Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Salt River Baby!

Hello FamBam!

 

My first week on the Res has been amazing. It is so easy to love this people. I am on the Salt River Reservation. It is a Pima and Maricopa reservation. Although I've met some Hopis as well. It's really weird because when I cam here I was so excited tok go work with the natives. But it didn't even cross my mind that I would be one of the only white people in the ward. It's funny to see, I understand how people of other races feel now. It's really great though because they make me feel like family. I love it. The Native American ward is the entire mission. So in our ward there are 5 sets of missionaries. There are 3 sets of young missionaries and 2 senior couples. It's really fun having 3 sets of young missionaries. Because at dinner we all eat together with the members. I think it's crazy members would want to feed 6 of us at a time, but hey they do it. And we love it.

 
Last night we had the best dinner ever. It was American food i had missed. I am talked pulled pork with SWEET BABY RAYS. And bread, watermelon, mashed potatoes,...that list of delicious food could go on foerever. I keep accidentally offending people. I am really trying not to, but I still forget sometimes. Here on the Res it's very rude to say no to food if people offer it to you. And I forget and say no I'm not hungry, because I'm not. But you have to say yes. And so I am going to gain a hundred pounds here. The other day Candice(an investigator) offered us food and I started to say no. But then Sister Soifua filled me in on their custom so I said yes. We had just eaten lunch before we left. And I ended up having to eat a sandwich, a bag of chips, and ice cream. So I am going to stop eating so much at home so that when I go out and they offer me food I will be able to eat it.
 
 

 
The work here is going well. We have a few investigators. One we're working with right now is Candice. She is Hopi. She has 3 kids that live with her and they are adorable. Especially her littlest one, Cameron. He. Is. So. Cute. He makes me wish I could hold children. She's had most of the lessons already, so we are teaching her commandments right now. I am hoping to commit her to be baptized in our next lesson. She is going to come with us to Mary(from my last area)'s baptism. I am really excited for that. 1) Because Mary is getting baptized and 2) because she is going to be touched by that experience. Serving the Lord is amazing and I wouldn't change that for the world.

 
So here are a few stories that you may find humerous. The first 2 were from my last area.

 
 
 
1. I was sitting at the table doing some progress records and the phone starts to ring. I look at the number. I knew it was going to be a telemarketer, but I answered it anyways. I said hello and asked how he was doing. In his not so good English he said he was doing fine and then preoceeded to ask me about my computer. I told him we don't have a computer--beacuse we don't. I was going to tell him it was because I was a missionary. Buuut. He said "Shut up" in a disbeliving voice and hung up on me. Oh how the tables have turned. I'm not used to being hung up on by telemarketers.

 
2. I got a letter from Dee from Canada. And in the last part of the letter she talks all about this Canadian quarter that she was going to send me to remind me of her. I was excited and I looked in the envelope------no quarter. I waslike, "Poor thing. Forgot the quarter." And then I looked at the end of the envelope and someone had slit it open and stolen it! I guess someone needed that quarter more than I did.
 
 
 
3. I was at church on Sunday and I pass this lady. I say "It was good to see you!", give her a hug, and start to walk away. When I start to walk away she takes my arm and says, "Hang in there. Don't worry, it'll get better." Here I am having the best Sunday and she told me to hang in there. I was so confused. I guess I must have had a really unpleasent look on my face or something. But hey, at least she cares.

 

Today I think I am going to go make a knife out of a cactus. That's prettycool right? I am really loving this culture here. It is so different from what I know. And I love it. The people may not live in the best of circumstances, but they're happy. And theyare loving. This week they get their percap. It's money they get every4 months from the casino. I hear that we aren't going to get to see anyone once Thursday comes because everyone will be out shopping. I am excited to actually see cars out on the road. I swear if I didn't go into these people's houses and know they were in there I wouldn't think anyone lived on the Res. We hardly ever pass any other cars.

 

I love it here and hope y'all are having a wonderful week! Keep me posted on your lives! Will you send some piotures of what Tennessee looks like? Some members are asking about it. They said they are trying to imagine it, so I thought it would be good if you could send some pictures.

 

Much love,

Sista Hubmann

 

Pictures:

1. Last district lunch before transfers.

2. Me with my first Cacti!

3. Thisis something really cool that was in my last building. It says the Elder or Sister's name and they can put mail in there to send to the people. I think that would be really cool for y'all to do since there are so many missionaries out from our ward. Just some food for thought.



