Short and Sweet

Hello Family !!! How are y'all doing? I hope that is well I am so excited for General Conference this weekend! It is crazy to believe that I will be home for the next one! This week has been insanely slow. Due to the fact that my companion had a fever for 3 days. So for most of the week we have stayed in side and done nothing. Well that's not true I did read my scriptures, took a nap, cleaned, and watched all the videos on the D&C visual dvds. I can now quote "Prophet of the Restoration", "The John Tanner Story", "Legacy", and I almost have "Mountain of the Lord" down. Oh and I also know "The Testaments" almost by heart. So yeah its really hard to be a missionary and be board. At home you can watch entire season of shows, endless movies, play random games, and talk to people. As a Missionary all you have is the church videos, the scriptures, your companion, and your own imagination. Oh and everything has to be missionary appropriate. Things can get really boring really fast, but what can you do. As you can expect this week had no really awesome stories. But the people we are teaching are doing well and progressing very nicely. Which makes me very upset because I am being Transferred tomorrow. This area finally starts to do well and I have to go. Also I have been released as a Sister Training Leader, so now I get to learn what it is like to be a normal missionary. I have never been one of those, I wonder what it will be like. I wont be training or being trained, so we will see how it goes. But yeah that is really all that has happened this week.... Sorry. But don't worry things in my next area will be much faster I am sure! So there will be lots of awesome stories next week. But I hope that you all have a great week and I will send more next week. I love y'all very much and cnat wait to hear from you soon! 

Love Sister Chatwin   

Hola familia!!‏

Hello family!!! How are y'all doing? I hope that all is going well and that you are enjoying the nice spring weather. So how is life? Anything new going on? So you should put more videos in the drop box because I miss hearing people. Yeah that would be nice! Any way this has been an ok week I have not really felt good the last few days, I will tell you why in a moment. But it has been a rather slow week, so not many stories sorry. 

Story 1 The Tale of the Pink Thing.....

So the reason that I have not been feeling well for the past few days is due to the fact that we had dinner with an investigator. Greg and Pam invited us to dinner last Friday, and we had chilly dogs. The tasted ok...but the hot dogs were this bright pink color. Like Kate's old brown and pink room. Yeah the hot dogs and the water that they were boiled in were that pink. So of course I ate them, and I thought that I was ok. But then we get home and I just died, I through up, and hardly slept that night. And so for the last 3 days I have been just sick. I have been sleeping as much as I can and trying to not eat so much. But yeah that was my weekend, not very exciting. 

Story 2 The Tale of Our Peeps

So the people we are teaching are doing very well! Pam and Gregory are on date for the middle of April. We have been helping Greg quite smoking, and drinking coffee. How people don't think that coffee is addicting is beyond me. And also Pam and Greg are not married but they live together. But they are not dating either, so yeah... Well last night we had a very interesting Law of Chastity lesson with them. Its really funny/ awkward to teach this lesson. Especially when your companion cant stop blushing ;). But hopefully one of them will be moving out soon... Hopefully. Lupe and Amillio are doing awesome!!  Lupe has opened up to us about so much and is so excited to be learning about the truth. They came to church last Sunday and there 2 girls were so excited to go to primary and then to tell us what they learned. Last night we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom. And they were very excited to tell us that in school they had already learned no to do drugs because they are bad for you. It is so great to be teaching people who look forward to seeing us and learning more. I hope that we can find more families like them. 

Well that is about it. Again between being sick and trying to find people not much interesting has happened. But I am doing well and miss y'all lots. I cant wait to talk to y'all on mothers day, and then in a few months after that I will actually see you again!!! It is just so crazy how fast time goes. But I have loved being here and teaching people about the gospel. Well I love y'all so much and I promise to have more to write next week. Love ya!!!  

Sister Chatwin

The Tale of the St. Patties Day Party

Well hello there my family! How is everything going? I hope that y'all had a great st. Patrick day, I will tell you about mine later. But how is everybody doing? I hope that all is well and that you are enjoying the nice spring weather. It is so very windy here, and it is only supposed to get worse. Other than that however it has been a very good week. We are teaching 2 super awesome families, and the lord continues to bless us with interesting experiences. So on to the stories of the week!

