Oh the places you'll go!

This week has been a hard one but that is okay, "Come what may and love it right?!" This past week I hit my year mark in the mission. I cannot believe that I have already been out here for a year and I only have 6 months left. Realizing this made me reflect on what has happened in the past year and all that I have learned. The person I was a year ago is not the same and I am so thankful for the growth I have had since I have been out here. One thing that I know for sure is that I am a child of God and this is his work. This is the most important work that we could do while we are living here on the earth. Life honestly can't get better than right now. This may now be the best 18 months of my life, but it is for sure the best 18 months for my life.

 

We are teaching 2 really solid men. They both love the Book of Mormon and we text them everyday to remember to read and to pray. They are progressing really well, the only thing they won't do is come to church. I have always wondered why coming to church is the biggest obstacle for people and why as missionaries we can't force people to come to church. I guess one of the hardest and most frustrating lessons that I have learned is that everyone has their agency and we can't do anything about it. They could know that everything is true and have a testimony of prayer, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and still not decide to come to church. This has been really frustrating for me, but I have learned that it is all in the Lord's time.

An example of the Lord's timing is about 4 months ago, I was knocking in an apartment complex with Hermana Enriquez. We knocked on this door and the lady that answered told us that she already knew 2 of the elders that used to stop by about 8 months ago. She went on to tell us that she didn't have time at the moment, but we could come by again in a few weeks. I wrote down in my planner so I wouldnt forget, but of course what did I do?? I forgot. Anyways fast forward to about a month ago. It was the first day with my trainne and we were knocking in apartment complex. We knocked on a door and the lady that answered said that her daughter used to take the discussions and lives just a few doors down. The thought suddenly came to my mind that this was the lady that I had met. I started running and told Hermana Walton just to follow me because we needed to talk to her. We found her home that day, her name is Lily. She made it very clear that she would listen to us but would never convert. After a week or 2 of working with her, we got discouraged and started saying that the gospel would never change her life. So we decided to give her as a referral to the english elders because she also speaks english and they decided to try and work with her. Well low and behold, this Lily has been reading the Book of Mormon, praying, coming to church and has a baptismal date. Sometimes it is not the right timing or the right people but if we pray about it and if we do the will of our Heavenly Father, everybody wins. The gospel changes lives.

 

I read a talk this week called "The Atonement and Missionary Work" by Elder Holland, and it is amazing. Espcecially the last part, it made me start to cry. I have also been studying in Alma 26, and have been able to relate it to my life and missionary work, it is actually quite funny. I love the scriptures, and I have grown to love them even more on my mission. This week we had a combined meeting for the missionaries and once again we sang "God Be With You till We Meet Again," that song seriously gets me everytime. I said goodbye to an old companion, Hermana Munyer, and some other old friends. Life is good and I am happy! Have a great week everyone!

 

Hermana Cattich

 

"COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT"

 

The Show Must Go On...

Well family, life is crazy. It always is, but this week I had some unexpected events happen to me and it has been a very humbling week. Concepcion was baptized and the week you have a baptism you want to hit mission "standards" which are just like high goals you can hit the week you have a baptism. Hermana Walton and I were super excited and confident because we knew we would be able to reach them. The week started off great, but then it began to crash and burn....oh how I love being a missionary.

On Wednesday we had exchanges, so Hermana Hadlock came here for the day. On Thursday morning, I woke up in the middle of the night with a dream that bugs were crawling on me, it didn't really phase me but when I woke up in the morning, I went to the bathroom and then the thought crossed my mind....BEDBUGS. I decided I would go check and if they were there I would need to stay completely calm. Of course, to my unpleasnt suprise, when I lifted up my sheets, all I saw were little bugs crawling all over the place. OH GOODNESS! This is the second time on my mission that I have had bed bugs. We quickly lifted and took my bed outside, and started to tear apart everything. The members that we live with weren't too excited either. Elder Midgley, who is in charge of the housing for the mission, came and heated up our room to about 150 degrees because heat kills the bed bugs. We had to remove everything, and we had to wash every single article of clothing and bedding and we went and used to elders laundry and did laundry practically all day long. It was a nightmare. Our room was destroyed and now we don't know where anything is. Hermana Walton was so calm, it has been great, but Thursday was a rough day.

