Time for GROWTH!

Hi Mama and Daddy!

Hermana Foster is showering so I'm writing down everything I want to say, so when I go to the library (now) I can just type it in an email.

Life is good. I've just seen miracle after miracle. The Lord loves me a ton. I feel so good when I see the Lord using me to touch other people's lives. It's so humbling.  But yet, so refreshing at the same time because you can just walk away and take a deep breath and smile to yourself because you know you've done something good.

Being a Sister Training Leader is HARD. I am growing and learning so much. Like, EVERY day. When we go on exchanges, and meet with the other Missionaries under our stewardship we ask what we can do better, how we could help more, or serve them better. Sometimes it is hard to hear the critiques when you are trying so hard. It feels like getting beat up sometimes. But I basically write it down and pour my love out to them as I promise to do better in the future. I know Heavenly Father is aware of how hard my companion and I are working, and how much we LOVE these Sisters and want to be the best Leaders we can be. The blessings are flowing like you cannot believe. Here are a few that I am SOOOO thankful for.

1.     Unlimited Miles- We never have to worry about using too many miles in our car because hellooooo, we have a huge stewardship, so we have to put huge miles on the car. Big blessing. Big.

2.     Companionship study with the Assistants.- That is pretty self-explanatory. Who else in the entire mission gets to do Companionship study with the Assistants? Elder Alldredge and Elder Hudson are some of the greatest men I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know and serving with. Elder Hudson was my Zone Leader in Palmdale with Elder Rockhill. Elder Rockhill was/is amazing too. He was called as an Assistant right before he went home, so when Elder Rockhill finished his mission and went home, Elder Hudson (my other former Zone Leader/served in my former ward) was called as the new Assistant. Elder Alldredge has been one of the Assistants to the President my entire mission and he got sent to the Bakersfield Mission to help President Wilson. I will be GREATLY surprised if Elder Alldredge doesn't become a General Authority some day. The man is basically a Mission President as it is. AND… I get to work with them :) What?!?!

3.     MLC- Mission Leadership Council. I get to go to the middle of the Mission every month, and meet with both sets of Assistants (because there is one set for the West side and one for the East), President Wilson, Sister Wilson, and the Zone Leaders in our Mission! We learn and teach each other, and then go teach the people in our stewardships. MLC is the greatest blessing EVER! You are surrounded by some of the best Missionaries in the Mission. It's an honor to be able to go, really.

4.     Awesome communication with the Zone leaders- the Zone Leaders become your best friends, like your go-to people. They take care and watch out for us, and we take care of them. It's a nice place to be, really.

5.     We are constantly learning and growing and relying on the Lord. I'm learning now more than ever to stop caring so much about what everybody else thinks and just put my focus on pleasing God and my Mission President, and taking care of my Companion. Because really, Heavenly Father trusts me, President Wilson trusts me, and so do the Assistants to Pres. Wilson, and the Zone Leaders, the other Sister Training Leaders love and trust me too, so I must be doing SOMETHING right. So I can't beat myself up about the people who don't agree with me, too much. But I do pray about their suggestions and want to always be open to improve, and grow.

So, there’s that. Now for some miracle stories. I gotta go soon. But:

We didn't have dinner scheduled with a member this week so us Sisters decided to go eat somewhere together! We were thinking of going to Panda Express but Hermana Foster doesn't really like it, or wasn't really in the mood. Anyway, I suggested we go to Wendy's! So that's where we all agreed to go, and off we went!

We got there and ordered and I just got a sandwich and the other Hermanas got something small because we had a later lunch and didn't want to stuff ourselves. So we ate and I was thinking "Hmmm...I want some French fries!..." (this part is only funny to the people who know that I love French fries) but then I thought "No... you don't NEED French fries, you already spent enough money and the whole point was to eat something light!" and then something just popped in my head that just said "JUST GO GET THE DANG FRIES!" so I jumped up and off I went...

