OYM-Seeing the Fruits of our Labors

We're leading our zone with lessons taught this week!!! Sometimes you don't see the fruit of your labors until it is handed to you! This week we have implemented OYM (Open Your Mouth). The goal is to get 20 each day. Of course some days are better than others but just this week we have FOUR new investigators! Also just this week our whole mission had a tracting hour from 1-2. It was cool to know the whole mission was out knocking doors finding ANYONE to talk to. Also we're having a little competition between the zones... in our efforts to get missionaries up and exercising in the mornings we (as a MLC) have challenged each missionary to run 20 miles a transfer. In just one week Chandler and Tempe YSA have been neck in neck with about 100 miles each so we'll see who takes it at the end of this transfer! This week we had a interesting street contact... he was Muslim and spoke Bengali and very little English but in our efforts to teach ANYONE we attempted using google translate. Harder said than done! Needless to say there won't be another lesson with him. We were also able to sit in on a Lutheran study group. It was amazing! Here's why- there were only 4 of them and Pastor James was teaching how Christ is in us and us in Christ and one of them could not understand that. It was very cool teaching opportunity to teach that we were created in God's image and so forth. They were very kind and invited us back! On Saturday we took one of our investigators to a baptism that some of our Elders had. The spirit was very strong and her desire to be baptized increased 10 fold but still wants to wait until they have their 6 kids back. God is in the detail of our lives. He loves us more than we'll every know. I love teaching others about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Sister Eaton

Sister Berezay!

What a crazy week!!! Okay SO much has happened I don't even know where to start! I guess I'll start from the very beginning... Sound of Music reference anyone? So the beginning of the week was full of good byes! We're lucky that our wards are so great that it makes saying good byes hard! Tuesday night were transfer calls..... 9:30- nothing 10:30- nothing 11:30- we get a text from our ZL saying that calls won't be until MORNING!!!! So the next morning we wake up, exercise, and get ready. At this point I'm a ball of nerves and I'm practically giving myself an ulcer! So we start personal study. We're about 20 minutes in, I was finally able to focus on the scriptures, when the sisters come in with the phone on speaker and President's on the line... do you know what it means when President's on the line?? So I answer, "Hi President" (if you know me I have my phone voice all the way as if I could cover up my shaking voice!) He answers, "Sister Eaton we would like to ask you if you would train?" I was so excited/nervous and whole bunch of other emotions! But then he asks, "We would also like to ask if you would serve as a Sister Training Leader" WHAAAT? I wasn't sure what to think or do but I heard myself say "Yes I will". Just so I don't hold you in suspense any longer... I am staying in Chandler! Transfers came SO fast and before you know it my "mom" "died" and now I have a "daughter"!!!! Her name is Sister Berezay (Bur-zay) and she's from Colorado. She's a sweetheart! #GreenieFire I now know why there's so much growth that takes place on a mission... it's because of all the change! Every time I think I get the hang of something the Lord's right there waiting to remind me of who I can become and so He pushes me just a little (or a lot) further. I'm grateful that the Lord trusts me to train one of His missionaries. I know there's still so much for me to learn but I trust that this is His plan for me. Just as it says in 1 Nephi 17:3 that if "the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the things which he has commanded them". I love this gospel with all my heart! What a privilege it is to serve a mission and wear the name of Christ on my tag. I love all of you all! Have the best week ever! 

Love, Sister Eaton

P.S. Conference is in a month! Start thinking now of any questions that you have because I know that the Lord will answer them! 

The Week of "Lasts"

Hey!!! This week Sister Clemens and I were asked if we would write a post for a mission blog on "a day in the life of biking sisters" It was so fun! If you want to check it out it's arizonatempemission.blogspot.comThere have been a lot of "lasts" this week for Sister Clemens. Last district meeting, last time serving at the food bank, last weekly planning, last Sunday, today's her last p-day!!! Crazy! Speaking of, I'm done training!!!  I am no longer a "greenie" but apparently that sticks until about 6 months. So tomorrow is transfer calls! I wasn't nervous for the last one because I was almost positive Sister Clemens would stay, finish out her mission here in Chandler, and finish training me. But with Sister Clemens going home I have no idea what will happen! I'm excited for whatever does happen though! Good news: there's only about another month left of "AZ heat" before it cools down! It's really not too bad... there's hot, hot, and hot. It's all just hot. You can bake cookies in your car! If you have a car... I guess the pavement would work just fine.

