3 hours later..

[ Elder Concalves, Elder Jones, Sister Miller and I @ the temple!! ]

Man, this week has just flown by! 

Thursday was awesome! We met with Cynthia again and we taught her the Restoration. We used 4 different object lessons throughout the whole lesson. It was AWESOME. Sister Miller and I work and teach so well together. The lesson was really powerful, and Cynthia thoroughly enjoyed it. She told us that we had given her "food for thought", she then said she wanted to continue to take lessons from us. She is such a sweet heart. 

Then we went and packed our bags so we could catch the ferry to come off island for district meeting, Transfer texts, and for Sister Miller's convert's temple trip.

Saturday was the BEST DAY EVER. We went to the temple so that Danny (Sister Miller's Convert)  could receive his endowment! The Hovey's (Sister Miller's mission family) picked us up from the Cape Cod sister's house, and then we went and picked up Danny! The drive up to the temple. Sister Hovey showed us how to do indexing. It was neat, I'm definitely going to be doing that in my spare time. 

When we got to the temple, it was like being in heaven! Isn't it always?? There were so many people to talk to and hug!  It was glorious! Seeing Danny in the temple was definitely a highlight of Sister Miller's mission, which means it was a highlight in mine (because we have Zion <3 ). Its the best. Danny looked so happy! We were also able to see a family be sealed. It was so sweet, because their daughter, who just came back to church (She was less active)  was able to be sealed to them. It was such a glorious day! Then we all went out to eat, before heading home. The gospel is so true!

Brother Olivera called me Sunday morning when we got off the ferry.... He wanted me to give a talk... Church was in 50 minutes.

But it was great! Sister Miller gave such an amazing talk. I bawled through her talk, and the branch was bawling with me. It was all about the Holy Ghost's role as the comforter. This was my favorite part from my talk: "One of the last things Christ said to His disciples during His earthly ministry in Jerusalem was “I will not leave you comfortless. … But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14.) We are able to continue to feel this peace, even during times of trial and trouble, through the Holy Ghost.

Elder James E Faust said, "The comforting Spirit of the Holy Ghost can abide with us twenty-four hours a day: when we work, when we play, when we rest. Its strengthening influence can be with us year in and year out. That sustaining influence can be with us in joy and sorrow, when we rejoice as well as when we grieve.

I believe the Spirit of the Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world. It can be more mind-expanding and can make us have a better sense of well-being than any chemical or other earthly substance. It will calm nerves; it will breathe peace to our souls. This Comforter can be with us as we seek to improve. It can function as a source of revelation to warn us of impending danger and also help keep us from making mistakes. It can enhance our natural senses so that we can see more clearly, hear more keenly, and remember what we should remember. It is a way of maximizing our happiness.

The Spirit—the Holy Ghost—will help us work out our insecurities. For instance, it can help us learn to forgive. There comes a time when people must move on, seeking greater things rather than being consumed by the memory of some hurt or injustice. Dwelling constantly on past injuries is, by its nature, limiting to the Spirit. It does not promote peace."

I am getting transferred!!!!!

I am going back to the Spanish Program and I am super sad! Sister Miller is my best friend!!!! And she is going home in 6 weeks!! :(

But I am going to Revere 2nd. It is a spanish ward!!!!!!! My first time serving in a ward and I am so excited!! I hope it is where I finish my mission. I only have 3 transfers left.

I love you all.

sorry this email is lame.

Sister Flores

182 W Central St Ste 203, Natick, MA, 01760

I'll send my new address next week!

I'm going to set the world on fire.... one kitchen at a time!

How was your week?

I don't even know where to begin.

OH I know. 

WE HAVE BEEN HIT BY A STORM. 

Again.

For like the 4th time.

My week has gone from burning down the church's kitchen to extending two baptismal dates over skype.

Yeah.... Blizzard. And storms.

