Men Are That They Might Have Joy - 2 Nephi 2:25

This week was c.r.a.z.y.! But I think every week in mission life tends to be on the adventure side. There's never a dull moment. The weather is still trying to make up it's mind so we've had some beautiful short-sleeve days and some bundle up days tambien.

We got to go to the temple on tuesday and it was glorious! Out of all my favorite places in the whole entire world...definitely makes the top of the list. Two words that could describe the experience:

{joy & peace}

Joy because that's what Heavenly Father created us to have. And peace because the spirit is just so strong within in the walls of the Lord's house.

In case y'all didn't know, Satan is real. And he's not fun to deal with. But guess what happens when we stand up to Satan? You get stronger. And you prove to Heavenly Father that you really really really do want to follow Him and keep His commandments and that nothing can stop you from progressing and making it one step closer to returning to live with Him.

"Don’t give up. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead Youkeep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come. Some blessingscome soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of JesusChrist, they come."

Sister T and I went exploring a little bit in downtown Bham this week. Saw some crazies, had some good gospel discussions, even met an awesome man named Bob at the UAB hospital. He asked me about the salmon up in WA and thought I was going to steal his money. And as with most everyone else, he could read me like a book and knew that I didn't know what to think about him. He is a character! And bless his heart, he has cancer. But I think we were able to make his day a little bit better. I know I would want visitors if I was laying in a hospital bed! He told us that we shouldn't pray with our arms folded because then we're closing off everything that is in our hearts. So we just prayed with our arms open wide so all the good stuff that we were saying could be sent up to heaven :)

Sports update of the week:

(since none of y'all have even mentioned MARCH MADNESS. Only one of my favorite times of the year...) 

Sign me up for FIFA twenty fourteen. Yup, you heard it here first. I'm gonna become a professional futbol playa. You know me and all my mad skills with all those hispanics.

ha. ha. funny joke! I can't play soccer to save my life, but we just have a blast every friday night with all our amigos. It's a work in progress. Ya never know, I might actually get aggressive enough to be good at this. Need to work on my agility. Literally have no control over my feet. But good times nonetheless.

SUCCESS STORIES

This is what we were asked to share last week at district meeting. I was feeling a little brain dead that morning so this is what I came up with. Success is different for every person. And recently for me, success can sometimes be just waking up in the morning. Success can be making it one more mile down the road. Or even just to the next door. Success is knowing that you're a child of your Heavenly Father and knowing that He always loves you and is willing to help you. Success means that you just keep trying and that even when you're on a mission to serve others that somehow you end up serving yourself because you never knew how strong you really were. You become more converted, you learn priceless knowledge, and at the end of the day you just have gratitude because you know that you didn't get through the day on your own. Our Heavenly Father is constantly mindful of us and we just have to look for His hand in our lives because He wants us to find SUCCESS.

I thought I would hop on the band wagon and talk about our new teaching method. Ready for it? 

The Restoration of the Gospel in 7 minutes. The investigator prays, gets a book of mormon, and is invited to be baptized all in about 20 minutes. Crazy right?! Well it works. They teach themselves, want to read more, and they have a stronger testimony of prayer. Baptisms are supposed to explode and this helps us to find the elect. It's a big deal. Kind of a new adjustment and takes lots of practice, but is so much fun!

Today we are off to the zoo! I love going to the zoo so there will probably be good pictures next week :)

con amor, 

Hermana Blackner

Got Green?

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!
Never been a fan of green, but I do have my nails painted today #antipinchpolish

Well it's been nice to have a fresh start somewhere more permanent! We've been doing some great work and have quite a few people we're working with now :)

I'm feeling a little bit under the weather today so I'll write as much as I can but this week may be a little bit under par. 

 

First of all, can we just talk about how much I absolutely LOVE the hispanic people! They are just so humble and so much easier to talk to and are warm and inviting!

Hermana T and I have been continuing to talk to e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e.

It's a lot of fun! We've been doing a lot of walking too which here in the city, you always find people to talk to. Especially when the weather is nice! And spring is definitely almost here!

I gave my first talk in espanol yesterday! I was a little bit nervous given the fact that I had less than 24 hours notice but it all went well! And it was on the Savior. Easiest topic ever, right?!

We helped out all day on Saturday with a huge Family History Day at the church. When we were getting our instructions I wrote a note on a post-it. Here's how it went: 

Me: " I think I'm going to be one of those old ladies that loves family history someday haha!"

