I'M IN CALIFORNIA FINALLY!

      I am currently living in Palmdale. We cover two wards, Ana Verde and Agua Dulce (which includes Arcadia) I am in the desert. It MAY be uglier than Utah. The sunsets and sunrises are GORGEOUS though. And the palm trees are the only reminder that I'm in Cali. I love it here though. The area we cover is HUGE. It takes like 30 minutes to get to the church building in Ana Verde and it is in the middle of NO WHERE. But the one in Agua Dulce/Palmdale is pretty close. Our house is super nice. They call it the princess house. I still don't know why missionaries live in it. My companion and I live in the master bedroom and we have this walk in shower with a spa tub and a balcony. It is super ridiculous.
   Now, I didn't think the fact that I didn't eat cheese would be THAT huge of an issue. I told my companion, Sister Larsen, about it and she thought "Yeah, cheese is common, but not THAT common." Let me just tell you how our first dinner appointment went. We had baked potato soup, cheese? CHECK. Cheese toast. And Caesar Salad with extra cheese. How did I handle this? I put a little bit of soup in my bowl. Some salad on my plate and took a piece of toast. I took the cheese off the toast when no one was looking at stuffed it in my napkin. I moved the soup in my bowl around so it looked like I ate it all but what was left. And I picked at the salad. The toast was good! I was certain to throw away my napkin myself so they wouldn't find the cheese. I felt terrible that I had to do that. Sister Larsen then realized how common cheese was. I'm still not sure how to handle this situation, Maybe next transfer I'll say something? Not sure.
   This area is bomb by the way. I am not sure what I did to deserve it. IT IS AWESOME. We are planning to have at least 5 baptisms just in this transfer. And we added another one on Saturday, but his mom probably won't let him... bummer. On Saturday we were contacting people and we got 4 new investigators! The Lord is preparing SOOOOOO many people here. It is so nuts! I need to be totally on my game because so many people want the gospel right now! Sister Larsen and I are always talking about how so much is expected of us especially with how many investigators the Lord has put in our path. We are always striving to have the spirit with us, ALWAYS. I am so grateful the Lord trusts me with this responsibility. We have this one investigator that we are preparing to be baptized on Oct. 17 and he has SUCH GREAT FAITH. Everything we teach him he is just like "yeah totally, I'll live that law. No big deal. I know it is true. I know the Lord will answer my prayers" ETC. He rocks. My goodness. This is so cool.
   So the other day we were in a SUPER SKETCHY part of town trying to find this less active man. We finally found his SCARY house that was totally secluded and it was dark by now and I said "Sister Larsen, I don't feel safe......" she said "fine, will you get out and back me up?" I said "No, I WILL NOT BACK YOU UP! (Insert from Mom - missionaries are required to guide the driver of the car when they back up)  Seriously?!" SO I didn't.  We laughed... slash were freaked out and left haha. I guess it is good that she was being obedient. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I think I was justified.
   God has restored his church to the earth today. He doesn't want us to be confused. That is why the earth started with one church. And that is why there is one true church today with the Authority to Baptize. We have a Prophet today that receives revelation from God, for his church. It is so obvious God loves his children.
   Sometimes it is crazy to me how people just believe what I am telling them.... But then I realize, "Well duh, why wouldn't they. It's true!"

Current mailing address:               Sister Heidi Starr

                                                   4529 Sungate Dr.
                                                   Palmdale, CA 93551

On the flight from Utah to California

"I can't believe I get to live here"

Last Day at the MTC!

   I cannot believe I leave for Cali tomorrow! WHAT THE HECK! The rest of my district left for Boise, Idaho this morning suuuuuper early. Sister Brown and I are all alone today for p-day. We pretty much packed everything yesterday and somehow everything is fitting and isn't over weight. I'm not sure how that is except that I know Heavenly Father can do all, even decrease luggage weight... Or maybe the scale at the MTC is way off? Not sure. This week rocked. We taught some more investigators. One guy "Dan" reminded me so much of you, dad. He was cracking jokes during our lesson and it made me miss you. Afterwards when we prayed he said it and he prayed for Sister Brown and me and for our families. I started crying. Anytime ANYONE here prays for my family I start the waterworks. I never think I miss y'all, but I must. I try not to think about it but sometimes it is unavoidable. I pray every day that everyone is protected and that you can feel my love and even more than that, that you can feel God's love.

   Remember how I said I would never become awkward after being on a mission? Well 3 weeks into it all and the awkwardness has already struck. I think the more structure and spirituality they pump into us, the more we lash out in sillyness. This morning we were trying to do personal study and I say "My Preach My Gospel is wet... Like pretty often..." Sister Brown insists that there is something wet in my bag and then after further inspection we find that nothing wet is in my bad... A few moments later she says "well sometimes I put my loofa on my closet door after I use it..." And that is where I put my bag, under her closet. I started CRACKING UP. Because I had noticed that my PMG was usually wet and sometimes some of my other stuff... but I just thought meh... nbd. But then after realizing why... It was hilarious.

   We had a meeting Sunday about the dress guidelines for Sister Missionaries. They told us that ANYTHING goes for color and pattern as long as it covers the top of your knee! They said be a bold as you want! I like my skirts longer though.  They said wear makeup!  Wear cute shoes!  Wear heels!  Wear colored shoes!  Amazing right?! 

