street contacts came to church!! :D

I can't believe how fast time flies! Like always it was a very busy week and quite eventful! So our investigator Libby is/was on date to be baptized for August 8. I'm not sure how much I've talked about her but she's in a care center with a member, Marlene. Well they quickly became the best of friends and everything was going great! We planned to go to the visitor center at the Mesa temple on Saturday and everyone was so excited. When we got there to pick them up Libby's whole demeanor had changed. Marlene, very candidly (which she does so well), said Libby isn't getting baptized. We didn't know what went down but we were trying to keep them calm and fill out the situation. Libby kept saying she didn't want to go and that she was torn. We asked her how she felt when we come by and when she comes to church and she feels good. We know she loves taking the sacrament and how family oriented the church. We didn't end up going to the visitor center but we later found out that her and Marlene had a tiff... over perfume... that Denis (a resident) gave to Marlene! Marlene shared with Libby and she didn't want to give it back and Marlene was heart broken and now Libby doesn't want to get baptized. BUT Heavenly Father always has a plan! Turns out that Libby isn't quite ready to be baptized and had this not happened we would have gone through with it. So this is the part where miracles happen! Last week Sister Clemens and I were riding down the street and stopped by a lady that was waiting on her bike for her daughter. So of course we introduce ourselves and ask if she wants to hear a message about Christ. She reluctantly said yes and then her daughter rides up. So they're watching this short clip of Christ and when it finished we invited them to church. She has four kids and they just moved from a reservation in Gila River and she said she was looking for a church... this is what every missionary wants to hear! We told her what time our church starts and that a member will be by to pick her up. THEY ALL CAME!!!!  A street contact came to church! It was such a great day! I want to end with this thought: "If you hold to the rod you can feel your way forward with the gift of the Holy Ghost" -Elder Packer. I know that this gospel is true! My mission has tested my patience in every aspect but I know I have and will continue to grow because of it. The more I develop a attitude of gratitude that happier I am. I love you all! 

Love, Sister Eaton

Investigator on for August 8th

It's been a crazy week! On Tuesday we had our last district meeting before transfers on Thursday! I had the best district leader but he's dead now! (No worries he's still alive he just went home) He talked about testimonies and how it takes a act of faith to grow your testimony. It's so true! I was reading in Alma 32 this week and it's all about nourishing our seed until it blooms and eventually becomes a tree that produces delicious fruit! On Wednesday we were invited to attend the new missionary meeting that's held at the mission home and we get to meet all the new missionaries! I know very redundant but I got my point across. The spirit was so strong and I learned so much! A couple thoughts from the meeting: Faith doesn't always mean that the mountains will move and that oceans will part but that we continue regardless steadfast with our faith unshaken. And second the more obedient we are to the commandments the Lord has given the happier we will be! Thursday was transfers! Sister Clemens and I are staying! We were so happy because this is her last transfer and that means she gets to finish training me! Next transfer will be tough saying by to my mom (aka my trainer) but she is a great teacher and that's not for a while so we'll not think about that! Our investigator is on date for August 8! She is such a sweet lady and is so ready. Being a missionary is the greatest thing ever, I love it so much! You are in a refiners fire but God watches out for us. Thank you for all the love and support! I love you all! 

Love, Sister Eaton

Last week of 1st Transfer! Ya buddy!

This week we were able to go to the Mesa temple! I love the peace that comes from going and I'm so grateful we have one near by that we get to go to! This week in district meeting my district leader talked about being self-correcting people. There's a awesome talk "As Many as I love, I Rebuke and Chasten" by D. Todd Christofferson. To become great we must first go through the refiners fire. We should all be anxiously engaged in a good cause and striving to come closer to Christ. I'm so grateful for the atonement and the opportunity we all have to try again. We were able to watch Boyd K. Packers funeral. It was a great service. President Monson said a few words. He is aging quite fast! I love him so much! Transfers are on Thursday! We find out on Tuesday where we will be going but I'm pretty sure Sister Clemens and I will be staying. This will be her last transfer and I'm only half way done with training. Time flys over here! But the saying "days feel like weeks and weeks feel like days" couldn't be more true! I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve! I love you all! 

Love, Sister Eaton

Crazy Church & World Changes!!!!

I can't believe everything that has happened sense I have left for my mission! It began with Elder Perry passing, then the legalization of gay marriage, and lastly Elder Packer passing! This will be one exciting general conference in October! On Tuesday President Toone got the mission together and we discussed that, as representatives of the church, regardless of our personal opinion, "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." Because I'm a missionary, and my purpose as a missionary is to invite, I invite all to read The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Study it. Memorize it if you will. Make it apart of you! I know that God is very award of each of us and how we feel. He has a plan for everyone of His children. I know my will is not always God's will but it is my constant goal to make God's will mine. I know when I do that is when I'm happiest.

I went on splits for the first time! Although it was not over night (because there are no other sisters in my zone to go on splits with) it was still fun to go on visits with the Relief Society president. We stopped by a old ladies house, Jodi Thompson, and she's not a member but Sister Clemens and I have stopped by before to check on her. She has dementia but is the cutest thing ever! 

