BYU Round 1

I just finished my first semester at BYU. 

AND IT WAS A PARTY.

Still don't know the fight song.. but that's okay. Baby steps.

I just sing the "rise and shout" part and then the raw raw raw at the end. HAHAHA

This semester has been one of the greatest adventures.

I really had no clue what I was getting myself into when I decided to transfer from BYU-Idaho to BYU... 

I solidified my decision to transfer about two weeks before the semester started, and that was it!

To be honest, I was terrified at the idea. A new place, hundreds of students, a new ward, new classes and roommates. It was a leap of faith and let me tell you, 

I JUMPED

 But it felt right, so I went with it.

Not only did I learn how to really trust in God, but I learned how to study, AND how to get from one class to another in less than 5 min.

skilzzzzzz

... and how to stay awake at the library, especially on the quiet floor.

I've been stretched in many ways.

Not to mention that I made some of the greatest friendships. 

So, here's a little video I made compiling a few of MANY photos and videos of this first semester. 

Thank you, BYU. I really like you. 

OH, and thank you CHICK-FIL-A, you saved me on my hardest days.

The Best Work of Art

It's going TIBIA okay.

I ULNA want to be with you.

I hope you find this HUMERUS.

I OVARY acted.

Get it?

Hahahahaha. This week we're talking about Anatomy. Why?

Because I am taking it as a class this semester at BYU and it has been my favorite class I have ever taken. Yes, even better than that 5th-grade class I had where I adopted a pet snake and named it Kata. I know, who knew? 

Let's just start with a funny story because when you study anatomy, there's always something funny that comes up.

The other day we were studying about the reproductive system and my friend Theo (male) was having a hard time understanding the female organs and how it all worked together. I proceeded to explain that females "eggs" are fertilized then grow in the uterus. 

Keep in mind we were on the quiet floor of the library

And Theo says "wait." 

*pause* (he's thinking real hard about this one)

Then he says "YOU GUYS ALWAYS HAVE YOUR EGGS?" 

hahahahahahahhaha. So many head turns, it was a good moment.

I can confidently say that out of all my classes, I am really sad this one is ending. When I signed up for it, I was so nervous because all I heard was that it was really hard, extremely time-consuming, lots of studying and no social life...

WELL, THEY WERE RIGHT. It's been all of that and more,

.....but what they don't tell you is that with all of that stuff set aside, it is a class that will spiritually increase your testimony that God is the ultimate engineer. 

SO. There is a type of cell in our bones called an osteoblast. Its specific job is to secrete matrix to build bone.

BASICALLY, they make bone. So if you break your bone, they'll be there to fix it.

I was curious one day in my anatomy lecture class about osteoblasts, so I rose my hand and asked the question. "How do osteoblasts know when it's their turn to start working to build bone?"

The response I was given is what made me want to write this post.

My professor said, "We don't know. Many people have tried to find out, but we don't know. The osteoblasts just know .... and they do what they're responsible for doing."

I remember just being in awe at the fact that our bodies know their purpose and their responsibilities.

The reason this class has had such an impact on my life is because it has taught me amazing things about the human body, challenged me in multiple ways, and I have gained such great friendships because of it.

LET'S BE HONEST. When you study with the same group of people 5 days out of the week, for months straight, sometimes until 11:30 at night, you get to know their crazy side.

Like that one time Veronica, Andrew and I were playing anatomy jeopardy in a study room (we get really competitive... or Veronica and I just team up) and people had to come in and tell us to be quiet because we were being too loud....

Waking up at 6am to go to the cadaver lab to study, and realizing that we're all delirious. Or going at 7pm and staying until 10pm.

Constantly memorizing the heck out of everything you've learned and trying to understand how it all fits together.

Moving your body around like a crazy person to see all the angles of the muscle you're looking at.

Forgetting your gloves.... -_____-

Wearing a new perfume... Formaldehyde.

Or when you make weird acronyms to remember stuff.

Amy - Amine
Peed - Protein
Pulling - Peptide
Suzie - Steroid

OR, that other time when you all realize that you have had no sleep .. so anything and everything is funny to you and you can't stop laughing.

Sharing snacks because you've been on campus all day and you're starving.

BUT, all joking aside... It has helped me to gain a greater appreciation for the life that God has given me and the gratitude to have a body. I never really took too much thought to the blessing of having a body until this class.

