12-14-15 Last letter!

Well, this is my last email home as a full-time missionary.

WEIRD.

I don't have much to say, but I do want to bear my testimony of the gospel. I know that God has a specific plan for each of us and that He loves us SO much. I know that He hears us when we speak with Him. He wants to hear from us. He wants to bless us. All we have to do is follow His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that the commandments are great opportunities to find true happiness. I know that we can transform any situation as we make the decision to be happy and do what's right and leave the rest to our Heavenly Father. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's kingdom on the earth, and that will never change. I know that the atonement can change lives.

Someone shared something with us yesterday from an old talk. They said that "enduring to the end" doesn't mean "hanging on till the end," but really it means coming unto Christ daily.

Come unto Christ. Every. single. day. As Elder Anderson said this past conference, faith is a choice! not just once, but many times everyday. So keep choosing to have faith. Protect your faith by living the gospel with all your heart. Always put God first, and everything really will work out.

I love you all so much, thank you for all the support and love you've shown the past 18 months. I know this is God's work and that Jesus Christ leads it. I can't express my gratitude for all that God let me experience and do here in south Texas. He is so good to us.

Thank you again, I love you. And I'll see you soon. :)

Love,

Hermana Lance

12-7-15 Each day try to be better :)

Hello, all!

Well, I feel a little like a broken record, but I just can't say enough about the ATONEMENT.        
    
We had MLC this week and it was really instructional. Our mission president destroyed us with the spirit and helped us realize a lot of areas that we need to work on. Receiving correction is such a great opportunity to repent and do better, we just have to make sure we use it like that. So! that's what we did. Repentance is the best. I'm so so grateful that our Heavenly Father is so infinitely patient with us! with big and small things. Tuesday night I worked with another Sister trainer leader, and definitely ended up getting lost and ending up in the wrong town and wasting time. Thankfully, God still loves me. haha.

So I realized recently that I haven't really said anything about the people we're teaching. so! We're teaching a darling black young woman named Rose. Sweetest thing on the planet. Only issue with her is that her mom is a die-hard Seventh-day Adventist. so! she needs your prayers to get her family's support.

We're also teaching this guy named Dallas. He's a boss. Only problem is that he's on house arrest at the moment and can't leave his house.... #awkward. We're hoping that he gets permision soon so he can come to church!

YSA is weird. but I love it. The members are great. Our area is huge, so that's lots of fun. It's cool to see how God leads you to those YSA peeps in need. And we usually find other people for the other missionaries, which is great too because we're all on the same team. :)

Well! I love the mission. And Christmas time. Why? Because the light of Christ is EVERYWHERE. So happy. I think a lot of people feel the spirit more during this time without really realizing why. I'm gonna do my best to help everyone recognize the source of true joy.

I hope you recognize it, too!

Much love,

Hermana Lance

                                            Christmas card worthy pictures

11-30-15 Happy late Thanksgiving

Happy late Thanksgiving!!

I had a splendid week. Thanksgiving we went to 3 full dinners and lets just say I weighed myself at the end of the day and I had a 7 lb food baby. Thanksgiving done right! haha it was painful but really great. People are so great. I love them.

This week my testimony of the enabling power of the atonement was strengthened so much. There was a sister that was struggling to continue, and Sister Cannon and I testified to her of the power Christ has to help us do hard things and MAN. The spirit hit me so hard. I know it's true! The gospel is a reality. Grace is a reality and is available to all of us. We don't have to get to some imaginary point of goodness to qualify. All it takes is a broken heart and a contrite spirit! :)

I don't really have much to tell.. but! I love this gospel with all my heart and I love being a missionary. I love serving my Heavenly Father and Savior. I love Texas. I love the people here. Yep. I just love it all.

Also I'm terrified to go home to Utah weather. I'm a Texan now and am gonna die. it's all good though! Just a fore-warning. :)

Have the best week of your life! love ya!

Hermana Lance

Thanksgiving #1

                                     
                                                        Thanksgiving #3

                                                exchange selfies for days

11-23-15 It's REAL!

Wow wow wow!
I don't know where to start.
This week was awesomeeeeee.

We had 3-day this week. Which is a leadership conference that we had Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday. IT WAS SO COOL. All week long was crazy cause we had people staying at our apartment and I had to plan for extra companionships in my area by myself cause Sis Cannon worked somewhere else. So! It was quite the adventure, but super fun! The conference was amazing. I learned a ton about doing things for the right reasons, revelation, leading, and a ton about God's love.

