Royally Creeped Out

The Anguiano's!

Hola todos!

Okay I did not know Heather was pregers with TWINS!!!! That is sooo exciting!!! Tell them congrats for me!!! I'm glad to hear Cole is still doing well. Send him my love! It was fun to think about Grandma England yesterday on her Birthday. I miss that woman so much. June juice, Lion King cups, jelly filled chocolate sticks, climbing the poles in her back yard, popsicles, playing the songs from her piano, the way she said..."That's the way" and the way she spelled my name Maci haha I miss all those things about her!

Okay so this week has been AMAZING but also super weird....I'll start with the weird...

So our investigator Alejandro randomly moved. Like we went to his house to visit him and his kids and the apartment was empty. So we tried calling him but no answer. So we knew he worked at this Mexican restaurant so we just went in for lunch one day. We talked to him and he told us that he moved out and is living with his brother right now but when they find a new place they will let us know where they live. So we were like okay cool sounds good....Well the next day Alejandro starts texting us but he was only referring to Hermana Ingold (Hispanics can't spell my last name) but I didn't think anything of it because Hermana Wilson is new. Well then it got weird...this is how our conversation went....but translated into English....Text from Alejandro: Hermana England I have to tell you something. US: Okay what is it? Alejandro: I like you a lot. Alejandro again: What do you say? Alejandro again: Hello? US: Alejandro we are missionaries and we can not have any relationships more than being teachers of the gospel.  Alejandro: Can we talk just you and me. US: No we can't, that would be extremely inappropriate. Alejandro: ok Alejandro: Hello? THEN HE CALLS US! Of course we don't answer. Then he texts...Why are you not answering me? He text again: Hello? So ya that was the end of that conversation and definitely the last time I will ever speak to him. He is going to have to accept the gospel in the spirit world or with some other missionaries because I am officially royally creeped out! Blahhh. So I am trying to forget about that.

Anyway now that that is over with I will share the miracle!!!! We finally got to talk to Bertina about her concerns. She totally opened up to us! What happened was this...(well there are lots of things but this is the gist)....First of all Mariam (her daughter that is a member) is really good friends with Crystal Nilsen in our ward. Mariam and Crystal are both off at college. Crystals mom passed away several years ago and her dad remarried Rocio. (Rocio is a lot like Bertina in that they are both from Mexico but they speak English as well and have families with kids the same age and so on, not to mention Mariam and Crystal have been friends since they were little). So we used to take Rocio to a lot of our lessons with Bertina. Well What happened was in one of the lessons with Rocio she bore her testimony of the temple and being sealed as a family. She expressed that she felt her husbands kids were her kids as well now. Well Bertina really liked that and looked up to Rocio a lot. Well Crystal came home from College and I guess she kind of butt heads with Rocio a little because of the way she was mothering the little brother or something. I don't know the whole story but they had a strain on their relationship. Well Crystal talked to Mariam about it who told Bertina what she said and Bertina felt very hurt that Rocio would treat her step daughter this way after talking about being sealed as a family. She also felt protective over Crystal because she has been friends with Mariam for so long. Anyway I think it was all kind of a miss understanding.

Another reason she stopped coming to church and talking to the missionaries was because she said after Hermana Snow and I left she didn't really connect with the sisters. AND to add to that the sisters weren't contacting her as much because Hermana Soto was here and she was sick at home all the time. So a combination of all those things just dulled her interest. She also said that after Hermana Snow and I left she felt like she was lost...like she had lost her guides. After she told us all of this we just bore testimony on a lot of things. We talked to her about how no one is perfect and everyone in and out of the church will have family and personal problems but we can't let that stop us from living the gospel ourselves. The church is full of imperfect people trying to live a perfect gospel. I also told her that even when I am not here I can be her guide. If she ever has questions or needs anything that I am here for her. She responded so well. She agreed with everything we said. We then talked to her about listening to the missionary lessons again and coming back to church. She said she really wanted to and invited us over for dinner on Saturday!

I was so grateful that we were able to talk to her and she was able to tell us her concerns. I was praying so hard in that lesson for the spirit to just guide me to the things I should say. And man did the spirit help me! Her other daughter Leslie got in a car accident on Friday so dinner on Saturday didn't work out. But Leslie is alright and we are going over tonight for a lesson. I have fasted and prayed for Bertina so much lately and I know Heavenly Father is answering my prayers.

