Happy St. Patrick's Day

March 17

Hello everyone! 

How are you doing? I'm doing really good.

This week we spent all day on Wednesday drawing the Plan of Salvation on Westheimer (probably the busiest street in our area). It turned out really well, and a lot of people talked to us while we were doing it. Unfortunately, on Saturday, the rain washed away all of our hard work. Good thing I have a camera isn't it? Haha don't worry, you'll get pictures. It was really fun, but it's kinda awkward trying to draw Jesus on the sidewalk... so that's why I made Hermana Bonhard draw him. Basically my work was writing the words and I drew maybe 2 squares. I figured this failure at college level art was better off not ruining the streets of Houston. Haha.

We also had some nice weather at the beginning of the week. We rode our bikes all Tuesday, Wednesday (when we weren't drawing), and Friday. Don't worry, we're pooped. But we're definitely gaining some killer leg muscle, and we fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. I've also gained a little color. I know, odd. Don't worry, you can't tell. I can only tell cause I seem to wear my watch in the same spot every day. Guess who's gonna use it as a tan gauge? This girl! I guess you could say I'm getting pretty dark ;) Also I don't know if I've told you about how sometimes I use finding different states license plates as a game/stress reliever? Well, I do. I only have 2 states left, so if you guys know anyone from Conneticut or Montana that would like to drive by me for a minute that'd be great. Then I can start over. And say that I've seen all the plates in one area. This place is hopping with people from all over the states.

That golden family we saw the last week? Well, we met the dad and he also accepted a baptism date. We saw them 6 out of the 7 days last week and we're going back today. They love the gospel. The kids are so awesome, the mom too. Wanna hear something refreshing? The parents are married. They've been married since before they had kids. That is really rare for the Hispanic culture. This family is on fire.

On the other hand we have Jean Pierre and Wendy, Jean Pierre basically flipped out on us a couple weeks ago saying we were liars and how we were trying to trick him and all this stuff so we haven't seen them in a while, So our solution was to write him a note and just tell him that we love him and care about him, and that we just want him to have the happiness the gospel brings. That's it. Hopefully he responds to it, we left it yesterday. It's really hard because he has so much potential, and Satan definitely sees that so he's working extra hard on him. One day.

Hermana Latorre came out teaching with us 3 times this week. (She's the one that's like 80-something who's basically blind.) She's nuts, but I love her. She had to teach the lesson in Relief Society this week [but she can't read] so we read the whole lesson out to her two or 3 times. She has great memory; she remembered everything we read out loud to her. She's really cool, but she's racist, against Central Americans. She told us that the Mexicans aren't teaching us real Spanish, and that needs to stop. She told us if we ever were to go to South America (she's from Columbia), that no one would understand us, so basically she corrects us at every opportunity she gets. Someday I'll be old, and I'll get to correct everyone. So I guess that's alright.

We had a heart to heart with Wilson and Rosaurio this week, and hey told us that we are the only missionaries they've ever loved (sigh), and they thought I was going to leave. Rosaurio started crying when she found out I was staying another transfer. I love her. I will come back for  her! Haha also Hermana B's mom sent us some St. Patty's Day stuff, and we had a field day. 

Have a great week. I love you all so much!

Hermana Groves

Con valor marchemos

March 10

Well, transfer calls came today, and it looks like I'm going to spend my 7 month and my 8 month here in Houston 1 West. Sometimes I don't believe that transfers exist because Hermana Bonhard and I are staying together as well. Haha, we're just living in our own 5 by 6 mile world. I know our area like the back of my hand-- the fastest routes, the bus schedule, the cheapest gas station, and what sidewalks are the worst to ride your bike on. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I spend my whole mission here, because after this transfer I hit halfway. Man. Isn't that just too weird to think about? It is for me. 

We found this really awesome family on Thursday. They accepted a baptismal date the first day we met them and in the first lesson! Not only that, they invited us back Friday and Saturday. Sunday too, but we already had a full night after church, but we're going to see them tonight. They are so cool, it's a mom and her 3 kids. Marlena is the mom, Kimberly is 11, Oliver is 8 and Jashly is 6. This family is adorable. When we ask them questions Jashly always says," The most important is to keep Jesus en our hearts." I wish we could pick up little kids cause I just wanna hug her. 

