Real Intent

Hey guys,

Shot out to Nick Gladwell!!!!

So yeah this week was pretty good! Here are the highlights: Sister
Erickson was super sick:( the poor thing!! We found out Rex is indeed a member (yay kinda) hahah & we had zone conference yesterday with Elder Hamula from the First Quorum of the 70.

Tuesday Sister Erickson was so sick, I felt really bad. It's the worst
when your companion is sick! Because you want to help them as much as you can, but there's nothing you can do. I guess that's probably how Heavenly Father felt when his Son was preforming the Atonement. I think that's one of the hardest things about missionary work! There are so many people you want to help, but you can't. Yeah that's hard.

Anywhoo...the rest of the week went pretty well! One day we were just driving down the street and we saw this GIANT balloon floating above Rex's house and we were just kinda like hey what the heck is that? So we went over that day to talk to him about the word of wisdom (because of the mysterious scent of weed in his house) and it was a giant beach ball in his pine tree?? He told us that his son, Wayne, (who's like 55+) climbed all the way up this tree to decorate it? So yeah apparently it's just decoration hahaha!

Sunday was Oak Ridge Ward's primary program. Ah it was so cute! It's so special to see kids of such a young age bearing their testimony of Jesus Christ. And there were a ton of non members there. Then during Sunday School we had our “Power of the everyday missionary class" and Sister Stone was there, we talked about fears of doing missionary work and she just broke down and started crying and said how she is really trying to help this family (the Sorensons who we've taught before) but she is really close friends with them and she doesn't want to push them too far. It made me feel bad because I had been complaining in my head
how the members need to do more missionary work haha but then I really realized that it's hard for them! It was cool to see her perspective.

Yesterday we had the amazing opportunity to hear from Elder &
Sister Hamula. They were so good! We talked a lot about “Real Intent". We were asked to study the whole Book of Moroni before the conference. It's funny how many times I've read Moroni 10:3-5 on my mission, but haven't really payed much attention to what "Real Intent" means. I've thought about how many times I've prayed and thought I wasn't receiving answers and then I realized I wasn't praying with real intent!
 
I read this quote from President Eyring, "praying with real intent
includes a willingness to obey whatever instructions come from the
Lord: The young Joseph Smith showed us how to pray that way. He
believed in the promise he read in the book of James. He went to the grove with faith that his prayer would be answered. He wanted to know which church to join. He was submissive enough to be ready to do whatever he was told to do. So he prayed, as we must, already committed to obey" It made me realize that Heavenly Father will answer my prayers, but I just have to have a willing heart and be ready to act on any answer I receive, even if it isn't the answer I want to hear;)

Anyway sorry this is super long again. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week. Choose the right & read your scriptures!

Love always,
Sister Sobotka

Sister Sobotka, Rex and Sister Erickson

It's Getting Cold Here!

Hey fam,

This week has been great! Okay so remember Rex, the 80 something year
old I talked about a few weeks ago? Ok so we went and visited him this
week & we walked into his house & it smelled horrible! Like straight
up weed. It reminded me of the good old days in Carmichael ha! We were
so confused because like why would this sweet 80 year old man be
getting high? So yeah we are still confused about that, but
anyway...we taught him the restoration  & we found out that he might
be a member!! But we can't find his records anywhere? So our ward
clerk is calling salt lake today to try & find them! But the good
thing is, Rex & his son, Wayne, came to church!! Ah we were so
excited!

This week I've thought about how my whole mission I kept waiting for
this "golden investigator" & how I have this mindset where one day I'm
just going to magically find this family who has been waiting to hear
about the gospel, but I'm missing the miracles that happen right in
front of me. I've been thinking about Rex, how we just tracted into
him one day & how he called us back, how he wanted to change his life
& start coming back to church & how that's a huge miracle in itself!
Even if he is a member, it's so cool that now is the time he wants to
start changing & coming back to church! He's such a sweet old man &
I'm so happy Heavenly Father lead Sister Kauvaka & I to his door
months ago in July.

Things are going well with Sister Erickson, she's such a sweetie. We
made a new Ward Mission Plan for the Oak Ridge Ward & sister Allen,
(aka the best Ward missionary ever) had them made into these cute
magnets! So we've been going over to every members house and
committing them to do one of the 6 things on there for 1 month. It's
been going pretty well so far! The members here are such good people,
they just need to step up their missionary game-pretty sure we all do.

