Sickness and Meeting Goals

Dearest family,

First off, Richard and Zac know Sister Barker? Well, she's moving back to Provo (she had to go home because she was super sick. it was sad), so maybe they can be friends with her! That would be pretty cool. Small world. Especially when you're at BYU. So I would see if she knows Richard, but she's back at home. So maybe I'll just see if she recognizes the name. :) Cool beans.

Bryce, you looked beautiful at homecoming. Okay, you looked handsome, and you are one lucky guy. MaKenzie looked BEAUTIFUL! I hope you realize how lucky you are. Also, she's a pretty lucky girl. I mean, she got to go to homecoming with my brother! Also, the Fohawk is nice. Different, and I little weird to see you with, but I like it!

So not alot happened this week. It was a weird week, but just not a whole lot happened. But I'm still gonna tell you all a story. So this story starts last Sunday night, when our zone leaders announced that we were going to double our 21 goals. So that means last week we had to get 10 new investies, 10 bap invites, fast twice, read the Book of Mormon for 42 minutes every day, and get 42 contacts every day. It was CRAZY! So then Monday we had pday, got all our contacts, and didn't have time to do much else due to a dinner appointment. Then Tuesday we had all day, and we got a couple new investigators. So we're at 2 for the week. Good start right? Well Tuesday night Hna. Kofford starts feeling super sick, and when we wake up Wednesday morning she looks like death. She said she felt like crap, and fevery and nautious, but when I asked her if she wanted to stay home for a little bit, she said that we didn't have time, and she wanted to go to work, so off we went. Well at around 1 that day we were at the mission office to meat one of our recent converts for a lesson. He ended up not showing, but while we were there, Kofford died on the bathroom floor. She threw up. The poor girl. So I took her home, and she was SO sick, so we didn't get much done that day. Later Hnas. Packer (Koffs old comp), Hall (STL) and Raney (my MTC comp) came over. Hall and Packer stayed with Kofford, and Hna. Raney and I took off, together again. It was our mission to find new investigators. So that night I learned I really DO know Spanish, because we got all our contacts, plus 2 new investigators. And we met with a less active family that just moved into our ward a couple of months ago (there was definitely a can of beer on their kitchen table, and no one lives there besides this couple). So that was fun. Then I get a call on our way home from Sister Hall that says Sister Kofford is too sick to move, so Hna. Raney and I are going to do overnight exchanges. So then Thursday morning Hall and Packs bring Koffs back, and Hall takes Raney and I to the Sisters retreat (spirtually uplifting day for sisters. awesome.) and Packer stayed with Kofford. Then after the sister's retreat I sat at home with them after going out and getting 42 contacts with Hna. Raney, and then on Friday I got to go to one appointment with the sisters, and get some contacts. Basically I was at home all day: Couldn't find anyone to go out with. So it's Friday night and we still only have 4 new investies. Yeah, not good. Then on Saturday Hna. Kofford was still sick, and I couldn't find anyone to go out with for the longest time, but I finally got out for a couple hours with another sister and got one more new investigator, and then we went to the Relief Society Broadcast. Koffs was feeling a tiny bit better by that point so we took her. The broadcast was AWESOME! I loved it. I just love conference. It's the greatest. So Saturday night I'm talking to our district leader, and he informs me that he, (Elder Watanabe from Japan) and his companion Elder Yanez had gotten us 3 new investigators, and our zone leader Elder Hammond and his companion Elder Jones got us 1. Yanez speaks spanish so it made sense, but they are both english speaking companionships. So it was CRAZY! I was almost in tears because that just took away so much stress, and helped us so much. It was a miracle and a blessing. So by Sunday Koffs was better and we were able to get two more investigators. I truly saw the hand of the Lord this week in everything. Even though I only got to get out for a couple of hours every day, We were able to get all of our 21 goals. It was amazing. Also, I'm not sick. WOOHOO! Hopefully it will stay that way, I can't afford to get sick. There is no time for that.

So the RS broadcast-- can I just say amazing? I loved it! Especially President Monson's talk. I just love him. And he's right. We are NEVER left alone. Sometimes we don't recieve answers right away, but we will recieve them. Maybe not in the way we think is best, but in a way that is best for us. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much. More than we can possible imagine. It's incredible.

I love you all so much. I hope you have a wonderful week, and all is well. Love you so much!

Love,

Hermana Bingham

I made tortillas. What's up.

Our living room. Looks pretty good. Because we had just cleaned it hardcore. :)

Life in San Jose

Dear Family,

I have realized I haven't been very informative (thanks to Mom) about my whereabouts and situation. Just that I'm happy and I love it here! So let me do a little explaining...

Once upon a time there was this girl named Sister Bingham (because that's always been my name.) and she was on a mission in San Jose California. Well, she spent about 6 weeks in the MTC and then got to California, and forgot to tell her family what it was like. So after spending about 7 weeks in California, she decided to tell her family what her life in California was like.

Done with that... anyways, I am in the San Jose zone, which is right in the heart of San Jose. Obviously. We are one of two zones in the San Jose stake. And then my ward/area is the Yerba Buena ward, which is a Spanish speaking ward. Yeah, we have a whole ward. There are a lot of Mexicans here. :) Also, we like baptizing them. There are currently 7 missionaries in the Yerba Buena ward: Sister Kofford and I, Sisters Spackman and Jensen, and Elders, Alvarez, Phillips, and James. We love it. We are very blessed to have so many missionaries in our ward. Our ward it great too. The Bishop is amazing, and works really well with us. He is always trying to make sure we have the help we need and is wonderful. He also has decided to do this new thing: we are going to just plan to have a baptismal service every two weeks and plan it out and everything. His philosophy is, "If we fill it they will come." (Yes, my Uruguayan bishop quoted Field of Dreams while presenting this plan. It was awesome). Our zone consists of English, Spanish, and Vietnemese speaking missionaries. We have 1 spanish ward, 3 english wards and a Viet branch. It's awesome. Also, we do 21 here, so it's the greatest. We have a lot of cool people here in our ward too. It's great.

So service: Yes, we do have a lot of service opportunities here. Our mission president has asked us to get about 10 service hours a week: but not more than that. So every week, Sister Kofford and I average about 4 acts, with 8 hours. We teach an English class every week for an hour, and my favorite is park service. We go to this park every week called Guadalupe River park, that is completely run by volunteer work, and we sometimes pick fruit, sometimes we weed, mulch, prune, and one time we even made apple cider. It's fun. It's nice to be outdoors and be with lots of missionaries doing stuff. I like it. We also play the piano in Primary every week, which counts as 2 hours of service, since there are definitely other meetings we could be in. :) that's fun too. And then we usually try to find something else to do. Lately we've been going to this place called Veggielution, which is a volunteer based organic farm. We weed, harvest, and do all that kind of stuff, and every week after there is a potluck lunch, which consists of veggies grown there made into yummy stuff, so we help prepare that too. It's super fun.

Sister Kofford and I live in a little one bed room apartment, that is kind of a dump. Well, ours is because missionaries have lived in there for who knows how long. We have some memebers that live in the same complex, and their's is nice, but ours just isn't super great. And it's not super dumpy. Just... missionary like. Lets just put it this way: Elders have lived in it for a really long time, and sisters just started living there a little while ago. But I like it. It's fun. We're really close to all the other Yerba Buena missionaries (as in we're all in the same complex) so sometimes we do breakfast or dinner together. It's fun.

Does that answer all your questions? I hope so! I"ll send more pictures.. I just have to take some first. I'll send a  couple though. Love you all, Hope you're week is fantastic! The gospel is true, and missionary work is amazing!

Love,
Hermana Bingham

 We contacted a guy with a parrot a few weeks ago. I got to hold it. Then it bit my finger... So I have had a parrot bite my finger. How many other people can say that? Cool right?

Sister Kofford and I with Sister Barker

Hey Howdy Hey

Hey howdy hey everybody!

Today I am in a really good mood. Why, I have no clue. It's just a regular ol' pday with a regular ol' week ahead, but for some reason, I'm just really happy today. It could be just the fact that the sun is shining, we had waffles for breakfast, and now I'm here writing my favorite people in the world, but I have no clue. But just so you know, I'm really happy here. We went to the despedida last night (outgoing fireside) and one of the Elders in my zone that's leaving just kept talking about how happy the mission has made him, and how he never thought it would be possible to be that happy. And I agree 100000000000%. I know I've only been out here one transfer (one transfer! what?), but I have experienced so much JOY! The eternal kind. The kind that doesn't go away, because it comes from serving the Lord. And yeah, there are super hard times. But who cares, because the good times make them worth it. Like the other day, we went to visit one of our investigators and a potential that work together at this auto shop. And there was this white guy sitting there named Doug. Doug unfortuantely has some very twisted views of Mormonism and liked to argue with us. The first thing he said to us was "Where's your underwear?" Which is super inappropriate on any standing, but especially with us. He definitely liked to argue, and wouldn't let us talk, so we basically stood there listening to him bash on us and tell us we are brainwashed for a half an hour. But when we got a chance to leave we did, walked 10 feet away, and had such a great conversation with our investigator Ricardo. That's what I love about the mission. Satan can put awful people and trials in your path, but the Lord will give you something great after. And sometimes it doesn't even come immediately after. But it comes! And even when we're having a bad day, something will happen and change that completely for the better, and we'll look back at it and see it as a really good day. I love it. And when you teach someone about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the just get it, it's one of the best feelings ever. We found this 10 year old girl named Mariela on Saturday, and gave her a Book of Mormon and set up an appointment for Sunday with her. Well, we challenged her to read the introduction, and when we went on Sunday, we found out that she had not only read the introduction, she had read 1 Nephi 1-2, and half of 3. BUT, not only did she read it, but she translated it into Spanish for her mom!! (We usually teach kids in english, because they speak both but like english better). I mean, what an incredible girl! And she likes it. She has a fecha for October 12th, and when I asked her how she felt, she said she was excited. What 10 year old that's not already LDS is excited to read the Book of Mormon and get baptized? It's incredible! And we couldn't stop smiling. I am SO incredibly grateful for this opportunity I have to bring others this eternal joy and happiness that I have. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings us more joy than we can possible comprehend, and I get to share it with the people here in California. How lucky am I? I don't know. I'm just really happy right now. Really really happy. I just want you all to know that. And even if things get rough back there at home, just remember that we can find peace and happiness if we turn to our Savior. He knows our pain and griefs exactly, and He is there to pick us up when we fall down. I love you all, have a wonderful week.

Love,

Hermana Bingham

p.s. Mom, I'll pray for you with the dress thing. I'm sorry! It doesn't sound like fun at all! Love you! 

Missionary work!

Hola mi familia!

Como estan? My week was fantastic... I was doing missionary work! Sounds like you peeps had a pretty great week yourselves. I've got some news for you: WE DID IT! 21 baptisms with one week left in the transfer. Actually, we got 22. But more news, we are counting the 22nd baptism towards next transfer, when we are doing 21 again! The thing about 21 was that we wanted to change missionary work for our mission. Well, the Lord wants to change it. We have never seen numbers like the ones we've been getting, and none of the other zones have either. And ever since we've made this goal we've been being watched to see if this is possible. And we did it. We accomplished the impossible with the help of the Lord. It was a miracle. But part of this whole 21 thing was repenting and changing the way we did missionary work. We had a meeting on Thursday to try to decide what we wanted to do next transfer, what goals we wanted to have as a zone, because we thought there was no way 21 could happen again. We basically forgot the meaning of repentance. We wanted to start working on retaining converts, reactivating less actives, getting the ward to participate more, but upon receiving revelation, Elder Hammond, our dear zone leader learned that 21 is what's supposed to happen again. To truly repent of the way we do missionary work, we have to leave behind completely what we were doing before. So that's what we're doing. We are going to keep getting 5 new investigators and 5 baptisimal invites every week, fasting every Sunday, getting at least 21 contacts every day, studying the BofM for 21 minutes every day, and praying every day for 21. We aren't going back. But while we do this, we are going to keep working with our RC, less actives, and the ward. I don't know if you guys get how big of a deal 21 is, but it's HUGE! This is incredible! To get 21 new baptisms in 4 wards in a 6 week time period is crazy. And 3/4 of these wards are white wards. We're the only Spanish one. Actually, there might be a Vietemese ward too. We've got some Viet elders here... Cool right? But 4 wards. This is an insane goal. Actually, and impossible goal, but we're doing it with the help of the Lord. I know that in Utah it's hard to find people that don't already have the gospel, but I want to challenge each of you to reach out to someone this week. Maybe a less active, a nonmemeber, or even a memeber. But reach out to someone and try to share a gospel message with them. Help the missionaries... they need it! The gospel is spreading over all the earth, and it is our duty to take it to our brothers and sisters that don't have it. And whether or not we are full time missionaries we can do it. It's possible! Pray to have missionary experiences, and I can testify that the Lord will put someone that needs it in your path. So that's my challenge to you this week. The Lord is hastening his work, shouldn't we all want to be a part of that?

