The Orchard House

Hello my loveliest family!!

So.... I have a lot I could say right now, as always. So I am going to

give you some quick updates... And then we are going to Oroville to

meet up with our Zone to go on another hike!!!! Last weeks hike to

"bald rock" was such a blast!!!! And this week we're hiking Table

Mountain which supposedly is covered in wildflowers right now! I

cannot wait!!!! But okay for some updates.......

1. We are SO BLESSED right now. We found more GOLDENS!!! Honestly.

Hermana Richards and I have noo idea why we are being so so blessed

right now. So, we decided we needed to finish tracting the apartment

complex where we found Any & Maria... So we did and the FIRST DOOR we

knocked on we found a very nice young man named José. He was

immediately so nice and warm to us and invited us in. He told us he

wanted to listen to our messages but also said, "Let me go grab my

wife!! She'll want to listen too!" Well, turns out his wife had gotten

2 root canals the day before and wasn't feeling her best so he asked

us to come back the next day at 4. So we did and we got to meet his

darling wife, Yolanda. They immediately gave us waters, asked if we

wanted some food, etc. and then we got to know them and started the

lesson!! Well, the lesson was going PERFECTLY and we soon found out

that he doesn't know much about religions in general but she is quite

educated yet said everything exactly how we wanted her too. Her

thoughts were SPOT on and we knew she was golden. Well, we then got to

Joseph Smith and she ended up telling us everything. She is sisters

with Rosalva, one of the Elder's investigators, whom we actually had

dinner with at the Hamblin's earlier this week!! And she used to

attend our church and take the discussions with the Elders about 7

months ago but then had work on Sundays and that's the only reason

things stopped. Then she got married to José only 6 months ago and

right now she is without a job. Which is sad, but GOOD because she can

come to church with us!! And anyways, she said we could not have come

at the more perfect time and she is ready to learn again and so is her

husband. She said it was no coincidence we knocked on her door when we

did and we ended up not being able to finish the lesson, due to time

and we had another appointment, but she said she would explain more to

her husband and even watch the Restoration DVD she has with him!!! SOO

AWESOME!! They are amazing. And they want us to come over for dinner

this week. Even though they have nothing, they still want to feed us.

It is soo nice!!! We are soo happy we found them. And so is Rosalva.

Then the only reason Rosalva and Luis, her husband, aren't married is

because they are waiting for their immigration papers and so if they

get married it will mess it all up. So anyways, they are prime and we

are so lucky to have found them and to start teaching them!! Also, it

was pretty crazy we found them at the first door we knocked at. NOT A

COINCIDENCE.

2. Any and Maria are amazing!! They went out of town for the weekend,

so we haven't seen them for a couple of days, but they will be on date

this week and they could not be more perfect!! We went over a few days

in a row last week and it was the best. We helped darling Maria with

her English homework and then would share our message/lesson

afterwards. It was the best!! Any LOVES having us over and even got

teary eyed when we were helping Maria. She appreciates our help soo

much and it is hard on her that she can't help her daughter due to a

language barrier. Also, Maria still isn't fluent in English so we have

to help her as well. Often one of us will be helping Maria and the

other will be teaching Any English though so it works out wonderful. I

love them both sooo much. Maria has completely warmed up to us too, at

first she was super quiet and shy, so I love it!! And Any asked us how

long we think we'll be here and when I said I probably will leave in a

few weeks she got all sad and said, "Ohh no!!! Why didn't you come to

me sooner!?!" And then when we explained that another awesome Hermana

will come she said, "But it won't be the same!!" Haha we JUST MET Any

and she is already so close to us. It's crazy. Relationships on the

mission are unlike anything else. It's amazing how close you can get

to someone SO quickly. Building a relationship through the gospel is

something very special. I cannot even fully describe it. Oh and how

cute is this... When we were having our closing prayer, Any asked

Maria to say it and when Maria asked for help to remember how.. Any

said, "Just like how we prayed together last night" and handed her one

of our pamphlets giving the steps on how we pray. It was sooo cute!!!!

Any also said that she felt soo good and peaceful when they prayed

together. SO AMAZING. They read the pamphlets together too and also,

Maria told us, "I don't have any homework on Friday's so is can do

more bible study with you!!!!" ... We were both like, is this real

life??? They are TOO DARLING & PERFECT. I couldn't be happier or more

excited about them. We should be seeing them at least 5 days this week

too. I love it!!! But I will keep you updated on them!!!! More to

come!!!!

