Stevenson Ranch is Awesome!

So I've been transferred to a new area. It is called Stevenson Ranch (in the Santa Clarita valley) and I get to be with Sister Robb again! We are on bike, so we don't have a car. It is an interesting adventure, but I love it already!

Highlights of the week-

-Moving into ANOTHER elders apartment. We told them that "it better be clean when we get there" and I'm sure to them it was, but girls and guys will always have a different standard of "clean". (See the couch picture below).

-Celebrating my 2nd birthday on my mission! Am I really 23 now? Crazy.

-Learning to ride a bike, in a skirt, for all of Valencia to see. haha. We wear leggings when we ride so it works out. I made friends with a lot of nice soft bushes. And luckily I never fell over... but my bike did a lot.

-Getting a hug from this nice Korean man during a door contact. It was a good thing that we made friends with him because we had to use his bathroom after knocking the rest of his street.

-Coming to our new ward on Sunday and being overwhelmed with the goodness there. The members are phenomenal. They are sharing the gospel with their friends and they want us to meet them! They know how precious the truths they know are and they love their friends enough to share it. It was so wonderful to be there. It isn't that the gospel is cool, or fun, or it sounds good. It's that it is TRUE. It's true and it changes lives for eternity if you grasp on to it, believe it, share it, and live it.

List 100 blessings that the Lord has blessed you with this week.

"When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

- Hymn 241 Count Your Blessings 

                             LOVE, Sister Starr*

Transferred to Valencia...

From 11/14/11 Email to Family

I am getting transferred......Here are the details:

I am finally leaving the desert and going to Stevenson Ranch.  It is in Valencia (Santa Clarita area.... valleyish).

                                   ON BIKE

                         With Sis ROBB! Again! 

Sister Starr & Sister Robb

 We are Whitewashing.  Elders used to be there.  We have exactly zero investigators ):

I am sooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is, I guess, the hilliest area in the mission!  SO, it is going to kick our butts. Literally.  I am excited to learn how to ride a bike.  Sister Robb and I are going to tear it up!

We are both SOOO pumped. We work SO well together and get along so well. IT will be so crazy hard. The elders were saying that the hills are psycho and hard but that we can maybe do it - haha.  I really don't have much to say because I have no idea what to expect. I know it will be really uncomfortable (which is what I need).  We will really need to depend on people for rides and things. It will be crazy.  I will keep you posted. Pray for me! I'm glad I get to spend Christmas and Thanksgiving with Sister Robb!

It was great to train.  Sister J and I have both grown a LOOOT. I am really pumped about everything that is coming. I know I really need to rely on the Lord though. 

Sister Starr and Sister J.

My new address is:

Sister Heidi Starr

25343 Silver Aspen Way Apt 921

Valencia, CA 91381

BLOGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Highlights from the week:

-We had two sisters move in with us for the week while they get a new apartment. One of which is Sister Brown! We have finally been reunited since the MTC. We have lead such separate lives during our mission. She has been in the valley and I have been in the desert. I love her so much.

-While knocking on a street we were able to talk to one of our sisters. She answered the door and this is how the conversation went:

Me: Hi I'm Sister Starr (I have my hand out to shake hers)

Lady: Is that your real name?

Me: It's my real last name... What is your name?

Lady: What are you trying to do?

Me: Well, I'm trying to meet you...

Lady: I don't just give that information out to just anyone.

Me: Well, we are here in your neighborhood today as messengers of Jesus Chr..

Lady: NO YOU'RE NOT! Your a liar. That's what you are. From the pit of HELL! I know what you believe!

Me: Hmm, Why do you say that? What Church do you go to?

Lady: Get off my property!

Me: Would you accept a card?

Lady: Leave!

....

She obviously isn't ready yet. Hopefully one day! Also on her street we were able to teach 4 lessons and find 2 new investigators. Good thing we didn't get discouraged and turn back or we never would have found them!

-Apparently there is this new dance called the "shuffle". We visited a less active family and their daughters taught me it and I already have it down for when I get home. No worries.

-I plan on baking a treat a week since it is now the HoLidAY SeASoN!! So If you have any favorite recipes for fall or winter... please post them and my mom will let me know. I hope you are loving fall and ending the year strong.

LOVE, Sister Heidi Jayne Starr*

I'm a Trainer

Highlights from the past while (sorry it's been so long):
-The day Sister Jensen got here from the MTC I had decorated everything green because that is what the new missionaries are termed. The next day she said "do you just really like the color green...?" hahaha. If I had my choice she would be a "pinkie" not a "greenie".

-At new missionary training one of the missionaries asked a situational question and our Mission President responded by saying "What would Sister Starr do?" (: Thank you dad for always stressing EXACT OBEDIENCE.

-We are moving! I will miss smelling weed every day from our lovely neighbors, but it is probably about time we get out of our gang and drug infested apartment complex.

-Eric was baptized!

-I celebrated 1 year of being on my mission! It feels like I have been gone for 3 years, but it also seems like it hasn't been that long. I cannot believe that my brother has gotten married and my sister has had a son while I've been away. But I think of all the good that Heavenly Father has allowed me to do here in California and I am very grateful. Lives have definitely been changed for the better and many people have turned their hearts to Christ, and many have been able to do it more fully then they were able to do before.

-I am still so blessed to be able to learn Sign Language. I LOVE IT!

I will try to send more updates to my Mom so she can update this more regularly! Have a wonderful week! I am so ready for fall! I can feel it coming here in Cali.

Love, Sister Heidi Jayne Starr*

It's Been a While

Well I guess I should give an update, it's been awhile.

Things here in Lancaster are good. The work is very different from Palmdale.  The people are kind of standoffish from the start, but once they open up to  you and learn to love you- you become family. We have some very stubborn people who aren't willing to give up their comfort sins for blessings and  eternal life but we are working with them.

Highlights:
-finding out that the Wal-mart that we go to every week is the "busiest  Wal-mart in America" We are so blessed. haha.
-Getting made fun of for being from Texas, "yall gunna do some readin' in the  bible now ya here?" I swear every time "yall" comes out my mouth it is like I am speaking another language...
-My companion has been sick so we have been stuck in the apartment for several days and I swear I have read every church magazine known to man. I especially love the New Era. No matter how many times I've read them, the jokes are STILL funny!

Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" -That means I've got pretty feet!

Count your many blessings today. Love, Sister Starr*

4th of July Week

Highlights from the week:
-Seeing fireworks!

-Eating lunch with a blind lady and dinner with a deaf family. If I needed to tell my companion something I could sign it at lunch, and say it under my breath at dinner. It is so neat to interact with different types of people!

-Tilling a garden for the 1st time

-Walking in a baby pool to clean off after tilling the garden...that doesn't count a swimming, right? (we aren't supposed to swim while serving a mission)

-Going to the L.A. Temple! We went to the ASL session and it was...different. But cool!

-Taking the "scenic route" home from the Temple and seeing the ocean

-"Heavenly Father, Thanks for bringing the Witches back" - Maria's Prayer

Transfers happened this week and I am staying here in good ol' Lancaster and will continue learning ASL with Sister Robb. I am really excited to set some great goals for this transfer.
"Goals reflect the desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can accomplish. Through goals and plans, our hopes are transformed into action. Goal setting and planning are acts of faith." -Preach My Gospel