"I marvel at the miracle of the human mind and body. Have you ever contemplated the wonders of yourself, the eyes with which you see, the ears with which you hear, the voice with which you speak?  No camera ever built can compare with the human eye. No method of communication ever devised can compare with the voice and the ear. No pump ever built will run as long or as efficiently as the human heart. No computer or other creation of science can equal the human brain. What a remarkable thing YOU are. You can think by day and dream by night. You can speak and hear and smell. Look at your finger. The most skillful attempt to reproduce it mechanically has resulted in only a crude approximation. The next time you use your finger, watch it, look at it, and sense the wonder of it." Gordon B. Hinckley

This quote is exactly what I have cultivated this semester in my anatomy class. The mechanics of the human body are unlike anything else created by man and how blessed we are to have our bodies and to know that they are gifts given to us so we can learn, make mistakes, grow and develop. There are moments when the human body can overcome things you would never expect.

"The body then is necessary for progression and for obtaining a fullness of joy. Having a mortal body indicates that you chose righteously in the premarital state. The body is not merely a mobile unit for the head nor a carnal vexation for the spirit, as some believe. Rather, it is an integral, powerful component of the soul, for "the spirit and the body are the soul of man." Being privileged to know about the literal embodiment of God and the progressive nature of the body gives us a rare vantage point from which to comprehend and enjoy its tremendous capabilities."

BABIES. We learned about them last week and oh my, are they incredible. At week 2-3, these little humans have already formed the sections required for the future formation of organs and limbs. By week 8, all the organs are formed. From there, through nourishment from the mother and a safe environment, they grow.

Be good to your bodies. Take care of them. Love them. They were a gift and they should be treated with the most respect! We were created in God's image... how indebted we are to know that.

SO SO SO SO grateful to be at BYU. To have taken this class and to have learned the things I have. It was my favorite part of this semester.

And to Theo, Veronica, Andrew, Michelle, Natasha, and Brielle.

THANK YOU. You guys are the best.

Hope Floats

So here’s today’s post.

God is in the details.

Since the beginning of this year, my life has taken a 180 turn.

Like a flip where all the blood goes to your head and then you’re okay again. BREATHE.

I won’t go into the details because they’re not important, BUT, despite the hardships that everyone experiences…

I absolutely have the strongest testimony that Heavenly Father is so aware of His children. We are His divine creations with such potential. He knows what we need and how to help us. And, as hard as life is, we are to trust in His will and be happy with the life we have because… you guys…

it’s a good life.

Recently I have met some pretty inspirational people who have taught me the value of hope.

HERE’S WHY I BELIEVE THAT.

First, last week I met the sweetest lady named Beryl. She’s a sweetheart. My roommate was an aid to her before her mission and so we went to go visit her. This woman touched my heart.

Beryl welcomed me into her home, asked me various questions to get to know me and her smile, ahhhh her smile. She is happy.

Later, Beryl shared a little of her story with us and told us that she had an aneurism in her brain years ago. She lost the ability to move the left side of her body. Completely paralyzed. She’s gotten a few vertebrae fused together taking away her ability to stand up straight. She shared with us that after the aneurism and the brain surgery that followed, she woke up unable to move anything but the one thing she was still able to do…

Was speak.

She was so happy that she could just speak. Her body was paralyzed but regardless, she found gratitude for the fact that she had the strength to move her lips and speak.

I met her that day and I was so grateful to hear her story and to love her even though I didn’t know her, her strength and happiness inspired me to know that first…..

Be cheerful. Like drink a diet coke and laugh because, life is so good. Don’t let the life take away your hope. Trust that what is happening is for a reason.

Second, everyone has challenges but what matters is how we choose to face those challenges.

And third, laugh and smile because YOU are so blessed and so loved. And remember that with this life, you have a best friend walking beside you with EVERY step. Our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

But let me reiterate that second point...  you have a best friend walking beside you with EVERY step. Our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 I feel like we have this habit of going through life looking through tunnel vision. We’re so preoccupied with our lives and what WE are going through - so we fail to recognize that others are going through hard times too, if not worse. Now, this isn’t to say that because they’re going through something worse we should feel better about ourselves. NO. But perhaps this lesson is there to teach us that we are all going through some sort of hardship and we’re not alone.

I’ve tried to keep this in mind this week, especially as I walk by people at school. I don’t know their names, I don’t know their life story, but what I do know is that every single person I see has had to, at one point or another, exercise the faith to trust that things will get better and that God has a plan better than our own.

