"I'm dreaming of a PALM TREE Christmasssss" must sing song while reading this title

FAM AND FWENDS! Hello!!! Happy Holidays! I hope you all had as great of a Christmas as I did! (: It was soo special getting to talk with my family! That day really put things into perspective for me just really what Christmas is really about.  CHRIST and family.  I feel so blessed!  The week was full of all things Christmas though.  We were able to have a big Mission Christmas Conference.  It was so fun to do the big white elephant exchange, as it made me feel like I was just right at home with the annual GUS FAMILY party gift exchange.  They played so that you could steal three times and after the present would be locked.  I couldn't help but get a little too into it, and thought of all of my fellow GUS FAM. (: You know I just kept stealing everyone's gift, to just make the game a little more interesting.  Too fun!  Christmas Eve, we also got to have a sleepover with two other sisters, and put all our beds together, just like we do at home on Christmas Eve.  So pretty much, it was like I was in Utah(: ya know, other than the fact I ate rice and beans on Christmas, and I walked outside and it was 80 degrees.  Haha!

This week was great though!  Everyday I learn new things. I am really trying to take advantage of this time with Sister Hernandez and just trying to get my espanol.  Haha, slowly but surely! I really love being her companion, as she has been out much longer than I have, and every day I learn new things from her.  That is what I love about the gospel as well.  It is a never ending learning process.

This week I read a quote that I loved (obviously I love quotes too much, its fine) but I just wanted to share it. L Tom Perry said, "The word disciple comes from the Latin meaning or word, a learner.  A disciple of Christ is one who is learning to be like Christ, learning to think, to feel, and to act, as he does.  To be a true disciple, to fulfill that learning task, is the most demanding regimen known to man. No other discipline compares... in either requirements, or rewards.  It involves the totally transformation of a person from the state of the natural man to that of a  saint, one who loves the Lord and serves with all his heart, might, mind, and strength." 

I am so far from perfect, but each day I learn a little more about myself and about our Savior, and my calling as one of His representatives.  I feel so blessed to hold the most powerful calling here on earth, to be trusted with Gods precious children.  And that is my goal for this upcoming new year, 2017, to become a better disciple, to serve him with ALL my heart, might, mind, and strength, to become the person that HE wants me to become!

I hope you are all getting excited for this New Year!  Although we should always be striving to be better, use this new year as a new start to something you have been striving to increase.  Through the Lord and diligent effort, He will help you. 

Well I am sorry this is such a random email and not much of an update, but I have SO many pictures, that I am going to use them to tell my email this week(: Sorry in advance as well for how many there are. Barf.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. I cannot believe how blessed I am to have you all in my life! Never forget how much I love you. But more importantly how much our Savior loves you!

Have a great week and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

xoxox

Hermana Dimond

 We currently have a bug infestation. They were coming out the vents. Oswald, our exterminator is on it though (:

 Met a cute Mariachi man. He serenaded me!

Oh elders. they literally spent like a hunna on these suits

Sis Healy and I (:

My District Leader Elder Johnson

Everyone going ham getting their presents!

Merry Christmas!

SIS H mah gurl

<3

Was able to attend Dorothys Funeral.  Amazing!

The graveside service

Sister Healy and I making our part at the NOCHE BUENA dinner (:

Us kids

THANKS FOR THE PRESNETS!!! AND EVERYTHING! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! THE PILLOWCASE IS MY FAV (::(:(:: XOXOXOX

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS FUNNNN

Cerry Mhristmas goobers

LOVERS! HELLO!

Is this even real life? Is this week Christmas? I cannot even believe it! Mainly because it does not feel one ounce like Christmas here in this humid hot weather, but ya know, I’m still not complaining (: There is something about a white Christmas though, that I surprisingly will say, (I know what a shock) that I do miss.  

Well this week has been full of change, but it has been great! We had transfers and I got my new companion Hermana Hernandez. She is 21 from Honduras, and has been out in the field for about 14 months. So she’s just a tadddd bit more experienced than me (: But she is great! She’s full of that good Latin spunk and sass, but also such a love for people and the work, so we get along great! (: It is interesting how much you can learn from each new companion you are with.  It has only been a week and I feel I have learned so much about missionary work and myself. It is funny how that happens. Along with a new comp, I tried my first star fruit this week (which we picked like 20 off this random woman’s tree that we prayed with.  She told us to take as many as we want, so obviously we just went for it:) I am a fan though! I also got locked inside an apartment complex, so I hopped my first fence this week! You all already know I feel flat on my face as I jumped off to the other side, and Sister Hernandez totally took a chunk off the top of it as well!  We both were just cracking up and sprinting away while holding the piece that broke off. FOR THE MEMORIESSSS. and as a trophy.  Ya know hahaha.  So just a week full of FIRSTS!

