know what to tell y'all about my weeks. I feel like it just started! Time is going by so fast, but it has taught me so much about taking advantage of every moment I have out here to serve full time. It is so much of a blessing to be out here, so hard, but way too fun to be considered work half the time. I cannot believe week 5 is starting of this transfer. I'm kinda terrified that if Sister Ogles leaves, I'll have no idea where anything is. Like at all. Especially with the snowstorm that just came in! It all looks the same!!

Our investigators are doing well! We had zone conference in Amarillo this week and we talked a ton about planning, and it has changed my mission. Ever since we started working on healing people rather than just teaching at them, we have seen so many cool things happen! We are finding new investigators like crazy! And most of them understand English, but prefer Spanish, so I don't have to translate at church as much:) HALLELUJAH! We are seeing people start to progress that we really never thought would! Plus, people are referring us to people that are solid, so we don't have to contact in this crazy snow. It's a good thing too, because I couldn't fix the whole in my boot until today. But like I told Cliff a little earlier, missionaries have to suffer through stuff like that so we can learn:)

I am just so grateful for all the support I'm getting from home. The youth sent me a fun package of letters this week for valentines day and all the family is just too fun when it comes to mail. People keep saying it will fade as the mission goes, but at the rate y'all are at, I'll still look like a new missionary when I go home.

Okay, I have to go. I love you all so much! Stay warm in this snow everyone (minus all you spoiled San Diego people--enjoy the perfect weather!) Sorry this email has like 0 information, but I'm keeping a journal, so you'll hear about it all eventually!

Love you all!

Peace out,

Hermana Peck

A quick tour of Borger:) 

never ending cotton candy skies before the snowstorm rolled in

Thanks Chrystal!! I'm so spoiled by my wonderful family:)

Live worthy of Christ's Atonement

First off, Happy Valentines day!! Mine was great. I made pink cheesecake brownies and pink heart shaped waffles. I do anything and everything I can to make holidays special in the mission:) That's what Sister Slade taught me anyway. We also went around and heart attacked people's doors. When I was heart attacking, our ward missionary, Karla, she like walked out of her house...it was so awkward haha. I just ran away and hopped in the car where Sister Ogles was waiting for me so we could drive off. It was all way too much fun. I swear, the mission just makes weird things much funnier than they actually are.

We ate district lunch at this restaurant in Pampa...and it was so Texas. I don't think I truly understand what it means for things to be Texan, but this was definitely it. The cook came out with grease all over and explained his special for the day, which had this apparently crazy terribly spicy salsa...so of course we had to try it. I don't know how, but apparently Portales had a huge effect on my taste buds, because it wasn't spicy AT ALL. I mean, all the other people were dying, but it was like your average salsa...AMATEURS. Try serving in a Spanish branch and then you'll know spicy food:)

Anyway, this week had some of the worst nights, best nights, and weirdest days I've had so far on the mission. Lets just say my heart was on a dang ROLLER-COASTER. But all is well and I am loving Borger (officially.) Friday Sister Ogles was sick, so I did weekly planning basically by myself, and then we stayed in for the night.  I cleaned and listened to Elder Holland chastise me for about 2 hours. Oh my goodness, that was fun. An Elder gave me a bunch of music and talks on a flash drive, so I had like 5 talks in a row to listen to by him. It was wonderful. Pumped me up for missionary work!

We also have a Book of Mormon class every Thursday night and it was so good this week.We had the highest attendance ever there! And many people were in tears. We really don't even do anything either. All we do is go in a circle reading the Book of Mormon, and then we stop every once in a while when people feel the spirit teach them something. It is cool. I love it, because it shows me how the most effective teaching is when I'm not the real teacher! Because I'm not at all qualified to actually convert these people, but the spirit does wonders when it comes to that work:)

I also translated at church again! Not sacrament, because our investigator's son did it for her, but I translated through all of relief society and taught Sunday school in Spanish. I felt bad in relief society because I seriously just talked through the entire lesson, but it was fun. Our investigator right now is amazing! I love her dearly. She's like our only Spanish investigator right now, so I love teaching her so much. And she makes us such good Hispanic food when we come over:) I was spoiled in Portales with all the Mexican food I got...It was soooo good.

Anyway, this week was good. I love being a missionary so much! I had more I wanted to write, but I have no time. Just know that this gospel is true! Today I learned that no matter what we do, we cannot actually do anything to save ourselves. We just have to live worthy of Christ's Atonement so that he can save us!