Hna T: "Yo tombien. We can do it together! Maybe start our own club!"

hahaha!
So there you have it in writing. Family history is awesome! And it's not just about the pedigree charts and the temple work. It about the stories and the real lives of the people behind the names. It's all about the "dash".

We hit our halfway mark together! It was an awesome day! Half cookies, balloons, BBQ, postcards, nail polish, fun notes, and of course lots of teaching. Even to some crazies in Bham.

I feel like recently Sister T and I have been doing a little bit of the divide and conquer method. One teaches the lesson while the other distracts the kids. Lots of candy, stickers, and playing with their toys does the trick :) The good news: that means we're teachingfamilies!

So a little info about our branch. We have about 20 people there on a good day. It just needs a lot of strengthening. Mostly in the form of reactivation. There are some awesome priesthood holders and really faithful members. They just work work work all the time but understand the importance of the covenants that they have made. I've been able to help out a lot with music, so that's been fun! We also play futbol every friday which is a blast! 

It's true! He does live and He loves each one of us! I'm am so grateful to be a missionary and help others to grow closer to Him! Strengthen your faith and recognize the miracles that follow!

con amor,
Hermana Blackner

On the Road Again

Hermana Torgersen and I got transferred again! I'm not kidding!
We're probably setting records. 3 areas in 3 weeks. Yup, it's been curaaaazzzeeee.
BUT. We've been having a lot of fun! Speaking spanish and just talking with all of la gente.

We also decided that we're going to start a professional packing business. If anyone needs their house packed up in 2 hours of less, we're your girls. Just give us a call! We're pretty much p.r.o.s. now!

So here's our new address once again. This one will be a little bit more permanent though. At least for the next 3 weeks.

12 Aspen Cove Apt. 202

Homewood, AL 35209

We still love getting mail! That's something that hasn't changed :)

We are now in the Altadena Branch! It's muy chiquita but we love it!
There is lots of good work to do here :) And it's super close to my old stomping grounds in Bham.
So that's a plus! I know the area a little bit from exchanges and district meetings and what not.
We are in the citaayyy! Hermana T hasn't figured out how to deal with all the busy streets yet ;)
And guess who our district leader is?!!!

Good ol' Elder Wilkins from the CCM. He's matured a lot since those days :)

Hermana Torgersen and I got to do some work in the mission office last week! It was super fun!  <<filed papers, organized mail, put stickers on planners, counted out mormon.org cards>>
ya know, all those office things. 

And let me tell you, they needed the help! When two of the senior couples leave this month, it's gonna be a little rough! But that means that we just get to serve more! Lucky us!

We've been getting a preview of spring the past couple days. It is seriously soooo nice! But all good things must come to an end right? (speaking of which, in two days is the big 9 months. the downhill slide begins...)

We taught some awesome lessons on tuesday. It really reminded me about how everyone needs the gospel and how it can apply to anyone in any situation. Basically it all comes down to the fact that we are literally His spirit children and He loves us!

The missionaries here in this area have been really helpful at getting us some lists of people to teach and introducing us to the members and getting us started so hopefully I'll have some awesome teaching moments to share next week. It's just been the weirdest thing to be going out and talking all day to people but have nothing be permanent.

We had a stake relief society meeting on Saturday and I got to see a lot of the wonderful ladies from the Birmingham Ward. I love them all! Birmingham will always have a special place in my heart :) It was so fun to get caught up on their families and the ward and such. It felt like I was talking to people from home. almost...

The Stake Relief Society President was talking about how after watching a movie she realized, along with the character, that we can't have perfect lives. But we can have perfect moments. So the rest of the night was dedicated to sharing perfect moments in missionary work, the new youth curriculum, temple work, and finding lost members. 

What have been some of your "perfect moments"??

Something I've been contemplating on a lot recently is the fact that I am supposed to be here. There have been tons of tender mercies {kind of a theme from my life} that have shown me that Heavenly Father really does know me and love me. 

While I was sitting in the meeting listening to a young woman play "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" on the violin, I realized that amongst all this craziness, that that's really what I'm doing. Just going where the Lord needs me.

This is what I wrote in my planner:

"How lucky I am to be here with the best companion in the world sharing the gospel to all who will hear in Alabama. I don't think it will ever cease to amaze me that I really am a representative of Jesus Christ, but I'm so glad I'm here! I am so grateful for President and Sister Hanks for their love and for the relationship that I have developed with them. This is where I'm supposed to be"

One last thought. I was reading Our Search for Happiness by Elder Ballard and found this awesome quote:
"A quality life is one that positively influences others and makes the world around it a better place in which to live. A quality life is one that is constantly growing, expanding its horizons and enlarging its borders. A quality life is one that is filled with love and loyalty, patience and perseverance, kindness and compassion. A quality life is one that is based on eternal potential and not confined to this life only. A quality life is a life well-lived."

