Fresh Off the Plane Pictures

My CCM district! All the elders are in Arcadia now and all the sisters
are in Chicago except for Hermana Nelson who is on the end. She's in
Bakersfield.

SO TIRED!

At the Chicago Temple

Fresh Off The Plane

So Monday was basically the longest day ever. I left the CCM around
3:30AM to get to the airport. You could say it was exhausting haha.
The flight was about 4 hours and I sat next to this guy named
Francisco who was going to Chicago to visit his brother. He saw my
name tag and that I was reading the Book of Mormon so naturally he
asked me a bunch of questions. He hardly spoke any English so our
entire conversation was in Spanish and I was quite happy on how well I
did talking to him. We mainly talked about religion. We had a lot of
the same views and I was able to clarify things he didn't quite
understand about the LDS Church. I even shared with him a scripture in
Alma 30:44 because we were talking about how astronomy relates to
religion and he really enjoyed that scripture. After the flight I gave
him a copy of El Libro de Mormón with my testimony written in Spanish
on the inside cover. He really appreciated that I did that. He was so
genuine in thanking me and wished me the best of luck on my mission.
I'm really thankful for that experience.

When we got to the airport we met President Woodbury and his wife.
THEY'RE THE BEST! After we met them they gave us a packed lunch and
took us to the train station. We received a copy of the Book of Mormon
and some pass along cards and were asked to get on the train and share
the gospel with people! I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I gave my copy of the Book
of Mormon to the first person I talked to. That conversation was in
Spanish too! After we got off the train we got to see the city a
little. We took pictures at the BEAN and in front of the replica they
have here of the Buckingham Fountain, or something like that, I don't
remember exactly what it's called. It was way cool! Then we got back
on the train and went to the mission home. There we had some deep dish
pizza, which was basically the best, then we had interviews with
president which I absolutely loved as well. President Woodbury is
amazing. He's so spiritually in tune and I can really tell that he
loves this work.

Tuesday morning we had our transfer meeting where I met my new
companion, Hermana Michael! She's awesome! She's from San Jose
California and she's been on her mission for almost a year now. We
work really well together and I'm really thankful to have her as my
trainer. We're working so hard here! I love our area. Our area is
called Chicago 4th Spanish Northwest. It goes from Glenview, IL down to
just east of the O'Hare airport I'm pretty sure. Still trying to get
used to everything haha. Our first day together we pretty much spent
all of it moving apartments and helping a couple other sisters move
too. Hermana Shipp from my district in the MTC is in my ward! I'm
pretty excited about that.

So I went to the mission office on Tuesday and got the package from
mom and Delaney. It was hilarious because the box it came in was all
beat up and fragile was written all over it. I laughed pretty hard
when I saw it. Anyway, thanks so much! I love it and my companion and
I have been enjoying the cookies. I really appreciated that! Mail
makes my whole day. I also got the package from the laurels in the
Wiley Canyon Ward! Thank you guys so much! I loved it! You guys are
the best. I'll use that little water gun to keep those elders in
check. Or maybe I'll just give it to my companion to keep me awake
during all these long meetings haha.

So our landlords here at the apartment are basically the most adorable
senior couple ever. Sharon always texts us or comes and drops stuff
off to make sure were settled ok. She also wants to take us to the
PLANETARIUM one pday. Let's just say I'm way excited about that!
They're the best! She's also been reading the Book of Mormon. She said
she's in Alma! How cool is that?

Like I said my companion and I have been working really hard. We've
taught a few lessons and knocked on a bunch of doors. We also helped a
family move out of the ward. That took a good portion of the day,
about 7 1/2 hours. I love service! So I really love the ward I'm
serving in. I shared my testimony during sacrament with the other new
missionaries in the ward and I played piano for Sunday school and
relief society. They're all so welcoming and excited about missionary
work so I can't wait to get to know them a little better and work with
them!

Well those are the highlights of the week. I hope everyone is doing
super well and can't wait to hear from everyone. Please write me
sometime! I love this work. I love sharing my testimony with others. I
love this gospel. I know with all my heart it is true and has the
power to bless lives and help us feel closer to our Heavenly Father
and Savior Jesus Christ.

Keep smiling my beautiful friends and family,

Hermana Knowles

Made it to Chicago Pictures

With Elder Wolfe from my aunt's home ward.  He's going to FL.

Traveling to the mission field.

With President and Sister Woodbury - the mission president and his wife.

Sister Woodbury, Sister Michael (my companion), me, and President Woodbury

CHICAGO!

I made it to Chicago and I absolutely LOVE it so far. My companion is

Hermana Michael and she's awesome! I bore my testimony and gave a Spanish 

Book of Mormon to the guy that Sat next to me on the plane and he was so 

thankful it was all in Spanish too! I don't have too much time but I have 

sooo much to talk about my first day in the field. Like how we basically

got off the plane and went to the train station to hand out pass along 

cards and Books of Mormon. I did so well and met some cool people. I got 

the package from mom and Delaney and I love it haha thank you guys so 

much! It seriously made my day. And the package from the laurels I love 

it so much thank you guys! 

I'll write again on Monday :) I love you guys and miss you! 

Keep smiling!

Love, Hermana Knowles  

Pictures from the CCM

Hermano Cruz

District we've become close to which is heading to California.

Happy birthday MOM!

Service Day!  I'm standing next to Hermano Fragoso is standing right next to me.

Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos

Last P-Day en el CCM! I can't believe I'm going to Chicago on MONDAY! I am so beyond excited to go and serve the people there! So this last week was a little crazy but I enjoyed it! Now I'm not too great at soccer, but I felt like it was a necessity to play at least once if you're in Mexico. So I played on Thursday and like I expected I wasn't very good but it was way fun! I thought it made it that much more enjoyable being able to see the Mexican flag waving while we were playing.

My companion and I tutor Spanish for another district in our branch every day for an hour. At first we were assigned certain missionaries to teach, but since we've been there all the other missionaries have gotten really comfortable having us there and ask us questions all the time. Now we just walk around the classroom and help out everyone. I really enjoy it! They're a fun group.

Our District had our last class with our morning teacher on Saturday. He's so awesome! So we call him Hermano Cruz, but his first name is MAHONRI JARED. How cool is that? Like the Brother of Jared THEN Jared! Props to his parents. Anyway he's basically the best. I'll send a picture of my companion and I with him.

So starting on Saturday there were a lot of missionaries getting pretty sick and unfortunately my companion was one of them. So we went to la enfermeria aqui en el CCM to get her some medicine. The next day I was talking with one of the Elders we tutor and he said his companion had a really bad case of whatever was going around so they spent the night in the hospital trying to figure it out. They eventually found out that he had salmonela poisoning! Crazy! Ever since I've been a little sketched out by the food so my diet has consisted of PB & Nutella sandwiches. Don't worry I've been feeling ok! I'm so thankful for that. And my companion is much better.

On Sunday I didn't get to go to all the classes cause we stayed in la casa for most of the day so my companion could rest but we were able to make it to sacrament meeting! I was so thankful for that cause if I had to pick any meeting to go to it would be sacrament meeting because it is so important to take the sacrament each week! Its such a blessing. 

Yesterday we folded sheets again with Hermano Fragoso and we took a picture with him afterwards. I absolutely loved doing service in there each week!

So every Sunday the last thing we do is watch a slideshow with a picture of each district that is leaving the CCM the following Mon-Wed while Called to Serve plays. It's really awesome. After the slideshow we all sing Para Siempre Dios Este Con Vos AKA God Be With You Till We Meet Again. I love it so much! And this Sunday is finally our turn! I can't believe it! Soy muy agradecida por mi tiempo aquí en el CCM. Tuve muchas experiencias bellisimas  y aprendí mucho español y a cerca del Evangelio de Jesucristo. Tengo un testimonio de esta iglesia con mas fuerza y soy muy entusiasmada para compartir este testimonio con la gente en mi misión. Mi español no es perfecto pero yo se que la idioma del espíritu es perfecto y va a ayudarme compartir mis sentimientos sobre este Evangelio con todos en el campo misional. Esta iglesia es verdadero y yo se eso con todo mi corazón.

Keep smiling my dear friends and family! ¡Les amo muchísimo! 

Hermana Knowles

(English translation: I am so grateful for my time here at the CCM.  I've had many beautiful experiences and I've learned a lot of Spanish and about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have a stronger testimony of this church and I'm excited to share this testimony with the people of my mission.  My Spanish isn't perfect, but I know that the language of the Spirit is perfect and will help me share my feelings about the gospel with everybody in the mission field.  This church is true and I know this with all my heart.)

August 6, 2014 Pictures

This is Hermana Baldaree she's hilarious!

 

 

I spoke spanish pretty much this entire game of volleyball with all the latinos it was so fun!

Hope of Israel (Juventud de Israel)

This week was pretty superb. I'm learning so much, my testimony is growing each day, I feel closer to my Savior, and my Spanish is progressing quickly! In fact my companion and I are doing so well with our Spanish that we've been asked to be tutors for some Elders in another district. That's been going really well. I feel like we've helped them a lot. I'm so thankful for my Spanish background. I'm learning so much and I have the opportunity to help others! What a blessing. We taught a lot on Saturday. I absolutely LOVE teaching! The Spirit is always so strong and I love sharing my testimony. Even though everyone I've taught so far is already a member of the church, I feel the Spirit and the love I have for them because they are my brothers and sisters and I truly want my testimony to touch their hearts. So fast Sunday at the CCM was really great. All the missionaries did a 24 hour fast. In relief society we went over 1Nephi 17 & 18 and how Nephi was commanded to build a ship. We talked about how the Lord told him where he would be able to get ore to build the tools necessary for the task. Nephi was so obedient and never complained to the Lord that it was too great a task. I guess that just goes back to 1 Nephi 3:7. But then we related these chapters to our lives as missionaries. The Lord has called us to a great task. To go wherever were needed to preach His gospel for 24 or 18 months. He has also provided the tools for us to accomplish this. Our Heavenly Father and Savior will never leave us hanging. Isn't that comforting? Of course this isn't just for missionaries, but in our everyday! Think of the tools that have been provided for you to accomplish your great task. Maybe it's patience, love, the power of prayer, the scriptures, your testimony, the Spirit, you name it! These tools will always be available to us as we seek our righteous goals.

For service yesterday we folded sheets again with Hermano Fragoso! What a gem. This is seriously the most efficient way I've ever seen to fold elastic sheets and I hope I remember it forever. I also sang in the missionary choir yesterday for the devotional! We sang Hope of Israel! So fun.

I want to share a cool experience I had with my patriarchal blessing. When I got it, it talked a little about my mission and how I needed to use the next year to prepare. After reading that I looked at the date I received my blessing which was July 7, 2013. Then I remembered the day I was set apart as a missionary, July 7, 2014. Heavenly Father knows us perfectly. I'm so thankful to be here on my mission and be able to share these experiences with everyone each week. I love you all so much! Keep smiling my sweet family and friends!

The church is true, the book is blue.

Hermana Knowles