I Still Have One More Transfer, Right?

I'm sure you are all wondering how I am feeling right now. I feel like Ecclesiastes 2:17 sums it up quite nicely,

"Therefore I hated life.."

Hahaha, just kidding. But it really has been really rough, but I am getting ahead of myself.

LAST WEEK OF THE MISSION:

So on Monday we saw a tender miracle. We did a noche de hogar with an active family how has less-active family members. We shared a message about how the gospel has blessed our families and asked them to each bear their testimonies of how they have seen the gospel bless their lives. The less-active son usually NEVER lets missionaries share messages with him so just the fact that he was sitting at the table with us was a miracle in itself. This was his response:

"I know I am not where I need to be right now...but every time I have found myself in a bad situation I never ended up crossing that line. That line was because of the gospel."

He talked for like ten minutes and it was SO POWERFUL. Inspired questions are SO IMPORTANT. It was very interesting, because he talked about how it is one thing to talk about how God has blessed you. That's easy. Everything you have in life is because of Him. But when you answer how the gospel has blessed you, obviously the blessings still come from our Heavenly Father, but they are blessings that are only received through obedience and living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday was the "My Plan" interview with President Hammon. At one point in the interview, tears just began to roll down my cheeks and President started tearing up...I seriously have the best mission president and I am so grateful for him.

Thursday was our outgoing temple trip!! Of course it was super emotional. The room was PACKED. We have 27 in our outgoing group PLUS our rides! I think the most tender part was sitting in the celestial room with Ken, my brother's convert. It was evidence of the fruit of missionary work, and I loved being able to have a piece of my brother with me.

We had an appointment that night with Ana, Abelina and Aurora and I lost it...man...I just love that family so much and we have only met with them three times. We read Alma 2 with them since they hadn't read in the Book of Mormon.  When we asked if they had even a small desire to see if this was a good seed and increase their faith and Abelina responded, "I have a LOT of desire!" I knew that was our last lesson, but I also knew there was a chance it was going to be my last lesson as a missionary. I cried all the way just yearning to have two more years or months or even weeks...

Saturday....wow. Hermana Sorensen and I got to go the temple with HERMANA AND HERMANO GA***. Seriously, I could not have asked for a better way to end my mission. Hermano Ga*** was able to be baptized for his son and then Hermana Ga*** was baptized for Hermano Ga***'s mother. I will never forget hugging Hermana Ga*** after she walked out of that font. I talked to her afterwards in the dressing room and one of the things she told me was that she had goosebumps the whole time, but that she wasn't cold. On the way to the temple, they excitingly told me that they have been starting to recognize more and more the promptings and feelings since they received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Another thing we talked about was trials. When we first starting teaching the Ga*** fam, they were going through a rough time. Hermana Ga*** told me that before we started meeting with them, she would always feel angry at God and ask him why. Why is this happening to ME? But everything changed. For once in her life, her first reaction in facing trials was gratitude. She said that if it weren't for that trial they were going through, she would have never converted. It was during that time that she realized she needed help and support, so she gave us a chance. If their family wouldn't have passed through that challenge, she wouldn't have been standing in the temple with me at that moment. It was so powerful, and we were both in tears.

Sunday...WOW. After church, the ward threw us a despedida/pachanga and it was SO AWESOME. There were members from all of the mission to come see us. There was legit a Hemet table, a Corona corner, and a Moreno Valley bench. Abuelita brought some bomb tres leche, Hermana Beru*** brought pupusas, and Hermana Aza*** brought chile relleno. Let's just say that my Two Days 'till Sexy went out the window.

We had a lesson with Guillermo and it was so fantastic. We tried putting him back on date and we had the best baptism rejection ever. He still doesn't understand the need to be baptized again despite multiple attempts trying to explain it. BUT, he was all, "How about I make you a compromiso?" And he said he will go to the Book of Mormon class on Friday, church on Sunday, AND read and pray about the book of Mormon this whole week. DEAL. The trick for the Elders will be to just focus in on him gaining a testimony of the Restoration because that is the only way getting baptized again is going to make sense for him. I have high hopes for him!

