I wish i could tell you how many mosquito bites i have and I guess I scratch too hard?? 

 Our neighbor kids! Ah these kids hold my heart.  They love us!! L. is the one with the cray face. And those little hispanic girls are so precious!

While biking we found this awesome Street! A Cleaner Way. a legit street.  And so naturally we took a straight missionary pic with a book of mormon because it is the cleanest wayy!! haha 

November 9, 2015

HOLA MI AMIGOS!

Hace muy frio aqui!! I cant get over how cold it is getting!! This past week has been dreary and rainy for the most part but all is well!!

But now for the juicy details on TRANSFERS!!!!!  We got Transfer calls Saturday night late!  To save miles alot We spend the night at the other Hermanas (Johnson and Acosta)  so we decided to do that Saturday and then drive together to Church.  We were anxiously waiting for the call! Yall ready??  I AM STAYING IN HUNTSVILLE!! Este es mi hogar!!!  Estoy muy muy muy feliz.  PERO, Hermana Ontiveros is getting transferred.  So sad...Which was a complete surprise to us all.  That means I will be follow up trained! And I will lead out this area. Hermana Johnson is also leaving! She was only here for 2 transfers.  And Hermana Acosta is training!

This was some pretty dramatic news. Our whole District basically got torn apart.  

It got me really nervous for this next transfer! I feel inadequate with my Spanish to be able to lead out this area.  But I know everything has divine reason.  Just pray for me this week! Alot of changes.  But change is good.

This week was wonderful!! Things are really starting to roll onward.  This transfer has been about finding. finding. finding. finding. And now we are just seeing the benefits from our hard work.  

We had a great member present lesson with Presidente Lopez with a family we found!  E. P. is the main focus. He is from Guatemala and has been here for just 2 years. He lives with his sister L. and her husband C.  and their children.  E. is in his 20s. L. and C. are Pentecostal and very much apart of their church but they are still interested in learning more and sat in on our lesson.  We just taught La Restauracion.  We originally found Elias just knocking doors and he wasnt originally interested in learning but really wanted to come to our English class.  He has come a few times and then started asking questions.  So we had our first lesson.  The spirit was there and it was so great! And the end we asked Carlos the head of the household if he would offer the closing prayer.  And boy did he give the closing prayer!  I guess he is a preacher or minister at his Spanish Pentecostal church?  He stood while we all kneeled and was basically shouting in Spanish. Just straight up shouting!! with sooo much feeling and power! he was swaying and his eyes were shut so tight!!  He was saying sooo much so fast! I didnt understand alot haha but He said " Padre, Oh Padre Te damos Gracias por Hermana Molini y ......(and got super quiet) Como se llama??Ontiveros? oki OH PADRE TE DAMOS GRACIAS POR ONTIVEROS!" Ontiveros and I were trying soo hard not to laugh!!  I was just in shock.  and at one point opened my eyes and just stared at him with big ol eyes haha! I saw Presidente out of the corner of my eye and he just smiled me.. SO FUNNYYYYYY. So that’s the story of the week. 

We saw H. again! Every Wednesday at 3:30pm.  So much love for that man.. He is progressing and loved the Plan of Salvation Pamphlet we gave him.  He explained that most churches don’t talk much about Premortal Life.  He liked that.  He loves everything we give him to read.  Now we just need him to read the Book of Mormon!! I know he will love it.  As we were talking about life here on earth and how we can reach the Celestial Kingdom I thought about inviting him to be baptized. Part of me was like nahhhhh i cant! But I just went for it.  I just said, "H. you know I care about you right?"  He said yes  I said "H. I am going to ask you a question. A hard question.  And you don't have to answer right now. But its something I want you to think about. okay?"  With a nervous smile he said " Sister Moline I think i know what you are going to ask me..."  But he let me ask anyways.  I just said that if he prayed, to God.  And came to know through the Spirit of God and let it testify to him that the things we are saying are true, if they are true.  Would he follow Jesus Christ and be baptized.. Silence....He smiled and asked why I asked that. I told him that I think the spirit wanted me to ask him.  He said that it is interesting because its something that has been on his mind.  "Can I be a Mormon?" SO COOL.  He said he doesn’t know now but he will think about promised me he would pray about it.  hahaha soooooo I AM SO HAPPYYYYYY.  He just a special, wise, man who would do so much good.. I can just see him as a cute temple worker. 

