I'm so sorry I
didn't send an email last week! Last P-day was just so crazy and we
ended up being out of the apartment all day. I'll try my best to sum up
these past two weeks for everyone!
So
two pdays ago (the 24th) we were going all over the place to find the
best price on earmuffs because my ears had been freezing the week
before. So when we finally found a pair that we decided to buy I went to
purchase it and my personal card didn't work (I figured it out and it's
all good now) so I wasn't able to get earmuffs that day and I was
pretty upset because I just wanted my ears to be warm. So I prayed that
somehow I would be able to keep myself warm enough for the next week and
my prayer was answered the very next day. One of the hermanas in the
ward accompanied us to an appointment and then afterwards she asked if
we could meet with her again later that day and of course we told her we
would. So we met her at her house and she had us follow her to a nearby
store. She told us, "hermanas I know you're far from home and as a
member in the ward you're serving in I feel a responsibility to make
sure you have the things you need so I want to make sure you have enough
warm clothes." She got me a pair of gloves, a scarf, and the earmuffs I
couldn't buy the day before. I am so thankful for Hermana Bautista and a
loving Heavenly Father who knows our needs.
I
had a pretty superb thanksgiving! Our entire district met at the
bishops house for lunch which was pretty fun. The lady I sat next to for
the meal was so funny, she had the loudest laugh ever! It was like one
of those laughs where it starts out as a high pitched screech followed
by smaller chuckles of laughter. It was hilarious. So I thought it would
be funny to cover my ears each time she laughed and she most certainly
thought it was funny too. After the meal the bishop asked how we enjoyed
spending thanksgiving with them and I said, "¡fue muy bien pero ya no
me puedo oír!" So much fun. In the evening we went to have dinner with
the Rodriguez family and they're the best! We also see them every Monday
night and I love them so very much!
María
is a sweet lady that the elders have been teaching and she got
baptized on Saturday the 29th! The baptismal service was beautiful and
I'm so glad I got to be there. Elder Drebing asked if I would play piano
as a musical number at the baptism so I'm really glad I got to be a
part of it.
Guess
what was FINALLY on last Sunday (the 30th)! ¡La programa de la
primaria! It was so dang adorable. I think my favorite part about
playing the piano for that was being able to look out into the chapel
and seeing everyone's faces as these sweet children were singing and
reciting their parts. They all did such a great job! I am most certainly
going to miss practicing with them.
So
being in an area with a car we get a certain amount of miles we can
drive each month and our area is HUGE so sometimes we struggle to make
sure we stay within our miles. But last month somehow we ended up with a
lot of extra miles. We've never been to the top of our area before
because it's so far away so we decided to pay a little visit to our
northern border because we had the miles to do so! We tried to find some
Hispanic communities while we were up there but didn't really have much
luck, but we took a picture at our area border haha. It's pretty lame
though because the sign was so bright that you can't even tell what it
says but we know why that picture is significant so that's all that
matters, right?
So
like I mentioned earlier, last P-day was pretty crazy running from
place to place, but the highlight of the day was most certainly when we
all went to get ugly Christmas sweaters! Our entire district was
supposed to get one so hopefully we can all take a picture together soon
so everyone can see our holiday spirit!
So
on Tuesday we had exchanges! I went to Logan Square with Hermana Izu
and Hermana Gonzalez stayed here with Hermana Hammond. I seriously have
never seen so many miracles in one day. I learned so much and I'm so
thankful for the experiences I had during this exchange.
Miracle
number one: The first person we went to visit is such a sweet lady. She
has been struggling with a few things lately and was telling us about
it during our visit. Throughout the lesson Hermana Izu was comforting
her and I hadn't spoken since I introduced myself. For a majority of the
time I was struggling to find the words to say to her so I was just
praying in my head that Heavenly Father would give me the words she
needed to hear and to know when to say them. The answer I felt was that
Hermana Izu would let me know when I would share my thoughts. A few
minutes after my prayer Hermana Izu told this woman to say a quick
prayer in her head to clear her mind. Then she said, "Now I need you to
pay special attention to what Hermana Knowles has to say because she has
something in her heart that she wants to share with you and it's from
God." The feeling of the spirit in that moment was overwhelming. I felt
so strongly that our Savior was there comforting this woman and after I
told her that, tears streamed down her face and I knew she could feel it
too. After the lesson I told Hermana Izu about my prayer and she was
amazed because she said she's never really been impressed like that to
say that her companion had something to say. It was amazing! Miracle
moment for sure.
Miracle
number two: Hermana Izu and I went to visit a potential new
investigator and we had a member that was going to meet us there. We got
to the address and found out the member couldn't make it so we knocked
the door anyway and the person didn't end up being interested in our
message. So everything basically fell through for that plan. Our backup
plan was to stop by some other potential new investigators but as we
were walking to the car I looked down the street we were on and felt
that we needed to walk that way. I told Hermana Izu and she gladly
accompanied me down this street as we followed this prompting. As we
were walking I felt to turn right down another street and we talked to
the first person we saw. This lady was so nice! We asked if she's heard
of the church before and she said that she herself was not a member but
her mother who had recently passed away was a member of the church. When
we gave her a card and invited her to check out
mormon.org she
said she felt that her mom had sent us to her. After we talked to her I
felt like that was the exact reason we were supposed to walk down that
street. It was such a beautiful experience.
I
learned so much from this exchange but overall I learned how to really
listen to and follow the spirit. We are all children of our Heavenly
Father and He loves each of us so much. As we are worthy and willing He
will guide us through the spirit to say and do what He needs of us.
Hermana
Gonzalez and I have been teaching the gospel to a sweet nine year old
girl named Yareli. This Saturday Yareli will be getting baptized! The
Elders have been teaching her aunt and cousin and they will all be
baptized the same day. I'm so happy and excited for them!
This
week is also the end of the transfer. It was a week short because of
Christmas. This upcoming transfer will be the last one before Hermana
Gonzalez goes home! We'll see what happens!
I'm
so thankful for all of you and I love you all so much! I'm doing so
well in this wonderful mission and we're seeing miracles. I know this
church is true. God lives and loves us. Our Savior lives and because of
Him we can overcome anything. Our families can be together forever. The
Book of Mormon is the word of God and through it we can find peace and
guidance. The church has been restored through Joseph Smith and
President Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the earth today. I
know these things are true with all my heart and I also know that anyone
can know these truths for themselves as they sincerely ask our Father
in Heaven through prayer. Stay strong my beautiful family and friends!
Keep smiling!
Hermana Knowles
Also!
If anyone hasn't already seen the Christmas video from the church WATCH
IT NOW! It's so beautiful. May we all remember what Christmas is really
about. Our Heavenly Father gave us the greatest gift of all, our Savior
Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us so that we can overcome all
things. What gifts can we give the Savior in return this Christmas?
#sharethegift
#comparteladádiva
