New Companion Hermana Rosario from Dominican Republic

 Hermana Rosario 

First week in Florida :) Week 7

!Hola Familia! (Writing on an English keyboard now, haha)

So, I made it safely to Florida! Which is a feat in and of itself, if I say so myself, which I do, haha. We met the Mission President after getting off the plane in Ft. Lauderdale. He remembered me! (Only after I told him I had met him before, haha. That's okay, he's a busy guy.) We were traveling in a really big group, which was awesome. We had 10 missionaries from the CCM, and we met up with more from the Provo MTC in Atlanta. There were a few English, but I am pretty sure everyone else was Spanish. We also saw a few elders going home in both airports. President Richardson drove us four sisters in his car to the mission home. He talked to us on the way about Ft. Laud and Miami. We met another senior couple and Sister Richardson at the home. We talked for a little bit, but pretty quickly started the interviews. I went first! It was really simple, he just asked a few questions to get to know me better, told me what he wanted in the weekly email, etc. and then I was done. I prayed in Spanish in front of him though, which made me a little nervous haha. We had dinner (They had all arrived and had prayed while I was in the interview) and then we had a bit of training by the APs and then went to the hotel to wind down. I got to bed at 9, which was awesome. I have pretty much been tired every day here, but that okay! I was told I would be, haha. The President didn't get to talk to us that night bc of how many missionaries there were to interview, but he talked to us in the morning at transfers where we met our trainers.

Which leads me to the next topic: My Trainer! She is really nice, her name is Hermana Rosario and she is from the Dominican Republic. She has been out for 11 months, and I am her first baby! We have a lot in common which makes me happy, and she thinks its funny. She sings all the time, which is so great, bc Hermana Tyrrell almost never sang, so I always felt that I was annoying her in the CCM. But here, we sing together! And we can listen to music! Ah, I have missed music. I thought it was really funny, the first morning I woke up at the house we live in (we live alone, she was in a trio before) I guess she woke up and looked over at me, and we were in the same sprawled out position! Haha, I thought it was a funny observation, and she thought it was funny that we slept in the same position. We are serving in the Doral South area, and our ward is all Spanish. We have two elders in our ward too, one is the district leader, and the other is Elder Jackson from district 5D in the CCM. I role played a few times with him. We don't live in our area though, which is kind of funny. Sister Rosario said that Elders lived there before her and her two companions, so they had to pink wash the area.(And do a lot of cleaning, as you can imagine, haha)

I just want to thank everyone who has supported me thus far, and who have written me such inspiring letters. They really help boost my moral. I really appreciate it. Missionary work isn't easy, especially when you don't have any progressing investigators(which is where we are right now..) We don't have a lot of members in our area, and the ones we have tried to MMGP(Member Missionary Game plan) they are either relatively new to the area and don't know anyone they could share the Gospel with, or they just don't have and referrals or friends they themselves could introduce to the church. We are praying for two really good families in the  ward, the Diaz and Fuentes family, that they will have people they can share the gospel with. Any prayers on your guys' end would be greatly appreciated, too. I am hoping to get the work flowing better in out ward and area.

I am grateful to be a missionary, and I know that even if we do not get any baptisms any time soon, we are planting seeds. I know that this Gospel is true, and that by following the example of Jesus Christ, serving and loving others, we can have missionary opportunities arise in our own lives. We read Jac 5:71, 75 to the members to encourage them to do missionary work, I invite you all to read it as well. This is the time to work in the Vineyard of the Lord! We can do it!

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Hermana Stokes

Week 6 Last week in Mexico MTC

Pict 173: Order of Missionaries so you know who is who, from left to right.

Elder Meliza(NY S Mission), Elder Shepherd(Cali Arcadia), Elder Strong(Zone leader Provo S), Elder Lammi (District Leader, NY S), Elder Olsen(Tuscan AZ), ME!, Hermana Rodriguez (Day Teacher), Hrma Tyrrell(my mish), Elder Callister  (on the bottom, Dallas TX), Elder Ficklin(on the top of Elder Callister, Provo S), Elder Latu(on the bottom, my mission, he gave my my blessing yesterday, he is so sweet!), Elder Ward(on the top, my mission), and Elder Markel(Provo S)

 This is our district with the Branch Presidency, and then District 5 D with us.

Week 6

Hey! So this afternoon has been like a Pday of sorts, we had morning class but after luc=nch we just had time to pack, clean, etc to prepare to leave in the morning. Hermana Tolliver has to be at Reception at 2am and we all have to go with her so her comp isn't alone, and then we are leaving at 4am so we have to be at reception at 4am. Its going to be an interesting night, haha. I weighed all my bags, and we are good! I am so excited to leave the CCM and enter the field. Four of our elders from our district left early this morning (Elder Silitoe left for Missouri this morning,too, which I didn't know so I didn't get to say bye, but oh well). It has been kind of sad, and I am going to miss our districts a lot, but I am also really excited for everyone to enter the field and use the language and teaching skills we have learned here. 

So the 12th of December is like Mary's birthday or something, so there have been way more fireworks and parties than usual today, and it started last night at like 7pm haha. We all joke about it when we hear huge successive fireworks(hopefully thats what they are..) and we say "Really Mexico? Calm down!" Its so funny, and we all laugh. 

I found my drivers liscence, so you don't need to worry about it! It was in my suitcase, haha.

So my flight leaves at 7:30am and I have a two hour layover in Atlanta, so hopefully I will be able to call home. Mom, I will probably call your cell, so just have it on your around noon.

Ah! Yesterday was so amazing! We listened to a devotional by David A Bednar (Love his teaching style, he is so amazing) about missionay work, and it was so motivating. We then got to watch the Restoration afterwards because we had been bugging the couple missionareis about really wanting to see it. We thought we would have to miss dinner to watch it (which we were all okay with, haha) but it ended at 6:30 so we still got to eat! It was so worth it! And for the video/movie night we watched a devotional by Elder Jeffrey R Holland (Whom I also love!) on missionary work and oh my goodness! It was sooo good! It was from 2011 and I think January? It was given to the Provo MTC, and if you guys can find it, I encourage you to watch it, it was so awe-inspiring!!! I am a forever missionary!! I know that the experiences I have had only these six short weeks have forever changed my life, and I am never going back! I was so humbled by the end of the video that Our Father in Heaven trusts ME to teach His beloved children on the Earth. Ah! I love being a missionary!

So yeah, I just wanted to email and say that I will be in Florida tomorrow evening! Ah! I am sooo excited its crazy! I love all of you so much, and I pray for all of you to be successful in theis life and to constantly become more converted to this Gospel and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Never give up hope or let fears and doubts drive away the Spirit of the Lord from your homes or hearts. I know that through Him, we can accomplish and overcome all things. We are to be tested in this life, and if we endure it well, we will be b lessed with ETERNAL HAPPINESS. I can hardly comprehend the significance of that promise, but I know it is real, and it is given to everyone who comes unto Christ. This Gospel message is for everyone, and I encourage all of you to try harder each day to strengthen your loved ones, your firends, less actives, and non members alike! I love you guys, and have an amazing week!

Love always,

Hermana Stokes

Photos from Week 4 & 5 Mexico MTC

 Thanksgiving Dinner

The cookies are the same or super similar to Steff´s favorite form Indonesia! 

Haha I thought it was funny, they sell them in the MTC Tienda