Now for some apostle GOODNESS.

“There may be times when we have been hurt, when we are tired, and when our lives seem dark and cold. There may be times when we cannot see any light on the horizon, and we may feel like giving up. If we are willing to believe, if we desire to believe, if we choose to believe, then the Savior's teachings and example will show us the pathway forward."

Now to meet, Zach Sobeich.

I didn’t know Zach personally; I always wish I would’ve known him because who he is radiates from his story. Zach was diagnosed with a rare and malignant form of cancer called osteosarcoma at a young age. He was told from doctors and specialists that he had six months to a year left of life.

Anyone given that news would be devastated. Some even question God wondering WHY it’s happening to them. Well, I don’t know the answer to that question, but what I do know is that God’s plan is always greater than our own. But what you must know about Zach is how he handled the news he was given.

“Death is just another thing on the agenda, kinda. It’s scary and kind of like sitting in the dark. And so you can either choose to be freaking out in the dark and thinking “okay what’s out there” or you can just relax and fall asleep. And just be happy and content with everything.”

Zach’s life “isn’t a story about a boy who dies, it’s about a boy who lives.”

Lately what I have learned about life is it’s uncertain. One day you have all your life planned out and you feel really good about it….

and the next day, all your plans change.

You can never know exactly what’s going to come into your life or to your families, or really to anyone. You’ll never be able to fully control what happens, whether you want to or not. You can’t control others and their decisions.

BUT

You can control your happiness.

“It’s really simple actually. It’s about trying to make other people happy. Maybe you have to learn with time or maybe you have to learn the hard way, but as long as you learn it… you will make the world a better place.” - Zach

In this world it is all about going to work, making lots of money, buying a car, wearing the trendiest clothes, being noticed, listening to the “good” music and having lots of friends…

But that’s all wrong.

It’s not about the job you’ll get when you’re older, how much money you’ll make, the clothes you buy, the grades you get in school.

It’s about what you did for others.

 How you loved them.

 How you served them.

Connecting with people.

Making a difference in the world.

Relationships with other people.

 How you treat people.

How you love them.

“We all hunger for the same thing”

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” -Hellen Keller

We’re all working to be better at this. Yoke yourself to Christ and you will always have joy in those hard moments. Keeping our hope will in turn strengthen our ability to trust Heavenly Father’s plan which will create joy and happiness within ourselves.

Just some food for thought this week as I sit here drinking some inka cola. 

PERU.

And as I am so tempted to watch step up with Sahara instead of homework... 

BECAUSE THEN WE'LL FEEL LIKE WE'RE PART OF A DANCE KR3W. 

Yes, I spelled that with a K and a 3.

With that... time to dance.

Love you guys. 

2 YEARS

Hello... IT'S ME.

Update

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE. sawwwwwry. 

So I have had this blog for about 2 years now. It first started out as a fun thing I wanted to do…

Write about my life, experiences, ambitions (like that one time I legit made a plan to own a CHICK-FIL-A)

it's still a dream. DON'T JUDGE ME. #EATCHIK3N

but as soon as I decided I was going to serve a mission, it became my mission blog. 

Well now that I am home, I decided to turn it back into a hobby….. I love to write, and hope y'all like to read... so here goes nothing! 

BUT

 while we’re on the topic of missions… that will be what this post will be about.

18 months that forever changed me.

Today, September 24^th, marks two years since I entered the MTC to embark on what would be the most life changing experience I have ever had.

                And the most adventurous with all my sweet TEXANS. *shout out*
Really, though. YOU GUYS ARE SO COOL.

Even that one guy I met who tried to give us directions.
asdjalksdjlkjf.

Excuse me sir, where is the next gas station around here?
"It's about two FAR-SEE'S"

excuse me, two what?

FAR-SEE'S YOU GUYS. faaaar-seeeee's.

It means "as far as the eye can see"

Yeah, we never found that gas station. But he was a lovely nice man who made my heart happy because he was so texan I aspired to be like him.

aaaaanyways.

I remember the night when I received my answer to serve. I didn’t know what I was going to be asked to do or how much would be expected of me, but I remember knowing that if I had love for my Savior and the sacrifice He made for me, serving wasn’t a matter of a YES or a NO, it was something I had already promised to do and I had, and still have, a responsibility to fulfil that calling.