On Friday we went back to our missionary duties and were trying so hard to reach the Zone Standards goals, and we were right on tract. We had planned everything and everything was going through. We were so excited because not even bed bugs could stop us. B,ut Saturday night, as we stopped by some investigators to invite them to church our car was towed. AWFUL! We had been gone for about 10 minutes and when we went back to our car, it was gone. Some teenagers came up to us and told us that they had just taken the car away about 3 minutes earlier. GOODNESS. We ended up calling some people and they came and picked us up but this morning we had to go to the mission office to drive with Elder Larsen and his wife to pick up our car in Dallas.

My my my what a week it has been, but I just don't think I can say enough that IT IS ALL WORTH IT. We didn't end up meeting standards which was hard but, I know that these little trials have all taught Hermana Walton and I something. She is so positive and I am so grateful for her because without her this week I probably would have just given up. I love being a missionary. I have never been more tired in my entire life, but everyday is just amazing! I love this work, and I love being a missionary, I love Jesus Christ. I hope everyone had a wonderful week!

Hermana Cattich

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT

This is my life!

Well family, after a long "battle" of 4 months, Concepcion was finally baptized yesterday after church. She is amazing and has the strongest testimony I have ever heard. She went up and bore her testimony during sacrament meeting and I was crying. I can't believe that I was blessed to know her and to help her, it could have been any other missionary, but Heavenly Father knew that I needed her in my life. The baptism was beautiful and she was with all of her family and closest friends. Her husband threatened to divorce her because of her decision but when we went and talked to her on Saturday about it, she said that nothing was going to change her mind. Hermana Enriquez came back and gave a talk about the Holy Ghost and then we did a musical number. The ward was awesome and so supportive of her. She is one of the people that I know that I was supposed to meet in Texas! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to find her, meet her, teach her and be an instrument in the Lord's hands to help bring her to the true church. It has been a hard 4 months but I have grown so much because of her and her testimony. Ahhh, I love this work!

Hermana Walton, Concepcion and Hermana Enriquez

 

This week has been hard but has also had its little miracles! A few weeks ago we were filling up our car with gas and a random man just came up to my companion and started talking to her in Spanish, and she had no idea what to do. She was trying to get my attention to come over and talk to him, it was really funny! After I was talking to him for awhile, I found out that he was the brother of one of the YSA ward members and that he knows that the church is true and wants to be reactivated in the church. The YSA members name is Daniella and she is amazing! She will come out with us to appointments (her native language is Spanish!) and so last night we went over to her appartment and her brother was there and we taught him the first lesson. It is Daniella's biggest wish right now to help her brother come back to the church so we taught him about the Restoration, but we just wanted to have her bare her testimony the whole time. In the middle of the lesson, I turned to her and asked her to share her testimony and she shared the most heartfelt testimonies that I have ever heard. By the end of it, all of us where crying. It was amazing!! The spirit was so strong, and her brother, all he could say was that he knows this church is true!

 

We also found this amazing couple from El Salvador (the make the papusas....my FAVORITE!!) and they are amazing! The wife loved the Book of Mormon and started reading it right when we gave it to her! It was so amazing. It is so cool to see people get so excited over the gospel because it reminds me that I can't take the little things for granted. The gospel changes lives! I know it, I live it, I love it!!

 

All I can say is that right now, I have the best life in the whole entire world. I don't want to be anywhere else but here! I hope that everyone else has a wonderful week, and know that the missionaries are working hard, and they are willing to help! Get to know them!

My District! My favorite so far on my mission!

Love you all!

 

Hermana Cattich

 

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!
 

What a thrill!

