irony.

Ok family, sorry that it is SATURDAY and I am just sending my weekly email! The library was closed on Monday for MLK Jr. Day. That is a big holiday out here, especially in Milwaukee/ Racine.

Well my life is one big irony. I was transferred. To Rhinelander. Middle of nowhere. That is the ONE place I did NOT want to go! More on that to come…

The mutual theme this year is BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE {Joshua 1:9}

President Barrett Spoke about that at youth conference [more on that below] and told the you [I still add myself in that category] that they are the HOPE OF THE WORLD. They are of Infinite Worth because they were bought with an Infinite Price. Isn’t that Amazing. I love President Barrett! That is my purpose out here… to teach that: each of God’s children is priceless and special to Him. I am to be STRONG and of a GOOD COURAGE. Every week in district meetings and in zone conferences we recite our purpose as missionaries as found in PMG. We recited it with the Youth… it goes:

“My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End.”

I love my purpose!

Here are the happenings of last week:

Monday, January 11th

We studied, emailed and then met the elders at Brother Jenkins’ home to watch a movie. We watched “Mountain of the Lord” in his AmAzing in home theater in his basement. Sister Johnson and I get a leather couch all to ourselves because we have cooties, so we curled up with our blankets and it was the best hour and a half of my day! We then went and had dinner at Raygan’s. She made spaghetti for us and all the elders. Elder McClung and Elder Carter came down to interview Zachary for baptism… he passed! He was SO nervous! We told him we’d pray for him Sunday night, we did and he said he’d pray too. To end our night we went sledding with the Hansen’s. Elder Stribling and Elder Zobell came too. It was a lot of fun. I love that family. I love their granddaughter Kalie. She is adorable. I went down the hill with her quite a few times, the problem with that is I had to carry her back up… that hill was steep [mind you it was a man-made hill… Wisconsin is FLAT] she’s two… it was a good workout. We knew it was time to go home when elder stribling took Brother Hansen out about half way down the hill. He hit his head so hard. Then his son Sean hit him in the head as he was lying there, then sister Johnson hit him, then Elder Zobell hit him. MY GOODNESS. I stood at the top of the hill and had to turn around. It looked AWFUL. Poor guy. The elders gave him a blessing at home and we drank some hot chocolate. He was ok, but he teased them relentlessly. They deserved it!

Tuesday, January 12th

My last district meeting in Racine!  I don’t like transfers. Elder Smith is such a great district leader. He committed us to memorize the first vision in Spanish. I was excited for the challenge. I am familiar with it in Spanish, but I read it when I teach it in spanish… in English I know it by heart… so it was a good push. It was nice to get back to basics… the important stuff. He’s good about helping us to do that. Afterwards, we went out to lunch with both districts. We taught Raygan and Zachary at one. He is so ready for his baptism. We visited Lilyan Barry. She made us eat dinner! She told us that at 4:45 and we had to be at a mtg at 5. Sister Johnson and I are both really slow eaters, but we were both done in 15 minutes. Ugh. It was a good dinner, just fast! We had a meeting with Bishop Crowther at 5. He is a great bishop and really loves his ward. He looked at both elder stribling and I and said, “We are probably losing both of you, right?” NO! I don’t even want to think about that. We stopped by and had cereal at the abbott’s and then went to the church for the branch’s mutual. We needed to talk to Sofia C. and Fernanda F. about teaching with us on Saturday at youth conference.

Wednesday, January 13th

We went to English class. I love teaching English. It greatly helps me improve my Spanish, but it also gives us AmAzing opportunities to share the gospel with those we teach. The gospel comes up so naturally, many of those at English class have come to church. It’s such a good tool. Afterwards, we went to the church for lunch and then to visit the martinez family and daysi betanco. I love daysi! She has come so far. She is such a great member of the church and has such a strong testimony. She taught us the Restoration out of PMG and said she learned a lot about apostasy and authority. Isn’t it amazing that when we have to teach something, you end up learning the most yourself? I think so too! That’s why we asked her to teach us! We taught Marka and Caleb at 3:30. Marka is so smart. She asks the best questions. We taught about the Word of Wisdom, Caleb had questions too. It’s so good to see a family learning together. She said that the WOW just makes sense! Ha. Yes it sure does. We had dinner with the Sura’s at 5, and then went to the Calderwood’s and planned out what we’d be helping Sofia and Fernanda teach on Saturday at youth conference. We ended our night going to contact a referral elder Campbell [bka SOPA] gave to us... might I add we went out of our way to do that. Well, it was the ELDERS APARTMENT. Elder zobell and Elder stribling answered the door! He got us! He got us good!!! We are still trying to think of how to get him back. . . It will be good!!!! Elder Trauntvein and Elder Smith did that to us once too! Grr… we counted both of those referrals in our numbers. Punks.

Thursday, January 14th

We studied, at lunch and did weekly planning. Then we Had an appointment with the Gambles. She is a sweet lady who does it all for her family. Her husband has had 3 strokes and can’t talk now, I can’t imagine how frustrating that must be. She does everything for him and then also watches her daughter’s two little girls as well. She hasn’t been active in years and wants to come back. She has a man come as a caretaker for her husband for a few hours on Sundays. This man just so happens to be married to a woman [sister Pamela umhoffer] who is also a member of the church and hasn’t been back in years. He suggested they go together while he stays with brother Gambles. I love little miracles like that!

We bought Zachary a journal at Barnes and Noble and then headed to the church. We finished weekly planning there and helped the elders set up for the baptism. Elder stribling made Zachary a hat [he is dang good with yarn and a loom!] and he also made me one! It’s pink and white and black. So cute. I love it.

The baptism went very well… there is nothing like seeing someone you love and have taught the truth to enter into the waters of baptism, be made clean, and make covenants with their Father in Heaven. My joy was full! It was especially special because we worked so closely with the elders to make this a success. We both played specific, vital roles in teaching. Mike, Zachary’s dad was there. He is taking the lessons from the elders. We are teaching Raygan. It was wonderful to see all of Zach’s family there and to see how much support we had from the ward. The room was packed full. No room to sit at all. AmAZing and it wasn’t even announced at church because he hadn’t had his interview yet. His family was invited to bear testimony after the baptism while Zachary and his uncle [Justin, who baptized him...] changed their clothes. Raygan bore her testimony as did her brother John and her mom [all of which have been seriously less active, they bore testimony that they know the church is true and that it is worth it to live the standards]…

Zachary has no idea what an influence for good he is to his family. Justin is a priest and still in HS. He has a learning disability and stutters really bad, but was worthy to baptize… so Zachary asked him. It was so special to see them in the water together. Justin was really nervous, but Bishop Crowther said the words to the prayer, and Justin repeated after him and then got Zachary all the way under. AMAZING! We took lots of pictures with everyone there and then I printed them and put them in the journal we bought Zachary. I had everyone write to him and he loved that. Bishop Blake worked with that family very closely. He was out here for business, so we scheduled the baptism so he could attend. It was fun to see him. We went out to Culvers with him afterwards. He invited all the youth he used to work with and all the missionaries. It was really a good day!!

To end the night we got a call from President Barrett… Sister Johnson will be TRAINING a brand-new missionary. She is a NATIVE SPANISH SPEAKER. Do you know what that means? I am LEAVING racine…. So the drama begins. I have to say goodbye. I hate that.