We were red dotted Since Saturday at 6 pm and didn't go out till Monday around 10:30. Church was canceled because it was really dangerous walking out and about. It was crazy!!! The winds are still here but it's all good. Sister Miller and I are wearing a TON of layers. We even got purple dotted!!! It never existed till this weekend.

Our mission president's wife was like

"this is aint no red dot! Blue dot? Purple dot? That's the color you'll turn if you go out!"

It was really funny!

Then President Packard said 

"Do not run faster than you have strength, Many are cold and Few are frozen"

HAHAHAHA! 

Dang, that was hilarious!!!!!!!! Please pray that the storms and blizzards may pass!

I used to say " I love the snow!! " And then I came on my mission.... TAKE ME BACK TO CALI! 

ROLLY & LUCY

my digital investigators! 

Okay like, my friends here were ready for the Gospel since ever! 

I skyped Rolly for the first time back in January and he was so accepting of the gospel! Then we were talking on Facebook and he has become such a great friend. We couldn't skype because our schedule was weird and time difference stinks. But I told him that he should invite his fiancee and his friends and guess what this amazing child of God did? 

He invited his fiancee to the lesson!

We didn't even cover the entire lesson about the Restoration. We only covered Joseph Smith and the Priesthood. And she believed us! And then I went on to talk about the sealing power we have and THEY WANT TO BE SEALED FOR ETERNITY.

Say what?

GOLDEN. I love them so much! They invited me to their wedding in March but I will still be on my mission. But I plan on taking a trip to Kenya after my mission. It's happening.

So I extended a baptismal invitation (of course they said YES!) then I felt they were ready for a date and we set a soft date for after their wedding.

It was great! Please pray for them!

#meow

So we have a very unusual district. 

Brewster - Elders Darley, Wartena, Pendleton

Cape Cod - Sisters Bower and Bentley

Martha's - Sister Miller and I

This part of Massachusetts is known for the famous Cape Cat 

James is a member! Anyways that's the end of Massachusetts and it looks like a cat! So our Zone Leaders came to our district meeting and starting saying meow and did the whisker thing Sister Miller and I did in the next picture. So it's become a thing to us now. I love my District! And all of us are digital missionaries! I love it! They are my best friends! 

​

{ Sister Bower being cute like always }

{ Sister Miller and I #meow }

=^.^=

But hey! I got a beautiful shot of the sun! 

​

So the Los Angeles Visitor Center (HOME) is doing this project with missionary name tags! Guess who's name tag is now posted?! MINE & I sent Sister Barney's in as well cause she is my best friend and why not?
​#makinghistory

OKAY the story you are all waiting for!

How did I burn the Church's Kitchen?

Well let's see...

I was hungry and I brought Top Ramen to make in cause I did get hungry. Then I was prompted to check my home debit card for some odd reason. (Odd because I NEVER check it) AND GUESS WHAT PEOPLE!!!!

My card was hacked into!!! Someone bought stuff on Amazon! Like $108 dollars worth of stuff! I couldn't believe it. I was about to cry. So as I was checking all this and calling the bank and Amazon, we smelled smoke. Sister Miller was like "Is something burning?" Then like nothing, I  was like"I was cooking ramen, but it smells like tuna. I'll go check it out" 

Then I open the door to the kitchen and BOOM. smoke

and more smoke and I yelled "MY RAMEN"

And I didn't know what to do. So I turned off the stove, opened the doors to the church

[ time out so Sister Miller was dating this guy before her mission and they both went on missions and are both getting home in 7 weeks... His family is planning a welcome home party...for the two...this is funny.... #doihearweddingbells? ]

Okay back to my story, there's smoke everywhere. Thank goodness the fire sprinklers didn't go off because I would be DEAD. 

When I told members they laughed and said how can someone burn ramen? it's just hot water and noodles! 

What did I learn?

Ramen is delicious and when burned, it smells like burnt popcorn.

Now the serious stuff!!!

WE GOT 3 NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK!

It's a miracle!!!!!

