Week 29 Has it really been a whole Decade?

FRIENDS AND FAMILY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, CHILDREN OF GOD,

SO MANY PRETTY SUNSETS THIS WEEK!!! It was unreal and I am obsessed. 

I feel like it has been since last decade that I wrote a weekly email....hah. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! HAPPY 2020!! It is honestly the craziest thing in the world to me that it is 2020. I remember growing up and being like "woah in the year 2020 I will be 20." and now we are here and I still feel like I am 10, so that's fun. One of our bishops invited us over to their house for New Years Eve and we played games and drank sparkling cider. It was a good time, Sister Moala got to use Party poppers for the first time and We even did the countdown! (at 9:30 but still) 

We had zone conference on Thursday and it was ALL about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ and developing Christlike attributes. IT WAS SO GOOD. I learned so much, we also got to review the new handbook and IT IS SO GOOD! I LOVE IT. Honestly I think everyone should read it, so if you have some extra time it has some bomb doctrine and reminds me that missions are forever. We covenant to be a missionary as soon as we are baptized and it doesn't end after we serve as a full-time missionary. 

I got to see Sister Schmutz and I love her. West Sac is still standing and GUESS WHAT?!?!?! DENISE GOT BACK INTO CONTACT WITH THEM!!!!! She got rid of 4 of her dogs and she lost one of her jobs (a good thing since she was working 12 hours a day 6 days a week) and she has been more receptive to the Sisters. So that made me SO SO happy. I love her a lot and I pray that she will let the spirit work in her. I also found out that 2 of the people that we used to teach died. So that was sad news. I am just glad that I know about the spirit world and that the gospel can still be preached to them on the other side. It truly is amazing that this work continues on both sides of the veil. 

Our week in Benicia was good. We had an appointment with Mark this week and he read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and ALL the additional readings. He even said that he would definitely come to church in the next few weeks!!! He is SO cool. He is super smart and spiritual and it is the coolest combination. We talked a lot about doing the right things for the right reasons and I have just been pondering on that this week. We often do the What and we know the How but we forget about the Why. Elder Uchtdorf once said:

"While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.” When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet."

We went out to dinner with a lady named Katrina this week, she has known the missionaries for 8 years and she is the sweetest lady in the world. It is a little frustrating because she believes just about all of it is true but she has issues with like one point of doctrine and is comfortable in her faith. So we are working on it. I am praying a lot for courage to be bold and say what God wants me to say. Before my mission I used to think that if you weren't a member you knew that you were missing something and that as soon as you found it you would do anything for it. I still kind of believe that to an extent but I am seeing more and more that human beings have a very hard time submitting to the will of the Father. We know better but we still don't always do the right thing, I know I don't. One of the things we talked about in Zone conference was the idea of Surrendering, giving it all to God and putting aside what we want. It is one of the hardest things to do in the whole world, but also the most rewarding. 

We worked hard this week and we were able to find a few potentials which was very exciting. We are going back to them this week and I am stoked for it. God is good and there are people here that are prepared.  

I love the New Year because it is a time for a new start. Change is an interwoven part of the gospel. It is a gospel of change, so leave your comfort zone, do something different, feel more, be better, work hard, and be forgiving. We can't be perfect but we can progress, onward and upwards my friends...onward and upwards. 

Mucho Love, 

Sister Tams

Other/Funny Stuff:

-We go to start knocking doors the other day and Sister Moala pulls out this tiny bath bomb and knocks on the door with it. I was so confused and she was like "The door hurt my knuckles." 

-One of the members fed us on Saturday and they made us THE CUTEST name tags. 

-I KNOW I HAVE SAID IT BUT I GOTTA SAY IT AGAIN, I LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON AND COME FOLLOW ME. 

-Malolelei, ofa atu --- I am learning Tongan and getting pretty sae be if do say so myself. 

-Me and Sister Moala have been scaring each other and the other night I hid under her bed and scared her soooooo bad.... Turns out I also just have a very offensive reaction to being scared so I almost hit her everytime. (I have definitely swung quite a few times) Its been fun.