Saturday, November 15, 2014

Happy November!‏ 11-10-2014

Hello!
Sorry for the silence for a few weeks, it has been a little crazy over here. I am now in the Meadowview ward in Temecula California. I split the ward with elders and I love it! I have found so many connections already to people and places from home or Del Mar.
We had a total whitewash in the ward which means that we had 4 brand new missionaries come in together. Because of this we had a lot of ground work to do in order to even understand the area and move the work forward. We are teaching quite a few part member families and that is awesome! We are also teaching a few people that we found through our own efforts and through members. It has been slow these last couple of weeks as we have been working to build trust and get to know people. Hopefully now that we are settled things will get more stable.
Our ward mission leader is also brand new but awesome! He has a super cute little family and always starts our meetings off with marriage counseling- we always just sit there and look at each other and nod our heads. Really it doesn't hit home for us right now but I’m sure he intends to save all our future marriages so that is nice.
One big thing that I have been learning is about my own personal need to be 100 percent committed to God and being all that I can be. I was reading the conference talks again and Elder Robbins points out to us this fact when he told us to check and be sure that we are facing God. He said that when we justify our actions or lower our standards to a level of inappropriate behavior deemed fine by the world, we are in a state of apostasy. We must all remember in our lives that we face God and not the world. We care more about pleasing God then being friends with other people. This can be so difficult because we are asked to give up everything, including relationships in some cases, in order to face the right way. I have learned through many different companions and areas that I must always be my best self even if others mock or don’t care to follow. If I do all that I can, I can feel satisfied with my efforts. Elder Teh of the seventy said, “Our priorities, tendencies, inclinations, desires, appetites and passions will have a direct bearing on our next estate.” We must live down here what we want to live up there. We must choose to be lonely in order to be closer to God. Elder Robbins also said, “Jesus Christ was the most fearless person to ever live.” As we become like Christ and follow Him our fear naturally will dissipate and leave us with the ability to move forward in faith. I know this is true and I know that becoming fearless is so crucial and important in this life. Whatever it is that holds you back, scares you, paralyzes you, or stops you from becoming your best-GET RID of it now. Get on your knees and tell God that you don’t want to fear anymore. Tell Him that you know which way you face and that you are now willing to do whatever it takes to truly face that way. Align your appetites, passions, inclinations and very thoughts to God’s will and you will find yourself becoming freed from any fear. You will find yourself becoming like Christ.
There is a quote that I love by President Kimball. It says: “each of us has more opportunities to do good and to be good then we ever use.” How true that is. Anne Marrow Lindbergh said: “My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds.” I feel this way every single day of my life. I fell the tugging of my heart wanting to fix and heal and give to so many people. We must learn to understand our sphere of influence and then do all that is in our power to be good and do good within that sphere. Then we can truly respond to the most people and touch the most human hearts.
I was contacting a man from India this week and he shared with me a beautiful thought.  He said: “if you don’t see God in all things then you don’t see God at all.” That is truth.
By next week I might have a new companion or area so stay tuned. For now I am very happy with being here and working hard. Love you all!
Sister Huber 

Hi! 11-3-2014







More Pictures! 10-27-2014



Just some Pictures! 10-20-2014



NEW AREA!!!!!‏ 10-14-14

I am officially not a beach bum anymore. I am now in the Meadowview ward in Temecula. I was doubled in with a sister who actually came out with me:) We came in with no investigators, no map, no ward list, no area book, no nothing. That was quite the adventure. We also took an elders apartment that was not sanitary enough for zoo animals to be living in it. Hard work and hot sun was our week in a nutshell. But God is a God of miracles and we saw many. 

Lucas was baptized:) It was awesome!!! His family and friends all came. I got to drive down and be with him and I actually gave the talk. It was a really good day. 

I prayed and prayed when transfers were coming up and I felt strongly that I needed to leave YSA now if I was going to fulfill my dream of teaching a family. This week we found, and picked up a family of 5. I know I was sent here to them. I am living every missionaries dream right now because the entire family is taking the lessons and they are wonderful. Please pray for them.

I was feeling very overwhelmed with all my responsibility and new area. I prayed to know that this was the right area for me and that everything was happening for a reason. Every single person that I met this first week has been so very familiar to me.   It is literally like I have meet each and every one of them before. I know these people. I know that this is an answer to my prayers and that God is showing me that I belong. I can't even explain what it feels like. I have a wonderful new ward and such good people to work with. 