Lastly, we have this investigator Jordan, who we street contacted. He wanted to know how God fit into his life. We met with him and had an amazing lesson on the restoration but the worst part is we haven't been able to contact him sense! We're trying not to be the clingy GF but it's super hard when their salvation is on line! But like I said earlier, Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us, Jordan included. Thank you for all the love and support!

Love, Sister Eaton

Summer Heat!

HUBBUB: aka dust storm They are so crazy!!! It was about 100 degrees with 45 mph wind and
dust everywhere! There's a bunch of static in the air so you have to get inside but fortunately for
my comp and I we were close to the church! It last for a little over a hour... lets just say 
missionaries don't do so well with extra time on their hands. I know the Lord watches over His 
missionaries because it shouldn't be possible to ride a bike in 110+ weather but all you know is 
that it's hot out and you have work to do, so you just do it! My comp did get two flat tires this

week but the work goes on! 

This was a tough week of teaching. We're doing lots of finding and the best way to do that is visit
the members to strengthen those relationships so that they give us referrals. The lesson in relief 
society yesterday was about the adversary. Satan works so hard and my comp and I saw it this 
week but we gave everything we had and I know that's all the Lord asks of us. I know the Lord is 
with me every step of the way and He has a plan [most often it's not my plan... It usually requires a
lot of patience and faith which are not the easiest for me] but I know that when I do fall short the 
atonement of Jesus Christ is always there. It's also there for the best of times. My companion and I 
have been studying the plan of salvation this week which is a great reminder that our Heavenly Father 

knows each of us individually and that He loves us unconditionally. I love this gospel and I'm so grateful 
for this time I have to serve God and be a representative of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all the love and 
support! 

Love, Sister Eaton

One down...17 to go!!! ;D

This was a crazy week! I've been a missionary for a month sense Saturday... crazy! Also another mile stone: I have a watch tan line for the first time in my life! On that note, we put Tyler on date for July 11!!! He's been coming to church sense he started scouts but his parents didn't want him to get baptized. Well.. he turned 18 last week so it's time! And a not so happy note two of our investigators dropped us. I was super bumbed but I knew Heavenly Father has a plan for both of them (they're friends) and in His time they will be ready. On our way home from teaching them we rode past this lady that looked/sounded like she was going to die because she was breathing so heavy and so we stopped and asked if she needed any water. We gave her what we had and asked if she needed anything else.. she said ice water. So we rode to a jack in the box to get 2 large ice waters and it was going to be $3 but the guy gave them to us for free! I don't know if he thought we looked like we needed to large free ice waters or what but he will be blessed for it! So after all this we're on our way back to the lady, who decided she could move again and walk to the jack in the box herself, and she said she didn't want them. Funny how life works sometimes.

Earlier this week I was reading in 2 Nephi 9 and it's crazy how quickly God answers my prayers! Just the day before I could not comprehend, for the life of me, how much Heavenly Father loves me that He would send His only Begotten son to die for me so that I can be saved. As I was reading I came across vs. 45-53 (the whole chapter is amazing!) and it was so plain to me when I read them! I know, without a doubt, that my Heavenly Father loves me. He loves all His children and He wants us to come unto Him. He loves us so much that it doesn't matter we aren't perfect. That is why His plan is perfect because of the Atonement. I love being a representative of Jesus Christ! I'm learning so much every single day, I love it out here! Thank you so much for all the love and support! 

Love, Sister Eaton

True Arizonian...1st Week in the Field

This week has been crazy!!! So I left the MTC early Tuesday morning and finally got to Tempe! I flew in with my comp from the MTC, two elders from my district, and then two sisters that were coming from temple square for their outbound. We all stayed at our Mission President's home. I love President and Sister Toone SO much! They have welcomed us with open arms and he has huge arms seeing how he's 7' tall!! We went and did a session at the Mesa temple and it is so beautiful! It was built back in the 20's so it's very unique. We stopped by the visitor center to see what resources we had as missionaries that we could use to teach our investigators. Thursday morning was transfers and my trainer is Sister Clemens. She is the best companion ever! She's from Kentucky and is the oldest of 9! We're serving in Chandler and she's been here for 4 months! We have two wards we're assigned to which is a bit overwhelming but more to learn, right? We were able to watch Elder Perry's funeral and it was a beautiful service. I don't know if you noticed but apostles said both the opening and closing prayers! You never get to hear them pray so that was very special. This week we had a referral of this 80 year old women. We talked for a bit and then offered to vacuum her house. THREE cockroaches!!!! I was too paranoid to stay much longer after that. Lastly, I'm officially a Arizonian because I saw a scorpion! We were coming out of our neighbors house last night and there it was... just hanging out on the porch and I almost had a heart attack! But obviously I lived to tell about it so it's all good. Thank you for all the support and love over the past few weeks! It makes all the difference to missionaries! Love you all!

Love, Sister Eaton

Missionary Moment: I was biking... in my skirt... with my helmet... in the rain... I felt like a true blue Sister missionary!