Hey everyone!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! This is really the best time of year and I feel so blessed to be out serving. 

Christmas was way different but Sister Hazen and I tried to keep it as close to home as we could. We bought a pack of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls to make on Christmas morning and ended up eating all of them in one sitting. whoops. We attended 45 minutes of church and we had about 15 people there including us and the bishopric. It was small but the spirit was so strong and what better way to remember Jesus Christ than partaking the Sacrament?

We got to Skype home and It was the best Christmas present ever. I loved seeing my family. I'd like to think nothing would change while I was gone but I got the news that my brother is engaged and although I am sad I wont be at the wedding I am so excited for him. My mom sent me a video of him proposing and I watched it here in the El Paso Library with no sound and teared up. Kevin getting married is probably the biggest Christmas miracle...just kidding.

The numbers have been super low at church since it is winter break but we are still seeing great things.

Last Saturday we got a text from a former investigator and she told us she was ready to learn more. Her name is Sahlma and  when she was previously being taught by the missionaries her family got super angry and told her she wasn't allowed to go to the church anymore. She told us that her relationship with God wasn't the same after she stopped meeting with the missionaries and she knew this is where she felt the spirit. She wants to be baptized and she is willing to take the steps to get there. I am praying that her families hearts soften.

We have also been looking for a less active named Josh ever since I got here but we had no phone number and he lives outside of our area so there is no way to contact him. Last Thursday we got a call form the military Elders and Josh was driving by and saw them so he pulled over and talked to them. he gave them all his contact information and said he wanted to come back to church! They sent his number to us and we were able to meet with him and he came to church on Sunday! 

So funny Christmas Eve story. 

Back story: Sister Hazen and I moved our mattresses to the living room to sleep by the Christmas tree.

We spent the entire day with the Senior missionaries and we didn't get home from caroling until 8:30. By the time we finished dinner it was 9:25 and we really needed to go home for curfew but Elder and Sister Anderson insisted on showing us the nativity video with Breath of Heaven playing in the background. In the middle of the video Elder Anderson got up to answer his phone. Sister Hazen and I knew right away that is was our zone leaders. We could hear Elder Anderson say "their mattresses are gone? oh no they just moved them out to the living room". We said a quick prayer and ran home. We called our zone leaders and they told us what had happened. They had stopped by to deliver a Christmas package but nobody answered the door. Our car was parked out front and our bedroom light was on. They looked in our window and saw our mattresses were gone and assumed the worst-that we had been kidnapped. haha. 

They almost called our mission president but last minute remembered we were with the Anderson's all day. My favorite part was when Elder Contreras told us he felt like a mom that had lost her children in a mall. It's good to know how much they care about us. haha. Kinda creepy Elders....

It was a crazy week but I am so glad to be out here.

I want to commit everyone to reflect on 2016 and create some spiritual goals for 2017 so that you can come closer to Jesus Christ. I know as we prepare ourselves on Earth that Heavenly Father will bless us more that we can comprehend.

I love you all! 

Love 

Sister Nye 

Happy New year from my Christmas cat and me! (She returned him to his home)

Hi loved ones!

This week started really slow but ended on a really good note.

On Tuesday night we had a lesson planned with our new investigator Diego and we were soo excited because all of our plans fell through that day. We started the lesson like normal and he told us he read the chapter from the Book of Mormon we gave him and received a lot of revelation and inspiration. Sister Hazen was stoked and asked him what he received and he said "The revelation I received is that I don't need this gospel. I don't need a checklist to get into Heaven." I think my jaw dropped. I don't know where he is getting his revelation from. After telling us we all just sat their and he told us he was surprised by our reaction and he expected that we would yell at him....nope we were just sad. 

While we were walking back to our car Sis Hazen said something that I have been pondering all week. She said "He just doesn't understand. We aren't going to church or reading our scriptures so we can check something off of a list. We do it because we are so thankful for everything Heavenly Father and our Savior did for us. We go to church to worship and praise them because we want to, not because we have to. "

If everyone understood that this world would be a much different place. Nobody makes us take the sacrament and if you are looking at it as a chore then you don't understand what it is. The sacrament is 100% a gift for us that we get to receive every week. 

