Hello and Goodbyes (Week 38)

 Good morning everyone! I hope your week was fantabulous!! This week was full of crazy things. First and foremost, the Pinnocks (our mission president) went home and our new president got here! 

It was so sad saying goodbye to the Pinnocks, but I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity I had to serve with them and to learn from them  

Also this week, I got to go on exchanges with Hna. Gray! She was my companion a couple of transfers ago and it was so amazing to be companions for the day, even though it was only for a couple of hours!

On Friday, we met our new mission president and his wife! They're the Oligschlaeger's and they're AMAZING! We each did a little interview with them and they introduced themselves and some of their kids were there too, so we got to meet them. I, unfortunately, suck at taking pictures so I don't have any. 

In Fontana, every Saturday night our zone gets together to say a prayer. And this Saturday Hna. Simko was there!! She was my companion for 2 transfers and I was her companion when she finished her mission. It was so so good to see her again and also a complete surprise!

I did get a picture of this one!

This week, we saw so many amazing miracles. There were lots of times when we went to visit a friend or an inactive member, and they weren't home but their neighbor was really interested. One of these times we met Beatriz! She's 20 and came here about a year ago from Venezuela! She probably has the strongest faith of anyone I've ever met, and it's been amazing teaching her!

I can testify that this truly is God's work. That He is in the details of our lives. One of my favorite scriptures is 3 Nephi 9:14

"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."

No one is out of God's reach. His arm of mercy is and always will be extended to each and every one of you. I have seen this in my own life and in the lives of so many of my friends.

I love you! Most importantly God loves you  

Have a great week! Happy 4th of July 

- Hna. Erickson 

Transfers (Week 37)

 This week was crazy! I hope you all had a good week and are enjoying the summer weather - if you have any cool plans, I'd love to hear about them! In case you're wondering about my plans - it's pretty much the same old same old here.

This week was pretty eventful though! We had our last zone pday activity and we played broomstick hockey, which was actually pretty fun and then Hna. Pier and I went tracting. We had some lessons with some really amazing people on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was so much fun! 

Wednesday morning we got transfer news and I ended up leaving my area  I have been there for a while though...so it was time. Thursday morning we drove up to the mission office and I got my new companion 

I'm follow up training Hermana Elllis in Fontana!! It's been a rollercoaster of a transfer so far - but for the most part really good! And it's not 115 degrees here, so I'm chilling!

Also exciting transfer news...I get to live with Hna. Gray who was my followup trainer and sister Smith (an AMAZING missionary) is in my zone. So basically, God loves me a lot!

This week has been full of miracles. I have really seen how God makes up the difference when we do our best. I don't know anything about this area and my comp is still getting the hang of things, so it's definitly been a learning experience so far - but I've given it my all and God is taking care of everything else. And I know He will do the same for all of you! 

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" - Matthew 11:28-30

God keeps His promises!

Love you all 

Hna. Erickson

Happy Father's Day (Week 36)

 Hello everyone! I hope you all had a FANTABULOUS week! And Happy late father's day too 

I don't have a ton of time today, but I just wanted to give a shout out to all the amazing men in my life who have been such great examples to me. Especially my dad, my grandpa's, my uncles, and all of my brothers. I love them so much and they have been such great examples and supports in my life. I truly am the person I am today because of their influence. I love you all so so much   

And on a spiritual note...

I am so grateful for my mission and that it's given me the opportunity to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and learn more about Him. I know not everyone has a good father or father figure and for that reason the title of Heavenly Father can cause some confusion or mixed feelings. But I know without a doubt that every single one of you has a perfect Father in Heaven who loves you and knows you in a way no one else can. I would encourage each and every one of you to get to know your Heavenly Father better. Through prayer, scripture study, and most importantly, trying to follow His example! Also, tell your dad/father figure you love him today!

Love you all  

*Mom note! Aunt Shelley and her kids meet Kallie and her Comp for some Chick-fil-A! I love that my sister when 45 minutes out of her way just to give her a hug and a shake. How amazing is that!?!?

Milagros (Week 35)

 Hey everyone! I hope your week was AMAZING and that you're all enjoying summer  It's definitely getting hot here...But this week was so busy, and so full of miracles and fun things!! 

To start it off, my companion Hna. Pier hit a year on her mission on Tuesday  It was so fun to celebrate that with her! As is missionary tradition, she burned a piece of proselytizing clothing! The aftermath of her shirt:

On Wednesday we visited the sweetest old lady in our branch! Her name is Hermana Vazquez and every time we go over she bears her testimony to us and it is so cute and so powerful  She told us we have to come back and visit her and bring our husbands so she can meet them. She also has a wall of pictures of past missionaries and she wants us to put our picture on it! So we're gonna add to the legacy 

On Thurdsay we got to go to the temple with our mission president and his wife since they go home soon! It was such a great experience, I love going to the temple so much because I always feel so much peace there. Afterwards we had a meeting outside with our President and his wife and took a TON of pictures. It made it a lot more real that they're going home soon which is crazy. But it was so amazing to go to the temple with them! (Pictures in my Google photos since they won't download)

Also on Thursday, we had a training in our zone council by Presidente Luna 

He talked a lot about knowing Jesus Christ, not just knowing about Him which I really liked. When we know Jesus Christ, we have a personal relationship with Him, we know the why behind the things that we do. But when we just know about Jesus Christ, we don't have a reason to maintain a relationship with Him. The gospel becomes no more than a set of rules to follow and some really cool stories. So my invitation to y'all is to know Jesus Christ, to find the why in your relationship with Him! 

And now for the miracle of the week  Our friend Paola got baptized!! And it was truly a miracle. Also in the training by Presidente Luna he talked about faith and actually believing in the promises of God and he told us every companionship could have a baptism this week. And I didn't really believe him. But the next day we went to visit our friend Paola who we hadn't seen in a while (she was sick and she does not answer her phone) and she was there! She was supposed to be baptized a couple weeks ago but she got sick. So we asked her if it's still something she wants to do and she said yes! So we taught her the rest of the lessons that day and set up her interview for Saturday. Her interview went well and she was baptized on Sunday! It was such a crazy miracle and it really showed me that I need to have more faith. Both in God and in other people.

She was so happy after her baptism! It was amazing to see!

Sorry for the super long email! Love you all, have a great week!