Flashback!

Hola!

Well since I'm in my last transfer, today I got to go back and visit my first area in the mission, Loma Florida (in Tlaxcala)! I got to see some of my converts and one of my favorite families there and it was awesome. (: It was so surreal to be there after a whole year and I didn't want to leave! It seemed like time had barely passed since I last saw them. (:

Well my new companion is Hermana Cupul! She's from Playa del Carmen (by Cancun) and has 14 months in the mission. We've already had a lot of fun together this week and I'm happy to have her as my last companion! And guess who's in my district now!? Hermana Sellers, my MTC companion!! Finally haha, we're super pumped. (:

Not too much happened this week. We have a new investigator who's the grandma of a recent convert here and she's so sweet! It's hard for her to leave the traditions and religion that she's had her whole life, but we know she's gonna accept the gospel. (:

We broke our house key the other day... literally it broke in half when we tried to open the door. Don't ask me how it happened, cause I have no idea...hahaha. 

Our biggest issue with investigators in the ward right now is getting them married!! There are so many people who live together and aren't married and it's a struggle figuring out everything they need to do to get married. Pray for them! (:

This weekend was the dedication for the Tijuana Temple and it was so beautiful. Just like the Mexico City Temple dedication, I felt the spirit SO much and even more testimony that this is THE true church with the fullness of Christ's gospel. I'm so sure of it that there isn't room for doubt in my mind. (:

I love this work and I love Puebla/Tlaxcala. It's sooo beautiful here and I'm so thankful for all the people I love here!

Have a great week(:

Hermana Eyring

Hermana Cupul, my very last companion!

Let it snow let it snow let it snow(:

Familia Olivo(: So amazing to see them.

Missed these kids so much(:

Familia Mendez, my Loma Florida favorites(:

Final Countdown

Hello friends!

Well... tomorrow I officially start... my LAST TRANSFER. WHAT?

I'm going to finish my mission here in Aquiles Serdan!!! But my companion has transfers. :( So tomorrow I'll get my last companion of my mission, wow...

This week has been kind of hard and we've been seeing lots of trials. A lot of the investigators that we had aren't progressing or are we aren't finding them anymore which makes us sad. Especially because since me and my comp are both finishing our missions we feel super worn out and discouraged lately. But we keep trying and trying and I know the Lord will bless us for our efforts. He is always testing and trying us but He is also always blessing us when we do what he asks. His whole purpose is our happiness and that we can live with Him again!

I don't have much to say about this week but I'm very thankful for the families here who I love so much and who give us "animo!"

We had Stake Conference Saturday and yesterday and Elder Mirón from the quorum of the 70 spoke and I liked it a lot! I definitely was thinking a lot about the future and what I'm going to do when I get home!

I'm learning how to sew...wooh! Haha. We have a less active member who is a seamstress and she always has a TON of work and she always puts us to work to help her. 

I love Christmas season! It's definitely not the same away from home but last night watching the annual Christmas Devotional I felt the Christmas Spirit even more. (: Something I've been learning is about the importance of service. Christ gave his whole life for us in an act of infinite love and service and the least we can do is help those in need.

Sorry this email is so short, I don't have too much to say. But I'll update you on who my new companion is and if anything exciting happens next week. (:

Love you and miss you all!

Sierra with some missionary friends.

Last District Meeting of the transfer!

Using Elder Jarman as a measuring stick...hahaha.

"Ya enseñaron el alfabeto, los ACD´s?" "ABC´s..." "Ah ya lo cambiaron?"

Hola!

Well this week was super busy!

On Tuesday we had our big 3 month Zone Conference and me and my comp realized it was our last one in our mission. WHAT? Sooo crazy! We always leave inspired after zone conferences. (:

Our play on Friday was a success wooh!! There were tons of investigators that went and everyone said they loved it and felt the spirit too. Yay! Can I be an actress now? (;

I love Christmas season and we're in the Christmas choir in our ward and I'm so happy and I realized one of my new favorite Christmas hymns is "Away In A Manger" especially the last 2 verses. It's so beautiful!!

Lately we have been having to go to this super nice hospital for my companion because they're doing tests on her and stuff. They have a Krispy Kreme and Starbucks there and I feel like I'm in a different world when I'm there. I love going to the "fresa" parts of Puebla. (:

Miracles happen! And God loves us. I'm so sure of that and I wish everyone else could be too.