Monday, April 22, 2013

ALERT: TRANSFER NEWS IS IN.


Kels wanted me to let those of you who wrote her this week she didn't have time to write everyone since she is getting transfered.  She said that she would write all of you next week.  She had to pack and all that good stuff.


Why hello there my dear family!
 
This week brought transfer news. Ready to hear what's happening? I am getting transfered! I am leaving this Wednesday to head to the Reservation! My new companion is Sister Soifua. She's from American Samoa. I will be in a car, so that will make you happy. I actually will be driving. And it's a truck. If I stay there next transfer, I will be in the Scottsdale mission! Thank goodness I am NOT training this transfer. There is a 12 week training program that you are supposed to be able to train after it. But 2 Sisters that came out with me are training this transfer. So. Crazy.


 
LISA GOT BAPTIZED!!! YAYYYYY!! It was such a great service. I am so happy she did it. It is really going to bless her life so much. It was really funny though because the man that baptized her pulled her up so quickly water shot straight up her nose--so funny. She tried not to cough in front of everyone. She got the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday! Ahhhhh! I am so proud of her. I told her I was going to send pictures of her to y'all and she was like "Guys, I got another one!" And I was like "No, Lisa! You're my first convert!" It made her feel special--yay. Her boss bought her some scriptures, so we made her a case for them. She still hasn't told anyone in her family that she got baptized. But we're-- or Sister Lewis and her companion--are going to start stopping by so they'll find out. She just actually moved into the area, so we can do that now. Yay!
 
We had dropped this older lady from Louisiana a couple weeks ago, but we just felt we should stop by. We kept thinking we should stop by and see her, but we never had the time. So we did the other night and her daughter talked about the section in Doctrine and Covenants that talks about the Civil War. Being from the South--she had to know more. She said if we taught her about that and she felt that was true then she would GET BAPTIZED. So we went and taught her the next night. We taught her about that, the Word of Wisdom, and tithing. And guess what----SHE IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS SATURDAYYYYYY!!!!! So I have to find an investigator to bring to the baptism on Saturday so that I can be there. We are so excited. She wouldn't commit to a date with us, so we had our Mission President suggest as soon as possible. So she is getting baptized then--holla!
 
We also have another baptism Saturday. Originally her mom and brother were also going to get baptized that day. But her mom didn't come to church and apparently now isn't okay with them getting baptized. We think it has to do with her sister. But we're not sure. We're hoping that they will get baptized soon though. I will have to have Sister Lewis keep me updated on that one.
 
I did get my Camelbak--thank you parents. But here's the thing. Now I'm in a car. So I'm not really going to get to use it that much. I will use it, but not as much as I would have, had I not been in a car. It's okay though. I will be on a bike again later I'm sure.
 
Much love,
Sista Hubmann
 
Pictures:
1) Lisa before her baptism. That is her boss, her, me, and Sister Lewis.
2) It was our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Peterson's birthday. They made us part of their family. It was great.
3) My first piece of chocolate I could have since we had a baptism!

Monday, April 15, 2013

2 months under my belt


Hey hey hey!
Can y'all believe I've almost been out 2 months? I can barely comprehend it. Seriously. The days seem to go by slow, but the weeks are going by so fast. Transfers are next week, so I find out this Saturday if I am staying or going. Or if we'll go work in the VC full-time. It's a little distracting thinking about it, so I try not to. But I will find out soon enough because time goes by so quickly here. I honestly can't believe it's already pday again. If the rest of my mission goes by as quickly as these first 2 months, I am going to be home in a blink of an eye.



LISA GETS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAAAYYYYY!!!!! I am so excited. She is so great and I can't wait for it. She is going to do great things. So I can't wait for her to hurry up and get baptized. Thanks so much for your prayers for her. I know they are helping her. She is really struggling with feeling the pressure of Satan. So every little prayer is helping her I know it.
We have a family with dates too. There are 3 of them. The kids are going to get baptized next weekend and the mom the week after---hopefully. They have great hearts and I know it's been a really slow process getting them to this point, so I really hope they do it. I know it would really mean a lot to Sister Lewis since she's been with them since the beginning.