WOW WOW WOW! This week has been a wave of emotions, and everything in the entire world, but it has honestly been one of the best weeks of my mission. I'll talk about all the emotions I felt on transfer day later on haha. But first, I have a new companion, her name is Hermana Walton and she if from Utah. She is awesome and just like me. We have found so many similarities and we get along great! We laugh all the time, and we are already seeing miracles. She loves to work hard and she is trying so hard to get right into the missionary "swing of things" and has made this transition for me so much easier! It has been great!

 

So here is how transfers went. I drove with Hermana Enriquez and we were screaming in the car because we both didn't have any idea who my companion would be. I don't think I was breathing normally that entire car ride to Dallas! So there is my emotion of "WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING?!" When we got there, we saw some of the leaving missionaries, including Hermana McDaniel, and I started to cry. So there I felt sad! We talked for a few minutes and with other departing missionaries, and then we went into the transfer meeting and I saw Hermana Maxfield and she looked like a ghost. (She is the other trainier) We both started talking about how nervous we were! So now I was nervous. Then after the transfer meeting, I was pumped up (super happy) because of what President Taylor talked to us about. Then he came up to me and shook my hand and asked me if I was ready for this. Then I started to feel inadequate. He kindly told me that he knew that I could do this and he was so excited for me. The assistants then came up to Hermana Maxfield and I and told us that we could do it, but we needed to be in a meeting right then. I was rushed in saying my final goodbyes to Hermana McDaniel and to all the other missionaries at transfers. We had a trainers meeting and they were being pretty harsh with us telling us all that we needed to do, all I could think was, "What have a gotten myself into!" But all was good, with all the other trainers. The other trainers are awesome and we all get along great. Then the new missionaries came in, and my heart was pounding. 2 of the Elders had a training for all of us and then, President Taylor walks out with the Assistants and tell us that they are now going to choose who is going to be eachothers companion. THEY DIDNT EVEN KNOW BEFORE WE GOT THERE. I was freaking out. When them came back in, they paired up the english sisters and then it was mine and Hermana Maxfield turn. We went up to the front of the room, and then all of a sudden. I realized, President Taylor still didn't know who our companion was going to be, he was going to let the spirit tell us. SAY WHAT! Hermana Watts walked right up to Hermana Maxfield and Hermana Walton walked right up to me, and there we have it my new companion! CRAZY! We grabbed her stuff and went right off to work.

 

Sorry for my long story, but It was just an intense morning. But the rest of the week has been great. Heavenly Father has been helping me out so much this past week and has given me the strength to continue on and to wake up with energy. I have realized I know a lot more Spanish than I thought I did, and so that has been cool for me. Hermana Walton doesn't speak any Spanish, but she is trying so hard and I am so proud of her for that. We met some cool people this week, but I am just trying to work with her on the basics of contacting and of the lessons so we are talking to everyone we see. It has been fun, and tiring. We are both so tired at 10:30 at night, it is crazy! I have been so humbled this week and really have turned to my Heavenly Father for help. It has been amazing.

 

Sorry if you couldn't follow my story, but I thought I would try to tell it! I hope everyone has a great week and that you are all happy and healthy!

 

Love you all,

 

Hermana Cattich

 

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!

I AM HAVING A BABY!

Well family, transfer call night is always a little stressful here in the mission but this one was a call that I was not expecting. Elder Willams, one of the assistants, called me and told me that I will be training a new missionary straight from the MTC. In the mission training means "having a baby!" When I recieved the call, it was the last thing that I thought would happen and to be honest I am completely scared out of my mind, but thankfully another Hermana that came out with me, Hermana Maxfield, is training as well so we are able to cry together. Tomorrow morning we will go and pick up our new companions. I am so scared. I started to cry right when I recieved the call, I was just so overwhelmed with the feelings of inadequacy, but I know that this experiece will be for my benefit. If anything these next 12 weeks are going to humble me and really bring me to my knees to ask Heavenly Father for help. I am thankful for the trust that President Taylor and Heavenly Father have put in me to train a new missionary. If you want to see my real reaction, you can check out Sister Whitleys blog, she got it all on camera! http://moronitenfour.blogspot.com/

