3-0

I like to think of life as a giant soccer game.

It's us versus Satan and his team. They are the kind of team that plays dirty and will do anything to win. Their jerseys are probably hideous too - like an ugly orange and green mix. We know that our team is going to win in the end (duh Satan) but sometimes they have possession of the ball and you spend a lot of time on the defensive....this was one of those weeks.They pulled out all the stops to beat us and there was definitely a part where I ended up on the floor a mess but at the end of the week the score was 3-0 us.

Random tangent but...LORENA, MARISOL AND CARMEN ALL GOT BAPTIZED THIS WEEK. I don't even want to talk about what we went through to get them there but at the end it all worked out (blessings fam, blessings). Our biggest enemy this week was coffee so we pulled out all the stops. We showed up to their houses with Coca-Cola, hot chocolate, pero, cranberry juice and motivational speeches galore. I was a stressed out mess this whole week I can't even tell you but it all worked out for the best. The baptism went awesome and we had a huge turn out from the ward which was a blessing. They only had to dunk Carmen in the water like 5 times! (she kept getting scared lol) and this in turn terrified Lorena who was pressed up against the wall like "ummmm I don't know about this" and just shaking her head and Marisol like couldn't look away and Sergio was in the closet reciting the baptismal prayer really stressed out and trying to get out of doing it and sister Shaffer and I were just trying not to lose it lol. I have never been so relieved to finish a baptismal service before. But it turned out SO well and Marisol texted us later telling us it was the happiest day of her life #wetotallycried

So yeah we went through quite a bit and it was a great week and we are so glad its over.

We also got to go to the Easter pageant. I LOVE PAGEANT. It reminds me of the Hill Cumorah Pageant (its just the best) and home and just like growing up. I was glad we got the chance to go with Carmen and Sara, especially since its the last time they are doing it for 3 years at least with the temple remodel and everything. The spirit there is just so strong and it just makes me so grateful for the sacrifices and the life of Jesus Christ. Especially since finishing "The Infinite Atonement" I just have so much more love and gratitude for my Savior. He was the only one who could have done what He did and what it enables us to do and be is literally incomprehensible. The plan God has for us is perfect and I am so grateful for it everyday.

I also had awesome exchanges with one of my favorite missionaries - Sister Caceres! We lived together for 2 transfers and it was a blast. We talked about the restoration with everyone, left invitations with everyone, found some new people to teach and ate a hot pretzel (I am not ashamed of the love I have for them. they are delicious) We helped Carmen pass her baptismal interview, try on suits with the others and just all around had a lot of fun and saw a lot of miracles. Love exchanges.

So Sister Shaffer wont help me remember what else happened this week (@sistershaffer) so I guess I'll just leave you with my thoughts.

The longer I have been on my mission the more I've come to love it. It is so hard but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. The gospel is so deep and amazing but what I love is that at it's core it is so simple. We have it because we have a loving Heavenly Father. He made a plan for us to become like Him and our Savior is the key to that plan. To receive all those blessings He only asks that we do our best, that we grow in faith, repent, be baptized and receive the holy ghost so that we can receive them. isn't is just incredible?

I love being a missionary!

To the Moon and Back!

Hermana Showalter

ps. Happy Birthday Dad!
pps. Ran into my old anti - Kat. Shes the one that fed me cake that one time. Didn't go in but she totally remembered me. Kat = no bueno. I hope she realizes one day the error of her ways... no one likes store bought cake Kat...no one

Queen Creek Mission

For the first time in a year I left the Bella Vista Zone to do missionary work.

It was weird.

I am a Bella Vista missionary. Sometimes I feel like I was actually called to the Queen Creek Spanish speaking mission because this week I hit 1 YEAR IN THE ZONE AND WARD! Some members are starting to joke that I'm never going to leave. The sad thing is that it could be a very real possibility.

I had this epiphany that the other week at zone conference I was the oldest sister missionary there. Like they had all come out after me. I don't know when this happened and I don't really know how I feel about it all but it definitely threw me for a loop. Also the fact I have three zone conferences left boggles my mind. Where has the time gone??

But I have decided to ignore those facts, work as hard as if I was fresh out of the MTC and give everyday my all. We were able to go out to dinner this past week with two missionaries I admired a lot. They left a huge impact on this mission and on me. They taught me how to be diligent and focused, how to just go for it and fear no man. They changed my mission. Listening to them talk about their missions - what they regretted and loved - really touched me. They left us with one huge piece of advice - "Give everyone 100%". They said they regretted those times they hadn't. I know I have always regretted not doing my best, leaving an appointment having taught a lesson and not a person, or just going through the motions. Luckily I still have time left to change that. It is hard and I will probably fail miserably sometimes but these are my brothers and sisters and they deserve to know where they came from and who exactly loves them. I am their chance to hear that.

That was a random tangent I didn't mean to go on.....

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK!

1. MALIA
She is a recent convert in our YSA who is awesome! She spoke at the new member fireside yesterday and killed it! her testimony and conversion story are insane and she is so funny! she gave all her missionaries a shoutout and it really touched me. one of my favorite parts of this work is the relationships we get to build with people.

2. LIBERTY
So that is actually the name of the cutest little blond girl ever. I saw her in church at the YSA the other day and actually chased her down the hall to talk to her. I booked it and then awkwardly waited for her and she is GOLDEN! I talked to her really briefly and asked her how she liked church and she loved it!!! she said she was coming back next week to learn more. I was like "lol funny story I kind of do that full time" and she was like "awesome! I want to learn all I can!!" I cried - once she walked away of course - IT HAS BEEN SO HARD TO FIND IN THE YSA. I think my split was concerned for my mental health.

3. CARMEN
still awesome. still amazing. love her. so excited for her baptism THIS FRIDAY! (also getting baptized is Lorena and Marisol!)

4. EXCHANGES
I got to go up to the northest part of the mission for exchanges this week with Sister Fuimaono. It was so different up there! We had a good time and went to this place that was straight Spanish. I felt like I was in Mexico. It was awesome. We also had dinner but they were like amazing and super light and I just left so refreshed? that in and of itself was a miracle. 


I don't really remember what else happened this week. The days, the weeks and months are flying! I love this work and I love the chance to share the gospel with everyone. It is a gospel of joy and peace in the middle of the chaos of the world. I know I have found the greatest peace and joy of my life as I have dedicated these past 13 months to it.

I love you all!!!

To the Moon and Back!

Hermana Showalter

(or as Elder Lund our vehicle coordinator calls me... "Speedy"....we will see how long these driving privileges last. currently I'm tied with one of the APs for most tiwi violations lol)

BLT Blessings

us and our bishops legit terracotta warrior straight from china

THIS WAS A GREAT WEEK.

I don't even know where to begin fam but it was awesome. All the miracles, all the blessings, all the BLTs (only once okay but it was glorious).

BLESSINGS OF THE WEEK (i'll start with the least spectacular)

1. JOSIE

we had zone conference this week and car inspections before that and we CLEANED HER SO WELL (we have a standing competition against the zone leaders that whoever loses has to bake cookies for the other companionship) and...we....CRUSHED IT. Josie rightfully won first place. She looked so new! (please sing the song "Shiny" from Moana in your head as you think about Josie)

Sister Shaffer and I also gave a training at zone conference on urgency and boldness which we strove to really apply the rest of the week. At one point we actually ran (very hard in skirts let me tell you) down a street to talk to this guy (he had headphones in) and we now have a return appointment this week! #BeBold

2. EXCHANGES

I got to go on exchanges with Sister Roberts this week! She is actually the quietest yet most savage and funny person I have ever met.

We were looking for this place and we took the wrong turn into a dead end and sister Roberts whisper shouted "What have I DONE?!" with so much passion in her voice I burst out laughing. It was hilarious.

We met this bomb woman named Diana who completely opened up to us on her doorstop and we bonded and  testified of the restoration and got a return appointment. The spirit was so strong.

We also tracted in this neighborhood where the houses are 10 million dollars...or more. We met a former diamondback player, many millionaires and not a lot of interested people. I felt like a peanut but also very grateful for the gospel. Through the gospel we are entitled to the riches and treasures of heaven which is so much greater than anything we could ever have in this life.

3. THE RIVERA FAMILY

i love this family so so much! And yesterday at stake conference Sergio got the Melchesidec priesthood! President and Sister Wheeler were there and after came up to us and were like "that is an amazing family!" and we were like "WE KNOW!". As long as all goes well they should be getting baptized this Friday! keep them in your prayers!!

4.  CARMEN

Okay actually the coolest miracle of this week is Carmen!

