Joyful! Joyful!

Hello Friends and Family!

This week has been legit! Seriously though. We have found the most amazing investigator ever! His name is Devonta and we found him through going by a former investigator. He said he didn't have time right now because he was leaving but told us to come back, so we did a couple of days later with two members who are working on their papers. We taught him the restoration. It was so cool. The whole time he was bearing his testimony and you could feel the spirit so strong. When he read the First Vision he said he didn't even know where he should put his hands. He was so excited. When I invited him to be baptized an even bigger smile on his face appeared as he accepted. I didn't think it was possible. He's getting baptized on July 30th. Through that visit we found out that all his roommates are less active members and that he went to a fast and testimony meeting. He bore his testimony and told us how many people liked it. He came to church Sunday and met everyone. I already looks like he's a member and fits in already. He even makes amazing comments in class. We had to get into groups. I was in a group with him and got to hear his story of how we found him. On that morning, at 4, when we knocked on his door he was praying to God to give him a sign of where he needed to go, or comfort he needed in his life. Later that day we knocked on his door. He says that he knows that we were the answers to his prayers. Every doubt or question he had about the church was answered that Sunday. It felt like a relief especially since, Sister Allen, Elder Austin, Elder Mather, and I spoke in sacrament meeting. We all talked about God's love and missionary work. In my talk I shared the story about when I was little and you couldn't find me. You finally found me sleeping, with my binkey, on a pile of blankets in the blanket closet. I then shared the parable of the sheep in Luke 15:4-6. It was so much fun, and I feel like I was only up there for 30 seconds, but apparently it was all long enough. We all only planned about 10 minutes each, but you always seem to talk faster when you finally get up there.

Got a ukulele today! I'm super excited. Sister Allen's going to teach me how to play and we're going to rock at it!

The church is true and I'm grateful for seeing to progress in grow.

Ofa Atu! 

Sister Stone

I just love the sunsets! 

This is Sister Child who we're going to start living with next week!

It's always nice to see a familiar face!

New profile pic right here!

Note from Marilyn: The "familiar face" on the BYU-I Online Learning poster is Kristy Hammond, a great sister that lives in our ward. Her husband, Chris Hammond, works at BYU-Idaho for the online learning department.

Sister Eliza Stone

California Long Beach Mission

6500 E. Atherton St.

Long Beach, CA  90815

I'm Staying!

Hey Family and Friends!

Sister Garcia and I are Staying In HB! We're both Super excited! We love this ward! Everyone seems super excited that we're staying.

We did more sand bagging (except my district) this week, but we haven't had any rain since that one email that I sent you with pics of rain. Everything's going great! We did service at someone house that was so gross. Apparently the parents who lived there died two and a half years ago and the soon just hasn't had the courage to go in there. Let me just tell you, and was bad. You could tell that they were smokers. The wall were black. The carpet used to be bright green, but it was all black and yellow, except under a TV from the 50's (Those one's without a remote). They had one of those old vacuums that I thought was going to explode the whole time we were vacuuming.

This is the back yard. That black/brown. stuff is water in their pond. We did not help with that.​​

Emilia's baptism was amazing! She was so happy. I loved her response when she got out of the font: "That was way too fast!" She just seemed so giddy and happy. She told us that she felt happier as well, which made me smile. For the first time yesterday she was early to church. She wanted to sit in the front center of the chapel, and was smiling ear to ear. Her confirmation was in Spanish, but you could barely breath with how strong the spirit was in there. We were also excited to see, after church, that she had signed up to feed the Elders and I. All four of us were jumping up and down. You could tell that Elder Woffinden was a little bit more emotional, especially since he's going home tomorrow. It was so amazing, especially seeing her testimony grow. When the Bishop was talking, he told us about an experience in one of her lessons. It was on Chastity, Word of Wisdom, and Tithing. Three of the hardest things for someone to understand, unless they are all the way prepared. She excepted it all, and said how they were all a no brainier for her.

Me, Sister Garcia, Bishop Davis, Emilia, Rodrigo, Elder Woffinden, and Elder Motyer

I guess after her baptism, she posted all over Facebook about how she got baptized, and is now, "part of the true and living church". In her words.

After Kelsey's lesson we haven't gotten a hold of her, or the family who are members. They've all dropped off of the place of the planet.

Sadie and Maddie are getting baptized this Saturday! I'm so excited for them!

I'm so excited for this next transfer. I have a couple of goals, especially since I'm out of training, that I can't wait to achieve. One goal that Sister Garcia are planing on doing is trying to get to know each and every one of the members in our ward. I'm shocked we don't already, but it's going to be great. 

I love this goal, and it's doing so many marvelous things. I have become so strengthened by this gospel. Especially this past week. I love seeing how it is helping so many peoples lives, and stregthening them and bringing them together. I know that this is the true church, and that it truly does bless peoples lives.

Ofa Atu!

Sister Stone

Sister Eliza Stone

California Long Beach Mission

6500 E. Atherton St.

Long Beach, CA  90815

 

My district​: Elder Ugbamen, Gutierez, Motyer, Brown, Woffinden, Whetten, Sister Garcia, and I. (As you can see, Sister Garcia feels very uncomfortable around Elders)

 

This is Omera!

 

 

Time's Flying and I'm Having Fun (Email from 01-18-16)

Hey Family and Friends.

My mom told me that almost everyone was confused about the title of my last email so let me clear that up. Remember when I told you how I wrecked my bike? Well that was last transfer. This transfer I tripped over a parking bumper. Yah. I got a pretty nice bruised knee, but it didn't hurt. I couldn't help but start laughing. I thought Sister Garcia was the only one who saw me, then I heard the car horn. There in front of me, in their car, is my district leader and his comp. Now you know the story.

This week has been good! We have a new investigator. Her name is Kelsey. She's dating one of the members in our ward. She just started asking him questions. She seems really sweet! The whole family, that we taught with, are awesome! She's very accepting, especially growing up with a very strong Christian background.

Transfer calls are coming in the Saturday. 

Mary Lou from Sea Cliff just knitted me a red scarf (which you can kind of see in one of the pictures).

Emilia's baptism is this Saturday and I'm so excited for her. She is really strong in everything, and is super excited.

Did sand bagging this last week and probably this week as well.

Taught Maddi and Sadie and found out that they're dad is going to baptize them. I'm so happy for them. Sometimes it can be hard to teach because them and their mom and really good at talking. No joke. They are so ready for this. Their oldest daughter, Carly, decided that she wants to start coming back to church as well. It's amazing that this is all happening, and that they're wanting to come back.

Sorry their not a lot, but I don't have much more time. I love you all! I know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing, and where I'm supposed to be. I see that every day.

Ofa Atu!

Sister Stone

Sister Eliza Stone

California Long Beach Mission

6500 E. Atherton St.

Long Beach, CA  90815

 

Holla!

Holla!

This week has been great. We got a new investigator that could be pretty solid. She was a referral from our bishop She loves Mormons and her name is Christine. Her husband is a police officer, and she has two little boys who love me. Just thought I'd put that in there.

El Nino is awesome. I think if it rains more out little town house/ apartment is going to flood. Our zone has been helping the fire departments fill up bags with sand. It's been a lot of fun, but man I'm sore. I love the work though. It's been fun getting to work and help people.

Wasn't able to talk to Kim yet this week but I'll be seeing her tomorrow and Friday. This Sunday she went to a different ward to go to her nieces boyfriends farewell. I think this is a golden time for her, especially with what's all going on with her family.

Emilia's baptism is a week from this Saturday. I am so excited for her. Rodrigo met with the bishop and we found out that he couldn't baptize her because of some things. He was really worried that if he told her, she would be angry and wouldn't want to be baptized anymore. It was the total opposite instead. She told him that he need to buck up, fix his problems because she wants the Melchizedek priesthood in her home. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Mary Lou was in the hospital for the past couple of weeks. She's one of the sweet ladies from Sea Cliff who's husband was a game show host. We saw her walking down the hallway the other day, so excited to see her. She told me that she couldn't leave yet because she still had to knit me a red scarf. I was so touched and forgot the I even asked her to make me one. The other ladies all seem to be going down hill. Even Omera. It's breaking my heart that I can't do anything to help them except pray, and then I remember something that Lawrence said once about how prayer can be the strongest thing to give someone. It's given me comfort even though it can sometime be hard to see them hurt so much.

I know that this church is true with all my heart. I'm so grateful for the all the people I've met her in HB. I know that They are part of the reason why I needed to go on a mission. I've been seeing so many things that always answer why the Lord sent me here at this time. I'm so glad he did. It's changing me for the better. One "talk" I read this week (more of a story) has been the Ricarddi Letter. If you haven't read it you need to. It's changed my perspective even more since I've been out here. Sister Garcia and my new motto is "The field is white already to harvest. Not brown or yellow ready to water." I'm also thankful of those who have rejected me because it is showing me how much the Lord does love me and wants me to grow. It probably doesn't make sense right now so I invited you to read the story and then it will.

Of Atu!

Sister Stone

Sister Eliza Stone

California Long Beach Mission

6500 E. Atherton St.

Long Beach, CA  90815

This is of one of the many (and I mean many) of dogs she has. This is her youngest dog of about 5 or 6 months. It's one of those Russian dogs that hunts bears and eats meat. Still a puppy. A big puppy.
*Note from Eliza's mom: On a later reply to this email, Eliza said the woman that owns the dogs is a convert of about a year that is in their ward.

Two Months? (Jan. 4th email)

Family and Friends!

I can't believe I've already been out in California for two months already. That just seems crazy to me. I'm loving it out here so much, and after this week, Sister Garcia and I have really found out and decided what amazing were doing in the Cordata Park Ward. There have been amazing and inspirational experiences that I will now talk about.

The first one was with Emilia. As I said in the last email we had to see if we need to give her to the Spanish Elders to see her progress and be ready for the 23rd of this month. We did it in the chapel (Since their home got flooded after Christmas). There was seven people in there. Emilia, Rodrigo (her husband) the Spanish Elders, Sister Mortenson (an amazing lady in our ward who has gone through so much this last year, yet she still seems to find how the Lord blesses her), Sister Garcia, and I. We taught her the Power of Four which are four of the commandments: Pray Often, Study the Scriptures, Keep the Sabbath Day Holy, and Be Obedient. It was amazing. In the end we did give her to the Spanish Elders, but there seemed to be a difference in Rodrigo. He's a less active who got baptized two years ago. He went through a messy divorce and didn't come back after that. He always new the importance of the spirit and our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but now he's seeing how important it is for Emilia, and how she needs to know more. This Sunday that sat up front instead of in the back, and it was great. The Elders translated for her and she seemed way more happy. They were probably the last people to leave the chapel because everyone was going up to them and talking to them. I'm so grateful I was able to meet them. On New Years Rodrigo texted us saying how grateful he was for us to bring the gospel back into his life. I felt so humbled when I said that. They are just great. I can't put it into words.

Sadie also came to church! She the 9-year-old. Her dad was there and also her mom, which shocked us because of her bad back issues. They also brought their 13-year-old daughter Maddi to church that they want us to start teaching. This is a less active family that's living with one grandma and the two youngest. The two oldest (Maddi being one of them) are living with the other set of grandparent's more down town. The grandma their living with is a member, but doesn't want to get involved in reactivating them. The other grandparents go to a different church, and apparently baptized Maddie in their church behind the parent's. Maddy realized that it was a bad decision and wants to start taking the lessons. We really excited for them. Sadie's planing on Getting baptized on January 30th.

We also got two new investigators this week who also came to church! It all started last transfer when we were on exchanges. We met the ladies husband who said that they were paying for part of their nieces mission. A week or so later we got a call from a companionship of Elders from the Anaheim Mission. Apparently she call her Sister-in-law (who's daughters is on a mission) who called the Elders in the Anaheim mission who called us to give their family a spiritual message for Christmas. We've seen her a couple of times before, but we finally taught her this last week. We gave he a Book of Mormon and invited her to read the Introduction. She was so excited about it. She's Catholic and her families from Hawaii. There's been so many things that have happened in her family. They just found out that her mom has a tumor in her bladder, and her nephew who's less active, had to go to the hospital because of an overdose. He's been having really bad migraines. She even said that he'll being doing a lot better because he got a priesthood blessing.

This week has been really great and I'm so thankful for the experiences I've been able to have.

Ofa Atu!

Sister Stone

Sister Eliza Stone

California Long Beach Mission

6500 E. Atherton St.

Long Beach, CA  90815

Sister Garcia's parent's sent us cheesecake. It was good!

 

This is our less actives dog. His name is Ivan and he is the funniest dog you'll ever meet. He is always barking, wanting the center of attention, shaking his little stub of a tale. Cutest dog ever!