The last part was by far my favorite and the most spiritual. At the end of every day, (the meetings went from 8-4ish everyday) some of the people going home this transfer bore their testimonies. (I went the first day.) So on Thursday, there were some powerful testimonies given, and then President Maluenda spoke to us about 3 Nephi 13, which he reads to us almost every mtg, followed by a beautiful version of "consider the lilies." (3 Nephi 13 and Consider the Lilies. Classics of President Maluenda.) From all that, the Spirit was practically tangible and a few sisters had started crying and everyone else had at least a tear or two.
Then President and Sister Maluenda got up to bear their testimonies. They gave powerful testimonies of this work and our Savior, Jesus Christ. They even shed tears as they basically told the missionaries going home that they love them and that God will take care of us. Naturally, we were all bawling.
To end it all, President Maluenda himself gave the closing prayer and it was probably the most amazing prayer I've ever heard. We all cried and I just felt the spirit so strong. It testified to me that my Heavenly Father will never leave me. He's been with me so closely throughout my mission, and will still be there after I finish. He loves me. I know it. and I know He loves ALL of his children the same way. --if only they all knew that!

Well. The church is true. I testify of that! The gospel is REAL. it's not just stories and nice words. it's a reality. So take advantage of that and just be happy!

love you all, have a great week!

Hermana Lance


Also. Funny story! the other day it was rainy and muddy and I said to my companion, "You won't jump in that mud!" next thing I know she jumps with both feet , hits the mud, and BAM! she's sitting in mud. #priceless

Most of the group I came in with -with the Maluendas :)

My comp and I freezing Sunday morning. Low of 47 and we almost died. #texasprobs

Got a new name tag and they got confused on the language. #texmexisreal

11-16-15 challenges = opportunities

I'm going to start off today's email with a real funny story.
Last night I got a tumor (aka goose-egg) on my forehead because my companion was too hyper as we knelt down to pray. Don't worry, it's only mildly tumor-ish today :)
You see, she knelt down and put her head to the ground. I went to do the same, and she suddenly popped up again, and I was too close. A collision of the back of her head and the front of mine ensued. Which resulted in a tumor above my eyebrow. SO FUNNY!!

Anyways!

This week was good. We saw a lot of miracles and a lot of challenges. but it's all good cause challenges=opportunities.

One of our investigators is named Kevin and is a BOSS. I say that because on Monday he brought 2 friends with him to FHE, and then he brought 4 friends with him to institute on Thursday. are you kidding? SO HAPPY. it was great. Then he slept in and had to work on Sunday so he didn't come to church. :( but! there's always next week, right?

This last week we had a Sisters Conference with all the sisters in the mission. It was tons of fun! And we all learned a lot. It was a lot about making the best decisions and deciding to be happy, even when things get tough. I loved it. And then really had to apply it later in the week, so it was very helpful :)

Well I gotta go! but! I love you all and hope you know that. Also I hope you know that God loves you.

Love,
Hermana Lance

 All of my companions! except my 2 chilenas that are already home

And my current comp, Hermana Cannon :)

                              Can you see the unnatural growth on my forehead? 
                                 Pictures never do justice, but it's still funny. :)

11-9-15 I'm in McAllen!

Hey! Surprise!

Well, folks, turns out that instead of finishing my mission in Brownsville, I'll be finishing in McAllen! Transfers were pretty crazy. My new area is called La Vista, and they just switched which ward we go to. So, because of complicated circumstances, we get to white-wash the YSA branch! Which is quite the adventure! haha. Our area, for those who randomly know the area, stretches from west of Mission, all the way to Weslaco and Mercedes, TX. AKA our area is gigantic. It would probably take over an hour to drive from one side to the other. no joke. Let's just say our map is our best friend! :)

So my new companion is someone I already know and love, Sister Cannon! We were both trained by Sister Sarmiento Wolff, so in mission terms, we have the same mom and are sisters! cute, right? Anyways, she's great. She has 2 transfers less than me and she's from Salt Lake City. She's a delight and I'm glad she's my last comp :)

So this week was nuts cause we had transfers on Tuesday, then on Thursday we had MLC. I learned a TON at MLC. At one point, Presidente Maluenda talked for awhile about the importance of the priesthood. He said that when he was a Bishop, and when he was a stake pres, he would ask the priesthood leaders, when was the last time you gave a blessing? and when was the last time you received a blessing? Most would have to sit there and think for a while to remember the last time because it had been so long. Then Presidente said, "how can this church be strong if we don't use the priesthood?" Bam. That hit all of us pretty hard. one day God is going to ask what we did with that gift, and hopefully we don't give it back to him, unopened with the bow still pretty on top, cause that's not what it's for! So, priesthood holders, make sure you're using that amazing power you've been given! Bless bless bless. And women, we can influence them and help them use it and benefit as well. So don't let it go to waste, we need it too much.