There is so much to tell ya’ll but I leave it there.  The gospel.....I can't say how much I love it.  There is safety here. There is truth.  This is truth.  I love what President Uchdorf said this past general conference.  We as people, imperfect people, complicate the gospel.  The gospel is simple!  God is our loving Heavenly Father, He loved us so much He sent us His Son.  Christ, the most perfect man and the most perfect example.  Through Joseph Smith we have the SAME gospel that Jesus Christ established on the earth when He was here.  Through Apostles and Prophets and following the word of God we can be truly happy in this life.  We choose to believe, not because its easy, it is not. We do not know everything. But the Gospel is here to help us if we choose to live it. And  I walk by faith because I know He knows better.  

I love you all. Pray for my Spanish! I need help.  I want to be fluent so bad but I know it will come little by little with the help from my Heavenly Father.

Creo que mi Salvador vive. Yo se que  lo unico camino es por medio de Jesu Cristo, nuestro Profeta y apostoles, por leyendo a las escrituras. 

Los deseo una semana llena de bendiciones de Dios!!! 

Hermana Moline

November 2, 2015

Week 6???  what....

WELL ill be darned…  Another one bites the dust...

Maurie put it so nicely. " I seriously just love all the incredibly phenomenal people that you get to meet and interact with as a missionary. I will forever treasure these little interactions! Save them in your heart and mind. No other time will Iget to get real with people like that so quickly. 

It is like once you put on that name tag you have the greatest excuse and reason to talk to EVERYBODY. I love that. It doesn't matter who, or what they look like that little black tag makes you invincible in social situations. You literally can approach ANYONE."

Something in the Alabama Birmingham Mission that is said alot is "Love the TOAST." Toast is an acronym. Thrive On Awkard Situations.  And you might ask what the extra T is for but it’s just to make things more awkward.  I LOVE IT.  IT is the most perfect acronym to describe missionary work.  

Needless to say we have had alot of Toast this week.  We met alot of cool people and just straight up awkward people.  One hispanic man we are teaching is ********.  He lives alone and seems interested in the  gospel.  Until Thursday night.  We were on Exchanges with the STLs.  Sister Ontiveros calls Sister Taylor and I and tells us she doesn’t understand what ******* is saying and that we need to call him and figure out what’s going on.  We called him and asked how his reading of the Book of Mormon is going and he is just super giggly and keeps asking "Tienen novios?"  or Do ya’ll have boyfriends?  Which is never a good sign.  I explained that we arent allowed to date on missions and what are purpose really is.  Then he kept interrupting me and says "Esparame esparame! te gusta muchiiiisiiimmas."which means "wait for me wait for me! i like you guys soooooooo much." hahahaha Sister Taylor and I just start crackin upppp.  Basically i was just like okay Samuel we think youre drunk so we will have the Elders talk to you later. There was a long pause and he says in english. " i love you" UGH.  NO ***********. hahahahah

Hispanic men here are as thirsty as HECK. It’s seriously insane.  We met this guy ****** at Walmart and he seemed super legit.  He was really interested in our English class and so we called him yesterday night and basically he just complained to us about how lonely he is and how much he needs a woman and asked if he could talk to the blonde girl and asked if I had a boyfriend. NOOOOOO ******.  I explained to him that as missionaries we can’t do that and he just wouldn’t be quite about how sad he is.  ughhhh This is like the 183746th time this has happened to us. So many single Mexican men come here to work and all they want is a woman and tequila.  SO ANNOYING THE GOSPEL IS SO MUCH BETTERRRRR.  All we want is to share this message and these men are just cray....haha

But also Happy Halloween!! Friday night we went store contacting at Walmart and EVERYONE was dressed up.  So fun! An English ward in our building had a Trunk or Treat and invited the Branch.  We invited tons of our investigators and potentials and no one showed up :( But some people we talked to like 3 weeks ago showed up for English class. We have English class every Wednesday and Friday night and we usually only have about 2 or 3 people come.  But these people came! We gave them chili and introduced them to some members.  Such a great surprise!  Another kid Jesus, who is like 16 years old, showed up with his girlfriend and is super interested in the gospel.  ELECT! 