I finished the Book of Mormon this morning. I know that, without a doubt, that the Book of Mormon is true! I know that God answers our prayers through scripture. That, although written MANY years ago, we can still learn from the accounts recorded in the Book of Mormon. I KNOW, as someone who doesn't have the best track record for scripture study, reading from the Book of Mormon every day will bring you closer to God. It doesn't matter how much. But reading from the Book of Mormon every day will provide peace in your life. I love the Book of Mormon! I love this gospel. I love being a disciple of Jesus Christ. I love you all!!! I can't thank you enough for all the support you've shown me. Have the best week!

Love, Sister Eaton

Mission Tour!!!--Elder Corbridge

 Forgot to tell you we would be
> emailing on Tuesday this week! Sorry about that. This
> morning it was storming and our power went out for a bit so
> now it's a cool 90 degrees! This is week 11 of training! Do
> you know what that means? It means I lead out the area! It's
> pretty slow going especially because we're on bikes but
> better now than when Sister Clemens is back home! This week
> has been full of trainings! This mission is a pilot mission
> for iPads so some people from SL came to observe how things
> are going. Last Tuesday Sister Clemens trained at the DL
> training. She's such a powerful teacher! I am so sad to see
> her go so soon but I know she has trained me well! Sunday
> was crazy busy! It usually is because we cover two wards...
> I never would have thought that I would love 5 hours of
> church! In one of the wards Sister Clemens and I were asked
> to share our testimonies on member missionary work. Best
> topic ever! Because there is not such thing as a "U.S. and
> "them" mentality, everyone can do it! Later we were able to
> go to the Mission President's Devotional that's held once a
> month on ASU campus. It was my first one and they're the
> best! Normally you get to go if you have a investigator or
> LARC but because it's Sister Clemens last one we got to go.
> Our teaching pool is pretty good! Better in one ward than
> the other (I won't say which one) but we had a few
> investigators at church on Sunday! Actually, we have had FHE
> with our neighbor a couple times now and we're "practicing
> teaching" him. He does his homework! (AKA commitments) He
> was a school teacher in NJ for 32 years so he knows all
> about that. Anyways the first time he said "I've always been
> catholic and I always will be" and both Sister Clemens and I
> were thinking "No ya won't!" He's awesome! Well yesterday
> was the best part of the whole week! It was the Mission
> Tour! Elder Corbridge from the 70 came and trained us all
> day! I took too many notes to share all of them with you but
> I will choose a couple! I know those catchy one liners
> always resonate with me so I have one for ya'll!
> "Selflessness is in your greatest self interest" I know this
> is true! The more I serve others and turn outwards the
> happier I am! Sister Clemens always uses the analogy of
> building a puzzle and it isn't until we help someone else
> that Heavenly Father can then help us on ours. I want to end
> with this though: Make whatever sacrifices needed to keep
> the spirit in our lives. Now, more than ever, this is true!
> The adversary knows each of us individually but if we are
> striving to keep our baptismal covenants we are promised
> "that they may have his spirit to be with them." I love this
> gospel with all my heart and I'm so grateful for this time a
> have to be a disciple of my Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you
> for all the love and support, it means the world to me! I
> love all of you!
>
> Love, Sister Eaton

Becoming Truly Converted

What a crazy week it has been! Next week will be even crazier because we are having a mission tour. That means that Elder Corbridge, the area 70, is coming to train and assess the mission. On Tuesday we had our zone meeting. The zone leaders and Sister Clemens did great on their trainings! A brief recap: We must align our will with God's will. And in 2 Nephi 27:23 "..I am a God of miracles; ...and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." and in Helaman 5:12 when our foundation is built upon Christ it is "a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." If we want to teach with authority the only way to do that is through the spirit. The spirit acts as a sealer. This week there was also a new missionary [6 and 12 week] training! Something I have learned this week is to become truly converted it takes commitment every single day and giving up my will. It's difficult at times (all the time really) to be patient with the Lord and His plan for me but I know that it's through my diligence and faithfulness that miracles will come! So on Saturday Sister Clemens and I and the sisters we live with didn't have dinners so we pulled together some food and made a awesome dinner! On a less exciting note... I walked into the bathroom this week and there was a scorpion!!! That's the third one we have had in our house the past two months! I was calling for Sister Clemens for what seemed like forever and she came and killed it for me! It didn't help that it was right before bed.. oh man those things are nasty! Well that's all for this week! I love you all!

Love, Sister Eaton

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