April 6, 2015

"Hi mom and dad,

So, my companion went home. Well, actually she's going home today I guess. But now I'm in Flagstaff with one of my Sister Training Leaders and we're just waiting to see when I'll get my new companion and when this will all be over. 

I have NOT had an easy mission. (Although no mission is easy.) I've had 9 companions now, 2 emergency transfers, 2 trios, gotten on medication, had my companion go home, gotten switched to English, had my area closed down....what's next? I was thinking during Conference yesterday about how these things could tear a testimony apart or build it up. I have truly had my testimony strengthened because of these things. Heavenly Father doesn't give us things that we cannot handle. He gives us tools to cope and it's our choice to use them or not. Everything in this world is about Agency. We can choose to go home or stay here. We can choose to have pity on ourselves or shrug it off and become stronger. We can choose to be bitter or better. I choose optimism. I choose to be happy. I choose the way of Jesus Christ and to follow His example. Agency is the key to everything. If you understand agency, everything is easier.

GUESS WHAT I DID THIS WEEK?!

I milked a stinking cow. And candled eggs. And held a baby duck. 

I feel like a straight up Farm Girl and I love it. I wouldn't mind living on a farm. :)

The members here all have either cows, chickens, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, hogs, piglets, or ALL of the above. I seriously love it. For service we plant gardens, milk cows, collect eggs, put in an irrigation system, etc. Ya'll would love this area. We'll come back to visit. And Flagstaff is beautiful....we'll come here too!

We went to the Mesa Easter Pageant and had a grand ole time with our Recent Converts and a Potential Investigator. They felt the Spirit and that's all that matters. We even got front row because one of our RCs is deaf and needed interpreters. Bomb. :)

Other than that, everything is Gucci here. I love yall and I hope you have a fantastic day! 

Xoxo, Hermana Dreiling"

March 27, 2015

"Well, SURPRISE. I actually did get transferred. Im now up North in Paulden, where Hermana Argyle was trained. But, it's no longer a Spanish area. So I am now an English Sister. There are some people who speak Spanish here but not in the ward. There's another ward and set of missionaries for that. So this will be quite the adventure....as a Sister. Not an Hermana. This area is very country and I love being here. Only two roads in this whole town is paved. We have a Jeep Compass for a car but we are begging for a truck.....we need it. Well, I'll tell you more on pday! Love yall!

Here is my address: 

2084 N. Yavapai St

Chino Valley, AZ 86323

Please tell people to ONLY address it to Hermana Victoria Dreiling.

Otherwise it may not get to me. 

Love, SISTER Dreiling"

March 16, 2015

"I felt absolutely terrible about midway through the day on Wednesday, all night, and then Thursday. I woke up and had a fever of 99 then had a fever of 100.6 at about 4....the nurse told me to go to Urgent Care. They told me that I had Strep Throat. Seriously, these things bring me so many problems. I just want them out of my throat!!!

Then on Saturday, we were on exchanges and we did 4 hours of service through the church's program, JustServe. It was fun, we worked in a thrift store and sorted clothes. I love my district! We had a lot of fun!

That same night, Elder Parry, my first zone leader and an Elder that was with me for 6 months in La Joya, came back and visited this ward. We had a potluck and it was good to see him but it was weird to see him. When we got there, we went into the library and got a book we had found earlier in the week called, "From First Date to Chosen Mate". So we wrapped it and gave it to him. SOOOO funny! He was like, "I'm working on it.....it's not going so well." All I could think was....man, that will be me! Will I ever get married? I don't know. 

