Monday, November 27, 2017

November 27, 2017 Over and Out

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

Sister Baker! I love her soooo much.

Yes, this is my LAST group email that I will send home. Yes, it is really weird and I cannot believe that this is actually happening. I love my mission so much and I love being a missionary for my Savior Jesus Christ. This last week was so great, filled will many, many miracles and I was reminded over and over again how amazing the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is. 

Yesterday was a super hilarious day for some reason, because I got to stand up and speak again in Sacrament meeting without any sort of warning haha. A member in our ward, who doesn't speak any english, was asked to give a talk. SO as he was starting his talk, he called out for me, Hermana Duvall, to come up and translate his talk for him. I HAD NO WARNING AT ALL. I just got up kind of freaking out, but I had to do it because he called me out. It turned out okay and there were only a couple of words that I didn't know what he meant. It was funny because I've translated for him multiple times over the pulpit and I just laughed thinking that it wouldn't be a goodbye from the Rochester 3rd Ward if I didn't at least get one more chance to do it :) THEN right after translating, they stopped me as I was walking down and asked if I and Hermana Tietz would both be willing to speak because the other person who was supposed to give a talk didn't show up. So, I basically was standing up all of sacrament meeting and talking. Hopefully no one got sick of me speaking haha.
 


beautiful sunsets and a beautiful companion


my last lesson with Francisco.
He played a song on the guitar that
he wrote called "Alma Misionera" for us.
 It was so good :) 



Hno Castillo 

    

Jill Nysse!
We have been teaching her on and off for a while
and we love her tons! 

 This has been such an amazing week. I wish I could recount all of the miracles that we saw take place this week! I would like to share just one of them. Hermana Tietz and I decided to go tracting on this street that was kind of shaped like a "U." We had picked this place several times before, but had just never gotten to it. As we were parking, I had the feeling that we needed to walk to the other side of the street to start instead of the side we originally planned. No joke, the very first door we met this miracle family. It was a father and a daughter who answered. We told him that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He cut us off and said, "Jesus Christ!? We just moved here and we are looking for a church to go to." Then Hermana Tietz pulls out our card that has the address to the church building, as well as a picture of Jesus Christ, and his daughter runs up to her and yells "JESUS!!!!!!!" and took the picture from her. So precious. We ended up having a little lesson with them and this 8 year old little girl ended up telling us how much she loves Jesus. We continued along the street and we found a couple more people who opened their doors to us and we were able to teach them. As we were finished with this street, I was just SO amazed how many people opened their doors to us. I am very grateful that we decided to start the other side of the street, because was found Po and his family! That was a miracle, not just a coincidence. It is such a blessing and a privilege to be able to follow spiritual promptings and see God's hand in EVERYTHING!!! Following God's will is so important. I am amazed how God works everything out perfectly. I know He really has a plan for every single one of us!!

 

Debora, Cesar,Mia and Camila
and their little dog Chloe

For my spiritual thought I would like to share the quote that I actually chose to be my mission scripture. It's in Ether 12:4:

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

My favorite Hermana López. SHE has helped me
SO MUCH here. I love her with all my heart.
She's been mi mamá aquí.


As I was sitting at church yesterday, I was reflecting back on the time that I picked this scripture. How much I have changed, grown, and become closer to my savior Jesus Christ- I don't think I really ever took the time to realize before my mission what an amazing, wonderful privilege it is to be a representative of Christ. These last 18 months I have worked my hardest to give my ALL to God and Jesus Christ because they deserves nothing less. My heart has been changed and I have a deep desire to continue to steadfastly serve them for the rest of my life. Jesus Christ is my anchor. He is the one who has kept me going, in the good times and in the really tough times. My faith in Him has grown stronger. There is a scripture that says that Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, however, in Spanish it says He is the "autor and perfeccionador". I LOVE THAT.  He is the one who perfects our faith. How beautiful is that? I know that this church is true. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of action that helps us become like our savior Jesus Christ. I know I am not perfect, but I am grateful to know that as long as I keep trying, He will help me. I know Jesus Christ lives and this knowledge provides me with so much peace, happiness, and JOY. I will forever treasure all of the things I have learned, the wonderful people I have met, and the memories I will take with me! I'm so grateful for this privilege I've had, and I'm ever more grateful that I've learned that I can still represent Him everyday as I strive to be like Him.

The Howard Fam. Their kids are awesome and
crazy they were yelling "halloweeeen"
in this picture and it's sooo cute.


    I'll see you on Wednesday! Until we meet again, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. More importantly, Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ love you all so much more.


Con mucho amor,

Hermana Duvall






Martha Stewart :)

Thursday, November 23, 2017

November 23, 2017 Feliz dia de acción de gracias!

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos! 
 

we took advantage of the warmer weather to go chalking! 

  HAPPY THANKSGIVING (feliz día de acción de gracias, espero que coman mucho pavo hoy)!! Our pday got switched from Monday to today so that we would be able to enjoy our day with all the members here and use our time more effectively. Due to Pday being switched, SO much has happened in the last week and a half!!
   

Hermana Tietz

  We saw so many miracles and it's been so humbling and amazing to see the work here pick up! We've been able to find so many more people to teach. We've been working really hard the past few months, and it's nice to see some results come of it. We had a lesson with Francisco and 3 of his nephews last week about baptism and following Jesus Christ. The three little nephews were all joking that they were going to go home and baptized each other in their bathtub haha. Randomly in the middle of the lesson,

Francisco!!!!!

Francisco ran away and came back with picture that we took on the day of his baptism. He explained to his nephews how happy and clean he felt. This melted my heart and made me so happy. It truly is amazing how living and becoming converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives! Also, Francisco asked us if we could look up if there was a church building in his pueblo where he's from because he wants to tell his family who lives there to go. We looked it up and there's a ward that meets in his little pueblito. When we told him that he stared crying because he was SO HAPPY. I may or may not have been tearing up as well.
 

"happy cows"
- says hermana Tietz when she sees cows grazing in the fields

  We also had some really crazy, funny experiences haha. The highlight of crazy experiences this week is that we met a lady who literally thought she is GOD! We met her last week and set up an appointment with her. So, we went to her house on Monday and the lesson started out pretty normal and then it turned this kind little old lady turned flipped like a 180 and turned into a different person. She literally thought she was God and was upset when she asked if we believed her and we said no. Her logic was pretty out there and overall it was just a crazy funny lesson. She said the purpose of this life is to "eat, drink, and be merry.." and that she knows everything in this life there is to know. I had to stop myself from laughing at the end of the lesson and I turned it into a cough because I was just sitting there thinking "is this really happening?" Anyways, Hermana Tietz and I walked out of there just shocked because she was crazy.
 

Goodbyes are so sad! I've been visiting
sweet Mona for the last 6 months. Love her dearly. 

  I gave a talk this last Sunday on gratitude, more specifically about what I have learned about it on my mission. I was super grateful for the opportunity to give this talk, because I was reminded and able to recognize all that I have learned about Gratitude on my mission. I found this quote as I was preparing for my talk that put into words what I wanted to share:
 "True gratitude is the ability to humbly see, feel, and even receive love.​​​​ Gratitude is a form of returning love to God. Recognize His hand, tell Him so, express your love to Him.​​​​ As you come to truly know the Lord, you will find an intimate, sacred relationship built on trust. You will come to know He understands your anguish​​​​ and will, in compassion, always respond to you in love.
​​​​Receive it. ​Feel​ it. It is not enough just to know that God loves you. The gift is to be ​felt​ continually day by day.​​​​ It will then be a divine motivator throughout your life. Repent. Remove any worldliness from your life,​​​​ including anger. Receive a continual remission of your sins,​​​​ and you will bridle all your passions and be filled with love.​​"
I LOVE this quote so much. It really isn't enough just to know that God loves us, we need to receive it, feel it, and RETURN this love to Him. There are so many ways that we can do this: using the Atonement of Jesus Christ and showing God that we are actually thankful for that great sacrifice, submitting ourselves to His will by following the example of Jesus Christ (Not my will, but thine, be done.), turning outwards to help all those around us, expressing daily gratitude in sincere prayer..etc. I believe that there is one common theme between all of these: action. We need to actively give gratitude to God, so that He can have joy as well! I hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving and look for ways that YOU can give joy to our merciful father in Heaven :)

Love you all! Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ love you so much more!

Con amor,
Hermana Duvall


we drove out to work with the Kasson sisters last week!
We were going to visit a Hispanic family but we ended
 up finding a family that moved here recently
 and are members of our church! It was definitely
a miracle that we stopped by this random
house in the middle of nowhere

Candy! We recently started teaching her and she's so great! 


Hermana Ortiz.
She's one of my favorite members here in Rochester.
I love learning from her and hearing all of her amazing stories


Sister Bly!
She is a boss when it comes to the scriptures.
 I look up to her so much.


I've been teaching Karl the whole time
 I've been here in Rochester and the Prices
have been amazing with coming to lessons with us!


Los Hermosillo. I'm going to miss them so much. 



Monday, November 13, 2017

November 13, 2017 When warm weather becomes 30 degrees




Just a cool wall in downtown Rochester 

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

   The winter really has arrived here in Minnesota and the beautiful fall leaves are all starting to die haha. It got down to 10 degrees plus windchill and now when I see 30 degrees I think, "yes, that's so warm!"  I don't know what has happened to this California girl but I'm starting to get used to the cold! This week was such a great week filled with lots of little miracles!!

    One little miracle for ya- We were out visiting people right before we had to go to a meeting last night and we met a sweet lady named Candi! She let us right in and it turns out that missionaries have visited her before. We taught her more about the Book of Mormon and resurrection! It was such a spiritual lesson. This was a breath of fresh air for us, because we seriously have been knocking sooo many doors and doings lots of finding!

  

After the Zone blitz we all came back
to the church for some hot cocoa :)



Sister Larsen and I got to do some service as we were
on exchanges and rake a whole bunch of leaves.
It was nice and warm (high 30s) and
we were happy to not have to wear big coats 


 This was a crazy busy week for us because we had two exchanges! Last Monday and Tuesday we were in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It was my last time being in Wisconsin and we had such a great time. I was with Sister Larsen! She is a sister that I've known for the last 6 months because she started her mission in Rochester. I love working with her because she's such a hard working missionary and a wonderful example of loving the work. We had a really cool miracles where we knocked on someone's door around 8pm and she let us right in! Turns out that her uncle and other family members are Mormons! We had a cool lesson with her about the Book of Mormon and it was amazing. The next day, Wednesday I went on an exchange with Sister Cobb!! We also so several miracles in their area and it was so fun to work with her. She's another great missionary!!! We ALSO did a Zone Blitz, which is where all of the missionaries in the Rochester Area worked in one area for a couple of hours. It was fun because we all got back together, after freezing outside for a couple of hours, and shared some wonderful experiences and miracles that we saw. Every once and I while it just amazes me how rare it is that a bunch of 18, 19, 20 yr olds love getting together to talk about God and how much they love serving others. I love being a missionary!!

    

Here is our dearest most favorite Connie!
We love her! 

We had a really awesome visit with one of our member's friend, Connie!! We were able to share a little about the Book of Mormon with her. It turns out that a friend gave her a Book of Mormon many years back. She said that she really would love to start reading it. It was so precious because she told us that she's pretty busy and that she could probably only read one chapter every day!! We laughed and told her that was super great. Connie just has a heart of gold and I love her so much. I love getting to know her and feel her spirit.  We are excited to continue working with her and to learn together.

Sister Vincent and Connie


   Something that I have been thinking about a lot this last week is what it truly means to change and become more like the Savior. As I was sitting in District Meeting an elder shared this quote that I loved. It is from the talk "Born of God" by Ezra Taft Benson, and it says:

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."

The La Crosse District! We had cupcake decorating contest.
The elders were a lot more into it than we expected haha 


My little snowman cupcake that I decorated


This really clicked as I was listening to him read it. Often times we ask God to take us out of certain situations because it's too hard, too stressful, too much work...etc however that isn't how we learn and grow. Our purpose in this life isn't for us to run away from all of the hard things, it is for us to learn how to rely on the Savior Jesus Christ. It is up to us us to permit that He changes us and supports us in those hard times. I know that as I have relied on Jesus Christ, I have felt Him buoy me up to become the person that I myself may not think I can be, but He knows. He sees us for the people we can become, not for the people we once were or we are now. He loves us and wants to help us. I am definitely the type of person that doesn't like to ask for help sometimes, but we NEED help from our Savior Jesus Christ if we really want to get the most out of this mortal existence, to become changed, and become more like Him. I LOVE MY SAVIOR. I am so incredibly grateful that I don't have to go through this life alone. Rely on Jesus Christ, because it's so much easier!!
I love all of you and I hope you have a great week! Don't forget, Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ love you all SOOOO MUCH!!

con amor,

Hermana Duvall



Sister Cobb!