Yesterday there was a super cool, southwest staes area conference, and we got to hear from Elder Robbins and Elder Oaks via broadcast. it was awesome! Elder robbins spoke on simplicity and invited everyone to read Elder Oaks' talk, "good, better, best" again and make necessary changes to simplify life. Contentment and simplicity are the secret to a happy life :) 

Well I love you all lots! Have a great week!

Hermana Lance

Also, I now live less than a mile away from the mission office, so any mail things can just go there. 200 W. La Vista Ave McAllen, TX 78501. (shameless hint: you all only have 5 weeks left to write me as a missionary. now or never! ;) )

PS my baby had a baby! I'm a grandma! #tender

11-3-15 Last Transfer

So we found out through Facebook and member's texts that Emily is being transferred one last time. I thought I would share some photos :)

We won't know where she is headed to until next week. Stay tuned!

Lisa-Mom


                                     

                                                The transfer chalkboard!!!

I noticed Sister Lance photo bombing the Elders on the right :)

Chaos of transfers--notice Sister Lance holding her pillow in the center of the picture!

Order restored! I love seeing all the bikes strapped on the back of the cars--ready 

for the Lord's Army to go forth :)

Sister Lance and Sister Kingsford enjoying Panda with the members in Brownsville. 

Last meal before transfers. 

Sister Lance and Brownsville members who were so sweet to text me these pictures!!

11-2-15 Happy November everyone

Let me just say that I am a HUGE fan of daylight savings time in November. Big fan.

Well, first off. Shout-out to my new sister-in-law, Katie! Happy birthday this week!

Recently we've been getting pounded with wind and rain, and it's been lots of fun! we had some pretty awesome flooding on Friday again, so that was an adventure. 

This week we worked super hard. It was awesome. We found some really cool people and had some great experiences. Unfortunately I can't remember well enough to describe them all to you. haha. surry! 

Tomorrow I start my last transfer! So that's pretty nuts. Time to go harder than ever! :) I love this work with all my heart and am going to do all that I can to serve my Heavenly Father and his children. I got a blessing the other day for advice for my last transfer, and it said two times that I have many things to learn this transfer and that I need to listen to the spirit. So, that's my focus. Listen to the spirit. It's gonna be great :)

Everyone have the best week of their lives!!

love,

Hermana Lance

Fall Festival for the branch (i made that sign in literally 3 minutes. Mexicans aren't good at planning ahead. hahaha) 

Flood pictures

Flood pictures

10-26-15 Happy Halloween this week

Happy Halloween!! 

This year I'm dressing up as a member of the army of Heleman. Pretty clever, right?

Well this week was super awesome cause Elder Dube, of the seventy, came and visited the grand TMM! On Wednesday we had a special leadership meeting with him, which was a really cool opportunity. Just the STLs and ZLs of the mission with Elder Dube for 3 hours. So cool! Thursday the bottom of the mission got together and we had a big long conference with him. 

I learned a ton from him! Elder Dube is super lively and fun and happy, just that taught me a lot! He's a great example of how when you lose yourself in the service of God, you're truly happy. I testify of that! He taught us a lot about the Spirit and as well about the Sacrament. It was a truly special experience.
At the end of the conference on Thursday, they had about 6 missionaries bear their testimonies, Sis Maluenda, Sister Dube, and then Presidente Maluenda and Elder Dube. Presidente's testimony was probably one of the most powerful testimonies I've listened to. As he testified that our Savior fights our battles for us, he choked up and there was no denying the truth of his words. Then Elder Dube closed it with another powerful witness.

THIS IS THE WORK OF THE LORD. I know it. I know God is with us and that he is our loving Heavenly Father with a perfect plan for us.

This weekend was super cool cause Julio finally came to church!! woo! and he brought his son, too! He's super pumped and can't wait to get baptized in November. smile emoticon smile emoticon I can already see him changing and I love it so much! keep him in your prayers, please!

Well, I hope everyone has a super great week and never forgets to pray!

Love,
Hermana Lance

Jessica, our now reactivated member and her 2 daughters, and another random kid. 

mile emoticon

Splits with Sis Cannon

Splits with Sis Cannon

10-19-15 Losing myself in the work

Hello all! 

Well this week was just swell. We had interviews with Presidente Maluenda, which were super great. He gave me some advice on losing myself completely in the work and not getting distracted and finishing strong. Super helpful! He also has his missionaries make plans for after the mission during their last transfer, so I have to start doing that soon. boooo. Helpful, but not fun. haha.

