Thanksgiving Week

It's been an interesting week. I guess the holidays are actually here. I know that I can make it though without getting homesick. I really have been so blessed on my mission to not be homesick. As sad as it sounds, I just have to tell myself that "I don't have a family, This is my life. You wake up at 6:30am- teach about the glorious gospel and then return home at 9:30pm" And then I don't even worry about it. The picture on my desk of all those oddly family people is just from a magazine and it seems familiar because I've seen it so many times. One day I'll realize that all of this is not true. Denial is my coping mechanism.

Highlights:

-We had a WONDERFUL thanksgiving. Complete with turkey bingo. I won lots of fun prizes.

-While knocking we met some very interesting people who were sadly not ready for the Gospel. Here are some of the responses we got...

"Actually I'm a Heathen and I know it. When Christ come I know I will be left to fight the battle alone." (Should we tell him that he will actually be burned and he won't have to worry about the whole battle thing?)

"You're not welcome on my property! .... God bless you and I hope he straightens you out" ...

"We are HIGHLY HIGHLY offended that you would come over here. HIGHLY offended."

-Many kind members offered to drive us to and from places so we didn't have to bike.

-No crashes this week (:

-We have our Christmas decorations up! Complete with 3ft tree.

Love y'all. Hope everyone is doing great.

Love, Sister Heidi Jayne Starr*

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*