I love you all!

Hermana Peck

Always got to have a favorite dog in the town! meet Blacky:)

Thanks for the package!! They always make my life!
P.S. Dad you're getting really good at shopping these days:) 

Valentine's day! I made pink heart (kinda) waffles! 

Remember last week how I was so happy to have sunshine?
Well, it was nice while it lasted.
Welcome to the Panhandle

Translated Stake Conference. Thanks Lindsey for the Awesome Package!

The sun has officially returned, and I am so dang happy about it. No boots, no coat, no gloves, not hats, no scarves-it's so freeing! I feel like I can finally breathe. So if a cold patch is on it's way, don't tell me. Just let me bask in the joy that comes from the current sunshine. It makes getting out and street contacting so much better! People are actually outside to talk to and people actually open the doors of the houses we knock. It amazes me how 30ish degree weather turns this entire town into hibernating bears.

This area is truly great, but I'm starting to notice that we have slim to none Spanish teaching opportunities. When we do get them, they aren't willing to come to a church with translation. It's a little hard because all finding efforts only find potential English investigators, but I'm praying for creative ways to find the ones we need. I know they'll come soon as long as we keep getting out there and seeking the spirit! I just REALLY want to keep teaching in Spanish. We have plenty of Spanish members, they are just all less involved, because they don't like translation either. And who can blame them, I'm HORRIBLE at translating. Having to keep track of everything that is said in English and then repeat it in Spanish...let's just say I have no idea what was said in stake conference this weekend even though I repeated it all:)

Our family that is getting baptized had to move their date, so no Valentines day baptism:( BUT they are still amazing and progressing. We just want to be sure that they're converts, not just investigators! I just really love this gospel so much. I have seen so clearly that it blesses families. It is so true that by following all that God asks us, we will see miracles in our home. I hope I can help even just one person realize that while I'm here!

This week, we were talking to a very depressed member who has lost all faith. I was reading with him from Alma 32, and he just kept questioning everything I said. I almost reached tears, because I was so frustrated with him, but at the same time I was so sad for him.  In those couple minutes, I have no idea what I said, but I know the spirit was guiding me, because I truly wanted to help him. It was one of the few times in my mission that I've been 100% sure that my words were the spirit's. And it was truly amazing! I was so exhausted by the end of the lesson, and just about died working the rest of the night, but I learned so much in that lesson, and I really hope our member did as well. 

Saturday night we got to go to Amarillo for stake conference! I ran into our cousin there. [Jenifer Kunz, daughter of Phillip and Joyce Sheffield Kunz] She introduced herself; it was so fun. She gave me my hug from you mom, so thanks:) love you too! 

I love going to meetings like that these days. It is such an opportunity to listen to what the spirit teaches. I've stopped writing the things said from the pulpit, and now I just try to write what I think about as I listen, and I get SO MUCH MORE out of meetings. It's so cool how much God is willing to talk to us! He's pretty awesome:)

On our way home, the member driving us scared us so bad. We were already late for curfew, but she wanted to show us this service project she has, so she pulled off the side of the road and it looked like she was about to drive into a HUGE ditch! My companion basically dropped to the floor of the car and covered her eyes. Totally random and unnecessary story, but I forgot to write it in my journal, and I wanted to remember it, so I'm writing it here:)

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks for all the letters this week:) Love ya!

Hermana Peck

First time translating into Spanish!

Pretty sure only about 5% of what was said actually made sense to them...

Braums!!

Thanks Lindsey:)
Missionaries love mail, especially mail full of chocolate and good smelling things

WELCOME TO BORGER, TX

Borger, Texas

  Well, I'm here in Borger, TX all safe and sound! I cannot believe it. This town is way different than Portales. I miss it so much. I've learned since coming on my mission how terrible I am at change, but I'm getting used to it. 

  Our house here is crazy nice. It's apparently the nicest in the entire mission. I feel like we are living in a mansion. 

   This town is big on oil. There are random oil rigs all through the town. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen! We'll just be walking through a neighborhood and BOOM oil rig right by a person's house. From what I've noticed there are about 3 main oil refineries here. That's what their called, right? One of them looks like this huge evil castle. My companion said it's like Lord of the Rings.

   Anyway, my new companion is Sister Ogles. She's like 22 and from Nevada. Super sweet girl, we're way different, but she has helped me make the transfer super well. The first night I went into our room to get a tissue and she thought I was crying so she came and gave me a hug...it was just super awkward. All I needed was a tissue haha.

