Week #??? (Week 46)

 Good morning everyone! Today, this email comes to you from the top of a mountain  We got up early and went on a hike and it was absolutely gorgeous  I hope you've all had a fantabulous week and that they just keep getting better! 

This week for me was very busy, but at the same time, not a lot happened. A lot of the people we are teaching have been busy or sick so we haven't been able to meet with them that much  But highlight of the week: Beatriz got baptized!! I didn't get to go, but I'm still so happy for her! 

This week I went on exchanges with Hermana Mackay! Our mission president changed some things, so we don't have exchanges as often and this was the first (and last) exchange of the transfer for me! It was a lot of fun and we met a lot of cool people, it was also a little weird, because she has the same area and ward as me, so all that changed for the day was my companion, even though I was technically in a different area. 

A couple random things that happened this week: 

1. We accidently stopped by the wrong members house and it turned out to be a miracle! He was home (with his daughter and 3 grandkids) and so we read a story with them and we found out that his mom is in the hospital and he asked us to go visit her! So the next day we went to the hospital and talked with her and we had to put on gowns and gloves and everything. She's going through a hard time, so we offered to have the elders come give her a priesthood blessing which she gladly accepted!

2. We were in a lesson with Juan who was baptized about a month ago, and in the middle of our lesson the elders quorum president shows up and grabs a chair (the lesson was in the church) and he starts teaching him how to bless the Sacrament. And then another member randomly joined us too! So our lesson was hijacked, but in a good way.

That's it for this week! My invitation to you all today is to study the Atonement of Jesus Christ (His suffering in Gethsemane, death on the cross, and resurrection). I know that this is what has brought me through some of the hardest times I've had on my mission and in my life. I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we have hope. Hope that we can change. Hope that hard times will get better. Hope that one day we'll be able to return to our Heavenly Father. He loves you and I love you  

Hna. Erickson

God is Good. All the Time (Week 45)

 We had a crazy miracle yesterday!! We went to visit a referral (someone who sends in a request to meet with us) and we got really lost. The apartment complex was HUGE. So we decide to ask for directions from a group of people, at first the whole group was like "okay, the missionaries. What are you gonna preach to us' and they were all pretty surprised when we asked for directions lol. Two of the decided to walk with us to find the apartment and we walked with them for a while since they didn't know where they were going either (they didn't live there) Eventually we found the apartment and our guides (Claudia and Jessie) say goodbye to us. We knocked on the door and asked for Juan (the referral) As it turns out, he moved about a month ago and the guy who opened the door was very nice, but very not interested. So we walked a little bit away from the door to figure out what to do next when Anthony comes outside. Anthony is the uninterested guys friend and he heard that we were talking about God with people and he said that he's been trying to change his life. As were talking to Anthony, Claudia and Jessie come back and ask if they could have our number! Later that night, Claudia texted us and asked if we could talk more because she and her husband want to have more peace in their lives...MIRACLE!! But back to Anthony, we keep talking with him and getting to know him and we were able to testify a lot about the love of God and how Christ can carry us through our trials if we let Him. We invited him to be baptized and he accepted and he's also reading from the Book of Mormon now! It's truly amazing how God can change our lives if we let him

Also this week:

- We had zone conference and I got to see a lot of missionaries that I haven't in a while! Also, some like guidance and spiritual upliftment from my mission president or something like that

- Maria and her two kids came to church!! They loved it and it's so amazing teaching them - I love it!

- I learned that my friend Beatriz is getting baptized next week!! I'm so happy for her - please pray I get to go to the baptism 

I love you all  Please let me know what little miracles you've seen in your life recently ️ 

Miracles Abound (Week 44)

 Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the last couple days of summer (or the first couple days of school depending on where you live)

My week was soooo busy. It just kept coming. But it was really good and we saw a lot of amazing miracles!

Miracle #1:

Our recent convert Juan was able to go to the temple for the first time and we got to go with him! It was a really amazing experience and it almost didn't happen. The temple trip was Thursday and on Wednesday he still didn't have his recommend (to be able to go inside the temple you need a recommend) We set up a lesson with him Wednesday night and invited our bishop and he told us he'll come if he can - not that encouraging...But about 25 minutes into the 30 minute lesson, he showed up! It was truly a miracle!

Miracle #2:

Yesterday we were trying to help a friend come to church, but she needed a carseat for her son and had no idea where to get one. We found out about this about an hour and a half before church. We didn't know what to do either. But earlier that week we were knocking on doors by her house and we talked to a family with a lot of kids who were members of the church a couple years ago but had stopped going. We decided to go knock on their door and plead for a carseat and not only did they have one for us to borrow - but they invited us to come by later this week! It was really amazing.

Throwback to when Hna Simko and I bought a carseat so our friend could come to church ️  Since I keep having this problem, I think I'll just buy one and carry it around with me 

Some other highlights:

- We did service at a food bank

- We had emergency exchanges because a sister got sick - so we got to cover both areas!

- We had a zone wide breakfast with our stake presidency

I love you all  and hope you have a great week! BTW I am working on responding to emails - sorry I've kind of dropped the ball on that lol

**Facebook Post** Aug 5

 What an exciting week in the mission!

We just completed our first transfers with missionaries in the field. We welcomed incredible new missionaries and companionships, and we bid tender farewells to those returning home. We’re thrilled for what lies ahead for them - they are remarkable!

We are so grateful for the faithful missionaries who have served so well in their areas and for those stepping into new opportunities to serve and lead. It’s great to see them embrace change with faith and enthusiasm as they serve the Lord.

**Kallie was transferred from Fontana to Rialto!**

Breakfast with a Special Visitor (Mom Post)

 The week after Hermana Erickson's 20th birthday, Christopher was going to be close to her area for a work trip. He reached out to Kallie's mission president and got permission to go and visit with Kallie and her companion for a quick breakfast on her P-day. He said Kallie looked so great, so happy, and glowing! Kallie said it was so great seeing Dad and she loved it - and it was harder than she thought to say goodbye. Crazy that she has been out for 10 months now - and is on the home stretch of her mission!