So, that lesson ended at like 8:45 and we still had to do personal study and Hna Hernandez was stressed about packing...I got in the truck and started getting emotional because that was it. But Hernandez was like, "Nah, let's go find us a miracle." Man, you should have seen my face. My eyes got really big and they lit up. So we prayed to know where to go. After like a solid three minutes, a random name came to my mind: Roberto. I had no idea who that was, but I found the only Roberto in the area book planner app, and when I showed it to Hernandez, she was all, "I felt something about him too!" So we sped off, but then after a couple of minutes Hernandez was like, "Hey!!!!!!! There was a lady sitting by herself outside of her house and I feel like we should go talk to her!" So I flipped a hard U-y and we went back. It was super dark outside and it was just about to hit 9:00. SHE LET US TEACH HER. We did like a ten minute lesson with her and we testified with everything we had in us. MAN IT WAS AWESOME. We walked away from her house glowing. We got in the truck, drove home, and sat in the truck, and sobbed. We soaked in every bit. We just felt SO GRATEFUL that we were able to end our missions on such a good note. I felt my Father's love for me and I basked in it.

It was a perfect week. A perfect week to end this 18 month journey. I just want to end one last time with my testimony.

I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He is the head of His church here on the earth. I know that Joseph Smith truly saw Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. I know that the priesthood has been restored here on the earth and that President Russell M. Nelson holds the priesthood keys to be God's mouthpiece for His children. I am so grateful for a modern day prophet that receives revelation to help us in these latter days. I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I have come to know Him as I have searched and applied the teachings found in that treasure. I know this is the Lord's work here on the earth. I have loved being able to dedicate this time to Him to bring souls unto Christ. I love being a missionary and I love the Savior.

One last time,
Hermana Tonini

Goat Tell it on a Mountain Part 2

Tuesday was WHACK. If you're wondering what a day in Anza is like, here it is:

We went seeking in an area near where we live, but we knew we had to be careful bc it's near the Indian Reservation. We looked at the map and we knew we just needed to stay away from Quinones Rd because that's almost the border. Well, we went seeking heading south, but as we were on this dirt road we decided to turn back because we didn't feel good about it.

So we went back up and headed back east and tried going south again. There we met a lady named Joelle. I was talking to her about her dogs that were out and she asked if we wanted to come in the gate and see them. Well, yeah!! Anything to get inside and more time! So she took us around back and we sat down on her bench. As time went on we got really uneasy....I mean some pretty funny stuff happened in the midst of it all. We told her what we do as missionaries and she started singing at the top of her lungs "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN" and forced Sister Bryant to sing it with her which I got a kick out of. She also looked at me and said, "I like your curly and hair." Then she turned to Sister Bryant and said, "I like your straight.....forwardness." it was super funny but also the Spirit was like "GET OUT OF THERE."

So we left as soon as we could, headed back up, and started east again. We turned south again and we were walking by a bunch of horses when we heard a pop, sizzle , and then a bang. It sounded almost like a firework....but I have NEVER seen a firework since I have been here because of the high probability of wild fires. We had no idea what it was, but it was close and didn't sound friendly. We immediately turned around and headed back up and returned to our car. There were even spooky sounds we kept hearing which REALLY quickened our pace. What was interesting though was that when we turned the corner from the explosion street, we saw a sign we didn't see the first time. The sign said Quinones. And we had been stopped the three times we tried to go south.

The Spirit truly does warn and protect us, and my testimony of this role increased so much. I don't know how close we actually got to the Rez, but I do know that I felt my Savior's love for me.

There were other crazy things that happened buuuuuuuuut, we can talk about it later :)

Wednesday was fire. We had three lessons, one with Juan (who we have been trying to meet since Sister Bryant has been here), with John S***, and with the SA***. We talked with Jack a lot about revelation (thanks general conference!) Because he's never really prayed much in his life. They were able to read one chapter in the Book of Mormon and they are going to get back in it! I love that family!!

Sooooooooo, we got a text from Daniel that night and cancelled our temple trip with Samantha for Thursday...stuff went down in her home again. It broke our hearts....she just wants to progress in the gospel SO BAD. And then we heard from her a couple of days later and it looks like she's moving out in a couple of weeks....it never ends..

BUT, WE SAW A MIRACLE! A family in our branch in Idyllwild invited their friends to come to church....and they did!!! They seem super interested! They already had a Book of Mormon and have gone to a couple of activities. It's been a work in progress, but it is paying off! They are the sweetest couple ever! Now, I know that doesn't seem like a big miracle...but with our branch of only three families??? It NEVER happens. We can't wait to see what happens next!

Love y'all!!!

Hermana Tonini