   The people here are big into the bible. I'm definitely in Texas. They seem to want to bible bash, but besides that, they are all so nice! We've been doing a lot of walking in the cold, and about one person every half hour pulls over to give us a ride. And people always want to feed us. It's making this whole healthy thing go down hill, but I still love them for it! Also, a ton of people here suffer from major depression and other mental problems. It's super sad, but I understand. 

   We don't have a Spanish branch here. Just a small English ward with about 3 Spanish speakers that come. And we're only allowed to teach Spanish speakers, so it makes the work way hard. No one wants to come to a church not in their preferred language! But there was a promise made to this ward a while back when the building was dedicated that one day it would be a stake, so I am stoked to be a part of that!

   We have one family here that we are teaching who will be baptized on the 14th! They are so amazing and so prepared. They are English, but they preferred sisters over elders, so that's why we are teaching them. I'm really excited for them, and the ward loves them so much! When it comes to missionary work, it's all about the ward accepting our investigators. We as missionaries can't stick around, so I love when I see investigators become part of the ward family! It's seriously the best.

   I love this area so much already and now that the weird transition phase is over, I'm so excited to dive into all the work. I know miracles are on their way here and I really want to help them happen.

   I miss you all a ton! I think about you and pray for you everyday. But I've got to be honest, I love being a missionary. It's all just way too much fun.

   Have a good week!

Love ya,

Hermana Peck

P.S. I'm on my way to Braum's after this. SO EXCITED. It's been too long.

Last day in Portales!

Celebrating Sister Laparra's birthday

 saying my goodbyes 

4 bedroom, 2 bath, super nice kitchen. Sometimes, it's nice being a sister:)

1300 Patton Circle - Borger, TX 79007

1300 Patton Circle   Borger, TX 79007 is Hermana Peck's new address.

   We have been doing all sorts of stuff this week! Tons of emotion going into all we did. I don't have a ton of time to write, so I'll just mention a few quick things, and then transfer news. 
   First, we finally got to have zone training this transfer! It was super sad, because we had about 6 departing testimonies. And 2 were elders in my district. There's about 35 people going home this transfer, so a ton of areas are closing. I swear, nothing is ever the same on the mission. Really whips me into being used to change, which I am not a fan of. But the constant goodbyes, transfers, and just daily life in general kinda make it impossible to avoid any kind of change whatsoever.

   We got more snow this week, not as bad as last time, but still cold toes! We always seem to have no appointments on Thursdays, which is bike day, so we can't use our car. We were out walking on foot for about 3 hours and talked to probably 7 people. Let me just say, patience is a virtue! And also, God is so good to give us companions, because trying to find a distraction from walking in puddles of slushy water would be impossible without them! And Sister Laparra is a hoot! It doesn't matter how cold we are or how tired we are, there are smiles on our faces, we are singing nonstop, and we our laughing our heads off. I just love being a missionary! Everything is so happy, because you begin to truly understand how much God loves you and how much all this crazy life stuff actually helps us!

   We have an investigator right now who I love dearly! She's the one who has the brother were teaching too, but we didn't know it until they both came to church. I mentioned that right? Anyway, SHE IS AMAZING! So happy and reading so much. Coming to church. Meeting members. Oh, it just makes me smile when missionary work works! She is so wonderful. A little scared of baptism, but she'll get there! She's come to church the past 4 weeks! That's more than some of our members! She really is awesome. And I can't wait to see how much more the Lord will bless her life! Other investigators are doing really well, and we have 2 baptismal dates! Hopefully there will be about 3 baptisms next transfer. People are doing so well!
   On Saturday, I was so antsy about transfer calls. I knew it was coming for me. I could feel it, and things just kept coming up in my studies that made me feel like I would leave. We were trying to stay focused all day and get to work until calls at night, but we were way too stressed. We went contacting in a random area on a whim, and met this man who made the day so much brighter! I love how God works. Sometimes, he leads people into our lives just to make us smile. He played us these Spanish gospel songs on his guitar. He was very excited to share them with other believers:) It was so perfect.
   Saturday night, we were at a member's home when calls came (whoops) and sad news came. I'm leaving Portales. I so don't want to leave. I love it here so much, and the people are so great. And I don't want to miss my investigator's baptisms! But, I know the Lord has a plan, and my new area is going to be awesome! I'm going to Borger, TX. Borger is north of Amarillo, so I'll be up by Oklahoma! Which means...BRAUMS! (That's how you spell it right?) I still teach in Spanish, but it's a zebra area, so I'll teach in English too. My companion's call was crazier. They are closing the elder's area here over the ward, and she is taking over the Spanish branch and the English ward. SO MUCH WORK. And her companion only speaks English, so she'll have to teach all the Spanish lessons alone. I swear, crazy stuff happens out here in the Texas Lubbock Mission! I can't wait to head to Texas and see what work I get to do there! My companion served in El Llano about a year ago. She was trained here by Sister Laparra! Super amazing missionary. It's just crazy that I'll be getting another new companion!
   Sunday was Sister Laparra's birthday. I woke her up with a terrible arrangement of Las Mañanitas. It was the best! We ate SO MUCH FOOD. People kept giving us stuff! 2 cakes, 3 dinners, and plenty of snack the whole day. It just about killed me, but you can't really say no to food here....people really like it when you love their food haha!
Anyway, love you all! Have a great week. I'll let you know how Texas is!
Love,
Hermana Peck 