   I am nervous to go to Cali. But it is time. I am feeling comfortable here at the MTC and that isn't why I came on a mission. I am not here to be comfortable. I am here to be stretched. I just want to give away the happiness that I have. Luckily there is an unending supply!            Sister Starr*

Here's my address in Cali:   Sister Heidi Jayne Starr
                                          California San Fernando Mission
                                          23504 Lyons Ave Ste 107
                                          Santa Clarita, CA 91321

See my Awesome Name Tag

My MTC District at the Provo Temple

          

2nd Week at the MTC

         

The MTC is still so amazing.  One day while Sister Brown and I were sitting outside waiting for dinner I saw Elder Ethan Smith (Courtney's brother).  He stuck out his hand to shake mine.  I saw him again another day in passing at gym time.  It was awkward calling him Elder Smith but so nice to have that little poke of love at the MTC. 

         Well I made it to the "magical" day of Sunday - as they call it.  Apparently if you make it to the first Sunday you are golden.  I am not sure why.  You don't really do as much on Sunday.  We walked to the temple and chilled for a while, had 2 firesides and could go to bed early if we wanted to. 

         I cannot believe I leave in a week for Cali! The MTC has taught me so much. We just started lesson  two this past week. We are  focusing now on the pre-mortal life and God's plan for us now that we have the restoration down. I feel like I know all of this in my sleep. It is so fun. We watched a talk by Elder Holland and he made a wonderful point. Salvation was NOT easy for Christ. So, if I'm going to declare his truth and be his disciple, how DARE I feel sorry for myself or not want to work my hardest. Christ gave his life and atoned for all of my investigators so that I can for hard to teach them from morning to night every day of my mission. I CANNOT take advantage of his efforts. This hit me so powerfully. I need to be sure to remember that this time is not about me, but about every person that I can teach. And when I am not teaching I need to be studying about what I can teach them. I just want to share what has made the biggest difference in my life. What is most important in life?? It is the message that I get to share with people and what they do with it and where they end up after this life. How lucky am I? The only reason I have been able to learn as much as I have been able to in these past weeks is because the Spirit has quicken my mind. I pray for the Spirit to help me every day to loosen my tongue so I can speak clearly. It is a miracle how much The Lord wants to help me learn so I can go forth to help his work. More next week!

-Sis Starr*

First week at the MTC

The Missionary Training Center has been DYNAMIC!!!! So amazing. It is hysterical how your testimony can grow leaps and bounds in just a matter of days! We pray so much here. We pray in groups, individually, as a companionship, etc! My companion is Sister Brown. She is adorable, bubbly from North Carolina and just wonderful. We are both very good for each other. The MTC helps you to learn a lot about yourself. Surprisingly I have learned that I am super good with directions! That is not saying much though since it is such a small area. I force us to have a plan about everything and I just LOVE IT HERE! I don't want to be ANYWHERE else! I just want to stay as busy as possible so I don't have to think about things that would make me homesick or give Satan a chance to creep into my mind. We are so super busy. We have to be up by 6:30 to leave for breakfast by 7, but we usually get up around 5:45 or 6 so we have enough time to get ready and not be late.

   We are always setting so many goals to be better. One that is always in our planner for every day is to be 5 minutes early for everything. Sister Brown and I have only completed this goal... once. But we are really working on it! It is crazy because no matter how much you know about the gospel, it doesn't really help you at all unless you have the spirit. Plus I had NO idea how to teach with the spirit by my side. I am so glad I am learning these things because I will feel so much better prepared as a mother to teach my children the gospel of Christ and how they can be guided in this crazy world.

   Satan has been such a punk these last few days. I have had a not so great attitude about a few things lately and I know it is Satan trying to cause contention. For example, we had this devotional and the MTC presidents wife stood up to speak and was just reading her talk from the teleprompter! I was so annoying! PLUS she was wearing this loud leopard printed top, and ON TOP of that she was wearing this scarf that didn't match. So, do you think that I wanted to listen to her? Yeah.. right. So I didn't. Then I had an attitude check a wrote Satan's name on a piece of paper in my study journal and scratched it out a million times and drew flames underneath it. In essence I killed him. It rocked. The next day Sister Brown and I had the best day! The sun was shining and we were all happy and not tired at all and it was just awesome. I am learning so freaking much here. My teacher(s) are awesome. I say teacher(s) because one has been out of town and MIA, but he should be coming back sometime this week hopefully. Our other teacher is Sister Ellsworth. She is from England and is adorable and I LOVE HER.

   Also, we teach so much. We taught 7 investigators the first 3 days that we were here! Partly because our missing teacher signed us up to do that, and partly because we really need the practice. I am so glad though because it had been really great to get that practice! Sister Brown and I are really improving and getting ready to go to Cali. I am so glad that I made this choice. It is amazing because It isn't just another message of Christ that we are sharing, it is a message of the Restored Gospel, and a message that the truth is here! Sometimes I think that people are going to think we are crazy and just another church, but then I hope that the Spirit will touch them and tell them that this is something special that will bless their lives and will bring them happiness!

   My purpose is to invite OTHERS to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. And I love every second. I am always thing of anything that isn't contributing to this purpose and trying to cut it out of my mission so I can stay totally focused. I love staying totally focused on something that has nothing to do with me. This whole mission thing rocks!

Sister *

Arriving at the MTC on September 1, 2010

This his Heidi's Mom.   It was an amazing experience taking Heidi to the MTC.   We pulled to the curb and were greeted by several current MTC elders including 2 Tongan missionaries whose muscles were very helpful in lifting the bulging suitcases out of the trunk of the car. They were very enthusiastic about Heidi's arrival and encouraged lots of hugs and pictures. There was no rush and such a strong spirit. As she walked away she was surrounded by her army of "brothers".  It was very comforting and she had a huge smile on her face. (see picture)  Also included is a picture we took on Monday 8/30 in front of the MTC - where the sign use to be.  How could they remove it before Heidi got her picture?  But - not to be denied - thank you Courtney Smith and the magic of Photo Shop!