My birthday was a really good day. We went to target (HOLA!), and I fulfilled my childhood dream of going to the American Girl store. Not gonna lie, it was weird in there. Like a million dolls just staring at you. All I wanted was like a mug or something, to prove to myself? Well doesn't matter.. No one in that store was above the age of like 8. I don't even think there were moms in there, but whatever haha. But Jessica and Giovani had us over for cake, and then Yolanda had us over for dinner and sang me this traditional Mexican birthday song. She said that they sing to only the prettiest girls (I know she was just saying that to flatter me on my birthday, definitely worked. Haha), so that was really cool. The next day Wilson, Rosario, and Sabina (Wilson's girlfriend) had us over for dinner and cake. They got the trick candles and got a good laugh out of me trying to blow them out for like 5 minutes. I kept saying, "I used to play the clarinet! I can blow out candles!" Well, I can obviously also make a fool out of myself to Spanish people, haha. Then yesterday, Yolanda gave me this giant cake. I was given 3 birthday cakes. It was ridiculous. We don't have room for them in our kitchen, let alone our stomachs! Haha. 

Well that's all I can think of for this week, I hope you guys have a great week. Love you!

Hermana Groves

Well, I can always say I was never a pregnant teenager...

March 3

Bahaha! What a great title for my birthday email, right? Haha well,
it's true. Never was, never will be haha. Man, 20 years old... older
than dirt.

So this week was a pretty good one. I went on exchanges with our
sister training leader,  Hermana Steenblick, in a bike area, obviously.
Don't worry,  it was definitely the coldest, wettest day of the week!
Haha,  thought it was gonna be 80 degrees like the day before so I
didn't pack for anything warm. I was wet the whole day anyway,  so I
guess it doesn't matter. My lanta what an adventure, definitely
experienced the missionary stereo type. Was chased by a giant dog on
my bike! Fear not, I am in good enough shape that I just biked as fast
as I could. This one was like a pitbull too.  Obviously, I was fearing
for my life. Haha.

We had a lot of meetings and trips to the mission office this week,  so
we haven't had a whole lot of teaching appointments,  but this week
looks really promising. We also went to Yolanda's work this week to
help her with some plants and stuff like that. She loves her boss and
her job. That house is giant. Seriously. Yolanda is, like, 60, and she's
doing all this manual labor,  like intense plant stuff.  We were tired
out, but she's like a 2nd mom to both of us, and she's so willing to
help us with our job, we figured it's the least we could do.

We have a love/ignore us relationship with a few of the people we
teach.  Some days they want us to come over like 4 times a week,
others, they ignore us like the plague. So if we could get a happy
medium that'd be great. Haha. We're working hard, and we'll see the
fruits of our labors I'm sure.

We started teaching that old man Claudio again.  He actually called us.
So we're really excited about that. And that guy Quincy that I told
you about in December (the guy who stands on the median)? Well,  we
were filling up our car with gas,  and he was trying to help these
people with their car.  They didn't speak English, so Hermana
Bonhard went to go translate for them. He started crying because we
remembered his name and told us that he was being tempted to do
something he shouldn't, and everytime he is tempted he sees us, and we
talk to him. He bore his testimony that he knows that God speaks
through us, and it was a really cool experience. He wants us to call
him every day and just check up on him. We will, cause honestly, we
love him.

Tonight for my birthday we're going to Yolanda's,  and tomorrow Wilson
and Rosaurio are having us over for dinner (and to teach Wilson's
girlfriend...smooth thinking Wilson, smooth thinking.. haha). Besides
that,  we're probably gonna go take a trip to Target and party it up
(cheap sister missionary style haha).