Story 1  

The Tale of the St. Patties Day Party

So just encase you did not know yesterday was St Patrick day. I hope no one got pinched to hard. And President made a new rule, I dont remember if I told y'all this but I will tell you again. The rule is that we can only have dinner with active members twice a week, and the other 5 must be with less actives, investigators, or non members. But if the members bring one of the 3 mentioned previously we can eat at there house. So we have been encouraged to ask people if we can have dinner with them. This may be the hardest thing that I have had to do on my mission. I have never been the person to invite myself to dinner, my mother taught me better than that. But I have been working hard to have the courage to ask, because I believe that President is inspired. Ok so back to the St Patties day story. Last Thursday we were out visiting Less actives. We were driving around El Dorado, and no it is not made of gold sadly. It is just made of brown dirt and houses. So we were driving around this very brown city and went to visit a man named Mr Wright. He and his wife were very nice and let us come in. However they would not let us talk about religion. Instead he told us how he used to be the costumer for Clint Eastwood, and worked on movies in California. Just goes to show you never know who you will meet out in the middle of no where, in Santa Fe. Well Sister Wilkinson was brave and asked if we could come over for dinner one night. Luckily they were very nice and said yea, no everyone does but we will get to that later. So last night we went to there house and had Corn Beef and Cabbage. They had a friend come over but we were not allowed to talk about the gospel. So we just kind of sat there and listened to there stories about there travels to Ireland, and other places in the world. All the while they are drinking there wine and scotch.... Needless to say that we did not stay to long. I think that it may have been the most interesting St Patrick day I have ever had. 

Story 2 the Tale of Our Miracle Family

So a week or so ago I told y'all about that awesome Sunday, and Lupe and her Family. Well they have been doing so good!!! WE have had about 3 or 4 lessons with them, and Lupe and her girls are committed to baptism! Her husband and son (Amilio and Amilio Jr) are still a little stuck on a few things. Amilio Jr is very scientific and is having a hard time believing in God because he cant see him. Also Amilio Sr thinks that marriage is a silly thing and so long as 2 people love each other that's enough. We will keep working with them but we know that this whole family will get baptized someday.

The girls Geneus and Emily are so excited and love when we come over. I bring them books to look at and we play games in the lessons. I think I am compensating for not having the kids with me, I miss them so much. And Lupe, oh she is just amazing!!!! We taught them last night and she felt the spirit so strong that she cried. She said that this is something that she wants and she knows it will help her family. She has been so prepared and I am so grateful that God has given me this chance to meet and to teach her.

Story 3 The Tale of Another Miracle Family

I told you a few weeks ago about Gregory Garcia and his roommate/ possible girl friend Pam a few weeks ago. Well let me just tell you that they are amazing!! The did come to church that week like they promised and have come every Sunday since! We have been seeing them a few times a week and absolutely love them! Greg is so excited to finally find a church that will not take all his money. Yes we have taught him about tithing and he is ok with it, luckily. He is struggling with quieting smoking but yesterday we told him about the blessings that come through baptism and keeping the word of wisdom. He just go so excited and said that he would be off cigarettes by Friday. We told him that it may take time but if he truly relies on the Atonement that he can to anything. And Pam she is also very excited! She told us that since she has been meeting with us she has been happier and that her friends/ coworkers have noticed that she is different. We asked her what she thought was making the difference and she said that is was because of the spirit and learning about the church. They are so amazing and excited to learn more. They even have started to share what they are learning with there friends! Pams friend Georgia has come to a few meetings and said that she liked what she heard! So we will see what comes of that. But we are just so excited that we can be part of there conversion!

Story 4 The Tale of Very Random People

It seems that we as missionaries seem to attract very interesting/ crazy people. This week we met a women who was on the former investigators list. It said that she was excited to learn more but wanted some space for a while. So we stopped by to see her and ask if she was interested in starting the lessons again. Well she invited us in and just started to ramble about her life. She told a very odd story about a one armed mechanic which I will not write. Then she ask Sister Wilkinson if she wanted a cupcake.... And she looked so crazy as she asked. She had her chin up in the air, her tongue our and her eyes were huge! Sister Wilkinson said no thank you and then looked at me for help. We try ti bring up the gospel when she asked if she could smoke. Oh yeah she is also on oxygen!!!! So we gave her our number and told her to call us if she was interested. And we left very promptly. She must have been high, or had done some crazy drugs in the past. We will probably not be going back.

Well that was my week and I hope that y'all have a great week!! I will try to write letters today but I make no promises. I love y'all so much and cant wait to hear from you soon!!! Have a great week!

Love Sister Chatwin         

A year gone by!

Why hello Family how are you all doing? How has your week been? I hope that everything is going good! So you should ll take more pictures and put them in the drop box. I want to see y'all! I miss y'all so much and I cant wait to Skype on mothers day! Time just flies to fast! Well this week has been good, nothing much really happened. But there were a few things worthy of emailing. So lets get to it!