I was standing in line when this man comes in and shows some other people on the other side of the restaurant a piece of folded up paper. And then he walks over to another table to show them the piece of paper, and then another. I thought he was trying to find the owner of the paper, like maybe somebody dropped it and it was important, so I didn't really think much about it. It was then my turn to go up and order, and the man comes up to me and doesn't say anything, but holds out the folded paper and it said:

"I am deaf. Do you have $2.00 to buy me some food?"

And then it hit me. He wasn't trying to find the owner of the paper, the man was hungry and needed some food!

So, I smiled and nodded "Yes!" and then pointed at the menu and told the cashier "And get him whatever he wants also!" Then I thought to myself, "No, dumby! Help him pick!" So I handed him a receipt and a pen and he wrote "fish sandwish" on it. But Wendy's doesn't have fish sandwiches and so he got closer to the menu and wrote "spicy chicken" and so I told the cashier guy "Spicy chicken sandwich please!" and then the man motioned to me and made a drinking motion and I thought, "Oh! He needs a drink!" so I wrote on the receipt, "What kind?" and for the first time he tried to speak and said "CO!" So, I knew he meant Coke! So I got his drink and sandwich and brought it to him (because after we ordered he sat down)  Then I motioned to the straws so he knew I was going to get him one. I went and got him a straw for his drink and some napkins and he smiled really big at me and said, ‘thank you’ in sign language. I smiled and went back to eat my fries. I ate like TWO before the Spirit reminded me that I always have that note-pad in my purse for a reason! So, I took it out and wrote "I am Sister Dodge. I am a Missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and then I nudged my Companion and asked, "Hey- do you have anything in English?" and she said,  “I think I do in the car!" So she and Hermana Wagner ran out to the car and brought back a General Conference Ensign in English! I then added to the note, "This magazine is a magazine put out by our church. This is a Special Edition that has messages from our church leaders. There are Missionaries just like us who share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people all around the world and there are some here in Lancaster that know sign language. They would love to stop by and share more with you!" So I got the Ensign, grabbed my pen and paper and my French fries and sat down by him. I gave him my French fries and started "talking" to him. His name is Larry. As he read my note he smiled really big and nodded  and wrote that he would like that but he was moving to the Morena or Movela Bay area to live with some family. He had been living here in Lancaster with his daughter and grandkids. Anyway, he taught me the signs for "God bless" and Bible, and Jesus Christ, and thank you, and you're welcome. It was amazing. We gave him our phone number just in case he needed anything he could call or text us, and we gave him the phone number to the Assistants to the President and said wherever you go, call this number or text it, and they will help you!

Best part- we talked to him about how he is a Son of God, and about how he has a loving Heavenly Father who knows him and knows everything that he's going through right now in his life. Larry got a little emotional and talked about how sometimes he tries to pray and everyone prays differently and I told him (well, wrote him) that Heavenly Father really is listening when he prays. He's there. And then we taught him how to pray. In the middle of a Wendy's. It was beautiful. We taught him to start with Dear Heavenly Father and then express whatever is in his heart, ask for what he needs, express gratitude for his blessings, whatever he wants and end in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. He said thank you about 100 times. It was one of my favorite lessons I've ever taught on my Mission, and we didn't even say any words. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, Mom. It truly changed my life.

I have to go now. Know that I love you! I'm trying to do my best. I love your guts. I love you a whole bunch!  Tell everyone I said, hi and to write me an email!

-Hermana Dodge

Cassandra.dodge@myldsmail.net

Trevor Bird and I say goodbye. He leaves in just a couple of

weeks for his Mission. He enters the MTC in Mexico City.

His family is great to all of the Missionaries.

Mexico, Near Cancun

Hi Mama & Daddy,

This week I didn’t get to finish telling you what I wanted on our P-day email. There are so many miracles that happen when you not only ‘listen’ to the Spirit but ‘heed’ the Spirit. I think we need to change our verbiage and just say ‘heed’. Because, to ‘heed’ actually means; to give careful attention to.