Another Miracle!!! I SAW NEILEE!!! We were doing service at this food bank where they also serve lunch. We usually help in the back but they randomly needed help in the kitchen. So I'm serving pudding and all a sudden I see Neilee!!!! I was so happy to see her! AND her son Nick was with her who just got out of jail so I was able to meet him! I guess Neilee was looking for a new job up here and she came and looked at the food bank. Her family is really struggling. They can't find a place to stay right now so they are kind of hotel hopping. It's really hard on her kids. But the amazing thing is that her kids have noticed how supportive her ward has been through all this and I think it is softening their hearts. Neilee is as strong as ever. She has read the Book of Mormon several times and is now reading D&C. She is one of the strongest women I know. It was such a blessing to be able to see her and give her a hug.

Anwyay there were other miracles from the week but this email is getting long. Finish out school strong guys and have a fun first few days of summer! Mom keep up the good work on drill and camp and everything else! You are super woman!

Davis sounds awesome!!! I am so excited Sandra and Diego are getting baptized! The work is hastening! :):)

Love you all

Hermana England

District Meeting outside...

(They re-did the gym floor inside and is smelled

so strong we had to move outside!

Red chair people - General Authority

of the district!

Drenched...

So Many Miracles

Here we are reenacting this classic picture of sister missionaries we found in the library! - haha

FAMILIA!

So this week was amazing! We had an early MLC (Mission Leadership Conference because Elder Allen (Head of the missionary department in SL) came! It was awesome! It was sort of a chastisement haha but our mission needed it. AND I learned SO much! After I filled Hermana Wilson in on what he taught us we both decided we needed to make some changes to become more consecrated missionaries. So during weekly planning we set some intense goals! We have already seen so many miracles!!! Seriously it's been unreal!

One goal we set was to talk to EVERYONE. Not just when it's convenient but literally everyone that Heavenly Father puts in our way! So the other night some members took us to get FroYo at Menchies. There where these two cute families sitting at the table next to us and I noticed they were speaking Spanish. So on our way out I just stopped and said....Excuse me, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and our church is very focused on families I couldn't help but notice that you both have such beautiful families and....And before I could finish one of the women goes...OH MY GOSH!!! I know so many Mormons! She went on to tell us about how they have had lots of Mormon friends in other places they have lived and how it is nice to see people who have good standards like her family has. We then went on to talk for about a half hour about what missionaries do and where we are from etc. The husband of one of the Mormon families she knew served in Brazil and she was asking about that. She was from Puerto Rico and the other was from Spain (Her Spanish was all lispy haha) But anyway the one from Spain's name is Eva and we got her number. (I could have another convert named Eva...I'm down!) Hopefully we can call them and meet with them soon. It is so cool how Heavenly Father always comes through. We made the goal to talk with everyone and ask Heavenly Father to place people in our path...and He did!

Another miracle is we found a new 14 yr old investigator named Jacky...wait I think I told you about her already. Well anyway we met with her this week and she is awesome! She has absolutely no religious background so we started from ground zero. Which is actually kind of nice considering our usual challenge is that no one will listen to us because they are Catholic. She didn't even know the word faith. So she has a long way to go but she is willing to listen :) She was going to come to church but it was her grandpa's birthday on Sunday so she will be coming next week for the first time.

We were not able to meet with Bertina this week but for good reason. Her daughter Lesile graduated High school and she had to help with Graduation stuff. Then all her kids are going to Idaho to be with their dad for the next week so she had to get all 3 packed up with a weeks worth of things. Plus she works full time. So she was super busy. She said she was coming to church but she didn't show up. Then text us and said sorry she didn't come...she was getting her kids out the door to Idaho. BUT the miracle is that she is responding to texts and calls right away now! And she said we could come some time this week. So she is opening up more! Good things are happening!

And last miracle I will share from the week....We met with Jose our recent convert. Usually we meet with him at the church but he randomly had us come to his house this time. He lives with his non member parents who I have met a few times (Jose's brother and his family are in the ward as well so we know the whole fam) But theyn(the parents) have never been overly interested in listening. So we get there and we sit down with Jose and his parents come in and sit down in the lesson and are like...okay what are we studying today? So we were like sweet! We planned to teach Jose the restoration as part of the recent convert lessons so it was perfect! Santana, Jose's dad, had SO many good questions about prophets and temples and basically all of the restoration. And the best part is they said we could come back this week and teach them more! So excited! We visited Hno. Sanchez (Jose's brother) the next day and he said he thinks his Dad is ready to accept the gospel and that if his Dad will listen his Mom will too. So we are pretty excited about them!!!

Oh and two of Hna. Soto's cousins let us in last week! MIRACLE!