Story 1 The Tale of the Battery Bust

A week ago today was p day. And we needed to wash and vacuum the car for zone conference that next Monday (so yesterday). This was the last thing that we had to do before we went to dinner and ended p day. So we go and get it washed and while we are vacuuming we left the radio on so we could listen to music. Well we finish and jump in the car. Turn the key and nothing. So I try again, and still nothing. So we call the Elders and they come over to and "save" us. They kept saying that is was the alternator or the oil pump. And our car would need to be in the shop for days. Then the Elders thought that we could not do anything, including talking on the phone with the towing people, and Elder Kottle the senior in charge of cars. They just kept telling us to stay in the car and they would take care of it.... Yeah it was sort of annoying. All the while sister Wilkinson is freaking out because the car is broken and we are apparently going to die.... Yeah. Well the elders then insisted that we get a ride to dinner and they would wait for the tow truck. So we got a ride to dinner and waited there. Well turns out our battery was very old and had died. So they kept it in the shop over night and most the next day. So you know what that means... We had the great opportunity to walk everywhere on Wednesday. Yeah we really did not do much that day but walk, but it was a good day. And we got our car back right before we had to go to dinner . So that was great! 

Story 2 The Tale of the Conferences

This past Sunday was Stake conference, then yesterday was Zone conference. For Stake conference we had Elder Hansen from the 70 come and speak to us. He really emphasis the three areas in the church. Sharing the Gospel, Redeeming the Dead, and Perfecting the saints. The stake was challenged to share the gospel with 3 friends, get 3 names to the temple, and to read the Book of Mormon. I want to challenge everyone who reads this to do the same! Talk to the missionaries in your area, and help them. Go to the Family History Center and find your family who is waiting to receive the gospel! and Always be reading the Book of Mormon! No matter what else you are studying, it will be so much help. Then for Zone Confrence I learned that even when I go home I still need to be the best member missionary that I can be! Because the missionaries cant do this work alone! 

Story 4 The Tale of a Year Gone By

I have been gone for over a year. That is the craziest thing that I have ever thought of. I remember when I left and said good bye to everyone. It seems so long ago but at the same time just like yesterday. So much has happened, and I have learned so much about myself and my savior. I never thought that I would get this far, not that I thought that I would go home. But that this day was just to far away it would never happen. And know it is here. I have 4 more transfers, 26 more weeks, and one more conference and call. I cant wait to see y'all again and to learn what you have been doing. But I promise that I will continue to work as hard as I can to end strong! I will run until I am on the air plane. I love y'all so much and I hope that you have a great week. Cant wait to hear from you soon!!

Love Sister Chatwin  

This has been one of the BEST weeks of my mission!!!!!!!!!!

Hello my family!!! How are you all doing? How has your week been? How is the weather and how is life? I hope that everything is going good and that y'all remember how much I love you! Well

this has been one of the best weeks of my mission!!!!!!!!!! It was just so amazing!!! For starters everyone always asks about the people that I am teaching and I have not said much in the past few months. Well the reason for that is that we have not had many people to teach. every since I have come to Santa Fe things have been insanely slow and hard. The holidays did not help very much and even though we were doing our best we still were struggling. And January was spent making up for the month of December. We still could not find people and the few that we were teaching were not going anywhere. I will not lie in saying that this has been the hardest time in my mission. But in the last few weeks things have been getting better and now they are amazing!!! So lets proceed to the stories of the week. 

Story 1 The Tale of the Hunt

For the past few months like I have said we have been struggling to find people who will listen to us. So for the last 3 weeks sister Wilkinson and I have been trying all sorts of different things to find people. From talking to people on the streets to going through old records trying to find people. So this past week we have meet some very interesting people. Let me name just a few, first we met a less active family named the Dinwittys. The were manly  interesting because of there name. But he is a less active and his wife in a non-member so we will see where that goes. Then we met a young man named Spirit. He was very interested in telling us what it was that he believed. I am pretty sure that he was high...because he just kept saying the same thing over again. " I just love the world man!! And god is the best!!" He said that about 20 or so times. Another kid came over and tried to hit on us, so we gave him the elders number and left. And you will never guess who I met again... Mr Brother Joe Hot Sauce! He is still just as crazy as before and really didn't remember who I was. But still it was funny to see him again. We meet lost of interesting people and it seems that it is all the crazy people love to talk to us. Well I guess that they need the gospel too. 

