First Letter and Pics from the Field... Napa, California

Hola Familia y Amigos!

Tengo mucho suerte con todos esta semana. Yo se que Dios me ama mucho porque el me da una companera y area perfecta para mi.

I don't even know if I can explain how many feelings I felt this week. Mom, Dad, Joseph, Brett, Rehya, It was so nice to talk to you all on the phone and hear your voices. It gave me just what I needed before going to California.

After arriving, I received one of the warmest welcomes I have ever had. President and Sister Alba are some of the most outstanding people that I have know and I could tell that in no time at all. After arriving, we drove an hour and a half from the airport and I got to be in the front seat. Our driver was a Senior Missionary who knew the area because he lived there before his mission. He explained the mission to me and the cool parts of each city. It is SO beautiful. Vineyards and beautiful trees everywhere. It's green like Indiana and has mountains like Utah. I really get to enjoy the best of both worlds. I got to know some of the other missionaries arriving with me. We stayed in a hotel that night and did a activity helping us get a feel of how to teach. The next afternoon we received our trainers/companions.

I got assigned to serve with Hermana Chavez! I was hoping I would get called to serve with her. She is from Mexico but has lived in the united states for about 8 years. Her English is basically perfect but thankfully her Spanish is more perfect therefore able to help me learn faster! She is one of the nicest people I have met. She is always in a good mood and always looking for ways to love others. She has amazing ability to make people feel comfortable around her and I have felt that for myself and have watched others react when they are around her. We work so well together, we speak Spanish basically 24/7, and I am learning a ton. We were called to serve in Napa! I am excited because it is one of the most beautiful and fulfilling areas and apparently has a lot of potential. There are a lot of Latinos here for us to teach. Also, I am the driver. The first day they gave me the keys and I was put to work. Elder Foster from my District in the MTC is in my same branch and I see him everyday when we all go eat at member's home for dinner. Also Elder Vance, Madeline's older brother is one of the Assistants to the President. It's nice to see familiar faces.

At first I honestly felt so overwhelmed. I was driving a new car, in a new place, with a stranger, attempting to speak in a new language. Over the days though, it has become familiar. The very first day, I helped teach an investigator, Jesus Medina, about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It was so difficult to understand him, partly because he is quiet, partly because I'm still learning, and partly because we were teaching from his porch and cars were zooming past us every other second. He has a baptismal date but also has much to learn. I did my best to ask questions and made sure to bear a solid testimony and the spirit was undoubtedly there.

The next day we taught another Investigator, Marcos. He has been being taught for a little while now but has had some troubles with the Word of Wisdom. My companion taught most of the lesson but I bore a strong testimony and explained some things to his sister who speaks English more than Spanish. His mom was there too and has been listening to all his lessons. At the end of the lesson, both Marcos and his mom agreed to prepare to be baptized! Marcos has committed to it before but every time couldn't seem to accomplish his goal. We know he can do it, we have faith! He is really trying to turn his life around and we want to help him not to be addicted. Both Jesus and Marcos came to General Conference this Sunday! It was different watching the Spanish translation of it, but I could basically understand everything. Everyday it is getting much easier to understand what people are saying, most of the time I get about 90% of what's being said.

This first week has been super busy. We have a Mission Goal of 10-3-1. It means 10 contacts (talk to ten people in the street), 3 lessons, and 1 baptismal invitation each day. We haven't been doing a very good job with it because were inside a lot for studies, weekly planning, zone meeting, transfer meeting, branch activity that we planned, and General Conference. This week were rededicating ourselves to accomplish this better. At first I was scared to talk to people but the spirit has pushed that fear away and I merely act when I know I need to, or at least I am trying. I am doing my best to be exactly obedient to mission rules and as I have been I see blessings.

Teaching is getting there. I am not able to say everything I want but Its improving. When I bear testimony the spirit overcomes me and I am given what to say. Its amazing to see how the Lord works through me as I am dedicating myself to his work. The other day after teaching a man he said he didn't really have time to read the Book of Mormon. The spirit truly compelled me to testify how the gospel contained in that book has truly changed my life and testified that is can change his. I explained how important it is to me and that is why we invited him to read it, because it is so precious and contained the very gospel off which I base my life. (What I said was more simple obviously). The language of the spirit speaks more than can be said in Spanish, English, or any spoken language. By bringing the spirit with us to lessons, it softens hearts and changed lives. I can see that. It is motivating. It helps me everyday to get up and study and work hard, because I truly love the Lord. I am his tool to carry out that which he wants me to do. I am blessed beyond comprehension. I am growing into someone I never thought I could be. My mission is surely going to fly by and I don't want to waste a second of it. Thank you to all who have helped me get here. In life, on my mission, all of it. I am so blessed.

Les Quiero mucho,

Hermana Wise