Example: Yesterday we went out tracting/visiting members who have not come to church in a while. We go to this one Sister’s house (she wasn’t home) and left her a note that basically said, ‘Hi, we’re the new Missionaras in your area & we’re trying to visit all the members. So give us a call, we’d love to see you.’ Then we decided we weren’t going to leave that area until we understood why we were led there, aka, until we found who-ever it was who needed us. So we walked around the block a bit and Hermana Foster asked, “Why aren’t we knocking on this door?” –or- “Why are we skipping this one?”, etc. I simply told her that it was because they weren’t ready yet. She would knock, and no-one would answer. Here is the thing about planning and knocking; if you plan by the Spirit, the Lord will guide you to the streets you need to go to. Then, if you tract or contact by the Spirit, the Lord will lead you to the people who need you, whether it’s a ‘golden contact’ family, or someone who just really needed to hear our message & a seed will be planted for the future.

Anyway, Hermana Foster kept saying, “I feel like we’re supposed to be in this area, but I don’t know why.” So I said, “Well, let’s go find out why.” So we were kind of walking back towards the direction of our car and this house just ‘sticks out’ to the both of us. So we knock and then we hear someone inside say, “There is two white girls at your door!” (in Spanish) and then a lady walks up and says, “Hi Sisters!” then the gated door opens and this middle aged woman opens the door and asks us to come in. Her name is Sis. P and she used to go to a ward in Palmdale. She is a convert of about 10 years, but hasn’t gone to church in a really long time because her friends moved away and she moved out here to Lancaster where we were. It was a miracle! We enjoyed getting to know her. We shared (Alma 7:11-13) and talked to her about how Jesus Christ suffered everything. He didn’t just suffer for our sins and transgressions, but also for our HEARTS! She started tearing up and told us how much she needed to hear that and how thankful she was that we stopped by. She said she saw us walking around a bit, but wasn’t sure if we were Missionaries or not. So she was so glad we stopped by her place. We prayed with her and we are going back this Thursday to see her again.

We also have a few sketchy places in our area. REALLY sketchy. Let’s just say…we are watched over and protected…a LOT. Not to scare you or anything, but just to let you know that if the Spirit tells us to be somewhere…we WILL go. After one such very interesting knock….my Companion and I looked at each other and still felt like we should be there. So we kept knocking until we met Anna M. We talked to her about prayer and I looked at her and said, “Anna M, your Heavenly Father knows you and loves you. He hears your prayers.” She just burst out BAWLING and hug-attacked me and said she had been praying for some help and then here we came! It was so cool.

Anyway- you can see that knocking on every single door is so ineffective!! Listening to the Lord directing you through the Spirit is much more effective.

I went on my first Exchange as a STL (Sister Training Leader) I was so nervous, and yet I was calm, and confident at the same time. I was with this new Missionary who didn’t know her way around her area…at…all. And she wasn’t the best at looking at a map. Luckily, she had me as a co-pilot. J It went well! She was kind of stressed to kind of ‘be-in-charge’ of her area for 24 hours, but you could totally tell they were obedient Missionaries. They take great care of their area book, and they are planning how they should be. So, I consider that a success! Anyway- we had a really cool experience together. Her and her companion had planned to go see a potential investigator at 1pm. So, we went there and the lady wasn’t home. So the new Missionary I was exchanging with just walks back to the car. I asked her, “Do you feel like we have fulfilled our purpose in this area?” She stopped and thought about it and just kind of shrugged and said, “I mean, I guess so. I don’t feel a big pull to stay here. What about you?” I looked around and I felt like we should walk around the corner (to an area I felt was out of our sight) down the street. So I said to her, “Hey, let’s go down that street a little ways.”

So, we knock on a few doors. One guy said he was Catholic, the next door doesn’t answer, the next guy jokes and said his wife wouldn’t ‘appreciate’ him listening to us. So as we walked away, I was thinking and praying, ‘Come on, come on, come on…where are they?’

Then, next house we walked up to …there was an older Hispanic woman who had her door open, but not her screen door. She was smiling a big grin at us and began to fiddle with the knob on the screen door. We got right up to the door and we introduce ourselves and tell her that we are Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we are in the area sharing a special message about Jesus Christ. I asked her if she believes in Jesus Christ, and she said, yes of course she does, she comes from a Catholic background. I asked her how her testimony of the Savior has blessed her life. And without hesitation she said that He has blessed her with a good family.