Sounds like you had a good Labor Day, nice and busy, but good! Also, I want the meat and cobbler you saved me sent to me in a package. Just so you know. :) Kidding. But speaking of packages... I have come to realize that the Vocal Point CD I bought never made it onto my iPod, so I was wondering if you would be so kind as to mail me the cd someday. That would be appreciated. It doesn't have to be like now, just sometime. I miss that CD. Also, if you could send Jayson's new EFY cd with it I would LOVE it. EFY cds are like our best friends out here. :) It's almost like normal music.

So to answer some questions, no the baptism was not in the stake center at the temple. We went to the temple in the morning and later that night we had the baptism at our building. And no, the temple isn't in our mission, we are just allowed to go there if a member drives us and we're taking an investigator. And I'm 90% positive President said we get to go every 6 months, and I'm pretty sure that's to do a session, but I'm not sure. We'll find out. You know what's crazy? I've been out for almost 2 whole transfers. That's what's nuts. That's 12 weeks people! It's gone by so fast! Bryce, you'll soon find that out. Mission time is not normal. The days feel like weeks, the weeks feel like days, and before you know it you've been out for two transfers and thinking "Where has all the time gone?" Also, Charlie has been out for almost a year, and it feels like he just left. It's super weird. Just so you all know. I just had to share. :)

How's the Payson temple coming along? Like, is the whole outside up yet, or are they still working on it? I'm curious to see what it looks like! And good work on the indexing dad! Maybe you'll dig up something and then can take our family names to the temple. Miracles happen if we truly have faith that they will, and seek guidance from the Lord. And you can totally do that with family history. It's super important. Also, crazy that Ager's parents left before her! That would be so weird!! I'm glad you guys were there to drop me off at the MTC, instead of me dropping you off. But that' super cool. Good for them, good for her! I'm excited for her!

The front door looks super good just so you know. It will be weird coming back to a black front door though. Not like super weird, just different. But I'm sure lots of things will be different when I get back.. weird.

Rain in Utah? What? It doesn't even rain here, and we're right next to San Fran. But really, I think it's rained once while I've been here, for like 2 minutes. But esta bien. Soon the rainy season (winter) will be upon us. And then I'll probably be sick of it.

I hope you all have a great week, I love you so much! You're always in my prayers. I love you!

Love,

Hermana Bingham

Miracles & Baptisms

Hello Family!

Sounds like some exciting things have happend. Bryce asked McKenzie to homecoming!! Yay!! It's about time... just kidding. But seriously. When is homecoming? I want to see pictures!!

Kyla is the back up pianist? Good work sis! You are so talented, keep working on those talents. Practice every day, and enjoy it! I regret not putting my all into the piano. It's a beautiful instrument, and super useful. And fun! :)

Jayson, driving will get better, I promise. It's hard, but you'll get it soon. Also, Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Bills are the greatest. So is Bro. Gividen. I'm sad he doesn't remember me though. Que triste. But I hope you LOVE high school. You're at the best high school ever, basically. And you are carrying on the Bingham Choir Dynasty. :) I love that he said that. Makes me laugh.

Dad, I am jealous of your meat. That sounds super good. Also, I've been craving your fried rice this week, so if you want to make some and send it over, that would be appreciated. Just kidding. Please don't send that through the mail. Gross. :P

Mom, sounds like you've been pretty busy with canning and stuff. Fun! Also it's super true, the Lord blesses us even when we're lame and disobedient. Because he loves us and is a God of Mercy. I'm so grateful for that. 

So basically I have a super awesome story to tell you this week. About my BAPTISMS!! So this week was crazy... like, super crazy. We hardly had time to eat. That's how busy it was. Wanna know why it was so busy? Because we had two baptisms scheduled, and also our zone had a goal of getting 21 new dates for this transfer. Which is basically insane. But it was to help us reach our goal of 21 baptisms. We really like the number 21 here. So we were busting our butts all week, meeting with Victor and Isac every day trying to make sure they were ready for baptism, and also getting their baptism ready (making a program and finding talks and prayers), and trying to get 5 new investigators and at least 3 dates for our companionship. So we had a slammed week. I don't think I've ever been more exhausted in my life, like seriously. But it's the best feeling. Going home every night and dying on your pillow, hardly even being able to stay awake for planning. I love it!

Okay here's the crazy part. So we had been meeting with Victor every day right? Well Thursday he doesn't show up, and doesn't answer his phone either. We called him like 5 times and nothing. And he ALWAYS comes... early even. So we dismiss it, thinking he must have got stuck at his doctor's appointment (he has epilepsy) and we'd see him Friday.  But Friday morning we got worried. So we called him. Twice. And he didn't answer. So we decided to look for him. We called the elders (they taught him twice before passing him to us) and told them to go look in the park where they found him, meanwhile we would go to his house and the hospital. So we go to his house, he's not there. We went to the hospital and looked everywhere! Not there. We went to a different park, not there. The Elders were biking and got a flat, so we went to one of Victor's friend's houses... not there. Then we get a text. They made it to the park, and he was THERE!! so we go over there, and Victor tells us he feels super pressured, didn't like meeting every day, and knew he would drink coffee after baptism and so he didn't want to get baptized because he couldn't be perfect. So Elder Alvarez (our DL) talked to him for like 2 hours and gave him the interview. He talked to him a lot about how we don't need to be perfect, no one is. Baptism is just the first step in following Christ. But Victor still said he didn't want to be baptized Saturday, but he would still come to the Oakland temple visitors center with us Sat. morning. Also, E. Alvarez challenged him to pray about it. So E. Alvarez calls him later that night, and asked him how he felt. Victor said he wasn't going to the temple, but he would see us at his baptism. So we're super confused. So all four of us fasted all day Saturday, and Victor comes to the baptism at 6 for Teresa (the other sister's bap). He tells us he wants to talk with the bishop. So he talks to the bishop, and then we all talk and Bishop tells us he's not ready, he feels pressured, and Hna. Kofford and I are bawling, because we felt if he didn't get baptized Saturday, he would loose his chance. Also, we felt like crappy missionaries because we made him feel pressured. But Victor still said no. So he went down and sat in the other baptism, while we talked to the bishop. He told us we were doing great, and not to worry, things would work out. So we felt a little better, but still super sad. So we go make copies of a program just for Isac, when in walk two of our ward members Mariela (bishop's daughter) who is 19 and Sandy, who is 18. They told us Victor was putting on a jumpsuit. WHAT? So it turns out they talked to him, and shared their testimonies and he changed his mind! So, Victor and Isac got baptized. It was a MIRACLE! I know fasting works... if we hadn't been fasting I don't think he would've gotten baptized that night. Maybe ever. But fasting and prayer works, and I know the Lord has his ways. He knows his children way better than we ever could. So when things get tough, just remember to trust in the Lord, and everything will work out. Maybe not alwasy in the way we were planning, but they will work. I love this gospel, I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to teach others about his gospel. Heavenly Father loves all His children so much, more than we can imagine. And it's hard to remember that sometimes. But when we turn to Him in prayer, and bring ourselves closer to Him, we will feel his love, and his protection all around us.

I love you guys. I hope you have a fantastic week.

Love,

Hermana Bingham

Jason (their car) after he died

Hna. Kofford and I with an awesome view

At the beach!

Temple with Isac (baptism), and is older sister Jackie (less active member)

BAPTISM!!! Elder Alvarez, Victor, Hna. Kofford and I,  and Isac

I found Austin at the store :)