Friday, January 15th

We woke up… studied and PACKED. We went to Milwaukee for a night. I had a dentist appointment today with President Knutsen. WHAT A NICE MAN. Elder Smith calls him the “jolly fat man”. Whatever, he is I like him. He had to give me 10 shots in my mouth. Did I mention I HATE going to the dentist? I had a fractured tooth on one side and on the other side I had a hole in my tooth and a cavity. SO both of my back, bottom molars were worked on. Let’s just say the numbing didn’t work all the way, but I just dealt with it after shot 10 because my face was numb all the way to my forehead! I didn’t want to be numb for a year… I hate that feeling. He fixed my teeth though. He has this cool new machine that takes a digital impression of my tooth, then he uses a computer screen, that is on wheels to adjust the picture, he then sends the info to a machine that takes a tiny block of porcelain and makes a tooth. Then he cemented it on! Amazing. So I have to new teeth in the back. I am not sure how 15 months ago my teeth were perfect and within that time my teeth have just fallen out? Don’t ask me! Stress… probably. That little event at the dentist took me 4 hours! He is such a good man, didn’t even charge me. Missionaries are SO blessed. What a service.

We then went and ran some errands in Milwaukee… went to Wal-Mart, went to the mission office and got a chocolate shake from McDonald’s, which makes any dental visit better! We had dinner with the Milwaukee sisters at Katie Basset’s. She is a YSA in her residency as a dermatologist. We had a lot of fun. I love Katie. We ended our night with a sleepover at the Kozlosky’s! I love the K’s! They are the best… like my 2nd family.

Saturday January 16th

Saturday morning we woke up, then we went to visit the Scarbouroughs! It was fun to see them and meet their children, I had never done that. They are adjusting to Wisconsin! We took a picture outside for proof of all the snow we’ve endured out here! Brother Kozlosky teased us for being late to that appt and told me I had to let the car warm up, WHY? We don’t do that in PHX. Apparently, I am ruining the car, so I will let it warm up now. AND he said my tires and rims are too beat up! HA just like my dad! I told him to back off! Haha We went to the library and made copies of some cd’s and then had lunch at NOODLES. O how I love that place. The mac and cheese with parmesan chicken is the BEST!

THEN we went to The Milwuakee South stake Youth Conference. The theme was Member Missionary work. They all had missionary tegs too! The north stake was invited too! It was a lot of fun. Most of the missionaries from our zone were there. We, all the missionaries, were paired up with youth companionships and given a topic to teach in 3 thirty minute intervals. What fun it was to teach the youth how to teach. It was totally their thing… we just assisted. Ryan Mortimer and Brittany Kozlosky were on the planning committee. They did I great job, I love those two. We were paired up to teach with 2 girls from the branch, sofia and fernanda. They did such a great job. Our topic was “Ch 7 PMG Learn your Mission Language”. Sister Johnson and I got to share our experiences of learning Spanish. I shared my study plan and little tools I used to help me learn [like carrying around a ntbk that I wrote all the words I didn’t understand in, then I would look them up later] It was fun. The girls did such a great job teaching! I love teaching HOW to teach! I have been learning to be a good teacher for 15 months now! We listened to President Barrett speak after classes, then had dinner.

At dinner I sat next to sister Duhaceck. Big mistake. I love her, but she works in the mission office and she told me I was going to Rhinelander. I wasn’t supposed to find that out ‘til Tuesday night. I thought I was going to throw up. I just left the table and I went to the bathroom to cry, but all these 15-16 yr old girls were in there getting ready for the dance.. it felt like efy! So I couldn’t cry. Sister Johnson knew I was struggling. SO we went home to get our stuff at the K’s to go back to Racine. I just layed on the floor and thought, “How could President Barrett send me to Rhinelander, I am NOT a Rhinelander kind of girl!” I was having a major pity party. We are all entitled to one of those every now and then! So we packed our stuff… I may or may not have cried… and then drove to Racine. I was dang well convinced I was going to Appleton or Madison… nope. I was jealous little j got to stay in racine. I had a badittude! AND I was so anxious.

So I called elder stribling and asked him to give me a blessing of comfort. He did. He is amazing. I love him like a brother. That is only the second time on my mission [or my life for that matter] that I have ever ASKED for a blessing. But I needed to calm down. He blessed me to trust in my priesthood leaders and to know that the Lord needed me in Rhinelander for a purpose I would find out as I labored there. He blessed me to feel peace and to relax. It was a long, beautiful blessing. I felt so good afterward and felt like I could breathe again. So I left and went home and slept SO WELL that night. I love the Priesthood!

Sunday, January 17th

I was dreading today since Thursday night. I had to go to church and say goodbye! I feel like a member of both the branch and the ward!

I thought I was in the clear with our 8:30A sacrament meeting. The murdock’s spoke in sacrament meeting. I love that family! Even their 7 year old spoke! She did such a great job. It was adorable, she used such big words. The elders were in the pew in front of us. But at the end of sacrament Brother Hancock got up and said he wanted to “give a shout- out” to elder stribling and sister black for all our hard work the past 7.5 months. He thanked us and said we helped them feel the spirit of missionary work. Elder Stribling and I were both doubled in in June. That was forever ago. It has been so great working with him and his companions. He’s trained 3 times in a row in Racine. He’s a great missionary. I said by to the ward and took some pictures after our meetings.

All the Spanish missionaries had a mtg with P. Calderwood before sacrament meeting started. He didn’t know we were leaving yet. I was talking about a LA girl we’ve worked with who is now ready to go to the temple. In Spanish I said, “Ella esta aprendiendo mucho.” She is learning a lot. He said, “Hay alguien mas quien esta aprendiendo mucho, tambien.” There is someone else who is learning a lot too. I thought he meant Daysi’s brother or something. He said, “No you! Your Spanish is greatly improving. Especially your conjugations!” He almost made me cry. I have to leave my Spanish peeps! I have been working so hard on my language skills! I will still keep them up. In this same meeting a week previous President Calderwood was talking about how he was needing to marry off all the single priesthood holders in the branch. I of course protested that! We are not matchmakers! He gave me this shpeel about the celestial kingdom and eternal marriage.. yadda yadda. I was Especially riled up when he threw out an idea he had of getting two recent converts together. HE is 42 SHE is 20. NO WAY! Haha all the elders were dying laughing. So then President Calderwood turned to me and said, “Sister Black, what are you doing after YOUR mission?” HAHA I laughed … then said OK it’s TIME for US to GO! IT was hilarious. But awkward. When the branch is trying to find you a husband, perhaps it’s time for a transfer?

In the branch sacrament meeting P. Calderwood mouthed to me from the stand and asked if I was being transferred. I responded… SO, after the passing of the sacrament he announced that he had sad news. He told them that E. Campbell and I would be leaving and asked us to come up and bear our testimonies. I felt so overwhelmed with the spirit. I was able to do that without help! I told them that I remember my first Sunday in the branch. P. Barrett asked sister behrends and I to stand and told the branch that he loved them so much that he sent them sisters to help them in whatever way we could. I specifically recall writing in my journal, “I love that President loves and trusts us… but HOW! I can’t communicate effectively with these people. Someday I will be able to talk freely to these people. I will tell them I love them and am so grateful to have been switched Spanish!” It happened! I did just that! So did Sopa… he did such a good job. I love that kid. He spent the first 6 months of his mission in the branch… what a good place to start! He speaks very well in Spanish now! Then as the closing song in sacrament meeting we sang, “God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again”, Sofia’s choice and her dad came to the mic and dedicated it to us. MY GOODNESS…. IT WAS BRUTAL! [Rocky thought saying goodbye now was painful, wait ‘til he leaves an area!] I took pictures with practically the whole branch afterwards. I will miss Bro. Sandovall calling me, “Chiltepe” [a name of a really hot chili that he used to call a sister in his mission] or hearing all his CRAZY mission stories from Guatemala. I will miss hearing him call us the “Missionegras!”

