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.

I LOVE THE TEMPLE SO MUCH

It's one of those weeks when I come to write this letter and I can barely even remember what happened. I don't really know why, but I'm going to take it as a good thing! I figure it just means I worked until I was brain dead.

Anyway, all of our investigators are so prepared, and they don't even know it.  A ton of them are going through crazy hard life problems and think that shutting God out is the best way to fix it all. It amazes me how twisted the world's ideas are. It's like when they can't figure out an answer to a problem, they'll ask anyone besides God. They'll search everywhere besides the scriptures. They'll use any remedy besides church. It breaks my heart, because so many of these people want to find answers, they are just so caught up in the world that they don't realize how easy it can be to find peace when we turn to God. Even when we tell them. Not going to lie, sometimes agency is a pain, because I just want to force these people to do it so that they can start feeling the blessing and want to do it on their own! But that is not possible. So, we keep on working. I try each and everyday to figure out what God wants me to do to help these people. And I know we'll figure it out. I know we will see the fruits of our efforts!

Also, Saturday we got to take a trip to the temple. I just have to say, I LOVE THE TEMPLE SO MUCH. If I weren't on a mission, I would try to be there everyday. Our temple has been packed. It is so wonderful. I love the Lubbock temple, because everyone seems to know everyone there. And there's always a ton of missionaries. With a ton of recent converts. It's just way too cool.

Mom will be so proud to hear this...maybe. I got a lesson on doing family history this week and we're going to teach all our members! Not going to lie, I was having some major regrets that I didn't take advantage of my mom being a family history addict. But, I'm learning! I got mom's letter (written on envelopes..classy mom, real classy) on the day that we learned, so I actually appreciated it and tried to piece all the family history information you were telling me together! You would be so proud of me.

Also, there was this guy we went to go teach, and he talked FOREVER. It took a solid hour and a half to get through the restoration. I think it was partly because He talked a lot, and also because my companion does not know how to make a lesson short. Or a contact. Or a meeting. Or a grocery store purchase for that matter. That girl can TALK. But I'm grateful for her! And this guy we were teaching loved us so much by the end that they sent us home with a bunch of fresh homemade tortillas and super delicious cheese. No return appointment, but you know...priorities:)

One last thing, we found a family! We kept feeling like we should knock this one street, and once we did, we turned a corner and found this whole neighborhood that we had never noticed before. Don't know how we missed it, but it's a GOLD MINE. We knocked the first house we felt we needed to, and found this girl who's brother is in the hospital, and they are all coming way closer to God right now. They are Spanish speaking, and I am so excited! I really really really hope that we can help them.

Okay, I have to go, but I love you tons! Have a great week!

Also, the whole mission gets to meet Elder Bednar this week. SO STOKED.

bye!

Love, 

Hermana Peck

Miracles come from hard work, people. MIRACLES!

First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm officially 5 days into my full year on the mission. Crazy to think that I'll be gone that long, but it's a good thing, because I have some lofty goals set for this next year that I plan on making sure happen. It is going to be the best year I've had so far! And I hope it's the same for you!

Second, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLIFF! I always loved that you're birthday was right after the holidays, because it made it so we could lengthen all the celebrating just a little bit longer. I really do hope it's a good one!

Anyway, this week was crazy. It started snowing on Tuesday, so by Wednesday, they told us to leave the cars alone. On foot we went! Miles and miles of walking in the snow with soaked boots and freezing ears. People thought we were crazy (I kinda did too)! But it was so fun. We had no appointments, so we were outside basically all day. We laughed the whole way and met tons of funny people. Only the crazy ones wander out in the snow like that. Let's just say, a lot of hugs were received by old men that day haha. It truly was a blast. That night was new years eve, so we got to go home early and we celebrated with a spa night. Pedicures and Jacuzzi tub (perks of the Portales house). It was perfect after the day we had.

The next day, the snow was like ice and rain at once. It would stick to everything and my hair was frozen. But, we met such cool people. One guy pulled over to offer us a ride. We explained that we didn't need one, because we had some teaching to do. He was so amazed at our love for the gospel, that he said he wanted to come to church!!! Miracles come from hard work, people. MIRACLES.

Friday, we finally got back in the car! But it was too bad to drive all the way to Muleshoe, so we didn't get to go see our investigator. Luckily, the Muleshoe elders were on exchanges with our Spanish Zone Leaders this week, so they got to stop by and read with him! Apparently, their Spanish was butchered, but we still appreciated it!

On Saturday, as you can see by the pictures, we walked a bit more because my companion was too scared to drive on the ice, and our car was kinda stuck, because we got like 10 inches of snow! Eventually the elders came to dig us out and so kindly built a snowman right outside our door to block us from coming outside. That thing was HEAVY. But just because we're sisters doesn't mean we don't know how to prank back. We went to their house and built a wall outside their door so they couldn't get in! I lost my planner during that event, so I think it was karma for being mean. But we had to prove the point that you just can't mess with sisters. Apparently, yesterday, they went to our house and built a wall at the door, but felt so bad that they came back later and took it off and left chocolates before we even saw it. Haha, SUCCESS!

Saturday night we went to see an investigator who just wasn't progressing, and we were worried we would have to drop her. But everything turned around! Her boyfriend was there, and he didn't want us there at all, but by the end, they were both asking all kinds of questions and making awesome commitments! They texted us after to say that they truly felt the power of God in that lesson and they already started reading the Book of Mormon! We're SO excited about them! We didn't know why we kept going back to teach them, but we felt that we needed to keep going, and now we see why!

Yesterday, church was canceled, because the roads were too bad, and we have a lot of members that live far away. Portales doesn't have any draining system or ways to move the snow off the roads. We're not used to this kind of weather. So, it's all kind of hectic. But the work is still progressing regardless of all the craziness! We got to do some service shoveling snow (that was a first)! And we also helped our investigator help set up her classroom with the elders. So much fun, I love service like that. She reminds me a lot of Chrystal. Except her students are younger. But she loves minions, so that's how we decorated her whole class. haha. That night we got to teach another amazing investigator who has a baptismal date. She is amazing! We didn't think she was doing too good at commitments, but we followed up last night, and she said she's been reading everyday, she practices how to pray at work, and she prays everyday to know if this is true. She is so excited for her answer. I love that lady! She is wonderful and truly has that desire to change her life. I'm so excited for what's to come with her!
Last night we went to a referral that the elders gave us. A SPANISH referral from the elders who speak no Spanish at all. Well, we were basically led to our death, to summarize it. We knocked on the door, and we were waiting, when all of a sudden I heard this huge bark and it dawned on me what house we were at. The home of a GIGANTIC German Shepherd who has ferocious teeth and jumps at us when we ride by. He comes around the corner and Sister Laparra and I just froze. The lady opened the door and said the guy didn't live there, as if there was nothing wrong with the fact that her dog was at about to attack us. Before she slammed the door, I quickly asked if the dog was nice. She just called his name and then closed the door. Sister Laparra and I sat there for a good 2 minutes while he barked and finally walked away. God definitely made that one happen because that dog is usually MEAN. We ran out of the fence as fast as possible.

Overall, it was a crazy week full of ridiculous adventures, but I loved all of them. We see miracles every day and I'm so excited for what's to come! Love you all. Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Hermana Peck

Getting ready to head out in the freezing cold on foot!

Those never ending, but marvelous walks in the snow

The elders built a snowman at our door so we couldn't get out . . .

. . . so we built a snow wall so they couldn't get in. Don't mess with sisters!