Anyway we saw sooo many miracles this last week. I will officially hit my year mark on Thursday and I am freaking out!!! My mission is flying by! I am determined to finish my mission strong. Colorado won't know what hit em after these 6 months!

So jealous of your St. Geezy weekend and boating! I miss the water! Brings me back to our St. George trip a year ago right before my mish. Good times.

Well everyone. I just want you to know that Missionary work is the best thing ever! Do something this week to further the work. Do family history with Dad! Sounds like he is killin it! Invite non members to church or activities. Randomly visit someone you haven't seen at church in a while! Do something! I promise it will make you happy! :)

Les quiero muchisimo!

Hermana England

Cutting onions for service at the Center...

They were SO strong we were all crying!

A bullet hole in our investigator's

window...no biggie...yikes!

Salsa Puree...

Sister Gabler came to show us how to use

the blender and blended our salsa into liquid

...hence salsa puree!

Making tortillas with Lindsea (a member)...

Our map/invitation to church...

didn't work :(

The lovely McDonald family came to

Longmont and took me to breakfast!

 FORT COLLINS TEMPLE SIGHT!

Making headway...

Shout out to BACON Elementary!

Great name!

Reunited And It Feels So Good!

Throw back to the MTC!  

Reunited with Hermana Wilson

Then...

and now...

Ooookaaaaayyyyy...

So this past week of my life has probably been the longest of my whole mission! SOO much has happened! So to start out...Hermana Soto knew she would be headed home some time last week but we didn't know when, so we were just waiting for the word. Tuesday morning we were just driving to service when we get a call from President saying....be at the mission office in 2 hours! We were freaking out! Rushing to say goodbye to a few more people and finishing packing. We finally got out the door and to the mission office and Hermana Soto was off. So then I was like okay well what are you going to do with me? Haha - They hadn't really gotten that far yet. So they called one of the Fort Collins companionships and told them to come pick me up. So I went with Sister Cardon and Sister Heintz and ended up spending two days in Fort Collins. It was awesome! I really hope I serve there one day. We were able to teach this woman named Gailyn who is 90 years old and is getting baptized in a few weeks. We taught her the Word of Wisdom and she had been drinking coffee every morning since she was 16 (That is a lot of coffee consindering she is 90) At the end of the lesson we were about to invite her to live the Word of Wisdom but before we even got to it she said...well, looks like I won't be drinking coffee starting tomorrow! haha It was amazing! She is so prepared. We also got to drive by the TEMPLE SITE!!!! They are beginning construction. No structure up yet but I have never been so happy to see tractors and piles of dirt! So excited! (Something else cool...very close to the temple site is an elementary school named Bacon Elementary!...Greatness) Anyway our tripanionship was epic. I love those sisters so much. 

Soooo after my second day in FoCo they summoned us back to the mission office...AT 11:00 at night!!! I was delirious! Because my new comp was coming down from Wheatland Wyoming, the farthest North in our mission. And drum role please....my new comp is....HERMANA WILSON! MTC comps reunited!! And the best part is we will be together on our one year mark! Happy anniversary to us! It will be great! She has had some problems with obedience in the past but has voiced to me that she is excited to be comps again so she can be obedient. I hope I can help her out and we can work hard together! This transfer will be great.

So this week has been tough because Hermana Sotos cousins that we were teaching are not opening their doors when we go by now. I think because she is gone they won't let us in. I have emailed her about it and she said she will call them and try to get them to let us in. We will see how it goes. But even though that has been hard we totally saw a miracle with Bertina. I had been praying so hard that she would come back to church and desire to be baptized again...When that wasn't working I just prayed that Heavenly Father would at least let us some how meet with her to talk about her concerns. And my prayer was answered. We stopped by on Sat. night and she let us in! We still need to figure out exactly what her concerns are but it was a great lesson. Before we went in we had planned on asking her why she had stopped coming to church and listening to the lessons but when we got in there I had a huge feeling to just share a powerful message and remind her what the spirit feels like. I know she felt it. I hope and pray that she will start progressing again and remember those feelings she had when she was first converted. She didn't come to church yesterday but we will keep working with her. That lesson was a huge answer to prayer!

I'm so glad to hear that Cole has been doing better since his surgery! I have been keeping him in my prayers. We will continue to pray for him to recover quickly! I miss that guy:) Keep me updated on how he is doing!

Well peeps I hope you all have a good week. I can't believe school is out soon and you will be partying in summer! It was 90 degrees here a few days ago...I wore a sweater and almost died.