We got a lot of comments like, “Sister Johnson, where are you going?” or “You’re FINALLY LEAVING?” haha People thought if I was leaving she was leaving too, or that it was impossible that elder stribling and I ever would leave! I have loved being the first sister in Racine/ Kenosha in 10 years. It was a great blessing to open this area, even greater to have been able to speak Spanish. I recall my first interview with President Barrett. I told him if he EVER had a need I would LOVE to speak Spanish. I never dreamed it would happen. I thought the closest I would ever come was when I was able to work a little with the Spanish branch in Green Bay. . . little did I know the Lord always has a plan, better than any plan I could have dreamt up myself!

I love LOVE being a sister missionary! I love all of you!

SEND MAIL TO ROCKY IN THE MTC!

Elder Rocky Lee Black
Provo MTC
Box 145 Dept Dat Feb 9 2010
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604


Love, Hermana Pamella Jo Black

Ps… here are some little Wisconsin things that I just love:

*In Wisconsin we use YET whenever possible ex: “I am young yet” Sister warner has picked this up, painfully so!

*In Wisconsin chili, they put noodles. All chili in Wisconsin is made with noodles!

*Bag = beg and Tag = teg [I like using this one!]

*Wisconsinites say things like:
*Come here once
*I stay on Woods Rd [instead of I live on woods rd]
*I am going by Lauren’s house [instead of I am going TO Lauren’s house] One more example: Did Becky go by Ashley’s? Is she still there? I learned this from MAMA K! she says that a lot!

*a stop light is called a stop and go

*an atm is a TYME machine

*then last but not least the yooper, “YAH DER EH” “DON’T YA KNOW!”

I heart Wisconsin.

GO CARDINALS!

SO yes, it is true… all week long I try to think of what the headline of my email will be… this week the Cardinals definitely make the headlines. Normally, I would never know who is playing who or when… but last night, Sunday the 10th, we went to teach at the Taylor’s and they had the game on… CARDINALS vs PACKERS… I must say I was a bit distracted, I am pretty sure I watched the whole fourth quarter and over-time. Mike was rooting for the Cardinals too, so I didn’t even feel like that big of a trader! I can’t believe the Cardinals win things, that is new since I have been on a mission… I grew up knowing we watch the Cardinals, but they always lose… now things are different… THEY BEAT THE PACKERS!

GO CARDINALS!

[lunes 1.04] we went and emailed… went to target… and then we went BOWLING with the elders for pday… ok, I hate bowling. Bowling reminds me of something I did when I was in high school/ college when we had nothing else to do… there is smoking and drinking, loud music, it’s dark… satans playground basically. Not to mention I am never any good at it… well I actually had a lot of fun. SISTER JOHNSON AND I WORE JEANS [and they fit better than they did before my mission :] That was a plus, I had never done that before on my mision. Also, I am pretty good at it, both games we played I scored over 150 and I even beat the elders!  they were making fun of me for not bending my knees,,, all this technique stuff.. hey, the ball went in a perfectly straight line down the lane… I told them it’s like shooting a gun, just follow the arrows… DUH! So that was fun. Then we went to Raygan’s and taught her and Zachary with the elders… then we went to Subway for dinner with the elders and then the rest of our stinkin’ appts cancelled… it was LAME.

[martes 1.05] we had district meeting. I love district meeting, I especially LOVED this district meeting. Elder Smith is really inspiring … it was the first district meeting I have ever had where I felt like we were being “called out” [that is such a BIG over-used term in this mission]. He taught about obedience… apparently there are some major disobedience issues within our district and in the kenosha area. He so tactfully taught with the spirit and we all felt like we could be more obedient. He put our districts weekly numbers on the board and it was astonishing, over half of them were mine and sister johnson’s… we just work hard, but apparently that’s not the case with all the companionships. We read in Alma about Helaman and 2,000 stripling warriors. He, like President Barrett has done in the past, would read the same verse after we did, only change the wording to how the story may have gone had they not been 100% obedient… it was PAINFUL to listen to that version of the story… I am pretty sure if that was how the story went, it wouldn’t have made it in the Book of Mormon! We talked about numbers, how numbers are the only way we can measure our progress. We know that numbers = people. We set number goals, and that is important to do to see success. The Lord uses numbers, He numbers His sheep, they’re all counted. He blesses us ONE by ONE… we must utilize numbers. I love district meeting… it is such an important place for learning and training… we have a great district leader, one of the best I have ever had. We then had lunch at culvers with the elders, our zone leaders too, elders mcclung and hatch and then had a bunch of appts. We saw Raygan, she quit smoking today! Woo hoo! And lilyan barry, had an appt with bishop and then went to mutual… we learned self-defense from sister grundbergh, she teaches tae-kwon-do, she’s a black belt, and AmAzing… it was a whole new side of her I never even knew!

[miercoles 1.06] we studied, had english class… for the first time since DECEMBER… then we taught Daysi, we went to the Abbot’s and she fixed all of my skirts! I love sister abbott… she hemmed a bunch of them so I don’t look Amish and she fixed zippers, buttons etc… I love HER! She is so good to me. We then taught Zachary and went to the Sura’s for dinner! I love the Sura’s… they’re such a great family. Dave committed to be at church on Sunday! We taught a media referral to end our night. Her name is April. Her son was married in september in Michigan and she stayed in a Marriott Hotel. She began reading the Book of Mormon and loved it. She wanted to take it with her, but wasn’t sure if that was ok. So she finally saw an ad on tv and called and ordered one. She is AmAzing, she loves the Book of Mormon, she’s read clear thru 2 Nephi in just a couple of days. She is not ready to committ to baptism, but told us she knows the Book of Mormon comes from God.

[jueves 1.07] we studied. We then taught the young davis family [his parents live in the ward too]. They are amazing, they’re struggling a bit right now because they can’t get a schedule with scripture reading, but we promised them that if they just try the Lord will bless them and they will feel the same spirit they felt shortly after they were baptized. We read Alma 5 with them… I love that chapter. We did weekly planning… then we taught Raygan and read Ether 12 with her. She is so AmAzing and is still smoke free! We then taught at Jessica’s grandma. She’s crazy. She just challenged us, told us the old testament isn’t worth reading and so on… it was A LONG 20 minute appt… I was so done after her first sentence… the spirit just changed, I then realized why the elders never went back to her last year! She isn’t ready or willing to listen.

[viernes 1.08] We went to english class, went home and made lunch [tortilla soup! Reginas recipe… I lOVE that stuff] then we taught zachary with the elders. After that we went and shoveled the Andreason’s walk… sister johnson and I had stopped by earlier that day and noticed it needed help and they weren’t home [we got 11 inches of snow in one storm… it was A LOT of snow to shovel!] … so we went with the elders and hoped to finish it before the Andreason’s got home… we were just finishing the big pile the plows leave at the end of drive-ways when bro. andreason and the kids pulled up… he was so happy! He jumped out and hugged us! They haven’t been to church in a long time… we hope to meet with them this week. We visited brother jenkins! He’s back from Utah… he’s been gone since november… and ended our night with dinner at the davis’. I love the davis’, they are so good to us… they treat us so well! I will always keep in contact with them.