Sorry I don't have more to share. I love you guys have a great week!
Thanks for all the birthday cards and packages. :)

Hermana Groves

ps two weeks ago I cut my own hair and accidently gave myself bangs.
that's why they're pulled back in every picture! haha

With Yolanda after service and what a 20 year old Hermana Groves looks like :)

February 24

This week we've taught Wendy and Jean Pierre a few times, but like I've
mentioned before, Jean Pierre is taking classes to be baptized in
another church.  He told us that he doesn't want to disappoint us or
his pastor so he was thinking about doing both. Well, we taught him
that we need the right authority to be baptized,  and our church is the
only one with that authority. He talked to his pastor, and he told him
to be careful with the Mormons because we will try to baptize him,  and
he told him that he can take good things out of the Book of Mormon but
not to believe in it. So he's coming across a time of lots of
confusion. We told him it's not for us that he should want to get
baptized, but for himself and for God, so we told him to pray about
it, sincerely ask for the truth and guard the answer he's given from
God.


One the former old people we used to teach came to church on Sunday
and definitely swiped a Gospel Principles book. (Little did he know we
definitely just hand those out for keeps anyways,  haha) This is the
same old guy who when we taught the 10 commandments he thought adultery
is fornicating,  and fornicating was going to a church that isn't
yours... honestly. haha.

There was a ward party for couples this week, and it was super awkward.
None of the missionaries knew it was just for couples so we all came,
and one of Hermana Lister's investigators has a crush on her and
thought it was a date. Haha. Classic. Can't think of much else that
happened, just running around trying to find people to teach. If you
guys can think of any creative ways to find people to teach,  let us
know. Thanks for all you do. Love you all. Happy Birthday Bub and
Preston!

Hermana Groves

February 17

Hello hello everyone!

This past week was Valentine's Day and my 6 month mark on the same day. We really wanted to celebrate my 6 month mark, so we went to "The Madeleine" (for obvious reasons ;).  We definitely thought it was going to be a sit down restaurant-- nope. But it still tasted pretty great. Of course, my 6 month happened to be Single Awareness day. Couples were swarming the place. You cannot be more single than a missionary is on Valentine's Day. Haha ridiculous. So,  that was the highlight of our day because everyone was focused on being couples, and no one answered the door. Don't worry;we made little hand made valentines for every person we teach and just spent all day on bikes riding around delivering them.

We rode the bus a lot this week and met some cool people. Cutest story. This lady came and sat by me, and so I said, "Hi how are you doing?"  She looked at me and did some sign language (she was deaf) and just kinda looked away. I really wanted to try hard to talk to her,  but I didn't know how. So I wrote her a note on the sticky note I had in the back of my planner, and said "Hi I'm Sister Groves. What's your name?" I handed her the note, she read it, looked at me, gave me a hug,  and started crying. It was just proof to me that everyone wants to be talked to; everyone needs to be shown love. I gave her our information and haven't heard from her since, but it was good for me to feel the love that Christ has for each one of us. Also we ran into my future father-in-law twice on the buses today. What luck. We just focused on avoiding him the whole way to where we needed to go. My lanta.

We also found this really cool mother and son who we've taught at least 3 times each and the son Jean Pierre came to church on Sunday.  It was a miracle that he came; he's been going to another church, and for his church they have a soccer team that he's on. He texted us on Saturday night saying that he had a soccer game on Sunday so he actually wasn't gonna be able to come. We prayed that by some miracle he could. He texted us Sunday morning and said that his game was cancelled for some reason that didn't make any sense to him (God) and that no one could pick him up for his church so if he could get a ride to ours he could. Don't worry about it, we didn't even finish reading the text before we found someone to take him. Thank goodness for the young women in the ward. He loves learning but it was a little bonus that the young women were giving him the attention he was probably hoping for. Haha he's a little suave. I'm slightly concerned because I felt like he was like trying to pull the moves on me when he was sitting next to me in church. Haha nothing to worry about, I'm not really into 16 year old boys. Haha.

I hope you all have a great week and that you enjoy President's Day! Be safe,
Hermana Groves

Also we decided to take some pictures as the single cat ladies we are on Valentines Day-- Haha, enjoy!

Cha Cha Cha...

Hey everyone! Como estan? I hope all is well with you all, and I continue to love reading your letters/emails. This week was a really good week, so I'm just gonna get down to business alrighty? Sweet. Well, first I had a really embarrassing moment happen the other day.

