Happy 110th Birthday to Grandma Laura

My great grandma would have been 110 this week.🤍

My new favorite thing is to look on the family tree app. I love reading the stories and finding out where I'm from. I would 10/10 recommend.

Well I will share just a couple things since my time is almost up.

We've been biking so much this week!! I haven't biffed it yet but sitting down brings so much pain because I'm so sore😂

It is 80 degrees here and the air is like soup. And it's only january. Stay tuned for the next 8 months of sweaty Hermana Eastman🥴

I accidentally practiced the wrong song for sacrament meeting and didn't realize it until 5 seconds before I was supposed to play it... such a face palm moment for me. I was like "looks like I'll be winging it. Please enjoy this disaster everyone."

We went to a Hispanic party where we sat in someone's car port and listened to some Hispanic Catholic women repeat prayers to Mary and Jesus. It was awesome. I just sat quietly and thought "even though we're not of the same religion, you love Jesus and I love Jesus and we can be united in that." They fed us tamales and tacos and some sort of hot chocolate that's not actually hot chocolate but like kind of... if I'm being honest I don't know what it was. But it was so good!! 

I hope you find something to smile about today!

Hermana Eastman

Mom and Dad

Our teaching was really slow this week:( we got to talk to both of the people we met but one told us she wasn't interested in learning about the gospel (she just wanted us to send her bible verses) and the other one cancelled our lesson. We still have hopes to teach her this coming week though! 

Zone conference was good! I didn't fail. President asked me right before the meeting started if I would be willing to play the opening hymn..... I was like hm willing? But I couldn't say no to President so I whipped out the tried and true Come Come Ye Saints. And I didn't super mess up! And the musical number was really pretty! I realized that no one even pays attention to the accompaniment anyway! And the elder did a great job. Unfortunately David (Archuleta) was not in attendance. But I still have hope.

I'm getting better with the self talk! It is still hard especially when I mess up but I'm working on it. I want to be someone that uplifts and not brings down the joy in the room.

I love writing papers! Well.. love-hate relationship. You will do great! Writing concisely and artfully is such an awesome skill to exercise.

I have not been inside that library but Mallory and I always wanted to go; we just never made the time. I will go to it when I get home because the outside looks really cool.

This week we were running short on our allotted car miles for the months so we started biking more. My bum is very sore. We biked to church yesterday which is like 3 miles away and then biked around visiting some members. It was actually super fun though! I kept thinking "I'm out here. I'm doing it." I'm grateful for the cycling class I took at BYU because I think good form helps a lot to not feel so sore and not hurt yourself. I haven't crashed yet but stay tuned for that. 

It is warming up here in Rosenberg. Yesterday was 78 degrees. And the air here is WET. You can taste it. It was so foggy as we were biking to church. Very pretty. I don't know how I will survive this summer though. It will be so hot.

Oh last embarrassing story. Yesterday in sacrament meeting I found out that i had been practicing the WRONG HYMN.🤦‍♀️ I practice out of the english hymn book where the numbers are different and apparently my brain just wasn't working when I started practicing the songs. So I totally just sight read the top hand of the sacrament hymn. It was all I could do to walk out of that meeting with my head held high. But you live and you learn!

Love you!

Emma

If You're Happy and You Know It

Hello everyone!!

Guess what.. I felt happy this week. Let's all celebrate🎉 woohoo!! I've realized that your really need to celebrate the little things. For example. The moon this week (a waxing crescent if you were wondering ;)) was beautiful! Yesterday we were walking through a trailer park around sunset and I looked up at the sky and thought "wow I know God is real because only a loving Heavenly Father could give us a pretty sky like this." So let's all celebrate little joys everyday:)

Hermana Tea and I found 2 new friends to teach this week!!! Can I get a hallelujah?! We were so happy!! We taught a lesson outside a trailer home on cute little plastic chairs. Absolutely classic. I got to testify of God's plan for us and tell someone they have a Heavenly Father who loves them. So awesome. You can enjoy the video of us rejoicing on our drive home🤪

I have been talked into playing the piano at zone conference this week so please pray for me. The elders figured out that I will do anything for oreos and they bought me TWO packs of oreos to convince me to play. I couldn't refuse. So we'll see how it goes. 

We also got chick fil a the same day they gave me the Oreos because it was my 100th day as a missionary!! Woot woot! So that was a good day.

Let me tell you something about Texas. The weather here in January is like April in Utah. Actually maybe May in Utah. We did our studies outside yesterday because it was a BEAUTIFUL 70 degrees outside.👌 

Now I will leave you with this funny story. We were supposed to have a lesson yesterday but they didn't answer the door🥴 so we left a note. As we turned to walk away, an ice cream truck drove by on the street. Then we see two kids SPRINT out from behind another trailer and start running after it. One of the kids was a little chubbier and so he fell behind. But he kept jogging with all his might.😂 This chubby little boy was panting trying to catch the ice cream truck and then he stretches out his hand and yells "HEYYYY!" Trying to get it to stop🤣 it was like his entire happiness was driving away from him, just out of reach. I almost peed my pants it was hilarious.

I love you all and hope you all see something to smile about today:)

Hermana Eastman

Sorry for my lack of pictures. I'll do better this week

Parents! Hello! 

That looks like such a fun vacation! It is very beautiful down there. I'd like to go back and actually enjoy it without all of the teenage angst I had last time. But that looks fun! 

I also am not a fan of teenage boys either dad. But I think you will be a good example to them. I know that young men need good examples. And a good listener. 

I played the piano again this week and it went well. The lady who picks the hymns posts them on facebook and tells the members to practice before sunday so we can sound good... no one practices. 

We had some good visits and we found two people to teach this week! We are excited. 

We met this nice Iranian man in a park one day. He is now our friend. He calls me the "future astronomist." 

Most days I feel happy. Which is a blessing! I've started to realize how hard it is to be with someone 24/7 but we're getting along. I've learned that finding joy in the little things is really important. If my hair smells good, rejoice! If the sky looks pretty, rejoice! If I got to speak spanish, rejoice!! And I tried to stop negative self talk. Other missionaries use it all the time and I really am not a fan. So I decided that I'm just not going to talk like that.

I've eaten so many oreos this week. The elders have learned that I will do anything for oreos and so now I am playing the piano in zone conference😬 I'm accompanying one of the elders who is singing and they bought me 2 packs of oreos for it! So I've eaten a lot of them. 

I can't think of anything cool or interesting to share.. each day looks very similar. But the weather here is so nice and I can wear short sleeves and not be too cold. Most days I forget its winter.

Love you guys! 

Emma

P.S. Ya'll I'm At 3 Months!

Hello everyone! How are you doing? How often did you feel happy and grateful this week?

I had a great week! I've gotten to the point where I sing in front of my companion. It's literally a rare privilege to hear me sing at full volume. She probably hates it but she's too kind to tell me to be quiet.

We handed out a Book of Mormon this week! This nice man stopped next to us on his bike while we were walking to a park. He was a preacher who loves the Lord. I love meeting people who love Jesus. He told us about his faith, how he found faith, and which beliefs he holds most dear. He told us about his thoughts on when Jesus comes again. Usually people have some strange ideas but as he was speaking I kept thinking "this man would love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." We gave him a Book of Mormon and read Alma 26:12 with him. He asked us some questions about the Book of Mormon and then we gave him our phone number and he went on his way. I really felt uplifted and happy to have met someone like that.

Also it is cold and so wet. The other day it was pouring rain so of course I had to go run around in it. I got so wet and I was cold for the rest of the day. And yesterday we drove out into the boonies of our area to try and make some contacts and I was bundled up so tight because it was frigid. Thank goodness I brought a coat.

I had to play the piano in sacrament meeting and I was flipping out. I was so nervous. And these two members who I love so dearly drove 30 minutes to come hear me play at 9am. And they made us masks with puppies on them. I felt so loved!! When people make an effort for you that's when you know they care :') this sweet little Columbian lady and her husband made me feel loved.

Quick invitation for yall: I don't know if all of you struggle with this but I do so I'm going to share. I invite you to make a conscious effort to stop making self-deprecating jokes. The little comments like "wow I'm stupid" or "I'm so ugly the mirror is gonna crack" or stuff like that. You know. You should talk kindly to yourself and others. Anyway that's just my 2 cents. Pray and listen to God and you'll be good.

Hermana Eastman

Please enjoy these selfies. They would make great lock screen pictures I think🤷‍♀️

Mom and Dad,

Hello! I made it through the week!!💪pretty cool. I had a much better week this week. That was my goal and I did it. I read a talk called Three Sisters by Elder Uchtdorf and it inspired me to be better. To be happier. So I sang a lot this week and laughed at myself, laughed at silly situations, and prayed a lot when i felt negative thoughts coming. And I did it! I also was majorly stressed this week because last week the bishopric asked me to start playing the piano in Sacrament Meeting😳 they gave me the songs on Wednesday night and I knew none of them... one of them isn't even in the english hymn book. So I practiced on this little keyboard we took from the church. And I did it! I made plenty of mistakes and my hands were shaking bad, but no one openly laughed at me👍 everyone seemed appreciative. And Hna Tea and the elders were very encouraging. So now I have to do that every week. It will be a test of courage but I'm called to serve. So that involves serving the branch right now. 

I am excited for our new mission president! I am going to miss President Guthrie so much though. He has blessed me in so many ways. The picture you sent mom wouldnt focus so I don't know what they look like but they seem like a sweet family. Its 6 months down the road so I'll enjoy my time with the Guthries but I think I will still be in good hands after June.

I loved the scripture thought dad! I like that we are in the same place in the Book of Mormon. I've actually enjoyed reading the war chapters this time around. There is much to be learned. I can probably do better to attribute all of my good qualities and strengths to God. All good things come from Him. So I liked that reminder.

And I watched that video as well. I liked how that leader referred to a mission as "The Lord's University" haha. I like that. I love school and this is just a different kind of learning experience!

Love you guys! 

Hna Eastman

Choose Your Own Adventure

Welcome. I want to spice this up and hopefully make some of yall smile, so please, choose your own adventure, and enjoy.

If you would already like to be done with this email go to number 5

If you would like to hear about struggles I had go to number 2

If you would like a spiritual thought go to number 1

If you would like to hear the miracle of the tummy growl go to number 4

If you would like a nice laugh go to number 3

1) Deuteronomy 31:6

6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Through struggle and trial and sorrow and pain, stick with the Savior. He's not going to leave you. 

2) Guys there are so many bugs. I'm not sure how I will survive the summer when all the REAL bugs come out to play. There was a ladybug flying around our house last week and I thought it was a bee for like an hour. I wanted to cry. 

3) we have a lesson every week with this really nice couple from Columbia. Well they were making each other laugh so much and then when the time came to say the closing prayer, Hermana Gonzalez started "querido Padre Celestial....." paused and then burst out laughing. I laughed so hard. She literally couldn't keep it together. It took her three tries to get through the prayer and I had to duck out of the camera so she couldn't see me laugh.

4) we were in a lesson with a sweet couple from Mexico. I was soooooo hungry and I felt the stomach growl start to creep up. But I didn't want them to hear it and then feel bad that they didn't feed us. So I prayed so hard. I was like "I know God will stop this stomach growl." AND IT DIDNT GROWL!! miracle!! It was on the verge the whole time but I walked out of that lesson with my head held high because miracles are real😂

5) much love to all of you! Keep trekking! And please be nice to people! Give a compliment or pray for someone or give a nice gift or note. Just be nice:) and Happy New Year!! Make some awesome goals💪

Hermana Eastman

Hello parents!

I'm glad to hear we have a fridge! That sure will be nice. Kind of a bummer about the door though. You should get some cool handle to replace the doorknob.

Dad, Alma 42 is really great! I think it helps us understand the nature of Deity a little more. It's not power to do whatever you want, there are eternal laws they follow. I think it shows Heavenly Fathers profound love for us that He made a plan that can save us despite those laws. Like He formulated a loophole so justice and mercy can both be satisfied. And when we understand that we can understand the whole plan. Cool stuff. 

I had a really rough week. I'm not quite certain why; I think there are probably multiple reasons. But it's been a really hard time for me. Realizing that my whole 2021 will be on a mission is hard. And it frustrates me when other people are so gung-ho about missionary work. I know it's good but I just don't quite feel it and so it bothers me. Theres an interesting principle in Ether 12:27 at the beginning of the verse. "If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness." Well I'm drawing closer to the Savior as a missionary but that also means I'm seeing a lot more of my weaknesses. That's what He said would happen. Perhaps that's why it's gotten harder I'm not sure. But this is hard! I'm really tired of being in training because I feel like people talk down to me and you know how I hate that. And some lady we had an appointment with told me she thought I was 12. You think that after years and years of hearing this exact same remark that I would be insensitive to it... but no. I didn't even want to teach after that. I wanted to make some rude remark back. I don't know how Jesus did it, loving people that insulted Him. There have been so many times where I've thought to myself, "why don't people just keep their comments to themselves?" Like just be quiet. I know, I know, I have lots of work to do to be more like the Savior. 

But anyway yeah this week was very hard for me. We watched a mission devotional about Joseph Smith this week. How he went through so much suffering, but he did so much good for the world. So it's okay.

Could you send me the lyrics to "As the bridegroom to his chosen" everytime i want to sing it i can only remember a couple lines. Also, what is that quote from a league of their own about baseball being hard? I'd like to write that down.

Love you!

Emma:)