As I mentioned last week, my sweet recent convert Dorothy was not doing too good.  We visited her last Monday night, and I called her niece Friday morning, to see if she left the hospital as they were planning on.  She informed me that Dorothy passed away late that Thursday night.  I could hardly believe my ears.  It just tore me apart.  I have such a love for her, and it really just opened my eyes to how much our Heavenly Father loves each one of us.  We cannot even comprehend.  I only knew Dorothy for such a short period of time, but my love for her is incredible.  It was just amazing to me to see the Lord’s timing of things.  She was able to find the gospel and be baptized in a matter of three weeks, and only about a month later get diagnosed with liver and breast cancer and pass away. The Lord knew she was ready and that she has much greater work on the other side.  She taught me SO MUCH while she was here and now she is going to be the best missionary ever.  She gets to go teach her husband and I am so excited for her! The Lords timing truly is perfect.  

This made me think of a quote that I heard. I am sorry if I have already shared this. But it is by Dallin H. Oaks.  He said "The assurance of the Resurrection gives us the strength and the perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth, or acquire during mortal life.  Because of the Resurrection, we know hat these mortal deficiencies are only temporary.  Deformity will be removed, defects will be eliminated, and men and woman shall attain to the perfect of their spirits, to the perfection that god designed in the beginning". I love this. I love that we have this knowledge and what a comfort it is. I feel so blessed that I get to share this message with all I come in contact with here, the message of our Savior Jesus Christ and his love and mercy, his infinite atoning sacrifice.

We have so much to be thankful for. I hope you are all able to feel the love of Christ this Christmas week. I love you all so much; I wish I had enough words to express it. Thank you for all your love and support to me. I feel it everyday! I am so blessed!

MERRY CHRISTMAS LOVES!

xoxox

Hermana Dimond

The cute CHRISTMAS PJS the Sant fam gave us for our early Christmas since they are heading to my territory of UTAH for the real day! They are so sweet!! Clearly they think im missing my phone a little too much ehh? (:

THANKS MOM FOR THEE CUTEST DECORATIONS EVERRRR!!!!!!!!! oh and us with our cute little ghetto tree (:

 LOVE doing my countdown to christmas study EVERY  morning and putting the cute ornaments on the tree! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

May have sent out just a few Christmas cardsss.... (: I take after mom!

 MY DAD (in the mish) he died (went home). The mission lingo kills me!

 His mom was the one that found me before the mish (: hahhaha too good!

The cute young women of the ward made a 12 days to Christmas thing for us and the elders. We have the best ward <3

MY CUTE little latin companion (:

Em sent me the cutest little "chat book" they are called full of pics and memories! So cute! I love YOU ALL!!!!

fhdsjfhdskjfhsdjk

HEYOOOO! Another great week down here in the depths of Florida! My word, time is just flying! I literally think I will be saying that for the rest of my mish! But its true! I hope all of you are doing so good though and enjoying every day (:

This week was just full of good times!! So busy! But I honestly love it that way! It is the best feeling in the world, to lay down at night, just so exhausted (my body is being wrecked lol), and remember everything that you were able to accomplish that day. Being able to just reflect, and see the hand of the Lord throughout the whole day, its seriously so rewarding.  Everyday is so rewarding.

Well comedy highlight of the week: (well this shouldn't really be comedy but) had my first police helicopter spotlight encounter this week!!! Literally the helicopter was so close, just hovering right over our heads.  I think they thought we were who they were looking for, because they kept shining the spotlight RIGHT on us. Real comforting (:! knowing the criminal was near (: (: but hey.  There is a first for everything! Being spotlighted by the cops from the sky... CHECK.

Well my District and Zone is just KILLING it right now! We are doing the best out of the whole mission, which is SO AWESOME! I seriously love everyone that I am serving around!  They have become like family to me! So when we had transfer calls last night, I was so sad because I didn't want to leave them all, but luckily I am staying in this area for another transfer!!  Some are staying here with me too which I am so excited about! My cute mom (trainer Sister Cottrell) is leaving, but I am so excited to see who else she is going to bless!  She is amazing!  I am just really excited to see what this new transfer brings!  They are opening the Keys again this transfer, so they will be in my district which will be super fun! They are so far down, that they have to Skype into all the trainings.  Hahaha poor things are just banished down there.

Well I absolutely love this area.  The missionaries, the members of my ward, my investigators, just everyone.  This sweet family in my ward, the Sants, literally have taken us in haha.  This Sunday Sister Sant made us Café Rio for dinner and they gave us Christmas PJ's (so basically just like if I was in Utah:). They are so sweet and it is just the best feeling to know that I am being watched out for here, and have so many amazing people supporting me at home as well.  I feel so blessed.

We are working with a really sweet family right now from Cuba as well. When we showed them the Light the World video, they lost it! That video is amazing! I've said it once, I'll say it again!

A quote from this week that I loved, "Shallow acceptance to the gospel does not have the power to cope with the full furry of the powers of darkness."  JUMP INTO IT!  BE FULLY IMMERSED!

Well sorry this is the worst email ever! I just have so many pictures, that I will just have my letter be more of a picture-explaining email. (: Way better then reading my dumb explanations anyway right? (:

Thanks for all the love everyone! I really could not feel more blessed! I have the best family and friends ever! 