Speaking of craziness! Yesterday I hit my 16-month mark! honestly it doesn't feel like it's been that long. But at the same time it feels like it's been a while. Mission time is really weird. But anyways, I'm super excited to give everything I can my last 2 months, and then to party it up with my dear readers once I return home. (haha. readers.) 

This week is going to be awesome! A general authority is coming to visit our mission, so on Thursday we get to go to McAllen for a big conference. SO PUMPED. I love conferences and stuff like that, such a great opportunity to receive revelation. 

Anyways, I hope that you all have the best week of your life so far this week! 

Love,

Hermana Lance

Also please keep praying for Julio! That darn alcohol's got him good.

    Here's a demonstration of how much Mexican women love my blonde hair. #awkward

                                      

                            I love to ride my bicycle, I love to ride my bikeeee 

                                      

10-12-15 Confidence is key

HOLY COW TIME IS GOING BY FAST. 

phew. ok. got that out of my system. 

Well! this week was great. Lots of curve balls and tests of patience and it was great! We had lots of fun exchanges and met some really great people and saw lots of miracles, it was a blast. 

I learned a lot about humility and confidence this week. Confidence is probably the biggest issues with the sisters in Brownsville right now, so we've been trying to help them all to believe in themselves more. Because really we're all daughters of God and can do literally anything with Him on our side. That's what I've learned about confidence, that true confidence comes from the Lord. Pride comes from ourselves. We just have to be like Ammon and rejoice in all that God helps us do and trust that He'll help us do even more. 

Happy news! Jessica, the less active lady I talked about last week, came to church! and all the members are super pumped to welcome her back and it was just splendid. 

Also! A struggle we're having right now is getting people to church. Plans and rides keeps falling through, so if you could pray that Julio, Christian, Juana, and Jorge come to church, that would be lovely. :) (thanks in advance!)

I hope you all have a great week! Siga adelante!

Hermana Lance

Pics from the zoo last week

                                                   A baby camel eating me

exchange selfies

comps in front of the sign at church. Funny that it's English because the ward and branch that attend there are both Spanish. haha

10-5-15 General Conference...WOW

October! Woah. 

This week was insaneeeeely awesome. :) 
We had a leadership mtg in McAllen, so that was a fun 2 days spent up there. 

and then. CONFERENCE. 
oh, general conference. I probably received the most revelation from a conference in these past two days than ever before. First off, I am so grateful for the three men that have been called to be apostles. While they spoke and bore their tender testimonies, the spirit testified to me for each one of them individually that they are called of God. Such a special experience. 

I learned so much about God's expectation for me, how I can stay strong and firm forever, and man. I just felt so good and happy! The simplicity and beauty of the gospel is what makes my heart sing. And I am forever grateful for it. 

Cool story! 
So a few weeks ago we got a media referral from the church for a lady that wanted a Spanish bible. So we went to deliver it, but an angry husband answered the door and after defending our beliefs and testifying, he told us that he didn't want his wife to talk to us, and went inside. For some reason, however, I didn't feel like that was the end. A few days later, we got a text from someone with the same name as the bible lady! and it turns out she's a less-active member we didn't know. Well, we went over on Friday to deliver the bible and talk with her. She told us that things are bad in their marriage and her husband doesn't like the church. Then she showed incredible faith as she said, "I really don't know what's going to happen to me. All I know is that I need to go back to church." 

The next day, she bravely spoke to her husband and he miraculously gave her permission to go to the afternoon session of conference! That was the session where Elder Holland testified of the power of a righteous mother. 
As we exercise our faith and trust that God will take care of us, He does! this sweet, young mom is a living example of that. 

Well! I hope you all go over your notes and don't leave them as notes. Transform them into action and strive to improve! Truly ask yourself, "What lack I yet?" and never stop progressing, cause that's what we're here for. 

Have a great week! I love you!

Hermana Lance

PS...Thanks the love! and the prayers! I can feel it. I'm growing a ton and I can't even tell you all the crazy stuff going on or just how dang happy I am!

Mi compa y yo

Once upon a time I was on an exchange 

and our investigator gave 

us her jellies!

                                         The wonderful sisters we live with.

9-28-15 Staying in Brownsville!

Hello all!

Good news! I stayed in Brownsville!! woo!! 

Sadly my dear Sis Acosta got transferred for her last transfer. But it's all good cause I got a great new comp! Her name is Sis. Kingsford and she's a brand new STL. She's 2 transfers behind me and recently hit her year mark. She's from Logan and loves wildlife stuff. pretty darn cool! 

