ADIEU!

Hello!

This week is transfer week. I am being transferred!

It's been a great three months in the villa de Paz Ward. I've been
able to grow so much while I've been here. Each area that I have been
to allows me to develop a greater love for my savior and the people.
I'm excited for this new area that I will be going to! So, I will be
serving in the daisy mountain Ward. I actually think I have another
one too (I just can't remember the name... sad face...) and my new
companion is sister Posadas! She is from the Phillipines and I am SO
excited to be her companion.

A lot has happened this week.

I was able to go to the temple on Saturday. Sister Miyazaki and I were
companions, and we went together because of our beloved Madison
Sarager!! We both were her missionaries and she went through the
temple this past Saturday. It was such a special experience to see
her, and be able to be there for her. The temple is my favorite place!
I wish I could stay there forever.

On Monday we did a huge service project as a zone. A member from one
of the wards in our stake need help shoveling rock. He had 3 tons of
rock to shovel.... so we were there for awhile. It was really fun
being able to be with a ton of missionaries and doing service!!

I'm excited for this upcoming transfer, the things that I will learn,
and the people that I will meet!!

Love Sister Arnold

When you scare your companion.... literally everyday

Heyyyyyaaa.

For those of you who remember.... I love to scare people. And all of
my poor companions have suffered through his while being with me. I
have literally scared sister christley every day this week. And every
time I do, she screams so loud and it's just the funniest thing. I
love scaring people....

ANYWAYS.

This week was really really good! We had the opportunity to do a lot
of service this week. I'm not sure if y'all know about the "just
serve" app/ campaign. But it's really cool!! There's an app that
allows you to see what service is needed around the area. This
organization called "Project connect" was a service that we did this
week. We all met at one of the stake centers and basically helped the
homeless for the entire day. People give donations to this
organization so that we can help the people get clothes, showers,
food, ID, haircuts, licenses, food stamps, and a lot more stuff. So
what we did, was we got a packet of the persons information and we
were their tour guide/ friends for the day! It was really fun. We
would walk around with them, gran some food and talk about the things
that they needed to get done that day. The first guy I was able to
help was named Kyle. He has been living on the streets for 2 years
now! So, we sat down and ate some food and got to know him better. We
took him to get a haircut, clothes, and some other things. It's really
cool to see how grateful he was for this service. And plus it just
felt good to help him out!

We had a lot of lessons, and fun times this week. Transfers are next
week... (AH!) so we will see where I'll be going or if I'll be
staying.

I have been reading a lot of out the New Testament lately and I love
it. It's cool to read about the parables that Christ teaches to the
people.

Continue to serve, love, and be as Christ would be.

Love y'all.

-Sister Arnold

Do you want to pet my Arizona dinosaur?

Heeeeelllloooooo!

We street contacted into this guy on Wednesday, and he asked us if we
wanted to pet his Arizona dinosaur... Arizona dinosaur aka his little
old dog. It was sooooo funny! My companion and I were trying so hard
not to laugh as we tried to share something spiritual with him. He was
just a really nice man with an Arizona dinosaur!

This past week we had interviews with our mission president. I love
interviews!! It's nice to see and talk to President and Sister
Griffin. They both go home this July, so they mentioned that they have
talked to the new mission president and wife. I'm excited to see who
it will be!

This past week I started reading The New Testament AND the Book of
Mormon. I really have enjoyed reading the New Testament. In Matthew it
talks about Christ, and the miracles that he performed on earth. Well,
that's just a little bit about what I've read. So far, I am enjoying
it! In one verse... I think it was in chapter 16 of Matthew, I read
about Christ teaching the people on the shore. He was in a boat and
was teaching those on the shore. I stopped reading, and thought about
what that would be like... to stand on the shore and hear christ's
teaching... to hear his voice and SEE him. What do y'all think it
would be like?

I was reading in Mosiah 26: 29-30 and it says:

29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against
me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed;
and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the
sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him
also.

30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their
trespasses against me.

Verse 30 especially stood out to me. As OFTEN as we repent, we will be
forgiven. How comforting is that? It just makes me think how merciful
our god is, and how extremely fortunate we are that we have a savior
that helps us through our trials.

Missionary work is amazing. Keep doing all you can do!

Love, Sister Arnold ❤

1. Da district
2. Haha my companions expression says it all
3. Your favorite Sister Arnold!!! (Well hopefully)

I love you!!❤️ **silence**

Hello!! 

I always tell my companion that I love her.... one night we were laying in our beds and I said "Goodnight I love you!!!" And she didn't say anything.... so I leaned my head down (we have a bunk bed) and I said "say it back" hahaha... pretty demanding... I know.... but then she said it back :) 

This week seemed to go by pretty quickly. We have had small successes this week, and it's comforting to know that our efforts are not going unnoticed. 

This week we found a new investigator! After praying to be led to someone who is looking for more happiness in their life, we found her!! We received a message that this lady wanted a Book of Mormon. Of course, my companion and I were very excited so we grabbed a Book of Mormon and headed to her address as soon as we got the text. We get to her house, and find out that this lady is SOOO prepared!!! She has so much faith despite her hard trials she's going through. I wish I could have as much faith as she does..... maybe I'll learn something from her. It's a blessing to find those who are truly interested in learning more about Christ, the family, and how to be happier in this life. 

Friday we had zone meeting, I gave a discussion on fear. I split it off into 3 parts, fear of God, fear of past mistakes, and fear of missionary work. The scriptures that I was able to find were really good and they helped me a lot! Overall I think it was good. Then, we decided to do something fun! We played scripture battleship, I had a lot of fun and I think the whole zone did too. It's mice to have these meetings, I feel like I'm more spiritually prepared. 

I was also able to go back to my beloved BETHANY HOMMMMEEEEE!!!! Seriously, I love that place. I was able to visit some familiar faces, and see how the area was improving and growing. It was really cool to see!! It's comforting to know that I'll always have a home there. I also saw my beloved sister Urbina. It ''twas a great day. 

One of my goals for this year is to read the Bible and The Book of Mormon all the way through. Well, I have a goal to read The Book Of Mormon a couple of times through... but the Bible at least once. I have never had a goal like this before, and I'm excited because I know I can do it. 

This morning, we had one of our investigators send us a scripture from The Book of Mormon!!!! It was really cool to read that text and see how she is using it in her own life. She sent us- Mormon 9:20-21 

It says: 

20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.

21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

"Whoso believeth in Christ, doubt nothing" I love that. Christ has helped us along this earth life, he has made returning back to our Heavenly Father so much easier. We just need to have enough faith that through him all things are possible. It's hard, even for missionaries!! Before my mission I thought missionaries were these perfect people who could do absolutely no wrong. (If you are reading this far do not laugh at me haha) 

But I quickly realized that missionaries are no where near perfect. All of us struggle, all of us need the atonement in our lives. 

“The Atonement was designed to do more than restore us to the ‘starting line’—more than just wipe the slate clean. [Its] crowning purpose [is] to endow us with power so that we might overcome each of our weaknesses and acquire the divine traits that would make us like God.” Elder Tad R. Callister, “Can I Lead a More Saintly Life?”, p.89

Think of how you can have that faith in Christ this week. How can it help you? 

I know that it can! And I know that it will. 

I love you all. Have a great week!! 

Pictures: 

1. Me holding a cutie pup 

2. West Maricopa Zone 

3. We got spirit 

4 + 5. Some of my Bethany homers. Sierra and Trina ❤️ and sister Mayer!!! 

When your in Walmart and someone hisses in your face.

Hey y'all!! 

Yeah, so I was at Walmart today and this guy comes up to me and straight up hisses in my face HA. 

Happy new year!! 

On New Year's Eve we proselyted during the day, and then we went in at 6. Our mission president didn't want us out after 6, just for our safety. But I had fun, I went to sleep at 10:30.. hah earliest I've ever gone to sleep on New Years. But that's okay!! Because if I hadn't I would've been way too tired to work the next day. 

On Sunday, we had a special meeting for the wards in our stake. They had some boundary changes, and our stake gained another Ward! So, we are just waiting to hear who will be over what Ward and who gets to cover that new Ward they added. 

Even though this transfer is a 7 week transfer, it's been going by pretty quickly. We have less than a month left of the transfer and then we will see where I go from there! As I'm getting older and older in the mission, it goes by even faster. At the end of this transfer, I'll almost be a year into my mission. Seriously, where did the time go?!?! But sometimes I still feel like a wee little greeny:) 

I feel like I should just talk more about my mission and what it has taught me so far! Well, it's taught me how to be honest with how I feel about certain things and also the way I teach. It has taught me how to serve others, and love them the way Christ does. And, it has allowed me to meet some of the greatest people ever. There are a lot more things that my mission has taught me, but those are the ones I'm thinking of at the moment. I'm so grateful for these 18 months. They have been the hardest, but best months. 

Today, we have a lesson with a potential investigator. We have decided to share the "because of him" video with her. I feel the spirit every. Single. Time. I watch that video. It brings me to tears to watch a video about our savior, and to know about the good that he has done, The reason why we are here today, and how we can return to live with him again. I love Jesus Christ, I know that he is my savior and redeemer. Nobody, can change my mind on that. I encourage all of you to go watch that video! You will NOT be disappointed. :) 

Remember: god loves you, he has a plan for you, he is willing to help you. 

"7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

9 Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."

{Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7-9} 

The Mesa Temple lights are so pretty!

Hey everyone!!

I don't have much time (haha because I'm playing chair soccer... seryyyy)
Mesa Christmas lights were awesome... and I just got stamps so I'll
send more of my thing. I'm grateful for Christmas and for our savior!
I loved skyping my family. Annndddd I hope you all had a great
Christmas. Enjoy these pics. Love y'all!!