  

We were going to pick up Yolanda (the most adorable old woman) to come out and teach with us, and we knew if we ran, we would make it to her door right at 8 o clock. Wel,l we were running, and then we started chanting "backpack run, backpack run."  I being the more fit of us (hahahaha jk), was in the front just running up the stairs, and suddenly we were chanting back pack run to the "cha cha slide." I start getting into i,t and I'm "sliding" and "cha cha"-ing, and I bust into some dance moves and a flippin sweet turn. Well, I turn around and see Yolanda at the top of the staircase waiting for us.  I go from chanting to "Oooooh ye HOLA YOLANDA!" She just busted up. I think she was definitely embarassed for me. I know we're supposed to be representatives of Christ, but I highly doubt that Jesus would have turned down a good chance to bust a move at that perfect timing. Just a thought. Haha just saying. 

  

We were also street contacting, or "OYM"ing, and we talked to this lady at a bus stop. We taught her, and then asked her for a referral, and she said, "You know I don't know anyone really that speaks our language around here."  I was like "Our language?" And she said, "The language of our Latino ancestors?" This conversation was in Spanish. She thought we were Spanish. My life is becoming complete. Haha this was super cool. I am so glad to have the gift of tongues. 

  
We had a really cool lesson with Rosaurio(LA) this week. Wilson usually has the lessons with us, but he texted us last minute saying he couldn't come, so we went to teach Rosaurio by herself. It was a good thing too. When Wilson is there we focus on him and her, but she definitely needed us to focus only on her. We weren't sure what to teach her so we brought out some Mormon Messages and told her to pick the one that stood out to her the most. We watched one about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and bore really strong testimony after. Turns out she feels like a bad mother because her kids are in Guatemala with her mom. She's here working to eventually bring them here, and we wanted her to know that she is a good mom. It's because she's making that sacrifice that we know that. We bore strong testimony and we were all in tears. Guys, the Atonement is real. Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, pains, sicknesses, every emotion we have felt. He's felt it too, and I know that for a fact. We are never alone. Never. Just remember that. 

  

Now for the big news. This week we had stake conference, and guess who came. Just guess. You'll never guess, so I'll tell you. Russell M. Nelson, one of the 12 apostles! This was by far the best stake conference I've ever been to. He spoke on Saturday about the importance of members and missionaries working together and promised the stake that we will be an example for the whole world of member and missionary work. Pretty awesome huh? The Sunday session was 1 up from Saturday though. Elder Hansen from the Seventy came and spoke as well as the temple president and his wife. They talked about first the temple being a goal, and then always returning to the temple. Elder Hansen told a story of when he was serving as mission president and his son was married far away. Because he was serving as mission president he couldn't go, but at the same time that his son was to be married in Logan, he went to the temple here in Houston. When he was waiting there was a young man with a pin that said "to be married" and Elder Hansen asked if the young man could pretend he was his son for 30 seconds. So they held each other and cried. Elder Hansen didn't know why the young man was crying, but he soon found out that the young man's dad wasn't able to see him be married. It's amazing, the power of the temple, they were connected even though they were so far away. And the young man was able to feel of a father's love on his wedding day. Whatever I was crying like a baby, who cares? Haha 

    

But then Elder Nelson spoke. First of all, there were many cool things that strengthened my testimony. He asked to have all the children stand and sing him a verse of "I am a child of God." Another cry fest for Hermana Groves. It reminded me of in the Bible when Jesus says "Suffer the children to come to me." Elder Nelson, like us missionaries, is a representative of Christ. He holds the same authority that Christ did and to me that small gesture was something that Christ would do. No doubt about it. But I definitely saw a miracle. Elder Nelson was being interpreted the whole time, had headphones to understand what was going on. At the very end of his talk he said, "I would like to speak to you in a language that is not my own, but I can only do so by your faith." Now the spirit in that chapel was super strong, and I could feel the faith around me. I know that I was feeling the Spirit because in that moment, Elder Nelson stopped using an interpreter. He was speaking perfect Spanish as he testified of the Atonement, Joseph Smith and many other things. I was crying, and all the people around me were crying. That was the gift of tongues; it's real. I can testify to you that we have living apostles and prophets in the world today. I had the privledge to be called by name by him and shake his hand. I am exactly where the Lord needs me to be, and it was testified by the touch of the hand with Elder Nelson. Our Savior loves us, our Heavenly Father loves us. I know this. I am also being blessed with the gift of tongues, I am not fluent right now, but I've been learning Spanish for 5 months and had a woman ask me if I was a native speaker. Only through God is this possible. I love you all very much and hope you have a great week, I would like to hear about some miracles that you've seen this week. Make my week huh? Keep the faith. Love you!