On actual Halloween night, Saturday, we had to be in our apartments at 7pm.  But a member in another ward invited all the missionaries over for games and hot chocolate.  Since we have been completely out of miles this week we have been biking EVERYWHERE. Our STLs said they would give us a ride to the missionary party but they live like 6 miles away.  It was pouring rain that night too, but Sister O and I just yolo'd it and biked in the rain, and we got so SOAKED. My skirt was ringing water and it was awesome.  At one intersection we had about 2 and a half miles left and thought about giving up and going home.  But we kept on going! I just shouted out, “I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. I LOVE THE RAIN.” Needless to say I will never forget this Halloween in Huntsville. 

On a more spiritual note.  Church yesterday was soo great.  The spirit was so strong.  Nothing in particular, but fast and testimony meeting is amazing.  We have some incredible members.  I really do hope I stay here in Huntsville!!!!!!!!  Our district is all hoping we all stay here.  

Our Investigator Joel is doing amazing though. He is probably our most progressing investigator.  He keeps reading and loves learning.  We really wanted him to attend church yesterday but he gave some excuses that he doesn’t have nice clothes.  We tried explaining that anything he wore would be fine! But he promised he would come next week when he can buy some new clothes! 

This gospel is so amazing.  True happiness is truly living your testimony everyday.  As missionaries we live such consecrated lives which makes it so easy feel the spirit and be happy.  And people notice it!  They notice something different. Not just because we are in skirts on bikes in the rain although I am sure that has something to do with it.  But it’s the fact that we are happy doing it.  And it’s only because we know this message can change people’s lives and we can’t help but love everyone we talk to because everyone deserves this knowledge...and most people aren’t ready. But we try anyway and plant that seed.  

I love being a missionary.  It is hard, no doubt.  It is the most different thing and weirdest thing I have ever done but its so greattttt!!! I already love it. 

My ponderizing verse for this week is in Alma 36:24 

"Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which i did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." 

That is what I want to do.  How can you read the Book of Mormon and say that it is not the word of God?  Every page testifies of His glory and His Son Jesus Christ.  I love it!!! This happiness is for all men.

Ya’ll take care now. I love you all.  Stay fresh and keep on keepin’ on!!!!!

Hermana Mole    (Mole is a Hispanic food here:)

Lydia came down from BYU for a weekend I saw her at Stake Conference!! So fun!

Sunday was Herman Johnsons Cumpleanos!  We had dinner at Presidente Lopez's house!

October 26, 2015

Mi familia bonita! La pasada semana fue muy rapidooooooooo

OH MY LANTA.  How have I been here for almost 6 weeks?? This week has flown by.  Transfers are on the 11th of November and I hope I stay here in the branch!  It has been so great and i would love to continue to work here.  

Since being out here I have learned something so valuable from President Hanks! NOTHING beats HARD WORK and ARROWS OUT. NOTHING.  Arrows out  is an expression that is pretty well known in the ABM.  P. Hanks says it alot.  meaning as young people, our arrows are usually in.  he uses the analogy of a stick figure with arrows all around him, all pointing inward.  Self-centeredness, me, me, me.  But as missionaries there comes a point in our mission where we must turn those arrows OUT.  To find real happiness we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. And that is something i have been trying to work on.  

Last Wednesday an appointment we had with someone fell through so we went to go follow up with some people we found last week! One of those people was xxxxxxxxx  He’s an old black man who is a retired pastor!  Because he was a pastor he was pretty set in his ways.  But he was so sweet to us and funny.  I could tell he was an extremely wise man.  I immediately fell in love with him.  His humility and soft spoken heart really set the tone for the spirit!  And He definitely saw something in us.  Multiple times he said that he saw God in us and genuinely respected us and what we were doing.  I kept telling him he needs to teach me his wisdom! haha I shared with him Galatians 5:22,25 a verse I was sure he was familiar with. About the spirit.  We explained how we can know truth if we pray to God, something he knows very well.  We invited him to pray and ask God to help him recognize truth, especially in what we say.  