This week was pretty hard, I'll be honest. But really I'm not sad or anything cause God's really good at supporting His children. The Ortega family and Rubi were supposed to get baptized this Sunday, but unfortunately both of their husbands decided against that and asked us to stop coming by. One right after the other. Double knife to the heart! I'm not sure why and I'm not sure what's going to happen, but that's when faith's the most important, right? Ether 12:6. 

So now we're started over in Casa Linda. We're making plans and working hard and I know that God's going to help us out. He's very consistent, so I'm not worried. :)

Did all you women watch the General Women's session of conference on Saturday? If not, go watch it! Pres Uchtdorf's talk really touched me. Just what I needed, really. Let's all just be happy and skip through life, ok? cause really there's no reason to be sad. Because really, it's called the plan of happiness for a reason! just keep the commandments and you're good! Alma 41:10

love you all! keep being awesome and such! 

Hermana Lance

PS that eclipse though!

Sis. Lance and Sis. Kingsford

                                                                   Beautiful sunset!

9-21-15 best district ever

Hello all!

Well las transferencias have come upon us once again. I have no clue yet what's happening but I'm hoping I get to stay here in beloved Brownsville. :) 

In the next little bit, we're going to have Rubi and her daughter Dana get baptized, and the entire Ortega family. If i leave I'll be real sad to miss all that. but God's will be done, ya know? 

This transfer I learned a ton about faith and the power of attitude and God in general. I also learned a lot about planning. goals and plans for dayssss. 
Our zone right now is doing the best in the mission, and it's because of the faith that we have in Brownsville. This has definitely been the best transfer of my mission so far. lots of ups and downs, of course, but I feel like I totally lost myself in the work and honestly there isn't a better feeling than that. This is the best work in the world. quite literally the best. I just love it. 

This week we had a couple noches mexicanas, and they were awesome. We didn't get to wear any cool dresses, but we dressed up in red, white, and green and many of the members wore their legit Mexican clothes. Haha it was great cause at both parties, I was the only white person and they just thought that was hilarious. yay for Utah missionaries! 
Also, el grito is real. Ever heard a Mexican yell like a Mexican for his country? It's a beautiful and incredibly joyful thing. haha <3 

Well that's a million for your love and support and prayers. I can't tell you how much it means to me. I know that even if I didn't have the support I have, that God would help me do what I'm doing, but seriously it helps and strengthens me so much to have it. There's a reason that God put us on this earth in families with friends. Because His plan is perfect! 

Keep Ruby and the Ortega family in your prayers! 

love you all!
Hermana Lance

PS..Will you tell Teresa thanks for the letters they sent me this week? They made my day :) 
ALSO. LAUREN'S TURNING 18???? WHATTTTTTTTTTTTT IS GOING ON HERE. I haven't been gone that long, have I? haha 

I'm going into my last 12 weeks, my last 2 transfers. and I'm going to go so hard that you'll have to hold me up at the airport cause I'll be so tired! Also I'll probs get my flight plans soon. gross. 
love you!

Hermana Lance

Biggest and best district ever

9-14-15 Love you all

Happy Independence Day of Mexico tomorrow!! woo!!

Our branch is having literally 2 parties this week to celebrate. Pretty sure they're going to dress me up like a Mexican. Needless to say, I'M PUMPED.

Well, this week went by super fast. We had 3 exchanges and zone conference, so, really. bambambam. pday! what? woah. cool! asi es.

so let me tell you a little about some of my favorite people. 1) RUBY   2) ORTEGA FAMILY

Ruby. She's probably one of the most gold people ever. We taught her about Joseph Smith and all that the other day and she was basically testifying about him before the lesson ended. 

On Sunday she had promised a friend she was going to help her with something, and was planning on sleeping in and going to church next Sunday. not in casa linda! We went over and woke her up and then cleaned her kitchen/made them breakfast while she got herself and her kids ready. We were pretty late, but it was so worth it. 

Then, we have the family Ortega. Lily and Julio are the parents and they have 5 sons. (3 are 8 and older). They're super boss and went to church a couple times in Harlingen (about a half hour away) without missionary help. it's going to be a process with them because they've been going to The Church of Christ for a looonng time, but they're willing and searching and it's the best. 

so Brownsville is exploding with miracles right now because all the missionaries here have a TON of faith. We're seriously unstoppable, because we trust in God and are working hard. It's pretty amazing to be a part of it. having faith makes one real happy and have real peace inside. i'm a big fan.

Thanks for always keeping me updated! I love it! 

I'm soooo pumped for General conference! It's seriously going to be a spiritual overload. I can't even tell you. 

I hope you all have a great week! I love you all lots and lots!

Hermana Lance

                                                      don't mind the terrible effects of flash.