10/28/2013 Much to Tell

Dear Family,

I'm sorry if I haven't answered your questions.  To be honest, there really isn't time. I would love to answer them, so if you really want an answer just keep emailing me the same question until I get a clue.   Sorry.  I got mail!  That was so fun.  :) It comes a lot faster to my direct address.  I think packages are still supposed to be sent to the mission office. 

I got the candy/card package with my bike, thanks.  Apparently both different card numbers work to the same account and are open.  Can you check online and tell me what is going on with my debit card? I'm confused if I should shred the new one with the old number or not. 

I hope this doesn't scare you too much. :) 5 weeks ago I sprained my ankle playing soccer, but it was only minor, for which I'm super grateful.  I've been doing my best to be nice to it.  I don't even feel it during the day, just when I exercise in the morning.  Sometimes we get to play basketball in the mornings and I want to be careful.  Is there anyway you could send my good old ankle brace with a pair of long enough socks to cover where the brace comes up to on my ankle?

This week we had exchanges, which means that the sister training leaders come to visit and we spend the whole day with a different companion.  We got to "blitz" our area, meaning we had 2 companionships working in our area at the same time.  Exchanges was a super good experience.  I learned so much.  Sister Kreis was "born" in my area, so she loved seeing old friends.  She is so happy and I feel like everyone we talked to ended off in a good relationship.  It is interesting how people's attitudes change when you ask them to pray for you that you will find people to teach.  Even if they are completely not interested, you leave friends. 

We taught a couple of new investigators this week!  One is Luis, all in Spanish.  I felt the spirit throughout the whole lesson, I just hope he did.  I need to ask more inspired questions.  I always feel like I have so much to share but that I can't express it in the right way.  Another investigator is Magario.  He is in a very difficult situation.  It has been three years since his friend shot his 12 year old son.  He continues to live in despair wondering why God took away his favorite son.  He doesn't want to be happy and he doesn't want peace.  It is so hard knowing that the gospel can help him, but that he doesn't believe or want the help it can give him.  Oh how I hope our next lesson he can feel the spirit and his heart can be softened.  Pray for him. 

One highlight of this week was attending Arisbeth Castillo's baptism. She is one of the girls I'm teaching piano to.  The spirit was so strong at the baptismal service.  I felt completely happy and peaceful throughout the whole experience.  There was a lot of family there.  It was a good testimony boost to the sacred ordinance of baptism and correct and beautiful it is. 

This Sunday was wonderful!  It was the Primary Program.  The spirit seems to always be very strong at these.  I think it must be because simple exact truths are coming from the mouths of innocent, pure children.  Three less active families that we have been teaching came!  The Gardequa children were sitting out in the foyer, so we went out and helped them gain the courage to take their place on the stand to be part of the primary program.  They did great. The Montanes are on fire right now.  We had a super lesson with them this week and they are preparing to go to the temple in a few months.  And the gospel principles lesson was on temples!  What a tender mercy! It was exactly what brother monantes needed to hear.  And the McHugh family came to church too.

Another tender mercy with the piano happened in the spanish branch.  We walked in just in time as they were starting the sacrament hymn.  Without knowing exactly which song, I walked up to the piano, and played a sacrament hymn.  Yes, I would say that's a miracle.  That was my first time playing in sacrament meeting. 

We also had interviews with the Mission President this Sunday.  He is so full of love. He gave me advise on feeling the spirit 24/7.  I will always have a prayer in my heart and be focused on the people I will be interacting with next. 

This Saturday we had the Fall Festval with three branches.  It was super fun.  I helped rope in volunteers for the pie eating contest.  They had games, trunk or treat, costume contest, and chili contest. It was a great turn out, and there were quite a few non-members who came too.  I had a good converstion with a Spanish-speaking older man, and it turns out he was less active and also came to church the next day.  Now we are good friends. 

 

Love,

Hermana Campbell

Mi and comp. washing our car, Basic jam and peanut butter is amazing!  We love to cook together and check out my new spanish scripture case during companion study!  Melchezidek from CCM at Mexico custom makes them.