Dec 28th Updates from X-MAS, the New Year and Transfers!

I love you both so much!!! It was so great to be able to see you! It was a little strange to actually be able to see you but it was such a special treat! I can't believe we only Skype one more time and then I'll be home... PS because the MTC changed back to 3-week stay my arrival date was moved back a week so I'll be coming home Dec. 9 now. I don't know if you got that email but just wanted to make sure:) I'll be sure to let you know what happens this week at transfers! My guess is that I'll be moving since I've been here 7 months but like always I really have no idea! I hope you have such a happy New Year! I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Sister Eaton

 

 

Dec 21st "Winter" in AZ

Cali is PREGGOSSS?!?!?!?! Wow I didn't see that one coming! It's crazy, Christmas is this week! Winter here is just an extension of fall! It's "cold" in the mornings and evenings but let me just tell you your blood thins quickly out here! It's not too bad if you have tights  and gloves:) So we were at dinner this week with a family- the Bartlett's. Rhonda knows Kerry Christianson and we talked about when she took ski lessons at Targhee back in the day. Do you know a Eddie Eames pops?THANK YOU FOR THE CTR RING!!!!! It's amazing and my favorite thing ever! It'll be the best to have some presents to open Christmas morning, thank you!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! I'll talk to you in a few days!

Love, your fav daughter😉,

Sister Eaton😘

Dec 14th: Korina's Baptism!!!

What a fun week it has been!!! SO much has happened, I don't know
where to start... Korina was baptized this week! A couple weeks ago we
got a text from someone in another ward saying he has a friend that
wants to meet with us and that she wants to be baptized! I was saying
it never happens getting texts for referrals that are ready for
baptism but it happens all the time!!! I have such a strong testimony
that the Lord brings those who are ready to you or you to them. She
has taken seminary this year and prayed to know all on her own to know
if this was Christ's true church. She found her answer and the first
question she asked us was "How am I baptized?" There were SO many
people there to support her from the ward, seminary, school... There
was only standing room in the back! I'm always so amazed of how
supportive the members are with helping in every aspect... Coming with
us to lessons, feeding us, helping us get gifts for our mission
president's wife! The list goes on! Sunday was the beginning of
Christmas conference! We went to the MPD (Mission President's
Devotional) and were able to go with our Korina. President stood up at
the end and shared with us something he learned. When we come into the
field he invites us to kneel down each night and ask Heavenly Father
if our offering is except able. On Sunday evening he shared with us
again to ask ourselves if we are excepting the Lord's offering-
Christ's atonement! The best way we could have began Christmas
conference! Monday morning the mission ran a 5K... This went way
bested than the one in March let me tell ya! I ran the whole thing and
for those of you that know me I'm sure are having to pick their jaws
up from off the floor! We then had some breakfast and were able to
play in a basketball tournament! Later that evening we hiked into
Christmas Camp and had testimony meeting around a fire. I'm so
grateful for the opportunity to be where the Mormon battalion was many
years ago in a similar place they were- away from our families serving
the Lord. The Stars seemed to be extra bright and God seemed to be a
little closer. To top it all off we were able to do a session at the
Mesa temple this morning and will be taking a mission picture at the
Gilbert temple. I'm so grateful for this wonderful time to serve! I
love you all so much and I'm grateful for your love and support at
this time of year! My first and only Christmas in the mission field
and it's already been one to remember! Love you all!

Love, Sister Eaton

Dec 7th: PMG-Learning to Plan vs. Schedule...& I ran 4 miles, NBD

This week I just wanted to share a couple highlights from my week!
Okay you might want to sit down for this one... I ran FOUR miles this
morning!!! I know I know you're wondering if I'm feeling alright, I'm
feeling great! Our mission's Christmas Conference is next Monday and
we're having a 5K. Seeing how I didn't train for the last one I ran in
March I decided it might be best to go ahead and try training for this
one.
We were able to have the sisters that were filmed with us for a day
training us and it was amazing! I learned so much!!! The biggest thing
that I learned is the difference between scheduling (which I did my
first 6 months!) and planning. When you schedule you simply fill in
all your time. Make sure you're being "productive" and there's no
wasted/empty time. PLANNING: Start with your highest priority
investigator. How are you going to help them increase their faith and
have a spiritual experience? Forget stats! What's a good goal for
them? Do you want them to read the BOM, come to church, actually meet
with you... Whatever! Okay now make a lesson plan. What are you going
to teach? What scriptures are you go into share? What part is your
member going to play in the lesson? Plan around your commitment so it
doesn't come from left field. And lastly keep the lessons short! 20
min. lessons! Teach around the gospel of Jesus Christ. EVERYTHING we
teach leads back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But don't forget it's
simple. This is nothing new! It's ALL in PMG and missionary work in
the digital age booklet:) also safeguards for using technology booklet
is bomb! Okay that's enough! But I wouldn't be a missionary unless I
left a commitment! Teach the restoration in ONE minute! It changes
street contacts and door approaches!!! It is HARD and you won't get
everything in which is okay because you'll go back and teach the first
lesson:) (Tip: basically keep it to one sentence for each principle) I
realize this is mostly applicable to missionaries but just a friendly
reminder that we're all disciples of Jesus Christ and what a gift it
is to be able to share our testimonies! It's as simple as "I know that
my Savior loves me!" I love you all and I'm so grateful for your
examples, love, and support! Have the best week!!