[sabado 1.09] we played soccer! Then we went and changed at the Calderwood’s and took Sofia tracting with us [it was only like my 4th time really tracting on my mission]. It was so FUN! Friday night when I was praying I just felt like we needed to take her tracting with us… so I called her that night and she was so excited. Sure enough, we met a woman, Maria, who speaks spanish and Sofia was able to have a good conversation with her. Her husband and Sofia’s dad both work as doctors in the same hospital… I am so grateful for the spirit who told me that she needed to be with us… Sofia even took turns speaking at the doorstep! She’s a great missionary. We tracted for about 2 hours… it was SO cold… but we dressed warm. We taught sister oakley, and then had dinner at the claeys… they invited their long-time friends over for dinner too and we had such a great time! She is such a wonderful woman and told the relief society yesterday that we “opened so many doors” with her friends by talking so freely about the gospel. I love the rs in this ward. We stopped by and visited sister bahrs, who is a saint herself… what a loving woman, and then we ended our night teaching lupita! I love lupita, she is preparing to go to the temple! What a change we’ve seen in her. I love being a missionary.

[domingo 1.10] Church. We had SO many people come for the first time in the Racine ward… Raygan, Zach, Gavin & Marka (our regulars) then Kathleen Oakley, Lilyan Barry, Dave Sura! Our Gospel Principles class was SO full! And in the branch both lupita and daysi were there… they are both recent converts we’ve worked so closely with to strengthen… they’re both going to the temple the first week in february! I hope I am here for that! I love them… they both scolded us for not going to Sunday school… we took that hour as our lunch break in the kitchen! You have to do that with that long of church. It was nice to see them both there though! It makes our hard work SO worth it! We had lunch at 3 with Jamie Delevan and her family… when I first came to Racine, Jamie cried when she saw us in the halls. She was so excited. She was taught by sister missionaries. She is so missionary oriented. I love her. We have wisconsin chili with her and her husband and three boys. Bro Delevan was a bit disappointed we weren’t ping pong players like the elders… sorry! We then taught ZaCH the last 3 things he needed to know and went over the baptismal interview questions with him… he is the sweetest little 9 year old… so smart! He outsmarts us much of the time! His interview is today, Monday. He asked us to pray that he will remember everything! Such a good kid. Then we stopped at the Costabiles and then went home. Caleb and Marka were there and we played a game with them “Top it” it’s a kids game, but only the adults were playing! And then we called it a night!

Man, what a week! I truly love this area, this week we find out about transfers! I don’t want to leave! I don’t feel like I am leaving, but I have been here for 5 transfers, 7.5 months… so we’ll see. I don’t even use my GPS anymore! I know this area so well that it stays safe and warm at home…when people call they leave messages just for me… like it’s my personal cell phone or something! This place truly has become home, I never knew I would love Racine and Kenosha this much. I don’t get sick when I have to speak or teach or pray in spanish anymore [president Calderwood asked me at the pulpit yesterday if I would say the opening prayer in branch sacrament meeting, so I did, no big deal… WEIRD!] The Lord has truly blessed me. I say words that I swear I don’t even know like “de nuevo” or “pedazo” [those were two I used last week that shocked even me, they’re not hard words, I just know I learned them by listening to others, I didn’t study them!] It’s so cool! I have learned how to really teach, to ask questions, and listen in english and spanish. To ask GOOD questions, I realized that as I sat thru a LONG Sunday school class yesterday and thought about how the teacher could do better, subconsciously, it was a big “WOW I have learned a lot” moment. I love my mission!

I love my family! Rocky went through the temple Friday! How amazing! I love him! I am so excited for you Rocky! The best is yet to come! Remember, JUST RELAX!

Have a good week!

Love, Sister Pamella Jo Black

Happy 2010!

Can you believe it is 2010? I’m old!

This has been a great week. I feel really rejuvenated, it being a new year and all. I think everyone does, and our investigators are finally coming out of their holiday hibernation, I love it when that happens!

This week a scripture that I have come to love is Ephesians 4:29. It reads:

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

I love that scripture and have been focusing on edifying and uplifting. Every time the elders say something I don’t enjoy, I refer them to Ephesians 4:29. It's working well. :)

[Lunes] it was a weird pday. We studied, emailed and then went to the mall… that was only my second time at a mall… EVER… on my mission… impressive wouldn’t you say… I almost went in to shock! I do love that place. You’ll never guess what we found at the Racine Mall…. A CHICK-FIL-A! I have been in Wisconsin for almost 15 months and we just now discovered a CHICK-FIL-A. Man, it was a good day. We had just eaten, but it was still a good find! Our Racine Spanish elders are also covering elkhorn so they were there that day and the kenosha elders were being lame... so we were on our own... it was a fun, girly pday.. we never get that! In the evening we went to an FHE at the Hansen's, Raygan and Zachary came too. The Hansen's are such a great family, so warm and welcoming to anyone and everyone... I love them, I want to be like them: so relaxed when 800 kids are running thru their home, I'm not sure that's possible for me, but a girls gotta have some goals. Madison, 8, taught the lesson and did a great job.

[Martes] we studied, then we taught Sister Holeton. She was baptized about 10 years ago and has just sorta lost touch with the church. She told us she has no real reason she's not there. She started smoking again and wants to quit. We promised her as she builds on a sure foundation and makes Christ her priority, all other things will fall in to place. I love her. I sincerely hope that if anyone I have taught on my mission just lost touch missionaries would track them down and teach them again. . . with that in mind my love for Sue grew ten fold! We saw vicki and then went to Raygon's again. Raygon also was taught by missionaries long ago and is now preparing herself for baptism again. She is so amazing. Truly, I have never felt such a difference in a home/ environment as I do when we go to Raygon's. She can be stressed, yelling and mad at her husband or just done with her kids and the dog ... but as soon as we sing and pray the spirit comes, she is quiet and she feels it. We are also teaching her son Zachary [well it's the elders investigator, but we're always there]. I love teaching children. I love it. They are so sweet and sincere. The gospel is so simple and I realize that so much more when I teach a child, I've been blessed to do that often on my mission. Raygon gleans a lot from watching Zach learn. The first time we taught him he said the prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for letting his mom feel the spirit to go back to church. Precious. Zach is so stressed about memorizing everything we teach him... but we keep telling him that's not necessary... however that doesn't penetrate his 10 yr old mind. He's adorable. He'll be baptized Jan 14. Last night he even prepared a talk and presented it to us. He loves primary but told us he just wants to talk about the gospel, he doesn't know why they have to SING so much. haha. We had CHICK-FIL-A for lunch, went to some unplanned appts and then had the Furner's for dinner. THey are another solid family. SUch great parents and AmAzing children. As I left sister furner hugged me and told me that they loved me and I am such a fun sister. It made me feel good.

[Miercoles] Sister Johnson had spanish class with sister calderwood. Then we did weekly planning. We taught Raygon and Zach and then spent the rest of the night trying to see people. President Barrett has promised us as we use the hours from 5-8 to visit people, even though it's dark and cold, that we will find many people to teach, specifically families. We have been doing that and it's true, we are being blessed.