3. Elvira is on date!!!!! She will be getting baptized April 6th!!!!

We can't do the 5th because of the Priesthood Session and also she has

something, so we put her on date for the 6th and it is going to be the

BEST DAY!!!! First off, we are going to have GENERAL CONFERENCE all

day, so we will already be extremely spiritually uplifted... Getting

sooo excited and pumped for the baptism.. And then on top of that, it

is the Anniversary or Birthday of the CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!! APRIL

6th!!!!!! Amazing. It couldn't be a more perfect date. SOOO... keep

praying for her so that everything goes as planned. She is honestly

the most precious lady ever and has been progressing soo rapidly.

Crazy too because when we first met with her she told us how much she

loves tea and showed us all her cute tea holders... But when we taught

her the Word of Wisdom she had NO PROBLEM saying she would stop

drinking it all. Including coffee. She said she would stop WITHOUT

HESITATION. It was a miracle. She is just learning, growing and

progressing so much and I know that Heavenly Father along with the

Holy Ghost are helping her so much!!!! More updates on her later.....

And as for Dalia, she is still progressing a ton but we can't get her

on date. She never feels ready enough to have an actual date but we're

working with her!!! She could not be more precious either. Those two

together are two peas in a pod... SO CUTE.

4. The entire Castañeda family came to church yesterday!!! All 6 of

them!!! Including the dad, Mauricio!!! It was the best!!! We have a

bit more to do to work with them but they're progressing and coming

along!!!! It's a little bit slower but I have faith that they will be

baptized soon enough!!! I love that family sooo much.

5. Lorenza has a testimony of everything and even will teach Antonio

lots about what we teach but we still can't get a solid date with her.

They are still having many marriage issues and so it's hard for her to

make any plans right now when her mind is so occupied by their

personal problems. It's hard. But we are praying and working with her.

It's also hard because she works all day, every day, except for

Sunday's and ever night except Saturdays and Sundays, she goes to

English class. She has to for community service hours for the house

they live in because it's government housing. Anyways, I am not going

to go into too much detail but she knows the church is true and knows

she needs to be baptized but she keeps holding back from making things

happen. I'll update you more later... But keep her in your

prayers!!!!!!!!

6. We have many many other investigators right now and honestly are

soo busy each day rushing from lesson to lesson. We are sooo blessed

right now and don't even feel like we deserve it!!!!! Heavenly Father

is truly pouring out blessings to us right now and we cannot express

our gratitude to Him enough. The other day after we met José and

Yolanda, we both were just BEAMING and giddy with excitement and said

we felt almost guilty for how much success we're having and for how

happy we are. Especially when the other missionaries in our district

are kinda in a drought right now. But we are sooo blessed and I

couldn't love what I am doing more. I couldn't love where I am

serving, who I am serving, who I am serving with, and everything more.

I AM SO BLESSED. Also, I know that it may seem like we aren't having

TONS of success because we aren't baptizing every week... But I

promise it's a LOT more than that and in my eyes, we are having more

success and witnessing more miracles than I could even ask for. It's

hard to explain but things are truly WONDERFUL.

7. We had a big branch fiesta the other night and it was sooo much

fun!!! Tons of people came and it overall was a great success. We also

had it outside, by the church, next to an orchard so it was gorgeous

and there was volleyball, a barbecue, etc. it was the best!!! I love

my little branch!!! I wish you could have all been there!!!!!

8. We also went out to dinner with Marcella and Estrella this week!!!

We walked to the restaurant and it was a blast. Love those two more

than words. Estrella is the sweetest, most adorable little girl and we

even made up a dance together on our way back while walking. Haha I

love her!!!!

9. We are still LOVING our little Orchard house. Which reminds me...

Abs, I got your letter!!!! First letter I have gotten at my new little

home and I thought the EXACT thing when we started calling our place

the orchard house. "LITTLE WOMEN" has been on my mind a ton!!!!!