I love and miss you all!!

Hermana Eyring

We deserve Krispy Kreme after doctor's visits(:

Gonna miss my compañera :(

Before the play!

My last big Zone Conference in the mission...ahhh. (Zona La Libertad)

"Misión Mexico Pollo Norte"

Hola!

This was a great week!!

Today we had a zone activity and I learned that I'm a pro at catching footballs. (Working on my throwing too(; ) and that I love burritos.

New investigators wooh! I'll keep ya posted but baptisms are on the way(:

Our English classes are going well! Theres always new people and now the class is mostly investigators. And they actually learn a lot so that's cool. It's super hard teaching English but I love helping people learn it!

Hermana Herrera and I celebrated our Sweet 16 this week...wooh! Haha, yeah we have 16 months in the mission so we're super old. ;)

There are lots of crazy people in this world and one of those is our new investigator and we think he wants to like put spirits in us or something, it's great.

Me, my comp, and the Elders all had to give talks this week and I realized that I've turned into the world's fastest talk writer...haha. That'll come in handy! (:

Everyone needs to read the poem "The Race." I'm not sure who it's by but it's about a little boy running a race. My mission president gave it to me on Saturday and I know it helped me a lot and will probably help some of you too. (:

This week I have been feeling God's love for me SO much. One of my biggest struggles in life has been my self esteem and I've realized it more being here. But with the help of my mission president, my companion, lots of prayer and God, I'm progressing so much and learning to love myself and it just testifies to me even more that I needed to come on a mission. There are so many things that I've learned here that I probably would have never learned if I hadn't made the decision to go on a mission. I have had so much heavenly help in these 16 months and I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father. THE MISSION IS THE BEST!

Have a wonderful week. I love you all. (:

Hermana "Ingrig"(how many people pronounce my last name here)

The coke bottle says "Abre Tu Corazón." "Hey but that's against the mission rules!!"

If Elder Del Angel is in your zone, you will alway have gopro selfies haha

Zone activity selfies

Celebrating our Sweet 16 in La Comida. Wooh! Haha

"Hermana Herrera escuché una canción que me recordó de usted" "Cuál?" "Morena mía" "....."

Hooola!

This week was pretty uneventful so I don't really have much to talk about.

Today we went to this place in San Martín, Texmelucan called Chautla. It's soo pretty and reminded me so much of the lakes in Washington! It's this big place with a big lake surrounding a little castle and they have little hikes around the border of it and I loved it. (:

When ward members give you Mole Poblano 4 times in the same week, don't think you'll escape from getting sick after the 4th time. Throwing up in the church bathroom is great! ;) 

More people are going to our English classes! On Wednesday we had 4 investigators there... wooh, and more people are telling their friends about it. Our ward mission leader put a sign outside of the church that says "Clases de inglés gratis! Profesores Americanos" me and Elder Jarman were like what?? Best professors around... haha.

I think I mentioned last week the play we're gonna do for a ward missionary activity about the war in the heavens... Yeah so I thought I was just gonna be the leader of the good "hosts" but now that we've been practicing it, I have the most to do out of everyone. What? I'm the worst actress I know... wish me luck!

Martín keeps going to church and we're still hopeful for his baptism on the 28th! Now we're just working on getting new investigators to progress.

Well that's pretty much it. Have a great week, I love you all!

Hermana Eyring

Chautla was beautiful!

Mejía Rosete family(: Our family away from home.

                           

On top if the castle.

When I get distracted during companion study...

 Practicing for the play last night and this huge monster crawls in.

"Esque tiene su quinta seña cosa" "Quinceañera..." "Si, contraseña" -Elder Jarman

Hola amigos!

Well the weeks are going by way too fast and I'm forgetting English more than ever...

Today we had a double district activity and played "minute to win it" games...wooh!

On Tuesday night we had a big FHE (Family Home Evening) with members in the ward and some less active members and investigators. We had SO much fun and I realized that I'm in love with the game Jenga.

Our church tours have been awesome. There are few days when nobody wants to go in but that's okay. The other night we had an appointment with one of our investigators outside the church and a woman that had entered in the church tours the other week saw us from the bus, so she got off the bus to come talk to us again! She's not from our area but we know some day she's gonna get baptized.