[Jueves] We had district meeting. Elder Smith is a great district leader. I love him, we can really tell he plans and prepares for his district meetings. He really cares about our investigators and is always striving to remember and ask about those we are teaching. We ate lunch as a district afterwards at Buffalo Wild Wings, I am pretty sure it was just because it was New Year's Eve and some of our elders wanted to see what was going on with football... but the food was good. We spent the rest of the day in Kenosha visting all of our Spanish investigators and branch members. We saw Daysi, Lean, the Cabrales [Michelle too!], the Martinez's and ended our night at the Calderwood's. We played a fun game with them, tuttifruitti, had cookies and banana splits and laughed a lot. We were home around 10 and in bed at 10:30. I was tired and knew that I had a good excuse to not wait for the new year! haha I am normally lame at home too... but i get flack for that... sister johnson and I enjoy this time in our lives to act like old ladies and be in bed between 9:30 and 10:30 every night... that's never been a hard rule for me to follow!

[Viernes] HAPPY NEW YEAR! we studied, wrote 20 thank-you notes to all the people that did nice things for us over the holidays and then went to the branch party from 12-5. It was a lot of fun. There was food, a picture slide show and then we played Charades under the direction of elder campbell. It was a lot of fun. I love how tight the branch is with eachother. Many of them have known eachother for ever. The best part was the Flores made the slide show... they've only been in the branch a little over a year! THey collected photos and scanned them in, It was great to see pics of priesthood holders in the branch when they were only a year old! hilarious. Sister Johnson and I went to dinner at Panera Bread, I love that place and then went to the Aquino's and played UNO... i love the Aquino family. They are so fun. We played one game of UNO for two hours... the SAME hand. It was killing me. I had the best time there... they love the gospel and love eachother. I swear there are 12 people that live in that house, uncles, cousins, gma, parents, kids.... that's why it is SO fun!

[Sabado] We went to a baptism for the kenosha elders, kathy brown is going to be a great assett to the kenosha ward, she's amazing. we had a mcdonald's breakfast at sister birch's... that was nice of her and then played soccer at the church. we got in trouble for playing with a real soccer ball in the gym, it leaves marks on the walls... [oops!] ... so now we have to play with a nerf soccer ball.... it's not the same, but we are staying positive. You can just step on that thing and it squishes down... but i am learning to be more gentle???! a gentle soccer player. theres a concept. We saw sister oakley with sister schlitz, who is amazing, and sister holeton. I had an impression to stop and see jessica, we did, she was home, it was amazing. We ended our night teaching Jackie. She was a lady the elders tracted in to in July... we could never reach her. This night she was home, we taught her. She loved it. She had know missionaries before, but was still in her first marriage and her husband didn't like religion. Her husband now is great and lets her do as she pleases! She is very promising.

[Domingo] CHURCH church ChUrcH... Jessica came! Sister Johnson wasn't feeling well so we went home and took a nap/studied. We had dinner with the Brigg's, I love them... they're hilarious. A great family. Then we went and visited some people. I love fast sunday .... it really helps me focus.

ok... i must go. sorry i sent this email a day late... i didn't have time yesterday. we must go to district meeting now... but here is an email I sent to President Barrett... it will cover anything I missed and you might be curious as to what we tell him. I love that man. He is the best.

Here it Is:

Hello President,

Things are going quite well in Racine. This week we really focused on using the hours of 5-8 in the most effective ways. What a difference that made! We found 4 new investigators [really solid investigators too], all between the hours of 5-8.

SIster JOhnson and I really focused on following the spirit as well. We were able to see an investigator, Jessica, who we hadn't seen since Thanksgiving. She said she had been thinking about us. We weren't going to stop at her house because we were on our way elsewhere, but got an impression as we were driving by. We stopped, she was FINALLY home, and invited us in. We ended that appointment with her taking us to meet her grandma, now a new investigator, who used to meet with missionaries last year.

This past week in the Racine ward a lady who hasn't been to church in years, Sue Holeton, came to "start her year off right". We have been teaching her and rekindling the spirit she felt when the missionaries taught her, she is amazing. So many members are willing to come teach her with us, they love her and just want to see her active. She had 10 different offers of who to sit with during sacrament yesterday. Every time I turned around someone was hugging her! Her husband is not a member and has had some bad experiences with the church, we hope to meet him soon.

Also, a girl in the branch, Lupita, has started to come back. She was baptized a little over a year ago. She works a lot and said she couldn't to make it to church. We've always had a pretty good relationship with her, we visit her with Sister Calderwood. President Calderwood loves her too, but we could never seem to get her to meet with him and he was often too busy to come to our appointments. The last time we were there she wanted her home dedicated and wanted a blessing. We relayed the message to President Calderwood and he suggested to send the elders. We told him how much it meant to Lupita to know that he prayed for her and was concerned for her well-being. We told him it would mean more if he gave the blessing. He agreed and visited Lupita with his wife a few days later. What a difference that made. Suddenly Lupita is at church every sunday and even came to the branch party new year's day! It was sweet to see her feel the love of the branch, it made the difference.

happy new year.

love sister black

...................


I love all of you. Thanks for all you do for me! I am such a lucky girl to have all of you! I love my mission. Rocky I think about you every day... JUST RELAX... you will be a great missionary. don't stress. You can't learn it all at once.

Brittany I loved your email. MOm and Dad: yours too... you have letters coming soon.

Sister Roatch [she's a great penpal ps] mailed me the Scarbrough's information. I called and talked to sister scarbrough last night... i used to serve in the building they attend in milwaukee... just a different ward. They just moved here two weeks ago. I will get to see them later this month when I go up to the dentist. funny how things work out. she was shocked to hear rocky leaves so soon. i am excited to see them.

I love you all!

Happy New Year!

Love, SIster Pamella Jo Black

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(Aspen '08)

HelLo! How are each of you? I am on a computer this week that has microsoft word… hallelugiah! It makes my life so much easier… so now I can type freely without fear that my email will be erased off of myldsmail. [president barrett said that sometime soon myldsmail is switching to use the gmail server… I can’t wait for that to happen… this thing is SO slow and it ALWAYS erases my emails.]

SO last week I had a lot more to say… but didn’t have the time or desire. So here it is…

First off though, Don’t you just love Christmas? Goodness, I am sad it is over, but I feel like I throughouly celebrated it this year! We went caroling EVERY night we could since the day after Thanksgiving… that’s pretty impressive. I think the elders are done with me and caroling; I can’t help it if I LOVE it and it’s an EXCELLENT finding activity. Plus, it was an AMAZING way to see all of the people we needed too, unannounced! NOT TO MENTION that people LOVED it… they were so happy to have carolers at their door.

I know that we caroled a lot for two reasons. The first is in both my spanish and english hymn books the book naturally falls open to the Christmas Carols. The second is that sister johnson and I were singing with some people last night who obviously hadn’t caroled much and they were singing at an incredibly SLOW tempo. We both looked at eachother and just helped them speed that song right along… our audience was losing interest! I love caroling.

Last Sunday [12/20] we wer e caroling/tracting… we knocked the door of an elderly couple and sang them a christmas hymn; at the end of our song she said, “Merry Christmas, and it’s ok to say that- It’s not Happy Holidays, it’s Merry Christmas!” She was a cute little lady and she was all fired up. She is right though… That is why we have so much JOY this time of year: because we are CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS!