 

This week was slow and hot but we also had Zone Conference down in South Dallas, combined with 3 other zones. It was so good and President Taylor put me on the spot and had my email that I wrote him last week (we have to write an email to the mission president every week) and he read it infront of all the missionaries then made me get up and explain my letter about member missionary work, I was terrified. But other than that, the meeting was great. At the end of all the big meetings, if there are missionaries going home, we listen to their final testimonies and sing, "God Be With You T'ill We Meet Again!" This time, one of my best friends from the mission is going home, Hermana McDaniel, and she bore her testimony along with the other missionaries and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I am going to miss her so much!

 

This week we had a miracle! We were knocking and sweating....what else is new....and we ended up knocking into a lady that we have talked to before, but this time she let us in! She asked us what the difference is from our church to others and we had an amazing lesson with her! She was crying during the first vision and everything made sense to her. We invited her to come to church and all the kids were screaming saying that they wanted to come to church, and she was smiling! I was so happy for them. It also turns out that there are members that live in the apartment right above them, and the Hermano has talked to them about the church before! It was amazing what the Lord does to prepare his children. They weren't able to come to church yesterday, but hopefully they will have the desire to come next week!

 

I am so excited, nervous, scared and just about every feeling that you can feel for this upcoming week but I am excited for the opportunity! Today I also hit my 11 month mark. This time is going crazy and I cant believe I will be home in 7 months. This time is just getting faster and faster! I hope everyone has a great week and that school is going well for everyone that just started! Love you all!

 

Hermana Cattich

 

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!

What am I going to do without this girl?!?

My Zone Leaders, we cant take a decent picture, but they are awesome anyways!

Just doing our normal missionary duties, going to miss her so much!

All the missionaries in my ward and only 3 of us are staying!

Peace out Elder Lynn! We came in the mission the same day and yet I go home 6 months before him :)

Do I hear wedding bells?!?

This week has been an amazing week! I was able to go back and see Lily Rojel get married and baptized! She was so prepared from the moment that Hermana McDaniel and I met her. This is a day that we had been waiting for for a long time! We had a wedding ceremony for them and the bishop was able to marry them. Then after the wedding, practically the whole ward came for the baptism. The missionaries that are serving there now, set up the gym and made it a really fun reception with decorations and everything. It was so awesome and a party! There was good food and company and it was just a night that I will always remember on my mission, even though we still had to be home by 9:30! (Good ole mission rules!!) I got to go back with my old companion, Hermana McDaniel, and we had so much fun. The gospel is changing lives!

This is Sebastian Putz! He was my first baptism on the mission!

 

This week we also had Zone Meeting! I love my zone, especially my Zone Leaders! They do so much for the missionaries and they are just wonderful. Their companionship slogan is, "What a thrill." They say it all the time and I swear it just makes everyone laugh.They wanted to do a Zone Meeting, "that had never been done before" and it was probably the most fun missionary meeting I have ever been too. All of the companionships were asked to train and everyone was laughing and crying and there just wasn't a dull moment! It was so fun! My companion and I were asked to train on love and charity, I think we did a pretty good job. Some of the other trainings were on following the prophet, patience, having fun, and working out in the mornings! There is a trio of Elders in our Zone and they did and interpretive dance as well. Oh goodness, life is just too much fun. But to end all of the chaos and laughs, Elder Day, one of the Zone Leaders, started to bear his testimony and we had a little testimony meeting. Everyone was in tears and the spirit was so strong! Ahhhh I love being a missionary.

