LA DIA DE ACCION DE GRACIAS aka FAT DAY

HI my LOVED ONES! I hope you had the best Thanksgiving with all your closest fam and friends, and were able to pound as much food as I did (:::: no regrets!!!!!

It was so fun to be able to have two types of Thanksgivings this year, an American and a Latin! I can tell you that I have never had rice and pork for Thanksgiving before until now.  But I got to try some new foods that I never had which is always fun! It was so great to be able to be with families and get to see their traditions. They made us feel just like part of the family, so It made the first real family holiday away much better

Well this week was great! The only bummer was that I got sick... Not sure what it was, but it was a pesky virus that's for sure. It took my voice as well so I had some interesting knocking experiences this week to say the least. Hahaha, I thought I had a guys voice before (because of how low it is), but man OH NO, I was cracking and squeaking at every door and person I talked to. I sounded like a 14 year old going through straight puberty.  Poor every person that had to hear me, even I felt bad for them, lol!

Well as I am sure you all have heard, Fidel Castro (I think that's how you spell it) passed away, so literally every Cuban down here (which is like 50 percent of Miami) has just been rejoicing and over joyed.  Thank heavens for these political leaders in the world, because of them we are getting more investigators and more people that want prayers hahaha.  Besides the Cubans and the prayers, it has been great to start showing and talking about the Church's new #LIGHTTHEWORLD campaign. (:  I am literally obsessed with it.  We have been asked that every person we talk to, we get them to get out their phone or electronic device, and pull up the video and watch it right there with them. I have already seen it like 20 times just in the past 3 days, and I can tell I am never going to get tired of it. SO GOOD. The Church's video game is STRONG. so powerful! People have watched that two minute video, and are just in awe, bawling right there on their front porch. It invites the spirit so quickly, and it is so touching to me, how much it is touching to others. The spirit touches all, and does so so rapidly. It is incredible to me.

I cannot believe it is already like December! Time is flying! Every day is the most exhausting but rewarding thing ever. I am so grateful to be out here serving.

A quick weekly quote from Mikelle I want to end with lol. Sorry if you are all so done with these. jk not sorry. <3

"God is making things happen for you, even when you don't see it, even when you cant feel it, even if its not evident... God is working on your prayers". -UNKOWN Don't ever forget that!! I have never been more grateful to have this knowledge. Your biggest supporter and motivator is just one prayer away. Don't become distant.

I love you all so much its hard to even say it. HAVE THE BEST WEEK and enjoy the snow haha. I am sure not missing it here in this 80 degree December that I am having But I sure mis you all more than you know!

xoxoxox

Hermana Dimond 

Dinner #1 with the Pallos Family. 

They are from Honduras and the Dominican Rep.

(:(: sweetest fam ever!!! 

Love getting to share the ward with the Elders too! because that just means every meal appointment with them too haha. 

Elder Souza. from brazil. the only person I have yet to meet more sassy than me. we get along well lol 

They are goons!

Dinner #2. our American dinner (: hahaha thanks mama for the cute center piece (: 

And the tree stump that a mobbed over the other week (: I destroyed it! but the car is still in once piece! (: that's all that matters ! (:(:: still alive 

"The Scruggle is Real" here in Chocolate City

HI EVERYONE!!!

I just had to start with this quote. "The scruggle in the screets is real" because literally if I hear this one more time hahaha. Scruggle and Screets and Acts. These African Americans just got their own lingo down here.  Hahah!  I thought I was coming to Florida to learn Spanish, but good heavens I have learned two languages, Spanish and GHETTO.  Hahaha but I love it! (in no way is this intended to be racist, it is the honest truth)

This week was great! I started it off by running over a tree stump on the side of the road, only to get our car stuck for about 5 minutes, but all is well we got it off. lol

The weather is really hitting its cold peak, just freezing here actually. I think it hit 68 degrees last night? HAHAHA ok but really this place has changed me because I am actually freezing!!  I am dead once I come back to Utah.

But lots of other good things happened as well! We had my first Zone Conference which was so fun because I got to see like 100 other missionaries and President, and got to learn so much. It was so fun to be able to meet more of the missionaries in my mission and got me excited for what is to come!

We finally have some solid Latin investigators which makes me so happy!! I really feel like my Spanish is coming along and every time I walk out of a lesson, I am just in pure awe at what just occurred, that I could literally communicate and understand what is going on! The gift of tongues is so real and I feel so blessed to be able to share this gospel to ALL that live here, because of this gift and blessing that Heavenly Father has trusted me with!  I JUST LOVE THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI!

Well going back to subject line, "Chocolate City" turns out to be a real place down here.  Yes, this does sound like my type of place(: Its basically the projects of Miami and its like 10 min from my house.  Well this week we were teaching an investigator Tamika there at like 7:30 at night.  We arrive to her apartment and she makes sure to inform us of the AK 47 bullet hole in the front of her home. The poor thing just hates where she lives, and wants to get out of there so bad. She just wants a better life. She wants the gospel. Well the whole time we were teaching her she was so distracted looking all around and I could tell she felt very uneasy. We were having a great discussion with her, and all of the sudden she says, "I hate to cut you beautiful things short, but I have a feeling there is going to be a shootin here real soon. We are going to need to finish this tomorrow".  Well BLESS YOUR SOUL TAMKIA that you listened to the spirit because heavens, we came back the next day and she informs us that there WAS a shooting.  SO YAY FOR THE HOLY GHOST touching my gators in ways I didn't think he was (:(: !!! YAY TAMIKA! #YAYCHOCOLATECITY  But minus that set back, she is committed to Baptism so the work carries on!  Satan got nothing on us!

Well I just want to end with a quick quote from the week: 

"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 that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary.  Deformity will be removed, defects will be eliminated, and men and woman shall attain to the perfection of their spirits to the perfection that god designed in the beginning" - Dallin H Oaks. 

What a blessing to know.  Although we have challenges and difficulties here, all will be made right after this life because of our Savior. Don't ever forget how blessed we are. I hope you all have the best Thanksgiving and remember how much I love you!

xoxoxox

Hermana Dimond

 

Brunch at the Keimes :)

Finally found street tacos!!!! YASSSSS

This good man, "Cut the Cake," and yes that is his name.  We are homies!

Just hangin'

 Break Dancin' Contacting!  He asked me to buy him some cigarettes after this.  I gladly handed him a Jesus Christ Card

Us at Zone Conference

Me and my cute comp!!!!!

The nappy traffic here.  Holy cow Miami drivers are something I'll tell you that!

Thank you TRUMP

Hi all you good humans! Hope this past week was as full of all that election Hilary and Trump goodness as it was for me!! (:(:(:(: love itttttt! All I can say is that thank you Donald Trump for allowing so many people to want a prayer :)  I cannot complain. Haha, this woman this week was absolutely just bawling at her front door about Trump, and I honestly felt so uncomfortable. I am like "Hun, if only you knew that I cannot watch the news and have literally no idea what is going on with the world."  But I definitely said a prayer for her :) However, in all seriousness, I do know that the Lord does have a plan for all.  He knows our desires and our hearts. He knows what is best. Just as President Nelson said when he came to our mission, "We are right on schedule."  Everything has a plan. We can only do so much, but we do have control.  We have control what we contribute. SO KEEP SHARING THE GOSPEL :)  That is what we can do!

Well this week was great! I feel so beyond loved out here.  I can't help but feel so thankful everyday for all the support and love that I feel from home, as well as here in Florida.  I absolutely love my ward. They have become like family.  My absolute favorite thing is getting kissed on the cheek by literally everyone!!!  Haha!  The Latino's ain't got no personal bubble, but I LOVE IT! I am going to miss that so much! The cutest little Cuban women just love showin' their love, and it is honestly is one of my favorite things about their culture.  Everyone is family.

Well this week I saw some amazing miracles from the Lord.  First, I talked to a Jehovah Witness for literally an hour and a half! YES!  A Jehovah Witness!!!!!  He didn't try to bash at all, in fact, he was so interested and beyond fascinated. He couldn't believe the things we were telling him and was so interested to know more. We are meeting with him again this week. The fact that we even began speaking to him is a miracle in itself, and the fact that he may be elect? UM WHAT?  Blessing!

Well last night was one of the most overwhelming spiritual experiences that I have ever had in my life.  It was about 8 o'clock at night, and President doesn't want us knocking after 8, so we were not sure what to do.  We felt impressed to go visit this man on our ward list that we had never heard anything about. He lives in a pretty sketchy part of our area, but we felt like we needed to go. When we got there, we found out that he had moved. But as we were walking back to our car, a man stopped us, and asked us what we were doing. He told us we need to be so careful and get out of this neighborhood.  We ended up staying and talking with him (duh).  He was so nice, but you could tell that he had come from a really rough past. He is still dealing with many problems, and made it pretty open that he was a straight up drug dealer. But that he wanted more than anything than to start over and change his life.  As we were talking I was so overcome by the spirit and have never felt more prompted to tell someone of God's ABSOLUTE love for them.  I was brought to tears (which maybe people think that's normal for me, but its not lol). He began to start sobbing and we were all just in tears.  I know that there was a reason that we were sent there last night.  It definitely was not the reason that I thought it would be for, but it was to tell that man that God loves him, and that there is hope.  I have never felt the spirit so strongly in my life before. It showed me that the spirit is here to touch ALL. Gods grace and mercy is for ALL. This gospel is for ALL and that the Spirit can touch even the hardest of souls.  I will forever be grateful for Cali and that experience.

Well that's about it for this week. I just wanna share a quick quote that I found this week.

"We don't acquire eternal life in a sprint; this is a race of ENDURANCE. We have to apply and then reapply the divine gospel principles. Day after day we need to make them part of our normal life." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf Keep enduring everyone and KEEP SPRINTING! YOU CAN DO IT!