We have a new investigator that's not actually too new because missionaries taught him before but he still needs a few more of the lessons and he can't get baptized yet cause he's not married with the mom of his kids that he lives with. But yeah he started listening again and he has a baptismal date for November 28th! Pray so his wife says they can get married!! Oh, his name is Martín.

Welp, I don't have much more to talk about! Me and my companion are just realizing that we're now in the 10 week countdown...ahhh...what? Where is the time going?

Love and miss you all!

Hermana Eyring

Crickets... yum!

My comp dared me to stand under a big stream of water falling from the sky.

Pepito attacking me and breaking my back DX

Gosh dang it construction workers!

"Mira mamá, a ti te hice así, un pavito. Y voy a hacer tu cara de bruja y ojos chillones."

Feliz Día de Muertos!

It's been an interesting week that started badly and ended super good. (: 

Today the young men and their leaders invited us and the Elders to play soccer and volleyball with them and it was super fun. We were there just hanging out, playing and getting burned all day so it was a pretty well spent p-day...haha.

On Tuesday was the Transfers Meeting! Even though we didn't have transfers we went because we did our special musical number. I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life and in the video I look like I'm suffering...hahaha but apparently it sounded good!

On Wednesday we started English classes and I realized I have no idea how to teach a language. Help me!!

On Friday we had a ton of success in the church tours. 8 people went inside and let us show them around and give them a little lesson. All of them said they wanted to come back and see how it's like when everyone's there! The sad thing is though that none of them are from our area. :( But one of them belongs to the Elder's area so we introduced him to them and now he's a new investigator and we're so happy! I definitely learned what it is to have an "eye single to the glory of God."

On Sunday in pretty much all our lessons we met and taught family members of less active members and recent converts and it was awesome! We're hoping to progress with them and it was definitely a miracle that we met them.

Fasting is awesome. This weekend I really saw how willing the Lord is to give us specific blessings when we ask for them and do our part to obtain them.

God is good, the gospel is good, life is good(:

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Eyring

Get it... Cause I'm Sierra... and I'm white...

Happy Día de Muertos!

Instructions on the back of a fake nail kit... They conquered 
English that's for sure! ;)

When you don't have a volleyball net, do as the Mexicans do 

and invent something.

Selfie of my future husband Pepito

Fun Fact: A man on the street yesterday told me I have "the face of Jesus"...

Hola!

Well something I forgot to mention: Transfers are tomorrow! Luckily, for the first time in 6 months me AND my companion both don't have transfers, wooh!! We're super happy(: But we're going to the transfers meeting anyways for our special musical number.

Today we went to this really pretty place called Zacatlan! We saw waterfalls and hiked and took tons of pictures. It was awesome! On the way there we had to pass through Apizaco so I was soo close to my first area...ahh. Now we're super tired but it was a worth while trip. (:

WOOOOH, Janett got baptized on Saturday!!! Lots of members went and us and the Elders sang a special musical number and also the Young Men sang a musical number. As she got out of the font me and my comp were ready at the door with her towel and we made a dumb joke and she just started laughing so hard. She almost never laughs like that and you could see the joy shining through her face. She said she was so happy!! Then on Sunday we invited President Nelson to come do her Confirmation. (He did her baptismal interview so he got to know her a bit). It was such a great weekend. (: Oh, and Janett is going to the Temple with the ward on Saturday to do baptisms and we're so excited for her!

The other day I commented to our ward mission leader that maybe we could start doing English Classes to get new investigators and he was like "oh yeah I'll mention it in Ward Council" then on Sunday they announced that starting Wednesday at 7pm we're having english classes and I was like WHAT?! I'm so nervous because I'm forgetting English so how am I supposed to teach it? And the other American elder in our ward has transfers so I'll probably have to teach alone... wish me luck!

This week I've had lots of prayer experiences and I am so thankful for the opportunity to pray and help my faith grow through these simple daily miracles. (: Prayer works!

Have a wonderful week, I love you all(:

Happy Halloween!

Today in Zacatlan!

Fun after district meetings.

After Janett's confirmation (: 

President and Hermana Nelson(:

Our Zone Leaders that we share a ward with!

Before Janett's baptism!!!

