Finding New Understanding

This week suprisingly seemed like a long week. A lot happened. 

Monday, Teresa and Junior called and she just could not find a job so she left to Bakersfield so we were pretty bummed. We tracted a lot this week which was good. We found some new streets that we had never knocked so it was fun. We met a man who had these beautiful orange trees. I was admiring them and he invited me to pick some which was so kind and they were so delicious!

Wednesday was Zone Conference. It was really fun. They talked a lot about Preach My Gospel and how we can apply it in our missionary work which was good. It was really fun to see a lot of my friends there! 

The Elders and us have been thinking of ways to grow the Branch and we decided to throw a thank you party to the Branch saying thank you for everything they have done for us. 

We were expecting 10-15 people there at the most and 30 people came with 10 less active people who have not come to church in a very long time. We were so excited! The Lord has really been blessing us in our efforts to strengthen the Branch. 

Sunday, a family we are teaching came to church and we were very excited that they came! 

Sister Lee and I were on splits in Solvang.

Some other sisters gave our car a "heart attack" which is where they surprise us with putting cute, uplifting notes on our car.

This past week I really learned a lot about the will of the Lord. I was reading about the Liahona and it says,

" And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

I read my patriarchal blessing this past week and it gave me a new understanding and helped me understand the ways of the Lord, and his plan that he has for me and that he has had for me on my mission. I feel like I have been able to find my purpose better as a missionary and what the Lord wants me to do. 

I am loving this time I have to serve the Lord and help others. This is the last week of the transfer and I am excited for another week here in Lompoc! 

**A Note from her Mom - Please pray for her safety as she travels by car!

She loves getting emails. This is her address:

Email: lily.pita@missionary.org (Don't reply to this blog - it is a public site)

Her mailing address is:

Hermana Lily Pita

California Ventura Mission

3301 W Gonzales Road

Oxnard, CA  93036

This is the direct link to her blog. 

Thou Hast with Unwearyingness Declared the Word

This week was definitely a crazy week. 

We went over to visit our friend who is on date to be baptized on the 22nd and she said, "Hermanas, I want to let you know why I wasn't at church." She told us that the lady she lived with told her she was going to move and that she would have to pay all the rent. Our friend said she needed to go look for a new job and somewhere where the cost of living is cheaper, so she was going to leave to go to a city outside of our mission in 4 hours. We were so sad. We asked her if she would like a blessing and she agreed. The Elders came and gave her one and we said goodbye. 

We went to have interviews with our mission President a few days later and on the way home we called Teresa. She had moved and told us she put in some job applications. She said "Hermanas I really dont like it up here so I am coming back to Lompoc tonight!" We were so excited. We met with her the next day and she is really doing well. So we are excited for the 22nd. 

This past week we went to go stop by some of our other friends, Rocio and Sergio. They had a baptismal date as well. A little bit ago, we knocked on their door and the person they lived with answered. He said that Serigio and his daughter Rocio left a note and said they had to leave. So they left Lompoc very suddenly. We were pretty bummed but we know that wherever they are they will find missionaries. 

I passed my 16 month mark! Time is flying by.

We helped a friend make some enchiladas.

We have been really trying hard to help this Branch grow in numbers and unity. We have been doing a family home evening every other week. When we first started there were about 9 people and yesterday we had 18 so we are really happy and are seeing progress. 

I was reading in my scriptures this week and a scripture really stuck out to me. This is in Helaman, when the Lord gave council to some people preaching the gospel.

"Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will."

Nephi was an amazing missionary and I have been trying to apply what he did in my life. I have felt the Lord bless me so much individually and the people here in Lompoc. I am so grateful for this oportunity to serve a mission and to see the Lord pave the way for the people we are teaching and preparing Lompoc. 

I love Lompoc so much and the opportunity I have to be here with Hermana Giddings.

I am excited for another week here in Lompoc! 

**A Note from her Mom - Please pray for her safety as she travels by car!
She loves getting emails. This is her address:

Email: lily.pita@missionary.org (Don't reply to this blog - it is a public site)

Her mailing address is:

Hermana Lily Pita

California Ventura Mission

3301 W Gonzales Road

Oxnard, CA  93036

This is the direct link to her blog. 

Milk and Cereal - A Simple Gift

This week went by so fast! 

I got to go to Santa Maria on an exchange with our training leader Hermana Bullough. We had a really great time together and I learned so much from her! 

This week we continued to teach and find. Nothing too different happened. A person let us in to teach them and they asked how much money we get to do missionary work and when we told them we pay for our own missions they went in their fridge and got milk and a box of cereal for us! 

Here is a picture of us at Sunday dinner:

I also got an email this week saying the mission would be replacing our bikes so we'll be back on 2 wheels soon.

This past Sunday we had a great lesson at church. The teacher talked about the condescension of God. There is a scripture that she shared:

"And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!"

Condescension means the voluntary descent from a position of rank or dignity. It is amazing to me that Christ came to the Earth and suffered everything for us. He went below everything and overcame it so that we can overcome everything as well. 

I have learned so much about my Savior and I feel so privileged to be able to share the joy that comes from Christ and His teachings. 

I am excited for another week here in Lompoc!

**A Note from her Mom - Please pray for her safety as she travels by car!
She loves getting emails. This is her address:

Email: lily.pita@missionary.org (Don't reply to this blog - it is a public site)

Her mailing address is:

Hermana Lily Pita

California Ventura Mission

3301 W Gonzales Road

Oxnard, CA  93036

This is the direct link to her blog. 

Blessed to Share the Teachings of Christ

Wow this week was a crazy week! 

Tuesday we had exchanges. I stayed in Lompoc with Hermana McNabb and we had a great time. We used the bikes and locked them. We went to knock one last door before we headed back home and when we came back to the bikes, the chain had been cut and the bikes had been stolen. The only thing left was a half cut chain and our helmets. We had a long walk back to the apartment, and now we use our car all day which is good. 

We had a lesson with our friend Teresa. We brought a member and they connected so well. We talked about baptism and Teresa said she would like to be baptized. We asked her if she feels ready to work towards a date and she told us she will be ready to be baptized in 2 or 3 weeks. We had already prayed about the 22nd of February and she accepted the date! A couple days later we went by and she said that she had received a confirmation that baptism is what she needs to do. We were so excited. She said, "I feel so many good emotions come over me and I feel like my heart is so happy when we kneel and pray." She came to church this past Sunday and we are so excited! 

The work here is going really well. I am loving being with Hermana Giddings and learning so much from her. 

I am so grateful to be here in Lompoc. I really love it here. 

There is a scripture I love in 1 Nephi 13:37. It says: 

"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be."

I have been so blessed to be able to share the teachings of Christ and I have really felt the blessings and the Lord paving the way for our people we are teaching. 

This has been a really great week and I look forward to another week here in Lompoc.

**A Note from her Mom - Please pray for her safety as she travels by car!
She loves getting emails. This is her address:

Email: lily.pita@missionary.org (Don't reply to this blog - it is a public site)

Her mailing address is:

Hermana Lily Pita

California Ventura Mission

3301 W Gonzales Road

Oxnard, CA  93036

This is the direct link to her blog.