Last Sunday [12/20] was the Christmas Program in the Racine Ward. I had to speak and sister johnson sang a solo: “O Holy Night”. It was beautiful. My talk was to be 5 minutes on “What Christmas Means to Me”. I liked that topic a lot. I first spoke of my Christmas Traditions: going to see temple lights [did you guys do that this year?], baking sugar cookies, decorating the tree, gma & gpa lighting a fire in the fireplace even though it’s already plenty warm in the house and things like that.

Then I talked about how as a missionary Christmas has come to mean a little bit more to me. I read the scripture from Luke 2:10
…
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. …

I based my whole talk off of that scripture. It was glorious. I talked about how the gospel is the good tidings of GREAT JOY! Let’s just say I said the word JOY a lot… I know that the birth of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made of His life is the reason we are able to feel so much joy and happiness in our own lives. We can be with our families foever, we know we can repent and CHANGE, we know how to return to live with our Heavenly Father. I love the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! My talk went well.

This is definitely a Christmas I will not forget. Last Christmas sister Barrett challenged us to make that a Christmas we wouldn’t forget. It was. I remember making a MILLION sugar cookies with elder jolley and elder pulley and delivering them. I remember taking corry and her family a christmas tree and all the decorations for it… so fun.

I remember the year before that when I was at BYU. Michelle and I, after attending the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, decided to do an act of service each day for someone. What a difference that made- what a good Christmas that was, it made the fact that I didn’t get to fly home until the 22nd or 23rd of december a little easier.

And then this Christmas with all the caroling with the elders. . . unforgettable! It was freezing cold… yet we felt warm and bundled as we shared the joy the gospel brings at each doorstep. We were often invited in, given some kind of treat and that made it so worth it! I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time of year. There is truly nother better! I can't explain it... I was so happy as we did that... all singing together songs about our savior as it snowed! seeing peoples faces light up as they saw what we were doing... one house even recorded us!

I am sorry that I didn’t send out Christmas Cards this year, there was no snow! I will be sending out some other greeting cards sometime soon… now that we have snow! I can’t stand to take a winter picture in wisconsin without the white stuff… we do that at home all the time.

Here’s the DL on the week:

*lunes* pday. Email. Play soccer with elders at the church. They made me mad so I got a lot more letters written! They felt bad afterwards, sometimes they forget I am a girl… goodness, I do have feelings! We had dinner and FHE with Temika and her family. They read a story and sing a song every night in december from one of those book things. That was fun to do with them. We taught nancy and then we went caroling with the elders!

*martes* we went to seminary! We got up at 5a. ugh. Remind me to never do that again. I don’t know how those kids do that! It was their last day… we had bkfst with them then we taught them about marking their scriptures and the elders taught them about paying attention in seminary. I could tell it was a little early for e. stribling, he was a bit intense with those kids. So funny. We taught Marka, saw some referrals, or tried to at least, we taught raygon taylor and then We had dinner with the abbott’s. We ended the night going with Fani to Nancy’s choir concert at Park HS. Little J wasn’t feeling good, so we came home and she went to bed.

*miercoles*we studied, stopped by to see vicki and then we were off to milwaukee. I had to go to the dentist, I saw Dr. Knutsen, he’s the spanish branch president in milwaukee and he took good care of me. I fractured my back molar. When I got in there he started working on the other back molar, apparently that tooth is fractured too and that one has a cavity.. ugh. So he is going to fix both of those problems for me tomorrow, 12/29. We then came back and caroled with the elders the rest of the night. We ended our night with the first snowball fight of the year at the aquinos! It was a surprise attack on the elders! It worked out well… smith got me good in the face though… it was SO FUN! It snowed so much this day! Driving wasn’t so pleasant.

*jueves* CHRISTMAS EVE we had 6 appts! Brkfst at Temika’s… then the Sura’s for lunch… then the Crowther’s… then we went to kenosha with our family… that was SO FUN… then to the FLORES… then to the Davis’. Everywhere we went we were showered with FOOD and GIFTS… it was a good day. I felt like I was with my family, it was so fun… I love this area! I am so glad I got to be here for Christmas!

*viernes* CHRISTMAS DAY … I got to talk to my family. That was so wonderful. Everyone sounds like they are doing great. WE had breakfast with the Brigg’s, lunch at the Ngorney’s and then with the Schlitz’s then dinner at the Petriceck’s… GOOD DAY! I love Christmas… same thing as christmas eve… we were showered with food and gifts.

*sabado* SOCCER. STUDY. CAROLING. [who cares if it’s the day after!] [& dinner with the elders and sisters warner and pluim at culvers, they were passing thru on the way back from an appt.]

*domingo* CHURCH. Brother and sister Cabrales gave talks in the branch! It was so adorable. They did such a great job. Brother Cabrales said his life completely changed once the elders taught him, That is what the gospel of Jesus Christ does for us… AmAzing. We ended our night… CAROLING for the last time. We caroled to the calderwood’s in kenosha and to their neighbor with the kenosha elders… and then in racine with our english elders… they are much better carolers! … they’ve had A LOT Of practice. IT was snowing last night. We parked our cars and walked up and down to those we needed to sing to. As we did that, Sister Johnson, Elder Zobell, Elder Stribling and I, I thought, “This is the LIFE!” I thought about Rocky! I can’t wait for him to walk up and down cold, dark streets in Maryland and think the same thing… “This is the LIFE!”

I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a missionary. I really do. I get to share the greatest message this Earth with ever know!

Happy New Year!

Love, Sister Pamella Jo Black

Feliz Navidad

Buenos Dias Mis Amigos!

That has become one of my favorite phrases these days! I love speaking spanish... just in case any of you were wondering. Just in case I haven't made you all aware of that fact!

OK before I get down to the happenings of the week... here are some seperate items...

*MOM: I NEED SHARON MASONERS ADDRESS... [perhaps if I put this here you will remember to send that to me... thank-you!]

*SO all this week I have constantly been drinking hot chocolate... because it's COLD! well... I was drinking hot chocolate at denny's the other morning [sister johnson and I went there to do our weekly planning] and with just one little sip it reminded me instantly of the mornings when I'm home, when I am hungry, but don't want to make anything and I sneak next door and grandpa and grandma make me hot chocolate and we sit on the front porch swing etc etc... those are the days! I can't wait for that to happen again soon! i do miss that! I love you grandma and grandpa!

*We have been asked, since about July, to commit each of our new investigators to baptism on the first lesson! ... That was a big change for our mission... now it has just become what we do, our faith has definitely increased. Well, tonight we have a first lesson with a spanish investigator family, BKA "our Family". We have taught them a couple of times, but tonight we are teaching them the restoration and plan to committ them to baptism. I AM SO NERVOUS. I haven't been this nervous in such a long time! It's crazy how much SOUL STRETCHING has taken place since I have had to teach in spanish! I WAS SO COMFORTABLE teaching in english. President Barrett always says, "There is no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone". How true is that! But I have seen how much the Lord makes up the difference when we do our part.

He promises us in D&C 84:85 "Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." Then he continues in that section, "88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. 89 Whoso receiveth you receiveth me; and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money. 90 And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in nowise lose his reward. 91 And he that doeth not these things is not my disciple; by this you may know my disciples"

I love those scriptures, they are so comforting and SO TRUE... I have seen them come to pass time and time again... especially as I have been speaking spanish!

This is a great work we are doing here... I absolutely love it.

This week..

[lunes] we played soccer at 8am. . . IN THE CHAPEL'S GYM... it was really fun. I was so tired afterwards, it's so exhausting. we play teams of 3 and rotate out after 2 goals are scored. The winning teams gets to play a second game... the teams are constantly changing. If a team wins twice they leave the court too and a new team comes. it's good fun.