 

This week was hot, YES, but I am not going to complain about it anymore because everyday I wake up, I am just more grateful for another day here in Texas! Although I will never live here, I sure love the people and serving them! Concepcion is doing so great! She loved the temple and continues to talk about it. Right now she is in Utah touring Temple Square and also going through the Ogden Temple Open house. Not going to lie, I am a little bit jealous, but that is okay! Transfer calls are this week, I cannot believe it. I only have 5 transfers left, it's not even fair. I am interested to see what is going to happen this transfer, even though I am pretty positive that I am staying and going to get a new companion, we will see though! Transfer call night never ceases to amaze me! I love Texas and the Texas bugs! I love the spanish people and all the interesting food that they give us! love this area, the ward and all the miracles that we are seeing everyday! I love being a missionary and a representative of my Savior, Jesus Christ! What a thrill!

 

I hope everyone has a great week!

 

Love you all,

 

Hermana Cattich

 

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT

WEDDING TIME!

All the sisters that have taught her and her husband!

We were having way to much fun!

I love her!

Some of the missionaries that taught her. The elder, Elder Valdez taught her over a year ago with some other elders that are home now but he got to come see her before he leaves his mission is a week!

The after party!

The original Dallas/ Lakewood Missionaries!

Original Dalls 1st Missionaries (except Elder Ludlow!)

False Alarm!

Well this has been a week of ups and downs, but there is a reason to celebrate for all the hardships and this week we celebrated because we set a baptismal date with Concepcion! Hardwork really does pay off. She is going to get baptized on September 7th, her birthday! She bore her testimony this week in sacrament meeting, and my companion and I were in tears! She told us that we needed to book our plane tickets for the next year so that we can return and be with her when she goes through the temple. AHHH!! What a blessing! The ward has been wonderful. The ward really does make the difference, we need all the help we can get as missionaries. We are just counting our blessings everyday.

 

On Wednesday night, we recieved a text from our Zone Leaders at about 6:30pm, saying that we all needed to meet at the church at 8:30 because they had something they needed to give all of us. They had Mission Leadership Meetings earlier that day with the mission president and so we all knew that it was something the President Taylor wanted them to give us. Everyone was freaking out. We all thought that they were finally going to give us iPads! We were all calling and screaming with all the zone members about how excited we were to finally get iPads! (I think my mission is the last States mission that doesn't have iPads!) We all got to the church and we were sitting waiting for the zone leaders to show up. We were all high fiving eachother and talking about all the benefits of iPads and how we needed to take "Zone Selfies" But the first thing that the Zone Leaders said to us when they walked in was, "Stop, it's not iPad's". Then they just laughed. Everyone's dreams were crushed and it was a giant false alarm. Instead, they had to give us pages of the Book of Mormon. President Taylor wanted all of the missioaries to have one page of the Book of Mormon and the next day we were going to read it, study it and underline parts that we liked. Then he was going to bind the Book of Mormon back together so we could have a mission Book of Mormon. He wanted the whole mission to read the Book of Mormon together in 30 minutes. It was a cool idea, but not what we were expecting at all!

In the van, on the way to the temple!

 

On Thursday night, all the missionaries in my ward and I planned to do a temple trip. There is a brother that is in another stake that told us that he would be willing to drive his 15 seater van to wherever we were if we wanted to go to the temple with our investigators. So we planned a trip and each of the companionships got to bring investigators to the temple. He picked us up at the church building and we all jumped in! It was super fun! He was playing Primary music the whole way to the temple. When we got there, we each split up and took tours of the grounds with our investigators and then we all came back together and went in the visitors waiting room right in the inside. One of the temple sealers, that spoke Spanish, came and talked to all of us about the blessings of the temple and we had a little testimony meeting! It was a really cool experience, and Concepcion loved it!

 

I love the temple. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else right now! One thing that I really liked this week from my studies, was a quote that says, "Love is spelled like TIME." If we give our time and efforts into someone or something it is because we love them. That is what missionary work is all about. I love missionary work so I am giving my time, I love the people I meet so I take time to listen to them and most importantly I love my Savior Jesus Christ, so I am giving him my time to pay him back for what he did for me. Although it will never be enough, I just have to give my time fully to him and work with all my heart, might, mind and strength!

 

I hope you all have a great week!

 

Hermana Cattich

 

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT