Hermana Smiley

So this week I went on exchanges (where you switch companions for a day) in a Spanish speaking area! I mostly just sat and smiled all day haha. I thought about how my dad was nicknamed Elder Smiley at the beginning of his mission in Mexico because he didn't speak Spanish well yet. My high school Spanish proved to be almost no help. I understood the gist of most conversations, but got lost in the details. It was cool to see how you can still feel the Spirit even when you don't know what they're saying, though! 
They thought it was funny when I told them all I know how to say is: Me duele la cara de ser tan guapa. Jaja ;) Thanks, Dad, for teaching me that! 

We went to the Mesa Visitors Center with Ray on Saturday! It was super spiritual, and fun to go with some YSA (young single adult) ward members! We watched my favorite videos there. Its all about the witnesses and the translation of the Book Of Mormon. It is all true stories and it is so powerful to see the miracles that came to pass, in order to move the Lords work forward.

We are going to the Mesa temple lights tonight again! Sometimes I feel like I'm serving in the Mesa mission.. Haha! But since we are going to Mesa tonight, we have to leave around 4 soo my p-day is cut a bit shorter today (just an FYI). AND we are going to Mesa AGAIN on Thursday night too with a bunch of missionaries!  

We are doing skits in our zones for our Christmas party at the mission home and we will be practicing today.. all I know is that one Elder is writing a rap and they all wanted me to sing in part of it too haha so we shall see how that turns out!

Last night, we made tamales with a lady named Theresa who ordered a Bible a few weeks back. We came to give her the Bible, and also gave her a Book of Mormon. We ended up talking for a bit and she said she would love to have us over and do a bible study with her and her family! She said she had a big family, but we didn't know exactly how big....so long story short, when we came over yesterday to make tamales at her house, we taught 20 people!!! Haha how crazy is that?! It was so much fun to get to know them and learn how to make tamales - which by the way, takes sooo much time and effort!

Ray is going to be baptized next week! We prayed and felt it would be best to wait one more week :) Jeremiah is also going to be baptized next week!! Jeremiah is 12 and has been coming to church with his grandma for a while and we taught him because he wanted to be baptized :) We are so excited for them! 

Oh! And.... IT RAINED this week!! For like 10 minutes..and only like a light sprinkle, but still!! It was the first time I've seen rain in over 4 months!! Oh yeah I hit my 4 month mark the other day by the way!

The Christmas season is the best time of year because people are more willing to serve their fellowmen! Check out mormon.org to see how you can follow Christ's example and light the world today! :)
Love and pray for you all!

Pic is of a prickly pear fruit from a cactus!

-- 
Sister Garrick


on exchanges w/Hermana Dueñas

us and the Hermanas we live with!

making tamales!!


someones house looked like Christmas threw up on it!

Mesa temple with Ray!


homemade Christmas sweaters!!



prickly pear fruit from a cactus!

Tell everyone thank you for their cards i loved getting them!


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