Little Lessons

March 9, 2015

Well, we uh, we uh.......saw a rainbow. Yeah, that's it-we saw a rainbow. Oh wait, that was last week hehe. No I'm just kidding. This week was full of lots of miracles and we met lots of cool people. Carol finally let us bring a member over and it went really well. She is excited and progressing. She shared how she was about to do something that she promised never to do but then she heard a voice tell her not to and she had the courage to listen. We were able to testify that that was the Spirit. She has made so many amazing changes in her life. Her road will be a bit slower but she will get there. 

We had a lot of those days where you try a hundred people and no one is home. However, we have found over 50 names on the ward list so far that have moved and we meet cool people along the way. One day, after trying several people, I said out loud "Sister, Who needs us?" Right then we got a text from Sister Pleasant asking for our help. Hurray! She had been up almost every night this week preparing for a talk and she needed to review it with us. She was so nervous about it but she did amazing and we were able to comfort and encourage her. Its little things like that that I love. I right a miracle that happened every night and I love looking back and seeing the Lords hand in our day. One of the Sisters once told me “You can't do everything for everyone everywhere, but you can do something for someone somewhere." That has stuck with me and it helps me remember that no effort is wasted in the Lords work. Every little bit makes up a big beautiful picture and each one of those little steps leads people to the top. So go out and be that little piece to someone’s puzzle. There is no greater work. If you want to be happy, then ya better go help someone else do the same.

I don't have much to say today but I'm grateful for the role that each of you have played in my life. I have learned so much and been so inspired by each of you. You made me who I am. Each of us really does have the power to change the world, one small thing at a time. It spreads! you never know who you may touch.

Love ya lots,

 Sister Prows

Explosions and Baptisms

March 2, 2015

I'll start with the highlight of my week......I saw a Raven explode haha! We were driving to dinner yesterday and one of the power lines like blew up 50 feet in front of us and we saw all of these burning things fall down all over the road. When we drove by, there was a huge dead bird with burnt feathers. Yep, it was awesome. On our way home that night we saw the electricians working on the power lines. Apparently they are endangered so they're everywhere. I like to call them flying rats haha. Yep, that was the best moment of my week.

No, not really, but it was funny. The real best part of the week is that Gilbert is still a boss and reading his scriptures and coming to church, and Abby came to New Beginnings on Wednesday with her friend, Ysella. We also started teaching the cousin or our other recent converts. Her name is Aleese and she is 8 years old. She is a cutie. Ally, our other investigator has been reading a chapter in the Book of Mormon every single day! We have had some really awesome lessons with our less actives too. I learn so much from each one of them. Also, Rose and Richard back in Diamond Bar are getting baptized next month!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited to go and see them. They were my favorite people ever and I was sad to leave them but apparently things are going good with them again and they are ready. I'm seriously on cloud 9 just thinking about it.

All that good stuff made up for a tough week. God is teaching me humility, trust, charity, and faith. There have been a couple of those days where you drive around all day, trying so many people and no one is home or interested. But, ya gotta look on the bright side. God always puts good in between all that not so fun stuff to make it all worth it. He is always there and is so aware of us.

Btw. This coming weekend we are doing a mission-wide fast to strengthen our faith in Christ that he is preparing people to receive the gospel. I'd invite each of you to participate. I know that when we call upon the powers of heaven miracles happen. I'm excited!

Sorry that I don't have many cool stories or updates. Just chuggin along, lovin mission life. Thank you again for being so wonderful. Love you all!

-Sister Prows

Half Way There

Man oh man, where to start? Well, I guess that I'll start with the most exciting thing...Gilbert and his daughter Abby are getting baptized! Hurray for miracles! They were so excited! They have a baptismal date for April 11th so pray that all goes well. They came to church and loved it. Abby is super shy but really sweet. I was so nervous to set a date but it all worked out well. Hurray for good fellow shippers too!  Has God ceased to be a God of miracles? I think NOT!

So guess what! I have gone one whole month without sugar today! That is the first time I've ever done something like that so I'm kinda proud. To celebrate, this morning we had crepes with the other sisters and I ate sugar again for the first time. I got a instant headache and I still feel like I'm going to pass out haha. It didn't taste that great either haha...lame! I was expecting it to taste extra good but it really wasn't. I've learned so much from this whole thing though. Anything is possible if we are willing to put in a little effort and ask God for help. He really does care about the little things in our lives. I had tried to do this so many times but it wasn't until I turned it over to God that I actually succeeded. It sounds kinda weird that I've learned so much from simply not eating something but it's cool to see the life lessons in everything. Every Monday now three companionship's get together at the Bear Valley Sisters place so that we can do laundry. We do our personal study and then have a massive comp study. It is super fun!. Two of the Sisters and I decided that we are going to be room mates up at BYUI when we get home. I'm super excited! They are so fun! We are also going to do lots of hiking and stuff so hopefully I'll be in good shape by the time I get home. We want to hike the Tetons or something. I'm so grateful for the friendships that I've made. I feel like a lot of these people will be life-long friends and I'm so happy to know that. I learn so much from each and every one of them. It just goes to show that one person really can make a huge difference.

We did a super fun service activity on Friday. We hauled in a bunch of food and made food boxes for the needy and distributed them. We had so many people come in! It was fun but kinda sad to see how many people struggle. The other volunteers were super nice too and so fun to work with. The church has a cool website called JUSTSERVE.ORG that you should all check out. They have a bunch of things in the community that you can go and help out with. Service is my favorite thing to do. It makes a hard day great. The area is slow but we are working hard. We had a couple of those days where you try a million people and they're either not home or aren't interested. Those are the worst haha. But, God keeps reminding me to look on the bright side and remember that no effort is wasted. We'll find people as we simply go about doing good and working hard. I've been realizing more and more lately how much the mission is for the missionary, not always everyone else. You find yourself through hard work, sacrifice, faith and realizing that you plain old can't do it by yourself. Baptisms and miracles aren't because of our hard work, they are just an opportunity to participate in seeing God's hand in peoples lives. You just simply give them a little push and they are the ones that fly. I'm so grateful that God lets us participate in His work. Believe me, we are some of the least qualified people out there but he is just preparing us to be missionaries for the rest of our lives. But yeah, The mission is so worth it. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Yesterday I hit my 9 month mark! Holy craziness! It feels like so long ago and so much has happened since, but at the same time, it does not feel like I'm half way done with my mission. I still have too much to learn haha. I'm not ready! I know that this last half will blow by so I need to make the most of it. 

Love ya lots, Sister Prows

Happy Valentines Day

 February 10, 2015

I don't have much time because yesterday was a holiday so the libraries were closed so today we only have a couple of minutes to write, but I just wanted to let you all know that I love you and I'm doing good. 

This week has been crazy! Taking over an area is no easy task. but we were able to meet so many awesome people and had lots of fun doing it. On Valentines day we took a cupcake to all of the old ladies in the ward and posted hearts on all of the members doors. It was so fun and it made me so happy. Our dinner that night had to cancel but they gave a gift certificate to this Italian place so we got take out and went home and inhaled it. It was like 8:00 so we were staving haha. 

We had an awesome lesson with Gilbert, and his daughter was even there too so she became a new investigator and the best part is.......they came to church!!! Hurray! There is no better feeling because it shows that they are actually committed and want to learn. They both had such a good time. He is so awesome. We were also able to do some fun service at sqaush4friends and helped a member with her garden. Service projects make me so happy!

Love ya lots,

Sister Prows

Murdered

February 9, 2015

This week has been a whole lot of crazy. I "murdered" my companion (aka she went home) and that always kinda stinks.That's two times now. We had a really good last week though. I love her to death and I'm sad to see her go. That also means that I will be taking over the area, driving, planning and all that jazz this next transfer. I forgot how nerve racking it is to be the senior comp haha. My new companions name is Sister Dart from Virginia. She is super smart, two years older, has been out for four months, likes science and reading and is really shy. I'll knock that out of her really quick though haha. I'm nervous for this transfer but I know that it will be good. I'm excited to see what happens in our area and what miracles we will see next. 

So this last P-day was super fun. We had a zone BBQ, played rugby, football, frizby and tennis. It was so fun! I love my zone and I'll miss everyone. The mission is going through some major changes right now though. There were so many areas whitewashed out( when both missionaries leave and two new come in) and closed. So many people left and not too many are coming in, plus President is starting to realize that change keeps us on our toes and working hard so he moved and transferred a lot of people around. So basically we lost half of our zone and I'm sad....but it's all good.

For our District Meeting on Tuesday we had a picnic outside and chowed down on chips, and drank soda from bowls while we talked about stuff. It was awesome. We also had a really good lesson with the Lloyds, our favorite Recent Converts. They are sad that Riley left and I'm nervous about taking over but they are doing so good that I don't need to worry about them. However, out other RC's aren't doing too good. Ron and Susan Lang removed their records:( I felt like crud after we went over to talk to them. They were struggling with some things that they didn't agree with and she just kinda went crazy with it. It's been really hard for me but I feel at peace that it will all be okay. Gotta know that bad to appreciate the good, eh? 

Wednesday was super fun! We went out to sushi with Sister Garcia and her sister. Holy moly! I've never eaten so much in my life. She ordered us both like three main dishes and a bunch of other stuff that "we just had to try" haha. It was so good but we could barely walk out of that place. The members here take good care of us. Speaking of food, I've gone another week without sugar! woot woot. It's so hard but I feel better and I have more energy it seems. 

On Saturday morning our Stake had a volleyball tournament that we went to. The Mojave River sisters only had four so we joined their team but since we did so good we ended up playing against my own ward and without realizing it we got them out haha. We felt so bad and people keep teezing us for it but it was fun. Our ward made awesome t shirts for us all so that alone was worth it haha.

Our investigators and less actives are coming a long well. We have some good potentials and I'm super stoked about some of the people that we are teaching. I feel like this area has so much potential and we just need to develop more faith to unlock it. I know that God cares about what we care about and if we work hard and put in the effort that we will be blessed. I've seen it over and over again. Transfers are always such an awesome new beginning. You get to set new goals and start fresh. 