On Wednesday we started teaching Buddy!! He was a referral from a member in our ward. He has no religious background and knows nothing about Jesus so it was a completely blank slate. The lesson was awesome and since we were having such a blah couple of days Sis Hazen and I were hyper. At the end of the lesson he pointed at Sis Hazen and said "you're the bubbly one" and then he pointed at me and said "and you're the emotional one." I cant disagree with him. Every time I talked I started crying. 

Our next lesson with him was the Plan of Salvation and he said it was the first time heaven has made sense. He is now on date to be baptized on January 7th! WOOOHOO! On Sunday he was driving home to Florida for Christmas (22 hours drive) but he first came to all three hours of church! 

Nothing else to exciting happened. We finished planning Killians baptism, went caroling with the senior missionaries and ate a lot of junk food (hot Cheetos and cheese) between knocking doors.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas! You don't even understand how much I want to give you all a hug. Thank you all for the Christmas cards! I think one day I got 20 and I started tearing up.. haha. I'm such a baby.

I love you. I miss you. 

Love,

Sister Nye

Hey all my loved ones,

This week was crazy and i'll just start off with what happened last pday..

Sister Hazen and I went to a salon so she could get her hair colored and I was thinking about getting my hair trimmed. Our recent convert Hilda worked at the salon as the receptionist so everything was free. I need a trim so I went for it....and right at the first snip I knew something went wrong. A 2 inch trim turned into an 8 inch haircut. I put on my poker face and said I loved it even though I was dying inside. We left the salon after 5 hours and went straight to Walmart so I could buy a pint of icecream. I was doing so good until dinner that night when a member pulled my hair out from my jacket and said "what happened". I instantly started crying and felt like such a baby. When we got home that night I got into my bed with my icecream and ate the whole thing in silence. The next day Elder Pearson of the seventy came to our mission and taught us for 6 hours. I got so much out of it but I also got a huge slap in the face for how worldly I had been about my hair. Its just hair and it will grow back...

The rest of our week was awesome! We have been working and praying so hard to find people to teach and it worked! We got two new investigators and as far as we can tell they are pretty solid! ALSO we had three investigators at church!

My favorite experience this week was when we stopped by a less active member who hasn't been able to be contacted in a year. Roshin's mom isn't a member but she answered the door and let us in which was a miracle. The reason he stopped coming is because he had heard anti Mormon things and no longer believed because of the doubts he had. We were able to clear them up and his whole continence changed! He was willing to hear a Christmas message and pray with us. We invited him to church and he came with then biggest smile on his face. 

Last night we had a lesson with a young man named Diego. He is super smart and we weren't sure how serious he was about learning the Gospel but at the end of the Restoration lesson everyone was tearing up and he told us that he would give the Book of Mormon a shot. Diego has been baptized before and from the beginning he would tell us he didn't need to be baptized again but after that lesson he understood that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the authority so baptize that no other church has. I love when that finally clicks for people. This is not just another church that gives people a reason to be kind to others. This is the only church that will get us back to Heavenly Father with our families! 

I know this church is true. I don't have a single doubt. 

I love you so much!

Love,

Sister Nye

 PS once again so sorry this email is not good. I get super hyper on p days and can't think straight ;)

These pictures are after the "dramatic" haircut (Mom's words- not Hayley's)

Hi all my loved ones!

I can't believe it is December. How did that happen? I am so glad to be on a mission during this season though. Our number one way to contact last week was using mormon.org and the new Christmas video. If you haven't seen Light the World I would really recommend it. It has really changed my view on what it means to be Christlike. The other thing I noticed while watching it is how many miracles we see today without noticing them. I was reading in 3 Nephi this week about the sign that was given for Christ birth and how at first the Nephites were astonished by the signs and miracles but they were quick to forget them. It even says in 3 Nephi 2

"...and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or wonder from heaven."

I hope this Christmas we remember the signs we have been given.

Our week was busy and we were able to be apart of our stakes nativity event! We got to be Angles in the live nativity with the rest of zone. The spirit was so strong and it was such a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit!  I played the part of main angel... no big deal ;) but I missed my

que during the second performance and it was so awkward. I was talking to a lady back stage, totally distracted when my companion pushed me out of the curtain in front of 200 people half way through my part. I was red but I learned to pay attention so that's always good. 

We got a new investigator this week named Ben. We met him before family home evening a couple weeks ago in the Walmart parking lot. Sister Hazen invited him to the activity and I was totally doubting if he would come be he did. This week we had a lesson with him and he totally accepted everything we taught him. He told us he couldn't wait to read the Book of Mormon. I don't know how we keep getting blessed with such prepared people. 

Sorry this email is short. I spent a little more time talking to my family and procrastinated this group email. haha but I really do hope you all have a great week! I will try to be better next week!

I love you all so much! 

Love,

Sister Nye 

Hi everyone!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with family, friends and lots of good food! This year I got to celebrate with three families. I ate so much food I literally thought I was going to die. Our first dinner was with the senior missionaries AKA my family away from home. They serve in the UTEP Institute building which is our home base so we see them a lot. The next dinner was at the Bishops and even though I felt sick I ate everything and hated myself(just kidding). Our last dinner was with one of the members of our ward named Sage. At this point I really couldn't move but I'm not a quitter everyone so I ate dinner like a champion and wanted to throw up. I haven't weighed myself but I'm pretty sure I gained 20+ pounds this week alone. Sister Hazen and I made a promise that we would eat healthy this transfer so as a final hurrah last night I made a box of stuffing at 9 PM and ate it all in one sitting by myself. haha.

So since I am on the topic of food I'll tell you guys about the weird stuff people eat in El Paso. 

1. Hot Cheetos and Cheese. They go to 7/11, buy a bag of hot Cheetos, open it and walk over to the nacho cheese and pour into the bag as much as they want. haha it's actually really good. I recommend everyone tries it!

2. Chiccos tacos. This one you can probably look up. It was on food Network.  So imagine cheap taquitos laying in watery tomato paste, covered in a lot of cheese that doesn't melt because it isn't real. It was so gross, but they love it here. I'll attach a picture!

This week we stopped by Anna just to chat and she had our book covers done!! Last week we stopped by and she had spent 10 hours a day working on them but had messed up so she had to start all over. She told us she just cried as she was taking them apart and we felt so bad. The covers are amazing though and you can just tell they were made with 100% love. 

So Anna is really good at getting us to do service without directly asking for it...kinda like a guilt trip, but it is super funny so we love it. She says things like "babies I need to vacuum but I am so tired from making your book covers." and the vacuum will be perfectly placed in the middle of the living room or this week as she was hugging us goodbye she said "oh no.. my plants are so thirsty and I am to tired to water them because I was working so hard on your book covers." shes to cute. haha.

 

This week was a little slower because of thanksgiving but we still saw incredible things happen! We started teaching a guy named Killian last Sunday. He had been coming to church on his own and told us he was ready to meet with us. In the past week we have already taught him four times and he is awesome at keeping commitments and reading the chapters we give him. On Tuesday we went to the institute at noon and he was there studying out of pamphlets, true to the faith and the Book of Mormon. Elder and Sister Anderson told us he had gotten to the institute at 8 am and he didn't leave until 2:30. Yesterday we put him on date for baptism on January 6th and we are so excited for him. He is soaking everything in and truly building his relationship with God!

We got transfers calls and WE ARE BOTH STAYING IN EL PASO YSA! I am so excited to continue serving here. Amazing things are happening and I cannot believe the Lord is letting me serve down here. 

I hope this Christmas season you can invite others to come unto Christ because he is the greatest gift you can give.

I love you all!

LOVE,

Sister Nye

Hello everyone!!

Last week was so busy but so amazing! Two of our investigators got baptized on Saturday and received the Holy Ghost yesterday in church!

The first baptism was for Brenda at 2 pm. We started teaching her my first week out and it was so amazing to see her progress to baptism in 5 weeks! At church Yesterday she came up to us and told us a year ago she would have never thought she would be in El Paso getting baptized into the Mormon church, but here she is. We love her so much and cannot wait to see what the Gospel continues to do for her life. 