So let's go about living quality lives and looking at the eternal perspective. What a wonderful life we have to live! Enjoy the journey :)

{best family ever} {they own a bakery} {love them}

con muchisimo amor,
Hermana Blackner

The Dream Team Goes to Birmingham

Yup, you heard it here first ladies and gentleman,
Hermana T and I are in the LORNA SPANISH BRANCH!!!!

Heavenly Father answers prayers.

And is SOOO mindful of our individual needs.

We have been waiting for this day for our entire missions...

a) to be together again

b) to actually speak espanol!

It is a DREAM.COME.TRUE. Ü

ok, so looonnnngggg story, but basically we got two hours to pack and then we drove an hour and a half on friday night to Bham. It wasc.r.a.z.y. But all is well! And we live with two other sisters and it's a blast!
Here's our address:

202 Chace Lake Pkwy

Hoover, AL 35216

We ♥ mail!

We don't know exactly what we're doing yet, but it'll all get under control soon! So for right now we're just along for the ride :)

It warmed up a little bit this weekend which was so nice! We were just out talking to people without a jacket. It was fabulous! Hermana Torgersen is adjusting to the big city :) She's been in small towns for the past 9 months. 

Change. is. good.

Saturday we got to do some service by setting up for a wedding reception!
It was so much fun but also so weird! It looked gorgeous though and we all decided that we are not ready for all that business yet.
Good thing we don't even have to think about it for 9 more months.
Like for real.
Total anti-boy/love/marriage right now.
As it should be, right?

We also got to go to a baby shower for a lady in the branch. So fun! The hispanic people are just the sweetest! Lots of laughter and lots of new people to meet!

Sunday = best.day.ever!!!!!!!

seriously.

It could not have gotten any better!

So we got ready and went to church. 

For almost a split second we felt like we were in another country.
All the hugs and kisses and spanish.
Plus the 10 missionaries...all gringos. Woo!
It was a lot to take in but the best part about it was that we felt completely at home. We just fit right in and felt so incredibly blessed to be there. These people are absolutely amazing and have so much faith and are so loving and such great covenant keepers! They have such strong testimonies too! 

Let's be honest, I understand a lot more than I can speak, but even just being around the language is so cool! We felt like we were completely fulfilling our purpose as spanish speaking missionaries. Yay us!

And to finish off our crazy week, we had the opportunity to go to the Hanks last night.
Can I say, "luckiest sisters in the world!" 

So here's what went down.

President comes and picks us up and then makes me sit in the front seat because he has done enough chauffeuring of kids in his life haha!
Windows down, jacket off, completely chill mission president.
I am seriously so grateful for that man!

So we get to the mission home and help Sister Hanks finish making dinner and it was amazing!
And President was excited because he says he never gets fed this good haha! So we're just talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company like we've all been best friends for years.
It was unforgettable!

And then we got to play the piano and violin for a while. We're definitely going to do a musical number in church sometime soon! (after we practice more)
It was so nice to touch the strings of a violin again! Sister Hanks and I are going to do a duet sometime too which will be so fun! She already reminds me so much of Sister Gehring, it will just feel so good to do something like that! 

We then watched the CES Devotional. Sister Burton of the General Relief Society Presidency spoke about recognizing the spirit in our life. I love learning about this topic. #confessionsofformersisterblackner: sometimes I would actually just study talks and scriptures about the spirit. I don't know why, but personal revelation has always been really interesting to me and something I feel like you can never know too much about!

So here's her 8 steps:

one. pray sincerely

two. act promptly to answers

three. search the scriptures daily

four. live the law of the fast

five. be worthy and worship often in the temple

six. don't trifle with spiritual things

seven. be prepared to move forward with faith

eight. let the Lord decide what details He gives and when He gives them
It was very uplifting :)

Then we ate ice cream, played more music, and had family prayer! I can't even imagine being a mission president but he said that this was the most fun they've had in a long time! A whole night where they didn't have to worry about anything and didn't have to go speak anywhere or deal with some missionary in a crisis. It was the perfect sunday!

Get ready for lots more spanish and a whole new side to missionary work! We are just so lucky to be here and to have the opportunity to bring the gospel to the people here in Hoover! Stay tuned 'til next week!

♥con muchisimo amor,

hermana blackner (officially hermana Ü)