I love you all! Have the best week!

xoxox Hermana Dimond

FINALLY found a real ghetto TACO SHOP!!!!!!

mah girl Kathrine an I sippin on some coconuts :)

Yenni Martinez. Our gal we re activated!!! (: SHES GOING TO THE TEMPLE NEXT WEEK

WHEN THIS IS CHRISTMAS IN FLORIDA lol

A Week in Pants

HI EVERYONE!!! :) How are you all?

I absolutely love this day cuz I get to think of all the great and wonderful things that happened to me and to everyone around me this week. Just so much good stuff!

So to follow up with my dilemma last week, we have indeed begun purchasing and wearing pants. Yes they are disgusting. Yes I am still getting used to them. Yes the Elders have continued their jokes. Haha (but they are actually hilarious and they make me laugh so hard).  But actually Yes they are surprising comfy!  So all is well. I started having a more positive attitude about it until we were going around knocking and I went to ask a lady if she would like a prayer, and she immediately thought we were part of the Hilary campaign. HAHA OH HEAVENS!  Gotta love the slack life.

Well this week Sister Cottrell and I got good ol' food poisoning or the flu or something real nasty. But we pushed through :)  We kept working! We may or may not have had to evacuate a lesson REAL quick because of those circumstances, Haha, but memories am I right?  But of course right after we get sick the mission requires us to go out and get a mandatory flu shot the next day, :)  Haha ya gotta love it.

Well this week we went out to go visit a less active member and while we were talking to her outside, we got to witness a man being chased by a couple cops on foot. We watched him get taken down, cuffed and all.  Quite an experience actually :)  We still were able to share a message though, don't worry!

Well if I am honest, this was actually one of the more difficult weeks I have had.  It has been so hard to not become discouraged, especially because we really didn't have much success this week.  Satan is really working hard right now I will tell you that much.  So many times I felt his influence on me, telling me that I am not doing everything that I could be, that I am not good enough, and just all sorts of negative thoughts.  But because of this, I have learned so much more about my Savior Jesus Christ.  That his love and his grace is beyond words. That there is such a difference between personal weaknesses and sin. They are NOT the same thing.  While sin and weakness are both remedied through the Atonement , the treatment of these stumbling blocks differ, and will produce different results. I am so glad that I am learning of my weakness and learning and trying to grow from them!  Always remember the Saviors grace is so much bigger and greater than you think.

Have the best week! I love you all SO MUCH!!!

xooxx

Hermana Dimond

Just Our Pants Photo Shoot

CRYING!! HaHaHa the Elders Kill Me!

DYING AT THE MIRALAX!!!

Our cute little friend chillin' on our window!

When the worst thing that could ever happen, happens....

Heelooooo family and friends,

 

Just props to you if you are still reading these. WHAT DEDICATED HUAMANS (: i love you all! Hope you all had the best Halloween! and an ever better week.

 

I obviously had to make the subject title so dramatic because, well that it what I do best. Haha!  The worst thing that could ever happen didn't happen, BUT CLOSE.  This week we were informed that the Sisters in my mission are now... REQUIRED TO WEAR PANTS!!!!  Yes, pants, and not just any pants. slacks! BARF!  Oh my word I about died when I found out. We are the only mission in the US that has to wear pants, because of the Zika virus, and pretty much the only mission in the entire world that has to wear them year round, because well, it never gets cold enough here for the mosquitoes to die. SO YAY!!!  We will start wearing them this week.  We have to wear pants even to church, and then change once we get there!  Definitely not to pumped about it, but super ready to see tons and tons of miracles come about because of it!  And on the bright side, now we won't be confused as Jehovah Witnesses as much am I right ? :)   The Elders just love this pants idea and love to throw any pants jokes they can anywhere possible.

Well other than that great news, this week has been great!

 

I have met so many different cultures this week, I have decided to start a list of how many countries I have met people from! I tried tons of food from Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Cuba this week. My stomachs not lovin it, but I am. :) 

 

We had a great ward Halloween Party and got to dress up, well as much as we could ya know considering the circumstances. It was fun to be with families and feel a little like it is Halloween.  Still definitely didn't, especially because its still so warm here, but it was great!

Every day I am just starting to understand a little more the love that God has for me. The exact plan He has.  One scripture I read this week was in Alma 26. "And as we were about to turn back, the Lord comforted us in our afflictions and gave a strength".  Any day that I am just done, and I am like yep, this is it, I'm going back to bed hahah, the Lord always gives me the strength and the energy.  THE LORD WILL NEVER LET US GO SOLO and will never fail to comfort us!

 

YOU CAN ALL DO HARD THINGS. Anything is possible through the Lord.

Well I gotta go purchase some dang cute slacks (: Hope you all have the best week!

 

xoxoxox

Hermana Dimond

 

My fav little boy Matthew from the ward

Literally my mother in my ward, Sister Sant

Little Matthew again

Our Zone Halloween Partyyyyy

THX MOM!  Its chillin' on my desk now :)

Just a day in the life

Outside on our house!

For the Halloween Ward Party

Our Halloween Festivities :)

 Our Halloween Festivities - dos!