So, as it turns out she was there visiting from Mexico. She actually lives near Cancun. Anyway, she was visiting and her son had left for work and he locked the doors and told her NOT to let anyone in. We laughed as she was trying so HARD to open that screen door to let us in. She began to feel bad that she couldn’t open the door. She said she was so sorry. We told her it was okay and that we could teach her through the screen door. And we just started teaching her. When we left we got her information in Mexico so that the Missionaries there could go visit her. That made her so HAPPY. We also gave her a card which had a picture of Christ leaving the tomb, and on the back of it was a number to call to get a free DVD about finding faith in Christ. We told her she could call that number and Missionaries would visit her, but that I would also forward her information down there as well. We also wrote the Hermanas number on it as well and told her if she needed anything this next week, before she goes back to Mexico, that she could call on the Hermanas to help her. She never did get the screen door open so we just had to slip it underneath the door! (Where there is a will, there is a way!) She was so happy, Mom! We prayed with her before we left and she was crying! We all totally felt the Spirit. As we left she said thank you, God bless you, etc. She then put her hands up on the screen door and we put our hands on the screen door where hers was. It was a super tender moment. She kept saying, “Thank you.” over and over as we left and walked away. I was thinking as we walked away how much I loved that experience, and I was thankful that the Lord’s work WILL go forward…even through screen doors. I also began wishing I could have told her everything about the Restoration of the Lord’s gospel. Oh well, I must be thankful for what we were given and thankful for the Missionaries in Mexico, near Cancun. I looked at my new Missionary and she was smiling from ear to ear. I said, “Okay, NOW we can leave the area. Our job here has been fulfilled.” I was actually freaking out inside because of how cool that whole experience was. I couldn’t have planned for a better experience to have with this young new Hermana. WE MUST trust the Lord, and He must be able to trust us. I’m so thankful.

I love y’all dearly. I’m having the time of my life!

Hermana Dodge-

STL's in Lancaster, CA

 

I'm loving life. There is a lot of new things going on, a lot of changes, a lot of patience, a lot of everything, which is great! I'm just learning and growing a ton! I love you bunches! I pray for you every day, mommy!  

I love you mommy. I'm a Sister Training Leader! One of my mission dreams came true: I opened up an area in Lancaster to not only Sisters, but HERMANAS. They're taking Hermanas farther into the desert, little by little. And I'm loving it.

 This week was one of the hardest weeks of my life. Oh my goodness Satan really put the pressure on me. Sister Training Leaders have a TON of responsibility, like, so much. We're basically zone leaders. We had MLC (missionary leadership council, used to be known as Zone Leader Council, until Sister Training Leaders got created) and I felt great! I felt like that's where I should be. But, then Satan tried to tear me down afterwards. I felt so inadequate. I felt like none of my questions or comments were worth-while, I felt like I shouldn't have talked so much (btw this is going to sound crazy, but I've calmed down on my mission. Like, I don't talk as much. I still do, don't worry, I’m not losing my personality! But, I'm refining it) and so Satan just kept telling me I'm too loud, I'm not good enough, I don't have the experience that I need to be a Sister Training Leader… blah blah blah, just a bunch of nonsense. So that night I just got home and was done with the day and just told Heavenly Father I don't know why You called me to do this. I don't get it. I don't know what You want me to take from this. But I'm only going be able to handle all of this with Your help. I'll go and do whatever in the world You want me to, I just need Your help as I go. So, that's exactly what happened! It's been beautiful. My companion is from the other side of the mission (aka the Ventura side) and she's been out 13 months. She reminds me a TON of Aunt Shanny. Just her facial expressions and the way she talks, and also the way she gets annoyed TOTALLY IS SHANNY. Hahaha. So you KNOW I love her. She's was one of the STL's  during the previous transfer. We were an answer to each other's prayers. That being said, we're different. and so we're still working out a few kinks.

 This is what I sent to President Wilson this week:

Hi President!

