love & homies & mexicans

Aloha primos! 

We got transfer calls, Hermana Cox went to Burley (THE PROMISED LANNNNNND) and I got Hermana Corona here in Twin Falls! I am more stoked than stoked, and sad to say goodbye to Hermana Cox. Hermana Corona is from Ensenada Mexico and we've been having wayyyyy too much fun here in Twin #brownpriiiiiide

Got an update on Fredy and Alexis from Boise and they went through the Meridian Temple Open House and loved it. They both want to be baptized and have the blessings of the gospel in their lives. Dope! 

The work here in Twin has been tough, so I got a question for all you RM's or Missionaries or anyone really. How can I work better with members to find people to teach? How can I help members do their own member missionary work? I'm a huge fan of member missionary work after serving for 10  months here in Idaho, and we've been working with a lot of people and have seen no progression. I have this dream in my head to find and work as hard as we can, but any advice would be welcome fam. plz & thnkz (also shoutout to Elder Clarke for sending me workouts, you know who the tru homies are) 

Hope everyone's doin' fly and being happy :) Remember to take breaks, love like Jesus, and someone pleeeease go on a hike for me k homies? Email me if you need anything! 

LOTS OF LOVE,

Hermana Hanatea Elkington 

The Charity Van

Aloha Fam! 

Working at the Meridian Temple open house has been one of the dopest experiences I've had on the mission. We all load up, 2 companionships and 1 trio, into our white minivan and go on the roadtrip to Boise/Meridian, listening to some good jams and eating some goob foods. I've loved partying with these sisters. We've started calling it the Charity Van cuz someone always offers to pay for our Dutch Brozkies or Krispy Kreme #blesssssssssss

This Sunday I was walking through the chapel to Principios del Evangelio and as I came up to the room guess who I saw - ARACELI. I ran up to give her the biggest hug and she came with her 3 girls from Burley to visit me in Twin Falls! We both gave our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting and she said how she received an answer to her prayer that day and that God is real. Seeing her was an answer to MY prayers - one of the best people I've ever met. It felt like being home. 

One of my favorite quotes this week was from Jose Vasquez -

"7th Day Adventists eat fake pork. They make their pork out of soy. And that's lying! It's lying to eat fake pork! It's just not right!"

I don't even remember what we were teaching him it cracked me up, that guyyyyy

Something that President Bartlett told us in an email is to "take care of yourself." I loved that, because this is hard work. You gotta take yo gatorade breaks when you need to - pretty sure Jesus did too. Take care of yourselves friends! 

Lots & lots & lots of love,

Hermana Hanatea Elkington 

For the TWIN

Someone help a sistah out and really send me some workouts cuz still gaining weight like a walrus here in the dope land of Idahoooooo

This week I was reading a letter from one of my teachers in the MTC (from 12 years ago) and here's something that he said:

"In Boise, if you win over the hearts of the members, you will have a successful mission." 

I was kinda struck by this because of how true it has been. When we establish relationships with the members in our branches and areas, we get referrals of people to teach; we get people wanting to come to church and to learn more about the gospel. But HOW do we establish these relationships with members?

One of the most valuable things I've learned on my mission so far is how to find the balance between being myself and being a Disciple of Christ. Really they're connected, but at first, that was so hard to recognize. I think as we build relationships with others, whether they're members of the church or not, we need to always remember to be ourselves. God didn't call me on a mission to be a missionary; he called me here to be ME. And when we are ourselves, when we're real and help people to find good food and choose to laugh, we build real relationships. We become more like Jesus. 

It's been pretty dope to figure out how to do this on my mission so far. I'm so incredibly grateful for every second of it, the good and the bad. It's been a journey, for sure, a self-finding journey and full of frustration a lot of the time, but I think it's something really valuable as well, entonces vale la pena! I love this gospel. If it weren't for Jesus, I would have driven our minivan all the way to Cali to see the ocean lol. But still here! #proudofme It's a good ride. Keep loving others friends! Love like Jesus! 

Love you all <3 <3 write me back if you need anything. Hope you all have a BALLER WEEK go play some basketball and watch the sunset

Oceans of love,

Hermana Elkington

p.s. here's me and Alex Athans @ the temple open house!! 

TODAY, JUNIOR (adam sandler)

One of my fave things happened this week and I got to go on an exchange w/ Sister Hansen and have some bomb chill like lucky charms times and eat all of Sister Amani's grindz lol but she took me to Hollister and Filer and I love these tiny towns out here in the middle of nowhere. We met lots of good dogs and lots of good people and it felt pretty normal for a day which is rare out here. 

This week Sister Hansen said, "Be the kind of person who makes things happen!" Because there's people that watch things happen, people that wait for things to happen, people that hope for things to happen (or something li'dat) and people that make things happen. I love that. Cuz we're here to DO things and get things done (mark it on the board!) and that day was also a great reminder of while we make things happen, we here to love people and to be their friends. Sometimes I think missionaries need to slow down and remember that everyone's got their own issues and we here to be food/family/&friends (foodland!) with them. The gospel is simple. 

We met this super cool lady named Maria this week who wants to come to Church and have some change in her life because she just got separated from her husband and wants to raise her kids in a happier place. Keep her in your prayers this week if you be prayin'!

Love you fam! Email me if you need anything! Someone go eat some sushi for me and listen to Beck's new album pllzzzzzz! Keep juicing + being happy! If you not happy, find a way to be! Play some good jams and listen to the ocean! 

PS here's a pic of the oldest working elementary school in the US in Hollister lol. coolest thing yet in Idaho <3

Lots & lots & lots & mountains of love,

Hermana Elkington