Happy Holidays! xoxox

Hermana Dimond

Tommy. Just my fav investigator full of 4 teeth and lots of love (:

Where we taught the lesson. Good grief. K and is this other guy Carol, not Bill Nye the science guy? I mean come on!

My goofy district! We won our zones challenge for this transfer (DUH:) So we got the flag and some Brazilian pie from Elder Souza

MY CUTE ZONE!!!!!!

Victory man!

When you chilling stopped at a stoplight, and the car next to you literally starts on fire.... yeashhhhhh!

Our ward Christmas PARTY!!

Sister Oram! Probably the house I will be Skyping from for Christmas She's the best

The Stake YW pres. SHE's insane I feel so bad for her! I don't know how she does it!!!!

Addys Cardernas! She just got home from Ecuador from her mish!! She comes out with us(: literally the cutest!

Yenni Martinez. The one we reactivated (:

OUR CHRISTMAS PJS!!!

OUR CHRISTMAS PJS!!!

When are Part Member Fam invites you and the Elders over to watch Meet The Mormons... UM HECK YES. These couches are literally comfier then my bed! Best night ever!

We FINALLY got to go visit Dorothy in Homestead! They found out where her cancer is coming from and she starts a form of treatment this Friday! She is literally an angel. She just makes me bawl. They said that all she wants to do is go back to church.  She said "I know it is Gods will that I will go back through the doors of the church.  Whether I walk or am rolled in there, I WILL go again." I am literally in love with her! I see that there was no coincidence that she was able to find the gospel and be baptized only like three weeks before finding out about her cancer.  God really is amazing.

DECEMBA ALREADY?

FamBAM and Amigos (: HOLA!!!! Hope you all had a great week and are enjoying this last month of the year! I CANNOT believe that it is already December! So crazy!

Well this week was great! Just as every other week! The people of Miami just give me the biggest run for my money I love it. You just never do know what you are going to get here.

Well ghetto name of the week: Febreeze.  Yep!  This is real life. I often question many parents decisions when I hear of peoples names here, haha, but bless their cute hearts.  Bless Febreezes heart. Comedy highlight of the week: found part of a womans weave just chillin in the grass as we were knocking doors.  Poor gals got a bald spot somewhere. But the people here got enough fake hair to spare, so all is well. (:

Well my mission  life was made this week because my biggest dream came true. The Jehovah Witnesses knocked on our DOOR!  Hahahah YESS!!! One morning we were doing our studies and look out the window and see two men outside. We sprint to our room to put our tags on so that we can answer the door and they can know exactly who we are(:  We answer and they just say "OH ELDERS" hahaha.  Not quite, but they definitely knew who we were. They were so nice, and we only talked a little, but I couldn't let them leave without asking a few civil questions, obviously.  They still make absolutely no sense to me in my mind, but they were kind(:   Just so happy I can die saying ,"The Jehovah Witnesses knocked on my door while I was a missionary".

Now to a more serious note (I am sorry it often takes me too long to get there lol) but we had a really amazing thing happen yesterday at church.  Our Vision family, who we had prayed for specifically and then found, and then who cut off all communication with us for almost two months, SHOWS UP AT CHURCH yesterday!!!  They are the sweetest part member family ever.  The dad was a member growing up, but has been less active for years!  The wife is not a member, and they have three children.  They came to bless their child at church and their WHOLE family (some of which are members) were all there.  After church they talked with the Bishop, and the wife (Milly) said she absolutely loved it, and wants her husband to get the Priesthood again, so he can baptize her and her almost 8 year old son as well.  I WAS DYING!!!!  MIRACLES!!!  I knew they were my family!  It just shows me yet again, that EVERYTHING is in the Lords timing.  Although I would have wanted to have kept teaching them these last two months, the Lord kept preparing them, and now they are ready!  I am so excited to start working with them again!  This gospel is amazing.

One great quote I heard this week while knocking, from a wise woman named Bertha. We were talking with her on her porch all about the blessings of God.  We began talking about all the things of the world, and how caught up everyone gets in "the stuff."  She then said something that I died laughing at, but it has really stuck with me.  She said, "Have you ever seen a U-Haul attached to the back of a hearse? I didn't think so.  What we learn here is really the only thing we get to take with us to the next life."  Although funny, it is so true.  We get so caught up in all the worldly toys and gadgets, that we often forget what is most important here.  During this Christmas season, keep in mind those things that are most important, the things that can't be put in a U-Haul(:, because in the end, we don't get to take it with us. Our families and our testimonies are what is most important.

Well sorry this is so long! I love you all so much! Don't ever forget it!  Keep enjoying your Christmas holiday with all your loved ones and don't forget I'm praying for ya all! (:

xoxox

Hermana Dimond

Our wanna be festivities aka dollar socks (:

The games we play as missionaries. Decoding messages. Good grief!

One of the THOUSANDs of ghetto ice creams trucks. literally you would die how many are here. one on every street, from literally 3 pm - 8 pm. just pure kidnapping vans I swear. no clue how they make money. but their music gives us some jams to jam too while knocking so cant complain (:

 Literally 89 degress on December 1st at 7 at night.

The houses go HAM here on the chirstmas lights