Hahaha the other day I even had us listen to the Little Women cd you

sent me as we were driving our of the orchard. AMAZING. Honestly,

there is nothing better and I felt pure bliss!!! Also, the trees and

orchards around us and all over Gridley are blossoming soooo much and

so quickly!!! Everything is blooming and it is GORGEOUS every where

you look!!!!! Also, the trees that are past blooming all have the

brightest green leaves and yeah, it's breathtaking. I have missed

taking pictures of some orchards (due to lack of camera) but I will

try to catch some this week and send them to you!!!!!!! Even if you

just google search almond orchard (such a pretty one) or any type of

fruit/nut really... You can get a taste of the surroundings in my

quaint little town, Gridley. Also, the stars here at night are SOOOO

AMAZING!!!! Sooo so bright and they completely cover the sky. Pretty

much every night when we've been coming home we'll stay outside for a

few minutes and just stare at the sky. I think one night after daily

planning we may take blankets outside and just lay there too. It is

sooo peaceful and gorgeous where we now are. I cannot even describe

it!!!! Also, our neighbors could not be better!!!! Haha we joke that

they stalk us because I am NOT JOKING, every single night when we pull

into our house we get a call from them. Haha every night we get home

they call us about something and usually ask us if we want to come say

hi, have ice cream and just tell them how our day went. It is the

nicest!!!! The couple I used to live with were a little different

(YANDY y YEFF - Hermana Piggott hahahaha) I'll tell you stories in the

future, but so it is soo nice to come home and see the Smith's for a

minute. Also, the fact that Brother Smith is Santa. Kills me. I told

him he needs to come to Utah to be Santa and I'm the future for my

kids and he said he will!!!! He even told his wife about it haha. But

who KNOWS when I will have little darlings soooo we'll see about that.

Also, they want to come to Salt Lake when I am home and do a live

session in the Salt Lake temple. It's on their bucket list. Honestly,

they're our instant best friends. I love them so much. Oh yeah, and

the first day we spent in our home they had us over for biscuits in

the morning (classic) and then took us out to dinner and then had us

over for ice cream and a quick chat once we got home. Then we've

breakfast with them again, they always see if we need a dinner and ice

cream is constantly offered!!!! They really are the sweetest!!!!

Brother Smith also got "MAN OF THE YEAR" so they really are the best.

Haha I can't wait to send pictures!!!! He has a legit Santa beard in

real life. It's classic!!!! You'll meet them in the future too. Cannot

wait.

Okay, well I haven't read any of your emails yet but I will on our

drive to the hike!!!!! I cannot wait to hear how you are all doing.

OH!!!! And last thing....

SCOTTY!!!! Joelle is GORGEOUS!!!!! OHHH my goodness. Me and my

companion were just awing over the pictures you sent me. She is

absolutely stunning and from everything I have heard, she seems to be

just as beautiful in the inside!! Excuse my cheesiness haha. But she

seems to just be the cutest, sweetest, most darling girl. I wish I

were able to meet her!!! Send me more pictures will you and tell me

more!? I am so glad she was able to handle the Barth invasion as well.

Hahaha wish I could have witnessed that all firsthand. But really, she

seems SOO awesome and so classy as well. Will you please tell her

hello from me and that I am sad I didn't get to meet her?? I want to

write you a personal letter as well, besides this email, so can you

please send me your address??? I am so happy for you Scooter!!! You

two look sooo good together and just seem to both be completely

smitten. Haha I LOVE IT!!!!!!! I love you and I know I will love

Joelle as well!!!

Okay, I have to really go!!!! I will tell you more later.

I love you all soo very much. ¡ADIOS!

Con mucho mucho amor,

Hermana Barth

Also, QUICK FUNNY STORY.

So it is super not here right now and I am starting to get tons of

freckles on my face and anyways.... The other day we came home for

lunch and my face was sooo freckly. So anyways, Hermana Richards and I

were talking about it for awhile and she was saying they weren't SUPER

noticeable but then on the way to our next lesson, we ran into this

little 7 year old named CJ. CJ came outside from another apartment

complex and screeeamed, "AHHHH TWINS!!!!" Hahaha and then he said I

was scarier. I asked him WHY and he said, "because you have

FRECKLES!!!" We both bursted out laughing and asked him why freckles

are scary and he said,"I am scared of freckles because they look like

lots of tiny ants." SOOOO I apparently now look like I have tons of

tiny ANTS on my face!!!! So hilarious. I told him they are "kisses

from the sun" .... Hahaha classic.