Gardening, El Paso Style

This week, we got to go on exchanges (where you swap companions for a day, in order to learn from other missionaries' experience). You will never guess who I got to exchange with this week - Sister Pipkin!!!! She and I served together out on the east side of El Paso, but then she went to Albuquerque and I went to Las Cruces. Well we're both back in El Paso and so we got to have lots of fun this week - just like old times!

So here's a funny quirk about El Paso - very few people have gardens, or even grass. Most yards are pebbles or dirt. Some people take their landscaping to great lengths, despite the lack of greenery around here. This yard was a favorite that we saw this week. Points for creativity!

Well everyone! Hope you have a wonderful week!

107 Miracles

This week we watched a movie, "17 Miracles," that tells the story of some pioneers crossing the plains. They faced lots of hard times, but through their faith, they were able to see lots of miracles! I feel like the movie was poorly named because there were definitely MORE than 17 miracles in it!

Every day, we are surrounded by miracles! We just have to notice them!

This week we met a woman who had attended the Church for a year with her aunt when she was 12. God was preparing her way back then to learn more about the gospel at this stage in her life! That was a miracle!

This week Heavenly Father prompted us to pull over and get out at the same time he prompted a man to step outside and get some fresh air. We had a great conversation about the gospel and we all really felt the Spirit. That was a miracle!

This week, we read the scriptures with a family who's been going through a lot of trials. We simply started reading where they had left off last, and what we read applied so well to them and their situation! That was a miracle!

Here's a picture of another miracle we saw this week!

and another miracle!

Isn't it beautiful! Now this one, I wouldn't call a miracle, but it definitely made us laugh!

And here's your Spanish lesson for the day! This is my new favorite saying in Spanish! Keep in mind that these to phrases are pronounced identically in Spanish.

"Las almas devotas se van a los cielos"

"Las almas de botas se van a los cielos"

The moral of the story is that everyone ought to buy a pair of boots! (If you're confused, try google translate or phone a friend.)

Have a wonderful day!!!

The Family!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mothers' Day! I actually had two wonderful Mothers' Days! That's right! In America, they celebrate it on the second Sunday of the month, and in Mexico they celebrate it on the 10th of May, so in El Paso, they celebrate both!

 

Yesterday I got the chance to call home to my family, 21st century style! We had a four-way Google Hangout with me here in El Paso; Jessica, Joshua, Joseph (baby!!!!) and Michael in Utah; Mom, Dad, and Rochelle in Wisconsin of all places, and Christine in Taiwan! World wide family reunion - Google Hangout ought to make a commercial of us! It was good to see everyone and know that they're just as insane as ever! Oh how I love them!

 

This week we got to attend a baptism with four friends of ours who had never seen a baptism before. There really is an incredible feeling at a baptism, because that person is making a promise with the Lord that their going to follow the Savior. And that is a reason to celebrate! So if you've never seen a baptism, call your local missionaries and ask to be invited! Or check out this video of Christ's baptism! https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-baptism-of-jesus?lang=eng

 

Well everyone, I hope life is treating you well! Have a great week!

Celebrating My Adulthood!

Well, I have exciting news for you all - I'm an aunt! My adorable nephew, Joseph Philippus Pluim, was born Friday morning! Isn't he cute?

 We celebrated my aunthood by going to Carl's Jr (I know, we're real big spenders!) Even though I couldn't be there for to meet him in person, I got to feel like I was there by helping to make two cakes for baby showers this week! :)

We can make one for Joseph in a few months. :)

In the meantime, life here in El Paso is great! This week we had the chance to meet an incredible woman who is so grateful for everything in her life! She's grateful for her humble home, and she keeps it beautiful. She's grateful for her job, even though it is below her abilities and previous experience. She taught me a powerful lesson. Gratitude is a choice. It is not dependent on our situation, but rather on our heart.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!