Love, Sister Eaton

Nov 30th: VC w/ Royann, Temple with Kelsey

It has been such a great week! We were able to go to the visitor
center with Royann to watch Meet the Mormons. The spirit is so strong
just being on the temple grounds and it's so pretty with all the
Christmas lights! Later this week we were able to go do baptisms with
Kelsey who was just baptized... She's amazing! Sister Hansens and I
were able to to dress in white and I was able to help pass out towels
to those who were just baptized for a time. I love being in the
temple! The temple president happened to be in the baptistery and was
able to confirm Kelsey! He shared a scripture in Luke 4:18 about how
Kelsey is able to do the same work the Christ did when He was here.
The church is true! Last but not least we have been teaching this girl
who is a senior in high school. She has been taking seminary this year
and when we first met with her she wanted to know how she could be
baptized. I'm so grateful to be apart of the Lord's work. I see His
hand in my life every day! I love this Christmas time and the
initiative the church came out with this year A Savior Is Born! I love
you all!

Love, Sister Eaton

Nov 23rd-Training Sister Hansens, I'm a Gma, Kelsey's Baptism!!!

Sister Hansens and I were asked to train Sister Smith but she has not arrived because of some visa issues... She is also from England! She will be arriving Wednesday so there will be more news next week! It'll be 7 1/2 months here in Chandler! Goin for #9Months haha Not to mention I'm a grandma!!! Sister Berezay is white wash training in YUMA, which is where she's wanted to go sense she got here! They're taking over a senior couples area and I'm so excited for her! I'm too young to be a grandma... Any how! Kelsey's baptism was amazing!!! There was so much love and support from all the ward members and it went wonderfully! She already has a meeting with bishop to get her temple recommend and we'll be off to do baptisms for the dead with her! Royann is getting her temple recommend as well so we have some exciting weeks coming up!!! Yesterday Sister Hansens and I gave talks on conversion in sacrament meeting. I love preparing trainings and such because I find I always learn so much in that time and it always seems to be what I need a reminder of! I used the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 for the how to be converted. I also shared a quote from President Uchtdorf on simplicity because I believe too often we're complicating our discipleship. He said,  “Sometimes, the truth may just seem too straightforward, too plain, and too simple for us to fully appreciate its great value. So we set aside what we have experienced and know to be true in pursuit of more mysterious or complicated information. Hopefully we will learn that when we chase after shadows, we are pursuing matters that have little substance and value. . . are we making our discipleship too complicated? Brothers and sisters, if you ever think that the gospel isn’t working so well for you, I invite you to step back, look at your life from a higher plane, and simplify your approach to discipleship. Focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel. I promise that God will guide and bless you on your path to a fulfilling life, and the gospel will definitely work better for you.” I love being a disciple of Jesus Christ and I'm forever grateful I've been given this opportunity to serve my Father in heaven for these short 18 months. I love you all! Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

Love, Sister Eaton

Nov 16th-Filming w/ Kelsey! :D...Being a Disciple

I would have NEVER told you my mission would be what it has been...
and I'm loving every minute of it!!! This week the APs (Assistant to
President) contacted us to let us know they have a referral for us and
she's on date for Saturday November 14th! So on Tuesday we had a
pass-off lesson. Okay, 1: I've never had a pass-off lesson 2: I've
never had a pass-off lesson over Skype and 3: I've never had a
pass-off lesson that was being filmed! So we did what we do best and
learn as we go! We went early so they could touch up our hair and
makeup and mic us and we were nervous out of our minds! Once we got in
there and were able to actually meet Kelsey for the first time the
nerves settled just a bit and the spirit took over. She's AMAZING!!!!
But a baptism never goes on without bumps in the road... More like
mountains! But we got there and she'll be getting baptized tomorrow,
November 17! Transfers are this week... Ahhh! We'll find out tomorrow
late at night what happens for transfers on Thursday! My first 6
months have been spent here in Chandler and I've learned SO much, I
love it here! I'm excited for what the Lord has planned for this next
transfer... We'll see what happens! Shifting gears a bit- I wanted to
share a little bit of what I learned yesterday in church! Being a
disciple is not always easy but we need to do everything we can do do
what Christ would do! If we do we will have more happiness, confidence
and experience eternal life! How might be do this?? Here are 5 things
we can do that will strengthen us as disciples of Jesus Christ:) 1. Go
about doing good 2. Seek out the lonely
God doesn't give me a trial if I can't overcome it. 3. COMPASSION 4.
Stand as a witness of God at ALL times. 5. Invite ALL of God's
children to come unto Him. I love you, God loves you and watches out
for every single one of us! I'm praying for you every day! Happy
holidays!

Love, Sister Eaton