We met her in church last week and set up an appointment. Well we go to the appointment and start talking with her and find out that like 8 years ago she had been taught by missionaries and had almost been baptized but had moved right before it was supposed to happen.

well we invite her right then to be baptized the end of this month and she was so down for it!  But in her next lesson she tells us about how she is going to go down to live with her son in Mexico but not until she gets baptized this time so asks us if there is anyway we could do it sooner. So Carmen is going to get baptized next week! literally the craziest miracle to ever happen to me on my mission.


I truly love this gospel and the amazing miracles we get to see everyday as His servants. My mission has been full of them and they have been a testimony to me that this is the Lord's work and is guided by His hands. What I love even more is that many of the miracles are small ones that impact the life of One. To our Heavenly Father and our Savior each person we meet is important. Every one a beloved son or daughter, sister or brother. And They use me to help those people know it. I have never felt happier than when I am testifying of Them.

To the Moon and Back!
Hermana Showalter

ps. everyone I know is getting engaged and I would like to request that they stop this nonsense or at least wait until after August 14th

pps. the BLT really was glorious

Sister Shaffer put dish soap in the dishwasher

us and Carmen

Vitamin C

one last pic with the sisters before transfers - also with zoey our fave ysa

Well it is orange season here in Queen Creek! Our counter is legit covered in different types of citrus.

You want oranges? - we got it!

You want lemons? - we got it!

You want clementines/tangerines?? - we got 'em!

everyone from members to random people we contact have been giving us there citrus and it is awesome. I will never buy oranges again. Which is good because I felt slightly under the weather (again ugh) this week but I chose to ignore it (once again) and just drown my sinuses in Vitamin C. I've been eating it, drinking it, taking pills of it and am almost back in fighting shape once again! Some people call me stubborn but I like to think I just don't believe in Satan winning. Being sick is for the weak (probs why I have yet to truly recover lol)

Anyways it was a pretty good week!

Sister Shaffer and I got to go and give the new missionary training and that was super fun! I remember a year ago when i can in and had it! honestly I couldn't remember what they even talked about besides like your skirt length and locking your heart (lol) so we whipped together a quick presentation and it turned out pretty good. It was so fun to see all the new missionaries. lol their hair was done, their suits were fresh and they even had some makeup on. I remember when I had that sort of enthusiasm for life - ah to be green again!

We also got to go to MLC this week! Besides the fact my insides were dying I LOVED being able to hear more from President Wheeler. It was a lot different than his normal trainings as he talked a lot about the differences in administering vs ministering and what he had learned from the Brethren in his time as an area seventy. It was interesting and I learned a lot about how to be a better leader and how to better help my stewardships. President Wheeler really is the best.

We had the neat opportunity to go canvassing this week as well! We have a new church building opening up here in the valley and are having a pretty big open house for it. They are expecting 500+ people to be there! So we stole some YW from the ZLs ward and went canvassing (where you split off and take different streets and knock every house) and it was SO FUN! Also we legit saw miracles because no one wants to be a jerk to 12-16 year old girls. We got paired up with the CUTEST girls too! Lilly, Mikayla and Tayleen were bomb! I spent most of the time with Lilly who is going to serve a mission one day and I literally just want to take her with me everywhere. But we all ended up in front of the same house at the end so Sister Shaffer and I like proud moms sent them to go knock it together and just stayed back and watched them. I actually shed some tears. THEY WERE SO BRAVE AND ADORABLE! I felt like a proud mother. At the end they told us they wished we were in the ward and they posted photos of us on instagram so we are basically famous nbd.

The past two weeks Sister Shaffer and I have been doing a lot of evaluating in our area - seeing who really wants to progress and is willing to act on the invitations we extend and even though it was hard we decided we had to stop visiting a few of them.

One of the hardest things I think in life is learning to accept Heavenly Fathers timing. I know I usually want things to happen right away or in my timeline. Yet He is the one with a perfect plan. He knows what we and others need and when we need it. Something I have been evaluating a lot recently is if I am praying for what I want or to know what He wants. As I have focused on that I have seen a difference. It's not just me asking for things. It is me striving to have a conversation with my Heavenly Father which is what prayer is really all about.

I am grateful for the plan of salvation and the opportunity to live it each day. I am so so grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows what I need better than I do. I love being a missionary!

To the Moon and Back!

Hermana Showalter

PS. I Indian leg wrestled with Sister Reedy one night and she folded me like a cookie #thestruggleisreal

Throwback of my and sister shaf from last transfer

#FLOSS - i have single handedly changed the flossing habits of half the mission. almost every car now has flossers in i!