The opportunity I had to serve the Lord as a missionary took me by surprise because I never expected to receive so much from giving so little. I always felt like I needed to serve because I wanted to give back to my Father in Heaven for what he had given me. 

Family. Love. Support. The Gospel. The missionaries to my parents. My Testimony.

But what I realized was that no matter how much you give, you always receive from the Father more than you can ever repay.

So, HOUSTON TEXAS.

It was the adventure of a lifetime. 

Y'all.

I had alligator for dinner once, AND I got to say hello to an opossum that was sleeping on the side of the road. IT WAS #UNREAL. 

aaaaaaand, one time, I rapped with this guy in the street. I dropped the beat and he went for it. 

We asked his name and he said, "it's CLIFF. Don't fall off."

All the sweet people I met became my family. 

And this sweet place became my Waters of Mormon.

In the Book of the Mormon, in the book of Mosiah, we learn of a prophet... 

ALMA

He was teaching the people the Doctrine of Christ and the things they needed to do in order to be happy in this life and to return home to God after this life. 

He taught with the spirit. 

Many people listened to him speak and were taught. They understood what they needed to do. They wanted to be baptized and so Alma baptized them in a place called Mormon. 

The Waters of Mormon to be exact. 

Can you imagine the love that they have for the place they were baptized? That place is where they came to make important promises to God. 

Houston, Texas became my "Waters of Mormon". It is my home and my heart.

I learned many valuable things on my mission that have stayed true, but perhaps the one thing that I remember impacting me the most was learning and feeling how much Christ understands who we are, how involved He is in our lives if we allow Him to be, and most importantly....

HOW MUCH LOVE HE HAS FOR US.

mocked

accused

alone

rejected

hated

betrayed

all the sickness of the world

all the sadness of the world

all the sin of the world

spit upon

called a liar

beaten

crucified

killed

Christ, the master healer. 

The embodiment of LIVING WATER. Who meets us where we are.

I know He lives and He loves us.

I'm grateful every day for the opportunity to serve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GfJdg4OgV4

I Have Fought a Good Fight, I Have Finished My Course, I Have Kept The Faith!

Well, this last week of my mission was truly unforgettable. I really can't explain the emotions I'm feeling as I write this. I almost feel a little like Moroni closing a huge chapter of my life, but I know the Lord has a perfect plan and I trust in it.

We went to the temple on Tuesday and that was really amazing. First time going with Hermana Davis! It was unforgettable to spend my last time in the Houston Temple. A place I have come to adore! Hermana Davis has been called as a trainer! I knew that was going to happen. Ahh, I love her soooo much. Three transfers was not enough time with her. I wanted more! But I know that she's going to do so great in our sweet little area of H1 West. We love our bikes!

Jorge is doing so well. He just continues strong and we're so happy that he's a baptized member and that he'll be faithful!

Conference was incredible! Loved every minute of it. Our two new investigators, Karla and Jesus came to the morning session on Sunday with us! Our other investigator, Marina came also and we taught her a lesson after and she's SO READY! She accepted for May 1 and committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! Norma and Luis also came to conference on Saturday and they loved it. Norma kept sustaining every name called, ha, ha. She was supposed to be baptized yesterday, but she texted us that something had happened. We had to cancel the baptism. We still don't know what happened, but she'll be baptized this upcoming weekend! (: They also took us to a buffet on Saturday. It was so fun!

The mission for me has been the single greatest experience of my life. I've found myself. I remember in the beginning I hoped for all these changes and for a sense of accomplishment as I knew my family and friends would be proud of me. Well, that all changed when I learned and came to understand in my heart why I truly decided to serve a mission. First, I love my Savior. I love Him so much. The opportunity to serve Him was never a sacrifice for me because He has given me everything. I love Him because he listens and because He laid down His life so that I could live again. I came on a mission because I have the responsibility to rescue. We all do. We're the instruments the Lord uses to bring His children home. I started my mission with a verse of scripture found in Luke, which teaches us that we're called to bring the lost sheep home. We have to connect God's children back to Him. This is why I came, and this is what I'll go home to do.

