I'm running out of titles!

Another week in Colorado.... which I spent in my bed.... Being sick. Again. Ya just can't catch a break on the mission. Oh well, back to work this week!

NOW! On to the good stuff! Story time! Some of this is a recap, but bear (bare?) with me. Don't judge my English skills. Not the point.... Last Monday we had to go to the dentist because I had a filling that fell out. The bishop from the Clement Park ward is a dentist and offered to do my work for free. We got into the office and while he is numbing my mouth, he tells us that his dental assistant, sitting on the other side of me, is reading the Book of Mormon. As my mouth is beginning to get numb I'm bearing witness of the Book of Mormon and she said she really likes what she has been reading so far. Naturally, the bishop asks if he can send the missionaries over and she agreed. As she is working on my mouth she tells us how she used to be an atheist but found God by locking herself in her room for a day. She went over to ask her neighbor for a Spanish bible because she is half Puerto Rican! Sister Harper comes out of left field with, "We're Spanish missionaries!". She was really excited and as she continues to work on my mouth she starts talking to us in Spanish. Between the two of us, we were able to teach her bits and pieces of the Plan of Salvation, got her name, number, address, and return appointment set up! We saw her on Friday and taught her the rest of the Plan of Salvation, got her a Spanish Book of Mormon, and we are seeing her again this week! Talk about a celestial experience in finding those who are ready for the gospel!

This week we are still focusing on finding friends to teach, but the field is white for harvesting, this I know for a fact.

The picture of the week..... I'm just going to leave that to your imaginations. I desire a caption contest. If I were a betting woman, my bet is that Brother Chris Burton is going to own it! ;)

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Voss

Caption contest.....and GO!

I wanted to get a picture of me in it... but my companion said no. Sigh.

Good Afternoon Fellow Children of God!

Yup! I'm still in Lakewood, Spanish speaking, and I LOVE it! My new companion is Hermana Harper, from Butte Montana. Fun Fact: She also dies (goes home) this transfer. Call me Hermana Assassin! Which means I will be here next transfer too. Its nice knowing your transfer news ahead of time, more or less!

Things have been pretty slow. We had to drop a LOT of friends (investigators) that weren't progressing and so we are starting with a pretty zero no teaching pool.... I can't think of how to say that in a better way. My English is awful and my Spanish isn't much better. Its an awkward state. However, Hna. Harper started out her mission in this exact area last year so we have a lot of former friends we are going to try again. And she knows the ward pretty well, so we are having some great success with the members! I'll say it again, members and missionaries CANNOT accomplish this work without each other! Do you have any friends that need the gospel? (If you're wondering, the answer is YES, because we all do!) You should have the missionaries over for dinner, (1 because food is the language of poor missionaries, and 2, they bring the Spirit!) and talk to them about your friends. *Get's off soap box*

In other news, no more transfer meetings. I'm pretty sad about that, but if that's what the Lord says needs to be done, I'll get over it, eventually....

STORY TIME- I had a dentist appointment yesterday because one of my fillings fell out. Because of the anesthetic, my face was crooked all day and it was hysterical! My companion and I took a lot of selfies of my half smile that I'll send in a follow up email.

Well, sorry this is so short. Yesterday was President's day so we couldn't email anywhere. And we have some appointments to get to!

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Voss

In all of my numbed glory!

Transfer Week!

GOOD NEWS! I am staying!!!! Sad news, Sister Moody is dying (going home). I love her so so sooooooooo much and am so sad to see her go, but we are going to meet up at BYU after the mission!

Honestly, I am really relieved to be staying here for another transfer. It is difficult to move every 6 weeks and this will be my second transfer in an area since being in Fruita.... Now I just need to have a companion for more than a transfer..... Maybe its me, Lol!😬

Things have been pretty great here. The work is really picking up and we are busy from dawn to dark. We are exhausted and freezing by the end of the day, but so satisfied with this work. Honestly, I love the Hispanic culture. They are so very loving and hospitable, even if they don't want to hear our message. Our ward is really starting to get on fire with missionary work and we have been having great support from the members these last two weeks. We have been revamping the ward this entire transfer and are starting to see the fruits of our labors. Our area is SO big that its hard to get members to lessons since a lot of them don't drive. And recently we divided our area into quadrants and it has been so helpful to the work. We have 4 sets of missionaries here, two sets of elders and two sets of sisters and we are BUSY. A set of each are assigned to the North part of our area and also the same in the South. It's really a smart set up.

This last week we picked up a former investigator who is SO ready to be baptized, she even asked us if she could be baptized. We almost fell out of our seats! I am so excited! She has been reading the Book of Mormon for months and lost our number and was praying that she would be able to hear from us. We showed up two weeks later. God's timing is perfect!

I hope you all are safe and warm this season.... Though I'm not too worried about ya'll on the Peninsula in Washington. The humid air is a saving grace for you all! 

Amor,

Hermana Voss

Fun Fact: I ate Menudo last night. Wanna know what it is? Tripe.... which is a fancy word for cow stomach. Yeah.... First and last time. Lol

Good morning!

Hello everyone! I'm going to keep this email super short..... mostly pictures, because..... 1)why not, and 2) our P-day is once again slammed with stuff to do!

I love you all and hope you had an AMAZING Christmas! I can't wait to hear from ya'll.

To the Sequim Dungeness Ward (and all others who contributed) Thank you sooooooo much for the box of goodies! It was such a wonderful surprise! I love you all SO much and can't wait to come back and hug every single one of you and thank you for your love and support!

Amor,

Hermana  Voss

 Picture #1- Sister Conference. Fun Fact: I hurdle jumped the row of chairs in order to get there in time for the self timer to go off and made it with some serious clearance! It was good time!

Picture #2- Some down time before district meeting. I mean, how can we not have fun.