Hermana Groves

Happy 2014

Well happy 2014 everyone!

How has your week been? My week has been pretty good! I'm just gonna jump right into the good of this week alright? So remember Wilson and Rosaurio who invited us over for Christmas? Well, I love them. Anyways for the past 3 transfers, I have been asking for referrals for people to teach, and it's become like an inside joke, because I start the sentence and sometimes Wilson cuts me off and says "No, Hermana, I don't know anyone."  Well Wilson is a little liar, because for the past 3 weeks he has invited his inactive siblings to come to church (who live in different ward boundries), and they came! Pretty soon the whole ward will be filled with the Garcia family! (there are 13 kids in his family and all but one brother is inactive), so good for Wilson. He's legit. Seriously. His sister doesn't live in our area, and he keeps saying that he only wants us to teach her cause she loves us(from Christmas) anyways, that was super cool.

Then yesterday in testimony meeting Sofia's mom, Lili, went up and bore her testimony after only her 2nd week back at church. She was crying saying how grateful she was that the missionaries came and found them again because they couldn't find the LDS church when they came from Guatemala. They've lived here for 6 years. They've been missing the gospel for 6 years. It's crazy.

Their story is really cool.  We were trying to update our addresses from the formers that were taught in this area, and we were looking for the neighbors. We had an impression to knock on their neighbor's door (Julio, Lili, and Sofia's door,) and Julio answered and told us to come back later. The second time Lili answered, and she told the story yesterday. She answered the door and saw these two missionaries, angels, glowing, like they had been an answer to her 6 year long prayer. She was so happy to see us. It's crazy to me. I've lived my life, 19 years without having to live without the gospel. I have never known that sadness of not having the sacrament or church in my life. It's really an eye opening experience. It helped my testimony grow a lot.

So here's a crazy experience that will be one I'l remember. We were on exchanges this past week, I had Hermana Allen (fresh out of the MTC) with me and we were coming out of the apartment for dinner and right behind our car was this Suburban with all of it's doors open and loud music blasting with 3 men standing outside of it. We definitely had a bad feeling about it, but we had to go out and teach, and it was too cold and dark to ride our bikes, so we just started walking to the car. They said "Excuse me, can you help me with something?" We didn't say anything. He then proceeds to say "You know, I haven't talked to any ladies with such fair skin before, and I'm gonna ask you something that is may put you out of your comfort zone." Hermana Allen yelled "We're missionaries!" and he did this evil chuckle and was like "oh missionary huh?" then proceeds to say really perverted things to us as we hurried and got in the car. So I am still learning how to take charge in missionary situations like that. I realized in that moment why I wasn't called English speaking though, I was really 1 step away from giving him a piece of my mind. I wasn't afraid, more insulted. I mean you would think when you dress practically like a nun.. Well yeah. Anyways, God was definitely watching over us because 3 in shape men were within feet of us, and something really bad could have happened, I know that because we were really in tune with the spirit, that we got out of that safely. I am so grateful for that. 

Enjoying our holidays like a sir

Exchanges

I realized something today when hanging up my clothes to dry, I own lots of black and white clothes. I also see things very black and white. I see things as right and wrong. In one of my studies this week I went really in depth with spiritual gifts, and that's one of mine, discerning right and wrong. I look back on my life and am super grateful for that, because I have had situations that if I wouldn't have had the "common sense" or just that knowledge, that I would have gotten into a lot of trouble. I'm trying to really grow spiritually with all my spiritual gifts, but also gain more. I encourage you all to do the same, find you're personal strengths and really try to magnify them. I love you all a lot and I hope you have a great week :)

Keep the faith!

Hermana Groves