He was so cute and nice. We had an amazing discussion about religion. We laughed and also got emotional. Sometime during the discussion he looked at me very intently and said with a big ol smile on his face "This sister here, you are something else."  hahha I loved talking to him. After we said a prayer he went in for a hug! I explained that it was a rule as missionaries we cant.  He then said "Its okay I think God gave us permission."  He then gave me a big ol bear hug and kissed me on the cheek!!!  hahaha man he was so funny I love him!!!  

We also had Interviews with President this week!! On Thursday.  Every month our mission has an activity.  Interviews with P. Hanks, Temple trip, and Zone Conference. They just rotate each month.  This month was Interviews! Just 10 minute interviews but it was so good!! He is such a great man.  We just talked.  He asked how S. Ontiveros is, the work is, what I’ve learned and What I think I can improve on.  It was so nice! He is a wonderful man..

  

And also, can I say it enough that I LOVE HISPANICS?? I wish so badly sometimes that I was Hispanic!! Sister Johnson says I am in my heart hahaha.  I really have so much love for those people.  Their food, their culture, their language!!  They are wonderful people!! A motto that I was told this week was "As Spanish missionaries in AL we look for the brown in the sea of black and white!" soooo true....

Okay time for PEOPLE.  xxxxx  xxxxxxx  Quick backround.  We found xxxxxx on the street. He looks homeless and kinda smells homeless too but he is not.  We said a prayer with him when we first met with him and truly his eyes and whole countenance was just beaming.  Since then we have been teaching him.  He is a very interesting guy.  He was struck by lightening in the head, stabbed, fell down a flight of stairs, and has been to prison twice.  He’s had a pretty rough life and isn’t quite ALL there in the head but truly does have a desire to change.  Oh and he’s been smoking since he was 25 and he’s 53 now.  But little by little, over time, things have changed with him.  Not necessarily physically but he listens alot more.  He has such a desire to learn and especially to be baptized.  Since he is English we have to pass him off soon.  He came to church this past week too!! it was Stake Conference and it was just wonderful.  He went to both sessions, Saturday and Sunday. And   Oh my...Elder Fred A. Parker of the 70 came and presided! And man is he a character!! I LOVE HIM.  He’s a big black guy that is basically like a Southern Baptist meets a Mormon Bishop! I felt like we were at a Baptist church when he spoke! So powerful and so full of the Spirit!  haha it was awesome.  

      President and Sister Hanks were there too!! They are so sweet.  Both met xxxxx too! One older lady spoke, She was a true southerner.  SO FUNNY. The thickest southern accent I have ever heard! She was hilarious!!!!! I was laughing SO HARD.  Every once and a while President and Sister Hanks would look at me and just start cracking up.  It was so funny. One of my favorite things she said was "Promptins from the Spirit- Now don’t just go and throw those away!!"  

      Sister Hanks was asked to bear her testimony during the meeting and totally shouted me out! She basically said that among all the faces she cant help but notice Sister Moline, one of the newest missionaries and recognize that THESE ARE HER PEOPLE! She belongs here in the South and has been prepared to come here!! It was super special haha.  And I can totally say I agree 100% with her.  THESE ARE MY PEOPLE SOUTHERNERS AND HISPANICS. I belong here and I know I am here for a reason.  This call was for me personally and I wouldnt have it any other way. 

     Sunday session was just as good!! So many wonderful and amazing things said.  The spirit was so strong.  P. Hanks spoke a bit too! It was so great.  He talked about how we need to "Just jump in the Gospel with both feet. And be ALL IN the church." there is safety here.  He was so straight up. I loved it. Elder Parker said that one of the reasons we come to church is to MAGNIFY the name of Christ.  He had the families of all the missionaries serving from the Huntsville Stake stand up and gave his gratitude.  He then had all the missionaries serving IN the Huntsville Stake stand up.  HE expressed his gratitude. And promised for the wards that they would stand by and support us.  They pray for us as well as our families back at home. I was so proud to be able to stand up. I love being a missionary! Especially here. President and Sister Hanks were crying.  It was so powerful!

I am sorry this is like a freakin novel but I truly do love this Gospel!! And I love being a missionary.

My verse for Ponderizing this week is John 20:29, 31 " Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of god; and that believing ye might have life through His name."  

Let us continue to believe! I choose to believe because I find happiness therein.

Que tenga un buena semana!

Con mucho amor,

Hma Moline