Dad, I learned how to fill up air in car tires!! Sister Erickson is
just so pro at life. She is knows about a ton how to live and just how
to do useful things, she's kinda like a mom :) haha it's getting so
cold here! Ah I am going to the biggest wimp back in Utah!

Anyway I love you all & hope you have a wonderful week! Remember to
choose the right and read your scriptures.

Love always,
Sister Sobotka

Sister Erickson and Sister Sobotka

Happy Hump Day!

Happy Monday Everyone!

9 MONTHS WHAT! I can't believe I hit 9 months this week. I'm half way
done with my mission?! I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this.
Mixed emotions for sure, but I’m definitely so happy I decided to
serve a mission! I was thinking about the time I spent biking in
Carmichael & how I wanted to throw my bike off the apartment
balcony...I've come a long way;) hahaha

Sooo this week has been a week of changes! I know last week I said I
would still be with Sister Starnes, but some changes happened & I have
a new companion! It was sad to see Sister Starnes go:( I learned a lot
from her & even started saying "y'all" on accident hahaha super
embarrassing! But I am now companions with Sister Erickson, k so she's
my first Caucasian companion, & she's my first companion from Utah!
But get this...she's a convert! She is literally from Sandy, Utah and
missionaries just happened to knock on her door one day! Hahah crazy
huh? She got baptized when she was 21, & now she's 29!! A whole 10
years older than me! But she is such a sweet heart. She is so kind &
just has a good heart. She's the only member in her family of 5 & man
I just really look up to her.  I know I've said this before, but one
of my fav parts of being a missionary is getting to know other
missionaries & hear how they were raised & their whole story of
deciding to come on a mission. Some people have gone through some hard
things to get here & I just admire those missionaries! I love having a
companion, at times it is really hard & you just want to be alone for
an hour! But I have learned important lessons from every companion, I
have a testimony that transfers really do come from the Lord & He
knows exactly what he's doing.

The rest of the week was pretty chill. We got to go to both Silva
Valley Ward trunk or treat & Oak Ridge wards trunk or treat. A bunch
of families brought their friends which was way cool! We got to talk
to a bunch of them.

On Saturday we helped a boy in our Ward with his eagle project & it
was this huge project of ripping out a billion and a half bushes at
his Highschool & then planing more in a shape of a "V" for vista high.
But it was a HUGE project that literally took all day. I felt bad for
him. Secretly happy I'm not a boy & never had to do an Eagle Scout
project hahaha.

For Halloween we had to be in at 6 & we had a meeting with our zone.
it was a good meeting, we just talked about the importance of the
sacrament. And we should ALWAYS remember our Savior, Jesus Christ &
all that he has done for us.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good week & ALWAYS remember Jesus
Christ. Oh and choose the right & read your scriptures.

Love always,
Sister Sobotka

Pics:

1. HAPPY HUMP DAY WOOT WOOT
2. Shots of chocolate milk for 9 months down
3. Sister Erickson and me at the Temple

 

Tender Mercies

Dearest family & friends,

Okay so last p-day I was thinking, "I'm just gonna make up a bunch of crazy stuff for next weeks email & see if anyone believes it!" but a ton of crazy stuff actually happened this week so I don't even need to make anything up:) haha!

Wednesday we got a call from this guy we tracted into a few months ago, Rex! He's like 80 something and could barley hear us but we left him with our card & a Book of Mormon & didn't really think much of it. Then on Wednesday when he called us he told us he wanted to come to church this Sunday! We had stake conference so we gave him all the information & he asked if we could get him a ride so we did! In the Folsom stake they have this really awesome meeting before the Sunday session of stake conference for all the new members & returning less actives & investigators! So we had Rex come to that & he said he loved it! It was awesome because a bunch of new members bore their testimonies about the church & how much their lives have changed since they joined. It was really cool & the spirit was incredibly strong. Ah it's so amazing to see people completely change their lives & apply the atonement & become new people. Anyway we hope to teach Rex this week:)

On Saturday we got a call from this random guy asking what time church was and where the church was in El Dorado Hills! We asked him how he got our number & he said he wasn't a member but was recently in Salt Lake & decided to check out temple square & met the missionaries there & got out number online! We told him it was stake conference this weekend, and then he told us he lived in Folsom (aka not our area) haha so we gave him the sisters in folsoms number. I think this was just a way for the Lord to show me, hey there are people being prepared everywhere :) I was just so excited!