Talk about the craziest week of my mission! This has been a week full of very rapid growth, and change, and stuff I'm not used to. And let me just say, I love it! This week has been HARD, President. So hard. But beautiful in it's own way. Hermana Foster is amazing. I love her so much already. We've grown a lot together this week. But we're glad we have each other. We were both an answer to each other's prayers, so THANK YOU for listening to the Spirit and sending her to me. That being said, we're different. So we're still trying to work out the kinks. It's a cool process. I'm really trying to step up to the "Sister Training Leader" plate. To be honest, after MLC, I felt a little inadequate. And by a "little" I mean "a lot". I have a bright personality. I like to laugh and smile and talk to people and make people feel good. The Spirit likes happy people! And so sometimes Satan tells me that I need to be quieter, that I need to be more reserved, that my comments aren't worth anything, which is not true at all! I got a blessing last night from Elder Wendt and Elder Moser in which Heavenly Father told me that my personality and brightness is a spiritual gift and to never let that light dim. And that I was called to be Sister Training Leader because the Lord has big expectations for me and that I'm going to need to use this happiness that I have to help all the Hermanas under my stewardship. President, I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT. I am so grateful for worthy priesthood holders that are willing to help me out when I need it. So, don't worry, I'm doing great! I had a really good personal study and companionship study. The Spirit makes everything better.

I'm loving life out here in Lancaster! I've always wanted to open a Hermana area out here! It's been fun. I love being a missionary, President! This is the best thing in the whole world! I love being able to bring the Gospel to other people! I'm happy as can be, and we're working hard! Love ya!

-Hermana Dodge

So there’s that. I honestly can't remember a lot about this week. The Spirit just takes over and you do what you gotta do. I'll try and write you a letter this week. Ryan sent me a birthday package full of awesomeness. He's such a stud.

I’m excited to get that Down East stuff you got me! i hope you didn't go too crazy. We start doing exchanges next week so there will be lots of traveling. I'm now driving a 2013 red Toyota Corolla. She's a beaut!  The Elders who had her before us are in our Zone and are super upset that we got her and they got their car taken away. It's SO funny. They call her "The Mistress" or "The Red Mistress" but only "when she gets angry." We parked under a tree and she got some bird poopie on her during church and so when the Elders got out of the English ward they came and left a pass-along card on our window that said "Poop?! SHE DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS!" OH, and when the elders gave us the keys, they kissed her hood goodbye. I about died laughing. They are so fun. Missionaries are happy, fun, people with everyone.

Ok Momma, here is my NEW address:

 

2040 W J-13
#17
Lancaster, CA, 93536

I gotta run. I love you! Send me a card, or something with more info! Write me a letter or something!

I really love you! I'll send pictures next week.

Hermana Dodge

Sister Training Leader- ME!

Wow,  so many CRAZY updates! THIS TRANSFER IS NUTS.

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED TO LANCASTER AND THEY CALLED ME TO BE A SISTER TRAINING LEADER! Hermana Ostler is going to train here in Palmdale. AND I'LL BE TRAINING THE ENTIRE MISSION! LOL! WHAT THE HECKKKKKKKKKK?!

In a reply to last week's email to me, President Wilson said this,

"Sister Dodge you are an awesome missionary who really gets it.”

How nice is that?! He always replies to my emails and he doesn’t respond to everyone's emails every week but he always responds to mine! I think President Wilson likes me. When he called me (to call me to be a Sister Training Leader) we were about to say goodbye and I said, "Well, President, I'm excited! Is there anything else I can do for you?" and he said, "No, Sister Dodge. You just made my whole day!! I'll see you at transfer meeting!"

So,  I think he likes me. Lol. I sure hope so. I think he's a BOSS. I'm emailing him real fast and then I'll send you a juicy one, k?

 

Hermana Canto took us out to eat after our wonderful temple trip in Los Angeles and she took us through BEVERLY HILLS and we drove down/past Rodeo Drive and guess what? 

Hermana Ostler & Me.

 

I SAW THE LADY FROM BEVERLY HILLS HOUSEWIVES. NOT KIDDING. The blonde one. super skinny. She's crazy. It was awesome. I about died. I totally had my nose pressed up against the window. Hahaha

This is my email to President  Wilson today"

Hi President!