I love this church and this gospel. I love every moment and every day. I am so proud that my best friend and brother is now a missionary. Watch out D.C! I am grateful for a sister who also serves and is an example to my whole family. Life just gets better and better with each passing day. Enjoy the ride my friends, enjoy the ride. 

Love Sis Huber 









Sunday, October 12, 2014

Embrace all change 10/6/2014

The day has come for me to pack my bags and leave my home. I am getting transferred tomorrow out of Del Mar. I will have served ½ my mission in one area. I must have done something right to deserve that.

There is an innumerable amount of emotions and stories and facts and people that I should tell you all, and yet I can think of nothing to actually write down. Goodbyes will never be my strong suit.

Obed told me I was his favorite sister he has ever met and that I was his angel. He said he wished he could have found the church sooner but I wasn’t ready yet to come find him. He said it had to be me. We are different in every possibly way in the worlds eye, and yet we are exactly the same. We are both children of God and we both hope and know there is a bright future. Being someone’s angel is a big responsibility and I am trying to know how I can keep the trust and confidence of him forever. I also determined that I did nothing to deserve this honor, I was simply granted the great opportunity to find one of God’s elect. I do know though that I was blessed because I was willing to walk; blindly in fact, because it was pure faith that drove me out here. Obed is one of the lights that have shown me the proof of my faith.

Robert. I can’t really put words down to talk about this one. He wrote me this note that I will cherish forever. Maybe one week I will share some of it with you. He did say: “God broke the mold when He made you”. Apparently he thinks there is no one else quite like me in the whole world.

Lucas is getting baptized on Saturday; he passed his interview after conference. I know without a doubt that part of my mission in life was to find, teach and bring Lucas to this church through baptism. I know that. He is one of the choicest of choice spirits and he is just one of the many people who will bring the gospel to China. I was privileged enough to teach him from the very beginning. I was the first person Lucas ever talked to about the church about for more than 5 minutes. I remember distinctly standing on his doorstep that first day and asking about his background. He said: I am a hardcore atheist”.  He also said we could come back :) I remember begging for him to pray that first lesson and then getting to listen to someone speak to a God who they didn’t even believe was there but was still willing to ask about. Honestly, I don’t remember tons of the things I said to him as we taught him because never in my entire life have I been so guided and directed by the spirit. I would walk away from lessons amazed at the profound truths and doctrines that I was able to articulate to him through the spirit. God made me so much more for Lucas and I am glad He was able and willing to do so. I never have learned so much about truth as I have while teaching an atheist from china next to a swimming pool in an apartment complex. That was our spot to meet. Faith is praying even when it is so entirely foreign and awkward to you. Thank goodness Lucas accepted my unrelenting invitation to keep trying.  Change is watching something literally overcome a person and make them new. I watched Lucas completely change in 3 months. That is what it took for him to become one of the most devoted and spiritual persons I have ever known. When he prays now, I cry almost every time because of the spirit that is present. Lucas knows who he is talking too because he had to go out and really find Him. I remember when Lucas first believed in Jesus Christ, when he first stopped drinking tea, when he came to church and then kept coming. I know I have seen a miracle. I have seen something that can’t be described or understood completely. When I said goodbye to Lucas today I said: “This is the last time I will stand on your doorstep as a missionary”. He replied, “and next time you will stand here as a friend”. I get to come back for his baptism and I am actually speaking. I hope I can do my friend justice.

I have to go pack up all my thoughts and emotions and clothes and food. Farewell my ocean and cool weather and favorite people. Hello change. Speaking of change, they chopped my hair off. I am learning to embrace all change because apparently I have control over nothing at this point including my own hair.

Love
Sis Huber




















Monday, September 29, 2014

Belief is progression 9-29-2014

Many people don’t have a lack of belief, but simply a lack of understanding. That is the problem. We must help people understand. Don’t judge someone until you understand what they understand. And in the process of understanding both of you will grow.
Belief is progression. It is some of the most beautiful progress a person can have. To start with nothing and then to grow the emptiness into something you believe is a magnificent process.
Jesus Christ doesn’t just help us move past our sins but he actually understands what goes into our sins. How powerful is that? He knows the thoughts and feelings that go behind every action and He gets it. He knows the temptation and the pain and heartache that accompany our lives on a daily constant basis. His atonement covers the sin but also the path that led to that sin. Many times that is the emotion healing that we need from Him. I know that He can literally change our hearts and make us new. Our spirits can be made so strong and vibrant that we react differently to the same temptations and heartache.  That is the power of our all understanding savior.
I had a great week. One of the most educational and learning weeks of my life. I have never felt so close to the spirit or relied on God so much. Time was spent in earnest prayer on my knees and the feeling of God very close to me came time and time again. We have 4 people who are preparing and are very close to baptism. As I plead for them and try and understand how to help them, I gain such insight of the reality of this journey each of us is on. God really does love us and this gospel really does answer every single question. Having faith is a precious thing and never should be discredited. Faith is continuing to culture our belief and acting and growing and making room for more light to come. It is a very precious thing to have.
I got to sit down and have a temple recommend interview with my mission president. It was very special for me because I realized that the questions he asked and I had to answer were exactly the principles and truths that I am teaching people about every single day. Answering was more than just a yes for me because each question brought a face to mind and a lesson I had taught, and I was able to remember when together we had learned to truth of the principles. I know all these things are true. My mission has brought me far past the believing stage and I truly know with all my heart many things now. I have no doubts or concerns left in some aspects of the gospel. I feel humbled to be able to say that with certainty. Belief is a beautiful progression, faith is precious and needed and knowing- well that leaves a person speechless and humbled. Knowing is what we will all one day eventually achieve. I know that is true J



Love Sis Huber 


Monday, September 22, 2014

What a week‏ 9-22-2014

THIS WEEK CAN’T BE PUT INTO WORDS. First off, I have like ten minutes to do this. Second, I am so tired. Third, I have appointments all p day so I don’t even get a break to breathe or write. Just fill in all the blanks and look between the lines.
Our darling new investigator named Joana is a gem. She is as golden as they get and so cute!!! She brings her dog to all the lessons and it is tiny and dressed in pink outfits….haha oh dear. It even has pink nails. She prayed the first lesson and said, “Everyone at work is going to be like, what drug are you on?  And I’m going to be like; I’m on a drug called God! Thanks God!” It was priceless. She loves church and she loves the gospel. It is inspiring to see her desires and good good heart.  She calls me uber and loves…gotta just embrace it because you have to love someone like that.
Lucas has this really hard thing in his life with some people. He was at a lesson and really struggling with it. He just started crying and put his face into his hands. I felt so helpless. The spirit was so strong and I looked down and saw a picture of Christ on the table. I just started telling Lucas about how Christ feels the same way over us and our choices. I told him how he was exhibiting Christ like attributes and that God knew how to help those people even if he didn’t. It was a powerful reminder to me because so many times I feel like crying into my hands because I don’t have the power to change some things. But God does and Christ showed us how we can do our part. That is the miracle of becoming like Him.
I realized that the sacrament is the one moment in which we can stand on equal ground with our Savior. Right in that moment, as we ask for forgiveness and then recommit ourselves to our covenants, we are standing with Him and are clean again because of Him. We can actually be next to Him because we are using His power to become clean and new. Our goal throughout the week should simply be to stay as close to that equal ground as possible. That way when we get to do it again the next Sunday we barley have to have Him help us move at all. I love the hymn I stand all amazed.
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. I tremble to know that for me he was crucified, That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died
I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine, That he should extend his great love unto such as I, Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
 I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt! Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget? No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me! Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me! .
We had this wonderful dinner with 3 new investigators that you all need to know about. I will have to rain check it for next time. Just imagine three college boys trying to cook dinner…imagine hot dogs and frozen cauliflower. I have never laughed so hard as I did after we left. It was a moment to remember. My darling companion also turned 22 this week! We partied hard and set a mission record on the number of member present investigator lessons we taught…..17!  We are so busy. They are probably going to split the area when I get transferred. That is pretty cool.  We actually have to go drive up to Vista tonight and meet with our mission president, hope I’m not in trouble J haha Me and president Kendrick are great friends.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! SETH GOOD LUCK!!!! Love ya

Love Sister Huber

p.s. we will either have 0 or 3 baptisms this week so everyone should pray extra hard for this area! I would appreciate it a lot.






Week of laughs 9-15-2014

Hello!
I have so much to say today, and less time than usual to say it.  I hate that.
This is a week of laughs. I love that about Sister Vincent, we are always happy together. I will share some of them with you now.
There is an investigator who loves the sister missionaries. She has nicknamed all the sisters that have taught her and she adores them so much. The last three sisters were named: sister love, sister joy and sister gentle. This week I went on exchanges in this area and we got to go over to see her. When we were there I asked her if I got a nickname as well. She said that when it came to her she would tell me. We started doing some service and helping her out when all of the sudden she just starts laughing. She looks at me and said, “Sister Get er done”. Yes, that was the name I got. Not kind or hope or anything remotely like the other three, but get er done. I couldn’t decide if I should laugh or cry. The name spread around the mission so now I am constantly teased about it. Oh well what are you going to do? Someone has to actually buckle down and make things happen. I am working on showing more love or at least showing more love in an apparent way. Some people just don’t understand me.
My companion’s favorite thing to say these days is, “Sister Huber is trying to be cultured again”. It came as I would say something totally wrong or pretend to know what was going on when I didn’t have a clue. I would try and explain the situations but they would just sound dumb and not be funny to anyone else but us. Good thing we can laugh at ourselves.
We contacted into this man and he said, “I am a Unitarian Episcopalian with charismatic leanings thank you and have a great day”. And then he just kept walking. What does that even mean
A more serious note:
Prayer is a glimpse into a person’s connection with God. I love prayer. I could sit here and write about prayer after prayer that touched me this week. Lucas has such a deep understanding of the gospel and of personal accountability and choices. When he prays I feel something so strong. He sits there for 30 seconds before he begins to gather his thoughts. He then offers beautiful prayers and stays siting with his head down and clasped hands afterwards to think and feel.  This week he prayed for help to better use his agency. What a profound thought and statement that is. I have pondered on that attitude and understanding all week. I have begun to echo his prayer with my own plea to have His help in using the gift He has given me. Think about what that means to God when we ask for help in better using the gift of choice that He has given us. Try it out this week and it will change your outlook and pattern of thinking.
Another of our investigators said that he now loves praying because he understands how prayer works. He said he never prayed because the few times he had in the past had never resulted in fireworks or voices speaking to him. He thought that if he didn’t hear God speaking to him, then he was doing it wrong. When we understand prayer and how we can get our answers it changes everything. It becomes something we want to do and something we love doing.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
Sis Huber

p.s. I will try and be better next week with my email. I got carried away todayJ




Choose to Obey 9-8-2014

A week of miracles, I will share as many as possible so I won’t ever forget what happens in the day to day grind of being a missionary.  
Cameron was first taught by the Encinitas elders when I was in that ward. I knew of him and met him once. He dropped the missionaries and hadn’t had any more contact with the church. He graduated from high school and now goes to college and would be YSA eligible. We got a text saying that he would meet with missionaries again last week and so we switched him to the YSA ward and started teaching. He is super awesome and we really connected well. We went over all his questions and really got to use the scriptures to find answers.  He is praying about baptism and it should be soon. I am so happy to be part of his conversion. It is amazing how many missionaries and members affect each story and how we all play a different role in these people’s lives.  
Robert showed up super late to a lesson with Obed and Obed started teasing him for being so late. Robert said on Mormon standard time he was perfect. I interjected and told him to stop making excuses to which he replied, “it’s not an excuse, it’s my religion”. Oh brother, right? I was laughing so hard and I couldn’t stop. Then I realized that even though it was a clever joke he was making it is also a very serious statement that countless people make every single day through their choices. When someone turns down a drink despite peer pressure they are saying, I won’t make an excuse for my behavior but I will stay true to my religion and my God. We can have no excuses in this gospel. We need people who will stand up and say, I don’t care what you think or say- this is my religion and I will stay true.
Choi is one of the funniest and most sincere people I have ever met. I had dinner with him and he now wants to move to Idaho and work on Grandpas farm… would that even be a possibility? He wants to call you about it. He was baptized 3 years ago after coming to America from Korea. He bore his testimony yesterday in church and it was one of the most powerful things I have ever heard. He thanked the sisters for helping him right when he needed help and for always knowing what to teach and talk about. He said something so profound after telling about all his struggles with the accepting the gospel. He talked of how up until a few weeks ago he still didn’t fully agree or understand some things. I think we can all relate to him with something in the church. He would live almost all of the commandments but a select few he would disregard. That has now changed and he said, “When I stopped questioning and CHOSE to obey, I recognized all the ways the Lord was blessing me”.  He talked of surrender and of the clear vision that came after his obedience to all the commandments of God. This Sunday Choi was ordained to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. What a journey he went on and what an example he is to each of us. Choose to obey and then accept the ability to see all of your many blessings from God.
Obed and Robert both passed the sacrament this week! Lucas came to church again and he loves it. He says he never enjoyed church but now he feels good every time he comes. Gotta love the spirit. We picked up two awesome new investigators and I can't wait for this next week! I am training the zone tomorrow in Zone Training Meeting so I need to go prepare for that. We also had Mission Leadership Council which was fantastic. I love all of you! With my whole entire heart!

LOVE Sis Huber