More Zacatlan!

"Ey güerita hace tiempo que no nos vemos... hey!... HEY!... MORMONAS!" -some drunk guy

An awesome week here in Aquiles Serdan(:

If you haven't realized... exactly 3 months from today I'll be in the mission home for my LAST night in the mission. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE! :(

This week we had 5 new investigators with a ton of potential! One of them is Eliud. He's 9 years old and really wants to be baptized but his dad is a practicing Catholic and doesn't want him to. So we're working with that but he's awesome and understands the gospel so well! Another one of them is a man named Julio. He was so excited yesterday when we gave him a Book of Mormon because he said he thinks that in it he's going to find everything he's been looking for. Wooh! Yeah he is. (:

My companion and I have been "ponderizing" ("meditizando" en spanish) (pondering and memorizing) scriptures and our scripture for this week is Alma 7:23. If you haven't already picked a scripture for this week, ponderize this one with us. (:

On Friday we had a special conference with President about obedience and changing the "culture of the mission." I think we all left super "animados" and ready to work even harder! President Nelson is awesome and he always is so inspiring!

Yesterday was our ward's Primary Program and it was amazing! The spirit was SO strong and people (including me and my comp) were crying, especially at the end when they sang "Army of Helaman." Man, I  love that song! Kids have such strong testimonies and are such an example!!

Also yesterday President Nelson invited me and my comp to a fireside he had in another stake so I got to see Hermana Perez and Hermana Juvera (2 of my past companions)...wooh! After the fireside, President interviewed Janeth for her baptism because there were a few situations that made it so the interview had to be with him instead of our district leader. She passed the interview and President says she's super awesome!(: Her baptism is gonna be this Saturday and we're pumped!!

In the course of yesterday and today I have seen all 6 of my companions that are still here in the mission so that was a great end/start to my week. (:

Even though I miss everyone a ton, I am NOT ready to almost be going home! I love being a missionary so much and no experience will ever come close to this. Going on a mission is the best decision I could have ever made in my life up until now. I am SO thankful for all the experiences and memories that have shaped and changed me. The worst thing ever is going to be getting released and having to take off my nametag the night I get home. :( But hey, guess I gotta take advantage of the little time I have left!

I love you all(:

Hasta la vista baby(;
Hermana Eyring

I love weekly planning...

A piece of art called "me w/makeup vs. me when I wake up" (;

Family Home Evening w/ the Guerrero family(:

Another Great Week in the Mission

Hi friends!

Well this week again has gone by super fast. 

Today we went to El Centro (big outdoor mall area) with some other Hermanas and we randomly found a bunch of other missionaries there so it was fun. We went and saw this King Tut museum then went and ate and then went looking at shops!

On Wednesday we had a zone meeting and we did an Anti-Nephi-Lehi activity where buried our "weapons of war."  Like we actually dug a hole behind the church and put in a box of papers with bad habits we have/negative things written on them in it. It was great!

On Friday we had intercambios (where you spend a day with a missionary leader instead of your companion) and that also helped me a ton! I learned a lot and realized a lot of things that I need to change. This week we're working on being more dedicated and more selfless in the work and it's going well so far!

Janeth is great! In spite of all the trials she's having she keeps persevering and going to church and everything. Her daughter is going to be in the Primary Program next Sunday and her son was amazingly able to leave her side to go to Young Men's class. It was awesome. (: Even though right now we don't have many investigators that are actually progressing, she definitely gives us hope.

Just wanted to give a shout out to my parents! Here, and now more than ever, I have realized how lucky I have been to have them. I am so grateful for the way I was raised and that my parents have always stayed strong in the gospel and church. I am realizing now how hard that is for a lot of people. I definitely wouldn't be the person I am now if my parents hadn't been the parents they were and are. Mom, dad, you guys are seriously the best and my heroes and I am more thankful for you every day. (: 

This work is WONDERFUL. There is no place I'd rather be. The thought that I'll be home in a little over 3 months is terrifying and I do not want to leave! Service brings the best kind of joy. (:

Have a wonderful week, I love and miss you all.

Hermana Eyring

All the missionaries in our zone with Jesus.

One of the pictures from our zone activity last monday.

The view from our roof of the Popocateptl volcano.

On a huge chair en El Centro

Mis compañeritas(: