Merry Christmas!

Hey Everyone!

So this week was pretty good!! Definitly coulda been better but its all good!! We had a ton of people from the ward sign up for lessons and they all cancelled so it was pretty slow!

We did have some good things happen tho! We got a couple refferals! One from the YSA Elders and another from Sister Oswald's grandma haha!! My companions went to the YSA refferal and had no luck! But I went with a member and we hit up the other refferal and she was thee sweetest old lady ever!! After G-ma of course!! But we went to her house and knocked on the door and there was like 8 grandmas gathered together playing bingo!! They were pretty happy!! Then two young good looking men walk in and they just get even happier!! haha jk but we were able to show her the 'He is the Gift" video and she just loved it!!! She's super Catholic but loves the Mormon church and thought they did a very good job on the video!! She also noticed my Book of Mormon chillin on the table and she asked what that was so we gave it to her and taught her about the Book of Mormon!! I was able to bear my testimony it was really cool!

As for Lazarre our French African investigator who was supposed to get baptised this week... he has been flaking on us the past couple weeks and we cannot get a hold of him ever so that's frustrating but it's all good! We're gonna get him weather he likes it or not!! haha

Other then that my week was good! We had our mission christmas party that was good!

Hope ya'll have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Scripture

LUKE 2 1-11

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

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.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Love,

       Elder Hess

As Kyle mentioned a couple of weeks ago....two of the Sister missionaries that went out at the same time that he did, have gone home....18 months have flown by!  Sister Anderson posted some of her missionary pictures on Facebook.  We were lucky enough to come across them. 

1st 30 missionaries to arrive in the California Irvine Mission

Saying goodbye to Sister Oswald

Cuddling with Sister Anderson's tiger

2014 Mission Christmas Party!

"Hi Melissa, I took this photo tonight when the missionaries came by to visit.  Elder Hess says he loves you and is excited to talk to you on Christmas!  Thanks for sharing him with us."  Dee Jones

Slump Bustin!

Hey!!

So this week was pretty weird just cause half our MTC family is home now!! Makes me feel like I'm mission age old even tho I'm still 19 haha but it's all good!

This week was so slow!! It was lame!! Like half our lessons bailed on us! So we started Sunday with only 13 lessons... but end it with 20 so we ended pretty strong!!

So latley I feel like I've been going through a slump! Like I've been going 1 for 10 at the plate just like in highschool.  I Feel like I'm not doing enough I've felt like I've been super dissobedient just like in a huge slump and have been freaking out trying to get out of it! So I decided to go slump busting!! (in a good way) so a couple mornings ago I woke up and read the talk "missionary work and the atonement"- By Elder Holland... and it answered so many questions and concerns I had.  One of which being.. why isnt missionary work easy? why aint we seeing success? why am I not happy? Then it simply said afterwards.. "missionary work ain't easy cause salvation isn't a cheap experience" sometimes we have to go through Gethsemane and on to Calvary to find happiness in the work and success!! This talk really hit me hard this week!

So after my studies that morning I had the impression to do a little more to take it to the next level.  So that whole morning and most of the day I texted about 60 Potentials and Formers in our phone to try and set up a lesson.  I went about this with the mind set of "hey if I don't get a text back or I don't set up an appointment... at least I tried"!  After all 60 texts... on the last person I texted we got a response and set up an appointment!!! Totally worth it!! Her name is Terri she might be crazy but at least we get to meet with her!!

That was pretty much my week! I hope everyone is having a good Christmas! I know I am!! Love you all!!

Elder Hess

Scripture.

1st Nephi 19:9

 9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit‍ upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness‍ and his long-suffering‍ towards the children of men.

Hanging out on Transfer Day!

Hey!!

So it's about that time!! All the Sisters that came out with us are going home in like 2 days!! That's so crazy!! Sister Oswald was the coolest one and could ball hard so she made the subject line haha!

So this week is transfers and I'm staying with my companions so it will pretty interesting! We're getting a full time car so that's nice cause we're going hard and our ward is progressing!! We have about 3 baptisms this transfer so I'm pretty stoked!!

So we picked up some more investigators!! This week it was a family of like 5 so that's pretty exciting!! They should be getting baptized soon! They're a solid Mexican family haha!

We went to Eric Malcome's house.  He is our black rapper investigator. He is not the brightest probably cause he is permanently fried! The dude is pretty dumb but it's all good!! So it was really hard not to bash with him and throw down but I didn't and it was cool cause the spirit was actually there and that was just because we didn't bash! haha

I dont really know what else to say! haha We just ate at a place in Irvine for Elder Buftons Birthday and I ate some Octopus and it was pretty good! Bet you never thought I'd eat something like that huh haha!! Well that's about it!! 

Scripture

Doctrine and Covenants 67:13

13 Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherfore; continue in patience until ye are perfected.

Love, Elder Hess

I ate Octopus and I liked it!

Happy Birthday Elder Bufton

Hey Everyone!!

So this week was a pretty good week! I finally got to hit the golf course again! For free!! I started the front nine rough but started well on the back nine with a birdie and a coupls pars! Pretty good! haha now on to the important stuff!

So Thanksgiving was pretty good! We didn't get to play in the turkey bowl cause we had district meeting!! But it's all good, we ate at the Webbers house and it was pretty good!!

This last Thursday Elder Stevens and I built a new fence for the Jensen family (Who are from Tremonton) and that was pretty good! It was fun and good to do some hard work! But I tell ya diggin the Cement out of the ground where the poles stick in suck! It took forever!! But while Elder Stevens and I did that Elder Davis was going hard in the paint on splits with Brother Brennen (who speaks french) and they went to our 2 new investigators who are from West Africa (so they're black) but moved from France and taught them the first lesson and set 2 Baptismal dates for Dec. 13!!! So we have 3 Baptisms this month hopefully!! So that was pretty sweet!!

Later that week from Friday night to Saturday night I got to go back to the Celestial kingdom!! MISSION VIEJO 1st ward!! AHHH YAAA... it was so sick going back to my family ward!! We went and chilled with Cathrine and my boy Mark! That was sick!! Then went to Diane's house!! That was fun as well!! Then Elder Despain and I had an intersting Experience. We were going to this potentials house that they had previously found and we knocked a couple times and a bunch of college kids opened the door!!..DRUNK!! So they asked us if we wanted to party with them... so what was my replay?? Heck ya we'll party with you! haha so we chilled there for a while and they offer us a drink and said we had non alcoholic beverages too! Luckily the Spirit had my back and told me no so I told them I was good and didn't need one! But Elder Despain said he wanted a ginger ale so instead of bringing him out a can they brought it out in a red solo cup!! haha long story short he may or may not have been a little tipsy haha!! Good memories for sure!!

Alright that was my week! Here is my Thanksgiving message!!

Psalm 100

Serve the Lord with gladness, all who are His people—Be thankful unto Him and bless His name.

A Psalm of praise.

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord‍ with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord‍ he is‍ God: it is‍ he that‍ hath made‍ us, and not we ourselves; we are‍ his people, and the sheep‍ of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and‍ into his courts‍ with praise: be thankful unto him, and‍ bless his name.

5 For the Lord is‍ good; his mercy is‍ everlasting; and his truth endureth‍ to all generations.

LOVE YOU GUYS!!
ELDER HESS

Building a fence for the Jensen's...Elder Hess & Elder Stevens

Elder Davis - Elder Hess - Elder Stevens

Dropped a coconut from my apartment balcony...enjoying a little fun!

Catherine sent us a text, "We got to hang out with Elder Hess today!  He took down our Christmas stuff which is funny because he took it down and put it away last year too.  We had lunch, played pit, and had a lesson.  It was great!  So glad to have Elder Hess home in the MV1 for the day!  We had a fun day.  And then we went to a baptism later that afternoon.  FYI...he has really grown up alot the last few months.  He was talking alot to my husband about church stuff and Mark sait it was the most he had ever heard him talk serious before.  Elder Hess is doing good.  We were really blessed yesterday.  On Thanksgiving we went around and said what we are thankful for and my husband said a few things and he mentioned he was thankful for Elder Hess.  Because Hess was the one that befriended Mark over March Madness last year and he became open to Mormons coming over and he went to church for the first time 3 weeks ago.  So it was neat to have Mark's favorite mishie come back for a visit right after Mark said he was thankful for Kyle.  It was so great!"

Picture was sent to me via text by a ward member.  Their son had just returned from a mission and the Elders went to visit them.

Thanksgiving 2015 at the Webber's