Also on Saturday we got to go to a baptism in the El Dorado Stake! Shaye (17 year old girl in Silva Valley Ward) gave us a ride & guess what! We ran out of gas on the way there!!! Hahah, but luckily we ran out right in front of the gas station! (Tender mercy from the Lord;) ) but we still had to get out & push the car a little bit! Haha just imagine these two missionaries in their skirts pushing a car to the gas station. It was actually pretty funny. Anyway we made it to the baptism on time & everything went smoothly:)

Like I mentioned before, we had stake conference this weekend & it was awesome! They talked a lot about looking for the good in the world. This past week I was looking through my journal & there is a place for me to write "miracles" that have happened & I barely had written any & I started thinking, "well nothing miraculous has happened lately" but I then I was like, hey I need to fill up this part in my journal, so I started noticing all the miracles that happen every single day!! I guess it's just really all about perspective :) one of my fav scriptures is 1 Nephi 1:20 where it says, "...the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance"  then in psalms 145:9, "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all His works"
The tender mercies of the Lord are literally all over, you just have to stop & look for them Elder Bednar said, "We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord’s tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live." & I just love that:) I think I've learned to look at all the simple beauty recently & have just realized how good God is!

I'm sorry this email is about 5 years long! It has been just a great week. I am so grateful to be out here serving my Heavenly Father:) I hope you all take time to stop & look for the Lords tender mercies in your life

Love always,
Sister Sobotka

Pics:
1. Sister Starnes & I at the Sacramento temple
2. The new Folsom zone
3. Sister Starnes & I giving a Book of Mormon to a llama
4. I tried to find something in my bag to eat the other day & found these delicious Reese's

6 Months in EDH

Hi fam & friends:)

We received transfer calls this weekend & guess what! I'm stayin in El Dorado Hills for another 6 weeks & I couldn't be happier :) I'm also staying companions with sister Starnes! I love this area & I love being here at this time. It's crazy that at the end of this transfer I will have spent a total of 6 months here!

Anywhoo...since yesterday wasn't p-day sister Starnes & I decided to do something different so we pulled out our bikes & started riding around, & let me tell ya, they don't call it El Dorado HILLS for nothing!! Hahah after about 2 hours we were sick of that so that idea ended pretty quickly hahah!

We also got to volunteer at the Oak Ridge High School football game again this week & sold popcorn & it was so much fun! I just love the youth in our wards:) we got to talk to a ton of people & the youth in our Ward introduced us to a ton of their friends! I love doing stuff with the youth but I have to come to the realization that I'm not in their age group anymore &I’m just this nerdy sister missionary trying to be cool, hahaha! On Sunday it was the "Youth Program" which is basically like the primary program but for all the youth & 3 sweet 15 year old girls in our Ward (Abby,Chloe, & Marryann) brought 2 of their non member friends to church! Ah I'm just so impressed with the youth here :)

Anyway the rest of the week went great & I’m so happy to be here in El Dorado Hills. I'm learning so much about myself. I think sometimes I get discouraged because we don't have a ton of investigators to teach, but I have to just remind myself of the missionary purpose that says, "invite others to come unto Christ" & that includes active members! I'm so grateful for the members here. I know some are really trying to share the gospel with their friends & I really look up to them for that!

I hope you all have a great week & remember to read your scriptures! Elder Richard G Scott said in his very last General Conference address: "Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!"

Hope you all choose to have a good week & choose the right!

Happy 13th birthday Andrew! Mom I can't believe you have 4 teenagers now! Hahah

Also shout out to Lauren, Annie, Bonnie, Tara & Neil for the sweetest package!! Hashtag blessed

Love always,
Sister Sobotka

Just Serve

Dear everyone,

It was another good week in California! I'm just gonna keep this short
this week, because I just honestly don't feel like writing hahaha.
Last Monday we went on this bike ride with the sisters in the zone for
pday so that was pretty fun. We went around Lake Natoma & I pretty
much almost died 214 times. Haaa I'm so outta shape. This week we did
a lot of service! But it's way cool because all the people in the area
are recognizing us volunteering at like every event the city puts on!
We helped volunteer at this elementary school Halloween festival thing
& it was way fun & a ton of parents thanked us for helping.

We had exchanges this week & I got to go to Folsom with Sister Briggs.
I just really look up to Sister Briggs. She's just a genuinely good
person who loves the gospel & everyone around her. The exchange was
really fun & I always learn a lot from exchanges! I think one of my
fav things about being a missionary is getting to know the other
missionaries! It's so interesting to hear how people grew up & how
they decided to serve a mission.

Basically that's all I got for this week! We have transfer calls this
week so I'm pretty nervous to see what will happen. I love this area &
my companion & I am so blessed to be serving here at this time!

Choose to make it a good week!

Love always,
Sister Sobotka

Pics:
1-us with a fire truck
2-this sweet little girl drew the cutest picture of me hahaha

Waffles and Apostles

Dear family & friends,

Okay first off, wasn't General Conference the best? Yesterday sister
Starnes & I were talking about how after General Conference you get
that kinda feeling that you get on Christmas after you open all your
presents & then you just get that sad feeling & think, "now I've got
to wait a whole year for this to happen again" haha good thing we only
have to wait 6 months for General Conference;)

Anywhoo... This week has been so much fun! We met this super sweet
lady tracting this week. She has a home in Florida & lives there 6
months out of the year & she explained that in Florida she lives
across the street from some members of the church & she said she
recognized how well they treated everyone & how the man of the house
got sick last year & people from their Ward brought meals over every
night. She said she watched as women in the Ward got out of their cars
every night with crying kids in the car to take this family a meal.
While she was telling us about this I started to cry. Those women in
Florida probably had no idea the influence they had on this woman!
They had no clue that they were planting seeds in this lady's heart. I
thought of my mom not only because of all the meals she has taken to
people, but also on the receiving end, when she had her heart attack &
open heart surgery & how grateful I was for the women in the Ward who
brought over meals to our family. I am so grateful for the women in
the church, for the good things they do, all over the world! I
absolutely loved Elder Nelson & Elder Hollands talk about the huge
roll of mothers & women. Anyway, the woman we tracted into leaves for
Florida this week but we told her there are missionaries in Florida so
we sent off the referral!

The rest of the week was filled with service! We had an awesome
service activity to help out with Oak Ridge High Schools homecoming
football game! We got to work the concession stand & it was so much
fun!! We got to talk to so many people about the church & it was just
great publicity haha. Then Saturday night the Sisters in the zone got
to volunteer at a 5K race. It was like a glow in the dark race & we
got tons of glow sticks. We basically just pointed people where to go
& cheered them on.

Saturday we watched General Conference with the Gladwell family,
Sister Gladwell is so sweet & had doughnuts & orange juice & fruit out
for us! I am so grateful for the amazing families who take such good
care of us missionaries. Then Sunday we watched conference with the
Martins & they had this big waffle breakfast for us! How nice huh?
Such good people:) The 3 new apostles seem like amazing men & it was
fun to get to hear from them. Elder Stevenson is in my favorite Mormon
message, "leave the party" so I was excited to hear he is one of the
new apostles!

Well yeah that was basically my week. I had too many fav General
conference talks, but I especially loved Elder Holland's talk. I only
cried 219 tears during his talk. Hahah but for real, I am so grateful
for the living prophets and apostles we have today. What a blessing it
is to have these amazing leaders to help guide and direct our lives. I
love how a lot of the talks were on how the the gospel is simple & we
try to make it complicated. I remember at the beginning of my mission
when Elder Bednar came & spoke to the the mission & said, "when people
hear the word, 'doctrine' they start to freak out and think it's deep
complex material, but it actually the plain and simple truths found in
the gospel of Jesus Christ"

Hope you all have an amazing week & apply the things you learned from
conference into your life & act on the impressions you have:) LOVE
YOU.

Love always,
Sister Ashley Sobotka