Keep doing missionary work. Help out those cute sister missionaries you have!

Les quiero!

Hermana England

!

P.S. I learned how to make home made flour tortillas last week....prepare to be amazed when I get home!

My few days in Fort Collins with Sister Cardon

and Sister Heints

My first and probably last prank I will

pull on my mission...We wrapped a members

Vespa in Saranwrap after a lesson!

(and still got home by curfew)

Saw these two...

Hermana Tagano and Hermana Martinez - new comps!

Do Something To Further The Work

So fun to see these cute girls again...

Kaitlyn and Kaylin being silly!

HEY HEY!

Okay so yesterday was amazing! That was seriously the best thing EVER to be able to see you all and talk to you! You all look so good! I miss you so much! It is so weird that the next time I will be seeing you is in person in November. My mission is seriously flying by!

Too bad the Skype didn't work with three way but I actually think it worked out perfect because it was SOO good to talk to Davis for a few min with just us. He looks so good! I wish we could have talked for longer. Thanks for being my biggest example right now Davis! You rock!

So as I told you guys my companion Hermana Soto will be heading home this week. I was so sad to hear this! She has had these health issues for 7 months now and she just needs to go home and rest and get feeling better. She and I were both heart broken when we heard. But we prayed a lot and we both feel peace about it. She said that she is sad but she knows in her heart it is the right thing to do. So as sad as I am I am really happy that she will be able to go home and feel better there. She also says that her family is struggling a little bit in the gospel so she will be able to continue being a missionary at home. She is a great example to me and I will miss her like crazy!

As far as what will happen to me here...we have no idea. We have a trio companionship of sisters in our zone as well as a few Spanish speakers in the mission in English areas. So I assume they will give me one of the Spanish speakers and send one of the trio sisters in her place. That is my prediction but I have no idea. Vamos a ver.

Anyway the work here is going well. Unfortunately Hermana Sotos cousins were not able to make it to church for her last Sunday but we will keep working with them. The work is moving slowly but surely here. The members are actually getting involved and some people have told us they will have referrals for us soon! :) yay!

Okay your sister missionaries are adorable! I wish I was there to get to know them! You guys seriously they can't do this work with out YOU! Do something to help them out this week! And feeding them doesn't count :) Even though I'm sure they will appreciate that! Do something to further the work. Ask them for names to pray for. Go out with them. Give them a referral. Those things make missionaries super happy:) AND they will make you happy! Use those missionaries while you have them...what if you get weirdies soon and you don't want them to teach your friends. hahaha use them! :)

Well I better sign off! Love you all so much!

Les quiero mucho!

Hermana Ingleterra 

Last moments with Hermana Soto

Mother's Day Call

We had an awesome time Skyping Macy on

Mother's Day...Enjoy!

Missionary Work Has Given Me More Joy Than I Have Ever Experienced

My new companion...Hermana Soto

Hola todos! 

Wow this week has been crazy! Okay so let's start with last week...

It was really hard to say goodbye to Neilee and the McDonald's and all the members and investigators there. I had a hard time leaving. Boulder has really become a home for me and I felt so weird driving away from it. I am in the Longmont library and a guy who smells like smoke just sat down next to me and it made me miss Boulder. :( But aside from feeling sad I got everything packed up okay and I headed to transfers. 

When Hermana Soto and I got to Longmont I was sad to find out that we no longer live with Liz and Dave. :( But we live with the Gabler's now. They are empty nesters as well and they are awesome! I actually think living with them will be good because Sister Gabler likes to talk and she never has any one to talk with so lots of nights when we get home she makes us tea (she has all these assortments of herbal tea...fancy people) and we talk. haha I think she really needs it. Most of her kids are in-active and she is struggling right now so I think we have been able to be there for her and give her comfort. She also is an AMAZING cook. Which is dangerous because she always makes (in Rachel's words) Carby bread bombs and just leaves them in the kitchen for us. Plus Hermana Sotos special diet wasn't helping so she can eat pretty much anything as of last week...I guess I will have to be self motivated to loose weight. hahah Anyway the Gabler's are awesome.

My heart is broken because I guess just in the last month or so Bertina has not been coming to church and canceling all her appointments with the sisters. We stopped by but she wasn't home so hopefully we can meet with her soon. Her mom in Mexico is having extreme health issues and also one of the members of the Spanish group said that she thinks Larry (Bertina's boyfriend) doesn't want to get married. So I think it might be one of those things that is holding her back lately. I hope and pray we can figure out how to help her. I fasted for her yesterday. 

Hermana Soto has randomly found tons of family here...like cousins of her dad I guess. So we are teaching three families through those connections. It's pretty awesome. 

OH, miracle you guys! Eddie and Valeria are less actives and when I visited them right before I left in November they both voiced to me that they have lost their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and will not come back to church. Well yesterday I saw them at church! So we visited them and the sisters have been diligently visiting them and they have completely changed. They both bore their testimonies on the Book of Mormon. Eddie even told an experience about how he couldn't find a job and when he started reading and praying and going to church the Lord provided a work opportunity for him. It blows me away how the Atonement can truly change hearts. They are totally different people than when I left. Amazing! 

Oh before I forget HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY MAGS! I will talk to you the next day haha but just wanted to let you know that you are amazing and I love you so much! Thank you for your example....also stop kissing boys. 

AND...HAPPY MOTHERS ON SUNDAY MOM. I am so excited to talk to you. Thanks for being my best friend. I Love you! 

OH MY GOSH! I just got an email from Hermana Stratford and Danika came to church and loved it and has a baptism date for May 31! I am so happy! :):):) Guys seriously, missionary work has given me more joy than I have ever experienced! I am so excited for her! 

Well I have like a million other things to say but there is no time. Have a great week everyone and fam...I will talk to you on Sunday! 

LES QUIERO

Hermana England

For some reason I have a pic with all my

companions in the car wash!

tradition lives on...

 Our new room at the Gabler's.

Big beds!  I've been on tiny bunk beds

my whole mission, so we're livin large!

Hola todos! Wow this week has been crazy! Okay so lets start with last week... It was really hard to say goodbye to Neilee and the Mcdonalds and all the members and investigators there. I had a hard time leaving. Boulder has really become a home for me and I felt so weird driving away from it. I am in the Longmont library and a guy who smells like smoke just sat down next to me and it made me miss Boulder. :( But aside from feeling sad I got everything packed up okay and I headed to transfers. When Hermana Soto and I got to Longmont I was sad to find out that we no longer live with Liz and Dave. :( But we live with the Gablers now. They are empty nesters as well and they are awesome! I actually think living with them will be good because Sister Gabler likes to talk and she never has any one to talk with so lots of nights when we get home she makes us tea (she has all these assortments of herbal tea...fancy people) and we talk. haha I think she really needs it. Most of her kids are in-active and she is struggling right now so I think we have been able to be there for her and give her comfort. She also is an AMAZING cook. Which is dangerous because she always makes (in Rachel's words) Carby bread bombs and just leaves them in the kitchen for us. Plus Hermana Sotos special diet wastnt helping so she can eat pretty much anything as of last week...I guess I will have to be self motivated to loose weight. hahah Anyway the Gablers are awesome. My heart is broken becasue I guess just in the last month or so Bertina has not been coming to church and canceling all her appointments with the sisters. We stopped by but she wasnt home so hopefully we can meet with her soon. Her mom in mexico is having extreme health issures and also one of the members of the spanish group said that she thinks Larry (Bertinas boyfriend) dosnt want to get married. So I think it might be one of those things that is holding her back lately. I hope and pray we can figure out how to help her. I fasted for her yesterday. Hermana Soto has randomly found tons of family here...like cousins of her dad I guess. So we are teaching three families through those connections. Its pretty awesome. OH, miracle you guys! Eddie and Valeria are less actives and when I visited them right before I left in November they both voiced to me that they have lost their testimonies of the Book of Mormon and will not come back to church. Well yesterday I saw them at church! So we visited them and the sisters have been diligently visiting them and they have completely changed. They both bore their testimonies on the Book of Mormon. Eddie even told an experience about how he couldnt find a job and when he started reading and praying and going to church the Lord provided a work opportunity for him. It blows me away how the Atonement can truly change hearts. They are totally different people than when I left. Amazing! Oh before I forget HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY MAGS! I will talk to you the next day haha but just wanted to let you know that you are amazing and I love you so much! Thank you for your example....also stop kissing boys. AND...HAPPY MOTHERS ON SUNDAY MOM. I am so excited to talk to you. Thanks for being my best friend. I Love you! OH MY GOSH! I just got an email from Hermana Stratford and Danika came to church and loved it and has a baptism date for May 31! I am so happy! :):):) Guys seriously missionary work has given me more joy than I have ever experienced! I am so excited for her! Well I have like a million other things to say but there is no time. Have a great week everyone and fam...I will talk to you on sunday! LES QUIERO Hermana England