The elders taught sister Johson how to ride a bike. that was fun. She is a crack-up. She ran in to SO MANY WALLS in the gym. She was such a good sport and they were so patient with her. Elder Stribling, ELder Petrie and Elder Smith should feel so privileged, I know she just wouldn't let anyone teach her... by the end of the day she wasn't running into any walls and she could turn both left and right!!!

we had lunch with all the elders, it was our last pday all together. we went to culvers. we ended our night having dinner at fhe at the davis'. I love that family. Bro Davis made homemade pizza... it was SO YUMMY!

[martes] we volunteered in the doll room at toys for tots again. that was fun. then we had lunch with the elders, then district meeting. we taught vicki and luis and leslie with elder smith and elder trauntvein. Those elders did such a good job teaching luis and leslie... they are SO knowledgeable! I was so impressed they know the whole gospel of Jesus Christ by heart ... in order. FAITH REPENTANCE BAPTISM RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST AND ENDURING TO THE END... so cute. We had dinner at the Abbott's and ended the night visiting some of our kenosha peeps.

[miercoles] english class! we taught everyone there to sing silent night in english. It is so amazing to me how none of those people are being taught the gospel and some may be unfamiliar with what the Holy Ghost is... but as we sang that song the spirit filled the room. it was incredible. We plan to invite them all to the christmas program at church this sunday. . . i hope many will come.

[jueves] toys 4 tots. meeting with bishop crowther. we had dinner with Raygan and Mike Taylor with all the elders. It was a lot of fun. She is such a sweet lady. I love teaching her and her family. we played volleyball that night. It was transfers too. I am so going to miss those elders. more on that next week!

[viernes] english class. planning. we taught vicki. We tried to commit her to baptism. she said no. she's not ready. her kids know more than she does... etc etc. she makes me crazy! she is SO READY! sister johnson told her she's not leaving til she commits... she said... oh great! stay! i love company! grr! we then met with the elders at culvers for a planning meeting... then taught heidi higginbottom and went caroling the rest of the night. i love caroling.

[sabado] soccer. study. jessica's baptism [kenosha elders taught her] she's sweet. young. pretty girl. she looked like she was glowing at her baptism. then the ward christmas party. it was really good. it had a good them.. .a night in bethlahem. fun. we ended this night caroling too.

[domingo] church. lunch at the sandovall's for some yummy guatemalan food. more church. dinner with all the elders at lilyan barry's. we ended the night caroling! we saw tiffany baumstark. i love her. we caroled to her. she's amazing.

i love you all. i love this work! I love this season! Merry Christmas!

Con Amor, Hermana Black

CANTAN SANTOS ANGELES...

... That's Hark the Harold Angels Sing... in spanish. I have had that song stuck in my head all week! Probably because we've been caroling all week in Spanish. Everything is just better... in spanish! :)

SO... Wisconsin still has NO snow! I mean there has been a dusting here and there... but it mostly melts... it's wierd. mom was telling me that we're supposed to have snow tues and wed! good, it's time! It snowed the day before thanksgiving [NOV 25] ... that was my ONE YEAR MARK IN WISCONSIN and I was so HAPPY. Sister Johnson was not really thrilled... I LOVE THE FIRST SNOW! it snowed a little this week... but not enough to count. we can't even have a snowball fight yet! COME ON WINTER! [we are however getting the bone chilling winds and cold, the big coat has been taken out of storage and is hung up... just WAITING for it's winter '09 debut!]

This week I learned that for my Team Scoopie meal at Culver's I can subsitute HOT CHOCOLATE [with whipped cream] for my drink! [ps there is no extra charge] That's the best news ever! [I'm not a big soda drinker, i only like rootbeer and i don't like culver's rootbeer, it's too sweet, so i always just got water]Then I get my refill in my to go cup on the way out the door to keep me warm for just a little bit longer. It's the little things in life, you know!?

We got our transfer calls Saturday Night. I am STAYING IN RACINE for 6 more weeks. I am so happy. I really wanted to stay for Christmas and New Year's!! Petrie is leaving. very sad. Elder warner is leaving from racine, Elder gates from Kenosha and Trauntvein is GOING HOME from racine spanish. Every companionship but us is changing. it's going to be very different... I love this area.

[lunes] we went for Pday in MILWAUKEE. it was fun. I love our elders. WE went with all 8 of them. We went to the Sprecher's Factory [they make the best rootbeer] and then to the elders' old area [petrie, trauntvein and smith all served there] to eat at a place called Antiago's. It was SO YUMMY! Best Mexican Food I've had in Wisconsin. I ordered in spanish too... thanks to the elders: they get to uptight when i don't use my spanish... i just get NERVOUS to speak it around them! Then we went to the MIL South Stake Center to play with the rest of our zone... we saw sister warner and sister pluim. it was fun. we ended the day with dinner at the Davis' with the sura's. then we taught FHE with them.

[martes] district meeting. splits with the relief society sisters. we taught michelle cabrales.

[miercoles] english class. we taught janelle king. we had the Guillonta's for dinner. WE saw vicki... her daughter angeli turned one! then taught trinidad and ended our night teaching michelle cabrales.

[jueves] we volunteered with the 4 elders in Racine for TOYS 4 TOTS. [not to be confused with the marines thing] This is a local organization. They collect toys year round, then clean them, repaint, re organize REDO them... make them new... then package them up for families and give a family a christmas. it's wonderful. it's like santas workshop. Really, it is. Just like the movies. I felt like an elf: we worked in the doll room. YES there is a room for every kind of toy you can think of. THey clean and redo dolls hair. We dressed the dolls and found them a second outfit. it was SO fun... like i was 5 again! I can't wait to come home and play with Chloe, Sophie and Ellie! it made me think of them! Christmas really brings out the best in People. I love that.

we saw raygan taylor. love her. more on her next week... then the seiverts, then sister maine then we played volleyball. michelle had her baptismal interview: they didn't even get to the questions, she said she wasn't ready. .. more on that next week. I love her so much. i just want her to do what is right.

[viernes] english class. studying for 3 hours:the norm. weekly planning. culvers. caroling with the racine elder = SO FUN!!!! We saw so many people.

[sabado] we spent all day at the church. Soccer was cancelled. We had the Kenosha Ward Christmas Brunch. Then Maurcelino, a guy petrie and campbell taught was baptized. he's so sweet. then we studied. then we caroled with the kenosha elders... SO FUN again. Then we had a meeting with bishop crowther.

[domingo] fast sunday. the branch found out petrie and trauntvein were leaving. They invited them to bear their testimonies first. Hno. Cabrales was sobbing. he loves petrie so much. it made me cry. i love this work. i love these people. We were at church all day and then ended the night with e. stribling and e. warner at the calderwoods for dinner. we completely missed the christmas devotional. it doesn't feel like christmas... we'll watch it this week!

I love you all! have a good week!

YOu are the BEST... keep those letter coming!

Love, sister Pamella JO Black

I love this Season!

Happy Thanksgiving! What a great way to start the holiday season! Bishop Crowther, our new bishop in the Racine Ward, talked about this last Sunday. He talked about how we start with a day of saying thanks and end with a day of giving! It is true! This is my FAVORITE time of year. I get so excited, like a little girl. I love the holidays! I thought I'd tell you all a few things that I am grateful for....

