WEEK 19

Hola y'all,

I'm getting transferred!!! Saturday was a little bit of a suspenseful day as we were waiting for transfer calls that night. I had hoped that I was staying, and I was kind of planning on it, but there was a little part of me that thought I might leave. We got our call from one of the APs and when he told me I was getting transferred, I kind of like yelled/gasped out of shock, unbelief, sadness, excitement... something like that. So that was slightly embarrassing. And then I was crying that night. But now, I'm really happy about it! It's just been a weird mix of emotions! I am sad about leaving Culpeper- it's like my second home :( Culpeper is the best. There are so many good people and I'm going to miss them so, so much. But at the same time, I feel really excited, and it feels right. I'm really exited to find out where I'm going. It's just so bittersweet because there are people here that I love so much and I wish I had more time with them. But I'm ready for a fresh start in another area. It's going to be great! Also, I'm done with training! 

On Sunday, a much anticipated miracle came to pass! We were at church, and none of our investigators had showed up yet, despite the weekly reminder text that we had sent. I was pretty resigned to the fact that no one was coming, because that's been the pattern of almost all of the last 12 weeks. But, a little part of me had hope that maybe someone would come on my last Sunday. So almost halfway into the meeting, someone came up to us and whispered that there was someone out in the foyer looking for us. We went out to see, and Jacky and Leonardo were standing there, with the baby!!!!!! I was SO excited!!!! It was like a dream. I don't even know how to describe it, it was kind of like I was walking through the pearly gates, and there were two people that I loved, just waiting there! Haha, that sounds so dramatic but that's what it was like. I was SO happy. That was all I wanted. We have been trying to get them to come to church for so long, and they finally came. It was awesome. The last lesson we had with them before that, we had kind of been pleading with them to come to church. We had been teaching them for a while and we were afraid we would have to drop them soon if they didn't come to church. I hated the thought of doing that, because they are the cutest little family and they just have no idea how much the Gospel can bless them! I am so glad they came so they can keep being taught. I'm sad I have to leave them but hopefully I can come back when they get baptized. I know they will eventually and I can't wait!

Culpeper has been such an awesome area. I love it here. Even though we haven't really experienced the success of people coming to church and being baptized, I have learned so much, and I have grown immensely. I have been able to feel so much love for people, and see them progress and change. It's been so hard, but so so worth it. I am so grateful for the things I have learned here. I wish I had more time to talk about what I've learned, but I'm about out of time.

I am SO grateful for my family!!! I love you all so, so, so much. I miss you almost more than I can stand sometimes!! But I love my mission and I love the work that Heavenly Father is allowing me to do. It's such a gift and a blessing. The Gospel is true!!! Keep being examples to those around you! Example is so powerful. I’ve heard a quote that says, "Preach the Gospel, use words if necessary." I know that the Lord has more people prepared for you to influence. Be a shining light so that those people can find you and you can find them!

I know that the Gospel is true!! I know it. I have had too many spiritual experiences to deny it! I am so grateful for the power of The Savior's Atonement that allows me to do this work every day.

Until next week....in my new area!! :)

Hermana Eddington

In the window at the top is Sebastian, one of the cutest kids ever! Sometimes when we
leave after teaching his family, he will watch us leave and wave at us through the
window. It is SO cute. He is so funny and crazy. He's like a hispanic version of one of
the Warner boys. :)

People are really into decorating their front yards and
porches here. This is an example of one of the many
random little decorations we see. 

Miracle of all miracles!!!! Jacky and Leonardo came
to church!

The sisters in the other ward- they are so fun and I love them.

WEEK 18

Hola,

Happy Memorial Day!

This week there were some really rough moments, but also some really awesome ones!

We had a lesson with Evelia and it just did not go well at all. It was hot, and there was a lot of chaos, and our lesson was all over the place. She said she didn't feel ready for baptism yet, so I was really sad about that. To make matters worse, I was trying to text our district leader and ward mission leader to tell them that she was off date for baptism, and I accidentally sent the text to her!!! I thought it was all over. But we saw her the next day, and everything was fine. I was so relieved. We found out that one of the things she's having a hard time with is Joseph Smith, so we're going to try to help her with that.

One of the awesome moments that happened this week was with our new investigator, Carolina. We had such a great lesson with her and her kids! It was so cool because she always makes sure all her kids are in the room, listening when we teach. She is so sweet and amazing. In that lesson, I could totally just see her and her kids going to the Temple one day and being sealed! It's going to happen. And I can't wait to see it! :)

I love being a missionary. Even though there are a lot of disappointments, even just one experience like the lesson with Carolina makes it all worth it. I'm learning and growing so much and I love it. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father gave me this opportunity. I know that He knows each one of us so personally and perfectly, and He is aware of us every moment! I love Him and I love the Gospel.

Have a great week!

Hermana Eddington

Sisters' P-day was this past Monday. Their apartment was SO nice.

It had a fake fireplace and there were Christmas decorations

in the closet so naturally we had to take a Christmas picture.

I'm guessing that these are the names of guns? Haha

Country life is the best life!

Notice the temperature...

We can wear hats and sunglasses now!

I know my eyes are closed Mom but I know
you like as many pictures as possible!