There's Bob, Sebastian, and Cynthia.

Bob

Once Sister Carvalho and I were on our way to the hospital to do service. Then we run into Bob (This morning I was prompted to put an extra Book of Mormon in my bag) He started asking us questions about our name tags. So all 3 of us got off the bus and I gave him the extra Book of Mormon and I promised him that is he opened his heart and and let the Lord fix his life (he was an alcoholic) that he would see miracles in his life! Let's fast forward 5 weeks later. I call him to see if we can set a time to meet. I told him that God has not forgotten him. He said he will call us later. Later never came till a week later. He called us and said he wanted to meet and he had questions. So we met at Black Dog. He told us that ever since I gave him the BoM, he has been experiencing little miracles. Like he had the "strangest" desire to quit drinking after 30 years and he now had the courage to do it. His bad ex girlfriend is now out of the picture because he felt it needed to happen. And when I called him and told him that God never forgets about His children, the following day, in AA, it was all about God. He wants to learn more and change his life. And it all started with a Book of Mormon & missionaries who were ready.

Sebastian

[Again with Sister Carvalho] Sister Dunn was picking us up because it was raining like no tomorrow. And on the street we see a guy, Sebastian, and asked if he wanted a ride. So he gets in and he tells Sister Carvalho and I that he has seen us before and starting asking what do we do. PERFECT QUESTION. So we explained who we are and what we do and he said he was interested. But then his work schedule got intense and with the unpredictable weather we didn't know when we would see each other again. Then he had a free day and we taught him about God's plan of happiness. He loved it! And he wants to learn more! But he said that he has already made his spiritual journey but he sincerely wants to learn. He is all about wisdom. I like him. He's funny.

Cynthia

She is a former investigator of about 18 months. When Sister Ott was here, we called her to set a day that we can come over but then Sister Ott went home and it got all crazy. Then I called her again and we saw her on Saturday. She asked the normal questions "Where are you from, etc" and then she asked if we were members from birth or converts. 

I hate/love this question. My conversion story is so unique and rare, and I don't want my companions to feel bad that they don't have a story like mine. But Sister Miller shared her story and I shared mine. Cynthia was touched and she asked us '"would it be possible for you girls to come over and teach me?  We said no. Hahaha!

MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING YOU GUYS!!!!!

#blessed

I love the Lord and I love His Gospel. I love how everyone can be tailored to the Gospel. How unfair, uncomfortable, weird, would it be to be part of a Church that isn't tailored to EVERYONE'S needs and wants. Everywhere else it's like if you don't fit size 4 then too bad. Our size fits all. I love the Book of Mormon and I love sharing its message with all those that are ready to hear it. I love helping people who want Christ in their life. I love being a missionary. I have adventures every single day! I am helping those I loved in the Pre-mortal life. If you haven't had a chance to learn about the Church, DO IT. What have you got to lose?

Traditions? We shouldn't care what our family will think, God above all.

Culture? I'm not asking you to leave your culture. I'm asking you to learn about your Savior.

You might lose friends? Well then they don't love you for who you are.

I love you with all my big fat heart. 

I can't wait to see you all in July!

Transfer texts are this Friday!!!!

I don't want to leave! 

kinda.

​

{ Yeah I know I'm cute } 

Sister Flores

Massachusetts Boston Mission

"Missions are 98% hard work, struggle, disappointment, difficulty, sorrow, and even pain. 2%…….2% is pure joy"

Bacon toothpaste & a girl who likes Bacon.

​Sometimes I dread P-days. 

Why?

Because I am the worst at writing emails! 

I always pray to know what to say so that I can share something that will help you in your lives. 

So get ready for all the craziness. 

So Sister Ott and I came off island last Sunday because we were going to Return and Report (It's for new missionaries to go in the temple and some trainings for both the trainer and the trainee). Monday comes and we are red dotted because of the weather. (Please keep our mission in your prayers!) Then Monday afternoon comes, we get a call from President Packard, Sister Ott is going home on Thursday. So Tuesday, we didn't go to return and report because... there was no point. Then we come back to the island because she still had some stuff to get. On our way back to the island, Sister Ott told me that she did not want me to go to the airport to drop her off. So I said okay, if that's what you want. 

​

Tuesday morning, President Packard calls again. Sister Miller will be my new companion. Sister Miller is from South Africa. She is wicked cool. It was a bit of a awkward situation for the both of us but more for me. Sister Miller and I have very strong personalities. So with that being said you can imagine.. Haha. But we had a very open conversation and started talking. It was great. It was VERY humbling. 

Now when President Packard called me that Tuesday morning, he said this "I can see the bigger picture now. I see why Sister Ott is going home and why Sister Miller is going to Martha's Vineyard. I see.." 

My response?

"WHAT'S THE BIGGER PICTURE PRESIDENT BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT!!!"

hahaha. I know. That's totally me.  

But guess who finally was taught what the bigger picture is?

Me. I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father knows and plans everything! Haha!

DIGITAL MISSION

I love being a digital missionary! 

There are so many countries where there aren't any missionaries nor the Gospel. And Prophets & SCRIPTURES have said that one day the Gospel will be taught to every tongue, every nation, every kindred. A lot of people were like " How is that possible? The country hasn't let the Church in yet! ETC." But look at us now. Preaching the Gospel to every tongue (Spanish, Portuguese, etc) every nation (Ghana, Kenya, France, Venezuela, Brazil, ect) and every kindred. 

[ Francis from Accra, Ghana & us ]

He is 19 years old, and loves running marathons. He is a Christian but he is looking for more. He told us that if he finds that this is the true church ( which he will) he wants to get baptized!!

[ Willy from Columbia & us ]

Willy is 21 and he was interested about our prophets. He thought God would never call anyone to be prophets and he is so thankful that Joseph Smith was brave enough to ask that question. He wants to learn more and he said he will be baptized if he knows this is true. He is super interested in the Book of Mormon and already feels that it is true!

PEOPLE THE LORD IS HASTENING HIS WORK!

And wouldn't you want to be a part of it? 

 Doctrine & Covenants 33: 2-10

2. For verily, verily, I say unto you that ye are called to lift up your voices as with the sound of a trump, to declare my gospel unto a crooked and perverse generation.

3.  For behold, the field is white already to harvest; and it is the eleventh hour, and the last time that I shall call laborers into my vineyard.

4 And my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because of priestcrafts, all having corrupt minds.

5 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness.

6 And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice.

7 Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength.

8 Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.

9 Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.

10 Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;

Why not?
Why not open your mouths?

Why not join the true fold of the Lord?

Why not read the Book of Mormon?

Why not?

What do you have to lose?

Do not be afraid my brothers and sisters.

The time of the Lord is near. 

Marie & Christian.

I miss these people so much!

{Christian, Marie, Llanaliz}

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."

-Corrie Ten Boom

I love the Lord. I love our Heavenly Father and He loves us to send us prophets to continually guide as to God when the entire world is leading us astray. I am grateful for the times I am uncomfortable because there is no growth in comfort. I love the Book of Mormon! People come to me and say how can you love it? It's all about wars! UH, if you would read it then you would know that there is war because the people weren't following the Lord. They were "slow to remember the Lord." The Lord will come to our aid anytime we need Him, as long as we let Him.

Open your hearts.

Open your minds.

Let the Lord in.

He wants in.

Just do it.

You 

Will

Never

Regret

it.

Pinky Promise!!

I love you all!

Sister Flores

"12 Months Later"

I have been out for an entire year... WHAT THE CHEERIOS!

I know I haven't email in like forever. I am truly sorry and I will repent for it! HAHA

This entire transfer has been crazy!

But seriously.

I don't remember what was the last thing that I have written about so I will tell you all that I have gone through in the past 3 weeks, because that is all that I can remember!

Transfers were 3 weeks ago.

I was called to train Sister Ott. She is from Fallon, Nevada. She has autism and asthma, so I wasn't really sure how serving in Martha's Vineyard (a walking area) was going to be like. I think I remember saying that she likes to talk about herself a lot. So I learned a lot from her. She has one older brother who is currently serving a mission! He comes home in March. Her dad pretty much does everything in life. My dad is cooler though because he is from El Salvador. Haha. I am kidding. Her mom has pretty much been a stay at home mom. She has a really nice family. Anyways, as we were on Martha's Vineyard we began to see that it was going to be a challenge for the both of us. You see, she has exercised induced asthma and the cold air was really affecting her. We walk about 2-5 miles a day. And after the 5th day here she was struggling. Not just physically but also emotionally and due to her autism, socially as well. So we called President and Sister Packard and explained to them the situation. Next thing you know we were told to come off island to Cape Cod. We had a family History Center Open House the next day. So Sister Bentley ( a sister on Cape Cod ) came with me to Martha's Vineyard. The Family History Open House was AMAZING! There were about 40 non-members at church!!!! I can not even begin to explain how strongly the Spirit of Elijah is on Martha's Vineyard! Anyways, so Sister Ott stays on Cape Cod and I go back to MV. The next couple days were brutal to both of us.

We fast forward that week and Sister Ott still did not feel emotionally well. We thought it was homesickness but it wasn't. And now my dear poor Sister Ott is going home this Thursday to serve a Church Service mission back home. And I will be getting a new companion on Wednesday.

I never had a companion, let alone a brand new sister, who is going home. And I know that Satan also knows that I don't feel that great. I feel that I could've done more. I could've loved more, I could've had more patience, I just could've done better. But I can't let myself get discouraged. I know that the Lord has something better in store for Sister Ott. I truly love her even when we are both struggling. But that is the amazing part to everything. Even though I was struggling, I was able to realize the change in my life.

I know it may sound weird but I am grateful for the many times that I struggle because it only gives me an opportunity to let the Lord help me. And I struggle everyday! Being on a mission isn't easy but it is worth it. I love serving my sisters and I love serving the world.

So the crazy thing now is that I have this transfer and 3 more. This transfer will end in 3.5 weeks. Sister Miller, my new companion, goes home in April, which in the transfer after this one. So it looks that I may be staying on Martha's Vineyard for the rest of my mission!!! Which is exciting because we have about 80 potential investigators, so there is a lot of work to do.

Sister Bower got me into colored pencils that roll up so we went to go buy some. I now have about 12 colors I've never had before and my scriptures have never been colorful than right now.

I was doing the Book of Mormon challenge that our mission president assigned to us. And boy the revelation is just pouring down.

I love Jacob 2. There is so much in that chapter that is helping me grow up. I love the Book of Mormon people!!! I love the Atonement! I love the trials that we go through!!

We don't go through trials because God hates us, we go through trials because God is molding us, He is teaching us something. There is something we need to learn to be the God's and Goddesses we are meant to be!

I don't want to go home in 5 months but I know that it will come faster than ever before! Time flies when you are doing things you love! I promise you that!

 Emerse yourself into the scriptures!! They are there to uplift you and to motivate you! I bear my testimony that I know that we were pre-ordained

for our trials! And with our faith we came down to Earth to go through them willingly. People!! We were all consecrated in our pre-mortal life!!! It is time to get there again. I know that if we kneel down and pour out our hearts to our Heavenly Father, He will listen and He will send Angels to our aid. The Lord will never leave us alone. I promise you that. I have not gone through anything harder than right now. It is hard, I won't lie. But I depend on the Lord like never before! I love Him and He loves me. And He loves YOU.

This gospel is tailored to every person on this Earth.

It has blessed me in every way possible.

I am eternally grateful for all of you.

I love you all!

Sister Flores