I have a testimony of the Savior and His Atonement. I know that He lived, died, was resurrected and lives again. A beautiful being with healing in his wounds. I have a testimony of repentance and that it is real. The Savior's Atonement covers everything that we have done, are doing now and will do, on conditions of repentance. I know that because of Jesus Christ, we'll be saved, redeemed, healed and receive the grace necessary to enter the Father's presence. I love the Father and I've come to know Him personally through personal prayer. I know He's very much a part of who I am now. I love the scriptures and that I can hear God speaking to me through them.

Most of all, I LOVE God's children. All those I have come in contact with on my mission have a very special place in my heart. They have become who I am and have shaped me. I love those who I've been blessed to baptize and I love the Father for allowing me to have the experience I have. I love the bond that is formed between God's children as we change, overcome trials, trust in the Savior and pick ourselves back up.

I learned something really special this week from the Book of Mormon. In the book of Mosiah, we learn of a prophet of the Lord named Alma. He was teaching the people the doctrine of Christ and as he taught with the Spirit, there were many who became converted and desired to be baptized. Well, verse 16 really stood out to me. It says, "And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yeah, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God." Can you imagine the love that they have for the place they were baptized? The waters of Mormon because a special place to them, a place where they came to know their Savior and accepted His gospel and made eternal covenants. Houston Texas has become my waters of Mormon. This place is my home, my heart, my conversion. It has become the place that I'll always remember because here I came to know my Savior, I accepted His gospel with all my heart and I made eternal covenants.

I really don't know how to conclude this final email besides saying once again how much I truly love my Savior. I invite you all, at the close of my mission, to reach out and rescue the lost sheep. Don't just leave it to the full-time missionaries, you're missionaries, too! His perfect plan has your name written in it.

I love you all. Thank you for all your support. The badge comes off, but I'll always be a missionary!
--
Sister Sanchez

Can I Be a Missionary Forever?

This week was straight up, AMAZING.

I really have no words except for mounds of gratitude. The Lord is so good to us. We see it everyday, every where. He's always guiding us, protecting us and blessing us with countless miracles.

The biggest miracle this week was that ... JORGE WAS BAPTIZED! He's so awesome. We've been teaching him for a long time. In February he chose his baptismal date as March 27. It wasn't a very secure date, but he chose it, so we went with it and had faith. Well, since the time was approaching, we kept teaching him and he was doing really well. The hardest part was that he has family members who are really against the church, but he kept learning and coming to church. On Thursday, he got his interview and he passed! We saw him everyday last week and when Sunday arrived, he came to church, but we could really tell he was nervous and flustered. His baptism was after church at 4:30 with 2 other 8-year-olds. The church service ended and we went to find him and he was outside by his car on the phone. His family had called and they were telling him a lot of negative things but after it all, he hung up and came over to us and said he was going to do it. We told him that he could wait if he needed to be more sure, but he said, "Hermanas, if I don't do this now, I'll never know." And he did it! He got baptized. And it was the most spiritual baptism I've ever seen in my life. He entered the font and Obispo was there ready to baptize him. After he came out of the water, Jorge hugged Obispo and just started crying. So hard. He stood there hugging Bishop for a good 3 minutes. The room was completely silent. The Spirit was so strong. A lot of people were crying and Hermana Davis and I had no words. He's going to be an incredible member of the church. He received his Confirmation after and one of the elders blessed him and the blessing was amazing, too. He was so happy after. He told us that he'll never forget this day. We'll never forget it, either! SO WONDERFUL! We're soooo happy!

Carol, Brian and Carlos came to the church on Saturday. We invited them to our Church's General Women's Session of General Conference and they loved it. Carol was really listening intently. I could tell the boys were a little bored, so I gave them a paper and asked them what they want to do for God and Brian drew the First Vision on the paper. That was great! And Carlos drew Heavenly Father. We have high hopes for them to be baptized here pretty soon!

Norma is doing fantastic! Still on track to be baptized on the 10th! She's really feeling the need to continue to learn and to become a member. She has a powerful testimony of the Savior. Her member friends are REALLY helping her out. It's so cool to see it all unfold and her husband's heart is becoming so soft!

I was asked to bear my testimony in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday and wow, that was hard for me. I really have no words to express the gratitude I have to my Father for allowing me to serve a mission. I was reading my patriarchal blessing this week and it's SO CLEAR that I needed to serve. I can't believe it's coming to an end, but I know that with the tag or without it, I'll always be a missionary. I shared my mission scripture that I chose before I came out. Luke 15: 4-6. "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." It was amazing to be able to remember the scripture I chose and how my mission definitely encompasses that scripture. We also did a musical number. I played and 3 other people sang and played the flute. It was so pretty!