We had a Mission President Fireside last night. It's where converts speak and missionaries sing. I sang in a Sisters choir. Only because Sister Lewis wanted to. But the other music was so good. There was an Elder & Sister group that sand Because He Lives--it was good. And 2 Elders sang Come Thou Fount-----LOOOVVEEEDD IT. Mainly because that's pretty much my favorite church song ever.
Caleb is back in America, right? Can I have his address? Make the boys write me/email me.


Much love,
Sista Hubmann
Pictures:
1. Sister Sanchez coaching me through handwashing my skirt.
2. The bike picture Ma requested.
3. I washed my comforter. It had just come out of the drier.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Rain in Arizona...what the??

Hello there family!

This week has been crazy. We had a zone meeting where we set some pretty high goals for our zone to work hard. At the transfer meeting when I came in President said that we are going to have Above Average April, Miracle May, and Jumbo June. So we are working towards that! We had interviews with President yesterday, which is why my Pday was Tuesday this week. It was really nice because while people were in interviews we had a lesson by Sister Ellsworth and a district meeting. Both of those were really good. And meeting with President was nice as well. Sister Lewis went after me and said that President was impressed with my positive attitude and open mind of thinking--holla! Made me feel super good. Especially because she said he doesn't really give compliments that much. So yesterday was a good day.



It rained here last night. Weird, right? I mean it wasn't like a heavy rain, but it still did. It was super super windy, so I can see why habobs(Doubtful I spelt that right. It's a sandstorm) are crazy. I was glad we got rides everywhere yesterday otherwise I would've been blown away on my bike! Which, by the way, I rock at. I think I missed my calling as a cyclist. Watch out Lance Armstrong, I'm comin for you! Obviously, I am still working on humility--it's a process. 

Lisa is doing well. She scared us there for a minute, but she is on track to get baptized on April 27th. She texted us and dropped us last night. But then this morning she texted us and said she just wanted to get baptized on the 27th rather than the 20th. We can't wait for her to get baptized. It's a slight bummer because it's the Saturday after transfers. So if one of us gets transferred we'll have to get an investigator to go so that we can go to her baptism. But anyways. She is so great and when know she is going to do great things. We are meeting with a couple to help them get active again. I am really excited for them because they are getting sealed in August and then their baby is due in September!


We've been exercising with our Bishop from one of our wards. SO painful. Seriously. He does crossfit, so that's what we have been doing. It's kind of fun because all 4 of us go 2 times a week. But my legs kill me when I start to bike. I guess it's worth it if I can still fit into all of my clothes. Sister Homer and I gave up chocolate until we have a baptism. So maybe that will help us both out. There are circumstances that we are allowed to eat it, but I always forget. Well not always. But it's been like twice.

I have like 4 short sleeve shirts that I don't burn alive in, so we are going thrift store shopping today so that I can get some new shirts--hopefully. I already have a shoe tan and the watch tan is coming. I am pretty sure I am going to get a hilarious helmet tan.

Remember that weird thing that my eyes did when I first went the Idaho? Whenever I wore contacts, my eyes would get all red and I didn't know it. It's happening here too. I think it may be a climate change thing. I want to be able to wear my contacts so that I will be able to get rid of this glasses tan I am starting to get.

I love you all so very much!
Sista Hubmann

Pictures:
-My desk on Pday when I was trying to write all of my letters before pday was over.
-Sis. Lewis gave me confetti eggs. I found one the other day, and I thought I had used them all. Buuut. Lucky me I found one and I cracked it on Sister Sanchez's head. SO FUNNY.

-Fun Dip party

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

1 month down. 17 to go.

Family!!
Isn't it crazy that I have been on my mission a month now? If all of them go by as fast as that one I am going to be home before I know it. The fact that it is already P-Day again is crazy. I'm pretty sure I mailed y'all like 2 days ago.

I am seriously using an ancient computer right now. No joke. I am on Internet Explorer. INTERNET EXPLORER. I am surprised that it's even keeping up with emailing as well as it is. It keeps trying to update on me, but I keep rejecting its attempt.

This week has been super long. We worked the pageant all week, so we were up until 11:30 every night. We technically get to sleep in until 7:30 those days, but that usually didn't happen because we had to get up at the normal in order to do everything. But don't worry, I nap during lunch almost everyday. It's allowed. Naps. YES. I love napping and am glad I still get to take them.



