January 4, 2016

Happy 2016!!!!!! Can you believe we made it to 2016? WE MADE IT!!!  It was super exciting to realize that I get a full year of missionarywork. A full 365 days!! Or wait is it supposed to be leap year? Does that make it 366? No clue. It's the idea behind it that counts haha. But how cool is that! I feel so blessed to have that opportunity.

Monday we got together as a Zone and played Gatorball!!!! It’s a heavenly sport that is basically soccer and football and rugby all combined.  SO MUCH FUN.  I live for Pdays so I can just run and play something competitive haha

We were able to visit a less active, F***** this week as well.  He is a wonderful guy from Oaxaca Mexico! He has only been working here in Huntsville for a little bit and was actually baptized in Houston TEXAS!! Woohoo!  We are working with him on setting goals this year for attending the Temple! He was baptized only 5 months ago but in just a few short months he can go! Its so difficult getting him to church because he works so much.  But He has a testimony and knows he needs to be bold and ask for Sundays off!  We are praying for him!

This week Sister Mitchell and I were able to go on blits with the STLs!  Sister Castagno and I had a BLAST tracting some trailer parks.  Can I just say how much I love Trailer Parks and Mobile Home Parks?  I really do. I LOVE THEM! Sketchy at times but they are the best.  We actually played American football with a group of kids in a spare lot and it was so fun!!! They were all really surprised when Sister Castagno and I asked to play in skirts.  One lil chubby kids stole my whole heart and soul. I just wanted to put him in my pocket and go tracting with him. haha he was adorable.  Since Sister C and I were like 3 feet taller than all these kids we scored touchdowns like no other. They were all saying "we just got scored on by a girl in a skirt!" We gathered them all together after a bit and shared a scipture about Jesus Christ being baptized.    We bore testimony and and invited them all to be baptized just like he was.  Every one of the kids got so excited and raised there hand saying they wanted to do the same! We gave them all our card and told them to all talk to their parents about coming to church with us.  These kids are going to remember that experience forever and ahh I just love being a missionary.

 Ana!!!!! Remember our elect investigator A.M?  We had a wonderful lesson with her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ with some members.  It went really well.  It just flowed so easily.  While I was explaining Repentance it really just rang true.  The spirit really hit me, how we can literally be clean and free from sin each time we choose to repent.  And how through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all things can be healed and fixed.  How Christ truly knows and has felt ALL pain, sickness, guilt, weakness, ALL infirmities that we feel in our lives.  I know that to be true.  The Member, Flori, was so bold.  She bore her testimony about when she was baptized.  How she and her husband Carlos, had being living together for 15 years and needed to get married.  She told A. that if she wanted to be baptized she would need to get married. A. immediately said she would talk to her boyfriend, who she lives with about it. YES A.!!!  Other great news? She had her baby on Saturday morning! Baby boy that is 5 lbs.  SO CUTE.   

Thursday night we had to be in by 6pm since it was New Years Eve.  We got together as a Zone and just played some volleyball and then we all went to sleep early. Best way to celebrate the New Year!!!

We met an awesome man R.L.! Tall skinny black man.  But when we went to go back when we had our appointment he said it wasn't a good time because he got run over by a car the day before....uhh what??? hahaha So yeah I guess he got run over by a car and hasn't stopped limping since! So sad!  Poor Mr. L.  Then we talked to a lady who seemed very very interested but at the end of our discussion said "I'm really not into religion but do ya'll have some food or money I could borrow??"  well shucks.... haha but hey no effort wasted!

Saturday evening the Branch put on a Convivio! Just a small activity with dancing and food and sports.  We had our less Active Fernando come! Woohoo! It was SO FUN.  The members love to dance to real Latino music and it was the most adorable thing to see all the couples dancing with each other!  These members, I cant brag enough about them! I was just thinking during sacrament meeting how truly blessed I am to be on a mission and to have met these amazing people.  Such strong steadfast people in the gospel.  All are converts and all have the strongest testimonies of this gospel.  Maybe its because this is my fist area and I have been here for so long but They just are amazing.. They LOVE the missionaries and they Love the gospel.

I know that his gospel is true and I am so incredibly grateful for all the blessings it has brought into my life. I'm also especially grateful for the knowledge that we have of our Heavenly Father—of how much He loves us and of the plan which He has so lovingly created for us which through His son, allows us to return to live with Him one day with our families in a fullness of joy. How great is that?! That's ultimately the message that we share. Our Heavenly Father loves us. All else is an appendage to that. What a blessing!!

sorry this is sucha  long email.

love you to the moon and back! sureloveyoumolinesrockmissionariesrule

Hna roll tide Moline

 Sister M*** and I!!

Sister Mitchell's first day out on a bike! She totally rocked it!

 Merry Christmas!!

  3 generations! My Follow up Trainer, me, and my trainee.  Sister Mitchell!!