Story 2 The Tale of Wonders of Wonders Miracle of Miracle: Part 1 Sunday

So for some reason one of the hardest things that we have to do as a missionary is to get people to go to church. I don't know why its only 3 hours... I guess that some people may think that it is a bit to long. But hey its only once a week and it is for God so you would think that they would be excited. Anyway this past Sunday we were expecting a few people to come. So we got there early so that we could greet them, but by 9 no one had come. So we sit in the back hoping to maybe see a one come in a little late. Well right as sacrament started we saw 2 of our investigators come in with there dad. The dad is a member and the kids are not, they come every other week so it was good to see them. Then a less active walked in that we have been trying to get to church for a long time. And I thought that if that was all that came out of Sunday that would be worth it. However right after the sacrament was passed the stake clerk walks by and tells us that our family is here... And my first though is "What on earth is Mom and Dad doing in Santa Fe!!!" But he then points out some people sitting on the back row. And I will tell more about them later but it was a family of 5 who said on Friday that they would be coming to church! I was so excited that I could not stop smiling! Then in walks another investigator walks in!!! Micheal Alvarez is a man that we have been teaching for a few months but he has never come to church. And the last time that I taught him I promised him as a representative of Jesus Christ that if he would come to church that he would feel well enough to go and that his life would get better. He said that he would try but he was not going to promise anything. BUT HE CAME!!!! It was so amazing! After Sacrament meeting we helped the family get to there classes, Sister Wilkinson and I took the 2 girls to primary. And on the way back to gospel principals I see this lady at the end of the hall with an angry birds hat... It was another investigator named Cathy!! I almost ran down the hall to hug her! She was so excited to be there and said that she loved it all after words. Everyone who came said that they loved it and would be back next week if they could!!! It is so amazing to see the miracle from our father in heaven.

Story 3 The Tale of Wonders of Wonders Miracle of Miracle: Part 2 Gregory Garcia

A few weeks ago we got a referral from some elders in Albuquerque. It was for a Man named Gregory, his niece had just been baptized, and he was really interested to learn more. So we stopped by and he was not home, but his room mate said that he would be home in a week. So we stopped by yesterday and met him. He was so excited to meet us, and he had amazing questions for us! We told him about the Book of Mormon, and he was so excited that he grabbed it out of our hands when we gave it to him. Then his room mate/ possible girl friend comes in and starts to listen. She also was very excited and grabbed the Book of Mormon. They both said that they would come to church and we are meeting them again tomorrow. It was so great to meet them and have them be excited about the gospel.

Story 4 The Tale of Wonders of Wonders Miracle of Miracle: Part 4 Our Miracle Family

So now back to that family that came to church on Sunday. About a month ago as sister Johnson and I were tracting we ran in to this 18 yr old named Amilio. He had good question and said that we could come back, so for a month or so we would just stop by and share a message with him outside. But this past Friday we stopped by and felt prompted to ask if we could share a message with his family. So he went and asked his mom and she let us in. We meet the rest of his family then, his mom is named Lupe, his dad is Amilio (also), and he has 2 little sisters named Genesis and Emily, his mother is also pregnant and due in a few months. So we explain who we are and what we have been talking with Amilio (the younger) about. His mom got very excited and said that they would come to church and then set up an appointment for last night. His dad had lots of questions and said that he was very confused about all the churches and how they all taught the same thing but different. So we gave them a restoration pamphlet and said that we would see them on Sunday. So Sunday comes and we were praying that they would show up, and they did! They loved church and the girls loved Primary. So last night we went over for our lesson with them, and it was amazing! We did the entire first lesson and they all were so excited! When we mentioned baptism Genesis raised her hand and asked what she needed to do to get baptized. I almost cried as I told her and the rest of the family that you had to be 8 and meet with the missionaries. Both girls were so excited because they are 8 and 9 (or 10 I cant remember), and so did Lupe and Amilio (the elder). They all accepted to be baptized!!! Amilio the younger has a few doubts but we know that as he keeps working he will get his answer! Lupe then said that she knew that we were there for a reason and that God had sent us. She told us that she was so excited for church on Sunday that she could hardly sleep, and even more excited that we were coming that night. The family said that this church and the things that they had learned had answered so many questions that they had, and they were all so excited that God sent us to them. 

And so now you know why this has been a great week! I love to be able to help people come closer to Christ and see the impact it has on them! Never forget that we are all missionaries even if you don't have a tag. Share the gospel with your friends so that they can have this great blessing in there lives!! I love you all so much and cant wait to tell you more about how things are going!!

Love Sister Chatwin