Hola!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was great.  We really learned a lot about how to help our investigators.  Our president called my companion and I in to train us one on one. He told the elders that if we werent home that they should go out and find us.  Ive now heard it from at least 3 different people that he thinks we are the companionship with the most potential.  Everything that our president told us was super helpful.  He was telling us how with this wave of new sisters, there wasnt anyone to train them and so that its not that we arent working hard enough or are not obedient.  We really just dont have the tactics, techniques, or skills.  We just havnt been trained in the field.  

I also learned a lesson in how important it is to be positive.

Not that I havent learned that before.  Its just sometimes we have to relearn those lessons over and over again.  Sometimes it take a while.  It really starts right with yourself.  No one can change your atitude but you.  You have to be the one that kills that negative thought at the get go.  I have started this habit of saying, "Well.. at least we arent in Antartica" when ever we are freezing. Or whenever someone doesnt want to see you anymore or when they arent progressing we just have to say, "Well great, now there are two more other lessons we can teach to two other people who God has prepared!."  

There is a wonderful sister here who spent the night with us because we are close to the the airport and she was sending her companion back home in the morning. Her name is Hermana Daisy Chambi.  She is the epitome of exactly who I want to be.  She is always turning outward and always happy.  She gave us a ton of advice.  I wish everyone in the world could meet her.  

We are going to go forth with a new mindset and although we always believed we could do what we were called to do (help others to come to Christ)  we are now seeing what we can change to be better instead of being a little bit sad because we cant see a way out.  It really starts with you. Isnt that great?  We have the choice to change.

Love Always,

Hermana Bendixen

Dear Family and Friends

I`m so sorry that I haven`t written for about a month.  I am well.  I almost just started typing in Spanish. haha!  

In this new area I am learning a lot.  We had two more baptisms in the same family and they are preparing to be sealed in the temple.

Something that is really sad is that our area is split and its breaking our hearts because we just love everyone so much, but with the elders and us splitting the area instead of sharing it, we can spend more time teaching people instead of rushing to lessons.  I know that these changes really are inspired and Im just waiting to see the miracles that are going to come because of faith and obedience.

Okay funny story.  The other day, my companion was talking with the bishop, and he asked her where were her tights.  A lot of people here ask us that because it`s cold outside and they expect us to be wearing more on our legs.  The thing is that in spanish tights are called panties.  So it sounded like the bishop was asking "Where are your panties?"  Her face turned bright red and she was like.. " Como??????????" Hhaha.. We had a good laugh about it later.

When I try to start telling you all about investigators its ridiculous.  A million thoughts swarm into my mind.  Different emotions too.  Im super happy for some people but then really discouraged about other people.  There are tons of people who feel the spirit and know that they should be baptized, and everything makes sense to them, and then on Sunday they dont show up or we find them going to buy something as we are walking to their house to pick them up.  I think I just really need to learn patience.  The thing though is that missionary work is something urgent.  No one knows when the Savior is coming but we do know that these are the last days and the field is white already to harvest.  

A lot of the problems come too with people who just dont want to quit or find another job because it interferes with Sunday worship.  If there is one thing I´ve gained a testimony of on the mission, it is the sabbath day and families. It is blatantly obvious that the families that are the happiest are those who are living the gospel.  

I love the scriptures in 2nd Nefi 9, 49 through 51 where it says that the gospel is free and it gives life eternal.  Money doesnt satisfy, and it can only buy the temporal. I love Nefis psalm too where he talks about how he puts his confidence in God, because God never lets you down.  

Really, when you side with God, you will always win.  

This week I had a rough spot.  We went back to the house to check and see if someone had called us back.  I sat at the desk and did not want to leave again.  It was then that I looked at a quote on the desk by Elder Holland.  I got it from my old companion. 

 It says something like this:

 " Dont you quit. You keep on walking.  Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some dont come until heaven.  But for those that embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come."  I know my companion didnt want to leave again either.  And miracles happen.  We got up again, and we left the house. We followed through on our part, and even though all of our other appointments fell through, God blessed us with 4 lessons that day with other people.

I hope you are all well.  I pray for you all, all of the time!

=)  Smile.  The gospel is true.

Love, always,

Hermana Bendixen

Leaving San Diego

This week has been absolutely incredible. 
I honestly dont know how everything happened but I know that God was with us. Both of us tried so hard. Our numbers were amazing this week. We had 32 lessons.  We fasted, we prayed, we were absorbed in the people. We had a baptism even though it seemed like all the odds in the world were against us. Our investigator was robbed and beaten up. She couldnt leave her house beause she lost her glasses and she didnt want to be baptized because her family decided to leave  town. We ran into several gangs on accident. Someone told the young men that they couldnt go with us to appointments but after talking with the bishop that changed. Satan works like crazy, but God is stronger. We saw a million miracles this week. Last week we didnt see many of our investigators come to church but this week there were 6. We were protected from what seemed like hundreds of people. 

Just now when we were told that I was going to leave, we started to sob. How crazy. How crazy how in one week everything... every single thing can change. 

I wont know what city Im going to until tomorrow at transfers.  Right now all I know is that I have to pack up again and go where the Lord calls me to go.

I have met so many wonderful ´people here.  I cant believe Im leaving it all.

But I know that there are people who need me somewhere else and that another missionary will come here and be able to help the people here better than I could.

Love Always,

Hermana Bendixen