Arlington; Sunnyside Branch - Week 19

6 January 2020

HEELLLLLOOOOO FAMILYYYYYY

How goes it?

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR. 2020. WE MADE IT FAM. BIG THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR. AND I MEAN BIG THINGS. hahah.

TBH not going to lie, this was a pretty hard week. I've been having these insane migraines almost daily that are making all the things hard, so if you could pray for that, it would be extremely appreciated.

The new year was great - we had to be in by 7:00PM, so Hermana Fuller and I drank Martinelli's while we painted our toes and watched The prodigal son, and at 12:00 we were snoozing away peacefully in our beds because AINT NO MISSIONARY GOT TIME TO LOSE THEIR FIRST GOOD SLEEP OF THE YEAR. So yes.

It's been getting pretty cold over here in Washington and there has been this INSANE wind for the past couple days (it's supposed to snow by the end of the week) so Hermana Fuller and I broke out the bufandas. You heard it. Sofie Jimenez for maybe the first time in her life (under her own agency) wore a scarf. It was a sight to see, but I didn't take a pic, so until next time. hahah.

I've been here in Arlington for just over 4 months now and when I first got here Hermana Chatfield told me about this convert that the missionaries used to meet with for years and she was like, we are going to do it. We are going to start meeting with him again. And unfortunately, it never happened for us, but it was always in the back of my mind, this mysterious man that used to meet with the missionaries all the time.

and then, we were like. Let's just do it. Let's just ask this man if he wants to meet up.

and that

was how

I met Avelino.

Avelino is maybe potentially THE MOST AWESOME PERSON IN ALL OF WASHINGTON. He gave us a food place to meet up at and we were like, "Chill, we'll be there."

we walk in, not even knowing who we are looking for and Hna Fuller goes, "Where is Avelino?"

and then out of nowhere comes, "I'M AVELINO. HELLO SISTERS! LET'S GO GET YOUR FOOD."

The kind man buys us teriyaki and we sit down to talk. For the next hour, I was just SHOOK with this man's life story. The best. This guy has so much faith and the stuff he was saying was just piercing my heart to the core.

ANYWAY

He totally knew the drill. When the food came out he was like, "Okay sisters pray over your food." And then he basically did "How to Begin Teaching" for us. It was legendary. 55 minutes pass by and he was like, "Okay I know you sisters only have an hour, I know you have other places to be."

Then he pulls a cake out of NOWHERE and is like, "I bought this for you because the teriyaki place doesn't have dessert. Okay sisters let's say a prayer."

And then we said a prayer and he was like, "I'll see you next Saturday 3:00 at the Mexican place next door." and got up and left.

It was the best. All things said and done I am SO excited to be teaching Avelino again. The man is a legend. Hahah.(:

Anyway, the district plan right now is to find through members and so we've been visiting a lot of less-actives lately and we've just been having all of these amazing experiences with them. Sometimes, I feel like we can forget the people in our ward who don't exactly have their place, BUT FAM. We can't do that. Everyone needs to be welcome AND INVITED to our services, activities, and all the other things. That's my commitment today for you. Think of someone who used to go to church that might not come as much or maybe not at all and DO SOMETHING FOR THEM. Reach out, say, hi, bring treats, I don't care what you do, just help them understand that they aren't forgotten and that they are invited to the Lord's table.

Alma 26:37

Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

GOD IS MINDFUL OF YOU. HE LOVES YOU AND YOU ARE NUMBERED UNTO HIM. HE LOVES YOU AND HE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU. NEVER.

Alright fam, that's all I've got for today.

I love you!

Sofie

ps: CONGRATS TO DAVID AND KENZIE!!!!

PPS: Happy 3 Kings Day!