Me Again!

Greetings.

Guess what I'm still in Texas! 

The clouds are bigger and better than ever and it has rained off and on for the past few days which means I've had an awesome time playing in the rain. Oh it's so fun. The air smells good and the cicadas quiet down for a second. Beautiful. 

Sad news is that President Guthrie and his family leave this week. NOOO! We are #sad. Their 3 years are up so we're going to welcome President Richards tomorrow. This past week we had departure conference where we got together and listed to the Guthries bear their testimonies as well as the missionaries who will go home at the end of the transfer. It was so sad. I'm not a fan of endings. Especially saying goodbye to people I care about! Not a fan. President Guthrie is the most dedicated leader ever and I feel so blessed to have learned from him. He testified to us of the great work we're a part of and he told us how important it is to be true. To be committed and true to the Lord and to our covenants with Him. We all signed a pair of Air Force 1's to give to President because he is a shoe fanatic. He has the coolest collection. I'm just so beyond grateful for all the people I've met on my mission.

Something cool I felt at that conference has been on my mind. The Spirit was so strong as we all sat together that I just felt so much love for those missionaries. That's what I've noticed. When I feel the Spirit, I feel more love for the people around me. Jealousies, offences, differences, they all seem unimportant and are washed away by love. That's what the Spirit can do🤯🤯 awesome. 

I love being a missionary, despite all of the uncomfortable growth involved. It has changed me and I'm only halfway through! 

God is good. Jesus lives. Knowing these things have made all the difference for me.

Love,

Hermana Eastman

Hello parents! I always look forward to getting your emails so I'm glad you keep sending them even though I sometimes dont email back.

We had a good week this week. Our teaching and finding efforts were a little slow this week but I saw that I was able to minister to my companion more which still is something Jesus would do so I felt like a missionary still. I love Sister LaFleur. She is my kindred spirit. We're making an a capella group together hahaha. We're going to do covers of vocal point songs. I'm grateful I've gotten to be her companion. It was under unexpected circumstances but Heavenly Father knew we needed to be companions. Sometimes I still miss my Spanish ward. I know my spanish probably isn't super great anymore but maybe that will give me a little dose of humility in the future so it's okay. I know Heavenly Father will protect my mind to remember the things I've studied. 

We said goodbye to the Guthries this week which was just awful. So sad. When Presdient Guthrie gave his final testimony I just cried and cried. He talked about things he thought were most important. He told us that when we are looking for our eternal companion, to seek eternal traits first. Put God first and it will be okay. He also told us how important morning gospel study is. That we should develop such a strong habit of morning scripture study that it will carry on throughout our lives. I thought that was very telling that that is what he decided to say. I will miss them a lot. It was fun to see lots of my friends though! I didn't end up playing the piano because when we practiced right before they asked me if I could play it in a different key and I was like.... no. So they did it a capella and it sounded better anyway🤷‍♀️ 

I'm sad that all of my mission friends are leaving but it'll be a good time when I can be with them all after my mission.

I'm very excited about the punching bag! Always wanted one! That will be nice to have. And I'm kind of sad I missed out on the get together. Everyone will have forgotten me😪

Anyway yeah I'm doing good! Talk soon!

Short Lil Email

Hey guys! Guess what! I had a good week! I played in the rain, got my second covid shot, then died, saw some beautiful skies, had some super fun member meals, and had a good church experience. I love church. 

I started reading Jesus the Christ and the New Testament and it's been fun. I love learning about the Savior. Have you ever just thought about how good He is? So good!

Well I'm still in Texas! Still a missionary! Living life!

Hermana Eastman

Go Listen to Pink Skies by LANY for Me Pls

Hi everyone!

I had an awesome crazy week! We got transfer news and found out Sister LaFleur and I will be staying together!! We are excited because we have an absolute blast together. It's the best. I love my companion.

Let me tell you about the week.

It is so flipping hot here in Texas. So hot. Every time I get out of the car I say "it's so hot" because it just hits you like a wall of fire. It's kind of awesome. And the cicadas sing 24/7 its like permanent background noise. Day and night. The wasps.. huge. I saw a wasp almost get into the church building and I about lost it. 

I've accumulated some serious Astros swag and I think it's awesome. see pic

We had dinner with members lots this week! Highlights: 

All of the members have such nice houses it's like walking through museums. One member took us to get Japanese soft serve ice cream... never heard of it but it was pretty good.

We tried fried calamari. Very fancy.

I had to put dried chilis in my soup and about died because I have the spice tolerance of a baby. 

We had some Chinese sticky rice dessert thing and it was very interesting. The member was so happy when we said we liked them. 

A member took us to a bbq restaurant but then had to leave so me and Sister LaFleur just had dinner together! There was a baseball game playing🥺 my saving grace. 

Also we built legos for a service project and it was the most fun service project ever. Check out this sweet car I made. 

ALSO GUYS I'm in love with clouds. And the sky. It started with the stars and its hardcore evolved. Texas skies make me so happy. Enjoy.

I don't have a coherent spiritual thought. I'm sorry. But what I do know is that God is good. He is patient and kind and when we seek Him we seek joy. I'm grateful to be a missionary and to try to become a disciple. I invite you all to do the same. Just try your best😊

Much love

Hermana Eastman

I Had A Great Week!

I know your in a helicopter but I'm going to write this rn while I have time. 

I had a great week! I love this area and Sister LaFleur and I'll be sad if I have to leave. But we will see. 

The missionary work was great, we almost found 3 new people to teach. One was a referral, and the other two we met on the street. One guy was playing his keyboard at the park and we talked to him. Not sure how with it he was but he was nice. 

We can start having meals with people now so I've gotten to have 3 member meals this week! Luckily nothing crazy, perks of being in an english ward. We even got to go to a ward barbeque which was so fun! It felt like my childhood. There was some good brisket and potato salad.

We also had 2 hour church which was the best thing ever. It felt like Christmas. Church in general is just the best! You talk to people and talk about the gospel and everyone is happy to see each other. Since we cover 2 wards, we went to 4 hours of church. So we were very busy which was good. Helps stay focused. 

Oh also, dad our ward mission leader had a Callaway hat on so I said "I like your hat" and he said "golf" and I said "yeah I know" and he said "you like golf" and I said "my dad" so he told me to tell you that his favorite course in the walk lake area is Hobble Creek. Also he told me about some guy who was winning a tournament by a lot and then just had to withdraw because he got covid. That sounds so sad. Poor guy. 

Also mom, would you be able to sent me the protein ball recipe sometime in the coming week? I wanted to show my companion what they were like. 

Okay now for the coolest part of my week. I have an exciting thing for each of you. 

Mom: one of the ladies in this ward grows PLUMERIA trees in her back yard. She has like 200! From all over the world!! She gave us some to put in our hair and I showed her the picture of me as a little girl with plumerias. She told me that you can grow a plumeria just from a stick and she's willing to send you one but it takes lots of care and work. They can never drop below freezing ever. So in utah... not sure it would work. 

Dad: this is the coolest thing ever so get ready. I saw president guthrie this week and he felt bad that I've been thrown around a lot the past week so he gave me a present. He gave me a replica 2017 world championship astros ring😱 I flipped out. It's so cool!!! I feel honored. I told him that we're serious about going to a game and he said "anytime" so that will be fun!! 

So yeah pretty cool week. I'll show you all my plumerias and my ring when I call.