WEEK 17

Hola mi familia preciosa!

Things are going well here. Transfers are on June 7^th.  On the 4^th, we will find out whether or not we get transferred. My companion thinks she is leaving. I think I'll be staying here, but who knows, we'll see! I hope I do stay here. I love Culpeper so much. I already know it's going to be so hard when I eventually do get transferred, especially if I'm going somewhere in the suburbs or city. I will miss country life!

We had zone p-day this past Monday, and it was pretty much the Elders playing sports and the sisters hanging out together, haha. I brought my watercolors, and my sister training leader and I painted- she loves it!

On Tuesday we had "Sisters' Meeting". It was all the sisters in our zone and a few of the surrounding zones. President and Sister Wilson came, and they and their daughter who just got home from her mission taught us. It was really awesome! All of the instruction was wonderful. After, we had lunch and a clothing exchange! I was so excited for that.

Wednesday we had district meeting, and I gave a training. Later that day we went tracting. We did quite a bit of tracting this week. It used to not be my favorite thing to do, and it still isn't, but it's actually not that bad! I'm becoming more and more bold, and I'm starting to be less scared about certain things. I'm also starting to care less what people think (in a good way).

Speaking of that, we found a woman from Guatemala while we were tracting, and she let us in to teach her. Also, on Friday we met this really cool woman named Carolina. She's so sweet and nice, and I can tell she's really interested! When we came over, she called all of her kids to come out to the family room and listen to the lesson- no one ever does that! It was so cool. She was listening very intently to us. I know she'll be baptized, she's serious about this. That was such a miracle that we were able to find her and meet with her, because she is ready for this!

Evelia was on date to be baptized this coming Saturday, but today we're going to see if we can keep her on date and push it back to the 4th. She hasn't come to church again since fast Sunday :(. We still teach her and everything, but getting her to church is the hard part. She believes everything we teach, and she knows it's true. She's been praying about baptism and she said that she feels good about it, and she feels peace, but she's not fully committed to a date.

Jacky and Leonardo: Jacky is perfect, amazing, and awesome. She believes everything we teach, she believes The Book of Mormon is true, and she just intuitively knows everything, and it makes sense to her. When we're teaching her and her esposo she'll explain things to him and I always think, "How does she know all of this so well??" If she could come to church, she'd be baptized. But there's the problem. Only her esposo can drive, so she doesn't have a way to come without him. We've even offered to get her a ride, but she says that she needs Leonardo to help with the baby when he cries and stuff. Leonardo isn't super into all of this. He's super nice, and he listens to us, but he gets really bored during the lessons, so he's not super into it. Jacky is so ready, so it's just hard because the only thing that's holding her back is her esposo! But we'll get there. She is just so ready and I know that Heavenly Father will provide a way.

Well, that's about all I have time for today! I love you all so very much and I love hearing from you!  I know the Gospel is true and I know that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives, every minute of our lives! He is so aware of us and loves us so much. I'm so grateful to be a missionary!

Con amor,

Hermana Eddington

Zone P-day.
The older couple in the middle is Elder and Sister Elieson.
They're a senior missionary couple that are assigned to the same ward as us. They are SO cute
and they are my inspiration!! They make me so excited to serve a senior mission one day.

Tracting in the rain.

One of the many reasons I love it here!
It's so nice to see things like this everywhere.

WEEK 16

Hola,

Highlights of this week:

-We were tracting and as we were walking by a house, through the window we heard someone inside say, "Here they come..." Hahahaha. Yeah that's right, here we come!!!

-We went on exchanges with the Sister Training leaders- and this time one of the Sisters came to our area with me, which meant I was left all on my own to speak Spanish with people!!! I was a little nervous about that, but it actually turned out really well! It was really cool, the gift of tongues is so real! It was a really fun exchange and we met some funny people.

- *Miracle* We've been trying forever to visit with a woman who is less active, and out of the many, many times we've tried to see her, she's only opened the door once, and that was when I was on exchanges a while ago so I didn't even get to meet her! So we went by again the other day, and she opened the door!!! It was a true miracle.

- Our investigators, Jacky and Leonardo almost came to soccer but then they didn't :( Oh, and I don't play soccer anymore because it has almost tripled in size and it's too intense now!! But it's fun to watch! :)

-Our investigator Evelia has been progressing pretty well. We've taught her everything, we just need her to come to church again and feel confident about making the decision to get baptized.

- So during zone meetings, we do this thing called "spiritual creation." We think of someone that we would like to find to teach, and we picture what they are like. It sounds really weird, but it's so cool! A while ago, we had decided that we were going to find a single mom. It was kind of in the back of my mind, but the other day, we found this girl tracting, and during the lesson with her, it came to my mind that we had found who we were looking for! She is so sweet. We haven't seen her since last time, but we will soon!

Well, that's about all I have time for. I know the Gospel is true and I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers specifically!! I know this because I have seen it! I am so grateful for my Savior, and for His infinite Atonement!

Thank you all for your support and love! It helps me more than you know.

Until next week,

Hermana Eddington

One of my Sister Training Leaders painted this
lovely portrait of me. :)

???

Beautiful Virgina