The second baptism was for Hilda at 8 pm. Hilda has been investigating the church for 5 years and I was just blessed enough to be here at the right time when she was finally ready to make that life change. My favorite memory from that day was right after she was baptized and I wrapped a towel around her, hugged her and we both cried because the spirit was so strong! I knew it was exactly what she had been waiting for. Sister Hazen and I had to rush home because of curfew but the whole day was so crazy but I don't know if I have ever been so happy!

Last night we went to the stake center because we are participating in the 2 day Nativity event just like they do in Seattle. We are going to be in the live Nativity and guess who is the main Angel? Yours truly. haha. Next week we get our costumes and I am so excited!

Sorry this email is short and all over the place! I hope you all know how much I love it down here! The Gospel is true and I know it is for everyone! 

Love 

Sister Nye

 The Sisters saw some stray dogs running around town and called to them.  They hopped right up into the car ready to go.  Luckily Sister Nye didn't take them home with her.

November 14, 2016

Hello Everyone!! Obviously it was another great week here!

On Monday night we had a conference call with our entire mission and President Guffey has a few missionaries tell miracle stories from the week before! One Elder told a story of tracting a neighborhood when a man came up to him and his companion and said he wanted the elders to teach him and his family. I was laying in my bed wrapped up in blankets all pathetic and told Sister Hazen that I wanted that to happen to me! That night I said a prayer that I would be able to see a miracle like that on my mission. Well the next day we were at the UTEP Institute building waiting to meet with our investigator Siah right when a class was getting out. I was standing in the hallway while Sister Hazen chatted with the Institute director. A guy walked out of the class room and came right up to me and told me he wanted to start taking the discussions as soon as possible. I wish you all could have seen me! I was scrambling to find my planner and I couldn't thinks of the works to say because I was so shocked. Long story short his name is Alex and he had been taking classes at the Institute and the Lord was preparing him. I just happened to be there at the right time. Our first lesson with him is tomorrow and I will fill you in on how that goes next week!

Last Sunday night our investigator Brenda got a priesthood blessing because she had a huge test in medical school coming up that she could not fail. On Tuesday morning, the day of the test Sister Hazen and I just prayed and prayed that she would pass. We got a text from Brenda saying she passed and I just started crying because I am a mess but also because I was so happy for her! The best part was that she knew the blessing helped her and she was able to get a testimony of priesthood power!

On Wednesday we do service at the Food Pantry here and we work with the same old guys every week. Two weeks ago Sister Hazen was telling Sam how much she loves Nutella and peanut butter so last week he went out and bought some for her. He came up to us and grabbed the jar out of his front jean pocket. He handed it to her and the other old guy named Neil went and grabbed some pretzels for us to start eating it. We stood in the back where the food is organized just eating straight out of the jar. When we had to get back to work we didn't have a place to put it so Sam took it and put it back in his pocket. Probably 30 minutes later Sam walked up to us and told us he had to go to the bathroom and it didn't seem appropriate to bring the Nutella with him. I don't know if you guys can picture this but it was one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. He handed the jar back to us and we just laughed at how awkward it was.

Saturday morning we went tracting in a cute neighborhood on the mountain. The last door we knocked was a little old lady. I told her we were missionaries and we shared a message of Jesus Christ and she told us she wasn't interested in Jesus Christ and started to slam the door. Then you could hear quiet laughter from inside the house. She opened the door again with the biggest smile on her face and said "Just kidding! I am a member!" She invited us in and had us sit down. Her name is Anna and she is 93 years old. She lives alone in El Paso but is still kickin. We talked to her for an hour and learned her life story. She Knits the coolest book covers and when she saw me staring at her books she told me she would make me one for my Book of Mormon. We had a dinner appointment so we had to leave but Anna invited us over this Saturday for lunch. She hates cooking so she is having us pick up a burger and fries for her haha what a lady. She lifted my spirit so much and now I just can't wait to see her again. 

This Saturday we have two baptisms and guys I am so excited!! Yesterday I was sitting next to Hilda in Church and when the bishop announced her baptism she put her head between in knees and said "whelp there is no turning back now!" I couldn't stop laughing which was hard because I am really working on my reverence in church. 

Brenda and Hilda are so prepared and I cannot wait to see the blessings they receive after baptism. 

I love you all!

I hope some of this made sense!

Love

Sister Nye

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