I've had a lot of struggles lately with asking myself, "Who am I?" It sounds so stinking la,e but it's so stinking true that I have no idea. I think I know who I am and what my qualities are but then somehow, they change. I know I'm super outgoing....but sometimes I need to hold back. I really need to work on being meek...and more spiritually mature. I need to focus on being a missionary and just doing this. This is what I need to focus on. Nothing else. Nothing else matters right now. I know....I truly know with all my heart that if I just do this work and focus on it....put my heart, might, mind, and strength into this work....everything else will turn out. I don't even need to worry about it. I put all my cares on hold....I give all of them to Heavenly Father and I say, "Here, will you hold these while I do this thing for you? Thanks Pops! You're the best!" Then after I'm done, everything will come back, but I'll be more prepared to face all of it. This may not be making sense to anyone else but it is making perfect sense to me and helping me become better....so save this email. Lol

This week I have really bonded with the members. A lot of them think I should be a comedian when I get home, lol. The other night, EVERY HOUSE gave us so,etching that was SUPER sugary. After every house, I would get more and more hyper. By the last house, I was crazy! La Hermana Gamez was sitting by me and I put her hair in her ear and just kept saying crazy things. The ward thinks I'm hilarious, but crazy. Which is really true.....which brings me back to my last point. MEEKNESS. That needs to happen or else I will never get married lol

So what's going to be in my Easter package? Hopefully some music.... ( hint hint )

Just to let yall know.....I only have 8 1/2 months left. What. The. Heck. When did this happen? I'm going cray. 

Well, let me know what's going on at home. Todo cheke aqui!

Xoxo, Hermana Dreiling"

March 9, 2015

"Hi mom and dad! This week has been a doozy! We had an "iPad Reset Conference" with the whole mission on Tuesday. It was with Elder Randall of the Mission Department and Elder Per G. Malm of the Second Quorum of The Seventy. It was super awesome and now we have BRAND SPANKIN' NEW IPADS! The other ones were getting kind of old and beat up so I'm excited. Also, these iPads are ours so we get to take them home with us! Whaddddup....I go on a mission....get home and I have a new iPad, new car, college, and {hopefully} Thailand. #ifeellikebeyonce

We also for sure get to look at our emails all the time. There has always been a dispute between missionaries on whether or not we could or not. One side says that the White Handbook says, "You should communicate with your family and friends only on Preparation Day." So we can't even read them. But others would say that communication means two ways....so we can read but not reply. It's always been a "govern yourself" thing. But, now they came out with a thing that says you can for sure look at your email all the time.....not just on P-Days. So if yall ever want to tell me something....go ahead and email me. I'll know that day. :)

So my comps have been super sick lately. Hermana Zelaya has had back problems all week and Hermana Baldwin feels sick every time she eats. Soooo we have been inside a lot. I feel crazy. I'm just sitting in the apartment and all I want to do is go contacting and teach a lesson. I WANT TO BEAR MY TESTIMONY. Hopefully we will go out more often this week or I am going to set up splits...

I got my eyes checked...my left eye is 20/25 and my right eye is 20/50 and I have astigmatism. No wonder I have been getting headaches....my right eye is working twice as hard as my left lol. So I'm getting glasses this week from a member of this stake. He lets missionaries have 20% off....sometimes. Some missionaries take advantage. But, I'm super stoked because he doesn't do this often but my Zone Leaders hooked me up. I'm just hoping my headaches decrease..they're getting annoying.

We haven't had too much going on... It was hard coming from La Joya and having people to teach whom I had found to coming here and not having anyone. There is one investigator who has been taught for 2 years. He is like Mayra and has to get divorced before he gets baptized...buuuut, problem is...his wife is somewhere in Mexico and we don't know where! So it's taking forever for the papers to go through. Serious #mexicanproblems that every Spanish missionary has in the states. Other than José, we have Antonio and his daughter Angela. Antonio likes to keep telling us that he is sober and has been for a year, which is AWESOME! BUT....he was drinking beer one night while we were teaching him. He was still claiming he was sober...I honestly think he was too drunk to realize he was drinking a beer and saying that to us. Something is seriously wrong in his head. It's super sad.... But his daughter Angela, is 8 and she is super solid. One night, while my companions were teaching Antonio, I taught Angela and she kept asking me super awesome questions like, "Can I have Jesus Christ always with me?" and "Can we say a prayer right now? You can say this one to show me..." Then she said the closing prayer in front of her dad. I read The Book of Mormon Stories book with her and she really enjoyed it. We are going to get one for her! I have faith that she will get baptized and be an example to her dad! 

One of the Primary children got baptized on Saturday and so we went to do the "Missionary Moment" in the middle. WELL, apparently everyone thought we should've been in charge of the whole thing because when we got there, nothing was set up, nothing was open, nobody was there, etc...and they were all looking to us for answers. Not only was it not a convert baptism....but she didn't even live in our area! Best moment of the night was when the font was full but the doors to see the baptismal font were locked....and nobody had the keys. So, I had to get in the water, fully dressed, to open the doors from the inside. I just hiked everything up and got in. Soooo stinking funny. My g's got wet and I had to dry off with paper towels. I was uncomfortable for the rest of the night until I was dry. #idoitforthebaptism #blessings

It's really hard with my two companions. One is going through really bad depression and is super homesick. It's taking a toll on not only us as a companionship, but the area in general. Especially since she's been telling members.... Some members have come up to us asking what is happening and told us to help her. WE ARE. But we can only do so much, she has to want to help herself. Members are like blaming it on us. I really miss my old area. Members here are crazy....they also like to match you up with Elders....creepy. I hate it. ANYWAY, yeah, I love trios....I think they're super fun. But everyone in the trio needs to be solid and willing to work through things. When just one person isn't willing....everything stinks. 

Other than that, todo cheke aqui. Mi español está progresando y estoy empezando entender mucho mas. Estoy muy agradecida por mi misión. Realmente, este decisión a servir es la mejor decisión que hecho para mi vida. Gracias por sus ejemplos para mi. Les amo mucho. Estoy emocionada para verlos en la Día de la Madre! Gracias por todo y nos vemos!

Xoxo, Hermana Dreiling

P.s. I didn't even have to use Google Translate."

February 10, 2015

"I'm now getting transferred. They are taking Hermanas out of La Joya. I am so incredibly sad. La Joya issei pushy the best ward I could ever ask for. I found out earlier in the week so everyone knew on Sunday. They announced it in Sacrament Meeting and I bore my testimony. I ugly cried through the whole thing. Everyone has. Even saying such sweet things to me. I'm really going to miss this ward. #lajoyaforlife

So there is only one Sister coming in this transfer and she's an Hermana. So I'm going to the mission home tonight to stay with her and be with her companion. Hopefully I'll find out where I'm going tonight. One of my favorite Elders went home this week and he's going to leave me a note somewhere in the Mission Home with my future. lol Us Hermanas try to figure transfers out before the meeting. It's fairly easy for us because there is only 14 of us (We're a rare breed, lol!). We are pretty sure I am going to Estrellita. That would be....AMAZING. I would be in a trio again, but with my BEST FRIENDS who are Hermanas....Hermana Baldwin and Hermana Zelaya. Oh my...if that happens...I'm going to die. 

So this week was a super adventure because we had two areas, two languages, two cars, two stakes....yet, one zone, one companionship. So weird. Everyone kept saying, "It takes one to dance, but two to tango." And three to make a Presidency. Whadddup. We taught a lot of people and we stressed out way more than we thought we would. But it was fun. :) I love being in a trio. It just works. By next transfer I will have had 7 actual companions....in six months. These past two weeks, I have had 13 because I went on splits so many times. Cray. Cray. 

I can't really explain what has happened because I've just been going with different people to different lesson with people I don't know. It's kinda confusing. Wellllp, that's it for now! Have yall found out about the iPad's yet? Let me know....

Love yall! I'm always striving to be obedient! Don't worry! :) I'll send you my address as soon as I get it! You're awesome! Love ya!

Xoxo, Hermana Dreiling"

February 2, 2015

"Well my companion got emergency transferred last Monday Night and now I'm in a Trio with my roommates who are in the YSA Ward. Sooo we are covering two areas. One Spanish, One English, lol. I love being with them though... They are complete opposites of each other so they kind of get annoyed with each other though. It's fun!

Sooo jealous of Disney!!! Man, I miss it so much! Yes, I am like 5 miles away from the Cardinals Stadium soooo we had all the traffic and partying. We had to stay in all day Sunday except for Church because it was too dangerous for us to proselyte. We did, however, go to the Stadium on Friday! That was fun! :)

Oh man, I am so excited for Nina....but I'm a little bitter because they get the first grandchild. The first grandchild is always the fave. But it's okay because I know that mine will be the cutest.....I mean....look at me. You'll have to give me money so I can get a onesie for the babezies. 💁

That's awesome that Mikey got a Job....what a stud. Is he still with that one girl? I don't know how I feel about her....her birthday is July 10th too. I already have to share that glorious day with Geeg....not another sister-in-law. By the way....where da heck iz gubz n geeg....dey hav not written me yet.....who dey tink dey are? 

Soooo there's one funny story that happened this week...

I've been eating A LOT of crap this week because members feel bad for me because I don't really have a companion. They keep getting me fast food....it's so sweet of them but like really, I'm good. So Thursday night, I got Church's Chicken...Friday for lunch, I got Cafe Rio...Friday for dinner, I got Subway. I was with Sister Young and another sister, (they were on exchanges) Hermana Lamb, and I was like, "Seriously Sisters...I feel absolutely terrible." I thought I had diarrhea, (shout out to Paw-Paw) because all the Hermanas basically ALWAYS have diarrhea, but then I went to the bathroom and I was like, no....I have to throw up. Sooo, I threw up. Buuuut, the pressure was so much that I literally peed myself. I was laughing so hard at myself...WHILE I was throwing up. I went outside the bathroom and I was like, "Sisters....something just happened in there...and it's really embarrassing. I'm going to tell you now but ya'll cannot say ANYTHING about it..... I just peed my skirt while puking." We. All. Died. Seriously funniest thing on my mission yet. We went home and I didn't sit on the seat. I hovered the seat the whole way home. Soooo funny. 

Other than that, nothing is happening. I'm just over my ward by myself basically. My comps don't speak any Spanish and so we don't spend much time there. Sooo, it's a struggle. 

Well, I love yall. Keep staying awesome!

Xoxo, Hermana Dreiling"

January 19, 2015

"This week was kind of uneventful...I was sick Monday and Tuesday again. Wednesday we ate with the Elders a la casa de la familia Rodriguez. It was fun because I absolutely looooove that family. They have a son who is serving in Columbus, OH and I met a friend in the MTC who is serving there too and they are companions!!! How ironic is that? So now we are in contact again! But, I love this family! They just treat me as if I was part of the family and make fun of me a lot so I feel right at home! :)

After dinner we took their 17 year old daughter and went to a lesson with a new investigator, Gavino! Gavino is a man probably in his 50's and he is super cool. He is interested, he just doesn't want to commit.....welcome to what every Mexican investigator says.....ever. They don't want to commit. But, he is going to get there. 

Thursday was good, I officially didn't feel sick at all anymore! But, then my companion got sick.....awk. So we went in early that night. Again. I swear, I feel like the worst missionary ever. I didn't do anything this week! 

Also, this happened between me and my roommate:

"Aww is this your family?"

"Yeah, we went on a cruise."

"Sooo this one is your brother who is married to her. This one is single....wait. I thought you only had two brothers??? Who's that?"

"Those are my parents....."

"WHAT? They look so young. I thought it was another brother or sister....I can't believe it!!!"

Everyone thinks yall look so young! You're welcome for brightening up your day! :)

They also think I am adopted! It's not just me!!!!

Not much happened! I don't really have time to write today! I took a much needed nap! I love yall! You're the best fambam EVER!

Xoxo, Hermana Dreiling"