Last night, Monday, we had a special noche de hogar for myself and Hermana Palmer. She's leaving a week after I am. Wilson, our ward mission leader, invited so many people and it was so special. We all sat around in a big circle and Hermana Davis and I shared a scripture and we sang a hymn. Norma and Luis came! Wilson then asked everyone to go around in a circle and to share some words with us. Man, it was so hard to keep those tears in! Everyone said the nicest things to me and I just love this ward so much. It's going to be so hard to say goodbye. They're all my family and I've built such valuable relationships with each one of them. Then Wilson asked us to share our testimonies and I really had nooooo words, but I bore my witness of the reality of the Savior and it was such a special moment for me. A night I will never forget. Then, of course, we had the traditional PASTELAZO! We got cake EVERYWHERE. It was so fun. And Norma and Luis bought me a whole plate of Chick-fil-A chicken. I didn't share ... ha, ha, ha, ha. I love these people SO MUCH!

Today we went to the temple and that was inspiring. I remembered that to come on a mission I went through the temple to receive my endowments, to receive the extra strength to serve and now before I go home, I went through the temple to be endowed with power again as I close this remarkable experience. It was an excellent session. I love the temple. I love the Gospel. 

It was an amazing week. This last week will be even better. Running to the finish with the Savior by my side. I love Him! 

Have a blessed week! Go find people to bring to Christ. 

Hermana Sánchez

 Soccer at the park!

Temple trip!

I love being a missionary! 

Temple trip! 

 Hermana Poa

 Breakfast with Norma.

Easter baskets!

Jorge's baptism!

Johanna and Abish!

Pastelazo!

I love Hermana Davis! 

Teach When You Find, Find When You Teach!

This week was really amazing! The Lord is so kind to us. I see this every week, but He just blesses us with so many miracles day after day. It really increases my testimony that He knows His children perfectly and He loves us more than we'll ever really know. I'm so happy to have the testimony I do and the ability to share it. 

This week we had a HUGE miracle with Norma and her husband Luis. We had been teaching them for a while ... about 2 months ago. Last week, on Saturday, we felt prompted to invite them to church and they came. And apparently they knew another member of the ward, Hermana Poa, from years back. She was friends with them before they lost their daughter at the age of 17. So when Norma and Luis surprisingly saw them, they freaked out and hugged and Luis was crying so much. Well, after the reunion, we planned a dinner with them in Hermana Poa's home and it was incredible. They talked about her daughter and the memories they had together. They cried a lot and we cried, too. Norma really wants to take her daughter to the temple to be baptized. She wants to be baptized on the 26th, but we can tell she's still hesitant. Her husband was really against it at first, but at Hermana Poa's house, he said that he'll support her in all she does! Awesome miracle!

I returned to Friendswood today and, oh boy, it's been one of the best days. We had lunch with John and Savannah, Fern, Sister Schott and my old companion, who I trained when she first got here. It was all so incredible. God is so good. John is so active. He's still a ward missionary and the high priest teacher! Savannah is still in Primary. She's a future missionary and just incredible. John went on trek last week and took a lot pictures! Fern is planning on going to the temple on the 30th and taking names! Jacob is planning on serving a mission! HOW COOL IS THAT!? Jade is active in the church again and everyone else is amazing!

My mission has been the most amazing experience of my whole life. I have loved these 18 months with my whole heart and I'll work, work, WORK until the last day.

Russhine is doing AMAZING. She loves, loves, loves her calling and she's so active in the church. Yesterday she came with her son, who is not a member and he loved church, too. She's coming out with us to teach! Actually, Norma lives in her complex, along with another investigator we're teaching. They all became really good friends and they set up a time to all go and meet at Russhine's house to practice their English! How cool is that!?

Also, Carlos, Brian and Carol came to the investigator devotional last night and they loved it. Brian is 12 and he was answering ALL the questions about Joseph Smith! Ha, ha. President Hall was so shocked. Jorge came, too! They're doing so well. Please pray for them. They're making big steps in their lives!

Well, amazing week! Great things happening. So many blessings. So much gratitude. 

I love y'all, 

Hermana Sanchez

Sister Sanchez

Lunch with Fern!

John and Savannah meeting Elder Rasband.

My old companion, Sister McCleery!