Anyways, this week. Super long. And since we were working pageant we didn't get much time in our area. It was nice because all of the time we did have, we had appointments. We weren't on our bikes at all this week either. Since we were going from appointments to the Visitors Center, we had to have members drive us around. I am excited to get back on bikes this week. Mainly because I'm pretty sure I've already gained at least 5 pounds.

Lisa is doing great! She is still progressing towards baptism. We have her on date for April 20th, but if she misses church one time she won't be able to be baptized then because in our mission you have to attend sacrament 3 times before you can be baptized. I hope she doesn't miss because the next Saturday would be after transfers and I don't know if I'll still be here and I want to be. So we'll see how that works out. Thanks for your prayers for her. She hasn't had another visit to the hospital. We took her to the pageant a couple weeks ago and she loved it. So much that she went 2 more times this past week! She is doing so great. I am just so excited for her. She knows this is true and April 20th could not come soon enough for her, or for us.

I had a really great experience at the Visitors Center again this week. It was a little bit before pageant was starting and I saw a man looking at these panels that talk about the temple--and then through the window you can see the temple. I went and started talking to him. His name is Danny and he was visiting for Scotland. He had some questions about why we did Family History work and then what we did in the temple. So I answered his questions--which included "You believe you have to have 7 wives to get to heaven right?"--I swear people spread some crazy rumors. Anyways back to Danny. I told him about the Book of Mormon and asked if he had a copy. He didn't and so I got him one. He asked what my first name was and I told him "Sister." He was pretty persistant on finding out what it actually was so I told him. And he said, "Everytime I read this I am going to think of Kelsey Hubmann--Sister Hubmann." I was so happy when he said that. I told him that when he read it, pondered about it, and prayed about it, that the Holy Ghost would testify of its truthfulness to him. I told him once he did that, to look up the missionaries and they would come teach him. He said something about me teaching him and I told him that I wouldn't be able to fly to Scotland to teach him. He then tried to get me to come to Scotland because apparently there are a lot of good looking young men there--he seriously made me laugh so hard. So much for being dignified. He wouldn't give me his information for someone to contact him by email or phone. Or the missionaries to his home. But he's going to get baptized some day. I just know it.

I really love it here. I am starting to understand what it means to truly love the people. So much that it makes me really sad that we had to drop some investigators this week. They just aren't progressing and it's really hard to let them go. Okay one of them it wasn't really hard, but that was because she didn't like me and stated that. More than once. I just would say it how it was and she would tell me not to pressure her. Ah well, she will get baptized some day too. Or I hope anyways.

I hope y'alls Easter was great. Mine wasn't the best. My companion got sick so we  had to have dinner delievered. In which I sat and ate alone. But I got to eat some candy and update the area book! Also caught up on journal writing. She feels better today, so that's all that matters since we have 3 appointments tonight. We are working on Family Mission Plans, so hopefully we'll be able to get some new investigators through that.

Sister Homer my roommate--so much alike. Seriously. Favorite color? Yellow. Insurance? BlueCross BlueShield. Favorite chocolate? Cadbury eggs. Intials? KMH. Our middle name is actually the same. Poptarts? We love them. We're both under the age of 21. Both go to BYU-I. Studying similar things at BYUI. The list continues forever. We are basically the same person. It is really awesome. We may be moving into our area soon, which is awesome. BUT makes me a little sad because I will be leaving behind Sister Homer. And Sister Sanchez. They are great. Good thing we'll still be in the same district.

This week I've had the worst luck in stepping in things. Dog poop--I swear that smell never goes away. And then 2 encounters with gum. 2 different nights, 2 pairs of shoes with gum on them. I've got to take care of that today..

Thanks for the Easter package. I LOVE IT. Still working on the candy. You sent me Cadbury eggs. I knew you loved me. I've been trying not to eat them all at once. Alternating with the Hershey Kisses. I am hoping for some discounted Cadbury eggs today at the store. We'll see.

I love you all very much and hope you had a wonderful Easter! Have a wonderful week and I will talk to you next week.

Much love from Arizona,
Sista Hubmann

Pictures:
1. Sister Sanchez and I.--Introduced her to Poptarts. She's from Spain so she's never had them. She loved them of course. Smores all the way baby.
2. The cutest Easter package received.
3. Sister Homer and I. She is awesome. She says she looks a little drunk in this picture, but that's okay. So I figured I would send it home haha.