* my family: I truly have the BEST family in the world. I am not sure what I would do without them. They say when you are on a mission your life seems to take a little more perspective and direction. That has definitely happened for me. I am in contact every day with so many people that are lacking the wonderful support I have. The beauty is I have the opportunity to teach them how to cultivate an atmosphere of love and care in their families.

* I am SO GRATEFUL to be a SISTER MISSIONARY for THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS! I say that at least once a day, usually more! Being a missionary is the BEST. I am not sure what I'd be like had I not had this opportunity to learn and grow. There are so many days when I just pause and think... I LOVE THIS, this feeling I have RIGHT NOW! ...

*THE RESTORED GOSEL OF JESUS CHRIST. . . because of this knowledge I know Where I Came From... Where I am Going and Why I am HEre. I know I am a daughter of God. I know how I can return and live with Him and I know that that is only possible because He sent His Son Jesus Christ. He sent him to atone for my sins, your sins, but also to suffer the atonement: allowing Christ to feel every hardship, pain, disappointment, sorrow, trial, doubt, depression, we've ever felt. What a blessing that is.

*Lastly, I am grateful for this SEASON! I LOVE LOVE LOVE CHRISTMAS! I love it. Really, I feel like a little girl. I am a little concerned because Racine is still sunny, green and warm. I didn't wear tights yesterday! today I am just wearing leg warmers and flats and a 3/4 sleeve cardigan [and a SKIRT.. come on people! haha]. It's warm! ANYWAYS... i love the Christmas Season. You should all read Elder Eyring's Ensign Talk "Home for Christmas". It is really good! Last Christmas Sister Barrett challenged us to make this a Christmas we'll never forget. It was. And my Christmas before that was too... more on that next week... but I plan to make THIS Christmas just as good as those in the past. What a special season.

King Benjamin talks to his people in Mosiah Chapter 2... and in verses 17-22 This is what he says:

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?
19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!
20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—
21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

King Benjamin is SO AmAzing. What a powerful speaker. I am grateful to focus this month on being in the service of my fellow beings, and by so doing, focus on being in the service of my God. How blessed are we! We have SO much to be grateful for! Let's show grattitude and serve one another!

SO .... you want to hear about a miracle? Ok... I will tell you. About two weeks ago we were in district meeting. I am convinced I have the best district leader ever, perhaps because e. petrie and I have served in the same area my whole mission [and he's from AZ], but none the less he is AmAzing. He challenged each companionship to find a family to teach by our next district meeting. That is no small task my friends. finding a family is a really big deal, every missionary wants to be teaching a family.Sister Johnson and I took this challenge very seriously. We wanted to find a family. Petrie promised us we would as we were dilligent and applied the trainings we had received in zone conference [which were all about interactive commitment based teaching and inviting]. So we made a plan. We knew that SACRIFICE BRINGS FORTH BLESSINGS. You all may know this, but sister johnson and I don't go tracting. Not because we are SO ABOVE THAT or anything, but because we are so busy. President Hinckley said it himself, tracting is not the most effective way to do missionary work! [now if you don't have anything to do, you better tract, but that's just not the case for us.] SO we decided in order to break our normal patterns, we'd go tracting from 6-8 every night that week 'til we found our family. We also committed that we would talk to EVERYONE we saw. So we prayed, told the Lord our plan and asked Him for His help. We were so excited. We knew He'd help us find "OUR FAMILY". We carried out our plan. We talked to everyone, in english or spanish. We constantly prayed for OUR FAMILY. It was AmAzing. We tracted, i loathe tracting ps... but we did so with FAITH and that HELPED. One night we were walking out of an appt and we saw a man and his young daughter raking leaves. It was dark [but then again it gets dark here at 4:30, no joke] and it was cold and we were in Kenosha and had to drive to Racine to go home and we were tired ect ect... BUT we remembered our promise to eachother and the Lord and we went and talked to them. They spoke Spanish. We told them who we were and what we did and they invited us to come back and TEACH THEIR WHOLE FAMILY later that week. What a great blessing. We've been teaching Reina, Fransisco and their 2 young daughters. Reina is pregnant and due in January with a little boy. They are a great family. I love them! We are teaching them in SPANISH... I Know that MirAcLes HaVe NoT CeAseD... see Moroni 7. The Lord blesses us when we have FAITH and EXPECT answers. He blesses us to be able to communicate thru the spirit as well... no matter what LANGUAGE they're speaking!

So here is the low-down on last week. I am just going to tell you straight... IT WAS ROUGH. So bare with me...

[mon 11.23] worst day on the mission. just a BAD day. "I hate stupid people". [e petrie says that all the time] and SO DO I. we'll just leave it at that. we went to the birches for breakfast. then emailed. then culvers-to eat large amts of chocolate custard to make the day better! :) then we had dinner with the new bishop crowther and then saw ted and cheryl. the evening ened well.

[tue 11.24] district mtg. s. johnson was sick so we took a nap. suras 4 dinner. we saw vicki.

[wed 11.25] Happy ONE YEAR in Wisconsin to me. This time last year I was trudging around in snow with President Barrett... it's so different this year! I LOVE WISCONSIN. we taught english, ted and cheryl, saw Nancy Herman with sister sue johnson from the ward and then had the Hancocks 4 dinner with the elders. I love the Hancock's... they are so utah and I lOVE it! also, this morning elder petrie gave me a blessing, i needed it. I felt so much better afterward... more on that next week. I love the Priesthood.

[thu 11.26] HAPPY THANKSGIVING. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! My mom always makes thanksgiving ...[any holiday really] ...But especially thanksgiving so perfect for everyone, it's fitting it was on your birthday! I missed your YAMS that are like CANDY..... and your ROLLS.... but i didn't miss your COOKIES... wed night we came home to find a box on the stairs. it was overnighted to me and it was your sugar cookies. i cried. that was the best surprise ever! thanks mom and dad. We had thanksgiving at the costabiles and the Calderwoods... both really good. Sister Calderwood gave us advent calendars... so sweet. I love both those families. we ended the night at the birches for every kind of dessert you could think of and games. It was fun, all the elders were there. good times. it was a great thanksgiving.

[fri 11.27] Black Friday. We steered clear of the malls! we studied, did weekly planning. every appt cancelled...bad week, everyone is crazy with the holiday and family. We taught OUR FAMILY and then had an FHE with the Cabrales and elders petrie and campbell. I love the cabrales. We played mafia... IN SPANISH... it was really fun. even more fun when i was the narrator- it doesn't matter if its in spanish or english.. ahaha i always get confused!

[sat 11.28] soccer. every appt cancelled. we caroled with the spanish elders. they had an AmAzing appt with the Navarros, cleared up sister navarros doubts, hopefully we'll have really good news about them next week.

[sun 11.29] church. all day. bro cabrales received the aaronic priesthood and was called to be our gospel principles teacher. amazing. we taught our other FAMILY... the SOENS [they're the blakes old neighbors] then had dinner with all the racine elders at the Dehahns... i love that family. They're so faithful and missionary minded. The spirit is very strong in their home. Then we went caroling with the Racine english and spanish elders. i love caroling.

I love all of you! you are a great strength to me... especially in a hard week like this one! This week is ALREADY 100X better!

Thanks for all you do for me!

I love you!

Love, Sister Pamella Jo Black

PS... tatum... TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH... i do believe it is YOUR TURN to write me missy!!!! I hope you have a good day! I am thinking of you!