The delicious cake we made for Sister Laparra's birthday (only took us like 3 lunch hours...)

Lubbock North Zone. I really like being a missionary

This dog hopped on my lap when I opened my car door and then chased us in our house and sat there and cried for an hour because he wanted to come in...

Sister Laparra's birthday celebration!

Starting the goodbyes. I love this family! They make missionary work work out here in Portales

More of Sister Laparra's birthday celebration!

The purest form of happiness comes from this gospel and from Christ

This week was all over the place. Soap-opera investigators and a sick missionary. But amazing things are happening! Tuesday to Wednesday we got to go on exchanges (finally!) which was so fun. Kind of weird, because it was my 2 old companions coming back to the same area I served with them in, but it was so great! I was with Sister Slade the whole time. It was crazy to think that it has already been like 2 transfers since she left. The mission is FLYING by. We got to have dinner with Danny and Brenda from the Branch all together, which is basically just a party. I swear, I am spoiled with the best area for a Spanish sister. And transfer calls are this Saturday..I'm so worried that I'm going to leave:( That would be AWFUL. I mean, not really, I'll have fun anywhere, but we just have so many amazing people we're teaching and I love this branch. I don't want to leave yet! Pray that I'll stay please:)

As for the soap-opera investigator, one fell in love with my companion this week. It was so dang uncomfortable. He would not stop telling her how beautiful she was and we had to then teach a lesson on our purpose as missionaries. Well, I had to teach it, because I told Sister Laparra that she wasn't allowed to talk. Haha, it was all just so funny and weird to have to deal with as a missionary. Sad too, because he really does have a desire to come closer to Christ, he just got a little distracted by my companion's face haha. I think at one point in the lesson I told him that God had led us into his life to help him come unto Christ, but Satan is trying to stop it by making him have feelings for my companion. Haha, I really don't remember what I said. The spirit had full control in that lesson, but apparently I was SUPER bold the whole time.

Friday we got to have a whole mission conference and see Elder Bednar! I started getting sick that day, but luckily I lasted through the whole conference. Let me just say, it was wonderful. He is so good at being led by the spirit. He barely even said anything, he mainly just asked us questions and I learned so much! He set a rule at the beginning that we weren't allowed to write anything down that was said from the pulpit. It all had to be things that the spirit taught us, and by the end I had like 2 pages! I would love to teach like that. Because in all honesty, nothing I say will do any good for these people. My main purpose is to bring the spirit into their lives so they can learn things for themselves and receive a confirmation of truth from God. That idea makes missionary work much easier, because it's not as scary to figure out what to say! I just try to address people's needs and follow the spirit.

Besides that, just the regular miracles are happening and I am very grateful for them. I love this work and all these people I get to teach. I'm pushing through the sickness and not letting it stop the work. Although, I did get to take a quick nap while my companion made a cake for our investigator's birthday:)

Anyway, I want you all to know how much I love you all! I know that the purest form of happiness comes from this gospel and from Christ. This gospel is simple and living it is easy, as long as we invoke the powers of the Atonement and use our agency for good. I love watching families come together through this gospel.

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Peck

Exchanges! Dinner with the Gutierrez

All the spanish sisters in the Texas Lubbock Mission

This is one of my favorite things now a days.