I feel like the last couple days have just been a blur, so I can just imagine what you're feeling right now! First off, I just want to thank you for this opportunity to serve as a Sister Training Leader. I'm excited to SERVE and LEARN. The past few days have been a blur, like I said, but really great.

For example, Saturday morning we were coming back from doing some service and we were walking from our car into our apartment and we passed a man taking a couch down the stairs! So, we offered to help him. The man's name is Joel and his wife is Cecilia and they have two daughters. They are just a wonderful family! So, it turns out they were moving out, and they just started. In fact, the couch we helped him move was the very first thing he was moving into his U-Haul! This whole thing is interesting because Joel and Cecilia moved in just 2 months ago and were staying in an apartment until they bought a house in Lancaster. When they moved IN we (Hermana Tavoian, Sister Peatross and Cottrell and I) helped them move ALL of their things IN, and now we (me, Hermana Ostler, Sisters Peatross and Filimoehala) were helping them move OUT! When they had moved in Joel told us about how he had hired people to help him move before but on one occasion the workers stole things from them and broke things, and on the other occasion the man they hired wasn't very nice and took lots of breaks and asked for food and did a horrible job. So, when he moved in he decided to just do it himself. Well, then the missionaries (us) walked by and offered to help. and we didn't just help with one or two things, we unloaded the entire truck! So when we helped them move out, we didn't just help him with the couch, we helped him move ALL of his things into the U-haul. It was a beautiful experience. At one point, he was helping Hermana Ostler carry a book case and he said "I think I need to change religions!" and she said something along the lines of "Yeah, me too!" and I was carrying something with Cecilia and she said "I was going to do all of this yesterday with my husband, but I got called into work, so we had to do it today!" and I said "Cecilia, I think God keeps putting us into your path for a reason! All of our experiences together have happened for a reason!" and she smiled widely and agreed. So, after we were done, they basically FORCED us to let them buy us a pizza and so we all ate on the floor of their empty home and we prayed before we ate, and then Joel started asking questions about our faith. We had the opportunity to share the first half of the Restoration with them and answer a lot of their questions. Then, I got their phone number and address and told them I was going to send it to the missionaries where they live in Lancaster so that they can help them unpack in their new house and that they could share more with them about our beliefs if they would like and they said yes! So, I sent all the info, and the Lancaster Spanish Elders were waiting with some of the members of their future ward to help them move into their new apartment. 

President. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?! Huge miracle. HUGE. I just thought you'd like to read that. The Lord is so great. Being a missionary is the greatest thing in the whole world. Sometimes I just take a step back and marvel at how much he leads and guides us and that his hand is in EVERYTHING!! Palmdale is great. I set up Hermana Ostler so her and her new missionary will hit the ground running. We did our weekly planning VERY specifically and in-depth. It was one of our best weekly planning sessions together! She's wonderful. She's going to do a great job. I'm excited for the things the Lord is going to start sending our way. I will be eternally grateful that I got to be a part of the Hastening of His work. Love y'all! See you in the morning!

What do you think about my new hair cut?

 

 

Okay. So, transfer CALLS came, and then transfer MEETING where we find out where we're going and stuff like that is TOMORROW. President already told me where I'm going. I'm going to be a Sister Training Leader over the Antelope Valley and I'll be serving in the Lancaster 2nd Spanish Ward. Today we have crazy amounts of stuff to do. We have to drive to Lancaster to pick up my bike because I had to get new pedals on it and get a tune up before I get transferred again. We have to get a car wash, wash clothes, pack, etc. Anyway,  this week was wonderful. I didn't write in my journal at all,  but I'll have a two hour drive to Bakersfield to catch up on that. 

First miracle is what I already wrote you about helping Cecilia and Joel move out of their house. 

Our trip to the temple was so great. We went with some Spanish members so I got to experience it all in Spanish and I sat there marveling at the miracles in my life. Sitting there with such gratitude in my heart, that I am here at this time serving the Lord on a full-time mission is the BEST thing I could be doing. I love the mission. I am so thankful to be here. It was awesome.

 

Hermana Ostler and I at The LA Temple Visitors Center

After we went to the temple, Hermana Canto took us out to eat after so we got to see the REAL Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. It is GORGEOUS. We passed Rodeo drive and I about fell out of the car. Needless to say, my face was plastered onto the window. It was gorgeous. The weather was fantastic. 

Did I mention that I chopped off my hair so that's fun! I like it and it's MUCH cooler.

Oh, just send me those shirts from Down East and I'll be good. Remember that money you gave me for shopping for my birthday? Yeah. I never actually went shopping, because we never had the time. But I would like to go to old navy and buy a button down blouse or two today before our transfer meeting tomorrow where I get officially called. I don't know though. Money drives me nuts. I hate it. I feel like I'm spending too much so I don't want to get anything. One thing Kristi WAS right about- you wear your clothes OUT. The clothes you leave with are NOT the clothes you come home with... fa sho. I wore out a few shirts and a couple skirts so the closets starting to dwindle a bit.. lol. But I'm good! I just think I should buy a nice button down blouse or something like that for the meeting tomorrow. I keep washing my Toms and they wash like a charm but are getting a bit worn out. LOL.

Okay anyway, sorry for the randomness. 

That is Kenneth Moroni Garcia. Except in Spanish it's pronounced 'More-oh-knee', which I think is so cool. He's such a good little kid. He LOVED me. He loved coming in the door when we would be over eating dinner and yelling "MISIONERAS!!!!!!!!!" I learned  how to yell at my kids in spanish from his angel of a mother. :)

OH!

President said that I'm going to be paired with one of the Sister Training Leaders from the Ventura Mission, so she's had a little experience already and she's super excited to serve with me and she's a "very dedicated missionary" according to President so, yeah. should be good!

I've learned a lot about just teaching people when you find them. Not asking "do you have time for us to share a message with you?" and dumb stuff like that. I just start talking to these people. Anything and everything they say will highlight a part of the gospel that we can share. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for EVERYONE. Everyone is different, everyone comes from different walks of life and everyone has different challenges. But there is one answer for everyone, and that is Jesus Christ and His Atonement. It's so beautiful. I love it. I love being a missionary. Being a missionary is the greatest thing in the whole world. Everything in my entire life has led me here. It's so fantastic.

OH! And...

This is what a Sister Training Leader does, according to the press-release:

“Each mission in the Church will organize a mission leadership council that will include both elder (male) and sister (female) as missionary leaders. The new mission leadership council will consist of the mission president and his wife, assistants to the president, zone leaders and sister training leaders — a newly created role.

"We are very excited about the new mission leadership council and this role for sister missionaries,” said Elder David F. Evans, executive director of the Missionary Department. “It will be a blessing to both missions and missionaries throughout the world, and better employ the remarkable faith, talents and abilities of all missionaries."

The role of sister training leader has been created as more female missionaries serve in missions around the world. Sister training leaders will be responsible for the training and welfare of female missionaries assigned to them and will be members of and participate in, the new mission leadership council. Assistants to the president and zone leaders will also participate in the council, and those roles will remain unchanged. Missions will continue to be organized by zones and districts, with district leaders being responsible for baptismal interviews, but the mission leadership council will replace the zone leader council.

Sister training leaders will continue to proselytise and will also spend time each week training and evaluating the needs of female missionaries. They will report directly to the mission president on the needs of sister missionaries. Additionally, the wives of mission presidents are now being asked to play an enhanced role in training and caring for sister missionaries, subject to their individual and family circumstances.”

 "So, I'll be doing that. And, just so everyone knows, I called the creating of Sister Training Leaders IN THE MTC BEFORE ANY OF THIS HAPPENED. I thought in the MTC: Man, they're going to HAVE to come out with Sister Leadership positions to help all the new sisters. And BOOM… they did. Isn’t it wonderful how the Spirit works and testifies to our hearts?

Seriously, right as you get comfortable with something, Heavenly Father throws you a curveball. And I LOVE IT.

Well, That is all I have time for this week. I love you. I am doing GREAT! I am excited about my new area, companion, and calling. I am growing and learning every day.

I love Y'all!

Hermana Dodge

Some of my favorite Elders

Me with Pres. and Sister Hall and their family.