Pic#3 we're a bunch of weirdos. Hermana Gogue, Moody, Hiatt, yours truly, and Chandler :)

Pic #4- Elder Clubb and Ramirez. We played a rousing game of who knows their companions the best. This gem showed up when the question was asked, What did Elder Clubb want for Christmas that year. Elder Clubb (naturally) put food.... and Elder Ramirez came out of left field with Throwing Knives. Don't let the picture fool you though, these elders are solidly amazing!

Picture 5 and 6- Our reenactment of the Nativity with a wonderful family in our ward!

Picture 7- A little selfie love with our Zone. We were invited over to frost cookies and then went passing them out and caroling while it was snowing. It was a White Christmas! Starting at the front left and going clockwise- Sister Davies, Hermana Moody, Sister Beaman, Hermana Chandler, Elder Otto, Elder Diedrickson, Elder Taviuni (he is from the WA-Tac mission!) Elder Rich hiding behind elder Stephens, Hermana Gogue, Hermana Hiatt, and myself!

Picture 8- Are you surprised?

It's Christmas time!

What a wonderful week we have had! Busy busy busy, and cold, cold, cold! But Worth it. Sister Moody and I are workin' our tails off and have been loving the people we teach. Miracles for days! The Hispanic culture is so hospitable and they absolutely love to talk about the Savior. Many of our brothers and sisters are desiring to know more about Christ and how they can draw closer to Him. It's amazing.

❄Christmas time is just so special!❄

Super cool experience: We were at a baptismal service at the Stake Center and this woman walked in. She was super distressed and asked for a Priesthood Blessing for comfort. She isn't a member of the church but she heard that with the Priesthood authority that worthy men can administer blessings. Sister Moody and I were in the room for the blessing and the spirit was just AMAZING. She said that she FELT so much of her negative feelings just leave her body, soul, and mind! She is going to be meeting with the missionaries!

In other news! I am an AUNT again! My sister had my niece on the 19th! Her name is Micheala Rae Franklin! I'm so excited!

I don't have much to write because this day has been REALLY whacky. But, I love you all, and ❄MERRY CHRISTMAS❄ from Hermana Voss and Hermana Moody!😘

I will send pictures next week because I forgot my camera. Sad!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Voss

6 months!!

How is that even a thing!

I'm going to apologize in advance because my English is getting horrible! I'm at that awkard point where I can't speak English OR Spanish and I forget words all the time.... and how they're spelled. All you Return Missionaries know what I'm talking about!

Christmas time is here and we have been busy busy busy! Lots of people to teach and a lot of people who want to hear about Christ. Hearts are truly softened at this time of year. I love it!

We had a week crammed with meetings and lessons so not much to report other than teaching some amazing people! This work is the best. And the hardest!

Story time! I got to see the infamous Zach McCulley on Thursday! Our Stake had a giant Christmas concert with the Mormon Chorale and Lakewood Symphony and who has a friend in the Chorale? Yup! Zach McCulley! I'm pretty sure I almost passed out from shock. Pics on their way!

The concert was absolutely sublime and a great way to get everyone geared for the holidays and reflecting on the birth of our savior.

PS: I had my first tamale at our ward Christmas party. It was to die for!

I love you all and will be sure to write more next week. We have miracles in the plans for this week! I love it!

Love,

Hermana Voss

 1 and 2- Our ward's Christmas party was a Night in Bethlehem! The Hermanas and I and then our whole district! Compelete with authentic(ish) attire :P We had a ton of fun! So much food too. I thought I loved Mexican food before.... woah man, now its an addiction!

3-Hermana Moody y Yo
4- Zach and I

Week 27

Here I am still in Lakewood but on the dark side speaking Spanish! I just love it!

This last week we had Stake Conference (La Conferencia de Estaca) which was super cool! We had a visiting 70 speak to us, Elder Grow. The topic was members and missionaries working together.

My challenge to all of you is to invite the Missionaries over for dinner, even if you're not a member. (at least once a month because it is REALLY hard to live on MSF funds alone when you rely solely on other people to feed you dinner). Also, ask them if there are any allergies. That is a story for another time, and either give them a referral (We know you know people who need the gospel so don't hide it) and or to find an hour to go out with them sometime this month! Brothers and Sisters, we (as missionaries) CANNOT do this work without you, and you can't do it without us. We have to work together. I know you may think it is scary, and you don't want to breach relationships, but everyone on earth deserves to hear this gospel, or else why would they be here?!

Okay, now I'm off my soap box. I love you all and I love, love, love this work. Despite the FREEZING temperatures! But its okay. Hand warmers save lives. Thank you Mama Sue and Papa Steve, my phalanges thank you!

The Spanish culture is AWESOME. I love these people to death! There is a lot of cheek kissing, which is really weird when an old man does it and you've been in white culture for the past 5 months and are used to shaking hands with everyone of the male gender. Es muy raro! (Its really weird). Also, the food. Can we just take a minute to talk about Spanish food. Its ridiculously good. And I'm NEVER hungry. Every time we go into someones house (member or not) we are fed and or given something edible to take with us. It is a think of beauty. PS. I'm NEVER buying walmart Tortilla's again. I had real flour tortilla's the other day and I almost cried because they were so amazing!

Okay, so this email was really not all that spiritual. But I will have more words of spirituality next week. Lol

I encourage all of you to take the time to look at the Christmas initiative videos from this year and last year, and decide what you are going to give Christ this year :)

https://www.mormon.org/christmas

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1460-he-is-the-gift?lang=eng

Here is my new address:

7160 W. Cedar Ave

APT #1

Denver CO, 80226

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Voss

Sister Davies and I. A goofy picture is always necessary!

 

Mi Madre y yo! (My mother and I) She is my mother because she is my first Spanish Companion and training me!