 Our Christmas corner! Those are all my packages!! I am so loved:):):):)

 Sister Latu (from Australia) just went home, Sister West, and Me

  I got to see Sister Johnson! She served in Huntsville with me my first transfer! She is now an STL

  La Sociedad de Socorro de la Rama! This is the Relief Society of the Branch!! LOVE THESE WOMEN





Mi Madre de Puerto Rico! Hermana Rosa Cruz.  I love this woman so much!!

Kenzie is engaged!! My baby is a TEXAN, and AL is cold

December 21, 2015

HELLOOOOO BEAUTIFUL WORLD!

Welp Mckenzie is ENGAGED.  This is such wonderful news and I am so so so so happy for Mckenzie and Jason.  Ahhhh it’s just all so exciting I feel like its not even really happening!

This week was awesome though! We had dinner with one of my absolute favorite families in the Rama, Los Corps Cruz.  They are from Puerto Rico!  All their kids are grown and gone so its just Hermana Rosa Cruz and Hermano Carlos Cruz. She makes THE BEST Puerto Rican food of all time. 

Thursday we had an actividad de la Sociedad de Socorro.  Or a Relief Society activity for Christmas at the Lopez' house! It was so fun. Sister Mitchell was able to meet all the Hermanas and it was great. 

Saturday we had a lesson with **** *****! She is the 22 year old pregnant girl that has been in America for about a year.  She is so elect.  We just went over there so she how she was and she was so excited to see us and told us she has been continually reading the Book of Mormon and so we decided to read Ether 12 with her about Faith.  She had so many comments and insights.  I was in Awe....we are going back tomorrow with a member.  She really wants us to come over Christmas day and see her!  The only probably is that her novio or boyfriend lives with her and has absolutely no interest in talking with us and doesn't want anything to do with us.  But doesn't care if we continue to teach Ana.  So we are praying!

Yes I am training!! Although it was really sad to be separated, Sister West is now in Altadena, a Spanish branch in Birmingham.  Transfers was wonderful.  I LOVE THE ABM  (Americas Best Mission)  Sister M is my new companion! She is from Roundrock, Texas, near Austin!  But her family moved to Orem, Utah when she just had a month left of high school so that's where they are right now.  She is so cute!!! Just little and has so much energy and LOVES missionary work.  After our first lesson/ tracting sesh she just said "This is literally the best thing I have ever done!! How cool was that lady that we talked to? She is so getting baptized."  I love, love, love her enthusiasm.  It really is just contagious.  Honestly it is refreshing! Getting someone as a companion so new and just so ready to learn. She never had Spanish before now so she is still learning as are we all!!  She is really into planning and being organized and clean which is good because those things are just not me so I can definitely learn from her and hopefully we can benefit from each other’s strengths and what not!  She loves purple and went to a year of BYUI before she came out! She’s great and I am excited to continue to get to know her and work with her this transfer!

This first week training honestly has been draining!  It’s been kinda slow but I am excited for this week and after Christmas for the work to pick back up. 

Emmaus Experience:

Tracting at night.  FREEZING. It was getting late so we start heading back to the car. We see a guy walking so we go up and start talking to him.  Turns out he just lost his job and told us he could really use some upliftment right now.  BINGO.  I just smiled and gave Sister Mitchell the eye that she got this one.  She turned to a scripture that I later found out she had read in personal study that morning.  It was in 3 Nephi talking about how God knows our needs.  How we should not fear what we should eat or what clothes to wear because if we seek the kingdom of God FIRST then he will provide all the rest.  We testified of that and left him with a prayer.  It was a short and sweet little experience.  The spirit touched him.  I know it.  It was a cool experience of how personal study is inspired and is not always for our benefit but for others.  Sister Mitchell is already a solid missionary. 

So many other things happened this week but just know that I love this GOSPEL!!!

I love missionary work! I am SO SO SO SO excited to see you this week! Christmas is so soon!! Lets make it the best year yet. 

Love,

Hermana Moline

Transfers, Christmas, and Fun!

December 14, 2015

Well ladies and gentlemen... the verdict has come., Transfer instructions were given, and tears were shed.  BUT I AM NOT LEAVING THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF HUNTSVILLEEE!!! Wooohooo!!

I get to have at least one more wonderful transfer here and I am so beyond excited.  However my partner in crime, my beautiful Utahan companion, Sister West is leaving :(   This was a complete surprise to us both!! I was so sure that we would have another transfer together since she's only been here for 5 weeks (a transfer but not even a real transfer!)  She was devastated, as was I....We really work well together and laugh so much. I love that girl with my whole heart!  But its okay because I am going to be her Maid of honor when she gets married so its fine.  But still very sad.  And that isn't even the end to the madness.....I AM TRAINING.  yep you read that right.  I am going to get a cute little noobie missionary and I WILL BE A MOTHER.  are you kidding me??/ haha I was in such shock when I heard the news!  But I am super excited. We will have so much fun together and just learn together as well.  I feel really blessed and honored that President Hanks is entrusting me with this huge responsibility!! but I am sooooooooooo nervous. So send them prayers this way por favor.  I really need them.

