March 21 - Service

Blog- 

I don't even know where to begin! This has been an amazing week and it feels like it's been much longer than 7 days because of everything that has happened! We were able to go do service on Monday evening for FHE at the United food bank in Mesa. Our investigator Tabbi totally came! On Tuesday after district meeting we went to FMSC again as a district and I'm always amazed at how many meals we're able to pack in such a short amount of time! They tell you who you're packing for and my first two times it was for children in the Philippines but this time it was for Mexico! And on Thursday we were also able to go to a local food bank here in Chandler called Matthew's crossing and help distribute food for them. I love going there because of Ollie. He's the cute old man in the middle and he's so happy every day! I asked him why he's always so happy and he just told me "I just doesn't have bad days"... He just doesn't have bad days! He's such a great example to me of seeking light. There's so much to be happy for, especially with Christ's gospel. His atonement is so profound yet so simple. He loves us. That's what it comes down to. Jesus Christ loves us so much he was willing to give His life for each and every one of us. This week we were able to go to the Easter Pageant in Mesa with one of our investigators, Roya. She is amazing! She does live in the Gilbert mission boundaries so we had to pass her off but we couldn't be more excited for her to continue learning more and grow closer to Jesus Christ. 

The pageant was wonderful! It began with the creation and showed that God has sent us prophets. It went through Christ's life as He was born, grew up ministering from the young age of 12 in temples, and the many miracles He performed. It ended with His atoning sacrifice for all man kind in the garden of Gethsemane, His death on Golgotha, and His glorious resurrection. My favorite song of the pageant was when all 400+ cast members sang "He Lives!" over and over again as Christ ascended above the stage. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to go and remember at this special time of year my Savior Jesus Christ and have my testimony of Him strengthened. The bonus on the night was seeing President and Sister Toone there with three of their children and their families! I love them so much!!! And we got to sit right in front of them! 

Another highlight from this week was Xavier's baptism and confirmation! He is amazing and has such a powerful testimony of this gospel. His baptism went perfectly and I'm overwhelmed by the support of the ward and his family. It's not too often that individuals, particularly in YSA, have support from their family when they choose to be baptized but Xavier's family is incredible!

My heart is so full of gratitude when I think about what a wonderful work I am apart of. 18 months isn't a very long time and it's half way over but I'm just trying to be whoever it is Heavenly Father needs me to be. I'm grateful for all of you and your love and examples! Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!💐 

Love, Sister Eaton

Service at the local food bank with Ollie

Easter pageant with Roya

Xavier's baptism!!

March 14 - Easter Pageant

The new #Hallelujah initiative was released yesterday! Also the Mesa
Easter pageant begins this week! One of our investigators lives in the
Gilbert mission so we're passing her off to the Gilbert missionaries
at the Easter pageant this week and their bishop is over it all so
we're going to get good seats! Also another one of our investigators
was being taught by missionaries in the Gilbert mission but they
passed him off and he'll be getting baptized this Saturday! The Lord
is seriously pouring blessings down right now! It's crazy to see the
change in this ward in the past month and a half to now. I love you
all!

Love, Sister Eaton

Passing through little Mexico, only seemed appropriate

Hard core cheesin

Service with Olliea

Matchin my sisters!

March 7 - Investigators! :D

I can't even believe the week we've had! Last Friday we were at weekly
planning and afterwards we were so discouraged because we spent two
hours trying to plan for people that we couldn't even get in contact
with! But we continued to work our hardest and you wouldn't believe
this is the same ward! Our teaching pool has tripled and I know the
Lord is blessing the San Marcos ward. I realized I haven't told you
too much about who were working with so I'll give you a little
background. Luke was a referral and was raised Christian and actually
taught anti material growing up. As he's rubbed shoulders with some
Mormons he's noticed we aren't like he thought and that made him want
to learn more. He has a solid fellowship, he came to church yesterday,
and when he left he set a return appointment... What?! Then there's
Melissa. She is a rugby player and works at a law firm. She wants to
go into immigration because she's from El Salvador. She is the
sweetest little thing you would ever meet! This week we were able to
meet with her for the first time in THREE weeks and it was the best
lesson! We promised her if she came to church she would receive and
answer to her question but unfortunately practice ran long and she
couldn't make we'll keep trying! Xavier was also at church yesterday!
He plays basketball at CGCC (Chandler Gilbert Community College) and
is being taught by the Gilbert missionaries although he does live in
our ward boundaries. Some people like to refer to this as poaching but
to make a long story short he will be baptized in the Lexington ward
and then he'll be coming to our ward afterwards. But he's awesome and
we're excited for him! Our members are also beginning to do missionary
work! Two brought with them friends, Tabby and Roya. We got a text
from Roya this morning asking if we were free to meet up Wednesday
morning and asked if we would bring a Book of Mormon! It so amazing to
be apart of the Lord's work and my testimony is strengthened as I see
them gain a testimony for the first time. I know this church is true!
We are studying the atonement this month as a mission and this morning
we read from the Bible when Christ suffered for each one of us in the
garden of Gethsemane. He KNOWS how we feel and He suffered because He
loves us. I know He lives and I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus
Christ. I love you all!!!

Love, Sister Eaton

Feb 29 - 9 MONTHS!!! Faith, Hope and Charity

I feel like I blinked and 9 months went by! I can't believe everything
that has happened this far on my mission. I can't imagine my life
without the challenges I've faced or the people I've met or the
happiness I've felt. AZ is my waters of Mormon and I love being a
missionary! It goes without saying you're exhausted every day or
people aren't very pleasant yet there is so much JOY! It's the small
moments that mean the most... when your investigator actually replies
to your message or the amount of love you feel for perfect strangers!
M. Russell Ballard said, "There is no greater joy in life than being
anxiously engaged in the service of the Lord."
We went to Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Pheonix and it was
amazing to volunteer our time to pack food for children in the
Philippines. It was just like Vivint gives back but a whole foundation
for it! It was so fun! Yesterday we had Stake Conference and it was
amazing! Elder Tillman of the 70, several stake leaders, and sister
Toone spoke. There was a theme of hope. We mention faith, hope, and
charity yet there is no faith without hope and charity. Elder Tillman
quoted Winston Churchill saying "Success is going from one failure to
the another without losing enthusiasm." We must ware our lives out
with sharing the gospel. I'm not talking about serving full time
missions but everyday member missionary work. Missions are amazing but
so are serving and loving everyone around us. This is the whole reason
why we're here! I love you all and I pray for you!

Love, Sister Eaton

3 point shooting contest with my old WML

Happy 9 MONTHS!!!

Sister Hanses and I together since the beginning.

My companion and I

Feb 22 - Pics from the last few weeks!

Sister Michaely and I with our daughter Sister Jun in the middle. I love them!!!

My new companion Sister Mylroie and I and no I didn't 

give her a black eye, she stepped on a rake.

At dinner yesterday. Once again, I look like a giant.

Feb 15-I have a New Companion, Sister Myliore de Florida

I'm staying in YSA but I have a new companion! Sister Jun was made STL and there's only two in the mission for right now.... She's amazing! My new companion, Sister Mylroie, is from Florida and has been out about 7 months. Exciting things are happening right now! My asthma flared up on Saturday and I have a app. with a doc tomorrow. I'm pretty tired so I'm going to go but I LOVE YOU!!!!! 

Love, 

Sister Eaton