South Park Helping Out?

HAPPY LATE NO SELF CONTROL DAY!!! (:(:(: 

Hope you all pigged as much as we did, especially the Elders.  Literally do not know what goes through their minds when they think it is a casual thing to say yes to 3 Thanksgiving meal appointments?  Bless their souls.  They came to ours, and it was the last one they went to, and they literally just looked in pain.  Thanksgiving was a blast, however, I missed my raspberry pretzel jello (for those of you who don't know what it is, it sounds nast but until you try it, you cannot judge).  When I found out Sister Staffieris family eats that too I died.  So we tried to go all mom mode and make it, and lets just say.... we are not moms yet and I am just going to leave that delicacy up to aunt Julie (: miss you hun!

Well this week was a bit of a harder week. You would think that with Thanksgiving people would just be so "thanksgivingyyy" and want to learn and invite you in, but quite the contrary actually.  It was much slower but we still just tried to work hard everyday.  We are literally to the point where we just think the same thoughts now.  We have read each others minds one to many times this week.  We just die every time it happens.  Man she is just my sis. Love her. 

-Had to laugh cuz we found a cute YSA aged girl this week, Becca.  She had only heard of the Mormons from "South Park".  She had nothing bad to say and said they were portrayed as the nicest family ever.  So she wanted to learn more.  LOL.  AY at least it was good advertising. 

-I tried my first crab leg.

-We went to go invite one of our neighbors to the giant Nativity that our Stake is putting on this weekend, and in return the man handed me a steak right off his grill.  I got a steak, he got an invite.  Bless up.

-We were sitting in the Sacrament room, just about one minute before it was to start, and we start getting a call.  So we run outside and answer the phone.  I about died when I picked it up.  Low and behold it was Gladys, from last Sunday.  She was calling just freaking out saying that she was ready and had been waiting for her ride.  HAHAH.  Oh my word.  Bless one of our members Sister Forrester, she went and picked her up.  She told us that she would be there every week unless she was dead.  She doesn't really retain anything from what we have been seeing, but we decided this was probably God's way of telling us, "you don't get to decide for her."  So it was a humbling experience and needless to say, we are going to go over this week and try and teach her.  I will take a pic (:  She is the cutest. 

-Two of the days though were spent at our Zone Conferences as two weeks ago, we were having our interviews with President Garns, and I walk in and the first thing that he says to me is, "What do you have for me cuz I have something I need to ask you?" lol.  Haha, well just lay it down on me President.  He ends up telling me that he wanted Sister Staffieri and I to give a training at Zone Conference (which is the conference we have every transfer with all the mission) on daily goal setting and planning sessions, something I just feel like I am not good at in the first place.  I looked at him with just the widest eyes cuz what??  That has never been done before, it is always just a training from him and the Assistants to the President.  I immediately just kinda laughed and told him he should probably pray again.  But he insisted, so low and behold Sister Staffieri and I did so with a lot of prayer. Hopefully we helped and were guided by the spirit to inspire someone. Just really hope people didn't think that we were like "power hungry."  People kept joking and saying that we now have Sister APs.  BARF.  Oh I just give props to those Elders and all they do.  Way to hold the Priesthood.  It is times like those when I am just glad to be a girl (:  It was a very cool experience though, and I think we may have learned more than we could even try and share.  

Sister Garns also shared with us Sisters about having a "Book of Mormon" experience.  As I have been reading lately about Nephi and his family, I have just been so humbled by the fact that it repeats the fact multiple times that "they dwelt in a tent."  Lehi had his visions and miracluas visitations while in a tent. I just know that from this we can all be instruments no matter how inconvenient or glamorous our circumstances may be.  The Lord is ready to use us.  Especially this holiday season. Listen to him and let him guide you. 

I love you loads. Have the best week!

xoxox 

Hermana Dimond 

It is always just food pics lol.  My mission blog could just be a Florida food advertisement!

Pics from Zone Conference 1

Love this goober

Thanksgiving with the Lopez family!

And our attempt at the Jello.  Who would have thought we could just butcher such an easy recipe??? 

The after math, lol!

Love being able to spend full days with other Sisters and learn and grow from them. 

The fammmmmm

The beloved steak. lol!  And on an exchange with Sister Davis.

4X suit and butt spankins

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! straight up!

This week was just wonderful and just NUTS.  I don't think I have been this busy my entire mission but I cannot complain about it.  I have not been this exhausted but its just wonderful. 

The highlights: 

-We taught such a "wonderful" Restoration to a man from Brazil and he was so invested and loved it that his food was left on the grill and he almost burnt his house down. We almost burnt his house down.  So........ ya.  We kinda left a pamphlet and ran.  So sorry we are just dropping life changin messages, what can ya do? 

-While knocking this week (it's always good) we stumbled upon this like 78 year old cute Jamaican woman who is slightly nuts, and much emphasis on the word slightly.  Lol, we said a prayer with her and basically long story short next thing I know she is calling me "a bad girl" and spankin my butt.  I was just dying.  I couldn't pull myself together.  Too funny.  She really wanted to come to "church" but said she had no mode of transportation and we did not know what to do.  So I left her a card with the address and our phone number and thought if she really wants to she will reach out again, and low and behold, SHE DID, many times, and so we figured out a ride for her and GLADYS came to church.  Hahaha, too funny. 

-Our cute little Robert spoke in church yesterday.  He was asked to give a 3-5 min talk and ended up going for like 15 minutes.  The bishop had to tell him to stop.  He is just so solid.  We are convinced we are going to get him on a mission. 

-Second best part of the weekkkkkkkkk wassssss WE WON SECOND PLACE AT OUR STAKE PINEWOOD DERBY.  Hahahaha, legit, we were just dying.  There were straight mechanics there and just nuts detailed cars. DI-FIERI for the win. 

-BEST PART OF THE WEEK WAS SATURDAY cuzzzz SCOTT GOT BAPTIZEDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh it was just such a happy day.  This whole past week he would just call us everyday and tell us what he was reading in the Book of Mormon and was just radiating happiness.  He has had a really big struggle with overcoming an addiction to gambling and this week was just incredible, he called us telling us he seriously walked past and had NO DESIRE.  He has just changed so much, and the book of mormon is the reason why. He was just so happy his entire baptism day, even though he wore literally a 4x suit and had to go under twice haha.  He is mamoth. but it was a wonderful day.  He is such an example to me of service and happiness.  I am so happy for him. 

Well this week is going to be another amazing one.  The holidays already fly as it is, and then combine that with missionary work, I am just done for. 

I hope you all have the best Thanksgiving week.  I am so grateful for you all.  I love you guys so much and can just feel of your prayers everyday.  Keep smiling!  Life is a beautiful thing. 

xoxo 

Hermana Dimond 

Dinner with Jose a recent convert who was baptized beacuse of the giant nativity that our stake puts on every year.  Oh I am so excited for it!  I want you guys all to be here to come to it. 

And Owen hahahahahha.  He took us to a Chinese Buffet, and you just have no idea.  It was literally Grandma Gus 101 as he was over the phone giving us the directions how to get there EVEN THO WE HAVE A GPS hahaha.  3rd tree on the left type status and when we got there he gave us a tour of the entire buffet.  Haha even though we can literally see what it all is with our eyes.  Tender guy!

Poor guy though, literally.  I just left that dinner feeling so bad for him.  His life. His choices.  It is just sad.  You can just see in his countenance that he is so unhappy. 

He is going to take me on a motorcylce ride when we come back tho 

and he came to our thanksgiving dinner at the church.  

Scott's tismmmmmm (::: 

He is such a giant!

HAHHAHAHAHAHA SCOTT!!  Oh my gosh, I am just laughing out loud at these pictures.  hahaha Scott that is literally him in a nutshell

Bro Lopez, the real creater of the car (: 

Love these goons!  They are like fam here 

And the Thanksgiving dinner and the derbyyyyyyy

And the champions!

Oh Owen!

HEYO,

Literally a nuts week, wow!  Normally Sister Staffieri and I are just full of energy and we don't stop (:, but last night we came in and seriously we both looked like we got hit my a bus.  Legit!  Hahah, we just stood in front of the mirror trying to brush our teeth and were just cracking up at how nasty we looked.  Man this week was crazy.  But very rewarding as well.  It is good to stay busy though. I  wouldn't want it any other way. 

The highlights: 

-Tried octopus.  So it may not have been a really good one because I was not really a fan.  Way too chewy for me!

-The rain was pretty nuts this week.  We were just soaking wet.  Love that the Lord is pretty funny though because Sister Staffieri and I of course get into OUR CAR and start even slightly complaining, and next thing you know, guess who we see?  THE ELDERS, on bikes on the side of the road.  Hahaha and they were just smiling so big as they came biking over to us.  Man I just love them. I t just reminded me, TO NEVER COMPLAIN.  Holy cow.  Just find joy in the smallest of things and don't let the little hiccups or inconveniences keep ya down.  Life is just way bigger than that. 

-However the rain was gnarly and did give up some car problems this week.  We were just driving the casual speed on the road and just mobbed through this giant puddle and as we drove out the car literally sounded like it was scrapping itself on the road.  Soooooo we panicked, haha, and took it in to the shop. turns out we must have hit that water pretty hard because our splash guard literally fell out from the bottom of the car.  Yep.  The rain here man.  It creates lakes in the road, watch out!

-This week has just made me realize yet again how much I love being a missionary. We got to help out our Stake at the missionary boot camp that they threw.  We got to take some of the youth out and knock doors and it was just so cute to see how nervous they got and some of the things that worried them.  It just made me realize how long I have been doing this.  It is just second nature now.  But it was so awesome as well as we got to be on this missionary panel after where all the youth got to ask us questions they had about missions and just things like that.  I loved getting to see the future missionaries right before my eyes.  Those kids are such examples to me just by the way they live and for what they are constantly standing up for. 

-We started our first ever Book of Mormon class in our ward this week!  Oh my gosh it was so awesome.  We had such a great turn out from the ward, and from investigators.  It was so cool because Scott came, and literally since then we have just seen the biggest change in him.  He just gets it.  He gets everything. His countenance has changed. He is just happier and more outgoing.  He is wanting to just make changes in his life.  He understands the importance of the Book of Mormon and the strength through reading it everyday.  He can hardly wait for his baptism this Saturday. He is such a unique guy, but we just love him.  The gospel is incredible. 

-Well Scott is just full of surprises as well.  Yesterday at church was insane.  I was standing outside of the sacrament room talking with one of my investigators and all of the sudden this man walks in dressed in some brown pants with a good Hawaiian shirt on and just comes and stands right next to me.  One of our members introduces himself to this man and asks his name.  He goes to tell him that is name is Owen Gustafson, which is the last name of my mother and her side of the family.  I look over at him and just stared and died.  I said, "NO WAY."  He ran over to me and gave me a giant hug.  It was my grandfathers brother who I have never met, well if I did it was when I was like 3 and don't remember, but he lives here in Boynton Beach and has been less active for years and  found out that I was here in this area.  So Saturday he came to the church, hoping to find someone that would help lead him to me, and he came across Scott in the parking lot.  Haah, Scott told him what time I would be at church, so he showed up as told.  It was just way too nuts.  I still don't know him well but he is taking Sister Staffieri and I out to lunch.  This was the first time he has been to church in years.  What an incredible thing.  I know I am here in this area for many other reasons, but what an incredible thing to know that I get to be here for him too.  It really changed my perspective on missionary work when I got to see it in the scheme of changing my own family.  My heart is full. 

 A quote that I loved that I read this week:

"Do I have the faith for something to NOT happen? Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains, if moving mountains accomplishes God's purposes and is in accordance with his will.  But even with strong faith, many mountains will not be moved." 

I loved that.  This life is hard.  We know that.  We knew that.  That does not change the fact that God does not love us and is not with us.  HE IS.  He loves you all.  I love you all. 

Have a blessed week! 

xoxox 

Hermana Dimond 

Just some nasty Japanese Buffet!

Our zone activity.  I love all these people. Also please take note of the black kid casually just chilling at the end lol. Don't even know who he is.

OUR BOOK OF MORMON CLASS (:(:(: 

The beautiful place that I call home. 

The most genuine man in our ward bought me groceries.  He was talking to me about going vegan and he wants me to do it hahah.  He has seriously ibs and was about to go on pills for blood sugar and he started becoming a vegan and just has completely changed everything.  So therefore he is trying to convert me, hahaha!  Oh Brother Harms!

And good ol OWEN!  He is a character.  Definitely from the Gus side of the family!  Even down to the chapsticked lips and Matt fingers touching hands thing when he talks.  I was dying! 

He did give some insight in gospel principles though.

Make It Snappy!

MAN I'M HERE AND JUST SMILING AND HAPPY AS EVER because we had transfer calls and..... dun dun dun..... SISTER STAFFIERI AND I ARE BOTH STAYING HERE IN BOYNTON BEACH!  Oh we just tackled each other and were screaming that we didn't even hear the rest of the call for what else is happening in our zone with other transfers hahah but all is well.  We are just ready to go so hard and see even more miracles this transfer. We work together so well so I am really excited. 

This week was a little bit of a slower one but still miracles for days.  I have just the strongest testimony of the Lord's perfect timing.  I cannot even deny it there has just been too many experiences. 

Well this week a few of the highlights: 

-We decided to get a little festive here in this summer weather and carve some pumpkins as a zone.  Ya Sister Staffieri and I also tried to just be creative and cool and do "the plan of salvation" and yeah that definitely turned out terrible, so the pumpkin immediately went into the trash, but it was the thought that counts.  The pumpkin seeds we made after were better anyways (: 

-Halloween consisted of us knocking at an apartment complex and catching this large Haitian man doing laps around the building and finding out he had previously talked with missionaries, so we did just quite a few laps with him teaching him the Restoration.  Good guy.  Prepping for the treats I guess.

-Knocked a woman's door this week and her first words were, "What do you want? Make it snappy."  I just tried to keep it together and not laugh.  "Make it snappy?"  Haha, what does that even mean.  Ya she slammed the door at me. 

-A cute Colombian woman came to church this week and they definitely asked me to translate the fast and testimony meeting for her.... Oh wow I was a bit rusty.  But it was amazing to realize although I was terrible, the Lord has helped me obtain a gift that I can use for the rest of my life.  But man it really made me realize I still gotta put the work in. I am losing it quick!

-We saw a name on our ward list that we did not know so at 8:30 at night we decided to just try.  This sweet less active woman opens up the door and we hear a little bit of her story and her reasoning for not going to church. Basically she truly just was not converted at the time of her baptism and she has a problem with coffee and tea.  But we talked and the Spirit was so strong and we just threw down with love about her needing to stop and she loved it and was like "come back".  We walked away to our car and Sister Staffieri and I both just look at each other and were like, "WHAT just happened?  We literally threw down on that woman that she needed to stop and she loved it?"  Haha, best less active visit we ever did.  You truly can reprove anything with true Christ like love. 

-A really cool miracle this week happened while I was on an exchange with another Sister.  She came here to Boynton beach and we were knocking doors in a little neighborhood, and during I felt very impressed that we needed to leave and go to these certain apartment buildings.  So I followed the prompting and we went and when we pulled up I immediately saw this guy standing on this balcony of the third floor on one of the buildings a little in the distance.  We decided we would go there.  We started at the bottom floor planning to work our way to the top "casually" to talk to him, and as we were knocking we hear him calling from the third floor, "nobody lives there", which we immediately replied, "thank you so much" and then a few doors later he was still paying attention to us as he then said, "hey that persons car is definitely here, try them again" haha.  This man was just leading us exactly where we needed to go and helping out the work #elect.  So finally we go up to him and he straight up asks US if we are Christian.  We begin to talk and after hearing his story and his background Joseph Smiths story absolutely touched his soul and he was just overcome with the Spirit.  He said that the second we pulled up and he saw me he knew he needed to talk to us, to hear what we had to say and he wants to know if it is true.  It was a very powerful experience and really taught me yet again to heed all the promptings of the Spirit in order to be ready and worthy of the Lord's miracles. 

Lots more wonderful things the Lord is doing here but just not enough time.  I just couldn't be happier.  I love this area and my crazy nuts ward.  But I am just so happy for the things I am learning.  I love being a missionary. 

I hope you all enjoy this week and are enjoying the cold.  I now know why people live in Florida.  The winters are just blessed. haha 

Love you all lots.  Thanks for your prayers.  I can feel them. 

xoxo 

Hermana Dimond 

When the Elders prank you back.

Gotta love them

A day in the life with Staff

We are disgusting!

Our zone carving

My Zone!

Our hideous Plan of Salvation, lol

LOADS OF AUTHENTIC INDIAN FOOD THIS WEEK.  My mouth loved every second but our stomachs were feelin it man.  So much good food this week though!

Some cute Sisters in our zone.  I went on an exchange with sister Albrect (:

Cute Elder Jones headin' home.  Peace out kid.  RIP

So straight up ate real authentic Chinese food - Best day of my life!

Cute Jenny is a recent convert and her husband is not a member 

We had the coolest lesson with him and he thinks he is ready to start taking the lessons.  So cool !

And then our BBQ dinner with the Lopez family from bolivia. 

Alejandra was goign to a culture dance that night so showed us her gettup for the night (: 

I just love the culture here 

Sister Thurman drew me lol 

This horse dog.  The Harm's dog.  Literally just mounting Sister Staffieri hahah! 

And Sister Staffieri saw a taco truck.  Tears were shed?  Uya it was one of those days!