This week was wonderful though! 

We will first start with last Monday.  We meet an extremely elect girl!! Her name is Ana and she is wonderful.  We met her last week as she was getting her mail! She has been in America for almost a year and is from Mexico and speaks no english.  She is pregnant and is due at the end of December or the beginning of January.  When we met, neither Sister West and I thought anything of it.  But we called her and set up an appointment.  It was SO GOOD. Before we even knocked on her door we were talking to some hispanos outside her apartment,  she opened her door and asked if we knocked.  She was expecting us!! That does not happen very often people!!!  She was so engaged and had some wonderful questions.  The spirit was so strong.  At one point I looked at her and just asked her what she was feeling. She said that she the things were teaching were interesting and different but she said that she had never felt this way before and was excited to learn more.  OH YES ANA! Lets goo!! She is just adorable. 

In the ABM President Hanks loves to hear our Emmaus experiences.  Referring to Luke 24 when the disciples came acrossed Christ but didn't know it was him till after.  and they say "did not our hearts burn within us when he spoke, surely it was the Christ"  Emmaus experiences are basically like miracle moments.  And my friends, Ana was our Emmaus experience this week!

On Wednesday we had Ukulele Choir!  This was our last practice for awhile as a Choir because Christmas is coming up they are taking a break.  So we had a big ole potluck with REAL southern food!! This is one of the few times I have had real southern food because being in a branch its like being not in the south at all so it was so fun!  The ladies were pointing out all the real southern dishes and explained where they originated and what not haha so cute! Afterwards we prayed for thanks and sang Christmas carols!

Thursdays Sister West and I go and volunteer at the Senior Center and this Thursday was our first day! We are lunch ladies!! haha yayy!! We are so cute in our little hair nets and gloves! haha it was a wonderful experience!

Friday was our mission Christmas Party!! Every year they split the mission and have two mission Parties with a talent show and lunch feast and we get to watch a Disney movie!! SO FUN!  The Talent show was so fun!! And we got to watch Big Hero 6 as our movie this year!  

Can I just say how much I love Christmas?? Because I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Why is it so wonderful? Because Christ is in everyones heart.  What really saddens me is that some people don't know why we celebrate Christmas.  A lot of people love Christmas but don't know the reasons we celebrate this wonderful time of year.  It really does make it so much more meaningful when we remember our Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ and His humble birth. 

This past weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the Huntsville and Madison stake put on a HUGE giant Christmas Festival at our building.  They transformed the whole inside and in the gym had tons of nativity scenes (like our Creche back home we sometimes have)  and Christmas trees and homemade quilts!  On top of that there is a wonderful Choir and orchestra from people in both stakes that perfomed concerts each night.  As missionaries we all had shifts we had to be there are do certain things.  Saturday Night Sister West and I were able to attend one of the concerts.  IT WAS AMAZING.  Seriously it was the Motab of the South.  They have been doing this Christmas festival for 11 years and people from ALL over Alabamba come.  not even members!! We invited everyone we talked to and a few actually came!  It was so beautiful.. a great reminder of Christ.

Before all the fun stuff we got to do at the Christmas party we had a Christmas Devotional by President and Sister Hanks.  It was based on a question: 

What can I give the Savior this year?  His answers were

-Our Knowledge of His life

-Our testimony of Him

-Gratitude for all He's given us

-Service to others

-Our very best effort.

That last one sums them all up.  And that's what I am going to do this Christmas.  I am going to give my heart and soul to my Savior Jesus Christ.  Hand it right on over.  Make the necessary sacrifices to come closer to Him.  And I want to encourage you all to do the same.  It is so much more meaningful than any present or gift we can receive. I already see a difference in the way I look at Christmas.

Before I end.

Sister Hanks said this which i LOVE "The best way to make room for Christ is to make room for others.  When we open the door for others, He rushes in with them."  

I know this gospel is true.  Jesus Christ is our brother, our exemplar, our king.  He is Wonderful.  He is there.  He really was born those many years ago.  This is not a childrens story or a fairytale, His birth really did happen.  And how blessed are we to have known it!!  Let us rejoice in it.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.  I cant wait to see all your beautiful faces in just a few short days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love,

Hermana Syringe Molynge

With our American Indian names and feathers!

 We are teaching a man ******, he owns a music store and a giant St. Bernard named Rocky.  He is MASSIVE. and just the nicest little teddy bear ever. 

  This my friends is what Alabama looks like when the Bama vs. Auburn game is on all day. 

. This ladies and gents is the one and the only ****! i love this little hispanic man with all that is in me.

  Did I tell ya'll that Sister West and I got the Beautification Award in all of Huntsville?

 Hermana West, Hermana Elsa Santos, and Me!

 Playing in the leafs last pday!

We are ready for Thanksgiving!