Monday, July 24, 2017

"Stuck in LA ...Uh Oh"

Hey everyone!!!!!

This week went so fast and so slow at the same time. YSA has kept us very busy, we come home so tired every single day it is crazy! There is currently a huge teaching pool in YSA that we are working with. We had 6 people on date for baptism this week! That is such a crazy number especially for YSA!

This week we were able to go on exchanges with our STL's (Sister Training Leaders), I learned a lot ... that's pretty much all I am going to say.  One of my favorite quotes is "Everybody missionaries differently" so basically that was how our exchange went :).

This last weekend our whole YSA was on a campout and they even took a ton of our investigators, which is awesome, but that left us for 3 days with no members to take to lessons! We got really creative and went into finding mode. We were able to find a few new investigators and go visit some less actives which was very helpful because we have been needing to build up our Branch! 

I wanted to share an amazing experience that I had on Sunday with one of our investigators Roberto! We planned this huge trip to the LA Temple Visitors Center on Sunday where we were able to bring 12 members from our Branch and our investigator. It started with us just inviting a few and then all of a sudden everyone wanted to come so why not!

Roberto is going to be getting baptized soon and we thought it would be really helpful to take him to the Temple Visitors Center. He has been having a few doubts and has been nervous... which is expected. We drove up after church in 3 different cars and had an AMAZING tour! The LA missionaries did a really good job helping him feel the Spirit and involving all of his awesome friends to help him learn. 

After the tour, we were talking with our only girl member that came to drive us Hermanas, and everyone (including her) wanted to stay for this special Pioneer concert that they were doing at the Visitor Center! So... we were stuck at the LA Temple without a ride home. Now the LA Temple is not in our mission boundaries and we knew that we really shouldn't stay without permission from our President so our Branch decided to pray, haha they were really cute.  

After the prayer, we called President to tell him we were stuck in LA... that was a scary phone call. We called him and all he said was well... Hermanas you have been working hard... enjoy the music!!!!!! WHAT???? We were so so excited so we stayed and listened to a beautiful concert that was put on by a lot of the missionaries in the LA Mission.

It was one of the most beautiful experiences I have had on my mission! The music really helped me remember how grateful I am for my ancestors and all that they did so that I could have the Gospel in my life. It was a beautifully done program that I am very grateful I was able to attend! 

I hope you guys have an awesome week!!! On other news, I cut Hermana Starke’s hair this week... people are trusting me way too much with their hair all of a sudden, everyone wants me to cut their hair! I didn't go to school for that but it looks really cute:). I will send pictures of that for sure next week!!!  Thanks everyone and have an awesome Pioneer Day!!! 

Love,
Hermana Hadley 


All of us at the LA Temple Vistors Center! Roberto, our investgator, is the one in the black jacket! :) That was the first time we have seen him dress up!



Some of my best friends in the Branch, Fermin and Omar



Mom Note: Received this surprise picture through text Sunday Night from a lady from Logan, UT who just happened to be at the LA Temple. She said, "Ran into these two beautiful Hermana's at the LA Temple Visitor's Center. That is their investigator in the back. She is doing such a great job. You can be proud. :) 
I'm a missionary mom too, on vacation."



Last Week we played Quittege from Harry Potter... TEAM GRYFFINDOR!!!



Hna Starke and I found The Habit!!! Reminds me of Home :)



When you know your area is Mexican...


 Mom Note: Last Monday Night we received these pictures from the Branch President and his wife Hermana Vasquez. They feed the missionaries every Monday Night. Hermana Vasquez told us that they have done this for years and they love the Spirit they leave in our home. We are so grateful for good members watching over our missionaries! <3

On Monday July 17, 2017 The Vasquez's called it "Adventure Monday" and took the Hermanas to 99 Ranch Market, an Asian Market, to get Fried Fish for dinner. 




Chinese Restaurant looking at Cooking Ducks



Picking out their fish for Dinner



Hermana Hadley's Dinner!



Crabs!!!



Hermana Starke knows how to hold a Crab being from Oregon!



Hermana Hadley also knows the proper techinque 
because she has cooked many live Crabs before her mission!



Yep, that is what the sign says...



SEAWEED!!!



Beef Tongue???



Hermana Tongue???



No Thank You!



Edible Beef Blood, isn't all Beef Blood non edible?



And of course one last picture of more tongue, Duck Tongue at $14.99 a pound :)