Well, I gotta go. Transfer P-days are always kinda nuts but I love you all. Send me lots of pictures!!!!!!!!!

Love ya lots,

 Sister Prows

Old People and Parties

February 2, 2015

I've had a fun week so far. Got to visit lots of old people, said lots of goodbyes, helped a sister organize her cook book, had another awesome lesson with Gilbert, and Ally even came to church! Friday night was one of the Elders Birthday so we chalked his driveway and ditched a funny lamp that our neighbor gave us on his doorstep. We drew him a red carpet to the door with little stick people cheering him on along the way. It was pretty great if I do say so myself. We also connived a bunch of pranks that we could pull on them during a dinner with one of our members. We were dying laughing and everyone was looking at us funny. We also celebrated my comps 18th month mark with S'mores and a surprise from the other sisters. When we answered the door they threw balloons at us, pumped up some efy music, threw us some hula hoops and gave us some light flashy thingies. It was a fun night. 

Guess what! I went a whole week without eating sugar! Ah yeah. I had  no idea how many deserts people give us until you don't eat them anymore. Man, I even resisted Baskin Robins and the best brownies on planet earth. Be proud, be proud. I'm hoping to continue it this week too. I never realized how addicted to sugar I was! What the hay. It's been good though and I feel better. Wish me luck for round two.

Yesterday was fun too. Every one was busy with the super bowl so no body wanted to see us but the Lyons were nice and still invited us over for homemade, sprouted whole wheat pizza. We got talking about health and made some fun connections and she is going to make me some stuff and we're going to do a cleanse together! Their family is so cool. They have cows, pigs, and chickens in their backyard and a massive garden. We've had the chance to get pretty close with them and they always take good care of us. I love my ward and everyone here is so kind to us. We have like a meal appointment for lunch and dinner every day this week since it's Sister Riley's last week.

Well, nothing much to report but I'm killing my comp this week so maybe I'll have some good stories next week. The week seriously always goes by so fast. I feel like we had P-day yesterday. I can't believe how fast a transfer blows by.

Love ya lots,

Sister Prows

Our Awesome Chalk Job

Our Favorite Little Investigators

Our Little Partay for Sister Riley

Sugar

January 26, 2015

I've risen from the dead and actually wrote you an email this week haha. This week was super awesome. I went to the Temple on Thursday! It was amazing, as always, and so peaceful. A couple in our ward were sealed right after our session so we got to see them in the Celestial room before they went in. One of my favorite members, Sister Dement, gave us a ride. It was cool going to the Valley again. I could see Chino, all green and pretty in the distance.. sniff sniff. 

So we have this "battle" going on with our zone leaders. My comp is a champ tennis player and she wanted to do a Zone activity where we all play tennis but they decided that they wanted to beat us so they postponed it until today so that they could practice. Long story short, we ended up making them cookies of themselves as a joke to get them plumped up for tennis and they turned out really funny. They looked so much like them and we even made them super fat. Before church yesterday we doorbell ditched them on their porch. It was stinken hilarious. We will see how the tournament goes today. I also made one of my comp. We are becoming really good friends and opening up to each other a lot more. We also have another set of Sisters that live a block away and we always have to car share so we all have a lot of fun. I feel more like a missionary having our own apartment and being closer to other missionaries. It's been nice.

I also went on exchanges with Sister Hicks from Alabama. She is a mini Scarlet Johanson and just about the cutest girl that you'll ever meet. She even has the accent and all. We had a really fun day with lots of lessons. We walked everywhere since the weather has been so nice here. 

We have a lot of really old ladies in our ward and every month they get together and have a lunch. They invite us despite our age so we felt extra special haha. The day before, we helped Sister Cloaser make her famous cheese cake. Holy moly! It was so stinken good. I have the recipe so if anyone wants it let me know

The work in the going good here. We teach a lot but not so many investigators. However we did find a new investigator named Gilbert the other day! We were looking for a former and he had just moved into their place. He said that he was looking for a church for his family and thought that this one sounded pretty great. He was all excited, it was pretty cute actually. We have a lesson with him Wednesday so I'll let ya know how it goes next week.

I have some sad news though. Sister Seymour, the one that I half trained, went home. She suffered from some things that we just weren't able to help her with here. I've always felt like it was the best thing for her though. I feel at peace about it even though I'm sad. I tried my best to help her and so did President and Sister Soleta but she needed help at home. I haven't heard anything from her this whole time. I kinda had a feeling that it would all go down hill after I left. I almost feel like it was a tender mercy though that I wasn't her comp this transfer though. I know that it would have been really hard for me. Sister Soleta is now with Sister Martinez in Diamond Bar. Martinez had a stoker in Barstow so they had to remove the Sisters haha. If you know anything about Barstow, you'll know that it is the craziest place ever. It's like one of those places in the movies. 

Well, I love you all. I'm honestly loving my mission and I can say that for realz now and totally mean it a 100%. I'm learning so much and I love being so close to the Spirit. It's been the best decision in my life so far. Sorry again for the lack of emails this month. 

Love ya lots,

Sister Prows

My Favorite Chicas

Our Zone Leaders in Sugar Form 

Sister Riley