Video of Hermana Duvall and Hermana Tietz

Monday, November 6, 2017

November 6, 2017 God Loves Us!

¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

 
SNOW!!!
This has been a bit of a crazy week, but I finished it up all in one piece! Things have been super busy and there has been a little bit of snow here (not too much luckily haha). Last Monday and Tuesday we were up in the cities. We had Mission Leadership Council on Monday and then a Mission Conference on Tuesday. Both of the meetings were so good and inspiring. Elder Michael T. Ringwood spoke to us in both of the meetings- he's an amazing speaker. Something that I noticed was his theme throughout everything he said is that he testified that we are ALL sons and daughters of God, we ALL have a very specific purpose in this life and God loves ALL of us and is very aware of all our needs. I really loved that message and I think it's so easy to forget sometimes, but it's such essential doctrine that makes life so much easier.


Mall of America! I forgot to mention
that I went last week :)
I ate cookie dough ice cream
and it was amazing

As we were up in Bloomington, we were able to do some work in the Richfield Spanish area, which is Hermana Tietz's previous area before coming to Rochester. We got to visit someone that she taught the whole time she was there. He's working towards being baptized but has various things that are holding him back. I had a really special experience where God let me feel so much love for this man, even though I had just met him. As he was explaining that he just wants to be free of addiction, I felt the spirit testify to me that God loves him so much and is aware of him and his struggles. I am grateful God provides us with that love even for people we don't really know at all.


 Me and the best hermana Tietz.
She found a Harry Potter shirt that
she fell in love with (in her bag)


  Honestly, a lot of things happened this week. Things are starting to look up! We were able to find a couple of new people to teach and more people were willing to listen to us. We are doing a lot of work with the members as well. It's still super amazing to see the Lord's hand in everything. I love teaching people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That Christ didn't just suffer for our sins, but for our pains, sicknesses, temptations, sorrows, etc. everything we feel He knows and can help us! This week I really needed that reminder, and so I love how God gave me several opportunities to teach people about it so I could remind myself of His love as well.

 

The group we went to the Mall of America with- 
Hermana Davis, Hermana Shepard,
and Elders Calderwood and Russon.


 It was also a funny week of me noticing a lot of random things about MN. Apparently people "winterize" their homes here! I thought it was super interesting because I have never had to do that being from California. We helped some members do this. Basically, we just took everything in their yard that the winter could possibly ruin and put it in a shed. also, I saw multiple people wearing short sleeve shirts and shorts as it was snowing outside. They told me they don't put coats or pants on until it's below freezing. I'm pretty sure their mutants or something. Yeah, people here are so awesome but I still don't understand because I'm just so cold.

    For my spiritual thought, I'm honestly don't know where to start because I feel like I learned SO much this week! One thing that really helped me through this week is learning to trust God. I realized that often times then not, I'm very good at telling people: trust god, god loves us, just pray and you'll receive an answer, keep going and don't give up... and then I don't apply it to myself at the end of the day. But I've realized that as I do things are SO much easier and SO much clearer. A scripture that really helped me this week and that kept coming to my mind is in 1 Nephi 11:17: "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." We may not know the meaning behind all things or why certain things happen. But what I do know is that God loves you, me, and even that crazy guy that wears shorts when it's 20 degrees outside-  all of us! I have felt the Love of God bear and lift me up and I am so incredibly grateful for my savior Jesus Christ who Love me and helps me too. I love being a representative of Him and I'm so grateful that I have this amazing opportunity to wear His name on my chest everyday!

Choco Loves Me!





   I love you all and I hope you all a great week! Don't forget that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you all SOOO MUCH as well.



Con amor,

Hermana Duvall



Hermana Duvall
Minnesota Minneapolis Mission



All of the Hermanas (minus 2) at mission conference.
 It was fun to finally meet some of them for the first time.


Fun in the snow and tracting!  Woooo!!!




SNOW!!!!








Video- Fun in the snow and tracting wooo